17th Annual Canadian Reading Challenge
For the first half of the year, I completed the 17th Annual Canadian Reading Challenge that started in July. This is the whole year's challenge below.
1. This Spells Love by Kate Robb. Finished July 10
2. Double Negative by Susan Marshall. Finished July 17
3. Bookworm by Robin Yeatman. Finished July 30
4. A Flower is a Friend by Frieda Wishinsky and Karen Patkau. Finished August 2
5. The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham. Finished August 25
6. Clear Skies, No Wind, 100% Visibility by Theodora Armstrong. Finished September 22
7. The Imaginary Alphabet by Sylvie Daigneault. Finished September 23
8. Lone Wolf by Linwood Barclay. Finished September 25
9. All Things Consoled by Elizabeth Hay. Finished October 2
10. Cape Diamond by Ron Corbett. Finished October 13
11. Blood on a Saint by Anne Emery. Finished November 5
12. Bay Street by Philip Slayton. Finished November 15
13. A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley. Finished December 15
14. Look Up High! Things That Fly by Victoria Allenby. Finished December 18
15. Snowstorms & Sleigh Bells by Kelley Armstrong. Finished December 22
16. Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley. Finished January 15
17. It Happened One Christmas by Chantel Guertin. Finished January 16
18. Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North. Finished January 30
19. The Red Pole of Macau by Ian Hamilton. Finished February 5
20. The Dragon Head of Hong Kong by Ian Hamilton. Finished February 9
21. Final Assignment by Linwood Barclay. Finished February 9
22. The Damage Done by Hilary Davidson. Finished March 19
23. Women Talking by Miriam Toews. Finished April 30
24. The Stand-In by Lily Chu. Finished May 19
25. Executor by Louise Carson. Finished May 24
26. A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey. Finished May 31
27. Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb. Finished June 13
I finished this challenge at 27 books.
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18th Annual Canadian Reading Challenge (runs July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)
1. I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay. Finished July 23
2. Flight Plan by Eric Walters. Finished August 10
3. The Library of Legends by Janie Chang. Finished August 13
4. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. Finished August 29
5. The Garden of Eden by Sharon Butala. Finished August 31
6. Enough by Kimia Eslah. Finished September 16
7. Murder Road by Simone St. James. Finished October 12
8. The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy. Finished October 30
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52 Book Club 2024 Challenge. The time periods are pretty loose with this challenge. You don't have to read the mini-challenges in the specified month, and none of the challenges have to be read in the specified year.
1. Locked-room mystery
The Clinic by Cate Quinn. Finished February 21
2. Bibliosmia: a smelly book
3. More than 40 chapters
The Edge of the Water by Elizabeth George. Finished February 8
4. Lowercase letters on the spine
the man who didn't call by Rosie Walsh. Finished September 15
5. Magic realism
I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore. Finished February 3
6. Women in STEM
Tapestries of Life by Anna Sverdrup-Thygeson. Finished August 20
7. At least 4 different POV
If We Had Known by Elise Juska. Finished January 22
8. Features the ocean
9. A character-driven novel
Polly Fulton by John P. Marquand. Finished April 17
10. Told in non-chronological order
My Life as a Villainess by Laura Lippman. Finished February 25
11. Starting with the letter 'K'
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson. Finished June 20
12. Starting with the letter 'L'
Love, Holly by Emily Stone. Finished March 12
13. An academic thriller
14. A grieving character
In Desolate Heaven by Robert Edric. Finished January 9
15. Part of a duology
Justice by Larry Watson. Finished August 9
16. An omniscient narrator
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. Finished August 29
17. Nominated for the Booker Prize
18. An apostrophe in the title
The Merchant's House by Kate Ellis. Finished January 5
19. A buddy read
20. A revenge story
The Funeral Boat by Kate Ellis. Finished July 4
21. Written by a ghostwriter
22. A plot similar to another book
23. The other book with the similar plot
24. A cover without people on it
The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns. Finished March 22
25. An author "everyone" has read but you
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle. Finished July 1
26. Hybrid genre
Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller. Finished July 31 (fantasy and mystery)
27. By a neurodivergent author
Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North. Finished January 30
28. A yellow spine
Anger Bang by Avery Flynn. Finished February 19
29. Published in a Year of the Dragon
The Red Pole of Macau by Ian Hamilton. Finished February 5 (published in 2012)
30. Picked without reading the blurb
A Meal in Winter by Hubert Mingarelli. Finished March 18
31. Includes a personal phobia
32. Timeframe spans a week or less
It Happened One Christmas by Chantel Guertin. Finished January 16
33. An abrupt ending
Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. Finished March 8
34. Set in a landlocked country
The Garden of Eden by Sharon Butala. Finished August 31 (set partially in Ethiopia)
35. Title matches lyrics from a song
36. Has futuristic technology
37. A palindrome on the cover
The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook. Finished April 8 [Elle]
38. Published by Hachette
The Winter Station by Jody Shields. Finished May 23
39. Nonfiction recommended by a friend
40. Set during a holiday you don't celebrate
41. A sticker on the cover
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley. Finished May 7
42. Author debut in second half of 2024
43. About finding identity
Weyward by Emilia Hart. Finished May 2
44. Includes a wedding
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marisa Stapley. Finished January 15
45. Chapter headings have dates
Don't Know Jack by Diane Capri. Finished February 9
46. Featuring indigenous culture
The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich. Finished March 31
47. Self-insert by an author
My European Family by Karin Bojs. Finished June 19
48. The word "secret" in the title
All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris. Finished January 8
49. Set in a city starting with the letter "M"
The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier. Finished November 11 (set in Murano, Italy)
50. A musical instrument on the cover
The Darling Songbirds by Rachael Herron. Finished April 15
51. Related to the word "wild"
52. Published in 2024
The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman. Finished January 19
Mini-Challenges. While these are designated by month or season, they can be done at any time in the year.
February
* By a Black author in your favourite genre
Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique. Finished June 4
* Be Mine, Valentine
Push the Envelope by Rochelle Paige. Finished July 27
* By an author born in a leap year
Night Diver by Elizabeth Lowell (born in 1944) Finished February 20
April
* (Never gonna) Give you up
Jack and Joe by Diane Capri. Finished April 20
* (Never gonna) Let you down
The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan. Finished April 22
* (Never gonna run around and) Desert you
The Half of It by Juliette Fay. Finished April 6
May
* M: Author's last name starts with the letter 'M'
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. Finished July 16
* A is for Alpha
* Y: Interrogative word in title
When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham. Finished October 10
Summer (Olympics theme)
1. Opening Ceremonies: Set in Paris
Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan. Finished November 8
2. Opening Ceremonies: Flame on the cover
The Fire Court by Andrew Taylor. Finished June 10
3. Opening Ceremonies: Go for Gold
4. Sprint: A short story collection
To Hold the Bridge by Garth Nix. Finished October 20
5. Long Jump: Audiobook more than 15 hours (can read in any format)
The Romantic by William Boyd. Finished August 18 (audiobook is over 17 hours)
6. Steeplechase: Character is a spiritual leader
Clear by Carys Davies. Finished August 8
7. Boxing: A strong opening hook
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. Finished June 6
8. Wrestling: A heavy read
9. Fencing: Dialogue with witty banter
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren. Finished July 5
10. Balance Beam: About finding balance in life
11. Uneven bars: Series with an uneven number of books
A Honeybun and Coffee by Sam Cheever. Finished July 27 (9 books in series)
12. Rings: Jewellery on cover
13. Synchronized Diving: A sports romance novel
14. Water Polo: Book that made a splash
15. Butterfly: Book features 'the butterfly effect'
We Know You Remember by Tove Alsterdal. Finished October 9 (past cases have impacts into the future)
16. Road Cycling: Time period without modern transportation
Inland by Téa Obreht. Finished June 26.
17. Team Pursuit: Featuring a group of friends
The Iron Flower by Laurie Forest. Finished June 22
18. Cross Country: Related to the term 'endurance'
Flight Plan by Eric Walters. Finished August 10
19. Handball: The author shares a last name with an Olympic athlete
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins. Finished August 22 (American athlete Chari Hawkins)
20. Volleyball: Set in country winning 2024 Olympic volleyball
21. Football / Soccer: Word featuring double letters in title
A Strange and Sublime Address by Amit Chaudhuri. Finished June 4
22. Closing Ceremonies: At least four Olympic ring colours on cover (blue, black. red, yellow, green)
Bear by Julia Phillips. Finished September 18
23. Closing Ceremonies: Author who hasn't released a book in the last four years
The Paris Lawyer by Sylvie Granotier. Finished July 11
24. Closing Ceremonies: Memoir / Biography of an Olympian
September Mini Challenges
1. Professor Plum (inspired by either word)
2. In the kitchen (related to cooking or kitchens)
3. With a revolver (related to a mystery involving a gun, any book involving or relating to guns, or having part of the word "revolve" in it)
These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald. Finished October 6
1. Beverage on the cover
The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy. Finished October 30
2. Book pairs with a favourite sweater
3. A cozy read.
Book Fair and Foul by Erika Chase. Finished October 29
1. Related to the word "Intergalactic"
2. Set in a country bordering at least five other countries
3. Set in 2000-2010
4. 800-900 pages
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Girl XOXO Monthly Keyword Challenge
JAN - Secret, Heaven, True, House, Come, Only, Know, Winter
The Merchant's House by Kate Ellis. Finished January 5
All Her Secrets by Wanda M. Morris. Finished January 8
In Desolate Heaven by Robert Edric. Finished January 9
If We Had Known by Elise Juska. Finished January 22
Later in the year:
Homecoming by Kate Morton. Finished March 8
A Meal in Winter by Hubert Mangarelli. Finished March 18
FEB - Heir, Night, Bride, Down, Women, Hand, Teach, Guest
Protecting the Heiress by Nana Malone. Finished February 6
Night Diver by Elizabeth Lowell. Finished February 20
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson. Finished February 12. (Ladies for Women)
Later in the year:
The Guest by B.A. Paris. Finished June 27.
The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy. Finished October 30
MAR - Story, Hunt, Plot, City, You, Cry, Another, Paint
Hunting Season by Andrea Camilleri. Finished March 16
The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns. Finished March 22
The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich. Finished March 31
Later in the year:
The Story of V by Catherine Blackledge. Finished July 23
I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay. Finished July 22
Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller. Finished July 31
APR - Darling, Funny, Familiar, Somewhere, List, Meet, Never, Word
The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook. Finished April 8
The Darling Songbirds by Rachael Herron. Finished April 15
The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan. Finished April 22
Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athill. Finished April 28
Familiar by J. Robert Lennon. Finished April 29
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson. Finished April 30
MAY - Library, Dark, Drown, Ex, Iron, Done, Love, Stranger
Perfectly Undone by Jamie Raintree. Finished May 15
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. Finished May 21
Executor by Louise Carson. Finished May 24
Goodnight Stranger by Miciah Bay Gault. Finished May 26
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa. Finished May 28
A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey. Finished May 31
Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique. Finished June 4 (read most of it in May)
JUN - Ink, Fragile, Road, Summer, Breath, Every, Push, Sorry
The Summer without Men by Siri Hustvedt. Finished June 28
Later in the year:
Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni. Finished July 13
Every Other Weekend by Zulema Renee Summerfield. Finished July 20
Push the Envelope by Rochelle Paige. Finished July 27
Murder Road by Simone St. James. Finished October 12
JUL - Mine, Again, Honey, Paradise, Still, Club, Train, Legend
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren. Finished July 5
The Woman on the Train by Rupert Colley. Finished July 23
The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery. Finished July 25
A Honeybun and Coffee by Sam Cheever. Finished July 27
Later in the year:
Library of Legends by Janie Change. Finished August 13
These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald. Finished October 6
When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham. Finished October 10
AUG - School, Cut, Sky, Fate, Wing, Belong, Justice, Way
Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. Finished August 6
Justice by Larry Watson. Finished August 9
Later in the year:
Miss Mabel's School for Girls by Katie Cross. Finished October 31
SEP - Twice, World, Man, Quiet, Sweet, Hold, Shallow, Invisible
the man who didn't call by Rosie Walsh. Finished September 19
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain. Finished September 27
Later in the year:
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren. Finished October 18
To Hold the Bridge by Garth Nix. Finished October 20
OCT - Vampire, Here, Mist, Death, One, Missing, Bite, Witch
My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine. Finished October 23
NOV - Spice, Life, Hello, Keep, Truly, Couple, Joy, Young
DEC - Snow, Season, Ice, Merry, White, Under, Mistletoe, Inn
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Novelist Reading Challenge
I've decided to use these are yearlong challenges rather than sticking to a specific month.
JANUARY - Start off the year exploring new authors by reading a 2023 debut. Novelist search "Debut novel" in genre
* You, Again by Kate Goldbeck. Finished January 2
FEBRUARY - Read a romance or love story starring Asian characters
MARCH - Read a book from the last five years that's been adapted into a movie or TV series. Novelist search: "Page to Screen" in genre
APRIL - Discover the joy of communal reading! Read in a group of two or more
MAY - Read a standalone manga or the first volume of a manga series
JUNE - Keep it quick by reading a novella
Snatched by Karin Slaughter. Finished June 14
JULY - Read a book set in Australia or New Zealand
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. Finished August 29
AUGUST - Enjoy a mix of magic and macabre with a dark fantasy
SEPTEMBER - Get ready for the coziest season by reading a cosy mystery
On Borrowed Time by Jenn McKinlay. Finished September 23
OCTOBER - Embrace the scary by reading a creepy horror novel or ghost story
NOVEMBER - Read a novel by an indigenous author
DECEMBER - Wrap up the year by reading an award-winning novel from the last three years
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StoryGraph Reads the World 2024
1. Chile
2. Germany
3. Ghana
4. Indonesia
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren. Finished July 5
5. Jamaica
6. Lebanon
7. Poland
A Meal in Winter by Hubert Mingarelli. Finished March 18
8. Sri Lanka
9. Sudan
10. Venezuela
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StoryGraph Genre Challenge 2024
1. A nonfiction book about food or drink
2. A historical novel set before 1900
Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips. Finished May 28
3. A biography/memoir by/about a musician
4. Manga
5. A thriller or crime novel in translation
We Know You Remember by Tove Alsterdal. Translated by Alice Menzie. Finished October 9
6. A nonfiction book about psychology
7. A science fiction or dystopian book by a woman or nonbinary author
8. A middle grade book with queer representation
9. A short story collection by a Black author
10. A debut literary or contemporary fiction novel
* You, Again by Kate Goldbeck. Finished January 2 (contemporary fiction)
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I've decided to make these all year-long challenges rather than sticking to a specific month.
January: Read a book with a year in the title
February: Read a cozy mystery
Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts. Finished August 6
March: Read a book translated to English
A Meal in Winter by Hubert Mingarelli, translated from French by Sam Taylor
April: Read the first book in a series
The Darling Songbirds by Rachael Herron.
May: Read a book about music
June: Read a collection of poetry
Two Cures for Love: Selected Poems 1979-2006 by Wendy Cope. Finished June 30
July: Read a retelling of a classic or myth
August: Read a steamy romance
September: Read a book by an indigenous author
October: Read a book about magic
To Hold the Bridge by Garth Nix. Finished October 20
November: Read a book that was adapted into a movie or TV series
December: Read a book with a wintry setting
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