Barbara's Challenges & Reading Lists discussion
2021 Archived Challenges
>
2021 Crazy Challenge Connection
January Scavenger Challenge - Braille
READ: 7/7
✔ 1. Read a book with a character who has a disability (tell us who and what their disability is) - or - a book with any type of punctuation in the title.
Half-Off Ragnarok - Seanan McGuire 1/8
✔ 2. Read a book with a hand or hands on the cover (show us the cover) - or - a book that is 125 to 200 pages long (you may use a book that is less than 150 pages for this task, in this challenge only).
The Unhandsome Prince - John Moore 1/17
✔ 3. Read a book in which a person reads a book (tell us the sentence/location where this is found) - or - a book in which a character has a hobby (tell us what).
The Smallest Part - Amy Harmon 1/15
(she turned a page and read silently for a moment), p110
✔ 4. Read a book with the title AND author written in block letters (show us the cover) - or - a book with eyes on the cover (show us the cover).
Calamity Jayne Rides Again - Kathleen Bacus 1/14
✔ 5. Read a book with a military character (any country, any year, but it must be active duty, not a veteran) - or - a book with a dark cover (show us the cover).
SEALed Forever - Mary-Margret Daughtridge 1/2
✔ 6. Read a book whose title begins with a letter in BRAILLE (disregard A, An, The) - or - a book marked YOUNG ADULT on its main genre page (tell us how many readers tagged it as Young Adult).
A Heart So Fierce and Broken - Brigid Kemmerer 1/12
✔ 7. Read a book that is Series #6 or #12 (tell us the series) - or - a book whose title contains a contraction.
I'll Be Slaying You - Cynthia Eden 1/29
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
January Spell Challenge - Braille READ: 5/5
✔ B: A Heart So Fierce and Broken - Brigid Kemmerer 1/12
✔ L: The Legend Makers - Catherine Lanigan 1/15
✔ I: Into the Black Nowhere - Meg Gardiner 1/7
✔ N: A New Leash on Death - Susan Conant 1/23
✔ D: The Diva Haunts the House - Krista Davis 1/5
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #19 : Athletics | Jumping events READ: 5/5
1. There are four jumping events in the Olympic games in the Athletics competitions. The high jump and the pole vault are considered vertical clearance events, while the long jump and triple jump are known as horizontal jumps. Men and women compete in all four events, but separately.👟 Read a book with either a horizontal or vertical line running from edge to edge of the cover; post the cover OR a book with a 4 in its original year of publication; tell us the year
Prisoner - Annika Martin & Skye Warren (pub 2014) 1/16
2. In the HIGH JUMP, competitors must jump, unaided, over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it. In the modern era, athletes run towards the bar and use the 'Fosbury Flop' method of jumping (named for Dick Fosbury who first introduced the technique at the 1968 Olympics), leaping head first with their back to the bar. It was among the first events deemed acceptable for women, having been held at the 1928 Olympic Games.👟 Read a book whose itle contains at least two significant words that begin with the same letter OR a book in which a character jumps headfirst into a dangerous situation; briefly explain, but be sure to use spoiler tags
The Diva Haunts the House - Krista Davis 1/5
3. POLE JUMPING competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, Cretans and Celts and pole vaulting has been a full medal event at the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and since 2000 for women. Pole vaulters use a long flexible pole (which today is usually made either of fiberglass or carbon fiber) as an aid to jump over a bar supported upon two uprights without knocking it down. It is unusual among track and field sports in that it requires a significant amount of specialized equipment in order to participate, even at a basic level.👟 Read a book with a long, thin item shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book that is out of your usual comfort zone; briefly explain how it fits
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Seth Grahame-Smith 1/9
(I hate classics and I hate zombies! had to read it for another challenge)
4. The LONG JUMP is an event in which athletes combine speed, strength and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point. Competitors sprint down a runway, spring from an 8" wide board that is built flush with the runway, and jump as far as they can, landing into a pit filled with finely ground gravel or sand. The long jump has been part of modern Olympic competition since the inception of the Games in 1896. In 1914, Dr. Harry Eaton Stewart recommended the "running broad jump" as a standardized track and field event for women. However, it was not until 1948 that the women's long jump was added to the Olympic athletics program.👟 Read a book with at least two distinctively different genres on its main GR page; tell us the genres OR a book with two of these in its total page count : 1, 4, 6, 8 or 9; tell us how many pages (each number can only be used once)
Universal Harvester - John Darnielle (214 pages) 1/30
5. The TRIPLE JUMP, sometimes referred to as the hop, step and jump or the hop, skip and jump, is similar to the long jump. The competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit. The triple jump was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games and has been a modern Olympics event since the Games' inception in 1896. The women's triple jump was introduced into the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.👟 Read a book with a word in its title that ENDS with P OR book #3 from a series; tell us the series
Poisonous - Allison Brennan (Max Revere #3) 1/26
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - South Dakota Duration: January 1 - February 28, 2021
READ: 10/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book whose title begins with a letter in DAKOTA (ignore a, an and the) -or- read a book where the protagonist makes new friends as the plot progresses -or- read a book with a recognizable monument on the cover (post the cover).
The Awakening - Nora Roberts 1/22
✔️2. ✒ Read a book whose cover is divided into halves in some way (post the cover) -or- read a book in which the story is told in two perspectives -or- read a book with antonyms in the title.
Prisoner - Annika Martin & Skye Warren 1/16
✔️3. ✒ Read a book in which religion is important -or- read a book whose cover is predominantly purple (post the cover) -or- read a book whose title or subtitle features a word not in the English language (tell us the language the word is from. For those reading a non-English language book, a word not in the language the book is in. Tell us the language of both the book and the word).
The Tower of Armaethia - Andrenik Sergoyan 1/10
✔️4. ✒ Read a book in which a massacre occurs -or- read a book written by a Native American author (provide a link to the author's GR page) -or- read a book in which something or someone in memorialized (tell us how your book fits).
A Second Chance - Jodi Taylor 1/29
✔️5. ✒ Read a book featuring a president/prime minister/other democratically elected head of state as a character or a non fiction book about them -or- read a book whose cover shows a mountain top (post the cover) -or- read a book in which art (any medium) is important to the plot.
The Seelie King - Heather Killough-Walden (heroine is a painter) 1/12
✔️6. ✒ Read a book in which a scientific experiment of some sort in conducted -or- read a book in which a critical part of the plot occurs underground (tell us how the book fits) -or- read a book with a sun visible on the cover (post the cover).
Blind Eye - Jan Coffey (nuclear reactor experiments) 2/19
✔️7. ✒ Read a book with a cat, dog, camel, horse or pig on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with an intact 23 in its number of pages (tell us the number of pages) -or- read a book in which something physical is unearthed (tell us how your book fits).
Cat in a Sapphire Slipper - Carole Nelson Douglas 1/25
✔️8. ✒ Read book with a vegetable on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a synonym of flame in the title (flame works also) -or- read the third book of a series (tell us the name).
Half-Off Ragnarok - Seanan McGuire (InCryptid #3) 1/8
✔️9. ✒ Read a book whose cover shows a motorcycle (post the cover) -or- read a book first published in 2015 -or- read a book whose series name begins with a letter in STURGIS (ignore a, an and the, tell us the series name).
The Pretty Ones - Ania Ahlborn (pub July 6, 2015) 1/27
✔️10. ✒ Read a book in which love was not made (sorry!) -or- read a book whose cover shows an arm (post the cover) -or- read a book with a pacifist character (tell us who
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow - Jessica Townsend 1/3
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February Scavenger Challenge - Romantic Paintings
READ: 7/7
✔1. THE KISS by Gustav Klimt (1908)
An undeniable masterpiece from the Austrian's "Golden Period," the painting is at once both erotic and tender. Klimt was inspired by the style of Japanese mosaics and the universal appeal of romantic love. "The Kiss" is notable for its heavy use of gold foil.
❤ Read a book that takes place in Austria or Japan; tell us where OR read a book that has a gold object on its cover; post the cover.
A Vow So Bold and Deadly - Brigid Kemmerer (a crown) 2/24
✔2. THE BIRTH OF VENUS by Sandro Botticelli (1484-86)
Botticelli was commissioned to produce this work by the renowned Medici family. It portrays the goddess of love as an idealized standard of perfection and purity, standing on a giant scallop shell.
❤ Read a book that features an artist who is a painter (real or fictional); tell us who OR read a book in which a main character gives birth; tell us who.
Tiffany Blues - M.J. Rose (heroine is a painter) 2/10
✔5. FLAMING JUNE by Sir Frederic Leighton (1895)
Generally acknowledged to be Leighton's masterpiece, the painting showcases his classical training and is heavy with Greek erotic imagery. Though the woman sleeps alone, the rich colors and flowing gown set a romantic tone.
❤ Read a book whose cover features a woman in a beautiful gown; post the cover OR read a book in which the main character is a redhead; tell us who.
Lost Without You - Molly O'Keefe (Beth Renshaw) 2/21
✔7. THE GRAND CANAL OF VENICE (Blue Venice) by Édouard Manet (1875)
Venice is one of the world's most romantic cities. In compelling shades of blue, Manet's painting captures the dreamy feeling of floating down a canal in one of the city's famed gondolas
❤ Read a book that takes place in Venice OR read a book with a primarily blue cover; post the cover.
The Requiem Red - Brynn Chapman 2/13
✔8. PROMENADE NEAR ARGENTEUIL by Claude Monet (1873)
This Monet painting conveys innocence and longing. Notably devoid of any strong passion or eroticism, it evokes a nostalgia for days of modesty and certainty.
❤ Read a book whose author's first and last initials are in "ARGENTEUIL;" be sure to post the author link OR read a book with a character who seems modest and/or innocent; tell us who.
Entwined - Elisabeth Naughton 2/1
✔9. THE FISHERMAN AND THE SYREN by Frederic Leighton (1856-58)
You don't have to be an art critic to see the fire and passion that inspires this mythological painting. Though the lust may be short-lived: The mythical Sirens were said to lure sailors to their deaths.
❤ Read a book that features a Siren or any other mythological creature; tell us who/what OR read a book in which a relationship is especially passionate; tell us the couple.
Only Pleasure - Lora Leigh (Kia and Chase) 2/4
✔10. CUPID AND PSYCHE AS CHILDREN by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1890)
Known colloquially as "The First Kiss," this painting depicts Cupid, the Greek god of love and affection, with Psyche, the goddess of the soul. The painting is an allegory of love triumphing over obstacles.
❤ Read a book that is a Young Adult Romance OR read a book with the word "LOVE" in its title; exact matches only.
Super Sad True Love Story - Gary Shteyngart 2/9
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February Spell Challenge - Romantic Paintings 
READ: 7/7
✔ T: Tiffany Blues - M.J. Rose 2/10
✔ H: Wraith - Helen Harper 2/8
✔ E: Entwined - Elisabeth Naughton 2/1
✔ K: A Darkness Absolute - Kelley Armstrong 2/20
✔ I: Ink, Iron, and Glass - Gwendolyn Clare 2/12
✔ S: Silver Zombie - Carole Nelson Douglas 2/16
✔ S: Shadow Zone - Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen 2/26
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #20 : Athletics | Throwing READ: 3/5
1. The Athletics competition at the Olympics feature four THROWING events : discus, hammer throw, shot put and javelin. Like the jumping events, both men and women compete in all four of these events, but separately.👟 Read a book with only men or only women on the cover (must be at least two people); post the cover ORbook #4 from a series; tell us the series
Silver Zombie - Carole Nelson Douglas (Delilah Street #4) 2/16
2. The DISCUS THROW consists of throwing a heavy lenticular disc (convex on both sides), called a discus, of a certain weight or size depending on the competitor as far as possible. Men and women throw different sized discus with varying sizes of weights depending on age. It is an ancient sport, as demonstrated by the fifth-century-BC Myron statue Discobolus. The thrower stands within a circle, spins around 1-1/2 times, then releases the discus in the direction of the target sector. The technique of discus throwing is quite difficult to master and needs much experience to perfect, thus most top throwers are 30 years old or more.👟 Read a book with a main character who is over 30 years old; tell us the age OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in DISCUS THROW; post a link to the author's GR page
A Darkness Absolute - Kelley Armstrong (heroine is 31) 2/20
3. Like the other throwing events, the HAMMER THROW competition is decided by who can throw the implement the farthest. The "hammer" used in the hammer throw is not like any of the tools also called by that name. Instead, it consists of a metal ball attached by a steel wire to a grip. The throwing motion involves a swing or two from a stationary position, followed by 3-5 rotations of the body in a circular motion, then the release of the hammer toward the target sector. While the men's hammer throw has been part of the Olympics since 1900, women's hammer throw was first included in the Olympics at the 2000 summer games in Sydney, Australia.
👟 Read a book with a tool normally used in home improvement work shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book originally published between 1900-2000 (inclusive); tell us the year
4. The JAVELIN THROW is an event where the javelin, a spear slightly longer than 8 feet in length is thrown toward a target area, called a sector. The size, shape, minimum weight, and center of gravity of the javelin are all defined by IAAF (International Amateur Athletic Association) rules. The javelin has a grip about 6 inches wide made of cord and located at the javelin's center of gravity. Unlike the other throwing events (shot put, discus, and hammer), the technique used to throw the javelin is dictated by IAAF rules and "non-orthodox" techniques are not permitted. The javelin thrower gains momentum by running up to the release point within a predetermined area. A throw is legal only if the tip of the javelin lands within the sector (target area), and the tip strikes the ground before any other part of the javelin.
👟 Read a book with a character who always insists on following the rules; using spoiler tags, briefly explain OR a book where the first letter of every word in the title can be found in JAVELINTHROW (a letter can only be used as many times as it appears in the phrase); 3-word minimum, ALL words count
5. The SHOT PUT involves "putting" (pushing rather than throwing) the shot (a heavy spherical object) as far as possible. The shot is made of different kinds of materials, including sand, iron, cast iron, solid steel, stainless steel, brass, and synthetic materials like polyvinyl. Some metals are more dense than others making the size of the shot vary to achieve the desired weight. The first evidence for stone- or weight-throwing events was in the Scottish Highlands, and date back to approximately the first century. The first events resembling the modern shot put likely occurred in the Middle Ages when soldiers held competitions in which they hurled cannonballs.👟 Read a book whose title begins with a letter in SHOTPUT; disregard A, An and The OR a book with a round ball of some sort shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
Tiffany Blues - M.J. Rose 2/10
Random Treasure Hunt #4Duration: February 1, 2021- May 31, 2021
Level: Serious treasure hunter: 75 words
95/75 FOUND
Only Pleasure - Lora Leigh 2/4
bone - like a dog latched onto a bone, p60
control - she had no idea how to control it, p29
psychotic - Drew had never seemed psychotic, p311
wary - had been wary of her, p318
The Wicked Will Rise - Danielle Paige 2/5
dip - before I could dip my finger in, p60
door - to find the door, p193
education - want to aim for higher education, p250
famous - if it isn't famous Amy Gumm, p45
gag - with a gag me gesture, p201
ordinary - an ordinary wooden door, p256
wry - she gave me a wry, weak chuckle, p105
Deadly Kisses - Brenda Joyce 2/6
absorbed - but he was so absorbed, p136
damp - his skin was damp and clammy, p318
exclusive - our arrangement was exclusive, p170
fly - you would never wish to harm a fly, p126
glib - do you want a glib answer, p305
iron - and entered the iron cage, p165
library - Alfred knocked on the library door, p211
linen - she clutched a linen handkerchief, p278
polite - he was very proper and very polite, p154
resolute - he had been grim and resolute, p30
sincere - to match a reckless rogue with someone so sincere, p117
Celtic Moon - Jan DeLima 2/7
unhealthy - not acting the least bit unhealthy, p64
Wraith - Helen Harper 2/8
boy - as risky as a teenage boy, p140
teeth - picking at one of his teeth, p7
tent - with the Gneiss tents and flags, p252
tin - there wasn't so much as a dented tin, p100
Tiffany Blues - M.J. Rose 2/10
addition - in addition to taking care of me, p14
grip - I kept a grip on Miss Halstead's arm, p87
partner - Logan gave his partner a look, p250
quack - a duck's quack, p20
tempt - devil's tools to tempt weak people, p53
Bittersweet - Sarina Bowen 2/11
bind - we're in a bit of a bind, p227
cake - a big supply of the tiny cake mixes, p209
cattle - most of our dairy cattle, p6
cow - we'd milked several dozen cows, p3
furtive - more furtive than discussing the price of cider, p35
gorgeous - these are gorgeous, are they sour cherries, p47
leaf - showing up during leaf season, p127
point - hell, the girl had a point, p32
ponder - a long time to ponder one's failings, p18
swallow - longer than it takes to swallow something, p30
tart - on the tart, complicated flavors, p33
Ink, Iron, and Glass - Gwendolyn Clare 2/12
disgust - for her to respond with disgust, p77
smooth - out of her seat in one smooth motion, p88
Jinn - Matthew B.J. Delaney 2/13
acrid - squinted against the acrid smoke, p38
alarm - a small alarm sounding, p102
aquatic - head of the aquatic research lab, p74
erect - it's tail erect, p217
notify - to notify them as soon as possible, p111
The Requiem Red - Brynn Chapman 2/13
creep - it's tentacles creep around the soul, p68
impair - were either profoundly impaired, p65
Poison in Paddington - Samantha Silver 2/14
authority - to maintain a confident authority, p126
baby - I am not a baby, p129
Without a Sound - Carla Cassidy 2/15
beginner - pretty ambitious for a beginner cook, loc3316
Silver Zombie - Carole Nelson Douglas 2/16
advice - one piece of advice I'll give you, p132
coil - let it coil into the empty bag, p269
decorate - many decorate my home, p126
elderly - what kept these elderly residents living, p121
grade - need a better grade of zombie, p301
hold - must be exhausting to hold onto, p77
incredible - her incredible agony, p194
know - you never know what madness and mayhem, p2
massive - surrounded by massive sow teeth, p13
receive - receive the mighty Delilah, p55
record - someone with a record so extreme, p158
various - leased to various Vegas enterprises, p11
continued...The Bourbon Kings - J.R. Ward 2/17
counsel - the company's general counsel, p268
saturate - your saturated drunk, p380
talk - talk about digging in, p32
Not That Kind of Girl - Susan Donovan 2/18
mom - my mom gave me all her old furniture, p113
tear - she wiped at a single tear, p141
wonderful - you're going to have a wonderful time, p154
Glazed Murder - Jessica Beck 2/23
cluttered - the desk was a cluttered mess, p42
distribute - the host distributed the coffee, p69
flashy - she's a little too flashy for my taste, p153
Blind Eye - Jan Coffey 2/19
light - abandoning any source of light, p65
meet - meet in some kind of terminal, p160
open - she hadn't been able to open the door, p81
A Darkness Absolute - Kelley Armstrong 2/20
racial - racial profiling means I am not a suspect, p110
spiteful - just to be spiteful, p366
Wrong Alibi - Christina Dodd 2/22
eatable - make the foot eatable, p148
giants - being wadded up by a giant's hand, p150
moon - as bleak and cold as the surface of the moon, p152
A Cold Day in Hell - Stella Cameron 2/25
womanly - you have outstanding taste in womanly flesh, p54
Just Fine with Caroline - Annie England Noblin 2/26
elated - she was elated, p249
The Shimmering Road - Hester Young 2/27
dysfunctional - in the battle for most dysfunctional history, p16
Out of the Blue - S.L. Rottman 3/1
breakable - so skinny he looked breakable, p63
Buried in a Book - Lucy Arlington 3/6
receptive - she is very receptive to my recommendations, p110
succinct - give a succinct account to the authorities, p38
Guys & Dogs - Elaine Fox 3/19
diminish - not to diminish what you're saying, p100
The Ruby Brooch - Katherine Lowry Logan 3/27
inaugurate - through the inauguration, p262
Bitter Harvest - Sheila Connolly 4/3
forecast - check the weather forecast one last time, p45
All the Tides of Fate - Adalyn Grace 5/7
oafish - you arrogant, oafish bastard, p138
Spell Weaver - Roxi Ashe 5/10
astonish - it would not astonish me, p52
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
March Scavenger Challenge - National Craft Month
READ: 8/8
✔ 1. CANDLE/SOAP MAKING
* Read a book that doesn't fit the usual "mold" for its main genre; using spoiler tags, briefly explain OR a book with verb in its title that ends in ING
Gathering Darkness - Morgan Rhodes 3/31
✔ 2. EMBROIDERY
* Read a book with a one-word title (ALL words count!) OR a book with a character who is a grandmother; tell us who
Caged - Ellison Cooper 3/6
✔ 3. JEWELRY-MAKING
* Read a book with some sort of jewelry piece on the cover; post the cover OR a book ith a sandwiched letter in the title (like jeWelry)
Rebel Spring - Morgan Rhodes & Michelle Rowen (reBel) 3/4
✔ 4. KNITTING/CROCHETING
* Read a book with a long, thin object (think knitting needles) shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a bookset in winter (December, January or February); tell us when
Town in a Wild Moose Chase - B.B. Haywood (January) 3/2
✔ 5. PAPER CRAFTS
* Read a book in which some sort of card-giving occasion occurs (wedding, birthday, etc.); tell us the occasion OR a traditional print book (no ebooks or audiobooks, please)
Plain Bad Heroines - Emily M. Danforth (read the hardcopy) 3/13
✔ 6. POTTERY
* Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in POTTERY; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with a word in its title that ENDS in Y
Sympathy for the Devil - Holly Lisle 3/17
✔ 8. STAINED GLASS
* Read a book with a main character who earns a living working with their hands; tell us the career OR a book with a window shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
Buried in a Book - Lucy Arlington 3/6
✔ 10. WOODWORKING
* Read a book with double vowels in its title or author name (wOOd, bEEs); post a link to the author's GR page if using that option OR a book with a character who earns a living by remodeling or renovating homes; tell us who
The Malfeasance Occasional: Girl Trouble - Clare Toohey 3/22
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
March Spell Challenge - Crafts READ: 9/10
✔ E: Caged - Ellison Cooper 3/6
✔ M: The Malfeasance Occasional: Girl Trouble - Clare Toohey 3/22
✔ B: Buried in a Book - Lucy Arlington 3/6
✔ R: Rebel Spring - Morgan Rhodes & Michelle Rowen 3/4
✔ O: Out of the Blue - S.L. Rottman 3/1
✔ I: Immortal Protector - Ursula Bauer 3/24
✔ D: Tart of Darkness - Denise Swanson 3/7
✔ E: Plain Bad Heroines - Emily M. Danforth 3/13
✔ R: The Ruby Brooch - Katherine Lowry Logan 3/27
Y:
Olympics #21 | Equestrian Jumping READ: 5/5
1. The introduction of the Enclosures Acts that came into force in England in the eighteenth century necessitated new pursuit methods for foxhunters. Now foxhunters required horses that could jump.🏇 Read a book that takes place in England OR read a book in which a foxhunt is part of the plot; briefly describe the event.
Immortal Champion - Lisa Hendrix 3/30
2. Italian Federico Caprilli, often called the “father of modern riding,” revolutionized the jumping seat. Previously, riders would lean back and pull the reins when jumping a fence; however, this technique was awkward and uncomfortable for the horse. Caprilli’s solution was the more natural “forward seat” position which is now universally used.🏇 Read a book whose title contains one of the following words: JUMP, BACK, FORWARD, FENCE, or SEAT (reasonable variations acceptable - i.e. jumping, backward) OR read a book whose author's first and last initial may be found in FEDERICO CAPRILLI.
Caged - Ellison Cooper 3/6
3. The horse made its first appearance at the Ancient Olympic Games in 680 B.C. when chariot racing was introduced. After the modern Games began, a few unsuccessful attempts (1896, 1900, 1904 and 1908) preceded the success of equestrian events in the 1912 Olympic program. Women made their first Olympic appearance in Jumping at the 1956 Games in Stockholm.🏇 Read a book that takes place in Ancient Greece (bonus for a chariot race occurring!) OR read a book that features any event or industry that used to exclude women; briefly tell us what.
The Ruby Brooch - Katherine Lowry Logan 3/27
(Kitherina wanted to travel on a wagon train along the Oregon Trail by herself and was told she had to have a man with her-1852)
4. Riders must clear 10-13 obstacles, with heights up to 1.6 meters (5' 3") and spreads of up to 2.0 meters (6' 7"). This is true for both individual and team competition. Winners are those with the fastest times and fewest penalties.🏇 Read a book in which a MC is an expert rider and makes at least one jump during the story; copy the passage and state its location in the book OR read book #10 - 13, inclusive, of a series; tell us the series name.
Blood Heir - Ilona Andrews (#10.5) 3/20
5. Three elimination rounds are run, with top 20 riders moving forward to two final rounds. Scores from both rounds are combined and the fewest penalties wins.🏇 Read a book with a "3" in its original year of publication; tell us when the book was published OR read a book with an intact "20" in its total page count - i.e. 202, 420.
Hard to Hold on To - Laura Kaye (208 pages) 3/10
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - Montana Duration: March 1 - April 30, 2021
READ: 8/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book set in a mountainous region (tell us where) -or- read a book whose author you consider a treasure -or- read a book whose title contains a woman's name.
Open Season - C.J. Box (Wyoming) 3/11
✔️2. ✒ Read a book set in any of Montana's border states or provinces (tell us where your book is set) -or- read a book with 6 or fewer named characters -or- read a book in which all the words of the title begin with a letter in FRONTIERCOUNTY (all words count, 3 words minimum, letters can only be used as many times as they are found in the word).
Out of the Blue - S.L. Rottman (North Dakota) 3/1
✔️3. ✒ Read a book that has a precious metal/stone in the title or the cover (post the cover if choosing that option) -or- read a book with a vast expanse of sky on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book where someone encounters a bear in the plot.
The Ruby Brooch - Katherine Lowry Logan 3/27
✔️4. ✒ Read book #3 of a series (tell us the series) -or- read a book with a multiplicative in the title or subtitle (words like single, double, triple, etc.) -or- read a book that is set in a city on one of the oceans mentioned, let us know which one your city borders.
Hard to Come By - Laura Kaye (Hard Ink #3) 3/17
5. ✒ Read a book where any of the animals above can be found on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that has the word GOLDEN in the title/subtitle/series title (no variations, tell us the series title if choosing that option) -or- read a book in which one of the named characters works with exotic animals in any way (tell us how).
✔️6. ✒ Read a book with ice on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose authors' initials are CD (ignore middle, not vice versa) -or- read a book first published in 2015.
Hard to Let Go - Laura Kaye (pub June 30, 2015) 3/24
7. ✒ Read a book with a dinosaur in it -or- read a book with a special snowflake character (tell us who) -or- read a book with a pet whose name begins with either a T or an L (tell us what the pet is and its name).
✔️8. ✒ Read a book whose main character's first name is a gemstone (Jade, Beryl, Ruby etc., tell us the name) -or- read a book whose total number of pages has two 8s (tell us the number of pages) -or- read a book with an object prominently shown on the cover that begins with a Y, G or O (post the cover).
To Kill a Kingdom - Alexandra Christo (octopus) 3/19
✔️9. ✒ Read a book with opposite words in the title -or- read a book written by a Native American author -or- read a book that was added to your TBR in any June (tell us when).
Wednesday's Child - Peter Robinson (added June 13, 2019)3/20
✔️10. ✒ Read a book where someone goes fishing -or- read a book in which a woman MC has people close to her restricting her actions in some way (a strict dad or a jerk boyfriend etc.) -or- read a book with a yard or residential lawn on the cover (post the cover).
Gathering Darkness - Morgan Rhodes (Lucia's father, the king) 3/31
April Scavenger Challenge - National Scrabble Day
READ: 5/5
1. The game of Scrabble was invented by an unemployed architect, Alfred Mosher Butts, in 1933. He combined elements from anagrams and crossword puzzles to create a scoring word game. To figure out how many tiles there should be and how many points each letter should be worth, he calculated letter frequency on the front page of The New York Times. He determined, for example, that Q appears least often in English text, so there should only be one Q tile in the game, and it should be worth the most points.
🅿 Read a book originally published in April; tell us the year OR a book with at least one Q somewhere in its title
Changeless - Gail Carriger (pub April 1, 2010) 4/20
2. Scrabble was originally called Lexico and later changed to Criss Cross Words before being called Scrabble by James Brunot, a friend of the inventor. After coining the name Scrabble, Brunot and his wife created a partnership and began manufacturing the game in 1948, giving Butts a royalty on every set sold.
🅿 Read a book whose title has been changed at least once; post a link to both titles OR a book with at least two of these numbers in its page count: 1, 4, 8, 9; tell us how many pages
The Dragon Book - Jack Dann (448 pages) 4/21
3. The name Scrabble comes from the words scrabbling, scrabbled and scrabbles – all of which mean to claw or scrape at something frantically. All derive from the Dutch word schrabbelan, which most likely integrated into American speech from Dutch settlers to North America.
🅿 Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in SCHRABBELAN; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with a Dutch character (tell us who) or set in the Netherlands (tell us where).
Bitter Harvest - Sheila Connolly 4/3
4. On average, more than eight Scrabble games are started every second. Each hour, at least 30,000 game of Scrabble are started. If all the Scrabble tiles ever produced were lined up single file, they would stretch for more than 50,000 miles.
🅿 Read book originally published in a year with a 5 in it; tell us the year OR a book you added to your to-read list on the 3rd of any month; tell us when you added it
Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin - Nancy Atherton (pub in 2005) 4/27
5. Scrabble is available in more than 50 languages, as well as a Deluxe version (with large print tiles), a Braille version and even an unofficial Klingon version. Over 150 million copies of the game have been sold worldwide, in more than 120 countries. There are tiles specific to certain countries – in Spanish versions, there’s a single tile that has two Ls, in Catalan a tile has two Ls with a dot in between, and in Dutch, there is a tile that has an I and a J – that look a little odd to players accustomed to the English tiles.
🅿 Read a book that has been translated into at least two additional languages; tell us the languages OR book #5 in a series; tell us the series
I Am Your Judge - Nele Neuhaus (Russian, Greek, Dutch, English) 4/15
6. There are 124 playable two-letter words in the English game, containing every letter in the alphabet except V. Merriam-Webster notes that the top-scoring Scrabble words (depending on where they're played) include qi, za, phoney, retinas, xu, zlotty, hook, gyoza, bingo, and amigo. The highest possible score on one turn is 1782, achieved by adding tiles to form the word OXYPHENBUTAZONE across three triple-word scores.
🅿 Read a book whose title begins with V (disregard A, An and The) OR a book with a word in the title that is at least 12 letters long.
7. Scrabble became an American daytime game show, hosted by Chuck Woolery on NBC, which ran from July 1984 to March 1990, then again from January to June in 1993. In 2004, Scrabble was finally inducted into the American National Toy Hall of Fame, joining other great toys and games such as Monopoly, Etch A Sketch, Lego and The Game Boy.
🅿 Read a book that has been made into a TV show (at least one full season); tell us the name of the show if it's not the same as the book title OR a book with CLASSIC on its main GR page..
April Spell Challenge - ScrabbleREAD: 7/7
✔ B: Bitter Harvest - Sheila Connolly 4/3
✔ R: Deadly Silence - Rebecca Zanetti 4/1
✔ A: Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin - Nancy Atherton 4/27
✔ I: Into Aether - L.M. Fry 4/23
✔ L: The Heir of Night - Helen Lowe 4/10
✔ L: The Lost Plot - Genevieve Cogman 4/28
✔ E: The Unexpected Bride - Elizabeth Rolls 4/23
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #22 | Athletics | Running READ: 5/5
HURDLES : 👟 Read a book with a character who has to overcome a significant hurdle in his/her life; using spoiler tags briefly explain; OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in HURDLES; post a link to the author's GR page
The Fire King - Marjorie M. Liu 4/30
(heroine is right handed and lost her right arm in the previous book in the series)
STEEPLECHASE :👟 Read a book with a body of water shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with an intact 12 in its total page count; tell us how many pages
Wild Irish Heart - Tricia O'Malley 4/9
RELAY : 👟 Read a bookwith a 4 in its original year of publication; tell us the year OR a book from a series that has been continued by a different author (you may read from the original series or the 'new' one); tell us the series and post links to both authors' GR pages
I Am Your Judge - Nele Neuhaus (pub Oct 10, 2014) 4/15
MARATHON :👟 Read a "marathon" book (over 500 pages); tell us how many pages OR a book set in the 1800s; tell us when
The Snowman - Jo Nesbø (550 pages) 4/17
RACE WALKING : 👟 Read a book with only ONE (human) foot shown prominently on the cover (not the entire body or leg); post the cover OR a book with a character who you think is well-grounded; briefly explain.
Deadly Silence - Rebecca Zanetti 4/1
(heroine is a successful legal assistant)
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
May Scavenger Challenge - Mothers in Literature
READ: 2/7
✔ 1. Margaret "Marmee" March, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
🥰 Read a bookoriginally published in March of any year; tell us when OR read a book in which mother is in charge of the family during father's absence (i.e. war, death, desertion, severe illness); tell us why OR (re-)read Little Women.
The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum - Kirsten Weiss (pub March 8, 2016) 5/5
2. Molly Weasley, Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
🥰 (Re-)read any book in the Harry Potter series OR read a book with a mother who has magical or paranormal powers; tell us who and what her powers are OR read a book that features a large family (at least 6 children); tell us the family composition.
3. Ma (Caroline) Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
🥰 Read a book whose title contains the word "LITTLE" or "PRAIRIE" (reasonable variations acceptable - i.e. Littlest, Prairies) OR read a book set during pioneer times (~1760 - 1850); tell us when OR read a book with a covered wagon on its cover; remember to post the cover.
4. Marilla Cuthbert, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
🥰 Read a book that takes place anywhere in Canada; tell us where OR read a book whose MC is an orphan OR read a book whose author's first name is Anne (Ann or other reasonable spellings are acceptable; however, Anna is not).
5. Clara del Valle Trueba, The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
🥰 Read any of the books in the Del Valle Family trilogy OR read a book that is a family saga (covers at least 50 years and three generations) OR read a book by any Latin American author; make sure to post an author link.
✔ 6. Aibileen Clark, The Help by Kathryn Stockett
🥰 Read any book featuring a nanny or governess; tell us who OR (re-)read The Help OR read a book that takes place in Deep South (South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana); tell us where.
Taking Chase - Lauren Dane (Georgia) 5/8
7. Vianne Rocher, Chocolat by Joanne Harris
🥰 Read a book that involves chocolate as a major theme; tell us how OR read a book that takes place anywhere in France OR (re-)read any of the books in the Chocolat series
Mayl Spell Challenge - Beloved Mothers in Literature READ: 14/14
M: The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore 5/9
A: All the Tides of Fate - Adalyn Grace 5/7
T: Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox - Forthright 5/8
R: Lethal Lies - Rebecca Zanetti 5/10
I: If You Give A Girl A Viscount - Kieran Kramer 5/30
A: Spell Weaver - Roxi Ashe 5/10
R: Twisted Truths - Rebecca Zanetti 5/13
C: Circus Summer - Kailin Gow 5/1
H: Hard Ever After - Laura Kaye 5/11
G: Gray Ghost - William G. Tapply 5/31
R: Red Hot Fury - Kasey MacKenzie 5/28
A: Angel of Darkness - Cynthia Eden 5/16
C: The Corpse Wore Tartan - Kaitlyn Dunnett 5/24
E: The Watchers of Eden - T.C. Edge 5/20
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #23 | Skateboarding READ: 5/5
1. Skateboarding will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2021. It is one of five new sports added to the Olympic program specifically for 2021, rather than as a permanent sport. There will be 80 athletes evenly split between men and women competing in park and street disciplines.🛹 Read a series book #5 (tell us the series) - or - a book that has an athlete main character (tell us who and what sport).
Spoils of the Dead - Dana Stabenow (Liam Campbell #5) 5/2
2. PARK terrain courses are based on concrete bowls from 5 to 10 feet (1.52 to 3.01 meters) in depth, with steep sides and nearly vertical at the top. Park competitors almost never push to generate speed and frequently perform tricks by grabbing the board with their hands, also utilizing specialized techniques such as pumping and carving. Skaters send themselves to dizzying heights, performing jaw-dropping spins and tricks midair, and then gracefully bring themselves back down to the bowl to do it all over again on the other side.🛹 Read a book whose title starts with a letter in PARK (disregard A, An, The) - or - a book with something made of concrete on the cover (show us the cover).
Kodiak's Claim - Eve Langlais 5/14
3. STREET courses are designed to replicate real-world urban terrain and consist of stair sets, rails, gaps, benches, ledges, and planters on riding surfaces of variable elevations up to approximately 8 feet (2.44 meters). The foundation of modern street skateboarding is a trick called the Ollie, which allows skaters to lift the skateboard off the ground using only their feet, thereby providing many opportunities for tricks where skateboarders spin and flip their boards, and leap up, down, onto or over every obstacle in their path.🛹 Read a book with a one-word title - or - a book with a cityscape or a street scene on the cover (show us the cover).
Heartless - Gail Carriger 5/25
4. Each of the competitions is comprised of two rounds: prelims and finals. In the prelims, 20 skaters will compete in four heats, with the top eight skaters progressing to the finals. In each round, skaters will perform two 45-second runs and five tricks. Five judges use a 0-100.00 point scale and score athletes based on speed, difficulty, originality, timing, stability and the overall flow of the performance. One important skill judges will be looking for is the ability to seem suspended in midair.🛹 Read a book with "2" or "0" in the total number of pages (tell us how many) - or - a book with something suspended in air on the cover (be creative but show us the cover).
Dangerous Prey - Lindsay McKenna (a bird) 5/14
5. There is no single person credited with inventing skateboarding. The actual invention of the skateboard appears to have been a spontaneous occurrence in the United States sometime in the 1950’s, fueled by the rise of surf culture and the modification of Depression-era kick scooters. Skateboarding rapidly evolved from a fad to the center of mainstream youth culture in the early 2000's. It developed independent of the structure that defines traditional organized sports; instead it has been a grassroots movement driven by youth, with the vast majority of first-time participants under the age of 18.🛹 Read a book marked YOUNG ADULT on its main genre page - or - a book originally published between 1950 and 2010 (tell us what year)
The Watchers of Eden - T.C. Edge 5/20
5
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - Washington Duration: May 1 - June 30, 2021
READ: 9/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book in which there is a dispute of some kind (let us know what it is) -or- read a book whose cover has an evergreen tree (post the cover) -or- read a book with the word GREEN intact in its author's name (compound words are fine).
Outfoxed by Love - Eve Langlais 5/17
(an old friend is harassing the shifter clan due to imaginary hurts)
✔️2. ✒ Read a book with a 6 and a 0 in the year it was first published (tell us the year) -or- read a book in which the main character works in or owns a farm -or- read a book whose author's initials are in the word STRATOVOLCANO (middle initials count if the author uses any).
Spell Weaver - Roxi Ashe 5/10
✔️3. ✒ Read a book with parallel lines of some sort on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a water body is important for any reason (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a book whose main character's initials are BC or WA (tell us their name).
All the Tides of Fate - Adalyn Grace 5/7
(the oceans surrounding the islands are infested with dangerous sea creatures; and the MC's are on a ship traversing the islands)
✔️4. ✒ Read a book with a president (or equivalent in the country the book is set in) character (they must have lines of dialogue, may be real or imagined) -or- read a book with a gold object on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a repeated word in the title (ignore The, A, An and, And).
Verse of the Vanguard - K.C. May (gold coins) 6/4
✔️5. ✒ Read a book in which a large-scale natural disaster occurs (let us know what it is) -or- read a book with fire or a ring shape prominently displayed on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book written by an author named Helen (reasonable variations okay).
The Watchers of Eden - T.C. Edge 5/20
✔️6.✒ Read a book with a fish in its title or on the cover (for the title option, the fish needs to be named, like Pike or Salmon; for the cover option, post the cover) -or- read a book in which the main character owns/runs/works in one of the kind of businesses mentioned above (tell us which) -or- read a book which you feel was stretched like gum despite having little to tell.
When Books Went to War - Molly Guptill Manning 5/12
✔️7. ✒ Read a book whose title contains a word that can be made out of the letters in KENNEWICK -or- read a book in which a court case is tried -or- read a book with bones prominently shown on the cover (post the cover)
The 18th Abduction - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro 6/15
✔️8. ✒ Read a book with an apple(s) on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a series book that is larger by at least 15 pages compared to the previous book in the series (tell us the number of pages in both books) -or- read a book whose author's first and last initials are found in at least two of the trees mentioned above (ginkgo, sweetgum, redwood, Douglas fir, walnut, spruce, elm, maple, horse chestnut, cottonwood, magnolia, sassafras, yew and witch hazel.)
Kodiak's Claim - Eve Langlais (elm, maple, witch hazel) 5/14
9. ✒ Read a nonfiction book tagged SCIENCE on its main GR page -or- read a book with some kind of hidden image or optical illusion on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a character is a magician (not a sorcerer or a witch who can do logic defying magic)
✔️10. ✒ Read a book whose cover shows a utility pole of some kind (post the cover) -or- read a book with a X somewhere on the cover (it should be a part of the cover design and not the title/subtitle/author's name/blurb; post the cover) -or- read a book with what you think is an ugly cover (post the cover).
The Dry - Jane Harper 5/1
June Scavenger Challenge - Fathers in Literature
READ: 7/7
✔ 1) Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
👔 Read a book that takes place in the Deep South (Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama) OR read a book that contains a courtroom scene
The 18th Abduction - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro 6/15
✔ 2) Mr. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
👔 Read a book labelled HUMOR on its main GR page OR read a book where the main family has at least four daughters; tell us their names
Grizzly Love - Eve Langlais (MPG humor) 6/28
✔ 3) Jean Valjean from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
👔 Read a book whose total page count contains two of the following numbers - 2, 4, 6, 0, or 1; tell us how many pages OR read a book that takes place anywhere in France
The Vine Witch - Luanne G. Smith 6/18
✔ 4) Thomas Schell from Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
👔 Read a book in which a manmade disaster occurs; tell us what OR read a book that takes place in New York City
Faithless in Death - J.D. Robb 6/4
✔ 5) Mr. Emerson from A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
👔 Read a book in which a character is being raised primarily by their father or father-figure OR read a book in which a couple become engaged or one character breaks an engagement
Fix Her Up - Carey Heywood 6/24
✔ 6) Joe Gargery from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
👔 Read a book in which the author's first name or one the MC's first names is only 3 letters (tell us the character if using that option) OR read a book with "GREAT" in its title (minor variations acceptable - i.e. greater, greatest)
Polar Bared - Eve Langlais 6/9
✔ 7) Geppetto from Pinochio by Carlo Collodi
👔 Read any book that has been made into a movie; tell us the name of the movie if the connection isn't obvious OR read a book in which a character continuously finds themselves in trouble
The Firefighter - Susan Lyons, et al (Tash McKendrick) 6/14
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
June Spell Challenge - Beloved Fathers in Literature READ: 7/7
✔ A: All the Time You Need - Melissa Mayhue 6/11
✔ T: The Third Victim - Lisa Gardner 6/6
✔ T: Timeless - Gail Carriger 6/25
✔ I: In the Middle of Somewhere - Roan Parrish 6/30
✔ C: The Clockwork Dagger - Beth Cato 6/12
✔ U: Undone - Shannon Richard 6/2
✔ S: Half Bad - Sally Green 6/5
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #24 | Equestrian Eventing READ: 4/5
1. From the three disciplines that make up equestrian sport, eventing is the most demanding. Eventing covers every aspect of horsemanship: the harmony between horse and rider that characterize dressage; the contact with nature, stamina and extensive experience essential for the cross-country; the precision, agility and technique involved in jumping.🏇 Read a book that is one of a trilogy; tell us the trilogy name and the book's position OR read a book whose author's first and last initial may be found in EVENTING (a letter may only be used as many times as it appears in the word).
Half Bad - Sally Green (Half Bad Trilogy #1) 6/5
2. Equestrian sports were featured in the Paris Games in 1900 (jumping events only) and were then withdrawn until the 1912 Games in Stockholm. All equestrian events for the 1956 Melbourne Games were held in Stockholm, Sweden as horses were unable to enter Australia due to quarantine regulations.🏇 Read a book that takes place in France, Sweden, or Australia OR read a book that takes place any time in the 1900's; tell us when.
The Vine Witch - Luanne G. Smith 6/18
3. Until 1948, only men competed in the events, as the riders had to be officers. This restriction was lifted in 1951, and, since the Helsinki Games in 1952, women have competed with men in the mixed events. It wasn't until Helena du Pont competed for the United States at the 1964 Tokyo Games that Eventing saw its first woman representing her country.
🏇 Read a book featuring a female athlete (fiction or non-fiction); tell us who OR read a book that takes place in Japan.
4. Sometimes called the "Triathlon of Equestrian Sport", Eventing has three components. Dressage, Jumping (rider must clear 9-12 obstacles) and a cross-country course that consists of 40-45 obstacles and must be completed in a given amount of time. The rider who has the least amount of penalties in the three combined rounds wins the gold!🏇 Read a book whose total page count contains "40," "41," "42," "43," "44," or "45" OR read the third book in a series; tell us the name of the series.
Moondance Beach - Susan Donovan (Bayberry Island #3) 6/16
5. At the 2008 Games in Beijing, Canada’s Ian Millar did particularly well winning the silver medal in the team jumping, 36 years after his first participation in the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. At 61, he was the oldest medallist at the Beijing Games.🏇 Read a book written by a male author; be sure to post the author link OR read a book with a silver object on its cover; be sure to post the cover.
Verse of the Vanguard - K.C. May 6/4
Random Treasure Hunt #5Duration: June 1, 2021- September 30, 2021
Level: Serious treasure hunter: 75 words
70/75 FOUND
Undone - Shannon Richard 6/2
curve - did amazing things to her curves, p85
dime - throw little dime bags in her yard, p11
illegal - you know that marijuana is still illegal, p10
mask - short of wearing a mask, p121
physical - the brief physical contact had shocked her, p60
Faithless in Death - J.D. Robb 6/4
veil - me in a long white dress and a veil, ch18
Verse of the Vanguard - K.C. May 6/4
available - yes, if he's available, p14
colossal - a colossal bird, Tylia said, grinning, p179
convey - trying to convey silently, p9
meek - wherefore art though so timid, meek, p29
stick - hammering away at glowing orange sticks, p88
uninterested - always been distracted and uninterested, p55
voice - surprise in her voice, p61
Half Bad - Sally Green 6/5
saunter - I saunter away, p303
scale - stand on the scales, p34
stew - I'll heat up some stew, p14
The Third Victim - Lisa Gardner 6/6
brown - he was a very brave brown bear, p238
cemetery - or the single cemetery plot, p119
collapse - I just saw a boy collapse, p16
faucet - her hands were shaking on the faucet, p161
hospital - he called the hospital, p164
lacking - but the thrill was lacking, p154
makeshift - he turned to the makeshift memorial, p79
tremble - they still wouldn't tremble, p194
Half Lies - Sally Green 6/7
vase - pink balloons, pink mugs, pink lamp and pink vases, loc20
Edge Of Fear - Cherry Adair 6/9
bee - a particularly nasty bee sting, p165
endure - have to endure it for 15 hours, p161
evasive - excellent evasive techniques, p107
female - in a purely female-to-sexy-male response, p31
flaky - what kind of flaky security people do you guys have here, p211
hurl - the feeling that hew was about to hurl, p151
large - a very large amount of money, p20
medical - the medical center was almost ready for occupancy, p9
middle - dumped onto the middle of the conference room table, p2
sack - the men were getting ready to sack down, p73
watch - strapping on his watch, p64
Personal Demons - Lisa Desrochers 6/11
complain - I'm not about to complain, p18
disobey - even if I wanted to, I could not disobey, p86
root - what is at the root of the struggle, p30
round - her round body is clad in the uniform, p12
All the Time You Need - Melissa Mayhue 6/11
confess - wouldn't be the best time to confess, p201
food - her secret to hiding the less-than-fresh foods, p97
get - anything I can get for you, p131
include - what other things might be included in that smelly goo, p51
indicate - to the direction his friend indicated, p34
nest - her special pilgrimages to her nest, p15
remain - determined to remain where he was, p152
stream - when the water stream turned cold, p23
whole - for the whole of the truth, p65
Jealous And Freakn' - Eve Langlais 6/12
awesome - she couldn't imagine anything more awesome, p20
imagine - she couldn't imagine anything more awesome, p20
male - between two male bodies, p44
size - to admire the size of him, p9
The Clockwork Dagger - Beth Kato 6/12
ablaze - who likely set that village ablaze, p132
calm - now child calm yourself, p132
chance - a simple chance so that it would relieve some tension, p77
cycle - take comfort in the cycle of life, p165
dine - everyone dines upstairs, p25
enchanted - the enchanted herb was absorbed in an instant, p9
experience - her experience in the war, p10
full - an academic with a full department at her disposal, p151
ignorant - I do not mean to sound so judgmental, merely ignorant, p50
shatter - Octavia was prepared to shatter the first rule, p6
strike - a strike to the celiac plexus, p79
suffer - he'll suffer the same fate as the boy, p222
Alpha Star - Elsa Jade 6/14
Dangerous - he might be every bit as dangerous, loc222
yarn - Andean alpaca who'd donated the yarn, loc151
Moondance Beach - Susan Donovan 6/16
do - open his eyes and see me, not just do me, p111
pay - the she told her to pay attention, p34
The Vine Witch - Luanne G. Smith 6/18
beneficial - of the beneficial type, p98
constrain - he now lay helplessly constrained, p184
sloppy - it was a sloppy job, p203
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars - Christopher Paolini 6/21
calculate - I can calculate how fast the air is rushing out, p375
careful - she should have been more careful, p42
cloudy - going around to each cloudy POD, p250
digest - I can't digest food properly, p322
divergent - their wildly divergent appearance, p171
energetic - more energetic than the previous one, p386
kaput - finito. kaput. done and done, p683
magenta - a dark magenta-colored orb, p646
offset - that was offset by their speed and recklessness, p269
rush - with a rush, her memory returned, p361
Absolute Fear - Lisa Jackson 6/22
enlarge - how we enlarged, sharpened and enhanced, p304
Shiver of Fear - Roxanne St. Claire 6/23
harbor - some pretty pictures of a harbor, p117
The Lonely Hearts Hotel - Heather O'Neill 6/23
brash - how would that make her so brash, p106
Styx's Storm - Lora Leigh 7/4
detect - with any sense of smell could detect it, p20
Dragon Fall - Elsa Jade 7/17
immerse - to immerse herself i9n the lights and chatter, loc4481
The Girl in the Tower - Katherine Arden 8/27
unbecoming - it is unbecoming, ch21
Dragons Don't Cry - D'Elen McClain 9/24
prohibit - touching oneself was prohibited, p43
slave - as a slave, p151
They Never Learn - Layne Fargo 9/30
enormous - like this is all some enormous joke, p247
frequent - the frequent overnight trips, p79
good-bye - on her tiptoes to hug her dad goodbye, p8
sway - following the calculated sway of my hips, p107
swing - the dance floor is back in full swing, p137
*****************
abaft -
gainful -
ludicrous -
luxuriant -
vacuous -
July Spell Challenge - International Friendship Day
READ: 9/9
✔ C: Croc's Return - Eve Langlais 7/9
✔ O: One Tequila - Tricia O'Malley 7/24
✔ M: Hometown Girl - Mariah Stewart 7/6
✔ M: The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination - John Joseph Adams 7/11
✔ U: The Upstairs House - Julia Fine 7/13
✔ N: Notorious - Diana Palmer 7/31
✔ I: In an Absent Dream - Seanan McGuire 7/11
✔ T: Romancing the Dead - Tate Hallaway 7/22
✔ Y: Much Ado About You - Samantha Young 7/16
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #25 | RugbyREAD: 5/5
1) Rugby union (15 players per team) was featured in four Olympic Games - 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924. It wasn't until the Rio Games in 2016 that rugby was re-introduced as Rugby sevens. Twelve teams compete, both men's and women's.🥅 Read the 4th book of a series (or an author's fourth published book); tell us the name of the series OR read a book originally published in 2015.
In an Absent Dream - Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children #4) 7/11
2) Most Olympic rugby matches are 14 minutes long, split into two seven-minute halves. A two-minute break separates the first and second half. The gold-medal match, however, is 20 minutes long (two 10-minute halves), plus a three-minute halftime break.🥅 Read the book that is at the halfway point of your TBR, sorted any way you choose; tell us the book's position OR read a book whose cover is approximately divided into halves; post the cover.
Much Ado About You - Samantha Young 7/16
3) Each team consists of 12 players: seven on the pitch at any given time and five on the bench. Each team is permitted up to five substitutions throughout a match. Unlike in soccer, a player may re-enter a match in which he/she has been removed, though this spends an additional substitution.🥅 Read a book whose author's last name begins with a letter in "PITCH" OR read a book with an 'intact' 12 in its total page count.
Yellow Brick War - Danielle Paige 7/16
4) The object of rugby is to score more points than the opponent. The most direct way to do that is by scoring a “try.” A try occurs when one team carries the ball through the opponent's end of the pitch and across their goal line, touching the ball to the grass in the “try zone.” A try is worth five points, and offers the opportunity for a “conversion”, worth an additional two points.🥅 Read a book with an expanse of grass on its cover; post the cover OR read a book in which the MC tries to do something significant (doesn't have to be successful); briefly tell us what is attempted, using spoilers if necessary.
Across the Green Grass Fields - Seanan McGuire 7/24
5) A conversion is scored by kicking the ball through the goal posts. The kick must be taken perpendicular to the spot in the try zone where the ball was touched down. For this reason, when possible, a try scorer will attempt to touch the ball down in the center of the try zone in order set up the easiest possible conversion attempt.🥅 Read a book where the first letter of each title word (ALL words count) may be found in "CONVERSION;" two word minimum - a letter may be used only as many times as it appears in conversion.
Croc's Return - Eve Langlais 7/9
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - Idaho Duration: July 1 - August 30, 2021
READ: 9/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book with a gem in its title -or- read a book where someone talks knowledgably about something they know nothing about (tell us how the book fits) -or- read a book with a sunrise or sunset on the cover (post the cover).
The Girl in the Tower - Katherine Arden 8/27
✔️2. ✒ Read book #7, #13 or #14 on your TBR, sorted in random -or- read a book with a panhandle shaped object on the cover (post the cover, actual pan handle counts) -or- read a book in which the character travels across at least two time zones (tell us where they travel).
Much Ado About You - Samantha Young (Chicago to England) 7/16
✔️3. ✒ Read a book in which a bridge or a ship is predominantly shown on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose main character is a teacher or professor -or- read a book whose location begins with a letter in BERINGIA (tell us where the book is set).
Notorious - Diana Palmer 7/31
✔️4.✒ Read a book with a fruit name in the title -or- read a book with a one word title (all words count) -or- read a book with a star shape on the cover (post the cover)
Firestorm - Donna Grant 8/13
✔️5. ✒ Read a book with a horse on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a main character is referred to by their nickname (tell us the name and the nickname) -or- read a book first published between 1938 and 1975 inclusive (tell us when it was published).
In an Absent Dream - Seanan McGuire (Katherine "Lundy") 7/11
✔️6. ✒ Read a book that shares a major word with an Ernest Hemingway title (word should be at least 3 letters long, tell us the Hemingway title) -or- read a book set exclusively in a resort/hotel/B&B (tell us where it's set) -or- read a book that has a garden, a stream, a valley or an island on the cover (post the cover).
Love Letters - Debbie Macomber (Rose Harbor Inn) 8/5
✔️7. ✒ Read a book with some sort of research conducted and explained (tell us how your book fits, use spoiler tags if necessary) -or- read a non fiction book tagged Science on the main GR page -or- read a book in whose cover shows either a real sea creature or an underwater vehicle (post the cover).
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea - Gary Kinder 8/10
(MC researches all kinds of ways to haul sunken ships off the ocean floor; then implements them)
8. ✒ Read a book with a root vegetable on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose title contains the name of a place (proper name only please) -or- read a book in which recipes are provided but is not a cookbook.
✔️9. ✒ Read a horror book with a ghost(s) in it -or- read a book whose author's initials are in the word BRA -or- read a book that has a Smurf blue cover (post the cover).
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea - Gary Kinder 8/10
✔️10. ✒ Read a book with an unsmiling person on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book by an author who is in the "dog house" for whatever reason (tell us why you've put them there, and if they're allowed back after this read) -or- read a book with candy on the cover (post the cover)
Dragon Fate - Elsa Jade 7/17
August Spell Challenge - GIMME S'MORE! READ: 5/5
✔ J: The Mad King - Jovee Winters 8/3
✔ U: The Unkindness of Ravens - M.E. Hilliard 8/6
✔ M: Total Rush - Deirdre Martin 8/7
✔ B: The Bear and the Nightingale - Katherine Arden 8/13
✔ O: The Rogue King - Abigail Owen 8/7
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #27 - Sport ClimbingREAD: 6/6
✔️1. Sport climbing will make its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2021. There will be 40 athletes in total, competing in three disciplines: lead climbing, bouldering, and speed. Each climber will compete in all three disciplines, and final rankings will be determined by multiplying the placement in each discipline, with the athletes achieving the lowest scores winning medals.
🧗♂️ Read a book that is an author's debut release - or - a book whose total number of pages ends with a "0" (tell us how many pages).
The Killing Hills - Chris Offutt (240 pages) 8/15
✔️2. Lead involves athletes attempting to climb as high as possible on a wall measuring more than 15m (more than 49 feet) in height within six minutes. The climbers use safety ropes and attach the ropes to quickdraws (equipment that allows the rope to run freely while leading) along the route. If a climber falls, the highest height attained is recorded. There are no re-climbs. To prevent athletes from gaining an advantage from watching others scaling the walls before them, each climber is kept away from the climbing wall before their turn and is given just a few minutes to examine the wall and routes prior to starting.
🧗♀️ Read a mystery - or - a book that is the largest (has the most number of pages) on your TBR (tell us how many pages).
Child of Silence - Abigail Padgett 8/23
✔️3. Athletes climb as many fixed routes as they can within four minutes, on a 4.5m-high wall (nearly 15 feet) equipped with safety mats. The routes vary in difficulty, and climbers are not permitted to practice climbing them in advance. The walls present a range of challenges, with overhangs and some holds so small that they can only be held by the fingertips. The objective is to overcome the most problems in the least number of attempts, and ranking is determined by the number of problems overcome.
🧗♂️ Read a book with a detective or police officer character (tell us who) - or - a book with many small similar items on the cover (show us the cover).
Death on Windmill Way - Carrie Doyle 8/12
✔️4. This pits two athletes against each other, both climbing identical routes. The climbers secure safety ropes to themselves and attempt to scale a 15m-high wall, set at an angle of 95 degrees, faster than their opponent.
🧗♀️ Read a book with double repeated vowels (like -EE-) in the title - or - a book that you buddy-read with someone else (tell us who).
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea - Gary Kinder 8/10
✔️5. In all categories, no other equipment (besides safety ropes) is permitted, and competitors must climb using only their bare hands and climbing shoes. The sport requires strength, flexibility and skill, together with careful advance planning.
🧗♂️ Read a book with a negative word in the title (such as no, never, none, nowhere, etc.) - or - a book with a character who is referred to as strong (tell us who).
Broken Beautiful Hearts - Kami Garcia (Owen) 8/22
✔️6. In the early 1990s, it was decreed that international events would take place on purposely designed infrastructures only, leaving the natural environment without impact. One of the sport’s core values is the preservation of the environment, with climbers bearing responsibility for the upkeep of the settings in which they climb.
🧗♀️ Read a book set in another country besides your own (tell us where you live and what country the book is set in) - or - a book with NATURE or ENVIRONMENT on the main genre page
The Girl in the Tower - Katherine Arden (Russia, I live in US) 8/27
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
September Scavenger Challenge - Higher Education Terminology
READ: 10/10
✔ 1. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in COLLEGE (ignore a|an|the) OR read a book with a character who values their independence; tell us who.
Once Perfect - Cecy Robson 9/11
✔ 2. Read a book that is "higher" on your TBR (anything above the halfway point); tell us your TBR total and your book's position OR read a book whose author's first and last initials (ignore middle initials) may be found in UNIVERSITY.
X Marks the Scot - Kaitlyn Dunnett (3642/5471) 9/11
✔ 3. Read a book whose title contains the word "MAJOR" or "MINOR" or read a book whose original publication year contains a "4;" tell us the year.
The Walled City - Ryan Graudin (pub Nov 2014) 9/25
✔ 4. Read a book in which a character receives an award or honor of some kind; tell us who and the nature of the award OR read a book that is on a "best of" type list; tell us which list and the year awarded.
The Winter of the Witch - Katherine Arden (Best Books 2019) 9/14
✔ 5. Read a book in which a character serves in a leadership position; tell us who and their position OR read a book with a title word (4 or more letters) that contains a single vowel (the vowel may be repeated, as in the "O" in provost).
Lions and the Living Dead - Ruby Loren (living) 9/8
✔ 6. Read a book in which a main character is attending college or university OR read a book whose title contains a word at least 10 letters long.
Pocket Apocalypse - Seanan McGuire 9/5
✔ 7. Read a book in which the main character is starting something (significant) new; be as creative as you wish, but do tell us who and what OR read a book that follows a very generic "syllabus" (formula).
Roses in Moonlight - Lynn Kurland 9/18
✔ 8. Read a book whose MC's first name starts with an "R;" tell us who OR read a book with a character you believe has an analytical mind; tell us who and why.
This Fallen Prey - Kelley Armstrong (Casey is a detective) 9/22
✔ 9. Read a book in which someone is an educator of some kind; tell us who and their profession OR read a book in which someone is an intern or apprentice; tell us who and their field of study.
They Never Learn - Layne Fargo (MC is a teacher) 9/30
✔ 10. Read a book whose title contains a comparative (better, faster) or superlative (best, fastest) adjective OR read a book whose total page count is between 350 and 400 pages; remember to tell us how many pages
Watcher in the Woods - Kelley Armstrong (356 pages) 9/28
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
September Spell Challenge - Higher Education Terminology READ: 7/7
✔ P: Pocket Apocalypse - Seanan McGuire 9/5
✔ R: Roses in Moonlight - Lynn Kurland 9/18
✔ O: Once Perfect - Cecy Robson 9/11
✔ V: Vortex - Catherine Coulter 9/6
✔ O: One of Those Malibu Nights - Elizabeth Adler 9/15
✔ S: Savage: The Awakening of Lizzie Danton - L.A. Fiore 9/17
✔ T: They Never Learn - Layne Fargo 9/30
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - Wyoming Duration: September 1 - October 31, 2021
READ: 7/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book whose title has at least 1 letter W and 1 letter Y (in order but not necessarily in the same word) -or- read a book that has the same name as another book in your TBR (link to the other book) -or- read a book with 2 4s in the total page number (494, 440, 244 all work, tell us the page number).
The Walled City - Ryan Graudin 9/25
2. ✒ Read the 10th book of a series (tell us the series) -or- read a book whose cover prominently shows any kind of fork (forked tree, dinner fork, fork in the road etc. Post the cover) -or- read a book with less than 5 named characters.
✔️3. ✒ Read a book with a horse on the cover or in the title (post the cover if choosing that option) -or- read a book with a word in the title starting with a "KN" -or- read a book whose author's initials are in the word TRICERATOPS (middle initial counts if author uses it, post a link to the author's GR page).
Once Perfect - Cecy Robson 9/11
✔️4. ✒ Read a book in which a scientific discovery is made (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a JRR Tolkein book or spinoff -or- read a book whose plot contains an ungulate (they don't need to be important, but they do have to be real, someone looking at a photo of one does not work. Tell us which ungulate is in the book).
Watcher in the Woods - Kelley Armstrong (horses) 9/28
5. ✒ Read a book in which every word of the title begins with a letter in ABSAROKA (all words count, 2 words minimum) -or- read a book in which a revolt against government is part of the plot -or- read a book with an old photograph shown on the cover (post the cover).
6. ✒ Read a book with a train or railroad tracks on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose author or main character has a first or last name ending with "NNE" -or- read a book set over a period of less than 10 days.
✔️7. ✒ Read a book whose main character is a woman -or- read a book written by a female author -or- read a book in which a female character is in any of the professions/positions mentioned above (tell us which).
Murder Packs a Suitcase - Cynthia Baxter 10/9
✔️8. ✒ Read a book marked "Western" in the GR main page -or- read a book with a big rock on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book set in a location beginning with a letter in DEVILSTOWER (tell us where the book is set).
The Darkest Hour - Maya Banks (Tennessee) 10/10
✔️9. ✒ Read a book whose title or series title begins with a Y (ignore A, An and the, tell us the series name if you choose that option) -or- read the first book in a long running series with more than 20 published books (tell us the series) -or- read a book whose book cover prominently shows an object that begins with a letter in TETON (post the cover).
The Girl in the Ice - Robert Bryndza (eye lashes) 10/16
✔️10. ✒ Read a book with a cover you consider artistic (post the cover) -or- read a book with a large hat on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which someone has sex in an "interesting" location (tell us where).
R.I.P. - Charity B. (in an old haunted house) 10/23
October Scavenger Challenge - Popcorn
READ: 7/7
✔ 1. 🍿 Read a book with a predominantly white or yellow cover (show us the cover) - or - a book by an author who has written books in more than one genre (tell us the genres the author has written, and the genre of the book you read).
Norse Mythology - Neil Gaiman (fantasy,YA, nonfiction) 10/7
✔ 2. 🍿 Read a Series #4 book (tell us the series) - or - a book set in the Corn Belt of the United States (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, or Kansas; tell us where).
Killer Insight - Victoria Laurie (Psychic Eye #4) 10/15
✔ 3. 🍿 Read a book that has multiple colors on the cover (at least 4 distinct colors; show us the cover) - or - a book in which an explosion occurs (briefly tell us what).
SEALed with a Ring - Mary-Margret Daughtridge 10/17
✔ 4. 🍿 Read a book with 3 of these numbers in the total number of pages (0,1,2,3,5,6,8; tell us how many) - or - a book set in New York or California.
Security - Gina Wohlsdorf (California) 10/3
✔ 5. 🍿 Read a book that is "light" (between 150 and 200 pages, tell us how many) - or - a book with the letters A-I-R or O-I-L somewhere in the title, in that order but not necessarily in the same word.
Alone in the Wild - Kelley Armstrong (OIL) 10/12
✔ 6. 🍿 Read a book whose title starts with a letter in FLAKE (disregard A, An, The) - or - a book with some sort of sweet food item on the cover (show us the cover).
Every Dead Thing - John Connolly 10/8
✔ 7. 🍿 Read a book with a 7-letter word in the title - or - a book with a "6" in the original publication YEAR (tell us the year).
Playing Dead - Allison Brennan 10/9
Playing Dead CHALLENGE COMPLETE
October Spell Challenge - Popcorn READ: 5/5
✔ F: Fortune and Fate - Sharon Shinn 10/15
✔ I: Into the Night - Janelle Denison 10/11
✔ E: Every Dead Thing - John Connolly 10/8
✔ L: Killer Insight - Victoria Laurie 10/15
✔ D: Darkest Journey - Heather Graham 10/7
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #28 - Golf READ: 5/5
✔️1. Golf was featured in the Summer Olympic Games in 1900 (22 golfers competing) and 1904 (77 golfers participating). At the 1900 Games in Paris, two events were staged: one for men and one for women. Americans Charles Edward Sands and Margaret Ives Abbott were the first Olympic champions in the two events. In 1904 in St Louis, the United States and Canada were the only two competing countries.
⛳ Read a book with double repeated numbers in the total number of pages (like 220 or 441, but 313 will not work) - or - a book set in Canada.
Alone in the Wild - Kelley Armstrong (set in the Canadian Yukon) 10/12
✔️2. A men's individual tournament was planned for the 1908 London Games, but an internal dispute amongst British golfers led to them boycotting the event, leaving 1904 gold medalist George Lyon as the only competitor. Offered the gold medal by default, Lyon refused to accept it.
🏌️♂️ Read a book originally published in a year beginning with "19" (tell us when it was published) - or - a book with something gold on the cover (show us the cover).
The Haunting of Josie - Kay Hooper (pub Aug 1994) 10/15
✔️3. After a 112-year absence, it was decided to reinstate golf for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The men's event was won by Justin Rose (Great Britain) who was then ranked only 11th in the world. But he made Olympic history with the first ever hole-in-one at the Games.
⛳ Read a book with a one-word title - or - a book published in 2016.
Blaze - Donna Grant 10/2
✔️4. To qualify, the top 15 players in the Olympic Golf Rankings are eligible up to a maximum of four golfers per country. After that, the field will be filled (until getting to 60 golfers) by going down the OGR list, with the top two ranked players qualifying from any country that does not have two or more players from the top 15. The host country is also guaranteed at least two golfers in the field.
🏌️♂️ Read a Series #2 or #15 book (tell us the series) - or - a book with the letters I-O-C found in the author's name (in any order).
Killer Insight - Victoria Laurie 10/15
✔️5. The competition formats and rules date from the second half of the 18th century and have hardly changed since. Both the men’s and women’s competitions will be 72-hole stroke-play events taking place over four rounds on four consecutive days. In the event of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff will determine the medal winner(s).
⛳ Read a book in which someone golfs (provide the location/page number and at least a partial quote) - or - a book set in the 18th century (tell us when).
The Mortal Word - Genevieve Cogman (set in 1890) 10/12
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
November Scavenger Challenge - A Puzzlement
READ: 6/7
✔1. CROSSWORD
⁂ Read a book with a cover that is ONLY black and white (author name and title may be other colors); post the cover OR a book originally published in a year ending in 13; tell us the year
The Naturals - Jennifer Lynn Barnes (pub Nov 5, 2013) 11/12
✔2. ESCAPE ROOM
⁂ Read a book in which someone has to escape from a dangerous situation; using spoiler tags, briefly explain OR a book where the first letter of every word in the title can be found in ESCAPEROOM, 2-word minimum (a letter can only be used as many times as it appears in the phrase)
Bloodless - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child 11/13
(the whole town of New Orleans has to escape a rampaging murderous creature from outer space
✔3. JIGSAW
⁂ Read a book by an author named John (reasonable variations accepted); post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with over 12,320 GR ratings; tell us how many
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab (405,747 ratings) 11/6
✔4. LOGIC
⁂ Read a book whose title contains the letters L-O-G-I-C, not necessarily in order or in the same word OR a book by an author who writes under at least two different names; post a link to both/all of the author's GR pages
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab (writes under Victoria Schwab as well) 11/6
✔5. MECHANICAL
⁂ Read a book with a standard geometrical shape (circle, square, triangle, rectangle) shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in MECHANICAL; post a link to the author's GR page
Blood Song - Cat Adams 11/5
✔6. RUBIK'S CUBE
⁂ Read a book whose title has changed at least once for reasons other than translation; post a link to at least two of the different titles OR a series book #3 or #4; tell us the series
Competence - Gail Carriger (Custard Protocol #3) 11/17
7. SUDOKU
⁂ Read a book whose MC works primarily with numbers in some way; tell us the career OR a book with an intact 81 in its total page count; tell us how many pages
November Spell Challenge - A Puzzlement READ: 6/6
✔ J: The Naturals - Jennifer Lynn Barnes 11/12
✔ I: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab 11/6
✔ G: Reticence - Gail Carriger 11/27
✔ S: Three Shirt Deal - Stephen J. Cannell 11/1
✔ A: 15 Seconds - Andrew Gross 11/5
✔ W: Witchmark - C.L. Polk 11/28
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #29 - Handball READ: 5/5
✔️1. Involving running, dribbling, jumping, throwing and catching, team handball bears comparison to basketball. There are six players and a goalie on each team, and the game is played on a court slightly larger than those used for basketball.
🎖Read a book with a person in motion on the cover; remember to post the cover OR read a book with a "6" in its total page count; tell us how many pages.
Blood Song - Cat Adams (364 pages) 11/5
✔️2. The sport is most popular in Europe, and European countries have won all medals but one in the men's world championships since 1938. In the women's world championships, only two non-European countries have won the title: South Korea and Brazil.
🎖Read a book that takes place in any European country; tell us where OR read a book in which any type of competition takes place; tell us what.
The Secret Chapter - Genevieve Cogman (Austria) 11/13
✔️3. Originally played outdoors as field handball, the sport first appeared at the Berlin 1936 Games. Handball has featured at every Olympic Games since. However, The U.S. hasn't had a handball team compete at the Olympics since 1996.
🎖Read a book whose author's first and last initial may be found in "HANDBALL;" remember to post the author link OR read a book originally published in 1996 or earlier; tell us the year.
Untamed - Elizabeth Lowell (pub 1993) 11/20
✔️4. Rules: Players are not permitted to pull, hit or punch the ball out of the hands of an opponent. Players cannot make contact with the ball below the knee. Players cannot dive on the floor to regain a loose ball. A player is allowed to use the torso of the body to obstruct an opponent with or without the ball.
🎖Read a book that is action-packed OR read a book with the word "RULE" in its title; reasonable variations are okay - i.e. RULES, RULER.
Competence - Gail Carriger 11/17
✔️5. Players can hold the ball for up to three seconds and can take up to three steps while holding it, but goalies are exempt from this in the goal area. Each handball game consists of two 30-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime. Each team has three timeouts and can use up to two in a half.
🎖Read the third book in a series; tell us the series name OR read a book whose title contains a word that references time; i.e. week, midnight, hour.
15 Seconds - Andrew Gross 11/5
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - Utah Duration: November 1 - December 31, 2021
READ: 8/10
✔️1. ✒ Read a book where a character loves their work -or- read a book whose authors first or last name contains only 4 letters -or- read a book in which someone celebrates an anniversary (tell us how the book fits).
Witchmark - C.L. Polk 11/28
✔️2. ✒ Read a mystery with a dead body in it (bonus for one that has loose ends) -or- read a book whose author initials are in the word LARAMIDIA (middle initial counts if used) -or- read a book with a dinosaur or a paleontologist character (tell us who, if choosing the paleontologist option).
A Merciful Truth - Kendra Elliot 11/11
✔️3. ✒ Read a book set in a location that is described as difficult to live in for whatever reason (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a book in which someone faces persecution -or- read a book in which a war occurs.
Manta's Gift - Timothy Zahn (set on Jupiter) 12/4
4. ✒ Read a book whose author is a Mormon -or- read a book in which religion is important and informs main plot points -or- read a book whose title has a hyphen in it.
✔️5. ✒ Read a book in which a natural disaster occurs -or- read a book whose main character's first initial is in the word INDUSTRY (tell us their name) -or- read a book written by a Lily or Lilly.
The Child Finder - Rene Denfeld (Naomi Cottle) 11/25
✔️6. ✒ Choose between National Park, Monument and Forest.
Utah has five national parks (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion), eight national monuments (Cedar Breaks, Dinosaur, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, Bears Ears, Rainbow Bridge, and Timpanogos Cave) and seven national forests (Ashley, Caribou-Targhee, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La Sal, Sawtooth, and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache). Utah is the only state in which every county contains some part of a national forest. Utah is so picturesque, more western films have been shot in Kane County alone due to the classic, wide open space and rocky terrain.
- If you choose National Monument, read a book whose author initials are in any of the national monuments of Utah (both initials must be in the same monument) -and- whose main character's name begins with a letter in MONUMENT (tell us their name).
Immortal Illusions - Ursula Bauer (Park=Natural Bridges; MC=Jack Madden) 12/30
✔️7. ✒ Read a book that has a visit to a department store as part of the plot -or- read a book whose author's last name begins with a Y -or- read a book whose cover shows a disc shaped object (post the cover).
Ovation by Death - Dorian Yeager 12/20
8. ✒ Read a book with train tracks or a train on it (post the cover) -or- read a book whose title is in the format ----- and ------ where both blanks are names/sobriquets (like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell) -or- read a book in which someone attends an art festival of some sort (tell us which art).
✔️9. ✒ Read a book with a lonely stretch of road on the cover (post the cover, one vehicle on the road is acceptable) -or- read a book that tells you something that you didn't know (tell us what) -or- read a book whose total number of pages contains an intact 70 (tell us the number of pages).
When Smiles Fade - Paige Dearth (470 pages) 12/4
✔️10. ✒ Read a book that has either a rock or a farm animal that may produce manure on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a two wheeled vehicle on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with snow on the cover (post the cover).
A Terrible Beauty - Tasha Alexander 11/26
December Scavenger Challenge - Crossword Puzzles
READ: 3/7
1. The first crossword puzzle was written by English journalist Arthur Wynne and was published in the "Fun" section of the Sunday edition of the New York World in December 1913. He introduced the word diamond puzzle, calling it a "Word-Cross Puzzle", later introducing some innovations to the puzzle like the use of horizontal and vertical lines to create boxes for letters. A few weeks after the first "Word-Cross" publication appeared, the name was changed to "Cross-Word" as a result of a typesetting error.
🖊 Read a book with a hyphenated word in the title -or- read a book whose author is also a journalist.
2. The longest word ever set in a crossword was "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch", a 58-letters-long Welsh town. It was the answer to one of Roger Squire’s clues – a UK designer of crossword puzzles who has been known to have created the most crosswords in the world.
🖊 Read a book which has a speaking character called Roger -or- read a book with a long word in the title (for the purpose of this challenge, anything greater than 12 letters long).
3. Crosswords were looked down upon by the New York Public Library due to people running to dictionaries and encyclopedias for crossword references in the 1920s. The NYPL thought that those crazed puzzle fans were driving away readers and students who needed those books in their daily work.
🖊 Read a book set in a library -or- read a popular book that is not considered great literature.
✔4. Crosswords were banned in Paris during World War II in case they were used to pass secret messages to the enemy. In 1944, Allied security officers thought journalists were sharing top secret information when a series of Telegraph crosswords included secret code words for military operations. Investigators later concluded that the incident was nothing more than a coincidence. However, Britain’s central decryption establishment, Bletchley Park, asked its cryptologists to solve a Daily Telegraph crossword in less than 12 minutes as part of its recruitment process.
🖊 Read a book marked WAR or ESPIONAGE on the main GR page -or- read a book that you can read very quickly (still meeting the page number requirements).
Thanksgiving - Janet Evanovich 12/4
✔5. A plan to design a board game based on the principles of the crossword puzzle was devised by New York architect Alfred Mosher Butts in the 1930s when he found himself unemployed. That game turned out to be Scrabble, released in 1938. A resident of Jackson Heights, NY, Butts is memorialized in the game’s importance with a street sign located at 35th Avenue and 81st Street stylized using letters with their values in Scrabble as a subscript.
🖊 Read a book with a Q or a Z somewhere in its author's name -or- read a book with a road sign of some kind on its cover (post the cover)
Manta's Gift - Timothy Zahn 12/4
6. A few years after they were introduced, crossword puzzles started to become popular. Dictionary sales soared. In 1925, they inspired a Broadway show (Games of 1925) and a hit song (“Crossword Mama, You Puzzle Me”). In 1924, a Chicago woman sued for divorce over her husband’s choice to do crosswords rather than work. The judge ordered the world’s first gaming addict to limit himself to three puzzles a day.
🖊 Read a book in which a divorce occurs for whatever reason -or- read a book that has inspired or is inspired by a Broadway show (tell us which show if the titles differ).
✔7. Crosswords have different appearances and variations depending on the country and language system. In North America and Britain, it is considered traditional for crossword grids to have 180-degree rotational symmetry for the patterns of the puzzle to appear the same if the paper is turned upside down. Hebrew crosswords only use consonants, and Japanese crosswords use one syllable per square, instead of one letter.
🖊 Read a book that has been translated from another language (tell us the source language and the language you're reading in if not English) -or- read a book that has a crossword puzzle on its cover (post the cover).
The Ice Queen - Nele Neuhaus (German into English) 12/7
December Spell Challenge - Crossword Puzzles READ: 10/10
✔ D: When Smiles Fade - Paige Dearth 12/4
✔ I: It Takes Two to Mango - Carrie Doyle 12/3
✔ C: Curious Minds - Janet Evanovich & Phoef Sutton 12/10
✔ T: Thanksgiving - Janet Evanovich 12/4
✔ I: In the Company of Witches - Joey W. Hill 12/26
✔ O: Ovation by Death - Dorian Yeager 12/20
✔ N: Quiet in Her Bones - Nalini Singh 12/2
✔ A: Asteroid Made of Dragons - G. Derek Adams 12/28
✔ R: A Reasonable Doubt - Phillip Margolin 12/5
✔ Y: You Are Dead - Peter James 12/17
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Olympics #30 - SwimmingDuration: December 1, 2021 - January 31, 2022
READ: 9/10
✔1. Swimmers have been competing in the Olympics since 1896, when it was one of nine sports in the Athens Games. The first Olympics swimming competition was held in the Mediterranean Sea. At the Paris Games in 1900, Olympic swimmers competed in the Seine River among ducks and fish.
🏊♀️ Read a book set in a location near a river, ocean or sea; tell us the location OR a book with a duck or a fish shown prominently on the cover
It Takes Two to Mango - Carrie Doyle (set in the Caribbean) 12/3
✔2. The first Olympics swimming competition held in an actual pool was at the London Games in 1908, but it wasn't until 1912 that women began competing in swimming at the Games. Today, there are 17 Olympic swimming events per gender. New to the Olympic program for Tokyo was a mixed medley relay, which included teams of two male and two female swimmers per country.
🏊♀️ Read a book with two of these in the total page count: 1, 2, 9; tell us how many pages OR the first book in a new-to-you series
Curious Minds - Janet Evanovich & Phoef Sutton 12/10
✔3. A regulation Olympic competition pool is 50 meters (164 feet) long and 25 meters (82 feet) wide. These pools contain about 500,000 gallons of water, depending on its depth, which must be at least 2 meters (7 feet), but 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches) is recommended. The walls at both ends of the pool must be flush, not slanted in any way, and they have 8 or 10 lanes, each 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) wide.
🏊♀️ Read a book with fewer than 164 ratings; tell us how many OR a book with a character who swims regularly; tell us who
Whiskey Straight Up - Nina Wright (136 ratings) 12/18
There are four styles of swimming in international competitions and the Olympic Games: freestyle (front crawl), backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
✔4. Freestyle (front crawl) ; Freestyle is not specifically defined the way other strokes are. It is generally thought of as front crawl, but any style could be used, including those not considered as competitive strokes. Freestyle swimmers use an alternating arm action, an alternating leg action, and breathe to the side.
🏊♀️ Read a book with a character who lives what you consider a "freestyle" life; briefly explain OR a book whose title starts with F (disregard A, An and The)
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Eragon - Christopher Paolini 1/21
✔5. Backstroke: Backstroke swimmers must be "belly-up" whenever they are swimming, except when they're on their way into a turn. The swimmers must have an alternating arm action, and will have an alternating leg action. Since a backstroker's face is out of the water most of the time, breathing is easier.
🏊♀️ Read a book with a person's back shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book that was an easy read (your interpretation, but tell us why)
Susana and the Scot - Sabrina York 12/22
✔6. Breaststroke: The breaststroke is the slowest stroke. Swimmers are "belly-down" and use a simultaneous arm pull, with the arms pressing out (a "Y" shape), then sweeping in, with the hands meeting under the face, then extending forward. The elbows must be underwater during the pull and the hands are not allowed to pull past the waist/hips. The kick resembles a frog kick, but it is not exactly the same. The legs should not break the surface of the water. The breaststroke requires that the left and right half of a swimmer do the same thing at the same time – if one arm is pulling, then the other arm is pulling; they must mirror each other. The head must break the surface of the water once each stroke cycle.
🏊♀️ Read a book by an author whose first or last name begins with Y; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with a mirror image shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
Unbroken Cowboy - Maisey Yates 12/25
7. Butterfly: Butterfly grew out of breaststroke in the 50's and 60's, finally becoming its own separate event at the 1956 Olympics. Swimmers are "belly-down" and must use a simultaneous arm pull, sort of like doing the front crawl pull with both arms at the same time; the arms are recovered over the surface of the water. The kick is a butterfly kick; sort of like a freestyle kick but with both legs doing the same action at the same time. The legs must stay in the same horizontal plane relative to each other. Most butterfly swimmers breathe forward, but a few flyers breathe to the side, like a freestyle breath.
🏊♀️ Read a book that is a spin-off from a series; tell us the original series OR a book with a butterfly shown prominently on the cover; post the cover
✔8. Individual Medley (IM): The IM race uses all four strokes, in order, butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. Within each one of those portions of the race the swimmer must follow the rules for that stroke, and the freestyle portion must be done with a style that has not been used already – no backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly.
🏊♀️ Read a book with an intact "IM" in the author's name; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book that is a stand alone
The Edge of the Crazies - Jamie Harrison 12/19
✔9. Relay: There are two types of relays, freestyle and medley, each having four athletes who swim 1/4 of the length of the race. In the medley relay, the first athlete swims the backstroke, the second swims the breaststroke, the third swims the butterfly and the last swims freestyle. The strokes used in the relays must follow the same rules as used for individual races. There were seven total relay events at the Tokyo Games – two freestyle relays per gender (4x100m and 4x200m), one medley relay per gender, and a mixed relay.
🏊♀️ Read a book with the letters R-E-L-A-Y in the title, in any order OR a book in which a group of at least four people work together to achieve a common goal; briefly explain, using spoiler tags if necessary
Betrayal's Shadow - K.H. LeMoyne 12/12
✔10. Open water (marathon): In 2008 an open water, 10-kilometer marathon swimming race was added to the Olympic Swimming program. This is held in a natural body of water and follows a wide course with no lane restrictions. Incidental contact between swimmers is permitted and expected, especially during the mass start, when all 25 competitors set off together. During the 10k competition, each athlete must wear a wristband known as a transponder, which is linked to the timing and results system. The athletes are also identified by temporary tattoos or markers on their upper arms, shoulder blades and wrists.
🏊♀️ Read a book with a natural body of water shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book originally published in 2008; tell us the month
It Takes Two to Mango - Carrie Doyle 12/3
Obscure Words A to ZDuration: September 1, 2020 - February 28, 2021
READ: 24/26
✔️1. Alectryomancy: divination by means of a rooster encircled by grains of corn placed on the letters of the alphabet which are then put together in the order in which the grains were eaten.
Read a book with a character who has a vision -or- read a book with an item of food on the cover (post the cover).
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks (heroine) 10/3
✔️2. Baisemain: (in feudalism), a kissing of the hand; thus, a sign of respect.
Read a book with ROMANCE on the main GR page -or- read a book whose author you respect (not favorite necessarily, maybe they're an activist with a cause you identify with, they come up with the best tales etc).
Walking in Fire - Catheryn Cade 10/3
✔️3. Crepuscular: of, relating to, or resembling twilight.
Read a book with a night sky on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a word in the title beginning with CR.
Crash & Burn - Abigail Roux 9/17
✔️4. Decadist: A writer of a book divided into decades.
Read a book from a series that has spanned at least 10 years from beginning to the latest book (or ending book if the series is finished, tell us which series) -or- read a book whose plot spans decades.
Shadows in Death - J.D. Robb (#1 pub 1995, #51 pub 2020) 11/13
✔️5. Eellogofusciouhipoppokunurious: (slang) good.
Read a book with a long title (8 words or more) -or- read a book with an intact 30 in the number of pages (post the number of pages).
The Tempering of Men - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear (304 pages) 10/3
✔️6. Ferronnière: a pendant jewel worn (as by women in 15th century Italy and early 19th century England) in the middle of the forehead.
Read a book with some form of jewelry shown prominently on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with an accent mark in either the title or its author's name.
The Second Deadly Sin - Åsa Larsson 10/19
✔️7. Galeanthropy: (rare) a mental condition of thinking that one has become a cat, usually manifest in the adoption of feline mannerisms and habits.
Read a book in which a character suffers from a mental illness (tell us how the book fits) -or- read a book in which a cat is important to the plot or is shown on the cover (post the cover if choosing that option).
Blood in Her Veins - Faith Hunter 11/14
(MC is a puma shifter and her cat plays a very important role in her life)
✔️8. Hekistotherm: a cold-tolerant plant of polar regions.
Read a book set in a country within the arctic circle or in Antartica (tell us where, the book doesn't need to take place within the Arctic) -or- read a book with a conifer on the cover (post the cover)
Dark Voyage - Helen Susan Swift 9/7
✔️9. Irreption: (usually in text) an act or instance of entering by stealth or inadvertence.
Read a book in which someone breaks and enters -or- read a book with a character involved in the writing/printing industry in some fashion (tell us what the character's profession is).
The Werewolf Upstairs - Ashlyn Chase (hero breaks & enters) 9/29
✔️10. Jumelle: twin, paired, used of objects made or formed in pairs (like glasses, double doors or windows).
Read a book with twins in the plot -or- read a book whose cover shows a man-made paired object (like glasses, binoculars, windows with two doors etc.,)
Identical - Scott Turow (MCs are twins) 10/16
✔️11. Koniology: a science that deals with atmospheric dust and its effects on plant and animal life.
Read a book that has been on your TBR for a long time (tell us when you added it)
Dust to Dust - Beverly Connor (added July 2009) 9/18
✔️12. Lucubration: laborious or intensive study.
Read a book with a subject that takes more concentration than usual -or- use a book you couldn't put down.
The Faithless Hawk - Margaret Owen 9/9
✔️13. Mabble: to wrap up.
Read the last book of a completed series (tell us the series) -or- read a book that finishes a challenge (tell us which challenge, you can go meta and leave this task for the end and read whichever book you choose).
Firestorm Forever - Deborah Cooke (Dragonfire) 9/24
✔️14. Nemoricolous: living in groves or forests.
Read a book whose cover shows many trees (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a forest is involved in the plot (someone gets lost on a trail, a body is buried in the woods, anything works. Let us know how the book fits).
The Girl in Red - Christina Henry 11/24
(retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, takes place 95% in the woods)
✔️15. Omphaloskepsis: contemplation of one's navel as an aid to meditation.
Read a book you think is so much navel-gazing (first person POV books are a good bet :P) -or- read a book with a religious character (they must practice it as a living, like priests, monks or nuns).
Igniting Darkness - Robin LaFevers 9/25
16. Petrichor: a distinctive, earthy, usually pleasant odor that is associated with rainfall especially when following a warm, dry period.
Read a book with a non-sunny weather on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book from the list Books to Read on a Rainy Day (tell us the position of the book on the list).
✔️17. Quiddity: whatever makes something the type that it is, essence.
Read a book that is a classic of a genre of your choice (tell us the genre) -or- read a book whose title ends with a Y.
Taken by Tuesday - Catherine Bybee 10/9
✔️18. Resipiscence: change of mind or heart, reformation, return to a sane, sound, or correct view or position.
Read a book in which a character atones for their mistakes
Finding Mr. Happily Ever After - Melissa Storm & Melissa McClone 11/26
✔️19. Sastruga: a wavelike ridge of hard snow formed by the wind —usually used in plural (sastrugi).
Read a book with snow on the cover or the title (post the cover if choosing that option, title word can be plural but no other variation) -or- read a book written by two and only two authors (the authors can use just one name.
Crooked River - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child 9/20
✔️20. Tramontane: lying on or coming from the other side of a mountain range. Broadly, foreigner.
Read a translated book (tell us the source language) -or- read a book with a mountain shown on the cover (post the cover).
Deadly Fate - Heather Graham 10/7
✔️21. Ultracrepidate: to go beyond one's scope, especially to criticize beyond one's sphere of knowledge.
Read a book in which there is an ultracrepidate character -or- read a book in which all the words of the title begin with a letter in ULTRACREPIDATE (3 word minimum, all words count).
Adam and Evil - Gillian Roberts 11/6
22. Veitchberry: a bushy plant that is a hybrid of a raspberry and a blackberry.
Read a book that has a fruit in the title -or- read a book whose cover is black and red only (title and author name can be in a different color, post the cover).
✔️23. Wayment: (archaic) lament, grieve.
Use a book that you were sorry to reach the end of -or- read a book with a funeral in the plot.
A Ghost of a Chance - Morgana Best 10/31
✔️24. Xebec: a usually 3-masted Mediterranean sailing ship with long overhanging bow and stern.
Read a book with a ship on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book set around the Mediterranean sea.
The Buccaneers - Iain Lawrence 11/14
✔️25. Yegg: a safecracker, robber.
Read a heist book -or- read a book whose author's first or last name is 4 letters long and consists of a continuous double consonant (eg.: maTT haig, j d roBB, aNNe tyler).
A Tapestry of Spells - LyNN Kurland 10/15
✔️26. Zufolo: a little flute, especially one used to teach birds.
Read a book with a musical instrument on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a prominent character works with animals or birds (tell us which animal or bird).
Of Dawn and Embers - Kyoko M. (MC works with dragons) 10/24
Excellent Elephants Start Date: October 1, 2020
End Date: April 24, 2021
READ: 83/84
CLASSIFICATION
✔️1. Read a book that has someone who is very hairy and/or who has long hair (tell us who), OR read a book that is set in a place that is cold most of the time (tell us where).
Hollen the Soulless - Denali Day (hero) 10/29
✔️2. Read a book in which the characters having more information helped to provide clarity or solve a problem or puzzle OR read a book with a 3 in its original publication year (tell us the year).
Dream Eyes - Jayne Ann Krentz (2013) 11/21
✔️3. Read a book in which someone’s extended family is important OR a book in which a character (human or non-human) enjoys swimming or being in the water (tell us the character).
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks (heroine) 10/3
ELEPHANT LIFE CYCLE
✔️4. Read a book in which someone is pregnant or gives birth (tell us who) OR read a book that has been on your TBR list for a long time (one of the first 22 books added) (tell us which number it is).
Of Dawn and Embers - Kyoko M. (heroine) 10/24
✔️5. Read a book where a child (10 years or younger) is important to the plot (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone teaching someone about something important to the plot.
The Dark Corners of the Night - Meg Gardiner 1/24
(Nick tells MC that right handed criminals will ditch evidence to the right but always run left. This helps MC defeat the villain in the final confrontation.)
✔️6. Read a book featuring a teenager (tell us who) OR read a book marked YA or MIDDLE GRADE on its GR main page.
The Song of the Quarkbeast - Jasper Fforde 11/29
✔️7. Read a book that has a main character who is a senior citizen (tell us who) OR read a book that is set in the 1960s, 1970s, and/or 1980s (tell us when).
Bryant & May and the Burning Man - Christopher Fowler (Arthur Bryant) 11/11
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
✔️8. Read one of the ten largest books (by page number) on your TBR list (tell us the number of pages) OR read a book that has something large predominantly on its cover (post the cover).
The Buccaneers - Iain Lawrence 11/14
✔️9. Read a book that has a dentist or other oral health care professional as a character (tell us who) OR read a book that has tusks, teeth, or fangs predominantly on its cover (from any creature, including humans) (post the cover).
Company of Liars - Karen Maitland 11/17
✔️10. Read a book where someone works with tools (tell us who) OR read a book with a character who is left handed or ambidextrous (tell us who).
New Corpse In Town - Lucy Quinn (hero is a handyman) 12/19
✔️11. Read a book with a nose shown predominantly on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book that has a character with a large nose (it may be human or nonhuman character) (tell us who).
Christmas with a Vampire - Bonnie Vanak 12/4
✔️12. Read a book where someone is bald or losing their hair (tell us who) OR read a book with the sun or a sunny scene on the cover (post the cover).
Sleeping With Anemone - Kate Collins 12/21
✔️13. Read a book that has a map shown predominantly on its cover (post the cover) OR read a book that is set in a location that is normally hot (tell us where).
Dark Water Dive - Kathy Brandt (Virgin Islands) 4/3
ELEPHANT BEHAVIOUR
✔️14. Read a book with a character who has limited physical mobility in some way, either temporarily (e.g. broken bone) or permanently (e.g. paralysis) (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone has an unexpected ability of some type. This ability may be a real one, such as exceptional athletic or artistic talent, or a fantastical one, such as magic or mind reading. However, in the latter case please try to have it still be unusual within the context of the book (tell us who).
Marrow - Tarryn Fisher (hero wheelchair-bound) 11/19
✔️15. Read a book with a female character in a leadership position (tell us who) OR read a book where the majority of the characters are female.
The 17th Suspect - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (4 MCs are female) 10/20
✔️16. Read a book that has a focus on family OR read a book with a lone male hero or protagonist (tell us who).
Back on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber 12/17
✔️17. Read a book in which a code of ethics, protocol of behaviours, and/or system of manners is discussed OR read a book in which a child or children are raised by someone other than their parents (the child’s parent(s) may be included but others, e.g. step-parent(s), foster parent(s), member(s) of their extended family, etc. must also be included) (tell us the relationship between the child and other caregiver).
Air Bound - Christine Feehan 11/19
(rescued from sex slave; adopted by hero and heroine)
✔️18. Read a book with a character of notable intelligence (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone is dying or has died (tell us who).
Claimed - Rebecca Zanetti (Emma Paulsen, geneticist) 11/17
✔️19. Read a book in which a character uses a non-verbal form of communication as their primary way of interacting with others (e.g. sign language, etc.) (tell us who) OR read a book where communicating over long distances is important to the plot.
The Pretty Ones - Ania Ahlborn 1/27
(MCs brother is mute and uses pen and paper to communicate)
✔️20. Read a book in which someone ‘sounds the alarm’ (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone flees for safety (this may be temporary, e.g. hiding from an intruder, or more long-term, e.g. fleeing from a war) (tell us who).
Hero - Anna Hackett (Rory Frazer) 11/29
✔️21. Read a book where someone is able to speak more than one language (tell us) OR read a bookwhere someone is responsible for protecting their community (or a small group of people are responsible for this protection) (tell us who).
Ravished by a Highlander - Paula Quinn (hero) 12/17
✔️22. Read a book that shows a small creature that might be startling to have run or slither past predominantly on its cover (post the cover) OR read a book where a misunderstanding is cleared up or in which false information is debunked.
A Second Chance - Jodi Taylor (MC debunks the Trojan horse) 1/29
ELEPHANT ECOLOGY
✔️23. Read a book that has a diversity (three or more types) of plants and/or animals on its cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which a number of characters (human or nonhuman) are dependent on one of the other characters (tell us who).
The Last Colossus - Michael Hodges (Ron Combs adventure guide) 11/7
✔️24. Read a book in which someone goes for a long walk or hike (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone is vitally important to their organization (tell us who).
The Hidden World - Alison Baird (MC goes for long walks in the forest) 1/6
✔️25. Read a book with a large expanse of land on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which someone owns a large amount of land (tell us who).
Lavender Blue - Donna Kauffman 12/29
✔️26. Read a book in which someone is a vegetarian (tell us who) OR read a book that has fruit(s) and/or vegetable(s) predominantly on the cover (post the cover).
The Warlock King - Heather Killough-Walden (heroine) 12/5
✔️27. Read a book in which someone really enjoys eating and/or eats a lot (tell us who) OR read a book which has discussions of food or diet.
Murder Most Maine - Karen MacInerney (diet retreat) 11/3
✔️28. Read a book with a predominantly brown cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which someone is particularly creative or innovative (tell us who).
Highlander's Bride - Lexy Timms 12/19
✔️29. Read a book in which someone is shunned or left out of the group (tell us who) OR read a book in which a child is in danger (tell us who).
Seeking Pack Redemption - Eve Langlais (hero)10/25
CONSERVATION STATUS
✔️30. Read a book that makes you feel sad OR read a book which few people have read (it has fewer than 415 ratings on its GR main page) (tell us how many ratings it has).
A Love Beyond Time - Judie Aitken (123 ratings) 10/28
✔️31. Read a book with a main character or author who is Chinese or is of Chinese heritage (tell us the name of the character or post the author link) OR read a book in which a main character is involved in illegal activities (tell us who).
Perversion - T.M. Frazier (gangs) 11/8
✔️32. Read a book in which there are large-scale changes in the landscape (e.g. through an earthquake, construction project, etc.) OR read a book where people settle into or colonize a new place (tell us where they came from and where they arrived).
The Dirty Secrets Club - Meg Gardiner (multiple earthquakes) 2/4
✔️33. Read a book in which two or more characters are in conflict with one another (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone takes revenge on someone else (tell us who).
The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller 1/19
(Achilles takes revenge on the guy who killed his lover)
✔️34. Read a book that makes you feel hopeful OR read a book in which a group of people work together to solve a problem or complete a task.
The Tempering of Men - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear 10/3
continued...ELEPHANTS IN RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY
✔️35. Read a book in which religion is important to the plot OR read a book in which a character (human or nonhuman) was adopted (they do not have to be adopted during the book, just at some point) (tell us who).
A Ghost of a Chance - Morgana Best 10/31
✔️36. Read a book that is marked MYSTERY on its GR home page OR read a book that you find confusing (tell us why).
The Second Deadly Sin - Åsa Larsson 10/19
✔️37. Read a book written by an author who publishes under more than one name (provide a link for the author) OR read a book with an animal that is often ridden by humans shown predominantly on the cover (it is not necessary for someone to be on the animal on the cover) - bonus for an elephant (post the cover).
Shadows in Death - J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) 11/13
✔️38. Read a book that has one of the compass directions in its title or author’s name (compound words and reasonable variations are OK) OR read a book in which a natural disaster occurs (tell us which type).
Mischief in Mudbug - Jana Deleon (hurricane) 4/14
✔️39. Read a book in which someone is particularly wise (tell us who) OR read a book in which a disagreement between conflicting parties is settled.
A Vow So Bold and Deadly - Brigid Kemmerer 2/24
(two feuding brothers finally settle their differences and avoid war)
✔️40. Read a book which has ghosts or spirits as part of the plot OR read a book in which someone draws on the wisdom of their elders (tell us who).
Deadly Fate - Heather Graham 10/7
ELEPHANTS IN ART
✔️41. Read a book set in a country in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Sudan) (tell us where) OR read a book that takes place long ago (before 1000 CE) (tell us when).
An Apprentice to Elves - Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear (in the 700s) 10/10
✔️42. Read a book that has a 1 and 7 in its total page numbers (tell us the number of pages) OR read a book that has a character or author from India or who is of Indian heritage (tell us the character or link to the author).
Of Fury and Fangs - Kyoko M. (heroine) 10/31
✔️43. Read a book set during the era of modern art (1860s to 1970s) (tell us when) OR read a book where the plot seems to be twisty.
Plain Bad Heroines - Emily M. Danforth (set in 1902) 3/13
✔️44. Read a book that has discussions about an environmental concern(s) OR read a book in which someone is an artist (professional or amateur, in any medium) (tell us who).
What Lurks Below - Donald Firesmith (gas pipelines in Alaska) 11/10
ELEPHANTS IN LITERATURE, STORIES, AND OTHER TALES
✔️45. Read a book that has a steadfast, loyal character (tell us who) OR read a book by an author who has died (post the author link).
Deadly Silence - Rebecca Zanetti (Heath Jones) 4/1
✔️46. Read a book which has been translated from another language OR read a book that has been made into a TV show or movie (tell us the name of the show or movie).
I Am Your Judge - Nele Neuhaus 4/15
✔️47. Read a book written by a Canadian author (link to the author) OR read a book that has a non-human narrator or is told from a non-human perspective (tell us who the narrator is or which perspective is used).
Doctor Rat - William Kotzwinkle (a rat is the MC) 11/27
✔️48. Read a book set in Canada (tell us where) OR read a book by an author who writes more than one series and/or in more than one genre (link to the author)
The River - Cheryl Kaye Tardif (Vancouver) 12/15
✔️49. Read a book that has a bright, multi-coloured cover (post the cover) OR read a book that has a diversity of characters.
Dating Can Be Murder - Jennifer Apodaca 12/18
✔️50. Read a book that pays homage to another work or story (tell us the earlier work) OR read a book that involves train travel of some type.
The Stepsister Scheme - Jim C. Hines (Grimm Brothers tales) 10/22
✔️51. Read a book that contains magical or paranormal elements OR read a book in which someone or something important is lost (tell us what or who).
Passion Ignites - Donna Grant 10/8
✔️52. Read a book in which former adversaries or enemies must learn to work together, or where they become friends (tell us who) OR read a book that has a dreamlike or very imaginative quality to it.
The Rivals - Mechele Armstrong (rival bounty hunters) 12/31
✔️53. Read a book by an author who only uses their initials rather than a first name (post a link to the author) OR read a book that is part of a trilogy (tell us the name of the trilogy).
The Witch Squad - M.Z. Andrews 11/9
✔️54. Read a book in which someone is retired or retiring (tell us who) OR read book #1 of a series (tell us the series).
Whiskey, Vamps, and Thieves - Selene Charles 10/11
✔️55. Read a book that tells the story of someone’s life (fictional or non-fictional) (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone moves to a different place to pursue a dream or an opportunity (tell us who).
Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One - T.M. Frazier 11/30
56 Read a non-fiction book that relates in some way to WWII OR read a fiction book on any topic that is based on real-life events or which includes notable real-life events and/or people as important plot points (tells us the people or events).
✔️57. Read a book that has a main character who is blind, visually impaired, or wears glasses (tell us who) OR read a book set in or which has an important scene in a cave or in the dark (tell us where).
The Unexpected Bride - Elizabeth Rolls (heroine) 4/23
✔️58. Read a book that ismarked HUMOUR on its GR main page OR read a book from a series or a book from set of books or a collection of stories written by more than one author (e.g. an anthology, author(s) picking up a series from a different author, books like the Nancy Drew series where several people wrote under one name, etc.) (link to the author’s page).
Charlie All Night - Jennifer Crusie 10/12
ELEPHANTS IN POP CULTURE
✔️59. Read a book with something flying or that is able to fly is shown predominantly on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which someone’s fortunes change over time (tell us who).
An Almond for a Parrot - Wray Delaney 10/24
✔️60. Read a book in whichsomeone has a pet - bonus for an unusual or unexpected type of pet (tell us who and what the pet is) OR read a book that is set in a jungle (tell us where).
Starcatcher - Patricia Potter (heroine has 2 ferrets) 11/22
✔️61. Read a book that focuses on friendship OR read a book that has an honorific in the title (e.g. Mr., Ms., Dr., Mrs, etc.).
Finding Mr. Happily Ever After - Melissa Storm & Melissa McClone 11/26
✔️62. Read a book that has an angry, bitter character (tell us who) OR read a book that shows a river or other waterway (creek, stream, etc.) predominantly on its cover (post the cover).
Poisonous - Allison Brennan (Austin) 1/26
✔️63. Read book number 1, 5, or 7 of a series (tell us which series) OR read a book that has won an award (tell us the award).
The Chalk Man - C.J. Tudor (ITW Thriller Award for First Novel (2019)) 11/18
✔️64. Read a book with a character that seems confused, forgetful, or out of touch with reality (tell us who) OR read a book with someone who is naked or implied to be naked shown predominantly on the cover (post the cover).
Officer off Limits - Tessa Bailey 11/27
✔️65.: Read a book with a predominantly pink cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which cousins play a role (tell us who).
Shocking Pink - Erica Spindler 10/30
✔️66. Read a book that has some type of sweet treat shown predominantly on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book that is set largely outdoors, or which has an important scene set outside (bonus for a carnival, fair, rodeo, or amusement park) (tell us where).
The Chocolate Moose Motive - JoAnna Carl (candy) 10/27
✔️67. Read a book that is set in the Victorian Era (1837-1901) (tell us when) OR read a book wheresomeone works with plants (tell us who).
Under Currents - Nora Roberts (heroine is a landscaper) 12/26
✔️68. Read a book that includes words and/or phrases in a language that is different than that of the whole book (tell us the languages) OR read a book that features a trio of friends (only groups of three please) in the plot (tell us who).
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow - Jessica Townsend 1/3
(shifter animals are going insane and speaking in a weird made up language)
continued... ELEPHANTS IN WARS, POLITICS, AND GOVERNMENT
✔️69. Read a book that is set during a war (it can be real or fictional, in any time or place) (tell us the war) OR read a book that mentions a type of technology or practice that has since become obsolete (tell us the technology or practice).
A New Leash on Death - Susan Conant (diskettes) 1/23
✔️70. Read a book that is set in India (tell us where) OR read a book that has a 5 or a 6 in its average GR rating (tell us the rating).
The Drowning - J.P Smith (3.63) 11/28
✔️71. Read a book in which an important ‘first’ takes place (it could be a world-changing event, or something as simple as a baby’s first step, etc.) (tell us the first) OR read a book with an author or main character whose first or last name is Alexander (reasonable variations are acceptable) (tell us the character’s full name or post the author’s link).
Shadows of the Short Days - Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson 11/7
✔️72. Read a book that has a mountain(s) shown predominantly on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book that has at least two of these digits: 1, 2, 3, 8 in its place on your TBR list (tell us what number it is).
Pixi Poison - Lee Dignam & Katerina Martinez (#831) 4/24
✔️73. Read a book that is set in one of the nations/kingdoms/colonies listed above (in its past or present form) (tell us where) OR read a book that has a flag (of any country/region or type) shown predominantly on its cover (post the cover).
Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi (Nigeria) 11/15
✔️74. Read a book that includes a group where someone must meet criteria or pass a test(s) to belong, or includes a group that is in some other way ‘exclusive’ (tell us the group) OR read a book that is set in Denmark.
The Considerate Killer - Lene Kaaberbøl & Agnette Friis 1/8
✔️75. Read a book where politics are important to the plot or subject matter OR read a book with a character who works for the government (in an elected or non-elected position) (tell us who).
Identical - Scott Turow 10/16
✔️76. Read a book where a main character works in a retail setting of some sort (tell us who) OR read a book in which someone owns their own business (tell us who).
Evil in Carnations - Kate Collins (MC owns flower shop) 11/23
✔️77. Read a book whose title has been changed since it was first published (tell us the original name) OR read a book that has a cover that is predominantly green or gold/yellow, or a combination of green(s) and gold(s)/yellow(s) (post the cover).
Primitive Nights - Candi Wall 11/24
✔️78. Read a book that has a superstitious character (tell us who) OR read a book which has a fire shown predominantly on its cover (post the cover).
Weddings from Hell - Maggie Shayne 10/31
✔️79. Read a book by an author who has double consonants in her/his name (post the author link) OR read a book in which a sporting event takes place (it might be a large, professional event or something as simple as a child’s soccer game) (tell us the event).
A Tapestry of Spells - LyNN Kurland 10/15
✔️80. Read a book where someone switches careers (tell us who) OR read a book where a fire is important to the plot.
More Than a Phoenix - Ashlyn Chase 11/22
ELEPHANT IDIOMS
✔️81. Read a book where two or more characters meet in a particular room for a discussion (tell us which room) OR read a book that deals with a topic that some people might find uncomfortable (tell us the topic).
Possession - Tracey M. Frazier (rape and brutality) 12/9
✔️82. Read a book with an alcoholic beverage shown predominantly on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book where someone drinks regularly (they do not have to get drunk, just have an alcoholic beverage regularly during the book) (tell us who).
Bloody Mary - J.A. Konrath 11/27
✔️83. Read a book that has a predominantly white cover (post the cover) OR read a book where someone gives a gift to someone else (tell us who).
Ivory - Steve Merrifield 12/27
✔️84. Read a book in which someone works with computers either for their job or as an avid hobbyist (tell us who) OR read a book where someone goes on a journey that involves a number of twists and turns (tell us who).
Into the Black Nowhere - Meg Gardiner (Nick is the FBIs computer genius) 1/7
Read the MonthsDuration: February 1 - April 30, 2021
Level: Two 10+ books
READ: 10/10+
FEBURARY
2. Read a book set on water or has water on the cover.
Shadow Zone - Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen (set on the ocean) 2/26
3. Read a book that sparks your imagination.
Into Aether - L.M. Fry 4/23
4. Read a book with the word pearl in the text.
Blameless - Gail Carriger 4/26
(the mahogany and pearl case of the cuckoo clock), p120
5. Read a book with the authors initials are in AMETHYST.
The Shimmering Road - Hester Young 2/27
MARCH
2. Read a book whose MC is artistic.
The Ruby Brooch - Katherine Lowry Logan (painting/drawing) 3/27
4. Read a book with a character who is "in love". (Tell us who)
Changeless - Gail Carriger (Alexis Maccon) 4/20
5. Read a book where the start of each word in the title is in AQUAMARINE.
Into Aether - L.M. Fry 4/23
APRIL
2. Read a book with a character who is a "leader.
Rebel Spring - Morgan Rhodes & Michelle Rowen 3/4
4. Read a book which has a genre of young adult or children.
To Kill a Kingdom - Alexandra Christo 3/19
5. Read a book whose authors initials can be found in the word DIAMOND
Lost Without You - Molly O'Keefe 2/21
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Coral Reefs Duration: November 1, 2020 - April 30, 2021
READ: 23/25
✔️1. 🐠 Read a book that has something soft on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a hardcover book.
Bloody Mary - J.A. Konrath 11/27
✔️2. 🐠 Read a series book from a long-running, still incomplete series (for this challenge, long-running series is anything with over 20 books, mention the series and how many books there are so far) -or- read a book with a chemical element in the title (the common name of the element can be used - e.g., Gold for Aurum or Tin for Stannum may be used).
Shadows in Death - J.D. Robb (In Death #51) 11/13
✔️3. 🐠 Read a book whose author has the first or last initial Z or X -or- read a book in which a person or animal is dependent on another person or animal and vice versa. (tell us how your book fits).
Claimed - Rebecca Zanetti 11/17
✔️4. 🐠 Read a book with a non-human real predator on the cover (post the cover, and no, undeads do not work) -or- use a book that kept you reading through the night.
The Girl in Red - Christina Henry (wolf) 11/24
✔️5. 🐠 Read a book that is set in any of these locations: Alaska, the Caribbean (any country/island) or Australia (tell us where the book is set) -or- read a long book (more than 750 pages*, 1500 for graphic novels, tell us the number of pages).
*Note: for the long book option, you can also choose to read any number of >150 pages books needed to make 750 pages/1500 pages for graphic novels. Just list all of them and their page numbers.
The Buccaneers - Iain Lawrence (the Caribbean, mostly Jamaica) 11/14
✔️6. 🐠 Read a book that is set in ancient times (anything set before 1000 AD, this may be a nonfiction book about early life also) -or- read a book with a forest on the cover (post the cover).
The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller 1/19
Types of Coral Reefs
✔️7. Fringing Reefs: 🐠 Read a book whose author's first and last initials are in the word FRINGING -or- read a book from the most common genre/sub-genre that you read (tell us the genre/subgenre).
Adam and Evil - Gillian Roberts 11/6
✔️8. Barrier Reefs: 🐠 Read a book in which some kind of barrier is shown on the cover (post the cover, be as creative as you like) -or- read a book whose title has the word GREAT intact (greater/greatest are fine, also).
Leaving Normal - Stef Ann Holm (fence) 11/5
✔️9. Atolls: 🐠 Read a book with a ring-shaped something on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a series book that is not the first or the last (tell us the series and your book's position).
Semi-Psychic Life - Elizabeth Hunter (Glimmer Lake #2 of 3) 11/12
✔️10. Patch reefs: 🐠 Read a standalone book -or- read a book short book (150-200 pages).
The Chalk Man - C.J. Tudor 11/18
Biodiversity
✔️11. 🐠 Read a book set in a metropolis (any large city, tell us which) -or- read a book with more than one building on the cover (show us the cover).
Finding Mr. Happily Ever After - Melissa Storm & Melissa McClone (NYC) 11/26
✔️12. Bartlett's Anthias : 🐠 Read a book with a vibrant cover (the brighter the better, post the cover) -or- read a book with a transgender character in it.
The Naked Earl - Sally MacKenzie 11/20
✔️13. Butterflyfish : 🐠 Read a book whose cover is mostly yellow (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a man courts a woman in a traditional way (could be any tradition from any culture, tell us how the book fits).
Burn Marks - Sara Paretsky 11/2
✔️14. Stonefish : 🐠 Read a book with a stone on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which death by poison or venom occurs.
Angels Whisper - Tony Perona (stone monument) 11/15
✔️15. Clown Anemonefish : 🐠 Read a book with a bright orange cover (post the cover) -or- read a book marked HUMOR on the main GR page.
Doctor Rat - William Kotzwinkle 11/27
✔️16. Spotfin Lionfish : 🐠 Read a book with an aggressive character -or- read a book with a lion on the cover or in the title (post the cover if choosing the cover option).
Perversion - T.M. Frazier (an gang executioner) 11/8
17. Harlequin Shrimp : 🐠 Read a book published by Harlequin -or- read a book with a star shape on its cover (post the cover).
✔️18. Needlefish : 🐠 Read a book with a needle on the cover (post the cover, knitting needle is okay) -or- read a book in which someone dies or is wounded by being stabbed.
Eleven - Carolyn Arnold 11/26
✔️19. Mandarinfish : 🐠 Read a book set in China -or- read a book that hasn't had much visibility (published over a year ago with less than 1000 ratings on GR - let us know when it was published and how many ratings it has).
What Lurks Below - Donald Firesmith (pub 2017, 191 ratings) 11/10
✔️20. Moon Jellyfish : 🐠 Read a book with a moon shown prominently on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which someone recycles (post the line/location where this is referenced).
Shadows of the Short Days - Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson 11/7
✔️21. Blue Tang : 🐠 Read a book with a vegetarian character in it -or- read a book made into a movie (tell us the name of the movie if it's different from the book's title).
The Warlock King - Heather Killough-Walden (heroine) 12/5
✔️22. Blue-Ringed Octopus : 🐠 Read a book with the number "26" found intact in its number of pages (tell us the number of pages) -or- read a book in which someone innocent-looking turns out to be a stone cold killer (use spoiler tags to tell us who and how they fit).
The Witch Squad - M.Z. Andrews (262 pages) 11/9
Reef Uses and Threats
✔️23. 🐠 Read a book with a cover you think is beautiful (post the cover) -or- read a book whose title begins with a letter in CORALREEF (all words count).
Officer off Limits - Tessa Bailey 11/27
✔️24. 🐠 Read a book in which a character is sick with a bad disease (it needn't be something fatal, but it also can't be a flu they can get over in a couple of days, tell us which disease) -or- read a book in which a natural disaster occurs (tell us what).
Company of Liars - Karen Maitland (the plague) 11/17
25. 🐠 Read a book which concerns itself with climate change/ecology -or- read an ARC of a book that will be published in the next year or beyond. (Let us know when it's getting published)
Barbara's Challenges & Reading Lists
Books mentioned in this topic
The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination: Original Short Fiction for the Modern Evil Genius (other topics)Fury Unleashed (other topics)
A Heart So Fierce and Broken (other topics)
The Malfeasance Occasional: Girl Trouble (other topics)
Never Say Sever in Deadwood (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lois Greiman (other topics)Joseph O'Connor (other topics)
Lorie O'Clare (other topics)
Lia Riley (other topics)
R.T.W. Lipkin (other topics)
More...
Monthly Challenges
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Miscellaneous Challenges
Ancient Ruins
Coral Reefs
The Dakota Challenge
Excellent Elephants
Extreme Challenge: Obstacle Course
From Sea to Shining Sea South Dakota
From Sea to Shining Sea Montana
From Sea to Shining Sea Washington
From Sea to Shining Sea Idaho
From Sea to Shining Sea Wyoming
From Sea to Shining Sea Utah
Fun Facts About...LICENSE PLATES!
Gardens Around the World
Giant Pandas
Great Goddess
Moldy Books
Nobel Prize Day
No Way! 40 Man Roster
No Way! Castles of the World
No Way! Incredible India
No Way! Strange But True
Obscure Words A to Z
Random Treasure Hunt #4
Random Treasure Hunt #5
Random Treasure Hunt #6
Read the Months
Spring Scavenger Challenge - A Flutter of Butterflies
Spring Spell Challenge - Butterflies
Winter Scavenger Challenge Antarctica
Winter Spell Challenge Antarctica