Random CAT -- General Thread

The Random CAT is exactly that; utterly random and unexpected. Each month, a different member of the 2013 Challenge will post a theme, which can be anything at all.

DeltaQueen50 -- January
Jonesli -- February
RidgewayGirl -- March
Majkia -- April
cbl_tn -- May
cyderry -- June
VioletBramble -- July
AnnieMod -- August
psutto -- September
PolymathicMonkey -- October
Thornton37814 -- November
christina_reads -- December

As you can see, there are still slots open if you think you might like to think of a theme. All slots filled! Give it a try and let your imagination come up with something that will inspire us to look at our TBR piles in a new way and to pick up that dusty book near the bottom of the stack. Or challenge us to try something new, or to reach for an old favorite. How you present your theme is also up to you.

The next month's theme will post between the 15th and the 20th of the previous month and will be entirely run by that month's CAT wrangler.

The wiki for the Random CAT is here:

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2013_Random_CAT_Challenge

Visit it to get oriented and to add the books you're reading, have read or plan to read for the challenge.

What exactly does "running" it entail? Obviously announcing it/starting the thread for it, but, what else?

You can be as active or absent as you like. Once you post the thread and explain your CAT, you've fulfilled your duties. Or you can stick around and guide the discussion, or just participate as any other reader. It's up to you. You can't mess this up unless you just don't post a CAT on the month you sign up for.

lol. Alright what the heck, I'll volunteer for one. My mom will probably be visiting in either July or Aug so to be on the safe side that I'll be around, going in order, is October good?

You're on the list. Have fun with it!

:)

I'd like to do December, if I may!

Done!

I'll volunteer to do one of the remaining months. I'd probably prefer November since I don't know what my summer work schedule is yet.

I'll put you down tentatively for November, Lori.

July and August are still open.

Since I am doing January, I will have the thread up and ready for December 15th/16th in order to give us lots of planning time.

yay, DQ!

I'll volunteer for the July CAT.

I can come up with a theme for one of the summer months :) So chalk me up for one of the remaining months. Looks like August remains so get my name for it.

Fantastic. All months are accounted for and DeltaQueen is ready to get things going for us. I'm excited about this CAT!

Looking good :-)

Do we want a Logo?



or

Meow! (Love the logos.)

I like the top one, it's very colorful.

Love the first one. Very cute!

They are both so adorable!

Brilliant! cyderry, will you post the pictures over on the "organizing the CATs" thread? And then we can vote on which we like best.

These are fantastic!

I've posted a link to the wiki for this CAT up at the top of this thread, in the first post.

And here's a link to the January Random CAT, led by DeltaQueen50, and it's awesome:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/146091

Yesterday I finished Turkish Gambit by Boris Akunin who is a new to me author and also an AlphaCAT. Lots of good books on the wiki page!

Finished listening to The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, which was a RandomCat and an AlphaCat too. Loved it!

Review here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/11263429/reviews/92662882

Another RandomCat finished: Domain of the Dead by Iain McKinnon

Today I finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett which was my first book by this author so is a RandomCat is also a AwardsCAT having been longlisted for the Orange in 2010

Review is here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/8019757/reviews

And another RandomCAT, Comanche Moon finished. I liked this and might read another by McMurtry.

> 28 also a AlphaCAT

I read Night Circus - CAT Trick!

Another new author for me - Death by Darjeeling by Lara Childs

Yesterday I finished The Night Circus - A CAT trick for me!

I finished my RandomCAT of the month! John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in From the Cold was a really good and exciting read - recommended for those who like spies (obviously).

@PawsforThought, I read that book last year, and it was really gripping. The intricacies of the spy business were fascinating!

I'm accidentally participating. One of my categories is New-to-Me Authors. I wasn't actually planning on reading anything for it in January, but I read one book and the next in the trilogy was by a different author - one I'd never read before. So I read Keeper of the Moon by Harley Jane Kozak in January.

Couldn't think of anything to read for February's theme. Was hoping to get some ideas from here, but in the meantime I need to transfer an ebook I borrowed from the library to my borrowed Nook before it expires. I was hoping to finish the book I'm reading on my Kindle first, but Iced by Karen Marie Moning is over 500 pages long, so I think I need to read the other one first. But I'll probably finish Iced before the end of the month, so I can accidentally complete the category for February too.

I read snow crash

The March challenge is up for you consideration.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/150096

I'll pass in March.

Yeah, me too. Covers are not remotely a concern to me. They tell nothing about what's inside, which is what actually matters.

Like you Kay, I guess it's time for me to learn how to post covers to my messages.

For those of us who like to plan ahead, May's RandomCAT challenge is posted here.

For those who are participating in the group read of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, it's one of the most held books which fits the RandomCat for May. I've added it to the wiki so we can match there.

I've posted the June Random CAT challenge here

I see that the July challenge is on the Wiki. And here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/155450#

Thanks MarthaJeanne. I forgot all about this thread.

And I am not the only one who only sees starred threads in the group. BTW your choice works really well with this month's awards. I found a CAT trick I expect to enjoy very quickly.

I'm reading On the Road with Charles Kuralt, and am really enjoying it!

Thanks for the challenge, @VioletBramble.

August challenge is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/156746

I am adding it in the Wiki in a few minutes :)

Oh goodness! Time for that already?

It's the middle of July - just giving everyone enough time to decide on a book and get it :)

I know - it just seems to sneak up on me every month!

Am I overlooking the September challenge? Wondered what it was but didn't see a thread. Possibly I'm just not seeing it.

I reminded the person whose turn it is a few days ago. Maybe he's on vacation or not able to spend time on LT? September came up a little more quickly than usual this year.

LOL - I think it's the same time each year Kay :p

Well, if you're going to get all chronological about it... ;)

55> There's nothing wrong with being chronological. When coworkers used to complain that I just let papers pile up in my box and never put anything in order, I'd tell them, "Chronological is an order. Newest stuff on top."

Sorry guys I'm in Edinburgh and just seen the prompt, I'll set up a thread now. September randomcat is going to be Lablit - explanations on thread

Yay! Looking forward to it!

What is lablit? A novel featuring a scientist?

> 59 - According to the website, Lablit

depicts realistic scientists as central characters and portrays fairly realistic scientific practice or concepts, typically taking place in a realistic – as opposed to speculative or future – world. The action does not have to take place in a laboratory per se, just anywhere where scientists are doing what they do, such as a field station. Although some science fiction does indeed have elements of ‘lab lit’, and the boundaries can be fuzzy, this list is meant to feature real scientists in the real world.

The site has a list a books that gives an idea of what fits their definition of Lablit.... I was rather surprised to discover I have two books on my TBR bookcase on the list.

Thanks, Lori. That's extremely helpful.

The one I was thinking of, about a D-Day weather forecaster, is on the list.

Love long weekends with plenty of reading time. Was able to finish Bellwether - loved it!

@ 62 -- Yay!! :)

The October challenge is up! :)

So I've been relentlessly nagging people to tell potential participants in the 2014 Challenge that planning has begun on possible group reads and on what CATs we want for next year. Please take a look at the threads and weigh in if you're interested in either. There are some interesting books being suggested and some interesting themes, but we can always throw a few more in the hat and we'd love to have a few more opinions to discuss. We're currently getting along way too well (just kidding!).

Here's the CAT discussion:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/158144#

Here's the possible titles for group reads discussion:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/158131

And here's the discussion on how we structure our group reads:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/158132

The RandomCAT seems to have been the favorite CAT. Come and discuss what you liked or disliked about it. Can it be improved? Also, if you're considering taking a month (and it's very, very fun), you'll want to keep up with the discussion.

The November RandomCAT is posted: http://www.librarything.com/topic/160110

I know it's a bit early, but I've gone ahead and posted the December RandomCAT here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/160941.