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Summer Introduction & Tasks
JUNE
1. In the Summertime
One of the best-selling singles of all time, this song by Mungo Jerry is perfect summer listening.
☀️ Read a book with a title beginning with a letter in SUMMERTIME
☀️ Read a book that appears on one of the Goodreads staff summer reading lists
☀️ Read a book which appears on this list of best-selling books of all time
2. June, July, August
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with J or A.
☀️ Read a book that was first published in June, July or August of any year.
☀️ Read a book with 6, 7 or 8 in the number of pages (eg 157 pages; 650 pages; 282 pages)
3. Bloomsday
16 June is Bloomsday, a celebration of the life of James Joyce. His book Ulysses takes place entirely on 16 June.
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with a letter in LEOPOLD BLOOM
☀️ Read a book by an author who has the same first and last initials
☀️ Read a book set in Ireland or by an Irish author
4. Beach reads
Who doesn’t love sitting on the beach or by a swimming pool soaking up the sun and enjoying a good book?
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in BEACH or SWIMMING POOL
☀️ Read a book with the sun, sea or a swimming pool on the cover OR a book with a mostly yellow or blue cover
☀️ Read a book from one of these lists of great beach reads:
🏖 The 100 greatest beach reads ever
🏖 Text on the beach - the 50 best summer reads ever
🏖 The 25 best beach reads of the year so far
JULY
1. Summer in the City
Another famous summer song, this was top of the charts for three weeks in summer 1966.
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first and last initials appear in SUMMER IN THE CITY
☀️ Read a book set in a capital city
☀️ Read a book first published in the 1960s or set in the 1960s
2. Travel the world
Summer is the perfect time for travelling and exploring new places, or “visiting” new places by reading about them.
☀️Read a book set in a country other than the one you currently live in
☀️ Read a book with a map on the cover or in the book
☀️ Read a book set in a fictional location
3. Nelson Mandela Day
Held on 18 July, this day honours the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with N or M.
☀️ Read a book by an African author or a book set in an African country
☀️ Read a book you added to your TBR in 2018
4. Winter Wonderland
Let’s not forget readers in the Southern Hemisphere who will be in the middle of winter during this challenge.
❄️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in WINTER WONDERLAND
❄️ Read a book set in or by an author from a country in the Southern Hemisphere
❄️ Read a book from one of these winter reading lists:
⛄️ Best books to read when the snow is falling
⛄️ 20 books for the cold dark months
⛄️ TED’s winter reading list
AUGUST
1. Summer Nights
One of the most famous songs from the musical Grease, Summer Nights was a hugely popular song in summer 1978.
☀️ Read a book published in a year that includes any two of the numbers 1, 9, 7, 8 (eg 1955, 2017, 1802, etc)
☀️ Read a book where an event that’s important to the plot takes place at night
☀️ Read a book with a main character who shares a first or last name with a character or actor from the movie Grease
2. Summer is too short for bad books
So pick a book you’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy.
☀️ Read a book in a series you enjoy
☀️ Read a book by a favourite author
☀️ Read a book published in 2019 that you have been looking forward to
3. International Beer Day
Held on the first Friday in August, this day encourages people to enjoy a beer with friends and sample new beers from other countries.
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY
☀️ Read a book where the characters drink beer or visit a bar.
☀️ Read a book that is the first book you have read by an author from that country (example: I’ve never read a book by a Sudanese author so I could count a book by Tayeb Salih for this prompt.)
4. Back to school
Summer always goes by so quickly. Before you know it the days are getting shorter, it’s edging towards autumn and for students it’s the start of a new school year.
☀️ Read a book by an author who is new to you
☀️ Read a book from this list of books often read in high school
☀️ Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less.
FAQsQ: Can books overlap between the main Around the Year challenge and the summer challenge?
A: Yes, absolutely! Some of the tasks are designed to be easy for you to fit in books you’re planning to read for AtY.
Q: Can a book be used for more than one summer challenge prompt?
A: Each book can only be used for one prompt in the summer challenge.
Q: Do the tasks for each month need to be completed in that month?
A: No, you can complete them at anytime over summer. You’ll receive one entry to the draw for every month’s topics you complete by 31 August.
Q: Can books started before June 1 or in progress on 31 August be counted?
A: You may count a book started before the challenge begins as long as you read at least 100 pages of the book on or after 1 June. You must have completed a book by 31 August to count it.
Q: For a task requiring a title beginning with a particular letter, do A, An and The count?
A: You can choose whether or not to count them - eg if the title has to begin with a letter in SUMMERTIME then you could use The Beach (counting the) or A Thousand Splendid Suns (ignoring a).
Q: For tasks that require the first letter of each word in the title to appear in a particular word, do A, An and The count?
A: Yes, all words in the title must be included for these tasks.
Q: For this task “Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in BEACH or SWIMMING POOL”, can a title where some letters are in beach and some in swimming pool be used?
A; No, all the letters must be in EITHER “beach” OR “swimming pool”.
Q: For tasks that require the first letter of each word in the title to appear in a particular word, can single word titles be used?
A: Yes, there’s no minimum word count requirement.
Q: Can the challenge be completed more than once?
A: You can complete the challenge twice, but you must use different tasks for the second attempt.
You will earn one draw entry for a second, full completion. That means the max is four entries for any member.
Q: How do you define which country an author is from?
A: It’s not perfect, but we will use an author’s country of birth as the definition of where they are from.
Q: For Summer in the City which cities are allowed?
A: Any national capital city works. This list might be helpful.
Q: For August #1: Summer Nights, do the names have to be spelled the same way?
A: No, it’s okay if the spelling is different as long as they’re clearly the same name.
Q: Does the rule: Books must be at least 100 pages long also count for: Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less
A: Yes, it does so books need to be between 100 and 200 pages.
Mod
For example, in June's task one prompt one, would The Book Thief count as having a title that starts with a letter in SUMMERTIME?
Also, in August's task three prompt one, would we have to count A, An, and The as part of the title for INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY?
Mod
(I may be getting ahead of myself, but it will help with planning lol)
Mod
2. For any similar prompt, I would count A, An, and The since the prompts say "each word", not "beginning with"
3. Let the mods think on that ;)
For Nelson Mandela Day, i like the “author from Africa” option - I’m assuming that authors such as Tade Thompson, Tochi Onyebuchi, and Nnedi Okorafor do not count as “authors from Africa” since they are of Nigerian descent but are neither born in nor live in Nigeria? (Although some of their books would qualify, of course, like Lagoon.)
Nadine, I know it’s not perfect but I think using place of birth to identity an author as being from a country is simplest. So I would say authors who are of Nigerian heritage but born elsewhere don’t count for that task. Although as you say, if their books are set in an African country then the book works regardless of the author’s nationality or place of birth.
Mod
For example, A Woman Is No Man wouldn't work because the A in is BEACH and the rest of the letters are in SWIMMING POOL?
Or can we use the letters in both words for one title?
And also, is there a minimum amount of words that the title has to be? In other groups that I'm in, they say the title has a three word minimum, so I just wanted to check.
Emily wrote: " And also, is there a minimum amount of words that the title has to be? In other groups that I'm in, they say the title has a three word minimum, so I just wanted to check."I hope we don’t add this rule now....that would destroy my entire plan. :/
Mod
Emily, that’s right about BEACH or SWIMMING POOL, all the letters need to appear in one option, you can’t combine them.There’s no minimum word count for the tasks requiring initial letters of titles to appear in a word. So your plan is safe, dalex! :-)
In answer to your first question Emily, we’ve decided that the following rule works best (as people may have started planning already and assumed that A, An and The do count):You can choose whether or not to count them - eg if the title has to begin with a letter in SUMMERTIME then you could use The Beach (counting the) or A Thousand Splendid Suns (ignoring a).
Mod
Bryony wrote: "There’s no minimum word count for the tasks requiring initial letters of titles to appear in a word. So your plan is safe, dalex! :-)."Awesome! Thanks.
I have a question: I have finished one of my June books (better get reading correct?) Anyway, I have a plan and a link to that plan that you made for me (thanks) but now....How do I show progress..I have 3 more June reads to complete, so I can't post in the completed thread, but do I just go into my original plan and edit somehow? Like writing completed by the task or something just for now?
I think it’s whatever works for you. I think a lot of people edit in their plan posts. I think some use spreadsheets. I use the writing section of Goodreads to track all my challenges and so I will be updating there until I have completed a full month of tasks. https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/...
Good idea Chinook, I didn't even know that part of GR
One of my August books, Tightrope by Amanda Quick came up on my reserves in the library and I had to read it or lose out on it, plus it needed to be returned. Am I still able to log it and count it as an August read?
viemag wrote: "One of my August books, Tightrope by Amanda Quick came up on my reserves in the library and I had to read it or lose out on it, plus it needed to be returned. Am I still able to log it and count it..."Yes, absolutely! You can read books for the summer challenge any time between 1 June and 31 August. :-)
Thanks for the advice about using html to format entries. I have another formatting question. How do I use color in my font or how do I add emojis?
viemag wrote: "Thanks for the advice about using html to format entries. I have another formatting question. How do I use color in my font or how do I add emojis?"If you click "some html is ok" above the comment box you can see what Goodreads will allow.
For emojis you will need to use an emoji keyboard. On windows 10 press the windows key and the full stop at the same time to activate it.
Mod
Mac - press control/command/space bar whole the cursor is place over the text box
For August #1: Summer Nights, do the names have to be spelled the same way? The main character in The Marrow Thieves is Frenchie. The character in Grease is Frenchy.
Mod
I think it's okay for them to spelled differently, personally. I feel like the name would be considered the same in so many interactions that it's getting a bit technical fo them to also be spelled the same.
Does the rule: Books must be at least 100 pages long also count for:Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less
Lieke- I assumed it did, so I looked for one between 100-200 pgs. But I don’t know for sure.
Lieke wrote: "Does the rule: Books must be at least 100 pages long also count for:Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less"
Yes, it does still apply so you’d need a book between 1100 and 200 pages.
Eujean2 wrote: "For August #1: Summer Nights, do the names have to be spelled the same way? The main character in The Marrow Thieves is Frenchie. The character in Grease is Frenchy."I agree with Laura, they’re the same name just a different spelling so I think it’s fine. :-)
Bryony wrote: "Lieke wrote: "Does the rule: Books must be at least 100 pages long also count for:Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less"
Yes, it does still apply so you’d need a book between 1100 and 2..."
Thanks, I already have a book planned but I realized I just read a book with 93 pages :)
Mod
Emily wrote: "I feel your pain, Lieke! I just started a book and it's 204 pages 😩 It fits some other categories, but it's so close to that 100-200 page range lol."😭
Challenge problems..... 😉
Hi...I just realized I had chosen the prompt, a book you added to your TBR list in 2018 and I chose Beartown, in looking at my TBR list I realize I added Beartown in 2017 and the sequel in 2018....Should I change the prompt or am I able to keep Beartown in my July summer challenge..
viemag wrote: "Hi...I just realized I had chosen the prompt, a book you added to your TBR list in 2018 and I chose Beartown, in looking at my TBR list I realize I added Beartown in 2017 and the sequel in 2018......."I don’t think you can count it for that prompt if it was added to your TBR in 2017. Sorry! But, unless you live in Sweden you could count it for July task 2 (set in a country other than the one you live in).
Bryony wrote: "viemag wrote: "Hi...I just realized I had chosen the prompt, a book you added to your TBR list in 2018 and I chose Beartown, in looking at my TBR list I realize I added Beartown in 2017 and the seq..."Thanks Bryony for confirming what I was thinking. Drat! Anyway, since I had already completed the July Prompt Number 2--Read a book that takes place in a fictional place. I realized I could just change my book to the prompt in honor of Nelson Mandela read a book where the main character's name begins with N or M. I can read Beartown for this prompt because the female protagonist's name is Maya.
Oh No! I just noticed another issue with my summer reading challenge..In June, I completed the prompt... Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in BEACH or SWIMMING POOL. I read and counted the book Marcel's Letters by Carolyn Porter for this prompt but when I created a link to the title I realized the entire title of the books was Marcel's Letters: A Font And A Search For One Man's Fate. I was thinking the title was Marcel's Letters..and SWIMMING POOL Has an A and an L in it. But now I realized that there are no F's in either beach or swimming pool. So I am thinking Marcel's Letters would not count for this prompt, unless I am able to use the shortened title. UGH! This is more difficult then I thought.
Monkiecat wrote: "for a book with a map in it, does it have to be an actual picture of a map inside the book, or can it be a scene where the characters are using a map (e.g. I just finished a book where the MCs are ..."Monkiecat: What week is that prompt from? I can't find it on the 2019 around the world challenge. I am wondering how I missed it.
viemag wrote: "Monkiecat wrote: "for a book with a map in it, does it have to be an actual picture of a map inside the book, or can it be a scene where the characters are using a map (e.g. I just finished a book ..."It's from the summer reading challenge, which you can see details on if you scroll to the top of this thread. Maps are specifically mentioned as one of the possible tasks for the 2nd prompt in July.
Monkiecat wrote: "for a book with a map in it, does it have to be an actual picture of a map inside the book, or can it be a scene where the characters are using a map (e.g. I just finished a book where the MCs are ..."It was intended to be an image of a map, but actually I don’t see why a scene featuring a map wouldn’t work too, so go ahead. :-)
For 'book set in a fictional location', how fictional does the location have to be? This is probably just me overthinking, but I keep getting stuck on whether to count settings like:on a spaceship traveling through our galaxy (the spaceship is entirely fictional, but they keep making a big deal about passing through real points in the galaxy, and seeing real planets)
in a moon base (the moon is obviously real, but the base is presumably not)
Wayward Pines, ID (Idaho is real, the town is distinctly not--it's not even just a generic town, and I don't want to give spoilers, but I assume enough people are familiar with it to have a general idea what I'm talking about)
I'd say all these locations are fictional because they don't exist right now (at least as far as we know for the moon haha).
Sophie wrote: "I'd say all these locations are fictional because they don't exist right now (at least as far as we know for the moon haha)."Thanks! I thought it was odd I hadn't happened to check that prompt off yet, given my usual reading habits, and then I realized it might be because I was interpreting it way too strictly.
For the capital city prompt, how much of the book would need to be set there? I have a book which is about 50/50 in London and in the countryside.
Sarah wrote: "For the capital city prompt, how much of the book would need to be set there? I have a book which is about 50/50 in London and in the countryside."I think set 50% or more in a capital city would be fine so that sounds like it would work.
Bryony wrote: "Sarah wrote: "For the capital city prompt, how much of the book would need to be set there? I have a book which is about 50/50 in London and in the countryside."I think set 50% or more in a capit..."
Thanks, Bryony!
I read The Little Prince Deluxe Pop-Up Book in June and didn't count it at that time because it only has 72 pages. I just noticed however that it is on the list of best selling books of all time. Does it still not count?
°~Amy~° wrote: "I read The Little Prince Deluxe Pop-Up Book in June and didn't count it at that time because it only has 72 pages. I just noticed however that it is on the list of best selling book..."Rule 1 says books have to be at least 100 pages.
Yes. I’ve been assuming that rule 1 always applies, even if the book is on a list, it has to be long enough to qualify.
Lieke wrote: "°~Amy~° wrote: "I read The Little Prince Deluxe Pop-Up Book in June and didn't count it at that time because it only has 72 pages. I just noticed however that it is on the list of b..."Yes, I know, that is why I asked. Anyway, I went with something else for the prompt. I am hoping that I can get round two done in the next 11 days. Fingers crossed!
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Little Prince: Deluxe Pop-Up Book (other topics)The Little Prince: Deluxe Pop-Up Book (other topics)
The Little Prince: Deluxe Pop-Up Book (other topics)
The Beach (other topics)
A Thousand Splendid Suns (other topics)
More...
Summer is perfect reading time for many of us. Maybe you’ll be spending a week lying on the beach with a good book to keep you company. Maybe a book will be entertaining you on a long flight to an exciting destination. Or maybe you’re planning to enjoy the sunny weather and longer days closer to home. Wherever and whatever you’re planning to read this summer, if you’d like a little extra challenge alongside AtY, and the chance to win a very exciting prize then read on!
Our summer challenge has twelve prompts in total, divided into four for each month of summer. For each prompt there is a choice of three tasks. Some are easy, some are more difficult - it’s your choice which you want to complete. You only need to complete one task per prompt to finish the challenge. You can choose to complete all twelve prompts, or if you prefer a shorter challenge you can just complete one month’s prompts.
The prize!
For each month you complete you will earn one entry into a draw to be held at the end of the challenge. The winner of the draw will be invited to create one prompt to be included in the 2020 reading challenge.*
How to join the challenge
1. First check out the prompts and choice of tasks in post two of this thread.
2. Next head over to this thread and start a post where you will post your plan and track your progress through the challenge. You can also look at other people’s plans to get ideas for any tasks you’re finding tricky and ask for recommendations from other readers.
3. When you’ve completed all four prompts for one month, post the details in this thread. Once we’ve checked that the tasks are all completed in line with the rules we’ll confirm your entry to the draw.
4. After the challenge ends on 31 August we will have a draw to choose a winner. The mods will announce the winner soon after and they’ll be invited to create a prompt for the 2020 reading list.
What books can be counted?
As there’s a prize for the winner of the draw we want to be fair to everyone so we have a few simple rules about what books can be counted.
1. Books must be at least 100 pages long, except for graphic novels which must be at least 200 pages long. For audiobooks, the printed version of the book should be at least 100 pages long.
2. Picture books or any other books where illustrations make up most of the book can’t be used.
3. You must read the whole of a book between 1 June and 31 August to count it for this challenge.
If you have any questions about the challenge then you can post them in this thread. The FAQs in post three below will also be updated as people ask questions so you might find your question has been answered there. If you’d like to check that a book will work for one of the tasks before you read it then you can ask here and we’ll confirm if it does.
Happy reading, and we hope you enjoy the challenge!
*Subject to the mods approval. For example the prompt can’t be the same or extremely similar to one already voted in and it must not be something that’s impossible for some readers to complete.
Rules update as of 31 May
As some members would like to complete the challenge more than once, the mods have agreed the following rules:
- You can complete the challenge twice, but you must use different tasks for the second attempt.
- You will earn one draw entry for a second, full completion. That means the max is four entries for any member.
For those who would like to start reading before 1 June, we have agreed that you may count a book started before the challenge begins as long as you read at least 100 pages of the book on or after 1 June.