Wolf Times Scribe The King of Rambling^#3#10#11#14#18 member is offline
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The Reader's Challenge « Thread Started on Feb 9, 2009, 9:00pm »
Books. They're so boring, you know? Well, I've got the perfect remedy for that!
The Challenge: In one year, read 25 books that have titles beginning with every letter of the alphabet.
The rules: It must be a book. It must have a title that starts with a letter of the alphabet. X is optional, and a bonus if you find a book that begins with X. A, an, and the can be counted, if you're desperate; otherwise, they should be ignored. Anthologies, nonfiction, and fiction are all eligible, as are graphic novels, manga, comic books, and book-long fanfiction. No textbooks, magazines, photo collections, or audio books.
Books in foreign languages: All titles must be in the same language, provided that language is written in English letters. Thus, unless you translate all your titles into Latin, if you read the Malleus Maleficarum, you'd have to put it under H ("the Hammer of the Witches") or W ("the Witches' Hammer"). For languages in other alphabets, all titles must be translated into English; ergo, the Hebrew title "Kelevi ochal et hadag" would have to be stuck under M, for "My Dog Ate the Fish," and not under K, for "Kelevi."
If this catches on enough, there may even be a badge for all the winners to proudly gloat with show off!
But...uh...that's not not very Neopian, is it? Et ergo—
Read 25 Neopian Times and/or NTWF stories that begin with every letter of the alphabet. The rules are the same: Articles, short stories, and series all count, but comics do not. Issue numbers don't matter, so long as you read the stories this year. X is still a bonus. The articles remain optional. Insanity is mandatory.
For an added challenge, count your NT and NTWF titles separately. Or, for a different kind of challenge, aim to read only poems on Neopets or the NTWF, or for only articles, short stories, or series.
~ Minutiae ~
You can compete in as many challenges as you want, but only the main challenge will award the badge.
We might be starting this a bit late, but anything you've read since January 1, 2009, still counts to your tally. Any NT series that began last year can also count towards your tally, if they end/ended this year.
This thread can be used throughout the year to recommend and discuss books and stories with various titles, so if you're missing something that starts with an A, Kat might plug her Another Hero's Journey series, or if you need an F, Pyro and Rikku might urge you to pick up a copy of Jim Butcher's Fool Moon.
We just ask that you remember this is an all-ages forum, so if you read a book for adults, please make a note of that so the younger forumers don't grab it for the letter and lose their eyes or something.
You can post your book/story list here or in your diary thread and then update it as you go along.
[spoiler=For the ol' copy'n'paste!]A: B: C: D: E: F: G: H: I: J: K: L: M: N: O: P: Q: R: S: T: U: V: W: X: Y: Z:[/spoiler] Have fun, good luck, and happy reading (and letter-hunting)!
[spoiler=Library of Participants]Need help finding a book? Why not check out what your friends are reading!
“Well, those and the Seelie and Unseelie courts.” I shrugged. “Arthurian legend holds that there are two kinds of fairies.” I held up one finger. “The dangerous ones who don’t like humans.” I held up another. “The dangerous ones who are amused by humans.”
Wolf Times Scribe The King of Rambling^#3#10#11#14#18 member is offline
Thine Origin Hast Come
Joined: Jul 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 3,779 Karma: 142
Re: The Reader's Challenge « Reply #2 on Feb 9, 2009, 9:17pm »
Hey, luvvles!
Quote:
We might be starting this a bit late, but anything you've read since January 1, 2009, still counts to your tally.
So let's get this started!
[spoiler=Books in Print]A: Anansi Boys by Niel Gaiman* B: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer* C: Coraline by Neil Gaiman D: Dawn by Elie Wiesel E: Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer F: 5 Miles To Empty by Jarold Imes*** G: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King H: I: In the Flesh: Tales of Terror by Clive Barker** J: K: L: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin* M: MYST: The Book of Atrus by Rand and Robin Miller with David Wingrove N: New Moon by Stephanie Meyer O: P: The Princess Bride by William Goodman Q: R: Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien S: T: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer U: V: W: X: Y: Z:
Goosh Times Author I think I swallowed a bug^#7#11#13 member is offline
I'm so into you
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Re: The Reader's Challenge « Reply #3 on Feb 9, 2009, 10:14pm »
This looks like fun!
[spoiler=<3 Hooray for the alphabet.] A: B: The Basic Eight - Daniel Handler; Bellwether - Connie Willis C: D: E: Extras - Scott Westerfeld F: G: H: I: J: K: L: 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson M: N: O: P: Pretties - Scott Westerfeld Q: R: S: Specials - Scott Westerfeld T: The Truth - Terry Pratchett U: Uglies - Scott Westerfeld V: W: X: Y: Z:[/spoiler]
...xD I don't think I've read any other books yet this year. But I went to the library yesterday and stocked up, and I'm almost done The Truth. <3 And I recommend both of those books, although the first one has a lot of mature situations of violent and sexual nature--ye be warned.
And she fights for her life as she puts on her coat And she fights for her life on the train She looks at the rain as it pours And she fights for her life as she goes in a store With a thought she has caught by a thread She pays for the bread and she goes... Nobody knows
Twocents Neopian Jack of All trades Peux ce que veux. Allons'y.^#2#2#11#14#15 member is offline
♥ Shade - 70k Totally Addicted to NTWF Kit's slave member is offline
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Re: The Reader's Challenge « Reply #5 on Feb 9, 2009, 10:25pm »
Shall also assume you need to finish the book for it to count, since it'd be rather silly otherwise.
[spoiler=2009 Books]General warning. I tend to read dark fantasy. And I prefer books that aren't in the teen section of the library. So, a lot of the time, if the book listed here is fiction, it's probably got at least some weirdness. Just so you know. Some are worse than others. I might mark those. I probably won't. So yeah.
A: American Gods by Neil Gaiman; Anathem by Neal Stephenson B: Bloodring by Faith Hunter; By the Sword by Mercedes Lackey; Bright of the Sky by Kay Kenyon; Blood Bound by Jim Butcher C: Crossing the Threshold of Hope by Pope John Paul II; Conscious Dreaming by Robert Moss; Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs D: Darkborn by Alison Sinclair; Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones; Dead Beat by Jim Butcher E: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson; Enclave by Kit Reed F: Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson; Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman; A Forest of Stars by Kevin J. Anderson; Foundation by Mercedes Lackey; Of Fire and Night by Kevin J. Anderson; Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asmov; Fool Moon by Jim Butcher G: The Gunslinger by Stephen King; Genesis from the Bible; Grave Peril by Jim Butcher H: Host by Faith Hunter; Mistborn: Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson; Hidden Empire by Kevin J. Anderson; Horizon Storms by Kevin J. Anderson; The Hunger Games by Suzanne Colins (sp?) I: Illium by Dan Simmons; In Conquest Born by C.S. Friedman; Ishmael by Daniel Quinn J: K: Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey; Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey; Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey; Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey; Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey; Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey L: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov M: The Midnight Disease by Alice W. Flaherty (sp?); Maladicte by Lane Robins; Moon Called by Patricia Briggs N: Namaah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey O: P: Perfume: the story of a murderer by Patrick Suskind; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro Q: R: S: Seraphs by Faith Hunter; Shorn by Larissa Niec; Scattered Suns by Kevin J. Anderson; Storm Front by Jim Butcher; Summer Knight by Jim Butcher T: This Alien Shore by C.S. Friedman; Take a Thief by Mercedes Lackey U: V: V for Vendetta (graphic novel) by Alan Moore and David Lloyd W: Mistborn: Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson; Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson; White Night by Jim Butcher X: Y: Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones Z:[/spoiler]
« Last Edit: Nov 14, 2009, 7:20pm by ♥ Shade - 70k »
“Well, those and the Seelie and Unseelie courts.” I shrugged. “Arthurian legend holds that there are two kinds of fairies.” I held up one finger. “The dangerous ones who don’t like humans.” I held up another. “The dangerous ones who are amused by humans.”
§arinon Neopian Talesmith Scar's distraction at work.^#2#2#2#2#2 member is offline
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Re: The Reader's Challenge « Reply #6 on Feb 9, 2009, 10:32pm »
Oh, this sounds fun! Bring on the books!
[spoiler=Mah Books] A: Amber Spyglass - Phillip Pullman B: Broken - Peter Edge C: Crushed - Peter Edge D: Dragons on the Sea of Night - Eric Van Lustbader E: Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card F: Footrot Flats, the complete collection - Murray Ball G: Golden Compass - Phillip Pullman H: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams I: Icefire - Chris D'lacey J: Jitters - David French K: The King of Lies - John Hart L: Life, the Universe and Everything - Douglas Adams M: Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams N: O: P: Parachutes Should Open - Errol Hitt (Coincidence, I swear) Q: Quail - Walter Rosene R: The Resturaunt at the End of the Universe - Douglas Adams S: So Long and thanks for the Fish - Douglas Adams T: Tehanu - Ursela Le Guin U: V: Voidfarer - Sean McMullen W: Whale Rider - Witi Ihemaera X: Y: Yours In Trust - Kai Sumner Z: [/spoiler]
By that it's meant, you can read twenty-six NT stories in only a couple days, so it's not much of a challenge. The mods who looked this over before I posted it suggested that only the 25-book challenge award the badge, simply for the difficulty of the comparable tasks. But all the challenges can be just as fun! =D
And thanks for pointing the table out! I'll put in an application right away. ^_^
I recommend both of those books, although the first one has a lot of mature situations of violent and sexual nature--ye be warned.
How good is it? I've got a book for "B" set aside already, but maybe after I finish it... xD
Yeah, since my sister got me hooked on the challenge (it started on her forum/something/I don't really know, actually, lol), I've been browsing more for titles than what's of interest. But, hey, I picked up the Picture of Dorian Grey the other day, and I can't wait to read it, so it's not a bad thing!
Re: The Reader's Challenge « Reply #8 on Feb 9, 2009, 11:32pm »
Ah, thanks Wolf.
[spoiler=For my eventual list if I decide to not be a big ol' lazy bum] A: B: The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier C: D: E: F: G: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman H: I: J: K: L: M: N: O: P: Q: R: S: Superior Saturday by Garth Nix T: U: V: W: X: Y: Z:[/spoiler]
If they're posted on the NTWF, they can count for the NTWF category, and if they're not on the NTWF, you can do it for just fanfictions, if you'd like. But unless it's an actual book (like, Halo has books, for example), it won't count towards the main challenge.
Re: The Reader's Challenge « Reply #12 on Feb 10, 2009, 1:37am »
Ooh, interesting. Definitely sounds fun.
[spoiler=My Book List] 12/26
A: The Alabaster Staff by Edward Bolme B: Book of Enchantments by Patricia C. Wrede C: Chicks with Sticks (It's a Purl Thing) by Elizabeth Lenhard D: Darkwalker on Moonshae by Douglas Niles E: Elminster - The Making of a Mage by Ed Greenwood F: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg G: The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer H: Hatching Magic by Ann Downer I: J: K: L: M: Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede N: Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde O: P: Q: Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp (JK Rowling) R: S: Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer T: Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez U: V: W: X: Y: Z: [/spoiler]
Brittany On Neopets: Butterfly_Girl_22 Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies. Time is money, money is the root of all evil, and knowledge is power. Therefore, procrastination is the key to world peace.
Wolf Times Scribe The King of Rambling^#3#10#11#14#18 member is offline
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Re: The Reader's Challenge « Reply #13 on Feb 10, 2009, 1:57am »
NT stories are just glorified fanfics, anyway. So if you had said "no" I would've bitten you. XD
mmmkay, I don't have access to any actual books (no library access, either) so the main challenge is out of the question for me.
...unless my video game manuals count as books. XD
That is, of course, why I had to say "yes." :P
If you can't do books, like, physically can't, I'm sure exceptions could be made. I mean, most of the fanfictions that I've read (that were ever finished), were as long as books, so why not? In general, though, if you read enough to equal roughly twenty-five books, you've at least won the challenge from that aspect. Besides, you're an admin--you could give yourself the badge if you wanted no matter what I say! XD
For the sake of it, though, e-books do count. They're just not as fun as real books. :D
And so all points are covered, "instruction manuals" are listed under "textbooks." No cheating! lol.
I recommend both of those books, although the first one has a lot of mature situations of violent and sexual nature--ye be warned.
How good is it? I've got a book for "B" set aside already, but maybe after I finish it... xD
Yeah, since my sister got me hooked on the challenge (it started on her forum/something/I don't really know, actually, lol), I've been browsing more for titles than what's of interest. But, hey, I picked up the Picture of Dorian Grey the other day, and I can't wait to read it, so it's not a bad thing!
:D It's really quite awesome, one of my favourite books. Handler writes A Series of Unfortunate Events under Lemony Snicket, but this one really has a lot of fun with narrative convention and dark humour. Once again, if you can stomach the main gory part, and don't mind the kinda-explicit-sorta sex scenes, I highly recommend it.
And she fights for her life as she puts on her coat And she fights for her life on the train She looks at the rain as it pours And she fights for her life as she goes in a store With a thought she has caught by a thread She pays for the bread and she goes... Nobody knows
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