Challenge Corner discussion

Got it from Libby… I’ll start it Monday.

Ivelisse wrote: "Got it from Libby… I’ll start it Monday."

Perfect. I'm going to finish up my current audiobook and then switch between it and Fourth Wing.

Not sure how The Rosewater Insurrection fits in the spellout, Saige.

Just an FYI - for the speed bump task:

Any GN/Manga/Comic will work :) There is no page requirement for that task alone.

Catsalive wrote: "Not sure how The Rosewater Insurrection fits in the spellout, Saige."

Alternate editions work for it, so if it has something then that might be why.

Adding Naii to your team everyone!

Welcome Naii!!!

I'm working on The Forest of Vanishing Stars right now for the Detour task, then will start The Light Over London next.

We still need two more detour books this week if Ivelisse reads The Light Over London with me.

Never mind I found and on this list. Does anyone want to buddy read either of those with me?

Hi! Thanks for having me. I'm new to all this, so bear with me while I get my footing ♡

Naii wrote: "Hi! Thanks for having me. I'm new to all this, so bear with me while I get my footing ♡"

Yes, it takes some getting used to. Mainly, Route Info is good to use when your book doesn't fit anywhere else. Spell Outs we only do if we can finish the word that week or we lose points. So we are doing a spell out this week. You can look at the spreadsheet to see if anything still needs to be done with that (you have to scroll down to line 250ish). Detour books, at least two people (if not more) need to read 5 books off one of the lists (this week we are doing the WWII list). Speed bump, we only need to do if we end up in last place for check-in. We were second place, so we don't have to do it this week. Switchback one person is supposed to read for that one. And if you buddy read with someone new in the group and it doesn't fit anywhere else, then you can put it in Intersections. We also have a banked tab in the spreadsheet for any books that don't fit for the current week. Hope that helps.

OK, so Michelin Guide is the spellout, and if I have a book with the letter in, I can slot it into the box and fill out the spreadsheet? I think I can do that, so if I do, can you double-check I've done it correctly, please?

Right, I have read a few books that fit in the Spell Out... Can someone check that I've done it right, please?

Yeah, that's good. We just have to make sure we can finish the word completely too for Spell Out or we lose points. But I'm pretty sure you should be able to use all the books you read in April and May as well. Just don't forget to post to the review thread.

Oh, I was only looking at books for 20th-26th May. Have I got that wrong? I could fill more than one box on my own if I can use April and May, haha!

Next stupid question: How do you add a book cover to post the review?

Naii wrote: "Oh, I was only looking at books for 20th-26th May. Have I got that wrong? I could fill more than one box on my own if I can use April and May, haha!"

Yeah, you can use April and May. That's why we have the banked tab too if you want to add books to there. If you have a book that works for Switchback, we want to use one of those for this week too. But only post on the Week 8 tab and they can only be used in Week 8.

Naii wrote: "Next stupid question: How do you add a book cover to post the review?"

So right above the comment box there is a button that says "add book/author" and you click on that then search for the book/author. At the bottom of the box that shows up for that, change it from "link" to "cover"

Thanks Ashlyn. I was using the mobile app so only found it once I went on my browser. I think I figured it out now... I think!

Just started a book and it had the word "palm tree" in it, so I can read for that one.

Does anyone have an I or D for Spell Out? I've filled out most of it, but we're short the two letters!

Naii wrote: "Does anyone have an I or D for Spell Out? I've filled out most of it, but we're short the two letters!"

We can probably move my Doctor Who book to D

I think I have both covered, but I'll give you a shout if I feel like I'm running out of time to complete them. Thank you!

Hi ladies... I will update with the books I've read. I had claimed an I and got it done. Am now reading Light Over London

I read and quite a few Darren Shan books that cover the D

Ivelisse wrote: "Hi ladies... I will update with the books I've read. I had claimed an I and got it done. Am now reading Light Over London"

I’m about halfway through with that one.

I'll leave the box open for you to add a D in then Ivelisse. Saves me being under pressure to finish in time!

@Ivelisse -- need to check "I Said Yes" - MC initial not in Brussels.

I posted a book for the U-turn, so whoever checks in this week needs to remember to mention it on the check-in thread. We should use it against Backroad Bandits, since they're in first

It looks like we are missing an E on the first spell out too. Does anyone have one that would work?

I think I have an E

Just checked, and it was end of March not April so my other E can't be used ‍, sorry!

I have a CR that'll work for E!

I finished my CR and completed the spreadsheet with the updated info, and added them to review.

I'll be done with my "E" book tonight or tomorrow morning, and I can do check-in tomorrow!

Catsalive wrote: "@Ivelisse -- need to check "I Said Yes" - MC initial not in Brussels."

Ugh I don't know what I was thinking with Mark... I'll update. Thank you!

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)]

For Detour, I can do either list. I can probably do 1-2 books depending on how long they are.

From the Myths & Mythological Creature Books list, I can do any of these:


From the Egyptian Mythology Books list, I can do any of these:


Just let me know which list someone can read off of and if anyone wants to buddy read any of these with me.

Ashlyn wrote: "Catsalive wrote: "Not sure how The Rosewater Insurrection fits in the spellout, Saige."

Alternate editions work for it, so if it has something then that might be why."

Are we sure about this one? Saige didn't note the alternate edition in her review post, just I for Insurrection.

Catsalive wrote: "Ashlyn wrote: "Catsalive wrote: "Not sure how The Rosewater Insurrection fits in the spellout, Saige."

Alternate editions work for it, so if it has something then that might be why..."

This is the one that would work: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

As long as you're sure it counts. Hate to lose that whole spell.

Alaina counted that book on the review thread and didn't point out anything wrong with my post, so I think it's fine. I can go back and mention the alternate edition if we think that's necessary

Has anyone double checked that we actually posted both spell outs on the review thread yet?

Catsalive wrote: "As long as you're sure it counts. Hate to lose that whole spell."

Any edition counts, so it works.

Also I finished two book off the detour list for this week and will write reviews and post them tomorrow because I'm too tired to do it tonight.

I will finish the book for Yield this afternoon... are we going to use it and on who? We will have to mention it when we check in right?

Should we use it on the team in the lead or the team with the most bonus points?

Let's use it on the team in the lead. Blue shell style

Ashlyn, I requested from my library - if it gets here on time I can BR with you!

Saige wrote: "Ashlyn, I requested from my library - if it gets here on time I can BR with you!"

Perfect! Just let me know if you get it. We'll just plan on the Egyptian Mythology Books list this week then.