Monthly Challenges discussion

March 2025 Tasks

One Point Tasks

1.1 International Read to Me Day (3/19)
Listen to an Audio Book. (your choice).

1.2 Celebrate the Author: HIM VS HER
This month Author's are: Colm Tóibín VS Patti Callahan Henry
Read one of these Authors books.
BONUS POINT: read the other author and receive 2 points

1.3 Mardi Gras Colors
Read a book with a predominantly GREEN• PURPLE • GOLD cover (65%+) SHOW COVER
BONUS POINT: If you read all three colors (3 books) receive 3 points.

1.4 Main Page Genre (MPG)
Choose One:

a. National Popcorn Day
Read a book with MPG:FOOD
e.g.

b. World Poetry Day
Read a book with MPG:POETRY
e.g.
BONUS POINT: read the other genre and receive 2 points

1.5 Read the Alphabet: LETTER O
Read a book that starts with the LETTER O (exclude A, An, or The) -Or- Author's FIRST/ LAST name that starts with the LETTER O.
BONUS POINT: Title & Author's FIRST/LAST name both
have LETTER O.

1.6 March: 3rd Month of the Year
Choose ONE of the following:
a. Read a book published in March (any year)
b. Read a book with 3 in it's page count.
c. Read a book published in a year with 3 (e.g. 2013, 2023 etc.. ) STATE YEAR.

1.7 (Diana S Task) (3/3) World Wildlife Day
Read a book with Wildlife on the cover or in title (animals you see in the wild, pets and domestic animals don't count).
e.g.

1.8 (Marilyn's Task) Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month. Read a book with a MPG (Main Page Genre) of Historical Fiction, written by or about a woman.

1.9 (Marilyn 's Task) National Reading Month
March is National Reading Month. Read a book of your choice.

1.10 (Amber's Task)

Two Points Tasks


2.1 THE LOTTERY
Read 2 Books
GO to THE LOTTERY task for details. This is a TIME-LIMITED task.

2.2 March Holidays
Read 2 Books
1. (3/12) National Plant A Flower Day
Read a book with flowers on the cover.
e.g.

2. (3/14) International Day of Mathematics
Read a book with numbers in the title (real numbers not written out).
e.g.

2.3 (Linda C's Task) Time Change
Read 2 Books

This month many of us have to deal with moving our clock dials/hands. So these tasks deal with time.

1. Read a book that has a measure of time word in the title, e.g. hour(s), minute(s), second(s), day(s), etc

2. Read a book that takes place in at least 2 different time periods - Tell us the dates or time periods

2.4 (Linda C's Task) Seasonal Changes
Read 2 Books

This is the month where we hope to say good-bye to winter and hello to spring

1. Read a book that represents winter - cold setting, winter scene on cover (show cover), or your interpretation - tell us the connection

2. Read a book that represents spring - spring setting, planting, coming out of hibernation, new beginning, or your interpretation - tell us the connection

Three Points Tasks

3.1 (Pat's Task) EXPANDING on a FAVORITE
Read 3 Books

Select (and post) one of the books you read in February 2025. It does not have to be a book from this challenge - any book you read in February will work. Then read 3 books from the following 6 options. Each option may be used only once.


1. By the same author
2. The same number of words in the title
3. Match a word (at least four letters) in the title
4. Same page count
5. Same published month
6. Same published year

3.2 (Pat's Task) MARCHing ORDERS
Read 3 Tasks

Marching orders is a term originally coined in the military - used to begin a march or other troop movement. It's recently gained some notoriety as an informal expression for firing an individual - which, sadly, is happening a lot in the USA right now.

I grew up in the United State Marine Corps, and I feel a happy nostalgia when I hear drill sergeants barking at boots and watch military dress parades. My dad used to call such a parade a dog-and-pony-show. I'm going to a horsemanship clinic this month (sort of my own pony show), and many of these words can be associated with the kind of behaviors I ask my horses to do at these clinics. I've been thinking that it might be kind of fun to put together a task using these words. Let's see what happens.

Choose 3 different commands from the list below and read a book for each one.


7 Essential Military Drill and Ceremony Commands

1. Attention (get ready) ~ This is what I tell my horse when I pick up the rein. "Are you paying attention to me? Get ready, I'm going to ask you to do something..."

~ Read a book that you associate with a beginning or preparation. It might be the first book in a series, a book that involves a new birth or new relationship, or about a coming of age. When you post your book, explain how it fits this prompt.

2. At Ease (relax) ~ Clinic can be a pretty high energy environment for a horse that lives in a quiet pasture most of the time. I put my mare at ease by giving her a soft rub along her neck and speaking softly to her so she knows I'm right here with her and she can relax.

~ Read a book that you allows you to just relax at the end of a long hard day of work (or play). I usually relax with a book in a hot bath!

3. Parade Rest (stand still and stay with me) ~ I simply ask my horse to stay with me by keeping my legs against her side and keeping a feel along the reins that runs down to her mouth so she knows that we need to be ready for anything!

~ Read a book where the Author's initials (including middle if they use one) are in the words "Parade Rest." Letters may be used only as many times as they appear in the phrase.

4. Right/Left Face (turn sideways) ~ when I want my horse to turn either direction, I press my leg against her on the side that I want her to turn and then ask her to bend her body that direction with the rein on the same side. Right turn - right leg, right rein.

~ Read a book that has all the letters of LEFT or RIGHT in the title.
or
A book that shows the profile of a face (either left or right side)

5. About Face (turn around) ~ A 180 degree turn requires the horse to pivot around one hind leg. I ask Allie to do this with my leg in the same position as for a turn, but with my leg on the other side up forward onto her shoulder to support her in the turn. I also put my turning rein hand back along my hip to give her body a deeper bend and allow her to get herself turned around her hind end.

~ Do an about face by reading a book that you started but for one reason or another put down and never finished. In fairness to the book, start it back at the beginning so you can get the full experience of it!

6. Forward March (go forward) ~ To ask Allie to walk forward, I scoop forward a little bit with my behind and give her a hug with my legs. She likes this command the best because she just loves to GO.

~ Read a book where the each number in the page count is larger than the one preceding it.
examples: 123, 479, 268, 347 all work

7. Halt (stand still) ~ This is the exact reverse of Forward March. I stop asking for go by stopping the hug with my legs and the encouragement of my seat. When I get still, so does she.

~ Read a book whose title ends in a four letter word.

Five Point Task

5.1 Looking Through Irish Eyes
Read 5 Books

GREEN
EMERALD
CLIFF(S)
FOLKLORE/FAIRYTALE(S)
IRISH
pot of GOLD
RAINBOW
PUB(S)
SWEATER(S)
BEER(S)
IRELAND
ISLE/ISLAND(S)
CASTLE(S)
LEPRECHAUN(S)
LANDSCAPE
PATRICK
FAMILY
NEW YORK
CAPTAIN
FISH & CHIPS
SHAMROCK(S)
Soda BREAD
Irish COFFEE
POTATO(ES)
SNAKE(S)

• Pick 5 words from the list above
• one book per word
• Find word in text, give the sentence and Loc#

Don't forget dates and page counts 🤓

March Winners

Most Points
3.1 Pat (24)
2.3 Linda C (19)
1.7 Diana S (11)

Most Pages
3.2 Pat (5509)
2.4 Linda C (4249)
1.8 Marilyn (1834)

Reading Jar
1.9 Marilyn
1.10 Amber

Please leave your task(s) down below. They will be added to main list later
Thank you🤓


Many "Thanks" Pat! Your Tasks are now up 🎉
Many "Thanks" Linda! Your Tasks are now up🎉
Many "Thanks" Marilyn! Your Tasks are now up 🎉
Many "Thanks" Amber! 🎉

1.10 (Amber's Task) Purim Evening of March 13 - Friday March 14, 2025
Purim is a Jewish Holiday that celebrates the saving of Jewish people from death by Queen Esther and her Uncle's actions. I am not Jewish, but I think it's important as a Christian to remember the roots of our religion. I teach 2nd-5th Grade Sunday School and last year and this year during Sunday School we are going to recognize the significance of Purim by honoring Queen Esther and reading that book out of the Bible. This is a small part of the tradition of celebrating Purim. Other ways Purim is celebrated are dressing in costumes, giving gifts of food and drink, charitable contributions and more. If anyone in this group is Jewish and/or celebrates Purim, please feel free to add to or correct me. I wish that as a non-Jewish Christian Denomination we celebrated more of the Old Testament Jewish Holidays, these are part of History.
Read a book with a character named Esther or where someone give food or drink to someone else.