Hooked on Books discussion
12 Month Challenges
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2025: (Impossible) Solar System Challenge
I need help on "retrograde". Any ideas of books that has this word in it?
Elspeth wrote: "I need help on "retrograde". Any ideas of books that has this word in it?"For those loose words it's always a theme that ties to the book, not necessarily the word in the text. I went with a book about a psychic for that one because of the old saying with psychics/astrology on Mercury in Retrograde kind of creativity
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This book has it in the title:
. I have not read it yet but I think it's the one I'm going to use.What kinds of books do you like? Do you have a way to search inside your digital books? I don't know if you prefer audio, digital or print. Depending on what you want, I can look inside all of my books to see what has "retrograde" inside them.
Another option is like what Erin said -- use a book that fits the word somehow. Maybe the definitions of retrograde could help with book ideas:
"reverting to an earlier and inferior condition."
"directed or moving backward."
*(of amnesia) involving the period immediately preceding the causal event.
Geology
*(of a metamorphic change) resulting from a decrease in temperature or pressure.
*Astronomy•Astrology
(of the apparent motion of a planet) in a reverse direction from normal (from east to west), resulting from the relative orbital progress of the earth and the planet.
*Astronomy
(of the orbit or rotation of a planet or planetary satellite) in a reverse direction from that normal in the solar system.
Synonyms (for ideas for titles/plot lines):
backward
reverse
retreat
for the worse
regressive
negative
downhill
unwelcome
declining
deteriorating
Books with retrograde/reverse in title:
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Elspeth, you can also read this comment: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
We discussed how to interpret things!
Personally, I used Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
This novel is a retelling of The Tempest, which inherently involves revisiting and reinterpreting the past. The story revolves around themes of reflection, transformation, and reclaiming what was lost, making it a perfect match for the idea of Retrograde.
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Elspeth wrote: "Can someone explain the Winner bonus to me? I feel like something is missing but I can't see it in the spreadsheet:"Read a book with an MPG Mystery AND a book ... "
What is miss..."
Thanks! That helps!
OOPS! i had retrograde on my mind, but I already completed that one! What I *really* need help on is "primordial". That is a word I can't find in any of the 100 books I read this year :(
I haven't read for it yet but I have three options I found on my kindle.There Are Rivers in the Sky
Shorefall
The Garden
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What I *really* need help on is "primordial". That is a word I can't find in any of the 100 books I read this year :("
These are all of my Calibre books that have "primordial" in the text. If you are interested in any of them, I can let you know the page number and quote in case you do print or audio.
(CURRENT FORMAL BUDDY READ)
Oh my gosh, I didn't realize that on Summer Sons, will use that for my prmordial as well then
Sees that Summer Suns works for a tasks and goes ahead and checks it out from the e-library. I was on the fence but I do love a book that works for all the things.
bamaace83 wrote: "Sees that Summer Suns works for a tasks and goes ahead and checks it out from the e-library. I was on the fence but I do love a book that works for all the things."It sounds pretty good to me too. I have it checked out now, will get to reading it soon.
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ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Yeah, when I saw Summer Sons in my search results, I got very excited and had to make sure everyone saw that it gets us those tasty buddy read points!"YES, thank you! I had not found my primordial book yet, so I just moved Summer Sons from a spell it out into that area, much better.
For anyone curious, I looked up the sentence on kindle search:Location 436, He dragged himself through primordial and crushing darkness over the
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Location 436, He dragged himself through primordial and crushing darkness over the"
Thanks!
I filled out the form but not sure if I did it right. I don't know how I missed this one for so long, but I loved the Impossible Disney last year so I really hope my signup was done correctly.
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Vicki! Your sheet has been made: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
You can add any books you've read since the beginning of the year. For the monthly and quarterly bonuses, if you happen to have participated and your books fit, you can claim the bonuses.
On the SS where it has quarterly challenge bonus, is the quarterly any challenge that is 3 months long, such as The Water Balloon Wars that's from Jun 1 thru Aug 31?
It's a specific challenge Vicki, which changes every quarter. This quarter is the Carnival challenge.Basically if you read a book for that challenge during that quarter and find a home for it in one of those three sections, you can tick the box.
(If you scroll back through the thread, you should find Ashley's monthly announcements about bonus challenges and such)
They are linked on the SS, so you should be able to get to the correct challenge by clicking on it.
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You can just click the links and they will take you to the correct challenge!
Checking in to see whether I missed the July monthly challenge and 3rd quarter challenge announcement - I tried my ss links but those aren't updated yet. thanks! :)
I was coming to check also. I just got my spreadsheet updated with the books that I've read recently. I have a lot of work to do to get some of these tasks done. We aren't traveling any more bigger vacations for the next few months so I'm hoping to spend most of my downtime catching up on books.
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ETA - meaning I am so far behind! LOL
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Welcome to Quarter 3, Astronauts of the Impossible!
As we drift deeper into the galaxy, the vastness of space invites us to shift our focus and to reconsider size, scale, and the dazzling variety of experiences across this ever-expanding universe of books. With that in mind, we’re rolling out a trio of new bonus challenges to guide and reward your journey through July, August, and September. Whether you're a precision planner or a chaotic star-leaper, these tasks are here to offer extra points—and some extra fun.
🌌 Quarterly Bonus Task: Vastness and Perspective
From July 1 to September 30, explore a book where a character can change size or shape. This might be magical, mythical, scientific, or something far stranger—but the transformation should impact how they experience the world or how the world perceives them. These changes in form are a perfect metaphor for our challenge’s theme: that perspective can be everything, and even the smallest shift can alter the course of a narrative. Log your book and let us know how the character’s transformation changes the stakes, the plot, or their place in the universe.
☄️ July Timed Task: The Asteroid Belt
For July only (July 1–31), you are invited to traverse the scattered terrain of the Asteroid Belt by reading a book with a diverse ensemble cast. Much like the Belt itself, made of countless distinct and varied bodies moving in shared orbit, these stories should celebrate differences—across culture, background, personality, experience, or identity. Whether your pick is a sprawling epic with multiple POVs or a contemporary story where every character feels like a real person with their own gravity, this is a chance to honor the complexity of the literary cosmos.
📚 New Bonus Challenges: Monthly and Quarterly Systems Online
We’ve also launched two new passive bonus challenges!
🧚♀️ Once Upon a Drag (The Asteroid Belt Bonus)
🔤 ABC Quarter 3: Passionate Readers Seek Truths Unveiling Stories (Quarter 3 Challenge Bonus)
Let us know in the comments what you’re reading for these bonuses! As always, may your literary journey be bold, perspective-shifting, and as gloriously chaotic as the cosmos itself. 🌠📚
How do we log points for the Vastness and Perspective? And have I missed that sort of bonus for the first half of the year lol? I only realized about the passive bonus challenge tie-ins lol.
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If it is not too much trouble can I get up to line 99 hidden as well?
Ashley wrote: "C, the 3rd Quarter Vastness Task is on row 100, in purple. We've had 2 others, Rows 3 and 52."Oh, duh, thank you! I think my brain is toast from all the challenges this month lol. 🤣
Does anyone have any ideas for books for the changing size/shape task that isn't a shifter book? (I'm already dragging my heels on doing those tasks for the Moon segment, I don't wanna add any others if I can help it 😆)I could re-read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass, but not really in the mood...
Pretty much any book with Zeus in it could work. He changes shapes a lot to get some after all.It has been a minute since I read Sunshine, but doesn't that vampire change shapes? I could be remembering some other book.
Ready Player One works too. The avatars change shape and size a couple of times.
No idea, as I've not read that one, but I'm pretty sure I can squeeze in a Percy Jackson this month. 😁I guess Loki would work too. He has the same weird predelictions as Zeus 😆
Thanks for the reminder!
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Sorry, I didn't see this until now! I have hidden it for you!
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The Metamorphosis: Franz Kafka
The Troop
The Stepford Wives - iffy, but I'll allow it
Howl’s Moving Castle
Coraline
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
I'm pretty sure I recall the vampire in Sunshine changing from man to bat, but it's been a while and wasn't my cup of tea.
Im continuing to read the his dark materials series and there is the shape shifting demons in them :)
Ashley wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "If it is not too much trouble can I get up to line 99 hidden as well?"Sorry, I didn't see this until now! I have hidden it for you!"
Thank you
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Which planet/thingy is this one for? I have too many tabs open so I don't want to open my spreadsheet right now :D
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Oh, thanks! I wonder how the heck I missed that on my sheet. I am pretty obsessive about checking the quarterly and monthly special tasks, lol. (except when I'm not opening a spreadsheet hahah)
No problem. Everyone misses stuff occasionally. I'm currently missing my marbles, so I think you've got the better deal there 😂
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"Read a book with an MPG Mystery AND a book ... "
What is missing? Thanks!"
It is:
"Read a book with MPG Mystery AND a book title that begins with a letter in OTIS.
Complete between 6/1/25-6/30/25"