The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
WINTER CHALLENGE 2009-2010
>
Task Ideas
I had already suggested such to Cynthia at the start to the Fall Challenge. Below is her response which makes sense. message: I actually purposely didn't create topics for each task because I wanted to leave that section open for each person to ask for help for the tasks they needed help with and what they specifically needed.
But thanks for the suggestion,
Cynthia
I wonder if all the current Fall Challenge folders are going to be archived into a single folder. Hmm.I think the General Help folder is fine as it is. The Helpful links can still be useful for other seasonal challenges. It saves a lot of us time from having to dig back through to find -- that geography locator link, for example.
But I am PLUM excited for the Winter Challenge items to pop up. SQUEE! But I will be heavily reading in November - 30 books left! EEP!
Tanja wrote: "I wonder if all the current Fall Challenge folders are going to be archived into a single folder. Hmm.I think the General Help folder is fine as it is. The Helpful links can still be useful for..."
Read fast, Tanja!
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 27th January read a book about the Holocaust
Tanja wrote: "I had already suggested such to Cynthia at the start to the Fall Challenge. Below is her response which makes sense. message: I actually purposely didn't create topics for each task because I w..."
That was my original idea - thinking I'd see how that worked - but it probably would be better if I just set up official help posts for each task. So I will do that this time and see if that works better.
Tanja wrote: "I wonder if all the current Fall Challenge folders are going to be archived into a single folder. Hmm.
I think the General Help folder is fine as it is. The Helpful links can still be useful for..."
All the posts that are in the fall section will stay there but I'll move it to the bottom of the group page. And then I'll have a section for old task help pages where all the old help posts will go when the challenges are done. The new posts that I'm creating will then go in the the current task help folder.
Re all: Awesome Cynthia!!! ^.^And thanks for experimenting with ideas and considering them. It's been grand!
Cynthia wrote: "Tanja wrote: "I had already suggested such to Cynthia at the start to the Fall Challenge. Below is her response which makes sense. message: I actually purposely didn't create topics for each task..."
Cynthia, I don't know how you stand dealing with old crabs like me, but I appreciate it. All your organization for our benefit has been a lot of fun for me--it certainly keeps me off the street! I only hope the time you spend on the site's housekeeping doesn't cut into to your own reading time too much.
Cynthia,You Rock!! I don't know how you are finding time to keep us all straight. I appreciate all your hard work. It is interesting to see how it all works since this is my first challenge
Thank you!!!
You are all welcome. I really do love putting them together and as long as I can find the time I plan to continue doing it. It helps me pick out books from my own tbr mountain too so it benefits me as well. Also as a librarian there is nothing that makes me happier than seeing people reading and discovering new books.Thanks.
Cynthia, I shared your challenge with my local library suggesting if they wanted, to share it with other readers. They found it adorably awesome and neat. In fact, one librarian sometimes helps me find a book for the tasks. I cannot wait to share the Winter one :)
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Read three books: one with an animal in its title, one with a vegetable (?or fruit?) in its title, one with a mineral (?or element?) in its titleThe Meme Challenge: Open the book nearest to you at this very moment. Turn to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post that sentence, then find a book whose title contains one of the words (EXACTLY) that is in that sentence. ALT: Read x books, each with a different word from that sentence in its title.
Celebrate Diversity: Read a book whose main character follows a different faith from your own, and who celebrates an event from that faith in the course of that book.
Color Me Challenged: Christmas colors and books -- either something as simple as read a book with a red or green cover, or something as difficult as read two books, one whose title contains "red" or a word that is a shade of red (ex: The Scarlet Letter) and one that contains "green" or a word that is a shade of green (ex: Olive Kitteredge).
Not really a new task, but I though it might be a nice update to the group read: Read one of the group reads AND comment in the group's discussion thread about it (include the number of at least one post when you claim points)
Krista wrote: "The volunteer task the AK Erin suggested sparked a thought. This group does so love books, perhaps we could do something to provide free books to those that don't have access to them.Project Gutenberg and/or LibriVox are always looking for volunteers to bring more free books into the public domain.
The task could be to read a book from the Project Gutenberg list, then spend at least 4 hours volunteering for an organization that provides books to the community or spreads literacy in some way.
Link to Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page "
Krista - thanks for suggesting this. I started volunteer proofreading for Project Gutenberg and am enjoying it tremendously!
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but in December the Earth experiences both the darkest and the lightest day of the year. Perhaps we could read a book with the word "dark" in it and another with the word "light".
pjreads wrote: "Krista wrote: "The volunteer task the AK Erin suggested sparked a thought. This group does so love books, perhaps we could do something to provide free books to those that don't have access to them..."Wonderful! I'm glad that you're enjoying your volunteering experience with Project Gutenberg. Now I'd best get on that ball and put my time where my mouth is and do some volunteering too. :-)
It might be a bit late to make another suggestion, but how about reading a book that another member read for the fall challenge and gave a five star and/or one star rating? There's already threads for that, and people can post more.
No more presidential biography tasks please. I couldn't bring myself to finish it last challenge, and I probably won't be able to do it this challenge. I'm begging you. Switch it to Kings and Queens at least, or something.
Here are a few that I came up with!February is Dental Health Month – read a book that has teeth, tooth, or smile in the title.
A Light in the Darkness: Due to the winter solstice, many midwinter celebrations share a common theme – the return of the light to brighten our darkest days. In observance of this, read a book whose title contains a word related to illumination (light, sun, brightness, etc.).
Gardeners know that winter is for planning the next growing season. Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, that has gardening as a significant theme (e.g. The $84 Tomato, Cultivating Delight, The Rose Grower) or contains garden-themed words in the title (e.g. Roots, Blood of Flowers, The Good Earth).
Squirrels and other animals spend the autumn putting food by to get them through the winter. Bring out a book that you have “squirreled” away by reading the book that has been on your TBR list the longest.
Sara wrote: "No more presidential biography tasks please. I couldn't bring myself to finish it last challenge, and I probably won't be able to do it this challenge. I'm begging you. Switch it to Kings and Queen..."HEAR HEAR!
Sara wrote: "No more presidential biography tasks please. I couldn't bring myself to finish it last challenge, and I probably won't be able to do it this challenge. I'm begging you. Switch it to Kings and Queen..."HEAR HEAR the second!
Feb is the shortest month, maybe read a ceratin number of short stories
January has:
New Years day-read a book about New starts or with the word New in the title
Feb has;
Groundhog day-read a book about an animal or with an animal on the cover
valentines Day-read a book about forbidden love or first love
Amysthyst is the stone and vilet is the flower-a book that has the color purple on the cover
Also, I liked some of the tasks from last time, maybe we could keep some of those as well
Melissa wrote: "sorry if someone has already suggested this...February is the shortest month. Read a book that is a collection of short stories by one or more authors."
You and I had the exact same thought. I suggested it after you without having even read the previous posts!! Great minds think alike :-)
Sara☺ wrote: "Cynthia,You Rock!! I don't know how you are finding time to keep us all straight. I appreciate all your hard work. It is interesting to see how it all works since this is my first challenge
T..."
I'm with you, this was my first challenge too. Its fun and I'm hoping the winter challenge will open my eyes to new books and authors i would've have thought of. thanks for keeping this fun!
Yes, could the biographies this time be geared toward maybe other political figures than presidents or adventurers/explorers?
Alice wrote: "Sara wrote: "No more presidential biography tasks please."
LOL! I would totally concur here. Not being American, I feel the presidential or American focus of some tasks can teeter on exclusion (although I know we were given the option to go rogue to other countries, lol!).
I am very interested in all history and always open to learning new things, so I am certainly not trying to be inflammatory here. Just hoping there is a way the tasks can be more inclusive, for the broader membership base.
Humbly, and respectfully,
Jennifer :)
Tanja wrote: "Yes, could the biographies this time be geared toward maybe other political figures than presidents or adventurers/explorers?"Or authors!
*nods at Cait* Absolutely! That would be fun - biography about your classic/favorite writer.
Cait wrote: "Tanja wrote: "Yes, could the biographies this time be geared toward maybe other political figures than presidents or adventurers/explorers?"Or authors!
I second that Cait! or actors too!
"
I do have to add though, that I have enjoyed the past 2 presidential biographies. The one I'm reading about FDR is fascinating, and hubby is stoked as he's his favorite president. I wouldn't mind seeing the idea expanded though. It would give me the chance (and motivation) to read my new doorstop of a Dickens biography (which I really want to do, but man is the size intimidating).
Or even "read a biography of an author and then read a book written by that author". Have we done that one yet? Either way, it's something to keep in mind for anyone who finishes the challenge and needs help deciding on a task. *wink wink* :o)
You forgot to nudge the chocolate, Cait.December is about giving. Read a book about a charity organization or a person who selflessly gave to the world (the latter part could be interpretted in many ways)
I think every task should have a requirement at the end that says (and eat some chocolate).Read a book of short stories (and eat some chocolate).
Read a holiday themed book (and eat some chocolate).
Read a book with the word 'new' or 'year' in the title (and eat some chocolate).
The only downside is that I would end up having to read all of the books for the Spring Challenge while on the treadmill. :o)
Cait wrote: "I think every task should have a requirement at the end that says (and eat some chocolate).Read a book of short stories (and eat some chocolate).
Read a holiday themed book (and eat some chocolat..."
You mean I've been doing it wrong all these years--I eat the chocolate WHILE reading. It means more chocolate. (No, these aren't thunder thighs...they're chocolate thighs. And none of that hollow bunny stuff either.)
Cait wrote: "Or even "read a biography of an author and then read a book written by that author". Have we done that one yet?..."This is an AWESOME idea Cait!! I have my own doorstop of a Beatrix Potter biography, by Linda Lear, I am eager to start, but would hold off if it came up as a task for the winter challenge! Plus, the chocolate idea is, well, necessary.
Cait wrote: "I think every task should have a requirement at the end that says (and eat some chocolate).Read a book of short stories (and eat some chocolate).
Read a holiday themed book (and eat some chocolat..."
Too funny!! Eating chocolate is the one thing I do really enjoy and almost always eat while reading. Great idea!!
When will we know the tasks? I may have to do some shopping or library reserving so wanted to get an idea.Thanks!
Tracey wrote: "When will we know the tasks? I may have to do some shopping or library reserving so wanted to get an idea.Thanks!"
Tracey, in message 196 Cynthia said it would be Nov 12 or 13 when she posts the 5, 10, 15 pointers, plus any 25 point tasks she has in hand.
I wish I had time enough to read all the books necessary to finish the challenge. I have an idea for a task that might be too complicated for 15 pts:Read a book where the title quotes a work of literature and read the work quoted. Briefly explain the connection between the two works. Some examples:
"Sound and Fury" derives from a line in Macbeth
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" quotes a John Donne poem
"Vile Bodies" references the Epistle to the Philippians 3:21
"Vanity Fair" is part of The Pilgrim's Progress
"Where Angels Fear to Tread" is a line in an essay by Alexander Pope
Liz wrote: "I wish I had time enough to read all the books necessary to finish the challenge. I have an idea for a task that might be too complicated for 15 pts:Read a book where the title quotes a work of ..."
Great idea ... I like that one a lot!
I second that one Liz!! Sounds really cool!
Tanja wrote: "Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes"Okay, now that we are talking about chocolate my brain is really kicking into gear!
The Box of Chocolates Challenge
(This suggestion might benefit from some improvements!)
The heart-shaped box of chocolates is a traditional Valentine's Day gift, but there are always one or two in any box that are somehow less desireable. Therefore, choose 2 (or 3?) of the following:
Chocolate creams: sweet and creamy and melts in your mouth. Choose any type of book with a happy-ever-after ending.
Nut crunch: nutty and sometimes a little salty. Choose a comedy or comedic non-fiction. No comic books, but something like Best of the Onion or other non-illustrated compliation is fine.
Chocolate-covered cherries: moist and juicy. Choose a book that centers on a scandalous act or character, fiction or non-fiction.
Chocolate caramels: chewy and sticks to your teeth. Choose any book you can sink your teeth into that is over 500 pages.
Milk Chocolates: favorite of children. Read a YA book that has been made into a movie; watch the movie also and review both.
Dark Chocolate: a more sophisticated taste, and a little bit bitter. Read a book that does not have a happy ending.
maybe this is a little silly? maybe you all have better ideas?
Melissa wrote: "Tanja wrote: "Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes"Okay, now that we are talking about chocolate my brain is really kicking into gear!
The Box of Chocolates Challenge
(This suggestion might ben..."
I love the chocolate idea!
Sara wrote: "No more presidential biography tasks please. I couldn't bring myself to finish it last challenge, and I probably won't be able to do it this challenge. I'm begging you. Switch it to Kings and Queens at least, or something."As much love as I have for any sort of biography, I think if someone finishes a reading challenge they should be able to come up with any sort of task for the next challenge. If someone finishes this challenge and wants to challenge us to read about presidents again, that should be their choice, despite what the masses want. We can put our word in for suggestions for the tasks Cynthia comes up with because she asks for suggestions. But the personal tasks should be up to the individual who won the opportunity to do so.
The Winter Is Dark: read a book with something that has to do with 'light' in the title
El wrote: "As much love as I have for any sort of biography, I think if someone finishes a reading challenge they should be able to come up with any sort of task for the next challenge. If someone finishes this challenge and wants to challenge us to read about presidents again, that should be their choice, despite what the masses want. We can put our word in for suggestions for the tasks Cynthia comes up with because she asks for suggestions. But the personal tasks should be up to the individual who won the opportunity to do so."I think the one caveat I would add to your comment would be about scope. The individual should not be limited in what he or she picks for a challenge, but he or she should make sure that his or her challenge doesn't have such an inordinately tiny scope that only a few books would qualify for that challenge.
Sam wrote: "I think the one caveat I would add to your comment would be about scope. The individual should not be limited in what he or she picks for a challenge, but he or she should make sure that his or her challenge doesn't have such an inordinately tiny scope that only a few books would qualify for that challenge."I can get behind that caveat, Sam. But I don't think that's necessarily been an issue yet (unless I'm now just repressing the memory), even if I sometimes don't agree with the choices that have been allowed/disallowed for some tasks, or the wording of other tasks.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Rough Guide to Jamaica (other topics)A Tale of Two Cities (other topics)
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (other topics)
A Treatise of Human Nature (other topics)
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (other topics)
More...
I second that idea.