2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2022
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World Mysteries Readathon - Team Cleopatra
YOUR PROMPTSWORLD MISSIONS
Singles
Read a book that has the word “strange” in its title
Read a book by a new-to-you author
Read a book that has won an Edgar Award
Read a book about books
Read a book featuring an amateur sleuth
Read a book with a gemstone on the cover or in the title
Read a book written in an epistolary style
Read a book featuring a character with a secret or hidden identity
Read a nonfiction book
Read a book where the main character is a history teacher
Read a book that takes place in France
Read a book that involves magic
Read a book with a love triangle
Read a book you were supposed to read in school but didn’t
Doubles
Read 2 books: 1 with a morally gray main character and 1 with a main character with strong morals
Read 2 books: 1 written by an author using a pen name, 1 written by the same author using their real name or a different pen name
Read 2 books featuring an ancient civilization
Read 2 books featuring aboriginal, native, and Indigenous peoples
Read 2 books: 1 set in a large city, 1 in a rural environment
Read 2 books that have a map featured in the front or back
Read 2 books: 1 set on or beside the sea, 1 set in on or beside freshwater (creek, river, lake)
Read 2 books that are set in a museum
Read 2 books with nonhuman characters
Read 2 banned books
Read 2 books with antonyms in the title (Ex. War and Peace, A Great and Terrible Beauty)
Triples
Read 3 books that have been translated from any language other than English
Read 3 books that have less than 1,000 ratings on Goodreads
Read 3 books featuring a character who has a physical disability or impairment
Read 3 books featuring a variety of sexualities
Read 3 books which are set on three different continents
Read 3 books set in different climates (desert, tundra, rainforest, etc.)
Read 3 books with 3 different colors on the cover or in the title.
Read 3 books set in a historical time period you want to learn more about
Read 3 books written by a French author and/or that was translated from French
Read 3 books you have added to your TBR within the last year
Read 3 books that take place in the summer
TEAM MISSIONS
Team Cleopatra (Egypt)
Read a book that involves a cemetery, mausoleum, or crypt
Read a romance novel
TEAM BOOKS
Team Cleopatra (Egypt)
*Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie (277 pages)
*Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (463 pages)
Team Atlantis (Mediterranean Sea)
*Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (394 pages)
*In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (437 pages)
Team Holy Grail (Spain)
*Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (288 pages)
*Death in the Afternoon by Ernest Hemingway (497 pages)
Team Loch Ness (Scotland)
*Bone Deep by Sandra Ireland (252 pages)
*To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (209 pages)
Team D.B. Cooper (United States)
*Hostage by Clare Mackintosh (357 pages)
*Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (452 pages)
Team Piri Reis (Turkey)
*Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières (554 pages)
*The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar (360 pages)
Team Chupacabra (Puerto Rico and Mexico)
*The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño (577 pages)
*Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo
Team Chōchin Obake (Japan)
*Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (160 pages)
*Out by Natsuo Kirino (400 pages)
I'm not sure how we suggest what we might read, so I'm just jumping in? I have committed to at least 3 (possibly 6) books and here is a short list I can pull my books from.★I just began (20 pages in) a book I can wait to continue until June 3rd: The Plot - fits NewToMe & Abt Books <-- I would definitely like to use this as one of my books, as I promised my cousin that this time I will read the book I've suggested we read together! (by the end of June, so perfect timing)
★The Laughter of Dead Kings - Amateur Sleuth, or, combined with Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt, same author, 2 names: Elizabeth Peters (one of 2 pen names) and Barbara Mertz (actual) - obviously could also fit "featuring an ancient civilization" instead.
★Stanger in a Strange Land - "strange" in the title
★In Cold Blood - NF & an Edgar Winner
★Bluebird, Bluebird - also Edgar winner
★Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks - about books & written in an epistolary style
★Giovanni's Room - takes place in France & was banned
★To the Lighthouse is a book I was supposed to read in school as was The Bell Jar
Theresa, did I do this right? I didn't want to put anything onto the spreadsheet until we'd all had a chance to look through and make suggestions.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'll jump in too!Here are the prompts I know for sure I have things to fulfill them that I'm planning on reading this month (or have already started)
-New-to-you author
-Amateur sleuth
-Set in France
-Involves magic
Doubles
-currently reading one with a strong moral character
Triples
-Added to my TBR in the last year
-Historical time period (I have 1 for end of WWII)
Here are prompts I have books in mind for (I cannot do ALL of these, so will see which ones are needed most):
-"Strange" in title
Doubles
-City and/or rural environment (I have 1 for both)
-Sea and/or freshwater (I have 1 for both)
-Book with nonhuman characters
Triples
-Translated from any language other than English
-Less than 1000 ratings
-Different climates (I have 1 for Tundra)
-Historical time period (I have 1 for 1888)
Hi, team! I am looking back on the 2021 readathon team I was on, to help refresh my memory.It appears we posted messages for our initial books planned, and listed the prompts they would fit.
For the current readathon, my first books are:
Gabby: The Little Dog That Had to Learn to Bark, which will fit these prompts:
Singles
New to you author
A nonfiction book
Doubles
A book set in a rural environment.
✔A book with nonhuman characters.
Triples
A book with less than 1000 ratings
different color on cover/title (white)
A book you have added to your TBR within the last year.
How to Order the Universe which fits these prompts:
Singles
New to you author
Doubles
none
Triples
Translated (from Spanish)
✔Set in Chile (South America)
Historical Time Period (1973-1988)
Added to TBR within the last year
different cover/title colors (pink)
The River
Singles
New to you author
Doubles
freshwater
nonhuman character
Triples
Northern Canada (North America)
✔added to my TBR within the last year
I have added our names to the tracking page of the spreadsheet. The planning page seems different to me, from last year, but we'll figure it out. 😊
Hi checking in! I will check all the prompts and see which of my books fit. :)
Theresa wrote: "I have added our names to the tracking page of the spreadsheet. The planning page seems different to me, from last year, but we'll figure it out. 😊"
Theresa,
I've reformatted your Planning tab so it resembles last year's a little more. Hope it helps.
oshizu wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I have added our names to the tracking page of the spreadsheet. The planning page seems different to me, from last year, but we'll figure it out. 😊"
Theresa,
I've reformatted you..."
Thank you, oshizu.
Hello again, team!I've added 3 books to the planning page of the spreadsheet.
Check it out and add your own, if you'd like.
Let me know if you need help.
Hello all! I’m excited to be on team Cleopatra! I will look at see which books/prompts fit together. Right off hand I know I can definitely do something for the team mission to read a romance novel.
So far, here are the prompts that matches with my books for June:1. Read a book by a new-to-you author - We Were Never Here
2. Read a book featuring a character with a secret or hidden identity - Black Hills
3. Read 3 books with 3 different colors on the cover or in the title. - A Painted House (Blue, Green and Brown)
4. Read 3 books featuring a variety of sexualities - Clap When You Land (Queer, Lesbian)
5. Read a book that involves magic - Stay Out of the Basement (I'm not sure if this can be used)
* There might be other prompts that fit as I start reading the books.
Theresa, I added a few of the books I'm planning to read into the spreadsheet but I can be pretty flexible on which ones I start and finish for the readathon and which I do after it's over. So I'll try to keep an eye on the prompts that have less potential books and line my reading up accordingly (where possible)
I don't really have any particular books planned for June, except for Our Violent Ends, which could be used for the amateur sleuth single, hidden identity single, morally gray double, large city double, freshwater double, variety of sexualities triple (possible mlm relationship + hetero relationship), maybe the climate triple with more coordination (it's set in Shanghai), and others that might come in as I readI can also do the "supposed to read in school" one, I have a bunch of books that I was supposed to read last year but didn't and this would definitely motivate me to read them
I might do The Complete Maus for this one, I've heard from my classmates/friends that it's pretty good
AlyanaSorry, but Winter's Bone won't work for this prompt since its original language is English. The prompt assumes all 3 books will be works of translation.
3. Read 3 books that have been translated from any language other than English - Winter's Bone (Italian, German, Spanish, etc)
oshizu wrote: "AlyanaSorry, but Winter's Bone won't work for this prompt since its original language is English. The prompt assumes all 3 books will be works of translation.
3. Read 3 books that have been trans..."
Oh.. I might've misunderstood the prompt. Off to look for another book then. Thanks oshizu for clearing that up.
Hi, team!If you're still deciding on books for the marathon, keep in mind that books that can work for multiple prompts are a good idea.
One of my books, as an example, will work for 8 different prompts. So, I have 8 options for that book.
This is also mentioned in the FAQ (message #2 in the Readathon Central thread.) I'm including a copy in this post.
*I’d planned to read a book for a specific prompt, but when I finished the book, that prompt was already filled by a teammate. What should I do?
Make sure that you’ve checked off all the prompts that your book will fill. As the readathon progresses, your team captain can look at which books can be moved around to optimize prompt coverage.
Also, multiple books have been added to our planning spreadsheet.
When you see them, you can get a better idea of how to add your own. I can help you or add them for you, if you wish.
The spreadsheet link is included in message #1. When clicking on the link, you will see a planning tab and a tracking tab near the lower left corner.
On the planning page, the book title and the team member is typed toward the top in the dark green area. Team member in parentheses.
As you scroll down, mark an "x" for every prompt that the book could fill.
I hope this is helpful.
I'm posting to make some clarifications on a couple of our prompts under "Triples." A question has been asked about these specific prompts, by another team leader.*Read 3 books with 3 different colors on the cover or in the title.
Example: Team member A Reads a book with a blue cover, team member B reads a book with a green cover and team member C reads a book with a yellow cover.
So, one cover does NOT have to include 3 different colors. Each book needs to be a different color from the other 2.
----
*Read 3 books which are set on three different continents
Similarly, we need 3 books with 3 different continents.
Example: 1 book set in Europe, 1 books set in Africa, 1 book set in North America.
So, one book does NOT have to be set on 3 different continents.
Theresa wrote: "I'm posting to make some clarifications on a couple of our prompts under "Triples." A question has been asked about these specific prompts, by another team leader.*Read 3 books with 3 different c..."
Thanks for the clarification Theresa. I will add my books once I start reading them, much easier to which prompt they fit.
Alyana wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I'm posting to make some clarifications on a couple of our prompts under "Triples." A question has been asked about these specific prompts, by another team leader.*Read 3 books wi..."
You're very welcome.
I froze the first column on our spreadsheet so you can see the prompts when you scroll all the way to the right. Hope that's ok with everyone. It was driving me crazy.
Thanks SarahKat.. That's better for me too.
Thank You, SarahKat!Roughly two more days! Yay!
Hi, Team Cleopatra! It is almost time for this readathon to start, depending on your time zone! So exciting!We do have one team member who hasn't joined us, so far. Fingers crossed she makes it to the readathon soon. 🤞
Also, last year, my team used a bright/lime green color on the spreadsheet (where we marked x) after finishing a book and choosing a prompt. I would like to do the same here. It doesn't have to be that particular color. It helps to see which prompts have been covered and which ones we are missing. As the readathon progresses, they can be changed/moved around to maximize prompt coverage, if needed.
I'm hoping this makes sense.
Let's have some fun!!
Hi Team Cleopatra!I hope your reading is going well so far! Just wanted to pop in and let you know that Shari, from Team Loch Ness, will be joining you as a new teammate shortly!
All of my books that I added the spreadsheet are underway! Welcome Shari!
I can't remember if rereads are okay for this challenge. If so, if the "book w/MC who is a history teacher" has not been finished by the 9th day, I propose to speedread Olivia Dade's Teach Me (unless someone wants to read it first, that is!). It's pretty light, so fast-reading shouldn't be difficult.
Julia wrote: "I can't remember if rereads are okay for this challenge. If so, if the "book w/MC who is a history teacher" has not been finished by the 9th day, I propose to speedread [author:Olivia Dade|13787449..."I believe re-reads are fine!
Hey Julia I was just looking at the spreadsheet to see if I could pick a short audio for when I'm done with my current one and noticed you had put Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks under book with the word "strange" in the title. Did you mean to put that on the "new to you author" instead?I might be able to squeeze in A Stranger in the House
SarahKat wrote: "Hey Julia I was just looking at the spreadsheet to see if I could pick a short audio for when I'm done with my current one and noticed you had put [book:Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in ..."good catch! yes, I did!
Quick question, do we post here if we finish a book? Is there a template?
Julia wrote: "I can't remember if rereads are okay for this challenge. If so, if the "book w/MC who is a history teacher" has not been finished by the 9th day, I propose to speedread [author:Olivia Dade|13787449..."I am confident that rereads are acceptable. I was considering a reread, myself.
Alyana wrote: "Quick question, do we post here if we finish a book? Is there a template?"You can share that you have finished a book here, if you'd like. Maybe consider adding the book title and which prompt you chose.
I'd like see finished books highlighted on the planning page, along with the chosen prompt.
Also, on the tracking page, under your name, add the number of pages read for each date of the readathon, as well as audiobook time. So if you listen for 45 minutes, add .75 under audio hours.
I hope this helps.
Theresa wrote: "Alyana wrote: "Quick question, do we post here if we finish a book? Is there a template?"You can share that you have finished a book here, if you'd like. Maybe consider adding the book title and ..."
Thanks Theresa, I will keep that in mind. I might finish a book in an hour.
I just added my "pages read" for the day, on the tracking page.I will finish my first book in the morning and start the next one. It may be EARLY morning, if I can't sleep.
Hello new team. I will take a look at the spreadsheet and see where I can fill in some prompts. Anxious to start reading.
Is there like an error on our tracking ss? I put in my audio hours from yesterday but when you scroll it all the way down to see the totals for week 1 and 2, my hours count as pages read instead of audio hours. Is that what is supposed to be when you don't put pages read?
Hi, Shari. Glad to have you with us!
Alyana wrote: "Is there like an error on our tracking ss? I put in my audio hours from yesterday but when you scroll it all the way down to see the totals for week 1 and 2, my hours count as pages read instead of..."It looks like that has been corrected. Thank you for mentioning this.
Theresa wrote: "Alyana wrote: "Is there like an error on our tracking ss? I put in my audio hours from yesterday but when you scroll it all the way down to see the totals for week 1 and 2, my hours count as pages ..."You're welcome. I finished my first book and highlighted it on the tracking tab, please let me know if I did it right or not.
Completion Posts:Book/Author: Fight the Future: The X-Files by Elizabeth Hand, Frank Spotnitz, and Chris Carter
Date Read: 06/04/22
Task: Read 2 books with nonhuman characters.
How it Fits: Aliens in the story.
Book/Author: Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
Date Read: 06/04/22
Task: Read 3 books featuring a variety of sexualities.
How it Fits: One of the characters is queer.
I finished "Gabby: The Little Dog That Had To Learn To Bark."There are lots of animals in this book.
I marked it as the second book read under
Doubles Read 2 books with nonhuman characters. This completes the prompt, since Alyana also read a book with nonhuman characters. Yay!
Both books are highlighted on the planning page for the prompt. The prompt itself is also highlighted to show it has been filled.
The prompt has also been highlighted and marked as complete on the tracking page, earning our team 100 points.
I've just started Our Violent Ends, should be done by today or tomorrow - I'm doing another casual 24 hour readathon within this one so hopefully it will be done sooner rather than later
I finished Reverie. I put it on the triple different sexualities. The main character is gay.So we are 2/3 on that triples prompt!
I just finished "How To Order The Universe." I highlighted it as 1 of the 3 needed for 3 different continents.
The continent is South America.
I want to share a friendly reminder to include your number of pages read for each date, along with audio hours, so we get those points.(On the tracking page)
Happy Reading! 😊
Hi all! I did add A Stranger in the House to my "In progress" list. I just started it on audio.I didn't finish any books today but I'll finish City of Ghosts early tomorrow. Thinking I'll put it in for the 2nd Continents one (Europe)
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Laughter of Dead Kings (other topics)Be Buried in the Rain (other topics)
Teach Me (other topics)
The Laughter of Dead Kings (other topics)
Be Buried in the Rain (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Becky Albertalli (other topics)Elizabeth Hand (other topics)
Frank Spotnitz (other topics)
Chris Carter (other topics)
Olivia Dade (other topics)
More...
Team: Cleopatra
This thread is for members of Team Cleopatra to use however you wish in relation to the readathon. Your teammates are: Theresa (Team Leader), Alyana, Mary-Lynne, Julia, Sunflower, SarahKat, and Anissa.
Here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/... is the link to your team’s spreadsheet, where you’ll be tracking your progress as you go.
If you have any questions about the readathon, how to interpret the prompts, how to use the spreadsheet, and so on, ask your Captain or Assistant first. If they don’t know, they can post the question(s) on the Readathon Central thread.
Happy reading! Let’s have a blast during this 10-day readathon!
—--------------------------------
Cleopatra VII was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last pharaoh of Egypt. For centuries, archeologies have been searching for her tomb. But there have been very few clues about the remains of this powerful leader. According to historians Suetonius and Plutarch, the Roman leader Octavian permitted their burial together after he had defeated them.
Shakespeare’s verse from Antony and Cleopatra:
She shall be buried by her Antony
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous.(359-63)