The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

The Winter Challenge 2010-2011 will begin on December 1, 2010 and will end at midnight (EST) on February 28, 2011.

If you have a general question about the Winter 2010-2011 Challenge, please ask here.

I will now demostrate how geographically challenged I am:

Is the middle east (non african of course) a part of europe or asia?

Lahni wrote: "I will now demostrate how geographically challenged I am:

Is the middle east (non african of course) a part of europe or asia?"

It can be defined in different ways, but we are using Asian Continent for this challenge. There's a list of countries including former names at the bottom of the page

Thanks! That really helps!

Debbie wrote: "Lots of questions here. I'm sure once a person learns the ropes it's great, but this is the most complicated reading challenge I've ever seen. No idea how to dive in or how it works. Details detail..."

Debbie, I think everyone approachs this challenge in their own way. The first one I did, I just picked a task or two (you can start anywhere and do them in any order) that I had obvious books for. I didn't try to set up my reading for the whole quarter (I still don't), but just did a few at a time.
Feel free to use the Winter Task Help threads to help you find books. Sometimes just browsing other people's questions and the responses can help you find a book.
I do use a spread sheet to keep track of my books, with listings across the top for Task, Title, Author, page #, date finished, date posted, Post number, points. Other people have variations of this, but it's strictly whatever works for you--nobody else is going to see it.
Since I rely a lot on library books I do put early requests on any popular library books I may want to read, but I tend to wing it. Right now I only have 5 books chosen for the start of the challenge--and that's because 2 of them are due back at the Library on Dec 9.
The main thing to remember is to have fun with this.

Thanks, that was helpful for me too. I like the complexity and flexibility of this challenge, but I'm a bit lost in all the tasks. What do the numbers mean? And is there a limit to the number of tasks posted? (I haven't registered for the Winter challenge yet, but I think I will!).

the numbers are the points you get for completing each task - so 5.1 is a 5 point task and its the first of 10 of them...so if you were to complete it, when you post, you would give yourself 5 points...etc...some of the tasks are still being posted - there will be 10 20 point tasks (not normally posted until after the 1st because they don't get picked until the previous challenge ends) and there should be some 25 point ones coming (those people who finish the challenge after the tasks are first posted, but before it ends)...there will also be a 50 point task posted midway through the challenge

Thank you, that clears things up.

I just joined for the fall challenge Debbie and my first look at the site brought on panic! I started by reading all the moderator announcements, all the advice about how to post tasks and what to write in my posts etc and I did practice writing out my layout for task posts before I'd even read a book!

My best advice? Each time you are ready to post a finished task, go back and read the full details of the wording of the task, just to make sure you have done it right and have all the details ready and correct before you post.

And check the books you want to read in the task help section. It's better to have your book rejected before you start reading, than to have it happen after you post!

Hope you enjoy the challenge! Good luck!

Debbie, the information on the Readerboard is posted by the moderators to keep track of your point totals. If you look at the Fall Reader board you'll see what it looks like. They also track any of your Big Books and your GoodReads Authors on it. They don't always post every day, so check at the top of their post for what the last post number was.
We don't have a final total for points for Winter yet; we won't know how many 25 point tasks until the Fall challenge is finished.

I'm just finishing up my first challenge now, and I definitely had that moment of panic trying to figure it out. I found it really helpful to look at the "planning" thread where some people were sharing their Google docs spreadsheets to track their challenge, count their points, etc. Seeing it all laid out that way worked better for me to visualize everything. Of course now I am tweaking the spreadsheet format for this challenge, now that I have a better sense of what I do and don't want to track personally!

I jumped into the fall challenge a little bit ago and it has been super helpful to me to have a print out of the task descriptions. Right now they are only in the "Winter Questions" section but after in a little while they will be posted all together. I like having the physical copy to jot quick notes on and double check task and posting requirements.

A friend of mine has written a book which she will be self-publishing after the first of the year. She has ask me to be one of her readers for a final check before it goes out to the public. If it fits into any of the categories (I'm pretty sure it'll go into the YA task), may I use it, or do I need to wait until it is truly out.

Lahni wrote: "I jumped into the fall challenge a little bit ago and it has been super helpful to me to have a print out of the task descriptions. Right now they are only in the "Winter Questions" section but af..."

There's a thread called Winter Tasks, and that's where they're posted together, with separate postings for the different point values. The 5, 10, 15, and most of the 30s are already there.

Like the fall challenge, we're not calling the tasks "final" until the 12th - that allows us to see what sort of problems/issues come up with the questions asked in the help threads, and adjust the specifics of the task as necessary, to make them more clear and change the wording as necessary to make sure that the spirit of the task is reflected in the words.

So, you might want to wait until the 13th to print out the tasks, to make sure that you're working with the final version.

I was a bit overwhelmed at first, too. I just started picking a task---- like "a pink cover" or something easy and went with that. With time you get really into it and get used to the points and finding books to fit the tasks. Lots of us never finish the challenge, we just enjoy reading and getting as far as we can. I'm trying to beat my record each time I do it. That's my goal. :-)

Just wondering if the 'Winter Reading Challenge 2010-2011 Reading Plans' thread is going to remain closed? I thought I'd just missed the window to post in it, but it looks like the Fall one is still open...

Rachel Renee wrote: "Just wondering if the 'Winter Reading Challenge 2010-2011 Reading Plans' thread is going to remain closed? I thought I'd just missed the window to post in it, but it looks like the Fall one is sti..."

oops! It's open.

For more thoughts on starting a challenge, take a look at Getting Started in General Help You can also find info on creating a ticker, posting images,and adding cover links

Donna Jo wrote: "A friend of mine has written a book which she will be self-publishing after the first of the year. She has ask me to be one of her readers for a final check before it goes out to the public. If i..."

As long as it fits the task and the general rules of the challenge, it should work. You would need to provide some kind of reference (GR or otherwise) so we could verify page numbers.

Dlmrose wrote: "oops! It's open."

Yay! Thank you :)

I had a question regarding one of the Challenge rules. It's #6, the rule about pre-reading.
Was there not a specification that we could only pre-start one book? I may be wrong about that but seem to recall this being so.
I've pre-started a 500-page book already and have just picked up an audio book (long....15 discs) from the Library. If I were to start it early, would that be in violation of the Rules? I wouldn't get close to listening to half before Dec 1st but if I can't pre-start 2 books, I can easily wait until then.

Just checking. Thanks!

I am not sure about audiobooks. You are right on the pre-reading. You can read up to the halfway mark on one book before December 1.

Thanks, Jayme. I thought it was one book only, too, which includes all formats.
Just to be safe/sure, I'll wait and start listening after the 1st. I enjoy listening to music during my commute, too, so it's no biggie to wait.

Thanks!

I just came across a book that has co-authors--- and the second author listed is a Goodreads author. Can you claim this person?

The Revenge of the Shadow King

Petra wrote: "Thanks, Jayme. I thought it was one book only, too, which includes all formats.
Just to be safe/sure, I'll wait and start listening after the 1st. I enjoy listening to music during my commute, too..."

Petra -- looks like you and Jayme have already worked out the answer to your question, so this is just a confirmation. Only one book (regardless of format) up to the halfway mark before December 1.

Kathy G. wrote: "I just came across a book that has co-authors--- and the second author listed is a Goodreads author. Can you claim this person?

The Revenge of the Shadow King"

Kathy -- You can claim 1 Goodreads Author ticket per book. So, yes, you can claim him as a GR author.

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Petra wrote: "Thanks, Jayme. I thought it was one book only, too, which includes all formats.
Just to be safe/sure, I'll wait and start listening after the 1st. I enjoy listening to music during my..."

could we get some more clarification for this? i read that rule as bookS and i see the word "were"...that to me implies more than one, but maybe i'm just interpreting it incorrectly...it doesn't state anywhere that you may only use ONE book in this manner. perhaps you could re-write #6 if only one book truly is allowed. thanks.

Books longer than 299 pages that were started before the beginning of a challenge can be used to fulfill a task if more than half the book is read during the challenge.

kiki wrote: "Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Petra wrote: "Thanks, Jayme. I thought it was one book only, too, which includes all formats.
Just to be safe/sure, I'll wait and start listening after the 1st..."

I know in past challenges, it didn't matter how many books were started as long as they were all below half read.

Kathryn, that rule was amended to 1 book only and it had to be over 300 pages to qualify for an "early start" book.
However, like Kiki, I didn't see the amendment in the new rules, so was wondering whether the rule had been re-amended.

Petra wrote: "Kathryn, that rule was amended to 1 book only and it had to be over 300 pages to qualify for an "early start" book.
However, like Kiki, I didn't see the amendment in the new rules, so was wonderi..."

It doesn't really matter for me because I am still working on this challenge. Although I am not sure that I will update my final count. It will only up me 15-20 points. However, I agree about the wording. It confused me a bit.

Moderator note: Since rule 6 states "books" and seems ambiguous, for the Winter Challenge more than one book may be started. The limitations in rule 6 still apply.

hi everyone.. this is perhaps a super silly question, but do you have to sign up again for the Winter Challenge, if you were in the Fall Challenge, or am I all set? Should I post again to the getting to know you thread? Not sure what you prefer?

Joanna wrote: "hi everyone.. this is perhaps a super silly question, but do you have to sign up again for the Winter Challenge, if you were in the Fall Challenge, or am I all set? Should I post again to the gett..."

You don't need to do a thing, except have fun with the winter tasks and start posting when the challenge begins!

Thanks, Sandy! :) It looks great... I have started my planning, and am currently putting items on my "wish list" at the local library!

There is no way I'll finish the challenge. I'm in awe that people do! But out of curiosity How many people typically manage to finish it?

Miriam wrote: "There is no way I'll finish the challenge. I'm in awe that people do! But out of curiosity How many people typically manage to finish it?"

You can tell by looking at the number of 25-30(35) point tasks each challenge. 15 players finished the Spring Challenge so there were 15 25/30 point tasks in the Summer Challenge. 12 players finished the Summer Challenge, so there were 12 25/30 point tasks in the Fall Challenge. Last year Fall 2009 had 24 finishers and the Winter 2009 Challenge had a 1100 point challenge goal.

Do the Sookie Stackhouse books or Stephanie Plum (I think) books need to be read in order or should the first one be read first or all they all stand alone books?

The Sookie books should be read in order. I do believe the Stephanie Plum need to be read in order as well.

I am just wondering when the rest of the tasks are going to be up.

the 20 point ones should start showing up in the next few days - most of them are decided on until the previous challenge in finished...ditto with the 25 point ones...

so is the point tally for winter 975, or did i do my math wrong?

I get 975 too.

I got 975.
(5*10)+(10*10)+(15*10)+(20*10)+(25*5)+(30*10)+50=975

great, thanks! :)

Good news: Reading through the new tasks tickled just enough vague memories in my mind that I was finally able to come up with the name of a book I've been wanting to reread for *years*, but I could never remember the name.

Bad news: Apparently said book is such a poorly-regarded little bit of genre fiction that it's not listed on Goodreads at all.

Are there any general rules about whether a book has to be listed on Goodreads to qualify for the challenge? Or should I just check in with the creator of whichever task I fit it in for, and see if that specific person will approve it?

STacey if you have the info on the book, I can add it as a librarian if you PM me...would need title; author; isbn etc...just let me know

It appears to barely exist on the internet - but I found exactly one used copy on Amazon and have just ordered it, because I'm curious if this book can possibly be *this* terrible, to have vanished off the face of the earth. So when I get it and have the ISBN, etc., I'll PM you. Thank you! Then at least if it's really that awful, I'll feel my time and money weren't entirely wasted since I contributed to the increased thoroughness of Goodreads...

haha...out of curiosity - what's the name of it?

The Daughter of the Runes. (Link is to the one and only plot synopsis I could find.) I was a big sucker for pre-Christian-Celtic-priestess books as a teenager, and of course forbidden-love stories, and I remember loving this one a whole lot.

Further examination has turned up a few copies for sale if you're willing to pay for shipping from England, but I think I just bought one of the only copies available online in America for a non-insane price. My library system's never heard of it. I really have to wonder how on earth I stumbled across this one as a kid!

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Kathy G. wrote: "I just came across a book that has co-authors--- and the second author listed is a Goodreads author. Can you claim this person?

Does this work for anthologies too? Such as Blood Lite Several of the contributing authors are Goodread Authors.