The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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WINTER CHALLENGE 2019
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Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD

0.4 - Golden Oldies - Perletwo's Task: Everything Old is New Again, and Again and Again
Read a book from this list: Mythologies and Retellings of Fairy Tales and Classics.
Required: State the page on which your book can be found.
The Beekeeper's Apprentice
on Page 3 currently number 297 of that list
points this post = 20
points to date = 375

20.8 - Nickels & Dimes - MEGSCL's Task: Title Tropes
Option 1: The Thrilling Woman
Read a book with mystery or thriller as a main page genre and the word 'girl" 'wife' or 'woman' in the title.
Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka
Contains the word 'girl' in title and has both 'Mystery' and 'Thriller' as genre on the main book page.
Points this post: 20
Total points to date: 60

20.9 - Moderator's Pet - Sarah Ruth's Task: Can You Keep A Secret?
Option 1: read a book that has the word "Secret" found intact in the TITLE.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Points this post: 20
Total points to date: 80
15.7 - Stand Alone
I read The Gifted School, a stand alone book. I read the kindle edition, linked to the top pb (no MMPB).
total points: 90
I read The Gifted School, a stand alone book. I read the kindle edition, linked to the top pb (no MMPB).
total points: 90

30.6
Book 1 opt 2 Popular punny book list
Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett
p3 on list
425p
Book 2 opt 1 Piers Anthony only author
A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony
244p
Total 70

30.6 - Aprilleigh’s Task: The World of Xanth
Book 1:
Option 2:
Monster Hunter International, finished 12/19
How it fits: Page 1 of the list
Book 2:
Option 2:
The Mechanical, finished 12/8
How it fits: Author - Ian Tregillis (IT in PIERS ANTHONY)
Points: 30
Total points: 105

30.4 DlmRose’s Old MacDonald
Book 1. I read Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan.
E I in vEIl
E I in jEnnIfer
O in bOylan
Book 2. Option 2. I read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami with the word “Talk” in the title. According to the list, parrots talk.
Points This Post: 30
Total Points So Far: 200

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Number 67 on page 1
Post Points: 20
Total Points: 105
Big Book Tickets: 2
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1

Task #5.9
Read a book with a title of at least 3 words for which the initial letter of each word in the title can be found in Neustadt International Prize for Literature. I read The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen (TA in Neustadt, F in For).
Total points so far: 65

☆ ☆ 25.7 ~ Double Duty – Pulitzer Prizes
Task Description ~ This is a two book task. Read one Book 1 and one Book 2.
Book 1
Read a book with at least one word in the TITLE which has a set of consecutive double letters. Subtitles are excluded.

Completed ~12.6.19
Pages ~ 332
☆ ☆ ☆
Book 2
Read a book written by a winning author or finalist from one of these Pulitzer Prize lists:
Fiction, 1948 to the present..
REQUIRED ~ State the category and year of the win/finalist.
Fiction 2017 winner

Completed ~12.19.19
Pages ~ 306
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
________________________________________
Points this post ~ 25
Total Points ~ 150
Tasks Completed ~ 8
Books Read This Season ~ 12
Pages Read This Season ~ 4226

10.7 - I Have a Dream
I read Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, which is on the first page of the Books by Black Authors list.
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 10

Task #20.8 - Title Tropes
Option 2:Read a book with at least five words in the title including a full name (first name and surname). I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Points so far: 85

Task #5.4 - That's a Strange Title!
Read a book with an odd number of words in its title. I read The End of the Sentence by Maria Dahvana Headley and Kat Howard.
Total points so far: 90

California Dreamin' by Pénélope Bagieu
Sequential Arts > Graphic Novels
Biography
Nonfiction
Post Points: 15
Total points: 120
Big Book Tickets: 2
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1

15.3 Spin the Wheel
Using Option 2 - one book
Option 2: Read one book that fulfills book 1 AND book 2.
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
Read the kindle version. Top MMPB: here
Book 1 (ALL the letters R, S, T, L, N and E in the title, subtitle and/or author's name ):
R, S, T in chRiSTmas; L in caroL, N, E in dickENs
Book 2 (ALL the Most Frequently Chosen Letters C, D, M and A in the title, subtitle and/or author's name):
C, A in ChArles; M in christMas; D in Dickens
Golden Oldie: First published in 1843
Points this task: 15
Books read: 1
Golden oldie: 1 – first published in 1843
Big book: No
Total points: 45
Tasks completed: 3
Golden oldies: 1
Big Book tickets: 0

25.6 2019
Opt 1: All City by Alex DiFrancesco
published in 2019
Opt 2: The Test by Sylvain Neuvel
Author's initials S N in TWO THOUSAND AND NINETEEN
Points: 25
Total points: 185

Option 2:

Page 1, #4
Option 3:

Word: HEART; sTEp bAck fRom tHe yarn
Points This Post: 30
Total Points: 160
Books Read: 11
Completed Tasks: 6
BB tickets: 0
BB Tickets to Date: 0
GO tickets: 0
GO Tickets to Date: 0

I read Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America by Nefertiti Austin
(NA author initials in NAtional)
Total Points: 5

10.10 - Overlooked?
Help Thread
Read a popular book (over 10,000 ratings) that has never won or been nominated for a literary award (according to Goodreads).
Book: Kulti
Completed: 12/13/19
35193 ratings, No Awards
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 10
Tasks Completed: 1

20.6 - Seasoned Reader - Zach's Task: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Choose one option.
Option 2: Looking Forward
Read an award-winning book that has a standalone genre of "Science Fiction" OR a genre of "Science Fiction > Dystopia" or "Science Fiction > Utopia". The award must be present on the book's main page.
Book: Illuminae
Completed: 12/15/19
MPG Science Fiction
Award: Aurelis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel 2015
Points this Post: 20
Total Points: 30
Tasks Completed: 2

25.5 - Kaora's Task: All Work and Some Play...
Pick two places and complete the task for each.
Required: Make sure you indicate the options you have selected when you post.
Option 1: Palm Springs, CA
Read a book with at least two of these numbers in the page total: 0, 1, 3, 4, 8.
Book: Beard Science
Completed: 12/3/19
Pages: 384
Option 4: Albuquerque, NM
Read a book by a single author whose initials are in ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FESTIVAL.
Book: The Knocked up Plan
Author: Lauren Blakely
Points this Post: 25
Total Points: 55
Tasks Completed: 3

While you're waiting for the ball (or apple, or acorn, or whatever) to drop, read a book in which the digits in the page count decrease sequentially (ex: 210, 321, 432, 543, 1098, etc.).
The Trojan War Museum and Other Stories (2019) by Ayse Papatya Bucak (female) (Goodreads Author) (Hardcover, 210 pages)
PAGECOUNT: 2-1-0
00 + 10 = 10
Tasks Completed: 01
Points for this post: 10
Points thus far: 00 + 10 = 10
Books read: 01
Pages read: 210
Read but not claimed: 04
Goodreads Authors: 01
Golden Oldies: 00
Big Books:
(0) 500+
(0) 750+
(0) 1,000+

25.15 - Sarah E's Task: Do You Want to Build a Snowman?
Book 1: Option 2 - Coal for the eyes and buttons
Read a book with black text anywhere on the cover.
I read Recursion by Blake Crouch.

Book 2: Option 4 - Sticks for the arms
Read a book by a single author whose first and last name initials are found in STICKS or TWIGS.
I read Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh.
The author’s initials are found in StickS
Points This Task: 25
Total Points to Date: 95

25.3 TraceyL's TAsk: Crime Writers Awards
Option 1: Color word in title
Blue - I'll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos I'll Be Your Blue Sky
Option 3: author born in Iceland
The Silence of the Sea by Yrsa Sigardardottir The Silence of the Sea
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Points this post: 25
Total Points: 180

Challenge 5.5. Try to Count Them.
Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block.
Fantasy is MPG.
Points this post: 5
Total points: 260
Tasks completed: 18/64
Books read: 21

Challenge 15.5 Lady With A Lamp
Not a Sound by Heather Gudenkauf.
Points this post: 15
Total points: 275
Tasks completed: 19/64
Books read: 22

10.2 Comfort Food I read Cook90: The 30-Day Plan for Faster, Healthier, Happier Meals by David Tamarkin, with a GR genre of “Food and Drink.”
Points This Post: 10
Total Points So Far: 210

25.11 - SandyL's Task: Rescue Me!
This is a two book task. Choose two options and read one book from each. Your books should total at least 500 pages.
Option 1: Read a book found on the Great "Dog" Books list.
Required: State the page.
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley (305 pgs) - Page 1 of list, currently #71
Lily and the Octopus
Option 3: Read a book written by an author whose first and last initials can be found in the phrase RESCUE DOGS.
Letters can be used only as often as they appear in the target phrase.
We Met in December by Rosie Curtis (400 pages)
We Met in December
This Task: 25 points
Total Points: 80 points

25.14 Cat's Task: Celebrating Trafalgar Square
Option C - Retail
Read a book with a title of at least 3 words where the beginning letter of each word is in SEASONAL WARMTH.
Words on the Move: Why English Won't—and Can't—Sit Still by John McWhorter
seasOnal WarMTh
Option D - Art
Read a book from the list Novels About Motherhood.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is on page 1 (#38).
points this post; 25
Total points to date: 175

5.4. That's a Strange Title!
Read a book with an odd number of words in its title - subtitles are excluded.
Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox
Points this task: 5
Golden Oldies Ticket This Task: 0
Big Book Ticket This Task: 0
Total Points to date: 40
Total Golden Oldies Tickets: 0
Total Big Book Tickets: 0

25.1 - Andy P.’s Task: Learning the Alphabet - Book 1. Read a book which does NOT contain an M or an N in the title or subtitle.
False Prophet
Option 2: Read a book whose TITLE contains the letters LO in sequence. Subtitles are excluded.
Plot It Yourself
Points this task: 25
Total points: 255
Golden Oldies ticket requests: 1
Big Book ticket requests: 0
Books read: 19
Tasks completed: 16

Option 2: Looking Forward
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
❆ MPG "Science Fiction"; winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Graphic Novel/Comics (2018) ❆
Total points: 65 + 20 = 85

5.7 Play Those Words!: musical instrument on the cover (piano)

Next Song I Sing by Donna McDonald
(I read the ebook & have linked to the PB)
Points this post: 5
Total points: 150
Tasks completed: 9
Books read: 12
BB tix this post: 0
Total BB tix: 3
GO tix this post: 0
Total GO tix: 0

20.7 Be Better
Option 3: author name contains E and D
Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber
(I listened to the audiobook & have linked to the PB)
Points this post: 20
Total points: 170
Tasks completed: 10
Books read: 13
BB tix this post: 0
Total BB tix: 3
GO tix this post: 0
Total GO tix: 0

OPTION 2: Read a book by an author who shares a first or last name with the name of a book award or with the person that an award was named for.
Shadowplay by Joseph O'Connor
Award = Joseph Levenson Book Prize
Points this post: 20
TOTAL POINTS: 40
Golden Oldies: -
Big Book Tickets: - (500+); - (750+)
Total tasks completed: 2
Total books read: 2

25.2 - Mazza1's Task: Discussions with Santa
Choose ONE of the Following 3 options and Read BOOKS 1 and 2 from that option.
Your books should total at least 500 pages
Option 1
Book 1 - Read a book with ALL the letters of NO PLASTIC in the title and / or subtitle
Fresh Complaint 285 pages
N - complaiNt
0- cOmplaint
PLA - comPLAint
S- freSH
T- complainT
I - complaInt
C- Complaint
AND
Book 2 - Read a book which contains the word “TOY”, “LIBRARY ” or "WHIRL" in the TITLE. Subtitles are excluded. The word must match exactly.
The Library of the Unwritten 375 pages
Page count = 285 + 375 = 660 exceeds requirement
points this post = 25
Points to date = 400

OPTION 3: Read a book written by a single author whose first and last name initials can be found in either SPECTRE or MELTDOWN.
A Mercy by Toni Morrison
Initials in MelTdown
Points this post: 20
TOTAL POINTS: 60
Golden Oldies: -
Big Book Tickets: - (500+); - (750+)
Total tasks completed: 3
Total books read: 3

OPTION 1: Read a book first published in 1969 to 2019 inclusive.
Blood And Circuses by Kerry Greenwood
(Published 1994)
OPTION 3: Read a book written by a single author whose first or last name matches a human Sesame Street character's name.
Athelstan: The Making of England by Tom Holland
(Character = Tom (1977-1978))
Points this post: 30
TOTAL POINTS: 90
Golden Oldies: -
Big Book Tickets: - (500+); - (750+)
Total tasks completed: 4
Total books read: 5

15.10 - Get 'Em While They're Hot
Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean
First published in 2019
~~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 65/1165
Total Books Read: 6
Tasks Completed: 6/64

10.8 - Leap Year
☁ A book first published in a year that contains double consecutive digits.
Introducing Walter Benjamin: A Graphic Guide by Howard Caygill, Andrzej Klimowski & Alex Coles
1st published: March 16th 1994
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Current Post
Points: 10
GO: -
BB: -
Total
Points: 60
GO: -
BB: -

25.6 - Cordelia's Task: 2019
Book 1: Option 1:
True Places, finished 12/20
How it fits: First published January 1, 2019
Book 2: Option 3
The Vanishing Season, finished 12/7
How it fits: Author - Dot Hutchison
Points this task: 25
Total points: 140

Task 25.1 - Learning the Alphabet
Book One - book that does NOT contain M or N in title/subtitle
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Book Two Opt 1 - Book where author's name has BOTH an M and an N
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
eriN Morgenstern
Points this Post: 25
Total Points: 270
Total Tasks: 14
Golden Oldies: 0
Big Books: 3
Total Books: 20

20.7- Shorter is Sweeter - Queen Bee Darlene's Task: Be Better
Option 3: Book with both E and D in author's name.
Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse. Claiming a Golden Oldie ticket for a publication date in 1933.
Total Points: 55/1165
Total Books Read: 5
Tasks Completed: 3/64
Big Books Total:
Golden Oldies Total: 2

I read Doctor Who: The Legends of Ashildr. The title letters can be found in WINTER WONDERLAND
Points this task: 10
Total points: 25
Books read: 2
Tasks completed: 2

30.4 - Dlmrose's Task: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Book 1: Here and There (EIEIO)
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
Book 2 On That Farm. Option 1. Animal in title (Dove)
The Plague of Doves
TOTAL TO DATE
105 points
2 big books

25.2 Discussions with Santa
Option 2
Bk 1: Cauldron by Jack McDevitt
Set in space.
373 pages
Bk 2: Nothing But the Night by John Williams
Title contains "NOTHING"
127 pages
first published 1948 - I would like to claim 1 GO ticket.
Total number of pages: 500
Points: 25
Total points: 210
GO Tickets: 1

Task # 25.5 - Kaora's Task: All Work and Some Play...
Option 1. Read a book with at least two of these numbers in the page total: 0, 1, 3, 4, 8. Dead Man Running by Steve Hamilton 304 p.
Option 3 Read a book with some sort of boat on the cover

Points this post: 25
Total points: 170
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10.4 Snuggle Up
Book with the letters GG in the title
Cuckoo's Egg
Total to date 60 points