2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Personal Challenge: 101+
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Rachael Readsalot's 101 Book-matians
Number of books on my TBR pile as at 1 January 2025 = 498
1. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters 213 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (1/36), Mount TBR (1/36), Opposites Attract (1/16), Serial Reader (1/30), Embracing the Blues (1/6), Cozy Escapes (1/2)
Why I read this: it's been unread on my Kindle for quite some time
Books TBR=499 (yes, I know it's gone up instead of down! I bought a couple of books today)
2. Whose Body? by Dorothy L Sayers220 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (1/26), Clear the Shelves (2/36), Mount TBR (2/36), Opposites Attract (2/16), Serial Reader (2/30), Cozy Escapes (2/2)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about it
Books TBR=498
3. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor 528 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (2/26), Bookworms Take Shelfies (1/20), Clear the Shelves (3/36), Mount TBR (3/36), Opposites Attract (3/16), Serial Reader (3/30), TBR Jar (1/10), Embracing the Blues (2/6)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about it
Books TBR=497
4. Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor 528 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (2/20), Opposites Attract (4/16), Serial Reader (4/30)
Why I read this: concluding part of the Strange the Dreamer duology
Books TBR=496
5. A Mere Formality by Ilona Andrews 26 pages
⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I came across it again and decided to reread
Books TBR=496
TRCC READATHON - JANUARY 2025Tumblr user thereadingchallengechallenge is running another Readathon between 15th January and 21 January 2025 (your time zone) and I'm taking part.
Prompts:
read a book about a disabled character
read a children's book
read a nonfiction book
read a book by an Asian author
read a book set during winter
* 15 Jan: 0 pages read (technically I did read some on this day but I didn't know about this Readathon until day 2 so not counting them.)
* 16 Jan: 150 pages (42%) read of TCA
* 17 Jan: 168 pages (47%) read of TCA. Books completed = The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont (set during winter)
* 18 Jan: 206 pages (54%) read of STTC.
* 19 Jan: 176 pages (46%) read of STTC. Books completed: Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho (by an Asian author)
* 20 Jan: 272 pages (77%) read of DACC
* 21 Jan: 82 pages read (23%) of DACC. Books completed: Dragons at Crumbling Castle: And Other Stories by Terry Pratchett (a children's book)
* Total books completed = 3. Total pages read = 1,054
6. The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont 358 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Virtual Mount TBR (1/24), TRCC Readathon (January) (1/x), Community Favourites (Era Explorer)
Why I read this: library loan via Borrowbox
Books TBR=497
7. Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho 382 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (3/26), Clear the Shelves (4/36), Mount TBR (4/36), Serial Reader (5/30), TRCC Readathon (January) (2/x)
Why I read this: fulfils prompts in the A-Z challenge and TRCC Readathon
Books TBR=496
8. Dragons at Crumbling Castle: And Other Stories by Terry Pratchett 354 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (3/20), Clear the Shelves (5/36), Mount TBR (5/36), Serial Reader (6/30), TRCC Readathon (January) (3/x)
Why I read this: for a Readathon
Books TBR=495
9. I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes 624 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (4/20), Virtual Mount TBR (2/24)
Why I read this: buddy read, library loan via Borrowbox
Books TBR=495
10. Enchantée by Gita Trelease 481 pages
⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (4/26), Serial Reader (7/30), Embracing the Blues (3/6)
Why I read this: I previously did not finish this book and wanted to give it another go
Books TBR=497
11. The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne177 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (5/20), Clear the Shelves (6/36), Mount TBR (6/36), TBR Jar (2/10), Embracing the Blues (4/6)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=496
12. The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young 321 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (7/36), Mount TBR (7/36), Community Favourites (Buzzy Books)
Why I read this: I like Adrienne Young
Books TBR=497
13. An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson 453 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (8/36), Mount TBR (8/36), Community Favourites (Essential Reader)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=496
14. Once Upon A Time by Demelza Carlton 369 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (5/26), Clear the Shelves (9/36), Mount TBR (9/36), Serial Reader (8/30), Embracing the Blues (5/6), Racing Through Time (1/3)
Why I read this: I like fairytale retellings
Books TBR=496
15. Valentine Grey by Sandi Toksvig 353 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (6/26), Clear the Shelves (10/36), Mount TBR (10/36)
Why I read this: the title is very similar to a celebration that took place yesterday (14 Feb) when I finished the book
Books TBR=495
16. Time Of My Life by Sharon Griffiths 355 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (11/36), Mount TBR (11/36), Opposites Attract (5/16), Racing Through Time (2/3)
Why I read this: I like time travel
Books TBR=495
17. Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise175 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (7/26), Clear the Shelves (12/36), Mount TBR (12/36), Embracing the Blues (6/6)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=494
18. The Necessary Arthur by Garth Nix 41 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (13/36), Mount TBR (13/36), TBR Jar (3/10)
Why I read this: it's inspired by Arthurian legend
Books TBR=493
19. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje 263 pages
⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Virtual Mount TBR (3/24), Book Awards Readathon (Team Readiculous Readers) (1/x)
Why I read this: for the Book Awards Readathon
Books TBR=493
20. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky 609 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (6/20), Clear the Shelves (14/36), Mount TBR (14/36), Serial Reader (9/30), TBR Jar (4/10), Racing Through Time (3/3), Book Awards Readathon (Team Readiculous Readers) (2/x)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about it
Books TBR=492
21. Greenshaw's Folly: A Miss Marple Short Story by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Challenges: Virtual Mount TBR (4/24), Book Awards Readathon (Team Readiculous Readers) (3/x)
Why I read this: audiobookin' as I'm workin'
Books TBR=492
22. The Road by Cormac McCarthy324 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Book Awards Readathon (Team Readiculous Readers) (4/x)
Why I read this: for the Book Awards Readathon
Books TBR=491
23. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain 370 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (7/20), Opposites Attract (6/20, goal increased), Virtual Mount TBR (5/24), Book Awards Readathon (Team Readiculous Readers) (5/x)
Why I read this: I'm an introvert
Books TBR=491
24. Goblin Fruit by Erin Burr 174 pages
⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (15/36), Mount TBR (15/36), Serial Reader (10/30), Reading Picnic (1/3)
Why I read this: it's inspired by the poem Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti (the poem is better)
Books TBR=492
Books TBR=493Happy World Book Day (UK and Ireland)!
25. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears 287 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (8/20), Virtual Mount TBR (6/24), Community Favourites (Her Story)
Why I read this: to complete the Her Story challenge on here
Books TBR=493
26. Gingerbread by Robert Dinsdale 449 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Reading Picnic (2/3)
Why I read this: for the Reading Picnic challenge
Books TBR=492
Books TBR=494 don't take me grocery shopping, I come back with books
27. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 384 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Virtual Mount TBR (7/24), Community Favourites (Sweet and Spicy)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about it
Books TBR=494
28. The Black Vampyre: A Legend of St. Domingo by Uriah Derick d'Arcy59 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: recommended on Tumblr
Books TBR=494
29. The Muse by Jessie Burton445 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I'm on holiday and there was a copy in the cottage where I'm staying
Books TBR=494
30. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor420 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (11/30)
Why I read this: reread to remind me of the story before I continue the series
Books TBR=494
31. Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor256 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (12/30), Reading Picnic (3/3)
Why I read this: novella in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series
Books TBR=493
32. Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor 516 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (9/20), Clear the Shelves (16/36), Mount TBR (16/36), Opposites Attract (7/20), Serial Reader (13/30)
Why I read this: part of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series
Books TBR=493
READINGOALS READATHONDuring April 2025, I am taking part in another readathon being run on Tumblr. I'm ac12bookworminthetardis on there. More details about the readathon can be found on readingoals' blog.
Prompts
(~optional - Frankenstein themed)
✔️ Creature on the Cover: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (some editions)
✔️ Female Author: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
✔️ Poll Pick: The Complete Sonnets and Poems by William Shakespeare (I asked people on Tumblr to choose whether I reread a Shakespeare work or not. They chose a new to me work)
✔️ ~ Borrowed: Mary Shelley: The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein's Creator by Catherine Reef (library loan)
✔️ New to Me Author: Under Different Stars by Amy A Bartol
✔️ Green on the Cover: Howards End by E M Forster
✔️ Set in Another Country: Daughters of the Night Sky by Aimie K Runyan (Set in Russia)
✔️ Not My Usual: The Other Side of Never: Dark Tales from the World of Peter & Wendy by Various (anthology)
✔️ Published in the 2020s: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree (first published in 2023)
33. Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor 506 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (10/20), Clear the Shelves (17/36), Mount TBR (17/36), Opposites Attract (8/20), Serial Reader (14/30)
Why I read this: part of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series
Books TBR=493
34. Howards End by E M Forster 318 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (18/36), Mount TBR (18/36), Readingoals Readathon (1/9)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about it
Books TBR=492
35. Daughters of the Night Sky by Aimie K Runyan 318 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (19/36), Mount TBR (19/36), Opposites Attract (9/20), Book Scrabble (1/4), Readingoals Readathon (2/9)
Why I read this: it's been on my Kindle for a while
Books TBR=491
Hey, Rachael! I'm impressed that your TBR is actually decreasing. Mine keeps growing and growing. Keep it up!
TerryJane wrote: "Hey, Rachael! I'm impressed that your TBR is actually decreasing. Mine keeps growing and growing. Keep it up!"Thank you... It's a struggle because I keep finding books to add to my pile. Hope your challenges are going well 👍
2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
La Belle Sauvage (other topics)The Count of Monte Cristo (other topics)
The Next Always (other topics)
Celestial Monsters (other topics)
The Sunbearer Trials (other topics)
More...
I'll be taking part in some group challenges and also continuing my personal lifetime challenges of the complete works of Shakespeare and the Discworld series.
You are very welcome to chat with me in this thread. 🤓
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