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!

option 2a: chair on cover
Maigret and the Tall Woman

approved in help thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
option 2b: author initials ML in MUSICAL
Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty
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150 points
2 GO tix
1 NF tix

10.5 A Ghost Story For Christmas
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
Read the kindle edition. Top MMPB: here (160pg)
Golden Oldie: First published 1843
Points this Task: 10
Books Read: 1
Golden Oldie: 1 – A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843
Total Points: 75
Tasks Completed: 5
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1

5.4 Werewolf Mafia. I read VALIS by Philip K. Dick 1st pub’d 1981.
Points This Post: 5
Total Points So Far: 40

5.6 Christmas Murder Mystery I read The Villa by Rachel Hawkins, GR genre of “Mystery.”
Points This Post: 5
Total Points So Far: 45

25.5 Dee's Task : I Like A Good Mystery (series) and I Cannot Lie!
For this task, you will read 2 books. Both must have a main page genre of either MYSTERY or CRIME. Both must be part of a series on Goodreads with AT LEAST 3 books listed on the series page.
Option 1. Historical Series. Most of my comfort read mysteries are also set in the 1920’s and 1930’s – but really any non-contemporary time will do.
Read a mystery that is set at least 50 years ago (before 1973).
Required: If the setting of time is not obvious on the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.
I read The Way Some People Die by Ross Macdonald, set at time of publication, 1951. Lew Archer # 3.
Option 4. Oh the Puns I often chuckle when I see some of the horrible puns that mystery titles have. For this task, read a book with a pun or a play on words in the title.
Required State the original word or phrase that is a pun
I read Berried to the Hilt by Karen MacInerney (Gray Whale Inn series # 4). “Berried to the Hilt” is a pun on “Buried to the Hilt,” meaning totally overwhelmed (or a dagger plunged in all the way to the handle).
Points This Post: 25
Total Points So Far: 70

Task # 5.5- It's a New Year
Read a book published 2023 by a new to you author
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell This author is new to me.
Points this post: 5
Total points: 50

10.6 Roll the Bones
Page number has only digits 1-6
Shrines of Gaiety - 416 p
Points this post: 10
Total points: 70
BB:0 GO:1 IAF:1

15.4 Feed the Birds
OPTION 2: Read ONE book that fulfills both requirements
a) Read a book with a bird on the cover.
b) Author's initials are found in ONE of the most common British garden birds: Blackbird
Six Geese A-Slaying, Donna Andrews

blAckbirD
Read the kindle edition. Top PB: here (316pg)
Points this Task: 15
Books Read: 1
Total Points: 90
Tasks Completed: 6
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1
5.1- No "L" Day
The Property by Rutu Modan / no "L" in title/subtitle/author
Points this post: 5
Total points: 80
The Property by Rutu Modan / no "L" in title/subtitle/author
Points this post: 5
Total points: 80
5.6- Christmas Murder Mystery Night
Murder Book: A Graphic Memoir of a True Crime Obsession by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell / MPG Mystery
Points this post: 5
Total points: 85
Murder Book: A Graphic Memoir of a True Crime Obsession by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell / MPG Mystery
Points this post: 5
Total points: 85
10.7 - It's-a Me, Mario!
Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob / author contains MARIO
Points this post: 10
Total points: 95
Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob / author contains MARIO
Points this post: 10
Total points: 95
15.4 Feed the Birds
Option 2, one book option-
by Katriona Chapman / bird on cover, KC in "blackbird"
Points this post: 15
Total points: 110
Option 2, one book option-

Points this post: 15
Total points: 110
25.2 JennRenee's Task: Oh What Fun!
Option 1-
Book 1: And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling / #1 in series
Book 2: Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews / IA in phrase
Points this post: 25
Total points: 135
Option 1-
Book 1: And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling / #1 in series
Book 2: Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews / IA in phrase
Points this post: 25
Total points: 135

**UNCLAIM!!** Stats adjusted below.
10.7 - It's-a Me, Mario!
Read a book by a single author whose name contains all the letters of one of the following Mario characters: ...YOSHI, WARIO or BOWSER.
The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide: How to Find, Record, and Preserve Your Ancestors' Graves by Joy Neighbors
Character: YOSHI =joY neIgHbOrS
**Claiming 1 (one) It’s A Fact ticket** : NONFICTION
******
Points for this task: 0
Total points : 70-10=60
Tasks completed: 6/?-1=5/?
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 0
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 1
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 1-1=0

30.4 Nick KY’s Task: Murder in the Manor
This is a two book task. Read two books from two different options.
Opt. B. Read a book with an MPG of “Horror”
Stormhaven by Jordan L. Hawk
MPG: Horror (click MORE)
I read as an ebook; pb-175 p. (no mmpb with pagination)
Opt. C. Read a book which has a three-letter-or-longer word in the title or subtitle that can be made from the letters in the phrase: NEWGATE PRISON.
The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide: How to Find, Record, and Preserve Your Ancestors' Graves by Joy Neighbors
TREE=nEwgaTE pRison
**Claiming 1 (one) It’s A Fact ticket** : NONFICTION
******
Points for this task: 30
Total points : 90
Tasks completed: 6/?
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 0
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 1
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 1
It's a Fact tickets total: 1

5.7 Telephone Pictionary
Read a book with the MPG Art or Manga/comic book/graphic novels/Sequential Art.
Rivers of London Vol. 11: Here Be Dragons, Ben Aaronovitch
Read the kindle edition. Top PB: here (112pg)
MPGs include Graphic Novels
Points this Task: 5
Books Read: 1
Total Points: 95
Tasks Completed: 7
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1

Task # 20.10 Group Reads
Fiction: Road Trips -The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise byColleen Oakley
My comments are in the discussion thread
Post # 4.
Points this post: 20
Total points: 70

10.1 - Poetry for Neanderthals
Read a book where all the words in the title consist of a single syllable.
One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
Audiobook. The MMPB has 318 pages.
Points this post: 10
Total points: 25

30.2 - Winter Zodiac
Option 1 - Sagittarius - November 22-December 21
Book 1 -
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons
This is book #29 (page 1) on the Archery list
Link to PB edition (no MMP edition) - The Glass Arrow (352 pages)
Book 2 -
A Christmas to Remember by Rebecca Moesta
The single author's initials are found in: TEMPERANCE.
Link to PB edition (no MMP edition) - A Christmas to Remember (270 pages)
352+270 = 622 pages
This post: 30 points
Total points to date: 40 points
Tasks completed: 3

10.5 - A Ghost Story For Christmas
Read a book that features ghosts or spirits.
Saga, Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughan
Ghosts are present. The main recurring ghost character is Izabel, Hazel's babysitter. (see below). This volume of the series also includes other types of dead spirits and ghosts, both attacking/scaring characters and/or conversing with various characters. Izabel, in addition to trying to keep the children in line, volunteers to scout the embassy across the planet and encounters unforseen danger.
from: https://imagecomics.fandom.com/wiki/I...
"Izabel is the ghost of a young girl who died by stepping on a landmine. Her parents were resistance fights who didn't believe in supporting the war.
Izabel offered help to Alana when Marko was mortally wounded by The Stalk. She informs Alana that once you die on Cleave, you become a ghost and are stuck there until you bond with someone else born on the planet. She offers Alana a shortcut to snow (a key ingredient needed to save Marko's life) in exchange for allowing her to bond with Hazel."
I read as an ebook; pb-152 p. (no mmpb)
******
Points for this task: 10
Total points : 100
Tasks completed: 7/?
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 0
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 1
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 1

15.10 Here be Dragons
Choose either option A or option B:
Required: state which option you have chosen.
b) Read a book with the word Dragon intact in the title or subtitle
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
This Task: 15 Points
To Date: 15 Points

15.7 When the music stops ...
Tradition!: The Highly Improbable, Ultimately Triumphant Broadway-to-Hollywood Story of Fiddler on the Roof, the World's Most Beloved Musical
(MPG Music)
This is non-fiction, so claiming one It's a Fact ticket
This post: 15 points, 1 NF
Total points: 50
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 3
Tasks completed: 5
Books read: 5

15.9 Pass the Parcel
Book borrowed, gifted or 2nd hand
Nick and Charlie: A Heartstopper Novella -
Borrowed from my local public library
Points this post: 15
Total points: 85
BB:0 GO:1 IAF:1

Task: 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
Book/Author: Murder Off the Books / Tamara Berry
How it fits: book #3 (and last) in the By the Book mystery series
B) Read the first book (#1) in a series
Book/Author: A Zen for Murder / Leighann Dobbs
How it fits: book #1 in the Mooseamuck Island series
Points for this task: 15
Total points: 125
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 1
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 1
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 2

Book 1: A House with Good Bones
How it fits: option B, MPG Horror
I read the kindle edition. The paperback edition has 320 pages.
Book 2: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
How it fits: option, Wong‘s can be made from NeWGate priSOn
I listened to the audiobook. The paperback edition has 352 pages.
Points this post: 30
Total points: 45

5.9 Secret Santa
Read a book with a Santa or a gift on the cover.
Hark the Herald Angels Slay, Vicki Delany (295pg)

Okayed for Santa in Help Thread message #4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Points this Task: 5
Books Read: 1
Total Points: 100
Tasks Completed: 8
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1

5.2 - Unique Like a Snowflake
The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts
~~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 5
Total Points: 5/795
Total Books Read: 2
Total Tasks Completed: 2/50
XBM
25.5 Dee's Task : I Like A Good Mystery (series) and I Cannot Lie!
Option 1: Read a mystery set at least 50 years ago (before 1973). This one takes place in 1963.
Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger
Option 2. Female Protagonists. (Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida)
Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day
Task total: 25
Season total: 25
25.5 Dee's Task : I Like A Good Mystery (series) and I Cannot Lie!
Option 1: Read a mystery set at least 50 years ago (before 1973). This one takes place in 1963.
Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger
Option 2. Female Protagonists. (Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida)
Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day
Task total: 25
Season total: 25

10.10 - The End?
Read a book from either this list ofhttps://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
The Boston Girl Page 48 of The List "Best Endings"
Points this post = 10
Points to date = 10

15.1 Long and Short
This is a two book task, read one book for each option:
a) Read a SHORT book (under 200 pages) Days at the Morisaki Bookshop - 150 pages
b) Read a LONG book (over 500 pages) Demon Copperhead 54 6 pages and I am claiming a BB ticket for this book
Points this post = 15
Points to date = 25
BB tickets this post = 1
BB tickets to date = 1

15.4 Feed the Birds
One book option = Bird on Cover and Author Initials in name of bird from list

points this post = 15
points to date = 40

15.8 An Extra Day
Read a book first published in a leap year (2024, 2020, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004 etc)
CranBuried Coffee Cake
first published 2016
Points this post = 15
Points to date = 55

25.4 Robin P’s Task: Children’s Party Games
Pick Option 1, 2, or 3 and read a Book A and a Book B from that option.
Option 2:
Book A: Read a book with a chair on the cover. For this task a chair is defined as a seat for one person that has a seat & a back

Book B: Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are found in MUSICAL CHAIRS. Letters may only be used as often as they appear in the phrase.
Endless Night Agatha Christie
Points this post = 25
Points to date = 80

30.1 Mazza1's Task - The Life of Solomon
One Book Option using the line
Christened on Tuesday
Read a book where the Author’s FIRST and LAST initials appear in the line of verse.
AND
with a word of 4 OR MORE letters in the title made from the remaining letters in your chosen line of verse
China 764 pages I am claiming 2 x BB tickets
Author Edward Rutherfurd chRistEned
Title word "China" in CHrIsteNed on tuesdAY
Points this post = 30
Points to date = 110
BB Tickets this post = 2
BB Tickets to Date = 3

REMOVAL POST
Please remove this claim for 25.4 I have used the wrong Book
25.4 Robin P’s Task: Children’s Party Games
Pick Option 1, 2, or 3 and read a Book A and a Book B from that option.
Option 2:
Book A: Read a book with a chair on the cover. For this task a chair is defined as a seat for one person that has a seat & a back

Book B: Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are found in MUSICAL CHAIRS. Letters may only be used as often as they appear in the phrase.
Endless Night Agatha Christie
Points this post = remved 25
Points to date = 85

Pick Option 1, 2, or 3 and read a Book A and a Book B from that option.
Option 2:
Book A: Read a book with a chair on the cover. For this task a chair is defined as a seat for one person that has a seat & a back

Book B: Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are found in MUSICAL CHAIRS. Letters may only be used as often as they appear in the phrase.
Seven Perfect Things Catherine Ryan Hyde CHR in target phrase
Points this post = 25
Points to date = 110

5.7- Telephone Pictionary
Read a book with the MPG Art or Manga/comic book/graphic novels/Sequential Art
Going Into Town: A Love Letter to New York by Roz Chast
MPG Graphic Novels
***Claiming one It's A Fact ticket***
TOTAL POINTS: 20

5.6- Christmas Murder Mystery Night
Read a MPG Mystery or Christmas.
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
I read the ebook and have linked to the Hardcover edition.
~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 5
Total Points: 25/795
Tasks Completed: 3/50
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 0

20.10 Group Reads
Read one of the books selected as a group read for the Winter 2023 season.
Non-Fiction: Treasure Hunting - The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston
Discussion Thread - Post #7
***I claim 1 It's A Fact ticket***
I listened to the audiobook and have linked to the PB edition.
~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 20
Total Points: 45/795
Tasks Completed: 4/50
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 1

5.1- No "L" Day
Read a book with no "L" In the title/subtitle/authors name
if multiple authors none of them may contain the letter "L"
Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn
The ebook was conditionally approved for length for a 5 point task in post 115 and line 2698 of spreadsheet.
~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 5
Total Points: 5/795
Tasks Completed: 1/50
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 0

5.6- Christmas Murder Mystery Night
Read a MPG Mystery or Christmas. Genres may be embedded or stand alone
The Twelve Months of Christmas by Sheila Roberts
~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 5
Total Points: 10/795
Tasks Completed: 2/50
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 0

10.3 - Season of Love
Read a book with the MPG Romance.
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy
~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 20/795
Tasks Completed: 3/50
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 0

15.4 Feed the Birds
OPTION 2: Read ONE book that fulfills both requirements
a) Read a book with a bird on the cover
Required: Post the cover
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
Weyward by Emilia Hart

~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 35/795
Tasks Completed: 4/50
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 0

Task # 5.4- A Werewolf in the Mafia
Read a book that is first published in the 1980's
Passing Strange by Catherine Aird
Originally published in 1980.
Points this post: 5
Total points: 75

10.6 - Roll the Bones
Brief Answers to the Big Questions - 256 pp
1 non fiction ticket
Total
30 points
Tickets - 1 It’s a Fact -

5.1- No "L" Day
Read a book with no "L" In the title/subtitle/authors name
I read The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
Points this Post: 5
Points Total: 110

15.7 When the music stops…
Read a book with MPG Music
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
New Points: 15
Tasks Competed: 7
Total Points: 45

15.9 Pass the Parcel
Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood
I borrowed this book from the library.
This post: 15 points
Total points: 25
BB: 0
GO: 1
NF: 0
Books read: 2
Tasks completed=1
10.6
15.9

15.5 What the Dickens!
Read a book that shares a word of 3 letters or more in the title with one of Dickens novel/novella (excluding "The" and "And")
The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley
Matches Dickens book "The Haunted Man"
Points this post: 15
Total points: 15
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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...
Book: One of Us is Lying
How it fits: Rhode Island Teen Book Award Winner 2020 - R in "winter"
Points this post: 10
Total points: 15