The 4 Elements (Suggestions Thread )

[Mojca]

And here's the suggestion-thread part of the 4 Elements dare/challenge.

The main thread is over here.

Just a reminder as to what it's all about...


EARTH

1. Cover:
   1.1 Read a book with a predominately green or brown cover.
   1.2 Read a book with a field, forest/greenery/thick foliage (jungle, meadow etc.) or sandy dunes/desert on its cover (it has to be a predominant feature!).

2. Setting:
   2.1 Read a book set on a farm or ranch, in the forest/jungle, in the desert or in northern countries (Northern hemisphere for those living in the southern one, Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, northern USA etc.).
   2.2 Read a book set in winter.

3. Character:
   3.1 Read a book featuring a heroine that is a mother or grandmother.
   3.2 Read a book featuring a heroine that is a cook, chef and/or baker.
   3.3 Read a book with a main character that is a potter, speleologist or works with rocks, minerals or crystals.
   3.4 Read a book with a main character that is a “protector” (police officer, bodyguard etc.).
   3.5 Read a book with a passive heroine (kick-ass chicks need not apply).

WATER

1. Cover:
   1.1 Read a book with a predominately blue or black cover.
   1.2 Read a book with a body of water (sea, lake, river etc.), fountain/cascade/etc., or a rainy-scene on its cover (it has to be a predominant feature!).

2. Setting:
   2.1 Read a book set on (or beside) a sea or lake, on an island or in the “western” countries (a western/American frontier historical is allowed, though not encouraged).
   2.2 Read a book set in autumn.

3. Character:
   3.1 Read a book with a main character that works with/in water (marine biologist, diver, ship captain, Coast Guard officer, sailor etc.).
   3.2 Read a book with a main character that is in the “cleaning” profession (laundress, cleaning lady, owns a dry cleaning business etc.) or is an entrepreneur, business tycoon etc.
   3.3 Read a book with a strong heroine.

FIRE

1. Cover:
   1.1 Read a book with a predominately red, orange, pink or purple cover.
   1.2 Read a book with a fire on cover (it has to be a predominant feature!).
   1.3 Read a book with a firefighter/fire-engine on cover.

2. Setting:
   2.1 Read a book set in a fire house or any other setting associate with firefighters and fire (smack in the middle of a wild fire, for example) or in the southern countries (Southern hemisphere for those living in northern one, Latin America, Africa, southern USA states etc.).
   2.2 Read a book set in summer.

3. Character:
   3.1 Read a book with a main character that is a fireman, arson investigator etc.
   3.2 Read a book with a strong hero (the more Alpha the better).
   3.3 Read an erotic book.
   3.4 Read a young adult book.

AIR

1. Cover:
   1.1 Read a book with a predominately yellow, white or light-blue cover.
   1.2 Read a book with the sky, wind/twister etc. on cover (it has to be a predominant feature!).
   1.3 Read a book with a plane/pilot, balloon etc. on cover.

2. Setting:
   2.1 Read a book set on a plane, high in the mountains or in the East (middle-East or far-East).
   2.2 Read a book set in spring.

3. Character:
   3.1 Read a book with a main character that is a pilot, airman, parachute, sky-diver, world-traveler/globetrotter etc. or a braniac, scientist, science teacher, intellectual etc.
   3.2 Read a book with a passive hero (Beta all the way).
   3.3 Read a second-chances book.

BONUS : TITLE&COVER CONCOCTION—read a book where an element is repeated both on cover and in the title)
   EARTH—field, forest/greenery/thick foliage or sandy dunes/desert on cover and word “EARTH” in the title
   WATER—body of water, fountain, rainy scene etc. on cover and word “WATER” in the title
   FIRE—fire, firefighter, fire-engine on cover and word “FIRE” in the title
   AIR—sky, wind, plane/pilot, balloon etc. on cover and word “AIR” in the title

...suggest away.

[Dee]

I just read this one which works for earth - green cover and foliage on it -

[Vi]

Mojca, can Beach be considered a "water" word? As in ?

[Mojca]

Vi wrote: "Mojca, can Beach be considered a "water" word? As in ?"

Love the cover, Vi. For the setting it's a yes set on (or beside) a sea or lake, for the word, I'm afraid not. The titles have to contain the actual element names (Earth, Fire, Air, Water).

[Vi]

Ah well, too bad. Now I really gotta search for the bonus, hmm. Great challenge Mojca.

[D.G.]

Mojca - Can we use the following words in the title?
Waters or Waterless?

Also, take a look at the 3 Sisters Trilogy by Nora Roberts:
Dance Upon the Air
Heaven and Earth
Face the Fire


I think the first two covers have air and earth clearly but does the lightning in the third cover count for 'fire'? (You have to click on the cover to see it.)

[Amanda]

Might I suggest using the listopia function on GR. I'm sure some members have compiled a list or two based on a couple of the elements.

[Mojca]

D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "Mojca - Can we use the following words in the title?
Waters or Waterless?

Also, take a look at the 3 Sisters Trilogy by Nora Roberts:
Dance Upon the Air
[book:Heaven and Earth|294158..."

Nope, lightning doesn't count...I see no fire. Even the second one is a bit iffy, since the cover features mostly sky and a beach scene. I don't really see the "earth" or "thick foliage" etc. The cover would've worked for the "water" element.

[D.G.]

Mojca wrote: "D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "Mojca - Can we use the following words in the title?
Waters or Waterless?

Also, take a look at the 3 Sisters Trilogy by Nora Roberts:
Dance Upon the Air..."

The books are set in a Island that's why there seems to be water in them all. Of course, there's no water in any of the titles!

I'm still not sure I'll do the bonus unless I find 4 interesting books.

[Wan]

For the Bonus Catergory "AIR—sky, wind, plane/pilot, balloon etc. on cover and word “AIR” in the title" --- Does the word "Wind" in the title okay?

[D.G.]

I think Mojca said above: "The titles have to contain the actual element names (Earth, Fire, Air, Water)" so I don't think that wind counts.

[D.G.]

The bonus book I'm finding most difficult is earth. So far I've found several books with the word 'earth' in the title and two have water on the cover!

[Wan]

This book fits the forest/greenery/thick foliage also.

[Mojca]

D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "The bonus book I'm finding most difficult is earth. So far I've found several books with the word 'earth' in the title and two have water on the cover!"

Yep, Earth is a tricky one.

Oh, I didn't answer your question about "waters" or "waterless" in the title.
As long as the title has the actual word (even plural), I say yes, it counts.

But it must also have something to do with the actual element.
For example: waterless, airborne, aircraft, earthy, firestorm etc. is acceptable while firefly (no actual fire), earthly (relating to the earth or human life on the earth/relating to humankind's material existence), earthling etc. is not, since those words have no actual "connection" to the element itself.

I'm complicating things, aren't I?

[Mojca]

Wan "Artemis", the Dark-Hunters' Goddess wrote: "This book fits the forest/greenery/thick foliage also.
"

Great cover, Wan "Artemis". Yes, it certainly does fit the category.

[Bookchaser]

I haven't posted my list yet. I'm still trying to find books for some of the categories. Last weekend I read Safe Harbor (Drake Sisters, Book 5) by Christine Feehan. The sisters all have some type of magic or power. Hannah, the heroine of this book has the power to "call up" or control the 4 elements. She uses air/wind most often. I would like to use this book for my Air - Character category. Do you think that would be appropriate?

[Mojca]

Bookchaser wrote: "Hannah, the heroine of this book has the power to "call up" or control the 4 elements. She uses air/wind most often. I would like to use this book for my Air - Character category. Do you think that would be appropriate? "

Magic (even if she does use wind/air) doesn't really qualify. You could use her as a "globetrotter", since she travels a lot as a model.

Or you could use the book as a "second-chance" book (Jonas and Hannah have a second chance at happiness in this book).

So yeah, for the air character category I'd say go for it.

[Bookchaser]

Okay thanks. I'm searching for my last few books then I'll post my list.

[Lynne]

I just finished Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts which is about smoke jumpers (fire fighters who parachute into fires in wilderness areas). If you look closely you can see the parachuters. Does it meet your criteria for fire fighters and the word fire? The sky is orange, but you can't really see the fire, but after reading the book it's a great image of what the smoke jumpers are jumping into. I'm hoping to use it for the Fire bonus. Great challenge Mojca!

[Dee]

well on the bright side, I found a passive hero...they don't get anymore so than Seth in the Succubus series

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Came across this in an email and love the cover. Should qualify for Fire bonus.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

If anyone wants a historical passive hero: Cotillion.

[Mojca]

Lynne wrote: "I just finished Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts which is about smoke jumpers (fire fighters who parachute into fires in wilderness areas). If you look closely you can see the parachute..."

I'm using that one as my fire-bonus book, so yeah, it qualifies. ;)

[Joann]

Hi Mojca - I need a ruling. I'm still having difficulty finding a book for the Earth bonus category. Would either of these 2 qualify?

or

[Mojca]

Joann, I'd say the first one...The second "earth" is a bit tiny.

[Joann]

Thanks, Mojca!

[Mojca]

Joann wrote: "Thanks, Mojca!"

You're welcome. :)

[Vi]

Mojca, what can be considered second chances book? Is it a book that you've picked up in the past but didn't read it?

[Mojca]

Nope, a second-chances storyline...Lovers reunited after a long time, a man wrongly convicted in the past getting a second chance at life, a vampire thinking he’s irredeemable finding redemption through the right woman (I’m using this one) etc.

[Vi]

OK, in that case, any recs for the second-chances storyline? I can only think of stuff that I've read. Any recs would be very very welcome!

[Dee]

Vi - I liked Last Chance, My Love - Lynne Connolly

also Delicious

and its up to Mojca but I think Summer Island is a good second chances book as well - in this instance - mother who left her kids and 10 years or so later is trying to repair the damage

[Wan]

Hello guys -- does Scottish Highland fits this "AIR 2. Setting: 2.1 high in the mountains"?

[Mojca]

Wan "Artemis", the Dark-Hunters' Goddess wrote: "Hello guys -- does Scottish Highland fits this "AIR 2. Setting: 2.1 high in the mountains"?"

Not really, since Scotland doesn't really have any "real" mountains, I'll let it slide as "set in the East" for you (according to where you're from, Scotland could be an "eastern" country).

[Wan]

Ok thanks.