Reading Challenge 2025

A few more updates... Changed out my xenofiction pick with one that came through my library holds first.

Storygraph.

Gaming Adjacent challenges
❌ 01. A book published by Boss Fight Books. [Bible Adventures by Gabe Durham]
❌ 02. A novel that was (directly) adapted into a videogame. [Empire of the Ants by Bernard Werber]
❌ 03. A book based on a videogame. [Uncharted The Fourth Labyrinth by Christopher Golden]
❌ 04-A. A book based on a table-top game.
❌ 04-B. a Gamebook (e.g. Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, single-player RPGs). [Jake Goes Bananas (Which Way, Dude? #2) by Max Brallier]
❌ 05. A non-fiction book about videogames. [The Secret History of Mac Gaming by Richard Moss]

Regular challenges
✅ 06. A book published since the start of 2024. [Lucky Girl by Lottie Tomlinson]
✅ 07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. [The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway]
✅ 08. A short story or novella. [Mona and Other Tales by Reinaldo Arenas]
❌ 09. A doorstopper [Where the Gods Left Off by Sara Raztresen]
✅ 10. A play. [Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 (Arcadia) by Tom Stoppard]
✅ 11. A graphic novel or manga. [Mice Templar Vol. 1 by Bryan J. L. Glass]
❌ 12. A memoir or (auto-)biography. [Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas]
🔃 13. A book adapted into a movie / TV series. [Mickey7 by Edward Ashton]
❌ 14. A self-published book. [Wolf of Withervale by Joaquin Baldwin]
✅ 15. A book from a genre you don’t normally read. [The Spectacular by Fiona Davis]
❌ 16. A book you have read before but remember nothing about/think you won't like anymore. [Clue Jr. The Case of the Clubhouse Thief by Parker C. Hinter]
❌ 17. (Reread) a book that was assigned in school. [A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess]
❌ 18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. [The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera]
✅ 19. A “hopeful non-fiction” book. [The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer]
✅ 20. An animal xenofiction novel. [Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton]
✅ 21. A novel set in your city/state/country. [Just Kids From The Bronx by Arlene Alda] *not a novel but tbh all novels set in the BX are crime novels and I'm tired of the stereotype.
✅ 22. A book from Wikipedia’s list of “Most Commonly Challenged Books in the US”. [Fun Home by Alison Bechdel]
🔃 23. A book actually purchased in your local walk-in book shop. [Why Am I Like This? by Gemma Styles]
✅ 24. One of the oldest books in your backlog. [Rejected Princesses by Jason Porath]
❌ 25. A book in your mother tongue. [Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams]
❌ 26. A book about a character engaging with a hobby of yours. [The House Witch by Delemhach]
✅ 27. A book set before medieval times OR the far future. [Cosmoknights: Book Two by Hannah Templer]
❌ 28. The debut book by an up-and-coming author OR the first book by a famous/pre-established author. [Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut]
✅ 29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. [The Witch's Guide to the Paranormal: How to Investigate, Communicate, and Clear Spirits by J Allen Cross]
...
❌30. The Discussion Challenge - Choose up to 5 books that you would like to discuss with the people of the forums, and then select one book from someone else's recommendations that you'd like to discuss with them.

The Tetris Effect by Dan Ackerman
Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones
Scurry by Mac Smith
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Starlight Universe: Moments of Transition by Chris Adamek

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

(double post)

A few more updates... Changed out my xenofiction pick with one that came through my library holds first.

Storygraph.

Gaming Adjacent challenges
❌ 01. A book published by Boss Fight Books. [Bible Adventures by Gabe Durham]
❌ 02. A novel that was (directly) adapted into a videogame. [Empire of the Ants by Bernard Werber]
❌ 03. A book based on a videogame. [Uncharted The Fourth Labyrinth by Christopher Golden]
❌ 04-A. A book based on a table-top game.
❌ 04-B. a Gamebook (e.g. Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, single-player RPGs). [Jake Goes Bananas (Which Way, Dude? #2) by Max Brallier]
❌ 05. A non-fiction book about videogames. [The Secret History of Mac Gaming by Richard Moss]

Regular challenges
✅ 06. A book published since the start of 2024. [Lucky Girl by Lottie Tomlinson]
✅ 07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. [The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway]
✅ 08. A short story or novella. [Mona and Other Tales by Reinaldo Arenas]
❌ 09. A doorstopper [Where the Gods Left Off by Sara Raztresen]
✅ 10. A play. [Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 (Arcadia) by Tom Stoppard]
✅ 11. A graphic novel or manga. [Mice Templar Vol. 1 by Bryan J. L. Glass]
❌ 12. A memoir or (auto-)biography. [Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas]
🔃 13. A book adapted into a movie / TV series. [Mickey7 by Edward Ashton]
❌ 14. A self-published book. [Wolf of Withervale by Joaquin Baldwin]
✅ 15. A book from a genre you don’t normally read. [The Spectacular by Fiona Davis]
❌ 16. A book you have read before but remember nothing about/think you won't like anymore. [Clue Jr. The Case of the Clubhouse Thief by Parker C. Hinter]
❌ 17. (Reread) a book that was assigned in school. [A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess]
❌ 18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. [The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera]
✅ 19. A “hopeful non-fiction” book. [The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer]
✅ 20. An animal xenofiction novel. [Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton]
✅ 21. A novel set in your city/state/country. [Just Kids From The Bronx by Arlene Alda] *not a novel but tbh all novels set in the BX are crime novels and I'm tired of the stereotype.
✅ 22. A book from Wikipedia’s list of “Most Commonly Challenged Books in the US”. [Fun Home by Alison Bechdel]
🔃 23. A book actually purchased in your local walk-in book shop. [Why Am I Like This? by Gemma Styles]
✅ 24. One of the oldest books in your backlog. [Rejected Princesses by Jason Porath]
❌ 25. A book in your mother tongue. [Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams]
❌ 26. A book about a character engaging with a hobby of yours. [The House Witch by Delemhach]
✅ 27. A book set before medieval times OR the far future. [Cosmoknights: Book Two by Hannah Templer]
❌ 28. The debut book by an up-and-coming author OR the first book by a famous/pre-established author. [Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut]
✅ 29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. [The Witch's Guide to the Paranormal: How to Investigate, Communicate, and Clear Spirits by J Allen Cross]
...
❌30. The Discussion Challenge - Choose up to 5 books that you would like to discuss with the people of the forums, and then select one book from someone else's recommendations that you'd like to discuss with them.

The Tetris Effect by Dan Ackerman
Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones
Scurry by Mac Smith
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Starlight Universe: Moments of Transition by Chris Adamek

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

I've yet to come up with my own no 30, books to discuss, but I've just finished Piranesi. Amazing book. Have you read her first book too? I've heard more mixed reviews on that one but after Piranesi I'd really like to check it out for myself.

Been a while since I updated this. I'm up to 11/30, so the main 'story' is finished

Gaming Adjacent challenges
❌01. A book published by Boss Fight Books. - Mega Man 3 (Salvatore Pane) or preferably Day of the Tentacle (Bob Mackey) but I'll need to buy it
✅02. A novel that was (directly) adapted into a videogame. - The Colour of Magic (Terry Pratchett)
✅03. A book based on a videogame. - King's Quest The Floating Castle (Craig Mills)
❌04-A. A book based on a table-top game (DnD, Warhammer, Shadowrun, Magic, BattleTech, etc)
❌04-B. a Gamebook (e.g. Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, single-player RPGs).
❌05. A non-fiction book about videogames. - 50 Years of Text Games: From Oregon Trail to A.I. Dungeon (Aaron A. Reed) In Progress

Regular challenges
✅06. A book published since the start of 2024 - Something in the Waters (Kim M. Watt)
❌07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. - Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen)
✅08. A short story or novella. - Thornhedge (T. Kingfisher)
❌09. A doorstopper (Approx. 700 pages). - The Master of Heathcrest Hall (Galen Beckett)
❌10. A play
✅11. A graphic novel or manga. - Bone: The Complete Edition (Jeff Smith) ElfQuest (Wendy & Richard Pini)
❌12. A memoir or (auto-)biography.
✅13. A book adapted into a movie / TV series. - The Fellowship of the Ring (audiobook) (Tolkien, narrated by Andy Serkis) - listened to the other two but not Fellowship (tentative) OR Around the World in 80 Days (Jules Verne)
✅14. A self-published book. - Gobbelino London & a Collision of Catastrophes (Kim M. Watt)
❌15. A book from a genre you don’t normally read.
❌16. A book you have read before but remember nothing about/think you won't like anymore. - Alphabet of Thorn OR The Bell at Sealy Head (Patricia A. McKillip)
❌17. (Reread) a book that was assigned in school.
✅18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. - Trouble Brewing in Harrogate (Kim M. Watt)
✅19. A “hopeful non-fiction” book. - Relentless Decency (Tod Maffin)
❌20. An animal xenofiction novel. - To Visit the Queen (Diane Duane)
❌21. A novel set in your city/state/country.
❌22. A book from Wikipedia’s list of “Most Commonly Challenged Books in the US”.
❌23. A book actually purchased in your local walk-in book shop.
❌24. One of the oldest books in your backlog.
✅25. A book in your mother tongue. - Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Heather Fawcett)
❌26. A book about a character engaging with a hobby of yours.
❌27-A. A book set before medieval times.
❌27-B. A book set in the far future. - Record of a Spaceborn Few (Becky Chambers)
❌28-A. The debut book by an up-and-coming author (They must not have any other books out at the moment).
❌28-B. The first book by a famous/pre-established author.
✅29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. - How To Live with a Calculating Cat (Eric Gurney)
❌30. The Discussion Challenge -

I've yet to come up with my own no 30, books to discuss, but I've just finished Piranesi. Amazing book. Have you read her first book too? I've heard more mixed reviews on that one but after Piranesi I'd really like to check it out for myself.

No, I have never heard of this author before this challenge! I am only just getting back into reading after a very long draught. I'm behind on knowing anything from major authors.

A more recent update here... August should be a fun reading month for me. Kinda hilarious how I have not even touched the first block of challenges yet but they're coming up!

Storygraph.

Gaming Adjacent challenges
❌ 01. A book published by Boss Fight Books. [Bible Adventures by Gabe Durham]
❌ 02. A novel that was (directly) adapted into a videogame. [Empire of the Ants by Bernard Werber]
❌ 03. A book based on a videogame. [Uncharted The Fourth Labyrinth by Christopher Golden]
❌ 04-A. A book based on a table-top game.
✅ 04-B. a Gamebook (e.g. Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, single-player RPGs). [Jake Goes Bananas (Which Way, Dude? #2) by Max Brallier]
❌ 05. A non-fiction book about videogames. [The Secret History of Mac Gaming by Richard Moss]

Regular challenges
✅ 06. A book published since the start of 2024. [Lucky Girl by Lottie Tomlinson]
✅ 07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. [The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway]
✅ 08. A short story or novella. [Mona and Other Tales by Reinaldo Arenas]
❌ 09. A doorstopper [Where the Gods Left Off by Sara Raztresen]
✅ 10. A play. [Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 (Arcadia) by Tom Stoppard]
✅ 11. A graphic novel or manga. [Mice Templar Vol. 1 by Bryan J. L. Glass]
🔃 12. A memoir or (auto-)biography. [Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas]
✅ 13. A book adapted into a movie / TV series. [Mickey7 by Edward Ashton]
❌ 14. A self-published book. [Wolf of Withervale by Joaquin Baldwin]
✅ 15. A book from a genre you don’t normally read. [The Spectacular by Fiona Davis]
✅ 16. A book you have read before but remember nothing about/think you won't like anymore. [Clue Jr. The Case of the Clubhouse Thief by Parker C. Hinter]
✅ 17. (Reread) a book that was assigned in school. [A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess]
✅ 18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. [The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera]
✅ 19. A “hopeful non-fiction” book. [The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer]
✅ 20. An animal xenofiction novel. [Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton]
✅ 21. A novel set in your city/state/country. [Just Kids From The Bronx by Arlene Alda] *not a novel but tbh all novels set in the BX are crime novels and I'm tired of the stereotype.
✅ 22. A book from Wikipedia’s list of “Most Commonly Challenged Books in the US”. [Fun Home by Alison Bechdel]
✅ 23. A book actually purchased in your local walk-in book shop. [Why Am I Like This? by Gemma Styles]
✅ 24. One of the oldest books in your backlog. [Rejected Princesses by Jason Porath]
✅ 25. A book in your mother tongue. [Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams]
✅ 26. A book about a character engaging with a hobby of yours. [The House Witch by Delemhach]
✅ 27. A book set before medieval times OR the far future. [Cosmoknights: Book Two by Hannah Templer]
❌ 28. The debut book by an up-and-coming author OR the first book by a famous/pre-established author. [Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut]
✅ 29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. [The Witch's Guide to the Paranormal: How to Investigate, Communicate, and Clear Spirits by J Allen Cross]
...
❌30. The Discussion Challenge - Choose up to 5 books that you would like to discuss with the people of the forums, and then select one book from someone else's recommendations that you'd like to discuss with them.

My picks:
The Tetris Effect by Dan Ackerman
Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones
Scurry by Mac Smith
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Starlight Universe: Moments of Transition by Chris Adamek

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Man, I haven't updated anything here since February but I've also not been making much progress.

Back in May I finished Franz Kafka's Das Schloß (The Castle), which was kind of the last major novel of his that I still had to read. Unfortunately, I didn't actually lose myself much in it. The premise is good but I wasn't really very interested in any of the characters or the web of relationships that is weaved in here.
Ironically, the most amusing thing about this might have been its ending or lack thereof. I forgot that this was one of his unfinished ones that got released posthumously without a proper ending. So, the text literally ends in the middle of a sentence, which is wild. Especially considering that this, if I remember correctly, was the last text Kafka worked on before he died.
Somewhere, I don't remember where, I read that Kafka considered this text a text to be written, not to be read. And the text did feel somewhat aimless to me despite there being, technically, a goal to be achieved. It's a novel that wanders around without truly achieving any progress. And in that sense, it makes sense to me that this was something for Kafka to be written, but not for others to be read. Like many of his texts, it was more an exercise for himself and a vent of some sort, than an intention of creating entertainment for someone else.
I appreciate it more for that than the actual content.

I have put Kafka's Das Schloß towards the category of "A "classic" / literary cornerstone." because it is considered one of Kafka's most important works for some reason or another. Maybe because it is, despite it being unfinished, one of his longer texts with a bigger scope.

Since then though, I haven't fulfilled any other category or finished any other book for that matter. I decided to finally tackle James Joyce's Ulysses for the "door stopper" category and I have been crawling at a snail's pace through that since then. Only reading some comic issues otherwise.
Ulysses is probably the most studied novel of all time and considered so insanely layered that you're always recommended to have companion material ready or straight-up read annotated editions. There are countless books about how to read this book and countless of online resources to guide you through this complex garble of words that Joyce intentionally wrote to be analyzed for years to come, using plenty of stylistic switches and linguistic tricks.
I went into this strictly wanting to see what I would get out of it without or with minimal attention given to those external things.
I am currently about a third of the way through this 700+ novel and so far the experience has probably been around 90% confusion and 10% chuckling at a funny toilet scene.
It is easy to lose the thread as lots of the text are nebulous, thought-like associations. Individual words and phrases, loose and spontaneous interpretations from the characters about whatever might actually be going on. Most chapters are very chaotic to me.
When I'm able to follow a scene though, I'm enjoying it fairly enough. I have resorted to reading chapter summaries from some of these support resources after I finished a chapter, to check if I actually got the gist of it or missed something essential.

At the pace I'm going with this book though, I'm expecting to sit with it for many more months, potentially for the rest of the year.
Unsure if and when I would squeeze another book in-between.

- Matt

April-September Update

Completely forgot about this thread, so I haven't posted an update since March. There have been quite a few books I didn't manage to fit into any category, mainly the multiple Kokoro Connect Volumes I read, as well as Republic of Thieves, which was just shy of the 700 page mark.

May: ✅18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. - Red Seas Under Red Skies - (Scott Lynch)

June: ✅07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. - The Shape of Things to Come - (H. G. Wells)

September:
✅11. A graphic novel or manga. - your name. Thoughts & Dreams, Vol. 2 - (Bleda)
✅14. A self-published book. - your name. Thoughts & Dreams, Vol. 1 - (Bleda)
✅29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. - How To Talk To Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships - (Leil Lowndes)

Gaming Adjacent challenges

❌01. A book published by Boss Fight Books. - Outer Wilds
❌02. A novel that was (directly) adapted into a videogame. -
❌03. A book based on a videogame. - Higurashi When They Cry: Abducted by Demons Arc (AKA Onikakushi), Vol. 1 - (Ryukishi07)
❌04-A. A book based on a table-top game (DnD, Warhammer, Shadowrun, Magic, BattleTech, etc)
❌04-B. a Gamebook (e.g. Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, single-player RPGs). - Fighting Fantasy Deathtrap Dungeon - (Ian Livingstone).
❌05. A non-fiction book about videogames. - Hey! Listen!: A journey through the golden era of video games - (Steve McNeill)

Regular challenges
❌06. A book published since the start of 2024 - Thunder City - (Philip Reeve)
✅07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. - The Shape of Things to Come - (H. G. Wells)
❌08. A short story or novella. - The Emperor's Soul - (Brandon Sanderson)
❌09. A doorstopper (Approx. 700 pages). - Ship of Magic - (Robin Hobb)
❌10. A play -
✅11. A graphic novel or manga. - your name. Thoughts & Dreams, Vol. 2 - (Bleda) - (Replaced: Hope You're Happy, Lemon)
❌12. A memoir or (auto-)biography. -
✅13. A book adapted into a movie / TV series. - Kokoro Connect Volume 1: Hito Random - (Sadanatsu Anda)
✅14. A self-published book. - your name. Thoughts & Dreams, Vol. 1 - (Bleda)
❌15. A book from a genre you don’t normally read. -
❌16. A book you have read before but remember nothing about/think you won't like anymore. - Alex Rider: Snakehead - (Anthony Horowitz)
❌17. (Reread) a book that was assigned in school. - How to Win Friends and Influence People - (Dale Carnegie)
✅18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. - Red Seas Under Red Skies - (Scott Lynch)
❌19. A “hopeful non-fiction” book. -
❌20. An animal xenofiction novel. -
❌21. A novel set in your city/state/country. -
❌22. A book from Wikipedia’s list of “Most Commonly Challenged Books in the US”. -
❌23. A book actually purchased in your local walk-in book shop. - Higurashi When They Cry: GOU, Vol. 1 - (Ryukishi07)
❌24. One of the oldest books in your backlog. - Arsenic For Tea - (Robin Stevens)
❌25. A book in your mother tongue. -
❌26. A book about a character engaging with a hobby of yours. -
❌27-A. A book set before medieval times. -
❌27-B. A book set in the far future. - The Sunlit Man - Brandon Sanderson
❌28-A. The debut book by an up-and-coming author (They must not have any other books out at the moment). -
❌28-B. The first book by a famous/pre-established author. -
✅29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. - How To Talk To Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships - (Leil Lowndes)
❌30. The Discussion Challenge -

Looking at the remaining categories and the books I'm planning on reading, I'll probably able to reach the Main completion milestone.

Total: 6/30

I'm up to 14/30 now

Gaming Adjacent challenges
❌01. A book published by Boss Fight Books. - Mega Man 3 (Salvatore Pane) or preferably Day of the Tentacle (Bob Mackey) but I'll need to buy it
✅02. A novel that was (directly) adapted into a videogame. - The Colour of Magic (Terry Pratchett)
✅03. A book based on a videogame. - King's Quest The Floating Castle (Craig Mills)
❌04-A. A book based on a table-top game (DnD, Warhammer, Shadowrun, Magic, BattleTech, etc)
❌04-B. a Gamebook (e.g. Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, single-player RPGs).
✅05. A non-fiction book about videogames. - 50 Years of Text Games: From Oregon Trail to A.I. Dungeon (Aaron A. Reed)

Regular challenges
✅06. A book published since the start of 2024 - Something in the Waters (Kim M. Watt)
❌07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. - Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen)
✅08. A short story or novella. - Thornhedge (T. Kingfisher)
❌09. A doorstopper (Approx. 700 pages). - The Master of Heathcrest Hall (Galen Beckett)
❌10. A play
✅11. A graphic novel or manga. - Bone: The Complete Edition (Jeff Smith) ElfQuest (Wendy & Richard Pini)
❌12. A memoir or (auto-)biography.
✅13. A book adapted into a movie / TV series. - The Fellowship of the Ring (audiobook) (Tolkien, narrated by Andy Serkis) - listened to the other two but not Fellowship (tentative) OR Around the World in 80 Days (Jules Verne)
✅14. A self-published book. - Gobbelino London & a Collision of Catastrophes (Kim M. Watt)
❌15. A book from a genre you don’t normally read.
✅16. A book you have read before but remember nothing about/think you won't like anymore. - Alphabet of Thorn OR The Bell at Sealy Head (Patricia A. McKillip)
❌17. (Reread) a book that was assigned in school.
✅18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. - Trouble Brewing in Harrogate (Kim M. Watt)
✅19. A “hopeful non-fiction” book. - Relentless Decency (Tod Maffin)
❌20. An animal xenofiction novel. - To Visit the Queen (Diane Duane)
✅21. A novel set in your city/state/country. - The Golden Pine Cone (Greta Guzek)
❌22. A book from Wikipedia’s list of “Most Commonly Challenged Books in the US”.
❌23. A book actually purchased in your local walk-in book shop.
❌24. One of the oldest books in your backlog.
✅25. A book in your mother tongue. - Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Heather Fawcett)
❌26. A book about a character engaging with a hobby of yours.
❌27-A. A book set before medieval times.
❌27-B. A book set in the far future. - Record of a Spaceborn Few (Becky Chambers)
❌28-A. The debut book by an up-and-coming author (They must not have any other books out at the moment).
❌28-B. The first book by a famous/pre-established author.
✅29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. - How To Live with a Calculating Cat (Eric Gurney)
❌30. The Discussion Challenge -

I'm up to 14/30 now

Gaming Adjacent challenges
❌01. A book published by Boss Fight Books. - Mega Man 3 (Salvatore Pane) or preferably Day of the Tentacle (Bob Mackey) but I'll need to buy it
✅02. A novel that was (directly) adapted into a videogame. - The Colour of Magic (Terry Pratchett)
✅03. A book based on a videogame. - King's Quest The Floating Castle (Craig Mills)
❌04-A. A book based on a table-top game (DnD, Warhammer, Shadowrun, Magic, BattleTech, etc)
❌04-B. a Gamebook (e.g. Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, single-player RPGs).
✅05. A non-fiction book about videogames. - 50 Years of Text Games: From Oregon Trail to A.I. Dungeon (Aaron A. Reed)

Regular challenges
✅06. A book published since the start of 2024 - Something in the Waters (Kim M. Watt)
❌07. A "classic" / literary cornerstone. - Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen)
✅08. A short story or novella. - Thornhedge (T. Kingfisher)
❌09. A doorstopper (Approx. 700 pages). - The Master of Heathcrest Hall (Galen Beckett)
❌10. A play
✅11. A graphic novel or manga. - Bone: The Complete Edition (Jeff Smith) ElfQuest (Wendy & Richard Pini)
❌12. A memoir or (auto-)biography.
✅13. A book adapted into a movie / TV series. - The Fellowship of the Ring (audiobook) (Tolkien, narrated by Andy Serkis) - listened to the other two but not Fellowship (tentative) OR Around the World in 80 Days (Jules Verne)
✅14. A self-published book. - Gobbelino London & a Collision of Catastrophes (Kim M. Watt)
❌15. A book from a genre you don’t normally read.
✅16. A book you have read before but remember nothing about/think you won't like anymore. - Alphabet of Thorn OR The Bell at Sealy Head (Patricia A. McKillip)
❌17. (Reread) a book that was assigned in school.
✅18. A book from an abandoned or currently unfinished series. - Trouble Brewing in Harrogate (Kim M. Watt)
✅19. A “hopeful non-fiction” book. - Relentless Decency (Tod Maffin)
❌20. An animal xenofiction novel. - To Visit the Queen (Diane Duane)
✅21. A novel set in your city/state/country. - The Golden Pine Cone (Greta Guzek)
❌22. A book from Wikipedia’s list of “Most Commonly Challenged Books in the US”.
❌23. A book actually purchased in your local walk-in book shop.
❌24. One of the oldest books in your backlog.
✅25. A book in your mother tongue. - Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Heather Fawcett)
❌26. A book about a character engaging with a hobby of yours.
❌27-A. A book set before medieval times.
❌27-B. A book set in the far future. - Record of a Spaceborn Few (Becky Chambers)
❌28-A. The debut book by an up-and-coming author (They must not have any other books out at the moment).
❌28-B. The first book by a famous/pre-established author.
✅29. A book that has at least two of the following words in the title: How Long To Beat. - How To Live with a Calculating Cat (Eric Gurney)
❌30. The Discussion Challenge -