RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off) discussion

For the month of July, we are going to have a new and exciting challenge this year - Game Month. For this challenge, we will have 4 separate games for the month of July. And the challenges or games are as follows:

Game 1: Read a book of any genre with a number in the title. The number can either be written out (i.e. one) or just the numeral (i.e. 100) or it can be a cardinal number (i.e. 1st, 2nd or first, second, etc.)

Game 2: Read a book of any genre by an author whose initial (first name, last name, or both) is the same as yours. You don't have to give your real name to participate, just the initial you are choosing to match with the author. Also, you can match the author's first name initial with your last name initial, and vice versa.

Game 3: Read a book of any genre that's set in a place that you'd love to visit. You can pick either one location and read multiple books with that setting, or you can pick more than one location and read a single book set in each one. Imaginary or unbelievable places are also allowed (i.e. the moon or Narnia )

Game 4: Read a book of any genre with the main character you'd like to have as a friend. Let us know why you'd like that character as a friend (i.e. they'd be a lot of fun to be around; they'd be a faithful friend and never let you down).

You can pick one of the four Games and use that all month long, or you can do up to all four Games this month - whatever you'd like to do. The Games can be done in any order. Just indicate in your post which Game you are doing for the book you've read.

Here's a quick summary of the levels:

Level 1: Casual Reader: 1 book (easy)
Level 2: Frequent Reader: 2 books (moderate)
Level 3: Bookworm: 3 books (mildly strenuous)
Level 4: Bibliophile: 4 books (strenuous)
Level 5: Bookiopath: 5 books or more (challenging)

Please mention what type of books you'd be reading:

PB: Paperbacks
HB: Hardbacks
EB: E-Books
AB: Audio Books

Please feel free to announce your to-read books along with the level you are targeting for below. Though it is not necessary as you can announce your reads as and when you decide or read them.

PLEASE READ (especially new members):
1. You can read any number of books for the respective genre every month.
2. You can join the challenge at any stage (in any month.)
3. You can drop out of the challenge any time you like.
4. You can select different levels every month.
5. Use this discussion board to share your reads with other members of the group.
6. Please be active and don't hesitate to ask questions or recommend books.
7. You can couple this challenge with any other challenge here (or anywhere else.) We all do it and it makes it all the more fun.

Dagny,

Heena pretty much had it all set up, and I just made the actual post. (Heena is very busy working on her next book, but she's still very much interested in the group.) She wanted me to especially add this sentence to the opening post:

"If reading a book each week is too much, then you can just pick one of the four challenges and use that all month long. Just indicate in your post which challenge you are doing."

We really want these Challenges to be fun and not hard work. So feel free to just pick just a single "weekly challenge" if that works out better for you.

Also, if you start out trying to do all four of the "weekly challenges" but it doesn't work out due to not finding/finishing a book for a specific week, just do as many as you can. This is a brand new Challenge, and we might want to change some things about it next year. The main thing is to Have Fun!

Although we have four weekly challenges and Week 1 should start on July 4, you can go ahead and start on July 1 if you’d like.

Dagny wrote: " I've got a short run going for the Author Alphabet Challenge and can fit in another book before breaking for the July Genre."

I’ve been having a terrible time finding good books to do an Author Alphabet run. I get 2 read, then the third book just doesn’t appeal to me and I have to try finding a new book that will fit. (I will not read a lousy book just to fit a challenge. Life’s too short!) Oh well, I’ll keep looking.

Kathy's List:

Week-1: Read a book of any genre with a number in the title. Ready Player Two. 3.5 stars. Read 7/1.
Week-2: Read a book of any genre by an author whose initial (first name, last name, or both) is the same as yours. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. 4 stars. Read 7/14. K = Kathy
Week-3: Read a book of any genre that's set in a place that you'd love to visit. Engineering Eden: The True Story of a Violent Death, a Trial, and the Fight over Controlling Nature by Jordan Fisher Smith. 3.5 stars. Read 7/27. Love to Visit = Yellowstone National Park.
Week-4: Read a book of any genre with the main character you'd like to have as a friend. Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows by James Lovegrove. 4 stars. Read 7/27. Friend = Sherlock Holmes.

Kathy,

Wow! You're a fast reader. If you want to read more than one book for each challenge you can do that. No pressure, though.

Cheryl wrote: "Kathy,

Wow! You're a fast reader. If you want to read more than one book for each challenge you can do that. No pressure, though."

The book was due back at the library! I read that thing double speed because there is a waiting list for it. Great ending. If more sequels follow, I will be reading on.

Week-1: Read a book of any genre with a number in the title.

The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark (Read 7/3)

Week-1: Read a book of any genre with a number in the title.

The Second Time Aroundby Mary Higgins Clark (Read 7/3)

Four Corners of Night by Craig Holden (Read 7/5)

Week 1: Read a book of any genre with a number in the title.

The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark (Read 7/3)
Four Corners of Night by Craig Holden (Read 7/5)

Four Weird Tales by Algernon Blackwood (Read 7/8)

That's it for me for the Week 1 challenge. It's really hard to fit more than two books in, especially if you don't have those few extra days at the start of the month. Maybe next year we won't lock down the Game Month challenges to a specific week.

Dagny wrote: " I'm all for that, Cheryl. The choices are so uneven for me - I have a ton of books from which to choose for one week and then struggle to find something for another week.”

Me too! Week 1 is so easy for me, but week 3 has been extremely challenging. I sent Heena a message, so maybe she’ll change it for next year. It’s hard to forsee problems when you’re trying out a new Challenge.

Dagny,

You can just skip the week that’s a struggle for you. I know you’re like me and want to do all 4 weeks, but if it’s too hard then just skip it. I might have to do that myself.

Dagny,

So glad you found a great mystery series! These challenges can turn up some new-to-you authors that you might not have found on your own. (I know that's true for me.)

I'm glad that you're being creative in defining the span of a "Week" for this challenge. If you'd like to make Week 2 last more than 7 days, go right ahead. I might start Week 2 early, too. We are still figuring out how to do a Game Month, so really anything goes.

Sorry I won't be participating this month, I had planned ahead based on last year...so I checked out dystopian books at the end of June...lol. Good luck and happy reading to all.

Fran wrote: "Sorry I won't be participating this month, I had planned ahead based on last year...so I checked out dystopian books at the end of June...lol. Good luck and happy reading to all."

Fran,

If you have any authors that have a name that begins with the same letter as your first or last name, that would work for the Week 2 challenge. If not, then don't worry about it. Monthly Challenges are completely optional!

Dagny wrote: " No worries, Fran. Sure there won't be a dystopian that will fit week 4 - someone you'd like as a friend, lol. No? Me neither! "

Ha! I ran into something like that for my initial pick for Week 3. I had initially picked the Moon as a place I'd like to visit. However, all the books I could find with a Moon setting were about prisons or dystopias that were located there. Not exactly a glowing advertisement for traveling there.

Those who are not participating in this month's challenge can still tell us what you are reading here:

What Are You Reading Currently?
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We'd love to hear about books you particularly liked!

Week 2: The letter “C”

1.) The Downstairs Neighbor by Helen Cooper
Two and a half stars. I didn’t like the ending.

Week 2: The letter "C"

2.) Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
4 stars. This author's not for everone, but I usually end up being glad I read his book. Expect alot of weirdness, though.

Week-2: Read a book of any genre by an author whose initial (first name, last name, or both) is the same as yours. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. 4 stars. Read 7/14. K = Kathy. Combustible kids - what can you say!

Kathy,

What a concept for a novel! Sometimes you need a book like this during the summer - just something entertaining. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

It was wacky but really sweet too.

Week 3: Hawaii
Death in Paradise by Carolyn Hart
Two and a half stars

Hawaii is harder to find books for than I imagined. I picked out two others, but they didn’t hold my interest. I might just leave it at one book for this particular Game.

Just wanted to mention a bug that Goodreads is working on. When you rate and review a book, it isn’t appearing on your Friends’ feed or on your own Profile feed. All that appears is the status Finished Reading, with no rating or review. This just started happening Friday night, and many people have posted on the Help page about seeing this. So if you want the group to know your book rating/review, feel free to post it in your Comment.

Dagny wrote: "My 1st for Week 3 - Egypt
Murder at the Mena House
Exciting trip. Besides seeing the pyramids and other sights, I got to ride a camel and see a camel race."

Glad Week 3 is going well for you.

(I didn't get a notification for this post. I stumbled upon it by going to the group webpage and checking for Unread posts. I hope Goodreads fixes this bug soon.)

Notifications are starting to trickle in, first the ones from a day or 2 ago. Hopefully things will be back to normal.

Sorry to join in late, but better late than ever I guess.
I've just finished listening to Circe which I will be counting for the 4th Game - A character you'd like to be friends with.
I would definitely love to be friends with Circe. I was able to relate to her so much that I don't think I've ever adored any other character so much in Greek Mythology ever!

Heena wrote: "Sorry to join in late, but better late than ever I guess.
I've just finished listening to Circe which I will be counting for the 4th Game - A character you'd like to be friends with.
I would defini..."

I'm glad you enjoyed the book, Heena!

I have updated Post #1 to reflect our losened rules for this month's challenge. Each game won't be restricted to a specific week. After discussing it with the other Moderators, this seems to work better for everyone.

Enjoy, Dagny!

Game 4: Main Character as a Friend

1.) Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg
3 stars

Lucille Howard: She's honest, kind, quick to help a friend in need. She's had disappointments in her life, but that doesn't stop her from living life to the fullest - all this at 88 years old! Also, she teaches baking classes in her home and is generous in giving friends the leftover sample goodies. (Yum!)

Dagny wrote: "The first one in the series is available now, so I'll grab it first:
The Story of Arthur Truluv"

Dagny,

The first book features Lucille, too. There are so many great characters in the first book that I'd want all of them to be my friend!

Dagny wrote: "Thanks, Cheryl, sounds like a light, fun and uplifting series."

There are some sad parts, but really it's a celebration of life. It's important to read it in order, though, to avoid spoilers.

I think I’m done with the four games this month. Here’s my final tally:
7 books total this month

Game 1: 3 books
Game 2: 2 books
Game 3: 1 book
Game 4: 1 book

I think next year’s Game Month will be a little easier, with the relaxed rules. I have a bunch of ideas for new games, too, and am making a list of them.

Completed. See Message 7.

Kathy wrote: "Completed. See Message 7."

Way to go, Kathy!

Thanks! This was a fun game.

Here is the link to the August Genre Challenge: Contemporary Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'm going to be doing some traveling next week, so I wanted to make sure the next Genre Challenge thread was up before I left.