Challenge Corner discussion

Vicki wrote: "I read A Girl and Five Brave Horses but it's nonfiction, so I could use it for 13. Read a book where the main characters first name starts with a letter in BRUSSELS only, no other on..."

I would ask in the Q&A. Usually, as long as the "character" is the main focus, it's ok.

Okay, thanks, Ashley.

Vicki, I moved your book The Bright Unknown to the spell out for E. Can you review it before Friday?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Yes, my review is finished and I am working on the others. Going to post my review right now.

Ashley wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I read A Girl and Five Brave Horses but it's nonfiction, so I could use it for 13. Read a book where the main characters first name starts with a letter in BRUSSELS onl..."

Alaina approved it :)

I’m still on our little staycation. So I’ll be fairly quiet. But my books be done in time.

Enjoy, Kade! Sometimes we need those staycations! :)

This round will cover seven (7) days.

Start: May 27th at 12:00 AM (in your time zone)
End: June 2nd at 11:59 PM (in your time zone)

Please check in on June 2nd between 4:00 - 6:00 PM Eastern. This doesn’t mean you can stop reading for the round, it’s just the team checking in for bonus points.

Route Info: These will be generally easy tasks to complete for each leg of the race. This portion will have at least 15-20 tasks per leg. All repeatable.

1. Read a book set in Egypt
2. Read a book with a red cover
3. Read a book with a white cover
4. Read a book with a black cover
5. Read a book that has a bird on the cover
6. Read a book that has a title ending with a letter in EGYPT
7. Read a book from an author that is from or currently lives in Egypt
8. Read a book that has a one-word title
9. Read a book with the word 'EGYPTIAN' found in text (pg/% & quote)
10. Read a book that is set at the desert
11. Read a book where the title has a 5-letter word in it.
12. Read a book where the author's first and last initial are in ARABIC
13. Read a book where the main characters first name starts with a letter in CAIRO
14. Read a book that is tagged 'Ancient Egypt' at least 10 times
15. Read a book where the series title has the letters E, G, Y, P, T in it (in any order)

Detours: This will be a list related task. Teams will have two lists to choose from and will need to read 5 books from one list. This can be completed by at least two people from a team (one person cannot complete this task).

Iconic monuments such as the Giza Necropolis and its Great Sphinx, as well the ruins of Memphis, Thebes, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, reflect this legacy and remain a significant focus of scientific and popular interest.

Read a book found on the Myths & Mythological Creature Books or Egyptian Mythology Books listopia

Roadblocks begin at line #225 on the spreadsheet tab. There’s about 6 spell-outs available - please let me know if you need more.

Roadblocks: This will be a spell-out task. Each team will get the same word. It can be completed as many times as you can. If you start a spell-out and don't complete it, you will be penalized by 5 bonus points per uncompleted word.

NILE DELTA: ✤ NILE DELTA ✤

The Nile Delta (Arabic: دلتا النيل, Delta an-Nīl or simply الدلتا, ad-Delta) is the delta formed in Lower Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the world's largest river deltas—from Alexandria in the west to Port Said in the east, it covers 240 km (150 mi) of Mediterranean coastline and is a rich agricultural region.

Yield: Each team will have up to 3 yield opportunities (once per month). After the task has been revealed and read for, the team will then decide who to use their 'Yield' against. By yielding, you will be taking away 20 bonus points from that team.

Following the 1952 revolution, Egypt declared itself a republic, and in 1958 it merged with Syria to form the United Arab Republic, which dissolved in 1961. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Egypt endured social and religious strife and political instability, fighting several armed conflicts with Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, and occupying the Gaza Strip intermittently until 1967.

If you want to use your yield this week - please read for the following:

Read a book that features a conflict and tagged '20th Century' at least 10 times

Intersections: This will be a buddy read related task. Meaning you will have to work with someone new (whether on your team or another) and read a book together. The buddy can also be someone in the group but not participating in the challenge. You will need to have at least 4-5 comments per buddy read.

Read a book with someone new within the group. BOTM can also count for this task. This can be repeatable.

U-Turns: Just like the yield task, each team will have up to 3 U-turn opportunities (once per month). After the task has been revealed and read for, the team will then decide who to use their 'U-turn' against. By forcing another team into a U-turn, you will be taking away 10 bonus points from that team.

The First Intermediate Period, described as a 'dark period' in ancient Egyptian history, spanned approximately 125 years, c. 2181–2055 BC, after the end of the Old Kingdom. It comprises the Seventh (although this is mostly considered spurious by Egyptologists), Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and part of the Eleventh Dynasties.

If you want to use your U-turn this week - please read for the following:

Read a book published at least 100 years ago and has Dark for an MPG

Speed Bumps: After check-in day, if your team was randomly selected for last place, you will have this task to complete. It will be a super easy task that one person can complete. For example, 'Red hair on cover (any book edition will count)' or 'Published in January (any year)'.

Read a book that features a bargain

Switchback: This will also be revealed after check-in days and will be a task related to where the team was previously.

The Smurfs is a Belgian comic franchise centered on a fictional colony of small, blue, humanoid creatures who live in mushroom-shaped houses in the forest.

Read a book that starts with a letter in SMURF

Not available at this portion of the challenge:
(view spoiler)[Fast Forwards: This will be a random secret task that will be available only once throughout the entire challenge. It will also be the hardest to complete. If a team completes it before or by check-in day, they will be awarded 100 bonus points. Again, only one team can win this opportunity. (hide spoiler)]

I have books on both lists so I can read for a spot if needed.

Whew! Almost missed check-in! I've been so busy at work, and I finally sat down at my computer and looked at the time!

We still need an I book for the Spellout (before midnight). I asked Melanie if she would review her book, but I haven't heard from her. Does anyone have one??

SPELLOUT
I will be getting my C book posted this evening. We still need these to be finished/posted:

E	Christene	You and Me on Vacation (Emily Henry)
N	Kade	Nocturne

DETOUR: These also need reviewed and/or posted :)

Kade	Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account
Kade	Night - Elie Wiesel
Kade	Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
Wolf	The Rose Code (Kate Quinn)
Wolf	Lilac Girls

Mine will still be done in time.

Raquel!! If you'd like to review the following books, we can use them this week for Route Info tasks!

Yours Truly (Part of Your World #2)	Abby Jimenez
The Family Tree	Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry
Twisted Love	Ana Huang

Ashley wrote: "We still need an I book for the Spellout (before midnight). I asked Melanie if she would review her book, but I haven't heard from her. Does anyone have one??"

Just saw your message, working on the review now and will get it posted.

Melanie wrote: "Just saw your message, working on the review now and will get it posted."

Oh super!

You all checked in! Here are the results for bonus points -

1. Shadow Sprinters- 30 pts
2. Backroad Bandits - 20 pts*
3. Coast Busters - 10 pts

*A U-Turn was used against. Lost 10 bonus points. Will be receiving 10 bonus points. Coast Busters have no more U-Turns available for the rest of this month.
*A Yield was used against. Lost 20 bonus points. Will be receiving -10 bonus points. Shadow Sprinters have no more Yields available for the rest of this month.
*A U-Turn was used against. Lost 10 bonus points. Will be receiving -30 bonus points. Shadow Sprinters have no more U-Turns available for the rest of this month.

Winners were chosen via list randomizer and bonus points were decided in a wheel decide (other options were - 20,10,0; 30,15,5; 20,10,5).

Bonus points will be added in your next score update. Points are awarded for the whole team - not individually. Also, tasks for Speed Bumps and Switchback will be revealed tomorrow.

See you all in Egypt tomorrow 😊

For next week... the following banked books (without reviews) are useable for Route Info! If possible, please review what you can (or all!! 😊) so we can use up some of these books and gain some much needed points!
(*book could be used for spell out also)

Raquel
Hostage (Clare Mackintosh)
Just the Nicest Couple (Mary Kubica)
The Lindbergh Nanny (Mariah Fredericks)*
Anxious People (Fredrik Backman)
With Friends Like These (Keri Beevis)
The Family Secret (Kiersten Modglin)
Talk Bookish To Me (Kate Bromley)
The Soulmate (Sally Hepworth)
The Paris Wife (Paula Mclain)
A Taste of Sage (Yaffa Santos)

Melanie
The Death of Mrs. Westaway (Ruth Ware)
The Heiress Hunt (Joanna Shupe)
Scream for Me (Karen Rose)
Marrying Winterborne (Lisa Kleypas)*

I also added the following banked books to the SPELL OUT for next week, so if we can get those reviewed, that would be perfect! Let me know if you won't be able to, and I'll move them back to banked!

Melanie: The Bromance Book Club (Lyssa Kay Adams)
Raquel: A Lot Like Adios (Alexis Daria)
Melanie: The Bone Season (Samantha Shannon)
Melanie: All the Missing Girls (Megan Miranda)

I'm going to post my review ilnks in the spreadsheet if someone else can post for me tonight if i can't get to it in time.

time is getting away from me, haha.

I am about to leave for the night! My birthday is Monday, so husband and I are going out for a bit! Hopefully someone else can post for you!

Ashley wrote: "I am about to leave for the night! My birthday is Monday, so husband and I are going out for a bit! Hopefully someone else can post for you!"

has wolf responded about their detour claims? if not, we may not have enough to get credit for detour.

there's a comment above saying they will be done, maybe check shelves? I can't do it easily on the app

Ashley wrote: "there's a comment above saying they will be done, maybe check shelves? I can't do it easily on the app"

lsat response from them was two days ago... i checked their profile and neither book is on it as done.

hopefully we can at least get page points for any books that won't count for spellout and / or detour if they aren't reviewed / posted. i can maybe finish one more short book in time, but that's about it.

We will just hope for the best!

They were added to the spreadsheet

Wolf can you post the reviews in the review thread please? It’s almost 1 here so I cannot.

I can’t. I don’t have my laptop and I’m on my phone

Let me know if I can help. I have to go visit my daughter in the hospital, so I won't be on until later but let me know if I can do anything.

So we need to read for Speed Bump this week. Do we need to read for Switchback too or just Speed Bump?

Is there a limit to how many books we can add that were previously read? They'd be considered "banked" but I put them on the banked tab.

Vicki wrote: "Is there a limit to how many books we can add that were previously read? They'd be considered "banked" but I put them on the banked tab."

As long as you read it during the challenge, you can use it! :)

Sorry I keep disappearing. Going to try to be more active for this one in June but no promises

Ashley wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Is there a limit to how many books we can add that were previously read? They'd be considered "banked" but I put them on the banked tab."

As long as you read it during the challenge,..."

Okay thanks, guess I'll go and do all of the reviews now. lol

Vicki!
Can we use your book "Sister by Rosamund Lupton" for the L in the spell out?

Absolutely!

I am taking a break right now but I will work on the other books shortly. I'll post that one in the REVIEW thread now.

Vicki wrote: "I am taking a break right now but I will work on the other books shortly. I'll post that one in the REVIEW thread now."

No worries! We have all week! :)

Hey TEAM!! the following banked books (without reviews) are useable for Route Info! If possible, please review what you can (or all!! 😊) so we can use up some of these books and gain some much-needed points!

Raquel
Hostage (Clare Mackintosh)
Just the Nicest Couple (Mary Kubica)
The Lindbergh Nanny (Mariah Fredericks)
Anxious People (Fredrik Backman)
With Friends Like These (Keri Beevis)
The Family Secret (Kiersten Modglin)
Talk Bookish To Me (Kate Bromley)
The Soulmate (Sally Hepworth)
The Paris Wife (Paula Mclain)
A Taste of Sage (Yaffa Santos)

Melanie
The Death of Mrs. Westaway (Ruth Ware)
The Heiress Hunt (Joanna Shupe)
Scream for Me (Karen Rose)
Marrying Winterborne (Lisa Kleypas)

I also added the following banked books to the SPELL OUT for next week, so if we can get those reviewed, that would be perfect! Let me know if you won't be able to, and I'll move them back to banked!

Melanie: The Bromance Book Club (Lyssa Kay Adams)
Raquel: A Lot Like Adios (Alexis Daria)
Melanie: The Bone Season (Samantha Shannon)
Melanie: All the Missing Girls (Megan Miranda)

We are in need of 2 E's to finish the Spell Out!

Ashley wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I am taking a break right now but I will work on the other books shortly. I'll post that one in the REVIEW thread now."

No worries! We have all week! :)"

Oh GOOD! I added SISTER to the review thread and the SIO below. Do you want me to remove it from above where I listed it for Route Info or leave it there?

I'll delete it from Route Info, since you added it to the Spell Out, that way we won't get confused!

Can we use narrator's initials for the spell out?

ETA: I have an E book with The Elephants of Thula Thula, and a potential second E book if we can use narrators initials.

I honestly don't know. I'd ask Alaina in the Q&A!

Awesome Jenny! Go for it!

She said yes, so I'll post that one if I can get it done.

Hey everyone, can we get a quick check-in? It's been quiet this week! :)

im' going to assume we aren't going to do detour this round? it seems like it's been getting harder to complete. i'd be okay with finishing 3-4 on my own, if someone else can guarantee they can do the final 1-2?

I’ve been dealing with a lot this week. And tomorrow is my birthday so I’ll try to update my books later today

Kade wrote: "im' going to assume we aren't going to do detour this round? it seems like it's been getting harder to complete. i'd be okay with finishing 3-4 on my own, if someone else can guarantee they can do ..."

Kade, I think we should skip it and see what we have to work with next week, that way we can avoid the chaos and feel better prepared for next week.

Wolf (Alpha) wrote: "I’ve been dealing with a lot this week. And tomorrow is my birthday so I’ll try to update my books later today"

Wolf, sounds good! Have a great birthday!

I added a few of your read (unreviewed) books to the banked tab on the spreadsheet. 3 of them are under 100 pages, so we can use those anytime just for partial page points, so consider posting a really short review and I can post them in the review thread for you later. :)

The other is The Stopover, and it's a nice page count, so whenever you can, that review will be helpful!!!!

There are TONS of Banked, Unreviewed Books on the "Banked Books" tab on the SS, and we could totally catch up if we could post them. Right now, they are just completely wasted. We've read the books, but we can't claim any points for them!

Please consider posting a short review. It really doesn't have to be extensive, just a couple of sentences!

Once the reviews are there, I can post them for everyone, I don't mind.