You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Apples to Zebras

Our toppler will run from 12:00 noon ET on Saturday, October 9th to 12:00 noon ET on Saturday, October 16th. Countdown to the toppler is here: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Task:
We will be working as all one team for this toppler. We will be trying to complete the alphabet a couple of times, once with the titles of books and once with author's name. The goal is to complete every letter of the alphabet.

I do have a couple of other A-Z lists I'd love to try if we complete the first two and need more letters, so don't worry there will be plenty of tasks!

Update: We have the Titles, Authors, and Main Character alphabets all spoken for! We are now working our way through the Locations (main setting) A-Z. Way to go team!

Please start by choosing only one or two (if you plan to read several books) letters so that everyone has a chance to hopefully get a letter that works best with their reading plans. After everyone has had a few days to claim their letters, we can select more before the toppler begins.

Please only choose letters you think you'll be able to read for and let us all know as early as possible if you aren't able to complete a read so that someone else can try to fill in for you.

Rules:
1. Books must be started and finished in the specified time period to qualify.
2. You may read any format - paperback, hardcover, ebook, or audiobook.
3. Each book must be at least 175 pages, based on the version you are reading. For audiobooks & ebooks use the page numbers for the first physical edition that comes up on the GR page. If there is no physical edition to confirm page length, audiobooks over 6 hours will qualify as will ebooks over 200 pages.
4. Graphic novels do not count.
5. If you read a co-authored book, either author can be used for the author task. In the case of a book of short stories, the main author (editor) will be used.
6. The words "the," "a," or "an" at the beginning of a title will be ignored.
7. Author's first or last names can be used. Middle names can be used if the author uses them professionally. (So, if it is on the cover you can use it, but not if you need to go seek out what their middle name is.) Initials are also acceptable if used in the same manner in place of a name.
8. Report each read in the reporting thread with your WoF name as you complete each read.

If you are using your toppler reads for the yearly challenge, please remember to report the reads as you complete them. Do not report them all at the end of week because this leaves a lot of work for Janice at the end.

Please do not add gifs and pics to the threads. It uses up data and makes it difficult for some people to check in more frequently.

Toppler books can count toward the group theme read and/or the monthly or yearly challenge, if they qualify.

If you are sharing your reads on social media, you can let us know what you are reading by adding #tbrtoppler.

Titles: COMPLETED!

√ A - As You Wish - Almeta
√ B - Black Willow: One sister's dream, another sister's nightmare... - Christina
√ C - Close Calls: A Sam Archer Series Story Collection - Sharon
√ D - Dead Heat - Lanelle
√ E - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - Kristie
√ F - The Four Fires - Almeta
√ G - Grave Visions - Rusalka
√ H - The Horse and His Boy - Kristie
√ I - Idaho - Sandra
√ J - The Joy Luck Club - Margo
√ K - Klara and the Sun - Margo
√ L - Love After Love - Margo
√ M - A Moonless, Starless Sky - Katrisa
√ N - NW - Rusalka
√ O - Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard - Christina
√ P - The Perfect Hope - Janice
√ Q - The Quiet American - Anna
√ R - Redshirts - Lynn
√ S - Salvation of a Saint - Pragya
√ T - The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty, and Unexpected Love in the Azores - Lilisa
√ U - Unmarriageable - Anna
√ V - Vanilla Bean Vengeance - Sharon
√ W - Wicked Fox - Emma R
√ X - X - Christina
√ Y - You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams: My Life in Stories and Pictures - Katrisa
√ Z - The Zeppelin's Passenger - Lanelle

Authors: COMPLETED!

√ A - The Mysterious Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie - Anna
√ B - Five Get Into Trouble by Enid Blyton - Ayacchi
√ C - Gone But Not Forgotten by Charlie Cochet - j'mom
√ D - The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes - Janice
√ E - The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck - TrudyAn
√ F - Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland by Susan Fraser King - Amanda
√ G - Less by Andrew Sean Greer - j'mom
√ H - Carter & Lovecraft by Jonathan L. Howard - Katrisa
√ I - Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi - Lynn
√ J - Bird Box by Josh Malerman - TrudyAn
√ K - Bones Are Forever by Kathy Reichs - Christina
√ L - The Mermaid Murders by Josh Lanyon - j'mom
√ M - Wanted - Bad Boyfriend by T.A. Moore - j'mom
√ N - Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - Vicki
√ O - The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor - Katrisa
√ P - The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner - Almeta
√ Q - A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn - Esther
√ R - GOLDEN ONE: An Omega Files Adventure (Book 3) by Rick Chesler - Sharon
√ S - Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield - TrudyAn
√ T - The Babylon Rite by Tom Knox - Almeta
√ U - Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin - Christina
√ V - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab - Jenn
√ W - Exit Strategy by Martha Wells - Emma R
√ X - Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa - Lanelle
√ Y - The Woman Next Door Yewande Omotoso - Marie (UK)
√ Z - A True Princess by Diane Zahler - Lanelle

Main character: COMPLETED!

√ A - Invitation MC: Andi - Abby
√ B - In Such Good Company MC: Carol Burnett - Almetta
√ C - The Hive Queen MC: Cricket - Abby
√ D - Dandelion Wine MC: Douglas Spalding - Katrisa
√ E - The Man Who Died Twice MC: Elizabeth - Lynn
√ F - These Silent Woods MC: Finch - Kristie
√ G - The Echo Chamber MC: George Cleverley - Marie (UK)
√ H - Fence: Disarmed MC: Harvard - Abby
√ I - Home Fire MC: Isma - Margo
√ J - The Body Reader MC: Jude Fontaine - Katrisa
√ K - Malevolent MC: Carl Kane - Sharon
√ L - 21st Birthday MC: Lindsay Boxer - Esther
√ M - The Son and Heir: A Memoir MC: Alexander Münninghoff - Lilisa
√ N - The Unforgiving Stone MC: Nick Fisher - Sharon
√ O - Rise to the Sun MC: Olivia - Anna
√ P - No Safe Place MC: Lottie Parker - Ayacchi
√ Q - Fairy and Impartial MC: Quinn Broomsparkle - j'mom
√ R - Diary of a War Crime MC: Ruth Hunter - Sharon
√ S - Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other MC: Sam Heughan - Janice
√ T - An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew - MC: Allene Tew - Janice
√ U - Cat Among the Pigeons MC: Julia Upjohn - Marie (UK)
√ V - My Dark Vanessa MC: Vanessa - Margo
√ W - The Pyramid: And Four Other Kurt Wallander Mysteries MC: Kurt Wallander - Beth
√ X - Sandstorm MC: Neena Xylance - Christina
√ Y - The Good Son MC: Yu-jin - Ayacchi
√ Z - Iron Widow MC: Zetian - Anna

Location: COMPLETED!

√ A - Force of Nature in Australia - Katrisa
√ B - Nightbird in the Berkshires - Ann
√ C - The Ghost of Frederic Chopin in Czech Republic - Carol
√ D - And Then There Were None in Devon, England - Grainne
√ E - The Alloy of Law in Elendel - Amanda
√ F - Gold Coast in Florida - Beth
√ G - The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland in Gander - TrudyAn
√ H - The Witch Hunter in Helsinki - Sharon
√ I - Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line in India - Katrisa
√ J - John Crow's Devil in Jamaica - Anna
√ K - Five on Kirrin Island Again on Kirrin Island - Aya
√ L - The Music Teacher in Lithuania - Rusalka
√ M - The Hollows in Maine - Sharon
√ N - The Hiding Place in the Netherlands - Grainne
√ O - Ready Player Two in Ohio - Anna
√ P - Autumn Street in Pennsylvania - Ann
√ Q - Love From A to Z in Qatar - Almeta
√ R - Girlchild in Reno - Katrisa
√ S - Anxious People in Sweden - Katrisa
√ T - Olympus, Texas in Texas - Jayme
√ U - Saint Odd in United States - Katrisa
√ V - Freckles in Valentia City - Lynn
√ W - Black Swan Green in Worcestershire, England - Marie (UK)
√ X - A Spell for Chameleon in Xanth - Lanelle
√ Y - Band Sinister in Yarlcote - Anna
√ Z - Heart of the Hunter in Zambia - Almeta

Narrator, Translator, or Series:

√ A - Flight narrator: Adam Beach - Janice
B -
√ C - They Went Left narrator: Caitlin Davies - Beth
√ D - The Body Counter series: Detective Jude Fontaine - Katrisa
√ E - Kiss and Spell series: Enchanted, Inc. - Lanelle
√ F - Tragedy at Law series: Francis Pettigrew - Almeta
G -
√ H - Death Overdue series: The Haunted Library - Sharon
√ I - Calculated in Death series: In Death - Marie (UK)
J -
K -
√ L - Gilded Cage series: Lilywhite Boys - Anna
√ M - New Orleans Mourning narrator: Cristine McMurdo-Wallis - Almeta
N -
O -
√ P - The Cheese Monkeys narrator: Bronson Pinchot - Almeta
√ Q - The Queen of Attolia series: The Queen's Thief - Vicki
√ R - Beneath Copper Falls series: Rock Harbor - Almeta
√ S - When You Are Mine narrator: Katy Sobey - Margo
√ T - Al Dente's Inferno series: Tuscan Cooking School Mystery
U -
V -
√ W - The Girl in the Tower series: Winternight trilogy - Amanda
X -
Y -
Z -

I'm reading Idaho this month, so I can do Titles-I.

I can read

1. Day for Night by Frederick Reiken

works for D (Title)
F (Author)
R (author)

and

2. Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino

Works for S (Title)
K (author)
H (Author)

I can commit to reading Wicked Fox by Kat Cho for Titles - W.

And Exit Strategy by Martha Wells for Authors - W.

I can read

Vanilla Bean Vengeance
Works for V title
Works for A or F author

Close Calls: A Sam Archer Series Story Collection
works for C title
Works for B or T author

i have a Y author The Woman Next Door Yewande Omotoso and an I title Invisible or a J title John Dies at the End

I can do Q for Title
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
which could also be used for Author M / W / T

I can read

Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud
L for title
I or P for author

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
K for title
K or I for author

Can probably pick up 2 more.

My reads:

The letter O for title
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
and works for S for author if needed

And the letter U for title
The Underground River by Martha Conway
and works for author M or C

Can also read a few more if needed .

I'll start with As You Wish for an "A" title and Babylon Rite for a "B" title.

I will wait to see what needs to be filled in. I can read almost anything necessary.

ETA: Give Christina the "B" title. We were posting about the same time.

I would like to start with Black Willow: One sister's dream, another sister's nightmare... by Jenny Offutt

I would also like to have The Survivors by Robert Palmer

I can read Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland by Susan Fraser King.

Works for:
Q - title
S, F, K - author

Marie (UK) wrote: "i have a Y author The Woman Next Door Yewande Omotoso and an I title Invisible or a J title John Dies at the End"

I put you in for The Woman Next Door Yewande Omotoso and John Dies at the End. :)

Title
U - An Unsuitable Heir or Urban Shaman

W - Wanted - Bad Boyfriend or What Remains

Q - The Queen & the Homo Jock King or The Queer Principles of Kit Webb

Whoops - I waited so long to post that others have books for 2 of theses letters. Keep me for 'Q' and I'll look for other books.

Kristie wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "i have a Y author The Woman Next Door Yewande Omotoso and an I title Invisible or a J title John Dies at the End"

..."
that's good

jaxnsmom wrote: "Whoops - I waited so long to post that others have books for 2 of theses letters. Keep me for 'Q' and I'll look for other books. ."

If you still want to use some of these and they fit for author letters I can plug them in there too. Let me know.

Updated to here.

I'll start with:

Title E -
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)
Also fits author G or H

and

Title H -
The Horse and His Boy (C.S. Lewis)
Also fits author C, S, or L

Kristie wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "Whoops - I waited so long to post that others have books for 2 of theses letters. Keep me for 'Q' and I'll look for other books. ."

If you still want to use some of these and they..."

That would be great. My brain didn't evev think of that. I really want to read my 'U' and 'W' books. Queen and Homo Jock is also good. Hold off on Kit Webb since I'm not 100% sure I'll have it.

As we progress, if you see something that has been read that can be moved to another spot so you can fit one of your reads in, let me know and I'll move things around. I prefer to do this with books that have already been read only because sometimes a person may not like their book or just change their mind and will still cover the task that they chose and the new book may not fit somewhere else.

Thank you Almeta!

I will also read The Five People You Meet in Heaven and hope I can catch the other on the author list :)

Christina wrote: "I would like to start with Black Willow: One sister's dream, another sister's nightmare... by Jenny Offutt

I would also like to have The Survivors..."

Got these! Did you want The Five People You Meet in Heaven as well or to replace one of the others?

Kristie wrote: "Christina wrote: "I would like to start with Black Willow: One sister's dream, another sister's nightmare... by Jenny Offutt

I would also like to have [book:The

You can leave it open... in case someone has a book they want to read. We can add it later if no one fills it up.
Thank you Kristie... I love these Topplers.

jaxnsmom wrote: "That would be great. My brain didn't evev think of that. I really want to read my 'U' and 'W' books. Queen and Homo Jock is also good. Hold off on Kit Webb since I'm not 100% sure I'll have it. "

Just want to confirm that you were requesting 5. I have you down for:

An Unsuitable Heir
Urban Shaman
Wanted - Bad Boyfriend
What Remains
The Queen & the Homo Jock King

They're all in the author section. Let me know if you wanted them all.

updated to here

I will start with
P - A Passage North and
M - A Moonless, Starless Sky: Ordinary Women and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa

I'd like to read for both Zs (title and author) - The Zeppelin's Passenger and A True Princess by Diane Zahler.

Reading list: (view spoiler)[
title Z -The Zeppelin's Passenger
author Z - A True Princess by Diane Zahler
author X - Arrivals and Arrests by Diana Xarissa (hide spoiler)]

Looking good already!

Kristie wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "That would be great. My brain didn't evev think of that. I really want to read my 'U' and 'W' books. Queen and Homo Jock is also good. Hold off on Kit Webb since I'm not 100% sure ..."

Yes, I want to keep those. If I have time to read more I'll check and see what's needed at the time.

I'll read

The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

For E and S author.

I will also read Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood for Author T or N

I can do T in titles - The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty, and Unexpected Love in the Azores.

I can add this one for author with an R if no one else needs it or claims it.

GOLDEN ONE: An Omega Files Adventure (Book 3)

I can do The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant for AUTHOR Drew Hayes - either D or H works.

For Author - I will read The Perfect Hope. Nora Roberts - either N or R

Peggy, you may be able to answer this question. I have a book written by Annejet van der Zijl. Is the "van der" superfluous to the last name, and would Zijl" be considered to be the last name? I think "Z" names are going to be tricky, and I have this book listed to be read this month anyway.

Withdrawn because I see we already have a Z author. Interesting that Lanelle's book is also about a princess.

May I move 🎧 Babylon Rite to author "T" Tom Knox?

I can change my P book to a Y book if Janice wants the P. I was going to sign up for this one anyway but then I saw that we were only supposed to claim a couple at first so you can put me down for You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams: My Life in Stories and Pictures instead of A Passage North

Katrisa wrote: "I can change my P book to a Y book if Janice wants the P. I was going to sign up for this one anyway but then I saw that we were only supposed to claim a couple at first so you can put me down for ..."

Sorry Katrisa, I was only looking at the lists that Kristie had posted and didn't look at the requests. I'll withdraw my P book, since I have lots more.

Janice It doesn't matter to me at all. In fact I already have A Passage North sitting in Overdrive from the library so I would have to wait to read it anyway. I own the Y book so you can totally have the P spot :)

LOL! Okay, Kristie can slot it where ever - The P title, or the N/R for author. She's got the magic wand. A Y title might be harder to come by.

If Katrisa wants to read You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams instead of A Passage North, I can move things around. No problem. That would actually open up the author T spot for Almeta's request.

So, I will have Katrisa reading You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams, Janice in the P title slot, Vicki in the N author spot, and Almeta in the T author spot.

I'm all updated to here! I think I got it all, but let me know if I missed anything.

So... who's going to take on our X's?? lol

Would it be totally cheating to take X... I could puckup the audio from my library?