The Challenge Factory discussion

TCF Monthly January Challenge
You will choose 1 or more word from the list and choose/read books that either the •Title •Author or •Series begins with each letter! Strike out and rate finished books.
Duration: Jan. 1-31, 2016

6/6 COMPLETED
G - Great Expectations
A - Audacious
R - The Raven Prince
N - Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
E - The Elfstones of Shannara
T - The Walking Dead, Compendium 2

BOOK it to the finish line! January Challenge
COMPLETED
The bridge is 51 feet wide.
Read as many books from each category as you want until you pass 51.
Books have to be at least 200 pages.
Re-reads are okay.
Duration : Jan. 1 - 31, 2016

For your stick to go 8 feet, read a book that :
is at least 200+ pages - Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
has a bare tree on the cover
is the second in a series - The Elfstones of Shannara
the title is 3 words long - The Raven Prince
has a bird on the cover
has two authors

For your stick to go 11 feet, read a book that :
has a bear in the story
has a yellow cover
is a children's book
has a young child in it
is set in a forest
has a character with the name of Chris

For your stick to go 16 feet, read a book that :
has less than 100 reviews
has a red shirt or dress on the cover - Suddenly You
has a gloomy character
was published before 1928 - Great Expectations
you think is sweet (like honey)
the author's name is Alan or Alex

For your stick to go 21 feet, read a book that :
is a genre you don't usually read
has a bridge on the cover
pigs are mentioned
has illustrations - The Walking Dead, Compendium 2
is set in a place you've never been - Confess
where someone loses their home

Total: 98/51 feet

Ready, Set, Cover! Yearly Challenge

Level Easy: 1-2 Books a Month
12/12-24 books completed
Duration: Jan.1 - Dec. 31, 2016

Cover Items/Alternate Cover Items
January: Snowflakes/Red
- Suddenly You 1/24/16
February: Multiple People/Purple Dead Poets Society 3/8/16
March: A Leg/Blue Outlander 3/1/16, Something Wicked This Way Comes 3/26/16
April: Something to Sit On/White A Darker Shade of Magic 4/5/16, Tempt Me at Twilight 4/11/16
May: One Person/Green Dead Until Dark 5/1/16, American Psycho 5/18/16
June: Musical Instrument (a microphone counts)/Pink The Merciless
July: Sun/Multiple colors (2 or more) Ready Player One 7/3/16
August: An Artificial Source of Light/Black
September: Tree/Brown
October: Moon/Orange
November: No People/Yellow Gemina 11/27/16
December: Stars/Silver All the Birds in the Sky 12/6/16

Honoring the Harry Potter Movies Year Challenge

Read 15 books from each of the 3 categories for a total of 45 books.
Page limit - at least 175 pages
Duration - Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2016
36/45 books completed

Gryffindor - 14/15
Read 15 books that are associated with something in the titles of books. (Since there are only 10 books, you will need to double up on a few titles.)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - read a book where the main character is magical in some way or where stones are relevant to the plot The Elfstones of Shannara, The Name of the Wind
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - read a book where secrets are relevant or where a main character is locked up The Face on the Milk Carton, Ink and Bone
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - read a book where the main character is imprisoned, wrongfully so for extra credit Confess, A Wrinkle in Time
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - read a book where fire is of importance The Shadow of the Wind
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - read a book where the main character re-invents oneself or is mythological Great Expectations, Married By Morning
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - read a book about royalty or blood Red Queen
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - read a book where enchanted objects are relevant Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Tales of Beedle the Bard - read a book of short stories I, Robot
Quidditch Through the Ages - read a book with a 'Q' in the title Disquiet
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - read a book where the main character has to search for something The Bat


Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw 8/15
Read 15 books that are written by authors who have the same first or last name as the character or actor. (Spellings can be slightly different.)

Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe
Ron Weasley - Rupert Grint
Hermione Granger - Emma Watson
Albus Dumbledore - Richard Harris or Michael Gambon The Sea of Monsters
Rebeus Hagrid - Robbie Coltrane Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Ginnie Weasley - Bonnie Wright
Fred Weasley - James Phelps Sam's Letters to Jennifer (James Patterson, author)
George Weasley - Oliver Phelps
Molly Weasley - Julie Walters
Arthur Weasley - Mark Williams House of Leaves (Mark Z. Danielewski, author)
Lord Voldemort - Ralph Fiennes
Severus Snape - Alan Rickman V for Vendetta
Minerva McGonagall - Maggie Smith The Great Cow Race
Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton
Sirius Black - Gary Oldman Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Remus Lupin - David Thewlis
Vernon Dursley -Richard Griffiths The Titan's Curse
Petunia Dursley - Fiona Shaw
Dudley Dursley - Harry Melling
Neville Longbottom - Matthew Lewis
Nearly Headless Nick - John Cleese
Argus Filch - David Bradley
Sybil Trelawney - Emma Thompson
Gilderoy Lockhart - Kenneth Branagh
Cedric Diggory - Robert Pattinson


Slytherin 18/15
Read 15 books about things that one might associate within the HP universe.

friends - read a book where a group of friends are the main characters The Outsiders
orphan - read a book where the main character is all alone Ender's Game
Hogwarts - read a book that takes place in a boarding school
Dumbledore - read a book that has an older mentor Sabriel
muggles - read a book about someone who is ordinary Armada
wizards - read a book that is magical The Notebook
scar - read a book where one of the main character has a physical oddity A Darker Shade of Magic
potions - read a book where cooking is important (either magical or normal) Little House on the Prairie
the Marauder's Map - read a book where the characters are dependent on directions, either from a map or from a guide All the Bright Places
England - read a book that either set in England or maintains a British way of life Suddenly You
secret passageways - read a book where the main characters go through a magic portal Outlander
the Triwizard Tournament - read a book where they compete in sports The Westing Game
the Dursleys - read a book where the main character has unsympathetic relatives The Secret Lives of Dresses
Gringott's Bank - read a book where a main character is wealthy Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
Parseltongue - read a book where someone is able to communicate with animals Mary Poppins
mythical creatures - read a book where mythical or animals play a part Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
giants - read a 400+ page book The Walking Dead, Compendium 2
castle - read a book set in a very large building Cinder
owls - read a book about a solitary person, or a book with nighttime on the cover Tempt Me at Twilight

100 Book Genre Challenge

Rules:
* No minimum page requirement.
* Re-reads are allowed as long as they’re read during the time of the challenge.
* When you've finished a book rate & date it.
* You can change your books and genres at any time.
Duration: 01 January 2016 - 31 December 2016

66/100 books completed

Genre One - Classics
1. Great Expectations ♥♥♥♥♥ (1/25/16)
2. The Outsiders ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/5/16)
3. Dead Poets Society ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/8/16)
4. The Crucible ♥♥♥♥ (3/11/16)
5. The Old Man and the Sea ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/11/16)
6. American Psycho ♥♥♥ (5/18/16)
7. Mary Poppins ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/13/16)
8. A Wrinkle in Time ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/18/16)
9. Superman: The Golden Age Vol. 1 ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/18/16)
10. Little House on the Prairie ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/23/16)
11. Anne of Green Gables ♥♥♥♥♥ (7/1/16)
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Genre Two - Fantasy/Science-Fiction
1. The Elfstones of Shannara ♥♥♥♥♥ (1/29/16)
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ♥♥♥♥♥ (2/29/16)
3. Outlander ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/1/16)
4. V for Vendetta ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/4/16)
5. I, Robot ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/4/16)
6. Sabriel ♥♥♥♥(3/6/16)
7. Red Queen ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/7/16)
8. Ink and Bone ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/23/16)
9. The Tales of Beedle the Bard ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/27/16)
10. Ender's Game ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/29/16)
11. A Darker Shade of Magic ♥♥♥♥ (4/5/16)
12. Armada ♥♥♥♥ (4/24/16)
13. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ♥♥♥♥♥ (4/29/16)
14. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, ♥♥♥♥♥, (5/12/16)
15. The Name of the Wind, ♥♥♥♥♥, (6/13/16)
16. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, ♥♥♥♥♥, (6/18/16)
17. The Winner's Curse ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/26/16)
18. Howl's Moving Castle ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/27/16)
19. Ready Player One ♥♥♥♥♥ (7/3/16)
20. The Graveyard Book ♥♥♥♥♥ (7/8/16)

Genre Three - Mystery/Horror
1. The Walking Dead, Compendium 2 ♥♥♥♥♥ (1/9/16)
2. The Face on the Milk Carton ♥♥ (1/25/16)
3. Luckiest Girl Alive ♥♥ (2/8/16)
4. The Bat ♥♥♥♥♥ (2/12/16)
5. Something Wicked This Way Comes ♥♥♥ (3/26/16)
6. The Shadow of the Wind ♥♥♥ (6/1/16)
7. House of Leaves ♥♥♥♥ (6/18/16)
8. The Westing Game ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/23/16)
9. The Merciless ♥♥ (6/28/16)
10. Illuminae ♥♥♥♥♥ (7/26/16)
11. The Raven Boys ♥♥♥♥♥ (9/2/16)
12. Cockroaches ♥♥♥♥ (12/13/16)
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Genre Four - Non-Fiction
1. Audacious ♥♥♥♥♥ (1/31/16)
2. The Last Lecture ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/12/16)
3. Night ♥♥♥♥♥ (3/28/16)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Genre Five - Romance
1. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake ♥♥♥♥ (1/11/16)
2. Full Exposure ♥♥♥♥ (1/19/16)
3. The Raven Prince ♥♥♥♥ (1/21/16)
4. Suddenly You ♥♥♥♥ (1/24/16)
5. Confess ♥♥♥♥ (1/27/16)
6. The Notebook ♥♥♥♥♥ (2/8/16)
7. Mine Till Midnight ♥♥♥♥ (2/9/16)
8. All the Bright Places ♥♥♥♥ (2/17/16)
9. Seduce Me at Sunrise ♥♥♥♥ (3/7/16)
10. Tempt Me at Twilight ♥♥♥♥♥ (4/11/16)
11. Dead Until Dark ♥♥♥♥ (5/1/16)
12. Sam's Letters to Jennifer ♥♥♥♥ (5/13/16)
13. Married By Morning ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/17/16)
14. Cinder ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/20/16)
15. Living Dead in Dallas ♥♥♥♥♥ (6/29/16)
16. Country Bride ♥♥ (7/3/16)
17. Lead Me On ♥♥♥♥ (7/20/16)
18. The Winner's Crime ♥♥♥♥♥ (8/12/16)
19. A Court of Thorns and Roses ♥♥♥♥♥ (8/18/16)
20. A Court of Mist and Fury ♥♥♥♥♥ (9/24/16)

January Summary


The Walking Dead, Compendium 2 by Robert Kirkman, 1,068 pages, 1/9/16
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean, 436 pages, 1/11/16
Full Exposure by Evangeline Anderson, 96 pages, 1/17/16
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt, 356 pages, 1/21/16
Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas, 384 pages, 1/24/16
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, 262 pages, 1/25/16
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney, 184 pages, 1/25/16
Confess by Colleen Hoover, 320 pages, 1/27/16
The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks, 564 pages, 1/29/16
Audacious by Beth Moore, 178 pages, 1/31/16

Overall Total: 10 books, 3,848 pages

Reading List for February


Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (Old Books, New Readers group read)
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (Novel Books & Reading Challenges group read)
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (Novel Books & Reading Challenges group read)
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (The Challenge Factory buddy read with Gaelle and Ali)
Sabriel by Garth Nix (The Challenge Factory buddy read with Lulu)
The Bat by Jo Nesbo (The Challenge Factory buddy read with Sandy)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (The Challenge Factory buddy read with Ali and Sarah)
Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz (The Challenge Factory buddy read with Krissy)
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (Novel Books & Reading Challenges group read)

BOOK it to the finish line! February Challenge

You have been hired by the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express Company to carry the mail between the Nevada stations of Egan Canyon and Silver City. Your route is about 75 miles. Since it is February, the weather should be mild :)

a short Pony Express video

You must read one book to get from station to station.
Books must be at least 200 pages. Re-reads are okay.
Duration : Feb. 1 - 29, 2016
COMPLETED

To get from Egan Canyon to Ruby Valley, read a book:
with 200+ pages The Notebook
with a red cover
set in the mountains
where a main character receives jewelry

To get from Ruby Valley to Eureka, read a book:
where a discovery is made The Bat
with a single word title
where Greek mythology is mentioned
where a main character is successful at something

To get from Eureka to Stillwater*, read a book:
with water on the cover
the title starts with a 'S' - The Secret Lives of Dresses
that is ghostly
where time is spent in a boat or ship

To get from Stillwater to Silver City, read a book:
set in a small town - All the Bright Places
where a main character wears silver jewelry
with a 'V' somewhere in the title - Luckiest Girl Alive
with silver, gold or bronze on the cover

*Stillwater is a 19th-century ghost town of Churchill County, Nevada. Stillwater became the county seat of Churchill County in 1868, when the town was an important mail stage stop. In 1903 the seat of government moved to Fallon, Nevada and the decline of Stillwater began.

TCF Monthly February Challenge

5/9 Completed
M - Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
A - All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, ♥♥♥♥, 2/17/16
R - Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, ♥♥♥♥♥, 2/29/16
D - Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
I - I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

G - Garth Nix, Sabriel
R - Groundhog Day The Notebook
A - National World Thinking Day The Bat
S - The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean, ♥♥♥♥♥, 2/7/15

Can be used in place of one of your letters or on their own
Floral Design Day: Read a book with flowers on the cover. Luckiest Girl Alive
National World Thinking Day: Read a book that really makes you think. The Bat
Groundhog Day: Read a book that you could read over and over and over again. The Notebook
Super Bowl Sunday: Read a book where football is played.
Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday: Read a book from a series that you’d love to binge read.

February Summary


The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean, 292 pages, 2/7/16
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, 213 pages, 2/8/16
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, 352 pages, 2/8/16
Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas, 372 pages, 2/9/16
The Bat by Jo Nesbo, 369 pages, 2/12/16
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, 400 pages, 2/17/16
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, 309 pages, 2/29/16

This Month's Total: 7 books, 2,307 pages
Overall Total: 17 books, 6,155 pages

TCF Monthly March Challenge

Completed CLOVER
C: The Crucible
L: Lisa Kleypas, author. Seduce Me at Sunrise
O: The Outsiders
V: V for Vendetta
E: Ernest Hemingway. The Old Man and the Sea
R: Red Queen


M:
A:
R: Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
D: Dubliners
I: Ink and Bone

G: Gathering of Shadows, A. V.E. Schwab
R: Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
A:
S: Something Wicked This Way Comes

BOOK it to the finish line! March Challenge

You must read one book to reach each place along the route.
Books must be at least 200 pages. Re-reads are okay.
Duration : March 1 - 31, 2016

The race begins at the Maloja Palace Hotel.

To get to Lakes Sils and Silvaplana, read a book:
that is the 4th in a series
where a main character uses public transportation
where a main character goes camping
with lots of black on the cover Ink and Bone
that is set by a lake

To get to Pontresina, read a book:
that is set in a small town Something Wicked This Way Comes
with a bridge on the cover
where a main character goes to a house of worship
that is set in medieval times
with a character that can speak German

To get to Samedan Airport, read a book:
that is the 1st in a series Sabriel
that you consider challenging
where a main character flies in an airplane
that was published independently
that you completed in one day The Outsiders

To get to the finish line at S-chanf, read a book:
with a twin
where someone does a lot of walking
that begins with a 'S' Seduce Me at Sunrise
that is the last of a series
with someone who serves in the army Red Queen

March Summary


Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, 850 pages, 3/1/16
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, 224 pages, 3/4/16
V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, 265 pages, 3/4/16
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, 188 pages, 3/5/16
Sabriel by Garth Nix, 191 pages, 3/6/16
Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas, 360 pages, 3/7/16
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, 383 pages, 3/7/16
Dead Poets Society by N. H. Kleinbaum, 166 pages, 3/8/16
The Crucible by Arthur Miller, 143 pages, 3/11/16
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, 127 pages, 3/11/16
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, 206 pages, 3/12/16
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine, 351 pages, 3/23/16
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, 290 pages, 3/26/16
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling, 112 pages, 3/27/16
Night by Elie Wiesel, 109 pages, 3/28/16
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, 368 pages, 3/29/16

This Month's Total: 16 books, 4,333 pages
Overall Total: 33 books, 10, 488 pages

BOOGIE to the Finish Line! April Challenge

To participate in this marathon, you must dance for at least 6 hours.

Hours Dancing: 6

Songs that will count for one hour of dancing:
Love Shack (The B-52′s) - read a romance Tempt Me at Twilight
Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond) - read a book with a sweet character
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison) - read a book with brown eyes on the cover
Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees) - read a book where someone almost gets killed A Darker Shade of Magic
Jessie’s Girl (Rick Springfield) - read a book where the author's name starts with 'J'
California Girls (Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg) - read a book set in California
Thriller (Michael Jackson) - read a book that you think is/will be thrilling
We Are Family (Sister Sledge) - read a book where family is important
Hips Don’t Lie (Shakira, Wyclef Jean) - read a book where someone tells a big lie
Another One Bites The Dust (Queen) - read a book that has been on your TBR list a long time

Songs that will count for 2 hours of dancing:
Hollaback Girl (Gwen Stefani) - read a YA book
Poker Face (Lady Gaga) - read a book with no faces on the cover
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) - read a book that you think is/will be fun
Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry) – read a book with a musician in it
Save A Horse (Big & Rich) – read a book where someone gets rescued Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Single Ladies (Beyonce) – read a book where the main character is unmarried
Footloose (Kenny Loggins) - read a book where the main character has little or no responsibilities
Y.M.C.A. (The Village People) - read a book whose title starts with 'Y'
Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd) - read a book where a main character returns home Armada
1999 (Prince) - read a book published in 1999

TCF Monthly April Challenge

April Words to Choose From:
Words Associated With April:
•Fool •Showers•Taxes•Arbor Day•Earth Day•Passover•Diamond•Baseball•Daisy•Spring •Aries•

E - Ernest Cline, author. Armada ♥♥♥♥, 4/24/16
A - A Darker Shade of Magic ♥♥♥♥, 4/5/16
R
T - Tempt Me at Twilight ♥♥♥♥♥, 4/11/16
H - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ♥♥♥♥♥, 4/29/16

D
A
Y

Birthdays in April:
(Please note you can do the whole name, first, and or last)
•Beverly Cleary•Sarah Michelle Gellar•William Shakespeare•Claire Danes•Dennis Quaid•David Cassidy•Shannon Doherty•Tony Danza•Kelly Clarkson•Tom Clancy

Themes to Choose From for Hard Level:
Library Week: All of your books must be from the library.
Take a Chance Day: All of your books must be by new to you authors.
Blah, Blah, Blah Day: All of your books must be books that were recommended to you.
National Siblings Day: Siblings must play an important role in all of your books
Lover’s Day: All of your books must be romances.

Can be used in place of one of your letters or on their own
National Humor Month: Read a book that makes you laugh.
National Poetry Month: Read a book of poetry or about a poet.
National Karaoke Week: Read a book about a singer.
April Fool’s Day: Read a book you’d be a fool not to read.
National High Five Day: Read a book that is the fifth book in a series.

Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge

Duration: April 1, 2016 - ????
Books Read: 0

April Summary


A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, 416 pages, 4/5/16
Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas, 373 pages, 4/11/16
Armada by Ernest Cline, 349 pages, 4/24/16
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, 341 pages, 4/29/16

This Month's Total: 4 books, 1,479 pages
Overall Total: 37 books, 11,967 pages

TCF Monthly May Challenge

You can read as many or as few as you want.
You can read one of each or focus on two or three sights.
No page limit. Re-reads are okay.
Duration : May 1 - 31, 2016

Mazatlan Aquarium (the largest aquarium in Mexico) - read a book with water on the cover Sam's Letters to Jennifer
Angela Peralta Theater (a stunning Colonial-era building) - read a book with someone who you think is angelic
Mazatlan Cathedral (took 15 years to build) - read a book that is at least 15 years old Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (published in 1999)
Copala (a town little changed from the 1500s) - read a book set in a small town Dead Until Dark
Stone Island - read a book with rocks on the cover
Mazatlan Tequila Tour - read a book where there is alcohol
the Centennial Boulevard - read a book set more than 100 years ago
Olas Altas Beach - read a book where time is spent at the beach
El Faro Lighthouse - read a book with a sailor
Caverna del Diablo (Cave of the Devil) - read a book with a devilish person American Psycho
El Presidio (the fortress) restaurant - read a book with a chef or cook
the Pedro Infante Monument - (a Mexican singer and actor, born in Mazatlan) - read a book with any kind of performer in it
El Clavadista - (clavadista means cliff diver) - read a book where the main character does something dangerous Married By Morning

May Summary


Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris, 292 pages, 5/1/16
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, 435 pages, 5/12/16
Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson, 251 pages, 5/13/16
Married By Morning by Lisa Kleypas, 325 pages, 5/17/16
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, 399 pages, 5/18/16

This Month's Total: 5 books, 1,702 pages
Overall Total: 42 books, 13,669 pages

TCF Monthly June Challenge

Completed Samantha

Birthdays in June:
S - The Shadow of the Wind
A - A Wrinkle in Time
M - Mary Poppins
A - Anne of Green Gables
N - The Name of the Wind
T - The Westing Game
H - House of Leaves
A -

M - Matilda
A -
Y -

Y -
O - O'Brien, Robert C. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
U -
N -
G -

Can be used in place of one of your letters or on their own
Flip a Coin Day: Flip a coin to decide what book you read.
National Hollerin’ Contest Day: Read any book that makes you want to holler (in any way). Cinder
National Kissing Day: Read a book with some kissing in it.
National Pink Day: Read a book with a pink cover.
Take Your Dog to Work Day: Read a book with a character that has a pet dog.

BOOK it to the finish line! June Challenge

Duration : June 1 - 30, 2016
Books must be at least 200 pages. Re-reads are okay.
COMPLETED

To reach the finish line, you must pick at least 3 riding partners,
and read the books associated with those famous motorcyclists.

Evel Knievel - read a book where someone has a broken bone House of Leaves
Marlon Brando - read a book with a dangerous criminal in it The Westing Game
Pink - read a book with lots of pink on the cover The Merciless
Clint Eastwood - read a book that is set east of where you live
David Beckham - read a book with a professional athlete in it
Ewan McGregor - read a book with an orphan in it Superman: The Golden Age Vol. 1
Usher - read a book with a wedding in it Country Bride
Angelina Jolie - read a book where someone is a refugee
Roald Dahl - read a book that was made into a movie Matilda (the irony)
Hugh Laurie - read a book that is funny
King Hussein of Jordan - read a book with an assassination attempt in it The Name of the Wind
Jeremy Irons - read a book that has recieved an award A Wrinkle in Time
Bob Dylan - read a book where someone changes their name The Shadow of the Wind
Charles Lindbergh - read a book where time is spent in an airplane
Buddy Holly - read a book where someone has a nickname
Queen Latifah - read a book with an unmarried main character Cinder
George Clooney - read a book where the main character is a doctor
Orlando Bloom - read a book that is a bestseller
Hugh Jackman - read a book with a very poor main character Howl's Moving Castle
T E Lawrence - read a book by an author who uses initials Mary Poppins
Bessie Stringfield (The Motorcycle Queen of Miami) - read a book that is the first in a series The Winner's Curse

June Summary


The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 487 pages, 6/1/16
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers, 206 pages, 6/13/16
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, 662 pages, 6/13/16
Matilda by Roald Dahl, 240 pages, 6/14/16
Bone, Vol. 1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith, 138 pages, 6/16/16
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, 203 pages, 6/18/16
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, 709 pages, 6/18/16
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, 233 pages, 6/18/16
Superman: The Golden Age Vol. 1 by Jerry Siegel, 390 pages, 6/18/16
Cinder by Marissa Meyer, 387 pages, 6/20/16
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, 182 pages, 6/23/16
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 335 pages, 6/23/16
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski, 355 pages, 6/26/16
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, 336 pages, 6/27/16
The Merciless by Danielle Vega, 279 pages, 6/28/16
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris, 291 pages, 6/29/16

This Month's Total: 16 books, 5,433 pages
Overall Total: 58 books, 19,102 pages

TCF'S Summer Seasonal Challenge
♢Duration: 6/21/16 - 09/21/16♢

•Re-reads are allowed and any genre is ok
•Once you’ve read a book strike through it and rate it
•Update your original post and occasionally post a general update if you’d like to
•No reading until 6/21 but you can reserve your spot & put your lists together
•This will be a six part challenge, pick your level then pick your books
•Have fun & happy reading!

Levels:
Sunscreen: 1-2 tasks per category
Bikini: 3 tasks per category
Beach Bum: 4+ tasks per category

Category 1: Summer Colors
Yellow
Orange
Red
Green
Blue

Category 2: 4th of July
Read a book published in July (any year):
Read a book that is 4th in a series:
Read a book with a red, white or blue cover:
Read a book with a fight for freedom or independence in it:
Read a book that starts with any letter in July:

Category 3: Romance Awareness Month
Read a book from the romance genre:
Read a book published in August (any year):
Read a book in which someone gets married or engaged:
Read a book with flowers on the cover:
Read a book with the word romance in the cover

Category 4: Labor Day
Read a book where a character works hard:
Read a book published in September (any year):
Read a book that's so good you could stay home from work to finish:
Read a book whose title has the letters of labor in it (doesn't have to be consecutive):
Read a book that is set in a place you've gone on vacation to:

Category 5: Summer Time
Read a book set during the summer months:
Read a book with a beach scene on the cover:
Read a book from the One Day Best Summer Reads List:
Read a book that has the letters Summer in the title (does not have to be consecutive):
Read a book you think is scorching hot:

Category 6: Spell Out
Vacation
Beach
Hot
Swim
Sunny

July Monthly TCF Challenge

Duration: July 1-31st
0/9 Read

J -

K -

R -
O -
W -
L -
I -
N -
G -

Can be used in place of one of your letters or on their own
International Joke Day: Read a book that makes you laugh out loud.
Sidewalk Egg Frying Day: Read a book that is scorching hot.
Video Games Day: Read a book based on a video game or that had a video game based on it.
Moon Day: Read a book with the moon on the cover.
Take Your Pants for a Walk Day: Read a book with pants on the cover.

BOOK it to the finish line - July 2016

Duration : July 1 - 31, 2016
Books must be at least 200 pages. Re-reads are okay.

You must read books that will take your snail past 13 inches.
Total Inches:

To go 2 inches, read a book:
that is 200+ pages
that starts with the letter 'S'
that is set in England
that is historical
where a garden is important
published in 2013

To go 3 inches, read a book:
with water on the cover
that is considered YA
that is a standalone
set in a very small town or village
where someone receives 'snail mail'
written by an author whose name starts with a 'S'

To go 4 inches, read a book:
with a French character in it
that you think might be a slow story
where someone eats gourmet food
written by a British author
with the author's name on the top of the cover
that is set in the summertime

To go 6 inches, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
where someone goes hungry
that is a childrens book
that has a meal in the title (i.e., breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, brunch)
with some sort of shell on the cover
that contains recipes (must be fiction)
where the main character wins a prize

July Summary


Country Bride by Debbie Macomber, 192 pages, 7/3/16
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, 374 pages, 7/3/16
Bone, Vol. 2: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith, 133 pages, 7/4/16
Disquiet by Julia Leigh, 122 pages, 7/6/16
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, 327 pages, 7/8/16
Vicious by V.E. Schwab, 364 pages, 7/13/16
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan, 279 pages, 7/14/16
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen, 241 pages, 7/19/16
Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl, 349 pages, 7/20/16
Bone, Vol. 3: Eyes of the Storm by Jeff Smith, 192 pages, 7/23/16
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan, 312 pages, 7/25/16
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, 608 pages, 7/26/16
Bone, Vol. 4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith, 176 pages, 7/26/16

This Month's Total: 13 books, 3,2669 pages
Overall Total: 71 books, 22,771 pages

August Summary


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2 by J.K. Rowling, 343 pages, 8/1/16
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, 541 pages, 8/4/16
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, 454 pages, 8/6/16
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, 375 pages, 8/10/16
The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski, 402 pages, 8/12/16
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, 416 pages, 8/18/16
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan, 361 pages, 8/21/16

This Month's Total: 7 books, 2,892 pages
Overall Total: 78 books, 25,663 pages

September Summary


The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, 408 pages, 9/2/16
Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, 64 pages, 9/3/16
Bone, Vol. 5: Rock Jaw, Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith, 128 pages, 9/15/16
The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski, 484 pages, 9/18/16
After the Rain by Jennifer Hayden, 311 pages, 9/24/16
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, 640 pages, 9/24/16
Bone, Vol. 6: Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith, 128 pages, 9/27/16

This Month's Total: 7 books, 2,163 pages
Overall Total: 85 books, 27,826 pages

October Summary


The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan, 381 pages, 10/16/16

This Month's Total: 1 book, 381 pages
Overall Total: 86 books, 28,207 pages

November Summary


Cress by Marissa Meyer, 552 pages, 11/1/16
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks, 626 pages, 11/25/16
Fairest by Marissa Meyer, 220 pages, 11/27/16
Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, 659 pages, 11/27/16

This Month's Total: 4 books, 2,057 pages
Overall Total: 90 books, 30,264 pages

TCF December Monthly Challenge

S- Smith, Jeff. Bone, Vol. 7: Ghost Circles 12/13/16 ★★★★
A- All the Birds in the Sky 12/6/16 ★★
N- Nesbo, Jo, Cockroaches 12/13/16 ★★★★
T- Throne of Glass 12/31/16 ★★★★
A- Angela's Ashes

Tasks 1/5
♘Foreman Trea's Letter of the Month: A: Read as many books as you can that have a title that starts with the letter of the month or the author's first or last name starts with the letter of the month.
♘Complete 5 What’s So Great About December? Tasks, Wacky Holiday Tasks, History Facts Tasks, or A mix and match between the three

What’s So Great About December?
Write a Friend Month: Read at least 1 book from your friend(s) shelf
Bingo Month: Read a book with Bingo in the title (does not have to be consecutive)
Tie Month: Read a book with someone wearing a Tie on the cover
National Impared Driving Prevention Month: Read a book where someone acts as a designated driver for someone else
Cookie Cutter Week: Read a book where someone makes cookies (preferably with both a child and a cookie cutter, but does not have to have either one)

Wacky Holidays in December
December 1st: Eat a Red Apple Day: Read a book with a red apple on the cover or a red cover itself. Winter
December 3rd: Advent Begins: Read an Inspirational/Christian Fiction book set around Christmas
December 5th: Repeal Day: Read a set around a bar (character works in a bar/owns a bar) or where a character drinks an alcoholic beverage. The Duke and I
December 7: Pearl Harbor Day: Read a book set in World War II or Hawaii
December 11: International Children’s Day: Read a book that has a child/children in it. To Taste Temptation
December 12: National Ding-a-ling Day: Read a book with a dumb (to you) character
December 18: Bake Cookies Day: Read a book where someone bakes cookies
December 21: Humbug Day: Read a book with a grouchy character
December 23: Festivus: In celebration, read any book you’d like (free book!) Heartless
December 24: National Chocolate Day: Read a book that features chocolate somehow Skip Beat! (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 8: Includes volumes 22, 23 & 24
December 27: Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day: Read a book with snow on the cover
December 31: New Year’s Eve: Read a book that you really wanted to read this year and never did (Clockwork Angel)

History Facts for December
December 1st: The birth of the modern American civil rights movement occurred as Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white man: Read a book featuring an African-American character or author, or a book where a character has to defend their civil rights
December 2nd: The first permanent artificial heart was implanted in a man who was near death at the time of the operation, in Utah: Read a book set in Utah or where a character has to undergo surgery or is near death
December 8: Former Beatle musician John Lennon was assassinated in New York City: Read a book set in New York City, that has a character that is a musician or an assassin, or a book where someone dies unexpectedly
December 10: Educator Thomas Gallaudet was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He co-founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1817.: Read a book set in Pennsylvania or Connecticut, a book with a deaf main character, or a book where the characters have to attend school
December 13: Mary Todd was born in Lexington, Kentucky: Read a book where a woman becomes involved with a man who is in politics, or a book set in Kentucky
December 15: The Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution) became effective following ratification by Virginia.: Read a book set in Virginia or between 1765 to 1799.
December 17: After three years of experimentation, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered, controlled airplane flights.: Read a book where a character is a pilot or takes a trip by plane
December 20: American industrialist Harvey S. Firestone was born in Columbiana County, Ohio. He founded Firestone Tire and Rubber Co.: Read a book set in Ohio or where a character is an auto mechanic
December 23: Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear during a fit of depression.: Read a book with a character that suffers from a mental illness or depression itself
December 25: American nurse and philanthropist Clara Barton was born in Oxford, Massachusetts.: Read a book where a character is a nurse or is part of the Red Cross or any of its efforts, or a book set in Massachusetts
December 30: President Ronald Reagan and President-elect George Bush were subpoenaed to testify in the trial of Oliver North: Read a book where someone has to testify in a trial

BOOK it to the Finish Line! - December 2016

Duration : December 1 - 31, 2016
Books must be at least 200 pages.
Re-reads are okay.

I would like you to run at least 3 legs of the race.

Here is the course description:
Start The Honolulu Marathon starts on Ala Moana Boulevard, which in Hawaiian means “path by the ocean” - read a book set by the ocean

Miles 2-3 The second mile of the course runs through downtown along Honolulu Harbor - read a book that happens in a large city Cockroaches

Mile 4 The race forks right onto Kapiolani Boulevard through urban Honolulu and in the fourth mile turns right down Piikoi Street (Piikoi Street is probably named after David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi (c. 1845–1878), father of three royal princes of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi) - read a book with any type of royalty in it Winter

Mile 5 Mile five races through Waikiki high-rise hotels and condominiums - read a book where the main character sleeps at a hotel, motel, inn, or bed & breakfast The Duke and I

Miles 6-9 The course nears Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater - read a book where someone dies All the Birds in the Sky

Miles 10-14 The race turns right onto Kilauea Avenue in the tenth mile, passing through residential and commercial areas of Kahala - read a book with a building on the cover

Miles 15-19 In the sixteenth mile, runners turn left onto Hawaii Kai Drive into a valley community created by and named for billionaire industrialist Henry J. Kaiser - read a book with a main character that is rich To Taste Temptation

Miles 20-24 At mile 22, the course turns left onto Kealaolu Avenue along the Waialae Country Club where the Hawaiian Open PGA Golf Tournament is held - read a book where a main character plays a sport (does not have to be professionally) Heartless

Miles 25-26 As the last mile of the course curves around Diamond Head toward the finish in Waikiki, the route passes Cliffs, a popular surfing spot, and the Diamond Head Lighthouse - read a book with some source of light on the cover Throne of Glass

December Summary


All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders, 313 pages, 12/6/16
Winter by Marissa Meyer, 823 pages, 12/9/16
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo, 368 pages, 12/13/16
Bone, Vol. 7: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith, 150 pages, 12/13/16
To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt, 362 pages, 12/23/16
Heartless by Marissa Meyer, 449 pages, 12/28/16
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, 368 pages, 12/28/16
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, 404 pages, 12/31/16
Skip Beat! (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 8: Includes volumes 22, 23 & 24 by Yoshiki Nakamura, 568 pages, 12/31/16
Rose by Jeff Smith, 138 pages, 12/31/16

This Month's Total:
Overall Total: