Lina’s Comments (group member since Aug 11, 2018)

Lina’s comments from the EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club group.

Thank you all so much for logging your books! We are doing great.

Ketutar is probably saying what is on a lot of our minds. It can seem disheartening to have the size of our house work against us in the averages, but I’m so proud that we are keeping pace. It’s easy for any month to go in sprints and read a ton but what matters most is consistency over the entire challenge.

Here are a few other things I consider to be big wins: dedication to our house pride regardless of points, creating a community of like minded people, reading new books that you might not have otherwise, reading more than you might not have otherwise, finding new ideas, enjoying your books. Reading is so special to me. Harry Potter specifically gave me a place to escape the world when I was younger and now other books offer the same respite from the cares of every day life.

Sorry for the monologue. I just want to say that whether we win or not, I think we’ve already won. 💙❤️

If you have some suggestions for the challenges next year don’t forget to head over to that thread and offer your input. I wonder if we could have awards that are given out based on nominations and voting and/or mod determination.

I’m thinking stuff like “most house pride” “class clown” or something like that? What do you think?

HOUSE UPDATE

House roster updated with new links and individual totals.

We're trailing behind Gryffindor by a little over 2 points but we still have the Thanksgiving holiday coming up! Don't lose heart. Slow and steady wins the race! Winning the round robin is nice, but keep your eyes on the prize of Overall House Cup too!

I see many of you are reading short stories to rack up those points. Way to go! Thank you all for sharing your resources! You're doing great!

----------------------------
NOVEMBER

Ravenclaw v Gryffindor
Slytherin v Hufflepuff

Overall Points: 401
# of *Active Players: 33
Average Score: 12.15
*Active = completed 1 or more books within the month

Score: 12.15 R v 14.5 G

---------------------------

TOTAL POINTS
Overall Points: 1,134.5
# of *Active Players: 43
Average Score: 26.384
*Active = completed 1 or more books within the challenge
Pages Read: 190,189
Books Read: 792

Gryffindor: 28.43 - Current 1st, but we're close!!
Hufflepuff: Uncertain
Slytherin: 21.65

Updated my reserved post

Thanks Betsy for answering Jess on that. Sorry I missed it! Spouse gets home today so I will be making a big update tomorrow. Hope you’ve all had a great week and great work Ravenclaw!!

Great reading everyone!! Thank you for your patience this week!

House update! Check the main posts. Trailing behind Gryffindor currently but we got this Ravenclaw!

Added my own books to my reserved post. Trying to work on overall updates/points check now. Thanks for your patience.

Welcome Arvind and Ketutar!

Almost done with house updates, just need to do some point checking - but need to run to the airport.

Just as an FYI - my spouse is going out of town today and will be out until next Saturday. I've got 2 little ones and a full time job, so I might not be able to get many updates in this week (not sharing to elicit sympathy, only sharing for context)- but will definitely get it updated tomorrow and then as best I can until his return.

Keep up the good work! Every point helps so please don't feel like you have to read all of the time to participate. Just have fun and enjoy your books!! Happy Saturday everyone.

Updated my own reserved post with a few books I've read with my daughter over the past couple of days.

Donna! Holy cow. 75 books!

HOUSE UPDATE

Member roster updated with your individual points by month and overall points.

@Donna - Impressive 40 books logged in November so far!!
@Jhmingos - I updated your reserved post link to post 402 FYI

Updated overall points and November points - we're tailing behind Gryffindor right now, but keep it up. We are a consistent bunch.

A couple of things:
1) Don't forget to log anything you read in October, it still counts towards our overall total.
2) If you want a new reserved post, please let me know

Happy Monday, Ravens!

You guys are reading fiends! ;) Finished 5 books? I’m so impressed with all of you!

And thank you Betsy for your kind words. We are grateful to have you as our Mod!!

I’m enjoying hearing about what you’re reading so please feel free to share. I’m reading Little Women right now for the first time in my life. I’m undecided on how I feel about it so far, but I do love Jo and Beth. Has anyone else read it? (Assuming so since it’s a classic)

Updated reserved post with first book in November!

HOUSE UPDATE

I updated our totals post to include November's data so far! Just remember that our overall average is going to be slightly different than merely a sum of Oct. and Nov. combined - I am counting overall active participants which is 40 in Oct, 7 in Nov so far but 41 for both months. If that makes sense?

I am still working on the individual points page, breaking them out by month. So right now you'll see a bunch of zeros, but will update once I've made my first additions to November individual points. Your current overall score is only reflecting October reads.

Separately - I posted a new tip in another one of the resource posts but will do so here as well....

Using "Spoilers" to Hide Text
As you can see, the further we get along in our challenge - the more lengthy your posts will become. Click on the (some html is ok) link above the comment box to view a tip on how to use the spoiler function to hide parts of your post. You can view my reserved post as an example.

If you'd like a new post for November, please reserve a November post and I will update your link on the main page.

@Debbie - I enjoyed Circe as well!

Great game, Hufflepuff!! Best of luck over your next two games and we will try to keep up with you for the overall House Cup!! 💛🖤💙🖤

I forgot to answer my favorite book of October! I’d have to say Career of Evil! While it took me a little longer to get through, it was still a quick read! I love the Cormoran Strike series and am looking forward to Lethal White but... not until January. 😊

@Jhmingos - did you ever decide on your theme for November? I think I’ve decided on Gratitude / Family.

November's Q&A: What has been your favorite thing about the challenge this year? I think I saw Jhmingos pose the question as to what your favorite read is as well - so feel free to include that as part of your response.

My answer: Last year was my first challenge and it got me to read more period. With the shift in the way the points are calculated this year, I've tried to be a little more strategic in the books I choose to read. 1) I've tried to stick with a theme for the month and 2) I've tried to read books that are around the 250interval mark. The combination of these two things has got me to expand my horizons on the type of books I'm reading. I would have never read Les Miserables otherwise and wouldn't have started to listen to Audiobooks period. I'm enjoying the different types of books that this challenge is literally challenging me to read this year! What an exciting time to be alive! (I say this last sentence only half jokingly)

Tell us about what you're enjoying so far!

HOUSE UPDATE!!

PHEW! What a month, you guys! I've updated individual points and house points.

We didn't quite make it this month to beat Hufflepuff, but let's keep our eye on the prize of the overall challenge and keep up the momentum! Gryffindor is going to be tough to beat this month, so take full advantage of any holiday breaks you might have! You are all doing so well!

I updated our Quidditch team and top 5 pages & books read! Check out the main post for all the details, but we have a variety of new top positions! Including a NEW Seeker....DONNA!

We will start with a fresh Quidditch team for November, so if you didn't get a chance to finish in the top 7 point earners - you have the chance to make the team in November!

Congratulations to EVERYONE on all of your hard work! I am working on my formulas in my spreadsheet to update Novembers totals and overall totals separately without too much effort from Betsy or myself. So stay on the lookout for that.

This leads me to November's question which I will pose in a separate thread and would be keen to hear your thoughts!

Seriously, great work Ravenclaw!!!

Yes indeed. It only matters when you finish. 👍🏽