2020 Reading Challenge

[Book Buzz]

Welcome to TPL's 2020 Challenge!

What do you think of this year's categories?

How are you progressing?

Let us know what you're reading for the categories!

[Book Buzz]

I like to do a challenge within a challenge just to make things a bit more frustrating. In 2019, I completed the challenge by reading only graphic novels.

This year I'm not sure what I'll do. I will probably try to use only books by diverse authors in 2020.

My first completed category is "A Book About Current Events":
I listened to the audiobook of Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow.
It describes how Farrow's investigation of the sexual assault accusations against Harvey Weinstein was thwarted by powerful forces.

It's a very good audiobook read by the author who is a good narrator--no surprise given his heritage.

Farrow gets caught in the rain a lot in this book. It's something I wouldn't have noticed reading it but it stuck out listening to the audiobook. Someone needs to get him an umbrella!

[Lime]

I read The Hunger Games as my YA category, and then I just had to read the other 2 in the series. They fit into distopian and something that scares me categories. Currently I'm reading Circe as my mythology book and The Wind in the Willows as a book older than me. Lots of fun.

[a.]

I also started the challenge with Catch and Kill! Having read She Said last year I was ready for another harrowing read yet while the story was equally disturbing I was surprised by how much Farrow's book read like a thriller.

Hadn't even noticed the rain thing! Funny how the medium can affect what info we absorb.

[Book Buzz]

Abbi wrote: "I also started the challenge with Catch and Kill! Having read She Said last year I was ready for another harrowing read yet while the story was equally disturbing I was surprised by how much Farrow..."

I'm looking forward to reading She Said.
Last year I read a number of books on the subject of sexual assault and the fight for justice. Two that helped me understand why so few cases go to trial were:
Had It Coming: What's Fair in the Age of #metoo?
A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America

A False Report is really heartbreaking.

[Book Buzz]

Lime wrote: "I read The Hunger Games as my YA category, and then I just had to read the other 2 in the series. They fit into distopian and something that scares me categories. Currently I'm reading Circe as my ..."

I hear really good things about Circe. Hope you enjoy it.

[Book Buzz]

What 2020 categories are you most excited about? Most concerned about?

Let me know if you need suggestions.

[Book Buzz]

We've got a new blog post about the Reading Challenge. This week, Pauline looks at the category: A Book Originally Written in a Language that is Not Your First Language.

A Book Originally Written in a Language that is Not Your First Language

Although I'm going to read a book that was translated into English from its original language but it's not necessary. If you are fluent in another language, (that is not your first language), you may choose to read a book in that language.

That sentence was unnecessarily complicated so I'll give an example:
My friend Debby's first language is Greek. She may choose to read a book translated into Greek or she may choose to read a book like The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. It was written in English and English is not Debby's first language. She could also read a book translated into English.

[M]

I read it last year so I can't count it for 2020 but I really liked the psychological thriller A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson. It's a Swedish book about parents who are shattered when their teenage daughter is accused of murder.

[Book Buzz]

It came up at a meeting today that people are concerned about the category: A book about something that scares you.

I haven't considered what I'm going to read for this one but I have some thoughts. It all seems to depend on how you define "scares".
A lot of things intimidate me but I'm not often scared except on a philosophical level.

For example, the current state of the world terrifies me. Any book about climate change or world politics would qualify in my case.

Worrying about my financial situation keeps me up at night, so perhaps a book that will help me improve my relationship with money and come to terms with my recent home purchase would fulfill this category.

Something about boats? I'm a strong swimmer and love the water but I hate travelling by boat. As long as I can see land I'm fine but I despair when it disappears. I'm not "scared" exactly but I would never volunteer for an Atlantic crossing. This gives me lots of options--anything about the Titanic, Lusitania, MS St Louis or another real boat tragedy would work for me. Likewise novels featuring boat travel (even if they aren't tragic).

True Crime: I remember reading Helter Skelter as a teen and having to stop reading because it scared me and that never happens! Any True Crime or book about injustice would fit this category for me.

If you're stuck, you can turn to horror novels. Even psychological thrillers can make the hair on your arms twitch. The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne and I'm Thinking About Ending Things were a couple of recent books that chilled my blood.

Obviously everyone will have different ideas for this category.
What will you pick?

[Raven]

I read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach for the category that scares me. I think most people would be afraid of recently deceased corpses.

[Book Buzz]

Raven wrote: "I read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach for the category that scares me. I think most people would be afraid of recently deceased corpses."

That's a fantastic answer. I haven't read any of her books but I hear they're all great. Such interesting topics.

[Book Buzz]

I wonder if the recent outbreak of Covid-19 is scaring people about epidemics and pandemics?

There are so many options for reading material there:
The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World

Lots of fiction in this category too:
Wanderers
Doomsday Book

[Danielle]

I am 5 books in (but some of those are for the advanced challenge - and depending on what I read in the rest of the year I might move books to other categories)

1. A Book that Is Older Than You - The Color Purple by Alice Walker
2. A Book About Something That Scares You - The Book of M by Peng Shepherd (this might get moved to dystopia if I read something else that scares me more...)
3. A Book You Consider a Classic - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
4. A Book Written by Someone who is More Famous for Something Else - Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
5. A book based on a fairy tale, myth or legend - Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

[Danielle]

Book Buzz wrote: "I wonder if the recent outbreak of Covid-19 is scaring people about epidemics and pandemics?

There are so many options for reading material there:
[book:The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story o..."

I read the Doomsday Book (not this year, a few years ago now) and it was so heartbreaking and yet impossible to put down. I didn't even realise until partway through that the book was written in 1992 - I thought it was way more recent!

Edit: I've ALSO read Wanderers (last year) - and it was very unsettling!

[M]

I loved The Book of M. As a person with a family history of dementia that book would definitely qualify as something that scares me.

But, I read it in 2019, so....

[Book Buzz]

Do you have any recommendations for the "Book that made you laugh" category?

I love authors like Christopher Moore, Tom Holt, Tim Dorsey. Jenny Lawson's memoirs are also great.

What are you planning?

[Rare]

The Storied life of A. J. Fikry - it made me laugh and it made me cry...

[Lime]

Now on to my classic book, rereading pride and prejudice. Also reading Metamorphosis by Kafka and listening to The Eyre Affair as a book that (might) make me laugh. I've heard the latter was funny.

[Lime]

Lime wrote: "Now on to my classic book, rereading pride and prejudice. Also reading Metamorphosis by Kafka and listening to The Eyre Affair as a book that (might) make me laugh. I've heard the latter was funny."

Had to give my on The Eyre Affair. It was awful!

[M]

Lime wrote: "Lime wrote: "Now on to my classic book, rereading pride and prejudice. Also reading Metamorphosis by Kafka and listening to The Eyre Affair as a book that (might) make me laugh. I've heard the latt..."

I liked the Tuesday Next books. They were adorable but they never made me "laugh out loud".

[Book Buzz]

One of the categories is "A book you picked because you liked the cover or the title".

Are you drawn to books because of their covers? Are there elements on book covers that appeal to you specifically?

I read Mimi by Lucy Ellmann because I liked the cover and more recently The Book of M--the blue on the cover is so striking.

I also find myself drawn to titles. I was browsing the paperbacks recently and picked up Live and Let Pie and Live and Let Chai. Anything with puns is good.

What covers/titles do you like? Have you completed this category yet?

[Book Buzz]

Book Buzz wrote: "One of the categories is "A book you picked because you liked the cover or the title".


While we're thinking about covers--are there covers that you hate?
I'll give you mine: Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over by Alison Roman. I know it's a great cookbook but I can't get over the position of her right hand. It looks like she's going to drag it through the food. Her nail colour is fantastic though.

[Book Buzz]

I hope everyone is staying well.

Even if you're not officially quarantined, it's worth remembering that library services are available online. So if you're socially distancing this weekend, please remember that movies, music, books and magazines can be borrowed without leaving your house!

You can also take courses (learn to code!) through our Libby.com service. Learn a new language through Mango. Browsing through the archival photographs is a lot of fun too.

Toronto Public Library is still open to the public if you feel like stopping in but know that there are alternatives.

[Book Buzz]

Hi, everyone

As you probably know TPL has closed for now. Please make use of our online resources and share what you're doing and reading here.

Let's keep in touch however we can!

[Kriselle]

Hi, I hope everyone is well.

It’s my first year joining the TPL reading challenge as I made my library card last fall. I’ve been really into broadening my reading so hopefully I can finish the whole challenge!

So far I’ve completed:
A book that is older than you: Emma by Jane Austen
A book that made you laugh: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
A book you picked because you liked the cover: Blackbird, Vol. 1 by Sam Humphries
A book under 200 pages long: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
A book that you consider a classic: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Advanced challenge
A book written by someone who is more famous for something else: Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
A Young Adult book: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
A dystopian or utopian book: V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

I have two categories are currently pending. Circe (a book based on mythology) and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (a book about a real person)

[Kriselle]

Book Buzz wrote: "One of the categories is "A book you picked because you liked the cover or the title".

Are you drawn to books because of their covers? Are there elements on book covers that appeal to you specifi..."

Wow those are really gorgeous covers! I’m a visual person so I definitely get attracted/put off by covers. I’ll admit I have read some books I knew I wouldn’t like just so I can have the cover on my goodreads shelves lol.

[Book Buzz]

Kriselle wrote: "Hi, I hope everyone is well.

It’s my first year joining the TPL reading challenge as I made my library card last fall. I’ve been really into broadening my reading so hopefully I can finish the wh..."

You're really steaming through. I love your choice of Gmorning Gnight. I would not have thought of that one.

[M]

I switched categories and moved things around a lot as we got to the end of the year.

This year I've already read several books for the current events category. Not sure which of them will be my "official" entry.

I think I've settled on Three Pines from Louise Penny's books for my book I'd like to live in. It has a lot of murders but it seems like an otherwise lovely village. I've listened to two audiobooks in the series so far this year.

(The category is meant, I'm sure, to be more meaningful than just a setting but I'm happy with my choice.)

[Kriselle]

I love the pun in the advanced category “a book about vision (because it’s 2020, get it?” Definitely smiled the first time I saw it.

However I’m having a bit of trouble searching for some “vision” books that interest me. I’ve mostly come across books that are medical or feature a blind protagonist. Anyone have suggestions for this category? I currently have 1984 there because of the cover and “Big Brother is always watching” but I’d like to try something with a stronger theme of vision

[Kriselle]

Also I listened to Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators because it was mentioned in this thread, what a great book! I put it down as a book about something that scares me

[Icewineanne]

Finished From Sea to Stormy Sea: 17 Paintings by Great American Artists and the Stories They Inspired ed by Lawrence Block

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kriselle]

Just submitted my completed list on the TPL website! Thanks for the challenge, I look forward to seeing what next year’s prompts are!

[Icewineanne]

Reading The Wych Elm by Tana French for tomorrow night’s TPL online book discussion 😊

[Icewineanne]

Had a terrific bookclub discussion on Wych Elm last night. It was a fairly dark book so I picked a much lighter mystery to read next
The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schellman

It’s a Victorian mystery (1st book in a series) involving London’s upper crust, set in 1815 Mayfair with Lily Adler (widow) determined to root out the killer.
Fans of mystery series by Tasha Alexander (Lady Emily) & Ashley Weaver (Amory + Milo) will enjoy this one!