April's Ultimate Reading Challenge 2023 - The Final Stretch (Part 4)

Hello, I am April.
This is my 5th reading challenge and this year I am making a thread for each quarter.
I took the name of this challenge from a book I received from my mom for Christmas. See >2 lowelibrary: for details.
I started the year with 16 categories. I have completed 3 and am on track to finish most of them.
My previous years were a monthly book log, this year I am following the lead of several others on this site, and listing the books as I read them. Thank you to all I stole the idea from. I am loving the new format and will continue on with this.

My goal this year is to hit a record high of 150 books. With only 33 books left and an average of over 12 books a month, this goal will be met.

The Ultimate Reading Challenge. I received this book for Christmas from my mom. There are 25 envelopes as shown. You finish the challenge and open the envelope to receive a bookish gift. When I finish this challenge I will take and post a photo of all the prizes.

✔ 1. Read a novella or short novel under 200 pages - Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings 48 pages --- PRIZE (a hanging tag that says "There are a lot of books in here")
✔ 2. Find and read a book that is much longer than your usual reads - The Ink Black Heart 1012 pages --- PRIZE (gift tags with books and book-themed photos)
3. Read a book you selected purely on its cover design
4. Read a book about a person with a disability
5. Re-read a classic you hated in high school
✔ 6. Re-read a book you loved as a child - Pippi Longstocking --- PRIZE (2 book darts - with a note that says Book Darts...because dog-eared books are too controversial)
✔ 7. Read a graphic novel - Everything Is OK --- PRIZE (a light blue Post-it notepad with "Books > Everything Else" across the top)
✔ 8. Read a book by an author whose ethnicity is different from yours - This Is How We Do It: A Pep Talk - Kevin Hart ---PRIZE (some "this book belongs to" labels)
✔ 9. Read a new book that is intended primarily for children - The Hidden World of Gnomes --- PRIZE (stickers of bookshelves, and other items in a home library)
✔ 10. Read a book in a genre you've never read before - Cold Cuts a Tartan Noir --- PRIZE (a paperclip with a tea cup attached to the top)
✔ 11. Read a book published this year - The Vanishing at Castle Moreau --- PRIZE (2 sets of paper tabs 1 says brilliant thought here, the other says noteworthy)
✔ 12. Read a book currently on the bestseller list - The House of Eve ---PRIZE (a pencil engraved with a Shakespeare quote "Brevity is the soul of wit")
✔ 13. Read a book that features an indigenous person - Native American Night Before Christmas --- PRIZE (small pink bookmark with books, glasses, and cups of tea on it)
✔ 14. Read a book that's been sitting on your shelf, unread, for more than a year - The Year Of Eating Dangerously on shelf when I joined in 2015 --- PRIZE (a mini notebook that says reading notes)
15. Go to your favorite section of the library or bookstore: blindly take a book off the shelf and take it home to read - Secret Smile
16. Visit your local bookstore and ask the bookseller to recommend a book based on your recent favorites
17. Ask a family member what book made a lasting impression on them. Find and read that book.
✔ 18. Participate in a book club, in person or virtually - Reese Witherspoon's Book Club - The House in the Pines ---PRIZE (note pad that looks like a library check-out card)
✔ 19. Read in a place you have never read before - Noah's tee ball game - The Ex Hex --- PRIZE (typewriter keychain)
✔ 20. Listen to a reading-themed podcast - Velshi's Banned Book Club --- PRIZE (a pin that says "The book was better)
21. Attend an author event - in person or virtually
22. Make (or order) a snack or meal described in a book you've read
✔ 23. Gift a copy of your favorite book to a friend or family member - a special occasion not required - gave my grandson a copy of Clifford, the Big Red Dog --- PRIZE (2 gift tags - one with a cat on it and one with books)
24. Write down a favorite quote or passage from a beloved book. Display it in your home.
✔ 25. Write a letter to someone who has influenced your reading life. This could be a parent, teacher, author, bookstore owner, or friend. It's okay to make it anonymous. -wrote a letter to my mother thanking her for teaching me to read. ---PRIZE (3 small blank notes - with bookish themes on the covers)

RandomKIT hosting October

January (Hidden Gems)
Witch Hearts by Liz Long
The Year of Eating Dangerously by K Bennett
February (Second or Two)
Buy A Whisker by Sofie Ryan
Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham
March (Water, Water, everywhere)
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
April (Seven ages of (wo)man)
The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
The Funny Moon by Chris Lincoln
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Thinner by Stephen King
May (Royal Names)
How To Survive A Garden Gnome Attack by Chuck Sambuchino
London Bridges by James Patterson
Things I Wish I Told My Mother by Susan Patterson, Susan DiLallo and James Patterson
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
June (Walls)
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul
July (The Muppets)
The Diva Code by Miss Piggy
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
August (Tell Me Something Good)
A Whisker of A Doubt by Cate Conte
September (The Wild, Wild West)
Zeke and Ned by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana
October (Treats not Tricks)
November
December

ScaredyKIT hosting June and October

January (Comedy Horror)
The Year of Eating Dangerously by K Bennett
February (Historical Horror)
The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
March (Indie author or small press)
Shiners by John T Biggs
April (food horror)
Chocolate: Sweet Science & Dark Secrets by Kay Frydenborg
Thinner by Stephen King
May (surviving the horror)
Superstitious by R L Stine
June (Stephen King and family)
Black Phone: Stories by Joe Hill
July (Beach Reads)
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
August (Favorite Scary Trope)
Necroscope III: The Source by Brian Lumley
September (Haunted Houses)
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
The Endless House by M H Shamim
October (Tricks not treats)
November
December

MysteryKIT hosting January and December

January (TV/Movie Detectives)
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
February (Classic Settings)
Ten Little Indians by Agatha Chhristie
March (Paranormal)
Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton
April (Tartan Noir)
Cold Cuts by Douglas Lindsay
May (true unsolved mysteries)
Hollywood's Unsolved Mysteries by John Austin
June (Vintage)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie
July (Police Procedurals and Private Detectives)
Cross by James Patterson
Double Cross by James Patterson
August (Past and Future)
The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
September (College/University setting)
File M For Murder by Miranda James
October (Locked Room Mystery)
November
December

KiddyCAT hosting June

January (Picture books/Graphic Novels) -
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Somebunny Loves You by Melinda Lee Rathjen
February (Mysteries)
Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham
March (YA Historical fiction)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
April (Middle Grade and YA Fantasy)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
May (YA/children's classics)
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
June (animals as main characters)
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Zootopia Junior Novelization by Suzanne Francis
July (Arts and Crafts)
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The Official Harry Potter Baking Book by Joanna Farrow
August (Series)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling and Jim McKay
September (History and Biography)
Who Was Alex Trebek by Pam Pollack
October (Siblings)
November
December

Continuing my reading of the Alex Cross series in order. I hope to read one a month.

1. Four Blind Mice --- read in January
2. The Big Bad Wolf --- read in April
3. London Bridges - read in May
4. Mary, Mary - read in May
5. Cross - read in July
6. Double Cross - read in July
7. Cross Country
8. Alex Cross's Trial
9. I, Alex Cross
10. Cross Fire
11. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross
12. Alex Cross, Run

I have a large collection of books about cats. The goal is 6 fiction and 3 non-fiction.

Fiction
1. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K Le Guin
2. Buy A Whisker by Sofie Ryan
3. How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You by The Oatmeal
4. Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
5. No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey

Non-fiction
1. The Cat and the Tao by Kwong Kuen Shan
2. Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can't Believe My Cat Did That! by Jack Canfield

I have decided to join Reese Witherspoon's book club. This category is for her monthly choices. This will help me read more current books. The book is announced on the first Tuesday of the month.

✔ January - The House In The Pines by Ana Reyes
✔ February - The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
✔ March - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
✔ April - Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
✔ May - Did You Hear About Kitty Karr by Crystal Smith Paul
✔ June - Cassandra In Reverse by Holly Smale
✔ July - Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
✔ August - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
September - Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
October
November
December

CHALLENGE FINISHED

My husband bought me Harry Potter: A Magical Year last year, a book of daily quotes from the book series. This has prompted me to re-read the Harry Potter series this year. I have decided to do the re-read as a "new " read of the illustrated versions of the books. The touchstones do not go to the correct editions.


1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- read in March
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets -- read in April
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - read in July
4.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - read in August
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - read in September

Year 6 and Year 7 are not yet released in the Illustrated Edition. So I am currently finished with this challenge.

I hope to read 6 books on my Kindle this year.
1. Witch Hearts by Liz Long - read and deleted in January
2. This Is How We Do It: A Pep Talk by Kevin Hart - read in February
3. Dear Coca-Cola by Terry Ravenscroft- read and deleted in March
4. Truth or Poop: Amazing Animals by James Warwood - read and deleted in May
5. Movie Star: They Always Say They're Single by Jessica Simpson - read and deleted in June
1. The Apology Project by Jeanette Escdero - read and deleted in August

CATEGORY FINISHED
Extra reads.

2. It Will All Work Out by Kevin Hart - read in August
3. The Endless House by M H Shamim - read in September
4. A Night at the Tropicana by Chanel Cleeton - read and deleted in September

I am participating in the historical fiction challenge as posted by Tanya-dogearedcopy
The bonus will only be met if one of the books qualifies.

1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you are from
The Rail Splitter by John Cribb
Zeke and Ned by John McMurtry and Diana Ossana
2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country than the one you're from
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favorite historical time period to read about

4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you're less familiar with
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element
The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
6. Read a work of Historical fiction about a real historical figure or specific historical event
Dear America: Voyage on the Titanic by Ellen Emerson White
The Rail Splitter by John Cribb
Zeke and Ned by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana
7. Read a classic work of historical fiction

8. Bonus: Read a work of historical fiction over 500 pages.
The Book Thief
The Wolf's Hour
The Nightingale

Nonfiction reading. I hope to read 12 books this year.

1. The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys by Dean King
2. This Is How We Do It: A Pep Talk by Kevin Hart
3. Laughing With Obama by M. Sweeney
4. Dear Coca-Cola by Terry Ravenscroft
5. The Dark Side of Apple Pie, Baby Food, & Bunnies by Ken Lytle and Katie Corcoran Lytle
6. Chocolate: Sweet Science & Dark Secrets by Kay Frydenborg
7. The Medicine Wheel by Sun Bear and Wabun
8. Truth or Poop: Amazing Animals by James Warwood
9. Hollywood's Unsolved Mysteries by John Austin
10. An Introvert's Survival Guide by Psych2Go
11. Movie Star: They Always Say They're Single by Jessica Simpson
12. Chocolate The Sweet History by Beth Kimmerle

CATERGORY FINISHED

EXTRAS
13. Bright Spots and Landmines by Adam Brown
14. The Answer Is by Alex Trebek
15. It Will All Work Out by Kevin Hart
16. Who Is Alex Trebek? by Lisa Rogak
17. Who Was Alex Trebek by Pam Pollack

01. Romantic Comedy
02. Summon The Keeper
03. Buy A Whisker
04. Four Blind Mice - Alex Cross series
05. The Big Bad Wolf - James Patterson is an Aries
06. The Answer Is
08. Aunt Dimity's Death
09. The Nightingale
10. True Crime Trivia
11. I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf
12. The Cat and the Tao
13. The Story of Ferdinand -January KiddyCAT
14. The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys
15. Chocolate: Sweet Science & Dark Secrets
16. Disney Family Story Collection
17. Shiners
18. The Stranger in the Lifeboat
20. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
21. The Medicine Wheel - Native American astrology
22. Ten Little Indians
23. Cinder
24. Dear America: Voyage on the Titanic
25. Theodore Boone: The Abduction

This is for all my favorite authors with unread books on my shelf. The books were on my shelf prior to 2023. I hope to read at least one from each.

✔ Mitch Albom
The Stranger in the Lifeboat

Dan Brown

✔ Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot's Christmas
Ten Little Indians

Lisa Gardner

✔ John Grisham
Theodore Boone: The Abduction
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

✔ Joe Hill
Black Phone: Stories

✔ Stephen King
The Dark Man: An Illustrated Poem
Thinner

✔ Barbara Michaels
Patriot's Dream

✔ James Patterson (not counting Alex Cross)
Give Please A Chance
Things I Wish I Told My Mother

These are all the books I have been gifted this year (including Christmas gifts and Early Review books)

SantaThing 2022
A Whisker of A Doubt by Cate Conte - read in August
A Trip With Trouble by Diane Kelly
Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley - read in July
Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly
The Crime That Binds by Laurie Cass

Previously unread SantaThing gifts (I have 5 left)
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (SantaThing 2016)
Heist Society by Ally Carter (SantaThing 2016)
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (SantaThing 2017)
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara {SantaThing 2017)
Ghost of a Chance by Simon R Green (SantaThing 2018)

Christmas gifts 2022
The Black Phone: Stories by Joe Hill - read in June
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Dolly Parton by Editors of Media Lab Books - read in June
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith - read in January
The Answer is.... by Alex Trebek - read in July
Who Is Alex Trebek? by Lisa Rogak - read in August
Who Was Alex Trebek? by Pamela Pollack - read in September
I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider - read in January
Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung - read in January
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill read in December 2022

Birthday gifts 2023 - DONE
I Love You Like No Otter by Rose Rossner - read in March
The Witch's Path by Thorn Mooney - read in June

Scholastic Employee Appreciation Gifts 2023 >
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henke
The Witches: The Graphic Novel by Roald Dahl and Penelope Bagieu

ER books I have won and received
December 2022 - Somebunny Loves You by Melinda Lee Rathjen - read in January
January 2023 - True Crime Trivia by Michelle Tooker -read in February
February 2023 - The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright - read in March
March 2023 - The Funny Moon by Chris Lincoln - read in April
May 2023 - The Rail Splitter by John Cribb - read in June
June 2023 - The Hidden World of Gnomes by Lauren Soloy - read in August
July 2023 - A Ray of Hope by Stephen Gordin - read in August
August 2023 - Love You Snow Much by Melinda Lee Rathjen - read in September
September 2023 How To Give Your Cat A Bath: In Five Easy Steps by Nicola Winstanley awaiting arrival

I first heard about Thingaversary in 2021 and began celebrating mine. I joined on April 7th, 2015.
I have 6 books left to read before this year's haul.

My 2021 Thingaversary books
All Around Town by Mary Higgins Clark
Patriot's Dream by Barbara Michaels - read in July
The Medicine Wheel by Sun Bear and Wabun - read in April

My 2022 Thingaversary books
Disney's Family Story Collection by Sheryl Kahn - finished in February
Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky
What the Cat Saw by Carolyn Hart

This year's (2023) Thingaversary books
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack by Chuck Sambuchino - read in May
Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines by Jennifer J Chow
The Secrets of Dumbledore by J.K. Rowling
Seven-Year Witch by Angela M Sanders
The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert -read in August
The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan
A Whisker of Trouble by Sofie Ryan
The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

Happy new thread, and congrats on being on track to finish your yearly goal!

> 19 Thank you. I hope your reading year has been great.

Happy New Thread! I must have missed the book challenge "gift" on your previous thread. I like it!

Happy New Thread!

>17 lowelibrary: - This is a good idea, April. I should go make a list and keep track of which Thingaversary books I have left to read. Maybe while I watch football this afternoon.

>21 Tess_W: Thank you. In the last thread, I had shortened all my lists, so it was not as obvious. That idea did not work, since I kept having to return to my previous thread for notes.
>22 dudes22: I find it is helping me read the books I receive and not throw them on Mt TBR to be forgotten forever.

Happy new thread. You have done a great job with your yearly reading goals!

>24 DeltaQueen50: Reading has always been my greatest joy. I have tried to focus more on it and less on social media this year. I must admit I am not missing the phone at all.

As an employee appreciation gift for our Customer Service Appreciation Week I received 2 books (added to my Gifts challenge)
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henke
The Witches: The Graphic Novel by Penelope Bagieu and Roald Dahl

I was so excited to see The Witches. It is one of my favorite books and movies.

Yes, I work for Scholastic Book Clubs.