Reading with Style discussion

Post general questions about the RwS Summer 2012 10 & 20 points tasks here.

When it says "This task cannot be used for combo points", that means that I still can get combo points in this task, I just cannot use it for combo points in another task, right?

i.e. 20.4, Combo 10.4, 20.3, 10.9 is ok,
but 10.4, Combo 20.4, 20.3, 10.9 is not. (?)

For the 10 degrees challenge, do I need to read the books on my list in order? Or can I read them as they come available at my library?

You need to read them in order so that the chain linking them is preserved. Note that the books further down the chain get higher points.

Connie wrote: "When it says "This task cannot be used for combo points", that means that I still can get combo points in this task, I just cannot use it for combo points in another task, right?

i.e. 20.4, Combo ..."

Not ignoring you, Connie, just want to make sure we're all thinking the same way, so waiting for a "conference."

Connie wrote: "When it says "This task cannot be used for combo points", that means that I still can get combo points in this task, I just cannot use it for combo points in another task, right?

i.e. 20.4, Combo ..."

I think you have it correct -- 20.4 cannot be claimed as combo points when a book is read for another task.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "You need to read them in order so that the chain linking them is preserved. Note that the books further down the chain get higher points."

Okay, thanks!

Thanks, Elizabeth and Liz!

will the group reads still be chosen based on reviews?

Rebekah wrote: "will the group reads still be chosen based on reviews?"

Thank you for the reminder this will be announced soon!

Rebekah wrote: "will the group reads still be chosen based on reviews?"

Whenever the review style is used during a challenge, it will most likely be used to determine which participants get to select a book for Group Reads.

So, the "Top Reviewers" of the Spring Challenge will get to select a group read for the Summer (excluding the Top Finishers that get to design a task).

Since the Summer Challenge does not have "Review" style points, we're going to base it on the "Not-a-novel" category instead -- whoever has the highest percentage of non-novels posted for the 10 & 20 point tasks will select a group read for the Fall Challenge. I still need to come up with a catchy title for this, though.

Is this right? I don't understand why we are voting on the polls. There are three Readers' choice tasks and only 3 tasks to vote on, so can't we just put those three tasks in the three slots and forget about voting? Or am I missing something really obvious?

Yes, Rebekah, there are two polls to vote on. One of them has 3 choices, but only one of them will win. The other has 5 choices and two of them will win. (Or one will win and we'll have a runoff.)

Thanks, Elizabeth. I don't know why I didn't see the second poll that time. I guess it was the extra poll about how many times a task is designed threw me off. I'm so foggy headed! I'm glad you all are so patient with me!(smile)

We can't do any re-reads for TDOS but can we re-read for one of the other tasks? It's been two decades since I last read The Great Gatsby and with the movie coming out, I'm itching to read it again.

Jenifer, we have no way of checking for that sort of thing. You're on your honor. Personally, I think 2 decades qualifies as a first timer - you are undoubtedly a different person from this perspective.

we can't do re-reads? I didn't know that!

No re-reads is in the rules for 10 Degrees of Separation. Liz hasn't put it in the fine print for RwS. We hope that the tasks themselves provide enough encouragement to try something new. Still, as Jenifer points out, there are times when a long ago read is worth a re-read.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Jenifer, we have no way of checking for that sort of thing. You're on your honor. Personally, I think 2 decades qualifies as a first timer - you are undoubtedly a different person from this perspec..."

Thanks, Elizabeth. I was thinking of reading it for the Alliteration task and was interested in reading it again for the very reason you stated...I'm interested in how I will view the book now as compared to in my late teens.

Don wrote: "I have a book Letters from Atlantis that I want to use for epistolary. Some of the comments and reviews put it as for young people. I checked lexile.com and they dont have it. I went to BPL and i..."

That won't be coded as YA - you're fine!

Would it be possible to put a section about the rewards in the FAQ or the Task/Style overview? Can't seem to find information on who gets to do what readily (unless it's New Tasks-time, when the top-finisher tasks are not yet filled in).

For 20.10, having chosen a writer from one of the lists, how careful do we have to be that the work itself "Modernist"? Just clicking around different people and there seem to be a couple authors who were establish writers prior to Modernism (or at least from what I can tell from wikipedia and goodreads.) Ex. W.B. Yeats

Leigh wrote: "For 20.10, having chosen a writer from one of the lists, how careful do we have to be that the work itself "Modernist"? Just clicking around different people and there seem to be a couple authors ..."

If the author is on the list, it works.

Connie wrote: "Would it be possible to put a section about the rewards in the FAQ or the Task/Style overview? Can't seem to find information on who gets to do what readily (unless it's New Tasks-time, when the to..."

Liz got the Styles post updated with this information. Thanks for asking - something on the To Do list always gets shuffled to the bottom.

Um, I just saw my name under the Group Reads for Summer? Am I supposed to nominate one?

I thought it was just the Top Reviewers for Spring or is is Top Reviewers + whoever completed the challenge?

Is this the right place to ask about ebooks that don't have a print edition? I have Love In The Wrong Dimension which Amazon says is equivalent to 237 pages but it's only available as a Kindle book. Is that OK? (I'll be reading it for 10.2, Under-rated.)

Tien (aka Kazza) wrote: "Um, I just saw my name under the Group Reads for Summer? Am I supposed to nominate one?

I thought it was just the Top Reviewers for Spring or is is Top Reviewers + whoever completed the challenge?"

It is Mega Finishers who aren't in the top three, plus enough of the Top Reviewers to fill the field. You were a Mega Finisher, Tien. Congrats!

Rosemary wrote: "Is this the right place to ask about ebooks that don't have a print edition? I have Love In The Wrong Dimension which Amazon says is equivalent to 237 pages but it's only available as a Kindle book..."

Yes, ebooks are fine.

Tien (aka Kazza) wrote: "Um, I just saw my name under the Group Reads for Summer? Am I supposed to nominate one?

I thought it was just the Top Reviewers for Spring or is is Top Reviewers + whoever completed the challenge?"

What Elizabeth said. Technically, I should have waited until the final posts were tallied before making public which members are choosing group reads, but I am going out of town and out of internet range later this morning. So,for those of you that have been surprised to see your name under task 10.10, when you have a moment, please send Kate the title of a book you read for the Spring Challenge that you would like others to read.

Thanks, Elizabeth & Liz. I will send message to Kate soon.

I'm still a little confused about the "can't be used for combo points" thing...

So, for example, let's say Margaret Atwood comes up on my Literature Map. Does this mean that I can read The Handmaid's Tale for the "Literature Map" task and then claim combo points because it is also one of the Group Reads? Or no, but the other way around (e.g. I can read it for Group Reads and then claim points because it's on my Literature Map)? Or neither?

You can claim it for the the Literature Map and get your 5 combo points for Group Reads, but not the reverse. Task 20.4 can't be listed in yours (or anyone's) claim of 5 combo points.

Thanks! And as a follow-up question, if I then repeat the Literature Map task with another author (like Stephen King, on the same Map) can I claim different combo points again (e.g. for the "Fatherly" task?)

(I have an awesome Literature Map!)

Melanie wrote: "Thanks! And as a follow-up question, if I then repeat the Literature Map task with another author (like Stephen King, on the same Map) can I claim different combo points again (e.g. for the "Father..."

Yes, you can! Combo points are dependent on the book/task combonations - oops! combinations - so you get to start fresh with every read.

There is no help thread for 20.10 Modernly and I need book suggestions. Does anyone have any ideas?

There you go, Jayme - I opened a thread for you.

Rosemary and Connie - you can move your posts over there if you'd like, or leave them here either way.

Thank you :)

does anyone know where I can fit American Gods by Neil Gaiman?

Rebekah wrote: "does anyone know where I can fit American Gods by Neil Gaiman?"

Try it for Road Trip - Shadow is traveling throughout the majority of the book through the backroads of America ^_^

Rebekah wrote: "does anyone know where I can fit American Gods by Neil Gaiman?"

I'm reading it now for 20.1 Make Me Laugh.

Thanks! I just got it last month and really wanted to read it. I could have made it work for TDoS but I already have enough books for the sub challenge. So it even gets combo points!

I do not see a help thread for 10.4. Am I missing it?

Bea wrote: "I do not see a help thread for 10.4. Am I missing it?"

I think that's because the books will need to be from one of those lists listed under the task so you really can't go wrong there...?

Well, here is my question then. One of the books from the Top 100 list is The Eyre Affair, but it does not have Steampunk as a genre. Can I still read it because it is on the list?

Bea wrote: "Well, here is my question then. One of the books from the Top 100 list is The Eyre Affair, but it does not have Steampunk as a genre. Can I still read it because it is on the list?"

Yes, and I hope you enjoy it!

Kate S wrote: "Yes, and I hope you enjoy it!"


Thanks, Kate.

I have a question regarding the Group Reads. I see eleven books listed. I can read one or more of the list? Or do I have to read all to get the credit?

Bea wrote: "I have a question regarding the Group Reads. I see eleven books listed. I can read one or more of the list? Or do I have to read all to get the credit?"

We require only one book per task. You can choose from any of them. Remember, too, in Reading with Style you can do the 10- and 20-point tasks multiple times.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "We require only one book per task. You can choose from any of them. Remember, too, in Reading with Style you can do the 10- and 20-point tasks multiple times."

Thanks, Elizabeth.

Under one of the linked lists for "Summer Classic Reads," it says the following:

Richard Eyre, director
The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My favourite beach read would have to be this novel (and its sequel The Girl Who Played With Fire) by the Swedish writer Stieg Larsson, who died in 2004. A middle-aged man (financial journalist) teams up with a young woman (sociopathic computer expert) to investigate a wealthy family devoured by its secrets. It’s an intelligent thriller that never disappoints: complex plot, inspired sleuthing, social comment, violence, sex and almost credible characters.

If I've already read Dragon Tattoo, would The Girl Who Played With Fire also "count" for this task since it's listed in the body of the paragraph? I think I'm going to be reading it for Scandinavian Noir anyway, but I was wondering if I could read it for this task or count it for bonus points...