Challenge Instructions

[Kristell]

Hi, so this is one of the challenges I want to join. I didn't know if I had to announce I'm joining so I'm writing it here. I'll make my thread for my plans. I think I understood how it works. I'll start with February's letters, I don't know if I have to do January's as well, but I'll look into them later and see if I can include them.
Oh yeah, question. I'm almost done with a book but I started it this month, can I still count it? Even if I'm only joining today.

[Tien]

Welcome, Kristell.

You don't have to do all the months though of course, you are welcome to as they are open all the way until Dec 31.

Yes, you can include any books you've not finished reading yet.

You're also welcome to post your plans in the months' letters' threads, if you'd like us to look through them :)

Good luck!

[Kristell]

thank you, this looks like it'll be so much fun. I'll see if January's letter fit in sometime during the year. If not, then I won't stress about it :)

[Karin]

Now about skips. Do the books we use for this have to both be in the same category to count? eg if one was read only for a shelf but the other not for a shelf, can they be combined to skip a shelf?

This may not matter, since for the first two months I'm reading 5 books, so each fits on a shelf, but that might not always work.

[Tien]

The Skip may be used for whichever category/shelf. Note, however, to earn 1 Skip, you'd have to have read 2 books, both which fit 1 of 3 conditions as per listed in the instructions.

[Karin]

Tien wrote: "The Skip may be used for whichever category/shelf. Note, however, to earn 1 Skip, you'd have to have read 2 books, both which fit 1 of 3 conditions as per listed in the instructions."

Yes, I understand :). But not in the same month, correct? I just read a 1023 page book from 1605 (Don Quixote) and may well read another book that fits (or might have, I can't remember), but wanted to be sure that I didn't have to have both books be under shelves and then only be able to use the skip for a shelf. If I do, so be it.

[Tien]

Karin wrote: "Yes, I understand :). But not in the same month, correct? I just read a 1023 page book from 1605 (Don Quixote) and may well read another book that fits (or might have, I can't remember), but wanted to be sure that I didn't have to have both books be under shelves and then only be able to use the skip for a shelf. If I do, so be it. "

I think you're making this to be more complicated than it needs be. There's no caveat for which month/s books will have to be read to qualify for Skips. As long as the books fulfilling one of the 3 conditions are read for Scattershelves, you can use that to claim for Skip. And there is also no condition as to when/where you may apply your Skip (as long as you've earned it).

Just make sure that when you reported your cards (with any Skip) that I can trace it back easily :)

[Karin]

Tien wrote: "Karin wrote: "Yes, I understand :). But not in the same month, correct? I just read a 1023 page book from 1605 (Don Quixote) and may well read another book that fits (or might have, I can't remembe..."

Great. The first book read toward getting 2 books for a skip will be this month when I'm done, and I think I made a comment in bold by that very long book :).

[Lauren]

I have a question regarding the "item on the cover" category - I've read and the cover depicts a fuzzy navel drink. Would that work for the letter F?
Thanks.

[Tien]

Lauren wrote: "I have a question regarding the "item on the cover" category - I've read and the cover depicts a fuzzy navel drink. Would that work for the letter F?
Thanks."

Fuzzy Navel cocktail, yum! yep, go for it :)

[Lauren]

Thanks Tien!

[Kristell]

Would trees be considered for the item on cover for March, T? Or does it have to be specific about what kind of tree it is?

[Tien]

Nope.Trees are fine

[Kristell]

Tien wrote: "Nope.Trees are fine"

Thanks

[♞ Pat]

I have a question about cross over books.

One of my books for February - which I haven't started yet - will cross over into several March categories. Can I select a different shelf category for it for March as well, or do categories have to be specifically new books for the month?

[Tien]

Pat, each shelf will require own books, ie. no crossover books between shelves.

You can still use your unread Feb book for March categories. If that boook is used for a shelf in Feb, you can't use it for a shelf in March but ok for any other March categories.

Hope that makes sense.

[♞ Pat]

I think it does. Basically, the five shelf categories have five unique books that don't appear in any other month. Right?

[Tien]

♞ Pat wrote: "I think it does. Basically, the five shelf categories have five unique books that don't appear in any other month. Right?"

the five shelf categories have five unique books that don't appear in any other months' shelves' categories

[Dee]

Any chance of maybe getting April categories a day or so early to distract those of us on the east coast of the US who may get snowed in... ;)

[Tien]

Dee wrote: "Any chance of maybe getting April categories a day or so early to distract those of us on the east coast of the US who may get snowed in... ;)"

lol - I'll leave that up to Bea :p

There's still the item on cover comp!!! It will close on 15th so there's time...

[Bea]

Dee and Tien, I drew the letters today and will post them tomorrow AM.

[Dee]

yay :)

[Lisette]

Do we have to finish a month before we can go to the next one? Or is it okay if we finish february before january?

[Bea]

Lusie, no, you do not have to finish one month before going to the next. You have until the end of the game to finish all the months.

As you will note, I have finished February and am still working on January and March. I haven't started April yet, although it is announced.

[Lisette]

Thank you Bea for answering my question!

[Marie (UK)]

when do Junes letters come out ?

[Bea]

Marie wrote: "when do Junes letters come out ?"

Today - the 15th.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Question, where do you find the shelves?

[Lisette]

Hi Jayme. When you look up a book you get a list of genres on the right. Just below that you can click on "See top shelves". That is where you find all the shelves the book is on.
Hope that helps :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Okay thanks

[Lisette]

You are welcome!

[Bea]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Question, where do you find the shelves?"

The shelves for this game are any shelf starting with the particular letter. If you do not have a particular book in mind, you can go to the "Browse" at the top of the page and select "all genres". On the right hand side of that page, you will see a list of genres and the option to see more...if you click on that "more" it will bring you to a list of shelves.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I saw that after I browsed for awhile. I knew there was a place somewhere i saw a bunch of shelves. I wasn't sure how you get to them but I figured it out.

[Bea]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I saw that after I browsed for awhile. I knew there was a place somewhere i saw a bunch of shelves. I wasn't sure how you get to them but I figured it out."

Good for you!

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

There is always looking on the genres of the main page of the book I want to read.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Question is there a set limit to how many times we can use a book for the categories?

[Tien]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Question is there a set limit to how many times we can use a book for the categories?"

I've retyped a few times as it's quite difficult to make the answer clear. There is a particular word we use here when using a book for multiple categories, 'crossover' and here are the rules for it straight from the main rules on page 1 of this thread:

Crossovers:
Books may crossover:

1. Between months and categories but cannot crossover on same category (that is book for Jan cover can't crossover with Oct cover but can crossover with Jan author's first name, Feb shelf, Oct Subtitle, etc). And just to clarify, no crossovers between shelves

2. Book may only be used to crossover if it has not been read (that is if a book for Jan shelf can crossover with March cover but you've read it in Feb, before March letters have been announced, then you cannot use this book; in other words, no backdating)

3. There is no limitation on the number of times a book may be used to crossover as long as (1) & (2) are met

I'm hoping this answers your questions...?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Not exactly what i meant, if I read a book in August month and it fits three categories, can I use the book for the three categories? It there a limit to how many times we can use a book for the categories in one month?

[Tien]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Not exactly what i meant, if I read a book in August month and it fits three categories, can I use the book for the three categories? It there a limit to how many times we can use a book for the ca..."

You can fit one book for 9 categories in the month if you want to or can. Only 9 because you cannot use it more than once for 'shelf'.

Also, you can fit that 1 book for 9 categories across all months... though if you read it in August, you can't use it for November letters (that is you can't use the book if you read it before the letters for a particular month are published).

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

okay, thanks, I just wanted to make sure. I knew one book per shelf. I went back and looked at the categories and saw the book can be used for another category so I wanted to know if there was a limit.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I have a question on skips. To earn one skip, you need to read two books? So if I read a 500 page book and a non fiction book that = 1 skip?

[Lisette]

That is correct Jayme. You can do combinations:

1 skip = 2 non fiction books
1 skip = 2 books of 500+ pages
1 skip = non fiction book & 500+ pages book

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Ok thank you

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Another question for the category first word in a title, what if the book starts with one of the letters but only has one title, can it still be used for this category?

[Bea]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Another question for the category first word in a title, what if the book starts with one of the letters but only has one title, can it still be used for this category?"

Jayme, do you mean the title only has one word? Then, sure.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Yes, the title has only one word. Thanks.

[Ariel]

So... I want to use 1984 for October... Does the pronunciation of the title count for the criteria of the first word beginning with N? (i.e. "Nineteen Eighty-Four")

Edit: I reworked my plan without 1984, but I am still curious about this! :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I have a question about crossovers. I had planned to read "Dragonflight" in August but I haven't read it yet. Could I use it in October for the letter D for the category starting with first letter and still use it for my August shelf with a different letter?

[Tien]

Ariel & Jayme, yes & yes :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Okay, I have a question about skips. If I read a book that is 500 pages or more or a non fiction book and I doesn't fit the scattegories board. Can I use the book just to earn the skip?