Action Heroine Fans discussion
Action Heroine Reading Challenge
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Action heroine annual reading challenge
That does look good. I already marked it "to read." I'll try to get on it soon!
Just now, I raised my challenge goal to four. It turns out that the book I'm currently reading has an action heroine component that I didn't expect! :-)
#12 Paranormalcy
While this a very YA book, the heroine was fierce and enjoyable! Challenge complete!
Georgann wrote: "Challenge complete!"Way to go, Georgann! I hope to complete mine in December. :-)
2021 is now the sixth year in which our group has done a formal challenge, using Goodreads' "Challenges" feature, with the challenge featured at the top of the homepage. It's had participation every year, and I think serves its goal of encouraging group members to read action heroine books, and of giving us a chance to see what each other are reading in the genre. However, it's not the only conceivable way of doing a challenge (even a formal challenge).A couple of other groups I'm in also do an annual challenge, but don't use the "Challenges" feature. Around the beginning of each year, they create a thread for the challenge --it's NOT a discussion thread, but strictly a listing thread. Every time a member reads a book that fits the challenge, he/she lists it on the thread; the number of posts at the end of the year is the number of books the group members between them have read, and the thread shows what individual books were read, when and by whom. Here's an example: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... .
As with all choices between alternatives, each method has pluses and minuses, so involves trade-offs. Our present method features the challenge prominently on the homepage, and allows us to use a graphic that lends visual interest. It also automatically shows cover images of each person's read books (though you can insert cover images when you're doing it the other way, too!) But it's also more work to create the challenge, and requires each person taking part to create a customized shelf on his/her personal bookshelf, and to set (and monitor) a specific goal number. (If you delete your customized shelf at the end of the year, as I do, the program also then shows you as reading 0 books for that year, no matter how many you actually read.)
The dedicated-thread method is more flexible, in that you don't need to set any particular goal nor manipulate it as your reading plans may change. It's also less work to set up such a thread (and any group member can do so, whereas I'm not sure that those who aren't moderators can set up challenges using the Challenges feature). You do, though, have to remember to post each time you want to add a book to the challenge total, not simply add it to a special shelf when you finish and mark it as "read." Rather than having to click on each challenge participant separately to see their lists, you can scroll the whole thread at one time. Unlike the Challenge feature, this method doesn't automatically create an archive of all past challenges, but moderators can archive each thread at the end of its year.
Hopefully, this post gives you some idea of what the two options entail. Between now and the end of the year, you all can be thinking about which approach you'd like to see used going forward (or maybe you have some completely different idea, which is fine too!), and give us some feedback about this if you want to.
I say give the new method a shot. If we don't like it as much next year, we can always switch back.
I'm in groups that do the 'thread' method and it works well. We can add a graphic to the initial post. If we decide on this method, I can set it up. I know how to imbed the graphics.
E.G. wrote: "I'm in groups that do the 'thread' method and it works well. We can add a graphic to the initial post. If we decide on this method, I can set it up. I know how to imbed the graphics."That would be cool, E.G.! One of my concerns about the thread method was that if I set it up, I might not get it up very quickly, since to do it the way it's done in my other groups, you have to actually have a newly-read book to list, and that might take me awhile. I do the thread in the other groups, but there I pick a very short book that can double for both; i don't have any ultra-short action heroine books on my TBR. (Although the fact just hit me that to use the thread system, you wouldn't actually have to make the number of posts equal the total of books read; that's just a convention those two groups happen to use. DUH --face palm!) You could have an introductory post, and just subtract that one from the number of posts to get the total number of books.
Another advantage of the thread system is that it's easier to include "surprise" books, those you didn't know and didn't expect would have an action heroine(s), but turned out to; the one I just read is a good example. Then too, with our present system, when you're setting a goal number, there are always books you aren't sure about just judging from the covers and limited reviews --does the heroine really engage in physical action, or doesn't she? If you don't have to set a goal number, you don't have to guess. :-)
When I set up discussion threads in other groups, the first post is instructions. Each participant creates a 'tracking' thread and edits his/her thread with the addition of the books as completed. That way, members can sign up right away, but may not have a book to post for sometime. A single post per person also makes it easy to keep track.
E.G. wrote: "When I set up discussion threads in other groups, the first post is instructions. Each participant creates a 'tracking' thread and edits his/her thread with the addition of the books as completed. ..."E. G., that's intriguing! Do you set up a folder for the different threads? And do you archive them all at the end of a year? (If you did that, I guess you could reuse the same folder every year.) Do you have a link to one of these reading challenges, so we can get more of an idea how it works?
Werner wrote: "E.G. wrote: "When I set up discussion threads in other groups, the first post is instructions. Each participant creates a 'tracking' thread and edits his/her thread with the addition of the books a..."This is a link to a 3-month challenge. It's more elaborate than our annual Action Heroine with difference categories. But the structure is the same. You can find my tracking post at message 3.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
It's a private romance group, so you will need to apply, but I'm a mod.
Thanks, E.G. I'll try to check that out, as soon as time permits.
Okay, I've now checked out the Kiss and Tell group's challenge (thanks for letting me temporarily "join," E.G.!), and understand now how it's done! It's not as complicated as I pictured it; in fact, it's actually the same, or a similar, structure that's used in some of my other groups for ongoing challenges. But it adapts very well to an annual one.To offer an explanation in my own words, the first post is an introductory explanation of the challenge (and, as E.G. said, can have an embedded picture/image for visual interest). The second one is a list of the members participating; the person who originally makes that post updates it whenever someone states that he/she is going to join in. Each participant creates a post below this for himself or herself and (using the "Edit" function) updates it through the year each time he/she reads a new book for the challenge.
Personally, I like that variant of the thread method better than the one I originally proposed! What do the others in the group think?
This thread from another group is an example of the basic format i described above: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... . That challenge only has had two participants so far, but you get the idea of how it works! (Some of the comments at the bottom as you scroll, and a number of early comments in similar threads in other groups, are just chit-chat; we might or might not want to allow those.)
I like seeing the covers in our current challenge mode. But I can get used to a new format.The Action/Adventure group has a bingo card. Here's mine, for example: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Actually, in the format described in messages 265-66, challenge participants can link to the book covers, as well as to the regular title links. See message 80 on this thread, for instance: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... .The "bingo card" is based on the same kind of ongoing challenge that we have in another group I'm in, here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... . But the bingo card is a much more visually-interesting way to present it (though no doubt a lot more challenging to set up!).
Both of those ways look good to me! I think they would both ask me to expand my reading somewhat.
Well, I've updated my goal for this year to five books. The book I'm reading now will definitely count, though I wasn't certain of that until 222 pages in. (It's a fairly thick book.)Since everyone who's commented on the idea so far is game to try it, E.G., go ahead and plan to set up the annual challenge next year along the line that you proposed! One good feature of that method will be that we won't need to periodically juggle our goal numbers. :-) (Unless we want to set a goal when we post our comment on the thread; but even then, we can still list more books than the set goal, which under the current method we can't.)
Werner wrote: "Well, I've updated my goal for this year to five books. The book I'm reading now will definitely count, though I wasn't certain of that until 222 pages in. (It's a fairly thick book.)Since everyo..."
Sounds good. Is it better to set it up the last week in December or the first week in January? Or some other time?
E. G., so sorry I didn't post a response back when you asked the question! I typed a response at the time (and remember it quite clearly), but it was obviously another case where I forgot to click "Post." Mea culpa!Either week is good! It would be best not to do it any later than the first week of January. But there wouldn't be any harm in doing it during the last week of December, either, to have it done ahead so that it doesn't add to the crush of new-year chores. Whatever works for you will be good with the rest of us!
I've upped my goal for this year to six, since a planned common read in another group has been postponed until January, giving me a window of opportunity for another action heroine read. And Barb and I are getting unexpectedly close to finishing another book we're reading together; if we do so as soon as now seems likely, it will raise the total to seven!
Werner wrote: "E. G., so sorry I didn't post a response back when you asked the question! I typed a response at the time (and remember it quite clearly), but it was obviously another case where I forgot to click ..."Last week of December it is!
I did increase my goal to seven just now, and fully expect to make it!
Well, sadly, I had to drop my goal back down to five. A book I was reading in November took longer to complete than I expected, and my reading plans this month changed unexpectedly. But on the plus side, I've now officially met my challenge goal. :-)I'm looking forward to our 2022 challenge, in which the format won't require a challenge goal as such!
Usually, I blow it out and don't update my goal. This year, it looks like I'll only make 50% (10 out of 20). For some reason, a number of books that promised 'action heroines' didn't deliver. :(
I managed to hit 70% with 14 out of 20 by double checking my shelves and finding two from 2021 that I had not added to the correct shelf.
I met my goal of 50 read, mostly with comics. I reread Marvel’s Exikes series which was still just as entertainung as back in 2001-2006 when I first read them. It has three action heroines: teleporting Blink, Nocturne who is the daughter of Nightcrawler and the Scarlet Witch, and a female Sunfire. All of the characters are from different alternate realities and they travel from reality to reality righting wrongs.
Mervi wrote: "I met my goal of 50 read, mostly with comics. I reread Marvel’s Exikes series which was still just as entertainung as back in 2001-2006 when I first read them. It has three action heroines: telepor..."That’s awesome!🥳
Over on our new-for-this-year 2022 challenge thread, I've just added Avenging Angels: The Wine of Violence by "A. W. Hart" (who in this case is actually our own Charles Gramlich). Strictly speaking, she's not the "main character" in this installment of the series (that nod would have to go to her brother); but her action-heroine chops are so solid that I had to include her. (Anyone who challenges her right to be listed has to face her in a six-gun duel.... :-) )
Werner wrote: "Over on our new-for-this-year 2022 challenge thread, I've just added Avenging Angels: The Wine of Violence by "A. W. Hart" (who in this case is actually our own Charles Gramlich). S..."No challenge from me. ;D
I just finished Stars Uncharted. Both POV characters are women. One of them is a fighter and a spaceship engineer. She can use a ship's weapons but also knows how to use various blasters and knives.
After a slow start for 2022 I'm now a bit ahead of my goal with 7 books out of a target of 12. And that's after a couple of disappointments where the the blurb promised an 'action heroine' character who turned out to be anything but. Relatively Risky: The Big Easy Ain't That Easy is a bit of a gray area as the heroine is a librarian with limited martial arts skills. But she uses bicycle. Since she uses it to thwart a car-jacking, and later she crashes a car to take out the bad guy holding her at gunpoint. Seems pretty action-heroine-y to me.
She sounds like an action heroine to me, E.G.! (We librarians have more heroic qualities than people usually give us credit for. :-) )
Werner wrote: "She sounds like an action heroine to me, E.G.! (We librarians have more heroic qualities than people usually give us credit for. :-) )":D
I've blown out my 2022 goal by binge reading C.J. Archer's Ministry of Curiosities series. A blend of Victorian gothic and paranormal romance/Urban fantasy. So I'm increasing my goal from 12 to 18.
Yay; I upped my goal for the year to eight, and I've now met it!
Werner wrote: "Yay; I upped my goal for the year to eight, and I've now met it!"Awesome!
Of course, 2022 isn't over yet. But we're close enough to year's end that I, for one, can say I enjoyed the challenge this year, and the new format which we used for the first time! Are others in the group game to do this again next year? And E.G., since you did such a great job with the 2022 challenge thread itself, can we impose on your good nature to set up another one for 2023?
Werner wrote: "Of course, 2022 isn't over yet. But we're close enough to year's end that I, for one, can say I enjoyed the challenge this year, and the new format which we used for the first time! Are others in t..."I'd be happy to set up a 2023 thread if that works for the group!
I enjoyed the challenge and plan to join in again this year. Thanks!
I liked the new format, too, and I’m going join next year, too.
Blad to hear that, Georgann and Mervi!
Just updated my tracking post: I managed to read 38 action heroine books this year! I got a big boost from two series:Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series -- 11 books
C.J. Archer's Ministry of Curiosities --9 books
E. G., when I went to read your tracking post, I saw that I hadn't finished updating my own post, a lapse which I've now remedied! Of course, this challenge isn't a competition; but if it was, you'd have beaten all the rest of us by a wide margin. :-)
Werner wrote: "E. G., when I went to read your tracking post, I saw that I hadn't finished updating my own post, a lapse which I've now remedied! Of course, this challenge isn't a competition; but if it was, you'..."Binge reading 20 books definitely boosted my total!
Action Heroine Fans
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ilona Andrews (other topics)C.J. Archer (other topics)
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I really liked the first book, Discount Armageddon, in that series but never continued it. Thanks for reminding me!
I decided to add Sleeping Giants as one of my Action Heroine reads. One of the main characters is a US pilot and soldier. The book has an unusual structure; mostly interviews and some reports, which distances readers from the characters and the action but Kara is still a pretty badass character.