The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Please post your general questions about the Spring 2017 Challenge here. Specific questions about individual tasks should be posted in the Help Threads for those tasks.

Tasks will begin to be posted on 2/18.

Wasn't sure where to ask this...so, when a participant passes their task to someone else, does that mean they are eligible for tasks that have not yet been assigned , or does that still count as them having a task for that season?

Justme wrote: "Wasn't sure where to ask this...so, when a participant passes their task to someone else, does that mean they are eligible for tasks that have not yet been assigned , or does that still count as th..."

It counts as having a task that season. That's the only opportunity for a task during the season for the task earner and the person the task was passed to.

I was looking through Atlas of Cursed Places: A Travel Guide to Dangerous and Frightful Destinations, which I was hoping to use for the map task. It's got about 40 maps in it that are full page, which would put it just above the page requirement. Would this still be okay to use or would the amount of pictures disqualify it?

Asking here because it's more of a general question than wondering if it fits the task.

Are there more than 100pgs of writing with the pictures?

I haven't started it yet, but it looks like it.

Maya wrote: "I was looking through Atlas of Cursed Places: A Travel Guide to Dangerous and Frightful Destinations, which I was hoping to use for the map task. It's got about 40 maps in it that a..."

It looks like it would work for SRC tasks. Is is not primarily images.

Thank you :)

Justme's question reminds me of something I've wondered for a while. Does winning the logo desitn poll automatically mean you aren't allowed a task that season; or vice versa would finishing the challenge and gaining a task mean you were no longer eligible for the logo vote? Or are the two totally separate?

Trish wrote: "Justme's question reminds me of something I've wondered for a while. Does winning the logo desitn poll automatically mean you aren't allowed a task that season; or vice versa would finishing the ch..."

The logo design contest is independent of any task. Any group member can submit a design. The winning design becomes our logo and masthead. The designer is still eligible for any task opportunity.

Dlmrose wrote: "The logo design contest is independent of any task. Any group member can submit a design. The winning design becomes our logo and masthead. The designer is still eligible for any task opportunity. "

Cheers. Thanks for the clarification.

I don't know if that's the right place to ask this, but...
I'm planning to read this Kindle edition for one of the tasks - Ellen Foster - and I don't know how to post it. Do I need to have it checked on the "eBook Verification" thread even though it has print editions? Or do I make a post with links to the actual edition I read and for a print edition?

Amanda wrote: "I don't know if that's the right place to ask this, but...
I'm planning to read this Kindle edition for one of the tasks - Ellen Foster - and I don't know how to post it. Do I need ..."

The ebook verification thread is only necessary if there's no print edition. Link to both, but make sure that you follow the Rules of the Challenge for determining the appropriate paper edition to use to establish length. Also, make sure that the paper edition actually includes page numbers - if not, you can ask a librarian to help, and this should be done before posting the task.

Sandy wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I don't know if that's the right place to ask this, but...
I'm planning to read this Kindle edition for one of the tasks - Ellen Foster - and I don't know how to post..."

Okay, thanks!

just wanted to check in on the points total for this round. i'm coming up with 850 for Spring 2017. does that sound right? thanks! :)

kiki wrote: "just wanted to check in on the points total for this round. i'm coming up with 850 for Spring 2017. does that sound right? thanks! :)"

850 is right. Breakdown of each task set is found here. :)

Maya wrote: "kiki wrote: "just wanted to check in on the points total for this round. i'm coming up with 850 for Spring 2017. does that sound right? thanks! :)"

850 is right. Breakdown of each task set is foun..."

great, thank you! missed that post somehow.

it's been awhile since i actually posted a finished task here. can someone direct me to where i can find the "codes" to make text bold in a post? or just tell me how to do it? i'm a little rusty! :) thanks for the help!

kiki wrote: "it's been awhile since i actually posted a finished task here. can someone direct me to where i can find the "codes" to make text bold in a post? or just tell me how to do it? i'm a little rusty! :..."

< b > at the beginning and < / b > at the end of whatever you want bolded, with no spaces obviously :)

Cait S wrote: "kiki wrote: "it's been awhile since i actually posted a finished task here. can someone direct me to where i can find the "codes" to make text bold in a post? or just tell me how to do it? i'm a li..."

oh thank you! now that i see it, i remember it! thanks, CaitS, you're the best! :)

also if you click on the some html ok that is at the top of the box you write in - you can see examples

Dee wrote: "also if you click on the some html ok that is at the top of the box you write in - you can see examples"

oooooooh, good to know! thanks, Dee! :)

I read a book that has a paperback edition and an ebook edition.
The paperback edition does not list the page numbers. I understand that I need to ask a librarian for help? How do I go about doing that?
Thanks.
The book wasEverything but the Truth.

Unfortunately the Amazon page doesn't list a page count - so I can't fix it right now but I'll try to locate the info

Vicki wrote: "I read a book that has a paperback edition and an ebook edition.
The paperback edition does not list the page numbers. I understand that I need to ask a librarian for help? How do I go about doing..."

For future reference, you can always go to the SRC thread Anyone with Librarian Status.

Vicki, neither Worldcat nor Amazon list page counts for this paperback. I did notice that it was just published (3/9/17) so it might take a bit for that info to be available.

Ok, thanks for the help everyone. I will wait and see if it is added at some point.

What can I do if I read a book for a main page genre task, only to find out that in the time between planning to read the book and actually claiming the task as done, the genre needed has disappeared off the main page?

I never expected the book to lose that genre (silly of me, I know), but is there a way I can salvage this, or do I need to read another book and fit this one into another task instead?

Bouchra, the main page genres come and go and come again. You can wait until it shows again...and then either get it approved in the genre thread or post quickly hoping it will remain. You have until the end of May to get it posted.

Bouchra wrote: "What can I do if I read a book for a main page genre task, only to find out that in the time between planning to read the book and actually claiming the task as done, the genre needed has disappear..."

I usually get the book approved in the task thread in the beginning just in case the genre falls off the page.

I hope I'm asking this question in the right place. It's about rule 3 (length of books allowed in the challenge). I understand you can combine two plays to reach the 100 page requirement, but I wanted to check if both the plays must be shorter than 100 pages or if I could read one play of less than 100 pages and one of more than 100 pages and have them count as one book?

And, related to that - for the tasks where you need to read at least 500 pages, would it be okay if one of the books is actually two plays added together to total more than 100 pages?

Thanks for your advice about this!

Bryony wrote: "I hope I'm asking this question in the right place. It's about rule 3 (length of books allowed in the challenge). I understand you can combine two plays to reach the 100 page requirement, but I wan..."

The rule: Only plays or books of poetry may be combined to reach the 100 page minimum.

You asked "if I could read one play of less than 100 pages and one of more than 100 pages and have them count as one book?"

If one is more than 100 pages you would not need to read another play to reach the 100 page requirement. It alone would meet the page limit.

You asked "for the tasks where you need to read at least 500 pages, would it be okay if one of the books is actually two plays added together to total more than 100 pages? "

That would only work if the two plays were shorter than 100 pages each. You may not combine plays that are 100+ pages for a single task option. That would be reading more than the 2 books required for the task.
I'm not sure what you mean by "two plays added together". If the plays were published in a collection you could read the collection as a book to fulfill the task.

Thank you Dlmrose, and sorry I worded my question badly. I'm going to check if the play I wanted to read is available in a collection (and if my library have it) so I can then use the collection to fulfil the task requirements. Thanks again for your help.

Margaret wrote: "I read many classics, poetry books, and nonfiction titles. They usually have lengthy forewords, introductions, and notes by someone other than the main author. Does this mean they can't be used for..."

From the rules:
Only authors that are identified as authors (or a default blank in the author role field), co-authors, or contributors may be used for tasks involving author information. Other roles or functions such as editor, illustrator, artist, translator, introduction, designed by, foreward, preface, assistant or afterword may not be used for author-sourced tasks.

If the additional role is identified-"introduction", "biographical note", etc. then that person is not considered an author for SRC tasks.

I'm slightly confused. I've just listened to A Study in Scarlet which included a second story about Mormons. My question is can I use the individual a study in scarlet book for a task? I know anthologies can be used if each story has also been published separately but I'm just not sure if these stories have been published separately. Is this edition of A Study in Scarlet ok to use?

Becky P wrote: "I'm slightly confused. I've just listened to A Study in Scarlet which included a second story about Mormons. My question is can I use the individual a study in scarlet book for a ta..."

Actually, I recently listened to this as well - and the part about Mormons is NOT a second story - it's part of the whole explanation of the basic plot. So, you can certainly use it, but you have to read/listen to the entire book.

Ah okay thank you! The title of the audio book says "AND" and from what I've listened to so far it didn't seem to have anything to do with the other part of the book. I'll keep listening then

Becky P wrote: "Ah okay thank you! The title of the audio book says "AND" and from what I've listened to so far it didn't seem to have anything to do with the other part of the book. I'll keep listening then"

I thought the same thing, but I kept listening and then it all came together.

I've noticed the general rule about omnibus is that you can use them separately - but can you use the omnibus as one book? I'm trying to use The Iron Tower for 30.3 but just found out this is actually an omnibus. Thanks.

Maya wrote: "I've noticed the general rule about omnibus is that you can use them separately - but can you use the omnibus as one book? I'm trying to use The Iron Tower for 30.3 but just found out..."

sure, as long as you read the whole thing.

I have a question about which edition of a book I would use to verify the length of a book if I read it in ebook format.

The Kindle edition is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and is 311 pages.
The top MMPB is in French Le cercle littéraire des amateurs d'épluchures de patates and is 411 pages.

As there's such a big difference in page count I just wanted to check if I've applied the rule correctly here by using the top MMPB. Thank you!

Bryony wrote: "I have a question about which edition of a book I would use to verify the length of a book if I read it in ebook format.

The Kindle edition is [book:The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Socie..."

Yes, that's the top MMPB

The rules:

If you read an ebook, or audiobook use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.

>If there are multiple editions in a format:
From the editions page (click all editions on the main book page)
Set the Format, beginning with Mass Market Paperback
Set the Sort By as "num ratings"
Use the top edition result to determine the page number for ebooks and audiobooks
If there are no editions in MMPB, reset with Paperback and the same sort (num ratings). If there are no paperback editions, reset with Hardcover and the same sort (num ratings). If there are no print editions the ebook or audiobook may not be used for a task requiring a page number

> If the sort results in a Large Type edition at the top omit that book and move to the next record or format.

> If the sort results in an edition in a language other than English the edition SHOULD be used to establish length.

Great, thank you!

I want to read a book The Girl Who Stole the Apple for a task with page requirements

this does have a paperback editionThe Girl Who Stole the Apple but no page numbers on it

can it be used

@ Marie: I have added the page count (as well as other data) to the paperback. You are good to go to use it.

Bea wrote: "@ Marie: I have added the page count (as well as other data) to the paperback. You are good to go to use it."

thank you

Margaret wrote: "I have a question about whether literary magazines are allowed. I've used McSweeney's for tasks before and they haven't been noted as problems. (I want to use this one for spring if I can finish it..."

We've allowed McSweeney's because it's not a typical magazine - no ads, etc. Really more like an anthology.