Challenge and Monthly Themed Read Suggestions

[Peggy]

Are you talking about the saying Rusalka? I think it refers to the change in weather, at least in the northern hemisphere ;-) The beginning of March is often still winter weather, storms, cold etc., while the end of March is much more like spring already.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh. Right. Thanks!

March is still summer in practicality. And then the end of April becomes Autumn (although autumn does technically start in March).

We have a rule in my city. You are not allowed to turn the heaters on (which are only allowed to 20C MAX (unlike this European business I hear about :P)) on ANZAC DAY (Australian and New Zealand Army Core Day, 25 April (oh and this is a *whole other issue*)) and no earlier. Follow that and you don't plant tomatoes before Melbourne Cup Day (first tuesday in November to beat the frost) and then you are a true Canberran.

[Wendy]

Peggy wrote: "Are you talking about the saying Rusalka? I think it refers to the change in weather, at least in the northern hemisphere ;-) The beginning of March is often still winter weather, storms, cold etc...."

Rusalka wrote: "I'm a bit slow, and upside down (you know antipodes and all). But never heard that before. What on earth is that suppose to mean???

I'm not discounting anything here, it's an interesting theme. I..."

Yes, that is exactly it. I guess my suggestion was a bit near-sighted though considering YLTO is an international forum...

[Peggy]

I never heard the saying before either, but I really like it! Much better than the Dutch equivalent: March stirs its tail (does that even make sense?)

[Janice, Moderator]

Wendy wrote: "I imagine this may have already been done at some point, but one thought that comes to mind for a March theme comes from the old idiom "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Perhap..."

There be lots of sheep in Australia, and March will be Rusalka's challenge. I just thought I'd point that out.

[Janice, Moderator]

The saying, "if March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb", means that if the weather is stormy at the beginning of the month, it will be peaceful and calm at the end. But, if the weather is good at the beginning of the month, it will "go out like a lion".

You can pretty much mark "snow storm" on your calendar for March 17th if you live in my area. It always storms right around then.

Maybe the Dutch saying just means that it's a mix of weather.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Wendy wrote: "Yes, that is exactly it. I guess my suggestion was a bit near-sighted though considering YLTO is an international forum... ."

Oh no no. There's only a couple of us in my position. I'm just so vocal so it seems like there are more heh. Never stopped us before from doing weather based reads!

I just had no idea what it meant. But it makes sense now with context. Same with Peggy's saying. And really, who am I to judge weird sayings lol!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Wendy wrote: "I imagine this may have already been done at some point, but one thought that comes to mind for a March theme comes from the old idiom "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a ..."

Baaa

[Sarah]

How about a monthly challenge to read a REALLY short book!!!! Books of short stories would also work well (although I know we did that for a group read a while back). It might balance out our chunksters nicely!

[Sarah]

Me again! I was just thinking about The Night Circus which I read last year and it made me think that "A Circus" would make a great theme for a Toppler. A circus consists of lots of different acts - clowns, acrobats, gymnasts, contortionists, jugglers, trapeze artists etc. and each of these could link to a genre/book or something, so an example for clowns could be horror genre because many people are scared of clowns.

[Lynn]

Sarah wrote: "How about a monthly challenge to read a REALLY short book!!!! Books of short stories would also work well (although I know we did that for a group read a while back). It might balance out our chunksters nicely! "

Are the chunksters getting to you already Sarah? lol

[Sarah]

No it's going ok - but it will be nice to read short ones too for sure!

[Cherie]

LOL! Maybe chunksters ARE getting to us. I always said that I do not care for books of short stories, but I have actually purchased 3 or 4 of them in the last couple of months and they are sitting and waiting to be read. I was so excited that I was assigned to Short Stories for "a minute" in the Bingo challenge - and then I got swapped into something else. It was for the team though, and now I have that wonderful book on hand.

[Tejas Janet]

Hmm, what about a challenge to read books by authors who share your first name or have a character by that name? Might have to make a provision for people who have very unusual names. Like they could use their middle names or a family member's name.

[Janice, Moderator]

That's a good suggestion TJ. Will have to put it on the back burner. It may fit in with the idea I've been playing around with for 2015 year long.

[Tejas Janet]

Cool... just wanted to put it out there as it struck me as a fun to play with.

[Lynn]

Finding out what the group read BotM only as the reading month starts is a little problematic for me, does anyone else agree?

If so, would it be possible to start the suggestion / nominations / poll process a little earlier?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I can definitely understand Lynn. Quick question. Would just a couple of days earlier help? Or would it need to say be a week earlier?

We'll have a talk about it and see what we can nut out (and of course other people weigh in too!). I'm guessing it's because of having to source the books from somewhere (ie ordering in to libraries and such)?

[Lynn]

Yes, it's partly to do with the sourcing of the book but also the planning.

To help be involved in as many of my group's reads and challenges as possible I try to cross read between the groups. I'm a sucker for signing up for way too many things.

So by the time we find out what the reads are in this group, my month has generally already been planned and then find it hard to fit this group in.

Honestly I'd love to know two weeks prior to the month but that's because I'm anally-organised. A week early would be good :)

[Peggy]

I haven't experienced problems so far, except for last month when the book I ordered took a full month to arrive and I had only a couple of days left to read it :P But I can imagine it's more difficult if you're on a library waiting list or want to combine reads for several groups.

[Janice, Moderator]

At one time, the mods talked about doing it a month ahead, so that we would already have May's books selected by now and be going through the process for June. But that never got off the ground for whatever reason.

Amy has come up with some ideas like shortening up the nomination & voting times. Hopefully, that will ease things up a bit by having the books chosen earlier.

[Esther]

It is a reason why i rarely read the monthly selection but as there is the "another book within the theme' thread, that's ok with me.

My access to books in english from my library is limited and it usually takes 3 weeks to get books i order.

[Peggy]

Janice wrote: "At one time, the mods talked about doing it a month ahead, so that we would already have May's books selected by now and be going through the process for June. But that never got off the ground fo..."

Shortening the voting times sounds like a good idea. If there's 5 days for each part of the process for example, the books should be selected by the 20th and then there's still 10 days left before the end of the month :)

[Tejas Janet]

Shortening the time some for nominating and voting times is okay by me. Having a little more planning time could be helpful.

[Lynn]

Janice wrote: "At one time, the mods talked about doing it a month ahead, so that we would already have May's books selected by now and be going through the process for June. But that never got off the ground fo..."

Ok if I'm being completely honest that's exactly what I would like but I thought that asking for a month ahead would make me look like a demanding freak :D

Anyway, thanks for the consideration and any extra time would be appreciated.

[Marnie]

I like the idea of shortening the selection process. Any extra time would help me source my books especially when we select newer books.

[June]

Peggy,

I like the 5 day idea.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Lynn wrote: "Ok if I'm being completely honest that's exactly what I would like but I thought that asking for a month ahead would make me look like a demanding freak :D"

*snicker* I like the honesty.

I definitely understand the planning aspect, and the library one.

I forget sometimes that I am very odd having 10 city libraries within a 30 min drive of my house (Canberra is very small really, with capital city resources) as well as the University library at work. If I lived out in the bush and it took me over an hour to get to one library who had to order in my books from 4000km away, monthly reads are a little tricksty.

My only personal concern is as a flighty person in my non-work life, too much lead time on the reads could be a problem too... Mind you, I'm a rarer participant in mtrs so, ignore me.

But no doubt a compromise of some sort can be found! And as Janice says, Amy has got a plan in the works already for tightening up the process. But keep ideas and suggestions coming!

[Snoozie Suzie]

Back on my animal theme again - but this time it's animals that hibernate (autumn challenge?) so bears, hedgehogs, etc

[Sarah]

I had two ideas about challenges:
1) We could be paired up with another person in YLTO and choose a book for our partner to read (based on some kind of criteria although has to be a book on their tbr).
2) I'm really enjoying writing reviews and before I add a book to my wishlist I enjoy reading other peoples reviews to help me decide. So how about a challenge where we have to read a book with over X reviews, or a book which more than 5 of our Goodreads friends have reviewed, then we get extra points if we write a review (over 50 words), points if it's the first review we've ever written, etc.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Sarah wrote: "I had two ideas about challenges:
1) We could be paired up with another person in YLTO and choose a book for our partner to read (based on some kind of criteria although has to be a book on their t..."

That first suggestion is Janice ran a couple of years ago, and was my first challenge I participated in at YLTO. I was just thinking the other day it would be a good one to have another go at.

Second one, interesting idea...

[Janice, Moderator]

Funny! I was thinking along the same lines the other day, Rusalka. But last night, I was reading in bed and something caught my eye (can't even remember what now). Although my eyes continued to look at the words down the pages, my mind was planning the June challenge. I had to backtrack in the book. LOL!

I like your second suggestion too Sarah!

[Sarah]

Janice wrote: "But last night, I was reading in bed and something caught my eye (can't even remember what now). Although my eyes continued to look at the words down the pages, my mind was planning the June challenge."

Sounds intriguing!

[Cherie]

While I was gophering for book covers with hats to tease Rusalka with, I noticed how many celebrity biographies/memoirs I have been collecting and have yet to read. I am not suggesting it as a theme for the group read because I can't imagine how a group as diverse as this one could possibly agree to read any one or two such stories, but a Monthly challenge might be fun to see who we all want to read about.

[Janice, Moderator]

I have a few memoirs on my tbr as well.

[Cherie]

Janice wrote: "I have a few memoirs on my tbr as well."

Soooo what are you going to call it?
Celeberity Challenge"?
"Here's to You, Oscar"?
"Stars Get in Your Eyes"?
"And the Winner Is.."?
"Lines of Film, TV, and Stage"?

[Peggy]

You should be a moderator Cherie! You obviously have the Create Challenges part down!

[Cherie]

Naw. Just having fin with Janice. :)

I like your new picture! From your vacation?

[Cherie]

Darn, I meant fun. Stupid tiny iPod letters and fat finger tips...and no way to edit on this app. I need to go to sleep now. Work is only 6 hours away now..... Night

[Janice, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "Janice wrote: "I have a few memoirs on my tbr as well."

Soooo what are you going to call it?
Celeberity Challenge"?
"Here's to You, Oscar"?
"Stars Get in Your Eyes"?
"And the Winner Is.."?
"..."

How about "Who am I?"

[Cherie]

LOL! From the old game show. YES! I love watching old clips on You Tube. THAT would be great! That's why you are the moderator and I bow to you, O Great One. :)

[Casceil]

Is it "who am I, or "What's My Line?"

[Peggy]

Oh, we have that too! I think it was already on in the late 80s or early 90s, and it still is.

[Peggy]

How about a 'Back to School' theme for the year-long challenge or possibly a week-group-toppler?

You would have all kinds of subjects taught in high school, like history, geography, english, maths etc. Then, for every subject, there are assignments. For history that could be things like read historical fiction, read a book with a cover that looks old, read a book set in the 16th century and so on. You could have 6/12 assignments per subject, and if you read 1/2 you have an F, if you read 2/4 an E, and if you read all an A. At the end of the year you can have a badge that is a report card unique for every member (too much work probably, I know).

[Kirila]

Wow, Peggy, I love that idea!

To make it easier for the moderators, the badge can be an average of your grades. Then they only need 5-6 different ones.

Peggy wrote: "How about a 'Back to School' theme for the year-long challenge or possibly a week-group-toppler?

You would have all kinds of subjects taught in high school, like history, geography, english, maths..."

[Peggy]

Indeed, probably a better idea :) or a badge when you pass a subject (I don't know which grade is a pass in that system... D? C?) and one when you ace it. Probably still quite some badges, but at least the same for everyone.

I have to admit that the general idea is based a bit on a challenge I stumbled across in another group, so not all me ;-)

[Janice, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "LOL! From the old game show. YES! I love watching old clips on You Tube. THAT would be great! That's why you are the moderator and I bow to you, O Great One. :)"

Actually, it was a play on The Who's song, "Who Are You".

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "How about a 'Back to School' theme for the year-long challenge or possibly a week-group-toppler?

You would have all kinds of subjects taught in high school, like history, geography, english, maths..."

Could be interesting!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: " (I don't know which grade is a pass in that system... D? C?) "

C is a pass.

I'm interested in that idea. Could be very cool, if it didn't get overly complicated...

[Mariab]

I was thinking in a game like Jeopardy for a Group-Toppler:

Ugly Words / Strange Animals / Tangled Plots
.........200--------------200---------------------200
.........500--------------500 --------------------500
.........1000------------1000-------------------1000

Cliffhangers / Eccentric Wordls / Help Cries
200------------------200---------------------200
500------------------500 --------------------500
1000----------------1000-------------------1000

Invisible Colors / Beyond Frontiers / Surprise food
200--------------------200---------------------200
500--------------------500 --------------------500
1000------------------1000-------------------1000