Reading with Style discussion

Please post any questions about our Summer Sub-Challenge here.

I am interested in slotting this book: A History of Birdwatching in 100 Objects in for 15.7. Does the numeral count as one word?

Valerie wrote: "I am interested in slotting this book: A History of Birdwatching in 100 Objects in for 15.7. Does the numeral count as one word?"

Yes it does. Karen's bird task a couple of seasons ago keeps on giving!

I think it will be helpful to keep an eye on the number of spaces in the combined title/subtitle, A 7-word title & subtitle will generally have 6 spaces. Hyphenated words (and numbers) will be counted as one word.

You're always welcome to ask, just in case!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I am interested in slotting this book: A History of Birdwatching in 100 Objects in for 15.7. Does the numeral count as one word?"

Yes it does. Karen's bird task a c..."

Funny! I am a birder, so I have 2+ shelves of bird/birdwatching books! Thanks for the quick answer.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I think it will be helpful to keep an eye on the number of spaces in the combined title/subtitle, A 7-word title & subtitle will generally have 6 spaces. Hyphenated words (and numbers) will be counted as one word.

You're always welcome to ask, just in case!"

So Terms & Conditions: Life in Girls’ Boarding-Schools, 1939–1979 has eight words?

Lagullande wrote: "So Terms & Conditions: Life in Girls’ Boarding-Schools, 1939–1979 has eight words? "

Yes!

The Works of Edgar Allen Poe?Volume 1 is 8 words, right?

and is The Unrest-Cure and Other Stories 5 or 6 words?

and the ampersand in Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation counts as a word? Making this a 10-worder?

Ed wrote: "The Works of Edgar Allen Poe?Volume 1 is 8 words, right?

and is The Unrest-Cure and Other Stories 5 or 6 words?

and the ampersand in [book:Eats, Shoots & Leaves: T..."

Yes 8 words (I fixed it so the spacing is accurate)

5 words (Unrest-cure is one word)

Yes, 10 words

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "The Works of Edgar Allen Poe?Volume 1 is 8 words, right?

and is The Unrest-Cure and Other Stories 5 or 6 words?

and the ampersand in [book:Eats, Shoots ..."

Great...thanks!

Three Cheers for Lucia!: A New Mapp and Lucia Novel is a 10 worder, right? Just want to make sure that isn't considered a generic subtitle.

Ed wrote: "Three Cheers for Lucia!: A New Mapp and Lucia Novel is a 10 worder, right? Just want to make sure that isn't considered a generic subtitle."

Yes, 10 words, not a generic subtitle.

Additional Bonuses:
50 for using books published in a single century (xx01-xx00)

This is probably unlikely but thought I'd ask, is it ok for multiple books published in the same year within the century?

Tien wrote: "Additional Bonuses:
50 for using books published in a single century (xx01-xx00)

This is probably unlikely but thought I'd ask, is it ok for multiple books published in the same year within the c..."

Yes.

Can I have We Can Remember It For You Wholesale for seven letters?

Can numerical order be a count down or does it need to be a count up?

Beth wrote: "Can numerical order be a count down or does it need to be a count up?"

Either way, as long as you don't dance around.

Coralie wrote: "Can I have We Can Remember It For You Wholesale for seven letters?"

I'll have to look closer at this one. The MPE is under 100 pages, but there may be a combining issue that I can fix for you.

Coralie wrote: "Can I have We Can Remember It For You Wholesale for seven letters?"

The MPE for this is Total Recall, and we would use that title. Also, that is the only edition that purports to have over 100 pages - 395! - and I can't verify anywhere that is correct. Since it is more than 300 pages more than the other editions, I am suspicious that it wouldn't qualify on page count either.

I wanted to read Our Town by Thornton Wilder for this task. It's listed as YA on BPL and has an NP (Non-Prose, thus not measurable by Lexile) designation on Lexile.

BUT on Bloom's Canon, Three Plays: Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth, and The Matchmaker is listed and Our Town is one of the "Three Plays." Can I read just the one play for the task and have it covered under the Bloom's Canon caveat?

Anika wrote: "I wanted to read Our Town by Thornton Wilder for this task. It's listed as YA on BPL and has an NP (Non-Prose, thus not measurable by Lexile) designation on Lexile.

BU..."

Yes you can. We try to favor the member when titles are grouped.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Anika wrote: "I wanted to read Our Town by Thornton Wilder for this task. It's listed as YA on BPL and has an NP (Non-Prose, thus not measurable by Lexile) designation ..."

Yay! Thank you! And thank you for your speedy response :-)

With anthologies of short stories ... do all the contributors need to be one gender to qualify for the bonus?

Beth wrote: "With anthologies of short stories ... do all the contributors need to be one gender to qualify for the bonus?"

Yes - we'll go with the all for the all on this.

So, by one gender, that means all of the authors of the books are one gender, correct? I am guessing this by the anthology. It might seem silly, but sometimes I overthink things and was coming up with some ideas that are probably too complicated, anyway.

Karin wrote: "So, by one gender, that means all of the authors of the books are one gender, correct? I am guessing this by the anthology. It might seem silly, but sometimes I overthink things and was coming up w..."

Yes, all of your books will be by either all men or all women.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "So, by one gender, that means all of the authors of the books are one gender, correct? I am guessing this by the anthology. It might seem silly, but sometimes I overthink things and w..."

Thanks. I like this as I enjoy bonus points (shocking, I know ;) ), but also having something extra to make it a bit more challenging to organize but it's not really difficult, either, so it's great for summer.

Also, I see that articles count in the count (yes, redundant on purpose). This is good to know!

Just to verify, this title counts as 7 words:

Flotsam: A Novel of World War II

Thanks!

Deedee wrote: "Just to verify, this title counts as 7 words:

Flotsam: A Novel of World War II

Thanks!"

Yes it does. Definitely not a generic subtitle.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Can I have We Can Remember It For You Wholesale for seven letters?"

The MPE for this is Total Recall, and we would use that title. Also, that is the ..."

I think the short story is mixed in with the anthology. My copy is definitely the 395 page anthology.

Coralie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Can I have We Can Remember It For You Wholesale for seven letters?"

The MPE for this is Total Recall, and we would use tha..."

I couldn't see which was which. I'll be glad to separate them. What is the ISBN?

Coralie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Can I have We Can Remember It For You Wholesale for seven letters?"

The MPE for this is Total Recall, and we would use tha..."

OK, I separated out the editions that look like the anthology - all have substantially more pages than the stand alone story. Total Recall is still the MPE, so could count for your 2-word title.

Houseboat Chronicles - Notes from a Life in Shield Country by Jake Macdonald is 9 words?
That is a dash rather than a hyphen?

itpdx wrote: "Houseboat Chronicles - Notes from a Life in Shield Country by Jake Macdonald is 9 words?
That is a dash rather than a hyphen?"

Yes, 9 words; edited "-" to a colon to conform with GR policy.

Just double checked that you can complete as many times as you wish! I have come up with at least two good solid lists!

Eight words, correct? Women, Work, and Sexual Politics in Eighteenth-Century England

Karin wrote: "Eight words, correct? Women, Work, and Sexual Politics in Eighteenth-Century England"

Correct

Would Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg be considered 10 words?

Connie wrote: "Would Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg be considered 10 words?"

Yes!

How many words are in this title? Is it nine?

War in Val d'Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944

Connie wrote: "How many words are in this title? Is it nine?

War in Val d'Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944"

Yes, nine!

I would like to use The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History for 15.6, but I am unsure if the subtitles counts as non-generic?

Louise Bro wrote: "I would like to use The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History for 15.6, but I am unsure if the subtitles counts as non-generic?"

That one is fine.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Louise Bro wrote: "I would like to use The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History for 15.6, but I am unsure if the subtitles counts as non-generic?"

That one is fine."

Thanks!

Can I get some clarification on the rules for reading in the "right" order?

In messages 80 and 81 of Summer 2015 help thread, it was not ok to read the sub-challenge books out of order, provided we only posted for points in the right order. I had thought this might be ok, as we would be bearing the risk of not being able to get credit for a read book unless/until we had also read the "earlier" book(s).

But messages 63 and 64 of Spring 2017 help thread suggest that it is now ok, and that you can still get the relevant bonus.

Lagullande wrote: "Can I get some clarification on the rules for reading in the "right" order?

In messages 80 and 81 of Summer 2015 help thread, it was not ok to read the sub-challenge books out of order, provided w..."

I can't control the order in which you read your books, nor do I want to. We set up the bones of a challenge and hope our members can use that structure to enhance their reading lives. Each member approaches the challenge differently. For some, posting in order is the same as reading in order, for others, there is an interest in following a strict reading plan. I want people to feel like this is a challenge for them and to use it in a way most appropriate for their reading.

Kate S wrote: "For some, posting in order is the same as reading in order, for others, there is an interest in following a strict reading plan. I want people to feel like this is a challenge for them and to use it in a way most appropriate for their reading. "

I had to ask for the left-brained actuary in me who can't cope without rules to follow;-) But your reply is eminently sensible and very fair to everyone. Thanks, Kate.

Does Three Cheers for Lucia!: A New Mapp and Lucia Novel count as a 4 or 10 worder?

Ed wrote: "Does Three Cheers for Lucia!: A New Mapp and Lucia Novel count as a 4 or 10 worder?"

Looks like 10!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "Does Three Cheers for Lucia!: A New Mapp and Lucia Novel count as a 4 or 10 worder?"

Looks like 10!"

Thanks!