Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Team A MAN CALLED OVE



• Lexi (Captain)
• Ariel (Co-Captain)
• Judith (Co-Captain)
• Darren
• Melanie
• Preeti
• Cordelia
• Susan
• Saar the Book Owl
• Alison

Challenge Status Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Team Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

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Duration: 5 weeks. Beginning November 14th, 9pm UK time

All Books Must be Started after November 14th, 9pm UK time

Countdown: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Important Links:
Rules and Announcements
Team Ove Official Spreadsheet - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Planning Spreadsheet - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Team Shelf Links:
•Lexi (Captain) - Wheel2022
• Ariel (Co-Captain) - Wheel7
• Judith (Co-Captain) - Wheel2022
• Darren - Wheel7
• Melanie - Wheel-7
• Preeti- Wheel-7-NBRC
• Cordelia - Wheels
• Susan - Wheel2022
• Saar the Book Owl - Wheel-22
• Alison - Wheel_7

Wheel Spins:
Each round lasts for ONE weeks.

 Round 1 - THE BOOK OF COLD CASES (blue) - Genre: SPACE OPERA (needs 10 tags)
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/spac...
 Round 2 - THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET (red) - Genre: MYTHOLOGY (needs 10 tags)
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/myth...
 Round 3 - RAZORBLADE TEARS (pink) - Genre: QUEER (needs 10 tags)
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/queer
 Round 4 - BLUE SKINNED GODS (blue) - Genre: Contemporary
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/cont...
 Round 5 - THE GOOD WIFE OF BATH (green) - Genre: Zombies
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/zombies

Point System
Books less than 160 pages = 0 points
Books between 160 and 1000 pages = 0.1 points/page
Books over 1000 pages = 100 points

Bonus points
Each week teams can gain 5 bonus points if a book used in the spell out is:
- at least 50% the colour cover associated with the team's word - to a maximum of 25 points
- that has at least 10 shelvings that matches the week's shelf. The same shelf will be used for all teams. There is no maximum points for the shelving

Spell-it-out Rules
Find the letters needed using the first letter in:
◈ book / series title*
◈ author first/last name
◈ FICTION ONLY: character name**
◈ If listening to the audio book: audio narrator first/last name
◈ If you are reading a translation: translator first/last name

* if the first word in the title/series is a definite or indefinite article you can ignore them if you prefer (i.e A, The)
** characters must be significant to the plot. you can use first, last or nickname.

Note that non-fiction books don't have characters

Page and Word Count
◈ Books must be at least 160 pages in length
◈ Books with MPGs Childrens / Kids / Poetry / Play / Graphic Novel / Illustrated / Photography / Art (or which have "Illustrated" in the title or an "Illustrator" contributor in the metadata) must have at least 40,000 words or a 4 hour audio book
◈ Judith and Lexi can help you check wordcount if this is unclear before you read
◈ Can check audio using Audible/Amazon or https://www.arbookfind.com/ (https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/ and www.arbookfind.com.au)
◈ "Re-reads" will be allowed, if it has been six months (this includes both audio and print)

Countdowns
End of Round 4 / Start of Round 5: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Tracking Sheet

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

reserve

Welcome,
my name is Lexi (she/her), and I’m currently in Madagascar. The internet is not good enough for my computer to connect, so I’m on my phone. I normally live in northern Indiana and I’m a postdoc. This is my fifth wheel.

Please introduce yourself, including pronouns, and say if you’ve played wheel before. Also, since our first shelf of the week is Space Opera, do you have any recommendations? Also feel free to ask any questions.

Hi everyone! My name is Ariel (she/her). I live in Florida and am officially over hurricanes. I am a substitute teacher and not going to lie, I kind of love it. I do plan on going back to school for my masters to become a librarian. This is my first wheel and am so excited to get started! Also, please give recommendations since Space Opera is not a genre I am used to.

Hello Everyone!

My name is Judith (she/her) and I am both a co-captain for the team and one of the Mods for NBRC for the past couple years. Not sure how many Wheels I've done, but a fair few.

By day I am the Lead Economist for the Office of Toxic Chemicals at the US Environmental Protection Agency. I live in Maryland with my husband and my 4 year old.

As Lexi is having internet issues today:

Lexi has links to rules, spreadsheets, etc in message 5 for reference. In post 6 she has details for our first world and a link to help look for books that fit the genre (minimum of 10 shelvings).

There is also a tracking sheet for people to claim letters. Remember each round is only 1 week so please keep that in mind as you claim spots. If you are having trouble finding a spot for you book, give a shout in the thread. Likely we can shift books around to get everything a home.

Link to the tracking sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

I have no idea if this book is any good but it popped up and is by the same author as the Elemental Assassin series, if you've read and liked those. I tend to find this author's books fun and don't require deep thinking to enjoy.

It has the added bonus of multiple vowel options, Space Opera, and blue cover.

Hello! I'm Cordelia, I live on the west coast, and I am a librarian! This is my second wheels. I'm super excited, I had a busy few months but my work load has finally lightened up and I'm going to have a week off for Thanksgiving so I'm hoping to get some good reading done. Plus I get to read at work sometimes when I'm working the main desk!

For space operas I'm thinking of trying to finish the final Expanse book and also reading some Star Wars EU books I have on my shelf. I've also been meaning to read the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson so maybe that as well!

Oh, I also wanted to say that this is so funny because A Man Called Ove was actually the last book I acquired before being assigned to this team, and that was before I even saw what the team names were! I'm going to take that as a good sign ;)

Hi everyone. I'm Alison and I live in Scotland with a small fluffy demon / cat.

I've played wheel a few times, not sure how many. I read most things but have to admit not much in the way of space opera. I did enjoy the first book in Sandersons Skyward series, so maybe this will give me the push to read books 2 and 3.

Oooh, I’m planning to read the last Expanse book too!

I’d recommend that series, the audios are well done for those that like audio books. The first one is Leviathan Wakes (maybe also a blue cover?) for those not familiar with the series.

I’ve also enjoyed the Skyward series.

Having a hunt through the list and realised I have on audio. I've heard lots of good things about it. Has anyone read it? Audiobooks tend to take me a while but I could definitely give it a go. Do you think it's blue enough?

Was also thinking would work. I loved that series so could happily listen to it again

Feel free to grab spots on the tracking sheet! If anyone has access issues let us know

Hello everyone, I'm Melanie. I live in New Jersey with my husband and our two cats. I work in the finance department at a book publisher, so I love spreadsheets.

I have played wheel for several years (my first one was the one with the teams named after Nightmare Before Christmas characters, whichever one that was).

As for Space Opera recs, here are a few I've enjoyed.



I may try to read the final book in the Consortium Rebellion series or the second book in the Expanse series. The Expanse books would definitely be good since they're pretty long. But first I need to spend this weekend finishing up the books I've already started since they won't count for Wheel.

Alison wrote: "Having a hunt through the list and realised I have on audio. I've heard lots of good things about it. Has anyone read it? Audiobooks tend to take me ..."

I haven't read the Bobverse books but have only heard good things about them. And I would say it's blue enough! Gemina would also work for sure.

Hi, I'm Saar (she/her) and I live in Bruges (Belgium) with my partner, son, a horse, 3 cats and 2 chickens. I've participated in Wheel a couple of times, but forgot how many. I work in a mental hospital and I'm studying to become a veterinarian technician. I think 'Dune' and 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' fits for Space Opera, but I'm not sure.

My shelf name is: Wheel22: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hi, all. 👋🏻 My name is Preeti (she/her) and I live in Bangalore in India. I have taken part in Wheels once but can't remember anything about it except that it was fun.

I am going to look around, get my bearings and then list the books I am planning on reading. I read from pretty much every genre and generally have at least 2 - 3 books on the go at any given time.

I recently read Old Man's War by John Scalzi and enjoyed it greatly. The audiobook covers for the series, sadly, are not blue but they are MPG Space Opera.

Edit: Forgot to add my shelf so here it is:

My shelf: Wheels-7-nbrc

So I'm Susan (she/her) and I'm involved in these challenges for the past few years as a way to have fun/chat books with my daughter Lexi. I'm in Louisville KY and recently retired from pastor/DS positions in the United Methodist Church (presently involved in a schism fight). I'm recovering from a broken wrist so typing is slow but it's getting better. I would recommend Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. Also Illuminae is great fun.

Hi. I have a doubt... is it better to read a looong book to get plenty of points or to read one that fits both the cover colour and the tag of the week? I am trying to make up a list of books to read and this has me a bit foxed.

well, it if works for both the tag & colour that is 10 points on top of the page points. So it might depend on how short the book is and if the other book is so long it will be the only one you can finish in the week. Too shorter books, plus the tag & colour points might add up to more than 1 long.

Honestly, my answer would be, which book do you want to read more? Read that one :)

Judith wrote: "well, it if works for both the tag & colour that is 10 points on top of the page points. So it might depend on how short the book is and if the other book is so long it will be the only one you can..."

Thanks, Judith! I didn't realise that the tag & colour get 5 points each. It would make more sense to read books that fit both in that case. These are the times when I am glad my TBR is so ridiculously long.😊

The only bonus that will keep adding is the Space Opera tag, which is equivilant to 50 extra pages. A way I think about is for a book is to ask myself if this is a book that I would read slower than a 50 page longer book that I want to read more. That, at least, helps me focus on books I like as well as points. Hope that makes sense, running on very little sleep.

Welcome, everyone. I have better internet for the next day. Can everyone please post their wheel shelf name?

My shelf is: Wheel2022

Also, just a reminder that all books must be started after Wheel starts, so you have just over 24 hours to finish anything you already started.

@Lexi: I've added my shelf name in msg 22.

My shelf is wheel-7, here's the link.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hello!

My shelf name is: Wheel2022
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

My shelf name is wheels7.
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hi my name is Darren. I am from England.

My Shelf is called Wheel 7

Here is the countdown to the start so everyone can check their time zones.

Countdown: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Yay! The whole team is here!

Excited for this challenge to begin tomorrow :)

My shelf: Wheels-7-nbrc

My shelf: Wheel_7

Soooo, planning my reads for the week and I'm running into problems with Goodreads editions & page numbers already. I wish they'd sort GR out, it really is awful.

Anyway, first book is a library audio I need to finish this week before it returns itself, The Satsuma Complex. It doesn't look like there's an audiobook on GR so I can't shelf the right edition and the default doesn't have page numbers. There are two editions with page numbers but both are different. From a quick look on amazon it looks the 304 pages is probably right. Should I just shelf that edition?

Second book I was planning to read was Strange Sally Diamond, it's an ARC so again the default edition and most of the other editions don't have page numbers. There are a couple of editions with page numbers but I'm not sure which is right. Amazon is not helping me here either as they don't have page numbers on the ebook version. There is a hardback version on Amazon with 384 pages, would I be ok to go with that?

For the first one since you have the audio, you would use the default edition which is the kindle. You would need to ask, or I can ask for a GR librarian to add a page number.

For the second one, which edition are you reading? I assume for an ARC that you have a kindle/ebook version and the UK cover. The US version of the ebook does have a page number, and it is 384. (This one: Strange Sally Diamond). The UK publisher site says the UK ebook is also 384 so I might go with that for now.

Lexi wrote: "For the first one since you have the audio, you would use the default edition which is the kindle. You would need to ask, or I can ask for a GR librarian to add a page number.

For the second one, ..."

Thanks Lexi, are there any GR librarians in the team or could you possibly ask in the captains group and see if there's someone there who could add a page number for the first one?

On the second it's an ebook I'm reading with the UK cover (the yellow one). I'm happy to go with the 384 pages

I'm a librarian! I added the page count on Amazon to the Kindle edition as well as added a few of the audiobook editions I found in case you prefer to shelve one of those.

https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio...

Awesome thanks Melanie

I'm headed to bed, but books can be started in 2.5 hours. Happy reading, everyone

Darren, I saw that you put a book on the spreadsheet that you have already marked as started reading. If you have not actually started reading it yet, can you wait the 2.5 hours so we can use it. Thank you

Lexi wrote: "I'm headed to bed, but books can be started in 2.5 hours. Happy reading, everyone

Darren, I saw that you put a book on the spreadsheet that you have already marked as started reading. If you have ..."
That's fine, I added it the shelf and it marked it as Read, so I changed it to Currently Reading, but I have now changed it To Read, as I plan to start reading it tomorrow morning.

Are we using Tineye to judge a book cover colour or eyeballing it? All the books I check on Tineye keep showing up as Grey even though they look very blue to me. 😒

Eyeball for the most part, but if you aren’t sure, post here and the captains can bless it for you

I had perfect timing because I've had this book I've been slowly reading for like 2 months and I JUST finished it yesterday. It's also my day off so I've been reading and making some great progress already. Another day off tomorrow so hopefully I'll finish at least one by the end of the day tomorrow.

Starting my first couple books now.

A lot of my books will likely be in the 300-450 page range as those are easiest for me to finish with work. But I do have 6 days off in a row coming up starting on Thanksgiving Day, so I'll try to fit in some longer ones during that time.