EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion
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[ARCHIVES] CHALLENGE CORNER
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2019 Alphabet Soup Challenge - Preliminary discussion
I think this looks like a fun and doable challenge. I am able to understand the structure and the difficulty levels easily enough.
I have been waiting (somewhat impatiently) for this challenge to roll out! LOL I really like the difficulty levels. This way everyone can participate.I see that the challenge is set to start on Feb 1. Since it is a 2019 challenge will books read be retroactive to Jan 1? For some people 26 books is an accomplishment itself, it would be a shame to lose an entire month.
Question about wildcards. Are the only acceptable wildcards books with numeric titles? I can't just slot any old book where ever and call it my wildcard. Like for X I couldn't slot Little Women and call it Wildcard, correct?
To update you are asking that we ONLY update our original post?
We do not need to also create a new message that says something along the lines of Update to Msg. 100 5/26.
Now to wait until Feb 1. UGH. :-)
Edit: Thanks for getting this all together!
I like it!! Maybe add a multiplier to the scores based on level selected? 2 for medium difficulty and 3 for hard. I'm a new mom so I know there is zero chance I will get to read 26 books this year, but I will definitely give it a try.
So excited for this challenge to start!
JustJennifer wrote: "I have been waiting (somewhat impatiently) for this challenge to roll out! LOL I really like the difficulty levels. This way everyone can participate."JJ, you were the first to start the discussion on improving the challenge, creating easier levels! :-) We owe you!
Since it is a 2019 challenge will books read be retroactive to Jan 1?
Yes, for sure!! I'll include that in the rules.
Are the only acceptable wildcards books with numeric titles? I can't just slot any old book where ever and call it my wildcard. Like for X I couldn't slot Little Women and call it Wildcard, correct?
Yes, correct, you can't - as proposed.
But if anyone feels this is a necessity, we can inlcude it in the EASY level. Or create a fourth MEGA EASY level. :-)
To update you are asking that we ONLY update our original post?
We do not need to also create a new message that says something along the lines of Update to Msg. 100 5/26.
Yes, just the original post. No need to post a message whenever you update a book. Just like it worked in 2018.
BUT you have to:
1. Keep the score updated (15/26, for instance). People tend to forget to do this, but this is how we track who's finished.
2. Post a final message at the end of the thread when you finish. So that we know for sure!
But please, just say you've finished and quote the original message number. DO NOT post the whole soup again! :-)
Now to wait until Feb 1. UGH. :-)
Well, we might start a little earlier, but there's a lot of discussion ahead, you'll see. :-)
Thanks for all!
Nadaira wrote: "I like it!! Maybe add a multiplier to the scores based on level selected? 2 for medium difficulty and 3 for hard. I'm a new mom so I know there is zero chance I will get to read 26 books this year, I will get to read 26 books this year, but I will definitely give it a try."Nadaira, I think that adding a multipier is not necessary. The idea is to have three separate rankings. I forgot to mention that before! :-)
So one for Level 1, another for level 2, etc.
Congrats, new mom. But you know, moms are super-heroines and can do incredible things. :-)
It looks great! Will there be a list of participants?
The competition looks great!I am just thinking about the format of the post:
If someone chose to go by Authors' Name, shouldn't the format be:
Z- Markus Zusak (The Book Thief) - Date
It will be easier to track the challange and see the relation between the letter and the book (Author)
"Since it is a 2019 challenge will books read be retroactive to Jan 1? For some people 26 books is an accomplishment itself, it would be a shame to lose an entire month." = I go with JustJennifer here.I'm glad the mods think we can retroactively go with January as well.
I think the easy level could have a forth wild card, maybe?
Just thinking out loud, because I'm doing the hard level with author's name; but if the aim is to help out the people in the easy levels, another wild card for hard letters could be ideal.
Either way, I think there are enough books and authors with the whole bunch of alphabet letters.
(I actually wanted to do an alphabet with the author's last name and one with the title of the book, but I honestly doubt I'll be able to finish that in one year. Especially since I'm only counting only physical books that I right now own (I want to get rid of them) and they're rather thick ones, so... :'v )
Regards;
María
Adding January seems good. Most people don't read so many books anyway :)
If I understand correctly, wildcards can ONLY be used on books beginning with a number in the title... I'd like to propose that 1 of the 3 wildcards on the easy level be used on any letter regardless of title.
Marcos wrote: "JustJennifer wrote: "I have been waiting (somewhat impatiently) for this challenge to roll out! LOL I really like the difficulty levels. This way everyone can participate."JJ, you were the first ..."
Marcos, Thanks for clarifying!
I love the simplicity of this challenge and the levels of participation. I would rather spend my time reading than trying to figure out what counts for what. LOL So I am going to be a huge advocate of not changing too many thing. Keep it simple.
Now I am going to contradict myself and say that for the EASY level ONLY that we loosen the rules for the wildcard. I envision the easy level being used for people who don't read a ton of books a year and could use a little encouragement. Or by someone who has already completed their 1st challenge and this one is their 2nd or 5th challenge. For the Easy Level ONLY, the wildcard can be anything. If it is clearly marked as a wildcard then any book slotted in that letter counts. What does everyone else think? Again, if there are a lot of rules changes then I retract this idea. :-)
K.I.S.S. Method forever!
Aqsa wrote: "It looks great! Will there be a list of participants?"
Yes! And of those completing the challenge as well. Like in 2018.
Zainab wrote: "The competition looks great!I am just thinking about the format of the post:
If someone chose to go by Authors' Name, shouldn't the format be:
Z- Markus Zusak ..."
Yes, very good point! Thanks, Zainab.
And it seems we have some converging suggestions on making the EASY level... even easier.We can do that, as I said.
Let's just get more feedback and then I'll make it happen. Some very good ideas posted, so far, thanks, all!
Great work, Marcos! Very straightforward with good options.
Omigosh! I was so excited to start that I copied before realizing it starts on Feb 1st :D
I read the explanation about levels and it is very thorough and clear. I like the new levels allowing more people to join. I had a couple of doubts but they have already been resolved in previous comments.
Thanks Marcos for all your hard work!
I'm anxiously waiting for February 1st!
Just updated the rules to include some of the suggestions made here. KISS way, JJ!The EASY issue is still to be improved.
Good afternoon!May I join this challenge?
If I may, I have two questions. Concerning books with titles beginning with numerals or of all numerals--I'm thinking of 2666 by Roberto Bolaño, for example--would that title go under T for Twenty, or would there be a separate # category for such books?
My second question concerns books with multiple authors, such as autobiographies, but I think I may be answering my own question. On 8 January I finished Veeck--as in Wreck by Bill Veeck with Ed Linn. Because Bill Veeck, not Ed Linn, is known, and listed on Goodreads, as the author, a person completing the challenge using the first letter of the author's last name, would put it under V, right? Thank you.
Jim wrote: ".... 2666 by Roberto Bolaño, for example--would that title go under T for Twenty, or would there be a separate # category for such books?"Hi, Jim! Anyone may join! :-) Welcome!
"2666" doesn't count specifically for "T". 1984 doesn't count specifically for "N" (nineteen). However, as number titles are wildacards, you can place them at any letter! :-)
Second question is good! A new one! :-)
A book with more than one author will count for any of the authors you choose. This one of yours could be used for both "V" or "L", as it fits best your need for the challenge.
If you need the second author and it is not in Goodreads, then the person who included the book in the database didn't do a careful job. All authors should be there. But one of us can do that inclusion of an author, if needed.
Mariana wrote: "Omigosh! I was so excited to start that I copied before realizing it starts on Feb 1st :D"Desperate to start participants can just start it in any text editor document. When the challenge starts, just paste it back here as it is then!
:-)
And remember, today, January 10, is the last day for suggestions!
So, I'm making an additional proposal for the EASY level to become easier. :-)1. FOUR wildcards.
2. They can be either "number titled" books or ANY book.
3. Participant only has to indicate the use of a book as a wildcard by adding "(wildcard)".
Well, THAT'S easy! :-)
What do you think?
Marcos... you rock! Let's get this party started. 😁
I don't get it. How is this a challenge? A challenge would be to read better books, or more books, or more important books, or more diverse books. More challenging books. Something like that.
A bit more about easy level: if there are 4 wildcards, to make it still challenging I think that the wildcard should have the letter it is changing either in the title of the book or in author's name, i.e.Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close can stand for letter X because it has it in the title, but i.e. Peter Pan can't.
My brain is still in bed, so if this doesn't make any sense, just smile, nod, and ignore me. :-)My first response was, "Only 1 wild card!" But, honestly, that is an appropriate rule for the hardest level. It seems like I was able to complete this challenge with only one wild card last year (since I forgot about them until we read 1984).
I like the different levels. It should encourage people to participate who might otherwise be intimidated by the challenge. I don't think you should make it simpler, though. That somewhat defeats the purpose (in my eyes). What I loved about the challenge was that it forced me to look for books I would have never even heard of or considered. And, it took planning, which made it feel like a real challenge and then a real accomplishment when I finished.
As an aside (and feel free to steal my ideas now or later), I'm hoping to do an Alphabet Challenge for my library. BUT, it will be started as a 3 or 6 month challenge. I know . . . YIKES! If we do it, it will be left open for participants to finish at their own rate. However, with it being such a short time frame, my levels will likely be something like 1) the entire alphabet, 2) every other letter of the alphabet, and 3) vowels only. I'm considering both a team challenge (where 2 or 3 people can work together to complete it) and an individual challenge.
Kgrinch wrote: "I don't get it. How is this a challenge? A challenge would be to read better books, or more books, or more important books, or more diverse books. More challenging books. Something like that."I completed two of these last year. For me, the initial challenge was just to read more books. It soon became a challenge to find books I was interested in reading that fit the criteria. As a result, I read a good variety of books. I also forced myself to finish some I would have loved to through in the trash, but only a couple. Overall, I found some great books, fiction and non-fiction, that I never would have read otherwise.
As the participant selects the books, you can make it more challenging by choosing only classics or only non-fiction or only books from your to read list or whatever criteria you would like to set.
Zeljka wrote: "A bit more about easy level: if there are 4 wildcards, to make it still challenging I think that the wildcard should have the letter it is changing either in the title of the book or in author's na..."I like this better than any book. Any book seems like cheating.
Yes, I agree with Zeljka and Shelley.
I agree with Shelley. Specifically and especially, when I join 'challenges' I often do so to increase the diversity of what I read.
(However, I am still trying to figure out how to use the Around the World challenge to increase the number of international authors I read, without getting over-challenged by the sheer logistics.)
I'm using this challenge to make me go through my bookshelves and read what is there. Just glancing last night at one shelf, I covered five letters. I'm also doing Book Riot Read Harder because that is the one that pushes me out of my comfort zone. Between the two I'll knock out 50 books!
Kgrinch wrote: "I don't get it. How is this a challenge? A challenge would be to read better books, or more books, or more important books, or more diverse books. More challenging books. Something like that."Hi, Kgrinch!
This challenge was originally devised by our former moderator, Kasey. We're improving it for 2019 based on several discussions, taking into account member's feedback.
Throughout the discussions, no one considered this not to be a challenge, quite the other way. Except for you, contributors so far have said they liked the challenge and that we should do it again this year.
I particularly found it challenging. As for more, more important or better books, that's a bit up to each one of us, readers, after all. We read what we like, what we choose. I can pick a "P" book that is within my regular preferences or choose a more challenging one. This can be seen positively, as another difficulty factor for everyone to manage, according to their own possibilities.
Many of us have said they want to join, contributed to the discussion and are even eager to start.
At our group we don't press or require anyone to read any quantity or specific kind of books, nor to join any of the group activities. Members do what they like, join the activities they find attractive.
Zeljka wrote: "A bit more about easy level: if there are 4 wildcards, to make it still challenging I think that the wildcard should have the letter it is changing either in the title of the book or in author's na..."Good idea. Thinking...
Shelley wrote: "My brain is still in bed, so if this doesn't make any sense, just smile, nod, and ignore me. :-)My first response was, "Only 1 wild card!" But, honestly, that is an appropriate rule for the harde..."
It all makes sense, Can't wait for your brain to wake up and get more ideas! :-)
I agree with you, but the majority felt we should make EASY level easier, so I guess we're going that way.
Very good ideas for your library's challenges!
Shelley wrote: "I completed two of these last year. For me, the initial challenge was just to read more books. It soon became a challenge to find books I was interested in reading that fit the criteria. As a result, I read a good variety of books. .... .As the participant selects the books, you can make it more challenging by choosing only classics or only non-fiction or only books from your to read list or whatever criteria you would like to set."
Very good reasoning, Shelley. Especially the second paragraph was exactly what I was suggesting to Kgrinch. Excellent ideas for increasing the difficulty and be even more challenged! Thanks!
And actually I think you were the first to start a second challenge in 2018!
Cheryl wrote: "(However, I am still trying to figure out how to use the Around the World challenge to increase the number of international authors I read, without getting over-challenged by the sheer logistics.) "Hi, Cheryl!
Suggestion: join the EASY level there. You can just "fly" from one country to another, read the same great books and not worry about logistics at all! :-)
Audra wrote: "I'm using this challenge to make me go through my bookshelves and read what is there. Just glancing last night at one shelf, I covered five letters...."That's it, Audra! I also read all books from my shelves! Excellent for diminishing the TBR pile. Mine is huge!
Marcos wrote: "Suggestion: join the EASY level there. You can just "fly" from one country to another, read the same great books and not worry about logistics at all! :-)"You know what, I was so set on the HARD level that I hadn't considered the EASY level of that challenge... I think I'll go with the Hard level for this one and Easy for Around the World
Thanks for your suggestions Marcos!
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EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up...
Books mentioned in this topic
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (other topics)Peter Pan (other topics)
2666 (other topics)
The Book Thief (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Roberto Bolaño (other topics)Markus Zusak (other topics)
Markus Zusak (other topics)
It is to start on February 1st.
I used most of the input of discussions held
- in the Suggestion Box (from message 404 to message 420) and
- in the Planning 2019 Reading Challenges discussion.
The present discussion is for members to say what they think, criticize, propose improvements, etc.
It will be open from >>> January 10 to January 14 <<< (five days, including a weekend).
I think that the other discussion about the "Around the World ..." challenge showed that's a good time.
Some additional discussion may be needed, so I have set the starting date to February 1st.