December: Singing in the snow

[Sashana]

♬It’s the most wonderful time of the year!♬ 2012 is fast approaching but the Holidays are even closer. Singing, but more specifically caroling, is a major part of holiday traditions. We understand that this time of year can also be busy and stressful so we’d like to do something different with this month’s challenge. We're looking forward to see how creative you guys can get ☺

Step 1: Take a look at the list of Carols listed below. If we’re missing your favorite carol then feel free to add it nonetheless.
Step 2: Pick as many carols as you want. Once you have your carol(s) selected then try to associate them with a book.
Step 3: List your book(s) and carol(s) and then give a brief explanation of how the books relate to the carol.

Levels
Easy - 3 to 4 carols
Moderate - 5 - 8 carols
Hard - 9+ carols

Examples:
(1) Carol: Silver Bells
Book Read: Legend by Marie Lu
Why: The cover is silver


(2) Carol: Santa Baby
Book Read: Santa, Baby byJennifer Crusie
Why: Because the titles are the same


(3) Carol: Jingle Bells
Book Read: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Why: The word 'bell'


Carol List- Thank you, Wikipedia!

"The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
"Winter Wonderland" – Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" – J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
"White Christmas" – Irving Berlin
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
"Jingle Bell Rock" – Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
"The Little Drummer Boy" – Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
"Sleigh Ride" – Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – Johnny Marks
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – Edward Pola, George Wyle
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" – Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
"Silver Bells" – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" – Johnny Marks
"Feliz Navidad" – José Feliciano
"Blue Christmas" – Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
"Frosty the Snowman" – Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
"A Holly Jolly Christmas" – Johnny Marks
"It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas" – Meredith Willson
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" – Tommie Connor
"Here Comes Santa Claus" (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) – Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
"Carol of the Bells" – Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola D. Leontovych
"Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World) — Midge Ure, Bob Geldof
"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" – Bob Allen, Al Stillman
"Santa Baby" – Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer, and Fred Ebb
Silent Night
Jingle Bells
12 Days of Christmas
Ave Maria
★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩

❄Remember: Creativty will be your friend in this challenge. You can use one carol for more than one book. May the force be with you!

❄This challenge was created by Sashana, Lisarenee, and Rachel. Happy holidays from us to you!

[Sashana]

Participant's List!
The check mark (✓) means that you've finished the challenge.

✓1. Lisa Kay
2. Kayla
✓3. Melissa
4. Lisa
✓5. Jex
6. Mariana
7. Barbara
✓8. Cathy
9. Aleksandra
✓10. Amy J.
✓11. Diane Whitney
12. Gabrielle ~ Bhlack Benehvolence ~
13. Darcey
✓14. Lexa
✓15. Rebecca
16. Deana
17. Kristina
✓18. Jackie
19. Cindy (eclecticfirefly)
20. Karla
21. Suzanne
22. Natasha
✓23. Tricia
24. ❥☪LIZZ NEILL☪❥
✓25. Lacy♪ ♫Movements of a Demigod ♪ ♫
26. Vikki

[Sashana]

You can also pick and carol and spell-it-out.

[Lisa Kay]

NBRC: Singing in the snow: December's Reading

I'm in. Don't know what all I'll do, but I'll start with:

1/4

(1) Carol: "Silver Bells"
Book Read: ✔ Silver Lining, by Maggie Osborne ★★★★★ Kindle 12/12
Why?: Silver in both titles.


(2) Carol: "White Christmas"
Book Read: First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones (AD)
Why?: White bookcover.


(3) Carol: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Book Read: Dark Lover, by J.R. Ward (PB)
Why?: Red cover.


(4) Carol: "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Book Read: The Comforts of Home, by Jodi Thomas
Why?: Home in both titles.

[Sashana]

Notice the star divider? I'm already putting it to use ;) Good luck with the challenge, Lisa Kay.

[Kayla]

I have one in mind already. I'll try adding more as I think of them.

1. Carol: Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Book: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Why?: It's snowing on the cover


2. Carol: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Why?: It's about a girl trying to get home :)


3. Carol: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Book: The Baron in the Trees
Why?: There's "trees" in the title and a tree on the cover


4. Carol: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Book: Dark Passages
Why?: I'm going with the "do you see what I see" verse of the song, which goes along with the eyes on the book cover. (I always think the title of the carol is actually "Do You See What I See?" since that's the first verse. :)

[Sashana]

Good one, Kayla! I never realized that it was snow, but I took a closer look and you're right. All this time I thought it was glitter...time to get my prescription rechecked lol

[Lisa Kay]

Sashana wrote: "Notice the star divider? I'm already putting it to use ;) Good luck with the challenge, Lisa Kay."

LOL! Looks great, too! And thanks! Fun challenge.

[Sashana]

Oops! Forgot to add the levels. They're now up!


I'm glad you like it, Lisa Kay. Lisa, Rachel, and I bounced some ideas around and I was able to put it together in the nick of time.

[Melissa (ladybug)]

I love Christmas Carols. :D I will add titles as I think of them.

4/4

✔1) Carol: "Winter Wonderland" 12/3
Book: Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Why?: The book cover shows the "Perfect" Winter Wonderland. :D


✔2) Carol: "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day" 12/16
Book: Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon
Why?: Churches have bells. The cover is the front of a church in christmas.


✔3) Carol: "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" 12/8
Book: Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Why?: Year in the title and Wonders/Wonderful have "almost" the same meanings. :D


✔4) Carol: "God rest ye merry, gentlemen" 12/20
Book: Rest in Pieces by Rita Mae Brown
Why?: Rest in the title

[Sashana]

Good luck, Melissa and Lisa (no problem, whatever works best for you)!

[Jex]

Interesting challenge. Some carols missing off the list:

Silent Night
Jingle Bells (i saw jingle bell rock, but no jingle bells)
On the first day of christmas... (or whatever it's called)

[Sashana]

Thanks for the suggestions Jex. I added them (the song is called 12 days of Christmas).

[Mariana]

I'm in and picked level easy, here are my books.

(1) Carol: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Book Read: Wish upon a star by Sarah Morgan
Why: It's snowing and they are watching.


(2) Carol: (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
Book Read: Small Town Christmas by Jill Shalvis
Why: The door gives a felling for home.


(3) Carol: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Book Read: Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis
Why: The tree is a christmas one or will be.

[Sashana]

Welcome to the group, Mariana! Good luck with the challenge. Jill Shalvis is really popular during the holidays (if my News Feed is any indication). I must give her a try this year.

[Jex]

I'm doing moderate level. Some of these were a stretch, but I didn't want to change my reading list for December too much :-P

Start: December 1st - December 31st
Complete: 0/8

"The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Book: Heat Stroke
Why: You need heat to roast those chestnuts.


"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
Book: Unbearable Lightness
Why: I'm sure Santa sleigh has to be light in order to fly through the air.


"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Book: A Little Magic
Why: Wonderfully magical


"I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Book: Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race
Why: Earth is home on a large scale


"Silent Night"
Book: The Graveyard Book
Why: What's more silent then a graveyard at night.


"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
Book: If There is Something to Desire: One Hundred Poems
Why: Desire leads to kissing


"12 Days of Christmas"
Book: Acadia, Book I: The Lost King and the Goddess of Time
Why: Looks like a lord a leaping to me


"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Book: The Breath of Allah
Why: Red cover

[Sashana]

LOL! Ah, Jex. You get mucho creativity points. Good luck!

[Jex]

Thanks. My favorite is the kissing santa one :-)

[Barbara ★]

READ: 0/7

1. "White Christmas" - White Tiger - Kylie Chan
Why? white in title and white cover

2. "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" - Snow Angels - James Thompson
Why? snow in title and on cover

3. "Blue Christmas" - Highborn - Yvonne Navarro
Why? cover is blue

4. "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" - Demons Not Included - Cheyenne McCray
Why? cover is red

5. "Rocking Around the Christmas Treet" - The Shadow Thieves - Anne Ursu
Why? tree on cover

6. "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - (A Christmas Kiss) in Hot for the Holidays - anthology
Why? kiss in the title

7. "Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed the World)" - Cereal Killer - G.A. McKevett
Why? cereal is a food

[Cathy]

NBRC Singing in the Snow: December Challenge
Level: Hard
Completed 0/10

1.Carol:O Holy Night
Book: Holy Smokes
Why: "holy" in both

2.Carol:Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Book: An Enchanted Season
Why: snowflakes on cover

3.Carol: Blue Christmas
Book: Second Grave on the Left
Why: blue cover

4.Carol: Sleigh Ride
Book: A Darcy Christmas
Why: old fashioned transportation

5.Carol: Winter Wonderland
Book: The Bite Before Christmas
Why: snowy graveyard on the cover

6.Carol: Away in a manger
Book: A Winter Scandal
Why: a child is found in a manger

7.Carol: Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
Book: The Cowboy And The Lady
Why: red cover

8.Carol: It Came upon the Midnight Clear
Book: Nightshine
Why: cover is a perfect picture of a midnight clear

9.Carol: I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Book: Seduction of a Highland Lass
Why: kissing is about to commence on the cover

[Aleksandra]

Reserving for my list, I'll update it later. Joining for easy and since I've got a few books to read in December, if I manage to fit them in here, I'll upgrade ;).

6/6 read - FINISHED

1. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – Johnny Marks - RED in the carol's title and red cover
- 08/12/11


2. "Silver Bells" – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans - SILVER in the carol's title and on the book's cover
A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin - 16/12/11



S Shogun - James Clavell, vol. 1 (my edition is out of two volumes, each ove 600 pages)
A Ampleforth, 1984 - George Orwell - 08/12/11
N Nicholas Sparks - A Walk to Remember - 01/12/11
T Terry Pratchett - Sourcery - 20/12/11
A - Antoine de Saint-Exupery - The Little Prince - 27/12/11

[Sashana]

I'll add it right now, Diane.

[Melanie]

I would like to try this challenge, but need to think about my choices. I just started House Rules...Hhmm...I'll be home for CHristmas. House? Home? It could work.

[Sashana]

Melanie wrote: "I would like to try this challenge, but need to think about my choices. I just started House Rules...Hhmm...I'll be home for CHristmas. House? Home? It could work."

I think so.

[Lisa Kay]

LOL! I am lovin' these reasons!

[Sashana]

So am I Lisa Kay. I think everyone is taking the 'creativity' thing very seriously ;)

[Gabrielle Blaque/~Bhlack Benehvolence~]

I know I really shouldn't be doing this challenge cuz I'm already sort of booked for December, but I don't think I can resist this challenge.

I think I'll be back later with a title posting.

[Gabrielle Blaque/~Bhlack Benehvolence~]

Singing In The Snow Challenge

Level: Easy

1.Carol: I'll Be Home For Christmas
Book: Home for the Holidays
Why? Home is mentioned in the title, and the hero offers a home to the heroine and her sibling even though the heroine clearly despises him. Done! 12-7-2011 4/5 Stars!

I'm trying to be creative with this next one because it's a song I really like to hear around the holidays and I really want to use it in this challenge, I hope it works.


2.Carol:Baby It's Cold Outside
Book:A Seduction at Christmas
Why? The book blurb and the song lyrics seem to have some things in common.

Both the book blurb and the song lyrics talk about how the girl gets involved with a guy she knows she shouldn't.

[Aleksandra]

OMG, I just saw I had reserved two posts for my books. I was THAT tired, lol. Sorry!

[Darcey]

Alright... let's see if I can figure this out! It will be a crazy month, since I start my 3-week run around India on the 25th (& have a 4-day holiday in Lucknow on the 16th), so I'll admit discretion is the better part of valour, etc.

3/6

1 & 2. Carol: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Book:Nights of Villjamur
Book: Lady of the English
Reason: Subtitle of the book is "Legends of the Red Sun" for "Nights"; LotE has a red cover.


3. Carol: Silent Night
Book: The Night Circus
Reason: Both share "night" in the title

4, 5 & 6: Carol: Joy To The World
Book: Angel Town
Book: The Fires of Heaven
Book: A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century
Reason: The carol mentions both angels and heaven; additionally, the lyrics of "Joy To The World" talk about kings, which there were many of in the 14th century. ;)

[Sashana]

I'm very jealous about your upcoming trip, Darcey. I have this major thing for South Asia and I really hope that I'll be able to travel there in the future. Have fun!

[Lisa Kay]

Sing out loud, sing out strong.

see more Daily Squee

[Alexis]

NBRC Singing in the Snow December
12/1 - 12/31
3/5

1. White Christmas: Lover Awakened
Reason: This book has a white cover 12/9 ★★★★★

2. Silver and Gold: A Chesapeake Shores Christmas
Reason: There are silver and gold Christmas ornaments on the windowsill

3. Christmas Island: Cloaked
Reason: The cover of this book has a hibiscus flower on it, which is a Islandy flower 12/13 ★★★

4. Angels We Have Heard on High: Fallen
Reason: This book is about angels which is in the title of the song. 12/17 ★★★★

5. Santa Baby: Bumped
Reason: This book is about a society in which teen girls are paid to get pregnant and have babies and the title of the song says baby.

[Amy J.]

15/15


1. Hark the Heralds, Angels Sing: Finished 12/11
Book: Envy by J.R. Ward
Rationale: The book contains angels.

2. Caroling, Caroling: Finished 12/20
Book: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Rationale: The title contains the word "Carol"

3. When A Child is Born: Finished 12/2
Book: Storm Born by Richelle Mead
Rationale: Contains the word "Born" in the title

4. Baby, It's cold outside Finished 12/5
Book: Matchless: A Christmas Story
Rationale: A retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Match Girl. In the original story the match girl freezes to death when she has to spend the night in the cold.

5. Blue Christmas Finished 12/5
Book: Fallen by Lauren Kate
Rationale: Blue Cover

6. We Three Kings Finished 12/31
Book: Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione
Rationale: Third book in the Demonica Series

7. I Saw Three Ships Finished 12/30
Book: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
Rationale: Has a picture of a ship on the cover

8. Silent Night Finished 12/3
Book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Rationale: Has the word "Night" in the title

9. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Finished 12/22
Book: One Day by David Nicholls
Rationale: Has the word "Day" in the title

10. Feliz Navidad Finished 12/29
Book: The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton
Rationale: The song's title is Spanish, and the book is set in Mexico where Spanish is the primary language

11. The First Noel Finished 12/26
Book: Evermore by Alyson Noel
Rationale: Noel is the author's surname

12. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Finished 12/14
Book: Wicked Ties by Shayla Black
Rationale: Red book cover

13. The Christmas Song (a.k.a. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) Finished 12/31

Book: Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister
Rationale: The title contains the word "Fire"

14. Mary's Little Boy Child Finished 12/11
Book: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Rationale: Title contains the word "Boy"

15. Jacob's Lullaby Finished 12/23
Book: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
Rationale: The title contains the word "Jacob"

[Rebecca]

I love this!
4/4 Read!

(1)Carol: Blue Christmas
Book: F is for Fugitive 12/7/11
Why? The cover is blue!


(2) Carol: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Book: A Christmas Carol 12/11/11
Why?: Well this book could really count for any of them because they are all carols, but I just picked one of my favorites.


(3) Carol: 12 Days of Christmas
Book:The Christmas Cookie Club 12/18/11
Why?: 12 days of christmas...12 women making cookies... sounds like it could even be a part of the song...sort of a stretch but I'll take it!


(4)Carol: Deck the Halls
Book: Decked with Folly 12/14/11
Why: This title is obviously a play on the words from this carol!


FINISHED!!!! YAY

[Deana]

I am in for the 5-8 Moderate

Read: 8/8..I AM FINISHED!!! YAY!!!!!

Book 1: There's Something About Christmas by Debbie Macomber (12/6/2011)
Carol: "The Christmas Song"
Why? They both have CHRISTMAS in the title.

Book 2: Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber (12/16/2011)
Carol: "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Why? This book is about going home and what all of that entails!

Book 3: Get Off Your Knees and Pray: A Woman's Guide to Life-Changing Prayer by Sheila Walsh (12/20/201)
Carol: "O, Holy Night"
Why? The line in the carol "fall on your knees" is the opposite of the title of my book "get off your knees"

Book 4: Once upon a Christmas: by Pearl S. Buck (12/24/2011)
Carol: "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Why? The stories in Buck's book reflect on just why Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Book 5: The Cat Who Went into the Closet by Lilian Jackson Braun (12/26/2011)
Carol: "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"
Why? This book has a HUGE snowstorm in it!

Book 6: Beyond Summer by Lisa Wingate (12/29/2011)
Carol: Home for the Holidays
Why? This book is about people finding a HOME and a FAMILY.

Book 7: The Wishing Trees by John Shors (12/30/2011)
Carol: "Do They Know It's Christmas Over There?"
Why? The father/daughter in this book travel to several foreign countries and one thing they do is help poor/destitute people in each country.

Book 8: Dreaming in English: A Novel by Laura Fitzgerald (12/31/2011)
Carol: "White Christmas"
Why? The line in the song, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas"...both the song and book are about dreaming.

I AM SO GLAD I WAS ABLE TO FINISH THIS CHALLENGE!

[Kristina]

I'm going to join!

I'm going to start with easy for now

1. Carol: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Book: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Reason: 'home' in the title

2. Carol: The Christmas Song
Book: A Christmas Story: The Book That Inspired the Hilarious Classic Film
Reason: 'Christmas' in the title

3. Carol: Home for the Holidays
Book: Fugitives
Reason; Boy escaping from a prison to get home

[Jackie]

I'll do Moderate. Finished!
8/8 Read

1. Carol: Silent Night
Book: Night of the Living Deed - 12/7
Reason: 'Night' in the title

2. Carol: Winter Wonderland
Book: An Expert in Murder - 12/24

Reason: Takes place in winter

3. Carol: White Christmas
Book: Murder Between the Covers - 12/4
Reason: Predominantly white cover

4. Carol: Blue Christmas
Book: The Mystery of the Blue Train - 12/29
Reason: Blue in title

5. Carol: 12 Days of Christmas
Book 1: Getting Old Is Murder - 12/19
Reason: First book in a series

Book 2: Death of Riley - 12/25
Reason: 2nd book in a series

6. Carol: Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
Book 1: Up Jumps the Devil - 12/14

Reason: Red cover

Book 2: Inkheart - 12/26
Reason: Red cover

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

I wanna play!

Singing in the Snow Challenge

Duration: 12-1-11 thru 12-31-11
Completed: 3/4 Easy Level

Carol: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
Book: Sleeping Angel 12-4
Reason: Angel in title

Carol: Winter Wonderland
Book: Bound By Nature 12-3
Reason: Snow covered mountains

Carol: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Book: Hellbent 12-22
Reason: Red cover

Carol: Oh Holy Night
Book: 99 Coffins: A Historical Vampire Tale 12-8
Reason: Looks like she is starting to sing this song....mouth open in shape of the word Oh

[Sashana]

Hehe I love that last one, Cindy. The person on that cover is probably saying "Oh how tasty you'll be," or something along the same line.

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

I tried really hard to get that one in.....glad you like the way I did it!

[Sashana]

That's the beauty of this challenge, it's up to you to decide the connection. I like that some of these connections really make me think.

[Lisa Kay]

LMAO! Clever, Cindy! ☺

[Sashana]

If your name is not on the Participant's List let me know. I might have missed someone...

[Karla]

Is it too late to join the challenge? I just joined the group late last night.

[Sashana]

Not at all, Karla. You can still join. Welcome to the group!

[Karla]

That's great! I'll post my list later. Thanks

[Karla]

I'll do easy. Here is the list.

Completed: 3/3

Carol: The Holly and The Ivy
Book: The Secret Garden
Reason: Holly and ivy are plants/flowers and you grow flowers in a garden. Also the main character's name is Mary and the song has the line "And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ".

Carol: Silent Night
Book: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Reason: The song and the Christmas Pageant in the book are about the night Jesus was born.

Carol: Away In A Manger
Book: What Child Is This?: A Christmas Story
Reason: Jesus was born in a manger because Mary and Joseph didn't have a home, the children in the book are foster children and don't really have a home either.

[Sashana]

I love your reasons, Karla. You put a lot of thought into them, I can tell.

[Barbara ★]

READ: 1/7

1. "White Christmas" - white in title and white cover
White Tiger - Kylie Chan

2. "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" - snow in title and on cover
Snow Angels - James Thompson

3. "Blue Christmas" - cover is blue
Highborn - Yvonne Navarro

4. "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" - cover is red
Demons Not Included - Cheyenne McCray

5. "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" - tree on cover
The Shadow Thieves - Anne Ursu 12/2

6. "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - kiss in the title
(A Christmas Kiss) in Hot for the Holidays - anthology

7. "Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed the World)" - cereal is a food
Cereal Killer - G.A. McKevett