The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.7 - Janet F's Task: Don't Be Clueless

Being part of the SRC or a book club can give readers a clue for their next book choice. Determine your books for this Task by asking some Who, What, Where, When or Why questions.

Pick 2 different 'clues' (AKA options) and read a book for each.


Clue 1- Who was there?: Some of us have a hard time remembering names. A prefix 'title' before the name might help our recall. I'll always remember Doctor Zhivago, but what if the book title was 'Yuri Zhivago'?, not so catchy?

Read a book with a or rank (for example Mr. or Colonel) in the book's title or subtitle. The prefix title must be followed by a name or nickname. Abbreviations are allowed.

example: Doctor Sleep would work but The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary would NOT since Professor is not followed by a name.


Clue 2- What is happening? It's a new season! The Winter Solstice is on Dec 21st.

Read a book with at least one word each starting with W & S in the title, subtitle and/or author first and last names.
examples: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski for S in Story or Sawtelle and W in Wroblewski, The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester for S & W as author's initials.
Required: If the W and or S is found in the author's name include author name when you post.


Clue 3- Where did it happen? -At a library book club group I attend we were picking books for the coming year. One participant noted that multiple recent book club reads described pioneer journeys. She was ready for something else. We joked that we could look for books that took place on an island to balance things out.

Read a book that has a primary setting on a named real or fictional island or archipelago (excluding continental islands/land masses like Australia or Antarctica).
Required: Name the island or archipelago that is a setting in your book.


Clue 4- When did it happen? Reading a GR book description gives you concise info to grasp your interest. They are also helpful if you want to refresh your memory. While browsing my GR books I noticed some of my favorites have a description that includes a date.

Read a book with at least one 4 digit calendar year in the GR book description. (not including publication or movie release dates). A range is okay as long as it includes 4 digit numbers for the years. 1864-1872.
example: Ordinary Grace: the description opens "New Bremen, Minnesota, 1961."
Required:Mention a year or range of years from the book's GR description when you post. If the edition you read does not have the date specified in the book's GR description you MUST include a link to an edition of the book that does include the date in its GR description.


Clue 5- Why did it happen? Why do we sometimes swap books even though we had a plan and already got approval in the help thread? For me it is often because of library 'holds' availability. Sometimes you just have to seek approval for a different book. For a Fall Task my inquiries added three 'life' words to the 5.6 task approved books by coincidence & the other book approved had 'life' in it too: See 5.6
So why do we really move books around between Tasks?...because... "Life happens!"

Read a book with the word 'life' somewhere in the title or subtitle. Other forms of the word are okay as long as "life" retains its meaning: Lives, Life's, afterlife, Living

Required:Indicate the option when you post.

Option 1 Who?
The St. Patrick's Day Murder
Mr. and Miss Anonymous
The End of Mr. Y
Mrs. Queen Takes the Train
Lady Pamela
Mister Pip
Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel
Option 3 Where?
-Primary setting status is determined by you, the reader, from reading of book based on SRC guidelines. I'll make a post below where I'll compile a list of suggested books that 'may' fulfill the requirement. Remember to include island or archipelago name when you post (not necessary to list all island names in a book-just "Name the island or archipelago that is a setting in your book"

Option 4 When?
date written like 1660's is okay
-approvals given only to clarify 'unique situation' not to mark that a date is found in a GR description. You will need to follow posting requirements for task. See updated task description for situation where your edition doesn't have the date in the description but another edition's does. Double check your edition's GR description before you post.

Not approved books

This help thread is open!

ohhh!! sooo creative!!

I can't link from my phone but would a date range that says for instance 1660's (ie a decade) work?

I suppose The Time Between would work for both option 3 and 4, as it is set in Edisto island and there's a date (1944) in the GR book description?

Great task Janet.

For option 1 - who would this book work?



The St. Patrick's Day Murder

Alison wrote: "I can't link from my phone but would a date range that says for instance 1660's (ie a decade) work?"

Yes that would work assuming it says '1660's' in the GR book description.

Elizabeth wrote: "I suppose The Time Between would work for both option 3 and 4, as it is set in Edisto island and there's a date (1944) in the GR book description?"

With the link you posted (top edition on the list) I see mention of the island but not the 1944 date.

I checked a few other editions and their descriptions gave a much better sense of island setting and had the date. Like this one
The Time Between

You have my approval for either option 3 or 4 but you should mention approval if your book link doesn't have the date and you use option 4.

Would this work for clue 1: Mr. and Miss Anonymous

Sheila wrote: "Great task Janet.

For option 1 - who would this book work?



The St. Patrick's Day Murder"

Yes, while I didn't see it browsing a few lists of English honorifics, Saint followed by a name still works for me as an acceptable prefix title/honorific. Approved!

Thanks Janet. I had my fingers crossed on that one.

Would this work for Option #1?
The End of Mr. Y

Would Tehanu or any other Earthsea book qualify for clue 3? The whole world consists of islands and I think the also name all the islands the MCs visit.

Does Mrs. Queen Takes the Train work for Option 1. Queen refers to the Queen of England it is not her last name? Just wanted to make sure.

Thanks

Lacy wrote: "Would this work for clue 1: Mr. and Miss Anonymous"

I approve it. As Anonymous could be considered a nickname is this instance.

Sandra wrote: "Would this work for Option #1?
The End of Mr. Y"

Yes it will work! with the initial 'Y' as a nickname.

Eepa (Eija) wrote: "Would Tehanu or any other Earthsea book qualify for clue 3? The whole world consists of islands and I think the also name all the islands the MCs visit."

Yes the Earthsea books would all work since they are all set in a fiction world of islands, as long as they don't have children's genre (& under 300 pgs) on the main page. The ones I looked at were fine.

Bluemoon wrote: "Does Mrs. Queen Takes the Train work for Option 1. Queen refers to the Queen of England it is not her last name? Just wanted to make sure.

Thanks"

Yes, I'd accept Mrs as prefix and Queen as a nickname.

Janet F wrote: "Bluemoon wrote: "Does Mrs. Queen Takes the Train work for Option 1. Queen refers to the Queen of England it is not her last name? Just wanted to make sure.

Thanks"

Yes, I'd accep..."




Thanks!!

Janet F wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "I suppose The Time Between would work for both option 3 and 4, as it is set in Edisto island and there's a date (1944) in the GR book description?"

With the link ..."

Elizabeth,

I'm changing my answer to your comment to 'Yes, they sound like they will work but neither will be based on my approval.
Option 4 will work with posting of date requirement & also include:

"If the edition you read does not have the date specified in the book's GR description you MUST include a link to an edition of the book that does include the date in its GR description. " --My task description for option 4 has been updated.

& for option 3 you won't need my 'approval' of island as setting - you will obtain that info from reading the book. But usually the GR description is a good way to find a book that should fit & sometimes other group members give suggestions or confirmation about that in the help thread. Based on your reading of the book you determine the 'primary setting'. You will need to include name of island/archipelago when you post.

Some Island setting ideas: Suggested by SRC or GR members or based on GR description may have Island(s) or Archipelago as a primary setting:

Tehanu & other Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Time Between by Karen White
I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn
Starfish and Coffee by Kele Moon

Janet F wrote: "Eepa (Eija) wrote: "Would Tehanu or any other Earthsea book qualify for clue 3? The whole world consists of islands and I think the also name all the islands the MCs visit."

Yes the E..."

Would Tehanu or any other Earthsea book qualify for clue 3? The whole world consists of islands and I think the also name all the islands the MCs visit.

Thank you. =)

Would Lady work for a prefix title?
Such as Lady Pamela

Deborah wrote: "Would Lady work for a prefix title?
Such as Lady Pamela"


Yes, That works!

Thanks, I now have it lined up for two tasks. Now to pick which one.

Would this book work for Clue 3?

I Was Amelia Earhart

Also would this work for Clue 1?

Mister Pip

Wanda wrote: "Would this book work for Clue 3?

I Was Amelia Earhart"

It really sounds like it will work. You don't need my approval. From your reading of the book you determine if island(s) is/are primary setting. Enjoy!

Wanda wrote: "Also would this work for Clue 1?

Mister Pip"

yes, it works!

Starfish and Coffee takes place on Mirabella Island off the coast of Florida.

Does this work for Clue 3?

just double checking - Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel - since its a title and first name...

Pamela Su wrote: "Starfish and Coffee takes place on Mirabella Island off the coast of Florida.

Does this work for Clue 3?"

It sounds like it will but you'll make the judgement if Island(s) is/are primary setting based on your reading of the book. & including of the required info when you post in the completed task thread.

Dee wrote: "just double checking - Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel - since its a title and first name..."

That works fine!

Janet F wrote: "Pamela Su wrote: "Starfish and Coffee takes place on Mirabella Island off the coast of Florida.

Does this work for Clue 3?"

It sounds like it will but you'll make the judgement if..."

Thanks, Janet! I'll read the book and hopefully, it will mostly take place on the island. *crossing fingers*

Clue 1: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Clue 2: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Claire wrote: "Clue 1: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Clue 2: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski"

Good choices! Enjoy!!

In Bed with Mr. Wrong works for 1 right?

Dee wrote: "In Bed with Mr. Wrong works for 1 right?"

Yes, it will!

thanks - wasn't sure since Mr Wrong isnt' really a name/nickname ;)

I'm crossing my fingers...will The White Queen work for who?

Does My Lady Quicksilver work for option 1?

Dee wrote: "thanks - wasn't sure since Mr Wrong isnt' really a name/nickname ;)"

I'm just considering the word "Wrong" as a nickname in this situation & Mr as the prefix title.

Rhonda wrote: "I'm crossing my fingers...will The White Queen work for who?"

I think I have to say no. Queen is an acceptable 'prefix title' but my task states it needs to be followed by a name or nickname. & I think 'white' in the title is an adjective and not a prefix title.

❿�Tea❿� wrote: "Does My Lady Quicksilver work for option 1?"

Yes, I'll accept that. With 'lady' as the prefix title and quicksilver the name/nickname.

I want to read Burial Rites. It is set in Iceland which is not a continental island, but a country island. Can I use it?

Barbara wrote: "I want to read Burial Rites. It is set in Iceland which is not a continental island, but a country island. Can I use it?"

Yes, it works!

Thanks Janet:)

Are nonfiction books okay for 3? The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism is set in Japan, an island, but the setting really doesn't have anything to do with the info in the book.