Denise’s Comments (group member since Dec 26, 2011)

Denise’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

20.3 Ratings

In the Garden of the North American Martyrs by Tobias Wolff

+20 Task (4.15 rating)
+10 Combo (10.3-in GR bio, 10.7-Two stories had MC's that were veterans; another was about men in boot camp)
+10 Not-a-Novel (short stories)

Task total=40
Season total=375

20.9 Anniversary

Night. Sleep. Death. The Stars. by Joyce Carol Oates

+20 Task ("So friendly, the deputy chief insists upon taking the newly married couple, and the gorgeous Margarita, around the corner to an outdoor restaurant for champagne. ... Champagne!--a second round of toasts. ...Even before the champagne Jessalyn has been feeling light-headed." pgs. 758-759)
+15 Combo (10.2, 10.3-in GR bio, 20.4 lots of back and forth in time)
+15 Jumbo

Task total=50
Season total=335


(Last season I read 3% of this book, then put it aside. I had to restart it from the beginning because I forgot so much of it. Not sure if that counts as a carryover.)

I would like to lock in Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout at 4.03.

20.9 Anniversary

Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives: Stories from the Trailblazers of Domestic Suspense by Sarah Weinman

+20 Task (Phyllis asked for a taste of the champagne. "If my refusing to drink makes people quarrel, I'd better have one." Johnnie watched her from under his long lashes. She sipped it, cried, "Why, it's not bad at all," and drained her glass. pg. 93)
+10 Combo (10.7- an MC in story "The Stranger in the Car" had served in Navy, 20.3 - 4.06 rating)
+10 Not-a-Novel (short stories)

Task total=40
Season total=285

Hi Kate, I am showing that I have 5 points more than the readerboard shows. Maybe the discrepancy is from post 368 where I substituted a different book for task 15.7? The original book I posted was a novel, but I used a Not-a-Novel book when I switched books for that task. Thanks.

20.5 Boomer

In the Walled City by Stewart O'Nan

+20 Task (1961)
+10 Combo (10.3-msg #11 in task thread), 10.7 - MC's in two stories are veterans
+10 Not-a-novel (short stories)

Task total=40
Season total=245

20.4 Non-linear

Breathe by Joyce Carol Oates

+20 Task (skips around from the present to the past, and to the future before it even happens)
+ 5 Combo (10.3-in GR bio)

Task total=25
Season total=205

(I previously had this title posted to 15.7 in Post 343)

I would like to change the book I posted for Task 15.7 in Post 343, if that is allowed.

Corrected post:

15.7 Counting on Authors

The Captain is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have Taken Over the Ship by Charles Bukowski

+15 Task (15 letters)
+ 5 Not-a-novel (journal entries)

Increase Season total +5 to 180

15.7 Counting on Authors

Breathe by Joyce Carol Oates

+15 Task (15 letters)

Task total=15
Season total=175

(edited to change to task 15.7 instead of 15.1, a cut and paste gone wrong)

I would like to lock in Where I've Been, and Where I'm Going: Essays, Reviews, Prose by Joyce Carol Oates at 4.0.

20.3 Ratings

Going Home To Teach by Anthony C. Winkler

+20 Task (4.01 rating)
+10 Combo (10.3-msg. 30 in task help thread, 20.9 (When it was my turn to order, I momentarily forgot my bogus persona and said to the woman behind the counter, "Two patty and a cola champagne.")
+10 Not-a-Novel

Task total=40
Season total=160

Will hearse work?

The Zebra-Striped Hearse by Ross Macdonald

Anthony C Winkler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony...

From 3rd paragraph of "Early life and career": "Upon graduation, he taught briefly at Pasadena City College..."

Also he taught for a year in his native country of Jamaica, an experience which is the subject of Going Home To Teach.

20.3 Ratings

The Night in Question by Tobias Wolff

+20 Task (4.18 rating)
+15 Combo (10.3-in GR bio, 10.7-approved in msg.18 in task help thread, 20.9 "He had a theatrical conception of the event, which seemed to include the two of them toasting him with champagne while he did whatever he meant to do."
+10 Not-a-Novel

Task total=45
Season total=120

I'd like to lock in Going Home To Teach by Anthony C. Winkler at 4.01.

I haven't read this, but: We'll Always Have Parrots

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Bea wrote: "Apparently, if we are not on Beta, we cannot vote. I did find the Ideas section and was able to view the idea...it is now up to 6 votes."

I'm not on Beta and was able to vote. I can't ..."

I'm not on Beta either, I think it is dreadful. But I have always had to sign in when I go to the help section. It kicks me out as Valerie mentioned and I have to sign in, each and every time. Who knows why!

I tried to vote for this Idea. The Idea I went to had 3 votes and my vote made 4. I hope that was the correct place to vote.

20.3 Ratings

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction by Grady Hendrix

+20 Task (4.33 rating)
+10 Not-a-Novel

Task total=30
Season total=75

Great, thank you!