Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2016 archive
>
2016 challenge: I've finished!
date
newest »
newest »
Date you finished: December 8Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?): A book set in Europe. I read The Muse by Jessie Burton and enjoyed the setting of Spain and England.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt) I really liked Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. This is a "prequel" to Jane Eyre
Least favorite prompt A book guaranteed to bring you joy. I just don't like this type of prompt.
Least favorite book Sonnets From the Portuguese: A Celebration of Love by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017" A 20th Century classic
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 The list is already created and I like many of them.
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yes, although I'm using some of the same books for Around the Year as I am for Popsugar.
Date you finished: 01/12/2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) A book about a culture your unfamiliar with. As soon as I saw that, I made a list of potential books about Japan and the Japanese. I loved it.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): There were a lot of books that I loved but I'm going to choose The Martian.
Least favourite prompt: A book of poetry. Just not something I like.
Least favourite book: Cold Mountain (for the National Book Award winner prompt). I can not put into words how much I hated this borefest.
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": I was hoping for a graphic novel, as it's something that I love reading.
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: Although the list has already been published, I would have chosen 'a bestseller from the year I was born'
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yes. Although my first child is due in May so I doubt I will be able to finish it.
Date you finished - 12/14/16Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) - A book translated into English - I read Confessions and it was great!
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt) - The Fireman by Joe Hill
Least favorite prompt - A book of poetry
Least favorite book - The Reader - a book from Oprah's Book Club
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017" - a science fiction book
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 I love the steampunk prompt.
Finally, are you in for 2017? I am definitely in and will be doing the advanced prompts too!
Date you finished -- December 3rdFavorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) -- A book recommended by someone you just met -- I asked three different people to recommend three of their favorite recent reads.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt) -- Suite Francaise
Least favorite prompt -- A book with protagonist who has your occupation -- I work as a Director of a Customer Support group -- it was hard to find a book with that specific occupation.
Least favorite book -- the graphic novel, Watchmen. I found it very hard to follow.
Finally, are you in for 2017? I am totally in for 2017!
Date you finished: December 15Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) I think this would be "A book with a protagonist who has your occupation" - I read 'Learn Me Good' for that category I throughly enjoyed it and could relate to it on some aspects.
Favorite book: Hmm That's a hard choice... this would include -Stardust,After Dark,All the Light We Cannot See,American Gods,The Good Earth,Fantastic Voyage,Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Least favorite prompt - "Self help" - God had to struggle through the book to finish it.
Least favorite book - TThe Stench of Honolulu: A Tropical Adventure which I read for the prompt A book written by a comedian.
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017" - " A book translated to English," I read Murakami for the first time for this prompt... although he was in my to read list for a long time. It was beautiful.
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 - well You know best. But let's see "A nonsense book".... like Lear or Caroll?
Finally, are you in for 2017? - Yes!
Finished! For a slow reader I was surprised I could do this many books and would have finished early Dec. but I waited to read A Christmas Carol closer to Christmas :)Date you finished 12/19/16
Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) - There were several I really liked
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt) - Confessions -Kanae Minato and A Christmas Carol Dickens
Least favorite prompt - There were several :) Self Help, Poetry and Protagonist with my Job
Least favorite book - The Maze Runner series but probably because I invested so much time into it with 4 books
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017"
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yes!
My Pop Sugar Reading challenge 2016-I am only missing a self-improvement book and a book with a teacher as protagonist. I'll get right on that...The list expanded my horizons. I am already signing up for 2017.A book based on a fairy tale~Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A National Book Award winner~The Shipping News
A YA bestseller~Mosquitoland by David Arnold
A book you haven't read since high school~Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
A book set in your home state~Barkskins by Annie Proulx (part of the story set in Michigan territory)
A book translated to English~Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami
A romance set in the future~Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
A book set in Europe~The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
A book that is under 150 pages~Animal Farm by George Orwell
A New York Times bestseller~Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
A book that's becoming a movie this year~Billy Lynn's Long Half-Time Walk by Ben Fountain
A book recommended by someone you just met~The Round House by Louise Erdrich (online recommendation)
A self improvement book~
A book you can finish in a day~Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
A book written by a celebrity~M Train by Patti Smith
A political memoir~Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A book at least 100 years older than you are~Moby Dick by Herman Melville
A book of more than 600 pages~A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihira
A book from Oprah's book club~Wild by Cheryl Strayed
A science fiction novel~The Beast by JR Ward
A book recommended by a family member~The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
A graphic novel~Check,Please! by Ngozi Uzaku
A book published in 2016~My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
A book with a protagonist who has your occupation~
A book that takes place during the summer~Fates and Furies by Lauren Goff
A book and it's prequel~Cinder by Marissa Meyer and Glitches-prequel
A murder mystery~The Lake House by Kate Morton
A book written by a comedian~Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow
A dystopian novel~Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
A book with a blue cover~This is Your Life Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
A book of poetry~Sonnets 1-50 by William Shakespeare
The first book you see in a book store~Miller's Valley by Anna Quinlan
A classic from the 20th century~Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
A book from the library~Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Cleg
An autobiography~Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming
A book about a road trip~Barbarian Days by William Finnegan
A book about a culture you are unfamiliar with~The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
A satirical book~Animal Farm by George Orwell
A book that takes place on an island~Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters (Porto Vergongna)
A book that is guaranteed to bring you joy~Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson
Date you finished 12/19/2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) I'm not sure - a lot of them pushed me. I love YA so I'll admit there's a lot of those on there. But the autobiography, and the classic, and Oprah's book club were ones that I went outside my comfort zone for.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt) The Goldfinch
Least favorite prompt - political memoir
Least favorite book Double Standards (book with my occupation)
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017" - List is out but I'm glad to see the new release book is still a prompt
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 - n/a
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yup! Bring it on!
Date you finished: 12/24/16Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?): The book that takes place in the summer. I read The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. I really struggled with this prompt, every book I found fit other prompts better. This one was a nice change from the fantasy, YA, dystopian books that filled many of the other prompts. They were all action packed, and this was a nice, soft, relaxing read.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): Nimona, I've read other graphic novels, and this was very well done. Good art, and a good story.
Least favorite prompt: 1st book seen in a bookstore. My bookstore has many displays at the front, but they tend to be adult coloring books or children's books. I ended up modifying it to be the first book I saw that was on my wish list.
Least favorite book: Divergent. This book took *forever* to read, and it was my last one. I ended up listening to it in the car, that way I couldn't easily be distracted from it. I've read a lot of YA dystopian fiction (It's my YA daughter's favorite genre, and she keeps giving them to me). I enjoy most of them, but the writing or total implausibility of Divergent made it difficult to focus and finish the story.
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017"
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017
Finally, are you in for 2017? I will look at the prompts, but I am also returning to grad school (NP), and continue to work full time. I doubt I will make any progress. When I have time to read, I will try to pick ones from the list, but no promises.
This was a fun year, and I really enjoyed stretching myself.
Date you finished 12-25-16Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?)- A classic from the 21st century- I prefer classics and I read Heat & Dust
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt)- The Color Purple-
Least favorite prompt- The first book you see in a bookstoreLeast favorite book - I don't usually buy books at the bookstore anymore...just Kindle or go to the library
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017"- A book you can finish in a day
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017- Book from Boxall's 1001 list
Finally, are you in for 2017? Definitely
Date you finished: December 2016Favorite prompt: A book recommended by someone you just met
Favorite book: "Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarty
Least favorite prompt: A self-improvement book
Least favorite book: "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac
I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017: A YA bestseller
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: A biography
Finally, are you in for 2017: Absolutely!
Date you finished: December 26, 2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?): A book based on a fairy tale, and a book about a culture you're unfamiliar with
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): A Monster Calls, Me Before You and And Then There Were None
Least favorite prompt: Political memoir! Although to be fair, there were quite a few prompts that I didn't like much.
Least favorite book: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": Honestly, I'd be fine with not seeing any of these again. If I had to pick, I'd say unfamiliar culture or based off a fairy tale. Seems a bit silly to choose now seeing as the list is already out.
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: One of my suggestions actually did make the list: a book by or about a person with a disability.
Finally, are you in for 2017?: Definitely!
I have to say, looking back at my overall list for this year, my books were all quite underwhelming. I also did the GoodReads Around the Year challenge, where I had quite a few books that I loved and both BookRiot Read Harder challenges, where my choices were a little more mixed. This was easily my least favourite overall challenge in terms of the books I picked, but I found a few good books through it so I'm glad I tried it.
Great idea! I just noticed this discussion!Date you finished: October 16th
Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?):
Favorite: a book about a culture you're not familiar with.
A science fiction book very much got me out of my comfort zone.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): Americanah LOVED IT
Least favorite prompt: Book with a protagonist with your career. I have a very specific job and it took me ages to even think of a book. It ended up being my final challenge.
Least favorite book: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and other Classic Novels took me months to read. I was hoping it would be more fun!
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": Book recommended by a family member or book or poetry
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: I'm a tad late, but I would say, Book Based on Art
Finally, are you in for 2017? : Totally!!
Date you finished : 12/27/2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) : a book about a culture you are unfamiliar with and a book set in your home state
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt) : Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, The Heart by Maylis de Kerangal and The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf
Least favorite prompt : a book written by a comedian
Least favorite book : Noah's Child by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017 (...2018!) : a book about a culture you are unfamiliar with and a self-improvement book
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 :
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yes!!!
Hello everyone! I just recently discovered this group even though I'd been participating in the reading challenge over the course of the year - so I hope you don't mind that I'm late to the party!Date you finished: 26th December 2016
Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?): A book based on a fairytale
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel (A New York Times Bestseller)
Least favorite prompt: I'm sure I'm not alone in saying 'a political memoir'!
Least favorite book: Kisses from Katie
Finally, are you in for 2017? Absolutely! It will not feel so lonely this time around since I've discovered a whole group of people with whom I can discuss it!
Date you finished: December 28th, 2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?): A book of poetry.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): Many. Two are: The Complete Persepolis, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times,
Least favorite prompt: A self-improvement book
Least favorite book: Modern romance
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": A graphic novel. The 2017 list does not have this prompt but I am going to squeeze it in somewhere. :-)
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: List made. I did suggest a few on the dedicated thread for this.
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yes, for sure.
Mod
"Book with pictures"!! I'll be reading a graphic novel for that one :-)
Date you finished: December 12, 2016Favorite prompt: The first book you see in a bookstore
Favorite book: "The Improbability of Love" by Hannah Rothschild (book recommended by someone you just met)
Least favorite prompt: A political memoir
Least favorite book: A"Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" by Mindy Kaling (book written by a comedian)
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": A book about a culture you're unfamiliar with
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: A bestselling children's book
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yes, definitely
Date you finished: 12/24/2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) All of the Non-Fiction ones really helped to get me out of my comfort zone.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Least favorite prompt .....
Least favorite book The Bluest Eye
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017" ....
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 .....
Finally, are you in for 2017? Unfortunately, No. Hoping to start Grad School in the Fall, so I'm not sure I'll be able to commit the time needed to complete the challenge. I'm planning on reading the monthly group reads still though!
Date you finished: 12/29/16Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) Book guaranteed to bring you joy or A dystopian novel
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt) The Aeronaut's Windlass
Least favorite prompt: A book at least 100 years older than you
Least favorite book Open House
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017" anything but Poetry or book at least 100 years older than you
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 Best seller from the year you were born; a play; a book with a color in the title; a book with a number in the title; true crime; book based upon a movie or TV show
Finally, are you in for 2017? yep!!! most of my list is made up
Date you finished: December 29, 2016Favorite prompt a book and its prequel- it gave me an excuse to re-read:
and
(did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) a book about a culture you're unfamiliar with and a political memoir - both books I chose ended up being amazing reads:
and
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt):
, its sequel
, and
I probably would have read Six of Crows, but Thirteenth Night is a book I picked up because it matched the challenge.
Other favorites...It's a long list, but books!
Least favorite prompt: the first book you see in a bookstore/ I am just not spontaneous in that way and a book that's guaranteed to bring you joy/ the prompt was just too generic
Least favorite book: Oprah's Book Club/ I just was not interested in the books on this list...
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2018: a fiction and non-fiction about the same topic
Finally, are you in for 2017? absolutely
Date you finished Dec 29, 2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) A National Book Award winner
Favorite book Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Least favorite prompt Self-help and occupation. UGH!
Least favorite book American Assassin
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017"
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017
Finally, are you in for 2017? Yup
Date you finished: December 24th (but I didn't start until the end of April)Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) Yes! A book about a culture you're unfamiliar with.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt). It's a tie between War and Peace and American Psycho.
Least favorite prompt: A book with a protagonist who has your occupation. The only one I could find was a 50 Shades of Gray knock-off.
Least favorite book: Bookkeeper for the Billionaire (see above)
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017" It's not on there but "first book you see in a bookstore" was fun.
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017 For 2018: A book you've never read but secretly judge people for reading. :-)
Finally, are you in for 2017? YES!
reply | flag *
Date you finished Dec 30, 2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?) I haven't been able to make myself read a graphic novel, but my son-in-law recommended Stitches - a memoir. It was amazing and has changed my point of view of this genre.
Favorite book: Season of the Witch (a book set in my home state) The history of SanFrancisco during the 60s/and on.
Least favorite book: The Angel's Game
Finally, are you in for 2017? yes...already lining up my books!
reply | flag *
❃ Date you finished: December 30.❃ Favorite prompt: LGBTQ ( I read five books with a LGBTQ protagnist)
❃ Favorite book:
❃ Least favorite prompt: Political Memoir! I finally settled on
❃ Least favorite book:
❃ "I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": Graphic novels.
❃ Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: A Feminist Play.
❃ Finally, are you in for 2017?: Yes.
Date you finished: 12/31/2016Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?): Didn't get me out of my comfort zone, but I liked the "based on a fairy tale" prompt.
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt): The Song of Achilles
Least favorite prompt: A book by a comedian (SO tired of this genre).
Least favorite book: The Nix
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": Too late for this!
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: Too late for this, too, ha.
Finally, are you in for 2017?: Totally!
Date you finished: 12/30/16Favorite Prompt: A book based on a fairy tale
Favorite Book: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Least favorite prompt: First book you see in a bookstore
Least favorite book: The Rapture of the Nerds
Prompts for 2017 have already been announced so whelp...
I'm definitely in for 2017.
Date you finished: 18th July 2017! (My 600+ pages dragged me down!)Favorite prompt: Road Trip
Favorite book: Orkney (Amy Sackville, Set on an Island)
Least favourite prompt: Based on a fairytale.
Least favourite book: Me before You (Jo Jo Moyes, Book being released as film)
"I hope they bring back this prompt in 2017": 20th Century Classic
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017: Title beginning with the letter...
Finally, are you in for 2017? No, too late to the party!
reply | flag *
(Can we set up a thread like this for 2017?)
Chinook wrote: "(Can we set up a thread like this for 2017?)"Done :)
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Nix (other topics)The Song of Achilles (other topics)
The French Lieutenant’s Woman (other topics)
Pretties (other topics)
Gandhi: An Autobiography (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jacqueline Woodson (other topics)Maylis de Kerangal (other topics)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (other topics)
Selma Lagerlöf (other topics)
Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt (other topics)
More...
Favorite prompt (did something get you out of your comfort zone in a refreshing way?)
Based on a fairy-tale was refreshing
Favorite book (could be different from the prompt)
Wandering Star
Least favorite prompt
Political memoir
Least favorite book
Inferno
Suggestion for a new prompt for 2017
I wanted a book from the Rory Gilmore challenge, but oh well
Finally, are you in for 2017? Most definitely!