Reading with Style discussion

10.9 11 in '11

The It Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

Review: After having read all the Gossip Girl series books, I thought I would move on to the It Girl series. So far, I am enjoying them. They are not as good as the Gossip Girl novels; the cast of characters seems more similar and harder to distinguish, but I hope as the series progresses they will improve. The narrative style is easy to follow and I enjoy the "IM" conversations at the end of each chapter. Jenny can get a bit tiresome but I prefer her character in the books to the one on the "Gossip Girl" television show. These books are one of my many guilty pleasures :) however I think I will intersperse them with books of more substance as I go along.

+10 Task (1st of series from author who has written at least 11 books)
+5 Combo 10.6 Uncommon Letter (Z)
+5 Combo 20.8 Fictional Fiction (Jenny constantly refers to her Waverly school manual ex. p.5-6)
+10 Review

Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 95 pts

Task 20.10 Sam's Task
Ok, I hope this fits!

I read Paper Daughter by Jeanette Ingold (published in 2010). It is classified as a YA in some places...Lexile is 800.

+20 points

My Review:
I enjoyed the book Paper Daughter. This book was about children that came to the United States as “paper children” to Chinese people already immigrated here. The story begins with a young girl who has recently lost her father and through a series of circumstances comes to find that he is not the man she (and everyone else) thought he was and the family that she has always imagined is not the family that is biologically hers either. There are two storylines going at the same time (one in the past and one in the present) that make for very interesting reading and I love the way the two merge at the ending of the story.

+10 points
+ 5 Combo points (10.5, 78 ratings)
=35 task points

GRAND TOTAL: 105 points

Task 20.5 Autobiography

I read My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up by Russell Brand.

+ 20 points
My Review:
I have to say, this book was not exactly what I had expected. I really think that Russell Brand is a very funny guy, but the book just did not really show that. I know it has received lots of rave reviews, but it was just not to my taste. There were very vivid descriptions (you've got to love his vulgar British humor..ha. ha.) of his various addictions to sex, drugs, etc. I did think there were some very interesting memorabilia and photographs that were reproduced in the book that gave very interesting (and sometimes sad) glimpses into his life. I am still deciding if I want to tackle Booky Wook 2.
+10 points
=30 task points

GRAND TOTAL: 135 points

CiV

15.1 The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett 285 pp, pub 1986
P-Q-R, 261-300pp, 1977-88

+15 task

Total points 85

20.3 Great Expectations The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (#88 Exceeded expectations list)

+20 task
+5 combo (10.9 - the plot revolves around an expedition to slay the dragon Smaug)
+5 oldie (pub 1937)

task total 30

Total points 115

10.7 What's your type? INTJ
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (I-T in title)

+10 task
+15 combo (10.8 First book of the time quintet, 10.2 Time in the title, 20.10 pub 1962)
+5 oldie (pub 1962)

Task total 30

Total points 145

Note: My copy of the book was copyrighted 1962, the author's website says published 1962, Goodreads says 1961?? Resolved

15.3 CiV
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox, Jr. 258 pgs Pub. 1906
E-F,221-260/621-660 1905-1916

+25 pts - Task
95 pts - Grand Total

A beautiful old book that takes place on the Ky/Va border. In Big Stone Gap,Va, where the author was living when he died, holds an annual drama of this book. There is even a state park names Lonesome Pine in Ky and another in Ky named Kingdom come after first big seller The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come

RwS Tasks

10.8 Chinese New Year
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang

+10 Task
+5 Combo (20.5-story of the author and family)
+5 Jumbo (508 pages)

20.2 A Tale of Two Cities
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

+20 Task
+5 Combo (20.10-pub 1872)
+10 Oldies
+10 Lost in Translation (originally published in French)

20.10 Play the Numbers
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Published 2011
Lexile Score 890

+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.2-US and UK; 20.7-US)

CiV
15.1 Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood
A-B; 341-380 (352 pages); 1965-1976 (pub 1976)

+15 Task

Post Total: 110
Season Total: 110

nsfancy wrote; "Note: My copy of the book was copyrighted 1962, the author's website says published 1962, Goodreads says 1961??"

Yes, all sources I can find agree it was 1962. Someone seems to have added a Kindle edition published 1961 (must have been a time-wrinkled Kindle!), which messed up Goodreads. I have updated it.

nsfancy wrote: "10.5 What's your type? INTJ
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (I-T in title)

+10 task
+10 combo (10.8 First book of the time quintet, 10.2 Time in the title)
+5 old..."

With Rosemary's kind research and correction of the publication date to 1962, this now also qualifies for combo points for 20.10 Play the Numbers.

15.1 – Christmas in Vegas

2001-2012 E-F 381-420/781-820

The Marriage Plot (2011) by Jeffrey Eugenides (Hardcover, 406 pages)
Writing quality: high. Overall impression: Jeffrey Eugenides has written a novel starring characters that he does not like, not even a little bit. 3*'s

1st book claimed – 15 points

Grand Total: 40 + 15 = 55

20.7 Baby It's Cold Outside (US author)
Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick

Review: This is the story of two girls caught in an iconic photo taken on the day that nine young black students were to attend their first day at a segregated white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. Elizabeth, black and alone, is stoically walking away while being followed by a group of whites including Hazel, who is shown angrily shouting.
Margolick sets the scene--the backgrounds of the two, the racism manifest in the city, the course of school desegregation at the time. He follows with what happens afterward at Central High and in the lives of the two women including the 50th anniversary of the event.
It is a very moving story.
This is how I like to read history--through the lens of individuals who experienced it. While keeping the focus on Elizabeth, Margolick does pan out to put the story in its historic perspective.
Two small criticisms--Margolick seems to barely mention some parts of Elizabeth's life that seem to have been productive and happy--for instance, she spent some years living with a brother in California and completed her college degree at that time. This just gets a passing mention. And the book has a number of very interesting photographs that are part of the story. They are placed in the text of the story, which is fine, but I would have liked an index to make it easier to find them when they were referenced elsewhere in the book.

Task: 20
Review: 10
Combo: 10 20.10 published 2011, 10.5 Underrated (currently 65 ratings)
Task Total: 40
Previous Total: 40
Grand Total: 80

10.7 What's Your Type?

It Matters Totally: Healing Food Addiction with A Course in Miracles by Marielle School

Review:
This is not so much a book about losing weight as a book about learning to take good care of yourself. Of course, the hope is that when you do that, you will naturally lose weight, and that is what the author apparently did.
It is structured as a workbook and you have tasks to do each day for 40 days. So I tried to follow the tasks, and all went well for a couple of weeks, although I did not notice any particular change in how I was viewing myself, my food or the world. Then I stopped, which I guess was my own decision, but it was because the tasks quite suddenly became a lot more difficult, both in terms of comfort zone and in terms of finding a place for them in my day.
So then I just read the rest of the book. I don’t think it had much effect, but that was predictable because I didn't follow the plan, and it was an interesting read.
The writer often quotes from A Course in Miracles. The religious side becomes much more evident towards the end of the book. I think you would have to be comfortable with that to follow through to the end.

+10 Task (my type=ISTJ, letter pair I-T in title)
+10 Combo (10.5 Underrated, 20.10 pub. 2010)
+10 Review

Task Total = 30

Grand Total = 45

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "10.5 Underrated
"The Storyteller of Marrakesh" by Joydeep Bhattacharya 107 ratings

Task +10
Style Points Review +10
Book Total: 30 20
Grand Total 20..."

+5 combo for 20.10 Play the numbers, which makes your Grand Total 25 points.

Oh no I just realised I cannot claim for It Matters Totally: Healing Food Addiction with A Course in Miracles because I started reading it before the beginning of December!

... or can I, if I read less than half of it? (I was probably about one-third through it at the beginning of the month)

20.10 Play the Numbers

Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart

Book published in 2010.

+20 Task

Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 20

Rosemary wrote: "Oh no I just realised I cannot claim for It Matters Totally: Healing Food Addiction with A Course in Miracles because I started reading it before the beginning of December!

... or c..."

As long as you were only one-third through, you can use it, but you can only do that for one book each challenge season. So, you're good! :)

Task 20.4 - set in 1950s and 60s

The Bad Girl by Mario Vargo Llosa, written in Spanish, published in 2006, translated to English in 2007

Review:
I chose this book because I wanted to read something written by a Nobel Prize winner. I can understand why he is a winner (not coz of this book); his writing is beautiful and it draws you in. Then again, it's been translated so who knows?

Unfortunately, I'm not too crazy about the plot: a lovestruck fool who can't say "no" to the love of his life - aka 'The Bad Girl'. Somehow their lives are entwined and wherever he ends up in the world, she happens to be there. The protagonist is so consumed with love and passion for her that he cannot resist any of her advances or abuses. He puts his life on hold for every one of her whims. Is it destiny that he be forever trapped in her seductive and sadistic claws?Or Is it a cliche that she is also a materialistic wild child, who controls men like puppets to get what she wants?

I don't wish to spoil the ending for anyone but since I'm a closet romantic, the ending was somewhat tragic. A modern day pair of star-crossed lovers perhaps?


+ 20(task)
+ 10(review)
+ 10(combo- takes place in >2 countries, listed in Crazy Love list)
+ 10(Lost in Translation)

Total = 50

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "nsfancy wrote: "10.5 What's your type? INTJ
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (I-T in title)

+10 task
+10 combo (10.8 First book of the time quintet, 10.2 Time in t..."

Thank you Rosemary and Elizabeth, I have edited my post.

20.2 In honor of A Tale Of Two Cities

Confessions of an Air Hostess by Marisa Mackle

Review:
Annie is an air hostess working out of Dublin. She has just been dumped by her boyfriend and broken the heel on her Jimmy Choos. She's as upset about the shoes as about the boyfriend, it seems to me. On sick leave due to injuries sustained when falling off the shoes, she goes to Spain to look for a replacement for the boyfriend. (Along the way the shoes are replaced, too.)
This was pegged as 'hilarious' and I accepted it in a book swap thinking it would be nice to have some light reading. It certainly was that. I didn't find it particularly funny but it was entertaining enough. To sum it up in one word, I would have to say: silly.

+20 Task (set in Ireland and Spain)
+10 Combo (10.5 Underrated, 20.10 pub. 2010)
+10 Review

Task Total = 40

Grand Total = 85

15.4 CiV
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian 412 pgs Pub. 1969
N-O 338-420 pgs/781-820 pgs 1965 -1976

+30 pts - Task
125 pts - Grand Total

20.6 Bleak House

The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway (a main character is a lawyer)

Three stories entwined around the opera Tristan und Isolde following: Lucien through late 1800’s europe, Maria through her youth in 70’s Pittsburg and 80’s NYC, and Martin who is an attorney in 2001 NYC. It seemed so promising, but I almost abandoned it halfway through. As I kept reading, I began to analyze why it was that I didn’t like it. Af first, I thought it was because I found the characters self-centered. This is told in a rotating third person narrative (I’ve been paying more attention since the last challenge :) ) and each of them has a rather solitary personality. Gallaway often just describes their thoughts and emotions in long frank paragraphs rather than developing them another way and I think that lends the idea that they overly self-obsessed. Awkward dialog was avoided by not really having any. For example, it took a bit a careful reading to figure out that Maria really was truly sad about the loss her parents not just upset about the social anxiety that telling people about it caused. Though Maria and Lucien are opera singers, I was also disappointed that music did not play as large a role in the novel as the beginning chapters promised though it did reappear at the end. This is Gallaway’s first novel, so perhaps he’ll improve over time.

This also has some bizarre themes with regards to parents as well that is ultimately the reason that I kept reading. Each of the main characters has lost at least one parent and more than one character is adopted only to loose their adoptive parents as well. The overall head count is high--parents, lovers and even cats. I’m familiar with the fairytale Tristan and Isolde think of it as tragic for its romantic elements. I as far as I can tell the book is not reflecting the opera. Gallaway blunts says the Love and Death is a theme in the opera, but his story develops more along the lines of loneliness (more a personal choice for social isolation) and death. There are also some rather disturbingly dispassionate women (Martian’s ex-wife and Anna), creepy father imagery (for example Maria’s toying with her dead father’s good luck charm after casual sex with a man 30 years her senior), and (view spoiler)[ incest (hide spoiler)]. I’ll admit I read with the fascination of a armchair psychoanalyst because there is definitely something here and I can’t tell how much is intentional. I read through some of other reviews and noticed that most of the people who ranked it this low seem to have done it because of the homosexual love scenes. This wasn’t a problem for me. I remain much more upset by whatever is underlying the depiction of women.

I give this 2 stars.

+20 task
+10 review
+25 Combos: 10.5 (258 ratings), 20.2 (Pittsburg, NYC, Paris, Vienna), 20.4 (set in late 1800s, 1960-1970s), 20.7 (USA), 20.10 (pub. 2010)

task total=55
grand total=55

20.2 In honor of A Tale Of Two Cities

50 Reasons to Say Goodbye by Nick Alexander

Review:
This book consists of 50 short chapters (around 3 pages each), each one describing an encounter that the main character Mark has on his quest for a loving gay relationship. Some of the encounters involve casual sex, but this is not an erotic book, nor is it a romance.
We do not learn much about Mark outside of these vignettes. Midway through the book he moves from England to France, for some reason to do with his work, but we learn very little about that.
I didn't find Mark an attractive character. He either mocks or complains about most of the men he meets but he treats them at least as badly as they treat him. (view spoiler)[In the end when he does meet somebody special, I found it hard to believe that this would have turned out any differently from any of his other affairs if fate had not intervened. (hide spoiler)] But on the positive side, this lack of charm did make me feel that I was reading a very honest book.
I picked up this whole series from Amazon cheaply so I have continued reading. I don't think I would have read book 2 if I hadn't already owned it, but I am glad that I did because the series gets a lot better. More to follow.

+20 Task (set in the UK and France)
+15 Combo (10.5 Underrated; 10.6 letter X in author surname; 10.7 my type is ISTJ, S and T in title)
+10 Review

Task Total = 45

Grand Total = 130

nsfancy wrote: "10.7 What's your type? INTJ
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (I-T in title) ..."

Ooops. I forgot an important point in the 10.7 task description, which I will adjust and apply from this point forward. (nsfancy obviously is allowed an exception to the adjustment, since she posted before the task was modified).

For 10.7, the words that begin with E, I, N, S, F, T, J, or P must be words that are capitalized in the title.

Task 20.8 - Liz M’s Task - Fictional fiction
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
"Review:
It was very confusing to begin with and up til midway, I didn't realise that there was actually only ONE narrator. Somehow, I thought there were 2 narrators and then I realised that I was completely off. In a way, I supposed, this explores her theme of secrecy - the double lives Iris Montford Chase was living.

The very interesting bits were the sci-fi parts and how they were fitted into the narratives. Absolutely fascinating! (Disclaimer: am not a big sci-fi fan though I don't mind the occasional foray).

There were 3 streams of narratives: the ""now"", the ""before - public"", and the ""before - secret"", all told through the eyes of Iris. The changes between these were what thew me off. I felt sorry for the ""before"" Irises and yet, at the end of the book, I felt glad that the ""now"" Iris completed her ""goal"".

I realised I was using so many punctuations above but am trying not too give too much away ;p"

+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.4, 20.3, 20.7-Canada)
+5 Jumbo (500+ pages)

Task 20.6 - In honor of Bleak House,
The Associates by John Grisham
"Review:
Even though the ""thriller"" bit started right off the bat, the actual unfolding of the story (background) felt slow to me.

The main gist of the story is that Kyle McEvoy was about to graduate (law) and was, basically, on top of his class. Due to some ""questionable"" past event, Kyle was being blackmailed to ""infiltrate"" one of the top law firms and steal some important technology-sensitive documents which formed a part of a controversial trial that are being highly protected.

I really liked the book while I was listening to the audio although looking back now (noting the very short summary I put together above), I feel like there's really not much in the book except for some entertainment value and very entertaining it was."

+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (20.7-USA)

Task 10.3 - Home for the Holidays
Voodoo Doll: Jill Jackson 2 by Leah Giarratano
Set in NSW (Sydney & suburbs), Australia

+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.5)

Total this post: 100 points
Total to date: 100 points

20.9 The Five People You Meet in Heaven- by Mitch Albom

review: This was one of those, "I can't believe I haven't read yet" books. I had pretty high expectations considering I've been hearing about this book since 2003. I guess it lived up to its hype, but I wasn't blown away. Definitely a worthy read, but now I feel sort of like "been there, done that." The premise is that we are all interconnected and each of our lives affects so many people in various ways. The main character,now in heaven, has his life explained by five very different people he had encountered on Earth.

+20 task
+10 review
+5 combo (20.3 #108 on list)

task total = 35

grand total = 75

Kazza wrote: "Task 10.3 - Home for the Holidays
Voodoo Doll: Jill Jackson 2 by Leah Giarratano..."

It may be obvious from the booklink (I haven't looked yet), but please let us know what location you are using. Thanks!

Liz M wrote: "Kazza wrote: "Task 10.3 - Home for the Holidays
Voodoo Doll: Jill Jackson 2 by Leah Giarratano..."

It may be obvious from the booklink (I haven't looked yet), but please let us know what location ..."

Oops, sorry, I had it in mind to fix then got distracted!! Amended now - Sydney AUS :)

I just had to make a mistake on my first post, boo hoo!

20.8 Fictional Fiction - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Right from the start, you know there’s more going on in this story than meets the eye. I just couldn’t figure out what it was for the longest time and truthfully, I still can’t. Oh I enjoyed it for the most part. It was entertaining in an oddball-ish way, that’s for sure and my favorite parts didn’t happen until near the end of the book. So I want more! Fforde has some explaining to do and I look forward to finding out all the little quirks about this story and the characters involved in it. Many fascinating concepts jam packed into one story!

+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.9)

Task Total=35
Grand Total=35

Deedee wrote: "15.1 – Christmas in Vegas
The Marriage Plot (2011) by Jeffrey Eugenides (Hardcover, 406 pages)
Writing quality: high. Overall impression: Jeffrey Eugenides has written a novel starring characters that he does not like, not even a little bit. 3*'s"

I love this review. I'm always impressed when someone is able to convey so much in so few words. I'm still interested in reading the book, but haven't bothered to get a copy yet.

15.1 CiV

With the Procession by Henry Blake Fuller, 274 pages, pub. 1894

E-F/261-300/661-700/1892-1904

Just a quick note: I'd never heard of this book or this author. I picked it solely because I needed to fill this spot in the CiV list, but I quite enjoyed the book. It felt surprisingly relevant and modern as it described a family pursuing money and social position in the rapidly modernizing Chicago of the 1890s. I know modern counterparts of the characters and quite enjoyed reading about them.

+15 Task

Grand total: 50

10.5 Underrated

Sottopassaggio by Nick Alexander

Review:
Book 2 in this series was a big improvement on the first one, for me. Mark has returned to England to recover from the injuries that he sustained at the end of the first book. He is living in Brighton, meeting up with old friends and and making new ones, so unlike book 1, here we have characters to follow. We also see something of his family. There is a sustained story and we see him fall in love and begin a relationship. The writing style is spare, honest and gives a good insight into the character of Mark. On the downside, there is very little description and because of that, I didn't find it very evocative of place.

+10 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.6 Uncommon letter: X in author surname)
+10 Review

Task Total = 25

10.6 Uncommon Letter

Good Thing Bad Thing by Nick Alexander

Review:
The third book in the series sees Mark and boyfriend Tom taking a holiday in Italy. There are strains in the relationship when Tom becomes interested in the idea of living off the land and starts getting close to the guy who owns the farm where they are camping. This develops into a scary situation and they have to run for their lives. As well as the thriller-like aspect, which is unexpected and well done, this book has much more depth than the previous volumes in the series, dealing with a situation where two people want to be in a relationship but each wants different things from it.

+10 Task (X in author surname)
+ 5 Combo (10.5 Underrated)
+10 Review

Task Total = 25

10.6 Uncommon Letter

Better Than Easy by Nick Alexander

Review:
Tom and Mark are now living together in France and planning to buy a gite, a small hotel in the mountains where people would be based for walking holidays. The gap between them widens as it becomes clear that Tom is continuing with the relationship because it allows him to have a share in the gite, while Mark is continuing with the gite purchase because he wants the relationship to survive. (view spoiler)[I found it hard to like Mark as he threw a ton of guilt at Tom for some online flirtations while Mark himself was having a secret affair, deceiving not only Tom but another friend too. Nevertheless the relationship was described with unflinching honesty and the ending worked well in terms of plot. (hide spoiler)] I zipped through the first 4 books in this series in the past week. There is one more, which I have started but might not finish right away.

+10 Task (X in author surname)
+ 5 Combo (10.5 Underrated)
+10 Review

Task Total = 25

Total for this post = 75
Grand Total = 205

10.5 Underrated Book

Seeing Further: Ideas, Endeavours, Discoveries and Disputes — The Story of Science Through 350 Years of the Royal Society by Bill Bryson

119 ratings...and it is definitely an underrated book. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the history of science!

+10 Task
+5 Combo 20.10 [p.2010]

Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 35

Joanna wrote: "15.1 CiV

With the Procession by Henry Blake Fuller, 274 pages, pub. 1894

E-F/261-300/661-700/1892-1904

Just a quick note: I'd never heard of this book or this aut..."
I love it when the challenge introduces us to a book worth reading.

Christmas in Vegas
15.1 The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
104 pgs. Originally published 1896
W-X-Y-Z, 101 - 140, 1892-1904
Task: 15
Grand total: 95

20.6 Bleak House

Bleak House by Charles Dickens 5 stars

I continue to thoroughly enjoy Charles Dickens. This one has as its underlying premise Britain's Court of Chancery. He tells us in his Preface of the real state of that Court, and that there was at the time of writing Bleak House a case that had been in existence for 20 years. In this novel, the fictitious case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce - a case of disputed and conflicting wills - has been in existence beyond the lives of the original litigants. And then Dickens remarks: In Bleak House I have purposely dwelt upon the romantic side of familiar things.

Though there are romances - yes, plural! - it is certainly not what I would call a romance. There is benevolence and parsimony and gentleness and treachery. There are orphans and their guardian. There is a Baronet and his Lady and their long serving staff. There is a lawyer who is the keeper of secrets. Such a broad and varied cast of characters as to make sure there is something for everyone. Somehow Dickens manages to develop even the supporting characters fully enough so the reader doesn't feel as if they are simply one-dimensional.

A word of caution: this is not a novel to pick up when you are tired and in need of sleep. It is the cause of that affliction rather than it's solution.

+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.1 Dickens Lifetime, 20.3 Great Expectations - on both lists!)
+10 Review
+15 Oldie (pub 1853)
+25 Jumbo (read on my Kindle, but most popular edition is 1024 pages)

Task Total = 80

Grand Total = 80

and with this, I'm off to Civ!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "20.6 Bleak House

Bleak House by Charles Dickens 5 stars

I continue to thoroughly enjoy Charles Dickens. This one has as its underlying premise Britain's Court of Chan..."

Hurrah!!! You did it and pretty quickly too! WTG!

10.5 Underrated
Next - James Hynes

A huge shout out to all GR reviewers who mentioned how stellar the last section of the book was. I've had a severe case of reading ADD this year and have abandoned more than my fair share of books because I wasn't enthralled from page one. I might have done it with this book too, but I was encouraged by the "it gets better" theme running through many of the reviews. It did get better, although it wasn't until about halfway through (right around the lunch scene at the mexican restaurant) that I felt like I was fully engaged and invested in the story. And they were right about the ending. Part 3 of this book ripped out my insides, just absolutely gutted me.

+10 task (540 ratings)
+10 review
+5 combo (Task 20.10 - published in 2010)

Task Total = 25 pts
Grand Total = 50 pts

Task 20.8 - Liz M’s Task - Fictional fiction

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett




Review...

An overly optimistic tourist and a wizard who knows just one spell, an unlikely duo though they are, they travel through Discworld, often encountering perilous situations and saving their skin in the nick of time. This is a world where a turtle supports four elephants who support the world. It is a world in which dragons exist only if you believe they do. Strange creatures abound but none is stranger than the Luggage, a wooden box that walks on hundreds of tiny legs and is really like a faithful dog that follows its owner to the end of the world (literally) and whose bite is more ferocious than the fiercest of trolls.

What a funny book! It reminded me of Douglas Adams. I enjoyed the characters and the plot but mostly I enjoyed the Discworld Universe itself. It was so colorful, so vibrant, that it had my imagination fired up. I can’t wait to move ahead in the series, but seeing as it has 39 books, I’m slightly intimidated. But I’m happy to have discovered this series nonetheless.

Looks like Pratchett will soon become a favorite.

+ 20 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.9 - 1st in series )
+ 10 Review
+ 5 Oldies (published in 1983)

Task Total = 40

Grand Total = 75

In Msg 56 -- nsfancy wrote: "10.5 What's your type? INTJ
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (I-T in title)

+10 task ..."

The task number for 'What's your Type?' is 10.7. It doesn't affect the points, but if you're keeping track of the task numbers completed on a spreadsheet, it might make a difference towards the end of the challenge. (If you're shooting for a completion bonus.)

I suspect this is simply a typo, but wanted to point it out just in case it wasn't.

Cheers! -Krista

In Msg 57 -- Rebekah wrote: "15.3 CiV
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox, Jr. 258 pgs Pub. 1906
E-F,221-260/621-660 1905-1916

+25 pts - Task
95 pts - Grand Total

A beautiful ol..."

Hi Rebekah: I see that there isn't much information about this book in the Goodreads database. Did you link to the specific ISBN number for the copy you read? Did it have 258 pages?

Perhaps we can get Elizabeth to use her Librarian powers to at least add the page count information in Goodreads. (?)

Krista wrote: "Perhaps we can get Elizabeth to use her Librarian powers to at least add the page count information in Goodreads. (?) "

I did fix the page count for the one linked, but perhaps Rebekah read one of the editions for this book:

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

In Msg 58 -- Kate S wrote: "RwS Tasks

10.8 Chinese New Year
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang

+10 Task
+5 Combo (20.5-story of the author and family)
+5 Jumbo (508 pages)

..."

Hi Kate:

I'm disallowing the combo points for Task 20.5. For task 20.5, the book should be an autobiography. Wikipedia loosely defines an autobiography as a work that, "typically focuses on the "life and times" of the writer". Since this book focuses on three generations of women in the author's family, I don't think that it really qualifies as an autobiography. Too much of the book is taken up with details of people other than the author.

+10 Task
+5 Combo (20.5-story of the author and family)
+5 Jumbo (508 pages)
.....

Updated Post Total: 110 105
Updated Season Total: 110 105

In Msg 68 -- Audrey wrote: "Task 20.4 - set in 1950s and 60s

The Bad Girl by Mario Vargo Llosa, written in Spanish, published in 2006, translated to English in 2007

Review:
I chose this book because I wanted to read somethi..."

Welcome to the Reading with Style Winter Challenge! If you could add your book title and author using the 'add book/author' link found at the top of the Comment box when you're posting your message that would be helpful. That way your book title and author are added as links. It's easier to access the book and/or author that way if we as scorekeepers need more information about it, and it's easier for other challenge participants to delve into the book information if it looks interesting to them.

The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa

Let us know if you have any questions about how to use the 'add book/author' feature.
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Also when claiming Combo points, please include the task number(s) that the book would also have worked for.

For example instead of:
+ 10(combo- takes place in >2 countries, listed in Crazy Love list)

This is more helpful:
+10 Combo (10.4 #22 Crazy Love list, 20.2 Chile/France)

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I don't mean to sound too picky here. We're glad you joined us! There's just a lot of research that goes into validating the points claimed for each task and the more information you can provide up front, the quicker we can get the tasks scored.

Thanks! -Krista

In Msg 72 -- Leigh wrote: "20.6 Bleak House

The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway (a main character is a lawyer)

Three stories entwined around the opera Tristan und Isolde following: Lucie..."

Hi Leigh:

I don't think that this book qualifies for Task 20.6. Based on your review, there are three main characters, only one of whom is a lawyer. For Task 20.6, the book really needs to focus on the law and/or the legal system. For example if the book features a lawyer, the lawyer needs to be involved in a court case (-- or working with a client, etc.) as a major part of the book.

I don't think that this book has those elements. Please feel free to let me know if it in fact does have those elements as a major feature of the book.

You can certainly claim it for any of the tasks you've used as Combo points. Please repost the book, with the new task number it is being used for and the combo points, etc. You don't need to repost the review. Just remind me that a review was posted in message #72.

Thanks!

In Msg 73 -- Rosemary wrote: "20.2 In honor of A Tale Of Two Cities

50 Reasons to Say Goodbye by Nick Alexander
....
+20 Task (set in the UK and France)
+15 Combo (10.5 Underrated; 10.6 letter X in author surname; 10.7 my type is ISTJ, S and T in title)
+10 Review

Task Total = 45

Grand Total = 130 ..."

Hi Rosemary: Based on the more complete definition of the words that can be used to make the 'type' pairs -- this book should be disallowed for the combo points. ("to" isn't a valid word for pairing.)

But since your points were claimed before Liz made clarification in Msg 74, I'll allow the points.

Note: For those of you who STARTED READING a book for Task 10.7 that would now be disallowed based on the clarified requirements in Liz's message on 12/8 -- let us know that you started reading the book before Liz's update was posted when you claim points for the book. It doesn't seem fair to not let you claim points for a book if the rules for the task changed WHILE YOU WERE READING the book.

20.2 – In honor of A Tale of Two Cities:

France, Italy, Czech Republic in:

The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco

Umberto Eco is one of my favorite authors, although I find him challenging to read. The Prague Cemetery was no exception to either of these statements. Eco takes us back to the time of Napoleon and weaves historical events, both real and created, to tell a story of deceit and intrigue masterminded by one character skilled at forgery. However, the confusion comes early as we hear from a narrator and what appears to be two people and then the multiple personalities of just one man. More surprises are in store for the reader as Eco weaves the threads of his story together as his protagonist travels from Paris to Italy to Prague and back again influencing and unraveling our understanding of history and those factions working for different ends during those turbulent times. I loved the Paris setting since I've had the chance to visit and stand in some of the places where these events took place. Recommended for other Eco fans.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo: 10.5 Underrated (557, 12/10/11) / 20.4 A Christmas Carol (set 1897 – 1898 & earlier, pub 2011) / 20.10 Play the Numbers (2011)
+10 Lost in Translation

Task Total: 55

20.8 – Liz M’s Task – Fictional fiction

The Grimmerie is a fictional book in:

Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

I haven't enjoyed a trip to Oz so much since Wicked began Gregory Maguire's now famous series. Both Son of a Witch and A Lion Among Men were a bit of a let down, but Out of Oz brings everything and everyone still living together and comes complete with the trial of Dorothy, now 16 (still singing, but now annoying everyone with her song about purple mountains and fruited plains), a war between Loyal Oz and Munchkinland and the disappearance of the Grimmerie, the important book of spells which cannot fall into the wrong hands. Lir (the "son of the witch" and Candle's young daughter, Rain, is the central character as she rather reluctantly takes on the legacy passed down to her. I found myself laughing out loud frequently. Maguire's writing is quite clever, particularly his portrayal of Dorothy. It was quite a romp back to Oz!

+20 Task
+10 Review
+20 Combo: 10.5 Underrated (352, 12/10/11) / 10.8 Chinese New Year (the Time Dragon & Battle Dragons) 20.7 Baby it’s Cold Outside (US Author) / 20.10 Play the Numbers (2011)
+5 Jumbo (568 pages)

Task Total: 55

Points this Post: 110
Grand Total: 150

Correcting post #72.
Oh, well.... I hoped Martin would count as a "primary" character. And honestly, with the word "Case" in the title I thought there would be an actual reason for him to be a lawyer at some point. But it really didn't play out that way.

Move it to 20.2 Tale of Two Cities and with 1 combo dropped, I'll move to 50 points. Luckily, I love mysteries, so it'll be fun to find a replacement.

10.2 NYE Countdown
Hour Game by David Baldacci

+10 Task

20.3 Great Expectations
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

+20 Task (Root Canal List)
+10 Combo (10.4-Illicit Love; 20.1 pub 1850)
+15 Oldies (pub 1850)

20.4 Christmas Carol
Night Soldiers by Alan Furst

+20 Task
+15 Combo (10.5-921 Ratings; 10.9-#1 in a series; 20.2-takes place in Bulgaria and Paris)

Post Total: 90
Season Total: 195

10.5 Underrated

Hangman's Holiday by Dorothy L. Sayers

Review:
Dorothy L. Sayers was a master of the Golden Age of detective fiction but just as with her contemporary, Agatha Christie, I think her novels are far better than her short stories. Still, fans cannot ignore the short stories for the sake of completeness. This collection contains 4 Lord Peter Wimsey stories, 6 stories featuring the commercial traveller Montague Egg and two stories without a particular detective. This book was OK as a Sunday afternoon comfort-read but the Lord Peter stories were a little disappointing. I enjoyed meeting Montague Egg who, travelling as he does to customers of his wine merchant employers and staying in country inns, gives an insight into a different aspect of between-the-wars English life.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Oldies (pub. 1933)

Task Total = 30

Grand Total = 235