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

TASKS & GOPHERING

(Strikethroughs mean I've read the book)

1. What is your name? (First, Last, Middle, Nickname) – Read a book that contains one of your names in some way – author, title, character.
Nickname: Fuzzy (chose a book title which contained Fuzzy)
Fuzzy Mud

2. What is your favourite sport? – Read a book that is either about your favourite sport or one of the characters plays that sport. You could also chose a book where the cover shows that sport. 
Favorite Sport: Football (Soccer)
Defending Taylor

3. What colour are your eyes? – Read a book where the colour of your eyes is the main colour of the cover, or the word is in the title.
Eye color: Brown (again went with the title)
The Man in the Brown Suit

4. Have you ever had a broken bone? – If yes, read a book with the word “Bone” in the title. If no, read a book about archeology (the character may be an archeologist, the book may be set in a museum, etc)
Broken bone: Never, so archaeology it is (this would be my first time with this genre)
Excavation

5. What is your favourite movie? – If the movie is an adaptation, read the book that inspired the movie. Or, read a book that is written by the same author. Or, read a book that has the same title. If the movie is not an adaptation, read a book with a similar theme or has the same title.
Favourite movie: Interstellar
Interstellar

6. What is your favourite book? – Read it again. Or, read a book that has the same title. Or read a book by the same author. If you can’t find the same title, or the author only has the one book, go to the book page and click on “Readers Also Enjoyed”. Select a book from the list.
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude (selected "Solitude" as the keyword)
The Invention of Solitude

7. Pick a number between 1 and 10. – Select a series and read the book that corresponds to that number. Or, read a book with the number in the title.
Number picked: 5
The Girls From the Five Great Valleys

8. What is your favourite holiday? – Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title.
Answer: All Saturdays and Sundays
Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives

9. What is your relationship status? – Read a book with that word in the title, or where the main character or author shares that status. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will be representative?
Relationship status: Married
The Secret Lives of Married Women

10. Are you right or left handed? – Read a book with that word in the title.
Right-handed
The Good Luck of Right Now

11. What is your birthday month? – Read a book with the selected month in the title, or set during that month.
December
First Love, Last Rites

12. Do you have a pet? Read a book featuring that type of pet. Or, read a book with that pet in the title. 
An imaginary doggo
The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of his friend Marilyn Monroe

13. What is your favourite type of food?
Favourite cuisine: Chinese (selected a book set in China)
Lost Horizon

14. What is something you use daily? (brush, computer, car, get creative) - Read a book with that word in the title. Or, is on the cover. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will represent that item?
Vaseline
GR synopsis for Neverwhere uses the phrase "between the cracks" > vaseline applied to cracked, chapped lips
Neverwhere

15. What is your shoe size? (No halves; roll up to next number)
Shoe size: 6 or 7 (I forget)
The Future of Islam

16. What is your favourite Ice cream flavour? – Read a book that either represents that flavour by the colour of the cover, or in the title. You may also chose a book that represents that flavour in some way.
Favourite Ice cream flavour: Coffee
Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead

17. What is your country of birth? – Read a book set in that country, or written by an author that was also born in that country.
Pakistan
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
(Author Mohsin Hamid was born in Lahore, Pakistan)

18. What is your favourite season? – Read a book with either the season in the title, or set in that season.
Spring
Travels with My Aunt

19. What is your current desk top picture? – Interpret that desk top picture any way you like. Read a book that represents that interpretation.
Painting of a balcony overlooking the mountains
Rock Springs (a distant hill on the book cover)

20. What is your preferred mode of transport? – Read a book with your selection on the cover, or in the title, or it plays a significant role in the book.
Car
Revolutionary Road (a car on the book cover)

21. How many candles were on your last birthday cake? – Go to your TBR and order the shelf by number. Read the book that corresponds to your answer. If you picked “none” or “zero” as your answer, your number will be 100.
(I'm going with "none" as the answer since there was no cake to begin with.)
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

22. Have you been in an accident? – If yes, read a book set in a hospital, or with the word “accident” in title. If no, read a book that is a thriller, in which an accident is a high probability. 
Yes
Girl, Interrupted

23. Do you prefer a shower or bath? – Read a book with your selected word in the title, or depicted on the cover.
Shower
Cosmopolis (water droplets book cover)

24. Name a place you’d like to visit. – Read a book set in that location.
Italy
The Passion(set in Venice)

25. What is your favourite genre? – Read a book in that genre.
Magical Realism
In Evil Hour

26. Do you prefer a car or truck? – Read a book with your selection on the cover or in the title.
Car
The Red Car

27. Do you have a tattoo? If you don’t have a tattoo, read a book with a tattoo on the cover, or represents a tattoo that you would want if you were to get one.
No tattoo (would like to get one of a tree, first chapter of the book starts with tree symbolism)
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary? – If Classic, read a book published in 1800 – 1899. If Contemporary, read a book published in 2000 – 2017.
Contemporary
When Breath Becomes Air (published in 2016)

29. What is your favourite flower? – Read a book with that selection on the cover or in the title. Or, read a book that you feel represents that flower in some way.
Jasmines (The cover reminds me of a jasmine shrub we have in our garden. It has never blossomed.)
The Briefcase

30. Have you been to Europe? Where? – Read a book set in that location. If you haven’t been to Europe, read a book set in a European country you would like to visit.
(Never been to Europe, would like to visit Italy)
Call Me by Your Name

31. If you could meet anyone famous, infamous, notorious… who would it be? – read a biography, autobiography, memoir, or historical fiction about that person.
Craig Ferguson
American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

32. What is the feature you are most often complimented on? – Read a book with that feature on the cover or in the title. 
Eyes
Marriage, Manhattan Style

33. Would you rather encounter a ghost, an alien, or neither? – If ghost, read a ghost story. 
Ghost
The Haunting of Hill House

34. What is your favourite animal (other than domestic pets)? – Read a book with that creature on the cover, in the title, or in the story. 
A horse
The Pale Horse

35. What type of holiday do you prefer? Read a book in that setting or that represents your choice.
Mountains
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be? – Read a book with that word in the title, or read a book where a character is afflicted by that same loss. 
Olfactory sense (sense of smell)
The Smell of Other People's Houses

37. Who is your favourite author? – Read either a book by that author, or a book recommended by that author.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Tobacco Road (from a list of books which greatly influenced Marquez)

38. Do you prefer tea, coffee, or water? If water, read a book with the word in the title, or set on/near a large body of water.
Water
End of the Past

39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing. Read a book with that gemstone on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that gemstone is the colour of the cover.
Tanzanite, Zircon, Turquoise
Neuromancer

40. What is your favourite fruit? – Read a book with that fruit on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that fruit is the colour of the cover.
Banana
Love in Infant Monkeys

41. Issue you are passionate about (abortion, euthanasia, animal rights… etc) – Read a book where this issue is prominent or is represented in some way. It may be fiction or non-fiction.
Pollution
Blindness (includes scenario of blindness as an epidemic that leads to widespread filth around the city)

42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea? – Read a book in that setting. 
Space
2001: A Space Odyssey

43. To what time period would you like to time travel? – Read a book either set in that time period, or published in that time period. Or, read a book about time travel where the character’s time travelled to that period.
1800s
The Brothers Karamazov (book published in 1880)

44. Do you prefer shoes or bare feet? – Read a book where your selection is on the cover or in the title, or get creative and find a book that represents your choice.
Barefeet
Man's Search for Meaning (holocaust > imagery of treading barefeet through concentration camps)

45. Do you prefer green or black olives? Neither? Read a book with either a predominantly green or black cover depending on your answer.
Green
The Princess Bride

46. What is your Zodiac sign? – This one is wide open. Read a book that represents your zodiac sign in some way.
Sagittarius (arrow exits a bow)
Exit West

47. What is your height in inches? – Go to your TBR shelf and sort by number. Read the book that matches your answer. If you don’t have that many books on your TBR, select a listopia on a topic you are interested and read the book with the corresponding number to your height.
63 inches
Tuesdays with Morrie

48. Who is someone you miss? – Read a book that represents that person in some way.
A distant, old friend
Five Wishes: And The Prophecy of The Prince (similar name initial)

49. What is your hobby? – Read a book that represents that hobby in some way. 
Reading
Autumn

50. What language would you like to learn to speak? – Read a book that was translated from that language to one you do speak. 
Italian
The Solitude of Prime Numbers (translated from Italian by Shaun Whiteside)

Welcome to the challenge, Fuzzy.

It took me three tries to finally read One Hundred Years of Solitude. I finally made it listening to an audiobook. I really liked his Love in the Time of Cholera. Have you read it?

I think some of your answers are going to be a "challenge" to find books for. :)

Welcome to YLTO and our challenge, Fuzzy. I hope you enjoy it.

Welcome Faiza! I love your answer for question 8 :D

I think you might need to 'adopt' someone's pet and pick a genre, otherwise the tasks will be impossible.

Have fun!

Looking forward to see what you pick to read, Fuzzy. I agree with Peggy, some of those questions you put none too, you'll have to give an answer for to do the tasks. I'm sure there is some issue of some sort in the entire world you care about :D

Again, super keen to see your reads!!

Peggy wrote: "Welcome Faiza! I love your answer for question 8 :D"

Hah! I missed that. Nice.

Hello everyone!

@Cherie: I still haven't gotten around to reading Love in the Time of Cholera, though I plan to later this year. I'm still "gophering" for books to match the criteria. It's a little tough and time-consuming since I've to check the availability of those books too.

@Janice: Thank you so much! I look forward to this challenge. It's introducing me to a lot of new genres (archaeology!)

@Peggy: Silly-head me thought I'd actually have to adopt a pet. Can I just imagine that I have one? A doggo would be nice...

Rusalka wrote: "Looking forward to see what you pick to read, Fuzzy. I agree with Peggy, some of those questions you put none too, you'll have to give an answer for to do the tasks. I'm sure there is some issue of..."

I'll edit the answers to those I've answered "none" but it would require some introspection and careful deliberation! I think this book-reading challenge will reveal something of me, to me. :D

Faiza wrote: "Hello everyone!... A doggo would be nice... "

I wasn't sure what a doggo was (duh) so I looked it up. I found this picture, which combines doggo with your favourite fruit

Nawww corgi in a costume. Way to my heart.

So the question regarding issues I'm passionate about has me stumped. Couldn't possibly have been living a dispassionate life so answering this one question would take some more time.

Don't make it too hard Faiza. If there's any major issue you find important (equal rights for men and women, taking care of refugees, saving our planet, animal rights, etc.) you can use it. It's not like you have to be passionate in the sense that you are demonstrating or protesting each week or are actively involved in that issue. Just something you care about :)

^^ What Peggy says. Don't over think it, nothing is a silly answer, and I am sorry if I sounded harsh!! I wasn't at all meaning too at all.

Rusalka wrote: "^^ What Peggy says. Don't over think it, nothing is a silly answer, and I am sorry if I sounded harsh!! I wasn't at all meaning too at all."

Not at all Rusalka! Peggy's explanation clarified it...I'm going with pollution.

Peggy wrote: "Don't make it too hard Faiza. If there's any major issue you find important (equal rights for men and women, taking care of refugees, saving our planet, animal rights, etc.) you can use it. It's no..."

Thank you Peggy for the wonderful explanation. I've got it down to pollution. Last year millions of tourists trashed Pakistan's Northern Areas in summers. The humble residents were left to their own devices to clean their surroundings. I wished our TV channels and print media displayed more commercials for awareness.

Sounds like a great topic! But such a sad story :(

Excellent! And how incredibly frustrating. I always get annoyed when I find rubbish in our National Parks. I cannot imagine it on that scale!

I think in Australia (or maybe NZ) we learned about the 'take only photographs, leave only footprints' thing. I like that :) I wish everyone would stick to it though.

Welcome Faiza. Good to see you jumping straight in.

Faiza, you can also directly link to the book if you find that easier.

Just above the comment box it says 'add book/author'. If you click on it you can enter the name of a book and it gets linked directly, so it would look like this instead of a link:

The Box Man

Peggy wrote: "Faiza, you can also directly link to the book if you find that easier.

Just above the comment box it says 'add book/author'. If you click on it you can enter the name of a book and it gets linked ..."

Oh isn't this wonderful! Thank you so much Peggy. I just edited the list again.

Looks like you are doing a great job on figuring things out.

PART 1

1/12

Book Name and Cover: The Girls From the Five Great Valleys

Question and Explanation:
7. Pick a number between 1 and 10. – Select a series and read the book that corresponds to that number. Or, read a book with the number in the title.
Number picked: 5 (five is mentioned in the title)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Yay! One book done! Grats!

Janice has asked that we have one post per book, so she and others can see when we have finished a book, instead of all in one message we edit. Just in case you missed it, before your next book.

Rusalka wrote: "Yay! One book done! Grats!

Janice has asked that we have one post per book, so she and others can see when we have finished a book, instead of all in one message we edit. Just in case you missed i..."

Ah I wish Goodreads would make editing easier. I struggle so much with the codes. But thanks for the heads up. Individual posts it is now.

PART 1

2/12


Book Name and Cover: Love in Infant Monkeys

Question and Explanation:
40. What is your favourite fruit? – Read a book with that fruit on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that fruit is the colour of the cover.
Banana (cover has banana on it)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Two books completed all ready! You're doing well.

PART 1

3/12


Book Name and Cover:Excavation

Question and Explanation:
4. Have you ever had a broken bone? – If yes, read a book with the word “Bone” in the title. If no, read a book about archeology.
Broken bone: Never, so archaeology it is (this would be my first time with this genre. We have archaeological digs on Incan temples in the book, hunting for a secret element - setting of modern day and Incan civilization)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

PART 1

4/12


Book Name and Cover:The Red Car

Question and Explanation:
26. Do you prefer a car or truck? – Read a book with your selection on the cover or in the title.
Car (Car is mentioned in the title)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

PART 1

5/12


Book Name and Cover:Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives

Question and Explanation:
8. What is your favourite holiday? – Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title.
Answer: All Saturdays and Sundays
(Saturday in the title)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am in awe of your book reviews, Faiza. The last, especially.

PART 1

6/12

Book Name and Cover:The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of his friend Marilyn Monroe

Question and Explanation:
12. Do you have a pet? Read a book featuring that type of pet. Or, read a book with that pet in the title.
An imaginary doggo
(The book is written from the perspective of a dog)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cherie wrote: "I am in awe of your book reviews, Faiza. The last, especially."

Thank you so much Cherie for your kind words. How is your reading going so far?

Just a reminder that if you edit a message, it won't generate a notification and we won't know to come goggle at your accomplishments. Best to just do a new message rather than edit.

Janice wrote: "Just a reminder that if you edit a message, it won't generate a notification and we won't know to come goggle at your accomplishments. Best to just do a new message rather than edit."

Ah thank you Janice once again. I've deleted the extra comments now. Goodreads editing and commenting is a nightmare. Wish they'd made things easier for novices like me.

You'll be an old hat at it in no time, and then they'll make some change that will make you feel like a novice again. Hehehe! If you have any questions, don't feel shy about asking them.

Faiza wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I am in awe of your book reviews, Faiza. The last, especially."

Thank you so much Cherie for your kind words. How is your reading going so far?"

I feel like I have been moving right along this year. I love this challenge and have already read some very interesting and entertaining books, so far, because of it.

You're ripping along!

PART 1

7/12


Book Name and Cover:When Breath Becomes Air

Question and Explanation:
28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary? – If Classic, read a book published in 1800 – 1899. If Contemporary, read a book published in 2000 – 2017.
Contemporary
When Breath Becomes Air (published in 2016)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

PART 1

8/12

Book Name and Cover:The Smell of Other People's Houses

Question and Explanation:
36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be? – Read a book with that word in the title, or read a book where a character is afflicted by that same loss.
Olfactory sense (sense of smell)
The Smell of Other People's Houses

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

PART 1

9/12


Book Name and Cover:The Passion

Question and Explanation:
24. Name a place you’d like to visit. – Read a book set in that location.
Italy
The Passion (set in Venice)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

PART 1

10/12


Book Name and Cover:Blindness

Question and Explanation:
41. Issue you are passionate about (abortion, euthanasia, animal rights… etc) – Read a book where this issue is prominent or is represented in some way. It may be fiction or non-fiction.
Pollution
Blindness (includes scenario of blindness as an epidemic that leads to widespread filth around the city)

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

What a great review of Blindness! This was a five-star read for me as well.

TrudyAn wrote: "What a great review of Blindness! This was a five-star read for me as well."

Thank you for reading Trudy! Did you read it for the YLTO challenge? This was my second Saramago, the first one I read was The Double which was equally stunning and disturbing. I'd highly recommend it if you haven't read it. (The movie was incredible too!)

PART 1

11/12


Book Name and Cover:The Briefcase

Question and Explanation:
29. What is your favourite flower? – Read a book with that selection on the cover or in the title. Or, read a book that you feel represents that flower in some way.
Jasmines (The cover reminds me of a jasmine shrub we have in our garden. It has never blossomed.)
The Briefcase

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Wow! That's quite the review. Impressive.

Faiza wrote: "TrudyAn wrote: "What a great review of Blindness! This was a five-star read for me as well."

Thank you for reading Trudy! Did you read it for the YLTO challenge? This was my second Sar..."

I read it a couple of years ago, not for any challenge. It is the only José Saramago book I have read. I have All the Names on my bookshelf, waiting until I am in the right mood. The Double sounds intriguing, and have added it to my list of books to look for.

I read it a couple of years ago, not for any challenge.

Authors like Marquez and Saramago can't just be read off the shelf. One needs to be in a specific type of mood to read them. The next Saramago I'll read will be The Stone Raft. The premise to this novel is very interesting.

PART 1

12/12


Book Name and Cover:Fuzzy Mud

Question and Explanation:
1. What is your name? (First, Last, Middle, Nickname) – Read a book that contains one of your names in some way – author, title, character.
Nickname: Fuzzy (chose a book title which contained Fuzzy)
Fuzzy Mud

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

PART 2

1/12


Book Name and Cover:The Man in the Brown Suit

Question and Explanation:
3. What colour are your eyes? – Read a book where the colour of your eyes is the main colour of the cover, or the word is in the title.
Eye color: Brown (again went with the title)
The Man in the Brown Suit

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...