Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Element:Air
Mentor:Renee

Members:
NancyHelen (CAPTAIN)
Lauren (CO-CAPTAIN)
Audrey Jane
Kathryn
Skandia
Cynthia
LizzNeill
Sheila

Reserved

Reserved

Monthly page totals


Cynthia: 17234
Sheila: 11983
Kathleen: 5692
Lauren: 4627
NancyHelen: 4217
Skandia: 4154
AudreyJane: 4003
Kathryn: 2084

Team Total: 53994


Cynthia: 23635
Sheila: 14786
NancyHelen: 5859
Kathleen: 5463
Kathryn: 5209
Skandia: 4989
Lauren: 4819
Audrey Jane: 3330

Team Total: 68090

Hi team mates! I'm looking forward to start this team challenge with you all :) It's my second team challenge, but first time doing Tower Teams. I'm so excited already!

Hi NancyHelen! Congratulations with the baby!

I'm Audrey and live in Belgium. My favourite genres are historical fiction, mysteries, urban-fantasy, science-fiction, fantasy, and will occasionally read some romance when I'm in the mood for it. But I'm willing to try anything.

Here is my shelf for this team challenge: NBRC Tower Teams

◆ Spreadsheet Links ◆


Official Thundercats Spreadsheet

Unofficial Thundercats Spreadsheet

All teams spreadsheet

Hi Sheila. - nooooooo. I want you on my team. Your team is lucky to have you. I don't recognize anyone on my team. Time to meet more people.

Thanks Sarah. Which team do you have?

Hi, Everyone! I'm cynthia and I live in Louisiana, US. My children are grown and out of the house, so I've replaced them with 2 chihuahuas and a pit bull rescue. When I'm not reading, I'm cooking or knitting. I have a lot of free time.

My favorite genres are science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, and a bit of horror on the side. I'm not a romance fan,but I will sneak in some paranormal romance occasionally. Maybe more than occasionally.

My shelf is Tower Teams III

This is my first team challenge (so I don't really know anyone)and I'm excited to get started.

Sheila wrote: "Thanks Sarah. Which team do you have?"

I have The Misty Mountain Trolls.

Hello Everyone!
I'm glad to see so many familiar people!
NancyHelen , so nice to swap captain duties for this team and I know Lauren will be a great co-captain to you!
Hi Sheila! Great to be in a team with you again!

I'm from Estonia, in Europe, too, and I see we have quite many people from this side of ocean which is wonderful.
I'm 40, freelance consultant and a small business owner, so I have quite a lot of freedom planning my time but unfortunately not that much time to read as I would like to.
I used to travel a lot and have my second home in California, but due to my son's studies in high school and his U17 national football team commitments (it's soccer for US) we are more local now.

I read almost every genre but not a fan of non-fiction, Christian fiction and haven't poke my nose in m/m books yet.

My shelf is tt3

Hi Thundercats! I'll be your mod mentor. I'm in the Soaring eagles group but I'll try to "float" around and keep an eye on all my air teams.

Hi everyone and hi Renee!

Just a few more to check in, and we're almost ready to go. Yes, I know there are still over two weeks until we officially start, but its great to see we're all so keen.

I like how they say that Tower Teams is like a marathon rather than a sprint. I have run quite a few marathons, and I've got that same feeling of anticipation at the moment - limbering up at the start line...

woooooo Sheila is on the ThunderCats?! That's it! No more excuses for not reading Kate & Curran.

Hey everyone!

Lots of familiar names and avis and some new ones to get to know :0)

I'm so looking forward to the challenge and being your co-captain (thanks for that great endorsement, Skandia!)

Congrats on the new baby, NancyHelen! Is he/she letting you sleep at night?

I'm from Israel (same time zone as Skandia and a couple of hours ahead of Nancy Helen). I'll be 39 on November 8th - its like this challenge is GRs birthday present to me ;0)

I'm an English Lit lecturer and get to read for a living. The academic year starts here on Sunday so I'm expecting next week to be really hectic, but things will settle down after that.

I'm an eclectic reader, but my preference is for anything with a good romance. I read mysteries and thrillers, romantic suspense, historical romance, PNR and UF with the occasional historical mystery or fiction book thrown in.

My challenge shelf is 2014-thundercats

Sheila & Skandia on the same team, NICE!
Have fun ladies.

Hi Everyone!
I have invited LizzNeill to this thread, everyone else in this group has checked in. I have also invited Nancy Helen and Lauren to the Captains group.

So, I just found out, that books started before Nov 8 will count if the finishing date is Nov 8 or later.

I was saving my 862 pages long chunkster New York by Edward Rutherfurd for TT game, but now I can slowly start to read it!

Thank you for the invite, Renee.

That's great news, Skandia. I have a couple of big books that I was going to wait on, but I might get them started as well. I loved Edward Rutherford's London - I think I've read it twice now! I think I've got several on my shelves so maybe TTIII is the excuse to get them out?

MINI-CHALLENGES

Team "Climb the Stairs" Challenge



Duration: 3rd Jan - 17 Jan 2015

Thank you, Sheila for this great idea. We're going to do this challenge as a team - let's see how high we can get up the stairway by reading series books. Anyone can jump in at any time. We start at step #1, which will be a series #1 book, then someone else can read a book #2, then #3 and so on. They can be from any series - they don't have to be the same one. As long as the series number listed on GR is the next in our sequence. I'll record the books in the next post.

Let's see how high we can climb!

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Nancy's Nice And Easy 'Old Year Passing' TBR Challenge
9 December 2014 - 31 December 2014



The silly season has started and the end of the year looms. So this challenge is a very simple one, set up to help you get that TBR pile brought under control before the new year (and a million more TBR books) arrives.

You will get a point for every book read which you added to your TBR pile BEFORE 2014.

If you don't use the to-read shelf, the books can come from any other form of TBR list you might keep, just let me know. Books purchased or acquired before 2014 will also count.

Hopefully this will get you clearing out all of those old books, all ready to make way for the new.

Happy reading!

FINAL RESULTS
Sheila: 14pts
Cynthia: 6pts
Lauren: 3pts
Skandia: 2pts
Nancy: 2pts
Audrey Jane: 1pt

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Sheila's Seasonal Mini-Challenge
28 November 2014 - 8 December 2014



Christmas is coming and that means books! For this challenge, you are going to try and read as many books with seasonal words in the title. If the title has more than one of the listed words, you will get points per word. Variations of the words are permitted (e.g. plurals, singular, past tense etc.)

2 point words
Christmas, candy cane, sleigh, Santa, reindeer, carols, snowman, stocking, eggnog, gingerbread, angel, festive, noel, snowflake.

1 point words
Presents, bells, gifts, tree, holiday, merry, jolly, candle, holly, cheer, cookies, joy, sing, peace, love.

So for instance 1225 Christmas Tree Lane will be worth 3 points (2 for Christmas, 1 for tree). Happy reading!

NB: Points have also been given for covers with festive colours and any words that could be justified to work! Nothing like a bit of discretionary point-giving!

FINAL RESULTS
Sheila: 9 points
Kathleen: 5 points
Cynthia: 3 points
AudreyJane: 2 points
Lauren: 1 point
NancyHelen: 1 point
Skandia: 0 points
Kathryn: 0 points

*****************************************************
Cynthia's Countries of Origin Mini-Challenge
15 November 2014 - 27 November 2014



The challenge is to try and read as many books associated with the countries that all of our team members come from. This means you can read books set in those countries, by authors from or living in those countries, or books about those countries.

The countries are as follows (points earned for each country are indicated)

UK - 1 point
Israel - 1 point
Belgium - 1 point
Estonia - 2 points
US - 1 point
US but set in Louisiana - 2 points
US but set in Illinois - 2 points
The Philippines - 2 points
Australia - 1 point

For bonus points, our two US team mates are from Louisiana and Illinois. And our captain, although living in the UK, is an Aussie, so books from/about Australia are also counted.

FINAL RESULTS
Sheila: 15 points
Lauren: 4 points
AudreyJane: 4 points
Skandia: 4 points
NancyHelen: 3 points
Cynthia: 2 points
Kathleen: 1 point
Kathryn: 1 point

Climb the Stairs Challenge

#1 - Alice in Zombieland - Kathryn: 4 Jan 2015
#2 - UnWholly - Cynthia: 4 Jan 2015
#3 - Fire Study - Kathleen: 4 Jan 2015
#4 - Over Her Dead Body - Sheila: 11 Jan 15
#5 - Fifth Grave Past the Light - Audrey Jane: 4 Jan 2015
#6 - Hemlock Bay - Sheila: 3 Jan 2015
#7 - Eleventh Hour - Sheila: 10 Jan 2015
#8 - Devil's Claw - Sheila: 4 Jan 2015
#9 - Why Kings Confess - Audrey Jane: 18 Jan 15

I just wandered over to one of the other teams and they already had 191 messages! Although they do say that the teams that tend to do the best are the ones that chat the most, so feel free to start gabbing away.

I've just ordered all three of the BOM for November from the library. I've also been looking down the buddy reads requests and there might be a few in there that look interesting as well. Anyone else getting buddy reads set up? I've never done one before so this will all be new to me.

Just on them, it seems we get points for the actual book (depending on the number of pages) AND additional points for getting involved in discussion so if you have anything you are planning on reading, setting it up with a buddy from another team looks like a good idea.

Hey Thundercats! I've been perusing my shelves to give me some ideas for reading material for this Tower Teams challenge. I'm aiming to read bigger books I have on my shelves and have neglected for far too long.

Also I recently found a copy of Triptych by Karin Slaughter at a secondhand bookstore. I'm planning to start her Will Trent series since I enjoyed last month BOM Cop Town by the same author.

Usually I join one BOM, the one that I want to read the most. I'm planning to join The Knife of Never Letting Go discussion which is the Young-Adult BOM for November. During the Pirate contest held last month I volunteered to do a set of questions and I liked doing it, so it won't bother me to do it again. I just have to see for enough time and which book of course.

Concerning buddy reads, I went to check what has been set up already. Currently the ones I would like to join are the BR for Unwind, Mortal Danger and Still Alice (and maybe The Gunslinger depending on the start date).

Edit: Turns out I'm also doing a BR for Cress :)

NancyHelen wrote: "Thank you for the invite, Renee.

That's great news, Skandia. I have a couple of big books that I was going to wait on, but I might get them started as well. I loved Edward Rutherford's London - I ..."

I have read París by Rutherfurd and I loved it. I have no doubt that I will love the NY book, too and then I'll probably take on London.
With multiple story lines, these are good books to read by chapter in between other books :)

I'll check out the Buddy Reads and BOMs if there is something that I might be interested in.

NancyHelen wrote: "Anyone else getting buddy reads set up? I've never done one before so this will all be new to me.."

I love Buddy Reads, so if anyone wants to join in one, I'm all for it! Perhaps we can post a list of books we want to read in November and we can see if anyone wants to match up.

I'll be joining in the buddy read in November

Audrey Jane wrote: "Also I recently found a copy of Triptych by Karin Slaughter at a secondhand bookstore. I'm planning to start her Will Trent series since I enjoyed last month BOM Cop Town by the same author. "

I love Slaughter's writing! I read a while and really enjoyed it. Its one of those books that really make you think. Since then I've gone back to read her earlier Grant County series before continuing with Will Trent because I know that the two series' merge at some point and I'm a stickler for reading in order.

Lauren wrote: "Audrey Jane wrote: "Also I recently found a copy of Triptych by Karin Slaughter at a secondhand bookstore. I'm planning to start her Will Trent series since I enjoyed last month BOM Cop Town by the..."

I loved the Grant County series and have read most of them several times. I did read Cop Town for the BOM but I didn't like it as much. It was really well situated, but I found the sexism and racism a bit too much to bear.

I've created a Google Spreadsheet to help us with tracking our books and reading.

Here is the link - let me know if there are any corrections or if you have ideas on anything to add:

Official Thundercats Spreadsheet

Unofficial Thundercats Spreadsheet

Hi LizzNiell, Skandia and Sheila...now are we sworn enemies now!?!?! lol

Lauren wrote: "I've created a Google Spreadsheet to help us with tracking our books and reading.

Here is the link - let me know if there are any corrections or if you have ideas on anything to add:

Thundercats..."

That's fabulous, Lauren - thank you! Would it be OK to give me access to update it as well? If you're good with that, I'll PM you my email address.

Audrey Jane wrote: "Hey Thundercats! I've been perusing my shelves to give me some ideas for reading material for this Tower Teams challenge. I'm aiming to read bigger books I have on my shelves and have neglected for..."

I just finished Tryptich last night! I read Coptown for BOTM, and I loved it. It's hard to read at times, but I found it so authentic that I couldn't put it down.

I've been saving Sarum: The Novel of England for TT3. I haven't read any Rutherfurd, but I'm interested in the time period. I remember browing this book in the library a looong time ago, and I don't know why I did'nt read it then. Toddlers, maybe?

Oh, I see, Cathrine has been here to poke us :) You are welcome, dear "enemy" from unknown team :)

NancyHelen wrote: "That's fabulous, Lauren - thank you! Would it be OK to give me access to update it as well? If you're good with that, I'll PM you my email address. "

Sure thing! If anyone else in the group wants permissions to edit just send me a PM with your email.

Requesting team member input - in the last round, my team had a series of internal group mini-challenges that helped us decide on our next reads. The internal mini-challenges were all based on board games. Here's the link to the team thread so you can see what I mean:

Electric Lime Mini-Challenges - click on the spoiler tag to see the challenges.

Are we interested in doing something similar - any ideas on a theme or themes for mini-challenges?

I'm interested, Lauren.

We had cover colors weeks and author weeks :)

Skandia wrote: "I'm interested, Lauren.

We had cover colors weeks and author weeks :)"

Thanks Skandia :0)

How about challenges based on Superheroes?
For example:

Superman
Read books that fit one of the following categories:
1. Character with a secret or mistaken identity
2. Character is a journalist
3. Genre: Science Fiction or Extraterrestrial/Alien
4. Red or Gold or Blue cover
5. Author with initials CK

I like the idea of mini-challenges. I like your suggestion Lauren :) There are enough superheroes to choose from. Will they be weekly or monthly?

About the Karin Slaughter series. I also prefer to follow the intern chronological order. If I understand it correctly after a quick search I'm supposed to read the Grant County first and than the Will Trent series. Or I read the first three Will Trent books and than the Grant County. Thanks for pointing that out.

@NancyHelen: I agree, but I liked our discussion about the book and enjoyed the group read a lot. Also I enjoyed Karin Slaughter's writing style so much I rushed through it, that's what I need for this challenge ;)

Audrey Jane wrote: Will they be weekly or monthly?

I was thinking weekly, that way we won't get burned out on the same categories and can broaden our selection of books throughout the TT3.

Re Will Trent - I believe that you read the Grant County books first because it is a character from there that joins the Will Trent series at some point.

Lauren wrote: "Requesting team member input - in the last round, my team had a series of internal group mini-challenges that helped us decide on our next reads. The internal mini-challenges were all based on boar..."

I really like the idea of mini-challenges and I like the idea of varying them too. I am sure, like me, most of you have a stack of other challenges going on at the same time, so we could ensure that some of the mini challenges are set up to help with those too, especially if you have any challenges which you need to get finished by the end of the year.

Loving the idea of the superheros, but would also like the idea of author weeks, genre weeks and perhaps a 'difficult letter week' (Q, U, X, Y, Z)

Kathryn wrote: "The idea of challenges sound fab!

Perhaps each member could choose the theme for each week? Or choose the challenge for the week."

That's a great idea, Kathryn. It would be really good to get everyone involved.

Would everyone be up for doing that?

If so, we can start our weeks on Saturday (seeing as the competition starts on a Saturday). I can have a chat with whoever is up for deciding the mini-challenge for the week on the Thursday before and then get it posted up for the start of the new week.

Kathryn wrote: "The idea of challenges sound fab!

Perhaps each member could choose the theme for each week? Or choose the challenge for the week."

Yes, I love this idea. We can have it on a rotation basis.

Lauren wrote: "Audrey Jane wrote: If I understand it correctly after a quick search I'm supposed to read the Grant County first and than the Will Trent series. Or I read the first three Will Trent books and than the Grant County. "

I read the first Grant County book a looong time ago. I had forgotten about it until I read the most recent Will Trent book. I think the reason the Grant County books are read first is because Spoilers!

I love the Will Trent books and I've started the series. I'm going to regret having read Unseen already, but can't undo that.

Kathryn wrote: "The idea of challenges sound fab!

Perhaps each member could choose the theme for each week? Or choose the challenge for the week."

I like Kathryn's idea, too!

Aaah, the BR thread will drive me crazy soon! So many good books signed up for it and I want to do them all!
I have to cool down and plan a little ahead. I'm a moody reader so that's not very easy to do. My plans tend to change a lot :)

So far I have one BR booked for Nov - Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover if someone wants to join. I hope the thread will be up soon.

Skandia wrote: "Aaah, the BR thread will drive me crazy soon! So many good books signed up for it and I want to do them all!
I have to cool down and plan a little ahead. I'm a moody reader so that's not very easy ..."

I'm the same way. I skimmed it and found a couple I want to read in late Nov/early Dec. Trying to keep track of BR, challenges, mini-challenges...I need to break down and start spreadsheeting. That makes it seem too much like work!!

Cynthia wrote: " Trying to keep track of BR, challenges, mini-challenges...I need to break down and start spreadsheeting. That makes it seem too much like work!! "


Yes, all of these challenges need a good tracking system. I use Evernote that why I can also update on the go :0)

Lauren wrote: "Cynthia wrote: " Trying to keep track of BR, challenges, mini-challenges...I need to break down and start spreadsheeting. That makes it seem too much like work!! "


Yes, all of these challenges ne..."

Completely agree. I tend to use a spreadsheet and a calendar so I know when things are starting.

I thought I might borrow from your previous team, Lauren, and ensure everything the team needs to know is posted and updated here at the beginning of our thread. I'll hijack my first post and use that for a monthly summary, and then the post I have used to list the shelves and the one beneath it I'll use for challenges and mini-challenges. I should have reserved a few more posts at the beginning (didn't even think!) but hopefully that should make things reasonably easy to keep an eye on. Then the spreadsheet will be regularly updated with everyone's progress so with luck it should be easy enough to follow what is happening.

That's a very good idea, NancyHelen. I think that posts 20, 21 and 22 should be enough for tracking everything.

You'll see, Lauren, that I am playing with the spreadsheet as well. I thought we could add everyone's buddy reads in so it is easy to remember when they are starting and who is involved. I am pretty sure the spreadsheet template they are going to give us has this too, but at least we can make a start.