Reading with Style discussion

Please ask any general questions about the Fall Reading with Style Challenge in this thread.

Not a question, but what a great looking challenge!

I like the new Gothic masthead. Great work!!!

If we have the task where you read a book published from 1931-1940, would The Long Winterwork? Are books with childrens' genre acceptable? I don't see any rule that forbids it.

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "If we have the task where you read a book published from 1931-1940, would The Long Winterwork? Are books with childrens' genre acceptable? I don't see any rule that forbids it."

All of the same rules will apply as to Juv/YA/Assignment and Lexile. That one is Juv at BPL and has a Lexile of 790, so you could claim the task, but not any styles.

okay , thanks

Hello
I'm new to Goodreads (just signed up today). This group sounds like fun. I'm wondering if we need to sign up ahead of the first day of the upcoming challenge, and can we start anywhere we want from the list for Fall?
Thank you

Hi Julielle! Welcome to Goodreads and Welcome to Reading with Style.

No, you do not have to sign up - just read and post! Yes, you can start anywhere. Note that the sub-challenge (Fall season is Reading Globally) might require a certain reading order to maximize points.

We have some other rules that are worth noting - you might want to take a look at our FAQ. Please feel free to ask as many question as you wish - we've tried to clear up most of them, but don't be shy!

Thank you for the quick reply, Elizabeth.

I read through your FAQ area just now. It might take me awhile to get the hang of coming up with bonus points and all. I will do my best.

I was also wondering about the books listed on the top of the page. The dates on those run out this week, so will there be books in that area that will have something to do with challenge points?

Also, is there an easy way to keep track of points and tasks completed so I don't get confused? I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions to keep track, like maybe making a chart to cross things off?

I hope I don't bother anyone with all these questions. I'll probably have more once I get started.

It takes a season (or two) to get the hang of things. Don't fret - if you miss something, and we know it, you'll get your points. Even seasoned veterans miss things.

The books on the home page are the books that qualify for Task 10.10 Group Reads for the Summer Season. Yes, those will be changing. We have that task every season and are book read by a few of our members in the current season that they might recommend to others for the next season.

In the Quick Links post, is a link to a generic spreadsheet. It is pretty much the one I developed for my use and it has worked well for me for several years.

I'll go take a look at the spreadsheet and watch for the new books to be listed.
Thanks again.

Quick question from a newbie. I've seen in the FAQs that we can read books in languages other than English and that the English edition will be used to establish whether it fits the task or not. That is clear enough. I was just wondering, when reporting our completed task, do we need to link the edition we read and add a link to the most popular paperback English edition? Or do we just link the English edition for simplicity's sake?

Marina wrote: "Quick question from a newbie. I've seen in the FAQs that we can read books in languages other than English and that the English edition will be used to establish whether it fits the task or not. Th..."

You need to link to only one edition. It's easiest for us doing score keeping if you link the most popular edition, but if it's easier for you to link using your title and/or ISBN, we can work with it. If there is no English language edition, we do our best. Please ask if you have a question if/when that happens to you - and it might in this or a future season.

Thanks for the quick reply, Elizabeth! I will just link the most popular edition, no problem :) I'm making a plan for the Fall challenge and I don't have books with no English edition so far - I'll try to keep it that way because I don't want to make things difficult for you. I think that most of the times it's possible to find a book that fits and has been published in English.

Is this considered y/a or not? http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary....

Karin wrote: "Is this considered y/a or not? http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary...."

No.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "Is this considered y/a or not? http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary...."

No."

Thanks!

For Kate's update of the readerboard -

I'm not sure where we have crossed wires (!), but by my reckoning at post 90 I have 190 (posted #89). You have me in at 175.

Valerie wrote: "For Kate's update of the readerboard -

I'm not sure where we have crossed wires (!), but by my reckoning at post 90 I have 190 (posted #89). You have me in at 175."

I missed a first to post bonus. I have made a note and will correct it the next score-keeping session.

Kate S wrote: "Valerie wrote: "For Kate's update of the readerboard -

I'm not sure where we have crossed wires (!), but by my reckoning at post 90 I have 190 (posted #89). You have me in at 175."

I missed a fi..."

Thanks, Kate!

So, this is the only place I can find this at bpl, and I used the link given here, so is this all clear for combo points? http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary....? for Truckers

You might enjoy using this link for BPL:

http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary....

As to your question, the individual title is not shelved, so the lexile rule doesn't apply - and even in the trilogy edition, there is no YA shelving indicated.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "You might enjoy using this link for BPL:

http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary....

As to your question, the individual title is not shelved, so the lexile rule doesn't apply - and even in the tri..."

Yes, that's the link I used. I was surprised it wasn't shelved y/a, but am very happy it wasn't since I'm reading it for something.

oh no! disaster!

I've just finished Istanbul and was getting ready to report it when I noticed that the default ed has a page count about half of the other eds. (430ish compared to 830ish)

woe is me!

do I have to sacrifice by jumbo points, or can we decide that the outlier edition is wrong?

(I can guess the answer, but hope springs eternal...)

Cat wrote: "oh no! disaster!

I've just finished Istanbul and was getting ready to report it when I noticed that the default ed has a page count about half of the other eds. (430ish compared to..."

Breathe easy! I checked WorldCat for that edition and they list 800 pages. I have corrected the GR record.

oh! awesome!

Thank you! :)

Where do I find "shelved" information? I am still trying to figure out all the nuances of this club.

In the book's main page on goodreads, to the right is a list of all the
genres readers have shelved it. I think that is what you are looking for.

You can also go to the shelves linked in the task for listings of books that qualify.

If curious about a book without using those links, you can check the genres section on the book page, as Jayme says. Some times you are restricted that section, but this season you can click on "see top shelves" at the bottom of the genres section for 10.2 and 20.3 and dig deeper. In those two instances it is not required that "spy" or "ghost stories" be on the main page and you are free to look further, but be certain the book is shelved the required number of times for each.

Ok - thanks Jayme and Elizabeth. I will play around with those suggestions.

If I read Hamlet by Shakespeare, it is a "play". If a movie is made of Hamlet, does the play then become a "screen play"? What makes a screen play?

I've read part of a screen play for a TV series and the only difference was that it contained some info around how scenes should be shot. Such as 'start as wide shot and then slowly close in on x character' or 'close up of x character'. Otherwise it read just like a play - dialogue with some direction around characters movements or how an actor should play a scene.

Pigletto wrote: "I've read part of a screen play for a TV series and the only difference was that it contained some info around how scenes should be shot. Such as 'start as wide shot and then slowly close in on x c..."

OK. Thanks for the clarification. That is what I thought, but I was unsure. I don't think I have ever read screen play.

There are two Joyce Carol Oates YA books that I would like to read and claim, if they qualify for RWS task and style points (not subchallenge).

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl

https://fab.lexile.com/search/results...

720 Lexile but I don't see any YA/Assignment designations at BPL, so should be okay for styles?


and

Freaky Green Eyes

YA Fic at BPL, but 810 Lexile, so should be okay for styles?


Could one of the mods double check that I haven't overlooked anything at BPL that might disqualify either book? Thank you. I have lost confidence in my ability to reason through the rules.

Denise wrote: "There are two Joyce Carol Oates YA books that I would like to read and claim, if they qualify for RWS task and style points (not subchallenge).

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl
..."

Yes, you're good to go on both of those!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Denise wrote: "There are two Joyce Carol Oates YA books that I would like to read and claim, if they qualify for RWS task and style points (not subchallenge).

[book:Big Mouth and Ugl..."


Thanks Elizabeth, now I can feel a little less guilty about having just ordered them!

Pigletto wrote: "I've read part of a screen play for a TV series and the only difference was that it contained some info around how scenes should be shot. Such as 'start as wide shot and then slowly close in on x c..."

Correct. A screenplay can also have some alterations to the script if it's an adaptation or made shorter/longer etc. But if you read Hamlet as Shakespeare wrote it, it's still a play even if a movie has been made.

Even contemporary stage plays sometimes include some directions aside from the dialogue, but they are not the same--they will have nonverbal things that are imperative to the play that the playwright has included.

Karin wrote: "Pigletto wrote: "I've read part of a screen play for a TV series and the only difference was that it contained some info around how scenes should be shot. Such as 'start as wide shot and then slowl..."

Thanks, Karin.

I have a question about which edition to post when doing "add book/author" in a completed task post. Should I enter the link to the MPE or do you want the link to the edition that I read? I am currently reading the paperback edition of a recent book, but GR is showing the ebook as the most published edition. Thanks.

You can do either, though it's easier for us if you link to the default in the add book/author.

I see. Thank you.

I'll be reading The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose - can I please have a ruling on whether it counts for Not A Novel points? I'm guessing not, since the stories are all about the same characters as far as I can see, but just to check.

It looks like not. Neither WorldCat nor the BPL have short stories listed. Although, Elizabeth may have a different opinion when she reviews. For now, I am going with not.

Rosemary wrote: "I'll be reading The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose - can I please have a ruling on whether it counts for Not A Novel points? I'm guessing not, since the stories are all about the..."

This was my very first Munro and made me a fan for life. It was recommended to me because I wasn't sure about reading short stories and this one reads almost like a novel, but they are still short stories. The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose was originally published in magazines as various short stories, not necessarily in the order in which they appear in the collected volume. Yes, they all have the same characters, and the stories as collected are chronological timewise. I hope you enjoy it, and we will be awarding not a novel points for it.

Thank you! And I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, Elizabeth. I'm wondering if I can fit in all of the five or six books I still need to read by the end of the month for a mega finish ... but I have this one from the library and I'll make sure it's one of the ones I get to, even if I don't get to them all!

Hi Kate:

Not that this is going to make or break my score, but in case it causes confusion later....

I noticed that the updated readerboard has me in for 1080 points (from my post 835); however you gave me 5 extra combo points for post 797. So the readerboard should show 1085.

Thanks

Question from newish member: what do the figures here mean? Can't figure it out.

Group Reads Leaders*

Denise 13/13 (100.0%)
Rebekah 9/9 (100.0%)
Sam 5/5 (100.0%)
Jenny 6/7 (85.7%)
Megan 10/12 (83.3%)
Louise Bro 5/6 (83.3%)
Jane 4/5 (80.0%)
June 7/9 (77.8%)
Anika 16/22 (72.7%)
Coralie 16/22 (72.7%)

*=the Winter 2017 "group reads" books will be chosen by a combination of moderators, mega-finishers, and members that read at least 5 books and earn the highest percentage of Combo points in the Fall 2017 Challenge.

Thank you!

Those are the current rankings for members who may be eligible to choose books for 10.10 Group Reads task. The criteria changes from season to season. For the Fall season and to select for Winter, we used the percentage of books claimed that had any sort of combo style claim. Denise claimed a combo on 13 of 13 books for 100%, Rebekah claimed a combo on 9 of 9 books, etc. and thru Coralie who claimed a combo on 16 of 22 books for 72.7%

You will see that the Winter challenge will be for percentage of books claimed for Lost in Translation points. Books claimed for the sub-challenge are not included in the calculation.

Does this help?

Elizabeth: I get it now. Thank you!

I am just double checking in case my wires are crossed; I THINK the Readerboard was changed after this but could be wrong. I have read five books and have an average of over 60 points per book. When will I be added to the Readerboard? It has been updated since I posted the 5th book. I will be back shortly with all the posts. If I am wrong I will come back here with my tail between my legs!

My mistake--my fifth one was 10 posts after the update!!!!! After all this work, I figured I'll just leave this here





Message 199
Karin | 769 comments
20.7 Single Word Task

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Review
This is now my second favourite Jane Austen novel. Certainly it's not Pride and Prejudice, but really it is well done. I am not going to give a summary as there are many out there, but I will say that I enjoyed it, and the writing is very strong. The title has to do (and this is no spoiler, we know this from the beginning) with how Anne was persuaded to break off an engagement when she was 19. Now she is still single and twenty-seven when her former fiance arrives in the area.

My favourite quote (there are others I like, and some I may have missed, but this one stood out):

Prettier musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy could never have passed along the streets of Bath than Anne was sporting with from Camden Place to Westgate Buildings. It was almost enough to spread purification and perfume all the way.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Oldie
+15 Combo - 10.7 Big Words, 20.1 Gothic Author, 10.9 Genres (confirmed)

Task Total= 60

Season Total = 60

Message 298
10.1 Square Peg

Medea and Other Plays by Euripides

Review
It’s not that there were no passages I liked, but for the most part I am not a fan of Greek tragedies. It seems to all be based on murder and revenge, including family. At least now I can say I’ve actually read all of Electra (and I did like her peasant husband—he was probably the best, most noble person of all the characters in all four plays. It helps that he didn’t kill anyone, but there was more to it than that).
Medea plots to kill her husband’s new bride as well as her sons to seek revenge for him leaving her after she saved his life prior to their marriage. I just can’t get past the “kill my sons to get back at my husband part” enough to find anything to like in her. Hecabe has two halves, more or less, and since the point is that revenge can be worse than the original crime it’s hard to enjoy. Electra is the best of the three, and I’m not sure why they are suddenly so guilty for killing their mother (the sister of Helen) who killed their father if revenge by death is supposed to be good. I get why they’d regret it afterward, of course. Then the last one in this book, Heracles, is fairly boring overall although naturally death and violence come up in it.
If, however, you like Greek tragedies, you may well like this one.


+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Not a Novel
+25 Oldie


Task Total= 55

Season Total = 115

EDITED same day as posted because I forgot about "Not a Novel"

Message 637

20.9 Satire (a novel by an author on one of those lists linked)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Review

What does one write about a 300 year old novel that hasn't already been said? Most people already know it's about a man who spends years shipwrecked on an island and that after writing this and his other novels, Daniel Defoe is called the father of the English novel. However, while I enjoyed reading this in print when I was a teen or perhaps a bit younger, I had to listen to it on audio to get through it as an adult. I still think it merits 4 stars and has many good things, but it is rather flawed (long and tedious descriptions at times that were no doubt much more useful in the days before cameras, TV and what not).

It is, and many people might not be aware of this, very much a Christian novel, which I'd forgotten all about after reading it when I was younger. But the protagonist is ever flawed with prejudice. Also, although he mentions him from time to time, the last chapter, the kind that rather sums up years after the main story, never once mentions his man Friday.

Despite all of this, I do think this is a classic novel that is worth reading.

+20 Task
+20 Oldie (1719)
+1105 Combo 20.1 and 10.4 (as per later notice)

Task Total - 55

Season Total = 175


Message 782

20.7 Single Word Title

Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

Review:

What a surprise to read a Shakespeare play--a dark romance, to boot--I've never heard of before for a reading challenge and find that I quite liked it even though it isn't a comedy. Fact: I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan, other than some of his comedies and perhaps Romeo and Juliette. It's too bad that is this is so little known and studied. True, it's not as melodramatic as Hamlet, but I'm not a fan of that play--even if you are, that doesn't mean this isn't a play for you. But reading it might not be the best way to appreciate this, although having the script in front of you while listening might help you keep track of who is who. Imogene--love her!

I listened to much of this in a dramatic recording, but in my hurry to finish it and see what happened, I read the last third of it.


+20 Task
+25 Oldie
+10 Not a Novel
+10 Review
+5 Combo 10.8

Task Total -70

Season Total = 245

Message 860

20.7 Single Word Title

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Review:

The basic plot of Frankenstein is too well known for me to write one here--Frankenstein makes a humanoid creature and then makes him come alive. This book is not like any of the movies, naturally. I did not like it, and not simply because I don't care for the story. I am rounding it up from 1.5 stars.

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley wrote this when she was 19, and to me that shows. It's not that she wasn't able to write prose or that 19 year old people can't write excellent novels (rarely that early but it certainly has happened), but there is a great deal of youthful immaturity in this book. When I read how this book came to be started, that made a lot of sense. Sometimes I wanted to knock more sense into this novel. On one hand, I think that what she was trying to do could and would have been done much better had she been older when she wrote it. There were so many great things she could have done with this had she done that. Not that I would have loved this book, but I might have actually liked it.


+20 Task
+15 Oldie
+10 Review
+10 Combo - 10.8 Double Letter Names (Cat's task) and 20.1 Gothic Authors (under Mary Shelley, which is what people usually say, of course)
+5 Combo 10.8 and 10.5 9 (as per post 917)

Task Total - 60

Season Total = 305

(5 books read and posted here so far--finally!)