Summer Reading Challenge Update #1

I started the challenge this month right on the first! It was super great to get a head start since I had a few books sitting on my nightstand that I already borrowed from the library, The problem was waiting to start them until the first. Hence why I won't be using Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. I finished it in one day, on the 30th of April.

Anyway, so here's what I thought I would end up using for each category in orange, and what I've actually read in pink:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.

I'm going to wait to decide on this one in case I get really hooked into the first book of a series. I tend to do that and then just absolutely demolish the entire series in a few days. Or maybe I'll wait to start the book I just got from the library, Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, 304 pages.

Nope, read it a few days before May 1st because I couldn't wait. We'll see what I stumble across in the next few months.

10 points: Read a book you have never heard of before. (Just go to a shelf and pick a book based on the cover, the title, whatever you want!)

Hmm, guess I'm heading to the library for this one! Yay, library!!!!

I picked up one this weekend, but I can't remember the name! Ha! I know it's by Christopher Moore...

10 points: Read a book that has been on your TBR list for at least two years. (If you've had a Goodreads account for 2+ years, this will be easy to figure out. If you don’t, do your best to pick a book you’re pretty sure you’ve been wanting to read for years.)

For right now, I'm going to chose The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, 215 pages.  I have a feeling I'll end up changing this one.

I'm currently reading Helter Skelter, but it's going very slowly. Although this one fits this category, I may not use it because I may never finish it.

10 points: Read a book that won a Goodreads “Best Book” award in 2014.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell, 320 pages

15 points: Read a book by an author who is completely new to you.

I'm thinking I might read Room by Emma Donoghue, 352 pages. I also may read I Love Everybody by Laurie Nataro, 240 pages.

I actually read Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, 336 pages. Like everyone else, I loved it. Crazy ending!

15 points: Read a book by an author you have read before. (No re-reads for this one.)

Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman, 275 pages

15 points: Read a book with "light" or "dark" in the title. (Or "lightness" or "darkness.")

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, 531 pages. Well this is just downright convenient since I've already placed it on hold at the library.

I actually did read All the Light We Cannot See. It was beautifully written, super sad, and I cried a lot. Which is pretty much true for almost everything I read, so take that with a grain of salt! I may end up switching this to my 500+ pages category and reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, 349 pages.

Actually, I just started reading A Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, 354 pages this weekend. So I'm going to use it when I finish for this category.

20 points: Read a book with the name of a city, state or country in the title.

I'm not sure about what to read for this category. I've gotten a couple of recommendations, but none of them are really grabbing me. For now I'm thinking about Paris Red by Maureen Gibbon, 288 pages or A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary, 352 pages. Anyone else have any ideas on this one?

I think I may read the Paris Wife instead. It's been raved about by many, so why not?

20 points: Read a book with an animal on the cover.

Obviously, I'm going to go with something featuring a dog. The question remains to be answered as to which one... Here are the contenders:

Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote, 416 pages

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron, 333 pages

A Big Little Life: A Memior of a Joyful Dog Named Trixie by Dean Koontz, 288 pages 

I'm leaning towards the second one.

25 points: Read a book that is part of a series with at least four books.

I think I'll start the Lunar Chronicle's, which first book is Cinder by Marissa Meyer, 448 pages

25 points: Read a book that is longer than 500 pages long. — Submitted by winter finisher Kristen from See You in a Porridge.
Good lord, can one book qualify for two categories because I have a few that might work... No? Alright then. I'm going to read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, 784 pages. I got this one for my birthday last year from my momma and still haven't started it.

Okay, so I'm officially using All the Light We Cannot See by Doerr, 531 pages. See above for my thoughts!

30 points: Read a book with an alliterative title. (All words in the title must begin with the same letter; no exceptions for articles or prepositions. Examples: Gone Girl or Nicholas Nickleby. Yes, this is tough, which is why it's worth the most points!)

There are also a few contenders for this category as well, mostly hailing from the classics genre.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, 368 pages

I don't want to read that book right now, someone give me a suggestion!!!

Alright, so I officially have 40 points for the month of May. Better get to reading!

Here's the link up info, have a great week, y'all!