Erin's reading challenges

[Erin L]

Starting with the ultimate for 2016
20/40 categories complete

Incomplete:
01. Cinder A book based on a fairy tale
02. The Handmaid's Tale A National Book Award Winner Governor General Award Winner
03. [ ] A young adult (YA) bestseller
04. [ ] A book you haven’t read since high school

07. Origin in Death A romance set in the future


12. [ ] A book recommended by someone you just met

14. [ ] A book you can finish in a day

16. [ ] A political memoir

19. The Poisonwood Bible A book from Oprah’s book club
20. [ ] A science-fiction novel
21. [ ] A book recommended by a family member
22. [ ] A graphic novel
23. [ ] A book that is published in 2016

25. [ ] A book that takes place during summer
26. [ ] A book and its prequel The Crack in the Lens & Dear Mr. Holmes: Seven Holmes On The Range Mysteries (I'm treating the second as a prequel since it's short stories prior to the first book in the series, but it's not numbered that way.)

28. [ ] A book written by a comedian
29. [ ] A dystopian novel

32. [ ] The first book you see in a bookstore


35. [ ] An autobiography

38. [ ] A satirical book


Complete
05. A book set in your home state (or province/territory) (11-Jan) *
06. A book translated into English (07-Jan) *

08. A book set in Europe (04-Jan) *
09. A book that is under 150 pages (11-Feb)
10. A New York Times bestseller (14-Feb)
11. A book that is being made into a movie this year (05-Jan) *

13. A self-improvement book (25-Jan)*

15. A book written by a celebrity (20-Jan) *

17. A book at least 100 years older than you (18-Jan)
18. A book that’s more than 600 pages (08-FEB)

24. A book with a protagonist (main character) who has your occupation.
27. A murder mystery (15-Jan) *

30. A book with a blue cover (14-Jan) *
31. A book of poetry (09-Jan) *

33. A classic from the 20th century (16-Jan) *
34. A book from the library (17-Feb)

36. A book about a road trip
37. A book about a culture with which you are unfamiliar (12-Feb)

39. A book that takes place on an island (23-JAN) *
40. A book guaranteed to bring you joy (07-FEB)

[Erin L]

Winter 2015-16 challenge:

I'm going to start with Mardi Gras & Jingle Bells

M - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - (M)arie Kondo (01/25)
A - Murder in the Mews (A)gatha Christie(01/04)
R - The Republic of Thieves (01/31)
D - Death Without Company (01/02)
I - Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse (01/05)
G - Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (12/23)
R - Hickory Smoked Homicide (R)iley Adams (02/02)
A - An Affair Before Christmas (12/27)
S - The Silver Linings Playbook (12/23)

J - Around the World in 80 Days (J)ules Verne (01/18)
I - Inspector Specter (02/09)
N - The Naturals (01/09)
G - The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon - David (G)rann (01/05)
L - A Touch of Gold - Joyce (L)avene (01/23)
E - The Last Camel Died at Noon - (E)lizabeth Peters (01/13)
B - Bones of a Feather (02/07)
E - Chance of a Ghost - (E).J. Copperman (02/05)
L - The Passenger (L)isa (L)utz (01/14)
L - Late Harvest Havoc (01/07)
S - Roseanna Maj (S)jowell (02/12)

Adding SnowFlake
S - Lockdown (S)ean Black(01/07)
N - Aunt Dimity's Christmas (N)ancy Atherton (12/29)
O - Origin in Death
W - Roses Are Difficult Here (W).O Mitchell (01/11)
F - The Flanders Panel (01/15)
L - Book of Longing (L)eonard Cohen (01/09)
A - Brave New World (A)ldous Huxley (01/16)
K - Killing Bridezilla (01/14)
E - Let It Sew (E)lizabeth Lynn Casey (01/24)

G The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer (02/19)
I Witch Hunt (I)an Rankin
N Smoke and Mirrors
G Gambit (02/20)
E Elephants Can Remember (02/15)
R The Silkworm (R)obert Galbraith (02/14)
B Bran New Death(02/14)
R Reckoning (02/11)
E The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog (E)lizabeth Peters(02/12)
A Finger Lickin' Dead Riley (A)dams (02/17)
D Murder Most Howl Krista (D)avis

[Erin L]

Aaaaand: Read around the USA - starting Jan 2016.:

Alabama
Alaska - Panning For Murder (13-JUN-2016)
Arizona - A Fistful of Collars (08-APR-2016)
Arkansas
California - Killing Bridezilla (14-JAN-2016)
Colorado - Swift Edge
Connecticut - Read It and Weep 04-MAY-2016
Delaware
District of Columbia - The Naturals (09-JAN-2016)
Florida All Families are Psychotic (02-Mar-2016)
Georgia - Homemade Sin (15-JUN-2016)
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana - A Dark and Stormy Murder
Iowa
Kansas - Murders on Elderberry Road26-FEB2016
Kentucky
Louisiana - Reckoning 11-FEB-2016
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts - The Rumor
Michigan
Minnesota - The Fate of Mercy Alban(31-JAN-2016)
Mississippi - Bones of a Feather (07-FEB-2016)
Missouri First Drop of Crimson (16-FEB-2016)
Montana - The Ploughmen
Nebraska
Nevada High Stakes
New Hampshire
New Jersey - Inspector Specter 09-FEB-2016
New Mexico - Fifth Grave Past the Light 02-MAR-2016
New York - Lockdown (07-JAN-2016)
North Carolina - A Touch of Gold (23-JAN-2016)
North Dakota
Ohio Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti (02-JUN-2016)
Oklahoma
Oregon - The Dark Place
Pennsylvania - Betrayed 03-MAY-2016
Rhode Island
South Carolina - Let It Sew 24-JAN-2016
South Dakota
Tennessee Hickory Smoked Homicide 02-FEB-2016
Texas Pick Your Poison 21-FEB-2016
Utah
Vermont
Virginia - The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer 19-FEB-2016
Washington - Miss Zukas and the Library Murders 11-APR-2016
West Virginia - The Diva Digs Up the Dirt 10-MAY-2016
Wisconsin - Lucky Stiff
Wyoming - Death Without Company 02-JAN-2016

[Erin L]

World Trip Challenge - aim for Level 3 (again, beginning Jan 2016)

Continents: 6/6
Countries: 17/~200
Books: 17/17
+ ANTARCTICA! 1/1

Europe:
Murder in the Mews 04-JAN-2016 - England
The Flanders Panel -15-JAN-2016 Spain
Late Harvest Havoc - 07-JAN-2016 France
Roseanna 11-FEB-2016 - Sweden
Black and Blue - Scotland
The Dogs of Riga 13-JUN-2016 - Latvia
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam 26-JAN-2016- Netherlands
All the Light We Cannot See - Germany
Rose Under Fire - Germany
Fellowship of Fear 26-FEB2016- Italy
In the Woods - Ireland
Daughter of Smoke & Bone 14-FEB-2016- Czech Republic

South America:
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon 05-JAN-2016 - Brazil

North America:
Lockdown 07-JAN-2016 - United States
Roses Are Difficult Here 11-JAN-2016- Canada
Killer Cruise 19-JAN-2016 - Mexico

Africa
The Last Camel Died at Noon 13-JAN-2016 - The Sudan
The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog 12-Feb-2016 - Egypt
The Man in the Brown Suit - South Africa
The Poisonwood Bible - The Congo

Asia
Around the World in 80 Days 18-JAN-2016 - India
Cinder 28-JUN-2016 - China

Australia/New Zealand/New Guinea
Ruddy Gore - Australia 02/23

BONUS: Antarctica:
In Cold Pursuit: A Mystery From The Last Continent
Where'd You Go, Bernadette 27-MAR-2016

[Robin]

How do I set up Read Across the USA?

[Erin L]

There's a challenge thread in challenges that explains the challenge, but I just copied the list of states from there and posted it here and started adding my books as I read them.

[Erin L]

January Challenge:

1. January 1 is New Year's Day — Read the first book in a series. Lockdown (read 01/07)

2. January 8 is Male Watcher's Day and January 12 is Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day — Read a book by a male author, or that has a male protagonist. Death Without Company (read 01/02)

3. January 10 is Peculiar People Day — Read a book with a strange, unusual or interesting character. Murder in the Mews (who is more unusual the Hercule Poirot?) (read 01/04)

4. January 14 is Dress Up Your Pet Day — Read a book where someone owns a pet, or a book that depicts a pet on the cover (dog, cat, goldfish, etc). Killing Bridezilla (read 01/14)

5. January 31 is Inspire Your Heart with Art Day — Choose a book based on its beautiful/artful cover. The Flanders Panel (read 01/15)

[Erin L]

2016 Alphabet challenge (titles)
10/26

Titles:
A - Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (05/06)
B - Bones of a Feather (02/07)
C - Chance of a Ghost (02/05)
D - Death Without Company (01/02)
E - Elephants Can Remember (02/15)
F - The Flanders Panel(01/15)
G - The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (01/26)
H - Hickory Smoked Homicide(02/02)
I - Inspector Specter (02/08)
J - The Joy Luck Club (06/18)
K - Killing Bridezilla (01/14)
L - Late Harvest Havoc (01/08)
M - Murder in the Mews (01/04)
N - The Naturals (01/09)
O - Origin in Death
P - Pick Your Poison (02/21)
Q - Queen of the Flowers
R - Roseanna (02/12)
S - Smarty Bones (04/16)
T - A Touch of Gold(01/23)
U - Unnatural Death
V
W - World's Greatest Sleuth!(03/17)
X
Y
Z

[Erin L]

New Year's Reading Resolution: Finish/catch up on Cozy series

Jaine Austen
11. Death of a Neighborhood Witch
12. Killing Cupid
13. Death by Tiara

Southern Sewing Circle
8. Remnants of Murder
9. Taken In
10. Wedding Duress
11. Needle and Dread

Consignment Shop Mysteries
4. Demise in Denim

Library Lovers
6. A Likely Story

White House Chef
9. Foreign Éclairs

Supper Club Mysteries
2. Fit to Die
4. Stiffs and Swine
5. The Battered Body
6. Black Beans and Vice

Mattie Winston
5. Board Stiff
7. Stiff Competition

Southern Beauty Shop
3. Die Job
4. Wave Good-bye

COMPLETE:
Memphis BBQ Mysteries - Finished
Paws and claws -Up to date - Krista Davis
Sarah Booth Delaney - Up to Date - Carolyn Haines
Haunted Guesthouse - Up to Date - E.J. Copperman

[Erin L]

Bonus Series to work on:

Aunt Dimity
8. Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday
9. Aunt Dimity: Snowbound
10. Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
11. Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea
12. Aunt Dimity Goes West
13. Aunt Dimity, Vampire Hunter
14. Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon
15. Aunt Dimity Down Under
16. Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree
17. Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch
18. Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince
19. Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well
20. Aunt Dimity and the Summer King
21. Aunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure

Domestic Diva
9. The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss

Amelia Peabody
8. The Hippopotamus Pool
9. Seeing a Large Cat
10. The Ape Who Guards the Balance
11. The Falcon at the Portal
12. He Shall Thunder in the Sky
13. Lord of the Silent
14. The Golden One
15. Children of the Storm
16. Guardian of the Horizon
17. The Serpent on the Crown
18. Tomb of the Golden Bird
19. A River in the Sky

Phryne Fisher
8. Urn Burial
9. Raisins and Almonds
10. Death Before Wicket
11. Away With the Fairies
12. Murder in Montparnasse
13. The Castlemaine Murders
14. Queen of the Flowers
15. Death by Water
16. Murder in the Dark
17. Murder on a Midsummer Night
18. Dead Man's Chest
19. Unnatural Habits
20. Murder and Mendelssohn

[Erin L]

February Mini challenge

1. February 13 is Get a Different Name Day — Read a book by an author who writes under more than one name. (eg: Kylie Logan/Casey Daniels; Joyce and Jim Lavene/JJ Cook; Victoria Hamilton/Amanda Cooper . . . See the Featured Author Master List for more ideas) Chance of a Ghost - E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen (02/05)

2. February is American Heart Month and February 14 is Valentine's Day — Read a book with a predominantly red or pink cover. Gambit (02/20)

3. February 22 is Walking the Dog Day — Read a book with a dog on the cover. The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog (02/12)

4. February 25 is Pistol Patent Day — Find a book with some sort of weapon depicted on the cover (gun, rope/noose, knife, sword, etc -- think "Clue" here). Bones of a Feather (02/07)

5. February 28 is Floral Design Day — Read a book about flowers, or with flowers on the cover. Pick Your Poison (02/21)

[Erin L]

REPORTER CHALLENGE:

Who? What? Where? When? How?
Why? – because it’s fun to read!

Cub reporter: 5 books (1 from each category) 5/5
Columnist: 10 books (2 from each category) 10/10
News Anchor: 15 books (3 from each category)15/15
Editor: 20 books (4 from each category)20/20
Newspaper Mogul: 25 books

BONUS CATEGORY: Pulitzer Prize Winner (Newspaper Mogul plus Bonus Category): 30 books

WHO

Protagonist is a forensic specialist (forensic accountant, forensic artist, forensic pathologist, forensic dentist, etc)Fellowship of Fear (02/25)
Protagonist is a crime-solving duo (any 2 person team: hubby/wife, siblings, professionals, etc)The Last Camel Died at Noon(01/14)
Protagonist is a dead person (ghost, skeleton, vampire, zombie…anybody who is dead) Chance of a Ghost (02/05)
Protagonist works with animals (vet, dog walker, zookeeper, etc)To Catch a Treat(01/19)
Protagonist is a legal professional (judge, lawyer, paralegal etc) Betrayed(05/03)

WHAT

Number in the title Around the World in Eighty Days (01/18)
Poison in the title Pick Your Poison (02/21)
Weather in the title Time of Fog and Fire (03/28)
Color in title A Touch of Gold(01/22)
Title starts with the same letter as your last name Killing Bridezilla(01/14)

WHERE

Set in a little town Book, Line and Sinker (04/16)
NOT set on land (cruise ship, boat, airplane, spaceship, etc) Killer Cruise (01/19)
Set in Nevada
Set on foreign soil (not America or England)The Flanders Panel (Spain)(01/15)
Historical novel (pre 1930) Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse (01/06)

WHEN

One book set during a party (family reunion, birthday, Christmas, etc) Reckoning (Mardi Gras) (02/11)
One that centers around a holiday Let It Sew (01/06)
One Dark & Stormy night – bad weather plays big role in story Academ's Fury (02/08)
One where the protagonist has to beat the clock (time is crucial to solving mystery)
One set during a courtroom trial The Gods of Guilt (04/07)

HOW

(Method of Murder)
Poison is murder weapon Death Without Company (01/02)
Knife/stabbing is murder weapon Rubbed Out (03/06)
Gun/shooting is murder weapon -Inspector Specter (02/09)
Blunt object is murder weapon - Candlestick Hickory Smoked Homicide(02/02)
Rope/strangulation is murder weapon - Roseanna (02/11)

BONUS CATEGORY

WHO - Protagonist is a child (under the age of 18) The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (04/21)
WHAT - 3 word title (title is only 3 words and they all start with the same letter)
WHERE - “Locked Room” mystery (not necessarily a room, as long as the scene is contained) The Lighthouse 04/27
WHEN – Death occurs during a natural disaster (hurricane, avalanche, tsunami, etc) Booty Bones 05/31
HOW - At least 3 different people killed by 3 different means, all in one story


Rules: For this challenge – Each book can only be used for 1 category (Ex: Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap would fit into 3 categories – strangled, cut off from the world due to bad weather, locked room mystery. But you can only place this story in 1 of the categories)

For the bonus round, you must first complete the Newspaper Mogul category and then complete the bonus category. (Just for fun, the bonus round is a bit tougher) However, if you read a book that you realize fits into the bonus category, you can save it to use to fill in the bonus round after you complete Newspaper Mogul status!

[Erin L]

And the one with lots of G's.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

100 book Genre Challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It's called What???
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

May the Fourth (Star Wars)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Erin L]

March Mini Challenge

1. March is National Irish American Heritage Month and March 17 is Saint Patrick's Day — Read a book that is set in Ireland, or that has a green cover.
03/15

2. March is National Craft Month, the 2nd week is Crochet Week and March 19 is National Quilting Day — Read a book depicting your favorite craft or hobby.


3. March 2 is Old Stuff Day — Read the oldest book on your shelves/at bottom of your TBR pile. No new books!
(added to To-Read in Feb 2010)


4. March 13 is Jewel Day — Read a book whose cover depicts some sort of jewels or jewelry (ring, necklace, bracelet, brooch, pearl, emerald, etc).
03/02

5. March 4 is Employee Appreciation Day and National Salesperson Day, and March 29 is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day — Read a book in which someone has the same or similar job as you do (and yes, retirees and housewives/stay-at-home moms count).