OCTOBER ROOT - PROGRESS THREAD

TICKER FAILURE IS GETTING WORSE! 33% ARE NOT WORKING.

It is getting harder and harder to gather the numbers because more and more tickers are not working in the ticker thread.

Please, please check out your ticker to see if it is still functioning. If it isn't please create a new one and then go to the ticker thread and REPLACE the coding with the new code in the same message.

Since data collection is getting tougher, I need to chill out, so his month's gardens are ZEN GARDENS.











Zen gardens are intended for relaxation, meditation and contemplation. A special place is given to every plant, rock and the sand in an effort to create harmony, tranquility and balance. Nature is represented from a minimalistic point of view.

Zen gardens are structured around seven guiding principles: Austerity, Simplicity, Naturalness, Asymmetry, Mystery or Subtlety, Magical or Unconventional and Stillness. It allows you to focus your mind, relieve stress, and find inner balance. The peaceful atmosphere of a Zen garden can also help to reduce anxiety and promote a sense of serenity.

While Zen gardens have been a fixture of Japanese aesthetics since the Muromachi Period (1336–1573), the purposes and meanings of these austere landscapes have been far less fixed, and indeed have changed somewhat since their first appearance as places for meditation in the Zen temples of medieval Japan. Traditional Japanese gardens can be categorized into three types; tsukiyama (hill gardens), chaniwa gardens (tea gardens), and karesansui (dry gardens).

Stone arrangements and other miniature elements are used to represent mountains and natural water elements and scenes, islands, rivers and waterfalls.

How relaxing.

Remember if your name doesn't appear, check to make sure you are a member.
Those members whose tickers are not working are marked BLANK. Please repair your tickers. 33% OF THE TICKERS AREN'T WORKING! If you need help, just ask.

THE TICKER PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK YOUR TICKER IN THE TICKER THREAD AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WORKING! More than 1/3 of the tickers are not functioning! If the tickers continue to malfunction I will not be able to give accurate numbers as to our position at reaching our goal.

Ameise1 7 / 10 70.0%
Ann_R 9 / 25 36.0%
atozgrl 21 / 25 ★★ 84.0%
awwarma BLANK / 10
benitastarnd 83 / 72 115.3%
Bookbrained 43 / 70 61.4%
brakketh 14 / 34 41.2%
bumblesby 12 / 20 60.0%
ca_dmv 7 / 12 58.3%
Caramellunacy 19 / 24 ★ 79.2%
Cecilturtle 46 / 50 ★★★ 92.0%
clue 36 / 40 ★★ 90.0%
Coach_of_Alva 29 / 50 58.0%
connie53 42 / 36 116.7%
crazy4reading BLANK / 30
curioussquared 67 / 65 103.1%
CurrerBell 30 / 50 60.0%
cyderry 76 / 72 105.6%
deep220 BLANK / 50
detailmuse 41 / 40 102.5%
DisassemblyOfReason 24 / 100 24.0%
EGBERTINA 554 / 25 2216.0%
ell-in-or BLANK / 10
emmanuelfakunle BLANK / 7
enemyanniemae 23 / 50 46.0%
Familyhistorian 36 / 65 55.4%
floremolla BLANK / 40
formativeage 2 / 10 20.0%
fuzziBLANK / 50
handshakes 12 / 32 37.5%
HelenBaker 26 / 48 54.2%
Henrik_Madsen 19 / 50 38.0%
highlandcow BLANK / 40
humouress 15 / 25 60.0%
Jackie_K 34 / 40 ★★ 85.0%
JaxlynLeigh BLANK / 25
jhbaker BLANK / 12
kac522 64 / 75 ★★ 85.3%
karenmarie BLANK / 10
karns5306 BLANK / 75
kayla.whitaker BLANK / 40
KWharton BLANK / 12
Kyler_Marie 46 / 60 ★ 76.7%
LadyBookworth 10 / 30 33.3%
lindapanzo 82 / 84 ★★★ 97.6%
LisaMorr BLANK / 40
madhatter22 16 / 50 32.0%
majkia 93 / 65 143.1%
martencat 8 / 18 44.4%
MissSos 6 / 25 24.0%
MissWatson 105 / 75 140.0%
murphyse BLANK / 10
nebula21 5 / 12 41.7%
nenasfilla BLANK / 64
postsbygina 24 / 55 43.6%
QuestingA 30 / 50 60.0%
rabbitprincess 62 / 40 155.0%
readingtangent BLANK / 55
Rebeki 27 / 30 ★★ 90.0%
ritacate BLANK / 24
Robertgreaves 63 / 72 ★★ 87.5%
rocketjk 12 / 30 40.0%
rosalita memorial 0 / 50 0.0%
sallylou61 24 / 24 100.0%
smc1sara BLANK / 20
si 22 / 25 ★★ 88.0%
starkittyn BLANK / 25
torontoc 15 / 30 50.0%
twogreys 15 / 24 62.5%
VioletCrown BLANK / 52
wandaly 21 / 24 ★★ 87.5%
wood0360 BLANK / 25
zombiecat BLANK / 10

WE APPEAR TO BE FALLING BEHIND, BUT SINCE THE TICKERS FOR 1/3 OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AREN'T WORKING, WE COULD STILL BE ON TARGET.




We actually have members - fuzzi, rabittprincess, MissWatson, majkia, curioussquared, benitastarnd, detailmuse, and EGBERTINA - who have reached their goals! This month they were joined by connie53, cyderry, and sallylou61!
Those leading the pack toward their goals are:

lindapanzo 97.6%
Cecilturtle 92.0%
clue 90.0%
Rebeki 90.0%

The goal for month is 2,353, we may already be there but with the missing tickers, it is questionable.

It's that time of year again to ask if we want to ROOT in 2025.

If yes, do you have any suggestions for a theme?

>4 cyderry:
I like keeping track of the books that I read that I consider to be ROOT's so I would like to keep the thread going. I loved the garden theme and continuing it would be OK with me. We could also do something very different - like the Apollo missions, or the voyages of the Pioneer Space program.

I would like for the ROOTS challenge continue. I'll think about a theme.

I'd like to see ROOTs continue. Cheli, I'm wondering if there's another "ticker" app available to use on LT that might be more reliable?

>4 cyderry: I desperately need the ROOTs challenge to continue! Like the tickers, my ROOTs situation is not better despite my (questionable) efforts.

I'm sorry to tickers are such trouble. I know, on another thread, I have to keep rebooting mine - it seems pretty finicky especially if you have several over different groups.

As for themes: different cities representing our community might be fun - I'd be up to offering up a pretty picture of Ottawa and some fun facts about my city (like, sometimes, we can be the coldest capital in the world!)

>2 cyderry: Stone arrangements and other miniature elements are used to represent mountains and natural water elements and scenes, islands, rivers and waterfalls. Interesting.

And beautiful gardens! The raked sand always fascinates me AND makes me anxious -- how easily it is disrupted -- but I've heard that disruption is not a problem: the creation is the zen process.

I'm so sorry for the ticker frustrations. I love this group's motivation for me to read from my TBRs.

I would like to see ROOTs continue since I'm actually able to get through my bookshelf, but I absolutely can see how frustrating the ticker situation is. Thanks for all of your hard work!

What if, next year, it becomes a monthly or seasonal challenge rather than year-long? I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the broken tickers belong to people who either gave up on their goal or haven't logged on in a while.

As for new themes, I like the Apollo mission/space theme that was mentioned. The cities theme is cool too. This is my first year, so apologies if any of these are repeats, but here are some themes: types of cheese, birds, music genres.

I would like the ROOTs challenge to continue. At least that way I'm reading some of my own books.

Yes, check your tickers. I thought I was ahead of the game this time because I updated my ticker before the end of the September but the number went down instead of up. Instead of 36 ROOTs read it is actually 49 which gets me closer to my goal.

These Zen gardens are beautiful, Cheli, thanks! I had the pleasure of visiting several when I was doing a study abroad in Japan at the end of the '70's. They are wonderful places.

I would also like the ROOTs challenge to continue. I appreciate being able to track reading the books I've already got on my shelves.

I'm sorry about all the trouble the tickers are causing. I had not had problems with mine until last month. I had updated it to 21, and it was showing correctly after the update, but sometime after that it reverted back to 19 books completed. I have no idea how it did that, but I corrected it as soon as I noticed the problem. I think >10 formativeage: may well be right, that the broken tickers are from people who haven't logged in or kept up with their ROOTs challenge in a while. I wonder if we should just stop counting/including the broken ones?

There have been some good suggestions for a theme for next year, and I would be fine with any of those. If I think of something, I'll come back and make a suggestion.

>10 formativeage:
I love the cheese idea! What fun that would be.

Hi Cheli, my numbers are wrong, I have finished 41 books (so met my target of 40). It looks like it's ok on my ticker.

Just checked, my ticker changed back! I definitely updated it to 41 when I finished my meal at recent book, and that was only a week ago. I'll change it again when I'm on my laptop.

I would love to ROOT again next year. I will go with any theme. Or perhaps cities or countries where ROOTers live?

Is there any way we could help, Chéli? Could we not count the numbers of ROOTers that did not visit here for XX months?

>15 Jackie_K:. I had the same problem with my tickers, Jackie. They all changed when LT was down last week. And we had down time yesterday. I will check on my on tickers today to see if they are still up to date.

>10 formativeage: >13 benitastrnad: we could exchange recipes!

I really do like the cheese idea! I could also connect that with the area of where the cheese comes from/came from originally - such as Brie and Camembert for France, Feta for Greece, etc.

Should we do a poll of everyone's favorite cheese?

My ticker also went in reverse -- updated to 41 and noticed later that it went to 39. I figured I must have made the mistake but now it must have been a ticker software hiccup.

I would also like to continue next year, and like the idea of kinds of cheese. However, another theme or just tracing the ROOTs (if possible) is fine with me.

Thanks for all of your hard work and putting up with the frustration, Cheli. (Sorry not to have the accent.)

I would love to continue next year.

I've just tried to update my ticker (maybe I should be pleased, as well as ROOTs I have a ticker for acquisitions, and it's lowered that number too!). Unfortunately it's doing the flashing thing again where it won't stay still to let me enter any numbers. I'll try again tomorrow. It definitely should be 41, not 34.

Boy, I'm sorry everyone has had trouble with their tickers, but I'm relieved that it wasn't just me! I caught the problem last week, where it seemed to have reverted to a number from a few weeks ago. I thought I had done something goofy.

I have a few tickers on my own thread, tracking various things, and some of them have disappeared (probably ones I haven't updated in a while). My main ROOT ticker seems to be alright for now.

ETA: yes please, for continuing next year.

Hello all. Signing in from phone. I have been without internet 4 days now - starting to get the jitters. So I may not be on here for awhile I am also considering just dropping internet 4 ever. This seems to happen a lot.

Yes to next year

I found a list of 20 different cheese varieties -

Asiago Cheese
Blue (Bleu) Cheeses
Brie
Camembert
Cheddar
Cream Cheese
Edam
Feta
Fontina
Gouda
Gruyere
Mascarpone
Monterey Jack
Mozzarella
Parmesan
Pecorino
Provolone
Ricotta
Romano
Swiss

Are there any missing?

>24 cyderry: France has about 1200 varieties alone, so I don't think we'll be out of ideas.
I'd like to make a plug for oka and sauvagine which are typically Canadian :)

>24 cyderry: Maybe one month could be a group of stinky cheeses? One of my 2022 ROOTs had an essay about Livarot, a soft French cheese whose pungency on the page scared me, but whose “dense, chewy, elastic, creamy” textures enticed me. It's made from unpasteurized cow's milk so the avian flu in dairy animals is a gathering concern, though maybe not yet in France.

>4 cyderry: Yes, I'd like to continue ROOTing next year. Sorry that the ticker situation is proving so frustrating but thank you, Chèli, for persisting.

>20 Jackie_K: When I get the flashing thing, I find switching to another browser or between the ordinary and private/incognito versions helps - eventually. I haven't been reduced to sacrificing a black dog to Hecate at midnight yet but no doubt that time will come.

>24 cyderry: Some favourite cheeses to add:
Havarti
Manchego
Stilton
Wensleydale

>25 Cecilturtle: Really, I've never heard of oka and sauvagine and I live in Canada. Are they from Quebec?

I’ve checked some of the threads for people with problem tickers. Most have not been back to their threads since the first half of the year. Many not since the first few months.

awwarma - not been on their thread since February
crazy4reading - not been on their thread since August (their ticker is working on the thread)
deep220 - not been on their thread since June
ell-in-or - not been on their thread since January
emmanuelfakunle - not been on their thread since January
floremoll - not been on their thread since January
fuzzi - not been on their thread since May (but had met their target?)
highlandcow - not been on their thread since March
JaxlynLeigh - not been on their thread since January
jhbaker - not been on their thread since January
karenmarie - not been on their thread since January
karns5306 - not been on their thread since January
kayla.whitaker - not been on their thread since March
KWharton - has fixed ticker
LisaMorr - not been on their thread since June
murphyse - not been on their thread since January
nenasfilla - not been on their thread since January
readingtangent - not been on their thread since August
ritacate - not been on their thread since March
smc1sara - couldn’t find thread
starkittyn - not been on their thread since January
VioletCrown - not been on their thread since June
wood0360 - couldn’t find thread
zombiecat - couldn’t find thread

I say that if they are causing Chèli stress then they should be removed from the main ticker. If they come back they can ask to be added back in.

>30 connie53: Good job, Lori.

I was thinking of doing the same and make a list.

@ All: I would propose to remove tickers from persons that have not been on their thread since, may be March?

>30 connie53: That sounds good to me!

>30 connie53: I agree

Thanks for those lovely gardens, Chèli!

I'll definitely be around for more ROOTing next year. I've had some trouble with the tickers, too, it suddenly reverted to the status of late August, but I was able to fix it.

>28 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg: yes. Oka is actually a region in Québec and a very popular cheese here in Ontario. I lived in Alberta so I know there's a greater divide between East and West than there is between North and South (food-wise). We had Safeway in Calgary and Denver whereas here it's the Loblaws/Provigo racket and the offerings are wildly different!
Québec in general makes amazing unique products (besides poutine!) and I'm lucky to live right at the border.

I looked through a few of the previous ROOT challenges to see if the broken ticker situation had cropped up before, and I found that in 2019, inactive members' numbers were removed from the group total at the end of September if they had not posted any new ROOTs in 6 months. So I agree with >29 Bookbrained: and think it would be fair game to remove inactive members' numbers from the group total at this point.

>34 Cecilturtle: Oka sounded familiar and I realize now that was because of the Oka Crisis. I never ran across the cheese of the same name when I lived in Quebec. I do remember tortiere, smoked meat and sugar pie from my time there.

>35 rabbitprincess:
I agree. We have removed inactive members in the past and so I vote for doing it again. I am all for making life easier for all of us. Inactive people won't miss the fact that their tickers have been removed.

>1 cyderry:. Hi Cheli I have brought my ticker up to date. Apologies for not updating during August and September. Family life has been busy and has impacted on my reading this year. I am behind for the first time and may struggle to reach my goal. I finished September with 28/48. I am now at 31/48 and will try and focus on my TBR. I set myself the challenge of reading any Booker Prize Winners on my shelf and they are all such heavy Tomes of 500+pages, that it is really slowing my reading down.
I definitely want/need to continue next year.

Reporting ROOT # 43 for the year, # 1 for October

De abdij van Northanger by Jane Austen

First ROOT for Oct and #16 for the year- no tickers updated and the review is on my thread. I would like to continue next year. My reading has been much slower this year. I don't think that I will reach my target but will work through as many of my books that I have had for over 6 months in my book tower.

I've finally finished my first ROOT for October (#42 for the year to date). My ticker only updated.

reporting root 78 -- 43 of 55.

Hi newbie here and saw the group, and joined the challenge, with it being October, I hope I'm not too late, I have many unread books, this looks like the kind of thing I need. And I hope you keep this challenge going.

ROOT #2 for October (#43 for the year to date) added to my ticker only.

>42 AnishaInkspill: Welcome to the group!

Reporting ROOT # 44 for the year, # 2 for October

Prins der wrake by Mark Lawrence

Own ticker updated

Welcome Anisha

>42 AnishaInkspill: Welcome Anisha! Fellow noob here. I joined the group in July. Being here has helped me prioritize and organize which books on my shelf I read. Hope it's just as helpful for you!

Hello! I'm back and I've made a new ticker. Sorry for not updating for a while and for the annoyance that has brought. I have only added one more book though. I love the zen gardens.

>30 connie53: I agree with removing these tickers since we only have 2 months ahead of us. Perhaps next year a warning should be added at the beginning of the year that if there is no participation by a particular time they will be removed. I think some of our users don't understand how much work goes into this for the administrator or how important a correct total each month is to the rest of us.

Ha! Having just checked the ticker I see mine has gone back in time too!

I’ve added a ROOT for October to take my total to 16; an LT Early Reviewer book, King of the Book by Brenda W. Clough.

Only my ticker updated.

Don't know how much further I'll get from 30 to my goal of 50. I'm in rehab after emergency surgery for my left hip, which I broke October 11. At 73yo, don't even know if I'll even ever be able to go home.

>49 CurrerBell:. Feel better soon, Mike. I hope you will be able to home after rehab. Thinking of you!

>49 CurrerBell: . Hopefully you will make a full recovery. Good luck.

I have completed another historic Booker, Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey taking me to 32/48. I am currently rereading Brooklyn by Colm Toibin to refresh my memory before reading his latest Long Island. I will try for 1 or 2 more by month's end.

>49 CurrerBell: Oh my, that doesn't sound like fun at any age. Here's hoping you make a full recovery and get to go home.

You could always revise your total downwards - or upwards since you'll have so much more reading time ;0)

#17 for the year and the second ROOT for Oct. No tickers updated and the review is on my thread.

Reporting ROOT # 45 for the year, # 3 for October

The Book that Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

Own ticker updated

I have spent a lot of time away from home, and my reading has slowed down accordingly. Five ROOTs this month, so far, and I am now at 110 for the year.

reporting root 78 -- 44 of 55

finished reading The Dictionary People

hi, newbie here, I'm just checking, every time I finish a book I report here with an update ?

>56 AnishaInkspill: Entirely up to you. Some people report each eligible book one by one. Some people report once a month. Some people only count finished books, others also count DNFs or books they've given away because they realise they're never going to read them.

>56 AnishaInkspill: If you have a ticker on the ticker thread (here):

https://www.librarything.com/topic/356418#8333663

you don't need to report here at all, if you don't want to--purely optional. Cheli will record your Roots from your ticker.

Reporting ROOT # 46 for the year, # 4 for October

Clockwork Boys by T, Kingfisher

Own ticker updated

>57 Robertgreaves:
>58 kac522:

Thanks for your help :)

Hi all! Just a quick note to say I've formally quit this challenge. { life..}
Books read 12/30 ..

Thank you cyderry for this challenge. You have shown us some wonderful gardens over the year. And I truly appreciate all that you do for this group.

Wishing you all "Happy reading!"

>61 LadyBookworth: I'm sorry to hear that LadyB. I hope you will be with us next year.

reporting root 78 -- 45 of 55

finished reading tanglewood tales

GOOOAAAAALLLL

72/72
ROOTs target reached.

ROOTs read in October 2024:

A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke
What the Cat Dragged In by Miranda James
Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley
Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie
Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty
Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler
Quantum Theory: A Very Short Introduction by John Polkinghorne
Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham
Artifact by Gregory Benford

I will add any future ROOTs to the group total.

>64 Robertgreaves: Congratulations! It does feel good to hit that goal.

>49 CurrerBell: Mike, so sorry to hear about your hip! Don't you have anything to read as you recover? I understand about not being able to handle a book, but what about e-books? Maybe you can borrow from the library an ebook of books on your TBR list? I know when I had my knee replaced my tablet was about all I could handle with a little stand to hold it. Hope you heal quickly and get home soon! Think positive!

>61 LadyBookworth: Sorry that you are leaving us but totally understand about life having other priorities. You know that you are always welcome back.

>64 Robertgreaves: Congrats!

>64 Robertgreaves: Congratulations on reaching your goal!

I have managed another 2 roots and hope to complete one more before months end. Trying for an end of year spurt to reach my goal.

>64 Robertgreaves: Congratulations!

>64 Robertgreaves: Congratulations!

>64 Robertgreaves: fantastic!!! congrats!!!

reporting root 78 -- 47 of 55
finished republic
and I couldn't find https://www.librarything.com/work/33096725/book/274332319 using Touchstones, so hre's the link

>64 Robertgreaves: Well done! Congrats on reaching your goal!

>1 cyderry: My apologies for the ticker failure earlier in the year - it's now definitely correct at 11 ROOTs so far.

>4 cyderry: It has been a slow reading year and I've not been very active in the group either, but I would like to continue next year. I appreciate the photos (always beautiful) and words around the theme for the month. So please pick what ever you fancy or nothing if that makes running things easier

>24 cyderry: However, if you are also feeling inspired by researching pictures and writing about cheeses (or would like people to contribute) then there are a lot of cheeses to choose from once everyone has offered their favourites. Some will be easier to find beautiful pictures and words than others. Reading about cheese is good but eating it is even better.
Best cheese name - Stinking Bishop. Made from the perry pear in Dymock (Dymock poets include Robert Frost & Edward Thomas)
Sheep's milk cheeses like roquefort
Goat's / buffalo / camel milk cheeses
Wensleydale - beautiful pictures from the Wensleydale in the Yorkshire dales
And for the month of May - Single Gloucester (Old Gloucester cows) and cheese rolling (although the winners get a wheel of Double Gloucester)

>64 Robertgreaves:. Good job, Robert! Congrats

Reporting ROOT # 47 for the year, # 5 for October

The Wonder Engine by T. Kingfisher

Own ticker updated

I'm packing it in this month with 3 October ROOTs and an overall 48/50. I definitely aim to cross the finish line in November.
I've almost finished all my library and borrowed books and will be able to turn to my TBR pile!

My personal ticker is updated.

I have 2 ROOTS to go and should read them both in November. Hopefully I'll continue to read a few more before year end.

I have finished 3 more ROOTs in October, and have only one more to go to meet my goal. My personal ticker has been updated.

I have just finished my 30th ROOT and have thereby met my goal for this year. I will keep on ROOTing though, as I’ve only just got my TBR back down to where it was on 1st January. Oops!

I’m terrible at updating my own thread and visiting those of others, but being part of this group really motivates me, so I definitely want to continue in 2025.

Congrats, Rebeki. Well done.

It's been a slower than usual reading month for me with only 2 ROOTs finished (and a total of 43 overall for the year). Hopefully November will be better.

I posted 4 ROOTs read in October so my ticker (which I checked to make sure it didn't go retrograde this time) sits at 53 out of 65. I've actually read more but those are the ones I've posted.

>81 Rebeki: Great job, Rebeki. Congrats

Congratulations to those reaching their goal and to so many others getting so close!

>82 Robertgreaves:, >85 connie53: Thanks!

NOVEMBER thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/365482

I am in Kansas in the new/old house, but all that time spent packing and moving has really cut into my reading time. I only had 4 ROOT's for the month.

Nonfiction - Walk This Way: Run-DMC, Aerosmith, and the Song That Changed American Music Forever by Geoff Edgers
Tradition: The Highly Improbable, Ultimately Triumphant Broadway-to-Hollywood Story of Fiddler on the Roof, the World's Most Beloved Musical by Barbara Isenberg

Recorded books: Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
Starless Crown by James Rollins, book 1 in the Moonfall series