#UnsolvedAThon: TBR and Mandy Fangirling Over This Amazing Readathon

Um, this is a readathon that I have been fangirling about so hard since Sha casually dropped me a twitter mention of its existence. Sha and I’ve been determined to participate in more readathons this year, and I’m pretty sure we have been rocking it. Since Feb, we have done one each month, and why not keep it going? We have agreed to take a break for May, but we absolutely absolutely absolutely had to do this one – 1) Laura at The Book Corps is amazing 2) Um, Buzzfeed Unsolved is amazing 3) The Combo of the two BROUGHT US SO MUCH AMAZINGNESS.

Today is my official post for my TBR I’m planning for #UnsolvedAThon, and a bit more about the readathon you should be joining. Sha will be updating her progress on Twitter and in the weekly Sunday highlights post.

Basically, this readathon is taking some amazing highlights from Buzzfeed Unsolved and combining it with what we all love: reading. You can take two different paths – Shane or Ryan – and crack open some books like Shane and Ryan, well, didn’t crack the case. In our friendship, it is totally clear that Sha is the Shane and Mandy is the Ryan. However, when we were screeching over the genius of this readathon, we both admitted that we were both drawn to well…the other’s prompts. So Mandy and Sha are taking a walk on the other side, and seeing what it’s like to live each other’s Buzzfeed Unsolved personalities.

Here’s a description explaining the readathon:

This is an interactive readathon! It’s quite similar to that of a typical bingo board, but instead you have an Investigation Board — like what amateur sleuths (or detectives) use when they’re investigating a case. (Scroll down to check it out.)

At the top of the Investigation Board, you’ll find Ryan’s Path and the 10 clues you need to solve to complete Ryan’s Path and solve the unsolved case. At the bottom of the Investigation Board, you’ll find Shane’s Path and the 10 clues you need to solve to complete Shane’s Path and solve the unsolved case. You only choose one path to take (unless you finish the readathon early and want to start again).

Each clue is a Buzzfeed Unsolved episode and in order to solve the clue, you need to read one book that relates to that episode. Under the “Investigation Board” heading, you’ll find a detailed explanation of each episode and a reading prompt to help you choose what type of book to read for each clue. But don’t fret: there are ways you can cheat and solve the case faster too (which is explained under the “Extras” heading)!

For every clue you solve (meaning, for every book you read), you move forward one spot on the Investigation Board by following the red string to the next episode. You must read a book for every episode on your chosen path to gather all the clues in order to reach the middle of the Investigation Board and solve the unsolved case!

(Find out more here and sign up!!)

Now, onto the books that I plan on reading while I’m living the Skeptical Shane life.

The Harrowing Hunt for Bigfoot: Bigfoot is believed to be a massive ape-like creature that lives in North American forests. He is a creature of folklore, but many believe to have seen the creature in real life, and some anthropologists work to prove his existence. Read a book about a mythical creature/monster.

Book Choice: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. Dragons, swamp monsters, and witches – oh my! Also, OH YES. I am so down for thissssssss.

---

The Strange Disappearance of D.B. Cooper: D.B. Cooper is the name of an unidentified man who, in 1971, hijacked a Boeing 727 plane, demanding a $200,000 ransom from the U.S. government. After he received his money, Cooper parachuted off the plane … and was never heard from again. The FBI launched a massive hunt for him, but he was never found, and the case of D.B. Cooper remains the biggest unsolved air piracy case in history. Read a mystery or thriller book. 

Book Choice: Voyages in the Underworld of Orpheus Black. I’m a bit confused on what is real and not real in the summary already, so hopefully that’s a good sign this will be a good mystery?

---

The Haunting of the Salem Witch Trials: The Salem Witch Trials were a chain of trials, prosecutions and executions of people accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts from 1692 to 1693. Fourteen women and five men were killed. It is still viewed as the deadliest witch hunt in American history today. Read a book involving witches.

Book Choice: Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova. This book has been on my TBR since, well, it’s actually the first book on the top of my to be read shelf on Goodreads, so, let’s just say a long time. I can’t wait to read about this fabulous brujassssssss.

---

The Horrifying Murders of the Zodiac Killer: The Zodiac killer was a serial killer that went on a horrific spree from 1968 to 1969. He is most famous for his taunts, letters and ciphers to the police and detectives investigating him, which he signed with a zodiac symbol. To this day, his identity remains a mystery, and many “copycat” killers have taken inspiration from him. Read a retelling.

Book Choice: Reflection by Elizabeth Lim. HELLLLLLLLO MULAN. It’s not really a retelling in the classic sense, but I’m so going with it.

---

The Secret Society of the Illuminati: Historically, the Illuminati is a secret society founded by Bavarian men in 1776. The secret society opposed religion, abuses of state power, and the deliberate prevention of knowledge (obscurantism). It went into decline around 1798. However, many conspiracy theorists believe that the group still retain power and have even gone so far as to secretly control the entire world, mainly through the cloning of celebrities, and that their goal is to enforce a totalitarian world government. This is known as the New World Order. Read a book about or involving a secret society.  

Book Choice: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. I’m finallllllllllly getting back into my RR binges, and um, secret orders with Egyptian mythology? YES PLEASE.

---

The Suspicious Assassination of JFK: John F. Kennedy was the 35^th President of the United States. In November 1963, he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas by a man named Lee Harvey Oswald. At least, that’s what the government said. Oswald was arrested 70 minutes after the shooting, and two days later, Oswald himself was assassinated by a man named Jack Ruby, who later died awaiting trial. Read a book about or involving an assassin. 

Book Choice: The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid. I’ve been saying that I’ve been needing to read this book for literal ages, and now now now finally I should be. Fingers crossed?

---

The Demonic Goatman’s Bridge: Also known as the Old Alton Bridge, this bridge connects the cities of Denton and Copper Canyon in Texas. According to local lore, the bridge and the surrounding forest is believed to be the home of a satyr-like demon, that attacks people who attempted to walk on his bridge. Read a book about or involving demons.

Book Choice: The Haunted by Danielle Vega. Okay, reading the summary, the MC is either battling demons or like really mean ghosties. It mentions evil and scratches, which I know, thanks to my Buzzfeed Unsolved knowledge, that it could be either?

---

The Thrilling Gardner Museum Heist: In 1990, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston fell victim to a heist. Two men posing as policeman gained entry into the museum and proceeded to rob 13 pieces of art, valued at more than $500 million. The artworks have never been recovered but as of 2018, Interpol and other connected agencies believe they are getting close. Read a book involving a heist or thieves.

Book Choice: Ruse by Cindy Pon. I super enjoyed the first book in this series, and I’m ready for this gang to be back in action doing heisting and saving the worldy things.

---

3 Horrifying Cases of Ghosts and Demons: The Winchester Mystery House, the Island of the Dolls, and the Sallie House – a collection of horrifying locations widely purported to house ghosts and even a demon. Read a collection of short stories/anthology.  

Book Choice: I’m still on the hunt for this one. It depends on what I request or decide to pick up. I’m leaving this one open ended, and I will see where it takes me.

---

The Treacherous Treasure Hunt of Forrest Fenn: In 2000, art dealer Forrest Fenn reportedly buried treasure worth over a million dollars somewhere in the Rocky Mountains – mountains that span the US and Canada. It is believed that the value of the treasure is worth over $10 million today. As of July 2017, the treasure has not been found. Read a book involving an adventure or quest.  

Book Choice: The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan. Um, like, any and every RR book includes an adventure and quest. I AM READY…even though I still haven’t read the first one.

---

These could be subject to change depending if I get any ARCs or library books that may fit better or…if I decide to do either of the cheats, but I feel pretty confident with these. I AM SO READY FOR THISSSSSSSSSSSSs.

insert from Sha, muahaha Mandy doesn’t even know: um so yeah, I’m doing this, but i can’t  handle the pressure of another tbr. catch my reads as they happen on the BPR Twitter because i promise I’M HYPED AND DOING THIS. just not with a tbr. it’s the one rebel streak this goody two shoes allows herself, you know? (don’t tell mandy I was here)

What do you think? Are you excited for this? Do you love Buzzfeed Unsolved? Are you more Shane or Ryan? Let’s discuss in the comments below!