It's a Summer Reading Challenge! discussion

If you have any questions about the rules or anything else related to the challenge, feel free to post them here.

I have a question. Do they have to be books we haven't read before?

Erudessa wrote: "I have a question. Do they have to be books we haven't read before?"

Hmm, good question. No, they can be books you've previously read. :)

Sarah Grace wrote: "Erudessa wrote: "I have a question. Do they have to be books we haven't read before?"

Hmm, good question. No, they can be books you've previously read. :)"

Thanks!! That makes it a lot easier for me!! They might all wind up being books I've read before!

Erudessa wrote: "Sarah Grace wrote: "Erudessa wrote: "I have a question. Do they have to be books we haven't read before?"

Hmm, good question. No, they can be books you've previously read. :)"

Thanks!! That makes..."

Whatever floats your boat! Just so long as you follow the rules. ;)

Sarah Grace wrote: "Erudessa wrote: "Sarah Grace wrote: "Erudessa wrote: "I have a question. Do they have to be books we haven't read before?"

Hmm, good question. No, they can be books you've previously read. :)"

Th..."

;)

In order for my books to count for the challenge, do I have to follow the list in order? Or can I skip around the list?

Tarissa wrote: "In order for my books to count for the challenge, do I have to follow the list in order? Or can I skip around the list?"

Yes, you do have to follow the order on the list. :)

Are Agatha Christie's books considered classics?

Good question, Victoria.

What are the criteria for a Classic in this challenge?

Yeah, the criteria for classics would be helpful. Even if it is more strict I still have a book, but I'm just wondering what counts. :)

Victoria wrote: "Are Agatha Christie's books considered classics?"

Yes, that would count. :)

For the criteria of a classic, I am not super picky. I would define a classic as "a book that is widely known, and held up as an example of good literature. Usually written before the 1950s. E.g. The Scarlett Pimpernel, A Tale of Two Cities, Moby Dick, Little Women, etc." Does that help? It's really all rather subjective. If you want to run by me what you want to read for that category (or any category), that's fine, but you don't have to. I promise I won't disqualify you if it doesn't fit *exactly* under the criteria. ;)

Would anyone happen to know if "Enjoy the Poodle Skirt" by Kate Willis is a contemporary?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

If not, would it fit in any of the other categories?

ETA: I know it's really short, but I'm trying to work with things I already own and I'm truly not sure I have much in the way of contemporaries. :)

E.F.B. wrote: "Would anyone happen to know if "Enjoy the Poodle Skirt" by Kate Willis is a contemporary?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

If not, would ..."

I think it is contemporary, or at least contemporary enough. ;)

Sarah Grace wrote: "For the criteria of a classic, I am not super picky. I would define a classic as "a book that is widely known, and held up as an example of good literature. Usually written before the 1950s. E.g. T..."

Oh good! Then I can read the one I was hoping to! It is The Good Master by Kate Seredy, published 1935 and Newbery Award winner in '36.

JD wrote: "Sarah Grace wrote: "For the criteria of a classic, I am not super picky. I would define a classic as "a book that is widely known, and held up as an example of good literature. Usually written befo..."

Sounds classic-y enough to me. ;)

Sarah Grace wrote: "E.F.B. wrote: "Would anyone happen to know if "Enjoy the Poodle Skirt" by Kate Willis is a contemporary?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
..."

Yay!

@JD, I read that book in school! I remember liking it, though it has been a while.

Victoria wrote: "@JD, I read that book in school! I remember liking it, though it has been a while."

I read it many years ago too, but I recall virtually nothing about it. I've been on a quest of late to re-read many of the award-winning books I read in school as I think that I'll appreciate them even more now than I did then.

E.F.B. wrote: "Would anyone happen to know if "Enjoy the Poodle Skirt" by Kate Willis is a contemporary?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

If not, would ..."

Yes, it's contemporary. It's called "Enjoy the Poodle Skirt" because much of it takes place in a 1950's-style diner, but it's set in present-day. :)

For the time-period categories, does it count if it's nonfiction that's about events in that era? Would a book detailing and analyzing the American Revolution count for the 1700s, for example?

R.S. wrote: "For the time-period categories, does it count if it's nonfiction that's about events in that era? Would a book detailing and analyzing the American Revolution count for the 1700s, for example?"

Yes, that would work. :)

Would a book that I am currently reading count for the challenge?

Would a theology book work for contemporary? I literally never read contemporary books!

Oh, and do audio books count?

Rebekah wrote: "Would a book that I am currently reading count for the challenge?"

So long as it's not something you started a month ago, or anything. ;)

Elsie wrote: "Would a theology book work for contemporary? I literally never read contemporary books!"

Sure! And yes, audio books count. :)

If I read a Melanie Dickerson book, I suppose it counts as a book set in 1601 - 1700? How about Shakespeare?

I checked a couple of Melanie Dickerson's, and they were, very sadly (since I have 2 on my tbr pile), set BEFORE the 1600s, so double check!

Okay then the can count for 1501 - 1600. Maybe? I'll check the one I read. Thanks.

I don't know, it'd have to be up to Sarah Grace if they would count or not. Mine were both set in the 13-1400s

Will audio books count?

Lorrie wrote: "Will audio books count?"

Yes.

Lorrie wrote: "Will audio books count?"

Yes, Lorrie. Not audio dramas, though. ;)

This is probably a stupid question haha But I saw you mentioned above we have to read the challenge books in the order listed, but I just got about 15-20 books from the library xD and I kinda want to read some of those books along with the challenge books before I have to return them...So I just wanted to see if it was fine to read other books between (Not going towards the challenge), while still making sure I read a classic first, then a fantasy/sci-fi, and so on...I am not sure if that made any sense lol I am pretty bad at trying to explain things :P (And sorry for the extremely long question lol)

Elaina wrote: "This is probably a stupid question haha But I saw you mentioned above we have to read the challenge books in the order listed, but I just got about 15-20 books from the library xD and I kinda want ..."

That's fine Elaina, but to enter the first giveaway, you need to have read a classic and a fantasy\sci-fi, to enter the second giveaway, you need to have read a contemporary and an indie, etc. Does that makes sense?

So glad you are doing the challenge!!!! :) <3

Ok, yes, that makes sense! :D Sorry if I was a little confusing lol I am terrible at trying to put my thoughts into words xD It just comes out a huge jumbled mess most of the time :P And I'm glad too! I just have to figure out which books I want to read for each category now! :)

Elaina wrote: "Ok, yes, that makes sense! :D Sorry if I was a little confusing lol I am terrible at trying to put my thoughts into words xD It just comes out a huge jumbled mess most of the time :P And I'm glad t..."

Haha, no worries! I can tend to be that way too! That's why I "talk" better when I'm typing - I often sound incoherent when I'm talking, cause I can't gather my thoughts. ;)

Sarah Grace wrote: "Elaina wrote: "This is probably a stupid question haha But I saw you mentioned above we have to read the challenge books in the order listed, but I just got about 15-20 books from the library xD an..."

Wooo!!! I'm super glad that we're allowed to read other books between, 'cause I've been doing that! Right now I'm waiting on my older sister who is going to tell me what non-fiction I should read.

Hello

I've just joined this group because I like the idea. However I have a few questions.

1) Would it be okay to challenge yourself to read less then 10 books?

2) I"m not really good with labels and such, can someone give me the definition of contemporary when it comes down to books? From this site I get 'Contemporary literature is literature with its setting generally after World War II.'
Does this mean everything after WW II or does it have to be about the real world after WW II? So no fantasy elements etc.

Thank you all in advance :)

Casual wrote: "Hello

I've just joined this group because I like the idea. However I have a few questions.

1) Would it be okay to challenge yourself to read less then 10 books?

2) I"m not really good with lab..."

1) Yes! That's totally fine! Read as many as you want to or can! :) I may not even finish, as the end of my summer is super busy.

2) Yes, I would say contemporary would be after WW2. So, 1950s and on. It does have to be "real life", so fantasy wouldn't count. :)

Thanks for joining, and let me know if you have any other questions!

Thank you for the answers Sarah. :) Count me in then and good luck to everyone completing their own personal goal!

Casual wrote: "Thank you for the answers Sarah. :) Count me in then and good luck to everyone completing their own personal goal!"

Awesome! :)

Not sure if this question was asked already (if so, i apologize), but does it matter when we started a book as long as we finish between June 21 and Sept. __? That's usually how annual reading challenges on GR work - based on finish date - but i don't know if this is different. If that makes any sense, haha!

Mary wrote: "Not sure if this question was asked already (if so, i apologize), but does it matter when we started a book as long as we finish between June 21 and Sept. __? That's usually how annual reading chal..."

If I'm understanding your question correctly, yes, that's fine. :)

What would be labeled as a contemporary book?

Victoria wrote: "What would be labeled as a contemporary book?"

Excerpt from article linked below;
"The term contemporary fiction describes stories set in modern times that don’t bring in any elements of fantasy. It is technically a kind of realistic fiction, and the term "contemporary" is used specifically to distinguish it from realistic fiction with a historical setting, which is also generally common and fairly popular."

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-conte...

JD wrote: "Victoria wrote: "What would be labeled as a contemporary book?"

Excerpt from article linked below;
"The term contemporary fiction describes stories set in modern times that don’t bring in any elem..."

Thanks JD! You should be a mod. :-)

Victoria, in addition to what JD said, the time period would be post WW2.

Victoria wrote: "What would be labeled as a contemporary book?"

A book that is set within the last ten to twenty years, generally. Authors that are currently writing books set in the present day, in other words.
So, fiction, thrillers, mysteries, romance, and so on.