The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.4 - Sally M's Task: I’d Like to Thank…

My first challenge was Winter 2009 and in 10 years I never, ever thought I’d actually complete a challenge! I’m having a real Susan Lucci moment right now. I have so many to thank, I hope the music doesn’t cut me off!

Read two books, from two different options.
REQUIRED: Indicate the options you chose.

The total number of pages for both books combined must be at least 600.


Option 1: The Academy, er, SRC!

In the Winter 2009 - 2010 challenge, I completed 11 tasks and earned 185 points - I’ve come a long way! Shout out to the mods for being awesome! My spreadsheet tracking system in particular has evolved over time and is a huge help.

Read a book written by a single author whose initials can be found in SPREADSHEET TRACKER. All initials count. Letters can be used only as often as they appear in the target phrase.

OPTIONAL: If you use a spreadsheet or other type of template to plan or track your SRC participation, feel free to share the link!


Option 2: Harry Potter and JKR

Early on in the fall challenge, I decided to re-read the entire Harry Potter series. It gave me some nice momentum!

Read a book that features at least one witch or wizard as a character, or witchcraft or magic as a central plot point. Any type of magic or witchcraft applies, but it must be defined and treated as such in the book - it’s not enough to simply be set in a paranormal world.

Ex: The Vine Witch, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

REQUIRED: If it isn’t clear from the GR description that the book features a witch or wizard or the magic plot point, provide evidence of the connection in your post.


Option 3: Audible Escape and Scribd

Plowing through 50+ books could be expensive and take a really long time! I love being able to borrow books, and listening to audiobooks at 1.5x or 2x speed is a game-changer.

Read a book you borrowed from a friend, the library, or a subscription service, such as Audible Escape, Kindle Unlimited, LibriVox, OverDrive/Libby, Scribd, Spotify, or Storytel.

For the purposes of this task, a borrowed book is one you are not meant to own or keep. It's okay if you pay for a subscription service, as long as you are not purchasing the book or purchasing credits used to own the book. The lending term or digital rights must expire or be revoked when your paid subscription ends. Note that a book purchased from Audible, Amazon/Kindle, any bookstore or other source will not work for this task. Nor will any book that you received for free that you could keep, such as a gift, a trade, a review/advance copy or a found book.

REQUIRED: State which friend, library, or service you borrowed your book from.


Option 4: Long Flights and Layovers

By the start of November, I was no longer on track to complete the challenge. What pushed me over the edge was a combination of long flights and layovers: across 9 flights and 4 layovers, I was able to get through 10 books.

Read a book with the MPG Travel, standalone or embedded.

Approved

Option 2 - Witchy Books
Fire Study
Dance Upon the Air


Option 4 - MPG Travel
The Tour
The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris

*reserved*

This help thread is open.

Please can you approve The Tour as MPG travel thanks

I use a tracker i have included the template if anyone is interested I can post a completed one I am always making changes to it https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Just to say Congratulations-The Lucci video had me rofl-thanks for making me laugh

I'd like to get The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris locked in for Travel genre.

Thank you.

I have a question about option 3. I have a subscription service not on the list (Storytel), and I suspect this will be true for a lot of others, since different subscription services are available in different geographic areas. Is the list meant to be limited to the services listed or could you consider open up the task to local subscription services if we can show that the subscription service is real (by e.g. linking to the service's wikipedia page or similar)?

Marie (UK) wrote: "Please can you approve The Tour as MPG travel thanks"

noted

I'd love to see your tracker! Are the share settings set to "anyone with the link can view"?

Joanne wrote: "Just to say Congratulations-The Lucci video had me rofl-thanks for making me laugh"

It's a great video!

Kim wrote: "I'd like to get The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris locked in for Travel genre.

Thank you."

noted

Paula wrote: "I have a question about option 3. I have a subscription service not on the list (Storytel), and I suspect this will be true for a lot of others, since different subscription services are available ..."

I need to think on this. I don't want to make it burdensome for the mods but I'm open to expanding the list of accepted services.

Sally wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "Please can you approve The Tour as MPG travel thanks"

noted

I'd love to see your tracker! Are the share settings set to "anyone with the link can view"?"

i will sort the share settings

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

this is link for sharing for the template

This is the fall one completed https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Marie (UK) wrote: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

this is link for sharing for the template

This is the fall one completed https://docs.google...."

Oooh, I've never tracked the source before! That's so smart.

Sally wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

this is link for sharing for the template

This is the fall one completed h..."


I am retired and I had to be careful what i spent on books; not so much now since i got an inheritance but old habits die hard

Paula wrote: "I have a question about option 3. I have a subscription service not on the list (Storytel), and I suspect this will be true for a lot of others, since different subscription services are available ..."

We've updated the task to allow for Storytel and similar services that are still in the spirit of borrowing vs. owning.

Thanks for bringing this up!

Will this book for Option 2?

It's been shelved as Fantasy > Magic by 629 users

Pia wrote: "Will this book for Option 2?

It's been shelved as Fantasy > Magic by 629 users

"

Because the description mentions a sorcerer and the description of the first and second books in this series indicate that the main character has magical powers, I'll allow it. Otherwise, "Soulfinder" is vague and doesn't have a clear connection.

Sometimes the Fantasy > Magic or Paranormal > Witches books are simply set in a paranormal world, so that alone won't qualify it for this task, though it is a good way to get ideas and find books that will work.

Would this work for Option 2? Dance Upon the Air

The description reads: "Just as Nell starts to wonder if she'll ever be able to break free of her fear, she realizes that the island suffers under a terrible curse--one that can only be broken by the descendants of the Three Sisters, the witches who settled the island back in 1692. And now, with the help of two other strong, gifted women--and with the nightmares of the past haunting her every step--she must find the power to save her home, her love...and herself."

Bea wrote: "Would this work for Option 2? Dance Upon the Air

The description reads: "Just as Nell starts to wonder if she'll ever be able to break free of her fear, she realizes that the island s..."

Seems like enough implication that Nell will turn out to be a witch. I think it works.

Sally wrote: "Bea wrote: "Would this work for Option 2? Dance Upon the Air

The description reads: "Just as Nell starts to wonder if she'll ever be able to break free of her fear, she realizes that ..."

Thank you. I thought so, too, but then got worried I was misreading it.

Bea wrote: "Sally wrote: "Bea wrote: "Would this work for Option 2? Dance Upon the Air

The description reads: "Just as Nell starts to wonder if she'll ever be able to break free of her fear, she ..."

It's not the most obvious connection, so that's understandable! It might be good to note my approval in your post.

Sally wrote: "It's not the most obvious connection, so that's understandable! It might be good to note my approval in your post."

Thank you. I will.

I am not sure I'll be able to find a book for this task but I wanted to share my tracking spreadsheet, in case anyone finds it helpful. It includes a built-in scorecard/summary at the bottom, and includes some 'comments' in the file to help.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Thanks for sharing, Juli!

Checking to see if this would work for the witch option:

The description mentions them and witch herbs are part of the theme in this book as that is why the main character is taken.

Thank you!
Stolen Choices

and this is my WIP spreadsheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Jecca wrote: "Checking to see if this would work for the witch option:

The description mentions them and witch herbs are part of the theme in this book as that is why the main character is taken.

Thank you!
..."

It feels to me like it's way more about shapeshifters than it is about witchcraft and magic. The last paragraph - which is the only direct reference to witches - is included in other descriptions for the series, which makes me inclined to think it's simply part of the paranormal world.

I'm gonna have to say no, sadly, unless you can provide a reference that shows witchcraft is central to the plot.

Jecca wrote: "and this is my WIP spreadsheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

This is such a great spreadsheet! I love the checkboxes. I currently use a color-coding system to track my reads, but I might like the checkboxes better.

Please confirm Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States for Travel? Thank you!

Valerie wrote: "Please confirm Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States for Travel? Thank you!"

noted!