Grab a Book & Play Booktivity! discussion

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange Spell-out Challenge
Duration: December 1 through December 31, 2016

Season Greetings! It's time for our Holiday Party here at GAB&PB and we're going to have a White Elephant Exchange. We'll have a $20 limit.(This is for pretend purposes) So tell us what your gift is and ..... you guess it ..... spell it out. :D
***But there's a surprise twist to this challenge. So start posting your gift as soon as possible. The surprise details will be given in a few days. :D


Challenge Rules

1. One book for each letter.
2. Your may use * the first letter of the first word of the book title (exclude a, an, or the )
Or * the initials of an author's first or last name,
Or * the initials of the main character's first or last name
3. All books must be 100 pages or more. Re-reads are allowed as long as you actually read the books. NO Skimming!
4. Add the date that you completed each book. Your rating is optional.

Participants List:
(Click on your name - it will take you straight to your post)

Names Picked from the Jar
1. Koren
2. Licha-Olivia
3. Carol
4. Olivermagnus
5. Connie N.
6. Jenn H
7. Marilyn
8. Diana S
9. Connie
10. Book Concierge
11. Jaret

Surprise Details

1. Surprise Twist: Don't start reading books for your gift yet.
Remember this is a White Elephant Exchange.
We need to exchange our gifts.

Can everyone be on-line is Monday, December 5th, 2016 at 7 pm (Central time) for our gift exchange.
*****(It's very important that everyone on-line at the same time for this to work.) :D
This Date will give more members to sign- up. :D

2. OK, it looks like a lot of us won't be able to make it at 7 pm. So I've come up with an alternate way to do this:
** I'm putting all the gift names in a Christmas hat.
** Then I'm going down the name list and picking out your gift.
** So by 7:30pm everyone should know which gift their recieved. :D


Gift List (Drum roll please!)
Books - Connie N.
Scarves - Jenn H
Videos - Jaret
Calendar - Marilyn
Button - Diana S
Coffee Mug - Book Concierge
Candles - Licha-Olivia
Fondue Set - Carol
Music - Koren
Ornament - Olivermagnus
Bracelet - Connie

The Exchange is now Completed! Everyone start reading the gift you received. :)
Thanks for participating in our Christmas Party!

Happy Holidays To You All! :D
Enjoy Reading Your Gift!

Reserved

I'm giving books.

I received music.

M- Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen 12/13/16

U- Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West finished 12/18/16

S- A Strong West Wind by Gail Caldwell 12/9/16

I-It's a Long Story: My Life by Willie Nelson 12/4/16

C- In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox by Carol Burnett 12/7/16

I'm giving scarves.
I received candles


C-Calliande (character), Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife by Jonathan Moeller (12/12/16)
A-Anna (character) My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (12/18/16)
N-Normal by Warren Ellis (12/20/16)
D-Dyer, Jonah Lisa and Stephen Dyer The Season (12/20/16)
L-Lieb, Josh: I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President (12/11/16)
E-Eva (character) The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford (12/23/16)
S-Shadowbearer (character), Frostborn: The Undying Wizard(12/18/16)

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
I'm giving Videos
I received a Fondue Set. Yum:)

F:
O:
✔N: Neuhus, Nele - Bad Wolf 12/1/16
✔D: Dimple Kirkpatrick - Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause by Mignon F. Ballard -12/8/16
U:
✔E: Ellis, Kate - Seeking the Dead 12//16 - 12/31/16

✔S: Saul, John - In the Dark of the Night - 12/6/16
E:
✔T: < Those We Left Behind by Stuart Neville - 12/7/16

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Timeframe: 12/1/16 to 12/31/16
8 of 8 Completed

I love my gift! I'm giving a calendar. I got an Ornament

O - The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore - 12/23/16
R - Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany - 3 Stars - 12/4/16
N - Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles - 3 Stars - 11/5/16
A - Ann Cleeves - The Moth Catcher - 4 Stars - 12/22/16
M - Murder in Murray Hill by Victoria Thompson - 4 Stars - 12/11/16
E - Elizabeth Peters - The Ape Who Guards the Balance - 3.5 Stars - 12/18/16
N - Nevada Barr - Track of the Cat - 3.5 Stars - 12/16/16
T - The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory - 4 Stars - 12/3/16

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Timeframe: 12/1/16 to 12/31/16
5/5

I gave a button.
I received books:

B - Because It's Christmas: The Christmas Basket\Merry Ex-Mas by Debbie Macomber - 12/17/16 ♥♥
O - Origin in Death by J.D. Robb - 12/8/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
O - Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis - 1/19/17 ♥♥♥♥
K - Author Coleen Kwan - Undercover in the CEO's Bed - 12/11/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - Author Susan Mallery - Almost Perfect - 12/4/16 ♥♥♥

******CHALLENGE COMPLETE 1/19/17*******

I'm giving a coffee mug. I'm getting scarves. Thanks!

✔Stephen King wrote Under the Dome 12/20/16
✔Curdie in The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald/The Goblin and the Grocer by Hans Christian Andersen 12/24/16
✔As Gouda as Dead by Avery Aames 12/5/16
✔Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater 12/7/16
✔VanLiere, Donna wrote The Christmas Light 12/22/16
✔Elizabeth of York, Princess in The White Princess by Philippa Gregory 12/17/16
✔She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot 12/24/16

I'm giving candles, and my gift is a calendar, so here goes:

5/8
✔C - Constance Chatterley, main character in Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence--12/4/16
✔A - Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century by Peter Graham--12/25/16
✔L - Leo Plumb, one of the 4 main characters in The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney--12/9/16
E
✔N - Nelson, Willie, author of It's a Long Story: My Life--12/5/16
✔D - Dalgliesh, Adam, one of the main characters in The Mistletoe Murder: And Other Stories by P. D. James--12/28/16
A
R

Wow! such choices

Surprise Twist: Don't start reading books for your gift yet.
Remember this is a White Elephant Exchange.
We need to exchange our gifts.

Can everyone be on-line Monday, December 5th, 2016 at 7 pm (Central time) for our gift exchange.

I'm giving a Fondue Set
I received a Button
Books Read:

B
U
Thorvald in Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (12/6/16) 2.5 ★★
T
O
N

Diana S wrote: "Surprise Details

1. Surprise Twist: Don't start reading books for your gift yet.
Remember this is a White Elephant Exchange.
We need to exchange our gifts.

Can everyone be on-line is Monday, De..."

I think I can do it.

I gave various forms of and ages of MUSIC, but I'm trying to receive a BRACELET.

6/8


B is for Bowen, Rhys. Death of Riley 4 stars. 12/7/16
R is for Robin Zasio. The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life. 12/28/16. 4 stars.
A is for Adriana Mather. How to Hang a Witch 12/18/16. 4 stars.
C is for Chesney, Marion. Beatrice Goes to Brighton 12/11/16. 3 stars.
E
L is for Lin, Grace. The Year of the Dog. 4.5 stars. 12/31/16
E
T is for Towles, Amor. A Gentleman in Moscow Gentleman of Moscow. 12/27/16. 5 stars.

I'll try to be online, but I can't be 100% if I'll make it.

I more than likely can.

I'm going to be on a plane heading back to Arizona from Florida, so I won't be able to check in until later that evening. All the gifts look good so I'm sure I'll be thrilled with whichever one I end up with.

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Begins: 01Dec16 / Ends: 31Dec16


I gave an ORNAMENT / I received a COFFEE MUG

9 / 9 spelled

Coffee Mug
C - C is for Corpse ✔ – 02Dec16
O - Our Souls at Night ✔ - 19Dec16
F - Fredrik Backman / A Man Called Ove ✔ - 02Feb17
F - FOX, Lauren / Days of Awe ✔ – 09Feb17
E - Edith Wharton / Summer ✔ – 06Dec16
E - Ed McBain / Money, Money, Money ✔ - 07Decq16
*
M - Molly Guptill Manning / When Books Went to War ✔ – 03Jan17
U - URIS, Leon / Exodus ✔ - 14Feb17
G - GREENE, Amy / Long Man ✔ - 12Dec16
.

I'll bring a bracelet. I volunteer for LPB and I'll be on air for pledge drive until 8:30pm CST. I'll be happy with whatever I get, too. I'm easy to please.
edited to add my new gift. Thanks, I love videos. What a thoughtful gift. ;0)

V
I
David Dosa's Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat 3 stars 12/26/2016
E
O'Reilly, Bill Killing Lincoln 4 stars 12/3/2016
Sjowall, Maj and Per Wahloo's The Man Who Went Up in Smoke 2.5 stars 12/11/2016

2. OK, it looks like a lot of us won't be able to make it at 7 pm. So I've come up with an alternate way to do this:
** I'm putting all the gift names in a Christmas hat.
** Then I'm going down the name list and picking out your gift.
** So by 7:30pm everyone should know which gift their recieved. :D

Diana S wrote: "2. OK, it looks like a lot of us won't be able to make it at 7 pm. So I've come up with an alternate way to do this:
** I'm putting all the gift names in a Christmas hat.
** Then I'm going down t..."

Great solution, Diana!

Thanks Marilyn :D

Is this posted somewhere else cause I'm not seeing it.

Koren wrote: "Is this posted somewhere else cause I'm not seeing it."

She posted it up in message 3.

Jaret wrote: "Koren wrote: "Is this posted somewhere else cause I'm not seeing it."

She posted it up in message 3."

Oh, duh!!

Koren wrote: "Jaret wrote: "Koren wrote: "Is this posted somewhere else cause I'm not seeing it."

She posted it up in message 3."

Oh, duh!!"

I'm pretending like I knew all along it was there. I really took forever to find it myself. I probably found it about 2 min before you posted. What's right in front of your face is always hardest to see....

Jaret wrote: "Koren wrote: "Jaret wrote: "Koren wrote: "Is this posted somewhere else cause I'm not seeing it."

She posted it up in message 3."

Oh, duh!!"

I'm pretending like I knew all along it was there. I ..."

LOL! I was only looking at the bottom of the thread. It never occurred to me to look at the top. Thanks.

This was a really fun idea.

Completed

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Timeframe: 12/1/16 to 12/31/16
8 of 8 Completed

I love my gift! I'm giving a calendar. I got an Ornament

O - The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore - 12/23/16
R - Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany - 3 Stars - 12/4/16
N - Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles - 3 Stars - 11/5/16
A - Ann Cleeves - The Moth Catcher - 4 Stars - 12/22/16
M - Murder in Murray Hill by Victoria Thompson - 4 Stars - 12/11/16
E - Elizabeth Peters - The Ape Who Guards the Balance - 3.5 Stars - 12/18/16
N - Nevada Barr - Track of the Cat - 3.5 Stars - 12/16/16
T - The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory - 4 Stars - 12/3/16

Olivermagnus wrote: "This was a really fun idea.

Completed

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Timeframe: 12/1/16 to 12/31/16
8 of 8 Completed

I love my gift! I'm giving a calendar. I got an Ornament

O - [book:..."

Nice job, OM!!

This was a good idea, but I didn't manage well this month.

Good work Lynda. I'm still putting at my fondue set together:)

Well, I got more than half a bracelet at least.

I didn't even get my coffee ... let alone the mug ... LOL

LOL!

Book Concierge wrote: "I didn't even get my coffee ... let alone the mug ... LOL"

Awww. I'll have to send you a gift card.

It took me a while to find that 2nd "O" book, but I'm finally done!

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Timeframe: 12/1/16 to 12/31/16
5/5

I gave a button.
I received books:

B - Because It's Christmas: The Christmas Basket\Merry Ex-Mas by Debbie Macomber - 12/17/16 ♥♥
O - Origin in Death by J.D. Robb - 12/8/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
O - Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis - 1/19/17 ♥♥♥♥
K - Author Coleen Kwan - Undercover in the CEO's Bed - 12/11/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - Author Susan Mallery - Almost Perfect - 12/4/16 ♥♥♥

******CHALLENGE COMPLETE 1/19/17*******

Connie N. wrote: "It took me a while to find that 2nd "O" book, but I'm finally done!

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Timeframe: 12/1/16 to 12/31/16
5/5

I gave a button.
I received books:

B - [book:Becaus..."


Way to stick with it, Connie N. Two Os isn't easy.

Update message # 19 - Challenge completed - 14Feb17

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Begins: 01Dec16 / Ends: 31Dec16


I gave an ORNAMENT / I received a COFFEE MUG

9 / 9 spelled

Coffee Mug
C - C is for Corpse ✔ – 02Dec16
O - Our Souls at Night ✔ - 19Dec16
F - Fredrik Backman / A Man Called Ove ✔ - 02Feb17
F - FOX, Lauren / Days of Awe ✔ – 09Feb17
E - Edith Wharton / Summer ✔ – 06Dec16
E - Ed McBain / Money, Money, Money ✔ - 07Decq16
*
M - Molly Guptill Manning / When Books Went to War ✔ – 03Jan17
U - URIS, Leon / Exodus ✔ - 14Feb17
G - GREENE, Amy / Long Man ✔ - 12Dec16
.

Book Concierge wrote: "Update message # 19 - Challenge completed - 14Feb17

Holiday Party - White Elephant Exchange
Begins: 01Dec16 / Ends: 31Dec16


I gave an ORNAMENT / I received a COFFEE MUG

9 / 9 spelled

Coffee Mu..."

Congrats!
You finally got your coffee mug!