2024 Alphabet Challenge

1. The Die-Hard Reader: For each letter of the alphabet, read a book whose title starts with that letter, and in addition, read a book published in one of the 30 years...yes, it can be the SAME book. You will need two lists: one of letters for the titles and one for the years. The book you read for the title does NOT have to be, but CAN be the one you use for the year.

2 The Semi-Diehard Reader: - You may CHOOSE to do EITHER 'titles" or "years". If you choose titles, you will need one list of letters for the titles. If you choose years, you will need one list of numbers for the years. You will only have ONE list of either letters or numbers.

3. The Picker and Dabbler: - You may pick a list of letters meaningful to you, OR a list of numbers. When you finish before December 31, 2023, you may add another list of letters or numbers...as many as you wish. You might make a new list each month. The letters you choose could be the letters in the names of your kids or grandkids, or the letters in your name, or the letters in the title of your favorite book, or the letters in your pet's name... a holiday or an event...whatever has meaning for you! Then read a book with a title that starts with each letter on your personal list. Be good and don't count "The", "And" "An" or "It". The categories that you choose may be as long or as short has you choose to make them.

If you choose to do "Years" that the book was published"... again years that have meaning to you. The year of your birth, The year of your marriage, your children of grandchildren's birth" etc. So that we will all be somewhat on the same page, please, no year before 1994.

If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I tried to cover everything that I thought might be questionable....and I probably won't remember why I made these rules to start with:)

Carol is a "Die-Hard"...Again. (I did so well last year...HA HA)!!!


Carol Tries This Again (for some unknown reason)

22/26
Titles
All Dolled Up - Chara Croft
Broken - Colette Davidson
Cutie for Kinkmas (A) - Morticia Knight
Daddy for Kinkmas (A) - Reece Morrison
Echo of Old Books (The) - Barbara Davis
Forgotten - Colette Davison
Grave's End - Elaine Mercado
Haunted Wisconsin - Michael Norman
If You Tell - Gregg Olsen
Just Like Mother - Anne Holtzer
Keeper of Hidden Books - Madaline Martin
Letter Z (The) - Marie Sexton
Make Me Stay - Annabeth Albert
Never Have I Evan - DJ Jamison
Order - Kindle D. Alexander
Please Tell Me - Mike Omer
Q
Rescue Me - K.M. Neuhold
Somebody to Love - April Wilson
Two Truths and A Lyle - DJ Jamison
Undisclosed Attractions - Carly Marie
Voyage of the Narwhal - Andrea Barrett
What Lies in The Woods - Kate Alice Marshall
X
Y
Z

19/31
Years:
1994
1995
1996 - The Poet - Michael Connely
1997
1998
1999 - The Voyage of the Narwhale - Andrea Barrett
2000 - A.J's Angel - L.A. Witt
2001- Grave's End - Elaine Mercado
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009 - Bad Luck and Trouble - Lee Child
2010 - The Michigan Murders - Edward Keyes
2011 - Haunted Wisconsin - Michael Norman
2012 - The Letter Z - Marie Sexton
2013 - Blindside - N.R. Walker
2014
2015 - Winter Oranges - Marie Sexton
2016 - From Out in the Cold - L A Witt
2017 - Rescue Me - K.M. Neuhold
2018 - Randall & Hudson - M.A. Innes
2019 - Somebody to Love - April Wilson
2020 - Forgotten - Colette Davison
2021 - All Dolled Up - Chara Croft
2022 - Silent Angel - Helen Phifer
2023 - Please Tell Me - Mike Omer
2024 - The Night of the Storm - Nishita Parekh.

Well, I'm gonna be a Semi-Diehard Reader again this year. It worked well last year and it's always fun to see this challenge take shape.

A: All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay
B: Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
C: City of Illusions by Ursula K. Le Guin
D: Dangerous Rhythms by T.J. English
E: Erec and Enide by Chrétien de Troyes
F: Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
G: Girls and their Monsters by Audrey Clare Farling
H: (The) Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
I:
J:
K: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
L: Last Train from Atlanta by A.A. Hoehling
M: (The) Malta Exchange by Steve Berry
N:
O: (The) Once and Future King by T.H. White
P: (The) Poet by Michael Connelly
Q:
R: Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin
S: (The) Shattered World by Michael Reaves
T: Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
U:
V: (A) Very Private School by Charles Spencer
W:When Gods Die by C. S. Harris
X:
Y:
Z:

Here's hoping for mostly finishing this list!

Last year I dabbled. This year I will try my hand at semi-diehard. I know I won't fill in each letter, but it's fun anyway!

A. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
B. (The) Black Seal and Other Stories by Arthur Machen
C. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
D.
E.
F.
G. (The) God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
H.
I. (The) Invisible Life of Addie Larue
J.
K.
L. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
M.
N. (The) Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
O.
P.
Q.
R. River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard
S. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
T.(The) Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
U.
V. (The) Venus Hunters by J G Ballard
W. (The) Wind from Hastings by Morgan Llywelyn
X.
Y.
Z.

I like doing the years, too. I missed three Title letters in 2023 (XYZ) and three years (93, 96, 99).
Let's see how I do this year.

Titles
A: Against a Brightening Sky / Jaime Lee Moyer. 3.5 stars
B: Before and After / Judy Christie, Lisa Wingate. 3 stars
C: The Cold Vanish / Jon Billman. 3.5 stars
D: Death Cruise / Lawrence Block (ed). 4 stars
E: Enslaved by Ducks / Bob Tarte. 4 stars
F: Fayne / Ann-Marie MacDonald. 3 stars
G: Get Well Soon / Jennifer Wright. 4 stars
H: Hell's Half-Acre / Susan Jonusas. 3.5 stars
I: An Inquiry Into Love and Death / Simone St. James. 2.5 stars
J: Julia Child: A Life / Laura Shapiro. 3.5 stars
K: Killer Dead, Victim Alive / Michael Geczi. 4 stars
L: Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets / Rosemary Simpson. 3.5 stars
M: The Man Who Lived Underground / Richard Wright. 3 stars
N: The Night of the Storm / Nishita Parekh. 4 stars
O: The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot / Marianne Cronin. 3.5 stars
P: The Paris Apartment / Lucy Foley. 4 stars
Q:
R: Requiem / Lauren Oliver. 3.5 stars
S: Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come / Jessica Pan. 4 stars
T: The Traitor's Wife / Susan Higginbotham. 4.25 stars
U: Up and Down / Terry Fallis. 4 stars
V: Victoria / Daisy Goodwin. 4 stars
W: The Word Exchange / Alena Graedon. 2.75 stars
X:
Y: You May Also Like / Tom Vanderbilt. 3.5 stars
Z:

Years:
1994: Three Bedrooms, One Corpse / Charlaine Harris. 3 stars
1995: The Sandman, Vol. 3: Dream Country / Neil Gaiman. 4 stars
1996:
1997:
1998:
1999: Death Cruise / Lawrence Block (ed). 4 stars
2000: Roses are Red / James Patterson. 4 stars
2001: Son of the Shadows / Juliet Marillier. 3.75 stars
2002:
2003: Arbella / Sarah Gristwood. 2.75 stars
2004: Bet Me / Jennifer Crusie. 3.5 stars
2005: Red Lily / Nora Roberts. 3 stars
2006: Cell / Stephen King. 3.5 stars
2007: Calligraphy of the Witch / Alicia Gaspar de Alba. 3.5 stars
2008: Stonehenge / Rosemary Hill. 2. stars
2009: The Traitor's Wife / Susan Higginbotham. 4.25 stars
2010: The Homing Instinct / Bernd Heinrich. 3.25 stars
2011: The Lake of Dreams / Kim Edwards. 3.25 stars
2012: Garment of Shadows / Laurie R. King. 2.5 stars
2013: Not a Drop to Drink / Mindy McGinnis. 3.75 stars
2014: The Word Exchange / Alena Graedon. 2.75 stars
2015: Against a Brightening Sky / Jaime Lee Moyer. 3.5 stars
2016: The Genius of Birds / Jennifer Ackerman. 3.5 stars
2017: Get Well Soon / Jennifer Wright. 4 stars
2018: Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets / Rosemary Simpson. 3.5 stars
2019: Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come / Jessica Pan. 4 stars
2020: The Cold Vanish / Jon Billman
2021: The Man Who Lived Underground / Richard Wright. 3 stars
2022: Fayne / Ann-Marie MacDonald. 3 stars
2023: Lottery of Secrets / Nadija Mujagic. 4 stars
2024: The Night of the Storm / Nishita Parekh. 4 stars

(X, Z and 2002 eluded me in 2023…)

Titles:

A: Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison - M. C. Beaton 4★s
B: Blood Lines - Angela Marsons 5★s
C: Country Wives - Rebecca Shaw 4★s
D: (The) Dragon - Alfred Coppel 4.5★s
E: Empty Nets and Promises - Denzil Meyrick 5★s
F: For Any Other Truth - Denzil Meyrick 5★s
G: (The) Gold-Seekers - Gustave Aimard 4★s
H: (The) Healing Stream - Connie Monk 3★s
I: In the Woods - Tana French 5★s
J: Journey to Munich - Jacqueline Winspear 5★s
K: (The) Knight’s Tale - M. J. Trow 5★s
L: (The) Last Devil to Die - Richard Osman 5★s
M: Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North - Rachel Joyce 4★s
N: (A) New Lease of Death - Ruth Rendell 4★s
O: One Christmas Star - Mandy Baggot 4★s
P: Pride of Lancashire - Anna Jacobs 4.25★s
Q: Q-Strike: The Q Continuum III - Greg Cox 4★s
R: (The) Red Track - Gustave Aimard 4★s
S: Sourdough - Robin Sloan 3.75★s
T: That Summer in Ischia - Penny Feeny 3.75★s
U: Uncommon Type - Tom Hanks 3★s
V: (The) Village Show - Rebecca Shaw 4★s
W: (The) Woman in the White Kimono - Ana Johns 4.5★s
X:
Y: (The) Year I Met You - Cecelia Ahern 3★s
Z:

30 Years:

1994: Maxwell’s House - M. J. Trow 5★s
1995:
1996: The Poet - Michael Connelly 4.5★s
1997: The Village Show - Rebecca Shaw 4★s
1998: Q-Strike: The Q Continuum III - Greg Cox 4★s
1999: Deadly Friends Stuart Pawson 5★s
2000: The Brethren - John Grisham 4★s
2001: Country Wives - Rebecca Shaw 4★s
2002: Laughing Boy - Stuart Pawson 5★s
2003: Winterkill - C. J. Box 4.5★s
2004: Fleshmarket Close - Ian Rankin 5★s
2005: Pride of Lancashire - Anna Jacobs 4.25★s
2006: Shooting Elvis - Stuart Pawson 5★s
2007: In the Woods - Tana French 5★s
2008: Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison - M. C. Beaton 4★s
2009: Maxwell’s Revenge - James Oswald 4.5★s
2010: Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body - M. C. Beaton 4★s
2011: That Summer in Ischia - Penny Feeny 3.75★s
2012: Blood Never Dies - Cynthia Harrod-Eagles 4★s
2013:
2014: The Year I Met You - Cecelia Ahern 3★s
2015: A Dangerous Place - Jacqueline Winspear 5★s
2016: Blood Lines - Angela Marsons 5★s
2017: Sourdough - Robin Sloan 3.75★s
2018: The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder - Sarah J. Harris 4★s
2019: One Christmas Star - Mandy Baggot 4★s
2020: A Dark Matter - Doug Johnstone 3.5★s
2021: The Marlow Murder Club - Robert Thorogood 5★s
2022: Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North - Rachel Joyce 4★s
2023: The Last Devil to Die - Richard Osman 5★s

Semi-Die Hard Reader here! Hoping I can complete this, this year! This is also my first time here so I am excited!

A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F: Fourth Wing
G:
H:
I: Iron Flame
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

>7 alexandra319: Welcome to the group and good luck with the challenge.

>7 alexandra319: Welcome, 🙂.

>7 alexandra319: Welcome and good luck! Not sure how many years I've tried to do this, but I don't think I've ever gotten an X!

>10 LibraryCin: Sergie got an X author last year, but I don't remember who it was. How many of them can there be???

>11 Carol420: LOL! I can't imagine there are many!

>12 LibraryCin: There were more than I ever thought. He's the ones that Goodreads showed. I should be able to find one out of these...just do I want to read their book:)
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/42210.Authors_Starting_With_X_

>13 Carol420: Ahhh, good question. I tend to like to go off my tbr without picking something new. But you're right... if I went off my tbr I'm sure I could find something.

>10 LibraryCin: >11 Carol420:
X for Xarissa - Diana Xarissa, to be precise. She writes cozy mysteries, and likes writing 26 in a series with titles in alphabetical order. Very handy for alphabetical challenges, 😉.

>15 Sergeirocks: Thank you. You have made this so much easier. I might actually finish it this year:)

>15 Sergeirocks: LOL! Nice!

Welcome, and good luck to all for finding the X marking the spot on your list.

Hello Friends! I hope everyone enjoyed this challenge as much as I did. No, I did not fill in all of the alphabet. I did have fun though and I learned that I read mostly books that start with the letters A, B, C, G, I, L, N, R, S, T, V, and W. If we do this challenge in 2025, I might change to dates and see what happens. Anyone else have any thoughts on how they did with this challenge?

>19 craso: Almost everyone has a problem with X and Z. Dates are easier...but the really early ones are often problematic. Just have fun...that's all that matters.