2014 July Pick It For Me! Challenge

[Vi]

SIGN-UPS CLOSED!

July 2014 PIFM Challenge

What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?

The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.

The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new-to-you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. The new books might not be books you are interested in, it happens sometimes, that is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf. But you never know, perhaps one of those books will turn out to be a new favorite if you give it a chance. You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge! All of the books picked for you do not have to be something you are going to read.

After signups are closed, I'll put your names and any extra info I’ve requested into the super secret PIFM randomizer and select someone for you to choose for. This will get posted along with the rules for the month.

While you're doing your picks, someone else is doing picks for you. Once you receive them, you pick a book off the list and on the 1st of the month, get reading. To complete the challenge, you only have to read 1 (one) book but many of us end up reading more because we just can't resist a list of books to read.

In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or make the person who will be giving you recommendations your friend. You will also need to have your profile set to accept Private Messages (PMs), occasionally there will be questions the host, a mod or your picker will want to ask you. On top of that, we strongly recommend keeping your bookshelves updated; otherwise you might end up with a recommendation that you have already read.

Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!

Some clarification on repicks: You can ask for repicks if the books picked for you are not yet released or if you have already read them and they are on your ‘read’ shelf. If you did not receive four picks from your ‘to-read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf if supplied, you may also ask for more picks. You may not ask for repicks because a book is not available at your library or is a genre or author you don’t enjoy. Your picker likely put a lot of time and thought into the books they selected for you and want you to enjoy them, by following the tips they tried to come up some new ideas for you so check them out and read some reviews before you discount them!


***TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!***

1. To help your picker understand the type of books you like or are currently reading, please make sure your ‘read’ shelf is up to date. You can create shelves for books you DNFed or authors that don’t work for you as well as favorites. Also, you might consider updating your profile info, many of us haven’t done so since we joined GR. You can include info there about your favorite books and authors. And in the ‘about me’ section you can add things you like or things you don’t - love friends to lovers, hate insta-love or burned out on billionaire bad boys for example.

2. Check the publishing date of the book before recommending it. To check the publishing date, from your pickee's to-read or similar shelf choose shelf settings, select "date pub" from the drop down selections and save/close the menu.

3. Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves - it could be very helpful in recommending something they want to read. A personalized shelf is one that a member has labeled themselves, for example, 'to read next', 'can't wait to read', 'favorites'.

4. Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read the most. That might help in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.

5. Please make sure the books you choose for your pickee are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read. Sometimes the reader may choose not to rate a book.

6. Although Buddy Reads are no longer going to be offered as a category, if there is a recommendation that you give your pickee that you would like to read with them, please feel free to suggest a Buddy Read with them. You can PM each other and discuss it.

7. If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.), feel free to contact either Fran, Dee, Jane, Kat, Karen, Ty or the month's organizer and they can try to point you in the right direction for recommendations.

8. If possible, try to include a shorter book, a longer book, a new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, and and older book from their 'to-read' shelf. This gives them a variety of options to choose from. You can sort the shelves by many features - ratings, date read, date added, date published, #of pages and many other items from the shelf settings as described in tip #1. And they can be sorted by ascending or descending order as well.

9. Please choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These should be brand new to them books and not found on any of their shelves. It could also be a book found on their shelves if they've never read any of the author's work before. Part of the fun of this challenge is discovering new books to read, adding new titles to the ever-expanding tbr shelf. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr, with a minimum of one from their preferred shelves if provided.

10. Please remember this is a romance readers challenge, so unless you KNOW your pickee would prefer something else (something off their preferred shelf, for example) most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are many different sub genres and related types of books - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy even. Take a look at your pickee's read shelf and see if they read non-romance genres before making your suggestions.

INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:

**Who do you think will win the FIFA World Cup 14?**

Brazil, Argentina or Germany? (Current favorites)

***If you have a preferred shelf, please list it when you sign up!***

IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until June 23rd (11 pm EST).

You’ll have until June 26th (11 pm EST) to make your recommendations.

Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.

If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!

***Please add a new comment rather than updating a previous post or your progress will likely be missed. It is also very helpful if you add more information like "I finished another pick" or "I finished my third book for this challenge" and mention if your pick was a buddy read. Thanks!***

*Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!*

[Vi]

***There has been some info added to the post above, but to insure the points are not missed they will be highlighted again here.***

PIFM Challenge Simplified:

The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new­to­you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. The new books might not be books you are interested in, it happens sometimes, that is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf. But you never know, perhaps one of those books will turn out to be a new favorite if you give it a chance. You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge! All of the books picked for you do not have to be something you are going to read.

Regarding repicks:

Some clarification on repicks: You can ask for repicks if the books picked for you are not yet released or if you have already read them and they are on your ‘read’ shelf. If you did not receive four picks from your ‘to­read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf if supplied, you may also ask for more picks. You may not ask for repicks because a book is not available at your library or is a genre or author you don’t enjoy. Your picker likely put a lot of time and thought into the books they selected for you and want you to enjoy them, by following the tips they tried to come up some new ideas for you so check them out and read some reviews before you discount them!

Key Points:

➤ Set your profile to public or make sure to friend your picker.
➤ Set your profile to accept PMs.
➤ Update your GR profile.
➤ Keep your 'read' and 'to­read' shelves up to date.
➤ Consider creating/using a preferred shelf.
➤ You are to make eight picks for your pickee:

➤ Four new, these should be brand new­to­them books not on their shelves or books by an author not on their read shelf.
➤ Four from their TBR, with a minimum of one from a preferred shelf if provided.

➤ Read and use all the tips above when making your picks.
➤ Check their recently read books to determine what their current reading taste is.
➤ Only recommend romance unless you are sure they will be interested in other genres.
➤ Double check to make sure your picks have been released and are not on their read shelf before making picks.
➤ Only requests repicks when they meet the repick rules.

If your questions are not answered in these posts or in the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ, please ask!

[Vi]

Sign-Up

Argentina:
1. Gigi : (RRRC Pick4me)
2. Breann : (PIFM pick me)
3. Shelby : (GB Q3)
4. Leslie
5. Runell
6. Sandy :(Meet & Greet)
7. MountainKat : (to-read-asap)
8. Diane
9. KarenH : (can't wait to read)
10. Macwold01 [Elise]
11. Daffodil
12. Beppy : (pifm)

Brazil:
1. Fran : ( PIFM Shelf)
2. Nancy H
3. Aarati
4. Laurla : ( 01 TBR Owner)
5. Brazil : () to-read-2014)
6. Bethany : ( to-read)
7. Kami
8. Grace : ( Meet and Greet)
9. Kait
10. Ashley
11. Penney : ( PIFM Challenge)
12. Arielle
13. Kaileigh : (Picking Shelf)
14. Sheila : (next-in-series)
15. Jamie : (PIFM Challenge List)
16. Christina
17. Karen
18. Mary

Germany:
1. Zara : (RRRC MNGC June/July)
2. Amy J
3. Skandia
4. Carla Collette
5. Pam
6. Siriusedward (Private)
7. Joyce
8. Suzanne
9. Nichole : (2014 Challenge pool)
10. Mel
11. Elke
12. Vi
13. Liz Contreras

[Vi]

PIFM Rules:

NOTE: Please make sure to give atleast four picks new to your pickee and four from their TBR/Preferred shelf. How you split that is upto you.

I am not a football fan. I only know about football from books and manga/anime. But Singapore is crazy about it and so are my brothers/cousins. So I'm forced to follow football albeit passively. In honour of that madness..

Goal Keeper: Goalkeeper's main role is to stop the other team from scoring. They also don't (usually) move from their penalty area.
1. Recommend a book from one of your go-to author or a comfort read book.
2. Goal keepers also wear a different colored uniform from the rest of the team. Recommend a book with a colorful cover (atleast 2 different colors)

Defender: Defender's main responsibility is to support their team and prevent other teams from scoring a goal.
3. One of defending position is a libero - a position in which the defender can also play an attacking role. This often means running the length of the field. Recommend a longer book from your pickee's TBR or preferred shelf.

Midfielder: Midfielders are the link between the defence and the forwards.
4. Pick a book that is a next in the series they have already started.
5. Playmaker/Gamemaker is a position where one must be able to read the game. Recommend a book that has a nerdy or take charge kind of lead character or a futuristic/dystopic/apocalytic book.

Forward: Forwards mainly score goals or create a scoring opportunity
6. Recommend a book that you've recommended successfully before (i.e one that your pickee has read and liked it. It need not be a PIFM rec)
7. Pick a book from your pickee's shelf that catches your eye.

Referee: The often overlooked non-player. Referees often run more than the actual players and needs endurance.
8. Recommend a classic or a book that you think is a classic that your pickee should read.

P.S: If you haven't heard of it, then you should check out Captain Tsubasa Manga/Anime. It's one of top shonen manga/anime. With CRAZY soccer moves. Also supposedly, inspired a lot of players.

[Vi]

JULY PIFM Pairings:

Each person in the group picks for the person below them. The last person will pick for the first person in that group. For example, Sandy will pick for Shelby in the Argentina Group.

✓ - Picks made. {P #} - link to post of the picks.

Argentina
✓Shelby: (GB Q3) {P #162}
✓KarenH: (can't wait to read) {P #97}
✓Beppy: (pifm) {P #153}
✓Gigi: (RRRC Pick4me) {P #61}
✓Diane {P #105}
✓Macwolf01 [Elise] {P #176}
✓Breann: (PIFM pick me) {P #81}
✓Daffodil {P #161}
✓Leslie {P #178}
✓Runell {P #142}
✓MountainKat: (to-read-asap) {P #146}
✓Sandy:(Meet & Greet) {P #121}

Brazil:
✓Sheila: (next-in-series) {P #60}
✓Mary {P #173}
✓Ashley {P #55}
✓Grace: ( Meet and Greet) {P #110}
✓Aarati {P #90}
Kaileigh: (Picking Shelf)
✓Nancy H {P #85}
✓Penney: ( PIFM Challenge) {P #137}
✓Laurla: ( 01 TBR Owner) {P #155}
✓Jamie: (PIFM Challenge List) {P #84}
✓Bethany: ( to-read) {P #82}
✓Fran: ( PIFM Shelf) {P #73}
✓Karen {P #172}
✓Arielle {P #130}
✓Dee: () to-read-2014) {P #65}
✓Kami {P #58}
✓Kait {P #57}
✓Christina {P #108}

Germany:
✓Skandia {P #63}
✓Nichole: (2014 Challenge pool) {P #113}
✓Vi {P #135}
✓Mel {P #99}
✓Zara: (RRRC MNGC June/July) {p #64}
✓Elke {P #101}
Amy J
Siriusedward (Private)
✓Liz Contreras {P #72}
✓Pam {P #115}
✓Carla Collette {P #117}
✓Suzanne {P #98}
✓Joyce {P #159}

[Vi]

Repicks:

1. Ty picks for DG : (pick4me shelf)
3.Fran picks for Karla :(Help Me Decide)
4. DG picks for Nancy H
5. Karla picks for Liz Contreras
6. Amy J picks for Ty

[Vi]

Reserved

[Zara's Retreat]

out of the three you've listed Germany is the most likely but I would love to see Costa Rica win.


Please use RRRC MNGC June/July shelf

[Fran, Moderator]

I'm in and I will just give a total guess (because I haven't watched any of it).....Brazil.


Please use PIFM shelf

[Gigi]

I'm in and I'll say Argentina

Please use my rrrc-pick4me shelf

[Nancy H]

Brazil, even though I haven't been following it this year. I just have always liked Pele and I think he was from Brazil.

[Amy J.]

I'm in and from the list I'll choose Germany.

[Breann]

In!

Uhhhh... *looks around nervously* Argentina?

The only reason I even know that the soccer thing is happening is because it's on McDonald's cups right now. :D

Please use this shelf: pifm-pick-me

[Shelby]

I'm going to say Argentina because after the USA of course I'm cheering for them for my fellow bartenders sake. He's Argentinian and a big fan. :D

I'd love any picks from my GB Q3 Shelf

[Skandia]

How about Holland :)

But from those three, I'll choose Germany.

[Aarati]

I'm in. I don't watch football. Or any other sports for that matter. But I'll go with Brazil

[Carla]

I'm in but have no idea--Germany, I'll say. Btw, if you could make sure to spell my name correctly, (Collette with 2 l's and t's), it helps me find your posts :) Thanks.

[LaurLa]

I'm in and I am NOT a soccer - er, I mean, football fan! But I am finding myself strangely drawn into the darn thing... something to do with it being on non-stop at my house I'm sure.... Anyway, since US isn't a choice, I'll go with the host country of Brazil.

ETA my preferred shelf: 01-tbr-owned

[siriusedward]

sign up

[Dee]

I have Brazil making the finals out of those three - I'll post my preferred shelf later on

to-read-2014

[Bethany]

I'm in, and I'll take a guess as to Brazil winning.

Please choose from pages 1 & 2 of this shelf: to-read Thanks!

[Kami]

no clue. I don't really follow the whole soccer thing. I am going to say Brazil.

[Pam]

I'm in and will go with Germany

[~Leslie~]

Love soccer! I'll go with Argentina and my favorite player Lionel Messi!!

[Runell]

I'm in!

I have absolutely no idea . . . Uh, Argentina? Sure, I'll go with that one.

[SandyC]

Hmmmm....I will say Argentina.

Please choose from this shelf:

Meet and Greet

[Grace]

Ummm...not sure...I guess I'll go with Brazil.

Please select a couple from:

Meet & Greet

[Kaity]

I don't follow any sport but I know Brazil is hosting so I will go with them :)

[Ashley]

I'm cheering for Chile but for this challenge sake ill pick brazil

[Penney]

My heart will forever remain with the US, but I'll go with Brazil for this purpose :-)

Please use my pifm shelf

[Arielle Rae]

I'm in! I don't really follow the World Cup very much, but I'm going to go for Brazil, since I have a Brasil pillow :)

[Joyce]

I'm in

World Cup....hmmm ....ummmm....I guess....Germany?

I don't follow soccer so I'm picking where my Grandfather is from.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

A is for Argentina - I guess! Put me down for them, no clue and haven't even gotten to watch more than a few snippets of any of the games.

Please pick primarily from my to-read-asap shelf that I need to find some time to update... Thanks!

[Suzanne]

I'm in and I'll guess Germany because I'm of German decent.

[Kai]

I'm in and I will guess Brazil. Please use my preferred shelf:
picking-shelf

[Nichole]

Eenie Meenie Miney ... Germany!

Preferred shelf: 2014 Challenge Pool

[Sheila]

I'm going to go with the home team -Brazil

next-in-series

[Jamie ~ Bad Boy Inspector]

I have been waiting for one of these challenges so I could join in. This will be my first PIFM challenge. I will go with Brazil since I don't know much about soccer/football. I am also making a list to use.

PIFM Challenge List

[Christina]

I'm in. I choose brazil even though I know nothing about the sport. I'm more of a hockey fan. Whoever picks for me can use my to read or to read first shelves.

[Diane ~Firefly~]

No idea, but I'll go alphabetical and choose Argentina.

[[deleted user]]

Im in , I havent been watching this time, but I guess I will pick Brazil!

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I haven't been paying much attention at all this time around, although I do have a game on now...and since I haven't really been paying attention, I don't have a true favorite, so I think I'll go with Argentina!

Please use my cant-wait-to-read shelf. Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

I'm in and I'll go with Germany from the list.

[mary]

Honestly I have no idea who is favored to win....so I am going to say Brazil.

[Macwolf01 [Elise]]

I'm in, thanks for the early newsletter reminder ... Argentina (Chile but A my other team in our family bragging rights pool)

[Daffodil]

I don't have any idea either, so Eeny, meeny ... I randomly choose Argentina.

[Elke]

I am in! I will choose Germany!

Please also pick from my "on deck" shelf

[UnusualChild{beppy}]

i'm in. i'll say argentina. please use my pifm shelf

[Fran, Moderator]

Last chance to sign up for the July PIFM!

Sign ups close and partners are assigned in 2 1/2 hours!

[Vi]

A little over 2 hours left for sign up..