2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2019
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Rachael Readsalot: 80 (or more!) in 2019
20. A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet448 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (6/30), Serial Reader (12/20)
Why I read this: it sounded interesting
Books TBR = 389 (I had another book in this series but won't be continuing with it)
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 20/70
Number of pages turned = 8,665/25,000
Clear the Shelves: 6/30
TBR Jar: 5/12
Serial Reader: 12/20
An Author's Works: 2/5
Kind of a Big Deal: 6/10
Popsugar: 8/10
Mysterious March: 1/1
Longest Book: Order of Darkness (880 pages)
Shortest Book: The All Souls Real Time Reading Companion (113 pages)
Best Book: The Priory of the Orange Tree
Worst Book: The Winter's Tale
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 4
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 12
⭐⭐⭐: 4
⭐⭐:
⭐:
Comments: I bought a lot of books in March (partly because of my visit to a Literary Festival) but I also read a lot this month. I did not finish one book but I'm hopeful that it won't happen again this year.
What's next? I'm partway through Fly by Night, a book about forbidden books set in an alternative 18th century England
21. Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge 436 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (7/30), TBR Jar (6/12), Serial Reader (13/20), Popsugar (9/15*)
Why I read this: I saw it last year for World Book Day and it appealed to me because the main character has a hunger for words
Books TBR = 388
(* I have increased my goal for this challenge)
22. Sonnet 12 by William Shakespeare1 page
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Much Ado About Shakespeare (1/3)
Why I read this: I chose a random Shakespeare sonnet to read for a challenge
Books TBR = 388
Books TBR = 391There's some good Kindle UK deals on at the moment (including The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, only 98p). I was tempted to buy a lot but I was very restrained and only bought three from my maybe-one-day shelf.
23. The Queen's Man by Rory Clements484 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (8/30), Serial Reader (14/20), Much Ado About Shakespeare (2/3)
Why I read this: The Elizabethan era is one of my favourite historical periods
Books TBR = 390
24. The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James290 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (9/30), All the World's a Stage (1/?)
Why I read this: I've had it for over a year and have only just got round to it despite knowing it was my sort of book
Books TBR = 389
25. King Lear by William Shakespeare302 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, An Author's Works (3/5), All the World's a Stage (2/?), Much Ado About Shakespeare (3/3)
Why I read this: part of my personal lifetime challenge
Books TBR = 388
Catherine wrote: "Wow, you are on a roll!"Thank you! Hope your challenge is going well 👍
Books TBR = 391The pull was too strong to resist...
26. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas419 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (10/30), TBR Jar (7/12), Serial Reader (15/20), Popsugar (10/15), All the World's a Stage (3/?)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot of things about this series
Books TBR = 390
Books TBR = 391The Easter bunny brought me a book (and chocolate!)
27. Fantastic Beasts: Wizarding World News by Jody Revenson96 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I'm a massive fan of the Wizarding World created by JK Rowling
Books TBR = 390
28. Now We Are Dead by Stuart Macbride382 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (11/30), TBR Jar (8/12)
Why I read this: it was recommended by my dad
Books TBR = 389
Rachael wrote: "Books TBR = 391The Easter bunny brought me a book (and chocolate!)"
Next year please send that bunny to my house 😂
Mie wrote: "Rachael wrote: "Books TBR = 391The Easter bunny brought me a book (and chocolate!)"
Next year please send that bunny to my house 😂"
As much as I like chocolate, I think I'd rather have books 😂
I love both, but I couldn’t go without books! Although right now, I would love a piece of chocolate 😉
29. The Fandom by Anna Day402 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (12/30), Serial Reader (16/20), All the World's a Stage (4/?)
Why I read this: the premise sounded interesting
Books TBR = 389
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 29/80
Number of pages turned = 11,477/25,000
Clear the Shelves: 12/30
TBR Jar: 8/12
Serial Reader: 16/20
An Author's Works: 3/5
Kind of a Big Deal: 6/10
Popsugar: 10/15
All the World's a Stage: 4/?
Much Ado About Shakespeare: 3/3
Longest Book: Order of Darkness (880 pages)
Shortest Book: Sonnet 12 (1 page)
Best Book: The Priory of the Orange Tree
Worst Book: The Winter's Tale
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 5
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 19
⭐⭐⭐: 5
⭐⭐:
⭐:
Comments: The number of books in my TBR pile is pretty constant because as I read a book, I'm acquiring another one. April has been another bumper month of reading for me. Goodreads tells me I am 7 books ahead of schedule so I've decided to increase my goal to 80 books! (Hi, 76-100 personal challenge folder!)
What's next? I'm reading one of my book haul from the Northern YA Literary Festival
30. The Island by M.A. Bennett304 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (13/30)
Why I read this: it sounded interesting when I picked it up at the Northern YA Literary Festival
Books TBR = 388
31. The Admirable Crichton by JM Barrie71 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Hidden Treasures (1/1)
Why I read this: my last book was inspired by this play
Books TBR = 387
Doing great keep up the great reading!
32. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green322 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Popsugar (11/15), All the World's a Stage (5/?), Your TBR Blockbusters (1/3)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about this book
Books TBR = 386
For the past week, I've been doing a challenge on social media where you post pictures of favourite books without explanation. It was hard to pick but here are the 7 I eventually chose:
33. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa351 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, TBR Jar (9/12), Serial Reader (17/20), Popsugar (12/15)
Why I read this: I quite like reading about fey
Books TBR = 385
Books TBR = 387I went to see Wicked the musical which was amazing and decided I wanted to read the book too
34. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett1,105 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (18/20), Kind of a Big Deal (7/10), Popsugar (13/15), Your TBR Blockbusters (2/3)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about this book and I also like medieval history
Books TBR = 387
Books TBR = 388I went to Hay-on-Wye for their book festival so obviously I bought a book. I started reading it on the journey back
Books TBR = 389I'm only a quarter of the way through The Night Circus but I'm enjoying it so much, I've just found another book by the author to read.
35. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern496 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, All the World's a Stage (6/?), Your TBR Blockbusters (3/3)
Why I read this: it really intrigued me
Books TBR = 388
36. Flax-Golden Tales by Erin Morgenstern261 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I have recently got into the author and this is available to read online for free
Books TBR = 387
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 36/80
Number of pages turned = 14,387/25,000
Clear the Shelves: 13/30
TBR Jar: 9/12
Serial Reader: 18/20
An Author's Works: 3/5
Kind of a Big Deal: 7/10
Popsugar: 13/15
All the World's a Stage: 6/?
Hidden Treasures: 1/1
Your TBR Blockbusters: 3/3
Longest Book: The Pillars of the Earth (1,105 pages)
Shortest Book: Sonnet 12 (1 page)
Best Book: The Night Circus
Worst Book: The Island
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 6
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 23
⭐⭐⭐: 7
⭐⭐:
⭐:
Comments: Considering that I read a very big book this month (over 1,000 pages!), I still managed to read 7 in total. Last week, I went to the Hay-on-Wye Book Festival which I really enjoyed. I was very good and even though there was lots of temptation, I only bought one book. Not sure how I'll be when I go again next year
What's next? I'm partway through Wicked
37. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire516 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (19/30), Kind of a Big Deal (8/15), Popsugar (14/20), All the World's a Stage (7/?), Reading in Style (1/1) [I've decided to increase my goal for a few challenges]
Why I read this: I enjoyed watching the musical
Books TBR =387
38. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb464 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (20/30), buddy read
Why I read this: It's been on my TBR pile for ages and a buddy read in this group inspired me to finally pick it up
Books TBR = 386
I love how organised you are with your reading. You are really inspiring me to read more. Good job :)
Kirsty wrote: "I love how organised you are with your reading. You are really inspiring me to read more. Good job :)"Thanks. Hope your challenge is going well
Books TBR = 387I'd accidentally moved a book that was still on my TBR pile
39. Tennison by Lynda LaPlante582 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (14/30), Serial Reader (21/30), Kind of a Big Deal (9/15)
Why I read this: it was recommended by my dad
Books TBR = 386
Books TBR = 389I found a trilogy which was too good to miss
40. Hidden Killers by Lynda La Plante496 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (15/30), Serial Reader (22/30)
Why I read this: part of the Tennison series
Books TBR = 388
Woop, woop! I'm halfway there with my overall goal 👍
41. Good Friday by Lynda LaPlante380 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (16/30), TBR Jar (10/12), Serial Reader (23/30)
Why I read this: part of the Tennison series
Books TBR = 387
42. Murder Mile by Lynda LaPlante384 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (17/30), Serial Reader (24/30)
Why I read this: part of the Tennison series
Books TBR = 386
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 42/80
Number of pages turned = 17,209/25,000
Clear the Shelves: 17/30
TBR Jar: 10/12
Serial Reader: 24/30
An Author's Works: 3/5
Kind of a Big Deal: 9/15
Popsugar: 14/20
All the World's a Stage: 7/?
Reading in Style: 1/1
Longest Book: The Pillars of the Earth (1,105 pages)
Shortest Book: Sonnet 12 (1 page)
Best Book: The Night Circus
Worst Book: The Island
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 6
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 29
⭐⭐⭐: 7
⭐⭐:
⭐:
Comments: I am officially over halfway there with my overall goal and all of my yearly challenges! To date, I have also completed all the quarterly and monthly challenges that I signed up for.
What's next? I'm rereading Good Omens
Hi Rachael!Congratz on being right on track in your 2019 reading!
I saw the above June Progress Report on my Recent Updates wall the other day and love your idea so much!
Lately, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all my over-zealous challenge commitments, haha. Your progress report inspires me to track my monthly achievements.
Thank you!
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Baker's Boy (other topics)The Watchmaker's Daughter (other topics)
The Familiars (other topics)
Rosemary's Gravy (other topics)
Brain Freeze (other topics)
More...
464 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: it was an ARC I got from the Northern YA Literary Festival
Books TBR = 391