2015 Reading Challenge

1/05/2015 01:00:00 PM Lexie Dunne 15 Comments


In 2014, I joined GoodReads and signed up for a challenge rather late in the year. I think I was trying to read 50 books. I didn’t succeed (or it’s possible that I did and kept forgetting to log books I read. Let’s be honest: this is way more likely), so what I’m about to announce is crazypants of the highest order.

I’m doing the 2015 Reading Challenge. Not just any reading challenge.

THIS reading challenge:


It’s got some oddly specific requests on it, which is great. I already have some ideas in mind:
  • A book your mom loves: Little Women (every time she finds out I haven’t read this, she gets that look on her face where her eyes go really wide. My panic instincts kick in and I can usually be found three hours later, hiding under a table downstairs. She always forgets I haven’t read this, too. Expect an angry comment by Anonymous down below)
  • A graphic novel: SAGA! I need to read Saga so bad. Lying cat! Great characters! Every time I see it on Tumblr, I think that it looks great and 2015 is the year for it.
  • A funny book: PG Wodehouse, this is our year together.
  • A mystery or thriller: That second Robert Galbraith novel has my name aaaaaalllllll over it.
  • A book based on or turned into a TV show: What do you guys think? Should I bite the bullet and read The 100? Or, wait, when’s the next Rizzoli and Isles novel? I love those things.
  • A book you were supposed to read in school but didn’t: As far as I can tell, I have two choices. Lord of the Flies or Invisible Man. The first doesn’t have incest, but the second doesn’t have cannibalism. Or wait, was I supposed to read Hamlet? There are so many of you reading this and twitching at all of the important books I haven’t read. It’s kind of great imagining it.
  • A Book You Started but Never Finished: Time to figure out how I Am Regina ends because I was out sick the day my Reading teacher finished reading it to us. And yes, I had a class in middle school called Reading. This was not a difficult class for me.
So those are some books to get me started. Now I’m asking you, dear readers. What do you recommend? What’s a good book with a color in the title? A book set in high school that you think I’ll love? Which classic romance should I tackle? Please let me know in the comments, and if you’re joining me on this quest, tell me so we can talk about it and commiserate!

Stay sexy!
Lexie

15 comments:

  1. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Adichie, for book with a colour in it.

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    1. Added! I put it on my Pinboard and everything. I'm excited to read that one.

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  2. I'll join you in your quest, but there's only one book I didn't read in school and I'M NOT GONNA READ IT NOW! Goethe's "Werther" - I started reading it, I hated it, I'm not gonna waste more time on it. Nope, no way! *stomps foot* All the others no problem, but that one will be my out :)
    As for classic romances, all the Jane Austen ones are fun and fast reads.

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    1. You could probably read a book I hadn't read in school. I'm vain enough to accept that. I was supposed to read more Kafka than I did for my thesis. There you go. ;)

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  3. SAGA!!! It's so good! I started reading the trades last month and I just got volume 4. But the thing is, it's still on-going how will you know when you're done?

    As for prose, the last great book I read (prior to Superheroes Anonymous, of course) was The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach. Doesn't really fit into any of the categories you need, but figured I'd just throw it out there.

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    1. I have seen so many great things about it! I'm gonna treat one or two trade paperbacks as a book, in this case. I've seen quotes from the Art of Fielding, actually, it looks really good. I might add it to the list anyway.

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  4. I would recommend The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin. Its written by a woman, has non human characters, is set in the future and can possibly be read in a day.
    But don't just take my word for it. Ask Victorianoir too :-)

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  5. Check out Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld for your "over 500 pages" box. It's dedicated to Wrimos and is the story of a newbie author and her not-explicitly-called-NaNo-but-totally-NaNovel. I'm interested to see how your newly-published experience and hers match up :)

    Also, anything but Lord of the Flies. I've hated that book since sophomore year of high school. You can get better human interaction information out of any psych textbook. "Silver Linings Playbook" has a good quote about it: http://www.sheafontana.com/post/38498602869/todays-script-read

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    1. I remember that scene! My coworker was listening to it on audiobook when I rode to a shoot with him, so that and the first few chapters were all that I managed. I think it was one of those AP English assignments.

      Adding Afterworlds. I love Westerfeld's work. Thanks!

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  6. Have you read Code Name Verity yet? It is set in another country.

    Also, just finished Amy Poehler's Yes Please so my memoir box is checked. ;)

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    1. BOTH OF THOSE ARE GOING ON MY LIST. THANK YOU.

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  7. It's funny that I was thinking Little Women and then scrolled down and saw your post. Also i think you should read Love Story.... it always makes me cry.

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    1. You give this really annoyed squawk whenever I mention I haven't read it. I kind of have to this year. Who's Love Story by?

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  8. Love Story is by Erich Segal and it makes me cry every time I read it also. Glad you read Little Women so that I don't have to squawk any more! How are you doing on this list btw?

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Please keep it PG. My mom reads this blog.