The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.3 - MAZZA1's Task: Pawn Sacrifice

My first child was born in 1979. From a very early age he enjoyed board games. In time he became a board game geek but his first passion was chess.. We played the game in many guises – the original format, 3D chess and a drinking chess game based on chess – OH I had a headache after that one.

For this task, based on chess, you can read either 2 books (option1) or 1 book (option2).

No books with the main page genre Childrens or Kids may be used for this task.

Option 1
Choose one of the following chess pieces and using that piece, read two books that fulfill TWO different tasks from the given options. You must use the same chess piece for both options.
REQUIRED: When you post identify both the playing piece and the options used.
There is NO page count requirement in this option
Chess pieces:
Rook
Knight
Bishop
King
Queen

a) The name of the piece is in the title (plurals or possessives may be used, but no other variations).
b) The name of the piece is found intact in the author’s name (any position)
c). The setting of the book begins with ANY letter in your chosen playing piece. The setting should be evident in the GR data (if not. provide a link to establish the setting when you post) - it can be a Town / City / Country / Planet –real or imagined. At least 50% of the book must take place in the setting stated

So using the ROOK
option 1 The Rook
option 2 The Intern, Volume 2 by Brooke Cumberland bROOKe
option 3 Last Bus to Woodstock - setting Oxford


Option 2
You can choose to play either BLACK or WHITE You must read 1 book of over 600 pages that will fulfil one of the following options:
a) Has a cover of BLACK or WHITE (over 70%, according to Tineye). Complete directions for using Tineye can be found here: How Do I use Tineye?

b) BLACK or WHITE is in the title (plural or possessive form may be used, but no other variation).
c) BLACK or WHITE is found intact in the author's name (any position)

Examples:
a)
Tineye shows
79 .1 %#030303 Black

b) The Woman in White

c) IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black

mine

mine

mine

This thread is now open!

70,8% black cover is enough?
Asking for

Anja wrote: "70,8% black cover is enough?
Asking for "

if tin eye says 70.8% that is more than 70% and will work. I have checked tineye and your numbers are right

Would this combo work for option 1:
Select "Queen:
a) Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
c) Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
The setting for the whole series, established here: https://www.epicreads.com/blog/a-guid..., is the fantasy realm "Norta" (N in QUEEN).

Thanks!

Marie (UK) wrote: "if tin eye says 70.8% that is more than 70% and will work. I have checked tineye and your numbers are right"

I wasn't sure because of 0,8%, thanks :)

Alex wrote: "Would this combo work for option 1:
Select "Queen:
a) Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
c) Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
The setting for the whole series, established..."

yes that works

Would "High place" work as a setting in Mexican Gothic? (see gr book blurb)

Meg wrote: "Would "High place" work as a setting in Mexican Gothic? (see gr book blurb)"

I am going to say No to this it is the name of the house not the actual place the house is in which is Mexico sorry

Marie (UK) wrote: "Meg wrote: "Would "High place" work as a setting in Mexican Gothic? (see gr book blurb)"

I am going to say No to this it is the name of the house not the actual place the house is ..."

No problem - this one should work for B though right? The Midnight Library metadata shows Bedfordshire as the setting

Is a state like Kentucky specific enough for location? (King)

KSMary wrote: "Is a state like Kentucky specific enough for location? (King)"

yes Kentucky works

Meg wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "Meg wrote: "Would "High place" work as a setting in Mexican Gothic? (see gr book blurb)"

I am going to say No to this it is the name of the house not the actual ..."

yes Bedfordshire would work for B and is England so works for E too

Just trying to get an idea of the scope of this one - Death Masks is set in Chicago; would that count for I (Illinois)? Or A Desolation Called Peace, set in the interplanetary Teixcalaan Empire - would that work for T, or is that too broad a setting?

Brooke wrote: "Just trying to get an idea of the scope of this one - Death Masks is set in Chicago; would that count for I (Illinois)? Or A Desolation Called Peace, set in the interpl..."

As long as the setting you claim is evident in GR data OR you can provide evidence the scope is wide. Your book says BOTH Illinois and Chicago so either would work IF there was a C in any of the pieces

and the second one definitely works for T - when you post say that the setting is evident in the book blurb "An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. "

Kathy KS

For Option 2C: Does Terri Blackstock, or similar names count for the "intact" color?

Kathy wrote: "Kathy KS

For Option 2C: Does Terri Blackstock, or similar names count for the "intact" color?"

yes

Book of Shadows is set in Widow's Vale, New York (United States). does the location have to be the first part (the w of widows) or could it be the n of New York or the u of United States?

Florence wrote: "Book of Shadows is set in Widow's Vale, New York (United States). does the location have to be the first part (the w of widows) or could it be the n of New York or the u of United Sta..."

All 3 are listed on Setting in GR data all 3 will work

Brilliant, thank you!

For clarification, in Option 3, using QUEEN

Would setting of "United Kingdom" or "United States" work? How about "England" or "New York City"?

Just making sure I understand how Option 1C works

Thanks

Deedee wrote: "For clarification, in Option 3, using QUEEN

Would setting of "United Kingdom" or "United States" work? How about "England" or "New York City"?

Just making sure I understand how Option 1C works

T..."


I purposely left this very loose united Kingdom and untied States both work as would United arab emirates
As would England or Edinburgh New york City and Norway

The White Rabbit Chronicles Volume 2 (White Rabbit Chronicles #3-4) - this is the paperback edition I own. Does the 'White' in this count? It is the series name as books 3 & 4 are titled The Queen of Zombie Hearts & A Mad Zombie Party respectively.

Tien wrote: "The White Rabbit Chronicles Volume 2 (White Rabbit Chronicles #3-4) - this is the paperback edition I own. Does the 'White' in this count? It is the series name as books 3 & 4 are t..."

I think i will have to say no for this the "white" is in the series title but the book titles themselves do not contain the word white

Ok, no worries, I thought that might be the case :)

Could I have the setting of "New York" approved for A Stranger in the House? It is not listed in the data, but it does clearly state in the book description that the setting is Upstate New York. Copying the relevant portion below:

Karen and Tom Krupp are happy—they’ve got a lovely home in upstate New York, they’re practically newlyweds, and they have no kids to interrupt their comfortable life together. But one day, Tom returns home to find Karen has vanished—her car’s gone and it seems she left in a rush. She even left her purse—complete with phone and ID—behind.

Meagan wrote: "Could I have the setting of "New York" approved for A Stranger in the House? It is not listed in the data, but it does clearly state in the book description that the setting is Upst..."

this will work. You just have to post that sentence from the blurb into your post when you are ready and it will sail through