Category: Reading Challenges

Reading Challenges 2020 Wrap-Up

~ Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense ~ 12 Comments

So I totally forgot to make a recap of these challenges in the latter part of the year, but it was 2020 and we have to be easy on ourselves. For those unfamiliar, the Year of the Asian reading challenge was hosted by Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams, Shealea @ Shut Up Shealea, Vicky @ Vicky Who Reads, and CW @ The Quiet Pond. It was designed to challenge participants to read as many books by Asian authors as they can throughout the year. For this challenge, my goal was to read between 11-20 books by Asian authors for this cobra badge and I did it!

Books by Asian authors I read in 2020:

  1. Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven by Marjorie M. Liu, Sana Takeda (Illustrator)
  2. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
  3. Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon
  4. The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang
  5. Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
  6. Jade City by Fonda Lee
  7. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
  8. 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menone
  9. Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
  10. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
  11. The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

Reading Challenge Goal: 11-20 books; Final Count: 11 books (13 if you count rereads)

In 2020 I lowkey wanted to read more books by Latinx authors compared to 2019 and the Con Sabor Reading Challenge was the perfect motivation to do so. Hosted by Dani @ metamorphoreader, Astrid @ Book Love Book Reviews, Natalia @ Books.Build.Life, and Nox @ Nox the Reader this challenge focused on encouraging readers to read as many Latinx authors as they could. My goal for this challenge was to read 30 books by Latinx authors and I ended up reading 36 books by Latinx authors this year. Yay me! This means I earned this badge:

Books by Latinx authors I read in 2020:

  1. Diamond City by Francesca Flores
  2. The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
  3. Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez
  4. Children of the Land by Marcello Hernandez Castillo
  5. American Street by Ibi Zoboi
  6. Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
  7. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
  8. Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon
  9. A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano
  10. Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova
  11. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  12. Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
  13. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  14. Lobizona by Romina Garber
  15. The Dream Weaver by Reina Luz Alegre
  16. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
  17. The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore
  18. Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova
  19. Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera
  20. When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
  21. Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
  22. Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas
  23. Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
  24. Blanca y Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
  25. Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
  26. Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore
  27. Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore
  28. Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
  29. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
  30. We Unleash the Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Mejia
  31. Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
  32. By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery
  33. Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz
  34. Tight by Torrey Maldonado
  35. Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
  36. Nocturna by Maya Motayne

Reading Challenge goal: 30 books; Final Count: 36 books

Did you participate in these challenges this year? Which challenges were your favorite in 2020? Let’s discuss in the comments!

ARC August 2020: The TBR

~ Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense ~ 18 Comments

I have tons of ARCs that I would really like to get to this month and thought, why not join ARC August to give myself a little motivation? ARC August was created and is hosted by Octavia and Shelly @ Read. Sleep. Repeat. This TBR contains more books than I have been getting to in a month, but I am crossing my fingers that some kind of reading god possesses me and I check off most of these as a result. You might notice that all these books are by Latinx authors and that’s because I just can’t help it, I get excited about so many. Covers are linked to Goodreads.

The TBR:

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1. Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova – I am reading this right now and love Rose’s voice and the world Zoraida has created.

2. Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera – A Orpheus and Eurydice retelling with Afro-Latinx characters? Yes please. I requested this one from NetGalley the moment it was available.

3. Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez – I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for this one in September. This one is about an Argentinian soccer player.

4. Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro – I have to tell myself to be patient when it comes to this one because I am so excited and have come close to throwing my whole TBR out the window so I can get to this one already. We don’t get a lot of magical realism novels in YA and this also has horror elements **squeals in excitement**

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5. Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar – I am a huge fan of Aida’s debut The Moon Within and am really excited to read her second MG novel. She is also one of the kindest authors around and if you haven’t gotten a chance to read her stuff, I encourage you to do so.

6. Miss Meteor by Anna-Marie McLemore and Tehlor Kay Mejia – I kind of poured my heart out in an email and HarperTeen showed mercy on me and sent me on ARC of this one. You have not idea how excited I am for this collaboration.

7. Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz – I don’t think it’s likely that I will get to this one this month, but if I have time, I am tackling this dragon book.

Are you participating in ARC August? What’s an ARC that you are hoping to get to soon?

Reading Challenges Wrap-Up: March – April ’20

~ Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense ~ 4 Comments

I originally planned to do a recap every month of these two challenges, but it looks like every two months will be the plan going forward. We will start with the Year of the Asian reading challenge which is hosted by Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams, Shealea @ Shut Up Shealea, Vicky @ Vicky Who Reads, and CW @ The Quiet Pond. Be sure to check out their blogs to join and challenge yourself to read as many books by Asian authors as you can. I did not get very far with this one over the last two months, but there are several books that I am hoping to pick up in May and June. Covers linked to Goodreads.

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Books by Asian authors I read in March:

  1. The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang

Reading Challenge Goal: 11-20 books; Current Count: 4 books

I did much better with this challenge. For those unfamiliar, the Con Sabor Reading Challenge is hosted by Dani @ metamorphoreader, Astrid @ Book Love Book Reviews, Natalia @ Books.Build.Life, and Nox @ Nox the Reader and focuses on encouraging readers to read Latinx authors. I am still aiming to read at least 30 books by Latinx authors this year. I think I’m going to succeed, especially considering how many I picked up over the last couple of months. Covers linked to Goodreads.

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Books by Latinx authors I read in March and April:

  1. Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
  2. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
  3. Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon
  4. Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon
  5. A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano
  6. Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova
  7. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  8. Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

Reading Challenge goal: 30 books; Current Count: 13 books

Badges earned so far for this challenge:

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Have you joined these challenges this year? Have you read any of these books as well? Let’s discuss in the comments!

Reading Challenges Wrap-Up: January – February ’20

~ Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense ~ 7 Comments

I joined two reading challenges this year and will be giving an update on both in the same post every month. Year of the Asian reading challenge is hosted by Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams, Shealea @ Shut Up Shealea, Vicky @ Vicky Who Reads, and CW @ The Quiet Pond. Be sure to check out their blogs to join and challenge yourself to read as many books by Asian authors as you can. I am currently aiming for 11-20 books and have made some really good progress. Covers linked to Goodreads.

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Books by Asian authors I read in January and February:

  1. Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven by Marjorie M. Liu, Sana Takeda (Illustrator)
  2. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
  3. Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

Reading Challenge Goal: 11-20 books; Current Count: 3 books

I have also joined the Con Sabor Reading Challenge hosted by Dani @ metamorphoreader, Astrid @ Book Love Book Reviews, Natalia @ Books.Build.Life, and Nox @ Nox the Reader which focuses on picking up books by Latinx authors. I have a couple of goals with this one but have only made progress with one. I am aiming to read 30 books by Latinx authors this year. So far I am on schedule to accomplish this but might have to step up my game in the coming months so I don’t fall behind. Covers linked to Goodreads.

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Books by Latinx authors I read in January and February:

  1. Diamond City by Francesca Flores
  2. The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
  3. Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez
  4. American Street by Ibi Zoboi
  5. Children of the Land by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo

Reading Challenge goal: 30 books; Current Count: 5 books

Badges earned so far for this challenge:

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Have you joined these challenges this year? Have you read any of these books as well? Let’s discuss in the comments!