The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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WINTER CHALLENGE 2016
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Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD

Task #5.10 - Read a book of your choice. I read Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan.
Points this post: 5
Total points so far: 220

15.8 - Not-So-Secret (leavening) Agent

Points this post: 15
Books this post: 1
Totals
Points: 105
BB:1
GO:0
Total Tasks completed: 6
Total Books read: 6

10.9 Stories Say...
Read a book with a main page genre of mythology.
Sophocles II: Ajax/Women of Trachis/Electra/Philoctetes (Complete Greek Tragedies 4)
Fantasy>Mythology 30 users
total=145

15.1 Madly in Love with Me Day
Book 1: Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle from this list: me, myself, I, my, mine.
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock
Book 2: Read an autobiography or memoir.
Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew
total=160

20.4. Golden Oldies - Mhairi's Task: The Nightmare Before Christmas
I chose Option 2. I read The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris by John Baxter. "John" is on the linked list of names under "Full Forms: English."
20.9 - Moderator's pet - Heather (Gibby)'s Task: Celebrating Proofreading
I chose Option 1. I read Difficult Women by Roxane Gay. R and G are in PROOFREADING.
Previous point total: 90
New points this post: 20 + 20
Total points: 130
New tasks completed in this post: 2
Total tasks: 12
GO tickets this post: 0
Total GO: 1
Big Book tickets this post: 0
Total Big Books: 0

15.2 Celebrity Eye-roll
Book 1: Read a book with "night" found intact in a word in the book's title, subtitle, series title, or author's name.
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
Book 2: Read a book with "time" found intact in a word in the book's title, subtitle, series title, or author's name.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
total=175

Book 3 - Read a book with the main page genre classic(s).
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - 1/1/17 - MPG Classics>1407 users - 830p
Book 5 - Read a book with the main page genre historical fiction.
Dead Man's Ransom by Ellis Peters - 12/31/16 - MPG Historical fiction>158 users - 190p
Total pages - 1020
Points This Post - 30
Total Points - 355

15.7 - Tales of Middle-earth

15.8 - Not-So-Secret (leavening) Agent

15.9 - It's Summer Somewhere

Task 20.1 Most Improved Player - CynBaxter's Task: Christmas in the Caribbean
Option 1

20.2. Rookie at the Top - Justme's Task: Fun & Games
Option 2. Dungeons & Dragons

Total Points = 330

15.3 - Her Declaration of Independence
Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman one of the earliest works of feminist philosophy in January 1792.
Option 1, Read TWO books, one book 1 and one book 2.
Book 1: Read a book from this list of Popular Feminism Books
I read The Red Tent - Anita Diamant (on page 5)
Book 2: Read a book by a female author whose initials are found in MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT.
I read Pohutukawa Highway - Tammy Robinson
Points this post: 15
Total points so far: 35/1075
Tasks completed: 3
Books read so far: 4

20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Elizabeth P's Task: One or Two?
Option One: I or Eye? - Read a book that has 2 “I”s AND 2 “E”s in the title/subtitle - more than 2 of both/either are okay.
Le confessioni di Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer
(English edition: The Confessions of Max Tivoli)
2 “E”s + 5 "I"s
—
Points this Post: 20
Total Points: 70

5.4 Best Laid Plans I read American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans by Eve LaPlante, which fits task 5.5 Wood from the Fall challenge, with the word “American” in the title from the tree “American Beech,” # 7 on the list. (I had this queued up for last time, but never got around to it in the Fall – thank you for this task!)
30.4 Mazaii’s Readers Select 2 book option
Option 2. GR Choice Awards. I read Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien, a nominee in Historical Fiction 2016.
Option 3. 21 Brilliant Books. I read The Motion of Light in Water: Sex and Science Fiction Writing in the East Village, 1957-1965 by Samuel R. Delany.
Page numbers: Do Not Say We Have Nothing = 480 pp
The Motion of Light in Water: Sex and Science Fiction Writing in the East Village, 1957-1965 = 302 pp
Total = 782 pp > required 600
Points This Post: 35
Total Points So Far: 285

30.4 - Mazza1's Task - Readers Recommend
Book 1/Option 1: Scarlet
4.31 GR Rating.
Book 2/Option 2: The Hating Game
Nominee for Best Romance in the 2016 GR Choice Awards
Points this post: 30
Total points: 315
=======================
Tasks completed: 19
Books read: 28

10.9. Stories Say..............:
Read a book with a main page genre of mythology:
The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 3: Commercial Suicide by Kieron Gillen.
Points this post: 10
Total points: 170
Golden Oldies this post: 0
Total Golden Oldies: 0
Big Book Tickets this post: 0
Total Big Book Tickets:
BBooks - 500+: 1
BBooks - 750+: 0
BBooks - 1000+: 0

5.1 - The Ancients
Zadri - Erin Tate - ET in anciEnT
20.3. Best Review - Lorraine's Task: It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
Option C
Crossing Hearts - has a Feb 2017 pub date
Total this post: 25
Total overall: 355

15.3 Her Declaration of Independence
Option 2: Read one book that fulfills both option 1 Book A and Book B.
Book 1: Read a book from the list of Popular Feminism Books.
Book 2: Read a book by a female author whose initials are found in MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
page 1, book 1 on the list of Popular Feminism Books.
Margaret Atwood=MA from MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
15.4 To Tell the Truth
Book A: Read a book with a question mark "?" and/or one of these interrogative words: who, whose, whom, what, where, when, why, which, how, whether, whence in the title or subtitle.
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
Book B: Read a non-fiction book.
Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House by Sally Bedell Smith
total=205

15.5 B-I-N-G-O
Read a book where the first word of the title begins with a letter in Bingo.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
15.6 Multilingual
Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your native language.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
My native language is English; the original language of this book is French.
total=235

15.9 It's Summer Somewhere
Read a book from the list: Summer Beach Reads or with the word "Summer" in the title or subtitle.
Summer Beach Reads list page 1, #43
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
total=250

20.1 Most Improved Player - CynBaxter's Task: Christmas in the Caribbean
Option 1: Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word CARIBBEAN.
The Dark Place by Aaron Elkins
20.2 Rookie at the Top-Juste's Task: Fun & Games
Option 4: Volleyball
Read a book with a balloon or a ball on the cover.
Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

total=290

20.3 Best Review - Lorraine's Task: It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
Option A: Dickens
Read a book by Charles Dickens.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
total=310

Read a book by Shirley Jackson.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Points this post: 10
Points in total: 250
Tasks completed: 13
Golden Oldies: 1
Big Book tickets: 0

#10.10 – Got Your Lottery Ticket?
Task: Read a book about Shirley Jackson, a book by Shirley Jackson, or a book with the main page genre Horror.
Book: The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp....wow! What a ride!!
Points this post: 10 points
Total points to date = 255 points
BB tickets this post: 0
Total BB tickets to date: 2
GOLDEN OLDIE this post: 0
Total “GOLDIE” tickets to date: 1

#15.01 – Madly in Love With Me Day
Task: Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle from this list: me, myself, I, my, mine.
Book 1: Leave Me by Gayle Forman
Task: Read an autobiography or memoir- a nonfiction account of the author's own life or experiences.
Book 2: You Will Not Have My Hate by Antoine Leiris – repost from #811. I actually read the hardback edition, which is 131 pages, sorry about that. Didn't realize there was a link to a Russian version.
Points this post: 15 points
Total points to date = 245 points
BB tickets this post: 0
Total BB tickets to date: 2
GOLDEN OLDIE this post: 0
Total “GOLDIE” tickets to date: 1

25.9 - Is It Ancient, or Just a Classic?
• Option 3: author's first and last name initials can be found in CERTAMEN.
O homem que amava Yngve, by Tore Renberg (★★★)
Author's initials are TR and can be found in CE RT AMEN.
• Option 4: main page genre Humor or Funny.
A longa e sombria hora do chá da alma, by Douglas Adams (★★★)
_____________________________________________
Current Post
Points: 25
GO: -
BB: -
Total
Points: 45
GO: -
BB: -

White Fire by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
20.9 Moderator's pet - Heather (Gibby)'s Task: Celebrating Proofreading
Option 2: Red Death: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller
word: red; found on Heterographs I list, #5
Points this post: 30
Points total: 250
GO total: 0
BB total: 0
Tasks completed: 16
Books read: 17

25.5 - Sarah BR's Task: A Return to Stars Hollow
Option 3: Where you lead
Kill and Tell by Linda Howard
Song word: Tell
# of pages: 304
Option 4: Running gag
Unforgettable by Samantha Hunter
Explanation: Kirk starts a business (#53). Kit Riley starts her own business. Quote from the text: "Kit had started her business, cared for her mother, alone, when Erin had been too busy with the job".
# of pages: 224
Total page #: 529
~~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 25
Total Points: 125/1075
Total Books Read: 11
Tasks Completed: 8/60

10.2 - Ring, Sing, Bling?
Changeling Moon by Dani Harper
~~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 135/1075
Total Books Read: 12
Tasks Completed: 9/60

Task 30.4 Mazza1's Task - Readers Recommend
Option 1 Reader ratings - Book with an average rating above 4.24
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
**Rating of 4.26, approved in the Help thread.
Option 2 Awards Season - Book on the 2016 GR choice awards
A Great Reckoning
**Nominee for Mystery & Thriller category.
**Total pages (greater than 600) = 833 [444 (Lamb) + 389 (A Great Reckoning)]
Points this post: 30
GO: 0 / BB: 0
Total Points: 125
GO Total: 2 / BB Total: 1

20.2. Rookie at the Top - Justme's Task: Fun & Games
Option 1: Read a book that includes one of these words in the title/subtitle or series title: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades, Card, or Cards.
The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick
Points this post: 20
Total points: 20

Option 2: Dungeons & Dragons
Read a book with either a two word title in which both words begin with the same letter, or by an author with the same beginning letter for first & last name.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Siddhartha was first published in 1922, so I'd like to claim a Golden Oldie Ticket.
20.4. Golden Oldies - Mhairi's Task: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Option 1: Read a book with a skeleton, skull, or bones on the cover or one of these words in the title or subtitle. If you choose the "word in title/subtitle" option, plural/singular forms and possessives are allowed - no other variations.
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
25.7 - Dakimel’s task: Podcast Recommendations
This is a 1 or 2 book task, but you must read a total of at least 500 pages.
For this task, read a book or books found on any of these bookshelves. If reading two books, they may appear on the same bookshelf, or different bookshelves.
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt (624 pages)
Found here.
The Little Friend has 634 pages, so I'd like to claim 1 Big Book Ticket.
Points this post: 65
Total points: 175
Golden Oldies this post: 1
Total Golden Oldies: 4
Big Book Tickets this post: 1
Total Big Book Tickets: 4

10.6. More Following Through!
Warrior by Marie Brennan
Marie Brennan was new to me in 2016. I read A Natural History of Dragons in September 2016.
This post: 10 points
Total points: 180
Total BB: 2
Total GO: 2
Tasks completed: 15

Task # 20.6. Seasoned Reader – Nicola T's Task: Repos Production’s 7Wonders
Option 3: “The third age
Read a book where the title/subtitle contains the word guild or one of the following synonyms for guild: club

Points this post: 20
Total points: 180

10.3 They're Old - Historical Fiction as a main page genre
Murder on Gramercy Park by Victoria Thompson
Points
This post: 10
Total: 170
Dlmrose
5.2 - Location, Location, Location
Set in Iraq: The Sirens of Baghdad by Yasmina Khadra
5.9 - Listmaker
First published in 2005: Tamar: A Novel of Espionage, Passion, and Betrayal by Mal Peet
15.2 - Celebrity Eye-roll
Book 1, night: Five Nights in Paris: After Dark in the City of Light by John Baxter
Book 2, time: Dark Times in the City by Gene Kerrigan
total = 460
5.2 - Location, Location, Location
Set in Iraq: The Sirens of Baghdad by Yasmina Khadra
5.9 - Listmaker
First published in 2005: Tamar: A Novel of Espionage, Passion, and Betrayal by Mal Peet
15.2 - Celebrity Eye-roll
Book 1, night: Five Nights in Paris: After Dark in the City of Light by John Baxter
Book 2, time: Dark Times in the City by Gene Kerrigan
total = 460

Task # 15.6 - Multilingual
Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your native language

Points this post: 15
Total points:195

10.7 Rollin on the River. read a book with "environment," "ecology," "engineering," or "food" as a main page genre . The genre can be embedded as in "Food and Drink>Food.
Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South
10.8. On the Coast Read a book set at least 50% in one of these countries with a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea ... Turkey.
As the Poppies Bloomed set in Turkey
Task 30.4 - Mazza1's Task - Readers Recommend
I did the 2 book option.
Option 1 Reader Ratings Book with an average GR rating above 4.24
News of the World 224 pages (approved on 1/2/2017)
OPTION 2 – Awards Season
Read a book that features as a winner or nominee on the GR choice awards for 2016
America's First Daughter 580 pages
Nominee in Historical Fiction
Point this Post : 50
Total Points: 95
Tasks completed: 6

I read The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson. This book satisfies option C because it was originally published in August 2007.
I am claiming two Big Book tickets. This edition has 773 pages.
Points this post: 20
Total points: 75
Tasks complete: 4
Books read: 4
Golden Oldies: 0
Big Book Tickets: 3

Mainpage Fantasy: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Points = 15
Total Points = 95

Read two books, one from each of the following options. One of the books must be new to you, the other a re-read. In your completed task post, you must indicate which book is new and which is a re-read.
1. Read a book where at least 7 of the letters in CONSTRUCTION can be found in the title/subtitle. I read The Murder of King Tut This title has 2 T's, 2 R's, 1 U, 1 N, and 1 I, which is 7 letters from the word CONSTRUCTION:
2. Read a non-fiction book with the main page genre engineering or history. I read White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America. This book is new to me.
Points: 130
Books read: 11
Tasks completed: 9
Tasks in progress: 1
GO: 2
Pages read: 3552

20.1. Most Improved Player - CynBaxter's Task: Christmas in the Caribbean
Option 1 - author's initials in C ARI B BEAN. Blake Crouch
Good Behavior
Blake Crouch
Paperback, 270 pages 1/1
Points this post: 20
Total points: 320
Books posted: 33
Tasks complete: 31
Pages this post: 270
Total pages as of this post: 9988

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - 1/01/17 - MPG Fantasy>Mythology>3,957 users
15.3 - Her Declaration of Independence
Book 1 - Read a book from this list of Popular Feminism Books
My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem - 12/13/16 - page 1
Book 2 - Read a book by a female author whose initials are found in MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT.
Carry the One by Carol Anshaw - 1/02/17 - MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
Points This Post - 25
Total Points - 380

5.10- Your Own 8th Wonder
For this task, I read “Ticket to India” by N.H. Senzai. It’s not found in ARBookFinder.
10.3.They're Old!
For this task, I read “X: A Novel” by Ilyasah Shabazz since it has the genre Historical Fiction on its main Goodreads page.
15.1 - Madly in Love With Me Day
Book 1 - For this task, I read “There You'll Find Me” by Jenny B. Jones since it has the word ME in the title.
Book 2 - For this task, I read “Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition” by Katie Rain Hill since its an autobiography.
Here’s the summary:
Points Earned this Challenge: 30
Total Points Earned to Date: 30
Pages Read this Challenge: 1380
Total Pages Read to Date: 1380
Books Read this Challenge: 4
Total Books Read: 4

Third time might be a charm...
Re-posting Big book 581 pages
20.5. Bigger is Better - Loafer's Task: The Long and Short of It
Option One: Found on page 2 of list
Invisible Man


20.3. Best Review - Lorraine's Task: It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
Option: 3 Lucky Seven

Published in 2007
Points this post: 20
Books this post: 1
Totals
Points: 125
BB:1
GO:0
Total Tasks completed: 7
Total Books read: 7

task 15.9 It's Summer Somewhere #88 on page 1
Big Little Lies
points this task: 15
total tasks completed: 4
total points: 55

Out of Nowhere by Roan Parrish
R & P are found in PRoofreading
30.1 Good Things Come in Pairs
Option Three:


Post Total: 50
Grand Total: 180

Task 20.4. Golden Oldies - Mhairi's Task: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Option 1: skull on cover

Task 25.1 - Andy P.'s task: Bookends
Book 1: Author 1st letter of 1st name = Last letter of Last name
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Book 2: Title 1st letter of 1st word = Last letter of Last word
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Points this post: 45
Total points: 165
Tasks completed: 8
Books read: 9
Big Books: 500=0, 750=1, 1000=0
Golden Oldie tickets: 0
10.7. Rollin on the River
I read Kitchens of the Great Midwest. Food and Drink>Food is the second main page genre.
15.4 - To Tell the Truth
I chose option 2, the one book option and read Why the Right Went Wrong: Conservatism--From Goldwater to the Tea Party and Beyond. The title contains the interrogative word "why" and is non-fiction.
20.3. Best Review - Lorraine's Task: It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
I chose option C, and read Nefertiti, first published in 2007.
Points this post: 45
Total points: 290
I read Kitchens of the Great Midwest. Food and Drink>Food is the second main page genre.
15.4 - To Tell the Truth
I chose option 2, the one book option and read Why the Right Went Wrong: Conservatism--From Goldwater to the Tea Party and Beyond. The title contains the interrogative word "why" and is non-fiction.
20.3. Best Review - Lorraine's Task: It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
I chose option C, and read Nefertiti, first published in 2007.
Points this post: 45
Total points: 290

30.3 - Daphne's Task: Atlas Obscura
1) For this option, read a book with one of 55 words for snow in the title or subtitle. This list is from FIFTY-FIVE ENGLISH WORDS FOR SNOW.
Water Bound 480 pages
WATER= melted snow
4)

Approved in Help Thread #26
480 + 371 = 851 pages
Points this post:30
Total Points:165
Books read:13
Tasks Done: 11

pages containing a 1 or 2
520 pages
Replica by Lauren Oliver
Claiming One BB ticket over 500 pgs
10.2. Ring, Sing, Bling?
A word in the Title ends in -ing
A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn
20.1. Most Improved Player
Option #1: Read a book whose author's* initials can be found in the word CARIBBEAN.
The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry
Points this post: 35
BB Books this post: 1
Points in total:60
BB:1
GO:0
Tasks completed:5
Books read:5
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Road to Hell (other topics)A Plain & Fancy Christmas (other topics)
Lord of the Flies (other topics)
'Til the World Ends (other topics)
Unconditional (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Cynthia Keller (other topics)Dexter Palmer (other topics)
Thomas Siddell (other topics)
Jacob M. Appel (other topics)
Kate Williams (other topics)
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20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Justme's Task: Fun & Games
Option 3: Me, Myself and Why? - Mary Janice Davidson (#1 in series, starts with M) 1/1
*****************
20.6 - Seasoned Reader – Nicola T's Task: Repos Production’s 7Wonders
Option 1: Off Kilter - Hannah Reed 1/1
Task Help Question & Approval
********************
25.7 - Dakimel’s task: Podcast Recommendations
Book 1: The Girl from Everywhere - Heidi Heilig (464 pages) 12/25
From: Books & Boba Podcast bookshelf
Book 2: The Likeness - Tana French (466 pages) 12/30
From: Overdue Podcast bookshelf
Totals for Challenge
Points this Post: 65
Total Points: 175