Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

I'm trying to decide if it makes more sense to spellout or worry about classes...I think concentrating on the 'more expensive' spellouts is wise, but I'm not so sure on the others...hmmmm

Any strategy thoughts on how to organize all of this would be welcome! I know we definitely need our awesome-ist team leader to beef up our planning sheet...I think that will help...let's take some time to think...

I am so glad I did not volunteer to be a captain this round.

Hmm, I think it makes sense to prioritize pointwise, so whatever gets the most points should be approached first. I'm still getting a grasp on what that means though :) We have a couple of months and I think we'll be able to conquer everything as long as there isn't any double dipping. For spells it's easier since there are so many letters to use still but for classes I think we should set up a page on the spreadsheet where team members can claim a spot. That way two people aren't reading 500+ page brown books at the same time :)

The Time Machine
Finished: 5/16/18
118pgs
On SS

Charm Examples from our MOD:

Summoning:
you can have and empty hand and a hand holding something
+

Barefoot + foot and shoe
+

Banishing: For example, the two pairs above, but in the inverse order :)

fire-making: you can also go for an object and same object burning or with flames around
+

Water-making: can be as easy as one empty glass and one water glass. Or a house and a house by a lake.

JanEyre9 wrote: "Hmm, I think it makes sense to prioritize pointwise, so whatever gets the most points should be approached first. I'm still getting a grasp on what that means though :) We have a couple of months a..."

Yes...I think you are right...I hope everyone will take some time to weigh in...I have a full day work-wise today, but will try to check in a few times...our Australian friends are sleeping...let's all take a day to brainstorm...and of course...read some good books!

I agree with going for the higher point things first. But also the harder to find things first. Although most of the letters seem pretty easy to get. But maybe a 900+ page book should be saved for that task rather than using it for something else, until we get another 900+ page book.

I was thinking to start a post in a challenge tracking thread that I have in order to plan some books out. But I'm not sure where I'd even begin with that.

Hey good news! I'm readin (Audible) an "O" book!

It's the first of around 25 O's we need!

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I was thinking to start a post in a challenge tracking thread that I have in order to plan some books out. But I'm not sure where I'd even begin with that."
Mary--I'll put a tab marked 'Mary' on our spreadsheet...you can use that to plan some things out...everything in one place...just realize I'm not sure we'll all be looking at the extra tabs...but if this helps you all the better for us as a team!

@ALL if anyone else needs/wants this we can add more tabs...if you need me to do for you, just let me know!

I just got a lovely surprise - there's a character in the audiobook I'm listening to The Upside of Unrequited named Xavier!! That's such a nice gift, thank you Becky Albertalli. The way the narrator pronounces it sounds like "Zander" so I wasn't sure at first but after some Googlin' I've seen Xavier listed as the brother's name in multiple places. Woohoo!

I just got a lovely surprise - there's a character in the audiobook I'm listening to The Upside of Unrequited named Xavier!! That's such a nice gift, thank you Becky Albertalli. The way the narrator pronounces it sounds like "Zander" so I wasn't sure at first but after some Googlin' I've seen Xavier listed as the brother's name in multiple places. Woohoo!

Thanks. Not sure if I'll use that but I might. I'm not sure where to begin in planning since I don't have my head fully wrapped around the classes yet or how we're going to apply books to them.

April wrote: "Hey good news! I'm readin (Audible) an "O" book!

It's the first of around 25 O's we need!"

I signed up for the free trial on Audible earlier this year and then they added the 'romance feature' which I tried free for a month and now use quite religiously. I've really picked up the amount I'm reading/listening...I like reading so much more than tv...I've pretty much given that up...just a few shows I watch with my husband now and then...

Tammie wrote: "April wrote: "Hey good news! I'm readin (Audible) an "O" book!

It's the first of around 25 O's we need!"

I signed up for the free trial on Audible earlier this year and then they added the 'roman..."

I love audio books. I used to feel a bit purist about it, I wanted a physical book in my hand, but I am a complete convert now. My husband got me into them, they helped make his commute bearable and gave him the chance to read books he didn't usually have time for (high school English teacher, lots of reading already that needs to be done). I gave it a shot and now I always have at least 2 audio books downloaded to my phone using the Overdrive App. I love finding narrators I really enjoy then seeking out other books by them.

Don't panic about the classes! Most of them are fairly easy tasks to do.

We'll be adding a page to the spreadsheet. I'm almost at work so I'll do it when I get home tonight. (Ready in 12 hours for the non Aussies). Just wait until I post that it's ready before using it.

For the classes you will need to claim the task that you are reading for.

Most of the class tasks are worth 10 points so we can start to prioritise those. The Unforgivable Curses are also worth 10 so they are our other top priority. Look at aiming for a class and if it doesn't fit then we'll use it for a spell.

I'll also be adding the spell info onto our front page.

*Update - spreadsheet is ready

Hi all
I will be offline for the next 3 days. I have the following letters hopefully read by Tuesday: N, J, T and C. Just put me anywhere :)

Re classes, I am reading The trials of Morrigan crow aka Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend and The chalk man by CJ Tudor.
Just slot me in a class :)

Home Fire
Pages : 276
Completed : 18th May, 2018

Battle For Bittora
Pages : 426
Completed : 18th May, 2018

I filled in the details in the Planning Sheet.

Just an FYI to everyone that whilst the classes has been added to our *official* spreadsheet it's not ready for use yet...so don't stress if you don't see anything happening there!

I just went and looked at all the classes in the spreadsheet and wow.... that's a ton of work for the captains. Thank you all! I was playing around with points and it seems there are two scenarios - 1. focus on classes and use other books to fill in the spells (which it seems easier to do overall and not quite so specific) or 2. Focus on top point getters in classes, spells, etc. I think the first adds up to the most points.


However, I'm still a little confused by the classes (not the topics but rather the strategy). Am trying to figure them out and planning my next books (especially since I am going on vacation next week and won't have much internet access but a ton of time for reading). Is it better for one person to take a class and focus on filling it out or better to just slot books in as we go that fit? Should we call something if we think we are going to be able to cover it - especially the charms? Ugh, the charms. :)

My thoughts after spending some time researching: I don't read a ton of fantasy/paranormal so I'm not sure I'm going to be a ton of help on some of these prompts (Dark Arts for example) so I was thinking about tackling the book with the brown cover over 500 pages (The Pillars of the Earth) and then maybe taking on the History of Magic class by plowing thru the remaining Diana Gabaldon series (starting with Dragonfly in Amber as I've read Outlander). That would rack up both page counts and take care of 7 books easily and would free up people and books for other classes.

Ashley wrote: "Don't panic about the classes! Most of them are fairly easy tasks to do.

We'll be adding a page to the spreadsheet. I'm almost at work so I'll do it when I get home tonight. (Ready in 12 hours fo..."

Ashley - are we claiming classes in this thread or on the spreadsheet?

Kate wrote: "I just went and looked at all the classes in the spreadsheet and wow.... that's a ton of work for the captains. Thank you all! I was playing around with points and it seems there are two scenarios ..."

Ugh, the charms indeed! I am searching the covers of the books in my tbr shelf to see what applies.

Kate I LOVED The Pillars of the Earth!!

Ok, how's this for fire making spell?

+

And for levitation spell? Think these apply?

+

Kate wrote: "I just went and looked at all the classes in the spreadsheet and wow.... that's a ton of work for the captains. Thank you all! I was playing around with points and it seems there are two scenarios ..."

Hey Kate...I'll weigh in...several random thoughts...I hope others will too!

1. I think it will be easiest if we 'claim spots on our' Team Planning spreadsheet. That will best avoid duplicating

2. We can strategize here...
Example: I'm planning to read Eclipse...it works for like 5 challenges...it's 629 pgs I think that book would probably fit well with summoning or banishing if someone has a book with a title including a 'full moon' or a 'sun' OR for one of the longer books

3. Feel free to take all/part...if we don't have someone claim the other half, we can put it somewhere else...spell

3a. We can also move things around...so if you have a book that fits one place only and you can figure out how to move one so that it works to our team's benefit...let's do it...just communicate...

4. Once someone has claimed all/part...the rest of us should try to see if we have something we love to fill in the rest.

...so if you've I.D. the top point getters...let us know and we'll all focus on those...I had a busy day yesterday and am traveling this eve/weekend...so time isn't mine for a few days like it's been...

I'll probably continue to ready shorties until I'm finished with my other challenges with a few longer ones thrown in.

Regarding reading Outlander...I love that series by the way!
Note Jan has already read a book that's over 900 pages...yeah Jan!

I do plan to read the Harry Potter Series I think Jan/Eyre is too...these books get longer so we'll likely have the longer books...but read what you want! We get points for everything and it will fit somewhere...

HP Book 5 is 870 pages

JanEyre9 wrote: "Ok, how's this for fire making spell?

+

And for levitation spell? Think these apply?

[bookcover:A Room of On..."

woohoo! Love them both!

Awesome, I am going to claim the levitation and fire-making spells spots on the planning spreadsheet

Kate - Tammie pointing out that I'm reading a 900+ page book made me realize that I *think* the cover could be considered brown which would apply to the 500+ brown cover requirement for herbology. I'm not sure though, would it be considered more golden than brown? I don't want to get negative points! If you planned on reading Pillars no matter what we can use that to meet that requirement, it's an incredible story.

Tammie wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "Ok, how's this for fire making spell?

+

And for levitation spell? Think these apply?

[bookc..."

Happy to head over and work from the spreadsheet. I might be a total spreadsheet nerd so it's my happy place anyway. Just let us know when you are ready for us to go in and use it. I know it's ready but I didn't want to add anything until it was okay.

I am happy to run the math on the various classes if that's helpful however it's unclear (after looking at the Classes thread too) what the points for each one are. Divination and Astronomy are pretty clear (astronomy = 0.02 points per page for example) but Herbology or Charms don't currently tell you what the points are. Maybe I missed it or I'm not looking in the right place? Could be completely possible. Thanks for responding!

Completion Post
Book/Author: A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea (2000) by Masaji Ishikawa; translated by Risa Kobayashi and Martin Brown
Finished: 05/13/18
# of pages: 159
Non-Fiction
Letters: I, M, R


Book/Arthur: A Severed Head (1961) by Iris Murdoch (Paperback, 204 pages)
Finished: 05/15/18
# of pages: 204
Characters: Antonia, Martin, Alexander, Georgie, Palmer, Honor
Letters: I, M, S
Letters from characters: A, A, G, H, M, P

Now I'll go and look at the tasks to see if either book fits posted tasks -- will update this post if I find any --

Also, so far this is the only place I've posted my completed books. Let me know if there is someplace else I need to post them at!

I'm just going to hold off on trying to claim any spots. Mostly because I still don't what to look for in anything.

The ARC one seems a bit unfair. I wouldn't even know where to get an ARC.

JanEyre9 wrote: "Awesome, I am going to claim the levitation and fire-making spells spots on the planning spreadsheet

Kate - Tammie pointing out that I'm reading a 900+ page book made me realize that I *think* the..."

@ALL...I'll post this link on our spreadsheet for use...it's a color extracting app that will tell you...if you aren't sure what color your book is...Jane yours is +70% brown...please try it...I'd prefer everyone do there own...you can note the percentage if it isn't obvious or your worried about it being rejected.

https://labs.tineye.com/color/d8285dc...

I thought for sure my book with the alchemist would work for herbology but it doesn't fit any of the requirements.

Does the fact that she has a heightened sense of smell that tells her things about people, like being able to smell that 2 people were poisoned, count as "vision"?

In this book, you can see the bank of a river on the bottom left of the cover and the word "ground" is in the title. Will that work for Herbology?

Thanks Tammie, I'll use that from now on.

JanEyre9 wrote: "Thanks Tammie, I'll use that from now on."

actually Jan I messed up...I had the box checked to exclude the background color...your cover is mostly yellow...sorry!

Lol, no problem!

@ALL...Please after you have claimed, also put your book in the 'Planning' tab as well.

Thank you!

Tammie wrote: "@ALL...Please after you have claimed, also put your book in the 'Planning' tab as well.

Thank you!"

Do we indicate somewhere on the planning chart that this is meant for a class?

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I thought for sure my book with the alchemist would work for herbology but it doesn't fit any of the requirements.

Does the fact that she has a heightened sense of smell that tells her things abo..."

I think so yes...divination would be more seeing in to the 'future'...but it sounds like this is more in the 'now'. Put it down and the explanation and Ashley can weigh on this one too when we're sleeping later...:)

It could also work for transfiguration if someone had a book with a small *dog on the cover :)

*OR Purple Cover

JanEyre9 wrote: "Tammie wrote: "@ALL...Please after you have claimed, also put your book in the 'Planning' tab as well.

Thank you!"

Do we indicate somewhere on the planning chart that this is meant for a class?"

I just added a column. Please leave the colored columns blank. The captains will use these to make sure we've got things on the MASTER Team SS correct. Let us know if you have questions...good Q JanE

I know this is a lot of extra work for you all...but please do keep track of SPELLS too...maybe not every little one...but if we need to move things around, it will be difficult to go back and get this info...particularly vowels!

Tammie wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "Tammie wrote: "@ALL...Please after you have claimed, also put your book in the 'Planning' tab as well.

Thank you!"

Do we indicate somewhere on the planning chart that this is me..."

Thanks Tammie!

Kate wrote: "Tammie wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "Ok, how's this for fire making spell?

+

And for levitation spell? Think these..."

Good catch Kate, I don't see any point information for those classes either. Do page numbers matter for those?

Kate wrote: "Tammie wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "Ok, how's this for fire making spell?

+

And for levitation spell? Think these..."

I can't tell either and I'm the opposite of a 'spreadsheet nerd'...hehe!

Ashley...can we use Kate to help us with this?
@Kate...the spreadsheet I know is still under construction for 'classes'...there's a few 'formula' issues they are trying to work out.

I'd prefer to keep the entering to just captains...too many people in there is going to mess us up...but I'd love for you to figure out our strategy...that would be most awesome!

Before I ask...does anyone know what
"For this task you'll be required to read one book per Hogwarts year, where the book title contains a celestial object (sun, moon, stars. comets, etc)." means...I don't understand the reference to 'hogwarts year'...I've just started reading these...so maybe I'm missing something????

...I've read the rules a couple of times and I'm just sure I'm missing something obvious or I'm reading too much in to this...

Where do you all think I should put
--Twilight Series #3 ?
629 pgs
mostly black cover...
?? something more mystical classwise

Tammie I think all it means is we need to read 7 celestial related books.

Does Alice have any visions in that book? it would work for Divination!

I think the History of Magic class will be fun, taking 7 books team members have read and making an essay out of them. I wonder if this could be completed immediately using books we have already read or plan to read? If it would lead to confusion to use books that have been put towards spells already maybe we can take some of the books that are listed as planned but not yet read?? It could be an easy class to have done right off the bat.

JanEyre9 wrote: "I think the History of Magic class will be fun, taking 7 books team members have read and making an essay out of them. I wonder if this could be completed immediately using books we have already re..."

hmmmm...I almost have the opposite opinion...because it is so easy...maybe we should do it last...using for 'left overs' that don't fit elsewhere. I'm totally open if this doesn't make sense strategy-wise

JanEyre9 wrote: "Tammie I think all it means is we need to read 7 celestial related books.

Does Alice have any visions in that book? it would work for Divination!"

I read it 10 years ago...but I think Alice has visions of some kind in every book...I'll read it first and then decide...I'm travelling this weekend and I think this one will work nicely for reading when I don't want to be listening to a book...THANKS!

Deedee wrote: "Completion Post
Book/Author: A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea (2000) by Masaji Ishikawa; translated by Risa Kobayashi and [..."

DeeDee thank you...you should also be posting to our planning sheet...links at the front of this thread ... https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I’ll suggest if you are only checking in every few days...and that’s perfectly fine,,,to go back through this thread for updates and such.
Thanks so much!