Connie ’s
Comments
(group member since Nov 11, 2013)
Connie ’s
comments
from the Reading with Style group.
Showing 941-960 of 1,905
10.7 Alphabet DaysThe Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
+10 task
+15 combo 10.2 Anniversary, 10.5 most recently published, 20.3 She writes
+10 Female author
Task total: 35
Season total: 35
Elizabeth and Kate, the new winter tasks look great! Thank you for all your work as moderators.
10.1 5-Star Reads DONEOlive, Again by Elizabeth Strout (Karen's books)
Eve Green by Susan Fletcher (Elizabeth's books)
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan (Valerie's books)
10.2 ANNIVERSARY DONE
10.3 Revolution
The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore set in 1888
10.4 Genius DONE
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck #187 on list, no styles DONE
10.5 Debut (or most recently published) DONE
The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg DONE
Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
10.6 Not Quite Jumbo
A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
10.7 Alphabet Soup DONE
The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel DONE
Zoli by Colum McCann
10.8 Single Word Title
Wake by Anna Hope
Longing by Mary Balogh
Corrag by Susan Fletcher
10.9 Play the Numbers DONE
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield 2011
10.10 Group Reads
20.1 Decade
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
20.2 Freedom Season
The Promise by Ann Weisgarber TX
20.3 She Writes DONE
The Godforsaken Daughter by Christina McKenna
America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray
20.4 Poet's Non-Poetry DONE
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
The Fur Person by May Sarton
20.5 Sense of Place
In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar
20.6 Stand Up For Your Rights DONE
The House Girl by Tara Conklin
Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird
20.7 Island Dreams DONE
The Music Lesson by Katharine Weber (Ireland) DONE
The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick
The Soldier's Return by Melvyn Bragg
20.8 Unification Season DONE
The Military Philosophers by Anthony Powell 1968
The Road to Lichfield by Penelope Lively 1977
20.9 The Season of Shorter Days
This Is Not Chick Lit: Original Stories by America's Best Women Writers by Elizabeth Merrick
20.10 A Winning Decade
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli (combo 10.1 Valerie's books)
Here's two more suggestions:E-R "The Roanoke Girls" by Amy Engel
M-Z "Zoli" by Colum McCann
10.1 Sub-sandwichHonolulu by Alan Brennert
Regret is a young Korean woman named for the disappointment of her parents because she was a female baby. She felt repressed by traditional Korean society in the early 20th Century. Regret secretly learned to read and wanted to obtain an education. She hoped the situation would be better if she signed up to be a "picture bride" of a man living in Hawaii. Her husband, a violent plantation worker with gambling and alcohol problems, was not what she expected. She renamed herself Jin, and traveled to Honolulu where she used her skills as a seamstress to survive.
Jin formed strong friendships with other "picture brides" who also had challenging lives. The population of Hawaii was very diverse--native Hawaiians, whites from America, and Asian immigrants from Korea, Japan, China, and the Philippines--which led to conflicts. Jin's life was difficult, but her courage and hard work opened the door to opportunities. "Honolulu" was a compelling story with a strong, likable main character. Many historical and cultural references are woven into the story so this book would be enjoyed by historical fiction readers.
+10 task
+ 5 combo 20.4 Boomer
+10 review
Task total: 25
Season total: 1085
15.10 Pick 'n' Mix 2F2 Author's Name E-H
A Killer's Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth J. Duncan
Task total: 30
Completion bonus: 100
Season total: 1060
My daughter went to a presentation by Temple, and was very impressed. She went on to read one of her books about autism later.
10.3 Andre GideThe Wildlands by Abby Geni
"The Wildlands" is a suspenseful novel about eco-terrorism and sibling bonds. A Category 5 tornado destroys the Oklahoma farm of the McCloud family, and leaves four siblings orphaned. Eighteen-year-old Darlene gives up her dreams of college so she can provide for her siblings. The brother, Tucker, leaves his sisters and becomes involved in eco-terrorism. He returns to town three years later to bomb a cosmetics factory that uses animals to test their products. He kidnaps his nine-year-old sister, Cora, so she can help care for his wounds from the bombing and act as an accomplice. Cora willingly goes at first since Tucker is charismatic, but grows uneasy as the violence escalates. Much of the book is a first person account by Cora as she and Tucker travel, leaving a trail of destruction behind. Cora has identity issues as Tucker cuts her hair and dresses her as a boy so she can pass as his brother. Her initial admiration of her brother turns to confusion and fear.
Tucker's motives were initially good since he can see how humans have hurt animals and damaged the environment. But he becomes very violent, and does not consider whether the domesticated animals can survive on their own after they are released. I enjoyed Tucker's conversations about nature during their road trip, and the family drama in the story. Cora was an especially lovable, precocious nine-year-old--a wonderful character! "The Wildlands" is a well-written book of literary fiction that kept my interest.
+10 task
+15 combo 10.7 A,Y,E,I, 20.5 Non-linear, 20.8 Periodic Table AG= Silver
+10 review
Task total: 35
Season total: 930
15.9 Pick 'n' Mix 2F5 Author Name P-S
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Task total: 30
Season total: 895
Plans:A. Author Name
1. Author's first or last name consists of exactly 4 letters. DONE
Sarah Bird
Longing by Mary Balogh
2. Author's Name contains no letter L DONE
The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom
Wake by Anna Hope
Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird
3. Author publishes using (at least) 3 Names DONE
He Sees You When You're Sleeping by Mary Higgins Clark
A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae by Graeme Macrae Burnet
4. Author's first or last name contains a double letter DONE
Shirley Hazzard
Anthony Powell
Maggie O'Farrell
Richard Russo
5. Author publishes using initials and surname
The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
B. Author Birth/Life
1. Author lived during Queen Victoria's lifetime (1819-1901) DONE
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
2 Author born 1914-18 OR 1939-45 DONE
Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
3. Author has a December, January, or February birthdate.
4. Author was born in one century died the next (xx01-xx00). DONE
Oscar Wilde
Eudora Welty
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
Willa Cather
W. Somerset Maugham
5. Author born in Octoberfest Country DONE
The Promise by Ann Weisgarber
The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
Maggie O'Farrell
C. Author Characteristics
1. Read a book by an author you have not read before
The Roanoke Girls byAmy Engel
Corrag by Susan Fletcher
The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg
2. Read a book by an author found on the Literature Map of one of the following authors: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Marcel Proust, William Shakespeare, Emile Zola, Carson McCullers, Muriel Spark, or Iris Murdoch
Muriel Spark map-Anthony Powell
Iris Murdoch map-Pat Barker, Colm Tóibín, Daphne du Maurier
3. Read a book by a veteran author (one who has published 20 years or more). DONE
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Agatha Christie
Bernard Malamud
The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
Daphne du Maurier
Ian McEwan
Jodi Picoult
4.Read a book by an author who has published in at least 3 forms
(fiction, non-fiction, poetry, play, etc)
The Military Philosophers by Anthony Powell
5. Read a book by an author who has worked as a journalist
Isabel Allende
Maggie O'Farrell
20.9 Shipwrecked!The Odyssey by Homer
"The Odyssey" is an ancient Greek epic poem of journey, discovery, and homecoming. Odysseus has been away from Ithaca, his wife, and his son for twenty years. He fought in the Trojan War for ten years, and has been trying to return home for another ten years. I read the translation by Robert Fagles written in very readable free verse.
"The Odyssey" is a story of adventure with Odysseus using his strength, quick thinking, and disguises to reach home with the help of Athena. Other gods put obstacles in Odysseus' way as he travels. Hospitality was extended to Odysseus by many people, giving him an opportunity to talk about his adventures with them. His son, Telemachus, also went on a short journey searching for news of his father so there is a coming-of-age story inside the larger epic.
Some veterans groups are using "The Odyssey" in discussions since it is the story of a combat hero returning to his home after fighting in a war. "The Odyssey" shows how both the home front and the veteran have changed. It illustrates how Penelope suffers when her husband is missing in action, and their home is overrun with suitors. A town also suffers if it loses many young men in battle. The veterans have changed because of their experiences, and they don't know what to expect when they return home. They may feel remorse for things they did during the war, miss their friends who died in battle, and feel survivor's guilt. Although "The Odyssey" was composed around the 8th Century BCE, it has a timeless quality as it deals with human emotions.
+20 task
+15 combo 10.3 Andre Gide, 20.5 Non-Linear, 20.8 Periodic Table H=Hydrogen
+25 oldie 700 BCE
+ 5 jumbo
+10 not a novel
+10 review
Task total: 85
Season total: 865
I'm almost finished with my roadtrip around the US states, then I'll get back to my UK challenge. I'm going to continue with RwS and a historical fiction challenge in the new year.
15.8 Pick 'n' Mix 2D5 Historical Fiction
The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad
Task total: 20
Season total: 780
10.4 ReplayUsing 10.7 Summer Shorts from last season.
The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H.G. Wells 48 pages, pub 1898
The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs 32 pages, pub 1902
The Bet by Anton Chekhov 48 pages, pub 1889
The entertaining story, "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" is a reminder that we should remember the advice, "Be careful what you wish for." The miracles started out small, but eventually had the power to cause an apocalypse. It's human nature to want more and more, but more does not always make us happy if we make foolish wishes. It has a scientific fiction feel, especially at the end. "The Monkey's Paw" has a similar theme of wishes having unwanted results. It's a clever, chilling horror story that feeds our mind to imagine the worst.
In "The Bet", the intellectual party guests are discussing whether capital punishment or life imprisonment is the more merciful option. A banker bets two million rubles that a lawyer will not be able to withstand 15 years of imprisonment in a small lodge on the banker's property. The lawyer can have any item he desires, but no human contact. He starts by playing music, drinking wine, sleeping much of the day, and reading light books. He later progresses to studying foreign languages and the Scriptures. The short story is a fable that shows the lawyer making a surprising decision at the end, based on what he found was important.
+10 task
+10 not a novel
+10 review
+10 oldies
Task total: 40
Season total: 760
10.8 Double OA Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver
Poet Mary Oliver tells about the craft of poetry in a basic book that would be helpful to both readers and writers of poetry. She writes about the various ingredients that go into a poem--meter, rhyme, sound, imagery, form, and more. Well-written, famous poems are used to illustrate the points she is making. Unfortunately, she does not use any of her own delightful poems as examples. Even newcomers to poetry will find this book very accessible.
I do not write poetry, but I enjoyed her advice to beginner poets. They should immerse themselves in books, the arts, nature, history, and other areas of interest. "Writers must . . . take care of the sensibility that houses the possibility of poems. . . . A mind that is lively and inquiring, compassionate, curious, angry, full of music, full of feeling, is a mind full of possible poetry."
+10 task
+10 combo 10.7 A,E,I,O,Y; 20.8 Periodic Table MO=Molybdenum
+10 not a novel
+10 review
+ 5 oldie (pub 1994)
Task total: 45
Season total: 720
15.7 Pick 'n' Mix 2A4 Setting--Asia
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
Task total: 20
Season total: 675
Have a wonderful trip, Valerie!
20.5 Non-LinearGlory Over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Jamie Pyke, the son of a mean plantation owner and a biracial slave, had been raised by his grandmother in the plantation mansion as a white child. When he became 13 years old, his father planned to sell him into slavery. Jamie escaped to the North, but was in poor health when he reached Philadelphia. He was befriended by Henry, a former slave who cared for him until he regained his health. Henry knew that slave owners never stop looking for fugitives, and urged Jamie to pass for white. Jamie apprentices with Mr Burton, a silversmith, who eventually adopts him. Jamie became an artist, gifted as both a silversmith and a painter of the natural world, especially birds. He became involved with a white woman, but was afraid to tell her about his heritage.
Henry's young son, Pan, is kidnapped at the Philadelphia docks and is sold into slavery in North Carolina. Henry begs Jamie to help him find the boy. Jamie and Henry's trip to the South is frightening because they could also be captured by the slave catchers.
The book is narrated by multiple men and women--black, white, and biracial. Jamie has to reconcile his double identities as a white man and a black man. He used his light skin and education to save himself from a life of slavery. He realizes that many black men and women saved his life as he made the harrowing trip to the North, and that he is now in a position where he can help others escape.
"Glory Over Everything" is a fast-paced novel with well-developed, vivid characters in dangerous situations. It's a compelling story that would work well for a book discussion group.
+20 task (flashbacks to his life as a child on the plantation)
+ 5 combo 10.7 AEIO
+10 review
Task total: 35
Season total: 655
