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I’m posting an early challenge as members are likely to be busy during the next few weeks. Let’s start 2026 with a new theme called ONE (based on an idea from Jazzy)

Read books that fit any of the descriptions:

Title includes word or number “one”
An author’s first published book
The first book of a series

One… Two… Three… Come on…
“But I’m one, I am one.
And I can see that this is me
And I will be
You’ll all see I’m the one.” The Who

1. The first book of a series…
Laurie Lee – Cider with Rosie 1959

2. Title includes word or number “one”…
Laurie Lee – As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning 1969

3. An author’s first published book…
Philip Roth – Goodbye, Columbus 1959

Nice choices, Vit.

ONE -- January 2026 Challenge

1. Title includes word or number “one”
✅As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee (1969) 1/11/26

2. An author’s first published book
✅Under the Net by Iris Murdoch (1954)

3. The first book of a series
✅The Warden by Antony Trollope (1855) [First book of the Chronicles of Barsetshire series] 1/25/26

One Challenge: January

✅1. Title includes the word "One": One Thousand Dollars by O. Henry

✅2. First book in a series: The Saturdays by [author:Elizabeth

✅3. First published book: Betrachtung by Franz Kafka

ONE - Singular Sensation! January 2026
2/3



1. Title includes word or number “one”
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (1960) - Dr. Seuss

2 An author’s first published book
Watership Down (1972) - Richard Adams
The story began as tales that Richard Adams told his young daughters Juliet and Rosamund during long car journeys. He recounted in 2007 that he "began telling the story of the rabbits ... improvised off the top of [his] head, as [they] were driving along". The daughters insisted he write it down—"they were very, very persistent". After some delay, Adams began writing the novel in the evenings; he completed it 18 months later. The book is dedicated to the two girls. Adams's descriptions of wild rabbit behaviour were based on The Private Life of the Rabbit: An Account of the Life History and Social Behavior of the Wild Rabbit (1964), by British naturalist R.M. Lockley. The two later became friends, embarking on an Antarctic tour that became the subject of a co-authored book, Voyage through the Antarctic (1982).

3 The First Book of a Series
Parker Pyne Investigates (1934) - Agatha Christie

Read books that fit any of the descriptions:

Title includes word or number “one”
An author’s first published book
The first book of a series

1. Up In Michigan by Ernest Hemingway (1923)
January 13, 2026 3*




I'm bending the meaning of book. "Up in MIchigan" was the first short story that Hemingway wrote. It is controversial due to the graphic subject matter. I admire his writing style, but it is a tough story.

⭐ "I shall say this only ONCE!" ⭐

Read books that fit any of the descriptions:

1.Title includes word or number “one”
One Hundred and One DalmationsbyDodie Smith(1956)
⭐✔5/1/26★ ★ ★ ★ ★

2.An author’s first published book
Betty ZanebyZane Grey(1903,written about Zane's own great-great grandmother)
⭐✔7/1/26★ ★ ★ ★

3.The first book of a series
Men at ArmsbyEvelyn Waugh (Book 1 of Sword of Honour Series)(1952)
⭐✔2/1/26★ ★ ★ ★ ★

COMPLETE 7/1/26

January 2026 Challenge ONE



2. An author’s first published book:
Bonjour tristesse by Françoise Sagan

Jazzy wrote: "ONE - Singular Sensation!
2026




1. Title includes word or number “one”
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (1960) - Dr. Seuss

2 An author’s first published book
..."

How lovely to see you back again, Jazzy! ❤️

January 2026 Challenge ONE
0/3

1. Title includes word or number One:


2. An author’s first published book:


3. The first book of a series:

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott, 1/9/26
- the first book in the series

The Winds of War
Herman Wouk
The first book of a series....

“Just one look
That’s all it took, yeah
Just one look
And I felt so I, I, I’m in love
With you.” The Hollies

1. The first book of a series…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Laurie Lee – Cider with Rosie 1959

2. Title includes word or number “one”…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Juan José Saer – The One Before 1976
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Laurie Lee – As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning 1969

3. An author’s first published book…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Philip Roth – Goodbye, Columbus 1959
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Alice Munro – Dance of the Happy Shades 1968
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Fyodor Dostoyevsky – Poor Folk 1846
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Charles Portis – Norwood 1966
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Alexander Pushkin – The Tales of Belkin 1831
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Terry Southern – Flash and Filigree 1958
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Virginia Woolf – The Voyage Out 1915

I finished Bonjour Tristesse! (Message 9)

I'm so glad I've finally read it. What an accomplishment for a 17-year-old to write this! She was obviously a genius, very mature for her age. Now I have to process this book.

A fabulous book Nike! Glad you enjoyed it x

Sorry I've been away and rather intermittent, my mother is in hospice care at the minute x

Jazzy wrote: "Sorry I've been away and rather intermittent, my mother is in hospice care at the minute x"

💜

Nike wrote: "I finished Bonjour Tristesse! (Message 9)

I'm so glad I've finally read it. What an accomplishment for a 17-year-old to write this! She was obviously a genius, very mature for her age. Now I have ..."

I recently reread it and enjoyed just as much as the first time.

Jazzy wrote: "Sorry I've been away and rather intermittent, my mother is in hospice care at the minute x"

Prayers for you and your mum, Jazzy.

Jazzy wrote: "Sorry I've been away and rather intermittent, my mother is in hospice care at the minute x"

Thinking of you, Jazzy.