Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2019 Challenge Prompts - Regular
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39 - A book revolving around a puzzle or game
Thanks Nadine - that’s in my TBR and it sounds fun!
Would the Robert Langdon series (Dan Brown, Da Vinci Code books) work here? I have the last two on my TBR
Tina wrote: "Would the Robert Langdon series (Dan Brown, Da Vinci Code books) work here? I have the last two on my TBR"I hope/assume so. I'm going with Angels & Demons.
Kristina wrote: "I am excited to read Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II for this prompt"I hadn't thought of this interpretation, I was stuck on the game part. I might go with something along these lines as well!
I'm pretty sure I'm going to read The Game of Sunken Places, as I already have it in my TBR pile. For D&D fans, there is a book Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It that sounds intriguing. I actually gave it as a gift to my son earlier this year.
Bookshop of Yesterdays is on my TBR list so I'm using that one. Thanks for the tip!Theresa wrote: "Curtain - Poirot's last case, involves a crossword puzzle.
The Bookshop of Yesterdays - has a literary scavenger hunt as part of its plot. A good read, enjoyed it a lo..."
Chrissi wrote: "Linda wrote: "Would The Westing Game work for this prompt?"
Yes! I love that book!"
Brittany wrote: "I'm using the Triwizard Tournament as my game here and reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"This is such a good idea! I will also be re-reading the Harry Potter series next year, already planning to use Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for the book that makes me the most nostalgic and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for the book with at least 1 million ratings
I also will be re-reading hp this year and have found prompts for all 7 books!Stéphanie wrote: "Brittany wrote: "I'm using the Triwizard Tournament as my game here and reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
This is such a good idea! I will also be re-reading the Harry Potter s..."
I was so excited to see this prompt! I have Dubious Documents: A Puzzle, by Nick Bantock, in my cart on Amazon right now!I also had no idea that Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (by Robin Sloane), would qualify for this prompt! I never got around to reading it in 2018, after finding another book for my "library or bookstore" prompt. And all because I want to listen to it on audio, but someone in our group mentioned that we should look under the paper dustcover of the hardback book. I keep forgetting to look for it to take a peek at a brick and mortar store. If it's got lots of illustrations, etc., I will probably just buy it on the spot!
I have a book on my shelf (Game On!: Video Game History from Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft, and More). It's not about *a* game, but it's about video games generally, so I think it should count. I might use it for a book about a hobby instead though.
I whink I will be tweaking this challenge, because to me, a puzzle can also be a mystery, so I can read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier :)
Kim wrote: "I was so excited to see this prompt! I have Dubious Documents: A Puzzle, by Nick Bantock, in my cart on Amazon right now!I also had no idea that [book:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Books..."
There's no illustrations and the book is not a puzzle. It's more that...the fact that the bookstore exists is a puzzle. Yes I'm purposefully being vague. I take a broad approach to spoilers.
Shelley wrote: "Kim wrote: "I was so excited to see this prompt! I have Dubious Documents: A Puzzle, by Nick Bantock, in my cart on Amazon right now!I also had no idea that [book:Mr. Penumbra's 2..."
Intruiging...
I remember someone wanted to do PopSugar with their kid. One of my favorite children's books, is The Eleventh Hour, by Graeme Base. The book is full of beautiful illustrations and challenging puzzles. I'd recommend it to any adult, and will envy you, getting to discover the book for the first time!
Kim wrote: "I remember someone wanted to do PopSugar with their kid."Aw, that's such a lovely idea!
Theresa wrote: "I actually suggested this prompt and "game" did not include sports but did video games, board games, scavenger hunts. But it is your challenge.Some books I had in mind:
Chess
[book:The Flanders ..."
Question then what did you have in mind with puzzle? For example Journey tothe centre of theearth revolves around a puzzle as in cracking a code would that count?
Melody wrote: "Kim wrote: "I remember someone wanted to do PopSugar with their kid."Aw, that's such a lovely idea!"
This is so much fun!! There is a small group in ATY who did a picture book version of the challenge with their children. We had to brainstorm a little bit to figure out books for some of the prompts, but in the end only 2 of the 52 needed to be changed. There was a Womans Prize for fiction category that we substituted other awards for ( Caldecott, Newbury etc...) and the other one was a choice from the Good Reads Best Books of the Month List. For that I used a book from the actual GR choice Awards. My girls are 6 and 8 and they only have 6 books to go to complete their entire challenge. So. Much. Fun. And cuddles. They also did the 2018 GR challenge and set the bar as high as Mommy: 100 books for the year. They are only 10 books away from reading their goal. Its a great way to get the little ones excited about reading!
any other YA suggestions? (besides Harry Potter / the Hunger Games)
Tracy wrote: "Melody wrote: "Kim wrote: "I remember someone wanted to do PopSugar with their kid."Aw, that's such a lovely idea!"
This is so much fun!! There is a small group in ATY who did a picture book ver..."
That is so wonderful! And what a great way to get your kids interested in a lifetime of reading! I'll always remember the summer when our teacher handed out a booklet of beautiful bird stickers, that we could put on a tree that we drew with crayons. A bird for every book we read that summer.
Rhoda wrote: "Bookshop of Yesterdays is on my TBR list so I'm using that one. Thanks for the tip!Theresa wrote: "Curtain - Poirot's last case, involves a crossword puzzle.
[book:The Bookshop of Y..."
You are welcome. I enjoyed the book as a whole and the literary scavenger hunt aspect is excellent
Kim wrote: "I was so excited to see this prompt! I have Dubious Documents: A Puzzle, by Nick Bantock, in my cart on Amazon right now!I also had no idea that [book:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Books..."
Oooh the tip on the Bantock is great! Just added it to my Christmas wishlist!
Thomas wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I actually suggested this prompt and "game" did not include sports but did video games, board games, scavenger hunts. But it is your challenge.Some books I had in mind:
Chess
[bo..."
Oh cracking codes to get answers would definitely count! I had [book:The Da Vinci Code|968] definitely in mind. Someone had already mentioned it so I did not repeat it.
Krissy wrote: "I loved the Westing Game. The Flanders Panel has already been suggested involving the game of chess. Another is The Eight by Katherine Neville."
The Eight is sitting on my bedside table! Thanks for the reminder! Also whoever suggested The Rule of Four, another book in my TBR.
Nonfiction suggestions:Birth of the Chess Queen: A History
Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them
Graphic Nonfiction:
Tetris: The Games People Play
Middle Grade Fiction:
The Gauntlet (also would work for "own voices" prompt")
When You Reach Me
Does anyone know if Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow would work for this prompt? I get a Triwizard tournament vibe from reading the blurb, but not sure if it would count as a game...
Linda wrote: "Anyone read The Lying Game? Would it work?"Yes! The lying game is most definitely about a game. It was a great book!
The Egypt game was one of my favorites in childhood and would for well
Does anyone have suggestions for classics in this category aside from Alice in Wonderland?I am trying to make my list almost entirely classic literature.
I can't really think of any classics surrounding a game.
Olivia wrote: "Does anyone have suggestions for classics in this category aside from Alice in Wonderland?I am trying to make my list almost entirely classic literature.
I can't really think of any classics surr..."
There are several, including:
The Queen of Spades by Pushkin
The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse
The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Dickens
and I would consider The Flanders Panel by Perez-Reverte a contemporary classic.
There are more I'm sure. Check some of my earlier posted suggestions. Those listed here, I've read and enjoyed.
@Olivia - Chess Story by Stefan Zweig (short story)
The Rabbit Back Literature Society has a game at the heart of this great book. It is set in Finland, has an amateur detective, is about writing... so there are several prompts where you could place. I read this year, so I can't use it, but please slot it somewhere. It is that good.
Edie wrote: "The Rabbit Back Literature Society has a game at the heart of this great book. It is set in Finland, has an amateur detective, is about writing... so there are several prompts where you could place..."Oh thanks Edie. This book has caught my interest before - but it has a completely different title in Danish, so I didn´t recognise it at first. ("Den skinbarlige sandhed om Lumikkos litterære selskab" meaning "The plain truth about Lumikko´s literary society") I don´t read Finnish, so I wouldn´t know which title is closest to the original. It also has completely different covers:
I just stumbled upon Matthew Reilly's book The Tournament, which is historical fiction from young Queen Elizabeth I's point of view involving a high stakes...well...tournament. I am intrigued! I checked out his other works and Contest (set in a library!) seems like it might also fit the bill.Have any of you read either book? Would they work for this prompt?
I'll probably pick up The Last Equation of Isaac Severy here. It seems like an adult The Westing Game (which I love), and I've had it on my Kindle all year.
A friend reminded me about Dorothy Dunnett's The Lymond Chronicles, a multi- volume historical fiction series where titles relate to chess pieces, moves and strategy. Each book in the series includes game play and puzzles to a degree. But more importantly, Pawn in Frankincense, the fourth in the series, involves at its climax a chess game with life or death on the line.Queens' Play includes what is essentially a scavenger hunt across the rooftops of Blois, France.
It is an awesome series, and fits any number of prompts.
I just finished The Man Who Spoke Snakish which I loved! It is extremely popular in Estonia where they have developed a board game (also extremely popular) based on the book. So... would that count for this prompt?? Probably I'll end up using the book for the imaginary creatures prompt or based on folklore instead, but still wondering what you'd all think?
I'm thinking it would count. It is technically a book "revolving around a game" even though the game is not part of the book.
I'd definitely recommend it!
I just finished the 7.5 deaths of Evelyn hardcastle by Stuart turton and it would perfectly fit in this category.
A large part of The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin happens in a virtual reality simulation/game. It's a very interesting book and I think would appeal to scifi fans, but it's not for everyone. It's translated from the Chinese and my favorite sections didn't happen in the VR space but were about the effect of the cultural revolution on scientific progress.
Johanne wrote: "I don´t read Finnish, so I wouldn´t know which title is closest to the original."In Finnish it's called "Lumikko and nine others", but lumikko also means a (least) weasel, probably named after snow (lumi) because they are white during winter.
It's weird book, not for everyone, but it's different, at least. I didn't particularly like it but then again, it's not the type of book I usually like, anyway, too much weird stuff going on.
Theresa wrote: "Curtain - Poirot's last case, involves a crossword puzzle.The Bookshop of Yesterdays - has a literary scavenger hunt as part of its plot. A good read, enjoyed it a lo..."
Another Christie is Cards on the Table - another Poirot, solving the case by analysing the game of bridge the suspects were playing
I would not agree, though, for "Name of the Rose" - cyphers, yes, but not really a game
Azrah wrote: "any other YA suggestions? (besides Harry Potter / the Hunger Games)"Warcross has already been mentioned and is very good. Grandmaster was also mentioned--I didn't love it, but it wasn't bad, and is probably worth reading if you have any interest in chess.
For the Win is about video game players, revolving around the black market of game currencies and valuable items.
I think you could count A Dance of Silver and Shadow: A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, as the princesses are forced to participate in an almost Hunger Games style tournament.
Incarceron is maybe more of a mystery than a puzzle, but might be able to count as they're putting together clues to figure out how to get out of the jail they're trapped in.
I would consider Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore to fit into this category. One of my favorites used for this year's "set in a bookstore or library" prompt.
I'm intrigued by this book, Montague Island Mysteries and Other Logic Puzzles. I think it's actually a book, with a narrative, but is filled with puzzles to solve. Here is what one reviewer wrote about it on Amazon:This is not your average collection of unrelated logic puzzles. This is an immersive story with embedded first-class puzzles where solving the puzzles reveals more of the story. The puzzles can be quite hard, but they are all reasonable (like a logic puzzle should be!).
Unfortunately, Amazon hasn't got it in stock right now, and is vague about when it might be coming in. I can order it, and they will let me know when it comes in... (I just placed the order).
The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks is about an amazingly complex game that is used by an alien race to decide who will be the next emperor.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Pachinko (other topics)Cold Day in the Sun (other topics)
Nine Perfect Strangers (other topics)
The Westing Game (other topics)
Never Have I Ever (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Min Jin Lee (other topics)Erin Morgenstern (other topics)
Stefan Zweig (other topics)
Ellen Raskin (other topics)
Matthew Reilly (other topics)
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Middle grade: the Infinity Ring series (A Mutiny in Time) & the 39 Clues series(Into the Gauntlet) ask the reader to solve the puzzle along w the characters. (I have not read these myself so I don't really know how well they fit.)