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Back by popular demand...

The Alphabet Challenge

Simply read a book starting with one letter of the alphabet - A - Z.
You have from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2024 to complete this challenge.
Come play in the stacks with me by signing up below.
Please mark your books as Currently reading, Finished or TBR.

I've also decided to give this a tweak, so for the harder to find letters - Q, U, V, X, Z - you will be able to count the title as long as the letter is there, for example: eQual rights, perfUme, hiVe, eXtreme, oZone.
Ready? Set? Read!

The Alphabet Challenge 2024

A. Finished

B. Finished

C. Finished

D. Finished

E.

F. Finished

G. Finished

H. Finished

I. Finished

J. Finished

K. Finished

L. Finished

M. Finished

N. Finished

O. Finished

P.

Q. Finished

R. Finished

S. Finished

T. Finished

U. Finished

V. Finished

W.

X.

Y.

Z.

The Alphabet Challenge 2024

A

B

C

D

E

F- First Frost Sarah Addison Allen

G

H - Hope In A Jar by Beth Harbison

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

I'm in! Thank you for running this again. Determined to achieve it this year (will miss by Z in 2023)

Woo Hoo! I did it! 18th September 2024

A. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

B. Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood

C. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L Sayers

D. Demon Copperhead by Barbara KIngsolver

E. Murder isn't Easy by Carla Valentine

F. False Value by Ben Aaronovitch

G. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

H. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I. Iron Horse by Edward Marston

J. Jingo by Terry Pratchett

K. My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

L. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

M. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

N. Shroud for a Nightingale by PD James

O. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo

P. Katherine Parr: The Sixth Wife by Alison Weir

Q. Queen Victoria by Lucy Worsley

R. Really Good Actually by Monica Heisey

S. Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg

T. The Stranger Times by CK McDonnell

U. Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie

V. Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Vampire Menace by Olga Wojtas

W. The Vinyl Detective - Written in Dead Wax by Andrew Cartmel

X. Exit Music by Ian Rankin

Y. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Z. Who Killed Zebedee? by Wilkie Collins

The Alphabet Challenge 2024

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H. Hot Six by Janet Evanovich + De huilende molenaar by Arto Paasilinna (currently reading) – I didn’t plan to read two H books at the same time!

I.

J.

K.

L.

M.

N.

O.

P.

Q.

R.

S.

T.Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich. My review READ

U.

V.

W.

X.

Y.

Z.

I will give this challenge a go.


A. Accidental Feminists
Finished June. Audiobook.

B. Babes in the Wood
Finished March. Audiobook.

C. Into the Cave.
Finished January. Audiobook.

D. Dark Emu
Finished July. Ebook.

E. Endurance
Finished October. Hard copy.

F. Forever Home
Finished July. Audiobook.

G. Greatest POW Escapes
Finished July. Hard copy.

H. How to Solve a Murder.
Finished January. Audiobook.

I. The Illusionist
Finished September. Audiobook.

J. The Jigsaw Murders
Finished April. Audiobook.

K. Killing Time.
Finished January. Hard copy.

L. The Lost Girls
Finished April. Audiobook.

M. Miracle in the Mine
Finished June. Hard copy.

N. No More Secrets: My Part in Codebreaking at Bletchley Park and the Pentagon
Finished August. Audiobook.

O. On Our Selection
Finished February. Audiobook.

P. Prima Facie
Finished October. Audiobook.

Q. All Quiet on the Western Front
Finished September. Ebook.

R. Return to Uluru
Finished March. Audiobook.

S. Strangeways: A Prison Officer's Story
Finished February. Audiobook.

T. The Twenty-Ninth Day.
Finished February. Audiobook.

U. Unlikely Friendships
Finished August. Hard copy.

V. Volcano Cowboys: The Rocky Evolution of a Dangerous Science.
Finished May. Hard copy.

W. With My Little Eye
Finished February. Audiobook.

X. Life at the Extremes
Finished April. Ebook.

Y. Yorkshire Ripper - The Secret Murders.
Finished February. Ebook.

Z. The Diggers of Colditz
Finished April. Audiobook.

(26/26)

I'll give it another try. Missed some of the letters.

A-Z Challenge 2024

A-Anna, Rachel & Charlet by Marti Talbott 5/29/24

B-Bound by Sasha White 1/30/24

C-Connections in Death by J.D. Robb 6/15/24

D-Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell 1/15/24

E-Edge of Love by E.L. Todd 3/18/24

F-Forever and Always by E.L. Todd 3/6/24

G-Gork, the Teenage Dragon by Gabe Hudson 3/23/24

H-A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews 1/3/24

I-If You See Them: Young, Unhoused, and Alone in America by Vicki Sokolik 5/27/24

J-

K-Knockout by Sarah MacLean

L-Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews 1/25/24

M-A Military Match by Patricia Davids 1/9/24

N-

O-Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney 4/30/24

P-Promises of Mercy by Vella Day 4/6/24

Q-Quick & Dirty by Whitley Cox 1/16/24

R-The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America55333765] 5/14/24

S-Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb 2/24/24

T-A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them by Neil Bradbury 11/11/24

U-The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly Harms ( U in luck) 3/30/24

V-Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb 6/25/23

W-What The Lady Wants by Jennifer Crusie 2/17/24

X-

Y-

Z-


21/26 completed

I'm in!

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F. Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

L. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

M.

N.

O.

P.

Q.

R.

S.

T.

U.

V.

W.

X.

Y.

Z.

Thank you for hosting again!

A. An American Family by Khizr Khan

B. Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper

C. Call Them by Their True Names: American Crises by Rebecca Solnit

D. Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You by A'ja Wilson

E. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

F. Fencing with the King by Diana Abu-Jaber

G. The Guest Lecture by Martin Riker

H. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler

I. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

J. ---

K. ---

L. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

M. My Husband's Wife by Jane Corry

N. [[book:The Neighbor's Secret|56269002] by L. Alison Heller

O. Open City by Teju Cole

P. P Is for Pride by Greg Paprocki

Q. ---

R. Ready-to-Use Classical Music Illustrations by Bob Giuliani

S. Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes by Stephen A. Smith

T. The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? by Michael J. Sandel

U. Another Birth: Let Us Believe In The Beginning Of The Cold Season by Forugh Farrokhzad

V. Vertigo by W.G. Sebald

W. The World As It Is: Inside the Obama White House by Ben Rhodes

X. Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar

Y. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Z. Newcomers to Old Towns: Suburbanization of the Heartland by Sonya Salamon

Finished my first book for this.

How to Solve a Murder: True Stories from a Life in Forensic Medicine

Ok, I'm in this one again too, but mostly because I'm curious to see where I land without trying too hard. :-) I will double count books used for different challenges!

WELL, apologies I, J, Q and Z. Signed, Rebecca, 2025.

A. Aleph by Paulo Coelho DONE 1/31

B. Badger's Moon by Peter Tremayne DONE March 2024

C. City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikowsky - DONE 1/5/24 (audiobook)

D. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk - DONE 8/2/24

E. Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine by Sarah Lohman - DONE 6/3/24

F. Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Zhang DONE 2/18/24

G. CR

H. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie DONE April 2024
Bonus: High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley DONE August 2024

I.

J.

K. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro DONE April 2024
Bonus: Kill Seasonby Declan James DONE August 2024

L. Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith DONE 1/31/24 (audiobook)
Bonus: Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang (audiobook) DONE 5/15/24

M. A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett DONE 1/20/24
Bonus: Mind of My Mind by Octavia Butler DONE 2/6/24
Bonus: by Declan James DONE April 2024

N. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich DONE 9/17/24

O. The Outlaw's Tale by Margaret Frazer DONE September 2024
Bonus: Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng DONE October 2024

P. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir DONE 2/29/24

Q.

R. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt- DONE 1/10/24
Bonus: Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey (DONE 9/5/24)

S. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser DONE 2/19/24
Bonus: The Servant's Tale by Margaret Frazer DONE 6/17/24

T. Tenderheart by Hetty McKinnon DONE 3/1/24
Bonus: This Is Ragtime by Terry Waldo - DONE 8/4/24
Bonus: To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf -DONE 8/3/24 (diff edition: audiobook with Nicole Kidman)

U. by Mark Prendergrast - DONE 11/17/24

V. The HeaVen and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride DONE October 2024

W. Whispers of the Dead by Peter Tremayne DONE April 2024
BONUS: The Witch Elm by Tana French DONE May 2024
BONUS: Writings on contemporary music notation: An annotated bibliography by Gerald Warfield. DONE August 2024.

X. Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz DONE August 2024

Y. Yesternight by Cat Winters DONE October 2024

Z.

I'm really pleased with how this is going so far.
I wanted to read more this year, and with two little people to look after it isn't easy to find time.

I've already finished six books for this challenge, and I thought the group might like to know how I am managing to get so much reading done.
My technique is as follows:
*audiobooks (with speed turned up when possible) when cooking, cleaning, and driving.
*ebooks when up at night with the kids, when someone has fallen asleep on me etc.
*hard copy books when kids require direct but inactive supervision, eg water play, bath time.

For many obvious reasons, hard copy reading is progressing slowly. The only reason I finished a hard copy book last month is because we went away on holiday (no cooking or cleaning all week!), and I literally had days of sitting in the sun and reading.

I decided to add this one to my list of reading Challenges. I am surprised that you didn't harass me about it. LOL! Anyway, I have been keeping track, so now I'd better post my list.

A An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo *Finished*
B Back Roads by Tawni O'Dell *Finished*
C Cataclysm Epoch by Paul Heingarten *Finished*
D Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline *Finished*
E The End of Everything by Megan Abbott *Finished*
F Fast Forward by Marilyn Kaye *Finished*
G The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz *Finished*
H Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
*Finished*
I Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell *Finished*
J The Jester by James Patterson *Finished*
K The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth *Finished*
L The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang *Finished*
M A Man Named Ove by Fredrik Backman *Finished*
N NYPD Red by James Patterson *Finished*
O Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis *Finished*
P Play by Marilyn Kaye *Finished*
Q Queen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II by
Robert Hardman *Finished*
R Rewind by Marilyn Kaye *Finished*
S Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel *Finished*
T The Truth about Grace by Cassie Dandridge Selleck
*Finished*
U Unlocking Harry Potter by John Granger *Finished*
V Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich *Finished*
W The Wandering Earth by Liu Cixin *Finished*
X Xenophobe's Guide to Icelanders by Richard Sale *Finished*
Y Yeh Yeh's House by Evelina Chao *Finished*
Z Provence A-Z by Peter Mayle *Finished*

Deb wrote: "I decided to add this one to my list of reading Challenges. I am surprised that you didn't harass me about it. LOL! Anyway, I have been keeping track, so now I'd better post my list.

A
B
..."

I knew that you would join of your own free will.
I know you too well.
ROFLOL!!!!

I am still really happy with how this is going.

I am hoping to get a 'better' X and Z before the end of the year, but priority will be capturing other letters first.
Not sure if I should move Return to Uluru to U and find something else for R, or just see what else turns up for U.

I am also pleased at how much Australian content I am getting in there. Of my 15 finished titles, six are about/by Australia(ns); of my two currently reading, both are about/by Australia(ns).

Tashinka wrote: "The Alphabet Challenge 2024

A - Anne of Green Gables L.M. Montgomery

B

C

D

E

F- First Frost Sarah Addison Allen

G

H - Hope In A Jar by Beth Harbison

I

J - A January Bride Deborah Raney

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Finished this challenge!

Thanks Edwina for hosting, this has been fun.

I tried not to take too many liberties with the harder to find letters, X and Z are tricky to even get at the start of a word, let alone at the start of the title.

I'm also interested how many I have without trying.

A -

B -

C -

D -

E -

F -

G - CR

H -

I -

J

K -

L -

M -

N -

O -

P -

Q

R

S -

T -

U -

V

W -

X

Y -

Z -

Took some liberties with Eugene Onegin, which I read in Russian, as an alternative spelling (closer to the way it's pronounced in Russian) is Yevgeny.

I thought I joined this challenge but maybe not. I have been doing it.

A. American Dirt ✔️

B. Belong To Me ✔️

C. The Cuckoo’s Calling ✔️

D. Dishwasher ✔️

E. Ellie’s Story ✔️

F. Fall Of Giants ✔️

G. Gentlemen And Players ✔️

Hypocrite In A Pouffy White Dress ✔️

Just Like Mother ✔️

In The Forest ✔️

Kindred ✔️

Lottery - done

O. One Step Too Far ✔️

N. Nop’s Hope 1Q84 ✔️

P. Prior Bad Acts ✔️

R. Running The Amazon ✔️

S. Shadowfires ✔️

T. Travels with Lisbeth - done

Congratulations to all who finished this challenge!
And even if you didn't complete it, I hope you had fun, and it inspired you to (maybe) read some books that you wouldn't have read otherwise.
The whole point of my challenges is to "get 'em read and get 'em moving" so Well Done to ALL of you who played in the stacks with me.