Book Bingo 2025

Bermuda National Library's Book Bingo for Winter 2025 presents a challenge to branch out and explore alternative reading experiences.

Written by: Colin Bate

A group of humanized books smiling and waving with bingo balls in the air.

On Tuesday, I took my bike in for service and so had some time to kill in town on foot. I headed to the library as my usual destination to sit quietly. However, upon entering I saw a poster for a winter challenge. Specifically a Book Bingo challenge.

For anyone not familiar with the format, it follows the idea of American style Bingo with a grid of squares. Five by five is the normal grid, but in this case they are using a four by four, and the goal is to complete a line on the grid, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Instead of numbers on the grid, each space has a genre or theme for a book that you need to read to be able to check off.

Getting a line of four books completed can get me a prize, but completing the whole card (a blackout) can get me entered into a grand prize draw. I have no idea what the prizes or grand prize might be, and really that isn’t the point. The point is to get a chance to step outside your comfort zone and read something new.

The categories are as follows:

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  1. A fairy tale re-telling
  2. A best book of 2024
  3. A book that gives you cozy vibes
  4. A near future novel by a woman
  5. A book from a genre that you usually avoid
  6. Tackle your TBR – read something on your list
  7. A Bermuda history book
  8. A book with an unreliable narrator
  9. Page to screen
  10. A book recommended to you
  11. An award winner
  12. A memoir
  13. An LGBTQ+ romance novel
  14. A joyful read by a Black writer
  15. A graphic novel
  16. A novel written by a Bermuda writer

I have read two so far (in green), and I have plans for the rest. I have until March 8 to finish the challenge. I will update this post periodically with my progress.

(Last updated 10 Feb 2025 - Read them all!)

Completed Books

2. Annie Bot

by Sierra Greer
Science Fiction

1. A Spindle Splintered

by Alix E. Harrow
Fantasy

3. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

by T. Kingfisher
Fantasy

4. Scribe

by Alyson Hagy
Near Future Fiction

6. Daddy’s Girl

by Lisa Scottoline
Mystery Thriller

14. Small Joys

by Elvin James Mensah
Contemporary Literary Fiction

13. Solve for i

by A.E. Dooland
LGBTQ+ Romance

12. There and Back Again: An Actor’s Tale

by Sean Astin
Memoir

9. The Time Machine

by H.G. Wells
Science Fiction

16. The Lost Island of Tamarind

by Nadia Aguiar
Adventure

11. The Song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller
Historical Fiction

7. Story of Bermuda & Her People

by William Sears Zuill
History

5. ADHD 2.0 & Social Anxiety for Adults

by Margaret Hampton
Self Help

10. The Spellshop

by Sarah Beth Durst
Romantasy

15. The Stonekeeper

by Kazu Kibuishi
Fantasy

8. The Last House on Needless Street

by Catriona Ward
Horror Thriller