28 DOWN | POPSUGAR 2015 reading challenge

2015 Reading challenge

Wayyy back when I posted about my New Year resolutions for 2015 (It’s a good thing I just went back to review this because I have a lot of goals I haven’t met yet. Seriously why do people feel so motivated Jan. 1 as compared to Sept. 1?? I digress…) I said I wanted to complete the POPSUGAR reading challenge!

Basically the challenge is that you must read 50 books in one year, each related to a certain topic or with certain qualities (ex: book that became a movie or a book with magic).

I have to admit that around Jan. 14 I totally forgot to keep track of the different books I’ve read… #fail.

So this morning (over a few large cups of coffee) I racked my brain to try and remember all the good, bad, and ugly books I’ve read over the last 8 months and see which ones count as a point towards the 50 book reading challenge (technically 52 since one of the items is a trilogy)!

*Note, any books that follow in hot pink I strongly recommend you read :)

  1. A book with more than 500 pagesThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  2. A classic romance:
  3. A book that became a movie: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
  4. A book published this year: Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
  5. A book with a number in the title: 10% Happier by Dan Harris
  6. A book written by someone under 30:
  7. A book with nonhuman characters:
  8. A funny book: Nice Is Just a Place in France by The Betches (it is a “funny” book, but I hated it)
  9. A book by a female author: The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
  10. A mystery or thriller: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
  11. A book with a one-word title: Misbehaving by Richard Thaler
  12. A book of short stories: The Shell Collector: Stories by Anthony Doerr
  13. A book set in a different countryThe Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
  14. A nonfiction book: Creative Confidence by David M. Kelley and Tom Kelley
  15. A popular author’s first book: Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
  16. A book from an author you love that you haven’t read yet:
  17. A book a friend recommended:
  18. A Pulitzer Prize-winning book:
  19. A book based on a true story:
  20. A book at the bottom of your to-read list:
  21. A book your mom loves:
  22. A book that scares you: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
  23. A book more than 100 years old:
  24. A book based entirely on its cover: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
  25. A book you were supposed to read in school but didn’t:
  26. A memoir: Now I See You: A Memoir by Nicole C. Kear
  27. A book you can finish in a day: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
  28. A book with antonyms in the title: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
  29. A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
  30. A book that came out the year you were born:
  31. A book with bad reviews: The Knockoff by Jo Plazza and Lucy Sykes
  32. A trilogy:
  33. A book from your childhood:
  34. A book with a love triangle:
  35. A book set in the future: The Circle by Dave Eggers
  36. A book set in high school: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
  37. A book with a color in the title:
  38. A book that made you cry:
  39. A book with magic: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
  40. A graphic novel:
  41. A book by an author you’ve never read before: The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman
  42. A book you own but have never read: Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva
  43. A book that takes place in your hometown:  Ladies’ Night by Mary Kay Andrews
  44. A book that was originally written in a different language: The Dinner by Herman Koch
  45. A book set during Christmas:
  46. A book written by an author with your same initials:
  47. A play:
  48. A banned book:
  49. A book based on or turned into a TV show: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
  50. A book you started but never finished: A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

So what does this all mean? I’m still 22 books from finishing this challenge… I need to kick it into high gear!

The books I know I’ll struggle to find/ read are #38 (I’m not a crier), #46 (Literally can’t find an author of a book I would want to read with initials A.B.) and #32 (Anyone have a good trilogy recommendation?)

I’m in dire need of 22 (technically 24) book recommendations ASAP! I beg of you to help!

Did you do the POPSUGAR reading challenge too? How far along are you? And what on EARTH did you read to cross #47 off your list?

38 thoughts on “28 DOWN | POPSUGAR 2015 reading challenge

  1. Irene B. September 10, 2015 / 8:16 am

    Wow!!! I see some I might even try. Love recommendations!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Amanda Brooks September 10, 2015 / 11:41 am

      It’s seriously fun! I strongly recommend it :) Don’t be overwhelmed by 50 books, it’s really easy!

      Like

  2. Summer September 10, 2015 / 10:24 am

    This looks like a fun challenge ☺. But I agree with Amanda… Daunting! Kudos to you♥♥.
    chocolateandsunset.com

    Liked by 1 person

    • Amanda Brooks September 10, 2015 / 11:41 am

      A bit daunting, but also pretty fun :) I’m a bookworm I guess haha

      Like

  3. kellynotkatie September 10, 2015 / 8:20 pm

    I started this challenge as a new year’s resolution, too! I still have 27 to go… I’m falling behind! Some recommendations for you – Book 2- The Great Gatsby, Book 17- Love, Rosie, Book 19- Friday Night Lights, Book 32- The Hunger Games, Book 38- Harry Potter (yeah, I know… lol). Pick Shakespeare for the play!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Amanda Brooks September 12, 2015 / 8:55 am

      Nice! I’m behind too, don’t worry :) You can do it! The Great Gatsby is a great recommendation! And I love Harry Potter! hahah

      Like

  4. ryehumour September 13, 2015 / 4:40 am

    I am the worst at keeping track of books I read! But I couldn’t resist giving some recommendations, as I’ve found some real gems this year! A trilogy: Frontier Magic by Patricia C. Wrede. Fantasy set in the Wild West. Fairly quick and easy to read, or at least it seemed like it because they sucked me in and I breezed through them in about a week!

    I studied theatre in college, and I loved the play TRAGEDY: a tragedy, by Will Eno. It’s really weird but happened to tickle my funny bone and also make some poignant points, I thought. I directed it as my thesis project.

    Classic romance: An Old-Fashioned Girl, Louisa May Alcott. My favourite book of all times.

    Book with nonhuman characters: Spindle’s End, Robin McKinley. So good! A retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.

    Hope that helps!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Amanda Brooks September 13, 2015 / 9:33 am

      YES! Thank you thank you! Nothing is better than a good book recommendation :) I’m looking them all up now

      Liked by 1 person

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