Year Long Challenge - 2011 to 2012 **Completed**

[Janice, Moderator]

Here it is - a year long challenge and it's all about you!

The theme is "Getting to Know You". Each month you will pick a book based on the task specified. You do not need to do them in order just as long as all tasks are completed by the end of the year.

The challenge begins July 1, 2011 and ends June 30, 2012.

In the reporting thread start a comment that you will come back to throughout the year to update. An example will be provided in the report thread.

Here are the tasks:

Month 1: Read a book that is set in your Birthday Month, or has the name of the month in the title.

Month 2: Read a book that has your Birthstone in the title, is about your birthstone, or the cover is the colour of your birthstone. Birthstones as listed here http://www.galleries.com/minerals/bir...

Month 3: Read a book that was originally published in the year you were born. The version you read may be a subsequent publication.

Month 4: Read a book written by an author from your country.

Month 5: Read a book set in a country you'd like to visit.

Month 6: Read a book from your favorite genre.

Month 7: Read a book written by an author who shares your first or last name.

Month 8: Read a book that has your favorite flower either on the cover or in the title.

Month 9: Read the book that has been on your TBR list the longest.

Month 10: Read a book that has your favorite animal or bird on the cover.

Month 11: Read a memoir or biography of someone you admire.

Month 12: Read a book about an issue/cause that is meaningful to you.

Happy reading!

[Karendenice]

Great challenge. I'm joining! But I have one question. Are we supposed to set up our own topic thread for this challenge?

[Kate]

Does anyone have any idea how to search for titles that fit this? I can probably find a book with April in the title but how does one go about finding a book which happens during April?

I'm just a little reluctant to do too much by covers alone (although my pick a book by its cover challenge was okay; my 2nd challenge pick with "Roses" in the title was just okay at best)

[Janice, Moderator]

Karendenice wrote: "Great challenge. I'm joining! But I have one question. Are we supposed to set up our own topic thread for this challenge?"

I will set up a reporting thread with an example of how to report. I thought I'd set up the reporting thread at the beginning of April.

[Karendenice]

Janice, you may have but I've only just recently joined this group, which I am loving!

[Janice, Moderator]

Kate wrote: "Does anyone have any idea how to search for titles that fit this? I can probably find a book with April in the title but how does one go about finding a book which happens during April?

I'm just ..."

That one might be tricky, Kate. I tried doing a search on Wikipedia for novels set in April, and most responses were for novels published in April.

I know that to find books published in a certain year, you can do a search in Wikipedia for 'literature published in 1970' (or whatever year you are interested in).

I would suggest that wikipedia would be a good resource, as would listopia lists. Goodreads also has a recommendation system whereby you can ask for recommendations based on whatever you are looking for.

[Janice, Moderator]

Another suggestion would be to think of an event that happens in April and look for books about that event. My birthday is in December, so I could easily find books surrounding Christmas.

One event that happened in April was the sinking of Titanic. You could then search for books about that event.

There may be some research needed. You may find the members of "You'll Love This One" to be a good resource, so post a question in this thread.

[Janice, Moderator]

Karendenice wrote: "Janice, you may have but I've only just recently joined this group, which I am loving!"

ROFL - I'm sorry to confuse you Karendenice. I had "April" in the back of my mind because I was thinking of Kate's question.

I will set up a reporting thread the beginning of JULY!!!

I was thinking that each person would comment once in the report thread and then go back to that comment each month to update it. It would look something like:

Janice's reporting thread:

Month 1: Birthmonth - December 6
Month 2: Birthstone -
Month 3: Year I was born -
Month 4:
Month 5:

etc
etc

You could do it one of two ways... you could set up the months and then enter the books as you read them. Or, you could enter the books you intend to read and then cross them off as you finish using the method in "some html is ok"

[Janice, Moderator]

Lucky me, I actually found a book whose title is my birthday! (see above)

[Kate]

Thanks! (although I have to say that using a book by MAYa Angelou seems to be a stretch!). I hit on something all of a sudden ... I am currently reading "The Hour I First Believed" which is about the Columbine shooting which happened in April so I am going to count that.

[Janice, Moderator]

Except that the challenge doesn't begin until July. :)

[Kate]

So you have to actually start reading it in July? Will you be posting monthly reminders? It is going to be hard for me to have books lined up and then wait to read them in each specific month.

[Janice, Moderator]

There will likely be people who will join in after the challenge has been started. And I was thinking that we would allow them to join up, but that they would have to catch up. That means they'll be reading more than one book in a month.

I want to make it fair for everyone. So, the ruling is - the challenge begins July 1/11 and ends June 30/12. As long as you read all 12 books between the two dates, that will be fine.

[Sam]

I like the sound of this and it should be easy to fit around other reading challenges I'm doing (I'm becoming reading challenge crazy)!

[Sandy]

I may take a shot at this challenge, although I have a slew of books on my to-read shelf and most wouldn't fit these parameters. I think I'll probably approach the challenge as "I'll do it until it no longer feels fun to keep doing it!" I like the monthly categories, though--they're really interesting!

[Sam]

I have a question, does it have to be a different book for each challenge or can a single book be used for more than one challenge? I get the impression that there's no overlapping but just want to make sure.

[Janice, Moderator]

Good question, Sam.

You will read 12 books over the course of the challenge. That means that a book can only be to one task in the challenge.

[Sam]

Janice wrote: "Good question, Sam.

You will read 12 books over the course of the challenge. That means that a book can only be to one task in the challenge."

Awesome thanks for clarifying Janice :-D

I've got another question though, for the favourite animal does it have to a real one or can it be mythical?

[Janice, Moderator]

I have to ask... what mythical creature is your favorite animal?

When I was drawing up the tasks, it never occurred to me that someone would chose anything but a real animal. However, the theme of the challenge is "Getting to Know You", so I will accept a mythical creature if that is your favorite animal.

[Sam]

Janice wrote: "I have to ask... what mythical creature is your favorite animal?

When I was drawing up the tasks, it never occurred to me that someone would chose anything but a real animal. However, the theme ..."

I'm rather fond of dragons myself. Trouble is I'm a very outdoorsy/animaly person and I'm struggling to actually decide what my favourite animal is so was trying to allow the books on my shelves to decide for me

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristina wrote: "I'm in! Will fill in later

Month 1: Read a book that is set in your Birthday Month, or has the name of the month in the title.

Month 2: Read a book that has your Birthstone in the title, is about..."

Kristina, could you move this to the reporting folder under your own thread? Thanks. :)

[Karin]

Wow I really love this idea! I read the list and started thinking right away. I'll definitely be trying to make it, and I'm going to try and start with the more tricky ones.

[Janice, Moderator]

That's a good way to approach it. :)

[Karin]

Well I've got quite a few of them figured out, and a couple I still need to pick but I'm sure I will be able to. It's the animal on the cover I'm struggling with so anyone know any good books with either a blue tit (bird) or cat on the cover?

[Janice, Moderator]

Here's a listopia that has lots of books with cats on the cover: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/58...

I think it's going to be harder to find a book with a blue tit on the front, but here is a listopia that may help: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/86...

[Karin]

Thank you Janice for those lists, had no idea those existed, another Goodreads feature I need to explore!

Judy: thanks for your suggestion, I've added it to my tbr list and picking either that one (which was #2 on the listopia) or the one I found by searching for "cat" (which was #1 on that list), I think ill read both now!

[Janice, Moderator]

Karin wrote: "Thank you Janice for those lists, had no idea those existed, another Goodreads feature I need to explore!

Judy: thanks for your suggestion, I've added it to my tbr list and picking either that one..."

I love the listopia feature. I've found more books to add to my wishlist than I care to admit to. Another feature worth checking out is the giveaways. You'll find that under the Explore tab.

[Marteen]

OK I am attempting this one! Hopefully i succeed. I will start with the book that has been on my tbr list the longest.

[Cheryl]

"I know that to find books published in a certain year, you can do a search in Wikipedia for 'literature published in 1970' (or whatever year you are interested in)."

Um, this didn't work for me, but "1962 in literature" did. Ugh - not a lot of choices (except some that I've already read). Maybe Ballard's Drowned World, as it's on Mt TBR. I'll post my thread after I've done some more research - this challenge is proving challenging!

[Janice, Moderator]

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: ""I know that to find books published in a certain year, you can do a search in Wikipedia for 'literature published in 1970' (or whatever year you are interested in)."

Um, this didn't work for me, ..."

Ha! A challenge should be challenging. :) I had a lot of fun researching and determining which books to read for my challenge. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've chosen, Cheryl.

[Emily]

Cheryl - Goodreads also has a 'date published' field. I added this to my TBR list and managed to find one for the challenge.

[Brittany]

This is hard to even search for.. March books lol... I searched it in google with no luck.

[Cheryl]

March - Easter? Lent? Spring equinox?

Emily, I'm dense - that's a perfect solution!

[Janice, Moderator]

Brittany wrote: "This is hard to even search for.. March books lol... I searched it in google with no luck."

Some suggestions:

Middlemarch
March
March Violets
The Violets of March: A Novel
The Ides of March (there are several books titled The Ides of March but by different authors
The Coldest March: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition
The Marching Season
The Adventure of Augie March
The Radetzky March
The March
March Upcountry
The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre
The Misadventures of Maude March

The word March in the title doesn't need to refer to the month.

Hopefully that list will help.

[Janice, Moderator]

Emily wrote: "Cheryl - Goodreads also has a 'date published' field. I added this to my TBR list and managed to find one for the challenge."

Emily, you should put that tip in the Goodreads 101 thread.

[Cecily]

"Brittany wrote: "This is hard to even search for.. March books lol..."
Janice wrote: The word March in the title doesn't need to refer to the month."

If you want books with a tangential link to March, there is always Little Women (it's on my "overrated" shelf): it is about the March sisters.

[Janice, Moderator]

We are three months into the challenge and starting the 4th month. How is everyone doing on their challenges?

I've just completed my second book, so I'm a book behind. I've started reading the third book... still I'm behind. LOL!

[Janice, Moderator]

Judy wrote: "I wanted to be farther along at this point. I'm hoping to knock out another one or two books this month."

You and I are going to be reading fools come January 1st when we dive into our trip around the world in 52 books. challenge. I should try and get more of these books done before the end of the year.

[Sam]

I've got nine books read so far but I think I've been rather lucky as they've fitted in with my other challenges as well so there's been plenty of motivation!

[Cheryl]

I'm having trouble finding a book with a picture of a flower, any flower, on the cover. I don't want to read Peony in Love, any other tips for a way to search, or any recs? YA would be good... oh, but I already read Beastly....

[Janice, Moderator]

There are a few listopia that may help Cheryl:

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/40...

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/90...

Once Upon a Marigold is YA and looks interesting.

The Tea Rose is one I have on my wishlist.

[Cheryl]

I'll look at the lists, thank You! Ironically I've read Marigold - it was good. Did you realize Tea Rose is almost 700 pp?! And it's #1 in a series?! Oy. I don't think I'm up to that.... :)

But yes I do recommend Marigold for others stuck on this 'month' theme.

[Janice, Moderator]

Marigold has a sequel Cheryl. Twice Upon a Marigold

[Autumn]

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I'll look at the lists, thank You! Ironically I've read Marigold - it was good. Did you realize Tea Rose is almost 700 pp?! And it's #1 in a series?! Oy. I don't think I'm up to that.... :)

B..."

Ohh but the tea rose is worth the weight :).. I had the same apprehension about the book..and the series is a good one btw I'm in love with jennifer donnelly.. I'm hoping to read the 3rd book of this series this month..

[Cheryl]

Ooh... Ok, now I'm excited to read the 'flower' month! Thanks all!

[Janice, Moderator]

Yeah! :)

[Autumn]

Ha I just finishd Before Ever After I didn't even notice the flower on the cover till I was 3/4 done.. sadly the reporting of the theme books confuses me..

[Janice, Moderator]

Autumn wrote: "Ha I just finishd Before Ever After I didn't even notice the flower on the cover till I was 3/4 done.. sadly the reporting of the theme books confuses me.."

Are you confused about how to report on the year long challenge, Autumn? Or Challenge #5? Maybe I an help you.

[Autumn]

Janice wrote: "Autumn wrote: "Ha I just finishd Before Ever After I didn't even notice the flower on the cover till I was 3/4 done.. sadly the reporting of the theme books confuses me.."

Are you ..."

I suppose its the reporting of the challenge that i dont understand..

[Janice, Moderator]

First thing is to start a new topic in this folder. Then list the books you intend to read based on the tasks at the beginning of this thread. Call it Autumn's Reporting Thread.

What I've been doing is editing my list and using the strike out feature to indicate that I've finished the book.

Here's my report thread as an example: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/5...

I hope that helps.