The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.11 - Jamie NYC's task: Summer In The City

I live in NYC which is a great place to live and to visit. The streets are very busy in summer and we have a lot of tourists. To celebrate all that is great about NYC you have 5 options.

This is a TWO BOOK task. Choose TWO DIFFERENT options and read a book for each.

Required: State which options you chose when you post.

1. New York City! Read a book set in NYC. Required: If the setting is not apparent from the GR description or metadata, you must provide a link to an external source verifying the setting.

2. Music: There are lots of concerts that take place in and around NYC in the summer. I am looking forward to the annual NY Philharmonic program in Central Park. Read a book with a main character who is a Musician or with "Music" as a main page genre. Embedded genres are allowed.

3. Sports: NYC has a number of great sports teams and I love being able to hop on the subway and go to a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Read a book with "Sports" as a main page genre. Embedded genres are allowed.

4. Restaurants: I think it's possible to find whatever you have a craving for in NYC. My sons love to go to Chinatown while I prefer to find great Mediterranean restaurants. My family, friends and I typically go to or order Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Greek, Persian, Middle Eastern, Indian or Mexican. Read a book set in one of the corresponding countries: Japan, China, Italy, Greece, Iran, Saudi Arabia, India or Mexico.

Required: If the setting is not apparent from the GR description or metadata, you must provide a link to an external source verifying the setting.

5. Arts/Entertainment: NYC is known for its museums and art. Lots of movies are set in NYC. It's nice to cool off on a hot day by going to the movies or ducking in to a museum. Read a book with "Art," "Film," or "Movies" as a main page genre. Embedded genres are allowed. Be cautious, books consisting primarily of images or photographs without a substantial written component (essays, criticism, etc.) may not be be claimed for points in the SRC. These books often have the genre "Art."

Approved

Option 1 (NYC, boroughs count):
]


Series set in NYC (check that the specific title in the series is 50% set in NYC, but most of the books in these series are)


Option 2 (Music):


Option 3 (Sports):


Option 4:
India -
Mexico -
Persia -

Option 5:
Movies -
Art -

Doesn't work

This thread is now open!

can I get this approved for music genre The Lonely Hearts Club

JennRenee wrote: "can I get this approved for music genre The Lonely Hearts Club"

That is verified. Happy reading!

For option 5 would 'movies' be an acceptable genre? The book I'm interested in is It has a genre of 'movies' but not 'film'.

Thank you

Oh hey, I finally have a place for - from the flap copy it definitely seems set all over NYC. So that's Option 1 sorted....

I think I'll read to fit Option 4.

Please confirm Quarterback Draw for option 3. Thanks

Can I please have I'll Give You the Sun confirmed for Art?

Could I have verified for Sports and Games > Sports, please? Thank you!

Lauren wrote: "Please confirm Quarterback Draw for option 3. Thanks"

I see Sports as a genre, that works

Ashley wrote: "Can I please have I'll Give You the Sun confirmed for Art?"

Art is confirmed as a genre

Cait wrote: "Could I have verified for Sports and Games > Sports, please? Thank you!"

Sports is on there, you're set

Melissa wrote: "Oh hey, I finally have a place for - from the flap copy it definitely seems set all over NYC. So that's Option 1 sorted....

I think I'll read [bookcover:Like..."

Those look good!

I see Iran has been changed to Persian. That answers my question! :)

Thanks!

Kim wrote: "For option 5 would 'movies' be an acceptable genre? The book I'm interested in is It has a genre of 'movie..."

We are adding Movies as an approved genre so this works

Does Option 2 include biographies and autobiographies of musicians? (Main character makes it sound like fiction.)

Also, I was recently on a trip to Ireland where I was told that "musician" meant "instrumentalist" and that singers were not automatically considered musicians, although they might be more respected than "musicians". In the U.S. singers are considered musicians. Can you please confirm if this includes singers?

Julia wrote: "Does Option 2 include biographies and autobiographies of musicians? (Main character makes it sound like fiction.)

Also, I was recently on a trip to Ireland where I was told that "musician" meant "..."

Sure biographies and autobiographies of musicians work. And I include singers as musicians so a singer qualifies.

Can you please note If I Stay for Music? Thanks.

Valerie wrote: "Can you please note If I Stay for Music? Thanks."

Noted

Can I have this checked for music: Bel Canto?

Teodora wrote: "Can I have this checked for music: Bel Canto?"

Music is there. Great book!

Hi,
Can I assume that future NYC is Ok - so a book from In Death series will be OK?

blurb includes "set in a mid-21st century New York City"

Thanks!

Catherine wrote: "Hi,
Can I assume that future NYC is Ok - so a book from In Death series will be OK?

blurb includes "set in a mid-21st century New York City"

Thanks!"

Yes, that's fine

Are re-reads ok? For option 1, I will either read another from a murder mystery series set in turn of the century NYC or I will read Breakfast at Tiffany's again because wow- such a great book.

Also- (sorry found another question quicker than I expected!!)- option 2, I would like to read The Sky is Everywhere- main character is described as a band geek that plays clarinet and Music is the last main page genre listed currently. Please note! Thanks :)

Nicole wrote: "Also- (sorry found another question quicker than I expected!!)- option 2, I would like to read The Sky is Everywhere- main character is described as a band geek that plays clarinet a..."

Music noted

And sure, re-reads are fine

Jamie wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Also- (sorry found another question quicker than I expected!!)- option 2, I would like to read The Sky is Everywhere- main character is described as a band geek that p..."

Thanks for the super quick response! I don't do much re-reading and I like to check even though most specify when the task bands re-reads! Great task FYI. I was born and raised and lived in NYC for my first 27 years. :)

Does the book have to be set in Manhattan or do the other boroughs count? I'm considering Girl in Translation which is set in Brooklyn.

Amy wrote: "Does the book have to be set in Manhattan or do the other boroughs count? I'm considering Girl in Translation which is set in Brooklyn."

Good question, Brooklyn definitely counts.

Great place to see a concert now that they have the Barclays Center!

Jamie wrote: "Amy wrote: "Does the book have to be set in Manhattan or do the other boroughs count? I'm considering Girl in Translation which is set in Brooklyn."

Good question, Brooklyn definite..."

Thanks for the quick reply. Like Nicole, I spent the first 27 years of my life in NYC (Queens), so your task is one I'm looking forward to. :-)

I'm glad people like it!

Can the book for Option 1 be fiction or nonfiction? Was thinking: Dad Is Fat I just finished it and realized it has the setting on the page, but wanted to make sure before I moved it from where I had it.

Thanks!

Morgan wrote: "Can the book for Option 1 be fiction or nonfiction? Was thinking: Dad Is Fat I just finished it and realized it has the setting on the page, but wanted to make sure before I moved..."

So... I've been thinking about this, non fiction is fine but I think it has to adhere to the 50% rule for SRC? A biography might be tricky. I know a lot of the book is around the theme of the Gaffigans and their 5 children living in a NYC apartment but is that 50% of the book?

Can Option 1 be historical NYC? If so, I'll probably continue working my way through Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries.

Trish wrote: "Can Option 1 be historical? If so, I can continue working my way through Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries."

Yes

Trish wrote: "Can Option 1 be historical NYC? If so, I'll probably continue working my way through Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries."

Hey, would those be good for my mother? She likes Maisie Dobbs, Bess Crawford, Inspector Rutledge... not too gory or explicit but a good mystery series??

Two or three chapters/sections were not set in NYC so it's well over 50%.
It's not a biography so much as stand-up circling around the kids and raising them in NYC.

Morgan wrote: "Two or three chapters/sections were not set in NYC so it's well over 50%.
It's not a biography so much as stand-up circling around the kids and raising them in NYC."

That works then!

Jamie wrote: "Hey, would those be good for my mother? She likes Maisie Dobbs, Bess Crawford, Inspector Rutledge... not too gory or explicit but a good mystery series?? "

They may well be. The unlikely duo of main characters are a midwife and a policeman, and the byplay between them is great. I've not yet read Maisie Dobbs or either of the others you mentions. But the Gaslight series is definitely more at the cozy end of the spectrum than the modern realism ones like Kathy Reichs or Patricia Cornwall.

Trish wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Hey, would those be good for my mother? She likes Maisie Dobbs, Bess Crawford, Inspector Rutledge... not too gory or explicit but a good mystery series?? "

They may well be. The unli..."

Thanks Trish

Jamie - they are a good series - sometimes i want to shake Sarah but i like the development of the relationship between her and Frank

Dee wrote: "Jamie - they are a good series - sometimes i want to shake Sarah but i like the development of the relationship between her and Frank"

Thanks Dee!

please confirm genre music: Maskerade

Bellagbear wrote: "please confirm genre music: Maskerade"

Music is listed as a main page genre

Jamie wrote: "Dee wrote: "Jamie - they are a good series - sometimes i want to shake Sarah but i like the development of the relationship between her and Frank"

Thanks Dee!"

i also like that you can essentially jump around the series and don't really need to read/listen in order (but you obviously can) - I think i've read like 1, 5, 9 and 13 - not in that order

Option 1: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Option 2: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Claire wrote: "Option 1: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Option 2: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen"

Those work!

Enjoy

Hello! Would this work for the Music option? It's a collection of opera themed short stories... :)
Midsummer Nights