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Ridiculously Random Reading Challenge: Caraina {COMPLETED}
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Mod
Giant Pumpkin Kayaking is quite simply the sport of kayaking inside of a giant, hollowed-out pumpkin.
The most famous race takes place on Lake Pesaquid in Nova Scotia at the annual Windsor Pumpkin Regatta. The course is a half-mile long and competitors often decorate their pumpkins with paint and flags.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🎃 1. Read a book set at least partially in Canada.
🎃 2.Read a book with all the letters of KAYAK in the title. {2 As, 2 Ks}
🎃 3. Read a book with something painted or flags on the cover.
🎃 4. Read a book with the word PUMPKIN found in the text.
Prompt # / Name: #24: Giant Pumpkin KayakingBook: Catch of the Day
Author: Kristan Higgins
Date Read: 6/26/25
Pages: 384
Task: 🎃 4. Read a book with the word PUMPKIN found in the text.
How it Fits: The word "pumpkin" is in the text (pg. 211 - "Can I throw myself at your mercy and get an order of the pumpkin French toast?")
Mod
Originally invented in Finland, Wife Carrying is a sport that involves a male competitor racing through 2 dry obstacles and 1 water obstacle approximately 1 meter deep all while carrying a female teammate.
The female must weigh at least 108 lb (49 kg) or additional weight will be added to her. Teams who complete the course in the shortest time win with additional prizes for best costume, etc.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
💍 1. Read a book with a married MC.
💍 2. Read a book set at least partially in Finland.
💍 3. Read a book where a character feels weighted down in some way.
💍 4. Read a book where a character carries something or someone.
Prompt # / Name: #63: Wife CarryingBook: Linger
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Date Read: 6/26/25
Pages: 369
Task: 💍 3. Read a book where a character feels weighted down in some way.
How it Fits: Cole feels weighed down with guilt after Victor is shot and for forcing him to become a werewolf.
Mod
Popular at lumberjack competitions, Axe Throwing is a sport in which players throw an axe at a target, attempting to reach the bulls-eye.
On the target, the outside ring is worth 1 point, the second ring is worth 2 points, and so on with the bulls-eye worth 5 points. In a game, each player is allowed 5 throws with a maximum of 25 points possible.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🪓 1. Read a book with all the letters of AXE in the title.
🪓 2. Read a book with a 25 intact in the page count or publication date.
🪓 3. Read a book a round object, like a target, on the cover.
🪓 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in LUMBERJACK.
Prompt # / Name: #3: Axe ThrowingBook: One Golden Summer
Author: Carley Fortune
Date Read: 6/27/25
Pages: 400
Task: 🪓 2. Read a book with a 25 intact in the page count or publication date.
How it Fits: There is a '25' intact in the publication date (published on May 6, 2025.
Mod
Ultimate Taser Ball is a kind of extreme and crazy sport that not many would have heard of or believe that it is true. It involves players carrying a real taser gun and using it on opponents to gain possession of the ball. If you are thinking, who would have come up with such an idea, the honors go to three California natives: Leif Kellenberger, Eric Prum, and Erik Wunsch.
The game is played on a 200 x 85 feet field. The ball used is a large 24 inch diameter inflated ball. The objective of the sport is to successfully carry the ball onto the opponents goalpost without getting tased en-route.
Rather than allowing players to go wild with their stun guns, the game fortunately has a rule that only players that have possession of the ball can be tased. The stun guns used emit a maximum of five milliamps, enough to cause muscle spasms to give up the ball, but well under the 1 amp lethal dose, and hence causes no permanent damage.
It's not hard to imagine that the sport was not well received. People would rather play than get tased and fall on their face. The founders, however, seem to be working towards getting a minor league going for the sport.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🔫 1. Read a book with a character who is in law enforcement.
🔫 2. Read a book where the title ENDS with a letter in EXTREME.
🔫 3. Read a book with a plot that seems too crazy to be true.
🔫 4. Read a book where the MC's first name ENDS with a letter in LETHAL.
Prompt # / Name: #54: Ultimate Taser BallBook: Queen Charlotte
Author: Julia Quinn
Date Read: 7/19/25
Pages: 352
Task: 🔫 2. Read a book where the title ENDS with a letter in EXTREME.
How it Fits: The book title ends with an "E".
Mod
M&M stands for Mars and Murrie.
Forrest Mars (son of the Mars Company founder) first spotted the British confection Smarties during the Spanish Civil War and noticed the candy shell prevented the chocolate from melting. He teamed up with Bruce Murrie (son of Hershey Chocolate's president) and the company later trademarked the "Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hand" slogan.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🔴 1. Read a book with an alliterative title.
🔴 2. Read a book with at least two men on the cover.
🔴 3. Read a book tagged SPACE any number of times.
🔴 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in HERSHEY.
Prompt # / Name: #16: M&MsBook: Twisted Threads
Author: Lea Wait
Date Read: 7/22/25
Pages: 318
Task: 🔴 1. Read a book with an alliterative title.
How it Fits: The book has an alliterative title.
Mod
The moon has its own time zones.
An astronomer even designed a special watch that relies on "lunations," or the amount of time it takes for the moon to revolve and rotate around the Earth.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🌙 1. Read a book with a moon, watch, or clock on the cover.
🌙 2. Read a book with the word REVOLVE or ROTATE found in the text.
🌙 3. Read a book where the MC's first name ENDS with a letter in EARTH.
🌙 4. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in LUNATIONS.
Prompt # / Name: #64: Moon Time ZonesBook: The Last Letter
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Date Read: 7/23/25
Pages: 426
Task: 🌙 4. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in LUNATIONS.
How it Fits: The book title starts with "L" or "T" (if you include "The").
Mod
The Oscars used to give out an award to child performers.
The award show discontinued the Academy Juvenile Award in 1960 after famous names like Shirley Temple and Judy Garland nabbed the honor. Also no longer on the ballot? Best Dance Direction and Best Title Writing.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🏆 1. Read a book with something gold on the cover.
🏆 2. Read a book that has won an award.
🏆 3. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in OSCARS.
🏆 4. Read a book where a character acts, dances, or writes.
Prompt # / Name: #22: The OscarsBook: Shifting and Shenanigans
Author: Elizabeth Pantley
Date Read: 7/25/25
Pages: 231
Task: 🏆 3. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in OSCARS.
How it Fits: The book title starts with an "S".
Mod
The speed of a computer mouse is measured in "Mickeys."
A British scientist first invented the roller-ball device in 1946 while working for the Royal Navy, but the word "mouse" didn't get coined until 1965.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🖱 1. Read a book published or set between 1946 and 1965.
🖱 2. Read a book with a scientist character.
🖱 3. Read a book with the word MOUSE found in the text.
🖱 4. Read a book that seemed to speed by.
Prompt # / Name: #34: Mouse SpeedBook: Fate's Edge
Author: Ilona Andrews
Date Read: 7/26/25
Pages: 384
Task: 🖱 3. Read a book with the word MOUSE found in the text.
How it Fits: The word "mouse" is in the text (pg. 76 - George can animate a mouse...).
Mod
A baby puffin is called a "puffling."
To feed its chick, a puffin parent will carry around 10 fish in its beak at one time, but the biggest recorded haul is a whopping 62 fish, according to Audubon Project Puffin.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🐠 1. Read a book with a bird on the cover.
🐠 2. Read a book where the MC is a parent.
🐠 3. Read a book with a 6 and a 2 in the page count.
🐠 4. Read a book with all the letters of PUFFIN found in the title/subtitle.
Prompt # / Name: #26: Baby PuffinsBook:
WeywardAuthor: Emilia Hart
Date Read: 7/28/25
Pages: 416
Task: 🐠 1. Read a book with a bird on the cover.
How it Fits: There is a bird on the cover.
Mod
Coca-Cola consumers will pay more to drink less ounces.
Coca-Cola consumers prefer smaller packaging of their beverage and are willing to pay more per ounce. While soda consumption is declining in the U.S., Coca-Cola had a net revenue of $33 billion worldwide last year. Talk about vanity sizing!
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🥤 1. Read a book with a dashed word in the title.
🥤 2. Read a book where someone drinks a cola, soda, pop, whatever you call it where you're from.
🥤 3. Read a book with two 3s in the publication date.
🥤 4. Read a book you were willing to pay for.
Prompt # / Name: #32: Coca-ColaBook: Slaughterhouse-Five
Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Date Read: 7/30/25
Pages: 275
Task: 🥤 1. Read a book with a dashed word in the title.
How it Fits: There is a dashed word in the title.
Mod
Dr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" on a bet.
Theodore Geisel's editor didn't believe the author could write a book in 50 words or less. The finished product contains 50 words on the dot.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍳 1. Read a book where a character eats a meal.
🍳 2. Read a book with a 50 intact in the page count.
🍳 3. Read a book where a main/major character is a doctor.
🍳 4. Read a book where someone makes a bet of any kind.
Prompt # / Name: #68: Green Eggs & HamBook: Carpe Corpus
Author: Rachel Caine
Date Read: 8/1/25
Pages: 256
Task: 🍳 1. Read a book where a character eats a meal.
How it Fits: Claire and her friends eat lunch consisting of chili dogs.
Mod
You can major in wine at Cornell University.
Technically it's a degree in "Viticulture and Enology" (a.k.a. the cultivation of grapes and the science of winemaking), but we're still sending in our applications.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍷 1. Read a book at least partially set on a university campus.
🍷 2. Read a book where a character consumes wine.
🍷 3. Read a book with some type of fruit or alcoholic beverage on the cover.
🍷 4. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in VITICULTURE ENOLOGY.
Prompt # / Name: #40: Wine MajorBook: Love in a Cold Climate
Author: Nancy Mitford
Date Read: 8/3/25
Pages: 256
Task: 🍷 2. Read a book where a character consumes wine.
How it Fits: Lady Montdore consumes wine.
Mod
Not every Model T was black.
For the first few years of production, Ford's famous car came in gray, green, blue and red. It was only after 1914 that customers could order "any color so long as it is black," as the dark paint dried faster than other hues.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
⚫️ 1. Read a book with a car on the cover.
⚫️ 2. Read a book with a color in the title.
⚫️ 3. Read a book with BLACK, GRAY, GREEN, BLUE, or RED found in the text.
⚫️ 4. Read a book with at least two of these numbers found in the page count/publication date: 1, 9, 1, 4.
Prompt # / Name: #38: Model TBook: God Don't Like Ugly
Author: Mary Monroe
Date Read: 8/4/25
Pages: 432
Task: ⚫️ 3. Read a book with BLACK, GRAY, GREEN, BLUE, or RED found in the text.
How it Fits: The word "Black" is in the text (pg. 11 - He had big black slanted eyes...).
Mod
Apple Pie isn't actually American at all.
The next time you call something "as American as apple pie," you might want to consider the fact that neither apple pies nor apples originally came from America. Apples are in fact native to Asia, and the first recorded recipe for apple pie was actually written in England.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🥧 1. Read a book set in America, England, or Asia.
🥧 2. Read a book that includes a recipe.
🥧 3. Read a book with a cliché in the text.
🥧 4. Read a book with an apple or other fruit on the cover.
Prompt # / Name: #8: Apple PieBook: Tricky Twenty-Two
Author: Janet Evanovich
Date Read: 8/5/25
Pages: 282
Task: 🥧 1. Read a book set in America, England, or Asia.
How it Fits: The book is set in America (Trenton, New Jersey).
Mod
Parkour is the act of running, jumping, swinging, climbing, etc. based on military obstacle course training techniques.
It is often practiced in urban environments with the aim of getting from one point to another as quickly and as efficiently as possible without the use of specialized equipment.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🏃🏼♀️ 1. Read a book with a character who is in the military.
🏃🏼♀️ 2. Read a book set in an urban environment.
🏃🏼♀️ 3. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in PARKOUR.
🏃🏼♀️ 4. Read a book with any of these words in the text: running, jumping, swinging, climbing. {variations accepted}
Prompt # / Name: #36: ParkourBook: The Ghost Writer
Author: Philip Roth
Date Read: 8/6/25
Pages: 180
Task: 🏃🏼♀️ 4. Read a book with any of these words in the text: running, jumping, swinging, climbing. {variations accepted}
How it Fits: The word "running" is in the text (pg. 87 - "You were running from Essie to Sidney for over a year.")
Mod
Facebook has more users than many major populations.
At 2.89 billion monthly users, Facebook overshadows China's (1.4 billion) and India's (1.3 billion) populations.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
ƒ 1. Read a book where social media is used/mentioned.
ƒ 2. Read a book set in China.
ƒ 3. Read a book with all the letters of FACEBOOK found in the title.
ƒ 4. Read a book where at least two of these digits are found in the publication date: 2, 8, 9.
Prompt # / Name: #17: FacebookBook: The Orchard Keeper
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Date Read: 8/6/25
Pages: 246
Task: ƒ 4. Read a book where at least two of these digits are found in the publication date: 2, 8, 9.
How it Fits: The book edition I read has a "2" and a "9" in the publication date (published on February 2, 1993).
Mod
The Mud-Pit Belly Flop is one of the biggest events that takes place during the ‘Redneck Games.'
The event, of course, takes place in a giant mud pit and the crowd gathered to watch chooses the winner by judging who can make the biggest, muddiest splash. The winner receives a trophy – always featuring a smashed beer can.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
👀 1. Read a book where the MC drinks a beer.
👀 2. Read a book with a crowd, more than 4 people, on the cover.
👀 3. Read a book where someone wins a trophy.
👀 4. Read a book where the title ENDS with a letter in REDNECK.
Prompt # / Name: #30: Mud-Pit Belly FlopBook: The Familiar
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Date Read: 8/7/25
Pages: 400
Task: 👀 4. Read a book where the title ENDS with a letter in REDNECK.
How it Fits: The book title ends with an "R".
Mod
The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland.
Yes, although it's a fabled creature, the national animal of Scotland is actually the mythical unicorn — chosen because of its association with dominance and chivalry as well as purity and innocence in Celtic mythology. BRB, moving to Scotland real quick.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🦄 1. Read a book set in Scotland.
🦄 2. Read a book with all the letters of UNICORN found in the title.
🦄 3. Read a book tagged MYTHOLOGY any number of times.
🦄 4. Read a book where the author's first initial is NOT found in CELTIC.
Prompt # / Name: #10: National Animal of ScotlandBook: Finding Forgiveness
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Date Read: 8/8/25
Pages: 234
Task: 🦄 4. Read a book where the author's first initial is NOT found in CELTIC.
How it Fits: The author's first initial is "D".
Mod
There are over 10 holidays that celebrate chocolate.
The National Confectioners Association recognizes everything from National Milk Chocolate Day to National Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day. National Chocolate Day alone happens three times annually: July 7, October 28 and December 28.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🍫 1. Read a book where a character eats chocolate.
🍫 2. Read a book where the same type of thing happens at least 3 times.
🍫 3. Read a book with a bittersweet ending.
🍫 4. Read a book where the MC's FIRST initial is NOT found in ALMONDS.
Prompt # / Name: #58: Chocolate HolidaysBook: Finding Forgiveness
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Date Read: 8/8/25
Pages: 234
Task: 🍫 4. Read a book where the MC's FIRST initial is NOT found in ALMONDS.
How it Fits: The MC's first initial is "C" (Claire)
Mod
Neil Armstrong didn't say "That's one small step for man."
The astronaut insists he actually stated, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." "That's the only way the statement makes any sense," Armstrong told biographer James Hansen. And for the record, no real astronaut ever uttered "Houston, we have a problem." — Tom Hanks only said that in the movie Apollo 13.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
👩🚀 1. Read a book with something small on the cover.
👩🚀 2. Read a book with double letters in the title.
👩🚀 3. Read a book where you can share a favorite quote.
👩🚀 4. Read a book author's first AND last initials are found in NEIL ARMSTRONG.
Prompt # / Name: #19: One Small StepBook: Eileen
Author: Ottessa Moshfegh
Date Read: 8/11/25
Pages: 272
Task: 👩🚀 2. Read a book with double letters in the title.
How it Fits: There are double letters in the title.
Mod
Unicycle Basketball is a variation of the traditional game but where all of the players are mounted on unicycles during play.
The same rules apply, such as dribbling the ball while riding, and trying to score in the other team’s net. The game is played on a regulation basketball court and players tend to use 24” unicycles.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🏀 1. Read a book that takes place within a 24-hour period of time.
🏀 2. Read a book where a sport is watched or played.
🏀 3. Read a book with the word COURT found in the text.
🏀 4. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are NOT found in UNICYCLE.
Prompt # / Name: #60: Unicycle BasketballBook: Brown Roses
Author: Tope Omotosho
Date Read: 8/12/25
Pages: 409
Task: 🏀 2. Read a book where a sport is watched or played.
How it Fits: Characters watch football (soccer) on tv.
Mod
Surprisingly, the sporting event of climbing a greased-up slippery pole is quite common around the world.
These traditional events are essentially the same - there is a long pole covered in grease, lard, or some other lubricant, and participants attempt to climb or walk along the pole to get to the other end, where there may be a prize or flag to recover.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🎁 1. Read a book where a character climbs something.
🎁 2. Read a book where the title does NOT start with a letter in GREASY POLE.
🎁 3. Read a book where the MC wins a prize of any type.
🎁 4. Read a book with the word FLAG found in the text.
Prompt # / Name: #27: Greasy Pole ClimbingBook: It's Better This Way
Author: Debbie Macomber
Date Read: 8/13/25
Pages: 352
Task: 🎁 2. Read a book where the title does NOT start with a letter in GREASY POLE.
How it Fits: The book title starts with an "I".
Mod
Extreme Ironing is considered a ‘danger sport’ in which people take ironing boards to various, often remote, locations to iron clothes and take a picture.
Some of the locations have included cliff tops, underwater, in the middle of a motorway, and also while skiing and parachuting.
Complete ONE of the following tasks:
🧺 1. Read a book where the MC has a dangerous career/hobby.
🧺 2. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in EXTREME.
🧺 3. Read a book set at least partially in a remote location.
🧺 4. Read a book where a character irons or does other household chores.
Prompt # / Name: #21: Extreme IroningBook: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
Author: John Le Carré
Date Read: 8/15/25
Pages: 212
Task: 🧺 1. Read a book where the MC has a dangerous career/hobby.
How it Fits: The MC is a spy.
Mod
CONGRATULATIONS!! You did it! You completed all 72 Ridiculously Random prompts in this challenge. I hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you again soon!
Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "CONGRATULATIONS!! You did it! You completed all 72 Ridiculously Random prompts in this challenge. I hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you again soon!"
Thank you for the challenge. I enjoyed it :-)
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (other topics)It's Better This Way (other topics)
Brown Roses (other topics)
Eileen (other topics)
Finding Forgiveness (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
John Le Carré (other topics)Debbie Macomber (other topics)
Tope Omotosho (other topics)
Ottessa Moshfegh (other topics)
Denise Grover Swank (other topics)
More...
Book: Beautifully Broken Life
Author: Catherine Cowles
Date Read: 6/22/25
Pages: 322
Task: 🧹 2. Read a book that is part of a series.
How it Fits: The book is #2 in the Sutter Lake Series.