Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
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Johanne wrote: "I’m sure you can find someone reading one in a movie or TV”There is a current TV commercial that shows a little girl reading the books and trying to use the spells - I think it was for Harry Potter merchandise at Barnes & Noble (I tried finding it online but didn’t have time for a thorough search).
Johanne wrote: I´m sure you can find someone reading one in a movie or TV, and a celebrity recommending them. There is also the wedding in The Deathly Hallows. Good points! Thanks!
i found Bitter Greens: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1....) is a re-telling
.) has "bitter" in the title
.) has a plant in the title / on the cover
;)
Any ideas for the Throne of Glass series anyone?
For 2019I started reading the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness
Book 1 (the Knife of Never Letting Go)- a book coming out as a movie in 2019
Book 2 (The Ask and the Answer)- a book with someone with a super power
Book 3 (Monsters of Men)- a book with multiple perspectives
If you like the first one, you will definitely want to read the others!
Jennifer wrote: "For 2019I started reading the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness
Book 1 (the Knife of Never Letting Go)- a book coming out as a movie in 2019
Book 2 (The Ask and the Answer)- a book with someo..."
I'm doing that with Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. I can cover the Scandinavian Setting, Posthumous Release, and the Favorite From a Past List (Nordic Noir 2018) prompts. The last one is a stretch because this is the first time that I've done this challenge.
I'm using the Miss Peregrine series this year:Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - Author whose first and last name start with the same letter
Hollow City - two-word title
Library of Souls - book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature
A Map of Days - Favorite prompt from past challenge: 2018 next book in a series
Does anyone know how I can fit in the 3 books of the Winter night trilogy into the prompt.... Please give me more than one option for each book (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower, The Winter of the Witch)
It looks like there are suggestions for how to fit the Percy Jackson Lightning Thief series into previous challenges, but does anyone have suggestions for the 2019 prompts, please and thank you???
Author Rick Riordan (first and last name with the same letter).A book with at least 1 million ratings on GoodReads. (The Lightning Thief itself.)
A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore. (tales of the gods)
A book about someone with a superpower. (Percy)
A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature. (minotaurs, fauns, etc.)
KF-in-Georgia wrote: "Author Rick Riordan (first and last name with the same letter).A book with at least 1 million ratings on GoodReads. (The Lightning Thief itself.)
A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore. (tales ..."
Thank you! Annoyingly, I already have ideas for/have read something for every one of those prompts... I guess they fit the kind of thing I'm more likely to read. But I AM grateful. :)
See if something you've already used in one of those spots can fit under a different prompt.
For this year, there are SO MANY prompts that can be filled from the Star Wars and Star Trek literary universes.
For 2020's challenge: 9. A book from a series with more than 20 books.
Take a look at:
* Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series
* Agatha Christie's Poirot series
* Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series
* Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyne series
* the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey and two of her children
* Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series (encompassing a number of trilogies and quintets)
* the Oz books by L. Frank Baum and several successors
* the Nancy Drew mysteries
* the Hardy Boys mysteries.
Any of those series has books which are likely to fit more than one prompt. For instance, the Valdemar books often include a map, usually pass the Bechdel test, and several of them have birds on the cover and include a made-up language (the Mage Winds trilogy in particular.)
books by Robin Cook- (author)medical thrillers
fauna (Robin)
Pandemic (title of a Robin Cook novel and a tv show)
has written more than 20 books
Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series fits quite a few, but these aren't written exactly like the challenge:* a book with at least a 4 star rating (the first one for sure)
* a book from a series with more than 20 books
* a book by an author who has written more than 20 books
* only text on cover (works for some of them)
* twenty appears in the title (even if you are super strict, there is Takedown Twenty, but all the ones in the 20s have this word spelled out)
* probably another release in 2020 as she churns out one per year
* pink cover
Two for the Dough
Fearless Fourteen and probably others in different editions, etc* a book with a three word title
* at least one with one a seven deadly sins playing a big role (lust, for one, but others)
* a book published in the 20th century (a few of them)
* shares the name of a film or tv show that has no relation the 1970 "One for the Money" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261878/... plus there is at least one "Three to Get Ready" one made before the book was written
And perhaps a few others, depending on what month you're born vs all the months these came out, how you define pun, if one focuses on something you happen to know nothing about, whether or not you planned to read any of these in 2019, etc
The Broken Empire Series, by Mark Lawrence : 1 Prince of Thorns - Fiction or Nonfiction book about a world leader, book with a map, or a bildungsroman book
2 King of Thorns - Fiction or Nonfiction book about a world leader, book with a map, or Book featuring one of the seven deadly sins (wrath)
3 Emperor of Thorns - Fiction or Nonfiction book about a world leader, book with a map, or a Book with a main character in their 20s
Angela wrote: "The Broken Empire Series, by Mark Lawrence : 1 Prince of Thorns - Fiction or Nonfiction book about a world leader, book with a map, or a bildungsroman book
2 King of Thorns - Fiction or Nonfictio..."
What a great suggestion! I've been wanting to read this series for a while now, but haven't gotten around to it. I'd also like to point out that these books also all fulfill the prompt: a book with a three-word title :)
The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black 1. The Cruel Prince - A book by an author with flora or fauna in her name
2. The Wicked King - A book that won an award in 2019
3. The Queen of Nothing - A book with at least a 4 star rating on Goodreads
This series was amazing. One of my favorite YA fantasy series ever. I can't recommend it highly enough.
I happened to start reading the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett right at the end of last year, which can be used for so many prompts, especially this year! These are the prompts that the Witches subseries can be used for (You don't have to read any of the other books to read these):1. Equal Rites - A book with a pun in the title OR A bildungsroman
2. Wyrd Sisters - A book with a pun in the title
3. Witches Abroad - A book with a bird on the cover (if you have this cover):
4. Lords and Ladies - A book with a three word title
5. Maskerade - A book with a pink cover (if you have this cover):
6. Carpe Jugulum
All of these also have a >4 star rating on Goodreads, pass the Bechdel test, are part of a series with >20 books, and are written by an author who's written >20 books.
This is fascinating. As I came up with my list for the 2020 challenge, I wondered if it would be "cheating" to count one book multiple times. My current goal of 40 books (1 per prompt) is such a leap from last year's 12 completions that I might have to rethink my strategy. Plus, there are so many good series on here that I'm either in working through (HP, N1LHDA) or on my list (Outlander) that I might have to work them into that list.
Jennifer wrote: "This is fascinating. As I came up with my list for the 2020 challenge, I wondered if it would be "cheating" to count one book multiple times. My current goal of 40 books (1 per prompt) is such a le..."Hi Jennifer,
I didn't see that anyone answered your question. The challenge is your challenge, with no hard rules. Yes, you can count one book for more than one prompt. The main goal is to read more and enjoy.
Happy Reading
Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard wrote: "For 2020's challenge: 9. A book from a series with more than 20 books.
Take a look at:
* Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series
* Agatha Christie's Poirot series
* Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimi..."
WHAAAAAT A LIST!!! :D :)
Donna wrote: "The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black 1. The Cruel Prince - A book by an author with flora or fauna in her name
2. The Wicked King - A book that won an award in 2019
3. The Queen of Nothing -..."
These were wonderful books! All three could work for "a book with a map" as well.
I'm using Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series for a lot of these prompts!
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden:1) The Bear and the Nightingale (more than 20 letters)
2) The Girl in the Tower
3) The Winter of the Witch
They all could be classified as a Bildungsroman and passing the Bechdel test. The second book has quite a bit of pink on the cover. The second book takes place almost entirely in Moscow (city that hosted the Olympics). They all have at least a 4-star rating on Goodreads. The main character and some others see spirits/demons, so maybe vision enhancement? It is referred to as such in the books. Loved this series! I hope this helps someone :)
Here is how I'm using The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer to check numerous prompts of the 2020 list.- Cinder for a book that passes the Bechdel test
- Scarlet for a book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club. If this one doesn't work for you, it could work with the advanced prompt a book with a main character in their 20s too
- Cress for a fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
- Winter for a book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
I've also included the bridge book and short stories book for the advanced prompts:
- Fairest for a book written by an author in their 20s
- Stars Above for a book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
I re-read the Laini Taylor Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy earlier this year and it's a great one for this as each book checks off multiple prompts!I've used the books to tick the following:
9. A book with a map - Days of Blood & Starlight
18. A book with a made-up language - Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Chimera)
19. A book set in a country beginning with "C" - Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Czechia)
But you could also use it to tick the following 2020 prompts:
20. A book you picked because the title caught your attention
21. A book published the month of your birthday - if you're September, November or April!
27. A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins
30. A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
33. A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads - all three are above 4 stars
Advanced:
7. A book with more than 20 letters in its title - all three!
I’m using the Shades of Magic series for three prompts:A Darker Shade of Magic (set in a city that hosted the olympics—London)
A Gathering of Shadows (a main character in their 20s—Kell)
A Conjuring of Light (a book you meant to read in 2019–I fully intended to read this series when I went to London last year, but didn’t.)
Also, V.E. Schwab was in her 20s when this series was written so you can use any of her pre-2019 books for that prompt!
I've been reading the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series, and have managed to tick off a LOT of list with these titles. It's an excellent, long-running series for anyone who likes historical mysteries.1. A book that's published in 2020: (Book #16) Riviera Gold
5. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics: About half the series takes place in London
6. A bildungsroman: Both myself and the author consider (Book #1) The Beekeeper's Apprentice to fit this description
12. A book that passes the Bechdel test: Any number of them, but for sure, (Book #2) A Monstrous Regiment of Women and (Book #15) Island of the Mad
13. A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it: (Book #7) The Game
31. A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title: (Book #16) Riviera Gold
33. A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads: Most of the series, but start at the beginning with (Book #1) The Beekeeper's Apprentice
35. A book with a three-word title: (Book #1) The Beekeeper's Apprentice
44. A book set in the 1920s: The first novel is mostly set in 1915-1918, but starting with book 2 the series is set in 1921-1925.
45. A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics: Dreaming Spies
46. A book by an author who has written more than 20 books: Laurie R. King has published over 30 books
48. A book published in the 20th century: (Book #1) The Beekeeper's Apprentice (1994), (Book #2) A Monstrous Regiment of Women (1995), (Book #3) A Letter of Mary (1996), (Book #4) The Moor (1998), and (Book #5) O Jerusalem (1999)
50. A book with a main character in their 20s: Mary Russell Turns 21 in Book #2 and remains in her twenties for the rest of the series thus far.
This year I just happened to read most of the Julia Quinn books. The Bridgerton books are sort of series, though they can be read separately. I was able to use a lot of her books to fit in challenge prompts. (Related are the Rokesby and Smythe-Smith series. The Rokesbys are a generation up from the Bridgertons and the Smythe-Smith family lives in the same universe as the Bridgertons) Book with a family tree: The Viscount Who Loved Me
Book about forgetting The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
Book featuring three generations: The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After
Book that has the same title as a song:
It's in His Kiss
Just Like Heaven
Book in a different format than you usually read: ebook version, audiobook version of any book
Book about art or an artist; An Offer From a Gentleman
Book everyone seems to have read but you: The Duke and I
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge - 2015, A classic romance OR A book by a female author OR A book set in a different country OR A book by an author you've never read before, and many more - Any book of hers.
Free book from your TBR list: borrow any from the library
All Souls Series: Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night; Book of Life; Time's Convert - Deborah HarknessYou can pick the four you need:
genre hybrid -
has the same title as a song - Book of Life
set in multiple countries -
book with a family tree in it -
featuring three generations-
set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021 -
and if you want to be a scientist or a historian:
main character works at your current or dream job -
The Wheel of Time Series 1-15 Books Collection Set Pack (Book 1-14) By Robert JordanThis is one series that I will be working on throughout the year both as a personal goal and as part of several book challenges. The WoT series has 15 books so it will take me about a year (hopefully less) to read them.
For the 2022 categories they fit in these:
-Nonpatriarchal society
-Book about the afterlife
-About a secret
-A different book by an author you read in 2021
-Book with the name of a board game in the title
-Fulfills your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar reading challenge
-Parallel reality
-Palindromic title
The Wheel of Time Series 1-15 Books Collection Set Pack (Book 1-14) By Robert Jordan can work for several:-ABOUT A SECRET
-AFTERLIFE
-NONPATRIARCHAL SOCIETY
-PALINDROMIC TITLE
-PARALLEL REALITY
-PROMPT FROM PAST CHALLENGE (MAP)
-NAME OF A BOARD GAME IN THE TITLE
I read the Harry Potter series of books, for me this is a favorite series, it is somehow connected with childhood, fond memories. And also a cool plot, and literally on January 1, the special episode "Harry Potter: 20 Years Later" was released, I plan to watch it, I think it will be interesting. And I also played Harry Potter games, found them here https://romsify.com/, by the way, there are a lot of interesting games.
Elspeth wrote: "This year I just happened to read most of the Julia Quinn books. The Bridgerton books are sort of series, though they can be read separately. I was able to use a lot of her books to fit in challeng..."And last year, after reading all the Bridgerton books, and finishing a number of other romance series, I got hooked into Lynsey Sands' Argeneau series. OMG. There are 34 books. I loved many of them and liked them all (I think they got better over the series, frankly). There are so many that can be used for prompts. For this year specifically:
Book Published in 2022: Immortal Rising
A Book about a "found family: most of the series, as they all become family as more immortals are turned
Book about a band or musical group: Under a Vampire Moon (Christian's band features prominently)
Book about a secret: most of the series, as they all have to tell someone they're immortal, but Vampire, Interrupted has the biggest secret
Book with a misleading title: The Reluctant VampireThe Reluctant Vampire - Harper is already immortal, and is only "reluctant" to get involved with a life mate in this book,.
Book set during a holiday: Bitten by Cupid or the The Bite Before Christmas
A different book by an author you read in 2021: Lynsay Sands also writes highlander and other romance novels
A book with the name of a board game in the title: The Trouble With Vampires
A book you know nothing about: the first book, or any book as they can all be standalones and all introduce the idea of "immortals"
A book featuring a party: In The Renegade Hunter, Sam holds a party to find life mates for her sisters
A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a previous PS challenge: many of them
A book that features two languages: many of the Nottes are from Italy and talk to their life mates in Italian. For exampleImmortal Nights and Runaway Vampire
A duology - the 1st and second in the series
A book about someone leading a double life:Vampire Most Wanted - Basha has been hiding from her past for many years,
A book set in Twin towns - many of the books are set in Toronto so that could be one of the twin towns to start.
The MaddAddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake / The Year of the Flood / MaddAddam by Margaret AtwoodFor 2022 challenge:
Oryx and Crake
#41 (Advanced) - A book with a reflected image on the cover or "mirror" in the title.
NOTE: The audiobook has a reflected image on the cover.
The Year of the Flood
#31 (Regular) A book featuring a man-made disaster
MaddAddam
#43 (Advanced) A book with a palindromic title
Nghi Vo's The Singing Hills Cycle seriesFor the 2022 challenge:
The Empress of Salt and Fortune (book 1)
27 - A Hugo Award winner (best novella, 2021)
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (book 2)
04 - A book with a tiger on the cover or "tiger" in the title
Into the Riverlands (book 3)
01 - A book published in 2022 (coming out 10/25/22)
For 2023, The Memoirs of Lady Trent Series, starting with A Natural History of Dragons would each work for a number of prompts. They all contain a map, and are about mythological creatures. As well, each has the subtitle "A Memoir by Lady Trent", so work would for lead characters name in title. They are also fake celebrity memoirs - Lady Trent is recounting her life's travels and accomplishments in the study of dragons. That takes you to 4 prompts for a 5 books series. I'm only on 3, but each so far also involves a trip, although it's generally for dragon-studying purposes, so I don't know if it would really count as a vacation. There also are references to other languages, and in particular attempts to decipher an ancient Draconic language, so could fulfil that prompt as well.
A fun series that could get you through a chunk of prompts!
I am seeing a lot of A Court of X and Y books on the listopias for this year. Bridgerton is also coming up a fair amount.
Brandon wrote: "I am seeing a lot of A Court of X and Y books on the listopias for this year. Bridgerton is also coming up a fair amount."I don't know the Court books, but yeah, Bridgerton could tick off fat lead for Romancing Mister Bridgerton, with the way Penelope is described, forbidden romance for An Offer From a Gentleman, since Sophie is in service. That could also be a modern retelling, since it takes a lot from Cinderella. So maybe use it there, and On the Way to the Wedding as forbidden romance, given that the heroine is engaged to someone else (or love triangle). Then, To Sir Phillip, With Love gets you main character name in title. (Or fudged song title). The Viscount Who Loved Me gets you a pet character, with Newton. Or also love triangle.
Any of them could qualify for historical fiction, or book about a family. Yeah, I think you could definitely get a prompt for each out of the series!
Joanna wrote: "Brandon wrote: "I am seeing a lot of A Court of X and Y books on the listopias for this year. Bridgerton is also coming up a fair amount."Any of them could qualify for historical fiction, or book about a family. Yeah, I think you could definitely get a prompt for each out of the series!.."
Thx Joanna.. I've been reading the Bridgerton books bcz of your suggestion. Have been checking off lot of prompts
And if I may add, Hyacinth book It's in His Kiss can be used for the song lyric as title prompt.
Are there any three prompts for 2025 I could complete using the Fourth Wing series so far? :)
I would say, #7 a book about a cult (any of the three books--thinking of venin? I mean seems like a cult to me), #12 road trip (Onyx Storm (view spoiler) sorry don't know if you've read it yet), #14 non-traditional education--any of the three with the Rider's Quadrant, #19 highly anticipated 2025 read for OS, #21 main character is politician ((view spoiler)), #43 non-verbal character (Jesinia), #50 chronic pain (Violet). Hope that helps.
As You Wish wrote: "I would say, #7 a book about a cult (any of the three books--thinking of venin? I mean seems like a cult to me), #12 road trip (Onyx Storm [spoilers removed] sorry don't know if you've read it yet)..."ahh thank you for this, super helpful!!! cult is so smart and i love onyx storm being a road trip (quest squad frfr AHAH) and non-traditional education too! definitely putting them in, thank you!! <3
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Books mentioned in this topic
It's in His Kiss (other topics)Romancing Mister Bridgerton (other topics)
To Sir Phillip, With Love (other topics)
An Offer From a Gentleman (other topics)
On the Way to the Wedding (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Margaret Atwood (other topics)Marissa Meyer (other topics)
Naomi Novik (other topics)
Naomi Novik (other topics)
Robert Galbraith (other topics)
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I´m sure you can find someone reading one in a movie or TV, and a celebrity recommending them. There is also the wedding in The Deathly Hallows.