The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.3 - Teri-k's Task: Your Own Personal Tardis
Two books, fiction or non-fiction. Choose two options.

For this task you will read two books composed or written during, set in, or about, the time period given. This must be clear from the GR front page data, or else provide a link that makes this time period clear.

Please Note - Alternate history, steampunk, science fiction or fantasy genres will NOT be allowed for this challenge unless the book was written during the time period selected.

Books in translation should be attributed to the time period of the original appearance of the story, not to the publication date of the translation. Please provide a link to verify the attribution of the original, if needed. Only actual translations of earlier works are allowed in this way. Retellings and re-imaginings are considered new works. General mythology, tales and legends are considered new works also.

If the setting is used as justification for the book's placement on the timeline then the time period given must make up at over 50% of the book. Also, it's the reader's responsibility to provide a link to a reference to the time period of the book if the GR record is not clear.

REQUIRED: Identify the options. Tell whether its written during, set in, or about, the time period. Provide a link to support this if it's not obvious from the GR description.

Option 1 Ancient World
Read a book written/composed during, set in or about the Ancient World, before 200 AD.

Option 2 Post-Classical Era
Read a book written/composed during, set in or about the Post-Classical Era, from 200 AD to 1200 AD.

Option 3 1200-1699
Read a book written during, set in or about the time period from 1200 through 1699.

Option 4 1700-1899
Read a book written during, set in or about the time period from 1700 through 1899.

Approved (and verified as free from excluding genres if necessary):

Option 1 Ancient World
Written During:

Set In:

Nonfiction About:


Option 2 Post-Classical Era 200-1199
Written During:

Set In:


Option 3 1200-1699
Written During:

Set In:
The Lion and the Crow
Nonfiction About:


Option 4 1700-1899
Written During:

Set In:
Thief

Not Approved:

Published after 1899 with alternate history, steampunk, science fiction or fantasy genre present.


Not established as over 50% taking place before 1900:

This help thread is open!

Making sure I have this

Option 3 I can read Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare written 1601

Option 4 I can read The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe who lived 1809-1849

Yes, you can. :)

Please confirm:

Option 2: One Corpse Too Many (set in 1138)

Option 4: Cruel Music (set in 1740)

Thank you

Kim wrote: "Please confirm:

Option 2: One Corpse Too Many (set in 1138)

Option 4: Cruel Music (set in 1740)

Thank you"

Both are good to go. I love Ellis Peters, and Edith Pargeter.

I've never read the Myers' books. Have you read some of her others and did you like them? (I'm shameless when seeking out new Historical Fiction. lol)

Option 2: The Serpent's Tale (set in 1176)

Option 4: The Last of the Mohicans (published in 1826)

Bea wrote: "Option 2: The Serpent's Tale (set in 1176)

Option 4: The Last of the Mohicans (published in 1826)"

Both books work. I've read the Cooper books several times, but Franklin is new and available for me on OverDrive.

It honestly hadn't occurred to me that this will be a great way to find new histfic. My TBR pile is growing as we type. :)

Deborah wrote: "Making sure I have this

Option 3 I can read Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare written 1601

Option 4 I can read [book:The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales|32..."

I've made a sad mistake. Fall of the House of the Usher has fantasy as a genre so it won't work. I'm so sorry, I thought I'd checked, but when I double checked I found I must have missed it

ETA- Please disregard this post. I got confused on my own task. Sorry.

Teri-k wrote: "Franklin is new and available for me on OverDrive.

It honestly hadn't occurred to me that this will be a great way to find new histfic. My TBR pile is growing as we type. :) "

Franklin is a wonderful writer, but we are limited to only the four books in this series as she has died. :(

Wouldn't Poe work anyway due to the exception for books written *during* the given time period? ?"unless the book was written during the time period selected."

January 19, 1809 to October 07, 1849 is his lifetime and Fall of the House of Usher was originally published in 1839.

So with the task as written...it should actually be allowed. Or the task post needs edited to remove that exception, so that only historical fiction with no fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, etc are allowed at all.

Morgan wrote: "Wouldn't Poe work anyway due to the exception for books written *during* the given time period? ?"unless the book was written during the time period selected."

January 19, 1809 to October 07, 18..."

Oh, well, you're right. I panicked for nothing. :(

Thanks for reminding me of the exception to the rule... We added that phrasing and the fourth time slot at the last minute, so I wasn't thinking straight. I think I've got it now. It would be good if I understood my own task, right?

It's back. lol

Teri-k wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Wouldn't Poe work anyway due to the exception for books written *during* the given time period? ?"unless the book was written during the time period selected."

January 19, 1809 to..."

English major/librarian/editor to the rescue! lol.

I need a cape, but I'd trip on it and break something like my face or an arm. :P

Morgan wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Wouldn't Poe work anyway due to the exception for books written *during* the given time period? ?"unless the book was written during the time period selected."

Janu..."

No, I knew when it was published, I just panicked when I realized I forgot to check the genres and thus I forgot the exception to the exclusion rule. (Which is clear as mud.) I'm so new to this I get paranoid about messing up.

But you can still wear your cape, as you caught my mistake quickly. :)

Will these books work?

Option 3 1200-1699

It covers a period from 1539 until 1542

Option 4 1700-1899

First published in 1847–48


Most of the novel is in the form of a diary written by the main character in 1897

Also, would this book work for Option 4?
It covers the years between 1886 and 1920

For approval
Option 4
Daisy Miller by Henry James 1878

Deborah wrote: "For approval
Option 4
Daisy Miller by Henry James 1878"

Approved. Enjoy.

Pia wrote: "Will these books work?

Option 3 1200-1699

It covers a period from 1539 until 1542

Option 4 1700-1899

First published in 1847–..."

The first two definitely work.

The Eco probably works, as long as over 50% of it is set in the historic time period. Have you read or looked through it to tell?

The Galsworthy will depend on being able to tell how much of it takes place on or before 1899. One would have to read it and see if the timelines are clear enough to tell. Sorry, I know this seems extreme, but it's the only way to keep to the task.

The Eco book, as stated in Wikipedia:
The MC is born in 1830. Eco infuses the novel with other books as it explores the 19th-century novels and is structured like one.

As for the Forsyte saga, I made a mistake... I copy pasted from wrong book.
It definitely doesn't work as it was published in 1922. My bad. Sorry!

Pia wrote: "The Eco book, as stated in Wikipedia:
The MC is born in 1830. Eco infuses the novel with other books as it explores the 19th-century novels and is structured like one.

As for the Forsyte saga, I m..."

Let me look into the Eco a bit more. I hate to approve it and then find out it doesn't work.

As for the Galsworthy, don't worry about pasting in the wrong book. If these are the worst mistakes we make all week we'll be good. :)

Pia wrote: "The Eco book, as stated in Wikipedia:
The MC is born in 1830. Eco infuses the novel with other books as it explores the 19th-century novels and is structured like one.

As for the Forsyte saga, I m..."

OK, about Wikipedia says "Most of the novel is in the form of a diary written by Simone Simonini in 1897." Assuming that's accurate, it puts the book into the allowed time slot before 1899. So it's accepted.

Option 3

Set In:
1666
The Poisoned Pilgrim

Could I get this verified as not having the "no no" genres?
I'm hoping to read #3 & #4, but #3, set in 1662, currently shows fantasy at the bottom and I'm hoping it falls off. There's nothing fantasy oriented about them. Fictional, yes, but...not "fantasy".

Morgan wrote: "Option 3

Set In:
1666
The Poisoned Pilgrim

Could I get this verified as not having the "no no" genres?
I'm hoping to read #3 & #4, but #3, set in 1662, currently shows fantasy at..."

I feel your "fantasy" woes. I wanted to use a BB I recently started about Genghis Khan, and was floored to see fantasy well-established as a genre. There's a difference between fictionalized and fantasy that a lot of readers don't seem to understand.

Anyway... is approved with no fantasy. Feel free to come back with the earlier book if it falls off of the front page.

She goes off to add more books to her TBR...

Would The Red Tent by Anita Diamant be okay to use for Option 1: Ancient World? One of my goals this year is to use books to explore various religions around the world, so I hope this fits!

Narumon wrote: "Would The Red Tent by Anita Diamant be okay to use for Option 1: Ancient World? One of my goals this year is to use books to explore various religions around the world, so I hope this ..."

That's a great choice for Option 1. I keep meaning to read it myself, but it gets pushed aside for other books. I hope you like it.

Seeking approval to use Invisible Romans Prostitutes, outlaws, slaves, gladiators, ordinary men and women ... the Romans that history forgot for option 1.

Camilla wrote: "Seeking approval to use Invisible Romans Prostitutes, outlaws, slaves, gladiators, ordinary men and women ... the Romans that history forgot for option 1."

That's approved. Could be interesting. :)

Teri-k wrote: "Camilla wrote: "Seeking approval to use Invisible Romans Prostitutes, outlaws, slaves, gladiators, ordinary men and women ... the Romans that history forgot for option 1."

That's a..."

Thanks, I'm actually looking forward to it. I always try to fit at least a couple of non-fiction books in the tasks.

Teri-k wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Option 3

Set In:
1666
The Poisoned Pilgrim

Could I get this verified as not having the "no no" genres?
I'm hoping to read #3 & #4, but #3, set in 1662, currently s..."

I'm in this boat too. I had read and very much enjoyed Genghis: Birth of an Empire during a previous challenge and had happily planned to read the next one, Genghis: Lords of the Bow for this task until I saw how many people had shelved it as "Fantasy".

Grrr, back to hunting. :)

Beth F. wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Option 3

Set In:
1666
The Poisoned Pilgrim

Could I get this verified as not having the "no no" genres?
I'm hoping to read #3 & #4, but #3, set in 16..."

Genghis: Birth of an Empireis the one I'm reading. I know nothing about the time or place, and find it fascinating. Fortunately there are several slots in this challenge for long books, so I'll probably end up putting it in one of those.

Can I read Shaman for a book set in the ancient world? It is set during the Paleolithic era.

Thanks!

Jayme VA wrote: "Can I read Shaman for a book set in the ancient world? It is set during the Paleolithic era.

Thanks!"

Yes, that works. I hope it's good. I'm in another challenge where I have to read a book set in prehistory, and I can't find one I can stand. Now I have another possibility to try. :)

NOTE: It doesn't work because of fantasy genre present. Sorry it took me a minute to catch this. :(

Jayme VA wrote: "Can I read Shaman for a book set in the ancient world? It is set during the Paleolithic era.

Thanks!"

Shoot, I've done it for real this time. The genre says "fantasy" and though it's probably not, it won't work.

So Sorry.

Shaman has been shelved as "Fantasy" by several users, FYI.

Beth F. wrote: "Shaman has been shelved as "Fantasy" by several users, FYI."

Yes, I know. But thanks for mentioning it. I'm not sure why I'm having so much trouble. This thread is supposed to help, not hinder. :(

So it's been moved to the Not Approved thread.

It's all those silly people and their fantasy-shelving tendencies! :)

Beth F. wrote: "It's all those silly people and their fantasy-shelving tendencies! :)"

Yes. :) I've now written myself a step-by-step guide to approving books for this that includes checking those crazy genres, because sometimes my common sense doesn't remind me in time.

Especially when I get excited about finding a new book I might like. lol

Thanks, and sorry to cause confusion!

Jayme VA wrote: "Thanks, and sorry to cause confusion!"

You didn't cause any confusion - I created that on my own. :)

I hope you can find another interesting book to substitute.

Would this one be acceptable for Option 3?



There's no specific year listed but the summary says "early in Mary Tudor's turbulent reign" and 16th Century is listed as a genre. Is that enough to verify? Am I right in thinking that even fits Option 3? History is not my strong suit, so bear with me needing some hand holding lol

Cait wrote: "Would this one be acceptable for Option 3?



There's no specific year listed but the summary says "early in Mary Tudor's turbulent reign" and 16th Century is..."

"Mary Tudor" is Mary I of England, who reigned in the late 1500's. There are no excluding genres, so this book will work for Option 3.

Very good. I hope you like it :)

Teri-k wrote: "Jayme VA wrote: "Thanks, and sorry to cause confusion!"

You didn't cause any confusion - I created that on my own. :)

I hope you can find another interesting book to substitute."

I think I'm going to go with Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine - different time period but looks interesting!

Jayme VA wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "Jayme VA wrote: "Thanks, and sorry to cause confusion!"

You didn't cause any confusion - I created that on my own. :)

I hope you can find another interesting book to substitute."..."

I'm reading a series about Henry II and Eleanor right now. They were fascinating people. I hope you like this one.

No nasty genres to trip us up. :)

Beth F. wrote: "It's all those silly people and their fantasy-shelving tendencies! :)"

Well, Kim Stanley Robinson is a science fiction/fantasy writer................

Obsessive checking pays off!

Could I have The Beggar King noted as free of fantasy, etc? (Set in 1662.)

:D
Thanks!

Morgan wrote: "Obsessive checking pays off!

Could I have The Beggar King noted as free of fantasy, etc? (Set in 1662.)

:D
Thanks!"

noted as free of nasty genres and approved for Option 3.

Good job. :)

Beth F. wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Option 3

Set In:
1666
The Poisoned Pilgrim

Could I get this verified as not having the "no no" genres?
I'm hoping to read #3 & #4, but #3, set in 16..."

Keep checking! My "fantasy" fell off (it was near the bottom), so yours might too! I'll keep my fingers crossed for that or for you to find something awesome to read instead!

Also just a general reply, but I loved The Red Tent. I read it for fun and then had to read it again in college. One of those I had no problems churning out the required paper for! I was tempted to re-read *again*.

I think these work, but can you confirm...
The Miniaturist for option 3
The Count of Monte Cristo for option 4
thanks