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

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

1 JUN 12:01am EST = SUMMER 2024 Challenge starts
1 JUN= 20/25 Point Task Creators identified
2 – 7 JUN= 20/25 Point Tasks posted when available
12 JUN = All Tasks proofread and FINAL or *5 days after the last task is posted.

15 JUN- 5 JUL= 50 Point Task Idea Submission Thread Open
6 JUL- 12 JUL = 50 Point Task Idea Poll
13 JUL- 15 JUL= 50 Point Task Idea Poll Runoff if needed
15 JUL= Logo Contest for Next Challenge begins

15 JUL Midnight EST = Midpoint Cutoff
16 – 20 JUL= 50.1 Midpoint Task posted
16 – 31 JUL = Group Reads Books nominated for next challenge

1 – 14 AUG= Group Reads polls for next challenge
1 – 12 AUG= Task Ideas brainstorming for next challenge
13 - AUG Midnight EST = Cutoff for 30 Point Early Finishers
14 AUG= 30 Point Task Creators Identified
15 AUG= 5/10/15 Point Tasks posted for next challenge (as available)
31 AUG Midnight EST = SUMMER Challenge Ends
1 SEP= 20/25 Point Task Creators identified for next challenge

14 AUG Midnight EST = Logo Contest Cutoff
15 – 31 AUG= Logo poll for next challenge

This is the discussion thread for the Summer 2024 Group Read A Tale of Two Cities in the category Gutenberg Classic. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

20.5 - Bigger is Better: Lisa MD's Summer Scavenger Hunt

It only seems appropriate that we play a little game for our summer reading challenge.

Scan your bookshelves or TBR to find any of these items associated with summer on the cover and read that book.

Required: post the cover and identify your object

Swimsuits: any kind one piece, bikini, board shorts, swim trunks, speedo
Pool floaties: arm floaties, tubes, pool rafts
Starfish, Sandcastles, Surfboards, Seashells
Fireflies, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Bicycle: with pedals no motorbikes.
Sun Hat- a broad-brimmed hat that protects the head and neck from the sun
Fireworks, Lightning
Watermelon, Hamburgers, Hotdogs

FYI: Although many items on the list are written in plural form, a singular item located counts. Items of clothing may be found on a person

Examples:

20.4 Golden Oldies - FLY's Task- Kids’ Games Through the Ages

Keeping with the themes of summer, golden oldies, and games, let’s look at some old-fashioned outdoor games kids play in the summertime. This is a one-book task, so pick one of the following game options and enjoy! Children’s books and graphic novels are allowed and encouraged, as long as they meet SRC guidelines.

Required: state your option

a) Jump rope – kids have been jumping rope for centuries now. Some historians say it was originally played in ancient China. If jump rope is your game, please pick a book from this list of rope books: Covers for Old Rope

b) Hopscotch – this is another game that has been around for ages, perhaps since the early Roman Empire! For this task, read a book by an author whose initials (all of them, as they appear on Goodreads) are found in the word HOPSCOTCH. If your book has more than one author, all the authors’ initials must be found in the word. Letters can only be used as often as they appear.

c) Hot Potato – this was originally played with an actual hot potato. These days we try to play games without burning the skin off our children’s hands, which makes this one a fun game to play at camp. For this task, read a book off this list of books set in Idaho: Books Set in Idaho
Required state the page

d) Red Light, Green Light – another game that originated in ancient China, it has been known by many names, but I learned it as Red light, Green light. If you want to choose this game, read a book with a cover that is at least 75% red and/or green, according to TinEye.
Required: post the cover

25.5 - Cat's Task - Books of Asia

I am moving on to Asia!

Books of Asia

We will be reading books associated with the continent Asia (with a couple of changes), and using the information on this link for reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
However, for the purposes of this task Russia and Egypt are NOT considered to be part of Asia, and books set in either of those countries will NOT work for this task.

Pick an option.
Required: state the option.

Option 1: Two Book Option

Book 1: Read a book that is set (at least 70%) in one or more countries in Asia, or is about one or more countries in Asia (if Non-Fiction).
Required: state the country(/ies), and provide supporting evidence if it's not obvious from the GR metadata or blurb.

Book 2: Read a book that is written by an author born in a country in Asia. Multiple authors are allowed, provided that ALL are born within Asia. The author(s) need not be from the country used for book 1.
Required:provide a link to prove place of birth if it's not obvious from the GR metadata.

Option 2: One Book Option
Read one book of at least 500 pages that fits both criteria of Option 1.

25.4 Truitt_T’s Task: It’s a Riot!

June 28 of this year will mark the 55th anniversary of what came to be known as the Stonewall Riots. NYC police raided a gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, on Christopher Street. Raiding a gay bar and hassling members of the gay and lesbian community was not unusual, but the riots and protests lasting until July 3 were. What began as the annual commemoration of Stonewall has evolved into a month-long celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride in the U.S. and other countries around the world.

This is a gross oversimplification of the impact of Stonewall and the evolution of Pride Month, but there are plenty of resources out there for anyone interested in learning more.

This is a two book task, with a combined 500 page minimum. While children’s and middle grades books are NOT allowed, a book with MPG Graphic Novel(s) MAY be used for one book. One book MUST be nonfiction.

Choose two options and read one book from each.
Required:: state which options

Option 1: Read a book that is MPG LGBT and/or Queer AND one of the following:

Biography
Fantasy
Graphic Novel(s)
Historical/Historical Fiction
History
Humor
Memoir
Mystery/Cozy Mystery/Mystery Thriller
Nonfiction
Science Fiction

Required: state the qualifying MPGs.

Examples:
The Guncle Abroad MPG LGBT & Queer AND MPG Humor
The Hands of the Emperor: MPG MPG LGBT & Queer AND MPG Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Cozy Mystery
Gay Bar: Why We Went Out: MPG LGBT & Queer AND MPG Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography, Historical
The Third Person: MPG LGBT & Queer AND MPG Graphic Novels, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography
A Lady for a Duke: MPG LGBT & Queer AND MPG Historical, Historical Fiction

Option 2: Read a book for which the author’s initials may be found in STONEWALL RIOTS. Letters may only be used as often as they appear in the phrase. Middle names and/or initials may be ignored. For books with multiple authors, all author first and last initials must be found.

Option 3: Read a book from one of the following lists.

60 LGBTQ+ Books That Reaaally Deserve a Spot on Your Shelf: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertai...
111 Queer Books Recommended by Librarians, Booksellers, and Authors: https://lithub.com/111-queer-books-re...
The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Pride Book List by PRH Editors: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...
The 2024 Goodreads Pride Reading List: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

Required: state the list

A note from the moderators: yes, this book was previously a Group Read in 2013, and as a general rule we don't do repeats. Unfortunately, we only noticed the mistake after the polls had been run. In this situation, we felt it best to honour the result of the poll rather than attempt to re-run at short notice with an alternate choice or to simply pick the second placed book.

This is the discussion thread for the Summer 2024 Group Read Into the Drowning Deep in the category Fiction: Cryptids. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

This is the discussion thread for the Summer 2024 Group Read A Curious Beginning in the category Fiction: Victorian. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

This is the discussion thread for the Summer 2024 Group Read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in the category Non-Fiction: True Crime. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

I have been an avid tennis fan for decades, enjoying players like Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Agassi, Sampras, Serena Williams and many others. The competition between Federer, Nadal and Djokovic over the past 20 years has been incredible to watch with them all setting records nobody thought could be achieved. Of those three legends, my favorite has always been Rafael (Rafa) Nadal.
After enduring countless injuries and making numerous comebacks, Rafa has declared that this will be his final year on tour. Let’s honor this humble, gracious champion by choosing two options and reading one book for each.

Option 1: Read a book by a single author whose first and last initials appear in RAFAEL NADAL. Letters may only be used as often as they appear.

Option 2: Rafa is from Spain and has won a record 14 French Open titles. Read a book set at least 50% in either Spain or France.
Required: If the location isn’t clear from the description or metadata, please provide a reference.

Option 3: Rafa’s best surface has earned him the nickname “The King of Clay” which he deserves. His record is 479 wins and only 48 losses on that surface. Read a book with a title word of four or more letters that can be made from THE KING OF CLAY.
Required: State the Word

Option 4: Some people think Rafa suffers from OCD because he has a routine he does before each point. He also lines his water bottles up in an exact way. He claims it’s superstition. Read a book with a MPG of Mental Health or Mental Illness.

link corrected

Marie (UK) wrote: "I am assuming we cannot use Bartleby the Scrivener as it is under 100 page minimum"

That is correct - the books must also meet the SRC requirements

I was able to drive into the path of totality for the eclipse earlier this year. It was my second total eclipse, and I'm definitely hooked. This one may have been in April, but if you want to make a game out of eclipse chasing, statistically, summer is your season!

Anyone can enjoy an eclipse, so for this task one book is allowed with MPG Childrens or Middle Grade, and one book is allowed with MPG Sequential Art, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga.

Option 1: Two Book Option

Book 1: One of the most striking things from experiencing both eclipses with a crowd was the awed silence that fell over hundreds of watchers as the light faded. Sometimes, there are just no words. Read a book with no words in the title.

For the sake of the task, any word found in The Official Scrabble Dictionary (https://scrabble.merriam.com) is considered a word except A, An, or The. A word is separated by a space - words that are hyphenated or contain another punctuation mark with no space are considered one word for the purpose of this task.

Examples: Slaughterhouse-Five (hyphenated word, counts as one word), Anathem, Circe, Written/Unwritten: Diversity and the Hidden Truths of Tenure (the / means that this is considered one word not two separate words), The Vorrh, K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches, J R; 1Q84, 2666

Book 2: Even if you have no words in the moment, you can always post or write about an amazing experience afterward. Read a book with at least one letter or number that's part of the cover art.

The letters/numbers must be from the same language in which your edition of the book is written and can *not* be part of: titles, subtitles, series names, author's/translator's/editor's names, publishing house, blurbs, reviews, awards etc.

Books that work:


Books that don't work:


Required: Post the cover and state the element in the cover art that satisfies the requirement.

Option 2: One Book Option
Read one book of at least 500 pages that satisfies both requirements of option 1.

30.4 Nick KY’s Task: Lots of Books
Read two books from two different options. All options relate to “Lots of Books”!
Your two books must total lots of pages – that is, at least 500 pages.

Opt. 1. Summer Means Reading Lots of Books! Read a book whose author's initials can be found sequentially in SUMMERMEANSREADINGLOTSOFBOOKS. The letters can appear either forward or backwards (KS can be either Ken Scholes or Stephen King), and the final “S” wraps to the initial “S,” so an author with the initials SS would work. Ignore middle names and middle initials.

Opt. 2. Lots of Fun. When you look under the “genres” list, then on the GR “more genres” page, the first category that comes up with over 900,000 entries is “Comedy.” (If I’m wrong about this, don’t worry about it – pretend I’m right.) Read a book from the first 25 pages of the “Comedy” list
As long as the book is on the list and meets SRC requirements, it counts. Required: State the page.

Option 3. They All Look Good to Me Read a book that was nominated for the group read for Summer 2024 that you do not use for 20.10. You can use any of the 29 other winners or nominees, or , if you did not use it, the Gutenberg choice.

When you post for this option, either indicate what book you used for 20.10 (if you've already posted it) or what book you plan to use for 20.10 (if you haven't already posted it)

Opt. 4. Rest Easy Auster. Read any book by Paul Auster (solo or collaborator). This American author passed on April 30 leaving behind a treasure trove of soul-searching American paranoia tinged with a little bit of dark comedy. I will miss looking out for the new Auster book.

30.3 - TessaVanessa'a TASK Feeding the Children
Hunger is around us every day. In fact, food insecurity is so widespread that it affects 1 in 8 children nationwide.

During the summer months, the problem can affect even more kids. Almost 30 million students in U.S. public schools qualify for the federally assisted meal program. Students who receive a free or reduced-price school lunch during the school year are especially at risk in the summer. That’s because when the school year ends, so do school meals for millions of children.

Choose 2 options.
You may use one book with MPG “Sequential Art”, “Comics”, “Comic Book” and/or “Manga” for this task.

Option 1: Salvation Army: I’ve volunteered the last few summers with our local corps in providing children ages 0-18 with a free hot meal each weekday as well as take-home food for the weekends. Read a book that has a word of at least 4 letters that can be found in SALVATION ARMY. Letters can only be used as often as they appear.

Option 2: Cooking: I am not a cook and do not love being in the kitchen. That being said, I have learned a few tricks and easy meals for at home from the awesome woman who prepares this food daily. Read a book by an author who shares the same name or a variation of the name of the cook, Suzanne, which can be found on this page: https://www.behindthename.com/name/su...

Option 3: Numbers: Each year I volunteer the numbers seem to increase each year. Last year we were serving on average 200 children a day. Read a book with 200 - 250 pages (inclusive - so 200 & 250 count, 199 & 251 do not)

Option 4: Volunteerism: I have found that volunteering is good for my heart. Read a book from this list: Volunteerism
Required: State the page the book is found on.

30.2 - Katrisa's Task - Summer Zodiac
This is a 2 book task. Please pick one option and read a book 1 and a book 2 for your chosen option. Total page count must be at least 500 pages. One children’s/middle grade book may be used.

Option 1 - Gemini May 21- June 21
Book 1 - The symbol for gemini are the twins, Castor and Pollux. Read a book from one of these lists featuring books with twins
Best Books about Twins
Twins
Book 2 - The tarot card associated with Gemini is The Lovers. Read a book with Romance listed on the main page genres.

Option 2 - Cancer June 22- July 22
Book 1 - The symbol for Cancer is a crab who was placed in the heavens by Hera for pinching Heracles during his fight with the Hydra as he completed his 12 labors. Read a book that is numbered 1-12 of a series. The series can have any number of books in it, your book just has to be numbered between 1 and 12 of the series. Whole numbers only and series must appear in grayscale on the main page.
Book 2 - The tarot card associated with Cancer is The Chariot which features a chariot being drawn by black and white sphinxes. Read a book with one of these mythological creatures on the cover: Sphinx, Dragon, Mermaid (with visible tail), Yeti or Bigfoot, Medusa, Fairy (with visible wings), Unicorn/Pegasus

Option 3 - Leo July 23 - August 22
Book 1 - The symbol for Leo is a lion - another reference to the 12 labors of Heracles which he was sentenced to perform because he killed his wife. Read a book from one of these domestic thriller lists
Domestic Suspense Novels
Domestic Thrillers
Adult Thrillers Domestic

Book 2 - The tarot card associated with Leo is Strength which traditionally pictures a woman taming a lion - you go GRRRRL! Read a book with an MPG of Feminism.

30.1 - Susan A's Task: The Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup playoffs is the annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, and the league champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the NHL's regular season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season points totals. The final round held in June is commonly known as the Stanley Cup Finals, which matches the two conference champions.

Choose two options and read one book for each. A total of 500 or more pages is required.

Option 1: Read a book with MPG Hockey
Examples:


Option 2: Read a book with the letters N H L in the title. Ignore subtitles. Order doesn't matter.
Examples:
The New Couple in 5B
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice

Option 3: Read a book with a cup on the cover. (The edition you read.) For this task a cup is defined as an item whose main function is to hold liquid for consumption by one person.
This includes but is not limited to: a tea cup, disposable cup with or without a straw, a soda can, beer mug or bottle, any cocktail glass, a baby bottle or water bottle.
It does not include a tea pot, a bowl, a bucket, an animal's water bowl, etc.

Required: Include the cover in your post.

Examples: - beer mug
- coffee cup
- champagne glasses

NOT OKAY: - a beaker's main function is for a laboratory, not consumable liquid for a person

Option 4: Read a book originally published in June.
Required: Include the original publication date in your post.

20.3 Review Raffle - Trishhartuk’s Task: Midsomer Murders

Despite being a long-term fan of cozy mysteries and detective stories, both reading and watching on TV, for some reason I’d never watched that British staple of the genre, Midsomer Murders. This summer, my hubby and I have decided to fix that, and have started binge watching it. It’s going to take a while, as there are 24 seasons, each of four of more feature-length episodes.

Set in an analogue of Buckinghamshire, Midsomer is the most dangerous county in England, with an average of over three murders an episode. Since it began in 1997, there have been upwards of 400 murders, of which over 330 have been on screen, and if you include suicides and other forms of death, the total is more than 575!

As of the last episode broadcast, on Christmas Day 2023, there have been 140 episodes, so your book should have a minimum of 140pg.

Option 1. The TV series, Midsomer Murders, is based on the Chief Inspector Barnaby novels, by Caroline Graham. Read a book with the MPG of Mystery and/or Crime, stand-alone or as part of an MPG such as Cozy Mystery or Mystery Thriller, AND written by a Female author.

Option 2. The most dangerous village in Midsomer County is Badger’s Drift, which has had the highest death toll over the 24 seasons. Read a book by a single author whose initials (all of them) can be found in BADGER’S DRIFT.

Option 3. Even if an episode has been filmed in driving rain, when it comes to the edit, the technicians can lay on ‘sunshine’ to ensure that it will always be Midsomer and that the villages, churches and village greens remain bathed in the appropriate season. Read a book with the sun on the cover, or the stand-alone word "sun" in the title. If using the cover option, it can be a photo or drawing, but the whole disc of the sun must be visible, and must be recognisable as such.
Required, if using the cover option, post the cover.

Examples:

20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Laure's Task: Dragons of Summer

This task is inspired by my love for the best game in the world: Dungeon and Dragons.
I only started playing six years ago but since then, I have not stopped. A year ago, I took the plunge and I am also now the Game Master for a campaign I run every Tuesday night.

This is a ONE book task. You have three options.
Required: State which option you chose when you post.

Option 1. The first character I created was a high elf monk called Ilith Fan. She survived the campaign unharmed and is now level 15.
Read a book which has a 1 and a 5 in its page number or year of publication.

Option 2. I have just finished playing a classic Dragonlance campaign. Before I started the campaign, I also caught up with the iconic Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis.
For this option, read a book from the Dragonlance series or a book featuring a dragon as one of the characters.
Required: If the dragon character is not evident from the description or the GR metadata, provide a reference.

Option 3. I listen to many DND podcasts and shows during the week. I have a new favourite podcast: The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One. Brennan Lee Mulligan is the GM for the show, and he is a great storyteller.
For this option, read a book with either the word: Wizard, Witch, Wild or One in the title. Stand alone word, plurals and possessions are allowed, no other variations