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FALL CHALLENGE 2019
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Fall 2019 Tasks
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10.1 - I’ll Be There For You
Help Thread
The tv show Friends debuted in the US 25 years ago on September 22, 1994.
Read a book that a Goodreads friend has read and rated 5 stars. If you need a friend, you may use a moderator's list: Dlmrose, Kristina Simon, Sandy
Required: State the GR friend or moderator.
10.2 - Here’s to Health
Help Thread
October is Health Literacy Month. Read a nonfiction book with a main page genre Health, standalone or embedded.
10.3 - Listen Up
Help Thread
October 30 is World Audio Drama Day. The anniversary of the broadcast of “War of the Worlds” is “the perfect time to sit back and enjoy a terrifying audio tale.”
Read a book that has won or been nominated (a finalist) for an Audie Award, an award recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. The book may be read in any format; audio not required. The award must be present on the book's GR main page.
Note: Audiobooks that do not have a written word equivalent, either published in paper or digitally, may NOT be used for SRC tasks.
10.4 - Give Thanks
Help Thread
Thanksgiving is not only an American tradition. It's also celebrated in Australia, Canada, Grenada, Liberia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Saint Lucia. Read a book set at least 50% in one of these countries.
Required: If the setting is not obvious on the book’s main GR page include a reference when you post.
10.5 - Zero In
Help Thread
Zero Tasking Day is the day we get an extra hour when daylight savings time changes. Read a book with a zero in the number of pages.
Note: Ebook, audiobook and large type page number rules apply. See the Rules.
10.6 - Birth of the Internet
Help Thread
The first digital message transfer was made on October 29, 1969 via an experimental network of four computers called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network)
Read a book written by a single author whose initials can be found in AdvancedResearchProjectsAgencyNetwork consecutively , such as AD, DV, VA, AN, etc. An author with more than 2 name initials may be used as long as all the letters appear consecutively in the target phrase. ex, RCH -Richard C. Hale
10.7 - Strike!
Help Thread
The 2019 Major League Baseball World Series is set to begin on October 22 and a potential Game 7 would be played on October 30. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is denoted by a K. Read a book written by a single author with a name part that begins with a K, ex, Karen M. McManus, Ursula K. Le Guin, William Kent Krueger
10.8 - Forget-Me-Not
Help Thread
November 2 The Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday that remembers friends and family members who have died.
Read a book by an author who, at the time you select your book, is deceased. It can be assumed that an author of a book published before 1920 is deceased.
Required: If the author's death (post-1920 publication) is not noted on his/her Goodreads page include a reference LINK that establishes the death.
10.9 - Portrait of a Lady
Help Thread
Read a book with a cover that depicts a female figure alone with no other human forms present. Obvious facial or body features and/or traditionally female clothing must be seen.
ex.
Required: Include the cover.
10.10 - Scooby-Dooby-Doo!
Help Thread
The first episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! debuted on September 13, 1969. In each episode Scooby, Fred, Shaggy, Daphne and Velma investigated a supernatural creature.
Select a list and read a book from that list
Ghost Stories
Best Monster Books
Required: State the list and the page.
Mod
15.1. Knock Knock!
Help Thread
National Knock Knock Joke Day is October 31.
Book 1. Read a book in which the same word appears at least twice in the title/subtitle. The words need not be sequential, but they must match exactly. These words cannot be used: a, an, the, and, or.
Examples: There There, The City & the City.
AND
Book 2: Read a book the title/subtitle of which contains the word "who" or "who's."
15.2. Falling?
Help Thread
Although we're all thinking of the autumn season, another meaning for "fall," involves falling down. For this task, choose two different reasons why you might fall this fall, and read a book for each of those two options.
REQUIRED: Specify in your post the options you chose.
1 . I was sick! – Read a fiction or nonfiction book where a major character is a doctor or nurse or in which illness/medicine is a major part of the story.
Examples: Beat the Reaper, My Sister's Keeper, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.
2. I tripped over my own feet! - Read a book with one or more human feet on the cover. Bare feet, stocking feet, and feet in shoes all work; empty footwear does not. REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
3. I was too tired from staying up late reading! Read the last or most recently published book in a series. The book must be identified as part of a series on Goodreads (series, #).
4. I was staring up at a strange thing in the sky and lost my balance! – Read a book with the main page genre science fiction or fantasy, standalone or embedded.
15.3. Time to Catch Up.
Help Thread
Fall is a great time for catching up on your reading!
Option 1:
Book 1 - Read a book that has been on your TBR list or pile for at least one year - that is, since at least 9/1/18. This can be on any of your Goodreads TBR lists, or from a physical pile you have at home. If you are one of those amazing people who read everything as soon as you list/acquire it, you may use one of the moderators' TBR lists.
Dlmrose's TBR list
Kristina Simon's TBR list
Sandy's TBR list
REQUIRED: Specify what list/pile this book comes from and the date it was added to the list or pile.
AND
Book 2 - read a book from this list: I Should Probably Read This Sometime. REQUIRED: Include in your post the page of the list on which your book is found.
OR
Option 2 - Read a book from the Book 2 list that has also been on your TBR for at least 1 year. REQUIRED: Provide the required information from both parts of option 1.
15.4. The Perils of Pauline
Help Thread
One of the early damsels in distress appeared in the 1914 weekly movie serial melodrama, The Perils of Pauline.
OPTION 1
Book 1: Read a book whose author matches the first or last name of the cast members of the serial. The cast members are listed in the Wikipedia article, and also in post 2 in the help thread for the task.
Names must match exactly, but the names do not have to be in the same position in both names - for instance, Francis Carlyle can be used for Dick Francis. If the book has more than one author, the names of each author must match a cast member name.
AND
Book 2: Read a book with a word in its title/subtitle that matches a word in one of the episode titles, following the list of cast members in the Wikipedia article (and also listed in post 3 in the help thread). Words must match exactly. "A" and "the" cannot be used.
OR
Option 2
Read 1 book that satisfies both requirements of Option 1.
15.5. Back to School.
Help Thread
Time to read something that might be assigned reading - read a book with the main page genre Classics, standalone or embedded.
15.6. Inventors Day
Help Thread
September 29 is Inventors Day. Read a nonfiction book with the MPG Science or Technology, standalone or embedded.
15.7. It's Halloween!
Help Thread
Read a book with a word from this Halloween Word List in its title/subtitle.
Plural, singular, and possessive forms for listed words may be used. No other variations.
15.8. A Parade - for me?
Help Thread
My mother's birthday is November 11, and when she was a child, she always thought that the town's Veterans Day parade was in honor of her birthday. Read a book whose author's first and last initials appear in the word PARADE - middle initials can be ignored. Single author books only.
15.9. Time to Revisit
Help Thread
Several years ago, we set up this list - SRC Recommended Books. Let's refresh it!
Read a book from this list. REQUIRED: Specify the page of the list on which your book is found.
OPTIONAL: Add something new to refresh the list. NOTE: You cannot add a book to the list to use it for this task - the book must already be on the list when you access it.
15.10. What's New in 2019?
Help Thread
The Millions (an online magazine) publishes a list of "most anticipated" books for the year. Read a book from one of these two 2019 lists:
Most Anticipated Books of 2019 or Most Anticipated Books for the Second Half of 2019
Many of the book reviews include information about earlier books by the author. You may choose to read one of the books mentioned in the review instead of the specific book reviewed.
REQUIRED: State in your post which list your book was found on and the month for which it was listed. If you read another book mentioned in the review, other than the listed book, include in your post the name and listing information of the book that was reviewed in the list.
Mod
Help Thread
Scotland has been my home for over 30 years now, and I cannot say enough how much I love this country. It contains more beauty by the square than any other place I have ever been.
This task is to celebrate the country that is now more than my second home.
This is a one book task. REQUIRED: Indicate which option you have chosen when you post.
Option 1
Scotland’s scenery is unique, and one of the things I always enjoy is the special play of the light on the hills. You could take a photo a day in the same spot, and it would feel totally different every time. Amazing. This is likely due to the fact that you will experience various weather phenomemons in one day, which will include a spot of rain or two!
For this option, read a book with a hill or a mountain on the cover. Ex:
.REQUIRED: Include the cover of the book when you post.
Option 2
One of the most beautiful places in Scotland is surely the Isle of Skye. My daughter and I took a ‘road trip’ there at Easter this year. We played tourists, and went up several of the beauty spots on the island: the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Glen. We also had a wonderful walk up the Fairy Pools, a truly enchanted place where the turquoise waters of the pools vie for attention with the surrounding dark volcanic Cuillins hills.
For this option, read a book that contains all the letters of FAIRY in the title/subtitle.
Option 3
Gaelic used to be spoken all over Scotland a few centuries ago. Now, the language is only really heard in the northwest of the country. Gaelic pronunciation is devilishly difficult to grasp for my gallic palate and tongue, and I can only say a few words of it. Nonetheless, I like to know what the surrounding place names mean. I lived for a long time in a crofter’s cottage called Tigh na Spiorad (pronounced Tai na Spirit) - the House of the Spirit - and yes, it was supposed to be haunted!
Gaelic has only eighteen letters in its alphabet, so no J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y or Z.
For this option, read a book where the letters J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, Z do NOT appear in the title, subtitle, or author’s names.
20.2 - Rookie at the Top – Jen K's task: Fabulous Fall
Help Thread
Growing up in the great state of Vermont, I experienced the best autumns and I will always appreciate the beauty of the foliage. This task is dedicated to my favorites of fall.
This is a one-book task. Read a book of at least 250 pg that satisfies one of the following three options. REQUIRED: State which option you chose when you post.
Option 1: Corn Maze
Corn mazes are just fun and impressive. The one in my neck of the woods covers 24 acres. In the spirit of solving a puzzle and in a nod to one of my favorite tasks during my first seasonal challenge, create your own scramble word.
For this option, read a book and use the initial letters of the title (all words count but subtitles should be ignored) to create a word. The initial letters of every word in the title must be used in your word. The word should be at least 3 letters long, and should be found in Official Scrabble Words. You may also choose to include the author’s initials to create your word.
Example: Title Only
The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont: T C O S from the title can be scrambled to make the word: COTS.
Example: Title and Author
The Idiot by Elif Batuman: T I from the title and E B from the author can be scrambled together to make the word: BITE
REQUIRED: State the word created by the title or title and author initials.
Option 2: After finishing a long corn maze, there is nothing like fresh apple cider. For this option, read a book where the author’s initials can be found in the phrase APPLE CIDER. All initials count. One qualifying contributor in a work by multiple authors will work.
Option 3: In Vermont, the first snow usually falls in early October. I love the snow!!! In celebration of firsts, for this option, read a book from one of these lists:
Great Debut Novels
Best Break Out
REQUIRED: Include in your post the list and page on which your book was found.
20.3 - Best Review - Trishhartuk's task: We Didn’t Start the Fire
Help Thread
The Billy Joel song “We Didn’t Start the Fire” was released thirty years ago, on 27 September 1989. In the lyrics, he lists more than 100 events, people, plays, films and books from the year he was born (1949) to the year he turned forty (1989).
This is a one-book task. Read a book of at least 175pg that satisfies one of the following two options. REQUIRED: State which option you chose when you post.
Option 1: Read a book first published between 1949 and 1989 (inclusive), where the author’s initials can be found in “WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE”. Spaces determine initials and all initials count. Books by multiple authors work, if the initials of each of the authors can be found in the phrase, while keeping to the same letter distribution (e.g. you couldn't have two authors with the initial A, as there's only one in the song title). REQUIRED: Specify the date the book was first published.
Option 2: Read a book named in the song, or related to one of the topics mentioned. The book can be fiction or non-fiction. For help unpacking these, take a look at the following Wikipedia link: We Didn't Start the Fire. The book choice must be linked to the topic name (in bold blue immediately after the bullet), not just a single word in that topic or the description.
If the topic refers to a place, then the book should be set at least 75% in the place. For a named person, the book must be directly connected to that person - for example a history or biography about them, or a book written by them, e.g. "Hemingway" is mentioned, you could use any book he wrote, or for "Joe McCarthy" it could be a biography or a history of McCarthyism and the Communist witch hunts in the US.
Examples: The Catcher in the Rye is specifically named; 11/22/63 could be used for “JFK, blown away”; or All the President's Men for “Watergate”.
REQUIRED: Include the topic you're using in your post, and if it isn’t clear from the GR description what the connection is, please explain it.
20.4 - GOLDEN OLDIES - Tien's task: My Big Classic Books Year
Help Thread
I have been tackling all those big classic books in the past year:
War and Peace at 1,273 pages
Don Quixote at 961 pages
Poor Fellow My Country at 1,443 pages
Swann's Way at 519 pages (I'm currently reading this one now)
No books with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used. Books with the main page genre "Sequential Art," "Graphic Novel," "Comics," "Comic Book," or "Manga" may be used.
This is a one book task. Choose one option from those below and read one book that fits that task.
Required: State which option you used when you post.
Option 1: Countries
All 4 books have been set in 4 different countries. For this option, read a book with one of following MPGs:
Cultural > Russia
Cultural > Spain
Cultural > Australia
Cultural > France
Option 2: Publishing year
For this option, read a book that was first published between 1605 - 1975 (inclusive)
Option 3: Imprints
I tend to go for Vintage classics books or if they're Aussie classics, A&R Classics
For this option, read a book from one of these lists:
Vintage Classics Red Spine
A & R Classics
Please be careful with your picks as some books on these lists will not fit with SRC page requirements.
Required: Indicate the list and page on which your books can be found.
20.5 - Bigger is Better - Diane Whitney's Task: Party Like It's 1999!
Help Thread
This is a ONE book task.
No books with the main page genre childrens or kids can be used for this task.
Your book must be at least 299 pages in length.
My amazing daughter was born in September 1999 and will celebrate her 20th birthday this year. To help celebrate her birthday, please read a book that contains three (or more) number 9s, using only the following data. The word Nine does NOT work. Ordinal numbers (9th, 19th) will work if they are in numerical form.
- Number of Pages
- Numbers in First Publish date
- Title/Subtitle
- Series Number
REQUIRED: Point out to the mods where your 9s came from.
Examples:
1984
9 in Title
First Published - 1949
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist—the Facts of Daily Life in 19th-Century England
9 in subtitle (19th-Century)
First published - 1993
Mod
Help Thread
Romanian wisdom claims autumn is the time to count your hatchlings: "Toamna se numără bobocii". This proverb is of a feather with the more familiar "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched" - with a couple of twists. First of all, it requires you to wait for the little'uns to grow a bit (cracking the shell is not enough - let's see how they fare from spring to autumn!). Additionally, it specifically targets duck or goose chicks, rather than chickens. Generally, it states that the best time to evaluate an attempt or an effort is after its completion.
Select one of the options below and read one book.
Required: State the option chosen when you post.
Option 1: Birds of a feather
Read a book with all the letters in ONE of the words DUCKLING or GOSLING in its title. Subtitles or series titles cannot be used. Make sure the letters appear as many times as needed (i.e. if you use GOSLING, your title must have at least two Gs)
Required: State which word you're using
Option 2: Feathers and bloom
We also use the word "boboc" to name flower buds (or flowers that have yet to bloom). Now is the time to check how they blossomed! Read a book with one or more full-bloomed flowers on the cover. At least some petals need to be fully expanded and visible.
Required: Include the cover in your post
Examples:
.Option 3: Leaving the nest
I used to think this saying was about going back to school in autumn - because "boboc" also means rookie, or freshman!
Read a book identified on Goodreads as #1 in a series. Book #2 in the series needs to have been published before September 1st, 2019.
Required: Include in your post the date of publication of Book #2 in the series.
20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Brooklyn's Task: Two Truths and a Lie
Help Thread
This is a great game to get to know people. Both my last company and my current one has utilized this game for the sales team to get closer to each other and to promote a team atmosphere. My next team meeting is coming up at the end of September, and we will be playing this game. The options for this task are the two truths and one lie I plan to tell my team. It will be up to them (and you) to determine which statement is the lie.
This is a one book task. No books with a MPG of children or kids may be used for this task. Your book must have a minimum of 250 pages.
Required: State which option you choose.
Option 1: I once traveled around the world on one flight reservation. The trip was roughly 3 weeks long and very difficult to pack for! My reservation took me on the following path: San Francisco Bangkok Dubai Amsterdam San Francisco.
For this option, read a book by a single author whose initials can be found in AROUND THE WORLD. All initials count and spaces determine names. Letters can only be used as often as they appear.
Option 2: My family went on a road trip every summer here in the U.S.. My parents strongly believed that driving was better than flying because we could “see the country.” These trips took us all over the country and were between one and two weeks long. As a result, I have been to all 48 contiguous states (plus Hawaii on an adult vacation!).
For this option, read a book with a car or a paved road on which a car could drive on the cover.
Required: Include the cover in your post.
Option 3: Between work trips to most of the major cities in the U.S. and a couple of crazy friends, I’ve met a lot of famous people over the years. In fact, one very eventful year I met former tennis pro Andre Agassi, Home Depot owner Arthur Blank, the late Hall-of-Fame Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, college basketball coaching legend Bobby Knight, and rock star Tommy Lee of Motley Crue. I was surprised each time by their humility and kindness.
For this option, read a book with a MPG of biography or autobiography. The genre may be standalone or embedded.
20.8 - Nickels & Dimes - Peg W's Task: The Scents of Fall
Help Thread
Nickels and Dimes are cents, which led me to think of the scents of fall. Choose from one of the options below and read one book that fits that option. Required: State which option you chose when posting.
Option 1: Where I live in Arizona we don't have all the seasonal outdoor changes as other places do. It does mean I can begin to do more baking and bring my cooking indoors without worrying about heating up my kitchen. Having the freshly baked aromas throughout the house remind me of fall.
For this option, read a book written by a single author whose initials can be found in the words BAKED GOODS. All initials must be found in the target phrase.
Option 2: The smells of fall often have an earthy smell, like maple and pine, each unique to our own locations or memories.
For this option, read a book of at least 3 words in the TITLE only, subtitles do not count, where each initial letter can be found in the word FRAGRANT.
20.9 - Moderators' Pet - Coralie's Task: The Gentle Ones.
Help Thread
So far 2019 has not been a good year for my family. Early in the year we lost my youngest sister, then in June my mother's only sister. This task is dedicated to them.
This is a one book task, choose either option 1 or option 2 and read a book that fits that option.
No book with the genre "children" or "kids" may be used for this task.
Option 1. My sister's name was Judith Melinda and my aunt's was Margaret June. Read a book by a single author whose name on Goodreads includes both a J and an M. The letters can be found in any part of their name.
Option 2. I heard about my aunt's death while we were visiting Margaret River. Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle of at least three letters that can be made from the letters in MARGARET. Letters can only be used as many times as they appear in the name.
20.10 - Group Reads
Read ONE of the books selected as the Group Reads choices for the season:
Military: The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Discussion
Urban Fantasy: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Discussion
Non Fiction - Sports: Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O'Brien
Discussion
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
25.1 - Bookwrm526's Task: Fall Has ALL the Best Stuff
Help Thread
Fall is my absolute favorite season, mostly for the weather but for many other reasons we will explore in this task!
Read two books, one from each of two different options. REQUIRED: State the options you chose.
Option 1: Holidays!! Fall has the best holidays. For this option, read a book where Halloween, Dia de Los Muertos, or All Saint's Day features prominently in the story. If the connection to the holiday is not obvious from the Goodreads description, provide evidence of the connection in your post.
Here are some lists that might help (you do NOT need to read a book from one of them - these are just to give you some ideas):
Halloween in YA and Middle Grade Fiction
Halloween and Autumn Cozy Mysteries
Halloween Mystery List
Option 2: Pumpkins!! While I'm not a huge fan of pumpkin SPICE everything, I do love pumpkins. For this option, read a book with a pumpkin on the cover.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
Option 3: Colors!! There's just something about the quality of the light in the fall, combined with the colors of the changing leaves, that makes everything so vibrant. For this option, read a book with leaves in their fall colors (red, orange, yellow) on the cover (attached to a tree or not). Brown and green are not "fall colors" for purposes of this task, although the cover will work if these colors are present in addition to the fall colors.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
Examples:
,
.25.2 - Nick KY’s Task: A Visit to the Castle
Help Thread
Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto is considered the first “Gothic” novel because the author termed it such. He did so because the castle of the title had Gothic style architecture. Only afterwards did the word “Gothic” begin to mean sinister, suspenseful, and spooky.
Let’s take a visit to Walpoles’s Castle of Otranto.
Read two books, one from each of two different options. REQUIRED: State the options you chose.
As this is a colorful, autumn task, one of your books may be a graphic novel/comic book according to SRC rules.
Option 1. Approaching the castle. AS we approach we notice the Gothic style and we are reminded of the spooky atmosphere of the “Gothic” genre. Read a book with a main page genre of “Gothic,” alone or embedded: “Gothic” “Horror > Gothic” “Gothic Romance” etc.
Option 2. Entering the castle, we hear spooky laughter in the foyer. Read a book with “Humor” as a main page genre, alone or embedded.
Option 3. Investigating, we find a secret panel behind the cobwebs in the library. Read a book with one of the following words in the title/subtitle: “Castle” “Monk” “Italian” “Moor” “Baron” “Frankenstein” “Abbey” “Cobweb.”
These are words from the titles of early gothic novels (plus the word “Cobweb” which I threw in as I thought it to be appropriate). Plurals and possessives are the only exceptions.
Option 4. We travel through the corridor behind the secret panel and come out the other side to find --- a Giant Flying Helmet! Yes, there is a giant flying helmet in The Castle of Otranto. Read a book with a word of 4 or more letters in the title/subtitle which has letters found in the phrase: GIANT FLYING HELMET. (Do not use the words “that” “than” or “then.”)
REQUIRED: State the word.
Option 5. Escaping out the back way, we are tempted to look back. This Task was shamelessly stolen from the 50-point task of the Challenge which was my first Challenge to create a task in, Autumn 2011. Thank you ButterflyCager for your idea of a trip through a haunted house!
(Let's Build a Haunted House-- I have tweaked the task to make it a trip through The Castle of Otranto.)
The Autumn 2011 Challenge had the theme of “Africa.”
For your final option you may “look back” and read a book with a setting in Africa. The setting must be clear from the GR description or “Setting” indication. At least 50% of the book should take place in Africa, and it may be fiction or nonfiction.
25.3 - SandyL's Task - Thanksgiving!
Help Thread
I LOVE Thanksgiving - between the yummy food, spending time with family and reflecting on our blessings, I think it's the best holiday in the US.
This is a two book task. Choose two options and read one book from each. The total number of pages for both books combined must be at least 500.
REQUIRED: Indicate the options you chose.
Option 1: The Food
I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner, although there is plenty of help from family members.
Read a book about cooking, baking or chefs from one of the following lists.
REQUIRED: State which list you used and what page your book is listed on.
Mysteries in Good Taste
Great Books about Food
Foodie Romance
Gay Romance Featuring Chefs or Food
Option 2: Family and Friends
Getting together with family and friend is something I really enjoy (although yes, there can be conflict! :-))
Read a book with the word FAMILY, FAMILIES, or FRIEND found intact in the title, subtitle or series title. If using the series title, it must show on Goodreads in parentheses after the title on the book's main page. Example: Rachel's Holiday (Walsh Family #2).
Option 3: Sports
Thanksgiving is a popular day for watching or playing football or other sports.
Read a book with a main page genre of Sports (either standalone or imbedded.)
Option 4: Shopping
After Thanksgiving is over, it's on to Black Friday! These days it seems to start on Thanksgiving day, rather than the Friday after.
Read a book written by an author whose initials are included in BLACK FRIDAY. All initials count, and each letter can only be used as often as it appears in the phrase.
25.4 - Diana K's Task: Two (or Three) Nations Divided by a Common Language
Help Thread
Twenty years ago, I was an American living in Italy and my Italian teacher gave me an article to translate into Italian about shopping at Marks and Spencer, the British department store. The article talked about how two of the biggest selling items were knickers and jumpers and with their new service people could drive up in their cars and put their purchases in the boot. I had to laugh as I explained to her that I had to translate twice because in American English, knickers were knee-length pants that little boys wore, jumpers were sleeveless dresses you wore over a blouse, and a boot was footwear that went over your ankle so I was translating both into American English to get panties, sweaters and a car trunk, and then into Italian.
Now I am back home and working for the British and Australian offices of a company and I come across our language differences every day. We spell things differently i.e. color - colour and we have different names for things.
Here are a couple of lists that show some of the differences.
British v. American word list
Translation Australian-American words (Through transport and motor vehicles)
This is a two book task. No books with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used for this task.
Book 1. Chose a word pair from one of the lists. Read a book with one of those words in the title or subtitle.
Book 2. Read a book with the other word from the word pair in the title or subtitle.
Words or phrases must match exactly. If a phrase of more than one word is used, the entire phrase must appear in the title/subtitle.
Required: State your word pair.
Task 25. 5 - Andy P. ‘s Task: Create Your Own Compound Word
Help Thread
No book with children or kid’s as a main page genre may be used for this task
The total number of pages for both books combined must be at least 500 pages.
Read two books each of which has a title (subtitles are excluded) which contains a word of four or more letters which can be combined to form one compound word.
REQUIRED: State the compound word.
For this task, compound words are made up of two smaller words that are combined to make a new word with its own meaning. Each word component must be able to stand on its own and must appear in dictionary.com as a part of speech: noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition. The compound word must also appear in dictionary.com
Examples: The Water is Wide + Before the Fall
Water+ Fall = Waterfall
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Help Thread
When I think of Damsels in Distress, I immediately think of Princess Peach from Nintendo's video games. Help Mario save the princess by reading two books which follow the SRC Rules using the options below.
This is a two book task. Choose two options and read one book for each.
Required: State which options you choose when you post.
Option 1: Although she has always been known as Princess Peach in Japan, she first appeared in America under the name Princess Toadstool. Read a book written by an author using a pen name or alias.
REQUIRED: If the book's main page author listing does not include both the pseudonym and the real name, you must include a reference when you post.
Examples:
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (Real Name Stephen King)
The Mister by E.L. James (Real Name Erika Leonard - see wikipedia)
City of Bones Cassandra Clare (Real Name Judith Rumelt - see wikipedia )
Option 2: Princess Peach appeared in her first video game in 1985. Read a book originally published in 1985.
Examples:
The Handmaid's Tale, The Cider House Rules, Death of a Gossip
Option 3: Mario and Peach are a classic video game couple. Read a book with Romance as a MPG.
Examples:
Pride and Prejudice, The Fault in Our Stars, Outfox
Option 4: The princess is in another castle! Read a book with a building on the cover.
Examples:
,
.
.REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
25.7 - Cat's Task: Literary Months
Help Thread
Choose two different months and read one book for each. No Childrens books allowed (I'd've picked Roald Dahl day if it were!)
September includes International Translation Day.
Read a book from the list Man Booker International Prize: Eligible Books 2019
October finds the Cheltenham Literary Festival in full swing, and celebrating its 70th Anniversary
Read a book first published between 1949 and 2019 (inclusive) with title of at least three words (ignore subtitles), where the title initials can be found in CHELTENHAM LITERARY FESTIVAL
November is non-fiction month, and the month that the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction is announced (formerly the Samuel Johnson Prize). Read any book shortlisted for the prize - the list is here
REQUIRED: Specify the year for which the book is listed.
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30.1 - Ava Catherine’s Task: A Great Dame
Help Thread
This is a two book task. Read one book from two different options or two books from one option.
REQUIRED: Identify which option or options you select when you post.
No books with the genre Childrens or Kids may be used.
“I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.” __Marie Curie
Madam Curie became a real person for me while I was studying chemistry in graduate school, and I grew to deeply respect her intellect, perseverance, and bravery. (She died from aplastic anemia believed to have been caused by radium poisoning.) Although no one’s dainty damsel, Marie Curie was certainly a great dame and a template for a strong, smart, and independent woman.
Option 1: A Woman of Science
Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice. She was also the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields. Marie Curie shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with her husband Pierre Curie and physicist Henri Becquerel, and she won the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Read a nonfiction book with the mpg science or biography. These should be standalone genres.
Option 2: Applied Science
Marie Curie’s achievements included the development of the theory of radioactivity, a term she coined, techniques for isolating radioactive isotopes, and the discovery of two elements: polonium and radium. During WWI she developed mobile radiography units to provide X-ray services to field hospitals.
Read a book (fiction or nonfiction) with the mpg World War I, World War II, medical or medicine. These genres may stand alone or be embedded.
Option 3: Radium
Radium is a chemical element with the symbol Ra and the atomic number 68.
Read a book by a single author whose name contains the letters RA in any order. All names and initials included in the Goodreads record can be used.
examples:
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood - RA=mARaret atwood
Girl with Green Eyes by Edna O'Brien - RA =ednA o’bRien
30.2 - Dlmrose’s Task: The People in Your Neighborhood
Help Thread
September 28 is Good Neighbor Day.
Using the list of Readerboard Names:
Find your Readerboard Name and your Readerboard "neighbors" - the 3 names above yours and the 3 names below yours on the list. If you are the first or last names on the list the list wraps:
ZEINA
ZOE
ZOEMAC
A61MERLOT (first on the list)
AB1
ABAYOMI
Use letters only. Ignore punctuation, symbols and numbers.
Book 1 -Using either your group of “above” or “below” neighbors: Read a book written by a single author whose initials can be found in ONE of that group’s Readerboard names. All of the author's initials must be used.
Book 2 - Using the OTHER group not used in Book 1: Read a book with ALL of the letters of ONE of that group’s Readerboard names in the title and/or subtitle.
Required: State your 3 “above” and “3 below” neighbors.
ex:
DIONISIA
DIRECTORKAT
DIXI_E
DLMROSE
DLYN
DOANNA
DOBBS
Book 1, above, initials DN in DIONISIA: Beijing Payback by Daniel Nieh.
Book 2, below, DOBBS in title: Black Orchid Blues.
30.3 - TessaVanessa's Task: Picture this
Help Thread
This is a 2 book task. Choose two different options, and state in your post which options you chose.
One of my favorite hobbies besides reading is taking pictures. Lately I have been getting some great pictures on my phone, but I want a real camera again. I have employed several ways to save money for this including clipping coupons, taking online surveys and playing games online with rewards.
Option 1: Say Cheese!
Say cheese is a signal to the subject of a photograph to smile. The person taking the photograph utters “say cheese” at the moment right before he takes the photograph. Speaking the word cheese causes the lips to naturally draw back to expose the teeth. The first photographer who used this technique to encourage his subjects to smile is unknown, though there are some who believe it was a politician who originated the trick.
Read a book with a camera on the cover.
This list may be helpful, but the book does not have to appear on the list. Camera on the Cover.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
Option 2: A picture is worth a thousand words
I grew up going to the library at least once a week and during the summer multiple times. I still love to read picture books. The illustrations in some are outstanding.
Read an adult book (one that does not have the children's/kids genre) written by a single author who has also written a children’s picture book that is on Goodreads and has a MPG of Picture Books alone or imbedded.
The picture book must be by the same author (no pseudonyms) as the adult book, and cannot have a co-author. Note that illustrators are not authors.
Required: You must include in your post a link to at least one picture book the author has written.
Examples: Bel Canto and Lambslide, both by Ann Patchett; Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, both by Barack Obama.
Option 3: “A good cover has a distinct silhouette” --J. C. Leyendecker
Silhouette photography is a wonderful way to convey drama, mystery, emotion and mood in a picture. A silhouette is defined as a view of an object or a scene consisting of the outline and a featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black.
Choose a book from this list of Silhouette Covers.
Required: Post the page number the book is found on.
Option 4: Zoom in
Macro photography is about taking extremely close-up photographs of the subjects. A life-size zoom on insects, flowers, or snowflakes often create amazing work of art. I love zooming in on insects feasting on the pollen of my flowers.
Read a book by a single author where the initials of the author's first and last name (ignore middle names/initials) can be found in either FLOWERS or INSECTS.
30.4- Sandy's task: The Long and the Short of It
Help Thread
No books with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used for this task.
Book 1. Read a long book, at least 350 pages, with a short title, no more than 2 words.
Book 2. Read a short book, fewer than 200 pages, with a long title, at least 5 words.
Subtitles cannot be used.
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Help Thread
The Flavia de Luce series, described as "Precocious motherless 11-year old fascinated with chemistry and death bicycles around Bishop's Lacey from ancient country house Buckshaw in 1950s England" is surely one of the best examples of a damsel causing distress (so much more interesting than a damsel in distress).
This is a two book task. Read two books from two different options.
Required: State which options you chose when you post.
Option 1: What's in a name?
Flavia has a distinctive and unforgettable name. It is Ancient Roman in origin.
Read a book from this list: Best Historical Fiction About Ancient Rome
Required: State the page number of the list where your book appears.
Option 2: Chemistry please
Chemistry may be Flavia's abiding passion, but there are many interesting subjects that also end in a Y. Read a book with a word of at least five letters in the title or subtitle that ends in Y.
Examples: Gravity, The Psychology of Time Travel, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics.
Required: State the word
Option 3: Transport required
Flavia is never without her trusty bicycle, Gladys. Read a book with a bicycle on the cover.
Required: Include the cover when you post.
Option 4: Fabulous titles
The titles of the books all come from literature. Read a book with a word of at least 4 letters in the title or subtitle that matches exactly a word in a Flavia title. The titles are listed in post 2 of the Help Thread.
Note: All the Flavia books that meet SRC requirements are eligible for this option.
Required: State the word
30.6 - BrookeTX's task: Riot Grrls
Help Thread
This is a two book task - read one book which fulfills the Book 1 requirements and one which fulfills the Book 2 requirements. One of your books can have an MPG of Comics, Manga, or Graphic Novel.
Book 1: Read a book whose author shares a name with one of the musicians from this list: Riot grrl musicians. Names must match exactly, but can be found in any position.
Book 2: Read a book whose title/subtitle contains a word* found in one of the band names from this list: Riot Girrls Bands. Words must match exactly. (*The word "The" may not be used.) If the band name uses a digit, the matching title word must also be a digit.
Example: Band name Tribe 8. A matching title would be From a Buick 8. Hard Eight would NOT work.
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50.1 - Lisa MD's Task: Brr!......the “ber” months are upon us.
Help Thread
For this task, read 3 books, one from each option. The combined page total must equal at least 750 pages. No books with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used. Books must meet all SRC requirements.
Book 1: Septem-"ber"
The autumn season opens with September and it hints that the long days of sunlight and hot weather are about to leave us in the upcoming “ber” months.
🍂 Read a book with the letters “ber” intact in the title, subtitle or author's name. If author name is used, the book must be written by a single author.
REQUIRED: Specify in your post the location of the "ber."
Examples:
Title/Subtitle: Where'd You Go, Bernadette; One Day in December; Heart Berries .
Author: Robert Crais; Debbie Macomber; Elizabeth Gilbert.
Book 2: Octo-"b-rr"
October brings a shiver in the air with a change to cool, crisper weather and the anticipation of spooky Halloween activities.
🍂 Read a book that gives you the shivers. To meet this criteria, the book must “b” one that has a MPG, standalone or embedded, of: mystery, thriller, crime, suspense, romantic suspense, psychological thriller or horror.
AND
The book must also contain the double letters, “rr,” intact in the title, subtitle, series name or author's name. If author name is used, the book must be written by a single author.
REQUIRED: Specify in your post the location of the "rr," and, if series name is used, include the name of the series in your post.
Examples:
Title/Subtitle: Arrowood; True Crime Addict: How I Lost Myself in the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray; The Marriage Lie.
Series Name: The Harry Bosch Series; The Harry Hole Series
Author: A.S.A. Harrison; Charlaine Harris; Flynn Berry.
Book 3: Novem-"Brr!"
November has us bundling up against the cold, and gathering around hearth and home with family for warmth and celebration
🍂 Option 1: Read a book with a title containing all the letters needed to spell the word COAT. Only the title can be used - no subtitles.
OR
🍂 Option 2: Take the “brr” off the cool, autumn weather. Read a book with one of these things on the cover: coat, jacket, scarf, mitten, blanket, outdoor bonfire (a controlled recreational/utility fire), or fireplace.
REQUIRED: If using the cover option, include the cover in your post and point out the item from the above list.
Examples:
Title: The Poacher's Son; The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris;Southern Lady Code.
Cover:
- coat
- coat
- coat
- blanket
- scarf
- fireplace
- fireplace
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
True Crime Addict: How I Lost Myself in the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray (other topics)Arrowood (other topics)
One Day in December (other topics)
Shelter Mountain (other topics)
Where'd You Go, Bernadette (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Elizabeth Gilbert (other topics)Robert Crais (other topics)
Charlaine Harris (other topics)
Debbie Macomber (other topics)
Flynn Berry (other topics)
More...
5.1 - Taking Action
Help Thread
The damsel-in-distress, persecuted maiden, or princess-in-jeopardy is a classic trope in literature, art, film and video games; most notably in those that have a lot of action. Read a book with the MPG Action and/or Adventure. The genre may be standalone or embedded.
5.2 - Damsel-in-Distress
Help Thread
Read a book written by an author whose initials can be found in DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. All initials count. Letters can be used only as often as they appear in the target phrase. One qualifying contributor in a work by multiple authors will work.
5.3 - Not So Helpless After All
Help Thread
Not all damsels are distressed. Read a book found on the Badass Female Leads! Listopia. If previous book(s) in a series are on the list, subsequent books in the same series may be substituted. Series books must be identified on Goodreads as part of the same series.
Required: State the page of the list on which your book is found when you post. If substituting a series book, include the title of the series, the name of the book found on the list, and what page the book can be found on when you post.
5.4 - Princess Fiona
Help Thread
A mashup between Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Trinity (from The Matrix), Princess Fiona is one of my favorite damsels-in-distress. In honor of Princess Fiona, read a book that has all the letters of OGRE (in any order) in the title/subtitle and/or the author's name. Books must be written by a single author.
5.5 - Princess Leia
Help Thread
Princess Leia could take care of herself most of the time, but there were a few memorable moments when she needed rescuing. Metal bikini slave outfit, anyone? In honor of Princess Leia, read a book with the word STAR or WARS (plural) intact in the title/subtitle or series name. Ex: The Fault in Our Stars, A Red Herring Without Mustard, The Sock Wars, William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace (William Shakespeare's Star Wars #1)
Required: If using the series name, include the name of the series when you post
5.6 - Princess Buttercup
Help Thread
Farm boy! Fetch me that pitcher. "As you wish!" In honor of Princess Buttercup, read a book that has yellow letters on the cover. Not all letters need to be yellow, but at least one must be entirely yellow. Outlines, shadows, and design elements, such as cracking or splitting, may be ignored. Ex:
Required: Include the cover when you post.
5.7 - Rose DeWitt Bukater
Help Thread
Move over Rose, let Jack on the door. In honor of one of Hollywood's most iconic romantic pairs, read a book that has a protagonist with a 4-letter first name or nickname. The character's first name or nickname must be mentioned in the book's description. Ex: The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary), Who Is Vera Kelly? (Vera), Killing Floor (Jack)
Required: State the character's name when you post.
5.8 - Ann Darrow
Help Thread
Ann Darrow is the love interest King Kong. In honor of the giant ape and his damsel-in-distress, read a book with two or more consecutive words in the title/subtitle that start with the same letter. Ex: Tangled Threat; The Wallflower Wager; Darkly Dreaming Dexter; When We Believed in Mermaids
5.9 - Elizabeth Swann
Help Thread
Why is the rum gone? Elizabeth Swann might be more courageous than Captain Jack Sparrow, but she certainly gets captured a lot! In honor of Swann and Sparrow, read a book with a bird on the cover or the name of a specific type of bird in the title/subtitle. Ex: The Sparrow; We'll Always Have Parrots; The Eagle Has Landed; H is for Hawk
Required: If using the cover option, include the cover in your post.
5.10 - No Need for Distress
Help Thread
Relax and read a book of your choice that meets the SRC rules. For this task, a book with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used if it is not found in AR Bookfinder.