The Next Best Book Club discussion
R.E.M. (2016) Reading Challenge
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Elizabeth's REM reading challenge list
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REVEAL (2001)“The Lifting� � read a prequel
“Disappear� � read a book that involves magic or a magician
“Saturn Return� � read a book about a character who does what they want, who goes against the norm
“Beat a Drum� � read a book with an instrument in its title
“I’ll Take the Rain� � read a book that takes place during a storm, or features a lot of rain
AROUND THE SUN (2004)
“The Outsiders� � read a book that takes place primarily outside
“Make it All Ok� � read a book that makes you feel good
“Final Straw� � read the last book in a series
“I Wanted to Be Wrong� � read a book that you wish you could have changed the ending to
“Wanderlust� � read a book about a character who is running away from something
“The Boy in the Well� � read a non-YA book that features a young boy as the protagonist
“Aftermath� � read a book about the survivors of an apocalypse
“The Worst Joke Ever “� read a book that others found funny but you did not
“Around the Sun� � read a book that features space travel
ACCELERATE (2008)
“Living Well is the Best Revenge� � read a book that has a great revenge scene
“Man Sized Wreath� � read a Christmas themed novel
“Supernatural Superserious� � read a book that takes place in a summer or day camp
“Houston� � read a book that is set in a big city
“Mr Richards� � read a book that prominently features a president
“Sing for the Submarine� � read a classic dystopian/apocalyptic novel
“Horse to Water� � read a book that involves a fight of some sort
I've realized I abandoned REM earlier than I thought. I don't know these last few albums at all. :(
Mod
Good to know - thanks, Lori. But the challenge is making me go back and listen to the stuff I love. Fun!
I lucked out on a couple of my recent/current reads - title with "summer" in it, a title with a color in it (I actually have two of those, oddly enough) and a title with mode of transportation in it [Orphan Train]. As I noted at the beginning - I'm not choosing books based on the challenge but I've been lucky so far.
BTW - I do find it funny that the albums with the most completions are ones I've never listened to.
NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI (1996)“How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us� � read a book set in the wild west
“The Wake-Up Bomb� � read a book about drugs, or drug addiction
“New Test Leper� � read a book about a character who is struggling with a disease
“Undertow� � read a book that takes place primarily on or under the water/ocean
“E Bow the Letter� � read a book that revolves around two best friends
“Leave� � read a book with the word leave or leaving in the title
“Departure� � read a book that is unlike the rest of a particular author’s bibliography
“Bittersweet Me� � read a book that features a bitter protagonist
“Be Mine� � read a collection of love poems
“Binky the Doormat� � read a book that is known for being strange or bizarre
“So Fast, So Numb� � read a book with a comma in the title
“Low Desert� � read a road-trip book
UP (1998)
“Airportman� � read a book that takes place primarily in an airport or features a character who spends time in or around one
“Lotus� � read a book that is highly symbolic or allegorical
“Suspicion� � read a book you have been putting off
“At My Most Beautiful� � read a book about goofy, silly love
“The Apologist� � read a book with ‘ist� in the title
“You’re in the Air� � read a book with the words Your or You’re in the title
“Walk Unafraid� � read a book that others have found incredibly scary
“Why Not Smile� � read a book about a protagonist who is habitually unhappy
“Day Sleeper� � read a book that features a protagonist who works the grave yard shift
“Diminished� � read a collection of flash fiction or short stories
“Parakeet� � read a book that’s told from an animal’s POV
“Falls to Climb� � read a book that features a character who is viewed as a martyr
Had to get creative with "Stand" (from Green) - I applied Rob Lowe's memoir Love Life since he talks about being directed (in his work) and he also reflects on the direction his life has taken. So there. :)
Oops - realized I incorrectly applied a book because I misread the qualifier. Fixed that and added three more finishes. And Life's Rich Pageant takes the lead for most completions.
Mod
Lori wrote: "Wow, nicely done. I'm not nearly as concentrated by album as you are. Are you reading to try to complete one album, or are you like me and reading whatever you want and THEN trying to fit it in?"I'm reading whatever I want and applying it after the fact. This is the first time I've started seeing a trend of an album having several completions - just luck. :)
"Life's Rich Pageant" gets another strike off, keeping it in the lead. Added a strike off to "Up" and made a crack on "Accelerate" with two strike-offs. Some fun reading in this batch.
Found my first strike-off for "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" and "Reveal" joins the "four strike-off club".
Got behind and had seven books to add to the list. "Life's Rich Pageant" remains in the lead for strike-offs. I had to get creative with Aziz Ansari's book Modern Romance but found a spot for it.
I also got to cross off the song "Radio Song" which ranks high on my list of annoying REM songs (primarily because of KRS-1) -blech. :)
Added five more finishes and it doesn't look promising that I'll complete one entire album. But it's been a fun challenge!
Mod
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Fiercombe Manor (other topics)The Boys in the Boat: Summary and Analysis of The Boys in the Boat (other topics)
The Versions of Us (other topics)
Seeing Other People (other topics)
Girl Through Glass (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
David McCullough (other topics)Chris Cleave (other topics)
Rob Lowe (other topics)
Catherine Ryan Hyde (other topics)
Nicola Jane (other topics)
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CHRONIC TOWN (1982)
"Wolves, Lower" � read a book that centers on wolves or prominently features wild dogs
"Gardening at Night" � read a book that takes place primarily at night
"Carnival of Sorts (boxcars)" � read a book about a carnival, or that features a circus
"1,000,000" � read a ‘doorstopper� (a book that is more than 600 pages long)American Gods by Neil Gaiman"Stumble" � read a book that you just happened to 'stumble' uponFiercombe ManorMURMUR (1983)
"Radio Free Europe" � read a book that takes place in EuropeThe Summer before the War by Helen Simonson"Pilgrimage" - read a book about a character who goes on a long journey
"Laughing" � read a book that will make you laugh
"Talk About the Passion" � read an erotica bookChoose Your Own Erotic Adventure (2) by Nicola Jane"Moral Kiosk" � read a book in which one of the characters is struggling with their moralityA Pledge of Silence"Perfect Circle" � read a book about a tight knit group of friends or familyThe Last Anniversary"Catapult" � read a book set in medieval times
"Sitting Still" � read a book in which nothing seems to happen
"9-9" � read a book with 9 in the title, or a book that has only 9 chapters
"Shaking Through" � read a scary book
"We Walk" � read a book about a protagonist, or group of characters, who’s main mode of transportation is walking
"West of the Fields" � read a book about someone who has gone away, or is gone from home too long
RECKONING (1984)
"Harborcoat" � read a book that is left open for interpretation, whose plot is ambiguous
"7 Chinese Brothers" � read a book about pain, loss, bereavementLilac Girls"So. Central Rain" � read a book in which the character or characters are waiting for something
"Pretty Persuasion" � read a book that someone recommended to youA Man Called OveTime After Time (AnnElise)" � read a book that spans a large period of time
"Second Guessing" � read a book that you’ve been hesitant to pick upAmerican Gods by Neil Gaiman"Letter Never Sent" � read a book that is told primarily in letters or diary entries
"Camera" � read a book that centers on photography or on a particular photograph
"(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville" � read a book you promised yourself you would never revisit
"Little America" � read a book set in the western era
FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION (1985)
"Feeling Gravity’s Pull" � read a space opera or a book that takes place in outer space
"Maps and Legends" � read a book that contains its own map/legend
"Driver 8" � read a book that prominently features a train as the main mode of transportation, or features a protagonist who has to travel a long distance
"Life and How to Live it" � read a self-help book
"Old Man Kensey" � read a book that features an old man as the protagonist
"Can’t Get There From Here" � read a book that seems to go nowhere
"Green Grow the Rushes" � read a book that is set in summertime
"Kohoutek" � read a book that revolves around astronomy, or prominently features stars, a sun, or a moon.
"Auctioneer (Another Engine)" � read a book about wanderlust
"Good Advices" � read a book written by an author you’d never heard of beforePretty Girls by Karin Slaughter"Wendell Gee" � read a book about a dream or in which dreams are prominently featured
LIFE’S RICH PAGEANT (1986)
"Begin the Begin" � read a book you’ve already readEthan Frome"These Days" � read a book that takes place in present dayTurning 40"Fall on Me" � read a book about oppressionYellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim"Cuyahoga" � read a book that takes place on or near a river, in which a river is prominently featured
"Hyena" � read a book with an animal in the title
"Underneath the Bunker" � read a book about the end of the world
"The Flowers of Guatemala" -read a book that takes place in a foreign countryEveryone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave"I Believe" � read a book about fairy tales or a book that is a spin on a fairy tale
"What if We Give It Away" � read a book about giving up or giving something upWhen I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde"Just a Touch" � read a book that uses multiple formats or gimmicks in which to tell its storyAlong the Way"Swan Swan H" � read a book with a word repeated in the title
"Superman" � read a book about a superhero
DEAD LETTER OFFICE (1987)
"Crazy" � read a book about a protagonist who goes crazy
"There She Goes Again" � read a book about a prostitute or that features prostitution
"Burning Down" � read a book that has the word burn or fire in the title
"Voice of Harold" � read a book that gives you goosebumps
"Burning Hell" � read a book that prominently features religion or a religious protagonist
"Toys in the Attic" � read a book that exudes nostalgiaReady Player One by Ernest Cline"Windout" � read a book with multiple twists and turns
"Ages of You" � read a book with the word You in the titleWhen I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde"Pale Blue Eyes" � read a book that gives you all the feelsTake Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde"Bandwagon" � read a book that everyone else is reading
"Femme Fatale" � read a book that features a woman who plays hard to get
"Walter’s Theme" � read a book with a man’s name in the titleA Man Called Ove"King of the Road" � read a book that takes place mostly on the road or prominently features a motel/hotel
DOCUMENT (1987)
"Finest Worksong" � read a book that revolves around music
"Welcome to the Occupation" � read a book about a blue collar protagonist
"Exhuming McCarthy" � read a book about politics or that features politics in some way
"Disturbance at the Heron House" � read a book about rioting or a world gone to chaos
"Strange" � read a “bizarro� or “experimental fiction� book
"It’s the End of the World as We Know It" � read a book that deals with some form of corruption
"The One I Love" � read a book that is an anti-love story
"Fireplace" � read a cozy mystery
"Lightnin� Hopkins" � read a book that prominently features freakish weather
"King of Birds" � read a book that features birds, or has the name of a bird in the title
"Oddfellows Local 151" � read a book about firemen or that features a firehouse/firemen
GREEN (1988)
"Pop Song 89" � read a book that is about another book
"Get Up" � read a book that sounds boring
"You are the Everything" � read a book in which the protagonist is pining for someone
"Stand" � read a book that deals with direction (either literally or figuratively)Love Life by Rob Lowe"World Leader Pretend" � read a book that revolves around warThe Summer Before the War Helen Simonson"The Wrong Child" � read a non-YA book in which the protagonist is a child
"Orange Crush" � read a book about a protagonist who is called away or forced to leave
"Turn You Inside Out" � read a book that hinges itself on dishonesty
"Hairshirt" � read a book with a weird title32 Yolks"I Remember California" � read a book that takes place in California
"Untitled" � read a book that deals with protection in some way
OUT OF TIME (1991)
“Radio Song� � read a book that has to do with music, or prominently features a radio stationDavd Grohl and boy is this song awful. KRS-1 was not needed“Losing My Religion� � read a book that is considered an author’s “biggest� hitBoys in the Boat“Low� � read a book about the morning after, or regretsMultiple Listings“Near Wild Heaven� � read a book that deals with the end of a relationshipMy Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout“Shiny Happy People� � read a book about a utopia, or the search for utopia
“Belong� � read a book that revolves around a child, but does not feature a child as the protagonist
“Half a World Away� � read a book about a band
“Texarkana� � read a book in which the main character is searching for somethingThe Version of Us“Country Feedback� � read a book about heartbreak, about unrequited loveModern Romance“Me in Honey� � read a book with the word Sweet or Sweetness in the title
AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE (1992)
“Drive� � read a book that revolves around youth
“Try Not to Breathe� � read a book about giving up
“The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight� � read a book about a humorous love
“Everybody Hurts� � read a book about depression
“Sweetness Follows� � read a book about death, or that prominently features a funeral
“Monty Got a Raw Deal� � read a book in which one of the characters gets “a raw deal�.
“Ignoreland� � read a book that similarly features the word ‘land� in its title
“Star Me Kitten� � read a book that features the F-word, either in title or in text, or uses asterisks in the title
“Man on the Moon� � read a book that is a tribute to someone or something else
“Nightswimming� � read a book on a dare (have someone dare you to read something)- the erotica book of choice above is my response to the dare of completing this challenge:)“Find the River� � read a book with River in the title
MONSTER (1994)
“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth� � read a book that encapsulates Generation-X
“Crush with Eyeliner� � read a book about discovering identity
“King of Comedy� � read a book that makes you laugh
“I Don’t Sleep, I Dream� � read a fantasy book, as a distraction from real life
“Star 69� � read a book by an author you are crazy obsessed with
“Strange Currencies� � read a book that features a strange obsession, or OCD
“Tongue� � read a book with a body part in the title
“Bang and Blame� � read a book about a one night stand
“I Took Your Name� � read a book in which something is taken away
“Let Me In� � read a book that messes with your emotions
“Circus Envy� � read a book that revolves around jealousy
“You� � read a book written in second person