Challenge Corner discussion

Team Small Straight Stories:
🎲Esther
🎲Vicki
🎲Lys
🎲Amanda
🎲Kim
🎲Ashlyn
Joud
🎲Felicia
🎲Audiophile Archives
Dede

Q&A: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Good morning, teammates. :) Checking in!

I'm Vicki from Central Valley California, but I am currently on vacation in Hawaii. :) I love (& am addicted to) challenges. I'm a retired high school English teacher and have been so since May 2017.

I have a hubby, 5 children, 22 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and a Havanese two-year old dog named Daisy (aka. Crazy Daisy). I would give the names of all my grandkids & greats, but then I'll never stop talking about them and I'll write a book.

Favorite genres: historical fiction, psychological thriller, thriller, mystery and some sports romance and other romance but it's hit-and-miss.

Looking forward to playing this one!

Vicki wrote: "Good morning, teammates. :) Checking in!

I'm Vicki from Central Valley California, but I am currently on vacation in Hawaii. :) I love (& am addicted to) challenges. I'm a retired high school Engl..."

Hi, Vicky! Looking forward to playing with you! How is Hawaii?

I'm Lys! I go in and out of reading and reading challenge moods, but I do really enjoy them. It's just that sometimes the internet is a very overwhelming place, and I will just abruptly disappear for a bit, so I try not to overextend myself too much.
I'm married with one 5-year-old, five annoying cats, and a sweet little hamster.

I'm coming up on a year of living in Ontario after a lifetime of living in the States. It remains to be seen whether our family will be able to stay here long term, but we're here for now.

Favorite genres: lgbtqia2s+, philosophy, fantasy, poetry, nonfiction, fluffy feel-good romance, and retellings.

Checking in, all!

Just checking in!

Aloha and Howdy team! Looking forward to chat and reading with y'all.....and since this is my first time, maybe help me understand how we play this?

Do we discuss what lower section tasks we want to tackle now?

Hi everyone! Checking in :) I can send a longer intro in a bit

Oops I think the other Amanda is in this group, I'm in a different one

checking in

Checking in!

Hi everyone, checking in!

Hello team!

Got you eight checked in!

Howdy! I'm trying to plan ahead (I'm doing the Zodiac challenge and we're in a frenzy trying to get the last 18 prompts/tasks done by day's end). Pulling from the Lower Section, we have a few for the team to check off:


THREE OF A KIND - Read 3 books that share one element (i.e., same setting).
FOUR OF A KIND - Read 4 books connect by a theme (i.e., found family).
FULL HOUSE - Read 3 books by the same author and 2 books by different authors in the same genre.
SMALL STRAIGHT - Read 4 books that gradually increase in page count or publication year.
LARGE STRAIGHT - Read 5 books in a single genre or series in order (i.e., #1-5, #1.5-5.5, #3-7, etc.).


some thoughts...and totally open to others sharing their thoughts:
for FULL HOUSE...can we get a list of your favorite authors? if we have a common "reader fave" that'll make picking books easier.

for LARGE STRAIGHT....any objections to romance as the MPG?

for THREE OF A KIND....any objections to set in Hawaii?

I read 5 books that are MPG romance in like 2 days so I'm totally okay with that lol.

I dont really read any books set in Hawaii, but if you're taking them I dont have an objection.

I can easily take the author part of Full House if we want since I'm currently working through series in a row. I'm starting with a series that has 3 books and the genre is romance if someone wants to take the other 2 in the same genre

Agree that romance is quick and easy.

Ambivalent about Hawaii. I don't think I read a lot set there, but I am sure I could find something interesting.

Like Amanda, I could easily help with any aspect of Full House.

Authors I read a fair bit: T. Kingfisher, Ruby Dixon, Mercedes Lackey, Maggie Stiefvater, Frederik Backman, Alix Harrow, Alexis Hall, AJ Sherwood.
Genres I am always down for: lgbtq, fantasy, poetry, nonfiction

Excited to get reading with all of you, but I have a few things to finish up before I start new for the month.

Oh! A good category for us might be a BOTM, right? That's an easy thread that a lot of people will be doing anyways?

I did not see that each book for the lower half has to be a different person, does make it a little harder.

I could definitely do T. Kingfisher for Full House author, I have an ALC so that would definitely work for me. My favorite authors are mostly indies so wont be super helpful, but can jump on where I'm needed

Genre wise I read: LGBTQIA Romance, LitFic, Fantasy

Thinking that we each have to do them, I think set in Hawaii is quite difficult, but I'd happily sit them out. If we do really want to do setting I'd suggest one of the big states if US (CA, NY, TX), or if we can do country UK, AUS, etc, or we could do a fantasy world.

For Yahtzee, any objections to using the example?

You could do the following: Books with celestial titles

EXAMPLE:
1st person reads - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
2nd person reads - Under the Never Sky
3rd person reads - The Sun Is Also a Star
4th person reads - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
5th person reads - The Starless Sea

Hello, everyone! I have been a bit busy enjoying myself in Hawaii so I haven't "studied" our tasks. I am open to romance and Hawaii, but I don't know of any books set in Hawaii but could find one, I'm sure.

Based on msg. 13, I assume we all take part? Meaning, FULL HOUSE - Read 3 books by the same author and 2 books by different authors in the same genre (for example), 3 of us would read for that and not just one of us?

Lys, we visited Banff National Park a couple summers ago and OMG! We fell in love with the beauty of the place and the gorgeous waterfalls. I haven't been to Ontario, Canada, and I am assuming that's where you are and not Ontario, California, lol

Authors: Karen Slaughter, James Patterson, Meghan Quinn, Jennifer Armentrout, Gregg Olsen, Amy Harmon, Kristin Hannah, Ruta Sepetys, Brianna Labuskes, Kendra Elliot, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine.

I just realized that I have many "favorite" and it's hard to pick. It depends a lot on the genre and my mood. I have one author that I love but nobody seems to know and she writes mostly historical fiction. I've loved all of her books. Her name is Paulette Mahurin.

I wonder if it would be easiest to have a captain or 2 and have everyone just post their books here or in the spreadsheet and then the captain(s) make decisions on where they go so we can make sure the lower half is filled out

setting could also be more general "a beach" or "a vacation destination"

Lys, I like your idea of a setting being more general, such as set at/near a beach, river, or a small town, etc. It might be easier unless we do a specific state or set in Europe, possibly.

These are some books that I'm planning on reading in the next week or two based on planned buddy reads and stuff I have out from the library.


and whatever else strikes my fancy.

I can find a sports romance for sure.

is on my TBR
I wouldn't mind reading #1 of the Ironside Academy series.

Another one that might be easy is book cover color.

These are books I know I will be reading soon:

color is a good idea!
I have wanted to read Paolini, so I am down for anything with that.

Lys wrote: "setting could also be more general "a beach" or "a vacation destination""

ooooooh. yes! love it.

Vicki wrote: "I can find a sports romance for sure."

Yes please! I just started reading a yellow-covered sports (hockey) romance today.
. Tell me where you guys want this place for our challenge.

I also have a sports romance coming up this month for sure. That's 4 of us (Lys has two in their planned books)...we could do 4 of a kind?

Apologies for the delay - the teams spreadsheet has been added to message 1 on this thread.

Lys wrote: "Oh! A good category for us might be a BOTM, right? That's an easy thread that a lot of people will be doing anyways?"

I can do this month.

Audiophile Archives wrote: "Lys wrote: "Oh! A good category for us might be a BOTM, right? That's an easy thread that a lot of people will be doing anyways?"

I can do this month."

I am planning on reading most of them. I think I will use The Last Sun for the Yahtzee (if we do Celestial bodies>?), but I will be reading most or all (depends on how many lucky loans I get from the library)

Amanda wrote: "I also have a sports romance coming up this month for sure. That's 4 of us (Lys has two in their planned books)...we could do 4 of a kind?"

Sound great...I'll make sure to drop my sport romance book in the lower/4 of a kind when done.

I just finished STARRY-EYED LOVE...are we doing celestial titles for YAHTZEE?

I was going to put this book #2 in series but will move it to celestial titles for now.

I personally think Celestial titles isn't too hard and we know it works but if anyone doesnt want to thats fine with me too!

Lys wrote: "Audiophile Archives wrote: "Lys wrote: "Oh! A good category for us might be a BOTM, right? That's an easy thread that a lot of people will be doing anyways?"

I can do [bookcover:Good Girl, Bad Blo..."

The Last Sun is a favorite of mine. If you want to buddy read it for extra points let me know!!

YES. I LOVE IT TOO. so looking forward to rereading it. ❤️

Howdy! I've got these books coming up from libby hold (in 2 weeks). Anyone interested in a Buddy Read in 2 weeks?





Wanna buddy read this with me? I can start this book about book, second chance, pen pal romance in a few days:

Hi, mark me down for '4/BOOK GR RATING IS BETWEEN 4 - 4.5 STARS.' I'll have it done in 2-3 days max.

@ Vicky, you want to read Beartown (or the trilogy) with me as a buddy read?

@Amanda, when should we do the Last Sun? It is a BOTM too, can we do BOTM AND buddy read? I didn't know that was an option. But I would totally read the trilogy with you.

I just finished
. Should I be putting it in for romance, or holding off? There's plenty of places it can fit.

Amanda wrote: "I wonder if it would be easiest to have a captain or 2 and have everyone just post their books here or in the spreadsheet and then the captain(s) make decisions on where they go so we can make sure..."

I love that idea. I added a tab to our ss, February_Team Notes so we can add books read/drop our notes (where it might fit; since we're undecided on Full House, etc.). It will help with year / page count, though. :D

Lys wrote: "@ Vicky, you want to read Beartown (or the trilogy) with me as a buddy read?

@Amanda, when should we do the Last Sun? It is a BOTM too, can we do BOTM AND buddy read? I didn't know that was an opt..."

I'll read the trilogy with you unless I don't like book 1. lol

Lys wrote: "@ Vicky, you want to read Beartown (or the trilogy) with me as a buddy read?

@Amanda, when should we do the Last Sun? It is a BOTM too, can we do BOTM AND buddy read? I didn't know that was an opt..."

I didn't know it was a BOTM, that's more points so I think just do that :)

Vicki wrote: "Lys wrote: "@ Vicky, you want to read Beartown (or the trilogy) with me as a buddy read?


OK, I will request a thread. When do you want to start?
There is a sexual assault, but it's not graphic. It's painful though, from what I remember. I was listening to the audio the first time, and it was fairly triggering.

Audiophile Archives wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I wonder if it would be easiest to have a captain or 2 and have everyone just post their books here or in the spreadsheet and then the captain(s) make decisions on where they go so w..."

Awesome! Thank you!

I'm reading two older books (published in 1847 and 1923), so I'll drop them in the "small straight" if that's ok?

the 1923 titles is also a buddy read: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ... anyone a mystery fan of Agatha Christie / Hercule Poirot? You can read any of the 30+ books in the Belgian detective series to earn us BR points.

the scoreboard was just shared....just a nudge. Not only do we post our books in the ss, we also have to drop the finished book in the TSSS Review following the MOD's template...

LOL, we got the points, we just gotta let the others know.

Audiophile Archives wrote: "I'm reading two older books (published in 1847 and 1923), so I'll drop them in the "small straight" if that's ok?

the 1923 titles is also a buddy read: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

Are we allowed to have 2 people read in the Small Straight? I was under the impression that it has to be 4 different people.

I'm gonna drop a 2026 book in the Small Straight for the other end

Amanda wrote: "Audiophile Archives wrote: "I'm reading two older books (published in 1847 and 1923), so I'll drop them in the "small straight" if that's ok?

the 1923 titles is also a buddy read: https://www.good..."

ok, removed Wuthering Heights...kept the 1923 book.

Hi, I'm reading the BOTM and hoping I can use it for our challenge. Have we decided on the lower sections prompts?

BOTM is
1) mostly red cover [if we want red covers?]
2) top 5 MPG: Mystery | Thriller | Young Adult | Mystery Thriller |
Crime
3) set in Fairfield, Connecticut USA [if we want set in US?]
4) FMC is Pippa "Pip" [if we want MC's name starts with letter P or is a female or is from UK?]
5) GR rated 4.25 (over 4) [if we want over 4 stars?]
6) published April 30, 2020 [if we want published in 2020 or April, or last day of any month?]

I'm also reading a BOTM, and I'm also done with it. Probably tomorrow.
I am reading

So, if we have some other folk reading BOTM, couldn't that be a good category?

Audiophile Archives wrote: "Hi, I'm reading the BOTM and hoping I can use it for our challenge. Have we decided on the lower sections prompts?

BOTM is
1) mostly red cover [if we want red covers?]
2) top 5 MPG: Mystery | Thr..."

I like 3 a lot - set in a fictional place.