Reading with Style discussion

Post any general questions about the Spring Challenge here.

Alias Grace has a German translation as the MPE. Do all MPE criteria count for this edition, or do we find the MPE- English language edition ( and how does one do that ? ) ?

Penciling it in for 3 tasks ...

Our MPE Edition rules have several caveats:

We use the most popular English language non-large print edition, so skip the German translation.

MPE for Alias Grace: Alias Grace.

Elizabeth is very adept at making sure we use the correct edition, but for future reference these are the criteria we take into account and the versions we skip.

Kate S wrote: "Our MPE Edition rules have several caveats:

We use the most popular English language non-large print edition, so skip the German translation.

MPE for Alias Grace: Alias Grace.

Eliza..."

I thought that was the case, but I wasn't sure how to get to the right edition.

And bummer, loses out on the Jumbo points!

Amanda wrote: "I thought that was the case, but I wasn't sure how to get to the right edition."

I click on "All editions" under the row of little covers of other editions, then make sure the list is sorted by "num ratings" (it normally is).

For the voting process, how will the genre and prize choices work? Will there be any limit on the number of books we can read? Will the tasks be eligible for use as combos on other tasks?

Karen Michele wrote: "For the voting process, how will the genre and prize choices work? Will there be any limit on the number of books we can read? Will the tasks be eligible for use as combos on other tasks?"

No limits, combos allowed.

A note on when we choose to disallow combos: The tasks that are dependent on a member's unique information are when we disallow combos. Winter's Favorite Author task, for instance, was different for everyone. The database wants everyone to get the same combos for the same book, but I couldn't claim a combo for a book/author you read for that task because your authors weren't mine.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "A note on when we choose to disallow combos: The tasks that are dependent on a member's unique information are when we disallow combos. Winter's Favorite Author task, for instance, was different fo..."

Yay - and that makes perfect sense --- it's going to be an awesome challenge!

Karen Michele wrote: "it's going to be an awesome challenge! "

I hope everyone has fun. As we were choosing tasks, I didn't realize how many books I had that would fit. I think the challenge - at least for me - will be prioritizing.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "A note on when we choose to disallow combos: The tasks that are dependent on a member's unique information are when we disallow combos. Winter's Favorite Author task, for instance, was different fo..."

Oh that's interesting! I always thought you limited those tasks so that we couldn't have a complete binge on our favourite authors/books/genres - but turns out it's for totally practical reasons! LOL

Rosemary wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "A note on when we choose to disallow combos: The tasks that are dependent on a member's unique information are when we disallow combos. Winter's Favorite Author task, for..."

Well, it's true when we limit to 3 times, it usually to limit binges, but the no combos is really practical! We tried it one season without the no combos and it was a total nightmare for Kate.

Combos, combos more more, I'm still not satisfied *in a manical voice*

I have a question about the multiple style +5 points - it's not cumulative, right?

So you do the task.
You do the task again a second time and get +5
You do the task again and you get +5 (not +10)

Yes?

Beth wrote: "I have a question about the multiple style +5 points - it's not cumulative, right?

So you do the task.
You do the task again a second time and get +5
You do the task again and you get +5 (not +10..."

Yes, you have it exactly. But you can earn them as many additional times as you claim the task - that part is unlimited.

Question! When claiming a task with pre-approvals like Bronte Sisters and RK Nayaran does it make it easier for the mods if we reference a post number in the help thread? I'm all for helping out every which way I can, but if the post number isn't needed I figure I can put those minutes spent searching towards my next book. (Or twitter, or twiddling my thumbs....) ;)

Kazen wrote: "Question! When claiming a task with pre-approvals like Bronte Sisters and RK Nayaran does it make it easier for the mods if we reference a post number in the help thread? I'm all for helping out ev..."

It helps a little to have the post number. It is VERY helpful if you mention it was approved in the thread. Elizabeth does a nice job putting together the approval list and loading into our score-keeping database. When scoring, it is good to know where to look when confirming eligibility for a task. If it's not approved in the help thread, but works, saying that is helpful, too. Feel free to use your extra minutes however you like. :)

Because there are so many great tasks this season, I am finding Square Peg a challenge.

Because my copy arrived late I missed My Brilliant Friend as last season's book read. I can't see that it fits with anything this time around, just want to check if any other more watchful eyes might see it somewhere. This is my last task to allocate, and I am beginning to think I will never get there!

Amanda wrote: "Because there are so many great tasks this season, I am finding Square Peg a challenge.

Because my copy arrived late I missed My Brilliant Friend as last season's book read. I can'..."

I don't see that on any of the lists so far. (Just don't go looking to see if she has an author sister or did anything professional before she started writing.)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I don't see that on any of the lists so far. (Just don't go looking to see if she has an author sister or did anything professional before she started writing.) "

Because her true identity is not known I figured any of those would be hard to prove! ;)

Amanda wrote: "Because her true identity is not known I figured any of those would be hard to prove! ;) "

We talked about the Square Peg might be the real challenge this time. And I just moved what I thought might be mine to the Licensed to Write task.

Amanda wrote: "Because my copy arrived late I missed My Brilliant Friend as last season's book read. I can't see that it fits with anything this time around, just want to check if any other more watchful eyes might see it somewhere. This is my last task to allocate, and I am beginning to think I will never get there! "

Bad news, Elizabeth! She would qualify for 20.5, reading over the Wiki entry :(

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_F...

Back to square one for my square peg!

Amanda wrote: "Bad news, Elizabeth! She would qualify for 20.5, reading over the Wiki entry :("

I see she is credited with one published essay, but that was in a magazine. We have said previously that essays should be in a collected work and published in book form. So far, I see Ferrante only with novels and a short story (which was published in an anthology). Unless you see differently, I'm not going to add her to 20.5 and you're still good for the Square Peg.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Bad news, Elizabeth! She would qualify for 20.5, reading over the Wiki entry :("

I see she is credited with one published essay, but that was in a magazine. We have said previously ..."

Oh, thank goodness! 20.5 is making square peg very hard. My only thought to escape it is to go back in time, as it would seem that writing in multiple formats seems a path less followed.

Amanda wrote: "Oh, thank goodness! 20.5 is making square peg very hard. My only thought to escape it is to go back in time, as it would seem that writing in multiple formats seems a path less followed. "

Some of my favorites work for that task. I thought perhaps finding a brand new author, perhaps someone who had published a debut book of short stories to get the not a novel points. And that's where I thought I had mine, but it turns out he's a teacher. :-(

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Some of my favorites work for that task. I thought perhaps finding a brand new author, perhaps someone who had published a debut book of short stories to get the not a novel points. And that's where I thought I had mine, but it turns out he's a teacher. :-( "

I started scrolling through the 1001 list and kept hitting 20.5. Was thinking of A Town Like Alice, but Shute was an aeronautical engineer. Just not winning!

Good job we can only do the task once!

My square peg was a nonfiction author - because nonfiction is all lumped together as one type it might make for an easier fit (a squarer peg?)

Kazen wrote: "My square peg was a nonfiction author - because nonfiction is all lumped together as one type it might make for an easier fit (a squarer peg?)"

as long as the NF work does not include business / biography / autobiography / memoir ... there are so many things to check to NOT be on for this Square Peg lol

Since it's only ONE sp, I'm going for either really old NF (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire -if I can get my hands on a volume somewhere) OR a thick action thriller, The Aquitaine Progression by Robert Ludlum. I think I'm safe with either one of these...

Tien wrote: "OR a thick action thriller, The Aquitaine Progression by Robert Ludlum. I think I'm safe with either one of these... "

I see no evidence that Ludlum fits 10.8, 20.5, or 20.6. ;-)

Thanks for checking it out, Elizabeth -always good to have it confirmed :)

Tien wrote: "as long as the NF work does not include business / biography / autobiography / memoir ... there are so many things to check to NOT be on for this Square Peg lol"

Lol So true! I'm just giving up making any kind of general statements this season. :P

How about Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul by Karen Abbott?

I haven't been able to spot anywhere else it fits, but maybe I'm missing something...

Joanna wrote: "How about Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul by Karen Abbott?

I haven't been able to spot anywhere else it fits, bu..."

Looks good from here, Joanna! (And it also looks good.)

Does anyone see a reason The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker would not fit Square Peg? It is a debut work.

Bea wrote: "Does anyone see a reason The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker would not fit Square Peg? It is a debut work."

It appears to tick zero boxes. ;-)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Bea wrote: "Does anyone see a reason The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker would not fit Square Peg? It is a debut work."

It appears to tick zero boxes. ;-)"

Yay!

If the first MPE doesn't give a page number, do you go to the second on list. I'm thinking of In the Sargasso Sea by Thomas A. Janvier

Rebekah wrote: "If the first MPE doesn't give a page number, do you go to the second on list. I'm thinking of In the Sargasso Sea by Thomas A. Janvier"

An ebook is not considered for the MPE unless there are no print editions. In this case, 140 pages will be used because that is the page count of the most popular English language print edition.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "If the first MPE doesn't give a page number, do you go to the second on list. I'm thinking of In the Sargasso Sea by Thomas A. Janvier"

An ebook is ..."

Ok

What exactly is meant by Group Read Leader on the Readerboard? Does the criteria change with each challenge. At first it meant the number of group read books for rank 10.10. But it says for me 3/11 books and I've only read one of them. Is it the number of Jumbo books or oldies?

Rebekah wrote: "What exactly is meant by Group Read Leader on the Readerboard? Does the criteria change with each challenge. At first it meant the number of group read books for rank 10.10. But it says for me 3/11..."

Never mind, I just misread the info after the * . It's the amount of Not a Novels read. The criteria does change with each challenge, right?

That is the Readerboard for who will get to choose a book next season. It has never been based on the number of 10.10 books you read. Just beneath that section is the criteria to qualify. Yes, it changes every season and we post that information before the season starts in the thread on styles, where all of the additional bonuses are posted. This season:

*Group Reads for the Summer 2016 Season will be chosen by RwS Moderators, Mega Finishers, and members that read at least 5 books and earn the highest percentage of Not-a-Novel points in the Spring 2016 Challenge.

I guess I never really noticed it before! I'm blind!

The only edition of Flight by Sherman Alexie that I can find at BPL is an eAudio edition and so doesn't have a YA designation. Can I score it ignoring its low Lexile?

itpdx wrote: "The only edition of Flight by Sherman Alexie that I can find at BPL is an eAudio edition and so doesn't have a YA designation. Can I score it ignoring its low Lexile?"

Yes, if that is the only edition, just as if it weren't shelved at all.

I thought there was more discussion, but I couldnt find it...please forgive if this is repetitive...

Would Don DeLillo count as 20.3?

Gabriel wrote: "I thought there was more discussion, but I couldnt find it...please forgive if this is repetitive...

Would Don DeLillo count as 20.3?"

No, because his name is all one word. If he were to publish as "de Lillo" we would count it.

Would Diane Mott Davidson work for 20.3? I claimed this book for another task. I was just wondering if I could get the combo points.

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Would Diane Mott Davidson work for 20.3? I claimed this book for another task. I was just wondering if I could get the combo points."

No, Mott is a middle name, so doesn't work for 20.3

ok, just wanted to check.