SPRING 2021 READING CHALLENGE

[Rachel]

Please post any questions/comments/updates regarding the spring 2021 reading challenge in this thread. :)


The Spring 2021 Reading Challenge will begin on March 5th and end May 31st.

Rules of the challenge:
Read 3 books (or more)
Complete 3 tasks (or more)
All genres ok
Rereads ok

This spring, complete 3 (or more) of the following:

1. A couple of these authors celebrate birthdays this season and the others may or may not (couldn’t find a birthday). All are worth checking out.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Quan Barry
Tiffany D. Jackson
Maggie O’Farrell
Nnedi Okorafor
Samanta Schweblin


2. Godzilla vs. Kong is scheduled to be released in theaters and will be available on HBO MAX on March 31st.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK THAT FEATURES A RIVALRY OR FEUD BETWEEN CHARACTERS

OR

READ A BOOK THAT CONTAINS AN EPIC BATTLE SCENE

3. Free Guy is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 21st ( the date has been changed at least once but that’s the current information available). Ryan Reynolds stars as Guy who’s a non player character (NPC) in a video game. Guy becomes self aware and once he knows he’s a video game character, he decides to change his story by becoming the hero.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK IN WHICH THE MAIN CHARACTER IS NOT HUMAN BUT BECOMES SELF AWARE AND BEGINS MAKING INDEPENDENT DECISIONS

OR

READ A BOOK IN WHICH A CHARACTER HAS HIS/HER/THEIR LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY A STARTLING DISCOVERY

4. May 25th is National Wine Day.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK WITH THE LETTERS W-I-N-E
IN THE TITLE/SUBTITLE

5. May is Mental Health Month.

So this spring,

READ A MENTAL HEALTH MEMOIR/ESSAY COLLECTION

6. Later by Stephen King will be published March 2nd. It’s the new King so it’s the group read. :)

So this spring,

READ THE BOOK AND DISCUSS IT WITH THE GROUP

7. Random Task- This task is not inspired by the season but it counts towards the challenge. There are so many great books but not all get hype or get read by many people.

So this spring,

READ AN UNDERRATED BOOK



HAVE A HAPPY & SAFE SPRING, EVERYONE! :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Looks Good. I'll look over my to-read books and post back when I figure out some that will work.

Thanks for featuring current films - I'm still working weekends at the movie theater on weekends. It's been pretty quiet overall. Tom & Jerry should bring in some families this weekend and Godzilla v Kong and Ryan Reynolds will hopefully draw people next month.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Looks Good. I'll look over my to-read books and post back when I figure out some that will work.

Thanks for featuring current films - I'm still working weekends at the movie theater on weekends. I..."

Always look forward to seeing what you’re thinking of reading for the challenge.

I enjoy incorporating movie releases into the challenges. Movie release dates keep getting moved around due to the virus. Hopefully once the vaccine becomes readily available to everyone, things may start getting back to normal (or something like it). Knock on wood. :)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I've looked over the challenge tasks pretty thoroughly and am going to set my Spring goal at 15 which is the same number I came up with for Winter. Spring 2021 might be the first challenge where if successful, I'll read at least one book from each task.
Here are books I'm planning on experiencing for Spring 2021:
1. Author Birthdays.
Quan Barry

Nnedi Okorafor


2. Godzilla v Kong Rivalry/Feud between characters


3. Free Guy: Character not human, becomes self aware begins making independent decisions.


4. W-I-N-E in title/subtitle


5. Mental Health Essays


6. Later by Stephen King


7.Underrated Book


I've got 16 books listed here, just in case something falls through.
If anyone wants to read and discuss, feel free to read any of these books along with me.

Happy Spring Reading!

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I've looked over the challenge tasks pretty thoroughly and am going to set my Spring goal at 15 which is the same number I came up with for Winter. Spring 2021 might be the first challenge where if..."

That’s an impressive list. :D

Let me know when you’re planning on reading The Night Watchman -I’ve been wanting to read another book by Louise Erdrich since we read .

I’m mostly a mood reader but as of now I’m planning on reading

, because I love them both.

Also because I’ve heard it’s wonderfully strange and it’s set in the 80’s -

And look forward to reading and discussing

May add some others. :)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

That's right, I forgot about the new Jenny Lawson!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I wanted to read We Ride on Sticks but there isn't an old school audiobook available and that's how I get through most of my books. I'm already relying on printed only for the mental health essays so thought I'd give the other title a try.

[Franzi]

Yay! I love the new challenge prompts, thanks so much. I will see what I have on my shelf and Kindle to read and see if it fits. And I look forward to Stephen King. Ive only ever read one of his books and that was actually a Richard Bachman one, translated into German. It wasnt my favourite....I wish I could recall which one it was...but Ive been meaning to give him another go. I will add my list when its finished. :)

[Rachel]

Franzi wrote: "Yay! I love the new challenge prompts, thanks so much. I will see what I have on my shelf and Kindle to read and see if it fits. And I look forward to Stephen King. Ive only ever read one of his bo..."

Glad you like it, Franzi! :D
Look forward to seeing which books you choose.

I’m a big King fan but I didn’t enjoy either of the Bachman books that I’ve read. , . Glad you’re willing to give him another chance-I think he’s a great storyteller.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I will concur, I'm not a fan of Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman. Last year I read The Regulators and didn't care for it. I donated the book to my neighborhood Little Free Library. On the other hand, I've enjoyed most if not all Stephen King books I've read thus far.

[Christine]

Wow! You all are way ahead of me. I just saw the spring challenge. Love it! I have no idea what I will read for it except for Later If its Stephen King, I will always read it.
I love how you tie in movies, my next favorite thing to do after reading. So here is the important question: Who would win King Kong or Godzilla? I am all about Godzilla. I've been watching those movies ever since I was a little kid. Thanks a long time, lol.

Recommendations: The Four Winds
I just finished it and loved it. It will also count for WINE in our challenge.

The movie, Nomadland. We watched last night. I really liked it. Its about mostly seniors who do seasonal work, live in vans, move to where the jobs are, modern day nomads. They have a different way of looking at living. Frances McDormand is awesome.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I was really looking forward to Nomadland and then we didn't get it at the theater. I will wait for DVD release. I'm so old school that I have never streamed/ watched a film online.

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Wow! You all are way ahead of me. I just saw the spring challenge. Love it! I have no idea what I will read for it except for Later If its Stephen King, I will always read it.
I lo..."

Glad you like it Christine! :D

Look forward to seeing nomadland. Frances McDormand is an awesome actress.

P.S.
Sorry but I’m team King Kong lol. :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I'm not really a fan of Kong or Godzilla. I'm not an action fan at all. Nomadland is more my pace. I may get around to watching the Kong Godzilla showdown just because we'll have it at the theater for a while. Same thing with Tom & Jerry. I watched parts of it on my breaks the past two days. wasn't impressed but it sold quite a number of tickets over the weekend. I prefer artsy independent films. My favorite at our theater right now is Minari.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I'm not really a fan of Kong or Godzilla. I'm not an action fan at all. Nomadland is more my pace. I may get around to watching the Kong Godzilla showdown just because we'll have it at the theater ..."

I haven’t heard of Minari-I’ll have to check out the trailer.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Minari is worth checking out. There is a lot of humor especially in the relationship of the grandma and her grandson. Grandma likes to swear and the boy doesn't think she acts like a real grandma. Minari is a story about a Korean family who immigrate to the United States and try to find where they belong. Like Parasite, the film is subtitled with occasional English dialogue.
I haven't watched Minari in entirety, only parts on my lunch break.

[Franzi]

Thanks for the recommendation for The Four Winds. I had my eye on it anyway. I love Kristin Hannah. So gar every book Ive read by her (3) has really moved and impressed me.

I am pretty set on my list and will be sharing it shortly. Just the final prompt I struggle with... Which underrated books will you be going for? I googled and found some lists but nothing really grabbed me. Right... Off to purchase that King now. Hope its available, it wasnt before I went to bed and Im about to finish Homegoing... Cant finish one without my next read lined up ( not like there are dozens of unread books on my Kindle Or shelf, haha)

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Minari is worth checking out. There is a lot of humor especially in the relationship of the grandma and her grandson. Grandma likes to swear and the boy doesn't think she acts like a real grandma. ..."

I watched the trailer-it looks really good.

[Rachel]

Thanks for the book and movie recommendations! :D

[Rachel]

Franzi wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation for The Four Winds. I had my eye on it anyway. I love Kristin Hannah. So gar every book Ive read by her (3) has really moved and impressed me.

I am pretty set on my ..."

I always want more books too! :D

I checked out a few lists of supposedly underrated books and they were not helpful-either the books sounded boring or they were really well known- To Kill a Mockingbird was actually on one list which is crazy.

I think any book with a low number of ratings works or any author’s books that you think deserves to be read more will also work.

I was thinking of reading another book by Tananarive Due. She’s a well respected author that I think deserves more attention. I’ve only read but I really enjoyed it and have been meaning to read more of her books so maybe now is the time.

[Rachel]

Hey everyone!

Is there a book/author you wish more people would read?
Share with the group which books/authors you feel are underrated.

Thanks :D

[Janet]

So excited to start our new challenge! Here's the plan so far:

Quan Barry - We Ride Upon Sticks
Tiffany D. Jackson
Maggie O’Farrell - I Am, I Am, I Am and/or Instructions for a HeatWave
Nnedi Okorafor - Binti
Samanta Schweblin - Little Lies and/or Fever Dream

Stephen King's Later (of course!)

I just finished for task 4 (WINE). I would NOT recommend this one...IMHO, lackluster writing with a meandering/boring plot. A shame, because I normally LOVE dystopia

That's all I have so far.

[Rachel]

Janet wrote: "So excited to start our new challenge! Here's the plan so far:

Quan Barry - We Ride Upon Sticks
Tiffany D. Jackson
Maggie O’Farrell - I Am, I Am, I Am and/or Instructions for a HeatWave
Nnedi Okor..."

Glad you like it, Janet! :D
Thanks for the update-look forward to hearing your thoughts-hope you enjoy them. :)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I've finished reading Broken Places & Outer Spaces by Nnedi Okorafor. This is a short autobiography, less than 100 pages and a good introduction to the author. I'll start reading some of her science fiction soon.


I've also finished re-reading The Giver by Lois Lowry. In this story a character's life is turned upside down by a startling discovery.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I've finished reading Broken Places & Outer Spaces by Nnedi Okorafor. This is a short autobiography, less than 100 pages and a good introduction to the author. I'll start reading some of her scienc..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :)

Also, I always love how you change the group page each season to reflect the challenge-so thanks 😊

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Thanks Rachel, I was wondering if anyone noticed :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Movie Recommendation: Long Weekend.
This film has been at my movie theater for less than one week and will likely be gone in another. I watched the movie three times last weekend. It is a Mental Health Time Travel Romance.
I knew Mental Health was part of our seasonal challenge and after last weekend at the movies I was wondering if March was Mental Health Month after watching Long Weekend and The Father (which is a bout dementia), but apparently Mental Health Month isn't until May.
I've started reading my Mental Health Essay Book, Into Sanity.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Movie Recommendation: Long Weekend.
This film has been at my movie theater for less than one week and will likely be gone in another. I watched the movie three times last weekend. It is a Mental H..."

Thanks for the recommendation. :)

Although may is mental health month there are other awareness days in march, including world bipolar day and world teen mental illness day.

[Janet]

Yikes! Been MIA...no reason, just reading! :)

After The New Wilderness (WINE), I read the delightful by Quan Barry. I loved it! Recommended for Task One

Then I read by Lydia Miller for my bookclub. Didn't really connect with this one

Back to (WINE) for by Anne Valente This book follows 4 friends after a school shooting...and the effects of grief on them and the town.

Just finished another for task one by Nnedi Okorafor. I was disappointed in this one, I feel it could have been EPIC but it fell well short, imo.

Jumping into a thriller next...need a palate cleansing. by John Sandford

[Rachel]

Janet wrote: "Yikes! Been MIA...no reason, just reading! :)

After The New Wilderness (WINE), I read the delightful by Quan Barry. I loved it! Recommended for Task One

T..."

Thanks for the updates, Janet! :D

[Rachel]

It’s been pretty quiet here this month-hope all is well with everyone.

Found out something interesting that I wanted to share- The San Antonio book festival
is going to be virtual this year so basically it’s open to anyone who’d like to attend. It’s from April 9-11th and they have some free events and others I believe require a book purchase. The book store working with the festival is The Nowhere Book Shop which is owned by Jenny Lawson.

Also there are going to be numerous authors participating in the festival including the following:

Kristin Hannah
Isabel Allende
Stephen Graham Jones
Samantha Irby
Jenny Lawson

Happy Reading!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Stephen Graham Jones!

[Danell]

I’ve been experiencing a reading slump. I bought Later and hope to start it soon. Hope everyone is doing great!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I'm on the Later wait list at the library.

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I’ve been experiencing a reading slump. I bought Later and hope to start it soon. Hope everyone is doing great!"

I’m in a bit of a reading slump too. I’m still reading but not as much as I usually do. I’m planning on starting soon too. Hope it’s enjoyable. Look forward to your thoughts on it.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Stephen Graham Jones!"

I believe he will be talking about but he also has a new book coming out later this year My Heart Is a Chainsaw

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

My Heart Is A Chainsaw
I like that title. Hope there will be an audiobook version available. I also enjoyed reading Mongrels last year.

[Janet]

Read and enjoyed (in a tortuous way) by Samanta Schweblin. Very quick read...I suggest reading it in one sitting, if possible. A sense of dread begins with the very first line and continues building.

I also have ...hope to have time to read it during the spring

I then read an old one... by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. My Grannie gave this to me in 1975 on my 19th birthday. I'd say I got more from it the first time I read it, many of the messages don't work for an old lady like me :)

Am currently doing something I NEVER do (unless one is an audiobook)...I'm reading two books at the same time. which is a collection of short stories, and a biography. These are PopSugar prompt reads (ugliest cover and book about an artist. I might start a THIRD (oh my!) to get one of Maggie O'Farrell's read. OR Later, which I am hoarding. Look at me go! hahahaha

Seriously, I was almost done with the short stories, and needed a break from them. Then, the biography is pretty dense...so I am taking small bites of it at a time.

I am going to have to check out Stephen Graham Jone's new book! And Mongrels.

Thanks for the book festival information!!

Hope everyone is doing fine!?!!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Stephen Graham Jones! Professor at CU Boulder.
I'm doing well, but currently working 7 days a week as the movie theater has picked up for Spring.
Last night I watched a great new film, French Exit, starring Michelle Pfeifer and Lucas Hedges. Would recommend to anyone who appreciates eccentricities and the unusual, which is probably everyone in this group. The film features witchcraft, a black cat, contemplations of death, money issues, friendship and family relations.

[Rachel]

Janet wrote: "Read and enjoyed (in a tortuous way) by Samanta Schweblin. Very quick read...I suggest reading it in one sitting, if possible. A sense of dread begins with the very..."

Thanks for the update, Janet! :D

I’ve been going back and forth for a long time about whether to read but you’ve convinced me to give it a try. Thanks! :)

I never read more than one book at a time until I joined goodreads. Now I almost always have 2 books going at the same time lol.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Stephen Graham Jones! Professor at CU Boulder.
I'm doing well, but currently working 7 days a week as the movie theater has picked up for Spring.
Last night I watched a great new film, French Exi..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin!
Also, thanks for the movie recommendation-always appreciate them. :D

[Rachel]

Finished We Ride Upon Sticks - This is a fun story with a great 80’s vibe. It definitely transported me back to my teenage years.

Also finished Later - You know I’m a King fan but I really didn’t like the ending of this. I will say that it sucked me in immediately and I enjoyed much of the story until the last chapter or two. I definitely think it’s worth reading, just not a new favorite. Look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts about it.

Next up: Broken

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Does Broken by Jenny Lawson work as a Mental Health Memoir?

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Does Broken by Jenny Lawson work as a Mental Health Memoir?"

Yes. All of her books deal with mental health and work for the challenge.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Cool. I'm going to make Jenny Lawson a priority for April and May.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Rachel, I have started reading The Night Watchman, the author Louise Erdrich narrates the audiobook.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Rachel, I have started reading The Night Watchman, the author Louise Erdrich narrates the audiobook.
"

Awesome, I’ll get it from the library. :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I have a library copy of The Night Watchman right now. I'm reading about 10 books at the same time so won't be very far ahead of you.
I'm going to start re-reading Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy since I don't have a copy of Broken yet.

[Janet]

Rachel wrote: "Finished We Ride Upon Sticks - This is a fun story with a great 80’s vibe. It definitely transported me back to my teenage years.

Also finis..."

Glad you liked We Ride Upon Sticks! It was such a fun read. I initially agreed with what you said about Later and those last couple of chapters....BUT, the more I thought about it (and I did...cause, you know ==> King!), the more I came to the conclusion that that bit was the TRUE HORROR. Still, I agree, not my favorite.

Broken is good too...except for one of the chapters, imho

Enjoy!

[Janet]

Finished and enjoyed Not going to be in my top 5 fav Stephen King's...but not bad.

Still plugging away at the Leonardo Da Vinci bio...read a few others in between...none for this challenge though, so don't know if you want me to list them or not. :)

Next one I plan on reading for the challenge is by Maggie O'Farrell

I have really enjoyed discovering new authors introduced here.