Mojca's Reading Challenges

[Mojca]

2019 Read-the-Month Challenge Polish Edition styczeń (January)
Duration: January 1 - January 31, 2019 — PARTIALLY COMPLETED

(view spoiler)[S – Symington, Andy et al. - Lonely Planet East Coast Australia ✓ 5 Jan
T – Tess Curan et al. - Fodor's Essential Australia ✓ 6 Jan
Y –
C –
Z –
E –
Ń – NZ Frenzy South Island New Zealand 3rd Edition by Scott Cook ✓ 14 Jan
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 January Word Hunt
Duration: January 1 - January 31, 2019 — PARTIALLY COMPLETED

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 3/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 1/1
"Leftover" words found: 1/4
Books completed: 6

1. BEANIE —

2. BEEF — Lonely Planet Australia's Best Trips by Anthony Ham ✓ 4 Jan
p. 79: Standout dishes include buttermilk-malt hotcakes pr the classic beef burger.

3. BORE — The Rough Guide to Australia by Melanie Ball ✓ 7 Jan
p. 258: Beyond Walgett, just off the Castlereagh Highway that runs from Dubbo, is Lightning Ridge, a scorching-hot opal-minind town relieved by hot artesian bore baths.

4. FIRST — Fodor's Essential Australia by Lee Atkinson et al. ✓ 6 Jan
p. 96: The building stands close to the site where the British flag was first raised on the shores of Sydney Cove in 1788.

5. FRESH — Lonely Planet Australia's Best Trips by Anthony Ham ✓ 4 Jan
174360517x p. 46: In a cosy dining room right on the water you can order fabulously fresh salads and local seafood share plates.

6. PEEP — Lonely Planet East Coast Australia by Andy Symington ✓ 5 Jan
p. 302: Popular with on-point James St Peeps, this modern, mosaic-clad bistro straddles a leafy laneway by the Palace Centro cinemas.

7. QUARTER — The Rough Guide to Australia by Melanie Ball ✓ 7 Jan
p. 38: Farmstays are even more variable; some are very comfortanle, at others you'll bunk down in vacant shearers' quarters.

8. RESOLVE — Fodor's Essential Australia by Lee Atkinson et al. ✓ 6 Jan
p. 10: It also, fortunately, has the wealth and resolve to protect them as best it can.

9. SHINY — Lonely Planet Australia by Brett Atkinson et al. ✓ 7 Jan
p. 21: Begun in 1877, the old line from Marree to Alice Springs suffered from wash outs and shoddy construction before a shiny new line replaced it in 1980.

10. SORDID — Lonely Planet East Coast Australia by Andy Symington ✓ 5 Jan
p. 408: Trust YHA to provide a genuine alternative for young budget travellers to sordid hostels and inconvenient bush dumps.


Bonus
1. CELERY — Lonely Planet East Coast Australia by Andy Symington ✓ 5 Jan
p. 255: Mezze such as seares scallops or braised cuttlefish with appel, celery<7u> and a lime dressing, and mains such as grilled pork shoulder, are sensational.

2. CYCLING — Lonely Planet Australia by Brett Atkinson et al. ✓ 7 Jan
p. 53: Cycling is a great way to get around, despite the mammoth distances sometimes involved.

3. FLIPPANT —

4. NEIGHBORLY — Fodor's Essential Australia by Lee Atkinson et al. ✓ 6 Jan
p. 325: With its blazing fires, artfully smoky walls, and striking, art deco-ish wrought-iron ceiling lights, this two-decade-old restaurant has a lived-in, neighborly look.

5. PIXIE —


Bonus bonus
1. STUPENDOUS — The Rough Guide to Australia by Melanie Ball ✓ 7 Jan
p. 327: You can ride the lift up 77 storeys or 230 m, in 42.7 seconds to the SkyPoint observation deck for a drink at the bar and stupendous 360-degree views down over the puny high-rises below, the endless strip of golden sand frigning the sea, and inland as far as Mount Warning in New South Wales.

__________________________________________

September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —


December 2018 "leftovers"
Bonus
2. HYMN —

3. SCROOGE —

Bonus bonus
1. CINDER — Insight Guides Explore New Zealand by Patrick Kinsella ✓ 20 Jan
p. 60: After passing the reserve, you'll see brown, windswept plains of toitoi, manuka and flas, then the charred cinder cone of Mount Ngauruhoe, which last errupted in 1975.


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 February Monthly Challenge
Duration: February 1 - February 28, 2019 — PARTIALLY COMPLETED

(view spoiler)[1. 'F' is for February
Read a book that starts with 'F' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'F'.
Discover New Zealand by Amanda Forge et al. ✓ 4 Feb

2. Bird of the Month - Parrot
Read a book
★ with a colorful cover or with a beautiful scene on the cover
★ that features a friendship that turns into love.
NZ Frenzy North Island New Zealand 3rd Edition by Scott Cook ✓ 9 Feb (beautiful scene on cover)

3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - Lisa Kleypas
Princess of Romance - Michelle M. Pillow
Read one book written by Lisa Kleypas or Michelle M. Pillow, or any author with either of their first or last names
OR
Read a book
★ tagged as paranormal, fantasy or mystery
★ where a character travels.


4. February 2nd – Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
Read a book
★ with food on the cover or in the story
★ just because you want to! Bonus points if you are eating ice cream while reading it!
Fodor's Essential New Zealand by Anabel Darby ✓ 25 Feb (just because I want to

5. February 3rd – Super Bowl Sunday
Read a book
★ with a sports romance tag
★ set in any one of these locations (Atlanta, Georgia, New England or Los Angeles)
★ with the numbers 5 and 3 in the page count or publication date or with a Roman numeral in the title.


6. February 13th - Galentine’s Day
Read a book
★ that features best friends or a group of girlfriends
★ with an adult beverage on the cover (cheers!) or set in a bar.


7. February 20th – Hoodie Hoo Day
Read a book
★ with an odd or mysterious character (like paranormal or magical) – up to your interpretation!
★ with a wintery or cold scene on the cover, or with mostly blue on the cover.
Lonely Planet Auckland The Bay of Islands Road Trips by Peter Dragicevich & Brett Atkinson ✓ 20 Feb (mostly blue on the cover)

8. February 22nd – Walk the Dog Day
Read a book
★ where a character has a pet or that has an animal on the cover or in the story
★ where a character plays a trick on someone or has a trick played on him or her.


9. February 24th - Oscar Night
Read a book
★ that features a famous or wealthy character or has an actor/actress character in the story
★ with a yellow or gold on the cover or a statue on the cover.
New Zealand North Island: Secret Travel Guide by Tim Hoy ✓ 8 Feb

10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
Lonely Planet New Zealand's North Island by Peter Dragicevich et al. ✓ 20 Feb
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[Mojca]

2019 Read-the-Month Challenge Polish Edition LUTY (February)
Duration: February 1 - February 28, 2019 — PARTIALLY COMPLETED

(view spoiler)[L – Lonely Planet New Zealand's North Island by Peter Dragicevich et al. ✓ 20 Feb
U –
T – Turner, Peter - National Geographic Traveler: New Zealand, 3rd Edition ✓ 2 Feb
Y –

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 February Word Hunt
Duration: February 1 - February 28, 2019 — PARTIALLY COMPLETED

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 3/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 0/1
"Leftover" words found: 2/6
Books completed: 9

1. BERRY — National Geographic Traveler: New Zealand, 3rd Edition by Peter Turner ✓ 2 Feb
p. 109: These birds have a highly developed sense of smell and use their long bills to forage in forest undergrowth for worms, insects, and spiders, as well as berries and seeds.

2. BUBBLE — Lonely Planet New Zealand's North Island by Peter Dragicevich et al. ✓ 20 Feb
3%: The water is famously chilly, but hot springs bubble up on the lakeside and riverbank.

3. CARRIAGE — National Geographic Traveler: New Zealand, 3rd Edition by Peter Turner ✓ 2 Feb
p. 241: A diesel engine pulls 1920s carriages daily to Pukerangi and to Middlemarch on Sundays.

4. CHAMPAGNE — Lonely Planet Auckland The Bay of Islands Road Trips by Peter Dragicevich & Brett Atkinson ✓ 20 Feb
p. 78: They're attracted by the excellent seafood-skewed bistro menu, oysters and champagne, and a buzzy but relaxed vibe that's part bar and part restaurant.

5. LAVISH — Lonely Planet Auckland The Bay of Islands Road Trips by Peter Dragicevich & Brett Atkinson ✓ 20 Feb
p. 69: Bikes and wi-fi are free for guests, and in-room massage and lavish dinners can be arranged on request.

6. MAGNIFICENT — National Geographic Traveler: New Zealand, 3rd Edition by Peter Turner ✓ 2 Feb
p. 8: Nature has blessed the big islands of the South Pacific with many magnificent landscapes: peaks, desert, volcanoes, seas, forests, and beaches.

7. NAPKIN —

8. NONDESCRIPT — New Zealand by Jamie Christian Desplaces ✓ 15 Feb
p. 207: The nondescript National Park Village offers plenty of accomodations, most on Findlay and Carroll Streets, with some stunning volcanic views.

9. NORTH — New Zealand North Island: Secret Travel Guide by Tim Hoy ✓ 8 Feb
2%: It is based only on the North Island and is not intended to be all encompassing.

10. STRAW — Lonely Planet Auckland The Bay of Islands Road Trips by Peter Dragicevich & Brett Atkinson ✓ 20 Feb
p. 116. Made of recycled railway timber, mudbrick and lime-plastered straw walls, the rooms marry earthiness with sheer luxury.



Bonus
1. ACOUSTICS — Insight Guides New Zealand by Magdalena Helsztyńska-Stadnik ✓ 8 Feb
p. 161: It's worth taking a speedboat tour across the water to exprience its amazing acoustics and colorful parades of fish.

2. BLOT —

3. LUMPY — Insight Guides New Zealand by Magdalena Helsztyńska-Stadnik ✓ 8 Feb
p. 96: Down the lumpy eastern coast of the North Island is Hawke's Bay, where wine-making operates on a large scale—at last count it had more than 80 wineries, most of which offer a cellar-door experience.

4. RHYME —

5. SMELLY — New Zealand North Island: Secret Travel Guide by Tim Hoy ✓ 8 Feb
1%: Smelly mud pools and geysers… and mountain biking mania.



Bonus bonus
1. SQUALID —

__________________________________________

September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —


December 2018 "leftovers"
Bonus
2. HYMN — Frommer's New Zealand by Diana Balham & Kate Fraser ✓ 20 Feb
p. 44: The interiors are a hymn to Midcentury Modern: 25 stylish and surprising rooms and suites in the same quirky palette of funky colors.

3. SCROOGE —


January 2019 "leftovers"
1. BEANIE — Lonely Planet New Zealand by Charles Rawlings-Way et al. ✓ 27 Feb
p. 25: A beanie (wooly hat) for unexpectedly chilly evenings.

Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —

5. PIXIE —


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 March Monthly Challenge
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2019 — PARTIALLY COMPLETED

(view spoiler)[1. 'M' is for March
Read a book that starts with 'M' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'M'.
The Rough Guide to China by Mark South et al. ✓ 30 Mar

2. Bird of the Month - Robin
Read a book
★ that has the word ‘Robin’ or ‘Spring’ anywhere in the book (please list)
★ that puts a ‘spring’ in your step 😊
China: A Traveler's Guide to the Must-See Cities in China by Sam Spector ✓ 3 Mar (p. 26: The Weather is also divided into 4 seasons including short autumn and spring and long winter an summer.)

3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - Christine Feehan
Princess of Romance - Penelope Ward
Read one book written by Christine Feehan or Penelope Ward, or any author with either of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ set in California
★ by an author who is from California
★ published in 1999
★ shelved as Paranormal or Fantasy Romance.


4. March 6 – Dentist Day
Read
★ a book with a ‘smile’ on the cover
★ a humorous book.
Lonely Planet China by Damian Harper et al. ✓ 30 Mar (smile on cover)

5. March 8 – International (Working) Women’s Day
Read
★ a book with a female character who has a prominent position or is a leader
★ a Historical Romance.


6. March 14 – Popcorn Lover’s Day is the 2nd Thursday in March
Read a book
★ that’s also been made in to a movie
★ featuring a character that isn’t a good person
★ that’s so good you know you won’t be able to put it down!


7. March 17 – Saint Patrick’s Day
Read a book
★ set in Ireland
★ with 400 or more ratings
★ that has at least a ‘wee bit o’ green on the cover.
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide China by Donald Bedford et al. ✓ 30 Mar ('wee bit o' green on cover)

8. March 20 - The Spring Vernal Equinox
Read a book
★ with a title, series or author (first or last initial) starts with S, V or E
★ that has two identical numbers in the page count (any order is fine)
★ where the Spring Season is mentioned at least once.
Travel to China: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go by Josh Summers ✓ 5 Mar

9. March 23 – National Puppy Day
Read a book
★ featuring a dog or any animal with four legs
★ that you adopt - recommended by a friend, any Goodreads Recommendation or borrowed from the library.
Best of China: Your #1 Itinerary Planner for What to See, Do, and Eat in China by Wanderlust Pocket Guides ✓ 15 Mar (animal with four legs)

10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
Fodor's China by Christy Choi & Salwa Jabado ✓ 30 Mar
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition MARZEC (March)
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[M — Morgan, Kate et al. - Lonely Planet Shanghai ✓ 20 Mar
A — Andrew Stone et al. - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide China ✓ 30 Mar
R — Rambow, John D. et al. - Fodor's Beijing ✓ 10 Mar
Z — Zatko, Martin et al. - The Rough Guide to China ✓ 30 Mar
E — Eimer, David et al. - Lonely Planet China ✓ 30 Mar
C — China: A Traveler's Guide to the Must-See Cities in China by Sam Spector ✓ 3 Mar

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 March Word Hunt
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2019 — PARTIALLY COMPLETED

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 3/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 1/1
"Leftover" words found: 4/8
Books completed: 8

1. BONUS — Best of China: Your #1 Itinerary Planner for What to See, Do, and Eat in China by Wanderlust Pocket Guides ✓ 15 Mar
p. 165: As a bonus, valuable ancient painting in Beijing Palace are only displayed in September, as the climate is appropriate with low humidity and proper temperature.

2. CRACKER — The Rough Guide to Beijing by David Leffman et al. ✓ 10 Mar
p. 148: Lunch sets of curry, rice, pravn crackers, egg sambal and pandan pancakes are good value.

3. FLOCK — Best of China: Your #1 Itinerary Planner for What to See, Do, and Eat in China by Wanderlust Pocket Guides ✓ 15 Mar
p. 47: Since my visitors flock to the Great Wall, get to the bus stop early if you want a seat for the one hour long bus ride.

4. HANDY — Travel to China: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go by Josh Summers ✓ 5 Mar
p. 8: If you're into beautiful scenery, you should definitely keep your camera handy while traveling wround China.

5. PADDLE — Top 10 Beijing by Andrew Humphreys ✓ 10 Mar
p. 105: Adventure seekers can go bungee-jumping and zip-lining, while those looking for a more relaxing break can pay a visit to the Diamond Temple or rent a rowboat and paddle to a quiet stretch of gorge.

6. PRAY — Best of China: Your #1 Itinerary Planner for What to See, Do, and Eat in China by Wanderlust Pocket Guides ✓ 15 Mar
p. 29: This beautiful temple was used by the imperial family to make dedications to the gods, pray for good harvests and fair weather for his people, and carry out other religious ceremonies related to the imperial state.

7. RIGGING —


8. SHEEP — The Rough Guide to Beijing by David Leffman et al. ✓ 10 Mar
p. 46: Huge ceremonies took place here to celebrate Chinese New Year; in 1903, this involved the sacrifice of 10,000 sheep.

9. STEER — Top 10 Beijing by Andrew Humphreys ✓ 10 Mar
p. 48: As long as you steer them clear of the partially dissected human bodies, children will love this place, with its animatronic dinosaurs, prehistoric skeletons, and stuffed animals of all sizes.

10. WARNING — Travel to China: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go by Josh Summers ✓ 5 Mar
p. 67: Fair warning: most of these are heavy, hefty books that take up a lot of room in your suitcase.

Bonus
1. BLISTERING — Lonely Planet Shanghai by Kate Morgan et al. ✓ 20 Mar
p. 70: At the top of Shanghai's best Sichuan restaurants, Yuxin is a dab hand in the art of blistering chillies and numbing peppercorns.

2. EPHEMERAL — Lonely Planet China by Damian Harper et al. ✓ 30 Mar
p. 867: The examples of Buddhist art in the good site museum offer a rare glimpse into the ephemeral Western Xia culture, and point to clear artistic influences from neighbouring Tibet and Central Asia.

3. GRAPE — Lonely Planet Shanghai by Kate Morgan et al. ✓ 20 Mar
p. 114: This nirvana for lovers of the grain (and, to a lesser extent, grape), has row upon row of imported bottled bliss—Moosehead lager, Old Rasputin, tequila, rum, bourbon, widely sourced vino—all at bargain prices.

4. SENILE —


5. TRAMP — DK Eyewitness Travel Guide China by Donald Bedford et al. ✓ 30 Mar
p. 391: The next day is a 14-mile (22-km) tramp through heavy jungle on winding paths to Weidong, and the following day is an easy hike of 6 miles (10 km) along the road to Buland Shan, which offers rudimentary accommodations and a daily bus to Menghai.

Bonus bonus
1. SMALLPOX — The Rough Guide to Beijing by David Leffman et al. ✓ 10 Mar
p. 99: When, after a life of dissipation and debauchery, Tonghzi himself died of smallpox in 1874, she installed her nephew Guangxu as a puppet ruler and continued on as regent, concentrating all real imperial power in her hands as Empress Dowager.

__________________________________________

September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —


December 2018 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —


January 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —

5. PIXIE —


February 2019 "leftovers"
7. NAPKIN — DK Eyewitness Travel Guide China by Donald Bedford et al. ✓ 30 Mar
p. 569: You shouldn't suck greasy finers, or use them to pick bones out of your mouth—spit bones or shell onto the table, into the saucer that was under your bowl, or into a napkin.

Bonus
2. BLOT — Lonely Planet China by Damian Harper et al. ✓ 30 Mar
p. 310: If you can somehow blot out the crowds, Qibao brings you the flavours of old China.

4. RHYME — The Rough Guide to China by Thomas Bird et al. ✓ 30 Mar
p. 921: The major remains of the tenth-century Kingdom of Guge (pronounced to rhyme with "cougar"), where Buddhism survived while being eclipsed in other parts of Tibet, are the monastery of Tholing in Zanda; the crumbling ancient capital of Tsaparang, 20km to the west; and the cliff-top settlement of Piyang, 30km to the north.

Bonus bonus
1. SQUALID — The Rough Guide to China by Thomas Bird et al. ✓ 30 Mar
p. 144: It's obvious that not much money has made its way into the town outside the battlements, and aside from the reconstructed streets (now given over to tourist shops and restaurants) the hutongs of the old town are squalid and crumbling.


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

Romantic Rendezvous Quarterly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: March 15, 2019 - June 14, 2019

(view spoiler)[Levels:
Level 1 - I'm sticking close to home- Read 5 books
Level 2 - I like a long weekend away- Read 10 books
Level 3 - I'm ready to fly somewhere!- Read 15 books
Level 4 - I get away as often as possible- Read 25 books
Level 5 - I'm a world traveler - Read 35 books
Bonus - Read an additional 5 books designated as Bonus- can be added to any level.

Rules:
~ There is no minimum page requirement for this challenge.
~ Audiobooks and rereads are allowed.
~ You can always add levels as you go.
~ You may update your original post with your progress or repost , it is your choice. But please repost upon completion.
~ Titles can not be used for more than one category.
~ You may read a book that only includes a scene in the story from the task location, or the entire setting of the book.
~ You may use a book that includes any of the items/words in the task that can be found on the cover, or a book that includes any word in the task that is found in the title (or series name).
~ The words 'a, an, the, of, on, in, any, and, or' don't count if you choose to use the title for the task completion.

Travel tasks
1. North America


2. South America


3. Canada


4. Eastern Europe


5. Western Europe


6. Asia
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide China by Donald Bedford et al. ✓ 30 Mar

7. Africa


8. Antarctica/Arctic Circle or set in an extreme cold event, eg blizzard, snow storm


9. Australia/New Zealand


10. An Island
The Rough Guide to China by Thomas Bird et al. ✓ 30 Mar

11. A Farm


12. A City
Lonely Planet China by Damian Harper et al. ✓ 30 Mar

13. A Small Town
Fodor's China by Christy Choi & Salwa Jabado ✓30 Mar

14. A Desert
Insight Guides Silk Road by Chris & Sarah Bradley ✓ 10 May

15. A forest/jungle
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin ✓ 28 May

16. In a plane


17. On a train


18. On a boat/ship
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ✓ 26 Apr

19. In a car


20. Motorcycle


21. Bicycle


22. Rescue Vehicle (ambulance, fire engine, etc.)


23. Horse/Camel/Any large animal


24. On foot


25. Mountains


26. Spaceship/Rocket


27. Another planet or dimension


28. Hotel/Inn/Bed and Breakfast


29. Winery/Vineyard/Orchard


30. Beach/Coast


31. Castle/Mansion
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin ✓ 12 Apr

32. Amusement Park


33. Restaurant


34. Festival


35. Sporting Event



Bonus
1. Read a story that includes a honeymoon


2. Read a story with a character that starts over/leaves someone


3. Read a story where a character finds someone


4. Read a story where someone travels for a family event


5. Read a story where someone travels with friend(s)
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[Mojca]

2019 Read the Season Challenge Polish Edition WIOSNA (Spring) — NOT COMPLETED
Duration: March 20, 2019 - June 20, 2019

(view spoiler)[Levels
Level 1 - Read the season.
Level 2 - Read the season and any 1 holiday.
Level 3 - Read the season and any 2 holidays.
Extreme! - Read the season and all holidays.

Spring Holidays
pierwszy dzień Wielkiej Nocy - Easter Sunday (Apr. 21)
drugi dzień Wielkiej Nocy - Easter Monday (Apr. 22)
Święto Państwowe - May Day (May 1)
Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja - Constitution Day (May 3)
pierwszy dzień Zielonych Świątek - Pentecost Sunday (June 9)
dzień Bożego Ciała - Corpus Christi (June 20)

Season
W – Walker, Jenny - Lonely Planet Central Asia ✓ 10 May
I – Insight Guides Silk Road by Chris & Sarah Bradley ✓ 10 May
O –
S – Salwa Jabado & Christy Choi - Fodor's China ✓ 30 Mar
N – Neville-Hadley, Peter et al. - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Beijing & Shanghai ✓ 28 Mar
A – Andrew Stone et al. - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide China ✓ 30 Mar


Holidays
P –
I – Ibbotson, Sophie & Max Lovell-Hoare - Uzbekistan ✓ 10 May
E – Eimer, David et al. - Lonely Planet China ✓ 30 Mar
R – The Rough Guide to Beijing by David Leffman et al. ✓ 10 Mar
W –
S – Stephen Brewer et al. - Fodor's Beijing ✓ 10 Mar
Z – Zatko, Martin et al. - The Rough Guide to China ✓ 30 Mar
Y – Yu, Catherine - Insight Guides City Guide Shanghai ✓ 20 Mar
D – David Leffman & Simon Lewis - The Rough Guide to Shanghai ✓ 20 Mar
Z –
I –
E – Eimer, David & Trent Holden - Lonely Planet Beijing ✓ 10 Mar
Ń –
W –
I –
E – Elfer, Helen et al. - Lonely Planet Shanghai ✓ 20 Mar
L –
K –
I –
E –
J –
N –
O –
C – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ✓ 26 Apr
Y –


D –
R – R.R. Martin, George - A Game of Thrones ✓ 12 Apr
U – Uzbekistan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Alex Ulko ✓ 10 May
G – Graham Bond - Frommer's EasyGuide to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai ✓ 28 Mar
I –
D –
Z –
I –
E –
Ń –
W –
I –
E –
L –
K –
I –
E –
J –
N –
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C –
Y –


Ś – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin ✓ 28 May
W –
I –
Ę –
T – Top 10 Beijing by Andrew Humphreys ✓ 10 Mar
O –
P –
A –
Ń –
S –
T –
W –
O –
W –
E –


Ś –
W –
I –
Ę –
T –
O –
N –
A –
R – R.R. Martin, George - A Feast for Crows ✓ 16 June
O –
D –
O –
W –
E –
T –
R –
Z –
E –
C –
I –
E –
G –
O –
M –
A –
J –
A –


P –
I –
E –
R –
W –
S –
Z –
Y –
D –
Z –
I –
E –
Ń –
Z –
I –
E –
L –
O –
N –
Y –
C –
H –
Ś –
W –
I –
Ą –
T –
E –
K –


D –
Z –
I –
E –
Ń –
B – Beijing: Where to Go, What to See - A Beijing Travel Guide by Worldwide Travellers ✓ 10 Mar
O –
Ż –
E –
G –
O –
C –
I –
A –
Ł –
A –

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 April Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: April 1 - April 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. 'A' is for April
Read a book that starts with 'A' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'A'


2. Bird of the Month: Canary
Read a book
★ that starts with a letter in CANARY
★ with a happy character (your interpretation)
★ where someone is freed or entrapped in some way.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin ✓ 12 Apr (entrapped character(s))

3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - J.R. Ward
Princess of Romance - Sabrina York
Read one book written by J.R. Ward or Sabrina York, or any author with either of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ with a number in the title or on the cover
★ where someone works in the justice system or the medical field
★ with a pet or a snarky character
★ by an author with a pen-name.


4. National Kite Month
Read a book
★ with the letters of KITE in the title
★ with author initials in KITE
★ set in the spring time.


5. April 4 ~ School Librarian Day
Read a book
★ you got from a library (or borrowed elsewhere)
★ that has a librarian character
★ that has children in the story or is about books
★ that has books on the cover.


6. April 6 ~ New Beer's Eve
Read a book
★ with a 2 or 1 in the page count
★ with 4, 7 or 3 in the publication date
★ where someone drinks a beer or visits a bar or pub.


7. April 8 ~ Zoo Lovers Day
Read a book
★ with an animal on the cover or in the story (shifters count)
★ with a Z anywhere on the cover.
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ✓ 26 Apr (direwolf)

8. April 12 ~ Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
Read a book
★ with food on the cover
★ where someone eats a sandwich or cheese
★ with a mostly yellow cover
★ that makes you feel warm and toasty!


9. April 21 ~ Arbor Day
Read a book
★ with trees on the cover (duh!)
★ where someone likes to be outside
★ set in the 1800s.


10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition KWIECIEŃ (April) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: April 1 - April 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[K –
W –
I –
E –
C – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ✓ 26 Apr
I –
E –
Ń –

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 April Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: April 1 - April 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 5/10
Bonus words found: 0/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 0/1
"Leftover" words found: 1/6
Books completed: 2

1. CANDY —


2. CORD — A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin ✓ 12 Apr
83%: Ser Jorah brought his longsword down with all the strength left him, through flesh and muscle and bone, and Qotho’s forearm dangled loose, flopping on a thin cord of skin and sinew.

3. CURFEW — A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ✓ 26 Apr
62%: The council had extended his curfew; it was death to be taken on the streets after the evenfall bells had sung.

4. DIRE — A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ✓ 26 Apr
7%: Did the Hands before Lord Arryn meet some dire end in the Tower?

5. HIVE — A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin ✓ 12 Apr
18%: Sansa heard excited voices buzzing like a hive of bees.

6. HUSKY —


7. KNOT —


8. LOTTERY —


9. PRAYER —


10. VULTURE — A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ✓ 26 Apr
38%: As I recall, she had a nose like a vulture’s beak, a ripe crop of pimples, and no more chest than a boy.

Bonus
1. ABRASIVE —


2. BIBLICAL —


3. DEGENERATIVE —


4. DEVOTEE —


5. DOLPHINS —


Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —


__________________________________________


September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —


December 2018 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —


January 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —

5. PIXIE —


March 2019 "leftovers"
7. RIGGING — A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin ✓ 12 Apr
20%: High overhead, the far-eyes sang out from the rigging.

Bonus
4. SENILE —


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 May Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: May 1 - May 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. 'M' is for May
Read a book that starts with 'M' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'M'.
Lonely Planet Central Asia by Bradley Mayhew et al. ✓ 10 May

2. Bird of the Month - Nightingale
Read a book
★ with a character that prefers the nighttime or is a singer
★ with lovers who are either keeping their relationship secret or where one is keeping a secret from the other
★ with a dark cover.


3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Princess of Romance - Cat Johnson
Read one book written by Jennifer L. Armentrout or Cat Johnson, or any author with either of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ set in West Virginia,
★ written by an author that writes under multiple names
★ with a character suffering from a disease or injury
★ by any author who has won a RITA award.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin ✓ 28 May (disease/injury)

4. May 4 - Star Wars Day
Read a book
★ tagged as Science Fiction
★ with a misunderstanding or miscommunication
★ that is part of a trilogy.


5. May 5 - Cinco de Mayo
Read a book
★ with an Hispanic character
★ with a wartime setting
★ with any holiday or celebration included in the storyline
★ where the "underdog" wins in a contest or battle.


6. May 8 - National Outdoor Intercourse Day
Read a
★ steamy romance
★ book where the MC(s) spend a lot of time outdoors
★ book with an outdoor scene on the cover.
Insight Guides Silk Road by Chris & Sarah Bradley ✓ 10 May (outdoor scene on cover)

7. May 13 - Frog Jumping Day
Read a
★ book with an animal on the cover or in the storyline (shifters count)
★ short book (under 150 pages).


8. National Bike Week - Third Week in May
Read a
★ sports romance
★ book with an athletic character
★ book with some form of transportation on the cover.


9. May 27 - Memorial Day (USA)
Read a book
★ with a character that is current or former military
★ set in the spring or summer.


10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
Uzbekistan by Sophie Ibbotson & Max Lovell-Hoare ✓ 10 May
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition MAJ (May)
Duration: May 1 - May 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[M – Max Lovell-Hoare & Sophie Ibbotson - Uzbekistan ✓ 10 May
A – Alex Ulko - Uzbekistan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture ✓ 10 May
J – Jenny Walker et al. - Lonely Planet Central Asia ✓ 10 May

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 May Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: May 1 - May 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 5/10
Bonus words found: 3/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 0/1
"Leftover" words found: 7/16
Books completed: 5

1. BETRAY —


2. DRONE —


3. FRANTIC —


4. GLOSS —


5. HAZY — Uzbekistan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Alex Ulko ✓ 10 May
p. 14: In May and June the sky is often hazy and the days become increasingly hot.

6. LAMB —


7. PUZZLE — Uzbekistan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Alex Ulko ✓ 10 May
p. 162: They feature articles about local and international stars, film and book reviews, gossip and trivia, fashions, style, clothes, and gadgets, along with crosswords and other games and puzzles.

8. RADIATE — Uzbekistan by Sophie Ibbotson & Max Lovell-Hoare ✓ 10 May
p. 107: Roads radiate from here to the north, east and south of Tashkent, and the city's most important buildings, both political and cultural, are concentrated on the square and in the immediate vicinity.

9. RAIN — Uzbekistan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Alex Ulko ✓ 10 May
p. 14: Most rain falls in the late winter or spring.

10. RASPY (RASP) — A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin ✓ 28 May
74%: He would curse at her in his raspy voice, or yank her to her feet and shake her.


Bonus
1. BREEZY —


2. CALCULATOR — Insight Guides Silk Road by Chris & Sarah Bradley ✓ 10 May
94%: Main post offices have international phone facilities, otherwise look for PCOs (Public Call Offices) or phone stands – a guy with a phone, stopwatch and calculator.

3. LACKADAISICAL —


4. PAINSTAKING — Uzbekistan by Sophie Ibbotson & Max Lovell-Hoare ✓ 10 May
p. 166: The plants required to make many of the natural dyes are grown in the workshop garden, which you are welcome to wander around, and the women take painstaking care to show you each stage of the carpet making process.

5. PROPAGANDA — Lonely Planet Central Asia by Stephen Lioy et al. ✓ 10 May
38%: The disparity between truth and propaganda became apparent as aid flowed to Afghanistan while Tajikistan suffered with the USSR's worst levels of education, poverty and infant mortality.


Bonus bonus
1. HOLISTIC —


__________________________________________


September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —


December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —


January 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —

5. PIXIE —


March 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
4. SENILE —


April 2019 "leftovers"
1. CANDY — Lonely Planet Central Asia by Stephen Lioy et al. ✓ 10 May
22%: Neither is especially memorable per se, but the excitable local tourists buying candy-floss, yoghurt-balls and dodgy ice creams are fun to observe.

6. HUSKY — A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin ✓ 28 May
19%: Sometimes she sang in a low husky voice that stirred him.

7. KNOT — Lonely Planet Central Asia by Stephen Lioy et al. ✓ 10 May
19%: Here in the Central Tian Shan (Центральный Тянь-Шань), a knot of immense summits culminates in 7439m Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy/Victory Peak in Russian), the second-highest peak in the former USSR.

8. LOTTERY —


9. PRAYER — Uzbekistan by Sophie Ibbotson & Max Lovell-Hoare ✓ 10 May
p. 160: The mosque is typically a quiet spot (far more so than the Registan), and at prayer times you may well see both men and women prostrating themselves in the courtyard or immediately outside the mosque's main entrance.

Bonus
1. ABRASIVE — Insight Guides Silk Road by Chris & Sarah Bradley ✓ 10 May
38%: Yardangs form in areas where water is scarce and prevailing winds are strong and abrasive.

2. BIBLICAL — Insight Guides Silk Road by Chris & Sarah Bradley ✓ 10 May
35%: Geologists warn that Tajikistan faces a potential natural disaster of Biblical proportions in the shape of stark 3239m Lake Sarez, a disarmingly placid-looking body of turquoise water formed in 1911 when an earthquake dislodged an entire mountain side into the path of the Murgab River, obliterating the villages of Usoi and Sarez.

3. DEGENERATIVE —


4. DEVOTEE —


5. DOLPHINS — A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin ✓ 28 May
10%: She liked the dolphins that sometimes swam along beside Balerion, slicing through the waves like silvery spears, and the flying fish they glimpsed now and again.

Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 June Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: June 1 - June 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[ 1. 'J' is for June
Read a book that starts with 'J' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'J'.


2. Bird of the Month - Dove
Read a book
★ where someone makes a spiritual journey or works through a difficult time to find peace
★ that features someone in the military returning home
★ with an MC who is a mother.


3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - Susan Mallery
Princess of Romance - Anna Campbell
Read one book written by Susan Mallery or Anna Campbell, or any author with either of their first or last names
OR
Read a book
★ set in Washington, or by an author who is from Washington
★ with an animal on the cover or in the book
★ shelved as Contemporary Romance or is humorous.


4. Graduation!
Read a book
★ that includes a rite of passage or a graduation
★ tagged as YA or NA
★ that is a coming of age story
★ where one of the MCs has a school age child or children.


5. National Black Bear Day (first Saturday in June)
Read a book
★ with a bear shifter or other shifter
★ with an outdoor setting or features nature on the cover.


6. First Day of Summer: June 21st
Read a book
★ perfect for the beach
★ set in summer
★ that features a vacation (no matter what time of year) or travel.


7. Queen’s Day
Read a book
★ featuring royalty
★ set in New Zealand
★ with a character named Elizabeth
★ with outdoor sports featured somehow in the story.
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin ✓ 16 June

8. Western Australia Day
Read a book
★ set in Australia or with an Australian character or author
★ tagged as historical romance
★ with the numbers 18 or 29 in the page count.


9. Father’s Day
Read a book
★ with an MC who is a father or becomes one in the book
★ published in the 20th century
★ featuring bondage.


10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition CZERWIEC (June) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: June 1 - June 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[C –
Z –
E –
R – R.R. Martin, George - A Feast for Crows ✓ 16 June
W –
I –
E –
C –
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 June Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: June 1 - June 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 1/10
Bonus words found: 1/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 0/1
"Leftover" words found: 1/17
Books completed: 1

1. AFTERMATH —


2. APPLAUD —


3. DOCK —


4. FURTIVE —


5. GREY / GRAY —


6. GUITAR —


7. INJECT —


8. MILK —


9. ORNATE — A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin ✓ 16 June
4%: His son Steffarion accompanied him, with another youth whose dark red fur-lined cloak was pinned at the shoulder with an ornate brooch that showed the black-and-gold warhorn of the Goodbrothers.

10. TOOTHBRUSH —


Bonus
1. ACCOMPLICE —


2. CHIVALROUS — A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin ✓ 16 June
3%: Such a chivalrous Hopfrog.

3. CLOVER —


4. MOHAWK —


5. RAMBUNCTIOUS —


Bonus bonus
1. KNOTTY —


__________________________________________


September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —


December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —


January 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —

5. PIXIE —


March 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
4. SENILE —


April 2019 "leftovers"
8. LOTTERY —



Bonus
3. DEGENERATIVE —


4. DEVOTEE —



Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —



May 2019 "leftovers"
1. BETRAY —


2. DRONE —


3. FRANTIC — A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin ✓ 16 June
73%: Then she heard Dog barking, loud and frantic.

4. GLOSS —


6. LAMB —



Bonus
1. BREEZY —


3. LACKADAISICAL —



Bonus bonus
1. HOLISTIC —

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

Cover Scavenger Hunt Quarterly Challenge - Take 2! — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: June 15 - September 14, 2019

(view spoiler)[We've all been on a scavenger hunt - this time we are doing it with the covers of the books we read! For every book you read from June 15th through September 14th try to find an item on the cover for a category below. List the book in the category and provide the cover along with the date you finished reading the book. The rules are simple:

● One item per book.
● Each category is five items maximum. To complete a category, find 5 different items.
● Items in each category must be distinct - one only cover with a dog, but remember wolves and dogs aren't the same thing!
● For items to be distinct, they have to be different both ways. A woman's bracelet and a man's bracelet are the same and both can't be used - no matter how you look at it, it is a bracelet. But a river and a waterfall are different because while a waterfall is usually part of a river, a river isn't a waterfall.
● Audiobooks and rereads are acceptable.
● You may use the cover from any edition, for example, you can use the ebook cover even if you listen to the audiobook.
● The minimum page count for this challenge is 75 pages.
● To post your completion, please show the cover and the date you finished reading the book.
● If you want to use an unconventional item for a category, you will need to explain how it fits from the story - for example, if the heroine stabs someone with a pen, the pen is a weapon and can count for that category if found on the cover.

Pick a level and begin reading on June 15th!

Levels:
Level 1 - Find any 10 items on your book covers.
Level 2 - Find 15 items on your book covers, with one category complete.
Level 3 - Find 25 items on your book covers, with two categories complete.
Level 4 - Find 40 items on your book covers, with four categories complete.
Level 5 - Find 50 items on yours covers, with six categories complete.
EXTREME Level - Find 65 items total on your book covers so all categories complete!

Bonus:
Read a books with items from five different categories on the cover.
The bonus may be as many books as you find!

Super Ultimate Bonus:
Read a book with an item from ALL the categories on the cover!
I don't know if this is possible, but I can't wait to see if someone finds one!

Categories:

Animals: (dog, cat, horse, bird...)
1. Moon Alaska by Lisa Maloney ✓ 11 July (bear)
2. Yukon by Polly Evans ✓ 4 July (caribou)
3. Istanbul: The Imperial City by John Freely ✓ 20 Aug (horse)


Articles of Clothing (shirt, dress, pants, tie, gloves, shoes...)


Bodies of Water (ocean, lake, river, puddle...)
1. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Alaska by Deanna Swaney & Eric Amrine ✓ 11 July (lake)
2. Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula by Don Pitcher ✓ 11 July (river)
3. Istanbul: A History by David Jacobs ✓ 22 Aug (inlet)


Food/Drink (cake, wine bottle, fruit, cheese...)


Homes/Buildings (house, mansion, castle, highrise, barn...)
1. Fodor's Alaska by Teekas Ballas ✓ 11 July (cabin)
2. Lonely Planet Istanbul by Virginia Maxwell & James Bainbridge ✓ 18 Aug (mosque)


Household Items (lamp, bed, table, rug...)


Items Found in Nature (tree, flower, grass...)
1. Lonely Planet Alaska by Brendan Sainsbury et al. ✓ 11 July (grass)
2. Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July (mountains)
3. Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway by Andrew Hempstead ✓ 4 July (trees)
4. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul by Rosie Ayliffe et al. ✓ 18 Aug (clouds)
5. Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City by Hilary Sumner-Boyd & John Freely ✓ 19 Aug (sun)


Jewelry (ring, necklace, earring, bracelet, cufflink...)


Modes of transport (car, boat, plane, bike...)
1. Alaska for Dummies by Charles P. Wohlforth ✓ 9 July (kayak)
2. National Geographic Traveler: Alaska by Bob Devine ✓ 11 July (seaplane)
3. Frommer's British Columbia by Chloe Ernst ✓ 4 July (boat)
4. Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World by Thomas F. Madden ✓ 22 Aug (ship)
5. Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk ✓ 26 Aug (streetcar)


Musical Instruments (guitar, violin, piano...)


Personal Items - any item that is carried or worn that doesn't fit another category (glasses, badge, cellphone, keys, wallet, purse...)
1. Treasures of Alaska: Last Great American Wilderness by Jeff Rennicke ✓ 11 July (antlers)
2. A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ 5 Aug (shield)


Sporting Equipment (football, hockey stick, baseball bat...)


Weapons (gun, knife, sword...)
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Season Challenge Polish Edition LATO (Summer) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: June 21 - September 22, 2019

(view spoiler)[Levels
Level 1 - Read the season.
Level 2 - Read the season and any 1 holiday.
Level 3 - Read the season and any 2 holidays.
Extreme! - Read the season and all holidays.

Summer Holidays:
Święto Policji - Police Day (July 24)
Dzień Skarbowości - Treasury Day (July 31)
Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 15)
Święto Wojska Polskiego - Polish Armed Forces Day Day (Aug. 15)
Dzień Solidarności i Wolności -Day of Solidarity and Freedom (Aug. 31)

Season
L – Lisa Maloney - Moon Alaska ✓ 11 July
A – Alexander Deedy et al. - Fodor's Alaska ✓ 11 July
T – Treasures of Alaska: Last Great American Wilderness by Jeff Rennicke ✓ 11 July
O – Orhan Pamuk - Istanbul: Memories and the City ✓ 26 Aug


Holidays
Ś – Sainsbury, Brendan et al. - Lonely Planet Alaska ✓ 11 July
W – Wohlforth, Charles P. - Alaska for Dummies ✓ 9 July
I – Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
Ę – Eric Amrine & Deanna Swaney - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Alaska ✓ 11 July
T – Terry Richardson & Rhiannon Davies - The Rough Guide to Istanbul ✓ 18 Aug
O – Ohler, Norman - Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich ✓ 16 Aug
P – Pitcher, Don - Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula ✓ 11 July
O –
L – Lonely Planet British Columbia the Canadian Rockies by John Lee et al. ✓ 4 July
I – Istanbul: The Imperial City by John Freely ✓ 20 Aug
C – Chloe Ernst - Frommer's British Columbia ✓ 4 July
J – James Bainbridge & Virginia Maxwell - Lonely Planet Istanbul ✓ 18 Aug
I – Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World by Thomas F. Madden ✓ 22 Aug


D – Devine, Bob - National Geographic Traveler: Alaska ✓ 11 July
Z –
I – Istanbul: A History by David Jacobs ✓ 22 Aug
E – Evans, Polly - Yukon ✓ 4 July
Ń –
S – Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City by Hilary Sumner-Boyd & John Freely ✓ 19 Aug
K – Kate Hardin - Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture--And What We Can Do about It ✓ 22 Sep
A – Andrew Hempstead - Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway ✓ 4 July
R – Rosie Ayliffe et al. - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul ✓ 18 Aug
B – Bettany Hughes - Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities ✓ 30 Aug
O –
W –
O –
Ś –
C –
I –


Ś –
W –
I –
Ę –
T – Timur Vermes - Look Who's Back ✓ 4 Sep
O –
W –
O –
J –
S –
K –
A –
P –
O –
L – Lynn A. Levine - Frommer's Istanbul ✓ 19 Aug
S –
K –
I –
E –
G – George R.R. Martin - A Dance with Dragons ✓ 5 Aug
O –


D –
Z –
I –
E –
Ń –
S –
O –
L –
I –
D –
A –
R –
N –
O –
Ś –
C –
I –
I –
W –
O –
L –
N –
O –
Ś –
C –
I –
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 July Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: July 1 - July 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. 'J' is for July
Read a book that starts with 'J' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'J'.
Fodor's Alaska by Joey Besl et al. ✓ 11 July

2. Bird of the Month - Eagle
Read a book
★ that includes a royal/monarch MC (any level)
★ with an animal on the cover or as part of the story (shifters count)
★ that starts with a letter in EAGLE.
Moon Alaska by Lisa Maloney ✓ 11 July (animal on cover)

3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - Lori Foster
Princess of Romance - Julie Anne Long
Read one book written by Lori Foster or Julie Anne Long, or any author with either of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ set in Ohio or by an author from Ohio
★ published in 1996
★ shelved as Contemporary Romance or Urban Fantasy.


4. July 6 - International Kissing Day
Read a book
★ with people hugging or kissing on the cover
★ that contains double letters in the title (i.e. The Unhoneymooners, Meet Cute, Just One of the Groomsmen)
★ with a mostly pink or red cover.
Alaska for Dummies by Charles P. Wohlforth ✓ 9 July (double letters)

5. July 13 - Embrace Your Geekness Day
Read a book
★ with a nerdy or geeky main character
★ involving books or with books on the cover
★ with a proud or passionate character (your interpretation).


6. July 14 - Bastille Day
Read a book
★ set in Europe
★ with a 1 or 4 in the page count
★ published in July, any year, any edition.
Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula by Don Pitcher ✓ 11 July (384 pages)

7. July 20 - Moon Day
Read a book
★ shelved as paranormal romance
★ with an outdoor scene on the cover
★ with a dark cover
★ as Sci-Fi book
Lonely Planet Alaska by Brendan Sainsbury et al. ✓ 11 July (outdoor scene)

8. July 21 - Lamington Day
Read a book
★ set in Australia, by an Australian author or with an Australian main character
★ with food on the cover
★ you think is sweet.


9. July 30 - International Day of Friendship
Read
★ a friends to lovers book
★ a book with best friends in the storyline
★ a book recommended to you by a friend.
National Geographic Traveler: Alaska by Bob Devine ✓ 11 July (recommended by friends)

10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition LIPIEC (July) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: July 1 - July 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[L – Lisa Maloney - Moon Alaska ✓ 11 July
I – Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
P – Pitcher, Don - Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula ✓ 11 July
I –
E – Eric Amrine & Deanna Swaney - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Alaska ✓ 11 July
C – Catherine Bodry et al. - Lonely Planet Alaska ✓ 11 July

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 July Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: July 1 - July 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 7/10
Bonus words found: 3/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 1/1
"Leftover" words found: 17/30
Books completed: 8

1. BOLD — Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway by Andrew Hempstead ✓ 4 July
p. 170: Designed to compliment the rainforest setting, the exterior post-and-beam construction is big and bold, while the interior oozes west coast elegance.

2. CASINO — Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway by Andrew Hempstead ✓ 4 July
p. 299: Surrounded by rolling farmland and with distand views to the Canadian Rockies, it's a beautiful property, complete with a golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, a casino, and a restaurant and bar.

3. DOVE —


4. COYOTES — Frommer's British Columbia by Chloe Ernst ✓ 4 July
p. 4: Between Golden and Windermere, the Columbia River flows through a valley filled with fluvial lakes, marshes, and streams—perfect habitat for hundreds of species, including moose and coyotes.

5. HAIRLESS — DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Alaska by Deanna Swaney & Eric Amrine ✓ 11 July
p. 149: In this case, the word "bald" means not hairless, but white, a reference to its distinctive head color.

6. HONEY — Lonely Planet Alaska by Brendan Sainsbury et al. ✓ 11 July
p. 138: Try a Bee's Knees made with lemon, honey and the homemade 50 fathoms gin.

7. INTRUDER — Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
p. 263: Ironically, the Yukon then provided access to intruders who came up-river in their sternwheelers from St Michael on the Bering Sea to reap the benefits of the fur country and the gold fields.

8. MUNDANE —


9. WARP — Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway by Andrew Hempstead ✓ 4 July
p. 385: Historic reenactments take place throughout the summer, when the town's shops, stores, and restaurants all operate in a century-old time warp.

10. VIPER —




Bonus
1. ASSIDUOUSLY —


2. CADAVER —


3. CHARISMATIC — Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
p. 282: It is home to a remarkable assemblage of birds and mammals, including some of North America's most charismatic animals: grizzly and polar bears, wolves, musk oxen, Dall sheep, moose, golden eagles, and peregrine falcons.

4. GATEWAY — Lonely Planet Alaska by Brendan Sainsbury et al. ✓ 11 July
p. 223: At Mile 0 of the Seward Hwy, and the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward is an excellent base for exploring the many hiking trails, small towns, glaciers, peaks and other adventures in the region.

5. MYTHICAL — Lonely Planet Alaska by Brendan Sainsbury et al. ✓ 11 July
p.328: Step outside the door and there's 13.2 million uninhabited acres calling like a mythical siren.


Bonus bonus
1. AQUATIC — Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
p. 320: They are herbivotes and feed on a variety of plants, including aquatic weeds.

__________________________________________

NEW RULING
If you are one of those super-cray-cray/OCD/overly ambitious/organised or bored readers who wish to find words from PRIOR months that are missing in addition to the current month's words, you may use an additional three (3) words per book. These can only be allocated to prior month words.

So you may allocate three words per book to the current month's words, AND three words per book if those words are from PRIOR months' and have been carried forward.


September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —


December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —


January 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —


5. PIXIE — Lonely Planet British Columbia the Canadian Rockies by John Lee et al. ✓ 4 July
p. 65: Some flavors are super tasty, like The Pixie (watermelon, pink grapefruit, strawberry, lime and mint), while others are a little more challenging—like the Dirty Lemonade (lemon, honey, clay and charcoal).


March 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
4. SENILE —




April 2019 "leftovers"
8. LOTTERY — Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway by Andrew Hempstead ✓ 4 July
p. 334: Most beds are filled via a lottery system that requires registration by late November for the following summer; see the website for details.


Bonus
3. DEGENERATIVE —


4. DEVOTEE —




Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —




May 2019 "leftovers"
1. BETRAY —


2. DRONE — Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
p. 144: From the air, the sound cannot be heard above the drone of an aircraft engine, but the perspective of shimmering ice flowing from mountaintop to sea is a dramatic one.

4. GLOSS —


6. LAMB — Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula by Don Pitcher ✓ 11 July
p. 67: This popular restaurant exudes energy, and the menu encompasses crispy ravioli, lamb shank, chicken parmesan, and a spicy calamari appetizer, along with a surprising selection of gluten-free and vegetarian dishes.


Bonus
1. BREEZY — Lonely Planet British Columbia the Canadian Rockies by John Lee et al. ✓ 4 July
p. 207: Hugging the lake below Hwy 97, some 25km south of Kelowna, the little town of Peachland is good for a quick, breezy stroll along the water amid parks and interesting shops.

3. LACKADAISICAL —




Bonus bonus
1. HOLISTIC — Frommer's British Columbia by Chloe Ernst ✓ 4 July
p. 124: The center offers a variety of traditional Ayurvedic and modern holistic body, beauty, and fitness threapies including facials, massage, aromatherapy, and mineral baths utilizing the spa's salt spring water.


June 2019 "leftovers
1. AFTERMATH — Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
p. 52: The eartquake and its aftermath killed 131 people, including 115 Alaskans; most were drowned by the tidal waves (tsunamis) that tore apart the towns of Valdez and Chenega.

2. APPLAUD — Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula by Don Pitcher ✓ 11 July
p. 318: The program includes the aerial killing of wolves and is widely opposed by environmental groups but applauded by some hunting organizations.

3. DOCK — Frommer's British Columbia by Chloe Ernst ✓ 4 July
p. 17: A year later, the first ship docked from China, and Vancouver began its future as an integral trading center and transportation hub.

4. FURTIVE — Lonely Planet British Columbia the Canadian Rockies by John Lee et al. ✓ 4 July
p. 166: A fave record store among the locals, Ditch is lines with tempting vinyl, plenty of CDs and many furtive musos perusing releases by acts like Frazey Ford and Nightmares on Way.

5. GREY / GRAY — Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula by Don Pitcher ✓ 11 July
p. 208: Tour boats operate daily throughout the season, with gray whale trips mid-March-mid-May, and a multitude of other tour options mid-May-early-October.

6. GUITAR — Yukon by Polly Evans ✓ 4 July
p. 38: The festival features musicians from around the world, while the Music Camp is held at The Cabin Bed & Breakfast & Kathleen Lake Retreat; it offers instruction in guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo & bass.

7. INJECT — Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway by Andrew Hempstead ✓ 4 July
p. 39: By the end of the 1970s, the island and adjacent areas had become an industrial wasteland, so with a massive injection of funds from the federal government, the entire waterfront for a facelift.

8. MILK — Insight Guides Alaska by Maciey Zglinicki ✓ 11 July
p. 211: Others are raising poulty and milking cows to produce milk and cheese.

10. TOOTHBRUSH —




Bonus
1. ACCOMPLICE —


3. CLOVER — Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway by Andrew Hempstead ✓ 4 July
p. 478: Wildflowers every color of the rainbow pop up on the roadsides: white and yellow daisies, purple lupines, pale pink and dark pink wild roses, blood-red Indian paintbrush, orange and black lilies, red and white clover, and yellow buttercups, to name but a handful.

4. MOHAWK —


5. RAMBUNCTIOUS — Yukon by Polly Evans ✓ 4 July
p. 189: She quickly fell in love with this northern town, diminished from its gold-rush days but still echoing with the rambunctious tales of the sourdoughs.


Bonus bonus
1. KNOTTY — Frommer's British Columbia by Chloe Ernst ✓ 4 July
p. 300: The knotty pine interior is divided into a bar and dining room, though the distinction disappears when the cafe is busy, which is often.



(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 August Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. 'A' is for August
Read a book that starts with 'A' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'A'.
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul by Rosie Ayliffe et al. ✓ 18 Aug

2. Bird of the Month - Kingfisher
Read a book
★ with a main character who wins something or is the first achieve or invent something
★ with orange or blue on its cover
★ involving peace or with a peaceful character (your interpretation)
★ with the letter K anywhere in its title.
Frommer's Istanbul by Lynn A. Levine ✓ 19 Aug (blue on cover)

3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Princess of Romance - Tessa Dare
Read one book written by Sherrilyn Kenyon (a.k.a. Kinley MacGregor) or Tessa Dare, or any author with either of their first or last names
OR
Read a book
★ set in California, or by an author who is from California
★ published in 2009
★ shelved as Historical Romance
★ by any author who has won a RITA award.


4. National Mustard Day – August 3
Read a book
★ with yellow or brown on the cover
★ with food, condiments, or a plant on the cover
★ where the characters eat or cook food in the story (bonus points if it has mustard on it!)
★ with the numbers 8 and 3 anywhere in the page count.
Istanbul: The Imperial City by John Freely ✓ 20 Aug (yellow/brown cover)

5. Purple Heart Day – August 7
Read a book
★ where a character is current or former military
★ where a character is wounded or killed while helping someone or serving the greater good
★ set during a wartime era
★ with purple on the cover
★ with 17 or 82 in the page count.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ Aug 5 (military)


6. World Photography Day – August 19
Read a book
★ where a character uses a camera or is a photographer, or a book with a photograph or memory in the story
★ set in France or with a French character
★ set in the 1800s
★ with an innovative character in some way (your interpretation)
★ with a beautiful image, landscape, or person on the cover.
Lonely Planet Istanbul by Virginia Maxwell & James Bainbridge ✓ 18 Aug

7. Lazy Day – August 10
Read a book
★ where the characters spend time doing nothing, or a book that you have been lazy about reading (hellooooo backlog!)
★ a short book (150 pages or less)
★ with a summer scene on the cover
★ that you can enjoy while lazing around.
Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk ✓ 26 Aug (enjoy while lazing around)

8. National Eye Exam Month
Read a book
★ with open eyes on the cover
★ where a character is or visits an optometrist
★ where a character wears glasses or contacts
★ with a character that uses binoculars or some other device that requires vision
★ with a cover that is pleasing to your eyes.
Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World by Thomas F. Madden ✓ 22 Aug (cover pleasing to my eyes)

9. International Bat Night
Read a book
★ with vampire character, or read a book with a bat, vampire, cave, or a nighttime scene on the cover
★ where a bat makes an appearance
★ with a blind character
★ where darkness or sound play a role in the story
★ with a very dark cover.


10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
The Rough Guide to Istanbul by Terry hichardson & Rhiannon Davies ✓ 18 Aug
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition sierpień (August) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[S – Silay, Canan et al. - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul ✓ 18 Aug
I – Istanbul: The Imperial City by John Freely ✓ 20 Aug
E –
R – R.R. Martin, George - A Dance with Dragons ✓ Aug 5
P –
I – Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World by Thomas F. Madden ✓ 22 Aug
E –
Ń –

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 August Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 3/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 1/1
"Leftover" words found: 9/18
Books completed: 6

1. BOX — DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul by Rosie Ayliffe et al. ✓ 18 Aug
p. 41: A contribution to a donation box or mosque official is courteous.

2. COUNTDOWN —



3. FEAR — A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ Aug 5
1%: Wargs have no fear of man, as wolves do.

4. GLITTER — DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul by Rosie Ayliffe et al. ✓ 18 Aug
p. 13: Admire the glittering Byzantine mosaics at the Church of St Saviour.

5. HELMET — A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ Aug 5
33%: Three hundred yards away, Astapor’s new Unsullied had been pouring through their gates and forming up in ranks beneath their city’s crumbling red brick walls, dawn light glinting off their spiked bronze helmets and the points of their long spears.

6. LEAP — Frommer's Istanbul by Lynn A. Levine ✓ 19 Aug
p. 108: Admittedly, though, these require a great leap of faith.

7. LAUNCH — Lonely Planet Istanbul by Vriginia Maxwell & James Bainbridge ✓ 18 Aug
10%: Their successors, the Ottomans, were quick to launch an ambitious building program and the magnificently decorated imperial mosques that resulted are architectural triumphs that together form one of the world's great skylines.

8. ORBIT — Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World by Thomas F. Madden ✓ 22 Aug
p. 39: Byzantion had managed to maintain its independence, but with the defeat of Philip and the departure of the Romans, it was increasingly drawn into Antiochus's orbit.

9. RATION — A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ Aug 5
22%: In winters past, food could be brought up the kingsroad from the south, but with the war … it is still autumn, I know, but I would advise we go on winter rations nonetheless, if it please my lord.

10. SHUTTLE — DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul by Rosie Ayliffe et al. ✓ 18 Aug
p. 18: Old-fashioned trams shuttle up and down the pedestrianized street that forms the backbone of this area.


Bonus
1. ASTRONAUT —



2. CRATER — Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World by Thomas F. Madden ✓ 22 Aug
p. 28: A crater thirty miles in diameter on the northern region of the moon is named for him.

3. HOAX —



4. LUNAR — Frommer's Istanbul by Lynn A. Levine ✓ 19 Aug
p. 34: Islam folows the lunar calendar, which is shorter than the Gregorian calendar by 11 days.

5. SATELLLITE — Frommer's Istanbul by Lynn A. Levine ✓ 19 Aug
p. 55: TVs are generally a standard feature in rooms, but even a TV with a satellite hookup will limit you to BBC World, CNN, and endless hours of cycling tournaments.


Bonus bonus
1. CELESTIAL — The Rough Guide to Istanbul by Terry Richardson & Rhiannon Davies ✓
18 Aug
p. 270: It's the celestial interior, specifically the dome, which impresses most.


__________________________________________

NEW RULING
If you are one of those super-cray-cray/OCD/overly ambitious/organised or bored readers who wish to find words from PRIOR months that are missing in addition to the current month's words, you may use an additional three (3) words per book. These can only be allocated to prior month words.

So you may allocate three words per book to the current month's words, AND three words per book if those words are from PRIOR months' and have been carried forward.


September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —



December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —



January 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —



March 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
4. SENILE — Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities by Bettany Hughes ✓ 30 Aug
p. 206: In effect, from AD 520, the two ruled jointly; hints in the sources suggest that Justin became senile towards the end of his life and that it was Justinian who controlled Constantinople and her empire in all but name.


April 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus
3. DEGENERATIVE — Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk ✓ 26 Aug
p. 262: When the blackened, rotten wood disappears under bright paint that makes them look as they did at the height of the city's glory and prosperity in the eighteenth century, their lovely degenerative connection with the past is severed.

4. DEVOTEE — Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World by Thomas F. Madden ✓ 22 Aug
p. 136: He was also, anachronistically enough, a devotee of chariot racing.

Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —



May 2019 "leftovers"
1. BETRAY — A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ Aug 5
5%: The Undying of Qarth had told her she would be thrice betrayed.

4. GLOSS — Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities by Bettany Hughes ✓ 30 Aug
p. 85: Year later, this struggle among the tetrarchs would be given a religious gloss.


Bonus
3. LACKADAISICAL —



June 2019 "leftovers
10. TOOTHBRUSH —


Bonus
1. ACCOMPLICE —


4. MOHAWK —



July 2019 "leftovers
3. DOVE — A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ Aug 5
81%: This time it was a Myrish cog named Dove, on her way to Yunkai by way of New Ghis with a cargo of carpets, sweet green wines, and Myrish lace.

8. MUNDANE — The Rough Guide to Istanbul by Terry Richardson & Rhiannon Davies ✓
18 Aug
p. 74: Tahtakale, the incredibly busy traditional bazaar quarter west of Sirkeci and northwest of Eminönü, is lifted from mundanity by the presence of one of the city's best small mosques, the Rüstem Paşa Camii.

10. VIPER — A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin ✓ Aug 5
3%: And without the Red Viper to urge him on, would Doran Martell even consider such a chancy scheme?


Bonus
1. ASSIDUOUSLY — Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities by Bettany Hughes ✓ 30 Aug
p. 204: Constantinople was, increasingly, resembling one of the epic cities, memorialised in ancient poetry and biblical texts—like Troy, Jericho, Babylon, cities protected by giant fortifications with a narrative and a reputation that had become legendary, whose stories the city's scribes so assiduously preserved.

2. CADAVER —


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 September Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. 'S' is for September
Read a book that starts with 'S' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'S'.


2. Bird of the Month - Hawk
Read a book
★ featuring Angels or Gods
★ where the MCs exchange messages
★ with a MC in a leadership role of some kind.
Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes ✓ 4 Sep (leadership role)

3. Featured Author Challenge
Queen - Alyssa Cole
Princess - Nina Croft
Read a book by Alyssa Cole or Nina Croft, or by any author with one of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ set in Europe
★ published in 2010
★ shelved as Contemporary Romance
★ featuring travel or set on a farm/ranch.
Hunter Killer by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 30 Sep (set in Europe)

4. Skyscraper Day - Sept. 3
Read a book
★ with a tall building or skyline on the cover
★ set in a big city.
Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler ✓ 16 Aug (big city)

5. Be Late for Something Day - Sept. 5
Read a book that could make you late for something just because you couldn't put it down.


6. Defy Superstition Day/Friday the 13th - Sept. 13
Read a book
★ shelves as Paranormal Romance or Science Fiction
★ that has a scary character or is otherwise scary.


7. Working Parents Day - Sept. 16
Read a book
★ that features parents, either an MC is a parent or their parents are part of the story
★ that has a child/children in it.
Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks ✓ 11 Aug (children in story)

8. World Gratitude Day - Sept 21
Read a book that you are thankful for in some way, maybe you have been waiting for it or it made your heart happy.


9. National Comic Book Day - Sept. 21
Read a humorous or funny book.


10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choosing!
Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture--And What We Can Do about It by Kate Hardin ✓ 22 Sep
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition WRZESIEŃ (September) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[W – Wallace, George & Don Keith - Hunter Killer ✓ 30 Sep
R –
Z –
E –
S –
I –
E –
Ń – Norman Ohler - Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich ✓ 16 Aug

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 September Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 4/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 0/1
"Leftover" words found: 5/12
Books completed: 5

1. BAIT — Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes ✓ 4 Sep
p. 193: BILD interrogated the immigrant-baiter in an exclusive interview in Berlin’s €400-a-night Hotel Adlon.

2. BRIDGE — Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture--And What We Can Do about It by Kate Harding ✓ 22 Sep
p. 76: Undaunted, the prosecutor allegedly requested an abridged report from the lab, pointedly failed to reveal the full testing results to the defense, and then lied about it in writing.

3. DELICATE — Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture--And What We Can Do about It by Kate Harding ✓ 22 Sep
p. 49: We support the misguided notion that consent is a thorny, complicated issue and sex is an impossibly delicate operation that will self-destruct if one partner breathes the fatal words: “Is that good? You doing okay?”

4. FLOWERY —



5. HAMSTER — Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks ✓ 11 Aug
p. 187: Griddle cakes mean I’m getting a work assignment that wouldn’t make sense to hamsters.

6. LEMONADE — Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes ✓ 4 Sep
p. 158: The vendor stood beside me holding a bottle of lemonade, which might have resembled a beer bottle.

7. LIGHTNING — Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks ✓ 11 Aug
p. 9: Distant sheet lightning flashed in the storm miles and miles away.

8. RETIRE — book:Look Who's Back|18630768] by Timur Vermes ✓ 4 Sep
p. 21: “I … well, at present I am partly … in retirement,” I said, cautiously outlining my situation.

9. SWEATER — Hunter Killer by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 30 Sep
p. 26: Her tight leather jeans and sweater did little to conceal a perfect body.

10. TROT — Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture--And What We Can Do about It by Kate Harding ✓ 22 Sep
p. 41: Because this is where I make the statement that anti-feminists will trot out as evidence of what a man-hating crackpot I am, whenever they hear my name, until the end of time: every American boy is at risk of growing up to become a rapist.


Bonus
1. ARCADE — Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks ✓ 11 Aug
p. 90: On the final evening of August, Bette took the kids for pizza at a place that was wall-to-wall arcade games.

2. CUDDLY —



3. ELATED — Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler ✓ 16 Aug
p. 163: We felt somehow elated and almost weightless, everything appeared in improbable colors.

4. REIGN — Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler ✓ 16 Aug
p. 92: While in these autumn months of 1941 the systematic murder of the Jews took its course and the Wehrmacht waged a criminal war of annihilation in Russia that would cause millions of casualties, the National Socialist reign of terror was slowly poisoning itself from within.

5. ROT — Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler ✓ 16 Aug
p. 105: But he insisted on a Ukrainian monopoly and preferred to let the goods rot rather than allow others to help treat them: “I cannot be expected to pass the raw materials on to my competitors. . . . The right to collect and process the glands and organs in the Ukraine belongs exclusively to me.”

Bonus bonus
1. VAGABOND —



__________________________________________

NEW RULING
If you are one of those super-cray-cray/OCD/overly ambitious/organised or bored readers who wish to find words from PRIOR months that are missing in addition to the current month's words, you may use an additional three (3) words per book. These can only be allocated to prior month words.

So you may allocate three words per book to the current month's words, AND three words per book if those words are from PRIOR months' and have been carried forward.

September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —



December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —



January 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —



April 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —



May 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
3. LACKADAISICAL — Hunter Killer by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 30 Sep
p. 258: Ustinov couldn’t imagine a Russian business being so lackadaisica about these basics of security.

June 2019 "leftovers
10. TOOTHBRUSH —


Bonus
1. ACCOMPLICE — Hunter Killer by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 30 Sep
p. 487: Mr. Ustinov, it says here that you had an accomplice.

4. MOHAWK —



July 2019 "leftover
Bonus
2. CADAVER —



August 2019 "leftovers"
2. COUNTDOWN — Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler ✓ 16 Aug
p. 50: The countdown was running, and Ranke demanded Temmler increase production.

Bonus
1. ASTRONAUT — Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks ✓ 11 Aug
p. 24: I sat in the reception area, feeling horrible, blowing my nose again and again, trying to focus on a book about astronaut Walt Cunningham on my Kobo digital reader, but I was just too foggy.

3. HOAX — Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes ✓ 4 Sep
p. 23: I toyed, albeit momentarily, with the idea that I had been the victim of a plot, an abduction, in which the enemy’s intelligence service had concocted an elaborate hoax, circumventing my iron will to prise from me key secrets.


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

Primetime Emmy Awards Quarterly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: September 15- December 14, 2019

(view spoiler)[Levels:
Level 1: 5 books - I rarely watch TV
Level 2: 10 books - I watch a few favorite shows
Level 3: 20 books - I record the shows I might miss
Level 4: 25 books - I plan my night around what's on t.v.
Level 5: 36 books - I hold viewing parties for season finales!
Bonus: Using the letters of one of your favorite TV shows, you may read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with that letter or you may read a book whose title or series title starts with that letter.

Drama Series
1. Better Call Saul (AMC)
rhyming words in title or series name, double letters in title or series name
Hunter Killer by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 30 Sep (double letters in title)

2. Bodyguard (Netflix)
bodyguard, or set in England, or romantic suspense


3. Game Of Thrones (HBO)
family in story, or fantasy genre
The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran by Andrew Scott Cooper ✓ 21 Nov (family in story)

4. Killing Eve (BBC America)
kick-ass heroine or a book with a character who is obsessed with another, or a female on the cover
Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic by Michael Axworthy ✓ 27 Nov (female on cover)

5. Ozark (Netflix)
character in finance, or set in Chicago, or Missouri, or a cover with a round shape on cover


6. Pose (FX Networks)
set in NY, or creative cover or character who dances or a dance held in story


7. Succession (HBO)
character works in media or uses media- i.e. computer, tv, newspaper, magazine


8. This Is Us (NBC)
story uses flashbacks, or siblings in story, or an emotional read


Comedy Series
9. Barry (HBO)
military/veteran character or works in the theater in some way, or has a dark cover
Final Bearing by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 6 Oct (military characters

10. Fleabag (Prime Video)
set in London, or book nominated for any award, or a book that is part of a duet (only two books in series)
Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture--And What We Can Do about It by Kate Harding ✓ 22 Sep (award nominee)

11. The Good Place (NBC)
fantasy, or mistaken identity, or a book you would like to read in your favorite reading spot (a good place)
The Gunslinger by Stephen King ✓ 1 Dec (fantasy)

12. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
historical romance, or funny story or character, or parent(s) in story
Cuban Deep by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 16 Oct (parents in story)

13. Russian Doll (Netflix)
a party in the story, a 3 or 6 in the page count (she relives her 36th birthday) or a double consonant in the title (Russian, ss, or doll, ll)
Lonely Planet Iran by Simon Richmond et al. ✓ 5 Nov(384 pages

14. Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
wealthy character, or a poor character or a book set near water or with water on the cover


15. Veep (HBO)
political character, or a character who works for someone else, or a book with a smile on the cover


Limited Series
16. Chernobyl (HBO)
one word title or 'disaster' of a relationship or a character who is a 'disaster'
Iran by Hilary Smith ✓ 5 Nov (one word title)

17. Escape At Dannemora (Showtime)
love triangle, or character who is on the run from something or a character who works in law enforcement
Dangerous Grounds by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 11 Oct (character in law enforcement)

18. Fosse/Verdon (FX Networks)
title with an F or V in it, or a colorful cover
Beyond the Limit by Sid Watkins ✓ 27 Oct (colorful cover)

19. Sharp Objects (HBO)
weapon on the cover or story with child(ren) in it


20. When They See Us (Netflix)
eye(s) on cover or a book (title or cover) that caught your eye
Iran - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Stuart Williams ✓ 1 Nov (caught my eye)

Competition
21. The Amazing Race (CBS)
set in a country not your own, or what you would consider beautiful scenery on cover or any type of footwear on cover
Iran: Persia: Ancient and Modern by Christoph Baumer & Helen Loveday ✓ 8 Nov (set in country not my own)

22. American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
set in the U.S. or Japan, or a book where a character faces many obstacles

23. Nailed It! (Netflix)
a title or series name with a punctuation mark (i.e. ?,!.) or a person on the cover you might consider nailing ;)


24. RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
competition in the story or a car on cover or in the story, or a character who is very glamorous
Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One by Sid Watkins ✓ 22 Oct (competitions in story / cars on cover)

25. Top Chef (Bravo)
food industry, or food or drink on cover or mostly white cover (like a chef's coat)


26. The Voice (NBC)
cover with someone's mouth open, or a musical instrument on cover or in the story, or a singer in the story


Structured Reality Program
27. Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
older character(s) or a book you have had on your TBR for longer than you would like


28. Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives (Food Network)
a book that is part of a trilogy, or the third book in a series or a building on the cover
The Waste Lands by Stephen King ✓ 13 Dec (third book in series)

29. Queer Eye (Netflix)
LGBT author or character or story with a group of friends or a book with more than one person on the cover


30. Shark Tank (ABC)
animal on the cover or in the story, or a ruthless character, or character who has an idea (crazy, creative, lucrative, etc.)
Iran in World History by Richard C. Foltz ✓ 13 Nov (animal on cover)

Unstructured Reality Program
31. Born This Way (A&E)
inspiring or heartwarming story or has a character that achieves a goal or overcomes an obstacle


32. Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel)
boat or water on cover or a character who is 'crabby' or a character who takes risks


33. Life Below Zero (National Geographic)
set in a cold season or has a zero in the publishing date or page count


34. RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (VH1)
a book that is part of a series or has an open shirt on the cover or has any type of furniture on the cover (i.e. couch, chair, table)
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec (part of a series)

35. Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix)
road trip in story or a title or series name that has a word that rhymes with Phil (i.e. still, will, kill, thrill)


36. United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell (CNN)
story with a character who is a good listener or a character who is 'shady' or an ear on the cover or a or a cover with a shade of gray on the cover
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 October Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: October 1 - October 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. 'O' is for October
Read a book that starts with 'O' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'O'.


2. Bird of the Month - Swan
Read a book
★ set in Greece OR with a Greek character
★ where a character plays an instrument
★ with something or someone beautiful on the cover.


3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors
Queen of Romance - Nalini Singh
Princess of Romance - Sherry Thomas
Read one book written by Nalini Singh or Sherry Thomas, or any author with either of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ set in China or with a character where English is their second language
★ published in 2008
★ shelved as Romance, Fantasy or Mystery
★ by any author who has won a RITA award.
Dangerous Grounds by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 11 Oct (character with English as second language)

4. October is Adopt A Dog Month or Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
Read a book
★ with a dog or other animal in the story
★ that includes best friends (Man's best friend...)
★ with a character who does volunteer work
★ with an animal on the cover.


5.October is National Apple Month
Read a book
★ where the characters go apple picking
★ with a storyline involving farming or ranching
★ with a red cover OR something round on the cover.
Beyond the Limit by Sid Watkins ✓ 27 Oct (sth round on cover)

6. October is Bullying Prevention Month
Read a book
★ where someone has been bullied
★ with children or teens in the story line
★ with someone being kept safe
★ with a teacher, social worker or psychologist.


7. October 3 is Balloons Around the World Day
Read a book
★ where someone goes on a hot air balloon ride
★ with a colorful cover
★ set in a country other than where you live
★ with a character who is filled with hot air.
Final Bearing by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 6 Oct (not set in my home country)

8. October 28 is Chocolate Day
Read a book
★ where chocolate is mentioned
★ with a character is involved in a food industry
★ with a chocolate (brown) cover OR something sweet on the cover (your interpretation).


9. October 31 is Halloween
Read a book
★ set at Halloween or another holiday
★ where characters wear a mask or costume or are otherwise disguised or "hiding"
★ with a fall colors on the cover
★ from the paranormal genre.
Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One by Sid Watkins ✓ 22 Oct (characters wear racing helmets)

10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice.
Cuban Deep by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 16 Oct
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

Read the Month Polish Edition PAŹDZIERNIK (October) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: October 1 - October 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[P –
A –
Ź –
D – Don Keith & George Wallace - Final Bearing ✓ 6 Oct
Z –
I –
E –
R –
N – Niki Lauda & Sid Watkins - Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One ✓ 22 Oct
I –
K – Keith, Don & George Wallace - Dangerous Grounds ✓ 11 Oct

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 October Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: October 1 - October 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 4/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 1/1
"Leftover" words found: 0/10
Books completed: 5

1. WISE — Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One by Sid Watkins ✓ 22 Oct
p. 60: I thought it wise, as I hadn't seen the municipal hospiral, to get a private hospital organized.

2. CHOKE — Final Bearing by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 6 Oct
p. 311: "Way I have it figured, we’re about even now," he was finally able to choke out.

3. LOYAL — Beyond the Limit by Sid Watkins ✓ 27 Oct
p. 98: The local hero Rubens Barrichello was performing there for the first time in the red car; the Brazilian crowd are always loyal to their countrymen, making a great deal of noise with drums and trumpets.

4. HARM — Cuban Deep by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 16 Oct
p. 284: The first missile ran out of fuel just twenty yards short of them and dropped harmlessly into the warm water.

5. SHOCK — Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One by Sid Watkins ✓ 22 Oct
p. 50: His death was a great shock to all my family, for he seemed so fit and well and full of life.

6. PORTRAIT — Final Bearing by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 6 Oct
p. 63: The room in which they were now meeting had once been Zurko’s father’s dining room, the walls covered with portraits of the man’s family.

7. FEED — Final Bearing by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 6 Oct
p. 65: His body is feeding the piranhas in the Rio Napo now.

8. ELECTRIC — Beyond the Limit by Sid Watkins ✓ 27 Oct
p. 135: Jenson was carrying some shirts and an electric iron.

9. KITTEN —



10. STRANGE — Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One by Sid Watkins ✓ 22 Oct
p. 97: The strange feature was that his shoes and socks were off, and his feet quite bare.


Bonus
1. DIRECTOR — Beyond the Limit by Sid Watkins ✓ 27 Oct
p. 108: As this happened I heard Herbie Blash, Assistant Race Director, saying on the radio, 'I think we'de better send Sid to have a look at this.'

2. FORK — Cuban Deep by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 16 Oct
p. 123: After following the road for half an hour, they came to a fork.

3. COCOON — Dangerous Grounds by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 11 Oct
p. 241: The young Midshipman instinctively dove into the protective steel cocoon of the sub’s cockpit without ever worrying about how hard the landing was going to be.

4. ACOUSTIC — Dangerous Grounds by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 11 Oct
p. 371: Then the WLR-9 acoustic intercept receiver started alarming, adding it’s warning bell to the din filling the control room.

5. MOONBEAM —



Bonus bonus
1. ACCURACY — Dangerous Grounds by George Wallace & Don Keith ✓ 11 Oct
p. 93: They could be fired with a portable test set if they weren't too concerned with accuracy, though.

__________________________________________

NEW RULING
If you are one of those super-cray-cray/OCD/overly ambitious/organised or bored readers who wish to find words from PRIOR months that are missing in addition to the current month's words, you may use an additional three (3) words per book. These can only be allocated to prior month words.

So you may allocate three words per book to the current month's words, AND three words per book if those words are from PRIOR months' and have been carried forward.

September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —



December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —



January 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —



April 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —



June 2019 "leftovers
10. TOOTHBRUSH —


Bonus
4. MOHAWK —



July 2019 "leftover
Bonus
2. CADAVER —



September 2019 "leftovers"
4. FLOWERY —


Bonus
2. CUDDLY —


Bonus bonus
1. VAGABOND —


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 November Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: November 1 - November 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. 'N' is for November
Read a book that starts with 'N' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'N'.


2. Bird of the Month -November: Rooster
Read a book
★ set in Asia or has an Asian author,
★ you had the good fortune to obtain for free or at a low cost
★ with the number 1 or 2 somewhere in the page count.
Lonely Planet Iran by Simon Richmond et al. ✓ 5 Nov (set in Asia)

3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) authors:
Queen of Romance - Courtney Milan
Princess of Romance - Talia Hibbert
Read one book written by Courtney Milan or Talia Hibbert, or any author with either of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ set in North America
★ with a character who has chemistry with someone else
★ published in 2009
★ shelved as Contemporary or Historical romance
★ by any author who has won a RITA award.


4. November 2nd - Book Lovers Day
Read a book
★ with an embrace or longing glance on the cover
★ someone else said they loved
★ with a library or bookstore in the story.


5. November 3rd - Sandwich Day
Read a book
★ that is neither the first or last in a series, but 'sandwiched' somewhere in between
★ with a character with several layers to them
★ you could squeeze into a busy day or week.
Iran in World History by Richard C. Folz ✓ 13 Nov (layered character)

6. November 6th - Marooned Without A Compass Day
Read a book
★ with a 'stranded' theme (i.e. shipwrecked, plane crash, snowed in at a cabin, car breaks down)
★ with a character who seems 'lost'
★ with the color red on the cover.
The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran by Andrew Scott Cooper ✓ 21 Nov ('lost' character)

7. November 14th - Operating Room Nurse Day
Read a book
★ set in a medical field, or with a character in a medical field or who is in need of a medical professional
★ you feel under pressure to get off your TBR
★ with a character who doesn't get enough credit or is underappreciated.
Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic by Michael Axworthy ✓ 27 Nov (TBR pressure)

8. November 17th - Take A Hike Day
Read a book
★ with tree(s), or a road or a mountain on the cover
★ towards the top of your TBR (newer)
★ with a character who seems unlikable at first.


9. November 28th - Thanksgiving
Read a book
★ with a family or friends in the story
★ with a one word title
★ with a cover you are thankful for
Iran by Hilary Smith ✓ 5 Nov (one word title)

10. Reader's Choice
Read any book of your choice
Iran - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Stuart Williams ✓ 1 Nov
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition listopad (November) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: November 1 - November 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[L – Lonely Planet Iran by Simon Richmond et al. ✓ 5 Nov
I – Iran - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Stuart Williams ✓ 1 Nov
S – Smith, Hilary - Iran ✓ 5 Nov
T –
O –
P –
A – Axworthy, Michael - A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind ✓ 10 Nov
D –

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 November Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: November 1 - November 30, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 2/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 1/1
"Leftover" words found: 1/12
Books completed: 6

1. BIZARRE — Iran - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Stuart Williams✓ 1 Nov
p. 84: Sometimes ta'rof can rach bizarre extremes.

2. COFFIN — A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind by Michael Axworthy ✓ 10 Nov
p. 269: At one point the coffin had to be rescued by helicopters from distraught mourners seeking pieces of his shroud as relics.

3. CANNON — A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind by Michael Axworthy ✓ 10 Nov
p. 133: But Esma'il's hopes of westward expansion, aiming to take advantage of the Shi'a orientation of many more Turkic tribes in eastern Anatolia, were destroyed when the elan of the Qezelbash was blown away by Ottoman cannon at the Battle of Chaldiran, northwest of Tabriz, in 1514.

4. DESSERT — Iran - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Stuart Williams✓ 1 Nov
p. 89: For dessert, expect delicious Iranian cakes followed by fruit and sweeta and yet more offers of tea.

5. DEVILISH —



6. DRIP — Lonely Planet Iran by Simon Richmond et al. ✓ 5 Nov
p. 219: Short of water, she threw her staff at the cliff and water began to flow—chak, chak means 'drip, drip'.

7. LIMB — Iran by Hilary Smith ✓ 5 Nov
p. VIII: And while the appalling, senseless driving of many private car-owners is certainly a problem, foreign visitors to Iran are pleasantly surprised at the general cleanliness of the streets, and the care and upkeep of the central reservations and the roundabouts, resplendent with park benches, tea houses and children's swings, as if they're rewards for risking life and limb against oncoming cars.

8. SALT — Iran: Persia: Ancient and Modern by Christoph Baumer & Helen Loveday ✓ 8 Nov
p. 122: Dried and salted melon seeds and the excellent pistacchios form an ever ready snack, or appetizer during the long wait before dinner, when conversation meanders and the host/ess peels little cucumbers and other fruits for the guests before the meal is served at the end of the evening.

9. THERMOMETER — Iran by Hilary Smith ✓ 5 Nov
p. 43: For more remote travellers consider taking a travel thermometer.

10. TURKEY — Iran - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs Culture by Stuart Williams✓ 1 Nov
p. 12: It has western borders with Turkey, possibly a future European Union member.


Bonus
1. AMOK — Iran by Hilary Smith ✓ 5 Nov
p. 164: The city boasts no historic buildings, as Russian forces ran amok in 1668 slaughtering the population and destroying everything that stood in their way, even sinking the Persian navy on the Caspian Sea before ransacking Rasht.

2. ANCHOVIES —



3. FRONTIER — Iran: Persia: Ancient and Modern by Christoph Baumer & Helen Loveday ✓ 8 Nov
p. 37: Their dealings were to be poisoned by the location of the frontier between them, and, as Sir Percy Sykes put it, "the constantly recurring Armenian Question".

4. TOASTER —



5. UNACCOUNTABLY —



Bonus bonus
1. VERDANT — Lonely Planet Iran by Simon Richmond et al. ✓ 5 Nov
p. 78: Wandering through Gilan's verdant forests above an amazing stacked village.

__________________________________________

NEW RULING
If you are one of those super-cray-cray/OCD/overly ambitious/organised or bored readers who wish to find words from PRIOR months that are missing in addition to the current month's words, you may use an additional three (3) words per book. These can only be allocated to prior month words.

So you may allocate three words per book to the current month's words, AND three words per book if those words are from PRIOR months' and have been carried forward.

September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —



December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —



January 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —



April 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —



June 2019 "leftovers
10. TOOTHBRUSH —


Bonus
4. MOHAWK —



July 2019 "leftover
Bonus
2. CADAVER —



September 2019 "leftovers"
4. FLOWERY — The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran by Andrew Scott Cooper ✓ 21 Nov
p.104: Where other clerics conveyed their thoughts in flowery, arcane seminary language, Khomeini's sermons and speeches had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer striking plate glass; he instinctively understood that in Iran the path to power lay in the gutter.

Bonus
2. CUDDLY —


Bonus bonus
1. VAGABOND —



October 2019 "leftovers"
9. KITTEN —


Bonus
5. MOONBEAM —


(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 December Monthly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: December 1 - December 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[1. ‘D’ is for December
Read a book that starts with ‘D’ or a book whose author's first or last name starts with ‘D’.
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec

2. Bird of the Month - Raven
Read a book
★ where someone keeps secrets or is a messenger of some sort
★ where a character undergoes change
★ with a mostly black cover
The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 29 Dec (mostly black cover)

3. Featured Author Challenge - Queen - Kristen Proby/Princess - Tara Sivec
Read a book by one of this month's Featured Authors, Kristen Proby or Tara Sivec, or by any author with one of their first or last names.
OR
Read a book
★ set in Ohio
★ published in 2012
★ that has won any award
★ a humorous book.
The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King ✓ 29 Dec (published in 2012)

4. World Aids Awareness Day - Dec. 1
Read
★ an LGBTQ+ book
★ a book with the colors of the rainbow on the cover
★ a book featuring an MC dealing with an illness.


5. International Children’s Day - Dec. 8
Read a book
★ with a child or children included
★ a YA or NA book.
The Gunslinger by Stephen King ✓ 1 Dec (child in story)

6. National Maple Syrup Day - Dec. 17
Read a sweet story.


7. Look for an Evergreen Day - Dec. 19
Read a book
★ with trees or an outdoor scene on the cover
★ where an MC works outdoors primarily.


8. Winter Solstice -Dec. 22
On this shortest day of the year, cozy up with something short that you can finish quickly during this busy time of year!
The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 30 Dec

9. New Year’s Eve - Dec. 31
Finish or get caught up with a series as the year ends or prepare for the new year by starting a new series.
Wizard and Glass by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec

10. Reader’s Choice
Read any book of your choosing!
The Waste Lands by Stephen King ✓ 13 Dec
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 Read the Month Polish Edition GRUDZIEŃ (December) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: December 1 - December 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[G – The Gunslinger by Stephen King ✓ 1 Dec
R –
U –
D – The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec
Z –
I –
E – Edgar Allan Poe - The Black Cat ✓ 29 Dec
Ń –

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2019 December Word Hunt — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: December 1 - December 31, 2019

(view spoiler)[Words found: 9/10
Bonus words found: 4/5
Bonus Bonus words found: 1/1
"Leftover" words found: 4/15
Books completed: 5

1. BISCUIT — The Waste Lands by Stephen King ✓ 13 Dec
55%: There were bowls of stew (chunks of buffalo meat floating in a rich brown gravy loaded with vegetables), platters of fresh biscuits, crocks of sweet white butter, and bowls of leaves that looked like spinach but weren’t . . . exactly.

2. BOILING — The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec
91%: For a moment Katz could only look at him, his mouth open, his heart struggling in his chest, his stomach a sickly boiling pot of acid.

3. CHIMNEY — The Gunslinger by Stephen King ✓ 1 Dec
27%: The gunslinger went to the tiny, leaning church by the graveyard while Allie washed tables with strong disinfectant and rinsed kerosene lamp chimneys in soapy water.

4. CHUBBY — Wizard and Glass by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec
28%: I’ve known folks in our line of trade who’ll go to a fat, jolly fellow to find out the gossip—a saloon-keeper or bartender, perhaps a livery stable owner or one of the chubby fellows who always hangs about the jail or the courthouse with his thumbs tucked into his vest pockets.

5. CLOCK — The Gunslinger by Stephen King ✓ 1 Dec
22%: The body on the table was vibrating now, trembling and rapping and twitching like a large yet essentially lifeless doll with some monstrous clockwork hidden inside.

6. FROG — The Gunslinger by Stephen King ✓ 1 Dec
57%: But he found a spring, richly guarded by frogs and peepers.

7. GOLD — The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec
5%: He came charging up the path with his ears lowered against his skull and his gold-ringed eyes bright.

8. PACKAGE —


9. SACK — The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec
34%: I handed over a little sack.

10. TREAT — Wizard and Glass by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec
6%: Jake decided he would treat that possibility as he had treated the graf of River Crossing and allow himself just a little.

Bonus
1. COLONY — The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec
49%: She knew some of the background, knew the struggle for equality had gone on not since the Emancipation Proclamation but almost since the first boatload of slaves had been brought to America (to Georgia, in fact, the colony the British founded to get rid of their criminals and debtors), but for Odetta it always seemed to begin in the same place, with the same three words: I’m not movin.

2. COMMUNION — The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec
89%: He was going to make confession, do an act of contrition, and take communion.

3. JINGLE — Wizard and Glass by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec
83%: Roland was at first pleased as the muted jingle of harness and buckle drew closer to the place where the three of them were hunkered down in the high grass, but as the sounds drew closer still—close enough to hear murmuring voices as well as soft-thudding hooves—he began to be afraid.

4. MOOSE — The Waste Lands by Stephen King ✓ 13 Dec
44%: Hey Moose—I think your little brother has been playing you like a violin for a long time now, and you don’t have the slightest idea, do you?

5. NOIR —



Bonus bonus
1. EXECUTIONER — The Waste Lands by Stephen King ✓ 13 Dec
90%: The executioner, his yellow scarf pulled tight over his skull and the knotted ends swinging below his ears like pigtails, seized an old woman and held her up, waiting patiently for the stainless steel block of metal to clear the killing floor so he could toss her in.

__________________________________________

NEW RULING
If you are one of those super-cray-cray/OCD/overly ambitious/organised or bored readers who wish to find words from PRIOR months that are missing in addition to the current month's words, you may use an additional three (3) words per book. These can only be allocated to prior month words.

So you may allocate three words per book to the current month's words, AND three words per book if those words are from PRIOR months' and have been carried forward.

September 2018 "leftover"
Bonus bonus
1. LADYBUG —



December 2018 "leftover"
Bonus
3. SCROOGE —



January 2019 "leftover"
Bonus
3. FLIPPANT —



April 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus bonus
1. PUCE —



June 2019 "leftovers
10. TOOTHBRUSH — The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec
37%: His teeth were very yellow—Eddie didn’t think they had been acquainted with a toothbrush in quite some time.

Bonus
4. MOHAWK —



July 2019 "leftover
Bonus
2. CADAVER —



September 2019 "leftovers"
Bonus
2. CUDDLY —


Bonus bonus
1. VAGABOND —



October 2019 "leftovers"
9. KITTEN — Wizard and Glass by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec
37%: That she had been carried to them the way a mother cat carries a wayward kitten back to the nesting-box, by the scruff of the neck?

Bonus
5. MOONBEAM —



November 2019 "leftovers"
5. DEVILISH — The Waste Lands by Stephen King ✓ 13 Dec
93%: She looked at Roland, appearing to be wholly awake again now . . . except she was not Susannah, nor was she the same wretched, devilish creature who had previously gone under the name of Detta Walker, although she sounded the same.

Bonus
2. ANCHOVIES — The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King ✓ 7 Dec
28%: Something like ‘Double cheese, hold the anchovies,’ right, Jack?

4. TOASTER —


5. UNACCOUNTABLY —



(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

Grooving through the Decade Quarterly Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: December 15, 2019 - March 14, 2020

(view spoiler)[As the decade comes to an end here is one magazine's take on the music we listened to.......
The 28 Top Songs of the 2010s, for Better or Worse
From "Call Me Maybe" to "Hotline Bling," Good Housekeeping Magazine rounded up some of the top hits of the past decade.

Levels:
Level 1: 5 books - I listen to the radio in the car
Level 2: 10 books - I sing along with the radio in the car
Level 3: 22 books - I play music while doing lots of things
Level 4: 28 books - I dance and sing along to the tunes as often as possible!

Bonus: Using the letters of one of your favorite singer's names (first or last) or favorite group name, you may read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with that letter or you may read a book whose title or series title starts with that letter.
Books for the Bonus must be different than the books used for the regular part of the challenge.

1. "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele (2010)
long book (over 250 pages) or item on cover that can roll (i.e. ball, tire, champagne bottle)



2 . "Dancing on My Own" by Robyn (2010)
single parent or one person on cover
The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 30 Dec (one person on cover)

3. "Firework" by Katy Perry (2010)
character with an explosive or big personality or a book with something shiny on cover



4. "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock (2011)
celebration of any kind in story or item on cover you might find at a party (i.e. drink, food, people, fireplace)
The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 30 Dec (celebration in the story)

5. "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen (2011)
unrequited love ( i.e. one person interested in another but so far not reciprocated or they have no idea someone is interested in them) in story or a means of communication on the cover (i.e. phone, computer, mouth)



6. "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye feat. Kimbra (2011)
second chance romance or friends to lovers story or reread or a book with a theme you have read in the past and abandoned for awhile



7. "We Found Love" by Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris (2011)
mystery or road trip romance or red on the cover
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 31 Dec (red on cover)

8. "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction (2011)
a cover your consider beautiful or a book with what you think has a beautiful message or character
The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King ✓ 29 Dec (beautiful cover)


9. "We Are Young" by fun. feat. Janelle Monáe (2011)
YA or child(ren) in story or a new release (under one year)



10. "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz (2012)
book you bought on sale or for a great price or a book by an author you love to revisit
Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 31 Dec (freebie/great price)

11. "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons (2012)
a paranormal or sci-fi story or a book with an 'electrifying' character



12. "Royals" by Lorde (2013)
nobility in the story or a book with a crown or castle on the cover



13. "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus (2013)
blue collar worker in story or a book with a round object on the cover
Wizard and Glass by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec (round object on cover)

14. "Follow Your Arrow" by Kacey Musgraves (2013)
a character who is headed in the wrong direction or a character who is finding their way or a title with the word 'north' south' 'east' or 'west' included in it (i.e. western, southern, beast, least)



15. "Let It Go" (From the "Frozen" Soundtrack) by Idina Menzel (2013)
a book you borrowed, or a title with the word 'go' or a word that rhymes with 'go' in it



16. "Wagon Wheel" by Darius Rucker (2013)
historical romance or a form of transportation on the cover or in the story



17. "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift (2014)
a romance with an athlete or an athletic character or a story with a scene at an athletic event or a book with a cover you don't care for
The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 29 Dec (cover I don't care for)

18. "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars (2014)
a story that takes place in a city or a book with a title that begins with a vowel (i.e. A Cowboy for Christmas, Under the Never Sky)



19. "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran (2015)
a scientist or geeky or nerdy character or a book with a 'loud' cover (your interpretation)



20. "Hotline Bling" by Drake (2015)
a wealthy character or a book with jewelry on the cover



21. "Closer" by The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey (2016)
a book that is closer to the top of your tbr than the bottom (in the top 51%) or a book in a series you are close to completing



22. "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots (2016)
a story where religion or a religious holiday is mentioned or a book with a one word title
Ligeia by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 30 Dec

23. "Shut up Kiss Me" by Angel Olsen (2016)
an embrace on the cover or a scene in a story where there is kissing



24. "Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi feat. Justin Bieber (2017)
a book that has been translated into a language not your own or a book you want to read slowly (despacito) so you can savor it



25. "thank u, next" by Ariana Grande (2018)
read the next book in a series you have started or the newest release by an author you love



26. "Shallow" by Lady Gaga (2018)
book that contains a scene on or near water (bonus points if it's a pool) or has water on the cover



27. "Tequila" by Dan + Shay (2018)
bar or bartender in story or a drink on the cover or a title with a word that contains the letter 'q' in it



28. "Old Town Road (Remix)" by Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (2019)
mall-town romance or a road on the cover
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2020 Read the Season 10th Anniversary English Edition - WINTER — NOT COMPLETED
Duration: December 21, 2019 - March 19, 2020

(view spoiler)[Levels:
Level 1 - Read the season.
Level 2 - Read the season and any 1 holiday.
Level 3 - Read the season and any 2 holidays.
Extreme! - Read the season and all holidays.

Winter Holidays:
Christmas - December 25th
Boxing Day - December 26th
New Year's Day - January 1st
Epiphany - January 6th
Valentine's Day - February 14th
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) - February 25th, you can do either or both names 😊
Saint Patrick's Day - March 17th

Season:
W – Wizard and Glass by Stephen King ✓ 24 Dec
I –
N –
T – The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 31 Dec
E – Edgar Allan Poe - The Black Cat ✓ 29 Dec
R –


Holidays:
C – The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 30 Dec
H –
R –
I –
S –
T –
M – The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 30 Dec
A –
S –


B –
O –
X –
I –
N –
G –
D –
A –
Y –


N –
E – Edgar Allan Poe - Ligeia ✓ 30 Dec
W – The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King ✓ 29 Dec
Y –
E – Edgar Allan Poe - Mesmeric Revelation ✓ 31 Dec
A –
R' –
S –
D –
A –
Y –


E –
P –
I –
P –
H –
A –
N –
Y –


V –
A –
L –
E –
N –
T –
I –
N –
E' –
S –
D –
A –
Y –


M –
A –
R –
D –
I –
G –
R –
A –
S –
F – The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe ✓ 30 Dec
A –
T –
T –
U –
E –
S –
D –
A –
Y –


S –
A –
I –
N –
T –
P –
A –
T –
R –
I –
C –
K' –
S –
D –
A –
Y –
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

'Twas a strange year...

...but it's almost over.

[Mojca]

Walking in a Winter Wonderland Quarterly Challenge
Duration: December 15, 2020 - March 14, 2021

(view spoiler)[Levels:
Level 1 - 5 books–I like the cold when I'm inside, in the warmth
Level 2 - 10 books–I enjoy making snow angels
Level 3 - 20 books–I can get into a good snowball fight
Level 4 - 30 books– love everything about Winter!
+Bonus - Bonus can be added to any level

**There is no minimum page requirement for this challenge.
Audiobooks and rereads are allowed.
You can always add levels as you go.
You may update your original post with your progress or repost , it is your choice. But please repost upon completion**

1. Red squirrels make mushroom jerky to prepare for the winter.
Read a book with a 'jerk' character or a book with red on the cover.
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ✓ 3 Jan

2. People born during winter months are less irritable.
Read a book with a happy or optimistic character or a book with a pregnancy or baby in the story.
The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn ✓ 21 Jan

3. Thundersnow is a rare, but real, weather phenomenon.
Read a book with a title that begins with one of the letters in 'Thundersnow' or a book with a title or character with an unusual name.
Hideaway by Nora Roberts ✓ 5 Feb

4. Snow can be yellow, orange, green, and purple. (tiny particles of dust or algae can make snow appear to be a range of different rainbow-like colors)
Read a book with an lgbt character or a book with a colorful cover.
Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 24 Jan

5. And there's also pink watermelon snow that has a sweet smell and taste. (But that doesn't mean that you should eat it! The rosy hue is often due to algae)
Read a book with a character in a science field or a book with food on the cover.
Golden in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 27 Jan

6. Snow rollers are self-forming snowballs.
Read a book with something round on the cover or a book with a 'ballsy' character.
Connections in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 23 Jan

7. Some cities use beet juice, beer waste, and pickle brine on icy winter roads instead of salt.
Read a book set in a city or a book with the letter 'Bb' somewhere in the title or author's name.
Mulan Live Action Novelization ✓ 6 Mar

8. In Finland, you can stay in glass igloos during winter to watch the Northern Lights.
Read a book set in Europe or a book with a light source on the cover.
The Most Eligible Lord in London by Ella Quinn ✓ 4 Mar

9. There's an annual International Hair Freezing Contest in Canada every February.
Read a book set in Canada or a book published in February of any year.
Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 7 Feb (pub. Feb/2021)

10. Stonehenge was set up to frame the sunset of the winter solstice.
Read a book tagged Historical or a book set in England or a book with a color of the sunset on the cover.
The Most Eligible Viscount in London by Ella Quinn ✓ 4 Mar

11. Shovel racing started in New Mexico in the 1970s.
Read a book set in the U.S. or a book with a 7 or 0 in the page count.
The One for You by Roni Loren ✓ 2 Mar

12. There are plenty of flowers that bloom in the winter. (winter pansies, lenten roses (which are also known as Christmas roses), winter aconite, and snowdrops)
Read a book with a character that shows some growth or a book with a flower or winter object on the cover.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ✓ 9 Jan

13. Snow comes in five categories. (There is dry snow (0% water), moist snow (less than 3%), wet snow (btw. 3% & 8%), very wet snow (btw. 8% and 15%), and slush, or snow that is 15% water)
Read a book that is part of a series of at least 5 books or a book with a 5 in the publishing date or page count or number of reviews.
Say You're Sorry by Karen Rose ✓ 22 Feb (656 pages)

14. At least a septillion snowflakes fall from the sky ever year.
Read a book with an older character (vampires count!) or a book with a sky on the cover.
It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn ✓ 17 Jan

15. And they fall at speeds of one to six feet per second.
Read the first book in a series or a book with a foot on the cover.
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ✓ 2 Jan

16. Snowflakes almost always have six sides.
Read a book with six words in the title or six letters in the title or a book you want to keep by your side.
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn ✓ 20 Jan

17. The largest snowflake on record measured 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick.
Read a large book (your interpretation of what constitutes large for you) or a book with a large rating- 4.0 or higher.
Into the Dark by Karen Rose ✓ 24 Feb (593 p.)

18. The tallest snowperson on record stood over 122 feet.
Read a book with a person on the cover or a book with double numbers in the page count or publishing date (i.e. 422 pages, pub. 2009).
Tightrope by Amanda Quick ✓ 9 Feb

19. Westerners are most likely to say winter is their favorite season.
Read a book by a favorite author or a book set in your favorite season.
Say No More by Karen Rose ✓ 28 Feb

20. Winter increases your appetite.
Read a book set in the food industry or a book you hope you won't want to stop reading.


21. The most people making snow angels simultaneously was nearly 9,000. (on Feb. 17, 2007, in Bismarck, North Dakota)
Read a book that has an inspirational or paranormal tag or a book with more than one person on the cover.
Alpha Night by Nalini Singh ✓ 20 Feb

22. The first Winter Olympics were held in the French Alps in 1924.
Read a book set in France or a book with a sports tag or athlete in the story.
The Mark of the Rose by Marsha Canham ✓ 14 Mar (set in France)

23. And ski ballet was once a sport in the Winter Olympics.
Read a book with a creative character or a book from a new to you author.
Close Up by Amanda Quick ✓ 13 Feb (creative character)

24. The Earth is closest to the Sun during winter.
Read a book with something HOT (your interpretation) on the cover or a book with a character who needs someone else.
To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn ✓ 11 Jan

25. The largest snow maze on record was more than 30,000 square feet.
Read a book with a mystery or suspense tag or a book with a complex sounding plot or character.
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn ✓ 14 Jan

26. The Portland Winter Light Festival includes nearly 115 illuminated art installations.
Read a book with a celebration or holiday in the story or a book with a word in the title that rhymes with 'art' (ie. start, heart, chart, tarte).
Under Currents by Nora Roberts ✓ 1 Feb (Fourth of July party)

27. The largest snowball fight ever involved 7,681 people. (on Jan. 31, 2016, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Read a book with a conflict in the story or a book set in Canada.
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn ✓ 6 Jan

28. People once believed that birds flew to the moon for the winter.
Read a book with a shapeshifter or animal tag or a book with an animal or moon on the cover.
Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh ✓ 18 Feb

29. Winter "desire paths" can be spotted in the snow. (Basically, it's a path that multiple people have chosen to walk that doesn't fall on a sidewalk or other walkway and, therefore, forms a new track.)
Read a book that has a title or cover that draws you to it or a book that has a road trip in it.
Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 30 Jan

30. In ancient Rome, an hour was 45 minutes in the winter and 75 minutes in the summer.
Read an anthology or a book that has different page counts depending on the edition.
Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz ✓ 16 Feb


BONUS
Tell us your favorite thing about Winter and then spell out that word (or phrase). Use each letter in that word to read a book whose title or author's first or last name or series title corresponds to that letter.
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2021 Read the Season Challenge Icelandic Edition VETUR (Winter) — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: December 21, 2020 - March 19, 2021

(view spoiler)[The Read the Season Challenge is fun and easy! Using the first letter of the title, author's first or last name or series name, spell out the season, vetur (Winter), and holidays if you choose, in English. Please disregard any diacritical marks. Feel free to ignore articles: a, an, the, etc. in your titles. If you use the series title, please make sure to include that in your book list. Books must be started and finished within the challenge duration.

Levels:
Level 1 - Read the season.
Level 2 - Read the season and any 1 holiday.
Level 3 - Read the season and any 2 holidays.
Extreme! - Read the season and all holidays.

Winter Holidays:
Þorláksmessa - St. Thorlac's Mass Day/St. Thorlac is the Patron Saint of Iceland (December 23th)
Jóladagur - Christmas Day (December 25th)
Annar í jólum - Boxing Day (December 26th)
Nýársdagur - New Year's Day (January 1st)
Þrettándinn - Epiphany (January 6th)
Bóndadagur - Husband's Day (January 22nd)
Öskudagur - Ash Wednesday (February 17th)
Konudagur - Woman's Day (February 21st)
Bjórdagurinn - Beer Day (March 1st)

Season:
V – The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ✓ 3 Jan
E – Ella Quinn - The Most Eligible Lord in London ✓ 4 Mar
T – To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn ✓ 11 Jan
U – Under Currents by Nora Roberts ✓ 1 Feb
R – Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ✓ 9 Jan


Holidays:
Þ –
O – An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn ✓ 6 Jan
R – Robb, J.D. - Connections in Death ✓ 23 Jan
L – Loren, Roni - The One for You ✓ 2 Mar
Á – Amanda Quick - Tightrope ✓ 9 Feb
K – Karen Rose - Say You're Sorry ✓ 22 Feb
S – Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 30 Jan
M – Mulan Live Action Novelization ✓ 6 Mar
E – Ella Quinn - The Most Eligible Viscount in London ✓ 4 Mar
S – Singh, Nalini - Wolf Rain ✓ 18 Feb
S – Singh, Nalini - Alpha Night ✓ 20 Feb
A – Amanda Quick - Close Up ✓ 13 Feb


J – Julia Quinn - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ✓ 2 Jan
Ó – On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn ✓ 20 Jan
L –
A –
D –
A –
G – Golden in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 27 Jan
U – Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz ✓ 16 Feb
R – Robb, J.D. - Vendetta in Death ✓ 24 Jan


A –
N – Nora Roberts - Hideaway ✓ 5 Feb
N –
A –
R – Robb, J.D. - Faithless in Death ✓ 7 Feb
Í – It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn ✓ 17 Jan
J – Julia Quinn - When He Was Wicked ✓ 14 Jan
Ó –
L –
U –
M – The Mark of the Rose by Marsha Canham ✓ 14 Mar


N –
Ý –
Á –
R – Rose, Karen - Say No More ✓ 28 Feb
S – Swept Away by Marsha Canham ✓ 17 Mar
D –
A –
G –
U –
R –


Þ –
R –
E –
T –
T –
Á –
N –
D –
I – Into the Dark by Karen Rose ✓ 24 Feb
N –
N –


B – The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn ✓ 21 Jan
Ó –
N –
D –
A –
D –
A –
G –
U –
R –


Ö –
S –
K –
U –
D –
A –
G –
U –
R –

K –
O –
N –
U –
D –
A –
G –
U –
R –

B –
J –
Ó –
R –
D –
A –
G –
U –
R –
I –
N –
N –
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2021 A-Z Author Challenge
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2021

(view spoiler)[*For the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z , any author with the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z in his/her name is acceptable (the letter can be found in any part of their name).

A – Amanda Quick - Tightrope ✓ 9 Feb
B – Bast, Anya - The Chosen Sin ✓ 20 Mar
C – Corcoran, Jacqueline - A Surrealist Affair ✓ 16 Apr
D – David, Peter - Battleship ✓ 11 Apr
E – Ella Quinn - The Most Eligible Lord in London ✓ 4 Mar
F – Feehan, Christine - Murder at Sunrise Lake ✓ 3 July
G – Gillian Archer - Ruthless ✓ 14 May
H – Holt, Samantha - Secrets of a Duke's Daughter ✓ 30 Jun
I – India Kells - Shadow Killer ✓ 20 Mar
J – J.D. Robb - Connections in Death ✓ 23 Jan
K – Krentz, Jayne Ann - Untouchable ✓ 16 Feb
L – Loren, Roni - The One for You ✓ 2 Mar
M – Marsha Canham - The Mark of the Rose ✓ 14 Mar
N – Nora Roberts - Under Currents ✓ 1 Feb
O – Osborn, Margareta - The Cowboy ✓ 11 Apr
P – Pamela Clare - Barely Breathing ✓ 18 Apr
Q – Quinn, Julia - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ✓ 2 Jan
R – Rose, Karen - Say You're Sorry ✓ 22 Feb
S – Singh, Nalini - Wolf Rain ✓ 18 Feb
T – T.J. Logan - Deadly Secret ✓ 10 May
U – O'Sullivan, Vic et al. - Fodor's Essential Ireland 2021: With Belfast and Northern Ireland ✓ 29 Aug
V – Victoria Purman - The Millionaire ✓ 12 Apr
W – Wade, Maggie & India Kells - Deadly Alliance ✓ 12 Apr
X – Max Allan Collins - The Scorpion King ✓ 31 May
Y – Kerrigan Byrne - How To Love A Duke in Ten Days ✓ 30 Apr
Z – Vicki Hinze - Deep Freeze ✓ 12 Aug
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2021 A-Z Book Challenge — PARTIALLY COMPLETED
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2021

(view spoiler)[*Articles like "A", "An" and "The" at the beginning of the title can be ignored.
*For the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z , any title with the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z is acceptable (the letter can be found in any part of the title)

A – Alpha Night by Nalini Singh ✓ 20 Feb
B – The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn ✓ 21 Jan
C – Connections in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 23 Jan
D – The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ✓ 2 Jan
E – Edge of Danger by Katie Reus ✓ 28 Mar
F – Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 7 Feb
G – Golden in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 27 Jan
H – Hideaway by Nora Roberts ✓ 5 Feb
I – It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn ✓ 17 Jan
J –
K – Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey & Anna Bennett ✓ 22 July
L – The Little Android by Marissa Meyer ✓ 12 Apr
M – The Most Eligible Lord in London by Ella Quinn ✓ 4 Mar
N –
O – An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn ✓ 6 Jan
P – Primal Instinct by Janie Crouch ✓ 3 May
Q –
R – Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ✓ 9 Jan
S – Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 30 Jan
T – To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn ✓ 11 Jan
U – Under Currents by Nora Roberts ✓ 1 Feb
V – The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ✓ 3 Jan
W – When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn ✓ 14 Jan
X –
Y –
Z – Deep Freeze by Vicki Hinze ✓ 12 Aug

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2021 A-Z Male Character Challenge
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2021

*For the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z , any male character with the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z in his name is acceptable (the letter can be found in any part of their name)

(view spoiler)[A – Anthony Bridgerton - The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ✓ 3 Jan
B – Benedict Bridgerton - An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn ✓ 6 Jan
C – Colin Bridgerton - Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ✓ 9 Jan
D – Dillon Cooper - Hideaway by Nora Roberts ✓ 5 Feb
E – Edmund Bridgerton - The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn ✓ 21 Jan
F – Fredrick, Lord Littleton - The Most Eligible Lord in London by Ella Quinn ✓ 4 Mar
G – Gareth St. Clair - It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn ✓ 17 Jan
H – Holmes, Andre - Say No More by Karen Rose ✓ 28 Feb
I – Isaacs, Ashton - The One for You by Roni Loren ✓ 2 Mar
J – Jones, Matthias - Tightrope by Amanda Quick ✓ 9 Feb
K – Kostya - Alpha Night by Nalini Singh ✓ 20 Feb
L – Lorcan Cobbe - Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 30 Jan
M – Michael Stirling - When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn ✓ 14 Jan
N – Nick Sundridge - Close Up by Amanda Quick ✓ 13 Feb
O – Oliver Printz - Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 24 Jan
P – Phillip Crane - To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn ✓ 11 Jan
Q – Quincy Taylor - Into the Dark by Karen Rose ✓ 24 Feb
R – Roarke - Connections in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 23 Jan
S – Simon Basset - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ✓ 2 Jan
T – Tom Hunter - Say You're Sorry by Karen Rose ✓ 22 Feb
U – Honghui - Mulan Live Action Novelization ✓ 6 Mar
V – Vasilev Harte, Alexei - Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh ✓ 18 Feb
W – Wilkey, Stanton - Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 7 Feb
X – Xavier Sutter - Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz ✓ 16 Feb
Y – Yin, Wyatt - Golden in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 27 Jan
Z – Zane Walker - Under Currents by Nora Roberts ✓ 1 Feb

(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2021 A-Z Female Character Challenge
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2021

(view spoiler)[*For the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z , any female character with the letters Q, U, X ,Y, and Z in her name is acceptable (the letter can be found in any part of their name)

A – Amalie Vaughn - Tightrope by Amanda Quick ✓ 9 Feb
B – Brazier, Vivian - Close Up by Amanda Quick ✓ 13 Feb
C – Caitlyn Sullivan - Hideaway by Nora Roberts ✓ 5 Feb
D – Daphne Bridgerton - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ✓ 2 Jan
E – Eloise Bridgerton - To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn ✓ 11 Jan
F – Francesca Bridgerton - When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn ✓ 14 Jan
G – Ginger - Say No More by Karen Rose ✓ 28 Feb
H – Hyacingth Bridgerton - It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn ✓ 17 Jan
I – Iryna - Golden in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 27 Jan
J – Jacobs, Paula - Edge of Danger by Katie Reus ✓ 28 Mar
K – Katharine "Kate" Sheffield - The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ✓ 3 Jan
L – Lucinda "Lucy" Abernathy - On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn ✓ 20 Jan
M – Memory Aven-Rose - Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh ✓ 18 Feb
N – Nomani - Alpha Night by Nalini Singh ✓ 20 Feb
O – Ogilvy, Veronica - The Mark of the Rose by Marsha Canham ✓ 14 Mar
P – Penelope Featherington - Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ✓ 9 Jan
Q – Quilla - Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 30 Jan
R – Rochelle Pickering - Connections in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 23 Jan
S – Sophie Beckett - An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn ✓ 6 Jan
T – Trisha Hart - Say You're Sorry by Karen Rose ✓ 22 Feb
U – Una Kagen - Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 24 Jan
V – Violet Bridgerton - The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn ✓ 21 Jan
W – Winter Meadows - Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz ✓ 16 Feb
X – Xianniang - Mulan Live Action Novelization ✓ 6 Mar
Y – Younger, Hallie - Under Currents by Nora Roberts ✓ 1 Feb
Z – Zoe Metcalf - Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb ✓ 7 Feb
(hide spoiler)]

[Mojca]

2021 RRRC COUNTDOWN (Part I) — NOT COMPLETED
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2021

(view spoiler)[For this challenge, you will read the corresponding number of books published in that year:
2002 - read 2 books published in 2002
2010 – read 10 books published in 2010
2011 – read 11 books published in 2011
2012 – read 12 books published in 2012, etc.

★ The year published can be either the year the book was first published or the year the edition you read was published.
★ Books must be at least 150 pages long or 45k words.
★ Books must have the romance genre listed on the main page.

Levels:
Level 1 - read for 2017-2021 - 95 books
Level 2 - read for 2004-2010 + 2021 - 70 books (shorter but HARDER)
Level 3 - read for 2015-2021 - 126 books
Extreme! - read for 2013-2021 - 153 books

2004
1. Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts ✓ 23 May
2.
3.
4.


2005
1. Black Rose by Nora Roberts ✓ 24 May
2. Red Lily by Nora Roberts ✓ 27 May
3.
4.
5.


2006
1. Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts ✓ 6 Apr
2. Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts ✓ 8 Apr
3. Valley Of Silence by Nora Roberts ✓ 9 Apr
4.
5.
6.


2007
1. Highlander Untamed by Monica McCarty ✓ 15 Apr
2. Highlander Unmasked by Monica McCarty ✓ 15 Apr
3. Highlander Unchained by Monica McCarty ✓ 16 Apr
4.
5.
6.
7.


2008
1. The Chosen Sin by Anya Bast ✓ 20 Mar
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.


2009
1. Black Hills by Nora Roberts ✓ 20 May
2. Widow's Tale by Maureen A. Miller ✓ 14 June
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.


2010
1. Swept Away by Marsha Canham ✓ 17 Mar
2. China Rose by Marsha Canham ✓ 19 Mar
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.


2011
1. Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire ✓ 1 Apr
2. Shiver of Fear by Roxanne St. Claire ✓ 3 Apr
3. Face of Danger by Roxanne St. Claire ✓ 4 Apr
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.


2012
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

2013
1. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn ✓ 21 Jan
2. Targeted by Katie Reus ✓ 23 Mar
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.


2014
1. Bound to Danger by Katie Reus ✓ 25 Mar
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.


2015
1. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ✓ 2 Jan
2. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ✓ 3 Jan
3. An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn ✓ 6 Jan
4. Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ✓ 9 Jan
5. Chasing Danger by Katie Reus ✓ 26 Mar
6. Shattered Duty by Katie Reus ✓ 27 Mar
7. Edge of Danger by Katie Reus ✓ 28 Mar
8. Escaping Vegas by Danielle Bourdon ✓ 12 Apr
9. Seduce Me Tonight by Katherine Garbera ✓ 4 July
10. Betrayed by Your Kiss by Laura Landon ✓ 4 July
11. Wrong Number, Right Guy by Elle Casey ✓ 5 July
12.
13.
14.
15.

(hide spoiler)]