Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion

Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired: September, 2011 Challenge

TITLE: Something So September

Choose five books from the following and one of your own choice for a
TOTAL of six (6) books:

DURATION: September 1, 2011 – October 1, 2011.
Why the extra day? Because September 5th is Be Late For Something Day, so be a day late for the finish of this challenge.

OPTIONS: It is the ninth month, so you have nine options; you can choose multiples from one group/number:

1. Celebrate the season:

• Spell A.U.T.U.M.N. (all your choice) using a book title, or author’s or character’s name, for a total of six books.
• Spell F.A.L.L. (all four your choice) plus one book from the options below, and a bonus one of your choice, for a total of six books.
• Choose one or more books that has "autumn" or "fall" in the title; choose the balance from the options below, plus one of your choice.

2. Celebrate the month: It is…

• Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month: Read a book where the main character is an editor or a writer.
• National Clock Month: Read a book with a clock, watch or timepiece on the cover, or has the word “time” or "clock" in the title.
• National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month: Read a book about a character who has or is recovering from an alcohol or drug addiction.
• National Yoga Month: Read a book where a character teaches or takes a Yoga class.

3. Celebrate a week:

• Banned Book Week: In honor of this week, beginning the fourth Saturday of the month, read a book from the top 100 books/series banned in the USA. Check out the link to GoodReads’ “Nothing But Reading Challenges” link at Rebel Reader/Banned Book Challenge. You’ll be shocked at what is being banned from our schools and libraries across the nation! **cough, cough, Harry Potter series! cough, cough**
• Migraine Awareness Week: In the U.K. it is September 6 – 12. Read a book with a character who gets migraines.
• National Deaf Awareness Week: In USA it is September 18 – 24. Read a book where a person is deaf or has a family member who was deaf.

4. Celebrate the major USA holiday; Labor Day: (Observed in the USA on the first Monday of the month.) In honor of this day, read a book...:

• about a civil servant
• that takes place in Boston – where the first LD was observed
• has a white cover – b/c it’s the last official day to wear white!
• has a woman who gives birth in the story

5. Celebrate another special day:

• National Grandparents Day (observed in the US on the Sunday following Labor Day): Read a book where one of the characters is a grandparent or where the main character has a grandparent with whom they dialogue.

• National Good Neighbor Day (forth Sunday): Read a book about a couple that becomes more than just friendly neighbors.

• National Hunting and Fishing Day (forth Saturday): Read a book with a fish on the cover or a gun-site, or where one of the main characters goes hunting or fishing. This can also be mean hunting for a member of the opposite sex! :o)

• Photographers’ Day (September 4th): Read a book where one of the main characters is a photographer, or there is a camera on the cover, or has the word camera in the title. Here are GoodReads links to: photographer & photography.

• International Literacy Day (September 8th): Read a book about someone who teaches reading to adults or is an adult who can’t read, but eventually learns. I don’t have much, but here is the link to my GRs dyslexia-illiteracy bookshelf.

• Look Up That Old Gang of Yours Day (September 6th): Read a book about someone who returns to their home town, goes to a class reunion, or get a second chance at love with that secret childhood/high-school crush.

• Be Kind to Absent-Minded Professors Day (September 14th): Read a book about a professor, or someone with amnesia. Here is a GoodReads link to: Popular Amnesia Books, or my bookshelf entitled Amnesia or Not

• Restaurateurs’ Day/Don’t Cook Day (September 21): Read a book that takes place in a restaurant, has a chef or cook as a main character, or has a scene in a restaurant. Here is a GoodReads link to: chef.

• Newspaper Day (September 25): Read a book that involves someone who works for a newspaper, or someone who appears in a newspaper article.

6. Read the ninth book in a series! Such as…

Yes, nine rows; nine books to a row. I'm a little OCD, LOL!

7. Read a book from a novelist that has a birthday this month: Examples…

• Edgar Rice Burroughs
• Truman Capote
• Agatha Christie
• Miguel de Cervantes
• William Faulkner
• F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Elizabeth Gaskell
• Stephen King
• George R. R. Martin
• Shel Silverstein
• Leo Tolstoy
• H. G. Wells

8. Read a biography of a famous person with a birthday this month: Examples…(I checked; these all have bio books.)

• Lance Armstrong
• Beyoncé (Knowles)
• Fran Drescher
• Charles Hardin (Buddy) Holly
• Greta Garbo
• Sophia Loren
• Dan Marino
• Tyler Perry
• Jada Pinkett Smith
• Queen Elizabeth I of England
• Mickey Rooney
• Adam Sandler
• Mira Sorvino
• Lily Tomlin

9. For number nine - the ninth month - choose a book that has:

• Nine letters in the title (you may ignore articles like "A", "An", "The:, and "Of" with in the title). Example: Veil of Night, has nine letters. Or nine letters in one or all of the author’s names. Example: You can read a book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips b/c her middle name has nine letters.
• Nine words in the title (now you can include articles and also the series name to reach nine words).
• The word "nine" or "ninth" in the title or series name.

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We have a lot of new people this month. Welcome!

If this is your first challenge, here are some helpful hints:

Remember, the challenges are all for fun here. No pressure. If the above September one is overwhelming, why not give spelling F.A.L.L. a try. Or S.E.P.T. or N.I.N.E. Just say you are committing to only four books instead of six. You can use book titles, series title, author, character or narrator names (first or last). Settings! Whatever.

Example:

F Foxfire Bride, by Maggie Osborne
A Attica d’Alérion in The Last Knight, by Candice Proctor
L Lucky Harbor series Simply Irresistible, by Jill Shalvis
L Lady & the Vamp, by Michelle Rowen


Alternative*: Lisa Kleypas, author of Married By Morning


*Those who know me know I'm always changing my mind.

I would start with choosing books you want to read, and then seeing how they can fit into the challenge.

Plus, most of us here have failed at a book challenge. Real life has a way of getting in the path of our reading, drat!

Participants	Completed
Megan 		 1/6
Heather 	 6/6 - Done! Instead of a day late, she's 1 early!
taita 		 0/6
CaroB 		 6/6 - Done!
Susan 		 6/6 - Done!
✿Michelle✿ 	 1/6
Zoe 		 4/6
Gigi		 0/6
Ann		 0/6
Cheryl	 0/6
Patty		 6/6 - Done!
Carolina	 0/4*
Lizz	 	 0/6
Gigi	 	 0/6
❥☪LIZZ NEILL☪❥ 1/6
Valorie 	 6/6 - Done!
Lisa Kay 	 6/6 - Done!

TOTAL	 	 42/88

Participant Post #2 updated: 9/27/11 12:23 p.m. PST Let me know if there are any errors. Thanks!

Reserved.

Lisa Kay - You are awesome!!

So, you are liking it, Laura? Great! :)

LOL! You're awesome Lisa!! :o)

Thanks, Megan! It was fun. :o)

This is great! Thanks Lisa Kay!

Wow, this looks intense! lol

Lisa Kay wrote: "So, you are liking it, Laura? Great! :)"

I am LOVING it!!!!

Holy Moley, Lisa Kay! I take my hat off to you again! Lots of thought and preparation for this one, and thanks for all the examples to make it easier for us:-)
I'm kinda glad you're putting this up early. I get the feeling I'm going to need to think carefully about my book choices for this monthly challenge!

Thanks, CaroB. I listened to to a previously read audiobook while I did it. So, it was fun.

My life is kind of up in the air right now, so I wanted to get this one done. Now I'm working on the December one for the same reason. I think I calmed down a little on the December one, LOL! But you be the judge. :)

Lisa OMG! you are totally awesome!

Thanks, Ruth! :)

Love the graphic, lisa Kay. You make things so fun!

Glad you like it, Zoe! :)

RLFTCI September, 2011 Challenge: Something So September
0/6

1. author has 9 letters in their last name - Hero at Large, by Janet Evanovich (OD audio)
2. ninth in the series - Kill For Me (book #9), by Karen Rose (HC)
3. author w/B-day - A Feast for Crows, by George R.R. Martin (PB)
4. author w/B-day - Watchers, by Dean Koontz (OD audio)
5. nine letters in the title Veil of Night: A Novel, by Linda Howard (OD audio)
6. nine words in the title & series name:
-> Sophie Katz: Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss, by Kyra Davis (PB)



Possibles:
autumn in the title - Autumn Lover, by Elizabeth Lowell (OD audio)
ninth in the series; author with birthday this month - Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie (OD audio)
nine letters in the title - Blood Born, by Linda Howard (OD audio)

I'm in! I'll post later!

I'm in too. Working on my list as we speak.

Oh wow! Great challenge Lisa Kay. I'm in. Can't believe we're planning for September already?!?!?!

Great, ladies! Looking forward to your lists. :)

Something So September
Sept 1st to Oct 1st

0/6

1. A: Again The Magic by Lisa Kleypas
2. U: Under Her Skin by Jeaniene Frost & Meljean Brook & Ilona Andrews
3. T: The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Christine Bell
4. U: Unlocked by Courtney Milan
5. M: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
6. N: Night Jazz by Jill Shure



Unread:

Woooooah, those look good, CaroB!

September 2011 Challenge: Something So September
0/6 Completed

1. National Hunting and Fishing Day - Prey by Linda Howard
2. Newspaper Day & nine letters in the title - Naked Edge by Pamela Clare
3. Nine words in the title & series name - One Grave at a Time:A Night Huntress Novel by Jeaniene Frost
4. Photographers’ Day & Be Kind to Absent-Minded Professors Day - Slow Burn by Ednah Walters
5. Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month & nine letters in the title - The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
6. My Choice - Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Possible Alternates:
Nine letters in the title - Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Nine letters in the author name - Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton
Restaurateurs’ Day - Too Hot To Touch by Louisa Edwards
Labor Day:Boston setting - The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

Read:

Lisa Kay wrote: "Woooooah, those look good, CaroB!"

Thanks Lisa Kay! I wanted to be more creative in my choice-method, but can't wait to get stuck into those books.

Wow! Lots of thought went into the planning of this! I'll try it :) I'm half way through this month's challenge (it was my first) and I think I can do another one.

Heather, I think I had all but one of your choices on my Wishlist shelf. Trying not to drool at your list...

I'm going to try to do this one. I'll go through my books and post my list this weekend.

Great challenge Lisa Kay!!!

Heather! I WANT those books! :) (Except for b/c I read that one.)

Susan (susayq) wrote: "Wow! Lots of thought went into the planning of this! I'll try it :) I'm half way through this month's challenge (it was my first) and I think I can do another one."

Great, Susan! It is all fun. :)

✿Michelle✿ wrote: "I'm going to try to do this one. I'll go through my books and post my list this weekend."

Great, ✿Michelle✿! And thanks. I know you are doing a lot of other reading right now and here is this to weed through. Sorry.

I am so excited for these reads, so September cannot get here soon enough. I'll waking up early to download One Grave at a Time on the 8/30 and Prey on 9/6. I am a huge fan of both of these authors and though Linda Howard's last few books have been disapointing, Prey sounds really good!!
As for the others, I will patiently wait for 9/1, but it's going to hard!! I've heard so many awesome things about Dragon Bound that I hoped to get to it this month, but couldn't work it in.

0/6 Completed

Something So September
1 – One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel by Jeaniene Frost (9 words in the title & series name)
2 – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (author with a birthday)
3 – Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (9 letters in the title)
4 – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (9 letters in author’s first name)
5 – From this Moment on by Lynn Kurland (9th book in a series)
6 –Bound by Night by Amanda Ashley (any choice)

Alternates: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (her birthday month), Elizabeth I by Alison Weir (Elizabeth’s birthday month, bio book)

alternates:

Wow! Megan, you are taking on some chunksters in September.

Megan that looks ambitious! Hats off to you!

Megan's page count totals:


#1 = 384 pages
#2 = 1009 pages
#3 = 850 pages
#4 = 533 pages
#5 = 432 pages
#6 = 320 pages

alternates: 528 pages & 560 pages

Holy crap, Megan. lol
That's alot of words!! Good luck

LMAO!! You guys are TOO funny! You don't think I'll actually be able to finish do you?! I know I won't be able to, but those are the books I want to read, and it just happens that they fit into the Sept Challenge! Thanks everyone for believing in me though!! LOL :o)

We have faith and we'll be chanting "words, words, words" in support. =)

Lisa Kay wrote: "✿Michelle✿ wrote: "I'm going to try to do this one. I'll go through my books and post my list this weekend."

Great, ✿Michelle✿! And thanks. I know you are doing a lot of other reading right now..."

Don't be sorry. You know I loooooove going through my books! It'll be the highlight of my weekend, LOL!

Megan wrote: "LMAO!! You guys are TOO funny! You don't think I'll actually be able to finish do you?! I know I won't be able to, but those are the books I want to read, and it just happens that they fit into ..."

You can do it!!!!

I went through my books and this is what I came up with to read for this challenge:

0/6 Read

1. 9th book in a series Lover Unleashed by JR Ward
2. book by author who's birthday is in Sept The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. National Clock Month Locked in Time by Lois Duncan (my 15 YO rec'd this one)
4. The Gang's All Here Day Against the Wind by Kat Martin
5. 9 letters in the title Impossible by Nancy Werlin
6. 9 letters in author's name It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Haven't heard of a few of those. Good choices.

Oh, Susan, very eclectic selection!

my guess is I won't be finishing, but I've been reading Game of Thrones for what seems like forever, and I'm tempted to start A tale of 2 cities next - so to stop myself from doing that (LOL!)I'm going for some light stuff.

3/6 finished

A - Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris - Sarah Turnbull
U - Under Fire - Jo Davis✔ finished 9/10
T - Talk of the Town
U - The Unsung Hero - Suzanne Brockman✔ Finished 9/26
M -Murder is Binding - Lorna Barrett ✔Finished 9/4/11

N - The Nude -Dorothy McFalls✔ finished 9/16

Mostly romance, one mystery, one sort of non-fic. We'll see how much I get done![

Zoe, I hope you get to b/c I was to see what you have to say about it. I've had my eye on it a while, but my library doesn't carry it. If it is any good, I'll put out the $$$.

Lisa Kay wrote: "Oh, Susan, very eclectic selection!"

Yep, it is a rather all over the place selection LOL But sometimes I have to spice things up while I'm reading ;)

Something So September

0/6 read

1. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard (9 letters in title)
2. The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall (9 letters in authors last name)
3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (author born in September)
4. The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro (main character is a professor)
5. Hunting Julian by Jacquelyn Frank (hunting)
6. The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel (any choice)

✿Michelle✿, I added Miguel de Cervantes to my list above. Thanks!

BTW, I re-read the Earth's Children series last year in anticipation of The Land of Painted Caves coming out this year - only to find that a lot of people complained b/c the first half of the book was a re-cap of the previous five books. Still haven't gotten around to reading the last one. My library does have it on audio...