The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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FALL CHALLENGE 2011: AFRICA
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Fall Challenge 2011: Task Ideas
Dead or Alive - read 2 books, one by an author who has passed away and another by an author who is still living.
In the jungle, the mighty jungle - read a book that features the picture/name of an animal that is found only on the African continent - e.g. Giraffe, lion, african elephant. Note, each animal has a page on wikipedia that will show where they live, to ensure your animal lives only in Africa.
Read a piece of post-colonial literature (here or here).** When I think of Africa, I think of the scramble for Africa... I am also from a country which used to be a small colony in the British empire.
i think it is in rwanda - but there is a cathedral made entirely out of bones - so something to do with the churchlots of civil wars go on in africa, a fiction or non-fiction about a civil war
on the west coast - oil is a huge export product/lots of problems - spell out oil in the title/author
the soccer world cup was just held in South Africa last year (IIRC), something about sports
Egypt is part of Africa- Read a book with a pyramid on it or a book set in EqyptRosh Hashanah- Sept. 28 - Read a book about Israel or Jewish people
Diwali (Festival of Lights)- Oct. 26- Read a book with light or lights in the title
Dia de los Muertos- Nov. 1- Read a murder mystery
Vet's Day- Nov. 11- Read a book about a war or vets
Thanksgiving- The author's initials must be in the word Thanksgiving (any order).
A lot of the world's diamonds come from Africa, read a book with a gemstone in the title, main character's name, or author's name (ex: Ruby, Jasper, Sapphire, Jade etc). See: http://www.bernardine.com/gemstones/g...Where I live (in NY) the beautiful colors associated with fall don't last long, then we have brown, grey, black (longer nights) and eventually, white (snow!). Read a book whose cover is one of those colors.
back to school time - a book from a school reading list like http://www.rcs.k12.va.us/glhs/forms/h...
This Is Halloween- read a book that happens around Halloween, or read a book with a pumpkin/black cat/ghost/witch/candy on the cover
I do like Beth F's dead or alive - but a tweak - use the flip coins function - 2 heads 2 alive authors; H/T - 1 alive/1 dead; 2T's - 2 dead
Dictionary Day! - October 16 is
Dee wrote: "I do like Beth F's dead or alive - but a tweak - use the flip coins function - 2 heads 2 alive authors; H/T - 1 alive/1 dead; 2T's - 2 dead"like it!
Desert comes to my mind when I think of Africa. Read a bookends is mainly set in the desert.Read a book that takes place in a refugee camp, or leaving a home country to find sanctuary in another country.
Columbus Day is in October. Read a book about an explorer (fiction or non fiction).
Read a book that has on the cover an animal that is hunted by poachers.
Fall equinox - read 2 books that have the same number of letters in their titles OR read books by 2 different authors that have the same number of letters in their names OR read a book whose title and author's name have the same number of letters.
Dee wrote: "I do like Beth F's dead or alive - but a tweak - use the flip coins function - 2 heads 2 alive authors; H/T - 1 alive/1 dead; 2T's - 2 dead"Like it!
Dee wrote: "I do like Beth F's dead or alive - but a tweak - use the flip coins function - 2 heads 2 alive authors; H/T - 1 alive/1 dead; 2T's - 2 dead"That is a neat twist! I like it.
Since this season is called either Fall or Autumn, read 2 books using a pair of synonyms as words in the title. This site may be helpful: http://www.synonym.com/synonyms/
Help Us CelebrateMy birthday and my daughters are both in September. Mine is Sept 22/58 and hers is Sept 20/88 a full 30 years apart.
Read 2 books:
1) Go to your TBR list and to position and pick either #20 #22 or #30 to read
or go to your TBR list and to date published and read a book published in 1958 or 1988
2) Read a book with one of the following words in the title: Happy ; Birthday; Party; Celebrate; Candle; Present; Cake; Friend; Family; Age.
Angie wrote: "Since this season is called either Fall or Autumn, read 2 books using a pair of synonyms as words in the title. This site may be helpful: http://www.synonym.com/synonyms/"Ooohhh!!! Not sure if it is possible but maybe with the option of 1 book with synonyms found in the title.
★Meghan★, that's a good idea! Either 2 books, one with each word, OR 1 book with both. It would be a fun challenge trying to hunt down that 1 book!
I like that idea too Meghan. Can you give us an example of what you mean? Would it be something like the main mane?
I was going to use this if I finished this time, but it really doesn't look that way:My favorite Halloween story is the story of the HEadless Horseman/Ichabod Crane/Sleepy Hollow. Read a book with a "headless" cover.
Example:
The normal "African author" and/or "set in Africa" task.I liked Sue T.'s Fall equinox - read 2 books that have the same number of letters in their titles OR read books by 2 different authors that have the same number of letters in their names OR read a book whose title and author's name have the same number of letters.
and Katrina's : read a book that features the picture/name of an animal that is found only on the African continent - e.g. Giraffe, lion, african elephant.
Look at your Readerboard name. Count the number of letters in your Readerboard name: let's call that X. Read a book whose title is either: (1) X letters long or (2) X words long [ so my readerboard name is Deedee; I'd read a book with (1) 6 letters in the title or (2) 6 words in the title ]
American Thanksgiving is in November. Read a book that has one of the following words in it: thanksgiving, thanks, turkey, harvest, feast, pilgrim
more later
Since September, October, and November all end in "ber," read a book that has "ber" somewhere in the title. Ex. Somber Island, Dragonfly in AmberFind more words: http://www.morewords.com/combo/ber/
ohh i like the leaderboard one - I was toying with doing something using the leaderboard for my task if i finish, but not sure - I have a few ideas right now
Sheila wrote: "I like that idea too Meghan. Can you give us an example of what you mean? Would it be something like the main mane?"I was thinking something where Fall and Autumn could be found in the title? other examples: rock and stone; close and shut; close and near; shoe and slipper; slippery and slick
I know it would be REALLY hard to find though.
the one good thing about goodreads is that you can type a work you are looking for into the search box and you will often get titles back that feature that word - can do it on your bookshelves as wellhow about bookends - read one book that starts a series and the other the most recent published - can be the same or different series - or one new to you, one old favorite etc
One task I have thought about using is the just change a letter task. Read a book that has a word in it and then read a 2nd book that has the same word in it with just 1 letter changed. Like hole/hold, sweet/sweat. The trouble is that the 5, 10 and 15 point tasks are all 1 book tasks unless the moderators decide to change the rules. So two book tasks aren't going to work.
there are usually a couple of 15 points that are 2 books - there was the euro zone one and the entertainment one this time around
maybe you could do that for your task (although i'm sure you have something devious planned already)
2 for 1:Read 2 books that have the same word (the, an, a don't count) in them (ex: Eye of the Red Tsar and King, Kaiser, Tsar) OR read 1 book with the same 2 words in it (ex: Will Grayson, Will Grayson).
Scrabble:
Read 2 books with the lowest value Scrabble letters (K,J, X, Q, Z), but both books have to share the letter you pick: All Quiet on the Western Front and The Sugar Queen.
Africa is the world's poorest and poverty stricken continent. Read a book that revolves around someone who is homeless/living in poverty or about someone who is working to help those who are homeless/living in poverty.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month around the world. Read a book that has a primarily pink cover, or the word pink in the title. Examples:
and more here: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/29...
I know there's a pirate task for Summer's challenge, but September 19th is "Talk Like a Pirate Day" so maybe we can throw in another pirate task.Oktober Fest: Read a book set in Germany, or by a German author.
Thanksgiving: Read a book about something you're grateful for.
What about choosing an author who's name is alphabetical (or will FALL alpabetically)-Ann Brashares
Charles Dickens
When I think of Africa, I think of slaves. Read a book that relates to slaves in some way.The 0 line of longitude (prime meridian) and the 0 line of latitude (equator) both go through Africa. Read a book set the other side of one of these lines to where you live. (I live south of the equator and east of the prime meridian so I could read a book set in the northern hemisphere, or in the western longitudes.)
Read a book featuring something you feel you are too old for. (Or if you refuse to admit that you are too old for anything - something that you feel you are too young for.)
When I think Fall, I think back-to-school. So, maybe Read a Book for School, or Read a non-fiction book.Read a book with a tittle that starts with F,A, or L.
Read a book that was released during the Fall Reading Challenge. [Spetember, October, November 2011]
I'll think up some more later.
Coralie wrote: "When I think of Africa, I think of slaves. Read a book that relates to slaves in some way.The 0 line of longitude (prime meridian) and the 0 line of latitude (equator) both go through Africa. Rea..."
I really like the latitude/longitude one!
Christine US wrote: "I was going to use this if I finished this time, but it really doesn't look that way:My favorite Halloween story is the story of the HEadless Horseman/Ichabod Crane/Sleepy Hollow. Read a book ..."
Or maybe a book with a cover that is just a head
September is Library Card Sign Up Month. Read a book that you have gotten from the library. Or for those of you that don't go to the library, read a book that your library offers.
Read a book featuring a librarian as a main character.
Labor Day-read a book where a profession can be found in the title or in the author (i.e. Jim Butcher or Farmer in the Sky)
Read a book where the cover is predominantly brown, orange, or yellow or a mix of all 3 (colors commonly associated with Fall and Africa)
Safaris are usually a big adventure. Read a book where the plot focuses on something you want to do that is adventurous.
S.O.N.-Read a book where these letters are found consecutively in the title (September, October, November)
In honor of the fall harvest, read a book set on a farm.For Halloween, read a novel which features a witch as a main character or a nonfiction book that focuses on the roles, plights, philosophies, and/or myths regarding witches throughout history.
I like the equator one and having crossed it for the mlitary several times, there are lots of traditions involved ;)
Fall is big for new books being published. What about reading a book that releases during the challenge period...first time publish only, not paperback edition or re-release.
I really like the latitude/longitude idea!I'm a newbie here, so sorry if this has been done before since it's not very original, but...Banned Books week is from Sept. 24-Oct. 1st, so reading a banned book. :)
I wish for World Peace: September 22nd is the International Day of Peace, so read a book with "peace" or "piece" in the title.
And the Nominees are... October is National Book Month (in the US), so read a book that has been a winner or nominee for the National Book Awards (here's 2010 http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2010.html but 2009 & 2008 are also on the site).
For Halloween, how about reading a book with a cover that's mainly orange or black. OR read a book that has these words in the title: trick, treat, candy, scare, Halloween, organge, black, ghosts, vampire, costume, etc.
How about reading an author who has a Fall birthday---Aug., Sept., Oct.
Here's some lists-
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/...
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/auth...
http://librarybooklists.org/literaryb...
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As in past challenges, some tasks may revolve around the seasonal theme of FALL. Others may reflect the bonus theme of AFRICA. Other tasks may have nothing to do with either of these themes (they’re just fun ideas for unique reading challenges).
Feel free to post as many ideas as you can come up with. Don't worry about repeating what another player might have already suggested. The more ideas, the better!
The moderators will draw from these ideas as well as their own to create the 5,10, and 15 point tasks. We look forward to seeing what you come up with!