Welcome to the 2024 Category Challenge!

For those who are new to the group, or who'd like to refresh their memories, here are some more details about the Category Challenge. I've taken most of this language from the 2023 welcome thread created by rabbitprincess.

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 a minimum number 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 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 (short for Categories And Themes) are the "official" year-long challenges voted on by the members, which focus on a specific topic or theme each month. Feel free to propose a CAT for 2024 below! Once the final CATs are chosen, I will list them here.

CATs for 2024
CalendarCAT (wiki)
HistoryCAT (wiki)
PrizeCAT (wiki)

The KITs are similar in structure to CATs, but they are informal challenges run by whichever member is willing to do so. Once the final KITs are established, I'll list them here.

KITs for 2024
RandomKIT (wiki)
AlphaKIT (wiki)
MysteryKIT (wiki)
SFFKIT (wiki)
ScaredyKIT (wiki)

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 will be put on a bingo card. For several years, our bingo cards have been constructed by the wonderful LShelby.

BingoDOG (wiki)

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 group reads, you're most welcome to join us.

When do we get started?

The challenge "officially" starts January 1, 2024, but you can start earlier or later!

Where is this year's Historical Fiction Challenge?

Right here! https://www.librarything.com/topic/355728

Thanks Christina!

Thank you for taking this on for 2024, Christina

Thanks for setting this up!

Looking forward to the planning!

Thanks, Christina! Looking forward to some planning!

Thanks, Christina! Now I can start sorting through my plans for 2024!

This is my 16th Category Challenge. It's the one I love the best! Thanks Christina, for getting us started!

Thank you Christina for taking on the job and for setting up the new group. Like everyone else, I'm eager to begin plans for 2024.

Thanks from me too, Christina! I'm thinking I'm not going to do any of the CATs/KITs in 2024, but I know I'll cave occasionally :)

Thank you, Christina!

Thanks, this time of the LT year is so much fun!

Thanks for setting this up! I am always excited about planning our new challenges.

When do we start discussing CATs and KITs?

>14 VivienneR: start us off!

Looking back to 2022 planning for CATS, we started a separate planning thread. Suggestions were compiled, like ideas combined, and a deadline set up for voting.

Thanks, all! Happy to step in this year. :)

>16 LadyoftheLodge: I think last year's CAT planning & voting happened in the welcome thread, and then there were separate planning threads for individual CATs/KITs once they were decided. So, if people want to start suggesting and discussing ideas here, I say go for it!

ETA: Cheryl, just saw your edits. If a separate thread works better for people, I'm also fine with that! Anyone can feel free to start these threads, btw.

Agree, I saw that we did all the 2023 planning in the welcome thread, and I think we should make it as as easy as possible. Let us just stick to how we did the planning in 2023.

Starting things off: I would like to see RandomKIT grow up to become a CAT again.

I've been enjoying the History Historical Fiction Challenge and like the way it's set up, so perhaps we could run it again in 2024 and/or come up with additional challenges.

Could work well for Classics, or an alternative to the GeoCAT.

Also, I'm thinking of starting a thread for us to share recommendations from BookBub, Kindle Unlimited, Kobo Plus....Would that be OK with everyone? It's not really anything to do with CATs.

>19 pamelad: Start a thread about whatever you like for recommendations. I'm always interested in those. I'm sure others are as well!

I'll run an AlphaKIT if that's still of interest.

>19 pamelad: I would love a thread for Kindle Unlimited recommendations - in fact, recommendations of any type!

>21 majkia: Hooray for the AlphaKit - I will definitely participate in that one.

Thanks for starting us off Christina. I love the idea of the RandomKIT becoming the RandomCAT again. I also would like to resurrect a CalendarCAT, I think it was in 2019? I also enjoy the AlphaKIT.

A thread for Kindle Unlimited or any other recommendations would be great.

>19 pamelad: I would love a thread for recommendations, thanks!

>21 majkia: I plan to participate in AlphaKIT! Huzzah!

>23 lsh63: I liked CalendarCAT, and was actually thinking of that today, so I second that suggestion.

Christina, can you add our suggestions to the >1 christina_reads: thread so we can see all the suggestions as they are made? Thank you.

>21 majkia: I'm definitely there for Alpha KIT!

>22 DeltaQueen50: For those of us who haven't been around LT that long, what was/is CalendarCAT?

How about something like a MonthlyCAT where each month reading is tied in to something going on in that month. Holidays or StarWars Day, or international friendship day, or whatever. I'm not explaining this well, but something like that.

>25 KeithChaffee: >26 majkia: The MonthlyCAT idea is basically what the CalendarCAT was.

>21 majkia: I'll always do AlphaKIT!

>21 majkia: DEFINITELY!

If memory serves me CalendarCat was a fun one. The books had to have some connection to the month such as:

: month in title
: birthstone or color
: birth flowers
: zodiac signs
: special days or holidays during the month

Here is a link to the CalendarCat Planning Thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/298617#

as you can see if was pretty wide open.

I'm in for Random KIT or CAT, my favourite. And MysteryKIT, and of course AlphaKIT. I also enjoyed CalendarCAT, because it was so versatile and would vote for that one again.

I'll add my voice to those supporting AlphaKIT. I also enjoy RandomKIT, MysteryKIT, and SFFKIT. Even when I don't have anything I can participate with, I still enjoy seeing what other people are reading.

I have enjoyed the BingoDog, RandomKIT and SFFKIT quite a lot in the last couple of years. Very inspired by the challenges, and the readings of other participants.

CalendarCAT sounds very interesting as well.

I don't know if it matters to me whether it is RandomKIT eller RandomCAT, I'll probably just follow along regardless.

This reminds me that for the past couple of months I've been bad about thinking I should post something about the book I just read for a cat/kit and then not posting anything about the book I just read for a cat/kit. By default, I'm afraid I'm a lurker.

But I always like SFFKIT and MysteryKIT, and RandomWhatever is fun. Not quite sure why anyone cares what the last three letters are, really, if they like the thing itself. Anyway, I enjoyed the other ones this year too. I thought it was a nice variety.

I've collected the CAT/KIT suggestions up to this point and listed them at >1 christina_reads: above. I'll try to do this about once per day, so that we can see all the suggestions collected in one place.

A couple people have mentioned the CAT vs. KIT distinction and whether it matters either way. In previous years, we've usually stuck with just three CATs (voted on and chosen by the group), and any ideas that didn't make the cut but that still generated significant interest would become KITs. I think limiting the number of CATs was meant to prevent people from getting overwhelmed by too many challenges.

I've been trying to gather my own thoughts about the CATs/KITs lately. Their purpose (in my view) is to bring all the challenge members together for discussion, where we're all reading books that have something in common (same topic/author/setting/theme/etc.). Since our individual challenges and tastes are often so different, it can be hard to generate discussion on the individual members' threads, but the CATs and KITs provide some common ground for interaction.

But I do think that, when there are a large number of CATs and KITs, the discussion becomes more fragmented, which kind of defeats the purpose. So I suppose, in my ideal world, I'd want something like 3 official CATs and no more than 3 KITs. But that's not a strong preference, and I'm certainly happy to go along with whatever the group decides! Just thinking through my own preferences and approach to the CATs/KITs in previous years.

I'm willing to take on organising BingoDog again, unless anyone else wants to pick it up. Lot on right now, but I reckon I can add that to the pile without it breaking the camel's back.
I'll need to look up who did the cards and then the magic code thingy.

>36 Helenliz: That would be amazing, thank you! Once the 25 squares are chosen, I can design the cards and send them off to LShelby to work her magic so that we can use the markers.

>35 christina_reads:, Those thoughts on the distinction make sense to me also, though I think the RandomKit/Cat is something of a different animal. I may be wrong, but I think so many of us are devoted to it that we automatically participate, to the point that we'd participate in it regardless of the time it might take from other challenges. So, in that spirit, it's basically a Cat even if we call it a Kit, so we might as well call it a Cat?

Or maybe I just need more (or less) coffee lol.

I am happy to run MysteryKIT again if there is interest. Same with RandomCAT/KIT since I was in charge of it last year.

We just all need to keep in mind that each CAT/KIT will need helpers each month to host, so start thinking along those lines as we are planning.

>1 christina_reads: Do you have a timeline for us regarding deadlines for submitting suggestions and when we will vote?

>35 christina_reads: Although often we limited the number of CATs to 3, this year (2023) we had 4 since the voting was so close: Kiddy 22, Series 24, Geo 25, and Classics 23, and all other suggestions way fewer. In the case of very close voting, I am in favor of including 4. I remember one year two cats came in at number 3, and we voted between them. My favorite CAT was eliminated which was sad (although I got over it); we had a BingoPUP that year for books authored by women. That was a success, but I feel it is no longer necessary since anybody can make the BingoDOG more challenging by including only female authors.

We often have more than 3 KITs since individuals decide to run them. Some are favorites which appear year after year.

Nobody is required to read from any CAT or KIT.

Many thanks christina_reads for taking the leadership in the establishing the CATs.

>18 LadyoftheLodge: There was a vote on making RandomCAT a Kit. The main reason is that it runs every year, just as the KITs do, so having it as a CAT left space for only two other CATs. But we have so many CATs and KITs now that two CATs might be enough. I don't think it matters what we call the RandomCAT/KIT. It's about the numbers.

I like the idea that the CATs change each year, and would be disappointed to see any of the perennial KITs (Random, Alpha, Scaredy, SFF, Mystery) promoted to CATs if it meant fewer new/novel CATs for the year.

CalendarCAT sounds like fun.

How about a NonFicCAT? Each month could be devoted to a different type/subject area of nonfiction -- biography/memoir, sports, entertainment, history, NF graphic novel, science, and so on.

I don't look at Kits as being a demotion, instead like >42 KeithChaffee: says above, the Kits are the popular ones that run every year so I would be happy to leave the RandomKit as is.

Here is the Bargain Book Thread.

>42 KeithChaffee: I like the idea of a nonfiction CAT! I've been thinking of including a nonfiction category for myself in 2024, as I own a fair amount that I haven't read. Added at >1 christina_reads: above.

>44 pamelad: Thank you!

Bingo planning thread is up
Throw ideas into the hat and we'll see where it all lands.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/354729

>42 KeithChaffee: >45 christina_reads: We did have a DeweyCAT in 2016 if you want to see how a NFCAT has worked in the past: https://www.librarything.com/topic/195935

Here is the wiki for the 2020 Non-fiction CAT: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2020_Non-fiction_CAT

I participate in RandomKIT/CAT no matter what it is called. I use it to expand my reading. I would like to see an AnimalCAT where each month is devoted to a different species.

I was thinking about possibilities for Cats last night, and got to wondering if we've ever done anything like an EmotionCat?

I'm not sure what brought the idea to mind--maybe just the world being so heavy right now--but I was thinking each month could be themed with a particular emotion (whether love or anger or envy or happiness or whatever else), to be interpreted how readers see fit, whether that's the emotion coming through or being mentioned in the title, or the story feeling themed around it, or even a cover conveying that emotion.

>50 whitewavedarling: Interesting idea! I do not recall ever having an EmotionCAT.

I am happy to run RandomKIT again if that would make things better for selecting CATS. I am good with it either way.

>50 whitewavedarling: That's a great (new!) idea.

For KITs, I will continue to participate in MysteryKIT, ScaredyKIT (I can set this up when we start doing that if no one else has offered yet), AlphaKIT, RandomKIT. As well as BingoDOG.

For CAT suggestions, I really like this one from last year (not my idea, but from suzanna.fraser):

WildCAT - All things adventurous, dangerous, and edgy. Some possibilities:
- Books about wildlife
- Books about exploration/frontiers/survival stories
- Books about war
- Books with explicit sex and/or violence
- Books outside of your comfort zone as a reader
- Post-apocalyptic settings

I would add one more topic suggestion:
- nature (this could include both plants and animals in the wild)

Susanna also suggested this one:

DomestiCAT - All things comforting, homelike, and cozy. Some possibilities:
- Cozy mysteries
- Books about food or cooking
- Whatever you consider a comfort read
- Books about domestic animals or plants
- Comedies of manners

And a couple I dug up last year that were suggestions in previous years (i'm not terribly creative - LOL!)

NewsCAT. This was someone else's idea (Jackie K), and these are some of the suggestions she had:
"...thinking some more I wondered if it would be possible to theme a challenge around categories found within newspapers. For example, politics, foreign affairs, finance, sport, celebrity/entertainment, cooking, cartoons, etc. I'm sure we could come up with 12 categories that would work."

AnimalCAT. I'm not sure this one was completely fleshed out, but lowelibrary suggested it in 2020 and said this:
"How about an animalCAT. We would read fiction or nonfiction about animals, or with animals as the main character."

I'm thinking we could have a month for fiction and one for non-fiction, a month for domestic (incl farm) animals, and one for wildlife. We could do ones for popular individual animals (cats, dogs), but it's nice if we can come up with broader categories, I think. Maybe African animals (can include books on safaris), Just some ideas there.
ETA: a month for extinct and/or threatened animals?

Last year, Tess suggested a

"I would like to propose a CriminalCat. There could be such categories as true crime, white collar crime, infamous crimes/crimes of the century, international crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes in fiction ,legal thrillers, court room drama, police procedural, military thriller, PI's, spy, Tartan noir, perhaps justice or injustice, thieves, famous art/jewel heists, etc. I'm sure there are plenty more sub-genres that we could come up with."

And from majkia:

"RandomCAT is the only wild card.

So maybe WildCardCAT - where we draw a number every month. (TBR placement, letter, genre, something just so it's unpredictable like RandomCAT."

PrizeCAT

There are lots of literary prizes, both current and defunct, in many genres and from many countries.

CriminalCAT sounds as if there would be a fair amount of overlap with MysteryKIT, and I'm not clear what the difference is between the proposed WildCardCAT and the existing RandomKIT.

I really like the PrizeCAT idea.

>59 KeithChaffee: I think MysteryKit and CriminalCAT have a lot of overlap.

I would vote for DomestiCAT but not for WildCAT.

>59 KeithChaffee: WildCardCAT vs RandomCAT/KIT:

I didn't originally propose WildCardCAT, but I read it as choosing a random number each month (not a topic), then you can interpret that number how you want and find something to fit it.

The person who hosts the month could use random.org and maybe we could choose a number between 1 and 25, maybe? Then you could find something to fit that number?

In the suggestion it says tbr placement (so #13 on your "To read" shelf here on LT, or #4 in a series, or read something the year you turned 20). You choose what to do with the number.

I'm just throwing things out there.

Yeah, you're probably all right. CriminalCAT might be too close to MysteryKIT. I didn't reread through last year's discussion, so maybe it came up then, as well.

I assume PrizeCAT would be similar to what we once called AwardCAT?

>63 LibraryCin: What year was AwardCAT?

Found it in 2013! https://www.librarything.com/topic/146095

Was this the first year of CATs? It looks as though the CAT host had to set up the whole CAT, rather than delegate to monthly hosts. I've had a quick look and think it would be good to have more choices. There are plenty of prizes, so you could have four or more per month, or be less specific altogether and suggest a type of prize.

Here are some prizes from one of my 2022 categories. There are plenty more!

Prizes
1. Miles Franklin Award
2. Booker International/Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
3. Booker Prize
4. Stella Prize
5. Costa Award
7. Samuel Johnson/Baillie-Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction
8. Edgar Awards
9. PEN Translation Prize
10. Women's Prize for Fiction
11. Desmond Elliot Prize
12. Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize
13. Betty Trask Award
14. Romance Writers of Australia Ruby Award
15. Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger
16. Ngaio Marsh Award
17. Melbourne Prize for Literature
18. Tanizaki Prize
19. Barbara Jefferis Award
20. International Thriller Writers Awards
21. Historical Writers Association Awards
22. Gold Dagger Awards
23. Sidewise Award for Alternate History
24. Australian Literature Society Gold Medal
25. James Tait Black Memorial Prize
26. Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize
27. Ned Kelly Award

>63 LibraryCin: We could just have a huge pool of awards, with the only restriction that you couldn't use the same award twice. Or no restrictions at all, in case someone wants to read 12 Nobel Prize winners, for example. People could read different awards from each other.

There are plenty of American awards that could be added, and lots of interesting, obscure awards.

The Hawthornden Prize https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthornden_Prize
Nobel Prize in Literature https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/all-nobel-prizes-in-literature/

>64 pamelad: Wow, I thought we had done it since then! (I don't... think... I was playing in 2013...) Maybe it was up for a vote and that's what I'm remembering. Or did a similar challenge somewhere else!

ETA: Ok, I started in 2014. (Which is still longer ago than I would have guessed!)

We did an AwardsCAT (plural) in 2017, as well, it looks like:
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/19128/2017-Category-Challenge

>66 LibraryCin: Thanks!

2017 Awards CAT https://www.librarything.com/topic/240372
Wiki https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2017CC_AwardsCAT#2017_AwardsCAT_Challeng...

Lots of interesting ideas! I've added them at >1 christina_reads: above.

I've been thinking about the timeline...how about we continue to discuss and suggest CATs for another week, with the cutoff being next Saturday, November 4. Then on Sunday the 5th, I'll set up the vote.

Wow, it's that time of the year again! Thanks for stepping in, Christina!

I have no idea yet where my first year in retirement will take me, but I will definitey participate in the RandomCAT/KIT and the Bingo. And I really like the idea of continuing the History/HF challenge.

>68 christina_reads: Thanks, that makes sense for a timeline.

I'm interested in the SFFKit and the History/HF challenge.

>21 majkia: Yes! I like the AlphaKIT!

>39 LadyoftheLodge: Yes for the MysteryKIT!

>1 christina_reads: I personally do not think that proposed KITs should be listed in >1 christina_reads:, only CATs. The KITs are usually not voted on; many appear year after year; and some CATs which do not get voted in appear as KITs. Also, I do not think that the number of KITs should be limited. Nobody needs to read in any challenge they do not want to.

>1 christina_reads:, >19 pamelad: I asked that the Historical Fiction Challenge continue with the same format in 2024, not that it should be a CAT. Unless someone wants an historical fiction CAT?

>75 pamelad: Personally, I'm always happy to do a HistoryCAT, whether it's fiction or nonfiction or people can choose.

But, I'm also ok with doing the challenge as was presented this year.

>74 sallylou61: Agreed - we don't need to list the KITs at the top since they won't be voted on. and some will be added if they don't make it to CAT status.

>76 LibraryCin: I actually like to see the KITs listed, even if we don't vote on them. That way it's clear what KITs are being organized so that any proposed CATs don't duplicate or overlap an already existing KIT.

>1 christina_reads: It is okay to relist/remove the RandomCAT suggestion and just make it a KIT. I think we are happy with that. I am looking forward to managing it again in 2024.

I'll definitely participate in the SFFKit again, since something like half of what I read these days is SFF.

I also love reading nonfiction history and the occasional historical fiction, especially if it's in a genre like romance or mystery, so I like the idea of a HistoryCAT where we can choose fiction on nonfiction.

>77 kac522: Well, if we are going to list the KITs, can we also add ScaredyKIT? I mentioned it earlier (>53 LibraryCin:). Thanks.

Maybe they can be separated, though? List the CAT options first, then leave a blank line and list the KITs. Easier to read/follow, I think.

Phew, OK, I've collected the topics up to here. As someone proposed, I split up the CATs and KITs in >1 christina_reads: above, and I added a HistoryCAT as distinct from the 2023 historical fiction challenge -- though of course we may end up doing both!

>81 christina_reads: Excellent--very clear--thank you!

I think I'm going to try and step away from some of the challenges next year to concentrate on books I already have. So, I'll leave the planning to others. (But I'll probably cave once they are decided.)

>83 dudes22: I know what you mean. The last couple of years I've tried to get to the point I can skip some months or leave some squares blank on Bingo without anguish. I like being involved, but like you, really need to stick with my library except for a few new books I can get from the library during the year. I'm going to set up a challenge of my own this year but I don't quite have it together yet. I'll probably do Random CAT, Alpha, and Bingo as I can.

>83 dudes22: and >84 clue: I think like that every year. But once the CATs are announced potential books come to mind. I just can't resist.

First off I should admit that I am a "completist". 2023 was the first year that I didn't participate in every Cat/Kit every month instead choosing to join in only when I had a book that fit. To my surprise and pleasure this worked out very well and I intend to continue on in this way.

>86 DeltaQueen50: I hadn't planned on being a "completist" this year but simply to list the books I read by the month. But every book fitted a Cat, Kit, Bingo, or historical fiction challenge - or I managed to squeeze it in. And even though I missed a few Cat/Kit months I found it very satisfying. I've never done it before and don't think I could do it again. Naturally, a number of BBs, from you and others, helped it along.

What about a nature/climate change kit? (fiction or nonfiction)

We could have categories different months such as

• Trees/Forests


• Sky/Air


• Birds


• Plants


• Catastrophes (Drought, Volcanoes, Hurricanes, Fires, Floods, Tornados, Tsunamis)


• Regeneration/Rewilding


• Ocean


• Islands


• Freshwater (lakes, rivers)


• Fish


• Mammals


• Arctic & Antarctic


• Mountains


• Desert

>81 christina_reads: Ah, thank you so much!

>86 DeltaQueen50: I used to do all of them and every month. But there just got to be too many, and there were a few that I really wasn't all that interested in (CATs and/or KITs as a whole), so I cut back on a few of those first.

On very rare occasions, of the CATs and KITs I do participate in, I end up not reading for a month. I think so far only once this year, and once either last year or the year before.

I first check my tbr, then I do check more broadly if I can't find something to fit. But when I don't see much of interest more broadly, there have been those couple of times I haven't read for a certain month.

>88 markon: Me, I would love this one!

>64 pamelad: is there a particular month when some of the awards are handed out? Maybe the month could spotlight those.

>92 cyderry:
Planning thread for 2017 AwardsCAT https://www.librarything.com/topic/235636
General thread for 2013 AwardsCAT https://www.librarything.com/topic/146095

In 2017 the award releases were linked to months.

I was imagining something more free-form, a sort of choose your own challenge where anyone could read any prize-winner in any month. Perhaps it wouldn't need hosts, just someone to keep adding suggestions to an ever-increasing list of awards, and to set up the monthly thread.

I like to find obscure prizes, and have a preference for classics, so am keen on awards like the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Hawthornden Prize which both began in 1919. Other people have different preferences.

>64 pamelad:, >64 pamelad: Some suggestions.

Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Award: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theakston%27s_Old_Peculier_Crime_Novel_of_the_Year...

>92 cyderry: >93 pamelad: Judging by the LT newsletter, there are awards somewhere every month. In fact we could make this very easy to host and say for each month present or past winners of the awards mentioned in the previous month's LT newsletter (since the newsletters come out towards the end of the month).

>18 LadyoftheLodge: agree!

I don't see KiddyCAT listed in the OP, that's been a fun challenge this year.

And I also add my voice to those wanting the SFFKit (or CAT) to continue in 2024.

For those who want a non-fiction challenge, the 75 Books Challenge has one every year, but with not much participation unfortunately.

>21 majkia: yes! Yes! Yes!

>88 markon:, I would enjoy that, as well!

And it would give me plenty of opportunity to shout about and purchase new books from my favorite new press lol. (Stelliform Press--they focused on climate-centered SFF. Everything I've read from them so far has been fantastic.)

>88 markon: I would like a NatureKIT, rather than climate change only, which would narrow the focus

>95 fuzzi: I liked KiddyCAT too. Not sure if it would be popular two years in a row, but it might become a KIT? Any ideas?

>98 LadyoftheLodge: I see the two as similar, just a different title. I guess if you call it NatureCAT, that might bring up more possible theme options?

>100 LibraryCin: Yes, my thoughts exactly. I am not sure if I could find 12 books about climate change alone.

I think I'm also going to do a category-less challenge next year. If someone would like to take over organizing the ScaredyKIT from me--if there is interest in continuing it--I'd be happy to set up the wiki and start the planning thread.

Always excited to start the planning! Love all the ideas so far - I am happy with anything!

>102 sturlington: I'm ok to do the ScaredyKIT planning. I am ok to start the thread and set up the wiki, as well (unless you'd like to).

>104 LibraryCin: If you'd like to take it on, thank you. I'd love to see it keep going.

>99 LadyoftheLodge: I liked KiddyCAT too! But not sure that I want to do that 2 years in a row!

>105 sturlington: I'll plan on it.

Hi all! I believe I've collected all the suggestions up to this point at >1 christina_reads: above. Just a reminder that tomorrow, Saturday November 4, is the last day to suggest CATs before I set up the voting on November 5! So please don't hesitate to suggest some more CATs or argue in favor of the ones you want! Voting will be open until Thursday, November 9, at which point I'll tally the votes and announce our official CATs for 2024.

>106 bookworm3091: KiddyCAT could also become a KIT if there is enough interest.

>108 christina_reads: I love this time of our year! In all previous years I found that no matter which CATs were chosen I enjoyed participating.

Should we be voting on KiddyCAT? I didn't think we did the same CATs two years in a row? (Except Random because it's always different.)

Or is that just an unstated thing we just generally do (or don't do)?

>111 LibraryCin: I don't remember it ever being stated as a rule but I think when repeating a CAT has been proposed some people have said they didn't want to do it too soon afterwards and it hasn't attracted many votes. I think that is how many of the genre KITs got started.

I hope others are intrigued by the idea of an EmotionCat. The more I've thought about it, the more I want to see how it would play out!

>111 LibraryCin: I agree that we do not usually do the same CATS two years in a row, but I think any CATS that were suggested were put to the vote. I do not recall that this is any kind of rule or specific guideline though.

>111 LibraryCin:, >114 LadyoftheLodge:. I think that the KiddyCAT should definitely be put to a vote again. There were repeat nominations. RandomCAT was on the ballot for years, and kept winning.

With all the controversies going on in states, would anyone be interested in a DiversiCAT - we would read books on diversity and belonging, each month could be a different theme, Black (BLM/History/Civil Rights), Indigenous, LBGQT, etc.. We could even set it by months. November - Indigenous People Month, February - Black History Month, May - Mental Health Awareness, June -LQBTQ, etc.

>112 Robertgreaves: >114 LadyoftheLodge: Thank you. For some reason, I thought it was a rule, but I'm probably thinking of BingoDOG.

>115 sallylou61: I see RandomCAT as a bit different, since the topics are so wide open and can be anything, but I guess it makes sense that if it could be proposed for every year, then the others should be able to be, as well. Thanks!

>116 lowelibrary: I would be interested!

>116 lowelibrary: Like the idea. Other counties might be having some of the same problems.

>116 lowelibrary: I'm also interested.

Hi all, today is voting day! I have church this morning and a few other errands to run, but I hope to set up the voting around 2:00 p.m. EST, so stay tuned! I'll add DiversiCAT to the list of proposed CATs above.

>116 lowelibrary:, I would be! My reading has gone so much more diverse over the last few years with my book club too, I could probably mostly pull from my TBR lol.

CAT VOTING STARTS NOW!

We've suggested a variety of CATs, and now it's time to put them to a vote! I will create a poll for each potential CAT in the messages below, and voting will be open until Thursday, November 9, at 6:30pm EST. At that time, I will tally the votes, and the three CATs with the most "yes" votes will become our official 2024 CATs!

Please note that you can vote yes, no, or undecided, but only the "yes" votes will count toward choosing the winners. "No" and "undecided" can still provide useful information, though, such as whether a suggestion that doesn't make it as a CAT might have enough interest to become a KIT.

You're welcome to vote for as many CATs as you like -- and feel free to argue for your favorites below!

This was suggested at >19 pamelad:. Individual months could involve fiction or nonfiction topics.

This was suggested at >23 lsh63: and >26 majkia:. We previously did a CalendarCAT in 2019.

This was suggeted at >42 KeithChaffee:. We've done a version of this CAT in 2016 and 2020.

This was suggested at >49 lowelibrary: and >55 LibraryCin:.

This was suggested at >50 whitewavedarling:.

This was suggested at >54 LibraryCin: -- "all things adventurous, dangerous, and edgy."

This was also suggested at >54 LibraryCin: -- "all things comforting, homelike, and cozy."

This was suggested at >55 LibraryCin:.

This was suggested at >56 LibraryCin:.

This was suggested at >57 LibraryCin:. This would not necessarily overlap with RandomKIT. If I'm understanding correctly, it would involve randomly choosing books from one's shelves/TBR pile/etc. that fit the monthly topic.

This was suggested at >58 pamelad:. We have previously done an AwardCAT in 2013 and 2017.

This was suggested at >88 markon:.

This was suggested at >95 fuzzi:. This would be a repeat of our current 2023 KiddyCAT, though the monthly topics would vary.

This was suggested at >116 lowelibrary:.

>123 christina_reads: Thanks for setting up the voting -- and for everything you have done to facilitate determining the CATs.

I thought we were offering random cat too?

>123 christina_reads: Thanks so much for taking this on and doing it so well!

My eyes are a little wide at the idea of doing a NonficCat the same year as a HistoryCat. Heavens.

There are a lot of possible themes for NonFic months that wouldn't necessarily be history-related though -- science, entertainment, sports, religion, travel, food... And most HistoryCAT months could probably be managed through historical fiction. But yeah, there's also room for some overlap.

>142 KeithChaffee:, lol, I suppose so. But as someone who reads very little historical fiction and not much nonfiction, participating in even one of them sounds daunting to me! (I realize I don't have to--just wasn't expecting votes to come out that way!)

>139 majkia: When I read through the discussion in this thread, the consensus seemed to be that it was fine to leave RandomKIT as a KIT rather than trying to promote it to a CAT. But if people would like to add RandomCAT to the voting, I'm happy to do so! Let me know ASAP and I'll add a poll for it.

ETA: Actually, I'll just go ahead and add the poll -- can't hurt to have it as an option, and I want to make sure everyone's voice has a chance to be heard.

One more voting option here!Note: if this poll gets enough "yes" votes, we'll have RandomCAT plus two other CATs next year. If not, we'll have three new CATs, and RandomKIT will continue to be a KIT.

>144 christina_reads: Thanks. I just wasn't clear what the consensus was. You're too good to us....

fwiw, I voted 'no' on randomcat (vs kit) only because I hate the idea of there only being two other Cats each year. If we were going to do three Cats plus RandomCat/Kit, I'd have no opinion at all.

Just thought I'd take a look at the voting stats, since we've got about a day to go before the official tally. Right now, CalendarCAT is in the lead with 21 "yes" votes, HistoryCAT just behind with 20, and NonFicCAT and PrizeCAT tied for third at 19. But there's still plenty of time for that to change! If you're excited about some of the other CATs and would like to see them move up the rankings, feel free to argue your case below. We still have 26 hours to go before the final CATs are chosen!

We had a HistoryCAT in 2021 https://www.librarything.com/topic/326121 and 2015 https://www.librarything.com/topic/180264. I'd like to see it move down the rankings and would like to continue the Historical Fiction Challenge instead.

>149 pamelad: why not incorporate historical fiction as part of HistoryCAT?

>150 fuzzi:. I thought that the HistoryCAT was to be either fiction or nonfiction as the reader decided month to month.

Historical fiction has always been part of the history CAT. Just letting you know that we did it recently.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for the CalendarCat. It seems like a light and flexible challenge and I am all in for that!

I don't read non fiction so not the least interested in that. I prefer challenges that are inclusive rather than exclusive, that allow fiction or nonfiction as the reader prefers. Hoping for Calendar cat because it is more open.

>150 fuzzi: >151 sallylou61: >152 pamelad: Some people were disappointed that HistoryCAT didn't continue and Tanya-dogearedcopy started a year-long Historical Fiction Challenge https://www.librarything.com/topic/346334. I don't know if she has any plans to continue it next year. Maybe make it a KIT?

>149 pamelad: I'd say history cat can be fiction or non-fiction?

>156 Tess_W: Definitely. The last two have included both.

>154 majkia: agreed.

I've noticed that in some challenge months there are few participants, and wonder if the challenge would be more attractive if topics/authors were a little more flexible.

I've never done CalendarCAT. I didn't see it described in this thread, so I don't even know what it is.

>158 fuzzi: Some explanation of CalendarCAT is at >26 majkia: and >30 DeltaQueen50: above.

>149 pamelad: I definitely think that the Historical Fiction Challenge could continue from last year, regardless of whether or not a HistoryCAT is chosen.

And I definitely see HistoryCAT as encompassing both fiction and nonfiction.

>154 majkia: Agree, I do not read nonfiction either. I am hoping for CalendarCAT which was a lot of fun and very flexible last time we did it.

I also don't read much nonfiction, and I don't read much historical fiction either lol. I was really hoping some of the new cats would take off, tbh (any of them, really). I do want to read more nonfiction, but considering I didn't manage to come close to reading 12 nonfiction books this year (as I'd planned), even without category constraints, I doubt I'd manage a more focused challenge. And I don't really want to do a prizecat, so I may just be in it this year for the calendarcat lol.

Like others have said, I guess I just prefer it when there's a lot more flexibility, but it seems like that's not really the way the votes went this year.

>162 whitewavedarling: If you don't participate in Alpha Kit you could consider that.

Hello!
I got a message last night that there's been discussion about the History Fiction Challenge and a HistoryCat for 2024.
I see that a History Cat is a top contender and looks to include both Non-Fiction & Historical Fiction.
With that in mind, it feels like the Historical Fiction Challenge while different in set-up, would be, if not redundant, an excess of History for this group. And too, there's the "sister" group of Reading Through Time...
But I will let you all decide what you want. If after voting and setting up your CATs & Kits (and Bingo Dog!), you still want the Historical Fiction Challenge, I'll open up discussion as to whether you want it exactly the same, with different or additional prompts, etc.

CAT VOTING IS COMPLETE!

The results are in, and here's how the "yes" votes shook out:

CalendarCAT = 23
HistoryCAT = 22
PrizeCAT = 22
NonFicCAT = 20
DomestiCAT = 13
NatureCAT = 13
RandomCAT = 9
WildCAT = 8
AnimalCAT = 7
EmotionCAT = 7
CriminalCAT = 4
WildCardCAT = 4
NewsCAT = 3

So our three official 2024 CATs will be the CalendarCAT, HistoryCAT, and PrizeCAT! Thanks to all who voted, suggested topics, and contributed to the discussion. I'll add the official CATs to message >1 christina_reads: above, as well as the KITs -- some enterprising folks have already started threads!

Excellent choices! Thank you, Christina!

I agree - love all three of these! Especially as I have been meaning to read through many prize winner lists for so long.

Just wanted to note that I'm going to be traveling Friday through Monday and won't have internet access. If any admin issues come up, I'll address them when I return -- not that I expect there to be any! :)

It looks like last year, those who suggested the winning CATs created the planning threads, so I'm happy to have that trend continue this year. Once the threads exist, I'll put links at >1 christina_reads:.

>162 whitewavedarling: I was really hoping some of the new cats would take off, tbh (any of them, really).

I agree, I'd like to see something new at some point!

ETA: Apparently, that won't be this year...

I've set up the ScaredyKIT planning thread:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/355052

Thanks Christina! Have a good trip.

I'm happy to host the PrizeCAT.

We need a host for the HistoryCAT. Not me, because I didn't actually suggest it. >19 pamelad:, >75 pamelad:

I will host HistoryCAT, if there are no other takers.

>165 christina_reads: KiddyCAT got 6 yes votes, too.

I'd be interested in a KiddyKIT if anyone wants to host/set it up.

>159 christina_reads: thank you.

>174 fuzzi: I would enjoy KiddyKit but I am already setting up two kits! Anyone else?

>163 clue:, I love AlphaKit and RandomKit :)

It looks like there is interest in continuing this challenge under the umbrella of the 2024 Category Challenge!
Before I set it up, I would love to know of you would like it exactly the same or if you would like some tweaks:

• One adjustment I am thinking about is to include Classics in general under the prompt, "Read a classic work of historical fiction". The idea here is that a Classic novel can tell us much about the time period in which it was written. Yes? No?
• Are there any prompts you would like to go away?
• Would you like to add more prompts? Maybe a focus on a random time period?
• Other?

I'm hoping to set up the 2024 Historical Fiction Challenge over the US Thanksgiving Holiday (November 22-26) and am very open to any and all suggestions & critiques until then :-)

This message has also been posted over at the (2023) Historical Fiction Challenge: Part II group thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/349984#8278874

I plan on doing CalendarCAT if it is broad enough that I can read the types of books DiversiCAT would have covered.

>179 lowelibrary: Check out the Calendar Cat planning thread. That challenge is very flexible.

Wow, it's so great to see this group up and running! I probably will not keep a thread in the coming year (or just a very low-key one), but will try and participate in some of the challenges.

Thank you for setting up this thread, Christina, and I appreciate your explanation of why/how the CATs and KITs got started and why the are classified the way they are. I tend to get fragmented myself in my reading, and having these challenges keeps me focused. I like the idea of 3 CATs and the rest are KITs based on the votes.

I'm also intrigued in the CalendarCAT - I seem to remember seeing it, and then not.

Will start a thread closer to the new year and look forward to 2024 reading adventures!

Looking for hosts for the PrizeCAT. Some nice, straightforward topics are: International Prizes (e.g. Booker, and International Booker, Nobel); Women's Prizes (e.g. Orange Prize, Stella Prize); It's an Honor Just to Be Nominated, where readers can choose books that didn't win but made the shortlist or finalists for a prize of their choice; Read a book in translation that won an award. Or choose your own.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/355054

Still looking for one more person to host RandomKIT . . .

If there is still anyone who wants to pop over to the ScaredyKIT, we have two months to fill. Thank you!

Link here;
https://www.librarything.com/topic/355052

And there is a list of possible topics to choose from if anyone (like me) has a hard time coming up with something themselves!

RandomKit is complete, and thank you to all who volunteered to host.

HistoryCAT is still seeking hosts for June, July, August, and December.

For those who indicated interest, I think my thread in 2024 will focus on nature/climate change reading. I'm not sure if I'm going to post that here, or if I'll include it on my Club Read thread, but I'll post here when I get ready to set it up.

SFFKit is complete as is CalendarCAT. Thanks all!

Looking for PrizeCAT hosts for March, April, June and October. https://www.librarything.com/topic/355054#

There are plenty of prizes listed on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_literary_awards, The list starts with International Awards, which could be a good topic. There are also awards by region and country, by genre and awards for translation. If anyone were interested in a topic on prizes for women's writing, there's a useful list here: https://www.womenandbooks.org/literary-awards--prizes.html

Or suggest your own topic.

>188 markon:, I'll be interested!

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie coming over from Goodreads. I'm not sure how all this works, but I look forward to seeing everyone's threads and figuring it all out. I want to have a more intentional reading year in 2024, so I thought this would be a good place to start. 😊

>192 beccac220: Welcome Becca! LibraryThing feels a bit more 'old school' to me than Goodreads, which was always so busy that I could never figure out where I was! I hope you feel at home here and that we help you find a way to be more intentional with your reading.

>192 beccac220: Hi, Becca! Welcome!

It's taken a while, but I've become fairly comfortable in both places (GR took longer because I preferred here, except for one group over there).

In any case, what I like about here is it's smaller and feels more community focused. The site, as a whole, I mean. My one group over at GR is also very community focused, but the entirety of GR is just way too big for that.

>193 Jackie_K: Thank you! I agree with you that GR is crazy busy. I've resorted to only using it for tracking purposes at this point.

>194 LibraryCin: Thanks! And a smaller and more community-focused site is exactly what I'm looking for. I tried some groups in GR and they were just so big I couldn't keep up!

>192 beccac220: Welcome to our group, Becca. Looking forward to following along with your reading.

>192 beccac220: Welcome to LT and the category readers, Becca. Hope you find the experience you're looking for here.

>192 beccac220: As you can see, you are welcome here. We're a pretty laid back group and not big on rules. You'll catch on and anytime you can't figure something out, somebody will know so just ask.

>192 beccac220: Welcome! You will love it here.
If you wanted to, you could check out the 2023 challenge group that is currently running and have a look at how people set up their challenges. But pretty much anything goes, so enjoy!

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23825/2023-Category-Challenge

>192 beccac220: Hi Becca and welcome!

A couple of hosts are still contemplating what their topics will be, but HistoryCAT now has a full roster of hosts!

Welcome Becca! If you have questions, just ask!

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! 😊

RandomKIT and MysteryKIT are both complete! Take a look and start piling up your choices and making lists.

Christina, thank you so much for taking over the reins of the group! Looks like everything's ready to go for the new year! :)

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks to Christina and everyone else who helped with the organization of the CATs, KITs and other 2024 events. I've been busy with work and travel the past month and did not pitch in myself but I'm super excited about participating again next year!

I think this has been the fastest planning we have done since I have been involved in the challenges.

The 52 Book Club just released the 2024 challenge. There are some challenging prompts in there! Really going to get me searching to cover all the prompts!

https://www.the52book.club/2024-reading-challenge/

>209 JayneCM: Wow, there are some very difficult prompts in there - starting with #2 - a smelly book - nope, no can do! Best of luck to you.

>210 DeltaQueen50: I know! I am thinking either one of my old classics that I inherited from my grandpa - love the smell of old books. Or a book with smell in the title.
But there are some ones that will be hard to track down without recommendations. Like a book with chapter headings that are dates.

Topics are now complete for the 2024 HistoryCAT, so start your planning!

>209 JayneCM: Thanks for sharing! I've never done this particular challenge, but it looks fun!

>211 JayneCM: Well, I read And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini last month for my RL book club, and most of the chapter titles in that book are dates, sort of. Most of them are season and year, like Fall 1952, if that counts for what they're looking for. I guess it wouldn't work if they want chapter headings that are a specific date.

>214 atozgrl: I would count that. Thank you for the recommendation - and it is a book that has been on my to read list for years!

>215 JayneCM: Glad I could help!

Hello everyone!

The 2024 Historical Fiction Challenge is up!: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355728

>1 christina_reads: Would you be so kind as to pop this up in the OP? TY!

>217 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Done! I also added all the CAT and KIT threads to >1 christina_reads: above.

I've added links to the wikis for the various CATs and KITs to >1 christina_reads: above. A few of them don't have wikis yet, so feel free to create one if it doesn't yet exist! :) Or I'll try to find some time to do so this weekend.

SFFKIT is here: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2024_SFF_KIT#2024_SFFKIT

>220 majkia: thank you!

Can someone tell me how to make checkmarks within LT? I'd like to have some way of showing books are completed on my thread.

& # x2705; Check mark

& # x2714; - green box check
& # 10060; big red X

remove the spaces

>223 majkia: Thank you!

>223 majkia: That is handy to know. Thank you!

>224 beccac220: >225 JayneCM: Here is where to find a bunch more: https://www.alt-codes.net/miscellaneous-symbols

>226 majkia: >222 beccac220: this is a very helpful thread that I have bookmarked:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/177029#4750147

>226 majkia: Thanks again!

>227 fuzzi: Thank you!

>226 majkia: Ooh, thank you!

Someone (ahem, Ridgewaygirl) has been gently dropping suggestions in my text messages about the 2024 challenge. I failed miserably for 2023 (and 2022) and I don't want to let you all down again. You are simply the best corner of LT to hang around in, that I have found in all my years here, and the Challenge still feels like home. I have managed in the later part of this year to recapture a bit of my former reading habit, unstructured and irregular as it may be. So I might give it another go this year if you'll have me.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday!

>230 VictoriaPL: Welcome back! No pressure. Read and enjoy. Lurk if needed. And you have a wonderful holiday!

>239 Jackie_K: Pop in as it suits you. No-one takes an attendance register. Or, if they do, I'm due a detention. >;-)

>230 VictoriaPL: I'm reading about half of what I used to because of family responsibilities. I'm planning on hanging in though because I enjoy LT and the only requirements are what I set for myself, and that's only a goal not really a requirement. I say just do what you can and enjoy it.

>230 VictoriaPL: - oh, please come back, Victoria. Dare I say I've missed the BBs? Nor that I really need more, but....

I rather expect my reading to decrease this year as I have a number of quilts that I need to work on. These things happen. We'd still like to know what you're reading.

>231 majkia:, >232 Helenliz:, >233 clue:, >234 dudes22:
Thank you all for your kind words 😊

Hi Victoria, I do hope you join us in 2024.

I agree with others. Please come back. I'm not reading as much as I used to read, and I'm sometimes negligent on my posting. Life does get in the way.

For those who were interested in the nature cat proposed for this year, I've started The Greenhouse thread in Club Read for anyone who is still interested in what others are perusing in 2024.

>238 markon: Ooh! Thank you, I have starred this and have no doubt it will be a regular go-to thread for me!

Is anyone else seeing this? I have seen this in a couple of my other groups since Fall last year, but this is the first time I've seen it in this group.

Starred messages that don't unpin when the administrator unpins them?

In my other groups, it's the same administrators who do the groups; the one that's not around as often seemed to figure out how to make them actually unpin, but he's not around as much, and occasionally one or two will stick around.

In this group, it actually looks like almost all the ScaredyKITs from this year have repinned themselves! Am I the only one who sees this? (In my other groups, the others didn't seem to see it; one person might have in one of the groups.)

>240 LibraryCin: It's not you. I see several all but the February ScaredyKIT repinned.

>240 LibraryCin: >241 lowelibrary: I don't think I'm seeing what you're seeing! Yesterday I unpinned all the July CAT/KIT threads and pinned all the August ones, and that is what I'm seeing on the challenge homepage. I wonder if it's an LT bug, or an issue with one of our browsers or something?

>240 LibraryCin: >241 lowelibrary: Can you let me know if you're still seeing the problem? I do think it's an LT glitch...I certainly didn't re-pin all the old ScaredyKIT threads. But I just unpinned them all again, so hopefully it looks OK now!

>243 christina_reads: The only extra one I see still pinned is the June ScaredyKIT

>244 lowelibrary: Thanks! That one should now be unpinned as well.

>245 christina_reads: Looks great

>243 christina_reads: I didn't expect that you had unpinned anything! And I'm "glad" i wasn't the only one who saw it. In my other groups, one of the admins (the one who isn't around as often) was able to figure out how to "fix" it, but in the months since a few have hung around with the other admin doing the pinning and unpinning. I'm not sure what it is that makes the difference, but thank you for trying again, and for (presumably) fixing it. I haven't looked yet, but I see >244 lowelibrary: says it looks good again.

ETA: Yup, all fixed for me, too!

>247 LibraryCin: Good to know! LT must be having some kind of bug. But hopefully the threads will all stay put now. :)

I'm still showing the August one as being pinned. I didn't want to mention it because I thought you just really, really, really liked those threads. 😁

>249 dudes22: You know, it's the ScaredyKIT threads that trip me up...I'm an absolute horror wimp, so I always "ignore" those threads, which means I can't see them even though they're pinned. So I forget to unpin them when it's time. I will do so now!

Thought people might want to know there is something going on with the wikis and they are not saving. You can edit it and it looks fine, but whatever you have edited (or added) does not appear when you save it. They are working on it and have said it likely won't be fixed until Monday.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/365024

>251 LibraryCin: Tim has started this thread to report the status of issues like this:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/365080

I have set up the 2025 Category Challenge group here: https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24518/2025-Category-Challenge. Feel free to stop by anytime, start suggesting CATs and KITs, and post your threads for the 2025 challenge!

(I'm posting this notification to a bunch of threads, so sorry if you see it multiple times!)

If you haven't yet visited the 2025 Category Challenge group, come on over! CAT and KIT discussion is in progress, and we're going to start voting on Wednesday, November 6. So if you'd like to suggest a CAT or KIT for next year, check out the discussion and make your proposals here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/365087.

I'm posting this several places in the 2024 group, so my apologies if you see it a bunch of times!