Did I manage to successfully complete three readathons last month? No. Did I learn my lesson that I should probably do one at a time? Also, no. Plus, I think these are much more my speed so I should be good to go on this end.
ContemporaryAThon is hosted by Julie at PagesandPens and Chelsea at ChelseaDollingReads and takes place from November 13-18. There are seven challenges and I have plans for most of the challenges, but I’m not trying to do them all, probably, and some of them I’ve shifted to accommodate my absurd owned-TBR.
Challenges:
1. Read the most recent contemporary book you purchased/acquired –
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is not the most recent contemporary book I’ve acquired, but I do think it’s the most recent I’ve purchased… Physically. So we’re going with it. I’m super excited about this book because I’ve heard such good things about it, including from Joce (SquibblesReads) (this is not the only time you’ll hear about her in this TBR). This book is one I’m definitely excited about even though I still don’t understand what it’s about. From what I’ve gathered, it’s set in small town Shaker Heights and has something to do with mixed race adoption, maybe? But for real, I’ve heard nothing but good things so here we go!
2. Read an adult contemporary –
Crazy Rich Asiansby Kevin Kwan is a book that I’m so excited for and I’m even more excited because it fits into the ContempoaryAThon and is over 500 pages so it also works for Tome Topple. Also, Joce (SquibblesReads) loves this series and I trust her opinions so I’m really excited. This does mean, however, that I can’t start it until the 17th and have to get it finished in two days. I believe in myself though. Here’s the Goodreads synopsis:
Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.
When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn’t know is that Nick’s family home happens to look like a palace, that she’ll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick’s formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should–and should not–marry. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider’s look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.
3. Read a contemporary that has characters on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum –
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli is my pick for this and I 100% feel like I’m cheating because the MC is heterosexual, I think, and it’s not like I don’t have others that would have MCs that fit on the LGBTQUIA spectrum, but I have had Upside for too long to have not read and I love Simon vs. so I have no excuse. Plus, I’m pretty sure this book is about to describe my whole life. From what I understand, this book is basically about Molly who has had 26 unrequited crushes in her time and her sister, Cassie, who is a lesbian. Cassie basically tells Molly to get it together and make a move. In other words, I think Molly is basically teenage me and I need to read this book right now.
4. Read a romance that is 5 years old or older –
I recently bought Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner, which was published in 2001 and is one of my favorite books. It’s one of the first I ever read with a plus size heroine and I adore both the book and the author. I’m extremely excited to read it again and even though it’s chick lit and not romance, I’m counting it because it’s one I own that fits the category enough.
This book is basically about Cannie Shapiro’s life being turned upside down when her ex-boyfriend writes an article about loving a plus-sized woman. She spends the book figuring her life out and not magically slimming down, which is something I remember appreciating more than I can express in words. I’m honestly so excited to re-read this book!
5. Read a contemporary that is NOT set during the summer –
Honestly, I’m just hoping one of these books is not set in the summer. I don’t think The Upside of Unrequited is, but I’m not positive, and I also don’t recall Good in Bed being set in the summer either. So hopefully one of these will work out. I don’t know why I think Little Fires Everywhere is set during the summer… I could be wrong about that. Regardless, I’m definitely doubling up here.
6. Read a dark/taboo contemporary –
Okay, so this one is interesting because I want to read Done Dirt Cheap by Sarah Nicole Lemon for this, which is a book I just recently heard of and knew immediately that I have to read it right now. This book has something to do with sexual assault and being taken advantage of by an adult man and it involves a motorcycle gang. I’m super intrigued and Lemon had a thread on Twitter that sold me on it, though, and is why I think it’s dark. Anyway, once I read the thread, I knew I had to get it from the library because I’m so excited about this premise.
Also, if things go wrong and I don’t have enough time to read everything on my list, Done Dirt Cheap is the most recent contemporary I’ve acquired so I could theoretically double up with this book.
7. Buddy read a book with someone OR read the group book!
So the group book for the ContemporaryAThon is Rebecca Podos’s Like Water, which sounds great, but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get to it right now. It sounds like a book I will definitely get to eventually though. If you’re likely to read any of the other books I’ve listed though, let me know and maybe we can do a buddy read?
I believe Tome Topple is the baby of Sam at Thoughts on Tome so I’m linking to her video, but you should also follow Adriana, Joce, Ish, Sian, and Caz and you can find their links in Sam’s post. The readathon is from November A tome is a book over 500 pages. The challenges are the same as the last rounds and I’m not going to meet them all, but I’ll list all of them here for you.
Challenges:
1. Read more than 1 tome
2. Read a graphic novel (still over 500 pages!)
3. Read a tome that is part of a series
4. Buddy read a tome
5. Read an adult novel
So, here are my goals, I need to read Crazy Rich Asians, which is an adult novel that is part of a series and I need to read A Conjuring of Light, which also meets those exact same prompts. But if I read them both then I can add reading more than one tome. The problem is, I need to have A Conjuring of Light returned to the library by the 22nd. So, if somehow I read both of these books by the 22nd and still have time, I really want to read The Diviners. So, we shall see how this goes! I’ll let you know at the end of of the month!
Are you participating in any readathons this month? What’s your favorite long read?
xx
firewhiskeyreader 