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WINTER CHALLENGE 2017
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Winter Challenge 2017: Tasks
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10 Point Tasks
10.1 - What a Zoo
Help Thread
Read a book with the letters Z-O-O in the title/subtitle and/or author's name. Diacritical/accent marks may be ignored.
Ex: The Zookeeper's Wife; The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Z in Zusak; OO in bOOk)
10.2 - No, It's a Three-Ring Circus
Help Thread
Read a book found on the Circus/Carnival Books list.
Required: State which page the book can be found on when you post.
10.3 - Sir Nils Olav
Help Thread
Brigadier Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin, is the mascot and Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King's Guard. Nils Olav I served from 1972–1987. Read a book that was first published between 1972 and 1987 (inclusive) and that was written by a male author.
10.4 - It's a Llama, Mama
Help Thread
Read a book with a non-human mammal on the cover.
Ex:
Required: Include the cover when you post.
10.5 - Best Books
Help Thread
Read one of the Best Books of the Month for December, January, or February of any year.
Required: State the month and year when you post.
10.6 - Who's Up For a Challenge?
Help Thread
Read a book that fits into ANOTHER Goodreads challenge group's challenge. You MUST be a member of the challenge group and provide a link to your challenge tracking thread. For tips on how to add a link to a post, click on the (some html is ok) above the comment box (next to add book/author). If you don't belong to any other Goodreads challenge groups, read a book that fits into the BookRiot's 2017 Read Harder Challenge. This thread might be helpful: Other Goodreads reading challenges?
Required: Include a link to your challenge tracking thread or to BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge when you post.
10.7 - What's Your Favorite Hobby?
Help Thread
January is National Hobby Month. A hobby is an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. It is not essential to life, though you may enjoy doing it, and can be put aside, if necessary. Read a novel (fiction) in which your favorite hobby is prominently featured.
Ex: A Killer Plot (writing); The Secret, Book and Scone Society (reading); The Quilter's Apprentice (quilting); The Shop on Blossom Street (knitting); Ready Player One (playing video games); The Art of Fielding (playing baseball)
Required: State your hobby when you posts AND, if it's not obvious from the book's main page, explain the connection to the task.
10.8 - Here Kitty Kitty
Help Thread
Read a book with one of the top 100 cat names in the title/subtitle or author's name. Possessives will work, but no other variations.
Required: Specify the name you used when you post.
10.9 - Good Dog!
Help Thread
Read a book with a title that begins with the letter D, O, or G. All words count.
10.10 - Goin' on a Safari
Help Thread
The Swahili word safari means journey. Read a book with the main page genre "Travel." The genre may be stand alone or embedded.
Mod
15 Point Tasks
15.1 - Don't Make Me Choose!
Help Thread
As many have noted, there are a lot of terrific nominees for the Group Reads for Winter.
Book 1: Read a nominee or the winner from a different category than you chose for your Task 20.10 selection.
AND
Book 2: Read EITHER (1) a nominee or the winner from the 3d category (not your 20.10 selection or book 1 selection) or (2) a nominee from the category of your Task 20.10 selection.
You can find the polls for Group Reads here.
REQUIRED: Specify in your post the book you used or plan to use for Task 20.10.
15.2 - February is for Romance
Help Thread
Book 1: Read a book with a main page genre of Romance. Any variation will work (i.e., Historical Romance).
AND
Book 2: Read a book with a ring (a piece of jewelry worn on the finger) on the cover. NOTE: The ring need not be shown on a finger.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
15.3 - Hot or Cold?
Help Thread
Option 1 -
Book 1: Read a book whose title/subtitle contains a word from this list of opposite word pairs: Opposite Word Pairs.
AND
Book 2: Read a book whose title/subtitle contains the opposite word from the word you used for book 1.
OR
Option 2 - Read one book whose title/subtitle contains both words from an opposite word pair on the list.
The word pair used MUST appear on the list and the words must match exactly. If the word listed is an infinitive form ("to begin," "to end"), the "to" need not be included in the title.
The list has been reproduced in posts 2-4 of the help thread.
15.4 - Endangered Animals
Help Thread
This is a list of the 10 most endangered animals in the world: 10 Most Endangered Animals. NOTE: the list can also be found in post 2 of the Help Thread.
OPTION 1:
Book 1 - read a book whose author's initials are found in the name of one of these animals. All initials must be found in the animal name.
AND
Book 2 - read a book with a title of at least two words in which the initial letter of each word of the title can be found in the name of a different animal from the list. Subtitles may be ignored.
OR
Option 2 - read one book that satisfies both of the option 1 criteria.
Letters may be used only as often as they appear in the animal's name. If there are multiple authors, only one author's name must satisfy the criteria.
15.5 - New Beginnings
Help Thread
January is traditionally a time for new beginnings. Read a book by a new-to-you author. If there is more than one author listed, all authors must be new to you. REQUIRED: Note in your post that you have not read this author before.
15.6 - Hoping, Wishing, Trying........
Help Thread
I’ve never had much luck with “New Year’s resolutions” but I always keep hoping.
Read a NONFICTION book that involves something you’d like to do in 2018, a goal or an aspiration or even a faint hope! While you may not achieve this goal, it should be one that is realistically possible - no time travel, books involving zombie attacks, etc.
REQUIRED: Tell us what your goal is, and if it's not obvious, explain how the book relates to it.
15.7 - Groundhog Day
Help Thread
Groundhog Day is February 2nd. Read a book whose title contains a word of at least 3 letters that can be made from the letters in GROUNDHOG DAY. Letters may be used only as often as they appear in GROUNDHOG DAY.
REQUIRED: Specify in your post the word that you are using
15.8 - World Animal Day
Help Thread
World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually on October 4, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Read a book from this list: Best Animal Rights Books
NOTE: As with all lists, make sure that the book you chose meets SRC requirements - inclusion on the list does not override the requirements.
REQUIRED: Specify the page of the list on which your book is found.
15.9 - Let's Party!
Help Thread
On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment ended the social experiment of Prohibition. Read a book from this list of books written by, about or influenced by drinking: Drunken Masters
NOTE: As with all lists, make sure that the book you chose meets SRC requirements - inclusion on the list does not override the requirements.
REQUIRED: Specify the page of the list on which your book was found.
15.10. Trash to Treasure.
Help Thread
Using the “read” list for any of your GR friends, read a book that your friend gave only 1 or 2 stars, but that sounds like a book you might like. This must be a book that you’ve never read before.
Alternately, you can use the "read" list of one of the SRC mods and choose a 1 or 2 star book from one of those lists: Dlmrose's Read list, Kristina Simon's Read list, Sandy's Read list.
Required: Name the friend or mod whose list you used and state that this book is new to you.
Optional: Was someone else’s trash your treasure?
Mod
20 point tasks
20.1 - Most Improved Player - Maddie O's Task: A Year of Improvements
Help Thread
I like to think it’s fitting that I got to create this task, since I feel like 2017 has been a year of a lot of improvements for me. I created this task around all of the positive changes in my life this year.
Option 1: I started my new job as an actuarial analyst this year, and I’m absolutely loving it. For this option, read a book that has either “Mathematics” or “Economics” as a Main Page Genre. Genres can be standalone or embedded.
Option 2: I also moved to Boston, a city in which I’ve wanted to live since I was a teenager. One of my favorite parts about living here is the beautiful New England Fall season. So, read a book set at least 50% in one of the six states of New England- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut. REQUIRED: If the setting of your book is not evidence from the description or metadata, please explain how the book fits the task.
Option 3: In order to get through a difficult time about a year ago, I started voraciously reading fantasy novels for an escape. I haven’t slowed down since, and I’m a much happier person now that reading has become my major hobby. I’ve since started to read more widely, but I think that fantasy will always be my most beloved genre. For this option, read a book from the first five pages of the Most Interesting Magic System Listopia.
REQUIRED: Include in your post the page number of the list on which your book is found.
Option 4: My parents got a new puppy this year, and I’m absolutely obsessed. I always look forward to holidays when I get to fly home and spend the whole time playing with him. In his honor, read a book by a single author whose first and last initials can be found in the word (and dog breed) MALTESE. Letters can be used only as often as they appear.
20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Anja's Task: RARE18 London
Help Thread
I am a big reader of romance books and I have always wanted to meet my favorite authors. I finally got my chance when location, timing and attending authors all worked in my favor. I will attend RARE (Romance Authors and Readers Events) event in London next year and I am very excited about it.
1. Read a book from one of the attending authors found on the list here. There can be cancellations during the challenge, so the authors are listed in post 2 of the Help Thread.
2. The event will be held on February 24th in London Olympia. Read a book FIRST published in February of any year or FIRST published in year 2018.
3. The event takes place in February. I don't know about London, but we can have a lot of snow in my region at that time. Read a book with a winter scene on cover. REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post
4. I've never been to London and most I know about it comes from historical romances. I know they won't be any helpful when I'm there but they're still fun to read. Read a book with a main page genre Regency. The genre may be stand-alone or embedded.
20.3 - Best Review - Ed's Task: Titles and Suffixes
Help Thread
Read a book in which a title or suffix is used in either the Title, Sub-Title or Author's name as presented on Good Reads.
The word may be spelled out or abbreviated.
Examples: Mister or Mr.; Mrs.,, Ms., Fr., Sir, Lord, Monseigneur or Msr., Doctor or Dr.,President, Senator or Sen, etc. or Esquire or Esq., Jr., Sr., III, etc. The name of the person being modified must be present. The use of Doctor, Queen or Father, for example, without a name, will not work.
Examples: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde works - both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The Doctor is Sick or The Death of Sweet Mister would not work - no names attached to "Doctor" or to "Mister."
20.4 - Golden Oldies - Creynard's Task: My February Baby
Help Thread
He's not such a baby anymore, but my 15 yo son was born in February. He calls the SRC "competitive nerding." Since I consider it part of my job as the parent of a teenage boy to embarrass him on a regular basis, why not include him in the thing he teases me about?
Choose one of the options below and read a\ONE book that fits the requirements. REQUIRED: State which option you chose when you post.
Option 1: We named our son Mercutio because we love all things Shakespeare. If you don't know, Mercutio is Romeo's best friend (also the one who dies first, but after some really good jokes!)
-For this option read a book that retells one of Shakespeare's plays. REQUIRED: if it's not evident in the GR description, explain how it relates.
Option 2: Mercutio will be 16 this February.
-For this option read a book that's #1 or #6 in a series.
Option 3: We both love reading, especially fantasy and science fiction. But my boy is all about the zombies these days.
-For this option read a book from the list Best Zombie Books. REQUIRED: Include in your post the page number of the list on which your book is found.
Option 4: The name Mercutio is a reference to the Roman deity Mercury, the fleet-footed god of merchants and travelers who wore winged sandals and a winged cap. Mercury is also the closest planet orbiting our sun, and the name of the chemical element also known as quick-silver.
-For this option read a book with a bird's wing or a planet on the cover, OR with the word SILVER in the title/subtitle. The word must be an EXACT match - no variations. REQUIRED: If choosing a cover option, include the cover in your post.
20.5 - Bigger is Better - DebraJean's Task: LET IT SNOW!
Help Thread
One of the things I really miss about my home state of Iowa is the snow in winter. Living in Texas, we don’t get a lot of snow. At least nothing like we got back home. Even after 22 years in Texas, Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas without the winter weather so I look forward to my annual trek north to enjoy the cold temperatures and snow!
For this task, let’s celebrate winter and snowy weather by choosing one book from the following options. REQUIRED: Please state which option you are choosing in your post.
Option 1. Read a book with the word WINTER or SNOW in the title or subtitle. Plurals, possessives, participles, and past tense variations of these words are OK, but the word or its variation must stand alone, not be part of a compound word.
For example, Snowed In or Winter's Bone would work.
Snowbound does NOT work, because Snow is part of a compound word.
Option 2. Nothing is more beautiful than a fresh white blanket of snow. For this option, choose a book from the list White as the Driven Snow. REQUIRED: Specify the page of the list on which your book is found.
Option 3. In April of 1973, there was a freak blizzard in Iowa. With winds in excess of 70 mph, the state was crippled for 3 days with snow drifts in excess of 16 feet. For this option, read a book whose page numbers include a 1, 9, 7, or 3.
Mod
20.6 - Seasoned Rader - Lagullande's Task: IT’S BEHIND YOU!
Help Thread
One of the great British traditions at this time of year is the Christmas Pantomime (aka Panto), a show aimed at all the family, put on at theatres and village halls up and down the land. Panto's history can be traced back to the Italian Commedia dell’Arte. Pantomime is very different to Mime (the Marcel Marceau style, where the performers do not speak).
Usually based on a well-known fairy-tale such as Aladdin, Cinderella or Jack and the Beanstalk, the Panto contains songs, topical jokes, double entendres, slapstick comedy, audience participation and several other essential elements.
This is a ONE book task. Choose one of the options below and read a book that fits the requirements. REQUIRED: State which Option you chose when you post.
OPTION 1: THE CAST - the cast always includes the Principal Girl (on a quest to find love or a lost treasure), the Principal Boy (played by a young woman, dressed in tights), the Pantomime Dame (played by a middle-aged man in drag), and the Villain (the audience are expected to boo and hiss whenever he appears on stage).
Read a book with a title/subtitle where the same consonant appears EXACTLY three times OR the title/subtitle contains all of B, G and D. "Y" is considered a consonant for purposes of this task. REQUIRED: If using the consonant X 3 option, specify the consonant used.
Examples include: The Bear and the Nightingale, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things (these fit both criteria, although only one is required)
OPTION 2: SHOUT OUT - as well as booing and hissing the Villain, there are other chances for the audience to get involved. There is usually a song with the words provided on a screen or curtain, often with a competition between the two halves of the theatre to see who can sing it louder. There are always moments in the script where a character states “Oh yes, it is” and the audience chants “Oh no, it isn’t” (or vice versa). Finally, one of the performers will be looking for something, or someone; the audience are instructed to let the performers know if they see it by shouting out “It’s Behind You!”. Of course, the character doesn’t see it so the audience have to shout louder and louder.
Read a book with at least one of the words “Yes”, “No” or “Behind” in its title/subtitle. The words must stand alone, with no variations.
OPTION 3: THE ANIMAL - the Pantomime Horse (or often a Cow, if the production is Jack and the Beanstalk), played by two actors in a single costume. One is in the head and front legs, the other is the body and back legs. The animal usually performs a rather uncoordinated dance routine, with the comedy provided by the fact that the audience knows how difficult this is for the people inside the costume.
Read a book with a four-legged animal on the cover, but only the front half (head and front legs) or the back half (tail and back legs) is visible, not both.
Examples include:
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Barbara ★'s Task: Animal Lover's Unite
Help Thread
I've always been more of an animal person than a people person so this Winters Bonus Theme is right up my alley.
This is a ONE book task. Choose one of the options below and read a book that fits the requirements. REQUIRED: State which option you chose when you post.
Option 1: Zoo
I rarely go on vacation but I do tend to move a lot. The first place I visit when I move to a new town is the zoo. Somehow this soothes all the ragged edges from the trauma of moving. Read a book with any kind of wild animal on the cover (lion, tiger, bear, raccoon, wolf, deer, reptile, bird, etc). Since the animals must be wild animals, domestic dogs and cats or other pets, farm animals, etc. are not acceptable for this task. The wild animals should be those found in a zoo, so extinct animals (like dinosaurs) and fantasy animals (like dragons) cannot be used.
REQUIRED: include the cover when you post
Option 2: Aquarium
The second place I visit, if the area has one, is the aquarium. This always has a calming effect on me. Read a book with a fish or aquatic animal (shark, octopus, dolphin, lobster, crab etc) on the cover.
REQUIRED: include the cover when you post
Option 3: Safari
The only thing that bothers me about zoos is that the animals are caged so I take in a safari (usually Great Adventure's) whenever I can. from this list: Best Books for an African Safari.
REQUIRED: Please provide the page number on which your book is found.
Be aware that not all books on the list will meet SRC guidelines, so choose carefully.
Option 4: Circus
Another great pleasure of mine is visiting a circus whether it be a huge one or a small local one. I find the acrobatic acts fascinating and I'm always amazed that they can teach animals to perform on cue. Though honestly I try very hard not to think about how this is achieved. Read a book where the author's first and last initial (ignore middle initials) can be found in either ACROBAT or TEACHER. If there are multiple authors, only one author's initials must satisfy the criteria.
REQUIRED. indicate which word you used.
20.8 - Nickels & Dimes - Shiraloo's Task: Coins for Christmas
Help Thread
Every year, my Dad and his lady friend invite us to participate in a fun gift giving game. First, we pull the numbers 1-2-3 and 4 from a hat and the order in which we pull them creates a price. Second, we decide on categories that we must emulate with our gifts, one from each category. The person who is able to purchase 3 gifts best reflecting each of the categories while also being the closest to the total price wins! My Dad is always the winner, but this year I plan to beat him.
This year, the amount we pulled was $32.41.
The 3 categories are Extravagant, Recycle, and Southern.
For this challenge, read ONE book that meets BOTH the following criteria:
1) The book must have 32, 24, or 41 intact somewhere in the page numbers. For example, a book with 347 pages would NOT work because even though there is a 3 or 4, that is not in the right order. A page with 524 pages WOULD work because "24" is the correct order.
REQUIRED: Please state which chosen number is reflected in the page number of your book. Also, ensure that page number rules of this challenge are met.
*Optional: you win our family's challenge being the closest to the prize if you find a book with 3 page numbers in a row, either 324 or 241.*
2) The book must have on its cover an item that reflects the categories chosen this year. Here is the list of approved items (no substitutions allowed):
Extravagant - jewelry, a crown, or a stack of money
Recycle - the recycle symbol, a cardboard box, or a soda can
Southern - a house with a porch, a quilt, or a beach
REQUIRED: Post the cover AND specify what category it fits and what the item is.
Sample post:
fits the Southern category with a beach on the cover, page number includes 41.
Mod
20.9 - Moderators' Pet - Morgan Faeriesfolly's Task: Bringing Pets and People Together
Help Thread
(( Cait had this idea for a task, so when this task fell to me I knew exactly who needed to write it. :) ))
I was so excited to see this season’s theme because my life sort of revolves around animals. Aside from being owned by two great dogs myself, I’m also an adoption counselor at a humane society. My job is to match people with a new family member and I have to say, it’s the best job I’ve ever had. I know every animal in the shelter by name and I love helping the public get to know them. I’m basing this task off a few of my favorite animals we have at the shelter right now, whose adoptions I cannot wait to do!
Books with the Main Page Genres of Sequential Art", "Comics", "Comic Book", and "Manga" can be used for this task.
REQUIRED: In your post, indicate the option you chose.
Option 1: Chomper
Chomper is a 4 year old Pit Bull Terrier mix. He got his name from the very distinct sound he makes when he gets excited. If he’s happy enough, he chomps! Chomper is without a doubt one of the greatest dogs I’ve ever met. Unfortunately black dogs get overlooked the most in shelters and that’s the case with Chomper. He’s been with us for over a year now through no fault of his own.
Read a book from this list: Great Books with Black Covers
Required: State the page of the list on which your book was found.
Option 2: Boss
Boss, a 3 year old Pit Bull Terrier mix (are you seeing a theme? I love me some Pitties), had a very hard start to his life. He was severely abused, leaving him blind in one eye and with multiple scars covering his body. If you met him now though? You would never know. Boss is, for lack of a better word, a complete dork. He has no control over his body, runs like a galloping moose, and will play fetch with you until you can’t feel your arms before curling up in your lap for a nap.
Read a book that has the letters B O S S in the title (not subtitle). Letters can appear in any order as long as all four can be found in the title.
Option 3: Peaches
Peaches is a 6 year old Domestic Short Hair cat who has a stunning buff orange coat. She’s my office cat and spends her days walking on my keyboard, sitting on client’s paperwork, and meowing loudly in my face when I try to get a picture of her. Unfortunately, Peaches is FIV positive and it’s very difficult to adopt out a cat who may have a shorter lifespan than others, even when that cat is gorgeous and hilarious. Which Peaches definitely is.
Read a book that has a food or drink in the title. The food must be in a form that might be found on a typical menu, for instance, beef works, cow does not; pork works, pig does not.
Examples: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Like Water for Chocolate, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.
Option 4: Mini Merlin
Last but not least, there’s Mini Merlin. Mini Merlin, a 1 year old black Domestic Short Hair, was adopted from us as a kitten. Six months later we received a call from another shelter saying they had found him on the streets as a stray but his microchip said he’d come from us. We still don’t know why his owner dumped him since he’s the sweetest, most affectionate little guy. But again, black animals are often overlooked, and Mini Merlin has been waiting in our cattery for a new home for quite awhile now.
Read a book with Fantasy or Magic as a Main Page Genre. These genres can stand alone or be embedded.
20.10 - Group Reads
Help Thread
Read ONE of the books selected as the Group Reads choices for the season:
Fiction - Space Opera - Artemis
Discussion Thread
Fiction - Family Saga - The House of the Spirits
Discussion Thread
Non-Fiction - Space - Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Discussion Thread
NOTE: The group read is the regular adult version of this book. The Young Reader version ( Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space) does not meet SRC requirements and cannot be used.
REQUIRED: You must participate in the book's discussion thread with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.
Mod
25 point tasks
25.1 - Dakimel’s Task – Hurricane Recovery
Help Thread
I was one book shy of completing the Summer 2017 SRC when Hurricane Harvey hit my hometown and disrupted my reading life. We were fortunate, but it was a rough storm season for many in my region and beyond.
This is a two-book task. REQUIRED: State your two options when claiming this task. "Sequential Art", "Comics", "Comic Book", and "Manga" books are allowed for this task.
1: Because I didn’t get to log that last book for the Summer SRC, read a book by a single author whose first and last initials are located in the phrase JUST ONE MORE. Letters may be used only as often as they appear in the target phrase.
2: Hurricane Harvey’s havoc was mainly in Texas. In September, Hurricane Irma hit Florida, followed by Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico. Read a book set at least 50% in one of these hard-hit American regions. REQUIRED: If the setting isn’t obvious in the Goodreads metadata, provide evidence of the setting when you claim this option.
3: In October, my husband’s homeland, Ireland, was, unusually, also hit by a hurricane. Read a book where every letter in OPHELIA can be found in the title, subtitle, and/or author.
Letters may be used only as often as they appear in the title/subtitle/author name.
Examples:
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee - O-P-H-I-A in title, L-E in author name
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez - O-P-H-E-I-A in title, L in author name.
4: Many of my volunteer hours since the hurricane have been with the Houston Food Bank, distributing food to their ongoing clients as well as those affected by the floods.
Read a book with a shelf-stable food item on the cover. Though the packaging can be open, the item must be in a distribution-ready form, i.e., boxed pasta, canned soup, bagged bread, bottled olive oil. No alcohol, and nothing requiring a fridge or freezer!
REQUIRED: post the cover and point out the qualifying item when you claim this option.
Optional: make a donation to your local food bank.
Examples:
- Bottle of olive oil
- Box of cupcake mix25.2 - Anne (Booklady)'s task: Big Cats
Help Thread
As most of my Goodreads friends know I love cats, especially my Bonnie and Clyde. I love to watch them play, cuddle, talk to each other or to me, and hunt for the errant mouse.
And in keeping with the Winter 2017-18 theme this task will deal with Bonnie and Clyde's bigger brethren, the Big Cats.
Please Choose 2 different Options and Read 2 books with a total of at least 550 pages, since it took me 5 1/2 to finally finish a Seasonal challenge.
Option 1: Cheetahs are the only big cats that can't Roar. These carnivores PURR much like the household cat. Also they CHIRP loudly enough to be heard a mile away.
--> For this option read a book that has the letters PURR or CHIRP in the Title (not subtitle).
Option 2: The Cougar or Mountain Lion had the largest range of any wild land animal in North America, but has mostly been extirpated across Eastern North America (with the exception of Florida) since the late 1700's.
--> For this option read a book set in a place where Cougars can still be found: Canada - Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, and territory of Yukon; USA States: Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, South Dakota, Michigan, Kentucky, Florida, and Maine; and Mexico. REQUIRED: Specify the location, and if it is not apparent from the description or metadata, please provide a reference for the setting.
Option 3: The Panther is an incredibly intelligent and agile animal that is very seldom seen by people in the wild since they generally very quiet and cautious animals who are solitary and Nocturnal in nature.
--> For this option read a book with a Night Scene on its Cover.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
Examples:
,
,
,
,
,
,
Option 4: The Western African Lion, Snow Leopard, and the Tiger are critically Endangered. Like these beautiful animals, some books are becoming endangered by some who find their words or content offensive.
--> For this option read a book on Best Banned, Censored, and Challenged Books
REQUIRED: Please state on what page of the list your book can be found.
25.3 - Bluemoon's Task: SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
Help Thread
I love the Christmas season. It is my favorite time of the year. I love the peace and joy of the season but also the magic of the season.
This is a two book task. Pick two of the following options and read a book for each.
OPTION A - MAGIC
Nothing represents the magic of Santa better than the sleigh and flying reindeer that help Santa deliver all those toys on Christmas Eve.
Read a book that has Magic or Magical as a main page genre. The genre may be embedded and may be paired with another word such as Magical Realism.
OPTION B - THE ELVES
Santa would not have nearly enough toys for all the good boys and girls without the elves working tirelessly at the North Pole toy factory.
Read a book written by a single author whose initials can be found in ELVES. All initials count and letters may only be used as often as they appear.
OPTION C - THE POEM
"A Visit From St. Nicholas" also known as "The Night Before Christmas" was first published in 1823. This poem helped to popularize Santa in the 19th century. It also cemented the image of Santa that is still used today.
Read a book that contains a word of at least four letters in its title (not subtitle) that is found in the first stanza of the poem as listed below. Words must match exactly.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads
REQUIRED: State in your post the word you are using.
OPTION D - ST. NICHOLAS
St. Nicholas was a Greek Christian Bishop in a province of the Byzantine Empire (currently part of Turkey). He was famous for his generous gifts to the poor. After his death his remains were collected by two separate Italian groups and moved to Italy.
Read a book set at least 50% in Greece, Turkey or Italy.
REQUIRED: Specify the location, and if it is not apparent from the description or metadata, please provide a reference for the setting.
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25.4 - Nick KY’s Task: White Winter, Yellow Moon
Help Thread
Winter is a time for shorter grayer days, but whiter snowier nights. The search for the sun brings yellow to mind, but the moon can shine husky and mellowy yellow also. How confusing!
For this confusing winter task, read two books. Read one book from Book 1, option A or B, and read one book from Book 2, option A or B. All books must meet SRC guidelines, even if you choose from a list.
Book 1.
Option A. Read a book with “White” in the title, subtitle, or series title. The word must stand alone.
Option B. Read a book from one of these “White” listopias:
Ice and Snow
Books With Black and White Covers
Books White People Need to Read
Book 2.
Option A. Read a book with “Yellow” in the title, subtitle, or series title. The word must stand alone.
Option B. Read a book from one of these Sun and Moon oriented listopias:
Moon, Sun, and Stars
Solar System Opera
Cosmology
REQUIRED: If choosing option B for either Book 1 or 2, state which list and on what page you found your choice.
25.5 - Tien's Task: All in the Family
Help Thread
Pick one (1) from the following three (3) Options and read 2 books as per option's task.
Option A
We are a family of T; that is, all 4 of us have names that start with the letter T.
For this option, read 2 books by 2 different authors with the same first initial. Books must be written by a single author. Names must be different but starting with same letter.
For example, Trinity Doyle & Thomas Mann work as they both have T as their first initials. Victoria Hislop & Victoria Purman do NOT work as their first name is identical.
Option B
Family usually will have the same last name.
For this option, read 2 books by 2 different authors with the same last name. Books must be written by a single author. Their last names must be exactly the same.
For example, these do not work:
Richard Adams and Jane Addams
Steve Berry and Dave Barry
Amanda Smyth and James Smythe
Option C
"Word families are groups of words that have a common feature or pattern - they have some of the same combinations of letters in them and a similar sound. For example, at, cat, hat, and fat are a family of words with the "at" sound and letter combination in common."
For this option, read 2 books with:
Book 1. word in title/subtitle that can be found (exact word only) in the Word Families table;
Book 2. word in title/subtitle within the same family of the word from Book 1. Word must also be found (exact word only) in the Word Families table.
REQUIRED: Please state the family group's name that you are using.
For example, from the family group: "ake"
Crimson Lake Lake - Lake
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake- Cake
25.6 - Perletwo's Task: Winnie the Pooh Day
Help Thread
January 18, A.A. Milne's birthday, is National Winnie the Pooh Day, when schools, libraries and readers celebrate Christopher Robin's favorite Bear of Very Little Brain.
This is a two-book task. Choose one book from each of two of the following options.
1. Read a book by a single author whose initials can be found in the phrase HUNDRED ACRE WOOD. Letters may be matched only as many times as they appear in the phrase (two Es, two Os, 3 Ds etc.)
2. This year Pooh aficionados have something to look forward to: the August release of the film "Christopher Robin," a fantasy in which a grown Christopher Robin looks to the Silly Old Bear to help him navigate adulthood. Ewan McGregor stars as Christopher Robin, and Jim Cummings will voice Pooh.
In honor of the new film, read a book with the GR main page genre Magical Realism, Fantasy, or Coming-Of-Age. Genres may be standalone or embedded.
3. The Hundred Acre Wood has many resident enchanted animals besides Pooh: Owl, Kanga and Roo, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore and the mysterious Heffalump.
Read a book whose cover shows a bear, an owl, a kangaroo, a tiger, a pig, a rabbit or a donkey. REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
4. Pooh is eminently quotable. One of my favorites is, "There must be somebody there, because somebody must have said 'Nobody.'"
Read a book from the list Concealed Authorship. REQUIRED: In your post, specify the page of the list on which your book is found.
25.7 - Wayne's task: My Second Favorite Pastime
Help Thread
On those rare occasions when I need to take a break from reading, I often find myself doing a puzzle of some sort. I like word searches and logic puzzles, and even do crossword puzzles occasionally, but my favorite kind of puzzle is the Sudoku.
Sometimes, people walk up to me when I'm doing a Sudoku and say something like "I could never solve a Sudoku, I'm no good with numbers". I try to tell them that you really don't need to use numbers, you could use anything you feel comfortable with, such as letters, emojis, or mahjong tiles, as long as there are exactly nine things to choose from. However, they don't listen to me. Sigh. In an attempt to prove my point, I am going to attempt to create a Sudoku-based SRC task!
This is a two book task. Books with a main page genre of kids or childrens may NOT be used. Books with more than one author may NOT be used. The books must have a combined total of at least 499 pages.
Book 1: Read a book that has a word in its title or subtitle that contains exactly 9 DIFFERENT letters. Letters can be repeated, but repeated letters only count once. For example, The Illuminations would work even though "Illuminations" contains 3 Is, 2 Ls, and 2 Ns because it contains 9 different letters (I, L, U, M, N, A, T, O, S). Decompression would not work because it contains 10 different letters (D, E, C, O, M, P, R, S, I, N). Punctuation marks such as commas, periods, hyphens, or apostrophes, symbols such as &, $, or @, or numbers such 1, 2, or 3 do not count towards the letter total. Numbers that are written out, such as seventy-eight, may be used.
REQUIRED: Identify the word you are using.
Examples:
Jim Henson: The Biography (9 different letters in "biography")
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds (10 letters in "friendship" - 9 different letters since "i" is repeated.
This list may give you some starting points - but keep in mind that words with more than 9 letters may be used if there are repeated letters in the word: Words with All Letters Different
Book 2: Read a book written by an author whose name contains exactly 9 letters. Repeated letters count as many times as they appear, so that authors such as John Green or Tom Clancy work. All middle names or initials count towards the total, so that V.S. Naipaul would work but W. E. B. Griffin would not. Relational suffixes such as Jr. do not count as part of the name. Just as for Book 1, punctuation marks, symbols or numbers that are not written out as words do not count towards the total.
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30 point tasks
30.1 – Schatzie’s Task: Animal Crackers
Help Thread
This is a two book task. Read one book from two different options. State which options you choose.
Kids love animal crackers, and some adults too. In the late 19th century, animal-shaped crackers were imported from England to the United States. These crackers/cookies are now global and have wiggled their way into the hearts of many, both young and old.
Option 1: In the United States, the demand for these crackers/cookies was so high they were soon domestically produced by different companies, some of which evolved into the American company we now know as “Nabisco” and it is this particular brand that I grew up with. So read a book with the letters N-A-B-I-S-C-O in the title and/or subtitle.
Option 2: I remember when the cookies where just animal shaped blobs of sugary goodness. Now they are stamped with a little more detail. Read a book with a silhouette or outline of an animal, bird, reptile or fish on the cover. No fantasy creatures or insects. The image must be one solid color and contain no detail.
Examples:
.Won't work (details shown in animals) :
Required: please include the cover when posting
Option 3: In 2002, the koala was the most recently added shape to Nabisco’s iconic circus box. Read a book set at least 50% in Australia.
Option 4: When my children were little, I always put a box of these crackers into their Christmas stockings. Read a book written by an author whose first and last name initials can be found in STOCKING STUFFER. Letters may only be used as often as they appear. One qualifying author in a work by multiple contributors works.
Option 5: In 1935 “Animal Crackers in my Soup” was sung by Shirley Temple. This song was used for advertising by many manufacturers of animal crackers. Read a book with a word in its title (not subtitle) from the lyrics of this song. The word must have at least 4 letters and the words must match exactly. No variations.
Animal Crackers in My Soup
Task 30.2 - Mazza1's Task: Prolific Pensmiths
Help Thread
I have authors that I regularly use for the SRC. I know I can get hold of their books from the library and there are plenty to choose from. This got me to thinking about how prolific some authors were.
This is a two book task
Minimum required page count of 250 pages per book
No books with a main page genre of childrens or kids may be used for this task.
If a book is written by 2 authors, either author's publishing record can be used to establish the 26+ distinct works. A book with more than 2 authors will not work for this task. The two authors must be considered separately - their publishing record cannot be aggregated to reach 26+.
Book one
Read a book by any author who has published MORE than 25 books (i.e., at least 26 books). The author must have published at least 26 book-length books, at least 100 pages (not short stories, essays, etc.). This book may be standalone or part of a series.
Book two
Read a book by either the same author OR by a different author who has published MORE than 25 books (at least 26). The author must have published at least 26 book-length books, at least 100 pages (not short stories, essays, etc.).
This book must be a standalone book, not part of a series
Examples of prolific authors include - Agatha Christie, Barbara Cartland, Harry Turtledove and Charles Dickens.
NOTE: When counting up the number of works by an author, they must all be written under the same name - you cannot aggregate works by an author under different pen names.
You could use the following sites to help you choose but you are not limited to them:
List of Prolific Writers
11 Most Prolific Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors
6 of the Most Prolific Authors.
When you post you must provide a link showing that the author has published more than 25 distinct works - this information can often be found on the Author page on Goodreads or on Wikipaedia. For fiction writers, the Fantastic Fiction website is a useful resource for a list of the author's works.
On the author page on Goodreads, you can scroll past the biographical information to where the book list starts-right under the author’s name is a line with average ratings, reviews and DISTINCT WORKS.
CAUTION: The Goodreads "distinct works" field contains separate listings for short stories, forwards to other books, etc., and those cannot be counted in the 26. It also contains many separate listings, such as translations, that should not be listed separately. Be aware that this number may change, if a librarian combines the editions that should not be separately listed. You will need to double check those listed "distinct works" for yourself, to make sure that there are really 26 separate works.
30.3 - Ava Catherine’s Task: Mad Max; My Heart
Help Thread
This is a two book task. Read one book from two different options. REQUIRED: Identify which options you selected when you post.
The books must have a combined total of at least 500 pages.
No books with the genre Childrens or Kids may be used.
When Maximilian Amonette “Max,” a black and silver miniature Schnauzer puppy, joined our family, we had no inkling of our good fortune. Although dogs and cats have been a part of my life since early childhood, Max is special. Now two-years-old, he is a perfect combination of keen intelligence, high energy, affection, creativity and loyalty, and Max always wants to be the center of attention. Our lives are much more interesting and lively because he is a member of our family.
Option 1: Germany
Originating in Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries, the breed became known as the Schnauzer in reference to the breed’s unique muzzle, for which the German word is “schnauze,” including a beard and mustache.
>Read a book set at least 50% in Germany.
Option 2: Schnauzer
The standard Schnauzer is a medium-size dog that inspired early breeders to develop two more breeds that look just like him: the miniature Schnauzer and the giant Schnauzer. It is no wonder breeders wanted to duplicate this dog in different sizes for different needs. Schnauzers are not only highly intelligent and excellent family companions; they’re uniquely handsome, even aristocratic, in appearance. Renowned for their guarding abilities and devotion to their families, they’re also often described as a dog with a human brain.
>Read a book written by an author whose first and last name initials can be found in the the word SCHNAUZER. Middle name initials may be ignored. Letters may only be used as often as they appear. Spaces determine name. One qualifying author in a work by multiple contributors works.
Option 3: Work
Based on paintings by Renaissance artists Rembrandt and Albrecht Durer, as well as a tapestry in 1501 by Lucas Cranach the Elder, it is clear that dogs of this type have existed for several centuries. Being work dogs, Schnauzers were used for various enterprises from guarding family farms, herding cattle and sheep, getting rid of vermin, and protecting owners as they traveled to market. Because of their ability to discern what is out of place or different (like a detective with a powerful nose), they were used as security in German castles.
During World War I, Schnauzers were used to carry dispatches and aid Red Cross workers, and they were also used for police work in Germany.
>Because Schnauzers are fierce little detectives snooping out what is different around the house (or castle) or even neighborhood when taking a walk and immediately alerting their owners, read a book with the main page genre mystery, detective, crime, or thriller. Genre may be embedded or stand alone
Option 4: Lists
Read a book from one of these lists.
Best Books About Animals
or
Best Animal Books That Are Based on a True Story.
Required: Include in your post the name of the list and the page on which you found your book.
Be careful that the book you select fits the SRC's rules and this task’s guidelines (not a Children’s/Kids book).
Option 5: Travel
Because Max loves to explore, his nickname is Magellan. Read a book with main page genre travel. Genre may be stand alone or embedded.
30.4 - Dlmrose's Task: Backward Day
Help Thread
January 31 is Backward Day.
Book 1: Read a book with a title of at least 2 words. The title words must begin with at least 2 different letters. Spaces determine words. Subtitles should be ignored.
Book 2: Using the book title from Book 1, read a book where the same beginning letters of each word in the reverse order from book 1 are the beginning letters of the words in the title. All words count, including articles. Spaces determine words. Subtitles should be ignored. Symbols (&) must be used as symbols. Leading numbers must be used as numbers (1941 = 1)
Book 1 and Book 2 must have the same number of words in their titles.
Example:
Book 1: Rowing the Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean
Book 2: book 1 letters RTA, backward letters ATR = After the Rain
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30.5 - Diana K’s Task - Word Play on a Few of My Favorite Things
Help Thread
I love to read but reading is just one of many activities I enjoy. I’ve built my task around a few of the things I like to do.
This is a 2 book challenge. Select one of the options from below. REQUIRED: State which option you chose when you post. No books with the main page genre Children’s or Kids may be used for this task.
.
Option 1: Kayak. Every weekend from late May to early November you’ll find me kayaking one of the many rivers or creeks near me.
Book 1: The word kayak is a palindrome; a palindrome is a word or phrase that reads the same way backward or forwards such as “kayak”, “madam”, or “Amore Roma” You can find a list at palindrome list.
Read a book with a palindrome of at least 4 letters in the title/subtitle or author's name.
Book 2: The word kayak contains the name of an animal, the yak. Read a book where the name of a type of animal is contained intact within a word of the title and/or subtitle. The animal name must be part of a larger word that is not a plural or possessive of the animal’s name. Dogwood would work but not dogs or dog’s.
Examples:
Dogwood Hill (dog)
The Fisherman (fish)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (ant)
Option 2: Garden. I enjoy working in my garden. I will happily pull weeds over cleaning house.
Book 1: The word garden can be anagrammed into the word danger. Choose a word of at least 5 letters and read a book with that word in the title/subtitle.
Book 2: Read a book with an anagram of the word you chose in Book 1 in the title or subtitle.
REQUIRED: State the word from book 1 and its anagram from book 2.
This site may help: Everyday Vocabulary Anagrams
Option 3: Travel. I love to travel, see the sights, experience new cultures, and sample the food .
I can take the word travel and by adding a letter or changing a letter or dropping a letter I can make a new word such as travels, gravel or ravel.
Book 1: Read a book that includes a word of at least 4 letters in the title/subtitle.
Book 2: Take that word and add one letter, change one letter or drop one letter to create a new word. Read a book with that new word in the title/subtitle.
REQUIRED: State the word you used for book 1 and the changed word used for book 2.
30.6 - TessaVanessa's Task: 25 Years and Counting
Help Thread
This past October I received an award for 25 years of service to my work. I personally don’t consider it work, since I LOVE what I do. I work in a public library and it is amazing! What more could I want than to be surrounded by books? AND I am the cataloger, so everything crosses my desk before it is available to the public. It’s like Christmas every day!
This is a 2 book challenge. Select 2 different options from below and state which ones you choose when you post. No books with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used for this task.
Option 1: I started working at the library on my 16th birthday as a shelver in the children’s department. It was the perfect first job for me!
Read a book with the author’s first and last initials found in SWEET SIXTEEN. You may ignore middle initials and one author in a work with multiple authors works. Letters may be used only as often as they appear in SWEET SIXTEEN.
Option 2: I always love when I find a new to me author and discover that they have published multiple books.
In keeping with the number 25, read a book by an author that has 25 or more distinct works credited to them on Goodreads.
Required: Post the number of works they have written.
To find out how many distinct works they have, click on the author’s name. Scroll past the biographical information to where the book list starts-right under the author’s name is a line with average ratings, reviews and DISTINCT WORKS.
CAUTION: The Goodreads "distinct works" field contains many separate listings, such as translations, that should not be listed separately. Be aware that this number may change, if a librarian combines the editions that should not be separately listed. You may want to double check those distinct works for yourself, to make sure that there are really 25 separate works.
Option 3: What’s in a title?
For this option, read a book that has exactly 25 letters in the title. Subtitles should be ignored. ALL words are counted. Ignore any kind of punctuation, numerals, or any other non-alphabetic characters.
Option 4: Time flies by. I know the last 25 years has for me.
Read a book that was first published 25+ years ago. Since this challenge begins in 2017, it would mean any book published in 1992 or before.
30.7 -Catherine T's Task: Down the Rabbit Hole
Help Thread
Animals are a huge source of entertainment / procrastination on the internet, with you-tube videos of our pets being their natural selves, and the wealth of snark generated by internet memes. I'm going to focus on two: cats & dogs.
Read one book from each option. Books with the genres "Sequential Art," "Comics," "Comic Book," and "Manga" are allowed.
Book 1
Lolcats: one of the oldest memes - cats commenting on our and their lives. Lolcat was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014.
Read a book where all the letters in the title (not subtitle) can be found in the definition:
"lolcat (NOUN) (on the Internet) a photograph of a cat accompanied by a humorous caption written typically in a misspelled and grammatically incorrect version of English."
Only letters should be used, not numerals, punctuation marks, symbols, etc. Letters can only be used as often as they appear in the definition.
Book 2
Dogs: one of the main memes is the Doge meme, with a Shiba Inu dog contemplating existence. The text will include modifers (somewhat abused!)
Read a book with one of the modifiers: so / much / very / such / many in the title (not subtitle).
30.8 - Sandy's Task: Anagram It
Help Thread
This is a two book task. No books with the genre childrens or kids may be used. The books must have a combined total of at least 500 pages.
Book 1 - Read a book of your choice.
Book 2 - Read a book with a word of at least 4 letters in the title (not subtitle) that can be made from the letters in the title (not subtitle) of Book 1. Letters may be used only as often as they appear in the title of Book 1.
The word used from the title of Book 2 CANNOT be the same word as one in the title of Book 1 nor can it be found intact in a word in the title of Book 1.
REQUIRED: Specify in your post the word in the title of Book 2 that you made from the letters of the title of Book 1.
Examples:
Book 1: Braided Lives
Book 2: Living Dead in Dallas - word is "dead,"
or Feelin' the Vibe - word is "vibe."
Book 1: Cheaters
Book 2: The Term Sheet - word is "sheet."
won't work for book 2: Heat Wave - because "heat" is found intact in cHEATers.
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30.9 - Jennifer NC's Task: Obsession
Help Thread
Trying to finish the Fall 2017 SRC was an obsession for me! And a fun one, to be sure. I decided to make my task related to other fun obsessions I've had over the years. Either read two books or read one book that meets a page minimum of at least 500 pages. If you are reading two books, you may read two books from the same option or two books from two different options, and the 500 page minimum does not apply.
Books with the genres "Sequential Art," "Comics," "Comic Book," and "Manga" are allowed.
Option 1: Taylor Swift got me through all the dating drama of my college years. Who doesn't feel like at least one Taylor Swift song was written especially about or for them?! Pick a book with a word from the name of one of Taylor Swift's albums in the title, subtitle, series name, or author name. If using the series name, it must be using the series name as listed on goodreads. No variations or plurals.
The names of Taylor Swift's studio albums are: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, Reputation.
Option 2: Laura Ingalls Wilder may have been my first obsession in life and I have continued to love her books into adulthood. I read everything published about her that I can get my hands on. Unfortunately, most of Wilder's books don't fit the requirements for children's books here in the good ol' SRC, but many of the authors who have been awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal will fit the bill. Read a book by one of the authors who has won the medal. The list can be found here: Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
Be careful that the book you select fits the SRC's rules for children's books.
Option 3: Last winter I was sick in bed for about six weeks. I discovered Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on Netflix and it really cheered me up during an otherwise dreary time. Read a book that has inspired a tv series from the following list: Best TV Shows Based on Books.
State the name of the television series that your book inspired. REQUIRED: If the connection between your book and the book series is not immediately obvious from the goodreads page, provide a link that shows your book inspired the series.
This challenge is about series based on books, not books based on series, so books based on series do not count.
If the television series is based on a series of books, any book from the series may be used.
Option 4: As a teen girl growing up in a very, very rural town where many of my classmates married immediately after high school (and a few were even married during high school), it meant a lot to me to see a strong female every Tuesday night when I tuned in to Buffy the Vampire Slayer (funny that I remember what night it was on all these years later). Read a book with a strong female lead from the following list: 29 Books with Strong Female Protagonists
Be careful that your book fits the SRC's requirements for children's literature.
Option 5: I watched the movie version of Evita over and over as a kid and it inspired a love of all things Argentinian in me. In fact, it lead to me picking a pen pal from Argentina in 6th grade social studies and that pen pal is now my husband!
Lot of famous names are associated with Evita. Some of these names include Eva Peron (Evita), Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Juan Peron, Madonna, and Antonio Banderas. Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, with a main character sharing one of the names listed (for example, your character may be named "Antonio," he need not be named "Antonio Banderas"). The name of the main character should be easily verifiable via the goodreads main page data. Accent marks may be present or not present, but no other variations are allowed.
REQUIRED: State the name of the main character.
Option 6: As it turns out, several of my family members had been longtime Outlander readers before I discovered the series! I can't recommend this series enough. Run, don't walk, to buy or check this book/series out of your library. It will change your life! For this option, read one of the Outlander novels. The titles can be found here: Outlander Novels
For this option, you must pick only one of the main eight novels that are currently out. If you have already read them, I encourage you to re-read one or to listen to the unabridged audiobook of one as they are productions that stand on their own.
30.10 - Brooke TX's Task: By the Numbers
Help Thread
This is a two book task. The books must have a combined total of at least 500 pages.
No books with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used for this task. Books with the genres Sequential Art, Comics, Comic Book, and Manga are allowed.
Book 1: Read a book of your choice.
Book 2: Read a book with a page count that is divisible by each of the digits found in the page count of Book 1 (zeroes excluded).
Examples:
Book 1: Kindred (304 pages)
Book 2: Labyrinth Lost (324 pages);
324/3=108; 324/4=81). 304 + 324 = 628
Book 1: The Golem and the Jinni(484 pages)
Book 2: Why Mermaids Sing(352 pages);
352/4=88; 352/8=44) 484 + 352 = 836
30.11 Andy P's Task: Is There a Pattern Here?
Help Thread
For this task the following rules apply:
1. No book that has Children's or Kid's listed as a main page genre may be used for this task.
2. This is a two book task. One book must fulfill the criteria for Book 1, the other the criteria for Book 2.
3. For the purpose of this task, the letter "Y" will be considered a consonant
4. The total page count for both books must be over 500 pages (i.e. 501 or more)
Book 1. Read a book by a single author in which the letters of the author's first, middle, or last name consists of alternating vowels and consonants. The target word must be of at least five letters or more.
Example: Peter Robinson
Peter: P=Consonant, E=Vowel, T=Consonant, E=Vowel, R=Consonant
Book 2. Read a book in which the title contains a word of 5 or more letters of alternating vowels and consonants. The title must be at least 3 words in length and may contain a subtitle BUT the target word must appear in the title.
Example: Angel with Two Faces
Faces: F= consonant, A=Vowel, C=Consonant, E= Vowel, S= Consonant
For both Book 1 and Book 2 the target word may begin with either a consonant or a vowel
Mod
50.1 - MegSCL's Task: GONG XI FA CAI!
Help Thread
February 16, 2018 is Chinese New Year. Each year is represented by an animal and in February we’ll end the year of the Rooster and start the year of the Dog. Your Chinese zodiac animal is based on your date of birth, if you don’t know it you can find it out here: China Highlights.
Those born in January and February take care: Chinese (Lunar) New Year moves between 21 January and February 20. If you were born in January or February, use the calculator to check whether your birth date falls before or after Chinese New Year to know what your Chinese zodiac year is.
REQUIRED: in your post, specify which zodiac sign you are.
Book 1: Read a book first published in a year that matches your zodiac sign. For example, if you are a rat you could read a book first published in 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, etc going back in multiples of 12.
To make things simpler we’ll assume that the Chinese zodiac year aligns with the calendar year for purposes of determining book publication year (i.e. any book first published in 2008 will count as a rat, even though books published in Jan or Feb that year may technically fall under the Pig sign. So if you were a Pig born in Jan 2008, you would actually need to read a book published in a pig year, e.g. 1995, 2007).
Book 2: Based on your own zodiac animal, read a book that matches the task from the list below.
Book 3: Choose to complete any other task from the list below, using a different animal than your own zodiac animal. REQUIRED: Specify in your post the animal you used.
Rat: The rat is the first sign in the zodiac - read a book that is #1 in a series. The series designation must appear on Goodreads.
Ox: Read a book with a title (NOT subtitle) that includes an X.
Tiger: Read a book with stripes on the cover. This may include a striped cover pattern, e.g.
or an object or animal that has stripes, e.g.
or
.REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
Rabbit: A rabbit’s lucky numbers are 3,4,6 and unlucky numbers are 1,7,8. Read a book that is number 3, 4, or 6 in a series AND in which the page count does not include any of the unlucky numbers 1,7,8.
Dragon: The Dragon is the only mythical animal included in the zodiac. Read a book featuring a mythical creature. The creature must be mentioned in the Goodreads book description.
Snake: Snakes are creative, intelligent, and self-determined. Read a non-fiction book with a main page genre of art, science, psychology, health, or self-help. Genres may be standalone or embedded.
Horse: Horses are sociable and make good friends. Read a book from Best Friendship Books listopia. REQUIRED: Specify in your post the page of the list on which the book is found.
Note: be careful as many are children’s books and the SRC children’s book rules apply.
Goat: Goats work well as part of a team. Read a book written by two or more authors. Anthologies with multiple authors included are fine.
Monkey: Monkey years are all multiples of 12 — from 12 AD, through 1200 AD, etc. Read a book with a number of pages that is evenly divisible by 12 (e.g. 300/12=25, 216/12=18).
Rooster: My brand new baby is Rooster. Read a book that includes a story-line about pregnancy or a baby. It must be mentioned in the Goodreads book description. e.g. Barefoot (mentions pregnancy and small children), Watermelon (mentions birth of a child), The Cry (mentions a baby).
Dog: This is my zodiac sign! Read a book that has the word ‘me’ intact in the title (NOT subtitle) or author’s name, e.g. Home or Meg Cabot.
Pig: A typical pig will never give up, but other people might. Read a book that has been shelved at least 75 times as Did Not Finish from this list - Popular Did Not Finish Books. REQUIRED: Specify the page of the list on which your book is found.
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Barefoot (other topics)How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out: Your no-nonsense guide to pregnancy and birth (other topics)
The Interestings (other topics)
Home (other topics)
Watermelon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Meg Cabot (other topics)Victoria Hislop (other topics)
Victoria Purman (other topics)
Richard Adams (other topics)
Trinity Doyle (other topics)
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5 Point Tasks
5.1- Lassie Come Home
Help Thread
Lassie first appeared in a short story in 1938 and has gone on to appear in radio, television, toys, comic books, animated series, juvenile novels, and 10 feature films.
Read a book with one of the words from Lassie's film titles in the book's title or subtitle.
Lassie Come Home, Son
ofLassie, CourageofLassie, HillsofHome,TheSun Comes Up, ChallengetoLassie,ThePainted Hills, Lassie's Great Adventure,TheMagicofLassie.The, of, to may not be used. Words must match exactly. If you are reading an edition in a language other than English then you may use a direct word translation.
5.2 - Go Wild
Help Thread
Zoos aspire to educate the public about animals, give people who can’t afford to travel a chance to see the animals up-close and serve as important conservation centers.
This list of Best Zoos in the World highlights those zoos with a research and education focus.
Read a book set at least 50% in ONE of the zoo locations: Austria; Canada; England; Germany; Scotland; Singapore; South Africa; Switzerland; or in the USA: California, Nebraska, New York, Washington DC.
5.3 - Banished!
Help Thread
The most overused words and phrases of 2017 made the
2017 Banished Words List from Lake Superior State University.
From the list, 831 refers to a texting encryption of "I love you" where the 3 refers to the 3 words in the phrase. Read a book with a title (subtitles should be ignored) that is exactly 3 words. Spaces determine words.
5.4 - Best Laid Plans
Help Thread
Didn't quite finish last time? Read a book that fits one of the Fall 2017 5, 10 or 15 point tasks. You may not use Task 5.4 or 5.10. You may use a single book A or B option from tasks 15.1-15.4.
Required: When you post, indicate which Fall 2017 task you are using and include any information required by the task.
5.5 - Wonders of the Deep
Help Thread
The aquarium craze was launched in early Victorian England by Philip Henry Gosse who created and stocked the first public aquarium at the London Zoo in 1853, and coined the term "aquarium" when he published the first manual, The Aquarium: An Unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Sea, in 1854.
Read a book written by a single author who uses a three-part name: first, middle, last. Spaces determine names. Names with initials may not be used.
5.6 - It's Alive!
Help Thread
Frankenstein was first published Jan 1, 1818. Read a book found on this list of Best Gothic Books of All Time
Required: State the page of the list.
5.7 - Power Pets
Help Thread
In 1235, Henry III was presented with three ‘wildcats’ (probably leopards in reference to the lions on Henry’s coat of arms) by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Gifts of animals from other rulers around the world followed forming the royal menagerie at the Tower of London.
Read a book with a number of pages* that includes at least 2 different digits from 1235.
*Remember the page number rules.
5.8 - Animals Around Us
Help Thread
Read a book with a main page genre Animals. The genre may be stand-alone or embedded.
5.9 - Get It Done
Help Thread
The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) is the sponsor of February is National Time Management Month. The concept recognizes that the holidays are over and we are well into the New Year and it is time to sit down and set your plans to accomplish your goals.
Read a book that has been on your want-to-read shelf for at least a year (added on/before 11/18/16.) An off-GR list may be used, such as "Books I Own"or "On Kindle".
Required: State the list you used and how long the book has been on the list.
5.10 - Born Free
Help Thread
Read a book of your choice. Note: Books with the genre "children" or "kids" NOT found in AR Bookfinder MAY be used for this task. Required: If using this exemption, state that the book is not found in ARBookFinder.