The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

5.2 -- It's In Their Genes
White tigers are not albinos; they are created by two recessive genes. Recessive genes must be inherited in pairs and the traits are relatively rare. Read a book that has a pair of one of the least common letters in the English language--G, Y, P, B, V, K, J, X, Q, Z -- in the title/subtitle and author name. Since recessive genes come in pairs, the title/subtitle/author name combo may only have 2 of the uncommon letter; no more, no less.
So these books would work:
Edge Of Hunger by Rhyannon Byrd (2 Gs in title or 2 Ys in author's name)
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (2 Ks in author's name)
Parasite Rex : Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures by Carl Zimmer (2 Zs in subtitle and author's name)
But these books would NOT work:
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (only 1 G, 1P, and 1 K and too many Bs)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (only 1 B and 1 Z, but 3 Ks)
Required: State the uncommon letter you are using when you post.

These books work:
Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston -- 2 Ys
Qatari Voices by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar -- 2 Ks
Escape the Night by Richard North Patterson -- 2 Ps
Elegy for April by Benjamin Black -- 2 Bs
The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin -- 2 Gs (or Ks)

These combinations won't work:
Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard -- 3 Gs and only 1 Y
I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron -- 3 Bs in title/subtitle

Hi Kristi, Let me be the first to pester you. I just wanted clarification. Is it ok if you have more than 2 of the different uncommon letters as long as you don't have more than 2 of the same uncommon letter that you are claiming. I was thinking about reading a book by C.J. Box for this but J, B and X are all uncommon letters. Is that OK?

I'm thinking Out Of Range by C.J. Box and claiming the G in range and the x in Box

just checking on this one - it is a series of short stories/essays - the editor is Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar (2 K's) - Qatari Voices - his name is the second one on the book page, so it doesn't show up when you hover, but if you go to the actual page it shows...thoughts?

Sheila wrote: "HI'm thinking Out Of Range by C.J. Box and claiming the G in range and the x in Box "

Sorry, Sheila, the uncommon letters must be in pairs. Therefore, you need exactly two Gs or two Xs. One of each won't work.

Dee wrote: "just checking on this one - it is a series of short stories/essays - the editor is Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar (2 K's) - Qatari Voices - his name is the second one on the book page, so it doesn't show ..."

I don't see any other Ks in the title or his name so that works. Just point out that it's his name you're using when you post.

will do - thanks Kristi

I'm thinking that Escape the Night by Richard North Patterson would work for P's.

Bea wrote: "I'm thinking that Escape the Night by Richard North Patterson would work for P's."

That would work.

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Sheila wrote: "HI'm thinking Out Of Range by C.J. Box and claiming the G in range and the x in Box "

Sorry, Sheila, the uncommon letters must be in pairs. Therefore, you need exactly two Gs or two..."

OK Kristi - Back to the drawing board :)

Attempt # 2 Elegy for April by Benjamin Black Two B's in authors name?

Sheila wrote: "Attempt # 2 Elegy for April by Benjamin Black Two B's in authors name?"

That works! ;-)

Thanks Kristi

Will this work? Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories by Karen Russell. My eyes went all wonky trying to count uncommon letters, but the 2 Vs are what I would claim.

Chaitra wrote: "Will this work? Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories by Karen Russell. My eyes went all wonky trying to count uncommon letters, but the 2 Vs are what I would claim."

Yes, that works.

Thanks Kristi!

Can you re-read? If so, would Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling work?

Samantha wrote: "Can you re-read? If so, would Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling work?"

Sure, rereads are fine. And Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling has 2, and only 2, Ys so it works.

Would 1984 or Animal Farm by George Orwell work? There are 2 Gs in the author's name.

Sandra wrote: "Would 1984 or Animal Farm by George Orwell work? There are 2 Gs in the author's name."

Yes, either one of those would work.

Would A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym work? Two G's in title.

Claire wrote: "Would A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym work? Two G's in title."

Yes, that works.

The Hobbit?

Kristi, I am confused as there seems to be a conflict between your task description and your examples. In the task description you say title/subtitle and/or author name but then you reject examples on the premise of title/subtitle and author name. Could you clarify this please?

Just to clarify, would The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin work? There are 2 Ks (title and author name) and 2 Gs (title) but there's also a spare J in there. I think that's OK but wanted to be sure.

Coralie wrote: "Kristi, I am confused as there seems to be a conflict between your task description and your examples. In the task description you say title/subtitle and/or author name but then you reject examples..."

Sorry about that, Coralie. What I was attempting, no so successfully apparently, to convey is that you may use any combination of title/subtitle/author name to find 2 instances of one of the uncommon letters. However, there may only be 2 of the uncommon letter you claim in the title/subtitle/author name combo. It has to be the same letter and there can only be two of them (no more). Does that make sense?

KarenF wrote: "Just to clarify, would The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin work? There are 2 Ks (title and author name) and 2 Gs (title) but there's also a spare J in there. I think that's OK but wanted to be sure."

Yes, Karen, that works. You can claim it on the Ks or the Gs, doesn't matter (and ignore the J since there's only 1 of them).

Jody wrote: "The Hobbit?"

Depends on which letter you're trying to claim........

How about The Raven Boys by Maggie StIefvater? It has 2 Vs and 2 Gs. Is that too many pairs?

Does Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger work (two Ys) or does is meant to not have the Z/G in it. I noticed your first example of appropriate books also has a B in the title so I'm guessing its fine but just clarifying

Tammy AZ wrote: "How about The Raven Boys by Maggie StIefvater? It has 2 Vs and 2 Gs. Is that too many pairs?"

As long as it's got at least one pair, you're good!

Katrina wrote: "Does Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger work (two Ys) or does is meant to not have the Z/G in it. I noticed your first example of appropriate books also has a B in the title so I'm guessing its fin..."

That works with a pair of Ys. And, you're correct, the other uncommon letters don't matter. You're just looking for a pair in the title/subtitle/author's name combo.

Just for clarification: If you were to find a book/author combo that had a pair of one common letter but 3 of another (I can't actually find an example of this so you'll have to imagine), you can still use that book. Just don't claim the letter that appears more than 2 times.

So, say for example, you found a book with 2 Ys, but 3 Gs in the title/subtitle/author combo. When you finish the book, claim the Ys and ignore the Gs.

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Does Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger work (two Ys) or does is meant to not have the Z/G in it. I noticed your first example of appropriate books also has a B in the title so I'm ..."

Thanks, I figured as much but didn't want to end up reading it and finding out it wasn't going to work. :)

Hi! Would Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston work? I know there are 3 Bs, but there are 2 Ys... Just want to make sure:)

Melanie wrote: "Hi! Would Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston work? I know there are 3 Bs, but there are 2 Ys... Just want to make sure:)"

It will. Great example! Ignore the Bs and claim the Ys when you post.

Great, thanks so much:)

Author Guy Gavriel Kay - two Gs and two Ys. Can I ignore the title/Subtitle?

Vi wrote: "Author Guy Gavriel Kay - two Gs and two Ys. Can I ignore the title/Subtitle?"

Nope. If the title or subtitle have another G and another Y, it's going to knock the book out of contention. For example, you wouldn't be able to claim Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay on the basis of the Gs, because there are too many. However, you could claim the same book based on the Ys because there are only 2 Ys in the author's name and zero Ys in the title. Make sense?

Ah, got it Kristi. I thought I could ignore either one. Guess not. Thanks!

So if I understand correctly, I could use this one?

Nobody's Angel by Stacy Gail

It has one G in the title (Angel) and one in the author's last name (Gail).

D.G. wrote: "So if I understand correctly, I could use this one?

Nobody's Angel by Stacy Gail

It has one G in the title (Angel) and one in the author's last name (Gail)."

Yes, that works. (Ys would work, too.)

Awesome, Kristi. Thanks!

Hi Kristi, just wanted to make sure I can use "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline for the Y's in the book title.

Sorry, this rule had me a bit confused :)

Keri wrote: "Hi Kristi, just wanted to make sure I can use "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline for the Y's in the book title.

Sorry, this rule had me a bit confused :)"

Yes, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline works.

Would this book work?

The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer

There are 2 G', one in the title and one in the author's name

~ * mariya * ~ wrote: "Would this book work?

The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer

There are 2 G', one in the title and one in the author's name"

Yes, that works for 2 Gs.

Thank you Kristi :)

Can I have Emotional Geology - Linda Gillard (Using the 2 Gs in the title)?