Reading with Style discussion

10.9 Kate's Task - 11 in '11

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend
187 pps; pub. 1983; 740L

Review:
A really entertaining and funny book! Recommendable for readers of every age! Set in the year 1981 young Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4 years, writes about his everyday life: his imperfect parents, his struggle with puberty (especially the evil spots!) and first love, his literacy ambitions and what a hardship it is to be an intellectual in today's society!
It shows the difficulties a young boy goes through with a somewhat difficult family life, but how educating it can be at the same time. The reader finds out about all the books (more or less suitable for his age) young Adrian reads in 1981. A quite impressive list, though sometimes someone wonders if it is possible to be that quick a reader, e.g. finishing "War and Peace" in two days is very unlikely. But the fact that Adrian puts it down like that in his diary is just charming.
A wonderful book about growing up and taking responsibility.

+ 10 task (her first book)
+ 10 review
+ 5 Oldies (1983)

Task Total = 25

Grand Total = 25

20.7 Baby It's Cold Outside

Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States by Bill Bryson

Mr. Bryson hails from the U.S.

+20 Task

Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 70

15.2 Notorious by Cecily von Ziegesar
275 pages, published 2006

V-W-X-Y-Z, 261-300, 2001-2012

Task Total: 20 pts
Grand Total: 170 pts

15.2 CiV

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, 307 pp, pub 1992.
N-O, 301-340, 1989-2000

+ 20 task points

Grand total: 355 points

15.2 – Christmas in Vegas

1917-1928 C-D 421-460/821-860

Three Soldiers (1921) by John Dos Passos (Paperback, 430 pages)
Impressionistic style of writing, which usually works in this novel. The first half (4*) concerned American soldiers in France during the last year of World War I. Dos Passos showed rather than told about the soldiers’s life. The second half (2*) followed one of the soldiers in the year after the Armistice. It seemed that Dos Passos didn’t trust the readers to *get* his point in the second half if he “showed” what was happening; so in the second half, he “told” it. Over and over and over again. Overall rating: 3*.

Grand Total: 120 + 20 = 140

15.5 Under-rated

Gold Coast by Elmore Leonard 3 stars

With this, I wandered far from my usual faire, and enjoyed myself doing so. It's a pretty much R-rated (language, violence) crime novel set in south Florida with the usual elements of the crime boss, thug, helpless women.

There is no mystery, and the ending isn't entirely unpredictable. But like I said, I enjoyed myself reading this. It would make a thoroughly enjoyable B-movie. Not complete trash, but I couldn't possibly make a steady diet of this genre. Still, I'll be sorely tempted to pick up another Elmore Leonard when I just need to clean my reading palate.

+10 Task (333 ratings)
+ 5 combo (oldie, pub 1980)
+10 Review

Task Total = 25

Grand Total = 140

Note: this was supposed to be a CiV task, but darn it(!) it came up with a shorter page count than GR advertised.

10.5 Under-rated

Macbeth: A Novel by A.J. Hartley and HEWSON DAVID (42 ratings)

I chose this audiobook largely based on the narrator Alan Cumming. I was really taken with the idea of hearing a Scot read a version of Macbeth. I only realized later that this apparently exists exclusively as an audible audiobook. I while I’m familiar with Shakespeare's version and even picked up a couple of direct quotes in the book, I have not read the play. According to the authors’ forward and afterward, this expands into details left to interpretation in the play especially MacBeth and Lady MacBeth motivations and I believe it also expands the timeline. It was entertaining, and I’m curious to go back and read the play at some point. Its quite a bit bloodier than I normally like especially in audio format, but I was expecting that given the inspiration for the story. The narration was also great as I hoped.

+10 task
+10 review
+10 combos: 20.4 (set in 1600’s), 20.10 (pub. 2011)

task total=30
grand total= 115 (edited 12/23 based on error in my total for post 139)

Task 10.9


✔Along Came a Spider by James Patterson




Book 1 of 18 in the Alex Cross Series

REVIEW:

A serial killer wants to make it big. He wants to be famous and for this he kidnaps two children of wealthy parents. This isn’t his first crime. But it’s the crime that gets Alex Cross, a cop and a psychologist, chasing him. As Alex Cross gets closer to this psychopath he realizes that solving the crime isn’t going to be simple, even after the killer is caught. It’s only a matter of time before more revelations come forth. There are many more culprits in the case and Alex will only be baffled in the end.

The book was creepy in places. I liked the parts in which the villain came in or where Cross was involved in the hunt for the kidnapper, but I couldn’t get into some other parts. I didn’t care much about the romance involving Cross and it seemed forced at best. After reading the book I can see why that was important for the plot.

A nice thriller read overall. Personally I like Kiss the Girls better (#2 in Alex Cross series), but this book comes pretty close to it.


+10 Task
+10 Review

Task Total = 20

Grand Total = 110

20.2 In Honor of a Tale of Two Cities
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Takes place in the US and France

Review: This is a fictionalization of the life of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley. It is the story of a romance with a talented and damaged man. It is set in the 20's when Hemingway and other artists lived and worked in post WWI Paris and visited other areas of Europe. I haven't decided whether the writing is intended to reflect Hadley's naive and straightforward personality or if that is the author's style (having never read anything else by her). It seemed at times that McClain was reaching to include known incidents in the story and many times when she introduced a character/personage, the narrative would be interrupted by a paragraph describing the person and I could see the author with a copy of a photo from the time taped up in front of her. But in the end McClain evoked the painful emptiness of a heart crushed from loving a man who "was such an enigma...fine and strong and weak and cruel. An incomparable friend and a son of a bitch."

+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (20.10 published 2011, 20.4 set in the 1920's)
Task Total: 40

Grand Total: 155

10.3 Home for the Holidays

Armistice by Nick Stafford

Review:
A soldier is killed just after the armistice at the end of the First World War. Was it a late attack by the enemy or murder by one of his own side? His fiancée goes to London, determined to find the men who fought with him and get some answers.
This is an engrossing book and I was drawn in immediately. There is not really that much suspense - it's clear from the beginning what happened, the only question is whether it will be provable. There are also some anachronisms - the 'feel' of this book is much more Second World War than First. (The cover picture doesn't help - that is not a 1919 coat.) And it fizzles out at the end. So with all these faults, I think the author must be a great story-teller to keep us gripped so completely.

+10 Task (set in London, where I used to live)
+10 Combo (10.5 Underrated; 20.4 pub. 2009,set 1919)
+10 Review

Task Total = 30

Grand Total = 385

Will the readerboard be updated soon?

15.2 CiV

E-F | 341-380/741-780 | 1905-1916

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford

368pp. p.1914

+20 Task

Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 90

Task 10.1 - Square Peg
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
+10 Task
+10 Oldies (1886)

10.3 - Home for the Holidays
Black Ice: Jill Jackson 3 by Leah Giarratano
Home: Sydney, NSW, AUS

+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.5 - 25 ratings)

20.4 - In honor of A Christmas Carol
Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
Published 1982 and set in WWII Poland (ie. circa 1943-1945)

"For a fictional book, I can't rate it much because it really does not feel like I was reading fiction most of the time. It is basically fiction based on historical facts but written in the feel of non-fiction. Note: Most GR readers have shelved it on History / Non-Fiction but I found it on the Fiction (Literature) shelf at the shop.

It appears that Keneally has done tremendous research into this book and interestingly was put on this path from a chance encounter at a luggage shop in a Sydney suburb. And obviously, there was so much details that he was squeezing in that at times, I felt like it's not going anywhere but in the end, it all wrapped up neatly.

I have enjoyed this book mostly because I can appreciate the fact that whilst there are unspeakable evils in this world, there are still those who will try their best to make it better. Can't say that I like Oskar Schindler personally (am a big believer in fidelity) but applauded him for his 'war' effort."

+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (20.10 - 1982)
+5 Oldies (1982)

20.10 - Sam’s Task - Play the numbers
The Final Confessions of Mabel Stark by Robert Hough
Published 2001

"Wow... It was just so blunt, it was very confronting. In a way, this actually reinforced the point of the character of the narrator.

It is a confession of Mabel Stark therefore, of course, the narrator is Mabel Stark. Right of the first bat, I was confronted with just how completely un-abashed she was about sex. There is none of those Victorian reserve, no siree... The book is not erotic. Far from it, she was as open as she can be without being vulgar. Of the way she puts things into perspective was just a complete riot. Though the book itself isn't about sex but I found that it formed a big impression on me for all the reasons set out above.

It is an educated guess of ""autobiographical account"" of the life of Mabel Stark. Now that I've finished the book, her life was as ""normal"" as one can get (ups & downs) but on the outset, with her mental illness not having been recognised or treated property was the saddest bit. And again, this was not unusual at the time.

The story is narrated by the older Mabel Stark (ie. present time) and chapters were formed of flashbacks in time which were mostly chronological. I am just blown away by her resourcefulness, talent, and most of all, character and wish that I personally know her as a friend. In a way, I now feel that I do. "

+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (20.4 - set in 1968 mostly and 10.5 - 475 ratings)

Total this post: 115 points
Total to date: 215 points

Kazza wrote: "Task 20.1 - Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
+20 Task
+10 Oldies (1886)"

As this book was originally published in 1886, it does not fit this task. Books must have been published in Dickens' lifetime of 1812-1870. I think it fits 10.1 Square Peg, though, so you can still claim it. You can still edit your post if you want to do that.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Kazza wrote: "Task 20.1 - Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
+20 Task
+10 Oldies (1886)"

As this book was originally publish..."

OMG, that's like the dumbest mistake ever! Shall I blame it on Monday-itis? *sigh* it didn't feel like I just had a weekend :p

Post edited!!

Kazza wrote: "OMG, that's like the dumbest mistake ever! Shall I blame it on Monday-itis? *sigh* it didn't feel like I just had a weekend :p

Post edited!!"

It's still a lazy Sunday afternoon, here. I'm sure that must be what was the problem. ;-)

CiV
15.1 "The Slippery Slope" by Lemony Snickett This book had 337pp.
S-T-U|301-340/701-740|2000-2012

Task: 15
Grand Total:115

This is my first post for this group - hopefully I do it correctly!


20.1 Charles Dickens

Emma by Jane Austen

+20 Task (published in 1815)
+ 5 Combo (10.4 Love is in the Air)
+15 Oldie (pub 1815)

Task Total = 40

20.7 Baby It’s Cold Outside

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

+20 Task (Author is from the United States)

Task Total = 20


Grand Total = 60

(Edited to correct my addition!)

Task RWS: 20.7 - Elizabeth (Alaska)’s Task - Baby it's cold outside
Read a book where the author is from a country of which at least part is above the arctic circle:

United States

Something Missing (2009) by Matthew Dicks
Review: An obsessive-compulsive young man is also a thief in this debut novel by Matthew Dicks. He’s a successful thief because of his thorough examination of the houses he thieves from; and, also, because he seeks to take only items that the homeowners would not miss. Therefore, he’ll steal a roll of toilet paper from one place, a dinner plate from another place, a cup of laundry detergent from a third place, etc., etc. He inherited his paid-for house from his mother, and works part-time at Starbucks for the health insurance, and gets his living items by, well, the method described above. It was really interesting reading about how he went about it … the first 3 or 4 times. Then I was tempted to start skimming. Fortunately, later in the novel, the novel moves on to other issues; specifically, changes in our hero’s life and how our hero deals with the changes. I’d recommend this one for readers looking for an offbeat novel, and for people who liked the TV show Monk.

+20 Task
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):

Task Total: 20 + 10 = 30

Task 20.10 - Sam’s Task - Play the numbers “1” and ”2”: 2011

The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady (2011) by Elizabeth Stuckey-French
Review: The best thing about The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady is the title. The second best thing about the novel is the cover:

The third best thing is the first chapter of the novel, wherein our heroine describes how she was given a radioactive cocktail by her doctor in the 1950s as part of a secret government study, its affects on her life, and her plans for revenge. Cool and off-beat beginning – so far, so good. The novel then, surprisingly, segues into yet another novel about life in the suburbs, featuring incipient dementia, mid-life crisis, insincere “religious” people, high-functioning (or mis-diagnosed?) children with Asperger's syndrome, etc. Some of the scenes were meant to be humorous, although I did not find them so. The ending --- which I will not spoil --- was lame. I wouldn’t recommend this one.

+ 20 Task
+ 10 Style: 1. Combo (5 points each)(also fits: 10.5(underrated), 10.6(Z))
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):

Task Total: 20 + 10 + 10 = 40

Grand Total: 140 +30 + 40 =210

10.6 The Uncommon Letter (Q, X, Z)

Irre - Wir behandeln die Falschen: Unser Problem sind die Normalen - Eine heitere Seelenkunde by Manfred Lütz
208 pps; pub. 2009

Review:
"Maniacs! We're treating the wrong people. Our problem are the normal ones." is a book from a German Psychologist, who writes about the different psychological and neurological illnesses. He points out how wrong people often get about his patients and that they are sometimes more "normal" than self-declared "normal people". There are more aspects to a mental illness and one does not necessarily have to be all bad. Really bad are only those that hurt others and oneself - and those usually have a good chance of being treaty properly, but with care.
Generally he tries to show that a mental illness is not necessarily a handicap and should be tried to understand correctly. Society shouldn't be afraid of people behaving differently, because they are a necessary, colorful addition to the trend of an overtaking uniformity.

+ 10 task
+ 10 review
+ 5 Combo (10.5 Underrated, on the German lovelybooks as well)

Task Total = 25

Grand Total = 50

Task 20.9 Take the High Road - The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

So when this book began, I noticed some similarites between it and The Shadow of the Wind, his first novel. Those similarities ended quickly and I was caught up with the story and enjoying it immensely…until I’d say about 100 pages left where I started to get confused. The plot was intricately woven with many characters from both the past and the present but somewhere along the way I got lost and I’m still looking for the way out. I’m not quite sure that I “got” the ending and maybe it’s because I missed something, I’m not sure. Don’t let that dissuade you from reading this book however. Enjoyable and entertaining full of mystery and intrigue.

+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.4 - book set in early 1900's, 10.6)
+10 Review
+10 Lost in Translation
+5 Jumbo (over 500 pages)

Task Total=55
Grand Total=105

20.9 Take the High Road

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver

The reader for the unabridged audiobook did a great job with all of the voices except for the voice of Turtle, the six year old child whose story this is. For whatever reason, the reader decided to give Turtle a weird, mopey voice that was distracting every time Turtle had something to say. Luckily, Turtle doesn't talk much in this book.

The book continues the story that Kingsolver started in The Bean Trees and makes a run at looking at white adoption of Native American children and the different perspectives of Native American tribes compared to mainstream white society. While the issue was discussed with a fair bit of sensitivity, I found the characters and their lives slightly too convenient, allowing the book to reach a reasonably nice resolution without having to pick sides.

Overall, I wanted more from this book, from these characters, and from the plot generally. I never felt connected enough to Taylor, the white adoptive mother of this tale, to feel for her as she tries to go into hiding with her daughter rather than face a potential court battle. I didn't end up feeling connected to her struggle to survive as a single mother, even though I thought it was realistically depicted.

I'm glad to have completed the story of Taylor and Turtle that I started in the previous book, but I wouldn't recommend this as a stand-alone novel.

+20 Task
+5 Combo (20.10 - originally published 1992)
+10 Review

Task total: 35

Grand total: 105

Joanna wrote: "20.9 Take the High Road

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver

The reader for the unabridged audiobook did a great job with all of the voices except for the voice of Tur..."

Thanks for this review! I don't think I realized this was a continuation of the story from The Bean Trees.

Amy W wrote: "This is my first post for this group - hopefully I do it correctly!


20.1 Charles Dickens

Emma by Jane Austen

+20 Task (published in 1815)
+ 5 Combo (10.4 Love is..."

Amy, this is fine, except for the addition on Emma, which should be only 40 points. Our scorekeeper will catch it, and you'll want to know where the discrepancy lies when she gets a different total.

CIV
15.2: The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes, 224 pgs, pub 1913
L-M, 221-260/621-660, 1905-1916

+ 20 Task Points

Total Task Points- 20

20.8- Fictional fiction
I read The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Review:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a beautiful, eye opening novel about a very turmoil, yet up lifting part of America’s history. The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960’s. The story is told by three different yet strong female characters who are experiencing different aspects of life in America during that time but are all tied together by the relationship between the help and the people who hire them.

Kathryn Stockett’s writing is strong and enchanting at some parts and long-winded in others. But the overall feel and flow of the novel is one that I enjoyed.

I wanted to give this novel 4 ½ stars but that is not allowed so I tipped the scales upwards and gave it 5 stars. I did this as I would recommend this novel to everyone I know as I think we can all learn from the story and understand a bit better what was happening during the freedom movement. I also cried severally times while reading this novel (on public transit no less) and anything that can move me that much deserve the rating in my eyes.

Side note; I watched the movie for this first and then had to start reading the novel immediately afterwards to compare. I personally really enjoyed both individually and up until the last few chapters of the novel actually liked the movie better. But in the end the story came together and now I think I like the novel better.

+20 Task (The Help)
+15 Combo [20.4 (1962); 20.3 (#15 exceeded expectations list); 20.7 (US)]
+10 Review

Task Total = 45

New Grand Total: 115

Oops, sorry to make a dumb addition mistake on my first post! Thanks for catching it. Do I need to edit my original post?

Amy W wrote: "Oops, sorry to make a dumb addition mistake on my first post! Thanks for catching it. Do I need to edit my original post?"

You can if you wish - it probably would make it smoother all around. And don't worry about the addition error, you'll have company. ;-)

10.6 The Uncommon Letter

Becoming sage by Kasi Alexander

This book is exactly the type of thoughtful romance/erotica that I like to read. The book examines with sensitivity and clear real life experience a woman delving into a polyamorous and kinky relationship for the first time. The characters suffer from realistic anxieties and jealousy, deal (at least a tiny bit) with outside family and friends, and make realistic decisions about how to behave. While I would have liked even more details about how the participants were going to handle routine matters like finances and future security, and occasionally felt like the book was hitting me over the head with moralizing about the nature of the relationship, I generally only have positive things to say about this one.

Clearly, only a book for those interested in reading about alternative relationships and not squeamish about reading detailed sex scenes, but definitely top of the genre for what it is.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.5 - only 33 ratings; 20.10 - published 2011)

Task total: 30
Grand total: 135

Joanna wrote: "20.10 Play the Numbers

Becoming sage by Kasi Alexander
Published in 2011.

This book is exactly the type of thoughtful romance/erotica that I like to read. The bo..."

+ 5 combo 10.6 The uncommon letter

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Joanna wrote: "20.10 Play the Numbers

+5 combo 10.6"

Ohh, good catch. I'm going to edit my post above to switch it to 10.6 since I hadn't come up with a clear plan for that one yet.

RwS 10.9 11 in '11
First book in a series by an author who has written more than eleven books


The Camel Club by David Baldacci

+10 Task

20.10 Play the Numbers
Book first published in 2011

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark

+20 Task

CiV 15.2

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank 283 pages; first published 1947
E-F; 261-300 1941-1952

+20 Task

Post Total: 50
Season Total: 300

(my native language is dutch, so sorry for the bad english :$)

Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley

It's long ago since i've read a fantasy book. After the popular television series "game of thrones" i was excited again for reading
Martin-like fantasy. Ruckey did his best but didn't came that close to it. However he tried to make the politic-system interesting...
I didn't feel i wasted my time tough. It was an entertaining simple story, able to keep my attention. I assume that the greatest fantasy writers
gain their succes by the originality in their world. Ruckley has used some wellknown beenthere-donethat motives, but it didn't bother me that much.
I loved the idea of war over a religion, a realistic point of view instead of the regular bad guys gone even badder scenario. I gave winterbirth 3 stars.
Not because it's outstanding, it's not to be all clear. But it deserved that 3 points for doing an excellent job making the two opposites sides gray and not the usual
good versus bad.

+10 Task (10.5 underrated)
+10 review
+10 lost in translation
+5 jumbo

Task total= 35
Grand Total= 35WinterbirthBrian Ruckley

Soren wrote: "(my native language is dutch, so sorry for the bad english :$)

Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley...."

Soren,

Welcome to RwS! From my point of view, your English is flawless, so much better than my inability to speak any foreign languages!

I believe you have already claimed points for Winterbirth in post 122 (in fact this looks like an exact copy of that post)? There is no need to repost to ensure your points; the scorekeepers are a little behind (the holidays have been keeping us extra busy these past few weeks), but hopefully we will get caught up soon.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

CiV Tasks:

15.1 – 15 points:

The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald / 416 pgs. /1922

E-F / 381-420/781-820 / 1917-1928

+15 Points

15.2 – 20 points:

Jakob von Gunten by Robert Walser/176 pgs./ 1909

V-W-X-Y-Z / 141-180/541-580 / 1905-1916

+20 Points

Points this post: 35
Grand Total: 270

I'm a newbie to this group so here goes:

20.1 Published in Charles Dickens' Lifetime - Pride and Prejudice

+20 Task (pub 1813)
+15 Oldies (pub 1813)
+5 Combo (20.3 Great Expectations on the Exceed Expectations List)
+5 Combo (10.4 Love is in the Air - on Great Love Stories List)

Total 20+15+5+5 = 45

15.1 Bossypants by Tina Fey, 277 p, pub in 2011
(E-F; 261-300/661-700; 2001-2012)

Task Total = 15 points

Grand Total = 75 points

Love seeing new members here. Welcome!

15.2 A Burnt-Out Case by Graham Greene 199p., originally published 1960
(G-H; 181-220/581-620; 1953-1964)
+20 Task
Thank you for introducing me to another author I haven't read before.
Previous Total: 155
Grand Total: 175

15.2 The Petty Demon by Fyodor Sologub, 355 p, pub in 1907

S-T-U/341-380/741-780/1905-1916

My review

+20 Task

Grand total: 155

Task 20.2 - In honor of A Tale of Two Cities, read a book that takes place in at least two different countries.

The Big Four (Hercule Poirot #5) (1927) by Agatha Christie takes place in (England, France)
Review: The Big Four is different from Christie’s other Hercule Poirot novels. In chapter one, we hear about a group referred to as “The Big Four”, diabolical international masterminds whose aim is world domination. This group is led by an inscrutable Chinaman and includes a seductive Frenchwoman. Poirot is set on the trail of the Big Four through the circumstance of a man being murdered in his house. The style is jumpy, which I found explained when I read online that parts of this novel began as short stories in various mystery magazines. While there are flashes of Poirot’s “little grey cells” brilliance, most of the novel is a rehash of 1920s fears and stereotypes (evil Chinamen in power! Unnatural women studying science!). If this had been my first Agatha Christie novel, I would not have read any others. 1 *

Re: 20.8 Fictional Fiction: Chapter XII lists the titles of books that Hercule Poirot notices at Hasting’s place: 5 titles, all of which I believe to be fictional. I researched one of the five, ”The Clue of Crimson” and it isn't listed anywhere as an actual novel.

+ 20 Task: Read a book that takes place in at least two different countries. (England, France)
+ 10 Style: 1. Combo (5 points) (also fits 20.8 (fictional fiction), 20.10 “1” and ”2”)
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):
+ 10 Style: 4. Oldies (5 to 25 points): -76 to 150 years old: 10 points (1861-1935)

Task Total: 20 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 50

Grand Total: 210 + 50 = 260

10.9 11 in 11- I read Lemony Snickett's "The Grim Grotto".

Task + 10
Style + 10 Review
This is the 11th book in the series of Unfortunate Events. For those who don't know, it is about the Baudelaire orphans. Their parents died in a fire and ever since have been trying to find out about the V.F. D. the secret organization their parents were a part of. This time, they explore an underground cave in hopes it will get them closer to their happy ending. One of the things I like about this series is the vocabulary. You learn pretty accurate definitions. I have used the first book when I taught LD students to read because it was at their reading level and it was a fun way to learn new words in the book.

Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 135

20.6 In honor of Bleak House

Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

Review:
If like me you have grown up with the idea that all American lawyers are as rich as the young men in John Grisham's early novels, Black Water Rising will disabuse you. Jay Porter is a struggling black lawyer in oil-rich Houston in 1981, with a pregnant wife and a troubled personal history from his student days in the civil rights movement. When he pulls a woman out of the river, he should know better than to get involved...
I loved some aspects of this book, especially the insight that it gave into certain aspects of recent American history. The descriptions were very good and the plot was convincing. The weak point for me was the characterisation. I wasn't sure why Jay was doing a lot of the things that he did.

+20 Task (main character is a lawyer)
+10 Combo (10.5 Underrated; 20.4 pub.2009, set 1981)
+10 Review

Task Total = 40

Grand Total = 425

Task 10.7 What's Your Type?

My type was INFJ....I read The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson (N-J).

+ 10 points

+ 5 combo points for 10.5 Underrated (982 ratings...WHEW! just made that!)

My Review:
I am really beginning to enjoy this series more! I was not as into the first installment as I had hoped, but the second book gave me a better feel for the characters. There were lots of things going on in this book, but I liked that it picked up right where book 1 left off! The characters are a group of racially and really, spiritually, diverse women who find a common thread: prayer! They are as unlikely a group of friends as you would ever see. In this book there is an armed robbery that takes place during one of the prayer meetings and they end up witnessing to the intruder (WAYYY after the fact, of course)…so, I look forward to seeing if she is a recurring character in the series. There are also some racial issues that the characters in this book deal with and they are well-written and I really liked the way the author tied everything together at the end….not all roses, but realistically done.

+ 10 points
= Task total: 25

GRAND TOTAL: 250 POINTS

Deana wrote: "+ 5 combo points for 10.5 Underrated (982 ratings...WHEW! just made that!) ..."

LOL, I have one of those, too. Maybe I should get right after it!

CiV
A-B, 2001-2012, 421-460

15.3 Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold, pub 2008, 438 pages

Task Total = 25 points

Grand Total = 165


my review

RwS Tasks:

10.1 – Square Peg

Cat and Mouse by Günter Grass

It's been many years since I read and loved the story of The Tin Drum by Gunther Grass. I've wanted to continue the trilogy for quite a while, almost fit it in during the fall challenge and then got a chance to carry it over into winter as the "square peg". I enjoyed this shorter character study of Danzig during WWII. It was a window into the experience of a small group of adolescents and their identities as they grew into young men. Joachim Mahlke is the hero of the boys because he is unique and stands apart from them. He has a large protruding Adam's apple (known to them as the "mouse" ) and dives into an abandoned submerged ship to bring up small treasures. Our hero remains one throughout his time away fighting the war, but society still does not seem to have a place for him. A great story and a poignant on for The Great Mahlke and his friend, the narrator.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Lost in Translation
+ 5 Oldies: 1961, 25 to 75 years old: (1937-1987)
Task Total: 35

20.1 – Charles Dickens

The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

I have always been intrigued by the Salem witch trials and already read a short nonfiction book on the subject this season. I wanted to read some more works connected to this Salem experience and so I decided on Hawthorne’s follow-up to The Scarlet Letter about the house and its family cursed by an accused witch, The House of Seven Gables. I enjoyed the beginning chapters that set the scene and background of the house and the Pynchon family. Then I felt that the book dragged for awhile and it was hard to keep my concentration on the story. It then picked up again as some new characters entered the scene and the curse again came to light. The book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but overall I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading Hilary Jordan’s retelling of The Scarlet Letter, When She Woke, to round out my witch trial related reading.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Oldies: 1850 - 151 to 250 years old: 15 points (1762-1861)
Task Total: 45

20.7 – Elizabeth (Alaska)’s Task – Baby it’s cold outside

US Author: Alaska, The Iditarod

Black Star, Bright Dawn by Scott O'Dell Lexile 670

I was glad to find this little gem that takes place in the part of the US that actually is above the arctic circle!

+20 Task
Task Total: 20

CiV Task:

15.3 – 25 points:

The Night the White Deer Died by Gary Paulsen / 112 pgs. / 1978 / 1250 L

P-Q-R / 101-140/501-540 / 1977-1988

Task Total: 25

Points this Post: 125
Grand Total: 395

15.3 The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, published 1944

V-W-X-Y-Z/101-140/501-540/1941-1952

Note: I actually listened to an audio recording of this play, but the most common edition seems to have 105 pages; the second and third most common editions seem to have 115 pages.

+25 Task

Grand total: 180

10.2 - NYE countdown
Watch the World Burn: Jill Jackson 4 by Leah Giarratano

"I really don't know what to say... I was very upset with the way ""things"" turned out and it's very rare that a book provoke such a strong emotion in me so I don't particularly know whether that was a success or failure. I'm going to say it's a failure cuz I don't want to read further into the series no matter how I actually liked Jill Jackson (character). :(

The mystery plot in this book I actually liked but the overall going-ons which span the series, I am cursing! I’m stopping my ‘review’ here because it’s just turning out to be a gripe-session for the one incident in the book. I think it’s enough to show how very very very upset I am."

+10 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (20.10 - pub. 2010 / 10.5 - 17 ratings / 10.3 - Sydney, NSW, AUS)

10.8 - Karen's Task - Chinese New Year
After the Quake by Haruki Murakami
Japanese Author

+10 Task
+10 Lost In Translation

15.1 CiV (E-F; 261-300/661-700; 1892-1904)
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin.
296 pages / Pub. 1901

+15 Task

20.2 - In honor of A Tale of Two Cities
The Traveler:Fourth Realm 1 by John Twelve Hawks
Around US and Prague & London

"I try not to think too much of whether someone it tracking me everytime I used my credit cards or through my FB account OR from my iPhone. Big Brother is always watching…

The Brethern believes that when people believes they are being watched constantly that they will behave whether or not they are actually being watched. They are in continuous effort to control the world's population.

In opposition to the Tabula aka the Brethren are the Traveler (believed to be extinct, thanks to the Tabula) and the Harlequins (close to being extinct) who chose to protect the Travelers. This book follows the journeys of two brothers, Michael and Gabriel, sons of known Traveler and a Harlequin, Maya.

I love how Maya just kicks ass and yet so very vulnerable and fragile at the same time. It is definitely a thriller seeing that continuous surveillance makes one paranoid, you continue to wonder are they being watched? Will they be caught soon and how? Am definitely going to read the next book but I'm giving it a bit of time in between cuz the paranoia is catching up with me, ha ha ha..."

+20 Task
+10 Review

Total this post: 100 points
Total to date: 315 points

20.3 - In honor of Great Expectations, a book that seems to be either beloved or despised

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

+20 Task
+5 Combo(10.4 - Love Is in the Air)
+20 Oldies (Published 1749)
+15 (851 pages)

Total Points: 60

Grand Total: 75

Tobey wrote: "20.8 Fictional Fiction - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (20.10, 10.9) ..."

The original publication date for this book is 2000, so it does not qualify for 20.10 combo points, unfortunately.