I, Dr. Who, companion to Lycanis in all manner of foolishness, second this opinion.

I have an audio version of The Hobbit read by none other than Milly's eldest sister Camille.

So that settles it, Arien, you have to do it, no backing out. *nods emphatically*


Cool! I'm listening to Black by Ted Dekker, it's funny in a...grim way.

I originally tried Google Calendar, but it wasn't working well for this purpose. All of the relevant information will be announced in the "June activities thread" as things go live, but I could paste a static list of the June BotW in this thread if it would help. I won't be able to keep the static list updated, however, since I'm already managing the calendar and the activities announcement thread.

I haz a question! Does beta-reading books count? *coughpeter'sangelcough*

Hey, I'm beta reading too... and it's fantasy...

Last year, we decreed that if the book you're test-reading is complete (unfinished drafts or excerpts do not qualify), you may count it. You may not, however, count reading your own books. So yes, test-reading Peter's Angel would count.

And FWIW, as far as bonuses go, we're counting Peter's Angel as historical fiction.

Okay! Thank you!

Yes, I can always re-read Peter's Angel then.

Okay. I'm reading a finished draft...

That should be fine ... but I seem to recall that an item or two from this week on the "calendar" was missing in that thread (the book of the week and associated question, I think?), so my choices seemed to be working from the incomplete list here or fighting with the "calendar" spreadsheet---neither ideal.


Lucky!

Quick questions:

If you read pages in June for the Read-a-thon before you signed up, do they count? (Because I do not think i could find out which pages I read before and after anyway...)

And do you have to finish the dragon book in the dragon week for it to count? Do you have to finish it, but not necessarily on that week? Do you have to finish it at all, just need to have read in it that week?

If you come to a couple blank pages should you write down how many there are and subtract that from the page count? Or can you just ignore those?

Just ignore blank pages, they shouldn't even be numbered most of the time.

The dragon book doesn't have to be finished. You do have to report it before the week is over. However, you're only allowed one unfinished theme book. If you have six books you only read ten pages in you're clearly just trying to get bonus points and that will be disallowed.

You have to sign up before you can report your pages. However, the readathon started on the same date; regardless of when you signed up. So go ahead and register, then report all the books you've read this month.

Did that answer your questions?

Yes! Thank you very much. I was wondering how that would work, but I see it works well.

I've almost finished reading Piercing the Darkness. It's such a good book! I forgot how much I enjoyed reading it.

I love that book, too, Elanor!

A very good book!!! Not as... plainly resolved... as the first book, at all, but very realistic, dark, moving, and wonderful.

Jon, everything for this week has been announced, so we're on track.

Wow. This is all too complex for me to join in this year. Good luck to all those who take up the challenge.

It is complex, I keep re-re-thinking my reading strategy...

*chuckles * Last years worked well for me, but onward and upward.

So it was different last year? Interesting...if it keeps getting more complex...

Very different, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I like the idea of hosting on different forums each month, but being told what I can and cannot read, where to post, when to post, charting and so on... all of that means that, with my schedule, I simply will be unable to participate.

I think everything looks fun, though, so enjoy your first experience with the HW read-a-thon.

Ah, I see what you mean, though you can read anything you want--it just means you'll lose.

Thank you! It's definitely helping me get some serious progress on reading Systematic Theology and, soon, The Silmarillion.

Those are both good books to get read.

I'm reading my one-volume Lord of the Rings... it's been so long! I can actually grasp it now, unlike the last time I read it, though I loved it anyway. It's be an awesome experience this time around.

I think the LotR is a series that gets better the older you get. You grasp more and see more nuances.

Absolutely. So good. Lewis is the same... except his is probably the finer art - since a Child can grasp it too, in ways an adult can't, yet an adult also gets more.

And that is hard, let me tell you!

Very.

I also picked up the book form of Schindler's List to read... if it's half as sublime/awful as the movie, I'm in for a ride.

So, to resolve Tsahraf's question, we look at the last numbered page of story in the book without subtracting any numbered illustrated pages, maps, or blank pages from the whole?

No, no, Airi, I think you misunderstand! You can read whatever you want. The only thing we're dictating is that you post on a different thread each month.

You get bonus points for reading certain genres each month, certain books each week, or participating in bonus activities. But those are all optional!

See, I am so terribly confused. *shakes tired head *

Maybe next year I shall try. Or I may jump in at some point, if I can. You never know.

We're still offering prizes for most number of pages read too.

Here, I'll make it simple for you.

1. Send Azlyn a message so she puts you on the list.
2. Read.

Wasn't that easy?

* grins * My only problem is step 2.

Same... been busy. June is always my busiest month.

I have three free days this week though.

They are! I'm looking forward to many more hours spent at the library (where it's [sometimes] quiet enough to read such books).

So...I reported Eragon because I hadn't been able to finish it in time, but can I now finish it just for the genre bonus points, or do I no longer get any points for the remaining pages?

You definitely still get genre bonus points. Here, don't worry about the points, just report it as a fantasy dragon book. The point counters can check the date of your post against the end of the Dragon Week if they need to.

Okay, thanks!

Reading whatever you want does not mean you will lose, no, not at all. It means you won't win the genre contest, but you're still in running for the most pages read.

This issue came up when we were developing the idea behind the scenes. People wanted to make sure they could still win for most pages read, regardless of genre, and you can!

Last year, you just read and reported pages. People won for the most pages. That was it. There was no excitement for people who didn't read a lot, and there wasn't anything special about it - no bonus activities, no encouraged reading, etc. This year, we wanted to spice it up. We wanted to have more to do, more ways to win. Hence the bonus points - but you can still win for most pages read. We have multiple prizes, some of which include bonus points, some of which do not. (There's a breakdown at the end of the announcement.) So if you just want to compete for most pages read, have at it! But if you want to take a tour of some genres, read the Books of the Week and participate in the activities. If you participate a lot in any given genre, you have a chance of winning, even if you can't read as much as others. So, there's something for everyone.

And besides that, there's some special contests and giveaways that you can only participate in if you're a Read-a-Thon participant. So get your name in or you'll miss out all summer!

But... but... Airi! Please?

Airi, you have to participate now!

Yes! I even used the face!

Um....

*stands by with bated breath*

I'm trying to get contracts and agents for 2 books during this time frame. I just don't think it's going to work out, guys. But I'll cheer from the sidelines, and look forward to next year.

Okay...and I hope that that goes well.

Me too. Thanks for understanding.

Sure! We're all too busy at some point or 'nother.

I just signed up and I was wondering whether the other books that I read since the beginning of June would count toward my page count. The reason I'm asking is that I've read 13.5 books since the 1st of June and was hoping that they would count. They aren't fantasy genre but they would count towards my overall page count.

Yes. If you read them on/after June 1st, you may count them. Glad you joined!

Welcome to the madn- craz- eh, fun!

Wow!

I just read The Sword and Pen in one... standing (we do not use a chair at that computer), just this morning! I got a much clearer, hence deeper, view of a part of Holy Worlds. I hope we do another book like that!