Challenge Questions

[Becky, Moddess]

No, this current challenge runs through the end of December. :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

oh,I thought it cut off in Novewmber, okay I was confused.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

okay I have a question for the current challenge 4. In task 25.1, read a HF where religion plays a role or theme. I am reading "The Lady and the Unicorn" and I was wondering if that would work. It's about tapestries that were made for a nobleman by an artist. The book is about how the tapestries were made. The family of weavers go to prayers eight times a day. The nobleman's daughter is sent to a convent to live before she is betrothed. The artist who made the tapestries was then commissioned to design for the Notre Dame Catheral in Paris. Would these references be enough to use this book for this task?

[Becky, Moddess]

No, the book should feature religion as a central theme, like a story about a pope or about witch-hunts or the Crusades. The tapestries may have been formed by religious people, but it doesn't seem that religion is a central idea of the book.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

alrighty then

[LemonLinda]

Becky - I would offer the following suggestion - that the challenges last 3 months with less books - more like challenge 3 and that there be one for Jan through March with April off, then May to July with August off then September to November with December off. That way there would be a month between challenges to allow for other reading that did not fit a task.

[Becky, Moddess]

I don't mind that, although that would mean that the next break wouldn't be until April. Or would you guys want to take January off and do a mini-challenge for February and March only?

Or do single monthly challenges instead of several-month-long ones?

Suggestions?

[JC]

Becky wrote: "I don't mind that, although that would mean that the next break wouldn't be until April. Or would you guys want to take January off and do a mini-challenge for February and March only?

Or do sing..."

If I want to read a book that doesn't fit in the challenge, I just read it. If someone wants a "break" from a challenge, then they don't have to participate in the challenge. Or just read what they want to read, and post the books that fit. I'm in for whatever works for you, Becky. If it's easier for you planning-wise, by all means, make it fit your schedule. I can't imagine planning and executing these challenges - KUDOS!!

[LemonLinda]

Agreed - I was just offering a suggestion for some short breaks. But whatever works best for you certainly is what would be best for the club overall. If I personally need a break - I can skip a challenge which I very well might do for the next one.

[Nikki]

I do feel as though the current four-month challenge was really lengthy. I think the three month or fewer format would be preferred. I'm fine with or without breaks. If a monthly challenge was enacted it probably would have to be more general...like using the word HISTORICAL and matching a title/author to each letter of the word. Although, based on LemonLinda's suggestion, there could be challenges like the one we are doing now that last three months and the one month off inbetween could be like the word challenge (or whatever). So three of each type a year. Or just do a bunch of monthly ones to take a break from the long ones.

[Luckngrace]

I love the 4 month tasks but would prefer that there be fewer requirements that books be HF. Like many here, I love all kinds of books and my pattern has always been to alternate genres: an hf, then a religious fiction, then political memoir, then romance, then straight history. You get the picture. I also have to work in books that friends and relatives want me to read. I can do the challenges long or short and will not be upset however you go because I really do enjoy them and my new friends here at GRHFs.

[Becky, Moddess]

I like non-HF genre tasks as well, but this IS a HF group, so I think that should be the focus of the challenge. I'll give all of this some thought, and any other suggestions, and think about how we should do our 2011 challenges. :)

Don't forget to keep the task suggestions coming!

[Maude]

I agree with everything that Nikki said. We would be having something going on each month but that 4th month could be lighter with different foci if that is what all might want. I really don't know but there may be people who would not want to commit to a 4 month challenge but would enjoy a one month challenge or whatever?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I like the mix of HF books and non HF book tasks.

[Luckngrace]

Becky wrote: "I like non-HF genre tasks as well, but this IS a HF group, so I think that should be the focus of the challenge. I'll give all of this some thought, and any other suggestions, and think about how w..."

Understood. Extra points could be awarded for reading HF.

[Nikki]

Not to disturb the current flow of input, but I have a quick question regarding the current challenge. Would Year of Wonders work for task 25.1 (religion major theme)? There is a heavy amount of religion in the book.

[Becky, Moddess]

Nikki wrote: "Not to disturb the current flow of input, but I have a quick question regarding the current challenge. Would Year of Wonders work for task 25.1 (religion major theme)? There is a heavy ..."

Yes, since religion does play a big part in the book and shapes a good amount of what happens.

[Djrmel]

Becky wrote: "I don't mind that, although that would mean that the next break wouldn't be until April. Or would you guys want to take January off and do a mini-challenge for February and March only?
Or do single monthly challenges instead of several-month-long ones?
Suggestions?
."

I'm in agreement with JenC, whatever works for you is my first choice. It's your game, I'm just playing. :D

That said, I didn't mind there being an extra month this time, because it gave me time to spread out my challenge reading, very nice as life becomes more hectic in November and December. But in general, I like the idea of three month challenges, and if there's going to be time between, a mini challenge would be nice. Something to keep the challenge spirit alive, if you will. I don't mind them running back to back, though. If I want to read something that doesn't fit the challenge, I read it. For me, the primary challenge is fitting the books I want to read to the tasks, then I use the tasks to find new books that I want to read that I'd never have found without the task, if that makes sense.

I was surprised when I joined here that nonHF books were even an option, so I don't mind that they're required for so many challenges. But (as with everything I've said here) that's just me.

[Becky, Moddess]

Djrmel wrote: "I was surprised when I joined here that nonHF books were even an option, so I don't mind that they're required for so many challenges. But (as with everything I've said here) that's just me. "

I'm sure others feel the same way, being that this IS a HF group. I read a large mix of genres, and I figure that many do as well. HF can be used for all of the tasks if someone is inclined to do so, but for people who are looking for a little change, the open genre tasks are there. :)

I'm still thinking about the next challenge. Thanks for the input everyone!

[Jackie]

I didn't participate in this past challenge because I felt like I needed a break, so I think having a month in between challenges would be nice. During the last challenge I was favoring books to use for the challenge and set aside the books that didn't fit. By the time I knew it I had a pile of books that didn't fit the challenge tasks that I wanted to read and none of them really fit the new challenge which meant postponing them again. Not everyone reads at the same pace or works the challenge in the same manner. I think having the month off for catch up or using it to plan a reading list for the next challenge would be useful.

I agree with Becky that because this is a HF group the challenge should focus on HF books, but our current challenge gives us the option using both HF and nonHF books with the added incentive to read HF through the 1 pt bonus. I don't see a reason to change this since I think it works for all readers.

[Jeane]

Jeane wrote: "I think I read the for the one word and two word title that 'the' counts but (typical me), can you also drop it and not count as a word?"

anyone?

[Becky, Moddess]

Jeane wrote: "Jeane wrote: "I think I read the for the one word and two word title that 'the' counts but (typical me), can you also drop it and not count as a word?"

anyone?"

Sorry Jeane, missed this. The and A, etc, count as words. It would have to be a truly single word title to count, like Soulless or Dissolution or something along those lines. You could count "The _______" as the two word title only.

[Maude]

If you are asking if you can drop the "the" in order to make it a one word title, I would say you can't. The title is the title. Sorry.

[Jeane]

hehe thanks Becky and Maude...I was getting this hoepful idea when I had a one word title and a the+two words title:-)

[southpaw285]

I noticed the new challegen tasks for Challenge #5. Great job, by the way, Jackie. You did a fantastic job of putting it together.

[Luckngrace]

southpaw285 wrote: "I noticed the new challegen tasks for Challenge #5. Great job, by the way, Jackie. You did a fantastic job of putting it together."

I am so stoked that some of my ideas were used for Ch. #5. I agree that Jackie did a great job, just wish I wasn't so OLD as I never did get the task done on #4 that called for me reading a book from my birth year--1951! horrors..

[KristiJ]

So, for the Challenge #5 Super 100 pt bonus to read a Goodreads author, does the book we choose have to be a HF? I cant tell because you call them HF Goodreads authors but not all of their work is HF.
Thanks!

[Jackie]

southpaw285 wrote: "I noticed the new challegen tasks for Challenge #5. Great job, by the way, Jackie. You did a fantastic job of putting it together."

Thanks :) I thank Becky for her previous work since I cut and pasted a ton of it. lol.

[Jackie]

KristiJ wrote: "So, for the Challenge #5 Super 100 pt bonus to read a Goodreads author, does the book we choose have to be a HF? I cant tell because you call them HF Goodreads authors but not all of their work is..."

It doesn't have to be HF, but if you read an HF book you get an additional point. I tried including any author that participated in the group.

[Jackie]

Luckngrace wrote: "I am so stoked that some of my ideas were used for Ch. #5. I agree that Jackie did a great job, just wish I wasn't so OLD as I never did get the task done on #4 that called for me reading a book from my birth year--1951! horrors.. "


LOL! Sorry about the birth year challenge. For the Chinese one this round though you just have to pick a book from your animal year, so it's easier.

Oh and thank you and to all our wonderful members who contributed ideas. It made putting the challenge together much easier.

[Jeane]

hello, is Ironcrown MoonHF?

[Becky, Moddess]

Jackie wrote: "KristiJ wrote: "So, for the Challenge #5 Super 100 pt bonus to read a Goodreads author, does the book we choose have to be a HF? I cant tell because you call them HF Goodreads authors but not all ..."

Oh- you should add Stephanie Dray to the list, Jackie. :)

[Becky, Moddess]

Jeane wrote: "hello, is Ironcrown MoonHF?"

From the description, it looks like fantasy to me, Jeane.

[Jackie]

Jeane wrote: "hello, is Ironcrown MoonHF?"

No, but you can probably use it for one of the any genre tasks.

[Jeane]

I started to realize that when I was reading it but as I am never too sure if sth is HF I was asking to be sure. MMMmm...not seeing any tasks. :-(

[Jeane]

would moon be a fall-like word?

[Becky, Moddess]

Jeane wrote: "would moon be a fall-like word?"

LOL No... It would have to be something like autumn, leaves, cold, sweater, October, Halloween, etc. Moon is year round. Sorry! ;)

[Jeane]

mmm, okay. I am not seeing any tasks for it left, any ideas?

[Jackie]

Are you looking for Challenge 4 Jeane?

[jb]

I have a question about the challenge...this may have already been answered but I could not find it. This is my first time participating and I am enjoying the challenge btw!

Tasha's task says read a book from the 1001 list and Maude's task is about a 1920s Pultizer prize book. Now one of the requirements was the book must be 200 pages to count. Does this requirement count for those two tasks?

[Jackie]

Yes, the 200 page requirement is actually for all the tasks in the challenge.

[Jeane]

Jackie wrote: "Are you looking for Challenge 4 Jeane?"

yes but I think I can't use it.

[jb]

Okie dokie...thanks for the answer. That clears up some confusion on my part!

[southpaw285]

For Challenge #4 - Task #25.2, can I use Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee?

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, I'll allow that one, SP.

[southpaw285]

Becky wrote: "Yes, I'll allow that one, SP."

Thank you, Becky.

[Debbie]

would Sarah's Keycount as her 1st book if it is the first book she wrote in english but she has 8 previously published books in french [Challenge #5 10.1]. i'm reading it for my face-to-face book club and am trying to fit it into Challenge #5.

[Becky, Moddess]

Ooh, Hmm... I will leave this one up to Jackie, since she's heading up this challenge, and I'm not sure how set on the literal first book she is.

[Jackie]

I meant literally the first book. Sorry Debbie.

[ToniS]

Does The Historian count as HF? It's one that has been on my TBR the longest, but I don't know if I can use it for that task because I don't know if it's HF.