Now that we’ve covered the challenges I didn’t quite finish in 2023, let’s move on to the challenges I want to work on next year.
I’m not going to make it to the 180 books I planned to read this year, but I’m going to try again in 2024. I did, however, read a few more than I finished last year, and I still have almost a week of reading to go. So lofty goals help me read more even when I have long, dry periods of no focus. I’ll take it.
I’m also back on my nonsense of choosing four different challenges (three for the whole year, one for summer). It was good to take a year off, but I missed them, and I got a little jealous when I saw the communities discussing and recommending books for the categories.
I’m going with my favorites:
Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge – I like this one because it’s designed to diversify your reading list, and it definitely does that for mine, both in authors and genres represented.
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge – I love the whimsy of this challenge. The prompts are unusual, and I especially like that the prompts follow a theme (and that the theme is “dictionary”).
The 52 Book Club Challenge – Designed to help you average a book a week, the prompts on this one also make you think outside the box. As an added bonus, I adore this community, and they have super cute merch. I have my own tracking system in place but if I didn’t, I’d be scooping up that journal in a flash.
Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Minimalist Summer Reading Guide (not out yet, obvi) – This is my favorite online bookish community, and they put so much thought into their reading guides. Maybe I’ll actually finish this one this year. Maybe I’ll even finish it in the summertime.
For those of you who are clicking the links and doing the math…yes, you are correct. If you total the number of books on the four challenges (assuming 12-ish from the MMD Summer Challenge), it comes to 137. By the time I fill in their blanks and read for the book clubs and other social reading I do, that doesn’t leave me a lot of open choices for just fun, which is absolutely essential to my reading life.
The way I get around that is by allowing the same book to count for multiple challenges. In fact, I delight in finding books that fulfill different prompts. A little thrill rushes through me when I discover one that works for all of them. So I can probably read 60-70 books and still complete them all, leaving the rest of the 180 with quite a bit of wiggle room.
I’m so excited about these challenges that I may not even wait until January 1 to start.
Do you like reading challenges? If so, what are your favorites?
I don’t think I’ve ever finished the Girlxoxo Monthly Key Word Challenge any year that I’ve tried it. It may be time to retire this one. It’s a great idea, but it always gets relegated to the back of the line.
Here are the ones I read (and also what I planned to read but didn’t).
January
Keyword – all
Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves was fantastic. Whoever recommended it to me (I can’t remember, but if it was you – thank you so much!) told me to read it without knowing the premise, and I’m so glad I did. The book would have still been a decent story if I had read the jacket synopsis and the Goodreads blurb and then perused a few reviews, but I was really glad that certain elements were surprises. It made a good book even more enjoyable. So I’m giving you the same advice. Give it a read, but go into it as a blank slate.
February
Keyword – book
So…here’s what happened.
I originally meant to read The Book Lover’s Cookbook for this prompt, but after a few months of choosing to read anything but this book, I finally just took it back to the library. Then, I decided to read The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. Have I even opened this one? No. No, I have not. I know exactly where it is in my apartment, though, so at least there’s that?
March
Keyword – friend
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante – I have owned this book for years, but when I put it on my March TBR I could not find it anywhere. So I ended up borrowing the library’s ebook copy. I love this exposition of lifelong friendship and how the dynamic changed as the two main characters got older, particularly as other people came in and out of their lives. I particularly enjoyed how well Ferrante wrote the perspective of the storyteller when she was an adolescent. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
April
Keyword – found (or some variation thereof)
I Hope This Finds You Well by Kate Baer – This is a collection of erasure poetry. For the base of each poem, Baer takes an existing message, such as the ones she receives from social media or via DM, and lifts words out of it to form a response. It was a quick read but a good one. I want to read Baer’s other collections, too.
May
Keyword – dragon
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King was my plan. Even though I didn’t do so this year, technically, I have read this book. I read it for a book report in 6th grade. It was my first Stephen King book (and one of his milder ones, content-wise). My English teacher took one look at the author’s name and was scandalized, and my mom was like, “You said she could read anything as long as it was fiction. This is fiction. I don’t see the problem.”
It’s still one of my favorite Stephen King novels.
June
Keyword – wild
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly – Every time I read a book in which the characters go hiking, I grow more confident in my absolute lack of desire to do so myself. If any book was going to convince me, though, this one would. It made hiking sound fun and charming and adventurous and even romantic. As a person of faith, though, my favorite part was Alexei’s letters toward the end of the book in which he talked about what hiking the PCT reminded him/taught him about his own beliefs. I also adored watching his relationship with Ben unfold and how they navigated boundaries and the impact that their social circles had on them. Very sweet story.
July
Keyword – this
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone – I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Even if I hadn’t read anything else on this challenge, I would have posted this recap just so I could talk about this book. 5/5 stars, highly recommend, whether you like time travel, sci-fi, and romance or not. It’s so witty and beautiful and good. The audio is nice, but I also enjoyed reading along with the ebook. I am also probably going to buy a print copy, because I want it on my shelf and will probably read it again. The banter and the character development were fantastic, and the plot moved along at the perfect pace.
August
Keyword – how
How Not To Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz – The reader of the audiobook is amazing. Definitely get this one on audio. The story is told as a first-person account of the main character’s meetings with her employment agency clerk. I loved this unique approach – it’s a fun way to let the reader get a sense of the character and how she presents herself. Parts of the story were sweet; other parts were sad. All of them made me root for her, even when she was wrong.
September
Keyword – lies
Big Little Lies by Liana Moriarty – I may still read this one before the year is over. I’ve started it, and I like it so far.
October
Keyword – darkness (or some variation thereof)
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacey Willingham – I figured out the killer pretty early, but the story was still interesting and kept my attention. It was a quick read and sparked a good book club discussion, so I’m counting it as a win!
November
Keyword – two
When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky by Margaret Verble – The premise is a Cherokee horse diver suffers a terrible loss during her act, and the story unfolds from there. There are several magical realism elements to this historical fiction story that I particularly enjoyed. It’s a good mix of heavy, whimsical, funny, and dark. It’s told from different characters’ perspectives, and the audiobook is great.
December
Keyword – dance (or some variation thereof)
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon – This was a re-read for me, and it was just as amazing the second time. I especially liked reading my signed copy!
So I guess I finished most of the challenge this year, but I think my journey with it ends here. If you want to challenge yourself to read a book a month with a thriving community but want a lot of leeway in deciding what your specific book is, this one or their monthly motif reading challenge (now at chapteradventure.com) is a good place to start. They also have a round-up of all the 2024 reading challenges they know about, so that’s a good place to find one you like, too!
Since this summer, I have been keeping track of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Minimalist Summer Reading Guide. We’re just going to ignore that it’s not summer and hasn’t been for a while. We are also going to skate right by the fact that I also haven’t finished some of these books (although I have either obtained them all or at least have them on loan from the library. Sometimes intentions count?).
We’ll just focus on what I did finish. Here’s what I thought of some of the MMD team’s favorites.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld – This was a (mostly) fun read with a few serious moments that affected me deeply. The love story was a lesson in learning to communicate clearly. It was also an interesting (and intentional? Perhaps not?) exposure of socioeconomic privilege, which almost overshadowed the love story for me. At the risk of spoilers, a lot of things could have gone a lot more badly if either character wasn’t gainfully (and, at least one of them, extravagantly) employed. Content warning for healthcare fears and access, particularly as it relates to COVID.
The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray – I haven’t started this one, and I’m going to start with The Murder of Mr. Wickham because, while I recognize that MMD said the second in the series could stand alone, I am just not that kind of reader.
Talking at Night by Claire Daverley – I own it but have not started.
The Postcard by Anne Berest – Currently checked out from the library and judging me ominously (it’s pretty thick) from the shelf in my living room. I’m sure it’s a very nice book that I will enjoy once I get to it.
The summer reading guide listed Congratulations, the Best is Over! by R. Eric Thomas, but I wanted to read his first collection of essays, Here For It, first. I’m so glad I did. I loved both of these books. I already have the one on the challenge, but I’m going to have to buy the first one, too, because there will come a time I am schnockered and will need something to read aloud from (or pressure others to read aloud from). Also, I want to buy a second copy for my church’s library. Thomas is charming and hilarious. And the title essay, wherein he talks about his challenges of faith and his wedding – I want to shout it from a mountaintop. I want to sing it to the rafters (but won’t – I’m no Whitney). But yes, Lord, and amen. Congratulations, the Best is Over! is also fantastic, as he wrestles with returning and finding his place in the city he never meant to come back to. Highly recommend both books.
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang – I read this book so fast. It was a well-crafted train wreck and a great exposition of the downward spiral someone might go through as they keep rationalizing unethical actions. It’s a fantastic analysis of the process of whitewashing in the publishing industry. I recommend it and even read it twice so I could lead the discussion in November at one of my work book clubs.
No Two Persons by Erin Bauermeister – I love the concept of this story. It traces a book through multiple readers and outlines how the book changed their lives. It was well-written, and the stories were very sweet. This is a good audio selection, as each chapter was read by a different person, so it was super easy to keep them distinct.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty – Another I’m looking forward to reading soon (ideally before I run out of time to recheck it from the library).
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai – I am a sucker for a story told from multiple perspectives. It keeps me from siding with just one person, thus helping me gain a fuller understanding of the story overall. Seeing this tale of family and the complicated relationships often involved in it through the eyes of three generations was very effective.
If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook – I started out listening to the audio of this but switched over to the library’s print copy, and I enjoyed that more. This was one of those books that I spent most of it yelling, “Just talk to each other!” in frustration. There weren’t a lot of surprises – most of the plot points that seemed like they were meant to surprise were pretty predictable. I liked most of the characters, though, and I enjoyed seeing how everything eventually worked itself out.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry – The ending is a little predictable but there were still a few small surprises. Mostly, I enjoyed the theme of forgiveness and mended relationships that run throughout the book. I listened to the audiobook while driving around all over west Texas to see family, and it was a lovely companion for that trip.
The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle – Confession: I do not love museums. I mean, they’re fine. They are interesting enough. But, like…an hour’s worth of interesting. I like to browse casually and at a regular pace, and then I want to leave and get a coffee or a snack. I do not want to make a whole day of lingering there. I did love the main character’s passion for this project, though, and I’m always a sucker for a story about finding your place in the world. The story was sweet and charming, and there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming at all.
So…not too shabby, actually. I have read most of them, and I definitely see why they made the cut for the MMD challenge.
I intentionally did not take on most of my usual reading challenges this year specifically to give myself more flexibility, and in that regard, my reading plans this year were successful. Another thing I liked about my reading this year is that it was even more social than usual. I hope someone picks up the ball on hosting staff book clubs at UNT (I’m working really hard not to volunteer for yet another thing at work…but I want to). I really enjoyed reading fun things with people from across campus.
One thing I did challenge myself to read an alphabetical list of both titles and authors and while I didn’t quite finish it, I definitely chose some for this list that I enjoyed and wouldn’t have read otherwise. My favorite part of this challenge was picking some of the books off my shelves at home that I have been meaning to read for years but never got around to it.
Anyway, although I didn’t quite finish the whole alphabet, I made it through quite a few of them. Here’s the last installment of the year.
For the main list of book titles I’ve finished for this challenge, see this post. For reviews on specific books, see previous posts:
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
C
The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood
The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton
D
Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz
E
Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro
The Measure by Nikki Erlick – So good! I can see why so many people recommended it, and I’m glad one of my book clubs worked it in before the end of the year. The basic premise is that people over the age of 22 all over the world started receiving mysterious boxes with strings that measure the length of their lives, and the plot developed from there. It was told from multiple perspectives of a few interconnected characters and addressed several issues that would arise from such a phenomenon. Why would/wouldn’t someone open their box? Should people running for office or those going into military service be forced to open their boxes and divulge the contents? Is there a duty to disclose to partners/employers/friends/parents/etc.? For the record, I would 100% open the box. Even though I agree with a lot of the reasons not to, and I am firmly in the right-to-privacy camp, it would come down to the simple fact that there is information there for the taking…and I would absolutely take it. I’ve already convinced one of my book clubs to read this next year, so I’m excited to see what they think.
F
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
G
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Winter Recipes from the Collective by Louise Glück
H
How To Be Perfect by Michael Schur
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
I
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
J
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
K
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
L
Lucky Turtle by Bill Roorbach
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón
M
Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
N
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
O
The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
P
The Pisces by Melissa Broder
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Q
Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood
Blessings by Anna Quindlen – Reading this book, I realized something about my selections this year. I’m in the habit of reading books where either everything goes wrong and is awful all the way through, or after a few small bumps everything magically works out in the end. This book is a realistic mix of both. There are real joys and heartaches all throughout the story, and it’s not particularly predictable at any turn. The writing is rich, and the characters are layered. Highly recommend.
R
A Rhythm of Prayer, edited by Sarah Bessey
The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay – This book’s premise has so many things going for it for me – quirky characters, inheriting/running a bookshop, budding romances, healing relationships. But it was a slog to get through. There were definitely some good moments, but when I find myself counting page numbers and looking at the clock to estimate how much time I have left until I finish, it’s not a good sign. If the book had been any longer than it was, I probably would not have finished it.
S
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
T
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby
Women Talking by Miriam Toews
U
V
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa – Oh, my heart. I cried for like the last 80 pages of this book. I was mad and happy and sad and furious and proud and touched and about fifteen other feelings. I can see myself reading this one again. The characters use a lot of slang, so it will be interesting to see how it reads in a few (or twenty) years. I hope the difficulties the characters face read differently in that time, too (I don’t have a lot of hope, but I do hope).
W
A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Witch King by Martha Wells – This is the latest from the author of the Murderbot series I love so much, and this found family fantasy novel is just as good. After 400+ pages, I feel like I’m just getting to know the characters a little bit, and I want more! The world contains demons, witches, immortals, and other types of fantasy characters from a unique perspective, and the interplay of both their powers and limitations offers endless storyline opportunities. I don’t know if this is the first in a new series, but I would be the first in line to read more.
X
Y
Z
Welcome Home: A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul by Najwa Zebian
I am excited to pick up a couple of reading challenges for next year (more on this in an upcoming post), but I think I’m going to finish this one out, too.
But I did narrow it down to five books. And they’re (for the most part) in slightly different genres.
So there’s that.
When I am choosing the “best books” I have read in any given year, I may not be selecting ones that had the best writing (although all of these are well-written) or were the most profound (although all of these definitely had those moments). The sole factors that determine my decision are:
Did I love reading it?
Did I get something meaningful (possibly even life-changing) out of it?
And out of all the books I’ve read so far this year, these five meet those two criteria the best.
Here For It: Or, How To Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas – Kind and funny and charming. My favorite parts were the ones in which he talked about his wrestling with faith and identity and how that plays out.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner – As my parents age, I am more drawn to stories about loss and grief, and this was a gorgeous memoir that explored both as well as the food that reminds her of her mother.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone – Is it a love story? Is it fantasy? Is it science fiction? Yes. In all the best ways.
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree – This book made me fall in love with cozy fantasy. I’ve already put the second one on hold at the library.
A few things that are available to peruse for those who need to take a break in my office. Just a little light reading.
I love December and also am already tired of December. There are so many things that I really enjoy happening. But also…there are so many things. This month is Advent, the end of the semester, the start of Christmas, and the end of the year all in one. There are evaluations, interviews, EOY reports, etc., due. There are parties and reviews and the tying up of all manner of loose ends. Also, don’t forget joy and magic and miracles (oh my).
I’m reading Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent by Enuma Okoro throughout the month, but I’m also combining finishing up my reading goal with my Advent calendar. I use little knitted pockets on my tree to store prompts, and this year, they’re reading prompts. I’ll pick one, read a book that fits the category, and then go to the next one. The categories include things like:
Christmas themed
Next in a series
Features a talking animal
Single word title
They also include practical things like:
Next book due at the library
Girlxoxo challenge
Alphabet challenge
Book club selection
If this goes as planned, I will finish my reading goal by the skin of my teeth. Even if nothing goes as planned, though, I still have an exciting reading (etc.) month ahead, and I hope you have a wonderful December regardless of how you spend it!
Goodreads tells me I’m 20 books behind on my goal. What Goodreads doesn’t realize is that November and December are typically cozy, super-reading months, so I am confident that 180 for the year is still within reach. I’m still finishing up several books from last month, but of course, I’m already excited about what’s next.
Book Clubs
The Measure by Nikki Erlick (which will also satisfy my “author whose name begins with E” prompt for the alphabet challenge)
I started the year with the goal to 1) read books I already own and 2) work on my massive TBR. While I have technically done both of these things all year, I’ve realized that trying to even make a dent in my home collection as well as all the books I want to read enough to put them on the list is somewhat of a fool’s errand. I may have finally come to terms with the fact that this is never going to happen and that’s OK.
Something I can complete and that keeps me out of a rut? Reading challenges. Oh, how I’ve missed Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge and the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge this year. Even though I linked them, I’m not even going to read through that list. It’s too tempting to see how far I can get in two months (i.e., not far. I already know. No need to torture myself.).
What I am going to do is try to finish the simpler challenges I took on this year. I still have quite a few to go for my alphabet challenge, and I have a good shot at finishing both the Girlxoxo and MMD Minimalist ones before the year is out.
I was traveling last week to do some field recordings with Sarah and visit the folks over the weekend. I’m happy it’s September. A lot of things that I’m excited about are happening this month, and I am hopeful that I’m going to emerge from my seasonal funk soon so that I can enjoy them with the gusto that they deserve.
Here are five things that I found/read this week(ish) that you might enjoy:
Oliver James is teaching himself how to read as an adult and documenting it. Go give him some love and encouragement!
Get last Wednesday’s moon a cape! It definitely lived up to its supermoon status. I hope you had a good view to go outside and gaze at it lovingly that night. In related news, get you a friend who will text you “Go outside and look at the moon!” Thanks to all my friends who did that. 🖤
Hard same to this ode to summer peaches from Joy the Baker. I, too, find myself falling into the pattern of neglecting them until it’s almost too late, assuming they’ll be there forever. Then it’s August and time to make good with what is left. Fortunately, there are a lot of good ways to use peaches.
The Write Escape by Charish Reid – This was a book I picked up a while ago to use up an Audible credit and just never got around to reading it. It was a swoony (because who doesn’t want to vacation to Ireland and meet someone?) meet-cute story with some good dialogue and a couple of very satisfying telling-off scenes. The audio was…not great. The inflection and pacing were OK, but the Irish accent veered a little bit off quite a few times. I mean, my Irish accent is no better, but I’m not a professional reader. Anyway, it was distracting.
My Life With Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul – I love books about books, and this was one of the better ones I’ve read. It is part memoir but told through the stories she kept track of in her book of books (her Bob, if you will). As someone who also has kept a Bob for several years, I was inspired to go back through and discover some of the patterns that my reading takes on in certain seasons. Highly recommend to anyone who loves books and enjoys reflecting on what they read.
Excuse me, Texas weather. It is September. Did you forget? That means you’re meant to get out of the triple digits. I would settle for the 90s. Just…too many hots. Stop it already.
Other than the constant threat of heatstroke, life is pretty decent lately. September is full of fun things with friends and a lot of good books. As is my habit in the fall, I’ve adjusted my goals to spend the next few months finishing up and transitioning to the next steps (i.e., next year’s goals). So even though the actual wind hasn’t changed yet (cue more side-eye to Texas climate), at least the proverbial wind is starting to blow in a new direction.
Here’s what I’m planning to read/start this month.
Book Clubs
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (already read, but re-skimming this one for discussion next Tuesday)
Unwind by Neal Shusterman (another already-read but I think I may actually re-read this one)
I missed Rise and Shine at the library this month as I was out of town this past weekend, but I didn’t want to miss reading this month’s genre – cozy fantasy! So I’m going to tuck into The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna and Legends and Lattesby Travis Baldree.
I’m close(ish) to finishing the minimalist selections on the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide, so I’m making another strong push this month to get them finished. I’ve started a couple of these already, so it shouldn’t be too hard.
A couple of due-at-the-library-soons and some audio selections this month. Really trying to use up those Audible credits – the end is so near (relatively speaking)!
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – audio read by Meryl Streep
The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington – I am not nearly as driven as my choice of this book indicates, but the description sounds a little like what my hyperfocus does anyway. So I’m curious about this idea. I suspect it may help me organize my goals better.
Since I’m writing about food that reminds me of home next month, I am also doing a lot of reading about food lately. These are some of the books I’m perusing this month to prepare.
Oh, August. It’s offensively hot outside and super busy at work (I looove it, though) (the new job and training the staff, not the heat, to be clear). Sounds like a great time to stay indoors and read in what little downtime I have this month.
[Per the usual disclosure, most of the links are affiliate links.]
Book Clubs
So we had a division retreat at work recently, and the focus was our personal wellness. The first session I attended was “Who wants to be in a book club?” One might ask, “Suzanne, do you really want to join more book clubs?” but I think we all know the answer to that already, so let’s just move on.
Anyway, the book club list is longer now. No regrets.
The combination of August-in-Texas heat and August-in-Housing scheduling has me giving off serious I-do-what-I-want vibes in my personal life (I mean, even more than usual). All the reading this month outside of book clubs (and really, for the most part, in book clubs as well) is pure enjoyment. Here are some books I’ve gleaned from my own shelves or the library and added to the on-deck TBR pile.
Latte Love by Andrea Cumbo – I get to read the ARC for the first of this series that comes out on September 1! I know I’m going to love it, so I highly encourage you to preorder.
What is the best thing (book or otherwise) you’ve read lately?
M. Suzanne Terry 