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Do you feel that chill in the air? It's Winter Wars time (or Summer Days Redux if you're in the southern hemisphere).

The Wars begin November 1st

HOW TO JOIN
1. Reply to this thread with "I want to participate in a group" or "I want to participate by myself," and the number of books you read/listen to each year (this isn't to judge your reading habits but to attempt to create balanced teams).
2. The deadline to join a team is October 23
3. Anyone can join Winter Wars as long as the competition lasts, but after October 23 all newcomers will be soloists.

RULES
✧ Members will be broken out into up to 3-4 separate teams (or go solo option) before the start date (November 1st). You will work together to complete a series of tasks together and complete as many of them as you wish.
✧ Books must be read and reviewed during November 1st through December 31st. Any books or audiobooks started before November 1st or finished after December 31st will not count.
✧ If you read an Audiobook version of a book convert the hours to pages using this site: or use the print equivalent on ÀÏ»¢»úÎÈÓ®·½·¨.
✧ Graphic/Manga novels are accepted but will only count for half of the listed page count
✧ You must post at least 3 status updates OR a review. It doesn't have to be super detailed but try to not just say "this was good" for the book to count.
✧ For prompts: if it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit, and it will not count.
✧ Page Limits:
• Books: 150 pages
• Graphic Novels: 200 pages (halved=100 pages)
• Audiobooks: 150 pages (use GR print equivalent length)

POINT SYSTEM
+1 point for every book that has been read and reviewed that correlates with a category
+2 points for participating in a buddy read (must take place in the group)
+3 for one completed category
+4 points for reading/participating in a group read (must take place in the group)
+5 points for every 1,000 pages read
Note: Mods keep track of all points in a shared Google Sheets spread to keep everything as organized as possible.

CATEGORIES

Who's that?
1. Read a book where the main character is Black
2. Read a book where the main character is Latine(o/a/x)
3. Read a book where the main character is LGBTQIA+
4. Read a book where the main character is indigenous
5. Read a book where the main character is South Asian

What's in a Name?
1. Read a book with the character's name in the title
2. Read a book with a title or occupation (mr/ms/mrs/miss/mx, doctor, hangman, librarian, etc.) in the title (hereditary titles will not count for this prompt)
3. Read a book with a noble rank in the title (princess, king, queen, duke, earl, etc.)
4. Read a book with pronouns in the title (he/him/his, she/her/hers, xe/xim/xyr, they/them/theirs, we/us/our, you/your, etc.)
5. Read a book where the title has this format: A [Noun] of [Noun] and [Noun}

When is this?
Majority of the book (60% or more) must fit the prompt
1. Read a book that takes place during a holiday
2. Read a book set during the winter
3. Read a book set in the future (after 2022)
4. Read a book that has time travel (not dual POVS or flashbacks or jump forwards in narration, but the characters actually do a Back to the Future/Outlander thing)
5. Read a book set or published before 1880

Where are you?
1. Read a book set in your home state (or home country if not US)
2. Read a book that takes place in Asia
3. Read a book that takes place in Africa
4. Read a book that takes place in Europe
5. Read a book that takes place in South America or Australia/Oceania

Why are these prompts so hard?
1. Read a book that has been translated into the language you read (i.e., Spanish into English)
2. Read a nonfiction history book
3. Read a book written by an author who died before 1970
4. Read a collection of short stories/essays
5. Read a memoir/autobiography

How did this happen?
1. Read a book with snow or mountains on the cover
2. Read a book with a white cover
3. Read a book with a mostly-naked person on the cover
4. Read a book with a blue cover
5. Read a book with a bird or feline on the cover

LINKS TO SPREADSHEET AND DISCORD
To help track your team points, strategize and communicate, we've created individual team spreadsheets and team discord channels. Please note that the mods will not be checking either of these unless we are asked. Also, huge huge huge shout-out to Selina, who created the original team spreadsheet, taught us how to be amazing at excel, and is amazing herself, and also to Mina, who did a lot of the legwork in adapting it to team use. Any errors within it are mine—please let me know if you spot anything wonky.

Because ÀÏ»¢»úÎÈÓ®·½·¨ is being a butt and not allowing links from other sites in comments, the link to your team spreadsheet is in your team's discord channel

Participants

Amelia (4)
Jen K (8)
Josie (17)
Leah (37)
May (20)
Rosina (50)
Tani (48)
Zeilynn (46)

COMPLETION POST:
The mods are going to be needing this from every participant for every book they finish for us to be able to track everything better. Only books that have a completion post will be considered for scoring points. Here is the template:

Title:
Author:
Start Date:
Finish Date:
Category and task: (only one task per book read)
Graphic Novel? (Yes or no)
Buddy Read? (Yes or no)
Group Read? (Yes or no)
Pages: (if a graphic novel, please post original and halved numbers)
Review: [link of your review]

Please ensure you include the category and task number. It really helps us when we input into our master spreadsheet <3

Hey team! Excited to play the challenge with you all.

Hi everybody! Looks like a fun couple of months of reading ahead for us...Cant wait to start..

Hello all!!! Super excited, will get a list up after I go through my ridiculous to-read shelf :D

What I've got so far based on previous lists I haven't got to yet:
What's in a name
1. (have this on preorder)
4.
When is this
3.
5.
Where are you
4.
Why are these prompts so hard
2.
5.
How did this happen
3.

lemme know if anyone wants to buddy read! I'll keep an eye on my shelves and my local library if there's more I can find!

Hi everyone! I'll list some books I might read soon

@ Leah, I also planned for this month and really wanted to do as well but couldn't figure out a prompt-- totally missed the pronoun. I would be happy to buddy read those!

In another group I'm in, the November theme is first in a series so I have a few of those that I'm trying to check off.

Some of the first books I will try to take on (because I have them from the library mostly).

How 2- , Who 4- , Who 5- , What 1- BR, What 2 or Where 3- , What 3- , When 5- , Why 1-

I do have something tentatively slotted for all the prompts, sometimes more than one.

Should we add another tab to the spreadsheet to list possible reads beyond our current reads on the second tab?

Hi all! Absolutely can't wait to get started! I am a bit of a mood reader but will jump on any buddy reads I can

Amelia wrote: "Hi all! Absolutely can't wait to get started! I am a bit of a mood reader but will jump on any buddy reads I can"

I am the same - a mood reader....I love making lists of books to fit prompts but then I change what I will read. But I do follow through on buddy reads.

@Jen K
I'd be interested in a BR for

@Leah
I'd be interested in a BR for

Rosina wrote: "@Jen K
I'd be interested in a BR for

@Leah
I'd be interested in a BR for "
Awesome! The last time I did a buddy read, I took about 3-5 days per book- is that alright? What dates would you prefer for this?

Jen K wrote: "@ Leah, I also planned for this month and really wanted to do as well but couldn't figure out a prompt-- totally missed ..."
I'd love to do both of these! I'm thinking the same 3-5 days as above, if that's ok? Any particular dates you would like?

@Leah
I looked at the chapters and there are 46 and my copy has 534 pages....5 days should be good.
could break up by 9 chapters/day or 100 pages/day...

Im good to start whenever works for you

Rosina wrote: "@Jen K
I'd be interested in a BR for

@Leah
I'd be interested in a BR for "

Awesome! I've been wanting to read this for a while now. I'm gotten a bit overzealous with the buddy reads so just let me know when and what pace works best for you and I will make it work.

Leah wrote: "Rosina wrote: "@Jen K
I'd be interested in a BR for

@Leah
I'd be interested in a BR for "
Awesome! The last time I did ..."

@Leah, that pace should be fine! I've committed to starting another Buddy Read on the 1st so perhaps starting the second week of November? the 7th?

@Jen K....mid month works for me...5 days should be fine

@Rosina, sounds great! How about the 16-20? There aren't really chapter numbers but this is an approximate break down for the hard cover.

16th: Pages 1-57
17th: Pages 58- 123
18th: Pages 124 - 181
19th: Pages 182- 243
20th: Pages 244- 305

If that works, I can share with Mina on the BR thread.

sounds great Jenn K

Rosina wrote: "sounds great Jenn K"

done!

Rosina wrote: "@Leah
I looked at the chapters and there are 46 and my copy has 534 pages....5 days should be good.
could break up by 9 chapters/day or 100 pages/day...

Im good to start whenever works for you"
Would starting on the 1st be okay? Or I can wait til you're good with your other BR- so the 21st?

Jen K wrote: "Leah wrote: "Rosina wrote: "@Jen K
I'd be interested in a BR for

@Leah
I'd be interested in a BR for "
Awesome! The las..."

That would be excellent, yes!

@Leah the first works for me....this week I'm reading the prequel its only 150 pages...

Rosina wrote: "@Leah the first works for me....this week I'm reading the prequel its only 150 pages..."

Requested a BR thread for us! So excited to read it :D

@leah ..oh yes...read first chapter of prequel...this looks to be a good read...did you know the author writes also as Maljean Brooks

@ Leah, would these schedules work?


Nov 11: Ch 1-8
Nov 12: Ch 9-16
Nov 13: Ch 17-24
Nov 14: Ch 25- end


Nov 15: Ch 1-8
Nov 16: Ch 9-16
Nov 17: Ch 17-24
Nov 18: Ch 25- end

Totally doubling up on buddy reads but I think I can make it work.

yes, those work!

Leah wrote: "yes, those work!"

Awesome! I will throw them up on the BR thread.

Some books I'm planning to read in November:

Hi everyone

I went to discord and added my books. I noticed on the spreadsheet under Categories that not all were there. I was adding a book for How #3.

Rosina wrote: "Hi everyone

I went to discord and added my books. I noticed on the spreadsheet under Categories that not all were there. I was adding a book for How #3."

It looks like there are some Summer Days category names left over. XBox Experience 3 might work for How 3?

I saw Xbox and wondered what had happened...makes sense...

my copy of Empire of the Vampire is at the library....
will it be a group read since there are 3 tied for 4th place?

Rosina wrote: "I saw Xbox and wondered what had happened...makes sense...

my copy of Empire of the Vampire is at the library....
will it be a group read since there are 3 tied for 4th place?"

Sorry for just jumping in, but Empire of the Vampire isn't one of the group reads, since The Only Good Indians had more votes in the nomination thread. However, I can make a buddy thread for it.

@mina I ll go ask in the BR thread and see I anyone is interested

UPDATE

Winter Wars starts tomorrow (or whenever November 1st is for you)!

A couple quick reminders:

1. Only book started on or after November 1st count for this challenge
2. Buddy and Group Reads are your money makers!
3. Categories and prompts can be completed multiple times
4. Rereads are okay, but you can't reread a book that you've read for this challenge already (back-to-back rereads won't count)
5. If you have a question on a prompt, please ask in the General Sign-Ups thread—I'm sure others will have similar questions
6. Weekly updates will post on...Sundays. Yes, Sundays. Fingers crossed I remember.

And most of all: have fun!

GR is finally letting me post the link to the spreadsheet!

Okay folks, one last thing before I leave you to read:

We're going to be a little stricter on Buddy Reads this time around.

This time around we are not going to allow Buddy Reads of series, which means one book per buddy read thread (view spoiler)[exceptions may be made for super short books in a series where the readers plan on reading back to back with no breaks (hide spoiler)]

Also, if you missed the initial sign-ups for a BR, you can only join if the original group hasn't hit the 50% mark on the book (per their reading schedule). If the timeline is past that, request a new BR—someone will want to join who also missed the first read through!

Thanks Laurel!

Go Jet-Setting Yetis! I may have started 4 different books today in my excitement... Hope everyone found a good book to start of with for the challenge!

@Jen I started 3....yikes!!

Rosina wrote: "@Jen I started 3....yikes!!"

Excellent!! Work is so in the way of my reading time.

oh Me too ....work was crazy then hubby home this afternoon and wanted to go get stuff for his office space....im bushed...but I will get some reading done

Completion Post

Title: She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
Author: Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
Start Date: November 1, 2021
Finish Date: November 3, 2021
Category and task: How Did This Happen 2. Read a book with a white cover

Graphic Novel? No
Buddy Read? No
Group Read? No
Pages: 310
Review: /review/show...

Completion Post

Title: 10 Blind Dates
Author: Ashley Elston
Start Date: November 1, 2021
Finish Date: November 4, 2021
Category and task: When is this? 1. Read a book that takes place during a holiday
Graphic Novel? No
Buddy Read? Yes
/topic/show/...
Group Read? No
Pages: 336
Review: /review/show...

Completion Post

Title: The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Author: Mohsin Hamid
Start Date: November 4, 2021
Finish Date: November 6, 2021
Category and task: Who's That 5. Read a book where the main character is South Asian
Graphic Novel? No
Buddy Read? No
Group Read? No
Pages: 228
Review: /review/show...

@Josie, saw you completed a book on the team spreadsheet. Looks great!!

You will need to post the completion on this thread here as well for it to be counted by Laurel.

Completion Post
Title:Treasure Island
Author:Robert Louis Stevenson
Start Date: Nov 3
Finish Date: Nov 5
Category and task: Why #3
Graphic Novel? No
Buddy Read? No
Group Read? No
Pages: 311
Review: /review/show...

Completion Post:
Title: The Shop of Shades and Secrets
Author:Colleen Gleason
Start Date: Nov 4
Finish Date: Nov 6
Category and task: Whats #5
Graphic Novel? No
Buddy Read? No
Group Read? No
Pages: 325
Review: /review/show...

Completion Post
Title:Sins of the Heart
Author:Eve Silver
Start Date: nov 2
Finish Date: Nov 6
Category and task: Where #1 (part of story is in Toronto Canada)
Graphic Novel? No
Buddy Read? No
Group Read? No
Pages: 383
Review: /review/show...

Title: Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Start Date: 11/04/21
Finish Date: 11/05/21
Category and task: Where Are You #1
Graphic Novel?: No
Buddy Read: No
Group Read: No
Pages: 310
Review: /review/show...

Title: A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax
Author: Dorothy Gilman
Start Date: November 5, 2021
Finish Date: November 6, 2021
Category and task: What's in a Name 2. Read a book with a title or occupation in the title
Graphic Novel?: No
Buddy Read: No
Group Read: No
Pages: 191
Review: /review/show...