Welcome back everyone! We are so pleased you are joining us for the special, bonus episode of our podcast book group: Reading with Libraries!

In our book group we have fun talking about books, and provide useful information for library people doing Reader’s Advisory work. There are so many books out there that it’s tough to be an expert on all of them. But this week we are here to help you blow through a lot of new books. We are talking about book challenges!!

Who is joining us this week? We are happy to welcome returning Guest Host Ariel Kirst, from the Great River Regional Library System!

Beverages:

Each week we like to connect the theme of our books with our beverages, and we each came prepared with our own drink to enjoy while we talk about our books. You are an important part of this book group, so if you don’t have a beverage go ahead and get one now. Each of our beverages will have a recipe or a link on our episode page, so you can try them yourself!

This week we are looking at beverages from different books. (Find them all on this website) Enjoy the beverage and also the book!

Vesper Martini, Casino Royale, 1953

• 3 measures gin
• 1 measure vodka
• ½ measure Lillet (see tip)
• Lemon twist to serve

Shake (don’t stir) all the ingredients over ice (see tip if making for a party), then strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a lemon twist (see tip), then serve straightaway.

Jack Rose, The Sun Also Rises, 1926

• Shake 50ml cider brandy, such as calvados or Somerset Cider Brandy
• 25ml lemon juice
• 25ml grenadine
• Ice

Shake all the ingredients together with ice.

Strain into a martini glass and enjoy the inspiring apple hit.

Mint julep, The Great Gatsby, 1925

Ingredients:

• 2.5 ounces bourbon
• 25–30 mint leaves
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• ice cubes
• crushed ice

For the mint simple syrup:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 large bunch mint leaves

Instructions:

1. First, you’ll make the simple syrup. Combine the water and sugar and bring to a boil. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Place the bunch of mint leaves in an old mason jar (or other heatproof container) and pour the syrup over the leaves. Place the jar in the fridge and let the leaves steep in the syrup for at least one hour. Strain the leaves from the liquid and set the syrup aside.

2. Place your 25–30 mint leaves in a cocktail shaker and pour in the 2.5 ounces of bourbon as well as one ounce of your simple syrup. Top with a few ice cubes and stir. Fill your chilled silver cup with ice about halfway. Strain the liquid from the cocktail shaker into the cup. Pack crushed iced on top of the liquid to the top of the glass. Garnish the drink with a sprig of mint leaves and a straw.

p – then you’ll seem less stupid to yourself”. Ouch.

Strawberry gin fizz, from Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy, 1971

• 400g fresh, ripe strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
• Small bunch fresh mint, leaves torn, plus extra small sprigs to serve
• 2 tsp caster sugar, dissolved in 30ml boiling water to make a syrup
• 100ml gin
• 2 handfuls ice cubes
• 1 bottle prosecco

Put the strawberries, torn mint and half the sugar syrup in a large jug and muddle with the end of a rolling pin or handle of a wooden spoon until lightly crushed and bruised and releasing their juices.

Add the gin, ice cubes and prosecco, then stir and taste, adding extra sugar syrup if needed. Serve in chilled champagne flutes or glasses garnished with sprigs of fresh mint.

Our Book Discussion:

Now that we are all clutching our beverages, let’s talk about book challenges!

You know we love Goodreads. We talk about them often on this podcast, and we link to the lists they share of all kinds of collections of books we not only never heard of, but never even dreamed they existed. Goodreads is a fun, user-driven community of book lovers; and those are our kinds of people.

If you have not tried a book challenge, we want to give you a gentle push in that direction. It’s a great way to stretch yourself outside your usual reading, and to find all kinds of books you never considered reading. Some you will love, some will not be winners to you – it’s an opportunity to explore!

We have links on our shownotes page to all the challenges we discuss here; and we encourage you to browse around to find others you would enjoy.

Probably the most straightforward challenge is from Goodreads itself: the annual reading challenge. At the beginning of the year, you set a number goal for the number of books you plan to read. No shame if you don’t hit it; no prizes if you do. It’s all for you! “This is a supportive, fun group of people looking for people just like you. Track your annual reading goal here with us, and we have challenges, group reads, and other fun ways to help keep you on pace. There will never be a specific number of books to read here or pressure to read more than you can commit to. Your goal is five? Great! You think you want to read 200? Very cool!

We won’t kick you out for not participating regularly, but we’ll love it if you do. Join us!”

One of the most popular challenges is the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge. “This group is for people participating in the Popsugar reading challenge for 2019. The Popsugar website posted a reading challenge that included a list of 40 different ways to choose your next book to read plus an additional 10 for an “advanced challenge”. In this group we will follow those lists (whether you do all 50 or stick to 40) to choose books to read for 2019. Starting January 1, 2019 we will compare books, lists and the number of books we’ve all read from the list. Anyone is welcome in this group so feel free to invite your friends!”

Here are a few of the prompts:

1. A book becoming a movie in 2019     
2. A book that makes you nostalgic        
3. A book written by a musician 
4. A book you think should be turned into a movie        
5. A book with at least 1m ratings on Goodreads
6. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover          
7. A reread of a favorite book     
8. A book about a hobby
9. A book you meant to read in 2018     

You might like The Seasonal Reading Challenge. “The Seasonal Reading Challenge consists of a set of tasks to be completed during the current season. Our seasons run a little differently: March-May, June-August, September-November, December-February. Any book read during the challenge period that fits a task may be claimed, but a book may only be used once per season. You may join in at any time during a challenge. The tasks each have a point value indicated in their title- 5.1 indicates the first task worth 5 points, 25.3 is the third task worth 25 points, etc..

The 5, 10, and 15 point tasks are designed by the group moderators with group input. There is a “Task Ideas” suggestion thread posted for each season. The 20 point tasks are designed by the “winners” of group polls and random drawings. The 25-30 point tasks are designed by players who completed the previous season’s challenge. The 50 point task is posted at the midpoint of the challenge, approximately 6 weeks into the season. All the specifics are described in Rewards of the Challenge in the Rules folder. The tasks reflect the current season, i.e. holidays, weather, etc., the year’s “bonus” theme, and ideas added just for fun. The tasks may be done in any order.”

Winter Challenge 2018: Tasks – a few sample prompts:

5.1 – This and That
Help Thread
This, That, These and Those are demonstratives used grammatically to point to people and things.
Read a book with This, That, These or Those in the title or subtitle. Words must match exactly. That Summer, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, In This Grave Hour

5.2 – The Book Flood Cometh
Help Thread
Iceland looks forward to Jólabókaflóð which translated means “The Book Flood of Christmas” the common practice of giving and receiving books as Christmas gifts. Read a book FIRST published in October, November or December of any year.


5.3 – Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day … .-. -.-. 
Help Thread
Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day is January 11, the anniversary of the first public demonstration of the electric telegraph. Or try Another translator
Read a book with ALL the letters in DOT DASH (including 2 Ds) in the title and/or subtitle 

Some challenges have lots of challenges in one handy place. Cozy Mystery Bingo Challenges is one such destination. 

Here are some prompts from their 2019 Series Challenge:

Challenge: Read a total of 19 books. You will need to find and read a book with a matching series number. 

For example:
1: Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander – A Bakeshop Mystery #1 
2: A Witch Before Dying by Heather Blake – A Wishcraft Mystery #2   
3: Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower – Amish Candy Shop Mystery #3 

The books you read between January 1 – December 31, 2019 will count towards this challenge. Books must be a cozy mystery and have a minimum of 150 pages. 

For each cozy you read, you must link the book and author. Please include the series name and the date that you finished reading the book.  There’s no limit to how many times you use a series. If you want more of a challenge, you can choose to only use a series once. Totally up to you. Have fun and happy reading!!

They also have a Cozy Cover Scavenger Hunt challenge:

Challenge: Find and read a cozy with an item that is listed below. You can only use a book to find 1 item, meaning you will read a total of 25 books. Books must have a minimum of 150 pages. 
Scavenger list: (a few prompts)
1. Knife
2. Gun
3. Dog
4. Cat
5. Person
6. Flowers

And there is The Maze of Mystery:

Enter at the center bottom of the maze at #5. Turn left or right and wind your way to one of the three outlets (#8, #6, #7) at the top. 

Read a book associated with the number on the maze.

You may choose any path.

You may not cross a solid line. 

Books must be at least 150 pages.


THEMES

1 HEY, Y’ALL: Read a cozy set in the Southern United States
2 KNIT ONE, PURL TWO: Read a cozy about a craft Any craft is allowed
3 IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT: Read a paranormal cozy
4 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Read a cozy about real estate, home improvement or interior design
5 HEY GOOD LOOKING! WHATCHA GOT COOKING?: Read a culinary cozy
6 IN MY OWN LITTLE CORNER, IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD: Read a cozy about books. 
7 IT’S FIVE O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE: Read a cozy about drinks. This can include beer, wine, bars, pubs, coffee and tea
8 DOWN AND DIRTY: Read a gardening cozy. This can include florist, flowers, farms and bees
9 HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?: Read a cozy about animals. This includes vets, pet food, pet treats and zoos.

Around the Year in 52 Books “52 books for 52 weeks. Each week, members read the book of their choice for that week’s challenge requirement.”

1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy 
2. A book with one of the 5 W’s in the title (Who, What, Where, When, Why)
3. A book where the author’s name contains A, T, and Y 
4. A book with a criminal character (i.e. assassin, pirate, thief, robber, scoundrel etc)

5. A book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare
6. A book with a dual timeline  13. A book that is included on a New York Public Library Staff Picks list
14. A book with a title, subtitle or cover relating to an astronomical term 
15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country 
16. A book told from multiple perspectives 
17. A speculative fiction (i.e. fantasy, scifi, horror, dystopia)

18. A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements 
19. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR
20. A book featuring indigenous people of a country

Great Barrier Reef Bingo

Here’s how it works:
Each bingo space has a “Great Barrier Reef” word in it – you complete a space one of FOUR ways. Remember there is NO FREE SPACE!
1. Title Begins with the First OR Last letter of the Word (Use or Disregard A, An or The). **For the middle square you will use T or F. 
2. Author’s First AND Last Initials Found in the Word(s).
3. Word Found in the TITLE or TEXT of book. Please share “portion of text” with page/location if using the TEXT option. **For the middle square the word must be “barrier” or “reef”.
4. Item found on cover – post cover. 

You only need ONE of the above to complete the square AND you can mix and match tasks to complete a line. Be sure to tell us what task you used when posting completed squares. .

Choose a level of participation or work the levels as you go:
Level One: Complete One Line (horizontal, vertical or diagonal)
Level Two: Complete Two Lines
Level Three: Complete Three Lines
Level Four: Complete Four or More Lines

Conclusion:

Thank you so much for joining us for this special bonus discussion with our Reading with Libraries podcast book group! A special thank you to our Guest Host Ariel!

Stay right here, and next Tuesday on this feed you will start receiving our quickie book review podcast: Book Bites. Each episode is four or five minutes long, and our Guests will tell you about a book they are reading or one they have loved.

Want to have some fun with library skills? We will be helping your build your skill collection starting next Thursday. Subscribe to Linking Our Libraries, or just listen on our website. We will be using books, and other pop culture tools, to frame and develop skills you can use at work – join us there! (Bonus spoiler note: Ariel will be there with us, and you won’t want to miss it!)

Thanks for being part of the book group! We love reading with you!!