March - Pick It For Me Challenge

[Tania]

To Be Read. I think Goodreads calls is To Read but I can't seem to kick the habit of calling it TBR.

[Penney]

Juana, don't be afraid to ask questions. The more you ask, the more fun you'll have :)

[Juana "Darkness"]

Thanks guys appreciate it very much. I'll take your advice and try to ask questions when I have them.

[Skena]

I'm in & I'd love to visit Italy :)

[Heather]

I'm in, though I'm definitely intimidated by my first challenge! How will I ever pick books to recommend? :D

Italy.

[Tania]

Heather wrote: "I'm in, though I'm definitely intimidated by my first challenge! How will I ever pick books to recommend? :D

Italy."

Don't be too worried about it Heather. The rules help you figure out which books to recommend and by looking at what they've read and rated highly. There's really no wrong answers.

[Polina]

Wow! I didn't know that sign-ups for March were even open. Of course, I'm in again.

I'd like to visit Egypt.

[D.G.]

I haven't been getting the invites for this challenge in the last two months. Don't know why.

Dee - You now have some company in Africa! :)

[Dee]

yay!!! 2 people that wanna go with my to AFrica...Hey Polina wanna hit up the pyrimids with me??

[Michelle]

When I first accepted I forget to add my location so I just added now, Scotland. Sorry I havent done one before so I'm a little behind.
Thanks Tania for adding the post from Feb 19th. Being new I had questions.

[Ashley♥Alexis]

Europe seems like the place to be according to group members....

[Tania]

Hey guys, given that we have quite a few newbies this month I've posted the rules a little early so you can ask me any questions you have about them now. This will also help you get started on selecting the books from your shelves. (Rules are in Message 3)

[Michelle]

ok so sorry but here are the questions...
1. So I pick out 8 TBR from my list and 8 from my partner's list for a total of 16 books and then they can pick which one they want to read out of the 16?

2. Is it hard to pick from my list without knowing who my partner is? For instance, I'm a huge fan of historical but if I was buddied with someone who loves paranormal, would it not make more sense to see if I have a book from my list that suit them instead of historical? OR is that the point to read outside your fav genre and open up the choices?

3. How do I found out who my partner is? Will it be posted on the thread here or do I get an email or something?

4. So is it Feb 24th that I found out who my partner is and then I have until March 2nd to post their choices TBR on this thread?

[Tania]

Michelle wrote: "ok so sorry but here are the questions..."

Don't be sorry - it's why I put the rules out early.

1. You pick one book for each topic so 8 books in total 9 if you have an audio book you'd like to recommend.

2. It works both ways, the way I've structured the rules to work this month is that the books from your shelves are more about your reading preferences than the person you're picking for. This gives people the chance to pick something that may be out of their normal reading preferences, remembering if they truly hate historicals (Hi PhotoJim *waves*) then they have the other five books to choose from.

If you look over past months PIFM challenges people normally put a blurb about why you picked something which may entice them to read it. However you could just wait until you get your pickee.

3. It will be posted in message three under the rules.

4. Pretty much. Signups close on the 24th and then I have to do some work on the pairings so they may not be posted until the 25th. I'll put a message in this thread when they're up. Then you have until March 2nd to post your 8/9 selections on this thread.

[Rossy]

1. No, you are picking 8 in total. Tania has made it so you have to choose 3 from their TBR (whether you have read them or have heard good things about); and 3 books that you have READ and are NOT on the person's shelves. Then you have 2 books that you and the person you're paired with HAVE NOT READ; that you guys can plan to read together for the challenge.

2. For the buddy read, try and get a book that you have both added to your TO BE READ shelf. Even if they have never tried the genre before, it will motivate if not make it more enjoyable to have company while they try it....or vice versa.

3. You will know who your partner will be no later than the 25th. The list will be posted in this thread, so please check back then. If by any chance you or your partner does not show up before the 2nd to make recommendations. They/You will be re-paired with somebody else.

4. Recommendations are always to be posted in this thread. As there is no way for us to know that the recommendations were sent to your partner otherwise. Last thing you need is for us to think that you have no recommendations and have you re-paired. *LOL*

[Katie]

yikes! those rules are freaking me out...well, #7 and #8. :) it's always hard for me to try to pick by setting. i usually have no idea where books are set unless it's obviously stated in the blurb...any tips on making that easier???

thanks for posting those early tania! i'm going to have to do some thinking.

[Juana "Darkness"]

I have a question so here it is: What does pick a book that links to a book that they've rated highly mean? just wondering because I didn't get it.

[Tania]

Katie wrote: "yikes! those rules are freaking me out...well, #7 and #8. :) it's always hard for me to try to pick by setting. i usually have no idea where books are set unless it's obviously stated in the blu..."

Google's how I do it. For example google "romance books set in Scotland" or search for the country in the goodreads lists (http://www.goodreads.com/list)

[Juana "Darkness"]

Does it show you like lists of books set in whatever place you get from the other person and yourself?

[Tania]

I deliberately made that one fairly open Juana. Basically look at their read shelf and see what they've rated five stars. Then find a book on their TBR shelf that links to it in someway. Could be by theme (e.g. Vampires), Genre, Authors, be part of the same series, even the colour of the cover. So long as you can justify what the link is then you're okay.

Oh, except for they're both books. Won't except that :)

[Juana "Darkness"]

Ok. just wanted to make sure if I had it right. Thanks Tania

[Tania]

No problems at all...

[Rossy]

Juana "Darkness" wrote: "I have a question so here it is: What does pick a book that links to a book that they've rated highly mean? just wondering because I didn't get it."

If you go to the books page, below the blurb the setting is sometimes listed. You can also try looking at books that have been shelved in the country: http://www.goodreads.com/shelf
A lot of people shelf books by country.

I know there is another way, but i can't remember where i put the link sorry....will let you know if i find it.

[Tania]

Juana "Darkness" wrote: "Does it show you like lists of books set in whatever place you get from the other person and yourself?"

Sometimes the goodreads lists will come up with a whole list, other times you'll have to hunt for them a bit which is part of the fun of these challenges.

[Kami]

I'm in. If $$$ were no object, I would love to spend a month in...China!

[Katie]

thanks for the tips tania and rossy :)

[Dee]

for locations, you can also try www.bibliotravel.com

also, one of my other groups is doing an around the world challenge and they have a fairly comprehensive book list of countries - Around the World in 80 Books Reading List (By Country)

BTW Tania - love the Categories!! I can't wait!

[D.G.]

You can also find the settings for your books here: http://www.goodreads.com/places

Just note that it's the not the easiest list to navigate.

[D.G.]

I think I'll have issues with #7 and #8 too. I don't have any books in my TBR set in Peru at the moment and I cannot guarantee I'll get to do the buddy read if the person picks it. I already found some interesting choices though so I know I'll have something to recommend depending on whatever my pickee likes to read.

[Dee]

I have a couple for Peru DG if you want some rec's.

[D.G.]

Thanks, Dee. I'd love to! Would you mind PMing me? :)

[ൠSinful]

Sinful wants to go to Rome.. so Europe would be my destination of choice:)

If you end up with odd numbers you can send me to Africa too. :)

[D.G.]

I also meant to say, Tania, great ideas for the rules! It will be interesting to see what books are recommended. :)

[Kami]

I found this site when I googled "Romance book set in France". It has a lot of suggestions for different countries. http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.co...

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Settings Group has their bookshelves arranged by country or US-state. Feel free to add books as well.

[Penney]

Wow Diane, that's a huge find, at least for me. Please make sure to repost that on the next monthly challenge suggestions page. That is super helpful.

[D.G.]

Amazing find! I'll join the group and start adding all the books I've read!

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Tania wrote: "This gives people the chance to pick something that may be out of their normal reading preferences, remembering if they truly hate historicals (Hi PhotoJim *waves*) then they have the other five books to choose from. "

*waves back*

I like the rules. Thanks for doing this by the way.

[Juana "Darkness"]

Thanks Rossy I'll definitely look at that link.

[Debbie]

very fun way of picking books - thanks for posting the guidelines early

[Heather]

Wait, do we post our picks on the thread or in a private message or both?

[Dee]

post your picks here!

[Tania]

D.G. wrote: "I think I'll have issues with #7 and #8 too. I don't have any books in my TBR set in Peru at the moment and I cannot guarantee I'll get to do the buddy read if the person picks it. I already found ..."

Perhaps you could check with your local library to see if they have it / can get it before recommending it. That's what I'm planning on doing, and given that the books may not be on either of your shelves, may be what your pickee does as well.

[Dee]

i'll post this recommendation again - but i've had good luck at my library by searching country +fiction in the online catalogue...so peru+fiction...it has worked for states as well

[Tania]

ൠSinful wrote: "Sinful wants to go to Rome.. so Europe would be my destination of choice:)

If you end up with odd numbers you can send me to Africa too. :)"

That's alright Sinful - the magically random PIFM generator has ways of dealing with low / odd numbers :)

[D.G.]

Tania wrote: "Perhaps you could check with your local library to see if they have it / can get it before recommending it. That's what I'm planning on doing, and given that the books may not be on either of your shelves, may be what your pickee does as well. "

I can only guarantee to read one book for this challenge and that would be one of the choices picked for me (I'm in a bunch of challenges already and I'm planning to catch up on them in March.) If I'm paired with somebody from a more popular country, though, then I may be able to fit it in but that will all depend on how the pairings are made.

[Mandy]

Please sign me up - I would like to visit Ireland (my husband and friends went when we were 17, but I couldn't afford study-abroad and have always wished I had been with them).

[Rossy]

D.G. wrote: "You can also find the settings for your books here: http://www.goodreads.com/places

Just note that it's the not the easiest list to navigate."

That's the link i couldn't find! Thanks DG! *kiss*

[Rossy]

Please keep in mind that although you will be given 9 recommendations, you ONLY have to read ONE to complete the challenge!
If you get to finish more than one, you are welcome to brag about it.LOL

[Juana "Darkness"]

You can bet I'll brag. LOL! :)