Take It or Leave It Challenge - March 2026

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.


...logo by cyderry

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Your challenge for March, 2026, is to ...

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Read a book with a title of at least four words which incorporates a four-letter combination drawn from either the title, subtitle or author's name of the previously listed book in your book's title, subtitle, or author's name.
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You might have to read this several times! I miss those days when I used to make my challenges truly complicated and hard to understand. LOL!!

Rules
1. You may not take a four-letter combination from across words, just from within words.
2. Your book title must have at least four words (can be title plus subtitle), with at least one word having four letters.
3. Please include a subtitle in your listing if your book has one. Adding a subtitled book helps the next person picking a book!
4. Note that this challenge will NOT be in alphabetical order as it will draw information (the four-letter combination) from the previously listed book.
5. Please BOLD your four letter combination when you list your book.
6. The four-letter combination you choose may show up in your book's title, subtitle, or author's name.
7. I'm looking for you to carry forward a four-letter combination of letters, not (necessarily) a word
8. I'll be checking to be sure you do this right! :D

My challenge will Look something like this:

1. My Russian Grandmother and her American Vacuum Cleaner - Meir Shalev
2. Far from my MOTHer's Home - Barbara Mujica
3. Confederate General FROM Big Sur - Richard Brautigan
4. The Little Free Library Book - Margaret AldRICH
5. The BOOK of Intimate Grammar - David Grossman
6. Leaving Deep Water: The Lives of Asian American Women at the CROSSroads of Two Cultures - Claire S. Chow

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Other Stuff (not part of the TIOLI challenge):
1. @FAMeulstee's Our TIOLI Sweeps - maintained by @alcottacre
2. Morphidae's List of Previous TIOLI Challenges (2010-2016) - A reference (Do a control-F scan) to avoid repeating previous challenges. If your idea is similar to a previous challenge, make it unique by adding a new "twist" to it. (Exception: Any challenge previously entered by FAMeulstee)
3. Shared Read Suggestions - (Optional) Plan shared reads by listing books you intend to read
4. The March 2026 TIOLI Meter - (Optional) Track your TIOLI reading. Not competitive--- just fun!

Index of Challenges:

Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book with a title of at least four words which incorporates a four-letter combination drawn from either the title, subtitle or author's name of the previously listed book in your book's title, subtitle, or author's name - msg #1
2. Read a book with something in the title referencing spring or new life - msg #3
3. Read a book with a title word that contains a consecutive same vowel - msg #4
4. Read a book whose subtitle contains at least 7 words - msg #6
5. Read a book where Author’s Last name could be used as a first name - msg #10
6. Read a book by an author featured in the 2016 American Authors challenge - msg #14

Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book published in a Year of the Horse - msg #17
8. Read a book that contains two major themes not including romance - msg #19
9. Read a children’s book of at least 50 pages that was first published in a different language than yours - msg #22
10. Read a book with a title word that indicates the keeping of records - msg #26
11. Read a book whose title has "and" or "&" exactly in the middle - msg #33
12. Read a book that has been turned into a film - msg #37

Challenges #13-18
13. Read a book for Purim, eat a HAMANTASCHEN - msg #44
14. Read a book whose title includes "max", or by an author or with a character that has Max as part of their first or last name - msg #45
15. Read a book with an occupation in the title, but no familial relationship in the title - msg #59
16. Read a book containing “March” in the title, author, or publication date - msg #66
17. Read a book with a word that could be found on a keyboard in the title, author's name, or first page - msg #72
18. Read a book that starts in the night (first line) - msg #94

Challenge #19
19. Read a book from the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist, or a book by one of the nominated authors - msg #111

Please hold your challenge until the April 2026 TIOLI challenge thread is posted. Thank you!

Challenge #2: Read a book with something in the title referencing spring or new life

Here in Japan I'm starting to see the occasional tree laden with plum blossom and it's such a way to lift the heart and know that winter is coming towards its end. So I thought it would be good to read about spring (or things coming to life)!

Challenge #3: Read a book with a word that contains a consecutive same vowel

I do hope this is clear. So a book with the word "book" in it would be fine. But something like Farm Fresh and Fatal would not as the two A's in Fatal are separated by the letter T. Also, as clearly stated, the two consecutive vowels must be within a single word. So a word that ends with an A that is followed by a word that starts with an A would not count.

>4 lindapanzo: Your challenge takes as many re-readings as mine does to understand! Love it!! :D

Challenge #4: The "Subtitles Rule" Challenge: Read a book whose subtitle contains at least 7 words

Nonfiction or fiction does not matter. Why 7 words? Because it is my favorite number!

>5 SqueakyChu: I hope the examples of what doesn't count help.

>6 alcottacre: Stasia, I'm glad that your challenge requires a subtitle of at least 7 words, The first 5 titles I found with subtitles have at least 8 words in the subtitle.

>7 lindapanzo: It does. I had to have a list of seven rules to explain my challenge. LOL!

>7 lindapanzo: Woot!

>4 lindapanzo: Linda, could the consecutive vowels be an a and e or an i and e or do they have to be the same letter like "o,o" or "e,e"?

>11 DeltaQueen50: has to be the same vowel. I thought I’d included a mention of a same vowel but I didn’t so I’ve added that.

Funny but I thought of it when I spotted the Chicago book with a UU in the title. Then I’m not even putting that book in my own challenge.

>12 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda. I often devise a challenge to fit a certain book only to find that it fits elsewhere.

Challenge #6: Read a book by an author featured in the 2016 American Authors challenge

Anne Tyler
Richard Russo
Jane Smiley
Ivan Doig
Annie Proulx
John Steinbeck
Joyce Carol Oates
John Irving
Michael Chabon
Annie Dillard
Don Delillo
Poetry by an American author

>14 cbl_tn: I think I have read 1 of Anne Tyler's books so I am not going to pass up the opportunity to read another one by her :)

>15 alcottacre: I just put The Accidental Tourist in the wiki - one of her older ones.

Edit: not to worry, I see you have A Patchwork Planet.

Challenge #7: Read a book published in a Year of the Horse

The Years of the Horse include:
2026 Fire, 2014 Wood, 2002 Water, 1990 Metal, 1978 Earth, 1966 Fire, 1954 Wood, 1942 Water, 1930 Metal, 1918 Earth

You could even try to find a book related to the element for that year.

>16 JayneCM: Yeah, that was the one of Tyler's books that I could lay hands on at the moment.

Challenge #8: Read a book that contains two major themes, not including romance, name them.
I'm not sure themes is the right word, I'm not talking about plot points but the basic direction of the book. I'll be reading Extreme Medical Services: Medical Care On The Fringes Of Humanity by Jamie Davis which combines fantasy and medicine.
Your book can be a romance, but that can't count as one of the themes, since it seems all novels these days have romance.
Some themes might be science fiction, military, science, environment, animals, mystery, psychology, mental health, sociology, politics, missing persons, artificial intelligence...

My planned reads for the month:
Challenge #1: Read a book with a title of at least four words which incorporates a four-letter combination drawn from either the title, subtitle or author's name of the previously listed book in your book's title, subtitle, or author's name - started by SqueakyChu
✔Keeper of Lost Children: A Novel - Sadeqa Johnson (4)
Challenge #2: Read a book with something in the title referencing spring or new life - started by wandering_star
Daisy Miller - Henry James
***✔Orwell's Roses - Rebecca Solnit (5)
Challenge #3: Read a book with a word that contains a consecutive same vowel - started by lindapanzo
The Briar Book of the Dead - A. G. Slatter Abandoned
✔The Last Bookshop in Prague by Helen Parusel (3)
Outside The Room - Blake Pierce
The Wandering Queen: A Novel of Dido - Claire Heywood
Challenge #4: The "Subtitles Rule" Challenge: Read a book whose subtitle contains at least 7 words - started by AlcottAcre
✔The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory - Elizabeth Chamblee Burch
Challenge #5: Read a book where Author’s Last name could be used as a first name - started by DeltaQueen
✔Legendborn - Tracy Deonn (4) (5)
Challenge #6: Read a book by an author featured in the 2016 American Authors challenge - started by cbl_tn
***✔Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant - Anne Tyler (4)
Challenge #7: Read a book published in a Year of the Horse - started by JayneCM
✔Half City - Katie Golden (3.5)
***✔This Book Made Me Think of You - Libby Page (4)
Challenge #8: Read a book that contains two major themes not including romance, name them - started by Citizenjoyce
✔Extreme Medical Services: Medical Care On The Fringes Of Humanity - Jamie Davis (4)
✔The Fair Fight: A Novel - Anna Freeman (5)
✔Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel - Bonnie Garmus (4.5)
✔The Paramedics Angel - Jamie Davis (2.5)
✔Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore - Emily Krempholtz (3.5)
Challenge #9: Read a children’s book of at least 50 pages that was first published in a different language than yours - started by dallenbaugh
✔The Wind Rises- Timothée de Fombelle (4)
Challenge #10: Read a book with a title word that indicates the keeping of records - PaulCranswick
***Lost Children Archive - Valeria Luiselli ABANDONED
✔The World Record Book of Racist Stories by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar (4.5)
Challenge #11: Read a book whose title has "and" or "&" exactly in the middle - susanna.fraser
✔The Chosen and the Beautiful - Nghi Vo (4)
***✔Blessings and Disasters - Alexis Okeowo (5)
Challenge #12: Read a book that has been turned into a film - started by Kristelh
✔***All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque (5)
Challenge #13: Read a book for Purim, eat a HAMANTASCHEN - started by avatiakh
✔Free Man of Color - Barbara Hambly (4)
The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures - Lawrence Anthony
The Society: A Novel - Karen Winn
Challenge #14: Read a book whose title includes "max", or by an author or with a character that has Max as part of their first or last name - started by Chatterbox
✔Would You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree? - Anne Maxwell (2.5)
Challenge #15: Read a book with an occupation in the title, but no familial relationship in the title - started by laytonwoman3rd
✔The Country Nurse Remembers: True Stories of a Troubled Childhood, War, and Becoming a Nurse - Mary J. MacLeod (4)
Challenge #16: Read a book containing “March” in the title, author, or publication date - started by LoisB
✔The March: A Novel - E.L. Doctorow (3.5)
Challenge #17: Read a book with a word that could be found on a keyboard in the title, author's name, or first page - started by Morphidae
✔The Midnight Taxi - Yosha Gunasekera (4)
✔Return to the Sky: The Surprising Story of How One Woman and Seven Eaglets Helped Restore the Bald Eagle - Tina Morris (5)
Challenge #18: Read a book that starts in the night (first line) - started by paulstalder
✔The Moon of the Monarch Butterflies - Jean Craighead George (5)
Challenge #19: Read a book from the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist, or a book by one of the nominated authors - started by raidergirl3
***✔The Correspondent -Virginia Evans (4)

>20 Citizenjoyce: Hmmm, I might swap from The Accidental Tourist to Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant for a shared read as I have both of them.

Challenge #9: Read a children’s book of at least 50 pages that was first published in a different language than yours

If you are not sure if it is a book for children then also look in the tag section for the words “children” or “juvenile” for the book.

Here are some ideas of books that have won awards in the past, but your chosen book doesn't have to have won awards. I don't know of their page length.
https://www.marshcharitabletrust.org/award/marsh-award-for-childrens-literature-...

>19 Citizenjoyce: My book did not seem to fit neatly into such broad categories. It is about a Jewish girl born during the Holocaust period whose parents gave her to Christian people to raise until WWII was over. I put in as 'themes' Nazism, Holocaust, and the struggle between Christianity and Judaism. I hope that works! If not, let me know please, Joyce.

>23 alcottacre: Combining Nazism and religion works perfectly.

>24 Citizenjoyce: Thanks, Joyce!

Challenge #10 : Books with a title word about keeping records

Easy one this month.

Title word should be a synonym of "archive" (or archive itself) either as a verb or as a noun.

No embedded words please this month.

examples would be
file, log, record, annals, catalogue, register, chronicle, document, rolls, index, papers.

>1 SqueakyChu: I see you're reading People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara Horn for my challenge #8. I won't post my review of the book now that I know how you feel about that, but it's a great read. I hope others will join you.

>27 Citizenjoyce: I have put a library hold on this book and will add it to the challenge if it arrives in time. In the wake of Bondi here in Australia, it seems like a book we all should read.

>27 Citizenjoyce: >28 JayneCM: I'll read your review very happily when I finish the book, Joyce! It is such an interesting book (although I hate its title...but there's a reason for that title). I'd love for others (like you, Jayne!) to join me for this thought-provoking nonfiction read.

>27 Citizenjoyce: >28 JayneCM: >29 SqueakyChu: I second Joyce's endorsement of People Love Dead Jews. I read it just last year.

>29 SqueakyChu: I like the title. I found it so shocking that it made me read the book.

>21 JayneCM: I've read (and seen the movie of) The Accidental Tourist, that's why I picked Dinner At the Homesick Restaurant. I do love Anne Tyler. I'm glad I got a little nudge to read her again. I also got a little nudge to read French Braid, so if you prefer that one, I'd share it.

Challenge #11: Read a book whose title has "and" or "&" exactly in the middle

"Exactly in the middle" means with the same number of words on either side of the and/&.

These are allowable:

Time and Tide
The Knight and the Moth
The Once and Future Queen
The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean

These are not:

The Bone and Sinew of the Land
Sorcery and Small Magics
Song of Blood and Stone
The Prince of Pleasure and His Regency

Disregard any subtitles.

Let me know if I need to clarify anything.

>32 Citizenjoyce: I did The Accidental Tourist in high school English so have not read it for many a year. I will read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant as I own it and am trying to read from my shelves wherever possible. I do need to read more Anne Tyler though.

>34 JayneCM: Sounds good. I hope I love her as much as I used to.

>35 Citizenjoyce: Exactly what I was thinking as I remember loving The Accidental Tourist.

Challenge #12: Read a book that has been turned into a film.

This shouldn’t be too hard. You could challenge yourself to read a book that is or has been an Oscar nominated film.

Here’s a wiki link to Oscar nominated films; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Adapted_Screenplay

If using the Oscar category. Signify why it was nominated; acting, directing, etc.

>37 Kristelh: - Does the film adaptation have to have been nominated in the Best Adapted Screenplay category? Or could it, for example, have an acting or directing nomination?

>38 katiekrug: I think all apply.

>38 katiekrug: yes, I think that is acceptable. I added it above.

>26 PaulCranswick: Would the word "letters" work for your challenge, Paul?

>41 SqueakyChu: A little borderline but I'll allow it, Madeline.

>42 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Although I didn't need another book, I just happened to spot Letters From Japan, a new book by Marie Kondo in my public library where I was swapping puzzles on their new free jigsaw puzzle swap shelf. I can't help but peek at the new nonfiction books...and always seem to find something I want to read!

Challenge #13: Read a book for Purim, eat a HAMANTASCHEN

Read a book where the first letter of the title and/or the author's first or last name begins with a letter from HAMANTASCHEN

The Jewish festival of Purim starts on Monday 02 March in the evening and runs till the end of the next day. It's to celebrate the bravery of Queen Esther and is a happy day in Israel. Eating hamantaschen or oznei Haman is one of the pleasures of the day. I'm about to make a batch of these cookies. https://toriavey.com/buttery-hamantaschen/

CHALLENGE #14: Read a book with "Max" in the title, subtitle, author's name or the name of a main character

I'm STILL trying to get Max-the-rescue kitten "home" from Mexico where I saved him from kids tormenting him when he was only four weeks old in December. The second attempt to get him back just collapsed thanks to the violence in Mexico and I'm back to square one. So I'm hoping this will bring good vibes!

I've come up with all kinds of nicknames for Max -- Mini Max (because he weighed only 395 grams when I scooped him off the sidewalk), Mad Max (because when he had grown to a weight of a whopping 1.25 pounds, he managed to damage a chair at his foster family's home), and now Max-a-Million, because he is turning into the world's most expensive black kitten.

So, read a book that has some kind of Max connection. Could be in the title (embedded is obviously fine, including in the subtitle), the author's first or last name, or the first or last name of the subject of the book or a main character. So if you want to read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, go right ahead, the hero's name is Maxim de Winter. Read about the history of maxi skirts, or maximum sports or whatever.

I'm hoping to read John Irving's Queen Esther in March...it could fit at least 3 of the challenges already posted, so I'm not sure where I'll put it.

>44 avatiakh: We're doing this with the kids, grandchildren and in-laws this Sunday, Kerry. We do it every year. This picture of our grandson Eli making hamantaschen is from 8 years ago, but I think it's a cute picture. :D



Poppy seed is our favorite filling! What's yours?

.44, >47 SqueakyChu: I loved hamantaschen before I knew they had any significance except as delicious cookies. Apricot is my favorite.

>48 Citizenjoyce: I got the fillings we’re going to use today: poppy seed, strawberry…and apricot! 😃

>49 SqueakyChu: I bought a bunch of poppy seeds on sale and didn't know what to do with them. Though I prefer apricot anything, I might try the poppy seed if I can find a gluten-free recipe.

>47 SqueakyChu: Cute picture. I'm getting ready to make them too. A family favourite, we're especially fond of the poppy seed filling as well.

I realize that this is not the safest place to visit for me whilst fasting! Hani made them for one year when we had Jewish neighbours and used Nutella as one of her fillings. They were splendid.

>44 avatiakh: Can I just eat the hamantaschen? Apricot is no. 1; prune is good too. Despite the title, I don't think Queen Esther would really be a read for Purim. I could be wrong.

>50 Citizenjoyce: Joyce, just substitute gluten-free flour 1:1 for wheat flour. I do this all the time for my friend who can’t eat gluten.

I don’t use poppy seeds alone. My kosher grocery store combines them with other ingredients to make a cookie filling. Find a recipe for that. I have no idea what they put into it!

>52 PaulCranswick: I never make Hamantaschen with chocolate filling (despite a request), Paul, because that is simply not a traditional filling.

By the way, for a sandwich spread (instead of Nutella) try Hashahar Chocolate Spread (parve) from Israel. I have been addicted to that for over 50 years! My favorite way to eat it is with freshly ground peanuts, either on sweet biscuit, bread, or, better yet, from a large spoon! 😃

>45 Chatterbox: Suzanne, for the sake of clarity, could you add the challenge number to your challenge, please?

>46 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, for your challenge, do you consider 'king' to be an occupation?

>I found a recipe for the poppy seed filling. It's certainly more difficult than just opening a jar of apricot jam, but I have all these poppy seeds, so, if I'm not too lazy, I'll give it a try.

>56 Citizenjoyce: Even the apricot I use for the hamantaschen, Joyce, is not simply jam. It's actually apricot cookie filling. There is a canned version of these fillings under the Solo label: https://solofoods.com/products/cake-pastry-fillings. I used to buy these in any grocery store, but now my local kosher grocery store makes Hamantaschen fillings every year in time for Purim use.

>53 laytonwoman3rd: Lol. I had to write my challenge in some way to introduce Hamantaschen. Hard enough to get the spelling right. We are used to calling them oznei Haman (אוזני המן‎) which is the Hebrew name for the cookie and translates as Haman's ears!
There's a few recipes out there for the poppyseed filling, so worth looking around as some are more simple than others. Make the filling and pastry a day before you need to bake them.

>52 PaulCranswick: Sorry Paul, for bringing up delicious cookies at this time though you could always take the option to read a book.

>55 alcottacre: I anticipated this question, Stasia. I'm going to say "no". More below.

I added my challenge to the wiki this morning, which took longer than I anticipated (because I didn't do it right), so I ran out of time and had to leave the house for an appointment and errands. SO, here it is now:

CHALLENGE #15 Read a book with an occupation in the title, but no familial relationship in the title. The Bookseller of Kabul qualifies; The Clockmaker's Daughter doesn't. I will also accept occupations that are not actual jobs, like knitting, reading, (things that occupy you!) However, no elected office, no royal titles, and no shenanigans (like joy-riding, cow-tipping, etc.). There may be a fine line....if you wonder, ask. I probably won't know until I see it.

>59 laytonwoman3rd: Well, rats. I only put 2 books into your challenge and that kicks one of them out. Thanks goodness for the other one because, you know, I do not have enough books to read. . .

>59 laytonwoman3rd: Can I count occupations included in a book’s subtitle? I’ve got a new release that includes 6 or 7 occupations in the subtitle.

>44 avatiakh: - Can we omit "The," "A, and "An" as the first words of the title? I've entered The Names on the wiki under N but can delete it if need be.

>59 laytonwoman3rd: >61 lindapanzo:. That’s a great question, Linda. I already added a book with the occupation in the subtitle….

>62 katiekrug: That's fine. Doesn't need to be the first word in title.

>61 lindapanzo: I think yes. >63 Dejah_Thoris: Yours is fine, for sure.

Challenge #16: Read a book containing “March” in the title, author, or publication date - started by LoisB

>66 LoisB: Lois, please remember to add your challenge to the wiki. It is not "official" until it is listed there.

If you need help or have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We are here to help!

>66 LoisB: True. I will only add challenges listed on the wiki to our index in post #2 of this thread, although you can explain your challenge in detail here on this thread itself. The reason for this is so that I can get an accurate challenge number which I won't have to keep changing! :D

>67 alcottacre: sorry, I thought I had to wait until it appeared above. I will add it now.

>65 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda.

I’ve added this humorous memoir from noted liberal Jesuit priest, James Martin. All of the other occupations listed in the subtitle, except priest, were jobs he was totally unsuited for.

If you count “corporate tool,” there are 8 occupations listed.

>69 LoisB: No worries, Lois. I was just trying to avoid confusion.

Challenge #17: Read a book with a word that could be found on a keyboard in the title (including subtitle), author's name, or first page

I'm going to intrepret the word loosely for this challenge and embedded words are allowed.

For instance, most keyboards have "ESC" not "Escape" but I'll allow either. (Even though technically it would be allowed anyway because embedded words are allowed, but you get the jist. I can't come up with a better example today. My brain isn't braining.)

Examples^:
Shift, Space, Bar, Enter, Delete, Insert, Tab, Return, Home, End, Up, Down, Page (as in Page Up/Down), Print, Screen, Pause, Break, Function, Option, System, Request, Caps, Scroll, Lock, "Num"/Number, "Esc"/Escape, "Alt"/Alternate, "Cntl"/Control, "Cmd"/Command or Menu/Hamburger

^ You are not limited to these but I ask that you check with me before using something different. Letters, numbers, and punctuation or the names for them (like ampersand for &) are not allowed.

>59 laytonwoman3rd: Just going to ask if you'd consider 'gambler' as an occupation as there are professionals. I have JP Pomare's latest The Gambler in transit to my library for pickup.

>71 alcottacre: no problem. I’m the one that is confused!

>74 LoisB: Welcome to the club! It is normally just me.

>75 alcottacre: erm.....me too!

>76 PaulCranswick: Yep, a club!

>73 avatiakh: Yup. It's James Holzhauer's occupation, and that's good enough for me.

>72 Morphidae: Morphy, can the word be in the subtitle?

>78 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks. I've listed too many books for March but will definitely be reading this one.

>79 alcottacre: Yes! I'll add that to my post.

>81 Morphidae: Thanks, Morphy.

hello, everyone I am new my friend suggested this website to me
do we talk here or on another thread?

>83 Isla.nd: Welcome! I am not the one to answer your questions. I will leave that to those who know what they are doing.

I seem to have messed up the wiki for challenge #12. I have no idea how. I copied the entry by kristelh for Myra Breckenridge and pasted it below the entry by JayneCM and somehow messed up her entry. When I looked at it to correct it, I couldn’t see what was wrong.

Please help.

>84 LoisB: There was a space in the URL that was easy to miss (between "library" and "thing"). It should be all set now!

>83 Isla.nd: Hi Isla,

You have gotten onto the thread for the TIOLI Challenges on the 75 Books in 2026 group.

You are more than welcome to join our challenge, but I think the thread you're looking for is here: Introductions.

>84 LoisB: >85 bell7: Thanks for fixing that up. There are a few of us reading Myra Breckinridge now!

Just a note to everybody: If anything goes wrong with the wiki, tell us right away. It's all easy to fix...and even easier the sooner we know. Thanks!

>26 PaulCranswick: Would the word "Manifesto" meet your challenge?

>59 laytonwoman3rd: Would "wizard" count towards your challenge?

>85 bell7: thanks for fixing it!

>59 laytonwoman3rd: What about "traveler" for your challenge? If the person's work in the 18th century was really about scientific exploration? :-)

>92 Chatterbox: I think I'm OK with that.

Challenge #18: Read a book that starts in the night (first line)

Okay, read a story/book that starts off in the night, according to the firsts line of the book. That means, there it must be clearly recognizable that the story now starts in the night or during the night. Words like 'night', 'after sunset', 'at midnight', 'at the 3rd hour', 'before morning breaks' or similar formulations, must indicate the time of night. All dark?

Not a description of a feeling or picture
Not a compound word that has nothing to do with the time it happens, like 'nightgown', 'nightstand', 'nightmare' -- well, unless it happens at night
Not a name, book title or a song mentioned in the first line (it's a nice start listening to Kool 'Ladies Night', but that does not qualify)

I read
Die Dinge beim Namen : Roman by Rebekka Salm
first line: Als der Vollenweider am Donnerstagabend die Eingangstür des Feuerwehrmagazins in die sternenlose Nacht drückte, war er in Gedanken zwei Stockwerke weiter oben im Proberaum des Musikvereins. (... he opens the door and steps into the dark night ...).

Please list the first line on the books page (Erste Worte, 'first line' I guess) and in the wiki.

- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Agatha Christie (Mrs. Ferrars died on the night of 16th-17th September - a Thursday.)
- Tanz unter Sternen Titus Müller (Mondlicht spiegelte sich in den Pfützen am überschwemmten Tunnel der Untergrundbahn. = moonlight was reflected ...)
- Kishon's beste Familiengeschichten Ephraim Kishon (Gegen Morgen setzte sich meine Frau, bekanntlich die beste Ehefrau von allen, im Bett auf, starrte eine Weile in die Luft, packte mich an der Schulter und sagte: "Es geht los. Hol ein Taxi." = Toward the morning, my wife sat up in bed ...)
- Glauben. Lieben. Ernten. : Mein Leben für die Unterreichten Indiens Brother Augustine Jebakumar (Eine laute, aber sanfte Stimme durchschnitt die stille Nacht. = ... quiet night)
- Oliver der Weihnachtskater Sheila Norton (Zu Beginn der schlimmsten Nacht während meiner gesamten neun Leben gab es Fischreste für mich zu essen. = ... the worst night ...)
- Der Taubenzüchter von Bagdad Eli Amir (In jener Nacht wehte ein heisser Wüstenwind.)
- Das letzte Lachen D. H. Lawrence (Eine dünne Schneeschicht überzog die Erde, und von der Kirchturmuhr hatte es gerade Mitternacht geschlagen. = ...the clock struck midnicht)
- The Silent Cry Kenzaburō Ōe (Awakening in the predawn darkness, I grope among the anguished remnants of dreams that linger in my consciousness, in search of some ardent sense of expectation.)

>94 paulstalder:, Paul, will you accept dusk as a word for starting at night? “Dusk, a deserted room, a scrap of black silk on a marble table, darkening waters beyond.”

That's a beautiful opening sentence either way!

>95 Kristelh: Hej Kristel, well, no, not the word by itself. The meaning in context counts. Does this story actually start at dusk and leads into the night? then yes. Or is that sentence a description of a painting, a still life? then no

>96 wandering_star: I agree, that makes it hard to say no ...

question @AlcottAcre about your entry to my challenge:
# https://www.librarything.com/work/17348 One Half of Robertson Davies (When I was asked to speak to you tonight I inquired, as speakers always do, what you wanted me to talk about.) - Robertson Davies - AlcottAcre
'I was asked to speak to you tonight' : does it refer here to an exact time of night of the meeting or is it useed in the sense of 'today'? Is the meeting really happening at night or would 'tonight' here be used for any other time of the day?
I would translate that as 'heute Abend' in German, indicating that the talk should be given in the evening. Please enlkghten me on this English expression. Does 'tonight' usually imply a time after sunset? Thanks

>98 paulstalder: It is a common phrase at the beginning of a presentation given at night - often after a banquet.

>98 paulstalder: Does 'tonight' usually imply a time after sunset? Thanks Yes. In this case, Davies was giving a lecture at night - after a banquet, as Susan states - so it really was at night.

>97 paulstalder: yes, it does lead into night and it is not a painting. It seems to be a lot of night and the title is Venetian Vespers which I think is also suggesting Venetian night.

>99 quondame: >100 alcottacre: Thank you for explaining that. That's fine with me.
I just remember when I studied in London that we often talked with friends about our plans for 'tonight', referring to the evening, basically where to eat dinner. In novels, 'tonight' is often translated as 'heute Abend'. Also, google translates as 'heute Abend', or 'ce soir'

>101 Kristelh: Thanks, for the clarification. Go ahead

>44 avatiakh: Do you know the meaning of 'Hamantaschen', Kerry? It sounds Yiddish/German, in German the singular is Hamantasch = Haman's bag. Is that the meaning behind the word? The bag of Haman?

>103 paulstalder: Hi Paul. In Hebrew it's oznei Haman (אוזני המן) - Haman's ear, so I assumed it's the same in Yiddish/German, but google/AI tells me that it's 'Haman's pocket'.

>27 Citizenjoyce: I bailed on People Love Dead Jews, after reading about half of the book, Joyce. i didn't realize it was a book of essays and just feel like reading something more cohesive now. The essays are well written and contain some amazing information of which I had not before been aware. I'll be releasing it in my own Little Free Library at a later date in the hopes that someone else will choose this book to read.

I did read a novel by Dara Horn before and always thought she was Israeli. I didn't know she is American. I guess I thought she was Israeli because the novel of hers I read was about three generations of women who lived in Jerusalem (as I once did!).

Yes, I am terrified about what's going on in the Middle East right now. My cousin sent me pics today from inside her bomb shelter. :`(

>103 paulstalder: >104 avatiakh: I always understood the translation to be Haman's pockets, although I know the word taschen is bags in German. However, Hamantaschen are cookies shaped into triangles which are actually supposed to be reminiscent of Haman's three cornered hat.

>105 SqueakyChu: I'm sorry you didn't like it, but I'm glad you're passing it along.

>106 Citizenjoyce: I liked what I read, Joyce, but I just wasn't in the mood for reading more essays. It's actually a good book. On second thought, I think I’ll keep that book and just read the rest of the individual essays at different times later on.

>104 avatiakh: Thanks, Kerry. An interesting connection. I don't recall Haman's ear playing any role in the story. I probably should Esther again ...

>105 SqueakyChu: Hej Madeleine, pocket is a good translation, too. Since Tasche (bag), as a single standalone object, always translates as bag, but when attached to something like Hosentaschen (trouser pockets) and Hemdtaschen (shirt pockets), Taschendieb (pickpocket) it translates as pocket.

>4 lindapanzo: Linda, can the word be the author's name? I have a Kit de Waal book to read.

>109 Helenliz: No, sorry, just in the title.

Challenge #19: Read a book from the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist, or a book by one of the nominated authors

The list came out just in time for this month's challenge. I was thinking this year's list, but I didn't put a year on the challenge, so any year is good.

>111 raidergirl3: I have a few of this year's longlist on library hold already (from the Booker Prize) but it takes forever for me to get new books, so I potentially have Nesting from the 2025 list in case I don't get a 2026 book in time.

>112 JayneCM: Nesting is a great Irish book to read in March

>111 raidergirl3: I didn't put a year on the challenge, so any year is good. That is very good for me because if I waited for my local library to get books from this years longlist, I will be long in the tooth when it finally gets them - if ever, lol.

>114 alcottacre: Two on the longlist were also shortlisted for the Booker Prize and it's possible that you may have already asked for others from the library, as some have been out for quite a while - I was surprised to see 5 books I've read on the list (and I've even got round to reviewing 3 of them).

>115 elkiedee: I found that I had purchased one of the books on the longlist for my Kindle last September and grabbed one from the 2025 longlist that I own as well, since Elizabeth did not specify a year.

I was surprised to see 5 books I've read on the list (and I've even got round to reviewing 3 of them). Nice!

>109 Helenliz: You can fit a book by Kit de Waal in the Women's Prize challenge - she has a book on this year's longlist and and is one of the nominated authors.

>117 elkiedee: I saw that added and have slotted my book in there.

It is that time of the month again - PRIZE TIME!!




Mini-Sweeplettes in February:
AnneDC for challenges 1-3
antqueen for challenges 1-4
avatiakh for challenges 13-15
bell7 for challenges 2-4 and 13-15
Carmenere for challenges 2-4
countrylife for challenges 7-9
DeltaQueen for challenges 1-4 and 7-10
DisassemblyOfReason for challenges 2-4
JeanneD for challenges 2-4 and 7-10
Kristelh for challenges 7-9
labfs39 for challenges 7-11 and 14-16
laytonwoman3rd for challenges 13-15
paulstalder for challenges 1-3
raidergirl3 for challenges 1-5 and 7-11
susanna.fraser for challenges 13-15
thornton37814 for challenges 14-16

Sweeplettes in February:
lindapanzo for challenges 1-6
Morphidae for challenges 1-6
antqueen for challenges 7-12
avatiakh for challenges 7-12
dallenbaugh for challenges 7-12

Sweeps in February:
AlcottAcre
Chatterbox
CitizenJoyce
Dejah_Thoris
JayneCM
quondame

Congratulations to all our prize winners!! Lots of minis in February, which was great to see!

As always, if I made any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct my error.

Congrats to winners and thanks Stasia and Madeline for your work and giving us TIOLI challenge.

>119 alcottacre: Thanks for your efforts.

>120 Kristelh: Thanks for the TIOLI challenge all goes to Madeline, Kristel. It is her baby :)

>121 dallenbaugh: You are most welcome, Donna!

>3 wandering_star: Would "initiation" count for the spring challenge? I'm wondering if that's a bit too abstract...

>122 alcottacre: You are a big part of this as well, Stasia. Thank you.

Congrats to the HUGE number of sweepers! You are all reading quite a lot these days!

>123 lycomayflower: thanks, I think that is too much of a stretch - the word has connotations of beginning, but not of that sense of new life

>125 wandering_star: That's what I thought. Thanks!

>119 alcottacre: Thanks for compiling this! My second month here and I absolutely love these challenges. It is definitely helping me to read books that have been sitting on my shelves for too long.

>127 JayneCM: It is definitely helping me to read books that have been sitting on my shelves for too long.

That is so great, Jayne!

>119 alcottacre: Congratulations everyone on your sweeps and sweeplettes.

>127 JayneCM: That's the joy of TIOLI, it pushes us to read books we never would have got to on our own.

>128 SqueakyChu: >130 Citizenjoyce: I have a tendency to borrow way too many books from the library and forget all about the ones I own! I'm trying to make at least half of my TIOLI reads books from my shelf. My hubby has said I need to get rid of most of them, so I need to at least have read them before I have to clear them out!

>124 SqueakyChu: Thank you for saying so, Madeline.

>127 JayneCM: I use TIOLI challenges to help me read my own books too, Jayne, so I am glad to hear you are finding them helpful in that regard too!

>131 JayneCM: I have a tendency to borrow way too many books from the library

I seriously should not be borrowing ANY books from the library. I have over 1,600 books in my home-- mostly because we have a Little Free Library, and donations come in continuously! People donate such great books!! Now the new magnet that makes me go to my local public library more frequently is that they just started with a free jigsaw puzzle exchange shelf. I simply cannot resist that. Of course, when I go to exchange a puzzle...since I'm already in the library, I feel compelled to look at the new books shelf (I'm partial to nonfiction)...and you know the rest. Yes...of course...my current read is a book I just happened to discover while in the library. :D

>133 SqueakyChu: A puzzle exchange! I would definitely be drawn to that. Our library has a puzzle table set up for anyone who wants to add some pieces to the in progress puzzle, but that's it.

>134 JayneCM: Our library has an ongoing puzzle table as well, Jayne, but my husband and I always have a puzzle set up at home where we also have access to food and drink! What I recently found on Facebook, however, is a free puzzle exchange group in my Maryland county. It’s great! It has four permanent free puzzle closets (one is just a couple miles from my house) and a puzzle exchange event every two months. Check out Facebook to see if you have such a group near you! They have the very best quality puzzles, too!

>134 JayneCM: That reminds me of a cafe I frequent that has just added a knitting basket, you can borrow some knitting while you're there and knit a few rows while you have your coffee.
Our library has twice a month knitting meetups.

>136 avatiakh: A communal knitting basket - what a great idea!

>135 SqueakyChu: Great idea - I will check on Facebook.

>136 avatiakh: That sounds fun. Our library has craft meetups too. The library is such an amazing resource for just about anything.

TIOLI Stats for February, 2026

For February, 2026, we read a total of 453 books. Of these, 98 (21%) were shared reads. We accumulated 52 TIOLI points for a February, 2026, YTD total of 129 TIOLI points (the highest for a February YTD since February, 2015).

The most popular book, with 4 readers, was 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.

The most popular challenge, with 70 books read, was the one by @Dejah_Thoris to read a book featuring letters from RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.

This same challenge by @Dejah_Thoris to read a book featuring letters from RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS had the most TIOLI points (seven).

Ever onward, you super challengers!

>139 SqueakyChu: I'm so glad we keep going strong.

>140 Citizenjoyce: Me, too! :)

>139 SqueakyChu: I didn't realize we had that many books read in my challenge - thank you, readers!

TIOLI Awards for February 2026

The Botanical Correctness Award goes to @antqueen for reading Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death for my (@SqueakyChu's) challenge to read a book which pictures a fruit on the front cover. The book cover pictured a tomato which we commonly think of as a vegetable, but its biological characteristics actually characterize it as a fruit!

The Triplet Award goes to @quondame for reading The Harsh Cry of the Heron by Lian Hearn for the challenge by @DeltaQueen50 to read a book where a capital H begins a title word or starts one of the author’s names. This challenger was able to find three words beginning with the letter H in both the title and author's name.

The Even Shorter Award goes to @lindapanzo for reading Tall Men, Short Shorts for the challenge by @wandering_star to read a book with the word "short" in the title or somewhere on the cover. How did this challenger even find a book with the word "short" twice in the same title?!

The Triple Threat Award goes to @quondame for reading Go, Go, Goal for the challenge by @Laytonwoman3rd to ead a book where the same word occurs more than once in the title. Well, how about the same word three times in the title?! :D

The It All Adds Up Award goes to @Dejah_Thoris for reading Berlin 1936 for the challenge by @Citizenjoyce to read a book with a two digit or larger number written numerically in the title. For all of the books read for this challenge. this book had the largest number incorporated into its title.

The Two to Tango Award goes to @Morphidae for the challenge for the challenge to read a book related to 2 in 2 ways. What a creative way to have our challengers select a book!

Phew! What a lot of numbers in these awards!

Feel free to add awards of your own at this time.

Congrats to our award winners! Ever onward, everyone!

>143 SqueakyChu: Thank you, thank you!

>144 quondame: (She said…twice!). 😂

>143 SqueakyChu: Thank you - and congratulations to all the winners!

Congratulations to the winners!

Congratulations to all the winners, and quondame, you get the TIOLI Nobel Prize.

>148 Citizenjoyce: you get the TIOLI Nobel Prize.

...but don't give it to any President!

>149 SqueakyChu: Not right now for sure.

>143 SqueakyChu: Thank you!

>143 SqueakyChu: thanks for the award. The short shorts book was the only short book I own. Those short shorts that basketball players wore when I was in school look awfully odd today.

>143 SqueakyChu: Congratulations to all the winners!

I love seeing the different awards Madeline comes up with every month!

>143 SqueakyChu: Thanks for the award! I was skimming covers and was disappointed at first when I realized after looking at the title that what I'd thought was a pie with a cherry was actually a quiche with a tomato... but then on third thought it worked out anyway :)

What's Lined Up for Next Month?

April is on it's way. It can't get here fast enough. Today in Maryland we had heavy rains with a tornado watch. Once day last week we had a day of 84 degrees (F) followed by snow the very next day!

What are your plans for next month's reading? Something special, I hope...so others will want to jump in and share those reads with you.

What to do:
1. Tell us about books that you *must* read next month (book club, library book, bestseller, etc.).
2. Market them to us, encouraging us to read them with you!
3. List your books on Shared Read Suggestions, but talk about them here.
4. You are not required to read any book you list as a suggestion.

My proposed challenge for April is already on the update list: The Young at Heart Challenge: Read a classic children’s book - see list here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_children%27s_classic_books

The reason that I chose this challenge for April is because of spring, which always brings with it a renewal (at least for me) and makes me feel young again - and makes me feel like I can do stupid things that I am too old to be doing now. . .

I'm planning a reread of The Hands of the Emperor in April - the audiobook will be out on March 31!

>157 Dejah_Thoris: I may join you in that, Dejah, if I have the time. I already have the audiobook on preorder!

>157 Dejah_Thoris: I just listened to a 3min preview! The reader is English.

I'm planning to read Mrs Dalloway ahead of a group read of The Hours planned for June.

I'm doing so poorly with the challenges---and reading in general---this month, that I can't be thinking ahead!

>157 Dejah_Thoris: OoooOOOooooOOOh!!! It's my favorite book of the decade!

>161 laytonwoman3rd: Not to worry, Linda! I almost never think ahead. If I try to plan my reading ahead, my plans will definitely get changed. My joy is being a totally random reader. Just do your own thing...and enjoy whatever you read whenever you read!

As I loved Under the Stars of Paris (The Florian Saga Book 1) by Mary Burchell this month, I am planning on reading another of her, this one entitled Paris and My Love. These are non-steamy romances from the 1950s.

I am also going to participate in a group read of We Begin At the End by Chis Whitaker, just have my fingers crossed that they both fit into a chllenge in April

>163 SqueakyChu: Thanks, Madeline. I do try to read mostly for pleasure, not for "should". But my RL book club read this month is Vanity Fair, and I am finding it necessary to push through a certain number of pages per day, or I will never finish it in time. Some of it is a right slog, I have to say. If it weren't that there are only 3 of us in the group right now, I'd give the rest of it a pass.

>165 laytonwoman3rd: Book clubs are simply not for me, Linda. I'd love the socialization (actually, I would if my hearing were better), but I almost certainly would not want to read what others chose for me to read. I always surprise myself with what I read. Today I went into our local pubic library which has a puzzle exchange. I came out with a different puzzle, but could not pass up a new book I saw standing on a bookshelf on my way out! Will I actually end up reading this newly-acquired book which I then checked out? Who knows? Maybe yes; maybe no.

I think that is what endeared me to LibraryThing back in 2006 (Twenty years ago! Unbelievable!). I could read what I wanted, find someone here who also read the same book, and talk to them about it on their thread. I thought that this website had been made especially for me!

>156 alcottacre: I have a list of six possible books for your Challenge-to-be, Stasia!

>158 alcottacre: I hope you can find the time! I'm trying to plan my March reading so I'm done on the night of the 30th, so I can start The Hands of the Emperor on the 31st. :)

>162 Morphidae: Woohoo, Morphy! Will you join in on a reread? And btw, I added A Caress of Twilight to Challenge #18.

>164 DeltaQueen50: I'll be joining you for Paris and My Love, Judy. And it will fit the Challenge I'm planning to post. :)

>167 Dejah_Thoris: And it will fit the Challenge I'm planning to post

Bwa ha ha ha! No one will know what I'm going to post for next month until the new thread goes up!

True confession: I don't plan ahead so I often don't know what I'll post, either!

>166 SqueakyChu: This is my first RL book club...it's a new group, and as I said, there are only 3 of us in it right now, so I've had a lot of input in what we've been reading---in fact, I have only myself to blame for Vanity Fair---everything else we've read since October has been a reread for me, and something I've been eager to revisit and discuss. I suggested VF specifically because I had NOT read it before. We're concentrating on so-called "classics" and part of our discussion is always to chew over whether the work deserves to be a classic, whether it's a "great" work, and why. Guess how I'm coming down on this one?

>169 laytonwoman3rd: Guess how I'm coming down on this one?

Uh oh! Let us know what the others say about this book that is a slog to you! I'm just curious! :D

The Nebula finalists were just announced, so a big chunk of my reading list is right here: https://www.sfwa.org/2026/03/15/nebula-awards-finalist-announcement/

>171 susanna.fraser: I’ve read 3 of the listed novels. I read at least 5 F&SF novels that qualify that I rated higher and liked more than any of those 3.

>170 SqueakyChu: I will be sure to comment on comments, Madeline. We don't meet until April 12th, so it will be a minute.

>44 avatiakh: >47 SqueakyChu: I tried to do my own hamantaschen. I got a recipe rom the Swiss TV. Well, I should try again ... they look, ah, a bit shaken



I used cranberries and poppy seeds

>174 paulstalder: Paul, they look fabulous! I'd come and eat them if I lived a bit closer to you.

Did you like them? How was your recipe? My recipe makes dough which is very easy to handle. Let me know if you want my recipe.

Each year, I have the kids come over, and we all bake hamantaschen together. However, over the past few years, I do the baking...and the rest of the family do the making. Admittedly, there are a few of us that only do the eating!

>174 paulstalder: The key question is how did they taste. I find a good shake of sifted icing sugar over my hamentaschen hides any faults in the making, they always taste great.

I've only jotted down a couple books for April so far;
Mythos - Fry, BAC
The Red Room Strindberg, 1001
A Guardian and a Thief - Women's list

>177 Kristelh: I'll try to join you for Mythos.

>175 SqueakyChu: Thanks, Madeleine.Yeah, I like them. I took them to our Bible study group and they were well appreciated ...
I made too much filling, and I also added too many poppy seeds. So I bought a ready-made Mürbeteig (shortcrust pastry, says google) in addition. There was no difference in the dough, though., in taste or consistency. My dough was made of flour, salt, sugar, vanilla, butter and an egg yolk, pretty easy to make. For the filling I took poppy seeds, milk, honey, sugar, cranberries, butter and a lemon (grated zest and juice)

>176 avatiakh: You're right, Kerry. But making something for the first I would like it to look alike ... but, yes, they are tasty. Well, I can't compare it. I like the sweetness of the honey mixed with the cranberries. In the recipe, they used raisins, but I prefer cranberries.

>177 Kristelh: I have the book A Guardian and a Thief so I might join you if the library doesn't need it back

>179 paulstalder: I also added too many poppy seeds

Paul, there are never "too many poppy seeds". That's my favorite filling!

>155 SqueakyChu: >178 cbl_tn: In addition to Mythos, other books I have in mind for April include The Sweet Hereafter, The Clocks, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

>182 cbl_tn: I read The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao over ten years ago and liked it very much (though it's sad). It's an especially good read for anyone who knows a bit of Spanish. Recommended! Share this read with Carrie in April! :D

If anyone is looking for an easy shared read or an option for Challenge #19, I'd like to suggest My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood. It's a short story available on Kindle Unlimited in the U.S. (and possibly other places), and while I admit I was a bit hesitant about it, it grew on me.

>184 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you!

>156 alcottacre: I like this challenge! I am going to try to get my great-granddaughters (ages 11 and 5) to loan me their favorites.

EDITED TO ADD: the 11 yr old wants to read The BFG so that will be my first entry FP this challenge.

>184 Dejah_Thoris: And in same vein, for challenge #11, Lavie Tidhar's Joiner & Rust is a 38 page novelette. I like the premise and will be reading it in the next couple of days. 'An aging robot, on a journey to visit a friend, reflects on their adventures together.'

>187 avatiakh: It sounds great - I'll join you!

>167 Dejah_Thoris: I will.

I also have to figure out where to put the rest of the books in the series because though I thought I had read them enough times that I could hold off to read them throughout the year... Big Ol' Nope. I'm on the last one (#9.)

🤣

>178 cbl_tn: and >180 dallenbaugh:. I will look forward to the shared reads!

>156 alcottacre: Reading that list brought back a lot of memories! I realized how many children's books published in the 19th century that I read without really being conscious that they'd been written nearly 100 years ago. (Exceptions being Little Women, The Princess and the Goblin and a few other titles.) But, I have such vivid memories of how/when I acquired some books, like Charlotte Sometimes (at a children's book fair in London), When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (I know this was a Christmas gift; I THINK it was the first HB book I ever was given); Watership Down (bought at a bookshop at the outskirts of London, and one of my first DNF books...)

I remember watching a TV series made based on The Silver Sword and seeing it for years on library shelves; maybe that will be what I pick up to read.

I have a vast array of children's books still available. Most of them are in extremely battered paperbacks from the 1960s and 1970s. In some cases, I've acquired missing books by favorite authors, sometimes earlier editions of books by Geoffrey Trease, Hilda Lewis and Cynthia Hartnett.

>169 laytonwoman3rd: I love the idea of basing a discussion around whether something deserves to be labeled a classic. Even the definition itself could be fun to discuss -- how much time has to elapse for this to become true? What is a classic: a book that endures, but for what reason? Can there be rediscovered classics? Or instant classics? Are there objective criteria, or can the definition only ever be subjective? Does being a prizewinner confer "classic" status? (I argue no; prizes reflect contemporary taste as much as quality and lastingness...)

For my part I relished Vanity Fair when I finally got around to reading it (the same year I finally read Bleak House; both books had been "white whales" for me!).

No idea what I will do for April. My ambition for the moment is to get home safely with Max, the Mexican kitten, and for Fergus and Minka to welcome him to the family. I'm currently in an Airbnb in Merida, Yucatan -- and last night, the first night here, Max VANISHED into thin air for 2 or 3 hours. I was panicked. The upside: I did meet local cat fans, including an American expat three doors away and a French Canadian petsitter :-) (Oh, and met the residents of the local crack house while looking for Max, lol). Never a dull moment with this cat. I swear, he has shaved five years off my lifespan and he's only 4.5 months old....

>156 alcottacre: >191 Chatterbox: Ooh, this is a favourite of mine - I adore classics for children. Charlotte Sometimes is one of my all time favourites. This book, Tom's Midnight Garden and Playing Beatie Bow are the books that started my lifelong love (obsession) with time travel/time slip books.

>191 Chatterbox: Thank goodness you were able to locate Max - he sure sounds like a handful!

>189 Morphidae: LOL, Morphy! And here I was beingso careful not to read ahead! As I said before - A Caress of Twilight is in #18, and I've added Seduced by Moonlight to #3. I don't think I'll have time to read another this month, so you're on your own to find homes for the rest!

>191 Chatterbox: I'm glad you're so close to getting Max home! That's great news. :)

Apologies to my fellow readers of Myra Breckinridge - my library hold has STILL not arrived. It is bound to arrive on 1 April, I'm sure. I will be moving it to the name challenge for April TIOLI, I think.
March has been a slower reading month for me as my wrist is finally recovering from surgery and I am able to do more, hence less reading.

>194 JayneCM: Jayne, lucky you. Perfect for the name challenge. I always find that the next month challenges fit the books of the last month better.

>10 DeltaQueen50: Trying to squeeze in some last reads! Would you accept the surname 'Andrews' as being acceptable as a first name? (Book is This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews.
Apologies that I will not get to The Man in the High Castle with you - my library holds have been letting me down this month.

>196 JayneCM: Yes, that is totally acceptable as the name can be embedded so used as "Andrew" Good luck with your last minute reading!

>197 DeltaQueen50: Thank you!

Housekeeping Day!

I didn't forget this month! LOL!

Please remove from the March wiki any book you do not complete by 12 midnight tonight. If it's a rolling challenge, you do not need to remove your listing, but remember to mark it DNF (did not finish). Thank you.

See you on April's TIOLI thread (if you haven't yet found it!) ;)

And this is my monthly reminder to please have the March wiki updated by April 4th so that I can award the monthly prizes. . .

Just thought I’d drop a note here to explain any future inconsistencies with the group.

Four weeks ago, I received a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic uterine cancer. Some days I feel emotionally fine, other days I’m a mess. Waiting to start chemo, so I don’t know what that will add to the pain, nausea, and exhaustion I’m already experiencing.

Reading has been one of my top 5 activities since I first picked up The Mouse and the Motorcycle, so I hope to keep at it as long as I can.

>201 jeanned: Jeanne, the group will support you in any way we can. Let us know what we can do for you. Prayers and good thoughts will be a priority for us, I am sure.

>201 jeanned: My thoughts are prayers are with you, Jeanne.

>201 jeanned: prayers

>201 jeanned: You are in my prayers.

>201 jeanned: Jeanne, that is devastating news. We all want to be supportive of you as your friends so please feel free to talk to us whenever you need to about whatever you want to - related to reading, your health or your emotional well-being. Let us know any specific way we can help you. Continue to read with us and chat with us as your schedule and health allow. {{{big hugs}}}

>201 jeanned: That's hard. I pray for you, too, for strength, patience, friends

>201 jeanned: So sorry to hear that. I think being emotionally all over the place is to be expected. Hope that there's a route forward to control the physical effects. If reading, and talking about reading, gives you comfort then we're here for that.

>201 jeanned: Prayers for you Jean.

>201 jeanned: I’m so sorry to hear that. Emotions running amok seems like a very natural thing to be happening at such a tough time. I hope reading continues to be a refuge and a source of comfort to you going forward.

>201 jeanned: That's harsh news. I hope reading continues to be a comfort to you and that you can gain some pleasure in talking with us whenever you like.

>202 alcottacre: >203 Dejah_Thoris: >204 LoisB: >205 susanna.fraser: >206 SqueakyChu: >207 paulstalder: >208 Helenliz: >209 Kristelh: >210 PawsforThought: >211 Citizenjoyce: Thank you all very much for your kind words and support. I am such a socially awkward creature, I don't really know how to respond. I have always loved this group, even if I feel like I am largely lurking in the background.

>212 jeanned: I've always been socially awkward. I think we're in the majority, no matter what movies show otherwise.

>212 jeanned:, Yes, I agree, socially awkward is something many of us share. That's why we like books.

>214 Kristelh: agreed

>195 Kristelh: agreed