2020 Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge--Discussion and Planning

[Nicole R]

Well, the weather here is still pretty warm and I just went to the beach two days ago, but I am confident that by the time October 1 rolls around it will be nothing but pumpkins, apple cider, and gorgeous leaves!

Break out your fuzzy blankets and favorite tea mugs.....it is time to READ HOLIDAY THEMED BOOKS!!

We will once against be hosting our totally laid back, pop in and out as you would like, be creative with your holidays/seasons Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge for October/November/December.

Some suggestions are:
October -- Halloween, scary, Canadian Thanksgiving, autumn setting, etc.
November -- Thanksgiving, Veterans' Day, Native American themed, etc.
December -- Christmas, Hanukkah, winter themed, etc.

Can you think of something else? We are open to that too! Especially for you southern hemisphere participants who are looking out onto summer weather.

Each month, I will start one thread under the 2020 Activities and Challenges Folder for all reviews for that month, which worked excellently in previous years.

For each review you post, you will get a participation point. BUT, be sure to cross post in the Monthly Tag or Monthly Other reads folder to get those participation points too. Basically, this is just a bonus :)

I will be adding these books to the "Fall Flurry of Holidays 2020" shelf, but feel free to give me a hand if you want to shelf your own books.

So, without further ado, let's discuss the books we plan to read! Because planning is one of the best parts.

[Nicole R]

As is par for the course, I have my list started and ready to go! I still need a 2020 release regency romance for Christmas though (not Lady Obaldestone because I haven't read books 2 and 3! lol)

Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge (brainstorming)

October - Halloween
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

November - Thanksgiving
Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay (if I need something light and easy)
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

December - Christmas
A Highlander is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham
The Last Christmas Cowboy by Maisey Yates
Christmas at Holiday House by RaeAnne Thayne
Christmas Bride by Noelle Adams
Mistletoe in Paradise by Jill Shalvis
Happily This Christmas: A Novel by Susan Mallery
Christmas on Reindeer Road by Debbie Mason
One Charmed Christmas by Sheila Roberts
A California Christmas by Brenda Novak
The Christmas Backup Plan by Lori Wilde
Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber
Mistletoe and Wedding Bells by Ashley Farley
Her Christmas Cowboy by Jessica Clare

[Theresa]

I have a bunch of witches to read for October and no shortage of Christmas for December. No need to preplan...just close my eyes and pick from my TBRs, lol.

But I do have Lady O's latest at the top of my list...on preorder on fact.

[LibraryCin]

I haven't researched yet to pick things out, but October will likely be a Halloweek/horror/scary book.

November is a Remembrance Day/war/soldier read for me.

December will likely be something Christmasy (but I usually don't actually have Christmasy on my tbr, so we'll see what I can find that fits... or, if need be, I'll pick something not on the tbr.).

[NancyJ]

Perfect timing. we made the first apple pie of the year from apples from our own apple tree. And I had to put the heat on tonight!

I'm on some wait lists for Magic Lessons for October.

I have a few paranormal leftovers from this summer for Halloween.

I was thinking of an immigration theme for October - Columbus Day.

Maybe I'll finally read This Tender Land in November, with some War books.


Theresa - Lady O????

[Nicole R]

Theresa wrote: "I have a bunch of witches to read for October and no shortage of Christmas for December. No need to preplan...just close my eyes and pick from my TBRs, lol.

But I do have Lady O's latest at the t..."

I never struggle with Christmas, but I sometimes do with October. I am not a big cozy mystery kind of person but I wish I were because there are SO MANY cozy mysteries with cute titles and lovely covers! lol

[Nicole R]

NancyJ wrote: "Perfect timing. we made the first apple pie of the year from apples from our own apple tree. And I had to put the heat on tonight!

I'm on some wait lists for Magic Lessons for October.

I have a ..."

Apple Pie sounds great! Ooo, and I like your idea of immigration for November. I always struggle with November. I may look for some books on that topic.

[Theresa]

@NancyJ - Lady Osbaldestone's 4th Christmas novella by Stephanie Laurens. Regency historical. I hooked a number of Flurries participants on the first of thes Christmas novellas my first year in PBT and they have been a highlight each year. Alas, I believe that this will be the last in the series.

[Amy]

Naturally I already have a list going! But gut sure for October - it’s Ghostwritten!

[Nicole R]

Ann wrote: "Okay Nicole. You totally lured me back to participating in reading challenges and PBT with the announcement of Fall Flurry. :-)

Finding books for November is always challenging. I just happened to..."

I am so glad I lured you back!!

And that is a great article that you linked to. I have read a few of them off that list, but several others caught my eye! Like you, November is the most difficult month for me to find books for.

[Olivermagnus]

I've never participated before but some of the suggested books look fun. I just bought the first three Lady Osbaldestone Christmas books.

[Jen K]

Also excited about this idea! I'm thinking witches, indigenous and snowy Christmas stories.

[Nicole R]

Olivermagnus wrote: "I've never participated before but some of the suggested books look fun. I just bought the first three Lady Osbaldestone Christmas books."

So glad you are joining us!

[Nicole R]

Jen K wrote: "Also excited about this idea! I'm thinking witches, indigenous and snowy Christmas stories."

I am also going to do indigenous for November. Let me know what you go with!

[Theresa]

Olivermagnus wrote: "I've never participated before but some of the suggested books look fun. I just bought the first three Lady Osbaldestone Christmas books."

Welcome! It's a fun time!

[Karin]

It's that time of year already! I haven't even thought about this yet, even though I knew it was coming.

[Sue]

I'll join in! Looks like fun!

[Joanne]

I will probably have one for Nov and Dec but dance card for October is pretty full-who knows though, I might have some witches in one of the books in the pile.

[Barbara M]

NancyJ wrote: "Perfect timing. we made the first apple pie of the year from apples from our own apple tree. And I had to put the heat on tonight!

Maybe I'll finally read This Tender Land in November, with some War books. ..."

I'm with you, I've had This Tender Land on my list for way too long and I really, really want to read it!

[Barbara M]

Looks good for me to participate this year!

[Karin]

Could you remind me--do we need to read the holiday books in the same month as the holiday? Just double checking.

[Nicole R]

Karin wrote: "Could you remind me--do we need to read the holiday books in the same month as the holiday? Just double checking."

Yes, you have to read the book for the holiday in the month you are using it for.

Because this isn't a competitive challenge, I will typically leave the thread open for a few days after the start of the next month for any delayed reviews. More like the threads for the monthly tag.

[Karin]

Nicole R wrote: "Karin wrote: "Could you remind me--do we need to read the holiday books in the same month as the holiday? Just double checking."

Yes, you have to read the book for the holiday in the month you are..."

That's what I thought, so I may end up reading some that won't count for this for other reasons...Christmas in October just isn't done.

[Joy D]

I am planning to participate. Still deciding what to read for each month.

[Nicole R]

Joy D wrote: "I am planning to participate. Still deciding what to read for each month."

No real need to plan in advance if you don't want. You can just make game time decisions!

[Heather Reads Books]

Hehehe, I was just thinking of doing this on my own... that's why I love PBT!

I'm not much of a planner, but I am debating reading Lovecraft Country in October. The HBO series has piqued my interest, but I want to read the book first.

Also, Mexican Gothic has been my library hold list for a couple months now at least... maybe I'll get it sometime soon!

[Nicole R]

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Also, Mexican Gothic has been my library hold list for a couple months now at least... maybe I'll get it sometime soon!."

I just started this on audio today!

[Jen K]

I'm starting off with Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West for Columbus Day...

[Theresa]

Oh, I can pull up all those witches I did not get to in August....Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood where are you hiding?

[Joi]

Officially chosen Malorie as my October book. This is the sequel to Bird Box, and the farthest into horror my chicken-self will go.

[Joanne]

Joi wrote: "Officially chosen Malorie as my October book. This is the sequel to Bird Box, and the farthest into horror my chicken-self will go."

Looks pretty creepy to me Joi-I doubt I could read 😱

[Nicole R]

If you find true crime scary and creepy then that works for me!

[Joi]

Joanne wrote: "Looks pretty creepy to me Joi-I doubt I could read 😱"

Bird Box was one of the first 'horror' books I've read, and I really liked it.

Also adding The Witches by Roald Dahl to my October list.

[NancyJ]

I'm next up on the waitlist for Alice Hoffman's new book Magic Lessons!

[Nicole R]

NancyJ wrote: "I'm next up on the waitlist for Alice Hoffman's new book Magic Lessons!"

I am about halfway through this one on audio and it is very good!

[Theresa]

Heads up all Lady O fans! Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Intrigue is avaikable for purchase! This is the last one, according to author Laurens. For now at least she says.

I have this lined up to read December 1. So looking forward!

[NancyJ]

November 13 is World Kindness Day -

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland or
Come From Away: Welcome to the Rock: An Inside Look at the Hit Musical

[forsanolim]

If the hold comes in in time, I'm planning to read Elatsoe for November--outside of my comfort zone, but I've heard really good things about it.

[NancyJ]

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging is perfect for November. It discusses both Veterans (Veteran's Day) and Native Americans (Thanksgiving). It also aligns with News of the World - Both discuss the fact that many young people who were kidnapped or adopted by tribes had a hard time adjusting when they went back home to "civilization." News of the World also fits book to screen (though the movie doesn't come out until Dec 25).

[NancyJ]

DECEMBER ideas

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... by Isak Dinesen.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[NancyJ]

Theresa wrote: "Heads up all Lady O fans! Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Intrigue is avaikable for purchase! This is the last one, according to author Laurens. For now at least she says.

I have thi..."

Audible.Com members can now listen to the three Lady Osbaldestone's xmas books for free. (For a limited time maybe.)

[Booknblues]

I'm not sure if I even remembered to mention, I am joining in. Managed to read one for October and found a few I want to read in November and have even read two of those already.

I figure December should be the easy one.