Pass The Parcel Round 7 - THEME ANNOUNCED IN Q&A

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

PASS THE PARCEL - Round 7


Start date - 9 September
Sign up - now through to Friday 2 September 9pm US EST
Teams assigned by 2 September after sign ups close
Last theme call - 18 November


If you sign up for this challenge, you must be prepared to:
* Read roughly one book each week
* Post your selected book BEFORE the next theme is called, or you will be eliminated
* Technically be able to put links to other threads/bookshelves/lists, and insert book links or book covers in your posts. (These are not difficult but you MUST be able to do these links; they don't have to look pretty, but they do need to go to the intended location)
* Follow the format for the selection and completion posts.


PLEASE READ THE RULES OF THE CHALLENGE CAREFULLY.

I AM GOING TO MUCH TOUGHER THIS ROUND.

IF YOU HAVEN'T POSTED EACH WEEK WITHIN THE TIMELINES ABOVE AND YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY TOLD TEAM-MATES OR A MODERATOR - no quesstions - YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM YOUR TEAM and the challenge.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

This is a team challenge to encourage members to meet new friends and find new books.



PLEASE READ EVERY LINE OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS

I will be referring members back to this post if you ask me something already outlined here.


For this challenge we will have teams of roughly 6 players. The group will nominate a team captain who will track the completion of books for their team and remind their fellow team-members about compliance to the rules. Teams will be allocated before the reading starts. This will be done randomly by me :)


Members signing up need to be prepared TO READ APPROXIMATELY ONE BOOK EACH WEEK.


Each week a theme will be randomly selected from the list posted in msg 4. This theme will be posted in the Discussion/Q&A thread between 6pm and 9pm US EST each Friday.


Each member in the group has the following options:

1. Read a book that matches the theme (the parcel)

OR

2. Select a book from the 'READ' list of a team-mate that they read in the last 6 months AND that the team-mate rated at least 3 stars. (This essentially passing on a recommendation.)
If the book is in a series but does not match where you are up to, you may read another book from that same series.

OR

3. 'Pass' on reading a book that week.


BUT each team member can only select #3 once each 5 (five) weeks. AND each team may only have ONE person 'passing' for the round each week. It is up to the team as to how they manage a 'pass'. (Yes - this means that one or two team-mates per group can't claim a pass in a 5 week block.)

Each team member must post their selection (option 1, 2 or 3) in the week that the theme is announced. Please follow the format provided in msg 3. You can only change your book selection in this initial week. So choose carefully.

Each team member must return to their team thread and post a short review of the book that they read. This review should be enough to indicate that the member DID read the book. A couple of sentences is sufficient. "I liked it" is not.

Key information is required in both the selection and completion posts. Please ensure that you and your team-mates follow the format set out in msg 3 below. You and your Captain cannot claim to have completed your book until the post holds all the required information.


This challenge will run for 11 weeks. The winning team is the one that completes the challenge first; they win bragging rights :) No-one can use the 'pass' option in the last week of the challenge.


Rules:
* Each team member MUST post their selected book into their team thread each week or they will be removed from the challenge. It isn't fair on your team-mates if you are not committed to participant each week.
* You MUST post your selected book in the week of the announced category. If you miss selecting your book (or pass) in that week, you will be removed from the challenge. The only exception is if you have contacted your team, team captain or one of the Mods with a valid reason. The decision to not remove you is solely up to me.
* You can only change your nominated theme book in the week that the theme is announced. You CANNOT change your book once a new theme is announced.
* '5 weeks' will be counted in blocks of five, with a new count starting in week 6.
* No-one can use the 'pass' option in the last week of the challenge.
* To qualify for a theme, the book's eligibility must be apparent in the title or the goodreads summary (anywhere on the book's goodreads page will count), or must appear on another GR member's shelves appropriately and transparently entitled. The source of the eligibility must be specified at the time of the book selection. Refer to the Q&A thread for more clarification on this rule.
* You can change your nominated book only during the week that it's theme is called.
* Books must be at least 100 pages in length.
* Anthologies and bundled books are fine, but you must read the full set.
* You must quote the page numbers for your selected book each week. Please quote the goodreads page numbers (any edition of the book is fine).
* The 'series' rule for Option 2 only applies to Option 2. The same book can be used under option 2 for multiple weeks so long as that book remains within the 6 month timeframe.


Important!!! If a team member falls behind by more than 2 books then they WILL be removed from the challenge. The team who loses that member will continue with the lower number of team-mates. This rule is to ensure that ALL participants are committed to their team and the challenge.

IMPORTANT:
In the last week of the challenge, Option 2 will be altered. Book selections under option 2 will have to be taken from a different team's members' bookshelves. I will allocate the teams out on posting the final theme (week 11).

For example (and this allocation will be randomly done on the day of the last theme call)
Option 2 for Team 1 must come from the bookshelves of Team 4.


******

For those of you who didn't play this growing up, a 'parcel' is passed from one person to another. ...When setting this game up, a prize (or 'gift') is wrapped in a large number of layers of wrapping paper. Smaller prizes may be placed between some or all other layers of wrapping.

During the game, music is played as the parcel is passed around. Whoever is holding the parcel when the music stops removes one layer of wrapping and claims any prize found under that layer. The music is then restarted and the game continues until every layer is removed and the main prize claimed.

This is the RRRC version of the game with a few more options and rules than we may remember from our childhood ;)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Key selection and completion post information. You must have ALL elements in your book posts.


For the initial selection post Option 1 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please insert a link to the qualifying bookshelf/list.
If the theme is based off the bookcover or a letter in the title etc, please just repeat the theme.

For the initial selection post Option 2 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.



For the completion post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review


Please DO NOT CHAT in these selction/completion posts. It needs to be super clear.

If you 'waffle' about your decided book - please REPOST your selection once you decide. DO NOT go back and edit your waffling post.

IF YOU NEED TO CORRECT A POST FOR MISSING INFORMATION or because the didn't qualify etc, please REPOST this inforamtion in a NEW post. I don't want to have to keep going backwards in the thread.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

THEMES

We have a theme for this round - Walt Disney! The themes are based around Walt, and your team names should reflect the theme.

Books must be selected from the lists provided if I don't have "(stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf)". Where I have noted "(stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf)", if a book is chosen from one of the optional lists, it is automatically approved.

If you think that the book may struggle to meet the stated theme requirement then I'm likely to think the same thing and NOT allow it :)


1. Disneyland: The Happiest Homecoming on Earth - read a book with a child/children as a central character (NOT main character)
Best Gay Books Dealing With Children
Single Fathers of Romance / Great Family Men
Children in Romance
Best Romance with Children Characters
Historical Romance with Children in the Plot
Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy books with Kids (NOT YA)

2. Mickey, Pluto and Donald - read a book with pets in the storyline
Favourite Romances with Pets
Romances with pets or animals in them
Dogs: Great Pets in Romance
Cats: Wonderful Pets in Romance
Gay men with pets

3. Title starts with the letter "D"

4. Disney on Ice - read a book set in winter (stated in precis or shown on listopia or shelf)
Optional lists:
Best Gay Winter'ish Holiday Romance
MM Christmas books
Best Seasonal Romance Christmas Winter
Contemporary Christmas Winter Romance

5. It's a Small World - read a book set in a small country ~ less than 1 million square kms or 600,000 square miles.
For how the book qualifies, state the chosen book's country area.
Hint: this excludes Australia, India, Canada and USA, but UK, Japan and most European countries qualify.
Check here if you aren't sure: List of countries by area

6. Book with a colourful cover (at least 4 colours)

7. Walt Disney started his company on 16 October 1923 - read a book published in October of any year

8. Walt Disney died 15 December 1966 - read a book where its stated number of pages on GR repeats a number eg 112 pages, 200 pages or 303 pages etc.

9. Mickey Mouse is his most loved/famous character. Though originally characterized as a mischievous antihero, Mickey was rebranded over time as an everyman, usually seen as a flawed, but adventurous hero - read a book about a hero/heroine on an adventure (stated in the precis or shelved 'adventure'); or a beta/sweet hero from the lists below:
Best Romantic Beta Heroes
Imperfect Heroine Hot Hero Contemporary Romance
Chubby Quirky Geeky Shy Plain Girls in Paranormal Romance
Books with sweet MM relationships (bromance and more)

10. Disney started in California - read a book based in California

11. Disneyland loves rides - read a book with a road trip
Best Road Trip Gay Romance
Best Road Trip Romance Novels MF
Overland: Road Trips in Historical Romance
Drive: Best Paranormal Road Romances
Popluar Road Trip Books

12. Disney's early films were cartoon - read a book with a drawn/painted cover. (ie, not a photograph or a stylised photo)

13. Mousekateers are part of Disney's team - read a book where close friends, close family is a key theme.
Gay Romance where the MC's Friends are Their Real Family
Books with Close Siblings
Best Brotherhood

14. Disney World opened in Florida in 1971 - read a book set on a beach, is a great beach read or set in one of the Disney parks.
Gay Beach Summery Reads
Best Beach Reads 2013
Beach Reads Mysteries Thrillers
Fiction books set in Disney theme parks

15. Walt Disney died of lung cancer - read a book with illness, sickness
Best Gay Couple in Health and In Sickness
In Sickness and in Health: Romance Novels that deal with Illness
Nurse Themed Romance Novels
OMG You Almost DIED: MM with hospital scenes
OMG You Almost Died: Straight Edition
Climatic or Romantic Suspense: Villain Stalker, Fight to the Death, Hero/Heroine is attacked, almost killed, fight scene or almost die (Geez - what a long title!)

16. Disney's films won 22 academy awards - read a book with an actor/actress (stated in precis or shown on listopia or shelf)
Optional lists:
Hollywood Romance Novels
Romance with Actors/Actresses/Acting
Actor and Actresses in Category Romance
MM actors shelf

17. Disney was a shy, self-deprecating and insecure man in private - read a book from the nerds/geeks lists:
Books With Nerdy, Geeky or Genius Heroes and Heroines
Brainy Genius Romantic Heroes
Nerdgasms
Best Gay Romance with Bookish Nerdy Geeky Characters
Nerdy Geeky Heroines of Romance Novels

18. Theme park staff etc all wear uniforms - MC in some kind of uniform (Cop, military, doctor and etc)
Best Small Town Cop Sheriff Romance Novels
Military Romance and Fiction
Doctor Medical Romance Heroes
In Uniform
Gay Uniforms

19. Disney's characters and movies generally epitomise innocence - Read a book from our virginal heroes lists:
Virgin hero!
#VIRGIN HEROES#
Books with Virgin Heroes
Best Gay "Virginal" Characters

20. "Disney" as a word says everything you need to know. Read a book that is a stand alone story. It must not be part of a series even if reviewers/authors say it can be a stand alone.



Feel free to add books to lists that you KNOW qualify for the theme. Please DO NOT add books that you are not certain comply with the list requirements.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Sign ups

Captains denoted with *

Shannon/Wckdktty
*Lisa (mooselover) but I always think of as Pres :)
*Stealthilicious Stacie
LaurLa
*Carmen (Captain if needed :)
*Calila
Katie
Tammie (Cap if absolutely needed)
*Amy (green fairy)
Kait
MountainKat
Poongothai
ThatEzi
Becky
Krista
Emelie
Shannon (pokey)
Katherine
~Melissa~
Sassafrass
Grace
Elizabeth
Linda C
Krissy
* ❀~Amy~❀
Camille
Nicole
Sunshine
Tink Magoo
*Pam
KathyD
Rachel C
Zorina
KarenH
Glee
Becky Bookworm
Runell
Skandia
Shelby
I.M.
Breann
Emily
Caipi
Sandy

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Teams allocated

Team 1
Captain: Carmen
KathyD
Grace
Shannon/Wckdktty
Zorina
Kait

Team 2
Captain: ❀~Amy~❀
Shelby
Sassafrass
Katie
I.M.
Rachel C

Team 3
Captain: Calila
Sunshine
Krissy
Poongothai
Caipi
~Melissa~

Team 4
Captain: Stacie
Emelie
ThatEzi
Shannon (pokey)
Emily
Becky Bookworm
KarenH

Team 5
Captain: Pam
Tammie
MountainKat
Becky ~fibrobabe
Runell
Sandy

Team 6
Captain: Amy (greenfairy)
LaurLa
Katherine
Linda C
Glee
Camille

Team 7
Captain: Lisa
Breann
Krista
Elizabeth
Skandia
Nicole
Wax

Team 8
Captain: ??
megan **book slayer**
Jane
Katherine (KatKattrinn)
Megan
Ladybug
Logan


Alternates

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

If you are happy to be a Captain, please let me know in your sign up post.

I'd really appreciate that bit of extra help from anyone who is happy to take on this fairly minor role :D

[Shannon]

I am in. Not interested in being a captain this round cause I am pretty busy,

Shannon/Wckdktty

[Lisa]

Im in.
Will captain.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Understand Shannon :)

Thanks Lisa!!

[Stacie]

I'm in!! I can maybe captain?

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Note - I'm still working on the themes/lists. I will probably finalise them over the weekend.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Stealthilicious Stacie wrote: "I'm in!! I can maybe captain?"

Champ! Thanks Stacie :D

[LaurLa]

Oh!!! I love what you've done here! This looks like even more fun than usual!!! I am definitely in!!!

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

OMG so glad I didn't miss it this time. I've been keeping an eye out for this challenge everyday. Woohoo I'm in! :)

Don't mind being captain if needed.

[Calila]

I love the theme Jane!

In, and I'll captain.

[Katie]

I'm in!

[Tammie]

I'm in!
Prefer not to captain, but can if you don't have enough...thanks!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

!!Welcome back everyone!!

[GreenFairy]

Oh oh oh! I'm in again.

Jane, if you need a captain, you know I will step up for you.

[Kaity]

I'm in!
This will be my first time playing so I don't wish to be a captain :P Maybe next time.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I am so in! And you know I love that theme Jane!! =P

[Poongothai]

I'm in

[Ezi]

I'm in

[Becky]

I'm in! I'm a total Disneyphile, so this will be even more fun than usual!

If you're looking for more themes, what about books that are set in the parks? I found a short list, mostly YA, I think. I know of two romances set in the park that aren't on the list, just off the top of my head. If the group applied our combined knowledge of romance, I bet we could come up with a reasonable list, too.

Fiction books set in Disney theme parks

[Krista]

Sign me up, please!

[Emeli]

Im in and i am so exited i love disney and no to captain

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Amy wrote: "Oh oh oh! I'm in again.

Jane, if you need a captain, you know I will step up for you."

Thanks Amy!!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "I am so in! And you know I love that theme Jane!! =P"

Don't I know it!! You would spend every day there if allowed I think Kat :D

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Becky wrote: "I'm in! I'm a total Disneyphile, so this will be even more fun than usual!

If you're looking for more themes, what about books that are set in the parks? I found a short list, mostly YA, I think. ..."

Thanks Becky - I'll have a look :)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Becky wrote: "I'm in! I'm a total Disneyphile, so this will be even more fun than usual!

If you're looking for more themes, what about books that are set in the parks? I found a short list, mostly YA, I think. ..."

I've added one book that I remember the MCs visited Disneyland/world. Be great if more can be added! - I'll add your list to the 'beach' theme, adding 'or set in one of the parks'. It can be a work in progress :D

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Jane (PS) wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "I am so in! And you know I love that theme Jane!! =P"

Don't I know it!! You would spend every day there if allowed I think Kat :D"

Oh, I'd need to take a day off now and then! Otherwise when would I read. =)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "I am so in! And you know I love that theme Jane!! =P"

Don't I know it!! You would spend every day there if allowed I think Kat :D"

Oh, I'd need to take a day..."

Lunchtime? :D

[Shannon]

Me, Me, Me!! I'm IN, pretty please.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Jane (PS) wrote: "Lunchtime? :D "

Well, there is that...

[Katherine]

I'd like to try this, it sounds fun! :)

[~Melissa~]

I'm in - first time player so 'no' to captain.

[Becky]

I thought of a few more possible themes based on popular Disney rides and attractions, if you're still putting the list together.

Mainstreet USA- stories set in a small town (not necessarily in the US)
Main Street: Small Town Contemporary Romance
Best Small Town Romance
MM Romance Based in a Small Town

The Hall of Presidents- MC holds or is running for public office, could also include inherited titles like prince or princess, head of a clan or tribe, or is active in the House of Lords
Political Romance Novels
Best M/M Political Romance
Election! Politician Heroes and Heroines of Romance
Franchised: Politician Heroines and Heroes in Historical Romance

Disney Princesses- stores based on fairytales
Beauty and the Beast
Best Gay Cinderfellas
Fairytale - Clean romances
Best Romance Novel Fairy Tale Retelling

The Haunted Mansion- ghost stories or stories set in an old, run down house/mansion/castle
Best Gay Ghosts
Ghostly Romance
Spirits Of Love-Matchmaking Ghosts, Lost Loves, And Ghostly Lovers
Lesbian Ghost Stories

Pirates of the Caribbean- a story with pirates, or set on a boat or tropical island
Historical Pirate Romance Books
Best Gay Pirate/Sailor book
Lesbian Pirates
Call Of The Ocean-Hero Or Heroines Divers, Oceanographers, Salvage and More

I wasn't always able to find a f/f list, and didn't have any luck finding a list with creepy old houses as settings. It might be easier to just go for gothic with that one. That pretty much covers the ghost and the crumbling house.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Thanks Becky - I've pretty much finished the lists, but MKat may find these handy ;)

[Becky]

Ah, well. Next time!

Now if you will excuse me, I have to do some shopping on Etsy so I can Disney-fy my planner for the challenge. (Which just means buying all the Disney stuff I already wanted but didn't feel like I had an excuse to buy. :P

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Lol - sounds like fun Becky!

[Sassafrass]

I'm in!

[Grace]

I'm in

[Elizabeth]

I'm in!

[Linda C]

I'm in

[Krissy]

Sign me up!

[❀~Amy~❀]

I'm in and willing to captain. :)

[Rachel C.]

This sounds awesome! I'm in.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Thanks to our likely Captains!!

And welcome to our ol' timers and our few newbies :D We know the newbs will have a ball!!

[cherryjellybeans]

First timer but sounds like fun. I'm in