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Funny! Cool Runnings will be on tv here this Sunday :)

Peggy wrote: "If that's the rule, does Savanannah, Georgia have mountains nearby? That's the setting of the other book I'm considering for the challenge :) .."

I took a look at a geopraphical map of Georgia, and Savannah is in the rather large green zone which covers most of the state. The legend says green is 0 elevation. So, no, it won't work.

Thank you Almeta

Thanks Janice, that will make my choice easy :)

Janice wrote: "Tejas Janet wrote: "Regarding weaponry.... Another question - would a travelogue...

Sorry! I'm earning my title of Meany with this one :("

No worries! Lots of books to choose from out there : )

This looks like a fun challenge, Janice. I'm gonna give it a try. You are so creative!

Think I'm going to read Hunted. It's got plenty of otherworldly weaponry in it and I've been looking for an excuse to fit this next Druid Chronicles book into my reading schedule.

This is going to be great fun! And yeah, Savannah is definitely coastal plain--mountains only way up in North GA.

Ok, based on quick check of audible books I already have: Ice Hockey for the UK, with Regeneration by Pat Barker (Regeneration Trilogy I)!

Another great challenge, Janice! Not sure what I'll be reading but going to go look at what I have.

This is a really creative challenge. I have no idea what I'll read for it yet.

I will represent the great nation of Canada, in their beloved sport of Ice Hockey.

I will be reading Flames Across the Border: 1813-1814 by Pierre Berton which is about the war of 1812, so:
10pts - author and setting is Canada.
5pts - many villages.
4pts - Lakes, all they do is die and march around various lakes.
4pts - Male author
4pts - first name Pierre.
4pts - Informational (non-fiction)
3pts - takes place in three (or more) countries, namely Canada, the US, England (and France, and various islands, etc)
5pts - cold. Lots of terribly cold times.
Potential total: 39, I think.

Go Canada! LOL! Sounds potentially like a high scorer, Will. That reminds me, I need to set up a reporting thread.

By the way, Pierre Berton is my personal revelation of 2013, Apparently in Canada he was the preeminent historian, but he doesn't get a lot of love outside the borders, which is a shame, he's one of the most concise yet exciting historians I've ever read. The first volume of this two book series is funny, exciting, and at turns bone chillingly horrifying. And as an interesting bit of trivia, he was born in the Yukon, living from the time he was 1 in the classic town of Dawson City. There's a short film called "City of Gold" he made which used the innovative technique of panning around a still photograph to give it the appearance of movement, which inspired a young documentary filmmaker who gained fame using it, a young Ken Burns. The short film is on YouTube at

Questions! (just to give poor Jmom a break).

Mongolia - is that mountainous enough? All This Belongs to Me: A Novel Not sure if it's set in the deserty bit or the mountainy bit. Blurb does mention Ulaanbaatar which is the capital which looks like where the desert turns into mountains. Wiki does say "The country has an average elevation of 1,580 metres". And seeing our highest mountain is Aus is 2,228 m, that seems pretty mountainy to me.

The Road - blurb says "They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road..." Is this weapony enough?

I have these and The Bookman and Shakespeare: The World as Stage, edit: oh and Crocodile on the Sandbank /edit, so I'll wait on your answers and make a decision!

Will, the film about Dawson City was great. Thanks for posting the link!

Rusalka wrote: "Questions! (just to give poor Jmom a break).

Mongolia - is that mountainous enough? All This Belongs to Me: A Novel Not sure if it's set in the deserty bit or the mountainy bit. Blu..."

It sounds like the book is set in a couple of different places - the steppes and the city of Ulaanbantar. According to the terrain maps, Ulaanbantar is in one of the mountain ranges. So that would qualify.

The Road would qualify for Biathlon.

Back to you for the decision.

Will wrote: "By the way, Pierre Berton is my personal revelation of 2013, Apparently in Canada he was the preeminent historian, but he doesn't get a lot of love outside the borders, which is a shame, he's one o..."

Ah yes! Pierre Berton is a Canadian icon.

Cherie wrote: "Will, the film about Dawson City was great. Thanks for posting the link!"

I'm so glad someone enjoyed it! Again, I hope somebody will feel encouraged to also try Burton's books. He's quite the writer. Some historians take 100 pages to tell you something dull about something that is really short and exciting; Burton can tell you about something long and dull, yet do it in half a page, and make it thrilling. His account of the aftermath of the battle of Frenchtown (present day Monroe, MI) is one of the most chilling things I've read.

I'll shut up about history now, sorry!

Don't apologize, Will. Your comments are interesting. While I've seen him on tv, I've never read any of his books. Maybe it's time for me to do so.

Rusalka wrote: "Questions! (just to give poor Jmom a break).

Mongolia - is that mountainous enough? All This Belongs to Me: A Novel Not sure if it's set in the deserty bit or the mountainy bit. Blu..."

I read All This Belongs to Me: A Novel last year and they did visit the mountains several times.

I have a question about this book and whether or not I can use it for the challenge. It was just released as a Kindle book and I can not find it on goodreads. I think it would fit into the challenge as they are skiers from the USA but don't want to start it right now if I can't use it. I will look for another book if this on is a no go. Thanks :)

Lisa wrote: "I think I am going to go with Dance of Shadows representing the USA in Figure Skating."

Awesome this books is on my to read book =] Good choice.

Sarah wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I think I am going to go with Dance of Shadows representing the USA in Figure Skating."

Awesome this books is on my to read book =] Good choice."

Thanks Sarah! :)

Janice wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Questions! (just to give poor Jmom a break).

Mongolia - is that mountainous enough? All This Belongs to Me: A Novel Not sure if it's set in the deserty bit or the mo..."

Cheers, big ears!

Amanda wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Questions! (just to give poor Jmom a break).

Mongolia - is that mountainous enough? All This Belongs to Me: A Novel Not sure if it's set in the deserty bit or the mo..."

Thanks Amanda!

Patty wrote: "I have a question about this book and whether or not I can use it for the challenge. It was just released as a Kindle book and I can not find it on goodreads. I think it would fit into the challeng..."

Yes, you can use it.

A Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ librarian could add it to the GR's database. You can join the librarian's group without becoming a librarian and request its inclusion.

I think that I will read The Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Pötzsch to represent Germany and Alpine. Most the action is set in Bavaria, Germany which is surrounded by mountains.

Will wrote: "I'm so glad someone enjoyed it! Again, I hope somebody will feel encouraged to also try Burton's books. He..."

No problem, Will. Actually - I may have seen the video once before. It seemed very familiar. I watch a lot of PBS documentaries and historical stuff like that.

Regarding the author and his book, I think all of us here at YLTO are always ready for someone to point out a great author or a great read. We just do not want it pushed down our neck - which you did not do by any means. I have added the book to my TBR list. I know a little about the War of 1812, but probably not as much as I should. I am always open to learn something new.

I tend to force feed people Neil Gaiman, so there are exceptions to that rule ;)

Janice wrote: "Patty wrote: "I have a question about this book and whether or not I can use it for the challenge. It was just released as a Kindle book and I can not find it on goodreads. I think it would fit int..."

Thanks Janice, got it added by librarian. Now off to start reading since its a Chunkster and gonna take awhile.

Rusalka wrote: "I tend to force feed people Neil Gaiman, so there are exceptions to that rule ;)"

I missed this reference but I just wanted to say a quick OT comment that I am listening to Neverwhere right now, read by NG, and it's fantastically done so far.

Great challenge! I will be representing Sweden by reading the book Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi. I don't know which sport though (maybe Rusalka who has read the book could help out?) - figure skating perhaps?

It sounds like it would work for Figure Skating, Erica. We'll wait for Rusalka to confirm though.

Would Portrait of a Landscape by Daniel Watkins stand for British figure skating

Yes, Portrait of a Landscape would be fine for Britain (or US) Figure Skating.

And welcome Marie!

thanks Janice then that will be mine

I don't think I'll be joining in with this one.. I already have 12 scheduled for this month lmao. So maybe next month I'll do a monthly challenge here.

Erica wrote: "Great challenge! I will be representing Sweden by reading the book Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi. I don't know which sport though (maybe Rusalka who has read the book coul..."

As long as they don't have to be any good at playing music, then definitely fits into the Figure Skating one.

Enjoy Erica! Be interested to hear your thoughts when you are done.

I was looking at the books I plan to read this month, I have one question. If a book has 2 authors do I halve the points for male author and country?

Will wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Will, the film about Dawson City was great. Thanks for posting the link!"

I'm so glad someone enjoyed it! Again, I hope somebody will feel encouraged to also try Burton's books. He..."

Will, do you have a favorite by Burton? You've definitely piqued my interest!

Esther wrote: "I was looking at the books I plan to read this month, I have one question. If a book has 2 authors do I halve the points for male author and country?"

No need to cut points in half. Count whichever points apply to either author. Just make sure that they are equal authors and that one isn't a translator or illustrator.

I am reading a book at the moment which I hadn't planned on reading for this challenge but actually fits it so I'm going to score it anyway and see how many points I get compared with the one I had chosen. A quick question about the poetry points - in several places throughout the book it mentions a poet and a poem with just a line from it - not the full poem. Would this count?

I was wondering about that also. Can poetry be discussed, but not quoted was my question.

Rusalka wrote: "As long as they don't have to be any good at playing music, then definitely fits into the Figure Skating one.
Enjoy Erica! Be interested to hear your thoughts when you are done."
Thanks for your help! Will do :)

I'm reading Hunted for the Biathlon. It's got plenty of weaponry, including a great sword wielded by the main Druid. The sword is Fragarach. I've really been enjoying this series which starts with Hounded. Oberon the Irish Wolfhound still steals the best scenes. He can speak telepathically with the Druids.

Sarah & Laura. When I was conceptualizing the challenge, I was thinking of the actual poem, or at least part of it. So, if the book quotes part of a poem, that will be accepted. Discussion of a poem unfortunately won't count.

Debra wrote: "I'm reading Hunted for the Biathlon. It's got plenty of weaponry, including a great sword wielded by the main Druid. The sword is Fragarach. I've really been enjoying this series ..."

Enjoy! Oberon is my favourite character.

Janice wrote: "Sarah & Laura. When I was conceptualizing the challenge, I was thinking of the actual poem, or at least part of it. So, if the book quotes part of a poem, that will be accepted. Discussion of a ..."

That makes sense, Janice, thanks.

Laura wrote: "Will, do you have a favorite by Burton? You've definitely piqued my interest..."

I'd recommend the first book of the aforementioned two books on the War of 1812, The Invasion of Canada: 1812-1813. For it's brevity, ability to convey how fascinating some of history's strange actors were, and how much more interesting (often in a tragic way) the choices were in an age where people were often unaware of the examples of history, and thus made decisions doomed to failure. Even if you find yourself suspicious of whether you'd be interested in the topic, you'll find a thrilling tale. Find out the reasons many places are called what they are, for example half the streets in downtown Chicago, and why exactly one of the stars on it's flag is there for...