2020 Book Challenges

I’ve always seen book challenges floating around and have always been intimidated by them. Because of that I’ve only ever participated in the Goodreads challenge so this year I found 3 that I want to try.

Armed with a Bingo by Aruel and Kriti

52 books in 52 weeks on Goodreads

1. A book with a title that doesn’t contain the letters A, T or Y
2. A book by an author whose last name is one syllable
3. A book that you are prompted to read because of something you read in 2019
4. A book set in a place or time that you wouldn’t want to live
5. The first book in a series that you have not started

6. A book with a mode of transportation on the cover
7. A book set in the southern hemisphere
8. A book with a two-word title where the first word is “The”
9. A book that can be read in a day

10. A book that is between 400-600 pages
11. A book originally published in a year that is a prime number
12. A book that is a collaboration between 2 or more people
13. A prompt from a previous Around the Year in 52 Books challenge (Link)
14. A book by an author on the Abe List of 100 Essential Female Writers (link)

15. A book set in a global city
16. A book set in a rural or sparsely populated area
17. A book with a neurodiverse character
18. A book by an author you’ve only read once before

19. A fantasy book
20. The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.]
21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1720
22. A book with the major theme of survival

23. A book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author
24. A book with an emotion in the title
25. A book related to the arts
26. A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards
27. A history or historical fiction

28. A book by an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand author
29. An underrated book, a hidden gem or a lesser known book
30. A book from the New York Times ‘100 Notable Books’ list for any year
31. A book inspired by a leading news story

32. A book related to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan
33. A book about a non-traditional family
34. A book from a genre or sub genre that starts with a letter in your name
35. A book with a geometric pattern or element on the cover

36. A book from your TBR/wishlist that you don’t recognize, recall putting there, or put there on a whim
37. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites: Book #1
38. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites: Book #2
39. A book by an author whose real name(s) you’re not quite sure how to pronounce

40. A book with a place name in the title
41. A mystery
42. A book that was nominated for one of the ‘10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes in the World’ (link)
43. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse
44. A book related to witches

45. A book by the same author who wrote one of your best reads in 2019 or 2018
46. A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
47. A classic book you’ve always meant to read
48. A book published in 2020

49. A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that didn’t win (link)
50. A book with a silhouette on the cover
51. A book with an “-ing” word in the title
52. A book related to time

Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge

Click the follow button if you want updates on my reading challenges throughout the year. I’ll be updating you all monthly on how far I get with each challenge.

Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family

Thank You to GoodReads and Harper Collins for the advanced copy of the book I won in a giveaway.

Summary: Chika was only 3 days old during the devastating earthquake of Haiti 2010. Her mother passed away giving birth and she was brought to an orphanage run by Mitch. At age 5 Chika is diagnosed with a disease that no one in Haiti could help her with so Mitch and Janine bring her to their home in Detroit hoping for some answers. Mitch and Janine hope that she’ll receive medical care and be able to return back to Haiti but that isn’t what happens. She stays with them as they search everywhere for a cure to her prognosis. This is the story of the lessons Mitch learned through that journey and everything Chika meant to him.

Thoughts: I love all of the books I’ve read by Mitch Albom and this one was no different. Mitch really captured how much of a beautiful child Chika was and I love how her personality shines through each word.

I loved the way this book was structured where he had segments where it was him and Chika speaking, then just him about his insights and then parts of the past and what she taught him. I loved hearing each lesson he learned through her and how fond he is of those lessons.

You get so attached to Chika and even if you know she’s going to pass away that moment still hits you hard. I cried as Mitch and his wife said their goodbye and felt honored to be allowed into such a private moment between the three of them.

I recommend this to those of you who enjoy any of Mitch Albom’s other books or who like to read heartfelt stories that’ll make you cry.

You can find this book at Barnes and Noble or look for it at your local library.