25.3 Jecca's Task: There's a First Time for Everything

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

25.3 Jecca's Task: There’s a First Time for Everything

This is the first time I have managed to finish a challenge and I have been a participant in this group since April of 2011. That is a lot of tasks I have completed! Along the way I have found some really great books that I never would have even looked at before and there have been some not so great books too. I have mostly used this challenge to broaden my reading horizons and for finding something new. But also, because I am that kind of nerd.
2025 has brought in a lot of firsts for me; on a nerd level I will complete the PopSugar challenge (early and all the way) during the Fall SRC, on a personal level I went on my first college tours with my baby and professionally I got a 2nd job to help pay for the aforementioned college. So let’s make my firsts into a challenge…

This is a Two book task.
Choose 2 different options and read one book for each option.
You may use one book with a MPG Sequential Art, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga.
Required State the options

Option 1: PopSugar and other challenges
The seasonal reading challenge came first and after I found that discovering new titles and genres was something I could get excited about. I started searching out other challenges or lists of “must-reads”.

A - PopSugar - This is one of my go-to reading challenges. I typically complete it, but sometimes not. My first and one of favorite books so far this season was The Wedding People, I used this one for prompt 33 "A book featuring an activity on your bucketlist." My most unexpected read was The Measure for prompt 21.
The PopSugar 2025 Reading Challenge can be found here: https://www.popsugar.com/books/popsug...
Using the prompt for my most unexpected read, read a book with a main character that is a politician.
Required: If it is not obvious from the book page, provide a reference.

B - Boxall - The first list I found of “must-reads” was Boxall’s 1001 books to read before you die. As an adult I was able to check off some of these as I read them in school, others have just been books that I heard about or made me think “I saw that movie.” I do not think I will ever make it through the whole list, but I do like throwing one or two of these into a season when I can.
This is the complete list: https://thereadersroom.org/1001-books/
Read a book from this list (All SRC default rules apply)

Option 2: College
My 2nd child, my baby, is a senior in high school. We have toured eight colleges. I have never been on a college tour before, I didn’t go when I was in high school (a million years ago) and my oldest was never going to go to college. This process has been both informative and overwhelming.

A - Location
Read a book set in one of the places we have toured; Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York City (must NYC, not New York State).
Required: If setting is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.

B - Content

Read a book that has a college setting. Ex. The Awakening, The Secret History, Fangirl
Required: If the setting is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.


Option 3: Side Hustle
I became a single mom in 2022, and as my children age so do their expenses. In preparation for college I started flinging papers in the wee hours of the morning. The pay’s not great but I’m alone and I listen to a lot of books or all of a sudden episode after episode of true-crime podcasts.

A - Audiobooks - I am OBSESSED with my audio books. And I have a few narrators that I could listen to read me a dictionary and I would be totally engaged.
Read (or listen) to a book that won or was a finalist in the Audie Awards - Here is a list to help Audie Award Winners You can see past years winners and finalists here: https://www.audiopub.org/audie-awards...
Required State the Year of the award.

B - True-crime Podcasts - I probably should not listen to podcasts about missing or murdered people while I am all by myself, in the dark, down some desolate roads, but I do anyway. I also don’t know why I am so into them when my main hustle is at the county attorney’s office, but alas here we are. I had listened to My Favorite Murder and Counterclock, on occasion, years ago. But recently I have completely caught up on Counterclock and switch off regularly between MFM and Crime Junkies.

Read a book with an author that shares a name with one of my favorite hosts: Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark, Delia D’Ambra, Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. The name must match exactly and can be in any position.

[Jecca]

These will work:

[Jecca]

These will not work:

[Jessica]

I'm a little confused by the wording and organization of the tasks, so I wanted to clarify. It says choose two different options, but I think having an A and B under each option is throwing me off!

Do I have to pick one option and read A and B for that option?
CAN I pick one option and read A and B for that option?
Or do I have to pick two different options such as 2A and 3B?j

[Robin P]

Jecca, I am also an audiobook addict. I have sent you a friend request.

Congratulations on your persistence and finishing SRC in one of the seasons with a higher total needed!

[Jecca]

Jessica wrote: "I'm a little confused by the wording and organization of the tasks, so I wanted to clarify. It says choose two different options, but I think having an A and B under each option is throwing me off!..."

Sorry, I really tried to make it as easy as possible.

The intent is to have you pick 2 different options and one task from each of those, so as an example 2A and 3A.

[Jecca]

Robin P wrote: "Jecca, I am also an audiobook addict. I have sent you a friend request.

Congratulations on your persistence and finishing SRC in one of the seasons with a higher total needed!"

Thank you!! I can't wait to compare books!

[Jessica]

Jecca wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I'm a little confused by the wording and organization of the tasks, so I wanted to clarify. It says choose two different options, but I think having an A and B under each option is ..."

That's fine, it can be difficult to make these things 100% clear! I just make it a practice to always check and never assume lol.

Congrats on your first time finishing the challenge!!

[Marie (UK)]

I am assuming our UNiversity is equivalent to the US college system and Katabasis will fit here

[Jecca]

Yes, university counts as a college setting and this book would work.

[Marie (UK)]

Jecca wrote: "Yes, university counts as a college setting and this book would work."

thanks Jecca and congrats on the task

[Masoodah]

Hi Jecca, could you approve Call Me Maybe by Cara Bastone for Option 3

Romance audie award finalist.

It has not paperback/hardback version...

[Jecca]

Masoodah wrote: "Hi Jecca, could you approve Call Me Maybe by Cara Bastone for Option 3

Romance audie award finalist.

It has not paperback/hardback version..."

This book is on the approved on the "no print edition" spreadsheet #679 - you will need to note that when you post.
I'm not fancy enough to be a mod :)

[Joanne]

Would this work for College-Content, the MP states Cambridge as the setting, but it is a Fantasy Katabasis

[Jecca]

Joanne wrote: "Would this work for College-Content, the MP states Cambridge as the setting, but it is a Fantasy Katabasis"

Yes, this will work.