Donan's 2021 Challenge

I'm starting my 6th (!!) year in the Category Challenge. I continue to love RandomCat and BingoDog as well as the community of book lovers. After an unprecedented (reading) year, I'm back to my 100 book goal across 8 categories.

Running total: 108

Milestones
25: 4/6/2021
50: 6/5/2021
75: 9/6/2021
100: 11/30/2021

RandomCAT

January: A book that makes you laugh out loud is tricky for me because I don't know *before* I start reading if I will LOL. I tried Moo but I'm not sure it fit the bill. I might come back if the mood strikes me...
February: I set out to read more books my native women and found Apple in the Middle. I appreciated the story, the coming-of-age genre for a bi-racial young woman. Her summer with her native family is powerful. I wasn't thrilled with the plot but I loved the characters and dialogue.
March: all about surprises Surprised by Joy
April: Robot in the Garden had some amazing moments-- like the boarded-up town with the dog named Kyle or the scene in Toyko. In the end, the plot fell a little flat to me. Enjoyable read but nothing to write home about.
May: inspired by Monopoly so I picked The Glass Hotel. Love this author and loved these characters but the plot fell flat for me. And, what's up with the ending?
June: read three of the Austen project novels-- mostly disappointed with the attempts to modernize Austen which makes me ask, why try to modernize a writer so firmly situated in a period?
July: Summertime
August: Travel
September: Prize Winners-- probably go for a Printz
October: Someone who gives. Putting Hillbilly Elegy here because of JD Vance's MeMaw.
November: State of Terror
December: Landline and Tru & Nell: A Christmas Tale

BingoDOG



Finished Challenge 9/14

Finished
1. Priestdaddy-- beautifully written
2. Warmth of Other Suns-- so compelling! Biography meets sociology-- obvious that a great journalist wrote this story.
3. For Darkness Shows the Stars-- loved it!!
4. Before Green Gables-- who wouldn't want to be friends with Anne Shirley? This book wasn't my favorite (not how I imagined Anne's childhood) but it's always delightful to read this character!
5. Words Without Music
6. My Utmost was a fascinating dive into Oswald Chambers, evangelism and holiness movement as well as a personal story of faith. All the things I love about religious books.
7. Crying in H Mart-- was powerful and personal. Highly recommend.
8. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
9. Airborne: Steampunk + Natural biology + YA equals a fun read.
10. We Are Tornados--epistolary
11. The Guest List caught my attention when someone else read it, I put a hold on it and read it in 12 hours. Appreciated the different POVs and didn't guess the plot twist(s).
12. The Little Paris Bookshop had a beautiful setting, quirky characters and an intriguing set-up. I'm still deciding about the plot but an enjoyable Saturday read!
13. Moo for January RandomCAT
14. On the Jellicoe Road started slowly with lots of characters in multiple timelines. The storyline solidified around page 125 but never took off for me. An enjoyable read but nothing I'll recommend except in specific situations (grief, non-traditional family, prep/boarding school)
15. Strange Planet
16. The Ragged Edge of Night was a slog. MIL loved it and I was grateful to get through it.
17. A Step from Heaven-- beautifully written. Amazing characters.
18. The Nature of the Beast-- love this place and love this series.
19. This Place: 150 Years Retold was beautiful and haunting. Highly recommend!
20. Eat Your Heart Out was a thriller meets zombie meets body-positive YA novel. Yes, it was a strange but wonderful mash-up.
21. The Dip-- when to quit and when to stay. Good advice but felt more like an article than an 80 page monograph.
22. A Man Called Ove-- I'm not sure that 59 years old counts as a senior citizen protagonist but I definitely got 'Grumpy Old Man' vibes from this book. Initially, I wasn't sure that I'm made it through the plot with the character contemplating suicide. I find it hard to read about suicide in these COVID days. By the end, I was thankful for messages of redemption and reminders of community.
23. I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: sweet memoir of a year in the life of a first-year teacher who also happens to be Tony Danza
24. Your Perfect Year
25. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness has been on my list for awhile-- glad to finally dig-in.

TBR List

When I tried this last year, I found I'd get stuck on non-fiction books. I read about 3 fiction books for every 1 non-fiction but probably have a 50/50 split on my TBR list. So, I'm going to divide them up to see how that impacts reading through the list:

Fiction
Hawaii
Big Fish
Bootlegger's Daughter
The Knife of Never Letting Go
Before Green Gables-- using for BingoDog
X
Election
The Fishermen (KCLS)
Patience-- not sure how this graphic novel made it on my list. Strange, sci-fi love story.
A Doubter's Almanac (KCLS)
The Portable Veblen -- quirky, easy-read, story about family and figuring out your dreams while living life
The Confessions of X
We Are Still Tornados-- pulled for BingoDOG challenge

Non-Fiction
Cultural Making by Andy Crouch -- working on this
Strong and Weak (own?)
Pilgirm at Tinker Creek (own)
Guns, Germs and Steel
The Warmth of Other Suns-- used for BingoDog and BookBingo2021
Anatomy of the Soul (KCLS)
Imaginative Prayer (own)
Love the House You Are In
Paradoxology (own)
After You Believe (KCLS-- audio and print)
Confederates in the Attic (KCLS)
A Promised Land
Deeply Formed Life -- great!
Ready to Rise The new Jo Saxon surprised me with its depth of insight into my own life. I'll come back to this one.
Freedom Libraries--- so much history packed into less than 200 pages.

Just Because

These are books that I've been wanting to read but they just don't *fit* in another category. This is the category to help me read more of what I want when I want to!

Drive-- for a winter reading challenge to fulfill the category of reading something you don't usually
Run: Book One-- for a potential Printz 2022 group. Just as powerful as March series.
In the Wild Light-- another potential Printz 2022. Another five stars. Artfully written book. Plot might have been predictable but it the kind of way I like
Very Good Lives-- needed to read about the importance of failure. And, JK Rowling is a brillant, funny writter.
Moon Called-- recommended by my dad who is very into urban fantasy. I appreciated the setting in a nearby community and found the main character compelling. I might try a second one.
Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre-- download audio book on a road trip after seeing the title on possible Printz list. I learned so much. I appreciate the author's weaving of various historical threads into a compelling tapestry to portray racism in America.
Hillbilly Elegy-- I'm experimenting with audiobooks in my daily routine, having something ready to play on drives to pick up my kiddos. I heard so much about this one that I wanted to listen. JD Vance is a compelling narrative but, I agree with critiques I've heard that he doesn't see the role race places in conversations about class.
Americus-- YA subscription box book. A little too heavy-handed on theme for me.
FireKeeper's Daughter-- possible Printz book 2022
Peter and the Starcatchers
Nine Women, One Dress

Work

I work for a non-profit with a publishing arm so I regularly receive books. This is the one reading goal I have yet to meet in the past six years. In 2020, I read 10. Aiming for 12!!

Currently Reading:
Reading While Black

Finished
Let Justice Roll Down So good! First 5 star read of the year!
Prayer in the Night-- 5 stars! I wrote so many quotes to come back to again that I might just need to read the whole book again!
Healing-- though not from the publisher, recommended by a co-worker.
Basics of Biblical Greek
Spirituality of Fundraising
A Burning in My Bones
A Theology of the Gospel of Luke

Read Harder 2020

Currently: 17/24

1. Read a book that you are intimidated to read: After reading Americanah, I'm not sure why I was intimidated by it. A beautifully written book about race, love and coming of age in a world that doesn't work the way we think it should.

2. Read a nonfiction book about anti-racism:So You Want to Talk About Race

3. Read a non-European novel in translation

4. Read an LGBTQ+ history book

5. Read a genre novel by an Indigenous, First Nations, or Native American author: The Removed was powerfully written-- past, present and future-possible timelines mixing together. Different POVs-- deep pain and great joy from across generations.

6. Read a fanfic: Hermione Granger's Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run by waspabi on Archive on Our Own

7. Read a fat-positive romance: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Round Things was a delightful one-sitting read.

8. Read a romance by a trans or non-binary author

9. Read a middle-grade mystery novel: The Westing Game-- Newberry winner so I shouldn't be surprised that it was good. I enjoyed this much more than I thought especially the characters.

10. Read an SFF anthology edited by a POC

11. Read a food memoir by an author of color: Notes From a Young Black Chef

12. Read a book of investigative non-fiction by an AOC: Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" I listened to the audiobook. I'm glad I heard it read out loud as Hurston went to great effort to preserve vocal patterns and pronouniciation.

13. Read a book with a cover you hate: A Severe Mercy-- checked out from KCLS and next on the list

14. Read a realistic YA book not set in U.S., U.K. or Canada: Saw my mom read Furia for this category. Main character is a futbol player in Argentina. Loved it.

15. Read a memoir by a Lantinx author: The Undocumented Americans was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Highly recommend.

16. Read an own voices book about disabilities: El Deafo

17. Read an own voices YA book with a Black main character that isn’t about Black pain: read Simone Breaks All the Rules, a new book that I received in my library's gift box for October. I enjoyed it but found the plot a bit predictable.

18. Read a book by/about a non-Western world leader

19. Read a historical fiction with a POC or LGBTQ+ protagonist

20. Read a book of nature poems: The Lost Words is a beautiful, big book. The last three poems really captured my imagination (weasel, willow and wren)

21. Read a children’s book that centers a disabled character but not their disability: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus was delightful. Great protagonist. Realistic and hopeful.

22. Read a book set in the Midwest:Hope Was Here enjoyable read set in Wisconsin.

23. Read a book that demystifies a common mental illness: Group-- listened to the audiobook. It was ok.

24. Read a book featuring a beloved pet where the pet doesn’t die: planning on See you in the Cosmos

Family Read-Alouds

This school year, in my family's hybrid reality, I'm trying to read to my kids at lunchtime, a delicious pause from screens (for all of us!) in the middle of the day.

Currently Reading

Finished
Homer Price-- we read 90% of this book. I thought the first few stories were great but then it started to feel like more of the same.

Summer Book Bingo

Started May 17th
Finished August 14th

1. Romance: Emma: A Modern Retelling

2. On Your Shelf: Running is My Therapy

3. Small Press: Sansei and Sensibility

4. Beach Read: Malibu Rising was enjoyable

5. Black Joy: The First Part Last

6. Activism or Social Justice: I've been planning Warmth of Other Suns for a bit but worried about finishing the 600-page book within book bingo. I breezed through-- what an amazing, thought-provoking book. Highly recommend to anyone with internet and reading level (thinking about when I should recommend this to my own kids...)

7. Made You Laugh: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever made my whole family LOL on a long car trip

8. Coming of Age: Pumpkin' by Julie Murphy was everything I dreamed about!

9. Recommended by library staff: The Secret to Superhuman Strength started slow for me but picked up once Bechdel started the autobiographical drawing.

10. Graphic Novel or Comic: Dragon Hoops was everything I hoped for and more!

11. Recommended by a friend: The Summer Job

12. QTBIPOC: Last Night at the Telegraph Club

13. Mystery or Crime: The Box in the Woods was everything I hoped it would be. I love Stevie and will read everything Maureen Johnson writes about her.

14. Cl-fi or environmental non-fiction: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

15. Poetry or Essays: Journal of a Solitude-- beautifully written. Somber. Introspective. Makes me ponder the ups and downs of one's 50s and 60s.

16. AAPI Author: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning-- beautifuuly written.

17. SAL Speaker: Never Let Me Go

18. Speculative Fiction: Midwinterblood

19. BIPOC Food Writing: Life Without a Recipe

20. Sports: A Beautiful Work in Progress was an inspiring story but needed some editing.

21. Olympics Host City: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

22. Book from a Series: Sense & Sensibility: The Austen Project was disappointing.

23. Book from a Series: Northanger Abbey: The Austen Project was also disappointing. Why do I keep doing this to myself??

24. Recommended by a local bookseller: The Midnight Library

>2 donan: "A book that makes you laugh out loud is tricky for me because I don't know *before* I start reading if I will LOL."

I thought the same, but I guess we have to just relax and let the laughter come. :-)

Good luck with your reading in 2021!

Welcome back and have a great reading year!

Good luck with your reading in 2021~

Welcome back and wishing your wonderful reading in 2021!

Happy Reading in 2021 - I like the idea of celebrating those milestones!

Have a great year with lots of fun books.

Have a great reading year!

5 Star Reads of the 2021 (so far)

I like to go back and look at what I've enjoyed this year. These are listed in chronologically order of finishing...
1) Let Justice Roll Down by John Perkins. I've owned this book for years. Mostly memoir on John's life, faith and fights for racial equality. His story captured me and his example convicted me.
2) A Step From Heaven Printz award 2002
3) So You Want to Talk about Race-- listened to audiobook. Very helpful and well-written.
4) The Westing Game-- Newberry 1979
5) The Knife of Never Letting Go-- surprising plot lines
6) The Undocumented Americans-- recommending this to all
7) Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep-- buying this book!
8) This Place: 150 Years Retold-- beautiful graphic novel of short stories from First Nations people
9) Dragon Hoops-- I love Gene Luen Yang and I loved this book!
10) Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
11) The Warmth of Other Suns -- I know... I'm late to the party of this one
12) The Box in the Woods-- brand new, stand alone Stevie mystery from Maureen Johnson continues to the magic of Truly Devious series

>17 donan: I loved The Knife of Never Letting Go and the whole Chaos Walking trilogy.

Oh hey, I read The Westing Game at the top of the year! I'd really like to read This Place: 150 Years Retold, too.

5 Star Reads of 2021 (August-December) + Re-cap
1) A Burning in My Bones
2) Americanah
3) Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
4) In the Wild Light
5) Ready to Rise: Own Your Voice, Gather Your Community, Step Into Your Influence
6) A Great Reckoning
7) Run: Book One
8) Crying in H Mart

Surprisingly, I ended the year with 20 5-star books, about 18% of my total reading.
Memoir- 4
Fiction- 7
Non-fiction- 6
Graphic Novel- 3

Books that didn't make 5 stars but I'll recommend
1) The Making of Biblical Womanhood
2) Firekeeper's Daughter
3) Eat Your Heart Out
4) Notes on Grief