Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Darwin Day Reading Challenge

Celebrated annually on February 12th, International Darwin Day commemorates the birth of naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin in 1809. This day is also used to bring attention to Darwin’s contributions to science and to highlight science in general.

Short Biography of Charles Darwin
Born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12th, 1809, Charles Robert Darwin was the second youngest of six children that were born to wealthy doctor and financier Robert Darwin and his wife, Susannah Wedgwood Darwin. In 1831, at the age of 22, he left for a five-year survey voyage on the HMS Beagle. As he studied many different types of animal and plant specimens all over the world, he began crafting his theory of evolution and his views on natural selection. 28 years later, he published “On the Origin of Species.” His theory argued that all life today comes from a single ancestor and that all of the diversity in the animal and plant kingdoms come about due to evolutionary processes which included genetic mutation, natural selection, and extinction. On April 19th, 1882, he died in London. Source: http://www.holidayscalendar.com/event...
Charles married Emma Wedgwood in 1839 and together they had 10 children, 2 of whom died in infancy. Of his surviving children, George, Francis and Horace became Fellows of the Royal Society,distinguished as astronomer,botanist and civil engineer, respectively. All three were knighted. Another son, Leonard, went on to be a soldier, politician, economist, eugenicist and mentor of the statistician and evolutionary biologist Ronald Fisher. Source: wikipedia

Duration
1 February - 28 February

How to Play
Option 1: Spell-it-out Use words in the above biography or any words related to Charles Darwin and spell-it-out! Usual rules apply (posted below)

Option 2: Scavenger Hunt Use words in the above description to find words in book text or title

Option 3: Tasks Complete as many of the following tasks as you can during the challenge

1. Read a book based in the 19th century
2. Read a book with a character or author name of Charles
3. Read a book based in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
4. Read a book with a character who is a naturalist, biologist or geologist
5. Read a fiction book where Charles Darwin is referenced
6. Read a fiction book where Charles Darwin is a character
7. Read a book first published in February
8. Read a book with an author born in February
9. Read a book where an animal is a main character
10. Read a book where a character is a scientist
11. Read a book with MPG Science
12. Read a book with "Origin" in the text or title
13. Read a book based in London
14. Read a book with more than 12 Chapters
15. Read a book for sale on Amazon for more than $18.09
16. Read a book with a character or author name of Emma
17. Read a book with 10 or more children (as characters or referenced in some way)
18. Read a book with a knight on the cover
19. Read a book with an ape on the cover
20. Read a book where a character takes a sea voyage
21. Read a book where a character wins an award
22. Read a book which has won an award
23. Read a book with "species" in the text or title
24. Read a book with a black cover
25. Read a book with black text on the cover

Option 4: Mix and Match Pick from the above options to make your own challenge

Levels
Science student: 1-8 books
Lab Assistant: 9-16 books
Science Professor: 17-24 books
Biologist: 25+ books


Re reads are allowed (6 month rule)
Page count = minimum 50 pages
Any format is allowed

(*)Spell-it-Out Rules
Using the first letter in the book’s title, the first letter of the series name, the first letter in the author’s first or last name, or the first letter of a character’s first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter in the audio book narrator's first or last name.
If you are reading a translated version, you can also use the first letter of the translator's first or last name.

As always, if the first letter of a title starts with ‘A’, ‘An’, ‘The’, etc., you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word

Monthly Challenges ~ Spessartite Coin

To Earn a Spessartite Coin:
One Coin upon reaching "Biologist" level.

Learn about Gem coins here

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February Darwin Day
Duration
1 February - 28 February
26/26 Biologist 25+

Option 1: Spell Out

Callaghan Hope-Who Murdered Mr. Malone? Hope Callaghan 2/5/21
H Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder Meg Macy 2/8/21
Alice Maguire char-Murder Paints a Picture Thea Cambert 2/6/21
Risko, Charlie char-A Glimmer of Death Valerie Wilson Wesley 2/9/21
Leslie Meier-Irish Parade Murder Leslie Meier 2/6/21
Emrick KJ-Death Comes to Town K.J. Emrick 2/3/21
Sheila char.-Ropes, Riddles and Robberies Tonya Kappes 2/13/21

D Death in Room 7 K.J. Emrick 2/1/21
Alex Erickson-Death by Pumpkin Spice Alex Erickson 2/15/21
Ruth Hartzler-True Confections Ruth Hartzler 2/11/21
Whiting JA-Murder Is the Pits J.A. Whiting and Amanda Diamond 2/4/21
I Ink and Shadows Ellery Adams 2/4/21
N Nearly Dead in Iowa Wendy Byrne 2/10/21

Beck Jessica-Sinister Sprinkles Jessica Beck 2/12/21
Emmalee char-Dead in the Doorway Diane Kelly 2/10/21
Angie Roseland char Sweet Deceit J.A. Whiting 2/12/21
G The Garden Plot Thickens Linnea West 2/2/21
Little Dog Diner series-Mixing Up Murder Emmie Lyn 2/17/21
Enchanting Inquiries series-Unbaked Croakies Sam Cheever 2/13/21

Swensen Hannah char-Key Lime Pie Murder Joanne Fluke 2/17/21
C Cruel Candy Mildred Abbott 2/15/21
Ian Cartwright char.-Fruit of All Evil Paige Shelton 2/19/21
Emily Monk char-Don't Taco 'Bout Murder Mona Marple 2/16/21
Nell McCarthy-The Legacy J.A. Whiting and Nell McCarthy 2/19/21
C Cranberry Candies and Crime Patti Benning 2/16/21
Emily James Dead Velvet Cake Emily James 2/20/21

Duration: 1 February - 28 February
Level: Science student: 1-8 books
Progress: 5/5 - Completed 2/9/21

Option 2:Scavenger Hunt
❤ 1. February: In February 1965, Fred acquired the site of Steeplechase Park, one of three iconic amusement parks in Coney Island that had been in operation since around the turn of the twentieth century. pg. 66 Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man 🌟🌟🌟
❤ 2. Died: I hadn't allowed myself to self-destruct when my mom died. pg. 33 The Inheritance Games 🌟🌟🌟🌟
❤ 3. April 12: The camp was liberated by British troops on April 12, 1945. pg. 340 The Diary of a Young Girl 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
❤ 4. Children: She wanted him to know his children and grandchildren were still around him, strong and merry as ever. pg. 28 We Were Liars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
❤ 5. Attention: This was new, but not unwelcome, as it meant I had blocks of time where I wasn't supposed to be paying attention and didn't have to fake it. pg. 53 All Systems Red 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Welcome Tari and Bobbi!

COMPLETED!!!!




Level: Lab Assistant

Option 3: Tasks Complete as many of the following tasks as you can during the challenge

1. Read a book based in the 19th century
✔2. Read a book with a character or author name of Charles: Heartstopper: Volume One, 2/14 ★★★★
3. Read a book based in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
4. Read a book with a character who is a naturalist, biologist or geologist
5. Read a fiction book where Charles Darwin is referenced
6. Read a fiction book where Charles Darwin is a character
✔7. Read a book first published in February: Hard to Let Go, 2/03 ★★★★
8. Read a book with an author born in February
✔9. Read a book where an animal is a main character: Papa Bear for Darius, 2/05 ★★
✔10. Read a book where a character is a scientist: Spell Cat, 2/08 ★★★
11. Read a book with MPG Science
✔12. Read a book with "Origin" in the text or title: Anxious People, 2/15 ★★★★
13. Read a book based in London
✔14. Read a book with more than 12 Chapters: Beach Read, 2/04 ★★★★★
✔15. Read a book for sale on Amazon for more than $18.09: Shiver, 2/13 ★★★
16. Read a book with a character or author name of Emma
✔17. Read a book with 10 or more children (as characters or referenced in some way): Not Like Other Boys, 2/11 ★★★
18. Read a book with a knight on the cover
19. Read a book with an ape on the cover
20. Read a book where a character takes a sea voyage
✔21. Read a book where a character wins an award: Greenlights, 2/02 ★★★
✔22. Read a book which has won an award: Strange Planet, 2/03 ★★★★
✔23. Read a book with "species" in the text or title: Wanting the Im-Paw-sible, 2/04 ★★★★
✔24. Read a book with a black cover: Harleen, 2/23 ★
25. Read a book with black text on the cover

Updating msg. 5: finished with 26 books doing all spell outs. Biologist, who knew ;)

Monthly/Seasonal Challenges > February: Darwin Day
Duration: February 1 - February 28, 2021
Level: 13 books - Lab Assistant

C: Conor O'Malley of A Monster Calls - read on 02/6/21 ★★★★☆
H: The Honey-Don't List - read on 02/18/21 ★★★☆☆
A: Attachments - read on 02/14/21 ★★★★☆
R: Rainbow Rowell of Fangirl - read on 02/1/21 ★★★☆☆
L: Rebecca Lowman of The Broken Girls - read on 02/11/21 ★★★★☆
E: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - read on 02/1/21 ★★★★☆
S: Shari Lapena of The Couple Next Door - read on 02/11/21 ★★★★☆

D: The Deal of a Lifetime - read on 02/15/21 ★★★★★
A: Aza Holmes of Turtles All the Way Down - read on 02/14/21 ★★★☆☆
R: Ellis Boyd Redding of The Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons - read on 02/14/21 ★★★☆☆
W: The Whisper Man - read on 02/7/21 ★★★★☆
I: Eowyn Ivey of The Snow Child - read on 02/1/21 ★★★★☆
N:Nora Seed of The Midnight Library - read on 02/4/21 ★★★☆☆