Deedee’s Comments (group member since Aug 04, 2010)

Deedee’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

Task 20.1 Lifetime
Read a book written by any author born during Muriel Spark's lifetime (1918-2006).

A Good Woman (2008) by Danielle Steel (Hardcover, 336 pages)

+20 Task
+10 Combo (#10.2, #10.9)

Task Total: 20 + 10 = 30

Grand Total: 590 + 30 = 620

Task 20.1 Lifetime
Read a book written by any author born during Muriel Spark's lifetime (1918-2006).

It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree (2017) by A.J. Jacobs [929.1] (Hardcover, 336 pages)

+20 Task
+10 Not-a-Novel: non-fiction

Task Total: 20 + 10 = 30

Grand Total: 560 + 30 = 590

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "The MPE for Cloudy in the West is "Large Print" edition, at 317 pages -- the next most popular edition is Cloudy in the West at 256 pages (and all the ot..."
Thanks :) I'll get the hang of the MPE one of these days

The MPE for Cloudy in the West is "Large Print" edition, at 317 pages -- the next most popular edition is Cloudy in the West at 256 pages (and all the other editions are around 256 pages). Which pagecount counts for this book? Large print editions are always much larger pagecounts. Thanks!

Would Dreams of the Golden Age work for this task? I'm getting ready to start reading it. Looks like our heroine has been Hiding her burgeoning superpowers from her parents and I suspect that by the end of the novel she will have transformed into someone who embraces and uses her superpowers.

Task 20.2 Scottish
Read a book written by any author born in Scotland.

Symposium (1990) by Muriel Spark

+20 Task
+25 Combo (#10.9, #20.1, #20.3, #20.4, #20.6)

Task Total: 20 + 25 = 45

Grand Total: 515 + 45 = 560

For Thus Bad Begins, the first pagecount for English language non-electronic version is 444 pages. Did I get that correct? Thanks!

Task 20.9 Addiction (Kate S)
Read a book in which a main character experiences substance abuse.

Terry:: My Daughter's Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism (1996) by George S. McGovern [616.861] (Hardcover, 208 pages)

+20 Task (#20.9)
+15 Combo: 20.1 (1922-2012), 20.3, 20.4
+10 Not-a-novel

Task Total: 45

Grand Total: 470 + 45 = 515

Task 15.1 Page Count

two or three short works adding up to 75-150 pages

The Patagonia (1888) by Henry James

And

To Build A Fire (1903) by Jack London

Task Total: 15

Grand Total: 455 + 15 = 470

Task 20.7 It's Winter (or Summer?) (Karin's Task)

This book was set in London, England, 15% November, 85% December

Mr. Dickens and His Carol: A Novel (2017) by Samantha Silva

+20 Task
+15 Combo (#10.7 (Charles Dickens), #10.9, #20.01)

Task Total: 20 + 15 = 35

Grand Total: 420 + 35 = 455

Task 15.2 Page Count

100-149 p

All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) (2017) by Martha Wells

Most Popular Edition
Published May 2nd 2017 by Tor.com
ebook, 144 pages

Grand Total: 405 + 15 = 420

I'm 3 books behind to do a Mega-finish -- and I still have the 400+ pages books to read for the Page Count mini-challenge. A Mega-finish is still possible though, I just have to focus!

Task 20.6 Literature Map
Read any book by an author found on Literature Map for Muriel Spark.

The Two Hotel Francforts (2013) by David Leavitt

+20 Task
+10 Combo (#10.9, #20.1)

Task Total: 20 + 10 = 30

Grand Total: 375 + 30 = 405

Task 20.1 Lifetime

Read a book written by any author born during Muriel Spark's lifetime (1918-2006).

Artemis (2017) by Andy Weir

+20 Task
+05 Combo (#10.8 fantasy)

Task Total: 20 + 05 = 25

Grand Total: 345 + 25 = 370

Task 20.3 Aged
Read a book written by any author who lived 75 years or longer.

Barrett Jr., Neal b. November 03, 1929 d. January 12, 2014

The Prophecy Machine (Investments #1) (2000) by Neal Barrett Jr. (Paperback, 342 pages)

+20 Task
+05 Combo (#20.1)

Task Total: 20 + 05 = 25

Grand Total: 320 + 25 = 345

Task 20.1 Lifetime

Read a book written by any author born during Muriel Spark's lifetime (1918-2006).

The Princess Saves Herself in this One (Women are some kind of magic #1) (2016) by Amanda Lovelace

+20 Task
+10 Not-a-Novel: poetry collections

Task Total: 20 + 10 = 30

Grand Total: 290 + 30 = 320

Task 10.9 The Power of Five (Ed's Task)
Read a book by an author who has five letters in exactly one of his or her names.

Dark Matter (2016) by Blake Crouch (Hardcover, 342 pages)

+10 Task
+10 Combo (#10.8 “fantasy”, #20.1)

Task Total: 10 + 10 = 20

Grand Total: 270 + 20 = 290

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "My grandfather was Italian"

So was mine! He and grandma were from Perugia, Umbria, Italy (mother's side) -- my mom was born in USA but spoke only Italian until she went to school

Father's side: from Poland -- though if you asked them, they'd say: 100% American!

Would Poul Anderson qualify for this task? From goodreads profile:
Born: November 25, 1926
Died: July 31, 2001

2001-1926=75
however, November 25, 1926 to July 31, 2001 is less than 75 years

Thanks!

Amanda wrote: "Deedee wrote: "Task 10.2 It's All Relative
Read a book with one of the following words in the title: widow, widower, orphan, man, woman.

For 20.1 combo – Mr. Reel has a facebook page!:
https://ww..."

No -- despite the title, over 50% of the non-fiction book was set in London, England