The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
SUMMER CHALLENGE 2010
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Task Ideas
That's sad to hear, Donna Jo. I typically donate a ton of current books to the library and only keep my absolute favorites (this gives me more shelf space, too!). I like the idea of expanding on the Orange Prize list though! That may help others with more limited options. :)
I have enjoyed tasks that have involved some research in finding books that will fit. Also the tasks using lists as well as those that involve some kind of mathematical equations were fun.
Summer Storms (hurricanes, typhoons, thunderstorms, monsoons, etc.) - read a book that features a storm or a book that features a place recovering from a disastrous storm (e.g. New Orleans).http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3267.Storms_Tempests_Gales_Hurricane_Twisters
Heat Wave - read a book that features hot weather or a book with a hot word in the title.
Animal Crackers--If you could be an animal, what would it be? Read a book, fiction or nonfiction featuring that animal. (Admitedly, this might be difficult if you imagine yourself as a sea slug, but who knows?)
Mod
There's a book for everything! Rise Ye, Sea Slugs: A Theme from in Praise of Olde Haiku, With Many More Poems and Fine Elaboration or
Headless Males Make Great Lovers: And Other Unusual Natural Histories- sex lives of sea slugs!
That's what I get for not doing my homework!I'd hate to read the Headless Males one and find out sea slugs have a more interesting sex life than I do.
It's OK, Donna Jo. I can't imagine wanting to be any other kind of animal than human (which is an animal).
Manday wrote: "I suggested this last time, but wanted to suggest it again - a task where you read a book off the shelf of someone who agrees with you on a book you love (go to the good reads page of your favorite..."Great idea, Manday ... also like the similar suggestion you made last time to read a book rated 5 stars by a fan of one of your favorite authors.
I have to admit that I used my task this time to try and get some good additions to my to-reads shelf. In the end, it didn't work that well due to the over-whelming popularity of the Percy Jackson series! Oh well. :)One idea I had was to do some version of "read two of the books nominated for group reads." Maybe two from the same genre?
I love the 50pt challenge this time, but I have to admit I find it suspicious that *so many* people rolled a combination of 7!! But stuff like that is fun for me -- not too confining, but still gives my reading some structure.
I would love to do something post-apocolyptic, but I think there was a dystopian challenge not too long ago, and although there is a big distinction there for me, it might be too much for people who don't otherwise read that sort of thing?!? I have a huge list of these TBR and I'd love to hear reviews from other people!!
I assure you Ashley, I didn't roll a combination of a 7. :)
It isn't that suspicious that so many people are getting 7s. There's around a 17% chance of rolling a 7, so around 1 in 5 people should get it. Versus only around a 3% chance of a 2 or 12.
The fact is that this is all "on your honor" anyway, so there's no point in cheating. I just have a suspicious nature ;)
Hehe I rolled 3 and 4, and I was actually kind of upset when I found out that I didn't have to use the genres! (I know I know I still could have :)
I love the idea about spying on a what a stranger is reading and reading the same. I get some of my best books this way!
I was thinking about my earlier suggestion to read a book that features water used in a different way than usual: maybe read a book relating to nuclear power since water is used to cool reactors, or a book featuring some type of hydro power like a hydroelectric dam, or something to do with firefighting because water is used to extinguish fires? What about reading a book with the name of a body of water (or type like lake, creek, etc.) in the title?
I love the idea of a book with a cover that reminds you of summer!
I also love the lefties suggestion and the liberation from something, the solidarity for summer reading lists, the superheroes tasks. I can't wait to start picking books!
As a leftie, I, too, liked that idea. And, Louvaine, I love your water idea. I live in a community situated on salt water, where our power is hydro. Lots of good thoughts here.
This is probably more of a fall task, but if I don't post it now I will forget it - Read a book that is related to the college degree you have or would like to have (if you have not attended).
Whatever is Popular Deserves Attention (2.0) - go to the part of good reads that lists all goodreads authors - http://www.goodreads.com/author/on_go... - make sure it is sorted by popularity. Read a book by someone in the first three pages who you have not read before.
I am so looking forward to this challenge. I need some fun stuff to read that isn't a political philosophy book required for class!
... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of ...
... Happiness?
... or wisdom, justice, goodness, meaning, peace or ??
Read a book about something that all people have an unalienable right to pursue or a book with that something in the title.
Trisha wrote: "I am so looking forward to this challenge. I need some fun stuff to read that isn't a political philosophy book required for class!"So maybe I won't suggest reading a book that influenced the revolutionaries in America (1776), France (1796) or other countries in Europe (1848).
pjreads wrote: So maybe I won't suggest reading a book that i..."lol. no, that's ok! I could stand to read 1776 again. And I'm ready for ANYTHING that isn't Machiavelli, Hobbes and Plato!
How about reading a book recommended by a librarian? Or one on your library's summer reading list?
How about a book with the number of people in your family in the title (ex. I have 5 people in my family - husband, self and 3 kids - so I'd read a book with 5 in the title)OR...I'm graduating from college in 2 weeks after starting 12 years ago...a book with 12 in the title...
Or a book with your age in the title...
The idea of a library's reading list is a good one. My library doesn't have a summer reading list - but I'd be glad to "borrow" a library and its list.
It's picnic time! Read a book that has something you would find on the picnic table in the title.My Life on A Plate
Spoon River Anthology
The Glass Castle
Colourful Summer: Read 2 books with opposite colours (as found in the colour wheel) in their titles.For example: Half a Yellow Moon & Bleeding Violet
Henry VIII was born June 28,1491 and died Jan 28,1547. Read a book that takes place during this time period such as Wolf Hall or The Other Boleyn Girl.
Dlmrose wrote: "Donna Jo wrote: "Animal Crackers--If you could be an animal, what would it be? Read a book, fiction or nonfiction featuring that animal. (Admitedly, this might be difficult if you imagine yoursel..."Sea Slug Sex - now there's a topic for a doctorate thesis ;)
Amber wrote: "Summer series project -- read a book series consisting of at least 4 book or 3000 pages total."3000 pages??? I hope you added an extra zero, because the books I read typically average 275 pages.
Trisha wrote: "How about a book with the number of people in your family in the title (ex. I have 5 people in my family - husband, self and 3 kids - so I'd read a book with 5 in the title)OR...I'm graduating fr..."
Problem with this one: who counts as family? Son-in-law? Grandchildren? step-children? stepmother? half-sister? significant other with whom you live? significant other with whom your child lives?
Liz wrote: "Amber wrote: "Summer series project -- read a book series consisting of at least 4 book or 3000 pages total."3000 pages??? I hope you added an extra zero, because the books I read typically avera..."
3000 pages! Better adjust the point total accordingly, since very few readers will attempt 3000 pages for a 5-point task.
Ashley wrote: "I love the 50pt challenge this time, but I have to admit I find it suspicious that *so many* people rolled a combination of 7!! But stuff like that is fun for me -- not too confining, but still gives my reading some structure..."Ashley - I laughed at this comment because I had my husband roll the dice just for this reason. He didn't ask any questions as to why I was asking him to randomly roll dice. The 7 was all thanks to him!
One Hit Wonder: Find an author who has only ever had one book on the NY Times Best Sellers List.Option A: Read the best seller they had on the list.
Option B: Select a book by that author that has NOT appeared on the best seller list.
Option C: Read the book the author had on the best seller list AND read a book by the same author which has not appeared on the list.
Vroom Vroom! On June 4, 1896 Ford manufactured his first operational car. In honor of this day, read a book with the following words in the title OR on the cover: car, any make of car, drive, road, highway, street, etc. -or- read a book by an author whose last name is also Ford.Hot Fun in the Summertime: June 21st is the official kick-off for the summer season. Read a book that in some way features one of your favorite summer activities or events. In your posting, tell us about your favorite summer pastime and how your book relates.
Mod
Read a book about a place you've been on vacation, or set in a place you've gone on a vacation.
(Yes, this is personal! Everytime we go on vacation, I get enthusiastic and buy books about local history or about the sights we're seeing and then, somehow, just don't get around to reading them.)
Louvaine wrote: "I love the idea about spying on a what a stranger is reading and reading the same. I get some of my best books this way!"I love this task Louvaine - Read the book that the first person you see reading a book in public is reading!
Thanks Alice! I love that Laura suggested this for the challenge, I hope it gets included!
With nearly 200 messages in this thread, is anyone else beginning to feel the excitement build?
It just went to my cousin's baby shower today. So read a book where the main character has a baby or about babies.
Just thought of another one.Games of Skill and Chance. Read a book that contains either the word skill or chance, or a game that would fit that category: ex. poker, lottery, bingo, roulette, cards, dice.
Elizabeth wrote: "With nearly 200 messages in this thread, is anyone else beginning to feel the excitement build?"I can - I'm out of school in 8 days and can get back into serious reading!!!
Mod
I love this task Louvaine - Read the book that the fir..."
First person you see reading a book in public is too risky! I'm most likely to see someone reading in public at my local branch library, and it's quite likely to be a local high school student waiting to meet a tutor, leafing through his chemistry textbook.....
Sandy wrote: "First person you see reading a book in public is too risky! I'm most likely to see someone reading in public at my local branch library, and it's quite likely to be a local high school student waiting to meet a tutor, leafing through his chemistry textbook..... "And I don't think I've ever seen anyone reading in public here, other than the newspaper. But I don't get out much. ;-)
I read in public all the time. I always have to wait for a ride so I have a book.
I really like the summer reading list tasks, both for school and libraries. In previous challenges I've really enjoyed the tasks that require us to choose a book from someone else's bookshelf.Summer Refreshment: Read a book with the name of a cold beverage in the title. Examples: lemonade, iced tea, beer, margarita, daquiri, Kool Aid, milkshake
Ice Cream Truck: Read a book with the name of an ice cream flavor in the title.
Boating Season: Read a book with a boat somewhere on the cover or the word 'boat' in the title.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (other topics)A Christmas Blizzard (other topics)
Storm of the Century (other topics)
The Jane Austen Book Club (other topics)
The Last Dickens (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen King (other topics)Anita Shreve (other topics)
Francis Ray (other topics)
Susan Richards Shreve (other topics)
Dick Francis (other topics)
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Manday wrote: "Summer Reading List - Most high schooler's now a days go home for the summer with a lengthy list of books to read. To show solidarity, read one book listed in this article about summer reading assi..."