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

Now that you've revealed yourself to us, it's time to earn a badge.

There are three badges available:
1. The first badge is awarded when you've read 12 different books for 12 survey questions.
2. The second badge is awarded when you've read 12 more different books for 12 different survey questions. That's a total of 24 books read.
3. The final badge is awarded when you've read 50 different books for all tasks.

Please note, you may only read one book per task. You may not repeat tasks.

In your personal threads, each book will have it's own message stating:
1/12 (or 2/12, 3/12, etc), a link to book, task read, and how it fit the task. This will enable everyone the opportunity of adding it to their own tbr's.

In this thread, you will list the 12 books read, showing the task number as follows:
1 - Task 5, link book read
2 - Task 20, link book read
3 - etc....

If you are requesting badges 2 or 3, do not repeat listing previous badge books. Just list the books you read to earn that particular badge.

Happy reading!

Part 1:
1-Task 7, Make No Bones
2-Task 28, Wuthering Heights
3-Task 24, Thérèse Raquin
4-Task 25, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
5-Task 42, Shadow Divers
6-Task 9, Idaho
7-Task 4, Old Bones
8-Task 44, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress : A Novel
9-Task 17, Men in the Making
10-Task 45, Saturday
11-Task 43, The Woman on the Orient Express
12-Task 40, The Wedding Officer: A Novel of Culinary Seduction

Eeep! I don't have badges ready, yet. But that's okay, because you've missed part of the criteria, Connie. See the part about each book having it's own message in your personal thread? You've lumped them all in one message. So while you're fixing that, I'll finish creating badges.

My reason for doing that is because it's easier for me when everyone is consistent. I don't have to try to figure out what people are doing. And believe me, that is a challenge all on its own.

It also gives everyone a chance to oggle and goggle as you finish books, commenting, and adding it to their tbr's. When you edit a common message, it doesn't generate a notification.

Way to go, Connie! I'm always surprised (and a bit impressed) when people finish their yearly challenge within the first month.

Great job Connie! At this rate you'll have the whole challenge done by April!

Wow, Connie! Congrats!

Connie (Ava Catherine) wrote: "Part 1:
1-Task 7, Make No Bones
2-Task 28, Wuthering Heights
3-Task 24, Thérèse Raquin
4-Task 25, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
5-Task 42, [boo..."

As always, Connie, the major over-achiever. Do you have comments about books you've read? I know that's not part of the challenge, but I'd be interested in reading your comments.

I don't think I like this reporting for the annual challenge. Seems so "slam, bam, thank you (not), ma'am.

Janice wrote: "Eeep! I don't have badges ready, yet. But that's okay, because you've missed part of the criteria, Connie. See the part about each book having it's own message in your personal thread? You've lumpe..."

Ah hah, I thought so!

Part 1 completed:

1 - Task 3, Lily and the Octopus
2 - Task 9, Moon Called
3 - Task 14, Switched
4 - Task 16, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
5 - Task 19, The Straight Boyfriend
6 - Task 22, To Love and To Cherish
7 - Task 25, Through These Eyes
8 - Task 27, The Fractured Heart
9 - Task 28, Blindside
10 - Task 37, The Weight of It All
11 - Task 43, From Sand and Ash
12 - Task 46, Behind Closed Doors

Janice wrote: "Eeep! I don't have badges ready, yet. But that's okay, because you've missed part of the criteria, Connie. See the part about each book having it's own message in your personal thread? You've lumpe..."

Yeah, I missed that too at first and had to go back .... I'll remember for the next round and post individually as I go along.

Janice, I hope I have made satisfactory changes. If I need to make any more changes, let me know. It has to be a nightmare trying to keep all of these straight, so we definitely want make it more efficient for you.
Also, I am certainly in no hurry for a badge, so you don't have to worry about those because of me.

Wow! Connie and Lynn, I am ashamed of myself. I've read only one book for this challenge and even that was because of a group read.

F O C U S. I need to focus.

Back to my thread for appropriate reporting. Duh.

Thanks Connie, and Lynn for going back and re-arranging your threads. It may seem like I'm being a bit persnickety, but there is a method to my madness.

Your badges have been posted.

Now, I'd better get level II badge ready. LOL!

How in the hell have people finished bits already!? Just because I'm demolishing a kitchen does not mean you can speed on ahead in this year's challenge...okay maybe it does! ;-)

Good work guys!

Congrats! Connie and Lynn. I'm halfway there too (7 books so far, but that will change soon, when I go to work again...)

Part One Complete


1) Task 9. The Secret History of Wonder Woman

2) Task 15. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

3) Task 17. Canada

4) Task 19. Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads

5) Task 26. The Dog of the South

6) Task 30. The Silver Pigs

7) Task 32. A Nation Worth Ranting About

8) Task 35. Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor

9) Task 41. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

10) Task 45. Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right

11) Task 48. The Best Laid Plans

12) Task 49. Bicycling Magazine's Guide to Bike Touring: Everything You Need to Know to Travel Anywhere on a Bike

Congrats, Connie, Lynn and Dawn! I'm 1/2 way there, and hope to have the first 12 finished by the end of February.

Dawn, you've been badged. :)

Thank you, thank you!!

Congratulations Dawn! :-)

Thanks!

I've completed Part 1.

1 - task 3, Ammie, Come Home
2 - task 1, Deadly Homecoming at Rosemont
3 - task 43, A Lord for Miss Larkin
4 - task 24, Thea's Marquis
5 - task 22, Hit 'n Run
6 - task 45, Muse
7 - task 14, Blind Sided
8 - task 30, Katrina, the Beginning
9 - task 13, Treasure of Egypt: Treasure of the Ancients
10 - task 33, Camille
11 - task 50, Lancelot's Lady
12 - task 27, Moon Called

You've been badged, Lanelle.

Wow! Four people have already finished the challenge and it's not even the end of January. I must have made it too easy.

In comparison, last year there were no finishes to the challenge until February, and there were only 3 finishes by the end of February.

And some people have every intention of continuing last year's challenge, if we -- meaning I :-) -- can focus more!

Well I don't see it as finishing the challenge, as I'm aiming for completing all the tasks.

However I do have to admit that I found part 1 very easy to complete. I didn't do any gophering, I just read the books I wanted to and then fit the task to the book afterwards.

I'm certain it won't be that easy once I get towards the end.

I personally like that the first part was easy. It encouraged me to take part in the challenge knowing I could get off to a good start.

Janice wrote: "You've been badged, Lanelle."

Thank you, Janice. I love the badge.

Lynn wrote: "I personally like that the first part was easy. It encouraged me to take part in the challenge knowing I could get off to a good start...."

That's a good way of looking at it. :)

I'm starting slow, but I think I imagine I have a shot at completing 50 books. I'll need to focus tho. I'm always drawn to so many books, challenges, and monthly read themes. And I love to learn about books, even ones i'm not reading (yet). So many books, so little time!!! Either way, I win : )

Also, congrats to Connie, Lynn, Dawn, and Lanelle! Well done!!

Was last year also 12 books for the first badge? I already forgot.

I'm also making much faster progress than last year. I think it's because Lynn says, so many books high on my tbr fit this challenge that I can just read what I like and fit them in. Last year the challenge made me read more books not so high on my list, and books I didn't even have on my tbr, so I alternated more with reading for other goals than the year long challenge.

Yes, Peggy, the first badge for last year was for 12 books (three books each from four sites). I think the criteria was a little tighter because we had to fit the books into the tasks specified for each site.

Whew, I've finished Part I. My goal was to get it done in the first month, and I did. I also read a lot of good books in doing it! Who knew that there was such a good book on wombats?! It is a book which I enjoyed very much, but which I never would have read except for this challenge. Ditto for the last one with the badminton couple. I love this challenge!

Part I
1. Task #1 - Bodice of Evidence
2. Task #30 - When You Give a Duke a Diamond
3. Task #17 - Feliz Navidead
4. Task #25 - The Man With a Load of Mischief
5. Task #43 -Judgment in Death
6. Task #3 - The New Mrs D
7. Task #34 - The Secret Life of Wombats
8. Task #20 - Nobody But You
9. Task #50 - The House at Tyneford
10. Task #7 - A Trick of the Light
11. Task #33 - A Ghostly Murder
12. Task #2 - Bewitching Winter

Congratulations, Nancy!
All series books too, but the wombat one.

Nancy, now you've done it! We are all placing The Secret Life of Wombats on our to-read shelf.☻

This reminds me of The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating. A wonderful book that would never have caught my eye without a YLTO! challenge.

You've been badged, Nancy!

Janice wrote: "You've been badged, Nancy!"

Thanks, Janice. I LOVE this badge.

Almeta wrote: "Nancy, now you've done it! We are all placing The Secret Life of Wombats on our to-read shelf.☻

This reminds me of The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating. A wonderful book ..."

I know, Almeta! My TBR list is multiplying rapidly because I am participating in this challenge - lol! (Plus, I am really glad I found the wombat book, because I learned so much!)

Cherie wrote: "Congratulations, Nancy!
All series books too, but the wombat one."

Thanks, Cherie. It is so much fun, and I just happened to have most of those books already here on my TBR, being the series junkie that I am - lol. I didn't know that The New Mrs. D and The House at Tyneford were parts of series. I LOVED those books and will have to look up others.

Janice, re-task 50, my answer was Irish. Is this OK for that task:

#1: Task 50

I listened to Lying in Wait by Irish author Liz Nugent.

I have never come across a book where a character speaks Irish during the course of the book that isn't completely in Irish! I'm sure some exist but I've seen one. As I'm limited to audiobooks and kindle I don't that big a rang to chose from. The rule in Ireland is that all children under the age of 12 must learn Irish in school so it's reasonable to assume that the characters do speak the language! I arrived here at 13 so I didn't learn it.

Is this OK or should I pick German where there are translations available on kindle?

Update: Problem solved thanks to Annerlee. I am going to reread Star of the Sea which I last read maybe 15 years ago and loved. I had completely forgotten that there's some Irish in it :-)

Margo wrote: "Janice, re-task 50, my answer was Irish. Is this OK for that task:

#1: Task 50

I listened to Lying in Wait by Irish author Liz Nugent.

I have never come across..."

I think you can count Lying in Wait for task 50. If you want to use it, please report it in your personal thread as per these instructions.

This thread is the reporting thread for when you completed all 12 books and are requesting your badge. I know it's confusing at first, but you'll find your way in time. And of course, we'll point the way. :)

Please pray computer doesn't go down while I gather these.....am posting after every one in case it does!

1/12 Q.20 What is your favourite form of transport How to Train Your Dragon

2/12 Q.9 what is your relationship status? Sex & The Single Mayfly

3/12 Q.49 what is your hobby? Basics Textile Design 01: Sourcing Ideas: Researching Colour, Surface, Structure, Texture and Pattern

4/12 Q.5 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project

5/12 Q. 37 My favourite author. Rome: The Coming of the King

6/12 Q.28 Classic or contemporary? Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth-Century Europe

7/12 Q.44 Shoes or bare feet? Barefoot

8/12 Q.30 Have you been to Europe? Where? Trinity

9/12 Q.17 What is your country of birth? The Chameleon's Shadow

10/12 Q.48 Who do you miss? The Fish Ladder: A Journey Upstream

11/12 Q.19 What is your current desk top picture? Leaving Van Gogh

12/12 Q.14. What is something you use daily? The Perfumer's Secret

Done it! Of course some person rang while I was doing it and the computer goes down every time someone rings....yes, I know this should never happen with any kind of Broadband hahahaha!

Congratulations to everyone who has already completed the challenge!

Congratulations on finishing and posting, Deborah!

You've been badged, Deborah.

Mainly posting, Cherie! Thank you, Janice :)

The posting has been a challenge, Deborah. It was maybe more so than selecting the books, I'll wager.

Part 1:

1 - Task 30 The Last Airship
2 - Task 7 Winter of the World
3 - Task 1 John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster
4 - Task 3 The Prince Of Mist
5 - Task 39 Reasons She Goes to the Woods
6 - Task 44 Switch Bitch
7 - Task 13 The Witch of Napoli
8 - Task 27 Animal Ecology
9 - Task 14 Monsters: A Bestiary of the Bizarre
10 - Task 49 The Library of the Dead
11 - Task 18 See How Small: A Novel
12 - Task 38 The Great Zoo of China

Your badge is on your wall, Sam. :) Some great looking books there!

Yay, Sam!