Take It or Leave It Challenge - April 2012 - Page 2

For those new to this challenge: More info and monthly index can be found in post #1 of this thread or this TIOLI FAQS wiki.

Simple directions for posting to the wiki can be found at the bottom of each month's wiki page.


...logo by cyderry

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Here we go, TIOLI fans…your challenge for April…

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Challenge #1: Read a book with a title in which the last letter is in rolling alphabetical order (with the option of skipping one letter)**********************************************
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You may want to reread what I just said.

The challenge for April will be much like the alphabetical challenge we did previously. However, the difference will be that the alphabet will be seen at the end of the title instead of the beginning.

Because there are just some letters that won’t work easily, you may choose the next letter or the letter after that (but you cannot skip more than one letter each time). I’m also making this rule so that we don’t have books added to the list just to be “space fillers’. List books that you really want to read.

For example, if the last book listed was Breeding Ground, you may then choose a book whose title ends either with E or with F.

For this challenge only, do not remove your books at any time. This is to keep the alphabetical order intact. I will remove the books not COMPLETED when I do the monthly stats.

You may use main title or main title with subtitle (not both). You may match a book at any time.

For visual cues, please enter the last letter also in parentheses. It is much easier to eyeball it that way:

Amrita (A) – Banana Yoshimoto - bohemima
The Grandmother’s Club (B) – Alan Cheuse – SqueakyChu
Breeding Ground (D) – Sarah Pinborough – Dejah_Thoris
Coraline (E) – Neil Gaiman – alcottacre

In the above example, it was okay to skip the letter “C” and move on to “D”. Moving on to “E” from “B” would have been invalid.

You may work together in order to get the books you want to read listed, but you must do so in the sequence described above.

Addendum#1: You may not go back and add a book in place of any skipped letters.

Addendum #2: You may replace a book that *you* entered with a different one which ends with the same letter but only if it has not already been matched.

I think by now you get the idea. Go to it!

Have fun!

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Other Fun Stuff (not part of the TIOLI challenge):

1. The April 2012 TIOLI Meter - Optional page on which you may track your TIOLI reading. FYI: This is not meant to be competitive - only fun!
2. I Know I'm a TIOLI Addict When... - Frog Logo is on this page!
3. Morphidae's List of Previous TIOLI Challenges - You may use this reference (Do a control-F scan) to avoid repeating a previous challenge. If your idea is similar to a previous challenge, just make it unique by adding a new "twist" to it. (Updated 04/07/12)

Wiki index:

Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book with a title in which the last letter is in rolling alphabetical order (with the option of skipping one letter) - Msg #1:1.
2. Read a book by an Italian author or one that is set in Italy for Primavera in Italia - Msg 1:6
3. Read a young Adult book first published since 2007 - Msg 1:4
4. Read a book about the Titanic (or a book by or about someone on the Titanic) - Msg 1:11
5. Read a work in which one of the main characters (fiction) or subject(s) (non fiction) can be described with a word ending in –ologist - Msg 1:13
6. Read a non-fiction work (essay, memoir, biography, narrative non-fiction, &c. included) which features humor or is written by someone known for their humor - Msg 1:14

Challenges #7-12
7. Finish a book that you started between January 1, 2012 and March 28, 2012 - Msg 1:26
8. Read a book by a different author that is related to another book you've read for TIOLI - Msg 1:16
9. Read a book with a title that includes only the vowels in the word "April" - Msg 1:27
10. Read a book which features people (or groups of people) from different cultures coming into contact with each other - Msg 1:30
11. Read a first person narrative in which the narrator is the opposite sex from the author - Msg 1:29
12. Read a Sherlock Holmes novel, collection of stories, or another "Sherlockian" work - Msg 1:37

Challenges #13-18
13. Read a book that has been adapted into movies multiple times - Msg 1:60
14. Read a book with any of these words contained in its title or a tag: statehood, state/states, union, Louisiana, Orleans, 1812, 18/18th (no embedded) - Msg 1:65
15. Read a book with a wild mammal (no pets) in the title - Msg 1:66
16. Read a book whose title contains a word from the Tarot's Major Arcana or the book is based on the archetype of the fool's journey - Msg 1:67
17. Read a book about information - Msg 1:68
18. Read a book from the 2012 Orange Longlist of nominated books - Msg 1:69

Challenges #19-22
19. Read a book that has won a literary prize not previously featured on TIOLI (Not: Newberry, Hugo, Orange, Booker, Pulitzer, Nobel, Alex, Lambda Literary Award, Edgar, Nebula, or Agatha) - Msg 1:96
20. Read a book that has been published in an edition with a flower on the cover - Msg 1:104
21. Read a book that you acquired or borrowed between 1 January 2012 and 30 March 2012 and that you need to read in April to meet a deadline eg to review, for reading group, non renewable library book - Msg 1:153
22. Read a book by Muriel Spark (and join stuckinabook at Muriel Spark Reading Week, April 23-26, if you'd like) - (No related Msg)

Hold all new challenges until next month, please.

Just thought I'd post here to be first on a TIOLI challenge thread for once! Nothing much to say, other than that I have read two entertaining and short books which folks might enjoy -- The Stepford Wives for the multiple movies made challenge and Bearded Lady, a Kindle single by Mara Altman for the non-fiction humor challenge, which I can loan out to the first person sending me a PM requesting it.

I have edited my own challenge to allow for matched reads outside the restrictions of the challenge, though I don't expect there to be that many shared reads as many of us, like me, are mostly using it for new and forthcoming books with limited availability, too new for the library or expensive to buy. However, my first book for this challenge is for review for part of a life's work feature - deadline 23 April for review - and Ian Rankin's The Complaints is old enough to be in paperback - don't know what international library availability is lidke, should be quite good here.

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges?

For the fun

2. What have you liked about them?

It's fun to match read and be able to discuss likes/dislikes about the books with others who have read them.

3. What have you disliked about them?

There have been a few challenges that have not been of interest to me, but I can just overlook those.

4. How would you improve them?

As others have said, there are some challenges worth repeating. It's getting harder and harder to come up with creative challenges.

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts?

N/A

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so?

N/A

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Why or why not?

No. It probably adds more to it than it takes away. Lately I've been coming up with lists of possible reads for the months based on my massive TBR pile. I will sometimes move a book I've planned to read later to the current month because it fits a challenge. I've also sometimes grabbed books that are on my wish list or TBR pile to match reads.

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? If so, why?

Yes. Because they are fun.

Thanks to msf59, I found a great book for the only-vowels-in-April challenge (#9): Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton. It's a collection of comics by the Canadian artist (who knew a Canadian could be so funny?!) but she addresses history, literature, etc. in ways you just don't expect. I love her drawing and her humor, and look! FOUR "a"s, and ONLY "a"s!

Karen O.

As a Canadian, I would just like to point to Will Ferguson as an example of funny Canadians. Not to mention Stephen Leacock, Farley Mowat (The Boat Who Wouldn't Float gives me hiccups, I laugh so loudly...)

Just sayin'!!

Finished my Italian Spring read, Niccolo Ammaniti's Me and you. Really liked it.
Looking for a challenge to place Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal which I've also finished but I don't think it fits anywhere this month.

who knew a Canadian could be so funny?!

May I also suggest Bill Richardson (Bachelor Brother's Bed and Breakfast), Stuart McLean (anything from the Vinyl Cafe series), or Terry Fallis' Best Laid Plans?

I finished Rock Bottom for my related books challenge #8. It's pretty melodramatic but kept me reading. I especially liked the character of the very able boy with cerebral palsy. Now I'm listening to Dave Barry in Cyberspace for the humor challenge and finding it just tolerable. He's pretty over the top sarcastic for me to find humorous, but some of the bits fit. Also, he doesn't read his own book. I've always heard that for a comedian timing is everything, so it doesn't make sense that he would rely on someone else to deliver his material. I've always liked him when I've heard him before.

When I said "who knew a Canadian could be so funny?!," I was being very tongue-in-cheek, and I should have been more clear with that--my apologies! I live in Minnesota, only a few hundred miles from the Canadian border, so I feel great empathy with Canadians.

And I know that Canadians can be very funny! But look what happened--I have some great leads to funny Canadian writers to follow up on! Thank you! And merci beaucoup!

Karen O.

> 5

It's getting harder and harder to come up with creative challenges.

Sometimes I have that same feeling.

5, 12> And here I've been surprised two months in a row at fairly straight-forward challenges that hadn't yet been done! I was prepared to twist them up to make them more creative (at least thematically).

Based on the results of the polls we took yesterday, you may now begin to add a star rating to the wiki after you have COMPLETED a book. Add it in parentheses directly after the word "COMPLETED" so it looks like this:

South of Broad - Pat Conroy - SqueakyChu - COMPLETED (4.5)

Remember that this is *optional* and you do not have to add a star rating at all when you've COMPLETED a book.

FYI: The star rating will make pbadeer happy, and the COMPLETED will make me happy :D

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges?
Luci suggested it. I wasn't sure to begin with as I wasn't used to planning my reading a month ahead but it sounded like a good way of tackling my TBR "pile". I became hooked soon after starting!

2. What have you liked about them?
It has made the beginning of each new month feel quite exciting. I love the variety of the challenges and especially like the more unusual ones. I've had great fun looking for embedded homonyms and animals and drinks on particular pages! I think it has led me to read more as I'm more motivated to get books read by a particular time. I also appreciate the flexible nature of the challenges which is indicated by their name - Take It or Leave It.

3. What have you disliked about them?
Nothing yet. I'm not particularly motivated by the points system but don't dislike it!

4. How would you improve them?
They seems great as they are, particularly as Madeline is so quick to act on anything people aren't happy with. I did agree with the point about not excluding people because of the edition of the book they have.

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts?
No, but this is only my fourth month. I could imagine dropping out for a month now and again, if RL commitments took over but I expect I'd be back.

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so?
N/A

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Why or why not?
That was my big fear, but no. I've generally been able to find challenges to fit most of what I wanted to read and then devised my own challenge to cover the others. I do plan my reading further ahead than I used to but this hasn't bothered me. I still only read what I'm in the mood to read unless I have a deadline for another reason, such as being obliged to write a review.

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? If so, why?
Not directly but I have said positive things on my thread!

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges?

I saw it as a great way to tackle the enormous number of books in my TBR

2. What have you liked about them?

People seemed to be enjoying them a lot. I just joined in at the end of March so we will see how it goes.

3. What have you disliked about them?

N/A

4. How would you improve them?

I think there is great variety in the challenges and it is fun to see them pop up at the end of the month.

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts?

N/A

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so?

N/A

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Why or why not?

No. I still feel enough flexibility. That is why the LI part of the challenge. And I really like that there is no shame in saying I am going to read something and then getting to the end of the month and realizing that it just did not happen

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? If so, why?

Not yet; just started.

> 15

I love the variety of the challenges and especially like the more unusual ones. I've had great fun looking for embedded homonyms and animals and drinks on particular pages!

Er, thanks! I was beginning to think that just may be some of my challenges were just too bizarre. I really did that one just for fun (and because of a comment one posted to our threads). I guess that's a good reason to include the many challenges we do. There should be at least a few challenges to appeal to everyone.

The idea behind such "wild and crazy" challenges is not just to be bizarre. It is to get challengers to not plan all of their reading ahead or merely "plug" in a book that was a planned read anyhow, but rather to select a book completely fresh at the start of the month.

I'm not particularly motivated by the points system but don't dislike it!

No need to worry about points. However, do consider sharing some of your reads when doing the challenges. I created the points merely as a way of seeing how engaged challengers are in sharing reads.

I did agree with the point about not excluding people because of the edition of the book they have.

I'm really going to try hard to oversome my being so hard on this, especially in regard to allowing e-reading for my challenges in the future. It's my personal prejudice, and I need to get over this! :)

> 16

I saw it as a great way to tackle the enormous number of books in my TBR

Well, did your plan work?! :)

just started

A warm welcome!

> 18
Well, I only just discovered the TIOLI at the end of March.

BUT, I discovered the '2012 has 12 Months' (the sub-challenge of 12 in 12) at the end of January. I read one book in Jan that fit that theme.

Then I discovered the RTT challenge in February and read one book for the 12/12 and two for the RTT for a total of 3 books.

AND then I read ELEVEN books in March which is unheard of for me.

So, the challenges are making a HUGE difference for me in focusing my reading.

I have always loved to read and find that I am MAKING time to read as opposed to it being the last thing I do in the day!

LOVE IT!!

> 19

I so agree that the many and varied reading challenges here on LT are great fun and inspire reading. What I most like, however, is how those challenges have made the solitary activity of reading into a *social* activity. Go figure! :)

LT ROCKS!

LT ROCKS!

I couldn't agree more!

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges? Well, at the risk of seeming like a kiss-up, because you were hosting them, and you've always seemed like an intelligent and literate person.
2. What have you liked about them? The challenges that involve picking books with particular settings and types of characters; also the challenges involving prizewinners. Loved that Edgar award challenge!
3. What have you disliked about them? The challenges that involve alphabetical order, page numbers, counting vowels, etc. I'm just not a fan of that type of game. What I dislike most, though, is the way some people try to work around rules and make the challenge originator feel obliged to allow a book that doesn't really fit what they had in mind.
4. How would you improve them? Capping the number at 18-20 seems good to me. Also, be stricter about allowing repeat and too-similar challenges. There are two this month that are nearly identical!
5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts? I've dropped out of individual challenges when the originator responded to pressure to loosen up her rules. As far as dropping out of the entire TIOLI routine, I doubt I'd do that unless I left LT altogether (very unlikely). After all -- it's "Take It or Leave It", so if I want to skip a month (and I have), there's no problem.
6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so? n/a
7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? No. Why or why not? As I said in #5, it's "Take It or Leave It", so if I don't want to read a book related to any of the challenges, I don't have to.
8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? No. If so, why? (and if not, why not; I add) I remembered seeing, the first month I joined, that it was considered desirable for TIOLI to evolve naturally and not be "advertised".

> 23

because you were hosting them, and you've always seemed like an intelligent and literate person

LOL!! You make me laugh!

What I dislike most, though, is the way some people try to work around rules and make the challenge originator feel obliged to allow a book that doesn't really fit what they had in mind.

You'll always find that. You'll also find that some challenge hosts are tougher than others. We really have an eclectic group of people here.

Capping the number at 18-20 seems good to me.

Here we're against the consensus. A poll we did indicated that the majority of challengers did not want a cap tot he number of challenges. Perhaps I'll post that poll again in the future at some point.

be stricter about allowing repeat and too-similar challenges.

I was outvoted on that issue as well, although I don't care for too similar challenges myself.

I've dropped out of individual challenges when the originator responded to pressure to loosen up her rules.

That seems like a good protest except for the fact that no one else then knows that's what's happening. Perhaps let's talk about this in a tactful, open way when it happens again. We can disagree, although I know that sometimes it can get uncomfortable. Hey. That's what groups are all about!

the first month I joined, that it was considered desirable for TIOLI to evolve naturally and not be "advertised".

Which is correct! This was a test!! Seriously though, that came about because I was afraid of it growing too big too fast. Now, I think that the amount of people who discover it by themselves without any advertising is just right.

Re making it easier to find challenge descriptions and rules (which I also find frustating, especially when we've moved on to Page 2):

I had an idea last night... not sure how difficult or feasible or helpful... but what if there were an additional wiki page each month labelled (April) Challenge Rules or (April) Challenge Descriptions? Each challenger would be responsible for listing his/her challenge on the page, along with rules, explanations, links, etc. And when someone asks a question, then the challenger can add additional information to the wiki. It would provide a central location when someone (like me) is scouring the challenges to find a place for a book but isn't sure if it will qualify without trying to find the original posting or further comments. And it might be a quick reference in later months when trying to decide if a new challenge is too similar to an earlier one.

I realize this would require Madeline to set up an additional wiki page, but on the other hand, she wouldn't have to keep adding thread references. And some of the general rules, such as "Matched books qualify unless the challenger says otherwise," could be listed at the top every month.

I'm about 200 pages into The Dovekeepers, and I can see why - who was it, Kerry? - said she wasn't sure she liked it. None of the characters is really likeable though the history and the setting is enthralling. Add that to The Enchanted April with its glorious wild Italian gardens and I'm having a wonderful reading vacation. I'd rather actually be at the sites, but I guess I just have to settle for this little taste of them. I had no idea Masada was an actual beautiful palace with marble, mosaics and columns from Greece and Rome.

> 25

additional wiki page

NOoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

Too much clutter and too much work!!! The link for each challenge will be on the index (message #2) starting next month. If I get time, I might add them for this month, but I'm not promising.

Each challenger would be responsible for listing his/her challenge on the page along with rules, explanations, links, etc.

If there is *that* much to explain, the host really does need to start a separate thread!

she wouldn't have to keep adding thread references

Folks! I'll only be adding the link to ONE message or thread per challenge. It will be up to the host of each challenge to edit/update his or her thread/message to further clarify a challenge, if need be.

However, and this is a big HOWEVER...start off your challenge so that everyone can understand it right up front! Your challenge title should be clear (and free from extraneous clutter). All possible permutations of questions should be addressed *before* anyone even thinks of asking them.

I cannot tell you how many times I've added challenges to the wiki and have had absolutely NO IDEA what was being asked for!!

Have pity on other challengers, please :)

And it might be a quick reference in later months when trying to decide if a new challenge is too similar to an earlier one.

The easiest way to do this is to reference Morphidae's list of previous challenges which always remains in message #1 of the main thread. Morphidae put a lot of effort into creating it, and now puts a lot of work into keeping this list updated, so let's make use of it when we can!

We'll take what we can get! Thank you, Madeline!!!

I'm starting to add the message numbers, but be aware that those reference Page #1 of the main thread, and we're now already on Page #2.

Argh!! Adding these message numbers is tedious.

Truthfully, everyone...The good news is that I'm half done! :)

What is helpful to me when scanning the thread for the new challenges is when they are posted in bold - this catches the eye.

> 31

What is helpful to me when scanning the thread for the new challenges is when they are posted in bold - this catches the eye.

That is a very helpful suggestion, Kerri. I think most everyone does that.

Does everyone here know how to BOLD the type? If not, speak up now!

An additional suggestion:
To get the correct number of your challenge onto the main thread, simply post your challenge to the wiki first and *then* come back to the main thread to describe it.

After working on these message links today, I'd prefer not to do this every month to every challenge on the wiki. However, if you are posting a confusing challenge, simply ask me to post the link to your message. I'd be willing to do so. You may ask me on this thread or by private message. Your choice.ETA: If you're wanting to get a good position (Heh!) on the main thread, just post "reserved" and get back to it later! I do that sometimes as protection from all of you!! :D

So... I finished doing the message links as an experiment. My feelings? They were a grand pain to do!

Another suggestion:
The easiest way to find the information about a specific challenge on the main thread is simply to do the "CONTROL-F" search of key words. Please tell me if you have *no idea* about what I'm speaking so I can further explain this.

Moving this thought further down...

My feelings? They were a grand pain to do!

Heh, I could have told you that before you started! I have to admit I was a bit surprised when you said you would be doing this instead of creating one more wiki page and making us do it ourselves.

I really don't want any to do any more wiki pages.

However, if someone, other than myself, wants to be in charge of that, I have no objection. Be my guest!

I really need to make it as easy to set up as I can as it is very time-consuming as it stands now. It's for that reason I don't want even more pages that have to link to each other.

How about if I just add the message number to the end of the challenge (without the link) ? I don't like it because it looks messy. Really! However, I would do that if the majority of you want it.
...as opposed to having no message number reference on the wiki index?

Yikes, I was afraid of that. I agree with your suggestion about posting on the wiki *first* and then being able to input the correct challenge number when posting on the thread; that was what I led with when I first brought up the "better way to find challenge info" idea. So I'm ok with that. Especially nice when it's boldened.

PS: Are you *sure* you wouldn't like us to add "(@post xxx)" onto your clean and pretty wikis?

eta: Gee you're fast.

Sorry, but I don't bold. It's one of the html things that causes both my computers both the Mac and the PC to go into conniptions. I'll have to continue to post my challenges as is. And yes, people have sent me the instructions multiple times. I've had my tech support guy do this, with the same results, so it ain't just me.

(I have to admit I also hate reading and seeing bold text jump out at me, too, but that's a personal issue that I can get over. I don't want to deal with computers in meltdown. A bolding requirement vs option would mean I didn't post challenges -- which is fine, but it's fun coming up with the challenge!)

I think it's usually very clear when someone is posting a new challenge. What can be harder is when you are on the wiki and trying to refer back to the RIGHT challenge. A lot of bold lettering won't change that, IMO; we'll still have to scroll through all the messages looking for the particular challenge vs. going directly to a particular message.

Frankly, if it's too much work, I'd drop the whole idea, though. This isn't supposed to be an alternative career for you...

What about ****** instead of bolding for those that can't?

> 39

Sorry, but I don't bold.

I love working with groups! Heh!

Suz, don't bold. Just add a row of asterisks above and below your challenge in your message. We'll be sure to see it that way. (I've never yet missed it!).

ETA:
Cheli, you beat me to it! How about if everyone did that? The asterisks, I mean.

It'll be easy to spot. It'll also look so pretty! :)
Newbies will catch on to it quickly as well.

Example:

********************************************
Challenge #1: Read a book with a title in which the last letter is in rolling alphabetical order (with the option of skipping one letter)
********************************************
We'll also save Suz's eye! ;)

> 38

PS: Are you *sure* you wouldn't like us to add "(post xxx)" onto your clean and pretty wikis?

*still trying to keep the wiki clean*

:/

That's certainly fair. It IS your wiki, after all! Like the asterisks, too.

By the way, if everyone adds their challenges to the wiki first, the challenges will usually remain in numerical order (or close to it) on the main thread.

Usually all of the challenges are posted on Page 1 of the main thread. This month was different because I asked a discussion question well before the month was under way. I'll remember not to do that next time. :)

ETA1: I did mine (Challenge #1). Anyone else want to join me in asterisking their challenges on this thread? Just to see what it looks lik if many of us do that?

ETA2: Ugh! We have to go back to Page 1 to do that. I forgot!

ETA3: With the asterisked challenge messages, just edit your message to add any further pertinent information later. I think that would work.

I can't keep up. I can't keep up. But, I think I'm supposed to do this?!

********************************************************************************************************************
Challenge 22: Read a book by Muriel Spark and join stuck-in-a-book's blog April 23-29 for Muriel Spark Reading Week if you'd like!
********************************************************************************************************************

I'll just say again that my main problem with TIOLI is losing the main thread mid-month. If you put the first thread on the group wiki and links to the next thread at the end of thread 1 (which you do), I'd be perfectly happy. (If that is being done, I beg your pardon for asking again. I haven't checked in a bit and haven't read this month's thread + either.)

The asterisk idea sounds like a good compromise and should catch the eye just as easily.

> 45

But, I think I'm supposed to do this?!

Yeah, We're going to try that and see if it helps.

If you put the first thread on the group wiki and links to the next thread at the end of thread 1 (which you do), I'd be perfectly happy.

The first thread is always on the group wiki (at the bottom - where it says "Navigation"). All of the threads for the same month are supposed to be there, but sometimes I forget to add pages 2 and 3. In that case, a gentle reminder to me will do.

Now that I'm using the "continuation" thread feature, you shouldn't be losing threads within the same month any more. Remember to star them!

> 46

The asterisk idea sounds like a good compromise and should catch the eye just as easily

The asterisks will also decorate and thereby beautify my threads. It's a win-win situation!! :)

Love the asterisk solution -- brilliant. Tribute to crowd sourcing!!!
(and yup, it will save my eyes...)

> 45

I like LizzieD's double rows of asterisks. They look like a movie marquee. I want to use those!!

*runs to add two more asterisk rows to her challenge*

ETA: Yep! It looks better already! :)

#26: I finished The Dovekeepers late last night for challenge #8, so finally have it off my back. I resented reading it in the end because it was so not the book I wanted it to be. I'm sure it can appeal to other readers but the type of characters and way of telling just did not appeal to me. I'm keen to read something else about Masada so will check what my library has.

I have another ancient Israel read on my radar for this year, The Book of Rachael which is about Jesus's sister.

> 51

Kerri, from what you're saying, I'm thinking I wouldn't like this book either. You know me and what I like to read. Am I right?

45: That looks super, Peggy. Your challenge stands out from the crowd!

47: Madeline, I think Peggy Is suggesting that you list TIOLI on the 75 Book Challenge wiki so she can find it when the posting slows down after the first of the month and it slips from the prime spots at the top of the current feed.

I'd Madeline doesn't want to "advertise" it on the 75 Group wiki, an alternative would be to Bookmark the current thread.

Everyone did an excellent job with giving Madeline feedback. I've been with TIOLI from Day One and want to add my kudos for keeping it interesting and dynamic. I have read many, many books on my shelves that would still be languishing there if not for the variety of challenges each month. Madeline, your "baby" has grown into a meaningful way to interact with other readers on LT. Thank you!

> 45, 53

Nope! I can't do that. The TIOLI is a "hidden" challenge and is never outwardly advertised. Just bookmark the current main thread. When the month changes, I always add a link to the new month's thread.

If you click on the option "Last Message" (top of the page after you click on the talk tab), you should usually be able to find it as this thread stays fairly active.

Alternatively, you could also this thread, then pull up all your starred threads at once.

> 53

*blushes*

You are welcome, Donna!

Madeline - I can't see you enjoying this one. I'm thinking that it will be like The Tiger's Wife - you either love it or hate it, no middle ground.

edit to add: I loved TTW

You can also search for "TIOLI" in the group search box.

I just got The Dovekeepers out from the library, and I think I may start it anyway, though now with the expectation that I won't like it.

> 55

I trust your judgement. Think I'll skip it. I actually have a copyof The Dovekeepers from the library here that I brought for my husband to read, but he never picked it up. I want him to read Unorthodox (which I found fascinating), but he won't pick up that book either. :(

> 56

Keep me posted about The Dovekeepers.

Hey! I didn't see you on top of Masada when I was there (the last time was back in 1980)!! ;)

Or..... on the bottom of each post, you can hit the more button and it will give you an option to favorite a post. You can then list your favorites from the column on the left side where it says 'more options'. I only keep half a dozen favorites--but the month's initial TIOLI is always on my favorites list.

Hehe, I wasn't even born in 1980!

No wonder I didn't see you there! :)

Madeline, I have a question about your challenge. Sorry if this has been discussed already. I didn't find anything scrolling through the threads, and there was nothing appended to your original post. Can books be added in the place of previously skipped letters? And is it allowed for me to replace a book I entered with a different one which ends with the same letter? (It hasn't been matched yet.)

> 62

Can books be added in the place of previously skipped letters?

No.

And is it allowed for me to replace a book I entered with a different one which ends with the same letter? (It hasn't been matched yet.)

Go ahead, since it will not change the "alphabeticity" of the challenge and will result in a better likelihood of you reading your own book.

If you go back to message #1 on top, you'll now see where I have added two addenda clarifying the points about which you just asked. If all of us do such edits and addenda to our original message as questions come up, we'll collect all the information we need about a particular challenge in a spot that's not going to be too difficult to find (and no additional wiki pages nor further work for me will happen - because you'll be doing it all!).

My thought is that, if you can't find the answer to your question about a challenge in its original message, rather than scrolling through 300 messages, just ask so that it can be appended to the original message (by the diligent challenge host). We'll get this to work for us in an easy way yet! We're halfway there.

In the event, though, that you can't find what you're seeking, just ask!

I really don't like the asterisks. It looks sloppy with people using different numbers of asterisks and they wrap in odd places. I MUCH prefer bold.

> 64

I really don't like the asterisks. It looks sloppy with people using different numbers of asterisks and they wrap in odd places. I MUCH prefer bold.

Gah! I give up!!!!!!!!!!

.
.
.***********************************************
Challenge #1: Read a book with a title in which the last letter is in rolling alphabetical order (with the option of skipping one letter)**********************************************

Challenge #1: Read a book with a title in which the last letter is in rolling alphabetical order (with the option of skipping one letter)

...instead of asterisks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Challenge #1: Read a book with a title in which the last letter is in rolling alphabetical order (with the option of skipping one letter)
--------------------------------------------------------------------

> 64

It looks sloppy with people using different numbers of asterisks and they wrap in odd places

.
.
....to prevent asterisk "wrap".

*sigh*

>69 SqueakyChu: I'm happy with whatever. I'm new to TIOLI - just joined in the fun for the first time last month. It's really great to see what everyone is reading or planning to read for the month, and trying to figure out what books I can read off my shelves to join in a shared read. It's also a lot of fun trying to figure out how and where to fit in the books that I am drawn to for the month. Madeline, thanks for taking the time to organize and manage this each month - what a great idea! Morphy - thanks for all your work to organize and update the "challenge archives". Anything works for me - I'm just happy to participate.

I see what Morphi means. In your example (@65) it looks like there wasn't a "carriage return" before the second row of asterisks. I personally prefer the bold, with either the asterisks or dashed lines acceptable, also. It also seems fine to me if several standards are chosen, with each member using what works for them, so long as there is *something* to make the actual challenge posts stand out.

'Are we overdoing this issue?' - I voted 'no'.
Because once its decided, the results will make it easier for everyone to find the necessary information henceforth. I'll be very glad to hear the end of it, but, really, it'll be a nice improvement once the decision is made. And like you said, "We'll get this to work for us in an easy way yet! We're halfway there."

*sigh*

> 72

*sigh*

LOL!!

Undecideds...

Go back and make a choice! Stop being wimpy!! ;)

Ta da!...

Decision here! Voting is over.

In the future, use either bolding or rows of asterisks (above and below) to highlight your challenge on the main page. If you use asterisks, use only half a row of above and below so they don't "wrap" (resulting in a weird half of a double row!).

Remember, the idea of this is to have only one place to address all issues related to your challenge and that place must be easy to find when scrolling.

Sorry if this does not please everyone, but thanks for your input. We'll see how it goes...

Then there's those of us who won't vote at all.... Now THAT's wimpy. (Majkia wimps off....)

I too wondered if Madeline would like The Dovekeepers. Added to the unlikeable characters the extreme misogyny and superstition of Jews of that day could make devout Jews cringe. I don't agree, Kerry, that it's a love it or hate it book. I'm liking it in spite of the above, but then, I'm not a religious person.

Normal TIOLI programming will now resume....

> 77

Well, I had to return the Dovekeepers to the library because it was on hold by someone else. Now the issue is moot since I no longer have it here at home. That's why I mostly like to read books that I already own.

How much are you liking it, Joyce?

> 78

Normal TIOLI programming will now resume....

LOL!!

I'm very much liking the sense of history and the setting of The Dovekeepers. Though the people are, in many ways, unlikeable, it was a harsh time. Sweetness and light are hard to come by when brutality is everywhere. One woman who bothers me is the one who feels guilty for having killed some killers. Over all, I'd say I'm liking it quite a bit, all the time being very thankful that I wasn't there.

I'm hoping to join in the The Dovekeepers read, but waiting for a copy from the library. I may break down and rent a copy if one is available. It sounds intriguing.

Karen O.

I'm a little late to the party, but here it is.

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges? I stumbled across the TIOLI Challenges within a day or two of joining LT. It was the end of a month, so the thread kept popping up! I thought it looked like fun - and I was right

2. What have you liked about them? It's an entertaining way to focus my reading and pick out to read next. Sometimes it's TBR books, other times I come up with something completely new. For example, I was amusing myself looking for book that ended in J when I came across Women of the Raj. It looks like a great book, I doubt I would have found it without your Challenge this month, Madeline. The diversity of the Challenges is always entertaining.

3. What have you disliked about them? I don't dislike anything about the Challenges.

4. How would you improve them? Other folks have noted that sometimes Challenges are very similar. I agree, but it doesn't really bother me, certainly not to the extent that I think it needs addressing.

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts? I dropped out for a few months at the end of last year, but that was when I was off LT entirely - nothing to do with TIOLI.

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so? N/A

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Not at all. The 'leave it' portion helps in that respect.

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? Yes, but rarely.

Also chiming in very late, but:

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges? I don't remember how I stumbled upon the TIOLI challenge, but it was shortly after joining the 75 group and it looked like fun. It was. Now I can't keep away.

2. What have you liked about them? That is hard to say. Sometimes it feels like a book scavenger hunt. I can get a little carried away trying to find at least one book that will fit every challenge (whether I want to read that book or not!). It also is an easy way to pay attention to what other people are reading. Sometimes I just really like a particular challenge. There are many things to like.

3. What have you disliked about them? Nothing.

4. How would you improve them? I wouldn't.

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts? I could see dropping out if I was too busy to read--but even then I might try to fit in a book or two. TIOLI, for now, is probably the last thing I'd drop.

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so? N/A

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Actually, the reverse. By nature I tend to be more of a planner with regard to my reading, and the TIOLI challenges prompt me to read books that weren't necessarily "on my list"--and often push me to lighten up my selections or branch out into different areas. So TIOLI makes me more spontaneous.

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? Only when they ask. Though I do tend to mention TIOLI frequently in my own thread.

> 83

The 'leave it' portion helps in that respect.

Truthfully, I like that as well. I hated "having to" finish a book just because it was part of a challenge. So I figured out how not to "have to!" :)

> 84

Sometimes it feels like a book scavenger hunt.

That's a great analogy! I'm so happy it has that feel.

I know I'm a little late in joining in, but here are my two-cents worth...

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges? I made a comment on my own thread a while back that I didn't know which book to read next, and someone suggested that I give TIOLI a try.

2. What have you liked about them? I have enjoyed randomly choosing books from my TBR pile to fit in with challenges. I also enjoy seeing what others think of the books that I am reading/have read/have in my TBR pile.

3. What have you disliked about them? Wading through a heap of discussion on the threads about administrative issues. I just want to get on with it and read some books.

4. How would you improve them? It seems sometimes that there are too many to choose from!

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts? Too many challenges each month to consider. I don't get a lot of time to devote to reading as it is, let alone devoting so much time to choosing a TIOLI challenge. I am also not a fast reader, so a lot of the time, a month will end without me being able to finish the books that I have signed up to read.

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so? Refer to question 5.

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Why or why not? I used to enjoy fitting books into TIOLI challenges, and, for me, it used to add spontenaeity to my monthly reading, but now it seems like too much hard work.

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? If so, why? No. I don't really get involved in the community too much, so I haven't really had a chance to recommend it.

Question about the Sherlockian Challenge: If I read The Complete Sherlock Holmes, which contains A Study in Scarlet, as well as the other Holmes novels, can I count each of the novels toward the challenge as well as the Complete Holmes?

> 87

Wading through a heap of discussion on the threads about administrative issues. I just want to get on with it and read some books.

LOL!! Well, if poeple would only agree, we could dispense with administrative stuff!

I am also not a fast reader, so a lot of the time, a month will end without me being able to finish the books that I have signed up to read.

I hope you don't find that discouraging. Simply think of that as the "leave it"part of the challenges, and move them to the following month's challenges if they fit (and if you still want to read them).

now it seems like too much hard work.

What part of it do you consider "hard"?

ok. I've skipped down to here because I just couldn't keep up - and whatever stylistic choices the majority select are ok with me. That said, to the meme:

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges? It sounded like a good idea at the time!

2. What have you liked about them? It's fun to see what other people are reading, and sometimes have an answer to the 'puzzle' of a particular challenge

3. What have you disliked about them? The feeling that I 'should' be reading more in the categories - so I really gave up and just put in the books I'm reading that fit. After all, this should be fun.

4. How would you improve them? "It seems sometimes that there are too many to choose from!" - yes indeed

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts? Again, I quote: "Too many challenges each month to consider." I'm not as fast a reader, or have as much time, as some of our stalwarts.

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so? Refer to question 5.

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Why or why not? The way I use them, as a suggestion, but not that much of a push now, doesn't really kill the spontaneity, but I find I can't insist to myself to meet the challenges. Too much like homework, and since I participate in two different f2f book groups as it is, that's enough.

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? If so, why? Sure, sometimes, if they seem the kind of people who like that sort of challenge. But it is 'take it or leave it', isn't it? So all's well.

And all that said, I added Treachery in Death to challenge 21, since I did get it out of the library and have already had to renew it once. A perfect fit!

> 90

I'm not as fast a reader, or have as much time, as some of our stalwarts

I created the TIOli challenges with the purpose of it not being a competition, but rather a way to find off the beaten track books to read as well as share some reads with others. The only "competition" should be the fun contests we have, but since the grand prize of those is only worth a few dollars at most, I wouldn't even call that a competition.

Like the 75 books challenge itself, it's the fun you have while trying to reach the goal rather than any awards at the end. Oh, yeah. Awards! Those are just for fun as well.

I participate in two different f2f book groups as it is, that's enough.

Eeek! That would be more than enough for me! :)

But it is 'take it or leave it', isn't it?

'Tis.

#88 -- Casvelyn -- would this work? You can log each of the books that were published independently -- i.e. The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles as well as any other work published at book-length (i.e. not a stand-alone short story) that doesn't include a story published in one of the collections. Does that make sense? I think that would probably cover about 90% of the stories in the complete Holmes (at least, by looking at the very large and heavy two-volume edition owned by a friend of mine). It would be great if you did want to log them that way, as that might encourage someone else to jump in and read The Hound of the Baskervilles, say. But I'm not sure about adding the complete edition on top of that, simply because I specified a book-length work, not individual short stories. I think what you mean is roll the rest together and consider them as a separate book-length work under that title, but I'd rather keep it to either the whole thing, or break it down into previously-published components. That said, if anyone else wants to weigh in and tell me that's nonsensical, please feel free, and I'll reconsider!

>89 SqueakyChu:

What part of it do you consider "hard"?

Probably the reading through the twenty-something challenges and thinking about which ones interest me, then reading through all of the posts to date (which, by the time I first see the new page for the month, usually means a whole thread) and trying to pick out the rules for said challenges. Then trying to find books that fit into the challenge/s that I want to attempt. As I said before, I don't get a lot of time for reading as it is.

Lately I have been deciding on a book to read at random, and then trying to fit it into a challenge. If it doesn't fit, I don't let it worry me.

Maybe I need to go back to doing it the other way around for a change, and see if I can get back into it.

I had my TIOLI books all chosen for the month when I noticed I couldn't renew a library book as there was another request for it...and wouldn't you know...there's a challenge for that! (Thanks elkiedee)

Question: I know how to bold on the wiki page but can't figure out how to do it on these posts. Can someone please tell me how to do that? thanks
Cathy

using the arrows above the comma and period instead of the braces,
(b) your data (/b) you can also use i for italics and u for underline

check out this thread for detailed instructions http://www.librarything.com/topic/129158

> 93

If all of that reading (of the main thread) is making it hard, then the fun of it might be lost by the time you pick a challenge to try. Perhaps next time, just read the first two messages, choose one challenge from message #2 and skip to the message that describes the challenge in which you're interested. Highlighting (bold/asterisks) of the challenge messages within the main thread should make finding the description of your chosen challenge a bit easier. Some people like all the chit chat; others not. Do what feels right and is enjoyable to you.

> 95

Like this:

<B>Your data</B>

>92 Chatterbox: I don't mind counting them separately instead of listing the Complete Holmes (my copy is one volume and contains every Holmes novel and story written by Conan Doyle). However, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this:

as well as any other work published at book-length (i.e. not a stand-alone short story) that doesn't include a story published in one of the collections.

as there are only four Holmes novels (originally published in serial form) plus 50-odd short stories (some published serially, some not).

#99 -- some of the short stories have since been gathered together into e-books and published under different titles, including stories that are included in one of the anthologies, i.e. The Return of Sherlock Holmes. For instance, "The Speckled Band" is one of the stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes but it's also incorporated in at least two e-books together with other stories, some of which I don't think have been published in the stand-alone books. I just want to avoid double-counting here, and as the books are out of copyright protection, there are all kinds of customized versions of the stories out there beyond the "standard" anthologies that have been around for decades. Does that help? :-)

ETA: Just checked out the Wikipedia page, and here are the Conan-Doyle titles that will work for the challenge:

A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of the Four
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Valley of Fear

Five volumes of short stories:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
His Last Bow
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

So casvelyn or anyone else undertaking to read the Complete Works will have 9 books listed on the wiki, if they choose that option, or 1 if they want to list the complete works as a single book.

I've been reading while all this discussion about TIOLI has been going on. Lol. I'm easy to please, so whatever is decided will be okay with me.

I've committed to nine books on the wiki to allow others to join in with me if they wish. I usually don't add a book until after I read it, so we'll see how this new (for me) tactic works out.

I have completed three books so far:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret for Ch. 19,
The Screwtape Letters - Ch. 7, and
The Maltese Falcon - Ch. 13.

Other books I plan to read:

Iron and Silk for Challenge No. 1,
The Enchanted April - Ch. 2,
Infinite Jest - Ch. 7,
Gillespie and I - Ch. 18, and
Woe to Live On - Ch. 21
The Great Divorce - Ch. 21

>100 Chatterbox: I think so. If I understand correctly, I can list any Holmes "item" that has been published as a book/in a book, as long as I don't list anything twice. So if "The Speckled Band" had been published in Holmes Collection A and Holmes Collection B, I can list only Holmes Collection A, because otherwise I'd be listing the same story twice?

So if I list the four novels separately, and I work out which collections contain which stories, can I list the collections even though I'm actually reading the Complete Holmes, as long as I don't have any story contained in two of the collections I list?

I think I might be overthinking this a little...

casvelyn, probably -- see above.... Just amended my earlier answer and hopefully that will do it.

>103 Chatterbox: Thanks! I'm so counting this as nine books!

Well, I am really late to the discussion but I just want to say that the TIOLI challenges are the highlight of the month for me. I love the anticipation when we all start stalking Madeline while waiting for the new challenges to appear. I enjoy making up challenges, I love reading through the wiki and then searching my shelves for books that fit. I like how varied and different the challenges can be, usually there is something for everyone. Some challenges are whimsical and fun, others have directed me to new authors or genres widening my own reading experiences. The "Leave It" part of the challenges are pure genius, no guilt, no hassle. I have met a lot of people through the TIOLI challenges and made many new friends. A tip of the hat to you, Madeline, for coming up with such a unique way of bringing readers together.

Thanks, DeltaQueen50!

Judy expressed my feelings exactly in #105. We can quibble over details all day long, but at the end of the day, there is always the option to Leave It!

We now have a shared read for Bearded Lady - I was too tired to sleep but not awake enough for Shandy last night, so I pulled it up and read it.

It was funny in bits, and other bits not so funny even though they were meant to be humorous - I think sometimes Altman was a little bit too crude for me. But it was definitely a topic that I could identify with, as can most Western women, probably. The memoir is kind of a fluff piece, so you don't really get any deep sociological or anthropological studies about the fashion (or shame) for body hair on women, nor does she go into a lot of detail about the history of what is fashionable and when. I think that as a memoir about her experiences with body hair, it doesn't need to have those details or studies, but I kind of want to read them now!

Altman doesn't necessarily embrace the hairless ideal of current fashion, but she doesn't exactly reject it, either. What she does do is give voice to the frustration and dissatisfaction with the whole ordeal, the desire to just quit bothering and the reluctance to stop.

I didn't know about Kindle ebook sharing until Suz mentioned it, but I'll be happy to lend my copy to anyone who'd like to read it, however that works. :)

I finished The Enchanted April which is just glorious. I may have to re read it every April. I don't know what Von Arnim does better - describe scenery or characters. I wonder if her other books are as good.
I should finish The Dovekeepers tonight or tomorrow. You know, I enjoy her magic in other books, but this mixture of religion, magic, misogyny and brutality is pretty cringe inducing; but I can't stop reading it because of the history. I feel that I'm learning so much about the area and the time. I'm very glad I've read it.
I've just started an audiobook of Stephen King's 11/22/63. It's 30 CD's long, so I didn't think I'd finish it this month, but with the aid of my little portable CD player I cleaned out a closet and did some fine cooking, getting all the way to disc 5. I do hope the story is more about time traveling than serial killing. I have no interest in reading about murder.
On Nook I'm reading Dog Boy, I'll have to figure out what challenge I placed it in. It's a very believable story about a boy who is abandoned by his family and taken in by a small pack of wild dogs. The way she writes, the whole situation seems very believable.

106: I listened to the audio of 11/22/63 on audio too and really enjoyed it. It does take a long time though... The story does turn into more time travel, but murder is a pretty big theme of the book.

1. Why did you join the TIOLI challenges?
It looked like fun and sometimes it is easier to have something to hold on to by choosing books to read

2. What have you liked about them?
Looking what books can be fit into the challenges

3. What have you disliked about them?
It is not always easy to fit in books that are not available in English. I read all my books in Dutch, so I only list books others have listed before me.

4. How would you improve them?

5. If you've thought of dropping out of them, what precipated those thoughts?

6. If you've already dropped out (and are still here lurking - I see you!), what caused you to do so?
It is a bit more work with following the threads and updating the Wiki. There are times I don't have the energy to do so. Then I drop out for a while and only keep up with the treads of some fellow 75ers. When energy levels are good enough, I will come back. (Maybe even this month, not sue yet).

7. Do you feel that the TIOLI challenges take the spontaneity out of your reading? Why or why not?
No

8. Have you recommended the TIOLI challenges to others? If so, why?
By mentioning TIOLI on my own thread if I read a book for a TIOLI challenge.

> 111

Then I drop out for a while and only keep up with the treads of some fellow 75ers. When energy levels are good enough, I will come back

...which is precisely another way of making the "leave it" portion of TIOLI work for you!

I just finished The Dovekeepers. In spite of my discomfort, I think I'm going to have to put myself in the "love it" camp. She does seem to have done her research, and I thought the ending was excellent. However, I can certainly see why some people wouldn't like it.

Next up for my related book challenge is Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen. That seems to be about as far from The Dovekeepers as a book could get. I hoping for Hiaasen's usual humorous light reading. Mbellerose, thanks for the warning about the extent of murder in 11/22/63. What else did I expect from Stephen King? I will continue, though and hope that time travel makes up for it.

> 14

I have to admit, though I was at first opposed to the idea, that the (optional!) star rating after COMPLETED on the wiki is kind of fun. It sure makes those higher-rated books a lot more tempting to consider as shared reads.

Good for battling me and getting us to move forward with your idea, Patrick! :)

A woman who can change her mind with her whole heart. Madeline, once again you're my role model.

It took me only 1/2 page to realize that I've already read Sick Puppy, so I'll start The Golem by Elie Wiesel instead as the other half of The Dovekeepers in my shared books challenge. I'm pretty sure this will not be a pleasant change of pace. I had no idea there were so many books written about the golem.

A woman who can change her mind with her whole heart.

...or just plain old wishy-washy? ;)

You are definitely not wishy-washy Madeline!

LOL!!

I second Brenpike's assessment.

I finished Golem, and it was the perfect accompaniment to The Dovekeepers, full of magic, the power of words, destiny, the Shekinah, and even a lion made an appearance. The beautiful illustrations by Mark Podwal would probably be even more appreciated by someone who read Hebrew.

Next up is Soldier Dogs about dogs in war.

I've finished 3 YA novels for challenge #3 - Cinder, Blood Red Road were both highly enjoyable and the first books in two new series. Finder's Shore was the last in the Sea-wreck stranger trilogy by New Zealand writer, Anna MacKenzie and another great read.
I also finished listening to Kafka on the Shore which I had listed in challenge #7.
Up next is Eye of the wolf by Daniel Pennac for the other awards challenge.

>>114 SqueakyChu: - Well, I don't think I really "battled" you (I only mentioned it in one post), but I do like the results. I've looked into some books that I would have likely otherwise ignored. Thanks for giving it a try.

I'll be curious to see what the page looks like at the end of the month and whether people like/don't like it at that point.

I think that my challenge may be a double edged sword...I'm getting my Young Adult reading caught up but I'm hearing of a bunch more books...

I think I made a big mistake...let's see - where can I put more bookshelves?

> 121

I'll be curious to see what the page looks like at the end of the month and whether people like/don't like it at that point.

I'm thinking about half of all challengers will give your suggestion a try.

I think it's going to be extra fun to see how the numbers might disagree among the shared reads! :)

Do we get extra points if our book actually has the words...Take it or Leave it spoken by one of the characters? :-)

Hey, morphidae? For challenge 15 (mammal in the title), can I include The Lady and the Unicorn, with the mythical mammal in the title?

Karen O.

>125 klobrien2: No, no mythical mammals. I'll add that to my original post.

An open invitation:

This has (almost) nothing to do with TIOLI, but I'd like to invite whoever will be in or around Maryland on April 22 to attend the International Day of the Book Street Festival in Kensington, Maryland, USA, from 11am to 4pm. Admission (and street parking) are free.

Yours truly (SqueakyChu!) will be working in the Bookcrossing booth where we hope to give away hundreds of free, gently used books. Come and choose any that you'd like to take home. No strings, although we hope you'll find it in your heart to journal any book you decide to take home.

Since the festival takes place in Old Town, there are also many small antique shops to visit in the same area. Do stop by for a fun afternoon!

I'll be wearing my name tag (SqueakyChu) so say hi if you spot me!

Madeline,

Will it be on Howard Street? I need an address to stick in my GPS or all my free time on Sunday will be spent trying to find it. I only have 2 hours but I'll try and come if you send me an address!

3786 Howard Avenue is the address of the Kensington Row BookShop. That should work. My booth will probably be set up right near that shop.

I have a question for Dee about her Challenge #20: Spring Blossom. Do very stylized flowers count?

130: I would think so - as long as it's obviously intended to represent a flower!

I'm really enjoying the star ratings so far. I had somehow not paid too much attention to The Song of Achilles despite the fact that it's being read by lots of people, but seeing a 4.7 rating led me immediately to the work page, and the book has ended up on my wishlist.

On another note, after finishing Fire for the YA challenge I had been struggling to decide between a 4 and a 4.5 rating, and at some point it occurred to me that on the TIOLI page the rating didn't have any restrictions, and I could give it 4.25 stars, and that made me happy.

I could give it 4.25 stars

That's true! We challengers are now able to give nuanced ratings on the wiki (if we want). What fun! What freedom!!

I started to add my ratings but gave up in disgust when I realised ALL the books I've read so far this month got a rating of 3.5* - talk about middle of the road! I need to have more boldness in my rating choices...

Today is National Drop Everything and Read Day. How are you celebrating?

I'm reading the comments my reviewers made on my seminar paper. Then I'm reading my HTML manual so I can get my web design project to work properly. I guess there's more reading and less dropping everything for me. :)

There might be some Sherlock Holmes later, though.

134> I've only finished one book this month, but it's 2.5 on my scale - I think that's often a 3.5 or 4 on most other peoples' scales, but I start from a 3 and go up or down. So I refrained from including the rating to not discourage others - my review is probably a better indicator of whether the piece is worthwhile!

I might include the rating in the future if I think it's a better indicator for other people of whether or not the book is worth their time.

>132 _Zoe_: Zoe--I'm glad that 4.7 helped you! Song of Achilles might have even merited 5 stars but I'm pretty stingy with those.

Morphy, regarding challenge 15, do you consider a mouse a wild mammal? I know some people consider them pests (oops) pets, but I personally do not.

>134 wandering_star: If you really did think the books were only average, don't feel bad. I have a tendency to not care for books that "everybody" raves about, and I used to feel bad about it, like I wasn't appreciating these books because clearly I had a different experience than everyone else. Eventually I decided that not everyone has to like everything, and that's okay. I did create a simple rubric for my ratings, though, just to try to be more consistent.

casvelyn - I guess I need to drop everything and read. Any excuse will do!

>137 AnneDC: Well, some wild animals COULD be pets, but SHOULDN'T be pets. Heh. A mouse is fine for my challenge.

I'm celebrating drop everything and read by dropping everything and working. Hey, force majeure...

I finished and REVIEWED Edith Pearlman's lovely short fiction collection Binocular Vision. That was for challenge to Read a Book That Won a Literary Prize. Now I'm reading Voyagers of the Titanic by R. P. T. Davenport for the Titantic challenge.

I dropped everything today and finished 2 books, Soldier Dogs for my related books challenge and the devastatingly powerful Dog Boy for the literary award challenge - it won some Australian award though it's set in the Moscow slums. All I can say is, wow! Read it if you can take it, 5 stars from me. Next up on Nook is American Chick in Saudi Arabia which looks good in synopsis, though I'm not so sure about a women who calls herself a "chick", and in paper, The Sealed Letter which was longlisted for this year's Orange Prize.

I'm enjoying these COMPLETED ratings so much, I've thought of another feature to request of Tim et al.

Ha! I doubt if it will ever see the light of day, though.

I'd better drop everything when I get home (including WWF) and read some more. Not enough reading time at work, of course, although HTML would qualify.

Copied from the wiki...

Anathem - Neal Stephenson - streamsong - COMPLETED (4.25)

LOL!! We're now officially up to two decimal places, I see.

Well, you know--I actually started that book in February, so everyone has seen it on 3 TIOLI challenges. It really deserves a brass band, so an extra decimal place ain't so bad.

:)

I've finished an historical YA novel Dark Warning which is set in 19C Dublin.. Illustrator turned children's writer, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick is writing some interesting material. TIOLI April vowels challenge.

I've also finished Anthony McCarten's Death of a superhero which is a great novel for adults that has possible crossover appeal to teens. It was published in Germany and Austria as a YA novel and shortlisted for a German literature prize and won Austria's Youth Literature Prize and has recently been made into a movie. The story follows both a teen boy with terminal cancer and his psychologist - one with no life left to live and the other not living his life. Added to #19: Read a book that has won a literary prize not previously featured on TIOLI.

Well, the month is about halfway done, and so far 26 of 63 books listed on the Spring Cleaning challenge are marked "Completed". I wonder how successful we'll be and how many books will just quietly slink off the list in the next couple of weeks.... I know I personally have made hardly any progress on God's Philosophers. Sigh.

Same here, Zoë. I still think I'll read God's Philosophers this month, as I'm off from work for most of the rest of April.

Here they are, folks...

...the TIOLI stats for March, 2012:

For the month of March, there were 23 challenges in which a record number of 700 books were COMPLETED! Of these, 165 (or 24%) were shared reads. There were 87 TIOLI points accumulated which gives us a record YTD total of 249 TIOLI points. It's only 2% higher than at the same time last year, but it's an upward trend, nonetheless. Maybe because this was a leap year? :)

The most popular book of the month was The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck, a book that was a shared read by 10 challengers.

The most popular challenge of the month was the one presented by cyderry and ivyd (our first shared challenge!) to read a book with a title word that is a heterograph/homonym. There were a total of 122 books read for that challenge.

The most TIOLI points for one challenge was also cyderry and ivyd's challenge to read a book with a title word that is a heterograph/homonym. That challenge amassed a total of 16 TIOLI points.

Ever onward and soon to come...the awards for March 2010...

4.2, 4.25, 4.3, 4.4...*

I love it!! LOL!

*From the wiki, if you haven't already guessed.

I finished and REVIEWED Richard Davenport-Hines new book Voyagers of the Titanic for the Titanic Challenge.

I've moved on to The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller for the Read a first-person narrative in which the narrator is the opposite sex from the author challenge.

After about a month hiatus from TIOLI, I'm finally back!! I have missed the challenges so much and am glad to be back! There are really great ones on here this month and I can't wait to find books which fit into them.

Argh. I've given up on Enchanted April. One more list of flowers in the gardens and I was going to scream. Sorry.

> 155

Welcome back! :)

Though I read The Grandmothers' Club for my own challenge, it would be a super choice for the challenge to read a first-person narrative in which the narrator is the opposite sex from the author*. I'm not sure why the few other reviews of it that I read here on LT and elsewhere were so lackluster, I found it very absorbing and highly recommend it. My review of it has been posted.

P.S. *Of course, you can always match my read of it on Challenge #1. I guess that would make more sense. :)

For challenge number 10, would science fiction work? For instance, I read A Princess of Mars where a man from Earth meets various races on Mars.

The Pulitzer winners have been announced. Of course, the book-related ones are of interest but, even more exciting, my favorite columnist (and FB friend) won the Pulitzer for commentary. Yay!!

So many of her columns touch me personally. This is very well deserved.

"For distinguished commentary, using any available journalistic tool.

Awarded to Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune for her wide range of down-to-earth columns that reflect the character and capture the culture of her famed city."

Morphidae - yes, that would work.

Congrats to your friend, Linda.
majkia, your comments on The Enchanted April are so funny. It still amazes me that people can like or dislike a book for exactly the same reason

#162: So True! :)

Fun time!

Here are the TIOLI awards for the month of March, 2012:

The Heart of My Heart Award goes to Chatterbox for her challenge to read a book that was in JanetinLondon's library or planned 2012 reading list. I think this was a lovely tribute to the memory of Janet Katz, a fellow LibraryThing member and friend to many TIOLI challengers.

The Two is Better Than One Award goes to ivyd and cyderry for creating the first shared TIOLI challenge to read a book with a title word that is a heterograph/homonym. It’s nice to be able to share other things besides books alone.

The Grammar Appreciation Award goes to countrylife for discovering fifteen (!) words fitting the challenge to read a book with a title word that is a heterograph/homonym. It probably helped that the book had the long title of Why do Men Have Nipples: Hundreds of Questions You’d Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini.

The They Took the Long Way Home Award is shared by antqueen, Violetbramble, and Carmenere for choosing books with 16-word titles in the challenge to read a book with 2,4,8, or 16 words in the title.

The Missing Piece Award goes to CitizenJoyce because of a question of mine. For her challenge to read a book in which there are big, unintended consequences, I never got to learn what those consequences were in most of the books read by various challengers. Do I have to read all of those books now to find out?! :)

The Wasn’t It Easy Award goes to Soupdragon for her challenge to read a book set in the 14th century. This award is a direct result of *all* of the books in that challenge ending up as shared reads. Of course, there were only four books in total read for that challenge!

Congrats to all of our March award winners!

It's not too early to start thinking up some suggestions for “Quick Reads Day”, arriving here on April 21st (Saturday).

Here's one for you , Madeline... Tuesdays with Morrie for Challenge #19 it was the winner of the ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound and only 157 pages.

Let's see. For the big unintended consequences award I read 3 books:
Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future: unregulated financial speculation lead to economic collapse and may do so again
Friendly Fallout 1953: above ground atomic testing in Nevada lead to the spread of radiation across the nation leading to the loss of livestock and increased human cancers
Venus Envy: a closeted gay woman thinks she's dying so writes letters to everyone she knows telling them exactly what she thinks of them, then she has to live with the results.

As for the rest of the books, yup, I guess you'll have to read them.

The Coldest March: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition: the deaths of Scott and four others on their return from the South Pole.

> 166

As for the rest of the books, yup, I guess you'll have to read them.

:)

heaven knows if I'll remember to check back on quick reads day, so I'll lob out my suggestions early, and trust that the wrath of Madeline will not smite me...

I've read one Kindle Single so far, Bearded Lady by Mara Altman for challenge #6, and will soon be reading Gutenberg the Geek for challenge #1. Both are fast reads, being closer to a long essay or novella length.

The Sherlock Holmes books that folks are reading for #12 tend to be very short -- perhaps 120 or 130 pages or so. The Stepford Wives, for challenge #13, is another very fast read -- perhaps 150 or 160 pages? At any rate, just a few hours of reading. I read A Lion Called Christian for challenge #15, also on the short side -- perhaps 150 pages? Although I read it on Kindle, there also were photos that didn't count toward the "page count" so I'm not sure how many it would be in a "real" book. But it was a quick read.

Wow, that's exponentially more than I am usually able to suggest!!

> 169

trust that the wrath of Madeline will not smite me...

You have not been smitten! :)

>169 Chatterbox: Some of the Sherlock Holmes books are as short as 70 pages, at least in the edition I have.

Agreed- Sherlock Holmes reads very quickly.

I finished The Sealed Letter which was not my favorite Emma Donoghue book, but it did lead me to read Lady Audley's Secret by M. E. Braddon who wrote "Sensation" literature during the Victorian era. So far it seems main stream Victorian, but I imagine strange things are going to happen.

I don't know if The Song Of Achilles counts as a quick read - I read it as an ebook so have no idea how thick it is in real life. But I enjoyed it so much I read it in just over a day. So I'd nominate that!

>174 wandering_star: I thought Song of Achilles was a quick read, too, but I just looked it up and it's apparently 384 pages! (I also read it on my Kindle and flew through it.)

I finished the 1988 Booker Prize winner Oscar and Lucinda for challenge #7: a book you started earlier this year. Not recommended as a quick read but beautifully written and a well plotted novel. It was a long term tbr resident on my shelves so I'm very happy to have finally succeeded.

I finished and REVIEWED Madeline Miller's retelling of part of The Iliad, The Song of Achilles. That was for the challenge to read a book where the narrator is the opposite sex as the author.

Now I'm reading The Leopard by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa for Darryl's challenge to read a book by an Italian author.

Fab review, Bonnie; a hearty thumbs up. And yes, Song of Achilles is a fab book and feels like a much faster read than it may be. I just whipped right through it at the speed of light.

Would The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe work for the Titanic challenge? I just started it, but it seems to be a 1915 plotline that involves the deaths of the heroine's mother and sister on the Titanic.

lindapanzo - For your Titanic challenge, would you consider The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan? It's a novel about the sinking of a luxury liner 2 years after the Titantic. The passengers compare their situations to the Titantic several times. I wouldn't say the the Titantic is a substantial part of the book, but it's more than a passing reference. (I am assuming "no", but it doesn't hurt to ask!)

In what seems to me an amazingly short time I finished the 30 CDs of 11/22/63. This was the first book by Stephen King I've read, and I do think he's a little more verbose than necessary, but it was interesting with lots of stuff about Oswald and a really good ending. Next up on audio I'm finally getting to The Sisters Brothers and will put it in my related authors challenge with another book along the lines of Doc.

I just added an X The God Box to Challenge #1 in case anyone was waiting for a Y or Z chance. Hope I get to it.

Quick Reads Day!

Let's hear your suggestions for COMPLETED books, ripe for sharing, that are short and interesting enough for another challenger to finish before this month's end...

I'll suggest Death of a superhero by Anthony McCarten, I found this to be a quite dynamic read which I added to the Other Awards challenge (NB: it is an adult novel but was also published as YA in Germany and Austria where it won the award). Also the short novel Me and You by Niccolo Ammeniti which I read for the Italian Spring challenge.

Message 165 - Tuesdays with Morrie - less than 200 pages

Gentlemen of the Road and The Final Solution by Michael Chabon are both short, very different, and equally good reads. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer isn't particularly short, but it reads quickly and it's lots of fun. If it were a movie, it would be classified as "romantic comedy".

>185 cbl_tn: OH! I'm so glad you mentioned Gentlemen of the Road. I just started reading it a couple of days ago and have been so far out of the TIOLI loop I didn't realize it was on the wiki. It is a fast read so far, though I'm having to look up quite a few words in the dictionary...

Edited to add... The Screwtape Letters was a reread for me that I was able to "spring clean" for Zoe's challenge, and it's a short, quick read as well.

#179 I'm usually pretty broad/wide open when it comes to my challenges. Yours sounds ok to me.

Quick reads - Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka which I read for the 1st challenge. It was short and very quick to read. Really interesting writing style to document the Japanese brides who came to America, and ended up in internment camps.

Also, I've read three Muriel Spark books, (Symposium, The Driver's Seat, and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) and they are all pretty short - under 150 pages, and read pretty quick. They are also very interesting. I keep being surprised by the foreshadowing sentence that sends the books to sinister areas. I guess I should stop being surprised.

My suggestions are up there in message #169.

I'd recommend the two books I read for my challenge 13: Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Haunting of Hill House. They're both fairly quick reads, and I enjoyed them.

I know this wasn't the question, but David Copperfield is not a quickie read! ;-)

Ellen -too funny!! I'm still making my way through it too - where are you at?

187 Linda - Thanks!

Mamie, I'm about half-way through. David is newly head over heels in love with Dora. I will finish it, but I keep getting distracted by other things. How far into it have you gotten?

Me too - with the distractions and the progress. I read this before many years ago, and I am sad to say that I am just as disappointed in Dora as I was all those years ago! I wanted somebody really great for him although maybe what he wanted most was to be needed. I am loving David and several of the other characters, but am exhausted by all of his trials. I feel as if I need a vacation.

I was going to recommend Lady Audley's Secret by M. E. Braddon as a quick read at 122 pages. In fact it was turning into a 4 to 4.5 book for me, then it ended whup, just like that. I don't know if I got a bad download and didn't get all of the book or if she really meant to leave the story long before anything was resolved. It's a great premise for a Victorian mystery, but, if I have the whole book, she pretty much blew the ending. I've ordered a hard back copy from the library. I so hope there's a better finish.
I also finished The Translation of the Bones which was longlisted for the Orange Prize this year. I could have lead a long and happy life without this dismal thing. Next up is The Song of Achilles. I hope it's as good as everyone says.

I totaly agree with Gentlemen of the Road being added as a quick read. It's also a lot of fun! I would also add The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck, very short but, nevertheless, a complete story with well defined characters and plot.

Deleted.

There is a difference between short books and quick reads. There are 100 page books that I think I'll read in at most two days, if I am busy, but take three weeks. There is a 300+ Stephen King book I read in one night (something like 10pm to 3 am). My most recent long book, page count missing from my mind but probably 300-400+, I got so caught up in it I read it in a day & night.

On the other hand, I don't remember the last book I read. I'm adrift on a sea of rolling pages, lost and quite bored with King's 30,000 page Under the Dome.

I do not really have a point.

I do not really have a point.

Actually Mike, it sounds more like a cry for help!

I'm about to read Loitering with Intent for challenge 22, which I think is going to be a very quick read. It's also the favorite of a lot of people whose taste I respect.
(Mike, I have to say that when I am lucky enough to have a point, I grind away at it so mercilessly that it's soon blunt. So I'm mostly content not to have one.)

>199 MikeBriggs: I see your point, Mike, and I completely agree with you. I'll bet that all of us have read shorter books (say, 200 pages or less) that took a long time to read, either because they were painful slogs or because they demanded close attention and reflection, whereas other, much longer books (400 pages or longer) took far less time to read, because they were cracking good reads that we couldn't put down, or because they were relatively mindless and easy to zip through.

The two "quick reads" that I was thinking of recommending were The Song of Achilles (378 pages) for challenge #11, which I read in a single sitting, and Gillespie and I (504 pages) for challenge #18, as I read the last 420+ pages in less than half a day, and could easily have finished it in one sitting.

I've been a horrible reading funk lately, probably my worst one ever. However, this morning, I actually finished a book. Yay!!

My ER book on the Titanic, Voyagers of the Titanic by Richard Davenport-Hines. I like the idea of including a star rating but I'm still undecided on this one. Probably somewhere in the 3.0 to 3.5 range. Okay, but not that great.

Linda, sorry about the horrible reading funk... Did you have a chance to ponder whether The House of Velvet and Glass would fit the Titanic challenge? It opens on the Titanic and the plot seems to involve a woman grappling with the deaths of her mother and sister on the ship.

#204 Those sound fine to me, Suz.

> 203

Probably somewhere in the 3.0 to 3.5 range.

Give it a 3.25! :)

I think I'll do that Madeline. However, for official LT purposes, quarter points aren't possible.

For a quick read, if you don't mind a fair amount of gore, I'll jump on the bandwagon for The Sisters Brothers. It's about 300 easy pages. You pretty much can't stop yourself once you start reading, or in my case listening. Going now to search for a challenge that would include Caleb's Crossing. Now that it's full on dog park weather, I think I'll be getting quite a few audiobooks in.

Chess Story is also a quick read and very good. I have it entered under Challenge #1.

I've finished The Trumpeter of Krakow for challenge #1, it's an historical children's novel that won the 1929 Newbery Medal and could be considered a quick read. Not sure what to focus on next, maybe will give Gillespie and I a shot as so many have raved about it.

>>208 Citizenjoyce: Citizenjoyce. I listened to the audiobook of Caleb's Crossing last year. How about challenge #10. Read a book which features people (or groups of people) from different cultures coming into contact with each other

>196 Citizenjoyce:- you definitely did not get all of Lady Audley's Secret. It's at least a 300-page book (I'm thinking more like 400), and it definitely resolves everything at the end. I found it to be quite a juicy mystery.

Streamsong, thanks for the suggestion. That's just where I put it.

Lahochstetler, I gave in and downloaded the paid version. It looks like the free version did cut out about half of the book. I'm so glad to find the rest; I'm liking it very much.

I finished The Song of Achilles which sure looks like it's going to be the Orange Prize winner this year, but I've read only 3 on the long list. I can't wait to read more by Madeline Miller and just hope that her next book doesn't take 10 years to write.
I've started The Kitchen Man by Ira Wood, Marge Piercy's husband about an aspiring writer who supports himself by being a waiter in an upscale restaurant. It's very witty so far and kind of what I need to try my tears over Patroclus. Does anyone know how to pronounce that name? Is the accent on the 2nd syllable as in Penelope?

Woo Hoo! I finished Infinite Jest for Challenge #7. I started it in January!!!

I finished and REVIEWED Elizabeth Taylor's novel A Wreath of Roses. That was for the challenge to read a book with a flower on the cover.

Congratulations Donna!

Donna, CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congrats on the Jest!

> 215

Well, Donna, it's about time! ;)

I refuse!
I'm not starting page three for this month since the April is about to end. I hope all of you have some sparkling new challenges to delight us for the month of May. If not, now's the time to think of one.

Housekeeping reminders:
1. Sort through the April wiki and remove all books you don't expect to finish by the end of the month except for those in challenge #1. I'll remove those myself later on.
2. For May, remember to post your new challenge to the wiki before you announce it on the main thread. That keeps its number correct.
3. Highlight your challenge's name in the main thread by either bolding it or enclosing it between rows of asterisks. That helps it stand out.
4. If you want me to link to your message (with rules), let me know on the main thread or by private message. No need to request this for spearate threads which I always link.

For fun:A Possibility:

I have a (small) prize if someone wants to present a TIOLI challenge for May that is a contest. I think this would work best if only one such challenge were presented. Therefore, if you already see a contest challenge posted, please refrain from posting a second one in the same month.

Suggestions?

Offer them! I'd like to hear what you have to say.

What to do next...
Keep your eyes peeled for May's TIOLI challenge to be posted...sometime in the near future! :)

Tease!

LOL!

I finished, really finished this time, Lady Audley's Secret and have to say to anyone who liked The Woman in White, you'll love it. M. E. Braddon is every bit as good as Wilkie Collins, and I like her treatment of women much better. For mystery May I just may have to read another one of her sensation novels.

I listened to Lady Audley last month and really liked it too.
I've finished The Tiny Wife which is sort of fable like and added it to the flower on cover challenge. I finished Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, a great historical WW2 novel for teens about women pilots. Also read A brief history of Montmaray which I added to the Other Prizes challenge.

I have four days in which to complete David Copperfield. No gardening for me this weekend!

> 225

...and I was so sure that maybe we were going to have a challenge for May which asked us to read a book with a mineral in the title...

...or even one with a gardening term in the title. ;)

If it's sunny this weekend, garden!! Just read on your breaks.

(Can you tell I love gardening as much as I love reading?)

:)

Between my visit to my Mom's and the reading of David Copperfield, I certainly read less this month than usual. I have to remove some of my planned reads from the Wiki, hopefully they will fit in again soon.

And I have four days to finish Jane Eyre. I'm only 33% done on my Kindle, but I can do this. Yes, I can! Ack! what I'm I doing posting..............................

>225 EBT1002: Ellen, for what it's worth I will definitely be reading David Copperfield in May seeing as how I'm on chapter 6. So if you decide to garden you can join me

Me too.

226: Is this a clue?

Since I almost never post challenges (my Edgar challenge being the exception), y'all better not be looking to me to save you from David Copperfield delay syndrome!! But I'm liking the gardening theme......

> 231

Is this a clue?

Sorry. No clue! :)

Come on Ellen - we're looking to you!

So, is the 27th too early to be keeping an eye out for May?

>234 Crazymamie:, Well, Mamie, since you put it that way!......

So, is the 27th too early to be keeping an eye out for May?

Hmmmm? I'm not sure! :)

I think the ratings served their purpose for me this month. After so many high scores for The Song of Achilles I have added it to my wishlist. Without that show of support, it's likely I would have passed it over

> 237

Yeah. The ratings grew on me! :)

For Challenge 10 (different cultures coming into contact), I've added Charles de Lint's Jack the Gaintkiller, where humans and Faeries meet in parallel Ottawas.

I finished the last book I am going to get read for April. I ended up having to remove a couple from the wiki, but I have already fit one of those into May, and I have the option to fit the other one into May's Challenge 14 if I get the time.

I started Gillespie and I on Saturday, but doubt I'll finish it today. Now it's just the fun of picking a book for May!

Just finished The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier and it was great! Definitely re-readable.

I had first thought to put it in challenge 15 (wild-animal-in-title), but mythical animals weren't allowed. I could definitely have put it in one of the meant-to-read-this-a-long-time-ago challenges, since I have had it out from the library forever (don't tell: I would renew it as many times as I could, then return it and check it out again).

BUT, the best place for it is challenge 10 (people from different cultures coming into contact with each other). One of the lead characters is an artist from Paris who spends time in Brussels in the late 15th century CE. Definite culture clash.

I think that's my last TIOLI for this month. Now I have to get my ducks in a row for May!

Karen O.

#243 I really enjoyed that one too, Karen. It helped that I have always loved the tapestry which is its focus, and also have a jigsaw puzzle depicting the tapestry, so I'd spent a lot of time looking hard at some of the details of the picture. It was great fun to have a story that imagined how it might have come into being.

The Lady and the Unicorn is one of Chevalier's best. I really enjoyed it when I read it too.

This was my best month of TIOLI books. I finished 15, and while I thought I was being ambitious, I ended up finishing all but one of the books I put on the wiki at the beginning of April. The book I didn't finish never came in for me at the library.

> 254

The book I didn't finish never came in for me at the library.

That's the best excuse I've heard! (...and it's true!) :)

oh, I'll have to bump that up my list, too -- I've had it there for a while but was medieavel-ed out. (if that isn't a phrase, it should be...)

yup, I had some library holds that never materialized. Mind you, given my mountain of unread books, that can't really be considered a major problem.

I did it!

I read all nine of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books. Now I think I need to go watch the entire run of Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett... seriously some of my favorite stories ever.

Oh, Brett is wonderful, in my mind the quintessential Holmes.

I agree, Jeremy Brett was the best Holmes!

I finished my last TIOLI read (The Forgotten Waltz) for the month, with a little more than an hour to spare.

Well, had a good day and a bad day today. I took my car in for repairs and found out that the first part of the job will be $1000. On the up side, I finished Caleb's Crossing, which is very much not on the up side, but it was an accomplishment.

Do you recommend it, Anne? It's sitting on my TBR list...

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish Jane Eyre in April. With just 23% to read on my Kindle I think I will transfer it to May and find a username which includes "jane" for challenge #4.

I originally had War Horse listed under TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a young Adult book first published since 2007. I just recently discovered that although the version I was reading was published in 2007, the original publication date was 1982 so I have removed it from the wiki :-(.

However, I loved the book and will add a review in the next couple of days.

I have been more-or-less avoiding LT & the 75 Books threads for two weeks because I had three books going and just couldn't handle all the reading (and didn't want to take reading time away for typing!), but success:

I managed to finish The Wordy Shipmates just in time for April :) Still plugging away on Tristram Shandy (I really need to get to my tutor thread, feeling so guilty about leaving Liz hanging on that one), and also the book I was giving away for World Book Night, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - but I'm very decently along with both of those, so it works out.

I did read two more short stories in April that I'm wondering if they'd fit into any challenges retroactively: Undead Philosophy 101 (a fun story with vampires but not in a way I expected) and Some Girlfriends Can, which felt like a fantasy "chick lit" romance, but ended up being something a bit different.

Finished The Birth of Venus early yesterday. What a pleasant surprise! A great historical novel, full of information and atmosphere re: Florence at the time of Savonarola.

bohemina, Birth of Venus sounds like my cup o'tea. Thanks for the recommendation.

Karen O.

Is it too late to add Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief to challenge one, as a title ending with 'F'? I finished it on Monday night - and I notice that there aren't too many titles that do end in 'F'.

Edited to say: oops.

This post was intended for the May TIOLI thread.

More caffeine, I need more caffeine....

> 259

It's too late only because you may not "slip in" an "F" book into challenge #1 for April. The next letter up was either an "M" or an "N".

Ah, well...

Just wanted to chime in and say that I finished The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie today and wanted to say so even if it wasn't in time to complete the challenge.

I started this book in April for the TIOLI challenge #22: ‘One Spark Lights the Month: Read a book by Muriel Spark’ but did not finish it until May 2012 when it, coincidentally fit the TIOLI Challenge #4: Username challenge: Read a book derived from a 75er's username (souloftherose)

This is a portrait of six young women coming of age and falling under the influence of a idolized teacher. And a portrait of the teacher Miss Jean Brodie who unduly and perhaps dangerously influences 'her girls'.

Full review is at:

http://www.librarything.com/work/26164/reviews/85097420