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SUMMER CHALLENGE 2023
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Summer Challenge 2023: Task Ideas
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A couple of ideas related to the UN which was founded in 1945Read a book set in one of the founding member countries https://www.un.org/en/about-us/growth...
Read a book with the letters UN intact in the title
Read a book set in one of the permanent mission cities: new York, Geneva, Vienna
The official UN languages are Spanish French English Chinese Russian Arabic. Read a book translated from one of these languages, excluding your own main language
The obvious, World War II genreTaking that little farther, a book taking place in England, Germany or Italy
Another WWII idea-Read a book that takes place during the war, but the setting is a country NOT on the European continent
Read a book whose author shares a name with one of these actors from the '40's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940s#P...
Or a book that is set in a country that wasn't involved in the War, being neutral? (i.e. Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan as well as the microstates of Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Vatican City)
Again, using the WWII theme...I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction about the lives of non-military people dealing with war.
Read a book that takes place in the UK during the Blitz. "The Blitz was a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War."
Read one about non-military people dealing with the war in other countries.
"Manila became one of the most devastated capital cities during the entire war, alongside Berlin and Warsaw." Read a book that is set in Philippines, Germany, or Poland.
Read a book that includes rationing as a part of the plot; this coule be food, tires, etc.
Joanne wrote: "The obvious, World War II genreTaking that little farther, a book taking place in England, Germany or Italy
Another WWII idea-Read a book that takes place during the war, but the setting is a co..."
personally I know the WW is a huge part of the 1940's but I am all over reading WW books. one task maybe BUT please Can we not make it multiple War tasks
artificial intelligence developed 1947 by Alan turingHologram ----- 1947 Hungary by Denis Gabor
Kidney Dialysis ----- 1944 Netherlands by Willem Kolff
maybe a book featuring Ai
or author named Alan
Set in Hungary or Netherlands
I was looking at film in the 1940s. Most of the movies that won Oscars for Best Picture were based on books. Maybe read a book from a list like thisBook Made into Really Good Movies
The 1940s also gave us "Film Noir" read a book with Noir as a genre
Maybe for a 15 point 2 book task you could do an Allied and Axis powers thing
The United Nations Charter was established in 1945. Read a book with a four letter word made up of letters in UNITED NATIONS CHARTER.NATO was established. Read a book by an author with initials in NATO.
The 1840sMexican-American War - read a book set in Mexico or one of the American border states
Gold Rush begins - gold found intact in title or author's name or with a word in title that can be made from "forty-niners"
Treaty of Waitangi forms modern New Zealand - read a book by a New Zealand author
There was a wave of revolutions in Europe known as "The Revolutions of 1848" - read a book with the word revolution/s in title or subtitle
The Irish Great Famine was in the 1840s. Read an Historical Fiction book set in Ireland
In 1940 Billboard started compiling the list of best selling records. The first song was I'll Never Smile Again. Read a book with one of the song's title words in the book title.Israel was established. Read a book about it's creation or one set in Israel or a book by an Israeli author.
Marie (UK) wrote: "Joanne wrote: "The obvious, World War II genreTaking that little farther, a book taking place in England, Germany or Italy
Another WWII idea-Read a book that takes place during the war, but the ..."
Yes, I agree with Joanne, at least have other options sometimes.
Dragon Boat festivals take place in June in China: Read a book that takes place in China, featurs a race, takes place on water, features a dragon, etc.
June is also Pride month in the U.S.A
Read a book with MPG of LGBTQIA+ (may be abbreviated)
July 30th: International Day of Friendship
Read a book about a group of friends
August 30th is Frankenstein Day:
Welcome in Fall with a book featuring a traditional monster (not a crazy human)
If a two part task...Read a book featuring a mad scientist
June is traditional for weddingsRead a book with one of these words in the title: Bride, Groom, Husband, Wife, Wed/Weds/Wedded/Wedding
June 8 is VCR Day
Read a book written in the decade when VCR usage exploded, the 1980's
July 5 is International Bikini Day
Read a book with someone in a swimsuit (doesn't have to be a bikini) on the cover
August 6 is Sisters Day
Read a book featuring sisters as the main characters
August 9 is Book Lovers Day!
(plenty of options here - a book about books, a book recommended to you because someone loved it, a book by an author you love, etc.)
The Perseid Meteor Shower comes in August
Read a book with a star or stars on the cover
To me, summer is all about the bright colors, music and summer activities.Read a book set on a beach, lake or river
Colors - read a book with a cover that is 50% yellow, orange or blue
Music - https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/be...
Read a book that has a word in the title of at least 4 letters that matches a word in the title of one of the songs on this list 100 of the Greatest Popular Songs of the 1940's
A couple of 1940s ideas that aren't related to WWII:India gained independence from Britain in 1947 and Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated in 1948.
Read a book set in India or by an Indian author
George Orwell's novel 1984 was published in 1949.
Read a book with the MPG dystopia
i noticed a lot of the recs for WW2 themed tasks were focused in Europe - but there was also the pacific theatre - maybe something to do with thatFDR won a fourth presidental election - but died 3 months in
- read a book in a series where the author has died and the series won't even finish (or was finished by someone else)
- read a book that is 4th in a series
Mt Rushmore was completed in 1941 - read a biography of one of the presidents on it
the Movie Casablance was released in 1942 that spawned some famous movie quotes - read a book with a title that features (exactly) the words from one of the quotes -
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."1,
"We'll always have Paris."12, and
"Here's looking at you, kid."
Read a book where the authors initials can be found in Casablanca
in 1946 the first computer - ENIAC - was unveiled in Pennsylavania - read a book where the title has the letters ENIAC on it or a book set primarily in PA
1947 was the launch of the ferrari sports car - read a book with a car on the cover
1949 NATO was established - and just recently a new country joined NATO - read a book set in one of the countries part of NATO that is not your home country
1948 - the first NASCAR race was held in Daytona Beach florida
- read a book with the letters NASCAR appear in the title or authors initials or a book set in Florida
1949 saw the premiere of the first SITCOM on TV - The Goldberg's - read a book shelved as humor
June is LGBT Pride month! Read a book with the MPG LGBT, Queer, Intersex or Asexual.Then july moves right on with Disability Pride month.
"Disability Pride Month is celebrated each year in July. Disability Pride initially started as a day of celebration in 1990—the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. That same year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. "
Read a book with the MPG Disability OR a book from this list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
On a sillier note... A google search taught me:August 3rd is national watermelon day. I'm unsure in what country though... Read a book with a watermelon on the cover. (Whole or a slice, doesn't matter.)
1940 - Charles Richard Drew discovered an anti-coagulant, so that blood transfusions didn't need to happen from person to person anymore. During the second world war, the first blood bank was founded in the UK. Many hospitals followed suit.Still blood banks are used to help many people, for blood transfusions but also for life-altering medications made with blood plasma.
I worked for the dutch blood bank for several years, and the stories both of donors who donate (sometimes more than 100 times) for free, and those of the recipients move me every time. To give something of yourself that can help give life to someone in need is amazing.
About 55% of our blood is plasma, and the remaining 45% are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets that are suspended in the plasma.
Read a book with a cover that is (according to TinEye) at least 55% yellow (for the plasma) OR at least 45% red.
An alternative option, also fun I think: check if you are eligible to be a blood donor in your country. If yes, go for a 50% or more red book. If no, go for a book with no red in it at all.
June 20th or 21st is the summer solstice (longest day of the year) in the northern hemisphere and the winter solstice (shortest day) in the southern hemisphere:Read a book with the sun on the cover or with a night sky on the cover (or both for one of the two book 15 point tasks)
Father's Day is the third Sunday in June:
Read a book where the main character is a father
June 14th is Flag Day (in the U.S.):
Read a book with a national flag on the cover
July 14th is Bastille Day:
Read a book set in France
Read a non-fiction book by an author who is or was a prisoner
July and August are named for Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar:
Read a book set in ancient Rome
Julia wrote: "June 20th or 21st is the summer solstice (longest day of the year) in the northern hemisphere and the winter solstice (shortest day) in the southern hemisphere:Read a book with the sun on the cove..."
I really like the solstice idea!
The pacific theatre of WWII has many interesting books too. - Read a book involving the Pacific front of World War II. Or
- Read a book set in a location that was attacked or invaded by Japan. This is a long list including most of Southeast Asia, China, Korea, the Pacific islands. Or simply..
- Read a book set in Asia, Australia or the Pacific Islands.
Read a book written in the 1940s
Read a historical fiction book set in the 1940s
For Bastille day: Read a book set in France, about a revolution, or involving the letters in REVOLUTION.
I really like the MOVIE quote idea. Casablanca alone has many wonderful quotes.
I also like the equinox idea, with day and night skies
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The bonus theme is Decades: 40s
As in past challenges some tasks may revolve around the seasonal theme of summer. Others may reflect the bonus theme. Other tasks may have nothing to do with either of those themes, they’re just fun or unique ideas to stimulate your reading.
Feel free to post as many ideas as you can come up with. Don’t worry about repeating what someone else has might have already suggested. The more ideas, the better!
The moderators will draw from these ideas as well as their own to create the 5, 10 and 15 point tasks. This thread will be open for ideas until May 11. Summer tasks will begin to be posted on May 13. We look forward to seeing what you come up with!