WI 11-12 General Questions & Answers

[Liz M]

Post your general questions about the Reading w/Style challenge, Style point rules, or the Winter 2011/12 Challenge here.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Ooh, love the theme!

[Karen Michele]

I love the Winter Challenge already!

[Rebekah]

Concerning the poll. Home for the holidays. If you have lived in more than one place, can you repeat the task using a different location?

[Shannon SA]

In task 20.5 the link to "this list" appears to be broken?

[Liz M]

Shannon wrote: "In task 20.5 the link to "this list" appears to be broken?"

Thanks for letting me know! It should be fixed.

[Shannon SA]

It is! Thank you, Liz.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I had a problem with that link too.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Sorry, folks. I was supposted to test that.

[Paula]

I'm so excited about the winter challenge! Looks like great stuff already - I L-O-V-E Dickens so the 20 point challenges look super fun! What great motivation to finish up the fall challenge tasks (for me at least!). I have 4 more books to go, and I WILL finish them (I'm looking at you, Moby Dick).

Quick question - can we use books that we've already started, for the challenge? I'm looking at The Portrait of a Lady for one of the tasks. The book is about 650 pages - I got to about page 100 or so then set it down for the fall challenge. Can I use it for one of these tasks if I pick it up again in December? Thanks!

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

You can use the book if you have less than half the book read before you start the winter challenge. I believe that is how the rule goes but you have to double check with Becky.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Yes, we have always had the half-way rule, so if you don't get too excited about Henry James between now and the end of the month, you will be able to use it.

[Liz M]

Paula wrote: "Quick question - can we use books that we've already started, for the challenge? I'm looking at The Portrait of a Lady for one of the tasks. The book is about 650 pages - I got to about page 100 or so then set it down for the fall challenge. Can I use it for one of these tasks if I pick it up again in December? Thanks!..."

Jayme & Elizabeth are correct, but just to be clear, this rule only applies for ONE book.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Where is the CiV sub challenge information? Has it been posted yet?

[Liz M]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Where is the CiV sub challenge information? Has it been posted yet?"

It has not been posted yet. We need to finalize the scoring system and clarify a couple of other points first. It should be ready by this weekend?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

okay, I was just curious. :)

[Liz M]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "okay, I was just curious. :)"

I would be too, if I didn't already know what it is :D.

And, um, if you're the type of person that has to have all the challenge reading planned before it starts, make sure you have some free time before looking at the sub-challenge. I think I spent , um, 15 hours(?) plotting my books (Mind you, I like options and now have enough options to complete the darned thing three times).

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I think I spent about 4 hours before scrapping my plan and starting over and then another 3 hours trying to make 10 books work. But the first 4 hours weren't wasted because I learned where my biggest problem was. ;-)

[Liz M]

Rebekah wrote: "Concerning the poll. Home for the holidays. If you have lived in more than one place, can you repeat the task using a different location?"

I think I am going to ask y'all to pick one location, out of consideration for those of us that haven't lived in a dozen different states/cities.

[Karen Michele]

Ok, now I am really curious and I'm going to plan on some time this weekend to go through it!

[Karen Michele]

Liz M wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Concerning the poll. Home for the holidays. If you have lived in more than one place, can you repeat the task using a different location?"

I think I am going to ask y'all to pick o..."

So we could repeat the task as long as we stick to the same location?

[Liz M]

Karen GHHS wrote: "So we could repeat the task as long as we stick to the same location? ..."

Yes. Because sooner or later, I need (ok, I want) to read a dozen New York City books :D

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Liz M wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "okay, I was just curious. :)"

I would be too, if I didn't already know what it is :D.

And, um, if you're the type of person that has to have all the challenge re..."

I do like to plan my books out ahead of time because I am in three reading challenges: this one, Seasonal Reading Challenge and the Historical Fictionistas challenge and any book I can use for all three is good.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Liz M wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "okay, I was just curious. :)"

I would be too, if I didn't already know what it is :D.

And, um, if you're the type of person that has to have all the challenge re..."

now I'm scared

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I only finished one of these reading challenges since I been on this site since 2009.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Jayme, I've never finished one. Doesn't keep me from ploughing forward, though.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

me neither. I am getting books crossed off my list though.

[Paula]

I haven't done it yet, but am on a serious mission, for some unknown reason. I'd like to tackle some bigger books during the next challenge season, though. I had a few books that just barely met the page minimum.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I hate when that happens, when a book is like 5 or less pages shy of meeting the requirements.

[Rebekah]

Liz M wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Concerning the poll. Home for the holidays. If you have lived in more than one place, can you repeat the task using a different location?"

I think I am going to ask y'all to pick o..."

fair enough

[Rebekah]

I really like the theme being based on an author and his books. Hopefully we can do it again in another challenge. i'm thinking Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, Leo Tolstoy, Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, Willia Cather etc, etc, etc....(smile) i thought i'd better stop. there are too many great authors!

[Rebekah]

Can we get extra points for actually reading a book by Charles Dickens? Maybe Style points for just this one challenge?

[Sam]

Jane Austen would be a great idea...six novels, six tasks.

[Tien]

Love love love the Winter Theme!!

Can't wait for 1 Dec ;)

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Rebekah wrote: "Can we get extra points for actually reading a book by Charles Dickens? Maybe Style points for just this one challenge?"

All Dickens novels get a combo with 20.1. ;-)

[Liz M]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Can we get extra points for actually reading a book by Charles Dickens? Maybe Style points for just this one challenge?"

All Dickens novels get a combo with 20.1. ;-)"

And 10-15 oldies points and most also get jumbo points.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I haven't seen a thread for 20.9 task yet so I will ask it here. Are series titles included as part of the book title like if I want to read a book from the Night Angel trilogy, would that count?

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I'm 51% of the way through East of Eden...if only I'd slacked off just that little bit more! ;)

[Liz M]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I haven't seen a thread for 20.9 task yet so I will ask it here. Are series titles included as part of the book title like if I want to read a book from the Night Angel trilogy, would that count?"

No, series titles do not count for this task.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Liz M wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I haven't seen a thread for 20.9 task yet so I will ask it here. Are series titles included as part of the book title like if I want to read a book from the Night An..."

I would not have called it, but this looks like it's gonna be one of my harder slots to fill from the main challenge.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Denae wrote: "I'm 51% of the way through East of Eden...if only I'd slacked off just that little bit more! ;)"

Oops! I lied! I picked it back up since it seemed like it wouldn't matter and turns out my boyfriend had put the bookmark back in randomly after the cat knocked it off, so I'm not that far after all. Still close, only about 20 pages different...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

As to 20.9, I have but two ideas:

Saint Maybe
The Angel's Game

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "As to 20.9, I have but two ideas:

Saint Maybe
The Angel's Game"

A friend recommended The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, so I penciled that in.

[Liz M]

From the 1001 books list:
The Discovery of Heaven
Roots of Heaven
Look Homeward, Angel
Santa Evita

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I love the time thinking about a new challenge. I go through my shelves, including my wish list, and am reminded of all the wonderful books the GR community has brought to my attention.

The Angel on the Roof
Angels and Insects
Pigs in Heaven
The Killer Angels

[Cait]

A Better Angel - Chris Adrian
Speaking With the Angel - Nick Hornby, etc
Where Angels Fear to Tread - E.M. Forster

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven - Sherman Alexie
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith - John Krakauer
The Lathe of Heaven - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears - Dinaw Mengestu
The Weight of Heaven - Thrity Umrigar

The Patron Saint of Liars - Ann Patchett

[Rebekah]

The Trouble with Angels by The Trouble with Angels
and the cute one with the movie The Trouble with Angels by Jane Trahey

[Cait]

Before I forget - great job on the Group Reads! I want to read every single one of them!

[Rebekah]

The Augusta Goodnight series by Mignon Ballard. Augusta is a guardian angel that helps solve mysteries.

So would Santa count as in Santa Claus?

[Liz M]

Rebekah wrote: "The Augusta Goodnight series by Mignon Ballard. Augusta is a guardian angel that helps solve mysteries.

So would Santa count as in Santa Claus?"

The santa in Santa Evita is Spanish for Saint. So, I am inclined to say that Santa, as in a variation on Saint Nick, is acceptable, but I'd like Krista to confirm.