Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

I did put the slash in the second one. I don't get the * thing.

Oh I just figured it out. I had the /behind the S instead of before.

D.G., Mary & Hayley - You can "steal" my format at will, as I "stole" the idea from someone else (Lindy-Lane) too, LOL. I changed her format a bit, but it was her idea all the same. :) It was hard navigating through my post when I listed the names line after line.

Dina wrote: "D.G., Mary & Hayley - You can "steal" my format at will, as I "stole" the idea from someone else (Lindy-Lane) too, LOL. I changed her format a bit, but it was her idea all the same. :) It was hard ..."

I have to admit, it crossed my mind to steal your format as well!! I'm just not organised yet :)

Definitely hijacking the simpler format!

Also, need some name clarification. I'm sure it's fine, but I feel better about asking. The name is Shaun in place of Sean.

Amanda wrote: "Definitely hijacking the simpler format!

Also, need some name clarification. I'm sure it's fine, but I feel better about asking. The name is Shaun in place of Sean."

Yup - no need for me to even check website pronounciation! LOL!

You sure, Jane?! It might have some weird Gaelic pronounciation that I'm not aware of. ; )

Ha yes! Yay, I got one! Thanks Jane.

Jane (PS) wrote: "Vi wrote: "4 female friends... Luna. Hm, is it LH's Mr.Perfect?

I was also disappointed that not one name from the Tairen Soul series (5 books) was in the list. Granted it's fantasy, but given oth..."

I haven't read it yet, but does Ellysetta get called Ellie? If so, there is one ;)

Dina, I think I'll borrow yours also..

Jane, I have a legitimate query this time! I'm having trouble with whether or not this would qualify. According to your wonderful FAQs (Makes things wayyyyy easier, btw), a dead character is allowed but only if you get a feel for his/her personality?

I'm reading Feed at the moment. An awesome zombie book for anyone interested. The scientist responsible for the crazy outbreak (not a spoiler!) is named Alexander Kellis. He's talked about quite often, his scientific history, etc., but since the narration is first person and this person never knew Alexander during the scientist's lifetime, there isn't any deep personality description so far. So I am at a loss at where this would fall in the rules.

Amanda wrote: "Jane, I have a legitimate query this time! I'm having trouble with whether or not this would qualify. According to your wonderful FAQs (Makes things wayyyyy easier, btw), a dead character is allowe..."

Oooooh - Hard! Can you get any impression of his character? Is he precise and awkward, brilliant, easygoing, easily angered? Just a couple of basics would cover it I think, given the more extensive history you mentioned that occurs throughout the book...

Right now I'm only about halfway through the book, but in terms of any dynamic details in the way of his personality there isn't a lot to go on really. Based on his actions, all I can really infer is that he was cautious and somewhat demonized by the media. I'll see what else comes up in the book, but I understand if that's not enough to go on for a legitimate character.

No - I think that is enough. He has the singular advantage of the being the first mentioned name in the book blurb and you have come up with two distinguishing characteristics... I'm happy :)

Dina wrote: "D.G., Mary & Hayley - You can "steal" my format at will, as I "stole" the idea from someone else (Lindy-Lane) too, LOL. I changed her format a bit, but it was her idea all the same. :) It was hard ..."

Thanks, Dina! The best part of the format is that it's easier to see the books and all the names. That way if somebody else listed a book I have, I can move it up the TBR!

I found this site to help with some of the Irish names on the list
Irish baby names

It has audio and tells the meaning of the name
I'm looking for other sites that have audio

Ok
I'm not getting the 4 names for each book. Is if 4 each like 4 boy names and 4 girl names? Or I can only use 4 names like 2 boy names and 2 girl names?

Nevemind that post I get it now

4 names total per book...so you could do 4 boys names OR 4 girls names...etc

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "4 names total per book...so you could do 4 boys names OR 4 girls names...etc"

Thanks

Well cool. After seeing what other people are using-I found a name I forgot was on the list in Dead Reckoning that I needed. And found a few names that I didn't know of in books I already own. Like Kiss of Midnight which apparently has a few. But I haven't read it yet so I didn't know.

Dead Reckoning had like 7 names in it BTW.

Good to know, Mary. I'm around number 100 in the library's wishlist but I moved like 130 places in 2 weeks so I should be reading that one soon.

Molly Harper is amazing! After reading How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf I emailed her via her website because it never actually mentions whether Nick is Nicholas in the book. Her response... "And it's Nicholas J. Thatcher, PhD."

That counts doesn't it Jane? I mean if the author says its so... it must be :)

I'll accept that given you have gone to the extent of checking with the author!! :)

Does Devin = Devan?

HAHAHAHA! You ladies are amazing! Checking with the author and all!

I'm finishing my India book for the monthly challenge and I didn't get ONE SINGLE NAME even though it was set in the US. All the American people had old fashioned names like Maxine, Gerard, Lydia, Ruth, etc.

I just got an idea. ;)

It occurred to me that we've been mentioning books with hard to find names. Should we create a post with the names we mentioned so they are easier to find?

Don't worry, Jane...I'm not volunteering you, LOL! I can do it. :)

Ugh figures. I'm almost through The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party and Violet has only been mentioned and not actually in the book. I hope she shows up soon so I can count her. I think I have another Violet book option but still. She's Grace's arch enemy and she's usually causing some sort of trouble.

Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts has 5 names that can be used. Amelia, Stella, Gavin, Luke and Logan. A great book to rack up the names.

and all 5 of them show up in the rest of the trilogy

Yes, along with Lily and hopefully Bryce in the second book.

Oh it also has David and Hayley too. Of course, they come up in the rest of the books too.

Amy wrote: "Does Devin = Devan?"

They sounds the same to me; yes :)

D.G. ~Saucy Vixen~ wrote: "I just got an idea. ;)

It occurred to me that we've been mentioning books with hard to find names. Should we create a post with the names we mentioned so they are easier to find?

Don't worry, Jan..."

*phew* LOL!

Great idea DG! I could reference the post into the FAQ section if you like...

I nominate DG to start a discussion thread...we can post the book with name/role in the book and then it can be collated into a master list (or something)

I had the impression from a previous comment in this thread by Yz that this could be an annual(Name Game) challenge... So all the effort would not be wasted despite the names changing. And even if we don't repeat this particular challenge, there's always the Annual Character challenge... :)

true...what I mean was instead of having like 500 threads each one with a different name in it...that whoever starts the thread could reserve two or three spaces at the beginning, and as names are posted collate them together

so like

Caden
book 1
book 2

next name
book 1
book 2

I second Dee. It would be very helpful.

Sounds an excellent idea.

How about a post for every letter, maybe combining some of the lesser-used letters (X-Z; P-Q etc.)... And have a link thread at the beginning to take you to the letter (this could be along the page, rather than down). Everyone can then post below these reserved posts, with lucky DG organising the names... :)

does DG know she got voluntold?? works for me... you could even do A-C; D-F etc

Well - she sort of volunteered up front. She may not have expected such a good response though ;)

Yes - when there are too many names, then have it's own letter (the number of As in this challenge would make a big post after books are added below). I'm thinking long term - in two years as books get added, it could get too large. (Hahaha - I know that character-type issue keeping track of how much I put in a post!)

true lol!

I think grouping them in 1 thread is a good idea. Multiple names could even be in one post. The one who starts it (DG) could just create a few posts and edit them every so often as people give books they found.

Multiple threads would just be too much.

We could also utilise the group bookshelves. I know one group who specifically does this for places but if our lovely moderators were happy we could create a shelf for each character name and then it wouldn't just be up to one person, we call all add whatever books we found to it.

The bookshelf idea is probably the better option, just for ease of use by everybody, and no need for constant updating. It's really easy too. Great thinking Tania!

Cause if you go the thread route, only one person can edit the master lists, and it can become burdensome. I'm sure DG would rather be reading :)

Sandra wrote: "The bookshelf idea is probably the better option, just for ease of use by everybody, and no need for constant updating. It's really easy too. Great thinking Tania!

Cause if you go the thread route..."

Sounds like the plan then! Unless DG wants the burden... ;)

I've added shelves for abigail and nicholas so people can see how it would work.

If we stick to the naming convention of (for example)

name-female-abigail
name-male-nicholas

it should put them in alphabetical order for us.

If that's not the way we want to go I'll remove the shelves, I just though some people might like to see what I mean.

The shelf idea is really good. The only problem I see is that we'll be adding ~200 shelves and I don't know if that would make it cumbersome for people that use the group bookshelf but are not in the challenge.

Maybe we should consult Yz on this?

Besides that, I think it makes a lot of sense because then we can all the books to the respective shelves as we're reading them.

or do name-female-A...and go from there

Do we need a shelf for every name? Just the odd-ball ones that are harder to find.

D.G. ~Saucy Vixen~ wrote: "The shelf idea is really good. The only problem I see is that we'll be adding ~200 shelves and I don't know if that would make it cumbersome for people that use the group bookshelf but are not in t..."

That's why I thought we should probably get a mods approval first. If they're planning to do name challenges on a regular basis I think it pays off. If not, then they may want us to do it in a thread instead.

The only other thing I could think of was a group spreadsheet like the series one - but I'm not sure on how that gets set up.
We'd only need a few columns...

Name (as spelled in the challenge)
Alternate Spelling (as spelled in the book)
Book
Author