Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2019 Challenge - General
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2019 Challenge - I Finished!
Date you finished: September 8, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): none
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): An "own voices" book and I read There There which was powerfully good!
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Trail of Lightning for the superpower
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Red Sister for setting in an abbey and The Golden Son for the book with the same title
Least favorite prompt: reread and seen in a movie/tv, I rarely watch tv or movies these days
Prompt you hope to see again: "own voices" and author from Asia, Africa and South America
Last prompt you finished: a book with salt, sweet, bitter or spicy on the title, I had the books sitting on my nightstand for 6 weeks before getting to it
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Yes, it seemed reasonable
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes!
Date you finished: 12.09.2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 6
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Nr.14 A book you see someone reading on tv or in a movie.
It was fun to spot the different books and look them up. I read: Nevermore from Supernatural
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Red Sister ended up using it for prompt 4. But was actuality ment for a different prompt but mistook it for another book. So happy coincidence turned out to be my favourite book. Love that..
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Red Sister again
Least favorite prompt: 3. A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction) & 20. A book set in space & 42. A "choose-your-own-adventure" book
Prompt you hope to see again: I just hope we don't see too many repeat next year. Like 1. A book becoming a movie in or A book that's published in 2019.
Last prompt you finished: 9. A book you meant to read in 2018
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Each year I make a list of books for the challenge and some backup and end up reading something completely different for at least half the books. It works for me. I like following the group and discuss possible books for the prompts and have the list to go to if I don't come along something different throughout the year. that catches my interest.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Can't wait to hear the new list in November and get all the great ideas for books to read in 2020. I am definitely in again for my 4th year.
Date you finished: 09/16/2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 131
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Prompt 46, A book with no chapters.
One Day in DecemberFavorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Prompt 41, A cli-fi book.
Flight BehaviorWas there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Dear Committee MembersLeast favorite prompt: Prompt 27, A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature
Prompt you hope to see again: Prompt 25, A debut novel
Last prompt you finished: Prompt 22, A book with salty, sweet, bitter, spicy in the title
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I actually started my challenge in December because I'm a single mom working and going to school full time. I'm not sure I'll do that again, because now I'm finished and it's only September! I always plan all the books I think I'll read for every prompt when the challenge comes out, and then I rarely stick to that plan. That's perfectly fine with me. I don't want to feel like I'm defined by my reading challenge, but that I'm being challenged by it, finding and reading books that broaden my horizons.
Finally, are you in for 2020? ABSOLUTELY!!
Woohoo! I read the last few pages of my last challenge book two hours ago and am now joining the ranks of the "I finished!" people :)Date you finished:
17 September 2019
Message number of your list post (if you've got one):
128
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
Read a book during the season it is set in (Eisnacht) – Not my favorite book from the entire challenge, but I loved the prompt! It is a built-in guarantee for maximum immersion :)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
Not counting the Harry Potter re-reads: One of Us Is Lying (A book told from multiple POVs), The Outsider (A book you meant to read in 2018), World Without End (A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent), The Killer Next Door (A book recommended by a celebrity you admire), Terror (A novel based on a true story)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
I'd had my eye on The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but if not for the challenge, I may not have gotten around to actually reading the book when I did. It was, in fact, my first challenge book of the year, and I loved it!
Least favorite prompt:
A "choose-your-own-adventure" book – not because I didn't enjoy the book I ended up reading but because it is a very particular genre that is mainly aimed at children and doesn't hold much fascination for me. I don't have any children, so apart from my own treasured childhood classics I'm not too well stocked on kids' books.
Prompt you hope to see again:
Read a book during the season it is set in
Last prompt you finished:
A novel based on a true story
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc):
After years of trying out different approaches, I think I've found my favorite way to go about it this year. In my first year (2015) I was extremely strict. I did not allow any re-reads, and when I read a series, I only allowed one book to count. In 2016 I did allow all series entries to count for different categories, if applicable, but I still used exclusively books I had never read before (unless the prompt explicitly called for a re-read, of course).
This year was the first time I actually allowed re-reads to be used for any prompt, partly because I'd been dying to re-read Harry Potter for a while now, and also because I felt that I didn't have to be as strict as before. I definitely proved to myself that I could handle the challenge with previously unread books only, but I am going to leave more room for re-reads in the future, too. I have always been able to enjoy books several times, and I've barely ever done that since I joined the first PS challenge.
I will continue to try and fill the prompts from my existing TBR as much as possible, but I will be more lenient overall.
Finally, are you in for 2020?
Absolutely!
Date you finished: 9/22/2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one):812
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book that takes places in a single day They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemison - A book about someone with superpowers
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
Least favorite prompt: A book with no chapters, unusual chapter headings, or unconventionally numbered chapters - hard to search for
Prompt you hope to see again: A book you meant to read in a previous year
Last prompt you finished: A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Happy overall
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes
Date you finished: 25 Sep 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 827
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I didn't have a favorite prompt; I enjoyed most of them
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Just One Damned Thing after Another by Jodi Taylor; A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Ready Player One
Least favorite prompt: A "choose-your-own-adventure" book:
Prompt you hope to see again: A reread of a favorite book
Last prompt you finished: Own Voices
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): All was good
Finally, are you in for 2020? Oh, yeah!
Date you finished: 27.09.2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 849
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 25 A debut novel
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Jane Eyre, A debut novel
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Ready Player One by Ernest Kline
Least favorite prompt: 42 A «choose your own adventure»- book.
Prompt you hope to see again: 47/48 Two books that share the same title or 25 A debut novel
Last prompt you finished: An «own voices» book; Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I discovered this reading challenge in the middle of February and I set up a reading list, and from there on just adding more and more books for each prompt. At one time my daughter catch me in the act of searching for even more books and told me if I used the same time on the actual reading part I would have read the at least the double amount of books.
For next year I am in from the beginning, and I already looking forward to when the new prompt-list is coming and the search for new books to read, adventures to explore. I also have to remember that a year is 12 months. This year I read must of the books before July.
Finally, are you in for 2020? YES!!
Date you finished: September 28, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 992
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I was most excited to see “a book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title” because it’s something unique to this year’s challenge and I'm interested in astrology. I read The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. I specifically wanted a book with “moon” in the title since the Moon is my ruling planet.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience by Rebecca Roanhorse for "a book recommended by a celebrity you admire." LeVar Burton read this on his podcast.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman. I’d read a few of this author's books last year. I didn’t really love any of them, so I thought I was done with this author. I read this anyway because I wanted something other than Nordic noir to fill the "set in Scandinavia" prompt. I gave this 5 stars.
Least favorite prompt: I wasn't too excited about "a book becoming a movie in 2019" because I didn't like any of the choices. I ended up stretching the prompt and reading a book becoming a TV show in 2019.
Prompt you hope to see again: I don’t love repeating prompts, but some variation on “a book set in space” will always be welcomed. I love science fiction.
Last prompt you finished: I saved “a book with “pop”, “sugar”, or “challenge” in the title” for the end. It seemed like a great way to finish up the challenge.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Last year I thought I read a little too obsessively so my goal this year was to find some chill. I made some real progress on that goal! I ended up not participating in any of the group reads this year because the reading stars didn’t align, but I missed those discussions.
Finally, are you in for 2020? As always, it depends on the prompts, but I trust the folks at Popsugar to come up with another great list for 2020. I’m sure I’ll be doing the challenge again next year.
Date you finished: 9/28/2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 43
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book you think should be turned into a movie... I read The Municipalists by Seth Fried, which I got from Book of the Month Club. It was a buddy comedy with an android and reminded me somewhat of the dynamic between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapon movies.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Oh man, this is tough... I'm going with On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, which I used for the own voices prompt. I flew through it in a little over a day. Just terrific.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Actually, I had the opposite experience - I read some books just to fit the prompt and I didn't like them!
Least favorite prompt: A LitRPG book
Prompt you hope to see again: A book with multiple character POVs... those books are my jam.
Last prompt you finished: A retelling of a classic, and I picked Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I wish I would have planned less, because I made a lot of changes throughout the year. Next year I'm blank listing it!
Finally, are you in for 2020? ABSOLUTELY!
Date you finished: 09/30/2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 227
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Two books with the same name. The Ice Princess by Camille Lackberg and by Jim Walker. The books I read could not have been more different -- it was pretty interesting. Also, set in a vicarage was fun, although I wish I had read what I had initially planned for that.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Torn between The Whispering City by Sara Moliner (#39 puzzle) and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owen which I read for the question, but the grammarian in me in cringing at that prompt description and title match.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy Mcanulty was better than I expected for the dreaded superhero category.
Least favorite prompt: Superhero, LITRPG, set in space and CliFi -- basically all the science fiction prompts. The prompts are so specific it's hard for someone who doesn't really like sci fi to find something and there were 6 this year!
Prompt you hope to see again: Since this challenge is about finding books you wouldn't normally read and enjoy, I would like to see the same title again -- that allows for lots of options!
Last prompt you finished: Common phrase -- Aesop's Fables for the boy who cried wolf. My county's main library closed for construction about two months ago and interlibrary loan is seriously impacted. I tried to save the easy to find and likely to be at my library books for the end.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc):
Overall, yes I am. I was simultaneously doing a read of the countries of Europe which is pretty challenging (Andorra, Hungary, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Serbia left to go!) and that colored more of my reading this year. Spreadsheets are crucial as are building a list in your library's site if they allow for it.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Depends on the amount of sci fi as I'm hitting the age where I'd rather read more of what I enjoy.
Date you finished: 29th SeptemberMessage number of your list post (if you've got one): I just made one but don't know how to find the number? 1011 I think?
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I liked the "book you meant to read in 2018" prompt because it meant I was required to chip away at my TBR a little bit! I read The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School, which I got on impulse from the bookstore in I think June or July of 2018.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I REALLY loved The Queens of Innis Lear, which was for a retelling of a classic.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The entire Flavia de Luce series! I read the first one for the amateur detective prompt and inhaled the rest in a couple months.
Least favorite prompt: A book written by a musician. I don't generally care for musicians so I picked the shortest book I could find, Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You.
Prompt you hope to see again: Ownvoices! I was perplexed that it was only an advanced prompt, because it's quite a broad category and a good way to diversify your reading.
Last prompt you finished: The second of two books with the same title, Night Watch.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I wish I'd finished sooner and not let myself get distracted this whole summer with mood reading, pretty much.
Finally, are you in for 2020? We'll see. I have way too many books unread on my shelf, and unless a majority of them fit into next year's challenge, I probably won't.
Date you finished:02/10/2019
Message number of your list post (if you've got one):
843
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
I didn't really have a favouratite prompt while I was doing the challenge, but thinking back 'A novel based on a true story' was a prompt that I worried about, but which turned out to have some really interesting options, often within genres that I already read.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail for 'A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover'. I'd been meaning to read it for a while, and I'm really glad this challenge finally propelled me into doing so!
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
I Capture the Castle (for 'A book recommended by a celebrity you admire'), Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading (for 'A book that makes you nostalgic'), and Bitter Greens (for 'A book with a title that contains SALTY, SWEET, BITTER or SPICY').
Least favorite prompt:
The subjective ones, like 'A book you think should be turned into a movie', as they're really difficult to plan for unless you do a re-read (which I didn't want to do).
Prompt you hope to see again:
'A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads', as there are a number of books on there I haven't yet read.
Last prompt you finished:
'A book written by a musician'
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc):
I am pleased - I planned a lot of prompts in advance, but gave myself the flexibility to change my mind if I spotted something I liked the look of better, or if I saw a recommendation in one of the groups threads.
Finally, are you in for 2020?
Not sure. I've really enjoyed doing the challenge, but I think I'd like a year to just read what I like. Maybe I'll do it in alternate years!
Date you finished: October 3, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #180, page 4
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Book you meant to read in 2018 - Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): To Keep the Sun Alive - read for book published in 2019
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: So many - Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop.
Least favorite prompt: LitRPG
Prompt you hope to see again: Featuring an Amateur Detective
Last prompt you finished: Book with 1M or more ratings on GR
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): - Nope - all worked well. I was down to only 4 to 6 prompts left by May 31. I just dallied reading the final books. Minimal planning works best for me.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Hell yeah!
Theresa wrote: "Date you finished: October 3, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #180, page 4
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Book you meant to read in 2018 - [book:..."
Congrats, Theresa. I hope to be joining you in the next day or two.
Milena wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Date you finished: October 3, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #180, page 4
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Book you meant to read ..."
Way to go, Milena!
Date you finished: 10/3/2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 78
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore. I read The Silence of the Girls
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Secret History for book set on a college or university campus, and The House of the Spirits for a book by an author from South America.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Matilda
Least favorite prompt: A choose your own adventure book.
Prompt you hope to see again: A book featuring an amateur detective.
Last prompt you finished: A book revolving around a puzzle or game.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): For the most part it was a good mix of planned books and impulse reading that still fit the prompts. I could have been weeks ago though if Authority had actually turned out to be a cli-fi book.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes, can't wait!
Mod
Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 2
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Cli-fi, because I hadn’t realized how much I enjoy this sub genre until I saw it labeled! (I read The Water Knife for this and I hated this book hahaha but I loved a lot of other cli fi books I’ve read); and author from Asia or Africa (I hope in the future they narrow this down a lot - maybe “author from Southeast Asia” or “Author from West Africa” because “Asia or Africa” is huge) - I read Convenience Store Woman for this, and enjoyed it.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson, this was not really a spy novel, but a novel about a spy, and about her family. I checked off “about a family” with this.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by Josephine Leslie. I used to watch the TV show (no I have not seen the movie) and it’s only last year that I discovered it was a book. The “ghost story” category was the perfect impetus for me to read this! I probably wouldn’t have gotten to it otherwise.
Least favorite prompt: A book with at least one million ratings on GR.” Please never again with this one. If the book is that popular, I obviously know about it, and I’ve either read it or don’t want to read it. (I read Life of Pi - hated it.)
Prompt you hope to see again: I always like to see “published this year.”
Last prompt you finished: Two books with the same title. (I read Undertow and Undertow - and they both involved non-human amphibian creatures, and the authors’ names both start with B.)
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Every year I throw my whole self into planning, I might love the planning even more than the reading. I’ll be planning like that again, since it’s fun, but next year I’ll go into the Challenge with the expectation that many of my books will be “off-plan.” I’m always flexible, but this year I found myself feeling anchorless and disappointed that I wasn’t sticking more closely to my plan; one third of my Challenge reads were not what I’d originally planned, and it all worked out fine. There’s no need for feeling upset about it, so next year I will PLAN to go off-plan!!
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes of course :-)
Milena wrote: "Date you finished: 10/3/2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 78
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore. I read [book:The..."
Congratulations, Milena!
Nadine wrote: "Date you finished: 10/4/19Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 2
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Cli-fi, because I hadn’t realized how much I enjoy this s..."
Way to go, Nadine!
Date you finished: October 6, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 952
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): #15 A retelling of a classic. I read Bitter Greens which was a retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I enjoyed the majority of the books that I read but I think about Every Last One often. I read this book for #46 A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters. This was a bit of a stretch in meeting the prompt. The book was divided into chapters but the chapters had no heading at all.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Many books fall into this category but especially Ready Player One for #45 A LitRPG book and The End We Start From for #41 A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book.
Least favorite prompt: Without a doubt this is #42 A "choose-your-own-adventure" book.
Prompt you hope to see again: #47/48 Two books that share the same title.
Last prompt you finished: #22 A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I discovered this challenge late in the game (in May) and used books that I had already read in 2019 to meet prompts. Next year I hope to plan things out and read in order.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Absolutely. I can't wait!
Date you finished: 10/7/19Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 64
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Book you see someone reading on TV, Wuthering Heights. I like the scavenger hunt aspect.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): It's a tie between 11/22/63, which I read for book you think should be a movie, and The Nightingale which I read for a book recommended by a celebrity.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Ready Player One. I read it for LitRPG. I had no idea what that was, so I looked on that thread to see what others were reading and this was mentioned a few times. it was sooooo good. And I never ever ever would have read it otherwise.
Least favorite prompt: Either cli-fi, because I don't like it. Or book you think should be a movie because I don't like prompts where you need to read the book before you know.
Prompt you hope to see again: There were a lot of good prompts this year. Based on mythology, retelling of a classic. Just not both in the same year again. Too similar.
Last prompt you finished: Book that takes place in an abbey. I read Bloodstone. It wasn't particularly good.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Yes.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Definitely.
Date you finished: 10/7/19Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 75. Although I kept a nice clean, organized copy here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Book recommended by a celebrity I admire; Siddhartha recommended by Hugh Jackman
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Strange the Dreamer for multiple POV's
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography
Least favorite prompt: LitRPG
Prompt you hope to see again: I liked the Published in (current year) so I can at least sort of keep up with new books.
Last prompt you finished: Published in 2019; The Testaments
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I'm please with my approach.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yep!
Date you finished: 10/13Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 19
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Two books that share the same title (
and
)Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
(A ghost story)Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Least favorite prompt: A book recommended by a celebrity you admire
Prompt you hope to see again: A book you meant to read in (previous year)
Last prompt you finished: A book recommended by a celebrity you admire
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I liked the way I did it. I enjoyed the planning, as well as throwing out plans to read whatever book on hand happened to fit.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes!
Date you finished: October 13, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 300
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore:
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
prompt: Book with a plant on the cover or in the titleWas there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Least favorite prompt: I had the most difficulty with the last prompt that I read: book that inspired a common phrase or idiom.
Prompt you hope to see again: I like the prompt inviting us to read your favorite prompt from a previous POPSUGAR challenge. I used the prompt: read the next book in a series you've started.
Last prompt you finished: From the advanced section, book that inspired a phrase or idiom. I read
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): This was my first time doing the challenge, so I'm thrilled that I accepted the challenge and actually finished it. I loved mapping out my reading for the year, but I also allowed myself to be flexible enough to shuffle things around the list and modify my books as different ones appealed to me. I challenged myself not to buy any new books by using library resources, and I tried to pick from my existing TBR list, although I think I doubled my list based on recommendations from this group.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes, but I admit that I'm glad to have some time before the next one starts to just read what I want and not stress about whether a book fits the challenge.
Mod
Thanks. And I’m deleting it (because it’s never clear to me if flagging has any effect!!!), so if anyone is wondering: it was that nonsense “make $$$” type of spam: I’ve seen it elsewhere on GR.
Date you finished: 10/13/19Message number of your list post: 704
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage or convent - Holy Sister
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Anne of Green Gables - Reread of a favorite book.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Yes, a few. Especially To Be or Not To Be: A Chooseable-Path Adventure for a Choose Your Own Adventure book, and Slaughterhouse-Five - A book you see someone reading on TV (Jess Mariano - Gilmore Girls)
Least favorite prompt: LitRPG. Man, everything in that genre is such insipid garbage.
Prompt you hope to see again:A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore
Last prompt you finished:A book by two female authors. It was tough finding something I liked. I had a couple of false starts, but finally discovered Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which I enjoyed.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge: Yes! I used a spreadsheet, modified from one someone posted in the community, and found great fun in planning books for each prompt.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Absolutely. I've never read so much in one year before, and I have this challenge to thank.
Date you finished: October 17Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I don't think that I have one. I develop a weird love/hate relationship with all of the prompts (except for one or two which I just hate)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): A book with LOVE in the title - "The Tsar of Love and Techno" by Anthony Marra
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Yes, the one mentioned above.
Least favorite prompt: "A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom." I actually gave up on this prompt, then a friend who is also doing the challenge suggested a book to me and I read it.
Prompt you hope to see again: A book set in space
Last prompt you finished: "A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom."
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I think I did okay.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes!
Date you finished: 10/18/19Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #60
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 15. A retelling of a classic -
Pride,
Ayesha at Last,
UnmarriageableFavorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
Code Name Hélène 38. A novel based on a true storyWas there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
The MartianLeast favorite prompt: 3. An "own voices" book
Prompt you hope to see again: 25. A debut novel
Last prompt you finished: 13. a book published posthumously -
The Way of All FleshAre you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc):
Overall, yes. I tried to select books that I already owned but gave myself some leeway.
Finally, are you in for 2020?
I'm undecided. I've done this challenge and AtY52 and the MMD Reading Challenge, and the MMD Summer Reading Guide for the last two years. It's too much. I'm definitely not doing AtY52 next year. I haven't decided if I will do PopSugar. If it has some good, unique, and non-political/controversial/agendized prompts, I will probably do it. If not, I will probably take a break.
Date you finished: 10/27Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 1020
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
Book that makes you nostalgic. I read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, the author and I come from similar places at similar times, so the pop culture references really resonated with me. He tried out for MTV’s Real World San Francisco which was one of my favorite shows back in the day. It was also a very well written and moving book about a really difficult period in his life. I really was glad that I read it.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Becoming - Recommended by a celebrity you admire (Barack Obama and Oprah). Unoriginal choice I know, but it was a good book.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Sparrow for a book in space. This book sat on my kindle for years, and was recommended by many people I trust, but as I generally don’t like sci-fi I just never tried it. I’m so glad I finally read it. Still think about it.
Least favorite prompt: choose your own adventure or litRPG.
Prompt you hope to see again: Goodreads winners are generally good! Or anything that makes me read nonfiction.
Last prompt you finished: Reread of a favorite.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I’m OK with my performance! I generally read other books in between my challenge books so I don’t get burnt out.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yup!
Date Finished: 11/3/19Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 928
Favorite prompt: A retelling of a classic- The Girl in Red
Favorite book: A Man Called Ove Book set in Scandinavia
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:The Bell Jar
Least favorite prompt: Published posthumously
Prompt you hope to see again: Own voices
Last prompt you finished: Re-read of a favorite
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things?: Yes, I completed the challenged, but also continued reading new books that caught my eye. I didn't finish as quickly, but still read lots of interesting books!
Finally, are you in for 2020? I don't think so. Trying to work on my TBR list!
Date you finished: November 3Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 991
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Own Voices
Last Night in Nuuk I LOVED it!
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): This is tough. It's a tie between Eleven Hours for takes place in one day, The Never List for book you think should be turned into a movie, and Wounds: Six Stories from the Border of Hell for book being turned into a movie in 2019. And, of course, Last Night in Nuuk for own voices. I'm still thinking about each of them.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Tea Dragon Society. I'd never heard of this gorgeous book. It was clearly written for kids, but the story is so beautiful, quiet, inclusive on every possible level, and it's such an uplifting story. I was dreading yet another "myth/fairy tale / fantasy" book. This turned out to a gorgeous selection. I want a copy of this book, and I want my very own Tea Dragon!
Least favorite prompt: It's a toss-up between retelling of a classic, extinct or mythological creatures, and booked based on mythology. I really don't like fantasy, or retellings. Tell me something new! But I managed to find books that were Ok and 2 that I really loved.
The Wind Done Gone has been on my TBR for a long time, and was written by my college blockmate. I highly recommend it! A retelling of Gone with the Wind, it's a refreshing and very plausible story. Cynthia remains in my heart.
So great to find a book that was not another retelling of a myth or fairy tale.
Prompt you hope to see again: Your favorite prompt from a past Challenge
Last prompt you finished: Choose your own adventure Which Cult Should I Join?: A Choose-Your-Own Guidebook for the Spiritually Bereft Very irreverent, funny, and chock full of good information. My last adventure was to read it cover to cover.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc):
Yes! I came to the challenge late, but I had fun planning and searching. Reading everyone's list was great - I discovered so many great books and authors.
I had a multi-color spreadsheet (part of the fun) with various books I had found, and then read what I could find, when a book came through from a hold, or as my mood took me, and as I had time.
Going with the flow and finding a book that I hadn't planned to read was just a great Easter egg. I loved the planning -- and I loved going with the flow if I found something else that seemed like a gem.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes, depending on work demands
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Date you finished: November 1Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 512 (I think)
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I reread Cloud Atlas... and I would do it again if the prompt "A favourite reread" ever comes along.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Drinking: A Love Story for a book with the word LOVE in the title.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Unsheltered, and I read it just because the cover had a plant on it!
Least favorite prompt: Book-that-we-are-the-hero type thing. Ugh.
Prompt you hope to see again: Favourite reread! Or any prompt which suggests a particular word in the title.
Last prompt you finished: Book I've seen a celebrity reading on TV (thanks Whoopi!)
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? Nope, it works for me and I will keep doing it. It forces me to read outside the box.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Oui oui ouiiiiii!!
Date you finished: 05/11/2019Message number of your list post: #126
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
Cli-fi and I read The Migration which was fantastic. Any hint of climate fiction in a book description makes me add it to my wishlist!
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
The Familiars (based on a true story), The Migration (cli-fi) and War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line (two word title). Sorry, can't just pick one!
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Not really, I had quite a few duff reads and the books I loved I would have read anyway. I probably wouldn't have read Animal Farm this year without the idiom prompt, but I had been meaning to read it.
Least favorite prompt:
A book with over a million ratings. A very limiting selection considering how many I'd read already and there was usually a reason I hadn't read the others. Plus there was overlap with the idiom prompt. I ended up reading The Time Traveler's Wife which managed to be both icky and boring.
Prompt you hope to see again:
I quite like the ones to read a book I didn't get round to the year before, because I have loads of them.
Last prompt you finished:
Re-read of a favourite (Bitten).
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things?
My aim was to finish before the new list comes out, so I've achieved that! By the end I wished I hadn't split up the continents prompt, even though it seemed like a good idea at the time. Otherwise slotting in books as I go mostly works and I tried to make sure I spread the difficult prompts out.
Finally, are you in for 2020?
Unless the list veers into Read Harder territory, yes! I might not do the advanced prompts, but I said that last year...
Full list:(view spoiler)
Date you finished: July 15Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 924
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Need - A book about a family
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Most of these were books that I had on my TBR and just fit into the prompts, but I did enjoy I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life (a book about a hobby), which I likely would not have picked up otherwise.
Least favorite prompt: A LitRPG book - not really my genre, although I ended up liking (not loving) the book I chose (Warcross)
Prompt you hope to see again: A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore. I always love these types of books.
Last prompt you finished: A book set in an abbey, church, monastery, vicarage, or convent
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Loved every minute of it - the planning was honestly the best part!
Finally, are you in for 2020? 100%
Date you finished: 11/4/19Message number of your list post (if you've got one):
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): #2 A book that makes you nostalgic (The Platinum Age of TV by David Bianculli)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Wild Rover No More by L.A. Meyer (A book published posthumously)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: True Grit by Charles Portis (A book with a two-word title)
Least favorite prompt: LitRPG
Prompt you hope to see again: Two books that share the same title
Last prompt you finished: LitRPG
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I'm happy with how I did my challenge.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes!
Ellie wrote: "Date you finished: 05/11/2019Message number of your list post: #126
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
Cli-fi and I read The Migration which was fantastic. Any..."
Congrats on finishing! I had a similar response to The Time Traveler's Wife (used for the million ratings prompt too). I hope they don't repeat that prompt next year.
Date you finished: 11/6Message number or your list post (if you’ve got one): 110
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it): A book by two female authors/My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for): So many good ones! Love Walked In/A book with “love” in the title
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge? The Age of Miracles/A cli-fi book
Least favorite prompt: A toss up between A LitRPG and A choose-your-own-adventure book
Prompt you hope to see again: A retelling of a classic
Last prompt you finished: A reread of a favorite book
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? Overall I am happy with the way I have been doing the challenge except that I keep pushing back the prompts I don’t like until the end. I end up dreading them and change my books for them half a dozen times. I need to do a better job of mixing up the prompts I don’t like with those I do.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes, bring it on! I have been stalling planning my Around the Year challenge waiting for the Popsugar list.
And I'm done!Date you finished: November 7th
Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #44
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore (Circe)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I had more than one 5-stars books, but I was impressed with We Are Legion for the prompt set in space
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Calculating Stars
Least favorite prompt: Book published in 2019
Prompt you hope to see again: Book becoming a movie
Last prompt you finished: Book published in 2019
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I'm getting better at choosing books now that it's been 4 years.
Finally, are you in for 2020? I can't wait for the new prompts.
Date you finished: October 31stMessage number of your list post (if you've got one): 296
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): "A LitRPG book" for which I read Warcross
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):The Princess Bride for "A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie"
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Labyrinth Lost
Least favorite prompt: "A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book"
Prompt you hope to see again: "A book set in space"
Last prompt you finished: "A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent"
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I'm pretty happy with how everything turned out. I finished the "Around The Year" challenge on the same day, and the "Book Riot" challenge the following day, so now I'm left not really knowing what to read, and not pushing myself to read as much (which is probably not the worst with finals coming up)!
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes! Just waiting for the list to arrive!
Mere days (I hope) before the 2020 challenge gets published, I have finished 2019!Date you finished: November 7
Message number of your list post: 403 (the books can also be found on my Popsugar Challenge 2019 shelf).
Favorite prompt: Probably “A retelling of a classic”—I read Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal, a thoughtful transposition of Pride and Prejudice into not-quite-contemporary Pakistan.
Favorite book: Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro, which I used for “A book with an item of clothing or an accessory on the cover.” The premise of the memoir (the author gets unexpected results from a DNA test she takes on a lark) didn’t do much for me—I felt I’d seen that kind of thing before—so I doubt I would have read the book if I didn’t need to plug something into that category, but I found it unexpectedly moving. Shapiro is an eloquent, empathetic writer, and she finds fresh, poignant insights about family and heritage in her story.
A book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the challenge: Besides Inheritance, there was Wonder Woman: Warbringer (“A book about someone with a superpower”) and The Best of Everything (“A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie”—it’s one of the books Don Draper reads in Mad Men). Also, I’m embarrassed to admit that this challenge is what finally got me around to reading 1984 (“A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom”), which I somehow never covered in high school.
Least favorite prompt: “A LitRPG book.” I had to sift through a lot of chaff to find something that struck me as tolerable, but NPCs, the book I finally ended up reading (well, listening to), was cute.
Prompt you hope to see again: “A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore.” I read Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles, which I loved, but there are so many fascinating-looking books that fit that category.
Last prompt you finished: “A book written by an author from Asia”—I read The Memory Police, by Yoko Ogawa. (I divided up the “author from Asia/Africa/South America” prompt early on, considering it too broad, and read My Sister, the Serial Killer for Africa and The House of the Spirits for South America.)
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge? Yes! Besides reading off challenge when a stray book struck my interest, I also gave myself permission to set aside books I’d picked for the challenge that ended up not working for me rather than forcing myself to get to the end just to check off a box. It took me significantly longer to finish than it would have otherwise, but I think it made a nice balance. Plus, finding books to read for various prompts is a lot of fun for me, so I enjoyed tweaking and revising my plans throughout the year.
Are you in for 2020? Yes, but I wish the Popsugar prompts did a little more to push us outside of our comfort zone—into a wider variety of substantive genres (not just jokey superniche stuff like LitRPG and choose-your-own-adventure), nonfiction as well as fiction, and works in translation and so forth. Popsugar often feels more like a scavenger hunt, seeking out particular words or letters or cover art rather than meaningfully diverging from reading ruts. I actually prefer Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge because it feels like more of a challenge, but it has only 24 prompts, so I do this challenge too—and, yes, I have a lot of fun with it! Scavenger hunts are fun too. :)
You guys!! I am so proud of myself. I have tried to complete one of these challenges for several years and this was the first year I finished!Date you finished: October 14, 2019
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America and I read Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding (A novel based on a true story.)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (A book published posthumously)
Least favorite prompt: A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads (Mainly because I read most of them!)
Prompt you hope to see again: A book told from multiple character POVs
Last prompt you finished: A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc):
Finally, are you in for 2020? I was happy with how I did! I'm just glad I finished.
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I finished the challenge five days ago but I could write today. Date you finished:
November 4th
Message number of your list post (if you've got one):
347
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
A book revolving around a puzzle or game, I read Dan Brown’s origin.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
Memoirs of A Geisha, for the prompt of a deput novel.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (A book taking place in one day)
Least favorite prompt:
A book set on a college or university campus
Prompt you hope to see again:
A book you think should be turned into a movie
Last prompt you finished:
A book set in space
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc):
I did a tentative TBR which I frequently changed, I will not do a TBR beforehand but try to fit the books I read in the prompts.
Finally, are you in for 2020?:
Unfortunately, I have a big project of finishing the series I started in 2020 and series are hard to fit for different prompts. Therefore, I will not join 2020 but I am thinking of rejoining in 2021.
AdvancedDate you finished: September 28, 2019
Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 262
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Two Books That Share the Same Title: Nemesis by Brendan Reichs and Nemesis by Jo Nesbo
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Nemesis by Brendan Reichs (Two Books That Share the Same Title)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Nemesis by Brendan Reichs
Least favorite prompt: A Book Set In An Abbey, Cloister, Monastery, Vicarage, or Convent
Prompt you hope to see again: Two Books That Share the Same Title
Last prompt you finished: September 28, 2019
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I don’t think I would change anything.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes.
Regular
Date you finished: October 25, 2019
Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 262
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): a book revolving around a puzzle or game
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Where the Crawdads Sing (a book you meant to read in 2018)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Sugar Queen
Least favorite prompt: a book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title
Prompt you hope to see again: a book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)
Last prompt you finished: September 28, 2019
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I don’t think I would change anything.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes.
Date you finished: November 13Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Two books that share the same title. I read the classic Emma and the manga Emma, Vol. 1.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Where the Crawdads Sing (book that should be made into a movie)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Sweet
Least favorite prompt: A book that includes a wedding. Weddings are boring, and in most books characters just get married and we skip the wedding.
Prompt you hope to see again: Book published in (current year)
Last prompt you finished: Reread of a favorite - Middlesex
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): No regrets.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Probably.
Date you finished: November 14 Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #913
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Nothing stands out to me.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Cruel Prince used for prompt #11 article of clothing or accessory on the cover.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel I had never read a choose your own adventure and I probably won't read another one. This book was hilarious.
Least favorite prompt: #50 set in an abbey etc.
Prompt you hope to see again: #43 own voices
Last prompt you finished: #5 A million goodreads ratings
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): For the most part I read what I wanted to and they worked for many prompts. For some tough prompts I got suggestions from group discussions.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes
Date you finished: 15th OctoberMessage number of your list post (if you've got one): #589 (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 30. featuring an amateur detective - Owls Well That Ends Well, Donna Andrews
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I didn't really have a strong favourite, but see the next question
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge? both Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman and Where'd You Go, Bernadette, Maria Semple
Least favorite prompt: A toss-up between 28. Recommended by a celebrity you admire (there are very few of those, and even fewer recommend books) and 15. Retelling of a classic
Prompt you hope to see again: No strong feelings on that one.
Last prompt you finished: 18. Someone with a superpower - Heroine Complex
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? It went pretty well - at least I finished this year!
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yep
Date you finished: 15 November 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 225
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Re-read of a favorite book: The Outsiders
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Being Perfect for A book with a two-word title.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: They Both Die at the End
Least favorite prompt: A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie.
Prompt you hope to see again: Most any, except a book turned into a movie LOL
Last prompt you finished: A book with "sugar", "pop" or "challenge" in the title.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): Yes, I smartened up, and read what I thought would be my longest book early in the year LOL.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes, of course.
Date you finished: November 13, 2019Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #241
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book that includes a wedding The Unhoneymooners
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Most Fun We Ever Had (A debut novel) Phenomenal book!!
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Not really, but there were several I read sooner than I probably would have without the challenge. My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane were two that I really enjoyed that I used for A book by two female authors and A ghost story.
Least favorite prompt: From the regular prompts: a book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title. It was a hard one for me to fill. From the advanced prompts: A LitRPG book. Not my favorite genre.
Prompt you hope to see again: A reread of a favorite book. I love to reread books, but never feel like I have the time to.
Last prompt you finished: A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I'm happy with my planning. I chose several books for most prompts so I could have some flexibility. But because I read a lot of ARCs, some of those prompts got changed anyway. I fully intended to read more books off my existing TBR shelf, and I did pretty good the first half of the year, but I had a weak moment and requested too many ARCs which took up more of the rest of the year.
Finally, are you in for 2020? Yes! Very excited about the few prompts that have been released. I'm liking them better than this years. I'm going to try--again--to stick to books I already own as much as I can.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Red, White & Royal Blue (other topics)Circe (other topics)
Moon of the Crusted Snow (other topics)
Warcross (other topics)
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
S.A. Chakraborty (other topics)Madeline Miller (other topics)
Debbie Harry (other topics)
Agnes Ravatn (other topics)
Jeannette Walls (other topics)
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Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 694
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 33. A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title, which I read The Night Tiger for. I was really worried about this prompt until I looked at the threads and realized that Chinese zodiac would work. It's really specific but I had no trouble finding a book, and the one I read was fantastic.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Huntress, which I read for 38. A novel based on a true story. It was an absolutely amazing book about the Night Witches (an all female bomber regime in Russia during WWII) and I loved the "hunt" after the war, which is a perspective you don't often get in WWII novels.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Gimme Some Sugar (read for prompt 10. A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title) This is definitely one I would never had read had it not been for the challenge, and it was fantastic! I want to go back and read the rest of the series, but it was the perfect light hearted Southern read I was looking for.
Least favorite prompt: 3. A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction) I'm not someone who really gets into the lives of musicians, so I just ended up reading Gmorning, Gnight! by Lin Manual Miranda because I had already read Hamilton: The Revolution. I really wish we could have gone with a book about musicians (fiction of nonfiction), because Daisy Jones and the Six would have been perfect for this.
Prompt you hope to see again: 12. A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore, just because it's something I am interested in. I read several books this year that would have fit with this prompt (mostly fantasy) and I love them! The one I read for the prompt was The Winter of the Witch.
Last prompt you finished: 16. A book with a question in the title only because I waited for the movie to come out before reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge, or do you wish you had changed a few things? (planned more or less, read more freely or more purposefully, faster or slower, etc): I was pretty happy with how I approached the challenge. I'm a planner, so I had a lot of books picked out in advance, but I always leave some room for changes, or if a new release that's perfect for a prompt comes up. I did force a couple of the prompts to fit the books I already read (most notably Redemption and Redemption Point…not the exact same title but I had read both and I wasn't interested in any of my other options) but I also found a lot of great books that I wouldn't have read otherwise.
Finally, are you in for 2020? YES! I love this challenge, because while I still read a lot of what I like, it forces me to read outside my normal and I am almost always happy with the results!