2021 Strong Women Reading Challenge

 

Somehow I missed blogging about this reading challenge.  I had added it to my spreadsheet, but never left a post about it.  This is the Strong Woman reading challenge.  It runs from January 1 to May 31 and you have to read 5 books to get a Bingo.  It is hosted by Books and Tea.

Created by @tecsielitybooks, @kuudennenkerroksenkirjat, @kirjaperhonen and @sakubooks. 

THE PROMPTS:

1. Finnish female author
2. feminist book - Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
3. a book with a word that means woman in the title - The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
4. a memoir
5. a book about war with female protagonists
6. comic or graphic novel targeted to girls
7. crime novel written by a woman
8. survivor - The Last 8 by Laura Pohl
9. a female author who uses a pen name - Again Again by E. Lockhart
10. LGBT book - You Have a Match by Emma Lord
11. a woman who doesn’t end up with a man at the end - The Highway by C.J. Box
12. book rec from a woman you’re close to
13. author of colour - The Pearl that Broke It's Shell by Nadia Hashimi
14. a book about a friendship between women
15. book where a woman does well in a “man’s world” - Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon
16. a book written by a trans woman
17. a female author who won an award
18. sci-fi/fantasy heroine - Mayhem by Estelle Laure
19. generational story
20. a woman who isn’t from the 2000s - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
21. a woman who is a mother - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
22. book about witches
23. a book that fails a reverse Bechdel test
24. a female author who deserves more love - Dancing on Broken Glass by Ka Hancock
25. a book for young girls - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Book Review: The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

Title: The Last 8

Author: Laura Pohl

Genre: Science Fiction

This is a YA science fiction book about an alien invasion, where, you guessed, 8 teenagers are left alive to try to figure out why this happened and what to do next. 

It is told from the POV of Clover Martinez, a high school junior who dreams of MIT and NASA and flies planes with her Abuelo.  When everyone in her town is killed by the aliens, she sets off across the country with the companionship of a dog that she picks up along the way.  Thinking she is the last person alive, she is shocked when she hears a radio station broadcasting from Area 51 and sets off for Nevada.  Upon arrival, she discovers 7 other teenagers have been living there since the aliens arrived.  

I liked the beginning of the book, it really grabbed me and pulled me in, then I got kind of weighted down in the middle - seem to go on forever before a plan of action was decided upon.  With this one, I could either just be happy with the ending, or read on with the second book - The First 7.  

Book Review: City of a Thousand Dolls

 

Title: City of a Thousand Dolls

Author: Miriam Forster

Genre: Fantasy

My initial thoughts about this book were that I was not going to like it. While the cover was interesting, it didn't really appeal to me.  In addition, there was a list of characters in the front of the book - or Dramatis Personae.  I am always wary of these books that have lists of characters because I am afraid that I will not be invested in the book enough to keep them straight.  And then, when the names of the characters are not what I am used to (like Nisha and Akash tarVey) I think I will have an even harder time.

Fortunately, that did not happen with this book.  I very quickly became invested and loved the relationship that Nisha had with the cats and how they spoke to one another (basically read each other's minds).  They explained to Nisha that they just didn't want to talk to anyone else, but you knew right away that there was a bigger story there.  Through suicides - or was it murders, love, betrayal, guilt, and friendship we learn about Nisha and the role that she plays in the City of Dolls.  A city that was created to take in the unwanted daughters of the Empire.  Unwanted because there was a 2-child ban on the population, and boys were valued more.  

This book was more than just a fantasy though, but also a murder mystery and it was not evident who or why was behind them.  Definitely kept me in the dark until almost the very end.  I really enjoyed it and am glad that I did not let the cover or list of characters put me off from reading it. 

2021 Library Love Reading Challenge

 

The 2021 Library Love Challenge is hosted by Angel's Guilty Pleasures and Books of My Heart.   The challenge is to read books from your library.  Since the majority of my books come from there this was a no-brainer.

Levels are:

• Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books
• Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
• Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
• Library Addict: Read 48 books
• Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books - I am choosing this level!

There will also be quarterly giveaways once you join.

JANUARY

1 - The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver

2 - City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster

3 - The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

4 - We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

5 - It's the End of the World as I Know It by Matthew Landis

6 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

7 - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

8 - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

9 - The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington

10 - The Highway by C.J. Box

FEBRUARY

11. - The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden

12 - Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

13 - The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

14 - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

15 - Wayward by Blake Crouch

2021 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

 

The 2021 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is hosted by The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader.

Reading Challenge details

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created at the host blog where you can add the links for the books you have read. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

Everyone can participate! If you don't have a blog you can post a link to your review if it's posted on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish.

Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post at Intrepid Reader (please use the direct URL that will guide us directly to your review) Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)

During the following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books - I am choosing this level
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

JANUARY

1 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2 - Mayhem by Estelle Laure

3 - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

4 - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

5 - The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington

FEBRUARY

6 - Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

7 - The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

8 - The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

9 - The Pearl that Broke It's Shell by Nadia Hashimi

10

2021 Dystopia Reading Challenge

 

The 2021 Dystopia Reading Challenge is hosted by Brittani @ Game, Read, Teach.  The challenge is to read Dystopian books. Easy Peasy.

Levels are as follows - You will receive a badge based on the level.

Recruit - 1-5 books

Rebel - 6-10 books - I AM CHOOSING THIS LEVEL.

Revolutionist - 11-15

Leader - 16+

JANUARY

1 - The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

FEBRUARY

2 - Pines by Blake Crouch

3 - Wayward by Blake Crouch

4

5

6

UPDATE SCHEDULE:

• March 15 - First Quarter Update
• June 15 - Second Quarter/Mid-Year Update
• September 15 - Third Quarter Update
• December 15 - Fourth Quarter Update/Wrap Up

GIVEAWAY SCHEDULE:

• June - Mid-Challenge Giveaway
• December - End of Challenge Giveaway

To be entered in the giveaways, you have to link up reviews. Every review you link up equals a giveaway entry. If you happen to get bingo, that counts as an extra entry, up to 5 extra entries if you fill the board! Just let me know when you get a bingo and the extra entry/s will be added!

REVIEW LINK-UPS:

• January-June Link-Up
• July-December Link-Up

The Dystopia Reading Challenge has bi-annual link-ups. The first link-up for reviews will be open from January 1-June 30. And the second link-up will be open from July 1-December 31. To be entered in the giveaways, you have to link up reviews. Every review you link up equals a giveaway entry. Review link-ups will be linked in the main menu under Dystopia Reading Challenge for easy finding. :)

LISTS TO GET YOU STARTED:

• Dystopian, (post-)apocalyptic and sci-fi YA of 2016
• Best Dystopian & Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
• Best YA Dystopia Novels

2021 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge

 

The 2021 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge is hosted by Carol at Carol's Notebook.  This is a new challenge for me this year.  

The challenge is to read any book that is from the mystery/suspense/thriller/crime genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of the main genres. They also must be at least 100 pages long. 

There will be a monthly link up and giveaways at the halfway point and at the end. 

Levels:

5-15 books – Amateur sleuth

16-25 books – Detective -This is my goal for the year.

26-35 books – Inspector

36 – 55 – Special agent 

56+ books – Sherlock Holmes

JANUARY

1 - The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver

2 - The Highway by C.J. Box

FEBRUARY

3 - Pines by Blake Crouch

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

2021 Literary Escapes Challenge

 

The 2021 Literary Escapes Challenge is hosted by Escape with Dollycas.  The goal is to try to read 1 book set in each of the 50 states + a bonus for the District of Columbia. You can also earn bonus points for books set in countries around the world. You have the option of keeping track on a map or a list - I think the list is easier. 

Alabama

Alaska - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Arizona

Arkansas

California - The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho - Pines by Blake Crouch

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts - We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana - The Highway by C.J. Box

Nebraska

Nevada - The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania - It's the End of the World as I Know It by Matthew Landis

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Washington - You Have a Match by Emma Lord

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

2021 Color Coded Reading Challenge

 

The Color Coded Reading Challenge is once again being hosted by My Reader's Block. It is quite simple - read books with colors in the title or where that color is the dominant color on the cover of the book. 

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue in the title/on the cover.

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red in the title/on the cover.

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow in the title/on the cover.

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green in the title/on the cover.

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown in the title/on the cover.

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black in the title/on the cover.

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White in the title/on the cover. - The Pearl that Broke It's Shell by Nadia Hashimi

8. A book with any other color in the title/on the cover (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, etc).

9. A book with a word/image that implies color in the title/on the cover (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Shadow, Paint, Ink, etc).

Post reviews on links here

2021 Reading Challenge from Linz the Bookworm

 

This 2021 Reading Challenge is brought to you by Linz the Bookworm. 

This challenge is either one huge challenge, or five smaller ones.  I prefer to look at it as five smaller ones.  There are five tiers divided into 60 categories. We try to alternate the types in a way that gives a lot of variety and increases in difficulty. Tier one is generally the easier category. You can complete it tier by tier, pick the tiers you want, pick the categories you want, or go about it haphazardly. My path will probably be the haphazardly one. 

Here's a link to a printable list: Printable List

Level 1: Book of the Month Club

1 Read a book obtained from Kindle Unlimited, Audible, Amazon First Reads,

2 Read a book under 400 pages   - The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden

3 Reread a book that makes you happy

4 Read a stand alone novel (not in a series) -   Fade Into the Bright by Jessica Koosed Etting, Alyssa Embree Schwartz

5 Read a book that starts with the letter D -

6 Read a book that was recommended to you

7 Read a book with the color white on the cover - Again Again by E. Lockhart

8 Read a book where the main character is a High School or College Student - The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

9 Read a book by an author named Michael/Mike/Michelle or variant

10 Read a book that's been turned into a TV series or Movie - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

11 Read a book with exactly two words in the title - The Highway by C.J. Box

12 Free Space- Pick any book! - The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Level 2: Casual Reader Club

13 A book from https://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/

14 Read a Murder Mystery

15 Read the first book in a series you've wanted to start - The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver

16 Read a book that has a person on the cover - It's the End of the World as I Know It by Matthew Landis

17 Read a book where the main character's occupation is chef or baker

18 Read a book by an author born in the 20th Century (1901-2000) - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

19 Read a book with a form of royalty in the title (Queen, King, Prince,Princess, etc) - Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

20 Read a book you meant to read on last year's challenge

21 Read a book by Barbara Cartland

22 Read a book that takes place in Spring

23 Read a book with the word Human/Person/People in the title

24 Free Space- Pick any book! - The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

Level 3: Dedicated Reader Club

25 Read a book by a Self Published Author

26 Read a book for under $5

27 Read a book from : https://time.com/collection/100-best-fantasy-books/

28 Read a book published in the 2010's - We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

29 Read a book from your favorite genre

30 Read a book that has had at least three different covers - The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington

31 Read a book that takes place in Europe - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

32 Read a book by an author with the same first name as one of your grandparents

33 Read a book where the main character is a magic user

34 Read a book with a time of day in the title (Morning, Noon, Evening,Dusk, Dawn, etc)

35 Read a book by an author of a different ethnicity than you - Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon

36 Free Space- Pick any book! - More than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood

Level 4: Speed Reader Club

37 Read the next book in a series you've started - Wayward by Blake Crouch

38 Read a book with an orange cover - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

39 Read a book over 600 pages

40 Read a book that uses the "Chosen One" trope

41 Read a book where the main character is elderly

42 Read a book with the letter V in the title or author's name - You Have a Match by Emma Lord

43 Read a Science Fiction

44 Read a book that starts with the letter P - Pines by Blake Crouch

45 Read a book with a bird on the cover - Mayhem by Estelle Laure

46 Read a book (Fiction or Nonfiction) about a lady on this list: https://www.historyextra.com/100-women/100-women-results/

47 Read a book with a main character with a different ethnicity than you - The Pearl that Broke It's Shell by Nadia Hashimi

48 Free Space- Pick any book!

Level 5: Overachiever Club

49 Read a book with an interesting cover font

50 Read a book about orphans - City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster

51 Read a book with the word "wind" in the title

52 Read a book by John Irving

53 Read a book that was published when you were eleven

54 Read a book that takes place in the 1960s

55 Read a book (fiction or Nonfiction) about a topic that's always interested you, but you haven't read about it yet

56 Read a Nonfiction book that teaches you a new skill

57 Read a book without a picture on the cover

58 Read a book (Fiction or Nonfiction) involving Mental Illness - Dancing on Broken Glass by Ka Hancock

59 Read a book that has had unfavorable reviews, but you're still curious about

60 Free Space- Pick any book!