The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Jeane wrote: Tina, what did you think of Absent in the spring? I finsihed it Thursday and was so glad to ahve read it. The biggest difference for me was no crime or murder!Absent in the Spring was really different! It was an eye opening book that made me reflect, but I'm not sure how I felt about the ending. I think I was hoping for it to end happier. I don't know that it was necessarily sad, bittersweet maybe.
My final post for spring challenge...I'm finishing a few non-challenge reads and getting ready for the summer challenge.25 POINT TASKS (75 points)
4. Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Marquez
5. Watchmen - Alan Moore
9. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem - Seth Grahame
15 POINTS (60 points)
1. Little Girl Lost - Richard Aleas
3. People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
6. The Class - Francois Bugaudeau
8. Dreams from My Father - Barack Obama
10 POINTS (20 points)
5. Turn Coat - Jim Butcher
8. American Lion Andrew Jackson in the White House - Jon Meacham
5 POINTS (20 points)
1. Day Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko
5. Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys
7. A Doll’s House - Henrik Ibsen
8. Practical Demonkeeping - Christopher Moore
Total Points - 175
Finished The Falling Woman for the Cinco De Mayo task for 10 points. Brings me to 465.5 POINTS
1.
2.
3. Spring Cleaning – Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl, Steven Bach
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Spring Animals in title – Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, Christopher Moore
10.
10 POINTS
1. Set in Ireland – Three Bags Full, Leonie Swan
2.
3. Australian Author – The People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks
4.
5.
6. Sun in Title – Mistress of the Sun, Sandra Gulland
7.
8.
9.
10. TNBBC Member 5 star book – Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
15 POINTS
1. SAGITARIUS: The archer – read a book about an athlete or sports. Shanks for Nothing, Rick Reiley
2.
3.
4.
5. Major Literary Prize, 1981 – John Updike, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, Witches of Eastwick
6. Translation – Suite Francaise, Irene Nemirovsky
7.
8.
9.
10. 3, 4, 5 series or titles – Kim Harrison
A Fistful of Charms
For a Few Demons More
25 POINT
1.
2.
3.Jen’s List –
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
50 Points
1.
Total Points: 465
Tasks Completed: 30.3
Books Read: 35
Total Pages Read: 12,473
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I just finished The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. I have checked it out of the library several times, but never read it--not quite sure why, I really enjoyed it. I think I can work several of her books into the summer challenge.Now I have:
415 points
9804 pages read.
Tina wrote: "Jeane wrote: Tina, what did you think of Absent in the spring? I finsihed it Thursday and was so glad to ahve read it. The biggest difference for me was no crime or murder!Absent in the Spring ..."
It had the same effect on me. Really, that woman was hell of a writer!!!
Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "I just finished The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. I have checked it out of the library several times, but never read it--not quite sure why, I really enjoyed it. I think I can work several of her b..."Which task was this for?
I am trying to finish up many of the books I have been working on.5 POINTS
9. Read a book with one of the following Spring animals in the title…
- Rabbit or Bunny
- Bird (the word bird or any type of bird)
- Butterfly/Bees
- Lion
- Lamb OR
- A term for a baby animal such as kitten, cub, calf etc.
The Stalking Lamb - Marian Babson
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Cynthia wrote: "Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "I just finished The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. I have checked it out of the library several times, but never read it--not quite sure why, I really enjoyed it. I think I ca..."Oops, sorry, it was for the 15 point number 6--translated book.
15 points- Read a novel that takes place in a location you have visited during spring breakA Separate Peace by John Knowles
it takes place in Massachusettes
new total: 75
One more to add. (I'm really close on two others--can't believe I am reading soooo much).25.3--Fowler, Karen Joy--THE JANE AUSTIN BOOK CLUB & Reichs, Kathy--CROSS BONES--FIONA’S READS
This challenge was weird for me as I have seen both the movie and the TV show based upon these books. The weirdness was I actually like both the movie and the TV show better; that seldom happens. Not that I did not enjoy both of the books.
This brings my total to 410!
Reading like crazy to finish up this challenge! I'm partway through so many books. I just need to finish them!10 Points
4. Author born in Mar/Apr/May: King John by William Shakespeare.
Definitely not one of Shakespeare's better plays, but it does have a few good lines ("There is no sure foundation set on blood/No certain life achieved by another's death").
8. Serving in military: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.
Very good but very strange. It felt a lot like Catch-22.
Total Points: 490
I can't seem to keep off this board tonight (I'm actually doing another challenge and had some entries to add). I am so jealous of everyone who is finished--Congrats to all of you!
Back to reading!!
10 POINTS7. In Honor of Mother’s Day…
- Read a book where the author/main character shares the same FIRST name as your mother OR…
- Read a book recommended by/given to you by your mother.
The Lavender House Murders - by Nikki Baker
My mom's name is Virginia and the protag is Virgnia kelly
My ticker is not working right = it says 175 is updated but when I cut and paste it doesnt show it... So 175 points...
1 more down, 3 more to go! I can almost taste it!!! :P5 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)
5:The Gnostic Mystery by Randy Davila (5/20/09)
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: Briar Rose by Jane Yolen (5/25/09)
10 POINTS
1:Angelas Ashes by Frank McCourt (4/13/09)
2:Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya (5/23/09)
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)
10:Dime Store Magic (5/09/09), Industrial Magic (5/18/09) and Haunted (5/20/09) by Kelley Armstrong
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)
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Points: 540
# of Tasks Completed: 37/40
# of Books Read: 44
# of Pages Read: 13,621 (+1 audiobook)
-Beth MN
Beth wrote: "1 more down, 3 more to go! I can almost taste it!!! :P Nice job Beth! I am going to be happy to make it almost halfway.
Finished 25.4: The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchet
Total Points: 230
7.10. In Honor of Mother's Day - Read a book recommended by/given to you by your mother.Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
TOTAL = 225 POINTS
Just finished I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies) True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl for Sara's 25 point task! New Total:
Jamie(23)--90 points
1. KAREN’S TASK- A book which title starts with the letter G AND
- A book which title starts with the letter R.
G:The Geometry of Sisters by Luanne Rice-4/25
R:The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin-5/25
New Total 530
4 to go!
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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
8. LEORA - 575
9. LIZZI - 575
10. RORA - 575
11. JESSICA IL - 575
12. ASHLEY ID - 575
13. CAIT - 575
***************
AMY MA - 565
APRIL NY - 555
SHARON - 555
BETH MN - 545
ANGELA IL - 530
TINA - 525
ALICE - 510
SARA TX - 505
BEV - 500
BONNIE - 490
EL - 475
KRISTINA GA - 475
ROSEANN - 470
MAGGIE - 465
LIZ BRKLYN - 455
LOUISE - 450
SARA E - 440
JOSIE - 430
MEGHAN - 430
ELIZABETH NC - 415
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 410
NICOLE NC - 405
KRITIKA - 400
SUSAN - 395
PERS - 390
RHIANNON - 385
JUDITH IA - 375
ANGIE TX - 370
JILLIAN - 370
JOY - 370
RORY - 370
JAMIE MN - 360
LORI TX - 355
SUZIER - 355
MARY BETH - 350
REBECCA J - 345
SANDIE - 325
STEPH - 325
LYNLEE4 - 320
WV HEATHER - 320
LINDSEY - 315
JON - 305
BECKY - 300
CATHEROO - 295
DAVID - 290
JEN B - 290
RACHEL WA - 290
EVA - 280
FALLON - 280
STEPHANIE CA - 275
LAURA NY - 270
ALISHA - 265
SARAH PA - 265
HAYES - 260
KATE - 260
MEGAN - 260
SERA - 260
COURTNEY - 255
JOANN - 250
MALIADES - 250
RENFREW - 250
JENNIFER IN - 245
KRISTINA UK - 240
RYAN - 240
AMY R - 225
BETH - 225
MANDAY - 220
NATALIA - 220
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
CAROL - 210
LIZ VEGAS - 210
REBECCA - 210
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 200
KATHRYN - 200
TRACY - 200
VICTORIA - 200
ASHLEY AL - 190
JEANE - 190
ASHLEY UT - 180
RALPH - 180
JULIE (ID)'S - 175
SAM - 175
TERRI - 175
LACY - 170
MARIE - 170
JOANNA - 165
SLAYERMEL - 165
JOANIE - 160
JEN MD - 155
JESSICA SC - 155
POTJY - 155
TRYPHENA - 155
LILY - 150
MELODY - 150
ROS - 150
CYNDEE - 145
LAUREN - 145
HEATHER KS - 135
KAREN - 135
MACKENZIE - 135
MADELINE - 135
SHANNON - 135
JEGKA - 130
KIM UK - 130
ANN FROM SC - 125
CASSIE - 120
CYNTHIA - 115
KICKI - 115
SUSANNA UK - 115
ABBIE - 110
ANGIE CA - 110
JAMIE WA - 110
SHELLIE - 110
CATHERINE - 105
JENNY - 105
LINDA - 105
ALLISON MO - 100
JULIE TN - 100
RACHEL CA - 100
AMANDA - 95
JESSICA MI - 95
KELLY MA - 95
MEL - 95
JAMIE 23 - 90
KIM US - 90
SAI - 90
MEREDITH H - 85
LDB - 80
VICKI - 80
ALYSSA - 75
JULIE UK - 75
SLAIMI - 70
KELLY VA - 60
LISA JULIANNA - 55
MORGAN - 55
ROBIN - 55
KATIE - 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
I just finished Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for 5 points humor bringing new total to 245. Hopefully my library will get the books I requested in so I can get over 250!
I've completed 15. 1. It’s Written In the Stars…read a book that corresponds to your astrological sign. I'm a Taurus so I had to read a western or a book about a cowboys. I read Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx. I've been reading this for ages as it was really difficult to get into. Despite this, some of the stories were very interesting and thought provoking.This brings my total to 450 points.
I've finished my last book for the challenge!I read Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words for Task 25.6. Originally published as Diana: Her True Story, it was updated once it was revealed that Morton's 'source' for the book was in fact Diana herself. The new version includes transcripts of her recorded conversations ranging in topic from her parents divorce to her later struggles with bulimia to her husband's relationship with Camilla.
I must have had only a cursory knowledge of Diana and her story, because much of this book surprised me. I had no idea that Diana knew about Camilla from the start, or that Diana was miserable in her relationship before the wedding had even taken place. It was sad to realize how much of Diana's life was spent being miserable and feeling like a pawn.
I only have two complaints with the book, but they are minor. The transcripts of her interviews were in the beginning of the book and I think they should have been at the end. That would have made it more like additional reading, the support to back up all of the quotes throughout the book. Instead, the transcripts are read first and it makes the rest of the book feel repetitive.
My other issue was that the book felt tabloid-esque at times, kind of gossipy. But I guess that's part of what made it such a compelling read.
I'll post my completed reading list in a separate post (or two).
5 POINTS10 POINTS
15 POINTS25 POINTS
***Read 2 books by an author who writes under two different names.
Remember Me - Kinsella
Total Pts: 575
Congratulations Cait! Can't wait to see what you pick for your task!
In between picking out what books to read for the summer, I managed to finish another task. ;) For 25 point task #5, I read Tales of the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald, because I don't normally read short stories. And I have now discovered that I don't, for the most part, enjoy short stories. Just when I am figuring out a character and starting to like them, it's over!In this collection, I was most looking forward to reading the Benjamin Button story that the movie was based on, and, perhaps for that reason, I was most disappointed by that one. It was so inconsequential and flippant. On the other hand, there were a few stories I did enjoy, but they didn't necessary outweigh the ones I struggled through.
I now have 265 points!
25 Point Tasks
9. SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words.
Finally finished Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume.
I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, but about halfway through this one started to get really tedious. However, still worth the read (and now I'm itching to re-read all my favorite Judy Blume books).
New Point Total: 285
Total Tasks completed: 21.5
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Cait wrote: "I've finished my last book for the challenge!I read Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words for Task 25.6. Originally published as Diana: Her True Story, it was updated once it was revealed that..."
Congratulations!!!
I finally completed the 50-point task. I read Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King and Thinner by Richard Bachman (King's pen name). Both books were reliable Stephen King meaning they were definately workth my time.This brings me to 545 points! Only three tasks to go.
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Finished task#9 - 10 pts. To Kill a MockingbirdPrior total 315 +10 = 325
Finished:9. Read a book from the TNBBC Top Book List - number 85 - Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
I liked this one!
10 points, making my total 475.
5 points: 1. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (sci-fi)
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (epistolary)
4. Xenocide by Orson Scott Card (plane from NY, NY - Wichita, KS and back)
7. A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (e-book, Project Gutenburg)
8. Fool A Novel by Christopher Moore (April Fool's)
10 points:
6. The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Earth Day - Mars)
7. The Pact A Love Story by Jodi Picoult (recommended and given by my mother)
15 points:
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote (Capricorn - creativity)
25 points:
BONNIE'S TASK- Newjack Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover (non-fiction)
CASSIE'S TASK - I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (read 2 YA novels)
SARA'S TASK - Loser Goes First My Thirty-Something Years of Dumb Luck and Minor Humiliation by Dan Kennedy (13 word title)
Total: 135 points
Two more completed!10.9--THE BELL JAR by SYLVIA PLATH
I have been meaning to read this book for years. I actually enjoyed the novel. I can see where the contents could be too dark and sad for some.
15.9--THE YELLOW HOUSE:VAN GOGH, GAUGUIN & NINE TURBULENT WEEKS IN ARLES by MARTIN GAYFORD
I found this book more interesting than the other VanGogh bio I read for the challenge. This studied the symbolism of both artist's paintings and did not dwell that long on the psychological reasons for the art.
This brings my total to--435!
Finished three more tasks.5 Points
10. April Showers
Lightning by Dean Koontz
10 Points
3. Anzac Day
The Turning by Tim Winton
50 Points
Hamlet's Mother and Other Women by Carolyn G. Heilbrun
The James Joyce Murder by Heilbrun as Amanda Cross
New Total: 320 Points
Finally (!) finished The Once and Future King by T H White for 25.7 (referenced in X-Men 2).
Read or listen to a book while you are on a plane, on a train, or in a car.I have just listened to Four to Score by Janet Evanovich while driving to work each day in my car.
I love these books. They are so funny. I don’t think I will get any more books read this week so my final total is 150.
It's been a great challenge and I am just amazed how well everybody has done - especially all those that have finished.
I have finished Half of a Yellow Sun. It was the book that has been on my TBR shelf the longest. It took me a long time to get through it too. I did find I enjoyed it but it seemed to never end! I have just one more book to read before I finish with this challenge as I don't have any of the other books! The Girls will be the last one I read.5 POINTS
1. A Neil Gaiman book
3. Half of Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4. ?
6. The Girls by Lori Lansons
8. The Difficult Second Book by Chris Moyles
10. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
10 POINTS
2. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
4. Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones (Born 23rd March)
5. Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
6. East of the Sun by Julia Gregson
7. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald (rec. by mum)
8. The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies
9. I Capture the Castle (no. 1 of TNBBC top 10 list)
10. Eldest by Christopher Paolini (Samantha Adnrik's 5 star book)
15 POINTS
2. Shakespeare by Bill Bryson
3. Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
5. The Sea by John Banville (won the Guardian Prize in 1981 for Kepler
6. Shape of Water by Andrea Camillia (translated from Italian into English
7. The Girl who was going to die by Glyn Maxwell and The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thompson
8. The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
9. The White Tiger by Aravind Acliga
10. Books 3,4 and 5 of the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
25 POINTS
2. Samuel Pepys Diary by Samuel Pepys
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (from Angela's bookshelves)
4. Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
5. The Face by Dean Koontz (Horror)
6. ?
8. Eragon by Christopher Paolini and Artemis Fowl and the Time Deception by Eoin Colfer
9. The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale
50 POINTS
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Hi Cynthia, would The Human Stain count for 10.8. In Honor of Memorial and Armed Forces Day – Read a book about a veteran OR someone serving in the military. ?
Faunia's Husband in a Vietnam Vet. He's not a main character in the book, but has a big role.
If yes: 250 + 10 = 260
Thanks!! : )
Faunia's Husband in a Vietnam Vet. He's not a main character in the book, but has a big role.
If yes: 250 + 10 = 260
Thanks!! : )
Hayes wrote: "Hi Cynthia, would The Human Stain count for 10.8. In Honor of Memorial and Armed Forces Day – Read a book about a veteran OR someone serving in the military. ?Faunia's Husband in a Vietnam Vet. ..."Thats ok I added it in
I went back through the non-challenge books I've read on the side in the last 3 months, to see if any of them actually fit in the categories I never got around to, and a couple of them do! Hooray for accidental points!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
15.2 - A Far Rockaway of the Heart - 5/10/09
25.2 - The Bad Beginning - 3/29/09 & The Good Thief - 5/20/09
Newly completed:
25 point task #7 - Book referenced in a movie - Lolita - 5/6/09
5 point task - Humorous Novel - Undead and Unwed - 5/13/09
25 point task #5 - Not my normal genre (political biographies) - Write it When I'm Gone
Total Tasks Completed: 15
Total Ponts Earned: 220
I finished Enna Burning the other day for task 5.1.5 points
1. Fantasy - Enna Burning 5/24
2. Epistolary - Ella Minnow Pea 3/27
5. Lent/Sacrifice - The Giving Tree 5/5
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
4. Author Birthday - Daisy Miller 3/3 (April 15, 1843)
5. Magic - The Sea of Monsters 4/11
6. Earth Day - Stargirl 4/4
9. TNBBC Top Book List - The Bell Jar 3/31
10. TNBBC Member's 5 Star - Dead Until Dark (Ashley) 4/18
15 points
1. Capricorn (Art) - Chasing Vermeer 5/22
2. Poetry - A Light in the Attic 3/2
3. TNBBC Group Read – People of the Book 5/19
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
9. Color/Food - Anne of Green Gables 5/22 (spinach and broccoli in salad)
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
3. Angela – I Capture the Castle 3/22 and Ella Enchanted 3/3 (Cassie)
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: 360
15 POINT TASK4. Read a novel that takes place in a location you plan to visit during this challenge OR have visited previously during spring break.
Look Homeward, Angel, Thomas Wolfe (North and South Carolina).
TOTAL POINTS: 475.
Two more down--one very interesting, one very boring.5.6--WOMAN IN THE SHAMAN'S BODY by Barbara Tedlock
A very interesting study on woman's role as healer around the world throughout history. Covered everything from herbs to shifting genders.
25.2--A DIARY FROM DIXIE by Mary Chesnut
I was looking forward to this read and it has been the most difficult to date. Mrs. Chesnut was the wife of Confederate General James Chesnut, Jr. and the diary chronicles from just prior to the Civil War (November 8, 1860) to just after its conclusion (August 2, 1865). What was interesting was seeing the Civil War from the perspective of a woman in the South. Since her husband played an integral role in the War, she had first-hand information and her view-point actually shifts a few times during the years.
This brings my total points to--465.
I finished reading Eve Green this afternoon, and had a green salad and kiwi fruit with my dinner, so that's another 15 points for me.This book was really slow and not really my cup of tea, but 'pretty' writing :)
Total points: 355. I doubt I'll get anything more finished in time, so looks like I won't reach my target of 400 point :(
I finished reading Modern Magic: Five Stories by Louisa May Alcott for 10 points for the book about magic.Total: 100 points yay!
Finished another task yesterday -- 25.4 Winnie-the-Pooh. I know so many of those chapters, but had never actually read the whole thing. A delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon and evening!
5 Point Tasks1. Read a Science Fiction OR Fantasy Novel
I finished The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling. It's a nice companion to the HP series, but for me it lacked the magic that makes HP so special...maybe because Harry and his friends don't actually make appearances - they're just briefly mentioned in JK Rowling's introduction.
Since I won't finish "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by the end of the challenge, I'm pausing that one for right now (since I'm nowhere close to halfway through) and saving it for the Summer Challenge. So, just one book left for me to finish the 50 point task!
New Point Total: 290
Total Tasks Completed: 22.5
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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Task 10.1 crossed off, Baby !! Total Up = 555 points.