SP 2014 General Questions & Answers

[Liz M]

Post questions about the Spring 2014 Challenge here.

[Sam]

For the not-a-novel category, would a collection like The Fox; The Captain's Doll; The Ladybird count as short stories?

[Liz M]

Karen GHHS wrote: "I love the polls- I was wondering what happened to Romeo and Juliet ;)

One issue- for me the "metafictional works" link takes me to the home page...."

It should be fixed.

[Karen Michele]

Thanks, Liz!

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

For the non-western style, will an author qualify if he/she was born in one "non-western" country and is/was a citizen of another. For instance, Carlos Fuentes was a Mexican citizen but was born in Panama.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

itpdx wrote: "For the non-western style, will an author qualify if he/she was born in one "non-western" country and is/was a citizen of another. For instance, Carlos Fuentes was a Mexican citizen but was born i..."

Yes, he is non-Western. How you describe it is the way it is supposed to work.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Sam wrote: "For the not-a-novel category, would a collection like The Fox; The Captain's Doll; The Ladybird count as short stories?"

These stories were published in their own volume, so in this case it is sort of like two or three short novels being combined into a single volume rather than their being a short story collection. The combining does not produce not-a-novel.

[Karen Michele]

I am still not feeling completely clear on the novel based on a true story option in the polls. If all the characters are real does it qualify:
Loving Frank
or is it more specific than that like:
In the Sea There are Crocodiles: Based on the True Story of Enaiatollah Akbari ?

[Liz M]

Karen GHHS wrote: "I am still not feeling completely clear on the novel based on a true story option in the polls. If all the characters are real does it qualify:
Loving Frank..."

It does need more than real people to qualify (I'd be hard-pressed to believe Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is based on a true story, for example).

Loving Frank does seem to work: "This fictional account told from a new perspective, is based on research conducted by first time novelist, Nancy Horan. It relates events in Mamah’s life as it became inextricably intertwined with that of Wright between the years of 1907 through 1914."

[Karen Michele]

Liz M wrote: "Karen GHHS wrote: "I am still not feeling completely clear on the novel based on a true story option in the polls. If all the characters are real does it qualify:
Loving Frank..."

It..."

Got it and I love it!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

And Loving Frank is quite good - hope you can fit it in!

[Karen Michele]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "And Loving Frank is quite good - hope you can fit it in!"

Me too and it looks like a good time for some lobbying! I would be able to fit in Loving Frank if 500 people listing historical fiction wins, but I could also get a combo if fiction based on a true story wins over plays in that poll. I could also fit in the brand new Thirty Girls, though and Under the Wide and Starry Sky which is too new to get to 500 historical fiction listings, so that would make me happy.

The play option would be great for combos for those reading Shakespeare this season in honor of our theme, so I'll understand if more go for that one. I'm planning on at least one Shakespeare play!

[Jama]

For the non-western category, how do you deal with someone like Nabokov, who was a citizen of Russia and then a citizen of the US? Would it depend ln when the book was published?

[Kate S]

Liz's explanation about Nabokov

Nabokov does not qualify as a non-western author.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Jama wrote: "For the non-western category, how do you deal with someone like Nabokov, who was a citizen of Russia and then a citizen of the US? Would it depend ln when the book was published?"

The important thing to remember is the and in the definition - born and citizen/resident. But always feel free to ask when unsure. I sometimes have to consult with Liz and Kate when I'm designating an author as non-western.

[Theresa~OctoberLace]

Can I get a decision on whether Roberto Bolaño is deemed Non-Western? He was born in Chile, moved to Mexico with his family as a child, returned to Chile, but was exiled during the Pinochet era. He lived many places, spending the final years before his death in Spain, his wife's native country. I tried to research this, but found him referred to as "of undetermined nationality" in some places and Chilean nationality in others. For certain, he was born in Chile, and his own response when pressed for his nationality was "Latin American."

I plan to read his book 2666 this season, hence the question. Thanks!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Theresa~OctoberLace wrote: "Can I get a decision on whether Roberto Bolaño is deemed Non-Western? He was born in Chile, moved to Mexico with his family as a child, returned to Chile, but was exiled during the ..."

He is non-Western.

[Theresa~OctoberLace]

Thanks, Elizabeth!

[Rachel]

Just a scoring question...
My records say I have 165, but the board says I have 180.
Even with the plus 5 Kate just found for me (thank you!)
I have 10 magical extra points?

I had claimed a play that was after decided that I couldn't use and it should have reset my score back down to 10, or 0 (can't remember). Maybe something didn't get changed there?

Thank you!

[Joy]

Scoring question:

The readerboard shows my points as 110 and I add up 115. Would someone mind taking a look and let me know if I've messed up at some point? That way I can make sure I have a correct running tally. Thank you!

[Kate S]

Don (The Book Guy) wrote: "This regards excluding 800's as non-fiction in EotP challenges. Is that only for this challenge or is this rule for all challenges in the future?"

Just for the sub challenge this season.

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

Another scoring question:
I show a total of 240 and the reader board shows 235. Did I make an addition error somewhere? or was there a correction that I missed?

[Kate S]

itpdx wrote: "Another scoring question:
I show a total of 240 and the reader board shows 235. Did I make an addition error somewhere? or was there a correction that I missed?"

This error should be corrected in the most recent update. My apologies.

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

No problem.

[Sam]

I know it can't be repeated, but am I able to change which book I claimed for the Square Peg task?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Sam wrote: "I know it can't be repeated, but am I able to change which book I claimed for the Square Peg task?"

Yes, you can. Got one that has more points?

[Sam]

Not more points, but this author would give me an interesting chain for the AtA challenge haha. Unfortunately this past challenge I haven't read much that I really enjoyed until this one, but it doesn't fit any of the main tasks.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Nice! Go ahead and post it, and we'll get it scored for you. To make it easiest for Kate, please also include the Post # of the one you want to remove.

[Sam]

Will do! :) First I have to actually *finish* the book. Wedding planning has kind of derailed me a little bit lately!

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

Sam wrote: "Will do! :) First I have to actually *finish* the book. Wedding planning has kind of derailed me a little bit lately!"

Congratulations! How soon is the wedding?

[Sam]

Thanks! It's next Saturday. Seems to have really snuck up on us! Haha.