The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
FALL CHALLENGE 2010
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TASK IDEAS - Fall Challenge (Task Ideas ONLY!)
Jayme wrote: "why ban anything, if you don't like the task, don't do it"I think this is the bottom line. When I posted about some of the classics that are now considered YA because the designation now exists (it became a category after 1967), I was in part trying to say that the reader has lots of options if a task creator was to require a YA book (Little Women is another considered YA for example), so why stifle the creativity of someone who achieves the privilege of creating a task? To me, this is mainly a competition with myself to see if I can stretch my usual boundaries while fitting in the books I really want to read. Perhaps a task could even ask for a current or classic YA book.
There are also books like The Book Thief which was part of this challenge that was published as adult in Australia where Marcus Zusak lives and as YA in the U.S. to choose from.
I agree with this for children's books as well and I think the 100 page overall rule addresses the issue just fine. If it was raised to 200 pages, that would be fine as well.
I think that it would be nice to support our teen readers and those of us who find literary value in both YA and adult reading by staying away from words like "dumbing-down", especially when reading levels usually run between 5th grade and 11th grade for both YA and adult fiction. The amount of time each of us has to put into the challenge makes the most difference in the point totals, not the genres we choose to read. I know I will be reading much less when the school year starts and I will have to pick and choose from the many wonderful tasks.
Some new ones from me:Me, myself, and I: read a fiction book told exclusively in first person; OR, if non-fiction is preferred, read an autobiography or a memoir. One book task OR; to make this a two-book task replace the word OR with AND.
All Souls' Day commemorates the faithful departed. So, read a book by an author who died before you were born. (No need to tell us what year you were born, only tell us the author's death year and affirm it was before your birth). (Good way to include Jane Austen and Charles Dicken's novels!)
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919); read a book published during his lifetime; or, a non-fiction book about Teddy Roosevelt; or a fiction book with Teddy Roosevelt as a major character.
"She Blinded Me With Science" is a New Wave song by British musician Thomas Dolby, was first released as a single in the UK in October 1982. Inspired by this song, read a fiction or non-fiction book about a) blindness b)science c) British Musicians or d) first published in 1982
And ... I agree with this comment:
If we're doing requests for things to be left out, I'd like to make request for no tasks that involve personal information. There really weren't any this season, but in the past there have been tasks that asked for your birthday and such.
I don't see how YA is any different of a genre than romance, horror, mystery, etc. The point of the challenge is to stretch out comfort zone, and I hate reading thrillers so any task that would require me to read a thriller will be left for last. And I am sure there are some great ones.. And I may get to them eventually. I am reading a Stephen King for one of teh challenges, and I would have never picked it up otherwise. And I have to say I am glad I did. I think that people who refuse to read YA flat out because it is "written for teenages" are really missing out. Mainly it gets classified as YA if it has teenage main characters. Some wonderful examples are Hunger Games, The Book Thief, I am the Messenger (by the same author).
YA is not a genre. It is a reading level. I've had this discussion elsewhere and I don't usually get anywhere, so I suppose I should just forget it. But you can have YA romance, YA mystery, YA historical fiction, YA etc. I'm sure that there are places on the web where it's listed as a genre, I just think it's wrong to say that it is. I think it has it's place, and if you want to read it, fine. We all have our reasons for reading. But to consider reading YA stretching your horizons, it just plain isn't.
I have no problem with YA books being an option for the tasks. After all, technically, all of the amazing Harry Potter novels are YA!
Banned Books Week is September 25 - October 2, so read a "banned book".October is National Service Dog month, so read a book about service animals or special pets.
Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9, so a book about safety, fire prevention, fire and/or police departments could be a workable challenge.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "But to consider reading YA stretching your horizons, it just plain isn't" It would broaden YOUR horizons....
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I had a different take on the author thing because FALL and AUTUMN don't seem to be the same sort of author "friendly" as the other seasons. The uncommon letter: Read a book by an author whose ..."
I think this one would be fun to do.
Deedee wrote: "Some new ones from me:Me, myself, and I: read a fiction book told exclusively in first person; OR, if non-fiction is preferred, read an autobiography or a memoir. One book task OR; to make thi..."
I love this "Me, myself and I" option. I think it would be fun as a two book task.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "But to consider reading YA stretching your horizons, it just plain isn't."When it comes to broadening one's horizons, reading anything one normally wouldn't touch, regardless of genre or intended audience, does exactly that. Stepping outside your comfort zone once in awhile is good for the mind, even if all one does is switch from Shakespeare to Seuss. At worst, it makes one appreciate what one prefers more to be away from it for a bit; at best, one discovers something new and exciting to explore.
...At least, that's what we tell the students when the state requires them to read twenty-five books a year with various and sundry task-like rules.
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Anyway, back on the REAL topic of this thread, I really like the "uncommon letter" idea of Elizabeth(Alaska)'s, the "name-as-career" idea of Mrs.soule, and Julia's "read a play" idea. And I absolutely love Deedee's "She Blinded Me with Science" suggestion and think we would definitely use that. I like how the possible books to read for that one are so random!
I tend to agree with whoever wrote: "If you don't like a task, just don't do it." Not every task is going to be to every person's liking. Some tasks are narrower in their scope and others are more broad. It is the effective balance of each that makes a challenge work. Also, everyone's tastes are so vastly different and there always seems to be something for everyone in each challenge I have participated in. It is a challenge in and of itself to create the challenge.One request I have would be to attempt to offer up other countries for tasks, besides America. It is such an international group now that it would be cool to stretch this 'comfort zone'. There has been a lot of focus on American presidents, history and holidays in the previous challenges and while interesting, I personally feel this is one area of constant repetition.
Jennifer wrote: "One request I have would be to attempt to offer up other countries for tasks, besides America. It is such an international group now that it would be cool to stretch this 'comfort zone'. There has been a lot of focus on American presidents, history and holidays in the previous challenges and while interesting, I personally feel this is one area of constant repetition."Very good observation! Some of the things I've been thinking about:
If you live in the Northern hemisphere, read a book that takes place in the Southern hemisphere (or written by an author from, etc.) and vice versa.
Same with Western hemisphere/Eastern hemisphere.
I really liked the one above about the author who died before you were born. But I like the classics so that's not a stretch for me. Perhaps we should also have a task where the author had to be born after you were born. That would probably be rather difficult for the youngsters among us, so maybe this could be an *or* task.
Here is some more:Go to bookseer.com. Type in the last three books you read and read one of the suggestions he comes up with.
Modern Classics: Read a book off of EW's The New Classics: Books.
The 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008 list.
For more geographical variation:http://www.random.org/geographic-coor...
Once you get your coordinates, read a book set near that place. So if you get, say, Antarctica, you could read a book about penguins or the expedition to the South Pole or something; if you get the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, you can read a book about the Atlantic Ocean or pick the country nearest to your point, like Greenland or Morocco). At the bottom of the image that comes up, you get your coordinates, too, so you could post those with your book.
Edit: Julia, I love both the tasks you just suggested. That bookseer site is awesome!
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Petra wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Petra wrote: "September:National Rice Month: read a book set in a country where rice is grown."
Should this become a task, you might be intersted to..."
I live in Northern California, and in Glenn County, rice is the largest crop grown. My father-in-law has worked rice for over 40 years.
I like the banned book idea. I read many of those books on that list. They do need to update that list. I am pleased some people liked my ideas.
Ms Anderson wrote: "For more geographical variation:http://www.random.org/geographic-coor...
Once you get your coordinates, read a book set near that place. So if you get, say, Antarctica, you could read a book..."
Great task suggestion!
As someone who lives on the other side of the world, the hardest suggestion so far is the one to read a book related to a returning television series. (It doesn't help that I rarely watch television.)My suggestion -
September, October and November all have -ber- in their names. Read a book with -ber- somewhere in the title and/or a book by an author with -ber- somewhere in their name.
Julia wrote: "Here is some more:Go to bookseer.com. Type in the last three books you read and read one of the suggestions he comes up with.
Modern Classics: Read a book off of EW's The New Classics: Books.
T..."
Julia, these are good suggestions. I like the BookSeer one.
College and College Football makes me think about College mascots.Read a book with a college mascot in the title-lots of animals fit the category across all genres as well as thinks like Trojans or Cajuns.Thanksgiving_Read a book with a food served at Thanksgiving in the title.
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Am I missing something with the bookseer website? Every book I type in just list other books by the same author.I like the ideas of reading a play, banned books, Thanksgiving initials instead of Fall or Autumn, All Souls Day, and the back-to-school idea and would like to add:
Johnny Appleseed's Birthday is September 26, 1774. Read a book about an American pioneer, a book where agriculture plays a major role, or a book set in the 1700s.
Yeah I tried it and it just suggested other books by that author.
Jayme wrote: "why ban anything, if you don't like the task, don't do it"I agree with you 100%. Banning certain genres from the challenge feels, to me, like censorship.
pjreads wrote: "Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "I liked the SUMMER author initials one, but I know FALL is a really short word - maybe could use AUTUMN as an alternative, since they are the same season"Are..."
LL works for Lisa Lutz as well. She writes The Spellman File books.
Exactly Janice, I don't want the Seasonal Reading Challenge to be censored.
There are so many great suggestions. I like the pirate, author's last name that is also a profession, and diary tasks. I also really like Erin's idea of reading a book that fits a fall suggested task that wasn't chosen. Lots of fun options there.A few more:
Read any book that may be considered a guilty pleasure.
In honor of Halloween, scare yourself by reading a book that is somehow related to one of your biggest fears/phobias. For example, people afraid of heights could read Let the Great World Spin about a tightrope walker. If someone is claustrophobic, they could read a fiction/nonfiction book about life in prison. Leave it up to the reader for interpretation.
I really love a lot of these ideas and can't wait for the fall challenge! I love the idea of reading a book about your phobia and the pirate one.A couple of other ones:
11/1 is Family Literacy Day. Read a book with your family- either out loud or pass it on to a family member.
9/12 is National Pet Memorial Day. Read a book that features a pet as the main character (like Marley and Me) or narrated partially by an animal (like Watership Down).
11/3 is National Tongue Twister Day. Read a book where all (or most) of the words in the title start with the same letter, or where the author's initials are both the same.
Petra wrote: "Julia wrote: "Here is some more:Go to bookseer.com. Type in the last three books you read and read one of the suggestions he comes up with.
Modern Classics: Read a book off of EW's The New ..."
I second Petra -- those are good suggestions!
Petra wrote: "Ms Anderson wrote: "For more geographical variation:http://www.random.org/geographic-coor...
Once you get your coordinates, read a book set near that place. So if you get, say, Antarctica..."
I second Petra on this one, too! Good suggestion!
Task Idea:GO to http://literature-map.com/
Type in author. Read a book by a 'similar' author that comes up on the literature map.
Liz wrote: "Task Idea:GO to http://literature-map.com/
Type in author. Read a book by a 'similar' author that comes up on the literature map."
Great one, I love this site
A bunch of names come up but if you click another author you get a new map with another bunch of names.
Liz wrote: "Task Idea:GO to http://literature-map.com/
Type in author. Read a book by a 'similar' author that comes up on the literature map."
A variation with the literature-map site: Read one author that is in the inner circle (closest to the original author's name) and one author who is on the outer circle. Compare the books.
Back when I was in school (I feel old just saying that), we always had to do a "What I did this Summer" essay in English. I think it would be fun if we read a book about our summer activities/vacations/etc. And, no, an essay wouldn't be required.As an example - I went to New Orleans. I could read a book about NO, set in NO, or written by an author from NO. For people worried about privacy and sharing details on the Internet, we wouldn't have to go into specifics -- just a basic "I went to New Orleans for a week" and explain the relationship to the book.
The Russian Revolution occurred in the fall. Read a book by a Russian author, that takes place in Russia, or is about the RR and/or its aftereffects. I love the Anastasia stories/myths...this would be a fun task:)
Christine wrote: "Back when I was in school (I feel old just saying that), we always had to do a "What I did this Summer" essay in English. I think it would be fun if we read a book about our summer activities/vaca..."Shhh! You'll ruin the "finishing the challenge" task I have planned! *_~
LOL Not everyone takes a summer vacation. And not everyone has a favorite number. And not everyone has a phobia.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "LOL Not everyone takes a summer vacation. And not everyone has a favorite number. And not everyone has a phobia."But everyone does something during the summer months (even as mundane as "I went to work" or "I continued breathing"), can pick a random number from a given set ("I don't hate six, and this book has the number 'six' in the title!"), and has a fear of something (even as broad as "nuclear war" or "commitment"). Some tasks may be more of a stretch for some people, but that doesn't mean those tasks should be eliminated because of semantics.
I have to say that I'm somewhat offended by the discussion of YA books being 'dumbed down' and a little bit more offended by the suggestion that YA books should be excluded simply because one person thinks they are dumb. I happen to be a fan of YA books as are a lot of people in this group. I don't like Biographies or Romance but I have never said or implied they were stupid or pointless and made suggestions that they be excluded. Like Jayme said 'if you don't like the challenge don't do it'. I could make a list of the challenge tasks that included reading materials that I was not thrilled about or challenges that were to narrowed down with specifics that didn't apply to me. But they apply to other people so whats the problem? If you don't have a favorite number or phobia then get one or don't do the task.
So it really comes down to put up or shut up.
Ms Anderson wrote: "Christine wrote: "Back when I was in school (I feel old just saying that), we always had to do a "What I did this Summer" essay in English. I think it would be fun if we read a book about our summer activities/vaca..."Shhh! You'll ruin the "finishing the challenge" task I have planned! *_~..."
Great idea! One (or both) of you should see that this task gets chosen. :) ......I say that having only "travelled" over the Strait this summer, which really limits my options....but I'd find something that fits.
Petra wrote: "Ms Anderson wrote: "Christine wrote: "Back when I was in school (I feel old just saying that), we always had to do a "What I did this Summer" essay in English. I think it would be fun if we read a ..."I agree. I like this challenge a lot as well.
BACK TO SCHOOL-read a book about your favorite subject when you were in school (fiction or non-fiction, as long as it is somehow related)SEASONS CHANGE-Fall is a time for many changes due to the seasons, (leaves and grass changing colors, cooler weather) Read a book with a title of a fall color (red, orange, brown, yellow) or a book about changes in a characters life.
GIVE THANKS-Thanksgiving falls in this task, read about that describes what you are thankful for (family, work, health...etc)
DON'T WORK TOO HARD-Labor day falls in September, read a book with any type of job in the title.
What To Read Next: We've all asked ourselves this question. For the task, go to Goodreads List: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19... and read a book from this list, by an author you haven't read before. For a 2 book task, read 2 books from this list; one by an author you've never read before and one by an author you have read before.
From the Merriam Webster online thesaurus:Synonyms: slip, spill, stumble, tumble
Related Words: header, pratfall; trip; descent, dive, plunge, slide; free-fall
Read a book that has the word "fall" in the title or one of the synonyms/related words above. Variations of these words are allowed, ie falling, spills, slippery, but no other synonyms.
Seasonal Rhyme - Read a book with a title that contains a word that rhymes with FALL.
Nancy wrote: "Seasonal Rhyme - Read a book with a title that contains a word that rhymes with FALL."Ooo clever.
Felina wrote: "I have to say that I'm somewhat offended by the discussion of YA books being 'dumbed down' and a little bit more offended by the suggestion that YA books should be excluded simply because one perso..."There was never a discussion, at least not that I'm aware, of YA being excluded. The objection was to a task requiring the reading of YA.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
City of Ashes (other topics)War and Peace (other topics)
Still Missing (other topics)
Jane Eyre (other topics)
The King's Mistress (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Markus Zusak (other topics)Kathryn Stockett (other topics)
Elizabeth Gaskell (other topics)
Charles de Lint (other topics)
30.6 - Donna Jo's Task - As Suggested By Liz Brooklyn - Character References
A. For this task you need to read a book (fiction or non-fiction) AND A book or book written by an author that the first book references.
For example, in The Moonstone one of the characters refers to Robinson Crusoe, in The Inheritance of Loss two characters discuss V. S. Naipaul's novels, and in Northanger Abbey the protagonist is reading The Mysteries of Udolpho.
Since this task I've become aware of the surprisingly high frequency of book A referring to book B.