Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

KarenH wrote: "Ok, here's another point for clarification. In the case of recurring characters in a series, if the character is generally referred to by a nickname or last name, does the first name have to be me..."

I'll let one through. I think if it is well known from prior books that the character's name is Ian McNab but the author simply doesn't mention it in that book, but McNab does take part in the book - not just referenced but having conversations with other characters, then it is OK.

Ok, I'm in! But what I want to know is, when you say win, what does that mean?

For example, there's 200 names in total. Let's say that each book only has one name, so I'd have to read 200 books, correct? Or wrong? Lol. thank you!

Jane (PS) wrote: "I'll let one through. I think if it is well known from prior books that the character's name is Ian McNab but the author simply doesn't mention it in that book, but McNab does take part in the book - not just referenced but having conversations with other characters, then it is OK. "

Sounds good, thanks!

Jane (PS) wrote: "Hmmmm - good question Rena. I think I would allow that. If you are searching for Emma, and the full name is Emmaline, but she is called Emma - yes you can use that.

Is is just that if it was Emm..."

Thanks. Good to know

Monica wrote: "Ok, I'm in! But what I want to know is, when you say win, what does that mean?

For example, there's 200 names in total. Let's say that each book only has one name, so I'd have to read 200 books, ..."

LOL! Yes - if each book had only one character that matched the names in the list, you would have to read 200 books. However I suspect that some books will actually check off 3 or 4 names. (Remember, you can only mark off a maximum of 4 names per book.) However - there are some pretty hard names on the list. It could be really difficult to find ANY book with that name. That is why the 'winner' will be the person with the most names checked off the list.

If by some amazing stroke of incredible research, more than one person is able to read books that cover all these names within the allocated timeframe, then the winner will be the first one to post that they have completed the challenge.

The winner will receive a lot of virtual 'pats on the back' :)

BTW - I won't approve anyone reading a 'baby names' book! ;)

Tania wrote: "I'm in - but I'll be doing it on books I'm already down to read and see how I go instead of hunting down books specifically for this challenge.

Girls
1.

Boys
1."

Hey Tania - you post your list in the other thread :)

LOL Jane!

How about foreign variations of a name?

For example:
Mikhail = Michael
Ilya = Elijah
Maria = Mary
Nicola = Nicole/Nicholas
Giorgio = George
Giosue' = Joshua
etc.

Another question...
For the girl name Jordyn can we use the name Jordan as well?
The spelling is different (^_^), and the boy/girl name Jordyn is actually a variant of the Hebrew name Jordan.

Mojca wrote: "How about foreign variations of a name?

For example:
Mikhail = Michael
Ilya = Elijah
Maria = Mary
Nicola = Nicole/Nicholas
Giorgio = George
Giosue' = Joshua
etc."

Sorry - no to foreign variants. I think it needs to be the same with only a minor spelling variant.

Mojca wrote: "Another question...
For the girl name Jordyn can we use the name Jordan as well?
The spelling is different (^_^), and the boy/girl name Jordyn is actually a variant of the Hebrew name Jordan."

I'll accept Jordyn/Jordan so long as it is the same sex :)

Ok, I'll give this a shot ... I will post to my list as I read the books, and already have a few re-reads in mind for certain names. Of course, I will only re-read books I love.

Another clarification...I'm such a pain, I know.

We have a two-book story with the hero named Alexander, but everybody calls him Alex.
Can we use the first book for "Alexander" and the second for "Alex", even though it's the same person?

Jane (PS) wrote: "Lindy-Lane wrote: "Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "i'm wondering if doing a boys name/girls name threads might be appropriate...because once you start putting the name of the books in,that i..."

Thanks Jane!

Jane (PS) wrote: "Hayley wrote: "Wow crazy challenge! So just to make sure, if the name is spelled differently for instance, my name is on there as Hailey, but I spell my name Hayley. It's ok for different spellin..."


Okay just making sure :). This sounds like a really fun challenge! I like the fact that you can use 4 names from one book too, that is great!

Mojca wrote: "Another clarification...I'm such a pain, I know.

We have a two-book story with the hero named Alexander, but everybody calls him Alex.
Can we use the first book for "Alexander" and the second for ..."

As long as each book is at least 150 pages, then using Alexander for one book and Alex for the next book, is fine.

I am so in. This sounds like so much fun.

Jane (PS) wrote: "As long as each book is at least 150 pages, then using Alexander for one book and Alex for the next book, is fine."

Great, thanks.

Hi, Jane ~ Quick question - Does the name have to be the character's first name? EXAMPLE: a male character's last name is 'Cooper'. Can you use that?

Steph, Yz already answered that - Yz wrote: Amanda wrote: "Is the list of names limited to only being the first? Could a character with the last name "Thomas" be counted or is it strictly first names?"

Strictly first name.

So you're outta luck buddy :)

LOL! Oops. Didn't see that. Thanks.

This question I suppose would be a follow-up to Mojca's in message #66.

Since we can cross off four names per book, if a character is introduced as Nathaniel but goes by Nathan, could we cross off those two names? Or do the names have to be separate characters within a book?

Amanda wrote: "Since we can cross off four names per book, if a character is introduced as Nathaniel but goes by Nathan, could we cross off those two names? Or do the names have to be separate characters within a book? "

Jane already answered that question in message 42. :)

I know a book where the character is 'Abigail' but is also known as 'Abby' - I would allow one of the names to be ticked off, but you can't check off both names (since both are on the list) for the one character. That is, you are allowed to check off 4 names per book - but it must be for 4 separate characters within the book.

Thanks, D.G.!

My frantic, scatterbrain missed that one. ; )

I probably won't do too well, there are a lot of much faster readers than me here. I want to try to get half of them. That is my own personal goal.

I won't stress out too much because I'm not a fast reader either. I'm just in for the fun. :)

I'll be proud of myself if I get half of them. And it is fun.

The last thing I need is another reading challenge, especially with me being a slowpoke reader.

So I'll approach this challenge more from a curiousity standpoint. I'll just read the books I already planned reading and see how many names I can cross off that way. I noticed a few of you are doing this challenge the same way.

The hard part will be to pay attention to all the names mentioned in the books.

All I can say is...I've made a spreadsheet. There may be something wrong with me. : |

LOL, Amanda! I did that too! I figure it would make it easy to find the names for the updates.

BTW...just my luck that right now I'm reading one book with a Henry and a Thomas and another with an Ella!

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "depends on the format...but give or take about 1500-2000 i think..."

Can I use this as a rule for kindle ebooks in this challenge?

Just an FYI: if anyone used paperbackswap and the TBR pile there-you might find names by searching that.The search isn't always accurate. But it's come in handy for me before when searching locations. Worth a shot.

I signed up on the participants thread although I don't expect to do very well. I don't really plan on doing any prep work for this. I have too many books to go out and acquire one just for this. But it might be fun to see what I can fill in just from my regular reading.

D.G. ~The Hydra~ wrote: "LOL, Amanda! I did that too! I figure it would make it easy to find the names for the updates.

BTW...just my luck that right now I'm reading one book with a Henry and a Thomas and another with an ..."

:) I have a spreadsheet going as well - but my attitude is like a few others: if it fits great, but otherwise, no stress. It's just all good fun.

!My current book has a Jeremiah! Hope I can find that one again!

Rachel wrote: "Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "depends on the format...but give or take about 1500-2000 i think..."

Can I use this as a rule for kindle ebooks in this challenge?"

I'm not too 'au fait' with Kindle. If Dee indicates that is about right, sounds good to me. But I'll try to tie is down to a more exact numbering.

D.G. ~The Hydra~ wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Since we can cross off four names per book, if a character is introduced as Nathaniel but goes by Nathan, could we cross off those two names? Or do the names have to be separate char..."

Further to this - if the book is part of a series and the character is Nathaniel, aka Nathan. If you read two books and the character is more than a reference in both books, you can check the two name variants - one for each book. Refer msg 66 & 69.

Jane (PS) wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "depends on the format...but give or take about 1500-2000 i think..."

Can I use this as a rule for kindle ebooks in this challenge?"

I'm not t..."

OK: THE KINDLE RULE Use the Goodreads paperback page count for your books. This will be our guide as to whether a book meets the page criteria.

Look up your book on Goodreads and in the stats section it will list the number of pages. If you have brought up the Kindle or the Hardcover version, select the alternate paperback (MMPB) version from the covers in the top right of the screen. Hovering over the icon/pics/covers will show whether it is Kindle/ebook/Paperback/Hardcover.

Jane! Is that The Black Sheep?? Cause if it is, I am totally writing that one down!

Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "What about books that are available in ebook only? Would we be excluded from using those for this challenge?"

Speaking as a GR librarian *puts on hat* ebooks with page numbers should be PDF or epub and therefore stats should be accurate.

And Rena, hero of The Black Sheep is Miles Calverleigh and there is no Jeremiah in it.

Rena wrote: "Jane! Is that The Black Sheep?? Cause if it is, I am totally writing that one down!"

Sorry Rena - it is City of Bones: Brother Jeremiah.

Sandra wrote: "Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "What about books that are available in ebook only? Would we be excluded from using those for this challenge?"

Speaking as a GR librarian *puts on hat* ebooks with page num..."

Hi Valerie: I checked out a few 'lesser-known' ebooks that I own on GR and they all had page numbers listed. If you come across one that isn't listed, let's look at it then... We won't exclude ebooks in any event - just find an accurate way to calculate the equivalent pages. :)

(Just checked The Princess and the Penis by R J Silver as well; published online by Smashmouth, ebook, 36 pages - I think we'll be right...)

Thanks Sandra - nice to have the librarian view ;)

Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "What about books that are available in ebook only? Would we be excluded from using those for this challenge?"

E-books are acceptable for this challenge.

and if they are not, anyone who is a librarian can fix it if they are provided the information...another method i've seen used by groups is posting the type of book according to the publisher (novel, super novel) and then how they define it, because that normally has a word length associated with the format

Sandra wrote: "Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "What about books that are available in ebook only? Would we be excluded from using those for this challenge?"

Speaking as a GR librarian *puts on hat* ebooks with page num..."

Yep, it takes seconds to change/update page numbers, I'd be happy to do that if you can give me the right numbers.

Thank you Jane, Sandra, Yz & Dee!

I swore I wouldn't do any prep for this. Then I spent much of last night searching my TBR Pile on paperbackswap for various names and listing them as options.

But at least it was books I already own and not searching out books to possibly get.

Buahahahaha! I have City of Bones in my TBR pile!

My prep will be as follows:

- I'll continue with my plan for May as planned and then I'll see if I have any books that other people have read with difficult names. If I do, I'll read them, If not...well then I won't!

D.G. ~The Hydra~ wrote: "My prep will be as follows:

- I'll continue with my plan for May as planned and then I'll see if I have any books that other people have read with difficult names. If I do, I'll read them, If not...."

Great plan! I'll probably end up doing exactly the same thing. :)

That's what I'm going to do with names I don't find easily in my TBR. Just see what other people are using. If I don't see ones that I have then I'll just skip that name and keep filling in others. If I see one I don't have that I've been wanting then I might get it from the library if they have it. Probably only if it's a name I just don't see to have.