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

WofF TrudyAn

Start - Bag End Hobbiton
✔️ 1. Read a book with home, homeward, or homebound in the title.
Two Roads Home by Daniel Griffin
✔️ 2. MC goes by a different name for a significant part of the book
The Leavers by Lisa Ko
✔️ 3. Two word title, the first word being "The"
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

Checkpoint 1 - Bree
✔️ 4. 1st book of a series of 4
Justine by Lawrence Durrell (book #1 of Alexandria Quartet) 8 hrs 51 min
✔️ 5. writer was born between 1900 and 1920 The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton
✔️ 6. set during WWII
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Checkpoint 2 - Rivendell
✔️ 7. Read a book with "Sanctuary" or "Valley" in the title, or subtitle.
Chemical Valley by David Huebert
✔️ 8. written by author with first name David The Theory of Crows by David Alexander Robertson
✔️ 9. published in 2022 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Checkpoint 3 - Moria
✔️ 10. Read a book with a cover that is 75% black
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick (83.7% black)
✔️ 11. Literary award winner The Secret River by Kate Grenville
✔️ 12. Writer has Masters degree in a fine arts field Songs for the End of the World by Saleema Nawaz.

Checkpoint 4 - Black Gate
✔️ 13. Read a book with "Iron" in the title.
The Theft of the Iron Dogs: A Lancashire Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac (8 hrs 44 min)
✔️ 14. the writer's name includes initials The Provincial Lady in Wartime by E.M. Delafield (audio, 8 hrs, 19 min)
✔️ 15. a classic set in England The Gentlewomen by Laura Talbot

Finish - Mount Doom
✔️ 16. Read a book that is between 400 and 450 pages.
Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra

Badge 2 - 3 hikes x 16 books ea

Badge 2, Hike 1
Pilgrimages
El Camino Trail

Start - Sarria

✔️ 1. Read a book that has "King" in the title, or the author is named King.
King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild
✔️ 2. Cover has photo of a man's head
No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison by Behrouz Boochani
✔️ 3. Author born in Middle East country Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

Checkpoint 1 - Palas de Rei

✔️ 4. Read a book with "Body" in the title.
We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama
✔️ 5. Body in title Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
✔️ 6. Set in Vietnam The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Checkpoint 2 - Melide

✔️ 7. Read a book where a nun is a significant character.
Matrix byLauren Groff
✔️ 8. Historical fiction genre on mpg
The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville
✔️ 9. Night sky on cover
The Stone Raft by José Saramago

Checkpoint 3 Arzua

✔️ 10. Read a book where the cover is 75% yellow.
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
✔️ 11. Female American writer
The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles
✔️ 12. Female writer born in 1940s
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Checkpoint 4 - O Pedrouzo

✔️ 13. Read a book with a bridge Arroyo by Chip Jacobs
✔️ 14. GR rating = 3.8 or higher A Little Luck by Claudia Piñeiro
✔️ 15. Translated novel The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi

Finish - Santiago de Compostela
✔️ 16. Read a book with a significant character or author named "James".
Dubliners by James Joyce

Badge 2, hike 2

Literary Walks
Realm of the Elderlings

Start - Bearns

✔️ 1. Read a book with one or more yellow flowers on the cover.
The Lost Supper: Searching for the Future of Food in the Flavors of the Past by Taras Grescoe
Born in 1967
✔️ 2. Three by Valérie Perrin "three" word title
✔️ 3. The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Checkpoint 1: Buck

✔️ 4. Read a book from Nautical Tales List English Passengers by Matthew Kneale
✔️ 5. writer's parent is a writer Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
✔️ 6. writer born in the 1960s Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Checkpoint 2: Rippon

✔️ 7. Read a book with a significant character is Grace, or is the name of the author. Grace by Paul Lynch
✔️ 8. One word title Beartown by Fredrik Backman
✔️ 9. Published between 2015 and 2020 The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog by W. Bruce Cameron

Checkpoint 3: Shoaks
✔️ 10. Read a book with "green" in the title or subtitle, or the author is named Green. On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastian Faulks
✔️ 11. Animal in title When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
✔️ 12. Animal in title West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

Checkpoint 4: Tilth

✔️ 13.Read a book with wine in a glass or grapes are on the cover. Always You, Edina by V.G. Lee
✔️ 14. Author has published five or more titles Bewilderment by Richard Powers
✔️ 15. A significant character is a child age 10 or under at the beginning of the book. Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

Finish - Farrow

✔️ 16. Read a book with a characteristic in the title and is also the name of one of the farseers. List of Farseers: https://robinhobbelderlings.fandom.co...
Wisdom The Wisdom of Frugality: Why Less Is More - More or Less by Emrys Westacott


Badge 2, Hike 3

Adventure Hikes
West Coast Pacific Rim (Canada)

Start: Pachina Bay

✔️ 1. Read a book that is set in dual timelines.
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
✔️ 2. book set partly in USA and partly in Europe
Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick
✔️ 3. page length between 250 and 300 pp (editions I read)
Less Than Angels by Barbara Pym

Checkpoint One: Tsusiat Falls

✔️ 4. Read a book with stairs on the cover.
A Man Downstairs by Nicole Lundrigan
✔️ 5. Canadian writer
A World Elsewhere by Wayne Johnston
✔️ 6. Canadian writer
Medicine River by Thomas King

Checkpoint 2: Walbran Creek

✔️ 7. Read a book with Tide in the title.
Piano Tide by Kathleen Dean Moore
✔️ 8. MC new to a community/fresh start Serena by Ron Rash
✔️ 9. Author's first and last names both have only one syllable Being Dead by Jim Crace

Checkpoint 3: Camper Bay

✔️ 10. Read a book set in San Francisco.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
✔️ 11. Single word title James by Percival Everett
✔️ 12. Single word title Soucouyant by David Chariandy

Checkpoint 4: Thrasher Cove

✔️ 13. Read a book from this list: 4 Colors on the Cover.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
✔️ 14.writer's dog/s appear on the cover of one of their books (Patchett - These Precious Days) Hope – How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life: Featuring Rodney, McMuffin and King Whacker by Niall Harbison
15. Has subtitle From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

Finish: Gordon River
16. Read a book with a mode of transport on the cover. The item must be large and a prominent item on the cover. Pilgrims by Matthew Kneale

Badge 1, book 1

Hike: Frodo & Sam's route through Middle Earth

Bag End Hobbiton
Book: Two Roads Home by Daniel Griffin
336 pp
Task: Home, Homeward, or Homebound is in the title
Explanation: Home is in the title.
Connector: MC goes by an alternate name for a significant part of the novel. MC Pete Osborne, an ecoterrorist on Vancouver Island, goes by the name Ash McCabe, in an attempt to avoid detection.

Badge 1, book 2

Hike: Bag End Hobbiton
Book: The Leavers by Lisa Ko
396 pp
Explanation: MC goes by an alternate name for a significant part of the novel. MC Deming Guo goes by the name of Daniel Wilkinson following adoption.
Connector: Two word title, with the first word being "The"

Badge 1, book 3

Hike: Bag End Hobbiton
Book: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
329 pp
Explanation: Two word title, with the first word being "The"

Great start Trudy!

Checkpoint 1 - Bree

Badge 1, book 4
4. Explanation: 1st book of a series of 4
Justine by Lawrence Durrell, book #1 of Alexandria Quartet; audio, 8 hrs 51 min
Connector: writer was born between 1900 and 1920

Badge 1, book 5
5. Task: writer was born between 1900 and 1920 The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton.
353 pp
Explanation: Durrell was born in 1912; Hamilton was born in 1904.
Connector: book set in WW II

Badge 1, book 6
6. Task: book set during WWII
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.
400 pp (plus notes)

Explanation: Both books were set in WWII, Slaves of Solitude is set in England and the Unbroken is set in Japan.

Trudy, you've been creating tasks rather than connections.

Start - Bag End Hobbiton
✔️ 1. Read a book with home, homeward, or homebound in the title.
Two Roads Home by Daniel Griffin
✔️ 2. Read a book where the MC goes by a different name for a significant part of the book
The Leavers by Lisa Ko
✔️ 3. Read a book with a two word title, the first word being "The"
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann'

The tasks for books 2 & 3 are that they are connected to the previous book. You just need to show how they connect not make tasks for them even if they do connect. I know that's splitting hairs, but it makes it easier for me to follow your thought process. Thanks

Janice wrote: "Trudy, you've been creating tasks rather than connections.

Okay, fixed, I think.

Thanks.

Badge 1, book 7
Task: Read a book with "Sanctuary" or "Valley" in the title, or subtitle.
Chemical Valley by David Huebert
224 pp
Connector: writer with first name David

Badge 1, book 8
The Theory of Crows by David Alexander Robertson
320 pp
Explanation: David Huebert, David Robertson
Connector: published in 2022

Badge 1, book 9
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.
401 pp
Explanation: both books first published in 2022

Checkpoint - Moria

Badge 1, book 10
Read a book with a cover that is 75% black
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick (83.7% black)
302 pp
Connector: literary award winner

Badge 1, book 11
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
334 pp
Explanation: In the Heart of the Sea won several awards, incl the 2000 National Book Award for Nonfiction; The Secret River won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2006 and others
Connector: writer has master's degree in a fine arts field

Badge 1, book 12
Songs for the End of the World by Saleema Nawaz
440 pp
Explanation: Grenville - MA in Creative Writing; Nawaz - MA in English Literature

Checkpoint 4 - Black Gate

Badge 1, book 13
Read a book with "Iron" in the title.
The Theft of the Iron Dogs: A Lancashire Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac;
audio, 8 hrs 44 min
Connector: writer's name includes initials

Badge 1, book 14
The Provincial Lady in Wartime by E.M. Delafield; audio, 8 hrs, 19 min
Explanation: writer's name includes initials
Connector: classic set in England

Badge 1, book 15
Connector: classic set in England
The Gentlewomen by Laura Talbot
280 pp
Explanation: classic, set in England

Badge 1, book 16
Read a book that is between 400 and 450 pages
Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra
416 pp

Congrats on finishing the first badge.

Badge 2, book 1
Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail

Start - Sarria
1. Read a book that has "King" in the title, or the author is named King.
King Leopold's Ghost
376 pp
Connection: photo of man's head on the cover

Badge 2, book 2
No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison by Behrouz Boochani
416 pp

Explanation:

Connection: writer born in Middle East country

Badge 2, book 3

Pilgrimages- El Camino Trail
Start - Sarria

3. Connection: Author born in Middle East country
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
384 pp

Explanation: B Boochani was born in Iran; S Abulhawa was born in Kuwait.


Badge 2, book 4

Pilgrimages- El Camino Trail
Checkpoint 1 - Palas de Rei

4. Read a book with "Body" in the title.
We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama
368 pp

Explanation: body (plural bodies) in title.

Next connection: body in title

Badge 2, book 5
Literary Walks
Realm of the Elderlings (start of second walk for badge 2)
Start - Bearns

1. Read a book with one or more yellow flowers on the cover
The Lost Supper: Searching for the Future of Food in the Flavors of the Past by Taras Grescoe

312 pp
Next connection: writer born in 1967

Badge 2, book 6
Literary Walks
Realm of the Elderlings
Start - Bearns

2. Three by Valérie Perrin
Audiobook; 21 hrs, 24 min
Explanation: Both Taras Grescoe and Valerie Perrin were born in 1967.

Next connection: a "three" word title

Badge 2, book 7

Pilgrimages - El Camino Trail

5. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith.
400 pp

Explanation: "body" in title
Next connection: set in Vietnam

Badge 2, book 8
El Camino Trail
6. The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
352 pp

Explanation: both Build Your House Around My Body and The Mountains Sing are set in Viet Nam

Badge 2, book 9

Pilgrimages - El Camino Trail
7. Read a book where a nun is a significant character.
Matrix by Lauren Groff
260 pp
Explanation: MC, Marie de France, is a nun.


Badge 2, book 10

Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
3. The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
256 pp
Explanation: three word title

Badge 2, book 10 11

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail
Checkpoint 2 - Melide
8. The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville
307 pp

Connection: mpg Historical Fiction
Explanation: both Matrix and The Lieutenant are designated as Historical Fiction on the mpg

Next connection: night sky on cover

Badge 2, book 11 12

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail
Checkpoint 2 - Melide

9. The Stone Raft by José Saramago
292 pp

Connection: night sky on cover
Explanation:

Badge 2, book 12 13

Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
Checkpoint 1: Buck

4. Read a book from Nautical Tales List
English Passengers by Matthew Kneale
446 pp
Explanation: #387 on the Nautical Tales list
Next connection: Writer's parent is a writer

Badge 2, book 13 14
Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings

5. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
309 pp
Connection: writer's parent is a writer
Explanation: Ann Patchett's mother is novelist, Jeanne Ray; Matthew Kneale is the son of writers Nigel Kneale and Judith Kerr.

Badge 2, book 14 15

Literary Walks
Realm of the Elderlings

6. Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Audio; 8 hrs, 5 min

Connection: writer born in the 1960s
Explanation: Ann Patchett was born in 1963 and John Scalzi was born in 1969.

Badge 2, book 15 16

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail

10. Read a book where the cover is 75% yellow.
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
320 pp
Explanation: The cover is 77.4% yellow.


Badge 2, book 16 17

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail

11. The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles
369 pp
Connection: female American writer
Explanation: Jesmyn Ward was born in Berkeley, California, and Paulette Jiles was born in Salem, Missouri

TrudyA wrote: "Badge 2, book 14

Literary Walks
Realm of the Elderlings

6. Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Audio; 8 hrs, 5 min

Connection: writer born in the 1960s
Explanation: Ann..."

That's a great connection! I doubt I would have come up with it.

Book count amended in msgs 23-27

Badge 2, book 18

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail
12. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
384 pp
Connection: female writer born in the 1940s
Explanation: Paulette Jiles was born in 1943; Delia Owens was born in 1949.

Badge 2, book 19

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail
13. Read a book with a bridge on the cover
Arroyo by Chip Jacobs
384 pp
Explanation:

Badge 2, book 20

Literary Walks
Realm of the Elderlings

Checkpoint 2: Rippon

✔️ 7. Read a book with a significant character named Grace, or is the name of the author. Grace by Paul Lynch.
368 pp
Explanation: MC is named Grace.

Badge 2, book 21

Literary Walks
Realm of the Elderlings

8. Beartown by Fredrik Backman
432 pp

Connection: one word title
Explanation: Grace and Beartown are both one-word titles.

Badge 2, book 22

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail
14. A Little Luck by Claudia Piñeiro
211 pp
Connection: GR rating is 3.8 or higher
Explanation: Arroyo GR rating is 3.95; A Little Luck GR rating is 4.29


Badge 2, book 23

Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
9. The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog by W. Bruce Cameron
416 pp
Connection: published between 2015 and 2020
Explanation: Beartown was published in 2016; The Dog Master was published in 2015

Badge 2, book 24

Pilgrimages, El Camino
15. The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi
304 pp

Connection: translated novel
Explanation:
The Hummingbird was translated by Elena Paula (original text in Italian); A Little Luck was translated by Frances Riddle (original text in Spanish).

Badge 2, book 25

Pilgrimages, El Camino Trail
Finish - Santiago de Compostela
16. Read a book with a significant character or author named "James".

Dubliners by James Joyce
256 pp

Badge 2, book 26

Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
Checkpoint 3: Shoaks

10. Read a book with "green" in the title or subtitle, or the author is named Green.
On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastian Faulks
368 pp

Badge 2, book 27
11. When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
384 pp

Connection: animal in title
Explanation: dolphin, elephants

Badge 2, book 28

Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
12. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
357 pp

Connection: animal in title
Explanation: elephants, giraffes (previous book When the Elephants Dance)

Badge 2, book 29

Adventure Hikes, West Coast Pacific Rim (Canada)

Start: Pachina Bay
1. Read a book that is set in dual timelines.
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
530 pp

Explanation: set in 1950, with flashbacks to WWII.

Badge 2, book 30

Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
13.Read a book with wine in a glass or grapes are on the cover.
Always You, Edina by V.G. Lee
203 pp


Explanation: On the cover, a woman is holding a fortified wine beverage (martini) in a glass.

Badge 2, book 31

Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
14. Bewilderment by Richard Powers
278 pages

Connection: author has five or more published titles
Explanation: V.G. Lee has published five novels and two short story collections; Richard Powers has published 13 novels.

Badge 2, book 32
Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
15. Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi
Audiobook; 12 hrs, 2 min

Connection: a major character is a child age 10 or under, for a significant part of the book.
Explanation: Robin is nine years old throughout most of Bewilderment; MC Sitara is 10 years old in the section of Sparks Like Stars that is set in Afghanistan.

Badge 2, book 33
Literary Walks, Realm of the Elderlings
Finish - Farrow

✔️ 16. Read a book with a characteristic in the title and is also the name of one of the farseers.
The Wisdom of Frugality: Why Less Is More - More or Less by Emrys Westacott
328 pp
Explanation:
Farseer name: Wisdom; "wisdom in title"

Badge 2, book 34

Adventure Hikes, West Coast Pacific Rim (Canada)

2. Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick
255 pp

Connection: book is set partly in Europe and partly in the US
Explanation: The Huntress is set in Europe (incl Poland) and in Boston; Foreign Bodies is set in the US (incl New York) and Paris.

Badge 2, book 35

Adventure Hikes, West Coast Pacific Rim
3. Less Than Angels by Barbara Pym
256 pp

Connection: book is between 250 and 300 pages
Explanation: Foreign Bodies: 255 pp; Less Than Angels: 256 pp

Badge 2, book 36
Adventure Hikes, Pacific Rim, West Coast Pacific Rim
4. Read a book with stairs on the cover.

A Man Downstairs by Nicole Lundrigan
432 pp

Badge 2, book 37

Adventure Hikes
West Coast Pacific Rim (Canada)

5. A World Elsewhere by Wayne Johnston
320 pp

Connection: Canadian writer
Explanation: Nicole Lundrigan was born in Ottawa; Wayne Johnston was born in Goulds, Newfoundland


Badge 2, book 38

6. Medicine River by Thomas King
272 pp

Connection: Canadian writer
Explanation: Wayne Johnston was born in Goulds, Newfoundland; Thomas King is an American-born Canadian writer, having emigrated to Canada in 1980.

Badge 2, book 39

Adventure Hikes
West Coast Pacific Rim (Canada)

7. Read a book with Tide in the title.
Piano Tide by Kathleen Dean Moore
240 pp

Badge 2, book 40

Adventure Hikes
West Coast Pacific Rim (Canada)

8. Serena by Ron Rash
370 pp

Connection: MC moves to a new community for a fresh start.
Explanation: Piano Tide: MC Nora Montgomery relocates to a small SE Alaskan town after running into some trouble; Serena: Serena marries George in Boston and immediately moves to his home in North Carolina, where she schemes in earnest.

Badge 2, book 41

9. Being Dead by Jim Crace
196 pp

Connection: author's first and last names are each one syllable.
Explanation: Ron Rash; Jim Crace

Badge 2, book 42

Adventure Hikes
West Coast Pacific Rim (Canada)

10. Read a book set in San Francisco.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
258 pp
Explanation: book is set in San Francisco

Badge 2, book 43
11. James by Percival Everett
303 pp
Connection: single word title
Explanation: titles are Sourdough, James

Badge 2, book 44

Adventure Hikes,
West Coast Pacific Rim

12. Soucouyant by David Chariandy (220 pp)

Connection: one word title
Explanation: James, Soucouyant are both one word titles.

Badge 2, book 45

13. Read a book from list, four colours on the cover.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.
337 pp

Explanation: #15 on the list

Badge 2, book 46

14. Hope – How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life: Featuring Rodney, McMuffin and King Whacker by Niall Harbison (280 pp)

Connection: writer's dog appears on the over of one of their books.
Explanation: Patchett's dog, Sparky, appears in the cover of These Precious Days; three of the dogs that Niall Harrison rescued appears on the cover of Hope.

So close to finishing the second badge! :)

Badge 2, book 47

Adventure Hikes, West Coast Pacific Rim

15. From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way
Connection: has subtitle
Explanation: both this book and book #14 Hope – How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life: Featuring Rodney, McMuffin and King Whacker have subtitles.

Badge 2, book 48
16. Read a book with a mode of transport on the cover.
Pilgrims: Matthew Kneale
Explanation: boat on the cover

Congrats on finishing Badge 2. :)