Finish Line - 2024

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 14/30 books read

[Jannene]

Updated message 47.

15/75

[Tammy]

Update to Message #71

Progress 11/25

✔️ 8. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited
An unexciting truth may be eclipsed by the Sweep of the Heart

✔️ 12. Cormac McCarthy, The Road
When he woke in the woods in the dark and cold of the night he’d Sweep with Me

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 15/30 books read

[Rachael]

Updated message 38: 8/12

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Update to Message #20 : 50/75

Half-marathon level! 🥵

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated through here!

[GailW]

Update message 4: 33 /41

[Shelley]

Update to Message 25: 28/30.

V - Idioms, 12 - Two heads are better than…The Busy Body

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 16/30 books read

[Julie]

Updated message 13
10/30

[Julie]

Updated message 13
11/30

[Shelley]

Update to Message 25: 29/30.

III - Closing Lines, 1 - After all, tomorrow is…The Final Gambit

[Theresa, Readathons]

Updated message 7. Progress: 4/12

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 16/35
2. Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Spring was moving in the air above and in… The Direction of the Wind

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated!

If you see any errors in your participant list info, please let me know.

Happy reading, and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms. 💐

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 17/30 books read

[Shelley]

Update to Message 25: 31/30.

I - Themes, 11 - I'm Gentleman Death in silk and lace, come to put out the…She Who Became the Sun
IV - Songs, 2 - Smooth like butter, like a…The Princess Spy

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 17/35
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale:
We slept in what had once been... Greenwich Park

[Julie]

updated message 13
12/30

[Debra Diggs]

Update to message #6: 23/30

[Shelley]

Update to Message 25: 33/30.

III - Closing Lines, 8 - Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you…The Last Thing He Told Me
IV - Songs, 1 - Every time you come around, you know I…I Am Princess X

[GailW]

Updated message 4: 39 / 41

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 18/30 books read

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 18/35
7. Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling, 2009:
I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be… The Silent Treatment

[Jannene]

Updated message 47

22/75

[GailW]

Update msg #4: 42/41 completed

[Lina]

Update for message #9:
🏁 Progress: 37/35 🏁
Thanks!

[Rachael]

Updated original post: 9/12

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated!

Congratulations to Shelley, Gail W, and Lina, for reaching and exceeding their 10K goals! Way to go! 👏👏👏

[Carmen]

Update to message #14

PROGRESS: 35/75 🏁📚

[Julie]

updated message 13
12/30

[Shelley]

I'm going to keep chipping away at this and update my goal to 45.

Update to Message 25: 36/45.

I - Themes, 2 - Spring was moving in the air above and in…the River of the Gods
III - Closing Lines, 9 - I'm so glad to be at…The Last Murder at the End of the World
V - Idioms, 11 - Too many cooks spoil the…The Brothers Hawthorne

[Greg]

Update to message 24:

II. Opening Lines - Complete the book beginnings.

6. Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca
Last night I dreamt I went to The Inn Of The Two Witches

5/50

[Shelley]

Update to Message 25: 37/45.

II - Opening Lines, 11 - Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was…As Good As Dead

[TEE]

Please update Msg 62

20 / 30

I. Themes
8. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited
An unexciting truth may be eclipsed by Midnight Without a Moon
12. J.R.R. Tolkein, The Hobbit
The mountain smoked beneath the moon; the dwarves, they heard The Echo of Old Books
15. Kathryn Stockett, The Help
All I'm saying is, kindness don't have Rust in the Root
II. Opening Lines
7. Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun
When we were new, Rosa and I were The Wicked Ones
III. Closing Lines
2. Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
The eyes and faces all turned themselves towards The Poet X
9. L. Frank Braum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
I'm so glad to be at The Inheritance Games
IV. Songs
7. Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling, 2009
I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be (the) Finale
10. Sinead O'Connor, Nothing Compares to You
It's been seven hours and fifteen days, since you took This Light Between Us
V. Idioms
5. Too many cooks spoil The Housemaid
7. Don't kill the goose that lays (the) Piglet

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Update to Message #20 : 60/75

I'm now at Marathon level! Whew. 😅 Below is my Opening Lines section -- the only section I've completed so far.

II. Opening Lines - Complete the book beginnings.
🏁 1. Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
We slept in what had once been… The Home for Unwanted Girls
🏁 2. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
It was a pleasure to… Eat a Peach
🏁 3. Alice Walker, The Color Purple
You better not never tell… Martín Fierro
🏁 4. Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is… Singled Out
🏁 5. Min Jin Lee, Pachinko
History has failed us, but… Yesterday Is History
🏁 6. Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca
Last night I dreamt I went to… a Beautiful Country
🏁 7. Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun
When we were new, Rosa and I were… As Fast As Her
🏁 8. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Ships at a distance have every man’s… Tiny Beautiful Things
🏁 9. Marcel Proust, Swann’s Way
For a long time, I went to bed… with The Night Strangers
🏁 10. S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders
When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I… was Hunting El Chapo
🏁 11. Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was… in Grave Peril
🏁 12. Cormac McCarthy, The Road
When he woke in the woods in the dark and cold of the night he’d… be Unmasked
🏁 13. Ashley Audrain, The Push
Your house glows at night like everything inside is… Moonstruck
🏁 14. George Orwell, 1984
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were... Half Broke
🏁 15. Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House
No live organism can continue for long to… Stay Gold

[Greg]

Update to message 24:

I. Themes - Complete quotes related to our 2024 themes.
6. Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wave in the Mind
People who deny the existence of dragons are often Blood and Smoke

6/50

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated to here!

[Anna]

Update to message #54

22/25 and I would like to up my goal to 40, so please make it 22/40

I. Themes - Complete quotes related to our 2024 themes.
1. Naomi Novik, Uprooted
They come and go like seasons, the winter that gives… - A Time to Kill
2. Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Spring was moving in the air above and in… The Lovely Bones
3. John Green, Looking for Alaska
Every summer since I was little, I’ve gone to garage sales and bought… Amazing Gems: An Illustrated Guide to the World's Most Dazzling Costume Jewelry
4. Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing
Autumn leaves don't fall, they…
5. Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps…
6. Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wave in the Mind
People who deny the existence of dragons are often… Profiles in Courage
7. Jim Butcher, Vignette
I have nightmares about hell, where all I do is add up numbers and try to… To Kill a Mockingbird
8. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited
An unexciting truth may be eclipsed by… The Lessons of History
9. Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone
Their lies and lily-scented perfumes taint the… The Woman in Me
10. Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl
But he turned our family life into an endless road trip with… The Archer
11. Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat
I'm Gentleman Death in silk and lace, come to put out the…
12. J.R.R Tolkien, The Hobbit
The mountain smoked beneath the moon; the dwarves, they heard… The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature
13. Rick Riordan, The Last Olympian
She wore her orange camp t-shirt and…
14. Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give
What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be… Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner
15. Kathryn Stockett, The Help
All I’m saying is, kindness don’t have…

II. Opening Lines - Complete the book beginnings.
1. Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
We slept in what had once been…
2. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
It was a pleasure to…
3. Alice Walker, The Color Purple
You better not never tell…
4. Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is… Eastbound
5. Min Jin Lee, Pachinko
History has failed us, but…
6. Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca
Last night I dreamt I went to… The World Without Us
7. Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun
When we were new, Rosa and I were… Finessing the King: A Short Story
8. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Ships at a distance have every man’s…
9. Marcel Proust, Swann’s Way
For a long time, I went to bed…
10. S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders
When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I…
11. Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was…
12. Cormac McCarthy, The Road
When he woke in the woods in the dark and cold of the night he’d…
13. Ashley Audrain, The Push
Your house glows at night like everything inside is… The Color Purple
14. George Orwell, 1984
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were...
15. Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House
No live organism can continue for long to…

III. Closing Lines - Complete these book endings.
1. Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
After all, tomorrow is…
2. Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
The eyes and faces all turned themselves towards… The Bitter Side of Sweet
3. George Orwell, Animal Farm
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and…
4. Yann Martel,Life of Pi
Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at…
5. Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
The old man was dreaming about… The Ice Dragon
6. Jung Chang, Wild Swans
I was eager to embrace… The Power of Trees
7. Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain
There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to…
8. Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you…
9. L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
I'm so glad to be at…
10. Kate Chopin, The Awakening
There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of… The Unexpected Guest
11. Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
She opened the door wide and let him into her…
12. Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada
And then, while the pretty brunette girl finished singing her verse, he…
13. Asne Seierstad, A Hundred and One Days
It floats through the balcony doors and makes the curtains…
14. Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very…
15. Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth
But over the old man's head they looked at each other and…

IV. Songs - Complete these opening song lyrics.
1. Ed Sheeran, Bad Habits, 2021
Every time you come around, you know I…
2. BTS, Butter, 2021
Smooth like butter, like a…
3. Lady Gaga, Stupid Love, 2020
You’re the one that I’ve…
4. Pharrell Williams, Happy, 2014
It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to…
5. Rihanna, Diamonds, 2012
Find light in the beautiful… Miracle of Mindfulnes
6. Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe, 2011
I threw a wish in…
7. Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling, 2009
I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be…
8. Beyoncé, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), 2008
Up in the club, just broke up, I’m doing…
9. Eminem, Lose Yourself, 2002
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are…
10. Sinéad O’Connor, Nothing Compares to U, 1990
It's been seven hours and fifteen days since you took…
11. Prince, Let’s Go Crazy, 1984
Dearly Beloved, we have gathered here today to get…
12. The Eagles, Hotel California, 1976
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in…
13. The Mamas and the Papas, California Dreaming, 1965
All the leaves are brown and the sky is…
14. Elvis Pressley, Heartbreak Hotel, 1956
Well, since my baby left me, well, I found a new…
15. Dooley Wilson, As Time Goes By, 1942
You must remember this, a kiss is… Death on the Nile

V. Idioms - Complete these idioms using your book titles.
1. Up a creek without a…
2. As snug as a bug in a… Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
3. Look before you…
4. Throw caution to… The Red Badge of Courage
5. Stop beating around the…
6. It is always darkest before…
7. Don’t kill the goose that lays the…
8. The pot calling the kettle…
9. Like a cat on a hot tin…
10. Your guess is as good as…
11. Too many cooks spoil the…
12. Two heads are better than…
13. All that glitters is not…
14. Every dog has his…
15. A rising tide lifts all…

[Kalyn]

Update to msg #41 please! Progress: 10/10 🎉 FINISHEDDD

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 19/30 books read

[Shelley]

Update to Message 25: 39/45.

II - Opening Lines, 1 - We slept in what had once been…The Dutch House
V - Idioms, 14 - Every dog has his…Long March Home

[Rachael]

Updated message 38: 10/12

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated to here!

We are halfway through the year, and 56% of our sign-ups have checked in for an update, reading 27% of our overall book goal. Five participants have completed the challenge: Brittany, Gail W, Kalyn, Lina, and Ziggy! 👏

If you are one of the 23 readers who joined, but have yet to post an update, we'd sure like to hear your progress report and include your efforts in our stats. Thanks! 😊

[✨ Brianna Raquel ✨]

updated msg 18, 27/45

[Theresa, Readathons]

Updated message 7. Progress: 7/12

[Carmen]

Update to message #14

PROGRESS: 36/75 🏁📚

[Julie]

updated message 13
14/30

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 20/30 books read