You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

I don't know about you, but I have so many series on the go that I feel like I'm caught in serial hell. So for 2015, the year long challenge is to become a serial killer and finish off those series.

The challenge starts January 1, 2015 and ends December 31, 2015. Series may be any genre. For the purposes of this challenge, we will only be counting the main books of a series and not the add-ons designated as 0.5, 1.5, etc.

You may have started a series, perhaps even as far back as two or more years ago, and they can be included in the challenge. The idea is to finish it for the challenge. You may start a new series if you so desire.

But here comes a twist! We will not be counting the number of books, the number of pages, or even the number of series. We are going to use a point system.

You will have completed the challenge if you have reached 100 points AND have killed off at least one series. But you don't need to stop there. What serial killer does stop? Like last year, there will be sections. (Level One, Level Two, Level Three, etc.) This will allow people to achieve success with the challenge regardless of their reading speed.

You may start the challenge at any time during the year, but you start at level one and work forward. You may not go back to January 1 and plug in series you've read prior to joining the challenge. Remember, you can do as many levels as you want, but you only need one level to complete the challenge.

Each series has an assigned point value based on the number of books in the series. In addition, 5 points will be awarded for every book started and finished in the level.

Trilogy = 30 pts base
Four book series = 40 pts
Five book series = 50 pts
Six book series = 60 pts
Seven book series = 70 pts
Eight book series = 80 pts
Nine book series = 90 pts
Ten or more book series = 100 pts

The Dark Tower series has 7 books. If I read all 7 books within level one, I would score the highest amount for this series: 70 + 35 (5 x 7) = 105 and have completed the level. But, I've already read two books in the series, so I can only score 70 + 25 (5 x 5) = 95. Oops, I haven't completed the level. I need another book!

So I will add another series to the mix. I have already read book one of the Wayward Pines trilogy. I will read book 2 and that will give me the 5 points I need to finish level one.

Here comes another twist. When you start the next level, you start at zero points. You may not carry points over. It's as if you are starting the challenge for level one, with a bunch of unfinished series.

I may decide to start level two with the Wayward Pines trilogy. I will have already completed two books, so I will get no points in level two for those 2 books. I can only score 30 + 5 = 35. I will then add another series to complete level two.

If you don't want to read a series back to back, you can alternate books from more than one series. I have something like 30 series on the go, and I do like to space them out. You will get 5 points for every book started and finished within a level, as long as it belongs to a series you are reading. You need two things to complete a level - at least one finished series and 100 points.

You will need to start your own reporting thread in the "Year Long Challenge" folder. I would recommend that you start your thread and immediately "reserve" 6 or more messages that you can go back and edit as you progress to new levels.

In message one of your thread, list all the series you are currently reading - or want to read. There is nothing to stop you from starting a new series.

I'm going to freeze this thread. I really don't want to wake up in the morning to a whack of messages, or else I'll never get to work. Take some time to think about how the challenge will work, set up your threads, and I will open the thread for questions soon.

I'm going back to work, and then I'm going out for supper. It will be a few hours before I get back to this thread.

Great challenge! I love it!

I have one question. Can we have points for series we "kill" meaning series we decide, after reading a book for the challenge, not to read the rest of the series, and thus remove the series from our TBR?

I know that "killing" series is one of my goal for 2015 so I can give away the books of series I decide not to read anymore and make room for books I want ;o) And I'm pretty sure I am not the only one LOL

So since removing a series from our TBR by stopping reading it is as useful as finishing it, getting points would be nice ;o)

You know you'll find lots of questions when you get back? ;-)
First of all, great challenge and I love the title! I am really looking forward to this!

I have a few questions ;-)

*Are 2-book series (or series in which only 2 books have been published so far) allowed, just without much points? And if so, will they also count for completing a level?

*If I read a series that is planned for 5 books, and at this point only 3 are published, I guess reading all 3 will mean it's finished. But what if book 4 is expected to be published at some unknown time in 2015? And what if the date is known, but it's still many months away?

I also have a question specific to a certain serie, but I'll ask tomorrow when I can link.

I have a couple of questions too Janice:

Is there a minimum and/or maximum amount of books that we have to read for each section or do we just read as many as necessary to complete a series and reach 100 points?

I also would like to clarify a couple of things. Can we score more than 100 points in an individual section or does it have to be exactly 100? Also, can we complete more than one series in an individual section?

Sorry to bombard you! I just wanted to get them all written down whilst I thought of them :)

I like this idea. I was a bit worried when I saw the thread title that the year-long challenge would be to read crime books about serial killers, and I was thinking that would get boring rather quickly! :-)

I have a question. Are re-reads okay? Say if I read the first in a series years ago, and I want to read the whole series, but I want to re-read the first one to refresh my memory. Would it count if it were a re-read?

How could escalate things so quickly? I was only yesterday when I checked all msg!! And today there is:
A brand new moderator (congrats, Sarah!)
A YEAR challange
Over 50 new post

Peggy has asked both questions that I had, how convenient. :)

Love this challenge! My TBR is going to love (and hate) it too! I enjoy finishing a series because then I can start new ones. There seems to be so many good ones around at the moment.

First I thought too it was a crime-genre challange...
Relieved!!

I'm a little lost on how to score the books but then again I REALLY suck at math, lol! I'm sure I will get it as I go along :) I'm really excited for this challenge!!

Does manga series counts?

I'm really excited to get to participate in the year long challenge! I just joined this group in October so it will be my first! YAY!

My only question is something Peggy already touched on... What if a series is incomplete? For example, a random series is supposed to consist of 5 books, the first three have been published, number 4 should come out in 2015, and number 5 in 2016. Would reading books 1-4 be considered "killing" the series?

KimeyDiann wrote: "What if a series is incomplete? For example, a random series is supposed to consist of 5 books, the first three have been published, number 4 should come out in 2015, and number 5 in 2016. Would reading books 1-4 be considered "killing" the series? "

I wondered about this too. Also, if it is deemed "complete" would we get points for a 4 book series or a 5 book series (even though the 5th book hasn't been published yet).

Sarah wrote: "KimeyDiann wrote: "What if a series is incomplete? For example, a random series is supposed to consist of 5 books, the first three have been published, number 4 should come out in 2015, and number ..."

My follow-up question is, what happens if I read series that has 5 books, finish it, say in March and then a 6th book is published in October... what happens then? How many points would I get when I read the 6th book in October? Would I count the series a second time?

Loved the challenge! I don't have many series going, but I was planning to start at least 3 this year, and reread another one.
I think my two or three questions have been already asked.

I love this challenge! I have way too many series started and I was going to try and finish off a bunch next year! Fabulous!!

LOL how many of you are thinking about Rothfuss and Martin while you're asking your unfinished series questions? Let's be honest here.

I want to echo the question in message 15. For years I have been following a series by Seanan McGuire about a character named October Daye. I've read the first six books, and plan to read books 7&8, which are out now. I will probably also read book 9, which is due out sometime in 2015, probably fall. Because McGuire is the kind of author who plans ahead for years (at least as long as she has a contract for a series), at least four more books are due out over the next four years, with #13 due out in 2019. So how would I count this? Should I wait until book 9 is out to try to count it at all?
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4674...

I have a related question about "unfinished" series. How about the Louise Penney or Sue Grafton series, where there is not a set number of books. If you read up through the current number of books, is it finished? I guess theoretically she may or may not add to her series after that.

Question and answer:

Q: Can we have points for series we "kill" meaning series we decide, after reading a book for the challenge, not to read the rest of the series, and thus remove the series from our TBR?

A: No, sorry. If you read a book in one of your levels and then decide not to finish the series, you will still get 5 points for the book that was read. My idea was that you kill the series by finishing it.

Q: Are 2-book series (or series in which only 2 books have been published so far) allowed, just without much points? And if so, will they also count for completing a level?

A: I decided that the smallest series would be a trilogy. So a 2-book series (even if the author intends to expand it) won't be considered.

Q: If I read a series that is planned for 5 books, and at this point only 3 are published, I guess reading all 3 will mean it's finished. But what if book 4 is expected to be published at some unknown time in 2015? And what if the date is known, but it's still many months away?

A: We will only consider books that have been published at the time you finish the series regardless of whether or not there are future books planned. If you finish a series in March that has 3 books published, you will count it as a trilogy. If, in October, a 4th book is published, you may read it in whatever level you are at and count 5 points. You won't get to count it as another completed series.

If, you have not finished the series when a new book is published, you will need to read the new book in order to complete the series. So instead of a trilogy, you are now reading and counting a 4 book series.

I think I've addressed all the variations of questions surrounding ongoing series that will have future publications. If I have not answered your question, please ask again.


Q: Is there a minimum and/or maximum amount of books that we have to read for each section or do we just read as many as necessary to complete a series and reach 100 points?

A: There is no min/max number of books that you have to read for each section. You just need to read what is necessary to complete one series and 100 points.

Q: Can we score more than 100 points in an individual section or does it have to be exactly 100? Also, can we complete more than one series in an individual section?

A: Yes to both parts of that question. If you have read 9 books in a 10 book series, all you need is to read the last book and will score 100 + 5 (105) points. You just won't be able to carry that 5 points on to the next level. Depending on what size of series you are reading, you may have to finish two series to complete a level. As with the points, the completed series don't get carried into the next level.

Q: Are re-reads okay?

A: Yes, and if started and finished in the level, they will count 5 points per book.

Q: How could escalate things so quickly?

A: There's a full moon.

Q: Does manga series counts?

A: Yes - any genre.

This may be a silly question. But I am actually in the middle or maybe not exactly the middle of Voyager, which is from the Outlander series. Do I need to rush and finish it before 2015? Or can I wait and finish it after Jan. and then count it for the challenge?

Thanks for the clarification on 2-book series and unpublished books Janice.


Here's my specific series question. Or actually two.

I've read two books in what I call the Two Old Fools series (Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools: Tuck Into a Slice of Andalucían Life, Two Old Fools - Olé: Another Slice of Andalucian Life, Two Old Fools on a Camel: From Spain to Bahrain and Back Again, Two Old Fools In Spain Again. I would definitely consider them a series, as the books tell of the lives of a Britsh couple that migrated to Spain in book 1, more adventures in Spain in book 2, a one-year move to Bahrein in book 3, and back to Spain in book 4. However, on Goodreads, there's no series name in brackets behind the titles of the books, as is usually the case for series. The author description does mention it as a series though. Would this still count for the challenge?

Second question, do we stick to what Goodreads says about add-ons? For example, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is 3.5 of Twilight on Goodreads, but yesterday on FictFact I saw they count it as book 5.

Thanks again :)

Rusalka wrote: "LOL how many of you are thinking about Rothfuss and Martin while you're asking your unfinished series questions? Let's be honest here."

Oh yes! I am keeping everything crossed that I can include at least one of these possible new releases in my 2015 challenge!

Thanks for the answers Janice. I just need a bit of extra clarification. Are we allowed to use 2 books series, such as 'The Riyria Chronicles', for 5 points per book or do they not count at all?

Rusalka wrote: "LOL how many of you are thinking about Rothfuss and Martin while you're asking your unfinished series questions? Let's be honest here."

Lol, I am! I am keeping my fingers crossed for Rothfuss in particular.

May I clarify something too please? You say it's all good to hop around series like I do with my reading (it's not a short attention span, it's called variety).

If I read say Girl with Dragon Tattoo in stage 1, then Girl who Played with Fire in stage 2, and then Girl Kicked Hornets Nest in stage 3 I would get the series points (30 points) in that stage 3? Even if the series wasn't read within the one stage?

I think that's how it works Rusalka. I'm going to start a lot of new series, so I will be very slow going through the first few stages with only 5 points for finished books and perhaps a little more for a trilogy, but hopefully fly through the later stages when all my series come to an end.

Oooh thats sounds interesting, I have two series that I want to read in 2015 and I started two with Jannene, going to be a great and busy year!

Another series question. I was organizing series and one I have shelved is Dragonriders of Pern. I thought it was 3 books (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4032...) but apparently there are more books belonging to the Pern series. GR and FF give different books. If I look on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonri...), it says that the original trilogy was 3 books (Dragonriders of Pern), there's another trilogy of 3 books (Harper Hall), and then there are additional books also set in the world of Pern. Can I use the original trilogy for the challenge, or should I go for all published Pern books? I'm confused!

Hi Janice!
With the in death series by JD Robb that I am reading, she has what are called novellas. Would those count as a book for points?

Peggy wrote: "Thanks for the clarification on 2-book series and unpublished books Janice.


Here's my specific series question. Or actually two.

I've read two books in what I call the Two Old Fools series ([b..."

What I would mention about this, is remember that goodreads is flawed, and that the database is managed by people like us. So sometimes things get missed. I'd say if you have good evidence that they are a series, Janice will probably count them (but of course, we shall wait on her call).

Point is, always remember to take Goodreads' information with a big dollop of salt.

Peggy wrote: "Another series question. I was organizing series and one I have shelved is Dragonriders of Pern. I thought it was 3 books (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4032...) but apparentl..."

I'm interested in this thought too Peggy. A lot of series where written as a small series, and then had afterthoughts added. Thanks Janice! :P

Rusalka wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Another series question. I was organizing series and one I have shelved is Dragonriders of Pern. I thought it was 3 books (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4032...)..."

Yes I'd like to know this too. I was thinking of the Riyria lot - they are all set in Riyria so could technically be all classed as one series (8 books) or they can be slit in to two separate series! Same goes for the Shannara lot too - same world, separate series.

Maybe I should edit "afterthoughts" to "realised they could make a bucketload more money" in some cases.

Too cynical?

Janice wrote: "A: I decided that the smallest series would be a trilogy. So a 2-book series (even if the author intends to expand it) won't be considered.
"

Follow-up question: Do 2-book series books count as books read, for 5 points, even though the series itself cannot count as a finished series? And do "First in a new series" when further books in the series have not been published yet count as books read?

That is good advice Rusalka. In the beginning I though GR was some sort of book-bible with flawless information, but I'm learning that it's not ;-)

Peggy wrote: "That is good advice Rusalka. In the beginning I though GR was some sort of book-bible with flawless information, but I'm learning that it's not ;-)"

This being said, a lot of us are librarians, so let us know if we need to fix things. It's very easy for me to bitch and moan in an exhausted state of friday night, but I can always fix things up too. That can be future Rus' job...

Sarah wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Another series question. I was organizing series and one I have shelved is Dragonriders of Pern. I thought it was 3 books (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4032......"

Indeed, sort of similar. The Riyria books have distinct series titles though, at least here on GR, with Revelations and Chronicles. The Pern books seem to be all classified as Pern, except when you look at the omnibus of the first three books, where it is Dragonriders of Pern, which matches with Wikipedia.

Boy, this is complicated.

Wow! So much happened in a day. Yay for the challenge. I have a humongous amount of series to be read. I will save them for next year now!

I think the 2-book series question was answered in message 21 by Janice.

Q: Are 2-book series (or series in which only 2 books have been published so far) allowed, just without much points? And if so, will they also count for completing a level?

A: I decided that the smallest series would be a trilogy. So a 2-book series (even if the author intends to expand it) won't be considered.

I went back to my list and removed all of the 2-book series that I had listed. So even though I plan to read them in 2015, I don't think that they will qualify as a series for this challenge.

Stephanie wrote: "Hi Janice!
With the in death series by JD Robb that I am reading, she has what are called novellas. Would those count as a book for points?"

Woohoo! So, I was updating fictfact and I was able to answer my own question, since the novellas show up as .5 so I now know the novellas wont count for points.

After using fictfact, I am shocked to see how far behind I am on some series...ok, maybe not that shocked ;-)

Janice, is there a page limit to each book that we read?

Robin wrote: "This may be a silly question. But I am actually in the middle or maybe not exactly the middle of Voyager, which is from the Outlander series. Do I need to rush and finish it before 201..."

You can continue reading it and finish it whenever. It will count towards the series, but it won't get the 5 point book points because it wasn't started in whatever level you are going to complete the series.

Peggy wrote: "Thanks for the clarification on 2-book series and unpublished books Janice.


Here's my specific series question. Or actually two.

I've read two books in what I call the Two Old Fools series ([b..."

Because we're a Goodreads group, let's stick to what Goodreads has in it's database.

I'm afraid that Victoria Twead's books have not been classified as a series. I wonder if it's because it's non-fiction. Without that designation, I'll have to disallow it. Sorry. :(

The Twilight book is an add-on according to Goodreads, so it won't count either. :(

Lisa wrote: "Thanks for the answers Janice. I just need a bit of extra clarification. Are we allowed to use 2 books series, such as 'The Riyria Chronicles', for 5 points per book or do they not count at all?"

They don't count at all. Breaks my heart, that does, because I would like to use them.

Rusalka wrote: "If I read say Girl with Dragon Tattoo in stage 1, then Girl who Played with Fire in stage 2, and then Girl Kicked Hornets Nest in stage 3 I would get the series points (30 points) in that stage 3? Even if the series wasn't read within the one stage? ..."

Yes.

Stage one - You will get 5 points for Girl With Dragon Tattoo.
Stage two - 5 points for Girl Who Played with Fire
Stage three - complete the series, get 30 points + 5 points for the last book for a total of 35 points.

Janice wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Thanks for the answers Janice. I just need a bit of extra clarification. Are we allowed to use 2 books series, such as 'The Riyria Chronicles', for 5 points per book or do they not cou..."

Aww, that's a shame :( No worries though. Rules are rules :)

Peggy wrote: "Another series question. I was organizing series and one I have shelved is Dragonriders of Pern. I thought it was 3 books (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4032...) but apparentl..."

Go by the series listed on Anne McCaffrey's author page: https://www.goodreads.com/series/list....

There's 26 books in the Pern series. Then there is a separate 3 book series called Dragonriders of Pern (which is the link you provided). So if you want to read the Dragonriders of Pern series, you don't need to worry about the 26 book series of Pern.

Ahw, too bad about the Fools books! I don't think it is because it's non-fiction though, there are other non-fiction series about people migrating to other countries which do have a series name. Just one of GR's mysteries I guess!