The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
SPRING CHALLENGE 2017
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Spring Challenge 2017: Task Ideas
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Now I feel silly...I have no idea if libraries work similar in the UK. Keep us informed!
Justme wrote: "Now I feel silly...I have no idea if libraries work similar in the UK. Keep us informed!"Don't feel silly. I genuinely have no idea if they do or not!
Trish wrote: "Justme wrote: "Now I feel silly...I have no idea if libraries work similar in the UK. Keep us informed!"Don't feel silly. I genuinely have no idea if they do or not!"
Hertfordshire Library network do at least- though they use something called overdrive, which i am unsure if it is kindle compatible or not. Each library system is different in each county though. Moving up to Cheshire shortly and it definitely doesn't have as good a system.
Trish wrote: "Justme wrote: "Hey Trish, one of the benefits of borrowing ebooks from the library is they automatically return themselves! That means I don't have to slog through the snow to return a book... You ..."London has such great bookstores! Since I've moved back to Florida, I so miss Foyles, Daunts in Marylebone, Stanfords (travel & books!), the London Review bookshop or even just our local Waterstones. We have much less choice here for new bookstores, and most of what they promote are the big names, which isn't my interest very much, although there are a few decent used bookshops.
Our libraries use Overdrive, too. And yes, Kindle is a common format available. Ours also added browser, so I can avoid the download altogether & just read in a new window. That also makes the format unimportant.Yeah, the I finally stopped using the local library Overdrive, though it did make a good backup as they sometimes had different titles. I prefer the state library (I just had to get a membership when I was in the capital, and I only use it for ebooks, so that was the only time I needed to be there in person) as they have a better selection (prob more money to spend on books).
Maybe you could get membership at a larger library or keep the one you have for your ebooks, Nicola.
London libraries totally have ebooks & e-audio! Different councils have different providers (mine uses Bolinda, but I know others use Overdrive), but councils are pretty laid back about joining even if you don't live there (Westminster, for instance, lets non-residents join). I think you'd have to make an appearance in person once, to prove you are real, but other than that, you could do it all online.And, unless you are in Lambeth (boo hiss, closer of libraries!) there is almost bound to be one within 15 mins of you.
Libraries have been a huge lifesaver for me. I live in Israel and the selection of English books in stores is very limited and in libraries practically non-existent. I learned a couple of years ago that some libraries in the US allow paying non-resident patrons and have since gotten 3 different library cards. I use Overdrive and download the books to my Kindle. It's fantastic.
I keep seeing ads on TV for DNA testing, like ancestry.com. It seems to be a popular thing right now! 1- How about a task related to your ancestry, either known or suspected? Book set in a country of your ancestry. It can be your home country, if your ancestry goes back more than 200 years (or some other criteria). Or, the reverse, a book set in a country that you do not have ancestors from.
2- Book with a MPG of science or medicine
3- Theme of family reunion
4- Title with one of these words or question mark - Who Am I
5- Letters DNA can be found in the author's name
I have 2 task ideas that I keep meaning to mention.1) Clearing up those TBRs
I find that I occasionally end up with say the 3rd book in a series where I don't have the previous books in the series, so I always say I will get them from the library or something because I never like reading things out of order... but then these books languish on my TBR forever. So for this task read a book in a series that is not #1 (or a prequel) where you have not read the previous books in the series.
2) Derivative books
Read 2 books for this one. Read a book. Then read a book that is a derivative of that first book. Could be a parody or something serious. Examples: Read both "Pride and Prejudice" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" or read "Moby DIck" and "Why Read Moby-Dick"
Trish wrote: "Justme wrote: "Hey Trish, one of the benefits of borrowing ebooks from the library is they automatically return themselves! That means I don't have to slog through the snow to return a book... You ..."You should still be able to "borrow" e-books from the library from wherever you came from in the States. I know that I just have to punch in my library card number in order to be able to "borrow" e-books from my library.
What about a task where you have to read 1 book set in the same country as a modern wonder and 1 book set in the same country as an ancient wonder?Or, read one book that includes a modern wonder and one book that includes an ancient wonder.
Panama Canal -- read a book that was written in 1914 or set in 1914 (the year the Canal was finished)
Read a book where at least 75% of the story takes place in the same place as one of the modern wonders
I noticed that there has popped up a lot of listopias with Trump in the name. Some of them include an interesting mix of dystopias and non-fiction. Maybe base a task around one of those lists?
Paula wrote: "I noticed that there has popped up a lot of listopias with Trump in the name. Some of them include an interesting mix of dystopias and non-fiction. Maybe base a task around one of those lists?"Please, no.....
read 3 books you've never read beforeBook 1 must have history in evidence on the cover(old shrine, civil war cannon, old sailing ship, etc). if its not evident, leave a note saying why the book works.
Book 2: Read a book fitting the main page genre of either history, historic fiction(no variations) or must have a skill helped to build america(blacksmithing, carpentry, etc) done by one of the characters who is a regular in the story
Book 3. Read historic fiction or fiction that deals with immigration with a minimum of 200 pages(300-500 is better). leave a note with this 1 identifying which you chose+leave the cover of the book(book cover is a must)
Doug wrote: "read 3 books you've never read beforeBook 1 must have history in evidence on the cover(old shrine, civil war cannon, old sailing ship, etc). if its not evident, leave a note saying why the book w..."
why all historic fiction what does cover tell you about how it fits immigration for example?
because of the nature of the seasonal theme it seems all too easy to concentrate on historical fiction earn there are lots of other genres out there
Trish wrote: "Justme wrote: "Hey Trish, one of the benefits of borrowing ebooks from the library is they automatically return themselves! That means I don't have to slog through the snow to return a book... You ..."I use overdrive with My uK library my son's London library uses a different system but, whichever, Libraries rock
I never knew my library did ebooks and now I do (also e audiobooks) and all for free. Overdrive and Borrowbox in Essex they don't work on the kindle but they do on the iPad - my year of not buying books may have got even easier - thanks.
I haven't played in a long time, but when I saw the Chunnel as one of the inspirations, I thought of the French Revolution, and boy, they could have used a Chunnel - A Tale of Two Cities, or The Scarlet Pimpernel - how about a task that involves the conflict and interaction between the French and the English during the Revolution and the Napoleonic era. The other time in history when the Chunnel would have come in handy was World War II, so if the first time period is too confining, include WWII in the European theater.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
A Tale of Two Cities (other topics)The Scarlet Pimpernel (other topics)
I don't actually know if my library does ebooks. Maybe I need to investigate.
It's strange. I loved my local library as a child and a student, but since I moved to London, I've bought books rather than used a library (yes, the shame!)