Finish Line - 2024

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 27/30 books read

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated!

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 27/35
6. Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wave in the Mind
People who deny the existence of dragons are often…All the Best People

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 29/30 books read

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 28/35
All that glitters is not... Diamond City

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 29/30 books read

[Theresa, Readathons]

Updated message 7. Progress: 10/12

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Update posted through October 31!

Two months left to complete this challenge! 😃

Stats
Participants: 52
Active: 32
Books Read: 878
Book Goal: 1993
Completed: 11

Tiers
🚶‍♂️ 1-14: Walk - 11
🏃🏽‍♀️ 15-29: 5K - 11
🎽 30-44: 10K - 4
🥇 45-59: Half-Marathon - 3
🏆 60-74: Marathon - 1
🏁 75+: Ultramarathon - 2

[Debra Diggs]

Update to message #6: 30/30
Challenge complete.

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Debra Diggs wrote: "Update to message #6: 30/30
Challenge complete."

Congratulations on reaching your finish line, Debra! 👏

[Ursula]

update to message 16: 30/30 books read, challenge completed!

[Julie]

updated message 13
23/30

[Carmen]

Update to message #14

PROGRESS: 75/75 🏁📚

Thanks for this great challenge!

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Ursula wrote: "update to message 16: 30/30 books read, challenge completed!"

Congratulations on completing your 10K goal, Ursula!

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Carmen wrote: "Update to message #14

PROGRESS: 75/75 🏁📚

Thanks for this great challenge!"

Yay, Carmen! Congratulations, fellow Ultramarathon-er!

[Julie]

updated message 13
24/30

[Laurie]

Update #51

30/30 - Done!

Songs - Complete these opening song lyrics.

🏁 1. Ed Sheeran, Bad Habits, 2021
Every time you come around, you know I…Hang the Moon

🏁 2. BTS, Butter, 2021
Smooth like butter, like…Prize Women

🏁 3. Lady Gaga, Stupid Love, 2020
You’re the one that I’ve…A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games

🏁 4. Pharrell Williams, Happy, 2014
It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to…Buy a Whisker

🏁 5. Rihanna, Diamonds, 2012
Find light in the beautiful… Dawn

🏁 6. Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe, 2011
I threw a wish in… Tom Lake

🏁 7. Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling, 2009
I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be…My Love Story

🏁 8. Beyoncé, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), 2008
Up in the club, just broke up, I’m doing… Winter's Mourn

🏁 9. Eminem, Lose Yourself, 2002
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are…Half Broke Horses

🏁 10. Sinéad O’Connor, Nothing Compares to U, 1990
It's been seven hours and fifteen days since you took…Three Blind Mice and Other Stories

🏁 11. Prince, Let’s Go Crazy, 1984
Dearly Beloved, we have gathered here today to get… Chain-Gang All-Stars

🏁 12. The Eagles, Hotel California, 1976
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in… Mr. Mercedes

🏁 13. The Mamas and the Papas, California Dreaming, 1965
All the leaves are brown and the sky is… Between Shades of Gray

🏁 14. Elvis Pressley, Heartbreak Hotel, 1956
Well, since my baby left me, well, I found a new…Murder Made to Order

🏁 15. Dooley Wilson, As Time Goes By, 1942
You must remember this, a kiss is…A Cold Dark Place

V. Idioms - Complete these idioms using your book titles.

🏁 1. Up a creek without a…Spare

🏁 2. As snug as a bug in a… Winter Garden

🏁 3. Look before you…Murder at the Piccadilly Playhouse

🏁 4. Throw caution to…The Guest Cat

🏁 5. Stop beating around…The Glass Woman

🏁 6. It is always darkest before… Winter's Rise

🏁 7. Don’t kill the goose that lays the…Mary Jane

🏁 8. The pot calling the kettle… The Snowman Killer

🏁 9. Like a cat on a hot tin…Cold Mountain

🏁 10. Your guess is as good as… The Housemaid's Secret

🏁 11. Too many cooks spoil the…Morality for Beautiful Girls

🏁 12. Two heads are better than…Razorblade Tears

🏁 13. All that glitters is not… Only the Beautiful

🏁 14. Every dog has his…Ruthless Vows

🏁 15. A rising tide lifts all… The Thirteen Problems

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Laurie wrote: "Update #51

30/30 - Done!

Songs - Complete these opening song lyrics.

🏁 1. Ed Sheeran, Bad Habits, 2021
Every time you come around, you know I…Hang the Moon"

Well done, Laurie! Congratulations! 👏

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Mid-month update posted!

Wow! Four more readers crossed their finish lines since the last update. Congratulations to Debra, Carmen, Ursula, and Laurie! 🙌

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 29/35
3. Look before you… Find Me

[Anna]

Update to message #54

40/40 - DONE

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… The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, and Compassion -- Surprising Observations of a Hidden World
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… Fashion for Jewels: 100 Years of Styles and Icons

II. Opening Lines - Complete the book beginnings.
1. Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
We slept in what had once been… Jeweled Garden: A Colorful History of Gems, Jewels, and Nature
2. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
It was a pleasure to…
3. Alice Walker, The Color Purple
You better not never tell… How to Wear Jewelry: 55 Styles
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… We Have Always Been Who We Are
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… Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
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… The Mystery of the Blue Train
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… A Pocket Full of Rye
9. L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
I'm so glad to be at… The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire
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… The Jeweled Menagerie: The World of Animals in Gems
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… The A.B.C. Murders
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… James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small
11. Prince, Let’s Go Crazy, 1984
Dearly Beloved, we have gathered here today to get… Just Mercy
12. The Eagles, Hotel California, 1976
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in… My Favorite Universe
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… Interpreter of Maladies
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… Paper: Paging Through History
2. As snug as a bug in a… Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
3. Look before you… Open
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… Five Little Pigs

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 31/35
15. Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth
But over the old man's head they looked at each other and… The Boy

15.A rising tide lifts all… Uncharted Waters

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated through post #328.

Congratulations to Anna for finishing her 10K race! 🙌

[Sarah]

Message 33 Updated

73/73

CHALLENGE COMPLETED

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Sarah wrote: " Message 33 Updated

73/73

CHALLENGE COMPLETED"

Congratulations, Sarah! 🙌

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 32/35
14. Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very…Little Darlings

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 33/35
3. George Orwell, Animal Farm
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and…The Body on the Beach

[✨ Brianna Raquel ✨]

updated msg 18, 75/75

[TerryJane, Challenges]

✨ Brianna Raquel ✨ wrote: "updated msg 18, 75/75"

Woohoo! Way to go, Brianna Raquel! 👏👏👏

[Lynette]

Final Update for message #31:

My remaining reads for this year won't change anything on my total, so my year-end count is 65!

This was fun, thank you.

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated through here!

Congratulations to Sarah, Brianna Raquel, Lynette, and Carolyn, all of whom completed their challenges! 👏👏👏👏

Lynette, you're most welcome. I'm so glad you had fun with this. 🙂

[TEE]

Please update Msg 62

33 / 30 Completed!! November 6

I. Themes
13. Rick Riordan, The Last Olympian
She wore her orange camp t-shirt and The Liar's Crown
III. Closing Lines
6. Juan Chang, Wild Swans
I was eager to embrace Everything We Never Knew
IV. Songs
11. Prince, Leg's Go Crazy, 1984
Dearly Beloved, we have gathered here today to get The Ruins of Gorlan
15. Dooley Wilson, As Time Goes By, 1942
You must remember this, a kiss is The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman
V. Idioms
2. Snug as a bug in American Dirt
6. It is always darkest before The Hunting Moon

[Theresa, Readathons]

Updated message 7. Progress: 12/12

Edited to add my favorite completed prompt is Snug as a bug in a..."Sandwich." LOL!

[Amy]

Updated message 12-- 34/35
14. Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give
What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be…The Liar's Girl

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated to here!

Congratulations to TEE and Theresa on completing the challenge! 👏👏

Reading how participants completed the prompts has been quite amusing. Y'all found some great matches! 👍

[Shari]

Update msg #48:

Progress: 45 / 45 - COMPLETED

This was a lot of fun!!

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Shari wrote: "Update msg #48:

Progress: 45 / 45 - COMPLETED

This was a lot of fun!!"

Congratulations! I increased your goal from 30 to 45 when I added your update. Glad you enjoyed it!

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Updated!

Thanks for joining in the challenge. I enjoyed seeing how you all finished your lines.

I will check back next week for any final update comments.

[Lina]

Final Update for message #09:
🏁 Progress: 60/35 🏁
Thanks, TerryJane!

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Final update posted!

Thanks so much for joining in the fun for this challenge! I wish you all happy reading in 2025!