TCF's The Gratitude Game info and sign-up

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in Saint Lucia, Liberia, Canada, United States, and unofficially in Brazil, the Netherlands, and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory of Norfolk Island.

I believe that Thanksgiving should be practiced all year long.

Let's practice gratitude by playing a game.

Sign-ups begin now and end on Sept. 25. Teams will be posted Sept. 26.

Team 1
Vi
LaurLa
Susan
Shan -A-

Team 2
Marie (UK)
Rachel G
Vicki
Andy

Team 3
Jamie (The Rebellious Reader)
Denise (mod)
Danielle Gypsy Soul
Jamie

Team 4
Emeli
Kari
Apoorv
Kelly (Maybedog)

Team 5
Mrs W
Charlotte
Ira
Claire

Team 6
lorii
Ela (Mouse333)
Christy
Jade aka MrsTosh

Team 7
Jessica
Teresa
Janeylou
Amanda

Team 8
Jen K
Priya
Catsalive
Michelle

Team 9
Lucy
bamaace83
Witchingly Bookish
Louise

Team 10
D.L.
Agnieszka
Kathy KS
Michelle's Empty Nest

team 11
Cilla
Sharon
Jill
Lanelle

back-up players
no one :(

The game begins Monday, Sept. 29 and ends Sunday, Nov. 23.

There are 8 weeks of the game.
Week 1: Sept. 29 - Oct. 5
Week 2: Oct. 6 - Oct. 12
Week 3: Oct. 13 - Oct. 19
Week 4: Oct. 20 - Oct. 26
Week 5: Oct. 27 - Nov. 2
Week 6: Nov. 3 - Nov. 9
Week 7: Nov. 10 - Nov. 16
Week 8: Nov. 17 - Nov. 23

Details:
You have seven (7) days to read one (1) book.

Rules:
You can't begin reading your book until Monday morning, 12:01 a.m. your time.
You must finish and report your book by Sunday night 11:59 p.m. your time.

If a team member does not make a Completion Post for a certain week, the team misses out on the points that team member's book would have added to the total. If that team member misses a second week, they will be removed from the team.

Exceptions are made for a planned absence or emergency. Another player on the team can use a second book to replace the missing points caused by the absence or emergency.

Books must be 140 pages or more.
Graphic Novels must be 200 pages or more.
Audio books must be at least 3 hours long.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

How the game works:
* Each week one player on each team rolls two dice.
https://www.random.org/dice/?num=2
* Using die 1 for the row and die 2 for the column, find the intersection on the grid.

Example: if you roll a 3 and a 2, move down the Rows to #3, and scan across for #2 on that Row. It is "Name a book you are thankful for"

* Read a book for the task in that intersection. As easy as that.
* Each book read during the week receives one (1) point for the team.
* Your book will receive an extra point if 'gratitude' or 'grateful' is in the text.

The team with the most points wins.

A team can only read the task in a certain box once. If you roll the exact numbers (in the same order) from a previous week, you must re-roll the dice for a different task.

Because the picture is difficult to read, all boxes are listed below with their tasks.
Row 1:
1) Name a friend you are grateful for - read a book from a teammate's Goodreads shelf
2) +2 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
3) Share a memory you are grateful for - read a book set 50+ years ago, about an event that happened 50+ years ago, or published 50+ years ago
4) Name a holiday you are thankful for - read a book centered around or about a holiday
5) -1 point - read any book you'd like; your team loses 1 point
6) Share an activity you are grateful for - read a book with an action verb in the title

Row 2:
1) +3 points read a book with '3' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 3 points
2) Name a place you are grateful for - read a book about or set somewhere you have lived or visited
3) -4 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 4 points
4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family
5) Name an object you are grateful for - read a book with no human or animal on the cover
6) +1 point - read a book with '1' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 1 point

Row 3:
1) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter
2) Name a book you are thankful for - read a book in a series that you have started
3) Name a family member you are grateful for - read a book written by an author with any initial found in FAMILY
4) +4 points - read a book with '4' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 4 points
5) -3 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 3 points
6) Name a person you admire - read a book by a favorite author that you have not read yet, or read a biography or autobiography

Row 4:
1) Name an ability you are thankful for - read a book where a significant character has a disability
2) +1 point - read a book with '1' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 1 point
3) Share something that makes you happy - re-read a book that you rated 4 or 5 stars
4) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter
5) Name a song you are grateful for - read a book with 'song(s)', 'sing(s)', or 'singing' in the text
6) Share a moment when someone helped you - read a book from a teammate's Goodreads shelf

Row 5:
1) +2 points read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
2) Name a game you are grateful for - read a book where a competitive sport is mentioned
3) -3 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 3 points
4) Share a vacation memory you are grateful for - read a book where the MC goes on vacation or holiday, or about a popular vacation site
5) +5 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 5 points
6) Share a experience you are grateful for - read a book with 'X' anywhere on the cover

Row 6:
1) Share a challenge you overcame - read a book that fits a current task in a challenge that a teammate is participating in (other than this challenge :)
2) -1 point - read any book you'd like; your team loses 1 point
3) Name a food you are grateful for - read a book with food or drink on the cover
4) +2 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
5) Name a gift you are thankful for - read a book with a title that begins with a letter in GIFT (you can ignore 'A' and 'An')
6) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Sign up below if you'd like to participate.
Individuals only. No groups.

Your Goodreads account must be open during the challenge. There are two tasks that will require your teammates to look at your bookshelves. Also, with Goodreads no longer sending notifications, it might be necessary to message you.

I will check your account to make sure its accessible before placing you on a team.

Please indicate any reading preferences (or avoidances) when you sign up.

[Charlotte]

Sign me up please!

I enjoy most genres, but I read quite a lot of fantasy, dystopian, crime, romance, thriller, and classics. Really the only thing I don't read it nonfiction. I don't mind violence or anything like that. I can read any length of book (long or short). I don't mind if it is a series or standalone although I do prefer to read a series because I can get into the books and characters more.

Let me know if I need to add anything else about my book preferences :D

[Ira]

Look fun. Sign me up

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Charlotte and Ira, I'm so glad that you're joining us, but I need to know if you have any reading preferences (or avoidances). Can you edit your posts, please?

[Charlotte]

In terms of what? Genre?

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Charlotte wrote: "In terms of what? Genre?"

Genre is good. Or if you want to avoid sexuality, non-fiction, religion, violence. Just to give me a better idea of what team might be a good fit for you.

Of course, 'anything' would be an easy team to create :)

[Charlotte]

Lanelle wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "In terms of what? Genre?"

Genre is good. Or sexuality, non-fiction, religion, violence. Just to give me a better idea of what team might be a good fit for you.

Of course, 'anyth..."

Ok, lol. I'll try and describe what I enjoy reading :-)

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Charlotte wrote: "

Ok, lol. I'll try and describe what I enjoy reading :-)"

Thank you. And if you could describe what you enjoy reading in less than a hundred words, that would be appreciated :)

[Charlotte]

Lanelle wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "

Ok, lol. I'll try and describe what I enjoy reading :-)"

Thank you. And if you could describe what you enjoy reading in less than a hundred words, that would be appreciated :)"

I updated my post. Is that enough or should I go into more detail?

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Charlotte wrote: "I updated my post. Is that enough or should I go into more detail?"

That's plenty. Thanks.

[Charlotte]

Lanelle wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "I updated my post. Is that enough or should I go into more detail?"

That's plenty. Thanks."

Of course!

[Michelle's Empty Nest]

I'll sign up. I read just about anything, with the exception of MM Romance.

[Jessica]

I'll sign up please. Would prefer a team that reads MM romance but I read every genre.

[Jamie]

I'm in. I read pretty much everything except non-fiction, memoirs, and self-help. Favorites would be dark, fantasy, or M/M.

[Shan ~A~]

I'm in! I read all the romance, but I'm partial to M/F, MM, MMF, or any variation. All sub-genres are okay. Most of my upcoming books are MF, but I can pivot. I also read non-fiction (mainly memoirs), mystery, horror, thrillers. I don't a hard NO at the moment.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I'm in. I read primarily M/M (any genre of M/M) and a bit of M/F Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. I don't read Nonfiction or Classics.

[Vi]

I'm in. I read mostly romances (except RH or dark), fantasy, SF, mystery. I mostly read M/F but do read MM now and then but not that often.

[Vicki]

I'm in!

I mostly enjoy the following:
historical fiction
mystery/suspense
thriller/psychological thriller
romance/sports romance M/F but will also read M/M
fantasy/witchy books
cozy romance/cozy mystery
contemporary
Christian fiction
chick-lit
dragons
pirates
Holocaust/WW II
Young adult
family

Less desirable but will read:
classics (love some/not so much others lol)
nonfiction/memoir
fairies-fae
feminism

Truly on't care to read:
erotica
hard core horror/zombie or too much gore
hard core sci-fi

[Jade aka MrsTosh]

I am in. Can never say no to a new group challenge!

[Vicki]

Lanelle wrote: "

Sign up below if you'd like to participate.
Individuals only. No groups.

Your Goodreads account must be open during the challenge. There are two tasks that will require your teammates to look at..."

I didn't know they aren't sending notifications anymore. When did they stop?

[Marie (UK)]

Sign me up Please

I read a lot of mystery / crime
Historical Fiction
Fantasy / Magical Realism
Contemporary
Literary fiction
I love classical literature but many are verylong and might take more than a week to read

I will read most things for a challenge but not a fan of Romance

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Vicki wrote: "I didn't know they aren't sending notifications anymore. When did they stop?"

They stopped a few months ago.

It makes it super difficult for moderators to keep track of their challenges, and super annoying for everyone to keep track of their team challenges!

I'm not actually sure if clicking the blue check mark at the top of the comment box "Notify me when people comment" does any good. :(

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

I'm in. I read a large variety of genres, including both fiction and non-fiction. Partial to M/M and F/F romance, fantasy, historical fiction, nonfiction (particularly history, memoirs/biographies). Will avoid self-help, Christian fiction (or anything else heavy on any kind of religious stuff), "dark romance" (anything approaching dubcon/noncon), and violence against animals.

[Christy]

I'm in. I prefer to read mainly M/F romance, with a focus on contemporary, small-town, western, and sports romances. I will occasionally throw in some historical romance for variety.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Denise wrote: "I'm in. I read a large variety of genres..."

You truly read a wide variety of genres. I've always been amazed at the mixture of your interests!

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader)]

I'm in I primarily read F/F with a bit of M/M. All genres are fine with me but no to self help or religion.

[Emeli]

Im in

[Janeylou]

Im in
MM Romance only , but within that will read
Contemporary
Historical
Pnr
Fantasy ..etc

[Claire]

I’m in. I prefer Contemporary, thrillers, literary fiction, fantasy.
Ii read most other genres, but in general I don’t really like Romance, horror and paranormal.

[Susan]

I'd like to join. I prefer to read historical fiction, thrillers, mysteries, horror, romance. Will not read anything religious.

[Kathy KS]

I'd like to give this a try.

As a retired librarian, I read all over the place, just about any genre.

However, if given the choice... in this day and age, and at my age, I really don't care much for non-stop depressive books and/or continual violence. This IS supposed to be about "gratitude", right? I can read some, just don't want to be inundated with "sad".

Last choice: horror dealing with what people do to each other (as opposed to creatures...) and non-stop sex (we need some plot there). Self-help is "meh" to me...

I think I understand this challenge, but better check. We pick our own individual book, right? The team does NOT read the same book?

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Kathy KS wrote: "We pick our own individual book, right? The team does NOT read the same book?"

Correct. There are two tasks where you will need to pick a book from a teammate shelf, so it would be best if you were on a team with folk who read the same type of book you like. Your team might not land on those two tasks, but it's good to be prepared and safe.

[RachelG.]

I would like to join. I read mystery or fantasy, usually on the cozy side. I don't read romance focused books (MM or other), true crime, erotica, and books that need trigger warnings.

[Catsalive]

I'll play. I read most things. I'm not into horror but I can force myself to read it in a good cause 😄

[D.L.]

I love the idea of this challenge. I am definitely signing up! My preference is no erotica or dark romance. Also prefer to avoid non-fiction and true crime if possible, since I get enough of 'reality' living in the real world lol

[Michelle]

I'm in.

I read most anything except classics, high fantasy, and contemporary romance.

[Mrs W]

Sign me up!

I prefer to read romance, suspense, crime, historical fiction.

I am not into reading nonfiction or fantasy/sci fi books.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Lanelle wrote: "I'm not actually sure if clicking the blue check mark at the top of the comment box "Notify me when people comment" does any good. :(...."

It's a pain but signing out, close browser, and then sign back in again has worked for me. It seems to be a periodic glitch.

It's a real pain finding new threads though, have to rely on the group blasts. (Thanks lanelle :) )

[lorii (Loriidae)]

How big are you intending the teams please?

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

lorii (Loriidae) wrote: "How big are you intending the teams please?"

I like to put four people on a team. I think that if teams are larger than that, it's easy to get lost in the group.

[Teresa]

I'm in!

I read 98% MM romance of all flavours (mostly paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi), although I avoid a lot of angst or really dark themes.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

What a great game! I like using the word gratitude. There is a lot of controversy around the word Thanksgiving and I've long thought it should be called "Gratitude Day" to make it something not related to the subjugation of the Native peoples in the US. Okay, off my soap box and I promise not to bring it up again.

I'm in! I almost exclusively read cozy (dog) mysteries and M/M romance.

Yes
M/M
   within that, suspense, mysteries, paranormal
cozy mysteries

No
anything not on Yes above including nonfiction
within M/M
   BDSM, menage, Christianity, inappropriate relationships, "contemporary" M/M

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Lanelle wrote: "lorii (Loriidae) wrote: "How big are you intending the teams please?"

I like to put four people on a team. I think that if teams are larger than that, it's easy to get lost in the group."

Thank lanelle

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Sign me up please
I read almost exclusively series books, rarely stand alone.

Yes
Primarily Romance with an occasional urban fantasy and epic fantasy, mystery.

No
MM, Bdsm, non-fiction, horror

[Amanda]

I'm in! My reading is pretty much exactly what Denise said so can I just quote that?

All LGBTQIA romance is my primary. Especially fantasy and mystery, but will read all subgenres of it (not huge on dark but will read it). I also do read nonfiction and litfic from time to time. No christian/religious fic or self help.

[Andy]

I would love to join!

I love mysteries, romance, science fiction, biographies, religious fiction, classics, fantasy, and many more.

I don't like to read anything too graphic when it comes to violence or sex.

[Kari]

I'm in. I read mostly mm romance, some mf romance and some cozy mysteries. Thanks!

[Ela (Mouse333)]

I'm in! I read all romance subgenres (more interested in: dark, paranormal, fantasy, contemporary; less interested in: sci-fi, suspense, historical) - mostly MF but I read some MM and reverse harem. I don't really care for memoirs/biographies, mysteries, classics, or cozy books.