Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Please ask questions about the Pass The Parcel team challenge here. I'll try to summarise the questions and answers in these first few posts.

I will also announce the themes each Friday in this thread and keep track of those categories announced in this message.


Themes Announced:

(view spoiler)[Week 1
5. MC is in a bike/motorcycle club or rides a bike, including bicycles (stated in the precis or shown on bookcover, listopia or shelf)
Optional lists:
Bikers
Heroes in Motorcycle Clubs
Real Bikers Romance
Motorcycle MC
Cycle of Love Bikers
Bicycle shelf
Biker Book Babes Groups Best MC Themed Reads
Key date: 24 October 2014

Week 2
10. Teacher/student romance (stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf) - does not require both MCs to be a teacher &/or student. One MC as either is sufficient.
Optional lists:
Student Teacher Professor Romance
Best Teacher Student Romance
Teacher Student Relationships?
Teacher Student Romance 2014
Teacher Student Romance shelf
Teacher Student shelf
Key date: 31 October 2014

Week 3
1. MC Love Triangle
Literary Love Triangles Non YA
Non Paranormal Love Triangles
Sexy Love Triangles
Love Triangles You Cant Decide Who You Want Them To Pick
Love Triangle shelf
Key date: 7 November 2014

Week 4
13. A book with a title starting with 'P'
Key Date: 14 November 2014

Week 5
18. Author's name has an initial in it
Key Date: 21 November 2014

Week 6
12. Read a book from a RRRC member's favorite shelf
Key Date: 28 November 2014

Week 7
11. A book that you got for free (library, gift, freebie)
Key Date: 5 December 2014

Week 8
2. MC with amnesia
Amnesia themed Romance
Heroes and Heroines with Amnesia Historical Romance
Gay Romance Featuring a Main Character MC with Amnesia
amnesia shelf
Key Date: 12 December 2014

Week 9
9. Bookcover - Tattoo on the bookcover
Key Date: 19 December 2014

Week 10
4. Select a book for your team-mate from their TBR (You can create your own shelf for this theme, but only one shelf can be put forward for your team-mate to pick from.)

To be absolutely clear: your team-mate is selecting the book that you will read for week 10.

Rules for this week
For transparency - please post your preferred shelf for your team-mate to pick from.

You will still put up your selection post with the normal format - it's just that your team-mate selected that book. Please note in the selection post which team-mate selected that book for you.

Team-mates - post the book in the thread with your team-mate's name next to it. No particular format is required.

Given team-mate absences, one team-mate can pick for more than one other member (eg Calila can pick for both Shannon and Amy if the other members aren't around.)

If you missed the initial excitement - post your shelf and ask a team-mate to come and pick a book for you once you hit the thread.

Key Date: 26 December 2014 (hide spoiler)]

Final Theme - Week 11

Option 1
14. MC has a disability
Best Fiction With Disfigured Disabled Leads
Books With Disabled Heros
Romance Where Hero Heroine Have A Disability
Best Gay Romance With A Character Who Has A Disability
Blind Deaf Mute

For Option 1, the book MUST come from the list - please note the page/number on the list that the book appears in your selection post.

Option 2
Your members may select an option 2 book for the team BELOW in this list. The last team on the list, selects from the first.

* TENacious Page Turners
* What A Package
* The Lucky Ladies
* Three Way Passers
* Eight Crazy Tarts
* Five Femme Fatales
* Six Degrees of Romance
* 50 Shades of Awesome
* The Bookies
* The Globe Trotters
* The Fellowship of the Book

Option 3
Key date: 2 January 2015

***

Progress spreadsheet link (updated at each theme call):
link to google spreadsheet

Q&A

About the Challenge

Q: I see in the directions that a theme will be called each Friday. Under what circumstances would I need to read more than one book per week? Just if I fall behind?
A: Yes. You will only be reading more than one book in a week if you are behind in your reading. However if you can use a 'pass' (option 3) during the challenge you could read only 9 books in 11 weeks. This will be entirely dependent on how your team works those 5 available passes in each 5 week block - remembering that there likely 6 team members in your team.

Falling behind by more than two books: you can't fall behind by more than two books. If you have two books outstanding at the theme announcement, you will need to have read at least one book in the new theme's week. If another theme is announced and you have three books unread, then I will have to remove you :)

Q: Do we have to report anywhere when the team is done with a week's theme?
A: Each group will have their own thread, and members will post their progress there. Team Captains will summarise team progress at the front of their team thread. I will maintain an overall progress chart for all the teams - and will post progress sporadically, but definitely in the last week ;)

Q: Option 2. Select a book from the 'READ' list of a team-mate that they read in the last 6 months AND that the team-mate rated at least 3 stars. Can we have a firm date set for the full challenge, eg 1 August, to allow for planning?
A: No. The six months will recalibrate each week - you can't plan until you have your team and it is only 6 members whose shelves you can pick from. I'll provide the six month date limit each week to avoid confusion.

Q: Regarding the option to 'pass'. Do we have to decide that week who's passing or could we choose later on? Let's say that during week 1, everybody decides to read their book but once week 2 starts, one player realizes she cannot read week 1's book for whatever reason. Assuming that nobody else from the team passed, could she then decide to pass on last week's book?
A: No. The book selection or pass needs to be specified in the theme announcement week.
Further members can only change their book selection in that theme's week. Once the next theme is announced, books are set in stone and cannot be changed.

Q: Do the books we use have to be on a particular bookshelf?
A: In some cases yes. Where shelves and lists have been specified, the books MUST be on those shelves/lists. This also applies to themes #10 'random book lists' and #20 'romantic-suspense' - books MUST come from those shelves.
Otherwise the book can qualify because it fits the description in other ways, eg from the GR summary or title.

Q: Must people follow the format you provided exactly? Or does the captain just need to make sure they include pertinent info? Week, book, # of pages, option and in the case they pick a shelf/listopia, a link to that?
A: I absolutely need the information requested here. I don't mind what the format is, although I would prefer it set out in the order of the list.
A link or bookcover MUST be used. You cannot just type out the book title. And where the book is from a list or bookshelf, a link to that source MUST be provided.

The reasons:
* If you don't have the link to the book, the Captain and I will have trouble checking that the book qualifies. There are a lot of books out there with the same title. You don't want to be told AFTER you have read the book that it doesn't work.
* I need the week that the book relates to since some books may be read out of order.
* The page numbers makes it so much easier for everyone to know that the books complies with the rules.
* The same for the bookshelf link or the qualifying note referencing the GR summary (ie how it qualifies for the theme).

I think it is important that the members do their bit to help out the Captain and the organizers to show compliance without us having to go digging :)

Q: When you say "the Captain will also double-check that your book selection complies with the rules": Does this mean that if team-members say 'book is in this shelf' the captain must verify that the book is actually on the shelf? And that if they say the theme is in the GR summary, we also have to verify that?
A: I don't want the Captain to be a policeman but we do need someone in each team following how the rest of the team is progressing. If the info provided by the member looks reasonable to the Captain, fine - there is no need to investigate each link or how the book qualifies.
But if we are reading a theme and the book selected looks dubious for that theme or how it qualifies, I would like the Captain to check it out further.

Q: What is the precis?
A: The precis is the blurb on the back of the book cover; the summary; the synopsis. Any of the details that are posted on the GR book description page will qualify.

Q: My book doesn't have a page count on Goodreads but I have the word count. Can I use the word count and what is the minimum acceptable?
A: Yes - a 35,000 minimum word count will be accepted as a substitute for the 100 page minimum. Because the word count to page conversion varies greatly, I have gone at the high end for this conversion.

Q: My book doesn't have a page count on Goodreads but Amazon does have a page count. Can I use Amazon's page count?
A: Yes

Q: If I read two books during the challenge that qualify for an announced theme, does our team earn more points?
A: No. We don't actually accumulate points in this challenge. You and your team-mates either complete all your reading and are ready to 'read-off' in the last week (week 11), or you aren't...

Q: If a team member is going to be away during the week of a theme, can they leave a list of pre-selected books (for all remaining themes) with the Team Captain to post that week?
A: Yes. If the team member has already highlighted that they will be away for a particular week, or has an operation etc, I am happy for the Team Captain to post that participant's book selection post. They must have pre-selected a book for that theme though.

The alternative is for the absent member to pre-select a book that complies with option 2, taking into account the 6 month date that will apply during that week.

Q: If a team member is reading a book in another language, should they post the book link in the selection & completion posts to the non-English version or to the English version?
A: Please link all books to the English version of that book. The book MUST have an English version to qualify for use during this challenge. (Apologies to everyone that is affected by this rule, but I need to know that the book qualifies for the theme etc.)

Q: Are re-reads allowed?
A: Yes. But each book can only be read once during the round/challenge.
If the theme specifically excludes a re-read, eg First in a new (to you) series, then obviously you must select a book you haven't read before.

Q: Does the book have to be a romance?
A: No, but it does have to be a novel. Text books will not count. Biographies and autobiographies are OK.

Q: If I don't find a book I like in the lists of theme books, I can choose any book that fits the theme?
No. You MUST select a book from a list where lists have been provided and where they do not have '(stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf) optional lists:' That is, if the only other typing with the theme are lists, then you MUST choose a book from those lists.
Other lists have 'optional' in front of them simply to help people. I won't question books that come from those lists. But you can also choose books that fit the theme via the blurb, through bookshelves or other lists not provided. You just need to state how it fits and where the information came from.

REMEMBER: you may also select to use option 2 or 3 that week.

Q: If a book is on a specified theme list but does not (in my opinion) meet the theme, can I still read it?
A: Yes. If the book is on the mandatory (or optional) lists/shelves in the theme post it qualifies whether it meets the theme or not.

Q If I pick a book off a team mate's shelf it has to be a book that fits the theme? Or can it be any book at all, as long as it got 3 stars and was read in last 6 months?
If you use Option 2, you do not need to fit it to the week's theme. As you said, it can be any book so long as it was rated at least 3 stars by your teamie and was read no more than 6 months prior.

Q&A

About the Themes - listed here


Q: Will any of the themes be repeated?
A: No, not for this round, nor any rounds from last year.

Q: Do we have to support that the book shows up in a particular shelf (eg showing you a link of how many people shelved a particular book as 'stalking') or just saying 'there's a stalker shelf' would suffice?
A: You must provide a link to that shelf/list within your selection book post.

Q: What happens if a book is mis-shelved?
A: If books have been incorrectly shelved, they still count for that round. (I would appreciate them being removed if it is an RRRC shelf AFTER the round is finished.)

'Themes must be apparent in the title, the goodreads summary page or must be shelved by a GR member using words that show eligibility.'
Q: 'must be shelved by a GR member' - Does this mean on the RRRC group bookshelves, or any bookshelf?
A: The shelf can occur anywhere on goodreads. Not just in the RRRC group. This rule however does NOT apply for themes where a specific list or bookshelf has been provided already - all books chosen for those themes MUST come from the linked shelves/lists.

Q: Does the book HAVE to be on a bookshelf?
A: Where a shelf has been listed for that theme, YES.

Q: Are listopia lists sufficient for proof of eligibility?
A: Listopia will work for eligibility where it's name is apparent and correlated to the theme.

Q: #8 - Book cover predominantly black (at least 50%). Can we use alternate edition covers of the same book? To be updated.
A: The cover should match the version/edition of the actual book you are reading. If the version you are reading doesn't have a cover loaded on GR or the cover has changed since you put the book on your shelf, please use the closest match to your cover.

Q: Can I add books I haven't read to the Romantic Suspense shelf? Is there a group guideline for adding to the shelves?
A: Yes. You can add books you haven't read to any of the RRRC shelves where eligibility is clear eg. YA, shapeshifter, sci-if, audiobook, etc. If you aren't sure, don't add it.

Please ensure that if you do add a book to any RRRC bookshelf, that all relevant themes are attached to that book. Eg. If the book is 'romantic suspense' but also a menage, please ensure that 'menage' is also selected as a category.

Q: Book length - Some books straddle the page minimums depending on format (eg all books must be at least 100 pages). Can I choose, for example, to use the paperback page count per goodreads even though the hardback page count for the same book does not qualify?
A: Yes. If there is a goodreads edition that cites over 100 pages (any edition), that book is fine to use.

Q: When the themes are announced is there going to be listopia or Readers shelves suggested to help us pick?
A: I have included in the themes the lists/shelves that can be used to select books in most cases, where applicable. There are only a few themes where you have free-reign on shelf selection being 'law enforcement' and 'single parent'. For these themes, I am using the previous style of requiring key words to be on the bookshelf/list. One of these words MUST be in the name of the list/shelf, for that book to qualify.

Q: Does the 100 minimum page count still apply where books are included on a list/shelf that are under 100 pages.
A: Yes - the 100 page minimum still applies.

Q: For the #4. Select a book for your team-mate from their TBR, can I create my own 'to-be-read' shelf (not the official GR TBR shelf) for my team-mates to select from? eg 'to pick from' or the one I use for Meet n Greet?
A: Yes - for theme #4, you can select the shelf that your teamies pick from. So if it's call TBR or 'to pick from', I don't mind :) But only ONE shelf can be used for that selection process.

How to insert a link into a post

To insert a simple link to a shelf there are a couple of options:

* Copy the https address in the address bar of the page where the book is found - highlight the web-address, copy the address, and paste into your post
or
* Find a link to the shelf that you want (eg on my lists of shelves to use for the themes), right click with your mouse, select 'Copy Link Location' and then paste into your post

If you want to make it pretty and have a specific name:

* Type <*a href="insert the link that you copied as per above">name the location<*/a> but without the asterisks.

THEMES

Books must be selected from the lists provided if I don't have "(stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf)". Where I have noted "(stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf)", if a book is chosen from one of the optional lists, it is automatically approved.

If you think that the book may struggle to meet the stated theme requirement then I'm likely to think the same thing and NOT allow it :)

1. MC Love Triangle
Literary Love Triangles Non YA
Non Paranormal Love Triangles
Sexy Love Triangles
Love Triangles You Cant Decide Who You Want Them To Pick
Love Triangle shelf
2. MC with amnesia
Amnesia themed Romance
Heroes and Heroines with Amnesia Historical Romance
Gay Romance Featuring a Main Character MC with Amnesia
amnesia shelf
3. MC in the military or ex-military (stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf)
optional lists:
Best Gay Military
Military Romance and Fiction
Military Romance and Fiction part 2
Military Romance shelf
4. Select a book for your team-mate from their TBR (You can create your own shelf for this theme, but only one shelf can be put forward for your team-mate to pick from)
5. MC is in a bike/motorcycle club or rides a bike, including bicycles (stated in the precis or shown on bookcover, listopia or shelf)
Optional lists:
Bikers
Heroes in Motorcycle Clubs
Real Bikers Romance
Motorcycle MC
Cycle of Love Bikers
Bicycle shelf
Biker Book Babes Groups Best MC Themed Reads
6. Uniformally Hot - MC in some kind of uniform (Cop, military, doctor and etc)
Best Small Town Cop Sheriff Romance Novels
Military Romance and Fiction
Doctor Medical Romance Heroes
In Uniform
7. Bookcover - No people on the cover
8. Fairytales/myths retelling
The Best Fairytales and Retellings
Mythologies and Retellings of Fairy Tales Classics
Fairytale Retelling shelf
Myth Retelling shelf
9. Bookcover - Tattoo on the bookcover
10. Teacher/student romance (stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf) - does not require both MCs to be a teacher &/or student. One MC as either is sufficient.
Optional lists:
Student Teacher Professor Romance
Best Teacher Student Romance
Teacher Student Relationships?
Teacher Student Romance 2014
Teacher Student Romance shelf
Teacher Student shelf
11. A book that you got for free (library, gift, freebie)
12. Read a book from a RRRC member's favorite shelf
13. A book with a title starting with 'P'
14. MC has a disability
Best Fiction With Disfigured Disabled Leads
Books With Disabled Heros
Romance Where Hero Heroine Have A Disability
Best Gay Romance With A Character Who Has A Disability
Blind Deaf Mute
15. Popular male POV books
Male POV shelf
Romance Books Male POV
Adult Male Only POV
Books With Only Male POV First Person
Best Male P O V
Romance Total Male POV
16. Bookcover with character wearing glasses
17. Books with wit/witty dialogue
Books With Witty Banter Dialogue
Witty Funny Couples
Witty Dialogue shelf
Witty shelf
18. Author's name has an initial in it
19. MC is a vet or works with animals (paid or volunteer (stated in the precis or shown on listopia or shelf)
Optional lists:
Creatures Great and Small Veterinarians in Romance
Animal Magnetism Romances Featuring Veterinarians Rescuers And More
Gay Romance Featuring Veterinarians
Veterinarians shelf
20. Enemies to lovers
Best Gay Enemies Rivals Opposites Become Lovers
Best Enemies to Lovers
Enemies To Lovers
Enemies to Lovers Adult Romance
Childhood Enemies Turn to Adult Lovers
Enemies To Lovers shelf

*sits and waits*

LOL Logan - I'm back and will start sending out confirmation requests on participation later today :D

Hi Jane,
Quick Question before I volunteer for Captain.

The reserved (progress) posts should contain each teammates book choice for that week? Now should it be formatted exactly like the initial selection post, or just the name and link to the book?

Bethany wrote: "Hi Jane,
Quick Question before I volunteer for Captain.

The reserved (progress) posts should contain each teammates book choice for that week? Now should it be formatted exactly like the initia..."

Hi Bethany - it doesnt' have to be the same as the selection/completion posts. It's really up to you, but I'd suggest:
Week#
*Name of the member, their book choice, date read or tick mark on completion and link to their completion post

Here are some from the last round:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'll be watching the selection and completion posts as well, so it's more a second check for me. Whatever format you use, I'll be able to work it out and see how it matches my lists :)

Hope this helps :)

It helps if they are all kept on the first page of the thread too... I can find them more easily :)

Okay great, thanks so much!

I just want to clarify for new participants:

Bookshelves that are theme related (option 1) can be found by looking on the right hand side of book's main GR page. Look for the 'genre' list. At the bottom of that list, click on 'see top shelves'. This is how the books has been shelved by GR members. These are the shelves that option 1 refers to.

Members' bookshelves are their personal shelves that you find on their home page. For option 2 you will use their 'read' shelf. I suggest you sort it by date read to find the most recent 6 months of reading.

To try to differentiate, I will refer to option 1 as 'shelves' and option 2 as 'bookshelves' although it will probably be pretty obvious what I am referring to :)

The link on the 3rd teacher/student list doesn't work

Thanks Danielle - I'll check it out tomorrow when I have computer access :)

I've updated the lists and shelves so that you can see the name of the said list/shelf. And I've correctly the link in the Teacher/Student list :)

I believe all the participants have reported in. All Captains have been elected and team names selected. Are we missing anyone??

Is the first them this Friday, 20th?

If everyone is here, I'll announce the first theme early - on Wednesday at 6.00pm US EST :)

Yay!

Thanks Jane!

Awesome! Thanks, Jane! : )

Woohoo! *crosses fingers for an early start*

If the first theme is announced early, can we start reading early, too, or do we still need to wait until Friday?

You're the best Jane!

Oh, thank God! I can hardly wait!
Thanks Jane!
:-) Elaine

Becky wrote: "If the first theme is announced early, can we start reading early, too, or do we still need to wait until Friday?"

You can start reading as soon as the theme is announced. But I won't announce the second theme until the following Friday (9 days hence) :)

Is it time yet? :)

Jane (PS) wrote: "Becky wrote: "If the first theme is announced early, can we start reading early, too, or do we still need to wait until Friday?"

You can start reading as soon as the theme is announced. But I won't announce the second theme until the following Friday (9 days hence) :) ."

Really next Friday....

....

....

....

...next Friday :(

LOL - I've run out of milk in the house and am gasping for my first cup of tea this morning. I NEED the shops!

I'm off to randomise now!

Jane (PS) wrote: "LOL - I've run out of milk in the house and am gasping for my first cup of tea this morning"

Hate when that happens!

LOL

I feel for you Jane. But I am eagerly awaiting the announcement.

Week 1

Option 1 Theme:
5. MC is in a bike/motorcycle club or rides a bike, including bicycles (stated in the precis or shown on bookcover, listopia or shelf)
Optional lists:
Bikers
Heroes in Motorcycle Clubs
Real Bikers Romance
Motorcycle MC
Cycle of Love Bikers
Bicycle shelf
Biker Book Babes Groups Best MC Themed Reads

Option 2 Key Date:
24 October 2014

Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads.

The lists included in the theme option are... optional :) If the blurb on the book's GR page clearly shows or mentions that the MC rides a bike (bicycle or motorbike) you can use this for 'How It Fits'. You may also use lists and shelves that clearly indicate that 'bikes' are a theme.

Good luck everyone!

I love you, Jane! One of my favorite genres! MWAH!

Amy wrote: "I love you, Jane! One of my favorite genres! MWAH!"

Love the randomiser, Amy - LOL! Where would half our challenges be without the randomiser??

Good point. The randomiser isn't always my friend. So I give the credit to you LOL

Jane, would The Backup Boyfriend work I have read it and know that motorcycles play an important part in it and there is also a charity motorcycle ride the MCs participate in.

Roger - president of NBR United - wrote: "Jane, would The Backup Boyfriend work I have read it and know that motorcycles play an important part in it and there is also a charity motorcycle ride the MCs participate in."

It just needs to be on a list Roger. Can you find one?

Roger - president of NBR United - wrote: "Jane, would The Backup Boyfriend work I have read it and know that motorcycles play an important part in it and there is also a charity motorcycle ride the MCs participate in."

Hey Roger, it's on the Gay Biker list - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4..., so it should be good.

I know I spotted it on one of the lists in post 33- I just don't remember which one. Let me see if I can find it.

The Backup Boyfriend is #404 on the Bikers list.

Hi Jane, cause it's been a while since I last played, can I just check that so long as it is shelved as Bikers and is on one of the optional lists, I am ok in choosing the book?

The book I have chosen The Goodbye Ride doesn't have a lot of reviews and so it has only been shelved 2 times as Bikers. But the precis talks about a ducati motorcycle that the two MCs are wanting own, so I assume they would be motorcycle riders? And it is listed on the Bikers listopia list (at #393). But I just want to make sure...

Margaret wrote: "Hi Jane, cause it's been a while since I last played, can I just check that so long as it is shelved as Bikers and is on one of the optional lists, I am ok in choosing the book?

The book I have..."

That is fine Margaret. It is up to you if you justify it via the precis or the list :)

Awesome - thanks Jane :)

I picked my first book. Do I need to wait until 3/20 to start reading?

Ashley wrote: "I picked my first book. Do I need to wait until 3/20 to start reading?"

You can start now :) Just make sure your post in the team thread is right...

What is the day I need to have finished reading and posted my review? Is it supposed to be done before you call the next theme?

Heather wrote: "What is the day I need to have finished reading and posted my review? Is it supposed to be done before you call the next theme?"

You don't have to finish your book by the next theme call, you just have to pick the book and post it in your team thread.

You have nearly 3 weeks before you absolutely must post a completed book.

Refer msg 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... and the general rules set out in the sign up thread :)

Is it time for a new theme yet?!!!!

LOL - soon :)

How are the teams going everyone? Any issues? I'll be jumping into all the threads today...

Things seem to running smoothly so far. Now all we need is the next category. *HINT, HINT*