The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
TASK HELP: Winter Challenge 2023
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50.1 - Trishhartuk's Task: The Spirits of the Past, the Present and the Future
Scrooge listened to Spirits and improved.Option 1
The Italian Secretary, Caleb Carr (Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery)
The Curse of Penryth Hall, Jess Armstrong
The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue
Option 2
Body Friend, Katherine Brabon
The Book of Fire, Christy Lefteri
Sable Peak, Devney Perry
Romantic Comedy, Curtis Sittenfeld
Northwoods, Amy Pease
Option 3: Approved combinations
Cinder (Fantasy, Science Fiction) and Instant Karma, Marissa Mayer (not SF/Fantasy, "present day")
The Echo of Old Books and Summer at Hideaway Key or When Never Comes (not SF/Fantasy, "present day"), Barbara Davis
Babel (Fantasy, Historical Fantasy) and Yellowface (not SF/Fantasy, "present day"), R.F. Kuang
A Million Junes (Fantasy) and Beach Read (not SF/Fantasy, "present day"), Emily Henry
Random in Death (Science Fiction) and either The Search or Identity (not SF/Fantasy, "present day"), J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts.
1984 (Science Fiction) and Keep the Aspidistra Flying (contemporary to when it was published), George Orwell
Sharing the Miracle (not SF/Fantasy, "present day") and Wildest Dreams (Fantasy), by Kristen Ashley
Canyons of Night (Fantasy, SF), Eclipse Bay (not SF/Fantasy, "present day"), Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krentz
Elevation (Fantasy), Misery (Not fantasy), Stephen King.
The Sookie Stackhouse and Midnight Texas serieses (Fantasy), and either the Lily Bard or Aurora Teagarden series (contemporary to their publishing dates), Charlaine Harris
Shine Shine Shine (Science Fiction) and Everybody's Baby (not SF/Fantasy), Linda Netzer
The Handmaid’s Tale (Science Fiction, Fantasy) and
The Edible Woman (contemporary to its publishing date), Margaret Atwood
The Gray and Guilty Sea (contemporary to its publishing date) and Ghost Detective (Fantasy, Urban Fantasy), Scott William Carter.
By agreement with the mods.
Sputnik Sweetheart (not SF/Fantasy, "present day"), and 1Q84 (Fantasy, SF), Haruki Murakami
Hidden Charm (just about contemporary/present day) as a pair to Diving into the Wreck (Science Fiction), Kristine Kathryn Rusch/Kristine Grayson
Scrooge didn't change his ways and met his original fate.Option 1
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, Crystal Smith Paul - not 100% set before 1950.
The Postcard, Anna Berest - not 100% set before 1950.
Option 2
Counting the Cost, Jill Duggar - memoir, rather than covering "current affairs".
The Lost Bookshop, Evie Woods - has Historical Fiction as an MPG
At Weddings and Wakes, Alice McDermott - has Historical Fiction as an MPG
Option 3
My Year of Rest and Relaxation - doesn't work on the contemporary side as it was published in 2018 but set in 2000.
For Book 3, would Marissa Meyer qualify? I'm looking at Cinder for the sci-fi/fantasy and Instant Karma for the present-day (contemporary), but not sure if having the fantasy element in the latter disqualifies the connection.
Just clarifying - for Book 1, MPG's like Historical Mystery and Historical Romance work, correct?
So I am looking at Joanne Harris but her books tagged as contemporary don't seem to fit your definition as published in the same decade as they are set. Do you have an example of one of her books that fits the criteria? I thought I was safe choosing an author that was listed in the task but I am not finding that to be the case
For the 3rd option how are we going to prove that a book published in 2016 is set in the 2010's many books do not state the date of the events I was going to use a Nora roberts book for this Identity published 2023 but no identifying data for when it is set - I dont want to read several books to find one that fits. I feel like this has become unnecessarily complicated when compared to what was in the task poll
Also if you read a book published 2023 for example you would only have 3 years to choose from for the book to be set in the same decade. Any others would be set in the future which is obviously not the idea of contemporary
This rewording has changed the whole context of the task
Laurah30Just checking my option 3 book to make sure it fits. I want to read Barbara Davis' book The Echo of Old Books which includes fantasy as an MPG. I would link that to Summer at Hideaway Key or When Never Comes, both of which are modern day books featuring current event themes.
Thanks for your help, Trish.
For Option 1, does the entirety of the book have to be set in or before 1950's. I know that a lot of historical fiction has a majority of the book set in that time frame, but a portion of the book may include current day as someone from the future is interviewing someone from the past or it may just include the current time frame for other reasons (usually something mysterious the reader finds out later)For Option 3, I just want to make sure I am getting this correct as I do not read a lot of sci-fi/ fantasy.
So would R.F. Kuang work for Yellowface as contemporary with Babel being the sci-fi/ fantasy. Or Emily Henry with Beach Read as contemporary and A Million Junes being sci-fi/ fantasy. I just want to ensure I am on the right track.
Something for the mods to consider as someone who had a difficult time with my task after it won in the Fall, maybe we should allow clarifications to be made before the voting begins. I know I had something specific in mind when I created it, but later found it did not work for quite a few people after it was finalized. I know I often will not vote for something that is not clear in the original submission thread.
Angela wrote: "For Option 1, does the entirety of the book have to be set in or before 1950's. I know that a lot of historical fiction has a majority of the book set in that time frame, but a portion of the book ..."i think it was really clear in the submission thread the author had to write both fantasy and contemporary. no mention of dates / decades etc I cannot date any of my options to the publication decade. I dont understand why it has been changed so drastically
Ok so i think I now have 3 books that work.Option 1 The Italian Secretary set in the reign of Queen Victoria so before 1901
Option 2 Body Friend this says "Late in the summer five years ago," so I am assuming it fits the "present day" requirement
An alternative would be The Book of Fire
Option 3 Random in Death Fantasy by JD robb who also writes as nora Roberts. I have found one book that gives a date this is called The Search written and set in 2010 according to GR data. and so proves the author writes in both genres
Can you please approve these books
So I could use The First Men in the Moon byH.G. Wells for option 3 since it was written far before the first moon landing in 1969?Thanks,
Andy
If we choose to read a book from the sci fi or fantasy genre - for the second book that we are not reading do we have to verify the year setting or can we just use the contemporary MPG tag to show that they wrote in both genres?
Katrisa wrote: "If we choose to read a book from the sci fi or fantasy genre - for the second book that we are not reading do we have to verify the year setting or can we just use the contemporary MPG tag to show ..."as far as I understand it Katrisa the time it is written about needs to be verified.
I completely missed the discussion thread about this task and was finding it hard to fill but I think I have cracked it now
C wrote: "For Book 3, would Marissa Meyer qualify? I'm looking at Cinder for the sci-fi/fantasy and Instant Karma for the present-day (contemporary), but not sure if having th..."I'm still confused, and wondering if my author qualifies before I start reading for this task.
C wrote: "For Book 3, would Marissa Meyer qualify? I'm looking at Cinder for the sci-fi/fantasy and Instant Karma for the present-day (contemporary), but not sure if having th..."Yep, those two work as a combination. You can read either, and then post a link to the other one.
C wrote: "I'm still confused, and wondering if my author qualifies before I start reading for this task."
I just hadn't got around to answering, as I didn't realise the task had been posted over the weekend. Yes, Marissa Mayer is fine.
Robin P wrote: "Just clarifying - for Book 1, MPG's like Historical Mystery and Historical Romance work, correct?"Yep, Historical embedded is fine.
Katrisa wrote: "So I am looking at Joanne Harris but her books tagged as contemporary don't seem to fit your definition as published in the same decade as they are set. Do you have an example of one of her books t..."I'll admit more of them than I'd expected have Historical Fiction, and there are a lot of Fantasy. However, don't forget, the author doesn't need to have written more than one or two non-SF/Fantasy ones, as long as there's one you can link to.
So you could read Chocolat, for "Fantasy", for example and link to any of Gentlemen and Players, Different Class or A Narrow Door as the "present day" one.
Marie (UK) wrote: "This rewording has changed the whole context of the task"It proved surprisingly difficult to find any form of wording that fitted my original idea, that didn't up going in circles. Within the decade was the best compromise I could come up. I'm going to talk to the mods to see if we can clear it up even further.
There's nothing in the GR description of the Nora Roberts book you mention that would suggest that it isn't set around the time it's published.
Ok so i think I now have 3 books that work.
Option 1 The Italian Secretary set in the reign of Queen Victoria so before 1901
Option 2 Body Friend this says "Late in the summer five years ago," so I am assuming it fits the "present day" requirement
An alternative would be The Book of Fire
Option 3 Random in Death Fantasy by JD robb who also writes as nora Roberts. I have found one book that gives a date this is called The Search written and set in 2010 according to GR data. and so proves the author writes in both genres
Can you please approve these books
All of the above are fine. I'll lock them in for you.
Angela wrote: "For Option 1, does the entirety of the book have to be set in or before 1950's."Yes. The whole book needs to be set before 1950.
Angela wrote: "For Option 3, I just want to make sure I am getting this correct as I do not read a lot of sci-fi/ fantasy.
So would R.F. Kuang work for Yellowface as contemporary with Babel being the sci-fi/ fantasy. Or Emily Henry with Beach Read as contemporary and A Million Junes being sci-fi/ fantasy. I just want to ensure I am on the right track."
You are. Both those combinations would work. Just put links to both books in when you claim the task, stating which one you read, and which one you're using as the example of the other genre.
Laura H L wrote: "Laurah30Just checking my option 3 book to make sure it fits. I want to read Barbara Davis' book The Echo of Old Books which includes fantasy as an MPG. I would link that to Summer at Hideaway Key or When Never Comes, both of which are modern day books featuring current event themes."
The Echo of Old Books is an interesting one (I might have to add that to my TBR), but Fantasy is clearly there.
Either of the others would work for the present day link.
Andy wrote: "So I could use The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells for option 3 since it was written far before the first moon landing in 1969?Thanks, Andy"
Yes, as long as you can also link to another book by H.G. Wells that is set around the time he wrote it, that isn't SF/Fantasy. Suggestions might be Ann Veronica, Kipps or Love and Mr. Lewisham. They're a lot less well known than his SF, but they would count for the "contemporary" book.
Katrisa wrote: "If we choose to read a book from the sci fi or fantasy genre - for the second book that we are not reading do we have to verify the year setting or can we just use the contemporary MPG tag to show ..."The "Contemporary" tag was what got everything confused in the first place from the original submission, because it led to the discussion of what is the definition of contemporary. It's probably a good indication, but let me talk to the mods and see if we can get any clearer on the wording.
Trish wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "This rewording has changed the whole context of the task"It proved surprisingly difficult to find any form of wording that fitted my original idea, that didn't up going in circ..."
thanks Trish
Mod
I read Sharing the Miracle by Kristen Ashley, which is a contemporary book, MPG Contemporary Romance or MPG Contemporary published this year
Kristen Ashley also wrote Wildest Dreams which has MPG Fantasy and is part of a fantasy series
And would Sable Peak work for option 2?
Please verify these for option 3-Diving into the Wreck by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (SF)
Hidden Charm by Kristine Grayson (one of Rusch's many pseudonyms] (MPG: Contemporary)
I'll be reading Diving into the wreck.
Trish wrote: "Andy wrote: "So I could use The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells for option 3 since it was written far before the first moon landing in 1969?Thanks, Andy"
Yes, as..."
So when I post, I link to one of these books, but I don't have to read them as part of the task?
For Book 3, would Isaac Asimov work, with Murder at the ABA as the "current day" book?The book description doesn't specify when it is set, but this review says it is set in 1975 (first published in 1976).
(I would be reading one of his science fiction books, not this.)
Can i check if Sputnik Sweetheart works for the contemporary book of option 3? Link to 1Q84 as fantasy.
Not the mod but I just finished Did You Hear About Kitty Carr? and about 25 percent of it took place in 2017. Also from page 128 on is 2017/ 1955.
Andy wrote: "So when I post, I link to one of these books, but I don't have to read them as part of the task?"So, choose two books by the same author, one in the SF or Fantasy genre, and one not, but contemporary to when it was written. Read one. Link to the other one.
KmarieD wrote: Just want to make sure I have option 3 right. Can I use these:I read Sharing the Miracle by Kristen Ashley, which is a contemporary book....Kristen Ashley also wrote Wildest Dreams which has MPG Fantasy and is part of a fantasy series
That looks like a good pair. Just don't forget to put a link for the one you don't read, as well, when you claim the task. Also, don't forget there's a minimum of 750pg across the three books - only mentioning it as Sharing the Miracle is pretty short.
And would Sable Peak work for option 2?
Yes.
Kathy KS wrote: "Please verify these for option 3-Diving into the Wreck by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (SF) Hidden Charm by Kristine Grayson (one of Rusch's many pseudonyms]. I'll be reading Diving into the wreck. "
Hidden Charm is a bit of an odd one. The GR description reads like Urban Fantasy, not straight contemporary, even though it doesn't have Fantasy listed, and it specifically mentions magic. In fact, all the ones I've looked at written under Kristine Grayson seem to have some kind of fairy tale element, which is a stretch on the spirit of the task.
I did have a look at some of her other aliases, but again they all seem to be either Historical Fiction or have some kind of Fantasy or SF element. I'm going to check with the mods on that.
Kim wrote: "For option 1, would Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? work?"Angela wrote: "Not the mod but I just finished Did You Hear About Kitty Carr? and about 25 percent of it took place in 2017. Also from page 128 on is 2017/ 1955."
Thanks, Angela, as I didn't know the book. On this basis, no, it wouldn't work, as the whole book isn't set before 1950.
Julia wrote: "For Book 3, would Isaac Asimov work, with Murder at the ABA as the "current day" book?"Hmm. It does look like it's contemporary to its publishing date, but it has Science Fiction as an MPG, which means it wouldn't work.
Meg wrote: "Can i check if Sputnik Sweetheart works for the contemporary book of option 3? Link to 1Q84 as fantasy."I think I'm going to say yes to this. I hesitated slightly as Sputnik Sweetheart has Magical Realism as an MPG, but I can't see how that fits from the GR description, unless there's some kind of supernatural element to the disappearance that's also mentioned, so I'm okaying it.
Mod
I read Sharing the Miracle by Kristen Ashley, which is a contemporary book....Kristen Ashley also wro..."
Thanks. And my first two books have enough pages that the short one will work.
Trish wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "Please verify these for option 3-Diving into the Wreck by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (SF) Hidden Charm by Kristine Grayson (one of Rusch's many pseudony...Hidden Charm is a bit of an odd one. The GR description reads like Urban Fantasy, not straight contemporary, even though it doesn't have Fantasy listed, and it specifically mentions magic. In fact, all the ones I've looked at written under Kristine Grayson seem to have some kind of fairy tale element, which is a stretch on the spirit of the task.
I did have a look at some of her other aliases, but again they all seem to be either Historical Fiction or have some kind of Fantasy or SF element. I'm going to check with the mods on that."
After consultation with the mods, we've agreed to allow Hidden Charm as a pair to Diving into the Wreck
Trish wrote: "Trish wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "Please verify these for option 3-Diving into the Wreck by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (SF) Hidden Charm by Kristine Grayson (one of Rusch's ..."Thanks a lot, that helps me finish my picks, I believe.
Trish wrote: "Andy wrote: "So when I post, I link to one of these books, but I don't have to read them as part of the task?"So, choose two books by the same author, one in the SF or Fantasy genre, and one not,..."
Got it. Thanks
Andy
Trish wrote: "Julia wrote: "For Book 3, would Isaac Asimov work, with Murder at the ABA as the "current day" book?"Hmm. It does look like it's contemporary to its publishing date,..."
Aargh! This is one of those "why did people shelve it this way?" issues. It's not a science fiction genre book - it is a book where the main characters are science fiction authors. But I understand your decision and will look for something else.
For Opt 3, I think I have this right. I'd like to read Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle which is SF/F who also writes Contemporary Fiction under Jayne Ann Krentz. See Eclipse Bay.Do I have this correct?
KSMary wrote: "For Opt 3, I think I have this right. I'd like to read Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle which is SF/F who also writes Contemporary Fiction under [author:Jayne Ann Kren..."You do. Combination approved.
Julia wrote: "Aargh! This is one of those "why did people shelve it this way?" issues. It's not a science fiction genre book - it is a book where the main characters are science fiction authors. But I understand your decision and will look for something else."
I feel that somehow, goodreads thinks that everything he writes should be classified as Science Fiction. For example, he wrote a mystery series, of which this is the first: Tales of the Black Widowers - but again it's showing the Science Fiction MPG.
Trish wrote: "Julia wrote: "Aargh! This is one of those "why did people shelve it this way?" issues. It's not a science fiction genre book - it is a book where the main characters are science fiction authors. Bu..."Asimov has the distinction of having written a book that fits into every section of the Dewey Decimal book cataloguing system, such as 100 Philosophy, 200 Religion, etc. But as we know GR users are pretty bad at labeling books by genre.
When you say contemporary, does that mean the story needs to also be based from 2021 on? I read Romantic Comedy, which was published in 2023, but the story takes place from 2018 through 2020.
Chris wrote: "When you say contemporary, does that mean the story needs to also be based from 2021 on? I read Romantic Comedy, which was published in 2023, but the story takes place from 2018 thr..."As "contemporary" was causing problems, we've tried to rephrase things so it's clearer.
As long as Romantic Comedy was published in one of the stated years (which was has), and is obviously set around now (2018-20 would be), it should be fine.
Kristina Marie wrote: "Can Counting the Cost work for book 2? Thank you!"Sorry, no. As it's a memoir, it reaches back and while it presumably brings the story up to date, it doesn't look as if it discusses current affairs.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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Read three books totalling at least 750 pages.
No books with the genres children’s or kids (or variants such as middle grade) on the main book page may be used.
Books whose main page lists any of these genres: Sequential Art, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga may not be used.
Like various other people in the SRC, I always try to read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol during December, as it’s one of my favourite stories. His descriptions are so vivid that I find myself visualising the scenes, and I see something new in it every time I read it.
This task is not specifically a Christmas task, but it is based on a quote from the beginning of Stave 5. “I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!” Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. “The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.”
Book 1: The Past
Read a book that is set in, or is about a period, before 1950, AND has one of the MPGs “History” or “Historical”, stand alone or embedded (e.g. “Historical Fiction”). It doesn’t need to have been published before that date, but it does need to be set before/about that period.
Required: if it isn’t clear from the GR description, indicate how the book fits the task.
Book 2: The Present
Read a book first published in 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024, which is set in the present day or (for non-fiction) discusses current affairs.
Book 3: The Future
A Christmas Carol can be considered to be in the Fantasy genre, as well as a Classic.
Read a novel by an author who has published one or more novels which have the Science Fiction or Fantasy MPGs; and has also published one or more novels with a "present day" setting relative to its publishing date. For the "present day" book, there should be nothing in the GR description or setting metadata to indicate that it is set other than around the date at which it was published, and it should not have either Science Fiction nor Fantasy among its MPGs.
Examples of possible authors include: George Orwell, Emily St. John Mandel, Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Iain Banks/Iain M. Banks.
You can use either a “present day” book, or a SF/fantasy one, and both can be written either under the author’s name, or a pseudonym, as long as a link is included to establish that they are writing in both genres.
Required: as well as the book you choose to read, include a link to a book written in the other genre(s), and state the MPGs used for both.