Duration: 21st June – 20th September
Number of books: 23
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection
I’ve always loved music and enjoy that there’s a genre/style of music for every occasion or mood. This could have turned into a “history of music” lesson, but instead, I’ve included very basic definitions of some of the most popular music styles. Even if you don’t find yourself tapping your toes when you hear a favorite song, we hope you’ll enjoy this challenge 🙂
1. A CAPPELLA : any singing performed without any background music/instruments
♪ Read a book where the first letter of every word in the title can be found in ACAPPELLA (ALL words count; 2-word minimum; to use a letter more than once, it must appear more than once in the phrase) OR a book whose title begins with a vowel (disregard A, An and The) – Armor of Roses by Marjorie Liu
2. BLUEGRASS : American country music mixed with Irish and Scottish influences
♪ Read a book set in either Ireland or Scotland; tell us where OR a book with a compound word in the title (two or more words are joined together to form a new word with an entirely different meaning; see this list for examples, if necessary) – Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews & Meljean Brook
3. BLUES : African-American music from the Mississippi Delta area
♪ Read a book by an author whose name contains a color word (will accept BLACKwell, GREENberg, etc.); post a link to the author’s GR page OR a book set in a rural area – Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan
4. BOSSA NOVA : a well-known style of Brazilian music, a lyrical fusion of samba and jazz
♪ Read a book that features a dancer; tell us who OR a book whose title or author’s name (first or last) ENDS with A or Z; if using the author option, post a link to the author’s GR page – Shadows of the Master by Emily Rodda
5. BRASS/MILITARY: music performed with brass instruments, prior to the advent of jazz
♪ Read a book with a character who is or was in the military (any era, any country, any service branch); tell us who OR a book whose title contains a word that rhymes with BRASS – The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan (Matt in the Rangers, USA)
6. CLASSICAL : umbrella term for Western art music known for its use of large orchestras and staff notation
♪ Read a book with an unusually large cast of characters OR a book that you gave a higher rating to than the GR average rating; tell us both ratings – Green-Eyed Envy by Kasey MacKenzie
7. COUNTRY : American roots music played with acoustic guitars, banjos, fiddles, and harmonicas
♪ Read a book featuring a character who earns his/her living as a musician; tell us who OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in COUNTRY (to use a letter more than once, it must appear more than once in the phrase); post a link to the author’s GR page – Jodie’s Journey by Colin Thiele
8. DIXIELAND : an early form of jazz developed in New Orleans, USA
♪ Read a book set in New Orleans OR a book with an X in the title or author’s name; if using the author option, post a link to the author’s GR page – Hot August Moon by Katherine Sutcliffe
9. FOLK : broad term used to refer to the traditional music of an ethnic group, usually that performed by the working class
♪ Read a book featuring a person who works in a blue-collar career; tell us who and the career OR a book whose title begins with F (ALL words count!) – Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
10. HIP HOP : combination of funk, poetry and innovative DJ techniques, particularly sampling of pre-recorded material
♪ Read a book whose title contains at least two significant words that begin with the same letter OR a book that has been released at least once more since its original publication; tell us both years (you may read the original release or a newer release) – Dangerous Tides by Christine Feehan
11. JAZZ : a type of music that originated in the late 19th and early 20th century in the Southern United States
♪ Read a book set between 1850 and 1925; tell us when OR a book set in the southern USA (North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi or Florida); tell us the state – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)
12. LATIN : music of Latin American countries, influenced by American popular music, jazz, and rhythm and blues
♪ Read a book with a main character whose FIRST name begins with a letter in LATIN; tell us the character OR a book set in a Latin American country; tell us the country this site might help – Falling for Anthony by Meljean Brook (Anthony Ramsdell)
13. METAL : generally a very fast, aggressive, loud and technical sounding music with a strong beat
♪ Read a book that you could not put down OR a book with an “in your face” character; tell us who – Red Hot Fury by Kasey MacKenzie
14. OPERA : an extended dramatic composition, in which all parts are sung to instrumental accompaniment, that usually includes arias, choruses, and recitatives
♪ Read a book with DRAMA on its main GR page OR read a book with a diva-type character who could be labeled a “drama queen;” tell us who – Safe Harbor by Christine Feehan
15. POP : music of general appeal to teenagers; a watered-down version of rock ‘n’ roll with more rhythm and harmony and an emphasis on romantic love
♪ Read a book whose main character is a teenager; tell us how old OR a book with ROMANCE on its main GR page – The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (16 years old)
16. R&B : music characterized by its use of blues chords played over a strong and consistent backbeat and by its emphasis on composition rather than the improvisation common in traditional blues
♪ Read a book from a series that has a consistent character; tell us how OR a book by an author who uses an initial instead of a first name; post a link to the author’s GR page – Dark and Stormy Knights edited by P.N. Elrod
17. REGGAE : combines elements of calypso and rhythm and blues with a strongly accentuated offbeat
♪ Read a book with at least two distinctly different genres on its main GR page; tell us the genres OR a book with consecutive double letters in the author’s FIRST name; post a link to the author’s GR page – Lover Beware by Christine Feehan, Katherine Sutcliffe, Fiona Brand & Eileen Wilks
18. RELIGIOUS/SACRED: music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence
♪ Read a book in which religion/faith is important OR a book whose title contains an adjective (a word that describes something/someone; this list might help) – Turbulent Sea by Christine Feehan
19. ROCK : music based around amplified instruments, especially the electric guitar and electric bass; characterized by a strong bass line and driving rhythms
♪ Read a book with a rock or stone object show prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book whose title contains the letters R-O-C-K (not necessarily in order) – Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson
20. ROCKABILLY: a style of popular music combining the features of rock ‘n’ roll and hillbilly music
♪ Read a book by an author whose first or last name is Billy (all forms of William – Will, Willie, Bill, Billy acceptable; also, last name Williams or Williamson will work); post a link to the author’s GR page OR read a book whose title contains consecutive double consonants. – Cress by Marissa Meyer
21. SOUL : combines elements of African-American gospel music, doo-wop, rhythm & blues and jazz
♪ Read a book by an African-American author; post a link to the author’s GR page OR a book whose title contains only words that are no more than four letters long (2-word minimum) – Wild Rain by Christine Feehan
22. SWING / BIG BAND : a style of jazz, popular especially in the 1930s and often arranged for a large dance band, marked by a smoother beat and more flowing phrasing than Dixieland and having less complex harmonies and rhythms than modern jazz
♪ Read a book whose title contains a word that starts with “SW” OR read a book that takes place during the 1930’s; tell us when – Bloodlist by P.N. Elrod
23. TECHNO : characterized by very fast synthesizer rhythms, heavy use of samples, and a lack of melody
♪ Read a book with a character who uses new technology in his/her career; tell us how and the character OR a book whose plot seems to be missing something; without giving away spoilers, explain why you feel that way – Fairest by Marissa Meyer (the plague to take over Earth, and I felt that Levanna still didn’t have an excuse for her actions…)
Title: Blue Moon
Title: The Cypress Project
Title: Shutter
Earth and Skye 