The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.5 - Bigger is Better - Lindsey IL's Task: The Element of Surprise

It was a pleasant surprise to find an invitation to design a task in my inbox today. So, I decided that surprise will be the theme of the task. I've found lately that it adds some fun and excitement to life to add an element of surprise and random-ness. For example, once a week I will use a random number generator to decide what to make for dinner out of my cookbook collection - generating numbers for shelf and then book and then page number. Or sometimes I will go to my local library and generate random numbers for section (fiction, nonfiction, biography, young adult, middle grade, etc.) and then generate more numbers to drill down into either subject or author's initials. With these mini games I've added to my life, I've ended up having some great meals, and I even found a new favorite author. I always seem to really enjoy the tasks in this challenge that include a die roll, wheel spin, or some other randomness. So that's what we'll do here...

Roll one 6-sided die - https://www.calculator.net/dice-rolle... - to determine which genre you will be reading. The genre must appear on the Main Page. Genre must be standalone and match exactly, i.e. if you roll "Mystery", you cannot use "Mystery Thriller".

1) Biography or Memoir
2) Mystery or Suspense
3) Horror or Psychology
4) Classics
5) Fantasy or Science Fiction
6) History or Historical Fiction

Then roll again to determine one of the author's initials. The author's first OR last initial must start with one of the letters you rolled. If there are multiple authors, they also must have an initial in your rolled list of letters.

1) A, B, C, or D
2) E, F, G, or H
3) I, J, K, or L
4) M, N, O, or P
5) Q, R, S, T, or U
6) V, W, X, Y, or Z

Graphic novels may be used for this task.

REQUIRED: State the genres and letters you rolled.

Genre Verified for Fantasy


Genre Verified for Mystery


Genre Verified for Historical Fiction

Reserved

Morning

Could I just get a quick clarification. If the genre is there as a stand-alone MPG, but also with a compound MPG, is that okay?

For example, it has Mystery stand-alone, but later in the list is Mystery Thriller, Historical Mystery or Murder Mystery?

Just a quick question. If I rolled 1, then 6, I would need one book that was a Biography or Memoir; whose author had a first or last initial of V, W, X, Y, or Z?

so i got 6 and 5 -

so:
Genre: History/Historical Fiction
Author: Q, R, S, T, or U

off to check my shelves

I rolled 5 and then 2, so one of these should work?

The Library of the Unwritten
Locke & Key, Vol. 2: Head Games

with MPG Fantasy and author Hackwith or Hill

I love the dice tasks, and also invent mini random games for myself. ;)

There seems to be some confusion about one book or two. I think you mean 2 books...

However, does the second book still have to be the same genre OR any genre?

ALSO-- when you say that graphic novels are allowed, is that for both books, or only book 2 (the placing at the end confused me).

Kathy KS wrote: "There seems to be some confusion about one book or two. I think you mean 2 books...

However, does the second book still have to be the same genre OR any genre?"

its a 20 pointer, so its only 1 book

roll 1 determines the genre of the book
roll 2 determines the author initials for the same book

Dee wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "There seems to be some confusion about one book or two. I think you mean 2 books...

However, does the second book still have to be the same genre OR any genre?"

its a 20 pointer,..."

And, so it is. Please excuse me, I'm getting punchy going through my TBR and trying to match up titles, so I'm losing track of which tasks I'm working on! Thanks for the quick response.

Trish wrote: "Morning

Could I just get a quick clarification. If the genre is there as a stand-alone MPG, but also with a compound MPG, is that okay?

For example, it has Mystery stand-alone, but later in the ..."

Good question, and that's correct! As long as it has Mystery as a standalone, it's OK if Mystery shows up in one or more compound genres.

Kim wrote: "Just a quick question. If I rolled 1, then 6, I would need one book that was a Biography or Memoir; whose author had a first or last initial of V, W, X, Y, or Z?"

Correct :) Just be sure to double check that the book's main page lists "Biography" and/or "Memoir" as a genre.

Dee wrote: "so i got 6 and 5 -

so:
Genre: History/Historical Fiction
Author: Q, R, S, T, or U

off to check my shelves"

Good luck! :)

KmarieD wrote: "I rolled 5 and then 2, so one of these should work?

The Library of the Unwritten
Locke & Key, Vol. 2: Head Games

with MPG Fantasy and author Hackwith or Hill"

Both of those will work for a 5, 2 roll!

Ann A wrote: "I love the dice tasks, and also invent mini random games for myself. ;)"

Happy to hear that! And good to know I'm not alone :D

Kathy KS wrote: "Dee wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "There seems to be some confusion about one book or two. I think you mean 2 books...

However, does the second book still have to be the same genre OR any genre?"

its a..."

Thank you for clearing that up, Dee!

And no worries, Kathy! Let me know if you have any other questions or need a genre verified.

Lindsey wrote: "Good question, and that's correct! As long as it has Mystery as a standalone, it's OK if Mystery shows up in one or more compound genres."

Perfect. Thank you.

Having rolled 2 (mystery) & 6 (V-Z), that means I can go with Murder-on-Sea by Julie Wassmer.

Excellent - enjoy! :)

Lindsey, this is a great task, however confused if one or two books are required to be read.

I rolled a 6 first - Historic Fiction
Then rolled a 2 - EFGH = Author's initials

I have chosen to read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. MPG for this is historic fiction, and also one of the author's initials are in the letters.

Now do I have to read a 2nd book for the author's initials or is one book (My Brilliant Friend) adequate as it meets both the MPG and initials requirement?

Sorry if this sounds a bit rambling.

Odette wrote: "Lindsey, this is a great task, however confused if one or two books are required to be read.

I rolled a 6 first - Historic Fiction
Then rolled a 2 - EFGH = Author's initials

I have chosen to read..."

20 pointers are 1 book tasks

so your book needs to meet 2 requirements:
1. that its historical fiction and 2 that the author initials fit in the group you rolled

Dee wrote: "Odette wrote: "Lindsey, this is a great task, however confused if one or two books are required to be read.

I rolled a 6 first - Historic Fiction
Then rolled a 2 - EFGH = Author's initials

I have..."

Thank you, Dee. Sorry I was confused about this. All makes send now that I understand that the 20 pointers are a 1 book task.
I have just come back to the challenge after some time off and then I only did it for a short while.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge is an amazing challenge and really appreciate all the work that goes into it all.

So sorry I missed your post the other day, Odette! What Dee said is correct. Thank you, Dee!

I agree - the SRC is amazing!

Lindsey wrote: "So sorry I missed your post the other day, Odette! What Dee said is correct. Thank you, Dee!

I agree - the SRC is amazing!"

No problem. You all put a lot into to make it so.