The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
FALL CHALLENGE 2010
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TASK IDEAS - Fall Challenge (Task Ideas ONLY!)
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
School starts around here after Labor Day (which always seems weird to me, but whatever), so a book that takes place in a school or where the main character is a student.The fall season of lots of TV shows will happen soon. Read a book related to your favorite returning TV show (Dancing with the Stars and Glee! Yay!)
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Sept. 22, 1863. Read a book related to the American Civil War, about freeing slaves (any country), or was published during that year? I'm not sure, plenty of directions that task could go.
Read a book by an author who a) was born in the fall or b) died in the fall.
The World Series occurs during the fall--read a book about baseball.
The fall in the Northern Hemisphere is Spring in the Southern Hemisphere! Read a book that takes place in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sept. 19 is International Speak Like a Pirate Day! Read a book about pirates.
September, October, and November all come from numbers--7, 8, and 9, respectively. Read a book with one of these numbers in the title.
October is LGBTQ month, including National Coming Out Day (the 11th). Read a book with a character who is LGBTQ.
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.
Thanksgiving occurs in the USA in November. Read a book related to something you're thankful for.
Guy Faukes Day is November 5th. Read something related to the day, explosions, and/or plotting the overthrow of a government.
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is celebrated in November. Read a book about writing or writers.
Great American Smokeout is in November. Read a book about addiction.
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving. Read a book about shopping or where the main character works in retail.
...This is all I can come up with right now. I'm excited to see what everyone else suggests!
All Soul's Day is November second: read book by a deceased author or a book where a ghost makes an appearance.Back to School: read a book written by a college/university professor.
Sept. 22 is China's Mid-Autumn or moon festival. Read a book by a Chinese author, that takes place in China or has either moon or lantern on the cover.
Oh fun! So excited for the new tasks!IHO of Halloween read a book with ghosts, vampires, etc.
IHO of school starting read a YA novel.
Read a memoir
Read a book that's a part of the series.
Read a book that takes place in the South (US south of the Mason-Dixon line)
Do a challenge that is in the suggested tasks thread, but did not make it into the challenge.
What the hell is LGBTQ? Why are we abbreviating here?
In case anyone would like to check if their idea has been done.Summer 2008 Tasks
Fall 2008 Tasks
Winter 2008-2009 Tasks
Spring 2009 Tasks
Summer 2009 Tasks
Fall 2009 Tasks
Winter 2009-2010 Tasks
Spring 2010 Tasks
Summer 2010 Tasks
LGBTQ is lesbian, gay, bi, transgenders (not sure about the Q)...and its the official designation in writing
1) Arbor day falls in this challenge so read a book with the word Tree or Trees in the title or a picture with a tree on it.2) Read an book by and author whose birthday is in September, October, or November.
3) In Honor of Veteran's Day, read a book that is set in any war.
4) Columbus set out to find a new route from Spain, so read a book where the setting is different from the country you live. For example, if you live in the US, read a book that takes place in France.
5) With the cold weather comes shorter days, so read a book from your TBR list that has been there the shortest.
Latino Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15, so a Latino author or theme would be good.LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender--- the Q is queer, but the challenge I'm reading with has dropped the Q, so I'm not an expert, but it may be just LGBT. The literature has really grown in the last few years. At first, most of the books written, for teens at least, were about "coming out", but now there are a lot more books with broader content. The most recent one I have read for adults is The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I think this would be a good addition to the fall challenge.
I read a lot of M/M type stuff, I was just scratching my head on the Q...I thought Queer but wasn't sureKaren GHHS wrote: "Latino Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15, so a Latino author or theme would be good.
LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender--- the Q is queer, but the challenge I'm reading w..."
Q is "queer." Sorry, I thought the acronym was in wide-enough use now that I could use it without explaining what it stood for.
I've only seen LGBT recently and that is how the M/M group refers to itMs Anderson wrote: "Q is "queer." Sorry, I thought the acronym was in wide-enough use now that I could use it without explaining what it stood for."
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 there many authors that fit A.U.T.U.M.N.?
Quick look through a few categories on amazon:
No AU, UT, TU, UM
Some MN, NA
F.A.L.L.
No LL
Some FA, AL, LF
LL - lora leigh and lynn lorenz off the top of my head and she has a backlist of like 60 odd books...admitedly they are both romance
Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "LL - lora leigh off the top of my head and she has a backlist of like 60 odd books...admitedly she is romance"not a category I would think to check (LOL)
Two book challenge: read one author whose last name is a profession (Shannon K. Butcher) and a second book with a character who practices that profession (The Master Butcher’s Singing Club). (Or The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Canterbury Tales with the Bawdy Miller’s Tale) (Other common last names: Smith, Cooper, Cook, Carpenter, Forrester, Archer, Hunt, Baker, Taylor (or Tailor), Knight, Bishop, Priest, Abbot, etc.)
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 name contains at least one of the letters Q, X, or Z.
I like the profession challenge
Please, please, please don't ASK us to read YA. People should be free to read YA if they want, but asking adults to read a book targeted to teens is unseemly.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Please, please, please don't ASK us to read YA. People should be free to read YA if they want, but asking adults to read a book targeted to teens is unseemly."I agree that YA and Children's books should not be required of a Task, although they can be options within a task.
so are you saying that neither of you read Hunger Games for quarter...because that is classed as YA book...
I'm saying that I don't read anything YA. I will undoubtedly read books that youth may like/enjoy, but that are not intentionally written for that age group. No, I'm not ever going to read Hunger Games. There are too many other books of interest to me.
September:Library Card Sign-Up Month: read a book borrowed from the Library
National Rice Month: read a book set in a country where rice is grown.
Read-a-new-book Month: read a book by a new-to-you author
National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct15): read a book set in Mexico or South America OR whose main character is from Mexico or South America
Citizenship Day (Sept 17): read a book written by an author of the country of your Citizenship. (if you have a dual citizenship, you can choose an author by either country of citizenship)
Dear Diary Day (Sept 22): read a book (fiction or non-fiction) that is written in diary form.
October:
From Wikipedia: “ The month October has become famous as "Red October", due to the Russian October revolution of 1917 (although in the modern Gregorian calendar, the revolution started in November)”.
Read a book set in Russia or written by a Russian Author.
November:
In Ireland, November 1 is regarded as the first day of Winter. Read a book set in Ireland or written by an Irish Author.
National Novel Writing Month: read a book published within the last 6 months (June-Nov)
National Homeless Youth Awareness Month: read a book where a main character is homeless during the novel (the character can be a youth or any other age group)
Revisit Summer: complete a Task from the Summer Challenge that you did not have time to start during that time. Task chosen must have been worth 15 Points or more and you cannot choose tasks where you have previously read one of two or more required books. The chosen Task must not have been started at the end of the Summer Challenge.
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 know that the US is the largest exporter of rice in the world.
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 know that the US is the largest exporter..."
But the US doesn't grow Rice, does it?
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 know that the..."
How can you be the largest exporter in the world and not grow it?
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.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "How can you be the largest exporter in the world and not grow it?.."LOL! True!! I read "importer" when I first read it. LOL! Sorry about that.
Actually, I suspect that rice is grown in nearly every country in the world. It seems to me that I read a book of fiction recently where one of the schemes was to introduce rice production in Africa, but I suspect that there are now many countries in Africa where rice is grown.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Actually, I suspect that rice is grown in nearly every country in the world. It seems to me that I read a book of fiction recently where one of the schemes was to introduce rice production in Afric..."Even better....that would make a task such as this a kind of "free-for-all".....I love a wide-open task.
LOL I've been looking at this since I made my statement. When I lived in California, a large rice-producing state, was the last time I checked my facts. The US now appears to be 4th largest exporter.http://internationaltradecommodities....
This is not the list of growers, but of exporters.
And all this time I thought the Q was for Questioning. Don't know where I heard that.
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 mouth totally shut on this, even though I probably should;).Here are some "cases in point" copied directly from Follett Titlewave which is my ordering company for both YA and AD books:To kill a mockingbird (#35598V0)
by Lee, Harper - Grand Central Pub., p2010, c1960
Int Lvl: YA
AR 5.6, UG, 15, 720EN; RC 8.1, 19; LEX 870
David Copperfield (#0111SHX)
by Dickens, Charles - Book Sales Inc., c2010
Int Lvl: YA
The bluest eye (#35332A6)
by Morrison, Toni - Alfred A. Knopf ,Distributed by Random House, p2000, c1970
Int Lvl: YA
RC 7.1, 12; LEX 920
The Pox party (#12071S4)
by Anderson, M. T. - Candlewick Press, p2006, c2006
Int Lvl: YA
AR 8, UG, 13, 108594EN; RC 8.3, 18; LEX 1090
The only book actually published recently as YA has a higher reading level (AR & RC) and lexile (LEX) than any of the three books I listed that are now often labeled YA as well as adult and are by some of our greatest authors. I guess you can probably tell this is one of my soap boxes, but there are some excellent YA books out there and the easy definition is a book with a young adult protagonist, hence the inclusion of books like To Kill a Mockingbird, Great Expectations and The Bluest Eye. There are some other factors, but it isn't always only teen angst and/or romance. I guess I balk when I'm forced to read nonfiction, even though I do enjoy it once I read it and I always feel it broadens my reading when I do it for a challenge. At any rate, I think the more we can choose what we like, the better, but I want to keep stretching to things I wouldn't ordinarily read, too.
But To Kill a Mockingbird is not YA. It may be shelved with YA fiction, young adults may appreciate it. But it was intended for adult audiences when written, as was Dickens. And that is why I say I would read books that young people may like/enjoy, but not books intended for that audience.
Adrienne wrote: "And all this time I thought the Q was for Questioning. Don't know where I heard that."You know, I think I remember hearing that, too. Maybe I spoke too soon? Anyone certain just for interest's sake?
No offense to anyone intended but isn't this supposed to be a challenge with a focus on stretching your comfort zone? I despise reading biographies but a couple of these challenges have asked for that. I grumbled but ultimately accepted it because its a challenge. I usually avoided those to be read if I ever got close to finishing. If you don't like what it asks for don't do that task. And to add a suggestion so this is not completely out of left field.
George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950) an Irish playwright who wrote more than 60 plays. In honor of his life read a play.
I like the idea of a play and maybe, since the days are getting shorter, some short stories would be fun. It's my first challenge, but I know there were none this time around. I agree about stretching comfort zones through these challenges. That is one of the primary reasons I joined this summer and it has been great fun!
I agree about stretching comfort zones. That's why I don't like to asked to read YA. YA is, for the most part, dumbing down. Don't get up in arms, I said "for the most part."
Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "questioning according to http://lgbtq.gmu.edu/"I don't think there's one official answer...I've seen organizations and groups use it to indicate queer, questioning, and queer/questioning (one q to save time I suppose!).
Other task ideas:
* Sept. 17 - Constitution Day - read a book about or that shows the importance of one of the rights in the Constitution/Bill of Rights. (Even most mysteries would fall in this category, since there's always that "I'll take the fifth" scene :)
* Sept. 25 is One-Hit Wonder day - read a book that was the only book of its type by the author (the only fiction book before the author moved on to something else, or the only book the author published period)
* Nov. 27 is the StoryCorps National Day of Listening - read a memoir, autobiography, or book of personal essays
If it is a good book, I don't care what genre it is. I read quite a bit of YA. I am surrounds by high school kids so the school library has tons of YA.
lol. I won't get up in arms, but I tend to agree with this quote I found. "Good YA is not dumbed-down adult fare; it’s literature that doesn’t waste a breath." That's not to say that there are not ridiculously horrid YA books that are over-simplistic, but I feel there are bad eggs in every genre. I also think that there are some good books that cross over the bridge between YA/adult. So I don't think that asking that someone read a YA book is misplaced in this challenge. It's a genre of books. Some people like it, some don't.
If you are female, read a lad lit novel.If you are male, read a chick lit novel.
Since so many tasks focus on books that have won awards or are special in someway, read a book that hasn't won any awards. LibraryThing has a much better award search than Goodreads, so maybe whether or not the book has any awards on LibraryThing could be the determinater.
Books have ID numbers, which are the numbers in their URL on their Goodreads webpage. Read a book that has your favorite number from 0 to 9 in its ID number at least twice.
91011 is a California zip code. Read a book that takes place primarily in California.
Here'a few ideas:1) Sept. 17th is National Apple Dumpling Day-
read a book with a type of apple in the title, or as a place name, or author name--- here's a cool list of apples-
http://www.allaboutapples.com/varieties/
2) Sept. 7th is Grandma Moses' Birthday- Read a book about grandparents or a grandparent is a main character.
3) Sept. 9th is Teddy Bear Day--- Read a book that has to do with games or toys. (Sports would qualify)
4) Sept. 11th is Hot Cross Buns Day- Read a book with a baker, or a bakery, or baking in the title or storyline.
5) Sept. 4th- The Star Spangled Banner was written. Read a book about Early America or set in Early America.
6) Sept. 19th- International Speak Like a Pirate Day-
(From Above)- love the pirate idea--- read a book that has pirate stuff in the title: Gold, Parrot, Ship, Sword, treasure...
7) T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G.--- pick an author from those letters. (Any two letter combinations.)
8) Chilly Weather Ahead-- pick a storyline set in fall, or has to do with the wind--- blustery, breezy, etc. (In the title--- okay.)
9) Colors of Fall-- Pick a title with one color--- red, yellow, or brown. (Or an author by the last name of brown.)
10) Cold weather foods- pick a storyline or title that has to do with warm weather fare--- soup, stew, chili beans, etc. Or as an author's name. (Names for all sorts of soups-- many possibilities here--- Mulligan Stew, Vegetable, chowder, gumbo, clam chowder, tomato soup, etc.) And submit a good recipe that matches your choice.
I'll try to think of some more later.
Julia wrote: "lol. I won't get up in arms, but I tend to agree with this quote I found. "Good YA is not dumbed-down adult fare; it’s literature that doesn’t waste a breath." That's not to say that there are not ridiculously horrid YA books that are over-simplistic, but I feel there are bad eggs in every genre. I also think that there are some good books that cross over the bridge between YA/adult. So I don't think that asking that someone read a YA book is misplaced in this challenge. It's a genre of books. Some people like it, some don't...."
Just to note: I enjoy the occasional, well-written YA book. I'm not against the genre. I also think that one of the best things about the Challenge is to stretch one's comfort zone/reading limits. It's a great eye-opener.
My beef is mainly Children's Books....those meant for elementary children and younger (pre-school/kindergarten). I think all of us are above that reading level and there isn't a "stretch the comfort zone" issue with this genre. And let's face it, reading 100 pages with big pictures, large writing and only a dozen words per page (or so) doesn't really count as a 100 page book...at least, I don't think so.
With that in mind, I can see where some could fit YA into this sort of thinking as well. It's a personal thing that we all face when choosing books to read.
Whereas I would like to see Children's books banished, I think YA should be an option. We have some teenagers participating in the Challenge and wouldn't want to push them away, I'm sure.
Petra wrote: "Julia wrote: "lol. I won't get up in arms, but I tend to agree with this quote I found. "Good YA is not dumbed-down adult fare; it’s literature that doesn’t waste a breath." That's not to say that ..."Forbidding children's books outright gets tricky, too, though. The Harry Potter books, Peter and the Starcatchers, Inkheart, and A Little Princess, for instance, were written for children and are found in the children's section of most bookstores and libraries, but I doubt many of us would dispute that they are in a different class from, say, Dinosaurs Before Dark or some other "easy reader" books. So maybe instead of banning children's books altogether, require the books to be at least 200 pages instead of 100 and forbid "picture books" unless someone uses them for his or her task (like the Dr. Seuss task from a previous challenge).
why ban anything, if you don't like the task, don't do it
A summary of above suggestions that I think would work well:School starts around here after Labor Day (which always seems weird to me, but whatever), so a book that takes place in a school or where the main character is a student.
The fall season of lots of TV shows will happen soon. Read a book related to your favorite returning TV show (Dancing with the Stars and Glee! Yay!)
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Sept. 22, 1863. Read a book related to the American Civil War, about freeing slaves (any country), or was published during that year? I'm not sure, plenty of directions that task could go.
Read an book by and author whose birthday is in September, October, or November
The fall in the Northern Hemisphere is Spring in the Southern Hemisphere! Read a book that takes place in the Southern Hemisphere.
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.
Guy Faukes Day is November 5th. Read something related to the day, explosions, and/or plotting the overthrow of a government.
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving. Read a book about shopping or where the main character works in retail.
All Soul's Day is November second: read book by a deceased author or a book where a ghost makes an appearance.
IHO of Halloween read a book with ghosts, vampires, werewolves, etc.
Sept. 22 is China's Mid-Autumn or moon festival. Read a book by a Chinese author, that takes place in China or has either moon or lantern on the cover.
Sept. 9th is Teddy Bear Day--- Read a book that has to do with games or toys. (Sports would qualify)
Colors of Fall-- Pick a title with one color--- red, yellow, or brown. (Or an author by the last name of brown.)
In Ireland, November 1 is regarded as the first day of Winter. Read a book set in Ireland or written by an Irish Author.
Columbus set out to find a new route from Spain, so read a book where the setting is different from the country you live. For example, if you live in the US, read a book that takes place in France.
Two book challenge: read one author whose last name is a profession (Shannon K. Butcher) and a second book with a character who practices that profession (The Master Butcher’s Singing Club).
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)
Either Cynthia will draw from these ideas and her own ideas to create the 5,10, and 15 point tasks OR Sandy & I will. We look forward to seeing what you come up with and have fun with it.
Thanks,
pj & Sandy