Cozy Mystery Corner discussion

Serial Reader Monthly Challenge:



Most cozy mysteries are part of a series. So most cozy readers are serial readers - we are reading several mystery series at a time. There's the series you started but haven't finished; the series you heard about and might want to check out; the "read the first one and plan to read the others" series.... and soon your shelves are overflowing!

If any of this sounds familiar, this is the challenge for you!

Here's What To Do:

STEP 1. Post 5 series that you want to read
*Can be a new-to-you series or one you started and want to get current on.
*Must be at least two unread books in the series.
*Post books in the series you have NOT read.
*RE-READS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

For instructions on how to post book covers, read msg #43

STEP 1 begins on the 15th day of each month. Post your five series between the 15th and the 20th.

STEP 2. You will be randomly assigned to pick one series from someone else's posted list. Someone will pick a series for you.

STEP 3. The list of selectors is posted on the 21st. Pick a series for your match by the 25th.

STEP 4. Next month, read two (or more) books from the series selected for you.

A new thread will be posted each month. If you post series, someone will be assigned to pick from your list.

Each participant can create a personal thread to track your progress. You can set a goal, keep a list of series to complete/get current on and of series completed.

Challenge participants are advised to have their GR account set to accept personal messages so the moderator can contact you.

Post comments or questions in this thread.

FYI - Older challenges are archived in this folder:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Do I have to post a series and follow all the rules to see the list of book series that results from this challenge? It would be a wonderful resource for those days when I search but cannot find... that text world I would like to be inside for a while.

This sounds like a great idea, but I know I'll never read two books from the same series in such a short time, so I'll just watch from the sidelines :)

Barb wrote: "This sounds like a great idea, but I know I'll never read two books from the same series in such a short time, so I'll just watch from the sidelines :)"

Two books is a goal not a requirement. You have a month to read the book(s).

Donna wrote: "Do I have to post a series and follow all the rules to see the list of book series that results from this challenge? It would be a wonderful resource for those days when I search but cannot find......"

You can see the series posted by others (and post your own) by going to the challenge thread for that month.

Nell wrote: "Barb wrote: "This sounds like a great idea, but I know I'll never read two books from the same series in such a short time, so I'll just watch from the sidelines :)"

Two books is a goal not a requirement. You have a month to read the book(s)."

Yes, I saw that, but I rarely read books from the same series so close together. When I do, the books almost always start to sound almost formulaic, and it makes it hard for me to enjoy them.

Can I still get in on this for June?

Michelle wrote: "Can I still get in on this for June?"

Yes! Just post your series on the June thread today or tomorrow.

Nell wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Can I still get in on this for June?"

Yes! Just post your series on the June thread today or tomorrow."

Done Thank you.

So, how does it work for July? Will we enter 5 new series in June for July, just replace finished series or
add more volumes to the ones already listed? Just wondering about continuing logistics

I'm with Barb, I'm afraid. I like the idea of this, but I'm definitely one of those people who divide up my series, rarely reading more than one book from a specific series at a time. Apparently I have a short attention span. I'll keep an eye out and see if I can make it work in the future.

So, if I understand this correctly:

1. We post five series
2. Then someone will pick a series from what we posted
3. Then we read two books from the series that someone picked and I am to read two books from that series?

Jill - You will read two books from the series picked from your list. You will also be picking a series from someone else's list and they will read two books from that.

Does this make sense?

Sorry I can't count. I added one too many so just pick any five.

Okay this makes sense to me I am ready to read! Sounds fun!

Mary wrote: "Sorry I can't count. I added one too many so just pick any five."

Mary - I cannot edit your post.

Linda C wrote: "So, how does it work for July? Will we enter 5 new series in June for July, just replace finished series or
add more volumes to the ones already listed? Just wondering about continuing logistics"

You will have an opportunity to post 5 series again in mid-June for reading in July. You can post different series or re-post the same series (including the one selected for June) or a combination of new and old as long as there are 2 or more books left to read. It's up to you.

Barb wrote: "Nell wrote: "Barb wrote: "This sounds like a great idea, but I know I'll never read two books from the same series in such a short time, so I'll just watch from the sidelines :)"

Two books is a go..."

Just wanted to be sure you didn't think you had to read 2 books in 5 days. It's not that challenging!

Barb & Connie
I understand what you mean about 'series fatigue'. It happens for me around the 3rd book in a row.

"Series fatigue" is a good way to describe it, Nell! If you ever decide to expand this idea to more series and a longer duration, I might give in to the temptation to join the fun :)

jaxnsmom wrote: "Jill - You will read two books from the series picked from your list. You will also be picking a series from someone else's list and they will read two books from that.

Does this make sense?"

Gotcha

Hmm this sounds interesting BUT I think I only have two or three series where I have more than one book outstanding :(

I have been extremely busy and just saw this. Sorry.....

Dawn wrote: "I have been extremely busy and just saw this. Sorry....."

You can join in for the July selection round if you like.

I just saw this too - it sounds fun. I'll hook up for the July round when things here settle down a bit!

Need more information please .

Bonnie wrote: "Need more information please ."

This is a new monthly challenge for the group. The deadline to participate in June has passed. Look for a post in mid-June for the July challenge.

The thread is now open to post series for the July challenge round.

Some of us have reached our June goal already. Others (like me) still have some reading to do in the next half of the month.

Post your five series choices for July now through June 20th here .

And let us know how you are doing with your June series pick here

While my time to read is iffy, I do want to participate. I even figured out how you all got covers to show up!! Yay!

This sounds good. I will wait till mid-July for August.

I am very interested in participating, but unsure how to post books/series onto this thread.

Kaate1922 wrote: "I am very interested in participating, but unsure how to post books/series onto this thread."

Kaate - Book selections had to be posted by July 20th to participate in the August challenge. We will do this again for September. Look for the September challenge topic between the 15th and 20th. And I will send an email reminder to members before the 20th.

I keep missing out on this because I get the email at work then forget to add my books when I get home.

Nell
Is there any way I can get in on the August Challence I have been really busy backing to move and hadn't been on the page for a while

Jill wrote: "Nell
Is there any way I can get in on the August Challence I have been really busy backing to move and hadn't been on the page for a while"

It's too late for the 'official' August challenge. Three other members missed the closing date as well. You may want to send a personal message to Heather, Kaate1922 and Michelle to see if anyone is interested in picking series for each other. Kaate and Michelle's messages are just above yours. Heather posted in the August thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If you and anyone else want to do this, feel free to post your series and selections on the August thread.

That's a great idea! Let me know if you want to choose for one another!

Heather I will choose for u if u want to choose for me

Sounds great!

May I join for September??

For Oct challenge: I'm not sure what I'm suppose to read I have 4 of the Booktown mysteries. And then I saw someone post something for me about cats? Then you said 5 series. So do I read at least 2 books from them and pick 3more series? What are the other series? Do I pick them or some one else?

Tina wrote: "For Oct challenge: I'm not sure what I'm suppose to read I have 4 of the Booktown mysteries. And then I saw someone post something for me about cats? Then you said 5 series. So do I read at least ..."

For the October challenge, you read two (or more) books in the Booktown mystery series. This is the series Gina picked for you.

Thanks

I don't know how to put the books I want to read on this post. please help!

Jeannie wrote: "I don't know how to put the books I want to read on this post. please help!"

Look for 'add book/author' at the top of the comment box. Click on that link and type the book or series title in the search box. To post the book cover, you have to switch from link (title) to cover at the bottom. Then click "Add" next to the book you want to post.

If you want the covers to appear on the same line, put a space between them. If you want to start a different row, press enter.

Books may not appear in series order. Put your mouse over the book cover to see what # in the series each book is.

I have looked everywhere and cannot find the add aurthor/book button. I tried adding my books, but I see I messed up and I can't figure out how to edit my post. I use goodreads app for android. any advice? Thanks for helping me out.

Katrina wrote: "I have looked everywhere and cannot find the add aurthor/book button. I tried adding my books, but I see I messed up and I can't figure out how to edit my post. I use goodreads app for android. any..."

The device may be the problem. Not sure you can use that feature from a cellphone. I rarely access GR from my Android phone.

I reposted your books.

I use my IPad apps for everything. But to find the author/book button, go into you internet browser, then type into Goodreads. It's gonna look like the computer style. That's how I found it by bypassing the app.

I thought I had it right this time, but it looks like Nell still had to edit my post.
I'll try to add a book here. I'm using an iPad.
Cream Puff Murder

Helen wrote: "I thought I had it right this time, but it looks like Nell still had to edit my post.
I'll try to add a book here. I'm using an iPad.
Cream Puff Murder"

I edited your post to make it easier to read. You already have five series listed for February. Are you swapping this for one of them? Or are you reporting a book you read for this month's challenge?

I've created a new folder - Serial Reader Archives. Choices for months more than four months old have been moved to that folder. Scroll to the bottom of the group's page and click on Discussions to access that folder.

Hi Nell
I'm not sure what I am doing wrong but I can't find the folder