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!
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Book of choice: The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
Points this post: 5
Total points: 755

10.5 - A Ghost Story For Christmas.
Read a book that features ghosts or spirits.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (166 p.)

➸ Total Points: 230
➸ Total Pages: 7,510

30.2 Katrisa's Task : Winter Zodiac
Option 2 - Capricorn - December 22- January 19
Book 1 - Read a book set in either the mountains or by the ocean
Setting: Island/coast mentioned in GR description
Authority
Book 2 - Read a book from the first 20 pages of this devilish list
PAGE: 1
Good Omens
Mass market paperback editions of audiobooks for page count requirement: 500 total
Authority - 408 pages
Good Omens - 491 pages
New Points: 30
Total Points: 165
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(3), IaF(3)
Congratulations Kathy KS on completing the challenge - You have a task 25 point in the Spring challenge
Congratulations MEGSCL on completing the challenge - You have a task 25 point in the Spring challenge

15.4 Feed the Birds
OPTION 2: Read ONE book that fulfills both requirements
This is How You Lose the Time War by
Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Req 2: Read a book where ALL of the author's initials are found in ONE of the most common British garden birds. Where a book has multiple authors, the initials of ALL the authors must appear.
BIRD: MAGPIE
Req 1: Read a book with a bird on the cover

New Points: 15
Total Points: 180
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(3), IaF(3)
Congratulations Kristina Marie on completing the challenge - You have a task 25 point in the Spring challenge
Congratulations Shelby on completing the challenge - You have a task 25 point in the Spring challenge

15.5 What the Dickens!
Read a book that shares a word of 3 letters or more in the title with one of Dickens' novels/novellas
The Peril at End House
Dickens Novel: Bleak House)
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies Ticket**
New Points: 15
Total Points: 195
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(4), IaF(3)

10.2 - Festive Folklore
Read a book from the first 25 pages of the Folklore shelf
Rivers of London
Found on list page 14
New Points: 10
Total Points: 205
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(4), IaF(3)

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
Rogue Protocol
Class: Rogue
New Points: 10
Total Points: 215
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(4), IaF(3)

10.5 - A Ghost Story For Christmas
Read a book that features ghosts or spirits
Whispers Underground
GR description of this book: it’s up to Peter to plumb the haunted depths of the oldest, largest, and—as of now—deadliest subway system in the world
GR description of the series: Probationary Constable Peter Grant’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. His ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.
New Points: 10
Total Points: 225
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(4), IaF(3)

30.4 Nick KY’s Task: Murder in the Manor
This is a two book task. Read two books from two different options.
No books with the genre of “Children’s” may be used for this task.
Opt. A.
For this option read a book from one of the following “Manor House” lists:
Novels about Big Houses
Required: State the list and the page
Atonement by Ian McEwan - page 1
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.
Letters may be used only as often as they appear in the target phrase.
Required: state the word
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (SONG)
This Task: 30 Points
To Date: 765 Points

15.6 Let's Celebrate!
Read a book where the authors initials can be found in FIREWORKS
The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
**Claiming 1 It's A Fact Ticket**
New Points: 15
Total Points: 240
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(4), IaF(4)

15.8 An Extra Day
Read a book first published in a leap year
Network Effect
Published May 5th, 2020
New Points: 15
Total Points: 255
Tickets as of this post: BB(2), GO(4), IaF(4)

20.6 It's a Fact-MaryPDX's Task: Say It's Carol Singers
Option 1: Written by an author whose first and last initials can be found in one of the phrases The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
*I KNOW HIM!
This Task:
Points: 20
Books Read: 1
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 0
Total:
Points: 345
Books Read: 26
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 1
IAF Ticket: 3
Tasks Completed: 18
All done!! Thank you moderators!

15.7 When the music stops ...
Read a book with MPG Music
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl
*****I claim 1 It's a Fact Ticket*****
~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 440/775
Tasks Completed: 29/49
BB: 2
GO: 0
NF: 4

15.5 What the Dickens!
Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World

The word is LIFE which matches The Battle of Life
Claiming 1 It's a fact ticket.
Totals
Points: 175
BB: 0
GO: 0
NF: 7
Total Tasks Completed: 21
Total Books Completed: 21

Option 3 - Aquarius - 2 books, must total 500+ pages together.
Book 1: Book with MPG Mythology - The Penelopiad. Mass market paperback page count 199 pages.
Book 2: book with STAR in the title - Murder of a Movie Star. Paperback page count 422 pages.
199 + 422 = 621 pages total
Total points: 320
Big Books: 0
Golden Oldies: 6
It's a Fact: 2
Tasks Completed: 12
Books read: 21

50.1 - Trishhartuk’s Task: The Spirits of the Past, the Present and the Future
Book 1: The Past
MPG Historical and set before 1950
Babel
Book 2: The Present
Read a book first published in 2021-2024, which is set in the present day or (for non-fiction) discusses current affairs
I'm Glad My Mom Died
(discusses the recent increase in visibility of the abusiveness of the child acting industry, eating disorder recovery, and the consequences of being raised by a narcissistic parent)
Book 3: The Future
Read a novel by an author who has published one or more novels which have the Science Fiction or Fantasy MPGs; and has also published one or more novels with a "present day" setting relative to its publishing date
The Lost Tomb by Douglas Preston
Present Day Book: He's published several including Trial by Fury: Internet Savagery and the Amanda Knox Case and one of this challenge's group reads, The Lost City of the Monkey God
MPG Science Fiction: Relic, Reliquary, etc
Mass market paperback editions of audiobooks for page count requirement: 750 total
Babel - 560 pages
I'm Glad My Mom Died - 384
The Lost Tomb - 384 (yes, the same page count, haha)
**Claiming 1 Big Book Ticket**
**Claiming 2 It's a Fact Tickets**
New Points: 50
Total Points: 305
Tickets as of this post: BB(3), GO(4), IaF(6)

20.1 - Most Improved - TessaVanessa's Task: TessaVanessa's NYC Adventure
Option 2:

TinEye:
75.1% #3c6139 Green
6.7% #dcc334 Yellow
5.3% #cbee96 Grey
3.3% #7d8a65 Grey
2.3% #0f150e Black
2.2% #424030 Grey
2.0% #798939 Green
1.8% #949493 Grey
0.9% #ee1d27 Red
0.3% #f1686b Pink
This post: 20 points
Total points: 695
BB: 8
GO: 2
NF: 9
Tasks completed: 43
Books read: 58

20.6 - It's A Fact - MaryPDX's Task: Say It's Carol Singers
Option 1 - Author's initials can be found in "I KNOW HIM!" - Darling, I'm Going to Charlie: A Memoir by Maryse Wolinski
**Claiming 1 It's a Fact ticket**
Total points: 340
Big Books: 0
Golden Oldies: 6
It's a Fact: 3
Tasks Completed: 13
Books read: 22

30.4 - Nick KY’s Task: Murder in the Manor
Read two books from two different options.
Option A: Read a book from one of the following “Manor House” lists
Manor House list page 1
The Body in the Library
Option B: Read a book with an MPG of “Horror”
Neverwhere
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies Ticket**
New Points: 30
Total Points: 335
Tickets as of this post: BB(3), GO(5), IaF(6)

10.3 - Season of Love
Read a book with the MPG Romance
The Man in the Brown Suit
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies Ticket**
New Points:10
Total Points: 345
Tickets as of this post: BB(3), GO(6), IaF(6)

20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Sarah E's Task: The Chocolate Game
Option 1: Read a book which is #6 in a series
Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries #6)
New Points:20
Total Points: 365
Tickets as of this post: BB(3), GO(6), IaF(6)

25.5 Dee's Task : I Like A Good Mystery (series) and I Cannot Lie!
Both books must have an MPG MYSTERY or CRIME, and both must be part of two different series on Goodreads with AT LEAST 3 books listed on the series page
Option 1: Read a mystery set at least 50 years ago (before 1973)
The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #1)
Option 3: Read a book set 80% outside your home country, in a place you have never visited but would like to.
Broken Homes (Rivers of London #4)
Req: I would love to visit England someday, London specifically, but the closest I've come is a long layover in Heathrow.
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies ticket**
New Points:25
Total Points: 390
Tickets as of this post: BB(3), GO(7), IaF(6)

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: Musical Chairs
Book A: Read a book with a chair on the cover.
Fourteen Days

(they're very small, but there are several on the roof in addition to the couch)
Book B: Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are found in MUSICAL CHAIRS
Black Coffee by Agatha Christie
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies ticket**
New Points:25
Total Points: 415
Tickets as of this post: BB(3), GO(8), IaF(6)

5.10 - A Holiday Gift For You
Book of choice
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 60/775
Tasks Completed: 5
Books Read: 5

15.8 - An Extra Day
book first published in a leap year
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith - first published in 2008
Points this post: 15
Total Points: 70/775
Tasks Completed: 6
Books Read: 6

30.1 Mazza1's Task - The Life of Solomon
Option 1 Two book option. Sse ANY ONE LINE of the verse for BOTH options
Line: Christened on Tuesday
Book A: Read a book where the Author’s FIRST and LAST initials appear in the line of verse
The Navigating Fox
Book B: Read a book with a word of 4 OR MORE letters in the title made from the remaining letters in your chosen line of verse
Word: Dead
Dead Mountain
New Points: 30
Total Points: 445
Tickets as of this post: BB(3), GO(8), IaF(6)

25.2 JennRenee's Task: Oh What Fun!
Option 1: Twelve Days
Book 1: Read a book that is 1-12 of a series. Only whole numbers are allowed.
Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #2)
Book 2 : Read a book where all authors initials can be found in TIS THE SEASON
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
**Claiming 2 Big Book tickets**
New Points: 25
Total Points: 470
Tickets as of this post: BB(5), GO(8), IaF(6)

10.1 - Poetry for Neanderthals
Read a book where all the words in the title consist of a single syllable
The Big Four
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies Ticket**
New Points: 10
Total Points: 480
Tickets as of this post: BB(5), GO(9), IaF(6)

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:
Phrase: “LOVE ACTUALLY IS ALL AROUND”
The Mystery of the Blue Train
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies Ticket**
New Points: 20
Total Points: 500
Tickets as of this post: BB(5), GO(10), IaF(6)

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
Acceptance.
b) Read the first book (#1) in a series
A Darker Shade of Magic
New Points: 15
Total Points: 515
Tickets as of this post: BB(5), GO(10), IaF(6)

15.1 Long and Short
a) Read a SHORT book (under 200 pages)
Exit Strategy - 176 pages
b) Read a LONG book (over 500 pages)
The Will of the Many - 630 pages
**Claiming 1 Big Book Ticket**
New Points: 15
Total Points: 530
Tickets as of this post: BB(6), GO(10), IaF(6)

Author's initials in fireworKS
The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley
Points: 15
Total/challenge: 405

15.3 Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All/b>
a) Read a book where the letters of UDHR appear in the title
Murder on the Orient Express
b) The 2023 Theme is Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All
Read a book that is on the first 20 pages of one of the following shelves: "human rights", "dignity", "freedom" or "justice"
All Systems Red Human Rights page 13
**Claiming 1 Golden Oldies Ticket**
New Points: 15
Total Points: 545
Tickets as of this post: BB(6), GO(11), IaF(6)
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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...
A cover at least 70% with: You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
88% white
Points this post: 5
Total points: 750