SRC Moderator’s Comments (group member since Aug 19, 2016)

SRC Moderator’s comments from the The Seasonal Reading Challenge group.

25.5 - Bookwrm526's Task: SEC Football

While I am not personally a huge college football fan, I do live in the southern US, so it takes up a huge space in my life this time of year. I decided the turn that to my own advantage in this task.

The SEC conference currently consists of 16 teams: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi (Ole Miss), Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt. For this task, read books based around these teams.

This is a two book task. Choose two of the options below, and read one book for each option.
Required: State the options.

Option 1: Geography
The sixteen teams in the SEC come from 11 states. Read a book set at least 75% in one of these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas.
Required: If the setting is not obvious from the Goodreads description, include a reference.

Option 2: Animal Mascots
Most of the schools have a costumed animal mascot. Choose a mascot from the list below and read a book with that animal on the cover. The image can be realistic or cartoonish, full animal or partial, but it must be recognizable. I have given some leeway with some categories (see below) in an effort to make things easier on the moderators.
Alabama - Elephant
Arkansas - Razorback (any pig will do here!)
Auburn, Missouri and LSU - Tiger
Florida - Alligator (I will also accept crocodiles, caimans, and gharials)
Georgia and Mississippi State - Bulldog
Kentucky - Wildcat - any wild cat other than tigers or lions
Oklahoma - Horse
South Carolina - Gamecock (any chicken will do)
Texas - Longhorn Steer (any cattle with horns, but not buffalo/bison)
Required:Post the cover

Option 3:
Read a book where football is central to the story.
Required: If the connection is not clear from the Goodreads description, provide a reference.

Option 4:
Being based in the southern US, the SEC experienced quite a bit of controversy during the Civil Rights Era. It was not until 1966 that African Americans first participated in an SEC athletic contest. Read a book first published in 1966.

25.4 - Robin P's Task: The ABC's

For back-to-school time, we'll do tasks based on the alphabet. Read 2 books, one each from 2 different options.
Required: State the options

Option 1: Authors

Read a book whose author's first and last initials are sequential in the alphabet, going forward. Examples: Charles Dickens - CD, Liane Moriarty - LM. Reverse order is not ok, so you can't use a name like John Irving.

Option 2: Titles

Read a book whose title words (minimum 3) are in alphabetical order. Examples: Bruno, Chief of Police, Everything I Never Told You, Blood of Tyrants. There can be multiple words that start with the same letter as long as they are in alphabetical order, for instance, Once There Were Wolves, Any Approaching Enemy.

Option 3: Genres

Read a book with an MPG that starts with A, B, or C - examples could include (but are not limited to) Adventure, Africa, Adult, Biography, British Literature, Book Club, Contemporary, China, Classics, etc. Children's can only be used if it meets SRC rules.
Required: State the MPG.

Option 4: School

Most people learn the ABC's in school. Read a book whose main character is in kindergarten through high school.
Required: Provide a reference if it's not obvious from the GR page.

25.3 Jecca's Task: There’s a First Time for Everything

This is the first time I have managed to finish a challenge and I have been a participant in this group since April of 2011. That is a lot of tasks I have completed! Along the way I have found some really great books that I never would have even looked at before and there have been some not so great books too. I have mostly used this challenge to broaden my reading horizons and for finding something new. But also, because I am that kind of nerd.
2025 has brought in a lot of firsts for me; on a nerd level I will complete the PopSugar challenge (early and all the way) during the Fall SRC, on a personal level I went on my first college tours with my baby and professionally I got a 2nd job to help pay for the aforementioned college. So let’s make my firsts into a challenge…

This is a Two book task.
Choose 2 different options and read one book for each option.
You may use one book with a MPG Sequential Art, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga.
Required State the options

Option 1: PopSugar and other challenges
The seasonal reading challenge came first and after I found that discovering new titles and genres was something I could get excited about. I started searching out other challenges or lists of “must-reads”.

A - PopSugar - This is one of my go-to reading challenges. I typically complete it, but sometimes not. My first and one of favorite books so far this season was The Wedding People, I used this one for prompt 33 "A book featuring an activity on your bucketlist." My most unexpected read was The Measure for prompt 21.
The PopSugar 2025 Reading Challenge can be found here: https://www.popsugar.com/books/popsug...
Using the prompt for my most unexpected read, read a book with a main character that is a politician.
Required: If it is not obvious from the book page, provide a reference.

B - Boxall - The first list I found of “must-reads” was Boxall’s 1001 books to read before you die. As an adult I was able to check off some of these as I read them in school, others have just been books that I heard about or made me think “I saw that movie.” I do not think I will ever make it through the whole list, but I do like throwing one or two of these into a season when I can.
This is the complete list: https://thereadersroom.org/1001-books/
Read a book from this list (All SRC default rules apply)

Option 2: College
My 2nd child, my baby, is a senior in high school. We have toured eight colleges. I have never been on a college tour before, I didn’t go when I was in high school (a million years ago) and my oldest was never going to go to college. This process has been both informative and overwhelming.

A - Location
Read a book set in one of the places we have toured; Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York City (must NYC, not New York State).
Required: If setting is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.

B - Content

Read a book that has a college setting. Ex. The Awakening, The Secret History, Fangirl
Required: If the setting is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.


Option 3: Side Hustle
I became a single mom in 2022, and as my children age so do their expenses. In preparation for college I started flinging papers in the wee hours of the morning. The pay’s not great but I’m alone and I listen to a lot of books or all of a sudden episode after episode of true-crime podcasts.

A - Audiobooks - I am OBSESSED with my audio books. And I have a few narrators that I could listen to read me a dictionary and I would be totally engaged.
Read (or listen) to a book that won or was a finalist in the Audie Awards - Here is a list to help Audie Award Winners You can see past years winners and finalists here: https://www.audiopub.org/audie-awards...
Required State the Year of the award.

B - True-crime Podcasts - I probably should not listen to podcasts about missing or murdered people while I am all by myself, in the dark, down some desolate roads, but I do anyway. I also don’t know why I am so into them when my main hustle is at the county attorney’s office, but alas here we are. I had listened to My Favorite Murder and Counterclock, on occasion, years ago. But recently I have completely caught up on Counterclock and switch off regularly between MFM and Crime Junkies.

Read a book with an author that shares a name with one of my favorite hosts: Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark, Delia D’Ambra, Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. The name must match exactly and can be in any position.

Sue Message 2504
please repost with readerboard name.

ED Message 2481

Per posting requirements, task claims must include a short description of the task criteria.

The post needs to include all SRC criteria and all of the task/option criteria.

ED Message 2465

Per posting requirements, task claims must include a short description of the task criteria.

The post needs to include all SRC criteria and all of the task/option criteria.

ED Message 2464

Per posting requirements, task claims must include a short description of the task criteria.

The post needs to include all SRC criteria and all of the task/option criteria.

ED Message 2457

Per posting requirements, task claims must include a short description of the task criteria.

The post needs to include all SRC criteria and all of the task/option criteria.

ED Message 2451

Per posting requirements, task claims must include a short description of the task criteria.

The post needs to include all SRC criteria and all of the task/option criteria.

Cindy F Message 5.1

Task 5.1 requires the park name to be stated in the post

ED Message 2448

Per posting requirements, task claims must include a short description of the task criteria.

The post needs to include all SRC criteria and all of the task/option criteria.

Kathy KS wrote: "JennRenee wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "Kathy KS

As of the current Readerboard (to 2350), my total is off. About that time I started moving things around, plus I had to repost one, so it is confusing. ..."

No worries we got you.

This is the thread where you can submit a task idea for the 50 Point Task contest. The thread is now open for submissions and will close at Midnight Eastern time on October 5th 2025. Voting will start the next day, October 6th and will close at the end of the day on October 12th. If the moderators determine that the vote is close, a 3-day runoff poll will be held. The person whose idea gets the most votes will host the 50 point task for the Fall Challenge.

The 50 point task will require:
1. Only 3 options. These options may not include more than 2 "sub options" - 6 total in the task.
2. One book per option.
3. Three books totaling at least 750 pages. Your task idea may require a higher page threshold but this must be disclosed in your entry.
4. No books with the genres children or kids on the main book page may be used.
5. Books whose main page lists any of these genres: Sequential Art, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga may not be used.
6. No “free choice” options will be allowed. This is a challenge, so tasks that have no element of challenge do not fit the purpose.
7. A task must be accessible to the majority of players, i.e. not limited to a specific format, edition, publisher, etc. and reviewable by the moderators.

Anyone eligible* to design a task may submit an idea for a task that follows the general guidelines above. Your idea should be a sketch that may be developed with the moderators.

* To be eligible to create a task, the player’s profile must be set up to accept Goodreads messages, and they must not have a task in the current challenge. Only one task per person per challenge.


The group will vote to determine the 50 point task. All ideas that fit the general guidelines will be included in a poll. The poll winner will develop their idea with the moderators to refine their task. The final task may differ from the original idea submission. The task will be posted as close to the midpoint as reasonably possible. The task creator will monitor and answer questions in the help thread.

Please include your Readerboard name and a title for your task. The entries will be listed by Readerboard name and task title in the poll. Please include only one task idea entry per post.

PLEASE DO NOT comment on people's entries in this thread - this is for submissions only - you will be able to comment when voting begins. Comments in this thread will be deleted.

Here is the Review Raffle thread for Fall 2025.

We will draw a random name from anyone who posts a review in this thread and they will be given the opportunity to create a task in the Fall 2025 season - the more reviews that you post, the more chance of being drawn!

Reviews must be for books read within the current challenge period. You may link to your review on Goodreads, or type the review in the thread. (Please do not link to a review on a site outside of Goodreads).

Your review does not have to be positive but it should be at least a couple of sentences long - "loved it" or "not for me" is not helpful to other readers!

Please remember to include your Readerboard name when posting your review.

Jager Message 2415

25.5 is a 2 book task. Only one book was linked and claimed in this post.

Jasmiina F Message 2402

20.6 was already claimed in message 2336.

The Fall 2025 Challenge will begin at 12:01 AM, EST September 1, 2025, and will end at 11:59 PM, EST, November 30, 2025.

This is where you will need to post information about completed tasks - updates to the Readerboard will be based on what is posted HERE AND ONLY HERE.

Please do not delete or edit any post in this thread!! Even if the post is not reflected on the Readerboard yet, I've often logged the post on my spreadsheet already and I will not know that you've made the changes. I do not go backwards in this thread to pick up points. If you need to make a change, just make a new post.

All books posted for points in the SRC must adhere to The Rules of the Challenge. This includes the Rules of the Challenge as well as the Default Rules and FAQs

All posts must adhere to the Posting Requirements.To avoid problems with your posts, please review these documents (even if you've read them before). They will not change mid-season, but they may be updated between seasons.

Any problems with task postings will be posted in the Questions/Problems in Completed Tasks thread. Please post there if you have a question about your points, Golden Oldies It's A Fact, or Big Book tickets.

Enjoy your reads!

Questions or problems with completed task posts will be posted here.

If you have questions about your points on the Readerboard:

1. Make sure that the Readerboard has been updated through the post that you are concerned about.
2. Please check your math.
3. Check to see if one of your posts is listed in this thread with a question. If so, please make a NEW POST in the Completed tasks thread to clear up the question. DO NOT go back and edit the original post. I will not go backwards in the completed task thread to pick up points.
4. To avoid further questions/problems, please refer to the TASK DESCRIPTIONS and The Rules of the Challenge.

Thank you for helping keep the record keeping for the challenge as manageable as possible.

25.2- Ash's Task- Slash and Survive: A Final Girl Challenge
Help Thread

For the Fall 2024 challenge I did a task that was all about slashers, and I wanted to keep going with that. There's just so many great slashers out there!

I love anything spooky, scary, creepy, crawly (Okay maybe not..), macabre and gory. So here are 6 more of my favorite horror friends!

This is a two book task- Pick two different options and read one book for each option.
Graphic novels allowed for one book and is encouraged.
Required: State the options.

Option 1: We All Float Down Here. (Pennywise the Dancing Clown)
When I was a tiny kid, I think maybe even a toddler, one of my babysitters watched IT in front of me, and guess what I'm scared of? That's right, clowns! Does it stop me from watching? Absolutely not.
Read a book with "IT" in the title only.- subtitles excluded. Word must be stand alone. Possessives allowed, no other variations.

Option 2: Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them? (Leatherface)
While Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't really a favorite of mine, I have seen every movie, more than once. It's still a classic.
Read a book where a Roadtrip is essential to the story. Doesn't matter how much of the book is spent on a roadtrip as long as it is essential.
Required: If not evident from the description or the GR metadata, provide a reference.

Option 3: [Wounded, screams silently] (Art the Clown)
Oh good, another clown. Terrifier is one of the grossest, bloodiest, more gory movies I've ever seen. It's definitely NOT for the faint of heart. But Art the Clown is also kind of funny, which adds to the movies, I think.
For this option read a book with a MPG Splatterpunk . Can be stand alone or embedded (Though I don't think there's any embedded)

Option 4: Always check your candy. (Sam)
Trick R Treat is a movie I watch multiple times a year, but I especially make sure I watch it during spooky season. Sam is just so cute and I love the stories in the movie and how they all kind of come together.
Read an anthology/collection of stories.
It can be a collection of novellas, written all by one author, written by multiple authors, it doesn't matter. Just an anthology or collection of stories.

Option 5: I like your dolls. (Annabelle)
I think part of what makes Annabelle that much scarier is that she is a very real doll that is possessed by a very real spirit (If you believe in that sort of thing). I can't believe they traveled around the US with her. Crazy.
Read a Non-Fiction book with MPG paranormal. MPG may be standalone or embedded.

Option 6: Do you want to play a game? (Jigsaw)
Read a book off of one of these lists.
Main character enters a contest/game
YA thriller games
Related to a game
Required: State the list and page.

Robin P Message 2359

30.1 option 3 had requires the cover to be posted.