You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

The days are getting shorter and colder (at least in some parts of the world). Winter is just a few short weeks away. In honour of the winter solstice, this challenge is going to be all about WINTER!

The challenge: Select a book that fits the theme of winter, as you interpret it.

The rules:

1. The book must be started no earlier than Dec 1, and finished no later than Dec 31.

2. The book may be in any format - hardcover, paperback, ebook, or audiobook.

3. It should be at least 200 pages long. (Anything less than 200 pages will have a penalty.) To determine the number of pages, do a search for the book using the Goodread's search. The first version that comes up will be the one we use to determine the number of pages regardless of the version you read or listened to.

Points are awarded as follows:

Genre:
5 points - Mystery
4 points - Memoir
3 points - Adventure
2 points - Science Fiction
1 point - Young Adult

Theme:
5 points - survival
4 points - family
3 points - travel
2 points - spirituality
1 point - Christmas


Location/Setting:
5 points - England
4 points - Canada
3 points - Sweden
2 points - Austria
1 point - New York (State)

Author:
5 points - last name is White
4 points - was born in the 1900's
3 points - uses initials
2 points - first name starts with the initials S, N, O, or W
1 point - female

Title:
5 points - contains the word "Solstice"
4 points - contains the word "Winter"
3 points - contains the word "Snow"
2 points - contains the word "Ice"
1 point - is three words long "White"

Cover:
5 points - is predominantly white in colour
4 points - has snow on it
3 points - has a partial face on it
2 points - has trees on it
1 point - the title is in black

Page Length:
200 - 299 pages - 1 point
300 - 399 pages - 2 points
400 - 499 pages - 3 points
500 - 599 pages - 4 points
600 or greater - 5 points
Less than 200 - deduct 5 points

Stars Awarded by you:
5 stars - 5 points
4 stars - 4 points
3 stars - 3 points
2 stars - 2 points
1 star - 1 point

Extras:

10 points if it is written by one of the following authors with birthdays in December:
- James Thurber, Dec 8, 1894
- David Macaulay, Dec 2, 1946
- Rumer Godden, Dec 10, 1908
- Rudyard Kipling, Dec 30, 1865

15 points if you read one of the following books:
- Winter Solstice
- Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole
- The Snow Leopard
- White As Snow
Note: If you read one of these books, you may not count the qualifiers in the title section.

We will use this thread for reporting our successes. Tally up your points and tell us why you chose the book and anything else about it that you found interesting. If you like, add a link to your review.

Have fun!

Anyone have suggestions for what to read?

Kate wrote: "Anyone have suggestions for what to read?"

Take a look at the qualifiers in Title. You will get points for titles that contain the words "Solstice", "Winter", "Snow", "Ice", or "December".

In the Goodreads book search, type "Solstice" and you will get this list.

Type in the word, "Winter" and you will get this list.

Rince and repeat for each word and you should be able to find something that you would like to read.

I looked at your to-read shelf and found Snowdrops which would fit in with the theme nicely.

I hope this helps. Maybe someone else can give you some other suggestions.

That's funny. I found Snowdrops too! I think I am going to go for that one - although it's not even at my local library so I'd have to purchase it.

I'd like to try this one but I'm not sure what to read either...

The challenge also lists 4 authors with birthdays in Deccember, and 4 titles from which you can choose. They'll give you the big points. :)

I've decided to read The Snow Whale. It sounds intriguing.

I'm going to read since I already have it.

Kimberly, it is an incredible story. I did a Toastmasters speech on it several years ago.

Judy, Amber and Kimberly - please sign up for the challenge in the "Challenge" section. It shows just underneath the "Currently Reading" on the group home page.

Hi Amber, just create a shelf for the book/s you have chosen and then just put the name of the shelf in the challenge section, with the number of books you plan to read for the challenge.

Amber, if you read my suggestion on this thread, http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7..., it will tell you how to do the shelf thingy. (He he, don't you love my proper English?)

I'm going to read although its only 160 pages long and doesn't therefore qualify so I won't get any points. But I want to read it and the rest of it fits in. Sorry

He He! I might have to write a dictionary.

I think I'll zip back up to message 1 and add a point qualifier to deduct 5 points for books under 200 pages. That way Susan and Gaeta csn still join in with the points. We've done that before.

I'm going to read A Clash of Kings .

Hmmm, I think I'll be getting the minus points!

Judy wrote: "Is there a special award if someone gets negative points?"

Ha! But only if the total score results in a negative. That would be hard to do because there is only -5 available. And because of the difficulty of getting a negative score, one should be rewarded. No?

I'm in! Just searching for a book with a lot of point value compelling plot and masterful characterization.

Judy wrote: "You're killing me, Mikki! hahaha"

;D

Mikki wrote: "I'm in! Just searching for a book with a lot of point value compelling plot and masterful characterization."

Ha! :)

*whispering back* But I'm a moderator and I see all. LOL!

Do I get extra points for finishing my book on the first day?

This book gets me the following:
Mystery 5
Survival 5
Family 4
Spirituality 2
Christmas 1
New York 1
Female author 1
Snow on cover 4
-200 pages -5
4* 4
Total 23 points

I would recommend this, a good short read.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have realised today that the author was born in 1900s so another 4 to bring me to 27

And we're off and running! Susan is in the lead. :)

You may read as many books as you like for this challenge, but only the highest scoring book will count.

When you tally your points, please report as Susan did in message 34. I was remiss in posting a sample at the beginning of the challenge.

Ice looks like an interesting book, Gaeta. I love the cover and am drawn to it simply because of that. The story looks good too.

Cat Telling Tales

Genre:
5 points - Mystery

Theme:
5 points - survival
4 points - family

Location/Setting:
0 points - California

Author:
4 points - was born in the 1900's
2 points - first name starts with the initial S
1 point - female

Title:
1 point - is three words long

Cover:
4 points - has snow on it
2 points - has trees on it

Page Length:
2 points - 300 - 399 pages

Stars Awarded by you:
5 points - 5 stars

Total, 35 points

Review to follow

Judy wrote: "Nice point total, Jane. I didn't see where you posted the book title?"

Ooops (face turning red, she slinks away, catlike, in embarrassment)

Judy wrote: "Nice point total, Jane. I didn't see where you posted the book title?"

See what happens when I stay up all night? lol

Original post now edited, with book title.

LOL!

Good job Jane!

Um I know this is going to seem kinda dumb but im not sure how to add points up for it isnt really any of the genre's up there.

Kimberly wrote: "Um I know this is going to seem kinda dumb but im not sure how to add points up for it isnt really any of the genre's up there."

In that case, you would score 0 for genre.

I'd score your book:

Genre - 0

Theme - Survival 5
Theme - Travel 3
Theme - Christmas 1

Setting - 0

Author - Female 1

Title - Snow 3

Cover - Snow 4

Pages totaled 240 - 1

Stars awarded - 5

Grand Total = 23 points

Thanks Janice :)

Oh no! Don't let that get in your way of participating! It's just supposed to be fun, not causing stress. It's fine that you asked for help.

Oh Ok :) I just don't want to be a bother.

Kimberly wrote: "Oh Ok :) I just don't want to be a bother."

It's never a bother. :)

Gaeta's dismal 12 looks like a great book and I'm definitely marking it as one to read. Now to find a pick of my own...

Okay, I'm going to be reading [Book: Dirty Snow] by Georges Simenon.

So far I have this:

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 5 points
Theme: Survival 5 points (there is killing involved !!!)
Setting: 0
Author: 0 (although his last name begins with an S)
Title: Dirty Snow = 3 points
Cover: Snow and a small tree = 6 points
Page Length: 246 = 1 point
Star Awarded: to follow (but I'm pretty sure it's five worthy)

You will see your own entry on the home page. If you click on the title of the challenge, you will see all the participants and their goals.

G'day everyone. Jumping in feet first here with my first challenge - hope I don't end up to my neck in snow!

Actually I hope I do as I live in the tropics and snow is unheard of here - I dream of snow :)

I thought is would read: Let It Snow which is 3 stories in one book by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle.

The book has 352 pages so I hope this counts even through each short story averages around 110 pages. John Green is counted as the author in goodreads - no mention of the other two, so will count it as just one author?

Anyhow if this title fits I'll work out any points once I have finished :)

Oh and not sure how to fill in the challenge database thing. What do I put down as shelf? This book is on my 'Christmas' Young Adult' and 'short stories' shelves so not sure which one to put :)

It's ok. I worked it out - I did a shelf called ylto-monthly-challenge and added Let It Snow to it. Phew this is hard work but I'm off in the running now :)

Sally906 wrote: "G'day everyone. Jumping in feet first here with my first challenge - hope I don't end up to my neck in snow!

Actually I hope I do as I live in the tropics and snow is unheard of here - I dream of..."

Hi Sally! Welcome to our group. I'm so glad that you've dived into the snow, I mean our monthly challenge. My brother-in-law grew up in Hawaii (still lives there) and he loves to come and visit in the winter so he can experience the snow.

I'm glad you figured out the shelf thing for the challenge feature. Sometimes, the planning (the hard work) is more fun than the actual reading - at least for me. :)

Um, we don't have to make a shelf, do we? I have a book ready to read ( Snow Dog ), but I don't want to mess up my shelving system...

No, you're safe, Cheryl. You don't need to make a shelf.

tx :)

I'm not enjoying my choice - The Snow Whale. I will give it a little longer; it may have been the mood I was in when reading it. I don't really have anything else on my TBR that would fit and I'm not really wanting to obtain something else and start over. Decisions, decisions! LOL!

Finished A Clash of Kingsat Last. A medievelish fantasy with lots of warring families, knights, dragons and wolves, set in a brief (10 year) thaw during an ice age. One of the main families is the Starks - whose motto is "Winter is coming". Scoring:
Adventure: 3
Family: 4
Author uses initials: 3
600 pages +: 5
4 stars: 4
Total 19.
Can I have an extra 2 points in the title for it being no 2 in the Song of Ice & Fire saga?

Oh great, Janice. Your comment provoked me to investigate The Snow Whale and now I want to read it! And it's not in my library system. :(

Alison wrote: "Can I have an extra 2 points in the title for it being no 2 in the Song of Ice & Fire saga?"

You want to add 2 points for the word "snow" being in the sub-title?

I'm going to say no to the sub-title. But, as Gaeta points out you missed the theme of Survival, so add 5 points to your total, which I calculate as 24.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Oh great, Janice. Your comment provoked me to investigate The Snow Whale and now I want to read it! And it's not in my library system. :("

LOL! Have you read Moby Dick? The Snow Whale is a satire of it. I'm not sure if it helps to have read it first or not.

Janice wrote: "Alison wrote: "Can I have an extra 2 points in the title for it being no 2 in the Song of Ice & Fire saga?"

You want to add 2 points for the word "snow" being in the sub-title?

I'm going to..."

Worth a try lol.

The reviews imply that one need not have read Moby Dick first. And of course we all know the basic idea of the story. I think I'll be ok, if I ever get a copy of Snow Whale.

Meanwhile I gave up on Snow Dog and am reading The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey.

Starting my pick Snowdrops tonight. Short list for the 2011 Booker which means it could go either way :-)