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2018 ~ Monthly Challenges > March 2018 ~ ATF Challenge

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message 1: by Grey (last edited Apr 06, 2018 03:48PM) (new)

Grey | 2385 comments Mod
A new challenge for 2018 is the ATF Challenge. I know, we were talking about all sorts of mnemonics for abbreviating the new challenge (PMF...5SF...FSF) and then I go and think of this one. I can't be trusted, haha🙃! For me...some of the books that are my all time favorites that I may recommend, may not necessarily have gotten 5 stars...but nonetheless are still on my favorite books of all time list, I hope that makes sense...and if someone really wants me to change the name, I certainly will!!

Month THREE!

And I think now that we've figured it out, the rules of this challenge are pretty simple.

1) Between now and the 28th of February, members express their interest in participating in the ATF challenge for March.
2) Sometime on March 1st, it will be randomized by one of our illustrious randomizers to see who the lucky 3rd woman of honor will be.
3) She will post the link to her All Time Favorite Books list (which could be her 5 stars list... or it could be something new that she makes up specifically for this challenge, however, it should include at least 10 books, in fact the more books the better). I will also link the Honoree's list here in this first post.
4) Then this is where it gets fun... the Honoree could deign to 'help' pick a book for each of us that are participating to read from that list that we haven't read, if we have it or can easily get our hands on it. Or...she could just let us run amok and pick from all of her favorite choices.

For example: here is the link to Grey's All Time Favorites List

Clear as mud? Please ask if you have any questions, as we continue to iron out the details!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The honoree for March 2018 is ... Kooloo! The book chosen from all of our suggestion and plucked from the magical randomizer is... Author Anonymous by E.K. Blair Author Anonymous by E.K. Blair and rated as 4 stars!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next super fun part of this challenge is that everyone else gets to throw a suggestion into the pot for the honoree, one of their 5 star suggestions, which will then be tossed into the randomizer again (or the honoree can just choose one, whichever floats your boat!) But this way, the honoree also has an All Time Favorite to read this month.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grey read The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise, #1) by Aly Martinez and rated it as 5 stars!

Fabi picked In Flight (Up in the Air, #1) by R.K. Lilley but DNF-ed at 28%.

Paula picked Transcendence by Shay Savage and DNF-ed at 20%.

Jan picked Naked in Death (In Death #1) by J.D. Robb

Nay picked Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark, #1) by Pepper Winters and rated as 5 stars!

Ela picked My Torin by K. Webster and rated as 5 stars!

Lisa picked Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma and rated as 5 stars!

Leslie picked The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise, #1) by Aly Martinez and rated as 3 stars.

Tessa picked The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise, #1) by Aly Martinez and rated as 5 stars!

Jean was a latecomer, she picked American Queen (New Camelot Trilogy, #1) by Sierra Simone and rated as 5 stars!


message 2: by Jan (new)

Jan (jan130) Grey, I'm still in, even though I've been struggling to keep up with all my challenge books :/ But it's still fun, and I do read SOME of them.......so, I want to try again in March :D

*hugs Grey for managing ATF*

The initialism (ATF) is fine, BTW. (I had to look up initialism hahaha). My atf shelf is the same one, although I might weed it a bit. Like everyone else, I'm finding some of my old favs have lost a bit of their thrill over time :( Do I need to post the link to my shelf again?


message 3: by Grey (new)

Grey | 2385 comments Mod
Jan130 wrote: "Grey, I'm still in, even though I've been struggling to keep up with all my challenge books :/ But it's still fun, and I do read SOME of them.......so, I want to try again in March :D

*hugs Grey for managing ATF*

The initialism (ATF) is fine, BTW. (I had to look up initialism hahaha). My atf shelf is the same one, although I might weed it a bit. Like everyone else, I'm finding some of my old favs have lost a bit of their thrill over time :( Do I need to post the link to my shelf again? "


Yes, if you could post the link to your ATF thread, it makes it slightly easier on me in the long run, haha!


message 4: by Jan (new)

Jan (jan130) Jan's current favs:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

They're not ALL HRs, I promise. Bwahahahaha


message 5: by Nay (new)

Nay (4ukcats) Oooh weeding is a good idea. I'm starting to feel like I'm a totally different person than I was 5 years ago.

I'm in--will post shelf tomorrow. Too lazy to do it right now.


message 6: by Jan (new)

Jan (jan130) Yeah when I look back, I question why I gave THAT 5 stars? What was I thinking?

How we change.......


message 7: by Tessa (new)

Tessa | 1761 comments I'm in even though I'm behind on last months still.


message 8: by Paula (new)

Paula White | 800 comments I’m in although still have February’s to read


message 9: by Jan (new)

Jan (jan130) Heee. It's not just me behind on my challenge reads then :D


message 10: by Leslie (new)

Leslie | 2430 comments I am in although I havent completed Feb's yet, but I will....it will just be late. I will blame it on the short month!! 😜

I know what you all mean about what we loved years ago might not be as good today, but its still fun reading some "oldies".

As far as "weeding" goes, I like to have lots of options, so a long faves list works for me! 🙄

Here's mine: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments I think I'm going to switch over to the PFM challenge this month. I still don't have enough room in my schedule to do both. Crossing fingers I'll get there in another month or two.


message 12: by Nay (new)

Nay (4ukcats) Omg, FINALLY, this month I finished all my challenge books a few days before the end of the month. I'm so proud of myself! lol


message 13: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Aiello (lisaaiello) | 2460 comments I am definitely in. Can't wait to see whose list I get to choose from!!


message 14: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Aiello (lisaaiello) | 2460 comments Renee wrote: "Omg, FINALLY, this month I finished all my challenge books a few days before the end of the month. I'm so proud of myself! lol"

Crazy what a sense of accomplishment that is, isn't it? LOL I always feel great when I get them all in!!!


message 15: by Nay (new)

Nay (4ukcats) Lisa wrote: "Renee wrote: "Omg, FINALLY, this month I finished all my challenge books a few days before the end of the month. I'm so proud of myself! lol"

Crazy what a sense of accomplishment that is, isn't it..."


I don't think I've actually done it in ages! lol Last month I finally read all of mine, but I went over a couple of days. I just feel great to have my reading mojo back!

I asked this somewhere, Lisa, but I don't know if you saw it, and if you did answer, I didn't see it. How's your mom and how did your husband's surgery go?


message 16: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Aiello (lisaaiello) | 2460 comments Awww Nay - thanks for asking. My Mom is back in the hospital as of Friday - still in there. They think it's some type congestive heart failure. I'm not sure when she's getting out, and it's going to be tough to let her be independent and on her own and ensure she's taking are of what she needs to...but it would kill her if she didn't have that independence. We'll just have to work extra diligently to ensure she's doing what she needs to do. As for my husband, his actual surgery is this Wednesday...and he's been a bear to live with. But, I get it - he's scared - and he doesn't know how to express that. His prognosis is excellent, he just doesn't like not being in control. If I live through both of these, I'm going to take a mental health vacation for about a week I think! I'm totally an introvert, and being around people all the time zaps my energy, so I desperately need some alone time.

And now that I've blabbed on for twenty minutes about all my woes, you said your husband was having some type of procedure done. How is he doing?


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments Oh Lisa *big hugs* that's a lot of difficult things to be going through. I'm just like you.

I'm totally an introvert, and being around people all the time zaps my energy, so I desperately need some alone time.

I've been known to take a "hotel" vacation with only me and my books.

Hey, do you guys remember a few years ago when we took this online quiz on Maryse's to determine our personality traits? I remember most of us (not all) were introverts, but I was the only 98%.

I know I'd never find that link again. It's been years. But it was interesting.


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments Nay, have you had your one year check up? Is everything good?


message 19: by Nay (new)

Nay (4ukcats) I'll get me out of the way first--my one-year check-up is tomorrow. I have to have about 4 different scans/tests and also have to get knocked out to get a right and left heart cath and a heart biopsy, so it'll be an all day affair. Yippee! But it's also my one-year anniv., so that's great!

Hubs just got a shot in his neck, and we were led to believe they were going to knock him out and it was this huge deal. Turns out, he was awake, got a shot of lidocaine, got a steroid shot and was done in 5 minutes. But his neck finally feels better.

Lisa--congestive heart failure is what I lived with for 12 years. One thing I can tell you that's the most important of all for feeling 'normal' is to manage fluid and sodium. If you go over, you swell up and feel like crap (and possibly go back into active CHF), and if you're under on your fluids, your body gets dehydrated and starts retaining them, so again, active CHF.

I was allowed 2 liters of fluid a day and 2000 mg of sodium a day, but I got to where I didn't go over 1,500 mg of sodium. Once they get your meds right, if you are diligent about taking them and watching the fluid and sodium, you can live a very productive, active life.

If she ever has an questions or weirdness going on, feel free to message me because chances are, I've been through it. Is her CHF a bi-product of something else? (for instance, I had dilated cardiomyopathy and my CHF was a bi-product of that.)

I already know that I'm an introvert, but I'd love to take that test!


message 20: by Nay (last edited Feb 28, 2018 06:32AM) (new)


message 21: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Aiello (lisaaiello) | 2460 comments Renee wrote: "I'll get me out of the way first--my one-year check-up is tomorrow. I have to have about 4 different scans/tests and also have to get knocked out to get a right and left heart cath and a heart biop..."

Nay - the doctors thinks the CHF could have been exacerbated by her recent hysterectomy. She couldn't pee afterwards, so she was drinking tons of water, and not peeing. They cathed her several times, then sent her home with a cath for a couple days. Add to it all the fact that's she's 81, overweight, and hypertensive, and they believe she's probably been mildly dealing with CHF for some time. They said it's actually diastolic heart failure, which I think is the one where the heart pumps okay, but doesn't relax correctly. It's all a little overwhelming. And at 81, I fear she is not going to be diligent about her fluids and keeping to a limited sodium intake - simply because it's too much for her and she doesn't seem to be able to retain information well anymore. She told the doctor that she was always told to drink 8 8oz glasses of water a day...and he told her, that's when you're healthy and not in your 80s and not hypertensive. So, it'll be an adjustment.


message 22: by Nay (new)

Nay (4ukcats) Oh, wow. It really will! The key for me wasn't thinking about what I couldn't eat but focusing on what I COULD eat. Then I built my diet around only those things. But I understand your concerns. My dad was the same way before he had his quadruple bypass, and even now, he doesn't pay enough attention to his diet.

But really, if she ever gets receptive and you need any tips about eating/drinking, feel free to message me. Toward 'the end' (before I got my LVAD), I was down to 500 mg of sodium a day to keep my abdomen from swelling up.


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments Never mind my previous post. I want to play this challenge too. I realized that if I miss a month and then come back, I'll be missing out on a particular person's favs. Doesn't seem fair. So I'm squeezing in both challenges in March.

My shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...


message 24: by Melinda (new)

Melinda Ruyten | 1027 comments Go Fab👍. It's just for fun. No ones grading. 😂😂


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments LOL Melinda. :-) Too true.


message 26: by Kooloo (new)


message 27: by Nay (new)

Nay (4ukcats) Fabi wrote: "Never mind my previous post. I want to play this challenge too. I realized that if I miss a month and then come back, I'll be missing out on a particular person's favs. Doesn't seem fair. So I'm sq..."

Yay, Fabi!


message 28: by Jean (new)

Jean | 1658 comments I'm in for this one too! Sorry I've been MIA!!

I hope all of you who have been dealing with health issues are doing okay! *hugs*


message 29: by Ela (new)

Ela | 4291 comments Who’s list are we picking from this month?


message 30: by Ela (new)

Ela | 4291 comments Hugs to everyone!


message 31: by Leslie (new)

Leslie | 2430 comments We have missed you Ela. 😘


message 32: by Jean (new)

Jean | 1658 comments Hi Ela!


message 33: by Nay (new)

Nay (4ukcats) Leslie wrote: "We have missed you Ela. 😘"

Ditto!


message 34: by Grey (new)

Grey | 2385 comments Mod
standby, I will throw Names in the randomizer when I get back to my office. shhh, I'm checking my phone in the middle of a meeting, haha!


message 35: by Grey (new)

Grey | 2385 comments Mod
Drumroll please... our lady of honor this month, is...Kooloo!!!!


message 36: by Tessa (new)

Tessa | 1761 comments One problem. Her shelf is full of too many goodies, some of which I've been wanting to read (Or in the case of Hunger Games, I was told to read or else).


message 37: by Jean (new)

Jean | 1658 comments Wow, there's a lot of books on kooloo's shelf...... the majority of which I've read..... Ok let me see....


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments Tessa wrote: "One problem. Her shelf is full of too many goodies, some of which I've been wanting to read (Or in the case of Hunger Games, I was told to read or else)."

Tessa! For goodness sakes! Read Hunger Games! I just about had a heart attack learning you haven't read that yet.


message 39: by Grey (new)

Grey | 2385 comments Mod
ooh, girl, you've got lots of pretty shinies!


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments Kooloo your favorites shelf is amazing! So many great books! I've read and loved lots of them.

One that's been sitting in my tbr for way too long is In Flight by R.K. Lilley. Since its in your favorites shelf I'm going to take this opportunity to jump on it.


Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications | 872 comments I see you've read MM before, so my rec for you is one that shook my world when I read it.

Carry the Ocean (The Roosevelt, #1) by Heidi Cullinan


message 42: by Tessa (new)

Tessa | 1761 comments Fabi wrote: "Kooloo your favorites shelf is amazing! So many great books! I've read and loved lots of them.

One that's been sitting in my tbr for way too long is In Flight by [author:R.K. Lille..."


Fabi, I ADORE that book, but I have to give you a big warning It's very BDSM. It's my favorite BDSM, and it's not dark, but I know you aren't fond of the submissive female role.


message 43: by Tessa (new)

Tessa | 1761 comments Oh, for Kooloo I saw she hasn't read Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh. That's my rec. :D One of the most romantic couples, imo.


message 44: by Leslie (new)

Leslie | 2430 comments Not sure what I want to read yet...

Kooloo, my suggestion for you is Author Anonymous Author Anonymous by E.K. Blair . I think you would enjoy this angsty mind-f@ck. 😚


message 45: by Paula (new)

Paula White | 800 comments OK I am going to choose Transcendence by Shay Savage


message 46: by Jean (new)

Jean | 1658 comments Where are we choosing a book for Kooloo..... from her TBR??


message 48: by Jean (new)

Jean | 1658 comments No, I mean are we supposed to pick something for Kooloo to read?


message 49: by Tessa (new)

Tessa | 1761 comments Oh, yeah. I just went to my favorites and her (I think pick for me) TBR, and suggested from there. She gets to actually pick which she likes most.


message 50: by Jean (new)

Jean | 1658 comments Gotcha!


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