Tawallah - Tolkien Reading Challenge 2025

[Tawallah]

Rules :
Read any 8 tasks from the below sets, complete a set before reading the next set.
Open ended

Task set 1 - Private life 4/15
1. a book featuring multiple letters written (no email!)
2. Author's initials in PHILOLOGIST
3. An author or character named Christopher, Michael, Priscilla or John
4. MC has multiple children
5. all letters in EDITH in title
6. MPG Family
7. Character moves to a different country
8. a book set in South Africa
9. a book with a Christmas scene on the cover
10. a book tagged German or Germany at least 5x
11. an author who uses their initials for author name
12. a character who smokes
13. MPG Non-fiction
14. a book published in January
15. "dictionary" in text


Task set 2 - Professor Tolkien
1. Set in Leeds or Oxford
2. Takes place at a University
3. MC teaches
4. MPG English Literature
5. a book that has been translated
6. MPG Classics
7. the word "fellow" or "fellowship" in text
8. A book from this list: SAGA https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
9. letters NORSE in title and/or author's name
Spell out MERTON
10. M
11. E
12. R
13. T
14. O
15. N


Task set 3 - Middle Earth
1. A book from the Great first lines list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... OR Best Opening sentence list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
2. MPG Epic Fantasy
3. Read a book with the letters EDDA in the title
4. book that features a journey
5. a book with jewellery on the cover
6. Tree on the cover
7. Sword or shield or piece of armour on cover
8. MPG Adventure
9. book in which a burglary is committed
10. a book with plenty of food on the cover
11. a book with a slow burn romance (your interpretation)
12. a book where the publication date or the page number contains at least three from these numbers: 1,3,7,9
13. A book that includes some verse/poem/song lyrics
14. Mountain on the cover
15. the word "fireworks" in text


Task set 4 - Middle Earth on screen
1. An author or character named Peter or Robert or Jackson
2. A book containing illustrations
3. A book that has been adapted into a visual medium (movie, tv show, etc.)
4. A book that has won a major award
5. A biography/memoir of a famous person in the movie industry
6. MPG Music
7. A book tagged 'New Zealand' at least 5x
8. A book published between 2001-2003 or 2012-2014
9. letters WETA in title
10. Book part of a trilogy
11. A book tagged movie(s) or film or cinema
12. A book with more than 1 million ratings on GR
13. A book with a beautiful cover
14. a book with both 'potato' and 'rabbit' (or 'conies') in the text
15. A book that has an audio version between 11 and 12 hours long


Task set 5 - Posthumous works
1. MPG Mythology
2. A collection of short stories
3. All letters in BEOWULF in title
4. A book first published after the author's death
5. A book with a gemstone on the cover
6. Author initials in BEREN
Spell out Chris
7. C
8. H
9. R
10. I
11. S
12. a book that was published in 1924 or before
13. a book that has an editor listed on GR (alone or next to the author)
14. A character who is or was in the military
15. Author's or narrator's initials in AVIATION


Task set 6 - The Inklings
1. A book first published between 1930-1949
2. A book that features a pub/inn
3. A book tagged "friend(s)" or "friendship" min 5x
4. Book by an author with at least 2 Christian names
5. MPG War
6. A book that features three MCs
7. MPG History or Historical Fiction
8. Character has an older brother
9. "Thursday" in text
10. a character drinks beer
Spell out EAGLE
11. E
12. A
13. G
14. L
15. E

[Tawallah]

Optional Bonus Set 1 - Tolkien's Creatures

Find the following denizens of Middle Earth in your books. You don't need to find them as a character (though of course you can), a simple mention in the text is fine. (i.e. If someone refers to their boss as a troll, consider the task covered.)
Singular and plural both accepted.

1. Men/humans
2. Wizards
3. Elves
4. Dwarves
5. Dragons
6. Halflings/Hobbits
7. Orcs
8. Goblins
9. Trolls
10. Eagles
11. Spirits
12. Pirates
13. Oliphaunt/elephants
14. Demons
15. Spiders


Optional Bonus Set 2 - Word Pairs Hunt
Find the following words in your books. Singular and plural both accepted.

1. merry & weed
2. stride & king
3. horse & rider
4. daughter & twilight
5. oak & shield OR shield & maid(en)
6. simply & walk
7. harp & gold
8. uncomfortable & adventure
9. secret & fire
10. speak & riddle
11. ring & power
12. first & age
13. capture & light
14. respectable & company
15. living & woman

[Tawallah]

Completion of tasks for Set 1 - Private Life

Task : Author initials in PHILOLOGIST

- Author : Paula Hawkins (P, H)
- Book : Into the Water
Finished January 12, 2025
Rated : 3 stars

[Tawallah]

Completion of tasks for Set 1 - Private Life

Task: Set in South Africa

- Book: The Promise
- Author: Damon Galgut

Finished January 29, 2025
Rated: 2 stars

[Tawallah]

Completion of tasks for Set 1 - Private Life

Task: Author uses their initials for author name

Author: C.J. Sansom

Book : Revelation

Finished: January 23, 2025
Rated: 4 stars

[Tawallah]

Completion #4 of set 1 - Private Life

Task: book published in January

Published January 2018: La Belle Sauvage

Author: Philip Pullman

Finished : January 28, 2025
Rated: 2 stars