BOTNS #282: BOTNS Summer Reading Bingo!

[Kate]

I have not listened to the episode yet, but printed my card. So cool for a summer reading challenge! Thanks Ann and Michael!!

[Barbara]

Ann wrote: "We are *loving* the response to this idea. Thank you!"

My book club meets next week to pick books for the next year. I printed bingo cards for all and emailed them to look forward to playing a "game" this summer. Club members are from 102 to 32.... Wonderful group of Wyoming women. Thanks for all you do for our reading pleasure.

[Summer]

I'm really looking forward to this!

My card has "by a small press" on it. Is there a good list out there of what's considered a small press? I haven't really thought about this before as a reading category.

Love the idea, thanks!

[Lisa]

Having more time to plan my strategy I set these rules for my challenge:
1 book=1 square
I've printed 2 cards to give myself more categories to work with.
My center squares (thanks to Ann for this idea) are going to be watching a book/story to movie adaptations. My first idea for that was the movie Maleficent because as it turned out I was reading While Beauty Slept (my pick for published in 2014) and both the movie and this book are adapted from the tale of Sleeping Beauty.

[Victoria]

I just got my Book Riot quarterly box and its theme fits well with the Bingo Challenge. It's all about reading genres that you might not normally and the books in the box are a romance, a young adult, and a Sci-fi/fantasy. Those are the categories they say they hear most people saying that they don't read. So I think some of those new books I now have will help me fill my bingo card!

[Katie]

I love summer reading challenges. I used to do book clubs through the library when I was a kid, and this sort of reminds me of that. Just fun stuff! I am going to print some up for my kids and have them play too. I think they will like it. I think I will give them each a prize when they hit Bingo..heck, I might even give myself a book related prize when I hit it. I can't remember the term you used on the podcast for when you fill the entire card. I have only heard the term "Blackout" used for that. Thanks again for this and the podcast.

[Dree]

I am crazy so printed out 3 cards and a double card (which didn't fit on one page, bummer).

I am not planning anything, I am just going to read what I read and hope to fit things in!

I like the idea of using a movie for the bingo square. I am hoping for a blackout, but that square will be the hardest for me! Movies make me sleepy LOL.

[Ann]

There is an extensive list of small presses here: http://www.pw.org/small_presses - but it's overwhelming and some are micro presses and may be hard to find.
Here are some favorites. An asterisk means that I work with this press in a professional capacity (so full disclosure). Also, this is mostly heavy on the fiction, since that's what I mostly read from these presses. In. In no particular order, and I'm sure I'm forgetting many.

Graywolf
Unbridled Books (part of Booktopia Boulder session)
Dzanc Books
Engine Books
Tin House
Two-Dollar Radio
Small Beer Books
Melville House*
Other Press*
Soho Press*
Archipelago*
Steerforth*

If anyone else has some favorite small presses, please list them.

[Victoria]

Melville house has a great Art of the Novella series so if you buy 2 from them, you could fill both small press and the novella squares!

[Summer]

Thanks, Ann, for the list. If anyone else has small press favorites, I'd love to know about those too.

[Don]

I love this! Genius! I'm printing cards for my book club. My house rules will be different, since I count audiobooks as reading. (I have no problem saying an audiobook is a good read, Ann) I listen at work everyday and I read text at night. I will make the free square a movie of a book I've read.

[Tracey]

Love this idea!

[Carey]

Question about Bingo: My card has a square which says read a book whose location is where you live. There is a series of books by Michael Malone which take place in a fictional town modeled after (so says a local bookseller) on my town of Hillsborough, NC. Malone lives in Hillsborough, and I don't find it a stretch at all to believe the bookseller. Can I read one of Malone's books to fill this square? I know we're on the honor system here, and I want to be honest! Thanks for the help.

[Julie]

Ann wrote: "There is an extensive list of small presses here: http://www.pw.org/small_presses - but it's overwhelming and some are micro presses and may be hard to find.
Here are some favorites. An asterisk me..."

~ New Rivers
~ Milkweed Editions

two more small(ish) presses in the Twin Cities!

[Clara]

I printed out several copies and sat down and filled in a book I had read (ever) to see how many squares I could fill. It was fun and very eye-opening when I was left with the type of books I have avoided.....Now I think I'll start again and try to read something in those categories and maybe try to get a Bingo before Labor Day. Such fun!

[Gerald]

so if I started today with my card...reading a biography now. Will probably read historical fiction.Nonfiction? Gee this looks like fun but time is agin me.

[Gerald]

Oh I am reading nonfiction now also. Its just a matter of what time I have.

[Becky]

OK-how did I miss this???

[Gerald]

Oh I just noticed the Http to print it! LOL

[Becky]

I just printed out mine, I have to go back & re read the rules!

[[deleted user]]

I heard your interview on the Kindle Chronicles(long time devotee) and just finished listening to your last two podcasts. Because it is sometimes difficult to choose the next book, i decided to follow your podcast and have printed my Beach Blanket Book Bingo card. I find the categories a really good way to direct my reading in a new way. I read almost exclusively on my Kindle Paperwhite. I am sure, like many others, I read similar genres regularly but rarely get out of my "comfort" zone. I think I will try the categories to change my pattern. This year I ventured into Neil Gaiman when I read the amazing The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I later went onto others of his works but found them to be very dark. I already know what my re-read will be. Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire by Margot Berwin is in my Kindle collection entitled Stellar Books. There are only 10 books in this category, ones that I found truly amazing. Looking forward to being a part of your group on Goodreads.

[Readnponder]

Carey wrote: "Question about Bingo: My card has a square which says read a book whose location is where you live. There is a series of books by Michael Malone which take place in a fictional town modeled after..."
Carey -- I live down the road from you in Chapel Hill. I wonder if there any non-basketball books about Chapel Hill. As for Hillsborough, I heard that Doug Marlette's novel "The Bridge" is really set in Hillsborough, although he gives it a different name.

[Carey]

Yes, basketball, basketball. I am not a fan, unfortunately! Thanks for the heads up about "The Bridge". I shall check it out. I also just remembered the "27 Views of..." books. I do have the one about Hillsborough. There has to be one about Chapel Hill.

[Laura]

I've printed out my card and I think, initially, I'm just going to read books that match up with squares without worrying about trying to fill up a line. Then around the 1st of August I'll see where I am and what I can read to get Bingo! I'd *love* to fill the card, but I don't think it's possible. I'm currently reading The Martian which will check off the Sci-Fi box for me.

[Don]

Would you consider The Big Sleep to be a cosy mystery? The violence is tame by today's standards but the jarring prejudice of the day is anything but cosy.

[Sandy]

I read (listened to) The Shape of Water which I'll count as a translation ... though it could be the category: on TBR list for two years , but I have so many of those. Thanks to Laura for pointing out The Martian is sci-fi; I already have it on my ipod and didn't think I had any sci-fi. Like Laura I plan to mark off my cards with what I read and take stock later in the summer.

[Ann]

Don wrote: "Would you consider The Big Sleep to be a cosy mystery? The violence is tame by today's standards but the jarring prejudice of the day is anything but cosy."

I haven't actually read it, but I wouldn't consider it a cozy ... though I do think it would be a good example of "noir mystery," so feel free to substitute since we didn't have a category for that.

[Melissa]

I love lists and reading challenges to help me step outside my reading box! Thank you Ann and Michael: I love this!

[Carol]

I'm just loving how serious everyone is taking their bingo squares. No cheaters here!

[Sarah]

I'm so excited about this. I've printed three cards and am hoping to get Bingo on each of them. So far, I've read This Is How You Lose Her (6 words in the title) and The Cairo Affair (set in another country). Next up are The Fault in Our Stars (YA) and Natchez Burning (not sure if that will count as my Thriller/Suspense or my 500+ pages).

[Jana]

This is SO fun! Last night someone in my book club who listens to the podcast brought one to show us. But I already had mine printed & planned:

Audiobook:

Reread:

Graphic novel: Maybe Jamie Ford's recommendation of Blankets? Or any number of others on my to-read list

Longer than 500 pages: I just finished and am about to start

I have other ideas for the rest of the card as well. Thanks for the fun summer idea!

[Lisa]

I am progressing well with my 2 bingo cards but am debating my YA/middle grade choices. I am currently reading The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan for another group I belong to so I want to incorporate it into my cards.I have seen it shelved in middle grade and YA. It feels more like a middle grade to me (in writing style), but the characters seem older than 8-12. For any who have read this series which category would you put them in?

[Jana]

L wrote: "I am progressing well with my 2 bingo cards but am debating my YA/middle grade choices. I am currently reading The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan for another group I belong to so I wa..."

The Evil Empire categorizes it Grades 5-9 if that helps. It's probably writing style that determines category (vs age of characters), right? That said, I would say you should go with what you feel it is. Regardless of labels.

[Ellen]

I haven't filled in any of my squares yet, though I have some ideas. Mostly, I have to find a book that interests me...if I DNF it (which I did twice in the past week) it doesn't count. :P

I have Where'd You Go, Bernadette? in mind for "a book you don't think you'll like." I read the first few pages and still don't know if I'll keep going...

[Robert]

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..."

Katie, I stumbled upon this site that seems to be dedicated to "cozy mysteries". It's a genre that I've only started to explore recently. The book I've read in it so far is Agatha Raisin and The Quiche of Death, and I really enjoyed that one. Seems like this site should help you find something to enjoy :)

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/

[Carin]

A book set in Chapel Hill (mostly) is the new memoir, My Accidental Jihad by Krista Bremer. Also she'll be at Booktopia Asheville.

[Dawn]

Printed out my Bingo card last night and am inspired not just to "get Bingo" - but to fill the entire thing! I've already scratched in titles of books I already own or have been meaning to read and fit nicely onto my card. With a few spaces left for new discoveries! (Do you have any idea how few authors named Dawn are out there? But again - a search led me to an interesting-sounding book I NEVER would have stumbled upon otherwise.)

[Ellen]

I got the "Author Shares Your First Name" space too...couldn't find a lot of Ellens. Today's BOTNS has one, but it's a graphic memoir, so that's kind of out for me. hehehe

[Robert]

Ellen wrote: "I got the "Author Shares Your First Name" space too...couldn't find a lot of Ellens. Today's BOTNS has one, but it's a graphic memoir, so that's kind of out for me. hehehe"

I'm not sure what type of books you're into, but the first "Ellen" that popped into my head is Ellen Hopkins. She writes YA verse novels. They're not always everyone's cup of tea, but I like to mix things up with one every now and then.

[Becky]

Ellen Marie Wiseman

[Linda]

Ellen DeGeneres

[Amanda]

I have my card printed. Only one refresh and I didn't look at it. I think I'm making this harder and choosing to only read books in my home (I have over 1,000 just sitting here staring at me - I need to read them!!)

[Ellen]

Thanks all for the Ellen suggestions. :) I'm thinking I'll try The Plum Tree

[Vanessa]

Laura wrote: "I've printed out my card and I think, initially, I'm just going to read books that match up with squares without worrying about trying to fill up a line. Then around the 1st of August I'll see wher..."

I printed out the first card but refreshed twice to look at more because I'm a big fat cheater. :) One of my squares is "With a one word title," and I just finished Rainbow Rowell's Attachments today - lucky! I'll stick with my card… but I have a lot on my plate this summer, so I think your approach sounds good to me, Laura!

[Don]

My wife thinks this bingo enterprise is crazy but my bookish friends jumped right into it!

[Don]

It's interesting how excited heavy readers get over this very original idea! Thanks.

[Tracey]

I'm reading The Girl With all the Gifts at the moment (and loving it!), it's set where I live, but does it count to tick off that square, as it's clearly a dystopian age? Questions, questions!

[Davina]

Ann and Michael, thanks for the great idea. This is just what I need to get out of my comfort zone! I have to admit I refreshed until I got a card that did not have "Author Shares Your First Name"- just in case I ever hoped to fill in the entire card!

[Linda]

Davina wrote: "Ann and Michael, thanks for the great idea. This is just what I need to get out of my comfort zone! I have to admit I refreshed until I got a card that did not have "Author Shares Your First Name..."

Davina, I would have let you have Dave or David. or you could have chosen your middle name. We're easy.

[Lisa]

So I finished my first graphic novelsPersepolis, Volume 1 by Marjane Satrapi(brutal yet strangely humerous at times), and Plants vs. Zombies: Lawnmageddon. I read the middle grade Plants Vs Zombie to my little boy and he loved it. I could count that one as middle grade, but it was so short I feel like I am short changing myself. If anything I might count that one as the center square on my second card instead of another movie adaptation.