March - Pick It For Me Challenge

[Tania]

What's a Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?

It's a group recommend a book thing - works just like a Secret Santa or Xmas Exchange, except that the gift is replaced by a book recommendation. The givee-giver pairings are assigned by a super-secret method with some randomness thrown in (or not so much!). So you recommend some books for whomever you get and somebody else will recommend books to you. After you're done reading your Pick-It-For-Me book, a short post with some feedback - a mini-review of sorts would be appreciated.

Please sign up by posting in this thread. Sign up period will remain open until February 24th at 8pm EST. When you sign up, please provide the following:

If money was no object where would you want to go for a months holiday? Please put country only not city.

For this challenge, you need either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable) or make the person who'd be doing the recommending to you, your friend. On top of that, I strongly advise keeping your bookshelves updated, otherwise you might end up with a recommendation for something that you have already read.

You'll have until March 2nd at 8pm EST to make your recommendations. Everything will be done in this thread so check it often. Also, please be sure you really want/have the time to participate. Once I pair up people, it makes it difficult to re-pair when someone decides not to participate.


Rules

One of the things I’ve always loved about reading books is their ability to take us to faraway places. Travelling as much as I do I’ve spent a lot of time lugging heavy volumes of books around in my luggage because I can’t stand to be without something to read. Linda Howard was with me in the Tanami Desert, Christine Feehan was with me on the train to Chang Mai and Nora Roberts sat with me watching boats go in and out of a tiny fishing harbour in New Zealand recently.

So that’s what I’ve based this month’s challenge on... oh and there’s an additional option of an audio book pick if you choose to, mainly because audio books have gotten me through many hours of the not-so-glamorous aspects of travel.

Places I'm going (Books from their TBR shelf)
1. Culture Shock - Pick a book from their TBR that you've never heard of or don't know much about.
2. Airport Purchases - Pick a book that you would buy at an airport because the cover caught your eye as you were walking past
3. Making Those Connections - pick a book that links to a book that they've read and rated highly (could be by author, series, theme etc)

Places I've Been (Books you’ve read)
4. Going back there for sure - pick a book in an exotic locale that has made you want to pack your bags and travel to where the book is set
5. Making space in the luggage – mid way through a trip you need to get rid of some luggage weight. Pick the book you could never leave behind even if you knew you could get another copy back home.
6. Heading home - pick the book that's going to help you get through an eight hour train / plane ride in economy seats.

Planning the Next Trip (buddy reads)
(It’s expected that if the person you’re picking for selects one of these that you’ll read it as well)

Both you and your selectee chose a country you would like to go to. Pick:
7. One book set in the country you chose.
8. One book set in the country they chose.

(Check out messages #122 - #147 for some hints if you get stuck)

Optional Pick
9. Audio book - if you have an audio book that that you loved list it here and explain why this book was great in audio format. You never know, you may entice someone to try audio books for the first time.

[Tania]

PAIRINGS LIST 1 * = picks made
*Lady Leah *Silk Desire* Westcliff (Scotland) picks for Delicious-Dee-Challenge-Addict (Egypt)
*Delicious-Dee-Challenge-Addict (Egypt) picks for LethalLovely ~ Killing Me Softly (India)
*LethalLovely ~ Killing Me Softly (India) picks for Annie (a mad hamster) (England)
*Annie (a mad hamster) (England) picks for Macwolf01 (Elise) (Scotland)
*Macwolf01 (Elise) (Scotland) picks for Juana "Darkness" (France)
*Juana "Darkness" (France) picks for A-Vishous-Fan (Scotland)
*A-Vishous-Fan (Scotland) picks for Diane-Firefly (Germany)
*Diane-Firefly (Germany) picks for AshleyAlexis (Japan)
*AshleyAlexis (Japan) picks for MountainKat (Ireland)
*MountainKat (Ireland) picks for AlbertaJenn (England)
*AlbertaJenn (England) picks for Yz the Whyz (Ireland)
*Yz the Whyz (Ireland) picks for Tugce Nida (England)
*Tugce Nida (England) picks for Aleksandra (Australia)
*Aleksandra (Australia) picks for PhotoJim (New Zealand)
*PhotoJim (New Zealand) picks for Charlotte (England)
*Charlotte (England) picks for Annabell (France)
*Annabell (France) picks for Michelle (Scotland)
*Michelle (Scotland) picks for Sheswitches (Italy)
*Sheswitches (Italy) picks for Pollyanna (Australia)
*Pollyanna (Australia) picks for Katherine (Ireland)
*Katherine (Ireland) picks for Melinda (Vietnam)
*Melinda (Vietnam) picks for Rebecca (Italy)
*Rebecca (Italy) picks for Jennifer (Japan)
*Jennifer (Japan) picks for BJ-Rose (Ireland)
*BJ-Rose (Ireland) picks for Danielle (Italy)
*Danielle (Italy) picks for Cynthia (Japan)
*Cynthia (Japan) picks for Heather (Italy)
*Heather (Italy) picks for Shelley (USA)
*Shelley (USA) picks for Valerie (Italy)
*Valerie (Italy) picks for Jane(PS) (USA)
*Jane(PS) (USA) picks for Melissa (Australia)
*Melissa (Australia) picks for Lady Leah *Silk Desire* Westcliff (Scotland)

[Tania]

PAIRINGS LIST 2
*Rachel (China) picks for Regina (Scotland)
*Regina (Scotland) picks for Polina (Egypt)
*Polina (Egypt) picks for Kerste (Greece)
*Kerste (Greece) picks for Penney (Italy)
*Penney (Italy) picks for Debbie (Ireland)
*Debbie (Ireland) picks for Amanda (Switzerland)
*Amanda (Switzerland) picks for Sinful (Italy)
*Sinful (Italy) picks for Amanda (Ireland)
*Amanda (Ireland) picks for Autumn (Japan)
*Autumn (Japan) picks for Rachel (China)
*Karen (Kenya) picks for Tanya (Scotland)
Tanya (Scotland) picks for Layla (Austria)
*Layla (Austria) picks for Becky (England)
*Becky (England) picks for Laura (Italy)
*Laura (Italy) picks for Megan (New Zealand)
*Megan (New Zealand) picks for Cassie (Ireland)
*Cassie (Ireland) picks for Sarah (Scotland)
*Sarah (Scotland) picks for Cathy (England)
*Cathy (England) picks for Katie (Netherlands)
*Katie (Netherlands) picks for Skena (Italy)
*Skena (Italy) picks for Katie (New Zealand)
*Katie (New Zealand) picks for Sandy (England)
*Sandy (England) picks for Tania (Peru)
*Tania (Peru) picks for Cathy (Scotland)
*Cathy (Scotland) picks for Joyce (Australia)
*Joyce (Australia) picks for Karen (Kenya)
*Pam (Australia) picks for D.G. (Peru)
*D.G. (Peru) picks for Sara (Canada)
*Sara (Canada) picks for Ari (India)
*Ari (India) picks for Erin (Italy)
*Erin (Italy) picks for Lili (France)
*Lili (France) picks for Kate (Italy)
*Kate (Italy) picks for Rena (Germany)
*Rena (Germany) picks for Shea (Italy)
*Shea (Italy) picks for Gigi (England)
*Gigi (England) picks for Elke (Italy)
*Elke (Italy) picks for Kami (France)
*Kami (France) picks for Miss (Australia)
*Miss (Australia) picks for Lacy (Ireland)
Lacy (Ireland) picks for Anja (French Polynesia)
*Anja (French Polynesia) picks for Fran (Italy)
*Fran (Italy) picks for Inga (Brazil)
*Inga (Brazil) picks for Sue (Italy)
*Sue (Italy) picks for Pam (Australia)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Wow! Is this month moving fast or what? But I'm IN.

[Tania]

It is indeed - which country are you in for Jane?

[Dee]

i'm in - Egypt (prior to everything going on)...

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Sorry Tania - I'm afraid I was guilty of skim reading! :(

Right - I'd love a month's holiday in the States (I've only seen half of it - and a month should keep me busy, esp with Hawaii and Alaska thrown in for free!)

[Fran, Moderator]

I'm in - I would love to spend a month in Italy- I've never been.

[Katie]

i'm in...new zealand

[Melissa **]

im in and I would go to Austraila.

[Inga]

I'm in and it's Amazonia (Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador -> South America).

[Desperado]

I'm in. Hmmmm. Where would I go if money was no issue.....I'd have to say India. I've always been fascinated by it's culture, music, everything. India rocks my socks.

[Stormy]

I'm in and I would love to spend a month in Greece

[~Megan~]

Count me in...I am dying to go to New Zealand!

[Penney]

I'm in and I think I'd spend a month traveling around Italy. That was a really, really hard decision.

[Ashley♥Alexis]

I was soooooo sad to miss This months challenge. I'm totally in! And i'd go to Japan of course ^.^

[Desperado]

Kerste wrote: "I'm in and I would love to spend a month in Greece"

That was my second choice! Oh the places I would go if I wasn't so damn broke.

[Laura]

I'm in! I'd love to spend a month in England!

[Fran, Moderator]

LethalLovely~Killing Me Softly wrote: "Kerste wrote: "I'm in and I would love to spend a month in Greece"

That was my second choice! Oh the places I would go if I wasn't so damn broke."

Greece was my second choice too!

[Dee]

tania - you missed me :( i'd be in Africa - thanks!

[Tania]

Inga wrote: "I'm in and it's Amazonia (Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador -> South America)."

Inga, I had to pick one country so I put you down as Brazil. Let me know if that's not right.

[Tania]

LethalLovely~Killing Me Softly wrote: That was my second choice! Oh the places I would go if I wasn't so damn broke."

I know. There really isn't anywhere not on the list for me...

[Amanda]

I'm in!

I'm a sucker for the Nordic countries. Switzerland would probably be top on my list.

[Tanya]

I would love to go to Scotland!

[Diane ~Firefly~]

I'm in. I would love to visit Germany.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Laura wrote: "I'm in! I'd love to spend a month in England!"

That was my second choice 'cos I want to walk the Coast to Coast track!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I'm in! Where to stay for a month? That is a tough one! I would have to say Ireland.

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

I'm in. If money were no object, I'd go to Mars. Not many people get to go to another planet. If it would have to be terrestrial, I'd say New Zealand.

[AlbertaJenn]

I'm in! And I'm getting in on time this month! ;-)

England!

[Ann]

I'm in....and France.

[[deleted user]]

Oh, this is tough! I'm in...and I'd like to go to....Germany

[Kate]

I'm in as well. I would love to spend a month in Italy.

[Lili]

I'm in... and I'd love to go to France.

[Becky]

I'm in, England!!

[Ari]

I would love to go to India.

[Pam]

I'm in
If money and TIME were not object then definitely Australia

[Anja]

I'd go to French Polynesia.

[Tania]

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "tania - you missed me :( i'd be in Africa - thanks!"

I must have been editing at the exact time you posted Dee. Cause you are unmissable (in a good way off course!!!)

[BJ Rose]

Ireland for me!

[Ashley♥Alexis]

Delicious Dee you probably wont want to be hanging out in Egypt anytime soon... Come visit Japan with me! =p

[Shea]

I'm in and Italy is my dream!

[[deleted user]]

I'm in... i would go to Australia. (:

[Tuğçe]

i am in, i love this challange and i'd want to go to england :)

[Rebecca]

I'm in and I would go to Italy

[Sarah]

I'm in and I would love to go to Scotland so that I could find the real Jamie Fraser! lol

[Pollyanna]

I'm in and I would love to go to Australia

[Inga]

Tania wrote: "Inga, I had to pick one country so I put you down as Brazil. Let me know if that's not right."

Tania, that's just great! :) I thought the final grouping will based on continents. Sorry for misunderstanding :)

[Tania]

Inga wrote: "I thought the final grouping will based on continents. ..."

Nope, close but no cigar. Selection is semi based on continents but the country plays an important role in the challenge rules.

[Regina]

I`m in, I would like to go to Scotland

[Layla]

I'm in and I would love to go to Austria :)