October Monthly Challenge: Suggestions and Discussion Thread

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

This is the thread where we ask questions, discuss, and make suggestions for the challenge.

1. October: Read a book which title starts with “O”

2. Birthday: Read a book from an October B-day celebrant.

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Michigan.

4. Halloween: Read a book that you consider "scary" or "spooky."

5. Read a book with two authors (not an anthology, more like a collaboration.)

6. Crime Prevention Month: Read a book where a character is a cop or a detective and/or a murder mystery is being solved.

7. United Nations Day: Read a book which has more than 2 countries as its setting.

8. Columbus Day - Read a book that involves sea travel, sailing, on a cruise ship or has a sailor/captain as a character.

9. Explore a Genre: Paranormal (not limited to Romance) Read a book that has some paranormal element in the storyline.

10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-it-for-Me Challenge, your recommended book.

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Looking forward to my first full challenge month! However, where do I find the list for #2?

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

Kasia will be along to post the links soon...or so I hope...*grins*

The names are in our Birthday Celebrations thread under the Introduce Yourselves folder.

However, Kasia has spoiled us because she would usually link the profiles in this thread.

[Kasia]

Yup, just give me a few minutes and they'll be up.

[Kasia]

October B-Days:


2 - Tricia
4 - Michelle
7 - Amy (private profile, must be friends to see)
7 - Corrupt
8 - Zarifina
10 - Auntee
10 - Annvelwis
10 - Kasia
12 - Gina
14 - Lauran
17 - Brandy
20 - Adrienne
25 - D.G.
29 - OLDDvictim (Not in the group anymore?!!)
30 - Flo

If I missed anyone - let me know.

[[deleted user]]

Oooh lots to choose from this month :D

[Wendy]

Cool list, Yz. Looking forward to it =)

[Kasia]

Yup.

[Kasia]

For the 2 writers collaboration category (#5) Ilona Andrews works great. From her website: “Ilona Andrews” is actually two people, my husband, Gordon, and I. We write urban fantasy, an odd hybrid of a genre that includes elements of mystery, fantasy, and horror.

Another option is: biographies, they are almost always ghostwritten by a 3rd person.

And I'm sure there are plenty of other choices. (Like Geiman wrote a book with someone, Pratchett, etc.)

[Kasia]

Major Michigan writers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...

[[deleted user]]

A couple of other ideas for the 2 author book:

Black and White by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge

The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast

The Sazi series by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Two authors also works for Tori Carrington and Dixie Cash.

[Annvelwis]

2 author books - also Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

Hmm, any ideas about #7?

[Tara]

SO this is my first month of challenges. I have a question #2- is it a book they have read or one on their tbr list or does it matter?

Thanks! I can't wait!

Oh 2 authors could also be Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love.

[Michelle]

Can I read from my own shelf? It's my birthday? Lol.

thanks for the link Kasia, it will come in handy.
found this page - http://www.midmichiganrwa.org/members...

For the two author book there is also
Sherrilyn Kenyon/Dianna Love.
Janet Evanovich/Charlotte Hughes

[Kasia]

Michelle wrote: "Can I read from my own shelf? It's my birthday?"

Yes. Yes you can.

[Kasia]

Tara wrote: "SO this is my first month of challenges. I have a question #2- is it a book they have read or one on their tbr list or does it matter?"

To-read, read, currently-reading some other shelf - it does not matter. As long as it one of the shelves it's a fair game.

[Michelle]

Kasia wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Can I read from my own shelf? It's my birthday?"

Yes. Yes you can.

"

Thank you!

[Kasia]

Annvelwis wrote: "Hmm, any ideas about #7?"

From what I've read lately:

romance:
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (USA, Argentina, Poland, middle east)
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination (UK, US, some tropical resort, I forget where)
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (UK, France, USA)

other:
Maus I A Survivor's Tale My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (USA, Poland, Czech Republic)
Quantum of Solace The Complete James Bond Short Stories by Ian Fleming (any James Bond book would do)
Around the World in Eighty Days and 5 Weeks in a Balloon
Poisonwood Bible (USA, Congo, South Africa, other)
The Pillars of Earth (UK, France, Spain)

[Annvelwis]

Kasia wrote: "From what I've read lately:

romance:
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
[book:Something..."

Hmm, more than 2 countries as a setting? You Slay Me is set in France exclusively, istn't it? Fire Me Up is set in Hungary and only Hungary. Or am I wrong here...? New Moon - USA and Italy, but that's still 2. Breaking Dawn - USA, Brazil and Canada, right? So that's good, but I've read it already, ehh...

[Kasia]

You're right, I've narrowed it down... And I too still have to find a book for this category, but I guess I'll figure it out as I go. Or at least that's the plan.

[Annvelwis]

Thank you :)

[Kasia]

I try ; )

[Tara]

Kasia wrote: To-read, read, currently-reading some other sh..."

Thank you!

Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost is set in a lot of countries, most of which I can't remember now. I know US and multiple countries outside the US.

Any suggestions for #8?

[Michelle]

I was going to read Sea Swept by Nora Roberts for no.8. One of the brothers races boats.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

Some of the categories this month are tough. It took me awhile to find stuff to fit certain categories, but several of my choices aren't romance books.

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman would qualify for Sea category. Girl falls for guy who lives under the ocean. (Don't ask me to explain it as I havn't read it yet. lol) It's a new release.

[Lauren]

I don't know if this is any help to anyone, but for # 3 I found Jennifer Armintrout lives there now, and Richelle Mead used to live there.

for #5 the House of Night series is written by a mother and daughter pair Marked

and (if you read YA) there is also Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist written by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

I'm stuck on 7 & 8 as well!

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

For Sea category there is also Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters.

[Mojca]

Hope this helps a little.


#3 - Michigan authors:

Dorien Kelly
Cassandra Carter
Diana Fox
Jill Gregory
Connie Mason
Tara Taylor Quinn
Kimberley White
Jeanne Savery

#8 - sailing:

- the entire (12 books) Silhouette miniseries Mediterranean Nights
- Hot and Bothered has a story by Victoria Marquez that is set on a cruise ship

[Annvelwis]

I've just noticed that Victoria Laurie (Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, What's a Ghoul to Do?) lived for a while in Birmingham, Michigan.

[Mel W]

#7 idea - Three Fates by Nora Roberts. The main characters are on a quest which takes them from Ireland to Helsinki, Prague and New York - four countries :)

[Michelle]

Annvelwis wrote: "I've just noticed that Victoria Laurie (Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, What's a Ghoul to Do?) lived for a while in Birmingham, Michigan."

That would be good, might change mine! Thanks :)

[Mojca]

Mel wrote: "#7 idea - Three Fates by Nora Roberts. The main characters are on a quest which takes them from Ireland to Helsinki, Prague and New York - four countries :)"

Mel, thank you so much! I have that one, bought it at the Manchester airport this summer. Yay!

[BJ Rose]

Briansgirl "Master Book Sale Huntress" wrote: "Some of the categories this month are tough. It took me awhile to find stuff to fit certain categories, but several of my choices aren't romance books..."

So far, most of mine aren't romance books , but lately I've done a lot of switching, so that may change.

[Melissa]

Colleen Gleason is another Michigan author.

[Lauren]

Just thought of a suggestion for #7, if anyone is interested in literary fiction, The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, is a story that takes place in America, Germany, Japan, Iceland, and more... (A key theme of the novel is romance).

[Melissa]

Most of Kathy Reichs Temperance Brennan books take place in more than one country. She lives part time in the US and Canada and a few of the books have her traveling to other countries as well.

[Shannon]

Melissa wrote: "Colleen Gleason is another Michigan author."

She also writes historical erotica under the pseudonym Colette Gale. They're stand-alone titles too if you don't want to start another series.

[Mel W]

Alathea wrote: "Mel wrote: "#7 idea - Three Fates by Nora Roberts. The main characters are on a quest which takes them from Ireland to Helsinki, Prague and New York - four countries :)"..."

You're welcome :)

[Emily]

I had a question. I just got Shutter Island from my library and I'm reading it for the TBR challenge. My question is, the main character is a US Marshall, would that fit for # 6?

[Kasia]

Good enough for me.

[Emily]

:^D Excellent! Thanks, Kasia.

[Valerie]

I had given up on finding a book for Michigan that I either a) had access to or b) wanted to read when lo and behold - I opened The Time Traveler's Wife to find that a lot of the action takes place in Michigan where the female protagonist grew up! Lucky for me - I am loving this book.

[Mel W]

Would a covert operative working for a secret department of the US Government fit for #6, do you think?

[Kasia]

Valerie wrote: "I had given up on finding a book for Michigan that I either a) had access to or b) wanted to read when lo and behold - I opened The Time Traveler's Wife to find that a lot of the acti..."

I love when that happens! Love when the challenges are working themselves out ;D

[Wendy]

I have just started reading Oceans of Fire for one of my 'O's' in Read-the-month challenge and am wondering if it wouldn't also fit in the no. 8 challenge? Abigail "has a mystical affinity for water and possesses a particularly strong bond with dolphins" - would this be classed as a 'sea' category????

[Mel W]

Works for me, LL :)

[Wendy]

Cheers Mel W =)