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50 BOOKS READ IN 2023
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50 BOOKS READ IN 2023- HOW TO'S
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Mod
Our Required Format:
JANUARY
1.
by
Winston S. ChurchillFinish date: January 2023
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.
Folks I hate to have to add more verbiage about things that are already in our rules and guidelines but are ignored by one or two folks - but that is always the way isn't it. A couple of folks ruin things for everybody else - so here is the extra verbiage which more than likely has nothing to do with you:
IMPORTANT - THE REVIEW SHOULD BE SHORT AND SWEET - THERE ARE NO LINKS OF ANY KIND IN THE BODY OF THE REVIEW ALLOWED. NONE. DO NOT REFER TO ANY OTHER BOOK IN YOUR BRIEF REVIEW. THE ONLY BOOK CITED IN YOUR REVIEW IS THE ONE YOU ARE REVIEWING - NO OTHERS. ALL LINKS TO OTHER THREADS OR REVIEWS ARE DELETED IMMEDIATELY - THERE WILL BE NO WARNING. WE CONSIDER THIS SELF PROMOTION AND IT IS NOT ALLOWED AND IS IN VIOLATION OF OUR RULES AND GUIDELINES.
Mod
At the top and before the first completed book for any of the twelve months - you must put the month in caps and bold. Like I did above for the first book in January.
You can see above that it is in caps and bold like this: JANUARY
The first question is how do I bold. In the upper right hand corner of the comment box is an area where you can click and see the html that you would use - it says (some html is ok) - some folks can figure it out just by looking there. However if you have difficulties with this - let me try to show you how.
You need to put < b > (with no spaces) in front of the word for the month - let us say in this example JANUARY, then < / b > (with no spaces) after the month. Everything between will become bold. If you put an i instead of the b, it will become italicized. An s instead will strike through. Click on (some html is ok) at the top on the right of the comment box for more tips. But the one you need to use for the month is the first example that I have showed you.
< b > JANUARY < / b >
When you take out all of the spaces it becomes:
JANUARY
Mod
So if you read 19 books in January - you only have to place the month in caps and bolded before the first book completed for that month. When you get to book number 20 which is the first book completed in February - then above the twentieth book you would place the word FEBRUARY - in caps and bolded. If you completed 5 books in February and number 25 was the first book you completed in March - then before you cited book 25 and numbered it - you would have above that book only for that month - MARCH
This lets you see easily your progress for each of the months.
Mod
So before the citation - make sure you number the book completed.
Like this line in the format: (see how we place the number with a period after it and then add a space and then we add the citation - see the first line below of the example shown in message box 2)
1.
by
Winston S. Churchill
Mod
Full Citation: Generally speaking you are adding the book cover (when available), the word by, the author's photo when available and always the author's link which is the author's name in linkable text.
Book where the author's photo is missing: You add the book cover, the word by, the author's link and after the author's link the words no photo in parens - like this (no photo).
Book where the bookcover is missing: You add the words (no image) then the word by followed by the author's photo and the author's link.
There are some other variations but these are the most common. Remember to insert one blank space before and after the word by.
Citations are a snap when you get use to them.
However if you want to practice them - we have the Mechanics of the Board thread where you can practice - here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
If you want to ask a mod a question or to get more help on anything - including citations or format - here is the ask a mod a question thread - here is the link for that as well:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
You can also PM any mod and they are all willing to help you.
Also, I have set up a thread on citations on a book discussion that I am leading - here is the link to that and that thread may help you too - here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Mod
Note: all of these four sections are very easy to follow and all have a colon after them.
For the Finish date: - make sure to add at the very least the month and year but if you know the exact day - then of course you can add that too. For Genre: make sure to add if the book is non fiction, history, biography, memoir, fiction, novel, mystery or so on; then for Rating: - just put in a grade - (you can use minuses or pluses too) and then the Review: - here just a brief review or your comments - brief is best because then you will get it done in no time.
Finish date: January 2023
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.
Mod
Our Required Format:
JANUARY
1.
by
Winston S. ChurchillFinish date: January 2023
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.
Mod
I provide you with the link for a reason. Bookmark your thread page for easy access so you do not have to scroll through pages of listings to find your particular thread. Makes it a snap to access where you are located.
Mod
No, you do not - it is your personal challenge. If you want to read one book, five books or anything from 1 to 50 it is all up to you. If you want to read more than 50 - then that is up to you too - you just keep numbering and add them to your listing and thread. This is a personal challenge and 50 Books is just the name of the challenge.
Mod
Personally for me - a sentence or two is fine - however sometimes I will write a full review. However for the 50 Books thread - a sentence or two is fine - the thread and the challenge is not about the reviews but about completing the books and reading more so that is our focus. We do not want to deter you from reading. Just a comment or two is fine and is enough. However, on the other hand - some folks like to write and want to express themselves and their thoughts and of course that is OK too. We just want you to be able to build momentum and not be held back by the thought of having to write reviews so we say a sentence or two of comments is fine - but we leave it up to you. So no worries - even a few comments like "a gem of a book" is enough or "don't waste your time" is fine too.
Mod
That is fine.
An A = 5 stars or 5
A B = 4 stars or 4
A C = 3 stars or 3
A D = 2 stars or 2
An F = 1 star or 1
You can also use pluses and minuses
A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F
or you can even use A++ or A+++ for a stupendous book, etc.
Mod
You will find that the other groups who do this kind of challenge simply set up threads or allow you to set yours up and that is it. Nobody really takes an interest in your thread or dialogues with you about your books or your reviews or gives you any suggestions or recommendations about other books that they have read that you might be interested in. We learn from each other here and we read each other's comments and reviews and really like the exchange of ideas and the discussion about the books read themselves. It is also interesting for you to see the number of views on your thread to see how many different people are reading your posts and looking at your thread. We actively assist you and develop a format that will help you keep track of what you have read and your thoughts about your books along the way. We are not just keeping random lists - we are actually fostering a thought exchange about all of the books we read and that is the difference.
REMEMBER FOLKS NO LINKS TO YOUR REVIEWS ELSEWHERE
REMEMBER NO SELF PROMOTION OF ANY KIND - NO REFERENCES POSTED OR EVEN LINKS TO YOUR PROFILE, YOUR REVIEWS, YOUR LISTS OF BOOKS, YOUR BLOG, THAT YOU ARE AN AUTHOR, OR A BOOK YOU ARE WRITING, THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN OR ARE PROMOTING, ETC (THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES TOO NUMBEROUS TO MENTION) - NO SELF PROMOTIONS PERIOD. ALL SUCH SELF PROMOTION IS DELETED IMMEDIATELY AND THERE IS NO WARNING.
REMEMBER THE FORMAT IS REQUIRED - NOT OPTIONAL.
Do they have to be history books? I ask because I easily get through more than 50 books a year, but only a portion are history books, so if I were to do one in 2017, would I only list the history-related books I've read, or just list all of them?Thanks! :-)
Hi Paul,You can list all of your books read, regardless of genre.
Mod
Mod
I know that it might seem like an omission and in an ideal world it would be.
Citations of mentioned books are required everyplace else. But in this particular segment we found it being utilized as pointers to other books and in fact sometime multiple books where reviews have been written. So therefore we had to reinforce the rule.
In fact, this has been cited in the rules and guidelines for quite some time.
Mod
You can repost once the discussion has concluded. Our group is about the discussions and your postings are taking away from that even though in these cases they are stellar reviews. Please remove any offending posts and remember this in the future. You can put up the shell but you cannot add the rating or the review - you must leave them blank or TBA.
It is not fair to the moderators and the folks putting in a lot of time for the book discussions to have them pre-empted or have spoilers. We spend a lot of time planning way in advance and to have reviews go up a few days before the kick off date or within a few days that the discussion is going to begin is not right.
Mod
Mod
Mod
Here is a copy of the note that will be sent: (sent via PM)
New 2021 50 Books Thread set up and ready to go
message: Hello (insert name)
We are archiving the 2020 50 Books threads on January 1, 2021.
I have set up a new 2021 thread for you - here is the link:
(inserted url for specific member's thread)
If you have other 2020 books that you have not yet added - please feel free to add them. The 2020 thread is in the Archival folder at the bottom of the group site but it is always open.
Hope to see you actively posting your reviews again this year.
All best in 2021.
We now have an additional perk for the 50 Books Read in 2021 membership - they now can keep their personal to be read reading list on their own special thread. We have set up samples of the required format with "personal choices" available. We are here to help. The Personal To Be Read Reading Lists are carried over from year to year.
Mod
a) For the first book of any month, put the month above the citation in caps and bold - JANUARY
b) For subsequent books in any month after the first - you do not have to add the month above the citation.
c) We number each book and we do correct citations. On the how to thread - there is help if needed.
d) It is Genre:
e) It is Finish date: not Finished
f) It is Rating: not Grade (we are not grading anything)
g) It is Review: - and then after a couple of spaces - just begin the review on the same line.
When in doubt - preview your posting and check message 1 or the how to thread. We are here to help you and after edits are made we delete our posts. Sometimes we do not catch things right away - but when we do - we will post what needs to be corrected.
We thank you in advance.
Mod
Mod
You would post the cover and author in two separate posts for each novel. And of course number them accordingly.
Here is the correct citation:
by
Rex Stout
Thank you both!Bentley (aka British luxury car), in my general Goodreads reading challenge I have listed the covers as
and
to ensure they're counted separately. For this one, though, I can use
twice.
Mod
However, when posting about books in a comment box. Just type naturally and add the citations at the bottom - Easier that way.
Book cover, the word by, the author's photo and then the author's link
by
Rex Stout
Mod
But sooner or later - we will read all posts and we eliminate all self promotion in order to be fair and even handed across the board.
What we will do when we can (for the innocent variety) is normally give you a post warning if we know that you are on - and then we delete all self promotion and send a copy of the offending post with the segment that needs removing for reposting. Some times we leave the self promotion up for a day (if the innocent variety) in order for an edit to be done or we send a quick copy of the post so that it can be reposted minus the offending segment. However, the no self promotion rule indicates that we delete all such postings.
So please be mindful of this and just post the review to your book minus references elsewhere to your profile, your review area, your listings of books in your profile, your blog, your newsletter, your whatever or the fact that you are writing a book, a novella, are an author or you are selling or advertising anything or just promoting yourself in some way in the review. We have seen it all and it has run the gamut from the bizarre and brazen and full fledged self promotion to the very innocent. But we treat it all the very same way ultimately to be fair to everyone.
So be careful and read message 13 here or our rules and guidelines. Thanks all for your cooperation in advance and this is just a friendly reminder.
Mod
Mod
When this occurs, you place the words (no image) before the book link and not the cover. Otherwise, you just see a blank g icon which is not helpful.
Everything else in your citation is great. This is what it should look like. In the case of this book, the author's photo is also not available.
(no image) Guns Lies And Spies by Chris Cowley (no photo)
Mod
There are two threads being set up for members of the 50 Books Read in 2021 challenge. There is a required standard format for those reviews on the "official challenge 50 Books Read thread".
The second thread which is the personal To Be Read reading list is a perk and acts as a staging area for the books that are reviewed on the 50 Books Read in 2021 challenge. You don't have the option to do the list and not the required format for the 50 Books Read in 2021 thread. It is not an either/or choice. The primary thread has been and always will be the required thread and the required format on the 50 Books Read in 2021. The Personal Reading List is nice to have and acts as a staging area for the challenge. No reviews should be going there at all!
Mod
There is a standard that folks seem to forget about and I want to place a strong reminder.
We work very hard on the discussions of the books at the History Book Club and there is nothing more frustrating than for members to finish the book quickly either before the group begins the announced read or during the read before the group is done and then post the rating and the review on one of the group threads.
That is why we have had the rule since the beginning that if you decide to read any announced group read - even before the group has begun to read it that you are not allowed on the 50 Books Thread or any other group site to post a rating and review until the group read is over.
You can post the book but you cannot add the rating and the review until the group read is over. We always suggest simply adding TBA beside the rating and the review. When the group read is over - then you can post the Rating and Review - but not before.
If the warning is not followed and the book is not edited - then we have no recourse but to send you a copy of the post and delete the post entirely. We would prefer that you edit the post.
This comes up yearly because folks do not read the How To's which are posted every single year. I had to remind folks about this again on post 18 of this thread in 2017 and that post is very clear for everyone to see.
If you read and reviewed and posted the book before the book was even announced as a group read (spotlighted, buddy, BOTM or even a Free Read) - then all is well. But not after the book has been posted as an upcoming read anywhere on the site. That is only fair since we do not want to ruin it for our members. You can still add the book but you have to leave the rating AND the review blank even if you loved the book and gave it an A.
We want everybody to have the right to read and discuss the book on their own terms - without it being spoiled one way or the other.
Please adhere to this rule - we do not like unpleasantness.
Note: Of course, you are free to post it on the goodreads site aside (not just this group site). However, our moderators know that if they are actually leading one of the discussions or read one of the announced books to hold off even on posting it live on goodreads. That is because we really try to be very careful not to influence our members one way or the other before they have gotten a chance to read any book. Their recommendation and reading journey should be all their own.
Mod
The Personal Reading Lists and thread will never expire or be archived - they will be carried over from year to year for the benefit and convenience of all group members who participate in the 50 Books Read challenge at the History Book Club from year to year.
My 2021 50 Book Read thread is still frozen to new comments. Is there a reason for this or is it just an oversight?Thank you
Mod
Thank you"
Carly, your 2021 thread is still closed for comments since Bentley hasn't completed setting it up. He will do that when he returns.
Meanwhile, I see that you have just added your 2021 selections to your 2020 book thread. That is great and what we are all doing. Those posts can then be moved to your 2021 thread when it has been finalized.
Thank you.
Mod
Yippee! Thanks, Bentley!Regards,
Andrea
Mod
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Guns Lies And Spies (other topics)Fer-de-Lance/The League of Frightened Men (other topics)
Fer-de-Lance (other topics)
The League of Frightened Men (other topics)
Fer-de-Lance/The League of Frightened Men (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Chris Cowley (other topics)Rex Stout (other topics)
Rex Stout (other topics)
Winston S. Churchill (other topics)
Winston S. Churchill (other topics)
More...
But at first folks sometimes need a little help.