RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off) discussion

We are here with an exciting new challenge – RMFAO 2021 Author Alphabet Challenge. It is a chain reading challenge and can be done with any number of books or as many times as you wish.

For this challenge, you can start with reading ANY book by ANY author. It will be counted as your first book in a chain. Then your next book must be by an author whose first name begins with the same alphabet as the first alphabet in the last name of the author you just read.
For example: If your first book is by Agatha Christie, your next book's author must have a first name beginning with "C", such as Charles Dickens. Then for your next book, the author's name must begin with "D", like Dean Koontz and so on.
You try to continue this pattern for as long as you can. This one unbroken chain will be one RUN.

Important points:
1) It is allowed to repeat authors in the run because all authors have several books, make sure to have at least 2 or 3 books by other authors in between re-use of the same author's name.
2) If you feel stuck somewhere (say after about 5-6 books), you can simply end that Run and begin another Run with any book of your choice.
3) A Run should have at least 3 books long chain.
4) A Run can be as long as you want - no limit.
5) This challenge can be easily paired with other reading challenges!

Levels:
Level 1: Casual Reader: 1 Run (easy)
Level 2: Frequent Reader: 2-4 Runs (moderate)
Level 3: Bookworm: 5-8 Runs (mildly strenuous)
Level 4: Bibliophile: 8-12 Runs (strenuous)
Level 5: Bookiopath: 13+ Runs (challenging)

You can announce the level you'd be aiming for the year.

We understand that this is a new challenge and there are bound to be some confusion in the initial months, but that is okay. It is part of the fun, it is, after all, a challenge!
If you have any doubts or want to discuss anything with us, then simply drop a comment and one of the moderators will definitely get back to you regarding your query.

Please share your progress on this thread, just like we do on the other challenge threads.

PS: We'd like to thank Cheryl for the awesome idea of this challenge and Dagny for all her inputs to make it more exciting! <3

Happy Reading!

I like this idea. I said to myself; “I will give this challenge a try and I will start with the book I am reading this very moment.” Lol...The author is Markus Zusak 😮
I’m thinking I will join in after I finish this particular book. 😂

I’m here ready to start. I’ll be reading at level 2. My goal is to finish the Series Challenge so I’m going easy on myself on this one. 😮 I will be working on both Runs simultaneously.

Finished both Runs 4/30/21

✔️Run #1:
Marissa Meyer; Scarlet
Mesu Andrews: Love Amid The Ashes
Allen Eskens; Nothing More Dangerous
Elizabeth Wein The Pearl Thief


✔️Run #2:
Diane Ackerman; The Zookeeper's Wife
Anika Scott; The German Heiress
Stephen P. Kiernan The Baker's Secret
Kate Quinn The Rose Code

Joan wrote: "I like this idea. I said to myself; “I will give this challenge a try and I will start with the book I am reading this very moment.” Lol...The author is Markus Zusak 😮
I’m thinking I will join in a..."

Lol... Z is one of the most difficult alphabets to find for author names. Lol. I tried but found only 2 so far... Some other book would definitely be better for this ;)

Joan wrote: "I like this idea. I said to myself; “I will give this challenge a try and I will start with the book I am reading this very moment.” Lol...The author is Markus Zusak 😮
I’m thinking I will join in a..."

Just in case, this one does sound good, although it is a horror novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

I think this will be a fun challenge. I had seen it at another reading group and thought it might work here.

At that other group, when members were posting the books in their "run", they mentioned the Run Number at the top of their post and then added books to their original post by editing it. We could do that here, or just copy and paste the previous books into your new post before adding the next book.

If there are any questions, don't be afraid to ask. And most importantly - have fun with it!

Heena wrote: "Joan wrote: "I like this idea. I said to myself; “I will give this challenge a try and I will start with the book I am reading this very moment.” Lol...The author is Markus Zusak 😮
I’m thinking I w..."

You can also search for books by a Zachary and Zechariah. Zachary is pretty common.

I really like this idea, sounds like a lot of fun! Count me in, I think to start I'll settle in the middle and good for Level 3: Bookworm: 5-8 Runs (mildly strenuous).

Dagny wrote: "I was looking over my current reading list at the books checked out and three of them have authors with the last name beginning with B and not a B first name in sight. Looks like I won't be startin..."

What’s good about this challenge is that you can start it and stop it any time. I will be participating, starting with the book I’m reading:
Boone's Lick by Larry McMurtry. I am already looking for an author with a first name beginning with “M”. (It’s not as easy as you’d think but that’s what makes it a challenge.)

I want to mention that the genre of each book for this challenge does not have to be the same. However, if you want to do Author Alphabet Challenge and combine it with a monthly Genre Challenge, you are welcome to do so.

Heena wrote: "Joan wrote: "I like this idea. I said to myself; “I will give this challenge a try and I will start with the book I am reading this very moment.” Lol...The author is Markus Zusak 😮
I’m thinking I w..."

You are so right! I plan on starting with the book Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. Went to my TBR list and planned out a nice run. My thanks to all the ladies who planned this challenge.

Joan wrote: " You are so right! I plan on starting with the book Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. Went to my TBR list and planned out a nice run. "

Joan,

So glad you’ll be joining the Challenge! The planning is just part of the fun, isn’t it?

Cheryl wrote:
Joan,
So glad you’ll be joining the Challenge! The pla..."

Yes it is. 😃

Dagny,

I think maybe after we have 3 books. That way, you can change your mind if your books in your run don’t turn out to be ones you want to read.

I want to mention something about this challenge. First priority: it should be fun! If you plan out a longer run and are finding it to be too much work, then stop it at a shorter number of books.

I was going to do a long run for my first one. But when I got to book #5 in the planning stage, I was really struggling to find an author I wanted to read that would fit the requirement. So I decided to just make the run 4 books long. So if a long run works for you, that’s great. If it doesn’t, don’t feel bad about it. You can always try another run some time during the year.

Run 1:

Boone's Lick by Larry McMurtry (Done)
The Moving Finger by Mary Gaunt (Done)
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (Done)
The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett (In Progress)

I wanted to post my first Run so that members can see an example of what a post for this challenge looks like. (I may or may not add another book to this run.)

I changed the books I originally picked, because I found I couldn't get into a couple of them. For that reason, I think perhaps people shouldn't post their Run until they are done reading the books, or at least part way through the last one. The pressure is off, that way, to stick with the books you'd originally picked.

I combined some of the books in my Run with the Classics Catch Up challenge and the Feb. Genre challenge, which you can do if you want to. This is a very flexible challenge, so you can really customize it any way you want.

Dagny wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett."Oh, I hadn't heard of that one. I read Brett's Charles Paris books ages ago and they were such fun. Read some of his Fethering books more recentl..."

Dagny,

It looks like the start of a new series by this author. I’d never read him before, but needed an “S” first name for my Run. I’m really enjoying it! I’m hoping this challenge introduces me to new authors I’d never have tried on my own.

Dagny wrote: "Right behind you with my 1st run, Cheryl, although mine is only three books long. I have to break now and read some library books etc that don't fit. I'm listing mine differently and putting the au..."

Dagny,

How was The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher? My library has a ton of her books and I wondered if they were any good.

Dagny wrote: "Question: If a book is co-authored, can we use either author's name as the one from which to work or do we use the first author or both? Confused? I am, lol. Actually I can go either way with one o..."

Dagny,

Make it easy on yourself and just pick one of these authors and go from there. This challenge should be FUN, so let's always pick the easiest option when we run into difficulties like this.

I wanted to mention, too, that it's ok to use a story collection's editor's name for this challenge. I was looking for an "I" first name and found a collection of SF short stories edited by Isaac Asimov. That would definitely work.

Run #1:
(5 books)

Boone's Lick by Larry McMurtry
The Moving Finger by Mary Gaunt
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett
Blanche Among the Talented Tenth by Barbara Neely

That's it for my first Run. It was challenging, but alot of fun!

This is my first reading challenge and wow, its more difficult than it sounds! I plan to read 3 books. I just started Night Film by Marisha Pessl. My next book will be Windup Girl by Poalo Bacigalupi, so the last author has to have a name starting with Q. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Rebecca,

I think your post had a typo. Your third author’s first name would have to begin with “B”, to match Bacigalupi.

What helped me was to think of first names randomly and then type them in the Search bar on goodreads. So for “B” names I’d start with Barbara, Brad, Betty, Brian, Beverly, Bob, etc. . See what the Search results come up with and look for books you’d like to read. You can also use the Search function in your library’s online catalog.

To help you find first names, you could also look online for a “baby names alphabetically” site to inspire you. That’s where I’ll be looking next.

Quick question here...
If an author’s last name is hyphenated which letter do I go with for the next book?
Example the author is Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Would I need to look for an author’s first name to begin with M or G?

Or doesn’t it matter? 😮

Joan,

It doesn't matter which letter of the hyphenated name you pick. Make it easy on yourself and pick the letter that would make an easy first name for the next author that follows this book. So choose either M or G. It's really up to you.

Dagny,

Yes, those authors with 2 last names are filed either way. I’ve seen Gabriel Garcia Marquez filed under G and under M. So I’d say to just pick either M or S for Alexander McCall Smith.

OMG! I am so behind! For some reason Goodreads hasn't been showing me any notifications for this thread (it still isn't showing.)
Anyway, I am counting my first book as The Woman In The Window by A.J. Fill as I just finished it.

RUN-1:
1. The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

Dagny wrote: "I have a nice run of five books going. Hope to add one more, sort on which book gets finished next ."

Great job, Dagny! I find the "W" names hard to find, but you found them twice. I'll have to remember to look for "Wallace" next time I need a "W".

RUN-1:
1. The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
2. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

RUN -1
1. Derek's fate - Jami Gallardo
2. The Coldest Summer - Grace Gervas
3. Prince with benefits - Gaby Cabezut

Tanisha wrote: "RUN -1
1. Derek's fate - Jami Gallardo
2. The Coldest Summer - Grace Gervas
3. Prince with benefits - Gaby Cabezut"

Great job, Tanisha! You really did well finding all of those "G" names.

Run #2:
(5 books)

Michael Harvey - The Fifth Floor
Helen Phillips - The Need
Patrick Ness - A Monster Calls
Nora Roberts - Gabriel's Angel
Robert Ludlum - The Bourne Identity

Dagny wrote: "Can't tell you how many times I've rearranged my mystery books for March, lol. If all goes as planned this run will be eight books. The other four are all either checked out or books I own."

I know what you mean, Dagny. Timing doesn't always work out, or I start a book on the pre-planned list only to decide I don't want to read it. This is a very challenging Challenge, lol.

In progress -
Run #3:

Cornell Woolrich - Black Angel
Walter Mosley - White Butterfly
Mary Higgins Clark - All Through the Night
Charles Finch - A Burial at Sea

Dagny has inspired me to try for 8 books, too. I have four more books planned out (with back up authors in case I need replacements, lol). Very challenging, but I think I'm reading a more diverse bunch of books/authors than I've read in awhile.

Well, Dagny, that’s an impressive Run you have worked out. I don’t know if I’ll match it, though. Some names are harder to find than others

Run #3
(8 books)

Cornell Woolrich - Black Angel
Walter Mosley - White Butterfly
Mary Higgins Clark - All Through the Night
Charles Finch - A Burial at Sea
Frances Henshaw Baden - Edna's Sacrifice and Other Stories
Barbara Neely - Blanche Cleans Up
Nicholas Sparks - Nights in Rodanthe
Stephen Hunter - Black Light

That’s it for this run. Taking a little break from this challenge. (These longer runs are hard!)

Dagny,

Nine books - that’s amazing! This is quite an addictive challenge, isn’t it? Once I start, I keep thinking “Can I add one more?”. When it starts to get too hard, though, I know it’s time to quit that Run.

OMG!! You guys are killing this one, Cheryl and Dagny!

I had to stop after 2 books in the first run as I wasn't finding a good thriller read.

Run-2 (ongoing)

#1 Simone St. James - The Sun Down Motel
#2 Sarah Pearce - The Sanatorium

Dagny wrote: "I have a nice run going - got a lot of reading done yesterday with all the bad weather going on and some power outages - in fact, reading was about all I got done. All fine in my immediate area now..."

I’m glad to hear you are OK. We had the tornado alarms go off in our town at 12:30 AM. Thankfully, it did not touch down near my house, but there was major damage in the next town. Very scary to have to hide in our “safe room” (no basement) and listen on our weather radio for an “all clear.” We have power on today, and no damage to our house or property. So happy that things worked out well - for both of us!

I’m in. I’m going to see what kind of run I have from my March reads (since I just found this challenge) then do new ones from there so I will sign up for 3 runs initially.

Brenda,

Don’t feel like a Run has to be a large number of books. Three is all you need for a Run, but it can be any size. Also, you can do a Run separately from the Genre Challenge and thus any type of book can be in your Run. You just have to read the books one after the other to make a Run.

Cheryl wrote: "Brenda,

Don’t feel like a Run has to be a large number of books. Three is all you need for a Run, but it can be any size. Also, you can do a Run separately from the Genre Challenge and thus any ty..."

No worries - I read more books than just the Genre Challenge so I have some to work with. I just thought I’d use March as my “test case” - then do real ones from there ;)

Brenda wrote: " No worries - I read more books than just the Genre Challenge so I have some to work with. I just thought I’d use March as my “test case” - then do real ones from there ;) .."

Have fun with it, Brenda! It does take a bit of time to figure out the order of the books that will make up your Run. A bit of practice using your March books is a good idea.

Thanks for the info about The Scorpion's Tail, Dagny! It looks like that new series is going to be good. I was disappointed in the last few Pendergast books, and was hoping this was going to be worth reading.

Run #4:

1. Jodi Lynn Anderson - The Vanishing Season
2. Anna Katherine Green- The House in the Mist
3. Gillian Flynn - Sharp Objects
4. Fred Van Lente - Cowboys & Aliens
5. Val Emmich - Dear EvanHansen
6. Erica Spindler - The Other Girl

Cheryl wrote: "I’m glad to hear you are OK. We had the tornado alarms go off in our town at 12:30 AM. Thankfully, it did not touch down near my house, but there was major damage in the next town. Very scary to have to hide in our “safe room” (no basement) and listen on our weather radio for an “all clear.” We have power on today, and no damage to our house or property. So happy that things worked out well - for both of us!
"

That sounds awful! Though I'm glad that you guys are okay :D

Run-2 (ongoing)

#1 Simone St. James - The Sun Down Motel
#2 Sarah Pearce - The Sanatorium
#3 Paula Hawkins - Into The Water

Run-2 (ongoing)

#1 Simone St. James - The Sun Down Motel
#2 Sarah Pearce - The Sanatorium
#3 Paula Hawkins - Into The Water
#4 Holly Black - The Cruel Prince - Currently Reading

Dagny,

Run #7 is impressive! Fnding first names that begin with E or W is always a challenge.

Run #5:

1. Martin Cruz Smith - The Siberian Dilemma
2. Sue Henry - Beneath the Ashes
3. Henry James - The Patagonia; Louisa Pallant
4. James Patterson - Murder Thy Neighbor
5. Peter Carey - Jack Maggs
6. Chris Bohjalian - The Flight Attendant
7. Barbara Michaels - Sons of the Wolf
8. Matt Ruff - Lovecraft Country

Dagny wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "Run #5:
8. Matt Ruff - Lovecraft Country "
How was Lovecraft Country? Were there any actual Lovecraft connections other than the title?"

Dagny,

Lovecraft Country was good, but it was more Fantasy than Lovecraftian Horror. It used some Lovecraft tropes, and some general settings from Lovecraft stories, but was not strictly all Lovecraft. It was more a pulp genre fiction framework, with fantasy mixed with 1950s racism. I thought Ring Shout was more Lovecraftian.

Dagny wrote: "Run #8 (complete)
1. George Sand (Antonia)..."

Dagny,

I’m currently reading Antonia for the genre challenge this month. I see you worked on it for Project Gutenberg. Thanks for your work! It’s alot of fun, so far, and the rich uncle with the rare lily is quite the character.