ŷ������

Levels:
Entry Level Elf: 1-5 books
Apprentice Toy Painter: 6-12 books
Toy Maker: 13-20 books
Head Elf Designer: 21+ books

Option 1: Cover hunt! Find and read books with December holiday images on the cover or in the title.
For example: Santa, santa hat, star, Christmas tree, Star of David, Menorah, Yule log, snow, sled, etc.

Option 2: Write a letter to Santa using book titles. For example, here is a letter that Kelly wrote:
(view spoiler)[
Dear Santa,

If you've talked to The Tooth Fairy lately just ignore whatever she said. There were some Necessary Lies but I Swear (Pinky Swear!) that they were only White Lies.

Also, the Easter Bunny tends to look at Little Things and blow them up into giant issues. I just want to tell you the Plain Truth.

The truth is: I'm Watching You. And if you so much as think of not giving me presents, The Simple Truth and Nothing But the Truth is that you're going down. Because I'm Worth It.

A Very Vampy Christmas to you.

Love,
Me

P.S. Seriously... I'm Kidding but I still want the presents.
(hide spoiler)]

Option 3: Spell out holiday terms*

Option 4: Read books based on the below:

Popcorn wreaths: Read a book that has been made into a movie
Family dinners: Read a book where there is a gathering of family or friends, or read a book with characters that you would like to invite to your holiday celebration
Gifts: Read a book with items on the cover that you would love to receive as a gift or a book where the main character receives a gift
Carols and singing: Read a book about musicians or where a main character can sing well.
Snowman: Read a book about creating or inventing things or where a non-person character can talk.

List of December holidays
(view spoiler)[

Hanukkah - December 10-18 (2020)
Yule - December 21 - Jan 1
Christmas Eve - December 24th
Christmas - December 25th
Kwanzaa - December 26th -January 1st
St Stephen's Day - December 26th
Boxing Day - December 26th
New Year's Eve �� 31 December
New Year's Day - January 1st
(hide spoiler)]



Re reads are allowed (6 month rule)
Page count = minimum 100 pages
Any format is allowed

(*)Spell-it-Out Rules
Using the first letter in the book’s title, the first letter of the series name, the first letter in the author’s first or last name, or the first letter of a character’s first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter in the audio book narrator's first or last name.
If you are reading a translated version, you can also use the first letter of the translator's first or last name.

As always, if the first letter of a title starts with ‘A��, ‘An��, ‘The��, etc., you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word

Seasonal Challenges ~ Citrine Coin

Earn your Citrine Coins with Seasonal Challenges joined on or after April 1, 2016.

To Earn a Citrine Coin:
One Coin upon reaching highest book level : "Head Elf Designer."

Learn about Gem coins here

December Holiday Challenge
Option 1, 3, 4
Dec. 1-31
17 books

Toy Maker: 13-20 books
Head Elf Designer: 21+ books


Option 1: Cover hunt! Find and read books with December holiday images on the cover or in the title.
For example: Santa, santa hat, star, Christmas tree, Star of David, Menorah, Yule log, snow, sled, etc.
Linnea West 12/2/20
Kathi Daley 12/16/20
Gretchen Allen 12/18/20
Summer Prescott 12/24/20
Kathi Daley 12/27/20

Option 2:
Spelling Christmas-DONE
9/9

C Candy Slain Murder Maddie Day 12/9/20
Holly Wood char.-Christmas Corpse Mona Marple 12/10/20
Ruth Shores char.-Killer Bouquets & Chardonnay Mel McCoy 12/8/20
Innes Louise-Death at a Country Mansion Louise R. Innes 12/23/20
Sweet, Ali char.-A Killer Cupcake Fiona Grace 12/6/20
Tipperary Carriage Co series-A Silver Christmas J.A. Whiting and Nell McCarthy 12/15/20
M Murder to the Max Tegan Maher 12/3/20
Angie Seaver char.-Mushing Is Murder Patti Benning 12/12/20
Scoobie, char.-When the Carny Comes to Town Elaine Orr 12/7/20

Option 4:
3/5
Read books based on the below:

Popcorn wreaths: Read a book that has been made into a movie

Family dinners: Read a book where there is a gathering of family or friends, or read a book with characters that you would like to invite to your holiday celebration
Isabel has a weekly family dinner that includes her good friends in town, and I’d definitely like to hang out with those friends at Christmas. Meet Isabel Puddles M.V. Byrne 12/4/20

Gifts: Read a book with items on the cover that you would love to receive as a gift or a book where the main character receives a gift
I always love books as gifts: Libby Klein 12/14/20

Carols and singing: Read a book about musicians or where a main character can sing well.

Snowman: Read a book about creating or inventing things or where a non-person character can talk.
Earl the cat can talk-Magic by the Book Melinda Craig 12/30/20

December Holiday Challenge (NBRC)
December 2020

Toy Maker: 13-20 books

Option 1: Cover hunt! Find and read books with December holiday images on the cover or in the title.

Slay Bells Ring 12/04
The Ghost of Mistletoe Mary 12/07
Gooseberry Christmas 12/07
A Merry Murder 12/11
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding 12/12
A Catered Christmas Cookie Exchange 12/12
Peace on Earth 12/12
Murder, Wrapped Up 12/14
Murder with all the Trimmings 12/15
Poinsettas and the Perfect Crime 12/16
Holidays in Ocean Alley 12/17
Slay Bells 12/17
Christmas Cake Murder 12/18
Christmas Cookie Murder 12/20
Marry Christmas Murder 12/21
Murder on the Toy Town Express 12/26
Rest You Merry 12/27
Cat Noel 12/27
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater 12/28

Option 4: Read books based on the below:

**Family dinners: Read a book where there is a gathering of family or friends, or read a book with characters that you would like to invite to your holiday celebration

The Ghost of Christmas Past 12/01
Bury Your Dead 12/02
Death With All the Trimmings 12/09
Murder's No Votive Confidence 12/10
A Creed Country Christmas 12/13
Lady Osbaldestone’s Christmas Goose 12/19
Shots in the Dark 12/20
Lady Osbaldestone and the Missing Christmas Carols 12/23
Murder in Her Stocking 12/24
Circle of Influence 12/24

**Gifts: Read a book where the main character receives a gift

Menace at the Christmas Market 12/09
It's Steele Christmas 12/09
Christmas and Criminality 12/13
The Santa Trial 12/14
Gingerbread and Deadly Dread 12/15
Claws for Celebration 12/19
Cookies in the Cottage 12/21

December Holiday Challenge
Duration - Dec 1 - 30
Option 3

Using the first letter in the book’s title, the first letter of the series name, the first letter in the author’s first or last name, or the first letter of a character’s first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter in the audio book narrator's first or last name.
If you are reading a translated version, you can also use the first letter of the translator's first or last name.

C - Coleman, Ben - Raise the Stakes - Bones Monroe - 12/9/20
H - Helen - Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews - 12/2/20
R - Rebecca Taylor - Ascendant - 12/14/20
I - Ilona Andrews - Sweep with Me - 12/4/20
S - Sadie Wilson - Were We Belong by Robyn Peterman - 12/6/20
T - Tina Galenski - Magenta Rave by Janna Zonder - 12/16/20
M - Maxwell, Flint - The Snow by Flint Maxwell - 12/7/20
A - Anna - Burn the Dead: Quarantine by Steven Jenkins - 12/25/20
S

E
V
E

December Reading Challenge
Duration: 1- 31 December, 2020
Level: Head Elf Designer: 21+ books

Option 2: Write a letter to Santa using book titles.

Dear Santa,
Last year's Christmas was Scrooged. I invited the Rancher Lion, Second Chance Lion and the Protector Lion for dinner but they couldn't make it. They were busy at The Summer Palace, fighting the Horsemen's War, against Wolves of the Calla. I spent that Christmas day alone. It was Christmas from Hell! I'm Tempted by the Night to ask the pride again but I'm done with Truth, Lies, and Second Dates. Instead, I'll be visiting my friends Rapunzel and the Griffin Prince, Sea Witch and the Magician and Sigurd and the Valkyrie in Sycamore Row.

I loved last year Magic Gifts, especially The Eyes of the Dragon! It made Christmas Night Resurrected!! This year I don't want A Maiden Lane Christmas Special, instead can I have Gunmetal Magic. I know, it's so Noir-ish!

And One Last Thing ..., I know you are very busy but The Ickabog could use some love.

December Holiday Challenge
Duration - Dec 1 - 30
Levels:
Head Elf Designer: 21+ books��
Total books:33
Option 2: Write a letter to Santa using book titles.
Dear Santa,
Christmas lights are always a Wondering Sight. I have been good this year but I did throw chips my friend of Seven Years. He decided to Tempt Me, also I did it For the Hell of It. It was The Mane Attraction of our small get-together. I swear I have been good otherwise, my dog has too even though the Beast Behaving Badly gets my mom mad. I am sad that there isn't much snow this year, but there is stillThe Unyielding cold. No snow might just be The Undoing of Christmas though. Can I please get Seven Black Diamonds and A Touch of Starlightin my stocking because we all know that Fortune Favors the Cruel.
Option 3: Spell out holiday terms

C Claimed by the Assassins
H Hot and Badgered
R Ruby Morningstar (character)- Wicked Games
I In a Badger Way
S Stacey Brutger- Queen of the Assassins
T The Mane Squeeze
M Moira(character)-Brimstone Nightmares
A Academy of Assassins
S Shelly Laurenston -Badger to the Bone

S Seven YearsA Sinful Year Three
O
LLucifer's Daughter
S Shelly Laurenston-Big Bad Beast
T The Beast in Him
I Infernal Desires
C Callum(character)-
E Eva Brandt-A Demonic Year Two

H Heart of the Assassins
A A Dance With Darkness
N
U
K Kel Carpenter-For King and Corruption
K Kel Carpenter-Twisted is the Crown
A A Song of Shadows
H A Hellish Year One

December Reading Challenge
Duration: 1- 31 December, 2020
Level: Head Elf Designer: 21+ books

Option 3: Spell out holiday terms
21/21

C - Callie (character) Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker
H - Happily Never Ever
R - Ryan (character) Gone With The Ghost
I - I Am Kimberly Cole: A Journey into Terror
S - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
T - Tails from the Deep: Mermaid Sisters Mystery
M - Mae (character) Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries
A - The Accidental Witch
S - Sex, Murder & Killer Cupcakes

Y - Lily York (author) Chili to Die for
U - Unlovable
L - License to Bite
E - Emma (character) Batter Up

S - Spells and Spiced Latte
O - Oshima (character) Kafka on the Shore
L - Logan (character) The Ghost of Tobacco Road
S - Bram Stoker (author) Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories
T - Terror in the Shadows vol. 1
I - Masaji Ishikawa (author) A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea
C - The Crimson Crown
E - Ellie (character) The Flirting Games

I'll take the easy way and be a cover hunt elf. Just finished my first one.

I just wrote a great Letter to Santa in my head using the books I plan to read. Hope I get to most of them. Option 2 will be epic and I want to share it with you all.

December Holiday Challenge

Entry Level Elf: 1-5 books

Option 4: Read books based on . . .

Popcorn wreaths: Read a book that has been made into a movie

Family dinners: Read a book where there is a gathering of family or friends, or read a book with characters that you would like to invite to your holiday celebration

Gifts: Read a book with items on the cover that you would love to receive as a gift or a book where the main character receives a gift

Carols and singing: Read a book about musicians or where a main character can sing well.

Snowman: Read a book about creating or inventing things or where a non-person character can talk.

December Holiday Challenge
Level: Head Elf Designer: 21+ books
Dec 1 - 31

Option 1: Cover hunt! Find and read books with December holiday images on the cover or in the title.
For example: Santa, santa hat, star, Christmas tree, Star of David, Menorah, Yule log, snow, sled, etc.
12/7 12/17 12/13 12/22 12/26 12/27

Option 2:
Spelling

C You Say It First by Katie Cotugno 12/9
H Happily Ever Ninja 12/8
R Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia 12/10
I The Longest Ride (Ira) 12/24
S The Savior 12/14
T The Austere Academy 12/18
M The Memory Thief 12/1
A The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman 12/2
S Swan Song 12/7

T The Unhoneymooners 12/15
R Rosemary and Rue 12/5
E How to Rattle an Undead Couple by Hailey Edwards 12/3
E Venom by Jennifer Estep 12/6

C The Cousins 12/23
O Omens 12/1
O Wolf's Bane (Olivia) 12/21
K American Royals by Katharine McGee 12/25
I Red at the Bone (Iris) 12/20
E The End 12/12
S Serious Moonlight 12/19

December Holiday Challenge
December 2020

My December Holiday Challenge (msg 13)

Level ~ Head Elf Designer: 21+ books | 22 Books Read
Options 1 & 3

Option 1: Cover hunt! ~ Holiday items

✔��Snowflakes, berries ~ One Hundred Christmas Proposals ~ 12.07 ★★��
✔��Snow, garland, red ribbon ~ Merry and Bright ~ 12.02 ★★��
✔��Tree, santa hat, gifts ~ Christmas Dinner ~ 12.19 ★★��


Option 3: Spell out holiday terms

KWANZAA

✔��K ~ Kitty Goes to Washington ~ 12.31 ★★��
✔��W ~ Well Played ~ 12.18 ★★��
✔��A ~ Almost Just Friends ~ 12.25 ★★★★
✔��N ~ Nameless [ser] ~ Incarnate ~ 12.15 ★★★★
✔��Z ~ Zanetti, Rebecca ~ Vixen ~ 12.06 ★★★★
✔��A ~ Andrews, Ilona ~ Sweep of the Blade ~ 12.09 ★★★★
✔��A ~ Apprentice in Death ~ 12.23 ★★★★

CHRISTMAS EVE


✔��C ~ Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja Toilet ~ 12.07 ★★��
✔��H ~ Hard to Let Go ~ 12.01 ★★★★
✔��R ~ R.S. Grey ~ The Design ~ 12.08 ★★★★
✔��I ~ Ilona Andrews ~ Sweep with Me ~ 12.26 ★★★★
✔��S ~ Sex and Other Shiny Objects ~ 12.11 ★★★★
✔��T ~ Tori Scott ~ The Bluest Eyes in Texas ~ 12.03 ★★��
✔��M ~ Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction ~ 12.12 ★★★★
✔��A ~ Aitken, Elena ~ Unexpected Endings ~ 12.20 ★★��
✔��S ~ Susan Mallery ~ Barefoot Season ~ 12.19 ★★★★

✔��E ~ Eagan, Denise ~ Running Wild ~ 12.14 ★★��
✔��V ~ Vanessa Kier ~ Undercover ~ 12.21 ★★★★
✔��E ~ Eve Langlais ~ Panda and the Kitty ~ 12.27 ★★��

LaurLa wrote: "my spot - I assume this is December 1-31 timeframe?"

Yes!

And welcome to the challenge everyone! I hope this brings some holiday cheer :)

Oleander wrote: "I'll take the easy way and be a cover hunt elf. Just finished my first one.

I just wrote a great Letter to Santa in my head using the books I plan to read..."

I'm looking forward to reading it!

December Holiday Challenge
12/1/2020 - 12/31/2020

Level:
Toy Maker: 13-20 books
Head Elf Designer: 21+ books

14/20 as of 12/30/2020

Christmas: 7/9
C- Cat With a Clue - 12/5/2020
H- Hula Done It? - 12/20/2020
R- Redemption - 12/25/2020
I-
S- Sherry Harris - All Murders Final! - 12/24/2020
T- Tears & Cruor - 12/19/2020
M- Mary Higgins Clark - Piece of My Heart, 12/13/2020
A- Allison Brook - Checked Out for Murder - 12/12/2020
S-

New Year's Day: 7/11
N- Nancy J. Parra - Murder Gone A-Rye - 12/13/2020
E- Evil Eclairs - 12/28/2020
W- Wilton, Traci - Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past - 12/29/2020

Y-
E- Ehrhart, Peggy - Murder, She Knit - 12/18/2020
A- Alex Erickson - Death by Eggnog - 12/23/2020
R-
S-

D- Diners, Drive-Ins, and Death, 12/7/2020
A- Amy McNulty - Potions and Playing Cards - 12/20/2020
Y-

December Reading Challenge
Duration: 1- 31 December, 2020 - FINISHED 12/22/2020
Level: Head Elf Designer: 21+ books (24/24)
Option: Spell Out Holiday Terms

Hanukkah (December 10-18 (2020)
H - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - 12/4/2020
A - The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie - 12/3/2020
N - Christmas at Sleigh Bell Farm by Kaylie Newell - 12/4/2020
U - Until Mallory by Ella Fox - 12/20/2020
K - Called By Gods by Leigh Kelsey - 12/1/2020
K - Carol Kane in Miss Kane's Christmas by Caroline Mickelson - 12/19/2020
A - At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie - 12/8/2020
H - The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates - 12/3/2020

Yule (December 21 - Jan 1)
Y - On Edge by Rebecca York - 12/20/2020
U - Unleashed: Case of the Irish Sitter by Erik Schubach - 12/22/2020
L - The Guest List by Lucy Foley - 12/4/2020
E - Elizabeth "Bizzy" Baker Wilder in A Christmas to Dismember by Addison Moore - 12/3/2020

Christmas Eve (December 24th)
C - Cress by Marissa Meyer - 12/5/2020
H - Holly Jolly Lycan Christmas by Alicia Montgomery - 12/1/2020
R - Rowan Stanton in A Griffin for Christmas by Zoe Chant - 12/5/2020
I - Iris Scanlon in The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper - 12/12/2020
S - How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction by Beth Shapiro - 12/9/2020
T - Trusting Skylar by Susan Stoker - 12/5/2020
M - A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie - 12/1/2020
A - Amy Gumm in Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige - 12/5/2020
S - The Square Root of Murder by Camille Minichino - 12/11/2020

E - Captive of Wolves by Eva Chase - 12/12/2020
V - Scrooged by Vi Keeland - 12/19/2020
E - Elizabeth Bennett in Lucky 13: Matchmaking and Misunderstandings by Cat Gardiner - 12/12/2020

My option 2 letter:

My Dearest Studmuffin Santa,

I was so looking forward to meeting you for A Cheyenne Christmas. I just know it would have been An Enchanted Season. You can't imagine how bummed out I was when you canceled because of some silly plot to steal Christmas.
I took my disappointment and headed south. Before you knew it, it was the Night Before Christmas—In Texas, That Is. I had met a Christmas Tsar and gone out to his hacienda. We were making merry and decking some halls (you really can't expect me to be exclusive when you only come round once a year), when some candles got knocked over. Did you know that Christmas decorations are highly flammable? We had to flee the house and ended up having The Barnyard Night Before Christmas. It was a great ruckus because farm animals don't much care for fire trucks.
Next year, I expect you to meet me for A Grosvenor Square Christmas. I want to have a classy Christmas in High Heels. You bring the jingle bells. And if you're a no-show, I swear I'm going to get myself A Highland Ghost for Christmas.
Your Loveable Christmas Angel

December Reading Challenge
Duration: 12/1/20 - 12/31/20
Level: Apprentice Toy Painter: 6-12 books

Option 3: Spell out holiday terms

Progress: 12/12 ✔️

�� C: Alien Mischief by Cara Bristol -- 12/5/2020
�� H: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton -- 12/17/2020
�� R: Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse -- 12/22/2020
�� I: Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland -- 12/13/2020
�� S: Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire -- 12/26/2020
�� T: Rosewater by Tade Thompson -- 12/2/2020
�� M: Holly Jolly Lycan Christmas by Alicia Montgomery -- 12/4/2020
�� A: Accidental Abduction by Eve Langlais -- 12/31/2020
�� S: The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi -- 12/7/2020

�� E: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire -- 12/9/2020
�� V: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett -- 12/24/2020
�� E: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel -- 12/14/2020

Oleander wrote: "My option 2 letter:

My Dearest Studmuffin Santa,

I was so looking forward to meeting you for A Cheyenne Christmas. I just know it would have been [book:An Enchante..."

This is great!

Ashes, I also enjoyed your letter :)

I'm glad you enjoyed it Judith. It was fun to write.

Ashes, I didn't see yours before way up there. Great job!

Update post #6
Started with option 1 and 3 but ended up writing Santa a lame letter, lol.

LEVEL: Apprentice Toy Painter: 6-12 books 🎄 OPTION: 3 🎄 COMPLETED: 9/9.

⭐️C. Title: (C)rewel World. Monica Ferris. 25 Dec.
⭐️H. Title: (H)anging by a Thread. Monica Ferris. 26 Dec.
⭐️R. Title: (R)ecipe for Persuasion. Sonali Dev. 28 Dec.
⭐️I. Author: (I)ris Johansen. An Unexpected Song. 29 Dec.
⭐️S. Title: A (S)titch in Time. Monica Ferris. 25 Dec.
⭐️T. Author. (T)ui T. Sutherland. The Dragonet Prophecy. 31 Dec.
⭐️M. Author: (M)onica Ferris. Cutwork. 27 Dec.
⭐️A. Title. The (A)lchemist. Paulo Coelho. 30 Dec.
⭐️S. Author: (S)eanan McGuire. Every Heart a Doorway. 29 Dec.

Fun challenge, thanks! Msg. 3 updated with 17 books total that fit prompts or spelled my word, Christmas. I had 2 or 3 more Christmasy books I wish I could have gotten to for the covers. :)

I'm glad everyone enjoyed this one!

Sana wrote: "Update post #6
Started with option 1 and 3 but ended up writing Santa a lame letter, lol."
Your letter was not lame. It was very good! WTG!

Finished!
Updated Post: My December Holiday Challenge (msg 13)

Level ~ Head Elf Designer: 21+ books | 22 Books Read
Options 1 & 3

November 21, 2024-Jan 21, 2025

Level: Toy Maker: 13-20 books FINISHED!
18 out of 13-20 books

Option 1 December holiday images on Cover or in Title.
++ Scags at 7 Deborah Emin 11-22-24 (Red and Green!)
++ 1222 Anne Holt 11-27-24 (Snow!)
++ Visions of Sugar Plums Janet Evanovich 11-30-24 (Red and Santa ornament!)

Option 2 Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

This year I want to have a really happy ______Saturday________________. I want to be with ___Service Dogs_______________, and ___Andrew's Brain_______________. I want to eat __________________________. I want to go to __Where Roses Never Die______________ to see the lovely __Life Undercover___________. I'd like you to bring me some special gifts: _I'm Dying for a Decoration________________ for my house, ________________for my beloved pets, and __I'm Dying for a Date_____________ for my bedroom!
Thank you, Santa!
Helen
1) Saturday: Saturday Ian McEwan 11-30-24
2) Service Dogs: Service Dogs Jessica Rudolph 12-4-24
3) Dying for a Decoration Cindy Sample 12-4-24
4) Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA Amaryllis Fox 12-7-24
5) Dying for a Date by Cindy Sample 12-12-24
6) Where Roses Never Die Gunnar Staalesen 12-17-24
7) Andrew's Brain E.L. Doctorow 12-26-24


Option 4 DONE
Books that are:
++1) Book made into movie (or Hallmark special):
Project Hail Mary Andy Weir 12-7-24 (Apple movie)
++2) Gathering of family or friends
Eruption Michael Crichton 12-12-24
++3) Cover has gift I'd like OR MC gets a gift
The Buddha's Wish for the World Monshu Koshin Ohtani 12-10-24 (I'd like this Buddha statue!)
++4) Musicians OR MC sings well The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow: The Forced Displacement of the Northern Sámi Elin Anna Labba 11-30-24 (All of the old people sang joiks.)
++5) Creating or inventing OR non-person character talks
Creating & Inventing Games: UNBORED Games: Serious Fun for Everyone Joshua Glenn 12-4-24

Plus extra:
Title, or Cover, or Story has something to do with:
1) Hanukkah--
2) Yule-- What This Comedian Said Will Shock You Bill Maher 12-10-24 (Reason's Greetings p. 192)
3) Christmas Eve-- Skipping Christmas John Grisham 12-24-24
4) Christmas-- Death in Ecstasy Ngaio Marsh 11-22-24 (Chalice is communion cup for Christmas Day service)
5) Kwanzaa--
6) St. Stephen's Day--
7) Boxing Day--
8) New Year's Eve--
9) New Year's Day--

Part 2 Monthly

Help Save Christmas Mini Challenge
Finished 2-4-25

30+ out of 40 books

¸¸.��*¨*•♫�� ¸¸.��*¨*•♫�� ¸¸.��*¨*•♫�� ¸¸.��*¨*•♫�� ¸¸.��*¨*•♫��


Tasks

☂☂Making an elf home☂☂
Our elves need somewhere safe to sleep once they have finished all of their toy making. Please help build them a house!
++1. Make a door by reading a book of 201 pages or less
Visions of Sugar Plums Janet Evanovich 11-30-24 (152 pages)
++2. Create some windows by reading a book of between 202 and 301 pages
Death in Ecstasy Ngaio Marsh 11-22-24 (272 pages)
++3. Time to put up the walls! Read a book with a brown cover that is between 301 and 500 pages
The Runaway Jury John Grisham 1-24-25
4. Lastly we need a roof. Read a book of 501 pages or more with green writing or a green item on the cover


❤❤�Ჹ�Գܰ�첹��❤❤
Help observe this festival by completing the following tasks:
++5. Light the candles of a Hanukkah menorah by reading a book with a "8" in the number of pages Saturday Ian McEwan 11-30-24 (289 pages)
++6. Eat some latkes and sufganiyot by finding a book with the word "flour" in the text
The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow: The Forced Displacement of the Northern Sámi Elin Anna Labba 11-30-24 (p. 13)
7. Play Dreidel by reading a book with "four" in the title
++8. Read a book where Hanukkah is celebrated
The Dog Who Saved Christmas and Other True Animal Tales Allan Zullo 1-6-25 (p. 78)

☀☀Australian Summer☀☀ DONE
It's time to start the summer school holidays, swim and celebrate the season with family and friends:
++9. Host an end of year BBQ with your mates. Read a book with a BBQ, or BBQ food on the cover
Dying for a Daiquiri Cindy Sample 12-14-24 (BBQ pig underground on Hawaii beach)
++10. Read a book by an Australian born author
Here One Moment Liane Moriarty 12-27-24
++11. Grab your togs and go for a swim. Read a book with a body of water on the cover (e.g. pool, lake, ocean etc.)
Dying for a Diamond Cindy Sample 1-4-25
++12. Read a book with a green or gold item or writing on the cover which is set in summer
Scags at 7 Deborah Emin 11-22-24


✈✈Visit some family✈✈
Pack your bags and fly off to see Aunty Flo and Uncle Jack for the holidays!
++13. Read a book where the characters get on a plane
Eruption Michael Crichton 12-12-24
++14. Read a book with a form of transport on the cover
1222 Anne Holt 11-27-24 (Train in the 1)
++15. Pack your suitcase! Read a book with the name of at least 4 articles of clothing within the text
Dying for a Decoration Cindy Sample 12-4-24 (p. 37: wool coat, heels, sweats, slippers, p. 16: sweatshirt, puffy coat, sneakers.)
16. The countdown is on to get on that flight! Read a book where the page numbers countdown by one. (i.e. 987, 876, 765, 654, 543, 432, 321 or 210)


▣▣National Mutt Day▣▣ DONE
December is full of fun holidays. Today, we toast to the mixed breeds of the world, so raise your water bowls high �� because this one’s for the mutts!
++17. Read a book with a dog on the cover
Service Dogs Jessica Rudolph 12-4-24
++18. Read a book where the character has a dog who was a stray/came from a shelter
Santa Paws, Our Hero Nicholas Edwards 1-3-25 (Santa Paws was a stray.)
++19. Read a book where a main character has a name that is in the top 20 dog names in Australia as per this website. No alterations to spelling.
Names under spoiler
(view spoiler)
Methodical Deception Rebekah Roth 12-27-24 (Max)
++20.It's a dogs life! Read a book where a dog is a main character
Santa Paws on Christmas Island Kris Edwards 1-10-25


✟✟ Christmas ✟✟
Celebrate December 25th by heading to Church and completing these tasks
++21.Read a book that has the number 25 in the page count. (numbers may not be reversed)
Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA Amaryllis Fox 12-7-24 (256 pages)
++22.Read a book that is tagged religious (must be tagged by more than 25 users)
Puzzle in Patchwork Roberta Updegraff 1-10-25 (MPG is Christian Fiction)
++23.Read a book that has a birth
Andrew's Brain E.L. Doctorow 12-26-24 (Birth of Willow)
24.Read a book that has one or more of these words - Noël, Nativity, Xmas, or Yule found in the text. ( no variations excepted; word(s) must be exact)

❁❁Help Santa Get Dressed❁❁
Santa is behind on his schedule to deliver toys. He needs a little help to get dressed before he can deliver presents to all the good little girls and boys.
25.Read a book with "red" in the title.
26.Read a book with black boots on the cover
++27.Read a book with a belt on the cover
Dying for a Double Cindy Sample 1-17-25
++28. Read a book with gloves on the cover
Project Hail Mary Andy Weir 12-7-24

✤✤Saint Nicholas Day✤✤
Before 'real party' starts, there is a way to check if you are on naughty or nice list. So polish those boots and hope for the best
29.For good girls and boys, there is some candy. Read something sweet
Jingle All the Way Tom Shay-Zapien 1-30-25
++30.For bad ones, coal or rod is ready. Read a book with black text on the cover
Unwanted Advances: Sexual Paranoia Comes to Campus Laura Kipnis 11-26-24
31.St. Nick's helpers are here to fill... Read a book with angels or devils (or both)
Methodical Illusion Rebekah Roth 12-15-24 (Devils= evil people)
32....those nice polished boots are on the windowsill. Read a book with only shoes or boots on cover

☘☘Decorate The Tree☘☘
Its time to get festive, turn on the holiday music, and have a sip of eggnog or two while we put up that tree and make it sparkle.
33.Read a book with green text on the cover
How Santa Got His Job Stephen Krensky (Note: the author's name is in green text.) 1-21-25
++34.Read a book with a Christmas ornament on the cover of a book
The Christmas Riddle Susan Sleeman 1-6-25
++35.Read a book with a Christmas lights on the cover.
Skipping Christmas John Grisham 12-24-24
++36. Read a book with a star on the cover
UNBORED Games: Serious Fun for Everyone Joshua Glenn 12-4-24 (star in top right corner)

☃☃Build a snowman:☃☃
++37.Read a book with snow on the cover
Dying for a Deal Cindy Sample 1-15-25
38.Read a book with a top hat on the cover
++39.Read a book with a scarf on the cover
Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living Linnea Dunne 1-10-25
++40.Read a book with “carrot�� in the text
Keep It Up, Harry Potbelly!: A Doctor's Lighthearted Guide to Robust Health Don Linker 12-11-24 (page 85: "carrot-adenoids")

December Holiday Challenge
Working on Spell Out

C - NLN: Corzo
H -ALN: Harrison
R -AFN: Rebecca
I -AFN: Ilona
S
T -ALN: Tait
M -AFN:Meg
A -AFN: Alyson
S


S- - NFN: Stephanie
N -ALN: Nelson
O
W


S -AFN:Seanan
L -AFN: Laurell
E -NFN: Erin
I
G
H

**complete**
Levels:
Entry Level Elf: 1-5 books**12/29/24
Apprentice Toy Painter: 6-12 books
Toy Maker: 13-20 books
Head Elf Designer: 21+ books
Option 2: Write a letter to Santa using book titles. For example, here is a letter that Kelly wrote:

Lately Mrs. Claus was Not in Love with the Christmas season. Her holiday spirit was Definitely Dead. It all started when she had a Deadly Escape out of the sleigh last Christmas Eve.

This Christmas the elves were solemnly singing One of Us Is Dead, in solidarity of the Elf they lost last Christmas in the crash. Star, the head elf, was using the Icebreaker, what the elves loving called the ice pick, to chop up snow and ice. She was such a fan of the holiday. But in a big swipe of the ice pick she slipped and fell on her back right as Santa walked in.

All the elves looked up from their work and shouted Fangirl Down.

Finished: 2025/03/30

Duration: 1.12.2024 - 28.2.2025

Levels:
Entry Level Elf: 1-5 books
Apprentice Toy Painter: 6-12 books
Toy Maker: 13-20 books
Head Elf Designer: 21+ books

Progress: 27/27

Option 3: Spell out holiday terms

Christmas
C - Camus, Albert - Der Fall �� 25/01/13
H - Hilda Hasenherz. Das Abenteuer im Fuchswald by Tobias Goldfarb �� 24/12/07
R - Raven, Cassie - Wer mit den Toten spricht by A.K. Turner �� 25/01/27
I - Itose Yuki - Ein Zeichen der Zuneigung 06 by Morishita Suu �� 24/12/11
S - Shimizu Eichi - Goodbye Harlequin - Special Edition �� 25/02/03
T - Todesurteil im Old Bailey by Anne Perry �� 25/02/11
M - ��å�Բ� - Best Bro Ever by Jenny Jägerfeld �� 24/12/05
A - Axel S. Meyer - Der Sonne so nah �� 25/01/09
S - A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood �� 25/02/07

Gifts
G - Given 09 by Kizu Natsuki �� 24/12/02
I - Nagi Itsuomi - Ein Zeichen der Zuneigung 07 by Morishita Suu �� 25/01/10
F - Frazier, Jean Kyoung - Pizza Girl �� 24/12/10
T - Takaya Natsuki - Fruits Basket Pearls 01 �� 25/03/17
S - Seed, Nora - Die Mitternachtsbibliothek by Matt Haig �� 25/02/17

Cookies
C - Ogawa Chise - Eine Liebesgeschichte voller Traurigkeit und Fehleinschätzungen �� 25/01/14
O - Ogikawa Yuusei - Links by Kizu Natsuki �� 25/01/06
O - Otaku Stories: Aus dem Leben eines Manga- und Anime-Fans by Amit Yarahi �� 25/01/09
K - Keaveney, Izzy - The Coast Road by Alan Murrin �� 25/02/02
I - Irene Adler - 16 DER AUSTAUSCH - OSCAR WILDE by Jonas Maas �� 25/01/13
E - Everdeen, Katniss - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins �� 24/12/21
S - Hinata Shoyo - Haikyu!! �� Band 25 by Furudate Haruichi �� 25/03/19

Advent
A - Abel Hawthorn - 17 DER MAHARADSCHA DER NA - OS by Jonas Maas �� 25/01/14
D - Der Prozess by Franz Kafka �� 24/12/31
V - Die Vegetarierin by Han Kang �� 25/01/18
E - Eric Ly - When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao �� 25/01/06
N - Noah Jones - L.A. Waves by Pengu �� 25/01/02
T - Taira Tsukasa - Devils' Line 02 by Hanada Ryo �� 25/03/30

December Holiday Challenge
Option 1,2, 3, 4
Dec. 1-31



Option 1: Cover hunt! Find and read books with December holiday images on the cover or in the title.


Option 2: Write a letter to Santa using book titles.

Option 3: Spell out holiday terms*

Option 4: Read books based on the below:

Popcorn wreaths:

Read a book that has been made into a movie

Family dinners:

Read a book where there is a gathering of family or friends,

or read a book with characters that you would like to invite to your holiday celebration

Gifts:

Read a book with items on the cover that you would love to receive as a gift

or a book where the main character receives a gift

Carols and singing:

Read a book about musicians

or where a main character can sing well.

Snowman:

Read a book about creating or inventing things

or where a non-person character can talk.

December Holiday Challenge

Goal: Head Elf Designer - 32 books (spell out Christmas-related terms)

�� Christmas - 9/9
(view spoiler)[C: Cornwell, PatriciaBody of Evidence (Kay Scarpetta, #2)
H: Harman, Dianne - Murder in Belize: A Gabriella Hunt Cozy Mystery Series (Gabriella Hunt Cozy Mysteries, #2)
R: Robinson, Barbara - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (The Herdmans, #1)
I: Inoue, Yasushi Inoue - Life of a Counterfeiter by
S: Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir by Linda Ronstadt
T: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
M: Mary Grand - A Christmas Murder
A: Addison Moore - Plum Pudding Peril (Murder in the Mix #50)
S: Stimson, Thomas Stimson - The Jackass (hide spoiler)]

�� Rudolph 7/7
(view spoiler)[R: Revelation (Matthew Shardlake, #4) by C.J. Sansom
U: Unger, Lisa - Angel Fire (Lydia Strong, #1)
D: Dyson, Michael Eric - Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America
O: Oz, #1 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1) by L. Frank Baum
L: Lightseekers (Philip Taiwo, #1) by Femi Kayode
P: Prose, Nita - The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid, #2.5)
H: Harrow, Alix E. - A Spindle Splintered (Fractured Fables, #1) (hide spoiler)]

Car-ls 5/6
C: Clinch, Jon - Finn
A: Alfred Lansing - Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
R: Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag
O:
L: Luiselli, Valeria - Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions by Valeria Luiselli
S: Steve Berry - The Alexandria Link (Cotton Malone, #2)

�� Holly 5/5
(view spoiler)[H: Harry Kemelman - Friday the Rabbi Slept Late (The Rabbi Small Mysteries, #1)
O: Other Brother, The by Carole Towriss
L: Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World by Ella Frances Sanders
L: Lau, Jackie - A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year (Holidays with the Wongs, #3)
Y: Yuri Herrera - Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera (hide spoiler)]

�� Santa 5/5
(view spoiler)[S: Sorell, Traci Sorell - We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
A: Anthony Ray Hinton - The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
N: Noble House (Asian Saga, #5) by James Clavell
T: Ten Lords a Leaping ((The Twelve Days of Christmas, #3)) by Emily E.K. Murdoch
A: Ally Carter - The Blonde Identity (Blonde Identity, #1) (hide spoiler)]