The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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WINTER CHALLENGE 2023
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Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD!

20.10 Group Reads
Read one of the books selected as a group read for the Winter 2023 season. The requirement for this task: you must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.
The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
Audiobook. There is no MMPB. The paperback has 326 pages.
My post is currently message 10 in the group discussion. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Points this post: 20
Total points: 105

5.8- Polar Bear Plunge
Read book with a cover of at least 70% White according to Tineye.
Required Post the Cover.
Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Audiobook. The MMPB has 384 pages.

76.0% White
7.0 % Red
4.2 % Grey
2.4 % Green
2.3 % Red
2.2 % Green
2.1 % Green
1.6 % Pink
1.2 % Brown
1.0 % Pink
Points this post: 5
Total points: 110

10.6 - Roll the Bones
Read a book whose page count consists solely of numbers found on a traditional six-sided die: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Digits may appear multiple times.
Longbourn by Jo Baker
E-book. The MMPB has 453 pages.
4, 5, and 3 are all digits that appear on a six-sided die.
Points this post: 10
Total points: 120

15.2 Out with the Old, In with the New
a) Read the latest* published book in a series which has at least 3 published works.
I read Princess of Dune the latest (and 3rd) book in the Heroes of Dune series
b) Read the first book (#1) in a series
I read The Librarian of Crooked Lane#1 in The Glass Library series
Points this Post: 15
Points Total: 355

20.1 - Most Improved - TessaVanessa's Task: TessaVanessa's NYC Adventure
Opt. 4 - Read a book by an author that shares a first or last name with one of the four final members: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer
I read Bitter Aries by Paul Sating
Paul from Paul Stanley
Points this Post: 20
Points Total: 375

Challenge 5.5 It's a New Year
We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America by Roxanna Asgarian
The author is new to me.
Points this post: 5
Total points: 205
Task completed: 18

Challenge 10.1 Poetry for Neanderthals
One Last Shot by Kip Wilson
Points this post: 10
Total points: 215
Task completed: 19

Challenge 10.4 You All Meet In A Tavern...
Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor & Misadventure from America's National Parks by Jim Burnett
CLASS: Ranger
Points this post: 10
Total points: 225
Task completed: 20

Challenge 15.1 Long and Short
Book A: Diaries of War: Two Visual Accounts from Ukraine and Russia A Graphic Novel History by Nora Krug
128 pages
Book B: Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose
594 pages
Points this post: 15
Total points: 240
Task completed: 21

Book: Homecoming
How it fits: set in Australia
The book has 640 pages, so I'd like to claim 1 big book ticket, please.
Points this post: 10
Total points: 105
Big book tickets: 1

10.8 Winter Migration
Read a book set in a country in the Southern Hemisphere
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Setting: New Zealand
Reference: https://us.macmillan.com/books/978037...
New Points: 10
Tasks Competed: 8
Total Points: 55

5.2 Unique Like a Snowflake
Read a book where each word in the title contains no repeat letters.
Julia by Sandra Newman
New Points: 5
Tasks Competed: 9
Total Points: 60

Task # 10.10 - The End?
Read a book from either this list of Best Endings
Twenty Years Later
Page 2 # 121 as of 12/27/23
Points this post: 10
Total points: 180

25.2 JennRenee's Task: Oh What Fun!
Option 1: Twelve Days:
Book 1: Read a book that is 1-12 of a series
Newcomer by Ana Ashley
paperback here
Dads of Stillwater #1 - grayscale on main page
Book 2 : Read a book where all authors initials can be found in Tis the Season
Grizzly Heat by Hawke Oakley
approved for length HERE
author initials H O found in Tis tHe SeasOn
previous post: 620
points this post: 25
new total: 645

Option 1: Roll a Six: Read a book which is #6 in a series.
Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Post total: 20
Challenge total: 95
IAF total: 2
BB total: 0
OG total: 0

15.1 Long and Short
a) Read a SHORT book (under 200 pages)
Moon Knight, Vol. 1: Lunatic by Jeff Lemire
120 pages
b) Read a LONG book (over 500 pages)
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed
528 pages
Points this post: 15
Total Points: 110
Tasks Completed: 7
Books Read: 8
NF Tickets: 0
Golden Oldies: 0

5.5 - It's a New Year.
Read a book by a new-to-you author that was published in 2023.
Unhinged by Vera Valentine (96 p.) * **
* I would like to use this as my one 80-99 page book for the season
** This author is new to me.

➸ Total Points: 50
➸ Total Pages: 1,834
{This is a repost of #498 - thanks!}

10.3 - Season of Love
Winter Solstice

Totals
Points: 40
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 1
Total Tasks Completed: 5
Total Books Completed: 5

10.2 - Festive Folklore
Task: Read a book from the first 25 pages of the Folklore shelf.
Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
Paperback: Drowned Country
It's found on page 6 of the shelf/list.
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 535 / 775

10.5 - A Ghost Story For Christmas
Task: Read a book that features ghosts or spirits.
Spirited Situation by Louisa Masters
Paperback: Spirited Situation
Precis mentions ghosts, MPG Ghosts, series name Ghostly Guardians, etc. :)
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 545 / 775

10.4 - You All Meet In A Tavern...
Read a book that contains one of the following D&D classes in its title or subtitle:
To Ravish a Rogue by C.M. Nascosta
I listened to audiobook, no MMPB, paperback here
Rogue found in title
previous post: 645
points this post: 10
new total: 655

Title word shared with title word in a Dickens novel (Bleak House): The House on Mermaid Point by Wendy Wax
Points this post: 15
Total points: 125

15.2 Out with the Old, In with the New
A_ Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt
**784pp - 2 big book tickets
B_ Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
Total
50 points
Tickets - 1 It’s a Fact - 2 Big Books

20.10 Group Reads
The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story
Discussion thread # 11
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 70
Books Read: 6
Tasks Done: 6

25.2 JennRenee's Task: Oh What Fun!
Option 1
A_The Cruelest Month
B_ Companion Piece by Ali Smith
Total
75 points
Tickets - 1 It’s a Fact - 2 Big Books

15.5 What the Dickens!
The House of Now and Then (house)
Total
100 points
Tickets - 1 It’s a Fact - 2 Big Books

15.6 Let's Celebrate!
Fault Lines by Emily Itami
Total
115 points
Tickets - 1 It’s a Fact - 2 Big Books

20.6 - It's A Fact - MaryPDX's Task: Say It's Carol Singers
Option 1: Read a book written by a single author whose first and last initials can be found in one of these famous quote: “LOVE ACTUALLY IS ALL AROUND”
Real Differences by S.L. Lim
Total
135 points
Tickets - 1 It’s a Fact - 2 Big Books

pub in 1987
The Spring of the Ram: The House of Niccolo
585 pages - claiming 1 BB tix
=======
270 points
6 GO tix
3 BB tix
1 NF tix

page count only includes digits 1 - 6
Four Roads Cross
416 pages
=======
280 points
6 GO tix
3 BB tix
1 NF tix

10.5 - A Ghost Story For Christmas
Read a book that features ghosts or spirits
The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights, by Bridget Collins and others
I read the kindle edition linked above, no MMP, top rated PB is The Haunting Season
--
Points for this task: 10
Total points: 80
BB: 1; GO: 2; IaF: 0

option 2: MCs refugees (approved in help thread)
Threads: From the Refugee Crisis
non-fiction - claiming 1 NF tix
=======
290 points
BB (3) GO (6) NF (2)

15.8 An Extra Day
Read a book first published in a leap year
The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope, published in 1864
**claiming one Big Book ticket for book with 695 pages**
**claiming one Golden Oldie ticket for book published in 1864**
--
Points for this task: 15
Total points: 95
BB: 2, GO: 3, IaF: 0

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
All the letters LUIGI are in the author's name.
Post Total: 10
Grand Total: 85

Two book option
I'm using the line "That was the end of Solomon Grundy"
a) The City of the Living by Nicola Lagioia
b) The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The word I used is EARTH
Post Total: 30
Grand Total: 115

20.6 - It's A Fact - MaryPDX's Task: Say It's Carol Singers
Option 1: Read a book written by a single author whose first and last initials can be found in one of these famous quotes:
“LOVE ACTUALLY IS ALL AROUND” (Love Actually) or
“I KNOW HIM!” (Elf)
I read Dark Across the Bay by Ania Ahlborn
AA in love ActuAlly is all around
Points this Post: 20
Points Total: 395

5.4 A Werewolf in the Mafia
Arrow's Fallby Mercedes Lackey
published in the 1980's (1988)
Task +5
Grand Total: 20

15.9 Pass the Parcel
read a book that is passed on
Wagging through the Snowby Laurien Berenson
borrowed through the library
Task +15
Grand Total: 35

5.8- Polar Bear Plunge
Read book with a cover of at least 70% White according to Tineye.
Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business by Roxane Gay- 12/13

Tineye score: 75.4% white
Claiming It's a Fact Ticket
Points this Task: 5
Total Points: 40
Books Read: 4
Tasks Completed: 3
It's A Fact Ticket: 1

30.3 Cat : Books of the Winter Months
Option: 1
Month: December
Option 1: TWO book task
Book 1: ALL the letters of your chosen month can be found in the title of your book (ignore subtitles)
Always, in December by Emily Stone- 12/9
Book 2: The author of your book has first and last initials found in your chosen month.
The Art of Scandal by Regina Black- 12/27
Points this Task: 30
Total Points: 70
Books Read: 6
Tasks Completed: 4
It's A Fact Ticket: 1

30.1 Mazza1's Task: The Life of Solomon
Option 2 - 4+letter word in line of poem & 1st & last initial in remaining letters, over 600 p
I used the line "Died on Saturday"
To Serve Them All My Days
Word Days found in Saturday
Author initials RD Saturday & Died
678 pages
** Claiming 1 BB point**
Points this post: 30
Total points: 200
BB:2 GO:2 IAF:1

20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Sarah E's Task: The Chocolate Game
Option 1: Roll a Six
Read a book which is #6 in a series.
Slight Mourning by Catherine Aird
Series: Inspector Sloan #6
I listened to an audiobook; mmpb=183
******
Points for this task: 20
Total points : 265
Tasks completed: 15/49
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 0
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 3
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 2

10.1 - Poetry For Neanderthals
The Sound of Glass by Karen White
All words in title one syllable
Points this post - 10
Total points - 10

Option 1: Read a book written by a single author whose first and last initials can be found in one of these famous quotes:
I used : “I KNOW HIM!”
The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan
New Points: 20
Total PointsL 70
BB: 0
GO: 0
IaF: 1

10.2 - Festive Folklore
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
On pg 3 of the folklore list
Points this post - 10
Total points - 20

The Memory Palace: A Memoir by Mira Bartok
award starting with N - National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography (2011)
Total this Post: 10
Season Total: 230

30.4 Nick KY’s Task: Murder in the Manor
Option B - Whalefall
Option C - The Devil Wears Tartan - WEARS can be found in NEWGATE PRISON
Points in Post: 30
Total Points: 200
Its a Fact Tickets: 2
Big Book Tickets: 1
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Books mentioned in this topic
All Systems Red (other topics)Murder on the Orient Express (other topics)
The Splendour Falls (other topics)
The Will of the Many (other topics)
Exit Strategy (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Susanna Kearsley (other topics)Neal Stephenson (other topics)
Tom Rob Smith (other topics)
Nora Roberts (other topics)
Agatha Christie (other topics)
More...
15.4 Feed the Birds
OPTION 2: Read ONE book that fulfills both requirements
a) Read a book with a bird on the cover
The bird may be sketched, outline, silhouette or realistic but must be identifiable as a bird with a significant portion of wing and either beak or feet visible
Required: Post the cover
AND
b) Read a book where ALL of the author's initials are found in ONE of the following most common British garden birds, according to the Big Garden Birdwatch 2020:
House sparrow
Echo Maker by Richard Powers - cranes on the cover and RP is in House Sparrow
This Task: 15 Points
To Date: 50 Points