What? Yes, seasonings! Our Winter Book Activity focuses on books where food, herbs or spices play a significant role, for instance being in the title of the book, forming the subject of the book, being a key part of a characters culture or in advancing the plot in several scenes. (For example, think of The Fellowship of the Ring. Remember the emphasis on food, with the Hobbits? We all know how Hobbits love to eat! So if you read this book, just explain why it meets the criteria beneath your book review.)
'Tis the Season runs from December 7th, 2021 through January 20th, 2022.
We are offering an Award
to people who read and post about a minimum of 3 books, and who also participate in at least half of the 'Tis the Season forum activities. There will six activities -- a couple of discussions and 4 puzzle challenges, all based on food, herbs and spices. To count as being part of this activity (and towards the award), all posts and puzzle solutions must be received by January 20th, 11:59pm HOL time.To qualify for the reading part of the award, you need to post in The Bookshelf or in Between the Pages for every book which you use for this activity. Remember to post, in your book write-up, down at the bottom, why it meets 'Tis the Season criteria!
We'll keep track of people and their activity in the post below this introductory post. If you have done something and your name doesn't show up within a couple of days, tell me and I'll double check!
In addition to the specific guidelines in the 'Overview' threads on each subforum, 'Tis the Season also needs you to keep a couple of things in mind. Be sure to make your comments a minimum of 80 words long. This does not include the info about the book’s title, author or series. If someone has already started a topic about your book, author or subject, please contribute to that rather than starting a brand new one of your own. (Note: If you post a new topic about a book or author which already has a topic established, we will move your post over for you.) Also, make sure the review or discussion is yours and based on your own thoughts while reading; lifting a review from Goodreads or elsewhere on the internet, representing it as yours, is categorically not allowed.
Please note that all books chosen must be HOL-appropriate (ie. follow the guidelines set out by the HOL Handbook).
If you have any further questions not covered here, please ask here 'Tis the Season Questions or send me a HOL PM.
Things to remember:
1. On-line fanfiction does not count, but you can certainly re-read a book, listen to an audio book or read a graphic novel. (Remember, that while online fanfiction and the like doesn’t count, you’re free to mix it up with some re-reading, audio books or graphic novels.)
2. If you’d like to re-read one of the Harry Potter books or tackle one of the books we have read as part of our Monthly Book Discussions, then please feel free. However, we would prefer you to read another book as well as that one and post a discussion rather than a review.
'Tis the Season Beans will be given out for book posts and activities completed!
If for accessibility reasons you can't complete any of the Forum activities, please just let me know and an alternative can be worked out.
Many thanks to Sky and Emily for helping me to create this. In addition to editing posts and contributing ideas, Sky gave me the quotes which headed most all the activities, and Emily created puzzles! Thank you both.
****** Activities in Conjunction with Book Reading ******
Discussions
'Tis the Season Discussion #1
'Tis the Season Discussion #2
Puzzles
'Tis the Season Jigsaw
'Tis the Season Cryptogram
'Tis the Season Fallen Letters
'Tis the Season Word Search
