CiCi’s Comments (group member since Jun 25, 2018)

CiCi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Monthly/Seasonal Challenge: China's Golden Week
Duration: October 1, 2018 - October 31, 2018
Level: Fireworks 5/5

Tasks - Read a book with:
A red cover: The Constant Princess-Philippa Gregory
Red font on the cover: Abra-Cadaver-Matt Drabble
An author with a first or last name that contains the letters r-e-d: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo-Taylor Jenkins Reid
With the word red in the title: A Field of Red-Greg Enslen
Where the author's first or last name starts with "X": Jottings Under Lamplight-Lu Xun



🌸Completed: 10/29/2018🌸

Choose Your Own Adventure Challenges

❌White Elephant (2019-?)
✔️Going Green (2018/2019)
❌ Xtreme Sports

Original Post
✔️Post #3 (view spoiler)[
"...against the moss-covered rocks, he saw..." (pg 41)
"...diving for the insects that their senses told them..." (pg 43)
"Reeds grow tall near..." (pg 62)
"...anything was visible, but it seemed..." pg 259)
"Shards of light were scattered like wounds..." (pg 9)
"...layers of the creation spectrum, he could almost..." (pg 25)
"...the radiance of the woods with their emptiness." (pg 23)


"...a flock of parrots flew out screeching..." (pg14)
"...from Bond Street to the Blue Nile." (pg 69)
"...hop-hopping out of the ferns on a zig-zag course..." (pg 78)
"...from butcher and grocer completed the day's..." (pg 103)


"Rosemary unhooked her stockings." (pg 63)
"The paint, the paint!" (pg 81)


"...smelling of forest and salty sea." (pg 10)


"...attached to the tip of a leaf." (pg 6)
"'You get back, Pickles,' she said." (pg 12)
"...store's lone can of tennis balls." (pg 88)
"...the basin loses forest." (pg 168)
"...crisp field of floating green lettuce." (pg 238)
"...smelled of lime blossom perfume." (pg 298)


"...hastily laying cups and flagons." (pg 28)


"...stalk of asparagus to him." (pg 82)
"...trees and the clear chartreuse of the evening air? (pg 196)


"Christmas lights blurred in the rain behind..." (pg 199)


"Scarves that seemed to float..." (pg 250) (hide spoiler)]

Original Post
✔️Post #2 (view spoiler)[
"...Wujiapi with a bottle of brandy..." (pg 180)


"...friend sends the following gem..." (pg 103)
"...nicely-mended hose which lay on..." (pg 168)
"...she did not observe a new-comer..." (pg 262)


"...examine the various crafts available for sale." (Loc 321)


"A small, delicious avocado and watercress salad..." (pg 90)


Did you dye your hair especially..." (pg 52)


"...floor to the basement, and an iguana that I remember..." (pg 4)


"...powder across the black tile." (pg 6)


"...and so many varieties of oak." (pg 66)


"...those two words, Dark Ages." (pg 135)
"...residential street, as if Mother Nature is telling us, You..." (pg 185)
"...walk over to the wall, and pound my fist..." (pg 201)
"Looking at his watch." (pg 222)
"...on clean, dry fatigues from her bag." (pg 309)


"...the pale brown geckos that scampered there." (7%)
"...pine green yarn, knit five, purl two..." (15%)
"... card with Magic Markers, on paper she’s ripped..." (25%)
"...hibiscus pink, lilac, pistachio, and are crowded with clusters..." (44%)
"Tadpoles dart close to shore." (52%)
"...stacks of fedoras and berets arrayed on curved..." (69%)
"...salad of arugula and pears." (69%)


"...an almost mint copy of Volume One..." (pg 21)
"Avocados, artichoke heart, some kind of..." (pg 116)
"...a black alligator billfold for him..." (pg 215)


"...undulating streamers of algae in the gusts..." (pg 41)
"...platter of seaweed salad, garnished with pickled lemon..." (pg 52)
"...his ancient lizard brain had sent..." (pg 143)
"More solar panels were mounted on the..." (pg 270)


"...enrolled at the Emerald Beauty Academy..." (pg 41)
"...it's the fibers or maybe it's the mold, but ever since..." (pg 103)
"...skin is the color of tissue paper." (pg 109)
"Like ripe onions and salt." (pg 291)
"...stepping out of the shade, and into the sun." (pg 305)


"...old papers and boxes and all this shit..." (pg 9)
"...even more than leaving Ireland, changed the course of..." (pg 22)
"...land where apples grow in abundance..." (pg 30)
"...bonnet like a turtle from it's shell." (pg 36)
"...she's bitten into a lime." (pg 42)
"...largemouth bass, rainbow trout, perch, and pike." (pg 111)
"...bumpy dirt road boarded by pine trees." (pg 113)
"He takes his glasses off." (pg 116)
"to make is boiled cabbage and mutton, I tell him..." (pg 125)
"He plants the seeds after harvest in late summer..." (pg 125)
"...he plucked the bird card out of..." (pg 135)
"'Spring at last!' Ralph beams..." (pg 175)
"...table for breakfast, clear the plates, sweep the hall..." (pg 181)
"...glass balls and china ornaments and ribbon and...." (pg 194)
"...green peppers, black beans, and zucchini." (pg 207)
"...orders some new clothes for herself from Talbots..." (pg 270)
"'Before we know it, frogs will be falling"... (pg 271) (hide spoiler)]

CYOA: Going Green
DURATION: August 7, 2018 - July 29, 2019
OPTION 5: Scavenger Hunt Freestyle
BOOK LEVEL: Wind Power - 42/42
SCAVENGER HUNT LEVEL: Broccoli - 121/121

✔️Original Post (view spoiler)[
"She had olive skin, dark eyes..." (pg 24)
"...take Nickie Sage to seriously,' he replied..." (pg 81)
"...knees and then, like a snake slithering on its belly..." (pg 94)
"...transformed, caterpillar into butterfly, to..." (pg 114)
"...joint of beef for dinner, vegetables, pulses." (pg 188)
"The grass was heavy with dew." (pg 211)
"...she wants is money." (pg 226)
"...lust, not with envy, with a kind of horrible..." (pg 256)
"...been glowing green kryptonite from..." (pg 263)
"...camera in spite of her ugly dress." (pg 338)


"...completely clean - hawking shoes by Maison Martin Margiela..." (pg 167)
"...he took the hose and began to spray..." (pg 237)


"...mixed with the ivy that grew up..." (Loc 452)
"...some kind of ongoing turf war over drugs..." (Loc 616)


"...contented and well hidden Peter Pan." (pg 124)


"...onions and parsley and pepper, rose up..." (pg 12)
"...mind of a giant grasshopper." (pg 53)


"...me on notice seven months ago." (pg 3)
"...very subtle, pinkish hue." (pg 62)


"...which was dragging on the floor." (pg 11)
"...felt a spark of jealousy as his dimple appeared." (pg 37)


"...almost steam broccoli just by setting it outdoors." (pg 99)


"Emerald-green light, the color of..." (pg 123)


"...children - giving them pencils and gum, teaching..." (pg 4)
"Who wants to be with Santa Claus on St. Patrick's Day, or the Fourth of July?" (pg 7)


"The verdant expanse was dotted..." (pg 67)


"...larger—a social fungus, slowly and deliberately fed..." (pg 64)
"Can I get you a water?" (pg 215)


"...year had passed since Turquoise Sunday." (pg 26)


"...Anna Karenina, Jade Diamond, and All for Us." (pg 15)
"...taste of cigarettes and crème de menthe." (pg 128)


"His eyes were more sunken..." (pg 29)
"...operated a candy store until she got ..." (pg 73)


"...shower of blood and slime on the man's..." (pg 99)
"I found three of their bugs." (pg 116)
"...child wore pink sneakers, read leg-warmers..." (pg 258)


"My pea-brain that never should have..." (pg 15)
"...walls were a pale celery green covered in crazy..." (pg 158)
"...that werewolves and leprechauns exist and I could..." (pg 177)
"...reminded me of watermelon Jolly Ranchers." (pg 199)


"...waistband of the old khaki shorts he was wearing." (pg 137)
...mixed cabbage and cucumber and salt, the.." (pg 288)


"... sap from a cactus plant and then.." (pg 60)
"...bunch of grapes on the front." (pg 97)
"...driveway, but the plants are dry and brown..." (pg 125) (hide spoiler)]
✔️Post #2
✔️Post #3

Yearly: January 8, 2018 - January 9, 2019
Decades Challenge 2018
Level: I - 24/72

2009
1. Rosemary and Rue

2010
1. Gingerbread Cookie Murder

2011
1. State of Wonder

2012
1. Dead Wrong: Straight Facts on the Country's Most Controversial Cover-Ups

2013
1. Orphan Train

2014
1. Beauty and the Mustache

2015
1. The Gift of Darkness

2016
1. The Woman in Cabin 10
2. The Lost Girls
3. The Road Beneath My Feet
4. The Princess Diarist
5. Winter Stroll

2017
1. Ewald Bros. Dairy
2. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
3. Into the Water
4. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
5. Jottings Under Lamplight

2018
1. My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie
2. Dirty Doc Ames and the Scandal that Shook Minneapolis
3. The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future
4. Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House
5. The President Is Missing
6. The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
7. The Last Cruise

Music Festivals: Seasonal Reading Challenge July, August & September
Duration: 7/1/18 - 9/30/18 11/13/2018
Option 1: Delta Blues - 16/16

Beauregard, France
F - Immoral, Brian Freeman
R - Beauty and the Mustache, Penny Reid
A - State of Wonder, Ann Patchett
N - Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil de Grasse Tyson
C - Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline
E - A Field of Red, Greg Enslen (October)
---
Green Man, Wales
W - Blood Hollow, William Kent Krueger
A - #GIRLBOSS, Sophia Amoruso
L - Jottings Under Lamplight, Lu Xun (October)
E - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid (October)
S - The Amory Wars: The Second Stage Turbine Blade, Claudio Sánchez
---
Glitch, Malta
M - Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
A - Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson, Mitch Albom
L - Rosemary's Baby, Ira Levin (November)
T - My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie, Todd Fisher
A - Loving From Afar, Mona Ingram (November)

Looks like I'm not the only one who's taken a "break" from challenges lately! I'm challenging myself to complete this in 6 months.

Start Date: 2/11/16
End Date: 8/11/16

C - Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter - Kate Clifford Larson
A -
R -
O -
L -

A -
N -
N -

Finally... I can mark this in my done column!
Great job to all who finished in time.

My Completed Challenge Link

Monthly/Seasonal Challenges: Time for Tea
Duration: January 1, 2015 - January 31, 2015
Level: Have a Cuppa
Completed: 5/5

Step 1 - Boil the water
Addison Moore-3:AM Kisses

Step 2 - Black
Elizabeth Hall-Miramont's Ghost

Step 3 - Medium
Rene Denfeld-The Enchanted

Step 4 - No sugar
William Kent Krueger-Ordinary Grace

Step 5 - No milk
Kristin Maddock-The Enchanted Orchards

Monthly/Seasonal Challenges > Horses for Courses
Duration: November 1, 2014 - November 30, 2014
Level: ♘ To Win (Spell-It-Out Option)
Completed: 7/7 (November 2018)

Rimfire (1948)

R - Rose Tremain-The American Lover
I - Blood Faerie-India Drummond
M - How to Build a Girl-Caitlin Moran
F - Snobs-Julian Fellowes
I - Rosemary's Baby-Ira Levin (2018)
R - Tales of the Peculiar-Ransom Riggs (2017)
E - The Old Man and the Sea-Ernest Hemingway (2016)

Yearly > Disney Prince Hopefuls
Duration: October 2, 2014 - October 1, 2015 November 13, 2018
Level: White Knight (Option 1)
Progress: 10/10

Mickey Mouse: Mickey is an animated mouse created by Walt Disney in 1928. Mickey is by far Disney's most famous character and serves as the company's mascot.
Read a book where the main character is mischievous, funny, or brave. Or a character that is a mouse (Redwall, anyone?) Several men have given Mickey his voice, so you may also read a book with a character named Walt, Jimmy, Les, Wayne, Bret, or Chris.
Cathy Marie Buchanan The Painted Girls

Donald Duck: Donald Duck is Mickey's best friend. He has a fiery temper, is often greedy, and sometimes acts like a villain. But he is extremely loyal and generally calm before he is riled.
Read a book with a character who has anger issues, an aggressive personality, or a character who can sometimes be hard to distinguish from a villain. You may also read a book with a character who is seeking ways to get more money, or a character who is helping out a friend.
The Enchanted-Rene Denfeld

Bambi: Bambi is charming, yet somewhat shy. He has two very good friends, Thumper and Flower.
Read a book with a charming hero, or one who is sweet or shy. Or read a book with a character who has a very good friend, or one who loses a close family member.
Charm-Sarah Pinborough

Peter Pan: Peter Pan lives in Never Land and is the leader of the Lost Boys. He is young, daring, and playful. Read a book about a character who is the leader of some sort of band, or someone who is playful or loves to have fun. You may also read about someone who is daring almost to the point of being foolhardy.
Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota-Chuck Klosterman

Arthur Pendragon: Arthur, or Wart as some call him, is mentored by Merlin and later grows up to be the King of England. He is brave, hard-working, and sometimes clumsy. He is prone to daydreaming.
Read a book about an someone who has royal or noble blood, or someone who is brave or hard-working. You may also read a book with a character named Rickie, Richard, or Robert (names of the voice actors).
Julian Fellowes-Snobs

Tarzan (Tarzan): Tarzan is an orphan who was raised in the jungle by gorillas. He is extremely brave and honorable. Because he grew up in the jungle, he understands animals better than humans.
Read a book that takes place in a jungle, a book with an orphan character or one who is ignorant of his past, a brave or honorable hero, or a hero who is an animal shifter of some sort.
The Giver-Lois Lowry

Taran (The Black Cauldron): Taran is headstrong and brave. He can be foolhardy. He is loyal and selfless when it comes to his friends. He gave up a magic sword that would cement his future as a famous warrior in order to bring back a friend.
Read a book with a hero that has red hair, a headstrong or brave personality, or a hero who is loyal to his friends. Or read a book where a character sacrifices something important to keep someone safe.
Loving From Afar-Mona Ingram (2018)

Simba (The Lion King): Simba is a fun-loving lion with a strict sense of justice. He is sometimes overprotective, especially where his family is concerned.
Read a book with a lion shifter, a character who is very protective, or a character who is in the justice system (lawyer, cop, judge, etc.).
Lisey's Story-Stephen King

Hercules: Hercules is a compassionate and gentle hero who has above average strength. He misunderstood and thought that his love, Megara, was plotting against him.
Read a book with a compassionate hero, or one who is very strong. Or read a book where there is a big misunderstanding between characters.
Haunted on Bourbon Street-Deanna Chase

Jack Skellington: Jack is the "Pumpkin King", the patron spirit of Halloween. He is immortal, patient, and is a gentleman. He isn't very good at reading people's feelings.
Read a book with a character who is immortal, a character named Jack, or someone who is a gentleman. You may also read a book that takes place around Halloween, or has a Halloween theme on the cover.
Madelyn Alt-The Trouble With Magic

Monthly/Seasonal Challenges > October: A Peanuts Reading Challenge
Duration: October 1-31, 2014
Level: Lucy's Tugboat (Spell-It-Out Option)
Completed: 6/6 - November 2018

M - Zelda-Nancy Milford
A - Rules of Civility-Amor Towles
R - The American Lover-Rose Tremain
C - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory-Caitlin Doughty
I - Rosemary's Baby-Ira Levin (2018)
E -Miramont's Ghost-Elizabeth Hall

This is going to be my first Buddy Read and I'm super excited!

Done and original post updated! Fun challenge! Congrats to everyone else who finished!

Monthly/Seasonal Challenges > February Challenge: A Few of My Favorite Things
Duration: February 1 - 28, 2014
Level: Bitten (Spell-It-Out Option)
Completed: 3/3

Tea
T - The Marilyn Tapes by Ed Gorman
E - The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan
A - Kick-Ass by Mark Millar

Yearly Challenges > Titled Titles
Duration: January 23, 2015 - January 23, 2016 December 8, 2018
Level: Novel Novice
Completed: 4/4

1. The President Is Missing-Bill Clinton (2018)
2. The Constant Princess-Philippa Gregory (2018)
3. The Princess of Dhagabad-Anna Kashina
4. The Princess Diarist-Carrie Fisher (2018)

I actually did a Google search to figure out how to do this. Ironically, I am a new member to NBRC and I found it quite humorous that the same group I was trying to post in were the creators of a "how to" for my problem!

Thank you!

Yearly Challenges

❌Author Alphabet Challenge (2025)
❌Around the World (2025)
❌TBR Tackler Challenge (2025)
❌Cleaning Out the TBR Closet (2024)
❌TBR Tackler (2024)
✔️Author Alphabet Challenge (2023)
✔️Cleaning Out the TBR Closet (2023)
✔️50 States Challenge (2020/2021)
❌Author Alphabet Challenge (2020)
✔️A Puzzling Mystery (2019/2020)
✔️50 States Challenge (2019/2020)
✔️1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2019)
✔️Author Alphabet Challenge (2019)
✔️Decades Challenge (2019)
✔️New Releases (2019)
✔️Discovering History (2018/2019)
✔️Titled Titles (2015/2016)
✔️Author Alphabet Reading (2014)
✔️Disney Prince Hopefuls (2014)

Duration: January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014 November 25, 2018
Completed: 26/26

A: Anya Allyn-Dollhouse
B: Alexandra Bracken - The Darkest Minds
C: Kelly Cutrone-Normal Gets You Nowhere
D: Caitlin Doughty-Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory
E: Erik Rivenes-Dirty Doc Ames and the Scandal that Shook Minneapolis (2018)
F: Sarah B. Franklin-Daughter of Troy
G: Anna Godbersen-The Luxe
H: Tony Hillerman-The Blessing Way (2018)
I: Blood Faerie-India Drummond
J: Sadie Jones-The Uninvited Guests
K: Kevin Crossley-Holland-The Norse Myths
L: Lois Lowry-The Giver
M: Maggie Shipstead-Astonish Me
N: Nancy Milford-Zelda: a Biography
O: Oliver PötzschThe Poisoned Pilgrim (2017)
P: Chuck Palahniuk-Choke
Q: Erica Quest-Model Murder (2018)
R: Rose Tremain-The American Lover
S: Maria Semple-Where'd You Go, Bernadette
T: Amor Towles-Rules of Civility
U: Donna Joy Usher-Cocoa and Chanel (2016)
V: Valerie Zambito-Fallon
W: Rysa Walker-Timebound
X: Lu Xun-Jottings Under Lamplight (2018)
Y: Heather Young-The Lost Girls (2018)
Z: Zane Lamprey-Three Sheets: Drinking Made Easy! 6 Continents, 15 Countries, 190 Drinks, and 1 Mean Hangover!