The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
WINTER CHALLENGE 2016
>
Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD

20.10 group reads
Homegoing
Just commented on the discussion thread, looks like I was the first one to comment. Wonderful book.
points this task:20
Total points: 60

10.3 They're Old! UPDATE
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
**I forgot to specify that this is a Golden Oldie book

5.4 - Best Laid Plans
Required: When you post, indicate which Fall 2016 task you are using, and include any information required by the task.
I am using 5.2-Cotton from the Fall Challenge for this task
5.2 - Cotton
Read a book set at least 50% in one of these top 5 cotton-producing US states: Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina or top five cotton-producing countries: China, India, Pakistan, Brazil or Uzbekistan
Hard Row by Margaret Maron
Total Points-45/1075
Completed Tasks-3/60
GO Books (1)
Big Books 500-750 pages (); 750+pages()
5.8 Full Moon
-read a book with Night in the title.
read Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
10.4. Fire and Ice
Read a book with all letters of FIRE and of ICE found in the book’s title/subtitle/author name.
read The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn a David Levithan.
F in of, I, in lily R and E in Rachel, I in Levitathan and C in Rachel and E in Twelve.
10.7. Rollin on the River
read a book with "food" as a main page genre .
read The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Wizards and Non-Wizards Alike by Dinah Bucholz
20.5. Bigger is Better - Loafer's Task: The Long and Short of It
used option 2
Read a book that is a collection of short stories or essays.
read
Doctor Who: Twelve Doctors of Christmas by Jacqueline Rayner
total points 45
-read a book with Night in the title.
read Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
10.4. Fire and Ice
Read a book with all letters of FIRE and of ICE found in the book’s title/subtitle/author name.
read The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn a David Levithan.
F in of, I, in lily R and E in Rachel, I in Levitathan and C in Rachel and E in Twelve.
10.7. Rollin on the River
read a book with "food" as a main page genre .
read The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Wizards and Non-Wizards Alike by Dinah Bucholz
20.5. Bigger is Better - Loafer's Task: The Long and Short of It
used option 2
Read a book that is a collection of short stories or essays.
read
Doctor Who: Twelve Doctors of Christmas by Jacqueline Rayner
total points 45

#15.08 – Not-So-Secret (leavening) Agent
Task: Read a book where ALL the letters N A H C O O O (3 O’s) are found in any combination of title, subtitle and author’s name.
Book: The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle
Points this post: 15 points
Total points to date = 75 points
BB tickets this post: 0
Total BB tickets to date: 0
GOLDEN OLDIE this post: 0
Total “GOLDIE” tickets to date: 1

10.4 Fire and Ice
Christmas Eve at Friday HarborLisa Kleypas
F, I, R in Friday, E in Eve, I and C in Christmas and second E in Eve.
Tasks Completed: 1
Books Read: 1
Big Books: 0
Golden Oldies: 0
Task Points: 10
Grand Total: 10/1250

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.
Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
Points this post: 20
Total points (not including this post): 0

The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber - no L in title or author name
Task points 10
Total points 25

5.5 - December, January, February
Read a book with the number of pages as listed on Goodreads that includes the number 1 or 2.
People of Darkness, Tony Hillerman (282pg)
Points this Task: 5
Books Read: 1
Golden Oldie/Big Book: No
Total Points: 130
Tasks Completed: 7
Golden Oldies: 1
Big Books: 1 (500+ x 1)

5.1 - The Ancients
Read a book by an author whose first and last name initials can be found in the word ANCIENT
Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind A & C of Anne Charnock
5.2 Location Location Location
Read a book set at least 50% in a location of an ancient wonder: Egypt, Iraq, Greece, Turkey.
Black Butterflies
Set 100% in Greece which is one of the listed countries and is identified as the setting on goodreads data
5.3 Sole Survivor
Of the ancient seven wonders, only one, the Great Pyramid, exists today. Read a book that is number 1 in a series. It must be identified as #1 in a series in the Goodreads metadata (series #1).
The Scavenger's Daughters
Identified on goodreads as #1 in the tales of the Scavengers daughters series
5.4. Best Laid plans
Didn't quite finish last time? Read a book that fits one of the Fall 2016 5, 10 or 15 point tasks. You may not use Task 5.10 or 15.2 option A. You may use a single book A or B option from tasks 15.1, 15.2B, 15.3, 15.4.
For Renata
Fits 5.4. Fall 2016 Read a book by an author whose first and last name initials are found in the 4th wedding anniversary flower CRANESBILL GERANIUM. Letters may only be used as often as they appear in the words- 1: BCGMSU 2:AEILNR. Spaces determine names. One qualifying contributor in a book by multiple authors works.
B. and S used
5.5. December January February
December is the 12th month, January is the 1st and February is the 2nd. Read a book with the number of pages as listed on Goodreads that includes the number 1 or 2.
Strip Jack
which has 269 pages and so contains a 2
5.6. Read a book written by an author named “Nicholas” or any of the related names found at Behind the Name- Nicholas such as Nick, Colin, Nils, Nicole, Colette.
Tigerman Author NICK Harkaway
5.7 Long Long ago
Read a book from Popular Ancient books list
Death Comes as the End
features on page 3
Claiming a Golden oldie ticket for Death comes as the End by Agatha Christie book published in October 1944
5.8 Native American tribes kept track of time by observing the lunar months. Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle from the names used by various tribes to describe the winter season’s moons: long, night, cold, wolf, old, snow, hunger. Plurals, possessives and word variations that preserve the meaning of the word such as hungry work.
Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries word used = SNOW
5.9 The Seven Wonders were first defined by Philo of Byzantium in 225 BCE. Read a book that was FIRST published in a year that contains the numbers 2 AND 5 such as 1952, 2005 or 2015.
The Jolly Coroner: A Picaresque Novel
First published November 2nd 2015 according to Goodreads Data
5.10 Your own 8th Wonder
Read a book of your choice
A Christmas Carol
I would like to claim a Golden Oldie ticket for A christmas Carol by Charles Dickens which was first published in 1843
Points this post ~ 50
Total Points ~ 50
Tasks Completed ~ 10
Books Read This Season ~ 10
Golden Oldies Tickets = 2
BB ticket = 0

Task 20.4. Golden Oldies - Mhairi's Task: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Option 2: Thunder in Europe by John Creasey (John is on the list of names)
This book was first published in 1936 so claiming one GO ticket.
This post: 20 points
Total points: 65
Total BB:
Total GO: 1
Tasks completed: 6

Help Thread
Read a book written by an author whose first and last name initials can be found in ANCIENT.
I read The A.B.C. Murders. By Agatha Christie. "A" and "C" are in the word "ancient." This book is a************ "Golden Oldie"************as it was published in 1936.
Points: 40
books read: 4
tasks completed: 4
Golden Oldies: 1
pages read: 1164

Read a book where ALL the letters N A H C O O O (3 O’s) are found in any combination of title, subtitle and author’s name.
Beautiful Losers
Beautiful Losers – Leonard Cohen
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.
Magic Bleeds
ILONA ANDREWS – IA appear in Caribbean
20.6. Seasoned Reader – Nicola T's Task: Repos Production’s 7Wonders
Option 2: “The second age”
The resources are: glass, paper and cloth. Requirements: Read a book with at least one of these 3 resources found intact in the title/subtitle or featured on the cover.

There is a broken glass mirror on the cover. Pre-approved in message 16 of the help thread.
The books I read is a publisher's advance copy.
Points This Post: 55
Total Points: 55
Tasks Completed: 3
Books Read: 3
Big Book Tickets: 0
Golden Oldies Tickets: -

10.5 Noel!
Read a book with NO "L" in the title/subtitle and NO "L" in the author name.
Unbound, Jim C Hines
Read the kindle edition. PB reference link here
Points this Task: 10
Books Read: 1
Golden Oldie/Big Book: No
Total Points: 140
Tasks Completed: 8
Golden Oldies: 1
Big Books: 1 (500+ x 1)

5.8 - Full Moon
Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle from the names used by various tribes to describe the winter season’s moons: long, night, cold, wolf, old, snow, hunger.
Wild Wolf by Jennifer Ashley (has Wolf in the title)
Points this post: 5
Total points: 5
Golden Oldies this post: 0
Total Golden Oldies: 0
Big Book Tickets this post: 0
Total Big Book Tickets: 0

15.3 - Her Declaration of Independence
Option 2, Read ONE book that fulfills both option 1 Book A and Book B.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Option A: Found on page 1 of the list of Popular Feminism Books AND Option B: The authors initials are found in MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
Points this post: 15
Total points: 20
Golden Oldies this post: 0
Total Golden Oldies: 0
Big Book Tickets this post: 0
Total Big Book Tickets: 0

Completed Tasks
10.2. Ring, Sing, Bling?
Word ending in -ing in title
Audio edition I listened to: The Ring and the Crown
Most popular PB edition: The Ring and the Crown
10.5. Noel!
No L in title, subtitle, author name
Kindle edition I read: Head In The Sand by Damien Boyd
Most popular PB edition: Head In The Sand
15.10 - The Plane! The Plane!
Aircraft on cover

Book cover is for the Kindle edition I read. MMPB: Thunder One
**POINT SUMMARY**
Previous Points Earned: 0
Points Earned this Post: 35
Total Points To Date: 35

Book that would have satisfied a Fall 2016 SRC 5, 10 or 15 point task
FALL TASK – 5.4: FLOWERS - Author first & last initial in CRANESBILL GERANIUM - E.M
Ed McBain / Money, Money, Money
Task 15.9 – It’s Summer Somewhere
Option 2 – word “summer” in title
Summer ✔ – 06Dec16
+++ GOLDEN OLDIE +++ – 1st published 1917
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This Post: 20 points
Total points to date: 30 points
Golden Oldies (pub 1950 or earlier): 1
Big Books Read: (0) 500 pg / (0) 750 pg / (0) 1000 pg
Total Big Book TICKETS: 0

15.7 - Tales of Middle-earth
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - 12/13/16
Points this post: 15
Total points: 15

20.9 Celebrating Proofreading
Option 3: book with a main page genre of Christmas or holiday
The Christmas Cat by various authors
Points
this post: 20
Total: 75

10.2. Ring, Sing, Bling?
Watch The Wall, My Darling
Points this post:10
Total Points:80
Books read: 7
Tasks Done: 7

#5.10 – Your Own 8th Wonder
Task: Read a book of your choice.
Book 1: The Dispossessed by Szilárd Borbély
Points this post: 5 points
Total points to date = 80 points
BB tickets this post: 0
Total BB tickets to date: 0
GOLDEN OLDIE this post: 0
Total “GOLDIE” tickets to date: 1

15.7 - Tales of Middle-earth
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
~~~
Points this post: 15
Total points: 15

5.3 - Sole Survivor - Read a book that is number 1 in a series. It must be identified as #1 in a series in the Goodreads metadata (series #1).
Murder Offstage (Posie Parker Mystery #1)
Points this task: 05
Total points: 250
Golden Oldies ticket requests: 3
Big Book ticket requests: 0
Books read: 18
Tasks completed: 16

task 10.6
The Exterminators, Vol. 1: Bug Brothers
I discovered Simon Oliver in 2016 by accidentally reading volume 4 first. I loved to have the opportunity to start at the beginning of his series this year.
>10 points
task 20.5
option 2, short stories: Me Talk Pretty One Day
because it has the genre 'essays'
>20 points
task 20.9
option 1: Afrodite. Histórias, Receitas e Outros Afrodisíacos by Isabel Allende, both the I and the A of her name is present in PROOFREADING
>points: 20
TOTAL
>80 points
task 30.1:
option 1, I read (approved in message 27)
Deadly Class, Vol. 1: Reagan Youth and part 2:
Deadly Class, Vol. 2: Kids of the Black Hole
>30 points

5.4 - Best Laid Plans
A book that fits one of the Fall 2016 5, 10 or 15 point tasks.
Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb -- Fits Fall 2016 task 15.2 B: a book that you added to your TBR, purchased, were given, added to your e-reader, etc., during June, July, or August 2016; Added to my TBR on August 15, 2016
Points This Post: 5
Big Book Tickets This Post: 0
Golden Oldies This Post: 0
Total Points: 75
Total Big Book Tickets: 0
Total Golden Oldies: 0

Read a book that is number 1 in a series.
Sutler paperback version
I read Sutler (Enhanced Edition)
#1 in The Kills Series
15.7 - Tales of Middle-earth
Read a book with a main page genre that contains “Fantasy”
The Colour of Magic
20.10 - Group Reads.
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
Comment # 11
Total Points this post: 40
Total Challenge Points: 55

10.2. Ring, Sing, Bling?
Read a book with a word in the title/subtitle ending in “ing.” No variations allow
Reclaiming by Sean Michael
e-book length verification found here (Message #5954)
15.8 - Not-So-Secret (leavening) Agent
Read a book where ALL the letters N A H C O O O (3 O’s) are found in any combination of title, subtitle and author’s name.
Oracle's Moon by Thea Harrison
N: mooN
A: orAcles
H: Harrison
C: oraCles
O: mOon
O: moOn
O: Oracles
Points this post: 25
Total points: 45

5.5 - December, January, February
Read a book with the number of pages as listed on Goodreads that includes the number 1 or 2.
Leopard's Fury by Christine Feehan 352 pages
Points this post: 5
Total points: 50

10.1. Let's Follow Up
Rowing Without Oars: A Memoir of Living and Dying - found on the listopia
Total this post: 10
Total overall: 85

Task 5.3 - Sole Survivor
Book that is #1 in a series
The Importance of Being Alice by Katie MacAlister
Points this Post: 5
Total Points: 65
Total Tasks: 7
Golden Oldies: 0
Big Books: 1
Total Books: 7

5.4: Best Laid Plans
---a book from last season
My chosen task was 10.6 - read a book with 2 words in the title that end with the same three letters
The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan: Boost Brain Performance, Lose Weight, and Achieve Optimal Health
-my words: grain and brain
-------------------------------------------------------------
5.6: Jolly Old St Nicholas
---author's name a variation of Nicholas
Everything, Everything
by Nicola Yoon
------------------------------------------------------------
10.3: They're Old!
---historical fiction mpg
Attack the Lusitania!
-----------------------------------------------------------
10.7: Rollin on the River
---FOOD as mpg
8 Weeks to Optimum Health
approved in msg. #2 of help thread
------------------------------------------------------------
10.8: On the Coast
---a book set in a coastal country of the Mediterranean Sea
The Power of Six
set in Spain
------------------------------------------------------------
15.1: Madly in Love With Me Day
Book 1: me, myself, I, etc.
Writing My Wrongs
Book 2: an autobiography
Everything Is Possible: Finding the Faith and Courage to Follow Your Dreams
by Jen Bricker
------------------------------------------------------------
15.5: B-I-N-G-O!
---first title word begins with B I N G or O
Orbiting Jupiter
------------------------------------------------------------
20.1: Most Improved Player - CynBaxter's Task: Christmas in the Caribbean
---opt. 1: author's initials in CARIBBEAN
Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd
by Alan Bradley
-----------------------------------------------------------
20.6: Seasoned Reader – Nicola T's Task: Repos Production’s 7Wonders
---opt. 1: a book with the word 'stone' intact, in title
Brimstone
-------------------------------------------------------------
20.10: Group Read
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
my 2 cents can be found in msg. #3 of the discussion thread
============================================
Points this Post: 130
Challenge TOTAL: 260

15.6 Originally printed in Swedish The Last Lullaby, my native language is Greek
15.9
Three Sisters, no 43 (page 1) in the list Summer Beach Reads
Points this post: 30
Total points: 30+50=80

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 .
Book Read : Vienna Assignment

Points this post: 20
Points in total : 20

Task: Task 20.6. Seasoned Reader – Nicola T's Task: Repos Production’s 7Wonders
Option 1: Stone in Title
Stone in the Sky
Points this post:20
Total points:55
Tasks completed:4
Books read:4
Golden Oldies:0
Big Books:0

20.2, Option 2; Author with same initial for first and last
Read The Edge by Catherine Coulter
Points: 20
Total: 25

5.5 Dec Jan Feb Book has the digit 1 or 2 in its page numbering – I read The Collapse of the ConfederacyMark Grimsley and Brooks Simpson, eds., with 201 pages
5.10 The 8th Wonder I read Lighthead by Terrance Hayes, a book of my choice. At 90 pages, this is the one 80-100 page book allowed in the 5 pointers section.
10.6 More Follow Thru Last Winter I read bell hooks for the first time (We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity read on Jan. 7, 2016: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... ). For this challenge I read her book, Killing Rage: Ending Racism.
Points This Post: 20
Total Points So Far: 120

Number One in a Series
Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige
20.5.Bigger is Better - Loafer's Task: The Long and Short of It
Option 2 A Short Story or Essay Collection
Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes
Points this post: 25
Points in total:25
BB:0
GO:0
Tasks completed:2
Books read:2

10.6 More Following Through! Another book by an author you first read in 2016
The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan
*She is a new author for me in 2016. I read What She Knew in March.
Points
This post: 10
Total: 85

15.6 - Multilingual
Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your native language.
Time Heals No Wounds, Hendrik Falkenberg
Original title: Die Zeit heilt keine Wunden
The book was originally written in German - my native language is English
Read the kindle edition. PB reference link here
Points this Task: 15
Books Read: 1
Golden Oldie/Big Book: No
Total Points: 155
Tasks Completed: 9
Golden Oldies: 1
Big Books: 1 (500+ x 1)

Polska Dotty: Carp in the Bathtub, Throttled Buglers, and Other Tales of an Englishman in Poland by Jonathan Lipman
F in oF
I in In
R in caRp
E in thE
I in the 2nd In
C in Carp
E in Englishman
Points this post: 10
Points in total: 145
Tasks completed: 8
Golden Oldies: 1
Big Book tickets: 0

30.9 - Catherine T's Task: Construction Wonders
1. Read a book where at least 7 of the letters in CONSTRUCTION can be found in the title/subtitle.
Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Letters:
C 1
O 2
N 1
S 1
T 1
I 1
This author/book is new to me.
2 . Read a non-fiction book with the main page genre engineering or history.
Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson
This book is a reread.
Points this post: 30
Total points: 60
Task this post:1
Total Tasks: 2
Golden Oldies this post: 0
Total Golden Oldies: 0
Big Book Tickets this post: 0
Total Big Book Tickets:
BBooks - 500+: 0
BBooks - 750+: 0
BBooks - 1000+: 0

20.10 - Group Reads
Read a book from the group reads list.
I chose Opposites Attract.
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 65
Tasks Completed: 4
Books Read: 4

Task # 5.3 - Sole Survivor
Read a book that is number 1 in a series.

Points this post: 5
Total points: 75

Task # 10.5. Noel!
Read a book with NO "L" in the title/subtitle and NO "L" in the author name.

Points this post: 10
Total points: 85

Historical Fiction
The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell
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
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

1 x Golden Oldies Tix (pub. 1866)
1 x Bigger is Better Tix (564 pages)
Total this Post: 30
Golden Oldies: 1
Bigger is Better: 1
Season Total: 90

5.4 - Best Laid Plans - Didn't quite finish last time? Read a book that fits one of the Fall 2016 5, 10 or 15 point tasks. You may not use Task 5.10 or 15.2 option A. You may use a single book A or B option from tasks 15.1, 15.2B, 15.3, 15.4.
Using Fall Task 15.1 A for this task: Read a book with one of the words for autumn/fall in its title/subtitle. Fall Descriptive Words.
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
The word "amber" is on the list of Fall Descriptive Words.
From ARBookFinder (due to the Children's designation):
IL: UG - BL: 6.7 - AR Pts: 26.0
[POINTS]
This Post: 5
Total Points: 30
Books Read: 4
Completed Tasks: 4

10.6 More Following Through!
One of the authors I read for the first time in 2016 was Robin Hobb so I read
Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
10.9 Stories Say……
Book with main page genre 'mythology' ( as verified )
Beowulf
15.3 Her Declaration of Independence
Option 2 Book from page 3 (toward the bottom) of popular feminist books by a female author whose initials are in Mary wollStonecroft
The Complete Persepolisby Marjane Satrapi
This post 35 points
Total to date 80 points

The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson - 12/15/16 - Almost entirely set in Egypt as shown on book's main page.
Points This Post - 5
Total Points - 105
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
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)
More...
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)
More...
Date: December 13, 2016
Task 20.3. Best Review - Lorraine's Task: It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
Option A: Dickens
A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, claiming one GO ticket
Task 20.9 Moderator's pet - Heather (Gibby)'s Task: Celebrating Proofreading
Option 3: Christmas Letters
Points this post: 40
Points to date: 90
GO Tickets: 1
BB tickets: 0