Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library discussion

Goal: Travel through each US state by book in 2012

Why Participate: I believe reading challenges, like book clubs, motivate people to read more and explore authors and genres they normally wouldn't read.

Rules: As you read your usual preferences, keep track of where the story is set. If a book takes place in more than one state, they all count towards your goal. Try and travel across all 50 states between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. Once you have accomplished your reading goal, post a list of titles and their corresponding states below. There are no prizes, just bragging rights! :)

Count me in, sounds like fun! :)

That could take some thought. A great challenge! I'll try...

I'll give it a shot. Good idea.

I think this challenge is going to be tough for me since I read more stories that take place in Europe than the US. I'm going to have to branch out.

Remember, non-fiction counts!

I think this sounds fun. I have been to Colorado in the book I just finished, Nothing Daunted by Dorothy Wickenden. I do think I will keep a hard copy of a U.S. map and mark the states off to keep track.

This looks like it can be fun challenge. I find it fun to color in stuff for challenges. I like to have a visual reference. There might be better links, but I found one that you can pick out what you want...

http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/re...

That is awesome, Melanie! Thanks for the link.

I was also thinking that maybe someone can post a list of all the states and then everyone else copies/pastes from. As we finish as we state we edit our individual post with the date the book was completed and book read and author for that state.

Example:
Kansas - 01/02/12 - Virgin of the Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

This way we have a good tracking system and maybe even some discussion on the book/state. Just another thought.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Bonus:
*Washington D.C.
* American Samoa
* Baker Island
* Guam
* Howland Island
* Jarvis Island
* Johnston Atoll
* Kingman Reef
* Midway Islands
* Navassa Island
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Palmyra Atoll
* Puerto Rico
* Virgin Islands
* Wake Island

Additional information on our territories.
* Washington D.C.
* Baker Island
* Guam
* Howland Island
* Jarvis Island - formally known as Bunker Island
* Johnston Atoll - There are four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina), an additional two artificial islands formed by coral dredging.
* Kingman Reef
* Midway Islands
* Navassa Island
* Northern Mariana Islands - Of the fourteen other islands, only two — Tinian and Rota — have a significant population. The islands of Agrihan and Alamagan have fewer than ten residents each, and the remaining islands are unpopulated
* Palmyra Atoll
* Puerto Rico
* Virgin Islands - The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, along with the much smaller but historically distinct Water Island, and many other surrounding minor islands.
* Wake Island

Is this for books started or finsihed in 2012?

They need to be finished in 2012... If you start a book now and finish in early January, I would count it.

Thanks for the bonus list! The heavy readers will probably appreciate it. As for me, I know I will be struggling just to finish the 50 states. :)

Alabama: 1/27- Fried Green Tomatoes, 6/18- The Good War
Alaska: 6/18- The Good War
Arizona: 4/18- The 19th Wife, 6/18- The Good War
Arkansas: 6/3- 11/23/63, 6/18- The Good War
California: 1/1- Unbroken, 1/15 - Explosive Eighteen, 2/06 - Shanghai Girls, 2/13 - Worth Fighting For, 2/22 - Cannery Row, 3/4 - Bailey's Cafe, 4/18 - The 19th Wife, 5/26 Reading Lolita in Tehran, 6/18- The Good War
Colorado: 2/13 - Worth Fighting For, 4/18 - The 19th Wife, 6/20 Thank You For All Things, 6/28-Rapture
Connecticut: 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War, 6/28-Rapture
Delaware: 6/28-Rapture
Florida: 1/1 - Unbroken, 1/5 - Dilemma, 1/27- Fried Green Tomatoes, 04/14 Red Leather Diary, 6/3- 11/22/63, 6/18- The Good War
Georgia: 1/27 - Fried Green Tomatoes, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War, 6/28-Rapture
Hawaii: 1/1 - Unbroken, 1/15 - Explosive Eighteen
Idaho, 6/18- The Good War
Illinois: 01/18 - The Magicians, 01/27 - Fried Green Tomatoes, 02/02 - The Brief History of the Dead, 02/06 - Shanghai Girls, 02/13 - Worth Fighting For, 03/04 - Bailey's Cafe, 4/18 - The 19th Wife, 5/27 - Divergent
Indiana: 1/1 - Unbroken, 6/18- The Good War
Iowa: 1/27 - Fried Green Tomatoes, 4/18 - The 19th Wife, 6/18- The Good War, 6/20- Thank You For All Things
Kansas: 01/09 - The Learning Tree, 3/22 - Our Boys, 6/18- The Good War
Kentucky: 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
Louisiana: 3/4 - Bailey's Cafe, 6/18- The Good War
Maine: 1/18 - The Magicians, 6/3- 11/22/63
Maryland: 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War, 6/28-Rapture
Massachusetts: 01/18 - The Magicians, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
Michigan: 3/04 - Bailey's Cafe, 6/18- The Good War
Minnesota: 01/05 - Forever, 6/18- The Good War
Mississippi: 6/18- The Good War
Missouri: 3/04 - Bailey's Cafe, 4/18 - The 19th Wife
Montana
Nebraska: 4/18 - The 19th Wife, 6/18- The Good War
Nevada: 2/13 - Worth Fighting For, 4/18 - The 19th Wife, 6/3- 11/22/63, 6/18- The Good War
New Hampshire: 6/18- The Good War
New Jersey: 1/15 - Explosive Eighteen, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
New Mexico: 2/13 - Worth Fighting For, 6/18- The Good War
New York: 1/18 - The Magicians, 02/02 - The Brief History of the Dead, 3/04 - Bailey's Cafe, 03/22 Our Boys, 04/14 Red Leather Diary, 4/18 - The 19th Wife, , 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
North Carolina: 1/21 - The Sugar Queen, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
North Dakota
Ohio: 2/26 - Ready Player One, 03/04 - Bailey's Cafe, 4/18 - The 19th Wife, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
Oklahoma: 2/26 - Ready Player One, 5/26 Reading Lolita in Tehran, 6/18- The Good War, 6/28-Rapture
Oregon: 2/26 - Ready Player One, 6/18- The Good War
Pennsylvania: 1/12 - For One More Day, 3/4 - Bailey's Cafe, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War, 6/20 Thank You For All Things
Rhode Island: 5/10 Washington
South Carolina: 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War, 6/28-Rapture
South Dakota: 6/18- The Good War
Tennessee: 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
Texas: 1/1 - Unbroken, 2/13 - Worth Fighting For, 6/18- The Good War, 6/28-Rapture
Utah, 6/3- 11/22/63, 6/18- The Good War
Vermont: 5/10 Washington
Virginia: 01/27 - Fried Green Tomatoes, 2/28 - Paranormalcy, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
Washington: 01/01 - Unbroken, 6/18- The Good War
West Virginia
Wisconsin, 6/18- The Good War, 6/20- Thank You For All Things
Wyoming: 4/18 - The 19th Wife

Bonus:
*Washington D.C.: 02/13 - Worth Fighting For, 5/10 Washington, 6/18- The Good War
* American Samoa
* Baker Island
* Guam: 6/18- The Good War
* Howland Island
* Jarvis Island
* Johnston Atoll
* Kingman Reef
* Midway Islands: 01/01 - Unbroken
* Navassa Island
* Northern Mariana Islands: 6/18- The Good War
* Palmyra Atoll: 01/01 - Unbroken
* Puerto Rico: 6/18- The Good War
* Virgin Islands
* Wake Island: 01/01 - Unbroken

Books Read:
-11/22/63 by Stephen King
-Bailey's Cafe by Gloria Naylor
-The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
-Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
-Dilemma: A Priest's Struggle with Faith and Love by Father Albert Cutie
-Divergent - Veronica Roth
-Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
-For One More Day by Mitch Albom
-Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
-The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks
-The Magicians by Lev Grossman
-The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
-Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen by Joe Drape
-Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
-Rapture by Lauren Kate
-Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
-Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
-The Red Leather Diary - Lily Koppel
-Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
-The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
-Thank You For All things by Sandra Kring
-Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
-Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
-Worth Fighting For by Lisa Niemi Swayze

Alabama--Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Alaska
Arizona-- Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Arkansas
California-- 1st to Die by James Patterson
Colorado-- American Vampire Vol. 2 by Scott Snyder
Connecticut
Delaware--The Dakota Cipher by William Dietrich
Florida-- Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Starts off in FLA, but moves to the UK)
Georgia-- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Hawaii-- American Vampire Vol. 3 by Scott Snyder
Idaho-- American Vampire Vol. 3 by Scott Snyder
Illinois-- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Indiana-- The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski
Iowa-- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Kansas-- The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski
Kentucky-- The Walking Dead, Book 1 by Robert Kirkman starts off in Kentucky but moves on to Georgia quickly
Louisiana-- The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris
Maine-- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
Maryland-- The Walking Dead Vol. 12 by Robert Kirkman
Massachusetts--Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich
Michigan-- Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
Minnesota-- The Soul of Baseball by Joe
Mississippi-- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Missouri-- Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton
Montana--How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove
Nebraska
Nevada-- American Vampire Vol. 2 by Scott Snyder
New Hampshire-- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
New Jersey--Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
New Mexico-- Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones
New York-- The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski
North Carolina--Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
North Dakota-- The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski
Ohio-- The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski
Oklahoma--How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove
Oregon-- Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Pennsylvania--The Dakota Cipher by William Dietrich
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas-- The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski
Utah-- Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Vermont
Virginia-- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Washington--Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming-- Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona-The Perfect Husband 3/5
Arkansas
California-You Suck 1/17
Colorado
Connecticut-The Perfect Husband 3/5
Delaware-Patient Zero 10/27
Florida-- Dexter By Design-7/2
Georgia-The Walking Dead Book 1-8/4
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois-Divergent 1/12
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas-Beyond the Phog by Jason King-1/11
Kentucky-The Walking Dead Book 1-8/4
Louisiana-Dead Until Dark-7/29
Maine-The Apprentice -12/2
Maryland-Patient Zero-10/27
Massachusetts-Mortal Stakes-2/21
Michigan-Abby Cooper Psychic Eye-7/24
Minnesota-Night Prey 8/3
Mississippi-The Neon Rain 8/16
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey - The Rebels 3/22
New Mexico
New York-Mortal Stakes-2/21
North Carolina-Charlemagne Pursuit-11/23
North Dakota
Ohio -Ready Player One 3/19
Oklahoma - Ready Player One 3/19
Oregon - Ready Player One 3/19
Pennsylvania - The Rebels 3/22
Rhode Island
South Carolina-Deadly Decisions 8/28
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah-Thunderhead 6/24
Vermont- The Perfect Husband 3/5
Virginia-Hell's Corner 1/24
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin-Night Prey 8/3
Wyoming


*Washington D.C.-Hell's Corner 1/24

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona - The Blue Hammer
Arkansas
California - The Blue Hammer
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida - 11/22/63
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana - 11/22/63
Maine - 11/22/63
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York - The Magicians
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma - Calico Joe
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas - 11/22/63
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

-Alabama
Alaska
Arizona copper beach - jayne anne krentz
Arkansas the witness - nora roberts
California - the drop - michael connelly
Colorado - zoo - james patterson
Connecticut- death benefits - robin cook
Delaware - gone girl - gillian flynn
Florida - miss peregrines home for peculiar children - ransom riggs
Georgia - red mist - patricia cornwell
Hawaii - second honeymoon - james patterson - 2013
Idaho
Illinois - divergent - veronica roth
Indiana - NOS4A2 - joe hill - 2013
Iowa - NOS4A2 - joe hill - 2013
Kansas - light of the world - james lee burke - 2013
Kentucky - what doesn't kill you - iris johansen
Louisiana - creole belle - james lee burke
Maine - last to die - tess gerritsen
Maryland - the innocent - david baldacci
Massachusetts - need you now - james grippando
Michigan - love in a nutshell - janet evanovich
Minnesota - stolen prey - john sandford
Mississippi
Missouri - gone girl - gillian flynn
Montana - light of the world - james lee burke - 2013
Nebraska - second honeymoon - james patterson - 2013
Nevada - v is for venegence - sue grafton
New Hampshire - wicked business - janet evanovich
New Jersey - death benefits - robin cook
New Mexico - calico joe - john grishom
New York -death benefits - robin cook
North Carolina - summer rental - mary kay andrews
North Dakota - the round house - louise erdrich 2013
Ohio
Oklahoma - calico joe - john grishom -
Oregon - dream eyes - jayne ann krentz - 2013
Pennsylvania - summer rental - mary kay andrews
Rhode Island
South Carolina - sleep no more - iris johansen
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas - what doesn't kill you - iris johansen
Utah - private #1 suspect - james patterson

Vermont
Virginia - oath of office - michael palmer
Washington - private #1 suspect - james patterson
West Virginia
Wisconsin - sudden death - david rosenfelt
Wyoming

Alabama Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Fannie Flagg
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California Shanghai Girls Lisa See
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida Dilemma Father Albert Cutie
Georgia Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Fannie Flagg
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois Shanghai Girls Lisa See Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Fannie Flagg
Indiana
Iowa Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Fannie Flagg
Kansas The Learning Tree Gordon Parks
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania For One More Day Mitch Album
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Fannie Flagg
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

The end is coming!!! I hope you've made it to all 50 states.