Technically speaking, that’s three reading challenges complete so far this year. 52 total books and two different runs of the Badass Books Reading Challenge detailed here.
The 2018 Badass Books Reading Challenge was from a book blog I found – mehawkins.com. 18 unique categories. Doing this challenge actually inspired my to write my own challenges for next year (and the Around the World 2018 Reading Challenge you can try out already!!)
So here is the rundown of my progress through the challenge. (Please note: I read these in no particular order)
The 2018 Badass Books Reading Challenge (Run #2)
A book published in 2018.
Head On by John Scalzi(2018)
Another fast paced science fiction crime/conspiracy novel. Scalzi’s work makes for excellent reading.
See the full review here: Book Review: Head On (John Scalzi)
Rating: 5/5 Buttons
A book published the year you were born.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (1990)
Two of my absolute favourite authors writing a book about the end of the world. What could be finer? Funny, clever and entertaining.
Rating: 5/5 Buttons
A classic book or a book published over 100 years ago.
Round the Moon by Jules Verne (1865)
After being blasted into orbit around the moon in Journey to the Moon, our intrepid heroes find themselves stuck – never to hit the moon, never to fall back to Earth. To orbit until their death. It sounds far more dull than it actually is.
Rating: 5/5 Buttons
A book that you’ve started before and never finished.
Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett (2001)
“The construction of the world’s first truly accurate clock starts a race against, well, time, for Lu Tze and his apprentice Lobsang Ludd. Because it will stop time. And that will only be the start of everyone’s problems.” (from Goodreads). Probably my least favourite Pratchett book – it’s telling that I remember so little that I had to steal a summary rather than write my own – I may owe it a re-read.
Rating: 2/5 Buttons
A book you should have read in school, but didn’t.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arther Conan Doyle (1902)
After the suspicious death of land-owner, Holmes and Watson must solve the case of the mysterious devil-dog that has been reported to curse the Baskerville family, before the last of the great line meets a grizzly end. One of my favourite Holmes stories.
Rating: 4/5 Buttons
A Book you’ve already read – time for a re-read!
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Napoleon by Gideon Defoe (2004)
This story finds the Pirate Captain giving up piracy and going to become a beekeeper on the island of Corsica, which he bought from the dastardly Black Bellamy. But PC’s dreams are shattered with the arrival of Napoleon, which sees the pair become locked in a battle for supremacy – and popularity – over the Island and it’s inhabitants.
See the full review here: Series Review: The Pirates! In an Adventure with… (Gideon Defoe)
Rating: Exceptional (Series)
A book that you’ve put off reading.
The Bodhisattva Ideal by Sangharakshita (2000)
A brief introduction into what it means to be a Bodhisattva – someone who strives to attain enlightenment for all beings . A fascinating read. Don’t read this unless you have at least some idea about Buddhism beforehand.
Rating: 4.5/5 Buttons
See the full review here: Book Review: Bodhisattva Ideal: Wisdom and Compassion in Buddhism (Sangharakshita)
A banned book.
Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945)
The animals take over the farmyard in the interests of seizing the means of production so they can all live a better life. Until the pigs take over. A weird, but enjoyable read.
Rating: 4/5 Buttons
A book by an author you’ve never read.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
The very strange tale of the land of Nollop, where words are treasured and linguists are deified. A weird but brilliant look into the world of religious totalitarianism. A word lovers dream (or indeed nightmare).
Rating: 5/5 Buttons
See the full review here: Book Review: Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters (Mark Dunn)
A popular author’s first book.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950)
A collection of tales about the colonization of Mars. I tried SO hard to like this book. Bits of it were interesting but mostly it just bored me. If you’re not a serious Sci-fi fan, give it a miss.
Rating: 2/5 Buttons
A book turned movie you’ve seen but haven’t read.
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (1872)
Phileas Fogg sets off on an impossible journey, in order to win a wager. A delightful tale of round the world travel in the shortest possible time. Well worth a read.
Rating: 5/5 Buttons
A book turned TV show you’ve seen but haven’t read.
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864)
When an ancient clue, written in runes, is discovered and translated a journey is made to discover what lies beneath the Earth’s surface. A tale of peril and adventures – fanciful and wonderful.
Rating: 5/5 Buttons
A funny book.
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists by Gideon Defoe (2006)
The Pirates – for reasons that escape me – find themselves in London and have to solve a mystery involving the Opera, and see’s the Pirate Captain mistaken for Karl Marx, and become a Philosopher himself. Probably my least favourite of the series – it’s a great book, but the story doesn’t stand out in my mind as well as the rest.
See the full review here: Series Review: The Pirates! In an Adventure with… (Gideon Defoe)
Rating: 4/5 Buttons
A book that will make you smarter.
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Nanh (1998)
This book is a basic introduction to the foundations of Buddhism, taught from the point of view of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Absolutely recommended. This is definitely one of the most important books I have ever read.
See the full review here: Book Review: The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching (Thich Nhat Hanh)
Rating: Exceptional (Book of the Month June 2018)
An award-winning book.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979)
The unlikely, and indeed impossible, tale of Arthur Dent – sole survivor of the destruction of Earth. What can you do when you discover your best friends an alien, your planet has been destroyed to make an interstellar bypass and you’ll never get a decent cup of tea ever again? Hilarious – one of my all time favourite books.
Rating: 5/5 Buttons
A book based on a true story.
Buddha by Osamu Tezuka (1972)
This is the first book on a graphic novel series detailing the events of the life of the Buddha. It’s interesting, but I can’t help but feel that if you didn’t already know the story you would be completely lost almost immediately.
Rating: 4.5/5 Buttons
A book chosen for you by a friend.
Pirate Lattitudes by Michael Crichton (2009)
Most of the story was really good, and with a few small changes could have been amazing. Still recommended. It’s exciting and entertaining and a little bit racist which is super annoying.
See the full review here: Book Review: Pirate Lattitudes (Michael Crichton)
Rating: 3.5/5 Buttons
A book set during Christmas.
Lost Christmas by David Logan (2011)
This is the story of the boy whose life falls apart on Christmas eve. The book reads like that list of ‘really bad metaphors’ that surfaces on the net every now and then – and I LOVE it.
See the full review here: Kwik Review: Lost Christmas (David Logan)
Rating: 4/5 Buttons
So there we have it. Badass Books Reading Challenge #2 is complete. Only a handful of books left to read before I make run #3 and the second total books challenge (80 books).
Last thing before I go:
Top 3 of the Challenge:
You gotta pick a top three, so here are mine (Drum roll please):
You should go out and read these books immediately!!
Finally, a big thank you to mehawkins.com for writing the reading challenge in the first place and getting me reading again!
Ragdoll Reads 
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