The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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FALL CHALLENGE 2011: AFRICA
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Fall Challenge 2011: Task Ideas
here are 54 countries in africa - read an author with either 4 or 5 letters in their last namesouth sudan is the newest country - as of July this year - read a book published this july
Lake Victoria is the second largest lake in the world - read a book by your favorite author which is the second longest (excluding anthologies etc)
Mt Kilimanjaro is part of the seven summits (one of the 7 highest mountains on each continent) - height wise, it is the 3rd highest - read a book that is the third in a series - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Su...
there are over 2000 languages spoken in africa - read a book that has at least 2000 goodreads ratings
the original star wars was filmed in tunisia - read a book with a star wars related theme
Many African Legends have animals in them. Tell which legend you chose and that animal must be in the title or in the book in some way.http://amedja.tripod.com/legends.html
For Halloween, read a book where a character in the book has to wear a disguise or costume.
Africa has 54 countries. Read a book that has a 5 or 4 in the total number of pages. (423 or 215 are examples.)
I have to admit, I liked the one from a couple of seasons ago where you read a non-fiction book about a topic that intrigued you in a fiction book - something like Truth in Fiction...
The world's longest river is in Africa. Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) where the main setting is on a body of water.Historically, the Dakar rally was run between Paris and Dakar, Senegal (although in recent years, it has been run in South America.) Read a book about a race (any kind: foot, car) or racing.
Africa is believed to be the origin of humans and the great Apes. --- Read a book about archaeology (study of human society) or read a book about paleontology (study of prehistoric life). Books can be fiction or non-fiction.Africa has many languages. --- Read a book written by an African writer (born in Africa) or originally in an African language.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...
Africa has made many contributions to the music of other countries. Read a book about samba, blues, jazz, hip hop or rock. Can by fiction or non-fiction but focus of story should be about the music.
Harvest-a book set on a farm or the character is a farmer or farm hand or migrant worker.
In Canada and the northern US, fall is marked by the changing colours of leaves. Read a book with at least three of these colours on the cover: green, yellow, gold, orange, red, brown OR read a book with a leaf or leaves on the cover.
The continent of Africa is home to some of the world's largest diamond mines. Read a book that is either: (1) set in or around a mine (of any kind); or (2) has a diamond shape OR precious gem on the cover.
A little twist on the Labour Day theme: read a book where the main character gives birth. Could be fiction or non-fiction.
Africa is known for its droughts. Read a book with the words "drought", "famine", or "rain" in its title, or a book that has a drought as a main theme (such as "The Grapes of Wrath").
Angie wrote: "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 thr..."
me four! :)
Janet wrote: "In Canada and the northern US, fall is marked by the changing colours of leaves. Read a book with at least three of these colours on the cover: green, yellow, gold, orange, red, brown OR read a b..."Having multiple colors on the cover is a neat twist on the "____ color cover" task we always have. I like it!
How about using the word "leave"- or any synonym could be used on the title of a book like depart, exit, scram, absent, abandon, desert, disappear, etc.
Janet wrote: "A little twist on the Labour Day theme: read a book where the main character gives birth. Could be fiction or non-fiction."I'll be having a baby during this year's fall challenge so I like this one a lot, hehe. :)
Since November is National Writing Month, and you can try to write a novel during November, support some other people's writing and read an indie book.
I always like challenges where we check out either our friends' lists or challenge members lists.
Aneeqah wrote: "Since November is National Writing Month, and you can try to write a novel during November, support some other people's writing and read an indie book."What is "an indie book"?
an indie book is something self-published...lots of them are available through smashwords or createspace
Aneeqah wrote: "Since November is National Writing Month, and you can try to write a novel during November, support some other people's writing and read an indie book."Perhaps this could include local authors as well.
Fall is hurricane season in the US and most hurricanes start from the hot air over Africa. Read a book that involves a meteorologist, storm chasers, or has a storm word in the title (thunder, snow, rain, etc).
or a book with the authors first name is on the list of hurricane names for the year - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06...
Dee wrote: "or a book with the authors first name is on the list of hurricane names for the year - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06..."ooooh! I like it!
Great idea Dee - Hurricane names! This group is just SO creative!
if they wanted to expand it - could even say the last 5 years - because the names change every year
Mod
Generally, how do people feel about repeat tasks like this?
This task was used last year (summer 2010) - and while I thought about using it again for this summer, because I liked it, too, we've tried not to repeat tasks that were used so recently.
i vaguely remember doing that one...it think it might have been the first time I did the challenge - I don't mind - IMHO, I would say using tasks that are the same/similar to tasks from a year or more ago (I wouldn't want any less) - and they use different names every year - so its not like its the same list ;)
I don't mind repeating a task that is at least a year old either. Like Dee said with the hurricane one the names are changed every year. Actually I had forgotten that we had done it before.Are the majority of the folks participating in the SRC members that have been here over a year?
I don't mind repeating tasks either --- especially ones I ran out of time for the first time they were listed!It's, well, challenging to come up with original tasks around holidays like Halloween or Thanksgiving (or Christmas during the Winter challenge). As long as a fairly large number of books fit a task, I don't see a problem with repeating tasks.
I never finish all the tasks (I don't know how you finishers do it!) and there are lots of fun ones so I don't mind repeating year-old tasks.
I wasn't here for that task, so I wouldn't mind. You could put a twist on it, such as read a book by an author with a name that's been retired (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/retirednames....) and read another book that was published the year your choice name was retired.
Jennifer W wrote: "Aneeqah wrote: "Since November is National Writing Month, and you can try to write a novel during November, support some other people's writing and read an indie book."Perhaps this could includ..."
I like the local authors idea as well. =)
I think the Hurricane idea is a great one, and I wasn't there for it, so I don't mind at all.
Mod
I would like to do this one again. I was not apart of the last summer challenge. We seem to have a lot of new players maybe it would be ok. I am good with whatever tasks come out though. A task is a Task and it means BOOK HUNT! :)
Mod
I really like this twist!
Mod
LOL, For me it comes down to I dont have a life, well except books. :)
I have not been around for a full year yet - started in Winter. It seems to me that a task where the list is changing from year to year - like the hurricane names - can be repeated every year and be different since the names change. Tasks that use the same set of data though should probably be skipped for one similar season before being repeated...meaning those tasks would two year tasks.However, overall, I find myself agreeing with Jenn Renee in that any task is a book hunt! And that is what I like the most - finding books!
And, since the book I might read this season for a task would not be available when the same task comes up as it was already read....overall...I guess I don't care.
Besides, as it is...I move books from one season to the next as much as I can until I have read them...ie Three Cups of Tea still not read and on three challenges!
Jennifer W wrote: "I wasn't here for that task, so I wouldn't mind. You could put a twist on it, such as read a book by an author with a name that's been retired (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/retirednames....) and read ..."Like the twist on the hurricane task.
In general, I don't mind similar tasks. I have to confess that mine for this round was something I re-worked from an earlier challenge.
I think occasional similar/repeat tasks are okay and I've been around since 2008.
I like the occasional repeats also as long as they aren't too narrow. After all there's a never ending stream of new books coming out not to mention the ones that just keep piling up on my TBR.
Add me to the list of people who have no problem with repeat tasks. I can usually come up with a few books that fit each task (except for a few that are more limited, but I think the favorites nominated for repeats tend to be broader with more options), so even if I did a task a year ago I'm sure I can still come up with a different book this time. If it's a fun task, why not do it again?
I don't mind repeat tasks, there was actually a task in one season where you picked a task from the season before that you liked or missed out on completing. I loved it! I got to complete a great task that I just didn't get a chance to!
The world’s largest non-polar desert is in Africa – The Sahara. The name comes from the Arabic word for desert: (صَحراء), "ṣaḥrā´". Read a book that has been translated into English from another language (or for a more specific task, an African language). (Read the original or the translation.)
Africa’s natural wonders include the following :Victoria Falls along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
-Read a book with a waterfall on the cover or where the story takes place in two different countries.
Namibia's Fish River Canyon is not as well known internationally but is second only to the Grand Canyon in the US.
-Read a book with the words fish or river or canyon in the title.
Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania - Africa’s tallest mountain.
-Read a book set on, or at the foot of, a mountain.
I like the book with or about a mountain. Lots of possibilities there.
Something to do with riddles (the Sphinx/ mid-autumn festival in Chinese culture - 'lantern riddles' are popular during this festival) - could be a non-fiction book about a 'riddle' mankind has been trying to unlock or a fiction book/graphic novel with a riddle or riddle-solving in it.Sum of its parts - Africa is often mistaken as a country when it is a continent. Read a book celebrating diversity/clarifying misconceptions in any way (it could be a non-fiction book about different kinds of organic food, a short story collection about different types of love).
The tasks above will probably need to be sharpened a lot more, but they are some ideas floating around in my head at the moment...
How about a mystery book, for your riddles idea? Like, it could be 'Read a Mystery book', because those usually involve a riddle of some-sort.
I have no problem with repeat tasks either. I remember Cynthia used to keep stats on how many people finished a particular task. Have the mods been doing that lately? If so, my task suggestion would be repeats with low participation.Or, conversely, repeats with high participation since those may be favourites with participants.
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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1) Written by an author or set in one of the countries that were colonizers of Africa
2) Written by an African author or set in Africa
Much of Africa has been in a long drought. Read a fiction or non-fiction book about a natural or humanitarian disaster.
Read a book that takes place in a school setting.