2023 BINGO Challenge

[GailW]

Ozsaur wrote: I'm rooting for you!"

Thanks!

[Susan]

I have completed a second bingo line:

N1: Latina author - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
N2: 500+ pages - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
N3: Free space - How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
N4: Travel or adventure - Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy
N5: Humour or satire - Bookworm by Robin Yeatman

[Carol]

Susan wrote: "I have completed a second bingo line:

N1: Latina author - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
N2: 500+ pages - Demon Copperhead by [author:Barba..."

Congratulations! also, you reminded me that I need to get Robin's book back from my library. I had to return it the first time due to bad timing, but want to read it.

[Ozsaur]

Congrats, Susan, on your second Bingo!

[Michaela]

Though it´s not only historical fiction, I chose for I4 Ada's Realm by Sharon Dodua Otoo. I found out it was a translation from German, so read it in the original. 4 stars.

This finishes my bingo.

O1: Mr Loverman for WiT (in German)
G2: Red Dove, Run Through the Fire for Small Press
N3: These Names Make Clues for Free Space
I4: Ada's Realm/Adas Raum for Historical Fiction
B5: Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir for Memoir/Autobiography of a Woman

[Ozsaur]

Congratulations, Michaela!

[GailW]

I have completed my 4th Bingo:

☀ 5 / 5 , 3 overlap
☀ B1. Short Story collection by an author of color: Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
☀ B2. First published in your birth year: The Gypsy in the Parlour by Margery Sharp
☀ B3. Genre novel written by LGBTQ+ author: Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson
☀ B4. Science/ Nature/ the Environment: The Living Mountain
☀ B5. Memoir or Autobiography of a Woman: Ten Steps to Nanette

[Ozsaur]

Congrats, Gail! One more and you'll have a blackout!

[Michaela]

Impressive, Gail! Also congrats to the others having at least completed one bingo!

[Laurie]

I finally have a bingo. I've read several books for this challenge but they've been scattered all over the board with no bingo until now. Here are the books for my bingo.

O1 WIT, and woman translator Awu's Story: A Novel by Justine Mintsa (translated by Cheryl Toman) 2/5/23
O2 Country you haven't read about in past 5 years Eve out of Her Ruins by Ananda Devi (Mauritius) 1/7/23
O3 MC is 60+ years old Maureen by Rachel Joyce 5/16/23
O4 Essay Collection Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay 1/16/23
O5 Graphic novel Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung 1/21/23

[GailW]

Congrats Laurie!

[Ozsaur]

Congrats on your Bingo, Laurie!

[Carol]

So - what do we want to do for the second half of 2023? Do you want to clear the deck or remix the themes in a BINGO card format, or would you prefer to have say 10 or 12 prompts and the goal is to complete them all? or something else?

I enjoyed the BINGO format, but am not wedded to repeating it. I very much like the push to get out of my comfort zone and try different genres, categories, types of writing, themes. So I'm onboard with whatever you all would like.

[Mj]

I expect to finish 3 lines by June 30th but am hoping to finish up the whole. If not will continue to work on completing for my own satisfaction.

Enjoyed the Bingo format. Would be happy for it to continue. Definitely mix up the themes and create some new ones. To some degree found many quite similar and missing Indigenous, LGBTQ2+, POC (except wit) and some black. Also am not into sci-fi, horror, supernatural etc. That's ok as many others enjoy these genres and trying new genres was enjoyable.

1. Am wondering if offering one or the other choice per square would be easy or too complicated.
2. Am also wondering if suggestions from members would be helpful from an organization standpoint and create more diversity in the squares.

For your consideration.

[Ozsaur]

I enjoyed the BINGO format, and agree with MJ - would like to mix them up, and add some new prompts. Unlike MJ, I want more science fiction, fantasy, and possibly folklore.

I'll have two bingos by the end of the month. I'm pretty happy with that!

[GailW]

I have completed my 5th bingo:

☀ 5/5, 3 overlaps
☀ B4: Science/ Nature/ the Environment: The Living Mountain
☀ I4: Historical Fiction: Dead Dead Girls
☀ N4: Travel or Adventure: The Daughters of Madurai
☀ G4: Includes one or more mythical creatures: Tea with the Black Dragon
☀ O4: Essay Collection: Almost Everything: Notes on Hope

Thanks - this was fun!

[Ozsaur]

Congrats Gail W!

[Sonia]

There are genres I am not interested in so I have not participated in the Bingo Challenge. But I have really enjoyed seeing what everyone has been reading for the challenge.

[Anita]

I've really enjoyed the BINGO board and have just been very bad at tracking and recording my squares completed here to share with you all. I agree with MJ, and liked that the variety can nudge the reader outside of their norm in order to complete a BINGO. I'd be happy to do another round with mixed up squares with any changes members or you might like.

[Carol]

MJ - I"m always up for suggestions for topics.

Having said that, since it's the 29th and I can create some time to work on this tomorrow or Saturday, it sounds like the consensus is, let's set up a fresh BINGO card and - as we did with last year's multi-theme challenge, I'll include 4 or 5 swappable themes if you want to use them to replace themes that don't resonate.

At the beginning of the year, we were balancing topics across all of our challenges and monthly reads, but at this point, I don't think we need to consider the overall year-long touches. I'll take a shot at v1 so you all have something to react/respond to, and we'll adjust it to suit.

[Ozsaur]

Thanks Carol! Sounds like a good plan!

[Ozsaur]

I completed two bingos! A vertical G, and a vertical O.

It wasn't always easy finding books for the prompts, but I still had fun. I also read outside my comfort zone. I don't think I ever would have read Harvey otherwise.

[Mj]

Congrats Ozsaur for completing your 2 lines and for cheering others on. Harvey sounds like a fun read. I too remember the movie. I checked out your taste in books and am surprised at how different they are from my own. I too however enjoyed going outside of my usual boxes (which are already quite diverse.)

Was most impressed with the reviews you've written and how disciplined you must be to have a review for practically every book you've read. Cudos to you for this and also for your bingo participation, accomplishments and congratulations to others!!

[Mj]

Thanks Carol,

Glad you have some time to set up Bingo for the 2nd half of the year. Am sure your choices will be good ones and thanks for the swappable themes and making the time to set up a second half Bingo!

[Ozsaur]

Thanks, Mj!
I checked out your taste in books and am surprised at how different they are from my own.

My taste in books is pretty eclectic, and even more so now that I've fallen into the LitRPG rabbit hole. I like challenges like BINGO because it gets me out of a rut.

Was most impressed with the reviews you've written and how disciplined you must be to have a review for practically every book you've read.

Awww, thanks again! The reviews are mostly a way to solidify the books I read in my head. They're also useful for reference, but I'm happy if someone gets anything out of them.

[Carol]

Time has gotten away from me once again. (We are on the downhill sprint of a siding/replacement windows/exterior paint project that has sucked the life out of me and impaired sleep. :)

For the second half of 2023, starting yesterday, will the following BINGO card layout work? If you have any strong objections or even if you think a particular row or column is imbalanced in some way and want to propose a shift, let me know.

Note: Any prompt except for the memoir/biography prompt can be completed with fiction or non-fiction.

B1 LGBTQ+ author
B2 Graphic novel
B3 Essay or Short Story collection or anthology
B4 Indigenous author
B5 Change/Ecology/ author Environment
I1 Fantasy/Sci-fi or both
I2 African author in translation
I3 mystery/crime/detective
I4 Southeast Asian author
I5 Feminism
N1 Latina author
N2 Neurodivergence or mental health
N3 FREE SPACE
N4 poetry
N5 Folklore (theme), or folktale collection
G1 Mythology (theme) or retelling
G2 immigrants or refugees
G3 speculative fiction
G4 takes place in the Middle East or North Africa
G5 Classic (1st published in or before 1973)
O1 #WiT
O2 2023 release (UK or US)
O3 Black author
O4 Memoir or biography of a woman
O5 Dragons, witches, ghosts or werewolves

For anyone who wants an alternative theme to sub for one of the designated square's theme, swap for one of the following: cozy mystery, food/cookbooks/agriculture, capital cities (takes place in a), suffrage, trans author or MC, or author of Chinese descent

Let's target finalizing this by the 5th.

[Mj]

Thanks Carol,

Am sorry that your renovation made the 2nd half 2023 Bingo more stressful.

What you’ve come up with looks good. It has lots of variety and flexibility and for me, there are plenty of alternatives suggested to exchange for categories that don’t really appeal to me that I know will really appeal to other members.

Some changes I would like to recommend:

#1 O2 – Currently suggested – A 2023 release from an author in UK or US.

Recommend it be changed to A 2023 release by an author from anywhere in the world and in any language.

My logic and my rant:) :

Our group has members from all over the world, and oftentimes the monthly read selections are not readily accessible. If our group’s objective is to be inclusive, which I assume it is due to the group’s focus on books by authors from other countries translated to English or other languages for more global accessibility. This square’s focus on the US and UK contradicts this intention (likely inadvertently.) I’ve seen numerous negative comments about award lists when announced, that there is too much focus on the UK or the US by members. I agree and don’t think we should promote this emphasis in one of group’s challenges.

#2 G1 – I noticed GI is listed twice and there is no G3.

For G3 I which is missing, I would like to recommend something about Visual Art
e.g. visual art/painting/sculpture/art history etc. (theme of book, memoir, autobiography, biography, collection, analysis etc,)

I have noticed that a number of members like to read about art and visit collection and I didn’t notice art in any of the squares.

Here’s a link to a recent post by member Tamara Agha-Jaffar which covers not just art, but a different region of the world and ancient times – just one example.

message 1932: by Tamara
Jun 26, 2023 11:53AM

If anyone is interested in art, I highly recommend Suad Al-Attar by Nesma Shubber.

Suad Al-Attar is a prolific Iraqi artist with an international reputation. She has lived in England since 1976. This bio and collection of her art is put together by her granddaughter, Nesma Shubber. Her paintings frequently depict motifs from Ancient Mesopotamia. She does amazing work.

My (Tanara's) review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Suad Al-AttarNesma Shubberhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#3 OPTIONAL– I also noted some other topics not covered that were mentioned as possibilities for this year’s 1st Half 2023 Bingo by Jen if you’re interested in other alternatives or changing any squares. It looks like music is being covered in an upcoming monthly group read.

music (theme of book, memoir, autobiogratphy, biography, collection, analysis etc,)

self-help

anthropology

social justice

For your consideration.

[Crazytourists_books]

Carol, the categories look great

[Michaela]

Thanks Carol! Not sure if I will participate, but it looks good so far.

Agree though with Mj - and thanks for throwing in a word for non-English-speaking-countries, who can hardly get access to books from 2023 in the same year they were published.

[Carol]

Michaela wrote: "Thanks Carol! Not sure if I will participate, but it looks good so far.

Agree though with Mj - and thanks for throwing in a word for non-English-speaking-countries, who can hardly get access to bo..."

Understood, I was trying to figure out a way to flag new releases without creating a lot of ambiguity about what's in and out, since that tends to make a large number of members uncomfortable. I'll make updates soon (without defining soon).

[Ozsaur]

I'd like to ask about the widget. I'm good with using the same widget, and continuing to use this page for tracking. It's a lot of work re-doing everything for a new board when this one is working fine.

What do y'all think?

[Mj]

I was able to complete 25/25 squares without duplication by the end of June 30th.

Sorry for the late post, but posted earlier and spent some time with book and author links only to lose them. This post doesn't have links or ratings yet but wanted to post. Hopefully it will provide some good options for books, bingos and future reads.

Learned some valuable lessons in the process:
1) start reading challenge books earlier
2) post finishes as you go

Hope you find some reads as enjoyable as I did.

B1 Short Story collection by an author of colour Fiction
Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

B2 First published in your birth year (F/NF) Fiction Biography
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates Illustrated by Nora S Unwin

B3 Genre novel written by LGBTQ+ author Fiction
The Story of Us: A Novel by Catherine Hernandez

B4 Science, nature, the environment (F/NF) Fiction
What We Fed to the Manticore by Talia Lakshmi Kolluri

B5 Memoir or autobiography of a woman Non-Fiction
The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Story of a Soul by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Thérèse of Lisieux translated by John Beevers


I1 Booker or Other Listed Award Winners
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

I2 SF or Fantasy Anthology edited by a person of color Bawaajigan: Stories of Power: The Exile Book of Anthology Series: Number Eighteen by Chrisitne Smith Miskonoodinkwe

I3 Nonfiction in translation Non-Fiction
Microsoft Office 2010 and 2007 for Seniors: Practical applications for every day usage
Seniors 2007/2010l by Ria Beentjes translated by Irini Venditti from Dutch to English

I4 Historical Fiction Fiction
Em by Kim Thúy translated by Sheila Fishman from French to English

I5 Philosophy or spirituality is a theme - chose feminist philosophy.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo translated by Jamie Chang from Korean to English


N1 Latina author (F/NF) Fiction
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

N2 500+ page book (F/NF) Fiction
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny

N3 FREE SPACE – any book written by a woman Fiction
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

N4 Travel or adventure (F/NF) Non-Fiction
Threads: From the Refugee Crisis by Kate Evans

N5 Humor or satire (F/NF) Fiction
Nobody Cries At Bingo by Dawn Dumont


G1 Play Non-Fiction
Pig Girl by Colleen Murphy

G2 Published by a small press (F/NF) Fiction
The Piano Teacher: A Healing Key by Dorothy Dittrich

G3 Poetry Non-Fiction
Even This Page Is White by Vivek Shraya

G4 Incl one or more mythical creatures Fiction
Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection, Volume 2 by Hope Nicholson

G5 Food, cookbooks, genre book with food theme (F/NF) Non-Fiction
Once Upon a Chef: Weeknight/Weekend: 70 Quick-Fix Weeknight Dinners + 30 Luscious Weekend Recipes: A Cookbook by Jennifer Segal


O1 #WiT, and the translator is a woman (F/NF)
A Girl's Story by Annie Ernaux

O2 About or takes place in a country you haven’t read about in the last 5 years (F/NF) Fiction
The Impatient by Djaïli Amadou Amal translated by Emma Ramadan

O3 MC is 60+ years old Fiction
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie

O4 Essay collection Non-Fiction
Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

O5 Graphic "novel" (F/NF) Non-Fiction
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Bechdel, Alison

[Ozsaur]

Mj, I'm so impressed with your blackout! That's quite a wide-ranging list of books you have there. Congratulations on completing BINGO!

[Mj]

Thanks Ozsaur for taking time to make your comment. Appreciate it. I do like to read a variety of books and enjoyed trying some new authors and revisiting authors I've read before,

(replacement email as I inadvertently deleted my previous email)

[Mj]

I quite enjoyed the 2023 2nd half Bingo and was able to complete 3 vertical lines (B N & O) AND 1 horizontal line (the 2nd Row). I've only counted 17 squares as 3 horizontal squares were duplicated because I had already used them to complete vertical lines.

I used Carol's choices from her initial Bingo Post in Comment 76 and made just 1 substitution from her list, ignoring later potential change comments as it was a very hectic and busy time for Carol with her partner's pain and health issues. Am hoping everything has settled down and everyone is healthy.

Am glad to see Bingo happening again in 2024 and look forward to participating.

Many of the books listed below could have been used for a number of other squares/categories.

B1 LGBTQ+ author Mercy Gene by J. D. Derbyshire
B2 Graphic novel Turtle Bread by Kim-Joy
B3 Essay/Short Story Collection The Goth House Experiment by S.J. Sindu
B4 Indigenous author Bone Black by Carol Rose GoldenEagle
B5 Change/Ecology/Environment Journey Inward by Jean Craighead George

N1 Latina author My Wicked Wicked Ways: Poems by Sandra Cisneros
N2 Neurodivergence/mental health Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
N3 FREE Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
N4 Poetry Burning Sugar by Cicely Belle Blain
N5 Folklore or folktale Crowned: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora by Kahran Bethencourt & Regis Bethencourt

O1 #WiT People Like Them by Samira Sedira translated by Lara Vergnaud
O2 2023 release (UK or US) Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
O3 Black author Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
O4 Memoir/bio of a woman A Place Called No Homeland by Kai Cheng Thom
O5 Substitute Food/Cookbook Chetna's Easy Baking: with a twist of spice by Chetna Makan

B2 Turtle Bread by Kim-Joy
I2 African author in translation All Your Children, Scattered by Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse
N2 Demon Copperhead by Kingsolver, Barbara
G2 Immigrants or refugees The Islands: StoriesThe Islands: Stories by Dionne Irving
O2 Western Lane by Maroon, Chetna