The Reading Challenge Group discussion

If you are confused about anything within the group, please ask about it here. We'll try to get back to you as soon as we can.

Yes, I have a question...where do people who agree on buddy reads tend to discuss the said books? Via PM?

Generally a separate thread is made in the Buddy-Reads section, once people have agreed, and a start date has been set up. Quite often, two people agree, then more jump on board. So a thread makes the read more accessible.

Okay thanks Holly!

Loran, you'll see a 'Add Book/Author' button just above the comment box. If you click that, you can search for books or authors and add them to your post.

I don't know why, but this feature isn't available on the mobile apps. Seems stupid to me.

Hey, I was wondering.. do you think that audiobooks count as having read the book? I'm rather undecided, I tend to listen to audiobooks while walking the dog and cannot decide whether I can say that I've read the book or not.
Agh! :(

Amy wrote: "Hey, I was wondering.. do you think that audiobooks count as having read the book? I'm rather undecided, I tend to listen to audiobooks while walking the dog and cannot decide whether I can say tha..."

Yes. :)

Amy - I have never listened to an audiobook before but I definitely think they count. Whether you listen to it or read it, either way, you're getting all of the goodness out of it :)

That's true, I'm glad it's not just me that thinks that now. :)

Lorah-

I'm a total audio addict! I would much rather have a book in my hand but there's often little time for that pleasure. Since my commute is about 90 min per day, I can keep literature in my life, even when it's raining alligators and crazy pie.

I get a lot of things through my iPhone. Both via audio book app (small initial fee) and Overdrive Media. The Overdrive app allows me to borrow both audio and ebooks from my library, so it's free.

But, there are even more options through your computer. I'm a huge fan of Librivox (audio files) and The Gutenberg Project for books in the Public Domain.

Hi All,

This is not a question related specifically to the group but more a general 'goodreads' question. I get a newsletter to my email address every month, but does anyone know how I can access the newsletter without going via email? This is because I cannot access my private email from work, and I like to log onto goodreads on a lunchtime. Thanks :-)

Hi Alison,

All questions are allowed here, so don't worry that it isn't a group-related one.

Goodreads stores all its newsletters here. I don't know if these are the exact ones you are looking for.

I hope this helps!

Thanks Holly!

Lorah --> are you looking for something 'light' or a bit more challenging? I'm currently listening to the Luminaries, and have to admit I am on my second listening of it as it is very involved. However, it is really good so perseverence pays off!

hey lorah if you need a good audiobook to listen to, my mom and I listened to the audiobook of Ready Player Onerecently and it was pretty good. I've also read the regular book too. ^_^

Hello, last month I commented on a post to say how many books I'd read this month, but I can't find it to add this months books I've read to the groups total reads. Thanks in advance x

Hi Tara,

By the sound of it, you're talking about our Group-Wide Goal thread. Each month, Faye asks everyone to post their totals.

You can find it here

Thanks Holly I saw that one but wasn't sure if it was the right one. I have a book hangover today so not totally with it as needed to find out how my book ended last night and finally finished it at 2.30am lol.

Oh I had that too the other week. I hope you feel better soon!

Hey Holly I have a question can we have a thread for writers and ask anyone in the group if they love to write and if so if they would link us to their work? I was just curious because it would be great if those of us who love to write for fun could share our work with others and it'd be a thread just for that. I love to write for fun so was just curious.

Of course, Amber. Set it up!

Okay awesome! Sure. thanks.

where do we post the books that we read in February so that they can be added to the whole group total?

never mind!

Jenna wrote: "where do we post the books that we read in February so that they can be added to the whole group total?"

I was creating the topic at the very moment you posted! It's right here. :)

Good afternoon!! I was challenged to join a book challenge & can't seem to find if this is the one my sister & I agreed on! Can you help? I usually go by the scene name nbshorty. Thanks.

Amy wrote: "Hey, I was wondering.. do you think that audiobooks count as having read the book? I'm rather undecided, I tend to listen to audiobooks while walking the dog and cannot decide whether I can say tha..."

I count them. When you enter your book version, one of the types you can select is audiobook. So it definately counts.

Nancy wrote: "Good afternoon!! I was challenged to join a book challenge & can't seem to find if this is the one my sister & I agreed on! Can you help? I usually go by the scene name nbshorty. Thanks."

I'm not sure how I can help you with that, Nancy, sorry! There doesn't seem to be a member by the name of nbshorty here, if that's what you're asking?

How do you feel about Short reads? Do you record them with pride as a finished book? Not record them? I have several Very short reads I Want to do but not sure they should Count- although they take up precious reading time.

Please excuse my new tablets poor grammar. I'd be all day if I Corrected it every time. sort of gave up!

Hi Lindsay,

We generally say add what you want to add to your to-read list. Count them if you want to count them. Personally, I count them as reads.

Do what you want to do :)

I count them as reads too. :)

Okay I will. So....boost my goal or surpass it and wait for next year?

Thanks for your advice. I was wondering if it was some forms of cheating lol

Lindsay, you could always wait a bit and see how you do over the Summer? There's nothing stopping you boosting your goal later in the year, when you're perhaps a bit more assured of your numbers.

Probably a bit of a silly question. Looking at the list of genres for each month. June is contemporary, I'm not sure what exactly contemporary is, could anyone help?

I don't think it is a silly question. I am having trouble with contemporary too. What I am doing is watching two threads under genre challenge, one is what are you reading and the other is suggested reads, I am hoping to get ideas from others before making a decision.

Hi Gareth and Roseanne,

I understand completely, part of me regrets adding 'Contemporary' to the genre challenge because there is no clear definition.

Faye said in the 'What are you reading' for the Contemporary genre challenge:

Contemporary fiction is 'books that are set in the real world, and where the action takes place within the same decade that the book was written. So, books that are 100% relevant to the time and place in which they are written.'

I personally see them as modern books (probably post 1990s) that contain modern issues (eg. The Kite Runner). Honestly, it's up to you what you wish to define contemporary as.

You can check out our discussion thread for the month's genre, and our suggested reads.

I'd also recommend checking out Goodreads 'Popular Contemporary Fiction' list, it might give you a few more ideas!

Thanks Holly

Thanks Holly. I never remember I can look at GR lists.

Holly wrote: "I personally see them as modern books (probably post 1990s) that contain modern issues"

I like that guideline Holly, combined with Faye's guideline of being set in the real world. My personal addition is that I can find contemporary books in other genres - contemporary thrillers, romances etc. I haven't figured out what I will read yet, but something is bound to catch my interest!

Karen, I'm glad it helped you in some way! The most common genre I see is contemporary romance.

Let us know what you pick in this months genre thread. :)

Hi Emma-Kate,

The 2014 Reading Challenge compromises of your own books, that you pick. It's only optional, and you can set your target here.

Ultimately, you read what you want. There's no set list.

I hope this clears things up for you a bit! Feel free to ask more questions if you're confused about anything else on Goodreads.

It's an understandable mistake to make, if you don't know. I'm glad we could help.

If you need any other questions answering, don't hesitate to ask :)

Contemporary is tough to define but noodling it out has pushed me to expand my thinking and include books I might otherwise put on the back burner of my tbr.

Hey Holly, Was wondering what happened to the thread: What are we reading in June? I was just looking for the list of books I had jotted down to make sure my pile was ready for my June Challenges. Just Curious and thanks, it could be staring me in the face. :)

Melissa wrote: "Hey Holly, Was wondering what happened to the thread: What are we reading in June? I was just looking for the list of books I had jotted down to make sure my pile was ready for my June Challenges...."

It's still there, it's just been buried a bit by other threads in the Book Chat folder. The main page only shows a handful of the most recently updated threads in each folder. Just click on the name of the folder, and you can view all the threads.

Renee wrote: "Contemporary is tough to define but noodling it out has pushed me to expand my thinking and include books I might otherwise put on the back burner of my tbr."

That's great, Renee!

I completely missed your question, Melissa, apologies.

I see you've found it though :)

Holly wrote: "I completely missed your question, Melissa, apologies.

I see you've found it though :)"

Yes, it was as usual, right in front of me. :)

Faye wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Hey Holly, Was wondering what happened to the thread: What are we reading in June? I was just looking for the list of books I had jotted down to make sure my pile was ready for my ..."

Thanks Faye! :)

Hey Holly, I seem to remember you posting about using a randomizer to pick books from your TBR. I have been trying to find the thread without success. Can you point me in the right direction please? I would like to give that a try.