Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

2012 May Monthly Challenge

This thread is for the suggestions for the different categories. The participants thread is located HERE.

Many Thanks to those who stop by the Suggestions Thread. Your help is very much appreciated!!

1. 'M' is for May: Read a book that starts with the letter 'M' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with the letter 'M'.

2. Happy Birthday! Read a book from a January birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose name/nickname starts with the same letter as yours. If no one has the same letter, choose someone with the closest letter to yours alphabetically. May Birthday List.

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Ireland or a book that can be linked to Music, dance or poems (i.e the main character can be a dancer etc).

4. Cinco de Mayo (5 May): Read a book that has 5 words or is 5th in a series or takes place in Meixco.

5. May Day (May 1): Read a book that takes place in Summer or a book with flowers on the cover.

6. Recommitment Month: Read a book that you've given up on or give a second chance to the author.

7. Towel Day (25 May): Towel Day is celebrated as a tribute to Douglas Adams. Read any book by Douglas Adams or any science-fiction book.

8. Kentucky Derby: Read a book that has any horse race or a book that features horses prominently or a book that takes place in Kentucky.

9. Mother's Day: Read a book where the main character is a mother (single or expectant).

10. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice

Challenge Duration: May 1 to May 31, 2012

You can choose 3 , 5 , 8 or all 10 categories depending on your reading speed, books availability and/or time commitment.

When posting your challenge progress, please make sure to put the date/s when you finished your book/s.

Please repost your progress as it helps when updating.

Happy Reading Everyone!

1. GR List of Books set in Ireland

2. List of Authors from Ireland

3. List of Famous Authors from Ireland

Do you mean on #9 Mother's Day that the mother must be a single mother or an expectant mother? Or do you mean your category includes those Mom's too? Can it include step-mother's?

It can include any mom. No qualifications - step-mom, expectant, single, "normal" mom. Any :)

I need some clarification for #7. I don't read sic-fi since there is so little of it that combines with romance.

Would a futuristic book/series work here? Like an In Death book? What about Jayne Castle's Harmony books?

HI MountainKat, futuristic books will work for the science category. In Death and Harmony books would work.

Thanks Vi! That makes things work so much easier!

You're welcome, MK!

I'm also a little confused about what qualifies as Sci-Fi. Would Dystopia fit or not?

According to wiki (link), it would fit. GR Sci-Fi Genre page also says the same. I see dystopia listed as a sub-genre. Hope that helps, LL!

Hi Vi - would two fathers looking after a few kids/a child/baby count toward Mother's Day?

Hi Jane! Sorry, I would say not. Both of them are fathers. sorry, Jane.

Vi wrote: "According to wiki (link), it would fit. GR Sci-Fi Genre page also says the same. I see dystopia listed as a sub-genre. Hope that helps, LL!"

Thanks, Vi! That helps loads!

Vi,

I have a question, would this book, Kiss Me, I'm Irish count toward the Geography category? Since I haven't read it yet, I don't know how much or if at all Ireland is mentioned, but all the characters do seem to have Irish names?? Will you let me know?

Hi Hina! From the blurb and the reviews, the male characters all seem to be Irish. I'd say this book would work for the geo category. Go for it, Hina!

Vi wrote: "Hi Hina! From the blurb and the reviews, the male characters all seem to be Irish. I'd say this book would work for the geo category. Go for it, Hina!"

Cool. Thanks Vi!

Vi wrote: "Hi Jane! Sorry, I would say not. Both of them are fathers. sorry, Jane."

OK. Thought it might be a long bow to drawer... Thanks.

Would paranormal/fantasy/other world Work as science fiction? Maybe not purelt scientific, but...

Paranormal/fantasy would not come under Science fiction, Nicola. If you could tell me the book's name, then maybe I could tell you if it works as Science fiction..

Vi wrote: "Paranormal/fantasy would not come under Science fiction, Nicola. If you could tell me the book's name, then maybe I could tell you if it works as Science fiction.."

Sorry - meant to include that
it is the second if the Hex Hall series - Demonglass it just seemed to go with some of the other suggested books.
(Not really a sci-fi gal!)

Sorry, Nicola! That book would come firmly under fantasy (sub: paranormal). If you are open to new authors/books, then here's the GR Science Fiction Romance shelf. Also, if you have any dystopia, futuristic (like In Death), that would also work. Hope that helps.

Thanks - I'll keep looking

My last name starts with "M" hint hint LOL

Nicola wrote: "Thanks - I'll keep looking"

Hi Nicola, I hope you don't mind me butting in, but I was having the same problem until I took a broader look at the category, so I took a peek at your TBR shelf. I did see that you have at least a couple of books listed that will work,Naked in Death and Divergent. I love the In Death series (which really means nothing since our tastes appear to be pretty different). Good luck, hope you find something you like!

Hi Nicola,

I have a few sci-fi books on my sci-fi shelf that are lendable if you want to take a look. Happy to lend you anything :)

Hi Vi! I am really struggling with the Recommitment Month category, there are very few books I've given up on and if I have given up on an author or a book, why would I want to give them another chance?! You know what they say - so many books, so little time... But I have a little challenge with myself to finish all of these, every month this year.

This is such a strict category without any other options. Would you be willing to accept giving a second chance to a narrator I had given up on in an audiobook? Because I can think of a few of those! (And at least I might be getting a good book out of it.)

I have another suggestion for the recommitment month category. How about a book where the couple is separated or divorced by their own actions or someone else's and gets a second chance at a HEA.

Katharina wrote: "I have a suggestion for the recommitment month category. How about a book where the couple is separated or divorced by their own actions or someone else's and gets a second chance at a HEA."

That is usually an option when this sort of category is used, but this month she limited it to a book you had given up on or giving an author a second chance. And I am really stumped!

Fran wrote: "Hi Nicola,

I have a few sci-fi books on my sci-fi shelf that are lendable if you want to take a look. Happy to lend you anything :)"

Thanks Fran! I will have a look and let you know.

~KarenH~ wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Thanks - I'll keep looking"

Hi Nicola, I hope you don't mind me butting in, but I was having the same problem until I took a broader look at the category, so I took a peek at your T..."

I was actually looking at the In Death series too - I think I saw it on your list when I updated the Leader board!
My TBR list isn't all that accurate - it is really only things I find when i am looking at various review here on GR. I really need to update it to reflect the other things I want to read as well.

Hi Fran,
Destined by Allison Kraft looks interesting. If I could borrow that it would be great.

Nicola, send me a PM with your email address and I will get it right out to you :)

Hi Katharina and MountainKat! I wanted to limit the categories to book or author this time for some reason which I can't remember now. Sorry, ladies!!

Hi Vi, no worries. I'm never able to read more than 5 or 6 books a month anyway. So I can take the easy way and skip the tougher categories ;)

Vi wrote: "Hi Katharina and MountainKat! I wanted to limit the categories to book or author this time for some reason which I can't remember now. Sorry, ladies!!"

Well, it would be nice if you could remember the reason... But I think I will just take a broader look at how to define giving up on a book or author, more that they just weren't right at the time rather than I really had no desire to ever try again, if that makes any sense!

I don't know why it is so hard to fnd these challenges each month, but i have been in the hospital a while and missed April. Could you put the next months month with a link in each previous months posting?
I would like to do it

Hi Lindy! I hope you're feeling better now. The monthly challenges are always placed in the Monthly Challenges folder with the current month's challenge stickied and placed on the top. You can also go to the monthly challenge via the group homepage. Hope that helps :)

Question about the May Day category. Would a book that starts in May (and probably ends in June) count for this category (summer)?

Judithe, May is summer in my country - So I'd say yes, it would count.

Thanks, Vi! It usually feels like summer in mine, too...but not this year. Not sure if I'm happy or sad about the delay from the muggy heat!

Lindy wrote: "I don't know why it is so hard to fnd these challenges each month, but i have been in the hospital a while and missed April. Could you put the next months month with a link in each previous months..."

Hi Lindy - I've just sent out a monthly newsletter that lists (links) all the monthly challenges along with other new challenges, author chats etc. We plan to send this out each month, so this should help prompt you for this challenge :)

I also put the thread I. The current monthly challenge for you Lindy.