Barbara's Challenges & Reading Lists discussion
2020 Archived Challenges
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2020 Crazy Challenge Connection
Random Treasure Hunt #3Duration: October 1, 2020 - January 31, 2021
Level: Serious treasure hunter: 75 words
95/75 FOUND
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks 10/3
dog - she wanted a dog, p10
existence - want to share my lonely existence here, p106
limp - helped him limp back to his bedchamber, p306
loaf - a small loaf of bread, p29
lovely - a lovely woman
married - I didn't know you ever married, p33
meeting - did your meeting not go well, p51
paper - paper, pen and ink, p261
servant - I'll send a servant for these, p118
tank - she's in the tank taking her morning swim, p121
theory - the theory had proven correct, p17
Walking in Fire - Catheryn Cade 10/3
grandfather - that warrior was my great-great-many times grandfather, loc2105
homely - one large homely faced fish, loc515
metal - on one of the graceful metal tables, loc473
thunder - thunder rumbled again, loc1766
wealthy - he was wealthy, loc2667
wild - gazing at the wild bay, loc2667
zipper -she drew down his zipper, loc2661
The Sign - Raymond Khoury 10/5
ethereal - it had an ethereal lightness to it, p13
hospitable - in a particularly hospitable mood, p102
Dreams in the Key of Blue - John Philpin 10/7
fax - my communication with the world to a fax machine, p6
substantial - I can tell you that's it's substantial, p89
wound - if you wound me, you die, p27
Passion Ignites - Donna Grant 10/8
coast - with the coast clear, p88
precious - to have lost something so precious, p73
ragged - his breath was ragged, p244
scare - a tale told to scare children, p126
stay - her orders were that you stay inside, p67
Taken by Tuesday - Catherine Bybee 10/9
crib - a turret behind the crib, p57
great - they had a great family, p260
mine - mine is the last face you'll ever see, p287
toe - tapped the table with his toe, p207
An Apprentice to Elves - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear 10/10
doll - like a rag doll, p261
grain - like grain filling up a silo for winter, p82
hurry - if they were not in too much of a hurry, p190
imaginary - going to agree with her imaginary Galfenol, p278
lonely - how lonely she had been, p119
puzzling - he was puzzling out, p254
roasted - she roasted the porcupine tail, p294
sparkle - grass-green and lavender sparkles, p78
trail - at the bottom of the trail, p31
Whiskey, Vamps, and Thieves - Selene Charles 10/11
game - to throw me off my game, p65
high-pitched - a high-pitched and slightly crazed giggle, p143
huge - wouldn't have become such a huge issue, p49
hum - temporarily quieted the hum of lust, p38
impartial - impartial to the law, p19
inhale - he inhaled deeply, p49
pain - weren't immune to feeling pain, p16
ruddy - Paul, a ruddy-cheeked man, p18
understand - I really don't understand this sudden bond, p160
Charlie All Night - Jennifer Crusie 10/12
berserk - you go berserk on the air, p129
cooing - cooing encouragement, p109
mute - I thought you'd gone mute on me, p56
useful - something that Charlie found a lot more useful, p76
Nuts - Alice Clayton 10/14
buzz - what I didn't enjoy was the telltale buzz, p143
calculating - calculating how much to charge, p188
construct - how perfectly constructed it was, p146
dive - next door to a dive bar, p112
fumbling - I'd fumbled my way through my first real makeout session, p24
sassy - fat and sassy and tumbling onto the grass, p95
thrust - we all stopped to stare as he thrust, p193
wish - wish I'd been here to see that, p20
A Tapestry of Spells - Lynn Kurland 10/15
dig - and dig again into her very light purse, p78
motion - but the motion seemingly over balanced him, p97
walk - out for a walk, p78
Identical - Scott Turow 10/16
carriage - feeling queasy on the rolling carriage, chap 30
trashy - about as trashy as a half-blind octogenarian, chap 7
Blackmark - Jean Lowe Carlson 10/17
certain - nor why certain places, p16
cloth - Olea wet a clean cloth, p44
eager - into an eager dark-edged smile, p122
fall - you could fall and break your neck, p404
joyous - the first sword was joyous, p534
signify - signifying the Dhenra and her king approached, p545
The Second Deadly Sin - Åsa Larsson 10/19
bang - with a big bang, p46
railway - all that involvement in the railway, p67
Wolverine's Daughter - Doranna Durgin 10/20
discover - men she didn't want to discover her, loc1760
process - started the long slow process, loc2113
The Stepsister Scheme - Jim C. Hines 10/22
introduce - as she was introduced, p1
An Almond for a Parrot - Wray Delaney 10/24
fold - from the folds of the curtain, p27
overtake - I was overtaken by a most strange occurrence, p36
It's All Greek to Me - Katie MacAlister 10/24
good - set aflame every good thing in your life, p122
statement - was that a question or a statement, p74
Of Dawn and Embers - Kyoko M. 10/24
copy - Calloway, do you copy, p200
responsible - you're not responsible, p211
Of Fury and Fangs - Kyoko M. 10/31
cuddly - Kam's better at the cuddly stuff, p66
Burn Marks - Sara Paretsky 11/2
participate - thanks for letting me participate, p50
Murder Most Maine - Karen MacInerney 11/3
aromatic - to the aromatic mixture, p59
Shadows of the Short Days - Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson 11/7
cost - he was unaware of the true cost, p195
Bryant & May and the Burning Man - Christopher Fowler 11/11
announce - if the march hadn't been announced in the first place, p47
prescribe - meetings with us about the prescribed route, p47
Shadows in Death - J.D. Robb 11/13
zebra - like it had been skinned off a zebra, p258
Bonded in Blood - L. Ann & L. Gene Brown 11/21
observant - at the worst moments, unfortunately observant, p31
The Girl in Red - Christina Henry 11/24
diligent - they are more diligent, p217
Suspended - Sarah Noffke 11/26
deranged - he appears slightly deranged to me, p67
The Song of the Quarkbeast - Jasper Fforde 11/29
nebulous - nebulous state of semi-consciousness, p123
*****************
ad hoc -
ladybug -
obstruct -
offbeat -
zephyr -
January Scavenger Challenge - Auld Lang Syne
READ: 7/7
✔ 1. 🏴 Read a book of poetry (must be 150+ pages) OR read a book that involves music in some way; tell us how.
Space Opera - Catherynne M. Valente 1/21
(an intergalactical music contest sort of like American Idol)
✔ 2. 🏴 Reread one of your favorite books OR read a book about long ago friends reuniting.
A Madness of Sunshine - Nalini Singh 1/31
✔ 3. 🏴 Read a book whose cover shows a circle or a pair of hands; post the cover OR read a book that takes place in Scotland.
I Am Watching You - Teresa Driscoll 1/3
✔ 4. 🏴 Read a book in which any type of special occasion is being celebrated; tell us what OR read a book in which a funeral takes place.
Don't Close Your Eyes - Christie Craig 1/5
✔ 5. 🏴 Read a book that has been translated; tell us the original and the translated language OR read a book that has a “5” in its original publication year; tell us the year.
Until the Debt is Paid - Alexander Hartung (from German) 1/6
✔ 6. 🏴 Read a book that seems to flow exceptionally fast or exceptionally slow; tell us which OR read a book that mentions or refers to another book within its text; tell us the book being referenced.
Wickedly Charming - Kristine Grayson 1/24
(various stories by The Brothers Grimm are mentioned)
✔ 7. 🏴 Read a book by a Canadian author; be sure to post the author link OR read a book that takes place in New York City.
Through the Grinder - Cleo Coyle 1/12
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
January 2020 Spell Challenge- Auld Lang SyneREAD: 12/12
✔ A: The Anubis Gates - Tim Powers 1/12
✔ U: Until the Debt is Paid - Alexander Hartung 1/6
✔ L: Claimed in Shadows - Lara Adrian 1/14
✔ D: Don't Close Your Eyes - Christie Craig 1/5
✔ L: The Unleashing - Shelly Laurenston 1/18
✔ A: My Fair Assassin - C.J. Anaya 1/4
✔ N: The Rise of Magicks - Nora Roberts 1/17
✔ G: The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro & Daniel Kraus 1/13
✔ S: Sticks & Stones - Madeline Urban & Abigail Roux 1/3
✔ Y: A Welcome Murder - Robin Yocum 1/4
✔ N: Night of the Highland Dragon - Isabel Cooper 1/31
✔ E: The Train to Warsaw - Gwen Edelman 1/19
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #7 | SurfingREAD: 4/5
1. Read a book in which a character sets a goal and strives to reach it (briefly tell us about it) - or - a book where all words in the title start with a letter in DUKEKAHANAOKU (A, An, and The DO count).
✔2. Read a book that you had to wait for (on a library wait list or an anticipated gift) - or - a book with the ocean on the cover (show us the cover).
Easy - Tammara Webber (on hold at library for over 3 weeks) 1/25
✔ 3. Read a Series #4 book (tell us the series) - or - a book where a group or team of people compete against each other (briefly tell us the circumstances).
Space Opera - Catherynne M. Valente 1/21
(an intergalactical music contest sort of like American Idol)
✔ 4. Read a book in which a character interferes with another character or causes problems in some way (briefly tell us how) - or - a book whose original publication YEAR includes two of the following numbers - 8, 5, 1 (tell us the year).
Don't Close Your Eyes - Christie Craig (pub August 2018) 1/5
✔ 5. Read a book with an intact "20" in the total number of pages (tell us how many pages) - or - a book in which surfing is involved in some way
Burning Desire - Donna Grant (320 pages) 1/29
From Sea to Shining Sea - KansasDuration: January 1 - February 29, 2020
READ: 10/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book whose cover is mostly yellow or read a book whose title or subtitle contains a direction word (north, south, west and east only!) or read a book whose main characters last name begins with K.
A Madness of Sunshine - Nalini Singh 1/31
✔️2. ✒ Read a book with a starry sky on the cover (post the cover) -or- read the center book from a finished series. (i.e., book #4 of a 7 book series, or #3 or #4 of a 6 book series. Tell us the series).
The Day is Dark - Yrsa Sigurðardóttir 2/26
✔️3. ✒ Read a book with blood prominently shown on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a bookwith a character who is working to get themselves free from something (tell us how your book works).
The Bookman - Lavie Tidhar 2/13
(oppressive society where some people are indentured servants)
✔️4. ✒ Read a book whose author has a color for their last name (variations like Greenberg are acceptable) -or- read a book in which a character in controversial due to their actions. (tell us how your character fits).
Trick or Treat - Kerry Greenwood 2/14
✔️5. ✒ Read a book with a door on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which the main character goes by a nickname (tell us their name and their nickname).
Wickedly Charming - Kristine Grayson (Prince Charming goes by Dave) 1/24
✔️6. ✒ Read a book which you think is flat (either in terms of plot or characters - tell us why you thought so) -or- read a book in which something widely believed turns out to be false.
Flirting Under a Full Moon - Ashlyn Chase 2/16
(there is no depth to any of the characters and the plot is very boring)
✔️7. ✒ Read a book in with a strong female MC -or- read a book in which a character is allergic (bonus for a peanut allergy!)
Thirteen Rising - Romina Russell 1/26
✔️8. ✒ Read a book that has been made into a movie (tell us the name of the movie if different from the book) -or- read a "light" book (151-200p., tell us the number of pages).
Gladiator - Anna Hackett (176 pages) 1/17
✔️9. ✒ Read a book marked FOOD on its main GR page -or- read a book with yarn, thread or rope on its cover (post the cover).
Zero Belly Diet - David Zinczenko 2/7
✔️10. ✒ Read a book which makes you want to punch something (sorry!) -or- read a book in which the title, author's first and last name begin with consecutive letters of the alphabet
Break the Day - Lara Adrian 2/11
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February Scavenger Challenge - Inventions
READ: 7/7
✔1. Velcro
⚙️Read a book whose title starts with "V" or ENDS with "O" (disregard A, An, The) - or - a book with some sort of fastener on the cover (a zipper, button, etc. be creative - post the cover).
Endless Heart - Emma Lang 2/28
✔2. Gecko skin
⚙️Read a book with some sort of robot in the story - or - a book where the author's first AND last initial can be found in LEMUR.
The Bookman - Lavie Tidhar (automatons) 2/13
✔3. Leggy robots
⚙️Read book #4 or #6 in a series (tell us the series) - or - a book showing legs on the cover--not the rest of the body, just legs, feet are optional :) (show us the cover).
Trick or Treat - Kerry Greenwood (Corinna Chapman #4) 2/14
✔4. Bullet train kingfisher
⚙️Read a book with some sort of bird on the cover OR in the title - or - a book originally published in the 1990's (tell us the year).
Murder of Crows - Annie Bellet (crows) 2/8
✔5. Flight – maple seed
⚙️Read the second book of a series (tell us the series) - or - a book with some sort of flying man-made machine on the cover (show us the cover).
Whom the Gods Hate - M.M. Perry (Of Gods & Mortals #2) 2/6
✔6. Candy-coated vaccines
⚙️Read a book with an 8 in the total number of pages (tell us how many) - or - a book with the letters D-N-A in the title, in that order but not necessarily in the same word.
The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde 2/21
(DragoNslAyer)
✔7. Termite buildings
⚙️Read a book with some sort of building on the cover (post the cover) - or - a book with an architect or designer character (tell us who).
The Day of the Dead - Nicci French (Big Ben) 2/3
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February 2020 Spell Challenge - Inventions READ: 11/11
✔B: Break the Day - Lara Adrian 2/11
✔U: Under the Snow - Kerstin Ekman 2/9
✔R: The Romanov Cross - Robert Masello 2/2
✔R: The Brothers Cro-Magnon - Roger Thomas Pepper 2/17
✔A: January in Atlantis - Alyssa Day 2/4
✔T: The Bookman - Lavie Tidhar 2/13
✔H: Full Bloom - Janet Evanovich & Charlotte Hughes 2/25
✔L: The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde 2/21
✔E: Enigma - Catherine Coulter 2/7
✔T: Trick or Treat - Kerry Greenwood 2/14
✔E: Under the Snow - Kerstin Ekman 2/9
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #8 | BoxingREAD: 3/4
✔ 1. Read a book that has a “7” in the number for total pages; tell us how many pages OR read a book that takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, or London, England.
The Bookman - Lavie Tidhar (London, Egland) 2/13
✔ 2. Men will contest matches in these eight weight classes:
• Flyweight (52kg) – 114 lbs.
• Featherweight (57kg) – 125.5 lbs
• Lightweight (63kg) – 139 lbs.
• Welterweight (69kg) – 152 lbs.
• Middleweight (75kg) – 165 lbs.
• Light heavyweight (81kg) – 178.5 lbs.
• Heavyweight (91kg) – 200.5 lbs.
• Super heavyweight (+91kg)
🥊 Use any of the weight classes above to find a book where the first letter of each title word may be found in that class; 3 word minimum; tell us which class you used OR read a book that is 5th or 8th in a series; tell us the series’ name.
Whom the Gods Hate - M.M. Perry (Welterweight) 2/6
✔ 3. Read a book in which something is banned; tell us what OR read a book where the main character is a young adult (between 19 – 34 years).
Met Her Match - Jude Deveraux (heroine is 26) 2/23
4. Read a book with GOLD, SILVER, or BRONZE in its title or author’s name (does not have to be separate – i.e. Goldberg or Silverman work) OR read a book in which a character boxes - professionally or recreationally; tell us who
March Scavenger Challenge - Irish Monsters
READ: 7/7
✔1. Read a book written by a woman OR read a book in which a death occurs OR read a book with a gravestone or cemetery on its cover; post the cover.
The Savior - JR Ward 3/10
✔2. Read a book with a character you consider cruel; briefly tell us why OR read a book with a vampire, or vampires in it OR read a book with anything shown upside down on its cover; post the cover.
Cari Mora - Thomas Harris (villain) 3/15
✔3. Read a book where an older man (65+ years) is part of the plot OR read a book where a lot of drinking is done OR read a book by an author whose first and last initial are in PRACTICAL JOKE.
Tell Me Lies - Jennifer Crusie 3/8
✔4. Read a book with a primarily red cover; post the cover OR read a book in which a child is born OR read a book whose title has changed since its original publication; tell us the original name.
Mismatch - Tami Hoag 3/13
✔5. Read a book marked “Foodie Fiction” or “Food,” OR read a book with an expanse of grass on its cover; post the cover OR read a book in which a character always seems to be hungry; tell us who.
Night Diver - Elizabeth Lowell (Volkurt eats junk always) 3/25
✔6. Read a book with a plural word in its title OR read a book with any type of ghost in it OR read a book with three or more similar items on its cover; post the cover.
The Pumpkin Patch - Darien Cox & Kade Boehme 3/21
✔7. Read a book that is third in a series; tell us the series name OR read a book with a “3” in its original year of publication; tell us the original date OR read a book where the first letter of each title word may be found in “ELLEN TRECHEND;” a,an,the DO count, 3 word minimum.
Inferno - Dan Brown (pub May 2013) 3/15
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
March Spell Challenge - Irish MonstersREAD: 11/11
✔ B: Bone Driven - Hailey Edwards 3/18
✔ A: Case Histories - Kate Atkinson 3/14
✔ N: Night Diver - Elizabeth Lowell 3/25
✔ S: The Savior - JR Ward 3/10
✔ H: A Cosmology of Monsters - Shaun Hamill 3/1
✔ E: Shifting Dreams - Elizabeth Hunter 3/13
✔ E: Echo North - Joanna Ruth Meyer 3/16
✔ M: My Lord Raven - Tamela Quijas 3/3
✔ Y: Yesterday's Thief - Al Macy 3/7
✔ T: Tell Me Lies - Jennifer Crusie 3/8
✔ H: Hot Blooded - Donna Grant 3/2
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #9 - Modern Pentathlon READ: 4/5
✔ 1. 🏆 Read book #5 from any series; tell us the series OR a book set in a location that begins with a letter in pente; tell us the location
Provoked - Rebecca Zanetti (Dark Protectors #5) 3/6
2. 🏆 Read a book set in ancient times (before 1000 AD) OR a book whose title begins with V (disregard A, An and The)
✔ 3. 🏆 Read a book with a major character who is or was in the military; tell us who OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in COUBERTIN
Night Diver - Elizabeth Lowell (hero was a navy diver) 3/25
✔ 4. 🏆 Read a book with a 5 in the total page count; tell us how many pages OR a book with GOLD, intact, in the title, the series name or the author's name (GOLDen and GOLDberg both work); tell us the name of the series or post a link to the author's name if using those options
The Peculiar Boars of Malloy - Doug Crandell (215 pages) 3/5
✔ 5. 🏆 Read a book originally published in 2010 or 2012; tell us which year OR a book with YOUNG ADULT on its main GR page
Wake of Vultures - Lila Bowen 3/12
From Sea to Shining Sea - West Virginia Duration: March 1 - April 30, 2020
READ: 9/10
✔️1. Read a book with a W and a V in the title -or- read a book in which the main character is a Virginia or a related female name -or- read a book in which the author's initials are in CHARLESTON (middle initials count if used).
Wake of Vultures - Lila Bowen 3/12
✔️2. Read a book with the words NORTH or SOUTH in the title/subtitle/series title (plurals, compound words okay) -or- read series book #1 or #4 (tell us series) -or- read a book set in a city with more than 1.8 million residents. (this is a partial list)
Echo North - Joanna Ruth Meyer 3/16
✔️3. Read a book in which a person/entity divorces/secedes as part of the plot -or- read a book in which a character is a farmer -or- read a book whose cover contains a border of some kind (post the cover).
The Peculiar Boars of Malloy - Doug Crandell 3/5
✔️4. Read a book with mountains on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that you got for free -or- read a book with an apple in the title or the cover (post the cover if using the option).
Heartbreak and Honor - Collette Cameron 3/15
✔️5. Read a book whose publisher's name begins with a letter in "COAL" (tell us the publisher) -or- read a book whose cover or jacket shows a blurb or quote from an author you like (show us the cover or tell us the author if it's on the opposite side) -or- read a book with a bridge on the cover (post the cover).
Wolves of the Northern Rift - Jon Messenger (Crimson Tree Publishing) 3/26
✔️6. Read a book whose GR main page shows the genre FAMILY -or- read a book in which the main character has a large family -or- read a book whose cover shows a large buffet of food (post the cover).
Jumping Jude - Lucy Lennox (hero has 8 siblings) 4/26
✔️7. Read a book which is mostly set at a resort/spa or hotel -or- read a book which has a nationality in its title (such as The English Patient/The Dutch Girl etc). -or- read a book in which nuclear war is an important plot point.
Hotshot - Julie Garwood 4/10
✔️8. Read a book that is set in Switzerland -or- read a book whose cover shows a person falling (post the cover) -or- read a book in which the main character attends a festival/concert (tell us what).
The Pumpkin Patch - Darien Cox & Kade Boehme (MC attends a Halloween festival) 3/21
9. Read a book with a place/country name in the author's first or last name -or- read a book with a punny title -or- read a book in which a character misspells words.
✔️10. Read a book that shows an underwater scene on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that has a wild animal on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a speaking character who is a member of the clergy.
Desert Bound - Elizabeth Hunter (wolf) 4/30
April Scavenger Challenge - Houseplants
READ: 6/7
✔ 1. Part of the succulent family, the aloe vera plant is good to have around the house. It helps clean the air, and the gel inside the leaves can be helpful for a myriad of things, most notably to ease the pain of burns. The leaves of the plant can grow relatively tall and taper at the end. Each blade has small spikes along the edges and is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
📌 Read enough half step books to equal or exceed 150 pages; tell us how many pages for each book OR a book set in a location beginning with a letter in ALOEVERA; tell us where
Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter - Katie MacAlister (Oregon) 4/4
✔2. The dragon tree (Cracaena Marginata) has narrow green leaves with cream and yellow colored stripes running through each. The plant can be as tall as fifteen feet and grows rather fast for the first few years. Although easy to maintain and care for, it is toxic to cats and dogs
📌 Read a book with a main character whose first name begins with a letter in DRAGON; tell us the name OR a book with an intact "15" in its page total; tell us how many pages
Along Came a Cowboy - Christine Lynxwiler (Rachel Donovan) 4/12
✔3. The tall fiddle leaf ficus (Ficus lyrate) is known for its broad lyre-shaped leaves and height. In its native African habitat, the plant can grow as tall as 100 feet, but indoors the fiddle leaf grows in the range of two to ten feet tall.
📌 Read a book with a musical instrument or notation (notes, staff, rests, etc.) on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a character who is described as tall; tell us who
The Island - Lisa Henry (Usayd was tall and swarthy) 4/16
✔4. The giant bird of paradise (strelitzia nicolai) is another tall plant that is a stunner in its natural landscape. The Bird of Paradise looks like a fountain, with its blue-green leaves sprouting from the center. The flowers on this plant have white leaves and blue centers, or tongues.
📌 Read a "giant" book (500 pages or more); tell us how many pages OR a book with a bird name in the title or author name; post a link to the author's GR page if using that option
Terrified - Kevin O'Brien (550 pages) 4/4
✔5. The low-maintenance Pothos is suggested by experts for the beginning houseplant 'parent.' The broad, variegated, heart-shaped leaves run the length of the plant that can extend for many feet if left to grow in the right conditions. It is poisonous to cats, dogs, and even children if ingested but only if done so in large quantities. The sap of the plant can cause allergic reactions in some people.
📌 Read the first book in a series; tell us the series name OR a book by an author who has caused an "adverse reaction" from you in the past; post a link to the author's GR page
Sacrificed to the Dragon - Jessie Donovan (Stonefire Dragons #1) 4/7
✔6. The snake plant (Sansevieria) got its name from the tall and narrow shaped leaves, spotted with white and yellow stripes or shapes, that grow from the center of each plant. This plant is toxic to pets, but on the plus side, it helps detoxify the air.
📌 Read a book in which a named cat or dog plays an important role (not just a pet); tell us the animal's name and briefly explain the role OR a book in which poison is involved; briefly tell us how
Where Demons Fear to Tread - Stephanie Chong 4/8
(villain is out for revenge on hero and creates a lethal poison to kill him)
7. The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia), named for its scientific name Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, is often mistaken for an artificial plant due to its waxy coating, oval-shaped leaves, and the way the stem starts off thick at the bottom and tapers to a point at the top.
📌 Read a book by an author whose first or last name begins with Z; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with a character who earns his/her living as a scientist; tell us the character and the field
April Spell Challenge - House Plants READ: 9/10
✔ D: Your Blue Eyed Boy - Helen Dunmore 4/13
✔ R: Spindle's End - Robin McKinley 4/11
✔ A: Betrayals - Kelley Armstrong 4/3
✔ G: The Girl Who Lived Twice - David Lagercrantz 4/6
✔ O: Blood & Water - Katie O'Rourke 4/4
N:
✔ T: Terrified - Kevin O'Brien 4/4
✔ R: Time Windows - Kathryn Reiss 4/3
✔ E: Houston, We Have A Problem - Erin McCarthy 4/2
✔ E: When Beauty Tamed the Beast - Eloisa James 4/10
Olympics #10 - Shooting READ: 5/5
✔1. From just five shooting events at the inaugural 1896 Olympic Games to 15 today, the sport has grown steadily alongside the advance in firearms technology.
→ Read a book with a gun on the cover (show us the cover) - or - a Series Book #5 or #15 (tell us the series).
The Last Suppers - Diane Mott Davidson 4/5
✔2. Shooting was one of the nine events at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. In the Paris Games in 1900, live pigeons were used as moving targets. After the 1900 games, the pigeons were replaced with clay targets. In 1907, the International Shooting Sport Federation came into existence and brought some standardizations to the sport.
→ Read a book whose original publication YEAR contains a "9" (tell us the year) - or - a book set in Greece or France.
The Girl Who Lived Twice - David Lagercrantz (pub August 22, 2019) 4/6
✔3. There are 15 events in the Olympic program, divided into three different groups: rifle, pistol and shotgun. The rifle and pistol competitions are held on shooting ranges where marksmen aim at targets at distances of 10, 25 and 50 meters. In the shotgun event, competitors shoot at clay targets propelled at a series of different directions and angles.
→ Read a book from a series with at least 15 books (tell us the series) - or - a book in which the author's first AND last initials can be found in RIFLE or PISTOL or SHOTGUN.
The Overlook - Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch Universe #17) 4/14
✔4. Marksmen need to be as steady as possible to be accurate. In order to achieve this, they use relaxation techniques to drop their heartbeat to half its normal rate, fire between heartbeats and use blinkers to hit a bullseye, which appears as no more than a tiny dot in the distance.
→ Read a book in a genre that relaxes you (tell us what genre) - or - a book with some type of medical professional as a MAIN character (tell us who).
Houston, We Have A Problem - Erin McCarthy (both MCs are doctors) 4/2
✔5. As an example of overcoming adversity, Karoly Takacs has few peers. He was part of Hungary’s world champion pistol-shooting team in 1938 when an army grenade exploded, crippling his right hand. Ten years later, having taught himself to shoot with his left, he won two gold medals in the rapid-fire class.
→ Read a book with a character who is in the military - or - a book with an author whose FIRST name starts with K or whose LAST name starts with T.
Terrified - Kevin O'Brien 4/4
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
May Scavenger Challenge - Limericks
READ: 6/7
✔1. There was an odd fellow named Gus,
When travelling he made such a fuss.
He was banned from the train,
Not allowed on a plane,
And now travels only by bus.
😀 Read a book with some sort of transportation on the cover (show us the cover) - or - a book whose author's first or last name has only three letters.
The Law of Moses - Amy Harmon 5/2
✔2. There was an enchanting young bride,
Who ate many green apples and died.
The apples fermented,
inside the lamented,
and made cider inside her inside
😀 Read a book with a primarily green cover (show us the cover) - or - a book marked HUMOR on the main genre page.
A Beginner's Guide to Paradise - Alex Sheshunoff 5/7
✔3. There was a young woman named Bright,
Whose speed was much faster than light.
She set out one day,
In a relative way,
And returned on the previous night.
😀 Read a book with a word in the title that rhymes with Bright - or - a book that you read quickly (150-200 pages long, tell us how many pages).
Darker Than Night - Kim Lenox 5/6
4. I'm really determined and keen,
To start giving this house a spring clean.
I will do it I say,
Yes, I'll do it today,
Well, I'll do it tomorrow, I mean.
😀 Read a book set in the spring (March, April, or May) - or - a book with the word "I" in the title.
✔5. A canner, exceedingly canny,
One morning remarked to his granny,
"A canner can can
Anything that he can;
But a canner can't can a can, can he?"
😀 Read a book with a three-letter word in the title - or - a book with a grandmother character (tell us who).
Seeing Red - Jill Shalvis 5/7
✔6. A circus performer named Brian,
Once smiled as he rode on a lion.
They came back from the ride,
But with Brian inside,
And the smile on the face of the lion.
😀 Read a book with a person smiling on the cover (show us the cover) - or - a book whose title starts with a letter in CIRCUS (disregard A, An, The).
Rendezvous With Yesterday - Dianne Duvall 5/5
✔7. There was a young lady named Rose
Who had a large wart on her nose.
When she had it removed
Her appearance improved,
But her glasses slipped down to her toes.
😀 Read a book with an author or character with a flower name - or - a book with eyeglasses on the cover (show us the cover).
Night's Blaze - Donna Grant (Lily Ross) 5/9
May Spell Challenge - Limerick Day READ: 8/8
✔ L: The Law of Moses - Amy Harmon 5/2
✔ I: Three Bedrooms In Chelsea - Liz Ireland 5/4
✔ M: Mermaid's Destiny - Mira Crest 5/15
✔ E: Everything's Relative - Jenna McCarthy 5/15
✔ R: Rendezvous With Yesterday - Dianne Duvall 5/5
✔ I: The Devourers - Indra Das 5/29
✔ C: Crystal Cove - Lisa Kleypas 5/23
✔ K: Darker Than Night - Kim Lenox 5/6
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #11 - Triathlon READ: 4/5
✔ 1. Triathlon, which involves swimming, cycling and running, was invented in the early 1970s by the San Diego Track Club, as an alternative workout to the routine of track training.
🥉 Read book #3 from a series; tell us the series OR a book set in the 1970s; tell us when
Darker Than Night - Kim Lenox 5/6
2. Triathlon was first contested as an Olympic event in the Summer 2000 Games, held in Sydney, Australia. Two medal events are held, one for men and another for women.
🥈 Read a book originally published in 2000 OR a book set in Australia or by an Australian author; post a link to the author's GR page if using that option
✔ 3. In traditional Triathlon competitions, athletes must swim 1.5km (.93 mile), cycle 40km (25 miles) and run 10km (6.2 miles). The events are back-to-back-to-back, and time is measured cumulatively.
🥇 Read a book with a character who is into fitness; tell us who OR a book with two of these numbers in the total page count: 0, 1, 4, 5; tell us how many pages
Seeing Red - Jill Shalvis (hero is a fire fighter, very fit) 5/7
✔ 4. In the 2020 Games in Tokyo, a mixed relay race will be added to the Triathlon events. Teams will consist of two men and two women, with the women running the first and third legs for each team and the men running the second and fourth legs. Each athlete must swim 300m, bike 8km, and run 2km, before tagging the next team member to do the same.
🥈 Read a book with at least one man AND one woman on the cover; post the cover OR a book whose title begins with T (disregard A, An and The)
Twinepathy - C.B. Cook 5/7
✔ 5. So far, thirteen countries have split the 30 medals that have been awarded in Triathlon events. Great Britain, Switzerland and Australia have each won five medals, although the distribution of gold, silver and bronze differs between them.
🥉 Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in GREATBRITAIN, SWITZERLAND *or* AUSTRALIA tell us which country you chose and post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with the letters G-O-L-D in the title, not necessarily in the same word or in that order
Divide & Conquer - Madeline Urban & Abigail Roux (A&R in all three locations) 5/2
From Sea to Shining Sea - Nevada Duration: May 1 - June 30, 2020
READ: 10/10
✔️1. Read a book with a spice in the title -or- read a book with snow on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose author's first and last name begin with the same letter.
Ghost King - David Gemmell 5/8
✔️2. Read a book with a something curved on the cover (show the cover) -or- read a book set in the mountains (tell us where) -or- read a book with a gemstone in the title/subtitle/author's name (bonus for Ruby).
Twinepathy - C.B. Cook 5/7
✔️3. Read a book in which it doesn't rain at all -or- read a book with the word DEATH in the title (no variations) -or- read a book whose number of pages are between 200-230 (tell us the number of pages).
A Death at the Yoga Café - Michelle Kelly 5/15
✔️4. Read a series book that is not the first or the last (or the last published if it's not a finished series, tell us the series and the number of the book) -or- read a book which is slow going -or- read a book whose main character works for the country in some fashion (they're a public servant, they serve in the military, etc. tell us how the book works).
Night's Blaze - Donna Grant (Dark Kings #5 of 18) 5/9
✔️5. Read a book with an alien race in it -or- read a book in which a character is a conspiracy theorist -or- read a book whose title begins with a letter in UFO (ignore A, An and The).
Of Blood and Ashes - Kyoko M
✔️6. Read a book with celebrities as characters (real or fictional) -or- read a book in which all the words of the title begin with a letter in COMSTOCKLODE (a, an and the count, 3 word minimum) -or- read a book set in the 1930s.
The Law of Moses - Amy Harmon 5/2
✔️7. Let's roll a die for this and choose the option that matches the roll:
Read a book whose cover is mostly blue. Post the cover.
Home for the Summer - Mariah Stewart 5/13
✔️8. Read a book set mainly in a hotel/inn/spa -or- read a book in which a wedding occurs -or- read a book with a night scene on the cover (post the cover).
Darker Than Night - Kim Lenox 5/6
✔️9. Read a book in which something old is found (tell us how the book works) -or- read a long book (>500 pages, tell us the number) -or- read a book with a paved road on the cover (post the cover).
The Heart's Invisible Furies - John Boyne (608 pages) 5/9
✔️10. Read a book with older protagonists (who might or might not wear dentures) -or- read a bookset in a country in which camels are found in the wild (tell us where the book was set) -or- read a book in which a character sports a mustache
The Devourers - Indra Das (India) 5/29
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
June Scavenger Challenge
READ: 3/7
1. Georgia named for England’s King George II
Read a book that takes place in Georgia OR read a book that has a main character or author named George (reasonable variations okay –Georgia, Georgette, etc.)
2. North Carolina named for King Charles I of England:
Read a book that takes place in North Carolina OR read a book that has “NORTH” in its title or author name (does not have to stand alone – i.e. Northcutt would work)
3. South Carolina also named for King Charles I of England
Read a book that takes place in South Carolina OR read a book that has “SOUTH” in its title or author name (does not have to stand alone – i.e. Southlake)
✔ 4. Louisiana named for King Louis XIV of France
Read a book that takes place in Louisiana or France OR read a book that is 14th in a series or published in 2014.
Courting Darkness - Robin LaFevers (France) 6/2
✔ 5. Virginia named for Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen”
Read a book that takes place in Virginia OR read a book in which someone loses their virginity; tell us who.
Healer's Choice - Jory Strong 6/5
6. West Virginia also named for Elizabeth I
Read a book that takes place in West Virginia OR read a book whose author’s or main character’s name is Elizabeth (reasonable variations okay – Beth, Betsy, Lisa, Eliza)
✔ 7. Maryland named for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England
Read a book that takes place in Maryland OR read a book whose title contains a compound word.
Middlegame - Seanan McGuire 6/26
June Spell Challenge
READ: 7/7
C: Courting Darkness - Robin LaFevers 6/2
H: Highland Dragon Warrior - Isabel Cooper 6/17
A: The Age of Ash - Andrenik Y. Sergoyan 6/20
R: The Razor's Edge - Joss Llewelyn 6/23
L: Lions and Tigers and Murder, Oh My - Denise Swanson 6/16
E: Murder by the Book - Lauren Elliott 6/15
S: Soul of the Sword - Julie Kagawa 6/22
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #12 - Rowing READ: 5/5
✔ 1. 🚣♀️ Read a book set in Canada -or- read a book in which bad weather plays a part in the plot.
Hunter - Jax (blizzard)
✔ 2. 🚣♀️Read a series book #1, #6 or #14 (tell us the series) -or- read a book with a number in the title.
Lions and Tigers and Murder, Oh My - Denise Swanson (Devereaux's Dimestore Mystery #6) 6/16
✔ 3. 🚣♀️Read a book with an X in the main character's name (first or last, tell us the name) -or- read a book with a boat shown prominently on the cover (post the cover).
The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan 6/10
✔ 4. 🚣♀️Read a lightweight book (150-200 pages, tell us the number of pages) -or- read a book first published in 2002.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones - Seanan McGuire (187 pages) 6/4
✔ 5. 🚣♀️Read a book written by an Elizabeth or Steve (minor variations are fine) -or- read a book with a 6 or 8 in the total number of pages (tell us the number of pages).
Sword and Pen - Rachel Caine (368 pages) 6/18
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
July Scavenger Challenge - Ice Cream O'Clock
READ: 6/7
✔1. BUTTER PECAN
🍨 Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in BUTTERPECAN; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with a 6-letter word in its title
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between - J.A. Saare (undead) 7/6
✔2. CHOCOLATE
🍦 Read a book with something chocolate shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book whose title begins with a letter in CHOCOLATE (disregard A, An and The)
The Carnival Keepers - Amber Gulley 7/3
✔3. COOKIES AND CREAM
🍨 Read a book with the word "AND" in the title OR a book set in a location beginning with a letter in OREOS; tell us the location
All the Stars and Teeth - Adalyn Grace 7/10
✔4. MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP
🍦 Read a book whose title contains a color word OR a book with a cover that is predominantly mint green; post the cover (color swatch)
New Uses for Old Boyfriends - Beth Kendrick 7/17
✔5. NEAPOLITAN
🍨 Read a book set in the late 19th century (1850-1899); tell us when OR a book where the first letter of every word in the title can be found in NEAPOLITAN (two-word minimum)
Avenger's Angel - Heather Killough-Walden 7/19
✔6. STRAWBERRY
🍦 Read a book with a fruit in the title or shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book inwhich a president or other leader of a country plays a role (can be a real or fictional character); tell us the character and the role played
Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard 7/20
(the king and queen rule over this dystopian world and play a prominent role in MCs life)
7. VANILLA
🍨 Read a book set in Asia OR a book that has reached the #1 position of a best-seller or most-popular list; post a link to the list and tell us the date it was posted/printed
July Spell Challenge - Ice Cream READ: 10/10
✔ N: Necessary Magic - Val St. Crowe 7/3
✔ E: Awaken the Curse - Alexa Egan 7/16
✔ A: The Song of David - Amy Harmon 7/2
✔ P: Agatha H and the Clockwork Princess - Phil & Kaja Foglio 7/17
✔ O: Chinook, Wine and Sink Her - Morgan Q. O'Reilly 7/29
✔ L: Ral's Woman - Laurann Dohner 7/15
✔ I: Itsy Bitsy Spider - Willow Rose 7/9
✔ T: Traggedy Ann - Sinclair Browning 7/19
✔ A: The Carnival Keepers - Amber Gulley 7/3
✔ N: New Uses for Old Boyfriends - Beth Kendrick 7/17
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #13 - Water Polo READ: 4/5
✔ 1. 🤽🏻♀Read a book with the word "WATER" in its title; compound words are okay as long as "WATER" is intact OR read a book with a horse on its cover; remember to post the cover.
Necessary Magic - Val St. Crowe 7/3
2. 🤽🏻♀Read a book that takes place in Paris OR read a book whose setting is between 1900 - 1920 A.D.; tell us when.
✔ 3. 🤽🏻♀Read a book that is 6th, 7th, or 13th in a series; tell us the series name and the book's position OR read a book whose original publication date contains a "4" or an "8;" tell us the date.
All Knight Long - John G. Hartness (Black Knight Chronicles #7) 7/9
✔ 4. 🤽🏻♀Read a book in which a character may be described as very athletic (does not have to be professional); tell us who OR read a book with a hand or hands shown prominently on the cover (i.e. must take up at least half the cover); post the cover.
Rules of Contact - Jaci Burton (professional football player) 7/13
✔ 5. 🤽🏻♀Read a book with an intact "30" in its total page count; tell us the number of pages OR read a book in which the main character sets a goal and meets it; tell us who and the nature of the goal.
The House of Dolls - David Hewson (430 pages) 7/11
From Sea to Shining Sea - Nebraska Duration: July 1 - August 31, 2020
READ: 9/12
✔️1. ✒ Read a book set on a farm -or- read a book with a word with a silent (unpronounced) letter in its title -or- read a book set in a state considered part of Corn Belt.
Traggedy Ann - Sinclair Browning 7/19
2. ✒ Choose an ocean and read three books to reach it. Books must be either set in the state it takes to reach the ocean (from Nebraska), or its author's initials have to be present in the state name. You can use a combination of the two, and you don't have to choose upfront, but you do have to do this task in order!
✔️3. ✒ Read a book with the letters U, N and I in its title, in that order, but not necessarily in the same word -or- read a book with a woman main character -or- read a book with a tree (or trees) prominently shown on the cover (post the cover).
The Vanishing of Katharina Linden - Helen Grant (Pia Kolvenbach) 7/7
✔️4. ✒ Read a book with straw or hay on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with cows in the plot (they don't need to be major, just a mention or two is enough) -or- read half step books, enough to make up the minimum 150 pages. (Tell us the number of pages).
1. Awaken the Curse - Alexa Egan (100 pages) 7/16
2. City of Screams - James Rollins (100 pages) 7/26
✔️5. ✒ Read a book that has one of the fruit names used in a Kool-Aid flavor in its title or cover (post the cover if you use that option, tell us the Kool-Aid flavor) -or- read a book with an author who has a Mc in their last name (Mac is fine also) -or- read a book with a cold war plot.
Beneath the Sugar Sky - Seanan McGuire 7/26
✔️6. ✒ Read a murder mystery that gets solved within the book (please!) -or- read a book with a disabled protagonist -or- read a book with shoes on the cover (post the cover).
The House of Dolls - David Hewson 7/11
✔️7. ✒ Read a book with a competitive athlete character(tell us the sport) -or- read book #3 of a series (post the series) -or- read a book with a predominantly red cover (post the cover).
Rules of Contact - Jaci Burton (professional football player) 7/13
✔️8. ✒ Read a book with a car on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with an alcoholic drink in the title -or- read a bookoriginally published between 2008-2011 (inclusive, tell us the year).
Drink of Me - Jacquelyn Frank (pub 2010) 7/19
✔️9. ✒ Read a book set in a small community -or- read a book with a camel or a pyramid shape on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a page count that is a multiple of 100 (200, 300 and so on, tell us the number of pages).
Sharks in the Time of Saviors - Kawai Strong Washburn (small community in Hawaii) 7/7
✔️10. ✒ Read a book that is a spin-off of another book or series (tell us the original book or series) -or- read a book with a main character who is a parent -or- read a book with a shirtless man on the cover (post the cover)
Avenger's Angel - Heather Killough-Walden 7/19
August Scavenger Challenge - Admit You're Happy
READ: 6/7
1 – FAMILY
Read a book that features a family (family should be the main focus of the book, not just a side story) OR a book with FAMILY on the first page of the book's "top shelves"
✔2 – FRIENDS
Read a book about a group of friends (at least three people) OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in FRIENDS; post a link to the author's GR page
Suddenly Psychic - Elizabeth Hunter 8/1
✔3 – GOOD FOOD
Read a book with a main character who earns his/her living in some sort of cooking-related career (chef, baker, etc.); tell us who and the career OR a book that includes recipes (NOT a cookbook)
Cherry Cheesecake Murder - Joanne Fluke (baker) 8/6
✔4 – PUPPIES AND KITTENS
Read a book with a dog or cat shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book whose title contains two words that are opposites (up/down, in/out, etc.)
Poison Ivory - Tamar Myers 8/13
✔5 – A BEAUTIFUL DAY
Read a book with a sunny outdoor scene (preferably a nature scene) shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book where the first letter of every word in the title can be found in BEAUTIFUL DAY (ALL words count; 2-word minimum); you can only use a letter as many times as it appears in the phrase
Death's Angel - Heather Killough-Walden 8/4
6 – MUSIC
Read a non-fiction book about a musician or musical group OR a book with a character who earns his/her living in a music-related field; tell us the character and the field
✔7 – A FAVORITE AUTHOR OR SERIES
Read a book by one of your favorite authors; post a link to the author's GR page and tell us how many of his/her books you have read OR a book from one of your favorite series; tell us the series
Alpha Night - Nalini Singh 8/
✔8 – SOMETHING ELSE?
Tell us something else that makes you happy and read a book related to that. Be sure to tell us how the book fits!
NOTE : If you choose this task, you may skip ONE of the above tasks.
Death of a Bacon Heiress - Lee Hollis (bacon in all forms makes me happy) 8/9
August Spell Challenge - Admit You're Happy READ: 5/5
✔ H: Suddenly Psychic - Elizabeth Hunter 8/1
✔ A: Alpha Night - Nalini Singh 8/1
✔ P: Poison Ivory - Tamar Myers 8/13
✔ P: Pines - Blake Crouch 8/28
✔ Y: Private Affair - Rebecca York 8/16
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #14 - Sailing READ: 3/5
1. From the Olympic website, "Sailing is the art of moving a boat by harnessing the power of wind. Mastery over ever-changing conditions requires both great skill and experience." Olympic Sailing debuted in the 1900 Paris Games. Women's Sailing premiered in the 1988 Seoul Games.
⛵️ Read a book with the word "WIND" or "SAIL" in the title (may be compound or plural as long as the letters are together in the same word) OR read a book that takes place in Paris or Seoul; tell us where.
✔2. The type of sail boat, as well as the number of sailors make up the different classes of sailing races - men's and women's races have one or two person dinghies and the mixed races feature one man and one woman per boat. Equipment advances over the past 20 years have created a trend towards smaller and lighter craft, placing ever greater demands on both the athletic and technical capacities of the sailors.
⛵️ Read a book with one man and one woman on the cover; post the cover OR read a "smaller, lighter" book - anything between 150-200 pp.; tell us the total page count.
Scottish Ecstasy - Rebecca Sinclair 8/16
3. Sailors will compete in a series of 11 races, each race consisting of 2-4 laps between start and finish. Fleets of equally-matched boats are racing around the same course area at the same time. Courses are designed to incorporate a variety of different sailing angles: upwind, downwind and reaching.
⛵️ Read a book that is 11th in a series; tell us the name of the series OR read a book that has a sailboat or wind-surfer on its cover; post the cover.
✔4. In order for one sailboat to pass or "overtake" another, the trailing boat must pass the leading boat on a specified side. The specified side is determined by the direction of the wind.
⛵️ Read a book with any directional-type word in the title (i.e. up, down, north, south, etc.) OR read a book whose author's first and last initial may be found in DIRECTION; ignore middle initials.
Magic of the Gargoyles - Rebecca Chastain 8/2
✔5. Points are awarded for finish position - 1st place gets one point, 2nd place gets two points, etc. The top 10 athletes are selected according to the lowest scores and compete in one final race to determine gold, silver, and bronze medalists.
⛵️ Read a book that is in one of the "Top 10" on your TBR, sorted any way you choose (i.e. highest rating, oldest published, etc.); tell us how you sorted your TBR OR read a book in which a main character wins a race of some kind; tell us who and the nature of the race.
Alpha Night - Nalini Singh 8/1
September Scavenger Challenge - Beekeeping in a Honeycomb
READ: 6/7
✔ 1. 🌺 Read a book that takes place in Spring (March, April, May); tell us when OR read a book involving beekeeping; tell us how if the connection isn't clear.
Undertow - Dixie Browning (in May) 9/28
✔ 2. 🐝 Read a book with a bee on its cover (must be visible in the GR thumbnail); post the cover OR read a book with a character who has a gentle disposition; tell us who.
A Companion to Wolves - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear (Brandr) 9/30
✔ 3. 🍯 Read a book with any type of hat, veil, or gloves clearly visible on its cover; post the cover OR read a book whose location begins with a letter in NUCLEUS; tell us where.
Unexpected Mates - Grace Brennan 9/26
4. 🐝 Read the 10th book in a series OR read a book with an intact "10" in its original YEAR of publication; tell us the pub. year.
✔ 5. 🍯 Read a book that has been in "storage" for some time - i.e. a book that you have owned for more than a year without reading or a book that has been on your TBR for over a year; tell us how long you've had the book on your reading horizon OR read a book that has a "5" in its total page count; tell us how many pages.
Dust to Dust - Beverly Connor (added to TBR in 2009) 9/18
✔ 6. 🐝 Read a book involving a queen (queen only); tell us who OR if you have a large TBR, read a book in position 3,000 or higher; tell us the book's position.
Grand Slam - J.T. Cheyanne (#3716) 9/22
✔ 7. 🌺 Read a book with an evening or nighttime scene on its cover; post the cover OR read a book featuring a dinner party or feast; tell us briefly about the event
Crooked River - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child 9/20
September Spell Challenge - Beekeeping in a Honeycomb
READ: 11/11
✔ N: Nine Lives - Sharon Sala 9/30
✔ U: Unexpected Mates - Grace Brennan 9/26
✔ C: Crash & Burn - Abigail Roux 9/17
✔ L: Igniting Darkness - Robin LaFevers 9/25
✔ E: A Companion to Wolves - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear 9/30
✔ U: Undertow - Dixie Browning 9/28
✔ S: Spying in High Heels - Gemma Halliday 9/10
✔ C: Claim The Leopard Princess - Meg Xuemei X. 9/14
✔ O: The Faithless Hawk - Margaret Owen 9/9
✔ M: The Ghost - Monica McCarty 9/3
✔ B: Ball & Chain - Abigail Roux 9/13
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #15 - Diving READ: 5/5
✔1. 🏅Read a book with plot twists -or- read a book with a cover you think is fancy (post the cover).
Igniting Darkness - Robin LaFevers 9/25
✔2. 🏅Read a book with a person standing still on the cover (the whole person must be seen, post the cover) -or- read a book in which someone goes underwater for any length of time (they must come back alive!)
Grand Slam - J.T. Cheyanne 9/22
✔3. 🏅Read a book with an 8 in its year of publication (let us know the year) -or- read a book about a topic you think is uninteresting.
Wild Irish Ride - Jennifer Saints (pub Dec 2008) 9/11
✔4. 🏅Read a book with something flying on the cover (living or non-living, both are okay) -or- read a series book that is not #1 (tell us the series and the number of your book).
Crooked River - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (birds) 9/20
✔5. 🏅Read a book which is set in China or features an MC of Chinese origin -or- read a book in which a corrupt government is featured (tell us how your book fits).
Claim The Leopard Princess - Meg Xuemei X. 9/14
(takes place on an alien planet which is the dump spot for the galaxy's exiled people; the ones "in charge" are very corrupt and violent)
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - Colorado Duration: September 1 - October 31, 2020
READ: 10/10
✔1. ✒ Read a book with a word synonymous to Red in the title -or- read a book with a mountain/s on its cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with 2 zeroes in its number of pages (mention the number of pages).
The Faithless Hawk - Margaret Owen (400 pages) 9/9
✔ 2. ✒ Read a book with a mostly blue cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which gods are present as characters -or- read a book with a word in the title ending in -ing. (sing, sleeping, anything).
Spying in High Heels - Gemma Halliday 9/10
✔ 3. ✒ Read a book set before 1300 AD (tell us when the book is set) -or- read a book whose author has a color word in their name -or- read book #4 of a series (tell us the series).
Dragan - D.B. Reynolds (stone warriors #4) 9/12
✔ 4. ✒ Read a book in which the main character's name contains an X (tell us the name) -or- read a book whose cover shows something made of stone (post the cover, and yes, it has to be a man-made stone artifact) -or- read a book with a woman's name in the title.
Ball & Chain - Abigail Roux (stone angel) 9/13
✔ 5. ✒ Read a book in which a musician/band plays an important role -or- read a book with a predominantly red cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with the word DEAD in the title (no variations).
Hooked on a Phoenix - Ashlyn Chase 9/21
✔ 6. ✒ Read a book in which an important scene takes place in a prison -or- read a book from which you learned something you didn't know before (tell us what!) -or- read a book in which an independence day is celebrated (if it's not the US independence, tell us which country and when it is celebrated).
Igniting Darkness - Robin LaFevers 9/25
✔ 7. ✒ Read a book set in a mountain town (let us know where!) -or- read a book with a metal in its title/subtitle or series title -or- read a book with a chair of some kind on the cover (post the cover).
The Werewolf Upstairs - Ashlyn Chase 9/29
✔ 8. ✒ Read a book marked CHRISTMAS on the main GR page -or- read a book in which a main character works for a company or organization more commonly known by its short form (like NORAD, NOAA, FBI, CIA etc., tell us what it is) -or- read a book with numbers on the cover (that are not part of the title or subtitle or author's name, post the cover).
Crooked River - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (FBI) 9/20
✔ 9. ✒ Read a book featuring a celebrity (real or fictional) -or- read a book in which someone headless is featured on the cover (the head can either be really cut off or just beyond the cover but hidden behind something like a newspaper won't work, post the cover) -or- read a book in which someone is murdered, with blood involved (poison won't work!)
Dark Voyage - Helen Susan Swift 9/7
✔ 10. ✒ Read a book with a cat's tail shown on the cover (post the cover, big cats okay, whole cat bodies are fine too, but cat must be pictured with the tail visible) -or- read a book in which a character goes skiing -or- read a book with a main character works with flowers in some way (tell us what they do).
Nine Lives - Sharon Sala 9/30
(after murdering someone, the villain goes skiing with his wife)
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
October Scavenger Challenge - Popcorn
READ: 6/7
✔ 1. The oldest ears of popcorn ever found were discovered in Bat Cave in New Mexico. Ranging from smaller than a penny to about 2 inches, they date back about 4,000 years. Not only that, but kernels of popcorn found in burial grounds in Chile were so well preserved they would still pop even though they were 1,000 years old.
🍿 Read a book with "00" in the total number of pages (tell us how many pages) - or - a book that has been on your TBR the longest (tell us when you added it).
An Almond for a Parrot - Wray Delaney (400 pages) 10/24
✔ 2. Popcorn was integral to early 16th century Aztec Indian ceremonies where young women danced a popcorn dance, with thick tassels of maize placed upon the girls' heads. It was an important food for the Aztecs who also used it as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces and ornaments. Writing of Peruvian Indians in 1650, the Spaniard Cobo says, "They toast a certain kind of corn until it bursts. They call it pisancalla, and they use it as a confection."
🍿 Read a book in which there is some sort of dance scene - or - a book where the first letter of every word in the title is found in PISANCALLA (two-word minimum, all words count).
Charlie All Night - Jennifer Crusie 10/12
✔ 3. Although popcorn is typically thought of as a snack food today, it was once a popular breakfast food, eaten just as we eat cereal nowadays--ground with milk or cream. John Harvey Kellogg praised popcorn as being “easily digestible and to the highest degree wholesome, and hence superior to many denatured breakfast foods which are found in the market.”
🍿 Read a book with some sort of breakfast food on the cover--bacon, eggs, cereal, etc. (show us the cover) - or - a book with an author with three names
Blackmark - Jean Lowe Carlson 10/17
✔ 4. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, popcorn balls were very popular confections and often given as gifts. Their popularity created an industry of popcorn ball-making gadgets. Victorian families often festooned fireplace mantels, doorways and Christmas trees with ornate decorations made from popcorn balls.
🍿 Read a book with a fireplace, doorway, or Christmas tree on the cover (show us the cover) - or a book with a word in the title containing the double letters "LL."
A Tapestry of Spells - Lynn Kurland 10/15
✔ 5. During the Depression, popcorn at 5 cents a bag was an affordable luxury. While other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived. An Oklahoma banker who went broke bought a popcorn machine and set it up in a small store near a theater. After a couple of years, his popcorn business made enough money to buy back three of the farms he'd lost. Unlike other confections, popcorn sales increased throughout the Depression, mostly because of the introduction of popcorn into movie theaters. One theater owner actually lowered the price of his theater tickets and added a popcorn machine. He soon saw huge profits.
🍿 Read a book with a character who owns his/her own business (tell us who) - or - a book that was inexpensive (library book, gift, thrift store, etc.).
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks (library book) 10/3
✔ 6. During World War II, sugar was sent overseas for U.S. troops, which meant there wasn't much sugar left in the United States to make candy. Thanks to this unusual situation, Americans ate three times as much popcorn as usual.
🍿 Read a book whose title starts with a letter in SUGAR (disregard A, An, The) - or - a book that is #3 in a series (tell us the series).
An Apprentice to Elves - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear (Iskryne World #3) 10/10
7. Percy Spencer, at Raytheon Manufacturing Corporation, figured out how to mass-produce magnetrons which were being used to generate microwaves for use in World War II. Looking for post-war applications of this technology, Spencer spurred the development of the microwave oven in 1946. Popcorn was key to many of Spencer's experiments. Microwave popcorn became available in the marketplace in the early 1980s.
🍿 Read a book with an inventor character (tell us who) - or - a book set in the 1940's or the 1980's (tell us which).
October Spell Challenge - Popcorn READ: 7/7
✔ M: An Apprentice to Elves - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear 10/10
✔ I: Intimate Beings - Jessica Barksdale Inclan 10/23
✔ D: Deadly Fate - Heather Graham 10/7
✔ W: Walking in Fire - Catheryn Cade 10/3
✔ E: The Tempering of Men - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear 10/3
✔ S: The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks 10/3
✔ T: Taken by Tuesday - Catherine Bybee 10/9
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #16 - Athletics READ: 5/5
✔ 1. Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic games in 1896, and the athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The first event contested is believed to have been the "stadium" race, a sprint of about 192 meters. Champions have been recorded from as far back as 776 BC.
👟 Read a book set in ancient times (before 1000 BCE); tell us the year OR a book with an intact "76" in the total page count; tell us how many pages
The Tempering of Men - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear (set in 700) 10/3
✔ 2. Much like today, the ancient Olympic Games included a wide variety of track and field events such as longer foot races, a race in armor, and a pentathlon event that consisted of the stadium race, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw and wrestling.
👟 Read a book by an author who has published books in more than three series under the same name; post a link to the author's GR page and tell us the series names OR a book with a named character who exercises regularly; tell us who
Passion Ignites - Donna Grant 10/8
Donna Grant: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
(Dark Sword, Dark Kings, Dark Warriors, Druid's Glen, )
✔ 3. The modern program includes track and field events, road running events, and racewalking events. Women’s events appeared for the first time at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, while the men’s program was standardized as of the 1932 Games in Los Angeles. The long racewalk is the only event currently held for men but not included on the women's program, with the exception of women taking part in the heptathlon and the 100 meters hurdles rather than the 110 meters hurdles.
👟 Read a book with less than 1932 GR ratings; tell us how many OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in either AMSTERDAM **or** LOS ANGELES; post a link to the author's GR page
Whiskey, Vamps, and Thieves - Selene Charles (852 ratings) 10/11
✔ 4. A total of 52 different events have been held in the men's competition, with the current list comprising 24 events. Many of the discontinued events were similar to modern ones but at different lengths, especially in the steeplechase, hurdles, and racewalking disciplines. Cross country running was on the program from 1912 to 1924 and is the most prominent form of athletics not to be featured at the Olympics.
👟 Read a book where the first letter of every word in the title begins with a letter in CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING; all words count (2-word minimum; a letter can only be used as many times as it appears in the phrase) OR a book originally published in a year ending in 5; tell us the year
Charlie All Night - Jennifer Crusie (pub 1995) 10/12
✔ 5. The athletic triathlon – an unusual event, held only once and featuring gymnasts competing in the long jump, shot put, and 100 meter dash – and pentathlon multi-discipline events were phased out in favor of the decathlon, and the medley relay replaced with even-leg relays.
👟 Read a book that is part of a trilogy; tell us the name of the trilogy and the book's position OR a book set in a location beginning with a letter in TRIATHLON; tell us the location
An Apprentice to Elves - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear (Iskryne World) 10/10
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
November Spell Challenge - Remembrance Day
READ: 8/8
✔ V: Shadows of the Short Days - Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson 11/7
✔ E: Semi-Psychic Life - Elizabeth Hunter 11/12
✔ T: Perversion - T.M. Frazier 11/8
✔ E: Evil in Carnations - Kate Collins 11/23
✔ R: Adam and Evil - Gillian Roberts 11/6
✔ A: Air Bound - Christine Feehan 11/19
✔ N: The Naked Earl - Sally MacKenzie 11/20
✔ S: Leaving Normal - Stef Ann Holm 11/5
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
November Scavenger Challenge - Remembrance Day READ: 6/7
✔1. Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. Inaugurated by King George V, it was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.— on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
✠ Read a book that was originally published in a year ending in "11;" tell us the year OR read a book that takes place in Britain or is written by a British author.
Bryant & May and the Burning Man - Christopher Fowler 11/11
2. From 1921 to 1930, Armistice Day was held on the Monday of the week in which November 11th fell. In 1931, Alan Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox–Alberni, introduced a bill to observe Armistice Day only on November 11th. Passed by the House of Commons, the bill also changed the name to “Remembrance Day.”
✠ Read a book with "MONDAY" in its title (exact matches only) OR read a book that takes place during the 1920's; tell us when.
✔3. The United States used to commemorate Armistice Day on November 11th. However, in 1954 at the end of the Korean War, the name was changed to Veterans Day so that all war veterans would be honored.
✠ Read a book whose title has changed since its original publication; tell us the original title OR read a book in which a main character served in, or is currently serving in, any military branch (for any country); tell us who and in which branch they serve(d).
Primal Law - J.D. Tyler (former Navy SEAL) 11/24
✔4. Many countries observe Remembrance Day every year on November 11th. Wreath-laying ceremonies, usually organized by branches of the Royal British Legion, are performed at war memorials across the UK. Canada has a huge parade of veterans and current military forces led by a Color Guard.
✠ Read a book in which some type of formal ceremony takes place; tell us what OR read a book with a gravestone, cemetery, or memorial structure on its cover; post the cover.
A Phoenix Is Forever - Ashlyn Chase (double wedding) 11/28
✔5. At 11 am on the 11th of November, many countries of the British Commonwealth observe two minutes of silence. The sounding of the "Last Post" (video) announces the period of silence, and is then followed by the sounding of "Reveille" (video) or sometimes just "The Rouse" (video).
✠ Read a book whose cover shows a sunrise or a sunset; post the cover OR read a book with a "2" in its total page count; tell us how many pages.
Perversion - T.M. Frazier (262 pages) 11/8
✔6. The "two minute period of silence" tradition had lapsed before being revived by a campaign in the early 1990s. The silence is now broadcast as a special program on BBC with a voice over stating, "This is BBC One. Now on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month. The traditional two minute silence for Armistice Day." The program starts with a close up of the Big Ben clock chiming 11:00 and then shows different parts of the world observing the silence. Many employers and businesses invite their staff and customers to observe the two minutes' silence at 11:00 a.m.
✠ Read a book with any timepiece on its cover; post the cover OR read a book whose title contains the word "SILENCE" or any word synonymous with silence - i.e. silent, quiet, whisper.
Police at the Funeral - Margery Allingham 11/16
✔7. Poppies are worn on Remembrance Day to remember and honor those who have given their lives in battle. The flowers grew on the battlefields after World War I ended. The flower-covered battlefields are immortalized in the famous World War I poem In Flanders Fields.
✠ Read a book whose cover is primarily poppy-red OR read a book in which a character dies in battle; tell us who OR read a book of poetry (must be 150+ pages).
The Last Colossus - Michael Hodges (Ron Combs, hero) 11/7
Olympics #17 - Equestrian Dressage READ: 5/5
✔ 1. Dressage, the highest expression of horse training, is considered the art of equestrian sport and is used as the groundwork for all other equine disciplines. The ancient Greeks recognized that if rider and horse were to survive in battle, complete cooperation was necessary between the pair and developed dressage as a method to train the horses for war. The aim of modern dressage is for the rider to prompt the horse to perform a series of pre-determined moves.
🏇 Read a book in which an old practice has been modernized; tell us what OR read a book whose author's first and last initial are in DRESSAGE.
Adam and Evil - Gillian Roberts 11/6
✔ 2. Equestrian sports were featured at the Paris Games in 1900, but then withdrawn until the Stockholm Games in 1912. Since riders had to be officers, only men were allowed to compete. This restriction was lifted in 1951 which then allowed the sport to debut for women in the 1952 Helsinki Games. Equestrian sports are the only Olympic sport that allows men and women to compete together.
🏇 Read a book that takes place in any of the Scandinavian countries; tell us where OR read a book written by a male author; be sure to post the GR's author link.
Shadows of the Short Days - Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson (Iceland) 11/7
✔ 3. There are two competitive formats for dressage – Team and Individual. Teams are comprised of three riders who all perform individually. All riders, team and individual, compete in an opening round called the Grand Prix. Seven judges allocate marks between 0-10 for precision and execution of movement.
🏇 Read a book that is #1 through #10 in a series; tell us the series name and the book's position OR read a book with a "3" or a "7" in the total number of pages; tell us how many pages.
Burn Marks - Sara Paretsky (VI Warshawski #6) 11/2
✔ 4. The top 18 individual riders and the top 7 teams go to the Grand Prix Special, which is similar to the Grand Prix, with particular attention paid to transitions executed throughout the test. The Freestyle combines precision and artistry with judges’ marks given for execution of moves as well as interpretation of music played and choreography. If you’re a fan of figure skating, you can think of the levels as figures (now eliminated from competition), the short program, and the long program.
🏇 Read a book that 'mixes' two genres - one genre should be factual/precise and one genre should be artsy; so, for example a book of historical fiction would work b/c it combines history and fiction; science fiction and alternative history are also examples (as long as you can explain your logic, be as creative as you'd like) OR read a book divided into parts or sections (as well as chapters).
Company of Liars - Karen Maitland (historical fiction) 11/17
✔ 5. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven confirmed her extraordinary talent by winning gold for the third consecutive time in the individual dressage event, thereby making Olympic history. Her titles total eight medals - three gold and five silver.
🏇 Read a book with "GOLD" or "SILVER" in its title; compound words okay OR read a book in which someone is considered the best in their field; tell us who and which field.
What Lurks Below - Donald Firesmith (Jack Oswald, geologist) 11/10
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - North Dakota Duration: November 1 - December 31, 2020
READ: 10/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book in which there is a mix-up of some kind (tell us what it is) -or- read a book first published in a year with an 8 and a 9 (tell us the year) -or- read a book with an author whose first or last name contains an intact "North" or "South".
Adam and Evil - Gillian Roberts (pub 1998) 11/6
✔️2. ✒ Read a book whose title has a word that ends with a "CK" -or- read a book with a peaceful character -or- read a book with a tailed pet in the story (tell us which kind).
The Witch Squad - M.Z. Andrews (cat named Sneaks) 11/9
✔️3. ✒ Read a book with a rose on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a ONE in the title or subtitle -or- read a book with a main character with a friend who is also important to the plot.
Air Bound - Christine Feehan 11/19
✔️4. ✒ Read a book in which Teddy Roosevelt is referenced (post the line & location in the book) -or- read a book set mainly in the outdoors (tell us where) -or- read a book in which a character is farmer or a rancher.
The Buccaneers - Iain Lawrence (on a ship) 11/14
✔️5. ✒ Read a center book of a series (7 book series: center book is #4. 6 book series: center book can be either #3 & #4; tell us your book's position and the number of books in the series) -or- read a book in which someone disproves something that has been accepted for a long time (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a book with a one word, two syllable title.
Claimed - Rebecca Zanetti 11/17
✔️6. ✒ Read a book with an author or main character called David, Peter or George (can be first or last name, but no variations) -or- read a book with a word in the title that begins and ends with the same letter -or- read a book with a photograph on the cover as opposed to an illustration (post the cover).
Shadows of the Short Days - Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson (shadows) 11/7
✔️7. ✒ Read a book with a pyramid shape on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with Cold War as part of the plot -or- read a book in which an abandoned building is important to the plot.
The Chalk Man - C.J. Tudor 11/18
✔️8. ✒ Read a book with a title word or author name with consecutive repeated vowels (aa, oo etc.) -or- read a book with a bicycle on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that has been around for a long time on your TBR (tell us when it was added).
Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi 11/15
✔️9. ✒ Read a book that involves a border crossing (let us know how your book fits) -or- read a book in which the main character works with plants or flowers (let us know how) -or- read a book which has been recommended to you by a friend (preferably someone who resides in a different location than you - you're welcome to ask for recommendations here, I live in NC).
The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux 11/4
✔️10. ✒ Read a book with someone naked at any point in the book for any reason -or- read a book with a hat on the cover (it can be worn or unworn, post the cover) -or- read a book that contains recipes (not a cookbook!)
Perversion - T.M. Frazier 11/8
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
December Scavenger Challenge - Festivus for the Rest of Us!
READ: 6/7
✔ 1. ✳ Read a book set at Christmas time OR a book you added to your to-read list on the 23rd of any month; tell us the month and year
Christmas with a Vampire - Bonnie Vanak 12/4
✔ 2. ✳ Read a book with a repeated number in the total page count (331 and 199 work, 252 does not); tell us how many pages OR a book in which a secret is grudgingly shared; using spoiler tags, briefly explain
A Curse So Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer 12/16
(hero is a murderous beast who kills his people indiscriminately)
3. ✳ Read a book by an author whose last name begins with O' (like Clare O'Donohue and Barbara O'Neal); post a link to the author's GR page OR a book that is on a CURRENT best-sellers list; post a link to the list and tell us where the book falls on that list
✔ 4. ✳ Read a book with a pole of some sort shown prominently on the cover; post the cover (bonus for a plain, unadorned pole!) OR a book that was inexpensive to obtain
Soul Sucker - Kate Pearce (kindle freebie) 12/14
✔ 5. ✳ Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in either MEATLOAF *or* SPAGHETTI; post a link to the author's GR page (a letter can only be used as many times as it appears in the word) OR a book in which a family sits down to dinner together; quote the excerpt and tell us the location/page number
Possession - Tracey M. Frazier 12/9
✔ 6. ✳ Read a book that ended up being a disappointment; using spoiler tags, briefly tell us why OR a book whose title begins with G; ALL words count!
The Good Fairies of New York - Martin Millar 12/4
✔ 7. ✳ Read a book in which two or more characters compete in a game of some sort; tell us the game OR a book that is the last book needed to finish a challenge other than this one; tell us the challenge (can be from any group or a personal challenge)
One Grave Too Many - Beverly Connor (chess) 12/8
December Spell Challenge - Festivus READ: 8/8
✔ P: The Phantom King - Heather Killough-Walden 12/2
✔ E: Man at Work - Elaine Fox 12/19
✔ C: Christmas with a Vampire - Bonnie Vanak 12/4
✔ A: Quicksilver - Rebecca J. Anderson 12/12
✔ N: Archangel's Sun - Nalini Singh 12/2
✔ P: Possession - Tracey M. Frazier 12/9
✔ I: Illumination - Susannah Sandlin 12/24
✔ E: Death by Vanilla Latte - Alex Erickson 12/30
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #18 - Table TennisREAD: 5/6
✔1. It is thought that upper-class Victorians in England invented table tennis in the 1880's as a genteel, after-dinner alternative to lawn tennis, using whatever they could find as equipment. A line of books would often be the net, the rounded top of a champagne cork would be the ball and occasionally a cigar box lid would be a racket.
🏓 Read a book set in the late 1800's (tell us when) - or - a book with books, a champagne bottle, or a cigar box on the cover (show us the cover).
A Highlander Christmas - Dawn Halliday (1869) 12/13
✔2. In 1926, meetings were held in Berlin and London that led to the formation of the International Table Tennis Federation. The first World Championships were held in London in 1926, but the sport had to wait a long time before it was given its Olympic debut at the 1988 Seoul Games, with singles and doubles events for men and women.
🏓 Read a book with the letters I-T-T in the title (in that order but not necessarily in the same word) - or - a book that you had to wait a long time for (because of a wait at the library or a new release, etc.).
Archangel's Sun - Nalini Singh (new release) 12/2
✔3. Since then, athletes from China have dominated the sport, winning a total of 53 medals in 32 events, including 28 out of a possible 32 gold medals. The only event in which they have failed to medal was the inaugural Men's Singles event at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
🏓 Read a book whose title begins with a letter in CHINA (disregard A, An, The) - or - a book with an intact "53" or "32" or "28" in the total number of pages (tell us how many).
A Curse So Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer 12/16
✔4. Due to China's dominance in the sport, the format was changed for the 2012 Olympics, such that only two competitors from each country can enter (instead of 3). This format makes it such that one country cannot win all three top medals - as has been the case during both the Individual Men's and Women's events at the Beijing Olympic tournament, where China dominated and won all 6 medals.
🏓 Read a Series #2 or #6 book (tell us the series) - or - a book in which a sports figure dominates his field (fiction or non-fiction, tell us the character).
Queen Alice - Roy A. Mauritsen (Shards of the Glass Slipper) 12/18
✔5. In 2008, the doubles events were replaced by team events to lessen the emphasis on doubles play.
🏓 Read a book published in 2008 - or - a book in which a group of people work together as a team (briefly tell us how).
Christmas with a Vampire - Bonnie Vanak 12/4
6. The sport has progressed enormously since it was first invented. Nowadays, players use specially developed rubber-coated wooden and carbon-fiber rackets and a lightweight, hollow celluloid ball. Thanks to their high-tech rackets, they can now smash the ball at over 150 kilometers per hour (approximately 95 mph).
🏓 Read a book in which a person plays a game that uses a racket - or - a book from your TBR that is the closest to 150 pages (but cannot be less than 150 pages).
Weather PhenomenaDuration: December 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020
READ: 30/30
✔ 1. AURORAS : Read a book with opposite words in the title (north & south, yes & no, up & down) OR a book in which a collision of some sort occurs; using spoiler tags if necessary, briefly explain
The Day of the Dead - Nicci French (a car crashes into a storefront) 2/3
✔ 2. BALL LIGHTNING : Read a book with lightning shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book originally published in 2012; tell us the date
Easy - Tammara Webber 1/25
✔ 3. BELT OF VENUS : Read a book with a shadow shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a predominantly pink cover; post the cover
Sandman Slim - Richard Kadrey 4/18
✔ 4. BLOOD MOON : Read a book with a MAIN character whose first initial begins with a letter in RED; tell us the name OR a book with blood shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro & Daniel Kraus (Elisa) 1/13
✔ 5. BRINICLE : Read a book with a salty character; tell us who and why you think this OR a book whose title contains a word that begins with BR
Bryant & May on the Loose - Christopher Fowler 1/30
✔ 6. CAPPUCCINO COAST or SEA FOAM : Read a book with at least one significant scene set in a coffee shop OR a book in which a romantic couple gets through a rocky problem; briefly explain, using spoiler tags if necessary
Yesterday's Thief - Al Macy 3/7
(heroine visits a coffee shop to use the computers; meets a computer guy who tries to teach her about computers and ultimately (view spoiler))
✔ 7. CATATUMBO LIGHTNING : Read a book with less than 2010 GR ratings; tell us how many OR a book set in South America; tell us where
Alien Diplomacy - Gini Koch (has 1626 ratings) 2/22
✔ 8. FIRE RAINBOW : Read a book set in Los Angeles OR a book with a bright, multi-colored cover; post the cover
Right from the Gecko - Cynthia Baxter 12/22
✔ 9. FIRE WHIRLS : Read a book in which a lot of destruction is caused; briefly tell us what happened OR a book with fire shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
Wickedly Powerful - Deborah Blake 12/9
✔ 10. FREEZING RAIN : Read a book with ice shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a bookwith an -ING verb in its title
Playing with Fire - Tess Gerritsen 12/18
✔ 11. FROST FLOWERS : Read a book with a lot of tiny flowers shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book whose title begins with a letter in ARCTIC; disregard A, An and The
Archangel's War - Nalini Singh 12/11
✔ 12. GREEN FLASH (aka the Green Ray) : Read a book that has been made into a movie (movies only, no TV shows); if the movie title is different than the book's, tell us the movie title OR a book with a predominantly green cover; post the cover
Smart Mouth - Erin McCarthy 12/26
✔ 13. HALOS : Read a book in which a character predicts the weather (professionally or otherwise); tell us who OR a book withthe sun or moon shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
Black Moon - Romina Russell 12/14
✔ 14. KATABATIC WINDS : Read a book by an author who has published books under at least two different names; post links to both/all of the authors' GR pages OR a book with a 1 somewhere in its average GR rating; tell us the rating
The Rise of Magicks - Nora Roberts 1/17
✔ 15. LENTICULAR CLOUDS : Read a book set in space OR a book in which a character or characters eat pancakes; tell us the page/location and sentence
Thirteen Rising - Romina Russell 1/26
✔ 16. MAMMATUS CLOUDS : Read a book whose title or author name contains consecutive double Ms; post the author link if using that option OR a book with a tube-shaped item shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
To Catch a Bad Guy - Marie Astor 12/17
✔ 17. MIRAGE : Read a bookset in a location that is hot more often than not; tell us where OR a book with a primarily tan cover; post the cover
Night Diver - Elizabeth Lowell (set in St Vincent) 3/25
✔ 18. MOONBOW : Read a book where most of the action takes place at night rather than during the day OR a "small" book, 150-200 pages; tell us how many pages
Fire and Rain - Lauren Dane (182 pages) 12/19
✔ 19. MORNING GLORY CLOUDS : Read a book with an intact 00 in its page total; tell us how many pages OR a book set in Australia or by an Australian author; post a link to the GR author's page if using that option
Trick or Treat - Kerry Greenwood 2/14
✔ 20. NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS : Read a book in a position between #50 and #70 on your to-read list, sorted in whatever method you choose; tell us the position number OR a book with an outdoor night scene occupying most of the cover; post the cover
Princess of the Sword - Lynn Kurland 12/8
✔ 21. NON-AQUEOUS RAIN : Read a book set in ancient times (any time before 1000AD); tell us when OR a book that leaves you with more questions than answers; using spoiler tags if necessary, briefly explain
The Doll Factory - Elizabeth Macneal 12/27
(a convoluted tale that ends rather abruptly with no real conclusion to anything)
✔ 22. PENITENTES : Read a book by an author whose first AND last initials can be found in PENITENTES; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with a sharp object shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
Cut & Run - Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux 12/5
✔ 23. PYROCUMULUS CLOUDS : Read a book for which the first letter of every word in the title can be found in PYROCUMULUSCLOUDS; all words count (each letter may only be used as many times as it shows up in the phrase); 2-word minimum OR a book that terrifies you in some way; briefly tell us how
Dark Carousel - Christine Feehan 12/6
✔ 24. SNOW DOUGHNUTS : Read a book with snow shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book set in the mountains; tell us where.
All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy - Emma Cane 12/19
✔ 25. SUN PILLARS : Read a book with a large expanse of water shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a character who is an early riser; tell us who
Chasing Perfect - Susan Mallery 1/18
✔ 26. SUPERCELL : Read a book in which a storm plays a significant role; using spoiler tags if necessary, tell us how OR a book with a compound word in its title
Darkdawn - Jay Kristoff 12/21
✔27. VIRGA : Read a book whose title begins with V; ALL words count OR a book set in the Middle East (use this list), Australia or North Africa (use this list); tell us where
Virtue Falls - Christina Dodd 12/26
✔ 28. VOLCANIC LIGHTNING or DIRTY THUNDERSTORM or THUNDER VOLCANO : Read a book involving or about volcanoes OR a book whose title has changed since its original publication; it doesn't matter which version you read, but tell us both titles
City of the Beasts - Isabel Allende 2/20
(MCs travels to the heart of a mountain in the Amazon and uncover the opening of a previously inactive volcano)
✔ 29. WATERSPOUTS : Read a book set in Florida (bonus for the Keys!) OR a book with the letters W-A-T-E-R in the title, not necessarily in order or in the same word
The Train to Warsaw - Gwen Edelman 1/19
✔ 30. WHITE RAINBOW or FOG BOW : Read a book with a primarily white cover; post the cover OR a book set in December, January or February; tell us when
Here Be Sexist Vampires - Suzanne Wright 12/7
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Random Treasure Hunt #1Duration: February 1 - May 31, 2020
Level: Serious treasure hunter: 75 words
99/75 FOUND
The Romanov Cross - Robert Masello 2/2
general - on general grounds, Harley agreed, p27
violet - the faint violet glow, p127
The Day of the Dead - Nicci French 2/3
expert - who seemed to be the Frieda Klein expert, p44
January in Atlantis - Alyssa Day 2/4
breathe - she couldn't breathe, p3
Whom the Gods Hate - M.M. Perry 2/6
bashful - that a more bashful person might not want, p75
embarrassed - the young man looked a bit embarrassed, p44
grandiose - before the grandiose tub was full, p37
sail - meant they needed to sail out of the Sorrows soon, p20
scab - there wasn't even a scab, p32
Illuminae - Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 2/7
birth - the birth of their beautiful baby girl, p189
renounce - nobody except brothers and sisters renounces their possessions, p360
Murder of Crows - Annie Bellet 2/8
afternoon - the afternoon breeze lifting his white-blond hair, p1
Dangerously Fierce - Deborah Blake 2/8
goat - son of a goat, he yelled in Russian, p70
yard - and bury you in the back yard, p89
Under the Snow - Kerstin Ekman 2/9
camera - David extracted his camera from the glove box, p29
far - so you come from so far, p13
kettle - the smell of coffee from the kettle, p9
key - have you got the key to the shed, p10
knife - powerful slashes with a knife, p14
milk - receive neither fresh milk nor newspapers, p8
neck - three hours later, his neck stiff, p44
noise - there was no other sound than a rasping noise, p14
The Undoing - Averil Dean 2/10
clever - I know, clever me, right, p70
frame - paints with cracked frames, p45
furniture - where the boxy new furniture was arranged, p22
leak - leaks in the roof, p46
stocking - only in it for the stocking stuffers, p104
sweat - old money and sweat, p11
Break the Day - Lara Adrian 2/11
gain - for his own personal gain, p86
honey - trust that more than sweetness and honey, p53
lean - she wanted to lean into that feeling, p105
undo - it would undo everything, p37
The Bookman - Lavie Tidhar 2/13
anger - even through his anger, p371
blossom - lights blossomed in the distance, p376
cable - they are the cables that run under the floor, p58
entertaining - or was he entertaining the young Alfred Douglas, p12
exist - but the longer I exist, p145
mellow - he said in a deep mellow voice, p172
rose - mysterious beings rose from the dark waters, p15
secretive - no doubt my secretive brother was on the trail, p105
train - waiting trains that stood like giant metal beasts, p42
Trick or Treat - Kerry Greenwood 2/14
comfort - he kissed me again to comfort me, p28
cream - how I could have uses so much cream, p22
mean - the perfect mean streets private eye's office, p15
snail - never burn snails in the oven, p30
No Fixed Line - Dana Stabenow 2/14
quit - why did you quit, p30
Whom the Gods Fear - M.M. Perry 2/15
belligerent - he's always been belligerent, p65
drill - you get to drill Chort for more information, p111
feigned - Gunnarr nodded and feigned repentance, p36
godly - more conversant with godly affairs, p143
roomy - her large tent was roomy enough, p197
Flirting Under a Full Moon - Ashlyn Chase 2/16
distinct - provided a distinct advantage, p22
lip - Anthony bit his lip, p98
rainy - save a little money for a rainy day, p13
The Brothers Cro-Magnon - Roger Thomas Pepper 2/17
cart - saw a woman bending over a cart, loc2201
fifth - twenty years ago in fifth grade, loc473
stretch - a shimmering stretch of white wilderness, loc1057
Digging In - Loretta Nyhan 2/18
cease - it's a cease and desist command, p194
premium - outdoor space was at a premium, p42
City of the Beasts - Isabel Allende 2/20
chase - they dropped out of the chase, p217
like - something like unleavened bread, p179
opinion - could not help offering her opinion, p55
pollution - glass pollution and loneliness, p32
The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde 2/21
doubtful - Tiger looked doubtful, p28
Alien Diplomacy - Gini Koch 2/22
handle - get some kind of handle on things, p60
icky - the Potomac was cold, wet and icky, p134
popcorn - I'd like to go for popcorn and a coke, p301
quarter - only about a quarter of what I used to run, p47
refer - let's just refer to them, p91
tree - someone lounging against a tree, p32
You Belong with Me - Tari Faris 2/22
petite - a girl who redefined the word petite, p86
Met Her Match - Jude Deveraux 2/23
twist - he could twist anything around, p24
Fuzzy Navel - J.A. Konrath 2/24
moo - a full jug of moo juice p96
Undermajordomo Minor - Patrick deWitt 2/27
fanatical - watching him with a fanatical look, p25
The Day is Dark - Yrsa Sigurðardóttir 2/26
marked - took the time to see if it was marked, p40
tasteless - I found the insinuation that she committed suicide tasteless, p91
continued...Endless Heart - Emma Lang 2/28
flash - in a flash, p140
forgive - I, uh, forgive you, p19
22 Indigo Place - Sandra Brown 2/28
tramp - she was a tramp, p116
A Symphony of Echoes - Jodi Taylor 2/29
efficient - in an efficient but painful manner, p280
A Cosmology of Monsters - Shaun Hamill 3/1
hunt - she's on the hunt for future clients, p41
The Peculiar Boars of Malloy - Doug Crandell 3/5
nutty - her pipsqueak of a nutty brother, p57
Provoked - Rebecca Zanetti 3/6
cultured - smooth, cultured his deep ton zinged butterflies, p13
island - an island of calm and grace p8
send - send scouts out to find her, p71
tall - tall for a human female, p8
The Savior - JR Ward 3/10
satiate - she should have been satiated by now, p334
tiresome - all that stuffy stuff was tiresome, p478
Mismatch - Tami Hoag 3/13
tawdry - making it sound tawdry, p242
Inferno - Dan Brown 3/15
synonymous - was nearly synonymous with the Black Death, p52
wealth - amassed unfathomable wealth and influence p112
Echo North - Joanna Ruth Meyer 3/16
net - she wove a glittering net, p77
A Thousand Pieces of You - Claudia Grey 3/22
goldfish - bury my pet goldfish in the backyard, p39
Haunted Ground - Erin Hart 3/24
exclude - from which she was excluded, p164
Immortal Born - Lynsay Sands 3/25
plot - we shall plot how to arrange a trade, p328
Wolves of the Northern Rift - Jon Messenger 3/26
possible - it's entirely possible to be this cold, p8
180 Seconds - Jessica Park 4/29
attempt - I attempt the impossible, p67
Trial & Error - Paul Levine 5/16
solicit - local politicians solicit wads of cash, p119
Crystal Cove - Lisa Kleypas 5/23
ossified - she had ossified until any change in posture, p272
*************************
warlike -
Remembering Them: 2019Duration: February 10, 2020 - January 31, 2021
READ: 30/30
✔ January 17: Mary Jane Oliver
- Read a book of poetry (must be over 100 pages) OR read a book where the author uses three names.
The Brothers Cro-Magnon - Roger Thomas Pepper 2/17
✔ January 21: Henri, Count of Paris, Duke of France
-Read a book with a royal character (name the character) OR read a book whose publisher's name starts with a letter in ORLEANS.
Alien Diplomacy - Gini Koch (MC's husband, Jeff Martini) 2/22
✔ January 29: James Edward Ingram
- Read a book with a musician main character (name the character) OR read a book with a musical instrument on the cover (post the cover)
A Tale of Two Biddies - Kylie Logan 4/23
✔ February 6: Rosamunde Pilcher
-Read a book with a main page genre of ROMANCE OR read a book whose author uses a pen name (tell us the pen name).
Endless Heart - Emma Lang (Beth Williamson) 2/28
✔ February 7: Frank Robinson
-Read a book about a sport (name the sport) OR read a book where a character is the first to do something (explain).
Fighting Fate - J.B. Salsbury (MMA fighting) 4/19
✔ February 19: George Mendonsa
- Read a book with a main character in the military- active or retired (name the character) OR read a book with a two word title (all words count).
The Bookman - Lavie Tidhar 2/13
✔February 19: Karl Otto Lagerfeld
-Read a book with unworn clothing on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book set in France.
Courting Darkness - Robin LaFevers 6/2
✔ March 1: Eamonn Kevin Roche
-Read a book with a building on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book set in Ireland.
Haunted Ground - Erin Hart 3/24
✔ March 13: Andrea Pollack
-Read a book with a body of water on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book which includes water play (describe).
City of the Beasts - Isabel Allende 2/20
✔ April 18: Lorraine Rita Warren
-Read a book with a main page genre of Paranormal OR read a book set in New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut; tell us which state).
Break the Day - Lara Adrian (Massachusetts) 2/11
✔ April 30: Peter William Mayhew
-Read a book set in space OR read a book with a main character whose name starts with C (name the character).
When Sparks Fly - Autumn Dawn 3/26
✔ May 13: Doris Day
-Read a book with a main character in entertainment (explain) OR read a book where the author has the same initials.
Dorothy in the Land of Monsters - Garten Gevedon 3/19
✔ May 14: Tardar Sauce, nicknamed Grumpy Cat
- Read a book with a cat on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book with a grumpy character (name the character).
One Potion in the Grave - Heather Blake 3/22
✔ June 5: Elio Sgreccia
-Read a book that takes place in Italy OR read a book about religion.
You Belong with Me - Tari Faris 2/22
✔June 17: Mohamed Mohamed Morsi Issa Al-Ayyat
- Read a book set in Egypt OR read a book about a coup (explain).
The Outcast - Taran Matharu 3/3
(the common folks rebel against the nobility and (view spoiler))
✔ June 17: Gloria Laura Vanderbilt
- Read a book with a wealthy main character (name the character) OR read a book with a person wearing blue jeans on the cover (post the cover).
22 Indigo Place - Sandra Brown (James Paden) 2/28
✔ June 23: George Rosenkranz
-Read a book with a scientist main character (name the character and their field of science) OR read a book about a character who travels a lot (name the character).
The Savior - JR Ward (Sarah Watkins, study of diseases) 3/10
✔ July 16: John Paul Stevens
- Read a book with a lawyer character (name the character) OR read a book with a mature main character (name the character).
The Day is Dark - Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (Thora Gudmundsdottir) 2/26
✔ July 26: Russi Taylor
-Read a book whose title ENDS with a letter in VOICE OR read a book where a character pretends to be someone else (explain).
Death of Darkness - Dianne Duvall (villain shapeshifts into hero) 3/4
✔ August 8: Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison
-Read a book that has won an award (name the award) OR read a book where the main character goes by a nickname (post the name).
A Symphony of Echoes - Jodi Taylor (Madeleine goes by Max) 2/29
✔ SAugust 10: Jeffrey Edward Epstein
-Read a book with a main pain genre of CRIME OR read a book about human trafficking.
Case Histories - Kate Atkinson 3/14
✔ September 7: Henry Ross Perot
- Read a book about a politician (name the character) OR read a book that takes place in Washington DC.
Mismatch - Tami Hoag (Wade Grayson is a congressman) 3/13
✔ September 21: Carl Albert Ruiz
- Read a book with a culinary theme OR read a book with an intact "44"in the page count. (post page count)
Full Bloom - Janet Evanovich & Charlotte Hughes (344 pages) 2/25
✔ October 1: Miguel León-Portilla
- Read a book that has been translated into English (post original language) OR read a book set in the distant past (at least 100 years ago; post when).
The Hunchback Assignments - Arthur Slade (set in 1870s) 2/28
✔ October 6: Karen Anita Pendleton
- Read a book with an MPG of Children(s) OR read a book where the main character is a parent.
Shifting Dreams - Elizabeth Hunter (heroine has 2 children) 3/13
✔ November 5: Laurel Clair Griggs
-Read a book where the main character has a chronic medical condition (name the condition) OR read a book that was originally published on the 13th of the month (post the original publication date).
A Hidden Fire - Elizabeth Hunter (pub October 13, 2011) 4/24
✔ November 11: Rudolph "Rudy" Ernst Boesch
- Read a book that takes place on an island OR read a book with a title that starts with a letter in SURVIVOR.
Undermajordomo Minor - Patrick deWitt 2/27
✔ December 8: Caroll Edwin Spinney
-Read a book where the main character has the same initials (ex BB) OR read a book with a predominantly yellow or green cover (post the cover).
Trick or Treat - Kerry Greenwood 2/14
✔ December 20: Robert Glenn Johnson Jr.
- Read a book with a car on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book whose author's initials are in NASCAR.
The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde 2/21
✔ December 27: John Donald Imus Jr.
- Read a book about a topic you find offensive (describe) OR read a book originally published in 2018.
Digging In - Loretta Nyhan (pub April 2018) 2/18
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Unusual FlowersDuration: January 1 - June 30, 2020
READ: 30/30
✔ 1. Birds of Paradise/Strelitzia Reginae
-> Read a book with a bird name intact in the title -or- read a book that is popular (at least 30,000 ratings on GR).
Easy - Tammara Webber (209,368) 1/25
✔ 2. Black Bat Flower/Tacca Chantrieri
-> Read a book with a mostly black cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a bat-related thing as an important part of the plot (think vampire books or batman comics!)
Burning Desire - Donna Grant 1/29
✔ 3. Brazilian Dutchman's Pipe/Aristolochia gigantea
-> Read a book in which a character trusts the wrong person in some way (tell us who) -or- read a book with a heart shape on the cover (post the cover)
Through the Grinder - Cleo Coyle 1/12
✔ 4. Buddhist Udumbara/Ficus Racemosa
-> Read a book where a main character is very ill (tell us who) -or- read a book set in Japan.
When Beauty Tamed the Beast - Eloisa James 4/10
(MC catches scarlet fever and nearly dies)
✔ 5. Common Sundew/Drosera Rotundifolia
-> Read a book with an important scene set in a bog or marsh -or- read a book with a sun on the cover (post the cover).
The Morrow Secrets - Susan McNally 3/17
✔ 6. Corpse Lily/Rafflesia Arnoldii
-> Read a book with a death in it -or- read a large standalone book (>450p., tell us the number of pages).
Die Again - Tess Gerritsen 2/19
✔ 7. Dancing Girls/Impatiens Bequaertii
-> Read a book that has a mostly light pink cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a formal dance of some sort occurs.
Houston, We Have A Problem - Erin McCarthy 4/2
✔ 8. Desert Pea/Swainsona Formosa
-> Read a book in which shows blood on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which the main character has a boss.
A Symphony of Echoes - Jodi Taylor 2/29
✔ 9. Devil's Hand/Chiranthodendron pentadactylon
-> Read a book with a horrible evil villain (bonus for the devil himself) -or- read a book with a hand prominently seen on the cover.
The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro & Daniel Kraus 1/13
✔ 10. Flying Duck Orchid/Caleana Major
-> Read a book set in Australia -or- read a book in which an important item is received via mail.
Trick or Treat - Kerry Greenwood 2/14
✔ 11. Hooker's Lips/Psychotria elata
-> Read a book with lips shown prominently on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a lady of the night character.
Healer's Choice - Jory Strong 6/5
(heroine is the daughter of a prostitute and resides in a whorehouse)
✔ 12. Hydnora Africana
-> Read a book with an important scene set underground -or- read a book that is a retelling or spinoff book.
The Sleep of Stone - Louise Cooper 1/19
✔ 13. Jade Vine/Strongylodon macrobotrys
-> Read a book with a mostly turquoise or jade cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with either 7 or 5 in the year it was first published (tell us when the book was published).
Bryant & May on the Loose - Christopher Fowler 1/30
✔ 14. Lady's Slipper Orchid/Cypripedium acaule
-> Read a book set in Canada -or- read a book with something delicate on the cover (post the cover).
A Case of Bier - Mary Daheim 1/2
✔ 15. Lithops Weberi
-> Read a book in which a main character wears a disguise for whatever reason -or- read a book with an important scene set in a desert
My Fair Assassin - C.J. Anaya 1/4
✔ 16. Lobster Claw/Heliconia
-> Read a book with a sea creature on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which the main character lies about something important.
The Unforgiven - Patricia MacDonald 3/23
(heroine omits the truth about herself (that she's a convicted felon (and why) to the hero for the entire book)
✔ 17. Monkey Face Orchid/Dracula simia
-> Read a book with a monkey or ape in the plot -or- read a book with a fruit on the cover (post the cover).
Dorothy in the Land of Monsters - Garten Gevedon (flying monkeys) 3/19
✔ 18. Naked Man Orchid/Orchis italica or the Italian orchid
-> Read a book set in a country along the Mediterranean (tell us where) -or- read a book with a naked cover (no cover art, post the cover).
Inferno - Dan Brown (Italy) 3/15
✔ 19. Night Blooming Cereus
-> Read a book with the word NIGHT or QUEEN in the title (plurals okay, but no other variations) -or- read a Christmas book (Genre Holiday -> Christmas on GR).
Night of the Highland Dragon - Isabel Cooper 1/31
✔ 20. Parrot Flower/Impatiens psittacina or "parrot balsam"
-> Read a book set in India, Burma or Thailand (tell us where) -or- read a book with something flying on the cover.
The Bookman - Lavie Tidhar (dirigible) 2/13
✔ 21. Passion Flower/Passiflora
-> Read a book marked Romance on the main GR page -or- read a book with a character who can be described as passionate.
Dangerously Divine - Deborah Blake 1/22
✔ 22. Pitcher Plant
-> Read a book with a pitcher of some sort on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a trap set in the plot for whatever reason.
Death of Darkness - Dianne Duvall 3/4
✔ 23. Sea Holly/Eryngium
-> Read a book with a metal name in the title -or- read a book with a sea in the cover (post the cover).
Chasing Perfect - Susan Mallery 1/18
✔ 24. Sea Poison Tree/Barringtonia asiatica
-> Read a book where a poison is used -or- read a book with an X in the title.
No Fixed Line - Dana Stabenow 2/14
✔ 25. Snake's Head Fritillary/Fritillaria meleagris
-> Read a book with a creepy crawly on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which chess is played.
Freshwater - Akwaeke Emezi 1/30
✔ 26. Starfish Flower/Stapelia grandiflora
-> Read a book with a star shape on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that reeks (less than 3.5 stars on GR, tell us the rating).
Thirteen Rising - Romina Russell 1/26
✔ 27. Swaddled Baby Orchid/Anguloa Uniflora
Read a book with a baby in the plot -or- read a book with a mostly white cover (post the cover)
Sticks & Stones - Madeline Urban & Abigail Roux 1/3
✔ 28. Titan Arum/Amorphophallus Titanum
-> Read a book that shares its title with another book (title should be an exact match, link the other book) -or- read a large series book (>450p., tell us the number of pages)
Illuminae - Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (602 pages) 2/7
✔ 29. Torch Ginger/Etlingera_elatior
-> Read a book with a rose on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a book marked FOOD or FOOD FICTION in the main page of GR.
Snow White Red-Handed - Maia Chance 4/12
✔ 30. Welwitschia
-> Read a book set in the ancient world -or- read a book with a wedding in the plot
Endless Heart - Emma Lang 2/28
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
The Twelve Labors of HerculesDuration: May 1 - November 30, 2020
READ: 15/15
The first 3 tasks can be finished any time you want - you can get them out of the way in the beginning, or do them in between the rest of the tasks. But tasks #4-#15 must be completed in order.
✔1. The twelve labors of Heracles or Hercules
♌ Read a book set in Italy or Greece -or- read book published in a year divisible by 12 (tell us the year) -or- read a book whose author has written a book every year for a consecutive period of 12 years.
Plaid and Plagiarism - Molly MacRae (pub Dec 6, 2016) 6/6
✔ 2. Reward of Immortality
♌ Read a book where mental illness forms a part of the plot -or- read a book where the main character wants to atone for a wrong they have done -or- read a book where the author's first and last initials are in the word ORACLE.
Stars & Stripes - Abigail Roux 6/9
✔ 3. Bumping Up the Tasks
♌ Read a book where a series has an installment coming out after a long delay or after it supposedly ended (the installments maybe written by another author, for example, the last installment of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody written by Joan Hess) -or- read a book where the main character is substantially helped by someone else -or- read a book you received as a gift.
The Final Fight - JD Salsbury 6/3
(heroine is very poor and struggling when her father loses his job. heroine's boss sort of makes her a kept woman and gives her money to help support them)
Do the following in order!
✔ 4. First Labor: Slay the Nemean Lion.
♌ Read a book which has a lion in the title/subtitle or the cover -or- read a book in which a character is afraid of a main character -or- read book #1 of a series
Courting Darkness - Robin LaFevers (Courting Darkness #1) 6/2
✔ 5. Second Labor: Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra.
♌ Read a book first published under the sign of Cancer (if Goodreads provides the date, the book must be published between Jun 21-Jul 22. Otherwise, June or July will work) -or- read a book in which the plot involves cauterizing a wound or- read book #2 in a series
Down Among the Sticks and Bones - Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children #2) 6/4
✔ 6. Third Labor: Capture the Ceryneian Hind.
♌ Read a book in which a character is a runner (need not be a professional) -or- read a book with something that sparkles on the cover -or- read book #3 in a series
Healer's Choice - Jory Strong (Ghostland Worlds #3) 6/5
✔ 7. Fourth Labor: Capture the Erymanthian Boar.
♌ Read a book which is set in the mountains -or- read a book with snow on the cover (post the cover) -or- read book #4 in a series
Sweep of the Blade - Ilona Andrews (Innkeeper Chronicles #4) 6/11
✔ 8. Fifth Labor: Clean the Augean Stables in a single day.
♌ Clean your TBR a bit, read the longest book on your TBR or the oldest -or- read a book set on a river bank -or- read book #5 in a series.
Sword and Pen - Rachel Caine (The Great Library #5) 6/14
✔9. Sixth Labor: Slay the Stymphalian Birds.
♌ Read a hyped book -or- read a book in which music plays an important part -or- read book #6 in a series
Lions and Tigers and Murder, Oh My - Denise Swanson 6/16
✔10. Seventh Labor: Capture the Cretan Bull.
♌ Read a book that you find puzzling -or- read a book in which the main character beats up someone else -or- read book #7 in a series .
The Age of Ash - Andrenik Y. Sergoyan 6/20
(Rikker beats up a couple of guys in a bar)
✔11. Eighth Labor: Steal the Mares of Diomedes.
♌ Read a book in which a side character is killed helping the main character -or- read a book whose title begins with a letter in ABDEROS (all words count) -or- read book #8 in a series
Soul of the Sword - Julie Kagawa 6/22.
✔12. Ninth Labor: Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.
♌ Read a book with a fierce female main character -or- read a book where false information is spread for whatever reason -or- read book #9 in a series Highland Dragon Rebel - Isabel Cooper 6/23
(heroine is a very proficient warrior, tasked with protecting hero; she's also a dragon shifter)
✔13. Tenth Labor: Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon.
♌ Read a book set in Africa -or- read a book whose plot takes the characters around the world -or- read book #10 in a series
The Razor's Edge - Joss Llewelyn 6/23
(plot takes characters from US to England to France to Italy to Germany to India)
✔14. Eleventh Labor: Steal the apples of Hesperides.
♌ Read a book in which a character has more than two daughters -or- read a book with a dragon in it -or- read book #11 in a series
Highland Dragon Master - Isabel Cooper (dragon shifters) 6/28
✔15. Twelfth Labor: Capture and bring back Cerberus.
♌ Read a book with an undead creature in it -or- read a book in which a bad guy gets let off lightly -or- read book #12 in a series.
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between - J.A. Saare (vampires) 7/6
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Barbara's Challenges & Reading Lists
Books mentioned in this topic
The Ghost (other topics)Primitive Nights (other topics)
A Scone to Die for (other topics)
Dreams in the Key of Blue (other topics)
Murder in the Storybook Cottage (other topics)
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