Mini-challenge reporting - Feb/Mar

[LynnB]

Total: 75 points so far, and ready to start the Read-a-thon tomorrow.

[Tracy]

LynnB wrote: "Total: 75 points so far, and ready to start the Read-a-thon tomorrow."

Is it tomorrow? Yeah! For some reason I was thinking it was next weekend.

[LynnB]

Tracy wrote: "Is it tomorrow? Yeah! For some reason I was thinking it was next weekend."

Ack! That startled me :) I had to go look on the read-a-thon page to be sure. I thought I was maybe off -- but, yes, it is starting tomorrow.

[Rachel]

oh my goodness, is the readathon your talking about in this group? Or another one you're in? If it is this one, How in the world did i completely not hear of it? lol wow, usually i'm on top of that.

[LynnB]

Rachel wrote: "oh my goodness, is the readathon your talking about in this group? Or another one you're in? If it is this one, How in the world did i completely not hear of it? lol wow, usually i'm on top of that."

On Cover To Cover! Glad you caught it in time to join in.

[Tracy]

Sorry LynnB didn't mean to scare you. Has your mind ever been disconnected or you zone out or something? Well Thursday I went to the library and got the books I wanted for the read-a-thon so I knew it is this weekend but on Friday I was thinking it was next weekend. Now how is that for logic.

[LynnB]

Tracy wrote: "Sorry LynnB didn't mean to scare you. Has your mind ever been disconnected or you zone out or something? Well Thursday I went to the library and got the books I wanted for the read-a-thon so I knew..."

lol! Sounds like something I would do!

[Heather]

1. Chunkster (700+ pages) (5 pts)
Wizard's First Rule


2. Romance PART II (3 pts)


3. Country Spotlight (Nigeria) (2 pts)
Little Bee (done 3/13/12)

4. Tournament of Books (2 pts)
The Sisters Brothers (done 3/22/12)

5. Fortune Cookie (4 pts)
An Unforgettable Lady


107 points so far.

[Denise]

Tournament
Strangers Child 2pts

didn't really like this book. I found it hard to follow jumping decades ahead new characters with that jump.
I had to keep going back to see if I missed something.

[Nancy H]

More updates:

1. Chunkster tremor: 5 points for each book
FINALLY finished this one that I have been working on for a while. It was quite good! Murder Most Postal, Delectable, Feline - 910p. (3/27/12) - 5 points
2. Romance the genre:
PART I: 'Significant Other' Rec. 3 points each
plus bonus 2 points if read with S.O.
Victor by Julia Templeton - recommended by him and read by both of us - 3 points + 2 bonus = 5 points

PART II: Romance 3 points each book.
A Lady like Sarah - 3 points
A Flame in the Wind - 3 points
And One Last Thing - 3 points
Goddess Boot Camp - 3 points
Back on Blossom Street - 3 points
Piggly Wiggly Wedding - 3 points
Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt and Other Lessons I Learned in Southern Belle Hell - 3 points
Will Work for Prom Dress- 3 points
Zitface - 3 points (YA one - can you tell??)
Ask Amy Green:Summer Secrets (YA romance) - 3 points
Lola and the Boy Next Door (YA romance)- 3 points
Babe in Boyland (YA romance) - 3 points


3. Country spotlight: Nigeria. 2 points for each book finished.
Things Fall Apart - 2 points

4. Tournament of Books: Bonus 3 points if you read books in pairs, and you let us know which one you liked better. The 3 points is for each pair, not for each book. Give yourself 2 points for each book finished.
Swamplandia! - 2 points (although I hope to read the one that it is paired with if I can get it from the library)

5. Fortune Cookie. 4 points for each book finished.
An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris (#276) - 4 points
Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck (#88) - 4 points

March Mini-challenges:

1.Dusty Shelves:
Fatal Fixer-upper by Jennie Bentley (3/6/12) - 5 points
The Girl Who Chased the Moon By Sarah Allen Addison - (3/8/12) - 5 points
Spackled and Spooked - Jennie Bentley (3/10/12) - 5 points
The Sweetness of Salt (3/19/12) - 5 points



Total points Feb/Mar: 70

[Denise]

Tournament of Books
State of Wonder 2pts

Fortune Cookie
The Red Queen 4pts

Total: 67pts

[Denise]

Romance
The Yellow House 3pts

[Denise]

Fortune Cookie
1776 4pts
Breaking Silence 4pts

[Amy]

Total: 40 pts across all categories.

[★Meghan★]

Athira wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Athira wrote: "Nancy wrote: "When you have a couple thousand dusty books sitting here on your TBR shelf, and someone says, "I'll give you points if you read them", THAT'S motivation!!..."

Haha!!! I realized way too late that a book reviewer/critic is the job I should have really gone for and worked to get a degree in that :)

[Denise]

Fortune Cookie
The White Queen 4pts


Ending total: 82

[Kirsten]

March

3. The Oscar for Best Books:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 3pts

[Ann A]

I only got 4 points this time because of other challenges I'm involved in:

5. Random (#166)
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet - 4 pts

I'm working on the "chunkster" (A Game of Thrones), but didn't get it finished. I love the idea of the "country spotlight" and will continue adding those books to my TBR. I have books from Nigeria and North Korea ready to go. Wish I read faster and had more time!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Ok, here's my listing for the last 2 months. I didn't quite get as many as normal, because Star Wars the Old Republic hi-jacked me into playing it. So, here we go. . .

Feb/Mar. 2012 mini challenge for 300 Cover to Cover
3 points per book


1) Murder at Wrightsville Beach by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
2) Murder on the Cape Fear by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
3) Murder at the Azalea Festival by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
4) Christmas Wedding by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
5) Murder at the Bellamy Mansion by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
6) Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
7) Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
8) Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
9) Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
10) Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
11) River Marked by Patricia Briggs
12) Murder at the Holiday Flotilla by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
13) Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend by Linda Wisdom
14) An Alpha’s Path by Carrie Ann Ryan
15) Scent of Passion by Elizabeth Lapthorne
16) Real Mermaids Don’t Wear toe Rings by Helene Boudreau
17) Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Lapthorne
18) Animal Attraction by Dana Marie Bell
19) Mating Game by Dana Marie Bell
20) Bear Necessities by Dana Marie Bell
21) Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
22) Finding Forgiveness by Dana Marie Bell
23) Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
24) Hexed by Ilona Andrews et. al.
25) Of Swine and Roses by Ilona Andrews
26) Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook
27) Honey I Shrunk the Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy
28) Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
29) Timeless by Gail Carriger
30) Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie
31) Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie
32) What the lady Wants by Jennifer Crusie
33) Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie
34) Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich
35) February Thaw and Other Stories by Tanya Huff
36) Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
37) The Winston Brothers Lori Foster
38) The Night Before Christmas by Lorie Foster et. al.
39) Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
40) Yours, Mine and Ours by MaryJanice Davidson
41) By a Thread by Jennifer Estep
42) Soulless by Gail Carriger
43) Hungry for you by Lynsay Sands
44) The Reluctant Vampire by Lynsay Sands
45) Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands
46) Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
47) The Best of the Bubbas of the Apocalypse by Selina Rosen
48) Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston
49) Crimes by Moonlight by Charlaine Harris et. al.
50) The Secret Staircase by Melanie Jackson
51) Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
52) The Beast in him by Shelly Laurenston
53) Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich
54) Devil to Pay by Jeaniene Frost
55) Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston


So, that's 165 points total for the last 2 months.

[Athira]

★Meghan★ wrote: "Haha!!! I realized way too late that a book reviewer/critic is the job I should have really gone for and worked to get a degree in that :) "

Yeah, I didn't even know awesome jobs like that existed, or else I might have headed in that direction.

[Nancy H]

Final update:

1. Chunkster tremor: 5 points for each book
FINALLY finished this one that I have been working on for a while. It was quite good! Murder Most Postal, Delectable, Feline - 910p. (3/27/12) - 5 points
2. Romance the genre:
PART I: 'Significant Other' Rec. 3 points each
plus bonus 2 points if read with S.O.
Victor by Julia Templeton - recommended by him and read by both of us - 3 points + 2 bonus = 5 points

PART II: Romance 3 points each book.
A Lady like Sarah - 3 points
A Flame in the Wind - 3 points
And One Last Thing - 3 points
Goddess Boot Camp - 3 points
Back on Blossom Street - 3 points
Piggly Wiggly Wedding - 3 points
Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt and Other Lessons I Learned in Southern Belle Hell - 3 points
Will Work for Prom Dress- 3 points
Zitface - 3 points (YA one - can you tell??)
Ask Amy Green:Summer Secrets (YA romance) - 3 points
Lola and the Boy Next Door (YA romance)- 3 points
Babe in Boyland (YA romance) - 3 points


3. Country spotlight: Nigeria. 2 points for each book finished.
Things Fall Apart - 2 points

4. Tournament of Books: Bonus 3 points if you read books in pairs, and you let us know which one you liked better. The 3 points is for each pair, not for each book. Give yourself 2 points for each book finished.
Swamplandia! - 2 points (although I hope to read the one that it is paired with if I can get it from the library)

5. Fortune Cookie. 4 points for each book finished.
An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris (#276) - 4 points
Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck (#88) - 4 points

March Mini-challenges:

1.Dusty Shelves:
Fatal Fixer-upper by Jennie Bentley (3/6/12) - 5 points
The Girl Who Chased the Moon By Sarah Allen Addison - (3/8/12) - 5 points
Spackled and Spooked - Jennie Bentley (3/10/12) - 5 points
The Sweetness of Salt (3/19/12) - 5 points



Total points Feb/Mar: 70

I had hoped to get more challenges done but I had to spend most of my time reading review books this month. Can't wait for the next set of challenges,though. I LOVE it that we get to work on the challenges for two months at a time prior to the next Read-a-thon. I find that I am reading things I never would have picked up otherwise and really enjoying them!

Thanks to those of you who organize these!

[Heather]

Final Update:

1. Chunkster (700+ pages) (5 pts)
Wizard's First Rule - never got to. Zero points.


2. Romance PART II (3 pts)


3. Country Spotlight (Nigeria) (2 pts)
Little Bee (done 3/13/12)

4. Tournament of Books (2 pts)
The Sisters Brothers (done 3/22/12)

5. Fortune Cookie (4 pts)
An Unforgettable Lady


Total points: 116

As Nancy said above, I enjoyed having the two months to read these challenges. I had never heard of THE MORNING NEWS TOURNAMENT OF BOOKS before. I was thrilled that the one book that I choose ended up being the overall winner. :)

[Anne]

Romance: 18 points (6 books)
nothing for the other categories

I hope I can do a lot better in the next set of challenges. I didn't get anywhere near as much read as I wanted.

[Rachel]

I was glad of all the books I read in the last 2 months! I slowed down some at the end, but I'm back into my books now! For me, the best part of this challenge was the fortune cookie, since I got 2 books off my to read list because of it. One I read, and the other I gave a try but decided I didn't like it.
I ended with a point score of 19.

[Rachel]

Anne wrote: "Romance: 18 points (6 books)
nothing for the other categories

I hope I can do a lot better in the next set of challenges. I didn't get anywhere near as much read as I wanted."

Like you mentioned, there's always the next challenge! Towards the end of this challenge, I found my self in a reading rut, but I think I'm out of it now. You just need some SUPER good books to get you back in! :)

[Anne]

Rachel wrote: "Like you mentioned, there's always the next challenge! Towards the end of this challenge, I found my self in a reading rut, but I think I'm out of it now. You just need some SUPER good books to get you back in! :) "

The next set of challenges suits my current selection of library books perfectly, so I'm already very hopeful about how I'll do in April/May. If I can get through even half the books I want to read in that time period, I should do well. I had a very slow February ("life" got in the way too much), but I was already starting to get back on track by the end of March.

[Rachel]

Good for you! That kept happening to me last year, life getting in the way. I really like this month's set of challenges too! Usually there's only 2 or 3 set of challenges I read books in, but this month I think I'll go for 4.

By the end of March I had gotten out of my reading rut by reading Revolution. It's really good!

[LynnB]

Feb/Mar Mini-Challenges - Final Update

2. Romance the Genre - 3 pts
Truly, Madly
Fatal Fixer-Upper
The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love
A Tale of Two Cities
The Paris Wife
Habibi
Dying to Call You
Four of a Kind: A Novel

4. Tournament of Books - 2 pts + 3 bonus possible
The Art of Fielding
Open City (this could fit "Nigeria", too)
The Sense of an Ending

5. Fortune Cookie - 4 pts
#107 - The World Without Us
#201 The Earth Hums in B Flat
#25 - A Year in Provence

6. Dusting the shelves 5 pts
52 Loaves: One Man's Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust
Anne of the Island
Suite Française
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat & Other Clinical Tales
Wide Sargasso Sea
Carry On, Jeeves

8. The Oscar for Best Books - 3 pts
War Horse

Points Completed:
Chunksters: 0
Romance the genre: 24
Country spotlight - Nigeria: 0
Tournament of Books: 6 + 3 bonus
Fortune Cookie: 12
Dusting the Shelves - 30
Country spotlight - Syria - 0
The Oscar for Best Books - 3

TOTAL: 78

[Athira]

I've put up the Feb/Mar scores on the readerboard. If I didn't add your score, or if I got it wrong, please let me know - I checked up multiple threads to make sure I had your score there.