I’m doing the PopSugar Reading Challenge again in 2019! I won’t start reading the books on this list until January but I’m already choosing books for the 2019 version of the challenge.
This is my fourth year doing the PopSugar Reading Challenge. My favorite part is picking out the books. So much fun! I manage to read quite a few of the books every year so this enriches my reading activities and expands my outlook on read-worthy books.
I’m trying to finish the challenge this year and so far have read 31 out of 50 books.
This page is a living document to guide my reading in 2019. I will add to it, change selections at will, and check off the prompts when I complete my reading of each one.
✓ 1. A book becoming a movie in 2019
I choose to read The Woman in the Window. The movie will be released on October 4, 2019. I plan to read the book before that happens. Maybe I’ll see the movie in a theater! That would be different. I haven’t been to a movie theater since… well, about 10 years ago, when I watched The Golden Compass in the old theater in Yreka, California, and my toes froze the entire time – it was so cold in there I never could warm up. But … I’m willing to try again. Why not? It would be a good way to celebrate my reading of this book.
Update: finished this on March 3, 2019.
✓ 2. A book that makes you nostalgic
Hmmm… a book that makes ME nostagic? Is there anything about living in the sixties in the East San Francisco Bay Area? That might make me nostalgic. Let me think about it. Maybe, do some research on this.
Later . . .
Okay . . . this book has been on my radar for a long time because it is set in a beautiful, rural place I’ve been to many times – Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in the East San Francisco Bay Area, just outside the town of Antioch. It is a regional park now, but it used to be an area where five small towns housed workers employed by local coal mines – and that is what this historical novel is about.
Update: finished this on June 10, 2019. My Goodreads review.
✓ 3. A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)
This is a hard sell for me because I have a friend who ghostwrites for musicians and other celebrities. I think buying a book supposedly written by a famous person is a rip-off if they actually get someone else to do the writing. However, I’ll take a chance with Bob Dylan’s book. Since he’s a songwriter, maybe he actually wrote his own book too. I hope so.
Update: Finished reading this on April 22, 2019. Here’s my Goodreads review.
✓ 4. A book you think should be turned into a movie
This is kind of a strange prompt – because how would I know if a book should be turned into a movie until after I read it? Anyhow, because I like pioneer stories and movies, and because I’ve been meaning to read this YA novel for a long time, and because it is a Newbery Honor Book – I’m choosing Hattie Big Sky, set in Montana.
Change of plans! I still want to read Hattie Big Sky but was led to read Touching Spirit Bear instead. What a great YA book! I believe this should become a movie.
✓ 5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads
I’ve read almost everything on the list! (Except for the ones I’ll probably never read because they don’t appeal to me. There are a few of those.) However – I found this book listed, and it has been on my list before, in 2017. I intended to read it and even bought the book – then never got around to it. (a round tuit) … Maybe I’ll have a round tuit in 2019.
Update: Finished on January 17.
✓ 6. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover
This will be the second book I’ve read by Ned Hayes. This one looks amazing – about an autistic teenager wanting to climb a tree.
Update: Finished on April 6.
This book (The Witch Elm) was chosen for this prompt by the Ultimate PopSugar Reading Challenge group at Goodreads:
✓ 7. A reread of a favorite book
I’m not much of one for rereading books. There are so many great books in the world, why would I want to reread anything? That’s time consuming! Therefore, if I reread anything, I hope it is The Little Prince because (1) it is short, (2) it is awesome, and (3) it bears rereading.
Update: finished this on April 1, 2019.
✓ 8. A book about a hobby
Bicycle riding is a hobby, according to Google. (I just checked.) I had this on my list in 2018 for a book about a sport, but didn’t get to it and then replaced it with a hiking book. I still want to read it.
Update: finished this on May 13, 2019.
9. A book you meant to read in 2018
There are so many of them. Well, here’s one . . .
✓ 10. A book with “pop,” or “sugar,” or “challenge” in the title
It wouldn’t hurt me in the least to be inspired not to touch sugar for a year.
UPDATE: I finished re-reading this book on January 10, 2019.
11. A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover
Meant to read this last year. Hopefully, will get to it in 2019.
12. A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore
Thanks to the Asian Readathon in May, I discovered this book of 15 short stories based on Asian myths and legends.
✓ 13. A book published posthumously
Update: I finished reading this on March 23. Here’s my Goodreads review.
✓ 14. A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie
When I see it, I’ll let you know.
Update – 1/15/19: Found it! I watched a movie on PureFlix: “Love Finds You in Charm” … and the MC was reading Jane Austen books! I choose this one:
Update – I finished reading this awesome classic novel on January 27.
✓ 15. A retelling of a classic
Not sure I want to read a retelling. I love classics. Do I need a retelling? Well, if I come across something that calls to me, I’ll add it to the list then.
Update: One of my Booktube friends gave The Lunar Chronicles such a great review, I decided to give it a try. It has been a long time since I’ve been willing to read a YA series, but… well, here we go again. This has been on my radar for a few years. It is a sci-fi retelling of Cinderella.
Update: I finished reading this on April 30, 2019. My Goodreads review of Cinder.
✓ 16. A book with a question in the title
I’ll be reading this in March with the Goodreads Ultimate PopSugar Reading Challenge group.
Update: I finished reading this on March 8, 2019.
17. A book set on a college or university campus
I’ve been wanting to read one of his books.
18. A book about someone with a superpower
Greatest healer ever! …and He had a lot of other superpowers too. For real.
✓ 19. A book told from multiple character POVs
Because I already own a copy and have been wanting to read it.
Update – I finished this book on January 14, 2019. Here’s my Goodreads review.
✓ 20. A book set in space
I saw someone else in the Goodreads group for the PopSugar Reading Challenge is using this prompt to read another book in the Lunar Chronicles, so I’m going to do the same. I have Cinder scheduled for prompt #15 (A retelling of a classic). That’s first in the series, and this is the second.
Update: I finished reading this on June 4, 2019. My Goodreads review of Scarlet.
21. A book by two female authors
Repeat from last year… I’ll hope to read it again.
✓ 22. A book with a title that contains “salty,” “sweet,” “bitter,” or “spicy”
This should do it.
Update: I finished this book on March 21, 2019. Here’s my review at Goodreads.
✓ 23. A book set in Scandinavia
I’ve been wanting to read Beowulf.
Update: Listened to the Seamus Henry reading of Beowulf (audiobook) on January 5.
✓ 24. A book that takes place in a single day
Just switched to this from another . . .
Update: I finished this on May 31, 2019. Here’s my Goodreads review.
Another novel that works for this prompt… this one is a Christian novel about a man who is about to get a divorce.
✓ 25. A debut novel
This is on my list of classic books to read. It is the first book in The African Trilogy.
Update: Finished this book on February 8, 2019. Here’s my Goodreads review.
✓ 26. A book that’s published in 2019
I’ll wait to see what comes at me in 2019.
Looks like this is the book that came at me… it was published in January 2019. I may also read whatever is chosen by the Goodreads group, in December… but that’s a long time off, so I’ll read this now.
Update: Finished reading March 31, 2019.
27. A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature
I’m in. This looks like more fun than cloning mammoths. I’d like to read about Bigfoot but I don’t believe they’re imaginary… so unicorns it is.
✓ 28. A book recommended by a celebrity you admire
Recommended by Robin Williams – The Foundation Trilogy. I will read the first book, Foundation. I seem to have at least one science fiction book on my reading list every year.
Update: Finished reading April 13, 2019. Here’s my Goodreads review.
✓ 29. A book with “love” in the title
I’ll be reading this in February with the Goodreads Ultimate PopSugar Reading Challenge group.
Update: I finished this early in February. Glad it is over. It was way too juvenile for my tastes… though I know 12-14 year old girls would love it.
✓ 30. A book featuring an amateur detective
I’ve been told this will work for this prompt, and I’ve been wanting to read it for a few years now.
Update: Finished reading on February 13, 2019.
✓ 31. A book about a family
Update: I finished reading this on March 5, 2019.
32. A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America
Another on my classics list. This could be a very interesting year of reading. The author is from Columbia.
✓ 33. A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title
A New York Times bestseller published in 2018. This is about murders of people of the Osage nation in Oklahoma. They profited greatly from oil found on their property, and became extremely wealthy. Then someone started killing them.
Update: Finished this on March 19, 2019 – my Goodreads review
✓ 34. A book that includes a wedding
I hear that this classic has a wedding in it. It has been a few years since I’ve read a book by Charles Dickens.
I also hope to read the book chosen for this prompt by the Ultimate PopSugar Reading Challenge group on Goodreads:
Update: I finished reading this book on May 30, 2019.
35. A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter
Ford Maddox Ford! This book is on my list of classics.
36. A ghost story
I’ve been wanting to read this. The format is unusual – that’s my main reason for wanting to indulge in a book that takes place in a cemetery (very morbid, in my opinion) … but I do want to experience the book format. Also, it won the Man Booker Prize so I have to guess it is very good.
✓ 37. A book with a two-word title
I read this early in the year, in January, 2019. This is a productivity book with some good ideas. I will be using these ideas this year to grow one of my websites.
✓ 38. A novel based on a true story
Based on the true story of Grace Marks. She was convicted of being involved in murdering her employer and his housekeeper in 1843 in Ontario, Canada. But controversy followed the conviction. Was she guilty, or was she an innocent, unsuspecting accessory to the crime? Hopefully this book will shed some light on that for me. I loved the author’s The Handmaid’s Tale, so I expect to like the writing style of this book too.
Update: I finished this novel on June 18, 2019. Here’s my Goodreads Review.
✓ 39. A book revolving around a puzzle or game
I’ll be reading this in January with the Goodreads Ultimate PopSugar Reading Challenge group.
Update! I finished this at midnight on January 4. What a wild ride it was. Here’s my Goodreads review.
40. Your favorite prompt from a past Pop Sugar Reading Challenge
From 2018: A book mentioned in another book. This is mentioned in One Day.
ADVANCED
41. A cli-fi (climate fiction) book
I’d be happy to read more from Margaret Atwood.
✓ 42. A choose-your-own-adventure book
I’m very unlikely to do this one. The last time I remember reading one of these, it was when I was a teenager, most likely, as my younger brother got some books like this and I read them too.
Oh look, here’s a whole page of them.
Oh well, why not give it a try… I choose this one.
Update: I read this book on June 7, 2019.
43. An “own voices” book
I have a copy of this memoir about a man escaping from North Korea.
✓ 44. Read a book during the season it is set in
I had to DNF the first book I tried for this prompt. I haven’t chosen another yet.
Update – I’ve been told The Great Alone will work for a winter book, though it is set in other seasons as well.
Another Update – I finished reading this book on February 22, and reviewed it at Goodreads.
45. A LitRPG book
Doesn’t sound like something I’d read. Lit- role playing games? Seriously, I avoid this kind of thing. Not that I think it is bad … it is great for those who love it. I just have enough other time consuming hobbies so role playing games, I’ll leave for others.
Update – this is recommended, so I’ll try reading it. It has been on my PopSugar Reading Challenge list before (in a past year) but I think I removed it and replaced with something else. Maybe this year, I’ll actually read it.
46. A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters
I’m hearing a lot of good things about this chapter-less book.
47. Two books that share the same title (1)
48. Two books that share the same title (2)
49. A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., Big Brother from 1984)
Apparently, this is the origin of “break the ice.”
50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent
I was going to read this last year and didn’t – so maybe this year.
Happy reading, everybody!
Here’s the link to the PopSugar Reading Challenge for 2019.
The entire list for the PopSugar Reading Challenge, 2019, in case you need it…
There are a few other books on my radar that don’t fit into the reading challenge… I’m keeping track of them here so I don’t forget my resolve to read them.
I like American country and folk music and would like to know more about the Carter family.
Great post.
Thank you for the in-depth work you put into this post! I was googling “a book set in space” and will definitely be reading Cinder. Also just started 7 1/2 Deaths for the games one. Cheers!
Cinder was set on earth in Beijing. The second book in the series, Scarlet, is set mainly in France but has some outer space scenes/chapters. Great series! Easier to read than The Martian was!