Amy's 2024 Reading Challenges Corner

[Amy]

My 2024 yearly challenges corner...

[Amy]

Personal challenge of 65 books in 2024

1. Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey - finished on Kindle on 4th Jan
2. Perfect by Cecelia Ahern - finished on 18th Jan
3. Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann - finished on 22nd Jan
4. The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh - finished on Kindle on 25th Jan
5. Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield - finished on 29th Jan
6. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - finished on 5th Feb
7. A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh - finished on Kindle on 9th Feb
8. Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh - finished on Kindle on 14th Feb
9. Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda - NetGalley book finished on Kindle on 8th Mar
10. The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth - finished on Kindle on 9th Mar
11. The New House by Tess Stimson - finished on Kindle on 10th Mar
12. No Escape by Lucy Clarke - finished on Kindle on 14th Mar
13. Run on Red by Noelle W. Ihli - finished on Kindle on 22nd Mar
14. Middle of the Night by Riley Sager - NetGalley book finished on 12th Apr
15. 'Unknown Caller' by Lisa Unger - finished on Kindle on 12th Apr
16. 'Listen for the Lie' by Amy Tintera - finished on Kindle on 19th Apr
17. 'You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight' by Kalynn Bayron - finished on 10th May
18. 'The No-Show' by Beth O'Leary - finished on Kindle on 16th May
19. 'Iron Flame' by Rebecca Yarros - finished on 18th May
20. 'The Beach Party' by Amy Sheppard - finished on 20th May
21. 'The Echo Wife' by Sarah Gailey - finished on 26th May
22. No One Saw a Thing' by Andrea Mara - finished on Kindle on 2nd Jun
23. 'How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out: Your no-nonsense guide to pregnancy and birth' by Clemmie Hooper - finished on 2nd Jun
24. 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' by Gabrielle Zevin - finished on 6th Jun
25. 'The Last Passenger' by Will Dean - finished on Kindle on 7th Jun

[Amy]

It's in the Cards

9/22

The Fool (new beginnings, innocence, free spirit):
The Magician (willpower, desire, creation, manifestation): Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey
The High Priestess (intuitive, unconscious, inner voice): Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
The Empress (motherhood, fertility, nature): Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh
The Emperor (authority, structure, control, fatherhood): The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
The Hierophant (tradition, conformity, morality, ethics):
The Lovers (partnerships, duality, union): The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
The Chariot (direction, control, willpower):
Strength (inner strength, bravery, compassion, focus): Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
The Hermit (contemplation, search for truth, inner guidance):
The Wheel of Fortune (change, cycles, inevitable fate): Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Justice (cause and effect, clarity, truth): Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
The Hanged Man (sacrifice, release, martyrdom):
Death (end of cycle, beginnings, change, metamorphosis): Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Temperance (middle path, patience, finding meaning):
The Devil (addiction, materialism, playfulness):
The Tower (sudden upheaval, broken pride, disaster):
The Star (hope, faith, rejuvenation):
The Moon (unconscious, illusions, intuition):
The Sun (joy, success, celebration, positivity):
Judgement (reflection, reckoning, awakening):
The World (fulfilment, harmony, completion):

[Amy]

Out on a Limb

/3 trees (at least 18 books)

Tree 1

Trunk:

Branch 1:
Branch 2:
Branch 3:
Branch 4:
Branch 5:

Tree 2

Trunk:

Branch 1:
Branch 2:
Branch 3:
Branch 4:
Branch 5:

Tree 3

Trunk:

Branch 1:
Branch 2:
Branch 3:
Branch 4:
Branch 5:

[Amy]

Finish Line

16/25 total
5/5 Themes; 5/5 Opening Lines; 5/5 Closing Lines; 1/5 Songs; /5 Idioms

Themes

1. Naomi Novik, Uprooted: They come and go like seasons, the winter that gives… A Game of Lies
2. Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows: Spring was moving in the air above and in… The New House
3. John Green, Looking for Alaska: Every summer since I was little, I’ve gone to garage sales and bought…
4. Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing: Autumn leaves don't fall, they… Listen for the Lie
5. Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore: Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps…
6. Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wave in the Mind: People who deny the existence of dragons are often…
7. Jim Butcher, Vignette: I have nightmares about hell, where all I do is add up numbers and try to…
8. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited: An unexciting truth may be eclipsed by… The Last Party
9. Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone: Their lies and lily-scented perfumes taint the… Fourth Wing
10. Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl: But he turned our family life into an endless road trip with…
11. Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat: I'm Gentleman Death in silk and lace, come to put out the…
12. J.R.R Tolkien, The Hobbit: The mountain smoked beneath the moon; the dwarves, they heard…
13. Rick Riordan, The Last Olympian: She wore her orange camp t-shirt and…
14. Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give: What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be…
15. Kathryn Stockett, The Help: All I’m saying is, kindness don’t have…

Opening Lines

1. Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale: We slept in what had once been…
2. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451: It was a pleasure to…
3. Alice Walker, The Color Purple: You better not never tell… Our Wives Under the Sea
4. Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina: All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is…
5. Min Jin Lee, Pachinko: History has failed us, but… No One Saw a Thing
6. Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca: Last night I dreamt I went to… The Beach Party
7. Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun: When we were new, Rosa and I were… Perfect
8. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God: Ships at a distance have every man’s…
9. Marcel Proust, Swann’s Way: For a long time, I went to bed…
10. S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders: When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I…
11. Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude: Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was…
12. Cormac McCarthy, The Road: When he woke in the woods in the dark and cold of the night he’d… Run on Red
13. Ashley Audrain, The Push: Your house glows at night like everything inside is…
14. George Orwell, 1984: It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were...
15. Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House: No live organism can continue for long to…

Closing Lines

1. Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind: After all, tomorrow is… Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
2. Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar: The eyes and faces all turned themselves towards… The Good Sister
3. George Orwell, Animal Farm: The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and…
4. Yann Martel,Life of Pi: Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at…
5. Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea: The old man was dreaming about… Daughter of Mine
6. Jung Chang, Wild Swans: I was eager to embrace… No Escape
7. Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain: There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to…
8. Louisa May Alcott, Little Women: Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you…
9. L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: I'm so glad to be at…
10. Kate Chopin, The Awakening: There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of… The Echo Wife
11. Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest: She opened the door wide and let him into her…
12. Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada: And then, while the pretty brunette girl finished singing her verse, he…
13. Asne Seierstad, A Hundred and One Days: It floats through the balcony doors and makes the curtains…
14. Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast: But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very…
15. Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth: But over the old man's head they looked at each other and…

Songs

1. Ed Sheeran, Bad Habits, 2021: Every time you come around, you know I…
2. BTS, Butter, 2021: Smooth like butter, like a…
3. Lady Gaga, Stupid Love, 2020: You’re the one that I’ve…
4. Pharrell Williams, Happy, 2014: It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to…
5. Rihanna, Diamonds, 2012: Find light in the beautiful… Iron Flame
6. Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe, 2011: I threw a wish in…
7. Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling, 2009: I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be…
8. Beyoncé, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), 2008: Up in the club, just broke up, I’m doing…
9. Eminem, Lose Yourself, 2002: His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are…
10. Sinéad O’Connor, Nothing Compares to U, 1990: It's been seven hours and fifteen days since you took…
11. Prince, Let’s Go Crazy, 1984: Dearly Beloved, we have gathered here today to get…
12. The Eagles, Hotel California, 1976: On a dark desert highway, cool wind in…
13. The Mamas and the Papas, California Dreaming, 1965: All the leaves are brown and the sky is…
14. Elvis Pressley, Heartbreak Hotel, 1956: Well, since my baby left me, well, I found a new…
15. Dooley Wilson, As Time Goes By, 1942: You must remember this, a kiss is…

Idioms

1. Up a creek without a…
2. As snug as a bug in a…
3. Look before you…
4. Throw caution to…
5. Stop beating around the…
6. It is always darkest before…
7. Don’t kill the goose that lays the…
8. The pot calling the kettle…
9. Like a cat on a hot tin…
10. Your guess is as good as…
11. Too many cooks spoil the…
12. Two heads are better than…
13. All that glitters is not…
14. Every dog has his…
15. A rising tide lifts all…

[Amy]

Magical Mystery Tour

10/18
1/3 Who; 0/3 What; 4/3 When; 2/3 Where; 2/3 How; 1/3 Why

Who: 1/7

1. Military (active, veteran, or reserve duty)
2. Plants (landscaper, florist, arborist, etc.)
3. First response (EMT, firefighter, deputy, etc.)
4. Security (cybersecurity, night watchmen, bodyguard, etc.)
5. Travel: Yacht staff - No Escape by Lucy Clarke
6. Animal Care (zoo, veterinarian, rescue, etc.)
7. Building (carpenter, contractor, electrician, etc.)

What: 0/7

1. An orange cover
2. A tree on the cover
3. A flower on the cover
4. A number in the title
5. A place name in the title (city, state, etc.)
6. A geographical feature in the title:
7. A season in the title

When: 4/7

1. In spring: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh
2. In the second half of 20th century
3. During a trip (business or pleasure): The Last Passenger by Will Dean
4. Between noon and midnight: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
5. During a romantic celebration (engagement, wedding, anniversary): Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
6. In the season you were born
7. Published in a Year of the Dragon (2024, 2012, 2000, etc.)

Where: 2/7

1. In a small town or village
2. On a mountain
3. In a vacation rental (cabin, resort, etc.)
4. On an island: The Beach Party by Nikki Smith
5. On a train or plane: No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara
6. Near the equator
7. Above the Arctic Circle

How: 2/7

(view spoiler)[

1. Hit & run - Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
2. Sacrafice - You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
(hide spoiler)]

Why: 1/7

1. A favorite mystery author or series
2. A favorite mystery subgenre
3. Appears in a Goodreads listopia (Which one?)
4. Won a literary prize for crime fiction (Which one?)
5. A challenged or banned crime book
6. A cold case (among your TBRs for over a year): The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
7. Average Goodreads rating of 4 stars or above

[Amy]

Genre Bingo

/10 Bingos (8/25 books)



Paranormal:
Dystopian: Perfect by Cecelia Ahern
Mystery: Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
Magical Realism:
Post-apocalyptic:
Humour:
Young Adult Fantasy:
Utopian: Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh
LGBTQIA+: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Travel Fiction: No Escape by Lucy Clarke
Crime: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh
Adventure:
Free Space:
Romance: The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
Psychological Thriller: The Last Passenger by Will Dean
Romantic Comedy:
Contemporary: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Historical Fiction:
Thriller: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
Science Fiction: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
Horror: You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Chick-lit: Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey
Young Adult: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Family Drama:
Fantasy: Fourth Wing

[Amy]

A-Z Challenge

17/20

A:
B: Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh
C:
D: Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
E: No Escape by Lucy Clarke
F: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
G: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh
H: The New House by Tess Stimson
I: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
J:
K:
L: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
M: Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
N: No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara
O: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
P: Perfect by Cecelia Ahern
Q:
R:
S: Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey
T: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
U: Unknown Caller by Lisa Unger
V:
W: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
X:
Y: You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Z:

[Amy]

Popsugar

5/20

1. A book with the word "leap" in the title
2. A bildungsroman
3. A book about a 24-year-old
4. A book about a writer
5. A book about K-pop
6. A book about pirates
7. A book about women's sports and/or by a woman athlete
8. A book by a blind or visually impaired author
9. A book by a deaf or hard-of-hearing author
10. A book by a self-published author
11. A book from a genre you typically avoid: Non-fiction - Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann
12. A book from an animal's POV
<>13. A book originally published under a pen name: Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
14. A book recommended by a bookseller
15. A book recommended by a librarian
16. A book set 24 years before you were born
17. A book set in a travel destination on your bucket list
18. A book set in space
19. A book set in the future
20. A book set in the snow
21. A book that came out in a year that ends with "24": Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
22. A book that centers on video games
23. A book that features dragons: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
24. A book that takes place over the course of 24 hours
25. A book that was published 24 years ago
26. A book that was turned into a musical
27. A book where someone dies in the first chapter
28. A book with a main character who's 42 years old
29. A book with a neurodivergent main character
30. A book with a one-word title you had to look up in a dictionary
31. A book with a title that is a complete sentence
32. A book with an enemies-to-lovers plot
33. A book with an unreliable narrator
34. A book with at least three POVs: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
35. A book with magical realism
36. A book written by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person
37. A book written during NaNoWriMo
38. A cozy fantasy book
39. A fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author
40. A horror book by a BIPOC author
41. A memoir that explores queerness
42. A nonfiction book about Indigenous people
43. A second-chance romance
44. An autobiography by a woman in rock 'n' roll
45. An LGBTQ+ romance novel

Advanced -

46. A book in which a character sleeps for more than 24 hours
47. A book with 24 letters in the title
48. A collection of at least 24 poems
49. The 24th book of an author
50. A book that starts with the letter "X"

[Amy]

Bibliopoloy

4/40 rolls

1). 10 moves: Blue (any shade of blue on cover) - Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey
2). 11: Free Parking (anything goes) - Perfect by Cecelia Ahern
3). 8: Water Works (water on cover) - The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
4). 2: Go to Jail (fiction crime) - A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh
5). 2: Green (character's gender different to mine) - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
6). 4: Chance (top 10 lowest average rating on TBR) - Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh
7). 3: Dark blue (won an award) - Davitt Award for Best Adult Novel (2021) - The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
8). 10: Blue (blue on cover) - No Escape by Lucy Clarke
9). 12: Red (car/road trip on cover) - Run on Red by Noelle W. Ihli
10). 8: Green (character's gender different to mine) - Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

[Amy]

Let's Turn Pages

4,419/20,000

January

Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey - 144 pages
Perfect by Cecelia Ahern - 428 pages
Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann - 272 pages
The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh - 448 pages
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield - 240 pages

Total pages: 1,532

February

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - 498 pages
A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh - 404 pages
Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh - 304 pages


Total pages: 1,206 pages

March

Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda - 365 pages
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth - 312 pages
The New House by Tess Stimson - 376 pages
No Escape by Lucy Clarke - 337 pages
Run on Red by Noelle W. Ihli - 291 pages

Total pages: 1,681

April

Total pages:

May

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June

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July

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August

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September

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October

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November

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December

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Total pages for 2023: