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

Welcome to the October toppler! This will be a weeklong all one team toppler beginning on October 22, 2022 at 12 noon ET and ending on October 29, 2022 at 12n ET. To make sure we all begin at the same time, you can find a countdown to the toppler here: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown....



I have found myself saying that this year seems to be going very quickly many times this year. So for our toppler, we are going to try to work our way through the entire year in one week! We are going to spell out the months using prompts from our books.

Toppler Rules:

▪️For each letter indicated you may use the first letter of the title, author’s name (first or last), narrator's name, main character’s name, or main setting of the book.

▪️If a book starts with the words "A," An," or "The," those words will be ignored.

▪️Everyone may begin by choosing 2 books. If you think that you will read more than five books during the week, you may begin with additional planning according to the following guidelines:

If you plan to read 6-10 books, you may begin with 3 books.
If you plan to read 11-15 books, you may begin with 4 books.
If you plan to read 16 or more books, you may begin with 5 books.

This should help to keep some options open in the beginning for everyone that wants to participate. The day before the toppler begins, you are welcome to add as many books as you think you will be able to complete to the schedule. You can also add additional reads to any open slots at any time during the toppler.

Don't worry... if we finish all of the months, I have a part two and even a part three prepared. We should have plenty of tasks to keep us going all week.

▪️Please be aware that I will slot books into spots as they are requested, so you may want to look a few posts above yours to make sure no one has already requested the letter you are requesting. This is usually more important later in the toppler when letters start getting used up. If someone has already requested the letter you were planning to read for and you see a possible swap, go ahead and request it. If it can be accommodated, I'll be happy to move things around.

▪️If your book fits for multiple letters, please state which you are reading for and then list alternates, if known, so that we can move things around if needed.

▪️If you think that you will not be able to finish a book you have committed to on time, please tell us as early as possible so that someone else may try to cover the letter.

▪️There will be two places for reporting! You will need to report in the "books finished" thread as you finish each book so that I can keep up with the planning. You will also need to report in the badge thread with your wall of fame in order to receive your badge. Please report only one time in the badge reporting thread. (This is basically a team reporting thread and wof badge requesting thread.)

Book 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 of 350 or more pages will be accepted.

Toppler books can count toward the group theme read and/or the monthly and/or yearly challenge, if they qualify. Please remember if you are reading a book that fits the monthly theme, you must still discuss the book in the appropriate thread in order to receive that badge.

A quick request - If you are reading books for the toppler that also fit the yearly challenge, please report them as you complete them instead of saving them up until the end. This makes keeping up with the reporting easier for Janice.

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

√ J - Hawaii Five Uh-Oh! by Jill Marie Landis - Lori
√ A - L'Âme de l'Empereur - Ariane
√ N - Dread Locks by Neal Shusterman - Emma R
√ U - Up to No Gouda - Jennifer
√ A - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - Grainne
√ R - The Witch's Boy narrator: Ralph Lister - Janice
√ Y - A Year of Extraordinary Moments - Jennifer

√ F - Fever 1793 - Aya
√ E - Mariana setting: England - Anna
√ B - Bellfield Hall: or, the observations of Miss Dido Kent - Lanelle
√ R - Tripwire MC: Jack Reacher - Marnie
√ U - Upgrade - Marnie
√ A - Athena's Child - Roz
√ R - The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan - Jenn
√ Y - Favorite Sons by Robin Yocum - Jennifer

√ M - Sold by Patricia McCormick - Rusalka
√ A - Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter setting: Australia - Roz
√ R - Pretty in Pink MC: Ryan - Lynn
√ C - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Stacy
√ H - The Haunting of Hill House - Kristie

√ A - Al Capone Does My Shirts - Jenn
√ P - Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs - Katrisa
√ R - The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth - Jenn
√ I - I Am the Messenger - Janice
√ L - In an Absent Dream MC: Lundy - Katrisa

√ M - Mrs. Wiggins - Anna
√ A - Vanilla Bean Vengeance by Agatha Frost - Lynn
√ Y - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - Ann

√ J - The Anglesey Murders: Unholy Island by Conrad Jones - Sharon
√ U - Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson - Jennifer
√ N - The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik - Anusha
√ E - Human Acts MC: Eun-sook - Katrisa

√ J - I Want to Eat Your Pancreas setting: Japan - Lynn
√ U - Carrick Glynn by Tony Urban - Sharon
√ L - Sign Here by Claudia Lux - Jayme
√ Y - You, Me, and the Colors of Life - Lilisa

√ A - Jennings' Little Hut by Anthony Buckeridge - Aya
√ U - Uneasy Spirits - Lanelle
√ G - The Ghost Next Door - Aya
√ U - North to Paradise by Ousman Umar - Jayme
√ S - Starfish - Marnie
√ T - Fight Night by Miriam Toews - Katrisa

√ S - Spring Snow - Lilisa
√ E - Ten Thousand Stitches MC: Effie - Lynn
√ P - Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver - Emma R
√ T - Heaven's River by Dennis E. Taylor - Lynn
√ E - Starfish MC: Ellie - Lynn
√ M - The Marriage Portrait - Jayme
√ B - The Book Eaters - Marie Claude
√ E - Mr. McAllister Sets His Cap MC: Emily - Lanelle
√ R - How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water MC: Cara Romero - Katrisa

√ O - Orange World and Other Stories - Vicki
√ C - Candy Corn Murder - Sharon
√ T - Trick or Treat - Sharon
√ O - An Old Betrayal - Vicki
√ B - Between - Sharon
√ E - Embers on the Wind - Janice
√ R - Deck the Hounds by David Rosenfelt - J'mom

√ N - Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis - Grainne
√ O - Oryx and Crake - Saar
√ V - Love Me or Grieve Me by Diane Vallere - Jane
√ E - La Maison MC: Elinor - Ariane
√ M - Magic Bites - Lanelle
√ B - The Blessed Event - Jane
√ E - The Escape Room - Sharon
√ R - Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen - Kristie

√ D - Daughters of Smoke and Fire - Lilisa
√ E - Greenbanks set in England - Anna
√ C - Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s - Saar
√ E - The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths - Esther
√ M - The Midnight Bargain - Esther
√ B - The Puma Years - set in Bolivia - Sharon
√ E - A Winter Haunting setting: Elm Hawk - Margo
√ R - The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce - Margo

Part 2

√ S - The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian - Anna
√ U - The Lincoln Lawyer setting: USA - Kira
√ N - Please Join Us MC: Nicole - Marnie
√ D - The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass - Anna
√ A - An Unkindness of Ghosts MC: Astor - Vicki
√ Y - Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark - Anna

√ M - Robert B. Parker's Damned If You Do by Michael Brandman - J'mom
√ O - Of Women and Salt - Katrisa
√ N - The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o - Katrisa
√ D - Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa - Anna
√ A - When the Ground Is Hard MC: Adele - Lilisa
√ Y - The Year We Were Famous: Helga and Clara Estby’s Walk Across a Changing America - J'mom

√ T - Tin Man - Katrisa
√ U - The Unquiet Grave - J'mom
√ E - How to Run with the Wolves by Eli Easton - J'mom
√ S - Sasha Masha - Katrisa
√ D - Into the Ash: An Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Jacqueline Druga - Stacy
√ A - Autumn - Lydia
√ Y - your name. - Aya

√ W - Woof at the Door - J'mom
√ E - Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson - Casceil
√ D - By Way of Autumn by Jacqueline Druga - Stacy
√ N - Ghost Agents: Retribution by Nita DeBorde - Jane
√ E - A Second Harvest by Eli Easton - Kira
√ S - Cold Waters MC: Suzette - Casceil
√ D - Dead in the Water by Dana Stabenow - Kira
√ A - Aloha Alibi - Casceil
√ Y - Yearbook - Katrisa

√ T - A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor - LoriLovesBooks
√ H - Real Murders by Charlaine Harris - Jane
√ U - A Private Business: A Hakim and Arnold Mystery setting UK - Lilisa
√ R - Rock Paper Scissors - Margo
√ S - The Stationery Shop - Kira
√ D - Too Close by Natalie Daniels - Margo
√ A - Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection by Ben Aaronovitch - Katrisa
√ Y - Island of a Thousand Mirrors MC: Yasodhara - Katrisa

√ F - Find Layla - Katrisa
√ R - What We Find by Robyn Carr - Casceil
√ I - The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson - LoriLovesBooks
√ D - The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams - Lynn
√ A - Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie - LoriLovesBooks
√ Y - Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's by Debbie Young - LoriLovesBooks

√ S - The Help by Kathryn Stockett - Kira
√ A - Carter by Jennifer Ashley - Kira
√ T - Chasing Cassandra MC: Tom - Kira
√ U - Big Shot setting: USA - Jane
√ R - The Wind in the Willows MC: Rat - Aya
√ D - The Soulmate Equation MC: Jess Davis - Kira
√ A - Bonfires by Amy Lane - Kira
√ Y - You, Me and Italy - Kira

Part 3 is slightly different because you are connecting your books to a number. You will read a book that is connected to one of the days (#) of the month.

For example for the number 3, you may read a book that is the 3rd in a series or was published in March (3rd month) or on the third of any month or has three (or 3) in the title, etc.

You may add up the numbers in the total pages (or the numbers in the year of publication), but can not get too creative adding some and leaving others out, etc. So for example you could read a 432 page book for number 9 because 4 + 3 + 2 = 9.

Another option, you can count number of words or letters in the title if you choose.

Some of the larger numbers may take some thinking to come up with a match. If you come up with another way to link a title to a number just ask.

Part 3:

√ 1- One of the Girls - Lynn (March C)
√ 2- Any Day Now Series: 2 - Casceil
√ 3- Upright Women Wanted title: 3 words - Marie Claude
4-
√ 5- Five For A Dollar - Casceil
√ 6- Sweet Bean Paste pub: Feb 6, 2013 - Aya
7-
8-
√ 9- The Hollow Skull 216 pages - Stacy
√ 10- Postmortem Title: 10 letters - Stacy
√ 11- At Bertram's Hotel series: 11 - Anna
√ 12- Two Nick Nowak Novellas 219 pages - J'mom
√ 13- Blood Bound 292 pages - Katrisa
14-
√ 15- No Exit pub: Jan 15, 2018 - Margo
16-
17- The Family Gathering pub: Apr 17, 2018 - Casceil
√ 18- The Boric Acid Murder - 288 pages - Kira
√ 19- Death and Hard Cider series: 19 - Anna
√ 20- Gideon the Ninth 479 pages - Kira
√ 21- Strange Weather in Tokyo title: 21 letters - Lilisa
22-
√ 23- Cowboy Bebop: A Syndicate Story: Red Planet Requiem pub: Nov 23, 2021
24-
25-
26-
√ 27- Three More Nick Nowak Mysteries title: 27 letters - J'mom
28-
29-
30-
31-

r

r

r

I'm guessing we'll do group toppler and I'm so excited! I hope I'm not too early to comment, but can I please secure
F (February) for Fever 1793.
also fits:
L (April, July) or A － author Laurie Anderson

And G (August) － The Ghost Next Door
also fits:
J (Jan, Jun, Jul) － author Wylly St. John
or S (August, Sep) - MC Sherry

Well well well, for once my insomnia is a good thing. Looking at my library books I request

S- (August or September) - Starfish (also fits L /E)

U- ( January,February, June, July, August ) Upgrade

I'd like to request:
C - (March or October or December) - The Cat Who Played Brahms (also fits L or B for author Lilian Jackson Braun)
H - (March) - Hawaii Five Uh-Oh! (also fits J or L for author Jill Marie Landis)

Oooo!!! I would love to read Sold this toppler. It fits:

Title S - September, August
Author P - Sept, Apr
Author M - Mar, May, Sept, Nov, Dec
Setting N(epal) - Jan, Jun, Nov
Main Char L(akshmi) - Jul, Apr

Will look into a second book

I would like to read these three to start:

C: Candy Corn Murder March/October/December
Title (Characters: S, L; Author: L,M; Location: T)

B: Between Title February/ September/ October/December (Character: M, F; Author: R,C)

T: Trick or Treat Title August/September/ October
(Characters: I, G, M; Author: D)

Ayacchi wrote: "I'm guessing we'll do group toppler and I'm so excited!..."

Ohhh... you're right. I mentioned it in the sign up thread, but not here! I'll update. :)

I'm going to start with The Haunting of Hill House

H - The Haunting of Hill House
S - Shirley
J - Jackson
host of characters

and

P - The Prisoner
A - Amelie
J - Jed
H - Hawthorne

No badge needed! Will only be reporting in the challenge thread.

I typically read about 15 books a week, so I'm going to pick four, and will knock out some hard-to-find letters, and then will add during the week as I figure out what else I'm going to read:

U - January (or whenever) -- Up to No Gouda
Y - January (or whenever) - A Year of Extraordinary Moments
Y --February (or whenever) Favorite Sons Robin Yocum
U - June (or whenever) - Dear Little Corpses Nicola Upson

I will take the two Os in October for now

Orange World and Other Stories also works for R
An Old Betrayal 🎧 Also works for C, F

updated to here

Just an FYI for everyone -

I just made a slight change to the toppler regarding signing up for books. I originally stated "Once the toppler begins, you are welcome to add as many books as you think you will be able to complete to the schedule," and I changed it to "The day before the toppler begins..."

I forgot that I am actually traveling the first two days of the toppler, so there will be several hours between updates to the list on those days. This way people can add a bunch of books the day before if they want to and I can get those updates in before taking off. Hopefully, that will prevent having too many additions pile up in the thread that people have to sort through to see if their spot is still available.

I will start with I Am the Messenger
I - April
can also be used for M (Markus Zusak or E (Main Character is Ed)

I'll also start Embers on the Wind
E - October
can also be used for L & R Lisa Williamson Rosenberg or A C (Characters Annie & Clementine)

I will read Diane Vallere's Fly Me To The Moon: Sylvia Stryker Space Case #1
V - November
[can also be used for F (title), D (author Diane), M (setting Moon), S (main character Sylvia)]

and The Blessed Event.
B - November
[can also be used for F (author Frankie), H (setting Hawaii), M (main character Molly)]

Updated.

I will start with M in may with Fight Night by Miriam Toews. It also has a main character whise name starts with S and is set in Toronto, Canada if a different place would be better.

My next book will be In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire. Main character is named Lundy so it can be used for S in September or L in April

My third book will be Human Acts by Han Kang two main characters are named Eun-sook and Jin-su so can be used for either one of the Js or Es. It is set in Gwangju, South Korea

Got it.

I would like to read the following two:

S - in September - Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima. Could also be used for Y and M for author’s first and last names, for T for Tokyo for main setting.

D in December - Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa. Could also be used for A and H for author’s first and last names, for L for main character Leila, or I for Iran for main setting.

I'll be reading Dread Locks by Neal Shusterman and Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver.

N in January for Dread Locks by Neal Shusterman. Also works for D in the title, N or S for the author's first and last names, and P for main character Parker

P in September for Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver. Also works for W for Wolf, M for Michelle, and T for Torak, the main character

Updated

Um Kristie, I think you missed my choices, in message 12.

M Mrs. Wiggins by Mary Monroe

Eta
location Alabama
A

Lori Z wrote: "Um Kristie, I think you missed my choices, in message 12."

Sorry, Lori! Thanks for letting me know. I've added them now.

If I miss anyone else, please let me know.

Updated to here.

Helpful (to me) tips:

If I miss your post, please let me know as soon as possible so I can add it in. If I have typed 'updated' below your post and you do not see your books in the calendar, then I have likely missed it.

If you need to select a letter that has already been taken, please also suggest a possible switch so that I don't have to spend too much time looking around.

Thank you!

Good Morning
Could I have the "M" in September with The Marriage Portrait and
the "L" in July for Sign Here by Claudia Lux

Thanks

WoF - Lynn

Ten Thousand Stitches - Will fit in all of the months

T (title)
O (Author First Name)
A (Author Surname)
L (setting - London)
E (main character)


Starfish - Will fit in February / April / June / July / August / September / October / November / December

S (title)
L (Author First Name)
F (Author Surname)
T (setting - Texas)
E (main character)

Updated to here.

Thank you Kristie!

M and D, E
Mariana by Monica Dickens
England

updated

I see there is a few E left.
I can read The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffith
(MC : Harbinder Kaur)

and I can listen to (for M)
The Midnight Bargain C.L. Polk,
(MC: Beatrice Clayborn )

updated

I can read The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik (for N)

updated

Hi, I can read La Maison by Michael Mc Dowell
which would fit:
M in November
E in September or November (for Elinor, a character)

L'Âme de l'Empereur by Brandon Sanderson
A in January, February, March, April, May, August
B in February, September, December

I can read for:

C: Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s
O: Oryx and Crake

Think I have worked out my second read to reserve.

Could I please pencil in In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar for M in November?

updated

I plan on reading 6 - 10 books, so I'm going to claim 3 books.

I'll take the last three letters of September or December.
B - A Brief History of Montmaray (also M,C)
E - The Phoenix and the Carpet by E. Nesbit (also P, N)
R - The Red Thumb Mark (also J, F)

updated

I am going to read 2-3 books this time.

A The Dutch House Also D (title) P (author) D M C (characters)
N Zorba the Greek also G (set in Greece)

updated to here