2017 Popsugar Challenge checklist: Discussion thread

[Jenny]

Sara wrote: "What about a book set in a hotel? All I can think is The Shining. I'm not necessarily opposed to reading it again, but I would rather find something I haven't read before and maybe not..."

Agatha Christie - At Bertram's Hotel

[Jenny]

Nadine wrote: "What are some ideas for "spans a lifetime"? I usually avoid longer books, and thus I rarely read the long, sweeping family saga types that would possibly fulfill this category."

Wasn't Benjamin Button a book? Not sure how long.

[Lindsay]

Jenny wrote: "Sara wrote: "What about a book set in a hotel? All I can think is The Shining. I'm not necessarily opposed to reading it again, but I would rather find something I haven't read before ..."

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving

[Jenny]

Nadine wrote: "What are some ideas for "spans a lifetime"? I usually avoid longer books, and thus I rarely read the long, sweeping family saga types that would possibly fulfill this category."

I was going to try Tennyson's Idylls of the King.

[Jenny]

Marilyn wrote: "Here are some books I have come up with so far to fit certain categories, BUT I would love suggestions from other people.

Of letters - [book:My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams|43..."

Immigrants I'm going to read Ragtime. And a book about a person with a disability - Out of My Mind - it's a young adult book but I think it's a MUST READ for everybody.

Great ideas :)

[Jenny]

Marilyn wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I'm looking at some of my TBR books trying to define "Wilderness". Would a western themed book meet this category? I own "My Antonia" by Willa Cather although I haven't read it yet..."

My Antonia is a treat!

[Jenny]

Carl wrote: "For the category "A book involving travel", does it have to be a travel book, or can it be any book in which the characters go on a trip? This is my first time participating in an organized challen..."

half the fun is using your own twist to make it work!

[Jenny]

Last year, for road trip I started out with a book about a spiritual journey. (and then I had to reshuffle things so Harry Potter book 7 became my road trip book)

[Debbie]

Linnie wrote: "I'm going to go out on a limb now and say I won't be finishing the 800 page book prompt :)"

Don't write yourself off yet! This is my 3rd year participating in the PopSugar challenge, I found that reading the required long book early in the year gives me a lot of forward steam for the rest of the year. I read Winter by Marissa Meyer this year for a different part of the list, but I was surprised to learn it was 800 pages! There's some really fabulous 800+ page books out there (https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...) and I'm looking forward to selecting one for this year's reading. I doubt I'd make time for it otherwise!

[Marilyn]

Amy wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I can't use audiobook as I am deaf and unable to hear what they're saying. Is there another way or make an exception for this?"
What about attending a play (shakespeare festival, loc..."

IF not attending a Shakespeare play, what about getting a copy of one of his plays on DVD from the library and then turning ON the option of subtitles so that you can read as you watch? I watched Midsummer Night's Eve with subtitles and then listened to it while reading the actual text to see how much they left out.

[Juanita]

Jenny wrote: "Wasn't Benjamin Button a book? Not sure how long."

It's a (long) short story but you can probably find it as a standalone. I know it is included in Tales of the Jazz Age, which I read for the 2015 challenge.

Oh and the full title is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

[Caity]

I can't remember exactly when I first found the Popsugar challenge, but I want to say at some point randomly in 2015, and I kept meaning to do it but then didn't. So now I'm actually going to try.

Except I am experiencing serious cases of droughts and deluges. I'm determined to acquire as few books as possible next year, because I own so many and my bookcases can't hold anymore, so I'm limiting myself to just what I own in hard copy and ebook form. I also have my boyfriend's books at my disposal, which helps on a few categories, but not many. So for a handful of categories, like books set at a hotel, I have nothing at all that I can read.

Meanwhile, for other categories I could read about half of the books I own.

And then there are books like Alexander Hamilton, which qualifies for so many categories I'll probably just use it to randomly fill a spot at some point.

[Amanda]

Marilyn wrote: "Amy wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I can't use audiobook as I am deaf and unable to hear what they're saying. Is there another way or make an exception for this?"
What about attending a play (shakespeare f..."

That sounds great! Ill see if i can find a DVD at the library. Thank you :)

[Amanda]

Nadine wrote: "Amanda - yes! you can just make that category a "Wild Card" - read any book you want, or randomly grab a different category from another challenge, or just make up your own category. There are no h..."

Awesome! Ill look for a category from other challenges. Thank you! :)

[Kirsten]

Melissa wrote: "Sara wrote: "What, exactly, is meant by an "unreliable narrator"? How are you supposed to know if a story's narrator is reliable until you have read the book?

And I would love to find a book about..."

One of the classics of "unreliable narrators" is Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

[Myra]

Like Donna (and probably others) said, I have a ton of books around my house that I haven't read. So at one point yesterday when I was researching ideas on-line, I realized this and have decided to go through these books at home first and see how many of them might fit a category before I go looking at the library for more books. Maybe this will be the year that my TBR pile actually gets smaller!

[[deleted user]]

I'm quite a slow reader, and as my goal for this year was to read 30 books (which I have almost achieved: I'm half way through my 30th book) and as I am not sure I could manage 40 or more next year, I intend to check off more than one item from the list per one book, if it happens to fit more than one of the tasks.
I haven't really thought ahead that much yet, but I will be reading Neverending Story, which fits at least two of the tasks: it's a story within a story and it involves a mythical creature. I've also read it before, as a child/teenager and I loved it then, so that might be a third.
But, as I will be checking off multiple tasks with one book, I will also try to do the advanced challenge.

[Mamie]

Having trouble finding books that fit the list? Check with your library to see if it has access to Novelist, an extraordinary database for readers. Maine residents have access to it through MARVEL!, the State's collection of online resources. Talk with your librarian or go to the Maine State Library's website.

[Julie]

Sara wrote: "What, exactly, is meant by an "unreliable narrator"? How are you supposed to know if a story's narrator is reliable until you have read the book?

And I would love to find a book about a holiday fr..."<

The Girl on the Train or Gone Girl I think would both be considered Unreliable Narrator

[Kelly]

Nadine wrote: "Okay, last post of the evening, I promise i won't keep hitting this thread all night.

These are books I had found for "unreliable narrator" (for the AtY challenge - I didn't come up with this enti..."

American Psycho YES!!! Definitely. I don't know why I didn't think of this one. This opens my eyes to a lot of other books which might have unreliable narrators.

Thank you for sharing these.

[Kelly]

For this challenge I plan to find as many non-fiction books to fit the prompts as possible. I usually don't have a problem finding novels I'd like to read, but non-fiction takes a little more digging and sometimes I don't want to put in the effort. Approaching the challenge with non-fiction in mind will make it a little more fun for me.

There are certain categories that I don't think I will be able to fill in with a non-fiction book (such as a Steampunk book or a book I loved as a child).

Is anyone else planning on reading non-fiction books for any of the prompts? If so please share!

[Vivian]

Ed wrote: "Here's a list for some unreliable narrator books

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6..."

Excellent list.

[Jillian]

Kelly wrote: "For this challenge I plan to find as many non-fiction books to fit the prompts as possible. I usually don't have a problem finding novels I'd like to read, but non-fiction takes a little more diggi..."

12. A bestseller from a genre you don't normally read-As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride/Cary Elwes

15. A book with a subtitle-Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism/Susan Jacoby

Advanced
11. A book about a difficult topic-When Breath Becomes Air/Paul Kalanithi

some non-fiction books I plan to read for another challenge Around the Year in 52 books

28. A non-fiction-Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg/Irin Carmon
43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)-The Diary of a Young Girl/Anne Frank


here are some of the Non-fiction books I read for the 2016 pop sugar challenge
2. A National Book Award winner-Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo National Book Award for Non-Fiction (2012) 2/25/16 (this one was really good)

13. A self-improvement book- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop TalkingSusan Cain 2/6/16


15. A book written by a celebrity- The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy by Rainn Wilson 1/23/16 (this was so-so)

16. A political memoir- Madam Secretary by Madeleine Albright 2/27/16

24. A book with a protagonist who has your occupation- Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession by Erma Bombeck 3/1/16 (this one was funny)

28. A book written by a comedian-Yes Please by Amy Poehler 2/9/16 (I strongly disliked this one)


35. An autobiography-The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey 2/22/16 (this was interesting)

37. A book about a culture you're unfamiliar with- (culture of typography/font/typeface) Just My Type: A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield 2/23/16

One of my favorite non-fiction books is Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President/Candice Millard

[Mary-jo]

Nadine wrote: "Amanda - yes! you can just make that category a "Wild Card" - read any book you want, or randomly grab a different category from another challenge, or just make up your own category. There are no h..."

What a relief! Not happy with one of the categories, so I will make a wild card category instead. Thanks!

[Betty]

Marilyn wrote: "Amy wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I can't use audiobook as I am deaf and unable to hear what they're saying. Is there another way or make an exception for this?"
What about attending a play (shakespeare f..."

Thought I was the only deaf one here! :-)

[Lisa]

Nice to see some deaf members of this group. I have deaf family members, and am fluent in sign language. I spent years teaching deaf children at the New York School for the Deaf. I would love to see more deaf characters in literature! I have read a few books that have featured a character that is deaf, but not as many as I'd like. I'm working on two novels now… Maybe I will write in a character that stuff! You raise a great point that not everyone can listen to an audiobook. Thanks for that reminder. And nice to meet you. ☺

[Anabell]

Caity wrote: "I can't remember exactly when I first found the Popsugar challenge, but I want to say at some point randomly in 2015, and I kept meaning to do it but then didn't. So now I'm actually going to try.
..."

Most of Agatha Christies books are free on kindle. And you could read Bertrams hotel.

I know you can get Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Mark Twains book for free. :-) So you might consider looking up to see if they fit your remaining prompts :-) Im trying to keep the cost down and using either what I already have or finding them at either the library or on kindle for free :-)

[Kelly]

Jillian wrote: "Kelly wrote: "For this challenge I plan to find as many non-fiction books to fit the prompts as possible. I usually don't have a problem finding novels I'd like to read, but non-fiction takes a lit..."

Thanks for the recommendations! I read Just My Type: A Book About Fonts in college and found it so interesting.

[Megan]

I feel like "a book about an interesting woman" is up to my judgement: would a book about Mary, Queen of Scots count?

[Terri]

Regarding Book recommended by a Librarian.....I know there was a discussion, though I can't seem to find it now.......Was there a list, or a site to ask???

[Nadine in NY]

Terri wrote: "Regarding Book recommended by a Librarian.....I know there was a discussion, though I can't seem to find it now.......Was there a list, or a site to ask???"

There is a folder set up here in this group, just go to the main page and scroll down, or use this link: The Ask-a-Librarian Folder

Megan wrote: "I feel like "a book about an interesting woman" is up to my judgement: would a book about Mary, Queen of Scots count?"

Yes.

[Cindy]

Sara wrote: "What, exactly, is meant by an "unreliable narrator"? How are you supposed to know if a story's narrator is reliable until you have read the book?

An unreliable narrator is usually told from a first person point of view. The narrator speaks with a bias, mistakes, and sometimes lies, usually from ignorance or self-interest. There are multiple layers of truth in the story. It's a challenge to discover not only the real truth of the story, but also to understand by the narrator isn't as wholly truthful as he or she should be. Catcher in the Rye and The Girl on the Train are both good examples and well-written.

[K]

Nadine wrote: "Okay, last post of the evening, I promise i won't keep hitting this thread all night.

These are books I had found for "unreliable narrator" (for the AtY challenge - I didn't come up with this enti..."

I wouldn't say Beside Ourselves had an unreliable narrator, although it was a great book. I have chosen Molly Keane's Good Behaviour for this category, as the introduction states it's an unreliable narrator...

[Suzanne]

Juanita wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain is an awesome book that is told by the dog."

This has been on my TBR list forever. Will definitely be reading it in 2017. :)

[Kirsten]

Megan wrote: "I feel like "a book about an interesting woman" is up to my judgement: would a book about Mary, Queen of Scots count?"

Only if you consider her "interesting". A lot of times we interpret these prompts broadly... some too broadly... but this prompt really is one open to your interpretation!

[Becky]

I'm not sure if this book has been mentioned (and no spoilers I promise) but for the unreliable narrator, 'LZR-1143: Infection' by Bryan James would probably work. It's a zombie story if that doesn't turn you away.

The summary tells about the main character being locked in a mental institution and in a way I almost feel just that alone would classify it as such.

Here's the summary from Amazon.

"He used to be someone. He used to be in pictures.

Until he was convicted of murdering his wife and condemned to a life sentence in a psychiatric prison, Mike McKnight was a movie star. A real, live action hero. But the mysterious circumstances surrounding his beloved wife's death pointed a damning finger at just one person: him. He was tried by a world that hated him. He was convicted by a jury who never doubted his guilt. He was discarded and forgotten, locked away by a society that moved on.

At least until the zombies showed up.

From a drugged stupor, he emerges into a world that has crumbled and where mankind is on the verge of elimination. He is suddenly thrust into a nightmare of epic proportions when the dead rise as a brutal and terrifying plague on the world of the living. In a landscape littered with post-apocalyptic terrors, Mike and a handful of survivors battle humans and zombies alike, fleeing headlong through danger and despair.

Over the hellscape of a dying city, to the doubtful retreat of the mountainous countryside, Mike fights to stay alive in a world of the dead, recover his memories, and retrieve a cure to the most threatening plague the world has ever known."

[Cindy]

Amanda wrote: "With regards to this Popsugar challenge, are we allowed to have one title satisfy more than one category or should it strictly be a different book for each category?"

It's entirely up to you how you want to do it. :)

[Debi Dreese-Hoch]

Marilyn wrote: "Mie wrote: "That makes me want to substitute the "cat on the cover" to "something else on the cover ", so that I can use a book from my TBR list! LOL"

There are several cozy mystery series with ca..."

Lillian Jackson Braun has a whole series where the cat helps solve the mystery. Surely one of them has a cat on the cover...

[Debi Dreese-Hoch]

Marilyn wrote: "Mie wrote: "That makes me want to substitute the "cat on the cover" to "something else on the cover ", so that I can use a book from my TBR list! LOL"

There are several cozy mystery series with ca..."
All My Patients Are Under the Bed - Camuti, The Silent Meow - Gallico

[Ninna]

Becky wrote: "I'm not sure if this book has been mentioned (and no spoilers I promise) but for the unreliable narrator, 'LZR-1143: Infection' by Bryan James would probably work. It's a zombie story if that doesn..."

I already picked my choice for this category but this book sounds great so I may have to switch it! Thanks for the recommendation!

[Megan]

Kirsten *Please God... Don't Let 2017 Be As Bad As I Fear* wrote: "Megan wrote: "I feel like "a book about an interesting woman" is up to my judgement: would a book about Mary, Queen of Scots count?"

Only if you consider her "interesting". A lot of times we inter..."

It's actually interesting, the results I got when I Googled this category on here: Anna Karenina, Jane Eyre, The Handmaid's Tale.

Also, can "school shooting" be counted as difficult subject?

[Angie]

Bill wrote: "What kind of books are told by a nonhuman perspective?"

One of my favorites from 2016 that is told from a nonhuman perspective (and also spans the main character's lifetime!) is The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom. It's told from the perspective of Music and it's a lovely read.

[Natalie]

The audiobook is the easiest one. Pretty much any book you want to read, just listen to it instead. My library has a huge collection that I listen to through an app on my phone.

Luciana wrote: "omg you guys, I twitted Libba Bray asking her to recommend me a book and she twitted back asking me what I was in the mood for <3 I'm so giddy right now!

I'm still missing:
An audiob..."

[Rubi]

Hi everyone! It's my first time ever joining a reading challenge. I have a couple of questions. Can I check off two prompts with one book? and a steampunk novel...which should I read?

[Erin]

Yes one book can fit two prompts.

[Jillian]

Rubi wrote: "Hi everyone! It's my first time ever joining a reading challenge. I have a couple of questions. Can I check off two prompts with one book? and a steampunk novel...which should I read?"

Rubi everyone gets to choose for themselves. Most members count one book per prompt but if you want to count one book towards more you can.

Gail Carriger is the first author I think of for steampunk but there are others.

[Dana]

Does anyone know the owner of the Popsugar Google Sheet/Doc?? I was wondering if he or she could please format it like the 2015 and 2016 doc because that was super helpful and I loved keeping track of my percentages. I also loved the stats and the color coding...so if you are that person and you have time...I can help if you give me instructions...I just wanted to ask before I just went ahead and messed with something I didn't own...

[Melissa]

Rubi wrote: "Hi everyone! [...] and a steampunk novel...which should I read?"

I found this list helpful. From that list, I highlighted three possibilities for my reading challenge:

The Difference Engine - "It’s 1855, and the computer has arrived a century ahead of time due to Charles Babbage accomplishing his dream of creating both the Difference Engine and the more-advanced Analytical Engine.

Part detective story, part historical thriller, the adventure in The Difference Engine begins with the discovery of a box of punched Engine cards of unknown origin and purpose. Cards someone wants badly enough to kill for."

The Time Machine - "A great old classic that invented the phrase 'time machine.'"

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - "Stevenson’s [the author] stepson wrote: 'I don’t believe that there was ever such a literary feat before as the writing of Dr Jekyll. I remember the first disease of the world though it were yesterday. Louis came downstairs in a fever; read nearly half the book aloud; and then, while we were still gasping, he was away again, and busy writing. I doubt if the first draft took so long as three days.'

The rumor is that after some criticisms from his wife, Stevenson burnt this first draft, only to rewrite the story again in three to six days."

[Kristy]

I just finished my first book for this challenge. I completed the "Read a book with a story within a story". I used the novel "Wildflower Hill" and gave it a 3 star rating. It would have gotten a 4 but I feel the author rushed the ending so that pushed it down to a 3. All in all a good book and I would recommend it if you need a book for that category.

[Tanelle]

Jut finished The Zookeepers Wife and it was great. It also fills 5 different prompts if you're struggling to fill some of them