The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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SUMMER CHALLENGE 2025
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Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD!

Read a book with MPG Horror- Stand alone or embedded
It by Stephen King
Claiming 3 BB tickets (1,184 pages)
Points this post: 15
Total points: 285
BB: 4
IAF: 3
GO: 1

15.3- Quantity or Size?
Option 1: Two Book Task
Book 1- Read a book set at least 75% in Australia
The Yield by Tara June Winch
Book 2- read a book with title with 6+ words excluding subtitles
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 525
Total BB: 1
Total IAF: 11
5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8; 5.9;
10.2; ...; 10.4; ...; 10.6; 10.7
15.3; ...; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
20.1; 20.2; 20.3; 20.4; 20.5; 20.6
25.1; 25.2; 25.3; 25.4; 25.5
30.6; 30.7; ...; ...; 30.10

5.1 Victory Day
National Park: Haleakala - Hawaii
Hawaiian Dick, Volume 1: Byrd of Paradise by B. Clay Moore
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 455
Tasks Completed: 29
Books Read: 37
NF Tickets: 3

Task: 50.1 - Lisa MD: The Summer My Boys Got Married
Book 1: Option A: Read a book with a word of 3 or more letters made from the letters of “Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table” or “Smith Island Cake.”
Book/Author: Can You Solve the Murder? / Antony Johnston
How it fits: using phrase "Smith Island Cake" with title word CAN; 2025 release; 304 pages
Book 2: Option B: Read a book set at least 50% in one or combination of Colorado, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, California, North Carolina, New Jersey, Montana, and Germany.
Book/Author: From Fable to Grave / Marlene Chase
How it fits: set in the fictional town of Lighthouse Bay in Massachusetts (pg 1 "It was a glorious morning, chilly but alive with the scents and sounds of spring in Massachusetts."); 193 pages
Book 3: Option B: read a book whose title contains a plural word.
Book/Author: Five Nights / Rachel Wolf
How it fits: using title word NIGHTS; 336 pages
Total pages: 833
Points for this task: 50
Total points: 735
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 3
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 6
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 1

10.5 I’ll Be There For You
read... a book off of this list: Friendship Fiction
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Found on list, page 3
I listened to an audiobook; pb-307 p. (no mmpb)
******
Points for this task: 10
Total points : 555
Tasks completed: 25/56
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 0
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 4
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 6

Task: 15.8 Shipwrecked and Stranded
Read a book where a shipwreck or someone who stranded in the ocean or on an island is evident to the story.
Book/Author: Night of Secrets: Court of Midsummer Mayhem Book 2 / Tara Grayce
How it fits: Viola is stranded on an island (in the Court of Islands) without her brother when the portal used for transportation ceases to function.
Points for this task: 15
Total points: 750
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 3
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 6
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 1

10.5 I'll Be There for You
Book from list
Before We Visit the Goddess - on p 6 of list
Points this post: 20
Total points: 830
BB:3 GO:2 IAF:6

Task #50.1 - Lisa MD: The Summer My Boys Got Married
Book 1: Greg’s June Wedding
task: Option A: 3+ letter word made from “Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table”
book: The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett
(my version is audio, no MMPB, first PB here) = 400 pages
how it fits: Eudora in Pittsb(ur)gh W(ed)ding Co(o)kie T(a)ble
Book 2: Eric’s August Wedding
task: Option A: cover shows the night sky with visible stars
book: Bellewether = 448 pages, Kindle Edition
how it fits:

Book 3: Mother of the Grooms
task: Option B: title contains a plural word
book: Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear
(my version is audio, no MMPB or PB, HC here) = 146 pages
how it fits: "currents"
other:
* One book must be published in 2025. - Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear First published January 7, 2025
* Total combined pages must equal 750 or greater: 400 + 448 + 146 > 750
Points this post: 50
Total points: 870
Tasks completed: 50/56
BB: 10 / GO: 8 / IAF: 4

30.6 Kmaried's Task - Catching Up On Series
Option A: Read the current last book in a series of at least 3 books.
Stone & Sky (Rivers of London #10), Ben Aaronovich
Read the kindle edition. Top MMPB (German): here (416pg).
English HB (no PB): here (304pg)
First published 3 July 2025
The Rivers of London series has 10 primary works, of which this is the tenth. Series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/5193...
Option C: Read a book that is #3 or above but not the last book in the series.
Murder on the Pilgrims Way (Whitstable Pearl Mystery #4), Julie Wassmer
Top PB (no MMPB): here (304pg)
Part of the Whitstable Pearl series, which has 10 primary works: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1792...
Points this Task: 30
Books Read: 2
Total Points: 495
Tasks Completed: 28
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1
Big Book Tickets: 1

Read a book with a person wearing sunglasses on the cover. The sunglasses must be dark or reflective, on a face, and at least 1 lens showing.

BIG BOOK
527 pages, Paperback
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 905
Total Tasks Completed: 52
* * * * * * *
Big Books: 6
Golden Oldies: 1
It's a Fact: 1

1. Read one book for each of the 3 options.
2. One book must be published in 2025. - Book 1
3. Total combined pages must equal 750 or greater. (1041 pages)
Book 1: Greg’s June Wedding
Read a book with a word of 3 or more letters made from the letters of “Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table” or “Smith Island Cake.” The words “and” and “the” may not be used.
pittsburgH Wedding cOokie table - How
How Freaking Romantic by Emily Harding
352 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2025
Book 2: Eric’s August Wedding
Option A
Read a book whose cover shows the night sky with visible stars.

416 pages
Book 3: Mother of the Grooms
Option A: Read a book whose author’s first and last initial can be found in “motheR of the groomS.”
Normal People by Sally Rooney
273 pages
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 50
Total Points: 955
Total Tasks Completed: 53
* * * * * * *
Big Books: 6
Golden Oldies: 1
It's a Fact: 1

Help Thread
I have two sons, Greg (38 y/o), and Eric (33 y/o), who both are getting married this summer two months apart. I am over-the-moon they have found their loves, but wow, back-to-back weddings is a lot!
This is a 3 book task:
1. Read one book for each of the 3 options.
2. One book must be published in 2025.
3. Total combined pages must equal 750 or greater.
4. No graphic novels or manga allowed.
Book 1: Greg’s June Wedding
Option A: Pittsburgh has a tradition called the “Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table.” The tradition is believed to have started during the Great Depression when families couldn’t afford to make cakes for weddings, and cookies were more affordable. Family and friends bake cookies for the wedding cookie table. Guests snack on the cookies during the reception and containers are provided to take home cookies as a favor. We had over 170 dozen cookies. In addition, the bride and groom did not want a traditional wedding cake, so I added 5 Smith Island cakes to the cookie table. Smith Island cake, an 8-10 layer cake, is our state cake and an Eastern Shore of Maryland tradition, so we married our traditions.
Read a book with a word of 3 or more letters made from the letters of “Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table” or “Smith Island Cake.” The words “and” and “the” may not be used.
Required: State the word and which phrase you used.
I read The Great Mann. You can spell the word "great" with "piTtsbuRGh wEdding cookie tAble" It has 320 pp
THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED IN 2025
Book 2: Eric’s August Wedding
Option B: Guests will be traveling to the wedding from: Colorado, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, California, North Carolina, New Jersey, Montana, and Germany.
Read a book set at least 50% in one or combination of the places listed above.
Required: If not obvious from the GR description, then provide a reference.
I read Finding Margaret Fuller which takes place more than 50% non Massachusetts.
There were 391 pp.
Book 3: Mother of the Grooms
Option B: Since I am the mother of two boys with not one, but two weddings over the summer, read a book whose title contains a plural word.
I read In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor's Journey in the Saudi Kingdom. The word women is plural.
This book had 454 pp.
This book is nonfiction so I am requesting a ****IT"S A FACT**** ticket
320+ 391+ 454 = 11165
points: 150
books read: 12
tasks completed: 8
task in progress: 2
It's fact: 3
pages read: 4297

10.10 Radioactive, Radioactive -- MPG of Dystopia. I read The Black Orb by Ewhan Kim.
Points This Post: 10
Total Points So Far: 915

10.7 Camp Rock - Main character is a performance artist or performing arts is central to the story Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda
*It's a Fact Ticket
This Task:
Points: 10
Books Read: 1
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 1
Total:
Points: 380
Books Read: 26
GO Ticket: 2
BB Ticket +500: 1
IAF Ticket: 5
Tasks Completed: 17

10.3 500 Reads of Summer - Popular summer book from the first 25 pages of the list The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
*Found on page 2 of list
This Task:
Points: 10
Books Read: 1
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 0
Total:
Points: 390
Books Read: 27
GO Ticket: 2
BB Ticket +500: 1
IAF Ticket: 5
Tasks Completed: 18

5.10 Picnic Time - Book of your choice Good Husbandry by Kristin Kimball
*It's a Fact Ticket
This Task:
Points: 5
Books Read: 1
GO Ticket: 0
BB Ticket: 0
IAF Ticket: 1
Total:
Points: 395
Books Read: 28
GO Ticket: 2
BB Ticket +500: 1
IAF Ticket: 6
Tasks Completed: 19

20.6 KristenIA’s Let’s Go to the Park.
Opt. 3.B -- Read a book by an author whose FIRST initial matches a letter in one of our visited national park state’s two letter abbreviations: AR, AZ, CO, IN, SD, TN, or WY AND whose LAST initial matches a letter in one of our visited ballpark state’s two letter abbreviations: CO, IL, MA, or MO.
I read Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers, 1st init in CO, 2nd init in MA.
Points This Post: 20
Total Points So Far: 935

20.7 KarenMArie’s Wonders
Opt. 3. Read a Hugo award winner. I read Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh, winner of the Best Novel Hugo Award 2024.
Points This Post: 20
Total Points So Far: 955

20.8 MEG SLCs Task:
Opt. 2. Shortlisted. I read Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize 2023.
Points This Post: 20
Total Points So Far: 975
Challenge Complete!!!!!

5.6 - Summer Song
Title word in lyrics of "Hot Fun in the Summertime"
The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

81 pgs
Matching title / lyric word: "Fall"
***Using option of a book between 80 - 99 pgs for ONE 5 point task***
🐬🦀🐟🦀🐬🦀🐟🦀🐬🦀🐟🦀🐬🦀🐟🦀🐬🦀🐟🦀
COMPLETED TASKS:
Points This Post: 5
Total Points: 700/975
Total Books Read: 53
Total Tasks Completed: 40
Big Book Tickets:
Golden Oldies Tickets:
IAF Tickets: 10

10.8 Summer Lovin'
Read a book set in, first published or about the 1960s.
Cover Her Face, P.D. James
Read the kindle edition. Top MMPB: here (207pg)
First published in 1962
Points this Task: 10
Books Read: 1
Total Points: 505
Tasks Completed: 29
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1
Big Book Tickets: 1

Task 10.4 Future's So Bright
Person wearing sunglasses on cover

Points this post:10
Total points:210
Books read:16
Big Books:2
Golden Oldies:0
Non-Fiction:1
Tasks Completed:16

Task #15.8 Shipwrecked and Stranded
Read a book where a shipwreck or someone who stranded in the ocean or on an island is essential to the story. I read One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware. The deserted island theme is described in the GR description.
Total points so far: 795

Task 50.1 The Summer My Boys Got Married
Book 1 Option A: Word in title made from letters in PITTSBURG WEDDING COOKIE (WEDDING)
The Wedding People by Alison Espach 384 pages
Book 2 Option A: Night Sky On Cover

Book 3 Option B: Plural word in title (BONES)
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab Claim 1 BB Ticket 535 pages
Total page count for 3 books >750 pages
Points this post:50
Total points:260
Books read:19
Big Books:3
Golden Oldies:0
Non-Fiction:1
Tasks completed:17

10.6 Theater Camp
Read a book first published either in July of any year or any month for the year 2022 - July 2025
The Team
This task points: 10
Total season points: 655

10.5 I’ll Be There For You
International Day of Friendship is celebrated on July 11. Celebrate by reading a book off of this list.
Friendship Fiction
Required: state the page
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

The book is on page 1
TOTALS
Points: 155
BB: 1
GO: 0
NF: 10
Total books: 19
Total tasks: 18

10.6 Theater Camp
Read a book first published either in July of any year or any month for the year 2022.
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times

First published November 15, 2022
Claiming 1 It's a fact ticket.
TOTALS
Points: 165
BB: 1
GO: 0
NF: 11
Total books: 20
Total tasks: 19

10.7 Camp Rock
Read a book where the MC is an active performance artist or performing arts is central to the story.
For the purpose of this task performance artist is someone who performs in front of an audience for entertainment.
In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox

Claiming 1 It's a fact ticket.
TOTALS
Points: 175
BB: 1
GO: 0
NF: 12
Total books: 21
Total tasks: 20

Option 5, MPG Romance: Delicious! by Ruth Reichl
paperback edition Delicious!
Points this post: 20
Total points: 590

Gutenberg Classic The Adventures of Sally by P.G. Wodehouse
discussion post #12
Points this post: 20
Total points: 610
Congrats Delicious Dee for completing the Summer 2025 season. You have a 30 point task in Fall 2025 Season

30.10 Amy FL’s task: Return of a Favorite
Option 1
Read a book with one of these words from the series in the title (subtitle excluded). Words must be exact. No variations.
Rules, Shadow, Eyes, Silent, Winter, Night, Mind, Sudden, Secret, Certain, Easy, Chosen, Mortal, Naked, Hidden, Broken, Invisible, Phantom, Wicked, Storm, Buried, Stolen, Silken, Field, Gathering, Extreme, Golden, Twisted, Neon, Masked, Ocean, Righteous, Judgment, Toxic, Lethal
Broken Horses
***Claiming 1 It's a Fact Ticket - book is a non-fiction memoir***
Option 4
Read a book by an author who shares a first or last name with one of the recurring characters in the Prey series. The name must match exactly but can appear in any position.
Lucas Davenport, Jennifer Carey, Weather Karkinnen, Virgil Flowers, Del Capslock, Harrison Sloan, Letty Davenport, Rose Marie Roux (Rose or Marie work), Marcy Sherrill, Elle Kruger
The Women's March: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession by Jennifer Chiaverini
-----------------------------
This post: 30 points
Tickets: 1 IAF
-----------------------------
Season total: 360 points
Season Tickets: 5 IAF, 1 BB

15.5 Land of Dragons
Author initials in KOMODO, DRAGON, or LIZARD
Sudden Death - David Rosenfelt - found in DRagon or lizaRD
Points this post: 15
Total points: 845
BB:3 GO:2 IAF:6

Read 3 books totaling 750+ pages, one of which was published in 2025.
Book 1, Option A: Read a book with a 3+ letter title word from the letters in "Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table"
Word: STATION
Perdido Street Station, 710 pages
**Claiming 1 Big Book Ticket**
Book 2, Option A: Read a book whose cover shows the night sky with visible stars

The City in Glass, 216 pages
Book 3, Option B: Read a book whose title contains a plural word
Jailbreak of Sparrows: Poems, 129 pages
Published April 1, 2025
Total page count: 1057 pages
~~~~~~~~
Points This Post: 50
Total Points: 50/975
Tasks Completed: 1/56
Tickets as of this post: BB(1), GO(), IaF()

Task #30.4 TessaVanessa's Task: A Year of Travels
task: Option 1: snow on the cover.
book: Graceling
(my version is audio, first MMPB here)
how it fits:

better picture: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.c...
task: Option 2: 4+ letter title word made from BIG CITY VIBE.
book: Give Me Your Hand
(my version is audio, first MMPB here)
how it fits: "GIVE" in BI(G) CITY (VI)B(E)
Points this post: 30
Total points: 900
Tasks completed: 51/56
BB: 10 / GO: 7 / IAF: 3

Task: 15.10 I'm Not Scared
Read a book with MPG Horror- Stand alone or embedded
Book/Author: The Hitchcock Hotel / Stephanie Wrobel
How it fits: MPG Horror
Points for this task: 15
Total points: 765
Big Book tickets for this task: 0
Big Book tickets total: 3
Golden Oldies tickets for this task: 0
Golden Oldies tickets total: 6
It's a Fact tickets for this task: 0
It's a Fact tickets total: 1

Book 1: Using the North American parks, read a book whose title contains a word from the name one of the parks.
Great Sand Dunes National Park: Sand
View with a Grain of Sand: Selected Poems by Wisława Szymborska
Book 2: Using the Europe Map read a book whose title contains all the letters of the complete name of one parks. The words National and Park may be excluded.
Sarek National Park: Sarek
ShARKs thE
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 265

10.3 500 Reads of Summer
Read a popular summer book from the first 25 pages of this list.
pg 2 on list
When in Rome by Sarah Adams
COMPLETED TASKS:
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 300 / 975
Total Books Read: 20 / 74
Total Tasks Completed: 15 / 56
BB Total: 1+1=2
GO:
IAF:

Task 30.4 - A Year of Travels
Option 2: 4+ letter word in title made from letters in BIG CITY VIBE
City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
Word: City
big CITY vibe
Option 3: Author's first and last initials in NIAGARA FALLS
The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
Niagara fallS
Points this Post: 30
Total Points: 405
Total Tasks: 23
GO: 0
BB: 2
IAF: 0
Total Books: 30

10.5 I’ll Be There For You
Celebrate by reading a book off of this list.
Friendship Fiction
pg 6 on list
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
COMPLETED TASKS:
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 310 / 975
Total Books Read: 21 / 74
Total Tasks Completed: 16 / 56
BB Total: 1+1=2
GO:
IAF:

20.3 Review Raffle: Kelly L's Task - Celebrating Pride
This is a one book task. Choose from one of the following options
Required: State the option
Option 4
Read a book set at least 50%in any of the following past, current, or future host countries of World Pride: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.
Set in United States
Funny Story by Emily Henry
COMPLETED TASKS:
Points This Post: 20
Total Points: 330 / 975
Total Books Read: 22 / 74
Total Tasks Completed: 17 / 56
BB Total: 1+1=2
GO:
IAF:

Task 30.7 - Books of Europe
Book 1: Book set 70%+ in Euro country not in UK
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Set in Sweden
Book 2: Book by author born in Euro country not in UK
The Hunter by Tana French
Born in Ireland
Points this Post: 30
Total Points: 435
Total Tasks: 24
GO: 0
BB: 2
IAF: 0
Total Books: 32

Option 3: Niagara Falls
Read a book with a single author’s first and last initial that can be found in NIAGArA FALLs.
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
Read a book with all the letters of VEGAS in the series title (series must be in gray-scale on the main book page)
Required: State the series name
The Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries #4 - VEGAS
rEV ferGuSson vAn
To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Task Total: 30
Season Total: 295

501 Pages: 240p + 280p = 520 Pages
Option 3 - H.G. Wells was born 21 September 1866 and died 13 August 1946. Read a book that was first published between those dates.
Published 1936, 240 pages
A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey
Option 5 - Read a book that is set at least 75% in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) or in New Jersey, USA.
England, 280 pages
A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie
Task Total: 30
Season Total: 325

30. 9 Nick KY’s Task: Uluru – National Parks of Australia
Opt. 2. Read a book with a word of at least four letters in the title/subtitle/author’s name from the phrase ULURU KATA TJUTA NICK KY.
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
Word = LUCK
LU in uLUru
CK in niCK
Opt. 4. Read a book that takes place at least 50% in Australia or is by an author born in or currently living in Australia.
Paradise by Patricia Wolf
Set 100% in Queensland, Australia
TOTAL POINTS: 485

Task #30.2 - Wrapped in Plastic
Option 4: Read a book from this list of books about
Demonic Possession. I read Come Closer by Sara Gran, from page 1 of the list.
Option 5: Read a book with a word of at least four letters from the poem in the title. I chose the word FIRE from the last line and read Fire & Water by Alexis Hall.
Total points so far: 825
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Read a book where the MC is an active performance artist or performing arts is central to the story.
Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me by Ralph Macchio
Claiming 1 IAF ticket for Nonfiction
Points this post: 10
Total points: 270
IAF: 3
BB: 1
GO: 1