2025 Reading Plans

It’s hard to believe but we are in the last few months of 2024 and it’s time to look ahead and make some plans for 2025. Once again I am going to assume that everyone is happy with the current format of having various hosts and themes for each month.

If you wish to host a month or even want to discuss different ideas this is the place to do it. We need to cover the 12 months of 2025 and even if you don’t have a theme in mind yet, you can reserve a month now. If you have an idea and require a certain month please don’t hesitate to claim your place. Hosting a month requires you to come up with a theme and set up a thread. We are pretty loose about rules and regulations around here, the point is to enjoy our reading and to compare notes with other readers.

If you are new to Reading Through Time, please be assured that you are most welcome to join in however you wish. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask, we are a friendly and helpful group.

2025


January: Tess_W - Look to the Heavens: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366436
February: cindydavid4 - Colors
March: DeltaQueen - Sweet, Sweet Revenge
April: Familyhistorian - All is not what it seems
May: LibraryCin - Fairy Tales
June: AnnieMod - People on the Move
July: WelshBookworm: Composers
August: CurrierBell - Don't Let Yourself Get Checkmated!
September: Miss Brangwen - Highlands & Islands
October: john257hopper - Autumn
November: Miss Watson - The High Seas
December: Countrylife

I just want to add that repeats of themes are fine, perhaps just check the Wiki and don’t repeat anything that we've done over the last couple of years.

Wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Reading_Through_Time_Challenge

where is the wiki located pls

since we had adulery why not all' the 7 deadly sins?' any month

'If I were a rich man' poor to riches stories, or their opposite

have we done 'colors'?in the title or a color important in the story aka the scarlet letter

for november politics

>2 cindydavid4: I've added a link to the Wiki at the bottom of the first message. There is also a link on the Reading Through Time Home Page. Click on the square that says "see more" and the wiki links come up. There is a Wiki for our monthly themes as well as one for the Quarterly Theme Reads.

The 7 Deadly Sins would be fun - Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony and Sloth but only if others want to host their months with one of those topics.

I can't remember ever doing "colors" so that would be something new.

I think it might be difficult to find books with some of those themes such as gluttony and sloth. I'm not a fan--but will do what others prefer!

that fine, just throwing ideas to see what sticks

Id like to do Color for February

>5 cindydavid4: I've added you to the list. 😊

I will take January, please and thank you, with the theme "Look to the heavens."

>7 Tess_W: oh I like that

I just thought of a good one that I don't think we've done in quite a while, if ever. (Or have we?) Something about board games and card games – be they fiction, historical, or even just books about how to play the games or game strategy itself. I thought I'd call it Don't Let Yourself Get Checkmated!

The most obvious titles that pop to my own mind are Through the Looking Glass, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and The Chessmen of Mars. Most of us have read at least the first two, though maybe not the Edgar Rice Burroughs. But for more advanced Alice reading, I've had Martin Gardner's Annotated Alice around forever, have never gotten to it, but really do want to.

And for those like myself who want to incorporate a Great Courses Plus subscription into their reading, there are How to Play Chess: Lessons from an International Master, Great Board Games of the Ancient World, and The Mathematics of Games and Puzzles: From Cards to Sudoku (this last expanding beyond cards and board games to include topics like Sudoku and Rubik's Cube).

I think I'll exclude computer games. Nothing against them, mind you, but they may get us too far afield into cyberpunk ... Matrix ... a whole plethora of other topics and genres. Somebody else may want to consider this as a monthly topic, though.

And I'm going to exclude physical contests – sports, athletics, that kind of thing. Some great works out there (Malamud's The Natural comes first to mind, and also of course parts of Homer and Virgil) and plenty of history; but again, it's getting too far afield, though someone else might also want to consider this topic.

How about putting me down for, let's say, August? Gives me some time to pull this together. But if you're getting in a spot as the new year starts looming and some early month isn't filled, I can probably when the time comes volunteer myself to move up on the schedule for you.

its now a computer game but used to be RL 'dungeons and dragons'

its now a computer game but used to be RL 'dungeons and dragons' and does a book about playing board games count?

just saw your disclaimer; ok another time then.....

>7 Tess_W: Thanks, Tess.

>9 CurrerBell: Sounds like a fun challenge. I have been meaning to start a historical fiction series by Dorothy Dunnett that is based on Chess, this just might be my chance.

I've added myself in for March with a theme based on revenge. If anyone else wants March I can always change, just let me know.

>12 cindydavid4: Oh, sure, a book about playing board games is fine. In fact, one of those Great Courses videos is an instructional video on chess. Just let's not include computers or physical athletics or the whole thing becomes way too open-ended. I think they'd both be great topics, and maybe someone else would like to host one of them for 2025.

Also, I'd definitely consider casino play to be either a board game or a card game – so that should qualify a book like Dostoevsky's The Gambler or Balzac's La Peau de Chagrin.

See: Ten of the best card games in literature

I'll take April but I haven't thought of a theme yet.

>16 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg.

I think we've done a couple of my ideas before (maybe I even hosted), but it looks like it's been a few years:
- Crime/Mystery
- Discovery/Exploration

A new one I was thinking, but I'm not sure if it would be popular enough, and I'd like to fit it into history somehow is Fairy Tales.

>18 LibraryCin: Maybe classic Fairy Tales or the retelling of classic tales in a new way?

>19 Familyhistorian: I like it. Hopefully others will, too?

Unless someone else specifically wants it, why don't you fill me in for the next open month, May?

Thanks!

>20 LibraryCin: I remember doing that one (called it "fractured fairy tales')but that was in 2016, my first year hear, so I think 9 years is a long enough wait!

>21 cindydavid4: Oh wow! I don't remember what year I joined, but I don't recall that one, so must have been before me!

no matter, go ahead and run it!

I've added you in for May, Cindy. I like the idea of repeating Fairy Tales - let me know if that is your choice of topic so I can add it.

>24 DeltaQueen50: Oh, yes, please. I will do something with Fairy Tales! Thank you.

How about "People on the move - stories of immigrants, conquerors, discoverers, escapees and other cases of people not staying still"?

Any month will do if that sounds like a good idea.

>26 AnnieMod: Oh, I like it!

>26 AnnieMod: That's a great idea. I've added you for June as it's the next free month but you can change it if you wish.

Perhaps entitled "Not all who wander are lost" , J.R.R. Tolkien

I think I might have a theme for April - Conning and Pretending.

I‘d like to do "Highlands & Islands" in September - not limited to Scotland, but reading about mountains and islands in general.

>30 Familyhistorian: Maybe with a title of "All is not what it seems"

>28 DeltaQueen50: June is fine :)

>29 cindydavid4: Maybe - we shall se :)

>30 Familyhistorian: hee

>31 MissBrangwen: that's a good theme :)

>35 john257hopper: Glad you like it!

>34 cindydavid4: There was a lot of that in history!

>32 Familyhistorian: Great title, Meg!

>31 MissBrangwen: I've added your theme to the list - very intriguing.

Judy, to make my topic more fine tuned, could you please change it to: Astronomy in fiction Thanks you!

Oh my, is it that time of the year again already? I could take November, with a tentative theme of "The High Seas". As in pirates and the age of sail...

>39 Tess_W: oh but I found the original title breathtaking a bit. I was assuming astronomy but also thought religion, storms , our wider universe. But you dont need to keep it for me, I know what you meant:)

>39 Tess_W: I've changed it Tess.

>40 MissWatson: I've added you for November, Birgit.

>42 DeltaQueen50: Can you add me in June, please, as discussed above? :) Let's keep the topic as "People on the move" for now - I may come up with a cuter name by the time the post goes up.

How about 'giving' for December in honor of my favorite holiday book The Gift of the Magi tho it doesnt have to be about any religion, just the spirit of giving.

>43 AnnieMod: Sorry, I thought I had already added that in - but it's now definitely up there!

>44 cindydavid4: I love that idea!

We have three more months on offer and if no one wants them in a week - then I will be asking if anyone who currently has a month would be willing to host another one. I have been doing December for the last couple of years and going with "Reader's Choice" but a theme of "Giving" with cindydavid4 would be good. 😊

July, October and December are still available.

>46 MissBrangwen: cool thanks : wait a minute, dec is still available?

>48 cindydavid4: You have February already and DeltaQueen50 is giving another week to any other member who does not have a month already to volunteer :)

ok, I misunderstood DeltaQueen50 message, np

Hi, you can put me down for October, but I can't think of a theme right now, can I get back to you?

>51 john257hopper: I've added you for October - no rush for topic whenever you think of it. :)

>50 cindydavid4: I apologize if my messages seem garbled - my husband is in hospital right now and I am thinking about him and not concentrating on other things very well.

no apologies nec. I got the message and all is well. So hope he is getting better Hugs

>52 DeltaQueen50: I hope and pray he gets better soon, Delta

>53 cindydavid4: & >54 john257hopper: Thanks. It's been a long haul but I am hopeful that he will be coming home sometime next week.

Judy, hate to bug you........being a pain. Can I go back to my original topic--Look to the heavens for January? Trying to be more inclusive!

>55 DeltaQueen50: This sounds good. I hope things continue to improve for your husband.

I could do July - I'm going to be retired next year! Was thinking about composers, but I see you did a music theme in 2022... Here's a list just for fiction: https://www.artinfiction.com/blog/44-novels-featuring-famous-composers.

>56 Tess_W: It's no bother at all, Tess.

>57 LibraryCin: Thanks.

>58 WelshBookworm: Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. I have added you for July but have left the subject matter open, please confirm if you want your subject to be composers. I think that's an interesting subject by the way.

>59 DeltaQueen50: Yes, let's do Composers. I'm afraid I don't have a snazzy title though....

>60 WelshBookworm: I added "Composers" as the theme. Should be a good one!

>60 WelshBookworm: I like the theme and have several options for it! And I don't think that we always need a catchy title.

>62 MissBrangwen: I think a more straightforward title sometimes helps to focus the mind :)

>60 WelshBookworm: I'm not usually very good with catchy titles, either! Once in a while, I can come up with something but more often than not, I just can't do it!

If December is still open, I'll take that one. If already taken - no problem! If it's mine, I'm undecided on theme, but leaning towards >44 cindydavid4:'s "Giving". Will figure it out later!

>65 countrylife: It's yours, Cindy! I'll add your name to the top list.

I am happy to announce that we have volunteers for every month next year and I, for one, am looking forward to lots of great reading! Thank you all for keeping "Reading Through Time" alive and well. 😊

thanks for all the work you do to keep it all running, I know this is a stressful time for you; I hope you can sit back and relax, and good wishes for your husbands recovery

Thanks, Cindy.

Just let me add my thanks, too, Judy, for keeping us going when you're having so much else on your mind.

>70 MissWatson: and my thanks also :)

Hi, for my theme for next October, I suggest "Autumn" as a theme, any fiction or non-fiction taking place in Autumn, or featuring autumnal themes.

my favorite season; which makes living in the middle of the desert a little disapointing

>72 john257hopper: Great theme! I will add it to the top list.

>73 cindydavid4: My favorite time of the year as well.

>72 john257hopper: That's a wonderful idea!

Thanks all. It's actually not my favourite season in a lot of ways, but hopefully will prove fruitful.

Just an FYI for those of you who like to plan (!) Next year the quarterly RTT time eras are:
Renaissance/16th century
17th century
18th century
Napoleonic Era

>77 Tess_W: I'm looking forward to these topics so much! Especially because I haven't read a lot about the first two time eras.

>78 MissBrangwen: I am, too! My focus was on modern history (post Renaissance), so I'm really ignorant of a lot of the earlier stuff. That's why I love this group!

Hi, I'm new here and would like to take december, if it's still free, with Cats or Dragons as theme. 😃

Best greetings to all of you!

>80 BuecherDrache: Welcome to the group but I am afraid that December has already been taken by another member. I hope you are able to join in with our monthly themes and we look forward to seeing what you will be reading.

>81 DeltaQueen50: Thank you very much!

No problem! Maybe next year :) I look forward a good reading time in this group 😊

Have a nice weekend!

>80 BuecherDrache: Welcome, Book Dragon! Great name BTW.;-)

>83 WelshBookworm: Hello, Thank you very much for your warm greeting! Yes, I love books, cats, gardens, and dragons 😎

And also like reading about King Arthur & co. :😊

>77 Tess_W: oh I'd like to join, I really like the themes in >1 DeltaQueen50: but what I'm not sure about is (for example, the first 3: January-Look to the Heavens; February-Colors; March-Sweet, Sweet Revenge) have to also fit Renaissance/16th century ?

or can it be anytime through history?

>85 AnishaInkspill: They can be anytime through history. We have quarterly themes that go through time within several years covering the most important/famous eras in a chronological order, and monthly themes chosen by members who would like to host a month. The quarterly and monthly themes are separate, and the monthly themes usually are a topic that does not correspond to a specific era. Of course you can combine them if you like or if a book coincidently fits both themes! And of course nothing is an obligation - if you just wish to join for the monthly themes but the quarterly themes do not appeal to you, you are welcome.

>85 AnishaInkspill: Yeah, what she said! Sometimes it's difficult or impossible to combine. To be honest, mine don't usually match.

>85 AnishaInkspill: To add to the already excellent points above - think of the monthly and the quarterly sequences as two different ways to engage with the group and reading history - one of them is very ordered, going chronologically through time (the quarterly), the other one is more haphazard and topic-based. You can do both if you chose so but they function separately (almost like two separate groups under the same umbrella with the same participants (occasionally)). You get bonus points (well... a pat on the back from someone around here) if you find a book that matches both and some people make a point of doing so but you can chose to engage with the group in any way you find valuable for you.

>80 BuecherDrache: Ha, you found this group! :)

>86 MissBrangwen:, >87 Tess_W:, >88 AnnieMod: thank you, this is v helpful, and this looks like a fun challenge. I like to be challenged but I looked at the 2 sets and I was completely stumped I'm and impressed that some manage it.

>89 AnishaInkspill: I think the more "modern" time periods, the easier it is to match. But again, I rarely do. I think this year that happened once for me. However, I rarely expend a large amount of energy to find matches!;)

Looking for "Heaven" ideas, I saw The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. I won this book years ago and it is time for a re-read.
Are re-reads counted?

>91 mnleona: Sure! And it doesn't have to be heaven--as in religion--it can be comets, asteroids, space exploration, etc.

>90 Tess_W: I'm going to take your word on that, this type of challenge is is new for me but I'm enjoying finding the books. I have this one lined up for next year Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science & Religion where it just sounds it will it the Looking to the Heavens prompt. I wasn't going to start Jan with it but if it fits it makes it a good reason.

Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science & Religion starting the year withthis, I don't know, thinking about the master and margarita, not sure

>88 AnnieMod: Dear Annie, yes, I found this group 😂, but I have the feeling I'm completly lost in the discussion. I'm eagerly waiting for what else is to come: :)

I just want to jump in here and welome our new members and apoligize to everyone as I have been absent for the last couple of weeks as I suffered a stroke and I am just out of hospital and ready to start work on regaining my strength and balance.

>96 DeltaQueen50: I am sorry it hasn't been easy for you and hope things will start to get easier for you.

>96 DeltaQueen50: You are doing great.

>96 DeltaQueen50: I am so sorry to hear this, and I hope you recover soon :)

Oh no! I hope your healing goes quickly. Take care of yourself!

>96 DeltaQueen50: Sending you best wishes and healing energy!

>96 DeltaQueen50: : I hope 2025 is a year full of healing and health for you!

>96 DeltaQueen50: Best wishes for a happier time next year. I know how difficult hip recovery can be, and I imagine stroke recovery might well be even more difficult.

> Thanks Cindy and all the best of the season to you and yours as well!