✨Bookmarked✨ discussion

June is 🌈Pride Month, dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ voices, celebration of LGBTQ culture and the support of LGBTQ rights. And to celebrate it in our own way, we are hosting this challenge this month!

This challenge is based on the original pride flag, created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978.

Did you know that each color on the flag has its own meaning? The famous rainbow flag consists of 6 colors: red is symbolic of life, orange is symbolic of healing, yellow is sunshine, green is nature, blue represents harmony and purple is spirit.



-->Each color will have some criteria which can be used to read different books. Each criterion has some points allotted to it.

GENERAL RULES:-

1. Books read On or AFTER 1st June will count under the challenge.
2. The book read must be at least 120 pages to count.
3. A maximum of 4 books an be read under one color.
4. A book can follow a minimum of 3 different criteria, for eg, a book can work for criteria: genre, words & number only at a time, but there is no limit on the number of unique words you find in the text.
5. To complete one color set, read at least 3 books under it. However, it’s not compulsory to form color sets.
6. To collect a pride flag, read at least 1 book per color, for the original 6 colors.
7. Two colors, hot pink & turquoise are available as a bonus. They can only be used when you have read for at least 3 original colors.
8. To form a rainbow read 1 book for each of the 8 colors.
9. A review must be at least a paragraph (3-5 lines) to count for points.

Scoring System:-

1. Criteria

-Genre: 1 point
-Words: 1 point for every unique word found.
-Cover: 1 point
-Cover items: 2 points for every unique item found
-Number: 1 point

2. Color Set: 5 points additional
3. Review: 2 points for each book reviewed.
4. Pride Flag: 8 points
5. Rainbow: 12 points.
6. Diverse/LGBTQ+ books: 2 points if the book is also tagged "diverse/LGBTQ+".

Color List:- (click on "view spoiler")

(view spoiler)[1.❤️Red: Life❤️

-Genre: Self-Help/Contemporary/Thriller books
-Words: life, red, wine, rose, beginning, sacrifice, danger, courage (in text)
-Cover: Red & its shades
- Cover items: strawberries, apple, cherries, red flowers, heart, lips, blood
-Number: 3 (in title or pg count)

2.🧡Orange: Healing🧡

-Genre: Classic/Philosophy/Adult or NA books
-Words: life, healing, new, bloom, orange, sun, carrot, warmth, adventure, change(in text)
-Cover: Orange & its shades
- Cover items: orange, pumpkin, sun, sunlight, fire, basketball, maple leaf
-Number: 6 (in title or pg count)

3.💛Yellow: Sunshine💛

-Genre: Suspense/YA/Romance books
-Words: sunshine, yellow, sun, citrus, corn, daffodil, lovely, bright, happy (in text)
-Cover: Yellow & its shades
- Cover items: Sun, lemon, corn,bees, mango, autumn leaves, smiley
-Number: 5 (in title or pg count)

4.💚Green: Nature💚

-Genre: Historical fic/Nature/Mystery books
-Words: green, nature, natural, money, luck, forest, health, envy, lush, (in text)
-Cover: Green & its shades
- Cover items: leaves, trees, plants, christmas tree, clover leaf, frog, Wreath,
-Number: 4 (in title or pg count)

5.💙Blue: Harmony💙

-Genre: Paranormal/SciFi/Diverse books
-Words: harmony, blue, sky, blueberries, depth, uranus, serene, calm (in text)
-Cover: Blue & its shades
- Cover items: water, water body, clouds, sky, easter eggs, fish, butterfly
-Number: 1 (in title or pg count)

6.💜Purple: Spirit💜

-Genre: Horror/Fantasy/Comic books
-Words: purple, spirit, shy, mysterious, power, wealth, prestige, wisdom, imagination (in text)
-Cover: Purple & its shades
- Cover items: tulip, eggplants, foxglove, orchid, grapes, car, paint, stars
-Number: 7 (in title or pg count)

Bonus Colors:-

7.💖Hot Pink: Sex💖

-Genre: Your choice
-Words: hot, pink, bisexual, asexual, homosexual, transgender, unconditional, romantic, nurturing,calming, energizing.(in text)
-Cover: Pink & its shades
- Cover items: balloon, butterfly, candy, cake, dress, crayon, cherry blossoms, rose, ice cream, girl, couple
-Number: 2 (in title or pg count)

8.💙Turquoise: Magic/Art💙

-Genre: Magic/Urban Fantasy/Graphic books
-Words: magic, art, turquoise, creativity, relaxation,, balance, wisdom, tranquility, protection, mermaid, purity(in text)
-Cover: Turquoise
- Cover items: pendant, ring, bracelet, sky, water body, pencil, paint, graphic art, abstract art, figure art, colors, boy, magician, crystal ball, wand, broomstick, magician’s hat, sword
-Number: 0 (in title or pg count)

(hide spoiler)]

Posting Format

Color:
Book Name with link/author:
Date Read:
Criteria used:
How it Fits:
Review link if any:
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: Yes/No

After completing one color set, post as:

Color Set:
Links to messages of the books under the set/Message no.s(see on the top left of the comment):
Point Total (including points for each book): 5+ points collected for each book.

After collecting a pride flag, post as:-

Item collected: Pride Flag
Links to messages of the books under the set/Message no.s(see on the top left of the comment):
Point Total (including points for each book): 8+ points collected for each book.

After collecting a rainbow, post as:-
Item collected: Rainbow
Links to messages of the books under the set/Message no.s(see on the top left of the comment):
Additional Points collected: 12

Imp Note:-
1. A book read can either be included in a color set or a pride flag collection.
2. At the end of the challenge, you automatically collect a rainbow if you read 1 book for each of the 8 colors.
3. You can collect more than 1 pride flag but form only 1 rainbow.

Tracking Post

Red
The Black Flamingo - genre/text/lgbtq +9
The Third Person - genre/text/lgbtq +7
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 6 genre/text/cover items/lgbtq +9
Orange
The Blue Castle - genre/text +9
Lore Olympus: Volume Four - genre/text/number +8
Yellow
Love, Theoretically - genre/text/cover/lgbtq +11
The Sweetheart List - genre/text/number +7
Green
The Cruelest Mercy - text/cover/number +10
The Traitor Queen - genre/text/page count +9
The Paper Palace - genre/text/cover/cover item/page count +13
Blue
The Wicked and the Dead - genre/text/cover +6
Sera and the Royal Stars Vol. 2 - genre/text/cover/page count +6
Purple
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Omnibus, Vol. 2 - genre/text +5
The Foxglove King - genre/text/cover/cover item/lgbtq +15
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 3 - genre/text +5
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 4 - genre/text/cover +6
Hot Pink
Anger Bang - genre/text/cover item +6
Untethered Sky - genre/text/cover item/page count +7
Coffee: 100 Everyday Recipes - genre/text/page count +6
Turquoise
Magic Claims - genre/text/cover/cover item +11

Rainbow: 1 +12
Pride Flag: 2 +16

Color: Orange
Book Name with link/author: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Date Read: June 2
Criteria used: Genre - Classic
Words in text - New, Life, Adventure, Sun, Orange, Change, Bloom, Healing
How it Fits: It was published in 1926 and it's a Canadian Classic for sure, same author wrote Anne of Green Gables. The main character is told she has a terminal heart condition so she changes her life, and spends a lot of time in nature. The mcs favourite author, that she quotes, is a nature writer as well.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 9

Total Points: 9

Color: Red
Book Name with link/author: The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Date Read: June 5
Criteria used: Genre - Contemporary
Words in Text - Life, red, wine, rose, beginning, courage
LGBTQ+
How it Fits: The mc is born 1999 and the book builds to them finding Drag and doing there first performance.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: Yes
Points: 9

Total Points: 18

Color: Blue
Book Name with link/author: The Wicked and the Dead by Melissa Marr
Date Read: June 7
Criteria used: genre - paranormal
text - blue, sky, harmony, calm
cover - blue
How it Fits: is blue, paranormal - about future New Orleans dealing with vampires and fairies
the mc is a witch that brings things to life so nature is quite important in the story
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 6

Total Points: 24

Color: Purple
Book Name with link/author: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Omnibus, Vol. 2 by Scott Lobdell
Date Read: June 7
Criteria used: genre - comic books
text - spirit, power, wealth, wisdom
How it Fits: A collection of comic stories about buffy
there are ghosts, a story set at a casino, villains trying to overtake the world
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 5

Total Points: 29

Color: Green
Book Name with link/author: The Cruelest Mercy by Natalie Mae
Date Read: June 11
Criteria used: text - green, nature, natural, money, luck, forest, health, envy
Cover - green
Number - 4 in page count
How it Fits:
384 pages
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 10

Total Points: 39

Color: Red
Book Name with link/author: The Third Person by Emma Grove
Date Read: June 12
Criteria used: genre - self-help
text - life +1, danger +1, courage +1, beginning +1
LGBTQ+
How it Fits: The author used drawing to heal and to reach others to heal and feel less alone about dealing with D.I.D and transitioning.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: Yes
Points: 7

Total Points: 46

Color: Turquoise
Book Name with link/author: Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews
Date Read: June 13
Criteria used: genre - urban fantasy
text - magic, art, wisdom, balance, protection, merman, purity
cover - colour
cover item - sword
How it Fits: - turquoise, she has a sword strapped to her back
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 11

Total Points: 57

Erica wrote: "Color: Turquoise
Book Name with link/author: Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews
Date Read: June 13
Criteria used: genre - urban fantasy
text - magic, art, wisdom, balance..."

Hi Erica! For using bonus colors, you have to read at least 1 book of each of the original six colours first. Then only, you can use Hot Pink and Turquoise as they are additional.
You can keep this post but make sure to read for Yellow, so that it count for points.

Color: Yellow
Book Name with link/author: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Date Read: June 14
Criteria used: genre - romance
text - sun, yellow, citrus, corn, lovely, bright, happy
cover - yellow
LGBTQ+
How it Fits: main character and side character are on the ace/aro spectrum
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: Yes
Points: 11

Total Points: 68

Color: yellow
Book Name with link/author: The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis
Date Read: June 20
Criteria used: genre - romance
text - yellow, sun, lovely, bright, happy
number - 5
How it Fits: It's a romance set in Sunrise Cove California 352 pages long
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 7

Total Points: 75

Color: Orange
Book Name with link/author: Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe
Date Read: June 20
Criteria used: genre - NA books
text - life, healing, new, bloom, sun, change
number - 6
How it Fits: Persephone goddess of Spring is 19 navigating Olympus and 416 pages
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 8

Total Points: 83

Color: Purple
Book Name with link/author: The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whitten
Date Read: June 25
Criteria used: genre - horror
text - purple, spirit, shy, mysterious, power, wealth, imagination
colour - purple shades
cover items - foxglove, stars
How it Fits: The mc channels death and gets tied up with the royal family vying for power.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: Yes
Points: 15

Total Points: 98

Color: Pink
Book Name with link/author: Anger Bang by Avery Flynn
Date Read: June 28
Criteria used: genre - romance
text - hot, pink, calming
items - dress
How it Fits: Eighties themed reality wedding with lots of hot pink outfits. Dinosaur in a dress on the cover.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 6

Total Points: 104

Item collected: Rainbow
Links to messages of the books under the set/Message no.s(see on the top left of the comment): Message #4
Additional Points collected: 12

Total Points: 116

Color: Red
Book Name with link/author: Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 6 by James Tynion IV
Date Read: June 28
Criteria used: genre - thriller
text - life, red
cover items - lips, blood
How it Fits: The monster takes on the mc's appearance meanwhile the orginization sends a woman to kill the mc.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: Yes
Points: 9

Total Points: 125

Color: Blue
Book Name with link/author: Sera and the Royal Stars Vol. 2 by Jon Tsuei
Date Read: June 28
Criteria used: genre - paranormal
text - blue, harmony, sky
cover - blue
1 in page count
How it Fits: 160 pages The mc has a star in her heart and works with other stars to save the world.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 6

Total Points: 131

Color: Green
Book Name with link/author: The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen
Date Read: June 29
Criteria used: genre - historical fic
text - nature, money, luck, health, envy, forest, lush
page count - 4
How it Fits: 346 pages. Made up countries but no magic or sci fi stuff set in the past. Kingdoms battling each other and the mcs trek across the desert and nearly die a few times.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 9

Total Points: 140

Color: Hot Pink
Book Name with link/author: Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
Date Read: June 30
Criteria used: genre - SFF
text - nurting/calming/energizing
cover items - girl
page count - 2
How it Fits: The mc trains and cares for a Roc named Zahra. 152 pages with Ester on the cover.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 7

Total Points: 147

Color: Purple
Book Name with link/author: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 4 by Andi Watson
Date Read: June 30
Criteria used: genre - comic books
text - wisdom, imagination, power, wealth
cover - purple
How it Fits: Huge chunk is a story about achieving eternal youth.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 6

Total Points: 153

Color: Purple
Book Name with link/author: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 3 by Andi Watson
Date Read: June 19
Criteria used: genre - comic books
text - spirit, mysterious, power, wisdom
How it Fits: Drusilla can see spirits. Angel is always disappearing and is mysterious.
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 5

Total Points: 158

Color: Hot Pink
Book Name with link/author: Coffee: 100 Everyday Recipes by Parragon Books
Date Read: June 28
Criteria used: genre - cookbook
text - hot/energizing/calming/pink
page count - 2
How it Fits: There were savory meat dishes where the meat is cooked and left pink. Some recipes use hot coffee. It mentions caffeine for energizing and decaf for calming. 208 pages
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 6

Total Points: 164

Color: Green
Book Name with link/author: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Date Read: June 18
Criteria used: genre - historical fic
text - nature, natural, forest, green, envy, lush, health, luck
cover - green
cover item - plants
page count - 4
How it Fits: Mostly set outdoors at a cabin over the years. Follows a woman having an affair and recounts her life so health/luck/envy of loved ones is mentioned. 400 pages
Review link if any: n/a
Tagged Diverse/LGBTQ+: No
Points: 13

Total Points: 177

Item Collected: Pride Flag
Message #4
Points: 8

Total Points: 185

Item Collected: Pride Flag
Message #4
Points: 8

Total Points: 193

There I'm done! 🥳