Michelle's Empty Nest’s
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(group member since Oct 31, 2021)
Michelle's Empty Nest’s
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from the Hooked on Books group.
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Ridiculously Random Prompt #9: Bossaball
Originating in Spain, Bossaball comprises elements of volleyball, football (soccer), gymnastics, and capoeira, which is an Afro-Brazilian cultural practice simultaneously involving a fight and a dance.
The game is played on an inflatable course with inbuilt trampolines on each side. The teams consist of 4 - 5 players with the aim of getting the ball over the net without the other team being able to return it.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🏐 1. Read a book that you rated 4 - 5 stars.
🏐 2. Read a book where a character fights or dances.
🏐 3. Read a book set at least partially in Spain.
🏐 4. Read a book where the MC's first name does NOT start with a letter in BOSSABALL.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #9: BossaballOriginating in Spain, Bossaball comprises elements of volleyball, football (soccer), gymnastics, and capoeira, which is an Afro-Brazilian cultural practice simultaneously involving a fight and a dance.
The game is played on an inflatable course with inbuilt trampolines on each side. The teams consist of 4 - 5 players with the aim of getting the ball over the net without the other team being able to return it.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🏐 1. Read a book that you rated 4 - 5 stars.
🏐 2. Read a book where a character fights or dances.
🏐 3. Read a book set at least partially in Spain.
🏐 4. Read a book where the MC's first name does NOT start with a letter in BOSSABALL.
Prompt Name / #: Thrillers #50
The Palm Beach Murders
Published: March 2021
James Patterson sets this bestselling thriller in Florida’s wealthiest zip code. Palm Beach doesn’t just have billionaires, yachts, and private planes—it also has the best murder plots money can buy.
The Palm Beach Murders ( previously published as Let's Play Make-Believe ) : Both survivors of the divorce wars, Christy and Martin don't believe in love at first sight and certainly not on a first date. But from the instant they lock eyes, life becomes a sexy, romantic dream come true. That is, until they start playing a strangely intense game of make-believe—a game that's about to go too far. (with James O. Born)
Nooners : Everyone who knows Tim says he's a good guy. But the popular advertising exec has a a lot of the people who know him are getting murdered. And by the time he figures out why, Tim won't feel so good anymore. (with Tim Arnold)
Stingrays : When a teenager goes missing on a Caribbean beach, the local police are baffled. It's up to the Stingrays, a world class team that solves the unsolvable, to unearth the a truth that no one will believe. (with Duane Swierczynski)
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book previously published under a different title.
2. Read a book with the sun visible on the cover.
3. Read a book where the author's first initial is found in PALM BEACH.
4. Read any James Patterson novels.
Nice work!
Ridiculously Random Prompt #64: Moon Time Zones
The moon has its own time zones.
An astronomer even designed a special watch that relies on "lunations," or the amount of time it takes for the moon to revolve and rotate around the Earth.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🌙 1. Read a book with a moon, watch, or clock on the cover.
🌙 2. Read a book with the word REVOLVE or ROTATE found in the text.
🌙 3. Read a book where the MC's first name ENDS with a letter in EARTH.
🌙 4. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in LUNATIONS.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #63: Wife Carrying
Originally invented in Finland, Wife Carrying is a sport that involves a male competitor racing through 2 dry obstacles and 1 water obstacle approximately 1 meter deep all while carrying a female teammate.
The female must weigh at least 108 lb (49 kg) or additional weight will be added to her. Teams who complete the course in the shortest time win with additional prizes for best costume, etc.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
💍 1. Read a book with a married MC.
💍 2. Read a book set at least partially in Finland.
💍 3. Read a book where a character feels weighted down in some way.
💍 4. Read a book where a character carries something or someone.
Me too!Ridiculously Random Prompt #63: Wife Carrying
Originally invented in Finland, Wife Carrying is a sport that involves a male competitor racing through 2 dry obstacles and 1 water obstacle approximately 1 meter deep all while carrying a female teammate.
The female must weigh at least 108 lb (49 kg) or additional weight will be added to her. Teams who complete the course in the shortest time win with additional prizes for best costume, etc.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
💍 1. Read a book with a married MC.
💍 2. Read a book set at least partially in Finland.
💍 3. Read a book where a character feels weighted down in some way.
💍 4. Read a book where a character carries something or someone.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #69: Worm Charming
Worm Charming is a competitive sport with the aim of attracting earthworms out of the ground.
The competitor that charms the most worms within a set period of time and a set zone on the ground wins. In 2009, Sophie Smith of England (aged 10) set the world record with 567 worms.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🪱 1. Read a book where the title contains an -ing word.
🪱 2. Read a book with an author who has the same first and last initials.
🪱 3. Read a book published before 2009.
🪱 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in WORM.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #69: Worm CharmingWorm Charming is a competitive sport with the aim of attracting earthworms out of the ground.
The competitor that charms the most worms within a set period of time and a set zone on the ground wins. In 2009, Sophie Smith of England (aged 10) set the world record with 567 worms.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🪱 1. Read a book where the title contains an -ing word.
🪱 2. Read a book with an author who has the same first and last initials.
🪱 3. Read a book published before 2009.
🪱 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in WORM.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #69: Worm CharmingWorm Charming is a competitive sport with the aim of attracting earthworms out of the ground.
The competitor that charms the most worms within a set period of time and a set zone on the ground wins. In 2009, Sophie Smith of England (aged 10) set the world record with 567 worms.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🪱 1. Read a book where the title contains an -ing word.
🪱 2. Read a book with an author who has the same first and last initials.
🪱 3. Read a book published before 2009.
🪱 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in WORM.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #68: Green Eggs & Ham
Dr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" on a bet.
Theodore Geisel's editor didn't believe the author could write a book in 50 words or less. The finished product contains 50 words on the dot.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍳 1. Read a book where a character eats a meal.
🍳 2. Read a book with a 50 intact in the page count.
🍳 3. Read a book where a main/major character is a doctor.
🍳 4. Read a book where someone makes a bet of any kind.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #68: Green Eggs & HamDr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" on a bet.
Theodore Geisel's editor didn't believe the author could write a book in 50 words or less. The finished product contains 50 words on the dot.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍳 1. Read a book where a character eats a meal.
🍳 2. Read a book with a 50 intact in the page count.
🍳 3. Read a book where a main/major character is a doctor.
🍳 4. Read a book where someone makes a bet of any kind.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #68: Green Eggs & HamDr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" on a bet.
Theodore Geisel's editor didn't believe the author could write a book in 50 words or less. The finished product contains 50 words on the dot.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍳 1. Read a book where a character eats a meal.
🍳 2. Read a book with a 50 intact in the page count.
🍳 3. Read a book where a main/major character is a doctor.
🍳 4. Read a book where someone makes a bet of any kind.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #68: Green Eggs & HamDr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" on a bet.
Theodore Geisel's editor didn't believe the author could write a book in 50 words or less. The finished product contains 50 words on the dot.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍳 1. Read a book where a character eats a meal.
🍳 2. Read a book with a 50 intact in the page count.
🍳 3. Read a book where a main/major character is a doctor.
🍳 4. Read a book where someone makes a bet of any kind.
Ridiculously Random Prompt #68: Green Eggs & HamDr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" on a bet.
Theodore Geisel's editor didn't believe the author could write a book in 50 words or less. The finished product contains 50 words on the dot.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍳 1. Read a book where a character eats a meal.
🍳 2. Read a book with a 50 intact in the page count.
🍳 3. Read a book where a main/major character is a doctor.
🍳 4. Read a book where someone makes a bet of any kind.
Prompt #9A: Know Your Roasts
Most roasters have specialized names for their favored roasts and there is very little industry standardization. This can cause some confusion when you’re buying, but in general, roasts fall into one of four color categories — light, medium, medium-dark and dark.
Many consumers assume that the strong, rich flavor of darker roasts indicates a higher level of caffeine, but the truth is that light roasts actually have a slightly higher concentration.
The perfect roast is a personal choice that is sometimes influenced by national preference or geographic location. Within the four color categories, you are likely to find common roasts as listed above. It’s a good idea to ask before you buy. There can be a world of difference between roasts.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a silent letter in the title, like the K in KNOW.
☕️ 2. Read a book with a very light OR a very dark cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 3. Read a book with a plot that required concentration.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a geographic location that is very different from your own.
Prompt #6A: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Planting
The coffee you enjoy each day has taken a long journey to arrive in your cup.
Between the time they’re planted, picked and purchased, coffee beans go through a typical series of ten steps to bring out their best.
A coffee bean is actually a seed. When dried, roasted and ground, it’s used to brew coffee. If the seed isn’t processed, it can be planted and grow into a coffee tree.
Coffee seeds are generally planted in large beds in shaded nurseries. The seedlings will be watered frequently and shaded from bright sunlight until they are hearty enough to be permanently planted. Planting often takes place during the wet season, so that the soil remains moist while the roots become firmly established.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a 10 in the publication date.
☕️ 2. Read a book with a very young character. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 3. Read a book a sun on the cover.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the title does NOT start with a letter in the word PLANT.
🤽🏻♀️⛹🏽🤾🏼♀️ 11: June 1, 2025 - Wiffle Ball 🤾🏼♀️⛹🏽🤽🏻♀️
Wiffle Ball is a scaled back variation of baseball that was developed in 1953 in Fairfield, Connecticut. Originally, it was intended to be played in confined space or otherwise small area, but became a popular outdoor activity. The sport is played using a perforated light-weight plastic ball and a long hollow plastic bat. Two teams of one to five players each attempt to advance imaginary runners to home plate, and score, based on where each batter places the ball on the field. The term Wiffle Ball may refer to the sport as a whole, or the ball used in the sport. Wiffle is a registered trademark of Wiffle Ball, Inc. and was derived from the slang word whiff meaning to strike out.
Miniature versions of baseball have been played for decades, including stickball, improvised by children, using everything from rolled up socks to tennis balls. The ball most commonly used in the game was invented by David N. Mullany at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1953 when he designed a ball that curved easily for his 12-year-old son. It was named when his son and his friends would refer to a strikeout as a "whiff"."The Wiffle Ball is about the same size as a regulation baseball, but is hollow, lightweight, of resilient plastic, and no more than 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) thick. One half is perforated with eight .75-inch (19 mm) oblong holes; the other half is non-perforated. This construction allows pitchers to throw curveballs and risers.
In April 2011, the Health Department of the State of New York included Wiffle Ball on a list of recreational activities that present a "significant risk of injury" to children. Under a state law passed in 2009, any program for children that included two or more such activities would be defined as a “summer camp” subject to government regulation. The story became a frequent source of ridicule and amusement, with Parenting.com sarcastically commenting, "According to new legislation introduced in New York State, to survive classic schoolyard games like capture the flag is to cheat death." Wiffle Ball executives originally thought the order was a joke, because the company has never been sued over any safety issues in its 50+ year history. The disapproval of people from across the nation pressured the New York legislature to remove Wiffle Ball and other items such as archery and scuba diving from the list of risky activities.
Complete ONE of the following:
⚾︎ Read a book set in Connecticut.
⚾︎ Read a book where the MC's first name starts with a letter in WIFFLE BALL.
⚾︎ Read a book where a character makes a joke.
⚾︎ Read a book where the first letter of every word in the title is found in DAVID N MULLANY. {three-word minimum}
Great job, everyone! Congratulations to all who completed the challenge!!
Prompt Name / #: Thrillers #57
The Horsewoman
Published: January 2022
Mother and daughter, both champion riders—but only one can make Olympic history. James Patterson’s first book with hall-of-fame sportswriter Mike Lupica.
When the buzzer sounds, twenty-one-year-old Becky McCabe takes one last look around. What she’s feeling right now is why riders do this. Young or old. Man or woman. Mother or daughter.
The toughest combination comes early, a tight one, hardly any time to react after the first jump.
Just like that they’re into it. Big-time. Horse and rider take a killer inside turn on the rollback two jumps later. No choice but to go inside if they’re here to win. And Becky sure isn’t here to finish second.
How could anyone go faster than this?
No one can. Except the rider who’s up next...
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book tagged SPORTS any number of times.
2. Read a book with more than 400 pages.
3. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in HORSEWOMAN.
4. Read any James Patterson novel.
