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

30.5 - Mazza1's Task: A world of books
Book 1: Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak (born in Australia - I'm Amy FL from USA)
Book 2: The Death of Rex Nhongo - set in Zimbabwe (Africa)
Points this post: 30
Total points: 370
30.7 - TessaVanessa's Task: New Year, New You
For my first book, I chose resolution 4, Self Care, and read Endurance: My Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery. I listened to the audiobook, linked to the top pb edition (no MMPB).
SE in SpacE
LF in LiFetime
CA in spACe
RE in EnduRance
For my second book, I chose resolution #3, Spend Less Money, and read Less Than A Treason, with the word "Less" in its title.
Total points: 700
For my first book, I chose resolution 4, Self Care, and read Endurance: My Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery. I listened to the audiobook, linked to the top pb edition (no MMPB).
SE in SpacE
LF in LiFetime
CA in spACe
RE in EnduRance
For my second book, I chose resolution #3, Spend Less Money, and read Less Than A Treason, with the word "Less" in its title.
Total points: 700

30.2 Amanda A's Task passed to Book Concierge: Feliz Navidad
500 page min; Option A) author name Joseph, Mary, or Jesus
Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica Every Last Lie
336 pages
Option D) Four or more people on cover
Get Dirty by Gretchen McNeil Get Dirty

384 pages
336 + 384 = 720 pages total
Points this post: 30
Total Points: 255

20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Amy FL's Task: Yo, Adrian!
Option 2: Read a book with a title of at least three words where the first letter of each word can be found in HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

Points
This Post: 20
Total Points: 380
Completed Tasks: 28
Books Read: 43

20.8 - Nickels & Dimes - Diane Whitney's Task: Membership Required
Option 2 - Read a book first published in the same Month AND Year you joined the Seasonal Reading Challenge Group. I've been a member of this group since Aug 18, 2015:

Points
This Post: 20
Total Points: 400
Completed Tasks: 29
Books Read: 43

Book 1. Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with ANY letter of your READERBOARD name.
Embers by Sándor Márai is set in and author is from Hungary from the European continent which starts with H, and my readerboard name starts with H.
***Claiming Golden Oldies Ticket, first published in 1942***
Book 2. Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with one of the initials of the author of Book 1, including middle initials.
I listened to an audio version of Cry, the Beloved Country This book is set in South Africa in the continenet of Africa. S is the author's first initial from Book 1.
***Claiming Golden Oldies Ticket, first published in 1948***
The country I live in is Canada.
New points: 30
Total Challenge Points: 420
GO's: 9

Book 1 - Ain't She a Peach? by Molly Harper
Book 2 - Varina by Charles Frazier
Post Total: 15
Grand Total: 165

Option 3: An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
T and L or found in SYLVESTER STALLONE
Post Total: 20
Grand Total: 185

5.7 - Crimson And Clover
Help Thread
Read a book with a three-word TITLE that includes "AND" or "&".
Book: Moonlight and Margaritas
Completed: 1/28/19
Approved for length -- Line 1815
Points this Post: 5
Total Points: 265
Tasks Completed: 20

Task 30.7
Book 1: Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste
cork dork: A wine-Fueled adventure among the obsessive sommeliers, big BoTTlE huntER, and rogue scientists who taught me to live for TAstE
(Resolution #1. Eat better) - eat in TAstE, better in BoTTlE huntER
Book 2: (Resolution #5. Read more books) the word "more" can be found in the title of Love You More
Total 890

Songs THAT Sound Like Blood by Jared Thomas
Total this Post: 5
Golden Oldies: 1
Bigger is Better: 5
Season Total: 530

50.1 - Coralie's Task: Three Fictional Heroes - Repost
Book 1: What Next: A Memoir Toward World Peace
Book 2: The Ultra Fabulous Glitter Squadron Saves The World Again by A.C. Wise
Comics genre was overridden in Not Really a Comic Book thread, post 56
Book 3: Heads You Win
Total pages: 124 + 278 + 448 = 850
This post: 50 points
Total points: 415
BB: 5
GO: 0
Total tasks completed: 23
Total books read: 29

20.1 - Most Improved Player - Cordelia's Task: "And the winner is....."
Emergence - won the Compton Crook Award in 1985
This post: 20 points
Total points: 435
BB: 5
GO: 0
Total tasks completed: 24
Total books read: 30
30.4 - Dulcinella's task: Shoes, Letters, and Pancakes (in Belgium)
I chose tradition 2 - New Year.
For my first book, I read We. Found on p.2 of the Epistolary Fiction list.
I read the kindle edition, linked to the top MMPB - 232 pages.
For my second book, I read The Bartered Brides - 320 pages, so a 3 and a 2 in the number of pages.
Total pages - 552.
Total points: 730
I chose tradition 2 - New Year.
For my first book, I read We. Found on p.2 of the Epistolary Fiction list.
I read the kindle edition, linked to the top MMPB - 232 pages.
For my second book, I read The Bartered Brides - 320 pages, so a 3 and a 2 in the number of pages.
Total pages - 552.
Total points: 730

30.2 Feliz Navidad. Read two books, from two different options. Books read for this task must total a minimum of 500 pages.
Option B: Read a book by a single author whose initials (including middle initial, if used) are in EYDIE GORME Y LOS PANCHOS
I read N is for Noose by Sue Grafton . 368 pgs
Option C: Read a book with FOOD or FOOD AND DRINK on the Goodreads main page genre list. May be stand alone or imbedded.
I read Delicious! by Ruth Reichl. 380 pgs.
368+380 = 748 > 500

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good Helen Tursten
5 short stories
Points 5
Total points 95

15.10 - National Book Awards
The National Book Award winners for 2018 have been announced. Read one of the books that won the award, was a finalist, or was on the longlist for the award in 2018. There are several categories, and you may choose a book from any of the categories. Normal SRC rules apply, so be sure to check page length and applicability of childrens book rules.
The Fiction category is here. Click on the specific category buttons to see the winners, finalists, and longlist books in each category.
REQUIRED State in your post which category your book was in.
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
* 2018 Fiction category
Points this post: 15
Books claimed this post: 1
Total Points: 430
Tasks completed: 26
Tasks in progress: 0
Books read: 31
Big Book tickets: 2 (500+) 1 (750+)
Golden Oldies tickets: 0
Total pages read: 11,448

Task #20.1 - And the winner is....
Read a book that has won a literary award. Any award will do. I read Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, which won both the Anthony and Edgar awards for 2018.
Points so far: 390

15.9
Hand visible on cover
Side Effect by Lulu Jones

ARC read
Length verification for ebook: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Total 605

15.5 Secret Identity - Read a book by a single author who writes under more than one name. You may read a book written under any of the names that the author uses. REQUIRED: If the GR record or author bio does not show that the author writes under more than one name, include a link to a source establishing this.
I read A Widow's Story by Joyce Carol Oates. She also has published works under the names Rosamond Smith and Lauren Kelly.

Option 2:
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Published in 2007
top mmpb has 360 pages.
New total: 365

30.5 - Mazza1's Task: A world of books
Book 1. Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with ANY letter of your READERBOARD name. Set in Russia (I live in the USA):

Book 2. Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with one of the initials of the author of Book 1, including middle initials. Garth Nix is from Australia:

Points
This Post: 30
Total Points: 430
Completed Tasks: 30
Books Read: 44

15.6 - My Personal Hero
Read a NONFICTION biography or autobiography of someone who you consider to be a hero. REQUIRED: Briefly explain why this person is one of your personal heroes.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Personally, I was very moved by this book. Joan is one of the very best writers out there.
Points this post: 15
Total points: 210
Total Books: 21
Total Tasks: 18
Golden Oldies this post: 0
Total Golden Oldies: 0
Big Book Tickets this post: 0
Total Big Book Tickets: 5

2. New Year
Book 1 - Almost Like Being in Love
#89 on p.1 of the Epistolary Fiction list
Book 2 - Oh, Florida!: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country
320 pages
Total points: 170 + 30 = 200

task 25. 4 Diana K's Task: Happy 200th Illinois
Opt 4-Read a book that has the word corn, soybean, swine or its equivalents, pig or hog, found intact in the title
The Pig Did It
Opt 5- Read a book with a picture of a paved road, train tracks, or an airport on the
The Bridge of Sighs

Points this task 25
Total points 165
Total BB's 1

Book 1. Read a book written by a single author whose initials (First, Middle if applicable, and Last) can be found in KIDDIELAND.
Book read: The Count of Monte Cristo
How it fits: Author's(Alexandre Dumas) initials are AD
First published in 1844, claiming 1 GO Ticket
Pages: 1451 (MMPB Edition: El conde de Montecristo), claiming 3 BB Tickets. This edition is approved to be used for page number here
Book 2. Read a book that has a word in its TITLE (not subtitle) of at least 4 letters that can be made from the letters in EXCHANGERATE.
Book read: Three Mages and a Margarita
How it fits: The word Three in the title
Pages: 312 (PB Edition: Three Mages and a Margarita)
Total Pages: 1763
**************************
Total points: 525
Books read: 41
Tasks completed: 29
BB Tickets: 12
GO Tickets: 5

30.6 - Dlmrose's Task: Naming Names
Book 1: Read a book by a single author with a heroic name from the list of Hero Names.
A Dog's Journey The name I chose is Bruce
Book 2: Name your own hero
Using the Superhero Name Generator
Click “Get Hero Names” ONE time.
Record the results.
Read a book with a TITLE that includes one of the words, excluding THE, from the names generated. Subtitles are excluded.
My list:
The Blue Sword
The Thunder Commando
The Defiant Defender
The Brass Eagle
Golden Ant
Captain Smooth Killer
Outrageous Assassin
Doctor Royal Sword
Dark Flame <<--- using this one
Doctor Juggernaut
Dark Matter
Points this task: 30
-------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative Totals

Big Books - 500+: 0
Big Books - 750+: 0
Golden Oldies: 2
Tasks completed 13

15.2 Winter or Summer
Bk 1: Winter by Ali Smith
Bk 2: Summer at the Cornish Cafe by Phillipa Ashley
Points: 15
Total Points: 535

10.5 - Remembering Stan Lee
Read a book first published between 1941 and 1996.

Points
This Post: 10
Total Points: 430
Completed Tasks: 31
Books Read: 45

25.8 - Amy "the book-bat"'s Task: It's Cookie Time!
Book 1: Read a book that was first published in 1917, 1933, or 1937.
Their Eyes Were Watching God (first published 1937)
claiming 1 GO ticket
Book 2: Read a book with a cookie on the cover. You may use the list Cookies on the Cover for inspiration. The book does not have to be on the list - this is just to give you some ideas. REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.

Points this task: 25
Total points: 390
Golden Oldies ticket requests: 3
Big Book ticket requests: 5
Books read: 32
Tasks completed: 26

Option 1: Read a book with a mpg of Young Adult.
Landline
Genre was approved in help thread message #2 and #15
Option 2: Read a book by an author who shares a first or last name of an actor who played a hero from this list of movies
In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje author share a name with #47 Michael Keaton who played Batman.
New Points: 30
Total Challenge Points: 450
GO's: 9

10.2 - Every Day Heroes
every day hero: veterinarian
A Handful of Happiness: How a Prickly Creature Softened a Prickly Heart byMassimo Vacchetta
+10
total: 95
tasks: 6
books: 7
total GOs: 1

Book 1: Pick one resolution and read a book that has all the letters in that resolution in the title/ subtitle. REQUIRED: State which resolution you used.
Coming of Age in Mississippi: The Classic Autobiography of a Young Black Girl in the Rural South (1968) by Anne Moody (Paperback, 424 pages) [921/Biography]
10. Focus more on appearance
COMiNg OF agE in miSsissiPPi: thE ClAssic AutObiogRAphy of gRowiNg Up poor and black in thE rural south
FOCUS: OF Coming Up miSsissippi
MORE: cOMing gRowing agE
ON: autObiography growiNg
APPEARANCE: clAssic mississiPPI thE AutobiogRAphy comiNg Classic thE
Book 2: Pick a different resolution and read a book that has a word of at least 3 letters from that resolution in the title/subtitle. Words must match exactly. REQUIRED: State which resolution you used.
1. Eat better
Better Homes and Corpses (Hamptons Home & Garden Mysteries #1) (2015) by Kathleen Bridge (Goodreads Author) (Mass Market Paperback, 292 pages)
130 + 30 = 160
Tasks Completed: 11
Points for this post: 30
Points thus far: 130 + 30 = 160
Books read: 13
Pages read: 3,799
Read but not claimed: 08
Goodreads Authors: 03
Golden Oldies: 01
Big Books:
(1) 500+
(0) 750+
(0) 1,000+

Book 1: Read a book with a one word title of at least four letters that begins and ends with the SAME vowel.
ArcadiA by Di Morrissey
400 pages
Book 2: Read a book with a one word title of at least four letters that begins and ends with a consonant, which does NOT have to be the same consonant.
SalvatioN by Peter F. Hamilton
1x Big Book Tickets (532 pages)
Total pages read: 932
Total this Post: 30
Golden Oldies: 1
Bigger is Better: 6
Season Total: 560

15.9 - Hoodie-Hoo Day!
Read a book with one or more hands showing on its cover.

Read the kindle edition. PB reference link here
Points this Task: 15
Books Read: 1
Golden Oldie/Big Book: No
Total Points: 280
Tasks Completed: 18
Golden Oldies: 2
Big Book tickets: 2

Option 3-1, a book written by a woman AND with a woman as a main character: The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal
The main character is Maggie Hope.
hardcover edition The Prisoner in the Castle 336 pages
Option 3-2, a book with author named Mary: The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews
paperback edition The High Tide Club 448 pages
Points this post: 30
Total points: 365

25.4 - Diana K's Task: Happy 200th Illinois
Opt 3 Read a book by an author born or currently living in Illinois.
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
pub 1939 Claiming 1 GO ticket
opt 5 Read a book with a picture of a paved road, train tracks, or an airport on the cover.
The Last Mile

There is a paved road on cover.
Claiming 1 GO ticket this post
Total GO tickets: 3

Choosen Winter Tradition: 2. New Year
Book 1: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
List: Epistolary Fiction - First Page (Nr. 14)
Book 2: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
531 pages (contains the numbers 3 and 1)
Total Points: 115

25.6 - Sandy's Task: They Go Together
Book 1: Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost
311 pages
Book 2: Smukke løgne by Lisa Unger
444 pages according to Mass Market Paperback: Beautiful Lies
Points this post: 25
Total points: 270
Big book tickets: 4
Golden Oldies tickets: 3
Tasks completed: 15

20.1 - Most Improved Player - Cordelia's Task: "And the winner is....."
Read a book that has won a literary award.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
The book has won the Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award for Best Novella in 2017
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 290
Books Read: 22
Golden Oldies: 0
Big Books:500+(0)750+(1)1000+(0)

25.9 - Brooke TX's Task: Winter Solstice
Book 1: Read a book with a title of at least two words, where the initial letters of all of the words in the title can be found in the phrase THE LONGEST NIGHT.
Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch
The inital letters of the title LS can be found in the LongeSt night
I read the Kindle version, but the paperback has 430 pages: Lies Sleeping
Book 2: Read a book with a title of at least two words, where the initial letters of all of the words in the title can be found in the phrase THE SHORTEST DAY.
Agents of Dreamland by Caitlín R. Kiernan
The inital letters of title AOD can be found in the shOrtest DAy
I read the Kindle Version, but the paperback has 125 pages: Agents of Dreamland
Points this post: 25
Total Points: 315
Books Read: 24
Golden Oldies: 0
Big Books:500+(0)750+(1)1000+(0)

Read a book FIRST published in October, November or December of any year.
Book read: Murder After Midnight
How it fits: first published in October 2017
**************************
Total points: 530
Books read: 42
Tasks completed: 30
BB Tickets: 12
GO Tickets: 5

30.1 Schatzie’s Gotta Love the Hero
Opt. 2. I read Complete Stories 1898–1910 by Henry James. Author shares the name James with James Stewart, #s 8 and 11 on the list.
Opt. 3 New to me book in a series (not no. 1 in series) which has a hero. I read The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor, I have not read this book, #3 in this series, before. The hero is “Binti” for whom the series is named.
CLAIM 2 BB Tickets for Complete Stories 1898-1910 at 960 pp.
Points This Post: 30
Total Points So Far: 595
Big Books So Far: 500+ (2) 750+ (1) = 4 BBs

Task 50.1
Book 1 – As the titles of the books in this series all begin with What, When, Why, Where, or Who, read a book with a title that begins with one of these words.
When in French: Love in a Second Language 256 pages
Book 2 – read a book by a single author whose Goodreads name has just initials and a last name.
To Sir, With Love by E.R. Braithwaite 189 pages
Book 3 – read a book with a main page genre of Historical Fiction.
Above the East China Sea 317 pages
256+189+317=762
Total points: 395
15.2 - Winter or Summer?
For my first book, I read The Winter of the Witch. I listened to the audiobook, linked to the top pb edition (no MMPB).
For my second book, I read A Demon Summer. I read the kindle edition, linked to the top pb edition (no MMPB).
Total points: 745
For my first book, I read The Winter of the Witch. I listened to the audiobook, linked to the top pb edition (no MMPB).
For my second book, I read A Demon Summer. I read the kindle edition, linked to the top pb edition (no MMPB).
Total points: 745

15.5 Secret Identity
Single author who writes under more than one name.
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
*Author also publishes as E. Annie Proulx. (Approved in Help message 8.)
Points this post: 15
Total GO tix: 2
Total BB tix: 2
Total points: 225

Task 5.8 Read an anthology or collection of at least 3 short stories, novellas, or essays (or any combination).
The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories
Points this task 5
Total Points 170
Total BB's 1

15.9 - Hoodie-Hoo Day!
One or more hands showing on its cover
Passing

*Claiming 1 GO ticket - first published in 1929.
Points this post: 15
GO this post:1
Total GO tix: 3
Total BB tix: 2
Total points: 240

5.8 - Go Short
Read an anthology or collection of at least 3 short stories, novellas, or essays (or any combination).
Match for the Holidays: Three Holiday Novellas by Eden Winters
Points this post: 5
Total points: 215
Total Books: 22
Total Tasks: 19
Golden Oldies this post: 0
Total Golden Oldies: 0
Big Book Tickets this post: 0
Total Big Book Tickets: 5
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25.8 - Amy "the book-bat"'s Task: It's Cookie Time!
Book 1: The Hobbit (first published in 1937)
Book 2:
Note that I listened to the audio version which has the approved cover. The paperback copy of Brownies and Broomsticks has 323 pages which combines with the 366 pages of The Hobbit to exceed the 500 pages required.
Points this post: 25
Total points: 340