The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
FALL CHALLENGE 2010
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TASK IDEAS - Fall Challenge (Task Ideas ONLY!)
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BZMoney
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Aug 03, 2010 10:23AM
When will the polls for the Fall Challenge Group Reads and Logo be up?
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Birish wrote: "When will the polls for the Fall Challenge Group Reads and Logo be up?"Sandy is waiting for responses from Group Reads nominators.
Logo -- I'll look up what Cynthia did.
Spring Logo poll was created on 23 May = 1 week before end of Spring Challenge.
Thank's for your quick response PJReads! I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing them! I know you moderators have your hands full. Any word from Cynthia?
Felina -- Thanks! That's the idea behind the whole rosary prayer. The task could easily be re-worded or stretched into ANY poem, sonnet, rhyme. Heck, it could be altered into BACK TO SCHOOL and use a Mother Goose Rhyme! *snicker*Ms Anderson -- WOOT! Author with a 'stache!! Love it!! Or even a cover with a 'stache! Imagine as someone mentioned above those mystery thrillers of the bad guy twirling his 'stache. *giggles*
Hey Diddle Diddle -- In honor of students going back to school, let's remember pre-school and kindergarten. Select a Mother Goose Rhyme from the following list. READ a book that reflects the Mother Goose Rhyme be it by Title, Cover or Characters.
PJ -- Apparently there were comic books! http://www.comicvine.com/snidely-whip...
And this one is hilarious Snidely vs Darth Vader
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/...
The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, and October 3 marks the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Germany. The Wall was erected on August 13, 1961. There are many ways to play this. Read a book that was published during the time of the existence of the Wall.
Read a book that takes place in Germany or written by a German.
Because part of Germany during this time was controlled by the Soviet Union, read a book written by someone from one of the countries that made up the Soviet Union.
Elizabeth - Thanks for posting that task! I was living in Germany when the wall was taken down and recall the mass of East Germans heading into West Germany. This task could be focused on duality. North/South or East/West could be a title or duality as a theme - being on opposite ends of war/ideas.
Title Example: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Theme Example: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (main characters separated by different beliefs)
Another Theme Example: The Help by Kathryn Stockett (w/o spoiling the novel -- two different vying beliefs that eventually one is awakened to the other's world)
Jennifer wrote: "The volume of task ideas is amazing! I am still not seeing a lot of "international" flare - still a lot of US based ideas (holidays, months with "national...whatever month, references to persons o..."LOVE all three of those!
I think we had this task before but it was a cool task, you pick a favorite song from your playlist and then read a book based on 1) the song 2) any words in the title 3) the artist.
Tanja wrote: "But Jennifer, I do not drink coffee or tea ;) But I like the task b/c it's cute!..."You must have missed the final line in the post??? ;P I've got your back!
1. Semi-Classical. Read a book first published between 1975 and 2000 that you think will become an enduring classic.2. I'm Glad My Mother Didn't Name Me... Pick a book with a main character who has a name you are sooooo glad is not yours. OR pick a book by an author who has a first name you really hate.
3. Columbus Day. Read a biography or autobiography of an explorer. (Or read a travel memoir or a fiction book about traveling.)
4. It's Thanksgiving time and that means good food. Read a book with a herb or spice in the title.
5. An apple a day. Read a book with the name of an apple variety in the title.
6. Urban Renewal. Read a book with the name of a city in the title.
7. In my room. Take the number of chairs in your living room, multiply by 5 and use the product (+/- 4) as the number of letters in the title of your book.
If you have a living/dining area just count living room space). If you have no living room or no chairs, use 1 as your base number.
8. Read an author whose first or last name is a color.
9. Read a disaster novel--either natural (Blizzard, tornado, tsunami, etc.) or manmade (burning building, Titanic stuff, etc.).
10. Read a book set entirely in the Southern hemisphere.
11. Read a book of poetry at least 75 pages long.
12. It's the beginning of Symphony Season here. Read a book (fiction or nonfiction) about a musician or music.
13. Unlucky Thirteen: Read a book with 13 words in the title (can include subtitle)
14. Read One/Get One Free: Read a book with at least 850 pages; choose a 5 pt task to be a free one--you can claim it without reading anything more.
15. Pick a GR author you've never read before and read one of their books.
16. Read a book with the main character over age 50.
17. Read the book that has been on your TBR list the longest.
18. Banned Books Week--Read a Book from ALA's Banned Book List.
19. Football Time--Read a book about a popular fall Sport in your country.
20. LOL--Read a humorous book
In November 1974 a team of archeologists discovered the bones of a new species of pre-humans; they nicknamed the skeleton "Lucy," after the song that was playing on the radio at the time ("Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"). In October of last year, information on another, older species, was published. Therefore, read a book that takes place before modern humans existed.
The Bechdel Test.A movie that passes the Bechdel test has:
1. Two or more women
2. Who have at least one conversation
3. About something other than a man or men
A movie passes the Reverse Bechdel Test if it has two or more men who have at least one conversation about something other than a woman or women.
Read a book that passes the Bechdel Test and the Reverse Bechdel Test.
I liked these suggestions:Read a book that someone read in SUMMER for the favorite genre book
Read a book that is in the list of the SRC must-reads (I believe someone is compiling a list of the must-reads)
Read a book that was used this RC for the List Maker task.
(We made our own list, we might as well use it right?)
The post with all the books on the task would need to be updated to do that though...
Coffee or Tea?? ~ as the days and nights get cooler, many return to enjoying their favourite hot beverages, tea &/or coffee. Which do you prefer? Select your beverage of choice, then pick a country from your choice. Find a book, fiction or nonfiction, about, set in or written by an author from your chosen country. Enjoy a nice cuppa at some point while you are reading your book.
I LOVE the county fair task. So imaginative. And so many books that fit the task!
I liked the duality / German Wall task suggestions.
And ... Donna Jo's list is awesome!
Wow, there are a lot of great ideas listed. So far I haven't seen anything I don't like.Some of the ideas I've been toying with:
For Halloween read a book involving the paranormal - fiction or non-fiction.
For Thanksgiving: read a book that has something you are thankful for in the title i.e.: food, family, home, pets.
Rhea wrote: "The Bechdel Test.A movie that passes the Bechdel test has:
1. Two or more women
2. Who have at least one conversation
3. About something other than a man or men
A movie passes the Reverse Bechde..."
This would be fun, if only because practically everything I can think of will fit lol So it might need a little more definition...maybe a higher number of conversations?
Last fall, it was pointed out that the first letters of the months September, October, November spell out the word SON. Read a book whose author's last name ends in SON.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Last fall, it was pointed out that the first letters of the months September, October, November spell out the word SON. Read a book whose author's last name ends in SON."I humbly submit some of my own writing for this task *_~
Seriously, though, I like this modification. Or, again, if we're trying to get more international books, what about a book that takes place in a country whose name begins or ends with S, O, or N?
Love the fair task (in fact I like a load of these ideas), but what on earth is 'midway food'? Just curious!
Ms Anderson wrote: "Rhea wrote: "The Bechdel Test.A movie that passes the Bechdel test has:
1. Two or more women
2. Who have at least one conversation
3. About something other than a man or men
A movie passes the R..."
Interpreting rule 3 to mean that a male (or female for the Reverse) can't be present during the conversation would make it harder since everything written from the POV of a single character would be out.
Requiring the four characters to be main characters would make it harder too.
So how do you know if something passes the Bechdel test unless you read the entire book? Seems it's possible one could wind up reading several books with the intention of claiming for that task but then finding they wouldn't actually work. Maybe it needs a little more flexibility.
Nicki (UK) wrote: "Love the fair task (in fact I like a load of these ideas), but what on earth is 'midway food'? Just curious!"I'm assuming midway food is corn dogs, cotton candy, turkey legs, etc. from the midway at the fair.
El wrote: "So how do you know if something passes the Bechdel test unless you read the entire book? Seems it's possible one could wind up reading several books with the intention of claiming for that task bu..."Now that I'm thinking about it, that would be a problem and I'd end up being the person doing that. The tasks based on plot aren't my favorite for the same reason.
It would also be impossible for the moderators to check. It was my idea and I don't really like it much anymore.
Rhea wrote: "El wrote: "So how do you know if something passes the Bechdel test unless you read the entire book? Seems it's possible one could wind up reading several books with the intention of claiming for t..."It could be done like the Must Read List in this challenge. Report whether it passes the test in the post (as an option? ).
Jennifer wrote: "The volume of task ideas is amazing! I am still not seeing a lot of "international" flare - still a lot of US based ideas (holidays, months with "national...whatever month, references to persons o..."I took this as a challenge to provide some alternative local flavour and looked at what was happening around Melbourne this coming spring.
Firstly, the weather - Melbourne weather is highly changebale at this time of year, we can have, sun, hail and wind all in the one day. It has even been known to snow (I can actually remember more instnces of snow in spring than in winter.)
Read a book with any type if weather in the title.
Sport is such a major part of life in Melbourne in spring that I am giving it a separate post.
The Royal Melbourne Show occurs in September - most of the show features have been covered by Cindy, so I will just add showbags. When my parents were young back in the depression, show bags were free and were called sampler bags. Now they cost money and are far less about sampling the company's products, but still -
Read an anthology including more than one author.
Some lesser festivals coming up. I don't have tasks ideas for all of these.
In music and the arts -
Melbourne International Arts Festival (Oct 8-23)
Wangaratta Festival of Jazz (Oct 29-Nov 1)
Queenscliff Music Festival (Nov 26-28)
Melbourne Fringe Festival (Sep 22-Oct 10)
Australasian World music Expo (Nov)
Read a book about music, musicians or any of the arts, set in a foreign (to you) country.
Read a novel on the fringe (ie not written as a conventional novel).
Read a book set in the Jazz age.
Wine and Food festivals -
Heathcote wine and food festival (Oct 2-3)
Mornington Peninsula Pinot week (Oct 4-12)
Bendigo Heritage uncorked (Oct 9-10)
Toast to the Coast (Oct 30-31)
La Dolce Vita (Nov 20-21)
Read a book about food and/or wine.
Read a book set on a peninsula or in a Mediterranean country.
Multicultural festivals -
Hepburn Springs Swiss Italian Festa (Oct 15-24)
Polish Festival (Nov 21)
Read a book set in Switzerland, Italy or Poland or written by an author from one of these countries.
Read a book set in more than one country or about people who migrated from one country to another.
Equitana Melbourne (Nov 18-21) celbrates the entire world of horses.
Read a book about horses or with the name of a type of horse in the title.
Not sure if anyone has suggested it yet, but since fall begins our storm season here in Houston, I would suggest reading either a fiction or non fiction book about or set during a natural disaster. This could include hurricane, tornado, fire, volcano, tropical storm, solar flare, eclipse related disaster, etc. anything natural....
I think someone suggested that.
Read two books by immigrant authors from two different countries, in which immigrant experience plays a major role. Optionally comment on how the experiences were similar/different.Read a book written from multiple points of view.
Read a book that is a part of a series.
Fall is the time of rains. Read a book with an umbrella on the cover.
Read a book featuring twins (or higher order multiples) or a book written by a twin.
Spring in Melbourne - sport.The finals of the major football codes are played in spring.
Read a book that was the last book written by an author.
Melbourne's major sport is Australian rules football. It is scored with goals and behinds. A goal is worth as much as 6 behinds.
Read a book with a 6-letter word in the title.
The Australian Football League (AFL) is made up of 16 teams.
Read a book with one of the 16 team names in the title - crows, blues, magpies, hawks, power, tigers, cats, lions, dogs, magpies, blues, swans, eagles, dockers, demons and saints.
In Sydney, the major winter sport is Rugby League. Melbourne won't have a team in the National Rugby League finals this year, because the Melbourne team was disqualified for cheating their finances.
Read a book that involves cheating or embezzling in some way.
The A-league soccer competition plays many of its games in spring. This season Melbourne has a new team called Melbourne Heart and will wear red.
Read a book with the word 'heart' in the title or read a book with a red cover.
The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix takes place on Phillip Island in October.
Read a book set on an island.
UCI Road World Championship takes place Sept 29 to Oct 3.
Read a book that takes place along a road.
The other big sporting event around Melbourne in spring is the Spring Racing Carnival. It is so big (and I know so little about horse racing) that I will do some research about it, then give it its own post.
Erin (NY) wrote: "Read two books by immigrant authors from two different countries, in which immigrant experience plays a major role. Optionally comment on how the experiences were similar/different."Immigrant where?
Coralie wrote: "Spring in Melbourne - sport.The Australian Football League (AFL) is made up of 16 teams.
Read a book with one of the 16 team names in the title - crows, blues, magpies, hawks, power, tigers, cats, lions, dogs, magpies, blues, swans, eagles, dockers, demons and saints."
This one is great!
I like that one, too, Elizabeth! Erin's Immigrant task is interesting, too. Maybe it can include immigrating into Space? (ie: The Sparrow)???
Petra wrote: "I like that one, too, Elizabeth! Erin's Immigrant task is interesting, too. Maybe it can include immigrating into Space? (ie: The Sparrow)???"
Or maybe have it be a two book task, one book by an immigrant and the other about immigrating (or emigrating). I'm not sure how much of an overlap there is between the two, so it could be hard to get books. I like the idea of an immigration/immigrant experience task, though! I like reading about people trying to start over in new places.
Coralie wrote: "In Sydney, the major winter sport is Rugby League. Melbourne won't have a team in the National Rugby League finals this year, because the Melbourne team was disqualified for cheating their finances.Read a book that involves cheating or embezzling in some way."
This one made me giggle. I can think of a half-dozen possibilities off the top of my head for this task *GRIN*
I love these task ideas! I will be away from the Internet for a couple of weeks and I can't wait to see what has been decided when I get back. Great creativity!
In Melbourne SRC stands for Spring Racing Carnival.There are 90 race meetings over 50 days. Most races take place in the country.
Read a book that is set in the country (as opposed to the city).
The three main city races are the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup.
The official charity partner for the Caulfield cup is the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria.
Read a book about epilepsy or a book with a character that has epilepsy.
The Cox Plate has an associated breakfast (or two), a ball and two luncheons.
Read a book where the characters attend a breakfast, ball or luncheon.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival has four days of racing, Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day.
On Derby Day it is traditional to wear black and white.
Read a book with a black and white cover.
Melbourne Cup day is the first Tuesday in November.
In honour of another event that takes place on the first Tuesday in November, read a book about an American president.
Oaks day if for the ladies. Fashion is very important, all the ladies dress in hats, frock and high heels.
Read a book that has a hat, dress or high-heeled shoes on the cover.
Stakes day is children's day.
Read a book about a family that includes children.
All the major race days have an associated flower.
Read a book with a flower on the cover.
I just joined because I like challenges and if I don't have anyone to give guidelines, then I make some up for myself.Oct 2 is Mahatma Gandi's birthday - a book about colonialism, as the setting like A Passage to India or Ragtime in Simla for fiction and non fiction like Begums, Thugs and White Mughals or The Last Mughal;
or civil rights like Mississippi Burning; or passive resistance as in Thoreau's Civil Disobediance
Two major holidays also occur in India, Dusshera and Diwali. Maybe a book about India or The Ramayana.
And speaking of rice...Basmati rice comes from India and here in coastal Texas rice is big. In fact most rice farmers also raise crayfish in the watery irrigation ditches that the rice needs. Ever hear of Texmati rice? I guess that combines India and Texas! : )
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Karen GHHS wrote: "I agree with staying away from requiring a certain level in the books we are asked to read, but the definition of YA has changed a lot over the years, and as a high school librarian I can't keep my..."I was under the impression you get to pick which challenge you want to do, right? So someone could have a whole challenge based on YA but you can just skip it, right?
I don't even know what the definition of YA is. I know it means young adult and that they are read by high school kids, but who really gets to qualify if it is or isn't YA? What are the criteria? I always thought it meant no sex, disturbing violence and maybe no curse words?
I read Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna to my young children before we went on a trip to Kenya. I did leave out the chapter about circumcision as a ritual for an adolescent, but it was from the YA dept at the library.
I went to a reading by author Susan Wittig Albert who writes mysteries. One of her series has Beatrix Potter as the slueth. She writes for adults but I told her I appreciated her writing books that were interesting to adults but clean enough to read to my elementary aged children.
....and Harry Potter?! Rowling is a genius! Think about all those complicated things she made up like all the rules for Quiddith and all the historical and mythological references! If you are well read, you know where she got a lot of ideas to adapt to her book but from so many classic sources and history!
I've read a lot of "adult" books that had all that sex, violence etc.. and they were way "dumber" than Go Ask Alice or The Outsiders
The Bros Grimm had aimed their collection of stories at an adult audiance. Now the collection is a children's classic with the blood and gore and scariness intact.
So what is the criteria and who gets to say what is and what isn't?
Sorry, just joined but had to put in my long, pointy nose! (smile)
I was even going to suggest since school was starting, why not read a classic like Heidi, Tom Sawyer or a Laura Ingalls Wilder book with your school aged child? : )
I agree with you Rebekah on your P.O.V about YA. Who does get to decide? People with way too much time on their hands.
well, I had only read the first page of posts and now I see the topic has been beat to death (smile)Anyway someone said fall alsow had also family literacy day so that would also fit in with my read with your child a classic book idea
Read a book from the Booker Prize long list.Read a book with the word Fall in the title or another similar meaning word i.e. Tip, stumble, drop etc.
Read a book with one of the following words in the title: blustery, wind, leaves, conker or another 'aumtumnal' word.
Fall is about Harvest Time! READ a book that's been published for a year or less.
Also Fall has a lot of Wine Festivals!
READ a book that's been published for 40 years or more.
Hmmm. Corn Mazes are prominent around now! Could anyone think of a task involving them? Maybe a mystery (puzzle->maze)?
Urban Myths
Halloween is filled with those classic urban myths -- the man with the hook for a hand! UrbanMyths.com is a reference archive for a TON of urban myths. READ a book with a title or plot (use synopsis) based on an urban myth. Use the website for inspiration. The door opens wide on this task and could result in some humorous finds :)
Tanja wrote: "Hmmm. Corn Mazes are prominent around now! Could anyone think of a task involving them? Maybe a mystery (puzzle->maze)? "Choose your own adventure! *GRIN* And I like the "urban myth" idea.
Building on the Chooses Your Own Adventure IdeaSolve the Mystery...... Choose your book based on your solution to the mystery.
Libby Librarian was lying on the floor unconcious. There was a ladder across from her, an open door across the room and a very heavy book lying next to her. What happened?
A) She fell off the ladder reaching for the classic leather bound books on the top shelf - Read a book from the Classic Books list
B) Someone broke in, knocked her and ran out the open door when they heard you come in. - Read a book from Best Crimes & Mystery Books
C) A heavy book fell off the shelf and hit her in the head. - Read a heavy book over 1000 pages
Nancy wrote: "91011 is a California zip code. Read a book that takes place primarily in California."Hi Nancy, I like this one!!
Beth NC(US) wrote: "Building on the Chooses Your Own Adventure IdeaSolve the Mystery...... Choose your book based on your solution to the mystery.
Libby Librarian was lying on the floor unconcious. There was a..."
I love this!!
Beth said Solve the Mystery...... Choose your book based on your solution to the mystery. Libby Librarian was lying on the floor unconcious. There was a ladder across from her, an open door across the room and a very heavy book lying next to her. What happened?
This is.... fantastic! Very creative!
Beth, I love the Solve the Mystery idea!
I like solve the mystery one.
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)
