Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Hi all - apologies, I've been on a work/fun trip to San Francisco and it has been hectic - little checking the computer! But I'm back and excited to start!

As far as rules and spreadsheets - restart if you think it will work for the challenge and it isn't too much trouble bc it has to be started after 5/15. That being said is AMAZING.

Spreadsheets, I kinda add as I'm reading and realize what fits and then when it's getting towards the end of a month/challenge, see what books on my TBR will work for what still needs to be done!

Excited to start in a few days!

Will have everyone have access to edit the team spreadsheet or just the cap/co caps?

TARA wrote: "restart if you think it will work for the challenge and it isn't too much trouble bc it has to be started after 5/15. That being said The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is AMAZING..."

Awesome, thank you, Tara. Excited to dive in.

Greetings, District 2!

What’s the actual start time for the Games? Is it there a particular time zone we’re following?

And was it ever confirmed if we will or won’t be penalized for going over on number of book? It makes a difference for planning….

Truitt_T wrote: "Greetings, District 2!

What’s the actual start time for the Games? Is it there a particular time zone we’re following?

And was it ever confirmed if we will or won’t be penalized for going over on..."
Its says this Starts on 15th May at 9am UTC 
So i made this if this helps :)
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Truitt_T wrote: "Greetings, District 2!

What’s the actual start time for the Games? Is it there a particular time zone we’re following?

And was it ever confirmed if we will or won’t be penalized for going over on..."
I dont think so?? I dont think i have ever gotten penalized for going over

Thanks, Dale, I missed that.

The last few years of Tower Teams, team were limited to the combined total of books team members said they would read, so it became important to to aim for high page count books to maximize points. If there’s no book cap, it can plan on a few shorter ones.😁

Truitt_T wrote: "Thanks, Dale, I missed that.

The last few years of Tower Teams, team were limited to the combined total of books team members said they would read, so it became important to to aim for high page c..."
I messaged you:)

Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning spread sheet there (linked here too!)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

TARA wrote: "Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning spread sheet there (linked h..."

I cant edit the ss 🤣

Dale wrote: "TARA wrote: "Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning spread sheet th..."

Should be fixed!

Thanks for the working file, now I have an excuse to start planning when I get home!

Now I just need to get my book club book finished tomorrow before we start the challenge.

TARA wrote: "Dale wrote: "TARA wrote: "Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning sp..."

Ty:)

TARA wrote: "Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning spread sheet there (linked h..."

Thanks, Tara! It's great to know there are no penalties for going over . I'd been saving up a bunch o big books, but I'll be happier if I can mix in some shorter ones. :)

Jhmingos wrote: "Have any of you narrowed down some must-read books for the challenge? I need to read a few because it's almost due from the library and I want to read To Say Nothing of the Dog. Seem..."

I have a huge list of books for the challenge, and I'm sure I won't get to them all. Narrowing down to a few must reads probably isn't going to happen, lol.

I do want to say, though, how much I love To Say Nothing of the Dog. I've re-read / listened to it, oh, several times including late last year.

To me, at least, it's literate and funny and charming. Of course, I like almost everything Connie Willis has written. Have you read much of her work?

TARA wrote: "Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning spread sheet there (linked h..."

Thank you. I was a little bit worried about that. I wasn't sure what number to sign up with. Although I have started reading again, I am not reading like I was before my dad's death in January. However, I get competitive, and I can read many books. 10 is low but it is what I could commit to. I didn't want to overcommit either. Now I don't have to be careful not to go over.

Truitt_T wrote: "Jhmingos wrote: "Have any of you narrowed down some must-read books for the challenge? I need to read a few because it's almost due from the library and I want to read [book:To Say Nothing of the D..."

No, I haven't read anything by her, but I'm excited to read it. Melindam was recommending it and it sounded like sci-fi with British humor. Depending on how this goes, I'll probably read more from her.

@Donna I'm sorry to hear about your father. I can't imagine what you must be going through.

Donna wrote: "TARA wrote: "Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning spread sheet th..."

I am sorry:(

Donna - so sorry to hear about your father! Sending you lots of love!

I got picked for DQ discussions for the first BOM book! Yay more points for us! That's also probably going to be my first book of the challenge.

Captains: Do you have a certain way that you want us to report our completed books?

Alisha wrote: "I got picked for DQ discussions for the first BOM book! Yay more points for us! That's also probably going to be my first book of the challenge.

Captains: Do you have a certain way that you want ..."

I think on our planning spread sheet is probably easiest, but I will let the co-captains weigh in as well!

Donna wrote: "TARA wrote: "Ok all - no penalties for going over! Countdown is above, but I will add to one of the my reserved spots too for ease of access. In addition, I will also add a planning spread sheet th..."

I'm so sorry, Donna. Take care.

@Jhmingos I admit that To Say Nothing of the Dog might not be the first book by Connie Willis I'd suggest to someone, but it certainly is fun. The first of the Oxford Time Travel books, Doomsday Book is one of my favorite books of all time. I have no idea how many times I've reread it, but it sill makes me cry every time - and I am not one who cries over books.

I'll probably tackle Blackout and All Clear during this challenge. I've been thinking I was due for a reread - it's been years.

@Aleshia Woohoo! It's great that you got picked for DQs! I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of The Malevolent Seven (great title) , so it doesn't look like I'll be joining in.

@TARA Am I understanding correctly that you want us to post our completions on the Planning sheet, leaving it to you Captains to post on the official team ss?


I'm finishing up a book tonight, so I'll be ready to go in the monring. Go District 2!

Dale -

Your reasoning for a book working for food - cover is a feast for your eyes because shirtless guy with muscles 🤤 is hysterical! They rules did say to be creative, lol.

Truitt_T wrote: "Dale -

Your reasoning for a book working for food - cover is a feast for your eyes because shirtless guy with muscles 🤤 is hysterical! They rules did say to be creative, lol."

Lol thank you :) we all need some eye candy🤣

As a fellow romance reader, I also loved it Dale 😆. There's always eye candy in our covers.

Yupp lol we are surrounded by shirtless men covers.. for now....

Happy 1st day of the challenge everyone :)
Anyone else trying to get their read on today🤣

Truitt_T wrote: "Dale -

Your reasoning for a book working for food - cover is a feast for your eyes because shirtless guy with muscles 🤤 is hysterical! They rules did say to be creative, lol."

Hilarious! I support this reasoning, especially after looking up the cover. 😍


Dale wrote: "Happy 1st day of the challenge everyone :)
Anyone else trying to get their read on today🤣"

Happy 1st day! I started mine and got 50 pages in before work and will try to sneak some more in during my next break.

Truitt_T wrote: "@Jhmingos I admit that To Say Nothing of the Dog might not be the first book by Connie Willis I'd suggest to someone, but it certainly is fun. The first of the Oxford Ti..."

For now, let's go with this and see how it goes, ha! 😂

Happy first day of reading - I finished my last book this morning from before the challenge, so I'm ready to go!

I also finished my last book this morning, tried to get those pesky chores and yard work out of the way, so I could read when I finished up. So excited the challenge is finally underway!

is there a number of how much of set things we need? ( does that make sense??)

I think I know what you mean Dale. There isn’t anything in the rules, no. But we will get some surprises (think of them like side quests) from the Mods along the way. So who knows???

I’m happy to be home and ready to start reading!!

Another newbie question. I just saw the swoon-worthy Thirst Games poll in District 1. Liam vs Chris. Is this something we should be participating in for points? Or merely just for fun? Either way, it's Chris all the way for me 🔥🔥🔥

Joanna wrote: "Another newbie question. I just saw the swoon-worthy Thirst Games poll in District 1. Liam vs Chris. Is this something we should be participating in for points? Or merely just for fun? Either way, ..."

They’re just having fun 😁 But I do not mind the eye candy at all. Now what pair should we vote on???? 🧐

Also, I think someone asked about completion posts. It’s easiest for your captains if you put your books and details into the planning spreadsheet. Bonus points if you create a link for the title. If you don’t have access or hate spreadsheets, you can always post here on the thread and we’ll get it entered.

That said… if you read something really good or really awful, we want to hear about it!! Commentary in the thread is ALWAYS welcome.

Happy Day 1. I haven't finished Project Hail Mary yet but I should be able to read that and my first book for the challenge at the same time. Assuming I don't just obsessively read my first book even though it's a reread.

Briana, what's your reread?

Got a lot of good reading done, one being one of the bigger books. Even though there's no book limit, I have some longer books I want to read for this challenge. Enjoying it so far.

Thanks, everyone!

The book I tried to get from the library will be a while. Jimmy Fallon caused a run on it so I will have to wait. I have plenty of other books to read in the meantime.

We seem to be off to a great start!

Karolyn, you mentioned posting about particularly good or bad books we've been reading. Well, I just gave out a rare single star.

Caroline and Julia: A Regency Novel by Clare Darcy (pub. 1983) was a fit for another challenge, and while I wasn't thrilled to read it, I remember liking some of the author's other books long ago.

All was well until the author proved herself to be queer phobic - I was appalled. Her unpleasant villain with a questionable past suddenly outs himself as gay or bi in a completely unecessary turn of the plot. I finished it just to give it one star and a review with a warning. Ugh. This is going to continue to bother me.

Alright friends, we have our first surprise of the games - supply drops.

Here is the link for how it works: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jhmingos wrote: "Briana, what's your reread?

Got a lot of good reading done, one being one of the bigger books. Even though there's no book limit, I have some longer books I want to read for this challenge. Enjoyi..."

I'm going to be rereading Only a Monster it was one of my best books of 2022 and I meant to read the sequel last year but never got to it so reread it is.

So do we negotiate with District 13?

Hello!

Dropping in from Distract 13!

I am the Captain of the little Panem ship over there and still also trying to navigate all the Supply Drop details.

Thought I would check in and drop a greeting in for now :)

Well that was fortuitous timing, lol.

Thanks for dropping by, Erin!

Truitt_T wrote: "Well that was fortuitous timing, lol.

Thanks for dropping by, Erin!"

Hahaha I swear it was coincidence too, that's what's funny. Was doing my regular tendencies to see all new thread posts this morning and you happened to post that right before my silly self popped by :D

Question about the supply drops. If both teams were to, hypothetically, give each other drops, the points would still be based on page counts, correct? So it would be best to give books around the same pages?

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Hello!

Dropping in from Distract 13!

I am the Captain of the little Panem ship over there and still also trying to navigate all the Supply Drop details.

Thought I would check in and drop a greet..."

Thanks for popping in Erin! When you figure out supply drops, let us know! Ha! I'll get working on it more tomorrow!

Captains - How do we post for the informal Buddy Read of The Hunger Games? Do you want links to posts in the thread like a normal BR? I don't want us to miss out on the 20 points.....

TARA wrote: "Thanks for popping in Erin! When you figure out supply drops, let us know! Ha! I'll get working on it more tomorrow!
"

I am still only halfway there on comprehension myself, trust me :D