50.1 - Bryony's Task: Let's Start at the Very Beginning

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

50.1 - Bryony's Task: Let's Start at the Very Beginning

This is my very first time participating in the SRC. I'm having a fantastic time choosing and reading books for the challenge and I'm very excited to have the chance to create this task.

When I received the invitation to create this task I thought it would be fun to theme the task around firsts, or beginnings. So, on that theme, and inspired by the song Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music, let's start at the very beginning...

For this task you need to read one book for each of options 1, 2, and 3 AND your books must total at least 1,000 pages.

No books with a main page genre children or kids are allowed for this task.

*NOTE: ebooks without a print edition cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. If you read an ebook, listen to an audiobook or read a Large Print edition use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition. See the rules for the complete method.

1. Let's start at the very beginning...

The first Seasonal Reading Challenge in this stand-alone group took place in Fall 2009. For this task, read a book that fulfils the requirements of a 5 or 10 point task from that challenge.

Current SRC rule interpretations/updates:
>"in the title" includes the title and subtitle.
> For "word" tasks: Plurals and possessives work but no other variations.
> 5.7 requires "Include what you are most thankful for and explain the connection to the book".
> 5.9 A requires the genre Coming of Age on the main page.
> 10.3 Only the first option: Read A Book With The Word Bear Or Bears In The Title. may be used.
> 10.7 requires "Explain why the subject of your book is a hero/heroine."
> 10.8 To use the random word generator: on the upper-left, click on "word" for the required number of times to get a random word.

Required: State the task number and include the requirements of the task in your post. Cover tasks require that you include the cover.

2. It's a very good place to start...

Read a book that is a) set within 200 miles of the place you were born or b) written by a single author born within 200 miles of the place you were born. Set in means that at least 50% of the plot takes place in this location. The book's setting must be a real place found on a map. Alternate, dystopian or futuristic depictions of real places DO work.

This map tool may be helpful to determine geographic locations within a 200 mile radius.
Once you have determined the setting of your book or author's birthplace, use Calculate Distance to establish the distance from your birthplace to the predominate setting of your book.

Required: Identify if you are using the setting or author's birthplace. You do not have to identify your birthplace, but you must state the straight line distance in miles from your birthplace to the book's setting or author's birthplace. If the setting or author's birthplace is not evident in the GR record include a reference when you post.

3. When you read you begin with A, B, C, when you sing you begin with do, re, mi...

Choose one of the following options:
Required: Identify the option.

DO - a deer, a female deer
Read a book in which wild animals play a significant role (note: books about domesticated animals like cats or dogs won't work). The animals featured need to be "real life" animals, rather than fantasy or mythological animals. Shapeshifters in animal form are considered fantasy animals for this task. Extinct animals that are documented to have existed - eg dinosaurs, dodos, quaggas, etc - are okay.
Required: Explain the connection if it is not evident on the book's main page.

RE - a drop of golden sun
Read a book set at least 75% in a country that experiences the midnight sun: Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut only), Greenland, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Alaska (only) US.

MI - a name I call myself
Read an autobiography or memoir- a nonfiction account of the author's own life or experiences.

FA - a long long way to run
Read a book written by an author known primarily as a professional athlete or with a professional athlete or athletic team as a main character or subject.

SO - a needle pulling thread
Since "a stitch in time saves nine", read a historical fiction novel. For this task, to be deemed historical, a novel (a work of FICTION) must have been first published at least fifty years after the events described. The entirety of the book must take place in the historic time period without introductions, epilogues, time travel or other changes of era contemporary to the first publication date.
*Adapted from the Historical Novel Society definition.
Required: Identify the historical time setting if it is not evident on the book's main page.

LA - a note to follow SO
Read a book in which notes such as letters or diary entries make up at least 50% of the text. The letters or diary entries may be fictional (e.g. an epistolary novel) or non-fiction (e.g. published diaries or letters).

TI - a drink with jam and bread
Since tea was first cultivated in China, read a book set at least 75% in China or by an author who was born in China.
Required: Include a reference if the setting or author's birthplace is not evident on the Goodreads records.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Option 1- Moderator notes

5.6 Halloween adjectives: witchy
The word must be used as an adjective.

5.8 - a book (single work) with more than one author.
A pseudonym for a writing team works. You must provide a reference if it is not clear on the GR author bio page.

10.4 - The book must be set in at least 50% of one of the countries.

[Bryony]

Clarifications

For option 2, if you are reading a book set in your birthplace, or by an author who shares your birthplace then you should explain this when you post and say that the straight line distance between locations is zero.

For option 2, when using the Calculate Distance tool, note that you may need to enter the country name as well as city or town name in order to get the correct information.

For option 3 - so, there's no requirement for a book to have an MPG of historical fiction, it only needs to fit the definition of historical fiction given in the task.

Approved books

Option 2


Option 3 - so

[Bryony]

Not approved

Option 2


Option 3 - do

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

This help thread is open!

[Lauren]

For option 2, how do I post the straight line distance if the author was born in the same city as I was?

[Lauren]

For option 3 SO - does Historical Fiction have to be a main page genre?

[Justme]

Love all the variety in your tasks!

I would like to verify/get approval for Option 3 - DO:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
is about Dinosaurs, but set in Fantasy setting on another planet (originally from Earth, though), so kind of a gray area...series includes an amazing amount of info on T-Rex group of dinos!

Thank you

[Camilla]

Question about option 2: is a non-fiction book allowed? I just finished Kakolan vankila 1853 - 2007, which is a non-fiction book about the Kakola prison, situated in Turku, Finland.

Another question about option 2: I used the Calculate Distance page to calculate the distance between my birthplace (Helsinki) and the setting of the abovementioned book (Turku), but the page only gives the calculation for the driving distance, not the straight line distance. In a case like this, is it allowed to use the driving distance (which naturally is longer that the straight line), as long as it is within the specified 200 miles?

[Bryony]

For option 2, how do I post the straight line distance if the author was born in the same city as I was?

Hi Lauren, in that case you can state that the author was born in the same city as you so the straight line distance between locations is zero.

[Bryony]

For option 3 SO - does Historical Fiction have to be a main page genre?

Your book needs to meet the definition of historical fiction provided in the task:

"For this task, to be deemed historical, a novel (a work of FICTION) must have been first published at least fifty years after the events described. The entirety of the book must take place in the historic time period without introductions, epilogues, time travel or other changes of era contemporary to the first publication date."

No specific main page genre is required for this one, just that it fits the above definition of historical fiction.

[Bryony]

Hi Justme, Foreigner looks like an interesting read but unfortunately it won't work for this task. It sounds as though the dinosaurs have formed a new civilisation on their planet so they wouldn't be described as wild. So as the task requires wild animals to play a significant role this book doesn't quite fit. Sorry!

[Bryony]

Question about option 2: is a non-fiction book allowed? I just finished Kakolan vankila 1853 - 2007, which is a non-fiction book about the Kakola prison, situated in Turku, Finland.

Hi Camilla, non-fiction is fine for this task provided that at least 75% of the events detailed in the book took place in the target country. I can't read the description of the book you linked to, but if it's describing something which happened in the prison then it sounds like it would work.

For the distance calculations, I just checked the two locations you mentioned and it gave a straight line difference as well as driving distance. It might be that you need to enter the country name as well as the city - would you mind trying that to see if it gives the straight line distance too?

[Camilla]

Bryony wrote: "Question about option 2: is a non-fiction book allowed? I just finished Kakolan vankila 1853 - 2007, which is a non-fiction book about the Kakola prison, situated in Turku, Finland.

Hi Camilla, no..."

Thanks about the tip for the distance calculation, adding the country did indeed help!

Here's a Google translation of the book's description:
"Kakola Prison is one of Finland's best known places. It was involved in many recent turmoils in Finnish history and was involved in both the confusion of civil war and the bombing of the Second World War. Although the Kakola Prison was centrally located in the city of Turku, everyday life and places of worship within the walls were beyond the reach of outsiders.
This book presents Kakola's life and events throughout its existence from 1853 to 2007 when the prison service at Kakolanmäki was completed."
So basically the whole book is about the prison and the things that happened there.

[Bea]

Bryony, would The Mists of Avalon work for 3. SO? It definitely was written more than 50 years after the events but it is also Fantasy.

[Laura H L]

Laurah30
For option 2:

I was born in France and I would like to read All the Light We Cannot See. At least 75% of the book takes place within a 200 mile radius of where I was born since it is Paris, France and Zollverein, Germany.

[Bryony]

Thanks for the translation Camilla. It sounds like the events described in the book all take place in that location, so on that basis it's fine to use for option 2 of this task.

[Bryony]

Bryony, would The Mists of Avalon work for 3. SO? It definitely was written more than 50 years after the events but it is also Fantasy.

Hi Bea, if it's a retelling of the myth of King Arthur then I'm assuming it's set in 5th/6th century Britain, in which case that's fine to use for this task. Happy reading!

[Cat]

Would I be able to use The English and their History for option 2?
It covers the whole of English history, but with no specific location, other than England (with odd exploration into empire, though less than 15% I reckon) . I'm English, as is the author. Should I take straight line distance to London from birth??

[Bryony]

I was born in France and I would like to read All the Light We Cannot See. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr At least 75% of the book takes place within a 200 mile radius of where I was born since it is Paris, France and Zollverein, Germany.

Hi Laura, as long as at least 75% of the plot is in those locations AND both locations are within 200 miles of your birthplace, that would be fine. You'll need to post the straight line distance between your birthplace and both of the cities.

The Goodreads page does mention some of the plot takes place in Saint Malo, so if that's not within 200 miles of your birthplace you might need to check that at least 75% of the plot is in Paris and Zollverein.

[Bryony]

Would I be able to use The English and their History for option 2?
It covers the whole of English history, but with no specific location, other than England (with odd exploration into empire, though less than 15% I reckon) . I'm English, as is the author. Should I take straight line distance to London from birth??

Hi Catherine, that doesn't sound like it works, sorry. The book needs to be set in a place (town, city, village, etc) that you can use to calculate the distance from your birthplace, so a whole country won't work for that purpose.

[Dee]

blergh - the only problem being born in the middle of nowhere Australia - finding books set there/authors from 200 miles is hard!

[Bea]

Bryony wrote: "Bryony, would The Mists of Avalon work for 3. SO? It definitely was written more than 50 years after the events but it is also Fantasy.

Hi Bea, if it's a retelling of the myth of King Arthur then..."

Thanks, Bryony. I have already started it and was wanting a place to put this 800+ page monster!

[Coralie]

Dee wrote: "blergh - the only problem being born in the middle of nowhere Australia - finding books set there/authors from 200 miles is hard!"

If you let me know roughly where you were born, I will see if I can find you a suitable book.

[Suzanne]

Wanted to get approval for my choice for Book 2, The Secret Life of Bees.

Its GR page lists the setting just as South Carolina (the family seems to live between two fictional tiny towns). My hometown is right on the GA/SC border, and the map radius page linked in the task shows all of SC well within a 200-mile radius.

Is that acceptable, or should I find something with a specific town?

[Trish]

I love the idea that you've gone back to the very first challenge.

For Option 2, I was born in Hampstead, London. Can I use "distance zero" if I read a book set anywhere in London? Or do I have to try to figure out distances between boroughs?

BTW, does Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell work for Option 3: SO - a needle pulling thread ? It has "historical" as a MPG (1,655 users) but not specifically historical fiction? Or failing that, could I use Valour and Vanity (Historical Fiction > Historical Fantasy 35 users, Historical > Regency 32 users?)

[Karen Michele]

You've done a great job on these tasks, Bryony!

I wanted to double check something on the 2009 tasks. For 5.9 Coming Of Age Or All Grown Up (And Then Some) can we do either option? I see that "coming of age" is required on the main page for that choice, but can we do • A Novel Where The Main Character Is A Senior Citizen?

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Karen Michele wrote: "You've done a great job on these tasks, Bryony!

I wanted to double check something on the 2009 tasks. For 5.9 Coming Of Age Or All Grown Up (And Then Some) can we do either option? I see that "com..."

Yes, you may do either option
Read A Coming Of Age Novel [FICTION - with the MPG genre Coming of Age]
or
A Novel [FICTION] Where The Main Character Is A Senior Citizen.

[Lauren]

Bryony wrote: "For option 2, how do I post the straight line distance if the author was born in the same city as I was?

Hi Lauren, in that case you can state that the author was born in the same city as you so ..."

Thanks Bryony!

Fantastic task :0)

[Bryony]

Its GR page lists the setting just as South Carolina (the family seems to live between two fictional tiny towns). My hometown is right on the GA/SC border, and the map radius page linked in the task shows all of SC well within a 200-mile radius.

Sorry Suzanne, as you need to post the straight line distance between the setting and your birthplace, fictional towns (even if set in a real state or country) won't work for this one.

[Laure]

Hi Briony,

for historical fiction is this one by Julia Quinn ok?
When He Was Wicked

It is tagged as Historical romance but fits the prompt.
Thanks

[Bryony]

For Option 2, I was born in Hampstead, London. Can I use "distance zero" if I read a book set anywhere in London? Or do I have to try to figure out distances between boroughs?

Anywhere in London would be fine, Trish, and you can state that the distance is zero when you post.

BTW, does Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell work for Option 3: SO - a needle pulling thread ? It has "historical" as a MPG (1,655 users) but not specifically historical fiction?

That sounds like it would work. The GR record says it's set in 1806 but was published in 2004, so as long as the entire book takes place in that time period it will work. There's no need for a book to have a particular MPG as long as it meets the definition of historical fiction given in the task.

[Bryony]

Dee wrote: "blergh - the only problem being born in the middle of nowhere Australia - finding books set there/authors from 200 miles is hard!"

Sorry Dee, I hope it's not too hard to find something that works. It was difficult to pick a sensible distance for this task given how many different places people in this group are from.

[Bryony]

Bea wrote: "Thanks, Bryony. I have already started it and was wanting a place to put this 800+ page monster! "

Wow, that is a long read! At least you'll have no difficulty hitting the 1,000 page requirement. I'm reading A Brief History of Seven Killings for another challenge and at 688 pages I think it may be the longest book I've ever read.

[Trish]

Bryony wrote: "BTW, does Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell work for Option 3: SO - a needle pulling thread ? It has "historical" as a MPG (1,655 users) but not specifically historical fiction?

That sounds like it would work. The GR record says it's set in 1806 but was published in 2004, so as long as the entire book takes place in that time period it will work. There's no need for a book to have a particular MPG as long as it meets the definition of historical fiction given in the task."

Thanks!

[Bryony]

Laure wrote: "for historical fiction is this one by Julia Quinn ok?
When He Was Wicked

It is tagged as Historical romance but fits the prompt.
Thanks"

I couldn't see any reference to the time period in the GR record but from looking at the author's website it seems to be set in the early nineteenth century. If that's right then it will work for this task. You'll need to give a reference for the setting when you post though, as it doesn't seem to be evident from the GR main page. Happy reading!

[Jonquil]

2009 6. Terrifying Titles - Read A Novel That Has An Adjective In The Title That Relates To Halloween...I.E. Spooky, Creepy, Crawly, Scary etc.

Does "witchy" work as a Halloween adjective? Something Witchy This Way Comes

[Dee]

Coralie wrote: "Dee wrote: "blergh - the only problem being born in the middle of nowhere Australia - finding books set there/authors from 200 miles is hard!"

If you let me know roughly where you were born, I wil..."

Balaklava (about an hour from Adelaide) - but finding something available in print (not ebook only), in the US is tough- I found the SA romance writers website last night, but few of them have print books; I've read the Hannah Kent one (and her newest won't be released in the US until September)

[JennRenee, Moderator]

The DiabolicFor option 1. 5.6 terrifying titles task requires Halloween adjective in title. Will diabolic work?

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Jonquil wrote: "2009 6. Terrifying Titles - Read A Novel That Has An Adjective In The Title That Relates To Halloween...I.E. Spooky, Creepy, Crawly, Scary etc.

Does "witchy" work as a Halloween adjective? [book:..."

Yes, witchy works as a Halloween adjective.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

JennRenee wrote: "The DiabolicFor option 1. 5.6 terrifying titles task requires Halloween adjective in title. Will diabolic work?"

5.6 requires " An Adjective In The Title. From the book description: ""Nemesis is a Diabolic." It doesn't look like it is being used as adjective.

[Brooke]

For the 2009 task 5.8, a book with more than one author, would a book written by a team using a singular pseudonym work, like Nemesis Games (James S.A. Corey is a pseudonym for Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck)?

[Dee]

ok - I think I have my three....

1) Task 5.3 - 3. In 1492 Columbus Sailed The Ocean Blue - In Honor Of Columbus Day (October) - Read A Novel Where The Main Character Travels At Sea Or A Non-Fiction Book About Sea Travel.
Salt to the Sea (393pgs)

2) b. b) written by a single author born within 200 miles of the place you were born.
Silver Clouds (407pgs) - Fleur McDonald - After growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia - Straight line distance: 102.57 miles

3) SO - a needle pulling thread
Last Night with the Duke (304pgs) - billed as a regency romance (I couldn't find a specific year setting - but Regency era is commonly referred to as 1811 – 1820 - https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=...)
book was written 2017, so anything earlier than 1960 would be appropriate

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Brooke wrote: "For the 2009 task 5.8, a book with more than one author, would a book written by a team using a singular pseudonym work, like Nemesis Games (James S.A. Corey is a p..."

It would work. You would need to include a reference as it isn't clear on the author bio page.

[Sally]

For book 2, is it sufficient to state that the book is set in the Dominican Republic (no city given) if that's where I was born and a 200-mile radius spans out quite farther than the country itself?

[Suzanne]

Checking one more time on a pick for Book 2. Bare Bones

Officially the GR page setting is North Carolina in general as Dr. B travels to bone sites all over the state, but it makes clear in the first line of the GR summary that her base is Charlotte (she doesn't make it out the door for that vacation - ohai thar Deep South summer heatwave!). Charlotte just nicks into my 200 mile radius at a little over 138 miles. Acceptable?

If not, I've got one that's set entirely in Atlanta, which I am...not as enthused about reading right now.

[Bryony]

Sally wrote: "For book 2, is it sufficient to state that the book is set in the Dominican Republic (no city given) if that's where I was born and a 200-mile radius spans out quite farther than the country itself?"

Hi Sally, although I get that any two locations in the country will be within 200 miles of each other, I think I have to say this won't work. The task requires the setting to be a real place that exists on a map so that you can state the distance from your birthplace. As you can't do that if the setting is a whole country it won't work for this task. Sorry!

[Bryony]

Suzanne wrote: "Checking one more time on a pick for Book 2. Bare Bones

Officially the GR page setting is North Carolina in general as Dr. B travels to bone sites all over the state, but it makes cl..."

That sounds like it would work as the GR description makes it clear that the story is set in Charlotte. Happy reading!

[Suzanne]

Bryony wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Checking one more time on a pick for Book 2. Bare Bones

Officially the GR page setting is North Carolina in general as Dr. B travels to bone sites all over the state,..."

eeee, thankyou! :D

[Sally]

Bryony wrote: "Sally wrote: "For book 2, is it sufficient to state that the book is set in the Dominican Republic (no city given) if that's where I was born and a 200-mile radius spans out quite farther than the ..."

They ended up stating the town later in the book, so this is no longer an issue! Thanks for the reply, though - now I'm feeling super lucky that they ended up stating something because there are very few books set in D.R. or Haiti at all!