RRRC's 3rd Reading Tournament: Introduction & Guidelines

[Dee]

great minds think alike ;) I was taking a break from editing this horrendous document...my mind might explode ;)

[Fran, Moderator]

Dee wrote: "great minds think alike ;) I was taking a break from editing this horrendous document...my mind might explode ;)"

Goodreads sounds like much more fun than that!

[Mary X]

OK this is harder than it looks. I looked up a book I am going to read tonight (well start anyway) and on it pops up a book I read a few months ago. But when I look up that book-the one I want to read doesn't pop up on it's list. An neither one has another book that I own.

Oh well. I'll see what I come up with. I will probably have a lot of restarts or non-counting books.

[Mary X]

Is anyone else having problems scrolling through the Others Enjoyed lists for books? I keep having to go back to the main goodreads page because I get either a blank screen or an error when I try to move the list to the next page.

[Fran, Moderator]

It looks like GR is having some issues. I got a blank screen a few minutes ago. The site is so bug-filled since the update last week.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Judy wrote: "I'm going to give this one a try. A question, since we are editing our original posts in the challenge thread, do we need to post each time we update our original post (like they are doing in the ..."

No - don't update your progress in the participants thread. Post any updates in this thread so far as how you are travelling etc. Just keep your post in the other thread for your actual list :)

[Mary X]

Yeah there's something going on because now the Comments button to look at my posts doesn't work and neither does the Newest button on threads.

I might not be able to start this until next week. None of the books I planned to read for a PBS challenge bring up any books I own or want to read.

[Wan]

Fran wrote: "It looks like GR is having some issues. I got a blank screen a few minutes ago. The site is so bug-filled since the update last week."

Got the same thing. It was so annoying when you were sneakingly doing it at work.

[Tricia]

Mary wrote: "Yeah there's something going on because now the Comments button to look at my posts doesn't work and neither does the Newest button on threads.

I might not be able to start this until next week...."

I've got the same problem here. :(

[Wan]

OMG! this is so much fun. I'm having a ball going thru each book ..and the next...and the next.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Wan ~DragonsWan~ wrote: "OMG! this is so much fun. I'm having a ball going thru each book ..and the next...and the next."

LOL - a great time waster! That's us! ;)

[Dee]

who us, waste time...NEVER!!

[Mary X]

Yeah I created a string of like 20 books last night before I made myself stop. Most in the list were Kindle Freebies. So I know one track that I'll be starting.

[Amy ~Lover of Books~]

Fran wrote: "It looks like GR is having some issues. I got a blank screen a few minutes ago. The site is so bug-filled since the update last week."

Yeah, I'm seeing alot of topics being made in "Goodreads feedback" group under the "Bugs" section. I'm sure the GR staff is aware of most of these bugs currently happening.

[Nicola]

Mary wrote: "Yeah I created a string of like 20 books last night before I made myself stop. Most in the list were Kindle Freebies. So I know one track that I'll be starting."

Ooh - I am always up for the freebies! Where did you start that track?

[Mary X]

Some aren't freebies anymore but they were when I downloaded them.

Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton (my already read book): Night of the Living Deed (have print) to Haunting Jordan (have print) to Ghost Ala Mode (no longer free) to Mama Does Time (lendleme or library) to One Deadly Sister (kindle freebie) to Invisible (kindle freebie) to Hiding In Plain Sight (k-freebie) to Slow Hands (k-freebie) to Homespun Bride (k-freebie) to Once a Cowboy (k-freebie).
Not quite 20 but I got tired of looking so I can probably make it go longer.

My hope was to get to Spun by Sorcery the next book in the Barbara Bretton series for me but it never came up. Not in that chain anyway.

[Amy ~Lover of Books~]

Another question I just thought of. Since this started. if you read you really enjoy, can we use it as one of reference books? Or is it for the books we've read before this started?

[Nicola]

Mary wrote: "Some aren't freebies anymore but they were when I downloaded them.

Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton (my already read book): Night of the Living Deed (have print) to Haunting Jordan (have print) ..."

Thanks -- I will try to do my own thread. I have already read a lot of those.

[Fran, Moderator]

@Amy, I'm going to say that if you read something you enjoyed, you can use it to start a track, regardless of when you read it.

[Mary X]

The first book of a new track just wouldn't be worth any points even if you read it during the challenge if I understand the rules correctly. The points start with the 2nd book on the track.

[Fran, Moderator]

I thought Amy was asking if the starting book had to be one that was read before the 15th or if it was ok to use a book that she has read after that date as her starting point.

[Amy ~Lover of Books~]

Fran wrote: "I thought Amy was asking if the starting book had to be one that was read before the 15th or if it was ok to use a book that she has read after that date as her starting point."

Yeah, that is what I was asking. So, I can use any book for the starting? I'm just trying to understand your response.

[Fran, Moderator]

Yes, you can use any book you have read for the starting point.

[Mary X]

I knew that's what she was asking I was just point out that the book that starts the track doesn't get any points even if it's read during the challenge.

[Amy ~Lover of Books~]

Fran wrote: "Yes, you can use any book you have read for the starting point."

Thanks! also, you're welcome Nicola!

[Nicola]

Mary wrote: "Some aren't freebies anymore but they were when I downloaded them.

Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton (my already read book): Night of the Living Deed (have print) to Haunting Jordan (have print) ..."

Thanks - I got to at least 15 on my freebies thanks to your suggestion. This is my best thread yet - and I know I can go at least a few more.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Mary wrote: "I knew that's what she was asking I was just point out that the book that starts the track doesn't get any points even if it's read during the challenge."

Yes - you are spot on Mary :)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Clarification

For those of you that have pre-populated your lists, please double-check that the book you are about to read is still on the 'RAE' list.

We haven't styled a challenge around this 'device' so we need to ensure that it continues to 'hold' those books throughout the tournament :)

I'll post this in my 'rules' as well...

[Mary X]

Jane I was thinking about that and that's why I didn't just keep going. I just loosely planned 4 or 5 possible tracks to start based on books I know I wnat to read soon. I wonder how it decides what books to group together. I looked up an ebook yesterdy that had no books in that section.

[Lynne]

I've been working on my starting tracks and I've seen this trend: If the starting book in your track was published several years ago, the books that link to it seem to be older books as well. Are others finding the same thing?

[Lynne]

Jane (PS) wrote: "Yes - you are spot on Mary :)"

Actually I had a question about that. What if your thread comes back and includes your starting book, could you reread it then and have it count towards your points, or is that breaking your thread?

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Lynne wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Yes - you are spot on Mary :)"

Actually I had a question about that. What if your thread comes back and includes your starting book, could you reread it then and have it count t..."

I don't see why you can't read it again since re-reads are allowed :) This won't break the thread, you pick up 2 points, and you can then simply take a different tangent off that original book again... But no skimming!!! *hehehe*

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Lynne wrote: "I've been working on my starting tracks and I've seen this trend: If the starting book in your track was published several years ago, the books that link to it seem to be older books as well. Are..."

I am getting a LOT of repeated suggestions when I follow a few RAE lists through... I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up in negative points (constantly restarting my threads for -10 points) - LOL!!

[Vi]

Yeah, I noticed that about 80% of the books are repeated suggestions with only 1 or 2 coming up as new books. I don't know if it's my books. I still have to decide which books to select for Track 2 and 3.

[Tricia]

I'm having a tough time finding long enough threads. Most of mine stop after 4 or 5 books. I'm trying very hard to resist buying any new books. My TBR pile is massive and I really need to read what's already on my shelf. That being said, I am writing down a ton of titles that look great! I'll probably end up buying them anyway! Resistance is futile. Especially concerning books! lol

[Lynne]

I think that's actually the great part about this challenge; that it leads me to authors I haven't read before and let's me explore. I'm bummed about the 1 point ruling for not reading the same book in the series that is listed. It seems to really be an issue in my paranormal thread. I didn't realize how many books of that genre are series. I guess if you put in all the time to build the world you should continue with it. Many of the authors are new to me, but the series order is #3 or #4. I guess I'll just have to take lots of single points. Fun challenge!

[Dee]

i think with a lot of PNR's picking up a book mid-series would be hard...i think you might see that in Fantasy type books as well

[Mary X]

If I do the urban fantasy and cozy threads I started I will have a lot of 1 pt books because it brings up the wrong ones in the series for the order I need them. Unless I read the series out of order. I'd rather take the 1 pt deduction.

I probably won't do the UF one though because it was mostly all 1st in a series books. Ones I own but I really want to finish/catch up on ones I have going already because I'm a losing track of characters and story lines.

I've stopped trying to come up with chains for now because they might change by the time I get to them.

[Mary X]

The upside of doing a chain with older books is that they're probably easy to get at your library when you need them.

[KarenF]

I've got a question of the "I'm a bonehead who shouldn't be allowed to drink wine and enter challenges at the same time" variety.

If I've listed a leading book for a track but I haven't read anything yet, can I switch that book out? Or will that make me start at -10?

I meant to leave a track open for the book I'm currently reading to be a leading book when I finish but I forgot and posted something I had listed on my spreadsheet as a possibility. I'm guessing it would be OK since I haven't read anything for it yet and we can open a track later but didn't want to just assume. Thanks!

[Dee]

Karen - I actually asked that question too...and the decision was, as long as you haven't started the track, then you can use another base book ;) (I originally had a UF, and switched it for a mystery/suspense/thriller)

[KarenF]

Thanks Dee! I'm actually switching to a UF but I really need 5 or 6 tracks to get all the genres I plotting. :)

[Mary X]

Yeah I'm having picking just 3 tracks simply because I read so many different genres regularly.

[Nicola]

I may have missed this, but do we have to let you know when we update our post?

[Mary X]

I think we are supposed to post here when we update. I wouldn't post daily if you add books each day because that would probably be to many if anyone did that.

I have my own thread going for challenges in another group. I plan to update that, copy/paste to the challenge thread periodically and then post here that I updated.

[Fran, Moderator]

Nicola wrote: "I may have missed this, but do we have to let you know when we update our post?"

Hi Nicola,

No, you don't have to let us know when you update your post. Just please keep track of your total points somewhere in your thread so it will be easier for us to keep track- thanks :)

[Mary X]

I'm putting after each book I read for this (+2/total)

So if I have 12 pts and read one that's a different series number of a linked book I would put (+1/13). I see some people doing it differently.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Hey everyone - we have decided to only penalise participants 5 points if they restart one of their threads :) We could see some participants going negative...

I'll update my Rules/Clarifications list.

[Sandra]

Thank goodness for that. LOL

[Mary X]

Cool thanks for the change. I was thinking about that and how 10 pts would mean you have to have more than 5 books in the track to get anything. More than 5 if you didn't get full points for some. Losing only 5 points makes it less tragic.

I have a huge TBR and don't see myself buying any books or reading one I have no interest in reading just to keep a track going.