The Challenge Factory discussion

The Race to 100 is a competitive contest to see which team can read their way to 100 first. This is a 10-week race, but it's possible to finish in less time.

Can you and your team get to 100 before the other teams?


team 8
Jane
Tasha
Kelly (Maybedog)
Melanie

Details:
You have six (6) days to read one (1) book.
Your book must match a task in a category. Your team will reach 100 sooner if your book fits more tasks. Your book can match up to three (3) tasks.

Week 1: April 9 - 14
Week 2: April 16 - 21
Week 3: April 23 - 28
Week 4: April 30 - May 5
Week 5: May 7 - 12
Week 6: May 14 - 19
Week 7: May 21 - 26
Week 8: May 28 - June 2
Week 9: June 4 - 9
Week 10: June 11 - 16


Rules:
You can't begin reading your book until Wednesday morning, 12:01 a.m. your time.
You must finish and report your book by Monday night 11:59 p.m. your time.
Books must be 140 pages or more.
Audio books must be at least 3 hours long.
Graphic Novels must be at least 200 pages.

Sample Completion Post
Name:
Book and Author:
Pages:
Date Read:
Task:
How It Fits:
2nd Task:
How It Fits:
3rd Task:
How It Fits:

(omit 2nd and/or 3rd task information if not using them)

There are 20 tasks in 5 categories that will need to be read for.
* Each task needs to be completed once to win the race. *

Task Count: 89/100

Numbers (series # or in the publication date; double digits need to be intact)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Letters (first word of the title or author's initial; do not ignore A, An, The)
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, V, W

Tags (does not need to be on the book's main page)
Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult (or YA), History or Historical, classic(s), standalone, reread (or re-read), audiobook(s), favorite or favourite, library, tbr, dnf, 5 star(s), 4 star(s), 3 star(s), 2024, 2023, own (or owned)

Settings (must be at least 50% of the story)
Africa, Australia or New Zealand, Canada, Central or South America, mainland Europe,
a Mediterranean country, the UK, California, New York, Texas, Washington state, on a farm, on a small island, at a school, in space or a different planet, on or in a vehicle, 1925 or earlier, in the future, a fantasy world, very near to where you live

Scavenger Words: (borrowed words from Deb's Scavenger Hunt. Thanks, Deb!)
You may change the word by adding an S, ED, or ING)
bowtie, bronze, carve, crust, dread, drain, field, foundation, grease, hint, instrument, legend, lock, opal, orange, partridge, railroad, stall, stout, trophy

Sabotages and Boosts
* Each sabotage or boost can only be used once.
* Sabotaging is optional. It is not mandatory.
* No sabotages on Week 10.
* Only 1 sabotage will be effective for a receiving team each week. (In other words, if Teams 2, 3 and 7 all send a sabotage to Team 5, only 1 will be in effect. The first sabotage submitted for a specific team in the sabotaging team's weekly Completion Post will be accepted. You will lose your sabotage even if it doesn't affect a team.)


Flat Tire - this sabotage will limit 1 player on a team to read for 2 tasks


Rain Delay - this sabotage prevents 1 player from beginning to read on Wednesday; that player cannot begin reading until Friday



USED High Octane Fuel - this boost allows 2 players to read for a 4th task



Guest Driver - this boost adds a player to your team for 1 week (in other words, a player can read a 2nd book for up to 3 more tasks)

First of all, pick a name for your team, group, or squad.

Second, decide who will keep track of the team's claimed and completed tasks. It can be on a spreadsheet or here in a post.

Third, decide who will make the team's Completion Posts. (It can be one person, or you can take turns. The team's Completion Post can be posted as soon as everyone has reported. The latest the team Completion Post can be posted is Tuesday morning.)

Fourth, decide what strategy or method your team will use to read for the tasks.

Last of all, check your engine and tires, gather your crew (check out library books and charge your devices), purchase fuel (snacks and soda), and get ready for a great race!

Hi! I'm Kelly. This game has me thinking of Milles Bornes, if anyone has played that game.

Here are my thoughts based on the rules and tasks and what was asked of us in the post above mine:

• Any team name is fine with me.

• I love Romance (as long as it's M/M) and Mystery. I mostly listen to audiobooks but if I understand the rules correctly, it just needs to have been tagged "audiobook" not listened to. Regardless, that will be easy for me.

• I don't like Young Adult or Historical. I think the settings are going to be the most difficult to find for me because I read mostly M/M and some cozy mysteries and it's unfortunately hard to find any set in any non-English speaking country.

• I think scavenger hunt stuff will mostly be what we find as we read rather than with planning, although we could scan books, too, for hard-to-find items.

• I'd love it but very little is written that takes place there.

• For "vehicle" I hope they'll accept spaceship because it needs to be 50% in it. Even on a road trip, a ton takes place outside the vehicle.

• I'm happy to keep track of stuff if no one else does, but this first week I'll be only sparingly available. After that, I can do it. I love spreadsheets but I'm not sure how to make it. I guess if we just have it as a long, long list, and as we complete stuff, we can either put our names by the item or I can do it if someone posts what they did. Maybe like this? Except one of the fields would be the week. So instead of just the date or in lieu of it, when finished the item would say "week one" or whatever. That would help the person who posts our weekly summary have an easier time of it.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

• In the sheet above, we signed up for stuff and then put a date when we'd accomplished it. I'm thinking maybe we could sign up for stuff and if someone else accomplishes it first, they can just put their name instead. It doesn't matter who does it. But it helps if we have a plan who is going to try. Then we won't have something like "Mediterranean country" with no one actively trying to find a book that fits.

(I didn't make it and it's ugly. If someone wanted to throw something together based on this, I could make it pretty after we start and keep track of it starting a week from tomorrow.)

This was just a thought. There are probably better ideas out there.

Hi everyone, I'm Melanie! I primarily read romance, mysteries/thrillers, and occasionally sci-fi or urban fantasy.

Kelly, I couldn't access the spreadsheet you made so I threw one together and if you're good with this one, we can use it. I'm happy to keep things updated and post the completions when needed.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

I added columns so we can mark when we're currently reading a task, when it's been completed, and one for after it's been posted to the completion thread so we know that's done.

I also added a yes/no dropdown so we can mark if the book is for multiple tasks since a book can be used for up to 3 at a time. If anyone has any other suggestions for the spreadsheet, just let me know and I can update it.

Hi. I’m Jane. I read mostly fantasy, romance and cosy mystery. But I’ll read just about anything for a challenge if needed.

Any name is fine with me.

I see the locations as the more difficult tasks.

Sabotage / Boosts
Rain Delay: I read a lot so that’s not a problem for me.
High octane fuel: I think we should use that quite early in the game when there are more tasks to chose from

Spreadsheet looks good

Hi folks,

I forgot to give access to the spreadsheet but it doesn't matter because Melanie's is sooo much better. It looks perfect to me.

It looks like we all have similar reading tastes. I hope our fourth likes some of those genres we're not as fond of. :)

Does anyone know Tasha? She's the fourth in our group.

Do we have a suggestion for a team name? I can't think of anything related to cars or racing. Maybe something related to speed racer's car The Mach Five? Or KITT from Nightrider? Could we come up with words for that to be the acronym? That's the extent of my famous car knowledge. I know a few car parts too. A very few.

The only thing I've come up with is V8 Vixens to tie it to our team number.

I love the V8 part but I'd rather we stay away from anything gender-specific.

V8 Varoom
V8 as in Victorious (or V8 Is Victorious)
You could have been a V8

Those aren't very good. Anything other ideas? The challenge starts the day after tomorrow.

I tried to message Tasha but she doesn't accept messages. I posted in one of the major threads asking if anyone knows her. Hopefully, she'll check in tomorrow. If not, there are a few back up players.

Melanie, people are sharing their spreadsheets in the Q&A thread and they don't look like they have all the info they need. I don't know if you want to post yours there or not. It would give the other teams something a little more useful, I think.

Also, on our spreadsheet, you can shorten my name to just Kelly so it doesn't make the cells so tall if you'd like.

I have limited time to choose a book and read this week so I selected it so I can start as soon as I have some time on Wednesday. I may not have any time until Saturday. In the spreadsheet. I entered it by the items it fits that seem to be the most difficult to find and will look for the SH items as I read (listen to) it in case we think I should change one of my three tasks. I think tags are going to be the easiest.

Hope I didn't grab any categories someone else wanted. The first week is always the easiest.

I'm going to have a look as well as I'm away all weekend this week from Friday morning to Sunday evening so I need to read my book either Wednesday or Thursday

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "I love the V8 part but I'd rather we stay away from anything gender-specific.

V8 Varoom
V8 as in Victorious (or V8 Is Victorious)
You could have been a V8

Those aren't very good. Anything other..."

That's a good point.

What about V8 for Victory or V8 to Victory?

That or something without an 8 like Rapid Readers or maybe Speed Readers? I'm bad at coming up with names.

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "I tried to message Tasha but she doesn't accept messages. I posted in one of the major threads asking if anyone knows her. Hopefully, she'll check in tomorrow. If not, there are a few back up playe..."

I updated your name to just Kelly and shared the spreadsheet in the Q&A.

That's great, Melanie!

I like the V8 to Victory.

Jane, do you want to weigh in on the name? Since the event has already started in most of the world, I'm going to request we get one of the alternate players.

I’m happy with the name.

I’ll try to get a book done today as I’m away from Friday morning till Sunday night with very little time to read.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the back-up player. If I don't hear from her by tomorrow, I will contact the next person in line.

I realize that that doesn't give someone much time to pick out a book and read it by the Monday midnight deadline. I figured that I would fill the empty spot for Week 1, if that's okay.

Thanks Lanelle! I wasn't sure how it would work with the missing player so thanks for checking in to let us know.

I've talked to Marty and she's joining your team. She hasn't read a book for this Week and so I'll be your 'temporary driver' this Week.

I'm reading His Unknown Wife by Louis Tracy. I'll let you guys choose which tasks you want my book to claim.

It matches:
Numbers - 3, 11

Letters - H, L, T

Tags - classic(s)

Settings - Central or South America

Scavenger Words - carve, crust, dread, drain, field, foundation, hint, legend, lock, railroad, stout

Thanks, that's great!

I'd say the Central or South America & classic(s) tasks would be good ones to use this for. Then maybe one of the scavenger words?

Kelly & Jane, any opinions on which tasks to use Lanelle's book for?

I need to let you know that I have adjusted a few of the Tags tasks. Star can now be plural if you'd like to use it that way. i.e., 5 star(s), 4 star(s), 3 star(s)

Hi everyone, I'm Marty, your replacement teammate. :)
I'll be joining in next Wednesday.

I read a lot of horror, mystery, fantasy and historical fiction from all over the globe. That said, I can read in other genres if needed. This game should help me further whittle down my embarrassingly large TBR!

Hi, Marty! Glad you could join us and thank you, Lanelle!

Melanie, as the keeper of the spreadsheet, do you want to add Lanelle's books to three of those categories?

I've been away all weekend with NO reading.

I'll get a book done by either tonight or tomorrow.

Lanelle wrote: "I've talked to Marty and she's joining your team. She hasn't read a book for this Week and so I'll be your 'temporary driver' this Week.

I'm reading His Unknown Wife by [author:Lou..."

Ok, I've put your book down for classics tag, Central or South America setting, and foundation scavenger hunt.

Can you let me know where the book is set and the page number/percentage and sentence for foundation?

Melanie wrote: "Can you let me know where the book is set and the page number/percentage and sentence for foundation?"

I'll put the information in my Completion Post.

Completion Post

Name: Lanelle
Book and Author: His Unknown Wife by Louis Tracy
Pages: 171
Date Read: 4/13/25
Task: Tags - Classics
How It Fits: The book has the 'Classics' tag.
2nd Task: Setting - Central or South America
How It Fits: The story is set in the fictional country of San Juan and in Chile, both in South America.
3rd Task: Scavenger Hunt word - foundation
How It Fits: "...the foundations of six very firm friendships..." loc. 2234

Week 1 Completion Post

Name: Kelly
Book and Author: Black Moon by Elle Keaton
Pages: 256
Date Read: 4/10/25
Task 1: Washington State
How it fits: Takes place in the San Juans in Washington State
Task 2:On a small island
How it fits: Takes place on Piedras Island in the San Juans, all small islands
Task 3: Very near to where you live
How it fits: The San Juans are about 80 miles away from where I live.

Melanie is keeping track of the spreadsheet and our tasks but have we decided who will post the team summary? I can do it if no one else wants to.

I'll post my completion in a little bit when I'm not on my phone.

I'm happy to do the team check-in.

Completion Post - Week 1:



Name: Melanie
Book and Author: What the Devil Knows by C.S. Harris
Pages: 321
Date Read: 4/9/2025

Task: Numbers - 16
How It Fits: Sebastian St. Cyr #16
2nd Task: Settings - 1925 or earlier
How It Fits: Set in 1814
3rd Task: Scavenger Words - Stout
How It Fits: pg. 79 "...her late husband, stout and..."

Completion Post - Week 1:

Name: Jane
Book and Author:
The Last Single Girl by Bria Quinlan
Pages: 150
Date Read: 4/14-2025

Task: Tags - Romance
How It Fits: Tagged romance x 134
2nd Task: Tags DNF
How It Fits: Tagged DNF x 4
3rd Task: Scavenger Words - Hint
How It Fits: Pg 88: No hints at all.

I checked us in for the week.

Do we want to think about using any of the boosts in week 2? I can easily read an extra book whenever we want to do Guest Driver. And High Octane Fuel may be easier to do sooner when there are more tasks available.

High Octane Fuel - this boost allows 2 players to read for a 4th task

Guest Driver - this boost adds a player to your team for 1 week (in other words, a player can read a 2nd book for up to 3 more tasks)

Hmm. in games like this I tend to want save boosts to use later if we're lagging behind or need a motivation boost, but in this game I'm not sure it matters. So whenever we use them is fine with me. I can do either of them, too. I read about a book a day or 250-350 pages if it's a long one.

Melanie, I think with all you've been doing for us, you've become our de-facto team captain. :) Thanks for doing all this stuff and being on top of the boosts.

Thank you Melanie for checking us in.

I agree that we should use a boost early.

I'll defer to those of you who are more experienced regarding the boosts. A question, did you all share your choices for the previous week, to decide who was reading for what task?

Marty wrote: "I'll defer to those of you who are more experienced regarding the boosts. A question, did you all share your choices for the previous week, to decide who was reading for what task?"

I think we all just picked something and entered it into the spreadsheet for last week.

I imagine that will work fine for a while with there being a bunch of tasks open but when we start running out of tasks we may have to talk that out to make sure everyone can fit their books in.

Melanie wrote: "Marty wrote: "I'll defer to those of you who are more experienced regarding the boosts. A question, did you all share your choices for the previous week, to decide who was reading for what task?"

..."

Thanks, that sounds good.

I chose my tasks for my current book. The only "setting" it fit was a fantasy world and that will be a lot of my books. The other stuff seems easy except for words, so I chose three of those. However, the reader I checked the book on doesn't have locations or pages, just chapters. If that's not enough, I can transfer to my kindle and get more specific. Do I need to do that?

I feel like I'm not learning anything from this because we're all so quiet and the posts are just info you can find on the book page plus the tasks. What are people reading and do you like it and/or recommend it? [Yes I've read books I didn't like but recommended. :)]

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "I feel like I'm not learning anything from this because we're all so quiet and the posts are just info you can find on the book page plus the tasks. What are people reading and do you like it and/o..."

I'm making a serious effort to read books that have been on my TBR for too long. This includes getting comfortable with DNFing things that looked good 12 years ago that no longer appeal. Right now, I'm reading a lot of horror/mystery, rather than my usual historical fiction. I'm usually not a scifi/fantasy reader, but I came across two books last year that helped change that a bit. One was This Is How You Lose the Time War and Phoenix Extravagant. The plots were creative (the latter had an artist leveraging their talent to serve a repressive regime in order to survive. It's wonderfully written. The first novel involves an ongoing galactic war and how two time jumping warriors fall into a romance. This one was almost lyrical in parts.

The first one sounds so good! I added it to my shelf. I think the second one sounds really cool too, especially with the nonbinary main character, but I don't like YA at all. But I do know a kid who might like it so thanks for the rec.

I love horror/mystery. I prefer M/M romance as another genre with it, but I'll read anything if it sounds good. Sounds like the first one is sapphic but people said the gender wasn't discussed much. I'm curious about that. Regardless, I haven't read much SF recently nor Sapphic Romance so again, thanks for the rec.

Thank you so much for this post. It's what I was hoping for. I also like hearing about books to avoid, too. I hate things without happy or happy for now endings. And I want to know in advance about cliffhangers!

Completion Post - Week 2:

Name: Jane
Book and Author:
Alien Night on Union Station by E.M. Foner
Pages: 187
Date Read: 4/17-2025

Task: Settings - In space or a different planet
How It Fits: Takes place on a spacestation
2nd Task: Scavenger Words: Field
How It Fits: Pg 153: They're just trying to level the field
3rd Task: Scavenger Words - Lock
How It Fits: Pg 105: and provide a strong beacon for him to lock onto...

I’m sorry. I won’t be able to interact much. Since Monday I’m dealing with potentially serious illness in the very close family.
I’ll still be reading but not communicating much.

Oh, Jane, I hope it's okay. No worries about not communicating much. Real life comes first! My post was only a request for book reqs and I don't at all expect anyone to respond who doesn't want to anyway.

Week 2 Completion Post




Name: Kelly
Book and Author: Death Enraptured by Richard Amos
Pages: 350
Date Read: 3/18/25

Task 1: Scavenger Hunt word Bronze
How it fits: Chap. 28: "Sunlight intensified the bronze of his skin"

Task 2: Scavenger Hunt word Dread
How it fits: Chap. 23: "Dread was a toxin"

Task 3: Scavenger Hunt word Orange
How it fits: Chap. 16: “Coffee and orange juice?”

Completion Post - Week 2:



Name: Melanie
Book and Author: A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper
Pages: 368
Date Read: 4/18/2025

Task: Scavenger Words - Carve
How It Fits: 29% "...and a carved wooden box..."

2nd Task: Scavenger Words - Drain
How It Fits: 63% "...energy draining from his..."

3rd Task: Scavenger Words - Stall
How It Fits: 47% "...to avoid stalled traffic ahead..."

I've read books 1 and 1.5 and liked them but I stopped because my library doesn't have it in audio and I didn't want to pay for it. That was the previous time that I had to read books in audio format which was a long time ago. I just checked and my library has it now!