12 days of Xmas - variation on a theme

[Ian]

I'm going to need some help with this one I think. All suggestions, variations or amendments welcome. Lets see what the collective imagination can achieve.

Photos to accompany would be a bonus

OK here goes, singing along.......

On the first day of Xmas the book elf sent to me

A ladder for a magical tree (see picture)

[Ian]

On the second day of Xmas, the book elf sent to me

A pair of fine dragon bookends (see photo)
And a ladder to a magical tree

[Ian]

On the third day of Xmas the book elf sent to me
Three Men in a Boat ( also see photos)
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree


Suggestions for four?

[Ellen]

how about: "Four characters in a title...": Etta and Otto and Russell and James ?

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "how about: "Four characters in a title...": Etta and Otto and Russell and James ?"

Nice one - but too many syllables to work

I did wonder about Four Musketeers (includes D'Artagnan) - I have settled on Four (New York) Blondes - first to find the author wins a virtual packet of smarties

[Ian]

So, next iteration goes like this

On the fourth day of Xmas the book elf sent to me....

Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

[Kathy]

"Five star reviews"

Not exactly the same number of syllables as the original but it scans with the music! I guess only authors would want these for Christmas though.

[Ian]

Kathy wrote: ""Five star reviews"

Not exactly the same number of syllables as the original but it scans with the music! I guess only authors would want these for Christmas though."

I like it - as you say - it scans

so, for day 5

On the 5th Day of Xmas the book elf sent to me

FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

I've got 7 but 6 is stretching me a bit

[Ian]

Right - I've got a cracking number 6 - and it is a real teaser for you to solve - but no googling! Their first and only books were huge.

On the 6th Day of Xmas the book elf sent to me

Six (famous) one time novelists
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

[Ian]

OK - Obviously you need some help...

At No 6 is Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, at No.5 Salingers Catcher in the Rye at No.4 Ralph Ellisons The Invisible Man (agree thats a bit obscure) - but the top 3 are very well know, though Classics - two from the 1800s and one from 1936. Guesses?

[Kathy]

Ian wrote: "OK - Obviously you need some help...

At No 6 is Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, at No.5 Salingers Catcher in the Rye at No.4 Ralph Ellisons The Invisible Man (agree thats a bit obscure) - but the top..."

1936 I'm guessing is Gone with the Wind? (I'm reading it atm...)

[Ian]

And, moving on swiftly..

On the 7th day of Xmas the book elves sent to me
7 Harry Potters (photo uploaded)
Six (famous) one time novelists
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

and your quiz question - how many pages in the 7 Potter novels? - guesses only please - don't look it up!

[Ian]

Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "OK - Obviously you need some help...

At No 6 is Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, at No.5 Salingers Catcher in the Rye at No.4 Ralph Ellisons The Invisible Man (agree thats a bit obscure) -..."

Spot on - now the remaining two are very widely read and have been turned into films and music - surprised me that they were one novel authors. Thinking caps on everyone!

Oh and dont forget to gues the Harry Potter question - I now have the remaining days filled so the rest will follow over the next couple of days

[Angela]

Ian wrote: "Right - I've got a cracking number 6 - and it is a real teaser for you to solve - but no googling! Their first and only books were huge.

On the 6th Day of Xmas the book elf sent to me

Six (famous..."
Hmm .... tricky! How about Bram Stoker for Dracula, Mary Shelley for Frankenstein, or whoever wrote The 39 Steps??

[Ian]

On the 7th day of Xmas the book elves sent to me

7 Harry Potters (How many pages in the set altogether?)
Six (famous) one time novelists (only Kathy has guessed one so far)
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

[Ian]

Angela wrote: "Ian wrote: "Right - I've got a cracking number 6 - and it is a real teaser for you to solve - but no googling! Their first and only books were huge.

On the 6th Day of Xmas the book elf sent to me
..."

Can see why you'd think that but nope. They all wrote numerous works. John Buchan wrote 39 Steps

[Ian]

On the 8th day of Xmas the book elf gave to me
8 Narnian Heroes (but can you name the main protagonists?)
7 Harry Potters (How many pages in the set altogether?)
Six (famous) one time novelists (only Kathy has guessed one so far)
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

Answers to all questions will be posted on Boxing Day, so you have time

[Ian]

On the 9th day of Xmas th ebook elf gave to me

9 saviours of Middle Earth (can you name them? - see photos for clue)
8 Narnian Heroes (but can you name the main protagonists?)
7 Harry Potters (How many pages in the set altogether?)
Six (famous) one time novelists (only Kathy has guessed one so far)
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

Answers to all questions will be posted on Boxing Day, so you have time

[Ian]

On the 10th day of Xmas the book elf gave to me
Ten Great Mysteries (who wrote that - see photo)
9 saviours of Middle Earth (can you name them? - see photos for clue)
8 Narnian Heroes (but can you name the main protagonists?)
7 Harry Potters (How many pages in the set altogether?)
Six (famous) one time novelists (only Kathy has guessed one so far)
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

[Ian]

and to come right up to date...
On the 11th day of Xmas the book elf gave to me
11 Booker winners (how many can you name - Its been going since 1969 so lots to choose from - see th photo for clues)
Ten Great Mysteries (who wrote that - see photo)
9 saviours of Middle Earth (can you name them? - see photos for clue)
8 Narnian Heroes (but can you name the main protagonists?)
7 Harry Potters (How many pages in the set altogether?)
Six (famous) one time novelists (only Kathy has guessed one so far)
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

[Angela]

Ian wrote: "On the 10th day of Xmas the book elf gave to me
Ten Great Mysteries (who wrote that - see photo)
9 saviours of Middle Earth (can you name them? - see photos for clue)
8 Narnian Heroes (but can you ..."

Ian wrote: "On the 9th day of Xmas th ebook elf gave to me

9 saviours of Middle Earth (can you name them? - see photos for clue)
8 Narnian Heroes (but can you name the main protagonists?)
7 Harry Potters (How..."
Spotted a raven in the photo, so Edgar Allen Poe?

[Ian]

Angela wrote: "Ian wrote: "On the 10th day of Xmas the book elf gave to me
Ten Great Mysteries (who wrote that - see photo)
9 saviours of Middle Earth (can you name them? - see photos for clue)
8 Narnian Heroes (..."

Mr Poe it is. Well spotted.

[Ian]

And finally, and all sing along now....

On the 12th day of Xmas the book elf gave to me
12 Dickens novels (how many can you name?)
11 Booker winners (how many can you name - Its been going since 1969 so lots to choose from - see th photo for clues)
Ten Great Mysteries (who wrote that - see photo)
9 saviours of Middle Earth (can you name them? - see photos for clue)
8 Narnian Heroes (but can you name the main protagonists?)
7 Harry Potters (How many pages in the set altogether?)
Six (famous) one time novelists (only Kathy has guessed one so far)
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
Four (New York) Blondes
Three Men in a Boat
A pair of fine dragon bookends
And a ladder to a magical tree

Phew - I'll give answers some time on Boxing Day but have a go at the 12 days of Xmas (what has turned into a ) quiz folks

[Ian]

I promised the asnwers to the quiz but I havent actually seen an awful lot of guessing going on so am not sure if ) you are not interested b) you want more time or c) you've been guessing but have run out of ideas.

So - for day 6, Kathy got Gone with the Wind but what about the two others? Two clues to take you there pretty quickly - "Be a tusk" and gain an H" to find the singer (4,4) who had a hit single in 1978 with the title of the first. Some might think the title of the second was a bit of a dark horse.

Answers please?

[Kathy]

Wuthering Heights and Black Beauty? Have you ever thought of a career creating cryptic crosswords, Ian? ;)

[Ian]

Kathy wrote: "Wuthering Heights and Black Beauty? Have you ever thought of a career creating cryptic crosswords, Ian? ;)"

You got it Kathy. I think Id better hold on to the day job.

Heres an extra Xmas treat https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...

More answers later. How are you doing with Booker winners - who are your top 3? And what about the Dickens novels?

[Ian]

"I am not bound to please thee with my answers" (Shakespeare)

And some more answers:
How many pages in the Harry Potter series 3407 - were you close?
8 Narnian Heroes - Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter Pevensie; Digory Kirke(Magicians Nephew); Caspian; Eustace Scrubb; Jill Pole
9 Tolkien saviours - Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Boromir and Aragorn
Ten Mysteries was Edgar Allan Poe
How are you doing with 11 Booker winners?
And the biggest selling Dickens novel?

PS - any idea where this Shakespeare quote is from?

[Ian]

Tale of Two Cities is the Dickens novel that has sold most copies - over 200m (imagine the royalties?). In fact I think it is the biggest selling book by any author from what I can find. I guess Dickens had less competition than most modern authors.

[Angela]

That's a surprise, I thought it would be OliverTwist or A Christmas Carol.