Modern Mrs Darcy 2021 Reading Challenge

[El]

MODERN MRS DARCY 2021 READING CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021

The 2021 edition of the Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge is a "choose-your-own adventure", where you can create your own custom challenge or select one of 6 pre-loaded challenges based on your specific reading intentions for the year.

To create your own custom challenge, you can use the Reading Challenge Kit available on the Modern Mrs Darcy website (https://modernmrsdarcy.com/reading-li...).

If you prefer to select one of the 6 pre-loaded challenges, they are listed below.

To participate, state whether you'll create your own custom challenge or choose one of the 6 pre-loaded challenges, and list the prompts you'll attempt to complete.

Cultivate Community:
1. A book beloved by a good friend
2. A book “everyone” has read but you
3. A book recommended by someone with great taste
4. A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller
5. A book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF
6. A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own
7. A book that’s currently on the bestseller list
8. An immigrant story
9. A book by a local author
10. A book you don’t want to admit you’re dying to read
11. A book with a reputation for being un-put-downable
12. A book in a genre you don’t typically read

Read for Comfort:
1. A book from your childhood
2. A book by a favorite author
3. A book you can finish in a day
4. A book about a topic or subject you already love
5. A book about books or reading
6. A re-read
7. A book with a reputation for being un-put-downable
8. A book recommended by a source you trust
9. A book you own but have never read
10. A book you chose because of the cover
11. A cookbook, guidebook, or how-to book
12. A book that’s more than 500 pages

Learn New Things:
1. A book in a genre you don’t typically read
2. A book in translation
3. A book set somewhere you’ve never been but would like to visit
4. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
5. A book of any genre that addresses current events
6. A classic you didn’t read in school
7. A book that’s more than 600 pages
8. A book that intimidates you
9. A book about a topic or subject you already love
10. A book published before you were born
11. A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner
12. A book by an author who is new to you

Read with a Literary Lens:
1. A book that was banned at some point
2. A book with an unreliable narrator or ambiguous ending
3. Three books by the same author
4. A book nominated for an award this year
5. A book outside your (genre) comfort zone
6. A debut novel
7. A book that intimidates you
8. A book of any genre that addresses current events
9. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
10. A classic you didn’t read in school
11. A re-read
12. A book about books or reading

Don’t Overthink It:
1. A book you’ve been meaning to read
2. A book you chose because of the cover
3. A book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF
4. A book you previously abandoned
5. A book in the backlist of a new favorite author
6. A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction
7. A book from your childhood
8. A book published before you were born
9. Three books by the same author
10. A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller
11. A book about a topic or subject you already love
12. A book nominated for an award this year

Embrace the Backlist:
1. A book published before you were born
2. A book in the backlist of a new favorite author
3. A Newbery Award winner or honor book
4. Three books by the same author
5. A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner
6. A classic you’ve been meaning to read
7. A book “everyone” has read but you
8. A re-read
9. A debut novel
10. A book you’ve been meaning to read
11. A book from your childhood
12. A book you previously abandoned

[El]

How to participate?

1. Post here telling the challenge leader that you'd like to join the challenge. You can choose your books for the challenge at the beginning, or add them as you go. You can join a challenge at any time, as long as the challenge is still active.

2. Whenever you finish a book for the challenge, post here and let the challenge leader know so they can update your progress. Please be sure to post the number of books you have completed and the number of your original message every time you post an update.

Example:
Message 32 updated. 9/12 books read!

For more information about how challenges work, check out this thread or ask your challenge leader.

Happy reading!

[El]

Participants

El 10/12
Gail 38/38
Lynn 71/72
Rachael 12/12
ReadingWithLisaMarie 7/19
Zeejane (Sara) 9/12

[El]

I'm in for the custom challenge. My intentions for the year are to read more "important" books and to focus on what's already on my TBR, so I've put together the following prompts:

[10/12]

✅ 1. A modern classic (20th c.): Beloved by Toni Morrison
✅ 2. A future classic (21st c.): Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
✅ 3. A book described as life-changing: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
✅ 4. A book that was banned at some point: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
✅ 5. A book set in academia: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
✅ 6. A book about Big History: Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari
⬜ 7. A book about learning or the mind: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
⬜ 8. A past unread library return: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
✅ 9. Book that has been on my TBR the longest: Defending Jacob by William Landay
✅ 10. Highest rated book on my TBR: Nous rêvions juste de liberté by Henri Loevenbruck
✅ 11. Most popular book on my TBR: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
✅ 12. Shortest book on my TBR: The Last Question by Isaac Asimov

(Detailed book list in my Personal Challenge thread)

[L Y N N]

MODERN MRS DARCY 2021 READING CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021

71/72 as of December 4!

12/12 from Embrace the Backlist DONE!!
12/12 from Cultivate Community DONE!!
11/12 from Read for Comfort as of July 3
12/12 from Learn New Things DONE!!
12/12 from Read with a Literary Lens DONE!!
12/12 from Don't Overthink It DONE!!

Embrace the Backlist:
❌1. A book published before you were born
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
❌2. A book in the backlist of a new favorite author
A War of Gifts: An Ender Battle School Story (Ender's Saga #1.1) by Orson Scott Card
❌3. A Newbery Award winner or honor book
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
❌4. Three books by the same author
Ayelet Waldman
Nursery Crimes
The Big Nap
A Playdate With Death
❌5. A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
August 22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌6. A classic you’ve been meaning to read
A Night to Remember by Walter Lord
❌7. A book “everyone” has read but you
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
❌8. A re-read
Oliver's Story (Love Story #2) by Erich Segal
❌9. A debut novel
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
❌10. A book you’ve been meaning to read
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
❌11. A book from your childhood
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, adaptation by Devra Newberger Speregen, illustrated by Richard Lauter
❌12. A book you previously abandoned
Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall

Other Challenges Available:
Cultivate Community:
❌1. A book beloved by a good friend
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
June 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌2. A book “everyone” has read but you
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
March 21 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌3. A book recommended by someone with great taste
Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland #1) by Anthony Horowitz
April 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌4. A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller
Skyward (Skyward #1) by Brandon Sanderson
June 20 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Water Dancer
❌5. A book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF
The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman
September 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌6. A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own
The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor
January 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌7. A book that’s currently on the bestseller list
*The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
November 3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌8. An immigrant story
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
May 9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌9. A book by a local author
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
January 11 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌10. A book you don’t want to admit you’re dying to read
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
February 24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌11. A book with a reputation for being un-put-downable
The Trespasser (Dublin Murder Squad #6) by Tana French
April 12 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌12. A book in a genre you don’t typically read
Beauty by Susan Wilson
Fairy Tale Retelling
March 26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read for Comfort:
❌1. A book from your childhood
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
May 26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌2. A book by a favorite author
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova
February 28 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌3. A book you can finish in a day
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
April 19 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌4. A book about a topic or subject you already love
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Inclusion and appreciation of unique people and animals.
July 3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌5. A book about books or reading
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
March 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌6. A re-read
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (Theodore Boone #1) by John Grisham
March 25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌7. A book with a reputation for being un-put-downable
The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad #5) by Tana French
Anything written by French is "un-put-downable"!
March 17 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌8. A book recommended by a source you trust
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka
April 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌9. A book you own but have never read
The Islander by Cynthia Rylant
March 29 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌10. A book you chose because of the cover
A Shiloh Christmas (Shiloh #4) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
March 29 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⬛11. A cookbook, guidebook, or how-to book
Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson
❌12. A book that’s more than 500 pages
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
April 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Learn New Things:
❌1. A book in a genre you don’t typically read
Calico Joe by John Grisham
Sports
April 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌2. A book in translation
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
April 18 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌3. A book set somewhere you’ve never been but would like to visit
Death of a Gossip (Hamish Macbeth #1) by M.C. Beaton
Scotland
❌4. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
Fat Like The Sun by Anna Swir, translated by Grazyna Baran and Margaret Marshment
❌5. A book of any genre that addresses current events
Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump
March 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌6. A classic you didn’t read in school
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
May 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌7. A book that’s more than 600 pages
Moonflower Murders (Sysan Ryeland #2) by Anthony Horowitz
June 29 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌8. A book that intimidates you
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
May 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌9. A book about a topic or subject you already love
Saving Shiloh (Shiloh #3) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
March 28 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌10. A book published before you were born
Whose Body?(Lord Peter Wimsey #1) by Dorothy L. Sayers
May 16 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌11. A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
August 24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌12. A book by an author who is new to you
Memories of Summer by Ruth White
March 30 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read with a Literary Lens:
❌1. A book that was banned at some point
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
September 12 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌2. A book with an unreliable narrator or ambiguous ending
First Meetings in Ender's Universe (Ender's Saga #0.5) by Orson Scott Card
Ambiguous ending...
June 24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌3. Three books by the same author
Dorothy Gilman
Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha (Mrs. Pollifax #7)
May 22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax #3)
July 25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax #2)
June 26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌4. A book nominated for an award this year
The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman
Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel 2021 and Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel 2021
June 22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌5. A book outside your (genre) comfort zone
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
Mythical
May 23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌6. A debut novel
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
May 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌7. A book that intimidates you
Monogamy by Sue Miller
My first book by Sue Miller. I was uncertain what to expect.
June 6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌8. A book of any genre that addresses current events
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli
April 25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌9. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal by Laurie Notaro
May 30 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌10. A classic you didn’t read in school
Ender's Game (Ender's Saga #1) by Orson Scott Card
May 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌11. A re-read
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous/Beatrice Sparks
October 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌12. A book about books or reading
The Bookshop at Water's End by Patti Callahan Henry
May 30 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don’t Overthink It:
❌1. A book you’ve been meaning to read
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross #1) by James Patterson
June 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌2. A book you chose because of the cover
Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie
May 27 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌3. A book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
April 27 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌4. A book you previously abandoned
There There by Tommy Orange
December 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌5. A book in the backlist of a new favorite author
Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells
May 30 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌6. A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction
Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime by Ron Stallworth
August 12 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌7. A book from your childhood
The Black Stallion (The Black Stallion #1) by Walter Farley
May 29 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌8. A book published before you were born
Good Wives (Little Women #1, part 2) by Louisa May Alcott
August 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌9. Three books by the same author
Alexander McCall Smith
The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #15)
May 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #16)
July 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Precious and Grace (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #17)
August 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌10. A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
July 17 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌11. A book about a topic or subject you already love
Ready Player Two (Ready Player One #2) by Ernest Cline
I love Cline's world in Ready Player One!
March 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❌12. A book nominated for an award this year
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2021)
May 30 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[El]

Lynn wrote: "MODERN MRS DARCY 2021 READING CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021

0/12 as of January 1

I am choosing Embrace the Backlist as it seems to reflect many of the POPSUGAR 2021 prom..."

Welcome to the challenge Lynn and good luck! I also liked the look of the Embrace the Backlist prompts :)

[Rachael]

This looks like a great challenge. I'm going to "choose my own adventure" by selecting some prompts from the six preloaded challenges if that's OK.

COMPLETED: 12/12 books

✔️ A book “everyone” has read but you: The Catcher in the Rye finished 15 February, ⭐⭐⭐ with review
✔️ A book in a genre you don’t typically read: Always With Love finished 15 August, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ A re-read: Magician finished 24 January, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review previously written
✔️ A book you own but have never read: Hill of Bones: A Historical Mystery finished 14 July, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ A book by a favorite author: The Night Circus finished 22 October, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
✔️ Three books by the same author (1/3): Divergent finished 23 May, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
✔️ Three books by the same author (2/3): Insurgent finished 30 May, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
✔️ Three books by the same author (3/3): Allegiant finished 3 June, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
❌ A book I previously abandoned: Ulysses
✔️ A book recommended by a source I trust: Uprising finished 17 July, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ A book that's more than 500 pages: The American Gods Quartet finished 28 August, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
✔️ A play: Coriolanus finished 21 March, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ A book about books or reading: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London finished 9 May, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[El]

Rachael wrote: "This looks like a great challenge. I'm going to "choose my own adventure" by selecting some prompts from the six preloaded challenges if that's OK."

Hi Rachael and welcome to the challenge! Yes it's perfectly fine to mix and match prompts :)

I'm also planning to read Magician this year as part of the Clear the Shelves challenge but it'll be a first read for me!

[El]

Zeejane (Sara) wrote: "I'd like to join in :) I printed out the kit and I'd like to do a mix n' match of some of their previous prompts, and then some of my own reading goals for this year :) I'm also repeating one of th..."

Welcome Zeejane! I like your prompts selection - I found some great 5-star reads while randomly browsing my library's shelves :)

[Rachael]

Updated message 7: 1/12

[El]

Zeejane (Sara) wrote: "#9 updated.
Progress: 6/12"

You're already halfway through Zeejane, well done!

[El]

Updated up to message 17

[El]

Updated up to message 19

[Rachael]

Updated message 7: 2/12

[El]

Updated on March 27th up to message 21

[El]

Well done everyone on your progress so far!

I'm glad to have finally got around to reading The Handmaid's Tale and The Secret History, but both ended up being just OK and not quite delivering on the same level as the hype had led me to believe! I enjoyed them but was expecting a little more.

@Lynn, in the overall tally post I have just combined all your prompts into one which makes it 60, impressive! And it looks like you're already well on track!

[El]

Updated message 4: 3/12

[Lisa Marie]

I would love to participate in this challenge 😊 even though I am getting a late start. I would actually like to do a few prompts from each category if that is okay?

I am going to go through them and select a book 📖 to go with each prompt....then I plan to post my list of prompts with the book I plan to read and will check it hem off as I finish a book 👍🏻

I am very much looking forward to working towards each prompt I select

Thank you ☺️

[El]

ReadingWithLisaMarie wrote: "I would love to participate in this challenge 😊 even though I am getting a late start. I would actually like to do a few prompts from each category if that is okay?

I am going to go through them ..."

Welcome @ReadingWithLisaMarie! You can pick whichever prompts you like for this challenge, either from the lists of suggestions or your own custom ones.

Let me know once you've decided how many prompts you're attempting and I'll update the participants post 🙂

[L Y N N]

Update to posting #5
32/60 as of April 19!

[El]

Updated up to message 28

[El]

Updated message 4: 8/12

[El]

Updated up to message 30

[Lisa Marie]

Update to Message #26 - First, I am sorry this post is so late!! I will be doing 19 prompts which are listed below. As I finish each prompt I will check it off!! Thank you!!

7/19

CULTIVATE COMMUNITY

#2: A book "EVERYONE" has read by you: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
#5: A book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child or BFF: Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage & Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere by Ree Drummond
#6: A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity or religion than your own: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

READ FOR COMFORT

√#2: A book by a favorite author: Devil's Corner by Lisa Scottoline
#5: A book about books: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#10: A book you chose because of the cover: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
√#11: A cookbook, guide book or how to book: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier by Ree Drummond

LEARN NEW THINGS

√#3: A book set somewhere you've never been but would like to visit: City of Girls Elizabeth Gilbert
#10: A book published before you were born: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
#11: A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
√#12: A book by an author who is new to you: The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng

READ WITH A LITERARY LENS

#2: A book with an unreliable or ambiguous ending: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
#6: Debut novel: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
√#12: A book about books or reading: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

DON'T OVERETHINK IT

√#2: A book you chose because of the cover: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
#6: A memoir, biography or book of creative non-fiction: The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond
#5: A Pulitzer prize or National Book award winner: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
#8: A re-read: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
√#9: A debut novel: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

[El]

ReadingWithLisaMarie wrote: "Update to Message #26 - First, I am sorry this post is so late!! I will be doing 19 prompts which are listed below. As I finish each prompt I will check it off!! Thank you!!

7/19

CULTIVATE COMMUN..."

Thanks for your update @ReadingWithLisaMarie! Love your selection of books! Have fun with the challenge :)

[El]

Updated up to message 32

[L Y N N]

Update to posting #5:
57/72 as of July 6!

[GailW]

I'm jumping into this with both feet (but not sure about my head!) Please add me for 38 books. I did pick and choose in the categories.

Books read: 38 / 38 .......... completed 10/24/2021
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Cultivate Community - 12 / 12 completed
[X] 1. A book beloved by a good friend: Cindy: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
[X] 2. A book “everyone” has read but you: Anxious People
[X] 3. A book recommended by someone with great taste: Kelly T: The Push
[X] 4. A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller: Confessions on the 7:45
[X] 5. A book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF: Celia: The Dutch House
[X] 6. A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own: Sweden: Us Against You
[X] 7. A book that’s currently on the bestseller list: The Four Winds; The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
[X] 8. An immigrant story: Other Words for Home
[X] 9. A book by a local author: The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart (Pittsburgh, PA)
[X] 10. A book you don’t want to admit you’re dying to read: Beach Read
[X] 11. A book with a reputation for being un-put-downable: to me at least: Dear Mrs. Bird
[X] 12. A book in a genre you don’t typically read: Romance: The Dinner List

Read for Comfort - 9 / 9 completed
[X] 1. A book from your childhood: The Moonstone Castle Mystery
[X] 2. A book by a favorite author: An Extravagant Death by Charles Finch
[X] 3. A book you can finish in a day: Murder Wore a Mask
[X] 4. A book about a topic or subject you already love: books and reading: The Stationery Shop
[X] 5. A book about books or reading: The Stranger Diaries
[X] 8. A book recommended by a source you trust: Ronda: That Summer
[X] 9. A book you own but have never read: Dreaming in Irish
[X] 10. A book you chose because of the cover: The Murmur of Bees
[X] 12. A book that’s more than 500 pages: Crazy Rich Asians

Learn New Things - 8 / 8 completed
[X] 2. A book in translation: Happiness, as Such
[X] 3. A book set somewhere you’ve never been but would like to visit: The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden
[X] 4. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection: Dearly
[X] 5. A book of any genre that addresses current events: If Beale Street Could Talk
[X] 8. A book that intimidates you: Untethered: An Exploration of Bipolar Disorder Through Art and Prose
[X] 10. A book published before you were born: The Last Battle
[X] 11. A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner: National Book Award 2018: The Friend
[X] 12. A book by an author who is new to you: A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher

Read with a Literary Lens - 5 / 5 completed
1. A book that was banned at some point: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
[X] 2. A book with an unreliable narrator or ambiguous ending: Vernon Downs
[X] 3. Three books by the same author: London Calling!, Cherringham - Still Dead: A Cosy Crime Series, Deadly Cargo by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards
[X] 4. A book nominated for an award this year: Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021: Piranesi
[X] 6. A debut novel: Firekeeper's Daughter

Don’t Overthink It - 4 / 4 completed
[X] 1. A book you’ve been meaning to read: Homegoing
[X] 4. A book you previously abandoned: Peace Like a River
[X] 5. A book in the backlist of a new favorite author: Sofía Segovia: My Sweet Orange Tree
[X] 6. A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction: Dust Tracks on a Road

[L Y N N]

Update to message #5!

I've gone bonkers!

I have completed 62 books of 72. I'm gonna try for all of them! :)

[L Y N N]

Update to posting #5:
68/72 as of October 7!

[GailW]

Update to message 36:
36/40 as of October 9.
I've just been adding the details to the original post as I go along.

[Rachael]

Updated message 7: 12/12. Thanks

[GailW]

Update to message 36: changed goal to 38. I decided that the last two on the list were not ones that I really was interested in reading. so sort of a cheat. I have completed the challenge with this change. Loved this challenge! Will do again in 2022 if available,

[GailW]

Rachael wrote: "Updated message 7: 12/12. Thanks"

Congrats, Rachael!

[L Y N N]

Update to posting #5:
71/72 as of December 4!

[GailW]

Lynn wrote: "Update to posting #5:
71/72 as of December 4!"
Now THAT is impressive! Hoping someone picks this challenge up for 2022.

[El]

Hi everyone! Apologies for the radio silence during the second half of the year, I've now updated the tally with all of your latest updates. Well done on either completing or getting really close to completing this challenge!

I only read 10 out of the 12 books I signed up for and will leave it as that, I'm pretty happy with my effort to be honest. I do want to get back to Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman at some point in the near future but not too worried about Fingersmith by Sarah Waters for now.

Thanks for your participation and updates throughout the year, I hope you have enjoyed this challenge. I've certainly enjoyed discovering your selections and seeing you aim for some impressive goals!

There won't be a 2022 edition of the Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge (read the blog post here: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/you-dont-n...). As for me, 2022 is going to be just one big "Clear the Shelves" challenge which I want to focus solely on.

However I'm happy to run this challenge again for next year if there's some interest!

[El]

Gail wrote: "Update to message 36: changed goal to 38. I decided that the last two on the list were not ones that I really was interested in reading. so sort of a cheat. I have completed the challenge with this..."

Hi Gail and apologies for a belated welcome to the challenge! Well done on reaching your target of 38 books! Did any of them stand out to you? For me it was Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, a book I wouldn't have picked up if not for this challenge, and it ended up being a 5-star read for me.

[El]

Lynn wrote: "Update to posting #5:
71/72 as of December 4!"

Very well done Lynn on nearly getting there with your impressive goal!!!

[El]

Rachael wrote: "Updated message 7: 12/12. Thanks"

Well done Rachael on reading all 12 books for your challenge! Yet another reminder for me to get around to reading Magician by Raymond E. Feist next year!

[Kylie]

I'd like to join this challenge too!

Will probably do my own list, I'll add details asap.

Progress: / 12

[El]

Kylie wrote: "I'd like to join this challenge too!

Will probably do my own list, I'll add details asap.

Progress: / 12"

Hi Kylie! Thanks for your message but this 2021 challenge is now archived and closed. At this stage I'm not running a 2022 edition but keep an eye out in the 2022 yearly challenges in case I do decide to run it again! Thanks, El.