Reading with Style discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives
>
Fall 2012 Rws Completed Tasks - Fall 2012
Edited post #495 so that the book now counts for 20.9 instead of 10.8C, thanks! ^_^
10.8A - Lucky SevensThe Art Museum from Boullee to Bilbao by Andrew McClellan
This book gives really good insight into the philosophy and history of the art museum. There are different chapters on the ideals & mission, architecture, classification/collection/display, interactions with the public, commercialism, as well as restitution and repatriation. The book is really current with the issues facing Museums today like the repatriation of Nazi art by survivors and how interactive exhibits should be with the public. McClellan also dives into the questions of whether a museum should aim to educate or thrill their audience and how the different modes of presenting art play into these goals. An interesting read that is a necessity if you're interested in Curatorial studies (fun fact: curator comes from the latin "curare" which means "to care" ^_^).
+10 Task
+10 Review
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 305
15.2 - Know Your ABC'sSide Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
+15 Task
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 320
Task 20.7 book written by a feminist author.Isabel Allende
Island Beneath the Sea (2010) by Isabel Allende (Hardcover, 457 pages)
Also fits: Task 20.8 "veteran" author, one that has published books for 20 or more years.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_A...
+20 Task
+05 Style:1. Combo (5 points): (20.8 “veteran” author)
+10 Style:3. Review (10 points):
Task Total: 20 + 05 + 10 = 35
Grand Total: 540 + 35 = 575
OR
Grand Total: 550 + 35 = 585
Review Island Beneath the Sea is a historical novel which begins in 1790 on a sugar plantation on the island of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). The novel describes the life of a mulatto woman, born a slave, beginning in 1790 and continuing on 20+ years to the 1800s. She has people she loves, and family she cares about, and all are affected by the historical events of the time (the successful Haitian Slave Revolts, the French Revolution, life in New Orleans as it switched from country to country, etc.) The characters (even the slaveholders) are all presented as a mixture of good and evil. The writing style is poetical; since I read this novel in translation, I guess I should thank the translator as well as the author! Recommended for fans of historical novels and for fans of literary fiction.
And …. As an aside … I agree with by Elizabeth (Alaska)’s review (message 497) of Cranford. I gave it 2* because (1) I was able to finish it; and (2) I thought it was pointless, not offensive.
20.5 Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
+20 task (on the Lab Lit list)
+10 Combo 10.5 (Annick Swenson is 72) and 20.7 (passes the Bechel test: various women discuss children, careers and research)
task total=30
grand total=185
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
+20 task (on the Lab Lit list)
+10 Combo 10.5 (Annick Swenson is 72) and 20.7 (passes the Bechel test: various women discuss children, careers and research)
task total=30
grand total=185
10.6 Election DayPolk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman
Review
Polk’s administration was in the era of expansionism, Manifest Destiny, the Great Compromise and the rising of the storm clouds that erupt into the Civil War. Following the footsteps of predecessors, namely Jackson and Tyler, gobbling up territory whether by hook or crook was the mindset of the day and pushing out all European claims to any lands on the Western Hemisphere. It was the time just post the removal of the Five Civilized Nations. There was the Texas issue, a Mexican war to expand the Texas border further, which also ended up with the US obtaining New Mexico, California, Colorado and all points between. Pushing the British back at the Canadian border was the impetuous for the call 54-40 or fight. Wikipedia claims it has been said Polk has been called the ‘“least known consequential president" of the United States.’ Practically all the Sates west of the Louisiana Purchase on the Continental U.S., came about during Polk’s leadership.
However this land grab also caused some serious domestic issues as to whether each new state should be a slave state or a free state. Polk had promised to be a one term President (1845 – 1849) so he could focus chiefly on the policies that his Democratic Party held dear, mostly obtaining land, as well as an independent treasury and tariff reductions.
Aside from the chapters devoted to his early life, his strong bonds with Andrew Jackson and as a native Tennessean, most of the book was devoted to the political scene which tended to be very dry at times. Unless you are a true history buff, you may find this book a bit confusing as it references a lot of events that had already passed in American History. I’ve always wanted to know more about the man as his was a comparatively short administration and we have a house and family in Polk County, Tennessee.
+10 pts - Task
+10 pts - Review
Task Total - 20 pts
Grand Total - 350 pts
Know Your ABCs:15.3 - 3rd book - letter M
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
2001, lexile 900
+15 Task
Grand Total: 730
Know Your ABCs:15.4 - 4th book - letter D
The Devil's Hearth by Phillip DePoy
2003
+20 Task
Grand Total: 270
Know Your ABCs:15.5 - 5th book - letter E
Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
2011
Incidentally, this is one of the best books I've read all year. Highly recommended!
+20 Task
Grand Total: 290
20.5 – Lab litCannery Row by John Steinbeck
(Lexile 930)
+20 Task (On LabLit list)
+ 5 Combo (20.8 Veteran's Day, published from 1929 to 1966)
+ 5 Oldies (1945)
Task total=30
Geand total=460
Christin wrote: "10.7 - Monsterfest IVAloha from Hell by Richard Kadrey
+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.8B)
+15 Multiple
+10 Review..."
Christin, multiple is +5, regardless of how many times you have completed a task. Thanks
nsfancy wrote: "Task 20.7 Women of AchievementThe Color Purple by Alice Walker
+20 task
+ 25 combo (10.3 Garfunkel, 10.4 Fall colors, 10.2 US author, 20.4 Carmilla, 20.8 Veteran 1982-present)
+5 oldie (1982)
T..."
Unfortunately, The Color Purple is listed as YA Assignment at the BPL and has a lexile score of 670. It is, therefore not eligible for style points.
20.4 CarmillaSwordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Review: Swordspoint pulled me into the story from page one. Kushner created a world that's flushed out yet sketchy, with characters I found both lovable and despicable. The story centers around a hired swordsman (basically an assassin), Richard, and his lover with a hidden past, Alec. Both are both central to and peripheral to the complex politics of their world, which is mainly made up of neighboring cities that have very different rules but that are tied closely together. I never fully understood all the intricacies of the world and its politics, but was intrigued by its open sexuality and violence. The ending was loose yet satisfying, but I'm glad Kushner ultimately decided to write more novels in the same setting.
+20 Task (Ellen Kushner is married to Delia Sherman)
+10 Combo (10.8 - published 1987; 20.8 - Kushner published this novel in 1987 and her most recent novel The Man with the Knives in 2010)
+5 Oldies (published 1987)
+10 Review
Task Total: 45
Grand Total: 630
Kate S wrote: "Christin wrote: "10.7 - Monsterfest IVAloha from Hell by Richard Kadrey
+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.8B)
+15 Multiple
+10 Review..."
Christin, multiple is +5, regardless of how many times you have comp..."
ah, gotcha! I was confused on that point, thanks ^_^
Deedee wrote: "Task 10.8 (B) with 7 letters in the author’s first name ANTHONY
My records show me with 505 points -- the Readerboard says 515 -- not sure where the extra 10 points came from --
..."
Did you see post 431? +10 Combo points for your post 384.
Karen GHHS wrote: "First, we have a point difference. I think I've picked up all of the extra points you've found for me, but I could be wrong. The other thing to check, though is whether you gave me 20 extra points ..."Ok, Karen, we have several errors with your score! Thanks for pointing it out for me. First, I missed post #5 when entering posts (causing a 10 point difference), this error travels throughout the first several posts. Then we come to post 267, where we had a disputed book, but I left the style points (25!) included in the score. So, I am going to correct the style points for 267, and hopefully, our scores will match afterwards. (Fingers crossed :))
20.8 Veteran AuthorHamlet by William Shakespeare
+20 Task (active from 1590-1613)
+5 Combo (10.3)
+5 Multiple
+25 Oldies (1602)
Post Total: 55
Season Total: 1185
20.8 Veteran AuthorOdd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz
+20 Task (active 1968-present)
+5 Combo (10.7)
+5 Multiple
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1215
Know Your ABCs15.4 Fourth Book--Letter N
Autobiography of a Fat Bride: True Tales of a Pretend Adulthood by Laurie Notaro (2003)
+20 Task
Grand Total: 315
20.7 - Connie's Task - Women of Achievement Month, SeptemberThe Odd Women by George R. Gissing
+20 Task
+10 Odlies
Task Total Points: 30
Grand Total: 265
10.1 - Square PegMost Underappreciated: 50 Prominent Social Psychologists Describe Their Most Unloved Work
Review: This is a very “niche” book, so odds are that most non-social psychologists wouldn’t find it very interesting. I think it’s the kind of book that you have to be in the field to really enjoy; after all, if you don’t think that “big names” like Alice Eagly or Mahzarin Banaji are actually “big names,” you won’t get much of a kick out of hearing their secret little underappreciated-research stories. However, if you *are* interested in social psych research, then I highly recommend this book! I really enjoyed reading these anecdotes about lesser-known work that the “big names” in my field have done. In fact, I found myself citing stories from the book frequently over the past couple of weeks to colleagues in my department, starting off way too many sentences with “Did you know...” and then launching into a long story about some esoteric paper that I had no idea Gilovich had published. Overall a very fun, interesting, and educational read for me, though I’m not sure it would be as enjoyable to non-social-psych people...which is probably why it’s so impossible to find in libraries/bookstores (I had to order it on Amazon).
+10 Task (Collection of essays - several contributors born in non-Oktoberfest countries, including Sedikides [Greece] and Hewstone [UK], Garfunkel has not read it, no colors in the title, several contributors under 60, not about politics/politicians, no monsters, published in 2011, 11-word title, several contributors with first names that are not 7 letters, not part of a series, not a Group Read, not a debut novel, not in a rural setting, not in the 8x4 section of the DD system, several contributors are not LGBT-identified, not in the 500s section of the DD system, has not won a Bram Stoker award, no conversations between women/not all feminist authors, not all contributors have been publishing for 20+ years, none have committed suicide. Phew! Let me know if I need to provide links for any/all of those...I hope not, though...)
+10 Task
+10 Review
Post Total: 20
Grand Total: 320
20.2 - Rural SettingThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Review: I last read this book in the 4th grade, and honestly could not remember any of it, except the oft-repeated story about Tom getting his friends to whitewash the fence (which I definitely remembered more from the frequent re-tellings of that part in everyday life than from the book itself). My library hosted a community-wide reading program this month trying to get everyone to read the same book, and chose this one, so I decided that it was a good opportunity to brush up on my Twain. The book is definitely more “childish” than I remembered; it’s apparent that it’s geared more towards kids than other “classic” school books. I enjoyed it on the re-read, but I’m not sure I really *loved* it. However, I’m glad that I took the time to re-experience this book and look at it with a fresh pair of older eyes.
+20 Task
+5 Combo (20.8 - Twain published for over 20 years)
+10 Review
+10 Oldies (published 1876)
Task Total: 45
Grand Total: 365
20.8 Veteran Author - James Lee BurkeIn The Electric Mist With The Confederate Dead
+20 Task
Total 185
10.2 - OktoberfestJudging a Book by Its Lover: A Field Guide to the Hearts and Minds of Readers Everywhere by Lauren Leto
Review: Oh my goodness, this book is incredibly funny. I’m assuming that everyone in this group considers him/herself to be an avid reader; if so, you *MUST GO OUT AND READ THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY.* By far the best part of this book is the lengthiest section, in which Leto details how to “fake it” like you’ve read several of the most-commonly-loved authors, including John Updike, Ayn Rand, Zadie Smith, and J.D. Salinger. I don’t think this book would actually be useful for someone not interested in reading and genuinely looking to feign interest; rather, it’s moreso meant (and better enjoyed) as a wink to readers who probably have read most of the authors/books included (or at least have a passing knowledge of them; there are many I haven’t read, but still generally know about) and want to laugh at themselves/other readers. Leto also includes some personal anecdotes and stories about her childhood as a bookworm (or “bookcat,” as she proposes). These are funny, but in my opinion not nearly as funny as her characterizations of writers and the readers who love them.
+10 Task (author Lauren Leto was born in Detroit, MI, USA)
+10 Review
Post Total: 20
Grand Total: 385
Know your ABC's15.8 - 8th book - letter H (1998)
Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris
+30 Task
Grand Total: 165
Arow wrote: "Know your ABC's15.8 - 8th book - letter H (1998)
Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris
+30 Task
15.9 - 9th book - letter I (1999)
The "M" Word by Jane Isenberg
+30 Task
Grand Total: 195"
Arow, only one book per post.
10.1 Square-PegOK, this is a suprisingly difficult task, but I think I found a book to fit!
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
+10 Task
Task Total: 10
Grand Total: 30
Our point totals agree :)Thanks!20.2 – In honor of the brooding moors of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights:
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
Above all, I loved the descriptions of the the bonfires on the heath in The Return of the Native. Other members have mentioned how many of the books on the "rural settings" list they have read and I'm no exception. I think my enjoyment of Thomas Hardy's novels has something to do with the rural setting. I like the stories, and I must admit that I have liked other stories of his better than this one, but part of what I like is definitely the ways of life and the people described in these English country settings. For example, the Mummers and their performance was another favorite part for me. I did enjoy Clym's passion to become a teacher and marry who he wanted to despite his mother's objections as the story progressed. I was drawn into the story even though I found it a bit melodramatic, but continued to enjoy the setting and descriptions more than the plot throughout.
+20 Task: Book #95 on the rural settings list when chosen - 1040 Lexile
+10 Review
+ 5 Combo: 20.7 Veteran’s Day (Hardy published from 1871 – 1928)
+10 Oldies:1878
Task Total: 45
Grand Total: 490
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Arow wrote: "Know your ABC's15.8 - 8th book - letter H (1998)
Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris
+30 Task
15.9 - 9th book - letter I (1999)
The "M" Word by Jane Isenberg
+30 Task
G..."
Really sorry about that...didn't read it first time around. Should I split it up now?
Arow wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Arow wrote: "Know your ABC's15.8 - 8th book - letter H (1998)
Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris
+30 Task
15.9 - 9th book - letter I (1999)
The "M" Word by..."
Yes, thank you! If you would edit your post to delete Isenberg book, and then make a new post for for that one.
20.8 Kate S' Task"11/22/63" by Steven King
+20 Task
+15 Jumbo (849 pages)
Task Total = 35
Grand Total = 35
Kate S wrote: "Deedee wrote: "Task 10.8 (B) with 7 letters in the author’s first name ANTHONY
My records show me with 505 points -- the Readerboard says 515 -- not sure where the extra 10 points came from --
Did you see post 431? +10 Combo points for your post 384. ..."
I missed post 431 --- Now we're in agreement!
Task 20.8 "veteran" author, one that has published books for 20 or more years.http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/m...
Also fits:
20.7 Bechdel Test: the work must (i) have at least 2 female characters who (ii) talk to each other about (iii) something other than a man/men
Lead character Diana has conversation with Annie, the very pregnant small business owner of the occult supply store “Bell, Book and Candle”, about various customers to the store (including "mundane" teenaged females and "magical" loner males);
Even though this is the second of a series, it is the first book in the series that I’ve read, so no 10.9 combo
Children of the Night (Diana Tregarde #2) (1990) by Mercedes Lackey
+20 Task
+05 Style:1. Combo (5 points): (20.7 Bechdel Test)
+05 Style: 2. Multiple (5 points): Each time you repeat a task.
+10 Style:3. Review (10 points):
Task Total: 20 + 05 + 05 + 10 = 40
Grand Total: 585+ 40 = 625
Review: This novel is an early entry in the sub-genre of “a group of friends, some with special abilities, fighting demons/monsters who feed on humans”. I was going to say it was inspired by the TV show “Buffy”, except, the TV show aired 1997-2003, and this novel was published in 1990. The novel is set in New York City, in 1972-1973 timeframe. Our heroine is a witch, and a Guardian pledged to protect the innocents in the city being attacked by a variety of monster (mild spoiler) (view spoiler). The heroine has the standard “gay male best friend” that so many novels written around 1990 included. The action was lively and the ending was satisfactory. Recommended for fans of “Buffy” and for fans of Mercedes Lackey.
20.8 Veteran's Day
by Anne MCCaffreyFirst published book in 1971. Book will be published post humorously in 2013. I like to state that though Goodreads categorizes this book as Young Adult. BPL did not and have been approved.
Task +20
Style Multiple +5(2nd time)
Style Combo +10 (10.8 Lucky Sevens, published 2007, 20.7 two female characters- Khorri and Arri,have conversations about going home and how to get home to their own time period.
Style Review +10
This is the last book of a long series. I have been reading these books for a long time and I fell in love with Acorna since she was little and watched her grow throughout the books. Now she has a daughter of her own Khorii, who has followed in her mother's footsteps of helping people and using her powers to heal. Khorri learns she has a long lost sister and twin. She decided to help her sister Arri. Arri has an agenda of her own and the two time travel back and forth to accomplish Arri's goal but also to save their parents from a mysterious plague. Then they find out what has caused the plague but I won't give that away. I am going to miss the series.
Book Total: 45
Grand Total: 125
10.2 OktoberfestWizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
Terry Goodkind was born in the United States.
+10 Task
+15 Jumbo [836pp]
Task Total: 25
Grand Total: 55
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
Endgame (other topics)The Sirens of Titan (other topics)
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis (other topics)
Lost Memory of Skin (other topics)
Round The Red Lamp (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (other topics)Timothy Egan (other topics)
Arthur Conan Doyle (other topics)
Jeanne DuPrau (other topics)
Joan Hess (other topics)
More...
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
This is a sweet, delightful story. Kingsolver weaves a story of interrelated families in an isolated Kentucky valley. She includes hunters, farmers (both organic and non), and a wild-life biologist. In their conversations she brings out the tensions between those who try to control the environment with chemicals and guns and those who are trying less invasive forms of control. Kingsolver's bias is apparent. Kingsolver also plays with the family dynamic in a small-town rural setting where everyone knows or thinks they know everyone's business, both in supportive, helpful ways and in interfering, harmful ways.
I found Lusa's almost abandonment of her parents and her not turning to them for support at difficult times as odd.
+20 Task Kingsolver has published books from 1988-2010 (and one due out next month)
+20 Combo 10.8B, 20.2 currently #52 on the list, 20.5 on the Lab Lit list, 20.7 Lusa discusses insects with her niece several times among other qualifying conversations
+5 Multiple (third book for this task)
+10 Review
Task Total: 55
Grand Total: 295