Ultimate 2015 Reading Challenge

[Lisa Kay]

Okay, all of you convinced me. Since I'm older than dirt and I've read all but two books I was supposed to read in high school... and haven't any desire to read them (The Brothers Karamazov!!!)... I'm going to tweak that category to "a high schooler's reading list." That way I can read Ender's Game, which was published in 2010, but is definitely on current HS reading lists.

[Carol]

How do I get a copy of the list that I can check off and notate? You can tell I am a newbie. But would appreciate guidance.

[Kirsten]

Really? That's on the current HS list? Where were books like that when I was in high school?

[Kirsten]

The original challenge is here:
http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-...

Or you can go to the top of this thread.

I put mine in a separate spreadsheet, so I won't have to keep posting the entire list, but that's just me.

[Lisa Kay]

Kirsten wrote: "Really? That's on the current HS list? Where were books like that when I was in high school?"

Really!

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #90 = 08/52.

[Lisa Kay]

FYI, for "a book originally written in a different language" I'm reading Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon, by Jorge Amado. I seriously had my doubts about liking this book, but wasn't sure what else to try. However, I'm loving the book!

So, yes, I would say the point of the challenge is to try new things.

[Lisa Kay]

Kirsten wrote: "Really? That's on the current HS list? Where were books like that when I was in high school?"

The U.S. Marines have also added that book to their officer's training curriculum. Interesting, huh?

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I've just finished In the Beginning...Was the Command Line, that can count to my non-fiction book. It hasn't got old in a good way, and I have another problem with it: as a person who knows a bit about the theme he writes, I think it's a fanboy book (a fan of the theme who puts his biases in the book).

I've updated Message 26

[AlegnaB †]

Kirsten wrote: "...I put mine in a separate spreadsheet, so I won't have to keep posting the entire list, but that's just me."

You can just edit your original post to update your list. That's what some of us are doing.

[Kirsten]

Lisa Kay wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Really? That's on the current HS list? Where were books like that when I was in high school?"

The U.S. Marines have also added that book to their officer's training curriculum. In..."

Hmmmmm......

[Kirsten]

NPR interviewed Allen Kurzweil about his memoir, Whipping Boy: The Forty-Year Search for My Twelve-Year-Old Bully. Sounds really good! (Would also qualify as a book published this year.)

http://www.npr.org/2015/01/18/3777506...

[Kirsten]

#9 of 52

A book set in a different country (England)

The Magpies by Mark Edwards

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

[CherD]

Okay I am going to give this a shot as well. Lately I have been spending way too much time just messing around instead of sitting down and reading my books, which I have so many on the bookshelf I haven't yet read and as well as downloaded on my Kindle. This really is a great challenge and is going to be a lot of fun as well. Also thanks for the great suggestions throughout this thread as well.

[Kirsten]

Cheryl - one of the reasons I like this challenge is because it does give me a chance to weed out that backlog I've got!

[❂ Murder by Death]

I finished two books off yesterday that fulfil two of the prompts: A book by an author you've never read before: An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition and, provisionally, for a Book that made you Cry: The Bookshop Book.

I say provisionally because I really don't think the book meets the spirit of the prompt, although it *did* tear me up something fierce a couple of times, which I didn't expect (anecdotes about incredible, touching, book-related things). So, if I come across a book that fits better, I'll replace it, but since this is one of the prompts I'm not going to actively seek out a book for (because crying sucks), this might be as close as I get.

[Kirsten]

Sometimes I'm surprised at the things that make me cry. Of course, I probably cry way too easily!

[❂ Murder by Death]

Kirsten wrote: "Sometimes I'm surprised at the things that make me cry. Of course, I probably cry way too easily!"

My achilles heel is anything related to honouring someone else; for example, the USAF's Missing Man Formation is absolutely guaranteed to start the tears streaming. In the case of The Bookshop Book, it was stories of sentimentality that got me.

Yesterday and today were my days to finish books in progress: I just finished Love and Freindship: and Other Youthful Writings, which checks off my "author under 30" prompt.

I am SO ready for a cozy! :)

[Naomi]

Kirsten wrote: "The original challenge is here:
http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-...

Or you can go to the top of this thread.

I put mine in a separate spreadsh..."

You know you can edit your posts, right? You don't have to keep posting the entire list. The added benefit to that is that people can see which books you've chosen all in one place rather than having to check each page to find your updated posts.

[Teresa]

So here's my list

52/52

[X] A book with 500 pages - The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - 5/22/15
[X] A classic romance - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - 11/7/15
[X] A book that became a movie - Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine - 1/18/15
[X] A book published this year - Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs - 6/5/15
[X] A book with a number in the title - The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - 7/4/15
[X] A book written by someone under age 30 - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - 8/26/15
[X] A book with nonhuman characters - Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary - 2/8/15
[X] A funny book - When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time to Go Home by Erma Bombeck - 1/22/15
[X] A book with a female author - Aunt Dimity: Snowbound by Nancy Atherton - 1/5/15
[X] A mystery or thriller - Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin by by Nancy Atherton - 1/11/15
[X] A book with a one-word title - Kim by Rudyard Kipling - 8/16/15
[X] A book of short stories - Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen - 2/11/15
[X] A book set in a different country - Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday by Nancy Atherton - 1/3/15
[X] A nonfiction book - America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation by Kenneth C. Davis - 1/10/15
[X] A popular author's first book - Digital Fortress by Dan Brown - 3/3/15
[X] A book you have not read from an author you love - Cat-a-Lyst by Alan Dean Foster - 5/27/15
[X] A book a friend recommended - The Cubicle Next Door by Siri L. Mitchell - 10/16/15
[X] A Pulitzer Prize winning book - Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener - 3/19/15
[X] A book based on a true story - Secretariat by William Nack - 4/30/15
[X] A book at the bottom of your to-read list - The Baylors of Newmarket: The Decline and Fall of a Virginia Planter Family by Thomas Katheder - 2/6/15
[X] A book your mom loves - Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels - 2/5/15
[X] A book that scares you - Dracula by Bram Stoker - 8/2/15
[X] A book more than 100 years old - The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells - 7/15/15
[X] A book based entirely on its cover - The Sign by Raymond Khoury - 2/22/15
[X] A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't - The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - 10/18/15
[X] A memoir - A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson - 2/15/15
[X] A book you can finish in a day - The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary - 2/1/15
[X] A book with antonyms in the title - Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker - 11/3/15
[X] A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit - Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - 4/3/15
[X] A book that came out the year you were born - Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary - 2/7/15
[X] A book with bad reviews - Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë - 6/6/15
[X] A trilogy - The Highlander's Stolen Heart (8/9/15); Highlander's Rebellious Love (8/15/15); Highlander The Dark Dragon (8/19/15) by Donna Fletcher
[X] A book from your childhood - The Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Belden) by Julie Campbell - 9/4/15
[X] A book with a love triangle - G'Day to Die by Maddy Hunter - 5/29/15
[X] A book set in the future - The Time Machine by H.G. Wells - 7/9/15
[X] A book set in high school - Avalon High by Meg Cabot - 3/12/15
[X] A book with a color in the title - Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea by Nancy Atherton - 1/16/15
[X] A book that made you cry - Chicken Soup for the Soul of America: Stories to Heal the Heart of Our Nation by Jack Canfield - 9/20/15
[X] A book with magic - The Goodbye Witch by Heather Blake - 8/22/15
[X] A graphic novel - The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot - 4/14/15
[X] A book by an author you've never read before - The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames - 4/6/15
[X] A book you own but have never read - The Big 5-Oh! by Sandra D. Bricker - 6/9/15
[X] A book that takes place in your hometown (or close to where you live) - Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay - 7/11/15
[X] A book originally written in a different language - Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne - 2/28/15
[X] A book set during Christmas - What Happens At Christmas by Victoria Alexander - 2/28/15
[X] A book written by an author with your same initials - The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman - 10/22/15
[X] A play - The Crucible by Arthur Miller - 3/24/15
[X] A banned book - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - 10/24/15
[X] A book based on or turned into a TV show - The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars) by Rob Thomas - 8/28/15
[X] A book you started but never finished - Paradise Lost by John Milton - 12/8/15

[CherD]

I finished my first book of the challenge.

A book by a female author: by Nevada Barr
I have read all of the Anna Pigeon series, and this one was a bit tough to get through at times. A bit dark.

[Kirsten]

Cheryl wrote: "I finished my first book of the challenge.

A book by a female author: by Nevada Barr
I have read all of the Anna Pigeon series, and this one..."

I like Anna Pigeon! I'm reading (listening) Firestorm right now.

[Kirsten]

Love Jayne Ann Krentz!

Karen wrote: "Well I have done two so far on this list:

Ultimate 2015 Challenge
Done:2/50

[ ] A book with 500 pages
[ ] A classic romance
[ ] A book that became a movie
[ ] A book published this year
[ ] A boo..."

[CherD]

Just finished another book for the challenge. Talk about reaching out of my normal book choices.

" A graphic novel," Book is by Bisco Hatori

My son and his girlfriend are very much into these type of books. I had no idea what a graphic novel was (I thought it was explicit violence etc.....) Well found out it is a comic book style book. This one is written in Japanese style, reading right to left and back to front. Confusing, and an extremely weird book. Glad I tried it though, not really my cup of tea. LOL

[Kirsten]

#10 of 52 -- A popular author's first book

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

[❂ Murder by Death]

I added a couple of low-hanging fruit prompts:

Book published this year: In Hot Water
Female author: Meet Your Baker

[❂ Murder by Death]

And a book with a non-human character: Paw Enforcement

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #90 = 09/52.

[Melissa]

Book 6/50: A book from my childhood - From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler .

[Kirsten]

#11 of 52 -- A book with nonhuman characters

The Case of the Cursed Dodo by Jake G. Panda
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kirsten]

#12 of 52 -- A book by an author you've never read before

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lisa]

Update: 7/52 books, from original post #49

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

For antonyms, I've read A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die, a book in my TBR for a time (two years more or less) and I've enjoyed it. Message 26 updated.

[Kirsten]

#13 of 52 -- A book that became a movie

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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

[Sabrina]

A book more than a 100 years old: Treasure Island

[Catherine]

The Drop by Dennis Lehane Either the last or one of the last movies starring James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Catherine]

Sabrina wrote: "A book more than a 100 years old: Treasure Island"

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Catherine]

Melissa wrote: "Book 6/50: A book from my childhood - From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler ."

Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

[Catherine]

Kirsten wrote: "#10 of 52 -- A popular author's first book

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter"

Was also a series on HBO https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...

Question how do you add the picture?

[Kirsten]

Catherine wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Book 6/50: A book from my childhood - From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler ."

Ramon..."

Oh, I used to love Ramona!

[Kirsten]

Catherine wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "#10 of 52 -- A popular author's first book

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter"

Was also a series on HBO https://www.good..."

Really? I didn't know that.

[Catherine]

Kirsten wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "I finished my first book of the challenge.

A book by a female author: by Nevada Barr
I have read all of the Anna Pigeon serie..."

[Kirsten]

Catherine wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "I finished my first book of the challenge.

A book by a female author: by [author:Nevada Barr|4361..."

I really like Nevada Barr.

[Nell]

Catherine wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Question how do you add the picture? "

Click on "add book/author" at the top of this comment box. Type the book name in the search box. At the bottom you have a choice to include link (book name) or cover. Since some devices will not show the cover, we have been asked to include both link and cover in our posts.

[Catherine]

Nell wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Question how do you add the picture? "

Click on "add book/author" at the top of this comment box. Type the book name in the search box. At the bottom you have a c..."

Thanks Nell. I'm new to posting.

[Catherine]

A book set during Christmas. I've read several by Leslie Meier:
Christmas Carol Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery

[❂ Murder by Death]

A play: The Mousetrap.

[Catherine]

The Cherry Orchard

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "A play: The Mousetrap."

[Catherine]

Kirsten wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "#10 of 52 -- A popular author's first book

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter"

Was also a series on HB..."

It was short-lived just a few episodes taken from the first book. It starred Jill Scott as Precious and Annika Noni Rose as Grace

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

For those daunted by the thought of reading a play for this challenge, may I recommend Swan Song by Anton Chekhov. It's a short, one-act play. Though I have not yet read it, I have read other works by Chekhov, so thought I'd recommend it when I came across it in an ebook compilation on my Nook. It's even available for free at Project Gutenberg: Swan Song.