Fall Read-a-Thon 2021: Team Earthsea

[Rachel]

I read another 135 pages of Blood & Honey. Not going to lie, I'm a little disappointed that I didn't quite finish it off tonight as planned. If I had another hour or two, I would have. I'll definitely be finishing it off tomorrow and moving on to the sequel. I have a half-day at work on Wednesday and all of Thursday off, so I'm hoping to finish Gods & Monsters entirely by the end of the day on Thursday. It might be a little ambitious though.

[L Y N N]

Monday yielded only 120 pages read, but for the kind of day it was, that was much better than I expected to do! I completed Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions and was able to count it for the sphinx prompt of A book with a mythological creature. It was catfish as pictured on the cover. I didn't find this book to be particularly special, but it was mildly entertaining.

Will plan to work on A Gathering of Shadows which could for OGRE prompts 500 pages or title starts with a letter in OGRE, or the DRAGON prompt of a book featuring a "fiery" character. I'm sure I'll also read some in The Lady Matador's Hotel. My goal is to finish all three of those by the end of Saturday.

I may switch out The Laws since it doesn't fulfill many prompts...

[Jen K]

I started which could work for yellow cover or fiery character.

I should be finished with my 500+ page book tomorrow as well. I'm not sure that it fits any of the other prompts. I also have planned Dr. Siri #3 which will cover the MC who solves problems or death of character.

[Lisa]

I finished Heir of Fire - so 156 pages so far for today (I plan to read more yet tonight). I put it under Fiery Character, but can move it if there's a better place.

[Kim]

I'm about halfway through with Speak, which should work for black and white cover. It's short, so I'll probably finish it tonight.

[Lisa]

I'm starting How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny. It is an Inspector Gamache novel and I fully expect him to solve the missing person mystery, so therefore I suspect it will work for the character who solves problems to help slay the sphinx, if we still need that category when I finish. It also has a source of light on the cover.

I'm going to continue to work on The Gathering Storm and Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood as well.

[Jen K]

Finished The Heart's Invisible Furies. So good!

Used it for the 500+ pages and now we are one ogre down. We are so close on the others!

[Kim]

I finished Speak which kills the wraith. We're slaying the monsters left and right today!

[Rachel]

I managed to finish off Blood & Honey (58 pages today to finish), and get a small start on Gods & Monsters with just 60 pages read so far. Please feel free to add these to the spreadsheet wherever needed.

I'm hoping the next two days will be much better reading days for me. I work only until 2 tomorrow (instead of until 4:30) and have Thursday off. I really wish the readathon had been next week instead, where I would have had 2.5 days off!

[Brittany]

I do not normally work nights and working two in a row kicked my butt. I only got 15 pages and a half hour of audio in. I’ll add them later, but I’m going to get a little bit of sleep. I have the next couple of days off so I should have time to get more reading in!

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "I started which could work for yellow cover or fiery character.

I should be finished with my 500+ page book..."
Not exactly sure when I will finish A Gathering of Shadows which is over 500 pages in length, but it would also fit other categories. I'm about halfway through.

I began reading P.S. Be Eleven for a yellow cover and should finish it tomorrow at the latest. I will be working to finish A Gathering of Shadows and The Lady Matador's Hotel (person with long hair on the cover) as soon as possible. I teach at the gym tonight after work and then work out for an additional hour so probably won't get much done today! But tomorrow is a different story! I will have hours after work to read! YAY!!

City of Silver: A Mystery would definitely feature death of a character and fits some other prompts.

[L Y N N]

I did better yesterday than I thought I might.

I listened to 1 1/2 hours of The Original and read a total of 88 pages.

Go Earthsea!

[Brittany]

I finished Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg but I do not think it works for anything that we haven't already finished. I was contemplating if the cover was a light yellow color and I stared at forever and I'm pretty sure its more tan lol

[Jen K]

Brittany wrote: "I finished Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg but I do not think it works for anything that we haven't already finished. I was contemplating if the cover was a..."

We are probably close enough to start on second monsters. I should be done with my yellow cover book in a couple of hours.

[Kim]

I am reading , which should work for a green cover on our second ogre. I wonder if they'll do wild cards later in the week.

[Jen K]

So not to be a pain but I'm struggling a bit with the spreadsheet. For me, it has lost a bit of its usefulness in strategizing for the next book. Would the group mind if I cleaned it up a bit?

I would like to:

1. Remove the completed books from the Planning tab so we can see what books are actually being read for prompts. Right now a prompt may look like we have lots of options but many of the options were already used on another prompt.

2. Remove the in progress books from the Completed tab. I keep think a prompt is completed and then realize it hasn't actually been completed.

3. Move the colors from the middle of the spreadsheet to the prompts column- light color if if has been filled, a darker shade if its been filled more than once.

I will NOT take it personally at all if people like the spreadsheet as it is but wanted to ask if others were open to bit of cleanup.

[Lisa]

I'd be in favor of spreadsheet cleanup if it is okay with our leader. I particularly like the idea of removing completed books from the planning tab and vice versa.

I've made good progress in the first half of the day - 198 pages of The Gathering Storm read. I've also started both How the Light Gets In and The Assassin's Blade, but will read more of both of those tonight before reporting my page counts on the spreadsheet for today.

[Kim]

Jen K wrote: "So not to be a pain but I'm struggling a bit with the spreadsheet. For me, it has lost a bit of its usefulness in strategizing for the next book. Would the group mind if I cleaned it up a bit?

I w..."

Sounds like a great plan!

[Rachel]

I'm fine with cleaning up the spreadsheet. To be honest, I barely know how to use it as it is.

I'm wondering where's the best place to put Blood & Honey. It did involve the death of a character, was over 500 pages, and has a red cover.

[Jen K]

Thanks everyone! I feel better now....

Looking at the spreadsheet, it looks like we could easily manage another Ogre, Wraith or Banshee (I'm happy to find another paranormal book).

The dragon has the tricky "animal print" prompt which seems to be stumping everyone. Does anyone have a possible animal print cover or should should we focus on the others?

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Blood & Honey are both completed and still need to find a home.

@ Rachel, maybe the 500+ pages?
@Brittany, would RBG's hair be considered long if in her scrunchie?

[Jen K]

Also I finished my yellow cover so Sphinx is done!

[Lisa]

I might have a book that would work for animal print...Lobizona. On the back cover there is a stylized image of a wolf... which I think would work based on the discussion in FAQ on this topic (back cover is still part of the cover, correct?). I'm not able to import a picture from my phone to show you the back cover, but the last picture promoting this book on the following website shows what the wolf on the back cover looks like. https://rominagarber.com/books/lobizona/

I haven't started this book yet, but am able to start it tomorrow if we determine that it works and that we need it. Let me know if I need to submit it to the main page to make sure it is eligible.

[Jen K]

I think it would work! It is more of a print of a wolf on the back than a cartoon or picture of a wolf and I would even say there is a bit of animal print on the front as well. The bottom right corner looks leopard like.

If you wanted to read it, it would be great to manage another dragon since they have the most points and there are a number of books that would work for the other dragon prompts. But the readathon is also all in fun so only read if you are interested!

[Rachel]

What counts as animal print? I'm currently reading Gods & Monsters and the snake on the cover has snakeskin. Would that count? Or do they mean an image of an animal? In which case, that would still work.

[Lisa]

Rachel wrote: "What counts as animal print? I'm currently reading Gods & Monsters and the snake on the cover has snakeskin. Would that count? Or do they mean an image of an animal? In which case, ..."

Rachel, I don't think that book will work based on the discussion in the main thread. Below is an excerpt from one of the mods (this is from post #41). Your cover seems pretty similar to the second example cover of what doesn't count - Infinite Country). That said, I'm not a mod and maybe I'm misunderstanding.

"What Does Not Count:
- Actual images of animals on the cover
- Actual images of people on the cover
- Images of animals or people on an illustrated cover that are not "drawings" in the context of the cover

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel"

Jen, I have been looking forward to reading Lobizona (and have the second book in the series waiting for me on the hold shelf at my library!), so that's not an issue. I will plan on finishing it by Sunday night. I will slow down on reading The Gathering Storm as it was probably a long shot that I would finish that one by Sunday night (and I'll have to wait a few weeks until I can get the next book in that series from the library anyway).

[Rachel]

I ended up reading 183 pages of Gods & Monsters, which is not too bad considering I didn't end up starting to read until later in the evening despite having part of the day off today. Technically, it was a bit less than I'd hoped to read but still a lot for one day!

[Jen K]

@Lisa, I'll be interested to hear how you like the book. It looks interesting and the cover is beautiful!

@Rachel, very impressive amount of reading!

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "So not to be a pain but I'm struggling a bit with the spreadsheet. For me, it has lost a bit of its usefulness in strategizing for the next book. Would the group mind if I cleaned it up a bit?"
Yes! Thank you! I have been frustrated since this is not at all how the spreadsheets have been handled in other Read-a-Thons in which I've participated!

"1. Remove the completed books from the Planning tab so we can see what books are actually being read for prompts. Right now a prompt may look like we have lots of options but many of the options were already used on another prompt."
Yes! This makes all kind of sense to me! 👍

"2. Remove the in progress books from the Completed tab. I keep think a prompt is completed and then realize it hasn't actually been completed."
Yes! I had no idea "in progress" books were on the completed tab. That is very confusing, IMO. Books should only be added to the "completed" tab once they are "completed"! LOL 😁

"3. Move the colors from the middle of the spreadsheet to the prompts column- light color if if has been filled, a darker shade if its been filled more than once."
I have been itching to do this as well! And the different shades is so hopeful! Again, this is much as the spreadsheets have been organized in other Read-a-Thons in which I've participated.

"I will NOT take it personally at all if people like the spreadsheet as it is but wanted to ask if others were open to bit of cleanup."
Please, please please, do!!! And thank you! I've just been too busy this week to do much more than read as much as possible and then record the data.

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "Also I finished my yellow cover so Sphinx is done!"

YAY!!

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "I think it would work! It is more of a print of a wolf on the back than a cartoon or picture of a wolf and I would even say there is a bit of animal print on the front as well. The bottom right cor..."

Agreed!

[L Y N N]

I placed The Original in the Banshee prompt for a book featuring the death of a character. However, it would also fulfill the sphinx prompt of a book with a protagonist who solves problems. I didn't know if we wanted to start another sphinx or not...

But Kim or whomever can always juggle books to our best advantage at the end.

P.S. Be Eleven could fulfill the yellow cover prompt, IMO. .

I'll work on tonight for a character with long hair so we can complete the Banshee. It could also count for red/orange cover.

At least I'll have more reading time tonight!

Thank you so much for your work on the spreadsheets, Jen K!

Go Team Earthsea!!

[Jen K]

@ Lynn, thanks for the support on the spreadsheet! Hopefully it works a bit better now.

On the Sphinx, we are only allowed the one. Should I just hide those options on the Planning tab since they are no longer eligible?

Another possible option for The Original would be to use it for the second Ogre (starts with a letter from ogre). I should be able to finish my book tonight which would fit for the rural setting. Not sure if the better strategy is to complete all the monsters or get a second with more points?

[Jen K]

Would you all consider the cover to show the sun behind Seth Rogan's head and count as a source of light?



I got it out from the library before the prompts came out thinking it would be short and fun and haven't been reading it but now I see the sun so it could fit?

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "@ Lynn, thanks for the support on the spreadsheet! Hopefully it works a bit better now."
Definitely!

"On the Sphinx, we are only allowed the one. Should I just hide those options on the Planning tab since they are no longer eligible?"
Duh! Thanks for the reminder! I added "ONLY ONE" under Sphinx on the spreadsheet as a reminder for me! 😊

"Another possible option for The Original would be to use it for the second Ogre (starts with a letter from ogre). I should be able to finish my book tonight which would fit for the rural setting. Not sure if the better strategy is to complete all the monsters or get a second with more points?"

Good question. I went ahead and counted it for the Banshee prompt about death of a character, since that was the basis of the whole book. But, like you, I wonder if it wouldn't be better to go for more points?

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "Would you all consider the cover to show the sun behind Seth Rogan's head and count as a source of light?

"

YES!

[Jen K]

Lynn wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Would you all consider the cover to show the sun behind Seth Rogan's head and count as a source of light?

"

YES!"

Excellent, that is up next!

[Rachel]

207 more pages read today, but didn't finish any books. I'm hoping to be able to finish off Gods & Monsters tomorrow night, but I'm working until 4 and then going out in the evening with my cousin, so I have no idea if I'll have any time to read afterwards.

[Lisa]

Yesterday kind of got away from me - only 100 pages of How the Light Gets In. Fingers crossed that I do better today....

[Kim]

It looks like all we lack for Banshee is "A book that has a person with long hair on the cover" and all we lack for Dragon is "A book with a source of light on the cover." The planning sheet has several options for each, so we should be in good shape! Then what?

[L Y N N]

I see that Team Atlantis counted such a fun age for animal print on the cover. I am currently on track to finish everything I’ve committed to by Sunday hopefully Saturday. I really really wanted to read such a fun age for several other challenge props so I will do my very best to fit that in. I can also try to read astrophysics four people in a hurry which should count as a source of light. Sorry for no links no punctuation etc. but I am dictating as I drive!

[Jen K]

Such a Fun Age is such an interesting book. I hope you enjoy!

@ Kim and team, we should try to complete another set of monsters! We are almost done with another Ogre and have a start on another Dragon. I have books queued up for another Wraith as well.

[L Y N N]

Here are some ideas for "animal print on the cover" that other teams have used (I admit this prompt is rather frustrating, at least to me!) and that I have discovered:
(I'm pretty sure all of those I've listed would work.)
** Such a Fun Age**
(I own this one and would love to read it, but not sure I'll have time?) I can try, though!
* The Astonishing Color of After (Another one I own and really want to read, but it's longer...)
Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl (I own this and really want to read it, but I think it might be longer than Such a Fun Age...)
The Guest Cat (Oh, man! I really really want to read this one!)
Moon Called
Hana Khan Carries On (I fail to see how this one counts... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
[bookcover:Woof at the DoorWoof at the Door|15810108] (because it is a drawing...)
A Man of the People
The Black Flamingo
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History (skeletons count)
Claw Enforcement (a drawing once again)
That Kind of Mother

Some that might work:
Meaty
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life.
The Pisces
or Jagannath
Happiness
The Bear and the Paving Stone
Freshwater
Oceanic (It's a starfish!)
The Benefits of Being an Octopus
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (I listened to this years ago and really enjoyed it!)

Just in case there are others listed here that I missed:
https://bookriot.com/animal-book-covers/

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "Such a Fun Age is such an interesting book. I hope you enjoy!

@ Kim and team, we should try to complete another set of monsters! We are almost done with another Ogre and have a sta..."

We definitely should!

[L Y N N]

Do you guys think this qualifies for the light on the cover prompt?
P.S. Be Eleven
It is obvious to me that the light comes from the sun since they're outside, etc.
I will finish it either tonight or in the morning. I'm using it for the more than 2 people on the cover Individual Challenge prompt.

Also, I noticed somewhere that Astrophysics for People in a Hurry qualifies. I own it and it is short...

Oh, and I saw another team used The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane for the source of light prompt. I own it and DiCamillo is one of my favorite authors!

[Jen K]

Lynn wrote: "Do you guys think this qualifies for the light on the cover prompt?
P.S. Be Eleven
It is obvious to me that the light comes from the sun since the..."

I would say no on that one as it is missing the actual source of the light on the cover but maybe I'm too literal.

[L Y N N]

In reviewing our completed sheet, I will finish The Lady Matador's Hotel no later than Saturday, so that will complete a Banshee.

If you agree that P.S. Be Eleven (see message above) works for the source of light on a cover prompt, that could complete the first dragon. If not, I'm willing to squeeze in Astrophysics for People in a Hurry or The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulaneto complete the first dragon.

I can use A Gathering of Shadows for the OGRE prompt to complete our second Ogre. That should be finished tomorrow as well.

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "I have books queued up for another Wraith as well."

Awesome!!

[L Y N N]

And if anyone else has books to fit these prompts and finishes them first, I will not be upset! I'll just slot these elsewhere. Happy reading, Team Earthsea!

[Michelle]

Jen K wrote: "Thanks everyone! I feel better now....

Looking at the spreadsheet, it looks like we could easily manage another Ogre, Wraith or Banshee (I'm happy to find another paranormal book).

The dragon ha..."

I am working on a paranormal book right now that we can count when I am done.
that is unless you want to count it towards a source of light for the Dragon prompt

[Michelle]

Ok this might be a stupid question, but you know how eBooks have a different page count than the physical book? When I keep track of pages read throughout the year I go based off of what GoodReads says the physical book would have, not by the page count Kindle/Libby says the book has. Which would you prefer I count or does it matter to anyone?