2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2017
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Steph's Corner :-)
My first challenge will be the Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge:The 2017 List
1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld Completed jan 2017.
2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view)- The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney Completed 20th Jan 2017.
3. A book you meant to read in 2016- Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull Completed 16 Dec 2017.
4. A title that doesn't contain the letter "E"- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs Completed 24th March 2017.
5. A historical fiction- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley Completed 11th April 2017.
6. A book being released as a movie in 2017 Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Amazon by Yossi Ghinsberg completed 17th april 2017.
7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title- The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan. Completed January 2017.
8. A book written by a person of color- Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley. Completed 24th April 2017.
9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list- Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull. Completed 9th June 2017.
10. A dual-timeline novel- The Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis. Completed May 2017.
11. A category from another challenge- A book involving a mythical creature from 2017 ultimate pop sugar challenge-Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull. Completed 5th July 2017 .
12. A book based on a myth- The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017.
13. A book recommended by one of your favourite authors- Emma by Jane Austen completed 17th July 2017.
14. A book with a strong female character- Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull Completed 18th June 2017.
15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) by Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø Completed 18th Aug 2017.
16. A mystery- The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø Completed 1 September 2017.
17. A book with illustrations- Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull Completed 25th June 2017.
18. A really long book (600+ pages)- Nemesis by Jo Nesbø Completed 17th September 2017.
19. A New York Times best-seller- The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter Completed 28th July 2017.
20. A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading- The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbø Completed 17th September.
21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read- The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø Completed 28th September 2017.
22. A book by an author you haven't read before- The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø Completed 28th September 2017.
23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list (link)- Persuasion by Jane Austen Completed 28th Ocotber 2017.
24. A book written by at least two authors- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore Completed 8th November 2017.
25. A book about a famous historical figure- I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta Completed 30th Ocotber 2017.
26. An adventure book- The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore. Completed 12th november 2017
27. A book by one of your favourite authors- A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull. Completed 8 Dec 2017.
28. A non-fiction- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson Completed 30th December 2017.
29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre) - check all the editions A Season of Spells by Sylvia Izzo Hunter Completed 11th August 2017.
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books (link)- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Completed 27th January 2017.
31. A book from a sub-genre of your favourite genre- The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore Completed 18th Nov 2017.
32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle)-The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017.
33. A magical realism novel- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs Completed March 2017.
34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere- The Bat by Jo Nesbø Completed 8th Aug 2017.
35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty- Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter Completed 4th Aug 2017.
36. A Hugo Award winner or nominee (link)
37. A book you choose randomly
38. A novel inspired by a work of classic literature-The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Completed Jan 2017.
39. An epistolary fiction
40. A book published in 2017
41. A book with an unreliable narrator- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Completed 22nd Feb 2017.
42. A best book of the 21st century (so far)
43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)
44. A recommendation from "What Should I Read Next" (link)
45. A book with a one-word title
46. A time travel novel- Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs Completed march 2017.
47. A past suggestion that didn't win (link)- The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore Completed 22nd Nov 2017.
48. A banned book-
49. A book from someone else's bookshelf
50. A Penguin Modern Classic - any edition
51. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays) WILDCARD- Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull Completed 24th Dec 2017.
52. A book set in a fictional location-
Second yearly challenge: I really enjoyed this challenge from last year so will try it again this year....The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition
A- Everard Alcuin in The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter.
B- Jens Brekke in Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø.
C- Christo Stankic in The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø.
D- Dmitry Kolesnikov in I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta.
E- Ezekiel Rawlins in Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley.
F- Fitzwilliam Darcy from Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld
G- Graulas in Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull.
H- Inger Holter in the Bat by Jo Nesbo.
I- Isabella Knightley from Emma by Jane Austen.
J- Jacob Portman from Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.
K- Kendra Sorenson from Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull.
L- Lee Nicholson from The Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis.
M- Lucia Mcneill in Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter.
N- Anders Nygard in The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbø.
O- Sverre Olsen in The Redbreast by The Redbreast
P - Leo Plumb in The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Q- Quintus in The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan.
R- Rachel Watson in The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Completed 22 Feb 2017.
S- Seth Sorenson in Keys to the Demon Prison in Brandon Mull.
T- Thaniel Steepleton from The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.
U - Grover Underwood in The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
V- Vigdis Albu in Nemesis by Jo Nesbø.
W- Warren in Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull.
X
Y- Yossi Ghinsberg in Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival by Yossi Ghinsberg.
Z- Zeus in The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITIONDuration: January 1, through December 31, 2017 (Original post 175)
A- Atlanta in Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull.
B- Bermuda Triangle in Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull.
C- Cincinnati- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld
D- D'Ajuda, Brazil in Nemesis by Nemesis.
E- England- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.
F- Fablehaven from Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull.
G
H- Half Blood Hill in The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan.
I- Illinois in Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull.
J- Japan- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.
K- Kolloveien in The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
L- Los Angeles Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley.
M-Merlins College in The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter.
N- New York- The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
O- Oslo in Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø.
P- Peru-Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival by Yossi Ghinsberg.
Q- Queenstown, Ireland in Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson.
R- Russia in I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta.
S- Surrey Emma in Jane Austen
T- Tunsbury inThe Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis.
U- United States of America in The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan.
V- Vienna in The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø.
W- Wales in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
X
Y- Yancy Academy in The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
Z-Zagreb in The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGEDuration: January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 (original post 200)
1. Read a book with "White" or any shade of white in the cover (ivory, cream, bone, etc...)- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.
2. Read a book with "Pink" or any shade of pink in the cover (rose, magenta, salmon, etc...). Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø.
3. Read a book with "Red" or any shade of red in the cover (maroon, brick, scarlet, etc...) Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld.
4. Read a book with "Orange" or any shade of orange in the cover (apricot, ginger, carrot, etc...).Nemesis by Jo Nesbø
5. Read a book with "Yellow" or any shade of yellow in the cover (blond, chartreuse, canary, etc...). Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
6. Read a book with "Green" or any shade of green in the cover (sage, lime, jade, etc...) The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
7. Read a book with "Light Blue" or any shade of light blue in the cover (teal, sky, cerulean, etc...). The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
8. Read a book with "Dark Blue" or any shade of dark blue in the cover (indigo, denim, navy, etc...). Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull.
9. Read a book with "Purple" or any shade of purple in the cover (lavender, plum, orchid, etc...)- Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley.
10. Read a book with "Brown" or any shade of brown in the cover (tan, mahogany, coffee, etc...). Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Amazon by Yossi Ghinsberg.
11. Read a book with "Black" or any shade of black in the cover (grey, slate, coal, etc...). The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan.
12. Read a book with a Metallic color in the cover (gold, silver, bronze, etc...)- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.
13. Read a book with at least 5 colors on the cover. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.
14. Read a book with a color in the title of the book The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø.
15. Read a book with a word describing colors in the title (rainbow, stripes, polka dots, ect...).
1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld. Completed 18th Jan 2016 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- F- Fitzwilliam Darcy.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION- C- Cincinnati
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGE- 3. Read a book with "Red" or any shade of red in the cover.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- Start in Cinncinati
-new york 565 miles
-Pemberley Atherton California 2930.2 miles
-Palm springs-455.7 miles
Total miles in book- 3950.9 miles
Total miles travelled -3950.9miles
"This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.
Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches.
Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . .
And yet, first impressions can be deceiving."
Good start to my list. Really enjoyed this book. Clearly not as good as Austens version but an enjoyable, quick reading beach read (as long as you don't get too hung up comparing the two versions and the characters).
I would be interested in reading others by this author.
2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view)- The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney Completed 20th Jan 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- P- Leo Plumb.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-N- New York.
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGE-7. Read a book with "Light Blue" or any shade of light blue in the cover (teal, sky, cerulean, etc...).
5th challenge-SPANNING THE GLOBE- start Palm Springs
-New York -2705.5 miles
-Caribbean 1356 miles
Total miles in book- 4061.5 miles
Total miles travelled -8012.4 miles
"Every family has its problems. But even among the most troubled, the Plumb family stands out as spectacularly dysfunctional. Years of simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point on an unseasonably cold afternoon in New York City as Melody, Beatrice, and Jack Plumb gather to confront their charismatic and reckless older brother, Leo, freshly released from rehab. Months earlier, an inebriated Leo got behind the wheel of a car with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger. The ensuing accident has endangered the Plumbs joint trust fund, “The Nest,” which they are months away from finally receiving. Meant by their deceased father to be a modest mid-life supplement, the Plumb siblings have watched The Nest’s value soar along with the stock market and have been counting on the money to solve a number of self-inflicted problems.
Melody, a wife and mother in an upscale suburb, has an unwieldy mortgage and looming college tuition for her twin teenage daughters. Jack, an antiques dealer, has secretly borrowed against the beach cottage he shares with his husband, Walker, to keep his store open. And Bea, a once-promising short-story writer, just can’t seem to finish her overdue novel. Can Leo rescue his siblings and, by extension, the people they love? Or will everyone need to reimagine the future they’ve envisioned? Brought together as never before, Leo, Melody, Jack, and Beatrice must grapple with old resentments, present-day truths, and the significant emotional and financial toll of the accident, as well as finally acknowledge the choices they have made in their own lives.
This is a story about the power of family, the possibilities of friendship, the ways we depend upon one another and the ways we let one another down. In this tender, entertaining, and deftly written debut, Sweeney brings a remarkable cast of characters to life to illuminate what money does to relationships, what happens to our ambitions over the course of time, and the fraught yet unbreakable ties we share with those we love."
I liked it but didn't love it. I liked the writing style but non of the characters were at all likeable. As it was a debut novel I would read more of this authors work.
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books (link) The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Completed 27th jan 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half.Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- U- Grover Underwood.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION- Yancy Academy.
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGE- 6. Read a book with "Green" or any shade of green in the cover
5th challenge SPANNING THE GLOBE: Start- Caribbean
-New York -1356 miles
-Long Island- 51.9 miles
-Los Angeles - 2839.4 miles
-Denver 1015.9 miles
Total miles in book- 5263.2 miles
Total miles travelled -13,275.6 miles
"Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods."
Whilst I liked it I'm a bit disappointed as when I started I thought I'd love it. Liked the beginning and the end but thought it went a bit downhill in the middle. However I like the idea of greek myths being woven into the story and I'm keen to read the second book.
First monthly challenge: MARATHON CHALLENGEDuration: January 1 - January 31, 2017
My aim was 5 and I managed to read 9 (and a half) :-)
Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice
The Nest
The Girl with All the Gifts
Heidi
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Pride and Prejudice
The Lightning Thief
The Sea of Monsters
The Blackheath Séance Parlour.
Second monthly challenge: MYTHS FROM AROUND THE WORLDDuration: January 1 - January 31, 2017
Actually did more than I thought of thought of these :-).
1. Janus - Roman god of beginnings and transitions. Read a book set in Italy, or a book with a character that starts out on a fresh beginning. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
2. Fenghuang - Chinese bird, also known as the Chinese Phoenix, is a mythical bird that signifies high virtue and grace. Read a book set in China, or a book featuring a character full of grace and virtue.- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld.
3. Brownie - Scottish mythical creature that inhabits houses and aids in tasks. Read a book set in Scotland, or a book featuring a character that does work that is unseen. Heidi by Johanna Spyri.
4. Enenra - Japanese smoke creature. It inhabits bonfires and legend says can only be seen by the pure of heart. Read a book set in Japan, or a book with a pure-hearted character. Pride and Prejudice by J Austen.
5. Cyclops - Greek mythical one-eyed giants. Read a book based on a Greek tragedy or a book featuring a short-sighted character. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
6. Lang suir - Malaysian ghost of a woman who died in childbirth. Read a book from Oceania, or a book featuring a character who dies from a broken heart.
7. Finnish water spirit who will capture unmindful children. Read a book set in Scandinavia, or a book about a captured child. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey.
8. Hippogriff - European medieval beast that is half eagle and half horse, known for being extremely fast and able to fly long distances. Read a book about medieval Europe, or a book featuring a character who flies. Bit of a stretch as its only a character flying in a plane at the end but hey ho The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
9. Wandjina - Australian aboriginal wind and cloud spirits. Read a book set in Australia, or a book featuring an important weather event. Pompeii by Robert Harris
10. Jumbee - Caribbean malevolent entities. Read a book set in the Caribbean, or a book featuring a malevolent character. The Blackheath Séance Parlour by Alan Williams.
5th Yearly challenge: SPANNING THE GLOBE:This challenge is the monthly challenge for february led by Megan and I'm quite enjoying it. Its something different. I'll try and keep it up throughout the whole year and see how far I can travel. I've edited the above posts for the books already read to kick start my journey. The rules are copied below from the february challenge:
With every book you read, choose the setting (or settings) and calculate how many miles there are between that point and the previous point using this calculator.
Rules:
- Only books based on this world count--sorry, no traveling to different galaxies. :)
- Use each setting in each book once; even if the characters travel back and forth, you can only count the setting for that book one time
- You may revisit the same setting in different books (for example, you may read two books that both take place in New York City)
- Use your best judgment on which settings in each book should be included; you should only be using primary settings
4. A title that doesn't contain the letter "E"- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. Completed 24th March 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- J- Jacob Portman
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION- England.
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGE- 1. Read a book with "White" or any shade of white in the cover (ivory, cream, bone, etc...).
5th challenge SPANNING THE GLOBE: Start- Denver
-Wales (4530 miles)
-London (209.3)
Total miles in book- 4739.3 miles
Total miles travelled -18,014.9 miles
"This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises."
MONTHLY CHALLENGE: THE WOMAN IN THE BOOK CHALLENGE
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2017
This month's theme is Women, and several members suggested challenges with prompts to read different kinds of books by and about women - this is a hybrid of those suggestions. There are a wide range of topics to help us broaden our horizons!
1. Read a book written by a female author that is new to you The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.
7. Read a book where the woman in the story does not conform to gender norms- Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs.
8. Read a book about a woman/women during a time of war.- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.
10. Read a book with a woman's name in the title.- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
5. A historical fiction- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley Completed 11th April 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️and a half."1883. Thaniel Steepleton returns home to his tiny London apartment to find a gold pocket watch on his pillow. Six months later, the mysterious timepiece saves his life, drawing him away from a blast that destroys Scotland Yard. At last, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori, a kind, lonely immigrant from Japan. Although Mori seems harmless, a chain of unexplainable events soon suggests he must be hiding something. When Grace Carrow, an Oxford physicist, unwittingly interferes, Thaniel is torn between opposing loyalties.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a sweeping, atmospheric narrative that takes the reader on an unexpected journey through Victorian London, Japan as its civil war crumbles long-standing traditions, and beyond. Blending historical events with dazzling flights of fancy, it opens doors to a strange and magical past".
This started off slowly so slowly in fact that I found it hard to get into at first. Am glad I persevered though. The storyline is different and I enjoyed reading it.
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-T-Thaniel Steepleton.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION- J-Japan
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGE-12. Read a book with a Metallic color in the cover (gold, silver, bronze, etc...)-
5th challenge SPANNING THE GLOBE: Start-London
-Oxford (51 miles)
-Hagi (5827 miles)
-Tokyo (608.2 miles)
Total miles in book 6,486.2- miles
Total miles travelled -24,501.1 miles
6. A book being released as a movie in 2017- Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Amazon by Yossi Ghinsberg Completed 17th April 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️."Four travelers meet in Bolivia and set off into the heart of the Amazon rainforest, but what begins as a dream adventure quickly deteriorates into a dangerous nightmare, and after weeks of wandering in the dense undergrowth, the four backpackers split up into two groups. But when a terrible rafting accident separates him from his partner, Yossi is forced to survive for weeks alone against one of the wildest backdrops on the planet. Stranded without a knife, map, or survival training, he must improvise shelter and forage for wild fruit to survive. As his feet begin to rot during raging storms, as he loses all sense of direction, and as he begins to lose all hope, he wonders whether he will make it out of the jungle alive.
The basis of an upcoming motion picture, Jungle is the story of friendship and the teachings of nature, and a terrifying true account that you won’t be able to put down."
Enjoyed this book. Interesting true story showing the worst/dark side of the human character and the best side. There is part of the story that is unexplained. Would have loved to know the answer.
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- Y-Yossi Ginsberg
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-P-Peru
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGE-10. Read a book with "Brown" or any shade of brown in the cover (tan, mahogany, coffee, etc...).
5th challenge SPANNING THE GLOBE: Start-Tokyo
-Puno, Peru (10,144 miles)
-Tequile (22.9 miles)
-La Paz, Bolivia (159.7 miles)
Progreso (7 miles)
-San Jose (2982.2 miles)
-Rurrenabaque (5019 miles)
-Sao Paulo (1801.4)
-Salvador (1260.2 miles)
-Rio de Janiero (752 miles)
-Israel (6361 miles)
-Oregon, USA (7032 miles)
-Shaffhausen, Switzerland (5398 miles)
-Cochabamba (6424 miles)
-Santa Cruz (295.8 miles)
-Cuzco (905.3 miles)
-Azangaro (194.4 miles)
-California (4794miles)
-Mexico (1733 miles)
-Thailand (9288 miles)
-China (1394 miles)
Australia-(4641 miles)
Total miles in book-70,608.9 miles
Total miles travelled -95,110 miles
7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title- The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️."All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. "
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-Z- Zeus
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-H- Half Blood Hill
4th Challenge- COLOR CHALLENGE-1. Read a book with "Black" or any shade of black in the cover (grey, slate, coal, etc...)
5th challenge SPANNING THE GLOBE: Start Australia
-Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico (8907 miles)
-long island sound-1845 miles
-westport, Connecticut-21.9 miles
-New York, Manhattan-53.7 miles
Total miles in book-10,827.6
Total miles travelled -105,937.6 miles
MAY CHALLENGE: SPELL SUNRISESDuration May 1, 2017 to May 31, 2017
For the month of May, we are going to bring back a very simple challenge. We noticed that SUNRISES had 8 letters, and we thought that would be perfect for a spell out challenge. So for this challenge, all you have to do is find books that will spell out:
S: The Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis
U:
N: Nemesis by Jo Nesbø.
R: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull.
I:- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.
S: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull.
E: Emma by Jane Austen
S: The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
JUNE CHALLENGE: SUMMER CELEBRATIONSOur theme for June is summer celebrations.
1. Naadam (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). A festival that involves three sports--Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery--that was traditionally competed by men, but now includes women and girls for the latter two sports. Read a book that involves any of these sports or the breaking of gender barriers.- The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter.
2. Tango Festival (Buenos Aires). A festival that includes the Tango Dance World Championship. Tango is believed to have originated in Argentina, and is listed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Read a book about dancing, a world championship, or that takes place in Argentina.
3. Wife-Carrying World Championships (Sonkajarvi, Finland). Competitors carry their wives/partners on their back while completing an obstacle course. Winners receive a supply of beer equal to his wife's weight. Read a book that involves a couple overcoming obstacles together or a book about beer Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø (part of the characters struggle is alcoholism)
4. World Bodypainting Festival (Seeboden, Austria). People's bodies are the artist's canvases for this festival. Read a book about positive body image or artistic expression.
5. White Nights of Summer (St. Petersburg, Russia). A celebration of the sun-filled nights of summer, which involves special concerts, ballets, operas, festivals, and late-night hours at restaurants. Read a book that features a concert, ballet, or opera (or a performer of one of these musical arts). Nemesis by Jo Nesbø.
6. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Festival (Aomori, Japan). According to tradition, 'Nebuta' means 'being sleepy' and Aomori citizens originated this event to put away the drowsiness that plagued them on hot summer days. Read a book about sleep or sleepiness or the hot days of summer.
7. Golowan Festival (Cornwall, England). It’s a tradition to elect a Mock Mayor as part of the celebrations, and let him give a bunch of cheeky public speeches right in front of the real Mayor. Read a satire or a book that mocks someone.
8. Picnic Day (Northern Australia). A commemoration of the emancipation of Chinese railway workers and a celebration of cultural diversity and social progress. Read a book about emancipation, diversity, or fighting for rights. Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull.
9. Krishna Janmashtami (India). A celebration of the Hindu god, Krishna, in which participants work together to form a human pyramid with the aim of breaking a suspended pot of buttermilk, which symbolizes the spreading of good luck. Read a book in which people work together for the common good, or a book about luck.- Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull.
10. Bloomsday (Dublin, Ireland). A celebration of the author James Joyce in which people dress in old-fashion clothing and read passages of Joyce's work. Read a book by James Joyce, or a book about an author.- I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta
8. A book written by a person of color- Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley. Completed 24th April 2017. ⭐️Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- E- Ezekiel Rawlins.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-L-Los Angeles.
9. Read a book with "Purple" or any shade of purple in the cover (lavender, plum, orchid, etc...).
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- New York, Manhattan
-Los Angeles (2,789.9 miles).
-Daphne (2024 miles)
Total miles in book- 4,813.9 miles
Total miles travelled -110,751.5 miles
"In Los Angeles of the late 1940s, Easy Rawlins, a black war veteran, has just been fired from his job at a defense plant. Easy is drinking in a friend's bar, wondering how he'll meet his mortgage, when a white man in a linen suit walks in, offering good money if Easy will simply locate Miss Daphne Monet, a blonde beauty known to frequent black jazz clubs."
9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list- Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull Completed 9th June 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half."At the end of the school year, Kendra and her brother, Seth, find themselves racing back to Fablehaven, a refuge for mythical and magical creatures. Grandpa Sorenson, the caretaker, invites three specialists- a potion master, a magical relics collector, and a mystical creature trapper- to help protect the property from the Society of the Evening Star, an ancient organization determined to infiltrate the preserve and steal a hidden artifact of great power. Time is running out. The Evening Star is storming the gates. If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the downfall of other preserves and possibly the world. Will Kendra learn to use her fairy gifts in time? Will Seth stay out of trouble? Can they overcome paralyzing fear? Find out in book two of this bestselling series".
Really torn between 4 and a half or 5 stars for this series. Really enjoying it.
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- K- Kendra Sorenson.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-F- Fablehaven.
8. Read a book with "Dark Blue" or any shade of dark blue in the cover (indigo, denim, navy, etc...).
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- Daphne
-Connecticut (1284.7 miles)
Total miles in book- 1284.7 miles
Total miles travelled -112,036.2
WONDERS OF THE WORLDDuration July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017
Nowadays there are so many things to see do, it’s so hard to fit it all in, but for this challenge, we are going to squeeze as many of the Wonders of the World as possible in the 3rd Quarter:
1. Travel to the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids at Giza by reading a book that takes place in Egypt or the ancient world.
2. Take a walk along the Great Wall of China by reading a book that takes place in China or where someone takes are really long walk.
3. Get lost roaming around the ruins in Petra by reading a book that takes place in the Middle East or where the characters do a lot of moving around- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.
4. Imagine yourself viewing a show from the great Colosseum in Rome by reading a book that takes place in Italy or about a great battle or warrior. Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull.
5. Be dazzled by the mythological statues of Chichen Itza by reading a book that takes place in Mexico/Central America or about mythological creatures- Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull.
6. Take in the sun as you climb the mountains to visit the palace of MachuPicchu by reading a book about Peru/South America or about an emperor. A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull.
7. Stand under the white marble domes of the Taj Mahal by read a book that takes place in India or about a suffering a great loss. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson.
8. Be amazed at the global engineering that went into the design of Christ the Redeemer by reading a book that takes place in Brazil or about a scientific achievement.
9. Explore The Acropolis of Athens for the Parthenon by reading a book that takes place in Greece or about the gods.
10. Revel in the Moorish architecture of the Alhambra by reading a book that takes place in Spain/Northern Africa or about multiple periods of history. The Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis.
11. Take your time exploring the largest temple in the world at ANgkor Wat by reading a book about Cambodia/far east Asia or about colonialism.
12. Fall in love with the lights of the Eiffel Tower by reading a book that takes place in France or that took place during the industrial revolution. The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
13. Choose which faith to follow as you enter the halls of the Hagia Sophia by reading a book that takes place in Turkey/Persia or about religion.
14. Search for the waterfall located inside the Buddhist temple of Kiyomizu-dera by reading a book that takes place in Japan or about a great love story.
15. Travel out to Eastern Island to see the statues of the Moai by reading a book that takes place on an Island or about someone with a big head.
16. Basque in the luxury of the Neuschwanstein Castle by reading a book that takes place in Germany or a book inspired by a fairy tale.
17. View many of Moscow’s important historical sights in the Red Square by reading a book that takes place in Russia or about life under communism I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta.
18. Say hello to the welcoming lady of the Statue of Liberty by reading a book that takes place in the U.S.A or about immigration. The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore
19. Ponder who placed all those giant rocks in Stonehenge by reading a book that takes place in England/United Kingdom or about the outer space. Persuasion by Jane Austen.
20. Travel down under to enjoy the many performances of the Sydney Opera House by reading a book that takes place in Australia or about performing in a show. The Bat by Jo Nesbo.
21. Remember that sometimes wonders due cease by visiting the remains of Timbuktu by reading a that takes place in Western Africa or about a character on a decline. Nemesis by Jo Nesbø
10. A dual-timeline novel-The Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis Completed May 2017 ⭐️⭐️."Lee Nicholson takes the academic world by storm, seemingly unearthing a never-before published sonnet by William Shakespeare. When she reads the poem on the air, her words are ignored by all but a small group of people. There are the English and literature buffs. There are the curious and those who seek out hoaxes.
And there are men who will kill to keep the sonnet from every being read again.
Buried in the language of the sonnet, in its allusions and wordplay, secrets have been hidden dating back to Elizabethan times, shared by the queen and her doctor, by men who seek the crown and men who seek the world. If the riddles are solved, it could explode what the world knows of the monarchy. Or, it could release a pandemic more deadly than the world has ever seen.
Lee’s quest keeps her one step ahead of an international hunt―from the police who want her for murder, to a group of men who will stop at nothing to end her quest, to a mad man who pursues the answers for destructive reasons of his own. Globetrotting as she pieces together what Shakespeare meant, and what he meant to leave unsaid, Lee carries this intelligent thriller through to its gasp-out-loud conclusion."
Didn't enjoy this as mush as I expected too. It was ok.
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- L-Lee Nicholson.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-T-Tunsbury.
Wonders of the World Challenge: 10. Revel in the Moorish architecture of the Alhambra by reading a book that takes place in Spain/Northern Africa or about multiple periods of history.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-
Start- Connecticut
-Hatfield (3374 miles)
-New york (3450 miles)
-London (3459 miles)
-Tunsbury, massacheusetts (3288 miles)
-Whitehall (3289 miles)
-Washington (3662 miles)
-Mount kisco (264.6 miles)
-Richmond (374 miles)
-Plymouth (3595miles)
-Tilbury (251.6 miles)
Total miles in book- 25,007.2 miles
Total miles travelled -137,043.4 miles
11. A category from another challenge- A book involving a mythical creature from 2017 ultimate pop sugar challenge-Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull Completed 5th July 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.After centuries of plotting, the Sphinx—leader of the Society of the Evening Star—is after the final artifacts needed to open the great demon prison, Zzyxx. If the legendary prison is opened, a tide of evil is certain to usurp control of the world.
In an effort to intercept the final artifacts, Kendra, Seth and the Knights of the Dawn race to strange and exotic preserves across the globe. The stakes have never been higher. The risks have never been more deadly.
In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate, climactic battle to control the keys to the demon prison.
Loved this series!
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-S- Seth Sorenson
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-B-Bermuda Triangle.
4th Challenge -5. Read a book with "Yellow" or any shade of yellow in the cover (blond, chartreuse, canary, etc...).
Wonders of the World Challenge: 4. Imagine yourself viewing a show from the great Colosseum in Rome by reading a book that takes place in Italy or about a great battle or warrior.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- Start-Tilbury
-Connecticut (3404 miles)
-Perth (11,600 miles)
-New York (11,613 miles)
-Scotland (3211 miles)
-Turkey (2798.3 miles)
- Finland (2268.7 miles)
-Mississippi River (4697 miles)
-Santa Monica (1765.5miles)
-Canada (1632 miles)
Texas (1697 miles)
Hatteras Island, North Carolina (1650 miles)
Bermuda Triangle (758 miles)
Total miles in book-47,094.5 miles
Total miles travelled -184,137.9 miles
12. A book based on a myth-The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️."IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU FIND YOURSELF IN COMBAT WITH A HALF-LION, HALF-HUMAN.
But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.
Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive..."
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-Z- Zeus.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION- U-United States of America.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- Start-Bermuda Triangle
-Bar Harbor, Maine (1348 miles)
-Long Island (514.4 miles)
-Washington DC (281.7 miles)
-Hoover Dam (2425.3 miles)
-San Fransisco (589.9 miles)
-Mount Tamalpais (14.1 miles)
Total miles in book-5,173.4 miles
Total miles travelled -189,311.3 miles
13. A book recommended by one of your favourite authors- Recommended by JK Rowling- Emma by Jane Austen. Completed 17th July 2017.⭐️⭐️."I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall.'
Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work."
Controversially I didn't hugely enjoy this book. It was just ok. I think it was due to not particularly liking the character of Emma.
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-I-Isabella Knightley
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-S-Surrey
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- start Mount Tamalpais
- Surrey (933.4 miles)
Total miles in book-933.4 miles
Total miles travelled -190,244.7 miles
14. A book with a strong female character- Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon MullCompleted 18th June 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"Strange things are afoot at Fablehaven. Someone or something has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. Seth discovers the problem in its infancy, but as the infectious disease spreads, it becomes clear that the preserve cannot hold out for long.
In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn. The Sphinx has always given sound advice–but is he a traitor? Inside the Quiet Box, Vanessa might have information that could lead to a cure–but can she be trust?
Meanwhile, Kendra and members of the Knights of the Dawn must journey to a distant preserve and retrieve another hidden artifact. Will the Society of the Evening Star recover it first? Will the plague eclipse all light at Fablehaven? Find out in Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague."
Another brill book in the series.
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-W-Warren.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-A-Atlanta.
WONDERS OF THE WORLD-5. Be dazzled by the mythological statues of Chichen Itza by reading a book that takes place in Mexico/Central America or about mythological creatures.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- start Surrey
-Connecticut (3370 miles)
-Atlanta- (968.4 miles)
Total miles in book-4338.4 miles
Total miles travelled -194,583.1 miles
15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø Completed 18th Aug 2017.⭐️⭐️⭐️"When the Norwegian ambassador to Thailand is found dead in a Bangkok brothel, Inspector Harry Hole is dispatched from Oslo to help hush up the case.
But once he arrives Harry discovers that this case is about much more than one random murder. There is something else, something more pervasive, scrabbling around behind the scenes. Or, put another way, for every cockroach you see in your hotel room, there are hundreds behind the walls. Surrounded by round-the-clock traffic noise, Harry wanders the streets of Bangkok lined with go-go bars, temples, opium dens, and tourist traps, trying to piece together the story of the ambassador’s death even though no one asked him to, and no one wants him to—not even Harry himself."
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition- B- Jens Brekke.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-Oslo
2. Read a book with "Pink" or any shade of pink in the cover (rose, magenta, salmon, etc...).
JUNE CHALLENGE: SUMMER CELEBRATIONS 3. Wife-Carrying World Championships (Sonkajarvi, Finland). Competitors carry their wives/partners on their back while completing an obstacle course. Winners receive a supply of beer equal to his wife's weight. Read a book that involves a couple overcoming obstacles together or a book about beer (part of the characters struggle is alcoholism).
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- Start Atlanta
-Banglamphu (9133 miles)
-Oslo (5386 miles)
-Bangkok (5386 miles)
-Patpong (5.5 miles)
Total miles in book- 19,910.5 miles
Total miles travelled -214493.6 miles
16. A mystery- The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø Completed 1 September 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️."1944: Daniel, a soldier, legendary among the Norwegians fighting the advance of Bolshevism on the Russian front, is killed. Two years later, a wounded soldier wakes up in a Vienna hospital. He becomes involved with a young nurse, the consequences of which will ripple forward to the turn of the next century.
1999: Harry Hole, alone again after having caused an embarrassment in the line of duty, has been promoted to inspector and is lumbered with surveillance duties. He is assigned the task of monitoring neo-Nazi activities; fairly mundane until a report of a rare and unusual gun being fired sparks his interest. Ellen Gjelten, his partner, makes a startling discovery. Then a former soldier is found with his throat cut. In a quest that takes him to South Africa and Vienna, Harry finds himself perpetually one step behind the killer. He will be both winner and loser by the novel’s nail-biting conclusion".
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-O-Sverre Olsen.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-V-Vienna
14. Read a book with a color in the title of the book
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- Start Patpong
-Oslo (5391miles)
-Leningrad (848 miles)
-Vienna (1161.1 miles)
-Linz (96 miles)
-Siljan (198.8 miles)
-Johannesburg (8337.2 miles)
-Hamburg (8459.3 miles)
Total miles in book-24,491.4 miles
Total miles travelled -238,985 miles
SEPTEMBER: BACK TO SCHOOLDuration: September 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017
It's already September! I hope you all had a great summer and are ready for the next academic year. Good luck!
1) First day of classes: Read a book where someone is starting something new or otherwise involves a new beginning- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.
2) New notebooks: Read a book that involves writing or publishing in some form (character writing poems or a novel, tips for writers, character writes a letter, etc.).
3) Mathematics: Read a book with a number in the title.The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore
4) History: Read a book by an author who was born before 1900.- Persuasion by Jane Austen
5) Time for recess! Read a book where characters spend time in the outdoors, have a party, or play games for enjoyment.A World Without Heroes BY Brandon Mull
6) English: Reread a book that you had to study at school.
7) Science: Read a book with a green cover. Nemesis by Jo Nesbø
8) Go team! Read a book where there's a sporting event or cheerleading.
9) Marching band: Read a book where music or musicians are involved. Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull.
10) Studying: Read a book where one of the characters is in school or is trying to learn a new skill. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
17. A book with illustrations- Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull. Completed 25th June 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️."Brace yourself for a shocking secret.
Two hidden artifacts have been found. Three more remain unrecovered. More preserves face destruction as the Society of the Evening Star relentlessly pursues new talismans. Reading in Patton’s Journal of Secrets, Kendra learns the location of the key to a vault housing one of the artifacts. In order to retrieve it, the Knights of the Dawn must enter a death trap — a dragon sanctuary called Wyrmroost. The mission cannot proceed without stealing a sacred object zealously guarded by the centaurs. Anybody seen Seth?
The race is on to acquire all five of the artifact keys to the great demon prison. Will the Knights of the Dawn conquer Wyrmroost? Who can stop the Sphinx? Can Vanessa be trusted to help? What artifact will be found next?"
Brilliant series
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-G-Graulas
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-I-Illinois
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE- Start Hamburg
-Connecticut, USA (3730 miles)
-Monmouth, Illinois (1052.4 miles)
-Arizona desert (1273.8 miles)
Total miles in book-6,056.2 miles
Total miles travelled -245,041.2 miles
18. A really long book (600+ pages)-: Nemesis by Jo Nesbø Completed 8 September 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️."How do you catch a killer when you're the number one suspect?
A man is caught on CCTV, shooting dead a cashier at a bank. Detective Harry Hole begins his investigation, but after dinner with an old flame wakes up with no memory of the past 12 hours. Then the girl is found dead in mysterious circumstances and he beings to receive threatening emails: is someone trying to frame him for her death?
As Harry fights to clear his name, the bank robberies continue with unparalleled savagery..."
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-V-Vigdis Albu
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-D- D'Ajuda.
COLOUR CHALLENGE: 4. Read a book with "Orange" or any shade of orange in the cover (apricot, ginger, carrot, etc...)
JUNE CHALLENGE: SUMMER CELEBRATIONS 5. White Nights of Summer (St. Petersburg, Russia). A celebration of the sun-filled nights of summer, which involves special concerts, ballets, operas, festivals, and late-night hours at restaurants. Read a book that features a concert, ballet, or opera (or a performer of one of these musical arts).
WONDERS OF THE WORLD CHALLENGE: 21. Remember that sometimes wonders due cease by visiting the remains of Timbuktu by reading a that takes place in Western Africa or about a character on a decline.
SEPTEMBER: BACK TO SCHOOL 7) Science: Read a book with a green cover.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start Arizona desert
-Oslo (5308 miles)
-D'ajuda, Brazil (5959 miles)
Total miles in book-11,267 miles
Total miles travelled -256,308.2 miles
19. A New York Times best-seller- The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 28th July2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"In the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Merlin College, the most talented—and highest born—sons of the Kingdom of Britain are taught the intricacies of magickal theory. But what dazzles can also destroy, as Gray Marshall is about to discover…
Gray’s deep talent for magick has won him a place at Merlin College. But when he accompanies four fellow students on a mysterious midnight errand that ends in disaster and death, he is sent away in disgrace—and without a trace of his power. He must spend the summer under the watchful eye of his domineering professor, Appius Callender, working in the gardens of Callender’s country estate and hoping to recover his abilities. And it is there, toiling away on a summer afternoon, that he meets the professor’s daughter.
Even though she has no talent of her own, Sophie Callender longs to be educated in the lore of magick. Her father has kept her isolated at the estate and forbidden her interest; everyone knows that teaching arcane magickal theory to women is the height of impropriety. But against her father’s wishes, Sophie has studied his ancient volumes on the subject. And in the tall, stammering, yet oddly charming Gray, she finally finds someone who encourages her interest and awakens new ideas and feelings.
Sophie and Gray’s meeting touches off a series of events that begins to unravel secrets about each of them. And after the king’s closest advisor pays the professor a closed-door visit, they begin to wonder if what Gray witnessed in Oxford might be even more sinister than it seemed. They are determined to find out, no matter the cost… "
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-A- Everard Alcuin
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-M-Merlins College.
JUNE CHALLENGE: SUMMER CELEBRATIONS:
1. Naadam (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). A festival that involves three sports--Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery--that was traditionally competed by men, but now includes women and girls for the latter two sports. Read a book that involves any of these sports or the breaking of gender barriers.
WONDERS OF THE WORLD CHALLENGE: 12. Fall in love with the lights of the Eiffel Tower by reading a book that takes place in France or that took place during the industrial revolution.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start- D'ajuda, Brazil
-Oxford, England (5231 miles)
-Douarnenez (650.9 miles)
-Brent (596.6 miles)
-Leon/lyon (603.3 miles)
-Finisterre (582.3 miles)
-London (527.1 miles)
Total miles in book-8191.2 miles
Total miles travelled -264,499.4 miles
20. A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbø Completed 17th September 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"A young woman is murdered in her Oslo flat. One finger has been severed from her left hand, and behind her eyelid is secreted a tiny red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star - a pentagram, the devil's star.
Detective Harry Hole is assigned to the case with his long-time adversary Tom Waaler and initially wants no part in it. But Harry is already on notice to quit the force and is left with little alternative but to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor and get to work.
A wave of similar murders is on the horizon. An emerging pattern suggests that Oslo has a serial killer on its hands, and the five-pointed devil's star is key to solving the riddle."
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-N-Anders Nygard
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-London
-Oslo, Norway (1080.7 miles)
Total miles in book-9271.9 miles
Total miles travelled -273771.3 miles
21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read-The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø. Completed 28th September 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half."A 14-year old girl is raped at one of the Salvation Army summer camps. Twelve years later, at a Christmas concert in a square in Oslo, a Salvation Army soldier is executed by a man in the crowd. A press photographer has caught a suspect on one of the photos of the concert. Beate Lønn, the identification expert, is confused by how the face can change from one photo to the next. Inspector Harry Hole’s search for the faceless man takes place on the seamy side of the city, among those who seek eternal – or just momentary – redemption. And the gunman has not yet completed his mission."
21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read-The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø. Completed 28th September 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️and a half."A 14-year old girl is raped at one of the Salvation Army summer camps. Twelve years later, at a Christmas concert in a square in Oslo, a Salvation Army soldier is executed by a man in the crowd. A press photographer has caught a suspect on one of the photos of the concert. Beate Lønn, the identification expert, is confused by how the face can change from one photo to the next. Inspector Harry Hole’s search for the faceless man takes place on the seamy side of the city, among those who seek eternal – or just momentary – redemption. And the gunman has not yet completed his mission."
Challenge 2- The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition-C-Christos Stankic.
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-Z-Zagreb
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Oslo
-Bergen (287.9 miles)
-Zagreb (1525.3 miles)
Total miles in book-1813.2 miles
Total miles travelled -275584.5 miles
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø Completed 12 October 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" Internationally acclaimed crime writer Jo Nesbø’s antihero police investigator, Harry Hole, is back: in a bone-chilling thriller that will take Hole to the brink of insanity.
Oslo in November. The first snow of the season has fallen. A boy named Jonas wakes in the night to find his mother gone. Out his window, in the cold moonlight, he sees the snowman that inexplicably appeared in the yard earlier in the day. Around its neck is his mother’s pink scarf.
Hole suspects a link between a menacing letter he’s received and the disappearance of Jonas’s mother—and of perhaps a dozen other women, all of whom went missing on the day of a first snowfall. As his investigation deepens, something else emerges: he is becoming a pawn in an increasingly terrifying game whose rules are devised—and constantly revised—by the killer.
Fiercely suspenseful, its characters brilliantly realized, its atmosphere permeated with evil, The Snowman is the electrifying work of one of the best crime writers of our time."
3rd challenge- A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-Kolloveien.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Zagreb
-Oslo (1282.7 Miles)
Total miles in book-1282.7miles
Total miles travelled -276867.2 miles
23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list (link)-Persuasion by Jane Austen Completed 28th October 2017 ⭐️⭐️."Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?
Jane Austen once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory, 2 inches square. Readers of Persuasion will discover that neither her skill for delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals has deserted her in her final finished work."
I think I spoilt myself by reading pride and prejudice first. Can't seem to like her other books as much.
Wonders of the world challenge- 19. Ponder who placed all those giant rocks in Stonehenge by reading a book that takes place in England/United Kingdom or about the outer space
Back to School Challenge- 4) History: Read a book by an author who was born before 1900.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Oslo
-Somersetshire (1212.9 miles)
-Lyme Regis (34.9 miles)
-Bath (59.9 miles)
Total miles in book-1307.7 miles
Total miles travelled -278,174.9 miles
24. A book written by at least two authors-I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore Completed 8th November 2017 ⭐️⭐️"Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next"
Shows promise. Will continue to the next book.
Sunnrises Challenge-I
Wonders of the World Challenge- 3. Get lost roaming around the ruins in Petra by reading a book that takes place in the Middle East or where the characters do a lot of moving around
Back to School Challenge- 1) First day of classes: Read a book where someone is starting something new or otherwise involves a new beginning
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Bath
-Congo-(4082 miles)
-Maine- (6471 miles)
-Florida (1596.8 miles)
-Tuscaloosa Ohio (613.6 miles)
-Athens Ohio (668.3 miles)
Total miles in book-13,431.7 miles
Total miles travelled -291,606.6 miles
25. A book about a famous historical figure- I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta Completed 30th October 2017 ⭐️. "Vladimir Putin, the enigmatic, controversial president of Russia, is faced with a decision so harrowing, it changes him forever. It's the year 2000. Newly elected President Putin is embattled after the Kursk submarine explodes and spirals into the abyss. 118 submariners are trapped. Outwardly, Putin seems not to care, but behind the scenes is another story. Meanwhile, the Russian people yearn for a response from their leader. Mass protests ignite across Russia. Does Putin save the sailors and unite his beloved motherland, or does he lose everything?
Discover what motivates the man behind Russia. Is he the cold, ruthless leader you know, or is he...human?"
Was really disappointed by this book especially as it had such great reviews and Putins character interests me.
A-Z Character Edition Chalenge- D- Dmitry Kolesnikov
A-Z Location Edition- R-Russia
Wonders of the World Challenge- 17. View many of Moscow’s important historical sights in the Red Square by reading a book that takes place in Russia or about life under communism.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Athens, Ohio
-St Petersburg (4584 miles)
-Moscow (444.6 miles)
-Narva, Estonia (504.7 miles)
Total miles in book-5533.3 miles
Total miles travelled -297,139.9 miles
26. An adventure book- The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore Completed 12th November 2017. ⭐️⭐️"I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight."
Back to School Challenge- 10) Studying: Read a book where one of the characters is in school or is trying to learn a new skill.
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Narva, Estonia,
-Santa Theresa, Spain (2508.5 miles)
-Paradise, Ohio (3793 miles)
-Tennessee (619.3 miles)
-Washington (695.1 miles)
-Hawks Nest State Park (310.2 miles)
Total miles in book-7926.1 miles
Total miles travelled -305,066 miles
DECEMBER: THE LONG CHALLENGEDuration: December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
--A book with over 500 pages.
--A book that has more than 5 words in the title
--A book that has been on your TBR list longer than a year
DECEMBER LONG NIGHT CHALLENGEDuration: December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
December’s theme is Long Nights and this challenge is all about using the word “NIGHT” in our these fun reading tasks:
1) POLAR NIGHT (a day of almost complete darkness)! Read a book that takes place during the dark or in a country/region that experiences polar nights (e.g., Russia, Norway, northern Canadian territories).
2) THE NIGHTS ARE COLD OUTSIDE! Cuddle up with a cozy mystery.
3) STAYING OUT ALL NIGHT! Read a story featuring a nocturnal animal.
4) THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!Are you are afraid of the dark? Read about a mythological or supernatural creature that only comes out at night (boogeyman, vampire, ghosts, etc).
5) NIGHT’S HOMOPHONE! Read a story featuring a "knight."
6) THE RED-EYE (NIGHT) FLIGHT!Read a story about traveling by plane or about planes in general.
7) BE A NIGHTOWL! Stay up late reading a good book of your choice.
8) LOOKING OUT AT THE NIGHT SKY! Enjoy a non-fiction story that involves the moon or stars that can be seen at night (i.e., the sun is excluded!).
9) LIGHT IN THE NIGHT! Read a story that features a source of light that appears (or is used) at night (e.g., lighthouse, candle, lantern, Aurora Borealis, stars, etc).
10) ”NIGHTTIME!” Read a book that features a "nighttime" word in the title (e.g. "Evening," "Twilight," "Midnight," "Starry," etc.)
27. A book by one of your favourite authors- A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull. Completed 8 Dec 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.
In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes."
WONDERS OF THE WORLD: 6. Take in the sun as you climb the mountains to visit the palace of MachuPicchu by reading a book about Peru/South America or about an emperor.
BACK TO SCHOOL: 5) Time for recess! Read a book where characters spend time in the outdoors, have a party, or play games for enjoyment
3. A book you meant to read in 2016- Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull Completed 16 Dec 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half"After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.
Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping."
SUMMER CELEBRATIONS CHALLENGE: 8. Picnic Day (Northern Australia). A commemoration of the emancipation of Chinese railway workers and a celebration of cultural diversity and social progress. Read a book about emancipation, diversity, or fighting for rights.
BACK TO SCHOOL CHALLENGE: 9) Marching band: Read a book where music or musicians are involved.
28. A non-fiction- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. ⭐️⭐️ and a half. "On May 1, 1915, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were anxious. Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone, and for months, its U-boats had brought terror to the North Atlantic. But the Lusitania was one of the era's great transatlantic "Greyhounds" and her captain, William Thomas Turner, placed tremendous faith in the gentlemanly strictures of warfare that for a century had kept civilian ships safe from attack. He knew, moreover, that his ship - the fastest then in service - could outrun any threat.
Germany, however, was determined to change the rules of the game, and Walther Schwieger, the captain of Unterseeboot-20, was happy to oblige. Meanwhile, an ultra-secret British intelligence unit tracked Schwieger's U-boat, but told no one. As U-20 and the Lusitania made their way toward Liverpool, an array of forces both grand and achingly small - hubris, a chance fog, a closely guarded secret, and more--all converged to produce one of the great disasters of history.
It is a story that many of us think we know but don't, and Erik Larson tells it thrillingly, switching between hunter and hunted while painting a larger portrait of America at the height of the Progressive Era. Full of glamour, mystery, and real-life suspense, Dead Wake brings to life a cast of evocative characters, from famed Boston bookseller Charles Lauriat to pioneering female architect Theodate Pope Riddle to President Wilson, a man lost to grief, dreading the widening war but also captivated by the prospect of new love. Gripping and important, Dead Wake captures the sheer drama and emotional power of a disaster that helped place America on the road to war."
A-Z Location Edition-Queenstown, Ireland
WONDER OF THE WORLD CHALLENGE: 7. Stand under the white marble domes of the Taj Mahal by read a book that takes place in India or about a suffering a great loss.
THE LONG CHALLENGE: A book that has more than 5 words in the title
LONG NIGHT CHALLENGE: 9) LIGHT IN THE NIGHT! Read a story that features a source of light that appears (or is used) at night (e.g., lighthouse, candle, lantern, Aurora Borealis, stars, etc).
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Hawks Nest State Park
-Queenstown, Ireland-(3523 miles)
-New York (3116 miles)
-Rome, Georgia (872.4 miles)
-Emden, Germany (4450 miles)
Total miles in book-11,961 miles
Total miles travelled -317,027.4 miles
29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre) - check all the editions- A Season of Spells by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 11th August 2017. ⭐️⭐️ Bit disappointed at ending. Felt a bit rushed.
"In the latest novel from the author of Lady of Magick, Sophie and Gray Marshall must save the Kingdom of Britain from a tide of dark magic...
Three years after taking up residence at the University of Din Edin, Sophie and Gray return to London, escorting the heiress of Alba to meet the British prince to whom she is betrothed. Sparks fail to fly between the pragmatic Lucia of Alba and the romantic Prince Roland, and the marriage alliance is cast into further doubt when the men who tried to poison King Henry are discovered to have escaped from prison.
Gray sets off to track the fugitives abroad, while Sophie tries to spark a connection between the bride and groom by enlisting them in her scheme to reopen a long-shuttered women’s college at Oxford. Though a vocal contingent believes that educating women spells ruin, what Sophie and her friends discover in the decaying college library may hold the key to protecting everything they hold dear—as well as a dark secret that could destroy it all"
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Emden, Germany
-Oxford (542.1 miles)
-London (52 miles)
-Normandy (313.6 miles)
-Orleans (126.2 miles)
Total miles in book-1033.9 miles
Total miles travelled -318,061.3 miles
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books (link) The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Completed 27th January 2017.⭐️⭐️"Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods."
31. A book from a sub-genre of your favourite genre- The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore Completed 18th Nov 2017 ⭐️⭐️"The Mogadorians who destroyed the planet Lorien continue to hunt for the Garde, the small group of Loric survivors who have taken refuge on Earth. During a dangerous mission at a Mog base in West Virginia, John found and rescued the brutish Nine. But even with their combined powers, special abilities known as Legacies, the pair barely escaped with their lives. And in the process, John’s best friend, Sam Goode, was lost and taken captive by the enemy.
In order to save him—and our world—John and Nine must join forces with Six and Seven who have been battling the Mogs in Spain, and who are now trying to locate Number Eight in India. The Garde must come together before it is too late. They are Lorien and Earth’s only hope."
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Orleans
-Hawks Nest State Park (4041 miles)
-New Delhi (7613 miles)
-West Virginia (7570 miles)
-Chicago (580.7 miles)
-Dulce, new Mexico (1263 miles)
-Somalia(9048 miles)
-Stonehenge (7588.6 miles)
-Odessa, Texas (4952 miles)
-Arkansas (714.6 miles)
Total miles in book-43370.9miles
Total miles travelled -361432.2 miles
WONDERS OF THE WORLD: 18. Say hello to the welcoming lady of the Statue of Liberty by reading a book that takes place in the U.S.A or about immigration.
32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle)- The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017 ⭐️⭐️"Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears at his potential new school, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.
In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn."
The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition -Q-Quintus
33. A magical realism novel-Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.Completed March 2017.⭐️.Disappointed. Much preferred the film.
"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.
A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows."
A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION-w-Wales
5th challenge- SPANNING THE GLOBE-Start-Arkansas
-Wales (4269 miles)
-London (209.5 miles)
Total miles in book-4478.5 miles
Total miles travelled -365,910.7 miles
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Revenge of Seven (other topics)The Girl on the Train (other topics)
The Girl on the Train (other topics)
Lady of Magick (other topics)
The Fall of Five (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Paula Hawkins (other topics)Paula Hawkins (other topics)
Paula Hawkins (other topics)
Erik Larson (other topics)
Erik Larson (other topics)
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So this year I'm going to try not to plan too far ahead and just roll with it.......