♓️Clément is a Star Crusader in 2018♓️

[Eliestal]

Rusalka wrote: "Clément wrote: "The months were also the hardest for me to find. "

They are! I wouldn't have thought that this was true if a few months ago."

When I was doing my research, I left this category for last thinking it would have been easy but I was surprised as well.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I'm assuming these reads are going to be the surprise ones for most of us. We'll read them for something else and find out they fit

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 1
Task: Pisces, Symbol - Time to go fishing! Read a book set near or on a lake or river, OR the words Lake or River are in the title, or is the author’s name. If going for title or author, the words must be exact. Plurals will be accepted.
Links: The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto - 188p
How the book fits: The title contains the word "Lake"
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Thanks so much for seeing, the first time you met us, that even though we're like ghosts, the two of us, even though we're not supposed to exist, we are alive.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Grats on the first book!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Way to go!

[Eliestal]

@Rusalka, @Sandra: Thanks! Seeing the first book completed for the challenge in this thread gives me even more motivation! :)

[Janice, Moderator]

It's great to see you have your first book finished. You're right about it being motivational.

[Margo]

Yay Clement! Way to go :-))

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 2
Task: Cancer, Symbol - These are the names of common crab varieties: Coconut, Hermit, Horseshoe, King, Japanese Spider, Dungeness, Rock, Snow, Blue, or Fiddler Crab. Read a book with any of those words (other than “crab”) in the title. I’ll get crabby if you try to sneak “Crab” in. Plurals are accepted.
Links: So I'm a Spider, So What?, Vol. 1 (light novel) (So I'm a Spider, So What? by Baba Okina - 256p
How the book fits: The title contains the word "spider"
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Apparently I've been reincarnated as a spider.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 3
Task: Aquarius, North American Zodiac - The Sea Otter is probably the most widely known otter with their cute antics. The European Otter is less well known and are found, needless to say, in Europe. Unfortunately, the population has been wiped out of Switzerland and the Netherlands years ago. Read a book set primarily in Switzerland or the Netherlands, or by Swiss or Dutch authors.
Links: La Tulipe Noire by Alexandre Dumas - 378p
How the book fits: The book is entirely set in The Netherlands.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote (in french):

Je veux t'ouvrir le cœur, pour voir dedans l'endroit où tu caches ma fille.

[Suzanne]

You have some great books listed for this challenge, Clement. I also love your bonus quotes! It makes the book that much more intriguing:)

[Margo]

Are you French Clement? If not good job in reading the book in a second language! If so, great job on all your other communications!

Either way, I'm impressed ☺

[Eliestal]

Margo wrote: "Are you French Clement? If not good job in reading the book in a second language! If so, great job on all your other communications!

Either way, I'm impressed ☺"

Thanks! I am French, English is my second language but I read mostly in English as long as the author is not French :)

[Eliestal]

Suzanne wrote: "You have some great books listed for this challenge, Clement. I also love your bonus quotes! It makes the book that much more intriguing:)"

Thank you! It is a shame that I know for a fact that I will not be able to read them all this year since I am quite a slow reader.
But! I will do my best :)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

We believe in you!!

[Suzanne]

The fun is in the attempt, Clement. And if you are enjoying the challenge, you can always extend it if you wish. I'm still working on the Geocache Challenge from 2016!

[Eliestal]

@Rusalka: Thanks! My spirit will never drop!!

@Suzanne: I know I love the challenge! I will probably get to everything in my list at one point. I know I can get one badge but the second badge is out of my reach since the additionnal 24 books will push the total beyond what I can do. I will start to work towards it nonetheless though ;)

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 4
Task: Virgo, Symbol - Read a book where the protagonist is a girl or young woman under the age of 20 and is unmarried.
Links: I Want to Kick You in the Back by Risa Wataya - 199p
How the book fits: The main character, Hatsu Hasegawa, is a girl in her first year of high school.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Loneliness makes a sound.

[Margo]

An arresting title ;-)

[Eliestal]

It was a weird but interesting read. Very short too :)

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 5
Task: Gemini, Superhero - Copycat is a mutant from the X-men. Read a book from the dystopian genre, or set in the future. The word “Dystopia” needs to be listed as a genre on the main book page.
Links: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - 288p
How the book fits: Dystopia is listed as a genre on the main book page.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

But... we gave you your childhoods.

[Suzanne]

Ooh, I really enjoyed Never Let Me Go! Did you like it?

[Eliestal]

Suzanne wrote: "Ooh, I really enjoyed Never Let Me Go! Did you like it?"

I really enjoyed it! It is a 5-star read for me.
I will post my thought about it in the thread for this month read this weekend if you are interested in what I have to say about it but I need to gather my thought about it a little first.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 6
Task: Aries, Month - For each zodiac sign, read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Note: Exact words are required.
Links: DECAPITATION: Kubikiri Cycle by NisiOisiN - 322p
How the book fits: Murder/Mystery spanning 7 days of March.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Either you allow your value to be absorbed by the world, or you chisel away at the world's value and make it your own.

[Eliestal]

https://youtu.be/lDK9QqIzhwk?t=1m34s

[Janice, Moderator]

haha.. great way of celebrating half way. :)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

... Oh I hate you right now. That's going to be in my head for days!

[Eliestal]

Rusalka wrote: "... Oh I hate you right now. That's going to be in my head for days!"

I don't know if I should feel bad about that... :p

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Lol I don't know either!

[Ariane]

I think I'll hang around here someday... you know... for inspiration... ;-)

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 7
Task: Taurus, Month - For each zodiac sign, read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Note: Exact words are required.
Links: NEKOMONOGATARI (BLACK): Cat Tale by NisiOisiN - 280p
How the book fits: The first 196 pages out of 280 (70%) happened between April 29 and April 30.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Everybody has words they can't say rashly.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 8
Task: Libra, Superhero - Judge Dredd - His first appearance was in 2000 AD No.2 (March 5, 1977). Read a book set between 1977 and 2000.
Links: Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami - 309p
How the book fits: Interviews of Victim of the gas attack in Tokyo that happened in 1995. All the interviews were also conducted before 2000.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Psychologically speaking (I’ll only wheel out the amateur psychology just this once, so bear with me), encounters that call up strong physical disgust or revulsion are often in fact projections of our own faults and weaknesses.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 9
Task: Leo, Superhero - Kraven the Hunter - One of Kraven’s powers is longevity. Read a book where the main character is over 60 years old.
Links: Diary of a Mad Old Man by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki - 192p
How the book fits: As the book page says, the main character is 77 years old.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

And to make up for my own inability, I can get her involved with a handsome man, plunge the whole household into turmoil, and take pleasure in that.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 10
Task: Scorpio, Stone - Copper is a metal, not a stone. Read a book with a metal weapon or tool on the cover.
Links: Claymore Complete Box Set: Volumes 1-27 with Premium by Norihiro Yagi - 5272p
How the book fits: Claymore on the cover used.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Don't be so quick to throw away your life.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 11
Task: Capricorn – Goat - Do you ever hear the tale of The Three Billy Goat Gruff? It’s a Norwegian Folk Tale. Read a book that is shelved as Scandinavian Literature.
Links: The Son by Jo Nesbø - 407p
How the book fits: Norwegian author.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Morality isn’t heaven-sent or eternal, just a set of rules that benefit the herd.

[Cherie]

Only one more book to go, Clement!

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 1, Book 12
Task: Sagittarius – Ralph Fiennes - Option 2: If the book is adapted, you may read another book written by the same author. This applies only to the adaptation.
Links: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - 320p
How the book fits: He played in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (book adaptation) so a book by J.K. Rowling is allowed according to option 2.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper on death.

[Eliestal]

The "It doesn't matter at this point because I will never finish the task for the second badge but I read the books" part:

Challenge progress: Badge 2, Book 1
Task: Gemini, Month, May - Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Note: Exact words are required.
Links: The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria, Vol. 2 by Eiji Mikage - 192p
How the book fits: From Page 30 to the end, page 192 (ie 83%) the book is set between May 1st and May 18th.
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

Carrying a grudge around with me would just get in the way of my average life.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 2, Book 2
Task: Gemini, Stone - Agate is an excellent material for cameos as the contrast between the different layers is used to heighten the relief. Read a book with a face in profile on the cover. An actual cameo on the cover will be accepted.
Links: The Dark Maidens by Rikako Akiyoshi - 220p
How the book fits: Two faces in profile on the cover
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

The storm outside hasn't lightened up in the least. Please watch your step while you make your way home. Thank you very much for participating.

[Eliestal]

Challenge progress: Badge 2, Book 3
Task: Virgo, Month - For each zodiac sign, read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Note: Exact words are required.
Links: NEKOMONOGATARI (WHITE): Cat Tale by NisiOisiN - 280p
How the book fits: The events of the book started on August 8th and lasted a week
Specific requirement: -

Bonus quote:

I don't want to be the real deal, I just want to be real.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Clément wrote: "
The "It doesn't matter at this point because I will never finish the task for the second badge but I read the books" part:..."

LOL!

[Janice, Moderator]

Congrats on finishing the first badge!

[Cherie]

Awesome job, finishing your first YLTO Yearly Challenge!
I never noticed the Bonus Quotes before. I love them.

[Eliestal]

Thanks everyone! I am glad to have completed the challenge! Plus, it coincided with reaching my personal reading goal of 30 books for the year. Everything went well :)

I tried my best to put some quotes, I am glad you like them Cherie.

[Janice, Moderator]

I missed them as well. What a fun idea!

[Cherie]

A lot of time, I add quotes from a book into my reading status, but your adding them into the reporting format is a bonus for us too, Clement. You made me want to add the Jo Nesbo book to my TBR. I know Harry Hole, but that is all.

I purchased The Black Tulip to read, but I wish I could read it in French.