Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

25.1 - Catherine T's Task: Auntie Tattin's Challenge

My sister is expecting her second child in March, giving her one of each and a complete family, so to celebrate her family (and my new niece!):

Read 2 books, one Book One and one Book Two.
NOTE: The books should fit the following conditions:
> Both books should be NEW to you, not re-reads.
> The books you choose should have been first published at least 2 years apart. Use the calendar year ex. 2011 and 2013- month/day details can be ignored.
> And, despite the fact my sister will get no sleep, nor time to read, the books should be a total of at least 500 pages with one book at least 100 pages longer than the other book (eg. 200 & 300 pages)

NOTE: ebooks without print versions cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. If you read an ebook or audiobook use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.

NOTE: Books whose main page lists any of these genres: Sequential Art, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga MAY be used for this task.

Required: State the following when you post
>That both books are new to you,
>The years they were FIRST published
>The page numbers

Book One: in honour of Master T
As my nephew was the first of his generation, Read a book written by a man* that was either the debut published work by the author or the first in a series written by the author. The series must be identified on GR as (series #1).
*The author must be the sole author of the book. Contributions to multi-author works are not to be considered. For this task, authors identified on the book's Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ record as illustrators, letterers or other contributors to the work are considered to be authors and do NOT work as books with sole authors. This does NOT apply to translators or authors providing forewards, introductions, prefaces or other supplementary commentary.

Book Two: in honour of Miss T
Read a book written by a woman* that is NEITHER the debut published work by the author NOR the first book in a series. If reading a book in a series beyond book #1, the series must be identified on GR as (series #).
*The author must be the sole author of the book. Contributions to multi-author works are not to be considered. For this task, authors identified on the book's Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ record as illustrators, letterers or other contributors to the work are considered to be authors and do NOT work as books with sole authors. This does NOT apply to translators or authors providing forewards, introductions, prefaces or other supplementary commentary.

Sample Post:
25.1 - Catherine's Task: Auntie Tattin's Challenge

assuming new-to-you:
Book 1, by a male author, #1 in a series: Attack on Titan, Vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama, new-to-me, first published 2010, 208 pages

Book 2, by a female author, not first book or #1: The Secret Place by Tana French, #5 in the series, new-to-me, first published 2014, no MMP, paperback to establish length: The Secret Place, 496 pages

Both books are new-to-me.
Years first published: 2010, 2014
Total pages = 208 + 496 = 704

Some comments:

Writing teams writing under one name like Ilona Andrews will not work for this task.

Prequels (often numbered #.1 or .5) first published after book #1 in a series may be used for Book Two.

There is no restriction on fiction/non-fiction, which means that for Book One you CAN'T use the first work of stand-alone fiction if the author has previously published a collection of essays, say. (the first in a series trumps all though)

There's no restriction on which book should be published first (i.e. book 2 could be the earlier publication), just that they are published at least 2 years apart (by year only)

There's no restriction on which book should be the shorter, just that there is a difference of at least 100 pages, and that the combined total is 500+

My niece has been born :) here's a pic of the two of them (because, y'know, I can)!

This help thread is open!

Robert Schultz wrote a book of fiction published in 1997. However, he had written a non-fiction book and a book of poems prior to that along with numerous articles. The task requires "a debut published work". Would you accept a debut FICTION work?

Bea wrote: "Robert Schultz wrote a book of fiction published in 1997. However, he had written a non-fiction book and a book of poems prior to that along with numerous articles. The task requires "a debut publi..."

No, it is debut publication. I am not restricting choice to fiction only, y'see - my brother-in-law lives on non-fiction.

Catherine wrote: "Bea wrote: "Robert Schultz wrote a book of fiction published in 1997. However, he had written a non-fiction book and a book of poems prior to that along with numerous articles. The task requires "a..."

"that was EITHER the debut published work by the author OR the first in a series written by the author." (emphasis mine)

The wording definitely needs to be adjusted then, because either/or gives the illusion of choice when only the true debut would count.

No, there is a choice there. But you have to justify the book under one or the other - so if it's not #1 in a series, it has to be a debut published work. There was no indication that the book asked about was the first in a series.

Sandy wrote: "No, there is a choice there. But you have to justify the book under one or the other - so if it's not #1 in a series, it has to be a debut published work. There was no indication that the book as..."

Ok, good. Gotcha. It read contradictory as I was going through it so I wanted to be clear, but now what Bea's asking (if she can read a FICTION -- non-series -- work when the author had previously debuted in NON-FICTION) makes more sense, as well as the response.

I was reading it as having written NON-FICTION as a debut and wanting to read a FICTION series #1 being discounted as not-allowed.

I was like...dang...I can't just find a #1 by a man that meets all the other requirements? Thanks for the clarification, Sandy! This and other reasons I don't typically trust migraine brain.

This is gonna be a doozy to mod. lol.

Congrats on being an aunt again. :)

I think I have a slightly better handle on things now... I've wanted to read this first one for awhile.

Book 1 (Male Author) The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1), published 2007, 662 pages, not a re-read.

Then just double checking that either of these work (other than me making a choice):

Book 2 (Female Author)
The Web (The Fianna Trilogy #2), published 2015, 384 pages, not a re-read.

OR

Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School #3), published 2014, 298 pages, not a re-read.

Apart from if I've forgotten anything, is it okay that the page number difference is in the second book being less by 100+? Would I have to instead choose a different book 1 and read a book by a female author that has the larger number of pages? (Or find a book that is 800+ by a female author.)

Morgan wrote: "Congrats on being an aunt again. :)

I think I have a slightly better handle on things now... I've wanted to read this first one for awhile.

Book 1 (Male Author) [book:The Name of the Wind|186074..."

Thanks! I'm looking forward to it, although my nephew is just starting into his "terrible twos", so will no doubt wreak havoc whilst his Mum's otherwise occupied with baby sister!

Your books: all work. The page difference can be either way (as can the year difference) - there's enough constraints to check without adding more problems!
And Name of the Wind? I loved it! Enjoy :)

Catherine wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Congrats on being an aunt again. :)

I think I have a slightly better handle on things now... I've wanted to read this first one for awhile.

Book 1 (Male Author) [book:The Name of ..."

Kids are epically amazing, but definitely a handful at that time!

My brother seems to make really good choices when he buys books for me, and I have heard tons of good things about it so it's more than time for me to get it off my TBR! Thanks!

I think these will both work (both new books to me):
Book 1: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
Pub 2012 226 pgs

Book 2: Say Yes to the Marquess (Castles Ever After #2) by Tessa Dare
Pub 2014 374 pgs

226 + 374 = 600 pgs total

KSMary wrote: "I think these will both work (both new books to me):
Book 1: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
Pub 2012 226 pgs

Book 2: Say Yes to the Marquess (Ca..."

Yup, those work

So .. the BOOK has to be new to me, but the author does NOT have to be new-to-me. Do I have that right?

So I could read (if it was a new series to me) 1st to Die by James Patterson even though I had previously read a Patterson book, just not THIS series ... is that right?

(just using this for an example for illustration .. because I've already read this book, so it doesn't work - for me, but might for someone else)

Thanks
(Option two is MUCH easier ....)

Question regarding "multi-author works". You said that Graphic Novels can be used - most of these list multiple contributors (illustrators, letterers, whatever). Is the book still okay as long as there is only one "writer" listed?

I was thinking of using one of these three for book one, first in a series:
Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1
Saga, Volume 1
Avengers: The Initiative, Vol. 1: Basic Training

Book Concierge wrote: "So .. the BOOK has to be new to me, but the author does NOT have to be new-to-me. Do I have that right?

So I could read (if it was a new series to me) 1st to Die by James Patterson ..."

Just the book needs to be new to you. So, in your example, if you haven't read 1st to Die, but have read the 2nd in the series, it's still ok, being a new-to-you book, and first in series.

And yes, it's a bit tricky, like getting to grips with a first born!

Kate wrote: "Question regarding "multi-author works". You said that Graphic Novels can be used - most of these list multiple contributors (illustrators, letterers, whatever). Is the book still okay as long as t..."

Hi Kate,
I've had a think, but the multiple collaborators on those graphic books are not in the spirit of what I intend. It must be a solo effort (in so far as it is described on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ).
There are many graphic books that are listed as sole productions so I am excluding books with multiple contributors, including illustrators / letterers etc.

Hope you understand, and find a good option!
Catherine

Book 1: Charming - Elliott James (400 pages) Published in 2013.

Book 2: Deceptive Measures - Traci Hohenstein (212 pages) Published in 2015.

Can the pages for book 2 be less than book 1 or more than book 1?

Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Book 1: Charming - Elliott James (400 pages) Published in 2013.

Book 2: Deceptive Measures - Traci Hohenstein (212 pages) Publishe..."

It doesn't matter which way round, so long as there is the 100+ page difference

Book 2 is a NG book and will be available 6 days :)

So Let me check to see that I have this correct.
I have chosen Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael KorytaThis book was published in 2005 and is the first in a series 320 pages,
So for book 2 I need a book by a female author published either 2003 or earlier or 2007 or later. It also has to be either 180-220p or over 420 pages and must not be either a debut novel or first in a series but it doesn't necessarily have to be part of a series? So it could be a nonfiction book that meets the page and date requirements?
Thanks,
Andy

Andy wrote: "So Let me check to see that I have this correct.
I have chosen Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael KorytaThis book was published in 2005 and is the first in a series 320 ..."

spot on with the date & page requirements. No, it doesn't have to be in a series, and yes it can be non-fiction, BUT it can't be their first publication. So, you couldn't read No Logo (2000) by Naomi Klein (her first), but could read The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (2007)

Can I get A Good Man in Africa verified for Book 1. It's not listed as #1 in a series, but it was his first novel, and it did win the Whitbread First Novel Award.

Catherine wrote: "Andy wrote: "So Let me check to see that I have this correct.
I have chosen Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael KorytaThis book was published in 2005 and is the first in ..."
Thanks, I think I've got one or two that will work, but I better get in my speed reading mode as they both are well over 400 pages long

Trish wrote: "Can I get A Good Man in Africa verified for Book 1. It's not listed as #1 in a series, but it was his first novel, and it did win the Whitbread First Novel Award."

certainly seems to be his first publication: Ok

to double check:

The Marrying Kind - male, debut (per author description: The Marrying Kind won The Rainbow Award for best debut 2012/although was self-pub'd first in 2010); 264pgs

Shield of Winter - female, later book in series; 2014 pub, 431pgs

Catherine wrote: "Trish wrote: "Can I get A Good Man in Africa verified for Book 1. It's not listed as #1 in a series, but it was his first novel, and it did win the Whitbread First Novel Award."

certainly seems to be his first publication: Ok "

Cheers.

Catherine wrote: "Kate wrote: "Question regarding "multi-author works". You said that Graphic Novels can be used - most of these list multiple contributors (illustrators, letterers, whatever). Is the book still okay..."

No worries! I've got many other options! :)

Dee wrote: "to double check:

The Marrying Kind - male, debut (per author description: The Marrying Kind won The Rainbow Award for best debut 2012/although was self-pub'd first in 2010); 264pgs
..."

Both good to go - assume they are new-books-to-you ;)

yep they are ;) (and i'm sure my plan will change several more times..) - i just wanted to make sure I had the right idea

I love this task, it's creative and unusual, but Option 1 is giving me fits. lol

Perhaps I'm over-thinking it, but the "debut published works" is stopping me every time. I got paid $1 for a poem published in a national kid's magazine when I was in third grade. Was that my "debut published work"? I'm not trying to be a pain, I'm just stuck interpreting this.

What if the author worked for a magazine or newspaper? What if he was a professor, who probably published in scholarly journals, or a scientist whose papers would be in scientific journals or he wrote for his college paper or was a stringer during the war? What if he had a poem published in an anthology?

I'm reading this wrong or else it seems the bar is set too high. (And I may well be reading it wrong.) What about "debut published book"? With a clarification for short stories, poems, and such published as parts of an anthology. (Though that's awfully hard to track down if you want to eliminate those.)

Otherwise it seems the only real option is #1 in a series. Which is where I get stuck. :)

Thanks for helping me out here.

you could look at my challenge for this past season - because it had a debut author task in it (which also had to be part of a series) - I made it stand-alone novels in mine

Teri-k wrote: "I love this task, it's creative and unusual, but Option 1 is giving me fits. lol

Perhaps I'm over-thinking it, but the "debut published works" is stopping me every time. I got paid $1 for a poem ..."

Teri-k wrote: "I love this task, it's creative and unusual, but Option 1 is giving me fits. lol

Perhaps I'm over-thinking it, but the "debut published works" is stopping me every time. I got paid $1 for a poem ..."

Possibly a little overthinking here!
The "contributions to multi-author works are not to be considered" means that we have already excluded contributions to anthologies as counting as a debut, and I think that would exclude newspaper articles or journals (and your poem!)
George Orwell's "first published work" would be Down and Out in Paris and London, not any earlier journalistic output (and not Burmese Days his first work of fiction, either)

Does that make sense? Help you?

Catherine wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "I love this task, it's creative and unusual, but Option 1 is giving me fits. lol

Perhaps I'm over-thinking it, but the "debut published works" is stopping me every time. I got paid..."

That's a big help. :)

I missed the importance of "contributions to multi-author works are not to be considered" in this sense. I was only using it to exclude books to be read. You're explanation is very helpful and should keep my brain from exploding, at least for a while. LOL

Thanks!

So, for instance, with Persuasion there is an editor credit....is this still okay?

Thanks :)

I may be biting off more than I want but...I think I've got this figured out:

Book 1: by Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time series #1, 800 pages in the mass market paperback (according to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, yikes - I have an ebook), originally published in 1990.
Book 2: by Kate Alcott, a standalone novel but her third published work, 304 pages, published in 2015.
Both books are new to me (the fact that I've never read Robert Jordan makes many of my fellow fantasy fans agog in disbelief).

And congrats on being an auntie again - I have four nieces and one nephew and love them all to little bits (in fact, I have a 5th birthday part to attend tomorrow/later today since it's after midnight my time).

ChrisEverest ....

Oh my What a psychologically disturbing experience !
Option 1 New author - #1 in a series - FINE - I can cope with that.

The Gray Man
464 pages - Pub 2009


Option 2 New Author - Not #1 (How disturbing is that !!!???) Starting a new author with #2

The Maltese Goddess

I'm assuming these 2 will work for this task BUT I will be sending you my psychiatrist's bill.
number 2 ...chunter...to start with.... chunter...Is there no God ! OCD panic attack !

256 pages - Pub 1998

Christopher wrote: "ChrisEverest ....

Oh my What a psychologically disturbing experience !
Option 1 New author - #1 in a series - FINE - I can cope with that.

[book:The Gray Man|65478..."

Chris, it doesn't have to be a new author, just a new book! I refuse to be responsible for any psychological damage!

Melissa wrote: "I may be biting off more than I want but...I think I've got this figured out:

Book 1: by Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time series #1, 800 pages in the mass marke..."

absolutely fine, both of those! enjoy

(I have also not read Robert Jordan, let me know if it's worth it?!)

Catherine, I think you might have missed my question: message 36.

If we're reading a book that has been translated from another language, is the publication year the year it was published originally (in that other language) or the year that it was published in English?

For example, I'm thinking of reading The Shadow of the Wind, which was first published in 2001 in Spanish () but not trnaslated into English until ~2005.

Then I'd love to continue with the Victoria Thompson's Sarah Brandt series with Murder on Lenox Hill, which was first published in 2005. It works if we go by the Spanish publication date for The Shadow of the Wind, but not if we go with the English publication date.

Sorry for the long explanation, but wanted to make sure that everything works. Thanks in advance!

Valerie wrote: "Catherine, I think you might have missed my question: message 36."

I did :( sorry! and thank you for the reminder.

I would include a link to an edition of the book that shows it is a sole author work. Basically, the book should be the creative work of a sole author. The graphic novels that include credits for illustrator etc do not count (that being creative collaborations), works with later editoral comments at the start / end would be acceptable - just make sure it is clear in your post.

Narumon wrote: "If we're reading a book that has been translated from another language, is the publication year the year it was published originally (in that other language) or the year that it was published in En..."

It would be the original publication date, in any language that would count (the grey "first published in xxxx" line in the GR record). so you are fine (assuming the page count & differences work :P

Catherine wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I may be biting off more than I want but...I think I've got this figured out:

Book 1: by Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time series #1, 800 pages i..."

The entire Wheel of Time series is COMPLETELY worth the effort :-) - and you should have plenty of time to to knock it out before George R. R. Martin finally releases The Winds of Winter, lol

I just want to verify that this would be acceptable for Book 1 - first book in a series by a man...American Gods

Emurphy wrote: "I just want to verify that this would be acceptable for Book 1 - first book in a series by a man...American Gods"

The GR record has it as #1 in the series, so Ok to use :)

Catherine wrote: "Emurphy wrote: "I just want to verify that this would be acceptable for Book 1 - first book in a series by a man...American Gods"

The GR record has it as #1 in the series, so Ok to use :)"

Great, thanks! Just wanted to check! :)

Christopher wrote: "ChrisEverest ....

Oh my What a psychologically disturbing experience !
Option 1 New author - #1 in a series - FINE - I can cope with that.

[book:The Gray Man|65478..."

Chris - i think the books justh ave to be new to you, not the authors...so put #1 by the female author into another challenge

ok, i think I figured mine out ;)

bk1 - Angel with a Bullet - first in series, 2012; 324pgs

bk 2 - Flashes of Me: An Erotic Novella - stand-alone, non-first work published; 2014; 208pgs