Pick-a-Shelf discussion

January Letters


S
G
R
P
I

This is my plan for January (for now) and is just posted here as an example for you to look through. You do NOT have to post your plans here at all. However, if you wish for a second pair of eyes to check that you've done it rightly, please post & I'll be happy to go through them :)

a. shelf 1: S - Steampunk - The Map of Time (Trilogia Victoriana #1) by Felix J. Palma
b. shelf 2: G - Gothic - The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
c. shelf 3: P - Police Procedural - Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
d. shelf 4: R - Relationships - The Strays by Emily Bitto
e. shelf 5: I - International Politics - Last Night I Dreamed of Peace by Dang Thuy Tram
f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the): R for Raven - Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
g. any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the): P for Peace - Last Night I Dreamed of Peace by Dang Thuy Tram
h. author's first name: S – Sergei Lukyanenko – The Night Watch
i. author's last name: P - Felix J. Palma - The Map of Time (Trilogia Victoriana #1)
j. item on cover: G for Gloves

k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography): S - Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
l. name of character: P – Jimmy Perez - Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves

Right I am going to look at a plan

Shelf 1 Science = The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 18/01/2017
Shelf 2 G = Giveaways Just One Damned Thing After Another 09/01/2017
Shelf 3 P = Paperback Ready Player One 21/01/2017
Shelf 4 R =Retellings The Wicked Will Rise 12/01/2017
Shelf 5 I - Israel = A Small Country about to Vanish 25/01/2017
first word in title (excluding a, an, the): I The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the): P Player Ready Player One 21/01/2017
author's first name: R Rebecca The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 18/01/2017
author's last name: P Paige The Wicked Will Rise 12/01/2017
item on cover P= Piano Keys 25/01/2017
any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography): P Plantagenet The White Queen17/01/2017
name of character: P - Parzival Ready Player One 21/01/2017

Hopefully this list is final

Marie wrote: "Tien am i getting the right idea? "

Well done, Marie, you've got 11/12. The only incorrect one is K.

There's no L in January's letters though you could use G for Great

Tien wrote: "Marie wrote: "Tien am i getting the right idea? "

Well done, Marie, you've got 11/12. The only incorrect one is K.

There's no L in January's letters though you could use G for Great"
thanks Tien i keep reading the I as an L

Then, can you take a look at mine?

a. shelf 1: S - Short Stories ~ Tales of the Peculiar
b. shelf 2: G - Gothic - Jamaica Inn
c. shelf 3: P - Paranormal ~ Ignite Me
d. shelf 4: R - Romance ~ Never Never
e. shelf 5: I - I-Own - The Diary of a Young Girl
f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the): I for In ~ In the Light of the Garden: A Novel
g. any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the): G for Girl ~ The Diary of a Young Girl
h. author's first name: R - for Ranson Riggs ~ Tales of the Peculiar
i. author's last name: R for M.J. Rose ~ The Hypnotist
j. item on cover: S for Ship - Jamaica Inn
k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography): S - Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Ann Cleeves
l. name of character: Skip for Non-Fiction Book (The Diary of a Young Girl

I know that I have several repeats, but I'm a slow reader. LOL Is that what you mean by crossovers?

Cecile, Tien can respond also, but I wanted to note some of the things that popped out for me.

First, the f-l items are the categories and can use the same books as a-e. In light of that, your "f" could be Ignite Me. And your "i" could be Tales of the Peculiar just like your "h", since the author satisfies both. As for "l", the name of a character, you could use Patience from Jamaica Inn. That would make only 5 books to read in January, rather than 7.

That's cool Bea. Can I use the skip another month even though I'm earning it this month?

Also,if I was already planning to read the books as I had laid them out, was my plan ok? I.e. Am I understanding how this work?

Cecile wrote: "That's cool Bea. Can I use the skip another month even though I'm earning it this month?

Also,if I was already planning to read the books as I had laid them out, was my plan ok? I.e. Am I underst..."

Yes, your plan was fine...and yes, you can use the extra books as you laid them out.

Tien can answer the skip question better, but the way I understand the skips is that they are there in case you cannot satisfy the categories, not as a planned thing. But, Tien knows for sure so I will wait on her ruling.

Ok Bea. You have been very helpful and I will keep all of your suggestions in mind in months to come. When I first read the rules of the game I was completely baffled but, now, it doesn't seem so complicated. Thank you!

Plethora's January Scatter

a. shelf 1 - "G" = Gothic
b. shelf 2 - "I" = Inspirational
c. shelf 3 - "P" = Pirates
d. shelf 4 - "R" = Retellings
     The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
     Read:01/01/17
     Fits: pg 1 shelves, retellings, 179 users
e. shelf 5 - "S" = Steampunk
f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the)
g. any word in title (excluding a, an, the)
     The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
     Read:01/01/17
     Fits: Goose in title for "G"
h. author's first name
i. author's last name
j. item on cover
k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography)
l. name of character*

Sorry, Cecile, I don't usually get much time online on weekends and seeing that it's close to Christmas too... it's even worse!

I agree with Bea's points: "First, the f-l items are the categories and can use the same books as a-e. In light of that, your "f" could be Ignite Me. And your "i" could be Tales of the Peculiar just like your "h", since the author satisfies both. As for "l", the name of a character, you could use Patience from Jamaica Inn. That would make only 5 books to read in January, rather than 7. "

Also, your plan as laid out in post #6 is mostly okay except for the Skip.

You will have to earn a Skip first. At the start of the challenge, everyone will have NO Skip. 1 Skip can be earned by reading 2 books that fit any of the conditions as listed in the instructions thread (that is 2 books = 1 Skip). These 2 books can be read as part of the challenge (for any Categories).

The Skips are there just in case if anyone is experiencing any difficulties in meeting a category. However, the challenge is so flexible this time around, I don't really see this happening, except maybe if we come across tough letters all in the 1 set (ie. X Y Z etc). I would suggest that when you've earned some Skips to save them for future difficulties.

Plus, you don't have to read all these books within the month the letters are for. You have until Dec 31, 2017 (except for December letters which you can read up til Jan 31, 2018). I hope this makes sense :)

A Bookworm Reading (Plethora) wrote: "Plethora's January Scatter..."

Plethora, do you have a plan you'd like me to review? I see you've also started your own challenge thread so not sure...?

No, i think I accidentally posted twice. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I was just staring my planning by selecting shelves.

I'd be grateful if someone could double-check my selections:


Shelves
a. S - Supernatural - The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
b. G - Genetic - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
c. P - Paranormal Fantasy - The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman
d. R - Read For School - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
e. I - Insta-Love - The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Categories
f. First word in title - S - The Scorpio Races
g. Any word in title but NOT first - G - The Great Gatsby
h. Author's first name - G - Genevieve Cogman
i. Author's last name - S - Maggie Stiefvater
j. Item on cover - S - String art

k. Any word in Series/Subtitle - I - The Invisible Library (#3 - The Burning Page )
l. Name of character - P - Puck Connolly (from The Scorpio Races)

Ariel wrote: "I'd be grateful if someone could double-check my selections:"

Looks good, Ariel! *thumbs up*

How does this look?

January: S G P R I

a. shelf 1: S - Shelfari wish list The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
b. shelf 2: G - Giveaways - Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
c. shelf 3: P -Popular fiction - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
d. shelf 4: R -Realistic Fiction - Home to Woefield by Susan Juby
e. shelf 5: I - interlibrary loan - Republic Of Dirt : A Return to Woefield Farm by Susan Juby
f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the): S -The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
g. any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the): S -The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives (Segi's)
h. author's first name: S - Susan Juby
i. author's last name: S - The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
j. item on cover: S - Silhouette The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography): R - (for Return) Republic Of Dirt : A Return to Woefield Farm
l. name of character: S - Babi Segi in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives

I still have to plan my books for this! I better hurry, because it will be january in no time.

Tien, can you please take a look at my plan?

Januari: S G P R I

a. shelf 1 S - Survival - Rosa's Gold
b. shelf 2 G - Gothic - Jamaica Inn
c. shelf 3 P - Pregnant-heroine - In the Barren Ground
d. shelf 4 R - Reincarnation - The Hypnotist
e. shelf 5 I -in-the-whole - Evelyn, After
f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the) In - In the Barren Ground
g. any word in title (excluding a, an, the) - Gold - Rosa's Gold
h. author's first name - Ray - Rosa's Gold
i. author's last name - Rose - The Hypnotist
j. item on cover S for Ship - Jamaica Inn
k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography) - Reincarnationist - The Hypnotist
l. name of character* - Patience - Jamaica Inn

Sorry for the delay, Karin & Lusie... your plans look good, good luck!

Thank you Tien! No worries, I guessed you were just busy with the holidays.

This is tricky! I got everything but one ... can I read a sixth book to cover it?

JANUARY
S ~ G ~ R ~ P ~ I

❖ k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography) ●

S

❖ a. shelf 1 ● Social Issues
❖ f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the) ● SMALL
❖ j. item on cover ● SQUARES


G

❖ b. shelf 2 ● Giveaway-Entry

R

❖ c. shelf 3 ● radar
❖ h. author's first name ● Rainbow
❖ i. author's last name ● Rowell

P

❖ d. shelf 4 ● Parenting
❖ l. name of character. ● Sookie POOLE

I

❖ e. shelf 5 ● Io9
❖ g. any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the) ● IN

♞ Pat wrote: "This is tricky! I got everything but one ... can I read a sixth book to cover it?


JANUARY

S ~ G ~ R ~ P ~ I

❖ k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography)"

Pat, the series title for A Lowcountry Christmas is Lowcountry SUMMER, which will satisfy that category.

Bea wrote: "Pat, the series title for A Lowcountry Christmas is Lowcountry SUMMER, which will satisfy that category.


I can do that? I mean, I knew it was SUMMER, and at one point I'd even written it down, but then I thought that I'd used up the S options with the Small Things book.

I'm obviously a bit confused, but the light might be beginning to dawn. I have to use a different book for each shelf, but after that, the categories are fluid and I can put whichever book fits into them. Is that right?

I think I'll set my posting form up a bit differently if that's the case --

So - This works?


JANUARY
S ~ G ~ R ~ P ~ I

❖ a. shelf 1 ● Social Issues
❖ b. shelf 2 ● Giveaway-Entry
❖ c. shelf 3 ● radar
❖ d. shelf 4 ● Parenting
❖ e. shelf 5 ● Io9
❖ f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the) ● SMALL
❖ g. any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the) ● IN
❖ h. author's first name ● RAINBOW
❖ i. author's last name ● ROWELL
❖ j. item on cover ● SQUARES
❖ k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography) ● SUMMER
❖ l. name of character. ● Sookie POOLE

♞ Pat wrote: "So - This works?"

Yes, that works.

♞ Pat wrote: "I have to use a different book for each shelf, but after that, the categories are fluid and I can put whichever book fits into them. Is that right?"

Yes! :)

Tien wrote: "Sorry for the delay, Karin & Lusie... your plans look good, good luck!"

Thanks! Not to worry, I figured you were busy with your family over the holidays :)

If someone could check that I've done this right that would be great.

January
S G R P I

Shelf 1: Science - Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
Shelf 2: General - Suck It, Wonder Woman!: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek
Shelf 3: read-in-2016 - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
Shelf 4: Personal-library - Cinder
Shelf 5: Illustrated - The Ice Dragon
f. first word in title (excluding a, an the) - G Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
g. any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the) - I Suck It, Wonder Woman!: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek
h. author's first name - G The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin
i. author's last name - R Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach
j. item on cover - S Shoe
k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. am, an, the, novel, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography) - S Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
l. name of character - S - Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

Karen wrote: "If someone could check that I've done this right that would be great.

January
S G R P I"

Looks good, Karen.

I'm a little late with my planning, but if you could check my plan for Janaury, I'll feel better and like I actually know what I'm doing...

Letters: S-G-R-P-I




Shelves:
a. shelf 1 - S: shapesifters ~ Ice/Reaux - Alexandra Ivy
b. shelf 2 - G: guilty-pleasure ~ Perfectly Imperfect - Harper Sloan
c. shelf 3 - R: realistic-contemporary ~ The Protector - Marliss Melton
d. shelf 4 - P: purple-mtn-majesty ~ Derrick - Donna Fasano
e. shelf 5 - I: insta-love ~ Darkest Before Dawn - Maya Banks

Categories:
f. first word in title: Ice ~ Ice/Reaux - Alexandra Ivy
g. any word in title but NOT first: Imperfect ~ Perfectly Imperfect - Harper Sloan
h. author's first name: Isabella ~ The Candidate's Wife - Isabella Ashe
i. author's last name: Ivy ~ Ice/Reaux - Alexandra Ivy
j. item on cover: Gun ~ Darkest Before Dawn - Maya Banks
k. any word in Series/Subtitle: Single ~ Derrick - Donna Fasano ~ Single Daddy Club series
l. name of character: Ice ~ Ice/Reaux - Alexandra Ivy

A couple of questions...
For "b", if I don't read it in January, I have until the end of December to actually read it? And if it happens to match a category or shelf in Feb, I can still use it for Feb as long as I haven't read it yet and it's not for the same category? And if that's so, I can keep using it as a match until such time as I actually read it (and don't use it for the same categories or shelves)?

LaurLa wrote: "I'm a little late with my planning, but if you could check my plan for Janaury, I'll feel better and like I actually know what I'm doing..."

Your plan looks good, LaurLa.

There are 2 books that have been planned for only 1 category: The Protector and The Candidate's Wife. You could use The Candidate's Wife for your R shelf: romance, romance-realistic, rich-ceo, rich-man-poor-woman, etc

The shelves aren't limited to the book page.

And for the rest of your questions: yes, yes, and yes :)

Tien wrote: "LaurLa wrote: "I'm a little late with my planning, but if you could check my plan for Janaury, I'll feel better and like I actually know what I'm doing..."

Your plan looks good, LaurLa.

There are..."

OMG! I'm such and idiot! Somewhere I got it stuck in my head that I had to use the letter "I" for the author's first name... so I searched and searched to find one. I'll actually replace that with another book using S. *smh*

I'm working on my plan now

Shelves:
a. shelf 1 - S: Suspense: Still Mine - Amy Stuart
b. shelf 2 - G: General Fiction - The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffeneggar
c. shelf 3 - R: Romance: The Royal We - Heather Cocks
d. shelf 4 - P: Psychological Thriller: The Gift - Louise Jensen
e. shelf 5 - I: Ireland - Broken Harbor - Tana French

Categories:
f. first word in title: (The) Royal We - Heather Cocks
g. any word in title but NOT first: S: Open Season - Linda Howard
h. author's first name:
i. author's last name: S: Still Mine - Amy Stuart
j. item on cover: S: Shoes - The Time Travelers Wife
k. any word in Series/Subtitle: S: Broken Harbor - Dublin Murder Squad (S = squad).
l. name of character: S: Broken Harbor - Scorcher Kennedy

I notice that all the plans here have the five shelves each starting with a different letter. Is that required or are my five shelves okay?
Sailing
Politics
Ghosts
Intrigue
Islam

Coralie wrote: "I notice that all the plans here have the five shelves each starting with a different letter. Is that required or are my five shelves okay?
Sailing
Politics
Ghosts
Intrigue
Islam"

I hope so, because that's how my plan came together!

Here's what Tien says in the rules (and what I'm working off of for my planning, so hopefully I'm not ripping out of context):

You may read from 2 shelves with the same initial letter from the month's set as long as they are completely different shelves, eg. "adult" & "America".

Hope I'm not leading you down the wrong path!

Can I get mine checked, pretty please?? Just want to be sure I'm on the right track...

a. shelf 1: S - Supernatural - Storm Glass
b. shelf 2: S - Short Story Collection - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
c. shelf 3: R - Romance - Goddess of the Sea
d. shelf 4: G - Gothic - The Architect of Song
e. shelf 5: I - Inspirational - Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus

f. first word in title (excluding a, an, the) S - Storm Glass
g. any word in title but NOT first (excluding a, an, the) G - Storm Glass
h. author's first name P - P.C. Cast, Goddess of the Sea
i. author's last name S - Maria V. Snyder, Storm Glass
j. item on cover G - The Architect of Song, grave stone

k. any word in Series name / Subtitle (excl. a, an, the, novel, trilogy, series, chronicles, memoir, biography, autobiography) G - Storm Glass, "Glass #1"
l. name of character I - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler

Raine wrote: "I'm working on my plan now

Shelves:
a. shelf 1 - S: Suspense: Still Mine - Amy Stuart
b. shelf 2 - G: General Fiction - The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffeneggar
c. shelf 3 - R: Romance: The Royal We - Heather Cocks
d. shelf 4 - P: Psychological Thriller: The Gift
e. shelf 5 - I: Ireland - Broken Harbor - Tana French

Categories:
f. first word in title: (The) Royal We - Heather Cocks
g. any word in title but NOT first: S: Open Season - Linda Howard
h. author's first name: L: The Gift - Louise Jenson
i. author's last name: S: Still Mine - Amy Stuart
j. item on cover: S: Shoes - The Time Travelers Wife
k. any word in Series/Subtitle: I: The Next Always - Nora Roberts (Inn Boonsboro #1)
l. name of character: S: Broken Harbor - Scorcher Kennedy"

My first response, Raine, is that it is easier to check the plans with the book links provided. Given that, for category g, you could have used The Gift (G = Gift in title) and, for category k, you could have used Broken Harbor for the series title of Dublin Murder Squad (S = squad).

That means you can read one less book for January than you had originally planned.

Bea wrote: "Raine wrote: "I'm working on my plan now

Shelves:
a. shelf 1 - S: Suspense: Still Mine - Amy Stuart
b. shelf 2 - G: General Fiction - The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffeneggar
c. shelf 3 - R: ..."


This brings up a question... Bea, you said to Raine "for category g, you could have used The Gift (G = Gift in title)", but the first word in the title is The and I thought we were to ignore A, An, The... so I guess in my mind, that would make Gift the first word... keep in mind I'm basing that on the fact that The Gift would also work for category f... so when considering a word in the title that isn't the first, we would actually count A, An, or The as the first word?

LaurLa wrote: "so when considering a word in the title that isn't the first, we would actually count A, An, or The as the first word?"

Good point, LaurLa. Raine...I have edited my comment above.

Raine wrote: "h. author's first name: L: The Gift - Louise Jenson"

There's no "L" in January, Raine... I know, I also have the problem in seeing capital "i" as a small "L" ;p

Coralie wrote: "I notice that all the plans here have the five shelves each starting with a different letter. Is that required or are my five shelves okay?
Sailing
Politics
Ghosts
Intrigue
Islam"

Your shelves are fine, Coralie.

@CassieV: spot on! ;)

CassieV wrote: "Can I get mine checked, pretty please?? Just want to be sure I'm on the right track ..."

Looks good, CassieV!

Enjoy Glass series, I love Snyder!

I do too! So glad I could fit it in for this, I've been wanting to get to this series for a while :)

Thanks for checking, Tien!

Tien wrote: "Raine wrote: "h. author's first name: L: The Gift - Louise Jenson"

There's no "L" in January, Raine... I know, I also have the problem in seeing capital "i" as a small "L" ;p"

Okay - I'm going to fix this now - I'll get the hang of it!

Question: can I use the same book for different categories? I wasn't sure about that.

Raine wrote: "Question: can I use the same book for different categories? I wasn't sure about that."

Yes, multiple categories for the same book but only one shelf per book.