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Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
I'm finished reading Delicate Edible Birds And Other Stories by Lauren Groff - as with most short story collections I liked some of the stories better than other's - my favorite was Majorette and my least favorite was The Wife of the Dictator - the rest were somewhere in between.My TASKS
5 POINTS
2. Epistolary Novel - The Boy Next Door - Meg Cabot
10. April Showers Bring May Flowers - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
10 POINTS
1. St. Patrick’s Day - There's No Place Like Here - Cecelia Ahern
2. Cinco De Mayo - The Wild Girl - Jim Fergus
8. Memorial and Armed Forces Day - Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
9. TNBBC Top Books - Number 91 (I was born in 1982) - The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
15 POINT TASKS
2. National Poetry Month - The Book of Irish Verse - John Montague
5. Award Winner - The Witches Of Eastwick - John Updike
9. Color/Food - One Thousand White Women: The Journals Of May Dodd - Jim Fergus (not sure what I'm making yet)
25 POINT TASKS
2. EL'S TASK - Eden's Outcasts: the story of Louisa May Alcott and her Father by John Matteson
4. ROS' TASK - Katherine by Anya Seton
6. JON'S TASK - Eleanor of Aquitaine: a life by Alison Weir
7. DARLA'S TASK - Persuasion by Jane Austen as mentioned in The Lake House
9. SARA'S TASK - Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen by Sybil G. Briton
50 POINTER
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15 POINTS1. It’s Written In the Stars…read a book that corresponds to your astrological sign… (books can be fiction or non-fiction)...
- GEMINI: Read a book about twins.
The Bobbsey Twins' Adventure in Washington by Laura Lee Hope
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Mother's Day Update
25.3 - Completed Christine Feehan's Shadow Game and Murder Game (from Lori's bookshelf) back to back - #1 and #7 in her GhostWalker series. Very explicit sexual contact and formulaic writing style. I haved mixed feelings regarding Feehan's work as I am not of the opinion that her actual writing is of high quality - I know this sounds really snobbish, but I got stung by a wasp yesterday and my brain's not firing on all cylinders (and if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell...) however, her books did hold my attention until 3 in the morning and she's sold millions of them and, admittedly, I will complete the series, but only after I regroup with some Willa Cather and Garcia-Marquez. Two stars each for Feehan.
First, congratulations to all who have already finished the Spring Challenge. I got so close and then felt like I was 'standing on the corner, watching all the girls go by' - but I finally finished my last challenge:Jon's Task: book relating to British Monarchy:
Here's my GoodReads review of this book, which I really enjoyed - thanks, Jon!
This surprised me by being a very enjoyably-readable tome of the life and times of Queen Victoria. The author succeeded (with me) in making this a very well-documented accounting of Victoria the person and woman as well as Victoria the queen. We see her as a girl, trained and manipulated for potential political gain by others. We see her relationships with her mother, with her half-sister Feodora (who she loved devotedly all her life), and especially with her husband Albert, the absolute love of her life (and the devastation his death brings to her).
In the course of telling all these personal details of Victoria's life, the author covers the political happenings, the wars, the people who served in British government - much of it told through excerpts from letters, diaries, & other documents. I was especially enthralled with the letters between Victoria & Albert, which put me in mind of the correspondence of John & Abigail Adams - in both cases showing personal love along with total participation in political/national life.
25 points added to previous 550 = 575 points as of 5.10.09 I'M DONE
Finally finished 15-6, I read 'Shadow of the Wind' by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It took me awhile to get into it, I was finally hooked around 200 pages in or so and then it was fascinating, a new twist every few pages it seems!Now I have 480 points.
5 point challenge1.
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10 point challenge
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15 point task
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25 points
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6. Royal Affairs A Lusty Romp Through the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy
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50 points
Just finished The Restaurant at the End of the Universe and really enjoyed it. I'll have to finish the series this summer. I'm halfway through my last book, so I may be done with the challenge later today.[image error]
15 Points6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language. Crime and Punishment
I finished 2 more tasks this past week!For 10 point task #6, I read Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer. It's interesting to hear the story line from Edward's perspective, but it wasn't mind-blowing. ;)
For 15 point task #8, I read Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris, as well as some interviews with her online. This is book 9 in her Southern Vampire series, and was just as exciting and enjoyable as the others have been! I couldn't put it down. :)
My point total is now 110.
Big congratulations to those who have finished the challenge! The deeper I get in, the more I realize what a huge accomplishment that is. :D
I've been off-line for the last week with personal commitments so it was delightful to come back and see that Sandy, Wendy and B J Rose have completed the Spring Challenge. Way to go!It looks like so many of you are really reading up a storm this month. Have fun with it.
Finally back on the board! I finished the somewhat long and slow moving but nonetheless beautiful At Swim, Two Boys A Novel for the 10 point Irish challenge, bringing me up to 290 points. Though it was a gorgeous book, and I'd like to read it again, it was just so depressing. I have to admit I'm kind of sick of gay fiction about unrequited love, or as in this book, love that's requited but only has a fleeting chance of realisation before something happens to one of the characters. It's just a big fat reminder that being gay or lesbian is essentially a story of missing out. Bah, humbug. Perhaps off to something cheerful for my next task :-)
I completed 10-point task 1. I read P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. It was a page-turner, but did not make me weep buckets like the movie.This brings me to 420 points!
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More updates! I've just been a reading machine this weekend. It's so great!15.1. - LIBRA: Read a book about a lawyer, the law, a judge etc.
Beach House by James Patterson
TOTAL = 190 POINTS
BJ Rose wrote: "First, congratulations to all who have already finished the Spring Challenge. I got close and then felt like I was 'standing on the corner, watching all the girls go by' - but I finally finished m..."Congratulations !!!!
I finished The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency today and read this interview with Alexander McCall Smith: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/featu...5 points
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10 points
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15 points
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7. Rhyming Books -
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25 points
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3. Angela
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Total Points: 260
Finished The Name of the Wind for 10.5. I can only liken this to an adult Harry Potter. It's not nearly as light and fun, and I was suprised after reading nearly 700 pages that the story was not any where near complete. However, it is it's own world of magical language and arts, though somewhat slow to start is a good story once it gets going.Total points: 350
Here's an update for me...25 POINT TASKS (50 points)
4. ROS’ TASK - Read a book that’s on the big reads list
Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Marquez
5. BONNIE’S TASK - Read a book outside your normal genre(s).
Watchmen - Alan Moore
(Graphic Novel)
15 POINTS (60 points)
1. VIRGO: Read a book about virginity or loss of
Little Girl Lost - Richard Aleas
(PI works to solve the murder of girl he lost his virginity to)
3. Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before
People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language
The Class - Francois Bugaudeau
(French)
8. Get To Know The Author
Dreams from My Father - Barack Obama
10 POINTS (10 points)
8. Read a book about a veteran OR someone serving in the military
American Lion Andrew Jackson in the White House - Jon Meacham
(Revolutionary War vet)
5 POINTS (15 points)
1. Read a Science Fiction OR Fantasy Novel.
Day Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko
5. For Easter/Lent/Passover…book about sacrifice
Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys
(sacrifices her home, her country, her self, etc.)
7. For Arbor Day - Reading an e-book
A Doll’s House - Henrik Ibsen
Total to date = 135 points
Finally, would we be cool with this rhyme?
The Stranger - Albert Camus
What’s the Matter with Kansas . . . - Thomas Frank
Jamie wrote: "I finished The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency today and read this interview with Alexander McCall Smith: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/featu...5 ..."
How did you like this book? I've picked up the first one because it was one sale, but I haven't heard any reviews or anything..
25.1. Read a book that starts with the letter "G" and one that starts with the letter "R": The Great Gatsby and Rickshaw Boy. I read Gatsby for school so long ago that it felt like a new read. I think I prefer his less heavily symbol-laden short stories.
Rickshaw was a tough read. While it was fascinating to read culturally, it was a tough read. Almost an inverse of a typical American rags-to-riches story. The novel depicted grinding poverty where no amount of hard-work and moral goodness allowed the protagonist to overcome the relentless ill-fortune fated him. Only in the last 15 pages offered a brief glimmer of hope.
Tasks Completed: 20/40
Pages Read: 7126
New Total: 395 pts.
Liz (Bklyn)
Many updates for me today - I just got back from a short vacation and knocked off several while I was gone. Here's the rundown:5.3 (Spring Cleaning) - Resolution by Denise Mina. One of my favorite crime writers; not sure why it sat so long!
5.4 (Planes/Trains/Autos) - Animal Farm by George Orwell. One of those classics I never got to before, but well worth the effort.
5.5 (Easter/Lent) - The Oath by Elie Wiesel. Very thought-provoking theme, and a great suggestion from this thread!
10.2 (Cinco de Mayo) - The Girl with the Crooked Nose by Ted Botha. It's about a forensic artist and his efforts to help solve the feminicidos murders in Juarez, Mexico - fascinating stuff.
10.5 (Houdini) - Inamorata by Joseph Gangemi. More about Spiritualism than magic, but Houdini was very into that as well. I'll pick something else if it's not close enough - just let me know.
15.8 (Get to Know the Author) - The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine by Benjamin Wallace, with his interview on public radio's The Splendid Table. The San Diego airport didn't have much to pick from in the way of reading material, but it did offer up this very interesting story - worth it for foodies of all stripes.
Current Total: 445
Super-revised Goal: 500
Completed Task 5.4: read audio book in car: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie: 5 PointsTOTAL POINTS = 105
5 POINT TASKS1. Prey by Michael Crichton
2. Carrie by Stephen King
3.
4.
5. Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
10 POINT TASKS
1. P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern
2. The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus
3. The book Theif by Markus Zusak
4.
5. Harry Potter and The Sorcer's Stone by: J.K. Rowling
6.
7.
8. The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy
9. The Scarlet Letter -Nathaniel Hawthorn
10.
15 POINT TASKS
1.
2. Inferno by Dante Alighieri
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
4. Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery by Joanne Fluke
5. Lost Highway: Journeys and Arrivals of American Musicians by Peter Guralnick
6. 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
7.
8. Queen of the Babble gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
9. Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins Mysteries) by Walter Mosley
10.
25 POINT TASKS
1.
2. John Adams by David McCullough
3.
4.
5.
6. The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
7.
8.
9. Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
50 POINT TASK
305/575
I finshed Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman and ate black bean and sweet potato burrito and had black grapes for dessert.I'm usually not a big fan of short stories--I always want to know more--which is why I love series so much! These were pretty good and they were all linked to one house with some recurring characters. Also, Hoffman is such a beautiful writer that I enjoyed these fairly well.
That puts me at:
335 points
7723 pages read
My original goal was 200 (I got 195 in the winter challenge). Now, I might get up to 400.
Allison wrote: "Jamie wrote: "I finished The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency today and read this interview with Alexander McCall Smith: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/featu......"I thought it was really good. I really like the main characters (Precious and JLB) and I enjoyed the cultural aspect a lot, which made this very different from most mysteries I've read. I'd already read McCall Smith's The Sunday Philosophy Club and didn't enjoy it at all, so I was hesitant to read this book. In the end, I'm glad I gave him another chance and I'm sure I'll be moving on to the next in the series sometime soon. I hope you enjoy it!
Added 25 points after finishing off a science fiction book 1984, a book by a comedian, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris and books 3, 4, & 5 in a series. Club Dead, Dead to the World, and Dead as a Doornail all by Charlaine Harris.Total as of 5/11/09-155
Finished 15 point task - read a book set in a location to which you have travelled during Spring break. I read Fortune House by Kirsty Scott (managed to pick up a pre-release copy from the library - complete happy accident!) which is set in Scotland ... where I spent a weekend in May many years ago. I loved this book!Total points: 330
LEADERBOARD
1. DONNA JO - 575
2. SANDY - 575
3. WENDY - 575
4. BJ ROSE - 575
5. KRISTEN IL - 575
***************
KRISTENR - 560
BRIDGIT - 545
LEORA - 545
LIZZI - 545
RORA - 540
ASHLEY ID - 505
BEV - 500
CAIT - 490
SHARON - 470
AMY MA - 460
BETH MN - 455
JESSICA IL - 455
ALICE - 450
SARA TX - 450
ANGELA IL - 440
TINA - 435
APRIL NY - 420
KRISTINA GA - 420
MEGHAN - 410
JOSIE - 400
LIZ BRKLYN - 395
LOUISE - 395
MAGGIE - 385
EL - 375
RORY - 370
BONNIE - 365
KRITIKA - 360
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 355
ELIZABETH NC - 350
NICOLE NC - 350
ANGIE - 345
PERS - 345
JILLIAN - 340
SARA E - 340
SUSAN - 330
SUZIER - 330
LORI TX - 320
STEPH - 320
REBECCA J - 315
ROSEANN - 310
RHIANNON - 305
LINDSEY - 300
SANDIE - 300
CATHEROO - 295
LYNLEE4 - 295
DAVID - 290
JUDITH IA - 290
EVA - 280
MARY BETH - 275
JOY - 270
LAURA NY - 270
JAMIE MN - 260
KATE - 260
COURTNEY - 255
WV HEATHER - 255
BECKY - 250
JOANN - 250
MALIADES - 250
RENFREW - 250
FALLON - 245
JON - 245
SERA - 245
KRISTINA UK - 240
STEPHANIE CA - 240
JENNIFER IN - 230
ALISHA - 225
JEN B - 225
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
HAYES - 210
LIZ VEGAS - 210
REBECCA - 210
CAROL - 200
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 200
VICTORIA - 200
ASHLEY AL - 190
BETH - 190
MANDAY - 190
RALPH - 180
SARAH PA - 175
AMY R - 170
JOANNA - 165
MARIE - 165
RYAN - 165
JEN MD - 155
JESSICA SC - 155
JOANIE - 155
JULIE (ID)'S - 155
LACY - 155
POTJY - 155
TRYPHENA - 155
KATHRYN - 150
LILY - 150
ROS - 150
CYNDEE - 145
LAUREN - 145
MEGAN - 145
JEANE - 140
TERRI - 140
TRACY - 140
KAREN - 135
SAM - 135
ASHLEY UT - 130
HEATHER KS - 130
JEGKA - 130
MADELINE - 130
ANN FROM SC - 125
MELODY - 125
NATALIA - 125
SLAYERMEL - 125
CASSIE - 120
KICKI - 115
RACHEL WA - 115
SUSANNA UK - 115
ABBIE - 110
CATHERINE - 105
LINDA - 105
SHANNON - 105
CYNTHIA - 100
AMANDA - 95
MACKENZIE - 95
ALLISON MO - 90
JENNY - 90
JESSICA MI - 90
MEL - 90
SAI - 90
JAMIE WA - 85
MEREDITH H - 85
JULIE TN - 80
KELLY MA - 80
KIM UK - 80
KIM US - 80
VICKI - 80
JULIE UK - 75
RACHEL CA - 75
SHELLIE - 70
SLAIMI - 70
ALYSSA - 60
KELLY - 60
LDB - 55
ROBIN - 55
KATIE - 50
5PEASINAPOD - 45
ELIZ - 45
JULIE KS - 40
LISA JULIANNA - 40
LIZ NY - 40
TOBIE - 40
JAMIE 23 - 35
MORGAN - 35
JUDITH NY - 30
DOROTHY - 25
JAIME 26 - 25
KRISTI - 25
MARY - 25
MELISSA - 25
LAZARUS - 20
NICOLE CA - 20
CAITLIN - 15
JENNI - 15
GREG - 10
MICHELLE - 5
SHELBY - 5
I started too late and won't be able to finish. I am hoping to do the summer challenge.
I just finished reading Genghis Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden and will give it to my mom this weekend. Now I'm at 80 points.
Completed 25.8 Cassie's Task: Two YA Books: Really enjoyed A Wizard of Earth Sea and Tombs of Atuan by Usrula le Guin.New Tally
4 x 5 = 20
5 x 15 = 75
3 x 25 = 75
Total 170
For 25 points:3. ANGELA’S TASK - Look for your first post in the Official Spring Challenge. Once you find it, look at the person below you and go to their profile and pick TWO books to read off of their shelves.
I read One for the Money and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
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Whose shelf were those off of? (Could be mine...)
Oops! They were from Maggie's shelf - thanks, Maggie!!
Oooh... I had her, too! I read the first two Undead books by MaryJanice Davidson.
Loved People of the Book! It´s a touching story.5 Points
1 - Coraline by Neil Gaiman
2 - Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
5 - Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice
6 - Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
8 -
10 - The House of Thunder by Dean Koontz
10 Points
1 - In the Woods by Tana French
2 - Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
3 - not yet
4 - Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
6 - Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
7 - Pandora by Anne Rice
8 - Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
9 - I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
15 Points
1 - Nightmare in Pink by John D. MacDonald
2 -
4 - Blindness by José Saramago
7 - ---
8 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling audiobook
10 - ---
25 Points
1 - not yet
2 - not yet
3 - not yet
6 - not yet
9 - not yet
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Loretta - you can use any book that you've read since March 1st that fits the task requirements, if that helps.
15 Point Task Completed: 4. Spring Break Location: The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Points to Date: 240/575
Tasks Completed: 18/40
Finished task 25.5 and read Invisible Man.This was a required book for one of my classes, and I never would have picked it up other wise. It was so so, I think I had a hard time getting into the story because I had to look for connections and symbolism within the story, and analyze each chapter- yuck.
5 points
1. Science Fiction/Fantasty: The Amber Spyglass
2. Epistolary Novel: Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot
3. Spring Cleaning: Girl With A Pearl Earring
4. Planes/Trains/Automobiles:
5. Easter: No Wonder They Call Him Savior
7. Arbor Day: Shepherd of the Hills (ebook)
8: April Fool's Day: Dear Walter
9: Spring Animal: The Patron Saint of Butterflies
10. April Showers Bring May Flowers: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
10 points
1. St. Patricks Day: The Likeness
2. Cinco De Mayo: Pedro Paramo
3. ANZAC Day: True History of the Kelly Gang
4. Author Born in March/April/May: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
6. Earth Day: The Pillars of the Earth
7. Mother's Day: Three Cups of Tea
8. Memorial/Armed Forces Day: Code Talkers
9. TNBBC Top Books: Fall On Your Knees
15 points
1. Star Sign (Gemini): Multiple Blessings
2. National Poetry Month: Great Short Poems
3. TNBBC read: A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. Visited Place: Haunted Missouri
5. Literary Prize: Love
6. Translated: Inkheart
7. Rhyming Titles: Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook & A Gentle Madness...Book
9. Color in Title: The Red Tent
10. 3/4/5: Sookie Stackhouse Series (Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail)
25 points
1. Title G and R: The Secret Garden & Rereadings
2. Nonfiction diarest: The Journal of Emily Pepys
3. Spring Challenge Book: A Separate Place & The Geography of Bliss
4. Big Read: Anna Karenina
6. English Royalty: Royal Panopoly
7. Movie: Everything Is Illuminated
9. Title of 12 Words: Among the Gently Mad: Strategies and Perspectives for the Book Hunter of the 21st Century
50 points
1. Read a book written by an author under their real name and a book written under their pen name: On Writing & The Regulators
Total Points: 90
There is no way I will come close to finishing, but it was fun to find all the books.
I am officially done with school tomorrow, so I'm hoping I can catch up on some of the shorter/lighter reads.
Updates:5. Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage (book of sacrifice) 5 pts.
7. A Dragon Lover's Tapestry (eBook) 5 pts.
5. The Changling Sea by Patricia A. MacKillop (magic) 10 pts.
6. Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L'Engle (planet) 10 pts.
10. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis (Alan's Profile) 10 pts.
2. The Well-Tempered Tantrum (Poetry) 15pts.
4. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (one chapter takes place in Salt Lake City). 15 pts.
6. Igraine the Brave (translated from German) 15 pts.
8. Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (Interview in new issue of Mormon Artist) 15 pts.
3. Magician's Nephew and Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. 25 pts.
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 25 pts.
8. Change to Pillage by Obert Skye and Physik by Angie Sage (YA books) 25 pts.
New Total 280 Pts.
5 pts. 5/10
10 pts. 4/10
15 pts. 6/10
25 pts. 5/9
David wrote: "Updates:5. Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage (book of sacrifice) 5 pts.
I've been meaning to read that book for a LONG time... I picked it up once (just to flip through), and it seemed very... well, JAM-PACKED with information. Like it would take a LONG TIME to get through. Did it take you long to read it?
I think I want to read A Marvelous Work and a Wonder first... My husband says it's really good. I flipped through it a couple of Sundays ago and it seems to be VERY thorough, as well.
I just finished Jon's task! and was suprised at how much I enjoyed reading The 6 Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. My review:
I am really surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. When I picked it up, I expected it to be moderately interesting, with some new information about these 6 women. Wow! I was very pleasantly suprised. The writing was very good, and the book flowed well. It reads more like a novel than non fiction, and was faster reading than I thought it would be. I will probably pick up more books by this author, and definitely wouldn't mind owning some of them.
That brings my new total to 455! I may actually finish!
I finished Princess Academy by Shannon Hale for the sign task (I'm a Leo--book about royalty). I read this with a small group in my classroom and had a great time discussing it with the kids. We meet tomorrow for the final group and they had such a hard time not telling me what happened at the end. (of course, they all finished before me!)That puts me at
350 points
8059 pages read
Finished 5 point task #5 The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. What a beautiful, wonderful book. I definitely want to check out some of her other work. Also finished the 50 point task - read Blaze A Novel by Richard Bachman and On Writing by Stephen King. Both were excellent. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Blaze, as I have not particularly cared for any of the other Bachman books. This one was an homage to "Of Mice & Men" - pretty cool - and the character of Blaze was unexpectedly touching. On Writing was just plain enjoyable to read, as I am a long time Stephen King fan. It was like hanging out with him talking about his life & his craft. I am not a writer, but it seemed like great stuff - I would definitely recommend it for aspiring writers, even those who aren't King fans. Total points these tasks: 55
Total points to date: 500
I finished four more tasks over the weekend--5.7--HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF FIRE read by Jim Dale
I am not an audio book listener at all, but I thoroughly enjoyed the performance of Mr. Dale! This is still my favorite Potter book.
5.8--Ash, Russell & Lake, Brian--FROG RAISING FOR
PROFIT AND OTHER BIZARRE BOOKS
An account of some of the wierdest titles of books found in the British Library. Very funny for any bibliophile!
10.6--Smith, L Neil--THE VENUS BELT
I was actually disappointed in this title as I am normally a big SF fan, but this book from the 1980's read more like a dime mystery novel from the 40's in it's style and treatment of women. Just not my cup of tea.
15.1 Fell, Derrick--VAN GOGH’S WOMEN
A treatise on how women affected the life of Van Gogh. I was really looking forward to this title and it wound up being the hardest for me to complete due to the writer's style (a bit boring) and the fact that he was obviously Freudian in his conclusions. I did enjoy finding out a little more about this artist whose work I love.
This brings my total to 310. I am now going to see if my husband is still alive before I begin more titles ;-).
I finished my 50 point task and a 15 point task (in bold below) which really gave my total points a big boost. 5 Point Tasks
1. Every Witch Way But Dead - Kim Harrison
2.
3.
4.
5. The Negotiator - Dee Henderson
6. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander Smith McCall
7.
8. My Booky Wook - Russell Brand
9. Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
10. Silent Thunder - Iris Johansen
10 Point Tasks
1.
2. Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
3. Stanley & Sophie - Kate Jennings
4. Light Before Day - Christopher Rice
5. TBD
6. Lunar Park - Bret Easton Ellis
7. Nancy Bush - Candy Apple Red
8. TBD
9. Fair & Tender Ladies - Lee Smith
10.
15 Point Tasks
1. Sagitarius - Playing for Pizza - John Grisham
2. TBD
3. The Abstinence Teacher - Tom Perrotta
4.
5. TBD
6. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
7.
8.
9. Red - Erica Spindler
10. Third Degree - Greg Iles, Fourth Watcher - Timothy Hallinan and Perfect Fifths - Megan McCafferty
25 point Tasks
1.
2. TBD
3. The Swan Maiden - Heather Tomlinson and The Beach House - James Patterson
4. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
5. TBD
6. TBD
7. TBD
8.
9.
50 point Task:
Previous Total Points: 145
New Total Points: 210
I'm getting there....
Finished the 50 pointer-yay!I read "The Courts of Love" by Jean Plaidy and "Seven for a Secret" by her pseudonym Victoria Holt.
Liked them both, I have a fondness for istorical fiction, so Courts of Love was a fave, it is narrated by Eleanor Of Aquataine whom was a fascinating woman!
My point total is now 530, only 4 to go!
Knocked off 10.1 (St. Patty's Day) with Ken Bruen's The Magdalen Martyrs - super-dark Irish noir that makes you think you should be drinking whiskey straight with it. Current Total: 455
Super-Revised Goal: 500
15-2 is down! The Inferno by Dante Alighieri, loved it! I picked up what seemed to be an easy translation so it was fun to read!545 points, 3 to go but I haven't even started them yet so it's gonna be awhile!
Congrats to all those who have finished thus far!
Completed three more tasks:5 Points
8. April Fool's Humorous Novel
How Right You Are, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
25 Points
7. Book Referenced in a Movie
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (from On Golden Pond and then I watched the movie again because I love Katherine Hepburn)
8. Two YA novels
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Coffin Quilt by Ann Rinaldi
New Total: 255 points
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Tempting Fate (other topics)Romeo and Juliet (other topics)
Romeo and Juliet (other topics)
Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze?: And 114 Other Questions (other topics)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Anita Shreve (other topics)Markus Zusak (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
Paulo Coelho (other topics)
Douglas Adams (other topics)
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3. Spring Cleaning: Touchstone
Boy did I race through this one! It was fun, as all King's books are. It's been on my list for eons. I'm glad I finally got to it.