Welcome to the 2022 Category Challenge!

Discussão2022 Category Challenge

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Welcome to the 2022 Category Challenge!

1rabbitprincess
Editado: Out 10, 2022, 8:46 am

Here's a longer explanation of what goes on in the group.

What are the categories?

Anything you want them to be! Each member’s challenge is going to be different.

You can set as many categories as you like, in whatever genres you like.
You can set minimum numbers of books to read in each category, or you can fill them up as the whim takes you.
You can structure your reading year around a theme if you like.
You can focus on prize winners, certain geographical areas, topics that are of particular interest to you, series you want to finish, authors with an extensive backlist… the possibilities are endless.

What if I set up my challenge and then get tired of my categories later in the year?

If your challenge ends up not working for you for any reason, at any point during the year, change it up! There is no Category Challenge police. We’re here to read and have fun.

It's a zoo in here! What are these CATs and KITs and DOGs?

The CATs are the "official" year-long challenges voted on by the members, with different topics each month.

The KITs are similar in structure to CATs, but they are informal challenges run by whichever member is willing to do so.

The BingoDOG (so named because it is not a CAT or a KIT) is a bingo card put together by the group members. One member will gather suggestions for squares and weed out duplicate suggestions, and the finalists are put on a bingo card. For several years our bingo cards have been constructed by the wonderful LShelby.

Do I have to be a member of this group to join the group challenges?

Not at all! If you have a home base in another group and just want to swing by for one of our group challenges, or a regular group read, you're most welcome to join us.

When do we get started?

The challenge officially starts January 1, 2022, but you can start earlier or later!

2DeltaQueen50
Out 11, 2021, 12:19 pm

Thanks for getting us started, RP. I am looking forward to doing some planning on my next years challenge today. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

3dudes22
Out 11, 2021, 12:42 pm

Thanks, rp, for setting this up. I appreciate all the work you do. I started thinking about my challenge a while ago, but will wait for the optional challenges before I make any final decisions to start my thread.

4LibraryCin
Out 11, 2021, 1:22 pm

YAY! Happy Thanksgiving to the other Canadians in the group!

5Jackie_K
Out 11, 2021, 1:30 pm

Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy New Group! :)

6Tess_W
Out 11, 2021, 1:31 pm

TY RP and Happy Thanksgiving!

7VivienneR
Out 11, 2021, 2:02 pm

Happy Thanksgiving from this Canadian too! And a big thank you to rabbitprincess for setting up the group.

8DeltaQueen50
Out 11, 2021, 4:31 pm

For me, planning can only go so far until I know what Cats/Kits we will have. I am pretty sure we will have a RandomCat but looking back I found that I really enjoyed the Cats that were the most non-specific, giving me more freedom to fit in my own books.

Some of my favorites have been:

ColorCat
CatWoman
SeriesCat
TBRCat

I also enjoyed CultureCat and AwardsCat as well.

Hopefully there will be an AlphaKit, SFFFKit, and a ScaredyKit in 2022.

I am looking forward to seeing some new topics suggested as well.

9Tanya-dogearedcopy
Out 11, 2021, 7:30 pm

I've pulled a stack of 2022 candidates-- books that I want to fit-in in some way; but will wait until the CATs/KITs are set before the sorting begins.

My particular problem is a matter of over-committing to all the bight, shiny new CATs, KITS, Group Reads and BingoDog! I haven't been at this as long as many here, but long enough to know I need to be more judicious! :-D

10JayneCM
Out 11, 2021, 7:40 pm

>9 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Over committing has definitely been my problem as well. I have learnt my lesson and I think I will make 2022 way more open and flexible so I can find slots for all the books that come my way.

11LadyoftheLodge
Editado: Out 11, 2021, 7:44 pm

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadians in our groups. (Before pandemic, I was on a cruise to Canada and Thanksgiving occurred when we were in Canada. Our dinner on the ship was a lovely celebration.) Thanks again rp for setting this up!

I am thinking of including a few of my own challenges that I did not get to in 2021, or at least not like I wanted to do. I do not want to be overly committed, as some others have mentioned.

I liked CalendarCAT and ColorCAT from past challenges. I always look forward to AlphaKIT and RandomCAT, so I hope we can include those.

12LibraryCin
Out 11, 2021, 9:14 pm

>11 LadyoftheLodge: Oh, lucky you with the dinner on the ship...

I did a Canada/New England cruise over Canadian Thanksgiving once, but there was nary a mention of it. :-( I had hoped there might be something. I don't recall if we were in Canada the day of not, but I still hoped there might be something.

13Tess_W
Out 11, 2021, 9:54 pm

I liked Travel Cat

14MissWatson
Out 12, 2021, 3:22 am

Happy thanksgiving to all my Canadian fellow LTers, and many thanks to rp for getting us started. I've got plans made but will wait a little for the CATs to finalise them. I hope there will be a RandomCAT, and I also liked CATWoman.

15Robertgreaves
Out 12, 2021, 11:04 pm

Like everyone else I'm waiting to see what felines the voting produces for next year. I'm hoping for something that will let me fit in books that have been on my shelves for a while but don't really fit any CATs and KITs and so don't get read.

16Helenliz
Out 13, 2021, 9:14 am

Struggling this year for a theme. But I'm in for another year, regardless.

17Crazymamie
Out 13, 2021, 10:34 am

I have my theme picked already, which is surprising, so I just need to flesh out my categories. I am excited to see what Cats/Kits there will be.

Thanks so much for setting this up again, RP.

18VictoriaPL
Out 14, 2021, 2:21 pm

I have my theme picked all ready. I'm very excited :)

19pamelad
Out 14, 2021, 2:54 pm

I like the all-year GeoKIT and plan to read from further afield next year. Every book can fit in the GeoKIT!

20majkia
Out 14, 2021, 3:02 pm

Hi everyone. If folks still want an AlphaKIT I'll be glad to host it as usual. Otherwise, looking forward to seeing what CATs we select this year

21LibraryCin
Out 14, 2021, 5:13 pm

For KITs, I'm happy to continue to participate in the AlphaKIT and ScaredyKIT.

22VivienneR
Out 14, 2021, 6:38 pm

>20 majkia: Count me in for AlphaKIT. Thanks for your offer, I always enjoy the KIT.

23DeltaQueen50
Out 14, 2021, 7:08 pm

Yes!! I am looking forward to participating in the AlphaKit once again!

24Tanya-dogearedcopy
Out 14, 2021, 7:33 pm

>20 majkia: I love ALPHAkit! It has really helped me dive deeper into my stacks every year! I hope you will conintue to host :-)

>19 pamelad: One thing I learned from the GEOkit this year is that, despite making a conscious effort to read more broadly, the number of titles I read in the Asia and Africa categories was shamefully low. I'm not sure how I'm going to address this in the year(s) to come-- Personal challenge, maybe. I need to sort through my stacks with that in mind...

25JayneCM
Out 14, 2021, 7:49 pm

>20 majkia: Thank you so much! I love AlphaKIT.

26LadyoftheLodge
Out 14, 2021, 8:44 pm

>20 majkia: Yes, please do continue. I love AlphaKit.

27Robertgreaves
Editado: Out 14, 2021, 9:51 pm

>20 majkia: Another voice in favour of AlphaKIT continuing. Grateful thanks to Majkia for arranging it all these years.

28dudes22
Out 15, 2021, 7:06 am

>20 majkia: - I used the Alpha Kit to keep up with my series this year and it really helped. I'd be in another year.

29sturlington
Out 15, 2021, 6:12 pm

I saw ScaredyKIT mentioned a couple of times, and I'm happy to help get that set up as I have in past years.

30babygirl06
Out 15, 2021, 7:42 pm

There's people from Canada? So cool! I'm in the U.S. I hope you don't mind I joined your chat, I'm trying to make some friends. I'm almost 16, and just found this page. I'm not really allowed to have social media, and this was a last resort.. Hope I do make some friends. Not sure how this website works, though. I saw that a lot of the people on here were girls, are there any guys on here? Sometimes I get confused by someone's post whether they're a guy or a girl, so I'm gonna clarify I'm a girl lol, hence babygirl being my username.. But anyways, Heyyyyyy!!

31JayneCM
Out 15, 2021, 9:21 pm

>29 sturlington: Yay! I love ScaredyKIT - thank you!

>30 babygirl06: Welcome! All my book 'friends' are online as I don't have any real life reading friends.

32LibraryCin
Out 15, 2021, 9:36 pm

>30 babygirl06: Welcome to the group!

Yup, I'm in Canada (Calgary, Alberta, to be exact).

I'm also a "girl" - LOL! Well, I'm a lot older than that, but close enough. :-) (And to be exact there, I'm 48, soon to be 49.)

33Tess_W
Out 15, 2021, 10:07 pm

>24 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I'm in the same boat, Tanya. In 2022, I'm going to have some personal cats for Australia, Africa, and Asia.

34pamelad
Out 15, 2021, 10:28 pm

>24 Tanya-dogearedcopy:, >33 Tess_W: I'm also missing Asia and Africa, plus South America, and have totally given up on Polar. I'll plan a geographical category in 2022, the GeoKIt if it's going, one of my own if not.

35Helenliz
Out 16, 2021, 11:31 am

I wondering who is going to be first with their thread. Are we all waiting for someone to go first?

36Jackie_K
Out 16, 2021, 12:56 pm

>36 Jackie_K: I'm waiting to see who is going to cave and start a thread of CAT suggestions.

37rabbitprincess
Out 16, 2021, 1:30 pm

>36 Jackie_K: LOL! I got a bit burned out on reading in general this year and am considering dropping the "group reads and CATs" category in next year's challenge, so I'm not likely to be starting that thread :)

38LadyoftheLodge
Out 16, 2021, 1:54 pm

>35 Helenliz: I am waiting to start my thread until I see what the CATs and KITs are for 2022. I felt like I was overextended in 2021.

39LadyoftheLodge
Out 16, 2021, 1:58 pm

>30 babygirl06: Hi there! We are all book-lovers in some form or other. We use the threads to talk about reading and books, although there are all kinds of other groups on LibraryThing. If you did not take the LibraryThing tour yet, you should do that. It will help you get the idea of what this site is all about.

40Tess_W
Out 16, 2021, 2:11 pm

>30 babygirl06: Hello! Welcome to LT. Doesn't matter if we are guys or gals here, we are here to discuss books! What is your favorite genre?

41Tess_W
Out 16, 2021, 2:12 pm

>37 rabbitprincess: I'm with you RP. I think I will focus solely on my own shelves this year.

42pamelad
Out 16, 2021, 3:48 pm

>36 Jackie_K:, >37 rabbitprincess: I'll set it up now, using NinieB's orderly format from last year. I might need to call on someone for help setting up the voting.

43Tanya-dogearedcopy
Editado: Out 16, 2021, 3:52 pm

I pulled a stack of twenty-two books randomly from my TBR stacks and am now waiting to see what CATs/kits are going to be settled on for next year to see how it might all fit! I know that if ALPHAkit and SFFkit are set up, I'm in; but I need to be careful about pulling too many books and feeling overwhelmed. Last year & this year have not been great reading years for me so I'm trying to manage expectations for next year!

I guess the question is now, When do we start proposing CATs & kits, etc.?

44pamelad
Editado: Out 16, 2021, 4:14 pm

Here's the 2022 CAT Planning Thread.

45sallylou61
Editado: Out 16, 2021, 5:52 pm

We have not done CATWoman since 2017, and it seemed pretty popular according to the wiki. I would enjoy doing it again.

Posted on wrong thread! I will repost

46rabbitprincess
Out 16, 2021, 7:31 pm

>42 pamelad: Thank you, Pam!! :)

47NinieB
Out 16, 2021, 8:39 pm

>42 pamelad: Thank you, Pam, for setting up the CAT thread. I'm happy to help with voting; just let me know.

48pamelad
Out 16, 2021, 11:57 pm

>46 rabbitprincess: Happy to. Thank you rabbitprincess for setting up and maintaining these Category Challenges.

>47 NinieB: Thanks Ninie. My phone just corrected you to None, but I saw it in time.

49mathgirl40
Out 17, 2021, 6:40 pm

>1 rabbitprincess: Thanks for setting up the group!

50pamelad
Out 20, 2021, 4:10 pm

Should we start thinking about the BingoDOG?

51MissWatson
Out 21, 2021, 3:31 am

>50 pamelad: I think we can start collecting ideas.

52pamelad
Out 21, 2021, 4:12 am

>51 MissWatson: What I really meant was: who's going to volunteer to start a thread and take charge?

Last year rabbitprincess did it and it looked like a lot of work, with many, many suggestions to weed down to 24.

53Helenliz
Editado: Out 21, 2021, 6:15 am

>52 pamelad: If LShelby is willing to help with the cards again (that looks far beyond me) I'm happy to collate ideas and consolidate them before making a completely random decision as to what's on the card.

I will dig out the last few years cards so that we can make a decision on whether to include or discount repeats.

54MissWatson
Out 21, 2021, 10:06 am

>52 pamelad: Oh, sorry, that was a bit dense of me.

55christina_reads
Out 21, 2021, 11:46 am

>53 Helenliz: That is awesome, thanks for volunteering! For the past few years, I've been the one designing the cards once the squares were finalized. Then I send the card images over to LShelby for her to work her coding magic (so that we can post the cards on our threads and use the markers to cross off completed squares). I'm happy to continue doing this part of it, unless someone else would like a turn.

56Helenliz
Out 21, 2021, 12:11 pm

>55 christina_reads: Excellent, I will start the suggestions thread and whittle it down to a perfect 25, then hand over to someone else for the clever bit. >:-)

57pamelad
Out 21, 2021, 4:23 pm

>54 MissWatson: My fault, sorry. Very few people can read minds!

>53 Helenliz:, >55 christina_reads: That's great. The BingoDOG came up on the CAT planning thread.

58thornton37814
Out 26, 2021, 7:31 am

I'm here. No thread yet, but I am here.

59sturlington
Out 26, 2021, 10:23 am

ScaredyKIT is being planned here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/336260

Everyone is welcome to join and suggest a monthly topic. We are a fun group that likes to read horror, crime, and thrillers.

60avatiakh
Out 26, 2021, 3:24 pm

I'm back in, some of my categories didn't work for me this year so I need to rethink my approach. I have a theme already, so there's that.

61LadyoftheLodge
Out 26, 2021, 4:59 pm

MysteryKIT planning thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/336275

62cyderry
Out 26, 2021, 7:17 pm

>20 majkia: Love the AlphaKit - I don't think I could get through the year without it!

63antqueen
Nov 10, 2021, 11:44 am

Is there enough interest in SFFKit for next year? I always look forward to that one. I've been horrible about active participation in anything this year, but I lurkily did most months. Maybe next year...

I can set up a planning thread if I'm not the only one interested. Not sure what else needs to be done, though.

64majkia
Editado: Nov 10, 2021, 12:47 pm

>63 antqueen: I've asked fuzzi if she was going to host it, but she said she wasn't sure.

65Kristelh
Nov 10, 2021, 1:33 pm

I most always participate but maybe interest is down?

66DeltaQueen50
Nov 10, 2021, 2:41 pm

I love the SFFKit but I would most probably have to skip it this year as I am commited to so many other CATs and Kits. I think we need to look at how many of these challenges we do every year as it's very difficult to participate in so many, and it's difficult to find enough people to host so many topics.

67antqueen
Nov 10, 2021, 3:04 pm

I don't think there are any more than usual.

I can see the hosting might be an issue, but I've never understood the argument about participating. Why would someone feel that they had to participate in all of them? But anyway, if the argument is that there are more than you, personally, want to participate in, then the obvious counter is that there aren't many that I, personally, am interested in this year ::shrug::

68majkia
Nov 10, 2021, 3:42 pm

I'm personally skipping all the CATs this year. So KITs and the Dog will do for me.

69Robertgreaves
Nov 10, 2021, 6:01 pm

I don't participate every month, it depends on what's on my TBR list, but I would be sad if SFFKIT were to fade away

70SilverWolf28
Nov 10, 2021, 6:07 pm

I'd really like to have SFFKIT again.

71LadyoftheLodge
Nov 10, 2021, 8:04 pm

>63 antqueen: Once you set up the planning thread, then someone needs to volunteer to organize the months (wrangle monthly hosts) and set up the wiki. Usually the main curator also reminds participants to set up the monthly thread and be prepared to step in or find a sub if the host can’t do it.

Some challenges are quarterly , so that might be an option too.

72antqueen
Nov 10, 2021, 9:06 pm

Ok, I've created a post here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/336663

That way we can see if there are enough people willing to host for a monthly KIT.

73rabbitprincess
Nov 10, 2021, 9:27 pm

>72 antqueen: I've pinned the thread to the main group page to boost the signal :)

74avatiakh
Nov 10, 2021, 9:38 pm

The group reads sort of fizzled out this year. I'll leave it for someone else to host the 2022 thread this time round.

75antqueen
Nov 10, 2021, 10:17 pm

76sallylou61
Editado: Nov 11, 2021, 2:06 pm

Want to read a book by a woman or about a woman (written by a woman)? Please come to our CATWoman and select to host a month for a topic already listed (including those on the 2017 list) or another appropriate topic you think of. https://www.librarything.com/topic/336574

77Kristelh
Jan 3, 2022, 2:39 pm

I am looking for a topic that lists the cats/kits for the year and links to the wiki, but I am not finding one. Is there one and can someone direct me?

78majkia
Jan 3, 2022, 2:44 pm

>77 Kristelh: If you go to the group page, you'll see a list of topics pinned at the top. Each challenge is pinned there.

80VivienneR
Editado: Jan 3, 2022, 9:25 pm

>78 majkia: & >79 kac522: I agree with >77 Kristelh: there is no information at the top of the group page (wiki links for example). Yes, they are pinned threads with information but this is not nearly as convenient.

81kac522
Editado: Jan 4, 2022, 12:43 am

>80 VivienneR: Ah, yes, there are no links to the wikis on the main Group page, you are correct. For me, the "pinned" threads are sufficient, and I personally wouldn't need them repeated in the group description. But perhaps others would find the thread/wiki combination convenient.

And right now the "pinned" threads don't seem to be in any order, so it's harder to find which thread you're looking for.

82Kristelh
Jan 4, 2022, 5:18 am

>81 kac522:. I did try the pinned threads but the linking of the wiki wasn't always available with the links. I really struggled to find one though I finally did find it.

83rabbitprincess
Jan 4, 2022, 9:40 am

I used to put the links to all of the wikis and the planning threads and the main posting threads in the group description, but that became unwieldy. My hope was that pinning the threads would be enough if the person who created the thread put the wiki link in the first post.

I can pin the threads for the monthly challenges as well and change them each month, if that would help.

84Kristelh
Jan 4, 2022, 10:24 am

>83 rabbitprincess: isn't there a way to put those in the group description. It seems that I've seen that in other groups.

Otherwise, I agree, the person posting the monthly topic should try to remember to include the wiki link.

85majkia
Jan 4, 2022, 10:41 am

>84 Kristelh: I keep links for each of them on my home page under notes.

86sturlington
Jan 4, 2022, 11:29 am

I think it's really helpful once the planning is done for the person who is managing the planning thread to edit the first message in the thread to include a list of all categories/monthly hosts and a link to the wiki. This is especially helpful if someone comes into the middle of a challenge and wants to join, since they won't have to wade through a lot of posts to find what they need.

Also, I like the idea of pinning the monthly threads. Sometimes they are hard to find. It's also nice for the host for each month to post a link to their thread in the planning thread since I usually star those and then I can see when the new thread goes up.

And the notes section of my home page is a handy place to keep links to the wikis -- good suggestion by >85 majkia:

Just some suggestions to make things easier for folks.

87dudes22
Jan 4, 2022, 11:48 am

I decided to put the links in the post on my thread where I keep track of the books I'm reading for each challenge. I figure once I log the book in, I can jump over to the wiki

88rabbitprincess
Jan 4, 2022, 11:54 am

I've pinned all the monthly threads for January, or I think I have! Let me know if I missed any.

89majkia
Jan 4, 2022, 12:38 pm

>88 rabbitprincess: You might want to pin the yearly Alphakit thread - X and Z:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337452

90rabbitprincess
Jan 4, 2022, 2:38 pm

>89 majkia: Done! Thanks for that :)

91LibraryCin
Jan 4, 2022, 10:00 pm

>81 kac522: perhaps others would find the thread/wiki combination convenient.

If/when people provide the link to the wiki in each month's thread, I don't need it on the main page, but when it's not there in the thread, I have to go looking for the link.

I do find it more convenient on that main page (though most convenient is when it's provided directly in the thread), as having to look for the proper thread, then click on it for the link to the wiki will take longer.

92LibraryCin
Jan 4, 2022, 10:01 pm

>84 Kristelh: Otherwise, I agree, the person posting the monthly topic should try to remember to include the wiki link.

I agree with this. This is always my preference and most convenient.

93LibraryCin
Jan 4, 2022, 10:05 pm

Oooh, just took a look at all the pinned threads! I'm really hoping people will put the links to the wikis in their first post of the thread.

94pamelad
Jan 4, 2022, 10:11 pm

I've now put a link to the Wiki at the bottom of the first post of the January AuthorCAT thread.

95Robertgreaves
Jan 5, 2022, 1:15 am

If there is no wiki link in the introduction to the month's thread, I don't do the wiki.

96Robertgreaves
Jan 5, 2022, 4:26 am

Are the pinned monthly threads going to be unpinned (if that is possible) at the end of the month? If not, the planning threads are going to pushed out of sight quite soon, which is awkward if you want to look ahead to what's coming up later in the year.

97rabbitprincess
Editado: Jan 5, 2022, 10:38 am

>96 Robertgreaves: Yes :) I will change the pinned threads on the first of the month. I was a bit slow out of the gate with January's pinning because this is the first year I've had this capability.

98LibraryCin
Jan 5, 2022, 9:38 pm

>94 pamelad: Thank you!

99rabbitprincess
Jan 15, 2022, 9:44 am

I've added to the main group page a link to a wiki page that lists all of our Category Challenge wikis as far back as 2013: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/List_of_Category_Challenge_wikis

100majkia
Jan 15, 2022, 9:55 am

>99 rabbitprincess: Oh! Very Cool! Thanks!

101clue
Jan 15, 2022, 10:31 am

>99 rabbitprincess: What a great resource, thanks!

102sturlington
Jan 15, 2022, 1:11 pm

>99 rabbitprincess: That's awesome!

103MissBrangwen
Jan 15, 2022, 1:37 pm

>99 rabbitprincess: Wow, what a treasure trove! Thank you RP!

104JayneCM
Jan 15, 2022, 6:22 pm

>99 rabbitprincess: There is a whole to read list to last until the end of time!

105rabbitprincess
Jan 15, 2022, 6:28 pm

>104 JayneCM: For sure!

106Kristelh
Jan 16, 2022, 10:33 am

>99 rabbitprincess: That is so very handy, thank you

107LadyoftheLodge
Mar 4, 2022, 3:19 pm

For any interested readers: Today (Friday March 4 only) Powell's is contributing 20% of their sales receipts to aid for Ukraine. Check out their website if interested.

109MissBrangwen
Out 10, 2022, 10:52 am

Yaaaaaaay!!! Thank you RP!

110kac522
Out 25, 2022, 3:57 pm

2023 CAT Voting is now open at https://www.librarything.com/topic/345396

111LadyoftheLodge
Nov 5, 2022, 9:51 pm

2023 Category Challenge is now up and running, with host opportunities available. Swing on over if interested.

112mathgirl40
Nov 5, 2022, 10:06 pm

There are several openings for hosts in the GeoCAT. Please visit this thread if you're interested in hosting!
https://www.librarything.com/topic/345580

113LadyoftheLodge
Nov 7, 2022, 12:04 pm

Ditto for KiddyCAT, just need a host for September. Here is the link to the planning thread:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/345576#n7971885