NBRC: Tower Teams Read 2013, Round II discussion

Goal: Total number of your “Team within a Team” participants will need to read a percent of their total goal to earn Book Advantage Points (BAPs). The breakdown is as follows (see Post #2 below for increase in BAPs and another Mango Tango Option):

9.9% = 9 BAP
8.33 to 9.8% = 7 BAP
7 to 8.2 = 5 BAP

View (view spoiler)[We really like what Mango Tango (who has declined our Mods’ September Challenge for BAPs) has done with theirMango Tango's September Straight Percentage Challenge.
(hide spoiler)] for straight percentage option and BAPs.
So, we are giving you this as another option, although not for as many points as ours. If you do ours you will now get more than double than what we originally posted for each percent.

9.9% = 9 BAPs
8.33 to 9.8% = 7 BAPs
7 to 8.2% = 5 BAPs

If your Team chooses MT's Straight Percent, you'll get:

9.9% = 4 BAPs
8.33 to 9.8% = 2 BAPs
7 to 8.2% = 1 BAPs

for straight percentage option and BAPs.

Rules: Your Team must have a minimum of one-third (1/3) of your books from the first challenge, A Book a Day Keeps the Boredom at Bay Reading Challenge. You may then choose the rest, in any percent each of the next two NBRC challenges you choose.

• We will allow members to “double up” on days for the A Book a Day Keeps the Boredom at Bay Reading Challenge; however, not for the A-Z challenge, nor any Spell-It-Out. Of course, if you spell T.I.G.E.R. and C.A.T. (using two "T"s., that is acceptable).

• There must be at least one book in the remaining two challenges, unless you have met your goal in the first challenge.

• Yes, your Team may have only one participant.

• If one member wants to read more to make up another member’s percent, that is fine.

• You do NOT need to complete the selected challenges; just fit your books to the three you choose.

• To give you an advantage, we will round down instead of up to determine the number of books you read.

• Any Team participant at 70% or higher of her (or his) yearly TTRC ‘target goal’ by the August 18th Sunday Update will be considered an ‘outlier’ and will have their goal adjusted for the September BAP Challenge to below 70%. (Remember, this is based on the TTRC ending April 11, 2014. To be ‘on target’ on that day, a Team or participant would be at 35%.)

Example
Let’s say a player is at 80% of her yearly goal of 100. We would adjust their monthly goal upward for the September from 100 to 115 (69.56%). This would mean she would need to read 9.57 books to reach 8.33%, or 11.38 books to reach 9.9%.

• We will be happy to calculate your “Team within a Team” goal for you. Yes, you may adjust it, if more players wish to join after the start of the month.

• Someone who has had the summer off and is returning to school, has a new job, or has a special event planned in September, etc., may ask for special consideration of their goal.

• Referring to our challenges, choose books that fit:

◈ A Book a Day Keeps the Boredom at Bay Reading Challenge.
◈ One A-Z challenge posted in NBRC. (See below.*)
◈ Plus one more from any other of our NBRC challenges.

These links might help:

Reading Challenge Index

Monthly/Season Challenge Index

Spell It Out - is available in many of the challenges.

Your Team just needs to select books from the sub-options in the A Book a Day Keeps the Boredom at Bay Reading Challenge . How many books you read is determined by your goal.

Below is an example of a category's sub-options restrictions. The example we use is for Category #4 from the challenge:

4 – 4th of July is Independence Day. Read a book with a red, white and blue cover, or that is set on the US, or has the US flag on the cover. Or read a book where the main character is fighting for his independence or for some greater good.

Example of a Category's Sub-options Restrictions
Two (2) books per Book A Day Challenge sub-option. Using Category #4 as an example we have two (2) books with a red/blue/white cover, two (2) books set on the US, two (2) books with the US flag on the cover. Or two (2) books where the main character is fighting for his independence or for some greater good.

That is a total of eight (8) books for Category #4. Some categories allow more, some are less.

*Here are A-Z Challenge. The Animal Alphabet Reading Challenge, Cooking & Cookware A-Z, and Herbs & Spices A-Z, etc. actually count as Spell-It-Out challenges.

A-Z Challenges
Author Alphabet Reading Challenge
Hero Alphabet Reading Challenge
Heroine Alphabet Reading Challenge
Pet Names Alphabet Reading Challenge A-Z
Professions & Avocations A-Z Challenge
Title Challenge: Read the Alphabet
Alphabet Reading Challenge
Villains Alphabet Reading Challenge

Total Participating Members :


September BAP Spreadsheet

7% or 5 BAPs
Total Progress: 0/?
Challenge 1: 0/?
Challenge 2: 0 books
Challenge 3: 0 books

8.33% or 7 BAPs
Total Progress: 0/?
Challenge 1: 0/?
Challenge 2: 0 books
Challenge 3: 0 books

9.9% or 9 BAPs
Total Progress: 0/?
Challenge 1: 0/?
Challenge 2: 0 books
Challenge 3: 0 books

CHALLENGE 1

Whatever the season or day: hot and blazing in Summer; grey and rainy in Spring and Autumn; or cold and windy in the Winter. They all have something in common: eventually we grow lazy, lethargic, and bored. One of the best ways to avoid it is being busy. Or better yet, being busy reading.

So, grab your books, find your perfect reading spot and let's fight the boredom one day at a time.


Duration: 1 year from the day you start

Rules: Re-reads allowed. Any format (audio, ebook, graphic novel, book, etc.) acceptable.

Boredom Levels
Sleepy Day ► Read 2 - 3 Books
Lazy Week ► Read 4 - 6 Books
Slow Fortnight ► Read 7 - 9 Books
Bored Month ► Read 10 - 13 Books
Never Ending Year ► Read 14+ Books

1 - Is the first day of the month. Read a book where the main character (MC) has a first experience of sorts. Or is a one word title. Or is the first of a series.

2 – One is good, two is better. Read a romance book or a book that has a partnership.
Subgenres of romance under the spoiler
(view spoiler)[
Contemporary romance
Historical romance
Romantic suspense
Paranormal romance
Science Fiction romance
Fantasy romance
Time-travel romances
Inspirational romance
Multicultural romance
Erotic romance
Source: wikipedia (hide spoiler)]
Two can also mean repetition. Read a book about second chances.

3 – Being the third wheel is never funny. Read a book that has a wheel on the cover. Or has a love triangle. You can also read a book about three best friends.

4 – 4th of July is Independence Day. Read a book with a red, white and blue cover, or that is set on the US, or has the US flag on the cover. Or read a book where the main character is fighting for his independence or for some greater good.

5 - High Five. Read a book where a character is a sports fan or has a best buddy. Or read one about a character with a strong need for approval. There are five points on a star. Read a book with a star on the cover or title.

6 - In numerology the number 6 is considered a feminine, nurturing, "mother" number. Read a book where the main female character is a mother or becomes a mother.
In a biblical sense, both man and the serpent were created on the sixth day, therefore, the number six represents both man and rebellion. Read a book were the main character is a man or about a rebellion or resistance to some regimen.

7 – Lucky Seven. Read a book where a character is extremely lucky or a book about anything game related (gambling, bets, poker night, drinking game, you get my point). In the Old Testament, 7 is the number of days it took for God to create the world. Read a book with a tight deadline.

8 – Magic Eight Ball. Read a Magical Book or a book where a character predicts the future (visions, premonitions, tarot readings, any method counts).

9 – Is the name of a film set in a post-apocalyptic future. Read a book set in, or where a character comes from, a post-apocalyptic future

10 – 10th of June is the day of Camoes, Portugal and the Portuguese communities. Read a poetry book or a book that has a writer as the main character. Or read a book where the protagonist is Portuguese or Brazilian or speaks Portuguese. Or read a book where the main character struggles to save a precious item.

11 – Its etymology originates from a Germanic compound ainlif meaning "one left". Read a book with only "one left" - it can be the only option left, or the only survivor, or the last of a set of events, the last book left in a series, etc.

12 – 12 days of Christmas. Read a book about Christmas, Christmas songs or that has a cumulative title, like Once Bitten, Twice Shy. 12 is also the governmental perfection. Read a book with a character or author named as one of the 12 Apostles, or set in Israel. There are 12 zodiacal signs. Read a book with zodiac or one of the signs on the cover or in the title

13 – Black cats, voodoo dolls and Friday the 13th. Read a book about superstitions, bad luck or the occult. Friday the 13th is also known among programmers for causing a computer bug. Read a book about computer viruses, computer hacking or some technological challenge like in Digital Fortress.

14 –The 14th amendment defines US citizenship rights, and importantly, gave African Americans the right to citizenship in America. Read a book where a character moves to the US, or is based in 19th century America.

15 – The atomic number of phosphorus, which emits a faint glow upon exposure to oxygen – hence its name given from Greek mythology, meaning "light-bearer." Read a book showing the faint glow of light on the cover.

16 – Sweet 16. Read a book where a character (doesn’t have to be the MC) reaches 16 or has a sweet 16 party. Or read a Young Adult book.

17 – The shortest form of Japanese poetry (known as Haiku) contains exactly 17 syllables. Read something set in Japan. It takes 17 muscles to produce a smile. Read something that puts a smile on your face.

18 – Number of holes on a golf course. Read a book about a professional sportsperson, or where a character plays golf, or golf is part of the title or cover of a book

19 – The worst worldwide influenza pandemic ended in 1919. Read a book from the medical genre, or a book with a character who is a Doctor or Nurse, or a book where someone dies from the flu.

20 – 20/20. Read a “number one book”: about a top student, a perfect score, a best seller. You can also read a book where a character has one of the senses highlighted.

21 – Is the legal age for drinking. Read a book where someone has a drinking problem, is an ex-alcoholic or overcome some addiction. 21 can also be Black Jack. Read a book set or where the character goes to Las Vegas, or has a casino or a game of Black Jack or vingt et un is involved.

22 – In French, "22" is used as a phrase to warn of the coming of the police (typically "22, v'là les flics!", "22, here come the cops!"). Read a book that is a police procedural, or has a strong police presence.

23 – "W" is the 23rd letter of the alphabet. It has two points down and three points up. Half of W is V, which is the Roman numeral for 5. The "W" on your keyboard is right between the 2 and 3. Read a book with a title or series name that begins with "W." Or was written by an author with a first or last name that begins with "W."

24 – There are 24 hours in a day. Read a book in one day. Or one that takes place all in one day.

25 – British slang for £25 is "Pony." Read a book about a horse or has a picture of one on the cover.

26 – 26th January is the Australia day or the arrival of the First Fleet. Read a book set in Australia or aboard of a ship. You can also read an historical book with action taking place on the 18th century.

27 – Is the perfect cube (3 X 3 X 3). Read a book from 3 different trilogies - yes, that means 3 books - Or read a book about a mathematic riddle or code, books like The Da Vinci Code or The Eight are a good example for this one.

28 – The number of dominoes in standard domino sets. Read something with a black and white cover.

29 – and holding. Read a book where the main character is about to turn 30.
Or you can use listopia: I searched for "turning 30" and got results like
Flavorwire.com's 30 Books Everyone Should Read Before Turning 30
or
The books of my 20s">The books of my 20s
Any book from those lists (or similar) will be eligible for this option.

30 – Over the hill or don't trust anyone over 30. Read a book where a character has an abnormal life spam and is older than he/she appears (vampire, fae, warlock, elf, etc).

31 – Is the last day of the month. Read a book about last chances. Or read the final book of a series. You can also read a book about the end of a cycle or a new beginning.

CHALLENGE 2






Goal: Going from A - Z, and using authors’ first or last names, read the alphabet. For "X" and "Z" you may use authors with those hard to find letters in their names. Unless, of course, you're a ‘purist.’

Yes, you may use an author twice, once with their first name, and again with their last.

Duration: You set the pace.

You may read in any order, start at any time of the year. You may 'back date' to the 1st of January, if you desire. You may treat it as a yearly from start date (going from August to July), or try and finished before the start of a new year. Totally up to you.

A. -
B. -
C. -
D. -
E. -
F. -
G. -
H. -
I. -
J. -
K. -
L. -
M. -
N. -
O. -
P. -
Q. -
R. -
S. -
T. -
U. -
V. -
W. -
X. -
Y. -
Z. -

Hard to Find Letter Help

For some examples of these letters ('o', 'q', 'u', 'v', 'x', 'y', 'z') go to the challenge rules in the main NBRC group HERE

CHALLENGE 3




This challenge will have a threefold purpose--Firstly, we'll be able to keep track of what is coming out. Secondly, we'll be able to see if anyone else is reading what we are and create discussion threads for books for buddy reads or open discussions that are more relaxed. Lastly, it could also help us figure out what to nominate for certain months because some books you just can't wait months to read.

Set a goal for the year. You don't necessarily have to read a book in it's assigned month for it to count. The goal is to see how many books you can read that were published within said year. It'll be fun to see how many new releases we all truly read without even realizing it in one year.

Levels :
Newbie: Read an average of at least 1 new book a month (12 - 18 books in a year - We're rounding up)
Novice: Read an average of approximately 2 - 3 new books a month (19 - 42 in a year)
Regular: Read an average of 4 - 5 new books a month (43 - 66 books in a year)
Addict: Read an average of 6 or more new books a month (67 or more books in a year)

Lisarenee

Help List :
Popular New Releases 2013

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Wallbanger by Alice Clayton #23 a book a day
Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris #30 a book a day

I just reread the list for a book a day and saw that with the books I read Dead Ever After would work better as #11 and as a new release. I'll be able to get #30 later this month also.

Tina wrote: "I just reread the list for a book a day and saw that with the books I read Dead Ever After would work better as #11 and as a new release. I'll be able to get #30 later this month also."

Hi Tina,

Thanks for letting us know. I'll put it for the moment in the main challenge but if we need to a later stage we may move it.

I finished a book: Breathe by Abbi Glines.

It fulfills the criteria for #1 of the boredom challenge. The main character has a first experience of sorts, it is a one word title, AND it is the first in a series :-)

I finished Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Am starting Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian this cover #30 for book a day challenge

Tina wrote: "I finished Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Am starting Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian this cover #30 for book a day challenge"

Great work Tina! Are you also doing the full a book a day challenge?

Great work Tina and Maria.

I have 9 books on the go at the moment which I'm trying to finish up but they're not short books unfortunately. I'll see what I can do in the next few days.

Maria Helena wrote: "Tina wrote: "I finished Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Am starting Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian this cover #30 for book a day challenge"

Great work Tina! Are you also doing the full a book a day..."

Not now I have so many challenges going it's hard to keep up!

Tina wrote: "Not now I have so many challenges going it's hard to keep up!"

The trick is to find books that work for multiple challenges :)

Here is the spreadsheet where Zara and I keep track of which book we use for each challenge. Books in grey/italics are those that have not yet been finished.

Remember that we can double up on the categories for challenge #1 so if anyone have books they want to read that will work for a category we have already filled, that is no problem :)

Hello everyone. How's everyone going with this challenge? I went to the library today and borrowed lots of books which were 160+ pages long. I thought this way I would hopefully get through far more books thus increasing our chances of getting the largest BAPs we can. What's everyone else doing?

I also went to the library and got some books that will fit this challenge :)

Maria Helena wrote: "I also went to the library and got some books that will fit this challenge :)"

Great Maria. Hopefully we'll all be able to complete this challenge and earn some BAPs. Keep up the great work everybody.

I finished Kiss of Midnight and am starting Haunted on Bourbon Street the cover I have shows a woman silhouetted under a street lamp would that work for #15 on a book a day?

Tina wrote: "I finished Kiss of Midnight and am starting Haunted on Bourbon Street the cover I have shows a woman silhouetted under a street lamp would that work for #15 on a book a day?"

I think so Tina. I've added the other book you've finished.

Zara wrote: "Tina wrote: "I finished Kiss of Midnight and am starting Haunted on Bourbon Street the cover I have shows a woman silhouetted under a street lamp would that work for #15 on a book a day?"

I think ..."

Thanks!!

Finished Haunted on Bourbon Street am starting Resisting the Bad Boy by Violet Duke it could work for #17 because just the description made me smile or a new release

Tina wrote: "Finished Haunted on Bourbon Street am starting Resisting the Bad Boy by Violet Duke it could work for #17 because just the description made me smile or a new release"

I have added them Tina. Your second book I put in the new releases section (17 was already taken) but we may swap it around later.

Finished Resisting the Bad Boy and am starting Sneakers, Sandals & Stilettoes: Fairy Tales for the Well-Heeled Princess by Natasha Deen it didn't fit in to book a day so it is author a-z

Tina wrote: "Finished Resisting the Bad Boy and am starting Sneakers, Sandals & Stilettoes: Fairy Tales for the Well-Heeled Princess by Natasha Deen it didn't fit in to book a day so it is author a-z"

Great work Tina! I've added that one to the list.

Tina wrote: "Finished Resisting the Bad Boy and am starting Sneakers, Sandals & Stilettoes: Fairy Tales for the Well-Heeled Princess by Natasha Deen it didn't fit in to book a day so it is author a-z"

Excellent effort Tina. You're doing really well.

Finished Sneakers. Sandals & Stilettoes and Dead Ever After!! Will post new book when I get a chance.

I'll be reading Witches of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase it works for #8 in book a day

I'm currently reading The Fiery Cross which is massive and it is the reason I have not made much progress completing books since I joined.

I'll pick up the pace soon. : )

I just checked the word count on that, Kimberly. At 498,030 words, it is infinitely worth a “Cutthroat Competitor Cupcake.”

Moderators of Nothing but Reading Challenges (All the Mods) wrote: "I just checked the word count on that, Kimberly. At 498,030 words, it is infinitely worth a “Cutthroat Competitor Cupcake.”

"

Awesome!

Kimberly wrote: "Moderators of Nothing but Reading Challenges (All the Mods) wrote: "I just checked the word count on that, Kimberly. At 498,030 words, it is infinitely worth a “Cutthroat Competitor Cupcake.”

[..."

Excellent work Kimberly. I admire your determination to read this book: it's absolutely massive. It reminds me of [book:Les Misérables|24280] which is 1200 pages long I think. Good on you.

We've already finished 32 of our 61 book goal. Great work team!

finished witches of bourbon street, am starting Demons of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase will go through the list later to see where it fits

Demons of Bourbon Street would work for #3 in book a day with 3 best friends

Tina wrote: "Demons of Bourbon Street would work for #3 in book a day with 3 best friends"

Thanks Tina

Finished Demons of Bourbon Street and am starting UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn this will work for #16 in book a day it's a YA but it also might have the main character turning 16 I'll let you know which one when I figure it out.

finished unenchanted and it is #16 with main character turning 16

I've finished The Fiery Cross - finally!

Do I need to do anything other than mark it off on my bookshelf as read?

Kimberly wrote: "I've finished The Fiery Cross - finally!

Do I need to do anything other than mark it off on my bookshelf as read?"

Woo Hoo Kimberly!! I admire your effort. All you need to do is mark it as read. We'll do the rest.

Tina wrote: "finished unenchanted and it is #16 with main character turning 16"

Well done Tina. We'll mark that down.

Hello! I'm a new member to the group and actually feeling pretty confused about things. How does one get started around here? :D

Elaine wrote: "Hello! I'm a new member to the group and actually feeling pretty confused about things. How does one get started around here? :D"

What sorts of things are you confused about Elaine?

Elaine wrote: "Hello! I'm a new member to the group and actually feeling pretty confused about things. How does one get started around here? :D"

Hi, Elaine! Yes, it is a pretty big challenge and really spread out.

Did you want to join the Mods' September Challenge? It is completely optional.

Do you want to know how to do the puzzles for cupcakes?

I think I might have to join back next month considering it's already mid-month. And nope, no idea about the cupcakes. I tried looking at the links but got really lost :/

I'm reading Kiss of Crimson by Lara Adrian would it work for #19 if the MC is a vet? Also have Come Back to Me by C.D. Taylor I'll have to see were it fits in book a day otherwise it's a new release.