Reading with Style discussion

Please post any general questions about our Spring challenge in this thread.

2. Series (5 points): Read a book to complete a task that is part of a series and receive 5 points. Read a book from that same series to complete a different task and receive 10 points...and so on.


It has been several years since we offered this style. The database wasn't as friendly as we would have liked, but we think we found a way to make it useable again.

Your first use of this style for *any* series is worth 5 points. You can read for the same task but a different series and earn 5 points.

But there is compounding. If you want to read a 2nd book in a series you've already claimed, you must read it for a *different* task than the one you claimed originally. Your reward for doing so is 10 points! And a third book in the same series for yet another task? 15 points! And so on ...

Please remember, RwS requires 3 installments to qualify as a series, and the series should be linked on the GR book page.

Does Thrity Umrigar count as Non Western?

Don’t worry, I found the Non Western spreadsheet!

I am finding the lexile information on One of Us Is Lying confusing. Will this count for styles?

Apple wrote: "I am finding the lexile information on One of Us Is Lying confusing. Will this count for styles?"

Yes. The Lexile is 730. We always use the highest Lexile when there is more than one entry.

I love the series style, but I can see why the database found it challenging! My brain does, too :)

I understand that to get the compound points, all of the books in the same series have to be claimed for different tasks.

So let's say I claim book 1 in the Poirot series for task 10.2. I get 5 series points.

Then I claim book 2 in the Poirot series for task 10.4 and get 10 series points.

Q1, can I still claim combo points for task 10.2 for book 2? (assuming it qualifies, of course.. all of this is hypothetical)

Q2, if I then read book 3 in the Poirot series and claim it for task 10.2 again, do I get 5 series points? or none?

Just like to get these things straight in my head... and on my spreadsheet, probably more important ;)

Rosemary wrote: "I love the series style, but I can see why the database found it challenging! My brain does, too :)

I understand that to get the compound points, all of the books in the same series have to be cla..."

Q1: Yes, your combo points or any other styles are not affected by whether series points apply.

Q2: You can claim Book 3 for Task 10.2, but you will not get any series points. Every claim for the same series must be for a different task than any other. All other eligible styles will apply.

EDIT: You can claim a *different* series for your hypothetical 10.2 and get series points. Not saying this is the proper strategy for most series points, but it is one to consider.

The original series query never did work properly and I didn't have a clue how to fix it. I ended up modifying another query that lists all of your claims so that the series claims sort together. Kate is going to have to eyeball and work from that. She'll see how hard that is or whether it will be another several years before we try it again. ;-)

PS, because there is not a good place to post this.

When my brother created the database for us over several months in 2012, he thought it would be good for 5 years and I told him I hoped the group was still functioning for that long. He died 10 years ago this month. I think he would be thrilled that we are still using it and that his work has given all of us so much pleasure.

Thanks, Elizabeth! I wish your brother could have lived longer to get our thanks in person.

And look at the pleasure so many people have gotten out it! I often think of all the work he must have put into it, and am thankful for it.

Rosemary wrote: "Thanks, Elizabeth! I wish your brother could have lived longer to get our thanks in person."

Hear, hear!

One more Clark Howard question. The publication dates for the 28 stories in Clark Howard Collected Stories - 1960s range from 1961-1968. The dates are listed at the beginning of each story. Would this qualify for Oldies even though the publication date is 2013?

Denise wrote: "One more Clark Howard question. The publication dates for the 28 stories in Clark Howard Collected Stories - 1960s range from 1961-1968. The dates are listed at the b..."

Yes, I’ll fix the orignal publication date.

Thank you.

I had been wondering, if you were to finish the 20point take more than once, do you get the halfway bonus again?

Apple wrote: "I had been wondering, if you were to finish the 20point take more than once, do you get the halfway bonus again?"

Yes. We don't have a way that prompts us to automatically give it to you though, so you'll have to watch on your own account. ;-)

Oh, you know we all keep our own spreadsheets! 🤪 Awesome, I think I can close to doing it 3 time last season, except for maybe one task. I will definitely be on to this this season!

I have a lot of questions about this book . . .

Ages ago, I downloaded Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag Vol IV from Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/.... It is a collection of nine short stories beginning with An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Story.

When I search on Goodreads, I found Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag VI an Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, Etc.
Which is an ebook

Looking for the MPE seems to retrieve a book which only includes the first Thanksgiving story under the name “An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving” at about 32 pages. An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving

Think you might see where this is going . . .

1. What book record should be used?
2. Is it a children’s book and not eligible for styles?
3, is “aunt” in the title or just the series title?
4. What is the correct number of pages?

Thanks for all the help!

Mary wrote: "I have a lot of questions about this book . . .

Ages ago, I downloaded Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag Vol IV from Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/.... It is a co..."

This is your title: My Girls, which is Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag #4. BPL doesn't carry this title so the Lexile rule will not apply. (Yes, I see that it doesn't include the Thanksgiving story, but you can count this anyway. GR is fussy, we'll just try to get as close as possible.)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mary wrote: "I have a lot of questions about this book . . .

Ages ago, I downloaded Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag Vol IV from Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/......"

Sorry, typo in the Roman numerals. It is Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag Vol VI (six). Does that change anything?

I appreciate the help! And quickly! Sorry for the typo!

Mary wrote: "Sorry, typo in the Roman numerals. It is Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag Vol VI (six). Does that change anything?"

Yes, that changes everything. Please link to this edition:
Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag VI an Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, Etc.

What would normally be the MPE is only 52 pages, but that publisher often abridges their editions. I don't know if that is the case here, but I'm willing to ignore their editions for an MPE. We will accept 240 pages for this, the default ebook.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mary wrote: "Sorry, typo in the Roman numerals. It is Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag Vol VI (six). Does that change anything?"

Yes, that changes everything. Please link to this edition:
[book:Aunt Jo's Scrap..."

Thanks. I appreciate the help! Sorry for the mix up. Too early for Roman numerals!

Actually, it was fine. It turned out that the #6 had been combined with the short story. I separated them and fixed the series. Had you not posted at all, I wouldn’t have found the mix-up. All is good.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Actually, it was fine. It turned out that the #6 had been combined with the short story. I separated them and fixed the series. Had you not posted at all, I wouldn’t have found the mix-up. All is g..."

Sorry, feel like I am beating a dead horse. Could you also take a look at the pub date. My copy has an original date of 1882 which is also on the scanned Gutenburg title page. Thanks again.

Mary wrote: "Sorry, feel like I am beating a dead horse. Could you also take a look at the pub date. My copy has an original date of 1882 which is also on the scanned Gutenburg title page. Thanks again."

Actually, no original pub date was filled in. I've entered 1882.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mary wrote: "Sorry, feel like I am beating a dead horse. Could you also take a look at the pub date. My copy has an original date of 1882 which is also on the scanned Gutenburg title page. Thanks a..."

Thank you!

Does a 2-book series (sometimes called a duology) count as a Series for series points? And .... if (when) I read books from different series, are they +5 Series points for each book, or +5 +10 + 15 etc.?
Thanks

Deedee wrote: "Does a 2-book series (sometimes called a duology) count as a Series for series points? And .... if (when) I read books from different series, are they +5 Series points for each book, or +5 +10 + 15..."

No, a 2-book/duology don't count as a series for RwS. However, when we moderators think a series is likely to continue, we will count a series that currently has only 2 books (even only 1 book occasionally). Feel free to ask if you are unsure.

Each series counts separately and starts at 5-points. You could read for different series for the same task and each would get those 5-points. The ascending points count for the same series but a different task each time.

Does that clear things up? or just muddy the waters?

My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor was published last January. The GR page says this book is #1 in "The Rome Escape Line" trilogy. No other titles are listed. Would this one count for series points?

Owlette wrote: "My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor was published last January. The GR page says this book is #1 in "The Rome Escape Line" trilogy. No other titles are listed. Would..."

Yes. This is one of those exceptions to the 3-book group rule. It is clear the author intends to continue the series.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Owlette wrote: "My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor was published last January. The GR page says this book is #1 in "The Rome Escape Line" trilogy. No other titles a..."

Great! Thank you. Now if I can borrow the book before the end of this season; 29 holds on print copies.

Hi Elizabeth

Could you clarify which is the correct MPE for

"Kim" by Rudyard Kipling by L. Ormond

Or
Kim: By Rudyard Kipling : Illustrated by Rudyard Kipling

The first book seems like an odd way to list the title if it is actually the novel.

Thanks

It is this edition

Kim

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "Does a 2-book series (sometimes called a duology) count as a Series for series points? And .... if (when) I read books from different series, are they +5 Series points for each book,..."

Clears it all up!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "It is this edition

Kim"

Thanks!

Our library system has Maigret and the Burglar's Wife by Georges Simenon as a downloadable audiobook. I don't see any audiobook edition in the GR list of 57 editions. The audiobook was published by AudioGO, Ltd in 2011 according to the library's records. Does it matter that what I listened to is not listed?

Owlette wrote: "Our library system has Maigret and the Burglar's Wife by Georges Simenon as a downloadable audiobook. I don't see any audiobook edition in the GR list of 57 editions. Th..."

Yes. The reason we use the MPE is for these differences. Some people read abridged editions or large print, and others read in languages other than English. The MPE is to make it fair for everyone, and that all reads of a title count the same (except the 10.1 tasks).

(And I do so hope you like Simenon's Maigret series. It is a favorite.)

Thanks! I will post it. This is my third Maigret since I joined RwS in 2018.

Can I please have Anindita Ghose approved for non-Western?

https://aninditaghose.com/About-Contact

Apple wrote: "Can I please have Anindita Ghose approved for non-Western?

https://aninditaghose.com/About-Contact"

Yes, India/India

Can I get a publication date reviewed?

The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd has 2011 as the pub date, I think it should be 1977.

See. https://www.worldcat.org/title/614555067

Thanks.

Mary wrote: "Can I get a publication date reviewed?

The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd has 2011 as the pub date, I think it should be 1977.

See. https://www.worldcat.org/title..."

Yes, 1977 is the correct original publication date.

Another publication date issue .. .

Case Without a Corpse by Leo Bruce

Looks like the date is 1937. https://www.worldcat.org/title/8279472

Thanks!

Mary wrote: "Another publication date issue .. .

Case Without a Corpse by Leo Bruce

Looks like the date is 1937. https://www.worldcat.org/title/8279472

Thanks!"

Fixed

Fast! I appreciate the help!

I have a question about
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse #1) (2016) by Dennis E. Taylor
from goodreads description:
Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it's a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street.

Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets.

It sounds like it would fit 10.3 Non-person series title, since "Bob" (in Bobiverse), while he began as a human being, is now an AI controlling a spaceship. It would also fit 20.7 Nonhuman, as "Bob" is now an AI, and not something with blood or lungs. Or .... maybe not .... as "Bob" began as a fully human male, in the first few pages of the novel. I've been going back and forth about this, so I figured I'd ask. :)

Deedee wrote: "I have a question about
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse #1) (2016) by Dennis E. Taylor
from goodreads description:
Bob Johansson has just sold his software ..."


What an interesting find! It's a stretch, but we'll allow it for both 10.3 and 20.7. As usual, please remind us when you post.

I am reading Sea of Shadows, it is listed in the Brooklyn system as YA Sci-fi. The book is not listed on Lexile at all.

After reading the rules, I am confused about whether or not I can use the book. I was thinking, yes but I cannot use styles. Is this correct. I cannot find any direction on books not on Lexile.

Thanks

Joanne wrote: "I am reading Sea of Shadows, it is listed in the Brooklyn system as YA Sci-fi. The book is not listed on Lexile at all.

After reading the rules, I am confused about whether or not ..."

Yes, you can use this for the 10- and 20-point tasks, but without styles.