Running Four the Win

[Janice, Moderator]

Welcome to Team 4:


Anna M
Lanelle
Esther
Odette
Janice
Margo

We need a captain, a scorekeeper, and a name for our team. Volunteers?

Our spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Planning

[Janice, Moderator]

Some name ideas:


Team 4 is Out the Door
Running Four the Win
The JAMELO's

[Lanelle]

I'm checking in. I'd better not be captain or scorekeeper since I'll be traveling towards the end of the Toppler week.

I like Four the Win. Could we enlarge it to Running 4 the Win?

I also looked at our initials. the JAMELOs

[Esther]

I can spreadsheet the heck out of it if needed. You know how i love it.

[Janice, Moderator]

I could be captain as long as I don't have to also be scorekeeper.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've got a running tally of the names. In a couple of days we can decide.

[Esther]

ok... i should clean my house but priority first.... spreadsheet!!!!


in progress but here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Anna]

Hello team!

eta
Off to gopher

* Heartburn
Chicago 4, 8
New York 4, 10, L

[Lanelle]

Esther wrote: "but priority first.... spreadsheet!!!!"

Nope. Gophering is the priority :D

[Esther]

Lanelle wrote: "Esther wrote: "but priority first.... spreadsheet!!!!"

Nope. Gophering is the priority :D"

Good point! The sheet is almost done. I am reading the tasks as I go. Call it "pregophering". :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I did some preliminary gophering, mostly just tried to plug in my remaining badge 1 books.

I have:

Chicago 3, 6 & 8
London 7
New York 4
Berlin 6
Tokyo 2

Chicago 8 could also be read for London 7
Chicago 3 could also be read for New York 4.

And I'm not done.

[Janice, Moderator]

Planning:

Chicago:
L. - Lanelle, Merry's Christmas
1. - Lanelle, Cyrano de Bergerac
2. - Lanelle, Fire at Twilight
3. - Janice, The Bell in the Lake
4. - Anna, Heartburn
5. - Lanelle, Symptoms of Death
6. - Janice, Midnight at the Blackbird Café
7. - Lanelle, A Matter of Class
8. - Margo, Practical Magic
9. - Lanelle, Real Murders
10. - Lanelle, Of Grace and Chocolate

New York:
L. - Esther, Westside
1. - Lanelle. Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace
2. - Anna, The Audacity
3. - Odette, Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen: The Story of Elizabeth of York
4. - Esther, Les Mémoires d'un chat
5. - Anna, The Pearl Thief
6.
7.
8.
9. - Lanelle, Murder While I Smile
10. - Odette, Enigma of China

Boston:
L.
1. - Anna, Summer Stock
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. - Anna, Letters from the Lighthouse
9. - Esther, Brébeuf
10.

London:
L.
1. - Anna, The Midnight Queen
2.
3.
4. - Anna, Stopētāju lieta
5.
6.
7. - Margo - Heir to Sevenwaters
8.
9.
10. - Janice - Cold Vengeance

Berlin:
L. - Esther, Metropolis
1. - Odette, The Island of Sea Women
2. - Janice, The Queen's Poisoner
3. - Odette, The Second Chance Tea Shop
4. - Margo, An Artist of the Floating World
5. - Margo, Sistersong
6. - Janice, Daughters of the Dragon
7. - Margo, The Zoo
8. - Anna, Captain Blood
9. - Lannelle
10. - Margo, The Butterfly Tattoo

Tokyo:
L. - Anna, The Cat and The City
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've added the spreadsheet link to the first message along with the planning message link.

[Esther]

ok. I am committing to 2 books. Then we shall see
I can read:
-Les Mémoires d'un chat - translated. New York #4
and
Metropolis. set in Berlin

[Anna]

Book #2

The Audacity
Chicago 4, 8
New York 2 ( Memoir, the author is an actress)
Berlin 9

#3
The Cat and The City
New York 1, 4,
Tokyo set in Tokyo

#4
Summer Stock
New York 2
Boston 1

#5
The Midnight Queen
Chicago 1 (the book is set in 1665)
New York 9 (the book published in 1876)
London set in London, 1
Berlin 2

#6
Stopētāju lieta
London 4

[Margo]

Signing in! No time now - will start book search later on :-)

[Esther]

I think we should go for the circuit bonus first as it is easier to get.
6 books: 1 task/city.

[Margo]

I can do:

Tokyo, # 6. Read a book with fashion or designer clothing as a significant theme. Darn, I forgot I have this one earmarked for the annual challenge - sorry

Berlin, 5️⃣ Read a book with mythology as an MPG.

Chicago, 6️⃣ Read a book with a MPG of science fiction or magic. Magic Lessons, with would also 8️⃣ Read a book with both a female author and a female MC.

This is based on a quick look see, I will have other possibilities.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've started plugging in names, but it occurs to me that we should be plugging in what we are initially committing to. I've put in 3 books that I am pretty sure I'll read. If you could identify the ones you are committing to, and not just a list of all your possibilities, it gives us a better picture of what we need and it gives people who haven't had a chance to gopher to plug in spots.

I like the idea of doing the circuit bonus first.

[Janice, Moderator]

Anna wrote: "Book #2

The Audacity
Chicago 4, 8
New York 2 ( Memoir, the author is an actress)
Berlin 9

#3
The Midnight Zoo
New York 4
London 1
Berlin 6, 7

#4
[book:The Cat a..."

Are you committing to these books? I have already plugged in Heartburn.

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "I can do:

Tokyo, # 6. Read a book with fashion or designer clothing as a significant theme.

Berlin, 5️⃣ Read a book with mythology as an MPG.

Chicago, 6️⃣ Read a book with a MPG of science fict..."

Are you committing to these books?

[Margo]

Edit to message 18:

Tokyo, # 6. Read a book with fashion or designer clothing as a significant theme. Darn, I forgot I have this one earmarked for the annual challenge - sorry

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "I can do:
.."

I can commit to

Berlin, 5️⃣ Read a book with mythology as an MPG.

Chicago, 8, Read a book with a MPG of science fict....

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "I can do:
.."

I can commit to

Berlin, 5️⃣ Read a book with mythology as an MPG.

Chicago, 6️⃣ Read a book with a MPG of science fict...."

I will put Chicago 6 in as Chicago 8 as we already have a 6.

[Anna]

Janice wrote: "Are you committing to these books? I have already plugged in Heartburn..."

Yes.

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "
Berlin, 5️⃣ Read a book with mythology as an MPG.."

What is the title of the book you want to read?

[Janice, Moderator]

Okay! We have the circuit bonus.

Shall we focus now on one city? We've got 4 for Chicago and 3 for Berlin.

[Esther]

FYI, I am plugging all titles in the spreadsheet as well.

When we report, we should put all possible tasks so I can move books around to maximize points, if needed.

[Janice, Moderator]

We haven't heard from Lanelle or Odette yet. It will be exciting to see what they plan on reading.

[Lanelle]

Janice wrote: "Okay! We have the circuit bonus."

That's great!

Janice wrote: "Shall we focus now on one city? We've got 4 for Chicago and 3 for Berlin."

I have books identified for all of the tasks for both of those cities, so I'm good with either one.

[Lanelle]

Janice wrote: "We haven't heard from Lanelle or Odette yet. It will be exciting to see what they plan on reading."

I've been over-gophering :D

Assignments:
Chicago:
L. - Lanelle, Merry's Christmas
1. - Lanelle, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
2. - Lanelle, Fire at Twilight
5. - Lanelle, Symptoms of Death
7. - Lanelle, A Matter of Class
9. - Lanelle, Real Murders
10. - Lanelle, The Chocolate Spy

Options: (view spoiler)[ (will slowly update with links and more gophered books
Chicago
~ Set in Chicago (Illinois) Merry's Christmas
1️. Read a book set in the 1600s. Cyrano de Bergerac, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
2️. Read a book with a MC who is a firefighter Fire at Twilight
3. read a book with ‘Lake’ in the title The Thing From the Lake, Eclipse Lake
4. Read a book with the title in cursive (or where it looks handwritten). My Dear Sophy, Secrets and Sensibilities
5. Read a book with a heart on cover or an MC who is a doctor. Symptoms of Death
6. Read a book with a MPG of science fiction or magic. Ghosts of Tsavo, The Boy Who Fell from the Sky, The Ship Who Sang
7. Read a book with dual timelines. A Matter of Class
8. Read a book with both a female author and a female MC. Shakespeare's Champion
9. Read a book that is also a movie or TV show. Real Murders
10. Read a book with “brownie,” “chocolate," or “treat” in the title. Of Grace and Chocolate

New York
~ Set in New York City (New York) When You Reach Me
1️. Read a book with exactly 5 words in the title. (Articles DO count. Subtitles do NOT count.)
2. Read a book with a main character who is an actor or singer. Shield
3. Read a book with “central” or “park” in the title.
4. Read a book that has been translated into other languages. The Wild Robot
5. Read a book with “oyster,” “shell,” or “pearl” in title. The Thirteenth Pearl, The Shells of Chanticleer
6. Read a book with “gold” or “golden” in title. Aunt Dimity and the Heart of Gold, Drops of Gold, Veins of Gold, Dr. Fuddle and the Gold Baton
7. Read a book with a main theme of books. It can be set in a bookstore, about a librarian, etc, as long as the books are a central part of the story. The Last Bookstore in America, The Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic
8. Read a book with an MPG of true crime or with a reporter as an MC. Zoned for Murder
9. Read a book set or published in the 1800s. too many to name
10. Read a book with a Chinese or Jewish MC or author or is set in China or Israel. The Bronze Bow

Boston
~ Set in Boston (Massachusetts) Fair Game
1️. Read a book with a sandy beach on cover.
2. Read a book with “tea” in the title or with a teacup on cover. The Teacup Conspiracy
3. Read a book that is set in a college or university. Daddy-Long-Legs
4. Read a book with a religious or cult theme. The Screwtape Letters The Screwtape Letters
5. Read a book with a sports theme or with a MC that is a professional athlete. Soar, Sticks
6. Read a book that involves a theft. The Pineville Heist
7. Read a book with a bridge on cover or “bridge” in title. Ask A Shadow To Dance, Minnie Chase Makes A Mistake, Every Move You Make, Murder at Bridge
8. Read a book with a lighthouse on cover or “lighthouse” in title.Lighthouse Cottage, The Spyglass Portal: A Lighthouse Novel
9. Read a book with an alcoholic drink in title or on cover.
10. Read a book that is set at Christmas time The Great Christmas Ball, The Ghosts at Pemberley, The Christmas Bus

London
~ Set in London (England) too many to name
1. Read a book with a time of day in the title. This can be words like midnight, noon, or # O’Clock, or numbers such as 4:50, but not just a number that is not specifically associated with a time. Midnight at the Taj Mahal, Before Midnight, Midnight for Charlie Bone, Midnight in Austenland, Wait Until Midnight, 4.50 From Paddington,
2. Read a book with an umbrella on the cover. Caribbean Crossroads (270),
3. Read a book with “right” or “hand” in title. Fate Takes A Hand
4. Read a book with a forest on the cover. Multiple trees must be shown.
5. Read a book set in a museum or with an MC who works at a museum. The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, Meet Me at the Museum
6. Read a book with a statue on cover. Airs Above the Ground
7. Read a book set in one of the Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, or Brittany. Past Due et. al. (246),
8. Read a book with “red” in title or with a cover that is 75% or more red. The Red Thumb Mark, Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill; or, Jasper Parloe's Secret, The Girl from Red Lion Square, The Red House Mystery
9. Read a book that contains a map. Moon Called
10. Read a book that is part of a series with 6 or more main works.

Berlin
~ Set in Berlin (Germany) Emil and the Detectives
1.Read a book that is set on an island. Somber Island (201),
2. Read a book with a princess or queen as an MC or with “princess” or “queen” in the title. Saturdays at the Castle (?), Princess Callie and the Totally Amazing Talking Tiara, The Princess Bride, A Little Princess, A True Princess,
3. Read a book with a shop front on cover.
4. Read a book with art as a significant theme. Morning Light (280),
5. Read a book with mythology as an MPG. Sweet Venom (225),
6. Read a book set during a war. Major Lord David (195),
7. Read a book that involves a zoo or with “zoo” in the title. The Elephant's Girl,
8. Read a book with a boat or ship on the cover or takes place on a boat or ship. Rigged for Murder (240), Flying Dutch (252),
9. Read a book with a dog on cover or the MC has a dog that is a significant part of the story. 101 Dalmatians (196), Dear Hank Williams (225), Bubba/Missing Woman (265),
10. Read a book with a person with a tattoo on the cover. Moon Called,

Tokyo
~ Set in Tokyo (Japan)
1.Read a book with pink flowers on the cover.
2. Read a book with a title beginning with E, D, or O.
3. Read a book with a train on the cover or “train” in the title. The Treasure Train,
4. Read a book with a famous landmark setting or famous architecture on the cover. The Medium (260),
5. Read a book with a license plate visible on the cover Streetlights Like Fireworks (266),
6. Read a book with fashion or designer clothing as a significant theme. A Tailor-Made Bride (348),
7. Read a book with one of the following amusement park rides on the cover: Ferris wheel, roller coaster, or carousel. Atlantis Riptide (299),
8. Read a book with an MC who is a chef or baker or works in food services. Hope Was Here (191), The Baker’s Man (197),
9. Read a book with a direction - north, south, east, or west - in the title. Northern, southern, eastern, western are also allowable.
10. Read a book in which a significant natural disaster occurs (typhoon, tornado, tsunami, earthquake, volcano, etc.) The Twenty-One Balloons, (hide spoiler)]

[Odette]

I have been doing a lot of gophering and found a few possibilities and am happy to slot in to whatever is decided.
Also am happy to commit to 2 or 3 books depending on length.

[Odette]

These books are my preferences, though still flexible if there is a need.

New York
1. Read a Book with exactly 5 words in the title:
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
4. Read a book that has been translated into other languages
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
10. Read a book with a Chinese MC
Enigma of China by Qiu Xiaolong
or
Berlin
1.Read a book that is set on an island
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
4. Read a book with art as a significant theme.
The Shifting Landscape by Katherine Kovacic
6. Read a book set during a war
The Night Train to Berlin by Melanie Hudson

[Odette]

Here are 3 more for New York that I can read:

Set in New York City (New York)
Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz
5. Read a book with “oyster,” “shell,” or “pearl” in title.
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
8. Read a book with a reporter.
A Little Bird by Wendy James

[Janice, Moderator]

Odette, I slotted 4 of your books. You said you could commit to 2 or 3, so look them over and see if these are workable for you.

I'm trying to spread books out amongst the cities so that each person isn't scheduled heavily in one city.

[Janice, Moderator]

Lanelle, our over-gopherer...

I'm don't even know what to do with your books. Take a look at the planning thread. We have 5 in Berlin so perhaps we need to focus on that.

How many books do you normally read in a Toppler? Any that you want to start with?

[Odette]

Janice wrote: "Odette, I slotted 4 of your books. You said you could commit to 2 or 3, so look them over and see if these are workable for you.

I'm trying to spread books out amongst the cities so that each per..."

Thanks, Janice
I am happy to read the 3 you slotted for me, as they are not long books:

New York
Enigma of China
Berlin
The Island of Sea Women
The Shifting Landscape

I am expecting from Library this week:
Before You Knew My Name which fits under location for New York
Though not sure if I will get to a 4th.

I have had a reading slump the last couple of weeks, as had the the dreaded C. I could not focus on reading due to the accompanying brain fog. Now I have recovered feel motivated to get back into books but at the same time still need to take things easy.

[Janice, Moderator]

Odette, I'm glad you are feeling better!

I will hold off on slotting your 4th book until you know if you can get to it.

[Lanelle]

Janice wrote: "Lanelle, our over-gopherer..."

I'll accept that :D

Janice wrote: "How many books do you normally read in a Toppler? Any that you want to start with?"

I'll commit to 8 books, with the strong possibility of 2 or 3 more.

The purpose of my over-gophering is to be ready to fill in gaps. I have the (probably annoying) habit of hanging back in order to see which tasks other folks don't take and claiming them. Feel free to put me in empty spots.

[Lanelle]

I'm wondering if filling all the tasks of one city and then all the location tasks of other cities would be a good strategy.

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "
Berlin, 5️⃣ Read a book with mythology as an MPG.."

What is the title of the book you want to read?"

For Chicago 8 I can read Practical Magic which is set in Massachusetts - I think that could mean extra points but I'll have to reread the rules.

For Berlin 5 I can read Sistersong

[Margo]

Sorry Janice, I got my titles confused, it is Practical Magic that I will be reading.
This would fit Chicago 8 or 9.

[Margo]

I can commit to one more book at this stage and I'd like to read :

London 7, Heir to Sevenwaters

That'd be 3 for me, I think I should be able to 4 to 5 books but not not committing.

[Odette]

Janice wrote: "Odette, I'm glad you are feeling better!

I will hold off on slotting your 4th book until you know if you can get to it."

Thanks, Janice. Feeling much better, but was not much fun there for about a week.

I feel confident about getting 3 books read, but would like to change things around a little and add in:
Berlin 2. Read a book with a princess or queen as an MC or with “princess” or “queen” in the title.
Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen: The Story of Elizabeth of York by Samantha Wilcoxson
This book is in my annual challenge and would like to prioritise it.

Hope this makes sense and in summary my reads are:
New York
1. Enigma of China (10. Read a book set in China)
Berlin
2. The Island of Sea Women (1. set on an island)
3. Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen: The Story of Elizabeth of York (2. read a book with 'Queen' in the title)
4. If I think I am going to have enough time will let you know fairly early in the week about this.

[Janice, Moderator]

Lanelle wrote: "I'm wondering if filling all the tasks of one city and then all the location tasks of other cities would be a good strategy."

We've nailed down the circuit bonus (one task in each city). There's no advantage to the location tasks. There could be a demerit. All books are 10 points. If your book for location is set in the city, it's 10 points. If it's set in the state or country (shown in the parenthesis) you only get 5 points.

So it's something to keep in mind. If we read a book set in Illinois, we get 5 points. But if it's set in Chicago, it's the full 10 points.

I'm going to slot you into the remaining Chicago spots. That's 7 books.

[Janice, Moderator]

Okay, I've slotted in people's preferences and what they've committed to.

We have the circuit bonus, and Chicago completly spoken for. Please check over what I have down for you and let me know if I've made any mistakes.

[Lanelle]

Janice wrote: "So it's something to keep in mind. If we read a book set in Illinois, we get 5 points. But if it's set in Chicago, it's the full 10 points."

Thanks for the clarification, Janice.

Janice wrote: "Please check over what I have down for you and let me know if I've made any mistakes."

My tasks look correct.

[Odette]

Janice wrote: "Okay, I've slotted in people's preferences and what they've committed to.

We have the circuit bonus, and Chicago completly spoken for. Please check over what I have down for you and let me know if..."

Thanks, Janice
Looks good to me and my books all OK. Pity we cannot get a 2nd circuit bonus!

[Janice, Moderator]

Have we thought any more about a name? Any preferences to the suggested names?

Team 4 is Out the Door
Running Four the Win
The JAMELO's

[Esther]

I liked them all.
If I have to pick one I'd go with Running Four the Win