Challenge: When Spring Comes

[Cynda]

Here I post challenge description.

[Cynda]

Many have experienced a cold bitter winter. And now we are ready for a lovely renewal or refreshment of spring.

Here are our Prompts. Use them as you feel inclined. We challenge you to find joy and refreshment in these books. As always, you do you ⭐🌛🌞🌝🌜

1. Spring back/into/from Home.
2. Spring into Truth.
3. Spring into Power.
4. Spring out in Song/Poetry/Words
5. Spring into Freedom.
6. Spring into Joy.


Level#1: Four Selections
Level#2: Six Selections

[Cynda]

Consider the prompts jumping off points. Use my hints only as wanted or needed. Impress yourself, and impress us with your ability to think outside the box or walk down long thought processes.

Read with Joy.
Read for Joy.
Read to find Joy.
All that and more.

[Cynda]

Challenge Hints

1.Spring back/into/from Home. Maybe the journey is to or from an ancestral, family, physical or emotional or spiritual home. Here is an opportunity to read all those wild and wacky books where the main character goes on adventures and learn all kinds of stuff. Or maybe you want a go into home story maybe about family secrets which can be a spooky story or a revelation.

2. Spring into Truth. What is something true for you? How do you find some truth? What does a fine job of describing or explaining or somehow illuminating some of your truth? Here is an opportunity to read fairytale and folktales, retellings, and books with unexpected insights.

3. Spring into Power. Who has some power you admire? Is there power or energy that you can put into use in your life? What books describes what you find powerful within yourself/family/work life/community/place of service. Here is an opportunity to read about witches and wizards and old talking trees of the forest.

4. Spring out in song/poetry/words Is there speech moment that speaks to you, enlightens you, brings you peace or joy or hope, or otherwise lights up something in you? Here is an opportunity to read a biography of one of your favorite writers, singers, actors, performers. Or maybe you want to read a play/script. Maybe you would to read a book about the backstory of a movie, song, speech.

5. Spring into Freedom. What brings you joy to experience, to read about, to know is in the world working toward and reaching for good in your family/home/neighborhood/something dear to you? Here is an opportunity to read books on the experience of fighting for good causes and for starting new ways of doing that improve many people's lives.

6. Spring into Joy. What brings you some joy/a great deal of joy/belief that you can find joy? Read a book on the topic ;) Maybe that will too add joy.

[Cynda]

Post here or on your thread or anywhere you post what you read. If you share here too, we will get book ideas we might not have had. Posting here is appreciated 👍

[Cynda]

🐝 1.Spring back/into/from Home. Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live by Rob Dunn I spring into the physical home, into who else I live with. Apr 09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐝 2. Spring into Truth. Like a Tree: How Trees, Women, and Tree People Can Save the Planet by Jean Shinoda Bolen My tree hugger nature expresses itself here Apr 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐝 3. Spring into Power. The Last Queen: Elizabeth II's Seventy Year Battle to Save the House of Windsor by Clive Irving Here I learn about a woman of power. March 10 ⭐⭐⭐

🐝 4. Spring out in Song/Poetry/Words -- Remembering Selena: A Tribute In Pictures & Words / Recordando Selena: Un Tributo en Palabras y Fotos by Himilce Novas I read this in remembrance of Selena's life and music in this the 30th anniversary of her death. March 31 ⭐⭐⭐

🐝 5. Spring into Freedom. Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels by Hannah Ross Bicycles set free many middle and upper class women --and still do.March 16 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐝 6. Spring into Joy. The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss Being near books brings me by turns comfort and joy Apr 08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Cynda]

I have changed some suggestions about how readers might use these challenge prompts. They are only prompts. You do you.

[Katie Cat Books]

There's nothing on the website about an April 2025 readathon. When is it? Where (online) is it taking place?

[Cynda]

Katie Cat Books, the readathon dates are stated in the group's banner:
Dewey's April Readathon 2025
Begins: Saturday, 8am EST April 26
Ends: Sunday, 8am EST April 27.

[Katie Cat Books]

Is the event just on Goodreads ad Discord? I don't use Discord and am not active on Goodreads. Will there be postings on the website? There are so many apps that are preferred nowadays, such as storygraph and fable. How about those?

[Lynnette]

Hold my spot please

[Cynda]

Kate Cat Books please post general comments in General Chat.

[Vanessa]

Best prompt for me Cynda . Thanks ! Vanessa Dargain



Cynda wrote: "Consider the prompts jumping off points. Use my hints only as wanted or needed. Impress yourself, and impress us with your ability to think outside the box or walk down long thought processes.

Re..."

[Cynda]

Thanks Vanessa. I am glad you see what I am trying to accomplish here 🐝

[Lamilla]

I'm participating in the challenge. Thank you Cynda for interesting prompts.

My progress: 1/6
1. Spring back/into/from Home.
2. Spring into Truth - Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe - 4 stars
3. Spring into Power.
4. Spring out in Song/Poetry/Words
5. Spring into Freedom.
6. Spring into Joy.

[Lamilla]

Update: I selected all books for the prompts. Let's hope I'll be able to finish at least 3 more.

1.Spring back/into/from Home - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Depicts author's childhood.

2. Spring into Truth. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe which is an investigation of the Opioid Crisis in the USA in the 90s - DONE

3. Spring into Power The Financier by Theodore Dreiser which depicts the main character growing into power

4. Spring out in song/poetry/words - Урания by Joseph Brodsky a poetry collection

5. Spring into Freedom - I will twist the challenge a bit: I'll count #панталоныфракжилет: что такое языковые заимствования и как они работают by Maria Yelifyorova which provides an overview of loan words: how and why they travel from one language to another and how this transition changes them, sometimes to the point of no recognition

6. Spring into Joy - When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon by Joshua D. Mezrich. The author shares with us stories from his medical profession and the history of transplantology which gave some people chance to stay alive.

[Cynda]

Go Lamilla!

[Lamilla]

I finished two books during the weekend! One more book till level 1!

My progress: 3/6
1. Spring back/into/from Home.
2. Spring into Truth - Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe - 4 stars
3. Spring into Power.
4. Spring out in Song/Poetry/Words
5. Spring into Freedom - #панталоныфракжилет: что такое языковые заимствования и как они работают by Maria Yelifyorova - 2 stars.
6. Spring into Joy - When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon by Joshua D. Mezrich- 4 stars

[Cynda]

I finished the challenge this weekend.

When Spring Comes
🐝1.Spring back/into/from Home. Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live by Rob Dunn I spring into the physical home, into who else I live with. Apr 09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐝 2. Spring into Truth. Like a Tree: How Trees, Women, and Tree People Can Save the Planet by Jean Shinoda Bolen My tree hugger nature expresses itself here Apr 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐝 3. Spring into Power. The Last Queen: Elizabeth II's Seventy Year Battle to Save the House of Windsor by Clive Irving Here I learn about a woman of power. March 10 ⭐⭐⭐

🐝 4. Spring out in Song/Poetry/Words -- Remembering Selena: A Tribute In Pictures & Words / Recordando Selena: Un Tributo en Palabras y Fotos by Himilce Novas I read this in remembrance of Selena's life and music on this the 30th anniversary of her death. March 31 ⭐⭐⭐

🐝 5. Spring into Freedom. Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels by Hannah Ross Bicycles set free many middle and upper class women --and still do.March 16 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐝 6. Spring into Joy. The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss Being near books brings me by turns comfort and joy Apr 08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Lamilla]

I finished level 1!

My progress: 4/6
1. Spring from Home - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls - 3 stars.
2. Spring into Truth - Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe - 4 stars
3. Spring into Power.
4. Spring out in Song/Poetry/Words
5. Spring into Freedom - #панталоныфракжилет: что такое языковые заимствования и как они работают by Maria Yelifyorova - 2 stars.
6. Spring into Joy - When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon by Joshua D. Mezrich- 4 stars

[Melanie]

Here is my list for the readathon!


1. Spring back/into/from Home - I've chosen Cold Comfort Farm for this one, because it's about a character who has to find a new home.

2. Spring into Truth - I picked The Well of Loneliness for Truth, because it's queer, and that's my truth and I wanted to embrace it.

3. Spring into Power - I chose Leviathan Wakes because it talks about the power of humanity, the power of money and the power of an individual. I also think the word "Leviathan" is about power. A leviathan is something huge and very strong, so it would have a lot of power.

4. Spring out in Song/Poetry/Words - The Emergency Poet for this one because it's poetry and also, I really need it at the moment.

5. Spring into Freedom - Overcoming Depression: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques because I like reading these and for some tips and advice. I've picked t for freedom because hopefully it will help bring me freedom from depression.

6. Spring into Joy - I've chosen Pet Sematary or Joy because this is in my comfort zone as a reader (I love anything speculative), and will bring me joy. It'll be my easy read pick for this readathon. I've picked some hard books!

I've been a bit overambitious but we shall see!



Level#2: Six Selections

[Cynda]

A good list Melanie. Isn't it nice when challenges lend themselves to our own reading lists and interests. . . .Remember we have the cool down week that many use to finish their goals and challenges.

[Cynda]

When look over the list of books I read, I see most of my books are about empowerment with two of those books that could be read in observance of Earth Day/honoring the Earth. I am well pleased with the books I selected.