Connie ’s Comments (group member since Nov 11, 2013)

Connie ’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

10.6 Anagrams

Six Months in 1945: FDR, Stalin, Churchill, and Truman--from World War to Cold War by Michael Dobbs

+10 task (Stalin)

Task Total: 10
Season Total: 290

20.3 Historical

A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr

+20 task
+ 5 combo 10.2
+ 5 multiple
+ 5 oldie (pub 1980)

Task total: 35
Season total: 280

Ed wrote: "From a challenge for another group:

Read a book which cover shows something upside down (can be a person or even title printed upside down).

I suggest it selfishly because (a) it would be easier ..."

That's a challenge, Ed, since a lot of the upside down covers are kid's books. Are you into Zen? Here's one:
Upside-Down Zen: Finding the Marvelous in the Ordinary.

15.8 A Counting Game

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Set in Guernsey

Task total: 15
Season total: 245

This must be the weekend for reading Russian books. I finished Envy by Yury Olesha, set in Moscow, Russia.

10.3 U's Have It

Envy by Yury Olesha

Set in Russia

+10 task
+10 Non'Western
+10 Oldie (Pub 1927)

Task total: 30
Season total: 225

10.2 No O

The Winter in Anna by Reed Karaim

Set in USA

+10 task
+ 5 multiple

Points this task: 15
Points this season: 195

20.3 Historical

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

About 80% of the book is set in Switzerland.

+20 task
+ 5 combo 10.2
+ 5 multiple

Task total: 30
Season total: 180

A geographical sub-challenge is a great idea. I'm willing to read almost anywhere around the world, but wouldn't want to read ten books set in South America or the Caribbean since magical realism is not my favorite genre.

For variety, I enjoy it when we can mix up the type of counties such as reading around the Pacific Rim, around another large body of water, visit all the continents, read around the equator, or around another line of latitude. That usually gives a nice mix of Western and non-Western countries.

Could you please add The Jacaranda Tree by H.E. Bates to the spreadsheet for Myanmar? Thanks.

20.3 Historical

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

Set in England, UK

+20 task
+10 combo 10.2, 10.3
+ 5 oldie (pub 1951)

Task total: 35
Season total: 150

That's very sad, Jayme. I'm sorry about your dog.

Kate S wrote: "Connie wrote: "Kate, it looks like one of my tasks was missed on the Readerboard. Up until task 79, this is what I posted:

Post # 38-30 points
Post # 70-15 points
Post # 71-10 points
Total 55 poin..."

Thank you, Kate.

It looks like Wake is a possibility. I don't see that on the country list.

Guam has its own listing on the spreadsheet. Puerto Rico is also on the spreadsheet.

Well, this is supposed to be a challenge! I guess it will send us all to Wikipedia to find some minor outlying islands.

10.2 No O

The Jacaranda Tree by H.E. Bates

Set in Burma, now Myanmar.

+10 task
+ 5 oldie (pub 1949)

Task total: 15
Season total: 115

Kate, it looks like one of my tasks was missed on the Readerboard. Up until task 79, this is what I posted:

Post # 38-30 points
Post # 70-15 points
Post # 71-10 points
Total 55 points

Karin wrote: "The next time I want sign up for a speed related reading challenge with 7 books, please remind me how utterly exhausting that is! By today I wasn't enjoying the reading so much, but just the thrill..."

Wow! It makes me tired just thinking about it.

20.5 It's Elemental

Fire in the Blood by Irène Némirovsky

Set in France

+20 task
+15 combo 20.3, 10.4, 10.7
+10 Non-Western (born in Ukraine, citizen of the Russian Empire)

Task total: 45
Season total: 100

10.1 Instant Replay

I'm choosing the Spring 2017 task 10.3 English Language

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Set in Scotland, UK

+10 task (born in UK)

Task total: 10
Season total: 55