This month’s Wandering the CCC challenge is based on a section most of you probably discovered quite some time ago, our Hello and Welcome section, at the very top of our group’s page.
1. The first folder in this section is Hi! My name is…, where we hope you’ve already introduced yourself. If not, why don’t you take a moment to do so? Read a book by a new-to-you author OR a book whose title contains a word with the letters HI, intact, but anywhere in the word (HIgh works, as does fisHIng) – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
2. Next up is our Master challenge list, which is updated monthly to reflect our group’s current active challenges. Read a book you discovered on a list of some kind – bestsellers’ list, a Listopia list, or any other kind of list; tell us the list OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in MASTERCHALLENGE – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (Our Shared Shelf)
3. If you have any questions about anything specific to the CCC, feel free to post your question in the Ask the mods thread. One of us will get back to you as soon as we can. Read a book found on one of the CCC mods’ shelves; tell us the mod and the shelf – Coraline by Neil Gaiman (CCC shelf)
4. We would like to help you celebrate your birthday, so if you haven’t already shared your birthday with us in our Birthday celebrations thread, be sure to add it so we can wish you a happy day. Read a book in which a birthday or other occasion is celebrated; tell us the occasion OR a book originally published in the month of your birthday; tell us the month – Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy (wedding)
5. If you’re not sure how to do something here on Goodreads – strike out text or use a spoiler tag, for example – be sure to look in our How do I…? thread. We’re planning to add a table of contents to the folder to make it easier to find questions that have already been asked, but for now, you’ll just need to scroll through the thread; sorry! Read a book with a punctuation mark in the title (bonus if it’s a question mark) OR a book with a character who is a teacher of some sort – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
How It Works Ten books each month is a lot, so there will be 5 different levels. So pick which level you want to do and that’s how many items you will need to check off.
1. The birthstone for May is the emerald which represents success or love. Read a book that represents one of these in the story or both. – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore 2. The zodiac sign for May are Taurus (April 20 – May 20) and Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Read a book where a character has horns (described in the story or on the cover) or has multiple personalities identities – Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan (Alex) 3.May 5 – Cinco De Mayo, read a book that is red, green, or white. – I Am Heathcliff curated by Kate Mosse 4. On May 14, 1804, Lewis and Clark, the great explorers began their trip up the Missouri River. Read a book where there is an great adventure or someone travels. – Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy 5.On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building was officially opened. Read a book set in New York city. 6. May the Forth be with you! It’s Star Wars day! Read a book that is set in outer space or has stars on the cover. 7.May 3rd is National Paranormal Day!! Did anyone know this was a national holiday? Celebrate and read any paranormal book you would like! – Unbound by Kim Harrison, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson & Jocelynn Drake 8. Read a book where the authors initials are found in M A Y. 9. May 28th is Memorial Day. Read a book with a cemetery on the cover or a book where the MC is or has been in the military. – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost 10. The month May was named for Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility. Read a book that features Greek mythology or where a character is pregnant.
Bonus Read: Apparently all of these foods are celebrated in the month of May read a book where a character indulges in one of these foods or this food item is on the cover. – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz (BBQ story and indulgence in food) Barbecue Burger Chocolate Custard (any type of chocolate) Eggs Loaded Potato (any type of potato) Salad Salsa Strawberries
Duration: 1st April – 30th June 2019 Number of books: 8 Hosted by:Bookworm Bitches
Rules: ~Books must be read during the selected time period. ~Post a link to the book, date you finished and rating ~All books read for challenges can be used for more than one challenge. ~Books can be either Fiction or Non Fiction. Your choice. ~If you don’t have a book that matches the option on the list, pick any book on your TBR. ~Copy the blank template below and paste into a new comment to start your challenge. Update as necessary.
The Weird Sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go, about, about, Thrice to thine, thrice to mine, And thrice again to make up nine. Peace, the charm’s wound up.
To have money always, first kill a black rooster. Then, after nightfall, go to the meeting of three crossroads where a murderer is buried. Throw the dead bird over your left shoulder then and there, in the name of the devil, holding a piece of money in your hand all the while. And ever after, no matter what you spend, you will always find the same piece of money undiminished in your pocket.
You’ll get the egg next to each task you complete.
Tasks
The name Easter derived its name from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eastre, which symbolizes hare and egg. Read a book with a god/goddess, with an animal on the cover, or with a title that begins with any letter in EASTER. – High Stakes by Erin McCarthy
Since time immemorial, the egg has been considered as the symbol of rebirth. Read a book where a character undergoes a transition, a character is immortral or very old, or with a circular or oval shaped object on the cover. – Evolve edited by Nancy Kilpatrick
The custom of giving eggs at Easter time has been traced back from Egyptians, Gaul, Persians, Greeks and Romans, to whom the egg was a symbol of life. Read a book involving Egyptians, Gaul, Persians, Greeks or Romans, where a character receives a gift, or that was recommended to you. – Circe by Madeline Miller
During the medieval times, a festival of egg throwing was held in church, during which the priest would throw a hard-boiled egg to one of the choirboys. It would then be tossed from one choirboy to the next and whoever held the egg when the clock struck 12 was surely the winner and will retain the egg. Read a book tagged historical, with a religious character or where a character takes part in a game or competition. – Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti
Pysanka is the term used for the practice of Easter egg painting. Read a book with a colourful cover, that you find fun to read, or tagged art. – Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne
Duration: 1st April – 30th April 2019 Number of books: 3 Hosted by:Bookworm Bitches
There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task. Thank you Lori for help with the ideas!
Hats have been worn for thousands of years, by both men and women. As you might expect, they have been developed for a variety of reasons (protection, ceremonies, rituals, fashion), with many different types. Let’s take a look at the history of hats, then see what different styles are available. Information gathered from Wikipedia
TASKS: Part 1: Hat Facts Complete a task from all 12 of the facts below.
1. Generally speaking, a hat is simply a covering for the head. Hats are worn for various reasons, from fashion to protection, for ceremonies and rituals, for women and men. They were markings of a class to which a wearer belonged and are used to differentiate nationalities, branches and ranks in military. ❀ Read a book showing a hat (of any kind) on the cover (show us the cover) – or – a book with the letters H-A-T in the title, in that order but not necessarily in the same word. – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
2. One of the first pictorial depictions of a hat appears in a tomb painting from Egypt, showing a man wearing a conical straw hat, dated to @3200 BC. Many an upper-class Egyptian would shave his head, covering it in a headdress intended to help them keep cool. ❀ Read a book set in Egypt – or – a book with at least two of the following numbers (3, 2, 0, or 0) in the total number of pages (tell us how many). – Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne (400 pp.)
3. One of the earliest known confirmed hats was worn by a Bronze Age man whose body was found frozen in a mountain between Austria and Italy where he’d been since about 3,300 BC. He was wearing a bearskin cap with a chin strap, made of several hides stitched together, essentially resembling a Russian fur hat without the flaps. ❀ Read a book set in an ancient civilization (at least 1000 years ago – or – a book with a mountain on the cover (show us the cover). – Circe by Madeline Miller
4. Millinery is the design and manufacture of hats. The term is derived from the city of Milan, Italy, since the best quality hats were made there in the 18th century. Millinery began as traditionally a woman’s occupation, as the milliner not only created hats and bonnets but also chose lace, trim and accessories to complete an outfit. ❀ Read a book whose title ENDS with Y – or – a book set in the 1700’s. – Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland
5. Some hats have a protective function. For example, the hard hat protects construction workers’ heads from injury by falling objects, a cowboy hat protects against sun and rain, and a fur hat keeps the head and ears warm. Some hats are worn for ceremonial purposes, such as the mortarboard, worn during graduation ceremonies, while other hats are worn by members of a certain profession, such as a chef’s toque. Still more hats have religious functions, such as the mitres worn by bishops and the turban worn by Sikhs. ❀ Read a book with a MAIN character who is in one of these professions: construction worker, professor, chef, or religious leader (tell us who) – or – a book with some sort of ceremony as part of the plot (graduation, wedding, dinner party, etc.) – Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle (party and a spell casting)
6. For both men and women, the size, shape, and design of hats changed with fashion and hairstyles, economic and social changes, wars, and rationing. ❀ Read a book with a man AND a woman on the cover (show us the cover) – or – a book that covers a long span of time, at least 50 years. – Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan
7. One of the basic materials for hats is felt. Ancient Egyptians found felt when they noticed that camel hair falling into sandals becomes compact from pressure and moistness. Native Americans found felt in their fur moccasins. St. Clement, the patron saint of felt hatmakers, is said to have discovered wool felt when he filled his sandals with flax fibers to protect his feet, around 800 AD. ❀ Read a book with a Native American character (tell us who) – or – a book showing feet or shoes or sandals on the cover (show us the cover). – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
8. The tradition of wearing hats to horse racing events began at Royal Ascot in Britain, which maintains a strict dress code. At Ascot, they still reach the peak of excitement on Gold Cup Day, known since 1807 as Ladies Day, when the men wear traditional top hats, and the Queen, along with hundreds of women from all classes wear spectacular chapeaux. Large picture hats (also called “cartwheels”) are the most common, but what gets attention and appears in press coverage are photos of the most novel hats, featuring intriguing images, such as a dartboard, cellular telephone, flying saucers, Astroturf, or a birdcage. ❀ Read a book set in England – or – a book with a horse involved in the story. – The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
9. In the early 21st century, flamboyant hats made a comeback, with a new wave of competitive young milliners designing creations that include turban caps, trompe-l’oeil-effect felt hats and tall headpieces made of human hair. Some new hat collections have been described as “wearable sculpture.” ❀ Read a book originally published in the early 21st century (2000-2010) – or – a book with a character who is a sculptor or other type of artist (tell us who). – Burning Up by Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, Virginia Kantra & Meljean Brook (2010)
10. A notable effort at reigniting interest in millinery was the 1983 opening of the Hat Making Museum in Chazelles-sur-Lyon, France. Its permanent exhibition presents a chronological display of hats from 1850 on, and temporary shows include the results from its biennial International Contest of Hat Designers, which in 2003 drew 176 hats from 16 countries, including Canada, the United States, Australia, and Japan. ❀ Read a book originally published in a YEAR that contains a “3” (tell us when) – or – a book with 176 or fewer pages (but must be at least 150 pages). – Snow White, Blood Red edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (1993)
11. Festivals have also helped popularize hats. From the 1880’s to the 1940’s, supported by the millinery manufacturers, Easter Sunday parades were held in American cities. These encouraged American women to annually buy or retrim their Easter bonnets, dress-up their daughters, and walk down main streets. The 1948 film Easter Parade had Fred Astaire and Judy Garland participate in a reenactment of this New York Fifth Avenue event. ❀ Read a book that mentions any holiday (bonus if it’s Easter) – or – a book set in New York City. – Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil (school holidays)
12. Paris celebrates Saint Catherine of Alexandria, patroness of maidens and milliners, each November 25th. Unmarried women, especially those working in the millinery trade, who are known as “Catherinettes,” wear extravagant hats to parties held in their honor. In earlier times, their goal was to catch a husband with the saint’s assistance. ❀ Read a book with a character whose FIRST name starts with “C” – or – a book published in November (any year, but tell us which one). – Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy (Cara)
Part 2 – Hat Styles Choose 15 of the following hat styles and complete the task. (You do NOT need to choose the tasks in advance.)
1. – Akubra – An Australian brand of bush hat whose wide-brimmed styles are a distinctive part of Australian culture, especially in rural areas. ❀ Read a book set in Australia OR with an Australian character (tell us who). – Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe (the entire book is about Australia and Australian First Peoples)
2. – Balaclava – Usually made from cotton or polyester, it covers the whole head, exposing only the face or part of it. Sometimes only the eyes or eyes and mouth are visible. ❀ Read a book with at least 4 A’s in the title.
3. – Baseball Cap – A soft, light cotton cap with a rounded crown and a stiff, frontward-projecting bill. ❀ Read a book with a character who is a professional athlete (doesn’t have to be baseball).
4. – Bearskin – The tall, furry hat of the Brigade of Guards’ full-dress uniform, originally designed to protect them against sword-cuts, etc. Commonly seen at Buckingham Palace in London, England. ❀ Read a book set in London. – The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
5. – Beret/Military beret – Evolved from a French Pyrenean shepherd’s hat to the most widely worn military hat in the world. A French mountain regiment, les chasseurs alpines, always wore dark red berets and presented one to British Field Marshal Montgomery after World War I. He wore this beret, called “tarte alpine” during his command of the British forces during World War II. ❀ Read a book set during World War I OR World War II.
6. – Boater – A flat-brimmed, flat-topped straw hat formerly worn by seamen, this became popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. Now mostly worn at summer regattas or formal garden parties, often with a ribbon in club or school colors. ❀ Read a book set in the summer months (June, July, August).
7. – Bowler/Derby – The bowler hat, called derby in the United States, was designed in 1849. It quickly became a classic wardrobe item and a quintessential badge of Englishness. Named after John and William Bowler, hatters from the north of England, it became the first mass-produced hat in history. A young English aristocrat who wanted a new hunting hat ordered the original design. He wanted a brown, round-crowned felt hat, practical and hard wearing, but also dashing and modern. Most importantly, the hat was to be hard and protective as it was to be used for riding. The earl of Derby introduced the hat to the U.S., hence the name given to it there. ❀ Read a book with a brown hat on the cover (show us the cover).
8. – Cartwheel Hat – Wide-brimmed and shallow-crowned, normally worn at an angle. Popular from the 1910’s but most closely associated with fashion in the 40’s and 50’s. Also known as a pancake hat. ❀ Read a book with a circular shape on the cover (show us the cover). – Hotel Valhalla by Rick Riordan
9. – Cloche Hat – A bell-shaped ladies’ hat popular during the Roaring Twenties. ❀ Read a book set in the 1920’s. – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
10. – Deerstalker – A warm, close-fitting tweed cap, with brims front and behind and ear-flaps that can be tied together either over the crown or under the chin. Originally designed for use while hunting in Scotland. Worn by (and closely associated with) the character Sherlock Holmes. ❀ Read a book marked “Mystery > Crime” OR “Mystery > Detective” on its main genre page.
11. – Dunce Cap – A conical hat, usually tall and narrow, worn by late-19th and early-20th century school pupils as a punishment/humiliation. It often featured a large capital “D” inscribed on its side, to be shown frontwards when the hat was worn. ❀ Read a book whose title starts with “D” (Must start with D, INCLUDING A, An, The). – Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
12. – Fascinator – A small hat commonly made with feathers, flowers and/or beads. It attaches to the hair by a comb, headband or clip. ❀ Read a book with feathers or flowers on the cover (show us the cover). – Black Feathers edited by Ellen Datlow
14. – Half Hat – Millinery design that covers only half the head, particularly popular in the 1950’s. ❀ Read a combination of half-step books to reach the minimum page requirement of 150 pages. – Dates from Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong & Lori Handeland (contains four novellas to reach the requirement)
15. – Hennin – A woman’s hat of the Middle Ages. This style includes the conical “princess” hats often seen in illustrations of folk-tale princesses. ❀ Read a book featuring a prince or princess.
16. – Homburg – A semi-formal hat with a medium brim and crown with a crease and no dents. The homburg was originally German, named after its city of origin. The American fedora and the slightly smaller British version, the trilby, are derived from this original design. ❀ Read a book with an author whose first and last name start with the same letter. – Percy Jackson: The Ultimate Guide by Rick Riordan
17. – Panama – A straw hat handwoven in Ecuador and shipped through the Panama Canal, which gave the hat its name. This was the summer hat for the modern man around the turn of the 20th century. Growing and preparing the straw was a lengthy procedure and so was the weaving of a hat, which could take a skilled worker up to 4 weeks. With not many skilled hat weavers left in Ecuador, this hat has become a collector’s item. ❀ Read a book that you’ve “collected” – meaning you’ve purchased it because it’s special to you. (Tell us why it has been added to your collection.) – Coraline by Neil Gaiman (I loved the movie and love the author)
18. – Peach Basket Hat – A woman’s hat resembling an upturned fruit basket. Usually lavishly trimmed, it achieved notoriety in the early 1900’s. ❀ Read a book with a two-word title (all words count). – High Stakes by Erin McCarthy
19. – Santa Hat – A floppy pointed red hat trimmed in white fur traditionally associated with Christmas. ❀ Read a book in which Christmas is celebrated.
20. – Shepherdess Hat – Popular throughout most of the 18th century, in varying brim widths, these hats were considered necessary to keep the sun away from fair complexions, especially as the parasol was not a fashionable accessory during this period. ❀ Read a book with a sunny daytime scene on the cover (show us the cover). – Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown
21. – Stetson/Cowboy Hat – A high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat, with a sweatband on the inside, and a decorative hat band on the outside. It is a truly American hat with its origins in Philadelphia, where John Batterson Stetson established his first hat factory in the 1880’s. The making of a modern Stetson is still based on the old techniques of felting and blocking, requiring thirteen different stages in production, thus making the hat very costly. ❀ Read Book #13 from a series (tell us the series).
22. – Top Hat – Also known as a magician’s or stovepipe hat. Tall, flat-crowned, cylindrical and popular with men in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Once made from felted beaver fur, it became the hat worn by postrevolution aristocracy and an emblem of conservative capitalism. Its origins were far less formal. ❀ Read a book with a wealthy character (tell us who). – The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence (Cordius)
23. – Toque – A tall, pleated, brimless, cylindrical hat traditionally worn by chefs. ❀ Read a book with a character who is a chef or cook. – The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair
24. – Tricorn – A soft hat with a low crown and broad brim, pinned up on either side of the head and at the back, producing a triangular shape. Worn by Europeans in the 18th century. Individuality was achieved by wearing the hat either pointing to the front or to the side and by adding different decorations like feather fringes and cockades. ❀ Read a book with a triangular shape showing somewhere on the cover (show us the cover). Be creative. – Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige (the main picture is in the triangle)
25. – Zucchetto – A skullcap worn by clerics typically in Roman Catholicism. ❀ Read a book with a character whose name starts with “Z” (tell us who).
I have a child who is very active. He can focus for a good amount of time when playing with Legos or reading books, but he doesn’t have the same discipline for doing anything else. So, I’ve been trying to get him interested in martial arts classes. I look at these classes not as self-defense lessons, but primarily as something that will help him focus. We’ve settled on Karate, but we did look at a couple of other forms also, and I thought it would make a good challenge. Here are 15. To finish, read a book for each martial art.
1. Aikido: ‘Ai’ means harmony, ‘ki’ means spirit, and ‘do’ means way in Japanese. Founder Morihei Ueshiba developed this fighting style by combining his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Unlike most other martial arts, the central principle of Aikido is to allow practitioners to defend themselves, while at the same time prevent their attackers from being seriously injured. 👊 Read a book about philosophy or religion -or- read a book whose author’s first or last name begins with a U. – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
2. Arnis: Arnis is a fighting style developed in the Philippines by its inhabitants as a means of self-preservation against invaders and in local conflicts. In this martial art form, weapons like knives, swords, and rattan sticks are used, along with blocking, footwork, and disarming maneuvers to overpower an opponent. 👊 Read a book where a group of people defend themselves from an invading force -or- read a book whose cover shows a knife or a sword (post the cover). – The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
3. Boxing: This is one of the most natural forms of fighting known to man. In boxing, hands are curled into fists and are used to throw punches. Hands are also used to shield the face and neck against attacks. Though a boxer solely uses his hands for fighting, he needs to train his legs also in order to achieve greater balance, speed, and agility. Professional boxing events brutally test a boxer’s strength, stamina, and reflexes, along with his willpower. 👊 Read a book whose cover shows hands but no feet (post the cover) -or- read a book with a word in the title which ends with an X. – High Stakes by Erin McCarthy
4. Capoeira: This art originated in Brazil during the 19th century among the African slaves. Drums and other musical instruments are used to create a rhythm by which this art is practiced. Capoeira constitutes various elements from dance and acrobatics, and is known for its rapid and complex moves that include a variety of kicks and spins. It relies on the practitioner’s speed and power to take down an opponent. 👊 Read a book in which slavery of some form exists -or- read a book whose cover shows someone in movement (bonus for dancing, post the cover). – The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence
5. Gatka: Gatka is a south Asian martial art that has its origins in northern India in what is now Pakistan. It was mainly practiced by the Punjabi Sikhs. Gatka is a weapon-based combat training, which mainly focuses on training one to use swords and shields. Its techniques are effective for both offense and defense. Gatka is spectacular to watch. 👊 Read a book with something that covers hair on the cover (scarf, turban, hat etc., post the cover) -or- read a book that you think will make a great movie. – Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle
6. Judo: The name Judo means the ‘gentle way’. This art was developed in Japan by Jigoro Kano in the late nineteenth century. Judo is an unarmed martial art derived from Jujitsu. It trains the practitioner in the use of different holds and grappling techniques to quickly unbalance an opponent, making him fall down, where a joint-lock or a choke is employed in order to get him to submit. 👊 Read a book with a gentle character -or- listen to an audiobook whose narrator has a gentle voice. – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
7. Jujitsu: Jujitsu is one of the most ancient martial art forms; it is more than 2,500 years old. It was originally developed as a means of self-defense against armored opponents, such as the Samurai warriors of the time, on whom punches and kicks were ineffective. This technique therefore emphasizes locks, throws, and other defensive techniques to unbalance the opponent and bring him to the ground. 👊 Read a book set in ancient civilizations (for the purpose of this task, set before 10th century AD) -or- read a book with a piece of armor on the cover (post the cover). – Circe by Madeline Miller (Ancient Greece)
8. Kalaripayattu: Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art, widely considered to be the oldest fighting system in existence. It is now chiefly practiced in the Indian state of Kerala. This martial art form utilizes strikes, kicks, jumps, grappling, and other complex maneuvers. It also includes training in the use of weapons and healing methods. 👊 Read a book set in India -or- read a book with a healer or a doctor (they don’t need to be a main character, but they should be important).
9. Karate: The term Karate means ’empty handed’ in Japanese. Master Gichin Funakoshi is widely credited for introducing and popularizing it in the main islands of Japan. Karate borrows from different Chinese martial arts, and is an unarmed combat system that relies on using the hands and feet to deliver and defend against punches and kicks. 👊 Read a book whose title begins with a letter in KARATE (Ignore A, An and The) -or- read a book set in Japan. – Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
10. Krav Maga: The birthplace of this art is Israel. However, owing to its effectiveness, military units and police forces have been practicing it all over the world. Krav Maga is a form of self-defense which teaches one to use reflexive responses to get through threatening situations. In it, defending against both unarmed as well as armed opponents is taught. It also has several drills and exercise routines to build stamina and strengthen the muscles. 👊 Read a book with Jewish characters (bonus if they’re Israeli) -or- read a long book (>600 pages).
11. Kung Fu: The term Kung Fu means ‘a skill or ability to do something’. It is also referred to as ‘Wushu’. This martial art is believed to have been created by the monks of the Shaolin Temple in China. Kung Fu focuses on the development of external strength: muscles, ligaments, and tendons; as well as internal strength: mental focus and chi manipulation. It includes both bare-handed fighting techniques and the effective use of rudimentary weapons. 👊 Read a book with a main character who is really good at something (art, music, craft etc. tell us what it is) -or- read a book with a monk in it (bonus for a Buddhist monk!) – Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne (climbing and thievery)
12. Muay Thai: This is the national sport of Thailand. It is known as the science of 8 limbs, because it has 8 striking points as opposed to 2 in boxing and 4 in other traditional arts. Muay Thai fighters can employ knees, elbows, feet, shins, and fists to strike the opponent. It works well for both normal and close-range combats. 👊 Read a book with an 8 in the year it was first published (tell us the year) -or- read a book with a nationality in the title. – I Am Heatchliff curated by Kate Mosse (2018)
13. Sambo: Sambo is short for “samozashchita bez oruzhiya”. In Russian, it implies ‘self-defense without weapons’. It is a relatively modern form of martial art, having been first brought into practice in the 1920s by the Soviet Red Army as a means to improve their hand-to-hand combat skills. Along with powerful strikes and blows; it also teaches throwing, groundwork, and submission techniques. 👊 Read a book set in Russia -or- read a book in which every word of the title begins with a letter in SAMOZASHCHITABEZORUZHIYA (3 words minimum, all words count). – In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall
14. Sumo: Sumo is a full contact Japanese martial art, which has a history spanning centuries. It is basically a test of strength, wherein one wrestler tries to force another outside the bounds of a circular ring, or make him touch the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet. Traditionally, sumo wrestlers are required to live together in sumo training stables, where all the aspects of their daily lives are governed according to the strict set of rules laid down by The Japan Sumo Association. 👊 Read a book set in a hotel/dorm/boarding school/some place where unrelated people stay together (tell us where the book is set) -or- read a book whose cover shows a human body not touching a flat surface (post the cover). – Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy (casino / hotel)
15. Tae-Kwon-Do: The phrase Tae kwon do means ‘the way of hand and foot’ in Korean. It is a Korean martial art that borrows from Okinawan karate, Chinese martial arts, and ancient traditional Korean combat arts of taekkyeon and gwonbeop. It is a form of unarmed self-defense system, wherein the emphasis is on potent kicks, rather than on hand strikes. 👊 Read a book set in a location that begins with a letter in KOREA (tell us where the book is set) -or- read a book with a punctuation mark in the title. – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Ohio)
Earth and Skye 