2025 Reading Update
-48/52 books read
-18/30 library books
-21/30 books in Dutch
- 2 read/3 dnfs/18 Libris Literature Prize
+1 country of origin (South Korea)
#books #readinggoals #readingchallenge #bookstodon #library

May Reading Challenge: Mental Health and Balance

This May, focus on Mental Health and Balance with our monthly reading challenge! Discover powerful nonfiction and heartfelt fiction that inspire reflection, rest, and self-care. Whether you're looking to recharge or re-center, these book picks and reflection prompts will guide you toward well-being—one page at a time. Perfect for Mental Health Awareness Month. #ReadingChallenge #MentalHealthBooks #NotQuiteSuperhumanReads

https://notquitesuperhuman.com/2025/05/01/may-reading-challenge-mental-health-and-balance/

Even though I am aware of the allegations surrounding Neil Gaiman’s behaviour, I also believe that a person is innocent until they’re proven guilty: I definitely don’t believe in trial by media. As a result, this will be my next book to make it off of my teetering #TBRpile #Goodreads #ReadingChallenge #CurrentlyReading #BookLovers #Bookworm #Bibliophile #NorseMythology #NeilGaiman

Moving on to my next read #CurrentlyReading #Goodreads #ReadingChallenge #Bookworm #BookLovers #Bibliophile #LessonsInChemistry #BonnieGarmus

Something a bit out of left field for my next read #Goodreads #ReadingChallenge #CurrentlyReading #Bibliophile #Bookworm #Guidebooks #London

As Betty Webb passed away earlier this month, I thought that this should become the next book to finally get off of my #TBRpile #Goodreads #ReadingChallenge #CurrentlyReading #BookLovers #Bookworm #Bibliophile #BettyWebb #NoMoreSecrets #BletchleyPark #Codebreaker

I've finished: The Simoqin Prophecies by Samit Basu

Self-aware and breaking the fourth wall, The Simoqin Prophecies makes fun of classic tropes from myth, fairy tale and fantasy. But it is not trying to be funny, it is deadly serious about its own high fantasy world.

While it is not perfect in all it's choices, as an experienced fantasy reader I enjoyed the references to classic tropes and their deconstruction. Satire can be better when it's not trying too hard to make you laugh.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/c468b1a3-d2e5-411e-96e4-81e08765fde3

I'm glad I found it through a Story Graph reading challenge prompt. Sometimes you find a book that was written for you 20 years after it was published and wonder where it's been all these years.

I love reading challenges with prompts that specify a type of book and let you choose the book you'll read for that prompt. You can also use these prompts to find novels other members think fit a prompt you like. I found The Simoqin Prophecies in the Speculative fiction genres challenge, under the prompt for Comic Speculative Fiction.

The speculative fiction genres challenge:

app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/fff6ad46-1acf-4f0b-a841-b769b72f7d14

@bookstodon @audiobooks
#fantasy #satire #bookstodon #Au;dioBooks #ReadingChallenge #StoryGraph

@bookstodonmy Anyone have tips for reading challenges? I like ones like the Bookriot Read Harder and Staroygraph Genre Challenge. A challenge that pushes you to read outside of your normal genres. Like 'A mystery where the victim is a man' or ''Nonfiction about visual art or an artist'. #books #readingchallenge #bookstodon

Since I can't resist a reading challenge, and Hungary is being horrific about queer rights right now, I decided to participate in the #TransRightsReadathon. I have nonfiction books on my TBR already, but I welcome recommendations for other genres Following the hashtag too!

It’s been years since I visited the Discworld, so I’m putting that right! #CurrentlyReading #Goodreads #ReadingChallenge #Bookworm #Bibliophile #TerryPratchett #Discworld #TheTruth

I wrote a new blog post on what motivated me to add a books section to my site.
Link: https://klpx.de/posts/i-added-a-books-page/

Thanks again to @sphars for the idea.

I've finished: Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey

This is one Sarah Gailey novel I didn't think I'd finish.

I put it down a while ago, but a prompt in a reading challenge made me give it another go.

"9. Domestic Horror
Focuses on horrors within the family or home, often subverting safety and comfort."

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/d6d1f275-b9a6-4d2c-b154-c1b3ddc46a32

Toxic relationships are a significant aspect of Gailey's work. However, the levels of horror and generational trauma in Just Like Home were challenging.

It is a powerful story and I'm glad I made the effort to experience it to its conclusion.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/349c4835-272e-4d29-86e5-abe31434f449

@bookstodon @audiobooks
#bookstodon #horror #fantasy #ReadingChallenge #StoryGraph

I was looking for a Story Graph reading challenge for 2025.

I like challenges with prompts that specify an SFF subgenre and make you try and figure out where your books belong. It's a neat way to learn and think about what you read.

I've already covered the main subgenres and was glad to find a new challenge for books that subvert the main categories.

With prompts like:

Portal Anti-Fantasy:

Characters reject the fantastical world or question its morality.
Example: The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

Dystopian Satire:

Deconstructs traditional dystopian tropes through humor or irony.
Example: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.

Post-Horror:

Downplays traditional scares for emotional depth and thematic exploration.
Example: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

This is a better list for long time SFF readers that are looking for novels that play with the main tropes of the genre.

I find that most of the authors I read today are working with established tropes but bend, reshape or subvert them.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/d6d1f275-b9a6-4d2c-b154-c1b3ddc46a32

@thestorygraph #TheStoryGraph #ReadingChallenge #SFF #ScienceFiction #fantasy @bookstodon #bookstodon #books

Alright, here it is:

#PolymathReadingChallenge 2025

Read 12 #NONFICTION books

Rules:
- you can read them in any order
- (auto)biographies count
- write a review of each (here or on Bookwyrm)
- use the # when posting about the challenge

Categories: See next toot in this thread.

Everyone gets their 12th category randomly through WikiRoulette. If you want to take part, respond to this thread and I'll give you one.

Feel free to use # for recommendations

So, this year I inherited the Polymath Reading Challenge from its creator.

It is a yearly 12-book nonfiction reading challenge. You read books of your choice for 12 categories, and post your reviews of them. I have had immense fun finding books for topics I otherwise wouldn't read.

Would people want to join in if I also ran it on Mastodon?

Een verse nieuwe #ReadingChallenge #BookChallenge voor 2025 40 boeken Check out my profile on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/160066835