May Monthly Challenge: Discussion and Suggestion Thread

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

I can amend the category and include any book that has fairies or fae in it...

I wouldn't mind. Still No Rest for the Wicked might be a stretch....

Let me check your TBR list and maybe I can see something that will work better.

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

LibraryLass wrote: "Yz, would Kresley Cole's No rest for the wicked fit the fairy tale theme? Got faeries etc. in it. I am struggling to fit this one. Got just about all the rest sussed, but this one is a stumper. ..."


I went through your book list, and I saw that you have read the first two KMM's Highlander books. The series have a strong "fae" presence in it, so that might be something you might like to pick up, like Book 3 of the series or even try her new Urban Fantasy Fever series.

[Wendy]

Yz wrote: "LibraryLass wrote: "Yz, would Kresley Cole's No rest for the wicked fit the fairy tale theme? Got faeries etc. in it. I am struggling to fit this one. Got just about all the rest sussed, but thi..."

Hahahaha! You wouldn't believe it but I have mixed my series/plotlines up entirely! Just call me stupid. Thanks for the headsup Yz and your input Nichole. I have The highlander's touch by KMM on interloan from another library, would that fill the bill???

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

I think the Highlander's Touch would work.

[Wendy]

Cheers for that Yz, I will use this one if I don't find anything else more appropriate. Although, it is due back at it's home library very soon. I have so many overdue books it isn't funny!

[Wendy]

I found one.... [Book: Beastly] by Alex Flinn. This fits the bill perfectly I think?!

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

Beastly seems the more appropriate one.

Still it would be a shame if you don't read that KMM book...okay..I admit it, I'm a fan of her Highlander series and the yummy men it comes with...LOL

[Wendy]

Yeah me too, Yz. I will just read it anyway! Beastly looks like a fairly quick read so I should still get my challenge done.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

Is it cheating if your birthday's in May to pick a book off your own shelves for this challenge?

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

Nope...it will not be cheating.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

cool lol
Thanks Yz

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

Yep...consider it as a B-day gift..a chance to do a Reader's Choice selection...LOL

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

It helps as I'm rearranging my list around. I'm working titles from the Tales of the Grace Chapel Inn into the challenge. I've got 4 worked in. It's a series about 3 sisters who move home and turn the house they inherited into a bed and breakfast. One sister is a nurse - fits Nurse/EMT week. One book is about the youngest sister's search to know her mother, who died at her birth - using that for Mother's category. The piano playing sister is featured in Midsummer Melody - my M book. And throwing one in for my birthday selection. And reading another by an A author for read the month.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

Do short stories or novella's count? I've read some that are 12 or 20 pages. I know audio books and graphic novels count, but figured I better ask for verification on these. The short stories or novealls are longer than some children's books. Not sure what counts when you're on the "low" end. lol

I've completed May but used 3 short stories. I've read a novel to replace one. Starting to read something to replace another but thought I'd check to see what counts and what doesn't.

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

To be honest, I don't really mind. Novellas are okay as far as I'm concerned.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

Thank you Yz. Being so busy this week I wasn't sure how much reading I'd get in and found a few short ebooks to read to fill certain categories. Some were better than others, lol, but they fit certain categories perfectly. But it felt a bit like cheating with them being so short. (Then again, my Harry Potter novel is 734 pages and doesn't fit any categories! lol)

[Lori]

Briansgirl wrote: "Do short stories or novella's count? I've read some that are 12 or 20 pages. I know audio books and graphic novels count, but figured I better ask for verification on these. The short stories or no..."

I read a lot of Novellas for the various challenges. They are mostly ebooks and usually around 100 - 150 pages. There's no way I could complete all of the challenges if I read full length novels. I guess I could give up my job but then I couldn't afford to buy books :)

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

Thanks Lori. Some of these ebooks were 12 page stories. The sports book I read on Quidditch was 56 pages. Sometimes I've read one story out of an anthology, but not the entire book (as it was originally published as a stand-alone novel and could easily still be over 100 pages.) It's easier to realize it counts when you can hold the book in your hand (like the Quidditch book) even if it's smaller. With ebooks its harder to know. It fit the category. I read it. But it was so short it felt like cheating.

[Lori]

I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I'm cheating a little too. I just remind myself that the point is to read and have fun! I'm reading more now than I ever have so it's all good :)

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

I'm reading more than I ever have as well. Sometimes its hard to find books to fit certain categories, or you're not in the mood to read something that'll fit. I read the short ones to complete the categories and am now reading a few things that are very enjoyable but don't fit any categories. Summer on Blossom Street is Debbie Macomber's newest release. Unfortnately this is M author not M title. lol I read the reader's digest version of Nicholas Sparks Nights in Rodanthe for my group shelves book. I could have gone to the library I suppose and found the full version but this one isn't that short and I already had it, so late at night when I was browing the groups shelves to find something to read to fill the category that caught my eye so grabbed it off my shelves. (Do all his books end so tragically? lol) Now I've moved onto Hattie Big Sky a prize winning YA book and can barely put it down. It's great. But didn't fit a category. lol (well it might if I didn't have stand alone book filled already)

[Julianna]

There seems to be a consensus here that reading short stories/novellas that were at some point published as stand-alone books in e-book form or otherwise is OK. I'm wondering if anyone would have a problem with me (or anyone else) reading novellas that are part of an anthology and weren't published elsewhere alone, without reading the entire book. I have a number of anthologies on my TBR list, but I rarely sit down and read all the stories consecutively like I would with a novel, especially if any of them are part of a series (anal me has to read those in order;-)). I was just thinking today that these would be great filler stories at the end of the month for a slow reader like me, when I only have a few days left to work on a challenge.

Also, are children's books OK? I generally wouldn't use them unless they are at least chapter books with some substance or they're considered YA, but I was trying to fill out one of my A-Z challenges and realized I have a couple of children's books, one that I read to my kids and one that I read for review this year that would fit a couple of letters that I currently don't have anything else for. Of course if I could find a longer book with that letter and could find time to read it before the challenge is over, I'd happily replace it.:-)

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

I think reading one story from an anthology isn't any different than a novella. In fact, it's probably longer. Works for me. And I list YA books all the time.

[Kasia]

Julie (Mom2lnb) wrote: "I'm wondering if anyone would have a problem with me (or anyone else) reading novellas that are part of an anthology and weren't published elsewhere alone, without reading the entire book. (...) Also, are children's books OK?"

Julie I wouldn't have a problem with you reading any novellas and I think children's books are fair game too.

The challenges are basically for your own benefit - to get you excited about reading and to get some stuff of that TBR list. If you read a lot of children's book and want to include them in your reading list - why not? If novellas work for you, and it's still a bit of a challenge to complete all the categories each month - that's great. But for those who read 40-60 full length books a month (Hi Colleen, Barbara) - I'd say stick to novels. Does that make sense?

[Julianna]

Thanks ladies! I figured it would probably be OK, but I just wanted to check first. After all, some novellas are nearly as long as a Harlequin novel. I don't typically read a ton of children's books, but I do have daily reading time with my kids while they're out of school for the summer. Even if I include a novella or children's book here and there, it would still be a challenge for me to finish any of the monthly challenges, since I usually only manage to complete about half the categories. Five books a month is about the max I can manage with my current reading speed and time availability.:-) Oh yeah, and I've definitely been benefiting from the challenges, by clearing a few older books off my TBR list. Yeah!

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

I put one children's book on my current list as I needed a Gay Pride book. I found one in the children's section about a boy with two mothers. I don't however list the Dr Suess books I read the kids. I have, when desperate at the end of the month, lol, used a very short novella (under 20 pages). I try not to, but some months certain categories are just tough. This month one tough book took me two weeks to read and that threw off my challenge reading for the rest of the month.

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

I'm seconding Kasia's response. I don't have a problem with anyone using a novella, a children's book, a graphic novel, to fill in a category.

For me, the true spirit of the different challenges is to have fun reading...and reading what interests you or what you feel you will enjoy.

So, go ahead, if it fits the category, you feel it is interesting enough for you to spend some time reading...whether is only 50 pages or 400 pages..it's your call.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

I hated to count several ebooks I found (one website had 63 of these free) as they are only 12 pages each. And many fit our categories. lol In desperation, I've only counted one so far.

[Wendy]

Yz wrote: "I'm seconding Kasia's response. I don't have a problem with anyone using a novella, a children's book, a graphic novel, to fill in a category.

For me, the true spirit of the different challenge..."


I'm struggling not to stress myself out to complete the challenges and also cos I want to read books that don't fit the challenges but I only have 10 days to go... So I am going to try the approach that these challenges are there for me to kick off ideas for what to read next if (and when) I am stuck with what to read next. I hope it works, but I know I am one of those ppl that like to finish what I start and feel a failure if I don't! Grrrrr.....

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

Yes..you..slacker..you...LOL

I always smile everytime I see you put that down everytime you post an update!

[Wendy]

LOL, Yz... I have 3 YA books I am dying to read, [Book: Gone] by Michael Grant, [Book: Wicked lovely] by Melissa Marr and [Book: Shock point] by April Henry. NONE of which fit in any category of the monthly challenges! AND I have a hugely busy week coming up with preparing for holiday programmes across 3 libraries. I really don't think I will get challenges finished, but I can hope. ;)