THE FALL/WINTER CHALLENGE (Oct 1 - Dec 31)

[Jen B]

The Rules:
1. The challenge runs from October 1 – December 31, 2009
2. Anyone may join in at any time, and count any books read between October 1 and December 31.
3. Books do not have to be specifically from Red Dress Ink or specifically chick lit.
4. You may only complete each task ONCE. Likewise, books may only count for ONE task.
5. To post points: Post the point value and number of the task you completed, as well as the book you read for the task.
6. For multiple-book tasks: Unless specified in the task (see 15.3), books do NOT need to be read back-to-back, or in any specific order, BUT you must have read ALL the books for a task in order to be awarded points for it (no "half points").
7. Audiobooks and e-books are acceptable to use for challenges, as long as they are the complete and unabridged versions.
8. Books started before October 1 may count for any task in the challenge, as long as you are no more than halfway through the book as of October 1.
9. You may change the books on your list at any time. You only need to let me know about the change if you are changing books for a task for which you have already claimed points.
10. Re-reads of books are okay, unless the task specifically says otherwise.
11. The first person to complete every task in the challenge is the winner. If no one completes every task in the challenge, then the people with the top 3 scores will be declared the winners.
12. Prizes for the top 3 finishers:
First Place – A $10 Amazon.com gift certificate
Second Place – Two credits from either BookMooch or Paperbackswap.com (your choice)
Third Place – A book

[Jen B]

5 POINT TASKS

1. Spooky Story Hour - For Halloween, read a book with any of the following words in the title: witch, ghost, vampire, demon, werewolf, costume, Frankenstein, magic, sorcery, candy, spooky, devil, etc. Examples: Sorcery and the Single Girl (Mindy Klasky), Every Demon has His Day (Cara Lockwood), Magic and the Modern Girl (Mindy Klasky), Wednesday Night Witches (Lee Nichols)

2 Author(s) of the Month (Tara’s Task) - Read a book whose title starts with O, N, or D (for October, November, December) or by an author whose name (first or last) starts with one of those letters. Examples: Deborah Blumenthal, Daniella Brodsky, Lisa Daily, Dee Davis, Kyra Davis, Nadine Haobsh, Clare Naylor, Fiona Neill, Lee Nichols, Elizabeth Noble, Jennifer O’Connell, Tyne O’Connell, Erica Orloff

3 Vote for Me! (Courtney’s Task) - In the Polls section, create a poll of 5 books you want to read and have everyone else choose one for you.

4. Oops! - Read a book with the word Accident (or any variation) in the title. Examples: Accidental It Girl (Libby Street), The Accidental Virgin (Valerie Frankel), The Accidental Diva (Tia Williams)

5. Hispanic Culture - For All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1) and Day of the Dead (Nov. 2), read a book with either the word Saint (or the abbreviation St.) OR Dead in either the title or author’s name. Examples: (Author name) Rocki St. Claire; (Books) Dating Can Be Deadly; Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead; Love You to Death; Dead Until Dark

6. Because I Said So (Tara’s Task) - Read a book on another member's “Read” bookshelf on Goodreads because they have suggested it.

7. Fashionably Read (Kristine’s Task) - Read a book with something to do with fashion or whose title contains an article of clothing. Examples: A Dangerous Dress (Julia Holden), A Girl Like Moi: The Fashion Forward Adventures of Imogene (Lisa Barham), Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown (Adena Halpern)

8. Ghouls, Turkeys, and Sleighs (Alicia’s Task) - Read a book that has any holiday from Halloween through New Years in it. Examples: Scenes From a Holiday (Various), Thanksgiving (Janet Evanovich), An Idiot Girl’s Christmas (Laurie Notaro)

9. Finish it Up (Tara’s Task) - Finish a book you've started before but put down.

10. Club Picks (Alicia’s Task) - Read a book that is (or has been) another group’s book club choice. This group could be your own book club (outside of Red Dress Ink), another group on Goodreads, any of Oprah's Book Club picks, etc.

10 POINT TASKS

1 You Live Where?! (Courtney’s Task) - Read a book written by an author who lives in your state/city.

2. Vacation: All I Ever Wanted (Courtney’s Task) - Read a book set in a place you have visited or would like to visit.

3. Yo Momma! (Kristine’s task) - Read a book about parenting. Examples: The Yummy Mummy (Polly Williams), Admissions (Nancy Lieberman)

4. Columbus Day is October 12th - Read a book whose author has “Chris” in part of their first or last name or is a name or part of a name in the title or the main character. Example: Chris Manby (Author), Kate Christensen (author), Chris Dyer (author)

5. Thanksgiving is November 26th – Read a book that relates to the thing you are most thankful for and tell what that is when you’ve completed the task. (Thanks to the Seasonal Challenge Club for this one!)

6. Christmas is December 25th - Read a book with any of the following in the title or on the cover: Christmas, Santa, presents, gift, bow, decoration, etc. Example: The Gift Bag Chronicles (Hillary De Vries)

7. A Wedding Story (Kristine’s Task) - Read a book about the main character being involved in a wedding (either getting married or a bridesmaid). Examples: Always the Bridesmaid (Sarah Webb), The Wedding Girl (Madeline Wickham), Something Borrowed (Emily Giffin)

8 Who Won? (Alicia’s Task) - Read a book that has won an award. It could as prestigious as the Pulitzer or as simple as some magazine/bookstore's Top Books of 2008. Examples: To Kill a Mockingbird (Pulitzer link for fiction: http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Fiction), Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (Top 100 Customer Favorites of 2008 – Amazon.com – link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/re...) NPR’s Best Books 2008 (link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...), Goodreads Best Books of 2008 (link: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4.Bes...)

9. Getting Paid - Read a book where one of the main characters has the same profession as you do, OR has your dream job.

10. Write, Write, Write - Read an epistolary novel (a novel told in the form of letters/correspondence or a diary). Examples: Holly’s Inbox (Holly Denham), Love, Rosie (Cecelia Ahern), Meg Cabot’s Boy Series, Bridget Jones’s Diary (Helen Fielding), Georgia Nicholson series (Louise Rennison).

[Jen B]

15 POINT TASKS
1. I Have Two Names (Kristine’s Task) - Read a book that has more than one title. Example: Rosie Dunne/Where Rainbows End (Cecelia Ahern), Love @ First Site/dot.homme (Jane Moore), Away Laughing on a Fast Camel/….and Then it Came Off in My Hand (Louise Rennison)

2. Sweetest Day is October 17th - Read TWO books: one with the word Sweet in the title and one with the word Day in the title. Examples: Sweet Love (Sarah Strohmeyer),The Sweetest Taboo (Carole Matthews), Every Demon Has His Day (Cara Lockwood), Bad Heir Day (Wendy Holden)

3. Back to Back - Read a book and read its sequel. Books should be read back to back. They can be any two books from a series (not necessarily books 1 & 2), but should be read in order: i.e. read book 3 then book 4, not book 5 then 8.

4. Double the GR Love - Read TWO books by 2 different Goodreads authors.

5. It’s Enormous! - Read a book with more than 500 pages.

25 POINT TASKS
1. OCB - The birthstones for October, November and December are Opal (multi-colored), Citrine (golden yellow) and Blue Topaz. Read THREE books where one of these stones (or colors):
- Is named in each title OR
- Is part of the author's name OR
- Is the main color of the book cover (must post a picture of the book to get credit for this).
Note: Opal is really hard so a book with A LOT of different colors on it will work. Examples: Around the World in 80 Dates (main color on cover is blue) (Jennifer Cox), Burning the Map (main color on cover is golden yellow) (Laura Caldwell), Author Opal Carew

2. Alphabetical Order (Alicia’s Task) - Read THREE books all starting with 3 sequential letters in the alphabet. You don’t have to start with letter A (i.e. L, M, N will work).

3. Feel Young Again - Read THREE YA novels from a series. They don’t have to be from the beginning but they do have to be consecutive. Examples: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, Georgia Nicholson series, Meg Cabot’s Princess series, the Twilight series, the A-List series

4. How Random (Jen’s Task) - To find your THREE books for this task, do the following: 1) Go to your To-Read list on Goodreads, and sort the list by Date Added in Edit View. You should see that every book has a number, according to when you added it to the list (i.e. #1 is the first book you added to the list, #2 is the second, and so on). 2) Go to www.random.org. Using the Random Number Generator, type in 1 as the Min. number and the total number of books on your To-Read list as the Max number. (mine is 597, so I'd enter 1 and 597). Click Generate to generate a random number. 3) Find the book on your To-Read list that corresponds with that random number. That's your first book for this task. Do the same thing for the next two books. 4) If you are unable to find the book corresponding to that number on your list, it's because you've either already read the book or have removed it from your list. Use the generator to generate numbers until you find a book you haven't yet read.

MIDWAY TASK (50 Points)
Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why?
Read THREE books whose titles each begin with a "question" word:
- Who (examples: Who You Know by Theresa Alan)
- What (examples: What Do You Do All Day? by Amy Scheibe, What A Girl Wants by Kristin billerbeck)
- Where (example: Where Have All the Boys Gone? by Amanda Colgan)
- When (example: When In Rome by Gemma Townley)
- Why (example: Why Not?, Why Girls Are Weird by Pamela Ribon)
- How (examples: How I Stole Her Husband by Liz Ireland, How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls by Zooey Dean)


Total Books: 43
Total Points: 375

[Jen B]

A big round of applause to Stacy for putting this whole thing together (I'm just posting it)!! Please post your lists when you come up with them so we can all see what you're planning to read!

[Jen B]

Morning sickness is gone, and despite a bad case of pregnant brain, it’s ON this time!! Here’s my list:

5 Point Tasks
5.1 A Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft – Mindy Klasky
5.2 One Year to an Organized Life - Regina Leeds (10/11/09)
5.3 Second Chance - Jane Green
5.4 TBD
5.5 Living Dead in Dallas – Charlaine Harris
5.6 On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God (several of you recommend these books)
(11/12/09)
5.7 The Next Big Thing - Johanna Edwards (main love interest is a fashion editor) (11/13/09)
5.8 Queen of Babble in the Big City - Meg Cabot (12/15/09)
5.9 A Hopeless Romantic - Harriet Evans
5.10 A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray (book choice in the Wild Things: YA Grown Up group) (10/15/09)

10 Point Tasks
10.1 Rain Song - Alice Wisler (who lives in Durham, NC)
10.2 Garlic and Sapphires - Ruth Reichl (set in NYC, one of my favorite places to visit) (10/26/09)
10.3 Mommy Tracked - Whitney Gaskell
10.4 Lethally Blonde - Kate White (one of the main characters is named Chris Wickersham) (11/29/09)
10.5 Second Helpings (10/26/09)
10.6 The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror - Christopher Moore (12/15/09)
10.7 A Total Waste of Makeup - Kim Gruenfelder
10.8 The Help - Kathryn Stockett (#1 on the Goodreads Best of 2009 List)(11/25/09)
10.9 Confections of a Closet Master Baker: One Woman's Sweet Journey from Unhappy Hollywood Executive to Contented Country Baker - Gesine Bullock-Prado (10/03/09)
10.10 The Boy Next Door – Meg Cabot (10/15/09)

15 Point Tasks
15.1 Dune Road – Jane Green (known in the UK as “Girl Friday”)(11/08/09)
15.2 The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray | The Ten Best Days of My Life - Adena Halpern
15.3 Three to Get Deadly - Janet Evanovich | Four to Score - Janet Evanovich
15.4 Behaving Badly - Isabel Wolff (12/09/09) | Frenemies - Megan Crane
15.5 Rebel Angels - Libba Bray (592 pages)

25 Point Tasks
25.1 Live From New York, It's Lena Sharpe - Courtney Litz (multicolored cover)| Seeing Me Naked - Liza Palmer (cover is yellow) |
25.2 Swimsuit - James Patterson (12/19/09)| This Lullaby - Sarah Dessen (12/17/09) | Uglies - Scott Westerfield (10/29/09)(S-T-U)
25.4 Nearlyweds – Beth Kendrick (#82) | Iggie’s House – Judy Blume (#574) | Testing Kate – Whitney Gaskell (#580)

Total Points: 135/325
Books Left to Read: 26

[Tara]

Thanks Jen and Stacy. I can't wait to start this challenge too.

[Alicia]

YAY!!! Thanks for posting this and taking the time to come up with everything. It looks a little harder than the last one but I have a week vacation scheduled for November where I plan on reading by the beach so it is so ON!!!

[Courtney]

I'm SO excited to start this challenge!!! Thanks Jen & Stacy! :)

[Dawn]

Very excited! I'm going to start working on my list tonight:)

[Kristine]

Thanks! This looks so much fun!

Congratulations Jen!!

[Alicia]

Question for: Sweetest Day is October 17th, could you do a book that had Birthday or Wednesday in the title for the the DAY portion? Or does Day just have to be a stand alone?

[Tara]

5 Point Tasks
5.1 Spooky Story Hour-Every Demon has his Day-Cara Lockwood
5.2 Author(s) of the month-Relentless-Dean Koontz
5.3 Vote for me!- Chasing Harry Winston-Lauren Weisenberger
5.4 Oops!-The Accidental-Ali Smith
5.5 Hispanic Culture-Undead and Unwed-Maryjanice Davidson
5.6 Because I said so-Columbine-Dave Cullen-Nadia gave this 5 stars
5.7 Fashionably Read-Gucci Mamas-Cate Kendall
5.8 Ghouls, Turkeys, and Sleighs-Scenes from a holiday-Various authors
5.9 Finish it up-Friday night knitting club-Kate Jacobs
5.10 Club Picks-Time Travelers Wife-Audrey Niffenegger-The Next Best Book Club recommended
10 Point Tasks
10.1 You live where?-Fat girls in lawn chairs-Cheryl Peck-The author is from Three Rivers, MI which is my hometown
10.2 Stories from Candyland-Candy Spelling
10.3 Yo Momma!-Mommywood-Tori Spelling
10.4 Columbus Day os October 12th-Seven Sunny Days-Chris Manby
10.5 Thanksgiving is November 26th-Henry's Sisters-Cathy Lamb
10.6 Christmas is December 25th-The Perfect Christmas-Debbie Macomber
10.7 A Wedding Story-Wedding Season-Darcy Cosper
10.8 Who Won?-Knit Two-Kate Jacobs (Amazon and Goodreads best books of 2008)
10.9 Getting Paid-Breathless-Dean Koontz
10.10 Write, Write, Write-?????

15 Point Tasks
15.1 Have two names-The Go-to-girl-Louise Bagshawe also known as Monday's Child
15.2 Sweetest Day is October 17th-Sweet love-Sarah Strohmeyer and One day at a time-Danielle Steel
15.3 Back to Back-Slightly Single and Slightly Settled by Wendy Markham
15.4 Gouble the GR love-Certain Girls-Jennifer Weiner and See Jane Date-Melissa Senate
15.5 It's Enormous-The girl with the dragon tattoo-Stieg Larsson
25 Point Tasks
25.1 OCB-Feels like family-Sherryl Woods (citrine cover), Welcome to serenity-Sherryl Woods (opal), Around the world in 80 dates-Jennifer Cox (blue topaz)
25.2 Forget me knot-Sue Margolis, Going Home-Harriet Evans, Hush, Hush-Becca Fitzpatrick
25.3 Feel Young Again-Startled by his furry pants, Love is a many trousered thing Stop in the name of pants by Louise Rennison
25.4 How Random-#323 Playdates-Leslie Carroll, #774 Post Grad-Emily Cassel, #488 Monkey Business-Sarah Mylnowski

[Jen B]

Alicia wrote: "Question for: Sweetest Day is October 17th, could you do a book that had Birthday or Wednesday in the title for the the DAY portion? Or does Day just have to be a stand alone?"

I think that since Stacy used the word "Sweetest" in one of her examples for Sweet, that "Birthday" would be acceptable for Day.

[Stacy]

Jen B wrote: "A big round of applause to Stacy for putting this whole thing together (I'm just posting it)!! Please post your lists when you come up with them so we can all see what you're planning to read!"

Thanks Jen! :)

[Stacy]

I planned on posting my list today, it's been all ready and set to go for quite a while now. But *erlack!* I was hit with a last-minute project at work (naturally) and didn't have time and the list is saved on my computer at work. Naughty me. :) Hopefully I can get my work done (I know, I never have anything to do normally....) quickly tomorrow so I can post it. I'm really excited for the next challenge.
I tried to make this one a teensy bit more challenging for those of you (ahem, Tara & Alicia, LOL) that will probably finish the current one. :)

Have fun ladies!!!

[Alicia]

I am going to have to wait until this weekend to post my list. I have been working on it little by little but I am staying at in-laws for the week watching their horrible dog, so I don't have access to my bookshelf. I have also been slowing down a little on the summer challenge too (oh no!). This challenge is definitely harder, but will be fun too!!

[Melanie]

This one is definitely harder but I'm looking forward to it (esp. since I'm much more organized this time and my list is almost done and will be up in the next day or two) I can't wait to see what everyone else is reading (because my TBR list isn't long enough already...)!

[Tara]

This next challenge will be harder. With all the holidays coming up, who knows if I will finish this one or not. I hope to.

I have all the books that I have on a flash drive and take it everywhere with me. I did my list fast because I have nothing to do at work. LOL!

[Tara]

This next challenge will be harder. With all the holidays coming up, who knows if I will finish this one or not. I hope to.

I have all the books that I have on a flash drive and take it everywhere with me. I did my list fast because I have nothing to do at work. LOL!

[Tara]

This next challenge will be harder. With all the holidays coming up, who knows if I will finish this one or not. I hope to.

I have all the books that I have on a flash drive and take it everywhere with me. I did my list fast because I have nothing to do at work. LOL!

[Alicia]

Tara, I am thinking about doing that now too. Typing up all the books I have or at least putting them all on my TBR list on here. I just re-organized my bookshelf (I let my husband put his books in with mine, aren't I nice) so now would be a good time to do it.

[Tara]

Alicia wrote: "Tara, I am thinking about doing that now too. Typing up all the books I have or at least putting them all on my TBR list on here. I just re-organized my bookshelf (I let my husband put his books i..."


That's funny Alicia. I had my husbands couple of books(mostlly John Deere tractor books, LOL) on my shelf until I started getting more and more and his eventually were put on the floor next to the bookshelf.

It is nice to have a list that you can just look up a specific book to see if you have it or not. I even sent my booklist to my blackberry. I have excel on there and when I am in the store I can just look on my phone to see if I have a certain book. My husband calls me a book nerd!

[Alicia]

WOW Tara, I am impressed and slightly jealous. I love that you have it on your blackberry. I have only bought 1 book that I have already owned, but luckily I was able to give it as a Christmas gift. I will gladly admit that I am a book nerd. I yelled at my husband for having too many Tolkein (who I really don't like) books, because they took up almost a whole shelf and I had to re-organize. Men, just don't get it!

[Melanie]

I need a more high-tech cell phone so that I can check my "to-reads" when I'm at the bookstore - I always forget what I want and end up adding something new and making that list even longer!

[Tara]

It is really nice to have a "smart phone". I don't think I can go back to a regular one.

You are right Alicia-Men DON'T get it. LOL!

[Tara]

Melanie wrote: "I need a more high-tech cell phone so that I can check my "to-reads" when I'm at the bookstore - I always forget what I want and end up adding something new and making that list even longer!"

I do the same thing Melanie.

[Stacy]

5.1 - Every Demon Has His Day by Cara Lockwood (November)
5.2 - Breathless by Dean Koontz (December)
5.3 - Hollywood Car Wash by Lori Culwell
5.4 - Accidental It Girl by Libby Street
5.5 - Dead and Alive by Dean Koontz
5.6 - Love the One You’re With by Emily Giffen recommended by Joanne
5.7 - Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbag by Michael Tonello (October)
5.8 - Scenes From a Holiday by Various Authors
5.9 - Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
5.10 - Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster (Chick Lit Book Club)

10.1 - Fat Girls and Lawn Chairs by Cheryl Peck (lives in Three Rivers, MI)
10.2 - Busy Woman Seeks Wife by Annie Sanders (set in London)
10.3 - Yummy Mummy by Polly Williams (currently reading)
10.4 - Seven Sunny Days by Chris Manby (October)
10.5 – Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
10.6 - The Gift Bag Chronicles by Hillary De Vries
10.7 - TBD
10.8 - Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (GR Best Books of '08)
10.9 - Dating Can Be Deadly (receptionist is part of my job) by Wendy Roberts
10.10 - Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me by Louise Rennison

15.1 - Dune Road/Girl Friday by Jane Green (November)
15.2 - Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer and Bobbie Fay's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day by Toni MGee Causey
15.3 - And That’s When it Fell Off in My Hand (October); Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers (October): Georgia Nicolson series (Books 5 & 6) by Louise Rennison
15.4 - Godmother by Carolyn Turgeon and TBD
15.5 - The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenger (currently reading)


25.1 - All Eyes on Her by Poonam Sharma (Opal) (October/November); Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer (Citrine); She, Myself and I by Whitney Gaskell (Blue Topaz)
25.2 - U – Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett (November); V – The Velvet Rope Diaries by Daniella Brodsky (October); W – We Thought You'd Be Prettier by Laurie Notoro (October)
25.3 - Startled by His Furry Shorts (November); Love is a Many Trousered Thing (November); Stop in the Name of Pants - Georgia Nicolson series (Books 7, 8 and 9) by Louise Rennison
25.4 - TBD; #759 Girlbomb: A Halfway Homeless Memior by Janice Earlbaum; #251 Technical Hitch by Jane Sigaloff

Mid-Way Task: Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why?
- What -- What Men Want by Deborah Blumenthal
- Where -- When She Was Bad by Louise Bagshawe
- How -- How I Stole Her Husband by Liz Ireland


Total Points: 85
Books Read: 14
Tasks Completed: 8

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[Suzanne]

Can't wait to get started on this!

[Alicia]

5.1 Spooky Story Hour:Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith: 10/21/09
5.2 Author(s) of the Month (Tara’s Task): Devious, Cecily Von Ziesgesar: 11/25/09
5.3 Vote for Me! (Courtney’s Task): Baby Proof, Emily Griffin
5.4 Oops!: Accidental Diva
5.5 Hispanic Culture: Club Dead, Charlaine Harris: 12/28/09
5.6 Because I Said So (Tara’s Task): The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan: 11/04/09 (Jen B)
5.7 Fashionably Read (Kristine’s Task: Dying In Style, Elaine Viets
5.8 Ghouls, Turkeys, and Sleighs (Alicia’s Task): A Yuletide Murder, Donald Bain: 11/08/09
5.9 Finish it Up (Tara’s Task): Sleeping Arrangements, Madeleine Wickham
5.10 Club Picks (Alicia’s Task): Have A Little Faith, Mitch Albom: 11/19/09 (MCC Book Club)

10.1 You Live Where?! (Courtney’s Task): Love the One You’re With, Cecily Von Ziesgesar: 10/30/09 (Author and I live in New York State)
10.2 Vacation: All I Ever Wanted (Courtney’s Task): Dancing in my Nuddy-Pants, Louise Rennison:12/9/09
10.3 Yo Momma! (Kristine’s task)Knit Season, Kate Jacobs: 12/3/09 (deals more with adult children)
10.4 Columbus Day is October 12th: Seven Sunny Days, Chris Manby
10.5 Thanksgiving is November 26th:The G-Free Diet: A Gluten Free Survival Guide, Elisabeth, Hasselbeck: 12/15/09 (This month I found out I must go on Gluten and lactose free diet ASAP, I am so thankful for this book for giving hints on how to handle this and make this seem more manageable.)
10.6 Christmas is December 25th: You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas, Augusten Burroughs:10/27/09

10.7 A Wedding Story (Kristine’s Task): According to Jane, Marilyn Brant: 12/30/09 (Main character was the maid of honor in a wedding)
10.8 Who Won? (Alicia’s Task): Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole (Pulitzer, promised my husband I would read this 2 years ago)
10.9 Getting Paid: Bookends, Jane Green: 10/26/09 Main character owns a bookstore....what reader wouldn't LOVE that job
10.10 Write, Write, Write: Knocked Out By My Nunga-Nungas, Louise Rennison: 11/16/09

15.1 I Have Two Names (Kristine’s Task):On The Bright Side I'm Now The Girlfriend of a Sex God, Louise Rennison: 10/28/09 aka It's OK I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers)
15.2 Sweetest Day is October 17th: Ain't She SWEET?, Susan Elizabeth Phillips & It’s My F---ing BirthDAY, Merill Markoe
15.3 Back to Back: Ten Big Ones: 10/11/09 & Eleven on Top, Janet Evanovich: 11/01/09
15.4 Double the GR Love: Impossible, Nancy Werlin: 11/02/09 & Prada & Prejudice, Mandy Hubbard: 10/18/09
15.5 It’s Enormous!: The Host, Stephanie Meyer

25.1 OCB: I Will Always Love You, Cecily Von Ziesgesar: 12/6/09 ; Citrine: A Fatal Feast, Donald Bain: 11/30/09 Blue: Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies, Erin Dionne 10/09/09
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25.2 Alphabetical Order (Alicia’s Task): Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, Louise Rennison: 10/07/09 & Being Nikki, Meg Cabot: 10/12/09 & Columbine, Dave Cullen: 12/13/09
25.3 Feel Young Again: The A-List: 11/01/09, Girls on Film:11/14/09& Blonde Ambition:11/16/09 by Zoey Dean
25.4 How Random (Jen’s Task): & American Wife, Curtis Sittenfeld & Babyville, Jane Green

50.1 Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why?
How To Be Popular, Meg Cabot, How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls by Zooey Dean, Where's Waldo (jk still trying to come up with one)

Total Points: 230/375
Books Read: 28/43
Tasks Completed: 20

[Joanne]

I am not letting this challenge pass me by!! Let the games begin

[Angela]

Jen is Testing Kate by Whitney Gaskell? I just saw it at our used bookstore for like $3 I think.

[Melanie]

5 POINT TASKS

1. Spooky Story Hour - A Girl's Guide to Vampires - Katie McAlister
2 Author(s) of the Month (Tara’s Task) - Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger (changed this one!)
3 Vote for Me! (Courtney’s Task) - Nice To Come Home To - Rebecca Flowers
4. Oops! - Accidental It Girl - Libby Street
5. Hispanic Culture - The Remains of the Dead - Wendy Roberts
6. Because I Said So (Tara’s Task) - Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella (Stacy says "I think this is my absolute favorite book I've read this year!" which sounds like a pretty good recommendation to me!
7. Fashionably Read (Kristine’s Task) - The Blue Handbag - Fiona Robyn
8. Ghouls, Turkeys, and Sleighs (Alicia’s Task) - The Halloween Tree - Ray Bradbury (to read with my son)
9. Finish it Up (Tara’s Task) - Little White Lies - Gemma Townley
10. Club Picks (Alicia’s Task) - The Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Groff

10 POINT TASKS

1 You Live Where?! (Courtney’s Task) - The Missing Ink - Karen E. Olson (she lives only half an hour from me, in New Haven, CT)
2. Vacation: All I Ever Wanted (Courtney’s Task) - The Little Lady Agency and the Prince -Hester Browne (England and France - I want to visit both someday!)
3. Yo Momma! (Kristine’s task) - Look Again - Lisa Scottoline
4. Columbus Day is October 12th - Seven Sunny Days - Chris Manby
5. Thanksgiving is November 26th – Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige - Katherine Gilles Seidel
6. Christmas is December 25th - The Xmas Factor - Annie Sanders
7. A Wedding Story (Kristine’s Task) - Bitsy's Bait & BBQ - Pamela Morsi (another one changed...)
8 Who Won? (Alicia’s Task) - The Monsters of Templeton -Lauren Groff (this was on a lot of lists this year, including Amazon's top 100)
9. Getting Paid - The Great Indoors - Sabine Durrant (shop owner is one of my million dream jobs)
10. Write, Write, Write - Ella Minnow Pea - Mark Dunn

15 POINT TASKS
1. I Have Two Names (Kristine’s Task) - The Year of Secret Assignments - Jaclyn Moriarty (UK/AUS title was Finding Cassie Crazy)
2. Sweetest Day is October 17th - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley, The Ten Best Days of My Life - Adena Halpern
3. Back to Back - The Spellman Files, Curse of the Spellmans, Lisa Lutz
4. Double the GR Love - Gone to the Dogs - Mary Guterson, The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes - Jennifer Crusie
5. It’s Enormous! - New Moon - Stephenie Meyer

25 POINT TASKS
1. OCB - Hardly Working - Betsy Burke (opal) , Hot - Julia Harper (citrine), Been There, Done That - Carol Snow
2. Alphabetical Order (Alicia’s Task) - A Babe in Ghostland - Lisa Cach (B) Cocktails For Three - Madeleine Wickham (C), Diary of a Working Girl - Daniella Brodsky (D)
3. Feel Young Again - On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God; Knocked out by My Nunga-Nungas; Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants - Louise Rennison
4. How Random (Jen’s Task) - Little Stalker - Jennifer Belle (#120), The Secret History - Donna Tartt (#111), Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs (#3)
MIDWAY TASK (50 Points)
Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why?
How to Deal - Sarah Dessen, When I Forgot - Elina Hirvonen, How to Teach Filty Rich Girls - Zoey Dean

[Tara]

Angela wrote: "Jen is Testing Kate by Whitney Gaskell? I just saw it at our used bookstore for like $3 I think.
"

I really liked Testing Kate, Angela. I recommend it!!

[Stacy]

Angela wrote: "Jen is Testing Kate by Whitney Gaskell? I just saw it at our used bookstore for like $3 I think.
"

Yes it is.

[Melanie]

Tara wrote: "Angela wrote: "Jen is Testing Kate by Whitney Gaskell? I just saw it at our used bookstore for like $3 I think.
"

I really liked Testing Kate, Angela. I recommend it!!

"

I agree, it was a pretty good book.

[Suzanne]

Would "Bras & Broomsticks" be ok for 1. Spooky Story Hour?

I am back in school now which means a lot of reading and studying... but I'm still going to try my best to complete this challenge!

[Alicia]

YAY!! I love Bras and Broomsticks!! There is definitely a witch in there so it should count.

[Kourtney]

This is great Stacy and Jen!! Thanks for coordinating again!

Once I get settled and get internet access at my new place (6 more days!) then I will put my list together. I feel like I have been missing my left arm without you ladies in my life!!

[Courtney]

Would "The "Sugar" Queen" work for 5.1? It says candy can be used, could that be stretched to mean "sugar"?

[Courtney]

5 Point Tasks
5.1 Spooky Story Hour: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (10/23/09)
5.2 Author(s) of the Month (Tara’s Task): Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes by Dixie Cash
5.3 Vote for Me! (Courtney’s Task): Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
5.4 Oops!: The Accidental Mother by Rowan Coleman
5.5 Spanish Culture: Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris
5.6 Because I Said So (Tara’s Task): Jack with a Twist by Brenda Janowitz (Stacy & Tara rated it 5 stars)
5.7 Fashionably Read (Kristine’s Task): Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown by Adena Halpern (10/10/09)
5.8 Ghouls, Turkeys, and Sleighs (Alicia’s Task): The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
5.9 Finish it Up (Tara’s Task): Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
5.10 Club Picks (Alicia’s Task): 32AA by Michelle Cunnah (Chick Lit - UK Authors 2nd BOM in September)

10 Point Tasks
10.1 You Live Where?! (Courtney’s Task) Death's Acre by Dr. Bill Bass (Lives in Knoxville & The Body Farm is located in Knoxville)
10.2 Vacation’s All I Ever Wanted (Courtney’s Task): The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks (it's set in Wilmington, NC which I have always wanted to visit after watching Dawson's Creek in middle school!) (11/16/09)
10.3 Yo Momma! (Kristine’s task): Mommywood by Tori Spelling (10/3/09)
10.4 Columbus Day is October 12th: Seven Sunny Days by Chris Manby
10.5 Thanksgiving is November 26th: The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan
10.6 Christmas is December 25th: The Gift by Cecelia Ahern (11/25/09)
10.7 A Wedding Story (Kristine’s Task): Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella
10.8 Who Won? (Alicia’s Task): Such a Pretty Fat by Jenn Lancaster (Goodreads Best Books of 2008)
10.9 Getting Paid: Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes Courter (It's about a girl in foster care & I work with kids in foster care) (11/28/09)
10.10 Write, Write, Write: Angus, thongs, and full frontal snogging by Louise Rennison (11/19/09)

15 Point Tasks
15.1 I Have Two Names (Kristine’s Task): Swapping Lives by Jane Green (Life Swap in UK)
15.2 Sweetest Day is October 17th: Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love by Jill Conner Browne | Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
15.3 Back to Back: The Pact & The Jinx by Jennifer Sturman (11/10/09)
15.4 Double the GR Love: Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos | See Jane Date by Melissa Senate
15.5 It’s Enormous!: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

25 Point Tasks
25.1 OCB: If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern (opal) | Lucky by Alice Sebold (citrine) | The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer (blue)
25.2 Alphabetical Order (Alicia’s Task): Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck | Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder | Names My Sister's Call Me by Megan Crane
25.3 Feel Young Again: Gossip Girl Series: #2 You Know You Love Me | #3 All I Want is Everything | #4 Because I'm Worth It
25.4 How Random (Jen's Task): #158 Fishbowl by Sarah Mylnowski | #127 Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Skyes | #131 Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain

Total Points: 75/325
Books Left to Read: 30

[Stacy]

Suzanne wrote: "Would "Bras & Broomsticks" be ok for 1. Spooky Story Hour?

I am back in school now which means a lot of reading and studying... but I'm still going to try my best to complete this challenge! "

Yup, that'll work! :)
Good luck with school - I know exactly what you're going through! I have a few days left of my one week off (after 36 weeks straight of online classes) and I'll be starting my fall classes (on Thursday).

[Stacy]

Kourtney wrote: "This is great Stacy and Jen!! Thanks for coordinating again!

Once I get settled and get internet access at my new place (6 more days!) then I will put my list together. I feel like I have been m..."

Awww, thanks Kourtney! LOL! We missed you too!

[Stacy]

Courtney wrote: "Would "The "Sugar" Queen" work for 5.1? It says candy can be used, could that be stretched to mean "sugar"? "

Sure, we can do that. My main thing with these challenges is for us to make a dent in our stacks of books so if you need to stretch one just a bit to make it fit - go for it! :)

[Courtney]

Stacy wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Would "The "Sugar" Queen" work for 5.1? It says candy can be used, could that be stretched to mean "sugar"? "

Sure, we can do that. My main thing with these challenges is for us..."

Thank you! Yeah, I mooched books for the Summer Challenge and I didn't get to read them! So, I'm trying to use as many of them as I can in this challenge.

[Melanie]

Courtney wrote: "Stacy wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Would "The "Sugar" Queen" work for 5.1? It says candy can be used, could that be stretched to mean "sugar"? "

Sure, we can do that. My main thing with these challe..."

Courtney, have you read any other Sarah Addison Allen books? She is SO awesome, one of my favorites. :)

[Jen B]

I second loving Sarah Addison Allen -- Garden Spells is one of my all-time favorites!

[Jen B]

Does anyone know of a book that has a holiday in it that isn't specifically holiday-themed? I don't really like holiday-specific books, but I can't seem to find a reference to a holiday in the description of another book. Anyone know of one off-hand? I guess I'm thinking of something more like Going Home (which I've already read), which is about more than just Christmas...

[Alicia]

Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah had Thanksgiving in it, definitely not a holiday themed book.

[Jen B]

Alicia wrote: "Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah had Thanksgiving in it, definitely not a holiday themed book."

Thanks, Alicia, that's perfect! I've had that one on my shelf at home for awhile now.

[Stacy]

Good thing you thought of something Alicia because I was drawing a blank! :)