BookShelf BINGO: FAQ

[Mary X]

No it sucks but it has to be on the actual shelf called. I had an audiobook I wanted to listen to and it had 4 different kick-ass shelves but not kick-ass-heroine.

[AH]

Mary wrote: "No it sucks but it has to be on the actual shelf called. I had an audiobook I wanted to listen too and it had 4 different kick-ass shelves but not kick-ass-heroine."

Agreed. But then we're all in the same boat.

[Christina (AKA Babbling)]

AH wrote: "Mary wrote: "No it sucks but it has to be on the actual shelf called. I had an audiobook I wanted to listen too and it had 4 different kick-ass shelves but not kick-ass-heroine."

Agreed. But then..."

Even Steph ran into that problem. The book she wanted to read wasn't on the exact same shelf -- without looking at the team thread, I think it was on 'kick-ass-heroineS". :D

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ wrote: "No, CaroB. It must be in the shelf called using the exact spelling."

Yes; kick-ass heroine shelf has to be from the exact link posted on shelf announcement.

The shelf announcement will note when something is a personal choice fitting announced category.

After this round of BINGO, I think I will glance at the SOS shelf to see if I spot series entries missing. Generally, it does seems to be in good shape -- skittish about the ethics of doing so now since I'm actually playing this round. If non-playing people have to time to check ...

[Lina]

Thanks everyone for your responses. At least we're all in the same boat, so no worries :-)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

*waves* Here I am! Sorry, I'm late! Thank you to all of our repeat BSB players for answering questions for us. In fact, you are all right.

There is no firm rule against either adding a book to the group bookshelf or your personal bookshelf so that it will fit a BSB shelf (called or on the card). That said, we prefer you do not do that because it goes against the spirit of the game, which is to hunt for a book you want to read on the shelf (or spot within the group) as-is. If you find it - YAY!, if you don't - BOO! That's going to happen to everyone at some point during the game, most likely. It's not unusual for a GR shelf to have every book in a series except the one you want to read and sadly the same goes for our group's bookshelf.

It sucks when that's the case, but that opens the door for a different book - maybe one you forgot you had buried on your bookshelf or one you just spotted at the library or heard a GR friend raving about ... either way, if it's not on the shelf it's a no-go. If you shelve it yourself, you will not be eliminated from the game. The ninjas are always watching, yes, but they do not go so far as to check to see who shelved a book. We take members at their word that a chosen book was shelved according to the announcement or FS rules.

Unfortunately, you cannot choose a book listed on shelf that is close to the one called (kick-ass-heroine vs. kickass-heroine, etc). There are 1,000s of GR shelves and 24 specific shelves have been pulled for this challenge. The direct link is provided to the exact shelf for each announcement; the book must be on that shelf.

As others mentioned, the members are always welcome, even encouraged, to add books to our group bookshelf and/or the new release threads.

If I missed anyone's question, please let me know. Remember, first and foremost, it's a game. A game we want everyone to enjoy, NOT stress over. Leave the stressing to us. ;)

[Lilac]

I'm thinking of reading The Great Gatsby for the new shelf. The edition my library has in has got 256 pages (The Great Gatsby) but the Goodreads default edition only has 180 (The Great Gatsby). Would I be able to count it or not?

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Question about shelves.

This week is Book Boyfriends. I want to read a certain book but it's under Book Boyfriend...singular. Is that acceptable or does it have to be the plural shelf. In my mind...one boyfriend is enough to satisfy but what do I know.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Lilac that is fine ;)

Sorry Val, cannot do. I had the same problem. Wanted to read Roarke in the new one, alas it was only single *sigh*

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Yeah, more's the pity. :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

If you've started the book Vilda, carry on. If not, pick something else.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

No worries Vilda ;)

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Question: I'm listening to The Night Circus and I wished I could use it for free space but it's not in any of the 3 options. I was surprised to find out that it's not on the group bookshelf since it's in the BEST OF: Stand Alone Novels list.

I guess no adding to the group bookshelf while the game is in play.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Sorry Val, that's the rule. I always make sure any books I'm intending to read are on the bookshelf before the game starts, plus any I think of that others may want to read. Sorry I missed that one :(

[D.G.]

Question about the 3 strikes rule...it says 'Individual team members who fall 3 books behind will be removed from the challenge.' Does that mean that if I haven't read both books from the prior week's shelf by the time the next two shelves are announced, then I'm out?

I already read my two books for this week but I want to find out how it works. ;)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Maybe we could add that as a FS option in future rounds, Val. It'd help cover those we may have missed adding to the group's bookshelf.

D.G. wrote: "Does that mean that if I haven't read both books from the prior week's shelf by the time the next two shelves are announced, then I'm out?"

No, if you got both books from the prior week's shelf RR&R'd before the end of that following week. The goal would be to have no more than 2 books to be RR&R'd at one time. Here's how I picture someone getting the book-boot:

WK1 - Shelves 1-2 announced - Member RR&R 1 book by week 2 announcement (behind 1 book RR&R)
WK2 - Shelves 3-4 announced - Member RR&R 1 book by week 3 announcement (behind 2 book RR&R)
WK3 - Shelves 5-6 announced - Member RR&R 1 book by week 4 announcement (behind 3 book RR&R) <--- Member is out

So, I'm looking at the next shelf announcement as kind of a RR&R deadline to ensure I stay current. Because we're throwing two shelves out each week, if members fail to get their books RR&R'd in a timely manner their TBR for the game piles up much quicker making it harder to keep pace with the rest of the team.

Hopefully that makes as much sense written out as it does in my head. :) Now's definitely the time to make sure everyone understands that rule b/c we'll quickly reach the point where someone can be 3 books behind.

[D.G.]

Oh thanks for the clarification, Steph! I was thinking that you would be 'behind' immediately after the shelves were called (if you only RRR'ed 1 book by the announcement) but it makes sense that you'd have to wait until the week is over. :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

You're welcome. Since each team can get their stamps as soon as all RR&Rs are done, I guess they could view a member behind before then. But, in an attempt to make it consistent across the board, I was thinking we'd go by how many RR&Rs behind someone was by the next announcement.

[AH]

And with the free space can you be behind by more than 1 book? or are you not counting the free space?

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

AH wrote: "And with the free space can you be behind by more than 1 book? or are you not counting the free space?"

This round, we're not including that in the behind-count.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Especially as there is technically no time limit on when you read the Free Space book.

[AH]

Sandra wrote: "Especially as there is technically no time limit on when you read the Free Space book."

Phew!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

LOL

[Mary X]

I see I need to reread the rules. It used to be only 1 shelve called each week.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I see I need to reread the rules. It used to be only 1 shelve called each week."

I think that was just for the Round 8 Speed BINGO version.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Yep, R9 will be 1 shelf a week. We may host another speedy round in the future, but this round (R9) will be "normal". :)

[AH]

Steph wrote: "Yep, R9 will be 1 shelf a week. We may host another speedy round in the future, but this round (R9) will be "normal". :)"

That speed Bingo was insane!

[Mary X]

Oh ok. I will still reread the rules because I haven't played for quite a few rounds.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

It's always helpful to re-read the rules :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Actually, it doesn't matter either way, Vilda. The important thing, at least to me, is that whichever link you include in your stamp requests takes us directly to the post that holds each member's choice, rating, and review link for that specific shelf so we can verify before stamping.

Some captains create a new post for each shelf and those are scattered throughout the team thread. While other create one master post they update with each new shelf.

So, I'd say, it's up to the captain. :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

As Steph said it doesn't really matter to the Ninjas but sometimes players get confused, especially if someone falls behind and it is easy just to point them towards a master list.

We had that happen in Rnd 11.

[Jo-Jo]

This might be a silly question but still going to ask. The book I would like to read for the shelf Happy Birthday is only available in ebook form according to Goodreads. It just came out a couple days ago. Is it still acceptable to read if that is the case?

I am assuming there are probably a lot of other books like this, I just have never seen any so that is why I wasn't sure about it.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Doesn't matter what format the book, as long as it isn't a graphic novel, Joanne.

As long as a book is at least 200 pages long & was first published in 2015, it is good to go.

[Jo-Jo]

Sandra wrote: "Doesn't matter what format the book, as long as it isn't a graphic novel, Joanne.

As long as a book is at least 200 pages long & was first published in 2015, it is good to go."

Great! Thanks so much =)

[Rosina]

What if the book you choose does not appear in the first 100 pages of the list, is it still allowed if when you click on the shelf via the book listing takes you back to the first page of the shelf.

Book is
and there is only 1 person who shelved it as guilty pleasures....the shelf listing stops at 2 people shelving

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hi Rosina. If it's on the shelf listing, any page, it's allowed. One person shelving it 'guilty pleasures' is good enough. :)

[Rosina]

Steph wrote: "Hi Rosina. If it's on the shelf listing, any page, it's allowed. One person shelving it 'guilty pleasures' is good enough. :)"

Thanks Steph :).....PS I started the book and I cant put it down.....

[Steph, Serious series addict]

:D You're welcome. Glad you're enjoying it!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

As of Round 14 of Bingo, the Mods have decided to implement a new rule -

To win Bingo, every called shelf must be stamped. ie every book for every shelf for the winning team must be read, rated and reviewed, and then stamped.

[Hannah]

I have never played before and was wondering what if two people on the same team way the read the same book, do you just choose different ones so you can finish the card?

[Michelle]

Hannah wrote: "I have never played before and was wondering what if two people on the same team way the read the same book, do you just choose different ones so you can finish the card?"

All four members can read the same book for the same shelf, as long as it fits the shelf you are reading for :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yes, and when you do get more than 1 person reading the same book, its very interesting to see what each person thought of it. Sometimes they think the same and sometimes they think the opposite. Can be very funny :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

True :)

[Art (aka Whistler Reads)]

Steph wrote: "I'll be posting all questions and answers here, but if you have a question and don't see it listed, just ask. :) There are no stupid questions!

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆"



Steph, I never encountered page requirement except on this first post refering to a vampire shelf, and once in my (Huge)(Jass)Readers Team 21 thread when a book was rejected ... This is not a gripe, only a "Where is it?" ...

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Art its in the Bingo Rules thread under Book Choices.

It has been the rule since the 1st round of bingo, so we tend to take it for granted I guess.

[Art (aka Whistler Reads)]

Sandra wrote: "Art its in the Bingo Rules thread under Book Choices.

It has been the rule since the 1st round of bingo, so we tend to take it for granted I guess."

Thanks

[Art (aka Whistler Reads)]

Vilda wrote: "Hmm! I just noticed that my book's shelver has disappeared. If I click on the shelved 1 time link no user shows up. Is it still okay to read or should I pick something else?"

I did not know there was a link for "shelved one time" ... but the obvious thing might be that SOMEONE ELSE shelved it too, so look for it somewhere else ...

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

You can read any edition of a book that is on the shelf, if you read the one from the anthology, the part you read must be at least 200 pages & it would be better to just say it is the one on the shelf so it isn't confusing for other players.

Anthologies generally you must read the entire book but in effect you are reading the book on the shelf, just in a different format.

Same goes for Way of Kings example, the book must be 200 pages - doesn't matter if it isn't the whole book as long as it is on the shelf & meets the page criteria.

Hope that makes sense Vilda.

[Cat]

are there any rules about childrens books?

specifically, I am considering Akata Witch, which passes the 200p requirement, but I'm not sure if it's allowable.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Cat, its over the page limit and listed as Young Adult, so I don't see a problem with it :)