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

Krista’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

10.5 June Solstice

A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam
(Author born in Bangladesh)
The author is on the linked list of Non-Western authors.

+ 10 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.9 Historical Fiction)
+ 10 Style: Non-Western
Task Total = 25

Grand Total: 155 + 25 = 180

20.1 Every 25 Years
A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov

Published 1840

+20 Task
+ 5 Combo 20.6 (Born 1814 - 26 yrs old at publ)
+10 Style: Non-Western
+15 Style: Oldies
Task Total = 50

Grand Total: 105 + 50 = 155

Karen Michele wrote: "Krista wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "If anyone watches the US Open, they pan across the water to the island I live on every once and a while!"

How exciting it is to have the US Open (golf) in Taco..."

I even heard Fox Island mentioned on yesterday's golf coverage. (Appropriately enough broadcast on the Fox network.) It is a beautiful spot!

Still waving at you Karen! :-)

15.2 10-20 Time Traveler
Urn Burial by Kerry Greenwood
Publ 1996 Author Born 1954

+15 Task
+10 Bonus
Task Total = 25

Grand Total: 80 + 25 = 105

Rebekah wrote: "Krista wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Krista wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Oh, I so hope I get to get more reading done for the next challenge. My mother has been in the hospital all this month in Texas and I'v..."

Hi Rebekah:
I'm the oldest amongst my siblings. I have 3 younger brothers. The brother who lives with my Mom is the youngest of the bunch. Can you say 45 year-old baby?

H
I hope your Mom is doing better. It's so stressful to try to help, especially from a distance, and if the rehab center is not optimal (and there a lot out there that aren't!)

Kätlin wrote: "I'm living in UK now :)"

Fun! I hope that's a good move for you. :-)

Karen Michele wrote: "If anyone watches the US Open, they pan across the water to the island I live on every once and a while!"

How exciting it is to have the US Open (golf) in Tacoma this year! My brother and his wife are going to the event tomorrow. (We live down in the Portland area. But he works a lot of the time out of his company's Federal Way office.)

I'll wave when I see Gig Harbor Karen -- do you live in Gig Harbor? I think that's the high school you worked at anyway.

Do you see me waving? :-)

I've tentatively penciled in Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

Excerpted from the book blurb: "...tells the story of the beautiful young horse trainer, adventurer, and aviator Beryl Markham..."

My library has it on order -- and I'm 6th in the Hold Queue for it. (I think it's released in July. Here's hoping it arrives in time for this challenge.

Kätlin wrote: "I was really pleased with my progress in the Spring Challenge, as I collected more points than ever and also finished a sub-challenge for the first time. That required a lot of planning though, as ..."

You go girl! :-) What country did you recently relocate to?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "15.3 - 10-20 Time Traveler

The Wind Is Not a River by Brian Payton
pub 2013, b. 1966

+15 Task
+10 Bonus

Task Total = 25

Grand total = 65"

Oh man -- I loved this book!

Ed wrote: "Krista wrote: "I'm wondering if the Group Read book -- The Book of Salt would qualify for this since the excerpt from the book blurb states:

"...Binh answers an ad for a live-in cook ..."

Hi Ed: Thanks for the answer! It's as I suspected. I appreciate getting the confirmation.
-Krista

20.4 The South
The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton

Set in Kentucky

+20 Task
Task Total = 20

Sadly, I couldn't find any Combo or Style points -- but I'd been meaning to read this for awhile. I finally made it to the top of the library 'Hold' queue. Yay!

I thought it was a great book. I'm glad I read it now, even if it didn't get a ton of points.

Grand Total 60 + 20 = 80

Task 15.1 10-20 - Time Traveler

The Loop by Joe Coomer
Publ 1992 Author Born 1958

+15 Task
Task Total = 15

Grand Total 45 + 15 = 60

10.8 Summertime Heat

Burning Bright: Stories by Ron Rash

Burning and Bright are both on the accepted word list. How lucky was that? I think I should get some sort of serendipity bonus. :-)

+10 Task
+ 5 Combo 20.4 (Set in North Carolina)
+10 Style Not-a-Novel (Short Stories)
Task Total = 25

Grand Total 20 + 25 = 45

10.3 - Twists

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

#192 on Twists list on 6/12/15

+10 Task
+10 Style Not-a-Novel (Memoir)
Task Total = 20

Grand Total = 20

I'm wondering if the Group Read book -- The Book of Salt would qualify for this since the excerpt from the book blurb states:

"...Binh answers an ad for a live-in cook at a Parisian household, and soon finds himself employed by Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.

Toklas and Stein hold court in their literary salon, for which the devoted yet acerbic Binh serves as chef, and as a keen observer of his "Mesdames" and their distinguished guests. ..."

I don't know how much of the book involves Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Tolkas. Now that I've just re-read the task rule, I'm thinking that the book woun't qualify since the ladies aren't the narrators or main character. (At least what I can infer from the book blurb.)

Rebekah wrote: "Krista wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Oh, I so hope I get to get more reading done for the next challenge. My mother has been in the hospital all this month in Texas and I've had to fly back and forth. Of..."

Hi Rebekah -- thanks for the inquiry! My Mom's move is done, but the unpacking will linger for months I suspect. She and my brother moved from a 3 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom apt. They were unwilling to sort stuff before the move (except when I was there as the 'enforcer') so now they have a little gerbil trail through the boxes.

The move wasn't easy by any means. (Boo!) But at least they've moved. They'll each have one more downsize to do when their individual living spaces come open in the center. So let's hope that they work on unpacking and sorting the contents of their boxes.

Boy, aren't you glad you asked? :-)

They only moved across town. If I was just working with my Mom things would have gone much better, but know-it-all brother (yes, those darn family dynamics) who still lives with her (at 45 years of age) -- was a pill.

I hope things go more smoothly with your Mom's move to Chattanooga. Good Luck!

-Krista

Christine wrote: "I notice others are entering square peg books, but we are still missing one task? Do we not have to hold back on the square peg until we know that final task?"

Hi Christine -- I was wondering the same thing...

Claire wrote: "While I haven't read The Hearts of Horses (which is on the list), I've read The Jump-Off Creek by the same author, Molly Gloss, and really enjoyed it.

..."

I've read All Over Creation and really liked it. (Just my 2 cents again.) :-)

If I recall, Sandra Dallas' Tallgrass was also on the list. I thought it was terrific.

I'll jump in here (not that I was asked)!

I have really enjoyed books by Sandra Dallas, Louise Erdrich, and Nancy Turner. They all have books on the list.

Sarah's Quilt (Agnes Prine #1) by Nancy Turner
Four Souls by Louise Erdrich
The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas