Listopia Madness - June 2023

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Monthly Challenge: June 2023

Welcome to our monthly Listopia Madness challenge. It is a relatively simple challenge. Every month you will get 3 listopia lists from me and 3 from the winners of the previous month. *Please note that if you do not respond in a reasonable amount of time that the 4th place person (and so on) will replace you until we get 3 lists.

How it works
📘You will read as many books as you want from as many of the lists provided as you want.
📘You will score each book using the point system provided below
📘You will keep a running tally of your total in your post (try to keep your books in one comment, if possible for easy tracking)
📘I will contact the 3 highest-scoring readers at the end of the month and they will each choose one listopia list to be included in the next month's challenge.

Challenge rules:
📘No graphic novels, poetry or cookbooks allowed.
📘Standard Rules Apply

Book Points


Listopia Lists
Best Book Titles
Biker Book Babes Group's Best MC Themed Reads
Best Spy Novels
Big Fat Books Worth the Effort Provided by May 1st place winner: Sammy
LGBTQ Science Fiction and Fantasy Provided by May 2nd place winner: Truitt_T
What Book Would You Like To Live In? Provided by May 3rd place winner: Bernadette

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

This month, you can earn bonuses for the following:
*1 bonus point if your book is on 2 of the lists in message 1
*1 bonus point if your book is on one of these lists & used for any task in the Namaste: Summer Yoga Challenge challenge (please provide a link to your post in the Namaste challenge)
*2 bonus points if your book is on 2 lists & is used in the Namaste: Summer Yoga Challenge.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Participants

Sammy 80
Shellie
Ashley 24
Angie 21
Truitt_T 70
Paco 2
Lilli Gilliam
Bernadette 19
Joyce 5

[Sammy]

In!! :D

TOTAL POINTS: 80

1. The Chalk Man - best titles #1415 - 1 point
2. A Gathering of Shadows - book to live in #6243 - 5 points
3. The City of Brass - best titles #892 & Big fat books #1219 - 5 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 (actually 3, lol) lists
4. The Tombs of Atuan - books to live in #4367 - 1 point
5. Voyager - best book titles #586 & Big fat books #106 - 10 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 (3!) lists
6. Moby-Dick or, the Whale - Big fat books #33 & book to live in #1924 - 5 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists
7. Jackdaws - Best titles #5325 & Best spy novels #122- 3 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists
8. Dead Over Heels - best titles #5117 & books to live in #2307 - 1 point + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists
9. Lonesome Dove - big fat books #24 & Books to live in #813 - 10 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists
10. The Sympathizer - best spy novels #408 - 3 points
11. The Death of Mrs. Westaway - Best titles #1551 & books to live in #1573 - 3 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists
12. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - books to live in #4090 - 3 points
13. The Cardinal of the Kremlin - spy novels #20 & Big Fat Books #855 - 7 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists
14. Rising Sun - best titles #5591 & books to live in #3164 - 3 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists
15. The Cambridge Centenary Ulysses - Big fat books #64 & like to live in 317 - 10 points + 1 bonus point for being on 2 lists

[Shellie]

I'm in

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

June Listopia Lists
Total Points: 24

📗Best Book Titles
📘Biker Book Babes Group's Best MC Themed Reads
📙Best Spy Novels
📕Big Fat Books Worth the Effort
📒LGBTQ Science Fiction and Fantasy
📓What Book Would You Like To Live In?

Read
📓#613 & 📗929 The City of Brass, 569pgs, 5pts + 1 bonus (2 lists)
📗#460 & 📓#538 Where the Crawdads Sing, 384pgs, 3pts + 1 bonus (2 lists)
📓#869 & 📗3210 Heir of Fire, 562pgs, 5pts + 1 bonus (2 lists)
📓#981 Queen of Shadows, 645pgs, 5pts
📗#535 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, 401pgs, 3pts

Reading/Planned

[Angie ☯]

I'm in.
Not sure how I'll do, since I'm traveling for 12 days!

June Listopia Lists | Total Points: 21
📗Best Book Titles
📘Biker Book Babes Group's Best MC Themed Reads
📙Best Spy Novels
📕Big Fat Books Worth the Effort
📒LGBTQ Science Fiction and Fantasy
📓What Book Would You Like To Live In?

Books Read
📓#624 & 📗#995 ~ The City of Brass ~ 6/5 ~ 569 pgs | 5 pts + 1 bpt (2 lists)
📓#4507 ~ Shades of Midnight ~ 6/8 ~ 402 pgs | 3 pts
📕#51 ~ 11/22/63 ~ 6/20 ~ 1121 pgs | 10 pts
📗#3523 ~ The Complaints ~ 6/21 ~ 496 pgs | 3 pts

[Truitt_T]

I'm in!

Total Points: 70

1. Twisted Pretty Things by Ariana Nash #417 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 2 page points, 1 bonus point (my N:SYC post) 6/2 3 points
2. Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr #174 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/4 1 point
3. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer #54 What Book Would You Like to Live In? - 5 page points, 1 bonus point (#1206 Best Book Titles) 6/4 6 points
4. Psycho by Onley James #1365 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/5 1 point
5. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh #104 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/5 1 point
6. Treasure by Megan Derr #188 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/6 1 point
7. Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey #1551 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/6 1 point
8. The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles #30 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/10 1 point
9. The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy #5 Best Spy Novels - 5 page points, 2 bonus points (#422 Best Book Titles & (my N:SYC post) 6/11 7 points
10. Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk #372 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/11 1 point
11. Wolfsong by T.J. Klune #244 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 5 page points 6/13 5 points
12. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells #625 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/14 1 point
13. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann #1273 What Book Would You Like to Live In? - 3 page points 6/14 3 points
14. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells #619 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/14 1 point
15. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells #498 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/15 1 point
16. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells #500 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/16 1 point
17. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey #2 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 10 page points, 2 bonus points (#131 What Book Would You Like to Live In? & my N:SYC post ) 6/16 12 points
18. Mad Lizard Mambo by Rhys Ford #1561 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/19 1 point
19. Patriot Games by Tom Clancy #11 Best Spy Novels - 7 page points, 1 bonus point (#994 Big Bad Books Worth the Effort [and two more lists!]) 6/20 8 points
20. Jacked Cat Jive by Rhys Ford #687 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point, 1 bonus point (my N:SYC post ) 6/22 2 points
21. Silk Dragon Salsa by Rhys Ford #1521 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/22 1 point
22. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman #164 Best Spy Novels - 1 page point 6/24 1 point
23. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie #475 What Book Would You Like to Live In - 3 page points, 1 bonus point (#1878 Best Book Titles) 6/26 4points
24. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers #1241 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/26 1 point
25. Tide of Tricks by Ariana Nash #628 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 1 page point 6/28 1 point
26. Trial by Fire by Ariana Nash #627 LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy - 3 page points, 1 bonus point (my N:SYC post ) 6/30 4 points

[Paco]

I'm trying my best since I'm traveling but I want to do it!

-The Bell Jar #171 Best Book Titles (1 point)
-The Phantom of the Opera #126 What Book Would You Like To Live In? (1 point)


Total: 2

[Lilli Gilliam]

I'm in

[Bernadette]

I'm in again.

Total Points: 19

The City of Brass/S.A. Chakraborty - #613 What Book Would You Like to Live In and #934 Best Book Titles - 569 pages - 6/9/23 - 5pts + 1 bonus (2 lists)

Moby-Dick or, the Whale - #33 Big Fat Book & #1924 What Book Would You Like to Live In - 6/11/23 - 5 points + 1 bonus (2 lists)

11/22/63/Stephen King - #51 Big Fat Books - 849 pages - 6/17/23 - 7 points

[Truitt_T]

I like your list, Bernadette, but some of the things on it make me question if I read the same book as other people. The Stand? Waiting for Godot? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? Lord of the Flies? These are books people want to live in, lol??

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Truitt_T wrote: "I like your list, Bernadette, but some of the things on it make me question if I read the same book as other people. The Stand? Waiting for Godot? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? Lord of the Flies..."

I always wonder this when I browse lists, especially this one!!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

All the lists are posted. Happy reading ; )

[Bernadette]

Truitt_T wrote: "I like your list, Bernadette, but some of the things on it make me question if I read the same book as other people. The Stand? Waiting for Godot? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? Lord of the Flies..."

It seemed like an interesting/unusual list

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Sammy really enjoys BIG BOOKS...

[Sammy]

Sammy really does! lol.

[Truitt_T]

Sammy wrote: "Sammy really does! lol."

It's another interesting list, Sammy. I've been in some Challenges that tend to favor shorter books, but several of those are ending and I hope to tackle a few more that are longer. You definitely tend to read much longer books than I do, though!

[Sammy]

Tower Teams being on definitely helps boost the average page count, lol.

I've just had a week of not really reading at all (away getting my daughter married off!), and that on top of holidays and several hospital stays has been really interfering with my reading habit! lol!

[Truitt_T]

Sammy wrote: "Tower Teams being on definitely helps boost the average page count, lol.

I've just had a week of not really reading at all (away getting my daughter married off!), and that on top of holidays and ..."

Congratulations on your daughter's wedding! Sorry about the hospital stays - I hope all is well.

I didn't play TT this year, although I have the past two years. It was possible that I was going to have a comittment that was going to take up a big chunk of June and July, and I was worried I'd feel guilty if I couldn't read enough, lol. Last year I kept compulsive track of my average page count, so I definitely agree that it pushes me to longer books. :)

[Sammy]

Thank you, and yes, it will be soon, I hope :)

I do enjoy team challenges, but when they're back-to-back it tends to take it out of me a bit. I like that this time they don't all have to be long books, so I don't feel guilty throwing a shorter book or two in there too.

[Joyce]

Listopia June 2023

Total points so far: 5

This month, you can earn bonuses for the following:
*1 bonus point if your book is on 2 of the lists in message 1
*1 bonus point if your book is on one of these lists & used for any task in the Namaste: Summer Yoga Challenge challenge (please provide a link to your post in the Namaste challenge)
*2 bonus points if your book is on 2 lists & is used in the Namaste: Summer Yoga Challenge.

Best Book Titles
(view spoiler)[
John Dies at the End
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
A Hat Full of Sky
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Watchers
The Big Dark Sky
Hammered
Gathering Blue
Prom Nights from Hell
First Among Sequels
To Say Nothing of the Dog
Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings
The Android's Dream
The City of Brass
Dark Matter
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
Triptych
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
Recursion
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
Patient Zero
finished page 15
(hide spoiler)]
Biker Book Babes Group's Best MC Themed Reads
Best Spy Novels
Big Fat Books Worth the Effort Provided by May 1st place winner: Sammy
#1023 Children of Time 6/10/23 609 pgs (5 pts)
(view spoiler)[
1Q84
The Talisman
Perdido Street Station
Duma Key
Imajica
Everything's Eventual
Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales
The Bone Clocks
A Conjuring of Light
Necroscope
All These Worlds
The City of Brass
False Memory
Ghost Road Blues
House of Earth and Blood
Watchers
Patient Zero
(hide spoiler)]
LGBTQ Science Fiction and Fantasy
(view spoiler)[
Smoke and Shadows
Fugitive Telemetry
God's War
The City We Became
The Lightning-Struck Heart
The Sumage Solution
Ink and Bone
The Prey of Gods
Prudence
A Conjuring of Light
Godsgrave
The Luminous Dead
Paper and Fire
Record of a Spaceborn Few
Blood Rock
Libriomancer
Knight of Ghosts and Shadows
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
London Falling
(hide spoiler)]
What Book Would You Like To Live In?
(view spoiler)[
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Wings
The Secret Hour
Witches Abroad
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
The City of Brass
A Spell for Chameleon
Triptych
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Yikes! I'm struggling this month! All the books I need to read just don't fit! Arg!

[Truitt_T]

Ashley wrote: "Yikes! I'm struggling this month! All the books I need to read just don't fit! Arg!"

I can see how some months are definitely going to be easier than others.

I had thought I'd try to be sure to read at least one book from each list, but I knew that wasn't going to happen when I saw Donna's Biker Book Babes Group's Best MC Themed Reads, lol. That's soooo not going to happen!

[Sammy]

I got knocked off track a little too, but at least that should be the last unexpected hospital trip, lol. Also needing to read specifics for TT is getting in the way!

I was also thinking a book off each list until I saw that biker one! No matter, some of my books are on 3 lists, so I figure that makes up for it :D

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I am sooo not feeling the love here. That biker list is genius, I tell ya!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I was only trying to expand your horizons. Get you out of your comfort zones.

[Sammy]

Totally get that, but as I'm trying to get through my (owned books) tbr (hundreds of the darned things!) and I don't have any of those on there, you're out of luck :P

[Truitt_T]

Donna wrote: "I was only trying to expand your horizons. Get you out of your comfort zones."

I looked at the list, Donna - I did, really! I appreciate the, er, attempt to expand my horizons, but I just couldn't do it, lol.

ETA: And if it's any consolation, my list isn't looking very popular with anyone but me. :)

[Sammy]

Truitt_T wrote: "Donna wrote: "I was only trying to expand your horizons. Get you out of your comfort zones."

I looked at the list, Donna - I did, really! I appreciate the, er, attempt to expand my horizons, but I..."

I actually have quite a few on your list I could read. I just haven't gotten around to them, as they're pretty short and TT won't let me, lol.

[Joyce]

I have quite a few of these on my lists but I have been stuck LOL reading really big books lately.

[Truitt_T]

Joyce wrote: "I have quite a few of these on my lists but I have been stuck LOL reading really big books lately."

So many of the LGBTQ SF&F books have only been worth one point - but I've been able to read a lot of them!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

We are getting close to the end of the month... don't forget to update!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Winners

1st place: Sammy
2nd place: Truitt_T
3rd place: Ashley