The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.1- Most Improved Player – Camilla’s Task: Finland 100 Years!

In 2017 we Finns celebrate 100 years of independence. Starting in 1809 and up to independence, Finland formed an autonomous grand duchy in the Russian Empire. Before 1809, the area that is now Finland had been under Swedish rule since at least the 13th century. To honor the centenary I wanted to design a task with a Finland theme. If you are interested in knowing more about Finland and our celebration, take a look e.g. here: Finland 2017

Read one book from the following options.
Required: Identify the option.

Option 1. Read a book set in Finland or written by an author who was born or currently lives in Finland. You can use this Listopia list of Finnish Fiction for inspiration, but you are not required to choose a book from the list.
Required: If the country/author's birthplace or residence is not indicated on the Goodreads main page or author biography, include a reference link or quotation from the book to establish the country.

Option 2. Due to the geographical location of Finland we are able to experience distinctly different seasons: snow in the winter and sun – although not necessarily very warm temperatures – in the summer. Up towards the northern parts of Finland it’s even possible to enjoy the midnight sun during summer, which means that the sun doesn’t set at all for some weeks. In contrast, the dark winter nights offer opportunities to see the Arctic lights.
For this option, read a book with either snow or the sun on the cover. Note that sunlight is not enough, the sun itself needs to be visible. Also, there needs to be more snow than a few snowflakes.
Examples:


Required: Include the cover.

Option 3. Although probably the most important period in Finland’s history has been the last 100 years, much happened already prior to that, since the first people arrived in Finland approximately 8850 B.C. You don’t need to go back as far as that, but for this option, read a book FIRST published prior to 1917.

Approved

Sun:


Snow:




Finnish authors:
Leena Lehtolainen
Jari Järvelä
Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen
Tove Jansson
Anthologies:
It Came from the North: An Anthology of Finnish Speculative Fiction
The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy

Set in Finland:
Ice Moon
Women of the Kalevala

Not approved

Sun:



Snow:

(sequential art/comics)

Option 3:
Cranford: and other stories published 2007

This help thread is open!

Is this a clear enough sun?

Does work for Option 2? It looks like an artistic representation of a sun (over some mountains).

Please confirm for snow on the cover.
Thanks.

please confirm Fractured for snow on cover

Brooke wrote: "Is this a clear enough sun?
"

Yes, looks good, enjoy!

Maddie wrote: "Does work for Option 2? It looks like an artistic representation of a sun (over some mountains)."

Artistic is fine!

Lauren wrote: "Please confirm for snow on the cover.
Thanks."
Not much thaw to be seen there. Approved.

Marie wrote: "please confirm Fractured for snow on cover"

Sorry Marie, I'm going to say no to that one; I even looked at the cover on Amazon to see it more clearly. It's not evident that the white mound is snow, and regarding the white blobs hanging in the air I specified that random snowflakes are not enough (not that they look like snowflakes anyway).

Camilla wrote: "Marie wrote: "please confirm Fractured for snow on cover"

Sorry Marie, I'm going to say no to that one; I even looked at the cover on Amazon to see it more clearly. It's not eviden..."

thats ok

Great task!

I think I'll read something by Leena Lehtolainen or Jari Järvelä

Also:
. The author is German, but this book is set in Finland.

will this work

Ahhh, I just checked out The Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen from the library! It's fate! :D

Pia wrote: "Great task!

I think I'll read something by Leena Lehtolainen or Jari Järvelä

Also:
. The author is German, but this book is set in Fin..."

All of these work, enjoy! Leena Lehtolainen writes some pretty good crime novels.

Marie wrote: " will this work"

It looks like the poor guy is pretty frozen! It works.

Melissa wrote: "Ahhh, I just checked out The Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen from the library! It's fate! :D"

Nice find! I've read Where the Trains Turn by him, it was pretty good.

Would this work for snow

Can I have this approved for sun (small, in the upper left hand corner)

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Would this work for snow "

Looks great (it was actually one of the books that I considered having as an example for a suitable cover).

Cathy wrote: "Can I have this approved for sun (small, in the upper left hand corner)
"

Thanks for pointing it out, would have been quite difficult to find otherwise with all the clouds. But yes, it's there. You might want to point it out also when posting the finished task.

Would either of these work for Option 1?

It Came from the North: An Anthology of Finnish Speculative Fiction
The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy

Failing those, I'll probably read something by Johanna Sinisalo

Trish wrote: "Would either of these work for Option 1?
It Came from the North: An Anthology of Finnish Speculative Fiction
The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy"

Excellent choices, Trish! Both of those are on my TBR shelf as well. I can also warmly recommend Johanna Sinisalo.

Is this acceptable for a sun?

Wendy UK wrote: "Is this acceptable for a sun?
"

Sure; artistic suns are fine.

Camilla wrote: " Wendy UK wrote: "Is this acceptable for a sun?
"

Sure; artistic suns are fine."

Thank you Camilla

Not sure if this is considered the actual sun, or just sunlight. Thanks!

Hi! Would this work for snow?



Thanks for your help!

Is this OK for snow?
Thanks :)

Kristen wrote: "Not sure if this is considered the actual sun, or just sunlight. Thanks!
"

The sun on the cover is very bright, but I can still see where it is, so you're good to go.

Elizabeth wrote: "Hi! Would this work for snow?

Thanks for your help!"

Looks snow enough, enjoy!

Meg wrote: "Is this OK for snow?
Thanks :)
"

The main page genres of :
Sequential Art > Graphic Novels 699 users
Sequential Art > Comics 600 users
Horror 368 users
Horror > Zombies 319 users
Fiction 123 users
Graphic Novels Comics 75 users
Apocalyptic > Post Apocalyptic 73 users

From the rules of the challenge:
"Books whose main page lists any of these genres: Sequential Art, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga may only be used for 5, 10, and 15 point tasks unless specifically allowed in the task description for a higher point task."

As I haven't specifically allowed sequential art or comics in my task, I'm afraid you'll have to find another book.

Sorry if these are obviously one way or another (I'm terrible at cover tasks), would any of these books work for Option 2?:

Sun -
Snow - (unsure if a snowglobe counts)

Kait wrote: "Sorry if these are obviously one way or another (I'm terrible at cover tasks), would any of these books work for Option 2?:"

I agree that there is some kind of a light visible, but I don't think it's identifiable as a sun (based on how dark the picture is overall, looks more like a bright moon to me), so no
that's clearly a sun
although the cover is cute, I want to see real snow, so no

Thanks, Camilla :) I'm glad I asked and have one to go with!

Hi! Is this enough snow for option 2?



Thanks for your help!

Sara wrote: "Hi! Is this enough snow for option 2?

Thanks for your help!"

It looks like there is a little snow on the street in addition to the snowflakes, so yes.

Camilla wrote: "Meg wrote: "Is this OK for snow?
Thanks :)
"

The main page genres of [bookcover:The Walking Dead, Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves|12305..."

oh oops - I always forget that rule - thanks!

would this cover work for option 2? thanks for your help! :)

Thanks for the idea of using

I wanted to read it anyway! :)

kiki wrote: "would this cover work for option 2? thanks for your help! :)
"

Sure it works, enjoy!

Nicole wrote: "Thanks for the idea of using
I wanted to read it anyway! :)"

Many of my GR friends have rated it very highly, but I haven't had time to read it yet. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Camilla wrote: "kiki wrote: "would this cover work for option 2? thanks for your help! :)
"

Sure it works, enjoy!"

yay, thank you! :)

Does
work for sun?

Leslie wrote: "Does
work for sun?"

I can't see a sun, only a star and some rays of light apparently originating from it, so no.

Please approve for option 2 -- Thanks!

Melissa(SweetMelissa) wrote: "Please approve for option 2 -- Thanks!
"

Sunny enough!

Sun on cover ...