2025: (Impossible) Solar System Challenge

[Layne]

Oh this is so well organized! I've signed up via the google form :)

[Cindy]

I’m in and signed up with the form

[Eunice]

I lost motivation in tracking my read books for this challenge during the mid-year, but I'm going to try a more structured approach to my TBR next year to see if that helps me stay on top of things.

Hopefully, second time's the charm

[Teddie]

This looks fun - I just signed up via the google form. Thanks Ashley!

[Madeline]

I signed-up with the form! So excited :)

[Jenny]

Signing up now...

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Updated to here!

[Char]

Just signed up!!

[Lynnette]

Sign up complete

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Updated to here!

[C]

I'd like to give this a try, please!

[Brittany]

Can someone help me with signing up, google sheets won't open for me right now

[SharonV]

I'm in! Just signed up on the Google form

[Teddie]

Brittany wrote: "Can someone help me with signing up, google sheets won't open for me right now"

Happy to help - it asks for your gmail / email -- do you want to dm that to me or just wait?

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Brittany wrote: "Can someone help me with signing up, google sheets won't open for me right now"

Brittany, just send me your email when you get a chance and I'll make your sheet!

[Brittany]

Thank you so much ladies! I was able to sign up from my phone just now :)

[Lexi]

I'm in as well though I noticed the new spell-it-out rules are harder and with all the "U" next year.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Yeah it's funny that O's are a struggle for me usually, but for next year I have several O's planned for other challenges, but not many O's needed this time on the solar spell it out! That's the way my luck goes.

U's I'll have to really dig for later. They are laying around though :)

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

I think we should start posting great U books NOW!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Ashley wrote: "I think we should start posting great U books NOW!"

Not a bad idea. One I can recall off the top of my head is Uprooted by Naomi Novik

For horror fans, Urban Gothic by Brian Keene

[Lisa]

Ashley wrote: "I think we should start posting great U books NOW!"

I'm thinking about reading the Unwind series by Neal Shusterman. There are four books that start with the letter U in that series! And I liked his Scythe series.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

I have added a list in message 4 for "Book / Task Help", so any recommended books, I'll try to put there as we go!

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Attention 2025 (Impossible) Solar System Challengers! 🚀📚

Although we're still a few weeks away from the official start date of January 1, 2025, I wanted to give everyone a heads up about the Monthly and Quarterly Challenges for Bonus Points, and to hopefully address any questions about how this new opportunity works!

🍀 The Monthly Bonus Challenge for January 2025 will be Symbols of Luck & Fortune . You can earn 2 bonus points per book completed in BOTH "The Sun" AND the Symbols of Luck & Fortune Challenge. This bonus is available only during January 2025.

🔤 The Quarterly Bonus Challenge for Quarter 1 2025 will be ABC Quarter 1: Daring Explorers Forge Great Horizons In Literature . You can earn 2 bonus points per book completed in ABC Quarter 1 AND one of the following sections: "The Sun", "Mercury", and/or "Venus". This bonus is available throughout January, February, and March 2025 only.

If you're interested in participating, now's the perfect time to sign up for these additional challenges! Don't forget to sign up for the main challenge if you haven't already!

Happy reading, everyone!

PS - Watch for more bonus information!

[Lexi]

Some U's I have read:
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
K.J. Charles's Sins of the City are all Us, starting with An Unseen Attraction
The Unquiet Dead
An Unkindness of Magicians
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
Under the Whispering Door
Moses Ose Utomi
Anne Ursu
Nahoko Uehashi

or plan on reading:
Under Fortunate Stars
The Uses of Illicit Art and book 2 is also a U

[MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method]

I would like to do the monthly and quarterly challenge and love to track with a spreadsheet.

Any objection to my creating a tracking spreadsheet in the one we have for this annual challenge?

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Under Currents by Nora Roberts

Unlikeable Female Characters: The Women Pop Culture Wants You to Hate

(Un)like a Virgin

The Unlikeable Demon Hunter might be part of a series (have not researched it yet)

Under the Dome
Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
The Underground Railroad
Under Her Care
Under Your Spell
Basically just search “under”, lol. Lots of options.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

MN Lisa wrote: "I would like to do the monthly and quarterly challenge and love to track with a spreadsheet.

Any objection to my creating a tracking spreadsheet in the one we have for this annual challenge?"

You can make whatever extra sheets you'd like!

[MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method]

Ashley wrote: "You can make whatever extra sheets you'd like!"
Thanks! I did some lookups and other formulas to help with the documentation too.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Ashley, I signed up through the link.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Updated to Here!

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Speaking of book tracking... Come chat about it!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Ashley wrote: "

Attention 2025 (Impossible) Solar System Challengers! 🚀📚

Although we're still a few weeks away from the official start date of January 1, 2025, I wanted to give everyone a heads up about the Mon..."

How fun, Ashley! Thank you :) Also goes well with pre-planning and sorting, so thanks for releasing these in advance.

[Madeline]

Hi everyone! I have two questions about the challenge:

1. For #5 "Read a book with XYZ in the text," does this mean a book where the author has that word written somewhere in the pages (such as, during dialogue or description)?

2. Do we need to list the books that count toward the timed and quarterly tasks, or simply write "Completed" in this space?

Thanks! :)

[valeria]

what do you mean by Read a book associated with the words listed on the left!? for example radiant, solar, luminous, that word on title or not?something like Radiant Sin or Luminous?

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Madeline wrote: "Hi everyone! I have two questions about the challenge:

1. For #5 "Read a book with XYZ in the text," does this mean a book where the author has that word written somewhere in the pages (such as, during dialogue or description)?"

Yes.

2. Do we need to list the books that count toward the timed and quarterly tasks, or simply write "Completed" in this space?

Fill this out, but like you would a regular task.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

valeria wrote: "what do you mean by Read a book associated with the words listed on the left!? for example radiant, solar, luminous, that word on title or not?something like Radiant Sin or [book:Lu..."

The task "Read a book associated with the words listed to the left" encourages creativity in your book selection. Here's how to approach it:

For words like Radiant, Solar, and Luminous, you have several options:

Find the word in the book's text: The word doesn't need to be in the title (but it CAN). You can search for it within the book's content.

Look for related themes: Choose books that explore concepts associated with these words. For example:
Radiant: Books about light emission, glowing objects, or energy radiation
Solar: Stories involving the sun, solar energy, or astronomy
Luminous: Books featuring bright objects, light phenomena, or illumination

Check character names: Some books might have characters whose names mean "Radiant," "Solar," or "Luminous" in various languages.

Consider metaphorical use: The words might be used figuratively in the book.

Explore titles: While not required, books with these words in the title, like "Radiant Sin," can be valid choices.

Remember, the goal is to be creative and flexible in your interpretation. If you're unsure about a book's eligibility, don't hesitate to ask for clarification.

Two examples of a VERY CREATIVE interpretation (so feel free to copy) with some of the Formal Buddy Read books...

The Asteroid Belt Section
Debris 9 The Paris Library Janet Skeslien Charles
There is always debris left when bombs are dropped (set in WW2)

Collision 10 A Place of Greater Safety Hilary Mantel
Depicts the clash (COLLISION) of different political ideologies and factions during the revolutionary period

[Sammy]

So just when I'm thinking I am really over shifters in general and werewolves in particular and I could really do without ever reading another shifter romance again, Ashley hits me with MOON task 7...

I swear you are reading my mind and planning your tasks accordingly 😂

Also I will probably not be as competitive here as I have been previous years. I have a LOT of big stuff coming up, so am planning to not only read less, but also be very selective in what challenges I join. Spending an hour for each book cross-posting them in different challenges like I've done before for bonus points just isn't going to be an option unfortunately.

So just laid back fun reading for me (at least, that's the plan... 😂), with a werewolf romance grumble thrown in 😆

[Deanna]

I would like to join again please!

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Sammy wrote: "So just when I'm thinking I am really over shifters in general and werewolves in particular and I could really do without ever reading another shifter romance again, Ashley hits me with MOON task 7..."

You can totally find a NON-werewolf MOON book, I promise!!!

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Deanna wrote: "I would like to join again please!"

Use the sign up link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

:)

[Lexi]

Ashley wrote: "Sammy wrote: "So just when I'm thinking I am really over shifters in general and werewolves in particular and I could really do without ever reading another shifter romance again, Ashley hits me wi..."

Finding a non-werewolf romance book on the werewolf romance book list is another matter: "Read a book from the Howl at the Moon: Best Wolf Shifters in Romance list."

Would you allow series substitution if the werewolf and romance are in the other book? For some reason the 3rd in the Innkeeper but not the 1st in on the list.

(Sammy, I highly recommend Clean Sweep if allowed).

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Lexi, it sounds like that book should be on the list and having read it, I know that's true, so someone could put it on there and it would solve a terrible problem! ..... 😁

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I think we should start posting great U books NOW!"

Not a bad idea. One I can recall off the top of my head is Uprooted by Naomi Novik

For horror fans..."

Too soon for me as a re-read but for MM Romance fans, these are all very good for Jordan L Hawk's Rath and Rune Series: Unhallowed, Unseen, Unknown

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Does the Quarterly Series Group Buddy read count for either of the bonuses for This Challenge or Book Quest Adventures? If so, does it count with informal or formal buddy read box?

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Yes (to both), the Series Read is part of the Formal Buddy Reads, so you would check the Formal Bonus box

[Sammy]

Thanks Lexi, I will keep an eye out for that one. 😁

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Ashley wrote: "Yes (to both), the Series Read is part of the Formal Buddy Reads, so you would check the Formal Bonus box"

Okay, thank you.

[Catherine]

I would like to join, if not to late.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Catherine wrote: "I would like to join, if not to late."


It's never too late!

☄️Did you find this challenge late? No problem! You can start anytime before the end of 2025 and add any books you've read during the challenge duration dates!

SIGN UP HERE ➜ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
You need to fill out the form with your Name and Email Address. This will only be used to set up your Personal Spreadsheet and link to the Scoresheet.

[Holly]

I'm reading Undercover by Danielle Steele, Unf*ck your life (author escapes me right now) and Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover for some of my U books.