2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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May - Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
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Update to Message #4: 10/10Complete!
Loved this challenge, Theresa! Thank you!
🍞 1. Under the weather: To feel ill
Read a book that has an important weather event or a book where a character is ill.
Before I Go
🍞 2. Spill the beans: to give away a secret
Read a book that features cooking or a book where the character has a secret.
The Guilt Trip
🍞 3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision
Read a book that features a sport with a ball or a book where a character must make a major decision.
4th of July
🍞 4. Break a leg: good luck!
Read a book where a character breaks a bone or where luck is a factor in the plot
Lucky
🍞 5. Once in a blue moon: Rarely
Read a book with the moon on the cover or featured in the story or where the characters are seeking something rare.
The Consequences of Fear
🍞 6. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly
Read a book with fire on the cover or featured in the story or a book where a character fails badly.
Arsenic and Adobo
🍞 7. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something
Read a book about gardening or where a character gardens or a book with a character avoiding a conversation.
Daisies for Innocence
🍞 8. Hit the sack: Go to bed
Read a book where a character hits someone or where sleeping is a major plot point
The Dreamers
🍞 9. Miss the boat: Too late
Read a book with a boat on the cover or where a character misses a deadline.
The North Water
🍞 10. A dime a dozen: very common
Read a book with money on the cover or in the title or where the main character is of the common people.
The Lindbergh Nanny
Updated msg 5Just completed #8 (character hits someone) - Rivals in the City by Y. S. Lee. A nice conclusion to the series! I wish there had been more development with the series overall regarding the Agency and the MCs’ relationship. Entertaining and glad I finished it! 3.5 stars
3/4
Updated msg 5Just completed #3 (character makes major decision) - Violeta by Isabel Allende, translated by Frances Riddle. This book was interesting, particularly after I learned a little of the author’s basis for the story. I particularly appreciated that she kept the location of the country fluid and some of the parallels she drew with events in our country now. Her writing is straight-forward. However, in seeking to share an entire 100-history, it did feel a little superficial at points. Worth reading! 4 stars
4/4 - challenge completed!
Updating msg 6Progress 3/5
Have a nice Sunday :-)
Sheila from NC posting to say FINISHED! 5 more books for 10/10.6.Go down in flames - The Burning Pages - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
7.Beat around the bush - Chile Death - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
8.Hit the sack - Miss Marple, Sleeping Murder -https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
9.Boat-The Bright and Breaking Sea - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
10. Dime a dozen-A penny for your thoughts. https://www.goodreads.com/work/247161...
A round of applause for those who have reached or exceeded their goal.👏 Catsalive, Darinda, DebraDiggs, Lilli Gilliam, Megan, Sheila, & TerryJane 👏
I'd like to join for both categories in all 10 prompts -- 20 books total. Since I'm using novels for the Up & Atom challenge this month, I'll use the juvenile fiction, comics, and other formats that I read this month for this one 🔪🍞 Books: 20 /20
Prompts completed: 10/10
🔪🍞 1. Under the weather: To feel ill
🍞 an important weather event
🍞 a character works on mental health issues
🔪🍞 2. Spill the beans: to give away a secret
🍞cooking
🍞the character has a secret
🔪🍞 3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision
🍞 a sport with a ball
🍞 a character must make a major decision
🔪🍞 4. Break a leg: good luck!
🍞 a character breaks a bone
🍞 luck is a factor in the plot
🔪🍞 5. Once in a blue moon: Rarely
🍞 the moon featured in the story
🍞 the characters are seeking something rare
🔪🍞 6. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly
🍞 fire on the cover or featured in the story
🍞 a character fails badly
🔪🍞 7. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something
🍞 a character gardens
🍞 a character avoiding a conversation
🔪🍞 8. Hit the sack: Go to bed
🍞a character hits someone
🍞 sleeping is a major plot point
🔪🍞 9. Miss the boat: Too late
🍞 a boat on the cover
🍞 a character misses a deadline
🔪🍞 10. A dime a dozen: very common
🍞 money on the cover or in the title
🍞 the main character is of the common people
Updated msg 6Progress 4/5
Have a nice day :-)
Welcome to the challenge, Kendra. Best of luck!
Update to msg 59: Books: 9 /20
Prompts completed: 2 /10
Updating msg 6: completed :-)Progress 5/5
Thank you very much Theresa, great challenge!
Late addition but can I join please with a goal of 4 books?
Rachael wrote: "Late addition but can I join please with a goal of 4 books?"Hi Rachael. Welcome.
If, by chance, you have read books since May 1st that fit any of the prompts, you may include them, along with others you read this month.
Have fun!
Lilili wrote: "Updating msg 6: completed :-)Progress 5/5
Thank you very much Theresa, great challenge!"
Nice job! Glad you enjoyed the challenge!
2023 Reading ChallengeMay - Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Duration: May 1, 2023-May 31, 2023
Progress: 10 out of 10
The word idiom derives from Greek meaning peculiar phraseology. Idioms crop up quite a lot in English, and if one doesn't know the meaning, the literal words in the phrase are quite unusual. We'll be having fun with some idioms this month, choosing books that match the literal words or the underlying meaning of the phrase themselves.
1. Under the weather: To feel ill Read a book that has an important weather event or a book where a character is ill:
The Owl & Moon Cafe by Jo-Ann Mapson - **** - 5/1/2023 - 357 Pages
2. Spill the beans: To give away a secret Read a book that features cooking or a book where the character has a secret:
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - ***** - 5/4/2023 - 296 Pages
3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision Read a book that features a sport with a ball or a book where a character must make a major decision:
The Becoming by Nora Roberts - * - 5/26/2023 - 448 Pages - Major Decision
4. Break a leg: good luck! Read a book where a character breaks a bone or where luck is a factor in the plot:
The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich - *** - 5/18/2023 - 320 Pages - Luck is a factor
5. Once in a blue moon: Rarely Read a book with the moon on the cover or featured in the story or where the characters are seeking something rare:
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin - *** - 5/7/2023 - 410 Pages - Seeks something rare
6. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly Read a book with fire on the cover or featured in the story or a book where a character fails badly:
A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor - ***** - 5/14/2023 - 336 Pages - Fails badly
7. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something Read a book about gardening or where a character gardens or a book with a character avoiding a conversation:
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - ***** - 5/6/2023 - 368 Pages - Avoids a Conversation
8. Hit the sack: Go to bed Read a book where a character hits someone or where sleeping is a major plot point:
Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn - **** - 5/18/2023 - 342 Pages - Hits someone
9. Miss the boat: Too late Read a book with a boat on the cover or where a character misses a deadline:
Geekerella by Ashley Poston - ***** - 5/5/2023 - 320 Pages - Misses a deadline
10. A dime a dozen: very common Read a book with money on the cover or in the title or where the main character is of the common people:
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - ***** - 5/2/2023 - 479 Pages - Common People
To participate, just tell the leader how many books you intend to read for the challenge. Remember, each book can only count towards one prompt.
Thanks to Theresa for suggesting this challenge and volunteering to lead it!
Update to Message #16Progress 5/5
🔖3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision Read a book that features a sport with a ball or a book where a character must make a major decision. A Court of Thorns and Roses
🔖8. Hit the sack: Go to bed Read a book where a character hits someone or where sleeping is a major plot point Small Vices
Updated msg 5Just completed #1 (character ill) - You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. Delightful and stressful and messy - everything that being a teen is made of with added bonuses of complexity. Topics of race, lgbtqia+, and economics are artfully represented throughout. I loved the author’s descriptive writing and her characters were wonderful! I went to college in Indiana, and I felt the push for conformity and silence in its absence. I was fortunate, like this MC, to have a strong group of friends to stand with me. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
5/4
Welcome, Suzanne! Good luck!!Great job, Allie! (#16)
message 38Completed 3
1. Under the weather: To feel ill Read a book that has an important weather event or a book where a character is ill. The Perfect Mother
Update to #59Books: 15 /20
Prompts completed: 5 /10
Update to message #172/2
I read A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins for prompt #6, a book with fire on the cover
Sarah and Emily, congratulations! Nice job!There's still time to reach those goals, everyone! Good Luck!
Update for msg 18THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD
May 1, 2023-May 31, 2023
5/5
✔️ 1. Under the weather: To feel ill Read a book that has an important weather event or a book where a character is ill.
May-26-2023https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
✔️ 2. Spill the beans: to give away a secret Read a book that features cooking or a book where the character has a secret.
May-06-2023 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision Read a book that features a sport with a ball or a book where a character must make a major decision.
✔️ 4. Break a leg: good luck! Read a book where a character breaks a bone or where luck is a factor in the plot
May-05-2023 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
5. Once in a blue moon: Rarely Read a book with the moon on the cover or featured in the story or where the characters are seeking something rare.
6. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly Read a book with fire on the cover or featured in the story or a book where a character fails badly.
7. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something Read a book about gardening or where a character gardens or a book with a character avoiding a conversation.
8. Hit the sack: Go to bed Read a book where a character hits someone or where sleeping is a major plot point
✔️ 9. Miss the boat: Too late Read a book with a boat on the cover or where a character misses a deadline.
May-01-2023 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
✔️ 10. A dime a dozen: very common Read a book with money on the cover or in the title or where the main character is of the common people
May-02-2023https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Update to #59 -- Finished!Books: 20 /20
Prompts completed: 10/10
Got this one completed. Please count this as my sign-up post. 😊1. Under the weather: To feel ill. Read a book that has an important weather event or a book where a character is ill. My Name Is Lucy Barton
2. Spill the beans: to give away a secret. Read a book that features cooking or a book where the character has a secret. Blue Monday
3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision. Read a book that features a sport with a ball or a book where a character must make a major decision. Jane & Edward: A Modern Reimagining of Jane Eyre
4. Break a leg: good luck! Read a book where a character breaks a bone or where luck is a factor in the plot. Hatchet (Brian's Saga #1)
5. Once in a blue moon: Rarely. Read a book with the moon on the cover or featured in the story or where the characters are seeking something rare. No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon
6. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly. Read a book with fire on the cover or featured in the story or a book where a character fails badly. We Have Always Lived in the Castle
7. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something. Read a book about gardening or where a character gardens or a book with a character avoiding a conversation. Hello Beautiful
8. Hit the sack: Go to bed. Read a book where a character hits someone or where sleeping is a major plot point. It's Like This, Cat
9. Miss the boat: Too late. Read a book with a boat on the cover or where a character misses a deadline. His Majesty's Deadline
10. A dime a dozen: very common. Read a book with money on the cover or in the title or where the main character is of the common people. A Death in the Family
message 384/5
9. Miss the boat: Too late Read a book with a boat on the cover or where a character misses a deadline.
As I hoped I completed all ten tasks :-DUpdate to message #24: 10 completed
1. Under the weather: To feel ill
Read a book that has an important weather event or a book where a character is ill.
The Avoidable Orphan: Can saving one small elephant help mend and unite a grieving family? by T.M. Clark 5* 5/10 - a severe drought caused wild fires, which led to a baby elephant’s separation from her herd and subsequent illness
2. Spill the beans: to give away a secret
Read a book that features cooking or a book where the character has a secret.
Justice Buried by Patricia Bradley 3* 5/9 - female MC works as cat burglar & white-hat hacker testing security systems using a secret identity called Phantom Hawk
3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision
Read a book that features a sport with a ball or a book where a character must make a major decision.
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew, John Sherrill & Elizabeth Sherrill 5* 5/3 - author=MC has to make several major decisions during his missionary work behind the Iron Curtain
4. Break a leg: good luck!
Read a book where a character breaks a bone or where luck is a factor in the plot Collapsible: A novel of friendship, broken bones, coffee, shenanigans, and the occasional murder by Ruth Buchanan 3* 5/7 - MC broke her leg
5. Once in a blue moon: Rarely
Read a book with the moon on the cover or featured in the story or where the characters are seeking something rare. The Perfect Dress by Carolyn Brown 3* 5/6 - several women look for plus sized bridesmaid’s and wedding dresses
6. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly
Read a book with fire on the cover or featured in the story or a book where a character fails badly.
Not the Ones Dead by Dana Stabenow 3* 5/3 - fire is central to the plot and (view spoiler)
7. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something
Read a book about gardening or where a character gardens or a book with a character avoiding a conversation.
Black Coral by Andrew Mayne 4* 5/1 - she avoids some important discussions: in her job, regarding the relationship with the father of her teenaged daughter, or their daughter’s rearing
8. Hit the sack: Go to bed
Read a book where a character hits someone or where sleeping is a major plot point
The New Princess by Carly Roberts 3* 5/1 - sex (aka sleeping with someone *grins*) is major part of the plot
9. Miss the boat: Too late Read a book with a boat on the cover or where a character misses a deadline.
GSG 9 – Terror im Visier: Mythos und Realität einer Spezialeinheit (GSG9 - Terror in Sight: Myth and Reality of a Special Operations Unit) by Michael Götschenberg 4* 5/27 - one of the interviewed police officers asked how he joined this elite special unit answered it was because by the time he decided to change jobs from regular police force into a local special operation unit he missed the deadline to apply for, didn’t want to wait another year, so he applied for the one on federal level
10. A dime a dozen: very common
Read a book with money on the cover or in the title or where the main character is of the common people.
München 72 - Der Tag, an dem die Spiele stillstanden (Munich '72: The Day The Games stopped) by Petra Mattfeldt 5* 5/29 - all five MCs are of the common people
10/10 complete and very close to the cut off! I loved this challenge.1. Under the weather: To feel ill Read a book that has an important weather event or a book where a character is ill.
The Haunting of Brynn Wilder
2. Spill the beans: to give away a secret Read a book that features cooking or a book where the character has a secret.
The Housemaid
3. The ball is in your court: it's your decision Read a book that features a sport with a ball or a book where a character must make a major decision.
The Sky Is My Home: The Story of Hazel Jane Raines
4. Break a leg: good luck! Read a book where a character breaks a bone or where luck is a factor in the plot
The Wilderwomen
5. Once in a blue moon: Rarely Read a book with the moon on the cover or featured in the story or where the characters are seeking something rare.
A Memory Called Empire
6. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly Read a book with fire on the cover or featured in the story or a book where a character fails badly.
The London Séance Society
7. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something Read a book about gardening or where a character gardens or a book with a character avoiding a conversation.
Happy Place
8. Hit the sack: Go to bed Read a book where a character hits someone or where sleeping is a major plot point
The Atlas Six
9. Miss the boat: Too late Read a book with a boat on the cover or where a character misses a deadline.
Mystery of the Tolling Bell
10. A dime a dozen: very common Read a book with money on the cover or in the title or where the main character is of the common people.
Long Bright River
Christene Paula, Kendra, Beth, Agnieszka, & Ariail -- WOW! Nice going!
Update #294/4 Completed
✅ 3. The ball is in your court: Hank Aaron: A Tribute To The Hammer 1934-2021
✅ 5. Once in a blue moon: Watership Down
✅ 7. Beat around the bush: Back to the Garden
✅ 10. A dime a dozen: The Housemaid
Thanks for another great challenge!
Two more people have reached their goal! Well done, Kristina and Laurie!
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Recovery Agent (other topics)The Obelisk Gate (other topics)
Legends & Lattes (other topics)
The Owl & Moon Cafe (other topics)
Gideon the Ninth (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jo-Ann Mapson (other topics)Nora Roberts (other topics)
Janet Evanovich (other topics)
N.K. Jemisin (other topics)
Tamsyn Muir (other topics)
More...
1/2
I read Life of Pi by Yann Martel for prompt #9, a book with a boat on the cover