The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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FALL CHALLENGE 2009 Suggestions & Announcement
Can we post suggestions here or wait for the link?
OOPS Maybe that wasn't clear...suggestions should go in this post...the link to the new group will be posted once I've decided on the new tasks...so sometime near the end of August.
Location, location,location: read two books by two contemporaneous authors set in the same place, i.e. Old New York by Edith Wharton and Washington Square by Henry James or Club Dead by Charlaine Harris and The Appeal by John Grisham
Columbus Day (second Monday in October) - read a travel memoir or a book (fiction or non-fiction) of geographic discovery.
The football season kicks off after Labor Day. Read a fiction or non-fiction book about the sport or someone who plays it.
School's in session, read a non-fiction book.Along the lines of Halloween, read a book with witch, ghost, vampire, monster, or werewolf etc. in the title.
Back to school shopping, read a book about economics or about shopping.
Read a book about your worst subject in school. I.e. mine was math so I'd read Zero The Biography of a Dangerous Idea.
The Feline Strikes Back - read a book about cat or has the word cat or name (s) of other felines (not the breeds of domestic cats - that would be too easy) in the title.YAY! Feel so gooooood! I've waited to type this since the day I saw that dog task! haha!
In Honor of Halloween- Read a collection or compilation of Ghost Stories (min 150 pgs)Back to School- Read a book where the main character is a student
November 1st is National Family Literacy Day- Read a book recommended to you by a family member.Nomvember 4th is National Men Make Dinner Day- read a book about a "Mr. Mom" or a single father.
November 6th is Sadie Hawkins Day- Sadie Hawkins was a character from the L'il Abner comic strip. In honor of her, read a graphic novel.
November 21-27 is National Adoption week- read a book about adoption OR where the main character is/has/will adopt a child/animal, OR where the main character IS adopted
Another back to school task (I'm terribly unoriginal) - reread a novel you studied in high school.Oktoberfest takes place in late October - Read a book by a German author/set in Germany.
Jet Setting--Read a book set in, about, or by an author from each of the six inhabited continents--extra points for a book about or set in the Antarctic.Or a less ambitious task: Spring has Sprung south of the equator read a book set in, about, or by an author from each of the southern continents-Africa, South America and Australia.
Read a book by a Russian author or a book set in Russia or based upon a historical Russian figure.
November 11 is the anniversary of the end of WWI and is Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada. December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day. Read a book set during a war or about a veteran (fiction or nonfiction).
Read a translated book. i.e. if you are reading a book in English, the book was originally written in another language and has been translated to English.
In honor of F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthday (September 24th) read a book by him or any other influential American writer of the early 20th century.Useful website to locate them: http://pip.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/amlitchr...
Read a book with orange, red, yellow, gold, or brown cover, the colours of leaves in fall.
6 Oct - Man Booker prize 2009. Read a previous winner of the Booker prize or one on this year's longlist (to be announced 28 July)http://www.themanbookerprize.com/priz...
And if we do the Spring is Sprung task above can we make it Australasia, rather than just Australia? Don't forget New Zealand and the Pacific Islands!
In honour of the Eternal Septemberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_...
(which I don't understand a bit, but it sounds cool, eh?)
Read one or two book(s) from a still-running series.
SeptembER, OctobER, NovembER: This is the only challenge where all of the months end in ER - in honor of the fall challenge, read a book that has a word ending in "-ER" in its title. Examples A River Runs Through It, In Her Shoes
For the leaf peepers out there, read a book set in the Northeast-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont etc.
October is the National Arts & Humanities Month in the US - read a book about artist or art other than literature.Third Thursday of November is UNESCO's International Philosophy Day - read a philosophy book (I'm so sadistic haha!), book about philosopher (both fiction and non-fiction, real or fictional philosopher)
3 October of this year is the day of Mid-Autumn Festival in China and Vietnam, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autu... , but I don't what we should do with it.
Read a book that has the word chess or name of a chess piece. (King, queen, rook, knight, bishop, pawn)
Banned Books Week is the last week in September. Read one book from the Top 100 Challenged Books 1990-1999 list:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...
and
Read one book from the Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe 100 (According to the Office for Intellectual Freedom, at least 42 of the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century have been the target of ban attempts. The titles in bold represent banned or challenged books) : http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy...
Read a book with something to do with trees in the title, e.g. leaf, branch, twig, tree, or a type of tree30th November is St Andrews Day - read a book set in Scotland or by a Scottish author
Read a book whose author shares the same first name as you.
Big and small - read the longest and the shortest books on your bookshelves
October is Childrens Book Month - re-read a book you loved as a child.
It´s not a task suggestion, but a general suggestion... Maybe we should think tasks with only one book. Of course the tasks for 30 point should be harder but 3 books in only one task is sad :(
Thanksgiving is in the fall. Read a book where the plot involves Thanksgiving.
September 18th is this year (the hebrew/jewish holidays move because of the moon)the Jewish New Year called Rosh A' Shana. How about to read a book with a jewish/Israeli character or by an jewish/Israeli author
Agatha Christie, the "Queen of Mystery," was born September 15, 1890 - read a mystery novel by a woman writer.
Edgar Allan Poe died October 7th, 1849. Read a collection of his poems or a biography about him.
Read a book where the title contains the name of an article of clothing. For back to school read a book that takes place at a school.
For you Cynthia - read a book by an author with the name Cynthia or a book that has a Cynthia character.
Read a book in a genre that you normally don't read from.
Since we don't don't have a major election to follow this season read a book about a real or fictional politician or about a real political event or issue.
September 13th is National Grandparents Day... read a book that somehow deals with a grandparent or a grandparent type figure. I generally remain pretty quiet on the TNBBC forums, but I definitely am a lurker and I LOVE the challenges! I am on board for your separate group! :) I can't imagine how long it takes for you to personally answer all the questions that fly your way, and always so promptly - great job!
Here are is some info from Wikipedia on holidays and observances in September, October, and November. This in no means is a complete list, just some of the things I thought would make good ideas for challenges.September
3rd Monday - Respect for the Aged Day (Japan)
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct15)
First Sunday after Labor Day - Grandparents Day
Sept 5 - Teacher's Day (India)
Sept 7 - Brazil Independence Day
Sept 9 - Statehood Hero Day (Alaksa - birthday of small town hero Quinn Bennett)
Sept 11 - Patriot Day
Sept 16 - Mexico Independence Day
Sept 16 - National Heroes Day (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Sept 18 - Chile Independence Day
Sept 19 - Saint Kitts and Nevis Independence Day
Sept 24 - Heritage Day (South Africa)
Birthstone - sapphire
Flower - aster or morning glory
October
Filipino American History Month (United States)
National Arts & Humanities Month (United States)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Italian American History Month
Polish American History Month
Health Literacy Month
First Week of October - Children's Book Week(England)
Second Monday - Thanksgiving (Canada)
Second Monday - Health and Sports Day (Japan)
Second Monday - Columbus Day
Oct 1 - National Day (China)
Oct 1 - Cyprus Independence Day
Oct 1 - Nigeria Independence Day
Oct 2 - International Day of Non-Violence
Oct 3 - German Unity Day
Oct 5 - Proclamation of Portuguese Republic
Oct 5 - International World Teachers' day
Oct 6 - Nigeria Independence Day
Oct 8 - Croatia Independence Day
Oct 12 - National Day of Spain (Discovery of America)
Oct 16 - World Food Day
Oct 21 - Apple Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Day)
Oct 24 - United Nations Day
Oct 27 - Navy Day (United States)
Oct 31 - Halloween
Birthstone - opal
Flower - calendula
November
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
National Novel Writing Month
American Diabetes Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Homeless Youth Awareness Month
3rd Wednesday - GIS Day is held the 3rd Wednesday of November during Geography Awareness Week.
3rd Thursday - The Great American Smokeout sponsored by the American Cancer Society occurs on the third Thursday of November, one week before Thanksgiving. Smokers are encouraged to quit smoking for these 24 hours, in hopes that they will quit forever.
3rd Thursday - International Philosophy Day
4th Thursday - Thanksgiving
Day After Thanksgiving - "Black Friday"
Monday immediately following Thanksgiving Day in the USA - Cyber Monday (kick-off of online holiday shopping)
Birthstone - yellow topaz
Flower - chrysanthemum
It is quite common for some males in Australia (especially in the city of Melbourne), and New Zealand to sport a moustache during the month of November. The custom being known as Movember (Movember is a portmanteau of the words 'Moustache' and 'November'.), and being a fundraising event for men's health issues. One's fashionable appearance often comes second to the calling of Movember. A similar observance in the United States, called No Shave November, involves a full beard as opposed to a mustache.
Nov 1 - All Saints' day
Nov l - First Day of Winter (Ireland)
Nov 1 - Adoption Day
Nov 2 - el Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - Mexico
Nov 5 - Britain and New Zealand celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot, on November 5.
Nov 11 - Remembrance Day (Europe) / Veterans Day
Nov 14 - Children's Day - India
Nov 19 - Discovery to the Eastern World of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus
Nov 19 - International Men's Day
Nov 20 - Día de la Revolución, (Mexico)
Nov 30 - St Andrew's Day (Scotland)
Read a book that has a major character who is a librarian or works in a library.
1. Read at least 120 pages of graphic novels--this can be all one, or several, which need not be a series. 2. Read a book of at least 300 pages that would qualify for at least two other tasks in this challenge. You can't ACTUALLY use it for those tasks; it just must be possible. Please list the two other task numbers in parenthesis after the title so you don't confuse Cynthia.
3. Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, about a health issue or disease.
4. Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, about a trek or long journey. This can be anything from Jean Auel's Plains of Passage to Lewis & Clark--any trip long and difficult--the trip, not the book.)
5. Since it is Fall, read a book about a fall: literal or symbolic--anything from The Dive from Clausen's Pier to Milton's Paradise Lost. (Well, that might not be long enough.)
6. Read a fiction or nonfiction book featuring some type of handcraft or art and then do a small project using that craft. Tell us what that project is, or show a picture. (However, if it involves carving a gun from a bar of soap, do not put it to practical use.)
7. Read a book that measures at least 10 inches tall by 9 inches wide (25 cm x 22 cm). Either measurement can be more, but not less.
8. Read an adult book written from a child's point of view (up to age 12). No YA books for this, please.
9. In honor of Halloween, read a book written from a dead person's point of view (or from Death's point of view).
10. With tree leaves turning color, read a book with either Red, Orange, Yellow, or Brown in the title.
11. Read a book with the name of a tree in the title.
12. Marie Sklodowska Curie was born November 7, 1867. Read a fiction or nonfiction book about a woman scientist.
13. Pick any country other than your own and read one fiction and one nonfiction work about it. Also read a biography of someone from that country, for a three book total. (An extra 5 points if the country is not USA, England, France, Germany, Japan, or China--Sorry Cynthia, I just had to put that in, it's not true.)
14. Pick a multigeneraltional family series of at least three books, and read at least two books from it. Am attaching a list of possibles, but others are not excluded. Series must contain at least three books and three generations.
15. Read a fiction or nonfiction book about Ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, China, India. (before 1000 AD)
16. Read a book about football, soccer, or rugby.
17. Read an adult book that takes place in a school. No YA books.
18. Read a book of humorous poetry. At least 75 pages please.
19. Because it is harvest time in the Northern Hemisphere, read a book that takes place primarily on a farm.
20. Read a book with the name of an apple variety in the title, i.e., Jonathan, Delicious, Northern Spy, Fuji, McIntosh, etc. A list to start with: http://www.naturalhub.com/grow_fruit_cul...
21. Read a fiction book about a fall holiday. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, make it a spring holiday.
Some of these were also recommended by others; I didn't edit those out.22. In view of the economic slump, read a financial self-help book.
23. Brothers & Sisters first aired on September 24, 2006. Read a book featuring a brother/sister relationship.
24. I enjoyed reading books from three different centuries--do it again, but pick your own centuries. They need not be adjacent.
25. I have way too much time on my hands, so read a book featuring time travel
26. Pick an unfishished task from the last three challenges and do it. If you have finished all three challenges, repeat the hardest one for you to do.
27. Read a book from Roseann's list.
28. Read a entire book in bed. (Need not be done at one whack. Extra points if joined by the cat--since I don't own a cat, no extra points for me.)
29. Urban renewal--Choose a book with the name of a city in the title.
30. All Saints Day--Read a biography of a good person--someone who has tried to make a difference for the better in the world.
31. Look at your own list of books on GR and re-read a five star book.
32. Read a children's book (age level 8-12, or grades 3-6)of at least 100 pages that has won a major national award. If your country gives awards to children's books, feel free to use from that list--please list country and name of the award. Below is site to some English-speaking nations. You pick from whatever country you wish. http://www.dawcl.com/awards.html
33. September 7 is U.S. Labor Day--read a book where the hero or heroine is a blue collar worker.
34. Read a classic that was originally written in a language other than your native language. You can read a translation if you wish.
I think a good one would be is to read a barnes and nobels classic book.
April: "Read a book about your worst subject in school. I.e. mine was math so I'd read Zero The Biography of a Dangerous Idea."-Ahh I love math, and loved that book!! How about if we read a book about our worst subject AND Best subject!!
oh my god. I am getting nervous for the challenge already...lol
A little tweak - read three books from three different decades of a century.
Read a book by author who was given the Goodreads exclusive interview.http://www.goodreads.com/interviews
Fall = hurricane season. Read a fiction/nonfiction book about a natural disaster and/or its aftermath.
Never did a challenge before so throwing some thoughts out there 1) Read a book by an author born in Sept, Oct, Nov
2) read a book fiction or non fiction, involving Labor day
3) Halloween book, gothic or subject matter is witches, vampires, monsters, etc
4) read a classic that would be on an honors or classic english high school class
5) columbus day, fiction or non fiction about the founding of our country or the years around 1492
6) Veterans day, book on a war in America or america fought in
7) book with fall or autumn theme
8) book with red, orange, yellow in name or the cover is those colors
9)read a Christmas book to get you in the mood
10) Oktoberfest german book
11) cookbook for cold winter, like casseroles, stews, soups
12http://www.indiebookawards.com/2009_w...
13 with the new tv shows, books adapted to tv OR books based on tv shows
14) book made into a movie tv show could be canceled or no longer on air
15http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/awa... Various awards for adult books covers many genres
16 book on back to school, related to school,
17 biography on an educator teacher or person who changed the world
18 historical fiction set in the fall months
19 read a book with the author last name S (september) O (october) N (november)
20 thanksgiving theme
21 Jewish book, for the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, on Yom Kippur,
22 book on/about Sept 11
23Hershey was born in Sept, book on candy, chocolate
24grandma moses born in sept
25 ron dahl birthday in sept
26 constitution day in sept
27 johnny appleseed birthday in sept
harriet tubman birthday in sept
28 sept is national native american month, hispanic month, save the tiger and honey
29 noah webster birthday, maybe check out a dictionary or learn and share 3 unusaul words
30 united nations day oct
31 Statue of librety dedicated in oct
Oct is Computer Learning Month
Hunger Awareness Month
Month of the Dinosaurs
National Popcorn Popping Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Clock Month
32 sweetest day in OCt
33 November is recycle month, book on green techonology, preserving the earth, enviroment gardening etc
34 John F kennedy in nov
35 November is NOVEMBER IS...
Aviation History Month
Peanut Butter Lovers Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
36 football is big in fall
37 Nov 4 is election day in many places in US
38 fathers day is celebrated in Austraila in Sept
39 sept 19 is pirates day
40 set 22 is diary day
Two suggestions...1. Read a book with a 'fall' type word in the title - September, October, November, leaves (or other variations), Thanksgiving, Autumn, Halloween, etc.
2. In honour of Thanksgiving in the U.S., read a book (fiction or non-fiction) about, or set in, Plymouth Colony.
Just thought of another one...Choose an author you've never read before and read two books by that author - his/her first book published and his/her most recent.
JUst a few more I forgot to transfer yesterday.35. Read a book by candlelight, flashlight, torch, kerosene lamp, or some other means of illumination than electricity or sunlight.
36. Join an online or Second Life book discussion for an evening.
37. Read a book you enjoy and talk to someone about it, either in person, by phone, or by computer. People on this Challenge do not qualify as your audience. It can be a relative or coworker.
38. Read a book that has been made into a movie and point out three ways that they differ and three ways they are alike.
39. Read a book with recipes (need not be a cook book per se) and cook one of the recipes. If you checked out the book from a library, take a sample to share with the librarian.
40. Read a fiction or nonfiction featuring horses.
41. Read a fiction or nonfiction featuring a doctor, nurse, or other medical personnel.
And now I'm done.
In honor of school starting, read a book you either were supposed to read in high school and did not, or reread one that you read in high school and disliked, to see if time changed your perspective. Read a book, short story, and poem that share a common word in the title.
Read a Book with a single letter as one of the words in the title. (example: The Story of B An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit, D is for Deadbeat, Q & A
In honor of Halloween, read a book that features something that you are scared of.
Read a second book by an author you read and disliked. Post a review - was it the author or the book?
~ National Poetry Day is October 8th - read a book of poetry. It can be a complilation of poets or all one poet.~(I know this is cheesy, but oh well...) The Twilight Saga: New Moon will be released in theaters on November 20th - read a book about vampires or werewolves that is NOT a part of the Twilight series.
Its back to school time for teachers too. Read a fiction or nonfiction book about a teacher.
Read a book that doesn't have any article (a, an, the) in the title.or
Read a book that doesn't have neither article nor preposition in the title.
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Still Alice (other topics)The Sound and the Fury (other topics)
The Lovely Bones (other topics)
The Blind Assassin (other topics)
A Separate Peace (other topics)
More...
And secondly I wanted to make a little announcement. Let me start off by saying that Lori, our fearless leader, has been really amazing and supportive of my little challenge and I want to thank her for that. That being said, I have decided that due to it's popularity and the numbers of participants it just makes more sense to have a separate group for The Seasonal Challenge itself. So in fact this summer challenge will be the last I post directly here in TNNBC. This way I will be able to implement some the things that players have indicated they would like - i.e. separate posts for questions and task lists etc. which was not really practical here.
Right now the group is set as secret so you can't join just yet - but I will be posting the link in plenty of time for the next challenge - as soon as I have at least the initial tasks decided (the 5/10/15 pointers) I will open the group up to the public.
I can't wait to see what ideas you come up with for fall and hope I'll see everyone in the new group!!!!