The Challenge Factory discussion

Let's practice gratitude by playing a gratitude game.

team member: Vi
team member: LaurLa
team member: Susan
team member: Shan ~A~

The game begins Monday, Sept. 29 and ends Sunday, Nov. 23.
There are 8 weeks of the game.

Week 1: Sept. 29 - Oct. 5
Week 2: Oct. 6 - Oct. 12
Week 3: Oct. 13 - Oct. 19
Week 4: Oct. 20 - Oct. 26
Week 5: Oct. 27 - Nov. 2
Week 6: Nov. 3 - Nov. 9
Week 7: Nov. 10 - Nov. 16
Week 8: Nov. 17 - Nov. 23

Details:
You have seven (7) days to read one (1) book.

Rules:
You can't begin reading your book until Monday morning, 12:01 a.m. your time.
You must finish and report your book by Sunday night 11:59 p.m. your time.

If a team member does not make a Completion Post for a week, the team misses out on the points that team member's book would have added to the total. If that team member misses a second week, they will be removed from the team.

Exceptions are made for a planned absence or emergency. Another player on the team can use a second book to replace the missing points caused by the absence or emergency.

A player may roll for the next Week's task on the Friday before the next Week.

Books must be 140 pages or more.
Graphic Novels must be 200 pages or more.
Audio books must be at least 3 hours long.

Sample Completion Post
Book and Author:
Pages:
Date Read:
Task:
How it fits:
Is the word 'gratitude' or 'grateful' in the text of your book? (If so, quote the phrase and page or location in the book for an additional point.)

How the game works:
* Each week one player on each team rolls two dice.
https://www.random.org/dice/?num=2
* Using die 1 for the row and die 2 for the column, find the intersection on the grid.

Example: if you roll a 3 and a 2, move down the Rows to #3, and scan across for #2 on that Row. It is "Name a book you are thankful for"

* Read a book for the task in that intersection. As easy as that.
* Each book read during the week receives one (1) point for the team.
* Your book will receive an extra point if 'gratitude' or 'grateful' is in the text.

The team with the most points wins.

A team can only read the task in a certain box once. If you roll the exact numbers (in the same order) from a previous week, you must re-roll the dice for a different task.

Because the picture is difficult to read, all boxes are listed below with their tasks.
Row 1:
1) Name a friend you are grateful for - read a book from a teammate's Goodreads shelf
2) +2 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
3) Share a memory you are grateful for - read a book set 50+ years ago, about an event that happened 50+ years ago, or published 50+ years ago
4) Name a holiday you are thankful for - read a book centered around or about a holiday
5) -1 point - read any book you'd like; your team loses 1 point
6) Share an activity you are grateful for - read a book with an action verb in the title

Row 2:
1) +3 points read a book with '3' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 3 points
2) Name a place you are grateful for - read a book about or set somewhere you have lived or visited
3) -4 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 4 points
4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family
5) Name an object you are grateful for - read a book with no human or animal on the cover
6) +1 point - read a book with '1' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 1 point

Row 3:
1) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter
2) Name a book you are thankful for - read a book in a series that you have started
3) Name a family member you are grateful for - read a book written by an author with any initial found in FAMILY
4) +4 points - read a book with '4' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 4 points
5) -3 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 3 points
6) Name a person you admire - read a book by a favorite author that you have not read yet, or read a biography or autobiography

Row 4:
1) Name an ability you are thankful for - read a book where a significant character has a disability
2) +1 point - read a book with '1' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 1 point
3) Share something that makes you happy - re-read a book that you rated 4 or 5 stars
4) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter
5) Name a song you are grateful for - read a book with 'song(s)', 'sing(s)', or 'singing' in the text
6) Share a moment when someone helped you - read a book from a teammate's Goodreads shelf

Row 5:
1) +2 points read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
2) Name a game you are grateful for - read a book where a competitive sport is mentioned
3) -3 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 3 points
4) Share a vacation memory you are grateful for - read a book where the MC goes on vacation or holiday, or about a popular vacation site
5) +5 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 5 points
6) Share a experience you are grateful for - read a book with 'X' anywhere on the cover

Row 6:
1) Share a challenge you overcame - read a book that fits a current task in a challenge that a teammate is participating in (other than this challenge :)
2) -1 point - read any book you'd like; your team loses 1 point
3) Name a food you are grateful for - read a book with food or drink on the cover
4) +2 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
5) Name a gift you are thankful for - read a book with a title that begins with a letter in GIFT (you can ignore 'A' and 'An')
6) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter

To do list -

First of all, pick a name for your group.
Second, decide who will roll the dice.
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. Please have your team's Completion Post in by Monday around noontime.)
Fourth, decide who will be the team's verifier. I need someone to make sure that a book fits the task for the week. In a few instances, you will have to take the word of the reader that a book matches the task, but if it's a tag, cover, title, author initial, page count or publication date, those are verifiable.
Fifth, practice counting all that you are grateful for. There will be a lot!!!

Hi all - I think I might know everyone here but if not - I'm LaurLa 😊
Looking forward to reading with ya'll! I will be on vacation during the first week but that shouldn't keep me from reading a book for the challenge - I just might not be the best person to roll for us! But I'm happy to do the weekly completion posts if no one wants to do that. I know in other similar challenges, we've agreed as a team the last person to finish reading does the post - but there does need to be someone who is making sure it does get done. I'm good with however you guys want to do it.

I'm not sure about names, I'll put my thinking cap on!

Hi everyone! New challenges are always exciting. I'm okay with doing any role no one else may be able to do.

I'm on GR almost daily to some capacity, Just let me know.

I'm horrible at team names.
Possible Names
*Resilient Readers
*The Fierce Foursome
*Kindred Spirits

Here some ideas I came up with around the challenge theme -


A Team with an Attitude of Gratitude
Novels of Gratitude
A Thankful Team
Thankful times 4

Eh, not loving any of those.

Oh my intro post went away. Hi everyone, I think I know all of you too. I'm Vi, I live in the Netherlands so I'm at least 6 hours ahead of the East Coast.

From Chatgpt as I am just not creative enough:

The Uplifters
Vibe Tribe
Gratitude Gladiators
Danke Dream Team
Merci Much
Gracias Squad

If you have a team member who hasn't checked in yet, feel free to message them. Time is running out. The challenge begins in just two days!

I like Vibe Tribe, Gratitude Gladiators, and Merci Much, for the rhyming or alliteration.

Has anyone contacted Susan?

Yes, I have messaged her just now.

I vote for Vibe Tribe or Merci Much

Hey! I'm here!

I like Vibe Tribe!

Someone should roll the dice so that you can plan what you'll begin reading tomorrow.

Looks like Vibe Tribe got the most votes. I'll put that in as our name and roll the dice.

Roll 2, 4
Row 2 | Column 4
4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family

Thanks, Shan!

I am grateful when my parents, sibling, nieces and nephews all get together for holidays. We always have delicious food and lots of fun entertainment.

I am going to read The Corrections, which is about a midwestern family that grapples with dysfunction, secrets, and change as the aging parents summon everyone home for one last Christmas.

I am from the midwest and my family can be very dysfunctional.

Completion Post
4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family
Moment: I'm grateful that my kids, my sister, her kids and I communicate daily in our family thread and it is always a good time. We got a seranade from my 2 year old niece this morning singing and dancing Golden from KPop Demon Hunters.
Book: Only For Tonight by Natasha Madison
Pages: 463
Finished: 10/01
How it fits: The MCs are children of family friends, and their families play a big role in their lives.
Extra Point: I've never been more grateful...pg. 407

Completion Post - Week 1

4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family

Moment: I'm grateful that my brother and I are close enough that we are able to meet now and then and that my kids have a great relationship with him.

Book: Strictly Extracurricular by Ana Kirk Shaw
Pages: 338
Date Read: 29 Sept
How it Fits: The MCs are cousins/close friends and the family actually kick starts their romance.
Extra Point: I'm so grateful for his services and for my forethought. Pg: 82

Completion ❱❱ Week 1


Book and Author ❱❱ On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young
Pages ❱❱ 440
Date Read ❱❱ 10.03 ★★★★
Task ❱❱ 4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family
How it fits ❱❱ Book has very strong family theme with Beth's extended Carmichael family and her desire to take care and protect them
grateful/gratitude ❱❱ I’d be grateful for the days I got with him [loc 503.8]

My extended family is shrinking as the older generation passes away and it makes the times we do get together so bittersweet. I am grateful for those times now more than ever. I am also beyond grateful for the way my adult boys have begun to interact with the older generation without prompting from us. That makes me proud and so happy they feel the familial love that we tried to instill in them as they were growing up.

Team Name: Vibe Tribe (team 1)
Week 1 Completion Post

Vi - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
LaurLa - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Susan - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shan ~A~ - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Points Earned Week 1: 7

Completion Week 1

Book: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Pages: 568
Finished: 10/5
How it fits: The Corrections is centered on family — their conflicts, regrets, and the complicated love that keeps pulling them back together.

Reading it made me appreciate the small, imperfect moments of connection in my own family, especially when we all manage to be in the same room, sharing a meal or a laugh despite everything else going on. My dad has failing health and is a bit in denial about this diagnosis.

Susan - can you check for grateful or gratitude in your book? I know I forgot to check, so just want to double check with you before checking us in.

I'm going to go ahead and check us in - if Susan's book had the bonus point, I'll see if we can add it in.

LaurLa wrote: "I'm going to go ahead and check us in - if Susan's book had the bonus point, I'll see if we can add it in."

Thanks, LaurLa!!

I've used Amazon's 'read sample' feature to look for grateful. I found it several times. Here's one, "I'd be grateful if you came." p. 423

Go ahead and edit your completion post.

Thank-you, Lanelle! I should have thought of that! Post updated.

LaurLa wrote: "Thank-you, Lanelle! I should have thought of that! Post updated."

Thank you, LaurLa!

Someone needs to roll the dice so you can get reading this Week's book. Feel free to roll the dice on Fridays to prepare for the next Week.

First Roll 2, 4
Row 2 | Column 4
4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family
Second Roll 5,4
4) Share a vacation memory you are grateful for - read a book where the MC goes on vacation or holiday, or about a popular vacation site
Third Roll 6, 3
3) Name a food you are grateful for - read a book with food or drink on the cover

Because the picture is difficult to read, all boxes are listed below with their tasks.
Row 1:
1) Name a friend you are grateful for - read a book from a teammate's Goodreads shelf
2) +2 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
3) Share a memory you are grateful for - read a book set 50+ years ago, about an event that happened 50+ years ago, or published 50+ years ago
4) Name a holiday you are thankful for - read a book centered around or about a holiday
5) -1 point - read any book you'd like; your team loses 1 point
6) Share an activity you are grateful for - read a book with an action verb in the title

Row 2:
1) +3 points read a book with '3' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 3 points
2) Name a place you are grateful for - read a book about or set somewhere you have lived or visited
3) -4 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 4 points
4) Share a family moment you are grateful for - read a book where family is important to the plot, or about an entire family
5) Name an object you are grateful for - read a book with no human or animal on the cover
6) +1 point - read a book with '1' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 1 point

Row 3:
1) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter
2) Name a book you are thankful for - read a book in a series that you have started
3) Name a family member you are grateful for - read a book written by an author with any initial found in FAMILY
4) +4 points - read a book with '4' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 4 points
5) -3 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 3 points
6) Name a person you admire - read a book by a favorite author that you have not read yet, or read a biography or autobiography

Row 4:
1) Name an ability you are thankful for - read a book where a significant character has a disability
2) +1 point - read a book with '1' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 1 point
3) Share something that makes you happy - re-read a book that you rated 4 or 5 stars
4) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter
5) Name a song you are grateful for - read a book with 'song(s)', 'sing(s)', or 'singing' in the text
6) Share a moment when someone helped you - read a book from a teammate's Goodreads shelf

Row 5:
1) +2 points read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
2) Name a game you are grateful for - read a book where a competitive sport is mentioned
3) -3 points - read any book you'd like; your team loses 3 points
4) Share a vacation memory you are grateful for - read a book where the MC goes on vacation or holiday, or about a popular vacation site
5) +5 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 5 points
6) Share a experience you are grateful for - read a book with 'X' anywhere on the cover

Row 6:
1) Share a challenge you overcame - read a book that fits a current task in a challenge that a teammate is participating in (other than this challenge :)
2) -1 point - read any book you'd like; your team loses 1 point
3) Name a food you are grateful for - read a book with food or drink on the cover ~ Current
4) +2 points - read a book with '2' in the page count or publication date; your team gains 2 points
5) Name a gift you are thankful for - read a book with a title that begins with a letter in GIFT (you can ignore 'A' and 'An')
6) Take another turn - read a book with two words in the title that begin with the same letter

Thank you for searching my book LaurLa. Work got busy this afternoon! I’m picking a shorter book this week!

Completion ❱❱ Week 2


Book and Author ❱❱ Shaken by Ursula Sinclair
Pages ❱❱ 150
Date Read ❱❱ 10.08 ★★★★
Task ❱❱ 4) Share a vacation memory you are grateful for - read a book where the MC goes on vacation or holiday, or about a popular vacation site
How it fits ❱❱ set in Washington DC which is a popular (and educational) vacation spot for families
grateful/gratitude ❱❱ I’m grateful she didn’t hold my past against me. [loc 129.3]

I am grateful that my husband's company recognizes high performers each year with a reward trip and that the trip includes a guest (me). This year's trip was to Canada - someplace I've always wished to visit but never really thought I would. So this was a welcome bucket list opportunity to a beautiful and interesting place I might not have otherwise visited - or at least not as lavishly!

Book: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Pages: 262
Finished: 10/10/25
How it fits: A family summer vacation in Massachusetts; wholesome, charming, full of sibling dynamics and adventures.
Grateful or Gratitude: “It had been the best vacation they’d ever had, and the Penderwicks were grateful for every single day of it.” pg190

We didn't take family vacations very often, but I do remember one trip. I was excited that we go to stay overnight at a hotel with a pool! My baby sister actually fell in that pool and I had to rescue her. I'm not sure what my parents were doing, but my sister remembers it even though she was probably only 2 or 3 years old. I'm grateful for my sister and glad she was okay.

Completion Post - Week 2

4) Share a vacation memory you are grateful for - read a book where the MC goes on vacation or holiday, or about a popular vacation site

Moment: I've had great vacation memories but it always involves my aunt, uncle and cousins during summer vacation and going on road trips. We successfully recreated this 6 years back with my daughter and that has been the last family trip that my grandmother was healthy. She has dementia and she doesn't really remember the last few years.

Book: Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Pages: 416
Date Read: 10 Oct
How it Fits: The MCs go to the South of France for a vacation
Extra Point: She was grateful for that, or she would have never been to Venice. Loc 134

Completion Post - Week 2

4) Share a vacation memory you are grateful for - read a book where the MC goes on vacation or holiday, or about a popular vacation site

Vacation Memory: My hubby and I mostly take vacations with the kids in tow if we were traveling far, but one year we took a trip to Nevada, kids free. We stayed in Laughlin, but we drove to Vegas and also did a bit of sightseeing in Arizona as well. We had a good time.

Book/Author: Haunted New Orleans: History & Hauntings of the Crescent City by Troy Taylor
Pages: 195
Finished: 10/09
How it fits: About New Orleans
Extra Point: ...earning the gratitude of the new government...pg. 26

Team Name: Vibe Tribe (team 1)
Week 2 Completion Post

Vi - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
LaurLa - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Susan - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shan ~A~ - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Points Earned Week 2: 8

I checked us in!


@Shan - do you want to go ahead and roll for us since you have your tracking set up?

Third Roll 6, 3
3) Name a food you are grateful for - read a book with food or drink on the cover

Yum!!! Thanks, Shan!
Falls right into my plans - love when challenges play well together!

Completion ❱❱ Week 3


Book and Author ❱❱ Enemy at the Wedding by Emily Senecal
Pages ❱❱ 226
Date Read ❱❱ 10.14 ★★★★
Task ❱❱ 3) Name a food you are grateful for - read a book with food or drink on the cover
How it fits ❱❱ cake on cover
grateful/gratitude ❱❱ in a moment of grace and gratitude.[loc 278.1]

I am grateful for soooo many foods! But I guess to have to name one I'd say potatoes! Who doesn't love a good fry or baked potato or mashed or grilled? It's a staple for many people because they are relatively inexpensive, can be stretched far and are extremely versatile! Mmmm - fries for lunch today I think!

Week 3 Completion
Book: Key Lime Pie Murder
Pages: 342
Finished: 10/15/25
How it fits: Key Lime Pie on the cover
Grateful or Gratitude: “…giving her partner a grateful smile.” pg22

I am grateful for sweet treats such as cookies or pie. I have a huge sweet tooth, but try not to eat such things too often.

Completion Post - Week 3

3) Name a food you are grateful for - read a book with food or drink on the cover

Moment: I'm grateful for chocolate. Day always seems better after a good chocolate/hot chocolate.

Book: A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
Pages: 384
Date Read: 13 Oct
How it Fits: Tea on cover
Extra Point: Chap 1: see a jewelled hairpin from one of Mother's grateful patrons..

Oh, I can't deny I'm also super grateful for chocolate!!!

I was having a piece of chocolate when I was doing the post so that may have influenced this lol. Made my super busy day a lot better.

Hey Shan - just checking on your book for the week.

Unfortunately, Shan has missed the deadline. Go ahead and make a team Completion Post without her.

Team Name: Vibe Tribe (team 1)
Week 3 Completion Post

Vi - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
LaurLa - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Susan - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shan ~A~

Points Earned Week 3: 6

Roll 4: 4, 5


5) Name a song you are grateful for - read a book with 'song(s)', 'sing(s)', or 'singing' in the text

Sorry, when I tried to post last night I kept getting an error message. Just realized it was working again.

Completion ❱❱ Week 4
Book and Author ❱❱ Bears Behaving Badly by MaryJanice Davidson


Pages ❱❱ 383
Date Read ❱❱ 10.21 ★★★★
Task ❱❱ 5) Name a song you are grateful for - read a book with 'song(s)', 'sing(s)', or 'singing' in the text
How it fits ❱❱ And unless Caro starts singing, [loc 44.0]
grateful/gratitude ❱❱ Annette was grateful the Shifter system allowed more flexibility [loc 52.3]

So so so many songs to love and be grateful for - almost as many as books. I could come up with some of my teenage favorites from the 80s hairbands but the song that I most am grateful for because it was something my mother and I both really enjoyed and I had sung at her memorial service is "Love You Forever". It's not really a song per se - it's a story called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch where the mother sings to her child at various stages of his life a simple little song of love. In the end, the son sings a version of the song back to his mother as a tribute when she is old and near death. At our church, our pastor began a tradition of telling/singing this story on Mother's Day and it became a special thing between my mother and me. I asked that pastor to perform the song for us at my mother's memorial service as she was also a great friend of my mom's. It felt right for that and many reasons. I'm grateful for the chance to give my mother that tribute on her passing.

Week 4 Completion
Book: Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
Finished: 10/22/25
How it fits: About a girl who finds her voice through music
Grateful or Gratitude: Menolly feels grateful when someone offers her kindness.

I am grateful for all kinds of music. The most recent concert I attended was NIN. NIN hadn’t been on tour since 2013. Getting to see NIN play again after all these years made my summer! NIN has been around since the 1990s, the lead singer, Trent Reznor is amazing and his voice is phenomenal especially at the age of 60! Love, Love, Love them!