Wednesday, December 30, 2015

2016 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Link to challenge announcement/sign-up post

Host: Amy @ Passages to the Past
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016

Guidelines:
  • Choose your level.
  • Read any sub-genre of historical fiction (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
  • You don't need a blog to participate.
  • There will be a monthly link for reviews.

Levels:
  1. 20th Century Reader - 2 books
  2. Victorian Reader - 5 books
  3. Renaissance Reader - 10 books
  4. Medieval - 15 books
  5. Ancient History - 25 books
  6. Prehistoric - 50+ books

My goal: "Victorian Reader" (5 books).

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the pages for linking reviews: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December .


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):
1. Dreaming Spies (Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes #13). Laurie R. King
2. A Christmas Escape. Anne Perry
3. A Fine Imitation. Amber Brock
4. The Port-Wine Stain. Norman Lock [linked to review page 12/22/2016]
5. Good As Gone. Larry Watson (reading now)


Monday, December 28, 2015

2016 Women's Fiction Reading Challenge


***Challenge compete. See my wrap-up post.***

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016

✸ See the challenge announcement post for a discussion of just what is meant by "women's fiction."

Choose a Level:
  1. Motivated 1- 5
  2. Savvy 6 - 10
  3. Classy 11- 20
  4. Go-getter 20 -30
  5. Fearless 30+

General Guidelines:
  1. Books may overlap with other challenges. 
  2. All formats are OK.
  3. A blog isn't necessary -- you can link up through GoodReads.
  4. There will be a link for reviews, although reviews are not a condition of completing the challenge, they are just an extra.

✸ I'll be signing up at the "Motivated" level, and hope to read five books that qualify.


● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the link for January-June reviews HERE.
● See the link for July-December reviews HERE


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

  1. The Last September. Nina de Gramont [note to self: linked to review page 7/14/2016]
  2. The People in the Photo. Hรฉlรจne Gestern 
  3. My Name Is Lucy Barton. Elizabeth Strout 
  4. Miller's Valley. Anna Quindlen
  5. A Fine Imitation. Amber Brock 
  6. This Too Shall Pass. Milena Busquets [linked to review page 8/04/2016
  7. The Book That Matters Most. Ann Hood 


POSSIBILITIES:
  • All Passion Spent. Vita Sackville-West
  • The Debut. Anita Brookner
  • Dreams of Joy. Lisa See
  • The Elm Creek Quilters series, by Jennifer Chiaverini
  • The Evolution of Jane. Catherine Schine 
  • Leaving Home. Anita Brookner
  • Lolly Willowes. Sylvia Townsend Warner
  • Nora Webster. Colm Toibin
  • The Pull of the Moon. Elizabeth Berg
  • The Radiant Way. Margaret Drabble 
  • The Rector's Daughter. F.M. Mayor
  • The Road to Lichfield. Penelope Lively
  • Sarah's Key. Tatiana de Rosnay
  • The Seven Sisters. Margaret Drabble
  • Shanghai Girls. Lisa See
  • Still Life with Bread Crumbs. Anna Quindlen
  • The Summerhouse. Jude Deveraux 
  • Tapestry of Fortunes. Elizabeth Berg 
  • Visitors. Anita Brookner
  • The Weight of Water. Anita Shreve 
  • While I Was Gone. Sue Miller
  • A Wreath of Roses. Elizabeth Taylor


Vintage Mystery Cover Scavenger Hunt 2016

Link to challenge announcement/sign-up post

Hosted by: Bev @ My Reader's Block
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016

Challenge objective:
  • Find as many objects on the scavenger hunt list as possible, on the covers of the mystery books you read.
  • You may play along in either the Golden or Silver Mystery Eras (or, for the more adventurous, both).

Challenge rules (quoted from the announcement post):
  • All books must be from the mystery category (crime fiction, detective fiction, espionage, etc.). The mystery/crime must be the primary feature of the book--ghost stories, paranormal, romance, humor, etc are all welcome as ingredients, but must not be the primary category under which these books would be labeled at the library or bookstore.
  • For the purposes of this challenge, the Golden Age Vintage Mysteries must have been first published before 1960. Golden Age short story collections (whether published pre-1960 or not) are permissible provided all of the stories included in the collection were originally written pre-1960. Silver Age Vintage Mysteries may be first published any time from 1960 to 1989 (inclusive). Again, Silver Age short story collections published later than 1989 are permissible as long as they include no stories first published later than 1989.
  • Minimum number of items to complete the challenge and to be eligible for the participation prize drawing at the end of the year is six items from the covers of books read from a single Vintage Mystery Era. If you choose to do both eras, you must use separate checklists. You may not, for example, find three golden age items and three silver age items to claim the minimum six.
  • "On the cover" may apply to either the front or the back cover of the book. Also, the item should be found on the cover of the edition that you read. If at all possible either post a picture showing the item on the cover or provide a link to a page showing us. Exception: If the edition you read has no picture whatsoever (hardbacks that have no dust jacket or e-copies, for example), then you may go on another scavenger hunt online to find a cover image--again, please provide a link to the edition used.
  • No double-counting within the challenge. If a book's cover has both a shadowy figure and a weapon, you may only use it to check off one item from the list. You are welcome to change the item claimed at any time prior to submitting it for prizes.
  • Books read for this challenge may be used for other challenges as well.
  • Reviews are encouraged, but they are not necessary to participate. If you do not have a blog, post to the comments below that you intend to join and then post again at the end-of-year wrap-up site when you have completed your challenge (include a list of books read, categories you have completed, and how to find images of covers).
  • Challengers who complete the minimum six books from a single era will be eligible for a drawing at the end of the year for a book from the prize list. Challengers who complete 12 or more books (either from the same era or six from each era) will also be entered in a separate drawing--for another chance to win, again for their choice of a book from the prize list.
  • Please keep track of your progress and be prepared to submit a final wrap-up post or comment at the end of the year. Please DO NOT submit completion notifications prior to the posting of the Wrap-Up Link.

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the challenge review pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December .
● See the page for challenge wrap-ups HERE.

✸ I'll be reading Silver Age mysteries. Here's the card:




MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

(These are the books I'm planning to read. The review link will appear when I've actually written and posted the review. Until the review is posted and linked up, the list could change.)

1. Lovely in Her Bones. Sharyn McCrumb (first published 1985)
....For the scavenger hunt: Skull on cover
....Note to self: linked to review page, 7/20/2016



2. Picture Miss Seeton (Miss Seeton #1). Heron Carvic (first published 1968)
....For the scavenger hunt: Just One Person on cover
....Note to self: read but not yet reviewed (as of 8/17/2016)



3. Knots and Crosses (Inspector Rebus #1). Ian Rankin (first published 1987)
....For the scavenger hunt: Rope/Hangman's Noose on cover



4. The Clocks (Hercule Poirot #34). Agatha Christie (first published 1963)
....For the scavenger hunt: Clock/Timepiece on cover



5. Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (Hercule Poirot #39). Agatha Christie (first published 1975) (reading now)
....For the scavenger hunt: Bottle of Poison on cover



BOOKS I MIGHT READ:

๐Ÿ“š  Rest You Merry (Peter Shandy series #1). Charlotte MacLeod (first published 1978)
....For the scavenger hunt: Weirdest Item You've Seen on cover (a skull/skeleton in a Santa suit)



๐Ÿ“š  Death On Demand (Death On Demand #1). Carolyn G. Hart (first published 1987)
....For the scavenger hunt: Dog on cover



๐Ÿ“š  The Case of the Missing Brontรซ (Perry Trethowan #3). Robert Barnard (first published 1983)
....For the scavenger hunt: More Than Two People on cover



๐Ÿ“š  'A' Is For Alibi (Kinsey Milhone Mysteries #1). Sue Grafton (first published 1982)
....For the scavenger hunt: Typewriter on cover



๐Ÿ“š  Something The Cat Dragged In (Peter Shandy Series #4). Charlotte MacLeod (first published 1983)
....For the scavenger hunt: Cat on cover



๐Ÿ“š  Flight of a Witch (Inspector George Felse Mysteries #3). Ellis Peters (first published 1964)
....For the scavenger hunt: Brunette woman on cover






Saturday, December 26, 2015

2016 Color Coded Reading Challenge

Link to challenge announcement/sign-up post
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016
Hosted by: Bev @ My Reader's Block

Guidelines:

• Read nine books in the following categories:
1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue (Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc) in the title/on the cover.
2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red (Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc) in the title/on the cover.
3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow (Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc.) in the title/on the cover.
4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green (Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc) in the title/on the cover.
5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown (Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc) in the title/on the cover.
6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black (Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc) in the title/on the cover.
7. A book with "White" or any shade of White (Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc) in the title/on the cover.
8. A book with any other color in the title/on the cover (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magenta, etc.).
9. A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).
• Any book read from January 1 through December 31, 2016 will count.
• Crossovers with other challenges are OK.
• A blog isn't necessary, and reviews are not required.

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.  
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the challenge Headquarters page HERE.


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

POSSIBLE CHOICES:

1. Blue, etc:
  • A Beautiful Blue Death. Charles Finch 
  • The Blue Fairy Book. Andrew Lang 
  • The Blue Flower. Penelope Fitzgerald 
  • The Blue Hammer. Ross Macdonald 
  • Blue Labyrinth. Preston & Child 
  • The Deep Blue Good-by. John D. MacDonald 
  • Dream When You're Feeling Blue. Elizabeth Berg 
  • Girl in Hyacinth Blue. Susan Vreeland 
  • The Pale Blue Eye. Louis Bayard 
  • The Turquoise Mask. Phyllis A. Whitney 

2. Red, etc:
  • Crimson Shore. Preston & Child 
  • Death of a Red Heroine. Qui Xiaolong 
  • Five Red Herrings. Dorothy L. Sayers
  • Red Harvest. Dashiell Hammett
  • A Red Herring Without Mustard. Alan Bradley
  • The Red Lamp. Mary Roberts Rinehart 
  • Rose Cottage. Mary Stewart 
  • Vanish with the Rose. Barbara Michaels 
  • A Wreath of Roses. Elizabeth Taylor 

3. Yellow, etc:
  • BUtterfield 8. John O'Hara
  • The Canary Murder Case. S.S. Van Dine
  • Crome Yellow. Aldous Huxley 
  • The Gold Bug Variations. Richard Powers 
  • The Golden Bowl. Henry James 
  • The Mystery of the Yellow Room. Gaston Leroux 
  • The Realms of Gold. Margaret Drabble 
  • The Yellow Room. Mary Roberts Rinehart

4. Green, etc:
  • Anne of Green Gables. Lucy M. Montgomery
  • The Children of Green Knowe. L. M. Boston 
  • The Dud Avocado. Elaine Dundy 
  • Emerald. Phyllis A. Whitney 
  • The Greene Murder Case. S.S. VanDine 
  • Green for Danger. Christianna Brand
  • The Greengage Summer. Rumer Godden 
  • The Green Hat. Michael Arlen 
  • The Green Knight. Iris Murdoch
  • Olive Kitteridge. Elizabeth Strout 
  • Thrush Green. "Miss Read"

5. Brown, etc:
  • The Bronze Pen. Zilpha Keatley Snyder 
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl
  • Chocolat. Joanne Harris
  • The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper. John D. MacDonald 
  • The Poisoned Chocolates Case. Anthony Berkeley 
  • Portrait in Sepia. Isabel Allende 
  • A Tan and Sandy Silence. John D. MacDonald

6. Black, etc:
  • Bellman and Black. Diane Setterfield 
  • Black December. Scott Hunter
  • Black Dog. Stephen Booth 
  • Black Light. Elizabeth Hand 
  • Black Money. Ross Macdonald
  • The Black Prince. Iris Murdoch
  • Black Water. Joyce Carol Oates
  • Blackwork. Monica Ferris 
  • The Ebony Swan. Phyllis A. Whitney 
  • The Master of Blacktower. Barbara Michaels 
  • Raven Black. Anne Cleeves

7. White, etc:
  • Bone White. Ronald Malfi
  • Death in a White Tie. Ngaio Marsh 
  • The Ivory Grin. Ross Macdonald 
  • The Ivory Tower. Henry James 
  • White Nights. Ann Cleeves 
  • The Window at the White Cat. Mary Roberts Rinehart

8. Other Color:
  • The Amber Room. Steve Berry 
  • Black Amber. Phyllis A. Whitney 
  • By the Shores of Silver Lake. Laura Ingalls Wilder 
  • The Cranefly Orchid Murder. Cynthia Riggs 
  • The Ghost Orchid. Carol Goodman 
  • Greygallows. Barbara Michaels 
  • Grey Mask. Patricia Wentworth 
  • James and the Giant Peach. Roald Dahl 
  • Miss Silver Comes to Stay. Patricia Wentworth 
  • Miss Silver Deals With Death. Patricia Wentworth 
  • Nightmare in Pink. John D. MacDonald 
  • Prater Violet. Christopher Isherwood 
  • A Purple Place for Dying. John D. MacDonald 
  • Silver on the Tree. Susan Cooper
  • The Violets of March. Sarah Jio 

9. Implied Color:
  • All the Colors of Darkness. Lloyd Biggle, Jr. 
  • All the Colors of Darkness. Peter Robinson 
  • Ancient Light. John Banville 
  • Black Rainbow. Barbara Michaels 
  • The Color of Light. Karen White 
  • Colour Scheme. Ngaio Marsh 
  • The Dark on the Other Side. Barbara Michaels 
  • The Dark Place. Aaron Elkins 
  • Darkwater. Dorothy Eden 
  • House of Many Shadows. Barbara Michaels 
  • Into the Darkness. Barbara Michaels 
  • The Land of Painted Caves. Jean M. Auel 
  • Light Years. Elizabeth Jane Howard 
  • Murder in Primary Colors. Nora Barker 
  • The Painted Kiss. Elizabeth Hickey
  • The Painted Veil. W. Somerset Maugham
  • The Painted Word. Tom Wolfe 
  • Pale Fire. Vladimir Nabokov
  • The Pale Horse. Agatha Christie 
  • Pale Horse, Pale Rider. Katherine Anne Porter 
  • Search the Shadows. Barbara Michaels 
  • Shadow Tag. Louise Erdrich 
  • Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd. Alan Bradley
  • The Walker in the Shadows. Barbara Michaels 
  • The Zebra-Striped Hearse. Ross Macdonald 



Thursday, December 24, 2015

2016 European Reading Challenge


***Challenge complete; see my wrap-up post HERE.***

Hosted by: Rose City Reader
Dates: January 1, 2016 - January 31, 2017

Guidelines (quoted from the announcement page):
The idea is to read books by European authors or books set in European countries (no matter where the author comes from). The books can be anything – novels, short stories, memoirs, travel guides, cookbooks, biography, poetry, or any other genre. You can participate at different levels, but each book must be by a different author and set in a different country – it's supposed to be a tour. 
  • Books should be read between January 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017.  If you participated in the 2015 European Reading Challenge, you can only count books read in January 2016 for one year -- either the end of the 2015 challenge or the start of the 2016 challenge -- you don't get to count one book for both challenges. 
  • You do not have to commit to your choices now; and you can change your mind about books at any time. 
  • Overlap with other challenges is allowed -- and encouraged! 
  • Re-reads count. 
  • Audiobooks count. 
  • E-books count. 
  • Self-published books count. 
  • There will be a page for linking your reviews. Reviews are not necessary, unless you are going for the prize, in which case only books reviewed count.
  • If you do not have a blog, put your reviews or reports in a comment on the announcement post. 
  • There will be a page for posting links to wrap-up posts. 

Levels of participation:
  1. Five Star (Deluxe Entourage): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.
  2. Four Star (Honeymooner): Read four qualifying books.
  3. Three Star (Business Traveler): Read three qualifying books.
  4. Two Star (Adventurer): Read two qualifying books.
  5. One Star (Pensione Weekender): Read just one qualifying book.
✹ I'm signing up for the Four Star ("Honeymooner") level.

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement page HERE.
● See the review page HERE.
● See the page for challenge wrap-ups HERE.


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):
  1. The People in the Photo. Hรฉlรจne Gestern; translated by Emily Boyce and Ros Schwartz (set in France, mainly Paris) [linked to challenge review page, 12/22/2016]
  2. The Disappearance of Signora Giulia. Piero Chiara; translated by Jill Foulston (set in Italy)
  3. This Too Shall Pass. Milena Busquets; translated by Valerie Miles (set in Catalonia region of Spain) [linked to challenge review page, 8/04/2016
  4. The Invoice. Jonas Karlsson (set in Sweden)
  5. The Nightwalker. Sebastian Fitzek; translated by Jamie Lee Searle (set in Germany


Monday, December 21, 2015

Newbery Reading Challenge 2016

Link to challenge sign-up page

Dates:  January 1 - December 31, 2016
Hosted by:  Julie @ Smiling Shelves

Guidelines:
  • Choose books from among Newbery Award winners, Newbery Honor Books, and Caldecott Medal winners.
  • Rereads count.
  • Audiobooks and e-books count.
  • All books must be read between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015. Books begun before January 1 don’t count. 
  • Books can overlap with other challenges
  • You don’t have to have a blog to participate. You can link up reviews from Amazon, Goodreads, etc., or leave your remarks in the comments.
  • Reviews are encouraged, but not necessary.
  • There will be a monthly link up for reviews.
  • Choose your point level. You can always aim for a higher point level, but you can't move to a lower one.
Each book you read is worth points:
  • 3 points for a Newbery Medal Winner
  • 2 points for a Newbery Honor Book
  • 1 point for a Caldecott Medal Winner
Choose a level to aim for.  "You can get to this level with any combination of points you want. You can read all Newbery Medal winners. You can throw in a few Honor Books. If you want, you can even read 75 Caldecott Medal winners! How you get to your point level is totally up to you."
  1. L'Engle: 15 - 29 points
  2. Spinelli: 30 - 44 points
  3. Avi: 45 - 59 points
  4. Lowry: 60 - 74 points
  5. Konigsburg: 75+ points
✷ I'm signing up at the first level (L'Engle = 15-29 points)

See my original blog post about the challenge HERE.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.
See the review headquarters page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

  1. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Kate DiCamillo; illus. by K.G. Campbell (Newbery Medal Winner, 2014 = 3 points)




POSSIBLE  CHOICES: Newbery Winners (3 points each)
Dead End in Norvelt. Jack Gantos (2012)
The Door in the Wall. Marguerite De Angeli (1950)
Ginger Pye. Eleanor Estes (1952)
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village. Laura Amy Schlitz (2008)
The Higher Power of Lucky. Susan Patron (2007)
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
. Rachel Field (1930)
Miracles on Maple Hill
. Virginia Sorensen (1957)
Miss Hickory
. Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (1947)
Roller Skates
. Ruth Sawyer (1937)
Strawberry Girl
. Lois Lenski (1946)
Thimble Summer
. Elizabeth Enright (1939)
The Trumpeter of Krakow
.  Eric P. Kelly (1929)
The View from Saturday
. E.L. Konigsburg (1997)
The Westing Game
. Ellen Raskin (1979)
The Wheel on the School
. Meindert De Jong (1955)
When You Reach Me
. Rebecca Stead (2010)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Elizabeth George Speare (1959)
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze. Elizabeth Lewis (1933)

POSSIBLE  CHOICES: Newbery Honor Books (2 points each)
Afternoon of the Elves. Janet Taylor Lisle (1990)
Black Fox of Lorne
. Marguerite De Angeli (1957)
By the Shores of Silver Lake
. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1940)
The Cricket in Times Square
. George Selden (1961)
Feathers
. Jacqueline Woodson (2008)
The Golden Name Day. Jennie Lindquist (1956)
Gone-Away Lake. Elizabeth Enright (1958)
The Headless Cupid. Zilpha Keatley Snyder (1972)
The Light at Tern Rock. Julia Sauer (1952)
Little Town on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1942)
The Long Winter. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1941)
Millions of Cats. Wanda Gรกg (1929)
The Moorchild. Eloise McGraw (1997)
Penny from Heaven. Jennifer L. Holm (2007)
Ramona and Her Father. Beverly Cleary (1978)
Splendors and Glooms. Laura Amy Schlitz (2013)
Surviving the Applewhites. Stephanie S. Tolan (2003)
These Happy Golden Years. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1944)
Three Times Lucky. Sheila Turnage (2013)
The Witches of Worm. Zilpha Keatley Snyder (1973)

POSSIBLE  CHOICES: Caldecott Winners (1 point each)
The Funny Little Woman. llustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by Arlene Mosel (1972; 1973 winner)
Golem. David Wisniewski (1996; 1997 winner)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick (2007; 2008 winner)
Many Moons. Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin; text: James Thurber (1943; 1944 winner)
Owl Moon. Illustrated by John Schoenherr; text: Jane Yolen (1987; 1988 winner)
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. William Steig (1969; 1970 winner)
This is Not My Hat. Jon Klassen (2012; 2013 winner) 


2016 I Love Picture Books Reading Challenge


Dates:  January 1 - December 31, 2016
Host:  Bea's Book Nook

Guidelines:
  • Read picture books.
  • Sign up through December 1, 2016.
  • Set your own level -- read as many as you like.
  • Library books and e-books count.
  • Re-reads count.
  • A blog isn't necessary -- link up through a public review site like GoodReads or Library Thing.
  • Reviews are not required but encouraged. They only need to be a few lines. There will be a page for linking up reviews.
● See my original blog post about the challenge HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.
● See the review link pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December


✸ I'm setting myself a goal of 12 books, and (as usual) hope to read more than that.


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):
1. Beanie and Tough Enough. Ruth and Latrobe Carroll
2. Walter the Lazy Mouse. Marjorie Flack (illus. by the author)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.


Friday, December 18, 2015

Books In Translation Challenge 2016

Link to Announcement/Sign-up Page

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016
Host: Jen @ The Introverted Reader

Guidelines:
  • Read translations of books, from any language into the language(s) you're comfortable reading; they don't have to be in English.
  • You can read any genre and any age range.
  • Crossovers with other challenges are fine.
  • Any format that you choose is also acceptable.
  • You don't need a blog to participate; link up your reviews from another site like Library Thing or GoodReads.

Levels:
  1. Beginner: Read 1-3 books in translation
  2. Conversationalist: 4-6 books
  3. Bilingual: 7-9 books
  4. Linguist: 10-12 books
✸ I'm signing up at the "Conversationalist" Level, so I'll be reading 4-6 books.

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the challenge review link-up page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

  1. The People in the Photo. Hรฉlรจne Gestern; translated from the French by Emily Boyce and Ros Schwartz [linked to review page 12/22/2016]
  2. Villa Triste. Patrick Modiano; trans. from the French by John Cullen
  3. The Disappearance of Signora Giulia. Piero Chiara; trans. from the Italian by Jill Foulston
  4. This Too Shall Pass. Milena Busquets; trans. from the Spanish by Valerie Miles [linked to review page 12/22/2016]
  5. Inkheart. Cornelia Funke; trans. from the German by Anthea Bell  [linked to review page 7/14/2016]
  6. Tainted Tokay (Winemaker Detective Series #11). Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noรซl Balen; trans. from the French by Sally Pane [linked to review page 12/22/2016]
  7. The Nightwalker. Sebastian Fitzek; trans. from the German by Jamie Lee Searle


POSSIBLE  READS:
(Also see my shelf of translated works "to be read" at GoodReads.)
  • After Dark. Haruki Murakami
  • The Castle. Franz Kafka
  • Farewell Waltz. Milan Kundera
  • The Fencing Master. Arturo Pรฉrez-Reverte
  • The Girl Who Played with Fire. Stieg Larsson 
  • Identity. Milan Kundera 
  • Kafka on the Shore. Haruki Murakami 
  • King, Queen, Knave. Vladimir Nabokov 
  • The Kreutzer Sonata. Leo Tolstoy 
  • The Ladies from St. Petersburg: Three Novellas. Nina Berberova 
  • Last Year At Marienbad. Alain Robbe-Grillet 
  • The Luzhin Defense. Vladimir Nabokov 
  • Missing Person. Patrick Modiano 
  • The Nautical Chart. Arturo Pรฉrez-Reverte
  • Norwegian Wood. Haruki Murakami
  • The Seville Communion. Arturo Pรฉrez-Reverte
  • Steppenwolf. Hermann Hesse 



Wednesday, December 9, 2015

2016 Blogger Shame Review Challenge

Link to announcement/sign-up post
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016
Hosted by: herding cats & burning soup, and Addicted to Happily Ever After @ The Herd Presents

Guidelines:
  • Read and review books that have been on your review list for more than six months
  • Any format
  • Crossovers with other challenges are OK
  • No levels -- choose for yourself the number of books you want to read/review
There will be quarterly check-ins to show off progress:
  • quarter 1 post--end of March 
  • quarter 2 post--end of June 
  • quarter 3 post--end of September 
  • quarter 4 post--end of Dec wrap up post

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the review page HERE.
● See the challenge Facebook page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

  1. The Last September. Nina de Gramont [note to self: linked to review site 7/14/2016]




Friday, December 4, 2015

Read Scotland 2016

Link to announcement/sign-up post
Hosted by: Peggy Ann @ Peggy Ann's Post
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016

Guidelines:
  • Read and review books written by Scottish authors (by birth or immigration), or about or set in Scotland.
  • All genres and formats are allowed.
  • Books may count for other challenges.
  • You don't need a blog to participate.

Challenge levels:
  1. Just A Keek (a little look): 1-5 books
  2. The Highlander: 6-10 books
  3. The Hebridean: 11-15 books
  4. Ben Nevis: 16-20 books
  5. Back O' Beyond: 21+ books

I'm signing up at the first level (Just a Keek), and hope to read five books.

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See the challenge announcement page HERE.
● See the challenge group at GoodReads HERE.
● See the page for linking wrap-up posts HERE.

MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

  1. Knots and Crosses (Inspector Rebus #1). Ian Rankin 



POSSIBLE READS:
  • The Anatomist's Wife (Lady Darby #1). Anna Lee Huber 
  • The Bachelors. Muriel Spark 
  • The Blackhouse (Lewis Trilogy #1). Peter May 
  • The Comforters. Muriel Spark
  • Death at the President's Lodging (Inspector Appleby #1). Michael Innes 
  • The Distant Echo (Inspector Karen Pirie #1). Val McDermid 
  • The Driver's Seat. Muriel Spark 
  • Enter Second Murderer (Inspector Faro #1). Alanna Knight 
  • Five Red Herrings (Lord Peter Wimsey #7). Dorothy L. Sayers 
  • The Inn at the Edge of the World. Alice Thomas Ellis 
  • In Thrall. Eva Hanagan
  • Knots and Crosses (Inspector Rebus #1). Ian Rankin 
  • Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Rutledge #4). Charles Todd 
  • The Public Image. Muriel Spark
  • Raven Black (Shetland Island #1). Ann Cleeves 
  • The Sunday Philosophy Club (Isabel Dalhousie #1). Alexander McCall Smith 
  • Symposium. Muriel Spark 
  • Waiting Sands. Susan Howatch 
  • Wildfire At Midnight. Mary Stewart 
  • The Wrong Box. Robert Louis Stevenson


Thursday, December 3, 2015

2016 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Link to announcement/sign-up post.
****I think this challenge has become "inactive."****

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016
Host: Bea's Book Nook

Guidelines:
  • All books that are part of a continuing series qualify.
  • It doesn't matter how many books you need to read to complete a series (if you only need to read one book, that's OK). The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.
  • Books must be read during the time period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
  • You don't need a blog to participate.
  • There will be a GoodReads group for the challenge, for participants to join.
  • Any format of book counts - audio, e-book, etc.
  • You can choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary.
  • It's OK to change series during the year.
Levels:
  • Level 1 (Novice series reader) - Complete 1 series.
  • Level 2 (Testing the waters) - Complete 2-4 series.
  • Level 3 (Experienced) - Complete 3-6 series.
  • Level 4 (Expert series reader) - Complete 7 or more series.

✸ I'll be signing up at Level 1 (Novice series reader), although I'd love to finish more than one series during the year.

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
See the challenge link-up pages: March, June?


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews or discussions):

  1. Mrs. Malory and the Lilies That Fester (Sheila Malory series #11). Hazel Holt




Possible series for the challenge:
  • The Mrs. Malory mystery series, by Hazel Holt: 21 books in series / I have 4 to read
  • The Flavia de Luce mystery series, by Alan Bradley: 7 books in series / I have 4 to read
  • The Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series, by Dorothy L. Sayers: 15 books in series / I have 9 to read
  • The Inspector Barnaby mystery series, by Caroline Graham: 7 books in series / I have 4 to read
  • The Needlecraft (Betsy Devonshire) mystery series, by Monica Ferris: 19 books in series / I have 14 to read


Monday, November 30, 2015

What's In A Name Reading Challenge 2016

Link to sign-up post
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016
Host: Charlie @ The Worm Hole

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the challenge Gateway post for linking reviews HERE.


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):
  • A country: 
  • An item of clothing: 
  • An item of furniture: The Clocks (Hercule Poirot #34). Agatha Christie 
  • A profession: Dreaming Spies. Laurie R. King
  • A month of the year: The Last September. Nina de Gramont [note to self: linked to review page 7/14/2016]
  • Title with the word "tree" in it: 

Other Possibilities:
  • Category 1 - A country
    The China Governess. Margery Allingham
    Death in Kenya. M.M. Kaye
    England Made Me. Graham Greene
    From Russia With Love. Ian Fleming
    Little Egypt. Lesley Glaister 

  • Category 2 - An item of clothing
    Death in a White Tie. Ngaio Marsh
    The Dutch Shoe Mystery
    . Ellery Queen
    The Green Hat. Michael Arlen
    The Roman Hat Mystery. Ellery Queen
    The Spanish Cape Mystery. Ellery Queen

  • Category 3 - An item of furniture
    The Cabinet of Curiosities. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
    The Clocks. Agatha Christie
    Isabel's Bed. Elinor Lipman
    Separate Beds. Elizabeth Buchan
    They Do It with Mirrors. Agatha Christie

  • Category 4 - A profession
    The Nine Tailors. Dorothy L. Sayers
    The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. Natasha Pulley

  • Category 5 - A month of the year
    August Folly. Angela Thirkell
    The Enchanted April. Elizabeth von Arnim
    July and August. Nancy Clark
    Three Junes. Julia Glass
    The Violets of March. Sarah Jio

  • Category 6 - Title with the word "tree" in it
    Gently in Trees. Alan Hunter
    The Grail Tree. Jonathan Gash
    The King in the Tree: Three Novellas. Steven Millhauser
    Silver on the Tree. Susan Cooper
    The Wizard in the Tree. Lloyd Alexander


Sunday, November 29, 2015

2016 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

Link to Challenge Announcement Post
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016
Host: Bev @ MY READER'S BLOCK

Guidelines
  • Sign-up anytime before November 1, 2016.
  • Choose a level of participation. Once you choose, you're locked in for at least that many books. You can increase your level; all books counted for lower levels carry over towards the new level.
  • Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2016. No library books.
  • Books can be counted for other challenges.
  • Reviews aren't required, and a blog isn't necessary.
  • Rereads may count (see challenge announcement page for details).
  • Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.
  • You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2015.
  • "Did Not Finish" books can be counted, under some circumstances (see challenge announcement page for details).
  • You can submit a list in advance, or add your books as you read them.
  • There will be quarterly check-ins.

Challenge Levels:
  1. Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
  2. Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
  3. Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
  4. Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
  5. Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
  6. El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
  7. Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
  8. Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

✸ I'm signing up at the first level (Pike's Peak), so I'll be reading at least 12 books from my TBR pile.

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See the challenge announcement page HERE.
● See the review pages: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC.
● See the quarterly check-in pages:

MY READING LIST (Books I've read, with links to reviews):
  1. Mrs. Malory and the Lilies That Fester (Sheila Malory series #11). Hazel Holt (2001)
  2. Daisy Miller. Henry James (first published 1878)  [linked to review page 7/14/2016]
  3. To Have and Have Not. Ernest Hemingway (first published 1937)  [linked to review page 7/14/2016]
  4. Inkheart. Cornelia Funke (first published 2003)  [linked to review page 7/14/2016]
  5. The Vanishment. Jonathan Aycliffe (1994) 
  6. The Clocks (Hercule Poirot #34). Agatha Christie (1963)
  7. Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (Hercule Poirot #39). Agatha Christie (1975) 



Books I'd Like to Read in 2016 (all long-time TBR titles):
  • Afternoon Men. Anthony Powell
  • The Art of Mending. Elizabeth Berg
  • The Berlin Stories. Christopher Isherwood
  • The Book of the Dead. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child 
  • Busman's Honeymoon. Dorothy L. Sayers 
  • The Children's Book. A.S. Byatt 
  • Daisy Miller. Henry James 
  • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Philip K. Dick 
  • The Enchanted April. Elizabeth von Arnim 
  • The Europeans. Henry James 
  • The Fencing Master. Arturo Pรฉrez-Reverte 
  • Five Red Herrings. Dorothy L. Sayers 
  • Flaubert's Parrot. Julian Barnes 
  • Foundation. Isaac Asimov 
  • The Glass Room. Simon Mawer 
  • Identity. Milan Kundera 
  • Inkheart. Cornelia Funke
  • Invitation to the Waltz. Rosamond Lehmann 
  • Istanbul Passage. Joseph Kanon 
  • Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte 
  • July and August. Nancy Clark 
  • Jumping the Queue. Mary Wesley 
  • Just Kids. Patti Smith 
  • Los Alamos. Joseph Kanon 
  • Mrs. Malory and a Death in the Family. Hazel Holt
  • Mrs. Malory and a Necessary End. Hazel Holt
  • Mrs. Malory and the Lilies That Fester. Hazel Holt
  • The Moonstone. Wilkie Collins 
  • Murder At the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1). Agatha Christie 
  • Murder Must Advertise. Dorothy L. Sayers 
  • The Nine Tailors. Dorothy L. Sayers 
  • Prater Violet. Christopher Isherwood 
  • Prophecy. S.J. Parris 
  • Providence. Anita Brookner 
  • Relic. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child 
  • The Road to Lichfield. Penelope Lively 
  • The Secret Keeper. Kate Morton 
  • Silver on the Tree. Susan Cooper 
  • Time and Again. Clifford D. Simak 
  • Two Serious Ladies. Jane Bowles 
  • The Spoils of Poynton. Henry James 
  • Unnatural Death. Dorothy L. Sayers 
  • A Wreath of Roses. Elizabeth Taylor 
  • The Year of Magical Thinking. Joan Didion

Monday, August 31, 2015

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril / X

Artwork by Abigail Larson

Dates: September 1 through October 31, 2015
Hosted by: The Estella Society

Guidelines:

✸ There are several different levels of participation:
  • Peril the First: Read four books of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
  • Peril the Second: Read two books of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
  • Peril the Third: Read one book of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
  • Peril of the Short Story: An extra option, for those who want to read shorter works.
  • Peril on the Screen: Another extra option, for those who like to watch scary or suspenseful fare on the large or small screen.
  • Peril of the Group Read: A third extra -- see announcement page for info.
✸ Choose books from the following subgenres:
  • Mystery
  • Suspense
  • Thriller
  • Dark Fantasy
  • Gothic
  • Horror
  • Supernatural

✷ I'm signing up at the Peril the First level (four books), and I'll be combining that with Peril on the Screen and possibly Peril of the Group Read.

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See the challenge announcement page HERE.
See the review site HERE.

MY BOOK LIST (books read, with links to any reviews/notes):
  1. A Man of Some Repute. Elizabeth Edmondson (Mystery
  2. The Quick. Lauren Owen (Gothic / Horror / Supernatural)
  3. Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe #31). Rex Stout (Mystery)
  4. Slade House. David Mitchell (Horror / Dark Fantasy
  5. The Maltese Falcon. Dashiell Hammett (Mystery
  6. The Night Sister. Jennifer McMahon (Horror / Supernatural)  

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part 1 (Movies):
  1. The Apparition (2012)
  2. The Beast with Five Fingers (1946)
  3. Children of the Damned (1964) 
  4. Corruption (1968) 
  5. Hands of a Stranger (1962) 
  6. The Haunting (1963) 
  7. Mad Love (1935) 
  8. The Nanny (1965)
  9. Two On A Guillotine (1965) 
  10. White Noise 2: The Light (2007) 


MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part 2 (TV Shows):
1.
2.

❖❖❖❖❖❖
Perilous Reading Possibilities:
  • Blue Labyrinth. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
  • The Book of Lost Things. John Connolly
  • The Colony. F.G. Cottam 
  • Doll Bones. Holly Black; illus. by Eliza Wheeler
  • The Girl on the Train. Paula Hawkins
  • The Haunted Hotel. Wilkie Collins
  • The Midnight Side. Natasha Mostert
  • The Night Sister. Jennifer McMahon 
  • The Quick. Lauren Owen ✓
  • A Shadow on the Wall. Jonathan Aycliffe
  • Shadow Ritual. Eric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne
  • A Song of Shadows. John Connolly 
  • Strangers on a Train. Patricia Highsmith 
  • Tales of Men and Ghosts. Edith Wharton 
  • This House Is Haunted. John Boyne
  • The Vanishment. Jonathan Aycliffe

Screen Peril Possibilities:
  • The Awakening (2011 film)
  • The Beast with Five Fingers (1946 film) ✓
  • Dream House (2011 film)
  • Heavenly Creatures (1994 film)
  • I Confess (1953 film; Alfred Hitchcock)
  • The Haunting (1963 film; I watch this every year) ✓
  • Perception (TV series, 2012-15)
  • The Uninvited (1944 film; another one I watch every time RIP comes around)



Thursday, March 19, 2015

Once Upon a Time IX

 

Dates: March 21 - June 21, 2015
Hosted by: Carl @ Stainless Steel Droppings 

● See the announcement page HERE.
● See the review page HERE.
● See my original post about the challenge HERE.


I'll be signing up at the Journey level -- reading at least one book from one of the challenge genres (Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy and Mythology). Of course, I'll be hoping to do a little better than the one book, and maybe work my way up to Quest the First.

MY READING LIST (books/stories read, with links to reviews):
  1. Elidor. Alan Garner
  2. Nightbird. Alice Hoffman
  3. The Tale of Despereaux. Kate DiCamillo (illus. by Timothy Basil Ering)
  4. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll (re-read)


BOOKS STARTED BUT NOT FINISHED:
  1. Ella Enchanted. Gail Carson Levine 
  2. The Well-Wishers. Edward Eager





I'm also hoping to participate in Quest on Screen this year. If I succeed, I'll be listing the movies/TV shows here--

MY VIEWING LIST (with links to reviews):
1.


Monday, January 12, 2015

2015 "Reading Through Time" Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

***I'm assuming this challenge is ended, as the host has abandoned her blog***


Hosted by: Amy Yingling @ A Bookish Girl
Dates: January 6 - December 31, 2015

Guidelines:
  • Read any novel, short story or author just so that the genre is historical fiction.
  • 1 novel counts as 1 novel (a novel is anything over 100 pages); 5 short stories count as 1 novel.
  • Audio books and e-books also count.
  • There will be a monthly post for you to add a link or links to your post showing the progress that you have made so far.
  • There will be a book giveaway each month and for initially signing up.
Levels:
  • 5 books = Anthony Doerr
  • 10 books = Kate Morton
  • 15 books = Sarah Waters
  • 20 books = Linda Lafferty
  • 25 books = Hilary Mantel
  • 30 books = Philippa Gregory
  • 35 books = Ken Follett
  • 40+ books = Diana Gabaldon
✹ My Goal: "Anthony Doerr" (5 books)

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See the announcement /sign-up page HERE.
● See the review pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):
  1. The Witch of Painted Sorrows. M.J. Rose (published 2015 / set in 19th Century France)


Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2015

***Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.***

Hosted by: Amy Bruno @ Passages to the Past
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2015

Guidelines:
  • Choose your level.
  • Read any sub-genre of historical fiction (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
  • You don't need a blog to participate.
Levels:
  • 20th century Reader - 2 books
  • Victorian Reader - 5 books
  • Renaissance Reader - 10 books
  • Medieval - 15 books
  • Ancient History - 25 books
  • Prehistoric - 50+ books
✹ My goal: "Victorian Reader" (5 books)

● See my original post about the challenge HERE
● See the announcement/sign-up page HERE.
● See the review link-up pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December .
● See my wrap-up post HERE.

MY READING LIST (Books I've read, with links to reviews):
  1. As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust (Flavia de Luce #7). Alan Bradley (published 2015 / set around 1950)
  2. The Witch of Painted Sorrows. M.J. Rose (published 2015 / set in 19th Century France)
  3. A Fine Summer's Day (Inspector Ian Rutledge #17). Charles Todd (published 2015 / set in 1914)
  4. The Silence of Ghosts. Jonathan Aycliffe (first published 2013 / set during World War II)
  5. The Angel Court Affair (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt #30). Anne Perry (published 2015 / set in Victorian England) 
  6. Newport. Jill Morrow (published 2015 / set in 1921) 
  7. The Quick. Lauren Owen (published 2014 / set in late 19th Century England) 
  8. A Man of Some Repute. Elizabeth Edmondson (published 2015 / set in 1953) 


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Vintage Mystery Bingo 2015


Hosted by: Bev @ My Reader's Block
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2015

Guidelines (quoted from the announcement post):
  • All books must be from the mystery category (crime fiction, detective fiction, espionage, etc.). The mystery/crime must be the primary feature of the book--ghost stories, paranormal, romance, humor, etc are all welcome as ingredients, but must not be the primary category under which these books would be labeled at the library or bookstore.
  • Challengers may play either the Silver Age or Golden Age Card—or both. For the purposes of this challenge, the Golden Age Vintage Mysteries must have been first published before 1960. Golden Age short story collections (whether published pre-1960 or not) are permissible provided all of the stories included in the collection were originally written pre-1960. Please remember that some of our Golden Age Vintage authors wrote well after 1959--so keep an eye on the original publication date and apply them to the appropriate card. Silver Age Vintage Mysteries may be first published any time from 1960 to 1989 (inclusive). Again, Silver Age short story collections published later than 1989 are permissible as long as they include no stories first published later than 1989.
  • Challenge runs from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Sign up any time between now and November 4, 2015. Any books read from January 1 on may count regardless of your sign-up date. If you decide to go for broke and try to score on both cards, you only need sign up once--pick a card, any card for your link. 
  • Books can be used for other challenges.
  • Reviews aren't required, but would be nice.
  • One Free Space per card—you may use your Free Space to cover any spot on the board. The Free Space book must fulfill one of the categories from the card, but it may fulfill ANY space you like—even a category you have already fulfilled. For example…if you are having trouble finding a book to meet the “mode of transportation” category, but you really need that space to complete a BINGO then you may read a book that meets any other category on the board and use your Free Space to claim the “mode of transportation” space.
  • No double-counting. A book may not count for both the original category (say, "Woman in the Title") and as the Free Space to replace "mode of transportation." A second "Woman in the Title" would need to be read to complete the Free Space and replace "mode of transportation."
  • BINGOS may be claimed by completing all spaces in a row--horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You may also claim a “Four Corner” BINGO by reading a book for each of the four corners plus two more spaces—any two. A valid BINGO must have six complete spaces.
✹ I'll be reading Golden Age mysteries and working on Gold Card bingos. 


● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See challenge headquarters HERE.

FOUR CORNER BINGO:
  1. Color in the Title or Cover Color: The Red House Mystery, by A.A. Milne (first published 1922)
  2. Method of Murder in Title: .
  3. Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe #31), by Rex Stout (first published 1958)
  4. Book with Professional Detective: The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett (first published 1930)
  5. First Extra Square - Book featuring Lawyer, Courtroom, etc.: The Case of the Velvet Claws (Perry Mason #1), by Erle Stanley Gardner (first published 1933)
  6. Second Extra Square - Book Set in US or England: Gently Does It (Chief Inspector George Gently #1), by Alan Hunter (first published 1955; set in England)

Possible for "Method of Murder":

  • Behold, Here's Poison (Inspector Hannasyde #2). Georgette Heyer (1936) 
  • The Canvas Dagger (Inspector McKee #26). Helen Reilly (1956) 
  • The Case of the Drowning Duck (Perry Mason #20). Erle Stanley Gardner (1942) 
  • Cold Poison (Hildegarde Withers #15). Stuart Palmer (1954) 
  • The Drowning Pool (Lew Archer #2). Ross Macdonald (1950)
  • Name Your Poison (Inspector McKee #14). Helen Reilly (1942)
  • The Poisoned Chocolates Case (Roger Sheringham Cases #5). Anthony Berkeley (1929)