Tag Archives: 2019

2019 Dancing with Fantasy and Sci-Fi

Challenges, , , ,

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 52
Hosted by: A Dance with Books

FANTASY

  1. Classic fantasy – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
  2. Magic school – An Apple for the Creature edited by Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner
  3. Necromancers – Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
  4. PTSD –
  5. Dragons – Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
  6. Fairytale (retelling) – Fairest of All by Serena Valentino
  7. Grimdark – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
  8. Ghosts – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
  9. Uncommon fantasy creatures – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra
  10. Shapeshifters – Wild Fire by Christine Feehan
  11. Gods – Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan
  12. Animal companion – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth
  13. Maternal heritage – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding
  14. Set in our world – The Siren by Kiera Cass
  15. Witches – No Rest for the Witches by MaryJanice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray & Christine Warren
  16. Magical Law Enforcement – Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
  17. Thief – Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne
  18. Pirates – The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
  19. Portal fantasy – Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
  20. Warrior – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Sci-Fi

  1. On a different planet – Haunted Nights edited by Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton
  2. Utopia – Return to the Isle f the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz
  3. Space ship – Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
  4. Steampunk – Curiouser and Curiouser by Melanie Karsak
  5. Time travel – The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
  6. Artificial Intelligence POV –
  7. Proto Sci-Fi – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
  8. Hive – To Marry Medusa by Theodore Sturgeon
  9. Alien – Alien Sex edited by Ellen Datlow
  10. Virtual reality –
  11. Super powers – The Young Elites by Marie Lu
  12. Science – Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
  13. Replicate –
  14. Space colonisation –
  15. Mecha –
  16. Space creatures / Beasts – Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  17. Teleportation –
  18. Space Western –
  19. The Moon – The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells
  20. Invasion – The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Generic

  1. Satire – Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
  2. Under 500 pages – When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs
  3. Over 800 pages – IT by Stephen King (1166 pp.)
  4. Novella – Hexed by Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James & Jeanne C. Stein
  5. Finish a series – Seeing is Believing by Erin McCarthy
  6. Mental health – The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil
  7. Disability –
  8. Published before 1990 – The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (1947)
  9. Set in Africa – In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall
  10. Library – Blood Work by Kim Harrison
  11. By a woman of color – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
  12. One word title – Masques by Patricia Briggs

2019 Reading Women Challenge

Challenges, , ,

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 26
Hosted by: Reading Women

1. A mystery or thriller written by a woman of color – The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

2. A book about a woman with a mental illness – Cold Feet by Brenda Novak

3. A book by an author from Nigeria or New Zealand –

4. A book about or set in Appalachia –

5. A children’s book – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth

6. A multigenerational family saga – In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall (the tale of multiple generations of chimpanzees)

7. A book featuring a woman in science – The Turn by Kim Harrison

8. A play – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine (a play rewrite)

9. A novella – Hexed by Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James & Jeanne C. Stein

10. A book about a woman athlete – Born to Run by Cathy Freeman

11. A book featuring a religion other than your own – The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Jews)

12. A Lambda Literary Award winner – Beowulf for Cretins: A Love Story by Ann McMan

13. A myth retelling – The Siren by Kiera Cass

14. A translated book published before 1945 – Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

15. A book written by a South Asian author –

16. A book by an Indigenous woman – Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington

17. A book from the 2018 Reading Women Award shortlist –

18. A romance or love story – A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy

19. A book about nature – Beluga Days by Nancy Lord

20. A historical fiction book – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

21. A book you bought or borrowed in 2019 – The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

22. A book you picked up because of the cover – Mad Hatters and March Hares edited by Ellen Datlow

23. Any book from a series – Wild Fire by Christine Feehan

24. A young adult book by a woman of color – The Young Elites by Marie Lu

BONUS

25. A book by Jesmyn Ward –

26. A book by Jhumpa Lahiri – Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

2019 Around the Year in 52 Books

Challenges, , ,

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 52
Hosted by: Around the Year in 52 Books

It’s best if you create your own plan (using “create a new topic” and choosing “2019 Plans” for the folder) so you can keep track of your progress and share your choices with the other members. If you need help finding ideas, you can have a look at the weekly topics (posted closer to 2019)

You can read in order or jump around, but keep this order in your plan, since this makes it easier for others to find a prompt. 

If you can’t complete the challenge, it’s not a problem. If one topic is too far out of your comfort zone or too difficult to fulfill, you can use a “Wild Card” and read something else for this week (reader’s choice or past suggestions).

***Uncompleted weeks are in bold.***

1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy – Greylands by Isobelle Carmody (Aurealis Award for best young adult novel)
2. A book with one of the 5 W’s in the title (Who, What, Where, When, Why) – When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs
3. A book where the author’s name contains A, T, and Y – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth
4. A book with a criminal character (i.e. assassin, pirate, thief, robber, scoundrel etc) – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (lead female is an assassin)

5. A book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine
6. A book with a dual timeline – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding (took an extra day to finish)
7. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #1 – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
8. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #2 – Black Spring by Alison Croggon (based on Wuthering Heights)

9. A book from one of the top 5 money making genres (romance/erotica, crime/mystery, religious/inspirational, science fiction/fantasy or horror) – The Siren by Kiera Cass (romance AND fantasy)
10. A book featuring an historical figure – The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
11. A book related to one of the 12 Zodiac Chinese Animals (title, cover, subject) – Through the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor
12. A book about reading, books or an author/writer – Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

13. A book that is included on a New York Public Library Staff Picks list – Circe by Madeline Miller (took an extra 2 days to finish)
14. A book with a title, subtitle or cover relating to an astronomical term – Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne
15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country – The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence
16. A book told from multiple perspectives – Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowly-Doyle
17. A speculative fiction (i.e. fantasy, scifi, horror, dystopia) – Enclave by Ann Aguirre

18. A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements – The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore
19. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (4 books)
20. A book featuring indigenous people of a country – Dark Emu: Black Seeds Agriculture or Accident? by Bruce Pascoe
21. A book from one of the polarizing or close call votes (A book about a dog) – Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

22. A book with a number in the title or on the cover – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
23. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #1 Something Old – Spellhorn by Berlie Doherty (the oldest book on my bookshelf, given to me by my Mum)
24. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #2 Something New – Blood Crime by Kim Harrison & Gemma Magno (one of the newest books on my shelf)
25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed – Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis (I originally borrowed this book from my Mum, and have just never given it back)

26. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #4 Something Blue – The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil
27. A book off of the 1001 books to read before you die list – Persuasion by Jane Austen
28. A book related to something cold (i.e. theme, title, author, cover, etc.) – Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige
29. A book published before 1950 – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
30. A book featuring an elderly character – Pride by Ibi Zoboi

31. A children’s classic you’ve never read – The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
32. A book with more than 500 pages – American Gods by Neil Gaiman
33. A book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet – Valkyrie by Kate O’Hearn
34. A book with a person’s name in the title – Eragon by Christopher Paolini

35. A psychological thriller – Bloody Valentine by James Patterson
36. A book featured on an NPR Best Books of the Year list – Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
37. A book set in a school or university – The High Lord by Trudi Canavan
38. A book not written in traditional novel format (poetry, essay, epistolary, graphic novel, etc) – Haven by Marjorie M. Liu & Sana Takeda

39. A book with a strong sense of place or where the author brings the location/setting to life – Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
40. A book you stumbled upon – Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
41. A book from the 2018 GR Choice Awards – The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
42. A book with a monster or “monstrous” character – Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow
43. A book related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) [fiction or nonfiction] – Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

44. A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed (same topic, same era, book appeared in the show/movie, etc.) – Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
45. A multi-generational saga – Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
46. A book with a (mostly) black cover – The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson
47. A book related to food (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.) – Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

48. A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year – Holes by Louis Sachar
49. A book written by a Far East Asian author or set in a Far East Asian country – Red Phoenix by Kylie Chan
50. A book that includes a journey (physical, health, or spiritual) – Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
51. A book published in 2019 – What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume
52. A book with a weird or intriguing title – Alien Sex edited by Ellen Datlow

List created by the group members, after suggestions and votes. Thanks to all! 

* Prompts have been grouped (roughly) by month. Some months have 5 prompts, when a new week starts within the same month. This is just a general guide and members can read at whatever speed works for them.