Reading with Style discussion

Task 20.5 - Read an autobiographical novel included on this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category...

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (1971) by Judith Kerr (Paperback, 192 pages) (YA) (Lexile Score: 940L)
Review: Judith Kerr was born in Berlin in 1923 to a secular Jewish family. Ten years later, in 1933, she and her family fled Germany for Switzerland. During the next two years, the family moved to Paris, France, and then finally to England. This is Kerr’s first novel. It’s a fictionalized story of her life 1933-1935. The story flows smoothly from event to event, making this a quick read. Even when there are scary times, and even when there is no money, the children find a way to play and be kids. Kerr has successfully captured how children think, and how children spend their days.

The title didn’t have much to do with the novel. It was a catchier title than Goodbye to Berlin or The Holocaust Kid, so it did its’ job of getting people's attention. (And there was a pink rabbit in the novel!) Recommended.

+20 Task
+ 10 Style: 1. Combo (5 points) (also fits: 20.2 (Germany, Switzerland, France), 20.4 (written 1971, set 1933-1935))
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):
+ 05 Style: 4. Oldies (5 to 25 points): -25 to 75 years old: 5 points (1936-1986)

Task Total: 20 + 10 + 10 + 05 = 45

Grand Total: 535 + 45 = 580

20.10 Playing The Numbers
"Sizzling Sixteen" by Janet Evanovich
Published 2011
Review
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Task +20
Style +15(Rview,10.7 EJ)
Book Title: 35
Grand Total:330

Task 10.9: 11 in '11

I read "A" is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (1st in a series)

REVEIW:
I've wanted to read this series for a couple of years and now that I've started it, I'm certainly glad I did. It was a quick and easy read. The action moved along quickly and I like that. It was written in the early 1980s and I had forgotten about no cell phones or computers. She had an answering service which made me smile because I remembered when that was a big deal. Kinsey is a sharp, independent woman who knows how to get her culprit. In this first book of the series, Kinsey solves an old murder case that was pinned on the wife. I was trying to piece together the clues myself, but wasn't expecting the twist that actually brought the murderer to light. I'm looking forward to reading through this alphabet series.

+10:task
+10:review
+5: oldie (pub 1982)
+25:task total

RwS TOTAL: 160

20.1 Charles Dickens

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

+20 Task [Book published in 1844]
+5 Jumbo [598pp.]
+15 Oldie
+10 Lit [French]
+15 Combo
-10.6 [Alexandre]
-20.4 [Looks back over 200 years]
-20.2 [France, and London, England]

Task Total: 65
Grand Total: 215

Task 20.3: "Exceeds expectations list"

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Review:

In this first instalment of a wonderful series, Rowling introduces her protagonist, Harry Potter, an ordinary boy living with his aunt, uncle and cousin after the death of his parents. At the age of 11, Harry discovers a world he didn’t know existed; a world a witches, wizards and magic. What’s more is Harry is a part of this world. But he is no ordinary wizard. He is famous for defeating an evil, dark wizard Voldemort, when Harry was only a baby. Harry is going to discover some secrets: about his parents, his fame and Voldemort. He’s also going to discover some great friends and a few rivals.

After reading this book for the nth time, I’m still fond of it as ever. I love how Hermione comes across as a bossy, know-it-all, irritating character but eventually turns out to be this wonderful friend. She’s one of my favourite characters of the book and I enjoy how the friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione blossoms.

Feels good to be reading through the series once again.

+ 20 Task
+ 5 Combo (task - 20.8)
+ 10 Review

Task Total = 35

Grand Total = 235

15.5 CiV

C-D | 221-260/621-660 | 1989-2000

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat

234pp. p.1994

+35 Task

Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 250

CiV
15.7
G-H, 261-300, 1941-1952

Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton, 281 pages, pub 1941

+55 task

Grand Total = 370

my review

CiV
15.1
C-D, 341-380/741-780 , 2001-2012

Crossed by Ally Condie, 367 pages, pub 2011.

+15 task

Grand Total = 135

I do not think I have used this one yet....please forgive me if I have; I can't find it posted anywhere!

Task 10.1 Square Peg

I read Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. (Author is from England and her initials do not fit my type for 10.7)

+ 10 points

My review:

This was a very light read. If you have read Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, you will feel a very strong sense of recognition here. The main character Emma is definitely reminiscent of the main character Becky in that series. In this book, Emma finds herself seemingly in a situation where death is imminent. She finds herself sharing all of her most embarrassing secrets with the stranger sitting next to her on the plane….Well, guess what? They survive and now all of her secrets have been exposed. Well, so what, he’s a stranger, right? WRONG! He turns out to be the owner of the marketing company she works for….you can just guess how it goes from there. If you want a fun, light read, this one is great. There is lots of humor, love, flirting, and of course, that lovely British culture!

+ 10 points

= 20 task points

GRAND TOTAL: 500 ( I think)

Task 20.5 Autobiography

I read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

+ 20 points

+ 5 combo points (10.6 uncommon letter "z")

My review:

This book was not at all what I was expecting. I was really expecting to learn more about the Mennonite culture. Although there was a very informative section in the back of the book, this was not the focus of the story. The story is about a 43 year old woman who is left by her husband for someone he met on gay.com and she decides to go back home to her Mennonite family. I have read a lot about other cultures, and I have to say that I was surprised with the relationships and the way these family members interact. I guess I was expecting a stricter culture or something more along the Amish lines with stricter rules, etc. If you want a read just for enjoyment of the situation, the book is ok, but if you are expecting to learn a lot about the Mennonite culture, I would suggest another avenue.

+ 10 points
= 35 task points

GRAND TOTAL: 535

15.7 CiV
The Secret of Santa Vittoria by Robert Crichton published 1966, 447 pgs.
C-D; 421-460/821-860; 1965-1976
My Review

+55 Task
Previous Total: 310
Grand Total: 365

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

+20 task
+5 combo (10.8 - dragon)
+5 oldie (pub 1937)

task total 30"

+5 combo for 20.8 Fictional Fiction.

Alicia wrote: "Task 10.5 Under-rated
Witch Hunt

Good story as far as following a family all the way through history. You were able to see the good that began the family and how over time power ca..."

Unfortunately your review is seven words shy of the 100 word minimum. If you have another sentence you could add, please do so and re-post the expanded text of your review to earn the +10 review points.

Deana wrote: "10.6 Uncommon Letter

I read Dreaming in English by Laura Fitzgerald (Letter "Z").

+ 10 points
+ 5 Combo 20.10 (published in 2010 and 2011)
+ 5 Combo 20.2 (more than one country: USA/IRAN/PERSIA)
+5 Combo 10.5 (257 ratings)
=35 task points .."

I think you have a math error here: 10+5+5+5 = 25 points Oops, nevermind.

Anika wrote: "20.2 Tale of Two Cities

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

+20 Task (mainly US and England)
+10 Review
+10 Combo
-10.3 Home for the Holidays (NYC)
-20.10 Play the Numbers (pub. 2011)..."

This book is not eligible for combo points for 10.3 -- for task 10.3, the book must take place entirely in one location.

Liz M wrote: "Deana wrote: "10.6 Uncommon Letter

I read Dreaming in English by Laura Fitzgerald (Letter "Z").

+ 10 points
+ 5 Combo 20.10 (published in 2010 and 2011)
+ 5 Combo 2..."


Hi, Liz, I think you might have missed the 10 points for the review....10 (task) + 10 review + 15 combo = 35 points??

The review and + 10 is showing up on mine...sorry if I did something wrong in posting format!

Ashley wrote: "Task 20.4 Christmas Carol

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

+20 Task (Set in the late 1800s to early 1900s)
+5 Combo (20.2 Tale of Two Cities-Set in England and US)
+5 Combo (20.10 Play the numbers-Published in 2011)
+10 Review

Task Total = 40..."

I am giving you +5 combo points for 20.7-US author. (Each country can be claimed once for task points and once for combo points).

Deana wrote: "Liz M wrote: "Deana wrote: "10.6 Uncommon Letter

I read Dreaming in English by Laura Fitzgerald (Letter "Z").

+ 10 points
+ 5 Combo 20.10 (published in 2010 an..."

Crap. I was wondering why you had +10 points listed twice, once above the review and once below.....

It does help if all the points are posted in the same place & are labeled, in case I happen to be updating on auto-pilot (or while sipping a hot toddy....)

Sorry for the confusion!

Norma wrote: "20.1 Play the numbers
Fatal Error (Ali Reynolds #6) by JA Jance - 2011

Fatal Error

20 points..."

+5 combo for 10.5-Underrated.

Marie wrote: "20.2 - Tale of Two Cities
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
UK, Japan

+ 20 Task
+ 5 Combo : 20.8
Task Total = 25..."

+5 combo for 10.7 - ESFJ

Marie wrote: "20.8 - Liz M’s Task - Fictional fiction
The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
+ 20 Task
Task Total = 20..."

+5 combo for 10.7 - ESFJ

Marie wrote: "20.10 - Sam’s Task - Play the numbers
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Published in 2011

+ 20 Task
+ 15 Combo : 20.7 (USA), 20.4, 20.2
Task Total = 30..."

20 + 15 = 35 Task total

Don wrote: "Task 20.2 In honor of A Tale of Two Cities...

Day of Infamy by Walter Lord, 254 ratings

+10 task
+5 combo(10.5 underrated)
+5 oldies (pub. 1957)
Task total = 20

Grand total = 65"

For each task, the number preceding the decimal is how many points a task is worth, so all 20.x tasks are worth 20 points.

+5 combo points for 20.7-US author

Kazza wrote: "20.7 - Elizabeth (Alaska)’s Task - Baby it's cold outside
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest: Millenium 3 by Stieg Larsson

+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Lost in Translation
+5 Jumbo..."

+5 combo 20.10 - Play the Numbers, the book was published in 2010.

Don wrote: "Task 10.1 Square Peg

Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon, 3,728 ratings, 304 pgs, 2003 pub.

+10 task
Task Total =10

Grand Total = 75"

As Elizabeth (Alaska) mentioned, this book qualifies for task 20.7 - US Author and therefore cannot be used for task 10.1 - Square Peg. So, I have recorded it for task 20.7 - US author, which gives you 10 more points than you posted for this book.

Kate S wrote: "RCiV
15.7 Maria by Eugenia Price

P-Q-R; 381-420; 1977-1988

+55 Task..."

The linked edition has 432 pages. At the moment, I have recorded this task as using the 421-460 pages category (you hadn't used it yet).

Please let me know which edition (ISBN number) you read.

Karen GHHS wrote: "10.10 – Group Reads

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

+10 Task
+10 Review
+ 5 Oldies (1962)

Task Total: 25..."

+5 combo 20.10 - Play the Numbers

Elaine wrote: "Task 10.4 Love is in the air

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

+ 10 Task (List: Great Love Stories)
+ 5 Combo (10.8 Chinese New Year)

Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 15"

+5 combo 20.7 - US author

Tobey wrote: "20.10 Play the Numbers - The Fall by Guillermo del Toro

+20 Task (published in 2010)
+10 Review

Task Total=30
Grand Total=135 pts ..."

In post 205, your Grand Total was 125, +30 points in post 313 = 155 points.

Kelly wrote: "+20 (set in 1787)
+5 combo (10.6 The Uncommon Letter)
+10 Oldies (1905)
+10 Review
Task Total: 45
Grand Total: 70 ..."

In post 305, your Grand Total was 35 points, +45 points in this post is 80 points.

10.10 Group Reads

Krista's Pick

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Generally, I tend to avoid classic books (I may have mentioned this before) due to slogging through long descriptions, trying to find bits of plot and action (Frankenstein anyone? :P). However, I have always found carnivals, circuses, and fairs interesting and do have a taste for the macabre as well so I thought I would give this book a shot (also the synopsis sounded interesting). Overall, I would have to rate this book 3.5 out of 5. The plot was good and the first half of the novel flowed quite well. Charles' thoughts and the descriptions were well written, however some of the metaphors I struggled with and I found the back 3rd of the book slower to get through. Because the book was written 50 years ago, I found Will and Jim to be a bit unrelatable. Will's naivete got to be annoying at times, and Jim I found to be cold, and in some way just using Will rather than a true friend. I have some memories of having that kind of freedom as a child, however I was never that outdoorsy explorer type of kid, nor was I a boy, so perhaps that increases the distance as well. I would recommend it to other people, but it wasn't my favorite book, and I probably wouldn't read it again. I think I preferred it to Fahrenheit 451.

+10 Task
+5 Combo 20.10 published 1962
+10 Review
+5 Oldies

Task Total: 30 pts
Grand Total: 405pts

Liz M wrote: "Kate S wrote: "RCiV
15.7 Maria by Eugenia Price

P-Q-R; 381-420; 1977-1988

+55 Task..."

The linked edition has 432 pages. At the moment, I have recorded this task as using the 421-460 pages cate..."

Hi Liz,

The edition I read had 416 pages. Here is the correct link:

Maria

20.2 A Tale of Two Cities
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
set in Italy, India, Indonesia

Review: It seems that Eat Pray Love is one of these books that is either regarded life changing or absolutely unbearable trash. For me, it was just an entertaining read. Elizabeth Gilbert has a very seductive narrator’s voice, and she can tell a story (though she can’t seem to decide whether it happened or happens, but since in Yogic tradition that is all the same, I can forgive her for that). I enjoyed the first and second part, the third left me feeling somewhat meh... and since we tend to judge our enjoyment of something from the high point to the end, instead of the overall measure, it leaves me generally feeling somewhat meh.
As I am not currently (or ever, maybe) looking for spiritual enlightenment, the whole outset of the book is more of general interest to me, and as I am almost never kneeling on my bathroom floor, unless I have a particularly nasty virus (or it’s that one time in 5 years where I really really had to much to drink), this book can’t readily give me something I understand or need. But I imagine for someone who had as dark times as the author, it might be a blessing to read this.

task: 20
review: + 10
Combo: +20
20.5 (autobiographical)
20.7 (US author)
10.6 (uncommon letter Z)
10.8 (in part set in Indonesia)
Lost in Translation: +10

Task total: 60

Grand total: 80

20.4 Christmas Carol

The Ruby in Her Navel by Barry Unsworth

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. The descriptions of Sicily in the 1100s were fun, but I found the characters sort of boring and didn't really sympathize with the continual innocence of the narrator. Overall, the portions of the book that should have entranced me with political and court intrigue never quite worked -- I kept losing track of the characters and couldn't remember which one was motivated by what forces. In part, I think that related to the choice to tell the story through the eyes of a naive bureaucrat rather than from a more omniscient narrator.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.5, 201 ratings)

Task total: 35

20.5 David Copperfield

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

I enjoyed this celebrity autobiography much more than I expected to, though that doesn't say much since I hadn't really thought I'd like it. The book was passed on to me by a friend of my mother's and I expected it to be mostly a name-dropping, drug/alcohol recovery dishout. Instead, I found Lowe substantially more thoughtful and interesting and was actually touched by his love for his wife and children.

I'm not much of a TV or movie watcher. I enjoyed The West Wing when it was on, but was otherwise mostly unfamiliar with Lowe's acting work. I definitely could not have told you that he was in Austin Powers and don't really remember his early movies like The Outsiders and St. Elmo's Fire. I've actually added a couple of them to my netflix queue now that I've read his book.

Lowe does a nice job narrating the audiobook version. He really does wonderful impressions and several are interspersed throughout the book.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (20.10, pub. 2011)

Task total: 35

Grand total: 375

RwS Tasks

First thanks, Liz, for finding the 5 extra points for me. According to my count, that put me at 890 instead of 900, so let me know if I've missed something else in my calculations and thanks for the hard work!

10.6 – The Uncommon Letter

My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher

This was a great little YA book set in Seattle. There was no lexile score and the author's first book was a 590 lexile, so no combo points for this one.

+10 Task
Task Total: 10

20.4 – In honor of A Christmas Carol:

A 2011 publication set during World War II in Lithuania and Siberia:

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

The lexile is low on this one as well. It is just 490 which really surprised me because it is so well written. The story is of a Lithuanian family deported to a labor camp in Siberia during WWII. It is a moving story of survival in a lesser known setting during a horrific war. The content is better suited to ages 12 and up.

+20 Task
Task Total: 20

20.10 – Sam’s Task – Play the numbers

I'm diverging a bit from my goal of doing every task once before repeating so that I can return this one to my son:

Published in 2001:

The Invisibles, Vol. 2: Apocalipstick by Grant Morrison

Grant Morrison is not an author for the weak of heart and/or stomach! He is my son's favorite comic writer and The Invisibles is his favorite series by Morrison, so I am continuing on with the series after beginning it for a task last season. I enjoyed this second installment more than the first, because I have a better grasp of how Morrison approaches his work. One of the stories was the backstory of a character seeped in ancient mythology and voodoo. This was a fascinating part of the series for me. The writing is indeed fantastic. Just enough is included in the prose that when tied with the art, the story is understood. I recommend it highly to comic fans who don't mind violence and sexuality in the art form.

+20 Task
+10 Review
Task Total: 30

Points this Post: 60
Grand Total: (using 490) 550

Camille wrote: "Task 10.9: 11 in '11

I read "A" is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (1st in a series)

+10:task
+10:review
+5: oldie (pub 1982)
+25:task total..."

+5 combo for 20.10 - Play the Numbers

Erin wrote: "20.1 Charles Dickens

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

+20 Task [Book published in 1844]
+5 Jumbo [598pp.]
+15 Oldie
+10 Lit [French]
+15 Combo
-10.6 [Alexandre]
-20.4 [Looks back over 200 years]
-20.2 [France, and London, England]

Task Total: 65..."

+5 combo 10.9 - 11 in '11 (first book in a series)

Sanskriti wrote: "Task 20.3: "Exceeds expectations list"

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

+ 20 Task
+ 5 Combo (task - 20.8)
+ 10 Review

Task Total = 35..."

Please re-post with the text of your review to earn review points.

Rachelccameron wrote: "10.10 Group Reads

Krista's Pick

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

+5 Combo 10.9 (as far as I can see on Fantastic Fiction, this appears to be his 11th published work) ..."

Unfortunately, according to the books listed on fantastic fiction it appears to be his 12th work:

1. Dark Carnival (1947)
2. The Martian Chronicles (1950)
3. The Golden Apples of the Sun: And Other Stories (1950)
4. The Illustrated Man (1951)
5. Fahrenheit 451 (1953)
6. The October Country (1956)
7. Dandelion Wine (1957)
8. The Day It Rained Forever (1959)
9. A Medicine for Melancholy (1959)
10. Twice 22 (1959)
11. R Is for Rocket (1960)
12. Something Wicked this Way Comes (1962)

Kate S wrote: "Hi Liz,

The edition I read had 416 pages. Here is the correct link:

Maria ..."

Thank you! I have corrected my spreadsheet to match your original post.

Connie wrote: "20.2 A Tale of Two Cities
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
set in Italy, India, Indonesia

task: 20
review: + 10
Combo: +20
20.5 (autobiographical)
20.7 (US author)
10.6 (uncommon letter Z)
10.8 (in part set in Indonesia)
Lost in Translation: +10..."

Connie, what language was the edition you read? The Lost in Translation points are for books that have been translated from their original language. So, if your native tongue is German & you read a this book in German (i.e., translated from English), the points apply. If your native tongue is German and you read an English edition, they do not.

Task : 10.5 - Underrated

The Library of Shadows (2007) by Mikkel Birkegaard; translated by Tiina Nunnally (Paperback, 430 pages)
Review: The cover of this book states that it was a bestseller in Denmark. The focus of the novel is the transformative power of reading books. There is a supernatural element that is introduced about a quarter of the way through the novel – since the element shows up so late in the novel, I suppose it would be a spoiler to explain it. Readers who often read science fiction and fantasy will feel that there is a lot of time in this novel introducing concepts that in science fiction and fantasy are introduced in a sentence or a paragraph. Online opinions puts this book more in the The Da Vinci Code style books rather than Fantasy/Science Fiction, and I agree with online opinion. Recommended for those who want to read yet another variation on The Da Vinci Code.

+10 Task: (10.5)
+ 05 Style: 1. Combo (5 points) (also fits: 20.2 (Denmark, Egypt))
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):
+ 10 Style: 3. Lost in Translation (10 points): Translated from Danish

Task Total: 10 + 05 + 10 + 10 = 35

Grand Total: 580 + 35 = 615

Karen GHHS wrote: "RwS Tasks

First thanks, Liz, for finding the 5 extra points for me. According to my count, that put me at 890 instead of 900, so let me know if I've missed something else in my calculations...

Points this Post: 60
Grand Total: (using 490) 550..."

Did you see post 350 (bottom of page 7) where I awarded you 10 missed points relating to your post 261? (Too lazy to re-type it).

So, I currently have your Grand Total as 960.

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I am missing 15 points from my score up to post 405..."

Jayme,

As of post 450, I have your Grand Total as 325 points.

I missed 10 review points. And I think you have 5 extra combo points for the following book (post 209):

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "20.8 Fictional Fiction

Task +20
Style + 15 (Review, 20.7 US author)
Book Total: 35
Grand Total: 170..."

Since you claimed combo points for 20.7-US author in post 110, this book is not eligible for those points. (20.7 can only be claimed once per country for task points and once per country for combo points).

Liz M wrote: "Marie wrote: "20.2 - Tale of Two Cities
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
UK, Japan

+ 20 Task
+ 5 Combo : 20.8
Task Total = 25..."

+5 combo for 10.7 - ESFJ

Marie wrote: "20.8 - Liz M’s Task -..."

Regarding 10.7 - ESFJ, I thought first it applied, but as the category states "pair one of the first two letters with one of the last letters", Jasper Fforde doesn't apply, right?

So my task total would only be 100.

Let me know if I'm wrong...

10.9 D
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Task: 10
Style: +10 (Lost in Translation)

Total: 20
Grand Total: 100

now I need to shake my brain out of the torpor it was put in.

Liz M wrote: "Rachelccameron wrote: "10.10 Group Reads

Krista's Pick

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

+5 Combo 10.9 (as far as I can see on Fantastic Fiction, this ..."


Ok thanks I've edited my post accordingly. Thanks for all your work!

Liz M wrote:
Connie, what language was the edition you read? The Lost in Translation points are for books that have been translated from their original language. So, if your native tongue is German & you read a this book in German (i.e., translated from English), the points apply. If your native tongue is German and you read an English edition, they do not.

Hi Liz,
sorry for not reading this earlier - it seems I have misunderstood that... I wrote the English edition, both on this and the next one, so my grand total is 100-20=80.

Apologies for mixing this up.

CiV
15.8
C-D, 141-180, 1905-1916

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather, 176 pages, pub 1913; (I read this on my Kindle, which edition shows the same number of pages)

+65 Task

Grand Total = 435

my review

10.6 The Uncommon Letter
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination: A Memoir by Elizabeth McCracken.

Review: This book was selected by my book group. I was nervous about it. I circled it. I put off reading it. It is McCracken's memoir about her first child, who was still-born. Then I read it in two big gulps--not because it was like bad-tasting medicine but because it was beautiful. I am close to women who have lost babies from miscarriages, death in-utero, and an amnio that went wrong. I would listen sympathetically to their experience, maybe hug them, then move on. I knew there was grief but I didn't know how to respond. McCracken expresses beautifully what they aren't able (and what she wasn't able to at first). And I learned what she found helpful and supportive. I now know what my friends (both those who had subsequent healthy babies and those who didn't)carry in their hearts. Thank you Elizabeth.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo 20.5 memoir and 20.2 takes place in France, England and US

Task total: 30
Previous total: 365
New Grand Total: 395

Liz M wrote: "nsfancy wrote: "20.3 Great Expectations The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (#88 Exceeded expectations list)

+20 task
+5 combo (10.8 - dragon)
+5 oldie (pub 1937)

task tot..."

Missed that totally! Thanks Liz.

My first time - hope I'm doing it right!

20.10 - Play the Numbers
The Affair by Alicia Clifford

Free ARC through First Reads

I am no stranger to books with a large cast of characters. I love them - but only when those characters serve a purpose. Sadly, most of the people in The Affair are pointless. The large cast wanders about, but none of them have any weight. They are bland and interchangable for the most part.

The Bailey family is repressed. The end. Most of them behave the way they think they should, and they do not speak honestly or openly, and it makes them a little unhappy and deadly dull.

There's no conflict in this book. It appears there is - the reader is teased with the knowledge of a life-changing affair - and then, nothing. We get the reveal, and the book is over. Things happen, but the family is much as it was before. There is some growth, but it is perfunctory. This happens, then that, and there is no exploration or follow-up.

The author has good ideas, and there could be a story here. However, she does not know how to tell that story. There's a lot of off-stage action, and major developments are rushed. I felt like I was reading an outline for a book, not the finished product.

I wanted to like this, and sometimes parts of the book were very successful (all of Celia's youth was interesting) but in the end I did not care about any of the characters because I did not know them.

+20 Task (2010)
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.5 - 15 ratings)
+5 Combo (20.2 - England and somewhere in Africa)
+5 Combo (20.8 - multiple books written by main character)

Task Total = 45
(edit due to math fail)