Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

If the shelf idea is voted down by the mods, I can set up a spreadsheet in Google Docs and make it shared to everybody. But only people with a Google account would be able to modify it...but everybody that click on it could see it.

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

But those really weird names don't show up that often, so most likely we'll have very few books so making a list would work almost as well.

Either way - I'm happy. My current list is a very high tech printout with book titles scribbled next to the names.

Then, and this is the really exciting part... when I finish a book I cross out a name!!!! see told ya it was exciting.

This from a girl who has and iPhone, iPad, Sony ereader, iMac and 2 laptops...

The search function is coming in very handy when verifying names btw.

LOL, Tania. Did you buy your tech at the same store I did, it sounds suspiciously like mine. :P Well, I have two high-tech printouts -- The Official List (clearly labeled on the first page) has the actual titles and dates read. The Suggestion List (also labeled as such) has a list of possible titles scribbled next to names.


FYI: Up Close and Dangerous by Linda Howard features a romance between Bailey Wingate and Cameron Justice. Bailey's brother is Logan, but I can't remember whether he actually makes a physical appearance. As an added bonus, Bailey and Cameron are in a plane crash and the words "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" are actually spoken. I'm rereading it for the May Monthly challenge.

Here I go with another question. I am reading a book where one of the main characters has died. He is the reason the book is happening, though. Is it okay to use his name as a character? They say his name just about every other page throughout the whole book.

Tina - Here's the answer to your question, from the FAQs. :)

What about dead characters?

They would have to be significant to the plot and have their personality convened to the reader - flashbacks would be great! But if it is just a convenient plot device by the author, you know, where they mention them ad naseum but don't really tell you anything substantial about the character, then they are out.

Basically you need to have a solid impression of the character to mark them off the list.

D.G. ~Saucy Vixen~ wrote: "Tina - Here's the answer to your question, from the FAQs. :)

What about dead characters?

They would have to be significant to the plot and have their personality convened to the reader - flashba..."

Thanks, DG. I didn't realize we had a faq section. Woo-hoo! I will check better next time. I did see the question mentioned before about flashbacks, but I wasn't sure if that pertained to a dead character, rather than a live one that is no longer in the picture. I am just overthinking this, I think. I think I definitely can use him, then. Nothing in this book would be happening without him.

I'm just using a thread I have going under the Member List section of the SOS group and my game post to keep track. That's it. No special shelves or spread sheets. I spent a little time searching my books on PBS and Shelfari for names and now I'm done. No spreadsheats or even anything printed out.

I know I wont' get all names in so now that I have at least 1 possibility for every name-I will just read what I own already and see what happens. So far I'm doing good with just that.

I think I know what the answer will be but I'm asking anyway because dead people are somewhat allowed.

If a regular character from a series is mentioned many, many times in a book but doesn't actually appear in that one-does it count? This has happened to me with a book I'm about to finish. She was in pretty much every book so far (like 10 of them). They have talked about her a lot in this one (seems like he's buildign up the main plot of the next book) and mentioned her by name many times and her past evil doings. ( I wouldn't even ask if it wasn't a somewhat uncommon name).

Mary wrote: "I think I know what the answer will be but I'm asking anyway because dead people are somewhat allowed.

If a regular character from a series is mentioned many, many times in a book but doesn't ..."

Hi Mary

This is pretty grey but more closely relates to the McNab ruling. Under the McNab ruling it really requires them to have conversations, but the dead character is allowed if there is a good impression of the character... Can you read the next book or prior book to satisfy the presence of her character for check off?

McNab Ruling: 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 the name may be checked off.

I like that...McNab's law!

LOL! It's becoming that!

Further ponderings:

I think the 'Dead Character' mark off should be more the exception than the rule. And of course, if they were alive in the book, holding conversations before they died, it isn't an issue - it is fine because they meet the normal character rules...

If however, the repetitive character in Mary's series turns up regularly throughout the story and her evil doings are thoroughly discussed, even though she doesn't hold a conversation (because sometimes 'evil' is silent!!), I will allow that mark off.

So this will be the 'evil character rule'.

I love that we now have titled rules. The McNab rule, the evil character rule, the dead character rule, etc.

This book just came out and so I don't think the next one will come out soon. There's usually only 1 a year. It's Violet in the Ladie's #1 Detective Agency books. She's been in most of the books causing trouble for Grace. She was mentioned quite a bit and we were updated on what she is doing now and it really sounded like a set up for the next book.

I will pencil her in but keep an eye out for another Violet book if I have time. Thanks.

Hahaha - I'll try to title them that why in the FAQ ;)

Okay, I have a question that hasn't been asked yet. I am reading Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. The main character is named Jude but it says the following, "At the age of 54, he had settled back into the rhythms that had guided him since his name was Justin Cowzynski and he was a boy on his father's hog farm." So, to me it sounds like the main character's name has been changed from Justin to Jude or he just uses his celebrity name. In this scenario, would the name Justin be okay to check off?

Yes - I'm happy for you to check off Justin.

If a character has changed their their first name, either name may be used for the tournament - ie their birth name or their 'new' (deed-poll etc) name may be used to mark off a name on the list.

Jane (PS) wrote: "Yes - I'm happy for you to check off Justin.

If a character has changed their their first name, either name may be used for the tournament - ie their birth name or their 'new' (deed-poll etc) name..."


Yeah! You rock!

Hey Jane - I ask this before and I apologized if you answered (I looked around and didn't find anything.)

For Jordyn, can we go with Jordan? Julie James has a heroine call Jordan in her latest book.

Ok the "Justin" rule works for me too. I have a character that used to be "Samantha the stripper" but is now Kimberly.

D.G. ~Saucy Vixen~ wrote: "Hey Jane - I ask this before and I apologized if you answered (I looked around and didn't find anything.)

For Jordyn, can we go with Jordan? Julie James has a heroine call Jordan in her latest book."

Hi DG - Yes, that is fine. To me they sound the same.

I did answer this somewhere, but this thread IS getting long - so I'm not surprised you didn't find my answer LOL! Actually I think I asked straight after that whether JJ's books have to be read in order? I think someone answered that they didn't but I can't remember - I am thinking of giving contemporary romance another go...

Thanks, Jane. I figured they sounded the same, but with English not being my first language and all, some pronunciation things elude me. :)

Funny about this challenge...I have tons of books that I didn't have the intention of reading soon but once I found out they have tons of names, they are being moved up the TBR!

DG I did the same thing. Although I am altering my reading plan for this to work in your PBS WL challenge.

So I start reading a book last night and am happy to see that immediately there is a Jackson and an Evelyn. Only to have Jackson turn out ot be a drooling mental patient and Evelyn to be murdered within the first 10 pages. Sigh.

LOL, Mary!

Don't despair! Maybe you'll know more about Evelyn later and Jackson the mental patient turn out to be important to the story. :)

I had to pick up BDB#4 because it's due to the library in a few days and I was despairing that I wouldn't' find any names but I found 5 names already! One is a baby though so I'm not counting that one.

Good to know since I think that's the BDB # that I'm on to now.

I thought I had a Lucy from flipping through a book and it turned out to be a dog.

LOL! I'm almost the opposite: I started to read a book the other day where I didn't think I'd score any names 'cos it's a Sci-Fi Rom - and picked up two! Bonus!

I just finished reading Hot Boss, Wicked Nights I didn't get any names except one
and it was from a dead relative of the Main male
character, he was mention on almost every chapter.
Can I mark it off. It seem that some of the story revolve around him. His name was Bryce. Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks.

A_Vishous_Fan wrote: "I just finished reading Hot Boss, Wicked Nights I didn't get any names except one
and it was from a dead relative of the Main male
cha..."

Did you get an impression of Bryce's character? If so, you can mark him off. If he is just mentioned for the sake of creating sympathy for the main H, then no.

So I know in the FAQ section you put that if an author has made it known that a characters name is actually Benjamin but he mainly goes as "Ben", we can use it.

My question is, does it have to be mentioned more than one time in the book, or is once ok? The book I am currently reading, her name is Lexie but she does mention to another character that her "real" name is Alexis....

I hope this wasn't answered already lol. There's so many pages to back track lol.

Jane (PS) wrote: "A_Vishous_Fan wrote: "I just finished reading Hot Boss, Wicked Nights I didn't get any names except one
and it was from a dead relative o...
Did you get an impression of Bryce's character? If so, you can mark him off. If he is just mentioned for the sake of creating sympathy for the main H, then no. "

Did you get an impression of Bryce's character?
I did because it felt like he was really there and they talk about him like any other character.
Thank you so much for your help.

i'm totally using a dead guy in mine...for Benjamin...he was the president of the Us before he was murdered and you continually hear about how good he was, and stuff like that

Mary wrote: "DG I did the same thing. Although I am altering my reading plan for this to work in your PBS WL challenge.

So I start reading a book last night and am happy to see that immediately there is a J..."

WL?

wish-list...i'm assuming

ok

Name Sheet


Still working on it but anyone can add

Hey, okay. There's a character named Lucinda. The main character calls Lucinda, "Lucy". Can I mark off Lucy? Lucinda is never referred to as Lucy.

Thanks Lizz!

Hayley wrote: "So I know in the FAQ section you put that if an author has made it known that a characters name is actually Benjamin but he mainly goes as "Ben", we can use it.

My question is, does it have to b..."

Once is fine Hayley. Once you know the full name, it doesn't need to be repeated.

Weclome Daffodil

Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: " Actually I think I asked straight after that whether JJ's books have to be read in order? I think someone answered that they didn't but I can't remember - I am thinking of giving..."

Thanks Valerie :)

Rena wrote: "Hey, okay. There's a character named Lucinda. The main character calls Lucinda, "Lucy". Can I mark off Lucy? Lucinda is never referred to as Lucy."

Hi Rena - Ignoring your last sentence in your post, Yes - Lucinda can be marked off for 'Lucy' because you note that the main character calls her 'Lucy'.

(Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm not sure what how your last sentence ties into the question? It seems contradictory to the statement and question preceding it...?)

Maybe Rena means that 'Lucy' is the main character's name for Lucinda but that nobody else refers to her that way?

...Yes - that explanation occurred to me, but I didn't want to assume too much... :)

❥☪LIZZ☪❥ wrote: "Name Sheet


Still working on it but anyone can add"

Excellent I'll go through and add mine

Tania wrote: "❥☪LIZZ☪❥ wrote: "Name Sheet


Still working on it but anyone can add"

Excellent I'll go through and add mine"

Ok

Jane (PS) wrote: "Rena wrote: "Hey, okay. There's a character named Lucinda. The main character calls Lucinda, "Lucy". Can I mark off Lucy? Lucinda is never referred to as Lucy."

Hi Rena - Ignoring your last senten..."

Sorry, I meant that in the text Lucinda is never referred to as Lucy. As in, "Lucy" is always in quotation marks. Does that make sense?

D.G. ~Saucy Vixen~ wrote: "Maybe Rena means that 'Lucy' is the main character's name for Lucinda but that nobody else refers to her that way?"

yes, yes yes! That's right. Thank you.

Right - well, it sounds fine. So long as one significant person calls her Lucy, then you can mark off 'Lucy'. :)

❥☪LIZZ☪❥ wrote: "Name Sheet


Still working on it but anyone can add"

Thanks so much!

I added my list.