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

You Own It, Now Read It!

Is there anyone who doesn’t have books or gift cards to be used for books on their holiday wish list? It’s time to move some books off your shelves, or the pile by your bed, and make room for new ones. If there is anyone out there that doesn’t own any books (gasp!), contact me and I’ll make a plan.

The December Toppler is a 24-hour one and will start on December 8th at 10 a.m. EST and reading will end at 10 a.m. EST on December 9th. Books must be started and finished in this time period to qualify for a badge. There are no points in this Toppler, only badges.

A few rules:

For those planning on participating the entire 24 hours, you must post every 2 hours, either an update or a quick check in is fine. No napping between check-ins. This extraordinary feat will earn you a badge.

There is no requirement to participate the whole time. Even if you only have a few hours, you can still earn badges! Everyone will get a participation badge. And you can always comment on what’s going on. We all know by now that the chatting is half of the fun.

A total of at least 200 pages must be read for a badge unless specifically stated otherwise. Example: for the Holiday badge I could read Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story (275 pages), OR Skipping Christmas (176 pages) AND The Polar Express (32 pages) to total at least 200 pages.

All formats are ok, as long as you own the book.

Books can only qualify for one badge. The exception is for "It's Better to Give...". And remember, books read for the Toppler can be used for the monthly challenge and group theme read.

Badges:

Happy Holidays! A winter holiday is part of the story. If not a well-known one, tell us about the holiday.

Ummm…thank you? Is there always a gift that is so not you, usually from a relative? You probably have some books like that. Was it a gift, highly recommended, the result of shopping while heavily medicated? Give it a try, and let us know if it’s worth it.

Old Man Time and Baby New Year A book you’ve had forever, but never got around to, OR, a recent acquisition.

All Wrapped Up Some wrapping papers and gift bags are so cute you have to have them. Pick a book where you couldn’t resist the cover and see if it lives up to the attraction.

Bling and More Bling! Jewelry is a popular Christmas gift and Christmas is the time for many engagements. Something involving an engagement or wedding, crowns, tiaras, or some big bling. Remember, your book might qualify for the Nov/Dec Monthly Challenge.

Peace on Earth Or maybe not…Family feud, war, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, zombies…
You might want to keep the Group Theme Read in mind.

Homemade Holidays Homemade decorations and holiday crafts are fun for the whole family. Where’s that book about making wreaths and potpourri, or the one with instructions on making snowflakes and other paper decorations? Try your hand at making something for the holidays. *The 200 page minimum does not apply, and you have six hours after the reading deadline (from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. EST) to make your project and post a picture. You can read up to two magazines for this task*

It’s Better to Give… Yes, it might be sacrilege to give away your books, but the holidays are a time of sharing. And what better thing to share than a good book. Make a promise that by the end of the year you’ll donate some books (doesn’t have to be the one you read). Good places are a shelter, library or thrift store, and some cancer and other medical centers also have books for patients to read. Donating to a cancer center could be in honor of Debra, our Warrior Woman.

So relax, pick up a book, and have fun!!

Let the planning begin!

I'm excited about this toppler.....i will be at my Dad's for the weekend, but I'm SURE i have 200 pages worth of books i can read with no problem!

I'm in hopefully.

I think I am in.

Remember, it only takes a little bit of reading to participate and getat least one badge!

Not to mention this could help some people (ie. me) get some rainbows finished!

Donald E. Westlake Blues here I come!

I am in! This will be my first Toppler since joining and I'm looking forward to it! I wonder if I can stay awake 24 hours. I may give it a try!

Yay, my love - topplers!

So excited and this toppler could be a lifesaver, so many books to read! I only wish it was for a week, 24 hours to less to squeeze in so many. :p

I am thinking of treading through my physical copies for this one. Marked my calendar. :D

I sense new piles springing up everywhere as people stand in front of their bookshelves pulling out possibilities, and then making piles from other piles, "Ohhh, I definitely need to read that, but that one looks so good, but look, there's a good possibility, and of course I'll need a backup pile".

Will it be a jumbled mess?

Or an artistic stack?

Will there be a mad rush to the bookstore? (tsk, tsk, you're supposed to be making room for new books)

Can I reread if I bought it in a new format and haven't read it in that format yet?

I am so in, just have to check the date of the santa run to see if I can do the full 24 or not :-)

Oh, yes! You know I am so in on this! :) Thank you for organizing everything for us, Jaxnsmom! Xx

Deborah - rereads are fine. Doesn't have to be a different format.

For anyone doing a reread - you have to read the whole thing, not just skimming.

I'm not going to get through more than one book in that time - I've got a riotous christmas dinner to go to Saturday night. Which usually finishes sometime Sunday morning...
If I read one book that fits multiple categories, can I leave whoever's in charge to just allocate me the cutest badge please? I'll be too bleary to care by that stage.

jaxnsmom wrote: "I sense new piles springing up everywhere as people stand in front of their bookshelves pulling out possibilities, and then making piles from other piles, "Ohhh, I definitely need to read that, but..."

LOL, Jmom! Hilarious!

J-Mom, thanks for thinking of me and donating books to a cancer center. That was really sweet.

You guys know I'll be at Almeta's toppler night, munching on goodies and Toppler Tea. I've already got one book in mind!

Oh, poor Helen. Sounds like you'll be torturing yourself! We'll take care of the badge, you take care of the aspirin and whatever else.

Debra - just one more way to show we're supporting you. I actually thought of it because my dad and I took a bunch of books to the libarary to donate and the woman said they had just gotten a call from the cancer center asking if there were any books they could have. Apparently a lot of patients would start a book during chemo and take it home with them. It was a good feeling knowing the books were going there.

It is a great idea.

When I was having chemo, a man came around with a cart that had some Sudoku puzzles, hats, blankets, and a few other items, but not books. I found myself a cozy hat and dug in to a Sudoku puzzle. I think it would be nice if they added a few books to that cart.

I am certain things have changed in the intervening years since I had chemo. It was over ten years ago. But I strongly advocate audiobooks. There's something very cozy about closing your eyes, and not having to do any of the work and letting someone else do the reading.

Alternatively, if you really want some distraction you can listen to an audiobook while doing sudoku!

Awww, man. My mother-in-law just announced she's visiting us that weekend!

Making my list, checking it twice, wonder if my mother-in-law will find me naughty or nice ...

Pragya wrote: "Yay, my love - topplers!

So excited and this toppler could be a lifesaver, so many books to read! I only wish it was for a week, 24 hours to less to squeeze in so many. :p

I am thinking of treadi..."

I think I'll be doing the same :)

Thing Two wrote: "Awww, man. My mother-in-law just announced she's visiting us that weekend!

Making my list, checking it twice, wonder if my mother-in-law will find me naughty or nice ..."

Now, Thing Two, Its only a 24 hour toppler. Maybe you can convince your mom-in-law to join you! Otherwise, you will have to wait until Feb. for the next toppler.

But seriously, I do understand. We will miss you!!

Thing Two wrote: "Awww, man. My mother-in-law just announced she's visiting us that weekend!

Making my list, checking it twice, wonder if my mother-in-law will find me naughty or nice ..."

Maybe you can find a way for her to spend some quality alone time with her son for a few hours :) Like going shopping for Christmas gifts for you and the kids, with a nice lunch.

Oh Jmom you are devious! I love it.

jaxnsmom wrote: "Debra - just one more way to show we're supporting you. I actually thought of it because my dad and I took a bunch of books to the libarary to donate and the woman said they had just gotten a call..."

My mom and I have some books that we were also going to donate to the library but we forgot to bring them with us. I'm going to look for centers close to us now and see if they want them instead. What a great idea.

I always donate books to the library and Goodwill, but I love the idea of donating to cancer centers. I am going to check ours out tomorrow and find out if they need books. Great idea, Jaxnsmom!

Yes, I agree. I usually drop my unwanteds off at the used bookstore down the street, but I like the challenges to donate some of the better ones. And thanks for the suggestion about things to do with my M-I-L while I'm reading. Of course, I'm always reading ... ,

Right I am so doing this one but once again it coincides with the Cardiff Santa Jog so I can't do the full 24 hours but will do as many as poss, may have to actually get some kip this time as well though!

Now to plan...and of course there'll be plenty of books going to the charity shop by the end of the year (got 5 waiting already).

Sam - what's "kip"?

I'm going to ask next Wed at my next chemo session if they take book donations. Then I can bring some to my 3rd session. Almeta and I are always donating books to the Salvation Army and to the mental health agency I work for.

I like the idea of listening to an audiobook while doing chemo. I've got a few books on my smart phone I can listen to.

A kip is a nap or sleep.

Rusalka wrote: "A kip is a nap or sleep."
something I suspect you're not supposed to do mid toppler...

It is indeed, usually used to refer to a small amount of sleep (about an hour or two).

Only if you're trying for the full 24 hours which I wont be doing this year. Tried it last year before the jog and it near killed me, it seems running a couple of miles on no sleep is not the best idea!

Wow Sam. I think about how exhausted I am when I pull an all nighter and then add a 10k run to that... grats on making it to the end alive! (running is not my thing either I will add)

I like my sleep too much, so there will be a good nap or two on my side. So depends on your priorities for a toppler. Mine just is that Mr Rus brings me coffee and drinks all day. Too busy, must read.

Rusalka wrote: "Mine just is that Mr Rus brings me coffee and drinks all day. ..."

Mr Rus drinks all day? lol

As long as he keeps the coffee coming it can't be all bad ;)

Rusalka wrote: "Wow Sam. I think about how exhausted I am when I pull an all nighter and then add a 10k run to that... grats on making it to the end alive! (running is not my thing either I will add)

I like my sl..."

Thanks Rusalka, it was a tad tiring although I must admit it was only 5K but I was dressed as Santa ;-)

Mr Rus drinks all day? lol"

He'd say I drive him to :P

but I was dressed as Santa ;-)

Well that's your own fault then! Although I do like costumed people at fun runs. A couple we are friends with win the costume award every year at the Canberra fun run. This is them as wedding zombies.

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Damn and there was me hoping for lots of sympathy ;-)

Wow they look amazing!!! Think this year we're trying a Santa costume with a twist so I'm going as Santa Jack Skellington, might event dress the dog as Zero too, not sure what my brother is doing though (to be honest I don't think I want to know!)

Santa Jack Skellington would be AWESOME! I totally want pictures of that!

The fun has already started! I was thinking I would miss this Toppler because I have my quilting on the same weekend. But the quilting is on the Sunday, so I'm good to go. I have some gophering to do to see what will fit for badges.

Oh good, Janice. I was going to ask you about that. I think you should stay up all night and see how straight and even your stitches are :)

Bill Murray likes to do some gophering too! The scenes of him planning to get rid of those pesky gophers is what I htink of with all the book gophering talk.

I love that movie! We'll have to chant, "Be the Book" when aiming to complete all 24 hours.

Boo Hoo, I think I will be missing the toppler due to a move. I will check in. Maybe I can find a couple hours to join in on some fun. :(

Ohhh April, I'm so sad you'll be missing most of the Toppler. I hope you'll get a little reading done (maybe reading to Romeo again?) and check in now and then!