Challenge and Monthly Themed Read Suggestions

[Janice, Moderator]

I don't read many children's books, but I should read one so as to get a better feel for what they're doing. Maybe I can incorporate it into a challenge.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I like the idea for quotes. That could be a fun challenge/toppler.

I can’t picture how to make a relay into a toppler. I think it would have to be individual because you couldn’t have one person waiting for another to finish a book. It would also be difficult for people that like to read more than one book at a time or those that only read one. Ok during the week.

[Sarah]

I guess the only way would be if you set the route. If one person chose one book that would mean the next person would read X type of book and so on. But could be problematic as everyone reads different amounts in a week. It would work for the first book read at least. Perhaps it could work as a 24hr individual toppler. It would be individual but colective at the same time.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Hmmm... the wheels are spinning, but I need more coffee. I don't recall ever hearing of books like that - with decision making."

I also only remember kids' book with this structure.
Ex: You are in the Titanic, you have to decide to take the stairs or the corridor, according to your choice you go to page 56 or 70 and go on reading. Maybe after two choices the book ends for you. Sometimes you manage to chose 5 or 6 times. You can end dead, alive but unhappy in a difficult situation, in the best possible scenario.

[Kristie, Moderator]

It seems like it would work best as a lengthier collaborative. I could picture it as a year-long challenge, but you'd have to gopher after finishing each book. You could choose a book that fits an initial task, then when you finish answer a question about it, then choose a book based on your response. Maybe there's a list of set questions to choose from? Not sure if that would work.

[Trudy]

Janice wrote: "I don't read many children's books, but I should read one so as to get a better feel for what they're doing. Maybe I can incorporate it into a challenge."

I recently looked for some choose-your-own adventure books for my grandsons. There seem to be very few recent titles (Chapters had only two). I occasionally see older books in thrift stores. I don’t know why they aren’t published much anymore. My kids loved them.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "I like the idea for quotes. That could be a fun challenge/toppler.

I can’t picture how to make a relay into a toppler. I think it would have to be individual because you couldn’t have one person ..."

Yeah, that might be a bit hard to conceptualize.

[Cherie]

The criteria could be something along the line of 1. Read a book. The first book would be the choice of the person doing the challenge. Criteria can be specified by the Challenge owner. 2. Based on the title of the first book read, use a word in the title or one of the author's names, pick the 2nd book. If the title contained a word color - the next book would have to have the same color cover, and so on.. If one of the authors names is used from the first book, the 2nd book would have to either start with that name or end with that name. If the genre is a criteria - lead to the next (fiction to non-fiction). Criteria for each step - say 6 to 12 for a half yearly challenge. I could see the choices set up to lead in different directions. At the end, to apply for the badge, the path taken from book 1 to book 6 or 3 or however many read within the timeline given would have to be mapped and reported.

I did not read many of these kinds of books, but one of my daughters loved them. We used to talk about the choices and what happened. I think her third or fourth grade teacher got her started in them.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I remember we has to connect chunksters a few years back. I guess this would be a similar criteria.

[Sarah]

Ah yes. The relay idea I guess is quite similar to the connections we had to make for the chunksters. I can't remember the details exactly now of that challenge. Seems so long ago.

[Cherie]

The chunksters were to read a book that was at least 500 pages or read other books together that added up to at least 500 pages.
I spent a lot of time putting books together to add up to the criteria page length vs reading a whole lot of chunksters. I got a lot of shorter books read though, that would not have fit most challenges that way. There were levels to it also, and I was trying to maximize the number of levels and minimize the page lengths to get there. I had a lot of fun, but I think that is why I have so many left over chunksters on my real life book shelf and in my Nook.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Sarah wrote: "Ah yes. The relay idea I guess is quite similar to the connections we had to make for the chunksters. I can't remember the details exactly now of that challenge. Seems so long ago."

As I far as I remember the criteria was pretty free, as far as you could justify the connection anything would work: cover color, genre, women author, author's nationality, name of a character, etc.

[Peggy]

You could do it as a monthly challenge with the decisions in the beginning. Make groups of 4 or 5 people. Person 1 has to answer a question and the answer decides on the task for person 2. Based on obvious book characteristics (colour of cover, genre, MC, etc) person 2 answers a question which provides the task for person 3 etc. Person 5 answer is the task for person 1.

I think it could also work as an actual relay if you make it last half a year or something. Then people can read in turn, badge if everyone in your group has read at least 1 book. Winner's badge for most complete relays finished.

[Jannene]

I was thinking you take two book titles and they equal a complete sentence. Maybe you get points on how many words or something.

Example:Worst Case Watch Me Die
A Criminal Defense Frame Up

Just an idea...or the two titles have words that overlap and end up being another real book title.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I liked it, Jannene.

[Tejas Janet]

Thinking about how to make a relay or tag team work for a week long toppler...

perhaps by last word in current book title to first word in next book title for team, if you understand what I'm suggesting.

Like first book for Team A is Dancing under the Stars. Next book would need to begin with Stars (ignoring a, an, the). Like Stars and Stripes Forever. Then third book would begin with Forever. Etc. Just made up titles for example.

[Tejas Janet]

Okay, after experimenting some, I think the tag/relay idea would have to be a word from first title linking word.in next title. Excluding words like articles (a, an, the) and prepositions (of, on, at, above, under, etcetera).

[Tejas Janet]

Example of relay/tag challenge for either monthly individual or team toppler...

Murder on the Orient Express

The Murder House

The Kitchen House

The Kitchen God's Wife

The Mote in God's Eye

The Bluest Eye

[Tejas Janet]

So any substantial word from one book title would need to match same word in next title. And so on.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I've been mulling a similar idea over actually, TJ.

My main question to the group would be, how flexible are people without time to gopher and source?

[Tejas Janet]

Good point... hmm??

Let me ponder this a while.

[Peggy]

Perhaps it could be broader than just a word. Give several options to connect books. One option could be words, but could also be setting (book set in the same country/state), publication date (same decade for example), country/state where author was born, prominent colour on cover, etc. If you think of 3 or 4 or 5 'categories' there's a higher chance that people already own something that fits with the previous book.

Alternatively, with just one connection (like the words) you could have groups work their books out before, so they can plan a bit more strategically and efficiently.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Hmm.... thinklings...

[Kristie, Moderator]

Keep in mind there are always people that don’t finish their books and will break the chain. Plus faster and slower readers.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I think if people want to do a chain, they could create their own in the member section and see how far you can get throughout the year. That would be pretty cool.

[Tejas Janet]

I think that's the most practical idea, Kristie, as a year-long chain. Could be very fun.

But i still would love to see this work somehow for a toppler or monthly challenge. Maybe we could have a choice of 5 different words, and then just link to those 5 key words.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Keep in mind there are always people that don’t finish their books and will break the chain. Plus faster and slower readers."

Unless you just claim the book, and commit to reading it. But others can move the words along.

Good one to get us all thinking, TJ!

[Sarah]

Have we done a blind date challenge before ? I can't remember. GR have been posting some stuff on their FB page which made me think. They had a picture of a display stand full of say 10 books all wrapped in brown paper so you cannot see their covers or synopsis. Then written on the front they have put a couple bits like the genre and other things which vaguely describe the book like fast paced or raunchy or romantic etc. Not sure how it would work but thought it could make a great challenge. Maybe it would work as a buddy challenge and your buddy could choose 5 books from your TBR, create "profiles" for them and then you can choose which you fancy.

[Peggy]

Love that idea! I was also thinking how can you make sure you have access to the book, but using buddies and tbr is perfect.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Interesting idea. Our local new bookshop does this. I was there the other day and was debating them, but at $20AUD each, it was too much of a gamble.

Will put on my thinking cap.

[Sarah]

Definitly a gamble when money is concerned. It could be fun coming up with a mini description for the books.

[Sandra, Moderator]

That is a good idea! My local library does the same thing. I never tried, but it sounds intriguing.

[Sarah]

Here was the link GR gave to the book blind date https://www.blinddatewithabook.com

[Claire]

Sandra wrote: "That is a good idea! My local library does the same thing. I never tried, but it sounds intriguing."

I did it a few times at the local library, but they did it for a genre then, like mystery or fantasy. It is a lot of fun.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Sounds good, Claire. In my library they write short descriptions on the brown paper, just like it is shown in the link Sarah posted. I think it is a good idea for a challenge.

[Cherie]

My local library has done the blind date book thing in mid Jan thru Feburary the last two years. I chose a book last year and found a great read. I didn't pick a book this year because I already had too many on the go at the time. Reading the information to choose a book was fun though!

[Janice, Moderator]

I think I've seen this before, and it looks like it would be fun. I was always enticed by the grab bags. It's the mystery and the possibility of finding a treasure.

[Cherie]

I am always lured by the unknown treasure too, Janice. When the kids used to sell things for their school support, I was always a sucker to give up my $5.00 for a grab bag or mystery gift.

I bought a mystery bag of yarn at a shop that was going out of business one time and got the most beautiful skein of white angora yarn that I have ever had. It was just a small ball, but wonderful to feel. I made a friend some felted slipper socks out of brown alpaca wool and sewed a few rows of the angora at the top. I also knitted her a small oval rug for her doll house. She always had a doll house in her guest room and decorated and redecorated it so many times, over the years. I painted her a miniature still life for the dining room once too. I miss her.

[Jannene]

New idea...find the hidden object. The moderator would pick a book cover and everyone would have to read a book on a hidden object in the book. I used to love to find all the hidden objects in a picture.

Example

I could read a book where there is a bird, Big Ben, man, arch or a shadow on another cover of a book.

Example of what I could pick. .

Or instead of a moderator, you could be paired with someone and they pick a covers for each other.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I was thinking of something similar for a toppler, Jannene. A sort of scavenger hunt would be fun.

[Janice, Moderator]

I like that idea, Jannene.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Oh! I think what you’re saying is a bit different, Jannene. You’d find something in one cover, then find another cover with that same thing? That would be fun too. That could be done as a monthly challenge, I think.

[Sarah]

Love scavenger hunts. I loved taking photos of specific things for that toppler we did years ago.

[Peggy]

I love that idea Jannene!

[Jannene]

Thanks. You could get more points if you found a cover with most of the items on the original cover.

It could be a yearly challenge too but you would probably have to find a packed cover and put constraints on the color of the cover or other things.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Ooo nice one... some fun things could come out of that. Thanks Jannene!

[Margo]

Great idea Jannene :-)

[Peggy]

I was thinking about how I always buy books, put them on my (virtual or real) shelves, and then it often takes months or years before I actually read them. Might be nice to have a challenge where you have to read your last purchase (with some additional rules for people who never buy books or if your latest purchase was for a specific goal and you can't read it now).

[Rusalka, Moderator]

... I would have loved this a few hours ago. I've been writing- this month's challenge for 3 hours as I have two 6 week old chicklets who love jumping on the keyboard.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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case in point

And I just bought a couple of highly recommended books from this group in the past two days...

Ah well, great idea for next time!!

[Sandra, Moderator]

New born are hard work. :)