2025 Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
ARCHIVE: Yearly Challenges
>
A Better World - 2021
message 151:
by
TerryJane, Challenges
(new)
Feb 27, 2021 12:33PM
Update to Message #16. 20/36
reply
|
flag
Update message 766/12 - Increasing goal from 8 to 12 thanks
Read a self-help book: Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to Happiness
Read a book about a public figure or a fictional character that you admire: Proud: My Autobiography
Read a book with a central theme of friendship: Bad Girls
Read a book in which teamwork leads to success: Plague Pits & River Bones
Didn't think I'd do so well at this challenge but enjoying my reads so far
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for new topic - The New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family by Darryl Cheng. This book is extremely helpful in speaking to people who live in smaller spaces without benefit of a yard. I appreciated the author’s perspective on being a plant parent. My one critique is that I found the second half, which was devoted to individual plants, a bit long. Definitely worth reading in physical book form for houseplant parents! 4 stars
22/30
Update msg #93: 7/30
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for rec’d by someone in my town - Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff. Wow, this was powerful! And the drawings really brought it all to life. I’m going to have to sit with this one for awhile. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
23/30
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for family tree - Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan. Loved this ending to the trilogy! The character development was really good. My one problem was trying to reform the grandmother character - it just seemed a bit unrealistic. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars
24/30
A Better YouRead a book about something you would like to learn more about or about a skill you want to improve.
Aspects of the Novel
Read a book on a topic that is new to you.
The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry
A Better Community
Read a book you checked out from the library.
?
Read a book with a central theme of friendship.
The Curse of Chalion
Read a book recommended by someone in our group.
The Night Circus
Read a book with “Community,” “Town,” or “City” in the title.
?
A Better World
Read a book with “World” or “Earth” in the title.
?
2021 Reading ChallengeA Better World - 2021
Duration: January 1 to December 31, 2021
Progress: 22 out of 36
We all want a better world. But how do we shape a better world and where do we start?
This challenge is designed for you to show us how you view a better world, starting with yourself and moving toward a better home and community. The moderators have compiled prompts that promote good feelings and good reading. Pick the number of prompts you want to complete and let's all feel better, and do better one book at a time.
”We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt
A Better You
Read a book with a character who shares a trait with you that you once (or still do) considered a flaw, or a book that discusses body positivity.
The Times I Knew I Was Gay by Eleanor Crewes - ***** - 4/13/2021 - 320 Pages
Read a book that makes you feel good or helps you relax:
All Systems Red by Martha Wells - ***** - 3/9/2021 - 152 Pages
Read a book with a main female character who does not enter into a romantic relationship:
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab - ***** - 2/2/2021 - 285 Pages
Read a book featuring a protagonist who's compassionate:
James Herriot's Animal Stories by James Herriot - ***** - 3/7/2021 - 145 Pages
Read a book about something you would like to learn more about or about a skill you want to improve:
Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety by Robert Duff - ***** - 4/29/2021 - 71 Pages
Read a self-help book:
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl - **** - 1/4/2021 - 165 Pages
Read a book about a public figure or a fictional character that you admire:
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - ***** - 3/10/2021 - 272 Pages - I liked the main character
Read a book on a topic that is new to you.
Read an old favorite just to make you smile.
A Better Home
Read a book about a family or found family:
All Adults Here by Emma Straub - **** - 3/18/2021 - 356 Pages
Read a book with a house on its cover.
Read a book recommended by a family member or friend:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - ***** - 1/12/2021 - 318 Pages
Read a book with a family tree
Read a coming-of-age story.
Read a book about marriage:
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett - ***** - 6/3/2021 - 308 Pages
Read a book about a unique parent-child relationship:
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - ***** - 3/13/2021 - 386 Pages
Read a book which features siblings as its main characters:
Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis - ***** - 2/16/2021 - 336 Pages
Read a family saga spanning at least three generations:
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson - **** - 1/26/2021 - 196 Pages
A Better Community
Read a book for a Buddy Read, TBR Twin, or Group Read activity.
Read a book outside your comfort zone that a fellow group member has rated highly.
Read a book you checked out from the library:
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine - **** - 6/2/2021 - 165 Pages
Read a book recommended by anyone living in your town.
Read a book with a central theme of friendship.
Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell - **** - 4/1/2021 - 282 Pages
Read a book in which teamwork leads to success:
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson - *** - 2/10/2021 - 438 Pages
Read a book in which a community works together to improve its quality of life.
Read a book recommended by someone in our group.
Read a book with “Community,” “Town,” or “City” in the title.
A Better World
Read an #OwnVoices book:
New Kid by Jerry Craft - ***** - 1/31/2021 - 256 Pages
Read a book about a current global issue.
Read a book about sustainability or characters that strive to preserve nature:
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey - **** - 3/22/2021 - 337 Pages
Read a book about freedom in any sense of the word:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - **** - 3/2/2021 - 439 Pages
Read a book set in another country than your home country:
Changeless by Gail Carriger - ***** - 3/6/2021 - 389 Pages
Read a book with “World” or “Earth” in the title.
Read a book featuring a culture or religion that differs from your own:
Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk - ** - 3/8/2021 - 255 Pages
Read a book involving efforts toward peaceful reconciliation.
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman - ***** - 4/12/2021 - 357 Pages
Read a book translated into the language you are reading.
I will try this challenge. Not sure how many books I'll read.
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for outside my comfort zone - Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras. I really wanted to like this book, and the last quarter of the book was excellent. The first half was long and a little confusing. If the beginning had been shortened, the book would have been better overall. I truly appreciate the author’s efforts in telling parts of heroes story through this fictionalized account. Worth reading for that. 3.5 stars
25/30
Updated msg 11Just completed #Ownvoices prompt - Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Brilliant writing that makes every visual realized and every emotion personal. I didn’t think this could be as good as the graphic novel, but it is, just in verse. “[I]f the blood inside you is on the inside of someone else, you never want to see it on the outside of them.” Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
26/30
update to msg #48progress so far: 24/36
message 23I'm increasing my goal to 20.
12/20
Read a book about a public figure or a fictional character that you admire. The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life
Final update msg 12: 20/20 - COMPLETE ✔️The library opening hours are still very unstable, so I won’t commit to any more at this point.
Thanks for leading, Blagica 🤗
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for central theme of friendship - A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. One of my favorite in this series. It felt infinitely more personal, and in reading the author’s acknowledgments, that explained a lot. The sisterhood, the overcoming of trauma, acceptance of self, all resonated so deeply. “Perhaps in voicing those truths, they’d given them wings. And sent them soaring into the open sky above.” Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
27/30
Updated message 24-- 8/36A book about a current global issue-- The Beekeeper's Lament: How One Man and Half a Billion Honey Bees Help Feed America
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for coming-of-age story - Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. Truly enjoyed this prequel to The Hate U Give! Writing, as always from Thomas, is stellar. The characters aren’t sugarcoated but they aren’t demonized either. She walks a careful line and successfully avoids them being stereotypes. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
28/30
Update to message #55-- 14/36A Better You
2. Gift from the Sea
9. The Secret of The Old Clock
A Better Home
3. The Bad Beginning
8. The Invention of Sophie Carter
Update to message #197/36
Read a book set in another country than your home country.
Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul
Tresdivas wrote: "20/20 Thank you!A Better You
Read a book with a character who shares a trait with you that you once (or still do) considered a flaw, or a book that discusses body positivity. [book:Body Positive ..."
Congrats!
Mie wrote: "Final update msg 12: 20/20 - COMPLETE ✔️The library opening hours are still very unstable, so I won’t commit to any more at this point.
Thanks for leading, Blagica 🤗"
Congrats on completing your goal!
Updated to message 188!
Update to message 40:Read: a book about freedom Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
Progress: 3/13
Updated message 24-- 10/36A book with "Earth" in the title: Hacking Planet Earth: How Geoengineering Can Help Us Reimagine the Future
Updated message 24-- 11/36A book translated into the language you are reading: Run Away-- Turkish to English
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for community coming together - The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. This was excellent storytelling wrapped around a brilliant story with kernels of truth about complex people. Loved every minute! Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
29/30
Update to msg #48progress so far: 26/36
updated to message 197!
message 2314/20
Read a book about a family or found family. Dragonfly in Amber
Read a book about marriage. Too Good to Be True
(The last one isn't exactly IMPROVING marriage - other than a warning of what not to do!)
Updated message 24-- 12/36A book that features siblings as its main characters: To Kill a Mockingbird
Updated msg 11Just completed prompt for house on cover - Both Sides of Time by Caroline B. Cooney. Interesting YA book with time traveling element. I appreciate the focus the author made on the treatment of women. There was teen angst, but it didn’t overwhelm the book. Overall, entertaining. 4 stars
30/30 - challenge completed!
update to entry no. 48: progress so far: 27/36
Updated message 24-- 13/36An old favorite just to make me smile: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
A Better WorldProgress: 12 / 17 Books
✓ 1. Read a book with a character who shares a trait with you that you once (or still do) considered a flaw
Tales of Desire by Tennessee Williams - April 22nd
In the story The Mysteries of the Joy Rio, Mr. Gonzalez also suffers from Inertia.
✓ 2. Read a book that makes you feel good or helps you relax.
The Importance of Being Earnest & Other Plays by Oscar Wilde - January 6th
3. Read a book with a main female character who does not enter into a romantic relationship.
Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino - June th
Yuriko's monstrous sister is a middle-aged virgin.
✓ 4. Read a book featuring a protagonist who's compassionate.
Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves - January 22nd
The Emperor Claudius still maintains his compassion towards his subjects, though he can sometimes be thoughtlessly cruel.
5. Read a book about something you would like to learn more about or about a skill you want to improve.
The Best-Kept Boy in the World: The Life and Loves of Denny Fouts by Arthur Vanderbilt - May th
✓ 6. Read a book about a public figure or a fictional character that you admire.
The King Without a Kingdom by Maurice Druon - April 15th
Specifically King Edward III of England.
7. Read a book on a topic that is new to you.
Evil Roots: Killer Tales of the Botanical Gothic by Daisy Butcher - May th
I've read a ton of horror books, but I've never encountered horticultural horror before.
✓ 8. Read a book about a family or found family.
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan - March 10th
✓ 9. Read a book with a family tree.
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan - March 13th
✓ 10. Read a family saga spanning at least three generations.
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan - March 18th
11. Read a book for a Buddy Read, TBR Twin, or Group Read activity.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - May th
✓ 12. Read a book you checked out from the library.
I, Claudius by Robert Graves - January 17th
✓ 13. Read a book with a central theme of friendship.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - April 18th
✓ 14. Read a book with “Community,” “Town,” or “City” in the title.
The Sins of the Cities of the Plain by Jack Saul - April 20th
✓ 15. Read a book set in another country than your home country.
Queen Margot by Alexandre Dumas - March 21st
Set in 16th century France.
16. Read a book featuring a culture or religion that differs from your own.
The Lurid Sea by Tom Cardamone - May th
Nerites time travels to different countries with their own unique cultures.
✓ 17. Read a book translated into the language you are reading.
Chess Story by Stefan Zweig - April 17th
Translated from the original German.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The High Lord (other topics)The Crossing (other topics)
For the love of whippets: Celebrating whippets, revised edition (other topics)
Lord Edgware Dies (other topics)
The Corfe Castle Murders (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Marianne Fredriksson (other topics)Marianne Fredriksson (other topics)
Ernest Callenbach (other topics)
Marianne Fredriksson (other topics)
Ernest Callenbach (other topics)
More...
