OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009 Showing 5,801-5,850 of 6,381

[Angela]

10. March, April, and May are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th months of the year
- Read 3 books with the numbers 3/4/5- three/four/five in the titles (books do not have to come from the same series in this instance)
Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter-3/20
Four Wives by Wendy Walker-4/30
Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman-5/17

495 points
7 Tasks left and 7 books to read


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[Becky]

Goal: 390 Points / 32 books

---Stats---
Earned Points: 275 of 390
Books Read: 23 of 32
Total Pages Read: 9036
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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) (Read 5.17.09)

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)

[Terri]

5 POINTS
10. April Showers Bring May Flowers…
- Read one book with a Rain related word (rain, thunder, storm, shower, lightning etc. but not water) in the title OR
- Read a book with the name of A TYPE of tree or flower in the title.


Days fo Crime and Roses - Kate Morgan


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[Cynthia]

I finished One Thousand White Women The Journals of May Dodd last night - really interesting story and idea, sad ending but a good book overall. I ate sushi with white rice and Chinese food that had onions in it - hence my two white foods - yummy.

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

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


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[Kristina]

I switched my poetry book because I couldn't get though the Sylvia Plath collection. She is good, though!

So, I just finished:

2. Read a book of poetry - The Road From Hiroshima by Marc Kaminsky

It was a great read and would have fit in nicely with some of my Public History classes.

15 points, making my total 450.

[Lynlee4]

10Points
10. Members of the TNBBC have great tastes in books - Pumpkin , Equal Rites

Total: 305

Proud to say I surpassed my goal of 300.

[Elizabeth (NC)]

I had an unexpected trip this weekend by myself and got a lot of reading done. I have a couple of books to post:

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan for 5 points (Science fiction/fantasy). This was the last in his Percy Jackson series and I've been waiting for it to come out (even bought it in hardback, but will now put it in my classroom, so money well spent).

Ballet Shoes, by Noel Strifield (sp?) for 25 points--book referred to in a movie--You've Got Mail. I remember reading this as a child and really liking it. I was not as thrilled this time around. It does not translate very well to adults in my opinion.

Liberty Falling by Nevada Barr for 5 points (read it on the airplane) I was glad to get another Barr book in and didn't think I would be able to do this task, since I did not think I would be on a plane and can't listen in the car because my four year old is too often in there.

That puts me at:
385 points
8995 pages read
(It looks like I'll definitely go over 400--maybe I'll shoot for 450?--my original goal was 200 and I'm well past the winter challenge where I got 190)

[Ryan Mac]

I thought that going to a work conference in Florida would allow me to get some reading done. Doh, I had to work more than I thought!!

Finished the following:
5.4: Love, Stargirl (read on the plane)
25.1: The Good Thief/Resistance

I have broken the 200 point level-yay!

New total: 205 points

[Cynthia]

Ryan wrote: "I thought that going to a work conference in Florida would allow me to get some reading done. Doh, I had to work more than I thought!!

Finished the following:
5.4: Love, Stargirl (read on the ..." As of your last post your score was 165 + 30 points in this post puts you at 195.

[Amy]

UPDATED PROGRESS…




5 POINTS (9/10)

1 **MOVED FROM 2** GRIFFIN AND SABINE, SABINE’S NOTEBOOK, THE GOLDEN MEAN (NICK BANTOCK)
2. **MOVED FROM 8** ELLA MINNOW PEA (DUNN)
3. THE ALCHEMIST (COELHO)
4. THE LADY AND THE UNICORN (CHEVALIER) - IN THE CAR
5. THE GIVING TREE (SILVERSTEIN)
7. THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER (TAN)
8. **MOVED FROM 1.** THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (ADAMS)
9. LITTLE BIRDS (ANAIS NIN)
10. OLIVE KITTERIDGE (ELIZABETH STROUT) - OLIVE TREE

10 POINTS (6/10)

3. TIM (COLLEEN MCCULLOUGH)
5. THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD (J.K. ROWLING)
6. UNACCUSTOMED EARTH (JHUMPA LAHIRI)
7. MY ANTONIA (WILLA CATHER)
My mom's name is Antonia and though this story started strong for me, I lost steam about 2/3 of the way through. Beautiful love story though and one of my mom's favorites that I've wanted to experience for quite some time.
8. MIND GAME (CHRISTINE FEEHAN)
Paranormal romance with a military bent...a very small bent, but NCIS involvement notwithstanding. I am reading through Feehan's Ghostwalker series and I snuck this in on Thursday night. I still intend to read The Things They Carried as my daughter has been insisting that I do so and she rarely pushes issues so I'm piqued.
9. THE BELL JAR (#9) (SYLVIA PLATH)

15 POINTS (10/10)

1. THE LAST LECTURE (RANDY PAUSCH - CANCER)
2. THE GOLD CELL (SHARON OLDS)
3. THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO (JUNOT DIAZ)
4. THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH (CHARLIE HUSTON - LOS ANGELES COUNTY, LOOOVED THE FABRIC DISTRICT)
5. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (HARPER LEE - 1961) I fell in love with Gregory Peck watching this movie on multiple occasions but I've never read through the story cover to cover. Nor did I do so this time - I audio-booked the first 3/4 and read the last. Sissy Spacek narrated and I was enthralled. Fabulous, classic story about small towns, small minds and the power of a few positively affecting the goodness of many.
6. THE EYE (NABOKOV) RUSSIAN TO ENGLISH - Not so sure I completely absorbed the intricacies of this, Nabokov's shortest novel originally written in Russian but translated into English by his son.
7. MANIC (CHENEY) and PANIC SNAP (REESE)
8. AN EXACT REPLICA OF A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION. SEE: INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH MCCRACKEN (AUTHOR) AND ANN PATCHETT AT WWW.BLACKBIRD, ARCHIVES, FALL 2005, VOL. 4, #2
9. ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT (WINTERSON); FOODS – Mother’s Day Breakfast – Sunny Side Up Eggs and Oranges
10. THE WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB BOOKS 3/4/5 (JAMES PATTERSON)

25 POINT TASKS (9/9)

1. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY (SHAFFER AND BARROWS) AND THE REIVERS (FAULKNER)
2. A MIDWIFE’S TALE: THE LIFE OF MARTHA BALLARD BASED ON HER DIARY, 1785-1812 (ULRICH)
3. SHADOW GAME & MURDER GAME (CHRISTINE FEEHAN)
4. THE SECRET HISTORY (DONNA TARTT)
5. WESLEY THE OWL (STACEY O'BRIEN) - A BIOLOGIST'S MEMOIR - GENRE VIRGIN READ FOR ME
6. ALISON WEIR'S THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII
7. RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE (RITA MAE BROWN) – as referenced in the movie Educating Rita
8. SPEAK (ANDERSON) & CORALINE (GAIMAN)
9. SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME: A MODERN-DAY SLAVE, AN INTERNATIONAL ART DEALER, AND THE UNLIKELY WOMAN WHO BOUND THEM TOGETHER. (HALL & MOORE)

SANDY'S 50 POINT MIDWAY TASK (1/1)

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (AGATHA CHRISTIE) AND ABSENT IN THE SPRING (CHRISTIE WRITING AS MARY WESTMACOTT)

[Angie]

Tasks Completed


5 Points
#1 Read a sci-fi or fantasy novel- Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

#4 Read a book while in a car- Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

#5 Read a christian novel- Bittersweet by Cathy Marie Hake

#6 Read a book with one of the following in the title: woman, women, etc..- A Drowned Maiden's Hair A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz

#7 Read and recycle a book- The Bride Wore Chocolate by Shirley Jump

#9 Read a book with a type of bird in the title- The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper

#10 Read a book w/a rain related word in the title- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

10 Points
#3 Read a book written by an Australian author- I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

#5 Read a book about magic- Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

#6 Read a book w/the word moon in the title- September Moon by Candice Proctor

15 Points
#1 Read a book that corresponds to your astrological sign (Aries)- Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

#2 Read a book of poetry- This Many Miles from Desire by Lee Herrick

#6 Read a book that has been translated from its original language- Perfume The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind

#7 Read two books w/rhyming titles- Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs and Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

#8 Read a book & then read an interview with that author- Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

#9 Read a book w/a color in the title- Redwall by Brian Jacques

#10 Read the 3rd, 4th, and 5th books of one series- Lover Awakened, BDB#3; Lover Revealed, BDB#4; Lover Unbound, BDB#5 by J.R. Ward

25 Points
#1 Read a book whose title starts w/the letter G & read a book whose title starts w/the letter R- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany

#3 Angela's Task- The Tales of Beedle the Bardby J.K. Rowling andAnne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomerey

#4 Read a book from The Big Read's list- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

#5 Read a book outside of your normal genres- Ghost Walk by Brian Keene

#7 Read a book referenced in a movie- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

#8 Read two YA novels- Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen and Love, Cajun Style by Diane Les Becquets

50 Points
Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward
The Billionaire Next Door by Jessica Bird

Total Points= 370

[Rach]

I completed Sandy's 50 Point Midway Task today! For this one, I read The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett & Adverbs by Daniel Handler.

For the most part, I was really disappointed in both of these. The Bad Beginning was perhaps the most depressing children's book I've ever read. Adverbs was both tedious and confusing to me. Although it claims to be a novel, it is really a series of stories that are sometimes connected, sometimes not, and you don't ever really know if they are or not. In both books, I found the writing to be condescending and self-congratulatory at times.
I doubt I will ever read anything else by Handler, but you never know.

My point total is now up to 205! I'm happy I reached my personal goal of 200, and hopefully I can make it up to 300! :)

[El]

15 POINT TASK
2. April is National Poetry Month – Read a book of poetry OR about a famous poet.
Residence on Earth/Residencia en la Tierra, Pablo Neruda.

TOTAL POINTS: 430.

[Avory]

I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read the shortest books? The ones with the most points? Or just ignoring points and reading the books you really want to read? I know I won't finish but it would be cool if I could make it to say, 400. I'm working on two 25-pointers at the moment, so it's possible, but one is 800+ pages. My biggest gap is that I only did a couple of the 10-pointers, so I could just try to read several of those quickly. Hmm.

[Cynthia]

I hoping to hit about 425 - I think I can finish the 4 books I would need to read to do so...the only only one I'm worried about it is the poetry book. I've tried reading it and then I put it back down and pick up a novel instead. The others I hope to finish are the Cinco De Mayo, St. Patty's Day, and the Military task...if I somehow manage to finish all those before the deadline and have time left I may try to do one of the others or just take a break until the next challenge gets going.

[Rhiannon]

5 POINT TASKS

1. Prey by Michael Crichton
2. Carrie by Stephen King
3. Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella 3/13/09
4. Janet Enavovich Visions of Sugar Plums 3/2/09
5. Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 3/17/09
7. A Midsummer's Night's Dream by William Shakespheare 3/8/09
8. 101 Vacation Jokes by Jovial Bob Stine 3/8/09
9. Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter 3/8/09
10. When Lightening Strikes by Meg Cabot 3/14/09


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. The Worderful WIzard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 3/19/09
5. Harry Potter and The Sorcer's Stone by: J.K. Rowling
6. New Moon By Stephanie Meyer 4/15/09
7. Chicken Soup for the mother and Daughters Soul 4/18/09
8. The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy
9. The Scarlet Letter -Nathaniel Hawthorn
10. Four to Score By Janet Evanovich


15 POINT TASKS

1. Angels Watching over me by Lurlene McDaniel 3/17/09
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. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich and Shoe Addicts Annomyus
8. Queen of the Babble gets Hitched by Meg Cabot 5/11/09
9. Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins Mysteries) by Walter Mosley
10. Janet Evanovich 3-5 3/15/09


25 POINT TASKS

1. The Ghost at Dawn's House by Ann M Martin and Rainbow High
2. John Adams by David McCullough
3. Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings
4. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne 3/30/09
5. Hungry Girl 200 Under 200 4/15/09
6. England's Rose: A Tribute To Princess Diana
7. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 3/20/09
8. Hit and Run By Lurlene McDaniel and Love on Cue by Catherine Hapka
9. The Pocket Guide to Minnesota Place Names : The Stories Behind 1,200 Places in the North Star State 5/15/09

50 POINT TASK

Meg Cabot/Jenny Carrol Safe House (under Meg Cabot) and The Haunted (under Jenny Carrol)


385/575

[Jon]

Judith wrote: "I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read the shortest books? The ones with the most points? Or just ignori..."

im going for the shorter ones or ones that ill have to take back to library anyway

[Melody]

For Arbor Day, listen to an audiobook for 5 pts.
Slow Journey South by Paula Constant
Read a book by an author and read an interview with that author for 15 pts.
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
New total = 145 pts

[Joy Marie]

Judith wrote: "I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read the shortest books? The ones with the most points? Or just ignori..."

I'm also trying to make it to 400 by the end of this challenge. I'm currently finishing the last 25-point task I'm going to do (which will put me at 370)....If I read two 15 point books after that, I will make it to my goal, but I really want to start Pillars of the Earth which is only 10 points and very long, so I'm still trying to decide.

[Lynlee4]

Rachel wrote: "I completed Sandy's 50 Point Midway Task today! For this one, I read The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett & Adverbs by Daniel Handler.

For the most part, I was really di..."

I felt the same about Adverbs~was very tedious.

[Ryan Mac]

Cynthia wrote: As of your last post your score was 165 + 30 points in this post puts you at 195.

Cynthia, it's that new math. :) As a dorky accountant, I have been keeping a spreadsheet so I must have missed something when I posted earlier.

5.1 - Deeper
5.2 - Screwtape Letters
5.4 - Love, Stargirl (on plane)
5.5 - American Savior
5.7 - Shimmer (gave away)
5.10 - Caddie Who Played with Hickory

5 pt tasks: 30 points

10.4 - Handle with Care (March birthday)
10.6 - Stargirl
10.8 - The Silent Man

10 pt tasks: 30 points

15.1 - Sea of Monsters (Aries)
15.4 - Paper Towns (Florida)
15.8 - Testimony (read interview)

15 pt tasks: 45 points

25.1 - Good Thief/Resistance
25.5 - Unconditional Parenting
25.8 - Gathering Blue/Messenger
25.9 - Traffic

25 pt tasks: 100 points

Total: 205 points

Thanks for keeping me honest. :)

[Maliades]

At 260 points, I think I might have hit the wall... I know there's no way I'll finish all the tasks, but am hoping to finish the books I currently have checked out from the library.... but even if that fails, then my goal of finding some great new books & favorite authors has been achieved!

[Cynthia]

LEADERBOARD
1. DONNA JO - 575
2. SANDY - 575
3. WENDY - 575
4. BJ ROSE - 575
5. KRISTEN IL - 575
6. BRIDGIT - 575
7. KRISTENR - 575
***************
RORA - 565
LEORA - 560
SHARON - 555
JESSICA IL - 545
LIZZI - 545
ASHLEY ID - 535
AMY MA - 530
CAIT - 530
BETH MN - 505
BEV - 500
ANGELA IL - 495
ALICE - 490
TINA - 460
BONNIE - 450
KRISTINA GA - 450
SARA TX - 450
APRIL NY - 440
EL - 430
JOSIE - 425
LOUISE - 415
MAGGIE - 415
SARA E - 415
MEGHAN - 410
KRITIKA - 400
LIZ BRKLYN - 395
ELIZABETH NC - 385
RHIANNON - 385
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 380
ANGIE TX - 370
RORY - 370
PERS - 355
NICOLE NC - 350
JILLIAN - 355
MARY BETH - 350
JOY - 345
SUSAN - 345
JUDITH IA - 340
SUZIER - 340
JAMIE MN - 325
LORI TX - 335
SANDIE - 325
STEPH - 320
REBECCA J - 315
ROSEANN - 310
LYNLEE4 - 305
LINDSEY - 300
CATHEROO - 295
DAVID - 290
EVA - 280
JON - 280
BECKY - 275
LAURA NY - 270
ALISHA - 265
STEPHANIE CA - 265
KATE - 260
MEGAN - 260
SERA - 260
COURTNEY - 255
FALLON - 255
WV HEATHER - 255
JEN B - 250
JOANN - 250
MALIADES - 250
RENFREW - 250
KRISTINA UK - 240
JENNIFER IN - 230
HAYES - 225
SARAH PA - 225
BETH - 215
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
AMY R - 210
CAROL - 210
LIZ VEGAS - 210
REBECCA - 210
RACHEL WA - 205
RYAN - 205
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 200
KATHRYN - 200
VICTORIA - 200
ASHLEY AL - 190
MANDAY - 190
ASHLEY UT - 180
JEANE - 180
RALPH - 180
LACY - 170
JOANNA - 165
MARIE - 165
SLAYERMEL - 165
TERRI - 160
JEN MD - 155
JESSICA SC - 155
JOANIE - 155
JULIE (ID)'S - 155
POTJY - 155
TRYPHENA - 155
LILY - 150
ROS - 150
CYNDEE - 145
LAUREN - 145
MELODY - 145
NATALIA - 140
TRACY - 140
KAREN - 135
MADELINE - 135
SAM - 135
HEATHER KS - 130
JEGKA - 130
SHANNON - 130
ANN FROM SC - 125
CASSIE - 120
KICKI - 115
SUSANNA UK - 115
ABBIE - 110
JAMIE WA - 110
MACKENZIE - 110
SHELLIE - 110
CATHERINE - 105
JENNY - 105
LINDA - 105
CYNTHIA - 100
AMANDA - 95
JESSICA MI - 95
MEL - 95
ALLISON MO - 90
JULIE TN - 90
SAI - 90
MEREDITH H - 85
KELLY MA - 80
KIM UK - 80
KIM US - 80
LDB - 80
VICKI - 80
JULIE UK - 75
RACHEL CA - 75
SLAIMI - 70
ANGIE CA - 65
ALYSSA - 60
JAMIE 23 - 60
KELLY - 60
LISA JULIANNA - 55
ROBIN - 55
KATIE - 50
MORGAN - 50
5PEASINAPOD - 45
ELIZ - 45
JULIE KS - 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

[Cynthia]

Ryan wrote: "Cynthia wrote: As of your last post your score was 165 + 30 points in this post puts you at 195.

Cynthia, it's that new math. :) As a dorky accountant, I have been keeping a spreadsheet so I m..." Your welcome yeah Stargirl was missing from my spreadsheet...thanks.

[Cynthia]

Melody wrote: "For Arbor Day, listen to an audiobook for 5 pts.
Slow Journey South by Paula Constant
Read a book by an author and read an interview with that author for 15 pts.
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Benn..."If your wouldn't mind please post where you got the interview for the interview task. That way other people can check it out if they want.

[Lisa Julianna]

Hi Cynthia, I believe my points are at 55 not 40. On Page 117 post 5827 I entered in my new points.

Thanks

[Bonnie]

10 Points
2. Mexico: The Mexicans A Personal Portrait of a People by Patrick Oster.

Even though it's 20 years out of date (it describes the Mexico of the 1980s) it's still fascinating. It was a very interesting and well-written exploration of Mexican culture.

Total Points: 385

[Cynthia]

Lisa Julianna wrote: "Hi Cynthia, I believe my points are at 55 not 40. On Page 117 post 5827 I entered in my new points.

Thanks"Fixed it.

[Cait]

I have a few changes to make: I moved Change of Heart from task 15.8 (meet the author) to 5.5 (sacrifice) and I'm using My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler for 15.8. http://www.popentertainment.com/handl...

I'm also moving Stargirl from 5.6 (women's history) to 10.6 (earth day).

The above changes put me at 530 points, and I will post my updated list in a separate post for reference. Only 3 more books to go!

[Cait]

5 POINTS
1.Coraline (5/13)
2.The Perks of Being a Wallflower (4/14)
3.Pride and Prejudice (4/26)
4.The Midnight Twins (3/13) audio
5.Change of Heart (3/20)
6.The Girl Who Stopped Swimming
7.Keeping Faith(4/6)
8.The Stupidest Angel (3/16)
9.Down the Rabbit Hole (4/28)
10.Before the Storm(4/16)

10 POINTS
1.In the Woods (5/3)
2.The House on Mango Street (4/19)
3.The Book Thief (3/9)
4. The Turn of the Screw (3/5)
5.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (4/22)
6.Stargirl (4/8)
7.Confessions of a Shopaholic (5/4)
8.The Day After He Left For Iraq (5/6)
9.I Capture the Castle (5/7)
10.The Time Traveler's Wife(from Joanna)(3/4)

15 POINTS
1.Gods Behaving Badly: A Novel(3/24)
2.101 Best Loved Poems(4/2)
3.Blindness (3/13)
4.The Journal of Mortifying Moments (3/14)
5.The World According to Garp
6.Shadow of the Wind(3/22)
7.Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (3/18) &
The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud (3/25)
8.My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands (4/20)
9.Something Blue(4/15)
10.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkeban (reread) (3/11)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (4/2)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (4/8)

25 POINTS
1.The Gum Thief(4/5) &
The Remains of the Day (4/30)
2.In the Shadow of the Dreamchild (5/5)
3.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (4/24)
Water for Elephants (4/18)
4.The Catcher in the Rye (5/12)
5.Come Closer (4/26)
6.Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words
7.The Kite Runner(3/31)
8.Wake & Just Listen (3/7 & 3/8)
9.Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss One Song at a Time(3/26)

50 Pts
Remember Me (4/26) & The Gatecrasher (4/27)

Total Pts: 530

[Jamie]

I just finished The Time Traveller's Wife for task 25.5. I really liked this book more than I thought I was going to - very addictive read. My new point total is 110.

[Natalia]

Previously completed:
25.4 - The Woman in White - 3/5/2009
15.1 - The Other Boleyn Girl - 3/7/2009
15.5 - Eros, Eros, Eros Selected and Last Poems -3/9/2009
15.8 - The Numerati - 3/14/2009
5.4 - Naked in Death - 4/4/2009
5.7 - When You Are Engulfed in Flames - 4/13/2009
5.6 - The Icarus Girl - 4/15/09
25.9 - When Genius Failed The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management - 4/16/09
10.4 - Two for the Dough - 4/20/09
5.1 - Oryx and Crake - 4/23/09

Newly completed:
15 point task #2 - National Poetry Month - 5/10/09 - A Far Rockaway of the Heart

Total Tasks Completed: 11
Total Ponts Earned: 140

[Leora]

World War Z-an oral history of the zombie war, for task 10-6. I am surprised to say that I actually enjoyed this book!

555 point now, only 2 books to go!

[Mary Beth]

Judith wrote: "I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read the shortest books? The ones with the most points? Or just ignori..."

I definitely know that I'm not going to be able to finish the challenge, but at this point, my goal is to get 390 points by finishing The Chronicles of Narnia series, which will get me 45 more points. I would love to read The House of Cards (about the fall of Bear Stearns) by the end of the month. However, I doubt that I will get there.

[Jessica]

5 point task
6. In Honor Of Women’s History Month…
- Read an autobiography/biography of a woman you admire OR
- A novel with one of the following in the title (woman, women, lady, ladies, female, feminine, girl, girls).
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

Current Point Total: 95
Jessica (MI)

[Jen B]

10 Point Tasks
10. Members of the TNBBC have great tastes in books - Read a book that earned a 5-Star rating by another member who is on the same page as you.

I read New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, which is rated 5 stars by Darla. I only gave it 3 stars -- I had a LOT of trouble getting into it, and I've been putting it down and picking it back up for the better part of the month. The last 100 pages redeemed it for me, though.

New Point Total: 240


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[Jenny]

15 points number 8.

I read the Piano Teacher by Janice YK Lee and then listened to an interview with her on her website.

Total ~ 105 point


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[Avory]

Mary Beth wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read the shortest books? The ones with the most points? ..."

Ooh, a nerdy financial book? You should read it! Hehe.

[Ashley]

I just finished task 25.9 with The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World. It took me way to long to read this book. While I laughed out loud way more often than normal, I only gave it 3 stars. I wish we could give half stars. And I might actually break 200!

Total points: 180

[Mary Beth]

Judith wrote: "Mary Beth wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read the shortest books? The ones with..."

Thanks, Judith. ;-) I actually work in finance and yet have no background in it, so I figure that I should finally learn something about the industry in which I work!

[Jeane]

Amy wrote: "UPDATED PROGRESS…




5 POINTS (9/10)

1 **MOVED FROM 2** GRIFFIN AND SABINE, SABINE’S NOTEBOOK, THE GOLDEN MEAN (NICK BANTOCK)
2. **MOVED FROM 8** ELLA MINNOW PEA (DUNN)
3. THE ALCHEMIST (COELHO)
..."

I am reading Absent in the spring now. I always waned to read something Agatha christie wrote under a different name. It is really good!!!!

[Jeane]

Mary Beth wrote: "Judith wrote: "Mary Beth wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read the shortest books?..."

I don't seem to realize about which book you are talking....and wow never would have thought that I would be interested in a financial book, but then again I would have never beleived I would work in a financial environment either!!!( and loving it! me???)

[Mary Beth]

Jeane wrote: "Mary Beth wrote: "Judith wrote: "Mary Beth wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm curious if those who are in my point range (I have 340) have a strategy for the last couple of weeks. Are you trying to read t..."

I never thought I would be interested in a financial book either, but this one seems pretty interesting, especially since I live and work in New York and saw the effects of the financial crash up-close-and-personal.

House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street by William D. Cohan

[Rach]

Lynlee4 wrote: "I felt the same about Adverbs~was very tedious."

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one, lol. There were so many glowing reviews for it that I thought I was missing something at first.

[Beth]

25.5. BONNIE’S TASK - Read a book outside your normal genre(s).

I normally read fiction, YA, and children's lit, so I went for a non-fiction choice this time. Coincidentally, I am rewarded as this book pushes me past the 200 point mark for the first time ever!

America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money: Your Guide to Living Better, Spending Less, and Cashing in on Your Dreams by Steve Economides

Huh...it would have worked for the 12 word title item also...

TOTAL = 215 POINTS

[Julie J]

I read The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer for the task with an author whose birthday is in May (28th). 10 more points

Total: 90 points

[Amy]

Jeane wrote: "Amy wrote: "UPDATED PROGRESS…




5 POINTS (9/10)

1 **MOVED FROM 2** GRIFFIN AND SABINE, SABINE’S NOTEBOOK, THE GOLDEN MEAN (NICK BANTOCK)
2. **MOVED FROM 8** ELLA MINNOW PEA (DUNN)
3. TH..."

I've read sooo much Agatha Christie that I was more than a little embarrassed when I learned that she wrote under a pseudonym. I stayed connected to Absent from cover to cover. Enjoy !

[Laura]

I just finished The Bell Jar for task 25.7 - Darla's task. The book was referenced in the movie the 10 Things I Hate About You. I am now at 80 points.

Now, to just finish those two other books I am working on so I meet my measly goal of 100... ;) Looking forward to the summer challenge when I will have more time over the three months to discover more books and rack up more points!

[Jen B]

10 Point Tasks
2. For Cinco De Mayo – Read a book by a Mexican author, set in Mexico, OR about Mexico.

I listened to an audiobook of Sunstroke by Jesse Kellerman, which is set in Mexico. It definitely had some good suspense, and I think Kellerman is a good writer, but there were too many loose ends and a few too many tangents. However, I liked it well enough to give another of his books a shot at some point.

New Point Total: 250


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[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)
2:Beowulf by Anonymous (5/18/09)
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)
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: 505
# of Tasks Completed: 33.66/40
# of Books Read: 40
# of Pages Read: 12,412 (+1 audiobook)
-Beth MN

Only 7 more to go! I am still feeling optimistic about finishing!