Task 1-5 planning and points

[Lu]

Oh and guys for the Vampire one, I hear this is awesome:
The Hallowed Ones

[Barbara]

Of course, it is set in London in 1858. Why do you have doubts? This should be obvious.

[Lu]

Just want to be 100% sure :)
Thank you!

[Lu]

Sorry for all the questions! The Victorian thing is a bit confusing to me.

These would be fine as well right? The Luxe and A Great and Terrible Beauty

But not Firelight?

[Barbara]

Don't apologise! I rather you ask me a 100 questions than read 1 book that doesn't count when you thought it did.

The Luxe is the right era but the wrong continent. It is set in Manhatten. So it doesn't count

A Great and Terrible Beauty is both the right era and continent. So yeah it does count.

Firelight. I am not sure. It is the right era and continent but it might be bordering on alternate history. I am willing to do a bit more research on that book if that is the one you want to read, but I will do that tomorrow.

[Lu]

Thank you Barbara :)

Nah it is fine, I'm going to read the Spy one :)

[Claudia]

Lu (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "Oh and guys for the Vampire one, I hear this is awesome:
The Hallowed Ones"

Aah! I actually pre-ordered this book and totally forgot about it! I must have looked right over the email when it got released. :)

[Lu]

When you get around to reading it lemme know and we can do a Read Along if you want?

[Varla Fiona]

Are re-reads allowed? Pratchett's vampires are awesome...

[Claudia]

Lu (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "When you get around to reading it lemme know and we can do a Read Along if you want?"

Will do.

[Barbara]

Re-reads are always allowed. Unless the task says differently. Pratchett does indeed have some awesome vampires. Enjoy!

[Varla Fiona]

Yay, now I don't think the tasks are such a challenge. It should be fun reading...

[Lauren]

Oh, that's not a bad idea! I might go for something humorous too. If not Pratchett, then maybe Christopher Moore or Tom Holt.

My other options were these:

[Varla Fiona]

*thinking* If I use Tom Holt instead, it counts for Visiting Old Friends too...

[Claudia]

Lauren wrote: "Oh, that's not a bad idea! I might go for something humorous too. If not Pratchett, then maybe Christopher Moore or Tom Holt.

My other options were these:
[bookcover..."

That Fangland book was horrible. It was the book of the month for a reading group I was in before joining GR, and out of nearly ten of us reading it, only 1 person managed to finish and she rated it 1/10. Don't do it to yourself! Stay away!

[Carolien]

Varla Fiona wrote: "Yay, now I don't think the tasks are such a challenge. It should be fun reading..."

Carpe Jugulum here we come. I've also decided if it has to be a vampire, Pratchett is just about the only ones I can deal with.

[Emma]

Lauren wrote: "Lu (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "There are so many Vampire options tho :)"

Not if you don't want to read YA or paranormal romance. And vampires have become a bit boring now."

Lauren if you want to read something slightly different and if you like steampunk, then I would highly recommend for you to use for the Vampire Book. Infact Im going to use book 2 for my choice.

[Emma]

TASKS 1- 5

1) Read a novel with a parasol on the cover or in the title.DONE



2) Read a novel about vampires. DONE



3) Read a novel in which someone gets murdered or there is an attempted murder but this is not the main plot. So no murder mysteries or something like that. DONE

Jabril


4) Read a novel with a one-word title.

Rajmund


5) Read a novel set in real Victorian England. No alternate history stuff.



Tasks completed NOVEMBER 10TH 2012
5/5

[Lauren]

Claudia wrote: "That Fangland book was horrible. It was the book of the month for a reading group I was in before joining GR, and out of nearly ten of us reading it, only 1 person managed to finish and she rated it 1/10. Don't do it to yourself! Stay away!"

Bugger. Oh well, I would have had to buy it anyway, and I think I've already got Anno Dracula.

Emma wrote: "Lauren if you want to read something slightly different and if you like steampunk, then I would highly recommend for you to use for the Vampire Book. Infact Im going to use book 2 for my choice. "

Thanks for the rec Emma! Will check it out :)

[Emma]

Not sure how to create a link here, but if people are struggling with the Victorian era books, Goodreads has a few recommendations:

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/v...

Obviously some of them you will have to check out to see if they fit the criteria and are not alternate history, but atleast it gives you an idea.

[Emma]

Lauren wrote: "Claudia wrote: "That Fangland book was horrible. It was the book of the month for a reading group I was in before joining GR, and out of nearly ten of us reading it, only 1 person managed to finish..."

No problem Lauren, I know you mentioned that you have problems getting books in Ethiopia, if you need the ebook just let me know.

[Emma]

Looks like I will have to choose another one for the parasol task, as I have just read the earlier posts about the difference between an umbrella and a parasol. Darn it!!

I know Lu chose The Hallowed ones for hers, but I dont see a parasol anywhere on the cover. I do have a copy of this book and would be keen on reading it for the challenge,so can someone clarify that there is a parasol on the cover of the book as I dont see it.

[Barbara]

If you check message 51, you can see that she is reading it for the vampire task.

[Emma]

I wasnt sure as on her planed post she has it as number 1 which for the parasol, in message 51 she just recommends this book.Anyway I will have to look for a book for the parasol now. :-)

[Barbara]

ok, here are some options with parasols for the people who are struggling:


While looking for books I thought of something and I am not sure but in Dutch the purple thing is also called a parasol:

What is it called in English?

[Lauren]

I feel like I'm forgetting a word here, but I think it's just called an umbrella. If I went to the beach I'd take or hire an umbrella to have some shade.

I never heard anyone actually use the word 'parasol' to refer to anything modern.

Does this mean I could use an umbrella if it's being used in the sun?

[Barbara]

Maybe it is a language thing. We have two words we use and those are "paraplu" and "parasol". The one meaning "against the rain" and the other "against the sun". Since the thing we use on the beach is against the sun and not the rain it is called a parasol.
I am going to do some more research first before saying yes or no.

[Lauren]

I'm already thinking "loophole!" :D

To me, a parasol is a pretty thing that's basically an antique. I've seen many women use umbrellas when walking around in the sun (especially in Pretoria and here in Addis) but they use the same plain waterproof umbrellas they'd use in the rain. I've never seen anyone use something I'd call a parasol, with the possible exception of these big gaudy ones used in Ethiopian religious festivals to shelter the priests as they march through the street.

[Lauren (Sugar & Snark)]

We call it a beach umbrella but it is actually used to keep the sun off you. but you don't hold it in your hand so it is really neither a parasole or an umbrella or both. I think we should leave it up to Barbara to decide?

[Lauren]

Lauren (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "We call it a beach umbrella but it is actually used to keep the sun off you. but you don't hold it in your hand so it is really neither a parasole or an umbrella or b..."

Oh yeah, beach umbrella :) Although you could use the same thing if having a picnic in the park or something. It's essentially just a big umbrella that you secure in the ground rather than carry around.

[Lauren (Sugar & Snark)]

I agree with you Lauren I often see women using umbrellas to keep off the sun. Especially in rural areas. Loophole!

[Barbara]

Well I did some googling. You are right it is called a beach umbrella. However, there are parts in the world where they speak English where it is indeed called a parasol. Or where they use both words.
That means that I am willing to allow these kind of things but only if they are used against the sun. So I want a sun on the cover (or indicated) and no clouds, no rain, no clothes that you might wear if it is going to rain. In short nothing that might indicate that rain is here or coming. In doubt ask me first.
Oh and in future I would appreciate it if you guys find your own loopholes instead of waiting for me to supply them. :P

[Lauren]

Thanks Barbara! And we wouldn't have known about it if you hadn't mentioned the Dutch word 'parasol', so we needed you to find that one!

[Emma]

Barbara wrote: "ok, here are some options with parasols for the people who are struggling:


While looking for books I..."

Well I see people using umbrella's for use as shade here in South Africa,Infact I often take my umbrella to the Shark Stadium in Durban on a sunny day I think it should be allowed :-) please (Fingers crossed)

Dont you just love loopholes.

[Barbara]

I do love loopholes. It is a hobby of mine to look for them. If you have a cover with an umbrella but the umbrella is clearly used against the sun and not the rain, I will allow it. So let me see the cover you have in mind and I'll let you know. In the meantime I will be looking for more parasols on covers. :)

[Lu]

Barbara wrote: "Well I did some googling. You are right it is called a beach umbrella. However, there are parts in the world where they speak English where it is indeed called a parasol. Or where they use both wor..."

How about to protect from jellybeans lol



I bet you didn't see this one coming :P

Emma wrote: "I wasnt sure as on her planed post she has it as number 1 which for the parasol, in message 51 she just recommends this book.Anyway I will have to look for a book for the parasol now. :-)"

Nope it is as nr 2, it just looks close to nr 1 :)

[Emma]

Barbara wrote: "I do love loopholes. It is a hobby of mine to look for them. If you have a cover with an umbrella but the umbrella is clearly used against the sun and not the rain, I will allow it. So let me see t..."

Will definately have to change mine anyway, seeing as the title of the book is called Rainsong I doubt Ill get away with it. :-)

[Barbara]

Lu (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "I bet you didn't see this one coming :P"

LOL!
I checked the cover and seeing as she is barefoot and wearing a summerdress and there is a lot of sunshine (even though there are clouds) and there are shadows indicating there is a lot of sun and it is a very girly umbrella/parasol, I will accept that as a parasol.

@Emma: hmmm. A book called Rainsong doesn't sound as if it could be a parasol on the cover. Who wrote it? I can at least take a look. :)

[Lu]

Whohoooooooooooooooo!

[Emma]

Barbara wrote: "Lu (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "I bet you didn't see this one coming :P"

LOL!
I checked the cover and seeing as she is barefoot and wearing a summerdress and there is a lot of sunshine (even though the..."

I don't mind changing it Barbara, it was definitely an umbrella and it looks like she was wearing a mac too. I chose far from the madding crowd instead. One of the editions had a parasol on the cover. Thanksanyway

[Barbara]

You're welcome. I am glad you found a book. I hope you will enjoy reading it!

[Barbara]

Reading has started for the first 5 tasks. Have Fun and Good Luck!

[Lauren (Sugar & Snark)]

Finished No.4

[Emma]

Lauren (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "Finished No.4"

Are you sure you're not a speed reader Lauren :-)By this rate you'll be finished by Monday.

[Varla Fiona]

Why does everything happen at once... All these awesome challenges mean I just want to read books, people keep phoning me to sign papers for the new house, I am supposed to pack most of my house by mid month so my parents have space when they arrive, I signed up for NaNo and have all these people bugging me about how many words I have written (um, none) and to top it off, we found out on Monday that the construction team arrive at work TODAY and I must move all the animals for them to do the work. I don't even know which proposals we made were approved for the construction so I don't know which animals need to be moved (not that there is space for any of them anyway!) Oh, and we still don't have IOD but I must move venomous snakes and a crocodile!!!!

[Barbara]

@ Lauren: How come it doesn't surprise me you're the first to compelte a task for this challenge.

@Varla Fiona: That is called life. It is either complete chaos or nothing happening at all. Just be sure to take a break now and then to drink something, take a deep breath, realise what you're doing (that you are fortunate to be working with animals and moving and everything else) and then go on. The books and tasks will be right here waiting for you when you have time.

[Lauren (Sugar & Snark)]

Emma wrote: "Lauren (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "Finished No.4"

Are you sure you're not a speed reader Lauren :-)By this rate you'll be finished by Monday."

No I wish! I am just sick in bed today and have nothing better to do :-) And don't worry I can't finish by Monday because my book for the Vampire Challenge is only being released on the 27th of November so that will slow me down! Lol

[Lauren (Sugar & Snark)]

Finished No.5

There was even a cameo appearance by HRH Queen Victoria herself!

[Varla Fiona]

I know. I was just feeling overwhelmed and vented. I had spent hours moving big heavy rocks and digging up plants to find out I did not need to do that, so I incredibly frustrated. Thanks for the sensible words, they do help. I did feel better after fencing in the evening. It is amazing how much stress can be relieved by stabbing someone with a sword.

[Emma]

Lauren (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "Emma wrote: "Lauren (Sugar & Snark) wrote: "Finished No.4"

Are you sure you're not a speed reader Lauren :-)By this rate you'll be finished by Monday."

No I wish! I am just sick in bed today and ..."

Oh shame, My husband thinks its weird that I read so much when Im ill, about 2 weeks ago I was full of Flu and read loads of books, it can be very handy when youve got challenges.

Hope you get better soon. :-)