Krista’s Comments (group member since Jul 24, 2010)

Krista’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

So would ALL-GIRL count as a 7 letter word? Or 2 separate words? Sheesh, you'd think that this category would be a simple one to figure out. :-)

Thanks! -Krista

Karen Michele wrote: "This is going to be great fun! Am I reading it correctly that it must be mentioned in a book I read myself or will it be one mentioned in any book posted here by an rws reader?"

Good catch Karen - I missed the '...YOU READ' bit in Liz's original post. I guess I'd better read another of Hornby's books myself this season. That is if Books about Books are allowed for this task.

Okay --- someone needs to read one of Nick Hornby's books that is a review of his year in reading.

I ready The Polysyllabic Spree last season, and it was great. :-)

Here's a link to his Stuff I've Been Reading series.

Or will books about books be barred from the challenge?

Authors recently claimed in the Completed Task thread for this task, but not yet listed here:

Tansy Rayner Roberts
Jane Smiley
Philippa Gregory (PhD in 18th C. Literature)
Jill Lepore
Valerie Paradiz

Elizabeth Warren has a JD from Rutgers.

I've been meaning to read her non-fiction A Fighting Chance for awhile. Now I have a task I can work it into for this challenge. (If I don't run out of this season's challenge time before I get to read it!)

Liz M wrote: "Krista wrote: "I've started to read Selected Poems by Derek Walcott

This is the only Walcott book my library had. He was born in the Caribbean on St Lucia, and I beli..."

Yeah, I just wasn't sure if you'd approve that he was still a citizen of St. Lucia. But I think that Wikipedia is pretty clear on that.

Sorry if I caused you undue work!!

Thanks for all the time you spend keeping this challenge going!

Cory Day wrote: "20.3 Paris

The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand

+20 Task (set in Paris except a couple short scenes in Belgium)
+5 Combo (20.2 – pending approval)

Task Total: 25
G..."

Hi Cory:
How did you like this book? I've checked it out of the library, but haven't delved into it yet. It looked like a nice change of pace from the weightier books I've been reading lately.

Joanna wrote: "Krista wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "20.10 - Canonical - Liz M’s Task:

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

+20 Task
+35 Combo: 10.2 – Women's Lit / 10.3 – Borrowin..."

Hi Joanna: Thanks for the update. I'm in the Hold queue for it in eBook format from my library. I figured that it was big enough it would be easier to read on my Kindle. Now I want it to arrive even more quickly! I haven't read Gaskell before either. I'm looking forward to it. This is one reason that I so enjoy this group -- I'm pushed to stretch my reading list, and find new treasures.

Karen Michele wrote: "20.10 - Canonical - Liz M’s Task:

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

+20 Task
+35 Combo: 10.2 – Women's Lit / 10.3 – Borrowing from the Mods (Kate's Shelf) / 10.9..."

Hi Karen: It's funny, I have that book slated for this task too! Did you enjoy it? It is a big points earner. :-)

I've started to read Selected Poems by Derek Walcott

This is the only Walcott book my library had. He was born in the Caribbean on St Lucia, and I believe he still has St Lucian citizenship. So this book would qualify using elements A and B.

Here's a link to an article where he talks about retaining his St Luica citizenship even though he lives in Boston: http://bombmagazine.org/article/1565/

I just want to make sure that this book will count for St Lucia, since it's hard to tell where all the poems are set.

20.2 Series
Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

(Book 1 in the Welsh Princes approved series)
What a great BIG piece of historical fiction BTW. I gave it 5 stars.

+20 Task
+10 Combo 10.4 Scrabble - 'Dragons', 10.6 Penman has a JD from Rutgers
+10 Jumbo - 704 pages
Task Total = 40

Grand Total = 55

Hi Liz: When you get a minute (ha!!) could you review this series; Amour et Chocolat please?

It's light romantic chick-lit. Plus it looks like a lot of them are set in Paris. One of the latest books came up on a Best Books of 2014 review on Book Riot. Not bad for chick-lit. Each book features a different heroine.

Thanks!

Rebekah wrote: "I'm finding the book index on the BOTN not working."

It looks like the index is broken. But I was able to use the 'Search' field. I entered an author's name, or book title and pulled up podcast episodes. Just note that it will pull up podcasts with ANY word in the title. :-)

Reading Globally
Task 15.1 Asia - Eastern (China)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

Setting China, author born in China

+15 Task
Task Total = 15
Grand Total = 15

Karen Michele wrote: "Krista wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "I'm reading Maya Angelou and Sarah Waters for this task. Dr. Maya Angelou was the first choice that popped into my mind without searching."

Hi Ka..."

Whew --- no worries. I was hoping you didn't think I was being a buttinski. :-) I just didn't want you to read a book that might not fit the task.

Karen Michele wrote: "I'm reading Maya Angelou and Sarah Waters for this task. Dr. Maya Angelou was the first choice that popped into my mind without searching."

Hi Karen: I think that Maya Angelou only has honorary degrees. I don't think that she even has a Bachelor's level college degree.

I was thinking about her for this task too, but then read her Wikipedia page. There it said that she didn't earn a university degree, although she had about 30 honorary degrees conferred on her.

Here's a few authors that popped into my head too, and that I've been able to verify ....

Lisa Genova (PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard)
Sharon Kay Penman (JD from Rutgers)
Linda Fairstein (JD - lawyer)
Lisa Scottoline (JD - lawyer)
Tess Gerritsen (MD)

Sounds like we have a great social event shaping up! I say let's go for it and get something on the calendar. Meet-up at Powell's? Wouldn't that be fun!

I like BOTH of those plans. I LOVE Salt and Straw ice cream, and Powell's.

Plus my score won't be as high as the last challenge. :-)

Karen, come on down! Heck -- everyone who wants to can meet us in Portland. LOL

Bucket wrote: "Hi there! I've been lurking for a week or so, perusing the tasks and making some plans, and I'm excited to join in! Now that it's March, I thought I'd introduce myself.

I also, believe it or not, ..."

Howdy Bucket! Wow -- we should start some sort of little Portland sub-challenge with all the Portlanders we have that are actively participating now. :-)

Welcome to the group!
-Krista