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Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009

Five Point Tasks
1. Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel: Brave New World
2 Letters: Paper Darts by Virginia Woolf
3. Spring Cleaning: Girl with a Pearl Earring
4. While Traveling: True History of the Kelly Gang A Novel
5. Christian: The Magician's Nephew
6. Women's History: Smart Blonde
7. Arbor Day: Fugitive Pieces A Novel
8. Humorous Me Talk Pretty One Day
10. Book with Flower: The Name of the Rose
10 Point Tasks
1. Irish Author: Ulysses
2. Mexican Theme: Under the Volcano A Novel
3. ANZAC Day: Cloudstreet A Novel
4. Author B'Day in May: Heat and Dust
5. Book with Magic: The Mistress of Spices
6. Earth Day: A Home at the End of the World A Novel
7. Mother's Day: Moominvalley in November
8. Armed Forces Day: The Ghost Road
9. TNBBC Top Books List: 84, Charing Cross Road (#98)
10. Five Stars: Of Human Bondage
15 Points
1. GEMINI: Twelfth Night
2. National Poetry Month: My Country and Other Poems by Dorothea Mackellar
3. TNBBC Group Read:The Witch of Portobello
4. Spring Visit: Possession A Romance
5. Award Winning Author: Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally (won Miles Franklin Award for Australian Literature in 1968)
6. Translated Book: Our Lady Of The Flowers
7. Rhyming Books: The Remains of the Day / The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
8. Get to Know the Author: The Blind Assassin
9. Book with Colour Title: White Teeth
10. 3-4-5: Three Continents , Four Queens The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe>, Slaughterhouse-Five
25 Points
1. G/R The Godfather/The Road Home
2. Diarist Illustrated Pepys Extracts from the Diary
3. Jamie's Shelves: Interpreter of Maladies and Mrs. Dalloway
4. Big Read : Pride and Prejudice
5. Off Genre - fantasy/chic lit The Time Traveler's Wife
6. Monarchy: War of the Windsors A Century of Unconstitutional Monarchy
7. PENDING
8. YA : I Am the Messenger/I Capture the Castle
9. Saras Crazy Title The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America or The Affair of the Poisons Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV
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It may be a love it or leave it, but actually I found myself pleasantly surprised. I fully expected not to like it, as apocalyptic books are not exactly my thing, and the punctuation and lack of names threw me off as well. I wouldn't read it more than once, but I ended up enjoying it because 1) it moves fairly quickly and 2) there actually is an undertone of hope. And of course the writing is beautiful.

5. I'm going to attempt to quit cursing!
5 points, so far!

Yay, Sara! So glad that you found something you will enjoy!! :) friending now!

Jeane - yes Sahara is acceptable
Katie - yes you can read them in a combination of modes of transportation
Jenny - yes Alice is fine for the fantasy task
I've posted Cassie and Sara's 25 pointers.


5. I'm going to attempt to quit cursing!
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Mel, You should move this to Sara's task and get 25 instead of 5!!

5. I'm going to attempt to quit cursing!
[b:English as a Second F*cking Language How to Swear Effectively, Explained in Detail with Numerous Examples Taken From Everyday Life|457800|En..."
I agree with Elizabeth, Mel. You are short-changing yourself. Move this one to Sara's challenge and grab those 25 big ones!
EDIT: Ah! I looked at your list and saw you had something else lined up for the 25-pointer, so nevermind. :-)


Ugh.
I've actually been meaning to read this one for work for awhile now. I own it and had previously informed my manager that after I finished it I would donate my copy to the department because I'm pretty sure there's no way I'd ever want to read that book more than once, but I haven't been able to wrangle up the nerve to read it yet. So maybe it will happen or maybe not, lol!

"Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara: The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the World's Best-Loved Books" by Jenny Bond & Chris Sheedy
It's a funny and fascinating book where you'll learn things like the fact that when stacked the manuscript for Gone with the Wind was taller than Margaret Mitchell.

5 pts Tasks:
1. GOOD OMENS - NEIL GAIMAN & TERRY PRATTCHETT
2. THE TRUE AND OUTSTANDING ADVENTURES OF THE HUNT SISTERS - ELISABETH ROBINSON
3. HORNET'S NEST - PATRICIA CORNWELL
4. SECOND GLANCE - JODI PICOULT
5. THE SHACK - W.P. YOUNG
6. NATURE GIRL - CARL HIAASEN
7. THE VOLUPTUOUS DELIGHTS OF PEANUT BUTTER AND JAM - LAUREN LIEBENBERG
8. THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER - PETER KAY
9. SECRET LIFE OF BEES- SUE MONK KIDD
10. KISSING THE RAIN - KEVIN BROOKS
10pts Tasks:
1. ANGELA'S ASHES - FRANK McCOURT
2. LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE - LAURA ESQUIVEL
3. THE THORN BIRDS - COLLEEN McCULLOUGH
4. A WOMAN WITHOUT LIES - ELIZABETH LOWELL
5. JOHATHAN STRANGE AND MR NORELL - SUSANNA CLARKE
6. EAST OF THE SUN - JULIA GREGSON
7. CALL ME ELIZABETH - DAWN ANNADALE
8. CATCH 22 - JOSEPH HELLER
9. I CAPTURE THE CASTLE - DODIE SMITH
10. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA - ARTHUR GOLDEN (from Roxanne)
15pts Tasks:
1.
2. POEMS FROM THE LORD OF THE RINGS - J.R.R. TOLKIEN
3. THE BELL JAR - SYLVIA PLATH
4. THE VARIOUS FLAVOURS OF COFFEE - ANTHONY CAPPELLA
5. THE HAIR OF HAROLD ROUX - THOMAS WILLIAMS
6. FACELESS KILLERS - HENNING MANKELL
7. 19TH WIFE - DAVID EBERSHOFF & LARGER THAN LIFE - ADELE PARKS
8.
9. RED LEAVES - PAULLINA SIMONS (having tomatoes & red peppers)
10.THREE DOLLARS - ELLIOT PERLMAN & LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD - CLAIRE CALMAN & FIVE QUARTERS OF ORANGE - JOANNE HARRIS
25pts Tasks:
1. THE GLASS-BLOWERS - DAPHNE DU MAURIER & THE RAINMAKER - JOHN GRISHAM
2.
3. THE HISTORIAN - Elizabeth Kostova & Labyrinth - Kate Mosse
4. BLACK BEAUTY - ANNA SEWELL
5.
6.
7.
8. TWILIGHT & NEW MOON - STEPHENIE MEYERS
9. The Woman of Substance: The Life and Works of Barbara Taylor Bradford - Piers Dudgeon
Points: 15/525

This book is SO FUNNY, i think ive laughed out loud on nearly every page. I recommend it for the long title challenge!

ROS - 45
LOUISE - 40
FIONA (33) - 30
DOROTHY - 25
BETH MN - 15
JENNY - 10
SANDY - 10
ANGIE - 5
JON - 5
KICKI -5
LEORA - 5
LINDSEY - 5
MEL - 5

Good luck everyone - I'm really looking forward to this challenge!

15 POINTS
8:City Dog by Alison Pace. (03/01/09) Author has a blog.
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Bonnie - i agree Antonia Fraser is top notch as well as Alison weir. The Mary Q of S one is go..."
hehe Jon, thanks. Are you sure even Ireland? Would be great if you are serious about it....

"The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Mayhem at the Fair That Changed America"
I'm stoked because I just received this book in a swap!


1. Fantasy - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2. Epistolary - Elisabeth The Princess Bride, Austria-Hungary, 1853
3. Spring Cleaning - Dragon of the Red Dawn
4. Planes, Trains,... - The Princess Diaries
5. Lent/Book about Sacrifice - Confessions of a Closet Catholic
6. Women's History - Stargirl
7. Arbor Day - Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban
8. April Fool's Day/Humorous - Zippity Zinger
9. Spring Animals - Junie B. First Grader: Dumb Bunny
10. Rain-Related - Electric Storm
10 points
1. Ireland - Maggie's Door
2. Mexico - Esperanza Rising
3. Australia - I am the Messenger
4. Author Birthday - The Tiger Rising Kate DiCamillo - March 25
5. Book about Magic - The Tales of Beedle the Bard
6. Earth Day - Walk Two Moons
7. Mother's Day - Night Flying Woman
8. Military - Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima
9. TNBBC Top Book List - I Capture the Castle
10. TNBBC Member's 5 Star - Tuck Everlasting
15 points
1. Leo (Royalty) - Fairest
2. Poetry - A Light in the Attic
3. TNBBC Group Read - Stardust
4. Spring Break - The Kingdom Keepers
5. Award Winner - From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler
6. Translated -Pippi Longstocking
7. Rhyming Books - Blizzard of the BLUE Moon & The TWO Princesses of Bamarre
8. Get to Know Author - Princess Academy
9. Color Book/Food - Where the Red Fern Grows
10. 3, 4, and 5 Books - Reach for the Stars, Have Wheels Will Travel, & Look Before You Leap - Amazing Days of Abby Hayes
25 points
1. G & R - The Goose Girl and River Secrets
*2. Diarist - No idea
3. Person below post - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (Susanna)
4. Big Read - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
5. Other genre - Woodsong (non-fiction)
*6. 400 page British Monarchy - No idea
*7. ?
8. 12+ word title - 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
9. 2 YA novels - Enna Burning and The Wish
Is Stargirl okay for the women's history task?
I'm having a hard time finding books for #2 and #6 of the 25 point tasks too!

"The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Mayhem at the Fair That Changed America"
I'm stoked because I just received this book in a swap! "
I'm going to check this out right now! Thanks!!

Yes. Yes I am. Whatever--there are SO MANY BOOKS with long titles! Apparently Angela has a ton of them on her TBR list! *grumbles "400 pages of nonfiction on the British Monarchy??" and watches Frogger get FLATTENED by a semi...*Fiona wrote: "9. SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words. EH! Does one exist? No way, I don't own one?! Redburn His First Voyage, Being the Sailor-Boy, Confessions and Reminiscences of the Son-of-a-Gentleman, In the Merchant Service Would that count? My copy is only one word but I presume they would exclude all that crap from the front cover. "
There are a LOT of YA books with long titles... And they're SHORT! OR, you could read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance -- Now With Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! when it comes out in April!! ;) I know I want to!
I'd say so. Most books with freakishly long titles are ones in that format:Main Title: Extended Title with Tons and Tons of Extra WordsI'm going to read The Boyfriend List: 15 guys, 11 shrink appointments, 4 ceramic frogs, and me, Ruby Oliver.
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5 points
1. Fantasy - Inkdeath
2. Epistolary - Ella Minnow Pea
3. Spring Cleaning - Hard Truth
4. Planes, Trains,... - Sanditon and The Watsons Austen's Unfinished Novels
5. Lent/Book about Sacrifice - Persuasion
6. Women's History - Nature Girl
7. Arbor Day - Daisy Miller (Audio)
8. April Fool's Day/Humorous - The Code of the Woosters
9. Spring Animals - To Kill a Mockingbird
10. Rain-Related - The Lightning Thief
10 points
1. Ireland - The Poor Mouth
2. Mexico - Esperanza Rising
3. Australia - People of the Book
4. Author Birthday - High Country by Nevada Barr (March 1)
5. Book about Magic - Enchanted Inc.
6. Earth Day - Unaccustomed Earth
7. Mother's Day - Widow of the South (gift from mother-in-law)
8. Military - The March: A Novel
9. TNBBC Top Book List - I Capture the Castle
10. TNBBC Member's 5 Star - Dead Until Dark (Ashley)
15 points
1. Capricorn (Art) - Chasing Vermeer
2. Poetry - A Light in the Attic
3. TNBBC Group Read - The Bell Jar
4. Spring Break - Revenge of the Spellmans (San Francisco)
5. Award Winner - The Westing Game (1979 Newbery Winner)
6. Translated - Inkspell
7. Rhyming Books - Big Stone GAP & Miss MAPP
8. Get to Know Author - Chocolat - Joanne Harris
9. Color Book/Food - Anne of Green Gables
10. 3, 4, and 5 Books - The Well of Lost Plots, Something Rotten, & First Among Sequels
25 points
1. KAREN’S TASK - The Goose Girl and A Raisin in the Sun
2. EL’s TASK - Walden
3. ANGELA’S TASK - Pride and Prejudice and Ella Enchanted (Cassie)
4. ROS’ TASK - Bridget Jones's Diary
5. BONNIE’S TASK - The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (memoir)
6. JON’S TASK - New Worlds, Lost Worlds: The Rule of the Tudors
7. DARLA'S TASK - ?
8. CASSIE'S TASK - I am the Messenger and Inkheart
9. SARA'S TASK - Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen

1. Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter Witch by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
2. Hołd dla katalonii i inne teksty o hiszpańskiej wojnie domowej by George Orwell
3. The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
5. The Name of The Rose by Umberto Eco
6.
7. God Bless You Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut
8. Fritz the Cat by Robert Crumb
9. Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann
10 POINTS
1. Ulysses by James Joyce
2. Contra Bush by Carlos Fuentes
3.
4. Neuromancer by William Gibson (March 17, 1948)
5. Arabia Magica. Wiedza tajemna u Arabów przed islamem by Marek M. Dziekan
6.
7.
8. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
9. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (pos: 18, year: 1983)
10. Allah's Mountains: The Battle for Chechnya New Edition by Sebastian Smith
15 POINTS
1.
2.
3. Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before
Dracula by Bram Stoker
4.
5. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
7.
8. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, David Lloyd
9. The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
nothing fancy, just ice-cream with blackcurrants and a bowl of blackberries
10. Equal Rites Discworld Book 3 by Terry Pratchett
Mort Discworld Book 4 by Terry Pratchett
Sourcery Discworld Book 5 by Terry Pratchett
Total: 20


1. GOOD OMENS - NEIL GAIMAN & TERRY PRATTCHETT
2. THE TRUE AND OUTSTANDING ADVENTURES OF THE HUNT SISTERS - ELISABETH ROBINSON
3. HORNET'S NEST - PATRICIA CORNWELL
4. SECOND GLANCE - JODI PICOULT
5. THE SHACK - W.P. YOUNG
6. NATURE GIRL - CARL HIAASEN
7. THE VOLUPTUOUS DELIGHTS OF PEANUT BUTTER AND JAM - LAUREN LIEBENBERG
8. THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER - PETER KAY
9. SECRET LIFE OF BEES- SUE MONK KIDD
10. KISSING THE RAIN - KEVIN BROOKS
10pts Tasks:
1. ANGELA'S ASHES - FRANK McCOURT
2. LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE - LAURA ESQUIVEL
3. THE THORN BIRDS - COLLEEN McCULLOUGH
4. A WOMAN WITHOUT LIES - ELIZABETH LOWELL
5. JOHATHAN STRANGE AND MR NORELL - SUSANNA CLARKE
6. EAST OF THE SUN - JULIA GREGSON
7. CALL ME ELIZABETH - DAWN ANNADALE
8. CATCH 22 - JOSEPH HELLER
9. I CAPTURE THE CASTLE - DODIE SMITH
10. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA - ARTHUR GOLDEN (from Roxanne)
15pts Tasks:
1.
2.
3. THE BELL JAR - SYLVIA PLATH
4. THE VARIOUS FLAVOURS OF COFFEE - ANTHONY CAPPELLA
5. THE HAIR OF HAROLD ROUX - THOMAS WILLIAMS
6. FACELESS KILLERS - HENNING MANKELL
7. 19TH WIFE - DAVID EBERSHOFF & LARGER THAN LIFE - ADELE PARKS
8.
9. RED LEAVES - PAULLINA SIMONS (having tomatoes & red peppers)
10.THREE DOLLARS - ELLIOT PERLMAN & LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD - CLAIRE CALMAN & FIVE QUARTERS OF ORANGE - JOANNE HARRIS
25pts Tasks:
1. THE GLASS-BLOWERS - DAPHNE DU MAURIER & THE RAINMAKER - JOHN GRISHAM
2.
3. THE HISTORIAN - Elizabeth Kostova & Labyrinth - Kate Mosse
4. BLACK BEAUTY - ANNA SEWELL
5.
6.
7.
8. TWILIGHT & NEW MOON - STEPHENIE MEYERS
9. The Woman of Substance: The Life and Works of Barbara Taylor Bradford - Piers Dudgeon
Points: 30/525


10 POINTS
1. For St. Patrick’s Day – Read a book by an Irish author, set in Ireland, OR about Ireland.
Maire Fires of Gleannmara Linda Windsor
10 points

The Handmaid and the Carpenter: Elizabeth Berg, for my Christian fiction. it was a good, fast (only 156 pages) read. Thought provoking.

For dinnerI had cup of tomato soup and 4 crackers bacon and eggs and stir fry veg including red pepper, mushrooms beansprout etc and a jelly and strawberry yogurt

25) 5. Today I read Hallowe'en Party byAgatha Christie as I don't read detective fiction.
Thanks!
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Bonnie - i agree Antonia Fraser is top notch as well as Alison weir. The Mary Q of S one is good, ive read it,
For the Britain thing, yeah anything related to the Monarchy in any of the Britsish Isles/Ireland is fine. It doesnt even have to be in a positive light if you hate the English lol (no names Jeane but im looking at you hehe) - in fact the one im going to read is not in a positive light at all but i love a bit of scandal.
Mary queen of Scots was a pretender to the English throne anyway, descended from Henry VIII's sister, much of her story is closely related to her Cousin Elizabeth who signed her death warrant and her son was the First King of the United Kingdom (king of both Scotland and England) - so no question of her eligibility to the task :). By Britain i do mean England Scotland Wales and to a degree Ireland though, but not the rest of Europe unless it relates to a close relative of the English Crown or in say the case of Eleanor of Aquitaine a foreigner who was married to the English King but the court at that time was in France.
ok end of history lesson, cant wait to read your reviews - i love this stuff as you can see!
oh and if you want to read absolute trash scandal for a laugh, theres Kitty Kellys - the royals
and if you want another 5 star pick from me that isnt all pomp and uncovers some interesting Nazi connections then this works too (the woman we loved to hate in England!)
The Duchess of Windsor The Secret Life