One of the most famous detective board games is Clue/Cluedo made by Parker Brothers. This challenge will be based around the characters, weapons and rooms from the original game. The challenge will run for a year, until Oct 1, 2011. Books may only be used once for this challenge, so you'll be reading 17 to 22 books to complete the challenge.
Clue Characters:
Read a book where someone on the cover is wearing the same color clothes as the clue character. (ie a red dress, a green suit, etc. Outfit on cover does not have to be specifically a dress or suit, as long as the person on the cover is prodominately dressed in the color.) Read one book for each person.
Miss Scarlet (a red piece)
Colonel Mustard (a yellow piece)
Mrs. White (a white piece)
Mr. Green (a green piece)
Mrs. Peacock (a blue piece)
Professor Plum (a purple piece)
Weapons:
Read a book where either one of the following weapons is pictured on the cover, specifically named in the title, or was used to murder someone in the book. Read one book for each weapon.
Dagger/Knife
Candlestick
Revolver (any revolver or pistol)
Rope
Lead Pipe
Wrench/Spanner
Rooms:
Read a book with one the following rooms pictured on the cover, specifically named in the title, or featured prominately in the plot. The room doesn't have to be the main place the story takes place but if the characters just walk through the room once it isn't enough to count. If an entire scene takes place in the room, then it's enough to qualify. Choose 5 of the 10. (Some will be harder, so you don't have to find them all unless you want to.)
Kitchen
Ballroom
Conservatory
Dining Room
Billard Room
Library
Study
Hall
Lounge
Cellar/Stairs (where the envelope with the solution was kept)
BONUS #1: Read a book based on the actual game Clue. Example: Clue series by A.E. Parker
BONUS #2: Play the board game with family and/or friends.
BONUS #3: Watch the movie CLUE starring Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Lesley Ann Warren, Michael McKean, Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn, and Martin Mull.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clue_(film)
NOTE: The books read for this challenge do not have to all be mysteries. It's your choice.
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Sherlock Holmes
Based on the life and events of the fictional character Sherlock Holmes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
You have 6 months to finish this challenge from when you start. Please put your start date on your post. This allows anyone to join us later. Note: Some books for this challenge will need to be mysteries, but you don't have to use all mysteries unless you want to.
1. Sherlock Holmes – Read a book with a detective or private eye as a main character.
2. Dr. John H. Watson – Read a book where the person solving the mystery has an assistant or helper.
3. 221 B Baker Street – Read a book with an address in the title, or mentioned somewhere in the book. Or there is a character named Baker, or Baker is in the title, or is part of the author’s name.
4. London – Read a book that takes place in England.
5. Books - There are 4 novels and 56 short stories that make up the Sherlock Holmes original works. Read any one of those, or you may read a book that is based on Sherlock Holmes in any way.
6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Read a book by an author with a 3 word name, the author is knighted (Sir or Dame), Or “Arthur”, “Conan” or “Doyle” is found in the authors name (including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, if you wish to read another book by the author himself).
7. Smoking – Holmes smoked a Meerschaum pipe, and occasionally cigarettes and cigars. Read a book where there is a pipe, cigarettes, or cigar either on the cover, in the title, or used by a main character in a book.
8. Drugs – Holmes had a habit of using cocaine and occasionally morphine as a stimulant. Read a book where drugs are part of the story or someone uses a stimulant (including caffeine).
9. Deductive Reasoning – Holmes was famous for this. Read a book where a mystery is solved by following and interpreting clues.
10. Disguise – Holmes frequently disguised himself. Read a book where, for whatever reason, someone wears a disguise or costume.
11. Forensic Science – This was used frequently by Holmes. Read a book where some type of forensic science is mentioned. It could be anything from fingerprints to CSI type lab work.
12. Deerstalker hat & cape – This was what Holmes is usually pictured wearing. Read a book where someone wears either a hat or a cape, of any kind, at some point in the book. (Police officers, cowboy, etc.)
13. Dr. Moriarty – He was Holmes’ archvillian. Read a book where there is one major villain.
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Cozy Themes
#1 British - English - Books that take place in the United Kingdom countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
#2 Historical/Period - Any book that takes place prior to 1940.
#3 Animals - Any book with an animal as a main character, subject of the book, book takes place in a pet shop, stable, etc.
#4 Culinary/Cooking - Food themed mysteries.
#5 Paranormal - Anything centered around the occult, witches, vampires, werewolves, Psychics, ghosts, etc.
#6 Vacation Mysteries/Exotic Locations - Any book that takes place outside the United States and/or outside the country in which you live.
#7 Holidays - Any holiday themed mystery.
#8 Hobbies - Any mystery that centers around a hobby, craft, sport, etc.
#9 Professions/Careers/Jobs/Occupations - Any mystery that centers on or highlights a particular job. Doesn't matter if the job is that of the person murdered, or that of the amateur slueth.
#10 Senior Slueths - Read a mystery where the sleuth is 50 or older.
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Around the World in 80 Books
1. This will last multiple years. Start date:
2. Read books that take place in 80 different countries starting with your home country.
3. During your journey, visit countries within the following 9 regions: North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania/Australia, and Antarctica.
4. Books must actually take place within the country. If it takes place in multiple countries, you must pick one of the main countries.
5. There are close to 200 recognized countries in the world. However, for the sake of the challenge, you will not be held to using only independent nations. It is perfectly acceptable to using territories, constituent countries, islands, and independent states (not US). If you need some help, here is a handy website: http://worldatlas.com/nations.htm
6. Re-reads are perfectly acceptable, as are audio books.
7. All books must be at least 100 pages in length, or the equivalent.
8. Please state the region (see #2), the country, the book title, and the author during each new post.
9. There will be two different challenge tracts:
1) Trekker (more difficult)
• Assuming that you are using the modes of transportation available during Jules Verne’s’ time, you will travel in consecutive order to countries adjacent to each other or directly accessible over bodies of water. This would follow a logical trip itinerary of circumnavigation, with limited “zigzagging” between destinations.
• You may need to “travel” to a given country more than one time during your itinerary. You can go to any one country as many times as you like, but it will only count once.
2) Frequent Flyer (Easier)
• Even though you still have to start at your country of origin, you are free to travel at random around the globe with no specific route or itinerary.
• You must still visit countries in all 9 specified regions.
BONUS (optional): Countries A to Z. There are countries for every letter except X. Try to include at least one country for each letter of the alphabet during your reading journey! I will accept the names of provinces in Canada and China as well as Mexican states for use in the A to Z Challenge. These, however will not count as individual countries in the country challenge.
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