2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE: Quarterly Challenges
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Q1 - For All Humankind
Updated!
Update to #265/6
2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live - North and South
Ashleigh wrote: "Update to #265/6
2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live - North and South"
I was going to comment on there being no dog on the cover, and then remembered it was a dual-option prompt.
I might need more coffee.
Lisa, I made better progress than expected and have been enjoying all my reads for this prompt. Please increase my goal to #15.Update to message #13: 8/15
3. 1963 - Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space: Read a book with a female character breaking barriers or a book about gender issues
Woman at Point Zero - a feminist classic about women's lives in Egypt.
8. 1984 - Bruce McCandless, first untethered space walk: Read a book where a character is alone or book about a person who ventures into the unknown
What You Have Heard Is True: A Memoir of Witness and Resistance - A gripping memoir about a young poet who (initially cluelessly) agreed to a request to bear witness to events in El Salvador just before the civil war. (This was excellent on audio).
10. 2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from
I'm in Seattle, Where Are You?: A Memoir - author is from Iraq. This highlights the treatment of LGBTQ people in Iraq but it's also a moving story of love and found family for a new immigrant to the US.
11. 2001 - Dennis Tito, first space tourist: Read a book set during a vacation or a book about someone with a lot of money
A Mumbai Murder Mystery - Fun mystery set in the wealthy Temple Hill neighborhood in Mumbai. Most characters are wealthy.
13. 2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live.
Chaka set in Zululand, South Africa this is one of the earliest novels written by a black african.
14. 2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own red cover. Made me want to read more Baldwin.
Updated msg 23Just completed #11 (character with money) - The Edge of Midnight by Beverly Jenkins. I have a serious issue with the misogynistic attitude of the male MC, and he’s not really held accountable for this behavior. It made the chemistry between the MCs rather unrealistic, particularly at the start. The female MC even said how could she really fall for her kidnapper. I agree, how? And the breaches of personal autonomy against the woman in this book without being called out as such is not ok. As much as I love this author, this one was a miss for me. 2 stars
9/10
Sheila from NC-still don’t know if I ever had a number- but I’m updating to say I finished this fun challenge with 10 more for a total of 15/15. Thanks for hosting.
Update to Message #16Progress 5/10
✔️1. 1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies. The Aosawa Murders
✔️7. 1980 - Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, first person of color in space: Read a book about fighting racism or a book written by a BIPOC author Razorblade Tears
✔️10. 2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from The Twist of a Knife
✔️11. 2001 - Dennis Tito, first space tourist: Read a book set during a vacation or a book about someone with a lot of moneyReckless Girls
✔️12. 2003 - first marriage in space: Read a book featuring a wedding or a book about marriage Double Fudge Brownie Murder
Wow, you're all doing amazing. Keep it up! Margie, I've raised your goal, and everyone else's progress should be up to date now. Let me know if I missed anything :)
Update to message 21 - 7/15 books completed!
Hi would love to join for 10 books if not too late!Completed 4/10
1. 1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies.
2. 1961 - Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space: Read a book featuring a competitive race or a book involving Russian history
✅ 3. 1963 - Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space: Read a book with a female character breaking barriers or a book about gender issues
by Glennon Doyle4. 1966 - first full-earth photo from moon's orbit: Read a book with the earth on the cover or a book featuring photography
5. 1969 - first person on the moon: Read a book about an explorer or a book with the moon on the cover
6. 1976 - Viking I is first to successfully land on Mars: Read a book featuring travel or a book with a ship on the cover
7. 1980 - Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, first person of color in space: Read a book about fighting racism or a book written by a BIPOC author
8. 1984 - Bruce McCandless, first untethered space walk: Read a book where a character is alone or book about a person who ventures into the unknown
9. 1990 - Hubble, first space telescope: Read a book about the stars and planets or a science fiction book
10. 2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from
✅11. 2001 - Dennis Tito, first space tourist: Read a book set during a vacation or a book about someone with a lot of money
by Patrick Radden Keefe12. 2003 - first marriage in space: Read a book featuring a wedding or a book about marriage
13. 2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live
✅ 14. 2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover
by Kerry Greenwood✅ 15. 2022 - DART, first man-made intentional asteroid impact to change asteroid's motion in space: Read a book featuring a crash of some kind or a book where a character changes course.
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Update to #266/6 COMPLETE
Rounded out with: 1969 - first person on the moon: Read a book about an explorer or a book with the moon on the cover
I read An Arrow to the Moon which as a moon on the cover, and in the title
Update to message 28, 8/5 books. The books I read in January hit a lot more of these prompts than expected!1. 1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies. - The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
5. 1969 - first person on the moon: Read a book about an explorer or a book with the moon on the cover - The First to Die at the End
6. 1976 - Viking I is first to successfully land on Mars: Read a book featuring travel or a book with a ship on the cover - The Son of Neptune
7. 1980 - Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, first person of color in space: Read a book about fighting racism or a book written by a BIPOC author - The Henna Wars
9. 1990 - Hubble, first space telescope: Read a book about the stars and planets or a science fiction book - Sea of Tranquility
10. 2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from - The Inheritance of Shame
14. 2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover - A Day of Fallen Night
15. 2022 - DART, first man-made intentional asteroid impact to change asteroid's motion in space: Read a book featuring a crash of some kind or a book where a character changes course. - The Lost Hero
Update to message #6: 8/5 Completed
Thanks for the great challenge.
Updated msg 23Just completed #13 (set long way from where I live) - Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. While this book is not comedic and contains real stories of trauma, it is told with a perspective that gives the reader a bit of space to process it all. Writing is good, and I truly appreciate the reality he shares. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
10/10 - challenge completed!
11/15
Update to Message 44: 10/1510/15
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
Both! The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Author in the UK: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
S.T.A.G.S by M.A. Bennett (a lot of money)
Marriage: The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber
Far away: Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
Red Cover: Dance of a Burning Sea by E.J. Mellow
The Opus by Joe Ciampaglio (changes course)
Welcome to the challenge, Cristina and Jenn! We're going strong until the end of March! so it's definitely not to late to join :)
Best of luck with your reading!
Congrats to Ashleigh, Janine, Debra Diggs and Megan for reaching their respective goals this month! I hope you read some great books along the way. Thanks for participating!
Everything should be up-to-date on the roster. Please let me know if I missed anything :) Have a great weekend!
Updated msg 23Just completed #8 (venture into unknown) - Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire. How the author manages to fit so much heart and world into so few pages is nothing short of magic! This book tackles one of the hardest themes yet, but I so appreciate the author’s disclaimer. While I was left with lots of questions, I hope they will be answered in the next installment. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
11/10
Raised goal and updated message 1913/14
Updated message #22.Progress: 6/6.
Completed! Thank you for running this challenge.
Update to Message #16Progress 10/10
Update to 15 2.24.23
Progress 10/15
✔️6. 1976 - Viking I is first to successfully land on Mars: Read a book featuring travel or a book with a ship on the cover
✔️8. 1984 - Bruce McCandless, first untethered space walk: Read a book where a character is alone or book about a person who ventures into the unknown Fairy Tale
✔️9. 1990 - Hubble, first space telescope: Read a book about the stars and planets or a science fiction book The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
✔️13. 2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live A Death in Vienna
✔️14. 2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover
Update to Message #16I am changing my goal to 15
Progress 10/15
Update to message #13Progress: 11/15
7. 1980 - Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, first person of color in space: Read a book about fighting racism or a book written by a BIPOC author.
Giovanni's Room (Black author)
1990 - Hubble, first space telescope: Read a book about the stars and planets or a science fiction book
Station Eternity SciFi Mystery
2022 - DART, first man-made intentional asteroid impact to change asteroid's motion in space: Read a book featuring a crash of some kind or a book where a character changes course.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - A solitary witch changes course and agrees to teach three young witches.
Updated msg 23Just completed #12 (wedding) - Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad. This book made me crave a trip to an Indian restaurant, farmers market, the Pacific Northwest, and the romance aisle at a bookstore - all at the same time! Writing is really good! Characters are delightful, well-constructed, and complex. Great representation! I really enjoyed how the author told each sister’s story within one larger arc. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars
12/10
Allie wrote: "Updated message #22.Progress: 6/6.
Completed! Thank you for running this challenge."
Nice going on completing your challenge, Allie :) Did you read anything recommendable?
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
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The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Neil deGrasse Tyson (other topics)Jennifer Ashley (other topics)
Dietrich Kalteis (other topics)
Ira Levin (other topics)
Emily St. John Mandel (other topics)
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Just completed #9 (sci-fi book) - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. Love this series! The way the author weaves together the timelines, using the narrativ..."
Almost at the finish line, Megan! :)