I'm not interested in hosting/arranging/whateveryoucallit the Mystery/Thriller Challenge for 2011, so if someone else would like to step up, that would be great. If more than one of you wants the job, you all can discuss amongst yourselves and decide. I probably will participate, but that also depends...lots of stuff going on right now, and visits to PBS and and the forums especially have become much more sporadic of late. Which is really a good thing, because I've been so crabby that I'm likely to just blurt (hmmm...what's the word for blurting in writing? LOL) out things that I'm thinking--which, trust me, you mostly don't want to hear. LOL

Anyway...have at it!

Cheryl

Okay, I've been watching this thread for  several days now and am getting nervous because no one is responding--I want a mystery challenge next year!!  LOL

I don't want to be the coordinator, but I see in the Classics genre thread that they are making up next year's challenge by soliciting suggestions from other members, making a list of categories and discussing which ones they like and don't like.  If no one feels capable of coming up with the categories maybe we can do it this way.

I just finished what I think is the last book for the main mystery challenge, and have about 3 left for the bonus--I love these challenges and want to make sure we have a good one next year too!

Diane

DIANE,

I THINK THAT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA, IF NO ONE VOLUNTEERS.

CHERYL, SORRY YOU CANNOT CONTINUE THIS YEAR.  HOPE YOUR LIFE IS BETTER SOON. JUST WHEN I THINK MY LIFE IS SIMPLIER, SOMETHING AT WORK DECIDES TO TAKE A TRIP SOUTH. I AM BLAMING IT ON AGE.

MARY

I've been watching this thread as well and unless someone else wants it, I HEREBY VOLUNTEER to do the Mystery Forum Challenge for 2011.

I have some ideas already but I am open to any and all suggestions!  I can't promise that I'll use them all but I probably will need more help and guidance than I think.  I have some pretty impressive boots to fill.  Thank you Cheryl (Spuddie) for two AWESOME years of challenges!

LeeAnne, I think you will do a great job! Good idea too, to take suggestions. I'll be looking in to see what ya'll come up with! :)

Cheryl

I've enjoyed the challenges for the past two (gasp...already!) years, and think Cheryl has done a great job with them. I've enjoyed (and in part participated in) them because they haven't been merely variations on titles, but they have inspired stretching reading boundries into new authors or subgenres that might not otherwise be investigated.   

Jodi, I agree with you about liking categories that specify something meaningful--as opposed to things like alphabet challenges, which may be fun but are more of a letter game kind of thing.  I like being pushed A LITTLE towards books I might not normally read, as long as they are broad enough categories to have some leeway--the more specific the categories the more important it is to have some extras so people can eliminate one or two that they absolutely don't want to spend time on. 

LeeAnne, I'm glad you're willing to take on the challenge, as soon as the weather turned cool I started wondering what next year's categories were going to be!  Now, you know that in a couple weeks we'll start bugging you about how soon the 2011 challenge will be ready! 

Diane

YEAH GOOD GIRL, LEE ANN!!!

I KNOW YOU WILL BE A GREAT LEADER.

MARY

Thank you Cheryl for hosting these last couple of years. Thanks for steppign up LeeAnn I  know you will do great.

Alice

*IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR ALL MYSTERY/THRILLER CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS*

What date are you expecting this challenge to appear?  Since it is the 2011 challenge, should it be posted on New Year's Day?  Do you want it posted December 1st?  Split the difference and call it December15th?  What do you think?

New Year's is too late, I would vote for December 1st even though that's a little early.  Half the fun is the searching for books and planning, so I like that part to be prolonged!

Diane

I agree with Diane for December 1st. That should be a good time to gather the books and request certain books as presents.

I really would like to read books that are already in my TBR pile hopefully and maybe a book or two that I normally wouldn't read, but too many would make me want to stop the challenge. Please do not include any translated foreign books, I found that to be too much and a waste of time, jmho.

I was hoping that there would be a couple of extra categories (something like reading 12 of 13 or 15 categories) which would allow people to exclude their least favorite.  As far as mysteries go, since they are my favorite genre, I "think" I would be willing to try anything,  I'm not reading a lot of thrillers these days, or even many cozies, but certainly could for a challenge. 

Diane

Applause for Cheryl for the terrific job she did for the Mystery Challenge for two years  The queen has resigned!  Long may the new queen LeeAnne reign.

I think posting it December 1 would give us a chance to gather the books we'd like to read for the challenge.

. 

I think Dec 1st as well.  A few weeks to plan........

I love the planning too!  I don't know why, though - I'm always changing my mind.  :)  The earlier the better  - just my vote.  Thanks for doing next year's challenge, LeeAnne!  Cheryl - thanks for the great job with this year's challenge!  It was a lot of fun! 

I would like to join in the challenge when it starts up.  Can someone please explain to me how it works? 

Thank you.  You can PM me if you would like.

Hi Theresa!  The Mystery/Thriller challenge is open to any and all who care to participate.  It is a lot of fun but it is pretty casual and no one keeps track of who is reading what, who completes what etc.  Each participant chooses his or her own titles and keeps track on the designated thread that bobs up and down on the first page or two of the forum throughout the year.

Basically, on or about the 1st of December I will post a 2011 Mystery/Thriller Forum Challenge thread that will have approximately 10-12 different categories and perhaps two or three "bonus" challenges. The categories could include sub genres, titles with specific words, books from various eras, etc. Each participate will mull over the list and  spend the month hunting down books that fullfill the criteria of the category.  If you have trouble finding books, ASK! The people on this forum are amazing in their knowledge and scope so you will get LOTS of help! You will then post your list on the designated thread and as you complete a book, you edit your post to reflect that.  I will bump the 2010 challenge threads so you can take a look to see what you are up against! LOL!

Hope this helps!  Please feel free to post questions here on PM me if you need further clarification.  Welcome to PBS! :)

Thank you LeeAnne for the info and bumping up the other threads.  Now I have a understanding of how it works.

I didn't see this thread until today! LeeAnne, thanks for taking on the challenge! Anything we can do to help you?

One suggestion:

Try the first book in a series you haven't read.

I saw this thread when it was first posted.  Thank you LeeAnne for doing this and thank you Cheryl for the last 2 years.  This year, 2010, was my first year to participate and while I don't come around much, I do lurk and read the related threads, and have kept up on the challenge this year - it's been loads of fun and I'm looking forward to 2011. 

Thank you to  Cheryl for doing the challenge for two years.  I really have enjoyed doing it.  I also have found some books that I would not have read before. 

Thank you to LeeAnne for doing the challenge for 2011.  Can't wait to start looking for new books to explore.

I also think Dec. 1st or so would be okay.  I get some of my books early but then find some during the challenge.

I am thinking of joining in on this challenge!

I recently discovered how much I love mysteries and cozies.  I am really looking forward to joining y'all for the challenge this year!  

Welcome Amber and Nicole!  We would be very happy for both of you to join us.  The challenge is a great way to try new authors that you otherwise would not read.  This was my first challenge and I really enjoyed it.  Can't wait to see what Leeanne has come up with for next year!