ROAR - 2011 Challenge

[Luann]

I would say it's a debut work, Susan - especially since it is the first time that duo has written a book together. But since only ONE of them is a debut author, maybe you should only take HALF of the points for reading that book. :D (Just kidding!) I'm fine with counting it as a debut work. What do others think?

[Tien]

Yea I think so

[Vivian]

I would say it's a debut. Did not realize that James Frey was one of the authors, that's interesting. I'm a little more curious about reading it now.

[Susan]

Vivian wrote: "I would say it's a debut. Did not realize that James Frey was one of the authors, that's interesting. I'm a little more curious about reading it now."

Vivan,
Say more about James Frey? I'd never heard of him, but since the sequel to I Am Number Four isn't out yet, now might be a good time for me to explore others of Frey's works if he's someone you recommend.

[Roseann]

Hi,

I am a little confused when it comes to the "Wide" extra points. Does this mean we need to look at the shelves and see if books we read which are not on the SAT touched those shelves also?

Thanks!

[Christina's Book]

Wide refers to the Shelf of the Month for the group as a whole. For January, it is Coming-of-Age. So if any of the books you read for challenges 1.1 - 1.5 are also on the Coming-of-Age shelf, you get the bonus points for that book.

Hope this helps :)

[Vivian]

Have you heard of ? It was a big deal a few years ago because Oprah picked it for her bookclub and it's this crazy memoir about his life as a drug addict, but turns out he kinda fudged some of the circumstances. I thought it was a great book when I read it, but I don't know if it would've had the same impact if I read it more as 'inspired by true events' and not truly an autobiographical story.

[Roseann]

Thanks Christina, it's much clearer now!

[Christina's Book]

Welcome ;) Good luck!! :)

[Erin E]

I am far to easily confused... I've tried to map out my ROAR challenge and I can't grasp the finer details.

I feel silly about this, lol. :)

[Lahni]

Do you claim "wide" points for books feadfor mini SAT? I thought the wide/thick points were just for books that met the other challenge tasks.

[Christina's Book]

I understood that it could be any of the challenges. Karen can you confirm or correct this? Can we earn "wide" and "thick" points for a mini SAT (challenge 1.1) books??

[Tien]

Lahni & Christina: yes, 'wide' & 'thick' points apply for any books read for ROAR and this includes books read for mini SAT.

Erynn: is there any specific questions that I can help you with? Have you tried the spreadsheet that's available? It might help you with the tracking?

Well, I think it helps but since I'm the creator, maybe someone else can comment if it does help or if there's any way to improve it?

[Erin E]

It's helpful for people who are more linear in thinking than me, and if I was to get a step by step walk through then I would understand shortly. I copied and pasted the steps/rules into open office and I will try to break them down more.

I think the biggest hurtle is me. L, I think I am over thinking the process.

[Christina's Book]

Lol. Its great Karen! Next year we add a FAQ section though :-P All the requirements are what make this a true challenge instead a list of books to read during the year! Requires some continuous thought and I'm loving it!

[Tien]

Christina wrote: "Lol. Its great Karen! Next year we add a FAQ section though..."

LOL - NEXT YEAR? It's only just mid Jan!

And good luck, Erynn, we're here to answer any Qs you have ;)

[Susan]

Karen wrote: "Lahni & Christina: yes, 'wide' & 'thick' points apply for any books read for ROAR and this includes books read for mini SAT.

Karen,
I've seen mention of the spreadsheet, but must've missed the post that shows how to access it. I thought maybe it wasn't coming out till the end of the first month. Can you point me to it?

[Tien]

Susan, it's on message #2 of this thread with some instructions on how to use it :)

[Christina's Book]

Karen wrote: "LOL - NEXT YEAR? It's only just mid Jan!

And good luck, Erynn, we're here to answer any Qs you have ;)"

hehe. I mean we can add one now too...but we should definitely keep this up :-P Everyone playing now will know how to play of course but I'm sure we'll have some newbies up for a challenge next year. I'm a little bit of a planner if you couldn't tell!! :-P

[Susan]

Karen wrote: "Susan, it's on message #2 of this thread with some instructions on how to use it :)"

Thanks! Don't know how I missed it.

[Lahni]

I like the spreadsheet and find it helpful.

[Erin E]

I think I've got it! I will post my plan later.

[Susan]

Just wanting to check to be sure I understand about how the challenges never expire. Suppose, in February, the shelf-of-the-month is spirituality, and I read Mutant Message Down Under. I get to claim points for challenge 1.3 (Australia). When I do that,
(1) Do I go back and change my January totals, or add it to my February totals? The former seems less complicated as record-keeping
(2) Do I also get to claim 25 points because it's on February's shelf-of-the-month and I read it in February? If so, do those points get added to my January or to February totals?

[Tien]

I've thought about how complicated the scoring is so my thought was not to change previous months' totals but each month report our accumulative effort which with the way the spreadsheet is set up should be easy to do, you really only need to keep tab on your bonus points.

And yes, you get to claim the Feb 'wide' bonus pts :)

[Tara]

I have a question about "wide" points. Do books have to be used in tasks to get wide points or can I just give bonus points for any book I read on the monthly shelf?
I have been counting books I have been reading for the wide points, but I cannot fit them into tasks so I am wondering if I am doing it wrong.

[Tien]

ooh, yes, Tara, all the bonus points (wide, thick, & mid-month bonus challenge) requires books were being read for the monthly challenges.

So you've checked all that you've read so far but can't fit them into any of the Jan tasks?

[Tara]

Karen wrote: "ooh, yes, Tara, all the bonus points (wide, thick, & mid-month bonus challenge) requires books were being read for the monthly challenges.

So you've checked all that you've read so far but can't..."

Hmm. The mini SAT does count as a task. I am thinking I have got a bit of fixing to do.

[Amy]

Karen wrote: "ooh, yes, Tara, all the bonus points (wide, thick, & mid-month bonus challenge) requires books were being read for the monthly challenges.

If I'm understanding what you wrote above correctly, when we were told to read the mid-month challenge, not only did the book have to fit the stipulations you gave, but it also had to be part of one of the other monthly categories and/or the coming-of-age shelf. Did I get that right, or am I totally confused?

[Susan]

Amy wrote: Karen wrote: "ooh, yes, Tara, all the bonus points (wide, thick, & mid-month bonus challenge) requires books were being read for the monthly challenges."

If I'm understanding what you wrote above correctly, when we were told to read the mid-month challenge, not only did the book have to fit the stipulations you gave, but it also had to be part of one of the other monthly categories and/or the coming-of-age shelf. Did I get that right, or am I totally confused? "

Oh, that does look like what she said above. But I didn't see that in the bonus description. And I didn't do it -- my black book didn't fit anywhere else in the January challenges. And I think from the books I saw listed that a lot of other people didn't understand that either. Do we need to go back and take the bonus points off?

[Christina's Book]

My mid-month book doesn't fit any January challenges either :-/

[Lauren]

My mid month book doesn't fir any challenges either...that is too bad if I miss out since I have another that does fit the monthly challenge that likely has a black enough colour to qualify for the bonus as well.

[Lahni]

I think she means that you can take thick and wide points for the mid month book. I don't think it needs to fill another challenge as it is it's own challenge.

[Susan]

Lahni wrote: "I think she means that you can take thick and wide points for the mid month book. I don't think it needs to fill another challenge as it is it's own challenge."

Oh, yes, Lahni, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

I have a question. For the Mini SAT, the way that I understand the rules, the most that you can get is 50 points and that is if you finish it with less than 5 books. Or is it you get 50 points just for completing, and 50 bonus points in you complete with less than 5 books, for a total of 100 points?

[Tien]

The second calc is right with Mini SAT

50 points for completing
+ 50 points for completing with >5 books
- 15 points for each book over 5 books

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Thanks, I cheated myself out of 50 points, lol. I will go adjust.

[Dee]

ok, i think i might have screwed up my january reporting...

I read several that were debut works by an author, but only one was on the coming of age shelf, so can I only count that one towards the points - or do they all count?

[Tien]

Hey Dee, they all count for the challenge but since only one was on the coming of age shelf, you can only claim the 'wide' bonus points on this one :)

[Lahni]

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "ok, i think i might have screwed up my january reporting...

I read several that were debut works by an author, but only one was on the coming of age shelf, so can I only count that one towards t..."

You can count all the debut books you read in January up to five. You get the "wide" bonus points for any that are also coming of age. Also, a book can fit more than one challenge. So if it is debut and Australian you can count it in both slots but only take "wide" points once if you can claim them. I hope that makes sense. You can also take "thick" and 'wide" points for anything you read for mini SAT.

[Dee]

ok, so I did do it right...some of the other questions/answers confused me...

so for this month - to clarify (since my brain is fried for going to an analysis school for the last 2 weeks) - I'm planning on reading Contest - I don't think its on the science shelf, but its set in a library, so I can claim for those points, but not for the wide? and then since he's australia, I can claim those points from last month...

[Lahni]

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "ok, so I did do it right...some of the other questions/answers confused me...

so for this month - to clarify (since my brain is fried for going to an analysis school for the last 2 weeks) - I'm ..."

Correct. You can claim library and australia. I also see at least 3 shelves it would touch for mini SAT if you choose to use it. You can also claim it for an "A" country for this month.

[Dee]

ok - got it! clear! and I think it actually touches like 6 shelves...lol! and I found one that hits like 3 others...

I did post on goodreads feedback, as an aside, asking them if there is anyway to compare common books on popular shelves - for like this purpose...will be interesting to see what they say

[Lahni]

I'd like a search feature so you could put in book name and see if it comes up as coming of age etc. It would save me so much time!

[Vivian]

That would be a fantastic feature!

[Dee]

of course, I would love to see a way to not include Twilight or Harry Potter on any results as well ;) just because i'm sick of hearing about them

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

I, too, would love that feature.

[Tara]

Lahni wrote: "I'd like a search feature so you could put in book name and see if it comes up as coming of age etc. It would save me so much time!"

I was thinking that would be an awesome feature too! Then I thought about it, and wonder how many others look at shelves the way we do in this group! If only shelves were as important to others as they are to us!

[Christina's Book]

We aren't exactly a small group though. I was already planning on sending that request for an update ;)

[Tara]

Christina- I hope you send a request. It was just me thinking... I think about shelves all the time now, but I wondered if that was normal (cause sometimes I wonder about myself). :)

[Vivian]

I think it'd be a helpful function not just for this challenge, but a couple others I'm in, so I'm hoping it's common enough that they'd add it :)