Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar | Failing a book challenge! [CC] @bethannebruninga-socolar | Uploaded July 2021 | Updated October 2024, 4 hours ago.
Well, I'm ditching one of my personal challenges I set for my 2021 reading, my Goodreads Fantasy challenge. Announcement video here: youtube.com/watch?v=YvHohalTsUk&t=1s
I got the idea for this challenge from Mara over at bookslikewhoa: youtube.com/channel/UCzfZdP0V5wRtO3xR79nAS2A
List of books included:
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (my vlog of Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=sUJFSv6N_zc)
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (my brief review: youtube.com/watch?v=28HtlfByvmM)
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (my review: youtube.com/watch?v=1kftwT2AB9U)
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (my brief review: youtube.com/watch?v=DLRWns1tBGs)
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (my review: youtube.com/watch?v=3kN_UegWkAk)
Some background on issues with House in the Cerulean Sea:
An interview with Klune, including a written transcript: jeffandwill.com/biggayfictionpodcast/2020/03/16/episode-232-tj-klune-on-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea-extraordinaries-and-greek-creek
A reddit post: reddit.com/r/romancelandia/comments/nqqofa/the_house_in_the_cerulean_sea_and_the_60s_scoop
An informative review: goodreads.com/review/show/4032060130
Mentioned by Rosie Cockshutt (who shared the interview and goodreads links): youtube.com/watch?v=tdAlH3uLIFs
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks
Twitter: twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar
Well, I'm ditching one of my personal challenges I set for my 2021 reading, my Goodreads Fantasy challenge. Announcement video here: youtube.com/watch?v=YvHohalTsUk&t=1s
I got the idea for this challenge from Mara over at bookslikewhoa: youtube.com/channel/UCzfZdP0V5wRtO3xR79nAS2A
List of books included:
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (my vlog of Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=sUJFSv6N_zc)
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (my brief review: youtube.com/watch?v=28HtlfByvmM)
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (my review: youtube.com/watch?v=1kftwT2AB9U)
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (my brief review: youtube.com/watch?v=DLRWns1tBGs)
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (my review: youtube.com/watch?v=3kN_UegWkAk)
Some background on issues with House in the Cerulean Sea:
An interview with Klune, including a written transcript: jeffandwill.com/biggayfictionpodcast/2020/03/16/episode-232-tj-klune-on-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea-extraordinaries-and-greek-creek
A reddit post: reddit.com/r/romancelandia/comments/nqqofa/the_house_in_the_cerulean_sea_and_the_60s_scoop
An informative review: goodreads.com/review/show/4032060130
Mentioned by Rosie Cockshutt (who shared the interview and goodreads links): youtube.com/watch?v=tdAlH3uLIFs
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks
Twitter: twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar
![Failing a book challenge! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IZBnL5XjuEM/hqdefault.jpg "Failing a book challenge! [CC]
Well, Im ditching one of my personal challenges I set for my 2021 reading, my Goodreads Fantasy challenge. Announcement video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvHohalTsUk&t=1s
I got the idea for this challenge from Mara over at bookslikewhoa: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzfZdP0V5wRtO3xR79nAS2A
List of books included:
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (my vlog of Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUJFSv6N_zc)
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (my brief review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HtlfByvmM)
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (my review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kftwT2AB9U)
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (my brief review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLRWns1tBGs)
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (my review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kN_UegWkAk)
Some background on issues with House in the Cerulean Sea:
An interview with Klune, including a written transcript: https://www.jeffandwill.com/biggayfictionpodcast/2020/03/16/episode-232-tj-klune-on-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea-extraordinaries-and-greek-creek/
A reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/romancelandia/comments/nqqofa/the_house_in_the_cerulean_sea_and_the_60s_scoop/
An informative review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4032060130
Mentioned by Rosie Cockshutt (who shared the interview and goodreads links): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdAlH3uLIFs
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Help a booktuber in need - Amrita by the book [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ie_Xq0y7ZzM/hqdefault.jpg "Help a booktuber in need - Amrita by the book [CC]
Hi everyone! Please give what you can to Amritas gofundme for medical costs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-amrita-fight-cancer
Her booktube channel, Amrita by the book: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmritabytheBook
Her instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrita_by_the_book/
Her twitter: https://twitter.com/amritaIQ")
![Review - communion by bell hooks [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JBPfIT3zvrc/hqdefault.jpg "Review - communion by bell hooks [CC]
Well, this was a change-your-life book for me!
Book link:
communion by bell hooks - https://bookshop.org/books/communion-the-female-search-for-love/9780060938291
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post every Tuesday and Saturday, with occasional posts on Thursdays! Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![January reading wrap-up! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JiaxxWqLxn0/hqdefault.jpg "January reading wrap-up! [CC]
It was a good reading month for me!
Time stamps & books I read
0:00 Intro
0:18 The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
1:48 Adore You, Smitten, and Then Came You - trilogy by Nicole Falls
Nicole Falls on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NicoleFalls
Black Authortuber Readathon wrap-up video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_NHXuyI2v8
my review video of the Accidentally in Love trilogy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIgiHS7w08o
5:07 Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Hosts of the Out of the Coffin Readalong:
BookTube with Amy: https://www.youtube.com/c/BookTubewithAmy
Anges book chatter: https://www.youtube.com/c/AngewithanE
7:13 Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
8:13 Flying too High by Kerry Greenwood
Rosie Cockshutts channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RosieCockshutt
9:27 A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony
Johns channel, Hey Yall Listen Up: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeyYallListenUp
11:14 Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
my review video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODul4x3crPY
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Indie fantasy: Margaret Pinard & S.D. Huston! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K4Rp9mwBgCw/hqdefault.jpg "Indie fantasy: Margaret Pinard & S.D. Huston! [CC]
I recently enjoyed Margaret Pinards speculative fiction short story collection, Fabled Passages, available on e-readers everywhere: https://www.amazon.com/Fabled-Passages-Speculative-Margaret-Pinard-ebook/dp/B0BKFBTVHF
AND the second book in S.D. Hustons Clash of Goddesses trilogy, Soul of a Rose: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Rose-Clash-Goddesses-Book-ebook/dp/B09P41VM8L/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KF3AKKWYMQRJ&keywords=soul+of+a+rose&qid=1677087482&s=digital-text&sprefix=soul+of+a+rose%2Cdigital-text%2C100&sr=1-1
Make sure to check out both of the authors channels:
Margaret Pinard: https://www.youtube.com/@MargaretPinard
S.D. Huston: https://www.youtube.com/@SDHuston
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![The Divine Comedy Reader Tag! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KGARaHh_uFk/hqdefault.jpg "The Divine Comedy Reader Tag! [CC]
I was tagged by John at Hey Yall Listen Up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtNvLNLB5mk
Original tag by Tom at Tom LA Books:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOVggh8j2w&t=0s
The Divine Comedy reader tag prompts:
1. VIRGIL AND DANTE
Inferno Canto I - “Are you the font that pours so overwhelming a river of human speech?”
ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS FEATURING A MASTER / PUPIL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS.
2. THE PSYCHEDELIC EAGLE
Paradiso Canto VIII - “In the sky I saw, distinctly shown in golden fire, the image of an Eagle’s head and neck.”
A BOOK THAT FIRED UP YOUR VISUAL IMAGINATION MORE THAN OTHERS.
3. COUNT UGOLINO
Inferno, Canto XXXIII - “And then hunger had more power than even sorrow had over me”
A BOOK YOU READ WITH SUCH GRAPHIC AND HORRIFIC DESCRIPTIONS THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THEM.
4. THE CINEMATIC ARCHANGEL
Inferno Canto IX - “I saw more than a thousand souls of the ruined flee before one who strode across the Styx”
WHAT BOOK THAT’S NOT BEEN ADAPTED FOR CINEMA WOULD YOU MAKE INTO A MOVIE OR A TV SERIES IF YOU WERE A PRODUCER WITH UNLIMITED FINANCIAL MEANS?
5. THE NOBLE CASTLE
Inferno Canto IV - “The Master of those who know, sitting in a philosophic family who look to him and do him honor.”
YOUR FAVORITE BOOK BY A PRE-CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER or a BOOK ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE THAT YOU LIKED.
6. PAOLO E FRANCESCA
Inferno Canto V “Love, which absolves none who are loved from loving”
A BOOK OF ANY GENRE WITH A LOVE STORY THAT YOU PARTICULARLY LIKED - AS PART OF THE CENTRAL PLOT OR NOT.
7. ULYSSES
Inferno, Canto XXVI “Until the sea had closed up over us.”
NAME A BOOK YOU LOVED (ANY GENRE) WHOSE PROTAGONIST LEADS A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO FOLLOW HIS / HER COURAGE AND AMBITION INTO AN ADVENTURE.
8. ST. BERNARD THE POET
Paradiso Canto XXXIII - “Love, in your womb, was fanned to fire again”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POETRY BOOKS IN TRANSLATION?
9. TAG SOMEONE !
I tag:
Courtney Ferriter: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6f2IQ2BSjJT0xXiVfba2Yg
Melissa Firman: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUQz8ZqW-wDHxxn3yyQKLg
Books mentioned:
Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston
(my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osq5HCpr-p4&t=1s)
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time series
Twenty Years at Hull-House by Jane Addams
Morningstar by Pierce Brown, Red Rising trilogy
Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Death Gate Cycle
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Collected Poems of Czeslaw Milosz
A Grain of Sand by Wislawa Szymborska
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne (she/her)! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post Tuesdays, Thursdays, and occasional Saturdays!
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Fantasy review - The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KHkYoipZk4E/hqdefault.jpg "Fantasy review - The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter [CC]
EPIC!
Link to the book: https://bookshop.org/books/the-rage-of-dragons/9780316489775
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne (she/her)! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post Tuesdays, Fridays, and occasional Saturdays!
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![The Slaughtermans Daughter by Yaniv Iczkovits [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KMGfv0IVxNI/hqdefault.jpg "The Slaughtermans Daughter by Yaniv Iczkovits [CC]
One of my assignments for the BookTube Prize octofinals, group C. And my top-ranked book from that group!
Bookshop link: https://bookshop.org/books/the-slaughterman-s-daughter/9780805243659
Check out my ranking video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE-R_gaEPXQ&t=1s
Scott at Gunpowder, Fiction & Plot discusses this book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuSwrjoxCmw
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![#TagTuesday: Are you like Jane Austen?? [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KVlkHZzFFB0/hqdefault.jpg "#TagTuesday: Are you like Jane Austen?? [CC]
I forgot to tag anyone because Im a MONSTER! If youre watching this and havent done the tag yet, please consider doing it!
Original tag by Shelly Swearingen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B23u5XMdF_E
Margaret Pinards version of the tag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQDkykGcBb8
Prompts & timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:22 1) Jane Austen was.an artist and writer. Give yourself a point if youre an artist. Give yourself an extra point if you are a writer.
2:56 2) Austen was born to a large family. She had a total of 7 siblings: one sister and six brothers. Give yourself a point if you have three or more siblings family.
3:20 3) Austen did not enjoy her formal education. Give yourself a point if you did not care for school.
4:18 4) Dark humor is woven throughout Austen’s writing. Give yourself a point if you have a grim sense of humor. You must share a dark joke in order to get this point.
5:06 5) Jane broke off two engagements and died a spinster. Give yourself a point if you are single.
5:20 6) Austen experienced low periods or spells of depression. Give yourself a point if you have struggled with mental health.
6:03 7) Jane moved away from her childhood home in her 20s. Give yourself a point if you’ve lived away from your childhood hometown or region.
6:44 8) Jane was not vain. Give yourself a point if you have very little interest in vanity.
7:35 9) Hair was of little concern to Austen. Give yourself a point if you cannot be bothered with your hair.
8:10 10) Austen expressed her distaste for hot weather. Give yourself a point if you dislike the heat.
How did you score?
10-11 - The spirit of Jane Austen lives in you. She’s with you day in and day out.
9-8 - In another life Jane Austen and you could have been siblings or at least good friends. You want to spend time with one another and work to make that happen.
6-7 - You and Austen are friends. You two could enjoy a long walk in the country and chat about all of the things you all have in common.
4-5 - Though you have less in common with Jane than some, you could probably spend an afternoon with her chatting about your similarities and differences.
2-3 - You and Austen may not share much in common, but you two would be delighted to see one another at a local social gathering exchanging pleasantries on your different lives.
0-1 - You and Austen could learn a lot from one another considering how different you are. This could be shared over a cup of afternoon tea.
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![The Reading Goals Tag! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KYjSuV7zbq8/hqdefault.jpg "The Reading Goals Tag! [CC]
Original tag by Rosie Cockshutt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHMFT8DCexg
I tag:
Bright & Bookish: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrightandBookish
What Effy Reads: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkYHbWZlsCwmEQXe91keiMg
David Wiley: https://www.youtube.com/user/wileydavid1
Questions & Time Stamps
0:00 Intro & hello
00:51 Tag some friends!
2:13 Do you set reading goals? Why or why not?
4:13 Are your goals things that you absolutely aim to complete, or more general themes you want to focus on?
4:51 When in the year do you set new goals?
5:05 Do you have any long standing goals that you aim for every year? If yes, what are they?
5:29 What type of goal has been the most successful, by whatever metric you chose, in the past?
6:42 What type of goal has not gone to plan? What went wrong?
7:44 Do you change your goals based on how the last reading year has gone?
8:55 Do you track your reading goals? If so, how?
9:21 Has any of this changed a lot over the course of your reading life?
Link to my 2022 personal African American Literature Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONeA4MlUosE
Link to my 2021 Goodreads fantasy goal (which I failed to complete): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvHohalTsUk
Link to my 2021 Jane Austen challenge (which I failed to complete): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twH1_g1IPmg
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Review - The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KizqP_ZdO3c/hqdefault.jpg "Review - The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White [CC]
Short review of this YA fantasy novel - the ending killed me, yall.
Booktuber mentioned:
Megan - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmX0661Xu7mFnEttonuQDg
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays!
Find me elsewhere & say hi!
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/")
