Sue L.'s 2017 Challenge List

[Sue]

I'm a bit late to joining the challenge, but it's too interesting to pass up! I'm listing the questions and answers below so any new books I start can go towards the challenge (like the two library books I just received this week). I'll add the books I'm reading as I figure them out!

1. What is your name? (First, Last, Middle, Nickname)
Answer – Sue Michaelle – Peanut
Read a book that contains one of your names in some way – author, title, character.
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2. What is your favourite sport?
Answer – Football
Read a book that is either about your favourite sport or one of the characters plays that sport. You could also chose a book where the cover shows that sport.
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3. What colour are your eyes?
Answer – Brown
Read a book where the colour of your eyes is the main colour of the cover, or the word is in the title.
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4. Have you ever had a broken bone?
Answer – yes
If yes, read a book with the word “Bone” in the title. If no, read a book about archeology (the character may be an archeologist, the book may be set in a museum, etc)
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5. What is your favourite movie?
Answer – When Harry Met Sally
If the movie is an adaptation, read the book that inspired the movie. Or, read a book that is written by the same author. Or, read a book that has the same title. If the movie is not an adaptation, read a book with a similar theme or has the same title.
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6. What is your favourite book? – Read it again. Or, read a book that has the same title. Or read a book by the same author. If you can’t find the same title, or the author only has the one book, go to the book page and click on “Readers Also Enjoyed”. Select a book from the list.
Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy
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7. Pick a number between 1 and 10.
Answer - 8
Select a series and read the book that corresponds to that number. Or, read a book with the number in the title.
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8. What is your favourite holiday?
Answer - Halloween
Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title.
Book - Hallowe'en Party
Finished: March 13th

9. What is your relationship status?
Answer – Married
Read a book with that word in the title, or where the main character or author shares that status. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will be representative?
Book - Wife by Wednesday
Finished: June 3rd


10. Are you right or left handed?
Answer – Right
Read a book with that word in the title.
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11. What is your birthday month?
Answer – March
Read a book with the selected month in the title, or set during that month.
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12. Do you have a pet?
Answer – Yes, Dog (Zeus)
Read a book featuring that type of pet. Or, read a book with that pet in the title.
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13. What is your favourite type of food?
Answer – Italian
Read a book set in the country or region of choice. (Chinese – set in China, Italian – set in Italy, etc.) If you chose a type of food that is not specific to a country, what region would you find it prevalent? Read a book set in that region. For example – Seafood would be prevalent in the coastal areas of Canada, United States, among others.
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14. What is something you use daily?
Answer – Moisturizer
Read a book with that word in the title. Or, is on the cover. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will represent that item?
Book - Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy
Finished 7/10/17


15. What is your shoe size? (No halves; roll up to next number)
Answer – 8
Select that number of books on your TBR, put them into the Fruit Machine (or another randomizer), and read the one that is selected.
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16. What is your favourite Ice cream flavour?
Answer – Cookie Dough
Read a book that either represents that flavour by the colour of the cover, or in the title. You may also chose a book that represents that flavour in some way.
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17. What is your country of birth?
Answer – USA
Read a book set in that country, or written by an author that was also born in that country.
Book - The Whole Town's Talking
Finished 2/18/17


18. What is your favourite season?
Answer – Fall
Read a book with either the season in the title, or set in that season.
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19. What is your current desk top picture?
Answer – A picture of a Japanese garden from the Huntington Library
Interpret that desk top picture any way you like. Read a book that represents that interpretation. For example, mine is a magnified picture of a frozen soap bubble. I could interpret it as ice, or alien landscape, or bubble. I could read a book with “Ice” in the title, a book set on an alien planet, or has bubbles on the cover. The gophering could be endless on this one.
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20. What is your preferred mode of transport?
Answer – Bicycle
Read a book with your selection on the cover, or in the title, or it plays a significant role in the book.
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21. How many candles were on your last birthday cake?
Answer – 50
Go to your TBR and order the shelf by number. Read the book that corresponds to your answer. If you picked “none” or “zero” as your answer, your number will be 100.
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22. Have you been in an accident?
Answer – yes
If yes, read a book set in a hospital, or with the word “accident” in title. If no, read a book that is a thriller, in which an accident is a high probability.
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23. Do you prefer a shower or bath?
Answer – Shower
Read a book with your selected word in the title, or depicted on the cover.
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24. Name a place you’d like to visit.
Answer – Italy
Read a book set in that location.
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25. What is your favourite genre?
Answer – Romance
Read a book in that genre.
Book - Once a Rancher

26. Do you prefer a car or truck?
Answer – Car
Read a book with your selection on the cover or in the title.
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27. Do you have a tattoo?
Answer – No
Read a book that represents your tattoo in some way. For example, if you have a tattoo of a rose, your book choice could have a rose on the cover, in the title, or a proper name of the author or character. If you don’t have a tattoo, read a book with a tattoo on the cover, or represents a tattoo that you would want if you were to get one.
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28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary?
Answer – Contemporary
If Classic, read a book published in 1800 – 1899. If Contemporary, read a book published in 2000 – 2017.
Book - The One-in-a-Million Boy

29. What is your favourite flower?
Answer – Rose
Read a book with that selection on the cover or in the title. Or, read a book that you feel represents that flower in some way.
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30. Have you been to Europe?
Answer – No
Read a book set in that location. If you haven’t been to Europe, read a book set in a European country you would like to visit.
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31. If you could meet anyone famous, infamous, notorious… who would it be?
Answer – Michelle Obama
Read a biography, autobiography, memoir, or historical fiction about that person. Or, read a book that is representative of that person.
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32. What is the feature you are most often complimented on?
Answer – My hair
Read a book with that feature on the cover or in the title.
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33. Would you rather encounter a ghost, an alien, or neither?
Answer – Ghost
If ghost, read a ghost story. If alien, read a story with aliens in it. If neither, read a book about another supernatural being other than a ghost or alien (werewolf, vampire, witch, succubus, etc).
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34. What is your favourite animal (other than domestic pets)?
Answer – Tiger
Read a book with that creature on the cover, in the title, or in the story.
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35. What type of holiday do you prefer? (Beach, Mountain, Camping, exotic, etc)
Answer – Camping (hiking)
Read a book in that setting or that represents your choice.
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36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be?
Answer – Smell (but I really wouldn’t like to lose any!)
Read a book with that word in the title, or read a book where a character is afflicted by that same loss.
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37. Who is your favourite author?
Answer – Margaret Atwood
Read either a book by that author, or a book recommended by that author.
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38. Do you prefer tea, coffee, or water?
Answer – Coffee
If tea or coffee, read a book with the word in the title, or set in a country where that beverage is a huge export (ie China for tea, Brazil for coffee). If water, read a book with the word in the title, or set on/near a large body of water.
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39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing
Answer – Aquamarine
Read a book with that gemstone on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that gemstone is the colour of the cover.
Book - Against All Odds
Finished: July 8th

40. What is your favourite fruit?
Answer – Blackberries
Read a book with that fruit on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that fruit is the colour of the cover.
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41. Issue you are passionate about (abortion, euthanasia, animal rights… etc)
Answer – Equal rights for all
Read a book where this issue is prominent or is represented in some way. It may be fiction or non-fiction.
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42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea?
Answer – Undersea
Read a book in that setting.
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43. To what time period would you like to time travel?
Answer – 1960s
Read a book either set in that time period, or published in that time period. Or, read a book about time travel where the character’s time travelled to that period.
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44. Do you prefer shoes or bare feet?
Answer – While I love shoes, I prefer to be barefoot!
Read a book where your selection is on the cover or in the title, or get creative and find a book that represents your choice.
Book - Suddenly One Summer

45. Do you prefer green or black olives? Neither?
Answer – Neither
Read a book with either a predominantly green or black cover depending on your answer. If you said “neither”, read a book with a predominantly white cover. Aim for at least 75% of the cover so that when you look at the cover, it screams green, black or white depending on your choice.
Book - Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace
Finished: March 5th

46. What is your Zodiac sign?
Answer – Pisces
This one is wide open. Read a book that represents your zodiac sign in some way. Mine is Sagittarius (the archer). I could read a book with Sagittarius in the title, Archer in the title, author named Archer, bow and arrow on the cover, horse on the cover, a Western with Indians (bow & arrow).
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47. What is your height in inches?
Answer – 63.5
Go to your TBR shelf and sort by number. Read the book that matches your answer. If you don’t have that many books on your TBR, select a listopia on a topic you are interested and read the book with the corresponding number to your height.
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48. Who is someone you miss?
Answer – My Grandmother
Read a book that represents that person in some way. I miss my mother, so I could read a book with “Mother” in the title, a biography of Mother Theresa, where the main character is a mother, a book with a mother holding her baby on the cover, etc.
Book - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Finished: March 1st

49. What is your hobby?
Answer – Knitting
Read a book that represents that hobby in some way.
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50. What language would you like to learn to speak?
Answer – Italian
Read a book that was translated from that language to one you do speak. Or, chose a book where a character speaks that language. For example, if you chose Gaelic, you could read any of the books in the Outlander series.
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[Janice, Moderator]

Welcome to YLTO and the challenge. I hope you enjoy it, and that you'll try out our other activities.

I have a dog named Zeus. Well, my ex has him. He's an Alaskan Malamute and is way too big for the city let alone an apartment. He's better off with my ex, out in the country.

There are several of us wanting to visit the 1960's so you're welcome to hop on the magic bus with us.

[Sue]

Thank you! Our Zeus is half Australian Shepard and half German Shepard. He has most of the traits of an Aussie though.

I will have to check the threads for the magic bus suggestions!!

[Peggy]

Welcome Sue! A fellow March birthday girl :)

You are very passionate about Italy! I love the food and the country too.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've forgotten who all is wanting to visit the 60's. My memory is good. It's just short. :)

[Sue]

My grandparents on my father's side were from Italy. I didn't realize how much that influences me until I filled out the survey!

[Sue]

I've finished my first book for the challenge! I started with the easiest one to find.

1/12
Q.17 - What is your country of birth?
Answer – USA
Book - The Whole Town's Talking
Finished 2/18/17

This story is about the founding of a town, Elmwood Springs, Missouri, and how the founders' families grow and change throughout the years.

I liked most of the book, but thought the ending was just odd enough to take it down to 3 out of 5 stars.

[Sarah]

Congrats on finishing your first book for the challenge. It's a good feeling isn't it?!

[Sue]

Sarah wrote: "Congrats on finishing your first book for the challenge. It's a good feeling isn't it?!"

Yes it is! And I have two more on hold at the library for this challenge. I just need to figure out if any of the 5 books that came in last week will work for this challenge as well. I know, it's too many books at one time, but that's the way it seems to work for me with holds!

[Cherie]

Sue wrote: "Yes it is! And I have two more on hold at the library for this challenge. I just need to figure out if any of the 5 books that came in last week will work for this challenge as well. I know, it's too many books at one time, but that's the way it seems to work for me with holds! ..."

You are not the only one. ;0)

[Sue]

I've finished my second book! And while I'm happy that I finished another challenge book, I'm not happy with the book.


2/12
Q.48. Who is someone you miss?
Answer – My Grandmother
Book - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Finished 3/1/17

Besides having "Grandmother" in the title, the book is about a Grandmother and Granddaughter's relationship.

I really enjoyed most of the book. The writing and the characters. But near the end it took a twist, that probably won't bother most people as badly as it did for me. But I cried for quite a bit last night. I think my reaction was overboard, but I think it was the combination of the timing of reading it, and the character. So while I would probably have rated this book a 4.5/5, it's just a 3. And that's because most of it was really good. But I wouldn't recommend it for reasons that would give away some of the story!

[Peggy]

You make me curious Sue! I have it listed for this challenge as well and loved A Man Called Ove.

[Sue]

Peggy wrote: "You make me curious Sue! I have it listed for this challenge as well and loved A Man Called Ove."

I really liked A Man Called Ove. And I like the writing style of this book. I was pulled in by the characters and stayed up late to read it because I wanted to find out what happened next. Maybe that was part of the problem, being over tired when hitting the spot in the book that I did! I just briefly went through the reviews on the main site, and only one other person had trouble with the part I did, so I'm probably over reacting! If you do read it, please let me know what you think of the ending.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm curious as well! I have the book to read. It's just when I can get to it.

[Sue]

I've finished my third book.

3/12

8. What is your favourite holiday?
Answer - Halloween
Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title.
Book - Hallowe'en Party
Finished - 3/13/17
Rating - 3.5/5

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a fairly quick read, even though I had figured out *most* of the twists by the end. It was a good break from some of the other books I'm reading!

[Sue]

Going back over my list of books, I realized I left one off that I finished earlier this month. So really this was 3/12, but now it will be marked as 4/12!

45. Do you prefer green or black olives? Neither?
Answer – Neither
If you said “neither”, read a book with a predominantly white cover.
Book - Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace
Finished: March 5th
Rating: 3.5/5

This is the second time I have tried to read this book. I thought it was going to be more of a story, but it's more of a self-help guide on how to deal with certain situations. While some of it is helpful, things like "don't take notes in a meeting" is not good advice when part of your job is to literally, take notes in a meeting. So I felt a lot of the book was written for people in top management or those that are self-employed. I'm an administrator. I'm considered middle management, but there are a few things in that book that they tell you not to do, that I was hired to do. But it did help with other situations. That is why I gave it a 3.5 out of 5 for me.

[Sue]

I've finished 5/12!

28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary?
Answer – Contemporary
If Classic, read a book published in 1800 – 1899. If Contemporary, read a book published in 2000 – 2017.
Book - The One-in-a-Million Boy

The book was published this year.
I rated it a 3/5. It had some good moments, but it was a bit much for me. Maybe it's just my mindset when I read it. It was suggested by a coworker so I put it on hold at the library. When it came up for my turn to download it, I decided to give it a try. I probably shouldn't read a sad book when I'm also reading a large non-fiction book! I'm still reading that non-fiction book, but I've also picked up a romance to read at the same time!

[Sue]

I just finished 6/12 - I'm half way there to the first badge!

25. What is your favourite genre?
Answer – Romance
Read a book in that genre.
Book - Once a Rancher

I rated this book a 3.5/5. As romances goes, it pretty much followed the pattern. But at least the characters were a bit older and had some life baggage that they both had to deal with as well. I like a bit of that before my HEA. But I really do depend on the HEAs with these books!

[Sue]

I finished my two books on a trip from the west coast to the east coast, but I just realized only one is for this challenge!

7/12

44. Do you prefer shoes or bare feet?
Answer – While I love shoes, I prefer to be barefoot!
Read a book where your selection is on the cover or in the title, or get creative and find a book that represents your choice.
Book - Suddenly One Summer
Rating 4/5 stars

The cover of the book is someone walking barefoot! It was recommended by someone else in this group, but I don't remember who. But I'm glad for the recommendation as I enjoyed this book on my long flight!

[Cherie]

okay - I'm asking... what's HEA?

[Janice, Moderator]

Happy Ever After.

[Cherie]

Thanks, Janice.

Sue - I get it now. ^_^

I deal with acronyms at work all day long - for project names, group names, job titles and everything else that can be shrunk down to a two or three letter key stroke and my brain is tired at the end of the day. I had never seen HEA and I could not figure out what it was.

[Sue]

Sorry about that! I think it's a habit that I did pick up here at work as well. We seem to have them for everything :-)

[Sue]

I've been bad about posting here :-/

I finished another book this month for the challenge!

8/12 - 9. What is your relationship status?
Answer – Married
Read a book with that word in the title, or where the main character or author shares that status. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will be representative?
Wife by Wednesday
Finished 6/3/17
3 out of 5 stars

The characters were married early on in the book, not for love, but of course ended up in love. It was a quick read. Not bad.

[Janice, Moderator]

Don't worry. Post when you can. :)

[Sue]

I've finished another book!!

9/12 - 39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing
Answer – Aquamarine
Read a book with that gemstone on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that gemstone is the colour of the cover.
Book - Against All Odds
Finished 7/8/17
3/5 stars

I picked this book because the cover is mostly a beautiful aquamarine blue. :-)
Unfortunately, I didn't care for the book much. The story was interesting, but I felt it was just a story. I didn't really get pulled into the characters as if I was there. I felt like it was just quickly being told.

[Sue]

One more finished!

10/12 - 14. What is something you use daily?
Answer – Moisturizer
Read a book with that word in the title. Or, is on the cover. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will represent that item?
Book - Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy
Finished 7/10/17
4/5 stars

I picked this book because the cover is mostly white, like my main moisturizer.
I liked the book, even though the topic was basically sad. But I felt like she has good advice for not just those facing hard times, but those that have family and friends that are as well.