The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

Team Firework Jellyfish

Team Members:
❅ Judith - Captain
❅ Nanci Drum - Co-Captain
❅ Melanie
❅ Alejandra
❅ Trinia
❅ Val Lawrence
❅ Alissa
❅ Kat
❅ Tina


♕ Team Spreadsheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

❅ Amanda

R

R

R

Team Member UNO Shelves

❅ Judith - Captain : uno2023
❅ Nanci Drum - Co-Captain: uno 2023
❅ Melanie: uno 2023
❅ Amanda: uno 2023
❅ Alejandra: uno2023
❅ Trinia: uno23
❅ Val Lawrence: uno challenge reads 2023
❅ Alissa: uno2023
❅ Kat: uno
❅ Tina: uno2023

Important Links

Spreadsheets
-Team Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
-Tracking Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
-Status Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

General Information
-General Rules
-Pre-Challenge Chat

Countdown
-Countdown to UNO 2023 Start!: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
-Start of Feb Mini Challenge: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
-End of Feb Hands: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
-Start of March Mini Challenge: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
-End of March Hands: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
-Start of April Mini Challenge: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
-End of April Hands (TBA)

Hands Completed: 14 of 17

Color Cards April

5 Blue - Nanci

3 WD4 Cards for April

COMPLETED


Non-Color Cards April

COMPLETED

0 card - 0
1 card - 0
2 card - 0
3 card - 0
4 card - 0
5 card - 0
6 card - 0
7 card - 0
8 card - 0
9 card - 0
Skip Card - 0
Reverse Card - 0
Wild Card - 0
Draw 2 - 0

updated April 22, 2023

April Mini Challenge

This is an optional mini challenge for our UNO players.

Part One

Some animals have (seriously) unfortunate names. We therefore did not want to inflict them upon you as team names. They do deserve attention as well however and that's where the April mini challenge comes into play.

You will be reading books for tasks relating to some less than lucky beasties - you will also get some photos and details on them for your pleasure.

◈ Every book read, i.e. every task completed, is worth 10 points.
◈ Each book can be used for one task only.
◈ Books for tasks can be finished in any order.
◈ If your team completes all the tasks, you get 30 bonus points.

Part Two

All those extraordinary animals used for team names. If you haven't done any exploring of the lovely pictures posted for each team, now is your chance! You will be reading books for tasks relating to the beasties borrowed for fellow teams - have a browse through the teams, if you haven't already done so, to get a visual on these spectacular animals.

For each team name, you can read two books, choosing two of the following options:

◈ Read a book with the entire name of the animal in title or text.
◈ Read a book with a part of the animal's name in the title. (This obviously doesn't work for all team names.)
◈ Read a book with a cover representing (any of) the animal's colour(s).
◈ Get creative! Find a way to connect your book to the team name / animal in some way.

For example:
For Team Honduran White Bat, you could have the following options:
1. You find "Honduran White Bat" in either a book's title or somewhere in the text. The entire name, not just a part of it.
2. You read a book with "white" or with "bat" in the title. Not in the text.
3. You read a book with a white cover.
4. You read a book that is set in Honduras, for example, as it is a Honduran white bat, and not a Slovenian or Chinese white bat.

Another example:
For Team Boatbill, you could have the following options:
1. You find "Boatbill" in either a book's title or somewhere in the text.
2. You read a book with either "boat" or "bill" in the title, as both parts of the animal's name are an actual word.
3. You read a book with a blue cover or with a white cover, for example.
4. You find a fabulous other connection - i.e. you're being creative.

◈ Every book read, i.e. every task completed, is worth 10 points.
◈ Each book can be used for one task only.
◈ Books for tasks can be finished in any order.
◈ If your team completes all the tasks, you get 30 bonus points.


The rest of the usual fineprint

◈ Books can be started at any point since the start of the UNO challenge (Feb 1).
◈ Books need to be finished after the start of this mini challenge on April 12, 9am UTC https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown... and before May 1 at 9am UTC (when UNO sadly comes to an end).

◈ Books used for this mini challenge do not need to be separate books from what you are claiming for your UNO hands.
◈ The usual book length rules apply.
◈ Team spreadsheets will be updated with a mini challenge tab so that you can track your books and claim your points.

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

reserve

Hello Everyone and Welcome to UNO2023!

Anyone new to the game?

I've played almost from the get go I think and have lost count as to how many years it's been. I am typically a captain, though I was just a regular player last year due to moving house in the middle of the game. Hard to believe that was last year!

I love team challenges on GR and this was my gateway challenge, as it seems to be for many people. I'm also a mod over in the NBRC group.

By day I'm the lead economist at the USEPA in the Toxic Chemicals office. And a mother of one who is somehow almost 5, often referred to as Tiny Tyrant as he rules the house with his sticky fist. Or at least in his head anyway.

I have things pretty much set up, let me know if anyone has access issues to the Tracking spreadsheet. There were a couple people I wasn't sure about their UNO shelf. If you don't see your shelf linked in message 5, please post it in the thread. And if I have a link for you, please check to make sure I grabbed the proper shelf.

Nanci and I generally don't have people 'claim' cards aside from color cards as we've found it easier to move things around that way. I have all the color cards listed in the tracking spreadsheet. You can claim them there or here in the thread.

If anyone doesn't like spreadsheets, or is traveling/just on the app always feel free to post the pertinent information in the thread and Nanci or I will move it to the spreadsheet for you.

And please give a shout if you have any questions. Looking forward to another fun year of UNO!

Hello, I’m new and nervous! I have already added books to a shelf which is what I thought you’d to do, but it looks like it needs to be empty. So here’s my new one https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I’m from Scotland and live with my fiancé and two cats, Bonnie and Clyde. I work in a charity shop (which is dangerous for the book shelf and bank Balance)

I’ll be honest I’m not a big fan of spreadsheets.

I was told one colour is picked per month is this for all books or just one? And is it the same cards all month or do they change every week? And how do captains decide who gets what prompt within the card?

Bet you wished you hadn’t asked if there was any questions lol.

Hi team! So excited for this challenge- this is my third year playing. I read all genres- but am drawn to women’s fiction/contemporary fiction most. I work full time and have grown kids so much of my time in the morning and at night is spent reading. Look forward to reading with all of you and finding previously unknown authors through your reads!

Kat wrote: "Hello, I’m new and nervous! I have already added books to a shelf which is what I thought you’d to do, but it looks like it needs to be empty. So here’s my new one https://www.goodreads.com/review/..."

Cover colors only matter for certain cards. Other cards it doesn't matter what the cover color is. The list for February for our team is in message 7: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

As people sign up for those cards, I'll try to keep that post updated so everyone can see which ones we are still looking for.

The Hands we have are for the entire month of February. We'll get new hands for March and April.

People can either put everything in the spreadsheet or if you don't like spreadsheets, post in the thread something like this:

Book: Game Changer
Author: Neal Shusterman
Date Read: Jan 16
0 - stand alone
3 - Character: Hunter
6 - Author: Shusterman
9 - Author: Neal
Skip - C: Katie

And Nanci or I will take care of getting it on the tracking sheet. Nanci and I handle logging everything on the official spreadsheet and will assign the books read to most of the cards (exception being the color cards people sign up for). Sometimes we need to shuffle things around towards the end of the month to get everything to fit, so it's helpful to know every card a book will work for.

I will say, I've never not been able to get a book to fit. So read what makes you happy and we'll find a spot for it :)

Let me know if you still have questions, some things may not fully click into place until the game gets going.

Thanks. I was told for each card we would be sharing it so do we have different numbers and have to make sure they work for a card and I don’t understand message 7 as it’s just numbers of cards like 8 greens


I don’t understand do we need the character to match the letter and what’s skip about?



Book: Game Changer
Author: Neal Shusterman
Date Read: Jan 16
0 - stand alone
3 - Character: Hunter
6 - Author: Shusterman
9 - Author: Neal
Skip - C: Katie

Do we have the cards picked for Feb so we can start planning?

Sorry for all questions

Hi all!

I am in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and work full time as an accountant. No kids but yes to cats! I read quite widely but no sci-fi or fantasy. Mysteries and contemporary fiction are my favorites.

I've done Uno for quite a few years and it is the only challenge I really do anymore.

Alissa

Hi team!
I'm Nanci your co-captain. I have been playing UNO since the first year it started. I captained during my first time when our team captain went AWOL, so that was a bit crazy, but in the end I really understood the game. Baptism under fire!

Judith and I fell together in serving as captain and co-captain and always have a great time! If you are new, just know that we will help you along the way. I promise it will make more sense once we start to play.

About me...I was an elementary teacher for 12 years and an elementary school counselor for the last 20 years. I have been retired for 8 years. My husband and I have been married for 43 years. We have 3 adult married children and our 7th grand baby is due in 11 days. Yippee! I love being outside, playing sports, being with family and of course reading. Historical fiction is my favorite, but I enjoy a lot of genres including non-fiction.

I am excited to get to know everyone!

Good to meet you all. Congrats on your 7th grand kid,

Hey Kat,
I can really appreciate you wanting to understand the game. It's hard when things are confusing. You've asked some good questions.
Maybe it will help if you take a look at our tracking spreadsheet. The link is in message 6.

Understanding color covers:
1. We need to read 4 books with green covers this month. (We also need to read two yellow covers and two red covers, but for right now don't worry about that.)
2. We know a cover works as a green cover if at least half of the book cover looks green. If you're unsure post the picture of your book and two or three teammates can tell you if it looks green enough.
3. This month we need two books that work for 9green, one book that works for 1green, and one book that works for 3green for a total of four green cover books.
4. Judith chose a book that works for one of our 9green cards.
5. The 9 signifies an N, since the word "nine" starts with an N. So the title could start with an N, or the author's first or last name could start with an N, or a significant character's first or last name could start with an N, or the setting (place) could start with an N.
Does that make sense, so far?
If so, read on.

1. In my case I have chosen to read for the 2yellow card.
2. The 2 signifies the letter T, since the word "two" starts with a T. I chose my book because one of the character's in the book has a name that starts with a T.

Here's a simple way I use to remember the letters the numbers represent. It's also on the spreadsheet.
Number 0=letter Z
Number 1=letter O
Number 2=letter T
Number 3=letter H (H is the second letter in the word "three", so a bit tricky
Number 4=letter F
Number 5=letter I (I is the second letter in the word "five"
Number 6=letter S
Number 7=letter V (think "seVen"
Number 8=letter E
Number 9=letter N
Skip card=letters K or P (that's the oddball; just think of the K and P in the word sKiP.

I know that's a lot to process, but hope it helps some.

Hi team, I'm Melanie. I live in New Jersey with my husband and our two cats. I work in the finance department at a publisher, so I deal in spreadsheets all day long. I primarily read romance and mystery/thrillers with the occasional sci-fi or urban fantasy thrown in.

This is my fifth or sixth year doing UNO and I look forward to it every year as it's one of my favorite challenges.

Judith, here's my shelf (sorry I thought I had created it when I did the signups).
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Welcome Melanie! Looks like we have some cat lovers on our team. I've had so many cats over my lifetime. All with their own little personality!

Nanci wrote: "Hey Kat,
I can really appreciate you wanting to understand the game. It's hard when things are confusing. You've asked some good questions.
Maybe it will help if you take a look at our tracking sp..."

Thank you for all that. I appreciate it. It’s clicking a bit more now. Do we start with a green book cover or yellow cover as Judith is doing green and ur doing yellow. I thought we had to do all the same colour of cover to finish a hand? Or is it just whatever we fancy as long as we do them all that’s required? Like four green, two yellow and two red for Feb? And there’s ten of us but only 8 colours?

I know your both or even all the team are going to be sick of me before feb 1st. I’m so sorry I just don’t grasp things as easily so part of me is wondering whether to withdraw

Nanci wrote: "Welcome Melanie! Looks like we have some cat lovers on our team. I've had so many cats over my lifetime. All with their own little personality!"

Mine are cute but I’m biased, Bonnie and Clyde brother and sister

Kat wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Hey Kat,
I can really appreciate you wanting to understand the game. It's hard when things are confusing. You've asked some good questions.
Maybe it will help if you take a look at o..."

Definitely no need to withdraw- we all were super confused our first time. Whatever book you read- regardless of cover color will count towards something. The color covers are only part of it. Each color card only has to be covered by one person. There is no prompt that everyone has to read. If you read a book and the authors name starts with Z and last name starts with I, the book ‘s title starts with O, the main character’s name starts with S, and the book is set in New York - that one book could count for any of these letters: Z, I, O, S, N. The captains will place that book where we need spots on our “card” filled.

Val wrote: "Kat wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Hey Kat,
I can really appreciate you wanting to understand the game. It's hard when things are confusing. You've asked some good questions.
Maybe it will help if you take..."

Aww thank you, you’ve been helpful. My brain is starting to get it now. Do we do the four green, two reds and two yellows throughout the whole challenge oe just Feb

Just February. We’ll get new ones for each month of the challenge.

Ok thanks

Thanks for everyone pitching in to help answer questions.

Kat, if it makes you feel any better the first time I played I had zero clue what the heck was going on. until a couple weeks into the first month and then it clicked in place.

I would say not withdraw and give it a go and keep asking questions and hopefully it will click in place. But don't feel bad about asking questions, we are all here to help each other!

And get good book recommendations ;)

I'm going to add the number of each card we have to complete for Feb in the same post with the color cards. That might help too.

And I find it helpful to not always have to open a spreadsheet to see what card we need a book for.

Hey Team! Sorry, didn't realize the thread was open for discussion :D

I'm Trinia from Texas... I've played Uno several times and have some shelves already name Uno-color , if you need recommendations.
Can't wait to play ! Here's my Shelf
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Thanks to all who have accepted my friend requests :D

Judith wrote: "I'm going to add the number of each card we have to complete for Feb in the same post with the color cards. That might help too.

And I find it helpful to not always have to open a spreadsheet to ..."

The amount of cards on message is 97 though, surely that isn’t the amount we need to read in feb

It is, based on what people signed up for, the team will read about 95 or so books in one month. Probably more.

The team is a mix between people who may only read a couple books a month to people who read 20 or 30 books a month.

The mods balance teams so the members together all read about the same number of books per month. It’s why the asked that question on the sign up form.

But don’t feel bad if you end up not being able to read the number of books you signed up for. Real life obligations come first!

The main point of this is to have fun, meet others who share a love of reading, and find some great book recommendations

Oh dear Kat, please don't leave us! Many of your questions are probably making the game clearer for others too. Don't ever feel bad about asking for clarification. As Judith and others have said it takes time to figure it all out. All readers are equally welcome on our team. From the person who reads a few books to the person who reads gobs of books. We are just here to have fun, hopefully find new book recommendations and make new friends. :))

Hey team! I'm Amanda from California. I've played UNO only once before, which was last year. I'm very excited to be playing again!

My favorite genres are fantasy (especially grimdark), sci-fi, and romance. I've been in a bit of a self-induced reading slump for the last month or so because I've spent all of my free time watching K-dramas. :D

Thanks for clarification. Do I wait to sign up for certain numbers ? I know I can sign up for colours just now, but just wondering about numbers, Or do we tell u before 1st Feb?

Nanci and I don't worry about sign-ups for the non-color cards. Just read what strikes your fancy and then we'll find a spot for the book.

It seems to work better than way. Towards the end of the month we might point people in the direction of certain cards. But I've never not been able to get someone's book to fit someone in the hands.

Judith wrote: "Hands Completed: 0 of 15

Color Cards Feb

9 Green - Judith
1 Green
9 Yellow
2 Yellow - Nanci
3 Green
8 Red
3 Red - Judith
9 Green

No WD4 Cards for February

Non-Color Cards Feb

0 card - 5
1 car..."

I'll take the 3 Green for February. Planning to read

Trinia wrote: "Hey Team! Sorry, didn't realize the thread was open for discussion :D

I'm Trinia from Texas... I've played Uno several times and have some shelves already name Uno-color , if you need recommendati..."

Your color shelves are amazing and super helpful!!

Val wrote: "Judith wrote: "Hands Completed: 0 of 15

Color Cards Feb

9 Green - Judith
1 Green
9 Yellow
2 Yellow - Nanci
3 Green
8 Red
3 Red - Judith
9 Green

No WD4 Cards for February

Non-Color Cards Feb

0..."

Ohh, that's a good read!

Val wrote: "Trinia wrote: "Hey Team! Sorry, didn't realize the thread was open for discussion :D

I'm Trinia from Texas... I've played Uno several times and have some shelves already name Uno-color , if you ne..."

Oh! I'm so happy to hear that :D

I can read a book for 9 Green.
I found , which has a character named Nayim.

Judith wrote: "Val wrote: "Judith wrote: "Hands Completed: 0 of 15

Color Cards Feb

9 Green - Judith
1 Green
9 Yellow
2 Yellow - Nanci
3 Green
8 Red
3 Red - Judith
9 Green

No WD4 Cards for February

Non-Color ..."

OOOOH - I'm so glad to hear that!!

I've found a Green 1

and a Red 8
(if England is acceptable for location)

I really liked Angel Maker!!

Hi everyone!

I'm Tina, live in Sweden and I've played UNO since 2014:) It's my absolute favorite challenge and I make sure to take part every year. The last couple of years I haven't been reading as much as I used to, because of real life I guess. But this challenge tends to wake the competitor in me and sometimes I recognize the old me:)

I'm really looking forward to play with all of you. Let's have fun:)

If this is yellow enough I can read it for 9 Yellow.

Tina wrote: "
If this is yellow enough I can read it for 9 Yellow."

I don't think it's at least 50% yellow, however it fits a lot of cards for us including the Reverse card so it would still be a helpful book to read in February

Trinia wrote: "I've found a Green 1

and a Red 8
(if England is acceptable for location)"

England would be acceptable only if a more specific location isn't given in the book.

If the book doesn't give more location details than 'English Countryside' England works. If it pops up that it's "Northumberland" then England is out. Hope that makes sense.

I'd say we keep it for now because even if the location is out a minor character with an E first/last name might pop up somewhere. We can always swap later.

Karen put together a bingo card for her team to work on until UNO starts on Feb 1st.

Are you all interested? I can set it up if people would like to do it.

Judith wrote: "Trinia wrote: "I've found a Green 1

and a Red 8
(if England is acceptable for location)"

England would be acceptable only ..."

Sounds good, it's an audio so I'm not positive about that... I'll look for a back up. So I'll take the red either way. ;D