The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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WINTER CHALLENGE 2024
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Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD!

20.5 - Bigger is Better- Elizabeth P's Task: Celebrating the SRC
Option 2: Read a book that is #3 or #6 in a series.
Highland Dragon - Genevieve Jack 1/17
(The Treasures of Paragon #6)
Points this task: 20
Total points: 235
Big Book Tickets: 500 (1) 750 (0) 1000 (0)

20.1 Kathy KS's Task: Family and Holidays
Option 2: Set in CA, KS, MO, NC or Germany
Goodbye, Vitamin - set almost exclusively in California
Points this post: 20
Total points: 585
BB:0 GO:2 IAF:6

15.8 - New Year, New Beginnings
Read a book with a word of four or more letters in the title that can be made from "NEW YEAR BRINGS FRESH BEGINNINGS"
Torch Ginger - Toby Neal 1/9
(GINGER in yEaR brings fresh beGINninGs)
Points this task: 15
Total points: 250
Big Book Tickets: 500 (1) 750 (0) 1000 (0)

10.4 - Wonderful Wetlands
Read a book with a word of four or more letters in its title that can be made from WORLD WETLANDS DAY
Caught Dead to Write - Lynn Cahoon 1/10
(DEAD in worlD wEtlAnDs)
Points this task: 10
Total points: 260
Big Book Tickets: 500 (1) 750 (0) 1000 (0)

10.7 - I Want To Believe
Read a book with an MPG of Paranormal. The genre may be embedded, e.g. "Paranormal Romance" or "Paranormal Horror"
Windy City Dragon - Genevieve Jack 1/2
Points this task: 10
Total points: 270
Big Book Tickets: 500 (1) 750 (0) 1000 (0)

5.3 - Cupid is Coming
Read a book with MPG Romance. Stand Alone or Embedded
Kiss Hard - Nalini Singh 1/7
Points this task: 5
Total points: 275
Big Book Tickets: 500 (1) 750 (0) 1000 (0)

5.10 - Comfort zone
Read a book of your choice that meets SRC rules
The Dragon of Sedona - Genevieve Jack 1/15
Points this task: 5
Total points: 280
Big Book Tickets: 500 (1) 750 (0) 1000 (0)

10.10 - Cold As Ice
Hidden in Snow - Nordic Noir list, page 2 #133
Points this post: 10
Total points: 460

20.3 Review Raffle- Trishhartuk's Task: Wordplay
Option 2: A Farewell to Arfs - play on words for "A Farewell to Arms"
Points this post: 20
total points: 480

20.8 Nickels & Dimes- Apple's Task: The Wonders of Home
Option 1: Ballistic - pubished in 2011 (year of publication contains two of 1, 2, 8 and 9)
Points this post: 20
Total points: 500

25.2 - Nick KY’s Task: Rivers
Option 1: The Sentence is Death - published in 2018 (year ends in 8)
Option 2: The Grey Wolf - Wolf in title
Points this post: 25
Total points: 525

30.7 - Amy FL’s Task: The Headaches of Home Ownership
Option 1: Beyond Reasonable Doubt - REasonable
Option 2: The Last Dead Girl -DEAD in molD rEmeDiAtion
Points this post: 30
Total points: 555

20.3 Review Raffle- Trishhartuk's Task: Wordplay
Help Thread
Option 3: Word maths. Read a book which fits one of the following word “equations”.
a) Read a book with a title of at least two words where the total number of letters in the title can be averaged by the number of words, to get a whole number.
The Finishing School 18 letters/3 words=6
Points this post: 20
Total points: 20/995
Tasks completed: 1/57
Books read: 1

30.9 - TessaVanessa's Task: Ringing in the New Year
Choose 2 options and read 1 book for each.
Opt 1:Read a book with a page count with only the numbers in 2024 and 2025 (00222245)
Somewhere Beyond the Sea 500 pgs
Opt 2: Read a book with food on the cover. The food should be visible (i.e. not in a can or packet).

Points This Post: 30
Total Points: 30

30.7 - Amy FL’s Task: The Headaches of Home Ownership
Opt 1: Read a book with a title word that begins with the letters RE.

Opt 3: Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in MARISSA.

Points This Post: 30
Total Points: 60

Option 3: Let It Snow - Performed by Vaughn Monroe
Read a book where the author’s initials (you may ignore middle initials) can be found in LET IT SNOW. You may only use letters as many times as they appear. If multiple authors, all their initials must be found in the phrase.
Candy Houses
S W - SnoW
Option 5: Fairytale of New York performed by The Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl
Read a book with the MPG Urban Fantasy.
Silver Borne
Points this post: 25
Total points: 135
Books Read: 12
Tasks Completed: 10
Big Book Tickets - 3
IAF Tickets - 1

Choose the MPG: Christmas, Thriller, Chick Lit, Mystery, or Romance
Genres must be listed as a stand alone.
Required: State the genre -- ROMANCE
Book 1: Read a book with a word int he title of 4 or more letters made from this quote:
Winter was made for warm blankets and large books.
Letters may be used as often as they appear.
Required: State the word
FROST = winTeR waS made FOr...
Frost Burned
Book 2: Read a book by a single author whose first and last initial can be found in either COLD NIGHTS or WINTER READS
Letters may be used as many times as they appear, middle initials may be ignored
Reequired: State the phrase
cold nighTS
Keeping The Mafia Boss by Tierney Storer
Points this post: 25
Total points: 160
Books Read: 14
Tasks Completed: 11
Big Book Tickets - 3
IAF Tickets - 1

25.3 Beth NC's Task: Winter Solstice
Option 2: Cozy mystery list The Maid by NIta Prose
Option 4: All letters in YULE in title/subtitle or author's name Cranberry Bluff by Deborah Garner
This Task:
Points: 25
Books Read: 2
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 0
Total:
Points: 155
Books Read: 10
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 1
Tasks Completed: 6

25.1 KmariesD's Task: It's My Birthday
Option 3: Both individual MPG Mystery and MPG Romance Hello, Transcriber Hannah Morrissey
*304 pages
Option 4: Author's initials found in GALAPAGOS ISLANDS Less by Andrew Sean Greer
*263 pages
304+263=567 pages
This Task:
Points: 25
Books Read: 2
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 0
Total:
Points: 180
Books Read: 12
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 1
Tasks Completed: 7

20.6 It's A Fact - Julia103's Task" Getting Older
Option 1: Read a book where a main character is a senior citizen.
The Excitements
(The description on the book page says "about two elderly female World War II veterans" and "Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain’s most beloved World War II veterans. Now in their late nineties...")
This post: 20 points
Total points: 405
BB: 5
GO: 3
NF: 3
Completed tasks: 20
Books read: 28

10.2 - Crossing Borders
Read a book which is set in at least two countries. (Italy, USA)
Required: If the locations are not evident in the book description or the GR metadata, provide a reference.
The Mastermind
(PB The Mastermind)
This task points: 10
Total season points: 350

Read a book with a word in the title of 4 or more letters found in these lyrics: "When Christmas Comes to Town"
Once There Was a Way: What if The Beatles Stayed Together? (2017) by Bryce Zabel (Goodreads Author) (Paperback 308 pages)
Word: ONCE
I never hear a sound
And all the dreams of children
Once lost will all be found
That's all I want when Christmas comes to town
75 + 15 = 90
Tasks Completed: 05
Points for this post: 15
Points thus far: 75 + 15 = 90
Books read: 06
Pages read: 1,725
Read but not claimed: 05
Goodreads Authors: 02
Golden Oldies: 00
It’s a Fact (Non-Fiction): 00
Big Books:
(0) 500+
(0) 750+
(0) 1,000+

Secluded cabin in a snowy landscape: The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

Points this post: 15
Total points: 290

20.1 Most Improved -Kathy KS's Task: Family and Holidays
Option 3 -Bull Moon Rising. This book was published in 2024.
Points this Post: 20
Total Points: 20

20.8 Nickels & Dimes- Apple's Task: The Wonders of Home
Option 1-Reached. Contains a 1 and a 2 in the publication year of 2012.
Points this Post: 20
Total Points:40

5.6 Meanwhile, Back in the Southern Hemisphere
Read a book set in the Southern Hemisphere AND first published in December or January: 8th Jan 2015 + more than 50% set in Australia (19 of 22 chapters)
Required: If the setting is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.
Red Dirt Heart 4
(PB Red Dirt Heart 4)
This task points: 5
Total season points: 355

Task #
25.7- FLY's Task-FLY Finally Finishes!
Option 1. Read a book with a car prominently featured on the cover.

Option 2: In the car I listened to a LOT of audiobooks. For this option, please pick a book from this list of Best Audiobooks.
Best Audiobooks
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt
this is the audio version which I listened to but Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything gives page numbers and the book is listed on the first page of the list.
Points this post: 25
Total points: 365

5.4 New Year, New Reads!
Read a book where an author's first and last initials are found in HAPPY NEW YEAR - NW
Second Chance at First Love by N.R. Walker
(PB Second Chance at First Love: Prequel to the Storm Boys Series)
This task points: 5
Total season points: 360

15.5 - Old Saint Nick
For this task read a book with a single author who shares initials with one of these names. The initials may be reversed in order but must match a single name. Middle initials may be ignored.
Initials are SC, CS, KK, FC, CF, SN, NS
Whisper Beach by Shelley Noble
Author Shelley Noble - Initials - SN
Points this post - 15
Total points - 75

15.9 My Bloody Valentine
Read a book with MPG Romance as well as MPG of War, Thriller or Mythology.
The Immortals This book has MPGs Romance and Mythology.
Points this post: 15
Total points: 105
Tasks completed: 8
Books read: 8
Golden Oldies: 0
Big Books: 500=2, 750=0, 1000=0 (Total BB tickets=2)
It's A Fact: 1

15.6 - Why, to the North Pole, of course! This is the Polar Express!
Read a book with a word in the title of 4 or more letters found in these lyrics
The Enemy at Home by Kevin O'Brien
word = Home
Points this post - 15
Total points - 90

25.6: Lisa MD's Task-New Year Reflections
Option 1: For this option, read a book with a MPG of mystery, standalone or embedded, AND whose title and/or subtitle contains ALL the letters of FATHER.
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Option 2: For this option, read a book from the first 25 pages of Goodreads "Weddings Books" Shelf: Wedding Books
Required: State the page - Page 1
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 25
Total Points: 405/995
Tasks Completed: 25/59
BB: 1
GO: 0
NF: 3

15.3 - Mysterious and Wise
Option 2: One book satisfies both criteria: A. Cover 75% red, black & yellow and B. Page count has 2 of the following #s (2, 8, 9)
Smile: Behind the Lens of the ‘Dating Game Killer’ by Ryan Green

129 pages
TinEye: 76.2% Black, Red & Yellow
50.8 %#110303Black
14.2 %#55151bBrown
9.0 %#eee81aYellow
8.3 %#8a2226Red
7.0 %#c22c30Red
4.4 %#340e13Brown
3.4 %#8d8c8dGrey
1.5 %#333737Grey
1.1 %#c2b92aYellow
0.4 %#b2716aBrown
***I claim an IAF ticket***
🎀🎄🎅🏻❄️🎀🎄🎅🏻❄️🎀🎄🎅🏻❄️🎀🎄🎅🏻❄️🎀🎄🎅🏻❄️🎀🎄🎅🏻❄️
COMPLETED TASKS:
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 395 / 995
Total Books Read: 29
Total Tasks Completed: 23 / 57
Big Book Tickets: 1
Golden Oldies Tickets:
IAF Tickets: 5

25.7- FLY's Task-FLY Finally Finishes!
This is a two book task. Choose two options and read one book for each. Required: State the option
Option 2: Pick a book from this list of Best Audiobooks.
Required: State the page - Page 2, #200
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
Option 3: Pick a very short book, i.e. a book with fewer than 180 pages. (your book must still meet the 100-page minimum!)
Sweet Tea & Christmas Trees by Rachel Hanna - 169 pages
~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 25
Total Points: 430/995
Tasks Completed: 26/59
BB: 1
GO: 0
NF: 3

30.9 - TessaVanessa's Task: Ringing in the New Year
Choose 2 options and read 1 book for each.
Option 1: Goodbye 2024! Hello 2025!
Read a book with a page count with only the numbers in 2024 and 2025 (00222245).
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue - 220 pages
Option 4: Sing "Auld Lang Syne"
Read a book with a word of at least 4 letters from the song Auld Lang Syne in the title.
Required: State the word. - Braid
French Braid by Anne Tyler
~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 30
Total Points: 460/995
Tasks Completed: 27/59
BB: 1
GO: 0
NF: 3

20.2 - Rookie at the Top - SheMac's Task: Into 2025
book should be at least 225 pages.
Option 2: Read a book that is at least 50% set in one or more of these countries... Wales.
Sleepless Knights by Mark H. Williams
Set in Wales (Cardiff and other places), over 50 %; listed in page metadata.
******
Points for this task: 20
Total points : 210
Tasks completed: 10/57
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 1
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 0
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 1

Task: 20.6 It's A Fact - Julia103's Task" Getting Older, using Option 1
Book/Author: Half Baked Schemes / Mary M. O'Donnell
How it fits: two main characters (Bertie and Cornelia) are elderly. Pg 13 "It was her against two stubborn, elderly women."
Points for this task: 20
Total points: 285
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 0
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 0
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 1

Read a book from the first 25 pages of the Mythology shelf: Mythology Books
The Illiad and The Odyssey
Robert Fagles
The Illiad and The O..."
Regarding message 1092, I would like to claim a golden oldies ticket for this book.

25.4 JennRenee's Task: Cold Nights With Winter Reads
MPG Romance
Book 1: Book with a word in the title of 4 or more letters made from this quote: Winter was made for warm blankets and large books. (GODS)
The Whims of Gods by Mell R. Bright
Book 2: Book by a single author whose first and last initial can be found in COLD NIGHTS
Knight's Fire by S.J. Himes
Points this task: 25
Total Points: 615

15.9 My Bloody Valentine
Book with MPG Romance as well as MPG of War, Thriller or Mythology.
A Simple Mistake by Alice Winters
Points this task: 15
Total Points: 630

20.3 Review Raffle- Trishhartuk's Task: Wordplay
Option 3a) Read a book with a title of at least two words where the total number of letters in the title can be averaged by the number of words, to get a whole number.
North Woods Ten letters total in the title, two words in the title. 10/2 = 5
Points this task: 20
-------------------------------------------------------------
Totals:
Points: 105
Big Book - 500+: 0
Big Book - 750+: 0
Golden Oldie: 0
It's a Fact: 2

Option 1: Read a book with a word of 4 or more letters in the title that matches a word in the name of a carol from this list.
I chose no.11. “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” and I am using the word 'Sing'
The book I read is When I Sing, Mountains Dance
This task:
Points: 20
BB Tickets: 0
GO Tickets: 0
It's a Fact Tickets: 0
Total:
Points: 160
BB Tickets: 3
GO Tickets: 0
It's a Fact Tickets: 3
XBM
5.7 National Cocoa Day
Task: Read a book with a hot beverage on the cover
Lavender Blue Murder. Laura Childs
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 405 / 995
Tasks Completed 27
5.7 National Cocoa Day
Task: Read a book with a hot beverage on the cover
Lavender Blue Murder. Laura Childs

Points this post: 5
Total Points: 405 / 995
Tasks Completed 27
XBM
5.8 Birdwatching Month
Task: Read a book with a word from this list of Top 100 Remarkable Birds in the title (excluding "of" and "the"). https://www.birderslibrary.com/review. (Great Blue Turaco)
The Blue Bistro. Elin Hilderbrand
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 410 / 995
Tasks Completed 28
5.8 Birdwatching Month
Task: Read a book with a word from this list of Top 100 Remarkable Birds in the title (excluding "of" and "the"). https://www.birderslibrary.com/review. (Great Blue Turaco)
The Blue Bistro. Elin Hilderbrand
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 410 / 995
Tasks Completed 28

Option 3
Read a book whose SINGLE author's first and last (middle can be ignored) initials use only the letters "ARY"
For the purposes of this task you can use the letters more than once
I read Poems by Amália Rodrigues 320 pages
Option 4
Read a book that is # 12, 1 or 2 in a series. The number must be shown in greyscale on the GR record.
I read Sweet Thursday which is number 2 in the Cannery Row series. (272 pages)
This task:
Points: 30
BB Tickets: 0
GO Tickets: 0
It's a Fact Tickets: 0
Total:
Points: 190
BB Tickets: 3
GO Tickets: 0
It's a Fact Tickets: 3
XBM
10. 3 - A Mountain of Books
Task: Read a book whose page count is comprised of the numbers 9, 1, 4, 4 in any order. (144 pages)
The Christmas Guest. Peter Swanson
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 420 / 995
Tasks Completed 29
10. 3 - A Mountain of Books
Task: Read a book whose page count is comprised of the numbers 9, 1, 4, 4 in any order. (144 pages)
The Christmas Guest. Peter Swanson
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 420 / 995
Tasks Completed 29

30.8 - Delicious Dee's Task: Codex Alera
For this task, you will pick one option (A, B or C) and read book A and book B from that option.
Your page count needs to be more than 500 pages (282 + 252)
At least one of the authors must be NEW TO YOU.
Required: specify which option you chose and state the new to you author(s) in your post. Option C
Option C – The Furies
The six furies are air/aeris, water/aqua, fire/ignus, earth/terra, metal/ferrous and wood/flora.
Required: State which fury you picked. Earth/Terra
Book A - Read a book where all the letters of the chosen fury can be found in the title. EARTH
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane
(MMP The Lights on Knockbridge Lane)
Book B - Read a book where all the letters of the alternate name (TERRA) can be found in the authors name. NEW TO ME AUTHOR
I.N.E.T. 1 by Brenda Cothern
(PB I.N.E.T.)
This task points: 30
Total season points: 390

15.2 Holiday who-be what-ee?
Book 1: Read a book that is at least 75% green according to Tineye.

79.8% #028844 green
4.7% #3aa06c green
2.3 % #76be9a green
Book 2: Read a book with the MPG Christmas
Crossed Skis
This post: 15 points
Total points: 420
BB: 5
GO: 3
NF: 3
Completed tasks: 21
Books read: 30
XBM
30.4 - Susan A's Task: Consecutive Letters
Task: This is a two book task, read one book for each option.
Book 1: Read a book in which the first word in the title starts with two consecutive letters.
Not Till We Are Lost. Dennis E. Taylor - NO
Book 2: Read a book with a title ending in two consecutive letters.
A Hundred Summers. Beatriz Williams - RS
Points this post: 30
Total Points: 450 / 995
Tasks Completed 30
30.4 - Susan A's Task: Consecutive Letters
Task: This is a two book task, read one book for each option.
Book 1: Read a book in which the first word in the title starts with two consecutive letters.
Not Till We Are Lost. Dennis E. Taylor - NO
Book 2: Read a book with a title ending in two consecutive letters.
A Hundred Summers. Beatriz Williams - RS
Points this post: 30
Total Points: 450 / 995
Tasks Completed 30
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20.3 - Review Raffle- Trishhartuk's Task: Wordplay
Option 3: a) Read a book with a title of at least two words where the total number of letters in the title can be averaged by the number of words, to get a whole number.
Blood Orchids - Toby Neal 1/4
(12 letters divided by 2 words = 6)
Points this task: 20
Total points: 215
Big Book Tickets: 500 (1) 750 (0) 1000 (0)