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TASK HELP: Spring 2018 > 30.5 - TessaVanessa's Task: Name Game

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message 1: by Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus (last edited Feb 21, 2018 08:09AM) (new)

Dlmrose | 18433 comments Mod
30.5 - TessaVanessa's Task: Name Game

Go to Behind the Name Randomizer
Using these settings:
How many given names: first name only
Which gender: You may select a gender if you wish or select "either"
Surname set to "random"
Select "avoid rare names"
Set the Category names to English and/or any other category limiters if you choose.

Generate ONLY 5 names. One name will be produced each time you run the randomizer. Note each name.
Select a first name and a last name from your list of 5 names.

Read two books, one book 1 and one book 2.

Book 1: Read a book with an author with the same first name as the name generated.
Book 2: Read a book with an author with the same last name as the name generated.
Names for both books must match the generated name exactly.

Example: generated name list
Rufus Dahl
Floretta Acker
Ira Benn
Sharyn Long
Teresa Rush

Book 1: I Am Watching You by TERESA Driscoll from Teresa Rush
Book 2: Real Men Will by Victoria DAHL from Rufus Dahl

Required: Post the 5 names you generated.


message 2: by Tess (last edited Feb 23, 2018 01:17PM) (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Note: If you don't get any options, post and explain with details and I will run a list for you. You will be able to reference the post in this thread when you post your challenge.


message 3: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Reserved


message 4: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Reserved


message 5: by Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus (new)

Dlmrose | 18433 comments Mod
This help thread is open


message 6: by Bea (last edited Feb 21, 2018 06:26AM) (new)

Bea OK. I set up the parameters as noted above. I am getting names like Reed, Bunny. These are not common names! Yikes! Where is John, Mary, Matthew?

Edited: So, after my rant, I went back and generated five names: Otis, Madeline, Joyce, Errol, and Tammi. And, I owe Tess an apology as I started looking for Madelines and have found a few books to add to my TBR.


message 7: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Bea wrote: "OK. I set up the parameters as noted above. I am getting names like Reed, Bunny. These are not common names! Yikes! Where is John, Mary, Matthew?

Edited: So I generated five names: Otis, Madeline,..."



AAAhhh...the never ending TBR list. I catalog all the books in my library. Everyday new things cross my desk. I will never finish them all.


message 8: by Ed (new)

Ed Lehman | 809 comments So...one of the names I generated was Martin Paul. So, if I read a book by Pamela Paul and another by Martin Amis, I'm ok right? I don't have to use two different generated names.


message 9: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Ed wrote: "So...one of the names I generated was Martin Paul. So, if I read a book by Pamela Paul and another by Martin Amis, I'm ok right? I don't have to use two different generated names."

Yes, this works.


message 10: by Book Concierge (new)

Book Concierge (tessabookconcierge) | 4447 comments Just want to be sure I've got this right ...

We need a FIRST name -and - a SURNAME from the generator?

Then we pick ONE of the "first" names to match an author's First name / and / we pick one of the surnames to match an author's LAST name.

Do I have that right?


I started out just generating first names and then re-read your directions. Want to be sure I've got it correct.


message 11: by Marie (UK) (new)

Marie (UK) (mazza1) | 3940 comments I have to say even using avoid unusual names mine are extremely unusual but i have found something I like this task


message 12: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Book Concierge wrote: "Just want to be sure I've got this right ...

We need a FIRST name -and - a SURNAME from the generator?

Then we pick ONE of the "first" names to match an author's First name / and / we pick one of..."


That is correct.


message 13: by Bryony (last edited Feb 22, 2018 03:26PM) (new)

Bryony (bryony46) | 350 comments Is anyone else finding this quite a challenge? I’m not trying to be difficult but I’ve tried the five surnames I was given and this is what I’ve found so far...

1 - Ibbot. There’s not a single author with this name.

2. Danniell. There’s one book, the intriguingly named Fermentation Secrets: Things You Didn't Know About Fermentation And Its Magic Effect On Your Health. Sadly I’ll never uncover the secrets as at only 31 pages the book is too short for an SRC task.

3. Normanson. Not a single author with this surname either.

4. Rier. This looked more hopeful as GR has 147 books by authors with this surname. Sadly it turns out that the majority are gay erotica. No offence to those who enjoy the genre, but I’ve never read erotica and don’t plan to start now! The remainder are not exact matches, except for The Guide to Lotus Hal: Techniques for Experienced 1-2-3 Users and Orchestrating 1-2-3: Notes for Advanced Users. As I’ve no idea what 1-2-3 is, I think it’s safe to say I’m not quite the experienced user the books were written for.

5. Dennell. Another hopeful start as I was excited to find an author called Robin Dennell who is the author of 11 distinct works! I subsequently discovered he’s a Palaeolithic archaeologist. Even if I did feel appropriately qualified to read his very academic sounding books (Early Hominin Landscapes In Northern Pakistan: Investigations In The Pabbi Hills, Early Farming In South Bulgaria From The Vi To The Iii Millennia B. C and The Palaeolithic Settlement of Asia for example), I’m a little put off by the £50+ price tag on Amazon! My library are no help either as I imagine most people with an interest in this stuff have access to a university library.

Not sure what to do, it’s looking like my hope of completing the Spring challenge may have met an early obstacle! 😂

Sorry, edited straight after posting as I re-read my post and wanted to add that I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m being mean about the task, I was just feeling a little frustrated and wondering if anyone else is too. Obviously the point of a challenge is to be challenging so I actually think this is a very fun task, I just wish it’d been slightly easier for me!


message 14: by Pam (new)

Pam (bluegrasspam) Bryony wrote: "Is anyone else finding this quite a challenge? I’m not trying to be difficult but I’ve tried the five surnames I was given and this is what I’ve found so far...

1 - Ibbot. There’s not a single aut..."


Did you check the English box and eliminate rare names? Those are odd names. I checked masculine only and got 5 good selections. I was surprised to get Kim as a male name but it works because I’m reading a Kim Stanley Robinson book in March.


message 15: by Bryony (new)

Bryony (bryony46) | 350 comments Yes, I did that Pam and still got really unusual names. I think partly it’s the spelling that’s a problem - eg Danniell is unusual but there are plenty of people called Daniel. I don’t think I’ve heard of the name Kim for a man, I always think of it as a female name. That’s a good coincidence for you though.


message 16: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Bryony wrote: "Yes, I did that Pam and still got really unusual names. I think partly it’s the spelling that’s a problem - eg Danniell is unusual but there are plenty of people called Daniel. I don’t think I’ve h..."
I generated 5 names for you:
Tucker Stafford
Rosy Power
Malinda Stanton
Kingston Lee
Daisy Dane

Can you use these? If yes, just reference this in your post. I am going to edit challenge and offer this. Happy reading!


message 17: by Jamie (new)

Jamie | 421 comments I want to clarify first/last, if I generate

Russ Bernard

Can I use Bernard Cornwell or it has to be first name matches first, surname matches surname


message 18: by Bryony (new)

Bryony (bryony46) | 350 comments Thank you so much Tess. I can see hundreds of books by authors with those names so I’m sure I can find a book that fits. Mission complete the Spring challenge is back on! :-)


message 19: by Cindy (new)

Cindy | 987 comments Can you use the first and last names of only 1 of the names generated or do you have to use 2 different names?


message 20: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Jamie wrote: "I want to clarify first/last, if I generate

Russ Bernard

Can I use Bernard Cornwell or it has to be first name matches first, surname matches surname"


First name matches first, last name matches last


message 21: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Cindy wrote: "Can you use the first and last names of only 1 of the names generated or do you have to use 2 different names?"

You can use the same name, but using 2 different ones is allowed as well.


message 22: by Tess (new)

Tess (tessavanessa) | 2114 comments Wayne wrote: "I have to admit that I approached this task with great trepidation, but as it turned out, the randomizer gave me some pretty reasonable names, and I even get to read a book that I've wanted to read..."

I'm glad you are enjoying it!


message 23: by Sally (new)

Sally (sallysimply) | 537 comments I'm having such a good time just generating names here because I keep getting completely ridiculous name, even with all the right parameters set. I found something that worked, but some of these were just too much:
Hippolyte Thwaite
Susie Swindlehurst
Kylian Tifft

This is hilarious.


message 24: by Dee (new)

Dee (austhokie) | 8947 comments annotating my names here, so i don't lose the piece of paper i wrote them down on :)

Hatty Varnham
Waylon Harford
Suzie Adcock
Cole Carter
Marleen Moses


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