Take It or Leave It Challenge - October 2023 - Page 1
Talk75 Books Challenge for 2023
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1SqueakyChu
For those new to this challenge: More info and monthly index can be found in post #1 of this thread or this TIOLI FAQS wiki.
...logo by cyderry
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Your TIOLI challenge for October, 2023, is to...
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Read a book with the number of title letters divisible by 5
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Rules:
1. Subtitles do not count.
2. Numerals do not count (although your title may include numerals).
3. Punctuation does not count.
Go for it...Now!
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Other Fun Stuff (not part of the TIOLI challenge):
1. FAMeulstee's 2023 TIOLI Sweeplette Meter
2. FAMeulstee's Our TIOLI Sweeps
3. Morphidae's List of Previous TIOLI Challenges (2010-2016) - A reference (Do a control-F scan) to avoid repeating a previous challenge. If your idea is similar to a previous challenge, make it unique by adding a new "twist" to it.
4. The October 2023 TIOLI Meter - Optional page on which you may track your TIOLI reading. Not competitive--- just fun!
...logo by cyderry
---------------------------------------------------------------
Your TIOLI challenge for October, 2023, is to...
********************
Read a book with the number of title letters divisible by 5
**********************
Rules:
1. Subtitles do not count.
2. Numerals do not count (although your title may include numerals).
3. Punctuation does not count.
Go for it...Now!
---------------------------------------------------------
Other Fun Stuff (not part of the TIOLI challenge):
1. FAMeulstee's 2023 TIOLI Sweeplette Meter
2. FAMeulstee's Our TIOLI Sweeps
3. Morphidae's List of Previous TIOLI Challenges (2010-2016) - A reference (Do a control-F scan) to avoid repeating a previous challenge. If your idea is similar to a previous challenge, make it unique by adding a new "twist" to it.
4. The October 2023 TIOLI Meter - Optional page on which you may track your TIOLI reading. Not competitive--- just fun!
2SqueakyChu
Index of Challenges:
Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book with the number of title letters divisible by 5 - msg #1
2. Read a book whose title or subtitle includes the word “devil” or one of its synonyms - msg #3
3. Read a book by or about someone who died on or after February 29, 2020 - msg #4
4. Read a book that has a title word that starts with an O, an N or a D (October,November & December) - msg #5
5. Read a book with a word in the title that can refer to a non-written art - msg #6
6. Read a short story or collection of short stories with a supernatural theme - msg #7
Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book where adding or removing a letter makes a new title - msg #13
8. Read a book where the main character performs one of the top 10 most popular Halloween activities - msg #14
9. Read a book with a title containing at least 2 of the following - a religious title, a royal title, and/or a political title - msg #18
10. Read a book by an author you've read at least three books by in the past, but none so far in 2023 - msg #30
11. Read a book with 300 pages or more - msg #32
12. Read a book that qualifies as a "saga" - msg #35
Challenges #13-14
13. Read a book with a family connection - msg #39
14. Read a book narrated by a woman with a reference to a female character in the title - msg #43
Hold your challenge until the TIOLI challenge is posted for November, 2023. Thank you!
Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book with the number of title letters divisible by 5 - msg #1
2. Read a book whose title or subtitle includes the word “devil” or one of its synonyms - msg #3
3. Read a book by or about someone who died on or after February 29, 2020 - msg #4
4. Read a book that has a title word that starts with an O, an N or a D (October,November & December) - msg #5
5. Read a book with a word in the title that can refer to a non-written art - msg #6
6. Read a short story or collection of short stories with a supernatural theme - msg #7
Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book where adding or removing a letter makes a new title - msg #13
8. Read a book where the main character performs one of the top 10 most popular Halloween activities - msg #14
9. Read a book with a title containing at least 2 of the following - a religious title, a royal title, and/or a political title - msg #18
10. Read a book by an author you've read at least three books by in the past, but none so far in 2023 - msg #30
11. Read a book with 300 pages or more - msg #32
12. Read a book that qualifies as a "saga" - msg #35
Challenges #13-14
13. Read a book with a family connection - msg #39
14. Read a book narrated by a woman with a reference to a female character in the title - msg #43
Hold your challenge until the TIOLI challenge is posted for November, 2023. Thank you!
3dallenbaugh
Challenge #2: Read a book whose title or subtitle includes the word “devil” or one of its synonyms
Please only use synonyms from the following list: https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/devil
If you just can’t find a book to fit this challenge you can use “hell” or one of its synonyms as an alternative choice.
Please only use synonyms for this second choice from the following list: https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/hell
A Halloween challenge for October
Please only use synonyms from the following list: https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/devil
If you just can’t find a book to fit this challenge you can use “hell” or one of its synonyms as an alternative choice.
Please only use synonyms for this second choice from the following list: https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/hell
A Halloween challenge for October
4lindapanzo
Challenge #3: Read a book by or about someone who died on or after February 29, 2020
If possible, please specify the month and year the book's author or subject died.
I chose this date because it was the date the first death by COVID-19 was reported in the U.S., though it turns out that someone died earlier that month.
Note that the book author or subject does not need to have died from COVID, just that they died during the period from February 29, 2020 to the present.
If possible, please specify the month and year the book's author or subject died.
I chose this date because it was the date the first death by COVID-19 was reported in the U.S., though it turns out that someone died earlier that month.
Note that the book author or subject does not need to have died from COVID, just that they died during the period from February 29, 2020 to the present.
5DeltaQueen50
Challenge #4: To kick off the last quarter of 2023, read a book that has a title word that starts with an O, an N or a D (October, November & December)
6quondame
Challenge #5: Read a book with a word in the title that can refer to a non-written art
Painting, drawing, photography, pirography, ceramics, knitting, cooking, mime, dance, music but not written or theater arts.
Painting, drawing, photography, pirography, ceramics, knitting, cooking, mime, dance, music but not written or theater arts.
7lyzard
Challenge #6:
Read a short story or collection of short stories with a supernatural theme
If you are reading a collection, the entire volume need not deal with the supernatural, but at least 50% of the stories should. The collection can be by one author or an anthology.
I'm fairly flexible on the definition of "supernatural" (monsters, ghosts, psychic phenomena, any inexplicable event) but neither science fiction nor non-real-world fantasy qualify. Please ask if you're not sure.
I'm also flexible on the definition of "short story": any work that you do not consider novel-length is fine.
Read a short story or collection of short stories with a supernatural theme
If you are reading a collection, the entire volume need not deal with the supernatural, but at least 50% of the stories should. The collection can be by one author or an anthology.
I'm fairly flexible on the definition of "supernatural" (monsters, ghosts, psychic phenomena, any inexplicable event) but neither science fiction nor non-real-world fantasy qualify. Please ask if you're not sure.
I'm also flexible on the definition of "short story": any work that you do not consider novel-length is fine.
9DeltaQueen50
>8 lyzard: Good question. I added Roseanna as Maj Sjowall passed away in 2020 even though her writing partner died in 1975 so I need to know Linda's thoughts on this as well.
10lindapanzo
>8 lyzard: >9 DeltaQueen50: sure, that’s fine if one of the authors died after 2/29/20.
11SqueakyChu
Oooh! Fahrenheit 451 would be a great book to share with DeltaQueen for my challenge #1. Banned Book Week is the first week of October!
12quondame
>7 lyzard: Would a fictional city otherwise in "our" world but with fae, ghosts, goblins be acceptable?
13Helenliz
This one is in honour of a current quiz show favourite. Richard Osman's House of Games is a quiz show where each round is different. There are two rounds that are related that my challenge draws upon.
The first is Hose of Games, where they take a TV show, book or film and remove a letter, the contestants have to guess the new show from a synopsis.
The second is House of Gamers where they take a TV show, book or film and add a letter, the contestants have to guess the new show from a synopsis.
Challenge #7: Read a book where adding or removing a letter makes a new title.
In that spirit, you need to take your title and either add or take away a single letter to form a new title. I will offer kudos for those who offer a brief synopsis of your new book's title. Just adding a s and making a plural is allowable, but I would hope you can rise above that in your levels of inventiveness.
Examples:
Last month I read:
Sprig Muslin. I could add a letter and make Spring Muslin. (flowered light material early in the year)
Fen Bog and Swamp I could add a letter and make Fen Blog and Swamp (three soggy places, one an aspiring author)
Caste where I could drop letters to make Case or Cast
No need to include a subtitle, unless you want to. Use or ignore, as the mood takes you.
All words have to be valid words in the language the title is in.
The first is Hose of Games, where they take a TV show, book or film and remove a letter, the contestants have to guess the new show from a synopsis.
The second is House of Gamers where they take a TV show, book or film and add a letter, the contestants have to guess the new show from a synopsis.
Challenge #7: Read a book where adding or removing a letter makes a new title.
In that spirit, you need to take your title and either add or take away a single letter to form a new title. I will offer kudos for those who offer a brief synopsis of your new book's title. Just adding a s and making a plural is allowable, but I would hope you can rise above that in your levels of inventiveness.
Examples:
Last month I read:
Sprig Muslin. I could add a letter and make Spring Muslin. (flowered light material early in the year)
Fen Bog and Swamp I could add a letter and make Fen Blog and Swamp (three soggy places, one an aspiring author)
Caste where I could drop letters to make Case or Cast
No need to include a subtitle, unless you want to. Use or ignore, as the mood takes you.
All words have to be valid words in the language the title is in.
14Morphidae
Challenge #8: Read a book where the MC performs one of the top 10 most popular Halloween activities
Please note activity in wiki.
They don't need to be Halloween related.
1. Eating candy
2. Decorating the house (includes from decorating for a holiday to redecorating a room to complete interior design.)
3. Trick-or-treating
4. Going to haunted houses (living in will count
5. Dressing up (e.g. formal event)
6. Carving jack-o'-lanterns
7. Going to parties
8. Watching scary movies
9. Scaring little kids (accidentally counts as do "small" scares)
10. Making costumes
*Approved change. Sorry for the lateness of it. Life intruded.
Please note activity in wiki.
They don't need to be Halloween related.
1. Eating candy
2. Decorating the house (includes from decorating for a holiday to redecorating a room to complete interior design.)
3. Trick-or-treating
4. Going to haunted houses (living in will count
5. Dressing up (e.g. formal event)
6. Carving jack-o'-lanterns
7. Going to parties
8. Watching scary movies
9. Scaring little kids (accidentally counts as do "small" scares)
10. Making costumes
*Approved change. Sorry for the lateness of it. Life intruded.
15lyzard
>10 lindapanzo:
Thanks!
>9 DeltaQueen50:
Great minds! - I will be reading The Fire Engine That Disappeared.
I think Anita is also reading the Martin Beck series, so we might have more company. :)
Thanks!
>9 DeltaQueen50:
Great minds! - I will be reading The Fire Engine That Disappeared.
I think Anita is also reading the Martin Beck series, so we might have more company. :)
16lyzard
>12 quondame:
If it is set in the real world and has some non-supernatural characters, I will allow it (otherwise I would consider it fantasy).
ETA: I hope that isn't too hair-splitty: I'm really looking for real people having un-real experiences or encounters.
If it is set in the real world and has some non-supernatural characters, I will allow it (otherwise I would consider it fantasy).
ETA: I hope that isn't too hair-splitty: I'm really looking for real people having un-real experiences or encounters.
17FAMeulstee
>15 lyzard: I finished the last Martin Beck in November last year, Liz, so I won't join you there. It is to early to start a re-read.
18Citizenjoyce
Challenge #9: Read a book with a title containing at least 2 of the following - a religious title, a royal title, and/or a political title
I'll be re-reading '''Deacon''' '''King''' Kong by James McBride for my RL book club.
I'll be re-reading '''Deacon''' '''King''' Kong by James McBride for my RL book club.
19Citizenjoyce
Fun challenges so far, I love this time of year. My planned reads:
Challenge #1: Read a book with the number of title letters divisible by 5 - started by SqueakyChu
*✔The Selfless Act of Breathing - JJ Bola (3.5)
Challenge #2: Read a book whose title or subtitle includes the word “devil” or one of its synonyms - started by dallenbaugh
✔Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion - Joseph P. Laycock (5)
Challenge #3: Read a book by or about someone who died on or after February 29, 2020 - started by lindapanzo
✔Fighting for YES!: The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann - Maryann Cocca-Leffler (5)
Challenge #4: Read a book that has a title word that starts with an O, an N or a D (October, November & December) - started by DeltaQueen
✔Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America - Heather Cox Richardson (5)
✔Demon Song - Cat Adams (3.5)
Challenge #5: Read a book with a word in the title that can refer to a non-written art - started by quondame
✔Blood Song - Cat Adams (4)
Challenge #6: Read a short story or collection of short stories with a supernatural theme - started by lyzard
Dreams Underfoot: A Newford Collection - Charles de Lint
*✔Haunted Nights - Ellen Datlow (4)
Challenge #7: Read a book where adding or removing a letter makes a new title - started by helenliz
✔Siren Song- Cat Adams (4)
Challenge #8: Read a book for the Shadows & Shivers Bingo rolling challenge - started by Morphidae
Dark Harvest - Norman Partridge
✔The Midnight Man -Caroline Mitchell (3.5)
✔The Mother Next Door - Tara Laskowski (3)
✔The Perfect Death (Brannon House Book 1) by Stacy Claflin (2.5)
Rags and Bones - Melissa Marr abandoned
Challenge #9: Read a book with a title containing at least 2 of the following - a religious title, a royal title, and/or a political title - started by Citizenjoyce
*✔Deacon King Kong - James McBride (4)
Challenge #10: Read a book by an author you've read at least three books by in the past, but none so far in 2023. List # read in the past - started by susanna.fraser
✔Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult (3.5)
Challenge #11: Read a book with 300 pages or more - started by FAMeulstee
✔Hell Bent - Leigh Bardugo (4)
Challenge #12: Read a book that qualifies as a "saga" - started by Chatterbox
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 - L. Ron Hubbard
*✔The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz - Erik Larson (4)
Challenge #13: Read a book with a family connection (state the connection) - started by bell7
✔The Richer Sex: How the New Majority of Female Breadwinners Is Transforming Sex, Love and Family - Liza Mundy (4)
✔Healing: When a Nurse Becomes a Patient by Theresa Brown (4)
✔The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives - Theresa Brown (5)
Challenge #14: Read a book narrated by a woman with a reference to a female character in the title - started by wandering_star
*Agatha of Little Neon - Claire Luchette
✔By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register - Piper Huguley (4)
Challenge #1: Read a book with the number of title letters divisible by 5 - started by SqueakyChu
*✔The Selfless Act of Breathing - JJ Bola (3.5)
Challenge #2: Read a book whose title or subtitle includes the word “devil” or one of its synonyms - started by dallenbaugh
✔Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion - Joseph P. Laycock (5)
Challenge #3: Read a book by or about someone who died on or after February 29, 2020 - started by lindapanzo
✔Fighting for YES!: The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann - Maryann Cocca-Leffler (5)
Challenge #4: Read a book that has a title word that starts with an O, an N or a D (October, November & December) - started by DeltaQueen
✔Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America - Heather Cox Richardson (5)
✔Demon Song - Cat Adams (3.5)
Challenge #5: Read a book with a word in the title that can refer to a non-written art - started by quondame
✔Blood Song - Cat Adams (4)
Challenge #6: Read a short story or collection of short stories with a supernatural theme - started by lyzard
Dreams Underfoot: A Newford Collection - Charles de Lint
*✔Haunted Nights - Ellen Datlow (4)
Challenge #7: Read a book where adding or removing a letter makes a new title - started by helenliz
✔Siren Song- Cat Adams (4)
Challenge #8: Read a book for the Shadows & Shivers Bingo rolling challenge - started by Morphidae
Dark Harvest - Norman Partridge
✔The Midnight Man -Caroline Mitchell (3.5)
✔The Mother Next Door - Tara Laskowski (3)
✔The Perfect Death (Brannon House Book 1) by Stacy Claflin (2.5)
Rags and Bones - Melissa Marr abandoned
Challenge #9: Read a book with a title containing at least 2 of the following - a religious title, a royal title, and/or a political title - started by Citizenjoyce
*✔Deacon King Kong - James McBride (4)
Challenge #10: Read a book by an author you've read at least three books by in the past, but none so far in 2023. List # read in the past - started by susanna.fraser
✔Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult (3.5)
Challenge #11: Read a book with 300 pages or more - started by FAMeulstee
✔Hell Bent - Leigh Bardugo (4)
Challenge #12: Read a book that qualifies as a "saga" - started by Chatterbox
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 - L. Ron Hubbard
*✔The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz - Erik Larson (4)
Challenge #13: Read a book with a family connection (state the connection) - started by bell7
✔The Richer Sex: How the New Majority of Female Breadwinners Is Transforming Sex, Love and Family - Liza Mundy (4)
✔Healing: When a Nurse Becomes a Patient by Theresa Brown (4)
✔The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives - Theresa Brown (5)
Challenge #14: Read a book narrated by a woman with a reference to a female character in the title - started by wandering_star
*Agatha of Little Neon - Claire Luchette
✔By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register - Piper Huguley (4)
20Kristelh
>7 lyzard:, for challenge 6, Would the Legend of Sleeping Hollow work here?
21Morphidae
>18 Citizenjoyce: Can you do two of the same type of title like two royals in:
The Sultan and the Queen by Jerry Brotton
The Sultan and the Queen by Jerry Brotton
22lindapanzo
>5 DeltaQueen50: Happily, Judy, many of the mysteries I want to get to in October include title words starting with O, N, and/or D. So your challenge is perfect.
>13 Helenliz: I am chuckling at the first entries for your challenge. Alas, I don't think of myself as a creative person but maybe something will come to me if I look at my book titles long enough.
>13 Helenliz: I am chuckling at the first entries for your challenge. Alas, I don't think of myself as a creative person but maybe something will come to me if I look at my book titles long enough.
23alcottacre
I am not taking part in the TIOLI challenges in October - I am going to be out of town for half the month - but I wish everyone good luck and good reading!!
24Kristelh
I am going to be out of town part of October but will try to do some of the TIOLI challenges, just may be more limited by time.
25Citizenjoyce
>21 Morphidae: No they have to be two different categories.
26Citizenjoyce
>23 alcottacre: you went crazy this month. Your brain and eyes need a little rest.
27quondame
>16 lyzard: That is exactly what the Newford books are, real people having surreal encounters. Though sometimes the lines blur.
28alcottacre
>26 Citizenjoyce: Maybe that is why my CFS has reared its ugly head this week. I am really struggling to finish up the books I already had in train before this week. No way am I going to finish the other 6 or so that I never even started.
29Citizenjoyce
>28 alcottacre: Be gentle with yourself.
30susanna.fraser
Challenge #10: Read a book by an author you've read at least three books by in the past, but none so far in 2023. List number read in the past.
Hopefully self-explanatory. Shared reads are allowed.
Hopefully self-explanatory. Shared reads are allowed.
31alcottacre
>29 Citizenjoyce: I try, but I have little patience for it :) Thanks, Joyce.
32FAMeulstee
Challenge #11: Read a book with 300 pages or more
33lyzard
>13 Helenliz:
My library had Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragoon mis-catalogued as Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragon, so I don't even have to think about that one. :D
>17 FAMeulstee:
Well I lost track of that, didn't I?? Never mind!
My library had Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragoon mis-catalogued as Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragon, so I don't even have to think about that one. :D
>17 FAMeulstee:
Well I lost track of that, didn't I?? Never mind!
34lyzard
>20 Kristelh:
If you mean The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow, borderline---but I will allow it for its setting and backstory.
>27 quondame:
That sounds fine, then. (As long as the short-story part is met!)
If you mean The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow, borderline---but I will allow it for its setting and backstory.
>27 quondame:
That sounds fine, then. (As long as the short-story part is met!)
35Chatterbox
Challenge #12: Read a book that could be described as a "saga"
You know 'em when you see 'em. A saga is (dictionary definition) "a long involved story". It can feature heroes (think the Viking sagas) or quirky heroes (think Don Quixote) or simply a lot of interwoven stories of different characters that take place over a reasonably long time frame. Earlier this year, I (re) read The Tontine by Thomas Costain, which definitely would have qualified. I'm going to read the latest volume of Ken Follett's cathedral books (just released) and re-read Shogun, probably via audiobook. And I make seek out a chick lit saga, as well... :-) Guilty pleasures!
You know 'em when you see 'em. A saga is (dictionary definition) "a long involved story". It can feature heroes (think the Viking sagas) or quirky heroes (think Don Quixote) or simply a lot of interwoven stories of different characters that take place over a reasonably long time frame. Earlier this year, I (re) read The Tontine by Thomas Costain, which definitely would have qualified. I'm going to read the latest volume of Ken Follett's cathedral books (just released) and re-read Shogun, probably via audiobook. And I make seek out a chick lit saga, as well... :-) Guilty pleasures!
36Helenliz
>33 lyzard: I'm not sure which of those two options I'd prefer to read!
>22 lindapanzo: I agree. There some nice inventiveness going on in there so far.
>22 lindapanzo: I agree. There some nice inventiveness going on in there so far.
37quondame
>18 Citizenjoyce: Can the titles be in the subtitle?
39bell7
Challenge #13: Read a book with a family connection (state the connection)
A self-serving challenge to make me finally pick up the nonfiction book on the history of Auburn, NY that I've been meaning to read in connection to researching my family history. I'm going to be pretty broad in my definition of a family connection, however. Is it set in a town where your family was from? Is a character a distant cousin of yours? Are you related to the author? Are you reading about the Irish potato famine and have Irish ancestry? That all counts. Please do note what the connection is in the entry on the wiki. I am curious to see what y'all come up with :)
Mine (once I get home to figure out the exact title/author of the book I mean to read) is that some of my father's ancestors were originally from the town of Auburn.
A self-serving challenge to make me finally pick up the nonfiction book on the history of Auburn, NY that I've been meaning to read in connection to researching my family history. I'm going to be pretty broad in my definition of a family connection, however. Is it set in a town where your family was from? Is a character a distant cousin of yours? Are you related to the author? Are you reading about the Irish potato famine and have Irish ancestry? That all counts. Please do note what the connection is in the entry on the wiki. I am curious to see what y'all come up with :)
Mine (once I get home to figure out the exact title/author of the book I mean to read) is that some of my father's ancestors were originally from the town of Auburn.
40raidergirl3
>13 Helenliz: I am surprised at how difficult it is to add or remove a letter, and not just change a letter. I tried several times, and each time I only changed a letter. Sheesh. I must check out this new game show- maybe on youtube?
41Helenliz
>40 raidergirl3: the change a letter is also a round they use. I decided I might save that for another time. >:-)
There are episodes on YouTube, yes.
There are episodes on YouTube, yes.
42lindapanzo
>40 raidergirl3: I can't delete a letter on anything I own but next, I'll try adding a letter. That might be easier. I hope.
43wandering_star
Challenge #14: Read a book narrated by a woman with a reference to a female character in the title
The character in the title could be the narrator or someone else. The title can also refer to multiple characters.
The character in the title could be the narrator or someone else. The title can also refer to multiple characters.
44quondame
>43 wandering_star: Do goddesses count as women?
45Helenliz
>44 quondame: I was wondering if Gods & Goddesses count as supernatural beings for >7 lyzard:'s challenge!
48humouress
It's been a while since I managed to get to the TIOLI thread (busy year) but I'm here! Let's see if I manage to actually read for the challenge.
49SqueakyChu
>48 humouress: Welcome back!
50Citizenjoyce
>48 humouress: It's a nice cozy month to read.
51humouress
>49 SqueakyChu: >50 Citizenjoyce: Thank you!
52alcottacre
>48 humouress: Yay! Always glad to see you, Nina!
53humouress
>52 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia :0)
54lindapanzo
>14 Morphidae: Do you have any details about your challenge yet?
55SqueakyChu
>54 lindapanzo: She let me know that she'll post them this afternoon. Thanks for your patience.
56lindapanzo
>55 SqueakyChu: I certainly have plenty to read this month. Lots of great challenges. Between the start of the hockey season and the baseball playoffs, I've got to get my reading in when I can.
57Morphidae
>54 lindapanzo: >55 SqueakyChu: It's up and updated.
58SqueakyChu
>57 Morphidae: Hurray! Thank you.
59FAMeulstee
>35 Chatterbox: I have two books tagged 'family saga', I suppose those count for your saga challenge?
60Citizenjoyce
This message has been deleted by its author.
61SqueakyChu
TIOLI Stats for September, 2023
For the month of September, 2023, we read a total of 314 books of which 49 (or 16%) were shared reads. We accumulated 26 TIOLI points for a September YTD total of 298 TIOLI points (less than last year, but more than two years ago).
Our most popular book was Days Without End by Sebastian Barry. This book was read by five challengers.
Our most popular challenge, with 56 books read, was the challenge by Chatterbox to read a book with a headline character count of 23 or less.
The challenge with the most TIOLI points (five) was the one by lindapanzo to read a book, fiction or nonfiction, about a war that took place before you were born.
Ever onward...
For the month of September, 2023, we read a total of 314 books of which 49 (or 16%) were shared reads. We accumulated 26 TIOLI points for a September YTD total of 298 TIOLI points (less than last year, but more than two years ago).
Our most popular book was Days Without End by Sebastian Barry. This book was read by five challengers.
Our most popular challenge, with 56 books read, was the challenge by Chatterbox to read a book with a headline character count of 23 or less.
The challenge with the most TIOLI points (five) was the one by lindapanzo to read a book, fiction or nonfiction, about a war that took place before you were born.
Ever onward...
62Chatterbox
>59 FAMeulstee:, Absolutely!
63SqueakyChu
The TIOLI Awards for September, 2023!
The Learn a New Skill Award goes to Chatterbox for teaching all of us to do a headline character count. I can't wait to see when I can next use my newly acquired skill! This must be a great skill to have because it was a wildly popular challenge.
The Three's The Number Award goes to AlcottAcre and to quondame for reading books for the challlenge by AlcottAcre to read a book whose author's either first or last name has only 3 letters in it. These two award winners read books by authors whose names had three letters in both the first and last names.
The Picture Perfect Award goes to DeltaQueen50 for the challenge to read a book whose title would fit as a name for the posted picture. I love these challenges which use a picture to inspire reads. This was lovely -- both the picture used and the books chosen by our challengers.
The Matching Word Count Award goes to AlcottAcre for reading The Real War Will Never Get in the Books. This challenger's book title had a nine-word title with only one word not having a matching word count with another title word. No too shabby!
The Spelling Heroine Award goes to antqueen for the challenge by FAMeulstee to read a book where you can make a word, with at least three letters, with the first letters of title and/or author. Well, this challenger read two books and not only made a word, but made two sentences out of the words (i.e. Cats scratch charts and Catch that cat, Chad) So funny. I did need that laugh. Thank you!
The Learn a New Skill Award goes to Chatterbox for teaching all of us to do a headline character count. I can't wait to see when I can next use my newly acquired skill! This must be a great skill to have because it was a wildly popular challenge.
The Three's The Number Award goes to AlcottAcre and to quondame for reading books for the challlenge by AlcottAcre to read a book whose author's either first or last name has only 3 letters in it. These two award winners read books by authors whose names had three letters in both the first and last names.
The Picture Perfect Award goes to DeltaQueen50 for the challenge to read a book whose title would fit as a name for the posted picture. I love these challenges which use a picture to inspire reads. This was lovely -- both the picture used and the books chosen by our challengers.
The Matching Word Count Award goes to AlcottAcre for reading The Real War Will Never Get in the Books. This challenger's book title had a nine-word title with only one word not having a matching word count with another title word. No too shabby!
The Spelling Heroine Award goes to antqueen for the challenge by FAMeulstee to read a book where you can make a word, with at least three letters, with the first letters of title and/or author. Well, this challenger read two books and not only made a word, but made two sentences out of the words (i.e. Cats scratch charts and Catch that cat, Chad) So funny. I did need that laugh. Thank you!
64quondame
>63 SqueakyChu: Thank you Madeline!
65antqueen
>63 SqueakyChu: I saw it and just couldn't help it. Glad I'm not the only one who found it amusing, though!
66DeltaQueen50
>63 SqueakyChu: Thank you, Madeline. I loved how the titles that were entered fit that picture!
68streamsong
Last night I finished Elizabeth Acevedo's first adult novel Family Lore. I loved her YA books and really looked forward to this one.
I've had 5 years of Latin and a year of Spanish so I can guess by roots or context what most Spanish phrases mean. But I found the Dominican phrases are often unique and I really struggled as there were words or phrases on almost every page that I guessed at or had to Google.
Here are my 'look ups' for a few pages of Flor's story of an encounter with a mountain boa as a child. p 295 -300
- “stirring an asopao” obviously some kind of cooking. Definition: traditional Dominican stew
- “wood pieces out of the fogon” my guess woodbox – Definition: the hearth or fireplace. This one was actually the opposite of what I thought she was doing ie adding more wood so it would continue to cook while she looked for her sister versus taking out wood so it wouldn’t overcook.
- “She walked past the old conucos” - my guess gardens – actually clearings from jungle/dense growth
- “very few descendants of the Taino or Arawak Indio” this was interesting to look up
- “!Fuacata!’ – my guess Fuc* ; actually a DR exclamation meaning the sound of a strike with the back of a hand. I am really glad I looked this one up.
- “cutting plaintains for tostones” although this one had more clues I imagined something bread-like as she described frying it instead of the definition of double fried plaintains.
Some phrases cannot translate p 303 – explaining differences in speech accents: “A person from El Cibao drops most s’s and substitutes some r’s and l’s for i. !Poi Dio que si! “ p 303
Have you ever read a book with so many unknown phrases? Did you look them up or just drive on? The story was so much richer when I looked them up - but it definitely slowed me down (ten days to read it)
I've had 5 years of Latin and a year of Spanish so I can guess by roots or context what most Spanish phrases mean. But I found the Dominican phrases are often unique and I really struggled as there were words or phrases on almost every page that I guessed at or had to Google.
Here are my 'look ups' for a few pages of Flor's story of an encounter with a mountain boa as a child. p 295 -300
- “stirring an asopao” obviously some kind of cooking. Definition: traditional Dominican stew
- “wood pieces out of the fogon” my guess woodbox – Definition: the hearth or fireplace. This one was actually the opposite of what I thought she was doing ie adding more wood so it would continue to cook while she looked for her sister versus taking out wood so it wouldn’t overcook.
- “She walked past the old conucos” - my guess gardens – actually clearings from jungle/dense growth
- “very few descendants of the Taino or Arawak Indio” this was interesting to look up
- “!Fuacata!’ – my guess Fuc* ; actually a DR exclamation meaning the sound of a strike with the back of a hand. I am really glad I looked this one up.
- “cutting plaintains for tostones” although this one had more clues I imagined something bread-like as she described frying it instead of the definition of double fried plaintains.
Some phrases cannot translate p 303 – explaining differences in speech accents: “A person from El Cibao drops most s’s and substitutes some r’s and l’s for i. !Poi Dio que si! “ p 303
Have you ever read a book with so many unknown phrases? Did you look them up or just drive on? The story was so much richer when I looked them up - but it definitely slowed me down (ten days to read it)
69Chatterbox
>39 bell7: Does the fact that you know the author count as a connection?? (i.e. that you've done more than have them sign a book for you...) If so, I'm great; if not, I'll have to read some Hemingway (a very very distant cousin; we had a common ancestor in the mid 18th century...)
70bell7
>69 Chatterbox: I'm thinking to make it a "family" connection, it would have to be more specific than your own personal relationship with the author, for example, if it was someone your parents grew up with.
71SqueakyChu
TIOLI Question of the Month:
What makes you DNF (did not finish) a book? Which books have you DNFed recently and why?
What makes you DNF (did not finish) a book? Which books have you DNFed recently and why?
72Chatterbox
>70 bell7: Makes sense! So I could read something by an author who was a family friend of my grandparents?
I wish I had something by Sir Charles G.D. Roberts to read! My family lived in a house in Ottawa where he had once lived...
Or... there's a book Basil Street Blues by Michael Holroyd; it's about the street my family lived on when we lived in London??
Or... sigh... there's always Hemingway.
I wish I had something by Sir Charles G.D. Roberts to read! My family lived in a house in Ottawa where he had once lived...
Or... there's a book Basil Street Blues by Michael Holroyd; it's about the street my family lived on when we lived in London??
Or... sigh... there's always Hemingway.
73Chatterbox
>71 SqueakyChu: Either boredom or irritation.
Sometimes a book isn't right for me at a particular moment in time. Or the opening chapters don't grab me; even as there's something else that is calling out to me urgently. Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris is one. I still want to finish it, but am not enough engaged by the author's approach ("look at me, having a great adventure!") to want to keep going.
But irritation is the worst of all possible worlds. Overuse of clichés; clunky writing; characters doing stuff you predicted they'd do 25 pages earlier and the author expecting you to be surprised... Don't want to name and shame, though.
Sometimes too much time has elapsed between my reading a book's predecessor in a series and the latest book. Cases in point: Theft of an Idol by Dana Stabenow (read the first two back to back but #3? meh), The Fugitive Colours by Nancy Bilyeau (really liked the first book but can't remember enough details!).
Or then there are books that I keep on starting and know that I'll likely enjoy if only... Case in point, The Idiot by Elif Batuman.
Sometimes a book isn't right for me at a particular moment in time. Or the opening chapters don't grab me; even as there's something else that is calling out to me urgently. Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris is one. I still want to finish it, but am not enough engaged by the author's approach ("look at me, having a great adventure!") to want to keep going.
But irritation is the worst of all possible worlds. Overuse of clichés; clunky writing; characters doing stuff you predicted they'd do 25 pages earlier and the author expecting you to be surprised... Don't want to name and shame, though.
Sometimes too much time has elapsed between my reading a book's predecessor in a series and the latest book. Cases in point: Theft of an Idol by Dana Stabenow (read the first two back to back but #3? meh), The Fugitive Colours by Nancy Bilyeau (really liked the first book but can't remember enough details!).
Or then there are books that I keep on starting and know that I'll likely enjoy if only... Case in point, The Idiot by Elif Batuman.
74bell7
>72 Chatterbox: Yes, exactly, any of those connections would work. Sorry if that sticks you with Hemingway though!
75Chatterbox
I think I'll re-read Treason at York by John F. Hayes, who was a friend of my grandfather's. I used to love his books, Canadian historical fiction for the YA crowd.
76Citizenjoyce
>71 SqueakyChu: Animal, child or woman abuse, torture put me off a book. I started Vaster Wilds tonight. Not too far in there was a fairly detailed description of bear baiting. I'm sure it was accurate to the time, but I don't need that stuff in my head.
