Extreme Book Challenge

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #12 A BOOK SET IN THE 20th CENTURY Where are all my historical fiction fans? I know you already have this category checked off, and you’re probably trying to figure out where to fit all of the other historical fiction you’ve been reading. And who can blame you? There are so many wonderful books about the 20th century ranging from pre-WWI all the way to 90s slasher vibes. The God of Endings  by Jaqueline Holland Jacqueline Holland puts a unique spin on the vampire lore we think we know in her debut novel, The God of Endings. Our protagonist, Collette, has been immortal since 1834 and has worked hard to make sure to keep this a secret. Forced to lose the ones she loves and never settling into a home, Collete has grown accustomed to the loneliness required by her lifestyle. After 150 years of running away, she is challenged by her growing love for a child from a troubled home. If you’ve been waiting for a read-alike for VE Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie ...

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #11 A TRANSLATED BOOK If there's one thing you need to know about my reading habits, it's that I cannot get enough of translated fiction. There's just something so special about the way tones and themes translate from language to language and culture to culture. I've already recommended My Husband by Maud Ventura and Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung in the past, but luckily for us, I was just scratching the surface of what books originally written in other languages have to offer. Blindness  by Jose Saramago Picture this: you're driving home from work after a long day. You're stuck in an unusual amount of traffic and just starting to question it when suddenly you can't see the road anymore. In fact, you can't see anything anymore. When an epidemic of "white blindness" strikes the city and possibly the entire world, nobody knows what to do. Is it catching? Is it permanent? How do you keep your loved ones safe in such an unprecede...

    CHALLENGE CATEGORY #10 AN ADVENTURE STORY Ah, yes, the adventure story. I'll be honest; sometimes, just going to the grocery store feels like an adventure for me. There are a lot of different ways you can interpret the requirements of this of this category, but I promise I'll try to make a recommendation that's a little more exciting than chores. Outlawed  by Anna North There are endless choices in adventure stories! To my knowledge, I’ve never read a western. The western shelves at the library are few, but fans of the subgenre assure me that the western is still alive and well! I can now confidently say they’re right, having read Anna North’s 2021 western, Outlawed. In a 19th-century reality where barren women are banished, young protagonist Ada is forced out of society and finds her home amongst a band of outlaws who have all faced a similar fate. This feminist spin on the classic male dominated genre introduces a gun-slinging-cowgirl who is faced with the decision ...

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #9 A NEW RELEASE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR There are so many great authors making their literary returns in 2024, with new releases on the way from Kristin Hannah, B.A. Paris, and Emily Henry just to name a few! Have you been waiting for a new book from your favorite author? Wandering Stars  by Tommy Orange If you only read one book I recommend this year, make sure Wandering Stars  by Tommy Orange is the one you read. No matter what kind of reader you are, Tommy Orange is for you. I promise. I have had the privilege of reading both of his major works thus far, and I find myself anxiously (already) awaiting a third. There is a compulsive need for answers inside all of us, especially those who have experienced a great loss, and Orange's characters are no strangers to loss. Balancing between narratives of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre and a 2018 shooting, our characters exhibit a strength that advances a story and a legacy like none other.  Take a look ...