SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

2016 Deciphered Reading
Not for the faint of heart!

Duration: 1 Jan - 31 Dec 2016

Goal: Reach an exact total of 2016. Each participant's number of books read will vary depending on their cipher choice and books read throughout the challenge.


Cipher Options: Red = regular; Blue = reverse

Steps to choosing your books & Calculating your total
✣ STEP 1: Decide and state which substitution cipher you'll be using - regular or reverse - you must use the same cipher for the duration of the challenge

✣ STEP 2: Choose a book and read it

✣ STEP 3: Once read, use your chosen cipher and either the book's title, series or author's name (first, middle, or last) to calculate your total for that book (You may use or ignore 'A', 'An' and 'The' as needed)

• Example •
Using REG cipher: Vision in Silver (The Others) by Anne Bishop = 22 using Title / 20 or 15 using Series name / 1 using Author's First Name or 2 using Author's Last Name

Using REV cipher: Vision in Silver (The Others) by Anne Bishop = 5 using Title / 12 or 7 using Series name / 26 using Author's First Name or 25 using Author's Last Name

• Note •
You may use any of these values for this book. It may be helpful, as you start, to use the largest value until you get closer to reaching 2016. At that time, you'll need to choose your books carefully so that you don't exceed 2016.

✣ STEP 4: Multiply* the book's value by your current total

* As you can see from Barbara's first run at the challenge, it only took her 5 books to reach 2016. So, for a more challenging challenge, add the book values instead of multiplying them.

✣ STEP 5: Repeat steps 2-4 as needed until you reach an exact total of 2016

2016 Deciphered Reading

Cipher: BLUE (Reversed)

✣: Read a book

✣: Use your chosen cipher and either the book's title, series or author's name (first, middle, or last) to calculate your total for that book (You may use or ignore 'A', 'An' and 'The' as needed)

✣: Multiply the book's value by your current total

✣ Repeat steps 2-4 as needed until you reach an exact total of 2016

With Multiplication

✔The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship and the Writing Life by Lori A. May - 3.1.16 ★★★

Author's Surname = 42

✔Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson - 2.5.16 ★★★★

Author's First Name = 48

42 x 48 = 2016

With Addition

✔The Woman In The Alcove by Anna Katharine Green - 2.5.16 ★★★

Title = 300

✔C791 by Eve Langlais - 4.5.16 ★★

Surname = 141 (441)

✔Stygian by Nashoda Rose - 6.5.16 ★★★★

First Name = 127 (568)

✔Cloudstreet by Tim Winton - 8.5.16 ★★★★

Title = 155 (723)

✔One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - 10.5.16 ★★★★

Title = 260 (983)

✔Crow by A. Zaverelli - 11.5.16 ★★★★

Title = 49 (1032)

✔The Winds Of War by Herman Wouk - 14.5.16 ★★★★★

Title = 186 (1218)

✔The Berlin Stories: The Last of Mr. Norris & Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood - 15.5.16 ★★★★

First Name = 158 (1376)

✔The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin - 16.5.16 ★★★

Title = 272 (1648)

✔Collared by Nicole Williams - 18.5.16 ★★★

Title = 146 (1794)

✔The Einstein Girl by Philip Sington - 21.5.16 ★★

First Name = 92 (1886)

✔Rough by Skye Warren - 14.8.16 ★★★

First Name = 48 (1934)

✔Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks - 10.9.16 ★★★★★

Surname = 82 (2016)

Total = 2016

Reserved

I'm so anxious to see how this one goes! :D

I'm confused on Step 4. Multiply the book's value by your current total

If Book 1 is 22 and book 2 is 20, our total at that point is 440 is that correct? Seems like we'll get to 2016 rather quickly.

2016 Deciphered Reading
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2016
CIPHER - Red = Regular

BOOKS READ: 5

1.[ AUTHOR = 18 ] The Great Zoo of China - Matthew Reilly 1/2
Total: 18

2. [ TITLE = 2 ]Beauty's Kingdom - A.N. Roquelaure 1/4
Total: 18 x 2 = 36

3. [TITLE = 2] Born of Fire - Sherrilyn Kenyon 1/6
Total: 36 x 2 = 72

4. [AUTHOR = 2 ] Tithe - Holly Black 1/7
Total: 72 x 2 = 144

5. [TITLE = 14] Night Probe! - Clive Cussler 1/10
Total: 144 x 14 = 2016

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Barbara ★ wrote: "I'm confused on Step 4. Multiply the book's value by your current total

If Book 1 is 22 and book 2 is 20, our total at that point is 440 is that correct? Seems like we'll get to 2016 rather quickly."

That's how it would work, Barbara. I initially thought of having everyone add versus multiply. Then, I wondered just how many books it'd take to add to 2016. Figured if you were able to get at least 20 for each book, that'd be another 100 books for this challenge. Since I had already created a large 100 book challenge, I went with multiply for this one. Thought it might appeal to more people.

That said, I'm definitely up for switching it to ADD for 2017, if this one goes over well but is over too quickly. I'd love feedback from those who participate in 2016 for any 2017 tweaks. :)

Sounds good. I was just verifying I read the instructions correctly.

You did :)

That was way too easy so I'm going to do it again by adding instead of multiplying.

2016 Deciphered Reading
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2016
CIPHER - Red = Regular

0-100 Points (view spoiler)[
1.[TITLE = 25]~ The Young Elites - Marie Lu 1/11
Total: 25

2. [TITLE = 1] ~ All I Want - Jill Shalvis 1/12
Total: 25 + 1 = 26

3. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ The Liar - Nora Roberts 1/13
Total: 26 + 18 = 44

4. [TITLE = 14] ~ The Night Sister - Jennifer McMahon 1/13
Total: 44 + 14 = 58

5. [TITLE = 22] ~ Vixen 03 - Clive Cussler 1/14
Total: 58 + 22 = 80

6. [AUTHOR = 20] ~ Backlash - D.L. Thomas 1/15
Total: 80 + 20 = 100
(hide spoiler)]
100-200 Points (view spoiler)[
7. [TITLE = 12] ~ Lost Highlander - Cassidy Cayman 1/16
Total: 100 + 12 = 112

8. [TITLE = 19] ~ Saint Odd - Dean Koontz 1/17
Total: 112 + 19 = 131

9. [AUTHOR = 10] ~ Eighth Grave After Dark - Darynda Jones 1/18
Total: 131 + 10 = 141

10. [AUTHOR = 10] ~ Dark Ruby - Lisa Jackson 1/20
Total: 141 + 10 = 151

11. [TITLE = 16] ~ A Potion to Die For - Heather Blake 1/21
Total: 151 + 16 = 167

12. [AUTHOR = 22] ~ The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities - Ann & Jeff Vandermeer 1/22
Total: 167 + 22 = 189

13. [AUTHOR = 8] ~ The Dragon Keeper- Robin Hobb 1/23
Total: 189 + 8 = 197
(hide spoiler)]
200-300 Points (view spoiler)[
14. [TITLE = 18] ~ The Reluctant Vampire - Lynsay Sands 1/24
Total: 197 + 18 = 215

145[TITLE = 12] ~ Love Me to Death - Allison Brennan 1/25
Total: 215 + 12 = 227

16. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires - Molly Harper 1/26
Total: 227 + 13 = 240

17. [TITLE = 19] ~ Shield of Winter - Nalini Singh 1/29
Total: 240 +19 = 259

18. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ Child of the Prophecy - Juliet Marillier 1/30
Total: 259 + 13 = 272

19. [TITLE = 20] ~ Tarnished Knight - Bec McMasters 1/31
Total: 272 + 20 = 292
(hide spoiler)]
300-400 Points (view spoiler)[
20. [AUTHOR = 23] ~ Full Throttle - Julie Ann Walker 1/31
Total: 292 + 23 = 315

21. [AUTHOR = 12] ~ Bound to Darkness - Lara Adrian 2/2
Total: 315 + 12 = 327

22. [AUTHOR = 23] ~ Go Big or Go Home - Will Hobbs 2/2
Total: 327 + 23 = 350

23. [TITLE = 1] ~ Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea - Nancy Atherton 2/4
Total: 350 + 1 = 351

24. [TITLE = 9] ~ Iron & Velvet - Alexis Hall 2/5
Total: 351 + 9 = 360

25. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ Heart of Iron - Bec McMasters 2/6
Total: 360 + 13 = 373

26. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ Into Thin Air - Cindy Miles 2/7
Total: 373 + 13 = 386
(hide spoiler)]
400-500 Points (view spoiler)[
27. [AUTHOR = 20] ~ The Girl in 6E - A.R. Torre 2/7
Total: 386 + 20 = 406

28. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ The Closer You Come - Gena Showalter 2/9
Total: 406 + 19 = 425

29. [AUTHOR = 8] ~ An Ice Cold Grave - Charlaine Harris 2/10
Total: 425 + 8 = 433

30. [TITLE = 19] ~ Shards of Hope - Nalini Singh 2/12
Total: 433 + 19 = 452

31. [AUTHOR = 10] ~ The Dirt on Ninth Grave - Darynda Jones 2/12
Total: 452 + 10 = 462

32. [TITLE = 13] ~ Melting the Ice - Jaci Burton 2/13
Total: 462 + 13 = 475

33. [TITLE = 15] ~ Odd Interlude - Dean Koontz 2/13
Total: 475 + 15 = 490

34. [TITLE = 6] ~ Forsaken - Jacquelyn Frank 2/14
Total: 490 + 6 = 496
(hide spoiler)]
500-600 Points (view spoiler)[
35. [TITLE = 20] ~ Terminal City - Linda Fairstein 2/16
Total: 496 + 20 = 516

36. [AUTHOR = 20 ] ~ Big Stone Gap - Adriana Trigiani 2/16
Total: 516 + 20 = 536

37. TITLE[ = 11] ~ Kiss Me, Kill Me - Allison Brennan 2/18
Total: 536 + 11 = 547

38. [TITLE = 21] ~ Under a Vampire Moon - Lynsay Sands 2/20
Total: 547 + 21 = 568

39. [TITLE = 16] ~ The Penalty Box - Deidre Martin 2/21
Total: 568 + 16 = 584

40. [AUTHOR = 7] ~ Dragon Justice - Laura Ann Gilman 2/21
Total: 584 + 7 = 591
(hide spoiler)]
600-700 Points (view spoiler)[
41. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ Born of Ice - Sherrilyn Kenyon 2/23
Total: 591 + 19 = 610

42. [TITLE = 8] ~ Haunted - Kay Hooper 2/24
Total: 610 + 8 = 618

43. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ The Family Trade - Charles Stross 2/25
Total: 618 + 19 = 637

44. [AUTHOR = 23] ~ Too Hard to Handle - Julie Ann Walker 2/27
Total: 637 + 23 = 660

45. [AUTHOR = 12] ~ Dark Emerald - Lisa Jackson 2/27
Total: 660 + 12 = 672

46. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ Ecstasy Bound - Ruth Kerce 2/27
Total: 672 + 18 = 690

47. [AUTHOR = 23] ~ Rapture - J.R. Ward 2/28
Total: 690 + 23 = 713
(hide spoiler)]
700-800 Points (view spoiler)[
48. [TITLE = 19] ~ Stud - Cheryl Brooks 3/2
Total: 713 + 19 = 732

49. [TITLE = 22] ~ Viking in Love - Sandra Hill 3/3
Total: 732 + 22 = 754

50. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ Burning Skies - Caris Roane 3/5
Total: 754 + 18 = 772

51. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ Brink of Eternity - Caris Roane 3/5
Total: 772 + 18 = 790

52. [TITLE = 7] ~ Guardian - Jo Anderton 3/6
Total: 790 + 7 = 797
(hide spoiler)]
800-900 Points (view spoiler)[
53. [AUTHOR = 10] ~ Agnes and the Hitman - Jennifer Crusie 3/6
Total: 797 + 10 = 807

54. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ Congo - Michael Crichton 3/6
Total: 807 + 13 = 820

55. [TITLE = 9] ~ If I Should Die - Allison Brennan 3/8
Total: 820 + 9 = 829

56. [AUTHOR = 12] ~ Dark Sapphire - Lisa Jackson 3/9
Total: 829 + 12 = 841

57. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ Dragon Fall - Katie MacAlister 3/11
Total: 841 + 13 = 854

58. [TITLE = 23] ~ Wings of Fire - Caris Roane 3/12
Total: 854 + 23 = 877

59. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ Drowning Mermaids - Nadia Scrieva 3/12
Total: 877 + 19 = 896
(hide spoiler)]
900-1000 Points (view spoiler)[
60. [TITLE = 18] ~ Revived - Cat Patrick 3/13
Total: 896 + 18 = 914

61. [TITLE = 19] ~ Sweep in Peace - Ilona Andrews 3/13
Total: 914 + 19 = 933

62. [TITLE = 19] ~ Straddling the Line - Jaci Burton 3/14
Total: 933 + 19 = 952

63. [TITLE = 8] ~ The Highway - C.J. Box 3/16
Total: 952 + 8 = 960

64. [TITLE = 13] ~ My Lady Quicksilver - Bec McMaster 3/17
Total: 960 + 13 = 973

65. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ England's Perfect Hero - Suzanne Enoch 3/18
Total: 973 + 19 = 992

66. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - George R.R. Martin 3/19
Total: 992 + 13 = 1005
(hide spoiler)]
1000-1100 Points (view spoiler)[
67. [AUTHOR = 23] ~ Possession - J.R. Ward 3/20
Total: 1005 + 23 = 1028

68. [TITLE = 9] ~ In Other Worlds - Sherrilyn Kenyon 3/20
Total: 1028 + 9 = 1037

69. [TITLE = 8] ~ How to Capture a Countess - Karen Hawkins 3/20
Total: 1037 + 8 = 1045

70. [AUTHOR = 16] ~ Depraved Heart - Patricia Cornwell 3/21
Total: 1045 + 16 = 1061

71. [TITLE = 12] ~ Likely To Die - Linda Fairstein 3/23
Total: 1061 + 12 = 1073

72. [TITLE = 19] ~ Sins & Shadows - Lyn Benedict 3/25
Total: 1073 + 19 = 1092

73. [TITLE = 8] ~ Forged - Jacquelyn Frank 3/25
Total: 1092 + 8 = 1100
(hide spoiler)]
1100-1200 Points (view spoiler)[
74. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ Hallowed Circle - Linda Robertson 3/26
Total: 1100 + 18 = 1118

75. [TITLE = 23] ~ Wicked Charms - Janet Evanovich 3/26
Total: 1118 + 23 = 1141

76. [AUTHOR = 12] ~ The Girl in the Spider's Web - David Lagercrantz 3/27
Total: 1141 + 12 = 1153

77. [TITLE = 9] ~ Invisible Sun - David Macinnis Gill 3/28
Total: 1153 + 9 = 1162

78. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ The Lady is a Vamp - Lynsay Sands 3/28
Total: 1162 + 19 = 1181

79. [AUTHOR = 23] ~ The Shadows - J.R. Ward 4/1
Total: 1181 + 23 = 1204
(hide spoiler)]
1200-1300 Points (view spoiler)[
80. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ The Hotter You Burn - Gena Showalter 4/3
Total: 1204 + 19 = 1223

81. [AUTHOR = 8] ~ The Bitter Season - Tami Hoag 4/4
Total: 1223 + 8 = 1231

82. [TITLE = 7] ~ Got Your Number - Stephanie Bond 4/5
Total: 1231 + 7 = 1238

83. [TITLE = 23] ~ The Wild Ways - Tanya Huff 4/7
Total: 1238 + 23 = 1261

84. [TITLE = 15] ~ The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman 4/7
Total: 1261 + 15 = 1276

85. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ Fatal Circle - Linda Robertson 4/11
Total: 1276 + 18 = 1294

86. [TITLE = 9] ~ If Walls Could Talk - Juliet Blackwell 4/11
Total: 1294 + 9 = 1303
(hide spoiler)]
1300-1400 Points (view spoiler)[
87. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ Born of Shadows - Sherrilyn Kenyon 4/13
Total: 1303 + 19 = 1322

88. [AUTHOR = 11] ~ Fired Up - Jayne Ann Krentz 4/13
Total: 1322 + 11 = 1333

89. [TITLE = 6] ~ Feel the Burn - G.A. Aiken 4/13
Total: 1333 + 6 = 1339

90. [TITLE = 19] ~ Silenced - Allison Brennan 4/15
Total: 1339 + 19 = 1358

91. [AUTHOR = 16] ~ Fire Touched - Patricia Briggs 4/18
Total: 1358 + 16 = 1374

92. [TITLE = 19] ~ Seven Years - Dannika Dark 4/20
Total: 1374 + 19 = 1393
(hide spoiler)]
1400-1500 Points (view spoiler)[
93. [AUTHOR = 20] ~ In Too Deep - Tracey Alvarez 4/21
Total: 1393 + 20 = 1413

94. [TITLE = 19] ~ Spirited Away - Cindy Miles 4/24
Total: 1413 + 19 = 1432

95. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ Night Marchers - Rebecca Gober 4/25
Total: 1432 + 18 = 1450

96. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ Immortal Ever After - Lynsay Sands 4/27
Total: 1450 + 19 = 1469

97. [TITLE = 7] ~ Ghosts & Echoes - Lyn Benedict 4/28
Total: 1469 + 7 = 1476

98. [TITLE = 23] ~ Wicked After Midnight - Delilah Dawson 4/29
Total: 1476 + 23 = 1499
(hide spoiler)]
1500-1600 Points (view spoiler)[
99. [TITLE = 19] ~ Sweet Ruin - Kresley Cole 4/30
Total: 1499 + 19 = 1518

100. [TITLE = 13] ~ Mother's Day Murder - Leslie Meier 4/30
Total: 1518 + 13 = 1531

101. [TITLE = 23] ~ White Night - Jim Butcher 5/4
Total: 1531 + 23 = 1554

102. [TITLE = 19] ~ Shadow Rites - Faith Hunter 5/10
Total: 1554 + 19 = 1573

103. [AUTHOR = 18 ] ~ Born of Ashes - Caris Roane 5/11
Total: 1573 + 18 = 1591

104. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ The First Sin - Cheyenne McCray 5/12
Total: 1591 + 13 = 1604
(hide spoiler)]

Continued at Post 14

Barbara ★ wrote: "That was way too easy so I'm going to do it again by adding instead of multiplying."

>.< Good to know! I'll edit the rules to allow for adding or multiplying. :)

Hooray Barbara!

continued...

1600-1700 Points (view spoiler)[
105. [TITLE = 2] ~ Bet Me - Jennifer Crusie 5/14
Total: 1604 + 2 = 1606

106. [TITLE = 8] ~ How to Pursue a Princess - Karen Hawkins 5/16
Total: 1606 + 8 = 1614

107. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ Born of Silence - Sherrilyn Kenyon 5/16
Total: 1614 + 19 = 1633

108. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ Dragon Storm - Katie MacAlister 5/17
Total: 1633 + 13 = 1646

109. [TITLE = 10] ~ Jungle Freakn' Bride - Eve Langlais 5/17
Total: 1646 + 10 = 1656

110. [AUTHOR = 20] ~ The Future Falls - Tanya Huff 5/19
Total: 1656 + 20 = 1676

111. [TITLE = 16] ~ Pies and Prejudice - Ellery Adams 5/20
Total: 1676 + 16 = 1692

112. [AUTHOR = 22] ~ Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend - Victoria Laurie 5/22
Total: 1692 + 22 = 1714
(hide spoiler)]
1700 - 1800 Points (view spoiler)[
113. [AUTHOR = 8] ~ Double Fantasy - Cheryl Holt 5/23
Total: 1714 + 8 = 1722

114. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ The Library at Mount Char - Scott Hawkins 5/24
Total: 1722 + 19 = 1741

115. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ Cloak and Silence - Sherrilyn Kenyon 6/1
Total: 1741 + 19 = 1760

116. [AUTHOR = 23] ~ Immortal - J.R. Ward 6/2
Total: 1760 + 23 = 1783

117. [AUTHOR = 22] ~ Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun - Victoria Laurie 6/5
Total: 1783 + 22 = 1805
(hide spoiler)]
1800 - 1900 Points (view spoiler)[
118. [TITLE = 23] ~ The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks 6/6
Total: 1805 + 23 = 1828

119. [AUTHOR = 13] ~ Dragon Soul - Katie MacAlister 6/7
Total: 1828 + 13 = 1841

120. [TITLE = 15] ~ Obsidian Flame - Caris Roane 6/9
Total: 1841 + 15 = 1856

121. [AUTHOR = 18] ~ Gates of Rapture - Caris Roane 6/10
Total: 1856 + 18 = 1874

122. [TITLE = 16] ~ Play Dirty - Lorie O'Clare 6/12
Total: 1874 + 16 = 1890

123. [TITLE = 4] ~ Devoted in Death - J.D. Robb 6/13
Total: 1890 + 4 = 1894

124. [TITLE = ] ~ Small Favor - Jim Butcher 6/14
Total: 1894 + 19 = 1913
(hide spoiler)]
1900 - 2016
125. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ The Darkest Torment - Gena Showalter 6/17
Total: 1913 + 19 = 1932

126. [AUTHOR = 14] ~ League of Dragons - Naomi Novik 6/20
Total: 1932 + 14 = 1946

127. TITLE[ = 11] ~ King - T.M. Frazier 6/21
Total: 1946 + 11 = 1957

128. [AUTHOR = 19] ~ Cleopatra's Needle - Steven Siebert 6/23
Total: 1957 + 19 = 1976

129. [TITLE = 12] ~ Last to Die - Tess Gerritsen 6/24
Total: 1976 + 12 = 1988

130. [TITLE = 20] ~ The Target - David Baldacci 6/25
Total: 1988 + 20 = 2008

131. [AUTHOR = 8] ~ The Prince Who Loved Me - Karin Hawkins 6/25
Total: 2008 + 8 = 2016

I haven't logged into GR for a while, but as we're so close to the end of the year I thought I could try and update some of my many challenges. And it turns out that I actually managed to complete this one twice.

Now, if only I could say that about all my other challenges...

WTG, Barbara & NancyHelen!