Chaitra’s Comments (group member since Apr 29, 2012)

Chaitra’s comments from the Crazy Challenge Connection group.

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Countries of the World #15 – Oman
Duration: October 01, 2025 – October 31, 2025

To finish, you will have to complete a total of six tasks, choosing at least four of the tasks from the Trivia section of the challenge. You do not have to choose the tasks beforehand; you can fill in as you go. You may choose to do all 10 tasks if you wish also. Happy reading!

OMAN
Officially the Sultanate of Oman, a country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia.
🚩Read a book whose title starts with a letter in OMAN (ignore A, An and The or equivalent if not English).

Stats

- Capital: Muscat
🚩Read a book whose author's first and last initials are in the word MUSCAT (letters can only be used as many times as they appear in the word).

- Population: 4,520,471 (2021 estimate)
🚩Read a book whose total number of pages contain at least 2 of the numbers in the population (tell us the page count).

- Area: 119,500 sq mi
🚩Read a book whose year it was first published has at least 2 of the numbers in the area (tell us the year published).

Trivia

1. The city of Sur on the Gulf of Oman is one of the most historic boat-building centers in Arabia. Today, artisans still hand-craft dhows (which is the generic name given to a range of traditional Arabian sailing vessels, typically fitted with one or two masts and lateen rigging) of all sizes at the factory in Sur, using centuries-old techniques. Boats were a vital part of life in Sur, which had become a center of trade by the end of the sixth century. Sur also became famous as a center of construction of dhows. Sur is also considered to be the birthplace of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor, at least according to some scholars (others maintain he’s from Baghdad).
🚩Read a book in which a boat/ship voyage is an important part of the plot (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a book whose author’s first or last name is 3-letters-long.

2. The only desert fjords in the world are in Oman, in the Musandam Peninsula. Known locally as khors, these jagged coves were created by the collision of tectonic plates as opposed to glacial activity like the Alaskan or Norwegian fjords. But they are similar, all fjords have 6,500 ft mountains and thin spikes of rock towering over deep water. Dolphins, rays and colorful reef fish can be found throughout the inlets.
🚩Read a book with a large body of water or mountains on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book mostly set in an area with a desert (get as close to the desert as possible - Arizona as opposed to New England for example. tell us where your book is set and which desert it is close to).

3. The male national dress, as directed by Oman’s king, is the Dishdasha. It is a white ankle-length robe with long sleeves and a wazar (a colorful belt) wrapped around the waist. The Omani dishdasha is complemented with a kuma hat (worn after working hours) or a mussar headdress.
Read a book whose cover prominently shows a fully dressed man (post the cover) -or- read a book with a mostly white cover (post the cover).

4. The Riyam memorial is a giant incense burner. The three-story building was built in honor of Oman’s twentieth national day and is emblematic of the frankincense trade that made defined the nation’s early wealth. Frankincense is a resin of the Boswellia Sacra (frankincense) tree. The resin is used to produce incense, perfumes and essential oils, and it was highly prized in ancient times. Frankincense trees have drastically reduced in number over the years because of overpopulation.
🚩Read a book that is set in one of the countries on the incense trail (for the purpose of this task: Oman, Yemen, Somalia, Egypt, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Italy and Greece; tell us the country your book is set in) -or- read a book in which the main character works with plants in some fashion (tell us what they are).

5. Oman, along with many arid states in the Middle East, frequently gets hit by sandstorms. Sandstorms occur when a strong wind (known in Arabic as a haboob) blows loose sand and dirt together, forming a giant cloud of sand, often 100m high and traveling as fast as a speeding car.
🚩Read a book with sand on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose main character’s first name starts with a letter in HABOOB (tell us the name).

6. Atlantis of the Sands refers to a legendary lost place in the southern deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, known as Ubar or Wubar in Arabic, thought to have been destroyed by a natural disaster or as a punishment by God. In February 1992, a team of archeologists led by Nicholas Clapp, visited and excavated the site of a Bedouin well at Shisr in Oman. The conclusion they reached, based on the excavations and an inspection of satellite photographs, was that this was the site of Ubar, or Iram of the Pillars, a name found in the Quran. Contemporary notice at the site in Shisr proclaims, Welcome to Ubar, the Lost City of Bedouin legend. Scholars, however, are divided over whether this really is the site of legendary lost city of the sands.
🚩Read a book whose location starts with a letter in UBAR (tell us where the book is set) -or- read a book whose title contains the word CITY or CITIES standing intact and by itself.

CHALLENGE RULES - PLEASE READ!
See this thread for more detailed rules for CCC challenges.

❖ If you want to participate in a challenge, sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.

❖ Books must be at least 150 pages long (unless they are graphic novels, see below) and may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged.

❖ Graphic novels must be at least 300 pages long, but two books can be combined to make up the page count as long as they both meet the same criteria.

❖ For each book you read, please post a link to the title and mention the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item/color on the cover, include a link to the book cover.* If it’s not obvious from the book title or cover, be sure to explain how your book fits the task. If you don’t, you won’t get credit for completing that task.

❖ If you want the challenge moderator to verify those books as you post them, please copy/paste your update into a new message. If you do this while you still have the Edit window open, it will copy all of your formatting, etc. too. It will make it easier on the moderators if we won't have to scroll back through the entire thread looking for "message #15," or to follow links back to an original post.

❖ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read :) If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.

❖ Rereads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not just skim the best portions! :)

* If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions HERE.

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words, Part II

Duration: Oct 01, 2025 - Mar 31, 2026
Completed: 0/27


1. Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper: 1498, Italy, Tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.
🎨Read a book in which religion is important to the plot -or- read a book whose cover shows a table of food (post the cover).

2. Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise: 1872, France, Oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a sunrise or sunset (post the cover) -or- read a book which you think is lacking in detail in some way (tell us how your book fits).


3. Jan Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait: 1434, Netherlands, Oil on oak panels, National Gallery, London.
🎨Read a book that has a realistic perspective (no magical realism, no fantasy of any kind) -or- read a book whose cover shows a mirror (post the cover).

4. Caspar David Friedrich, Wanderer above the Sea of Fog: 1818, Germany, Oil on canvas, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a person whose back is to the reader (post the cover) -or- read a book whose title contains the words SEA or FOG intact and alone.


5. Hieronymous Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights: ~1510, Netherlands, Oil on oak panels, Museo del Prado, Madrid.
🎨Read a book that has a busy cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that you think can be used for book clubs (lots of stuff to discuss for example, tell us how your book fits).

6. Pablo Picasso, Guernica: 1937, Spain, Oil on Canvas, Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid.
🎨Read a fictional book that references or is inspired by a real life event (tell us which if not obvious) -or- read a book whose cover shows a dead body, a farm animal or fire (post the cover).


7. Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps: 1805, France, Oil on Canvas, Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison.
🎨Read a book in which a horse is clearly shown on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a mountain crossing is part of the plot.

8. Emanuel Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware: 1851, Germany, Oil on Canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a boat or a ship (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a surprise attack is made (it needn't necessarily be in battle; tell us how your book fits, use spoilers if needed).


9. Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing: ~1767, France, Oil on canvas, The Wallace Collection, London.
🎨Read a feel-good book -or- read a book whose cover shows a lady with an elaborate dress (post the cover).

10. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party: 1881, France, Oil on canvas, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC.
🎨Read a book in which the main character has a party -or- read a book whose cover shows a dog posed very close to food (post the cover).


11. Sir Frederic Leighton, Flaming June: 1895, England, Oil on canvas, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
🎨Read a book whose title contains a month -or- read a book whose cover shows a prominent yellow or orange object (post the cover).

12. Ophelia: 1852, England, Oil on canvas, Tate Britain, London.
🎨Read a Shakespeare play -or- read a book whose cover shows a landscape with a water body in it (post the cover).


13. Vincent Van Gogh, Bedroom in Arles, Three Versions: 1888 & 1889, France, Oil on canvas, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Art Institute of Chicago, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
🎨Read 3 books from the same series (tell us the series and the position of your books) -or- read three books with the interior of a room shown on the cover (post the covers).


14. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, The Cardsharps: ~1594, Italy, Oil on Canvas, Kimbell Art Museum.
🎨Read a book in which a card game is played -or- read a book whose cover shows playing cards, a board game or toy (post the cover).

15. Edouard Manet, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère: 1882, France, Oil on canvas, Courtauld Gallery, London.
🎨Read a book in which a significant scene takes place in a bar or a pub -or- read a book in which alcohol is shown on the cover (post the cover).


16. Peter Paul Rubens, The Fall of the Damned: ~1620, Netherlands, Oil on canvas, Alte Pinakothek, Munich.
🎨Read a book where paranormal creatures are part of the plot (bonus for demons or angels) -or- read a book whose cover shows someone falling (post the cover).

17. Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Tower of Babel: 1552, Netherlands, Oil on wood panel, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
🎨Read a book that is translated (tell us the languages it's translated from and to) -or- read a book whose cover shows a tower (post the cover).


18. Franz Marc, Foxes: 1913, Germany, Oil on canvas, Private collection.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a fox or stained glass (post the cover) -or- read a book set in Nazi Germany.

19. Paul Klee, Red Balloon: 1922, Switzerland, Oil on board, Guggenheim Museum, New York.
🎨Read a book with the word RED standing intact and alone in the title -or- read a book whose cover shows abstract patterns (post the cover).


20. John Constable, The Hay Wain: 1821, England, Oil on canvas, National Gallery, London.
🎨Read a book set in rural England (tell us where your book is set) -or- read a book whose title has changed since publication for whatever reason (tell us both titles).

21. Andrew Wyeth, Christina's World: 1948, USA, Egg tempera on gessoed panel, Museum of Modern Art.
🎨Read a book in which a speaking character has a disability (tell us what) -or- read a book set in Maine.


22. Jean Francois Millet, The Gleaners: 1857, France, Oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
🎨Read a book set in a farm -or- read a book in which a majority of major characters work blue collar jobs.

23. Edgar Degas, A Cotton Office in New Orleans: 1873, France, Oil on canvas, Musée des beaux-arts de Pau, Pau.
🎨Read a book in which the MC owns or works in a business that also employs another family member -or- read a book set in Louisiana.


24. Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave Off Kanagawa: 1831, Japan, Ukiyo-e (woodblock print).
🎨Read a book set in Japan -or- read a book whose cover is predominantly blue (post the cover).

25. Ivan Aivazovsky, The Ninth Wave: 1850, Russia, Oil on canvas, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.
🎨Read a book in which a ship capsizes -or- read a book whose title contains an ordinal number (5th or fifth, not 5 or five).

Reserved for PARTICIPANTS
The link below will take you directly to your post.

♦♦♦♦

Alesha
Amanda
Amy
Book Concierge
Carolyn
Chaitra
Christina
Frankie
JoAnne
Jonquil
Kimberly
Lali & Michelle
Meg
Olivermagnus
Robin P
Ruth
Vickie

The Challenge


   

1. Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper: 1498, Italy, Tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.
🎨Read a book in which religion is important to the plot -or- read a book whose cover shows a table of food (post the cover).

2. Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise: 1872, France, Oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a sunrise or sunset (post the cover) -or- read a book which you think is lacking in detail in some way (tell us how your book fits).

   

3. Jan Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait: 1434, Netherlands, Oil on oak panels, National Gallery, London.
🎨Read a book that has a realistic perspective (no magical realism, no fantasy of any kind) -or- read a book whose cover shows a mirror (post the cover).

4. Caspar David Friedrich, Wanderer above the Sea of Fog: 1818, Germany, Oil on canvas, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a person whose back is to the reader (post the cover) -or- read a book whose title contains the words SEA or FOG intact and alone.

   

5. Hieronymous Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights: ~1510, Netherlands, Oil on oak panels, Museo del Prado, Madrid.
🎨Read a book that has a busy cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that you think can be used for book clubs (lots of stuff to discuss for example, tell us how your book fits).

6. Pablo Picasso, Guernica: 1937, Spain, Oil on Canvas, Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid.
🎨Read a fictional book that references or is inspired by a real life event (tell us which if not obvious) -or- read a book whose cover shows a dead body, a farm animal or fire (post the cover).

   

7. Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps: 1805, France, Oil on Canvas, Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison.
🎨Read a book in which a horse is clearly shown on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a mountain crossing is part of the plot.

8. Emanuel Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware: 1851, Germany, Oil on Canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a boat or a ship (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a surprise attack is made (it needn't necessarily be in battle; tell us how your book fits, use spoilers if needed).

   

9. Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing: ~1767, France, Oil on canvas, The Wallace Collection, London.
🎨Read a feel-good book -or- read a book whose cover shows a lady with an elaborate dress (post the cover).

10. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party: 1881, France, Oil on canvas, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC.
🎨Read a book in which the main character has a party -or- read a book whose cover shows a dog posed very close to food (post the cover).

   

11. Sir Frederic Leighton, Flaming June: 1895, England, Oil on canvas, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
🎨Read a book whose title contains a month -or- read a book whose cover shows a prominent yellow or orange object (post the cover).

12. Ophelia: 1852, England, Oil on canvas, Tate Britain, London.
🎨Read a Shakespeare play -or- read a book whose cover shows a landscape with a water body in it (post the cover).

    

13. Vincent Van Gogh, Bedroom in Arles, Three Versions: 1888 & 1889, France, Oil on canvas, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Art Institute of Chicago, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
🎨Read 3 books from the same series (tell us the series and the position of your books) -or- read three books with the interior of a room shown on the cover (post the covers).

   

14. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, The Cardsharps: ~1594, Italy, Oil on Canvas, Kimbell Art Museum.
🎨Read a book in which a card game is played -or- read a book whose cover shows playing cards, a board game or toy (post the cover).

15. Edouard Manet, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère: 1882, France, Oil on canvas, Courtauld Gallery, London.
🎨Read a book in which a significant scene takes place in a bar or a pub -or- read a book in which alcohol is shown on the cover (post the cover).

   

16. Peter Paul Rubens, The Fall of the Damned: ~1620, Netherlands, Oil on canvas, Alte Pinakothek, Munich.
🎨Read a book where paranormal creatures are part of the plot (bonus for demons or angels) -or- read a book whose cover shows someone falling (post the cover).

17. Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Tower of Babel: 1552, Netherlands, Oil on wood panel, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
🎨Read a book that is translated (tell us the languages it's translated from and to) -or- read a book whose cover shows a tower (post the cover).

   

18. Franz Marc, Foxes: 1913, Germany, Oil on canvas, Private collection.
🎨Read a book whose cover shows a fox or stained glass (post the cover) -or- read a book set in Nazi Germany.

19. Paul Klee, Red Balloon: 1922, Switzerland, Oil on board, Guggenheim Museum, New York.
🎨Read a book with the word RED standing intact and alone in the title -or- read a book whose cover shows abstract patterns (post the cover).

   

20. John Constable, The Hay Wain: 1821, England, Oil on canvas, National Gallery, London.
🎨Read a book set in rural England (tell us where your book is set) -or- read a book whose title has changed since publication for whatever reason (tell us both titles).

21. Andrew Wyeth, Christina's World: 1948, USA, Egg tempera on gessoed panel, Museum of Modern Art.
🎨Read a book in which a speaking character has a disability (tell us what) -or- read a book set in Maine.

   

22. Jean Francois Millet, The Gleaners: 1857, France, Oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
🎨Read a book set in a farm -or- read a book in which a majority of major characters work blue collar jobs.

23. Edgar Degas, A Cotton Office in New Orleans: 1873, France, Oil on canvas, Musée des beaux-arts de Pau, Pau.
🎨Read a book in which the MC owns or works in a business that also employs another family member -or- read a book set in Louisiana.

   

24. Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave Off Kanagawa: 1831, Japan, Ukiyo-e (woodblock print).
🎨Read a book set in Japan -or- read a book whose cover is predominantly blue (post the cover).

25. Ivan Aivazovsky, The Ninth Wave: 1850, Russia, Oil on canvas, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.
🎨Read a book in which a ship capsizes -or- read a book whose title contains an ordinal number (5th or fifth, not 5 or five).

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words, Part II
Duration: Oct 01, 2025 - Mar 31, 2026

We've done an equivalent scavenger challenge honoring some of the most famous paintings a decade ago (has it been that long!) But there are too many paintings in the world, so we thought of writing another challenge based on another set of 25 beautiful paintings or striking imagery. The list is a motley assortment that spoke to me and the images are mostly sourced from Wikipedia's art project.

To finish, fulfil a task option for each painting. Please note, #13 is a three book task.

CHALLENGE RULES - PLEASE READ!

❖ If you want to participate in a challenge, sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.

❖ Books must be at least 150 pages long (unless otherwise noted) and may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged.

❖ For each book you read, please post a link to the title and mention the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item/color on the cover, include a link to the book cover.* If it’s not obvious from the book title or cover, be sure to explain how your book fits the task. If you don’t, you won’t get credit for completing that task.

❖ If you want the challenge moderator to verify those books as you post them, please copy/paste your update into a new message. If you do this while you still have the Edit window open, it will copy all of your formatting, etc. too. It will make it easier on the moderators if we won't have to scroll back through the entire thread looking for "message #15," or to follow links back to an original post.

❖ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read :) If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.

❖ Rereads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not just skim the best portions! :)

* If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions HERE.

2025 Connections

Duration: Oct 01, 2025 - Sep 30, 2026
Completed: 0/60

October: October and the trees are stripped bare
Of all they wear
What do I care?
October and kingdoms rise
And kingdoms fall
But you go on and on

- October, U2

Matching Words: October, Trees, Are, Stripped, Bare, All, They, Wear, What, Do, I, Care, Kingdoms, Rise, Fall, But, You, Go, On, Two

November: Nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

- November Rain, Guns N' Roses

Matching Words: Nothing, Lasts, Forever, We, Both, Know, Hearts, Can, Change, It's, Hard, To, Hold, Candle, Cold, November, Rain, Guns, Roses


December: December will be magic again
Take a husky to the ice
While Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas"
He makes you feel nice

- December Will Be Magic Again, Kate Bush

Matching Words: December, Will, Be, Magic, Again, Take, Husky, Ice, While, Bing, Crosby, Sings, White, Christmas, He, Makes, You, Feel, Nice


January: And we were love's knot after summer
Tied together in the dead of winter
Wrapped up with spring fever in the air
Bound together in the autumn
Every month means a little something
But January is the month that cares

- January, Elton John

Matching Words: We, Were, Love's, Knot, After, Summer, Tied, Together, Dead, Winter, Wrapped, Up, With, Spring, Fever, Air, Bound, Autumn, Every, Month, Means, Little, Something, January, Month, That, Cares, Elton, John


February: Where has that old friend gone
Lost in a February song?
Tell him it won't be long
'Til he opens his eyes

- February Song, Josh Groban

Matching Words: Where, Has, That, Old, Friend, Gone, Lost, February, Song, Tell, Him, It, Won't, Be, Long, 'til/Until, He, Opens, His, Eyes, Josh, Groban


March: You are my child
You make my lifetime big and bright
You are my child
You came like the winds of March
With all the love in your eyes

- Winds of March, Journey

Matching Words: You, My, Child, Make, Lifetime, Big, Bright, Came, Like, Winds, March, With, All, Love, Your, Eyes, Journey


April: April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling
No one can ever reprise

- Aprils in Paris, Ella Fitzgerald

Matching Words: April, Paris, Chestnuts, Blossom, Holiday, Tables, Under, Trees, This, Is, Feeling, No, One, Can, Ever, Reprise, Ella, Fitzgerald


May: Golden haze, another morning feels like yesterday
End of may, a year is gone and I still feel this way
When we meet again, I'll ask you how you're doing
And you'll say fine, and ask me how I'm doing

- End of May, Michael Buble

Matching Words: Golden, Haze, Another, Morning, Feels, Like, Yesterday, End, May, Year, Gone, I, Still, Feel, This, Way, When, We, Meet, Again, I'll, Ask, You, How, You're, Doing, You'll, Say, Fine, Ask, Me, I'm, Michael, Buble


June: It's a bright June afternoon, it never gets dark
Wah-wah! Here come the sun
Get your green green tambourine, let's play in the park
Wah-wah! Here comes the sun

- June Afternoon, Roxette

Matching Words: It's, Bright, June, Afternoon, It, Never, Gets, Dark, Here, Come, Sun, Get, Your, Green, Tambourine, Let's, Play, Park, Roxette


July: Saturday in the park
I think it was the Fourth of July
People dancing, people laughing
A man selling ice cream
Singing Italian songs

- Saturday in the Park, Chicago

Matching Words: Saturday, In, Park, I, Think, Was, Fourth, July, People, Dancing, Laughing, Man, Selling, Ice, Cream, Singing, Italian, Songs, Chicago


August: But I can see us lost in the memory
August slipped away into a moment in time
'Cause it was never mine

- August, Taylor Swift

Matching Words: I, Can, See, Us, Lost, Memory, Slipped, Away, Into, Moment, Time, Cause/Because, It, Was, Never, Mine, Taylor, Swift


September: Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

- Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day

Matching Words: Summer, Has, Come, Passed, Innocent, Can, Never, Last, Wake, Me, Up, When, September, Ends, Green, Day

Reserved for PARTICIPANTS
The link below will take you directly to your post.

♦♦♦♦

Amanda | Level 1
August | Level 2
Catsalive | Level 1
Chaitra | Level 4
Christina | Level 1
Frankie | Level 1
Jan | Level 1 --- WITHDRAWN
Joann | Level 2
JoAnne | Level 1
Joy D | Level 3
Kathy | Level 2
Lali & Michelle
Mary | Level 1
Meg | Level 2
Michele | Level 2
Olivermagnus | Level 2
Vanessa

2025/2026 Connections Challenge
Duration: Oct 01, 2025 - Sep 30, 2026

In this Connections challenge, you will have to connect the books you read for this challenge either by matching one or two main words in the title (exact matches only, no variations), or the author's first or last names (no matching initials or middle names if the author uses one).

When you begin the challenge, you will post the level of books you will connect per month. You will be provided with song lyrics for every month, with the list of words to match (see below). Your first book for the month will have to match one of the words from the lyrics associated with the month. Your second book will match the first book and so on, until the connection level you chose is reached.

The lyrics list is provided in advance so you can plan your books, but you may not read ahead (connections for March's quote may not be read in January or February for example). You can take as long as you need to finish a month. Within the month, books need to be read in order - that is the second book needs to be read after the first, the third after the second and so on.

Please Note

You may read two consecutive books by the same author, but no more until you read something by a different author. Words to match your first book are provided in the list below. For your second book onwards, A, An and The do NOT count for connecting words, but all other title words will be accepted. Series titles are not accepted, but subtitles are fine as long as they are part of the Goodreads title for the book.

When signing up, please indicate the number of connections you want to make per month's quote.

Level 1: 2 books
- (one to match a word from the song lyric, 1 to match your first book)
Level 2: 3 books
- (one to match a word from the lyric, 2 connecting books)
Level 3: 4 books
- (one to match a word from the lyric, 3 connecting books)
Level 4: 5 books
- (one to match a word from the lyric, 4 connecting books)

The List

October: October and the trees are stripped bare
Of all they wear
What do I care?
October and kingdoms rise
And kingdoms fall
But you go on and on

- October, U2

Matching Words: October, Trees, Are, Stripped, Bare, All, They, Wear, What, Do, I, Care, Kingdoms, Rise, Fall, But, You, Go, On, Two

November: Nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

- November Rain, Guns N' Roses

Matching Words: Nothing, Lasts, Forever, We, Both, Know, Hearts, Can, Change, It's, Hard, To, Hold, Candle, Cold, November, Rain, Guns, Roses


December: December will be magic again
Take a husky to the ice
While Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas"
He makes you feel nice

- December Will Be Magic Again, Kate Bush

Matching Words: December, Will, Be, Magic, Again, Take, Husky, Ice, While, Bing, Crosby, Sings, White, Christmas, He, Makes, You, Feel, Nice


January: And we were love's knot after summer
Tied together in the dead of winter
Wrapped up with spring fever in the air
Bound together in the autumn
Every month means a little something
But January is the month that cares

- January, Elton John

Matching Words: We, Were, Love's, Knot, After, Summer, Tied, Together, Dead, Winter, Wrapped, Up, With, Spring, Fever, Air, Bound, Autumn, Every, Month, Means, Little, Something, January, Month, That, Cares, Elton, John


February: Where has that old friend gone
Lost in a February song?
Tell him it won't be long
'Til he opens his eyes

- February Song, Josh Groban

Matching Words: Where, Has, That, Old, Friend, Gone, Lost, February, Song, Tell, Him, It, Won't, Be, Long, 'til/Until, He, Opens, His, Eyes, Josh, Groban


March: You are my child
You make my lifetime big and bright
You are my child
You came like the winds of March
With all the love in your eyes

- Winds of March, Journey

Matching Words: You, My, Child, Make, Lifetime, Big, Bright, Came, Like, Winds, March, With, All, Love, Your, Eyes, Journey


April: April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling
No one can ever reprise

- Aprils in Paris, Ella Fitzgerald

Matching Words: April, Paris, Chestnuts, Blossom, Holiday, Tables, Under, Trees, This, Is, Feeling, No, One, Can, Ever, Reprise, Ella, Fitzgerald


May: Golden haze, another morning feels like yesterday
End of may, a year is gone and I still feel this way
When we meet again, I'll ask you how you're doing
And you'll say fine, and ask me how I'm doing

- End of May, Michael Buble

Matching Words: Golden, Haze, Another, Morning, Feels, Like, Yesterday, End, May, Year, Gone, I, Still, Feel, This, Way, When, We, Meet, Again, I'll, Ask, You, How, You're, Doing, You'll, Say, Fine, Ask, Me, I'm, Michael, Buble


June: It's a bright June afternoon, it never gets dark
Wah-wah! Here come the sun
Get your green green tambourine, let's play in the park
Wah-wah! Here comes the sun

- June Afternoon, Roxette

Matching Words: It's, Bright, June, Afternoon, It, Never, Gets, Dark, Here, Come, Sun, Get, Your, Green, Tambourine, Let's, Play, Park, Roxette


July: Saturday in the park
I think it was the Fourth of July
People dancing, people laughing
A man selling ice cream
Singing Italian songs

- Saturday in the Park, Chicago

Matching Words: Saturday, In, Park, I, Think, Was, Fourth, July, People, Dancing, Laughing, Man, Selling, Ice, Cream, Singing, Italian, Songs, Chicago


August: But I can see us lost in the memory
August slipped away into a moment in time
'Cause it was never mine

- August, Taylor Swift

Matching Words: I, Can, See, Us, Lost, Memory, Slipped, Away, Into, Moment, Time, Cause/Because, It, Was, Never, Mine, Taylor, Swift


September: Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

- Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day

Matching Words: Summer, Has, Come, Passed, Innocent, Can, Never, Last, Wake, Me, Up, When, September, Ends, Green, Day

Congrats, Frankie!

Congrats, everyone!

Congrats, L&M and Teresa!

Congrats, OM!

Congrats, Frankie!

Congrats, Angel!

Congrats, Patrizia, Frankie and Barbara!

Congrats, OM, Frankie and Robin!

Welcome Mary!

Andrea wrote: "Next Level Plot Structure: How to Write a Better Novel Using Advanced Storytelling Techniques by K.M. Weiland 9/8/25
219 pgs
N1"

N1 is a miss.

Congrats, Mary!