The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Here's my list!5.1 At the Earth's Core, Edgar Rice Burroughs
5.6 Island of Lost Girls A Novel, Jennifer McMahon
5.7 Bunner Sisters, Edith Wharton (ebook)
5.8 Diary of a Mad Bride, Laura Wolf
5.9 Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach
5.10 Astrid and Veronika, Linda Olsson *astrid dumucus is a flower
10.1 Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt
10.3 Disquiet, Julia Leigh (author from Australia)
10.4 2nd Chance, James Patterson (birthday 3/22)
10.6 Around the World in Eighty Days, Jules Verne
10.10 Three Cups of Tea One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time, Greg Mortenson *from Sandrat's list
15.4 Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, Amara Lakhous (traveled to Rome on past spring break)
15.6 Suite Française, Irene Nemirovsky
25.4 Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky
25.5 Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, Elizabeth Gilbert (memoir)
25.8 Persepolis 1 The Story of a Childhood, Marjane Satrapi and The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
25.9 The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread, Kate DiCamillo
Total = 210
Jayme wrote: "Hi,I'm joining this challenge a little late, but wanted to see how I could do with the books I've read this spring. One Question: for 10.2 would Dirty Girl's Social Club count? The author is fr..."No it wouldn't count the author had to be from Mexico or the story had to take place in Mexico or be non-fiction about Mexico.
Cynthia wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Hi,I'm joining this challenge a little late, but wanted to see how I could do with the books I've read this spring. One Question: for 10.2 would Dirty Girl's Social Club count? Th..."
Okay, thanks Cynthia!
Maybe my last uptade :(5 Points
1 - Coraline by Neil Gaiman
2 - Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
5 - Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice
6 - Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
8 -
10 - The House of Thunder by Dean Koontz
10 Points
1 - In the Woods by Tana French
2 - Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
3 - not yet
8 - Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
9 - I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
15 Points
1 - Nightmare in Pink by John D. MacDonald
2 -
4 - Blindness by José Saramago
7 - ---
8 - Dewey The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
10 - ---
25 Points
1 - not yet
2 - not yet
3 - not yet
6 - not yet
9 - not yet
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My list again. Moved Angela's Ashes and added 25.1Here's my list!
5.1 At the Earth's Core, Edgar Rice Burroughs
5.6 Island of Lost Girls A Novel, Jennifer McMahon
5.7 Bunner Sisters, Edith Wharton (ebook)
5.8 Diary of a Mad Bride, Laura Wolf
5.9 Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach
5.10 Astrid and Veronika, Linda Olsson *astrid dumucus is a flower
10.3 Disquiet, Julia Leigh (author from Australia)
10.4 2nd Chance, James Patterson (birthday 3/22)
10.6 Around the World in Eighty Days, Jules Verne
10.10 Three Cups of Tea One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time, Greg Mortenson *from Sandrat's list
15.3 Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt
15.4 Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, Amara Lakhous (traveled to Rome on past spring break)
15.6 Suite Française, Irene Nemirovsky
25.1 The Golden Key, George MacDonald and Rosemary's Baby Ira Levine
25.4 Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky
25.5 Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, Elizabeth Gilbert (memoir)
25.8 Persepolis 1 The Story of a Childhood, Marjane Satrapi and The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
25.9 The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread, Kate DiCamillo
Total = 240
*Moved Angela's Ashes to 15.3 and added 25.1
Congrats to everyone who finished the challenge! I made 300 points and have decided to call it quits a few days early so I can fit in some books I've been eyeing before the Summer Challenge begins. I'm so impressed with those of you who finished!
Finished the 3,4,5 task for 15 points and the book with sun in the title. That brings me to 490. 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.
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
25 POINT
1.
2.
3.Jen’s List –
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
50 Points
1.
Total Points: 490
Tasks Completed: 32
Books Read: 38
Total Pages Read: 13,847
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I completed 15-point task 3. I read Love In The Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I believe it was one of the February group reads.This brings me to 570 points with one task left.
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I just finished listening to Animal Farm by George Orwell, so I'm going to make this my new book for 25.4, since it's on the Big Reads List. I'm moving Anne of Green Gables to count for task 15.9. I had a green salad with green olives and green peppers in it for lunch.
So even though I just finished a 25 point book, my point total increases by 15...hope that makes sense.
New Point Total: 330
Total Tasks Completed: 24.5
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April wrote: "I completed 15-point task 3. I read Love In The Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I believe it was one of the February group reads.This brings me to 570 points with one task left."
Go April! You're so close! :)
8. For April Fools Day… - Read a humorous novel, a book of jokes, OR
- A biography/autobiography/memoir of a comedian.
Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or, the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomanical, Self-Centered Smart Ass Phase
by Jen Lancaster-5/29
New Total: 540
2 tasks left!
I started another book last night and it was going so quickly, I couldn't seem to put it down. ;)For 10 point task #10, I read Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot, which was given 5 stars by Melissa. It was cute and predictable, but fun to read once I got into the style of it.
With that one, I am up to 325 points, with 19 tasks complete!
So I come home at four, knowing full well that I have two and a half hours of work to do, two hours of volunteer work, at least one job application, and have to be up early tomorrow for a new running routine and what do I do? Finish a book! *shaking my head at myself*This is my last book of the challenge, because I have a lot that won't fit the summer challenge that I won't to read and want to do one or two of them this weekend. I read Evening Class by Maeve Binchy for the 10 point author birthday task, bringing me to a total of 410 points this challenge. Next one I'm shooting for 500. It's been a blast!
I just finished 10.6 by reading Walk Two Moons This was a book I really loved back when it first came out and my fifth grade class read it. I wanted to remember what it was about and what about it I liked. At first rereading it I wasn't drawn in, but as the book progressed I totally remembered what made it a great book. I am really glad I reread it!! Maybe in the fall there should be a challenge to reread a book you remember/love from childhood.
Ah, and that brings my point total to 230. :-)
25 points9. Tuesdays with Morrie An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
Quick and beautiful. Very touching story.
New total: 295
I just finished task 15.10. I read Harry Potter 3,4,5. They were, of course, rereads for me, and I love them every time! This time was different because I used the Audio books for the most part, and it really keeps you from just rushing through them and lets you hear everyword.New point total: 245
I think thats it for me and the spring challenge! I wont have any time to read in the next two days. On ward to summer!!
I finished Grimm's Fairy Stories today, as well as Shadowland. I finished Size 12 is Not Fat a few days ago, too.5 points
1. Fantasy - Enna Burning 5/24
2. Epistolary - Ella Minnow Pea 3/27
5. Lent/Sacrifice - The Giving Tree 5/5
7. Arbor Day - Grimm's Fairy Stories - http://ia331311.us.archive.org/2/item... 5/29
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
50 points
Pen Names - Size 12 Is Not Fat 5/26 & Shadowland 5/29
Total Points: 415
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
14. AMY MA - 575
15. BETH MN - 575
16. SHARON - 575
***************
APRIL NY - 570
ANGELA IL - 550
BONNIE - 550
TINA - 525
ALICE - 515
SARA TX - 505
BEV - 500
MAGGIE - 500
ROSEANN - 490
EL - 475
KRISTINA GA - 475
SARA E - 475
LIZ BRKLYN - 465
LOUISE - 450
JOSIE - 430
MEGHAN - 430
ELIZABETH NC - 425
JAMIE MN - 415
NICOLE NC - 415
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 410
JUDITH IA - 410
JILLIAN - 400
KRITIKA - 400
SUSAN - 395
PERS - 390
RHIANNON - 385
LORI TX - 375
ANGIE TX - 370
JOY - 370
REBECCA J - 370
RORY - 370
SUZIER - 365
MARY BETH - 350
JON - 345
STEPH - 335
JEN B - 330
LINDSEY - 325
RACHEL WA - 325
SANDIE - 325
LYNLEE4 - 320
WV HEATHER - 320
JENNIFER IN - 310
BECKY - 300
STEPHANIE CA - 300
CATHEROO - 295
SARAH PA - 295
DAVID - 290
NATALIA - 285
EVA - 280
FALLON - 280
ALISHA - 275
AMY R - 275
LAURA NY - 270
JEANE - 265
KRISTINA UK - 265
BETH - 260
HAYES - 260
KATE - 260
MEGAN - 260
SERA - 260
COURTNEY - 255
JAYME - 255
JOANN - 250
MALIADES - 250
RENFREW - 250
MANDAY - 245
RYAN - 240
CAROL - 230
LACY - 220
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
LIZ VEGAS - 210
REBECCA - 210
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 200
KATHRYN - 200
TRACY - 200
VICTORIA - 200
ASHLEY AL - 190
ASHLEY UT - 180
RALPH - 180
JULIE (ID)'S - 175
SAM - 175
TERRI - 175
MARIE - 170
JOANNA - 165
SLAYERMEL - 165
JOANIE - 160
JEN MD - 155
JESSICA SC - 155
POTJY - 155
TRYPHENA - 155
LILY - 150
MADELINE - 150
MELODY - 150
ROS - 150
CYNDEE - 145
LAUREN - 145
MACKENZIE - 145
SHANNON - 145
HEATHER KS - 135
JAMIE WA - 135
JULIE TN - 135
KAREN - 135
JEGKA - 130
KIM UK - 130
ANN FROM SC - 125
CASSIE - 120
JESSICA MI - 120
CYNTHIA - 115
KICKI - 115
SUSANNA UK - 115
ABBIE - 110
ANGIE CA - 110
SHELLIE - 110
CATHERINE - 105
JENNY - 105
LDB - 105
LINDA - 105
ALLISON MO - 100
RACHEL CA - 100
AMANDA - 95
JAMIE 23 - 95
KELLY MA - 95
MEL - 95
KIM US - 90
SAI - 90
MEREDITH H - 85
ELIZABETH US - 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
Manday, I absolutely LOVE Walk Two Moons! It is one of my favorite books from my childhood! I love just about everything I've read by Sharon Creech! She is one of my favorite YA authors.
I finished 10 pt. task # 4 - read Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry, her birthday is March 20.Previous total 360 + 10 = 370
Ashley wrote: "Manday, I absolutely LOVE Walk Two Moons! It is one of my favorite books from my childhood! I love just about everything I've read by Sharon Creech! She is one of my favorite YA authors. "Did you read Absolutely Normal Chaos? That was my favorite Creech book. It shared some characters with Walk Two Moons. I read that first, before Walk Two Moons and was very disappointed with what happened to the main characters of Choas in Two Moons.
Just finished The Book Thief for 10.3, and though I'm probably in the minority, I have to say I didn't love it. It was very well written, but just wasn't pulled in, and had no desire to pick it up. But I have tappered of reading the last week to rest up for the Summer Challenge, so this will be it for me.I do want to thank every one doing these challenges, especially Cynthia for putting it together, but everyone else who suggests tasks and gives feedback on books. I was exposed to so many different books, I don't think my comfort zone will ever be the same!
Here's my final list:
5 pt
1. The Time Traveler – HG Wells
3. Naked – David Sedaris
5. The Island – Victoria Hislop
6. Agnes Parker: Girl in Progress by Kathleen O’dell
7. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
8. Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
9. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
10. Storm Front The Dresden Files Series, Book 1 by Jim Butcher
10 pt
1. If you Could See me now – Cecelia Ahearn
2. Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
3. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
4. High Five – Janet Evanovich
5. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
6. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
9. #17. The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Julie’s Shelf)
15 pt
1. Libra: The Appeal - Grisham
2. Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou
3. Love in the Time of Cholera
4. Florida, Nature Girl – Carl Hiassen
7. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo & Girl with the Pearl earring
8. The Host – Stephenie Meyer
9. The Red Tent – Anita Diamant
10. The Fifth Floor – Michael Harvey, The fourth queen – Debbie Taylor, The Third Angel – Alice Hoffman
25 pt
1. Karen - Goodnight Nobody – Jennifer Weiner, The Road– Cormac McCarthy
4. Ros - Alice’s Adventure In Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
5. Bonnie - A Song Flung Up To Heaven – Maya Angelou Memoir
8. Cassie - Breaking Dawn – Stephenie Meyer, A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
10. Sara - Three Cups of Tea One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson
50 pt
Full House – Steppie Hall & Hot Six – Janet Evanovich
Total: 415 points
Bonnie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Manday, I absolutely LOVE Walk Two Moons! It is one of my favorite books from my childhood! I love just about everything I've read by Sharon Creech! She is one of my favorite YA auth..."I read that one, and Chasing Redbird which is set in Sal's hometown, and follows her best friend's experiences one summer, as well as many others by Creech. I think I have read all of her older books. That I know of, she has 3 or so newer ones that I haven't had a chance to read yet, but plan to get to sometime. I liked Absolutely Normal Chaos, but I liked Walk Two Moons better. It's the first book by her I read, and probably still my favorite, although several of them are very close to the top!
What about the characters in Walk Two Moons from Absolutely Normal Chaos didn't you like?
Most recenlty completed in BoldFive Point Tasks
10 Point Tasks
15 Points
9. Colour: A Patch of Blue
25 Points
3. Jamie's Shelves: Interpreter of Maladies and
9. Saras Crazy Title : The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Other Stories
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Cynthia wrote: "I can only count 275 points"Missed 10.7 - Women of the Bible Deborah's Story A Novel, Ann Burton
when I cut and pasted, that's my Momma's name :) so that should hit the 285. I'm halfway through The Long Walk for Bonnie's task, I can't believe I'm going to break 300! :)
Two more challenges down for me. 10.4 D IS FOR DEADBEAT by Sue Grafton
I started to read this series around the time they came out and I think I stopped after the "B" story.
This one was actually pretty good, a little too gumshoe for my taste, but I think I would try another.
10.5 MR. SEBATIAN AND THE NEGRO MAGICIAN by Daniel Wallace
I had no idea what to expect from this novel and was very suprised.
What do you have to do when you sell your soul to the devil and all you know is magic? Become a "Negro Magician", of course. Only problem is, Henry Walker has to give up his sister, and his natural skin color for the short-lived fame.
Sounds weird I know, but there are many twists and turns to this story along with some interested "special people" (freaks) that Henry comes to live with.
This brings my total to 490. I have a show tomorrow, so I don't know how much I will get read. I do plan on reading Sunday. I'd like to get to at least 500, maybe more.
SANDY'S 50 POINT MIDWAY TASKI forgot this was a 50 point task and not 25!!!!!
Absent in the Spring by mary westmacott and The Mysterious Affair at Stylesby agatha christie.
the story written under the name of westmacott was very very good. It had some christie style in it but very different oo. Especially that there wasn't a crime happening.
The msyterious affair at styles...well for me it says enough that it is written by agatha christie: wonderful! She has been my favourite writer since I was around the age of seven and keeps giving me that pure joy when I (re)read her books.
total 265
Finished Task 10.4: Author born 2 March - John Irving - A prayer for Owen MeanyI won't finish another book by 31 May, so that's it for me for the Spring Challenge - it was great - am now preparing my list for the Summer Challenge, see you all there!
TOTAL POINTS FOR THE SPRING CHALLENGE: 145
Cynthia- I have a question about the posting time for the last book... I live in Illinois, so right now it is 7:50, which means it is 8:50 by you? So would that mean I would have to have my final task posted by 11:00p.m. my time?
Angela wrote: "Cynthia- I have a question about the posting time for the last book... I live in Illinois, so right now it is 7:50, which means it is 8:50 by you? So would that mean I would have to have my final..."
Yes, Angela, 12:00 a.m. EST would be 11:00 p.m. CST.
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:
2. Names on a Map A Novel by Benjamin Alire Saenz (Cinco de Mayo)
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: 145 points
10 Points9. TNBBC Top Books List (#6): The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
I listened to this on audiobook and am really glad I did. I don't think I could've read it in book form. I don't think this was the best book ever, and won't even make my top books of the year. Yet it was still very engrossing. I couldn't stop listening; I listened to it all in almost one day (it's like the audio equivalent of a car crash; you have to pay attention even though you know you'll just be shocked and horrified). And yet, in the story, nothing much happened and I think it would've worked better as a novella or short story. Everything is horrible and destroyed, they are starving, the boy just wants to die, the dad says he has to live, and they keep going down the road. Repeat. The most interesting and most tragic parts were when they encountered other people, though those parts were few and far between. And I REALLY want to know how the world was destroyed (I'm guessing nukes leading to a nuclear winter) but it's probably better, and definitely more horrifying, not knowing.
Total Points: 550
Bonnie wrote: "10 Points9. TNBBC Top Books List (#6): The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
I listened to this on audiobook and am really glad I did. I don't think I could've read it in book form. I don't t..."
Bonnie, that's interesting. In my review of The Road I even considered the reviews I had seen of people who listened to the book on audio and I couldn't understand how the sparsity of the story and the landscape would come across in the audio format. I'm glad you enjoyed it that way; maybe I should consider listening to it to see if I change my opinion. I really liked it in book format and have trouble wrapping my head around how it would be in audio, so maybe I just need to suck it up and give it a try. Someday. :)
A few more books to add. I was hit with a nasty flu last week and was unable to read. I'm sure I would have been able to finish if it wasn't for that. Oh well. I have a few more books to add to my reading log.
10 point tasks
#8 Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25 Point Tasks
#3 from Kristen's Bookshelf:
Eragon by Christopher Paolini &
The Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
That brings my total up to 475.
I don't think I am going to reach the goal, but I am hoping to read five books between today and tomorrow so lets see if I can do it. I'm hoping for 40 more points.
Previous Score: 440
Current Score: 475
Goal: 515
10 point tasks
#8 Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25 Point Tasks
#3 from Kristen's Bookshelf:
Eragon by Christopher Paolini &
The Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
That brings my total up to 475.
I don't think I am going to reach the goal, but I am hoping to read five books between today and tomorrow so lets see if I can do it. I'm hoping for 40 more points.
Previous Score: 440
Current Score: 475
Goal: 515
El wrote: "Bonnie, that's interesting. In my review of The Road I even considered the reviews I had seen of people who listened to the book on audio and I couldn't understand how the sparsity of the story and the landscape would come across in the audio format. I'm glad you enjoyed it that way; maybe I should consider listening to it to see if I change my opinion. I really liked it in book format and have trouble wrapping my head around how it would be in audio, so maybe I just need to suck it up and give it a try. Someday. :)"Ah man, good luck. This book is a once in a lifetime experience for me. I don't think I could put myself through that again.
I think it works so much better as an audio. From the reviews I read it sounded like the lack of punctuation would drive me batty and distract me to no end. The audio was perfect, like a story being told. And it was even creepier because I listened to a lot of it while going on a very long walk and seeing the people and the cars and the buildings and thinking "in this story, these people are all dead and these buildings are all rubble and I can just SEE that and THAT IS SO CREEPY." The sparsity of the book comes across because the book is so sparse. Nothing happens. And most of the Man's dialogue is "I don't know." The voice actor did a really good job of making the Man sound weary and slightly defeated yet still soldiering on for his son (yeah, he really could portray all this through his voice alone) and the Boy much more inquisitive and quick and active (at the times when he wasn't feeling like he wanted to die).
I am DONE, well not done with the whole challenge but done with my part of the challenge ;) I broke 300 points and am completely burnt out on reading, rest of the weekend is going to be playing video games;) So here is my final tally:25.1 - Girl with a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier and Redemption, Karen Kingsbury
25.2 - A Midwife's Tale The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
25.4 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Duhl
25.5 - The Long Walk, Stephen King
25.7 - The Devil Wears Prada, Laura Weisberger - being read by the Grandmother on the beach in The Nannie Diaries
25.8 - The Tail of Emily Windsnap, Liz Kessler and The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
15.2 - The Sea! The Sea! An Anthology of Poems, Peter Jay
15.3 - Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
15.4 - My Philadelphia Father, Cordelia Drexel Biddle - Went to Philly for spring break one year with the family.
15.6 - The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Luiz Zafron translated by Lucia Graves
15.8 - Into the Wild, John Krakauer video interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVSR4z... and read http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0...
15.9 - Red Planet, Robert A. Heinlein - ate strawberries at breakfast and a delicious chocolate cherry cake for snack :)
10.1 - Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt
10.3 - People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks
10.6 - From the Earth to the Moon and 'Round the Moon - Jules Verne
10.7 - Women of the Bible Deborah's Story A Novel, Ann Burton
10.10 - The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kid - off Krittle's shelf
5.1 - The Time Machine, H. G. Wells
5.5 - The Silent Harp - 1935, Gilbert Morris
5.7 - Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Robert Lous Stevenson - PDF acquired from planetpdf.com
5.8 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
TOTAL - 310
Five Point Tasks 3. Spring Cleaning: Off Season
4. Commute???
5. For Easter/Lent: Persuasion
7. Arbor Day: Love the One You're With(swapping it on paperbackswap)
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
3. ANZAC Day: The Book Thief
8. Armed Forces Day: Cold Mountain
9. TNBBC Top Books List: The Secret History
Category Totals:
15 Points
1. SCORPIO: The Road
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
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
2. El's Task: Alice's Adventures: Lewis Carroll in Popular Culture-Will Brooker
6. Jon's Task: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
7. Darla's Task: Emma by Jane Austen
50 Points
1. Sandy's Task: Blaze A Novel AND Salem's Lot
I just finished Stardust for the Earth Day task so I'm up to 275. And that seems to be the end for me for the Spring Challenge. It's been fun! Hopefully I reach my goal when I do the Summer Challenge.
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I'm trying to squeeze my last few in before Monday.10.6. In honor of Earth Day (April 22) read a book with the word Earth, Moon, Sun, World, Star or one of the other planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) in the title.
Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass
TOTAL = 260 POINTS
I finished task 25.5 - read a book outside your normal genre. I read the Selected Poems by T.S. Eliot. I never read poetry. Eliot uses a lot of symbolism, that takes a lot of looking into, and many of his poems are more religious than I would normally go for. But, they are beautifully written.That brings my total to 105. So, I made my goal of 100! I have been working on another book but it looks like I won't finish it on time. So, 105 it is. Looking forward to the summer challenge!
I just completed The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir for Jon's task (25 points). Here's my short review:'I don't like nonfiction as a rule. But this was one of those rare nonfics that read like a piece of fiction and even though the book is a brick, I read the whole thing in under four days. It kept my attention from start to finish.
The medieval history of the English monarchy is interesting but not a subject I read about frequently. Alison Weir (whose name I always spell weird and have to edit) is deserving of the acclaim she has earned to date because she provides information AND entertains. Most nonfiction authors don't have that magical ability.
I look forward to reading more from this author.'
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Points: 575
# of Tasks Completed: 40/40
# of Books Read: 47
# of Pages Read: 15,003 (+1 audiobook)
I FINISHED!!!!
Yay, Beth!!! I've been holding my breath for you :-)
Congrats Beth!! Hopefully I will join the rest of you at the finish line soon!!
Way to go Beth! Looking forward to adding your task to my summer challenge list!
Yay, Beth! That's awesome! I'm looking forward to seeing your task!Cynthia, I have myself at 490 points, not 480. Thanks!
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Just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for 5 points for the Epistolary challenge (#2).
What a fantastic book! I had my doub..."
I'm reading that for the Summer Challenge and I'm really looking forward to it. I got a like new copy from my local used bookstore for 50 cents! Someone priced it wrong but they let me have it anyway. :o)