Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

I have claimed four of the mini challenge tasks on the SS:

- Spell out Thalia - A
- Mask on cover
- Tagged Tragedy
- Characters attend a musical performance

Please don't pick more books for the mini-challenge than you can read in 2 weeks.

Steven wrote: "Sorry I've been absent. I've been working hard getting things ready for our London trip! So much to do!"

Exciting! Hope it is all coming together well. Looks like you'll have gorgeous weather while you are here - 23 deg c (74f).

Sophie wrote: "

Please don't pick more books for the mini-challenge than you can read in 2 weeks."

I think four books in 2 weeks is do-able for me. I have a long weekend coming up - yay!

If I manage to finish all four before the end of the month, I will claim further open tasks at that time :)

Thanks Navi! If you find you can read more and claim more later that's fantastic. Want to try to avoid tasks being claimed that people will really sruggle to read for or won't manage in the time.

That makes total sense!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm guilty of having "eyes bigger than my stomach" when it comes to my TBR lol ;)

Have you all decided on your first Tower Teams book?

I'll be starting with The Mask of Mirrors (630 pgs). I have been wanting to read this book when it was first published last year - can't wait!

Sophie wrote: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Everyone on the team should have access to this one for tracking; if you don't please let me know so ..."

Actually, the mini appears to be locked for me. I am planning to read Verity by Colleen Hoover for "MC is a writer." It says it isn't editable. I did add it to the "Books" tab of the spreadsheet. Are the captains filling out the mini tab? If so, nevermind. :)

I have to look through my books and decide what to read!

Steven wrote: "I have to look through my books and decide what to read!"

That's the hardest part. :)

It really is! Unfortunately for me, a lot of my choice is reduced because of ARCs I need to read lol

Steven wrote: "It really is! Unfortunately for me, a lot of my choice is reduced because of ARCs I need to read lol"

I have several of those, too...but I may be less diligent than you. :)

Denise wrote: "Sophie wrote: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Everyone on the team should have access to this one for tracking; if you don't please ..."

when you fill in the books tab, it automatically puts it in for whichever task you claim

Amy the book-bat wrote: "Denise wrote: "Sophie wrote: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Everyone on the team should have access to this one for tracking; if yo..."

Oh, that's fancy! :)

So just to clarify...
It's ok for me to list any books now that I want to read before the end of the challenge - even if they are June or July books, right?

And I'll just leave the "mini" info blank if I'm not sure I'll get it read in May. Does that sound like what everyone else is doing?

Denise wrote: "So just to clarify...
It's ok for me to list any books now that I want to read before the end of the challenge - even if they are June or July books, right?

And I'll just leave the "mini" info bl..."

At the moment, try to focus on May books so that we all have an idea of numbers and so on. In my case, I've left my books open to see which mini tasks are left to claim, because the general tasks (character with 'A', etc.) usually have leftovers. If you want, we can start a separate tab for Jun-Jul-Aug books for future reference.

To everyone:

Please make sure to link the edition of the book you are reading. If you're not able to link it itself, then copy paste the link manually in the Alternatives column.

I wish this one started at the first of the month instead of mid month since books can’t be started before! I’m always finishing things up around the end of every month and used to starting new things at the beginning of each month but the struggle is real balancing all that mid month lol. Doing that process twice in a month is more of a struggle than I anticipated haha
I’ll probably be a little late starting books for this challenge due to some that I’m in the middle of but hopefully not too bad :-)

Navi wrote: "Have you all decided on your first Tower Teams book?

I'll be starting with The Mask of Mirrors (630 pgs). I have been wanting to read this book when it was first published last yea..."

I've got:
The Grace of Kings
Empire of the Vampire
The Travelling Cat Chronicles

They all expire from the library within 10 days of the challenge starting so I need to get a move on with them all!



Mask of Mirrors looks really interesting too!

Denise wrote: "Amy the book-bat wrote: "Denise wrote: "Sophie wrote: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Everyone on the team should have access to thi..."

I got fancy in the last TT and set up a lot of formulas so the tabs autofill. Means a lot less copy and pasting for the captains when we move stuff about. And less chance that we accidentally make a mistake with something.

Denise wrote: "So just to clarify...
It's ok for me to list any books now that I want to read before the end of the challenge - even if they are June or July books, right?

And I'll just leave the "mini" info bl..."

I'm happy with that. We can sort the SS Books tab by date read which will leave anything unfinished at the bottom.

Keri wrote: "I wish this one started at the first of the month instead of mid month since books can’t be started before! I’m always finishing things up around the end of every month and used to starting new thi..."

Oh no! We were trying to give people a little break after UNO (including some of the mods who run both), but didn't think about how that might make stuff more difficult for some players. Don't worry about starting late - the challenge is long enough for that to balance out.

Some help for planning the mini! My feeling is that the tasks are harder than the spell out so can we fill those 1st please. If you read a book and realise it can fit somewhere else too, please pop it in the alternatives column on the SS so we can play captain's tetris later.

• MPG Humour - Alison
• Mask on cover - Navi
• Stars on the cover - Mia
• Map at the front of the book - Mia
• Sword on cover - Mia
• Tagged Tragedy - Navi
• Letters of HYMN in title
• Author initials in SACRED - Amy
• Poetry quote in the text
• MC is a writer - Denise
• Royal title in book title - Sophie
• 1st in series - Amy
• MPG History/Historical Fiction - Insiyah
• A celebration in the book - Mia
• Musical instrument on cover
• Characters attend a musical performance - Navi
• Dancing in the book
• Letters CLD in title of book - Elli



Spell out
Letters total claimed
A 7 2
C 3 2
E 10 0
H 3 3
I 6 1
L 6 1
M 3 1
N 3 0
O 6 1
P 5 1
R 5 0
S 1 1
T 4 2
U 2 2
Y 2 1

Bargh, struggling with the space on this! Please be patient!

Steven wrote: "Sorry I've been absent. I've been working hard getting things ready for our London trip! So much to do!"

My favourite place in London is the V&A. Hope you have a blast while you're there! Would be curious to hear of your adventures :)

@Sophie: I'm also planning to read Empire of the Vampire during this challenge. I meant to read it during last Wheelathon but nothing went according to plan during that challenge haha.

Sophie wrote: "I got fancy in the last TT and set up a lot of formulas so the tabs autofill. Means a lot less copy and pasting for the captains when we move stuff about"

Love this ! I really enjoy checking out the formulas. Can you believe it, I learnt more about spreadsheets from GR than all the training I've got from corporate companies in real life.

@Captains: I have a question regarding the additional BOM entry. I've accumulated 4 participation points (so 1 extra entry). Can I give it to one of my teammates if they volunteer or can I only use it for myself ?

Audrey Jane wrote: "Sophie wrote: "I got fancy in the last TT and set up a lot of formulas so the tabs autofill. Means a lot less copy and pasting for the captains when we move stuff about"

Love this ! I really enjoy..."

The last time I was taught how to use spreadsheets was in school and I forgot all that the instant I walked out of the classroom! GR has taught me a lot and google/IT savvy husband helps with the rest.

Audrey Jane wrote: "@Captains: I have a question regarding the additional BOM entry. I've accumulated 4 participation points (so 1 extra entry). Can I give it to one of my teammates if they volunteer or can I only use..."

You can only use it yourself, so in effect your name is put into the randomiser twice.

Sophie wrote: "Denise wrote: "So just to clarify...
It's ok for me to list any books now that I want to read before the end of the challenge - even if they are June or July books, right?

And I'll just leave the..."

Ok. I definitely listed more than I'll read in May. I'm usually using my phone, so wanted to link a bunch while I was on a laptop. I'm happy to delete the June reads if it gets confusing.

Audrey Jane wrote: "Sophie wrote: "I got fancy in the last TT and set up a lot of formulas so the tabs autofill. Means a lot less copy and pasting for the captains when we move stuff about"

Love this ! I really enjoy..."

I definitely believe this. These GR challenge spreadsheets are impressive!

Denise wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Denise wrote: "So just to clarify...
It's ok for me to list any books now that I want to read before the end of the challenge - even if they are June or July books, right?

And I'll..."

I know that feeling when you normally use the phone! Feels like a luxury to be able to do stuff on a proper keyboard.

Sophie wrote: "

Some help for planning the mini! My feeling is that the tasks are harder than the spell out so can we fill those 1st please. If you read a book and realise it can fit somewhere else too, please p..."

i can do:
Stars on the cover - The killing moon by N.K. Jemsin '
Map at the front of the book - House of earth and blood by Sarah J Maas
Sword on cover - Sorcery and THorns by Margaret Rogerson
A celebration in the book - Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenksin Reed

Mia wrote: "Sophie wrote: "

Some help for planning the mini! My feeling is that the tasks are harder than the spell out so can we fill those 1st please. If you read a book and realise it can fit somewhere els..."

Wonderful! Thank you.

I can also do the HYMN in the title

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman

Can't for the life of me find a book with a musical inrument on the cover?

what does MPG mean?

I can take the MPG historical fiction with " the diamond eye". I am out of town and don't have access to a computer. I will take other books over the weekend once I am home

MPG means Main page genre. when you open a book page it is the main genres listed on the right hand side of the page.

Insiyah wrote: "To everyone:

Please make sure to link the edition of the book you are reading. If you're not able to link it itself, then copy paste the link manually in the Alternatives column."

Just to clarify, if I am reading the Kindle version I should link that edition - not the default edition?

Oh also I have a question regarding DNFs. If you are reading a book that you really don't want to finish, do you get awarded any points for the pages you read? For example, if I read 300 out of a 450 page book, do I get points for the 300 pgs?

Navi wrote: "Insiyah wrote: "To everyone:

Please make sure to link the edition of the book you are reading. If you're not able to link it itself, then copy paste the link manually in the Alternatives column."
..."

Yes please!

Navi wrote: "Oh also I have a question regarding DNFs. If you are reading a book that you really don't want to finish, do you get awarded any points for the pages you read? For example, if I read 300 out of a 4..."

If you don't finish something, we can't use it at all.

Mia wrote: "I can also do the HYMN in the title

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman

Can't for the life of me find a book with a musical inrument on the cover?

what does MPG mean?"



There are probably various with guitars and drums in the romance genre.

I've read a few with instruments on the cover, like these



If we get really stuck I can always do a re read, although I think I also have Piranesi somewhere. I feel like I'm missing another book with an instrument but it's not coming to mind

I don't think this is the one I was thinking of but would this work?

Alison wrote: "I don't think this is the one I was thinking of but would this work?

"

well, it does have a harp on the cover so it should? I also own that book, so I can do it :)

Ohhh...does this work for instrument on the cover? The guitar isn't prominent, but it's there. If this works, I can take it.



Edit: Or not...just saw that Mia may have something with a harp. Either way is fine!

All of those would work. Does anyone really want to read one of the ones suggested?

I want to read the wolfs den, if someone else don’t want that is

Have just realised the book I put against MPG humour, Lessons in Chemistry, would also work for HYMN in title. I think I got so excited about having something on the humour list I wanted to read I didn't look any further.

If someone else has a book they want to read for humour and we're struggling on HYMN we can flip it down. Not sure what's the more difficult task

Mia - go for it!

Alison - Mia has one that works for hymn in the title so yours can stay where it is.