Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Team Ajax - AEGEAN



• Deanna (Captain)
• Tina (Co-Captain)
• Shannon O'Flynn (Co-Captain)
• Karolyn Terpstra (Co-Captain)
• Sara Hollingsworth
• Abir
• DeeDee
• Raine
• Emma (M)
• Elisabeth Rose
• Silje
• Saar
• Sarah
• Sixty
• Lisa - Aussie Girl
• Ilsen

• maria helena

Official Team Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Challenge Status Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

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⚔ Team Shelves ⚔
• Deanna (Captain)
• Tina (Co-Captain)
• Shannon O'Flynn (Co-Captain)
• Karolyn (Co-Captain)
• Sara Hollingsworth
• Abir
• DeeDee
• Raine
• Emma (M)
• Elisabeth Rose
• Silje
• Saar
• Sarah
• Sixty
• Lisa - Aussie Girl
• Ilsen

• maria helena

⚔ Important Links ⚔
TT9 Rules
Taverna of the Muses Chat

⚔ Spreadsheet Links ⚔
Team Ajax Planning Spreadsheet (enter books here) - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Team Ajax Official Spreadsheet (edited by captains) - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Challenge Status Sheet (check how we're doing against other teams) - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

⚔ Book Points ⚔
◈ Books less than 100 pages = 0 points
◈ Books between 100 and 1000 pages = 0.1 points/page
◈ Books over 1000 pages = 100 points

◈ Points will be rounded up/down from 0.5 as per standard maths
◈ For audio only books, the page count will be set as 100, no matter how long the audio is.

⚔ BOM Points ⚔
◈ BOM DQs 40
◈ BOM Discussion 20

⚔ Book of the Month Titles ⚔

May
(view spoiler)[Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa - starts May 15
(hide spoiler)]

June
The Book of Cold Cases - starts June 2


The Master and Margarita - starts June 8

The Witch's Heart - starts June 16


July
Ariadne - starts July 2


Malibu Rising - starts July 16

⚔ Tower Teams 9 Mini-Challenges ⚔
5 points per task, 10 bonus points for each muse completed
(view spoiler)[🌷Thalia🌷
1 spell out Thalia - T
2 Spell out Thalia - H
3 Spell out Thalia - A
4 Spell out Thalia - L
5 Spell out Thalia - I
6 Spell out Thalia - A
7 MPG Humour
8 Mask on cover

🌷Urania🌷
9 Spell out Urania - U
10 Spell out Urania - R
11 Spell out Urania - A
12 Spell out Urania - N
13 Spell out Urania - I
14 Spell out Urania - A
15 Stars on the cover
16 Map at the front of the book

🌷Melpomene🌷
17 Spell out Melpomene - M
18 Spell out Melpomene - E
19 Spell out Melpomene - L
20 Spell out Melpomene - P
21 Spell out Melpomene - O
22 Spell out Melpomene - M
23 Spell out Melpomene - E
24 Spell out Melpomene - N
25 Spell out Melpomene - E
26 Sword on cover
27 Tagged Tragedy

🌷Polyhymnia🌷
28 Spell out Polyhymnia - P
29 Spell out Polyhymnia - O
30 Spell out Polyhymnia - L
31 Spell out Polyhymnia - Y
32 Spell out Polyhymnia - H
33 Spell out Polyhymnia - Y
34 Spell out Polyhymnia - M
35 Spell out Polyhymnia - N
36 Spell out Polyhymnia - I
37 Spell out Polyhymnia - A
38 Letters of HYMN in title
39 Author initials in SACRED

🌷Erato🌷
40 Spell out Erato - E
41 Spell out Erato - R
42 Spell out Erato - A
43 Spell out Erato - T
44 Spell out Erato - O
45 Poetry quote in the text
46 MC is a writer

🌷Calliope🌷
47 Spell out Calliope - C
48 Spell out Calliope - A
49 Spell out Calliope - L
50 Spell out Calliope - L
51 Spell out Calliope - I
52 Spell out Calliope - O
53 Spell out Calliope - P
54 Spell out Calliope - E
55 Royal title in book title
56 1st in series

🌷Clio🌷
57 Spell out Clio - C
58 Spell out Clio - L
59 Spell out Clio - I
60 Spell out Clio - O
61 MPG History/Historical Fiction
62 A celebration in the book

🌷Euterpe🌷
63 Spell out Euterpe - E
64 Spell out Euterpe - U
65 Spell out Euterpe - T
66 Spell out Euterpe - E
67 Spell out Euterpe - R
68 Spell out Euterpe - P
69 Spell out Euterpe - E
70 Musical instrument on cover
71 Characters attend a musical performance

🌷Terpsichore🌷
72 Spell out Terpsichore - T
73 Spell out Terpsichore - E
74 Spell out Terpsichore - R
75 Spell out Terpsichore - P
76 Spell out Terpsichore - S
77 Spell out Terpsichore - I
78 Spell out Terpsichore - C
79 Spell out Terpsichore - H
80 Spell out Terpsichore - O
81 Spell out Terpsichore - R
82 Spell out Terpsichore - E
83 Dancing in the book
84 Letters CLD in title of book (hide spoiler)]

Monster Mini-Challenge

🏹🐉Monster #1 - Medusa🐉
(view spoiler)[T1 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T2 - Read a book that takes place in a desert.
T3 - Read a book where someone is beheaded.
T4 - Read a book with a mirror on the cover.
T5 - Read a book with a snake on the cover.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #2 - Cerberus🐉
(view spoiler)[T6 - Read a book between 500 and 650 pages (inclusive).
T7 - Read a book where a funerary celebration/service takes place.
T8 - Read a book with MPG Music.
T9 - Read a book with a musical instrument on the cover.
T10 - Read a book that is #3 in a series.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #3 - Minotaur🐉
(view spoiler)[T11 - Read a book 800 pages or longer.
T12 - Read a book where the MC gets lost.
T13 - Read a book with a map in it.
T14 - character described as "bull-headed" or "hard-headed".
T15 - Read a book with a Goodreads rating of 4.0 or higher.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #4 - Harpies🐉
(view spoiler)[T16 - Read a book between 100 and 125 pages (inclusive).
T17 - Read a book that features a feast or banquet.
T18 - Read a book that contains a chase (car chase, foot chase, etc).
T19 - Read a book with a character who is royalty.
T20 - Read a book that features a thief.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #5 - Scylla🐉
(view spoiler)[T21 - Read a book between 500 and 650 pages (inclusive).
T22 - Read a book with a body of water on the cover.
T23 - Read a book that features a sacrifice of some type (your interpretation).
T24 - Read a book that features a sorceress.
T25 - Read a book whose title contains the word "FIRE". (hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #6 - Medusa🐉
(view spoiler)[T26 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T27 - Read a book that takes place in a desert.
T28 - Read a book where someone is beheaded.
T29 - Read a book with a mirror on the cover.
T30 - Read a book with a snake on the cover.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #7 - Medusa🐉
(view spoiler)[T31 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T32 - Read a book that takes place in a desert.
T33 - Read a book where someone is beheaded.
T34 - Read a book with a mirror on the cover.
T35 - Read a book with a snake on the cover.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #8 - Lernaean Hydra🐉
(view spoiler)[T36 - Read a book 800 pages or longer.
T37 - Read a book with MPG Adventure.
T38 - Read a book with gold text on the cover.
T39 - Read a book where the MC has a sister.
T40 - Read a book that is #9 or higher in a series.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #9 - Charbydis🐉
(view spoiler)[T41 - Read a book 800 pages or longer.
T42 - Author's name (first or last) starts with one of the letters in POOL.
T43 - Read a book where the MC is forced to make a hard choice (your interpretation).
T44 - Read a book with "fig" in the title or text.
T45 - Read a book where the characters take a boat trip (of any type).
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #10 - Mares of Diomedes🐉
(view spoiler)[T46 - Read a book between 200 and 299 pages (inclusive).
T47 - Read a book with fire on the cover.
T48 - Read a book where a character gets poisoned (food poisoning is acceptable, does not have to be fatal).
T49 - Read a book whose title contains all the letters of HERA.
T50 - Read a book with a Goodreads rating between 3 and 3.5 (inclusive)
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #11 - Stymphalian Birds🐉
(view spoiler)[T51 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T52 - Read a book that is #6 in a series.
T53 - Read a book with a musical instrument mentioned in the text.
T54 - Read a book with something metal on the cover.
T55 - Read a book that features a bird (bird shifter accepted).
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #12 - Harpies🐉
(view spoiler)[T56 - Read a book between 100 and 125 pages (inclusive).
T57 - Read a book that features a feast or banquet.
T58 - Read a book that contains a chase (car chase, foot chase, etc).
T59 - Read a book with a character who is royalty.
T60 - Read a book that features a thief.
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #13 - Sphinx🐉
(view spoiler)[T61 - Read a book between 200 and 299 pages (inclusive).
T62 - Read a book where the characters go on a journey.
T63 - Read a book where the MC must solve a riddle.
T64 - Read a book with a mountain on cover.
T65 - Read a book with a brown cover (at least 50%).
(hide spoiler)]
🐉Monster #14 - Minotaur🐉
T66 - Read a book 800 pages or longer.
T67 - Read a book where the MC gets lost.
T68 - Read a book with a map in it.
T69 - character described as "bull-headed" or "hard-headed"
T70 - Read a book with a Goodreads rating of 4.0 or higher.

🏹🐉Monster #15 - Stymphalian Birds🐉
(view spoiler)[T71 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T72 - Read a book that is #6 in a series.
T73 - Read a book with a musical instrument mentioned in the text.
T74 - Read a book with something metal on the cover.
T75 - Read a book that features a bird (bird shifter accepted).
(hide spoiler)]
🐉Monster #16 - Charbydis🐉
T76 - Read a book 800 pages or longer.
T77 - Author's name (first or last) starts with one of the letters in POOL.
T78 - Read a book where the MC is forced to make a hard choice (your interpretation).
T79 - Read a book with "fig" in the title or text.
T80 - Read a book where the characters take a boat trip (of any type).

🏹🐉Monster #17 - Typhon🐉
(view spoiler)[T81 - Read a book between 500 and 650 pages (inclusive).
T82 - Read a book that mentions a volcano
T83 - Read a book with lightning on the cover
T84 - Read a book where the title contains all the letters in ZEUS
T85 - Read a book where a MC is a father
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #18 - Typhon🐉
(view spoiler)[T86 - Read a book between 500 and 650 pages (inclusive).
T87 - Read a book that mentions a volcano
T88 - Read a book with lightning on the cover
T89 - Read a book where the title contains all the letters in ZEUS
T90 - Read a book where a MC is a father
(hide spoiler)]
🏹🐉Monster #19 - Lamia🐉
(view spoiler)[T91 - Read a book between 200 and 299 pages (inclusive).
T92 - Read a book with the night sky on the cover.
T93 - Read a book where someone is kidnapped.
T94 - Read a book that features a prophecy.
T95 - Read a book where a child (under age 18) is an important part of the plot.
(hide spoiler)]
🐉Monster #20 - Polyphemus🐉
(view spoiler)[T96 - Read a book between 500 and 650 pages (inclusive).
T97 - Read a book that takes place on an island.
T98 - Read a book where a character engages in some sort of trickery (your interpretation).
T99 - Read a book with sheep AND people on the cover.
T100 - Read a book whose MC is a farmer.
(hide spoiler)]
🐉Monster #21 - Echidna🐉
T101 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T102 - Read a book with CAVE in text.
T103 - Read a book where a character uses a sword.
T104 - Author name (first and last) contain all the letters in HERA
T105 - Read a book where a MC is a mother

🏹🐉Monster #22 - Stymphalian Birds🐉
(view spoiler)[T106 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T107 - Read a book that is #6 in a series.
T108 - Read a book with a musical instrument mentioned in the text.
T109 - Read a book with something metal on the cover.
T110 - Read a book that features a bird (bird shifter accepted).
(hide spoiler)]
🐉Monster #23 - Echidna🐉
T111 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T112 - Read a book with CAVE in text.
T113 - Read a book where a character uses a sword.
T114 - Author name (first and last) contain all the letters in HERA
T115 - Read a book where a MC is a mother

🏹🐉Monster #24 - Lamia🐉
(view spoiler)[T116 - Read a book between 200 and 299 pages (inclusive).
T117 - Read a book with the night sky on the cover.
T118 - Read a book where someone is kidnapped.
T119 - Read a book that features a prophecy.
T120 - Read a book where a child (under age 18) is an important part of the plot.
(hide spoiler)]
🐉Monster #25 - Stymphalian Birds🐉
T121 - Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
T122 - Read a book that is #6 in a series.
T123 - Read a book with a musical instrument mentioned in the text.
T124 - Read a book with something metal on the cover.
T125 - Read a book that features a bird (bird shifter accepted).

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γεια σας (Hi) everyone!! Welcome to Team Ajax, a Greek warrior known for his strength and courage and called the bulwark of the Achaeans.

I'm Deanna, your captain for the next three months of Muse-inspired adventures. I've been a NBRC member for 5 years now, and this will be my 4th round of Tower Teams. I live in Virginia, am a homeschooling mom, and hopefully soon to be freelancer.

I read mostly fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and thriller books. For towers, I'm looking forward to a reread of Anne Bishop's Others series and finishing my reread of Harry Potter (I've been holding the last 4 books for this challenge).

TT9-Muses

Please introduce yourself with as much or as little detail as you want, your shelf for tower teams, and tell us about some books you enjoy.

Hi everyone!

I'm Tina, one of your three co-captains for Team Ajax. There's quite a few people I've met before but I'm keen to get to know everyone more in the next three months. I've been a member of NBRC about the same time as Deanna and have done all the Tower Teams since the Harry Potter one. So, please don't hesitate to ask us any questions!

I've lived in Melbourne, Australia all my life - a special hi to my fellow Aussies, Lisa and Elisabeth). I work full time in a Clinical Trial as a Research Support Officer which can get intense someties. I've got one cheeky rabbit and a very cute French Bulldog who I share custody with my parents and siblings. My family is Greek (so I sign up for anything Greek related) so when we first got our rabbit, my mum wanted to name her Aphrodite but I disagreed and named her Athena hoping Athena would favour my rabbit, which I believe she has. She's 6 years and has a strong character.

I like to read different genres but often fall back on fantasy, paranormal and contemporary. I listen to audiobooks and so I tend to listen to non-fiction more. Mostly in the self-help or psychology areas. I've had The Handbook for Highly Sensitive People going around in circles in my head since I read it so I am thinking it's currently my favourite book at the moment.


My Shelf

Hello Team Ajax! I am Karolyn and also a co-captain for this year's adventure. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and journeying through whatever the muses throw at us this year.

I live in Missouri (middle of the USA) with my partner and three very spoiled cats that enjoy trying to get between my eyeballs and whatever book or screen I am trying to read. I work in international agriculture development. In my free time I love to hike and listen to podcasts - when I'm not reading.

As for books - I read a lot of non-fiction, especially history and biographies. But for TT I tend to get a lot more fiction in and like suspense, mysteries, and historical fiction. And I inevitably read some of the books that teammates love in genes I don't typically read.

My Shelf

Hi all!

I'm so excited for a new round of Tower Teams! I think I've played each year since Tower Team V.

My name is Silje, I'm from Norway. I'm studying to become a dental hygienist, hopefully, I'll be finished next month. In addition, I work at a bookstore part-time (which I love!).

I dabble in many genres, but my go-to's are urban fantasy, romance, and thrillers/crime. Over the past few years, I've been listening more and more to audiobooks, probably because I can multitask when I do so=P I too would love to do a re-read of Anne Bishop's The Others series, but sadly I think it is less than six months since the last time I did it.

my shelf

Hi all!

My name is maria helena (or just MH). I’m from Sweden and read mostly mystery/thrillers. I especially love Nordic crime.

I’ve been a NBRC member for 10 years and think I have participated in all of the TT challenges, except the first one (and I’ve been a captain several times).

my shelf

Hi everyone, Lisa checking in. I’m on holidays at the moment and will chat more later. This will be my 8th TT, so bit of a challenge addict. Looking forward to playing with old and new friends. 🥰

My shelf is NBRC Tower Teams IX 2022.

Hi everyone. Elisabeth here. This is my first TT but I've been a UNO tragic for a few years and do other annual non team challenges as well.

I'm in Canberra, Australia, retired and spend my time writing, reading, playing clarinet and playing tennis. In my working life I taught and played clarinet and taught Tai Chi classes around bringing up two beautiful children.

I read a lot of mystery/ thriller/crime and also like historicals. This year I've been making a point of reading or rereading classic novels such as Anna Karenina and Brave New World. I plan to kick off TT with the third book in the Wolf Hall trilogy, The Mirror and the Light and also finally get to that fat Ken Follett book sitting in my TBR pile.

My shelf is TT 22. Don't know how to link it here, sorry.

Elisabeth wrote: "Hi everyone. Elisabeth here. This is my first TT but I've been a UNO tragic for a few years and do other annual non team challenges as well.

I'm in Canberra, Australia, retired and spend my time w..."

Don’t worry about the link! Happy end of UNO, we made it. I have to admit Anna Karenina is one of my few DNF’s. Maybe I should give it another go for TT. I’ve learned a good translation makes a huge difference. What crime/mystery have you enjoyed lately? I read a bunch of Tana French during UNO.

Welcome Silje, MH, Lisa, and Elisabeth!

Ken Follett is an excellent idea. I loved Pillars of the Earth, but the next book in the Kingsbridge series, World Without End, was only so-so for me because I just didn't like the female MC. I should give A Column of Fire a try.

Just a reminder, polls to vote for June BOMs are open until the 5th.

Adult/Non-Fiction BOM

Mythology Themed BOM

I see some great options in both polls.

Karolyn wrote: "Elisabeth wrote: "Hi everyone. Elisabeth here. This is my first TT but I've been a UNO tragic for a few years and do other annual non team challenges as well.

I'm in Canberra, Australia, retired a..."

I'm halfway through Anna K and enjoying it. I had to stop during UNO and when I picked it up again the other day it took a while to remember who was who. I find Tolstoy very readable but I like
the old style classic writers.

The Ken Follett is Fall of Giants --850 pages. My husband read it and liked it a lot and I enjoyed the Pillars of the Earth and its sequel so I'm looking forward to reading it.

I really like the Harry Bosch series and particularly the related Mickey Haller books. For Uno I reread two of Cynthia-Harrod Eagles Bill Slider police procedurals which are very funny but also good mysteries. And I've been reading a fair bit of Agatha Christie too. Catching up on some of her classic stories, amongst others,

Hi All, I’m Emma, also from Canberra.

I’m the Canberra cliche and work as a public servant and have one son (5yo).

I like lots of different genres but my favourites would probably be sci-fi/fantasy, horror, and historical fiction. I’m partial to non-fiction at times as well.

Looking forward to getting to know you all over the next few months :)

Hello, Everyone! My name is Sixty and I live in California.

I am not great at these sorts of introduction things, so I will just say I have cats, and a bunch of crayfish. I am a big 'ol nerd and I DM two 2nd edition AD&D games.

As for genres I love science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but I like to branch out more and more these days and I will try anything that sounds good.

My shelf

Welcome Emma & Sixty!

Oh, I forgot my shelf it’s Tower-teams-2022

Hi everyone, checking in and this is my shelf:
Tower Team: Ajax

I think I did Tower Team 3 times or so and I really enjoy it. I like reading fantasy, thrillers, mystery and historical fiction. I recently started reading manga and I enjoy it.

Hello all! I don't recall which Tower this is for me, maybe 4th? My first was the fabulous Harry Potter TT, in which I have a sneaking suspicion I played as chaser with Jenny and Donna against, essentially, you Deanna!

I'm on the East Coast with two Ragdolls. I'll read almost anything, though I'm not a Romance fan. I've got some bookstops in mind, all from my want to read shelf. My shelf is called Tower2022.

Welcome Saar and Sarah!

Quidditch was fun, but utterly exhausting. I remember being up at 2 or 3 am a few times for a quidditch match. I honestly never want to read at that speed ever again.

Did you all notice that all the teams this go round are also categorized as either Mythic, Trojan, or Aegean? There's also a spot on the summary page of the official team spreadsheet for points from Supergroup challenges. I both a little excited and a little worried to see what the mods have cooked up.

I feel a maze will be on our future :)

Hi! I'm DeeDee, in my 60s, living near Atlanta, Georgia (east coast USA). I'm not a native southerner, I'm a northern transplant from the Maryland/Pennsylvania area. I live with my husband and disabled son. My other children are all married with careers living elsewhere.

I've done Towers at least once before, a few years ago. My shelf this time is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

My reading breaks down into 40% fantasy-science fiction-horror, 40% "literary fiction" (like Homegoing, Never Let Me Go, books by Alison Lurie and Anne Tyler), and the remainder a mixture of narrative non-fiction, biographies, chick-lit romances and cozy mysteries. I'll give almost every genre a try though -- even westerns! -- I'm a big
Elmer Kelton fan (he wrote about ranchers not gunslingers).

My favorite book is War and Peace. I've read it 3 times so far. I'm on a slow re-read of it for the fourth time since my youngest son, a student for a PhD in Linguistics, is now reading it for the first time. We read & talk about it (on HIS schedule).

I have a shelf I call "6 star reads" which contains all the books I consider to be the best of the best (including cookbooks and pre-schooler books).
Here it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm reading, on average, 8 books a month.

I see we have a list of Mini challenges. Are they to be attempted throughout the 3 months or do we focus on a few at a specific time? Do we claim slots we can fill or do the team leaders do that as we go?

Elisabeth wrote: "I see we have a list of Mini challenges. Are they to be attempted throughout the 3 months or do we focus on a few at a specific time? Do we claim slots we can fill or do the team leaders do that as..."

Soon-ish there will be a planning spreadsheet under Deanna’s first post up top. That will allow the planners amongst us to post what they’re planning to read and which mini-challenge tasks the book will work for. For those that just prefer to post completion posts in the thread the co-captains will help transfer them to the spreadsheet. And at the end we’ll move things around to maximize our points.

Thanks Karolyn. Doing UNO has trained me for the tighter timeframes and task covering which is great fun but pretty full on. This seems much more relaxed but still focussed. Good!

Oh, this will get just as frenzied 😄 We’ll only have 15 days for this challenge 😳

Karolyn wrote: "Oh, this will get just as frenzied 😄 We’ll only have 15 days for this challenge 😳"

Oh! So those Muses challenges are for May?

Meet The Muses May Mini

Our hosts on Mount Olympus (or TBR) would like to introduce themselves in preparation for the forthcoming festivities. To that end, they have inspired a mini-challenge to get your creativity started.

For this challenge, each muse has a selection of tasks to be completed. These are under the spoiler below.

(view spoiler)[

Thalia (“The Cheerful One”) was the Muse of Comedy and was often portrayed holding a comic mask or a shepherd’s crook
• Spell out Thalia - T
• Spell out Thalia - H
• Spell out Thalia - A
• Spell out Thalia - L
• Spell out Thalia - I
• Spell out Thalia - A
• MPG Humour
• Mask on cover


Urania (“The Heavenly One”) was the Muse of Astronomy, and you can often see her holding a globe
• Spell out Urania - U
• Spell out Urania - R
• Spell out Urania - A
• Spell out Urania - N
• Spell out Urania - I
• Spell out Urania - A
• Stars on the cover
• Map at the front of the book


Melpomene (“She Who Sings”) was the Muse of Tragedy, and she is either holding a tragic mask or some other symbol of tragedy (sword, club, buskins)
• Spell out Melpomene - M
• Spell out Melpomene - E
• Spell out Melpomene - L
• Spell out Melpomene - P
• Spell out Melpomene - O
• Spell out Melpomene - M
• Spell out Melpomene - E
• Spell out Melpomene - N
• Spell out Melpomene - E
• Sword on cover
• Tagged Tragedy


Polyhymnia (“She of the Many Hymns”) was the Muse of Hymns and sacred poetry, often depicted with a pensive look hidden behind a veil
• Spell out Polyhymnia - P
• Spell out Polyhymnia - O
• Spell out Polyhymnia - L
• Spell out Polyhymnia - Y
• Spell out Polyhymnia - H
• Spell out Polyhymnia - Y
• Spell out Polyhymnia - M
• Spell out Polyhymnia - N
• Spell out Polyhymnia - I
• Spell out Polyhymnia - A
• Letters of HYMN in title
• Author initials in SACRED


Erato (“The Lovely One”) was the Muse of Lyric Poetry; naturally, she’s usually represented with a lyre;
• Spell out Erato - E
• Spell out Erato - R
• Spell out Erato - A
• Spell out Erato - T
• Spell out Erato - O
• Poetry quote in the text
• MC is a writer


Calliope (“The One with a Beautiful Voice”) was the Muse of Epic Poetry; Hesiod claims that she was the foremost among the nine, since “she attends on worshipful princes”; Calliope can often be seen holding a writing tablet;
• Spell out Calliope - C
• Spell out Calliope - A
• Spell out Calliope - L
• Spell out Calliope - L
• Spell out Calliope - I
• Spell out Calliope - O
• Spell out Calliope - P
• Spell out Calliope - E
• Royal title in book title
• 1st in series


Clio (“The Celebrator,” “The Proclaimer”) was the Muse of History, and, quite fittingly, she usually holds a scroll;
• Spell out Clio - C
• Spell out Clio - L
• Spell out Clio - I
• Spell out Clio - O
• MPG History/Historical Fiction
• A celebration in the book


Euterpe (“She Who Pleases”), was the Muse of Flute-playing, which is why she is time and again portrayed with an aulos;
• Spell out Euterpe - E
• Spell out Euterpe - U
• Spell out Euterpe - T
• Spell out Euterpe - E
• Spell out Euterpe - R
• Spell out Euterpe - P
• Spell out Euterpe - E
• Musical instrument on cover
• Characters attend a musical performance


Terpsichore (“The One Delighting in the Dance”), was the Muse of Choral Lyric and Dancing; as expected, she is usually shown dancing and sometimes holding a lyre.
• Spell out Terpsichore - T
• Spell out Terpsichore - E
• Spell out Terpsichore - R
• Spell out Terpsichore - P
• Spell out Terpsichore - S
• Spell out Terpsichore - I
• Spell out Terpsichore - C
• Spell out Terpsichore - H
• Spell out Terpsichore - O
• Spell out Terpsichore - R
• Spell out Terpsichore - E
• Dancing in the book
• Letters CLD in title of book
(hide spoiler)]

◈ Only books read and finished from the start of the challenge until 9pm GMT+1 on 31st May will count for the Meet the Muses mini challenge.
◈ You will gain 5 points for each task you complete.
◈ For each Muse you complete all the tasks for, you get an additional 10 points.
◈ You may only complete each task once.

How a "spell it out" works
Spell out the word(s) using the first letter in the book's title, the first letter in the author's first or last name, or the first letter of a character's first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter of the series name. As always, if the first letter of a title starts with an indefinite or definite article ('A', 'An', 'The', etc.), you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word. If you are listening to an audiobook, the first letter in the narrator's first or last name also can be used. We're also allowing for Translators names, as long as the edition you are reading is a translation version.

Elisabeth wrote: "Karolyn wrote: "Oh, this will get just as frenzied 😄 We’ll only have 15 days for this challenge 😳"

Oh! So those Muses challenges are for May?"

Yes. Just for May!

I've been getting together paperwork for DS's army application for the last couple of days. I'll get the planning spreadsheet up this evening.

Hi everyone! Thank you, Deanna for messaging me. I was stalking this page earlier this week and then totally spaced when life got crazy, haha. So thanks for reminding me to come say hi.

I'm Sara! I know there is another Sarah on this team, so yay, name twins! I'm from California and I'm a recent graduate from college. Life has been kind of crazy for me since I'm job hunting while also juggle three part time jobs. But I'm still getting plenty of reading done. I'll read just about any genre, but I mostly focus on fantasy, sci-fi, mystery/thriller, lgbt, horror, and YA genres.

This is my shelf for the team challenge: tower-team-2022

Welcome Sara!! Good luck in the job hunting arena!

Deanna wrote: "Elisabeth wrote: "Karolyn wrote: "Oh, this will get just as frenzied 😄 We’ll only have 15 days for this challenge 😳"

Oh! So those Muses challenges are for May?"

Yes. Just for May!"

Hahaha. Just when I thought I could linger in a book. Presumably it’s better to pick a few quick reads to cover these. Are the challenges always two week efforts or is this just because we started halfway through May?