2025 Reading Challenge discussion

All reviews can be found in my personal challenge here.

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These are only my finished challenges.

Find my new or ongoing challenges here.

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2012 Reading Challenge (RC)
Monthly Challenges
January Resolutions Challenge 11 / 12
April's No Spring Chick(en) Challenge 4 / 4
May Military Challenge 8 / 8
June Start of Summer Challenge 7 / 7
June Minichallenge Sth borrowed 3 / 3
Quarterly Inspirations: Rivers 19 / 19
Three Cheers for July 5 / 5-6

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Crazy Challenge Connection (CCC)
Monthly Challenges
June Spell 7 / 7
June Scavenger Hunt 7 / 7

RC: January Resolutions Challenge
Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2012
EXPERT LEVEL
Progress: 11/12

1) Quit Smoking: Mark Hodder - The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack. 3/5.
2) Lose weight: Günter Grass - My Century 2/5.
3) Exercise more: Alison Sinclair - Darkborn 4/5
4) Eat better: Ox-tales: Earth 4/5
5) New job: Alan Garner - The Owl Service 3/5. weird book.
6) Save money: Kathryn Stockett - The Help 4/5
7) Have a baby: N.D. Wilson - 100 Cupboards 3.5/5
8) Go back to school:
9) Get married: Gail Carriger - Changeless 4/5
10) Take a vacation: Colette Rossant - Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes 3/5
11) Buy a house: Jostein Gaarder - The Castle in the Pyrenees 2/5
12) Reconnect with old friends: Claudia Kern - Verrat 4/5

RC: May Military Challenge
May 01, 2012 - May 31, 2012
Progress: 8 / 7-8

1) Set during war or has fight in it:
Paulo Coelho - Der Alchimist
2) Colours of my country's flag on the cover:
Nadeem Aslam - Season of the Rainbirds
3) Takes place in different country:
Yoko Ogawa - The Housekeeper and the Professor
4) Fight against injustice:
Kashmira Sheth - Keeping Corner
6) Someone who's a leader or in uniform:
Rowena Cory Daniells - The Uncrowned King
7) A Memoir:
Stephen Fry - Moab Is My Washpot
8) Weapon on the cover:
Rowena Cory Daniells - The Usurper

CCC: Monthly Spell Challenge: June 2012
Ends June 30, 2012
Progress: 7/7

✔M **** My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt, June 4
✔A ***** Austen, Jane - Persuasion, June 7
✔N ***** Nicolas Barreau - Die Frau meines Lebens, June 16
✔F ***** Ferenc Máté - A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover's Dream, June 16
✔R **** Remarque, Erich Maria - All Quiet on the Western Front, June 14
✔E **** The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous, June 2
✔D *** David Nicholls - One Day, June 18

~*~*~*~ COMPLETED JUNE 18 ~*~*~*~

RC: April's No Spring Chick(en) Challenge
April 1 - April 30, 2012
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
Progress: 4/4

2. Spring into Action:
G.R.R. Martin - A Game of Thrones 4/5
6. Hen Party:
M.K. Hobson - The Native Star 3.5/5
7. Chicken Out:
Graham Moore - The Sherlockian 4/5
8. Chicken Feed:
Sadegh Hedayat - The Blind Owl 4/5

RC: The Start of Summer Challenge
June 1 - June 30, 2012
Progress: 7/7

1. Read a book that has "summer" in the title

2. Read a book where the main character must make a great sacrifice
**** Kimberly Willis Holt - My Louisiana Sky, June 5

3. Read a book set (in the South OR) someplace that’s hot
**** Paul Torday - Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, Film Tie-In, June 16

4. Read a book where the protagonist is a father or will become a father in the book.
**** Gail Carriger - Timeless, June 11

5. Read a book that has an image of something related to summer on the cover
***** Ferenc Máté - A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover's Dream (Italian vineyard!!!), June 16

6. Read a book where the character must break a rule to achieve their goals
**** Gail Carriger - Blameless, June 3

7. Read a book from the Listopia List-Best Summer Reads
*** David Nicholls - One Day, June 18

8. Read a book where the character's job plays an important role in the plot.
**** Michael Morpurgo - An Elephant In The Garden (mother is a zookeeper which is why they take care of an elephant in the first place. and they meet someone who's previous job is important), June 10

*~*~* COMPLETED JUNE 18 *~*~*

CCC: Jubilee Day (June Scavenger Hunt)
June 1 - June 30, 2012
Progress: 7/7

1 Read a book whose total pages ends in 1, 2, 3 or 9
My German edition has 272 pages.
**** Ferenc Máté - The Hills of Tuscany

2 Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in FARMERS MERCHANTS.
***** Ferenc Máté - A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover's Dream

3 Read a book with a flower on the cover:
**** Sarah Addison Allen - The Peach Keeper: A Novel

4 Read a book that you got for free or very cheaply
**** Sarah Prineas - Stolen

5 Read a book that takes place in a small town:
**** Kimberly Willis Holt - My Louisiana Sky

6 Read a book in which some of the action occurs in the summer:
*** Vendela Vida - The Lovers

7 Read a book involving a long standing tradition
Painting Easter Eggs:
**** Katherine Milhous - The Egg Tree

*~*~* COMPLETED JUNE 25 *~*~*

RC: MiniChallenge: Something borrowed, something blue
June 1 - June 30, 2012
Progress: 3/3

1. Something old:
**** Gail Carriger - Blameless
3. Something borrowed:
*** G.A. Aiken - Dragon Actually
4. Something blue:
***** Sterling North - Rascal

*~*~* COMPLETED JUNE 27 *~*~*

RC: Quarterly Inspirations April - June
April 1 - June 30, 2012
Progress: 19/19

B The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat, 4/5
R Rache by Claudia Kern, 4/5
A Ox-Tales Air, 2.5/5
H The Housekeeper and the Professor, 4.5/5
M Murmeln Meiner Kindheit by Rafik Schami, 4.5/5
A Allah Verzeiht, Der Hausmeister Nicht by Kerim Pamuk, 3/5
P Persuasion by Jane Austen, 5/5
U Unser Allerbestes Jahr: Roman, 1/5
T Travellers: Poems by George Mackay Brown, 4/5
R Rascal by Sterling North, 5/5
A The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, 2.5/5

[nc] [nc]

M Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry, 4/5
O One Day by David Nicholls, 3/5
U The Uncrowned King by Rowena Cory Daniells, 3/5
L Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, 1/5
O Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, 5/5
U The Usurper by Rowena Cory Daniells, 2/5
Y Yelena und die Magierin des Südens (Magic Study) by Maria V Snyder, 4/5
A All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, 4/5



*~*~* COMPLETED JUNE 27 *~*~*

RC: Three Cheers for July
July 1 - July 31, 2012
Progress: 5 / 5-6

2. Independence
Read a book about a person striving for independence
-> There's a woman that works towards paying off a mortgage to gain independence. She wants to get away from a small town and make it big in the big city.
***** The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, July 22

3. Picnics
Read a book where food plays an important part in the plot.
-> They make special food with flowers in them. Also the apple tree throws apples at random people ;).
***** Sarah Addison Allen - Garden Spells, July 23

4. National Ice Cream Month
Read a book that has a cover that's the color of your favorite ice cream flavor.
Actually I love several different flavours, but Melon, Lemon, and an incredibly sweet artificial one that tastes a bit like bubblegum are my most constant choices. This fit best. :)
**** Sarah Addison Allen - The Sugar Queen, July 24

6. Ruby
Read a book that has a red cover:
* Marlo Morgan - Traumfänger, July 8

8. Outdoor Concerts
Read a book that's plot involves music in some way:
Apart from a lot of music anyway, there are special plot points on "Besame Mucho", Loreena McKennitt, the Nine Inch Nails, and Mozart's Lacrimosa.
***** Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard, July 27 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

*~*~* COMPLETED JULY 28 *~*~*

CCC: QUICK AND FAST: OREO SCAVENGER HUNT
July 1 - July 31, 2012
Progress: 4/4

1) 1912
-> published 2009, with 322 pages.
**** Leanna Renee Hieber - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, July 26

2) Read a book with a twist
-> In fact, one of the twists got me off the book.
*** Hannah Tinti - The Good Thief, July 31

3) Set in the USA
***** Sarah Addison Allen - The Girl Who Chased the Moon, July 22

4) Blue Oreos
**** Ox-Tales: Water, July 14

*~*~* COMPLETED JULY 31 *~*~*

CCC: July 2012 MoM Challenge--Melissa
Duration: 7/1/2012 - 7/31/2012
Progress: 5/5

1. Read a book by an author whose first OR last name begins with a letter in MELISSA.
***** Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume II

2. Melissa told us that her favorite hobbies are reading, playing cards, and computer games. Tell us what your hobbies are, and what hobbies, if any, you would like to pursue if you had time/money to do so.
My hobbies are reading, writing, cooking for friends, making music and daydreaming ;).
I would love to play cards, such as D&D.
And I would love to become a falconer.

3. She describes herself as trustworthy, silly, and loving. Read a book with a character who shares one or more of those traits.
**** The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber, July 26

4. One of Melissa’s favorite songs is September, by Daughtry. Listen to it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzBcK... , and if you like it, add it to your music collection.
-> There was also an opening for Fullmetal Alchemist which was called Melissa. There is a link to it here.

5. Favorite authors are Maeve Binchy, Kristin Hannah, V.C. Andrews, Danielle Steele and Jodi Picoult. Read a book by one of these authors.
On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah, July 31

*~*~* COMPLETED JULY 31 *~*~*

RC: July Spell Out Mini Challenge
July 1 - July 31, 2012
Progress: 4/4

G ***** The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, July 22
O [no rating] On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah, July 31
L **** Leanna Renee Hieber - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, July 26
D ***** Daniel Kehlmann - Die Vermessung der Welt, July 28

*~*~* COMPLETED JULY 31 *~*~*

CCC: July Scavenger Hunt - History
July 1 - July 31, 2012
Progress: 7/7

1 – Flag
Our colours are black, red and gold, and I've read the German edition of Mutant Message Down Under, which has a red cover.
* Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan, July 8

2 – Capital
Gauss and Humboldt meet in Berlin.
** Die Vermessung der Welt by Daniel Kehlmann, July 28

3 – Date of independence or foundation.
My edition of Flyte has 521 pages. 5+2 is 7, and 1 is 1; and the foundation of the German Empire was in 1871 :)
**** Flyte by Angie Sage, July 5

4 – Important person
Barb allowed me to read nonfiction about Frederic the Great:
*** Der König und die Kaiserin. Friedrich II und Maria Theresia, July 30

5 – Friedrich Ebert
*** The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti, July 31

6 - Military
*** Die Bücherdiebin by Markus Zusa, July 29

7 – Places
Cologne was the biggest town in Germany in medieval times, and the Cologne High Cathedral is the most visited landmark in Germany today. The first chancellor of Western Germany, Konrad Adenauer, was mayor of Cologne.
** Elfenkind by Inka-Gabriela Schmidt, July 30

*~*~* COMPLETED JULY 31 *~*~*

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CCC: Colour Spell Count
May 1 - Aug 31, 2012
Progress: 41/41

*~*~* COMPLETED AUGUST 22 *~*~*

Silver: 6/6
S **** Season of the Rainbirds by Nadeem Aslam, May 30
I ** Inka-Gabriela Schmidt - Elfenkind, July 29
L **** The Magic Thief: Lost by Sarah Prineas, June 20
V *** Virginia Woolf - Mrs. Dalloway, July 1
E **** Erich Maria Remarque - Im Westen nichts Neues, June 14
R ***** Rascal by Sterling North, June 27


Forest Green: 11/11
F ***** Ferenc Máté - Ein Weinberg in der Toskana - Wie mein Traum wahr wurde, June 16
O ***** Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, June 26
R **** Rache by Claudia Kern, June 26
E *** Elizabethtown by Cameron Crowe, June 9
S **** Stolen by Sarah Prineas, June 19
T **** Travellers: Poems by George Mackay Brown, May 19
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G ***** Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, May 21
R ***** Reynard, Sylvain - Gabriel's Inferno, July 27 <3
E **** An Elephant In The Garden by Michael Morpurgo, June 10
E *** Nancy Madore - Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women, Aug 1
N ***** Nicolas Barreau - Die Frau meines Lebens, June 16


Peach: 5/5
P **** Paul Torday - Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, Film Tie-In, June 16
E * Enchanted Dreams: Erotic Tales of the Supernatural by Nancy Madore, Aug 22
A ** The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, May 8
C **** The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer, May 13
H **** Die Hügel der Toskana: Mein neues Leben in einem alten Land by Ferenc Máté, June 22


Sky Blue: 7/7
S **** Snyder, Maria V. - Poison Study, June 25
K **** Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth, May 5
Y **** Yoko Ogawa - The Housekeeper and the Professor, read May 9
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B **** Blameless by Gail Carriger, June 3
L **** Leanna Renee Hieber - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, July 26
U *** The Uncrowned King by Rowena Cory Daniells, May 22
E ** Enchanted Again: More Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore, Aug 3


Eggplant: 8/8
E **** The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous, June 2
G *** G.A. Aiken - Dragon Actually, June 24
G ***** The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, July 22
P **** Prineas, Sarah - The Magic Thief: Found, June 20
L *** Liebende by Vendela Vida, June 17
A **** Addison Allen, Sarah - The Peach Keeper, June 25
N *** Nicholls, David - One Day, June 18
T **** Timeless by Gail Carriger, June 11


Plum: 4/4
P ***** Persuasion by Jane Austen, June 7
L * Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, May 31
U ** The Usurper by Rowena Cory Daniells, May 23
M **** Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry, May 17

CCC: Member of the month August: Amelia
Aug 1 - Aug 31, 2012
Progress: 5/5

1. Read a book where the author’s first OR last initials can be found in MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP.
* Nancy Madore - Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women, Aug 1

2. Least favourite chore
I agree that weeding is awful. I also dislike doing the laundry, because I do all of it and it kills my entire saturday.
Most of all I hate vacuum cleaning, because I can't stand the sound!

3. Read a book with any word in the book title starting with S or I.
-> ***** Diana Peterfreund - For Darkness Shows the Stars, Aug 21

4. "Secrets" by OneRepublic
I love the song, but I prefer the version in the "Sorcerer's Apprentice", when the Tesla coils make music :). I have the score and soundtrack from that movie, so no need to add :).

5. Fantasy
***** Christoph Marzi - Lyra, Aug 26

*~*~* COMPLETED AUGUST 27 *~*~*

CCC: August Spell
Aug 1 - Aug 31, 2012
Progress: 6/6

M *** Madore, Nancy - Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women, Aug 1
E ** Enchanted Again: More Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore, Aug 3
L ***** Lyra by Christoph Marzi, Aug 26
O **** Oscar Wilde's Stories for All Ages by Oscar Wilde/Stephen Fry/Nicole Stewart, Aug 27
N * Nancy Madore - Enchanted Dreams: Erotic Tales of the Supernatural, Aug 22
S ***** Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Rapture, Aug 1

*~*~* COMPLETED AUGUST 27 *~*~*

SRC: SUMMER 2012

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Tasks for 5 POINTS

5.3 Dust in the Wind
5.6 Blowin' in the Wind
5.10 Up, Up, and Away

5.1 Let the Games Begin, Aug 31
Set in London:
Leanna Renee Hieber - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
5.2 -- Pack Your Bags, Aug 31
Genre Travel:
Daniel Kehlmann - Die Vermessung der Welt
5.4 Chemical Combo, Aug 31
(N2/O2) in the title and the author's name
Hannah Tinti - The Good Thief
5.5 Diamond Jubilee, Aug 31
Set in country headed by QEII
Charles Dickens - Oliver Twist *BB
5.7 SRC Scavenger Hunt, July 20
Scavenger Hunt thread
Virginia Woolf - Mrs. Dalloway
5.8 Summer Lovin', Aug 31
"Love" on The Guardian's "1000 Novels Everyone Must Read" List:
David Nicholls - One Day
5.9 -- Summer Readers, Aug 2
Kara joined in August 2007
Maria V Snyder - Poison Study

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Tasks for 10 POINTS

10.3 What's Your Exit?
10.5 Caribbean Queen
10.6 Contraction Action
10.7 A Reason to Celebrate
10.9 Recycled Group Reads

10.1 Skip to My Lou, July 20
Consecutive initials, one skipped.
Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I *3xBB
10.2 Eat an Oreo Day, Aug 31
One letter sandwiched: E-B-E
Nicolas Barreau - Die Frau meines Lebens
10.4 Air Signs, July 20
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Angie Sage - Magyk *BB
10.8 No Boredom Zone, Aug 31
NonFiction about non-boring activity
Victoria Coren - For Richer, for Poorer: A Love Affair with Poker
10.10 Air Conditioned Cool, Aug 31
Snow on the cover
Pat Walsh - The Crowfield Curse

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Tasks for 15 POINTS

15.2. “Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer”
15.4. Summer Reading
15.6. “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
15.9. “Summer Nights”

15.1. The Colors of Summer, Aug 2
A. predominately blue cover
Ox-Tales: Water
B. predominately green cover
Sarah Addison Allen - Garden Spells *GR
15.3. “Summer Romance”, Aug 2
Option 2:male and female noun in the title
Klaus Günzel - Der König und die Kaiserin. Friedrich II und Maria Theresia
15.5. “Summer in the City”, Aug 31
Set in a city:
Eva Menasse - Vienna
15.7. “The First Day of Summer”, June 19
1st in a series (min 3 published)
Sarah Prineas - Stolen *GR
15.8. “Summer of 69”, Aug 31
Featuring a musician
Christoph Marzi - Lyra
15.10. ”Feel Good Hit of the Summer", Aug 31
Read a book that makes you feel good
Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume II *BB

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Tasks for 20 POINTS

20.5 Let's Talk About the Weather
20.7 In homage to MZB
20.10 Group Reads

20.1 Fifty Shades of Whoa!, Aug 2
(2) Shades: Unexplored Genre -> Erotica
Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Inferno *GR *BB
20.2 School's Out For Summer, June 19
Option 1: MC on vacation (in Turkey)
Vendela Vida - Liebende
20.3 Reading...by the Numbers, June 19
Die Roller: 5: Olympic Rings: Yellow: Asia
Paul Torday - Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, Film Tie-In
20.4 Let’s Go Camping, June 25
Option 5. Beach Read a book where so finds sth, new author!
G.A. Aiken - Dragon Actually
20.6 My Spring Favorites into Your Summer Read, Aug 31
Die Roller: 3 -> Genre Fantasy
Claudia Kern - Rache
20.8 Have Your Cake And Eat It Too!, June 19
5) Angel Food Cake: Death
Kimberly Willis Holt - My Louisiana Sky
20.9 Please Be Patient..., June 25
Discovered in another claimed book (task 25.7)
Ferenc Máté - Die Hügel der Toskana: Mein neues Leben in einem alten Land *GR

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Tasks for 25 POINTS

25.1 I'm Solidly Behind You
25.2 Around the Country in 6 Parks
25.3 Hands and Feet
25.4 All About the Author
25.6 Sounds of Summer

25.5 Even More Fun With Holidays!!, Aug 31
5. Wiggle Your Toes Day Feet on the Cover
I.-G. Schmidt - Elfenkind
6. Just Because Day
Markus Zusak - The Book Thief *GR
25.7 Youtube Summer Fun, June 19
3. This Too Shall Pass Deceased author (1817)
Jane Austen - Persuasion
5. Annoying Orange Fruit on the cover
Ferenc Máté - A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover's Dream *GR
25.8 - Going to the Ball Park, June 19
A2. Away Author from a different COUNTRY than you (U.S.)
Gail Carriger - Heartless *GR
B1. Food Set in Germany
Michael Morpurgo - An Elephant In The Garden

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Tasks for 30 POINTS

30.1 SuperHero Summer
30.4 Vowel Prowl
30.5 Beg, borrow or steal your way around the world
30.7 The Final Battle
30.10 Honoring the Flag and My Dad

30.2 I’ll Leave My Heart in San Francisco!, Jun 25
2. Happy Anniversary: Bridge in the title.
Katherine Paterson - Bridge To Teribithia
6. Flower Power Flowers on the cover
Sarah Addison Allen - The Peach Keeper: A Novel *GR
30.3 Aye, Aye, Matey! Aug 2
A-3 - Pieces of Eight 8 letters in author’s last name / title
Gail Carriger - Timeless *GR
B-1 - Pass the Jug Author Spell “rum”/“whiskey"
Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Rapture
30.6 It's the End of the World As We Know It...And I Feel Fine, Aug 31
B) "End of the World As We Know It": Dystopia
Diana Peterfreund - For Darkness Shows the Stars *GR
D) "A Tournament of Lies": Best War Novels
Erich Maria Remarque - All Quiet on the Western Front
30.8 Summer Country Concert Series 2/2, June 19
A4. Brad Paisley: Only one word in the title
Gail Carriger - Blameless *GR
B5. Blake Shelton: Name of city in title
Cameron Crowe - Elizabethtown
30.9 North by Northwest 2/2, July 20
Option 2: Chicago Sports team word: Fire
Ox-Tales Fire
Option 4: Set in Wisconsin
Sterling North - Rascal
30.11 Fun Summer Holidays 2/2, Aug 31
1. Repeat Day (June 3) Repeating Initials
Sarah Addison Allen - The Sugar Queen
4. Nat. Culinarians Day (July 25): Food on the cover
Heather Hepler - The Cupcake Queen

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Task for 50 POINTS

50: Coralie's Task - Moonshadow 3/3, Aug 31
Option 1: "moon" in the title
Sarah Addison Allen - The Girl Who Chased the Moon *GR
Option 5: Set in Australia
Marlo Morgan - Mutant Message Down Under
Option 8: Author born in the UK
Angie Sage - Flyte *BB

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GRAND TOTAL
Total points claimed: 620
Books used: 47
BigBooks Total: 500+(6), 750+(0), 1000+(1)
GR Author Total: 17

CCC: Musicals Galore
June 1 - Aug 31, 2012
Progress: 1 / 4

1. Elisabeth
** Eva Menasse - Vienna, Aug 29

Tanz der Vampire -> vampires
Phantom of the Opera -> paris, opera
The Lion King -> africa

RC: August Firsts Mini Challenge
Aug 1, 2012 - Aug 31, 2012
Progress: 3/43

1. Read a book that's first in a series

2. Read the first book on your GR to-read list.
***** For Richer, for Poorer: A Love Affair with Poker by Victoria Coren, Aug 29

3. Read a book where a first kiss takes place between the protagonists.
***** For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, Aug 21

4. Read a book where a first of something happens--be creative!
-> first boyfriend, and the move from NYC to a small backwater means a lot of other firsts as well :).
**** The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler, Aug 28

*~*~* COMPLETED AUGUST 31 *~*~*

CCC: August Hot Hot Scavenger Hunt
Aug 1 - Aug 31, 2012
Progress: 8/8

1 – Published in a year with a 0, 1 or 2 in it
-> 2006
*** Nancy Madore - Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women, Aug 1

2 – Food on the cover OR a book with a spicy plot
** Nancy Madore - Enchanted Again: More Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women, Aug 3

3 – The most recent addition to your TBR list
***** Victoria Coren - For Richer, for Poorer: A Love Affair with Poker, Aug 29

4 – MC gets into some kind of trouble
-> professor faces inquiry over an affair with a student
***** Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Rapture, Aug 1

5 – Cover that is predominantly one vibrant, vivid color
**** Alison Sinclair - Lichtgeboren, Aug 31

6 – A book that you got for “a steal”
**** Heather Hepler - The Cupcake Queen, Aug 28

7 – A book from a genre that calms you down
-> Fantastic
***** Christoph Marzi - Lyra, Aug 26

8 – Read a romance
***** Diana Peterfreund - For Darkness Shows the Stars, Aug 21

*~*~* COMPLETED AUGUST 31 *~*~*

RC: August Cover Hunt
Aug 1 - Aug 31, 2012
Progress: 8/8

1. Read a book with flowers on it.
** Enchanted Again: More Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore, Aug 3

2. Read a book with a cover with an animal on it.
-> Frog on Stephen's shoulder ;)
**** Oscar Wilde's Stories for All Ages by Oscar Wilde/Stephen Fry/Nicole Stewart, Aug 27

3. Read a book with a mostly blue cover.
-> Since there is no red cover option, and this is half-half anyway, I'm counting it as blue :).
***** Victoria Coren - For Richer, for Poorer: A Love Affair with Poker, Aug 29

4. Read a book with a mostly black cover.
***** Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard, Aug 1

5. Read a book with a cover with trees on it.
***** Lyra by Christoph Marzi, Aug 26

6. Read a book with a dress on it.
***** For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, Aug 21

7. Read a book with mostly yellow cover
**** Alison Sinclair - Lichtgeboren, Aug 31

8. Read a book with a cover with food on it
**** Heather Hepler - The Cupcake Queen, Aug 28

*~*~* COMPLETED AUGUST 31 *~*~*

CCC: Beach Reads
May 28 - Sep 3, 2012
Progress: 13/13

Gail Carriger
✔1. Blameless ****, read June 3
✔2. Heartless *****, read June 5
✔3. Timeless ****, read June 11
Jane Austen
✔4. Persuasion *****, June 7
Nicolas Barreau
✔5. Die Frau meines Lebens *****, June 16
G.A. Aiken
✔6. Dragon Actually, ***, June 24
Sarah Addison Allen
✔7. The Peach Keeper ****, read June 25
✔8. The Girl Who Chased the Moon
✔9. Garden Spells
✔10. The Sugar Queen
Leanna Renee Hieber
✔11. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, ****, July 26
Diana Peterfreund
✔12. For Darkness Shows the Stars, Aug 21
Heather Hepler
✔13. The Cupcake Queen, ****, Aug 28

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 1 *~*~*

CCC: 3rd Quarter Spell: Travel
July 1 - Sept 30, 2012
Progress: 15/15

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 06 *~*~*

V *** Virginia Woolf - Mrs. Dalloway, July 1
I ** Inka-Gabriela Schmidt - Elfenkind, July 29
E *** Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore
N * Nancy Madore - Enchanted Dreams: Erotic Tales of the Supernatural, Aug 22
N ***** The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Sept 06
A ***** Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I, July 9


M * Marlo Morgan - Mutant Message Down Under, July 8
A **** Angie Sage - Magyk, July 3
R ***** <3 Reynard, Sylvain - Gabriel's Inferno, July 27
R ***** <3 Reynard, Sylvain - Gabriel's Rapture, Aug 1
A **** Angie Sage - Flyte, July 5
K ** Kehlmann Daniel - Die Vermessung der Welt (Measuring the World), July 28
E ** Enchanted Again: More Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore, Aug 3
S ***** Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume II by A. Conan Doyle, July 13
H **** Hieber, Leanna Renee - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, July 26

CCC: Summer Spell Challenge
June 20, 2012 - Sept 20, 2012
Progress: 14/14

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 07 *~*~*

R ***** Rascal by Sterling North, June 27
E *** Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore, Aug 1
N * Nancy Madore - Enchanted Dreams: Erotic Tales of the Supernatural, Aug 22
O ***** Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, June 26
I ** Inka-Gabriela Schmidt - Elfenkind, July 29
R **** Rache by Claudia Kern, June 26


P ***** Pat Walsh - The Crowfield Curse, July 19
I ** Iceland's Bell - Halldór Laxness, Sept 07
S **** Sarah Prineas - Lost, June 20
S **** Sarah Prineas - The Magic Thief: Found, June 20
A **** Addison Allen, Sarah - The Peach Keeper, June 25
R ***** Reynard, Sylvain - Gabriel's Inferno, July 27
R ***** Reynard, Sylvain - Gabriel's Rapture, Aug 1
O **** Oscar Wilde/Stephen Fry/Nicole Stewart - Oscar Wilde's Stories for All Ages, Aug 27

RC: Quarterly - 2012 Olympics
July 1, 2012 - Sept 30, 2012
Progress: 9 / 6-9

1. UK
Read a book that is written by an author from the UK
-> Angie Sage: Flyte
2.Germany
Read a book by an author from your country –OR- read a book that is set in your country.
-> Markus Zusak: The Book Thief
4. Ancient Greece
Read a book that has a mythological character in it.
Percy is short for Persephone, and some Greek myths feature in the story.
-> The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
5. Travel to the Olympics
Read a book that has a character that goes on a journey.
-> Daniel Kehlmann: Measuring the World
6. Spell Out
Read a book that has a title that starts with one of the letters in OLYMPICS
-> M: Magyk
7. The Isles of Wonder
Read a book with a character that’s royalty.
-> N.K. Jemisin - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
8. Olympic Flame
Read a book with the word Fire in the title.
-> Ox-Tales Fire
10. Gold Medal
Read a book that has a character that works towards a goal.
***** Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (working towards solving the mystery), July 9
12. The ArcelorMittal Orbit
Read a book where art is a part of the plot.
-> The whole book is about Dante, which means that there are passages about Boticelli, the Florence cathedral and art gallery, ... :).
***** Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard, July 27

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 11 *~*~*

CCC: Summer Scavenger Hunt
June 20th to Sept. 20th
Progress: 24/24

1) Winter setting / Winter cover
***** Pat Walsh - The Crowfield Curse, July 19
2) Green cover
***** Sarah Addison Allen - Garden Spells, July 23
3) Female POV
-> autobiography of female poker player
***** <3 Victoria Coren - For Richer, for Poorer: A Love Affair with Poker, Aug 29
4) Bright cover
**** Tahir Shah - The Caliph's House, Sep 21
5) Dramatic Choices
***** <3 Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Rapture, Aug 1
6) Woman in Red Dress
**** Maria V. Snyder - Poison Study, June 25
7) Musical Plot
-> MC singer in a band, writes songs for his wife
***** Lyra by Christoph Marzi, Aug 26
8) Dual coloured cover
***** Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus, Sep 06
9) Male POV / Ugly Cover
** Daniel Kehlmann - Die Vermessung der Welt, July 28
10) MC walking away
Kristin Hannah - On Mystic Lake, July 31
11) Setting in library
** Vicki Myron - Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, Sep 16
12) Just Because
**** N.K. Jemisin - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Sep 11
13) Paranormal Creatures
*** G.A. Aiken - Dragon Actually, June 24
14) Food on Cover
**** Heather Hepler - The Cupcake Queen, Aug 28
15) About brothers
**** Angie Sage - Flyte, July 5
16) Cover represents water
**** Ox-Tales: Water, July 14
17) Breakup / Divorce / Funeral / Grief
***** Diana Peterfreund - For Darkness Shows the Stars, Aug 21
18) Happy Ending
**** Benjamin Mee - We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals that Changed Their Lives Forever, Sep 09
19) YA
**** Leanna Renee Hieber - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, July 26
20) Orange Cover
**** Ox-Tales Fire, July 02
21) New to you author
***** Sarah Addison Allen - The Peach Keeper, June 25
22) Set in AUS
* Marlo Morgan - Traumfänger (Mutant Message Down Under), July 8
23) Set in France
**** Peter Mayle - A Year In Provence, Sep 20
24) Yellow cover
**** Alison Sinclair - Lichtgeboren, Aug 31

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 21 *~*~*

RC: Quarterly Spell-Out
July 1, 2012 - Sept 30, 2012
Progress: 10/10

S **** Sage, Angie - Magyk
E ** Elfenkind by Inka-Gabriela Schmidt
Y **** A Year In Provence - Peter Mayle
C ***** Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur - Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I
H **** Heather Hepler - The Cupcake Queen
E *** Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore, Aug 1
L **** Leanna Renee Hieber - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
L ***** Lyra by Christoph Marzi, Aug 26
E ***** Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus, Sept 06
S **** Sage, Angie - Flyte

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 22 *~*~*

CCC: I Spy Summer Challenge
June 20 - September 20
Progress 6/10

1. Blue Cover
Ox-Tales: Water, 4/5
2. Summer Food Cover
Heather Hepler - The Cupcake Queen, 4/5
3. Blooming Tree Cover
4. Winter/White Cover
Pat Walsh - The Crowfield Curse, 5/5
5. Festival/Outdoor Market/Amusement Rides Cover
6. Beach Cover
7. Castle Cover
N.K. Jemisin - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, 4/5
8. R/W/B Cover
Sarah Addison Allen - The Girl Who Chased the Moon, 5/5
9. Books Cover
Vicki Myron - Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, 2/5
10. Woods Cover

*~*~* STOPPED SEPTEMBER 20 *~*~*

CCC: VACATION TIME
July 1 - Sept. 30
Progress: 15/15

1) Set somewhere you want to go
-> Morocco
**** The Caliph's House by Tahir Shah, Sep 21
2) US National Park
-> Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico: May 14, 1930 ... (listed on GR for 1930)
***** Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume II by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, July 13
3) A book that makes you happy (and want to go to France)
**** A Year In Provence by Peter Mayle, Sep 20
4) Set in/on/near the water
-> Swamps of Louisiana *shudders*
***** Lyra by Christoph Marzi, Aug 26
5) Authors first and last initials in “FRESHAIR”
***** <3 Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard, Aug 1
6) About family
***** Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, July 23
7) Sight worth seeing on the cover
-> Big Ben
**** The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber, July 26
8) Cover reflects my dream vacation
-> Going to the zoo with the family!!
**** We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals that Changed Their Lives Forever by Benjamin Mee
9) Favorite author
-> Sarah Addison Allen has wormed her way into my top 10 list with "The Girl Who Chased The Moon".
***** The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, July 24
10) Song
-> My favourite song is a Hindi one called "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna".
Since that would be difficult to spy, I switched to my favourite artist, Loreena McKennitt, and her song "Moon Cradle".
***** The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, July 22
11) Interstate highway
-> A4 ... 564 pages
**** Magyk by Angie Sage, July 3
12) New-to-you author
***** For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, Aug 21
13) Recommended to you
by a friend, family member (my mum XD) as a book “you’ll never forget".
** Die Vermessung der Welt (Measuring the World) by Daniel Kehlmann, July 28
14) Read a book in which a character records memories in some way
-> Gabriel takes (erotic) photographs in black and white.
***** <3 Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard, July 27
15) Read a book from your favorite genre
-> Magical Realism
***** <3 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Sept 06

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 23 *~*~*

CCC: SEPTEMBER MOM - CHAITRA
Sept 01 - Sept 30, 2012
Progress: 4/5

1. Read a book that's been made into a movie
**** Benjamin Mee - We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals that Changed Their Lives Forever, Sep 09

2. Read a book whose author's last and first names are any combination of CPED.

3. Author I hate:
There are several I don't like to read, or I think are overrated, but there is one female author where I don't know how the stuff she wrote ever got published and became "inspirational". It only inspired me to my first one-star-review ever. Marlo Morgan.

4. Read a book whose title contains One.
** David Baldacci - One Summer, Sep 22

5. Book #300 on my TBR. (Guesswork, since I recently split my TBR into genres.)
***** Gita Mehta - River Sutra, Sep 15

RC: All About September Mini Challenge
Sept 1 - Sept 31, 2012
Progress: 3/3

1. September comes from the Latin words septem, meaning seven and septimus, meaning seventh. Read a book with "Seven" (or a variation in its title), that is seventh in its series, or a book with 7 as one of the digits in its page numbers.
***** Erin Morgenstern / The Night Circus (387), Sept 06

2. The flower for the month of September is the aster which symbolizes love. Read a book whose theme is about love (does not need to be romantic love).
**** N.K. Jemisin / The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Sep 11

3. The very first comic strip was printed in an American newspaper on September 11th, 1875. Read a comic book, graphic novel, or manga OR tell us about your favorite comic and why it's your favorite.

4. The 4th week of September is National Dog Week. Read a book where a central character is an animal or the book is about animals OR tell us what your favorite animal is and why it's your favorite. (For bonus points, post your favorite youtube video of it.)
** Vicki Myron - Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, Sep 16
Actually, my favourite animals are owls, and I dare you not to love them after this.

CCC: September Scavenger Hunt
Sept 1 - Sept 30, 2012
Progress: 6/6

1) BACK TO SCHOOL – Read a book in which ALL of the first letters in the title – including A, An and The – are in the words BACKTOSCHOOL.
*** Sebastian Faulks / Birdsong, Sep 12

2) SCIENCE – Read a book with a character who works in a medical field (father).
***** Gloria Whelan / The Disappeared, Sep 23

3) MATH – Continue a series you’ve already started OR read a book with a number on the cover or in the title.
** David Baldacci - One Summer, Sep 22

4) READING & WRITING – Read a book with a character who works in a library
** Vicki Myron / Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, Sep 16

5) ART, MUSIC AND PHYS ED – Read a book with a cover that you consider artistic OR a book in which a character is an artist (the magicians and performers are artists!).
***** Erin Morgenstern / The Night Circus, Sep 5

6) RECESS – Use this as a free space, read any book you’d like to read!
**** Peter Mayle / A Year In Provence, Sep 20

RC: September Industrial Challenge
Sept 1 - Sept 30, 2012
Progress: 12/12

1. Agriculture: Read a book that has something that grows on its cover (a flower)
***** Gita Mehta - River Sutra, Sep 15
2. Apparel: Read a book that has a protagonist who prides him or herself on being fashionable
*** Carol K. Carr - India Black, Sep 26
3. Automotive: Read a book that has a mode of transportation on its cover (a ship)
*** John Steinbeck - Logbuch Des Lebens Roman, Sep 30
4. Banking/Lending
Read a book that you borrowed from a friend (bought it myself afterwards)
**** N.K. Jemisin - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Sep 11
5. Education: Read a non-fiction book that teaches you something (not to ignore local beliefs, else the jinn might get you!!!)
**** Tahir Shah - The Caliph's House, Sep 21
6. Entertainment & Leisure: Read a quick and easy book that’s chick lit
** David Baldacci - One Summer, Sep 22
7. Computer/Software/Electronics: Read a science fiction book
*** Jo Walton - Among Others, Sep 29
8. Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals: Read a book that makes you feel good when you’re down (makes me want to go to France!)
**** Peter Mayle - A Year In Provence, Sep 20
9. Motion Picture & Video
Read a book that has been made into a movie
**** Benjamin Mee - We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals that Changed Their Lives Forever, Sep 09
10. News: Read a book that centers around an event that made headlines or, if it’s a historic event, is in the history books (1893 Chicago World Fair)
**** Erik Larson - The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Sep 29
11. Publishing
Read a book from the Publisher’s Weekly Best Books List (from any year or category)
***** Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus(Fiction 2011), Sep 06
12. Tourism
Read a book that takes place in a country you would like to visit -> Iceland
** Halldór Laxness - Iceland's Bell, Sep 07

*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 30 *~*~*

CCC: September Spell
Sept 1 - Sept 30, 2012
Progress: 14/14

H **** N.K. Jemisin / The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Sep 11
I *** Carol K. Carr / India Black, Sep 26
S *** Sebastian Faulks / Birdsong, Sep 12
T **** Tahir Shah / The Caliph's House, Sep 21
O ** David Baldacci / One Summer, Sep 22
R ***** Gita Mehta / River Sutra, Sep 15
Y **** Yasmina Khadra / Les sirènes de Bagdad, Sep 28



B **** Benjamin Mee / We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals that Changed Their Lives Forever, Sep 09
I ** Halldór Laxness / Iceland's Bell, Sep 07
O *** Amos Oz / A Tale of Love and Darkness, Sep 28
L **** Erik Larson / The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Sep 29
O ***** Téa Obreht / The Tiger's Wife, Sep 30
G ***** Gloria Whelan / The Disappeared, Sep 23
Y **** Peter Mayle / A Year In Provence, Sep 20



*~*~* COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 30 *~*~*