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The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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FALL CHALLENGE 2009 Suggestions & Announcement
Potjy wrote: "I steal this from another challenge somewhere on the web:Go to the Random Word Generator
http://watchout4snakes.com/Creativity...
You'll get a random word, then rea..."
I really like this idea.
How about an "open to interpretation" task - something like the opposites task...some kind of wordplay in the title(s), except in this case, approval by Cynthia is not necessary (and if your choices are not obvious, you need to explain)
Get to Know Your Author's Tastes -- select a Goodreads Author, then read a novel off the GA's shelf (one that you haven't read)
The beginning of the fall season is when we hope for and sometimes get those Indian Summer days - Read a book that takes place in summer...or alternatively, read a book that has a Native (from any culture/country) theme.
September 13 is Roald Dahl day - read a book by Roald DahlSeptember 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day - read a book with pirates or piracy as a subject
September 26 is European day of languages - read a book originally published in a different (possibly European) language
September 27 - World Heart Day - read a book with heart, hearts, heartbeat, rhythm, beat in the title
October is Black History Month in the UK - read a book by an African author or about Africa or an African-American etc author or character.
October 4-10 - World Space Week - read a non-fiction or fiction book with a space theme
October 5 - World Teacher's Day - read a book that was recommended to you by a teacher (or is about teaching/ a teacher)
October 8 is National Poetry Day (in the UK) - the theme is heroes and heroines - read a book with a hero or heroine that inspires you and say why
October 21 is Trafalgar Day - read a book set in the 1800s or written in the 1800s
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - read a book with Pink (or a shade of pink: blush, coral, salmon, magenta, rose) in the title or a predominantly pink cover
Kristina
September is also apparently Library Card sign up month - so join a library if you haven't already and read a book you borrow from a library.September is Women of Achievement month - read a biography or autobiography about a woman who has achieved something special / outstanding / a first for women.
September 13th is Grandparents Day - read a book first published the year one of your grandparents was born
Read a book with Fall, Fallen or Falling in the title
September 25th was Christopher Reeve's birthday - read a book about a superhero
September 29th 1829 - Scotland Yard was formed - read a murder mystery
Potjy wrote: "I steal this from another challenge somewhere on the web:Go to the Random Word Generator
http://watchout4snakes.com/Creativity...
You'll get a random word, then rea..."
This is my favorite suggestion so far because it is unique.
Beth(MN) wrote: "I'm in the "can't drink" category too because I'm also expecting a baby, due on 11/06. I love the idea though and could probably make it happen after she's born. Cheers! ;)~"That's MY birthday! Not that babies are every actually born on their due date, but it's a pretty good birthday.
October is family history month - read a book about more than one generation of a familySOS was established as a disaster code - read a novel or non-fiction book about a natural or man-made disaster
October 11th was Eleanor Roosevelt's birthday - read a book by or about a First Lady
For Halloween - read a gothic novel
November 15th - America recycles day - read a book that has been recycled - ie you didn't buy it newBirthstones/flowers - Sapphire, Opal, Tourmaline, Topaz, Aster, Marigold, Chrysanthemum - read a book with one of these in the title or a picture of one on the cover.
If a task is connected with a special day, (say November 15 America recycles day), read the book you have chosen on that day. If you can't read the book all in one day, either plan on starting it or finishing it then. This might be blip in the only one task for a book. You can chose which holiday task you want this to fall on.
Tanja wrote: "Get to Know Your Author's Tastes -- select a Goodreads Author, then read a novel off the GA's shelf (one that you haven't read)"I like this idea!! It sounds like a lot of fun.
Wow! Everyone is really creative. I really liked the task to read a fairy tale retelling, but I would add the requirement to also read the original tale that it came from. It's really interesting to return to where the retelling came from.
OR
Pick a literary award- children's or adult- (Newberry Award, Pulitzer, etc). Pick any year, and read the award winner and one honor book. Let us know if you agree with the decision.
Read Indian Summer by Alex Von Tunzelmann. A historical novel about the division of Indian in 1947.A well knowledged and fair accounting about all sides ie: British, Indian and Muslims.
Read around the World - read 3 books (fiction or non-fiction)that each takes place in a different Continent. You can only travel in one direction (east-west or north-south or vise versa). So, for example, if you started in Europe (Book 1) and went South, you could travel to Africa or India(Asia) or Australia (anywhere that is South of Europe) (Book 2) and from there you might travel to either the South or North Poles (Book 3), from where you would return to Europe (no need to read a 4th book). TEchnically, if you continue around the South Pole, you start to travel North but as long as you only move in one direction and never double back, any 3 Continents will count.
Taste Test: Read a Book with Recipes included (not a cookbook) and either make one of the recipes or post the recipe that sounds the yummiest.
Children are our future--Read a nonfiction book about a child or a group of children.
The Critics are In -- After reading 10 books from the challenges, rate them from 1 to 10 and give reasons why the one book is better than the other.
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder -- Read a book that has a character/plot displaying the pains of maintaining beauty (i.e. footbinding, hours at a salon, $10,000 shopping bill (shopaholics), plastic surgery, cosmetic testing).
Read a Pulitizer Prize winner from the decade you were born.Read a true crime book.
For labor day, read a book about someone who works in a labor type job for a living - i.e. no doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers, etc.
Read a book by one of the authors on the Nobel Prize for Literature list.
The IOC will select the host city for the 2016 summer games on Oct 2. The candidate cities are Tokyo, Chicago, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro. Read a book set in one of these cities or written by an author born or who lived in one of the cities.
I like that Pulitzer suggestion, Tammy.
Arrr, matey! September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day. Read a book with the word "pirate" in the title or with at least one character who is a pirate.
Read a brand new book, one that is being released in Sep, Oct or Nov.
The 2009 Man Booker Prize winner will be announced October 6, 2009. In honor of this award, read one of the books on the 2009 longlist, or a previous Man Booker Prize winner
Kate wrote: "Read a complete trilogy."I really like this idea. Good one Kate!
Jennifer wrote: "Read a brand new book, one that is being released in Sep, Oct or Nov."
I already have a book picked out if that task ends up making the cut. :P
Another take on reading around the world - read a book set in/about/by an author from a country that joined the United Nations in September, October, or November (any year). The complete list:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_N...
Arrrrrrrrrr, pirates, matey!
September ~~First Day of Autumn ~~ Read a book with Autumn Colors in the Title
Apple Month ~~ Read a book with Apple in the title, or a type of apple
Library Card Sign-Up Month ~~ Read a book you check out from the library
Deaf Awareness Week ~~ Read a book with a deaf or hearing-impaired character in it, or a character that works with deaf or hearing-impaired.
Banned Books Week ~~ Read a book or two from the Top 100 Banned Books List and/or one from the Top 10 List for this year
Labor Day ~~ Read a book with a character that has a labor type job. Works outside, uses hand tools, drives big machinery, etc.
International Literacy Day
R.E.A.D. in America Day
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October ~~
Blindness Awareness Month ~~ Read a book with a blind character or someone who works with the blind.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month ~~ Read a book about domestic violence--fiction or non-fiction--adult or YA.
German-American Heritage Month
National Book Month
National Reading Group Month
Teen Read Week ~~ Read a book aimed at Young Adults, 13-18.
Freedom of Speech Week
International Magic Week ~~ Read a book with about magic, witches, wizards, warlocks, sorcerors or with any of those words in the title, or where a character is one of those things.
Leif Erickson Day
Native Americans Day
Halloween
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November ~~
Aviation History Month ~~ Read a book where some type of flight happens. Airplane, hot air balloons, gliders, flying with wings. Or where an accident happens involving these things.
National Life Writing Month
National Novel Writing Month
National Young Readers Week ~~ Read a book aimed at Young Readers, 8-12 and found in the Juvenile or Children's section.
National Authors Day
Cliche' Day ~~ Read a book that has a cliche' or part of a cliche' in the title.
Sadie Hawkin's Day ~~ Read a book where the main character is the opposite sex of you.
Veterans Day
Married to a Scorpio Support Day Using the same list Cynthia made for the Spring Challenge, read a book from that list using not your own, but your spouse, boyfriend, significant other, or best friend's astrological sign.
Cat Days
Thanksgiving
National Day of Listening ~~ Listen to an audiobook or read a book entirely outloud--to yourself or someone else.
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Author born in September, October, and/or November
Read a book that comes out in September, October, and/or November
September, October, and/or November...9, 10, 11...use the numbers one again
2/3 books with words in the title that start with the same letter
Read a play and watch
Title is a question
2/3 books with the same word in the title...at least four letters long
Have a list of favorites from people doing the challenge and read one you haven't read before.
5 star books from winners of the previous challenge.
Read 3 books by different authors whose last names start with S, O, and N.
Read 2/3 books with a one word title, two word title, three word title.
Some of the above suggestions are duplicates, but I left them in to vote for them. :)
And here is a list of suggestions from other people that I liked.
Eternal September---books from a still running series.
Author with same first name.
A book about vampires and/or werewolves that isn't the Twilight Series.
And I absolutely LOVE the Random Word Generator suggestion!!!
November 9th is National Young Readers Day - Read
100 Best Books for Children by Anita Silvey, choose one childrens book and help a child read it to you.
These are my suggestions:5 points
1.About Witches- Read a novel where a witch is the main character
10 points
1. All Hallows Eve- Read a book about a haunting
15 points
1. September 21st, 1980 the UN established the International Day of Peace - Read a book with the word peace on its title.
25 points
1.A feast for thanksgiving- Read a book with a turkey on its cover (fiction or nonfiction, any genre)and read a book about pilgrims(fiction or nonfiction)
Lori (BNPL) I LOVE your list !!!
My favorites are Leif Erickson Day (my Grandson's name) (yes, she really did name him that!)
And married to a Scorpio Day ... although I think they ALL got the better deal !!! LOL
So many great suggestions!
I got Nothin'!
But I do second a "Back to School" Theme: Read a book where the central character is a Student or Teacher. And, "Halloween" Theme: Read a book that features something that scares you! Though I think that this theme should be played on more with "a book where Wiccan's or Druids play a central theme" or "Pick a book that has a historical connotation to Guy Fox", or some historical fiction surrounding what Halloween"... I also like the poetry idea, but only because I love to read a book of poems from time to time...
I got Nothin'!
But I do second a "Back to School" Theme: Read a book where the central character is a Student or Teacher. And, "Halloween" Theme: Read a book that features something that scares you! Though I think that this theme should be played on more with "a book where Wiccan's or Druids play a central theme" or "Pick a book that has a historical connotation to Guy Fox", or some historical fiction surrounding what Halloween"... I also like the poetry idea, but only because I love to read a book of poems from time to time...
Nostalgia: Read a book that you loved when you were a kid. Post your impressions after reading the book now, versus your memories of it.
Read two books that have the same title. Be sure to list authors. (Don't worry about the subtitles.)
...at Married to Scorpio Day...uuuuuuuh...can't do that one ;_;
Day of the Dead - Read a book that was unfinished at the author's death and/or finished by someone else or otherwise published posthumously.
Read a book from the New York Times Bestseller list. Must be on the list at the time of the read.
Fall is traditionally the beginning of the theater season. Read a play.
Donna Jo wrote: "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 o..."
Have mercy on those of us that graduated from high school before you were born. I remember books that I liked from high school but none that I didn't like or that I skipped reading.
Fall back... Time change. Read a book about time travel.Or read a book with time, clock, daylight, savings, or hour in the title.
Heather in KS
For some reason I was inspired by October birthdays.Oct. 2, 1949: Annie Leibovitz - read a book with a cover that is a photograph
Oct. 2, 1869: Mahatma Gandhi - read a book set in India
Oct. 5, 1975: Kate Winslet - read a book that was the basis for a movie in which Kate Winslet had a role
Oct. 16, 1962: Flea (bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers) - read a book with an insect in the title
Oct. 30, 1821: Fyodor Dostoevsky - read a book by a Russian author or set in Russia
Read a book with a average Good Reads rating above a 4.00.
Lori (BNPL) wrote: "September ~~First Day of Autumn ~~ Read a book with Autumn Colors in the Title
Apple Month ~~ Read a book with Apple in the title, or a type of apple
Library Card Sign-Up Month ~~ Read a ..."
Great ideas Lori! I particularly like the banned books one!
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)
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Banned Books Week Sept 27 to Oct 4 Read a book from the most challenged book list http://www.bookspot.com/lists/mostcha...
October is Positive Attitude Month Read a self-help book
November is National Inspirational Role Model Month Read a book about one of your role models and give a short description of why they are your role model