I've been able to update a bit more regularly than I did in the past, so that's something.
Since my last update, I've added completed tasks from Mawlid (Tasks 1 - 4), Penance Day (Tasks 1 & 3), and Thanksgiving (Tasks 1, 2 & 4). This brings my total points to 26, which is pretty darn good for me considering I only managed 18 points last year for the whole game. We've still got one more month of game and 13 doors left to reveal. There are, even, two more revealed doors I'm still working on, as well as a few books that I have yet to start reading yet!
The Festive Card:
 |
Peek-a-Boo Penni Claus = Completed Book Task |  |
Magnetic "Elfin" Monkey = Completed Non-Book Tasks |
My Progress:
Overall Total Points Earned: 26
Books Read: 2
Tasks Completed: 24
Current Tasks:
- Door 1 | Dia de los Muertos Book Task -- Reread of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- Door 9 | Thanksgiving Book Task -- Reading Midnight Sacrifice by Melinda Leigh
**For my own sanity purposes, I will link the main post for each door at the top of each table. All tasks listed under 'My Activity' will more than likely be found at the main post; otherwise, the link will be included for that particular task if a separate post is published outside of the main post, such as book reviews. Thanks!**
Door 1: Dia de los Muertos (November 1)
Total Points Earned: 2
Total Points Earned: 2
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Re-read an old favorite from a now-deceased author, a book from a finished (dead) series, or a book set in Mexico. | Current Read: 'Jurassic Park' by Michael Crichton |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Write a silly poem or limerick poking fun at the fiction character of your choice. | -- SKIP-- I don't poem... | XX |
| Task 2 | Share your favorite gravestone epitaph (you know you have one). | Posted Activity: Two epitaphs found - one with Kay's fudge recipe |
11/04/2018 |
| Task 3 | Create an altar (either digital or physical) for your favorite book, series, or book character, and post a picture of it. Inclusion of book cover encouraged. | -- SKIP -- No ideas for this one | XX |
| Task 4 | If you like Mexican food, treat yourself to your favorite dish and share a photo of it. | Posted Activity: Tamales at home for lunch! |
11/10/2018 |
Door 2: Guy Fawkes Night (November 5)
Total Points Earned: 3
Total Points Earned: 3
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Set in the UK, political thrillers, involving any monarchy or revolution; books about arson or related to burning. | Possible Reads: -- 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' by Baroness Emmuska Orczy -- 'Chasing Fire' by Nora Roberts |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Burn a book in effigy. Not that anyone of us would do such a thing, but if you HAD to, which book would be the one you’d sacrifice to the flames (gleefully or not)? | Posted Activity: Chose book: 'The Iron Daughter' by Julie Kagawa |
11/05/2018 |
| Task 2 | List your top 3 treasonous crimes against books. Not ones you’ve committed, but the ones you think are the worst. | Posted Activity: 1) Burning; 2) Defacing; 3) Borrowing and not returning, or returning damaged |
11/05/2018 |
| Task 3 | Share your favorite / most memorable BBQ recollections or recipe, or your favorite recipe for food “flambé” (i.e., doused with alcohol which is then set aflame and allowed to burn off). | Posted Activity: Korean BBQ for the wins! |
11/05/2018 |
| Task 4 | Find 5 uses of the word “gunpowder” in book titles in contexts other than for blowing up things or shooting people (e.g., Gunpowder Green by Laura Childs = tea). | -- Will probably SKIP this one -- | XX |
Door 3: Melbourne Cup Day (November 6)
Total Points Earned: 4
Total Points Earned: 4
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | About horses or a horse on the cover. Books with roses on the cover or about gardening; anything set in Australia. | Possible Reads: 'The Rose Garden' by Susanna Kearsley |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Pick your ponies! MbD will post the horses scheduled to race as soon as they’re released; everyone picks the three they think will finish (in any order). | Finished Activity: Horses chosen / Winners announced / no bonus points |
11/06/2018 |
| Task 2 | Cup day is all about the hats. Post a picture of your favorite hat, whether it’s one you own or not. | Posted Activity: My cadet hat and my 'This is my happy face' hat! |
11/06/2018 |
| Task 3 | The coloring of the “horse of a different color” in the movie version of The Wizard of Oz was created by rubbing the horse’s fur with jello. What’s the weirdest use of jello you’ve ever come across? | Posted Activity: Jello as hair dye. A short memory from high school |
11/09/2018 |
| Task 4 | Have you ever been to or participated in a competition involving horses (racing, jumping, dressage, whatever)? Tell us about it. Photos welcome, too! | Posted Activity: My first horse track racing experience in Dallas! |
11/06/2018 |
Door 4: Diwali (November 7)
Total Points Earned: 1
Total Points Earned: 1
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read a book with candles on the cover or the word “candle” or “light” in the title; OR a book that is the latest in a series; OR set in India; OR any non-fiction book that is ‘illuminating’ (Diwali is Sanskrit for light/knowledge and row, line or series) | Possible Read: -- 'The Woman Left Behind' by Linda Howard -- 'The Governess Game' by Tessa Dare -- 'Dim Sum of All Fears' by Vivien Chien |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Share a picture of your favorite light display. | Work in Progress (possible skip / still considering) |
TBA |
| Task 2 | Cleaning is a big part of this holiday; choose one of your shelves, real or virtual, and tidy / organise it. Give us the before and after photos. OR Tidy up 5 of the books on your BookLikes shelves by adding the CORRECT cover, and/or any other missing information. (If in doubt, see here: State of the Database: BookLikes database, Halloween Bingo, and a mini-rant - with pictures.). | -- Probably going to SKIP this one -- | XX |
| Task 3 | Eating sweets is also a big part of Diwali. Either select a recipe for a traditional sweet, or make a family favorite and share a picture with us. | Possible Activity: One of our culture's many sweet soups... maybe. |
TBA |
| Task 4 | During Diwali, people pray to the goddess Lakhshmi, who is typically depicted as a beautiful young woman holding a lotus flower. Find 5 books on your shelves (either physical or virtual) whose covers show a young woman holding a flower and share their cover images. | Posted Activity: Five books with young women holding flower; found with some difficulty, but successful! |
11/08/2018 |
Door 5: Armistice / Veterans' Day (November 11)
Total Points Earned: 2
Total Points Earned: 2
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read any book involving wars, battles, where characters are active military or veterans, or with poppies on the cover. | Possible Reads: 'Behind Enemy Lines' by Cindy Dees |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Using book covers (real or virtual), create a close approximation of your country’s flag (either of residence or birth), OR a close approximation of a poppy. Take a pic of your efforts and post. | Posted Activitiy: The Penni Book Cover Poppy!! With Monkey, too! |
11/13/2018 |
| Task 2 | Make an offer of peace (letter, gift, whatever) to a book character who has particularly annoyed you this year. | -- SKIPPING this one -- | XX |
| Task 3 | Tell us: What author’s books would you consider yourself a veteran of (i.e., by which author have you read particularly many books – or maybe even all of them)? | Posted Activity: Jayne Ann Krentz / Honorable Mention goes to Jill Shalvis |
TBA |
| Task 4 | Treat yourself to a slice of poppy seedcake and post a photo. If you want to make it yourself, try out this recipe: Poppy Seed Cake @ tastesbetterfromscratch.com … or this one: Lemon Poppy Seed Cake @ bbcgoodfood.com |
-- SKIPPING this one too -- | XX |
Door 6: International Day for Tolerance 2018 (November 16)
Total Points Earned: 3
Total Points Earned: 3
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read any fiction/non-fiction about tolerance or a book that’s outside your normal comfort zone. (Tolerance can encompass anything you generally struggle with, be it sentient or not.) OR Read a book set in Paris. | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Find some redeeming quality in the book you liked least this year and post about it. | Posted Activity: Chose book, This Wicked Gift by Courtney Milan |
11/19/2018 |
| Task 2 | Tell us: What are the tropes (up to 5) that you are not willing to live with in any book (i.e., which are absolutely beyond your capacity for tolerance) and which make that book an automatic DNF for you? (Insta-love? Love triangles? First person present narrative voice? Talking animals? The dog dies? What else?) | Posted Activity: Long-winded talk about 5 tropes -- see main post |
11/19/2018 |
| Task 3 | The International Day for Tolerance is a holiday declared by an international organization (UNESCO). Create a charter (humorous, serious, whatever strikes your fancy) for an international organization of readers. | -- Going to SKIP this one -- | XX |
| Task 4 | UNESCO is based in Paris. Paris is known for its pastries and its breads: Either find a baker that specializes in pastries and bring home an assortment for your family, or make your own pastries using real butter and share a photo with us. | Posted Activity: French Macaroons!! |
11/19/2018 |
Door 7: Mawlid (November 20)
Total Points Earned: 4
Total Points Earned: 4
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | If you can find a copy, read Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. Or read any book about a leader of a movement, nation, religion or large group, OR read a book with a green cover OR with a half moon on the cover. | Possible Reads: 'Tower of Thorns' by Juliet Marillier |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Make two “prophesies” you think will come to fruition in 2019 in your personal or reading life. | Posted Activity: Prophesies for cleaning and purging! |
11/20/2018 |
| Task 2 | The Five Pillars of Islam include almsgiving and the pilgrimage to Mekka. Tell us: Have you ever donated books or rescued them from (horror of horrors) being trashed? Alternatively: Is there a book-related place that is a place of pilgrimage to you? | Posted Activity: I have donated books to the library and Goodwill! |
11/20/2018 |
| Task 3 | Prophets are messengers. Tell us: Which book characters are your favorite messengers (no matter whether humans, angels, (demi)gods, etc.)? | Posted Activity: Messengers chosen: 1) Hedwig / 2) Ponies / 3) GLaDOS... Oh My! |
11/20/2018 |
| Task 4 | Muhammad was a merchant before becoming a religious leader. List 5 books on your shelves in which a key character makes / undergoes a radical career change. | Posted Activity: 5 characters listed -- see main door post above |
11/20/2018 |
Door 8: Penance Day (November 21)
Total Points Earned: 2
Total Points Earned: 2
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read any book concerning a man / woman of the cloth, a book about a character hiding a guilty secret or searching for absolution. | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | “Confess” your book habits. Dog-earring? Laying books face down? Bending back the spines? Skimming? OR: Confess your guilty reading pleasure, or comfort reads. | Posted Activities: Habits confessed! And also, comfort reads are obviously Romantic Suspense, right? |
11/24/2018 |
| Task 2 | It’s “Pennants” day according to MbD’s husband: post a picture of your favorite team’s logo / mascot and the last time they’ve won a championship (or not). | -- SKIPPING -- I don't sports... |
XX |
| Task 3 | In centuries gone by, penance would often end up in what might be described as a very extended bad hair day (complete with sackcloth and ashes). Tell us: What’s a bad hair day to you – and what (if anything) do you do about it? | Posted Activity: Everyday is a bad hair day. |
11/24/2018 |
| Task 4 | Early Christian spiritualists would sometimes do penance by spending time in the desert. If you’ve ever visited a desert region (or even live there), post a picture and tell us about it. Alternatively, post a picture of sand dunes (NOT with water in the background!). | -- Probably SKIP -- | XX |
Door 9: Thanksgiving (November 22)
Total Points Earned: 3
Total Points Earned: 3
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Autumnal covers, set in New England, or a turkey shows up in the story. | Possible Reads: 'Midnight Sacrifice' by Melinda Leigh |
TBA |
| Task 1 | List the 3 books you’ve read this year you’re most “thankful” for (your favs) or the one book you’ve ever read that changed your life for the better. | Posted Activity: Listed books! Four total instead of three. |
11/25/2018 |
| Task 2 | Describe your perfect meal. What would you cook for the perfect celebration, or, what would you have your imaginary personal chef cook for you? | Posted Activity: Chinese seafood banquet feast! |
11/25/2018 |
| Task 3 | Name a book you’ve read this year that you thought was full of “stuffing”. | Possible Activities: Work in progress... |
TBA |
| Task 4 | Show us your 2018 book “harvest” – the books you newly acquired this year, regardless whether bought, received as gift or in whichever other way. | Possible Activities: About 20+ books listed |
11/25/2018 |
Door 10: Bon Om Touk (November 22 - 24)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read a book that takes place at sea or on a river OR with water on the cover OR where the plot involves a festival or the moon plays a pivotal role in the plot. | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Make a paper boat and post a picture of it. Instructions, if needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiAWx8odStA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | If you’ve ever attended a procession or an event involving festively decked out boats, post a picture and tell us about it. | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | Bon Om Touk celebrates the end of the rainy season. Tell us: What’s your favorite type of rainy day book – and do you have a favorite drink or snack to go with your rainy day reading? Photos welcome! | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | Which are your 3 favorite books where a key character is “moonlighting”? | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 11: Russian Mother's Day (November 25)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read a book set in Russia, or involving a story within a story / play within a play (like the Russian matryoshka dolls stuck inside each other), or where a key character (not necessarily the protagonist) is a mother. | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | Tell us: What is the mother of all writerly sins in your book (tropes, grammar mistakes, telling instead of showing, etc.)? | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | Do you have a favorite Mothers’ Day memory that you are happy to share? Photos welcome but optional. | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | Perhaps the best-known scene in the James Bond novel and film From Russia With Love is 007 being poisoned by Russian agent Rosa Klebb with a venom-laced blade hidden in her shoe. Tell us: Have you ever owned any particular / outrageous / funny / best-beloved or otherwise special pair of shoes? Post a photo if you should still own them. | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | Make a traditional Russian dish like borscht, blintzes, pirogi or solyanka soup, and share a picture with us. Find recipe suggestions here: https://www.expatica.com/ru/about/Top-10-Russian-foods-and-recipes_108678.html | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 12: TBA (TBA)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | TBA | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 13: TBA (TBA)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | TBA | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 14: TBA (TBA)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | TBA | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 15: TBA (TBA)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | TBA | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 16: TBA (TBA)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | TBA | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 17: TBA (TBA)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | TBA | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 18: Winter Solstice / Yuletide (December 21)
Total Points Earned: 1
Total Points Earned: 1
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read any book that takes place in December; OR with ice or snow on the cover; OR that revolves around the (summer or winter) equinox; OR a collection of poetry by Hafez | Read: 'Midnight Exposure' by Melinda Leigh |
11/17/2018 |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 19: Festivus (December 23)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read any comedy, parody, or satire | Possible Reads: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 20: Christmas (December 25)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read any Christmas book. | Planned Read: 'How the Dukes Stole Christmas' anthology |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 21: Kwanzaa (December 26 - January 1)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read a book set in Africa or the Caribbean; OR by an African, Caribbean, or African-American author; OR a book with a green, red, or black cover. | Possible Reads: -- 'Tower of Thorns' by Juliet Marillier -- 'Den of Wolves' by Juliet Marillier |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 22: New Year's Eve (December 31)
Total Points Earned: 1
Total Points Earned: 1
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read a book about endings, new starts, or books where things go BOOM! | Read: 'The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs' by Steve Brusatte |
11/06/2018 |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 23: Hogswatch (December 32)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read anything by Terry Pratchett | Planned Read: 'The Light Fantastic' by Terry Pratchett |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
Door 24: Epiphany (January 6)
Total Points Earned: 0
Total Points Earned: 0
| Task | My Activity / Link to Post |
Date Completed |
|
| Book | Read a book with three main characters; OR a book about traveling on a journey to a faraway place; OR a book that's part of a trilogy; OR with a star on the cover; OR with the word "twelve" or "night" in the title; OR concerning kings or spices | Possible Read: 'Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier |
TBA |
| Task 1 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 2 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 3 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
| Task 4 | TBA | Possible Activities: TBA |
TBA |
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