Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2020 Challenge - General
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2020 Challenge - I Finished!!
Date you finished: 24.03.20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 109
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A Medical Thriller - Malicious Intent (This was a new author for me)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Middlesex - A Bildungsroman
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: I Woke Up Dead at the Mall - A book with a pun in the title
Least favorite prompt: A Book About A Book Club
Prompt you hope to see again: A Medical Thriller
Last prompt you finished: A fiction or non-fiction book about a world leader - Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Most Likely
Date you finished: 4/09/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 741
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A Book With A Great First Line - Opposite of Always
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The One Hundred Nights of Hero - A Book That Passes The Bechdel Test
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers
Least favorite prompt: A Medical Thriller
Prompt you hope to see again: A Book On A Subject You Know Nothing About
Last prompt you finished: A Book About A Book Club
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Always :)
Date you finished: April 15, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 100
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): "A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name" - Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo for "A book that won an award in 2019" and The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery for "A book set in a country beginning with "C""
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Least favorite prompt: "A book about a book club"
Prompt you hope to see again: Prompt from a previous year
Last prompt you finished: "A book that's published in 2020"
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes
Date you finished: 6/13/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 10
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed. I read Between Two Fires I loved that it could literally be anything and it was a book I definitely owned.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Uprooted- A book with a bird on the cover
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: A Game of Thrones
Least favorite prompt: Read a banned book during banned book week. I obviously didn't do that. September is a bad month for me with reading so I did not want to wait until then.
Prompt you hope to see again: Touching a book on your bookshelf with your eyes closed. Possibilities are endless.
Last prompt you finished:Read a banned book during banned book week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? yes
Date you finished: 6/12/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 296
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): prompt #32 - a book by a WOC (My Sister, the Serial Killer
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): A tie between A Gentleman in Moscow (for prompt #44 - a book set in the 1920s) and The Shadow of the Wind (for prompt #5 - a book set in the city that has hosted the Olympics)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Cinder
Least favorite prompt: - prompt #37 - A Western
Prompt you hope to see again: Prompt #24 - a book on a topic you know nothing about - it was interesting!
Last prompt you finished: Prompt #18 - a book with a made-up language - Watership Down
Date you finished: 16/06/2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 844
/topic/show/...
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I loved all the advanced prompts with the 20 theme, especially the 2 Sally Rooney books Conversations with Friends & Normal People
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): It was close as I read many fabulous books for this years challenge but Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
was amazing . Prompt 23. A book that won an award in 2019
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Prompt 10. A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
Least favorite prompt: 37. A Western Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison my first and hopefully last western!
Prompt you hope to see again: 3. A book with a great first line - made me really think about the impact an opening line can have.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
Last prompt you finished: 32. A book by a WOC I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou I purposely saved this book till last so I could finish on a book high. Made the mistake last year on finishing on a mediocre book.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes, I managed it much better than last year so the standard of books I read was generally higher.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes! now going back to finish 2015 challenge.
Date you finished: 06/19/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 810
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): My favorite prompt turned out to be the one that I was initially planning to skip: A Medical Thriller. I ended up reading The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History which was very compelling and informative.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): My favorite book was Ducks, Newburyport which was for the prompt a book with an upside-down image on the cover. It was a long one, but worth it.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: I really enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow which I wouldn't have read if not for the challenge.
Least favorite prompt: The one I had the hardest time with was the first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed. It was likely I picked out the biggest books which was too much of a commitment when chosen at random.
Prompt you hope to see again: You know, it's funny because I really liked these prompts. But I guess I'm hoping to see new prompts on the next challenge.
Last prompt you finished: The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes!
Finally, are you in for 2021? Of course.
Date you finished: 3/25/2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 74
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book on a subject you know nothing about - Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): A book with more than 20 letters in its title - They Will Drown in Their Mothers' Tears
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: A book with a great first line - Gods in Alabama
Least favorite prompt: A medical thriller (thrillers are not my thing)
Prompt you hope to see again: A book by a trans or nonbinary author
Last prompt you finished: A book written by an author in their 20s
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: 100%
Finally, are you in for 2021? Can't wait!!
Date you finished: June 20, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 160, though I also have a DA journal with the prompts, books I read for them, and linked reviews here --
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I loved several of the prompts! Book by a trans or non-binary author (The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion), book set in a city that's hosted an Olympics (The Three-Body Problem), book with a robot (Transformers: Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron (Transformers), and book you picked because the title caught your attention (Space Unicorn Blues)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Again, I loved several! Favorites included The Song of Achilles (bilungsroman), Every Heart a Doorway (book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club), The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (book that won an award in 2019), Strange the Dreamer (book with a three-word title), Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee (book with more than 20 letters in the title)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I probably wouldn't have picked this up if it weren't for the "book about a book club" prompt.
Least favorite prompt: "Medical thriller" (not my favorite genre), "read a banned book during Banned Book Week" (don't tell me when I can read my books, dangit), and "book recced by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club" (I don't watch, read, or listen to any of those! I finally picked a book that I'd seen recced here on the PopSugar Challenge group, because that's a book club, right?)
Prompt you hope to see again: Title that catches your attention, book by a person of color, anything dealing with interesting titles or images on the cover
Last prompt you finished: Book from a series with more than 20 books in it (Thud!)
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: I was! I did quite a bit of shuffling of books, though -- my list of books looks quite different now than it did when I first started planning this challenge. Maybe I need to be less of a planner...
Finally, are you in for 2021? Of course!
Date you finished: 6/26/2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 849
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Book with a great first line. I read The Bookshop on the Corner
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Where the Crawdads Sing Book with MC in their 20s
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Tiger and the Robot
Least favorite prompt: I really didn't have one.
Prompt you hope to see again: I really enjoyed all of them, so it is hard to pick one.
Last prompt you finished: Book with a pun in the title. Grand, Death, Auto
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: This was my first year of doing this challenge and I really enjoyed it!
Finally, are you in for 2021? YES!!!!!!
Date you finished: July 12/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 293
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book you picked because the title caught your attention: Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I didn't really have a favorite, I had quite a few that enthralled me from start to finish.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood -- I am not a fan of hers, but I loved "Handmaid's Tale". I couldn't put it down.
Least favorite prompt: A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
Prompt you hope to see again: A book that passes the Bechdel test
Last prompt you finished: A book about or by a woman in STEM
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Absolutely!
Date you finished: July 13thMessage number of your list post (if you've got one): #145
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): #20. A book you picked because the title caught your attention - Death by Shakespeare: Snakebites, Stabbings and Broken Hearts
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I can't pick just one.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: All Systems Red and the whole Murderbot series. My sister had been nagging me to read them, and still I was going to try and find something else for the prompt, but then everyone kept talking about them in the weekly check-ins, so I decided to give them a go. WHY DID I NOT LISTEN TO MY SISTER EARLIER?
Least favorite prompt: #13. A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
Prompt you hope to see again: #10. A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club or #20. A book you picked because the title caught your attention
Last prompt you finished: #49. A book from a series with more than 20 books
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yep. I tried to get the challenges I wasn't looking forward to done first, and then just let my regular reading fill in the rest. I didn't get to frustrated and I didn't force myself to read something I didn't like just to finish a prompt. And this year I was able to do it without using any rereads.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Of course!
Date you finished: July 15, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #40
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I really loved the themed advanced section. For regular prompts, “a book with a great first line.� I read The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I read so many great books this year that it’s hard to choose just one. I read Wild at Heart by KA Tucker for “a book published in 2020.� I’d been eagerly awaiting this sequel, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: I probably would have skipped reading Anne of Green Gables and watched one or both TV series instead, but it’s set in Canada, so I decided to read it for “a book set in a country that starts with C.� I adore that book, and I wish I’d read it as a child.
Least favorite prompt: “A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics� because nothing appealed to me immediately, I ended up overthinking it to the point of frustration, and accidentally picked a book that doesn’t really fit. (Stories of Your Life and Others has mathematical symbols on the cover, which are not words.)
Prompt you hope to see again: This was my favorite list of prompts yet. I’d love to see any of them again, except for “a book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics.�
Last prompt you finished: “a book from a series with more than 20 books�
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes! This is the first year I planned my challenge from the beginning. By doing that, I was able to read exclusively from my TBR and library and make progress on several series. That always feels rewarding.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Absolutely!
Date you finished: July 10thMessage number of your list post (if you've got one): 687
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book you picked because the title caught your attention (Before the Coffee Gets Cold)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I Liked My Life (A book with an upside-down image on the cover)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup (A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics)
Least favorite prompt: A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
Prompt you hope to see again: A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
Last prompt you finished: The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: My first year doing a reading challenge and it was great!
Date you finished: 05 Jun 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 858
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 16. A book that has a book on the cover: The Book of Speculation
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek 33. A book with at least a four-star rating on ŷ:
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Mercies
Least favorite prompt: 28. A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character or 15. A book about or involving social media:
Prompt you hope to see again: 33. A book with at least a four-star rating on ŷ or 34. A book you meant to read in 2019 and 40. A prompt from a past PopSugar Reading Challenge
Last prompt you finished: 02. A book by a trans or non-binary person:
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading? My average rating for the challenge books was 3.72 versus my overall average rating of 3.47 - so for the most part these books were pretty good, some were outstanding.
Finally, are you in for 2021? I look forward to it!
Date you finished: 14 July 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 612
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 'A book with a map', because I love maps and I love books with maps. I read The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot, which unfortunately wasn't quite as good as I wanted it to be.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Ten Thousand Doors of January for 'A book you picked because the title caught your attention' and A Gentleman in Moscow for 'A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics'. Both 5-star reads!
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Probably Red, White & Royal Blue. I'd seen it around, but didn't have any particular plans to read it. Then I was struggling to find a book with a pink cover, and the rest is history!
Least favorite prompt: 'A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character' - I thought I'd be able to find something to fill it quite easily, but I ended up really struggling.
Prompt you hope to see again: 'A book with a map' or 'A book that has a book on the cover'
Last prompt you finished: 'The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed'
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes - I managed to fit a lot more books in from my TBR list this year, which was pleasing, and some of the prompts made me read things I wouldn't usually have picked up, which I like.
Finally, are you in for 2021? I don't know. This time last year I didn't think I would do 2020, but I was enticed in by reading the prompt list. So who knows?!
Date you finished: 7/23/2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): n/a
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I loved all the 2020 themed advanced prompts! But to pick one specifically - A Book on a Subject You Know Nothing About - The Orchid Thief
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Surprisingly (because I wasn't looking forward to it) Lonesome Dove
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Lonesome Dove (Western) and A Clockwork Orange (Made up Language)
Least favorite prompt: A book with a made-up language
Prompt you hope to see again: and some sort of theme for 2021!
Last prompt you finished: Like different prompts each year - but do enjoy the basics each year (book published in current, book you meant to read previous year, favorite prompt from a past challenge - lots of options.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: yes - I planned out what I wanted to read (made a few adjustments here/there), cleared a lot off my TBR and also read books outside my normal reading zone.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Absolutely! Finishing PS Summer Challenge now, plus a few other side/personal challenges and reading off my TBR until the 2021 list come out!
Date you finished: 7/24/2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 861
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I didn't really like any one prompt better than any other, but I did have a few favorite books, including The Fountains of Silence (21. A book published the month of your birthday--October) and American Royals (10. A book recommended by your favorite podcast--Spirits).
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): oh. see above.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: no, I was able to complete most of the prompts with books I was planning to read anyway. the ones that I couldn't do that for didn't end up being books I like a lot/at all.
Least favorite prompt: 37. A Western. even though I picked a modern Western in terms of publishing date, I'm still not a fan.
Prompt you hope to see again: 39. Read a banned book, but maybe without the restriction of reading it during Banned Book Week (which I ignored).
Last prompt you finished: 26. A book with a pun in the title. I was waiting for a book from the library for a long time and finally gave up and chose one that was already available for borrowing instead.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: I think so
Finally, are you in for 2021? yes!
Date you finished: July 28, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 344
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (The Day of the Triffids)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (A book with a main character in their 20s)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Least favorite prompt: A book about a book club (The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend)
Prompt you hope to see again: A book that won an award in 2019... but for 2020 🤣 (The Water Dancer)
Last prompt you finished: A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics (Pachinko)
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes! So many good books and the prompts were fun!
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yup! I'm going to do the 2020 Summer Challenge in the meantime.
Date you finished: 30-Jul-20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 608
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book with a map (The Cruel Prince)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Circe (A book which won an award)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Erotic Stories for Punjabi Wives (A book about a book club)
Least favorite prompt: A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader and Banned book on Banned Books Week. Finally just had to read the banned book to complete the challenge without waiting for the Banned Books Week.
Prompt you hope to see again: A book with a map
Last prompt you finished: Banned book on banned book week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes
Date you finished: 7/31/2020Message # of your of your list post. None
Favorite prompt and what book did you read for it? #24 A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader. My Dear Hamilton:A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Favorite book and what prompt was it for? #23 A book with a bird on the cover. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the challenge? Silver Lies (Silver Rush#1) by Ann Parker for a book with “gold�, “Silver�, or “bronze� in the title.
Least favorite prompt. A book on a subject you know nothing about. It’s not so much this is my least favorite prompt. I really didn’t like the book I used, Tidelands (The Fairmile #1) by Philippa Gregory.
Prompt you hope to see again. A book that has a book on the cover.
Last prompt you finished? #39 Read a banned book during banned books week. I waited as long as I could to complete this prompt but I just went ahead to finish the challenge.
Were you overall satisfied with your challenge reading? Yes.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes
Late to post!Date you finished: 07/30/2020
Message number of your list post: Can't find it.
Favourite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision) � Shades of Grey
Favourite book (and what prompt was it for?): Spinning Silver � A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
Least favourite prompt: A Western
Prompt you hope to see again: A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins
Last prompt you finished: A book that passes the Bechdel test � The Bear and the Nightingale
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Definitely
Date you finished: 8/2/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): Can't find it.
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Trans/nonbinary author - Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Heavy: An American Memoir
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me
Least favorite prompt: Robot/AI/Cyborg or Western
Prompt you hope to see again: WoC
Last prompt you finished: Twenty in the title
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes
Date you finished: 8/8/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 864
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I always like prompts to encourage diverse reading, so I liked the trans/nonbianary author prompt, as well as the WoC prompt. I read Magic for Liars and So You Want to Talk About Race
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Gideon the Ninth, i read it for the Bechdel test prompt. The women in it talked about all sorts of things like necromancy, fighting, conspiracies, war, family secrets
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Whiskey When We're Dry - I really don't like Westerns much. I was really not looking forward to the prompt. But I ended up enjoying this much more than expected. It used the vehicle of a western to examine class, race, gender, other societal issues of the era.
Least favorite prompt: A book with 20 in the title. I didn't think anything of it that much when I first saw it, but I had a really hard time finding something that looked even kind of interesting that fit it, and didn't end up particularly liking what I ended up reading.
Prompt you hope to see again: Trans/non-bianary author, WoC author
Last prompt you finished: A book by or about a woman in STEM
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: yes, although I had wanted to finish faster, got bogged down in library holds being slow with the physical libraries being closed for so long. I like having plenty of time end of year to do non-challenge reading.
Finally, are you in for 2021? probably
Date you finished: August 11, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): N/A
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A Bildungsroman (The Way To The Stars by Una McCormack)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Queen's Peril by E.K. Johnston (A Book Published in 2020)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook; I may have read it someday, but the challenge accelerated it
Least favorite prompt: The banned book prompt and western tie for my least favorite
Prompt you hope to see again: A book with a map
Last prompt you finished: A book by or about a journalist
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes
Date you finished: August 17th, 2020 (Or technically, October 4th)Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #16
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 14. A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name (Everything Under by Daisy Johnson)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (8. A book with an upside-down image on the cover)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Euphoria by Lily King (13. A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it)
Least favorite prompt: (4)9. A book from a series with more than 20 books - It was a struggle to find a book I wanted to read from a series with so many books and ended up going for a comic. Though I loved the whole 20 theme for the advanced challenge in general.
Prompt you hope to see again: 23. A book that won an award in 2019 (but for 2020). I ended up reading Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse.
Last prompt you finished: 15. A book about or involving social media (Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China by Leta Hong Fincher)
Though technically I'm waiting for banned books week to finish that last prompt... (which I did, with Fahrenheit 451)
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes!
Finally, are you in for 2021? Totes!
Finished: August 11, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): Can't find it
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
24. About a Subject I Know Nothing About: Crisis in the Red Zone: The Story of the Deadliest Ebola Outbreak in History, and of the Outbreaks to Come
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
1. Published in 2020: Heart of Flames
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
A5: Set in Japan Memoirs of a Geisha
Least favorite prompt:
39: Banned Book during Ban Week
Prompt you hope to see again:
9: Book with a Map
Last prompt you finished:
40: Favorite Prompt From A Past PS Challenge
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?:
Yes, there were a few duds but for the most part I enjoyed it.
Finally, are you in for 2021?
Totally!!
Date you finished: 8/25/2020. Thanks, Covid!Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 127
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book with a great first line. I read A Tale of Two Cities. I also loved all the 2020 prompts.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): A Gentleman in Moscow, for a book set in the 1920s.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: True Grit (read for Western).
Least favorite prompt: A book with only words on the cover, very few options.
Prompt you hope to see again: A medical thriller, a woman in STEM, robot cyborg AI.
Last prompt you finished: The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed. I have had this book picked out since December 2019, but had the physical book so there was no rush to read it.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes! I will be itching for a challenge come November/December.
Date you finished: I was waiting to read that banned book one, but I see that all of you read it early so I just put it on hold at the library. I've been done with prompts since 6/11/2020.Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge. I choose audiobook because I'm always listening to one in the car. I listened to The A List by JA Jance.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): When God Winks at You (book published in the 20th century)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge? Funny, You Don't Look Autistic (book on subject you know nothing about)
Least favorite prompt: A bildungsroman
Prompt you hope to see again: First book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
Last prompt you finished: It will be the Banned book one. I reserved Drama at the public library.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes! I always enjoy it because it makes me read books that I wouldn't normally choose.
Date you finished: September 12, 2020.Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A Book with a Made-Up Language ("Embassytown" by China Mieville)
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):I liked a lot of them, but I think I'll go with "Know my Name" by Chanel Miller. I chose this for "A Book Published the Month of your Birthday"
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: "The Beggar's Garden" by Michael Christie (it's a series of short stories set in Vancouver)
Least favorite prompt: "A Western"
Prompt you hope to see again: "A Book with a Great First Line"
Last prompt you finished: "A Western"
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes!
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes!
Date you finished: September 18Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Set in an Olympic city, The Cellist of Sarajevo
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants for flora or fauna in the author’s name (Robin)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge? None that I can think of
Least favorite prompt: pun in the title
Prompt you hope to see again: none in particular
Last prompt you finished: “twenty� in the title
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading? Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Most likely
Date you finished: 9/20/2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #630
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Book with a great first line: The Martian by Andy Weir
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Written in Red by Ann Bishop Main char in their 20's
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
Least favorite prompt: A book involving social media
Prompt you hope to see again: Book with a pun in the title
Last prompt you finished: Banned book week (finished early tho because book was due back at library)
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes
Date you finished: September 20, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one):
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book by a trans/nonbinary author and I read Upright Women Wanted
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): House of Earth and Blood and used it for a book published in 2020
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: An Easy Death from the Western prompt. I thought I would hate a western but I actually think it's a new genre that I like!
Least favorite prompt: book with "20" or "twenty" in the title. I almost decided to just cut that prompt entirely and cheat, but I didn't. Even though I was disappointed by the book I read for it, 11/22/63
Prompt you hope to see again: A book that passes the Bechdel test
Last prompt you finished: A banned book during banned books week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: YES!
Finally, are you in for 2021? YES!
Date you finished: September 23.Message number of your list post: 225 (the books can also be found on my Popsugar 2020 shelf).
Favorite prompt: Probably “a book published in the twentieth century”—I like to be reminded to seek out older titles. I read Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion.
Favorite book: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue, which I used for “a book that passes the Bechdel test.� It starts a bit slowly, but the climax is spectacular and deeply moving. I loved it.
A book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the challenge: I doubt I would have picked up The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix were I not begrudgingly looking for “a book about a book club”—horror isn’t my favorite—but I was surprised by how affecting it is, and how deeply rooted in its sense of place. Also, “a bildungsroman� inspired me to reattempt A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. As a kid, I abandoned it unfinished (as I recall, I was disturbed by Katie’s resolve to gas her family to death rather than accept charity); now, some three decades older and better able to handle the subject matter, I found the novel to be as beautiful as everyone says.
Least favorite prompt: “The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed.� I know they’re hoping for some sort of pleasing serendipitous discovery, but I like to have some choice in what I read (and I’m too rigidly committed to the rules to cheat—which is on me, I admit), and I didn’t really like the book I selected this way, The Care and Management of Lies by Jacqueline Winspear.
Prompt you hope to see again: “A book you picked because the title caught your attention.� I thought that was fun without being too arbitrary, and I enjoyed Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer.
Last prompt you finished: “Read a banned book during Banned Books Week.� I didn’t intend to honor the timing on that, but this actually did end up being the week I finished, so it worked out! I read Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg.
Are you pleased with the way you chose to tackle the Challenge? Yes! I’ve been doing these for a few years now, and I love seeking options for each category and then revising those plans throughout the year. I like the balance I’ve struck there, and I happily give myself permission to set aside a selection if it’s not working for me and find something else!
Are you in for 2020? Yes, and in the meantime, I’m working my way through the 2017 challenge (currently done with 18 out of 52!), which was before my time. :-)
Date you finished: September 16Message number of your list post (if you've got one): N/A
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book you picked because the title caught your attention. What a fun prompt. I read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Bookish Life of Nina Hill(a book with a book on the cover) and My Sister, the Serial Killer (a book by a WOC) were two that I really enjoyed.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Every year there are several that fit this question. This year I read The Cold Dishfor the Western prompt, and I loved it! I have found a new favorite author. I love it when that happens! I also read Young Elizabeth: The Making of the Queen for the book about a world leader and was surprised to find I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t usually like non-fiction.
Least favorite prompt: The first book you touched on a shelf with your eyes closed. I don’t usually buy books so I had to do this at the library. I admit I cheated on this one. It took me three tries to find one that looked like something I might enjoy. I also had a hard time with a book set in Japan. I started two books before finally finding one that I could at least finish.
Prompt you hope to see again: A book with a pink (or red or blue etc) cover. It’s fun to just see what you can find.
Last prompt you finished: Read a banned book. I had a hard time finding one that I was interested in but that I hadn't already read. I ended up reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and enjoyed it.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: I enjoyed it. I decided that this year I would not force myself to read anything that I hated just to check off a prompt, even if that meant I couldn’t finish the Challenge. But I ended up enjoying almost everything I read, and just like in past years, I read all kinds of books I never would have looked at without the Challenge.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Definitely!
Date you finished: 28.09.2020 Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 178
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book on a subject you know nothing about. I used a lot of time to find a book for this prompt and ended up reading Den odödliga Henrietta Lacks / The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. After finished the challenge I discovered that I have read several books that could fit this prompt
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Bjørnstad / Bear Town by Fredrik Backman, A book with at least a four-star rating on ŷ
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Least favorite prompt: A book with a pun in the title
Prompt you hope to see again: A book you meant to read in (last year). My TBR-list it getting longer and longer. I would also like to see a prompt which leads us to read books not written by an English-writing author.
Last prompt you finished: Read a banned book during Banned Book Week; The other books I finished by august 3th
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Overall, Yes. I still used a lot of time to find which book to read for which prompt, but this is, for me, a part of the fun
Finally, are you in for 2021? YES!
Date you finished: September 28, 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): I do not have a list post, but you can find my final list of books at .
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): My favorite prompt was “a book you picked because the title caught your attention.� I chose to read Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character for this prompt.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): My favorite new book was The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which I read for “a book that’s published in 2020.� My favorite re-read was All Systems Red, which I used for “a book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character).
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: I really enjoyed Once & Future. While I probably would have read it without the Reading Challenge, the challenge caused me to read this book (and its sequel) much sooner.
Least favorite prompt: While I did enjoy the book I chose for the “a medical thriller� prompt, I did not care for the prompt itself.
Prompt you hope to see again: I would love to see “a book you picked because the title caught your attention� in a future challenge.
Last prompt you finished: My final prompt was “read a banned book during Banned Books Week.�
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Overall, I was satisfied with my reading this year.
Finally, are you in for 2021?: Honestly, I don’t have an answer to this question yet. I may decide to participate again, or I might take on a new challenge (or create one myself).
Date you finished: 9.28.20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 352
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): #13-A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it (read: The Big Finish
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Mountains Sing (#10 prompt - A book recommended by favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: There were two of them -
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (book involving social media)
The Beekeeper of Aleppo (character with vision impairment)
Least favorite prompt: Robot, cyborg, or AI character
Prompt you hope to see again: Published in 20th century
Last prompt you finished: #39 - Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes. I ended up re-reading some of my faves this year for comfort reading (for reasons obvious to all of us), so I didn't stick to my original planned books for filling all of the prompts, but I'm definitely satisfied with my Challenge reading.
Finally, are you in for 2021? yes
Date you finished: September 28, 2020
Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 830
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
Read a banned book during banned book week
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
That's so tough! There were many, but if I had to choose just one, The Nickel Boys
A bildungsroman
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Neon Pilgrim
Least favorite prompt:
A book from a series with more than 20 books
Prompt you hope to see again:
The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
Last prompt you finished:
Read a banned book during banned book week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021?: I would say no, but then I usually get halfway through April before I cave and start filling out the prompts I've read. So..most likely yes :P
Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 830
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
Read a banned book during banned book week
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
That's so tough! There were many, but if I had to choose just one, The Nickel Boys
A bildungsroman
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Neon Pilgrim
Least favorite prompt:
A book from a series with more than 20 books
Prompt you hope to see again:
The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
Last prompt you finished:
Read a banned book during banned book week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021?: I would say no, but then I usually get halfway through April before I cave and start filling out the prompts I've read. So..most likely yes :P
Date you finished: 28 September 2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 24
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book on a subject you know nothing about. I read The Killing of Louisa for it and although I didn't enjoy the book that much, I did enjoy learning about something I didn't know anything about.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Daisy Jones & The Six and I read it for "A book that won and award in 2019"
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:Appaloosa which I read for the Western prompt. I was really dreading that prompt and I found I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would.
Least favorite prompt:Read a banned book during banned books week. I didn't have an issue with reading a banned book, it was the fact that I had to read it during that week that was the problem. I finished the rest of the challenge in April/May and I had that one book hanging over my head since then. It really bugged me!
Prompt you hope to see again: The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed. It would be good to get that TBR shelf down :-)
Last prompt you finished:Read a banned book during banned books week (see above comments)
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes. I always enjoy these challenges
Finally, are you in for 2021? This was my 5th year in doing it so I will definitely be in again for next year
Date you finished: 30.09.2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 112 /topic/show/...
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book by a WOC Purple Hibiscus
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Becoming (A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader)
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The House of the Spirits (A book set in a country beginning with “C� � Chile in this case)
Least favorite prompt: A book from a series with more than 20 books Elephants Can Remember
Prompt you hope to see again: A book published in the 20th century To Have and Have Not
Last prompt you finished: Read a banned book during Banned Books Week Catch-22
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Very satisfied, I like planning what to read for the challenge and organizing my books. This year I didn’t find as many new great stories as I did during past challenges, but I enjoyed my reading list and I enjoyed the community of people who take part in this challenge.
Finally, are you in for 2021? Definitely!
Date finished 10/2.Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 874
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 1st Book You Touch with Your Eyes Closed. Longbourn. That book had been on the shelf for years, and I finally got a prompt to read it!
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Color Purple, banned book.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: : Lonesome Dove. A western. Who knew I liked westerns?
Least favorite prompt: the robot, cyborg or AI character. Hard for someone who doesn’t like science fiction.
Prompt you hope to see again: close your eyes and pick a book.
Last prompt you finished: banned book.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: yep,
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yep!
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Date you finished: 10/2/2020 Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #57
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): More than 20 letters in title, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Drums of Autumn; Published in the 20th century
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The Girl in White Gloves
Least favorite prompt: Medical thriller and A western were equally least favorite
Prompt you hope to see again: Book on cover or about a book club are always books I like to pick up
Last prompt you finished: A western
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Of course
Date you finished: September 30Message number of your list post (if you've got one):
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):A book by or about a journalist: Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Silver Star A book with silver in the title
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The A.I. Who Loved Me
Least favorite prompt: A book written by someone in their 20s (hard to find ages of some authors who aren't super popular)
Prompt you hope to see again: A book by or about a woman in STEM Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson
Last prompt you finished: A book with a great first line Pride and Prejudice
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021?: Yes
Date you finished: 10/2/2020Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 325
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book by or about a woman in STEM - Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Overstory read for "Book that won an award in 2019"
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: He, She and It (for the book with robot, cyborg or AI)
Least favorite prompt: Read a banned book during Banned Books Week (partly because it made me not finish the challenge until October when I had all of the other prompts finished months ago)
Prompt you hope to see again: A book about or by a woman in STEM
Last prompt you finished: Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Most likely - I enjoy how the challenge leads me to pick up books that I might not read otherwise, there are always a couple that I really enjoy.
Date you finished: 9/29/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 121
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book that has a book on the cover -
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): Christmas Shopaholic - Mean to read in 2019
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: NO
Least favorite prompt: Western
Prompt you hope to see again: by a WOC
Last prompt you finished: Banned Book
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? YES
Date you finished: 9/28/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 317
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): 14. A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name - Dark Triumph
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): All Systems Red - prompt 28. A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: All Systems Red, I had never heard of this series before and only found it through the comments in this group.
Least favorite prompt: 37. A Western
Prompt you hope to see again: 35. A book with a three-word title
Last prompt you finished: 39. Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes!!
Date you finished: 10/1/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 88
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): I liked the "first book you touch on your shelf" prompt. I like this because it forces me to read something I already own. I had my son do it for me, because I kind of know where each book is on my shelves, and I wanted it to be truly random. He picked An American Marriage for me and I really liked it.
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): I absolutely loved Olive Kitteridge. It has become one of my favorite books of all time. I read it for the "flora or fauna" prompt.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: I don't know that I ever would have read The Sparrow if not for the challenge and I really liked it. It was weird and sad, but so good. I read it for the made up language prompt.
Least favorite prompt: I don't generally like the prompts that force you into a certain genre - like western or the robot, AI prompt. But my least favorite challenge book was my book for the pun prompt. I don't necessarily think it's a bad book, it just wasn't for me, and the books I tend to love I don't think ever have a pun in the title. The book was To Have and to Hoax, but again, I think readers who like the historical romance genre might like it.
Prompt you hope to see again: I love the prompts that highlight marginalized groups, like the trans/nonbinary prompt and the WOC prompt.
Last prompt you finished: Banned book week, and I read Bless Me, Ultima.
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?: Yes!
Finally, are you in for 2021? Yes!
Date you finished:10/10/20Message number of your list post (if you've got one):403
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
A book with a map.
Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames by Lara Maiklem
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: A Novel By Betty Smith by Betty Smith
A book with at least a four-star rating on ŷ.
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
Least favorite prompt:
Read a banned book during Banned Books Week.
Prompt you hope to see again:
"Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge!"
Last prompt you finished:
A book published in the 20th century
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?:
In the main,yes.However,it would be nice to see a more varied list of genres and some either/or options at the end for anyone who really disliked a genre (eg Horror)
Finally, are you in for 2021?
Popsugar is getting predictable but it's also becoming a tradition-so,probably! ;)
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Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Call of the Weird: Travels in American Subcultures (other topics)Diamonds Are Forever (other topics)
The Man Who Died (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (other topics)
Cinder (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
J.K. Rowling (other topics)Antti Tuomainen (other topics)
Louis Theroux (other topics)
Ian Fleming (other topics)
Angie Kim (other topics)
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Date you finished:
Message number of your list post (if you've got one):
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?):
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?):
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?:
Least favorite prompt:
Prompt you hope to see again:
Last prompt you finished:
Were you overall satisfied with your Challenge reading?:
Finally, are you in for 2021?