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Fall 2012 Rws Completed Tasks - Fall 2012
20.8 Veterans DayPush by Sapphire
YA, no lexile score
+20 Task (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/s...)
Task Total: 20 points
Grand Total: 1540
20.8 Veterans DayThe Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Review:
In this second Jeeves collection, Bertie's friend Bingo Little keeps falling in love, getting engaged and having to be extricated. To vary the theme, Bertie's tearaway cousins Claude and Eustace pop up from time to time to play pranks. Jeeves is perfect and manages to solve all of their problems while simulataneously arranging things for his own benefit too.
I liked this a lot but I'm still wistfully hunting for the "best Jeeves" book that I'll adore the way I did when I first read them as a child. I'm beginning to think it might not exist. These stories are great but they don't quite cut the mustard, as Bertie would say. Funny, but just a little repetitive.
+20 Task
+ 5 Multiple (11th book for this task)
+10 Review
+10 Oldies (pub.1923)
Task Total: 45 points
Grand Total: 1585
20.8 Veterans DayHave I said how much I love this task?!
Greenbanks by Dorothy Whipple
Review:
What a lovely book! This is the first of Dorothy Whipple's novels I've read, but it won't be the last.
Louisa Ashton is already a grandmother when the story opens in 1909, living in house called Greenbanks in a Lancashire town with her unfaithful husband and three of her grownup children who have not yet left home. The story follows the charming Louisa and her family (especially granddaughter Rachel) over about 15 years of births, marriages and deaths as the First World War comes and goes and Rachel grows up. The characters are not all sympathetic - Louisa's son-in-law Ambrose is a wonderfully pompous creation and the companion Kate is horribly tense - but the reader is lulled into seeing the best in everyone, as Louisa does.
+20 Task (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/d...)
+ 5 Combo (20.7 Louisa has conversations with her companion Kate, her daughter Letty and granddaughter Rachel about many things other than men)
+ 5 Multiple (12th book for this task)
+10 Review
+10 Oldies (pub.1932)
Task Total: 50 points
Grand Total: 1635
Task 20.8 "veteran" author, one that has published books for 20 or more years. Albert Camus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_C...
I checked with Kate S and she said that his non-fiction book counts, so Camus has the 20 years of published books :0).
The Stranger (1942) by Albert Camus
+20 Task
+05 Style: 2. Multiple (5 points): Each time you repeat a task
+10 Style:3. Review (10 points):
+05 Style:4. Oldies (5 to 25 points): -25 to 75 years old: 5 points (1937-1987)
Task Total: 20 + 05 + 10 + 05 = 40
Grand Total: 1400 + 40 = 1440
Review: This is one of those classics that I somehow missed when I was in school. The plot revolves a young man who is a sociopath (that is, one who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience). He exists, having no joy or sorrow in his life, limited ability to plan for the future, and no sense of consequences being related to actions. I think it is significant that this was written by a Frenchman in the 1939-1940 timeframe, when Nazi Germany had invaded and occupied France. (Camus was in France at the time.) A lot of writers say that during wartime, people have limited ability to plan for the future and no sense of consequences being related to actions. It was a controversial novel at the time because the protagonist is an atheist. It’s a good novel – really, at 123 pages, novella – but not a timeless classic. Recommended for people who read about wartimes, and for people who want to read all the classics.
20.3 Poe's TalesNo One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
Combo:10
10.2 (US)/10.8 (Title has 7 words, Author's first name has 7 letters)
Repeat: 5
Total: 35
Grand Total: 220
20.5 Dr. Jekyll, Mr HydeHow I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
Review: This was an excellent read. I enjoy scientific books, and Brown's was not only full of interesting facts and history, but also light-hearted and amusing. The story of his discovery of Eris, and various other Trans-Neptunian Objects from the Kuiper Belt is interwoven with his personal life and stories, from how he met his wife on a scholarly excursion to how his daughter was born and growing up, and how he used his excessive knowledge of charting minuscle details to chart her first months on this planet, while he was looking for another one.
Also, in a very concise and understandable fashion, he explains why, following his discovery, exactly Pluto had it coming, even if it meant that he wouldn't be one of the few people who discovered planets in our solar system, making him possibly one of the most modest people ever to write a science book.
Task: 20
Review: 10
Combo: 5
20.9 (memoir, and prominently shelved as such)
Task total: 35
Grand total: 255
ABCs15.9 9th Book: J Antony John 2011 890 Lexile
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 1535
Task 20.2 –Read one of the top 150 books with a rural setting(#99 on list as of November 21, 2012)
Also fits Task 10.2
author born in Canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Mau...
Also fits Task 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
The heroine and the other women of her family spend a lot of the beginning of the book talking about what is and is not socialy acceptable
Also fits Task 20.8 veteran" author, one that has published books for 20 or more years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Mau...
The Blue Castle (1926) by L.M. Montgomery
Lexile 870
+20 pts - Task
+20 pts - Combo (10.2 - Canada, 10.4 - Blue, 20.7 Bechdel Test, 20.8“veteran” author)
+10 pts - Review
+10 Style:4. Oldies (5 to 25 points): -76 to 150 years old: 10 points (1862-1936)
Task Total - 60 pts
Grand Total: 1440 + 60 = 1500
Review: This was a nice story about a 29-year-old woman who takes control of her life. She spent the first 29 years being the designated “loser”, particularly when compared with her very pretty cousin Olive. Deciding not to care about what others thought about her actions was very liberating for our heroine. The ending fit the novel and was very satisfying to the reader. Interspersed with our heroine’s story are elegant descriptions of the Canadian countryside (which is how it made it onto the GR rural setting list). Overall, a gentle, uplifting story. Recommended for when you’re in the mood for gentle, uplifting story.
Hello again! It's been a hectic few months...haven't had much time to read or post. On top of it, I just realized that one of the few books that I did complete won't work anywhere (Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout, while shelved at Dewey Decimal 540 at my library, it's considered Biography at the BPL. Oy.) Ah, well. I need to get the few books I actually did finish posted before the new cycle starts!20.2 Wuthering Heights
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
+20 Task
+10 Oldies (pub. 1908)
+20 Combo
-20.7 (several female characters, conversing about so many more things than just boys)
-20.8 (she published from 1908-1937)
-10.4 ("Green")
-10.2 (born in Canada)
Task Total = 50
Grand Total = 240
20.7 Women of Achievement MonthThe Girls by Lori Lansens
+20 Task (the female characters talked about family and death and God and writing and history and so much more)
Task Total = 20
Grand Total = 260
20.8 Veteran's DayThe Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey
+20 Task (published from 1981-2012)
+15 Combo
-10.2 (born in Australia)
-10.5 (author is 69 years old)
-20.7 (the two main female characters speak primarily about the restoration of an automaton swan)
Task Total = 35
Grand Total = 295
10.3 Art GarfunkelRichard III by William Shakespeare
+10 Task
+25 Oldies (pub. 1602)
+5 Combo (20.8--author published 20+ years)
Task Total = 40
Grand Total = 335
10.4 Celebrate FallWhite As Snow by Tanith Lee
+10 Task ("White")
+5 Combo (20.8--has published from 1971-2012)
Task Total = 15
Grand Total = 350
10.5 International Day for the ElderlyThe Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
+10 Task (two of the three main characters are over 60: one is 6,000 years old--Father Time; one is over 80 years old)
Task Total = 10
Grand Total = 370
10.7 Monsterfest IVTalulla Rising by Glen Duncan
+10 Task (this is the second in the Last Werewolf trilogy...it's got werewolves and vampires and some pretty nasty humans--even though I know they don't count for this task)
+5 Combo (20.7--main female characters spend most of the book discussing strategy for retrieving Talulla's kidnapped son, the nature of motherhood, what it's like being a werewolf, etc.)
Task Total = 15
Grand Total = 385
I have written reviews of every book I read in the past, but I have not been able to keep it up the season. I had planned to write the reviews as I posted but it is too late now and too many reviews to do. So I have decided to forego the review points in lieu of getting my posts done. If I get some of the reviews written by 11/30, would I be able to get additional points?10.5 International Day for the Elderly
Winter House by Carol O'Connell
Per this blog, www.dancingbadger.com/winter_house.htm, Ms. Winter is 70 at the time of the story.
+10 Task
Task Points: 10
Total Points: 120
10.6 Election SeasonOne Across, Two Down by Ruth Rendell
Per Wikipedia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ren...), Ruth Rendell sits in the House of Lords for Labour. I assume that would qualify her for this task.
+10 Task
+ 5 Combo (20.8)
Task Points: 15
Total Points: 135
10.7 Monsterfest IVKaren, I changed my mind and decided to put this book in your task.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The water horses in this book are very scary.
YA Lexile Score = 840.
+10 Task
+5 Combo (20.7 Bechtel test)
Task points: 15
Total Points: 150
10.8 Lucky SevensA. Seven words in a title
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
+10 Task
+5 Combo (Multiple)
Task points: 15
Total Points: 165
10.8 Lucky SevensC. Published in a 7 year
Body of Lies by David Ignatius
Published 2007
+10 Task
+5 Combo (Multiple)
Task Points: 15
Total Points: 180
10.9 To Be Continued...Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
+10 Task
+5 Combo (20.8 published from 1987 - 2012)
Task Points: 15
Total Points: 195
20.2 Wuthering HeightsAnimal Farm by George Orwell
+20 Task
+5 Oldie (published 1945)
Task Points: 25
Total Points: 220
20.5 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeThe Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martínez
Found on Lab Lit list
+20 Task
+5 Combo (10.2 author from Argentina)
Task Points: 25
Total Points: 245
20.7 Women of Achievement monthUn Lun Dun by China Miéville
YA, no Lexile score
+20 Task (main character Deeba and best friend Zanna have conversations about animals and the bizarre things that are happening)
Task Total: 20 points
Grand Total: 1655
Bea,Yes you can add reviews later as you get to them. Just be sure to make a new post for each (original post no., task no., booklink, review, and totals).
Thanks!
20.7 - Connie's Task - Women of Achievement Month, SeptemberAgnes Grey by Anne Brontë
+20 Task
+5 Mutilple
+15 Oldies
Total Task Points: 40
Grand Total: 425
20.7 - Women of Achievement MonthDays of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Karou talks with her friend Suzanna about the rebellion and her work as resurrectionist.
+ 20 Task
(no lexile score available, so no style points)
Grand Total: 1210
20.8 - Veteran's DayThe Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
+ 20 Task
(Lexile score of 640, so no style points)
Grand Total: 1230
20.3 Poe's TalesInterpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
This is a collection of short stories.
+20 Task
Task Points: 20
Total Points: 265
20.8 - Veteran's DayGlory in Death by J.D. Robb
Review:
Glory in Death is the second book of a series of futuristic mysteries featuring Eve Dallas. This time she has to find a serial killer who is preying on successful, strong women who are well-known in the media. As the number of victims rises, Eve is put under more and more pressure. In addition to this her relationship with Roarke also undergoes some struggles.
This is a good average for a book. It was clearly written for entertainment, so I didn’t expect more and wasn’t disappointed. Eve is a character one can like and relate to, Roarke is a great love-interest for her (who doesn’t want a boyfriend who just takes you to a villa hundreds of miles away for a night to relax and forget about your job). I found the mystery part of the book a bit weak this time. It was mysterious enough in the beginning, but it soon became clear to me who might be the murderer and that really made me wonder at Eve not catching on to it sooner. The redeeming part to the mystery was Roarke saving the day at the end.
And as a sidenote: I really liked the narrator of this audiobook.
+ 20 Task (author accepted in help thread)
+ 10 Review
+ 5 Multiple
+ 5 Combo (Eve has a lengthy conversation with a female psychologist about the murders and the possible motive behind it)
Task Total: 40
Grand Total: 1270
20.6 DraculaCarmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
The edition that comes up first shows 121p.
+20 Task
+10 Oldies (published 1872)
Task Points: 30
Total Points: 295
20.7 Women of Achievement MonthThe Songcatcher: A Novel by Sharyn McCrumb
Definitely meets the Bechtel test - several conversations between women not about men
+20 Task
Taks Points: 20
Total Points: 315
20.9 AuthorsGoodbye to All That by Robert Graves
Review: This is poet and author Robert Graves' only autobiography, written at 33 and focusing on World War I, with a few chapters on either end devoted to the years before and immediately after the war. I'm not familiar with Graves' work, but the memoir was powerful. He mentions that he worked through his war experiences through the writing of one of his novels, but I expect this memoir also played a part in his coming to terms with his early life.
Graves was an interesting man. He grew up in an era when everything was changing - social class distinctions, gender roles, national identities - but maybe wasn't changing quickly enough. He never seemed to quite fit in, but he did find people with their own quirks. The list of familiar people he knew is staggering - George Mallory, Lawrence of Arabia, Thomas Hardy, Aldous Huxley, among others. His experiences were wide-ranging, from his time on the front to teaching in Egypt, and his first wife was someone I would have liked to get to know. All together, it was a fascinating read, especially the parts leading up to and following the war.
+20 Task (Graves published this in 1929 after publishing many things, including Fairies and Fusiliers in 1917)
+10 Combo (10.3; 20.8 - he published from 1917 into the 1980s)
+10 Oldies (published 1929)
+10 Review
Task Total: 50
Grand Total: 1360
20.8 Veteran's DayFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - first published 1953
Published 1938 - 2011
+20 Task
+5 Oldies
Task Points: 25
Total Points: 340
20.8 - Veteran's DayOrdeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie
Review:
Years ago a man was sentenced and hanged for the murder of his mother. Now a new witness affirms the alibi of the supposed murderer. Of course this means that the whole case is dug up again and the question of who really murdered the woman is raised. The main suspects are the rest of the family, especially a mixed bag of adopted children.
As always she manages to lay false hints to make more or less everybody suspicious. I didn’t have a clue who might have been the real culprit until the was revealed. Again a great novel by Agatha Christie (and a great audiobook production, although, alas, only in German as I listened to it together with my mom).
+ 20 Task (first book: The Mysterious Affair At Styles in 1920)
+ 5 Oldies (pub. 1958)
+ 5 Multiple
+ 10 Review
Task Total: 40
Grand Total: 1310
20.8 Veteran's DayNo Graves As Yet by Anne Perry
Published 1979 - 2012
+20 Task
+5 Multiple
Task Points: 25
Total Points: 365
20.8 Veteran's DaySchool Days by Robert B. Parker
Published 1973 - 2010
+20 Task
+5 Multiple
Task Points: 25
Total Points: 390
20.8 Veteran's DayThe Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Published 1988 - 2012
+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.2 rural setting, 10.8B 7 letters in author first name)
+5 Multiple
+5 Jumbo (over 500 pages)
Task Points: 40
Total Points: 430
Leigh wrote: "20.10 World Suicide Prevention DayHer Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr
+20 task
+10 Combo 20.3, 20.4
+5 Jumbo 508 pages
total=35
grand total=380"
+5 Oldies-I have this as published in 1985 (before her death)
Post 1008 and 1009Bea wrote: "10.8 Lucky Sevens
A. Seven words in a title
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
+10 Task
+5 Combo (Multiple)
Task points: 15
Total Points: 165"
Task 10.8 is not eligible for the multiple bonus, sorry.
Rosemary wrote: "10.2 OktoberfestSabriel by Garth Nix
Lexile 1060
Review:
I don't always like fantasy novels but I did like this one. It was not too complex and with my limited imagination for fantasy I still ma..."
+5 Combo 20.8
Rosemary wrote: "10.9 To Be ContinuedLirael by Garth Nix
Lexile 950
Review:
This second-in-series is even better than the first, Sabriel, in my opinion. Lirael has grown up as an orphaned Daughter of the Clayr a..."
+5 Combo 20.8
Norma wrote: "10.9 To Be ContinuedBones Are Forever by Kathy Reichs
+10 task
Total task 10
Grand Total - 620"
+5 Combo 20.5
Christine wrote: "OK, here goes. I think I did it correctly. Let me know if not... 10.3 The Octopus: A Story of California by Frank Norris
Review
This book was one gigantic disappointment. I was really looking f..."
It looks good, and I appreciate all the information you have included to make this move as smooth as possible. However, 10.7 requires a book written in the 2000s, as this book was first published in 1901 it does not qualify for those combo points.
Rosemary wrote: "20.8 Veterans DayThe Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Review:
In this second Jeeves collection, Bertie's friend Bingo Little keeps falling in love, getting engaged and having to be extricated..."
+5 Combo 10.3
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Reading with Style
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Chasing Venus: The Race to Measure the Heavens by Andrea Wulf
Review:
This is a very interesting book about the 18th century expeditions to measure the transit of Venus in order to determine the distance of the Sun from Earth. The transits happened in 1761 and 1769. Astronomers traveled throughout the world to time the transits and determine the latitude of their locations so the distance to the sun could be calculated. Wulf does an excellent job of picking interesting stories and details of various expeditions and avoids what could have been a very dry and confusing book. She tells the stories of how the various scientific societies organized their observers and obtained funding; and how the determination to include other scientists and other kinds of observations were made. I did not know that Cook's voyage that "discovered" Australia was initially organized to make observations of the transit, which they did quite successfully from Tahiti.
Overall Wulf emphasizes the coordination and cooperation among scientists from many countries (some at war with each other) to accomplish the first global scientific project.
+20 Task (BDL DD 523.92)
+5 Multiple 2nd book for this task
+5 Combo (10.2 Wulf was born in India)
+10 Review
Task total: 40
Grand Total: 705