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

I've read quite a few posts lately where people are feeling like challenges have taken over their reading life and they miss reading something "just because". So for August, we are going to encourage the impulsive read! I hope you all have fun with this challenge and that it clears away some of those cobwebs that are dragging down your challenge enthusiasm.

The Challenge: Read a book that grabs your fancy... just because!

General rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be in any genre.
3. The book may NOT be combined with the Year Long Alphabet Challenge.
4. The book must be read between August 1 and August 31, 2013.
5. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose, but only the highest scoring book will apply.
6. The book must be 200 pages or more determined by the issue you read. If reading eBook or audiobook it will be deteremined by the issue that comes up on a Goodreads search.

Specific rules:
1. The book you choose must be a book that screams out to you, "READ ME! READ ME!" This is an impulsive, gut feeling, got-to-read-this-book choice.
2. The book you choose may not be one that you have earmarked for any challenge, whether that challenge is on YLTO, Goodreads, or a personal challenge. It may not be a group read. It may not be a real life bookclub selection. It may not be a book that is required reading for anything. (Challenges that do not require that you preselect your choices such as Goodread's 2013 Challenge, are excluded from this rule.)

Scoring:
I am going to hold off on posting the scoring criteria. This is all about impulsive reading and I don't want people selecting books based on whatever genre or other scoring criteria is weighted heavier than others.

Just a note: The scoring criteria has already been determined and I have it written down, ready to be posted at the end of August so that everyone can score their books.

Even though there is no scoring until the end of the month, please report the book you've chosen and the completion of that book. I will do up a reporting thread at the beginning of August for that purpose.

Nice .... like it :)

Ohhh, I like this challenge! :)

I see my alphabet further and further off in the distance...

What a relaxing challenge for the dog days of summer ( at least where I live). I think in August I will pick a book set somewhere fun, make a cocktail, and pretend I'm on a glorious vacation. Great challenge!

Rusalka wrote: "I see my alphabet further and further off in the distance..."

Oh dear! Read something light and fun, and then jump back on the alphabet band wagon!

Marnie wrote: "What a relaxing challenge for the dog days of summer ( at least where I live). I think in August I will pick a book set somewhere fun, make a cocktail, and pretend I'm on a glorious vacation. Great..."

I'm going to jump on a plane to Hawaii in the middle on the month, and maybe I'll find something exciting at the bookstore at the airport. That is, if something doesn't entice me earlier!

Janice wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "I see my alphabet further and further off in the distance..."

Oh dear! Read something light and fun, and then jump back on the alphabet band wagon!"

That's my point! Too many light and fun things to read in August!

This is great! I have loads of books that I want to read just because so perhaps I'll make August my "Just Because" month.

OH FINE!! Just when I decided to read only the ABCs!☻☻☻

MEANY!☻

HAHAHAH me too!

Yay, I like this. Here I come you, books-I-bought-meaning-to-read-years-ago! :-p

Janice wrote: "Marnie wrote: "What a relaxing challenge for the dog days of summer ( at least where I live). I think in August I will pick a book set somewhere fun, make a cocktail, and pretend I'm on a glorious ..."

Hawaii is wonderful in August - and way less crowded too! Have a great time. Aloha!

Thanks Marnie. I'll be staying with my sister so am expecting lots of reading time on the beach. :)

Oh, I haven't gotten to the latest Stephen King book, Joyland, so that will definitely be my choice!

So, just to be very clear (on my end, I know you're clear on your end, lol) the book we read can't be a check mark on any challenges? I'm in a couple of challenges that are simply read books that are 150+pages for the team and books that are 200+ pages, etc.

With this book (whatever I choose) there can be no check marking off to count it for other challenges right? (There are going to be some very discouraged, upset other mods, lol).

Cathie wrote: "So, just to be very clear (on my end, I know you're clear on your end, lol) the book we read can't be a check mark on any challenges? I'm in a couple of challenges that are simply read books that ..."

If you have earmarked a specific book for another challenge, then that book would not be an impulsive read.

If your challenge is to read 10 books that are 200 pages long, and you haven't selected these books because they just get added as you read them, your selection for the "just because" challenge could be counted towards that type of challenge.

Another challenge that comes to mind is the Goodread's 2013 Challenge. We have specified that our goal is to read x number of books in 2013 and any book we complete is automatically counted. That type of challenge is excluded from the rules.

Good question for clarification, Cathie.

Just ask yourself... "Is this book an impulsive acquisition? Or have I predetermined its purpose?" If the answer is "impulsive", your book is safe. You may have had that impulsive book sitting on your shelf for years collecting dust, and never had a chance to indulge in it. If it was impulsive and never given a purpose, have at it!

Janice wrote: If your challenge is to read 10 books that are 200 pages long, and you haven't selected these books because they just get added as you read them, your selection for the "just because" challenge could be counted towards that type of challenge.

Another challenge that comes to mind is the Goodread's 2013 Challenge. We have specified that our goal is to read x number of books in 2013 and any book we complete is automatically counted. That type of challenge is excluded from the rules.

Yep, this is where a lot of my books fall into; they don't fall into month books reads, buddy reads, or specific challenges. They are just books that I want to read for the curiousity in the story.

Ok, got it now :-). Thanks for the great clarification Janice.

FUN FUN FUN :)

I love this idea, especially since I just impulse bought 5 books at Barnes & Noble last week!

Charlotte wrote: "I love this idea, especially since I just impulse bought 5 books at Barnes & Noble last week!"

You must have been reading Janice's mind!

Wow!!! What a "novel" idea! Who would have ever thought about reading a book just because you thought the cover was cool, the description enticing or because it's your favorite author and you already know you are going to love it!!!

Since it seems that ALL I have been doing is reading on impulse instead of concentrating on my challenges, I should win this challenge hands-down!

So I'm all for the idea.

Still, I am not picking my book until the time comes to read for the challenge. If I were to do that, I would impulsively change my choice a dozen times before hand.;D

Ooh, I have so many books to read. It's nice to just be able to read one without thinking about it fitting challenge criteria.

Love this challenge, I can walk into the library and just choose a title that grabs me...been working through to read lists and challenges and this sounds just perfect :)

I'm not going to pick my book just yet either, Almeta. I could have the same problem.

That is an easy one. I have many of these each month.

I have become less Challenge motivated with my reading recently so this is great. I love reading on a whim.

This should be very interesting!!

This is the cat's meow! ; )

Have a great vacation, Janice!

Okay - I am in on this one. Will wait until I get a chance to roam through the library or my bookshelves and let one of the books pick me.

Now that it's August my side of the world, I'm gladly starting Out of the Easy . I read and loved so I have huge expectations from this one.

Sounds like fun. I'm going to jump back into things on this one.

This is a great challenge. I have so many books on my shelf that I "could" not read because they didn´t fit into any challenge...
And I must admit that I am a little jealous, Janice, as to read something "just because" while being in Hawaii sounds like the perfect thing to do :-). Have a great trip!

Thanks Alexandra. :)

So if we read a number of books this month just because, do we report and eventually score all our choices and use the highest scorer at the end?

OK! This one will be a little harder for me since I am running against the clock (or should it calendar LOL) to read as many books nominated for an Anthony this as possible... So that's about what I was planning to read in August... so they are not "Just because" book, far from it... I will try to read something else just for the pleasure of it during the month... ;o)

Sarah wrote: "So if we read a number of books this month just because, do we report and eventually score all our choices and use the highest scorer at the end?"

Something like that. :)

I started reading Karama!: Journeys Through the Arab Spring last night. Had to have this shipped from the UK and it finally arrived a few days ago. I was getting antsy but managed to wait until Aug 1 to start. :)

I guess I'll probably list this one as Tunisia for the Around the World challenge. I totally didn't pick the book with a challenge in mind, though, so I'd say it wasn't "earmarked". Is that a problem?

FYI.. I decided to search for books about the Arab Spring after reading the recent special report in The Economist. After a little searching I found this: Guardian Books podcast: Reading the Arab spring. Such interesting books! Though unfortunately most are a bit difficult to find in the US.

I'm reading a book as a buddy read with one other person and we've both chosen the book together because it's on both of our TBR (and it was a recommendation) - can I use this as one of my "Just Because" books?

E :) wrote: "I started reading Karama!: Journeys Through the Arab Spring last night. Had to have this shipped from the UK and it finally arrived a few days ago. I was getting antsy but managed to wait until Aug..."

We're on the honour system here. So if you started reading a book "just because" and then realized it could fit a challenge, that would be a little different than selecting it for a another challenge first.

Sarah wrote: "I'm reading a book as a buddy read with one other person and we've both chosen the book together because it's on both of our TBR (and it was a recommendation) - can I use this as one of my "Just Be..."

Yes, that would work.

Thanks Janice! That's great to hear. Just starting The Name of the Wind.

Sarah wrote: "Thanks Janice! That's great to hear. Just starting The Name of the Wind."

OOo Enjoy!!

I'm moving slowly because my kindle isn't charging very well. I'm working with Amazon for a fix, but I'm waiting for a new charger and cable to arrive. Hopefully it will fix the problem.

I have started reading The Book of Lost Things just because it was crying out for me to read it right now, for me to choose it over all my other books. So I did as I was told ;)

We are heading back to the beach in a few weeks and a just because read sounds like just the thing! I think I'll read Life After Life by Kate Atkinson.

I took your guidance seriously and choose an impulsive read from my kindle backlog. With a bright yellow cover and a title like this: Chickens, Mules And Two Old Fools: Tuck Into A Slice Of Andalucían Life - I think I have redefined impulsive!!

Connie wrote: "We are heading back to the beach in a few weeks and a just because read sounds like just the thing! I think I'll read Life After Life by Kate Atkinson."

I read this one last month. I'd like to know what you think of it.