2019 Book Challenge or Bust

365 days. 50 challenges. 1 reader.

[the-book-challengers]

What I Read in April 2020

Wow, still in quarantine, which I guess could be worse. I’ve been reading a solid amount (after all, why waste perfectly good reading time?) so when we do finally get to go back outside, I will actually be able to enjoy it fully...though I’ll still bring a book cause who am I kidding?

Here's what I read in April:

A book published in the 20th Century: The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch

A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name: The Heart and Other Viscera by Felix Palmas

A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics: Sleep Over by H.G. Bells

A book published the month of your birthday: Wilder Girls by Rory Power

A book about or by a woman in STEM: The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson

Notes: I have to say...I didn’t mean to read 2 pandemic books back to back but I did! Sleep Over was awesome so I am really glad I read it. Wilder Girls was...well, it was what it was, by which I mean depressing. 

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What I Read in March 2020

You think with the quarantine, I would have read a lot more but the stress made it tough to really focus on anything. Mostly, I powered through all the graphic novels I had, which means I’ve got some longer reads ahead of me. Well, since it’s looking like we’re going to be stuck inside for all of April, guess that means there's plenty of time.

Here's what I read in March:

A book with the title as a movie/TV show but is unrelated to it: Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass by Mariko Tamaki

A book that passes the Bechdel test: Blackbird Vol 1 by Sam Humphries, Jen Bartel, and Fiona Staples

A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast or online book club: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vol 1 by Jordie Bellaire

A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics: Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement: Ghost World by Daniel Clowes

Notes:

I heard a lot of hype about Ghost World but I have to say it was a bit of a let down. Blackbird was a surprise and I’m sad there's not currently a second volume because the story and the art are amazing. Also I’m a sucker for the Comoran Strike books, so I’m glad I got the fourth one in, eventually.

[the-book-challengers]

What I Read in February 2020

February started off rather slow for me, but I did manage to pick up a few more entries with short reads and audiobooks. Thank goodness for varied media!

Here’s what I read in February:

A book that's published in 2020: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title: Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 by David Sedaris

A book with a bird on the cover: This is How You Lose the Time War by Amy El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Your favorite prompt from a past PopSugar Reading Challenge: The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente

A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Notes:

This is How You Lose the Time War is so beautiful, it actually inspired me to underline the lines I loved the most, which I have never done before. A truly beautiful and short read. I was a little disappointed by the Sedaris book — while  it provided the insider info I craved, it definitely dragged in places.

[the-book-challengers]

What I Read on January 2020

Woohoo! The 2020 reading challenge has begun!

Here’s what I read in January:

A book you picked because the title caught your attention: The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters

A book by a trans or nonbinary author: The Merry Spinster by Mallory Ottenburg

A book with "gold" "silver" or "bronze" in the title: Silver Screen Fiend by Patton Oswalt

A book about a book club: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Notes:

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is so good you guys! I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this and I hope you all pick it up because it is amazing!!!  It was definitely my favorite book of the month, though The Dead Girls Club was a great book to start the year on.

[the-book-challengers]

New decade, Same Ole Book Challenge

Sorry it’s been all quiet on the Western front over here - just collecting my thoughts, setting up my spreadsheet and reading like crazy, of course. You can expect the 2020 Pop Sugar Challenge to be won by yours truly again. So sit tight! I'll be seeing you soon.

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Full List of 2019 Reads

A book that includes a wedding - A Bride’s Story, Volume 10 by Karou Mori

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover - The Umbrella Academy, Volume 1: The Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

A debut novel - The Company of Death by Elisa Hansen

A book about a family - The Flinstones, Volume 2: Bedrock Bedlam by Mark Russell and Steve Pugh

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title - Zodiac Starforce, Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince by Kevin Panetta and Paulina Ganucheau

A book becoming a movie in 2019 - The Visible Filth by Nathan Ballingrud

A book with a question in the title - What the Hell Did I Just Read? by David Wong

A book you think should be turned into a movie - No Exit by Taylor Adams

A book featuring an exctinct or imaginary creature - A Cathedral of Myth and Bone by Kat Howard

A book that makes you nostalgic - The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

A book written by a musician - Universal Harvester by John Darnielle 

A book inspired by a common phrase/idiom - The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

A book told from multiple POVs - Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

A book with a two-word title - Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

A "own voices' book: Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

A book with "love" in the title: Fat Girl Walking: Sex, Food, Love, and Being Comfortable in Your Skin...Every Inch of It by Brittany Gibbons

A book published posthumously: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

A book about someone with a superpower: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

A LitRPG book:  Catharsis by Travis Bagwell

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/weirdly numbered chapters: The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America: The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/weirdly numbered chapters: The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

A book published in 2019: Bloom by Kevin Panetta

A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads: The Giver by Lois Lowry

A book you see someone reading on TV/in a movie: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

A book set in space: Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

A retelling of a classic: Fables Volume 2 by 

A book by two female authors: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell 

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire: Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

A book featuring an amateur detective: The Witch Elm by Tana French

Two books that share the same title (1): Night Shift by Stephen King

Two books that share the same title (2): Night Shift by Charlaine Harris

A book with "pop" "Sugar" or "Challenge" in the title: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More by Roald Dahl

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge: Vicious by V.E. Schwab

A Choose-your-own-adventure book: My Lady’s Choosing by Kitty Curran

A book with a title that contains "salty" "sweet" "bitter" or "spicy": The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

A book set on a college/university campus: The Shakespeare Requirement by Julie Schumacher

A “cli-fi” book: Authority by Jeff Van der Meer

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter: I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michele McNamara

A book that takes place in a single day: Parkland by Dave Cullen

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

A book about a hobby: The Babysitter's Coven by Kate Williams

A book set in an abbey/cloister/monastery/vicarage/convent: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Read a book during the season it is set in: Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys

A book revolving around a puzzle or game: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan

A novel based on a true story: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

A book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore: Circe by Madeline Miller

A book you meant to read in 2018: Limetown: The Prequel by Cote Smith,  Zack Akers, and Skip Bronkie

A book set in Scandinavia: Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

A ghost story: Ghost Story by Peter Straub

TOTAL: 50/50

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of December 2019

We finally made it! I literally finished book 50 on the very last day but we did it! 2019 has been conquered and now we will move on to 2020~

Here’s what I read in December:

A book you meant to read in 2018: Limetown: The Prequel by Cote Smith,  Zack Akers, and Skip Bronkie

A book set in Scandinavia: Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

A ghost story: Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Notes: That’s all she wrote for this year friends! See you in 2020!

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of November 2019

One month left to go and we are making our way to the list! Sometimes, I finish early, or not at all but this year looks like it’ll be down to the wire. Solid reading month, especially since I participated in (and won!) NaNoWriMo. With three books left, will I make it? I HOPE SO YOU GUYS!

Here’s what I read in November:

A book revolving around a puzzle or game: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan

A novel based on a true story: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

A book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore: Circe by Madeline Miller

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of September/October 2019

Whoops guys! I totally forgot to update this last month...and then Halloween happened. Well, close enough! These two months were a little more productive and we are closing in on that finish line!

Here what I read in September and October:

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter: I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michele McNamara

A book that takes place in a single day: Parkland by Dave Cullen

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

A book about a hobby: The Babysitter's Coven by Kate Williams

A book set in an abbey/cloister/monastery/vicarage/convent: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Read a book during the season it is set in: Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of August 2019

A little late to the recap and a rather slow month for me. Unfortunately, work got crazy and really slowed down my reading speed. Fear not! For I am getting back on track and should be into the early-40s by the end of September. Till then, wish me luck!

Here’s what I read in August:

A book set on a college/university campus: The Shakespeare Requirement by Julie Schumacher

A “cli-fi” book: Authority by Jeff Van der Meer

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Recap of July 2019

Finally breaking into the 30s! Definitely moving swiftly so I can use the latest half of this challenge to read longer books. Still, it’s summer so I went for some fun, light reads and collections, which has been working out for me thus far.

Here’s what I read in July:

A book featuring an amateur detective: The Witch Elm by Tana French

Two books that share the same title (1): Night Shift by Stephen King

Two books that share the same title (2): Night Shift by Charlaine Harris

A book with "pop" "Sugar" or "Challenge" in the title: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More by Roald Dahl

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge: Vicious by V.E. Schwab

A Choose-your-own-adventure book: My Lady’s Choosing by Kitty Curran

A book with a title that contains "salty" "sweet" "bitter" or "spicy": The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Notes: 

I did the 2018 prompt “A book about a villain or anti-hero” that I really wanted to do last year but fell apart back then. Huzzah for second chances! Overall, this month was a mixed bag of reads (the month itself was shit, the less we talk about that the better). I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Roald Dahl read! It was a little more adult than I expected and I got the audiobook version, which was so soothing. On the other hand, both My Lady’s Choosing and Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie were disappointing and a little dull. Witch Elm didn’t quite stick the landing for me either. Oh well, we are now less than 15 books away from the end! 

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of June 2019

We’re still riding the wave of being ahead to get a ton of stuff done, which is just the best feeling in the world. 

Here’s what I read in June:

A book you see someone reading on TV/in a movie: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

A book set in space: Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

A retelling of a classic: Fables Volume 2 by 

A book by two female authors: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell 

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire: Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

Notes:

All hail whoever put together the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge cause it made finding a book you see someone reading on TV so easy. I have to say that I totally saw Magic for Liars on a celebrity reading list but now I can’t find it because of course I didn’t save the link. Still, that was a great read! I was let down a little by Fables, but I guess it happens. The big surprise for me was Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me which was so much fun and such a gorgeous story! Definitely need to buy my own copy. The biggest let down was Space Opera which clearly trying to channel the manic energy of Hitchhiker’s Guide but failed abysmally. 

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of May 2019

Month five and we are getting back on track! I blasted through ten whole reads! I am now ahead of the curve, and hope to keep it that way.

Here’s what I read in May:

A "own voices' book: Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

A book with "love" in the title: Fat Girl Walking: Sex, Food, Love, and Being Comfortable in Your Skin...Every Inch of It by Brittany Gibbons

A book published posthumously: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

A book about someone with a superpower: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

A LitRPG book: Catharsis by Travis Bagwell

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/weirdly numbered chapters: The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America: The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/weirdly numbered chapters: The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

A book published in 2019: Bloom by Kevin Panetta

A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Notes:

It’s so amazing I actually got ten books down in a month! I wanted to build a buffer zone as I take on longer books for different challenges. Sometimes planning is the only way to make sure you get it down. Switching between audio, electronic, and paper books can help get through challenges efficiently. But honestly, it was weirdly easy! Some books were so good that I literally tore through them.

I didn’t think I would get into Catharsis but man it drew me in fast! It really felt like I was watching a video game. I also wasn’t a big fan of The Cuckoo’s Calling but I got really into The Silkworm so I think I will continue the series. But likely one of my new all-time favorites is definitely The Traveling Cat Chronicles which brought me to tears. What a fantastic month!

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of April 2019

Can you believe it’s been four months? I feel like there’s still so many challenges to tackle. I ended up starting a lot of books at the end of this month so May will be a longer list but I am hoping that means I am all set to keep up the pace and make it to the end this year. 3 more down, 35 left to go!

Here’s what I read in April:

A book inspired by a common phrase/idiom - The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

A book told from multiple POVs - Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

A book with a two-word title - Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

Notes: I was slow going this month but I have to say Soon I Will Be Invincible really caught my imagination and helped me to get back into my audiobooks, which is great and lets me sneak in some books at work.  

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of March 2019

Month 3 come and gone. This month was a little slower for me, with work being a little busier and needing to read other books so I can later read books for this challenge. Still, made some progress!

Here’s what I read in March:

A book that makes you nostalgic - The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

A book written by a musician - Universal Harvester by John Darnielle 

Notes:

As I said, this month was shorter as I had to start readings Midnight Crossroads in order to complete another challenge. Why? Cause my library does not carry a copy of Maritta Wolff’s Night Shift, and I wanted to read that as part of the “Books of the same name” challenge with Stephen King’s Night Shift. The Midnight, Texas series has a book in it called Night Shift...but it’s the last book in the trilogy. Still, it was an enjoyable read, even if it took longer than I planned. Solid choices for the month but I need to get a move on if I’m going to finish in time!

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of February 2019

Congrats on rounding out month 2! I hope you’ve all gotten a fantastic read in this dreary February. I got some pretty excellent reads in this month and continue on my successful campaign towards completion.  

Here’s what I read in February:

A book becoming a movie in 2019 - The Visible Filth by Nathan Ballingrud

A book with a question in the title - What the Hell Did I Just Read? by David Wong

A book you think should be turned into a movie - No Exit by Taylor Adams

A book featuring an exctinct or imaginary creature - A Cathedral of Myth and Bone by Kat Howard

Notes:

So I was the most surprised by No Exit, which I picked up more on a  whim than anything else. It was so thrilling that I ended up reading it in about 24 hours, which has not happened in a long time. I had high hopes for Visible Filth but it ended up being a sort of well-written creepypasta. I definitely recommend A Cathedral of Myth and Bone, a lot of really lovely stories in that collection. 

I’m hoping to get another five books read in next month, and April is sure to have a high count as I’ll be headed out on a short vacation (which means plane time to read). Happy to have such a strong start to 2019!

[the-book-challengers]

Recap of January 2019

Welcome to the end of the first month of the book challenge! I hope you've all gotten a good leg up on reading. I was ables to known out a good 5 reads, a whole 1/10 of the challenge knocked out. It helps that I had a whole stack of comics to read. I can only hope that February is this good.

Here's what I read in January:

A book that includes a wedding - A Bride's Story, Volume 10 by Karou Mori

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover - The Umbrella Academy, Volume 1: The Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

A debut novel - The Company of Death by Elisa Hansen

A book about a family - The Flinstones, Volume 2: Bedrock Bedlam by Mark Russell and Steve Pugh

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title - Zodiac Starforce, Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince by Kevin Panetta and Paulina Ganucheau