Duration: 1st January – 30th June
Number of books: 30
Hosted by:Crazy Challenge Connection

National Trivia Day
Timeframe: 1/1/19 to 6/30/19

National Trivia Day is observed across the United States each year on January 4. In the 1960’s, after writing some trivia columns, Columbia University students Ed Goodgold and Dan Carlinsky created the earliest inter-collegiate quiz bowls that tested culturally significant, yet virtually useless, information, which they dubbed trivia contests. 

The word trivia has come to refer to obscure and arcane bits of dry knowledge as well as nostalgic remembrances of pop culture. We couldn’t resist looking at some random bits of trivia and turning them into a challenge.

Most information gathered from mentalfloss.com.

CHALLENGE RULES:
♦ If you want to participate in a challenge, please sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses. 

♦ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. (See the link here for rules regarding graphic novels.) Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged 🙂 Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not simply skim through it. 

♦ For each book you read, please post a link to the title, and indicate the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, please make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item on the cover, include a link to the book cover. If it’s not obvious from the book title or cover, be sure to explain how your book fits the task. If you don’t, you won’t get credit for completing that task. 
* If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions here: 
Add a link to the book title, book cover and/or author

♦ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read 🙂 If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.

Challenge Tasks: 

1. The word PEZ comes form the German word for peppermint: PfeffErminZ.
* Read a book with a 3-letter word in the title (“The” is not acceptable) – or – a book set in Germany. – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

2. Bones found at Seymour Island indicate that, 37-40 million years ago, penguins stood at a formidable 6 feet tall and weighed 250 pounds.
* Read a book set on an island – or – a book with a character who is described as unusually tall or big. – Journeys to the Other Side of the World by David Attenborough (every place visited was an island)

3. Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt once sneaked out of a White House event, commandeered an airplane, and went on a joyride to Baltimore.
* Read a book that includes an airplane ride somewhere in the plot – or – a book in which a real famous person is mentioned (tell us who). – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (Anne of Brittany)

4. In 1897, Indiana state legislators tried to pass a bill that would have legally redefined the value of pi as 3.2.
* Read a book with a 3 AND a 2 in the total number of pages (tell us how many) – or – a book that has a politician character. – The Siren by Kiera Cass (327 pp.)

5. The smell of fresh cut grass comes from the chemicals plants release when in distress.
* Read a book with grass or a lawn on the cover (show us the cover) – or – a book in which a MAIN character is in distress (tell us how). – Seeing is Believing by Erin McCarthy

6. People walked differently in medieval times. They stepped with the ball of the foot first to check the ground for debris, perhaps because well-soled shoes were hard to come by.
* Read a book set in medieval times (from the 5th to the 15th century) – or – a book showing a person walking on the cover (show us the cover). – Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

7. Before it was rebranded as a kids’ toy, Play-Doh was initially sold as wallpaper cleaner.
* Read a book whose title starts with a letter in PLAYDOH (disregard A, An, The) – or – a book with some kind of plaything or toy on the cover (show us the cover). – Hexed by Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James & Jeanne C. Stein

8. A reindeer’s eyes change color through the seasons. They’re gold during the summer and blue in the winter.
* Read a book set in the summer months (June, July, and/or August) – or – a book with a predominantly gold cover (show us the cover). – Circe by Madeline Miller

9. Before settling on the Seven Dwarfs we know today, Disney also considered Chesty, Tubby, Burpy, Deafy, Hickey, Wheezy, and Awful.
* Read a book with a number in the title (cardinal number only such as Seven or 7, not Seventh) – or – a book whose title ENDS with the letter Y. – Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

10. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $310 million on pet costumes last Halloween.
* Read a book with some sort of holiday in the story (bonus if it’s Halloween) – or – a book with at least 310 pages (tell us how many). – The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

11. Scientists have found evidence of take-out restaurants in the remains of Pompeii.
* Read a book marked FOOD AND DRINK on the main Goodreads genre page – or – a book with double vowels somewhere in the title. – The Beast of Blackmoor Bog by Kate Forsyth

12. Chock Full o’ Nuts coffee does not contain nuts. It’s named for a chain of nut stores that the founder converted into coffee shops.
* Read a book with a scene set in a coffee shop – or – a book in which a MAIN character owns his/her own business. – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

13. The national animal of Scotland is the unicorn.
* Read a book by an author whose first OR last name starts with U – or – a book with some sort of mythical or fantasy animal somewhere in the story. – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra

14. The average cumulus cloud weighs roughly 1.1 million pounds.
* Read a book with a cloud on the cover (show us the cover) – or – a book with two 1’s in the original publication date. – Blood Work by Kim Harrison (2011)

15. The New York Public Library initially refused to stock Goodnight, Moon.
* Read a book with a librarian as the main character – or – a book with a moon on the cover (show us the cover). – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

16. Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie invented M&Ms. The two M’s stand for their last names.
* Read a book with an author whose LAST name starts with M – or – a book in which two people work together in the same company. – A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy

17. When the mummy of Ramses II was sent to France in the mid-1970’s, it was issued a passport. Ramses’ occupation? “King (deceased).”
* Read a book in which a trip is made that requires a passport – or – a book with royalty involved. – Fairest of All by Serena Valentino

18. At an NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) conference in 1972, Roxcy Bolton proposed naming hurricanes after senators instead of women. She also preferred “him-i-canes.”
* Read a book about women’s rights or the feminist movement – or – a book written by a male author. – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

19. Herbert Hoover was Stanford’s football team manager. At the first Stanford-Cal game in 1892, he forgot to bring the ball.
* Read a book with some sort of a sports theme (any sport) – or – a book by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter. – The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

20. The Corduroy Appreciation Club celebrated 11-11-11 as The Day That Most Resembles Corduroy.
* Read a book with an intact “11” in the number of pages (tell us how many) – or – a book showing an item with stripes on the cover (show us the cover). – Through the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor

21. During WWI, German measles were called “liberty measles” and dachshunds became “liberty hounds.”
* Read a book set during World War I – or – a book by an author who writes under at least two different names.

22. In Queensland, Australia, it’s illegal to own a pet rabbit unless you’re a magician.
* Read a book with some sort of performer as part of the plot (bonus if it’s a magician) – or – a book set in Australia. – Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy (Cara, exotic dancer)

23. Giraffes have the highest blood pressure of any mammal, although their resting heart rate is about the same as humans.
* Read a book with a medical professional as the MAIN character – or – a book with double consonants somewhere in the title. – The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

24. Earmuffs were invented by a 15-year-old.
* Read a young adult book – or – a book set in a normally-cold climate (tell us where). – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth

25. Ray Bradbury wrote the first draft of Fahrenheit 451 on a rented typewriter in the basement of the UCLA library in just 9 days.
* Read a book set on a college campus – or – a book that you read quickly. – Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

26. Wayne Allwine, the voice actor for Mickey Mouse, and Russi Taylor, the voice actress for Minnie Mouse, wed in 1991.
* Read a book in which a wedding occurs – or – a book set in a location that starts with the letter M (tell us where). – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding

27. On Good Friday in 1930, the BBC reported, “There is no news.” Instead, they played piano music.
* Read a book with a day of the week in the title – or – a book published in 1930 or earlier (tell us what year). – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (1847)

28. In the early stage version of The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s faithful companion Toto was replaced by a cow named Imogene.
* Read a book with a dog on the cover (show us the cover) – or – a book with a main character whose first name starts with the letter I. – Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy

29. Fredric Baur invented the Pringles can. When he passed away in 2008, his ashes were buried in one.
* Read a book originally published in 2008 – or – a book in which a death occurs. – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine

30. Duncan Hines was a real person. He was a popular restaurant critic who also wrote a book of hotel recommendations.
* Read a book where a main character works at restaurant in some capacity – or – a book where the author’s FIRST name starts with D OR the author’s LAST name starts with H. – The Turn by Kim Harrison

Duration: 1st January – 31st May
Number of books: 28
Hosted by:Crazy Challenge Connection

As part of our focus on the Space Program during the next several months, we thought it would be fun to talk about some of the “sights” of outer space.

1) Most constellation names are Latin in origin but their meanings often originated in the distant past of human civilization; however, just as many of the constellation names are more modern. By the 19th century, the night sky had become crowded, with overlapping and often contradictory constellation boundaries and names, as different schools of astronomy prepared their own versions of star maps. To clear up the confusion, names and boundaries were “officially” assigned to 88 constellations by the International Astronomical Union in 1930, providing complete coverage of the entire sky.
★ Read a book that is a classic from Greek or Roman times OR read a book whose pages contain an intact “88” in their total page count OR read a book in which an acronymed organization plays a crucial role (i.e. FBI, AMA). – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (CANTRIP)

2) The 12 constellations of the zodiac are no more important to astronomers than the other 76 constellations. The significance of the zodiac stems from the fact that the ecliptic — the narrow path on the sky that the Sun, Moon, and planets appear to follow — runs directly through these star groupings. Since ancient times, the Sun, Moon, and planets have been known as special astronomical objects — they “wander” through the background stars of the zodiac, which remain fixed with respect to each other. It was reasoned that these zodiacal constellations must be special to make up this path, and the relative positions of the “wandering stars” within them bore great importance.
★ Read a book with a “wandering” plot (tell us why) OR read a book with one of the zodiac signs’ names in the title OR read a book whose title begins with a letter in ECLIPTIC (disregard a/an/the). – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (wandering through time and space in the retelling)

3) Aquarius, the water bearer, is a large but faint constellation in the southern sky. Aquarius is located near other water-related constellations: Cetus (the whale), Pisces (the fish), Delphinus (the dolphin) and Eridanus (the river), in what is often referred to as the water or sea section of the sky.
★ Read a book with a large body of body of water on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book which occurs mainly on or near water (tell us where) OR read a book whose author’s first and last initial may be found in “CETUS,” “PISCES,” “DELPHINUS,” or “ERIDANUS;” tell us which word you used. – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

4) Aquila, the eagle, glides on outstretched wings through the glowing band of the Milky Way. Look for it high in the south in late summer. The brightest star in Aquila is Altair, which is the southern point of a pattern of three bright stars called the Summer Triangle.
★ Read a book with a bird on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which someone works with or keeps some kind of bird (tell us who and what type of bird) OR read a book that is part of a trilogy (tell us the book’s position and name of the trilogy). – Harry Potter: A History of Magic by J.K. Rowling & the British Library

5) Aries, the ram, is a mid-size constellation in the Northern Hemisphere. In Greek mythology, Aries represents the ram whose fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts. The Chinese see this constellation as twin inspectors, and it represents a porpoise in the Marshall Islands. 
★ Read a mid-size book (250 – 375pp.; tell us how many pages) OR read a book with a golden object on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book by an author whose first name is Jason (no variations). – When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs (272 pp)

6) Auriga, the celestial charioteer, has neither chariot nor horse. Instead, he’s drawn as a man holding reins in his right hand, with a goat on his left shoulder (the star Capella) and two baby goats in his left arm. This constellation has an uncertain origin. It might represent Neptune rising from the sea in a chariot. Or it might honor a legendary king of Athens; according to this tale, he invented a chariot that was drawn by four horses.
★ Read a book that involves horses in a significant way (tell us how) OR read a book that involves a paradox (tell us what) OR read a book involving a king (tell us the king’s name). – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth (horse racing and a gypsy clan whose livelihood is horses)

7) Boötes, the herder, comes from a Sumerian word that means “Man Who Drove the Great Cart.” The “Great Cart” was the Big Dipper. Boötes trails the Big Dipper as it wheels around the North Star. The brightest stars of Boötes form a cone shape, with brilliant yellow-orange Arcturus at the base of the cone. Astronomers used light from Arcturus to help trip a switch that opened the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago.
★ Read a book that has a yellow, gold, or orange cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which a main character works with animals (tell us who) OR read a book that takes place in Chicago. – Through the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor

8) Capricornus, the Sea Goat, bounds low across the southern sky in late summer and fall. Capricornus gets its name from a Greek myth that says the god Pan was transformed into a half-goat, half-fish when he dove into the Nile River to escape the giant Typhon.
★ Read a book in which a main character is trying to escape someone or something (using spoilers if necessary, briefly tell us who is running from whom or what) OR read a book that takes place in the US “Deep South” (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Louisiana) OR read a book where the first letter of each title word (include a/an/the) may be found in CAPRICORNUS (2 word minimum). – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine (Benvolio running from the Capulets and vice versa)

9) Cancer, the crab, is visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the early spring. The constellation represents the giant crab that attacked Hercules during the second of the 12 labors he performed as penance for killing his family. It was sent by the jealous goddess Hera to thwart Hercules as he battled the water serpent Hydra, but he killed it with his club.
★ Read a book that is the second in a series (tell us the series) or the second book published by an author (make sure to use a link for the author) OR read a book with a crab or other crustacean creature on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book where a character’s jealousy causes harm to another character (briefly tell us who and what type of harm). – Fairest of All by Serena Valentino (the Queen to her step-daughter, Snow White)

10) Canis Major, the great dog, loyally follows its mythical master Orion across the southern skies of winter. The brightest star in Canis Major is also the brightest in the entire night sky — brilliant Sirius. Because it is the brightest star of the Great Dog, Sirius is known as the Dog Star. Its first appearance in the dawn sky in August heralds the “dog days” of summer.
★ Read a book with the word GREAT or MAJOR (reasonable variations okay – i.e. greatest) in its title OR read a book that has a brightly colored cover (post the cover) OR read a book in which a dog plays a major role. – A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy

11) Cassiopeia, the queen, floats overhead in fall and winter; she looks like a flattened “W” against the background of the Milky Way. The constellation’s legend is based on the Ethiopian queen Cassiopea, who was known for her unrivaled beauty and vanity. Cassiopeia has produced two supernovae in recent centuries. 
★ Read a book whose title or author’s last name begin with a “W” (disregard a/an/the) OR read a book with an exceptionally beautiful or vain character (tell us who) OR read a book in which a queen is at least a minor character. – The Siren by Kiera Cass (Kahlen)

12) The brightest stars of Cygnus, the swan, form a cross, so the swan is also known as the Northern Cross. The constellation’s brightest star is Deneb — an Arabic word that means “the tail.” Deneb represents the tail of the swan but the top of the cross. The swan’s outstretched wings form the horizontal bar of the cross, while the head of the swan, a double star called Albireo, is at the bottom of the cross. Deneb shines brightly in our night sky because it’s a white supergiant — a star that’s much larger, hotter, and brighter than the Sun. 
★ Read a book with a swan or a cross on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book with “SWAN” or “CROSS” in the title or author’s name (the words do not have to stand alone, but the letters should be together) OR read a book with an exceptionally bright character or a super hot character (tell us who). – Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne (Kyra – she is quick witted and highly intelligent)

13) Despite its size and designation as the eighth-largest constellation, Draco, the dragon constellation, is not especially prominent. The name is derived from the Latin term draconem, meaning “huge serpent,” and the constellation literally snakes its way through the northern sky. Draco is circumpolar, meaning that it never sets below the horizon and is always visible in the Northern Hemisphere, but cannot be seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
★ Read a book involving a dragon or dragons OR read a book that has an “8” in the original year published (list the original publication year) OR read a book that takes place in the Arctic Circle (tell us where). – Journeys to the Other Side of the World by David Attenborough (2018)

14) Gemini, the twins, is a constellation high in the winter sky and one of the few constellations that actually looks like its namesake. Gemini is fairly easy to spot, even for amateur star gazers. The twins, whose sister was Helen of Troy, fought together in the Trojan War. When the mortal Castor eventually died, Pollux was distraught. Pollux’s father, Zeus, decided to make Castor immortal as well and the two of them are together forever as the constellation Gemini.
★ Read a book marked “War” on its GoodReads page OR read a book involving twins OR read a book where a main character is grieving for a loved one (tell us who). – The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

15) Leo, the lion is a highly recognizable constellation, as it also resembles its namesake. It is fairly easy to find because the “pointer stars” of the Big Dipper point to Leo. The constellation becomes visible in the Northern Hemisphere around the spring equinox and is easily identifiable through May. In Greek mythology, Leo is the Nemean Lion, which terrorized the citizens and had a hide that could not be punctured by iron, bronze or stone. Killing the lion was one of Hercules’ 12 labors. Having broken all of his weapons fighting the man-eating lion, Hercules finally strangled it to death and placed it in the heavens as one of his conquests.
★ Read a book in which the spring or vernal equinox is mentioned (copy the sentence and note the page or ereader location) OR read a book in which a main character receives a punishment of some sort (tell us who and what the punishment is) OR read a book in which the book’s location starts with a letter in BIG DIPPER (tell us the location). – The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen (Boston)

16) The stars that make up the constellation Libra, the scales, were once considered part of Scorpius. Libra is in the Southern Hemisphere, located between Scorpius to the east and Virgo to the west. The association with scales and balance began with the ancient Babylonians, with the scales representing the balance between the seasons as well as day and night. The ancient Greeks viewed Libra as the claws of Scorpius reaching out. To the Romans, Libra represented the scales of justice being held by the goddess Virgo.
★ Read a legal thriller OR read a book that is between two other books (i.e. the second in a trilogy or any series book that isn’t first or last; tell us the book’s position and the series name) OR read a book with opposite words in its title. – Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy (2nd book in 3)

17) Lyra, the harp, looks like a small, lopsided square, with Vega (one of the brightest stars of the galaxy) just beside one of the corners of the square. Look for Vega high overhead in mid-summer. Orpheus, who was given a harp by the god Apollo, played sweet music that was said to make rivers change course to stay near its beauty. Orpheus married the lovely maiden Eurydice who was bitten by a snake and died the same day of the wedding. Crazed with grief, Orpheus wandered the hills of Greece until he was murdered. The Muses buried him, and Apollo placed his magical harp in the sky — as Lyra.
★ Read a book that involves a wedding or a murder OR read a book that has music as a major theme OR read a book that involves something extraordinarily beautiful (be as creative as you wish but you must state what is beautiful and why you consider it so). – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra

18) Ophiuchus [Oaf-ih-YOU-kus], the snake bearer, is a fairly large and rambling constellation which graces our evening skies in the summer. Largely ignored by astrologers for centuries the constellation finally got some respect in 2011 when it was added as an astrological sign and realigned the Zodiac calendar. The snake is often associated with doctors, so Ophiuchus is often associated with healing images. The Romans associated the constellation with Asclepius, who learned the secret to immortality by watching one serpent treat another serpent with healing herbs. Zeus killed Asclepius with a lightning bolt because he didn’t want everyone to be immortal, but later honored his good deeds by giving him a spot in the heavens.
★ Read a book originally published in 2011 OR read a book involving a doctor or healer as a main character (tell us who and their profession) OR read a large book (400+ pages; tell us how many pages). – Hexed by Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James & Jeanne C. Stein

19) While the Orion constellation is named after the hunter in Greek mythology, it is anything but stealthy. Orion, which is located on the celestial equator, is one of the brightest and most recognizable constellations in the sky and can be seen throughout the world. One of the more common iterations of the myth is that Orion proclaimed himself to be the greatest hunter in the world, much to the dismay of Hera, the wife of Zeus. She had a scorpion kill him, and Zeus put Orion into the sky as consolation. 
★ Read a book that features a boastful or supremely confident character (tell us who) OR read a book that takes place along the equator (Equator; tell us where) OR read a book that has been highly recognized – a book that has won an award (tell us which award and when) or a book that has over 100,000 ratings (tell us how many). – Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye (Lil)

20) Pegasus is a prominent constellation in the northern sky and the name comes from the winged white horse that was the sire of Poseidon in Greek mythology. Perseus killed the snake-headed Medusa to save the princess Andromeda from a nasty sea monster. A few drops of Medusa’s blood fell into the sea. When it mixed with the foam, it gave birth to Pegasus.
★ Read a book with any type of imaginary creature in it (tell us what) OR read a book in which a birth occurs OR read a book with a princess who is at least a minor character. – The Beast of Blackmoor Bog by Kate Forsyth (dragons, unicorns and griffins)

21) Perseus, the hero, arcs high overhead in fall and early winter. As mentioned above, Perseus beheaded the snake-headed Medusa to save the princess Andromeda from a nasty sea monster. Perseus is also the “radiant” point of the Perseid meteor shower, which is visible every August. 
★ Read a book originally published in August of any year (tell us when) OR read a book with a hero-like character who performs a great deed (tell us who and what the deed is) OR read a book with any type of shower scene (briefly tell us about it). – Masques by Patricia Briggs (Aralorn & Wolf save everyone at their own expense)

22) Pisces, the fishes, is the 14th largest constellation but its stars are relatively faint. Pisces is notable for containing the point (vernal equinox) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator into the Northern Hemisphere around March 20 each year. The two fish swimming at right angles to each other are apparently the Greek goddess Aphrodite and her son, Eros, who turned into fish and jumped into the Euphrates River to evade the fiery breath of the monster Typhon.
★ Read a book featuring a mother and a son (or sons) OR read a book that takes place in the spring (March, April, May; tell us when) OR read a book with a fish on the cover (post the cover) or in its title (compound words okay). – Circe by Madeline Miller

23) Sagittarius, the archer, represents the largest constellation in the Southern Hemisphere and the 15th largest constellation overall. The constellation possesses many bright stars and appears quite distinct to the naked eye since it is at the center (and therefore densest part) of the Milky Way Galaxy. 
★ Read a book that mentions archery (briefly tell us about it or copy the sentence and location) OR read a book with lots of stars or a galaxy on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book that is the 15th book of a series. – The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (archery is used in the last battle)

24) Scorpius, the scorpion, stands out as one of the brightest constellations in the sky with a distinctive shape. In the Northern Hemisphere, Scorpius lies close to the southern horizon; in the Southern Hemisphere, it lies high in the sky near the center of the Milky Way. In Hawaii, it is known as the demigod Maui’s Fishhook. In Chinese mythology, the constellation was part of the Azure Dragon. 
★ Read a book that takes place near a border (ideally a border between countries, states, or regions that is significant to the story) OR read a book whose author’s first and last initials may be found in SCORPIUS OR read a book with an azure (bright “sky” blue) colored cover (post the cover).

25) Taurus, the bull, stampedes through the northern winter sky as one of the most prominent and visible of the constellations. Taurus is most famous for its red giant star, Aldebaran, as well as a star cluster known as the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters. 
★ Read a book with a stubborn character (tell us who) OR read a book that takes place in winter (December, January, February; tell us when) OR read a book with the word “SEVEN” or “SISTERS” in its title (no variations). – High Stakes by Erin McCarthy (Alexis)

26) Ursa Major, the great bear, is always above the horizon in the northern latitudes, but the best time to see it is in the spring when it’s high above the northeastern horizon. Ursa Major is best known as the home of the Big Dipper. Of all the star patterns in the sky, the Big Dipper is the most universally recognized. The dipper’s seven bright stars form a portion of the great bear. It’s hard to see the rest of the bear, especially from light-polluted cities.
★ Read a book featuring a bear or bears OR read a book with a universally-recognized symbol on its cover (i.e. a traffic light, a biohazard sign; post the cover) OR read a book whose title begins with “U” (disregard a/an/the). – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (clock face)

27) Ursa Minor is the little brother of Ursa Major and its name is Latin for “Small Bear.” This constellation is located near Ursa Major in the Northern Hemisphere and is most recognizable by the Little Dipper, a group of stars that look like a miniature version of the ladle-shaped Big Dipper. Another famous feature of this constellation is Polaris, known as the North Star which is located at the end of the Little Dipper’s handle.
★ Read a book whose title contains a word synonymous with LITTLE or MINOR OR read a book with a little brother (older sib may be sister or brother) OR read a book a single, large star on the cover (post the cover). – Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle

28) Virgo, the virgin covers 1,294 square degrees; it is the largest constellation of the Zodiac and the second-largest constellation overall. Most of the constellation’s stars are dim, but Virgo’s bright blue-white star, Spica, is fairly easy to locate. Tied to fertility and agriculture, Virgo appears to stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere during the spring and summer months and to those in the Southern Hemisphere in autumn and winter.
★ Read an author’s second longest book (post a link to the author) OR read a book involving a pregnant character (does not have to deliver the baby in the book) OR read a book with a primarily blue and or white cover (post the cover). – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding

Duration: 1st December – 31st Deceomber
Number of books: 4
Hosted by:Bookworm Bitches

December
1. Read a genre outside your usual, or a book that addresses views outside your comfort zone. – Reckless by Maggie Shayne (a thriller romance)
2. Reread your favorite book or a book by a favorite author. – Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day
3. Read a book in your favorite location with your favorite beverage. – Atlantis Awakening by Alyssa Day (along the coast with a CC’s & dry)
BONUS: Read a book about a holiday outside your heritage (i.e. Hanukkah if you celebrate Christmas normally). – Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson (Thanksgiving and Chinese New Year)

Duration: 1st December – 31st December
Number of books: 4
Hosted by:Crazy Challenge Connection

BROCCOLI AND BACON MUFFIN TIN FRITTATAS

If you’re looking for something a little different for a breakfast or brunch treat, you might want to try this recipe shared with us by Sugar Snap. I know not everyone likes broccoli, but how can you go wrong with bacon? 😀 

BROCCOLI AND BACON MUFFIN TIN FRITTATAS
posted by Sugar Snap
* Read a book by an author whose first and last initials are the same; post a link to the author’s GR page  – An Enchanted Season by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson

Cooking spray
2 cups small broccoli florets, cooked until crisp-tender
* Read a book with a mostly green cover; post the cover  – A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures by Charles Dickens

3 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
8 large eggs
1/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
* Read book #1, 4 or 2 in a series; tell us the series and the book’s position in the series – Atlantis Awakening by Alyssa Day

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1/2 packed cup)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Coat 12 standard-size muffin cups with cooking spray. Divide broccoli and bacon evenly among muffin cups.

Crack eggs into a large bowl. Add milk, salt, and pepper; stir with a whisk until well combined. Divide egg mixture evenly among muffin cups. Sprinkle cheese evenly on top. Bake at 350°F for 18 to 20 minutes or until just set. Cool on a wire rack for 2 to 3 minutes; run a thin knife around edge of each frittata to release from pan.
* Read a book originally published in 2018 

Duration: 1st December – 31st December
Number of books: 7
Hosted by:Crazy Challenge Connection

One of my favorite holiday movies is Santa Claus is Coming to Town, a cute little animated movie that explains the story of Santa Claus. I make a point of watching it every year. So I thought it would be a nice base for a holiday challenge. Below is a summary of the movie with associated challenges. I obtained the plot summary from Wikipedia.

The story begins in the gloomy city of Sombertown, ruled by the ill-tempered Burgermeister Meisterburger. A baby arrives on his doorstep with a name tag reading “Claus” and note requesting that Burgermeister raise the child. He instead orders his lawkeeper Grimsley to take the baby to the “Orphan Asylum”. 
*Read a book in which a character has a title (eg Burgermeister, Duke, King, Colonel; tell us the title) OR in which the MC is an orphan. – A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures by Charles Dickens

On the way there, a gust of wind blows both sled and baby to the Mountain of the Whispering Winds, where the animals hide him from the evil Winter Warlock and convey him to an Elvish family by the name of Kringle in Rainbow River Valley. Led by Tanta Kringle, the elf queen, she and the five Kringle elf brothers (Ringle, Dingle, Zingle, Tingle and Wingle) adopt the baby and name him “Kris”. A few years later, Kris hopes to restore the Kringle family as “The First Toymakers to the King”. 
*Read a book in which a character is an Elf (tell us the character) OR in which the title has rhyming words.

When Kris is old enough, he volunteers to deliver the elves’ toys to Sombertown. Unfortunately, the Burgermeister has banned all toys from the town after tripping on a toy duck left on the steps, and declares that anyone found possessing a toy will be imprisoned. On his way to Sombertown, Kris meets a lost penguin whom he names Topper as they evade the Winter Warlock who vows to catch him the next time he passes. 
*Read a book with a toy on the cover (post the cover) OR in which the author’s initials can be found in SOMBERTOWN (first and last initials only). – Reckless by Maggie Shayne

In the town, he offers toys to two children washing their stockings by a water fountain. He is stopped by Miss Jessica, their lovely schoolteacher, but she softens toward Kris when he offers her a china doll as a “peace offering”. As Kris gives more toys, the Burgermeister arrives to arrest the children, but Kris gives him a yo-yo. He at first happily plays with it, but Grimsley reminds him he’s breaking his own law, leading to Burgermeister ordering Kris’ arrest. 
*Read a book with a character named Jessica OR in which the first letter of the title can be found in the word STOCKING (ignore A, An and The). – Shifter by Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day & Virginia Kantra

As Kris and Topper return to the Kringles, the Winter Warlock captures them. But when Kris gives him a toy locomotive as a present in exchange, the Warlock befriends Kris as his appearance changes. To repay him, he teaches Kris how to use magic snowballs to see anywhere in the world. This re-unites Kris with Jessica who informs him that the Burgermeister has banished all the toys and the children now want new ones. Kris promises to do so if the children behave themselves, promising to watch them through his magic snowball. When the Burgermeister hears that Kris means to bring more toys, he orders all doors and windows to be locked before their houses are searched. But Kris enters by the chimneys where the children hung their stockings to dry by the fire where Kris hid the toys. 
*Read a book in which either the MC or the author has a name that starts with the same letter (eg Winter Warlock, Dannika Dark; tell us the name) OR in which there is a chimney on the cover (post the cover). – The Magical Christmas Cat by Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy,Nalini Singh & Linda Winstead Jones

Thereafter the Burgermeister sets a trap for Kris as he makes another delivery, and thus captures the Kringles, Topper, and Winter. Jessica pleads to release her friends, but he refuses. Jessica then asks Winter to break everyone out, but he refuses since he has no magic left except some magic feed corn to make reindeer able to fly. With the reindeer’s help, the Kringles, Kris, Topper, and Winter escape. After months as an outlaw, Kris returns to the woods, where he grows a beard as a disguise. After Tanta suggests that he return to his birth name “Claus” for safety, Kris marries Jessica and the group travels to the North Pole to build their own castle and workshop. 
*Read a book in which the title of the book ends in a letter in REINDEER OR in which a character in the book wears a beard (tell us the character). – Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day

As the years pass, Kris still has to travel by night because he’s still an outlaw. Eventually, the Burgermeisters died off and fell out of power and their laws were abolished. The townspeople then look up to Kris and eventually canonize him as a saint, becoming Santa Claus while Jessica becomes Mrs. Claus. Santa then decides to limit his journeys to one night a year and chooses the right night. Christmas Eve, “the night of profound love.” Just as Santa is getting ready to leave, Winter tells him that he has his magic powers back to guarantee the world a white Christmas.
*Read a book in which Santa Claus is mentioned (quote passage and location) OR which has a white cover (post the cover). – Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson

Duration: 1st December – 31st December
Number of books: 12
Hosted by:My Vampire Book Obsession

⁍ 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.

⁍ Levels :
Transitional – 2 books 
Fledgling – 4 books 
Vampire – 6 books 
Master – 8 books 
Vampire King or Queen – 10 books or more

12. TWELVE VAMPIRES STALKING
Read a book about vampires OR a book with a red cover – Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day

11. ELEVEN ELVES A-PRANCING
Read a book about elves/fairies/nymphs OR a book that makes you happy – An Enchanted Season by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson

10. TEN ZOMBIES BITING
Read a book about — ugh — zombies! OR a book with at least one person on the cover – Atlantis Awakening by Alyssa Day

9. NINE HEADLESS HORSEMEN
Read a scary book OR book with a green cover  – A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures by Charles Dickens

8. EIGHT WOLVES A-HOWLING
Read a book about shifters OR a book with an animal on the cover – Shifter by Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day & Virginia Kantra

7. SEVEN ANGELS FALLING
Read a book about angels, gods, goddesses OR a book with a white cover 

6. SIX DEMONS DANCING
Read a book about demons or underworld creatures OR an author with the letter “D” in his/her name 

5. FIVE PENTAGRAMS!
Read a book about psychic, medium, seer, clairvoyant,etc. OR a book with star(s) on the cover – Christmas for One by Amanda Prowse

4. FOUR RESTLESS GHOSTS
Read a book about ghosts OR a book title that begins with anyletter in GHOSTS – Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson

3. THREE CACKLING WITCHES
Read a book about witches/wizards OR the title consists of three words OR the author’s name has three words – The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

2. TWO SILENT NULLS
Read a book about a normal human OR a book with a black cover – Reckless by Maggie Shayne

1. AND A BLACK CAT IN A DEAD TREE!
Read a book with a cat on the cover OR a tree or forest on the cover OR the title has the word “and” – The Magical Christmas Cat by Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy,Nalini Singh & Linda Winstead Jones

Duration: 1st December – 31st December
Number of books: 6
Hosted by:My Vampire Book Obsession

Check out these gorgeous dolls!! Get one each month by completing at least 2 tasks out of a set of 6.

The dolls you collect will be in your Vampire Heart thread. Don’t have a thread? You can still do the challenge if you want 🙂

December 

1. Read a book with a Christmas theme. – An Enchanted Season by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson
2. Read a book with red or green on the cover. – A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures by Charles Dickens
3. Read a book that you received as a gift. – Reckless by Maggie Shayne (gift to myself)
4. Read a book published this year.
5. Read a book by one of your favourite authors. – Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day
6. Read any book you want! – Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson

Duration: 1st December – 31st December
Number of books: 8
Hosted by:My Vampire Book Obsession

While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast who punishes naughty children at Christmastime. 

Escape Krampus by completing at least two tasks below.

Read a book set during a holiday season. – An Enchanted Season by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson
Read a book with a bad guy in the story. – The Magical Christmas Cat by Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy,Nalini Singh & Linda Winstead Jones

Read a book you think is scary.
Read a book tagged fantasy. – Atlantis Awakening by Alyssa Day

Read a book with at least two people on the cover (shapeshifters in animal form count).
Read a book that you consider a treat. – Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson

Read a book from your favourite genre. – Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day (Paranormal romance)
Read a book that you received as a gift (a gift you bought yourself counts) – Reckless by Maggie Shayne (a gift to myself)

Duration: 1st November – 30th November

Number of books: 4

Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

Minestrone Soup

Recipe taken from Jaime Oliver

INGREDIENTS

1 clove of garlic

1 red onion

2 carrots

2 sticks of celery

1 courgette

-> Read a book whose title has changed for whatever reason (mention both titles) -or- read a book whose author or main character has a name ending in ETTE (like Suzette, Colette etc.). – 110 Grimmer Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm (there have been many different namings, in different languages over time)

1 small leek

1 large potato

1 x 400 g tin of cannellini beans

2 rashers of higher-welfare smoked streaky bacon

olive oil

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1 fresh bay leaf

Read a book whose title contains a spice -or- read a book set in or by an author from a country mentioned in one of Lonely Planet’s best spice markets in the world.  – Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Morrocco)

2 x 400 g tins of plum tomatoes

1 litre organic vegetable stock

1 large seasonal greens, such as savoy cabbage, curly kale, chard

100 g wholemeal pasta

½ a bunch of fresh basil, optional

Parmesan cheese

METHOD

1. Peel and finely chop the garlic and onion. Trim and roughly chop the carrots, celery and courgette, then add the vegetables to a large bowl.

2. Cut the ends off the leek, quarter it lengthwise, wash it under running water, then cut into 1cm slices. Add to the bowl.

Scrub and dice the potato. Drain the cannellini beans, then set aside.

3. Finely slice the bacon. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the bacon and fry gently for 2 minutes, or until golden.

☔ Read a book with 2 twos in its page number (292, 224 etc. but not 222 or 201, mention the page number) -or- read book #2 of a series. – Wolves of the Witchwood by Kate Forsyth

4. Add the garlic, onion, carrots, celery, courgette, leek, oregano and bay and cook slowly for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened, stirring occasionally.

5. Add the potato, cannellini beans and plum tomatoes, then pour in the vegetable stock. Stir well, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon.

6. Cover with a lid and bring everything slowly to the boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the potato is cooked through.

Meanwhile…

7. Remove and discard any tough stalks bits from the greens, then roughly chop.

8. Using a rolling pin, bash the pasta into pieces while it’s still in the packet or wrap in a clean tea towel.

☔ Read a book that makes you want to bash something for whatever reason (tell us why) -or- read a book with a blunt instrument like a rolling pin or baseball bat on the cover (post the cover) – Demon Angel by Meljean Brook (frustration at Hugh and Lilith… it literally takes them hundreds of years)

9. To check the potato is cooked, pierce a chunk of it with a sharp knife – if it pierces easily, it’s done.

10. Add the greens and pasta to the pan, and cook for a further 10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Add a splash more stock or water to loosen, if needed.

11. Pick over the basil leaves (if using) and stir through. Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper, then serve with a grating of Parmesan and a slice of wholemeal bread, if you like

Duration: 1st November – 30th November

Number of books: 10

Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

Even if we’ve just finished a meal, there are some smells that make us hungry, no matter how full we were just a moment ago. After an informal survey of family and friends, I made a list of the culprits that came up most often, then found an interesting tidbit about each of those foods for the basis of this challenge. Since Goodreads doesn’t have scratch & sniff technology, I’ve included photos just to whet your appetite 🙂

1. BACON

Bacon dates back at least 3,500 years. The Chinese were the first to cook salted pork bellies. The salt preserved the meat so it could be eaten all year.

✼ Read a book with an intact 00 in its total page count; tell us how many pages OR a book with the letters S-A-L-T in its title, not necessarily in that order or in the same word – Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day

2. BAKING BROWNIES

While no one is sure how brownies were first created, the most popular theory seems to be that a woman, who did not have baking powder on hand, improvised and served these “flattened cakes” to her guests.

✼ Read a book with a baked dessert shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a common color name in its title (plurals will be accepted [Blues], but no other variations – The Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas (Gingerbread)

3. FRESH BAKED BREAD

Legend has it that whoever eats the last piece of bread from a loaf has to kiss the cook.

✼ Read a book with ROMANCE on its main GR page OR a book that is THE LAST BOOK you need to finish a challenge; tell us the challenge – The Mammoth Book of Irish Romanced edited by Trisha Telep

4. GARLIC

Average consumption of garlic is believed to weigh in at around two pounds per person. That means eating roughly 302 cloves per person per year.

✼ Read book #2 from a series; tell us the series OR a book with a MAIN character whose FIRST name begins with G; tell us the name – Wolves of the Witchwood by Kate Forsyth

5. GRILLED BURGERS

Many US cities claim to be the birthplace of this popular food, but it is widely believed that it was invented in 1900 in New Haven, Connecticut, by Louis Lassen whose café offered a ground beef sandwich to a worker.

✼ Read a book set in a location with “New” in its name; tell us where OR a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in GRILLEDBURGERS (to use a letter more than once, it must appear more than once in the phrase)  – Sophie’s Choice by William Styron (New York)

6. PIZZA

The first pizza wasn’t made in Italy or the USA, but in ancient Greece. They baked large round breads that were flat and topped them with veggies, potatoes, spices and olive oil.

✼ Read a book with a round object shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with the name of a spice in its title – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling & Jim Kay

7. POPCORN

Sugar shortages during WWII made candy hard to come by, catapulting popcorn consumption to three times its pre-war levels.

✼ Read a book set during World War II OR a book with a 3 in its average GR rating (NOT the number of ratings or reviews!); tell us the rating – Demon Angel by Meljean Brook (3.53 rating)