OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009 Showing 5,701-5,750 of 6,381

[Josie]

I read books 3, 4 and 5 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which completes task 15.10!
Total: 415 points

[Sarah D]

I finally finished the 50 point task. I really didn't expect to accumulate over 100 points for this challenge so I am quite proud of myself! For this task I read Naked in Death by J.D. Robb and Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts. Believe it or not I don't think I've ever read any of her books and I really liked both of them.

New total 225 points!!

[Terri]

My mum recommended I read Torey Hayden's Overheard in a Dream, which I have now just finished, so that's another 10 points for me. Have to say, I didn't really enjoy this and was quite disappointed.

Total points: 340

[Bridgit]

Cynthia wrote: "Bridgit wrote: "Just finished Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible for the 5 point Arbor Day task. This one took me a while, but I am glad that i pushed through and read it. The wr..."

Whoops. Of course by arbor day, i actually meant 5.10 April Showers - book with the name of a plant or tree in the name. Thats what i get for assuming i remember which task i am reading for...

Total: 550

[Joy Marie]

Completed the 50 point category! YIPEE!!!!
Finished "From A Buick 8" by Stephen King, which I loved, and "Blaze" by Richard Bachman which I liked, but didn't think it was wonderful.

5 POINTS

#1 Coraline by Neil Gaiman 4/15/09
#3 Angels & Demons by Dan Brown 4/9/09
#4 I listened to this audiobook in my car during the 7 hr drive to and 7 hr drive from the Texas Valley. Andrew Jackson by Robert V. Remini 3/21/09
#7 To the Nines by Janet Evanovich Giving the book to my friend at work. 5/5/09
#8 Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich 3/31/09

10 POINTS

#2 Like Water for Chocolate byLaura Esquivel 3/23/09
#3 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 4/25/09
#4 Seven Up by Janet Evanovich 3/5/09
#7 My mom's name is Kathleen. Calamity Jayne by Kathleen Bacus 4/2/09
#9 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams #77 off the TNBBC Top Books List (I was born in 1977) 3/26/09

15 POINTS

#2 Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell 4/26/09
#4 Went to the Texas Valley for spring break and also crossed the border into Mexico and visited South Padre Island. Living on the Edge of America At Home on the Texas-Mexico Border by Robert Lee Maril 4/21/09
#6 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 3/6/09

25 POINTS

#1 The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams AND
The Glass Castle A Memoir by Jeannette Walls 4/16/09
#3 From Eva's List (THANKS EVA!) The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve AND The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom 3/20/09
#4 Big Reads List #15 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 5/4/09
#5 Manhunt The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson I NEVER read true crime and don't plan to again any time soon!....3/13/09
#6 Royal Affairs A Lusty Romp Through the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy by Leslie Carroll 4/30/09
#8 Beauty Shop for Rent . . . fully equipped, inquire within by Laura Bowers and Eva Underground by Dandi Daley Mackall 3/30/09

50 POINTS

From a Buick 8 by Stephen King and Blaze A Novel by Richard Bachman 5/13/09



[image error]

[Shannon SA]

Completed task 25.7: Book mentioned in a film: Persuasion by Jane Austen from The Jane Austen Book Club = 25 points
TOTAL POINTS = 130

[Becky]

Goal: 390 Points / 32 books

---Stats---
Earned Points: 265 of 390
Books Read: 22 of 32
Total Pages Read: 8693
-----------

5 POINT TASKS
1. Read a SF OR Fantasy Novel.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (SF) (Read 4.5.09)

2. Read an epistolary novel.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (Read 3.26.09)

4. Read/Listen in a Plane, Train or Car.
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (audiobook) (Read 3.13.09)

5. Read a Christian Fiction novel.
Showdown by Ted Dekker

6. Read a novel with woman, lady, etc in the title.
Lady Susan by Jane Austen (Read 4.25.09)

7. Read a book and "recycle" it.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (Sent to Kandice.) (Read 4.4.09)

8. Read a humorous novel.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman (Read 3.11.09)

9. Read a book with a spring animal in the title.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

10. Read a book with a type of tree or flower in the title.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy (Read 4.15.09)

10 POINT TASKS
1. Read a book by an Irish author, set in Ireland, OR about Ireland.
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (Read 3.4.09)

4. Read a book by an author who was born in March, April, or May.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides /Born: March 8, 1960 (Read 4.19.09)

5. Read a book about magic, a magician etc.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susana Clarke (Read 3.3.09)

6. Read a book with the word Earth, Moon, World, etc in the title.
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks (Read 3.19.09)

7. Read a book recommended by/given to you by your mother.
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst

8. Read a book about a veteran OR someone serving in the military.
Othello by William Shakespeare (Read 4.10.09)

9. Read a book from the TNBBC Top Book list.
I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith (#1 - I was born in 1982)

10. TNBBC member 5-Star rated book.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Thanks Heather from page 39!) (Read 3.17.09)

15 POINT TASKS
1. LIBRA: Read a book about a lawyer, the law, a judge etc.
The Last Juror by John Grisham

2. Read a book of poetry OR about a famous poet.
Inferno by Dante Alighieri (Read 3.14.09)

3. Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before.
Neverwhere: A Novel by Neil Gaiman (Read 5.12.09)

6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language.
The Plague by Albert Camus

8. Read a book by an author AND then either attend a reading by that author OR read/listen to an interview with that author.
Duma Key by Stephen King (Read 4.12.09) - Read this interview: www.powells.com/interviews/stephenkin...

9. Read a book with a color in the title AND eat a meal that includes at least 2 foods of that color.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
(Planned foods: Garlic and Feta cheese mashed potatoes and vanilla ice-cream)

25 POINT TASKS
1. Karen's Task: Read a book starting with "G" & a book starting with "R".
The Green Mile (Complete Serial Novel) by Stephen King (Read 3.7.09) & Roots by Alex Haley (Read 4.2.09)

4. Ros's Task: Read a book from the Big Reads List.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

5. Bonnie's Task: Read a book outside my normal genre.
(Non-fictional memoir -- I normally read fiction: fantasy, horror, classics, etc.)
Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther (Read 3.8.09)

7. Darla's Task: Read a book referenced or shown in a movie you've seen.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (Referenced in "The English Patient".) (Read 3.29.09)

8. Cassie's Task: Read two YA novels.
Blue Is For Nightmares & White Is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz

50 POINT TASK
1. Sandy's Task: Read two books by an author writing under two different names.
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman and Lisey's Story by Stephen King (Read 4.24.09)

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

The Sun Also Rises was I think the second Hemingway I ever read, and the one I enjoyed the most.

[Cait]

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who didn't like The Catcher in the Rye.

I finished reading Coraline for task 5.1. What a creepy little children's book! I enjoyed it. My 8 year old read it a few weeks ago and liked it a lot too.

That brings me to 520 points. Only 4 more books to go: The World According to Garp, Shampoo Planet, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and my Princess Diana biography. I see the light at the end of the tunnel! :o)

[Terri]

Coraline is really creepy. I can still imagine those eyes...

[Morgan P]

For 15.8 I read the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. That's fifteen points and that brings my total to 50 points.

[Cynthia]

Morgan wrote: "For 15.8 I read the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. That's fifteen points and that brings my total to 50 points."I gave you the points but if you could say where you read/heard the interview etc. for that task I'd appreciate it.

[Josie]

Last night I finished reading Like Water for Chocolate for task 10.2. - I thought it a bit...odd, to say the least. The book seems firmly grounded in reality, and then all these random supernatural things start happening! Especially the ending, I didn't like the ending, but I enjoyed reading it up till then...
Total: 425 points

[Beth F]

5 POINTS
1:Stolen by Kelley Armstrong (4/06/09)
2:84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (3/04/09)
4:From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (3/10/09)
6:The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (4/10/09)
7: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (3/12/09)
8:The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (4/12/09)

10 POINTS
1:Angelas Ashes by Frank McCourt (4/13/09)
3:Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody (3/20/09)
4:A Great and Terribly Beauty by Libba Bray (3/02/09)
5:The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (5/13/09)
6:Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (3/11/09)
7:The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (4/12/09)
8:The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane (4/25/09)
9:The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (4/28/09)
10:All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (3/03/09)

15 POINTS
1:Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (4/21/09)
3:The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (4/02/09)
4:Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore (3/30/09)
5:The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald (4/07/09)
6:The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (3/13/09)
7:A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix (5/01/09) and Lush Life by Richard Price (5/08/09)
8:City Dog by Alison Pace (3/01/09)
9:The Black Dagger Brotherhood an Insider's Guide by J.R. Ward (4/04/09)

25 POINTS
1:The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3/09/09) and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (3/16/09)
2:A Midwifes Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (4/16/09)
4:The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (3/24/09)
5:The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (3/27/09)
7:The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (5/04/09)
8:Holes by Louis Sachar (3/17/09) and Life: An Autobiography as Told by Jack Gunthridge by Jack Gunthridge (3/18/09)
9:I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away by Bill Bryson (4/20/09)

50 POINTS
1: Master of Seduction by Kinley MacGregor (4/17/09) and Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/23/09)


[image error]

Points: 465
# of Tasks Completed: 31.83/40
# of Books Read: 37
# of Pages Read: 11,500 (+1 audiobook)
-Beth MN

[April]

I completed 10-point task 8. I read Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien. Basically it's about a soldier who deserts during the Vietnam War and the whole squad goes after him.

This brings me to 430 points!


[image error]

[Rach]

For 15 point task #6, I read Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist, translated into English from the original Swedish. It was recommended to me by a guy I was chatting with while waiting in line to go see Star Trek this weekend. :D

After talking about the Dexter books and vampires, he said this was one of the best books he's read recently. I found it in the "horror" section of the bookstore, so it's not something I would have happened upon by myself. I wouldn't myself classify it as horror, because I haven't been frightened while I read, but maybe I am becoming to desensitized to vampires?

I would definitely recommend it to everyone, especially if you are vampire obsessed, like I am. And if you'd like a more detailed review, there is one on my page.

My point total is now up to 130.

[Sandy]

Josie wrote: "Last night I finished reading Like Water for Chocolate for task 10.2. - I thought it a bit...odd, to say the least. The book seems firmly grounded in reality, and then all these random ..."
I totally agree with you Josie, I too was also enjoying it until the end.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

Just got 25 points for Angela's task (member on the same page as you--Nicole's list). I read Lolita and The Time Traveler's Wife.

New Total:

Jamie(23)-- 60 points

[Sandie]

Completed Angela's task for 25 points. I read The History of Love by Nicole Krauss and The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards from Beths shelves.


[image error]

[Sharon75uk]

Tasks completed

10. April Showers Bring May Flowers…
Nights of Rain and Stars – Maeve Binchy READ
- Read one book with a Rain related word (rain, thunder, storm, shower etc.) in the title OR
- Read a book with the name of A TYPE of tree or flower in the title.

NEW TOTAL = 470 points

5 points

1 Inkheart (Inkheart, Book 1) by Cornelia Funke READ
2 The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank READ
3 . Falling Out of Fashion – Karen Yamplosky READ
4 Little Women - EBOOK (reading)
5 The Red Tent – Anita Diamant READ
6 Mah, Adeline Yen Title Falling leaves return to their roots : the true story of an unwanted Chinese daughter READ
7 Sepulchre / Kate Mosse READ read then give to library
8 Three bags full / Leonie Swan READ
9 The One Flew over the cukoos nest – Kesey READ
10 Nights of Rain and Stars – Maeve Binchy READ

45/50 points

10 points
1 Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy READ
2 Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel READ
3 Author Grenville, Kate Title The Secret river READ
4 SUE GRAFTON P is for Peril READ
5 inkspell READ
6 The Almost Moon – Alice Sebold READ
7 The outcast / Sadie Jones READ
8 Band of Eagles – Frank Barnard READ
9 Numer 1 on the list - I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith READ
10 Bridget Jones Diary – Helen Fielding READ

100/100 points

15 points

1 Riordan, Rick Title The lightning thief READ
2 On Hundred Favourite Humorous Poems - Classic FM READ
People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks (ordered)
4 Edinburgh – Greyfriars Bobby – David Ross READ
One city / Alexander McCall Smith, Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh READ
5 PD James - An Unsuitable Job for a Woman READ
6 Love in the time of Cholera READ
7 : Alias Grace Mary Higgins Clark & No Place Like Home A Novel Margaret Atwood (ordered)
8 The Unbearable Lightness of Scones – Alexander McCall Smith READ
Then read about him online. DONE
9 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE READ
CARROT AND SWEET POTATO MASH
10 Stirling, Jessica - Sisters three READ
Caldwell, Ian – Rule of Four READ
Harris, Joanna – Five quarters of the orange (on shelf)

105/150 points

25 points
1 Restless – William Boyd READ and The Gargoyle – Andrew Davidson READ
2 Wordsworth, Dorothy Title Dorothy Wordsworth's illustrated Lakeland journals READ
3 The Cellist of Sarajevo – Steven Galloway READ
When Will There Be good news – Kate Atkinson READ
4 Animal Farm – George Orwell READ
5 Young Adult – Angus, Thongs and perfect snogging READ
6 In The Footsteps of Robert Bruce – Alan Young & Michael J Stead 190 pages READ
On the Trail of William Wallace – David R. Ross 146 pages READ
Mary Queen of Scots – Jayne Elizabeth Lewis READ
COMPETED BOOK REVIEWS FOR 3 BOOKS
7 Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice READ
8 The growing pains of Adrian Mole – Sue Townsend READ
Private peaceful – Michael Morpurgo READ
9 Waiting for Daisy : the true story of one couple's quest to have a baby / Peggy Orenstein READ

225/225 points


50 POINT TASK
Naked In Death – JD Robb (ordered)
Red Lily – Nora Roberts READ

0/50



Total 475 points
 

[Kate]

Completed Tasks

5 Points
#1 Uglies
#2 P.S. Longer Letter Later
#5 The Giving Tree
10 Points
#4 Private by Kate Brian - birthday March 11, 1974.
#5 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
#9 84, Charing Cross Road born in 1988.
#10 1st to Die Fiona gave it a 5-star and we both joined this group on the same page!
15 Points
#2 Where the Sidewalk Ends
#6 Night Originally written in French
#8 Identical The link to the interview I read is http://www.teensreadtoo.com/Interview...
25 Points
#7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets This appeared in the movie "Cinderella Story"
#9 He's Just Not That Into You The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys
50 Points
#1 I was a Non Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott (real name); Invitation Only by Kate Brian (pen name)
Total Points: 200

[image error]

[El]

25 POINT TASK.
7. DARLA'S TASK - Read a book you've either seen in a movie or heard referenced in a movie.
Cash The Autobiography, Johnny Cash - referenced in the movie, High Fidelity:

"Hey, I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I'm certainly not the dumbest. I mean, I've read books like The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Love in the Time of Cholera, and I think I've understood them. They're about girls, right? Just kidding. But I have to say my all-time favorite book is Johnny Cash's autobiography Cash by Johnny Cash."

TOTAL POINTS: 400.

[Amy C]

Completed 25.1 Karen's task by reading The Giver and The Reader. They were both 5-star books.

New Tally
5 x 5 = 25
5 x 15 = 75
4 x 25 = 100
Total 200

[Ashley]

I finihsed Girl with a Pearl Earring for the 15 pt astrology task. I am a Capricorn, and read about an artist. I must say, I was suprised by this book, but I liked it. I thought Griet was a very well written character, with a strong voice. All the supporting characters were pretty well written, although a few times I felt that she was trying to add dimension, but didn't get very far with it...
I love the way Griet talks about the painter, always as he, or him. I almost always felt that I should be reading the word in italics. You could feel the way she thought of him. That was cool.
Overall, not a new favorite, but I really liked it, and will probably pick up some other books by this author.

New total 520

[Jamie]

Amy - One of your books for Karen's task needs to begin with an "R."

[Amy C]

Jamie wrote: "Amy - One of your books for Karen's task needs to begin with an "R.""

Thanks, I'll correct the post. (I added the wrong book.)

[Cynthia]

LEADERBOARD
1. DONNA JO - 575
2. SANDY - 575
3. WENDY - 575
4. BJ ROSE - 575
5. KRISTEN IL - 575
***************
BRIDGIT - 570
KRISTENR - 560
RORA - 555
LEORA - 545
LIZZI - 545
ASHLEY ID - 530
CAIT - 520
BEV - 500
ALICE - 490
BETH MN - 490
SHARON - 475
ANGELA IL - 470
JESSICA IL - 470
AMY MA - 460
TINA - 460
SARA TX - 450
APRIL NY - 440
JOSIE - 425
KRISTINA GA - 420
MAGGIE - 415
MEGHAN - 410
EL - 405
KRITIKA - 400
LIZ BRKLYN - 395
LOUISE - 395
RORY - 370
BONNIE - 365
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 365
PERS - 355
ELIZABETH NC - 350
NICOLE NC - 350
ANGIE - 345
JILLIAN - 355
JOY - 345
JUDITH IA - 340
SARA E - 340
SUZIER - 340
LORI TX - 335
SUSAN - 330
SANDIE - 325
RHIANNON - 320
STEPH - 320
REBECCA J - 315
ROSEANN - 310
LINDSEY - 300
MARY BETH - 300
CATHEROO - 295
LYNLEE4 - 295
DAVID - 290
JAMIE MN - 290
EVA - 280
LAURA NY - 270
BECKY - 265
STEPHANIE CA - 265
KATE - 260
COURTNEY - 255
WV HEATHER - 255
ALISHA - 250
JOANN - 250
MALIADES - 250
RENFREW - 250
FALLON - 245
JON - 245
SERA - 245
KRISTINA UK - 240
JEN B - 230
JENNIFER IN - 230
HAYES - 225
SARAH PA - 225
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
CAROL - 210
LIZ VEGAS - 210
REBECCA - 210
AMY R - 200
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 200
KATHRYN - 200
VICTORIA - 200
ASHLEY AL - 190
BETH - 190
MANDAY - 190
RALPH - 180
JEANE - 165
JOANNA - 165
MARIE - 165
RYAN - 165
ASHLEY UT - 155
JEN MD - 155
JESSICA SC - 155
JOANIE - 155
JULIE (ID)'S - 155
LACY - 155
POTJY - 155
RACHEL WA - 155
TRYPHENA - 155
LILY - 150
ROS - 150
SLAYERMEL - 150
CYNDEE - 145
LAUREN - 145
MEGAN - 145
TERRI - 140
TRACY - 140
KAREN - 135
MADELINE - 135
SAM - 135
HEATHER KS - 130
JEGKA - 130
SHANNON - 130
ANN FROM SC - 125
MELODY - 125
NATALIA - 125
CASSIE - 120
KICKI - 115
SUSANNA UK - 115
ABBIE - 110
MACKENZIE - 110
SHELLIE - 110
CATHERINE - 105
LINDA - 105
CYNTHIA - 100
AMANDA - 95
MEL - 95
ALLISON MO - 90
JENNY - 90
JESSICA MI - 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
SLAIMI - 70
ALYSSA - 60
JAMIE 23 - 60
KELLY - 60
LDB - 55
ROBIN - 55
KATIE - 50
MORGAN - 50
5PEASINAPOD - 45
ELIZ - 45
JULIE KS - 40
LISA JULIANNA - 40
LIZ NY - 40
TOBIE - 40
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

[Stephanie]

25 Point Task Completed:
5. Bonnie's Task: Baby, Let's Make a Baby Plus Ten More Stories by Kirk Curnutt (short stories)

Points to Date: 265/575
Tasks Completed: 19/40

[Tina]

10 POINTS

9. Read a book from the TNBBC Top Books list --- Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

15 POINTS

1. It’s Written In the Stars --- (Sag) Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury

Total Points: 460
Tasks Completed: 36

[Leah]

Ashley wrote: "I just finished El's diarist task. I read Walden by Henry David Thoreau.
I was really disappointed in this book. I have wanted to read it for a while, and was excited to get to it, but I could no..."

Yay! I had just about decided I wasn't going to do this task, as I was trying to complete it with books I owned or had in the store, and I just couldn't find anything that I thought fit this...but I didn't even think about Walden! I had it on the shelf, and I've been meaning to read it for a while - so if I can get through it, I just might finish this thing!! Thanks for the idea! Although, hmmm...I have a sneaking suspicion I will probably agree with your opinion. I have a vague memory of trying to read it once before and tossing it aside. Maybe it will be better this time around - older, wiser, and all that... :)

[Nicole]

I finished the 50 point task with Hot Six from Janet Evanovich and Full House which was published under Steppie Hall. Full House was one of her earlier romances, and though it didn't have the full punch of the Plum novels, it was still a light, fun read. Both of these books had me laughing out loud and were a great break from some of the heavier things I've been reading lately.

Total points: 400

[Cynthia]

I just finished The Forgotten Garden A Novel - this is one of those rare books that leaves you speechless. It's just an amazing story, beautifully written, tragic yet hopeful....something everyone should read in my opinion. Lovers of history, mystery, and fairytales should be running to the stores or library to pick this up. Unknowingly this the third book I've picked and read for this challenge that floats between the present and the past and I loved all three but this is my favorite. This is Kate Morton's second book and I enjoyed her first book but she really outdid herself with this one. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year.

My TASKS

5 POINTS
1. Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel - A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

2. Epistolary Novel - The Boy Next Door - Meg Cabot

3. Spring Cleaning - Little Bitty Lies - Mary Kay Andrews

4. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Task - The Dominant Blonde - Alisa Kwitney

5. Easter/Lent - Deep in the Heart of Trouble - Deeanne Gist

6. Women’s History Month - The Measure of a Lady - Deeanne Gist

7. Arbor Day - The Color Line - Lizette Carter (plan to recycle with paperbackswap or donate to the library when I'm done)

8. April Fools Day - Seven Up - Janet Evanovich

9. “Spring” Animals - Delicate Edible Birds - Lauren Groff

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

3. ANZAC Day - People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks

4. Born In March, April, or May - Hot Six - Janet Evanovich

5. Harry Houdini’s Birthday - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

6. Earth Day - Sunrise - Jacquelyn Cook

7. Mother’s Day - Across the Color Line by Lizette Carter (she gave it to me)

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

10. 5 STAR TNBBC MEMBER BOOK - Can You Keep A Secret? - Sophie Kinsella - JOANIE'S 5 pointer

15 POINT TASKS
1. Written In The Stars - The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory - (I'm a Leo)

2. National Poetry Month - The Book of Irish Verse - John Montague

3. TNBBC Group Read - The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory

4. Vacation Location Book - Courting Trouble - Deeanne Gist

5. Award Winner - The Witches Of Eastwick - John Updike

6. Translated Book - Chez moi - Agnes Desarthe

7. Rhyme Time - Shoe Addicts Anonymous, Two For The Dough - Beth Harbison, Janet Evanovich

8. Meet the Author - Figures of Silk by Vanora Bennett http://www.vanorabennett.com/

9. Color/Food - One Thousand White Women: The Journals Of May Dodd - Jim Fergus (not sure what I'm making yet)

10. Three, Four, Five - Three To Get Deadly, Four To Score, High Five - Janet Evanovich

25 POINT TASKS
1. KAREN'S TASK - The Gates of Trevalyan by Jacquelyn Cook, The Rosetti Letter by Christie Phillips

2. EL'S TASK - Eden's Outcasts: the story of Louisa May Alcott and her Father by John Matteson

3. ANGELA'S TASK - Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks, and Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

4. ROS' TASK - Katherine by Anya Seton

5. BONNIE'S TASK - The Incredible Origins of the Onyx Sun - Christopher Mahoney

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

8. CASSIE'S TASK - A Great and Terrible Beauty & Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

9. SARA'S TASK - Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen by Sybil G. Briton

50 POINTER
Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot
Kiss the Bride - Patricia Cabot


[image error]

[Ashley]

No problem Bev, glad I could help. I hope you like it more than I did. I think I would have liked it a little more if I had been reading my own copy, and could mark it, and had read it a little slower. I think that I will go back to reread it in a few years, and will hopefully like it more the second time around. Good luck!

[Morgan P]

Cynthia wrote: Morgan wrote: "For 15.8 I read the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. That's fifteen points and that brings my total to 50 points." I gave you the points but if you could say where you read/heard the interview etc. for that task I'd appreciate it.

Sure. http://www.achuka.co.uk/special/cormi...

Let me know if that's not okay.

[BJ Rose]

Cynthia wrote: "I just finished The Forgotten Garden A Novel - this is one of those rare books that leaves you speechless. It's just an amazing story, beautifully written, tragic yet hopeful....so..."

Cynthia, I also found this book absolutely awesome, and have marked it for a reread soon - to get those interesting details I missed the first time through.

[Jamie]

I finished The Goose Girl last night.

5 points
2. Epistolary - Ella Minnow Pea 3/27
5. Lent/Sacrifice - The Giving Tree 5/5
6. Women's History - Stargirl 4/4
7. Arbor Day - Daisy Miller (online) 3/3
8. Humorous - Notes from a Small Island 4/30
9. Spring Animal - The Goose Girl 5/14
10. Rain-Related - The Lightning Thief 4/9

10 points
1. Ireland - The Poor Mouth 3/14
5. Magic - The Sea of Monsters 4/11
9. TNBBC Top Book List - I Capture the Castle 3/22
10. TNBBC Member's 5 Star - Dead Until Dark (Ashley) 4/18

15 points
2. Poetry - A Light in the Attic 3/2
3. TNBBC Group Read - The Bell Jar 3/31
4. Spring Break - Revenge of the Spellmans (San Francisco) 3/19
5. Award Winner - The Westing Game (1979 Newbery Winner) 3/31
8. Get to know author - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 5/10
10. 3, 4, and 5 Books - The Titan's Curse 4/17, The Battle of the Labyrinth 4/23, and The Last Olympian 5/8

25 points
2. EL - The World of Louisa May Alcott 4/3
4. ROS - Bridget Jones's Diary 3/21
5. BONNIE - The Call of the Wild (animals) 3/8
8. CASSIE - The Demigod Files 4/17 and The Maze of Bones 4/24
9. SARA - Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country 5/12

Total Points: 290

[Morgan P]

Jamie wrote: I finished The Goose Girl last night.

I read that book and loved it! What did you think?

[Jamie]

I loved The Goose Girl, Morgan! It's become one of my favorites, actually. Truthfully, I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but I realized I was missing out by not reading it sooner. I thought Hale's writing was beautiful in this book, which I didn't expect because I wasn't impressed by Austenland (the only other Hale book I've read thus far). I'm now waiting for Enna Burning to come in through ILL.

[Morgan P]

I still have to read Enna Burning and the other one after that. I forget what it's called. But I had forgotten I had read it, and when I've seen it in the posts around here, I remembered how much I liked it. I've also read Princess Academy by Hale, and I thought that one was good as well.

[Beth F]

5 POINTS
1:Stolen by Kelley Armstrong (4/06/09)
2:84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (3/04/09)
4:From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (3/10/09)
6:The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (4/10/09)
7: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (3/12/09)
8:The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (4/12/09)

10 POINTS
1:Angelas Ashes by Frank McCourt (4/13/09)
3:Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody (3/20/09)
4:A Great and Terribly Beauty by Libba Bray (3/02/09)
5:The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (5/13/09)
6:Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (3/11/09)
7:The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (4/12/09)
8:The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane (4/25/09)
9:The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (4/28/09)
10:All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (3/03/09)

15 POINTS
1:Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (4/21/09)
3:The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (4/02/09)
4:Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore (3/30/09)
5:The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald (4/07/09)
6:The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (3/13/09)
7:A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix (5/01/09) and Lush Life by Richard Price (5/08/09)
8:City Dog by Alison Pace (3/01/09)
9:The Black Dagger Brotherhood an Insider's Guide by J.R. Ward (4/04/09)

25 POINTS
1:The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3/09/09) and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (3/16/09)
2:A Midwifes Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (4/16/09)
3:The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (5/12/09) and Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith (5/14/09) (Jon)
4:The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (3/24/09)
5:The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (3/27/09)
7:The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (5/04/09)
8:Holes by Louis Sachar (3/17/09) and Life: An Autobiography as Told by Jack Gunthridge by Jack Gunthridge (3/18/09)
9:I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away by Bill Bryson (4/20/09)

50 POINTS
1: Master of Seduction by Kinley MacGregor (4/17/09) and Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/23/09)


[image error]

Points: 490
# of Tasks Completed: 32.33/40
# of Books Read: 38
# of Pages Read: 11,726 (+1 audiobook)
-Beth MN

[Jamie]

Morgan - There's actually another Bayern book coming out in September called Forest Born. The one prior to that would've been River Secrets. I'm looking forward to reading each of these books, as well as Princess Academy. I think I'd better branch out and start incorporating more non-YA books in my plans, though, since I've been reading a LOT of YA lately!

[Morgan P]

I'll definitely be reading all three of the books after the Goose Girl. And I might try to read some more of Hale's books, other than the Bayern series.

[Rach]

I finished another book last night! This one I'd been working on for a few weeks, in between all the other books I've read. For 25 point task #9 (Sara's Task), I read Let Me Eat Cake: A Celebration of Flour Sugar Butter Eggs Vanilla Baking Powder and a Pinch of Salt by Leslie F. Miller. It's hard for me to give a truly impartial review of this because I am friends with Leslie, but I found it to be a witty and engaging mix of memoir and cake history/how-to. And now I want to go make a cake. Or at least buy one and eat it. ;)

My new point total is 155.

[Joy Marie]

Completed #7 in the 25 point category! YIPEE!!!!
Finished "The Kite Runner" which I really enjoyed. I liked it better than "A Thousand Splendid Suns".

5 POINTS

#1 Coraline by Neil Gaiman 4/15/09
#3 Angels & Demons by Dan Brown 4/9/09
#4 I listened to this audiobook in my car during the 7 hr drive to and 7 hr drive from the Texas Valley. Andrew Jackson by Robert V. Remini 3/21/09
#7 To the Nines by Janet Evanovich Giving the book to my friend at work. 5/5/09
#8 Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich 3/31/09

10 POINTS

#2 Like Water for Chocolate byLaura Esquivel 3/23/09
#3 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 4/25/09
#4 Seven Up by Janet Evanovich 3/5/09
#7 My mom's name is Kathleen. Calamity Jayne by Kathleen Bacus 4/2/09
#9 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams #77 off the TNBBC Top Books List (I was born in 1977) 3/26/09

15 POINTS

#2 Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell 4/26/09
#4 Went to the Texas Valley for spring break and also crossed the border into Mexico and visited South Padre Island. Living on the Edge of America At Home on the Texas-Mexico Border by Robert Lee Maril 4/21/09
#6 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 3/6/09

25 POINTS

#1 The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams AND
The Glass Castle A Memoir by Jeannette Walls 4/16/09
#3 From Eva's List (THANKS EVA!) The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve AND The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom 3/20/09
#4 Big Reads List #15 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 5/4/09
#5 Manhunt The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson I NEVER read true crime and don't plan to again any time soon!....3/13/09
#6 Royal Affairs A Lusty Romp Through the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy by Leslie Carroll 4/30/09
#7 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini referenced in "The Holiday" 5/14/09
#8 Beauty Shop for Rent . . . fully equipped, inquire within by Laura Bowers and Eva Underground by Dandi Daley Mackall 3/30/09

50 POINTS

From a Buick 8 by Stephen King and Blaze A Novel by Richard Bachman 5/13/09



[image error]

[Alisha Marie]

Five Point Tasks
1.Science Fiction Novel: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
2. Epistolary Novel: The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters A Novel
3. Spring Cleaning: Off Season
4. Commute???
5. For Easter/Lent: Persuasion
6. Women's History Month: Girl, Interrupted
7. Arbor Day: Love the One You're With(swapping it on paperbackswap)
8. Humorous Novel: Revenge of the Spellmans
9. Spring Animal Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
10. Book with Rain related word: The House of Thunder
Category Totals:

10 Point Tasks
1. Irish Author:PS, I Love You
2. Mexican Author: The Hummingbird's Daughter
3. ANZAC Day: The Book Thief
4. Author B-Day in March: Goodnight Nobody
5. Book about Magic: Abarat
6. Earth Day: The Pillars of the Earth
7. Mother's Day: The Kindness of Strangers
8. Armed Forces Day: Cold Mountain
9. TNBBC Top Books List: The Secret History
10. Five Stars Member's List: Lucky
Category Totals:

15 Points
1. SCORPIO: The Road
2. National Poetry Month: Transformations by Anne Sexton
3. TNBBC Unread Group Read: House of Leaves
4. Location You've Been (CT): Swapping Lives
5. Award Winning Author:Nazareth Hill by Ramsay Campbell (British Fantasy Award in 1988)
6. Translated Book: The Thief Lord
7. Rhyming Novels: A Northern Light & The Kite Runner
8. Get to Know the Author: The Price
9. Book with Color Title: Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
10. 3-4-5: All That Remains, Cruel and Unusual, & The Body Farm
Category Totals:

25 Points
1. Karen's Task: Graceling AND The Reluctant Fundamentalist
2. El's Task: Alice's Adventures: Lewis Carroll in Popular Culture-Will Brooker
3. Angela's Task: Handle With Care AND A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. Ros's Task: The Stand
5. Bonnie's Task: I Am Legend
6. Jon's Task: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
7. Darla's Task: Emma by Jane Austen
8. Cassie's Task: Looking for Alaska AND The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants
9. Sara's Task: Little Red Riding Hood Uncloaked Sex, Morality, and the Evolution of a Fairy Tale by Catherine Orenstein

50 Points
1. Sandy's Task: Blaze A Novel AND Salem's Lot

I just finished Graceling and The Reluctant Fundamentalist for Karen's task. So, that now puts me at 250 points.



[image error]

[Lisa Julianna]

I just finished The Graveyard by Neil Gaiman and listened to an interview with him on the Today Show. He was inspired by The Jungle Book. It came to him to write this when he was teaching his son how to ride a bicycle and he took him across the street to the graveyard and that's when it occured to him that he could write this story of a boy being brought up in a graveyard.

This was for the 15.8 task.

My points now are 55.

[Shannon SA]

Just an update; I finished 1/3 of task 15.10 (3,4,5): The Fatal Englishman: 3 Short Lives and half of task 25.3 (two books off Jon's list): Dracula. No points for these yet. Have just started The Rain Before it Falls for task 5.10.

[Ashley]

I just finished 10 pt task 5- about magic.
I read The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis, and I really liked it! I wish I had read the Narnai books long ago, but better late than never. I read this one first, so I will see what I think of the rest of them, but I really liked this one!

New total 530!

[Cynthia]

I started and finished The Boy Next Door last night it was a nice light book after the last one. I really enjoyed it - took awhile to get used to the email format but in the end I gave it 5 stars.

My TASKS

5 POINTS
1. Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel - A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

2. Epistolary Novel - The Boy Next Door - Meg Cabot

3. Spring Cleaning - Little Bitty Lies - Mary Kay Andrews

4. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Task - The Dominant Blonde - Alisa Kwitney

5. Easter/Lent - Deep in the Heart of Trouble - Deeanne Gist

6. Women’s History Month - The Measure of a Lady - Deeanne Gist

7. Arbor Day - The Color Line - Lizette Carter (plan to recycle with paperbackswap or donate to the library when I'm done)

8. April Fools Day - Seven Up - Janet Evanovich

9. “Spring” Animals - Delicate Edible Birds - Lauren Groff

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

3. ANZAC Day - People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks

4. Born In March, April, or May - Hot Six - Janet Evanovich

5. Harry Houdini’s Birthday - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

6. Earth Day - Sunrise - Jacquelyn Cook

7. Mother’s Day - Across the Color Line by Lizette Carter (she gave it to me)

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

10. 5 STAR TNBBC MEMBER BOOK - Can You Keep A Secret? - Sophie Kinsella - JOANIE'S 5 pointer

15 POINT TASKS
1. Written In The Stars - The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory - (I'm a Leo)

2. National Poetry Month - The Book of Irish Verse - John Montague

3. TNBBC Group Read - The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory

4. Vacation Location Book - Courting Trouble - Deeanne Gist

5. Award Winner - The Witches Of Eastwick - John Updike

6. Translated Book - Chez moi - Agnes Desarthe

7. Rhyme Time - Shoe Addicts Anonymous, Two For The Dough - Beth Harbison, Janet Evanovich

8. Meet the Author - Figures of Silk by Vanora Bennett http://www.vanorabennett.com/

9. Color/Food - One Thousand White Women: The Journals Of May Dodd - Jim Fergus (not sure what I'm making yet)

10. Three, Four, Five - Three To Get Deadly, Four To Score, High Five - Janet Evanovich

25 POINT TASKS
1. KAREN'S TASK - The Gates of Trevalyan by Jacquelyn Cook, The Rosetti Letter by Christie Phillips

2. EL'S TASK - Eden's Outcasts: the story of Louisa May Alcott and her Father by John Matteson

3. ANGELA'S TASK - Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks, and Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

4. ROS' TASK - Katherine by Anya Seton

5. BONNIE'S TASK - The Incredible Origins of the Onyx Sun - Christopher Mahoney

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

8. CASSIE'S TASK - A Great and Terrible Beauty & Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

9. SARA'S TASK - Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen by Sybil G. Briton

50 POINTER
Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot
Kiss the Bride - Patricia Cabot


[image error]

[Avory]

Rachel wrote: "I finished another book last night! This one I'd been working on for a few weeks, in between all the other books I've read. For 25 point task #9 (Sara's Task), I read [book:Let Me Eat Cake: A Cel..."

Rachel, it's interesting to hear your thoughts on that book, because I only knew of it based on a review from one of my friends who found it jumbled and difficult to follow. Maybe I'll check it out for myself and see what I think!