Late But Grate-ful (team 12)

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Let's practice gratitude by playing a gratitude game.

team member: Elizabeth
team member: christene_littlelibrary
team member: Alex
team member: Linda C

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 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.

A player may roll for the next Week's task on the Friday before the next Week.

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

Sample Completion Post
Book and Author:
Pages:
Date Read:
Task:
How it fits:
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book? (If so, quote the phrase and page or location in the book for an additional point.)

[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]

To do list -

First of all, pick a name for your group.
Second, decide who will roll the dice.
Third, decide who will make the team's Completion Posts. (It can be one person, or you can take turns. The team's Completion Post can be posted as soon as everyone has reported. Please have your team's Completion Post in by Monday around noontime.)
Fourth, decide who will be the team's verifier. I need someone to make sure that a book fits the task for the week. In a few instances, you will have to take the word of the reader that a book matches the task, but if it's a tag, cover, title, author initial, page count or publication date, those are verifiable.
Fifth, practice counting all that you are grateful for. There will be a lot!!!

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

The first three posts are what I have for every team. Here is an instruction specifically for Team 12 - Someone on the team needs to roll three times right away. Roll two dice for Weeks 1, 2, and 3 and post the tasks for those rolls.

You can read a book for Weeks 1 and 2 at any time during the challenge. This will catch you up to the rest of the teams since Team 12 got a late start.

You can't begin reading Week 3's book until Monday 12:01 a.m. your time.

[Elizabeth]

Hi all! I'm Elizabeth from Wisconsin. Looking forward to being extra grateful with you all. I've got Dungeons and Drama lined up for a different challenge and it'll work well for our first roll.

What do you all like for a team name?

[Alex]

hi.. I'm Alex.. retired army now building a homestead in Ohio...
I read a bit of everything... happy to join.. I use Libby so I will find weird or random books/audiobooks to fit..

as for name... I'm ok with whatever..
Who going to do the rolls??

[Elizabeth]

How about something like Late but Grate-ful? or if anyone has a better idea I'm cool with whichever.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Elizabeth wrote: "How about something like Late but Grate-ful?"

*gasp* I was thinking along the same lines. I know I don't have a vote, but...

[Alex]

that works.. I can do the rolls... for the weeks we missed and this one...
so we can find out what we start on..

[Elizabeth]

LOL! I'd been thinking about it ever since you said we could start another team. And sounds good @Alex . I could do either of the other task things depending on what our third would like to do (doing completion posts or verifying). I'm pretty wide open schedule wise.

[Alex]

wk1 rolls: 1 & 3
share a memory you're grateful for, read book 50+ yrs old

wk2 rolls: 4 & 1
ability you're thankful for, book w/ character has disability

wk3 rolls: 5 & 1
book with '2' in page count or publication date

I'll look at books I read for that week to see if any counts... I post reviews for myself all the time.. I just started adding how long the audiobook in them.

I'm helping at mom's house until Monday night...

[Alex]

wk1 I did read carmilla on Oct 2, 3 hrs long.. it's inspired the writing of Dracula.. so over 25+ yrs.. if we can count it..

[christene_littlelibrary]

Hi team checking in!

[Alex]

wk2: I just finished Iron Widow... it has foot binding in it on FMC and the disability...

if you think these could count they read and finish in the dates... what you think... most the books I'm got in my reading is next week will at least have publication date with 1 or more '2' in it...

[christene_littlelibrary]

I just checked and my books read doesn't fit any of the tasks.

Plan:
Week 1 -

Just finished last night for week 2 a character with disability. I think Autism will fit

[Alex]

I think both physical or invisible disabilities would count in my mind... I'm got few most can't see from my time in the army...

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Don't forget that your book will receive an extra point if 'gratitude' or 'grateful' is in the text. That might decide which book you read for a task. Every point will help.

[christene_littlelibrary]

Completion Post - Week 2

Book and Author: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Pages: 336
Date Read: 10/10
Task: Name an ability you are thankful for - read a book where a significant character has a disability
How it fits: a character has Autism
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book? Yes!
page 117: "He was grateful for Sera's unexpected kindness..."

[Alex]

true... I don't think about that .. it's also if it's in the book too.

I'm thinking of "not just gal pals" it's got 3 '2's in the publication date... for wk3...

[Linda C]

Hi team,
I just got asked to fill your empty slot. Sounds like a fun game.

I've been looking at the thread so far and want to second my liking of the team name Elizabeth suggested - Late but Grate-ful

I can do the Team Completion Post, if someone else wants be the verifier

I will now check through my reads since the game started to see what might work.

[Linda C]

Late But Grate-ful (Team 12)
Week 1 - Completion Post

Elizabeth:
christene_littlelibrary:
Alex: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1)
Linda C: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+1)

Reading Points: 2
Gratitude Points: 1
Total: 3

[Linda C]

Late But Grate-ful (Team 12)
Week 2 - Completion Post

Elizabeth: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+1)
christene_littlelibrary: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+1)
Alex: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+1)
Linda C: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+1)

Reading Points: 4
Gratitude Points: 4
Total: 8

[Linda C]

Late But Grate-ful (Team 12)
Week 3 - Completion Post

Elizabeth: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+2+1)
christene_littlelibrary: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+2+1)
Alex: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+2)
Linda C: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (1+2+1)

Reading Points: 4
Gratitude Points: 3
Task reward: 8
Total: 15

[Linda C]

Week 1- Completion Post

Book: The Island of Sea Women
Author: Lisa See
Pages: 390
Date Read: 10/10/25
Task: Roll 1&3: share a memory you're grateful for & read a book set 50+ years ago, about an event that happened 50+ years ago, or published 50+ years ago
How it fits: set 50+ years ago - set in the 30s thru 50s mainly, short section at end brings it to 40 years later
Memory I'm grateful for - My mother's love of reading and the years of book discussions we shared

Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book?
Yes - "she bowed deeply to show her gratitude and humility to her mother" p.13

[Alex]

welcome Linda to the team... I'm doing the rolls I'll do them each Sunday day.. I rolled the 1st 3 already to catch us up to the others...

[Alex]

week 1

Book: Carmilla
Author: J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Audio book: 3 hrs (used Libby)
Date Read: 10/2
Task: 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
How it fits:
First published January 1, 1872 (153 yrs old)
I am thankful that my family provided a safe haven for me to return to after serving multiple deployments in two wars. They supported me through my physical and mental injuries.
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book? No

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Elizabeth]

Working on The Haar - just an hour left in the audiobook. Gonna use it for week 3 since it's 206 pages and published in 2022. I have to dig around for week 1. I don't read a lot of older novels. Week 2 should be easier i hope 🫠

[Linda C]

Elizabeth,
It doesn't have to be an old book. There are 3 options

read a book set 50+ years ago, OR about an event that happened 50+ years ago, OR published 50+ years ago

It has to be set before 1975, be about something that happened prior to 1975 or published before 1975

[Linda C]

Alex.
Can you link the titles of your books? Then whoever needs to check/verify them will be able to find the book you read.

Also can you move one of them to a separate comment? I need to link them to separate weekly Completion Posts

[Linda C]

Alex,
I used Amazon - sample to search for grateful in text and found your sentence is on pg 311

Not every book in Amazon has a search link but this one did. Just something to try when looking for words in the text.

[Alex]

i used goodreads for pages and how long it was on libby

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

here the links to them on here, i do the audiobooks...

[Alex]

Linda C wrote: "Alex,
I used Amazon - sample to search for grateful in text and found your sentence is on pg 311

Not every book in Amazon has a search link but this one did. Just something to try when looking fo..."

that very good to know, i didn;t knwo i could do that with amazon thanks

[Alex]

week 2

Book: Iron Widow
Author: Xiran Jay Zhao
Pages: 394 pages
Audio book: 12 hrs (used Libby)
Date Read: 10/6
Task: Name an ability you are thankful for - read a book where a significant character has a disability
How it fits:
subjected to foot binding by her grandmother and aunts. She lost three toes from infections that nearly took her life, and it ruined her balance forever. in this forced to be disabled.

Name an ability you are thankful for is learned how to do canning and preserving food.

Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book? yes
“Despite the endless horrors that we've both been through, I really am grateful that we survived to meet each other.” (sorry don't know what page, i was in the audiobook in Chapter 38, pg 311)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[Alex]

Linda C wrote: "Alex.
Can you link the titles of your books? Then whoever needs to check/verify them will be able to find the book you read.

Also can you move one of them to a separate comment? I need to link the..."

ok fixed that for you i hope and will do so for all wk posts

[Elizabeth]

Completion Post - Week 3
Book and Author: The Haar David Sodergren
Pages: 206 (i listened to the audiobook)
Date Read: Oct 12 - 14
Task: 2 in the publication or page count (its in both)
How it fits: book is 206 pages and published in 2022
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book? (If so, quote the phrase and page or location in the book for an additional point. - Yes, grateful is in the afterward around the 95% mark. Ordinarily i wouldn't count an afterward except the author then adds in a small memoir about their grandmother after that so i think it's all part of the overall story.

[Alex]

Week 3: Oct. 13 - Oct. 19

Book: Not Just Gal Pals
Author: Elizabeth Luly
Pages: 310 pages
Audio book: 7 hrs (used Libby)
Date Read: 10/14
Task: +2 points read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
How it fits:
Published August 24, 2023 (so 3 '2's in its date)
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book?
no

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Elizabeth]

Completion Post - Week 2
Book and Author: The Storyteller's Daughter Cameron Dokey
Pages: 221
Date Read: Oct 13-14
Task: Character with a disability
How it fits: Shahrazad is blind
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book? (If so, quote the phrase and page or location in the book for an additional point. - Yes! p.119 "And so, instead of speaking in gratitude, the king spoke sharply - Stop that"

[Linda C]

Elizabeth,
I checked the book on Amazon and found a sentence with gratitude for Storyteller's Daughter. Can you add it to your post. thanks

p.119 "And so, instead of speaking in gratitude, the king spoke sharply - Stop that"

[Linda C]

Elizabeth,
I asked Lanelle to decide about the use of gratitude in the afterward. Waiting for her answer

And also could you indicate the Week that the post is for in your Completion Post?
thanks

[Linda C]

Sorry to be calling people on their postings, but I want to get them complete before submitting.

And I know at the beginning it says to have someone do the posting and another doing the verifying, but it seems like it would be simpler to have both done by the same person. So unless someone else wants to do the verifying, I don't mind doing both. If you don't mind my asking for changes.

I'm sure after we have done a few posts it will all fall in place. :-)

[Linda C]

Alex,
One more thing - for Carmilla (week 1)
Can you just enter No under the gratitude question about the word in the text

thanks

[Linda C]

Week 2 - Completion Post

Book: Warning Signs
Author: Katy Lee
Pages: 288
Date Read: 10/14/25
Task: Roll 4+1 - Name an ability you are thankful for - read a book where a significant character has a disability
How it fits: I'm thankful for ability to read - FMC in book is hard of hearing and MMC has deaf son
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book?
Yes - p. 143 "She had to be confusing love with gratitude."

[Linda C]

Week 3 - Completion Post

Book: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Author: Heather Fawcett
Pages: 335
Date Read: 10/13/25
Task: Roll 5+1- +2 points read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
How it fits: publication date 1/10/2023 = 2 2s
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book?
Yes - p.202 "she looked at me with such warmth and gratitude..."

[Elizabeth]

Linda C wrote: "Elizabeth,
I checked the book on Amazon and found a sentence with gratitude for Storyteller's Daughter. Can you add it to your post. thanks

p.119 "And so, instead of speaking in gratitude, the kin..."

I think everything is fixed now, thanks for checking i didnt know amazon had that option!

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Linda C wrote: "Elizabeth,
I asked Lanelle to decide about the use of gratitude in the afterward. Waiting for her answer"

I'll accept it. It's still in the text of the book.

[Linda C]

OK, Week 2 is ready to submit.
I will also include the Team name Elizabeth suggested. Everyone seemed OK with that.

[Linda C]

Week 2 submitted with team name

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Linda C wrote: "Week 2 submitted with team name"

Thanks, Linda.

The team name has been added to the thread.

[Linda C]

I realized I didn't tell you anything about myself. I live in Upstate NY near Lake Ontario. I read in most categories and love challenges.
I am a retired college librarian. So you can guess why I have a thing about organizing.

[Elizabeth]

I can definitely appreciate good organizational skills!