The Challenge Factory discussion

Captain: Vicky

Members:

Diana S.
Book Concierge
Alley
Vicky


Free Pass

Link to the spreadsheet

Words of the week:
1. Baby
2. Camp
3. Pork
4. Wide
5. Quit
6. Flag
7. Home
8. View
9. Jail
10. Nest

Bonus Words:
1. Pancake
2. Newspaper
3. Fan
4. Hotel/Motel
5. Football
6. Barn
7. Mask
8. Pie
9. Attorney/Lawyer
10. Chicken
Please note there will be one extra word of the week & one extra bonus word that won't be used

Letter Values:
A 1
B 4
C 4
D 2
E 1
F 4
G 3
H 3
I 1
J 10
K 5
L 2
M 4
N 2
O 2
P 4
Q 10
R 1
S 1
T 1
U 3
V 5
W 4
X 10
Y 4
Z 10

Hi Everyone! Looking forward to R4! We're going to have fun!

Hello! Sorry I didn't check in yesterday, my computer died and I had to get some new parts for it. :(

Looking forward to it, I'm already starting a list of books with the bonuses in them!

Hi all! This game is a ton of fun and I can't wait to get started!

Hi Vicky and Alley,
we just need one more to check in and everyone will be counted for.
Do any of you want to be Captain for this go around?

Hi, Teammates!

You can call me Tessa or BC.

I would rather NOT be captain. This is my first time playing (and you can blame Diana S for getting me involved ..LOL).

Do we need to come up with a team name .. or is it just Chicago?

Team name suggestion: Playing off of Frank Sinatra's famous song "My Kinda Town, Chicago is ..." - How about My Kinda Book - Chicago (not sure if we need to keep Chicago as part of our name)

I've been checking through my tbr, the books I have on hand and the books I can easily get at the library to prepare a list of books that would work for every WOW and every Bonus word ("pancake" is a killer!).

************Test post, this is around the time I'll call the word on Fridays****************

You're Welcome Tessa! :D

I think we can change it - if we want too! I like your suggestion.:)

If anyone wants to be captain, please step forward.

I like My Kinda Book - Chicago!

I didn't want to be captain, but if no one else does I'll take one for the team. ;)

I think the deadline for notifying Jenne of our captain and team name is TODAY.
The first word should be announced tomorrow morning.

Is anyone friends with Alley to send her a message to check in?

I'm not friends with her, but it looks like she accepts messages from non-friends, so I'll shoot her over a message.

Oh, my ... I just read through some of the other teams' posts and they are WAY more organized. Are we behind, or am I panicking?

I've got a list of books ready to go for tomorrow's announcement of the first WOW and Bonus Word. How do I know which letter I'm supposed to cover, though?

BC your team gets to work out whatever system they'd like to use for picking out letters. The main thing is to work together and help each other out. Look through last rounds archives if you want. All of the teams work together really well.

I think we'll be fine.

I've seen teams pre-plan letters and teams go on a first come first serve basis when the word gets called, either way works.

I don't prefer pre-planning because we never know what the combination for the week will be until we get there. Since the challenge runs for two months and the words are random you might have to wait two months to read a book you're really excited about due to a pre-plan. If everyone feels strongly that we should have a plan though, I'm flexible, it's just a preference. ;)

If we have books that fit and don't mind waiting to read them, we may want to consider pre-planning some of the harder to find letters. For example, f you have a book for "Q" that has "Quit" and 9/10 Bonus Words in it, there's a good chance that we won't find anything better for Q.

Thanks, Vicky
I finished my books yesterday and I'm spending today reading magazines so I can begin with tomorrow's WOW book right away.

I'm fine with the name y'all came up with. I do not want to be captain - not enough free time.

As for letter choosing, I prefer a first-come-first-serve method.

I got us all situated!

Everyone ready for tomorrow? :)

I also agree with the First-come-first-serve method.

Oh that great Vicky! Thank you! I'm ready for tomorrow,
Bright and Early! :D

Ready to go ... hope the WOW and bonus are announced before I have to leave for work, so I know what book to take with me!

OK, it's Nest and Newspaper.

I'll take the letter s.

I'll be reading:
The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens.

Week 1 - WOW - Nest / Bonus - newspaper

I'll take E
reading a book by E lizabeth Berg which has both WoW and Bonus

I'll take N.

Nearly Departed in Deadwood - Ann Charles

I got the T then! ;)

I'm looking through my books to find one that hopefully works for both bonuses. I hadn't quite gotten to T yet! haha

I'm between two books right now - both have both of the bonuses, but I'll pick soon!

I also started a spreadsheet to keep track of everything, the link is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/c...

Vicky wrote: "I'm between two books right now - both have both of the bonuses, but I'll pick soon!

I also started a spreadsheet to keep track of everything, the link is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet..."

The spreadsheet looks great...You are so organized!
Do you want us to fill in the blanks, or will you do that once we post our final results?

I'll fill it in when we start finishing books. :)

Week 1: Nest/Newspaper
Letter: N

Book: Nearly Departed in Deadwood - Ann Charles
Completed: 07/20
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: I really enjoyed this one. A real estate agent about to lose her job gets entangled in a mystery involving her twins, too many suitors, kidnapped/missing girls, ghosts and an annoying co-worker. It is a fast humorous read. I recommend it to those who like a teeny bit of the supernatural in their mysteries. I liked it so much I bought the other 3 in the series.

Bonus Words:
Nest - Kindle pg. 61 - The nest might be nearby.
Newspaper - Kindle pg. 101 - I moved over to the stockpile of Black Hills Trailblazer newspapers ..., the dry paper flimsy to the touch.

One down, yay!

I settled on A Thousand Splendid Suns for T. I've been wanting to read it for quite a while, so I'm glad I'll finally get around to it!

I got through the rest of my on deck books looking for bonus words and I have books that will fit ~85% of the combinations of WoW and Bonus. Pancakes and Pork are the words I've had the toughest time finding so far and I still need to take a look at my Qs and Us.

WEEK 1
Word of the Week: NEST
Bonus: Newspaper

My Letter: E

Read: Joy School by E lizabeth Berg (256 pg)
Finished: 20 July 13
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Review:
This is book #2 in the Katie Nash trilogy (after Durable Goods), though it can certainly be read as a stand-alone. Katie is nearly 13, a freshman in high school, and has moved with her Army colonel father to a new city. A chance encounter brings her into contact with an “older” man whom she comes to adore. But first love can be heartbreaking and Katie has lessons to learn in “Joy School.” I love Katie; she’s resilient, courageous, and an astute observer.

Bonus Items:
WoW: Nest - “A hand to the nest, over the eggs” – pg 113
Bonus word: Newspaper - “While they do, sit at your desk and read the newspaper…” – pg 15

Points:
E = 1
WoW = 1
Bonus = 1

Total Points: 3

I'll be gone next Friday through Monday (July 26-29).
I'll be completely without internet, but will have books with me to cover any possible combination.

Diana ... can you give me a call on my cell phone Friday morning to tell me the WOW and Bonus? I'll let you know what letter I have ... that way you can report back to the group for me.

Will do!

Just checking in! I finished the book and will post review tonight - very late!

I'm hoping to finish mine tonight or tomorrow when I get home from work.

I won't be so long reading books in the future, this challenge started at a weird time for me. I was previously engaged with a buddy read of The Wise Man's Fear. I was hoping to juggle the two, but I was so absorbed in it I couldn't put it down. I've also had a super busy and exhausting work week.

Nest & Newspaper Week

Read by Amanda Stevens
My Letter: S
Finished: 7/24/13
Rating: ★ ★ ★ 1/2 stars

My Review:
I know this book is considered a paranormal romance. But I considered it a haunting murder mystery. This time Amelia is in the small remote town of Asher Falls, South Carolina to restore The Thorngate Cemetery. As before, Amelia will uncover long hidden secrets, especially about her family's background, her birth, and her special talents. You should expect some goosebumps while reading this book! :S

Bonus
Newspaper
"I came across a newspaper account of the cemetery restoration in Charleston last spring." p.83
Nest
"My relationship with Papa was a private matter, but that brief conversation has stirred a hornet's nest of memories." p. 99

It's View & Football Week

I'll take the letter I.

^^^^^^little over 16 hours to have last weeks reviews in^^^^^^^^^

Talked with Book Concierge this morning. She'll take the letter W!

She'll be reading: Weekends in Bellevue

I'll take E.

I'll be reading:
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
It has both words. :)

I'd prefer to do E, but I can do V instead, if Vicky can't find a V book. I have a couple of choices for both letters and they all have both bonuses.

I have a V with both bonuses, so you can keep the E!

Nest & Newspaper Week

Read: by Khaled Hosseini
My Letter: T(housand)
Finished: 7/26/13
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My Review: I don't read a lot of this type of book, so it was a refreshing change of pace. I loved the insight on the culture of Afghanistan from an Afghani perspective, it's often hard to look at cultures objectively your own is so ingrained in it, so I liked that I could immerse myself in the culture.

Bonus Items:

Nest: "There is a deserted bird's nest in one corner...", Page 354
Newspaper: "Jalil brought clippings from Herat's newsapaper, Ittifaqi-i Islam...", Page 21

Week 2: View/Football
Letter: E

Book: Echoes at Dawn - Maya Banks
Completed: 07/29
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: This is book 5 in the KGI series - the first to not be focused on a Kelly. It's Rio and Grace's story. I like Rio, so I enjoyed this one. I'm looking forward to the next.

Bonus Words:
View - pg. 13 - His teammates' faces came into view as he neared the edge.
Football - pg. 110 - They were watching a football game on the big screen...

WEEK 2 / WoW: VIEW / Bonus: football

My Letter: W (Weekends)

Read: Weekends at Bellevue by Julie Holland (320 pg)
Finished: 29 July 13
Rating: ★

Review:
This is a memoir of one doctor’s nine years spent on the night shift at the psych E.R. I majored in psychology and really wanted to like this book. I was expecting interesting insights and some colorful and entertaining “patient profiles” (altered to protect identities). But this memoir isn’t about Bellevue and the many patients who come there. It’s about Holland. I cannot remember when I’ve read a memoir that is more self-centered. I suppose it’s a good thing that she chose to become a psychopharmacologist (i.e. she does not treat patients with psychotherapy but with drugs); she certainly doesn’t seem to have enough insight to be successful at the traditional psychotherapy techniques.

Bonus Items:
WoW: View - “Sadie and Lucy’s neighbors have graciously offered us the use of their lawn and chairs, and we have a fabulous view.” – pg 161
Bonus word: Football - “The arresting officer is hanging out in the detainable area watching football…” – pg 98

Points:
W = 4
WoW = 1
Bonus = 1

Total Points: 6

So I'm reading A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World and it's kind of a slog. It's a non fiction book about the people who discovered America before the Pilgrims arrived, starting with the Norse coming to New Foundland in Canada. But, it's also a travelogue/memoir about the author's time researching all that information. Unfortunately it's more travelogue and less history and it's a bit disappointing.

I'm listening to the audiobook (maybe I should have bought the abridged one!) so I'm going to put it on while I get some chores done tonight and hopefully finish it up if not tonight, during my commute tomorrow.