The Reading Rush 2020
“The Reading Rush is a week-long readathon for book lovers all around the world” to read as many books as possible! It is hosted by Ariel Bissett and Raeleen Lemay, who are both Canadian YouTubers. During the event there are week long and daily challenges, badges to be earned, and virtual read-ins hosted on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. On the website there is a forum to discuss your reading plans, goals and more. They also have merchandise, a Book Club, and a planned live show.
Reading Rush Events
The Reading Rush Instagram and Twitter accounts are hosting a grip of events to help keep you motivated and so that you can hang out, chat, and read with others.
- Instagram Liveshow Read-Ins
- Monday, July 20, 2020 at 11 am PST
- Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 11 am PST
- Friday, July 24, 2020 at 11 am PST
- Book Club live show on July 25th, 2020 at 11 am PST
- Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 11 am PST
- Instagram Sprints
- Monday, July 20, 2020 at 2 pm PST with Iris of @irismessenger_
- Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 2 pm PST with Leena of @leenanorms
- Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 2:30 pm PST with Julia of @shakespeareandsuch
- Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 2 pm PST with Jaime of @absorbedinpages
- Friday, July 24, 2020 at 2 pm PST with Monica Kim of @monicakim.jpg
- Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 2 pm PST with Olivia of @livs_library
- Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 2 pm PST with Brittany of @thetinyhouselibrary
- Special Twitter Reading Journal Sprints
- Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 10 am PST
- Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 10 am PST
- Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10 am PST
- Twitter Reading Sprints
- Different Twitter hosts will each by leading four daily sprints, starting at 7 am and ending at 11 pm PST everyday
See the complete and table formatted schedules here.
2020 Book Club Pick
The Reading Rush also hosts a book club. This year the chosen book is “Such A Fun Age” by Kiley Reid, which is a contemporary coming-of-age story. The book club live show will be on July 25th, 2020 at 11:00 am PST.
Instagram hashtags for The Reading Rush book club: #rrsuchafunage and #rrbookclub.
The 2020 Reading Rush Prompts
Here are the 2020 Reading Rush prompts:
- Read a book matching the colour of your birth stone!
- Read a book that starts with the word “The”.
- Read a book that inspired a movie you’ve seen.
- Read the first book you touch.
- Read a book completely not in your house [BE SAFE!].
- Read a genre that scares you or your least read genre.
- Read a book that takes place on a different continent than yours.
My 2020 Reading Rush TBR
I limited my Reading Rush picks to the library books that I currently have checked out from the city I used to live in. I checked these library books out before Covid-19, and when I moved I was not able, and still am not able, to return them. So I currently have THIRTY-SEVEN library books and I haven’t read a single one of course! To fix this I decided to pick exclusively from this large pile before reading the prompts, and I think it worked out really well.
Prompt 1 – Birth Stone Color
For the first prompt I used my birthstone, Diamond, as inspiration since I was born in April. Of course “The Crystal RX” by Colleen McCann popped out since it’s not only silver/white but it’s about crystals, perfect.
Tap into your “Soul GPS” with this essential guide to the healing power of crystals, from their ancient origins to their modern-day applications.
Prompt 2 – “The” Book
For this prompt, books that start with “The”, I only had two choices, but since I was looking at the spines only I didn’t notice the second choice and thought there was only one, “The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook” by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D. I’ve been meaning to read this rather dense book for some time, so I begrudgingly choose it.
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook has already helped over one million readers make a full and lasting recovery from generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, specific phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other anxiety-related issues.
Prompt 3 – Book to Movie Adaptation
I can’t believe I have a book for this prompt in my library stack! I had checked out “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen, although I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I do have it on my computer and plan on watching it after reading. Again, perfect (and my only choice)!
An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of Riding Lessons.
Prompt 4 – First Touch
For this prompt I wanted to choose from the eight different graphic novels I have checked out, to give myself a little break with a shorter, easier read. I mixed them up in front of me with my eyes closed and pointed a finger out, which landed on “City of Light, City of Dark” by Avi (Author) and Brian Floca (Illustrator). What a beautiful cover!
Two kids fight to save their city from eternal winter in this gripping fantasy by Newbery Medalist Avi, illustrated by three-time Sibert honouree Brian Floca.
Prompt 5 – Outside My House
For this prompt I plan on reading my books outside on my balcony, and maybe a bit by the lake if it’s safe during the week (people are not practicing social distancing or wearing masks here). I wanted to pick a fun, summer novel so I chose “Watching You” by Lisa Jewell. I’m also going to throw in the book club pick, “Such A Fun Age” by Kiley Reid which actually just came through today as an audiobook from the library. My TBR is shaping up really nicely.
Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Bristol, England; home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you.
In the midst of a family crisis one late evening, white blogger Alix Chamberlain calls her African American babysitter, Emira, asking her to take toddler Briar to the local market for distraction. There, the security guard accuses Emira of kidnapping Briar, and Alix’s efforts to right the situation turn out to be good intentions selfishly mismanaged.
Prompt 6 – Least Read ‘Genre’
For this prompt I decided to double up again, but I also think I’ve stretched the rules a bit here. I don’t often read series, so I choose “The Astral Traveler’s Daughter” by K.C. Archer and “Take A Hint Dani Brown” by Talia Hibbert. I read the first book in the School for Psychics series, “School for Psychics” at the beginning of 2019, so it’s time for me to finish this series and take it off my TBR.
“Take A Hint Dani Brown” is a series continuation as well, but not a prompt cheat since it’s a contemporary romance, and I do not read romance. But I thoroughly enjoyed “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” (review coming soon, including my thoughts on the Fibromyalgia representation) which I read not knowing it was a romance. I really am looking forward to this read. It’s not in my library stack, but I do have the ebook checked out from the library.
Last year, Teddy Cannon discovered she was psychic. This year, her skills will be put to the test as she investigates a secretive case that will take her far from home—and deep into the past in the thrilling follow-up to School for Psychics.
Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him “rescuing” her from their office building goes viral…
Prompt 7 – Different Continent
For this I choose “Akata Witch” by Nnedi Okorafor, which again I thought was the only book out of my library books set on a different continent, but I now know that “Watching You” is also on a different continent. Half my library books are non-fiction or graphic novels, and the rest are set in America. This is something I’ve never noticed before, I’d like to read more fiction set in different places. I appreciate this prompt.
Akata Witch transports the reader to a magical place where nothing is quite as it seems. Born in New York, but living in Aba, Nigeria, twelve-year old Sunny is understandably a little lost. She is albino and thus, incredibly sensitive to the sun. All Sunny wants to do is be able to play football and get through another day of school without being bullied.
That wraps up my total to be read list for The Reading Rush 2020. I have 9 books in total, 2 non-fiction and 7 fiction including a graphic novel. 7 physical books, 1 ebook, and 1 audiobook. I’m really happy with this list and mix and can’t wait to start reading with everyone on Monday! It’s an ambitious list, but really I haven’t been leaving the house at all (obviously) and I do not work full time, so it’s doable. This will for sure push me out of my 2020 reading slump, which is why I jumped right in, in the first place.
Are you participating in The Reading Rush this year? What are you most excited to read? I think my most anticipated read out of all these books would have to be “Watching You”, I’m really curious and excited to see how that story unfolds.
