Extreme Book Challenge

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #8 A BOOK WITH BOOKS ON THE COVER There are so many wonderful books with books on the cover, both fiction and nonfiction, that it's hard to pick just one! Whether there's just one book hidden in the background or they cover the entire cover, as soon as I see a book on a book, I know it's something I'll love. The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks  by Shauna Robinson Shauna Robinson is a new face in the books-about-books subgenre, and her latest venture, The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks,  was published just a few weeks ago! When Maggie takes a leap of faith and takes on the challenge of running a bookstore in Bell River, she isn't anticipating the town trying to stop her from selling the contemporary books she loves. Now, with the success of the store being threatened, Maggie must decide what's more important: making the town happy, or sticking to her convictions.

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #7 A BOOK OVER 400 PAGES OR AN AUDIOBOOK OVER 14 HOURS If you're anything like me, I know there's a big book on your list that you've been putting off reading for ages because it's just too  intimidating. Here's your chance! The Extreme Book Challenge is supposed to be just that- a challenge! I've fallen in love with so many big books over the years but's not always easy to jumpstart that relationship. It might seem scary now, but it's only February, and you have plenty of time to tackle that big read that I bet you'll end up wishing was even longer. Ninth House  by Leigh Bardugo If you've ever asked me for a recommendation, then you'll know I take every opportunity I get to plug my favorite adult mystery/fantasy series by YA author Leigh Bardugo. When high school dropout Alex Stern is selected to receive a full-ride spot at Yale she can't help but wonder: what's the catch? And, of course, there  is  a catch. Impre...

CHALLENGE CATEGORY #6 A ROMANCE BOOK  Love is in the air with category #6, and happy Valentine's Day! There is certainly no shortage of popular romance books to choose from, as it has always been such a popular genre showing no signs of stopping. Whether you're interested in a period piece, a modern love story, or even a mix of the two, I'm sure you'll find something you love  in this category. Beach Read  by Emily Henry I confess the rumors are true; I am not a big fan of the romance genre. But even I, cold as my heart may be, surprise myself and occasionally fall victim to a sweet storyline and a happy ending. Emily Henry has dominated the romance sphere for several years, and now, having devoured all  of her books, I understand the hype! Henry first appeared on my radar back in 2020 with her bookish enemies-to-lovers rom-com, Beach Read . If there's any chance you haven't read any of her books yet, pick one up for category #6 and settle in for a satisfying an...

CHALLENGE CATEGORY #5 A NONFICTION DEEP DIVE I'll be honest- I think this might be my favorite category in the entire challenge this year. A nonfiction deep dive refers to the trend of finding a topic and learning as much about it as you can, or, taking a "deep dive" into the topic. I've been picking up as many microhistories as my brain can handle and learning so much! Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the hidden history of America's Cemeteries by Greg Melville If you're looking for a unique topic, look no further than Over My Dead Body  by Greg Melville. In his detailed sophomore nonfiction book, Melville invites readers to join him on his journey into the history of American cemeteries by touring and exploring more than 15 US cemeteries, with some even located right here in New York! Melville makes it his mission to detail the origins of burial practices and uncover the truth of American cemeteries while maintaining a lively and interesting narrative unlike any...

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #4 A CELEBRITY BOOK CLUB PICK Try as we might, my friends and I cannot seem to put together a regular book club. To be honest, even though we make book recommendations all day long, the hardest part is always picking out the right  book. That's why category number four is a celebrity book club pick!  My Husband  by Maud Ventura I might not be a celebrity, but here's my pick out of the celebrities' picks. In August 2023, the Belletrist book of the month was My Husband  by Maud Ventura. In this relatively short (just under 300 pages) book translated from French, Ventura puts the definition of passion to the test. How much love is too much love, and what are its consequences? Our unnamed protagonist battles her own relationship in a suspenseful love story that may not be a love story after all. Make it easy on yourself, and pick a book picked by Reese, Oprah, Jenna, or any other celebrity with a book club! Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson Dirty...

C HALLENGE CATEGORY #3 A B OOK PUBLISHED IN 2023   The third category in 2024 is a book published in 2023. Sometimes, I get so caught up in my TBR that I miss some great new releases. This week, I've put together a list of books that were published last year that you might have missed. Maame  by Jessica George T here were so many fantastic books released in 2023, so I really struggled to pick just one, but Jessica George’s 2023 debut,  Maame,  is one book I can’t stop recommending to everyone! Grief is so human and so personal but so universal .  Maame is a book of self- discovery, warmth, and personal growth. It's a lovely story about becoming yourself and realizing you always were yourself, even before you knew what that meant. It' s about patience and vulnerability and a longing for vulnerability , and it might have been my favorite book of 2023 . With this mix of fiction & nonfiction, you can't go wrong:   The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Life...

CHALLENGE CATEGORY # 2 A FEEL-GOOD STORY The second category in the 2024 Extreme Book Challenge is a feel-good story! A lot of different things can fall under the requirements of a feel-good story; just pick anything that makes you feel good. For me, I kno w something always certain to leave me feeling good is a memoir of triumph. For this category , I put toget her a list of books that center around self-discovery, found- family, and happy endings , fiction and nonfiction.   What You Are Looking For Is in the Library  by Michiko Aoyama It's no surprise that my feel-good pick is about a library. in Aoyama's 2023 release, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, our protagonist is a librarian! Sayuri Komachi spends the day making the perfect recommendations for their patrons, helping each person in ways unimaginable. As she makes these recommendations, readers learn about each patron, their stories, and what makes the library so special. This story is a compilation o...