40. Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges

[Ian]

My prompt is from 2015 - A Book Made into or Inspired by a TV Show

I chose Big Little Lies.

This was a very interesting book to read following The Female Persuasion. My problem with The Female Persuasion was it purported to be a look at white feminism without really taking a look at much out of the way of "women are inspiring even if they're shitty sometimes." When I picked up Big Little Lies, I was not expecting much more than a thriller, but I ended up with something that was actually a great look at white feminism. Everything about these ladies screams PRIVILEGE, even the one single mom who seems to somehow be well off by managing the books of four or five independent businesses, and the author makes it clear that both she and the characters are aware of that.

The book is centered around the fact that a crime has been committed, a murder, but the victim and killer are not revealed until the ending. I have found recently that I am not great at whodunits, but I did not see this ending coming. I have put off watching the TV series until the summer, so this was completely fresh to me. I cannot wait to see what the wonderful team behind the HBO series did to translate the material on screen, and I will be even more interested to see where they take a Season 2.

For anyone else taking the 2018 Challenge, this book would also fill the prompts:
A Book Set in a Country that Fascinates You (Australia), A Book about Death or Grief, A Book about Feminism, A Book with Alliteration in the Title, A Book with Characters who Are Twins

[Storm]

A book on my TBR list for way too long, 2017 challenge. And i did Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

[David]

Jackie wrote: "This one is going to be a total free read for me. It would be harder to find a book that *didn't* fit any of the old prompts."

This is the approach I'm taking to. I feel less guilty knowing others are doing it. :)

[David]

David wrote: "Jackie wrote: "This one is going to be a total free read for me. It would be harder to find a book that *didn't* fit any of the old prompts."

This is the approach I'm taking too. I feel less guilty..."

[SadieReadsAgain]

I read The Book of Lost Things, for the 2016 prompt book based on a fairy tale

I loved the concept of this book, and the story flowed so effortlessly that it didn't feel as long a book as it is. I thought the reimagined myths and fairy tales were really smart, a darker and more sinister retelling of even the darkest and most sinister of them. I am not usually a fantasy reader, because I don't like something I can't relate to. But this isn't really a fantasy story despite how it comes across. This is a coming of age story of boy adjusting to a life he didn't ask for or expect, the story of someone who finds his refuge in books...and I can relate to that. However, I have to be honest and say at times the writing was a bit bland, and things felt a bit flat. The ending was a bit rushed too, and while I can see why, it's a pet hate of mine when the wrap-up feels a bit shoehorned.

[Ian]

I decided to do it where you choose a prompt from each year. I just finished my choice from 2016, "A Book from the Library." I read "The Ensemble" by Aja Gabel and was blown away at the beauty of it.

[Joana]

The Art of War - bought on a trip

[Shelley]

I finished the three of these
2015: A book finished in a day-Queen Song This is a short prequel to the Red Queen series, which I'm trying to catch up with before I get the latest installment (War Storms). I actually enjoyed this novellete more than King's Cage. It felt more like a complete story while King's Cage was very much a Mid-Series move along story.

2016: Protagonist with your occupation-Conspiracy of Fools: A True Story I work in the electricity industry and this hit waaaay too close to home. I can draw direct lines between my auditing process and what people in Enron did.

2017: An interesting Woman-Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity This is the...memoir isn't quite the right word...academic auto-biography(?) of a transsexual woman. Definitely hits the interesting part of the prompt.

[Teri]

I had decided on using a prompt from all three years. I didn't pick out specific prompts, though, but instead found ones that worked with the first three books that didn't fit into this year's list.

2015 - A book your mom loved was Lies Jane Austen Told Me
It was okay. My mom and I have very different tastes. I had gotten the book for her from the library and decided to read it before taking it back because "Jane Austen" in a title always gets me.

2016 - A book written by a celebrity was The Princess Diarist
I listened to the audiobook voiced by Carrie Fisher. It was short and sad and moving.

2017 - A book recommended by a librarian was Station Eleven
I have a librarian friend who recommended this one, and I'm glad I followed up. It is a very good dystopian novel.

I wouldn't mind it if they used this prompt every year.

[Erin]

From 2015: A graphic novel.
Freedom Hospital.

[Cornerofmadness]

I ended up doing 'steampunk' and read Chasing the Green Fairy by Melanie Karsak and enjoyed it

[Tracy]

2017: A recommendation from one of your favorite authors: Chris Bohjalian
My Absolute Darling

[Kristin]

I went with a 2015 prompt- 'A Book Your Mom Loves' and chose Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz. I remember asking her at some point in my childhood what her favorite book was, not a kids book that I could read with her, but her favorite book overall. In hindsight, I realize how tough an answer that may have been as she and I share a passion for reading, but 'Dark Rivers of the Heart' was her answer. Sadly, she passed away almost 5 years ago and I'm just reading the book now, so I never got to find out precisely what made this book special to her, but I am enjoying it and thinking about her as I read it.

[Sue]

I used the 2015 prompt - a book made into a movie. This was a last minute decision to try to fit in Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin, because it was picked for my last Book Club of the year. I read it when it first came out in 2003 and loved it, so it was a pleasure to reread. I still have 8 books to go to finish my challenges for the year though, so I really needed to make it fit!

[Sonia]

I am taking my prompt from 2015: A popular author's first book and reading The Dry by Jane Harper. Then I am going to read the next 2 books she has written.