BOTNS #282: BOTNS Summer Reading Bingo!

[Ann]

Discuss your plans for BOTNS Summer Reading Bingo here.

[Robert]

This looks like a really fun idea. Last year I made a list of books that I wanted to finish by the end of the summer...and as usual with planned reading, I strayed from the list almost the entire summer. I think I read about 3 books from the 20 on the list.

I like this idea of playing bingo while reading. I think I'll go about this by reading what I want when I want, and just hoping each book will allow me to check off a box.

There are a few boxes I'll make an effort to fill though. I got "A play", and I rarely read plays. I'd like to change that. I also got a "Recommended in a BOTNS episode" which is easy enough to accomplish with the long list of recs I've gotten from the podcast :)

[Tina]

What a fun concept. I can't wait to start. I actually read a play earlier this year but no reason I can't read another. The other option I like is reading something that's been on my TBR list for two years. Goodness knows that list is lengthy. Happy Summer, Everyone!

[Lisa]

Sounds like fun! I think I will use this game as a way to broaden my reading horizons because looking at the card I realized my normal reading will not give me a bingo. I will read normally until I get close to a bingo and then search out the categories that I need for bingo. For example I have never read a graphic novel, but if I only need that one to get bingo I will read a graphic novel for a bingo.

[Michael]

L wrote: "I have never read a graphic novel, but if I only need that one to get bingo I will read a graphic novel for a bingo."

Here are a few recommendations L:

Stitches: A Memoir
Pride of Baghdad
Daytripper
Habibi
White Rapids
and, if you want to try out a superhero story, Superman: Red Son is a fun one, because it wonders what would have happened if Superman's rocket had landed in Russia, rather than Kansas.

I hope you'll give a graphic novel a try!

[Robert]

Michael wrote: "L wrote: "I have never read a graphic novel, but if I only need that one to get bingo I will read a graphic novel for a bingo."

Here are a few recommendations L:

Stitches: A Memoir..."

I think I need to get my hands on Superman: Red Son. I'm not an avid graphic novel reader, and don't read Superman much since I was a kid, but I love stories that show a "what if" situation like this one.

[Katie]

Just about to listen to the episode, but saw all the comments here and immediately printed out my Bingo card. What fun!!! I think this will open up new horizons. By the way, what is a Cozy Mystery? Does Elizabeth George count for that? And with the sad passing today of the great Maya Angelou, I think I will use one of her collections for my Poetry Collection square.

Great interview with Ann and Michael on The Kindle Chronicles podcast this week. First time Booktopian, Denver resident, and longtime podcaster, Len Edgerly captured perfectly the essence and magic of Booktopia in his news update, too.

[Katie]

Ann and Michael, you must have had so much fun coming up with the 40 categories for Summer Bingo. This is inspired. In fact, before listening to the podcast, I had refreshed numerous times on the Bingo cards to get a sense of them, but now that I've listened to the podcast I went back, closed my eyes, refreshed once and printed my card for the summer. Can't wait to get started.

[Michael]

A book that "everyone" but me has read:

[Kate]

Michael wrote: "A book that "everyone" but me has read:

"

Not "everyone".....but it needs to one of my summer reads

[Robert]

Michael wrote: "A book that "everyone" but me has read:

"

That's on my list and will mark off the "everyone but me has read" square..."Found in a Used Bookstore" and "By an Author of a Different Gender", all in the same row on the card. I think to be fair, I'll only let a book count for one square. Makes it a bit more fun that way.

[Ann]

I'm also planning one book per square.
I might do "Caged Bird" as a re-read.

[Ann]

Katie wrote: "Just about to listen to the episode, but saw all the comments here and immediately printed out my Bingo card. What fun!!! I think this will open up new horizons. By the way, what is a Cozy Myster..."

A "cozy mystery" is one that is usually defined as a "gentle" mystery, where the murder/violence/crime generally happens "off the page." Think television's Jessica Fletcher and Murder She Wrote. The sleuth is usually not a cop or investigator, but instead gets involved accidentally or because of their own curiosity. Many cozy mysteries feature themes or hobbies -- like cat mysteries, cooking mysteries, knitting mysteries, etc. They tend to be "light reading," and are often part of a series. Agatha Christie is often considered to be a writer of "cozy" mysteries.

[Sandy]

What a fun idea! I read a lot of cards, fascinated by the categories. "Audiobooks" and "borrowed from the library" covers 95% of my books.
My rule: a book counts for only one square.
A harder decision: do I have to decide which category when I read the book, or at the end when I know what category I need. For example, will I count an Agatha Christie story collection as before 1970, 10 short stories, cozy mystery, audiobook or borrowed from library!!

[Miggsy]

Sah-weet, I love a reading challenge!

[Tina]

I printed off my card & sent a copy to my mom. She's a listener, too. I want to see if we can compete until Labor Day. Maybe even recruit other family members?

[Karen]

What a great idea! So excited! Love a challenge!

[Linda]

My library has done this type of game for the Adult Summer Reading program, but I really like your categories. Creative. I printed out the first card.

I have not read , but I know I own it and it may be signed. I saw her about 10 years ago in Dayton.

I'm looking forward to this challenge.

[Ann]

We're not keeping score, so whether you count one book as one square or more is up to you. Personally, I'm sticking to a one book=one square rule.

[Sarah]

So I was going to ask if people were going to count one book on multiple squares, and I'm glad to see that isn't the plan.
It's fun to see how many people have mentioned Maya Angelou in this thread. I'm sad that I haven't read anything by her, and plan to this summer.

[Debbie (Vote Blue)]

Michael wrote: "A book that "everyone" but me has read:

"

I read this long ago--but I need to read it again.

[Chris]

I absolutely love this concept! I'm off! This is going to be SO much fun! Kudos Ann and Michael! This could be the start of a yearly summer challenge! I love it! :-)

Other suggestions for graphic novels is "Persepolis I" and "Persepolis II." My first graphic novels and loved them! I've read others in the meantime, but these were special to me.

[Ellen]

I have my card as well...quite an interesting assortment. I got a few things outside my regular reading comfort zone: a novella; a play; a poetry collection; and, of course, something you think you'll dislike. Also got a lot of covers: just words, a child, an animal. As a blind person, I don't know anything about what's on the covers of my books. haha

I may also read "Caged Bird" as a reread (read it in high school).

I have another rule for myself which I may or may not break: nothing that I started reading before Memorial Day counts. We'll see about that...

Happy summer reading!

[Katie]

Ann, thanks for the definition of cozy mysteries. That means I have a great excuse to read the latest Diane Mott Davidson Goldy Schulz mystery, The While Enchilada, this summer (I would link this to its cover, but I don't see a way to do so through the app on my mobile phone ...anyone know if it is possible??)for my Cozy Mystery square.

[Ann]

Ah, Ellen, can I help with the cover dilemma? Happy to give you recommendations for books that fit into those categories, or else you should feel free to substitute some other criteria -- such as, main character is a child; main character is an animal (Michael wanted that one but I nixed it), a book with "Word" in the title.

[Ellen]

Hi Ann,

I like both of your ideas. I'll take recs first though. :)

[Virginia]

For L who has never read a graphic novel:
Hi L, I am not a graphic novel reader either BUT if you want to try one, I recommend Maus by Art Speigelman. It is the story of WW2 made into a graphic novel somehow without losing any of its tension and terror.

[[deleted user]]

I printed 3 different cards to increase my chances of getting a bingo (or two). Who plays bingo with only 1 card ????

[Sandy]

Just started The Story of the Human Body by Daniel Lieberman which I think I'll count as a 6-word title. Could fill many other categories; too bad it just missed the 500 page.
I just realized my other "currently reading" Galileo's Daughter also qualifies for 6-words if I count the subtitle.
And I printed 4 cards!

[Amy]

Marty wrote: "I printed 3 different cards to increase my chances of getting a bingo (or two). Who plays bingo with only 1 card ????"

Very good point, Marty! :)

[Victoria]

This is fun! I got graphic novel on my card as well and I just received
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
a few days ago. And since I just read We Are Not Ourselves
on Memorial Day, I think I will count that as my "published in 2014" choice.

The only ones I would find difficult are "found in a used bookstore" (don't have one nearby and also do most reading on the Kindle) and "chose because of the cover", for the same e-reader issue. I don't know if I've ever chosen a book based on its cover (hmmm... I sense a proverb in there somewhere).

[Lisa]

Michael wrote: "L wrote: "I have never read a graphic novel, but if I only need that one to get bingo I will read a graphic novel for a bingo."

Here are a few recommendations L:

Stitches: A Memoir..."

As it turned out the bingo card thatI got didn't have a graphic novel on it.(I was looking at the card that was given on the BOTN page as an example.) I do hope to get a bingo on my card and pick again before it is over and hope to get the one with graphic novel. Michael thanks for the recommendations. A few of those sound so good, and I am going to pick one of those up soon whether on my card or not.

[Lisa]

Virginia wrote: "For L who has never read a graphic novel:
Hi L, I am not a graphic novel reader either BUT if you want to try one, I recommend Maus by Art Speigelman. It is the story of WW2 made into a graphic nov..."

Thanks Virginia, I have heard great things about Maus. Another group I am in will be reading graphic novels in December as part of a challenge so I need all the ideas I can get!

[Ann]

Victoria wrote: "The only ones I would find difficult are "found in a used bookstore" (don't have one nearby and also do most reading on the Kindle)"

If that's something you really want to try, you can expand the definition of "used bookstore" to "Salvation Army, Goodwill etc." and/or yard sale, library books sale, etc.

[Carey]

I just listened to the latest podcast today and printed off my bingo card. I think I'm going to read what I want and then see what gets filled up. Great idea!

[Beth]

I just printed my BINGO card and got two co-workers to play, too! They're making suggestions as to what I should read for "that 'everyone' but you has read".

[Victoria]

I have that on my card as well Beth and was just thinking about what that would be. Someone recently mentioned Jane Austen and I commented that I had never read any, but not sure if that falls under "everyone" (not that the "rules" are that rigid). Of course, maybe I just think that because I really don't care to read Austen! :-)

[Beth]

Victoria wrote: Someone recently mentioned Jane Austen and I commented that I had never read any, but not sure if that falls unde..."

You know what's funny? I actually said that I should read some Jane Austen for that one, because I've never read any Austen.

[Victoria]

Weird.

[Lacy]

This is going to be fun.

[Amy]

I printed out 8 different cards and will hand them out at my next book club meeting on June 7. Hoping that at least some of the ladies will join me!

[Ellen]

My card is so varied that I'm thinking of using it to search for books that aren't on my TBR already (except for that square that has a book set in another country — that falls into my typical reading pattern). :)
Thanks for the challenge, Ann and Michael!

[Amy]

This is great! I printed out a card for myself, and one for my daughter. She's had a waning interest in reading lately, but if there's a chance that she can beat Momma, it may just light a fire under her!

[Carol]

I always wanted to do this for adult summer reading when I was working but never liked my bingo headings.

Ann and Michael - you are truly creative and have made this such a fun way to bingo read.

[Robin]

Just printed my cards and taking the afternoon off to get started. Only had laundry, weeding, and cleaning to do.

[Ann]

We are *loving* the response to this idea. Thank you!

[Dawn]

Michael wrote: "A book that "everyone" but me has read:

"

I was wondering what I would use for my book with a six word title now I know. Thanks Michael.

[Len]

I have printed my card and look forward to an intriguing middle row comprising a book I started but never finished (Joyland by Stephen King), a thriller, and one with six words in the title. Since I just finished a memoir yesterday, I already have one square filled in. It was Too Good to Be True by Benjamin Anastas, and I recommend it highly, especially for writers, divorce survivors, and anyone who has been laid low by insurmountable debt. It's a brave and beautifully written book.

I had SO much fun at Booktopia Boulder, especially interviewing Michael and Ann on the last day. What an amazing amount of work goes into those events!

[Laura]

Ann wrote: "Katie wrote: "Just about to listen to the episode, but saw all the comments here and immediately printed out my Bingo card. What fun!!! I think this will open up new horizons. By the way, what is..."

If you haven't read them, I recommend Alexander McCall Smith's series set in Scotland as "cozy mysteries." I think the series is called The Sunday Philosopher Club. They're short and charming.

[Jodi]

Just printed bingo cards for my Mom and myself. Think I will go for a blackout. Just kidding, but oh how wonderful it would be to have the time to do that! I am listening to an audiobook now which also happened to be a recommendation from a family member...but I will only count it once. My TBR pile since I started listening to BOTN has really grown!