Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members
Rosaline
Navi
Sarah
Lindsay

Team Spreadsheet
Status Sheet

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Read a book...
10 first published on the 10th of a month
9 with at least nine characters (need to have a speaking part, do not need to be main characters)
8 that has a carnivorous animal on the cover
7 written by an author who has published at least seven books (as listed on Goodreads)
6 that is number six in the series
5 that was first published in the 1950s
4 where the audio version has at least four narrators
3 that is part of what was originally a planned trilogy, but became a longer series (can include .5 books added later)
2 that has two authors (as credited on goodreads)
1 which is the author's debut novel

I love the group photo!

Hello team! I love the photo too, very epic!

Since I don't know any of you yet, a quick introduction might be good! I'm Sarah, 33, from Ohio. I've always loved to read, but this year I discovered reading challenges and my hobby kind of turned into an obsession, haha. I tend to read genre fiction - mostly fantasy, scifi, horror, mysteries/thrillers, and m/m romance - but will pick up anything if it looks interesting enough.

I love finding books to suit challenge tasks, so I'm already looking for books even though the challenge doesn't start for three weeks! I can probably find something to fit any of them, but the one jumping out at me to start is the book published in the 1950s - I've had The Bird's Nest on my list for a while.

Hi Sarah - nice to e-meet you!

My name is Navi. I'm a 29 year old living in British Columbia, Canada. This is my first foray into reading challenges. I'm super excited to get started and find some great book recommendations along the way.

I try to read across a wide array of different genres but recently have been drawn to Literary Fiction, Fantasy, History, Biography and Science Fiction.

After looking at the challenges, I think I can find something for each of them except for a book that is number six in the series. The series I'm currently reading are trilogies and I don't think I will have time to read 5 books in a series to get to 6.

How do we want to go about assigning the various tasks?

Sarah- I love Shirley Jackson! I have not read The Bird's Nest yet. My favourite was definitely her short story collection - so eerie/spooky!

Hi Navi! Welcome to the reading challenge world - beware, it's addictive! And oh my gosh, yes, Shirley Jackson is one of my all-time favorites. I can never decide which I like better between The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle!

For the tasks, I figured we could each call out whichever ones appeal to us, then divide up what's left over. Maybe we can make a separate planning spreadsheet where we can sign up for tasks?

Okay that’s a great idea! I can make a basic spreadsheet template tomorrow unless any of you know how to make it look pretty!

I can take task 8 if no one else wants it. I’ve been meaning to read for some time now!

Hi guys, I'm Rosaline. I already know you guys a bit. I am a 21 year old bookworm whose obsession with fictional characters is starting to become dangerous. I love reading challenges mostly because they help me decide on what to read next and keep me on track in my reading challenge.
I mostly read high fantasy, dark erotic romance, and paranormal/UF novels. But there's basically nothing that I wouldn't read.

Since I have so many unfinished series, number 6 is perfect for me. I have read 4 books of my favorite series so far, the 5th book matches number 9 so I can read it for that before getting to book 6. Also I think I can do number one, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns has been sitting on my TBR list for a long time now.

Sorry for the late reply! Yesterday was really crazy for me!
My name is Lindsay - I’m 25 years old and I live in NYC. I am in podiatry school and reading tends to be my only escape these days. I like reading anything that appeals to me - lately it’s been psychological thrillers, romance, fiction, etc. I started doing solo challenges in June but I’ve been wanting to make more friends so I was really excited for this group challenge!

Nice to meet you all! Sounds like we will be a great group!

After checking out some of the other groups, it looks like we can add a planning tab to the team spreadsheet. I'll start setting something up. If you don't have access to our sheet, you can PM the mod account and they will get you in.

Have any of you participated in this type of challenge before?

Thanks, Sarah. I have access to the spreadsheet now!

I can also take Task #10 with Space Opera! If any of you really want a task that I've claimed, please let me know. I'm open to changing my TBR :)

I haven't done this kind of challenge before, but I've done many individual challenges. I recently started doing the Seasonal Reading Challenge, which is pretty intense!

Lindsay, any of the countdown tasks look like they would fit your TBR? I want to make sure everyone gets a chance to claim what they want.

If we divide them up equally, two of us will read two books and the other two will read three for the countdown. Remember that these have to all be complete before we can even start reading for the points-scoring part of the challenge.

Sarah wrote: "I haven't done this kind of challenge before, but I've done many individual challenges. I recently started doing the Seasonal Reading Challenge, which is pretty intense!"

Omg, I tried to do the Seasonal Reading Challenge - I could not keep up lol!


I'm going to find shorter books for my tasks! I have decided to go with instead of the American Wolf.

Do we have to start these books after the beginning date of the challenge? Or just end them at that time?

Rosaline wrote: "Do we have to start these books after the beginning date of the challenge? Or just end them at that time?"

I copied/pasted the following from the Q&A thread:

Gavin wrote: "Do books we started reading before joining a team (but are still currently reading) count?"

You will only be able to use books you start after the challenge starts, 12 August.

I saw Lindsay claimed task 7 (author with at least 7 books) in the planning sheet - our list is coming together! I will also cover number 3 (part of a planned trilogy that became longer) with The White Road.

Also, I just saw on another group (yes, I'm stalking all the threads, haha) that it might be a good idea to leave a couple of the countdown tasks unassigned, and whoever finishes theirs first can jump on them. That way no one is waiting around too long to move on to the safe zones.

I'm glad I'm not the only one lurking lol!

That's a great idea, Sarah. The books I have selected are both under 200 pages each. That shouldn't take me too long to finish (I'm thinking 1 - 2 days). I'll keep a few books as a reserve TBR for the other tasks.

I have a hard time choosing my books rn since I am more of a mood reader so I will choose them closer to the start!

Hi team! I've been looking at the tasks for the safe zones. Zone one is a spell out of LAVA and is easy but not worth a ton of points, and the tasks for zone two are a lot harder than I originally thought:

Read a book with red writing on the cover where the title contains the letters L-A-V-A (doesn't need to be in that order)

Read a book with a red cover (>50%) where the author contains the letters H-O-T (doesn't need to be in that order)

Read a book with something hot on the cover (open to interpretation) and that contains the word LAVA in the text

Read a book with something hot on the cover (open to interpretation) and that contains the letters L-A-V-A in the author's name (doesn't need to be in that order)

Since we're limited to a total of 20 books per round if we want to stay in our category, I was thinking maybe it might be better to just skip to zone three and start spelling words? It does say in the rules we can skip zones one and two if we want to. That would give us 10 books to play with for spelling. We might lose out on a few points since the tasks in group two are worth 50 points each, but it would be a lot easier to find books. What do you all think?

Edit: I've been doing math. The highest point total I can come up with is 430, if we do zone two's hard tasks and spell out a few short words. The highest I can come up with if we only do spell outs is 390 (I think - there are a lot of options). I'm happy to go with whatever the team wants to do!

Sorry for the late reply!

I'm open to completing whichever zone the team wants to do as well.

Thanks for breaking down the points, Sarah.

Sarah wrote: "Hi team! I've been looking at the tasks for the safe zones. Zone one is a spell out of LAVA and is easy but not worth a ton of points, and the tasks for zone two are a lot harder than I originally ..."

I think that's a good idea Sarah - to skip 1 and 2 and just do 3. I was re-reading the rules and I think that is okay. 2's tasks do seem quite difficult to achieve.

I'm getting excited! I just realized today that my ebook copy of The Bird's Nest returns to the library at 10:48pm on Monday, and someone else has it on hold so I can't renew...hopefully we get to start reading for the challenge at midnight and I can finish it in time! Might have to use the old airplane mode trick, haha.

I’m getting excited too!! Can’t wait☺️
I would assume you can start at midnight. Lol airplane mode is a life saver!

Sarah wrote: "Hi team! I've been looking at the tasks for the safe zones. Zone one is a spell out of LAVA and is easy but not worth a ton of points, and the tasks for zone two are a lot harder than I originally ..."

I am good with whatever the team decides on this :)

Start time's up!

OFFICIAL START TIME:
9pm, Sydney Australia (AEST), 12th August 2019
Time Zone Converter
Countdown

Lol the start time for my time zone is 4:00 am! I wake up around 5ish so I’ll start reading then ☺️

The time has come!
Good luck eveyone and happy reading! ❤

I started my first book today. I read a big chunk of it on my morning commute and should finish later today (it's a short one!) :)

Completed task 8 “that has a carnivorous animal on the cover” with Lion Cross Point! Updated the spreadsheet and will start my next book later today!

Finished The Bird's Nest for task 5 and updated the spreadsheet! I'm going to start listening to Sleeping Giants for task 4 on my way to work tomorrow.

Sarah wrote: "Finished The Bird's Nest for task 5 and updated the spreadsheet! I'm going to start listening to Sleeping Giants for task 4 on my way to work tomorrow."

Yay! Did you enjoy The Bird’s Nest?

Navi wrote: "Yay! Did you enjoy The Bird’s Nest?"

I did! I've read a lot of Jackson's early work this year, and while it doesn't match up to Hill House or We Have Always Lived in the Castle, it still has completely wonderful moments. Her descriptive language is amazing. I also thought that for a book written so long ago she did a pretty admirable job portraying mental illness.

How was Lion Cross Point?

That’s awesome! I really need to get around to reading it. She was so great at writing about suburban creepiness lol! I’m saving Hill House as a Halloween read this year!

Lion Cross was not what I expected. I enjoyed it for the most part but was left a bit confused overall. It’s kind of experimental in that it doesn’t follow a linear plot. That being said it did have some beautiful passages :)

Oh also I read Sleeping Giants earlier this year and thought it was amazing! I have heard nothing but good things about the audiobook as well.

Finished Breath of Life for task #10. A science fiction beauty and the beast retelling. Had high hopes for it but unfortunately a 2 star read :(

Updated the spreadsheet! I’ve finished all of the tasks I signed up for. Let me know if you guys need help completing any others.

Go team!

Finished Forest of a Thousand Lanterns for task 1. Will start reading for task 9 today

Rosaline wrote: "Finished Forest of a Thousand Lanterns for task 1. Will start reading for task 9 today"

This book sounds interesting - do you recommend it? :)

Navi wrote: "Updated the spreadsheet! I’ve finished all of the tasks I signed up for. Let me know if you guys need help completing any others."

Wow, you're so fast! If you have something that fits task 3, feel free to go ahead on that one. I'm working on task 4 next so I wouldn't be getting to it for a day or two anyway.

That’s only because I picked novellas (100 - 130 pages). It would take me way longer to finish average sized novels lol! 😅

Going to bed now but I’ll take a look tomorrow :)

Navi wrote: "Rosaline wrote: "Finished Forest of a Thousand Lanterns for task 1. Will start reading for task 9 today"

This book sounds interesting - do you recommend it? :)"

Most definitely! It was AMAZING! It's been so long since I read a good retelling! It has everything a good retelling should have and more. AND it's about an anti-heroine. You should definitely check this out. I have been running around the house screaming since I finished this hahahaha

Sarah wrote: "Wow, you're so fast! If you have something that fits task 3, feel free to go ahead on that one. I'm working on task 4 next so I wouldn't be getting to it for a day or two anyway. "

Do you have any recommendations for this task? I'm stumped :(

Rosaline wrote: "Most definitely! It was AMAZING! It's been so long since I read a good retelling! It has everything a good retelling should have and more. AND it's about an anti-heroine. You should definitely check this out. I have been running around the house screaming since I finished this hahahaha ."

LOOL that's hilarious!! I love when a book gets that kind of reaction out of someone. Will have to check it out!

Okay I found a book for task 3 - you sure you don’t mind if I complete it, Sarah?

Navi wrote: "Okay I found a book for task 3 - you sure you don’t mind if I complete it, Sarah?"

Nope, go right ahead! We have plenty of reading to come, haha :)

That’s true lol! Okay I will start on my lunch break today :)

Completed task 3 (part of what was originally a planned trilogy, but became a longer series (can include .5 books added later) with The Slow Regard of Silent Things. Updated the spreadsheet!

Navi wrote: "Completed task 3 (part of what was originally a planned trilogy, but became a longer series (can include .5 books added later) with The Slow Regard of Silent Things."

Oh, I love that book! Might be time to reread it...

I'm 50% through Sleeping Giants, should hopefully finish today. The full-cast audio is great!