Bookcrossers discussion

Do you plan to participate in any release challenges this year? Which ones and why?

I'm doing the "Never Judge a Book By Its Cover" (NJABBIC) again this year. It's really fun to have a new theme each week. I am also doing a "Pages Read" challenge, making a goal for how many pages I'll read in 2010 and tracking them (using GoodReads!). Also another one, can't recall the name, about deciding which books have been on my TBR shelf for too long and finally just reading them!

I haven't got any plans but I usually look and join in if there's anything I'm interested in. I was thinking of doing my own - an Adrian Mole Release Challenge in April (when it's Adrian Mole's birthday). I'm going to post details next month.

So what's your favorite book about Adrian Mole? I haven't read any. Do they follow a particular order?

I decided to also try the 52 towns in 52 weeks challenge, but I'm not so sure about my ability to do this one!

Judy wrote: "So what's your favorite book about Adrian Mole? I haven't read any. Do they follow a particular order?"

The first two are the best I think, and yes, they need to be read in order:

#1: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4

#2: The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole

I also like Townsend's: The Queen and I
(It's a bit dated, but funny anyway.)

Judy wrote: "So what's your favorite book about Adrian Mole? I haven't read any. Do they follow a particular order?"
I don't think I've got a favourite. In the books Adrian gets older & they're all relevant to current times so in 'Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction' he's writing to Tony Blair about Iraq (this is a funny book). I think I just like the idea of Adrian Mole being everywhere.

Sounds like a cool idea, I'm surprised I'm unfamiliar with them at all! But I've read so many books in the past few years that I would never have discovered except for Bookcrossing!

They are very "British" and were written in the 80s. I discovered Adrian through my colleagues at the language school where I was teaching EFL. I was one of 3 Americans, the other 50 were English, Scottish, Australian, etc.

I'm doing the Keep Them Moving Read & Release Challenge (as inspiration to read some of the BC books I've gained over the years)
and the Chills and Spills Read & Release Challenge (because I enjoy reading horror)

I'm down to only committing to one challenge this year again -- The Animal challenge Secretariat does each year. But last year I made the same statement and seemed to have done about 6 challenges... Rules are made to be broken, I guess.

I'm doing the Chills & Spills Release Challenge because it nudges to me to actually read something from the tbr pile that's been sitting there awhile. I don't think I'll sign up for many others because I just can't stay organized enough to keep track.

I tried one of the long term ones last year that was just waaaaay too confusing for me. I never got the hang of how the organizer wanted us to keep track of books, so just dropped out.

I posted my Adrian Mole Release Challenge but Haven't had much response so does anyone want to join in? It's really easy, just release an Adrian Mole title & post that you've done it, it's just for April 2010.
I'm offering wings or Supply Store Gift Certificate for the winner (releases most books). I'm ReetPetite.
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/23/6668...

If I come across an Adrian Mole book, I;ll enter, but I haven't yet stumbled on one.

On the other hand, let me invite folks to the

http://bookcrossing.com/forum/23/6708293

Wine + Food + BookCrossing Challenge March 3-10


March 4-7 is the Charleston Wine + Food Festival

http://www.charlestonwineandfood.com/...

In the past, I've released themed books around the festival site. This year, I decided to invite other BookCrossers to join me, wherever you are. I'll broaden the dates though to March 3-10.

It's a loosely organized Challenge...pretty much anything goes since I love themed releases, wine (or beverages of choice), food and BookCrossing.

I've posted on the BC site. I've got a title which is perfect for this. See if I can find some more.

Hey, I wouldn't worry. If you can relate it to food some way, I'd count it. I'm even allowing The Three Musketeers, because there's a candy bar named that!

Rita wrote: "I posted my Adrian Mole Release Challenge but Haven't had much response so does anyone want to join in? It's really easy, just release an Adrian Mole title & post that you've done it, it's just for..." Hayes sent me two Adrian Mole books, but I haven't read them yet, so I can't release them!

Bookczuk wrote: "On the other hand, let me invite folks to the http://bookcrossing.com/forum/23/6708293

Wine + Food + BookCr..." I'd send you some books, but don't think they would arrive in time for the festival! Sorry, I just saw your post, I've been travelling on business.

Release them where you are! That works, too!

OK, releasing!!! :)

Yay! See you in the Release Challenge Forum! I'll be sure to read carefully your journal entries to see what I want to add to my wish list for future reading. :)

Bookczuk wrote: "Yay! See you in the Release Challenge Forum! I'll be sure to read carefully your journal entries to see what I want to add to my wish list for future reading. :)"

I'm just finishing this book, and can highly recommend it if you haven't already read it: "The Speed of Dark" by Elizabeth Moon. It is set in the very near future, only in the sense that some medical treatments are available that aren't today, and the main character is autistic. Fascinating. If it sounds interesting to you, I'll send it to you after my sister reads it. I was thinking about a book ray...

The Adrian Mole Release Challenge has started (details on Feb 25th post).
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/23/6668...
I've also joined WhiteRaven13's 2010 Historical Challenge.

I'm joining challenges as I see ones I like. Only problem is that this means I've rarely built up any collections of books

Judy wrote: "Rita wrote: "I posted my Adrian Mole Release Challenge but Haven't had much response so does anyone want to join in? It's really easy, just release an Adrian Mole title & post that you've done it, ..."

I'm so glad you liked them, Judy. My favorite part is the report on the Day Trip to the British Museum.

I'm back doing the Animal challenge with Secretariat this month. Adrian Mole would have worked there, as well!

I am almost finished with the New Author's A-Z Release Challenge. I've read all but the Q and X authors (am going to have to search for authors with last names starting with those letters) and have released a lot of the books.

Chana wrote: "I am almost finished with the New Author's A-Z Release Challenge. I've read all but the Q and X authors (am going to have to search for authors with last names starting with those letters) and hav..."

I've thought about entering that challenge before.

I was looking through my bookshelves to see what I would have done to read a "X" author. Maybe something by Malcolm X? There are certainly some Chinese writers. The is one I have seen called What the Chinese Don't Eat by Xinran. It might be hard to find. There is a mystery series about Inspector Chen: A Case of Two Cities: An Inspector Chen Novel by Qiu Xiaolong.

Anna Quindlen is the first author who comes to my mind with a name that starts with "Q". She has written so many books, may be an easy one to find. There's also a chick-lit author named Julia Quinn..

The Ivy Chronicles
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The Ivy Chronicles
by Karen Quinn


Soul Mountain
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Soul Mountain
by Gao Xingjian

These are the two books I read for Q and X. I have completed the challenge; all books read and released. I had read Anna Quindlen before so I couldn't use one of her books. Thanks for thinking of me! : )

Chana wrote: The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn

Perfect -- it's funny, I just discovered I have a Karen Quinn book in the house, in my "posted on paperbackswap" pile: Wife in the Fast Lane: A Novel

Wow, I have really flaked out on the "52 towns in 52 weeks" challenge. I think I have reached 20-something. The problem was that the city of San Diego is so big in land area, and the only other cities I was getting to were the same ones all the time -- Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong. So I quickly ran out of towns!

I'm doing very well with the "Never Judge A Book By Its Cover" challenge, which I do each year. I'm behind on my "pages read" goal for 2010, but maybe I'll make some of that up between now and December. I'd be doing better if I would stay off the computer.....

Except that Chinese names are sometimes presented in what is for us reverse order so Qiu Xiaolong's family/surname is Qiu - at least he qualifies as a "Q". Whereas Gao Xingjian is a "G" author.

OH NO, LOL!!! Well we will see what the person who issued the challenge has to say. : )

So true about Chinese names -- I would probably take some creative license there and use whichever was beneficial to my cause :)

You know, I've never heard from the person who issued the challenge although I was the first to complete it! I posted my completion both on the thread and PM'd her, but didn't hear a thing. I haven't checked the status of the challenge since. But I got satisfaction from completing it even if my accomplishment wasn't acknowledged!