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20.1 - Monsterfest Redux
A) Read a novel that has an adjective related to Halloween: Spooky, Creepy, Crawly, Scary etc.
OR
B) Read a book with one of the following in the title: Devil, Witch, Vampire, Zombie, or Werewolf
OR
C) Read a Ghost Story (i.e., any novel that actually has a ghost in it).

Ok, I asked this the last time Sam created the monsterfast task:

Devils and Demons are the same book. Can I read the translation titled Demons? (I really do want to read it this time.)

Liz wrote: "Ok, I asked this the last time Sam created the monsterfast task:

Devils and Demons are the same book. Can I read the translation titled Demons? (I really do want to read ..."

Yes. If you don't get to it this year, it'll be fine next year too.

Sam wrote: "Yes. If you don't get to it this year, it'll be fine next year too. "

>grin< Thanks!

Do plurals work? I'm thinking The Witches of Eastwick.

Can books for option B have the plural forms of the choices in the title: Devils? Zombies?

Question on option C. You have it defined as any novel with a ghost in it. How prominent of a role does the ghost have to play? IE: Some of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind has a ghost or two but they are not central figures, would these count?

I have to ask, so apologies up front. For this challenge I am planning to only use books I already own. I really need to cull my bookshelves. Having said that...I own: The Ghost Brush and The Monsters of Templeton. Would you accept 'Ghost' or 'Monsters' in the title?? These are the only two books that are remotely close to fitting this category. Sorry for being a doofus and asking a dumb question. :D

Found a copy of The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, woo-hoo, so I am good to go now. Sorry to be a pest!

Would I be able to use Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for this task? I thought it would fit into Part A and maybe C. The word Deathly is an adjective related to Halloween and there are a lot of ghosts through out the story.

If not, would Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Princework?

Thanks for considering this :-)

Arow wrote: "Would I be able to use Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for this task? I thought it would fit into Part A and maybe C. The word Deathly is an adjective related to Halloween and th..."

Deathly works for Part A...It's what I have/had picked out for this task (I don't remember if I changed it for something else or not).

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Do plurals work? I'm thinking The Witches of Eastwick."

Plurals are fine.

Rachel Lee wrote: "Question on option C. You have it defined as any novel with a ghost in it. How prominent of a role does the ghost have to play? IE: Some of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind has a ghos..."

The ghost should play a significant part in the story...not a minor character or something that may or may not exist.

Perfect; thanks Sam! I am re reading the series before the last movie comes out so I am trying to fit them all into tasks.

Elsewhere

Does anyone know if this would work for Part C, a Ghost Story?

It's told from the perspective of a dead 15 year-old girl, but I'm not sure if she'd be considered a ghost. Any thoughts?

How do we feel about "shade" in the title as in a spirit of the dead?

Hi Sam: Would a collection of ghost stories work for Part C, or does it need to be a novel?

I'm thinking of using Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by Montague Rhodes James (M.R. James) if I can get my hands on a copy.

Also, would Odd Thomas work? I actually own this book, but haven't ever read it.

I'm having a hard time defining what a ghost means. If I got that straight in my head I'd probably be able to make more of these assessments myself. I don't read much in this genre, but I'd like to find a good juicy ghost story for this task.

Is a ghost a spirit that lives on after death? Can it be harmless, or does it have to be spooky to qualify? Any thoughts from the group?

I define a ghost as in someone who was once living but the soul didn't move on because it has unfinished business in the mortal realm.

Krista wrote: "Is a ghost a spirit that lives on after death? Can it be harmless, or does it have to be spooky to qualify? Any thoughts from the group?
..."

Any of those definitions would work, but the ghost needs to play a major part in the story. In other words, Harry Potter won't work as a ghost story because, while there are ghosts in each book, they aren't ever the dominant characters/theme. On the other hand, if the "ghost" is the dominant character/theme in a story and the ghost turns out not to be a ghost (e.g., every Scooby-Doo episode ever), that would be okay.

I think a collection of ghost stories would be fine.

Does The Devil Wears Prada work?

Melissa W wrote: "Does The Devil Wears Prada work?"

Excerpt from Task requirements (emphasis added)
...B) Read a book with one of the following in the title: Devil, Witch, Vampire, Zombie, or Werewolf

Your book has 'Devil' in the title, so it is fine.

What about a book where the main character goes on a quest with a ghost?

Would the word blood work?

Coralie wrote: "What about a book where the main character goes on a quest with a ghost?"

Well my reading of the task is just that the ghost has to be a main character in the story -- so if the ghost and quest are main elements in the story then I think this is okay.

Sam, did you approve 'Demon', 'Demon(s)' for Part B -- or was it only the one book that you gave a dispensation for? See Msgs 2 & 3.

Thanks!

Krista wrote: "Sam, did you approve 'Demon', 'Demon(s)' for Part B -- or was it only the one book that you gave a dispensation for? See Msgs 2 & 3.

Thanks!"

No, I just approved that particular book because it had also been translated as "Devils"

Sam wrote: "Krista wrote: "Sam, did you approve 'Demon', 'Demon(s)' for Part B -- or was it only the one book that you gave a dispensation for? See Msgs 2 & 3.

Thanks!"

No, I just approved that particular book because it had also been translated as "Devils"
..."

Oh drat, that's what I was afraid of. Back to the drawing board! :-)

Krista wrote: "Elsewhere

Does anyone know if this would work for Part C, a Ghost Story?

It's told from the perspective of a dead 15 year-old girl, but I'm not sure if she'd be considered a gho..."

Sorry Krista, I just saw this. I don't think it would work for Part C because it's more of an "afterlife" story, if that makes any sense? She's dead, but she's not a ghost.

Cait wrote: "Krista wrote: "Elsewhere

Does anyone know if this would work for Part C, a Ghost Story?

It's told from the perspective of a dead 15 year-old girl, but I'm not sure if she'd be consi..."

Gotcha, thanks! (Striking it off the list of possible titles now...)

Hahahaha... This task is giving me an excuse to read Bimbos & Zombies. I've been wanting to read it simply because of the title for months (although the stories sound interesting, it's two books in one).

Just thought I'd share the title of that one (I'm a bit hyper at the moment).

Does "dead", as in Dead Souls, work as a Halloween-esque adjective?

Just wondering-- can "undead" work for part B? I'd like to read Handling the Undead and it's about zombies.

Rachel wrote: "Just wondering-- can "undead" work for part B? I'd like to read Handling the Undead and it's about zombies."

It has to be word "zombie"...sorry. I checked Google Translator just to be sure, but it appears there are two separate words for "undead" and "zombie" in Swedish.

Krista wrote: "Sam wrote: "Krista wrote: "Sam, did you approve 'Demon', 'Demon(s)' for Part B -- or was it only the one book that you gave a dispensation for? See Msgs 2 & 3.

Thanks!"

No, I just approved ..."

But Krista, I'm using a book with demon for the football task - it's one of the team names!

Karen GHHS wrote: "Krista wrote: "Sam wrote: "Krista wrote: "Sam, did you approve 'Demon', 'Demon(s)' for Part B -- or was it only the one book that you gave a dispensation for? See Msgs 2 & 3.

Thanks!"

No, I jus...

(From Karen GHHS) But Krista, I'm using a book with demon for the football task - it's one of the team names!..."

Ah so wise! I'm always on the lookout for those elusive Combo points. Can't claim Combo points for "Demon" and task 20.1. Thanks for the reminder that we can use "Demon" for task 10.1.

Krista wrote: "Karen GHHS wrote: "Krista wrote: "Sam wrote: "Krista wrote: "Sam, did you approve 'Demon', 'Demon(s)' for Part B -- or was it only the one book that you gave a dispensation for? See Msgs 2 & 3.
..."

oh, yes, I see what you were after. I used the 20 point 1st person task a lot in the summer to get combo points for other tasks. I'm finding those combo points more challenging this time so far!

Karen GHHS wrote: ,,,I'm finding those combo points more challenging this time so far! ..."

I agree! I'm looking for more foreign books this challenge so I can get those 10 LiT Style points. I don't think that I'm going to do RtT unless folks post some interesting books that I haven't read yet for the early book eras. So all the other Style points become more important.

I think these questions were overlooked (I'm trying to be patient, but I did put Dead Souls on hold until I know where/whether I am going to use it):

Liz wrote: "Does "dead", as in Dead Souls, work as a Halloween-esque adjective?"

Melissa W wrote: "Would the word blood work?"

Sara Grace wrote: "The Turn of the Screw? I won't say why I am asking since it might spoil it."

nsfancy wrote: "How do we feel about "shade" in the title as in a spirit of the dead?"

Yes to "dead" when used as an adjective.

No to "blood."

Yes to "The Turn of the Screw."

No to "shade" w/o further explanation of why the book is appropriate for the task.

Sam wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Just wondering-- can "undead" work for part B? I'd like to read Handling the Undead and it's about zombies."

It has to be word "zombie"...sorry. I checked Google Tran..."

DARN!! I won the book through FirstReads, so I have to read it, and this is the only task it comes even close to working for! :(

I wish the task required zombie (or vampire or werewolf, etc.) as part of the plot and not just the title--that would actually make a little more sense.

Can the word "Spirits" be used for "ghosts"? as in The House of the Spiritsor Dixie Spirits: True Tales of the Strange and Supernatural in the South?

Rebekah wrote: "Can the word "Spirits" be used for "ghosts"? as in The House of the Spiritsor Dixie Spirits: True Tales of the Strange and Supernatural in the South?"

As far as I know, none of the various options for this task require "ghosts" in the title. However, Dixie Spirits might work for Part C: Read a Ghost Story (i.e., any novel that actually has a ghost in it). See post 19 in this thread.

Fast answer! Thanks!

Liz wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Can the word "Spirits" be used for "ghosts"? as in The House of the Spiritsor Dixie Spirits: True Tales of the Strange and Supernatural in the South?"

As..."

Liz is right. The word "Ghost" doesn't have to appear in the title. For Parts A & B it's not an approved title word. For Part C - a ghost has to be a main character in the plot. (See Sam's Msg #19)

Is "dark" a scary enough word for A if used as an adjective? I have to move Dark Flame to a different task. If not, I was reading it because I got to see the author at our library conference and it fit an SRC task, so if it's too much of a stretch I understand.

Karen GHHS wrote: "Is "dark" a scary enough word for A if used as an adjective? I have to move Dark Flame to a different task. If not, I was reading it because I got to see the author at our library conference and it..."

That's fine.

Would Percy Jackson and the Sea Monsters work for part A or could I use it for Part B even though it isn't one of the suggested words. Monster still has to do with Halloween.

As requested I an reposting my question. Could I use Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters for any part of task 20.1? I would really appreciate a ruling on this.

Gosh, Jayme, Krista said twice that this book doesn't work for this task.

She told me to repost the question and I have.

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "She told me to repost the question and I have."

Hi Jayme: Sorry if I wasn't clear in my earlier explanation. In the future -- if you don't get an answer about a book you need a ruling about, please repost your question on Task Help thread so it gets brought to the attention of the Task owners again.

Posting the question about this particular book won't change the ruling. It doesn't fit for Task 20.1. I wish we had a "Doesn't fit anywhere" task this quarter. You could plug it in there. But sorry, it doesn't work for task 20.1.