On The Same Page discussion

Excited to do a second year of the Motley Challenge.
25/26 (meeting the requirements of 25 /26!)

1. A book you received as a gift.
Finished 6-13

2. A book that takes place in New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, New Hampshire.
Finished 2-6

3. A book about: book clubs, book stores, libraries
Finished 5-17

4. A book from Moderator Recommends https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Finished 12-14

5. A new release.
Finished 2-7

6. A lesser known book written by any author.
Finished 1-19

7. A book with a two word title.
Finished 2-21

8. A book with a different culture than yours.
Finished 1-30

9. A book about someone who is dead.
Finished 3-23

10. A book from a genre you don’t usually read.
(Self help) Finished 3-28

11. Read two books by one author, name author.
- finished first book 1-18
- finished second book 2-26

12. Book set in a fictional town.
by M.C. Beaton
Finished 2-9

13. A light hearted or fun book.
Finished 5-20

14. A book about betrayal.
Finished 3-6

15. A book written by an author who uses initials for his/her name.
by M.K. CzerwiecFinished 2-27

16. A book you own but haven’t read yet.
Finished 1-6.

17. A book from the bottom of your tbr list.
(The first five from the bottom of my list.) The Late Homecomer We Need to Talk About Kevin Look Again The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

18. A highly anticipated book.
Finished late May

19. A book you picked up at the library.
Finished 1-15.

20. A book you bought/borrowed with out reading the inside blurb.

Finished 2-16

21. A book that starts with the letter W, X,Y, or Z*
Finished 9-10

22. A book from a series.
Finished 2-5

23. A book with a number in the title.
Finished mid-January

24. Read a book set in a state with a direction in its name: North, South, East, or West. (N.C, N.D, S.C, S.D, W.V)
Finished 4-19

25. A book written by someone from The U.K. (N. Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales)
Finished 4-7

26. A book with an Orange cover.
Finished 3-1

I am proud of my 2021 Motley Challenge - my first ever - and I don't want it to disappear with the switch from LOBA, so I'm preserving it here. :)

Hi. I'm new here. I'd love comments/thoughts if anyone has any.
21/21 and 10/4
DONE with the first set (October 7).
DONE with the entire second set (November 23)

1. An action/adventure- DONE: All Thirteen: The Incredible Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team

Finished May 24

2. Book with a four word title. - DONE: The Pale-Faced Lie

Finished March 31


3. Book set in the winter. DONE: To Catch a Witch

Finished September 26. It took place during a blizzard.


4. Book by an author from Mexico or Canada. DONE: Seven Fallen Feathers

Author Tanya Talaga is from Canada. Finished August 24.


5. Book you chose for the cover. - DONE: The Vanishing Half
Finished April 1. What a colorful cover!


6. Book you heard about on line. DONE: Some Places More than Others
Finished May 8. Coming off a year of not seeing other humans much, pretty much every book I read is one that I heard about online.


7. Book that starts with the letter M. DONE: Missoula
finished May 18 (half audio book, half paper book)


8. A book from your TBR list. DONE: Skink
finished May 7. I like this author a lot when I want light and kooky.


9. Book by an author you never read. DONE: The Unlikely Disciple
Finished May 8 (half audio, half paper book)


10. A book published in 2021. DONE: Four-Hundred Souls
Finished March 23. Mostly audio - great book for audio.


11. A book made into a movie. DONE: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Finished August 20. I also have at least five others that were supposedly made into movies, but the movies all seem to be a bit obscure, so I'm going with this one since it seems more well known.


12. Book with a green cover. DONE: Crisis in the Red Zone
Finished Jan. 11.

13. Book that’s part of a trilogy. DONE: Joy School
Finished March 5. Kind of lucked out with this one, because I don't really read many trilogies. I read the first and second, but am skipping the third because it looks a bit heart-breaking.


14. A book published over 50 years ago. DONE: Daddy-Long-Legs

I don't recall how I stumbled upon this, but I knew it would fit this category and it looked sweet. I never otherwise would have picked it up. Charming, sweet, quick read. (Would also be great for Book with a Green Cover!) Finished July 1.


15. Book translated from another language. DONE: Convenience Store Woman

Translated from Japanese. As someone who doesn't live the "expected" life of marriage, two kids, a dog and a house in the suburbs, a lot of this resonated with me, and reminded me that it's okay to live my authentic life, even if it isn't someone else's expectation. Finished July 21.

16. A stand alone book. DONE: A Dark Night in Aurora
Finished May 29. Part audio book.


17. A debut novel. DONE: There, There
Finished May 6


18. Book by an author with a pen name. DONE: Becoming Unbecoming

Una is a pseudonym. Description/thoughts in post 18. Finished August 8.


19. A LOBA pick. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DONE: Hidden Valley Road
Finished March. This isn't on the master list, but was a LOBA pick for nonfiction 2Q 2021.


20. Book everyone has read but you. DONE: American Dirt
Finished late June. Wow, I loved it. It's one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time.


21. Book from the modern library top 100 list. DONE: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

So happy to have this one behind me! It was the one I looked forward to the least, because I wasn't crazy about many of the choices. Review in Post #19 below. Finished August 20.


Choose any 4 books from this list:

1. Book with a lion, witch, or wardrobe in it. DONE: Wicked Witch Murder

Finished October 7.

2. A book written by Dr. Seuss. DONE: The Butter Battle Book
- read June 28. I would say this is among the lesser known ones. If you haven't read it, I'd recommend it. It's up there with the Sneetches and the Lorax in terms of life lessons and geared a bit older.

3. Book with an animal sidekick. DONE: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Finished September 26.

4. A book you started and never finished. DONE: The Bette Davis Club

Finished November 23. Enjoyed it (as I was doing the previous time I started it!)

5. A book with the word “haunt, haunted, haunting” the title. DONE: Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House

Finished September 29.

6. Book written by an actor. DONE: They Called Us Enemy, George Takai

Finished August 28.

7. A fairytale/retelling. DONE: Fairest of All
Finished October 3.


8. A childhood classic. DONE: The Secret Garden

Finished July 15. I don't recall reading this before, but I know my sister read it multiple times when we were young. Cute book, if you can get past some of the disturbing themes of neglect.

9. Book of short stories or poetry - DONE: Unsettled
I'm not much of a poetry person, so was a bit nervous that I wouldn't like the verse, but it worked well and was easy to understand. The fact that it is in verse makes it a very quick and delightful read. It's geared toward middle grade, but as an adult, I enjoyed it. Finished mid June.


10. A book your friend picks out for you. DONE: Killers of the Flower Moon

A friend recommended it last year, and I finally got around to it. I didn't love it as much as some people. While I really learned a lot and appreciate that, there were far too many characters mentioned that I struggled to keep people straight. Finished August 6.

I've never tried this challenge before, and these kind tend to catch me off guard late November and me seeing if I've read anything that fits categories. As a result, I really like how you've been going through and placing possibilities with each. I may have to try that.

And I totally understand bringing over your other challenge. I find myself wondering if there's anything in my past years I want to archive somewhere before they're deleted.

Kim. E. wrote: "I've never tried this challenge before, and these kind tend to catch me off guard late November and me seeing if I've read anything that fits categories. As a result, I really like how you've been ..."

Obviously my lists are somewhat obnoxiously long, but I'm never quite sure what I may be in the mood for. So I compare the categories with my TBR list (along with some other research) and like to map out all my options.

I actually didn't join the group and start the challenge until May last year, but somehow still managed to finish.

Good luck if you decide to do it!

You did a lot of work with the long lists, linking the titles. Took me two hours just to do my post with one likely one per category! And you really nailed 2021's challenge. I'm sure you'll do great this year too, and I hope you find some new favorites along the way.

Zora wrote: "You did a lot of work with the long lists, linking the titles. Took me two hours just to do my post with one likely one per category! And you really nailed 2021's challenge. I'm sure you'll do grea..."

Yeah, it took me HOURS. It was a fun Saturday afternoon project. And I keep going back and adding to it with the edit button.

Congratulations of your 2021 challenge and WOW! you have truly given yourself options for each category for the 2022 challenge. It took me lots of searching to pick out just one title - I'm trying to read unread books on my shelves that fit the categories. Enjoy the challenge.

Wow! That’s quite a list, but gives you options. Good luck, Amy! 🐾

I started one book last night (hard copy) and another this morning (audio book for commute), not thinking either would fit for the Motley Challenge. Turns out I was wrong.

Gone to Dust - can count toward #16 (book you own, but haven't read) or #22 (a book from a series)

Death of an Altar Boy: The Unsolved Murder of Danny Croteau and the Culture of Abuse in the Catholic Church by E.J. Fleming - Could be #6 (lesser known book by any author, only has 30 reviews), #9 (a book about someone who is dead), likely will be #14 (betrayal), could be #15 (author who uses initials)

Done with book #1! I'm currently counting Gone to Dust toward Book You Own But Haven't Read Yet, but could always move it to 22, Part of a Series, if needed.

Neither of those categories seem like they will be a challenge.

I just finished Diagnosis: Solving the Most Baffling Medical Mysteries and counted it toward #19, a book from the library.

That category was always going to be the easiest for me because most of my reading lately has been from the library.

Just finished Valentine Murder. It can fit in a bunch of places.
7 - two-word title
9 - book about someone who is dead
11 (evenutally) - two books by one author
12 - book set in a fictional town
14 - book about betrayal
22 - book from a series

I think I'll save it for #11, because I'm super confident I'll read another by her.


And about to finish Death of an Altar Boy: The Unsolved Murder of Danny Croteau and the Culture of Abuse in the Catholic Church
6 - lesser known book by any author
9 - about someone who is dead
14 - about betrayal
15 - author who uses initials

Will probably use as Author Who Uses Initials because I don't have a gazillion possibly lined up for that like I do for others


And about to finish One Dead Spy
2 - takes place in New York (and other places)
11 (eventually) - two books by one author
14 - betrayal
23 - book with a number in its title

Probably will use toward Takes Place in New York.

Finished The Last Thing He Told Me and Overboard!: A True Blue-Water Odyssey of Disaster and Survival but don't seem to have a place for them. Listing here, so I know that I thought about them.

About to place One Dead Spy as a book with a number in the title, but because I could always move it to any of these:
2 - takes place in New York (and other places)
11 (eventually) - two books by one author
14 - betrayal

I am saving my very long list of books with numbers in the title here:

23. A book with a number in the title.
Escape at 10,000 Feet: D.B. Cooper and the Missing Money Five Little Indians Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American WildfireSybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Snow: A Retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Size 12 Is Not Fat Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers Brothers on Three This One Summer A Tale of Two Omars: A Memoir of Family, Revolution, and Coming Out During the Arab Spring The Fearsome Foursome How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre The Gilded Ones A Walk In His Shoes: One family's struggle. A son's battle with addiction. They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School A Massacre in Mexico: The True Story Behind the Missing 43 Students Thirteen Lessons that Saved Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave Rescue How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House Montana 1948 Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital Ready Player Two American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century There are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America 999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz Leveling the Playing Field: The Story of the Syracuse 8 The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story Not Without My Sister: The True Story of Three Girls Violated and Betrayed by Those They Trusted Report from Ground Zero One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway One of Us Is Lying The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4

I finished Aya: Life in Yop City and added it as a book about a culture different than mine. The book took place in a city of Ivory Coast in 1978.

I started Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York. This will count as a book set in New York once I finish it.

Just finished and added The Man Who Died Twice as a book that is part of a series. I could also count it toward 12 (fictional town) and 25 (author by UK). I'm not particularly concerned about any of those categories.

I need to come back over the next few days and look at your list ideas while they're still her to see if any might work for me - yes I joined this challenge this year (smile)

What did you think about The Last Thing He Told Me ?

@Kim I liked it but maybe not as much as some others did. I had others last year that I liked more.

My lists are a bit crazy, but they work for me. It helps to have them there when I've just finished a book and am trying to decide where to place it.

Just added Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab and am counting it toward #5, a new release. It was just released in mid-November, and was among the lists of my library's recently purchased books.

It is a coming-of-age, graphic novel about a girl who struggled with the decision to wear hijab after being a victim of a hate crime. In addition to the decision about wearing hijab, she struggles with the recovery from the hate crime, feelings of family members that don't align, and changing friendships. The watercolor-based artwork was colorful and beautiful, and assisted in telling the story.

Just placed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death as #15, author who uses initials for his/her name (author M.C. Beaton)

Just placed Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet as #20. I read it without reading the inside blurb. I initially thought that would be a hard task, but considering I enjoy this series and am now trying to go back and start from the beginning (which I didn't do originally), it was my next up.

Just placed St. Patrick's Day Murder as my second book for #11, read two books by the same author.

I am also 2/3rds of the way through The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert which will work for a Book with an Orange Cover.

Halfway done!

I just did a little switcheroo because I finished a book that could fit in an already-used category, and the already-used book could move to a couple other places.

I just moved Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton OFF of Book Written by an Author Who Uses Initials TO Book Set in a Fictional Town.

Then I placed Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit 371 by M.K. Czerwiec onto Book Written by an Author Who Uses Initials.

I just listed Know My Name as a book about betrayal (and holy buckets, is it ever a good book!)

I listed The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert as a book with an orange cover.

I don't have another one lined up yet because the next few on my list may not fit any of these categories.

I just finished Murder in an Irish Village and have listed it as a book about someone who is dead. The category confuses me a bit, but because a murder happens early in the book and story revolves around solving the murder, I figured it would work!

I'm not sure what's up next in terms of my Motley Challenge.

I just added The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life as a book from a genre I don't usually read (self help). If it weren't for this challenge, I may not have finished this one.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am currently reading The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty. Because he was born in Belfast, I will count this as a book written by someone from the UK.

I just added a book for #24, book set in a state with a direction in its name. Heist: The Oddball Crew Behind the $17 Million Loomis Fargo Theft was set in North Carolina. It was more happenstance that it took place there, and not so much revealing anything about the culture or history of the state (for example, one of my ideas was to read a memoir about someone who was sent to a "residential school" in North Dakota - I've already covered Canada and Minnesota with this!) But, it takes place in North Carolina, so it counts! I'll swap with something more interesting later in the year, if I have something.

I'm adding my finished book for #3, but since I like the list I had previously created, I'm saving it here. I wish I could put it into my GR book lists under the name "Library/Book Shop" (which I already have), but I don't want to necessarily label all of these "Want to Read." I'm not sure if there's a way to do it otherwise.

Read Herring Hunt Read Between the Lines Crimes Against a Book Club The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry The Bookish Life of Nina Hill Ink and Shadows The Sentence The Bookseller of Kabul the sequel to 84 Charing Cross

Amy wrote: "I'm adding my finished book for #3, but since I like the list I had previously created, I'm saving it here. I wish I could put it into my GR book lists under the name "Library/Book Shop" (which I a..."

Amy, if you go to My Books and then click “edit” next to Bookshelves, you have an option to classify a bookshelf you create as “exclusive”. That allows you to put a book on that shelf without having it appear on Want to Read.

Ann wrote: "Amy wrote: "I'm adding my finished book for #3, but since I like the list I had previously created, I'm saving it here. I wish I could put it into my GR book lists under the name "Library/Book Shop..."

THANK YOU for this information! This will be really helpful for me!

Just read Me Talk Pretty One Day for the category of a light-hearted book. It's been on my list for years because I keep seeing it on lists and on shelves and in articles, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would.

Now I'm reading The Maid, which I will count toward a highly anticipated book. Frankly, I'm not sure why it was highly anticipated, but I heard of it before it was ever released.

Finished The Maid and counted toward a Highly Anticipated Book. As I mentioned above, I don't know exactly why it was highly anticipated (versus ALL the other books that are released), but I was seeing it all over GD.

Now I'm reading From Athletics to Engineering: 8 Ways to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for All as a book I received as a gift. Granted, my work "gifted" it to me as required reading, but because my friends and family know I don't really like books as gifts, I am not gifted books.

Amy wrote: "Finished The Maid and counted toward a Highly Anticipated Book. As I mentioned above, I don't know exactly why it was highly anticipated (versus ALL the other books that are release..."

I almost always question why something is the most highly anticipated. Most often I find the ones that get little to no hype were better. The big publishing machine at work.

Just completed {book:From Athletics to Engineering: 8 Ways to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for All|57215757], and used it for #1. This was "gifted" to me from work for a book study. But considering I don't like receiving books as gifts - and my friends and family know this - this will likely be the only book gifted to me this year.

None of my next-ups will satisfy the three categories that I have remaining, but I have good choices for all of them so will get to them eventually!

{bookcover:From Athletics to Engineering: 8 Ways to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for All|57215757]

It's been awhile since I made any progress here. I just attended Bouchercon (mystery book convention), so spent most of my summer focusing on the authors who would be there.

I just added Winter Counts as a book that starts with a W, X, Y or Z. Review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amy wrote: "Excited to do a second year of the Motley Challenge.
24/26

1. A book you received as a gift.
[bookcover:From Athletics to Engineering: 8 Ways to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for All|5..."

I ended up filling in my Motley challenge with some cozies I hadn't planned to read for those categories. Sometimes that's what I'm in the mood for.

Amy wrote: "Excited to do a second year of the Motley Challenge.
24/26

1. A book you received as a gift.
[bookcover:From Athletics to Engineering: 8 Ways to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for All|5..."
The Maid and The Man who died Twice were favorites for me this year.

It's not letting me edit my own post above. Note to self: Add The Last to Vanish as a Moderator Recommends option for me.

Just one more to go! (For the requirement of 25/26. Initially I figured I'd do all 26, but there are too many other books I want to read!)

I'll do a Moderator Recommends - probably The Last to Vanish or The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

AND ... done!

I just finished and added The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding as my Moderator Recommends selection with a couple weeks to spare - phew!

I haven't yet paid any attention to the requirements for the 2023 Motley Challenge. On one hand, I would like to do it, because then I will have THREE years of this, but on the other, it was a tiny bit hard for me to do both this and the Annual Challenge, and I may want to do that one again. We'll see!