Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

This is Barbara and Crystal's chat thread.

The rules may be found here.

You may each read one book for every category.

You will post your completed books in this thread.

Categories:

* Read a book with an autumn vibes cover.
* Read a book set at Thanksgiving.
* Read a book with autumn leaves on the cover.
* Read a book with a pumpkin or jack-o-lantern on the cover.
* Read a book featuring a family get-together.

* Read a book with a dessert on the cover.
* Read a book with a coffee cup or teacup on the cover.
* Read a book set in autumn (Sep - Nov).
* Read a book by an author whose first and last initials are found in THANKSGIVING.
* Read a book featuring a child (0-17 years old). Share their age.

* Read a book with an orange cover (at least 50%).
* Read a book with a white cover (at least 50%).
* Read a book with a brown cover (at least 50%).
* Read a book with a red cover (at least 50%).
* Read a book with a green cover (at least 50%).

* Read a book with hay on the cover.
* Read a book with a horse on the cover.
* Read a book set at Halloween.
* Read a book in which someone wears a costume.
* Read a book in which a character goes for a walk.

* Read a book whose author’s first and last initial are in HALLOWEEN.
* Read a book set before 1800.
* Read a book set in the 1800s (1800-1899).
* Read a book set in the 1900s (1900-1999).
* Read a book set in the 2000s or after (futuristic counts).

* Read a book with a winter vibes cover.
* Read a book set in winter (Dec - Feb).
* Read a book with Christmas decorations on the cover.
* Read a book in which a character decorates a tree or hangs lights.
* Read a book set at Christmas.

* Read a book in which a character goes shopping.
* Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are in CHRISTMAS.
* Read a book with a light source on the cover (lamp, sun, lantern, candle, etc.).
* Read a book with stars on the cover.
* Read a book set in the Middle East.

* Read a book set in Europe.
* Read a book set in Asia.
* Read a book set in Africa.
* Read a book set in South America.
* Read a book set in North America.

* Read a book with a man and woman on the cover.
* Read a book with an animal on the cover.
* Read a book with a child on the cover.
* Read a book set at New Year’s (New Year’s Eve counts).
* Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are in NEW YEAR’S EVE.

* Read a book set on the East Coast of the United States.
* Read a book set on the West Coast of the United States.
* Read a book set on the Gulf Coast of the United States.
* Read a book featuring a snowball fight.
* Read a book featuring a baby.

Hi Barbara! I've not participated in this challenge before but it looks fun! I read a lot of the Christmas novellas around this time of year so I'm hoping I can knock out more books than usual. I'm also catching up from a month and half of no reading due to moving across the country with my three kiddos so I have a lot to catch up and most of those can count in some way. :)

Hi Crystal! This is my first challenge ever on Goodreads. I am excited but also nervous that I won't do it properly and that some of the books I have in my pile to finish before the year end wont count.
I also read a lot of Christmas stories :). I'm hoping I can keep up with my normal reading level as I just got a new job (haven't actually started yet).
How do we start a challenge like this?

Barbara wrote: "Hi Crystal! This is my first challenge ever on Goodreads. I am excited but also nervous that I won't do it properly and that some of the books I have in my pile to finish before the year end wont c..."

I'm excited to be your partner for your first challenge! I sign up for more challenges than I should but a lot of the books usually overlap and fit more than one challenge in some way so it works out.

My best suggestion is just to re read the rules before you post your first few books, and then make sure you format it like Andreas example. If you have one that is not Christian fiction, since Andrea said any genre counts, I would just put above, beneath or beside the books link...."not CF". That way people don't use that book idea to fit a category if they exclusively read CF (since it's a CF group). But don't be nervous about not doing something wrong, because its just a fun challenge :)

Also, if we get stuck on a category we can post it here to see if the other has suggestions for books that fit. Not sure yet if I want to post the list here with my plans in this thread, or comment with the tasks I'm actively working towards, still thinking about it and would love your feedback!

thanks for the advice Crystal.
I think posting tasks currently working towards makes sense.

Currently working on:

Read a book with a coffee or tea cup on the cover.



Orange Cover



Read a book in the 1800's.



Read a book set in the Europe



Read a book set in the 1900's
1902



Read a book whose authors first and last initials are in CHRISTMAS.



Read a book set in the middle east.



Read a book set at New Years (New Years Eve counts)



Set in Africa
Ethiopia

Currently working on:

Set in North America (Lytton, BC, Canada)


For either Autumn Leaves on Cover or Autumn Vibes Cover


White cover


Also reading but yet to determine if it fits in any of the categories


Other two I am reading do not work due to content

Crystal
When I have finished a book how do I post it? I see the thread to post on and the format to use. But do I Copy and Paste the categories and then fill them in as I finish books (editing the same thread)? Or do I add them one at a time and say what category they are for (new thread for each book)? (Hopefully this makes sense.)

Barbara wrote: "Crystal
When I have finished a book how do I post it? I see the thread to post on and the format to use. But do I Copy and Paste the categories and then fill them in as I finish books (editing the..."

Makes perfect sense! Yes, copy and paste the categories the way Andrea has them. You can space between them how you'd like, put the book beside, under or above the category. Whatever way feels organized to you, but keep everything in the order Andrea has it listed. You are correct-as you complete books, you will edit that thread. She separated the categories under two threads where will post them, because Goodreads limits characters for each thread. So separating by two threads ensures you wont run out of room adding books under the categories as you complete them.

Barbara wrote: "Crystal
When I have finished a book how do I post it? I see the thread to post on and the format to use. But do I Copy and Paste the categories and then fill them in as I finish books (editing the..."

Hi Barbara! Not sure if you saw Michelles comment on the main thread for the challenge. But we do need to post each completed book as new comment. I'm guessing we can still edit the list format and also put it under the category on the list as well if we want. Sorry I was unclear on that!

thanks Crystal

Lauri wrote: "Read a book"

Hi, Lauri! The sign-ups for this game are closed, but if you'd like to be considered for a backup player if one becomes needed, I can add you to the waiting list.

If you'd rather play along just for fun, you may do that in the sign-up thread, found here. I will not be creating a participants' link list, so please click on the timestamp of your post in that thread and bookmark it so you may easily find it again.

Crystal and Barbara, I'm sorry I wasn't clearer on how to post books. I'm using the templates in the review threads to keep track of each team's progress and so that you have an easy visual for which categories you still have remaining for each player on the team.

Andrea wrote: "Crystal and Barbara, I'm sorry I wasn't clearer on how to post books. I'm using the templates in the review threads to keep track of each team's progress and so that you have an easy visual for whi..."

Thanks Andrea! I will keep my threads if that's okay since I have a weird brain and I need the visual of the book cover, but I will be sure to post as new comments. :)

Barbara wrote: "Crystal
When I have finished a book how do I post it? I see the thread to post on and the format to use. But do I Copy and Paste the categories and then fill them in as I finish books (editing the..."

Sorry I steered you a bit in the wrong direction with thinking we needed to have everything under our own thread. Sorry about that!

Keeping the templates for the visual is fine, Crystal. No worries!

Andrea wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Read a book"

Hi, Lauri! The sign-ups for this game are closed, but if you'd like to be considered for a backup player if one becomes needed, I can add you to the waiting list.

If yo..."

No need to add me to waiting list. I didn't fully understand the rules. This is more than I want to take on at this time. Although, it looks like fun. Maybe at a future date if you do this again.

1/2 My Plans - to keep my brain straight: (not sure that all will be usable as some may not meet the clean criteria)
* Read a book with an autumn vibes cover.
Knit One, Kill Two completed
* Read a book set at Thanksgiving.
Turkey Trot Murder
* Read a book with autumn leaves on the cover.
Autumn in Sycamore Park completed
* Read a book with a pumpkin or jack-o-lantern on the cover.
Halloween Murder completed
* Read a book featuring a family get-together.
A Baxter Family Christmas completed
* Read a book with a dessert on the cover.
Christmas Cupcake Murder completed
* Read a book with a coffee cup or teacup on the cover.
Detective Aunty completed
* Read a book set in autumn (Sep - Nov).
Specters in the Glass House in progress
* Read a book by an author whose first and last initials are found in THANKSGIVING.
A Lasting Impression completed
* Read a book featuring a child (0-17 years old). Share their age.
Shielding the Innocent Target completed

* Read a book with an orange cover (at least 50%).
The It Girl completed
* Read a book with a white cover (at least 50%).
Who I Am in Christ completed
* Read a book with a brown cover (at least 50%).
* Read a book with a red cover (at least 50%).
The Women completed
* Read a book with a green cover (at least 50%).
The Mistletoe Mystery completed

* Read a book with hay on the cover.
* Read a book with a horse on the cover.
The Heart of a Cowboy completed
* Read a book set at Halloween.
Haunted House Murder
* Read a book in which someone wears a costume.
Finding Grace completed
* Read a book in which a character goes for a walk.
The Broken Road

* Read a book whose author’s first and last initial are in HALLOWEEN.
Fire by Night completed
* Read a book set before 1800.
Isola completed
* Read a book set in the 1800s (1800-1899).
Candle in the Darkness completed
* Read a book set in the 1900s (1900-1999).
The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House completed
* Read a book set in the 2000s or after (futuristic counts).
A Million Little Choices completed

My Plan 2/2
* Read a book with a winter vibes cover.
A Sweetheart Christmas in progress
* Read a book set in winter (Dec - Feb).
* Read a book with Christmas decorations on the cover.
The Christmas Bookshop completed
* Read a book in which a character decorates a tree or hangs lights.
Catching Christmas completed
* Read a book set at Christmas.
Christmas at Rose Hill Farm: An Amish Love Story completed
* Read a book in which a character goes shopping.
The Red Gloves Collection in progress
* Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are in CHRISTMAS.
Under the Tulip Tree completed
* Read a book with a light source on the cover (lamp, sun, lantern, candle, etc.).
The Christmas Train completed
* Read a book with stars on the cover.
Wandering Stars
* Read a book set in the Middle East.
Isaiah's Daughtercompleted
* Read a book set in Europe.
Never Leave Me completed
* Read a book set in Asia.
Isaiah's Legacy completed
* Read a book set in Africa.
* Read a book set in South America.
* Read a book set in North America.
Lytton: Climate Change, Colonialism and Life Before the Fire completed

* Read a book with a man and woman on the cover.
Cocoa in the Candlelight completed
* Read a book with an animal on the cover.
Of Fire and Lions completed
* Read a book with a child on the cover.
All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir completed
* Read a book set at New Year’s (New Year’s Eve counts).
* Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are in NEW YEAR’S EVE.
The Forgotten Road
* Read a book set on the East Coast of the United States.
* Read a book set on the West Coast of the United States.
* Read a book set on the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Ambush completed
* Read a book featuring a snowball fight.
Sugar Cookie Elopement: A Sweetheart Springs Prequel
* Read a book featuring a baby.
The Haven completed

Barbara wrote: "My Plan 2/2
* Read a book with a winter vibes cover.
A Sweetheart Christmas
* Read a book set in winter (Dec - Feb).
* Read a book with Christmas decorations on the cover.
* Read a ..."

Great plans Barbara! :) is a great book!

thanks Crystal. it was a really good book. one that I will likely reread as there is so much there to unpack

Barbara, if a book isn't clean, you can simply say (General Market) or (warning: language) next to it and still use the book. If the cover is explicit, I recommend not using that book for a cover task, as we'd like to keep those sorts of visuals out of our group.

For example, I sometimes read WWII nonfiction. Most of those contain graphic war violence and bad language or both. So if I used one for this game, I'd say (GM) next to the title, meaning general market/not Christian, so that other readers will have a heads-up that there's content they might not agree with.

Visual example:
The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman (GM)
OR
(GM)

Lauri wrote: "No need to add me to waiting list. I didn't fully understand the rules. This is more than I want to take on at this time. Although, it looks like fun. Maybe at a future date if you do this again."

Sure thing, Lauri!

Andrea wrote: "Barbara, if a book isn't clean, you can simply say (General Market) or (warning: language) next to it and still use the book. If the cover is explicit, I recommend not using that book for a cover t..."

Good to know thanks Andrea that is very helpful.

You're welcome!

Wow, you're really on a roll Barbara! Great job!

thanks Crystal. I start work full time on Monday so I expect reading to slow down drastically but I do have a 20 minute train ride to and from work each day so that will be good reading time.

Hey Barbara! Just wondering how you're enjoying your first challenge? Is Christian fiction a newer genre to you, or have you been reading it for a while now? What's your favorite book you've read so far for the challenge? You're doing great by the way! :)

Thanks Crystal.
I am really enjoying the challenge so far.
I have read Christian fiction on and off for years. I struggle with how easy and simple some of the stories are, they do not reflect my experience and in the past would sometime cause me to spiral mentally. I thankfully am doing much better now and am able to realize that most Christian fiction stories do not accurately reflect the real struggles of life and being a Christian does not mean that life is easy unlike most stories.
I am finding that more and more general fiction are becoming too magic-y or including too many or too descriptive of sex scenes. Which is pushing me more towards Christian fiction again.

I'm enjoying the search of finding books that fit the different categories.

How about you? How are you finding the challenge thus far?
You are also doing amazing.

It is hard to pick a favorite book. I would say that it is a tie between The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House and Under the Tulip Tree at the moment. I also really enjoyed Becoming Mrs. Lewis which I did not use in this challenge as it did not fit any categories that I still had open.
I have discovered three new authors that I really like and am looking forward to reading more of their stories. Tamera Alexander, Michelle Shocklee, and Joanna Davidson.

Barbara wrote: "It is hard to pick a favorite book. I would say that it is a tie between The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House and Under the Tulip Tree at the moment. I also really enjoyed Becoming Mrs. Lewis w..."

That's great you've found some new authors! I just recently read my first book by Tamara Alexander (A Million Little Choices) and really enjoyed it. I agree with you there on enjoying finding books that fit the challenges....sometimes I think I spend more time digging around for books and planning my challenges than I actually do reading for the challenges lol. I really love how the challenges connect me with books and authors I would not have read otherwise had it not been needing that book for a challenge. The holidays are always hard for me so I've been listening to a lot of non fiction Christian books on audiobook lately and I'm really enjoying that and most still fit somehow within the challenges. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving week!

Good job with your first challenge Barbara! You did a great job! :)

Thanks Crystal. You did great as well.

I'm working on final tallies, ladies. Great job on your reading!