For the letter “C” of my Alphabet Challenge, I was trying to decide between two Classical mythology-based fiction novels: Clytemnestra or Camilla. Both are and author’s interpretation by filling in the gaps from bits and pieces of Greco-Roman myths. Honestly, I think I could have gotten through most of the alphabet just focusing on Classical retellings because so many of them are titled with the main character’s name!

Each year, my church starts the year with 21 days dedicated towards fasting and worshipping as they introduce a focus for the year. This year, our church is pursuing faith through reading testimonies written by missionaries, and the first book the staff chose was Bruchko, which worked perfectly as the next book for my alphabet challenge!!

I listen to several bookish podcasts, one of them being “What Should I Read Next” with Anne Bogel, creator of “The Modern Mrs. Darcy” blog. On one such recent episode at the end of 2025, a guest explained a challenge she would be undertaking in the new year. It is an alphabet challenge in which each of the titles of the books she will be reading must fall in alphabetical order. That did not sound too hard at first until she elaborated on the rules.

At the end of the year, I enjoy pulling up the summaries of my reading stats and reflecting over my reading journey: the slumps, the tear-jerkers, ideas that changed the way I think, and the books I could not put down to go to sleep.