The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Please post your general questions about the Winter 2014 challenge here. Specific questions about individual tasks should be posted in the Help Threads for those tasks.
Please read the topics in the Rules folder. Your answers may be there.

What if there isn't a help thread for your question? Are you supposed to start one? I have a feeling my question has been asked before, but I can't find it anywhere, though I've tried to read everything.

Never mind, now I see it. sigh. I get the stupid question award for this round. LOL

I have been out a while and am having trouble finding the Winter 2014-2015 calendar...

Teri-k - what task thread are you looking for? there should be a thread for every task

Tami - it looks like the calender hasn't been posted yet - both Kristi and DLMRose were away this weekend

Not sure if it has been corrected or not but the 15.6 My Way task in the task list has a link titled with task name rather than the usual "Help Thread".

Tami wrote: "I have been out a while and am having trouble finding the Winter 2014-2015 calendar..."

It's up now! Winter 2014 Calendar

Bea wrote: "Not sure if it has been corrected or not but the 15.6 My Way task in the task list has a link titled with task name rather than the usual "Help Thread"."

Thanks, Bea, keeps it tidy :)

Kind of a general question, although it was the Donovan lyrics in one of the Atlantis tasks that made me think of it.

If you're looking at a task with a word match, what's the situation for US/UK spelling? For example, the Donovan lyric has neighbor - but the UK spelling is neighbour. Are you limited to the US spelling?

Trish wrote: "Kind of a general question, although it was the Donovan lyrics in one of the Atlantis tasks that made me think of it.

If you're looking at a task with a word match, what's the situation for US/UK..."

If a task says that a word must match exactly, then it generally means exactly, no variant spellings. That would be the default rule, altho it may be that an individual task creator could decide to allow it.

Sandy wrote: "If a task says that a word must match exactly, then it generally means exactly, no variant spellings. That would be the default rule, altho it may be that an individual task creator could decide to allow it.

Most of the time it's fine. But the problem comes with anything with "-ized" vs "-ised" or "-or" vs "-our" (the Donovan example is "neighbor" vs "neighbour"), and similar. They aren't variants in meaning: it's exactly the same word, used in exactly the same context. It's just that the US simplified the spellings when they were defining their conventions.

It would be difficult for a British reader to find a book with an American spelling in the title, as they are translated for UK editions - see this example of a short story by Dean Koontz:

The Neighbor

The Neighbour

To take the question one step further, what is the rule for participants who read in a language other than English when it comes to tasks requiring a specific word?

Wendy UK wrote: "It would be difficult for a British reader to find a book with an American spelling in the title, as they are translated for UK editions - see this example of a short story by [author:Dean Koontz|9..."

As I said in my previous post, this would be up to an individual task creator to decide whether this is acceptable. If you have a specific book that you want to read for a specific task or you plan to read a book written in a language other than English, you can ask in the help thread whether the task creator will allow it.

If there were a task that could only be completed by reading a book with the word "neighbor" spelled exactly like that, this might be different. However, there is just no reason to get into hypotheticals because of 1 option in 1 task, and where that option can be completed by using many different words, most of which are only spelled one way.

Please keep in mind that not every book will work for every task.

Sandy wrote: "If there were a task that could only be completed by reading a book with the word "neighbor" spelled exactly like that, this might be different. However, there is just no reason to get into hypotheticals because of 1 option in 1 task, and where that option can be completed by using many different words, most of which are only spelled one way."

It was a specific task that triggered the question, but I mentioned it in General Questions as it may come up again for a task in another challenge where there aren't as many options. Never mind.

do you also need to verify comic books that are marked as children with the finder thingies? I was thinking about reading tis comic for a challenge Bone

Bellagbear, the answer is YES.

Per rules: 4. "Any book that has "childrens" or "kids" listed as a genre on its main page MUST be validated in the following manner:
a) The book MUST be found on AR Bookfinder and/or AR Bookfinder UK. ISBNs may be entered..."

and "5. Books whose main page lists any of these genres: Sequential Art, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga may only be used for 5, 10, and 15 point tasks."

Bea wrote: "Bellagbear, the answer is YES.

Per rules: 4. "Any book that has "childrens" or "kids" listed as a genre on its main page MUST be validated in the following manner:
a) The book MUST be found on AR ..."

ah oke thanks for the answer. I did not read closely enough

I have a general question about posting your points. I've looked at past seasons' threads to see how people do it, and I can't figure out how they know when their points have been accepted or rejected. I know, (I think), that rejected posts are listed in the ? thread with the problem explained, but what happens to the ones that are OK? Do you just assume that if they don't show up on the ? thread they were accepted?

Thanks for explaining this, I'm the kind of person who likes to understand things before they start. :)

Yes, as long as there is no post in the problems thread you can assume that the points have been accepted.

Also there is the Readerboard where the moderators update the points they counted and you can compare with your own points.

If there is a discrepancy you can look in the problems Thread if there is a post explaining why some points have not been counted, or, if you cannot find a post ask if perhaps something was overlooked.

At the top of each posting in the Readerboard you find the number of the last post they have counted for the update.

OK. So you keep an eye on the reader board and if the points don't match what you think they should be you look in the problems thread.

I can see I'll need to decide how I'm going to keep track of my points. I'm not really good at computer spreadsheets, but I'm sure I can come up with something. Thanks for clarifying that for me.

Make sure that you check your post number against the Readerboard. They'll give an "updated through post #."

If they've updated through post 1600, and your post is 1602, then your numbers won't match.

Teri-k wrote: "I can see I'll need to decide how I'm going to keep track of my points. I'm not really good at computer spreadsheets, but I'm sure I can come up with something. Thanks for clarifying that for me. "

I just keep a note file and jot down my post number and how many points I claimed in that post. Then I can check the Readerboard and quickly see if my points match up.

Angie - Now that I can do. :)

Thanks for the tip.I think I was making it way too complicated in my mind.

Angie wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "I can see I'll need to decide how I'm going to keep track of my points. I'm not really good at computer spreadsheets, but I'm sure I can come up with something. Thanks for clarifying..."

Teri-k wrote: "I can see I'll need to decide how I'm going to keep track of my points. I'm not really good at computer spreadsheets, ..."

You can do a really simple "count" using Excel.
Use three columns - TASK # - DATE POSTED - POINTS

Fill in the task #s - But use "Task # 10.10 rather than just the number (because Excel will try to use only 1 decimal point if you use just a number)

Fill that last "points" column with "0" for all the corresponding tasks (because you do NOT have any points ... yet).

Then click on the box BELOW the last zero. Move your mouse to the top of the spreadsheet where you'll find the SUM symbol - Σ - and click it. You'll have an "equation" in that box now - Hit "ENTER" and you've saved the equation to sum up all the points.

It should still show 0 ... but if you want to test it put a couple of random numbers in place of some of those zeroes up above. You should see the total changing as you add numbers.

To help me keep it straight - I always color that SUMMED box with RED font color and BOLD type ... Makes it easy to see where my total is. I also write the word TOTAL in bold & red and put it in the box NEXT to that summed equation (i.e. where the date posted would be).

Of course, this works best if you complete the spreadsheet EVERY time you post a completed task!

But Excel doesn't make addition errors (like I sometimes do), so at least you know your math is right.

I pretty much do something similar to Angie, Teri-K.

I keep my two lists in two blog entries. One is tasks in progress/uncompleted/haven't been added to the readerboard or checked by mods.

The second post is all the completed tasks that have been added to the readerboard.

Then I just keep a general running tally of everything I want to track and check it against readerboard totals when updated.

It's a lot easier for me to deal with than a spreadsheet. (which can feel more like work to me since that's where I use them most.)

It's just a matter of whatever works best for you, because if it's easy and you don't mind doing it -- you'll keep track of things.

Good luck for Winter! :D

Teri-k wrote: "Angie - Now that I can do. :)

Thanks for the tip.I think I was making it way too complicated in my mind.

Angie wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "I can see I'll need to decide how I'm going to keep track of..."

This isn't so much a question as a warning to those considering task options that ask for a matching publication date, such as option 5 in 30.2.

Now that Goodreads is owned by Amazon, automated data feeds from Amazon often result in actual publication dates being overwritten with January 1 of the publication year. You may wish to seek approval for a book using this option when you select it, because the book main page may not show the same date when you actually post for points. Goodreads librarians can also help correct invalid data and their updates should take priority over data feeds, but librarians have found that to be somewhat buggy.

Diane wrote: "What does this mean for Task 5.6 of the Winter challenge?

... "and what page it is on when you post."

That part of the task is unclear to me. what is meant by "it?""

For that task, you have to read a book found on that specific list. When you post and state the book you read, you also need to include what page the book is found on in that list. So if you read The Fault in Our Stars, you would say that and then add "on page 1."

"It" refers to the book you choose.

Jessica, I spent over 2 hours the other night fixing books on my shelves because of that! I still have some to go, but it's nice to be able to see the actual date again.

Quick question. I've got about a third of the way through a book at the end of the Fall challenge (page 158 of 501), but haven't finished it, and probably won't now before the cut-off. I just want to check that I understood one of the rules correctly, and that as long as I don't get over page 248 by tomorrow night, I can finish it as part of the Winter challenge?

Yep that's correct trish

Dee wrote: "Yep that's correct trish"

Thanks

I hate to be a bother, but I think the help thread for 25.1 has "fallen through the cracks", as no one seems to be answering questions there.

Also- Since the tasks aren't firm till the 12th, does that mean we don't claim points till then? Or can we claim points the way the tasks are written now and keep them even if the task changes?

Thanks.

Teri-k wrote: "I hate to be a bother, but I think the help thread for 25.1 has "fallen through the cracks", as no one seems to be answering questions there.

Also- Since the tasks aren't firm till the 12th, does..."

Thanks for letting us know, Teri-K. I sent Angel a message. She should get back to you shortly.

@Teri-K: any tasks posted in the completed thread prior to the 12th count for points even if the task finalizes with some requirement changed. At least that is how it has been in the past.

Teri-k wrote: "can we claim points the way the tasks are written now and keep them even if the task changes?"

We hope any changes are minor and help clarify tasks. The most common change is adding/modifying posting requirements. You may claim points for tasks now, but check the tasks before you start reading until the tasks are finalized on the 12th.
It's always a good idea to check posts 2 and 3 of the Help Threads before you start reading a book for a task even after tasks are finalized.

I'm trying to confirm which number in a series this book can be counted as.

Game of Love shows as Love in Bloom #10, but also The Remingtons #1 (a spin off series).

https://www.goodreads.com/series/1171...

Would this count as either #10 or #1, or will it go by the "main" listing of #10. Thanks in advance for clarification.

If a book does say "childrens" on the main page-
but it's MG 5.0 or higher and more than 7 points-
can be used anywhere?
Or only for the 5, 10, and 15 point tasks?

And I know they can't be used if a task
creator says No Childrens Books.

i believe its anywhere unless specified "no childrens"

Dee wrote: "i believe its anywhere unless specified "no childrens""

Yep. If it meets the standards, it can be used for any task that doesn't specify no childrens.

Thanks everyone. I wanted to double check. :-)

So if there is no 25.7 task per creators does that mean every one gets a free 25 points or do I need to adjust my points from 1070 to 1045?

Rhiannon wrote: "So if there is no 25.7 task per creators does that mean every one gets a free 25 points or do I need to adjust my points from 1070 to 1045?"

Adjust your points total. Dlmrose posted about the new numbers: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

I have a question about the "80-99" page book we might use for one 5-point task rule. How does that combine with the graphic novel/sequential art genre tag since that rule says they must be 100 pages long? I'm looking at using a book 96 pages long but a few users have tagged it graphic novel/sequential art (the tag may drop off, though, since it's at the bottom and there aren't all that many pictures in the book). Just wondering - I won't die if it won't fit into a task :p

Melissa wrote: "I have a question about the "80-99" page book we might use for one 5-point task rule. How does that combine with the graphic novel/sequential art genre tag since that rule says they must be 100 pa..."

Related to above: the "graphic novel > sequential art" tag has dropped off the book's main page (which is good, because there aren't enough drawings to actually tell part of the story). Can I get a book verified as not having the graphic novel tag?

Yes Melissa, you can get it verified in the genre verification thread as not having graphic novels.

Thanks Sam :). It'll only fit in 5.10 anyway but I figure I might as well try to get a task post out of it if I can.

I've read the rules several times, but I'm unsure on how to post e-book and audio versions. Do I need to link to the e-book/audio as well as the appropriate version for page verification? Or do I just state, "I listened to the audio, the mmp is here..." and link? Or do I not need to mention that at all and just link to the appropriate printed version?

I'm trying to get this right and keep it as simple for the evaluators as possible.

Thanks.

I was looking through the different challenges for this season's challenges, and I was wondering if I could count a book that I had finished on December first of this year for one of the challenges?

Did you start it after the first? (If less than 500pgs) or read less than half prior to 1st (greater than 500pgs)

Teri-k wrote: "I've read the rules several times, but I'm unsure on how to post e-book and audio versions. Do I need to link to the e-book/audio as well as the appropriate version for page verification? Or do I j..."

Best way is to link to both, explaining that one is the one you read/listened to, and the other is for page purposes - that will eliminate questions/possible issues. If it's a cover task, be sure to post the cover of the edition you actually read/listened to - sometimes those are different from the editions you used to establish page length.