Margo just Tripping on the Trail

[Jayme, Moderator]

I better speed it up, Margo. You are on my heels. 🏃‍♀️

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm so far behind you, I can't even see the dust the pair of you are kicking up on the trail anymore.

[Margo]

You are taking it slowly Janice, and that's understandable. Now I'd better get my skates and get past Jayme 😉

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 25
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Checkpoint 2: Rippon
◾Mary I: Queen of Sorrows ⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 19 hrs and 8 mins
◾link: Girls name in title (same as last book)

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 26
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Checkpoint 3: Shoaks
◾The Green Man's Heir⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 12 hrs and 7 mins
◾Task: Read a book with "green" in the title or subtitle, or the author is named Green.
◾How book fits: GREEN is in title (Fantasy listed as MPG)

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 27
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Checkpoint 3: Shoaks
◾The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 10 hrs and 33 mins
◾How it fits: Fantasy listed as MGP (ordinal number in title)

[Janice, Moderator]

I now have 19 books read to your 27.

[Margo]

You're speeding up behind me Janice! I've been very distracted lately by library books just jumping off the shelves at me - they're a menace to reaching challenge goals LOL

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm going to slow down a bit because the next few books are all audiobooks, so no reading a print book at the same time.

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 28
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Checkpoint 3: Shoaks
◾Kiss Me First⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 10 hrs and 43 mins
◾How it fits: Ordinal number in title

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 26 29
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Checkpoint 4: Tilth
◾A Good Day for Chardonnay⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 12 hrs and 8 mins
◾Task: Read a book with wine in a glass or grapes are on the cover. (MC is female law enforcement)
◾How book fits: glass or grapes are on the cover.

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 27 30
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Checkpoint 4: Tilth
◾Cruel Acts⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 12 hrs and 28 mins
◾How book fits: MC is female law enforcement (Irish author)

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 28 31
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Checkpoint 4: Tilth
◾Idol⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 12 hrs and 28 mins
◾How book fits: Like the last boot, this one was by Irish author

[Janice, Moderator]

Ha! You might want to check out October's challenge. (Irish author)

[Margo]

Ha, I have no problem finding books by Irish authors for obvious reasons! In fact it almost felt like a cheat using them challenges lol

Thanks for drawing my attention to the prompts for next month though. I used to love a good horror but as I age I find that I'm getting more squeamish.

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 29 32
◾LITERARY HIKE, The Realm of the Elderlings
◾Finish - Farr
◾Slayers⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 8 hrs and 2 mins
◾Task: Read a book with a characteristic in the title and is also the name of one of the farseers.
◾How book fits: Slayer is one of the names listed in the Farseer family tree in the link Janice provided

[Margo]

Whoops, something is wrong! I should be finished 2 hikes, but no matter how many times I try, I can't make 2 sets of 16 books add up 29!!!!

Investigating now......

[Margo]

Problem solved. My numbering started to go wrong at message 111 when I ladled that book as 26. It was book 29 - dyslexia strikes again 😂

Janice, I have renumbed the books in all messages after that post. I think it's transparent but if there's a better way to do it, let me know.

[Janice, Moderator]

You're fine Margo. Looks good to me.

[Margo]

Yay! 2/3 of the to badge 2 😊

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 33
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Start - London
◾The Calculating Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook -11 hrs and 41 mins
◾Task: Read a book with a characteristic in the title and is also the name of one of the farseers.
◾How book fits: There is a group of female pilots on the cover (author has three names)

[Margo]

17 hrs and 37 mins
◾Badge 2, Book 34
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Start - London
◾The Gift of Rain⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 17 hrs and 37 mins
◾link: author has three names (published 2007)

[Jayme, Moderator]

You are steadily gaining on me. I'm going to need to step it up! lol

[Janice, Moderator]

I only have 23 read for badge 2 and I'm worried I'm not going to finish it. These next 3 months are going to have me focussing on little else. I even managed that all 3 topplers books I'll be reading are also good for the hike.

[Margo]

i plan to read 4 challenge books for the toppler but i've put myself under pressure this week as i'd completely forgotten my irl book club book!

I will finish badge 2 within the next month to 6 weeks I hope. I can't decide whether to start the next badge or just mood read and rest my brain for the 2025 challenge - hope you're working hard on that Janice 😂

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 35
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Start - London
◾The Alchemyst⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 10 hrs and 2 mins
◾link: published 2007

[Margo]

(horror)

◾Badge 2, Book 36
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 1 - Paris
◾Something Wicked This Way Comes
⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 9 hrs and 5 mins
◾Task: Read a book with Halloween as a theme.
◾How it fits: Story is set in the lead up to Halloween

[Janice, Moderator]

Another one is down. If I read 8 a month, I will finish badge 2 so my nose it to the grindstone.

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 37
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 1 - Paris
◾The Only One Left⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 11 hrs and 53 mins
◾How it fits: Horror (GR Awared Nominee 2023)

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 38
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 1 - Paris
◾Lady Tan’s Circle of Women⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 11 hrs and 53 mins
◾How it fits: GR choice award nominee

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 39
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 2: Munich
◾Best Seller⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 13 hrs and 22 mins
◾Task: Read a book with a character or author named Susanna or Susan.
◾How it fits: author is Susan May

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 40
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 2: Munich
◾Tress of the Emerald Sea⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 13 hrs and 22 mins
◾The link: MPG fantasy

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 41
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 2: Munich
◾The Change⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 15 hrs and 24 mins
◾The link: fantasy listed as MPG

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 42
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 3: Budapest
◾Hungry⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 9 hrs and 23 mins
◾Task: Read a book with a meal on the cover.
◾How it fits: Meal on the cover (set in England)

[Jayme, Moderator]

You are one book ahead of me. I'll race you to the badge 2 finish line, Margo!

[Margo]

You're on Jayme! Not sure how many detours I might to make on the way though, but if you could wait at the finish line with a gallon of coffee and big soft chair that'd make me very happy 😊

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 43
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 3: Budapest
◾Blood Harvest⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 13h 6m
◾The link: Set in England (HARVEST in title)

[Jayme, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "You're on Jayme! Not sure how many detours I might to make on the way though, but if you could wait at the finish line with a gallon of coffee and big soft chair that'd make me very happy 😊"

You've got it! I'll even have a foot bath ready, if I make it before you😉

[Margo]

Jayme wrote: "Margo wrote: "You're on Jayme! Not sure how many detours I might to make on the way though, but if you could wait at the finish line with a gallon of coffee and big soft chair that'd make me very h..."

Ooh, I'll definitely arrive after you now, I love a foot bath - don't suppose you'll throw in a massage or some reflexology???

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 44
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 3: Budapest
◾Harvest⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 8 hrs and 30 mins
◾The link: HARVEST in title

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 45
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 4: Bran Castle
◾The Wolf Border⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 13 hrs and 15 mins
◾Task: Read a book with a wolf on the cover, in the title, or about wolves. They may be shapeshifters.
◾How it fits: WOLF in title

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 46
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 4: Bran Castle
◾Camelot⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 20 hrs and 10 mins
◾How it fits: WOLF on cover (historical fiction is MPG)

[Jayme, Moderator]

Margo - I'm waiting at the end of your hike and just need to know your beverage of choice? You are almost there!!!

[Margo]

Okay, you win - I want an extra large iced coffee, a comfy recliner chair and foot massage! You might want to wash my feet before you touch them though, there could be a bit of a stink when I take my hiking boots off 😂

[Janice, Moderator]

LOL! I love those pedicure chairs that have the built in massager. A massage and pedicure is a great way to relax.

[Jayme, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Okay, you win - I want an extra large iced coffee, a comfy recliner chair and foot massage! You might want to wash my feet before you touch them though, there could be a bit of a stink when I take ..."

LOL! You got it!

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 47
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Checkpoint 4: Bran Castle
◾Cecily⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 9 hrs and 43 mins
◾How it fits: Historical fiction is MPG

[Margo]

◾Badge 2, Book 48
◾LITERARY HIKE, Chasing Dracula
◾Finish: Bucharest
◾The Cutting Place⭐⭐⭐⭐
◾Audiobook - 12 hrs and 28 mins
◾Task: Read a book tagged as "Crime" on the main book page.
◾How it fits: CRIME is in MPG

[Margo]

Yay, I made it. Searching the crowd for Jayme....

Janice, thank you so much! I loved this challenge, it kept me gophering through the year. Brilliant idea 👋❤️❤️

[Janice, Moderator]

Woohooo! You made it! Congrats!

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I kept changing my mind about a book, which often meant that I needed to gopher for the connecting books.