The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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SPRING CHALLENGE 2018
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Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD

10.1 - Let's Learn Something. - Read a non-fiction book with a main page genre of history, art or culture/cultural. Genres may be standalone or embedded.
Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul - mpg History
Points this task: 10
Total points: 710
Golden Oldies ticket requests: 3
Big Book ticket requests: 3
Books read: 51
Tasks completed: 38

The One That Got Away - MPG Romance > M M Romance
I read the kindle edition. The paperback edition has 220 pages.
points this post: 5
total points: 405

A Gathering of Shadows, by V.E. Schwab (set entirely in London, England)
** REPOSTING 25.1 to move a book **
25.1 - Perletwo's task
Option 1: Warcross, Marie Lu (#1 in series)
Option 2: The Stars My Destination, Albert Bester (Best Getting Even Books of All Time, #21 on list)
30.6 - Brooke TX's task
Option B.
Book 1: Annihilation, by Jeff Van der Meer (mmpb has 240 pages.)
Book 2: Fox Forever, by Mary E. Pearson (top pb has 320 pages.)
New points total: 500

Option C. The Rebel Angels (332 pages)
Letters TRA are found in both phrases.
Points this post = 20
Total points = 295
Big Book tickets = 3
Golden Oldies = 12

50.1 - Booklover's Task: The Classic Novel
1: The Eighteenth Century. Read a novel first published between 1700 and 1799 (inclusive), AND: (A) Read a novel whose title includes the name of its protagonist
Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift (306pg)
Golden Oldie: First published in 1726
2: Romanticism. Read a novel first published between 1798 and 1837 (inclusive) AND (A) Read a novel written by a female author.
Emma, Jane Austen (474pg)
Golden Oldie: First published in 1815
3: The Victorian Era. Read a novel first published between 1837 and 1901 (inclusive), AND (A) Read a novel by either Charles Dickens or Thomas Hardy.
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens (512pg)
Golden Oldie: First published in 1860
Big Book: 512pg (500+ = 1 ticket)
Total pages: 306 + 474 + 512 = 1292
Points this Task: 50
Books Read: 3
Golden Oldie: 3
Big Book: 1 - Great Expectations is 512pg (500+ x 1 ticket)
Total Points: 680
Tasks Completed: 41
Golden Oldies: 10
Big Book tickets: 1

10.2 - Free For All
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
I got this book for free on Amazon Kindle Store.
This book has a main page genre of Childrens.
ATOS Book Level: 8.3
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 12.0
This book counts for 1 Golden Oldie ticket (first published 1882)
20.1 - Most Improved Player - Amber's Task: Adventure in the Southwest
Option 2:
For this option, read a book written by a single author whose first and last initials can be found in the phrase MANHATTAN PROJECT.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
MANHATTAN PROJECT
This book counts for 1 Golden Oldie ticket (first published 1920)
Points this post: 30
Golden Oldies tickets earned this post:2
Total points: 30
Total Golden Oldies tickets: 2

Task # 20.4 - Golden Oldies - Siobhan's Task: Wedding Day
Option 2, The Date
Read a book FIRST published in June of any year.
Zero Sum by Barry Eisler Published 6/27/17
Points this post: 20
Total points: 750

5.1 - A Night at the Museum
Craks in a Marriage - MPG is Mystery
20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Rina's Task: Tallinn
Option 3:

This post: 25 points,
Challenge total points: 440
BB: 8
GO: 1
Tasks completed: 26

Option 1: Person with a role OTHER than author, whose initials are in UNIDENTIFIED OTHERS - T.N. Tiini Nunelly (Translator)
Smilla's Sense of Snow
Option 2: Author name includes a capital letter that is NOT first or last initial -Aprix - “A” is in cApital
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney / The Nest
I listened to the audio / No MMP / Paperback: The Nest
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This Post: 25 points
Total points to date: 320 points
Golden Oldies (pub 1950 or earlier): 1
Big Books Read: (2) 500 pg / (0) 750 pg / () 1000 pg
Total Big Book TICKETS: 2

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Option 3 - All About That Bass: The octobass is a rare instrument that was invented in 1850 by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume. It is over 11 feet tall and has a range so deep it goes lower than humans can hear.
Read a book where the author's first and last name initials (middle initials excluded) can be found in OCTOBASS. Letters may be used as many times as they occur in the word. One qualifying author in a work with multiple contributors works.
I read The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, who initials, C and B, are in the word OCTOBERS.
points: 140
books read: 13
tasks completed: 10
tasks in progress: 1
pages read: 4849

5.10 From Your Collection - Book of my choice
Graceling by Kristin Cashore Graceling
5 points
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 420

Task #20.1 - Adventures in the Southwest
Option 2: read a book written by a single author whose first and last initials can be found in the phrase MANHATTAN PROJECT. Middle name initials may be ignored. I read Buried Dreams: Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer by Tim Cahill.
Points this post: 20
Total points so far: 630

15.5 - Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
So I Married a Sorcerer - Kerrelyn Sparks 4/30
MISTER ROGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and/or CARDIGAN SWEATER
SO in rOgerS
IM in MIster
AR in sweAteR
RID in caRDIgan
E in mistEr
A in cArdigan
S in Sweater
OR in neighbORhood
C in Cardigan
E in nEighborhood
R in misteR
ER in rogERs
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15.6 - Oh, Beans!
Blueberry Muffin Murder - Joanne Fluke (blueberry) 5/11
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20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Deborah's Task: Young Sheldon
Option 2: The Cajun Doctor - Sandra Hill 5/7
(same initials as Sam Houston)
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25.2 - Librarianish's Task - Roads and Rails
Option 1: The Trouble with Twelfth Grave - Darynda Jones 3/20
(set in New Mexico where I have never visited; 289 pages)
Option 3: Blood on the Tracks - Barbara Nickless 4/21
(page 1, #21, 386 pages)

TOTAL PAGES: Book 1 (289 pages) + Book 2 (386 pages) = 675 pages > 500 pages
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30.6 - Brooke TX's Task: Conference, Convention, Conventicle
Option C:
Book 1: Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover - Sarah MacLean 4/29
Book 2: The Girls of Mischief Bay - Susan Mallery 5/5
(set 100% in Los Angeles, CA.)
Passage from page 369

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Totals for Challenge
Points this Post: 105
Total Points: 570

30.1 - Dlmrose's Task: And The Award Goes To...
Option 1: Negroland

Option 2: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

Points this post: 30
Books this post: 2
Totals
Points: 255
BB:3
GO:0
Total Task completed: 12
Total Books read: 15

5.10 - From Your Collection
Read book of your choice
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Total Points- 70

10.9 -"Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press" - Thomas Jefferson
The Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan by Jenny Nordberg
Approved in Task Help thread post #2
Points this post:10
Total Points:390
Books read:28
Tasks Done: 23

option 2: Hainted by Jordan L. Hawk
I read the kindle edition. The paperback edition has 248 pages.
points this post: 20
total points: 425

Option 1 - Dead Ever After - Last Book
Option 3 - Shift - Hugh Howey - beware tHe ides of marcH. This is a big book - 520 pages
Points this post - 25
Big Book Points - 1
Total Points - 300

15.5 - Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Carnegie's Maid
CARN in Cardigan
EGI in Neighborhood
ES in Sweater
M in Mister
AID in Cardigan
This post: 15 points,
Challenge total points: 455
BB: 8
GO: 1
Tasks completed: 27

Points this post: 15
Total Points: 315

The Black Tower by Louis Bayard
~ Black in title matches Black Licorice
Total Points: 350 + 15 = 365

2) In A Sneeze, Detention, and Sissy Spacek, my favorite episode so far, Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, and Sissy Spacek have been held up as the epitome of what a Texan should be by Sheldon's Meemaw.
Read a book written by a single author who shares first and last name initials with these iconic Texans: SHJBSS. The letters may be used in any combination (HB, JS, BJ etc.) Middle initials of authors may be ignored. Letters may only be used as often as they appear.
I read In The Shadow of 10,000 Hills by Jennifer Haupt, whose initials J and H are in the initials SHJBSS. This book was approved on the help thread.
points: 160
books read: 13
tasks completed: 10
tasks in progress: 1
pages read: 4849

25.1 - Perletwo's Task: The Ides of March are Come
Option 1. Read a book that is either #1 in the series or the last entry in a series
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
claiming "big book" ticket - no mmpb. pb: The City of Brass 544 pages
Option 3: Read a book by an author whose initials can be found in the phrase BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH.
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
beWare the ides of marcH
claiming "golden oldie" ticket, as published in 1764
points: 25
total: 570
GO: 8
BB: 6
Tasks completed: 33

20.4 - Golden Oldies - Siobhan's Task: Wedding Day
Option 1 - Book with a white dress on the cover
Wildflower by Drew Barrymore Wildflower

This book was verified in help thread - post #46
20 points
Points this post: 20 points
Total Points: 440

Option 2: Read ONE book that satisfies BOTH book 1 and book 2 requirements.
Book read: The Blood of Flowers
How it fits: MPG Historical, written by a woman
**************************
Points this post: 15
Total points: 595
Books read: 43
Tasks completed: 35
BB Tickets: 7
GO Tickets: 1

5.3 - The Museum of Bad Art
Read a book that has a title/subtitle that contains all of the letters in BAD ART.
Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston
5.5 - International Cryptozoology Museum
Read a book that features cryptozoology, a cryptozoologist, or one or more cryptids from this list: Cryptids.
Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs
All of the main characters in the book are werewolves, which is also seen from genres: Shapeshifters > Werewolves 73 users
15.7 - Spring Saints
Read a book by an author named David, Patrick or George or any of the related names found at Behind the Name Patrick.
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Rina's Task: Tallinn
1. Read a book with at least 2 pairs of double letters in the title and/or subtitle.
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
20.3 - Best Review – Michelle in Alaska's Task: Red or Green?
OPTION 4: Read a book by an author whose initials can be found in WHITE SANDS.
Switch Hitter by Sara Ney
20.9 - Moderator’s Pet - Book Concierge's Task: Happy 300th Birthday
B) Read a book by a single author whose First and Last initials are in SAN ANTONIO.
Jock Row by Sara Ney
25.6 - Diana K's Task: Windy City Museums
B. Read a book whose author's first and last name initials can be found in CLAUDE MONET.
A Husband's Regret by Natasha Anders (337 pages)
C. Read a book whose number of pages includes the numbers 5 and 3.
Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed by Anna Campbell (385 pages)
POINTS:
Points This Post: 110
Points Total: 360
Big Books: 500(0) 750(1) 1000()
Golden Oldies: 0
Tasks Completed: 24

20.2 Tallinn
Option 1: Two pairs of double letters in the title and subtitle
Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions by Amy Stewart
PP in Kopp and SS in Confessions
20.8 Celebrating the SRC
Option 1: A book that is #1, 5, or 10 in a series
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
#1 in the Veronica Speedwell series
I listened to the audio version of this book. The paperback has 368 pages.
25.7 To Choose of Not to Choose
Option B: Not to Choose
Book 1: Title includes a spring color: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, or Purple
Chesapeake Blue by by Nora Roberts
Book 2: Book by the same author as Book 1
The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts
Points for this post: 20 + 20 + 25 = 65
Total points: 65 + 250 = 315
Tasks completed: 15
Books read: 20
Golden Oldies:
Big Books: 1

25.6 Diana K’s Task: Windy City Museums
A. The Museum of Science and Industry. Read a book whose title/subtitle contains all the letters in either INTERACTIVE or HANDS ON.
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
Read the kindle edition. PB reference link here (334pg)
HANDS ON: A Natural History Of DragoNS
B. The Art Institute of Chicago. Read a book whose author's first and last name initials can be found in CLAUDE MONET.
A Mold for Murder, Tim Myers (225pg)
MoneT
Total pages: 334 + 225 = 559pg
Points this Task: 20
Books Read: 2
Golden Oldie/Big Book: No
Total Points: 705
Tasks Completed: 42
Golden Oldies: 10
Big Book tickets: 1

Task 10.8 Read a book whose author's initials can be found in TAX DAY.
Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
Points this post: 10
Total points: 685

Task 25.8
Opt 2 For this option, read a book by an author whose GR-recorded name contains a capitalized letter somewhere OTHER than the first initials of the first and last name, and that letter must be found in the phrase CAPITAL NOT INITIAL.
Cancer What You Need to Know by Stephen A. Rosenberg
Opt 3. read a book whose SERIES TITLE (as listed in the GR record) contains one of the following words: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Season, Reading, Challenge, Girl, Boy, Sister, Brother, Child, Woman, Man.
Plurals and possessives are okay; no other variations.
Dreams of Joy (Shanghai GIRLS #2)
Points this post: 25
Total points: 710

# 10.05 – Springtime in Paris
Task: Read a book set in France or written by an author born or currently living in France
Book 1: The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau by Graeme Macrae Burnet
Points this post: 10 points
Total points to date = 285 points
BB tickets this post: 0
Total BB tickets to date: 0
GOLDEN OLDIE this post: 0
Total “GOLDIE” tickets to date: 4

5.6 - Meguro Parasitological Museum
Bone Magic - Yasmine Galenorn 4/28
(first published December 18th 2009)
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5.7 - New England Maple Museum
Read a book that shows something sweet to eat on its cover.
Death of a Chocoholic - Lee Hollis 4/27
(chocolates, cake, cookies on cover)

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30.5 - TessaVanessa's Task: Name Game
Book 1: Dragon Spawn - Eileen Wilks 2/27
(from Eileen Fox)
Book 2: Whom the Gods Love - M.M. Perry 3/26
(from Ford Perry)
Random Names Generated:
Stacy Appleton
Nelda Snelling
Gina Britton
Eileen Fox
Ford Perry
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Totals for Challenge
Points this Post: 40
Total Points: 610

Task #30.5 - The Name Game
The five names I generated were Jeana Simmons; Kyra Brigham; Janey Simpson; Wayne Williamson; Lydia Abraham.
Book 1: Read a book with an author with the same first name as one of the names generated. I picked the first name Lydia and read A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang.
Book 2: Read a book with an author with the same last name as one of the names generated. I picked Simpson and read What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson.
Points this post: 30
Total points so far: 660

20.6 - Seasoned Reader - Kim O's task: We Are The Music Makers, And We Are The Dreamers Of Dreams
Option 4: The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty

The word is "YOU"
Points this post: 20
Books this post: 1
Totals
Points: 275
BB:3
GO:0
Total Task completed: 13
Total Books read: 17

Task 20.3 read a book with the words “red” or “green”, as a standalone word, in the title
Red Sister
Points this task 20
Total points 275
BB this task 0
Total BB 10

I'd like to exchange a book I had previously used for the task below.
Option 4: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris
20.4 - Golden Oldies - Siobhan's Task: Wedding Day
Instead of the above book, I would like to use the following:
Option 1:

20.6 - Seasoned Reader - Kim O's task: We Are The Music Makers, And We Are The Dreamers Of Dreams
Option 3: All That Remains: A Life in Death by Sue Black
Points this post: 40
Points in total: 265
Tasks completed: 17
Golden Oldies: 1
Big book tickets: 2

C. A book whose number of pages includes the numbers 5 and 3.
Tell Me Three Things, 352 pages.
D. A book that has a picture of a star on the cover.

Points this post: +25
Total Points: 525

A book whose author's initials are found in TAX DAY: Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani
Points this post: 10
Total points: 685

20.4 - Golden Oldies - Siobhan's Task: Wedding Day
Option #3:Read a book with a main page genre of Science Fiction.
Wizard and Glass by Stephen King.
Points this Post: 20
Total Points: 275

15.8 Red Baron I read Mobbed by Carol Higgins Clark , with an airplane on the cover.

15.9 Find Your Muse
I read The Magician's Wife by Brian Moore.
One 3 letter word in title: “The”
One 9 letter word in title: “Magician’s"
20.3 Michelle in Alaska’s Red and Green opt. 1. “Billy” is a protagonist’s first name. I read Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, the story of Billy Pilgrim.
Points This Post: 50
Total Points So Far: 750

5.10 - From Your Collection Read a book of your choice.
The Shadow of the Torturer
✂- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Message 1765
Current Post: Points: 5 GO: - BB: -
Total: Points: 250 GO: - BB: 1
Tasks: 5.1,5.4,5.10, 10.2,10.6, 15.4, 20.1,20.3,20.4,20.8--20.10,
25.1,25.6, 30.6 using 17 books.

Task 5.3 - The Museum of Bad Art
read a book with the letters BADART in the title
The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan
B ART in Bullet-CATcheR
DA in DAughter
Task 15.5 - Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
read a book where all the title letters can be found in MISTER
Ties by Domenico Starnone
Task 30.1 - Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss
option 1 - read a book with a cat on the cover
Witch Is When It All Began by Adele Abbott

option 3 - read a book with author initials in THE LORAX

TA in phrase
Season total = 675

Set in an African Union country - Read The House Gun by Nadine Gordimer. This whole book was set in South Africa. Nadine Gordimer, who died a few years ago, was a native South African writer.
25.7 - Nick KY’s task: To Choose or Not To Choose
I chose Option A
Book 1: Good Minds author - Read Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. Roxane Gay is an awesome author. Here is her Good Minds suggests page - Good Minds Suggests by Roxane Gay.
Book 2: Suggested book from her Favorite Pop Culture Books for Thinkers list - Read Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Americanah has 589 pages, so, I claim 1 Big Book ticket.
Points these task: 35
Total points: 135
Golden Oldies ticket requests: 1
Big Book ticket requests: 4
Books read: 17
Tasks completed: 9

10.7 My Favorite Holiday!
From Stories for Book Lovers list
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett The Uncommon Reader #42 on list
10 points
Points this post: 10
Total points: 450

10.5. Springtime in Paris: Read a book set in France or written by an author born or currently living in France.
The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir by Riad Sattouf who was born in Paris, France
Points this post: 10
Total points: 115/930
Tasks completed: 7/55
Books read: 8


~ ARBookfinder IL = UG (just in case children's genre appears)
Total Points: 365 + 5 = 370

Task # 20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Deborah's Task: Young Sheldon
Option 2. Read a book written by a single author who shares first and last name initials with these iconic Texans: SHJBSS
The Black Monastery by Stav Sherez SHJBSS
Points this post: 20
Total points: 770

10.1 Let's Learn Something
Non-fiction book with genre history, art, or culture/cultural
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Doerr Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World
Cultural genre
10 points
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 460

5.3 - The Museum of Bad Art
I read The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham. BAD is in Badger, A in At, and RT in Drift.
10.1 - Let's Learn Something
I read The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul by Eleanor Herman. "History" is an MPG and this is a non-fiction title.
10.6 - Want to See My Slides?
I read Lando by Charles Soule. Science Fiction is an MPG (verified).
10.7 - My Favorite Holiday!
I read The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde, on page 1 of the linked list, about #44 on the page.
20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Rina's Task: Tallinn
I chose Option 3. I read

30.2 – Schatzie's Task: Castles and Other Historical Sites
I chose Options 1 and 4.
Option 1: I read The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison. "Biography" is a MPG (verified).
** The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath is 544 pages long, I would like to claim ONE Big Book ticket**
Option 4: I read Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs. L and C are in SCHWARZWALD.
Previous point total: 435
New points this post: 5+10+10+10+20+30
Total points: 520
New tasks completed in this post: 6
Total tasks: 33
GO tickets this post: 0
Total GO: 0
Big Book tickets this post: 1
Total Big Books: 2
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Books mentioned in this topic
Americanah (other topics)Uncle Tom’s Cabin (other topics)
Poirot Investigates (other topics)
Lincoln in the Bardo (other topics)
The Princess Diaries (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
S.E. Hinton (other topics)Carine McCandless (other topics)
Henning Koch (other topics)
Lee Child (other topics)
Fredrik Backman (other topics)
More...
Option 1: Virals (Virals #1) by Kathy Reichs
~ #1 in series
Total Points: 330 + 20 = 350