BLK Family Tree Challenge

[Lesley]

In honour of Angie extending her family tree, because soon it will be spring, and because we can, here is a new challenge. Because we are always looking for extensions to our deadlines there will be NO DEADLINE for this challenge. You can make it go on forever just like families do, and you may start it whenever you wish.

There are two options for this challenge. You may do either or both; you may do one and then the other; you may do both together - all YOUR CHOICE.

Option One
Read books where the author or main character's first or last name is the same as someone in your family. And if you are really clever or lucky you might get first and last name initials the same as someone in your family!

Option Two. Spell it out
Choose one or more members of your family, then for each letter in their name read books with words in titles, authors (first or last name), characters (first or last name), that begin with letters that correspond to letters of the names you chose. Ignore the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the, etc).

Rules
Just three rules for this challenge -
* Create a post in this thread to record your progress. You might want to create a post for each option - just suggesting.

* When you have finished your book link to the title and author; tell us how that book fits the criteria.

* ENJOY and make any comments on your reading for this challenge.

[Erica]

Sounds fun, I'm in :)

I'll keep a record of my progress is this message. Family tree option two (my sister's name):

H Henning Mankell The Shadow Girls read 31/10/15
A Agatha Christie - The Man in the Brown Suit read 23/07/15
R Roddy Doyle - Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha read 30/09/15
R Rose (main character) - Heart of Coal read 14/11/15
I
E Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights
T Thomas - main character in The Maze Runner read 10/09/15
T
E

[Darkpool]

Great idea!!! How do you come up with these great challenges?

Ella's Gran wrote: "...Because we are always looking for extensions to our deadlines there will be NO DEADLINE for this challenge. You can make it go on forever just like families do, and you may start it whenever you wish...."

And I particularly like this :-)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Just a question would the count as the first word. I'm reading a few books with the as the first word. Might make it tricky for me. (The Grand Sophy, The Antipodeans)

[Lesley]

***Carol*** wrote: "Just a question would the count as the first word. I'm reading a few books with the as the first word. Might make it tricky for me. (The Grand Sophy, The Antipodeans)"

Your question applies to option 2 which states "Ignore the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the, etc)." So, no indefinite and definite articles do not count as the first word. Counting them would rule out so many titles that could otherwise be used.

Being a NO DEADLINE challenge you have all your life to do it if you wish, so it won't be too tricky for you. Maybe those books would fit in where relations have names beginning with G or A.

[Lesley]

Tracking Option One
Read books where the author or main character's first or last name is the same as someone in your family. And if you are really clever or lucky you might get first and last name initials the same as someone in your family!

1. To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey finished 13 July 2015. MC has my Dad's first name Leslie.

[Lesley]

Tracking Option Two. Spell it out
Choose one or more members of your family, then for each letter in their name read books with words in titles, authors (first or last name), characters (first or last name), that begin with letters that correspond to letters of the names you chose. Ignore the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the, etc).

Starting with me and working back on maternal females
L The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone by Charity Norman 22/7/2015
E The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree 21/7/2015
S To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey13/07/2015. MC surname is Searle.
L Strictly Murder by Lynda Wilcox 27/7/2015
E My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman MC's name is Elsa. 08/08/2015
Y You Changed My Life by Abdel Sellou 29/8/2015

R Antiques Roadkill by Barbara Allan 18/7/2015
O Death of an Old Git by Andrea Frazer 20/09/2015
B Barbara Ross Musseled Out 08/09/2015
Y The Mystery of the Yellow Room BY Gaston Leroux 19/10/2015
N Bats and Bones by Karen Musser Nortman 23/8/2015

****
G Murder That Wasn't: The Case of George Gwaze by Felicity Goodyear-Smith 05/09/2015
R The Ringmaster by Vanda Symon 04/09/2015
E Murder at the Azalea Festival by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter 14/10/2015
T The Good Life on Te Muna Road by Deborah Coddington 24/09/2015
A The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side BY Agatha Christie 19/11/2015

****
R Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh MC's name is Roderick 19/10/2015
E Murder at Wrightsville Beach by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter 27/10/2015
B The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop by J.A. Whiting 31/08/2015
E Eat, Drink, and Be Buried BY Kate Kingsbury 23/10/2015
C Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses by Mary McHugh 27/09/2015
C The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton 17/09/2015
A Anna Hope Wake 02/02/2016

****
E Ellen Crosby The Merlot Murders 26/11/2015
M Maid for Mayhem by Bridget Allison 24/09/2015
M Milkshake by Matt Hammond 6/10/2015
A Agatha Christie Why Didn't They Ask Evans? 27/12/2015

[Sharlene]

I've been doing a little research into my Scottish whakapapa lately, so I will take part in Option 2 and use my birth father's surname.

S - The Selection read 17 Aug. 4 stars
T - Taming the Taniwha read 11 Jul. 4 stars
E - The Elite read 17 Aug. 5 stars
W - Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy read 11 Oct. 3 stars.
A - An Abundance of Katherines read 31 Jul. 5 stars
R - Rise read 21 Aug. 4 stars
T - The Heir read 5 Sept. 4 stars

BOOM! Finally finished a book starting with W.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Not promising I will get to this one, but for Option 1, Carol by Patricia Highsmith was already on my to read list. :)

[Erica]

Just knocked off my first book on this list. Updated my list in message 2.

[Darkpool]

OK, I think I'll start with my mum. She has another middle name, so I may have to add that in if I read books with the right letters.

C Dauntless by Jack Campbell
O The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian
L The Last Queen
L At Home: A Short History of Private Life
E Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
E Magic Shifts - has a character named Eduardo
N The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks (being a bit cheeky taking the "N" out of "Thirty-Nine")

F Fallout
L Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
O The Beekeeper's Apprentice: or, On the Segregation of the Queen possibly bending the rules, but I'm taking the O from "On"
R How to Catch a Cricket Match by Harry Ricketts
E The Hiding Places Features a run down stately home called "Empyrean"
N The Blind Contessa's New Machine
C Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
E The Case of the Left-Handed Lady Main Character is named Enola.

[Lesley]

Kathleen wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "Tracking Option Two. Spell it out
Choose one or more members of your family, then for each letter in their name read books with words in titles, authors (first or last name), ch..."

Other than the E I can't see the other letters being too easy though! I'll just add another ancestor name to keep it going if I come to a stop. ☺

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Trying again


C The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart 4.5* Read 2/9/15
H The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer.5* Read 2/8/15.
L Devil Water by Anya Seton 3* Read 3/9/15 Secondary character Lady Betty Lee
O One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters 2.5* Read 6/9/15
E Nefertiti's Heart by A W Exeley 3* Read 14/8/15

X The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino 5* Read 11/8/15
A The Antipodeans by Greg McGee. 4* Read 8/8/15
V Lonely Planet Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Northern Thailand 3.5* Read 27/08/15
I The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton 5* Read 22/08/15
E A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters 5* Read 24/08/15
R False Colours by Georgette Heyer 4.5* Read 3/9/15. Secondary character Sir Bonamy Ripple.

[Lesley]

Yep, that's the idea Kathleen - the never ending challenge! Don't be worrying about space. It's all about having fun with your reading.

[Lizzy]

We'll see how my first reading challenge goes. I'm omitting my middle name to start with, although how I'm going to get round all the Z's is beyond me.

L Eight Cousins (Author - Louisa May Alcott)
I Fire (Irene - One of four primary characters)
Z Zero Hour
Z
Y

G The Lives She Left Behind (Primary character - Gally).
U
E
S The Seven Dials Mystery
TTorn Trousers: A True Story of Courage and Adventure: How A Couple Sacrificed Everything To Escape to Paradise

[Erica]

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald is a good book if you like 1920s novels :)

[Erica]

ooh and Z for Zachariah is a good dystopian YA novel. I read it in high school years ago and thought it was great, especially if you like survival stories :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I'm boxing on with The Antipodeans - but it's another back & forth in time, several POV book. I just don't like jumping around in time much. Just tell me the story!

[Angie]

Starting this one afresh as of 18 May 2016


B
R
Y
N

J
O
N
E
S

C
A
R
T
E
R

[Lizzy]

I think I'll definitely try one of those Z recommendations next.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Wow! Different from anything else I've ever read. I most strongly recommend Skillful,sad & subtle.

[Darkpool]

☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆ wrote: "Wow! Different from anything else I've ever read. I most strongly recommend Skillful,sad & subtle."

Oooh, that was recommended to me by the previous Head of English at our school a year or so back, and haven't quite got to it yet. Must move it up the list.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆ wrote: "Wow! Different from anything else I've ever read. I most strongly recommend Skillful,sad & subtle."

Oooh, that was recommended to me..."

It was so good! Was pressed into my hands by a former work mate who makes me look like a gifted amateur when it comes to reading!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Finished my son's name! :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I forgot to update last night - finished my daughter's name. Shame to have ended on a disappointing book though. :(

[Lesley]

Well done on finishing both names Carol.

I've just finished/updated my first first name, but have the worst three letters left in my second! Might start a new one. I'll look at what I'm reading and decide whose from that! ☺☺

[Erica]

Finally a book of mine fits this challenge haha. I've updated message 2 to include a book for letter t.

[Lesley]

Just updated and extended my option 2. Not doing so well with option 1 though! :)

[Erica]

I've finally knocked off my third letter! (amended message 2)

[Deborah]

Am allowing myself a kick-start from the books of the last week:

I'll use my Da's name for Option Two:

A Still Alice
R Ruso and the Demented Doctor
T A Town Like Alice
H The Husband's Secret
U Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
R The Ruby Ring

G The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther
E The Eagle's Conquest
O The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde
F The First Man in Rome
F Cover Her Face
R Sorrow Without End by Priscilla Royal
E Eagle
Y Me Before You

P The Silent Miaow: A Manual for Kittens, Strays, and Homeless Cats Paul Gallico
I Queenmaker: A Novel of King David's Queen by India Edghill
C 84, Charing Cross Road / The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street
K Seven Days to the Sea: An Epic Novel Of The Exodus by Rebecca Kohn
S Sacred Ground
T These Things Hidden
O Miss Julia Takes Over
N The Physician by Noah Gordon
E Wisdom's Daughter: A Novel of Solomon and Sheba by India Edghill


Finished at last! I'll start another one over the page.....

[Lesley]

Welcome Deborah. Glad you've joined us.

[Lizzy]

Currently reading my first Andy McNab book - Zero Hour Need to start working on the letter Z. Unfortunately have two in my name. I wanted to read Z for Zachariah but can't find a copy on trade me or my library.

[Deborah]

Well, Lizzy - of course you could read anything by Emile Zola - or Doctor Zhivago - or The Zombie Survival Guide Journal - or Zeitgeist

Loads of copies showing on eBay AU for Z for Zachariah, 9 of them with free postage to NZ and the Book Depository has it for NZ$12.47

[Lizzy]

Thank you Deborah, I'll check out the book depository for Z for Zachariah and possibly read Dr Zhivago as well for a 3rd un needed Z. I'm sure I have a copy of it somewhere.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Lizzy wrote: "Thank you Deborah, I'll check out the book depository for Z for Zachariah and possibly read Dr Zhivago as well for a 3rd un needed Z. I'm sure I have a copy of it somewhere."

I found Dr Zhivago unreadable so best of luck!

[Erica]

Finally read some more books that fit with this challenge :) I got a Henning Mankell book for an H and an Emily Bronte classic for an E. Updated message 2.

[Lesley]

Just caught up with updating my maternal female line working back from me - a total of four generations - nearly completed. Might do the maternal males for four generations, then again may be not - that would be William, Thomas, Thomas, William. Just a bit repetitive!!

[Lesley]

Kathleen wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "Just caught up with updating my maternal female line working back from me - a total of four generations - nearly completed. Might do the maternal males for four generations, the..."

LOL - Hadn't noticed that Kathleen, but my nana - Rebecca - did like cooking, food and feeding people;she always sang and whistled while cooking and gardening; sadly yes, she did die in 1971. So, I guess there is a meaning there! :)

[Lesley]

Just filled E for Emma. Now left with two As, one each for mother and daughter.

[Deborah]

A A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudica's Rebellion
N The Town House by Norah Lofts
N The House at Old Vine by Norah Lofts
E The Eagle's Prey

D Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors by Debra Brown
A Anubis Speaks! A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead
N The House at Old Vine by Norah Lofts
B A Banquet of Consequences
Y I Always Loved You

Another one complete!

[Deborah]

B
R Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
Y
O
N
Y

R
U
T
H The Haunting of Maddy Clare

N
A
E Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge by Eleanor Herman
A

[Darkpool]

Woohoo! finally finished my first family member. Now, who shall I do next?

[Andrea]

Think I'll start this too. I'll just count the books I've read from the month of December onwards.

OPTION ONE
Read books where the author or main character's first or last name is the same as someone in your family. And if you are really clever or lucky you might get first and last name initials the same as someone in your family!

- Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox 11/12/15
One of the two MC's has the same name as my Niece, Laura.
- Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch 27/12/15
The MC has the same name as my Father, Peter.
- Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter 27/1/16
MC has the same name as my late Great Grandmother, Alice.

[Andrea]

OPTION TWO
Choose one or more members of your family, then for each letter in their name read books with words in titles, authors (first or last name), characters (first or last name), that begin with letters that correspond to letters of the names you chose. Ignore the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the, etc).

I'll start with Hubby, Stepdaughter, Mum and Dad

V - The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr
I - The New Hunger by Issac Marion
N - The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
C - Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill
E - Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
N - Nexus by Ramez Naam
T - Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

D - Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley
A - Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch
M - The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
I - Indigo: A Novel by Clemens J. Setz
T - The Lost Heir by Tui T Sutherland
A - Angel Creek by Sally Rippin

D - Dancing Barefoot by Wil Wheaton
E - Earth Girl by Janet Edwards
B - Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
O - The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth
R - Unspeakable by Abbie Rushton
A - Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter
H - While We Run by Karen Healey

P - Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff
E - Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
T - The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T Sutherland
E - Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood
R - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling

[Darkpool]

OK, Moving on to my father next...


D Mistress of Rome: The Emperor Domitian is a key character.
E The Fire Rose, first in the Elemental Masters series.
S Soundless
M Fairest by Marissa Meyer
O The Spellmans Strike Again Mrs Spellman's first name is Olivia
N Mrs. 'Arris Goes To New York
D Die Again

J Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
A Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter (thank you for including your second name, Vicky)
M Winter by Marissa Meyer
E Bayou Moon, #2 in The Edge series
S Season of Salt and Honey

[P.D.R.]

Wish I had time to work this out and do it. I must read for reviews which spoils reading time!!

[Lesley]

Completed four generations of maternal females - finally.

Tracking Option Two. Spell it out
Choose one or more members of your family, then for each letter in their name read books with words in titles, authors (first or last name), characters (first or last name), that begin with letters that correspond to letters of the names you chose. Ignore the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the, etc).

Starting with me and working back on maternal females
L The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone by Charity Norman 22/7/2015
E The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree 21/7/2015
S To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey13/07/2015. MC surname is Searle.
L Strictly Murder by Lynda Wilcox 27/7/2015
E My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman MC's name is Elsa. 08/08/2015
Y You Changed My Life by Abdel Sellou 29/8/2015

R Antiques Roadkill by Barbara Allan 18/7/2015
O Death of an Old Git by Andrea Frazer 20/09/2015
B Barbara Ross Musseled Out 08/09/2015
Y The Mystery of the Yellow Room BY Gaston Leroux 19/10/2015
N Bats and Bones by Karen Musser Nortman 23/8/2015

****
G Murder That Wasn't: The Case of George Gwaze by Felicity Goodyear-Smith 05/09/2015
R The Ringmaster by Vanda Symon 04/09/2015
E Murder at the Azalea Festival by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter 14/10/2015
T The Good Life on Te Muna Road by Deborah Coddington 24/09/2015
A The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side BY Agatha Christie 19/11/2015

****
R Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh MC's name is Roderick 19/10/2015
E Murder at Wrightsville Beach by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter 27/10/2015
B The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop by J.A. Whiting 31/08/2015
E Eat, Drink, and Be Buried BY Kate Kingsbury 23/10/2015
C Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses by Mary McHugh 27/09/2015
C The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton 17/09/2015
A Anna Hope Wake 02/02/2016

****
E Ellen Crosby The Merlot Murders 26/11/2015
M Maid for Mayhem by Bridget Allison 24/09/2015
M Milkshake by Matt Hammond 6/10/2015
A Agatha Christie Why Didn't They Ask Evans? 27/12/2015

Now deciding on whether to try for paternal females or maternal males - now they will be interesting since it goes something like William, Thomas, William, Thomas!!!
Might go for paternal females ;)

[Darkpool]

Well done Kathleen!! I'd totally forgotten about this challenge this year.