OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009 Showing 751-800 of 6,381

[Jamie]

You don't need to decide on your whole list now, Louise. I think a lot of us just have a really great time planning it out!

[Leora]

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[Ros]

I am enjoying the chalenge
Poems not my favourite but enjoyed the red hat club knew it was going to be my kind of book.

Tomorrow I am out till 5 ish as help in a charity shop. This is the same on Tuesday too and also out from about 7.30 ish to 10.30 ish tuesday evening. I am out for about 3hrs Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon too & also out most of next Sunday.

Also as I mentioned in the last challenge I am a widow and dont have any children. Reading is something I used to not enjoy but am now enjoying it. It helps fill my time when I am at home on my own. I looked after my husband for the 7 1/2 years I was married and am now doing my best to learn to how to fill my time for me. At least this year I will have mothers day on 2nd March that would of been my 12th wedding annversary. It will be 5 years on 2nd July since Graham died but it can still be very hard.

[Ros]

that should read 22nd March

[Louise]

Thanks Jamie! It's all very exciting!

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Those Geminis who need a book - if you like older historical fiction, you could try Dawn's Early Light. The heroine is a twin.

[Lauren H.]

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Here are my updates:
5 points:
2. epsitolary - We Need to Talk About Kevin
3. oldest TBR - How to be Lost
4. while travelling - The Giver (re-read)
5.Sacrifice - A Thousand Splendid Suns (changed my mind from last post)
10. type of flower or tree - Snow Falling on Cedars

10 points:
1. Irish - Thanks for the Memories (Ahern)
3. Australian - The Book Thief
5. Magic - Half Magic (changed)
6. Earth, Moon, Sun or Planets - When a Crocodile Eats the Sun
7. Recommended by my mother - The Book of Negroes

15 points:
2. poetry - What My Mother Doesn't Know
5. winner of award in the year I was born - Ender's Game
9. White Oleander (may change my mind)

25 points:
1. starting with R and G - A Recipe for Bees & Good Grief
5. outside my normal genre - something chick lit or a mystery
8. 2 YA fiction - Gathering Blue & Messenger

[Kristina]

Finished my first task, task number 6 for 5 points. It's the "In Honor Of Women’s History Month" task, and for that I read Kristina by Dag Sebastian Ahlander. And the Kristina the book is about is Kristina of Sweden. She was Queen of Sweden from 1632 to 1654 and is in Sweden known as the first modern woman in the history of Sweden. She was a very strong and independent woman.

Total points: 5.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I have to post my expected reads? I have a few of the tasks I can identify, we'll see how it goes:

5 Points:
6. The Firemaster's Mistress (does mistress count?)
7. I recycle a lot and most certainly will in the next 3 months
10. Peach Blossom Pavillion

10 Points:
4. Light a Penny Candley by Maeve Binchy (May 28)

15 Points:
6. A Woman in Jerusalem

25 Points:
1. The Gathering and The Rest of Her Life

Not much, but more planning ahead than I think I've ever done.

[Lauren H.]

one more thing:

for those looking for a book with 12+ word title, I discovered this list on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/List-Books-Very...

[Ashley]

I have a question about the books that count for the award winners... It was mentioned that the Newberry Award would count, but would the Newberry Honor Award also count?

[Lindsey]

I completed 5point task #7. For Arbor Day:
I listened to the audiobook of
Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

Total: 5 points

[Becky]

OK I am new to this site and the Challenge so I will do my best. I will have to review the list again and see what books I currently have access to that might fit into the catagories set up.


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Here are a few titles for starters

5 points
1. Inkheart

10 points
1.Angela's Ashes

25 points
4. The hobbit

[Elizabeth (NC)]

I see there is another Elizabeth on now, but I don't know how to change my name in the message section. If someone can tell me how to do that I will so Cynthia will not be confused.
Elizabeth (NC)

[Dorothy]

Trying for the big 25 first. Just finished (for the second time) a book outside my normal genre. [Book: The Secret Magdalene] by [Author: Ki Longfellow]. Really great book. Now I go for all the 15 points I can get. This should be easy. I love poetry.

[Becky]

Elizabeth wrote: "I see there is another Elizabeth on now, but I don't know how to change my name in the message section. If someone can tell me how to do that I will so Cynthia will not be confused.
Elizabeth (NC)"


You can change it by going to your profile, clicking "edit profile" and change your first name to whatever you want it to show as in the message header. :)

[Louise]

I think I read that for the poetry task the book can be 75 pages or more.... If that's right, I've completed:

15 pts - 2. Ariel by Sylvia Plath

That's 40 pts so far. Thanks!

[Maggie]

Here is my list. Just waiting on the other 25 pointer!

5 POINTS
1. Fantasy Novel – The Princess Bride, William Goldman
2. Epistolary Novel – 84 Charing Cross Road, Helene Hanff
3. Spring Cleaning – Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl, Steven Bach
4. Planes, Trains and Automobiles audiobook – Ragtime, E.L. Doctorow
5. Easter/Lent -- Mary, Called Magdalene, Margaret George
6. Women’s History Month – The Lady and the Unicorn, Tracy Chevalier
7. Arbor Day “recycle book” – In the Heart of the Sea, Nathaniel Philbrick
8. Humorous Novel – Three Bags Full, Leonie Swan
9. Spring Animals in title – Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, Christopher Moore
10. April Showers Bring May Flowers – The Enchantment of Lily Dahl: A Novel, Siri Hustvedt
Total:

10 POINTS
1. Set in Ireland – Round Ireland With a Fridge, Tony Hawks
2. Cinco De Mayo -- Set in Mexico, The Falling Woman, Pat Murphey
3. Australian Author –I Am the Messenger, Markus Zusak or The People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks
4. Author Birthday – Cider House Rules, John Irving (March 3)
5. Magic – The Killing Dance, Laurell K. Hamilton
6. Sun in Title – Mistress of the Sun, Sandra Gulland
7. Given to me by Mom – Hannah’s Dream, Dianne Hammond
8. Memorial and Armed forces day – Band of Brother, Stephen Ambrose
9. TNBBC Top Books list –I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith
10. TNBBC Member 5 star book – Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Total:

15 POINTS
1. SAGITARIUS: The archer – read a book about an athlete or sports. Shanks for Nothing, Rick Reiley
2. April is National Poetry Month – Read a book of poetry OR about a famous poet. Wintering: A Novel of Sylvia Plath, Kate Moses
3. TNBBC Group Read – A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libba Bray
4. Set in Florida – Nature Girl, Carl Hiaasen
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. Two books with rhyming titles – Widow of the South, Robert Hicks and Smart Mouth, Erin McCarthy
8. Author Interview – You Suck, Christopher Moore
9. Book with color/meal – Green Grass Grace: A Novel, Shawn McBride
10. 3, 4, 5 series or titles – Kim Harrison
Every Which Way But Dead
A Fistful of Charms
For a Few Demons More
Total:

25 POINT
1. G/R– The Good, the Bad, and the Undead, Kim Harrison and Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier
2.Diarist – Boswell's London Journal, 1762-1763
3.Jen’s List – The Reader, XXX and either The Virgin Suicides or Ferris Beach
4. Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
5.Off Genre – Horror – Come Closer, Sara Gran (Thanks, Alisha, for the suggestion!)
6. Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life, Alison Weir or Nell Gwyn: Mistress to a King, Charles Beauclerk
7.
8. Two Young Adult Novels – Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson and The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
9. Book with 12 or more words in the title – The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Erik Larson
Total:

Challenge Total:

[Melody]

I’m off and running with 10 points.
Read a book that earned a 5-Star rating by another member who is on the same page as you.
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Sarenna.

[Fallon]

For 5 points - Read science fict or fantasy -
(completely not my genre - but LOVED the book)
- the book of lost things - john connolly

[Stephanie]

5 Point Task:
2. Epistolary Novel: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Points to Date: 5
Tasks Completed: 1

[Cynthia]

LEADERBOARD
ROS - 45
LOUISE - 40
ASHLEY - 30
FIONA (33) - 30
DOROTHY - 25
LIZ VEGAS - 25
PERS - 20
BETH MN - 15
EVA - 15
KATE - 15
ROBIN - 15
JENNY - 10
MELODY - 10
SANDY - 10
ANGIE - 5
FALLON - 5
JON - 5
KICKI -5
KRISTINA - 5
LEORA - 5
LINDSEY - 5
MEL - 5
SARA - 5
STEPHANIE - 5
TINA - 5
VICTORIA - 5

[Ashley]

Sorry I keep asking questions, but I have 2 more...
It's the wrong number of syllables, but would So/ Below count for rhyming.
And I don't know if I missed the answer, but does the Newberry Honor Award Count as a book to read for an award winner in your year? Thank you!

[Maggie]

If I could stop reading here I could actually get a book done!

[Cynthia]

So and below rhyme in my book, Newberry Honor Award is fine.

[Ashley]

Wonderful, Thank You!!

[BB]

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[Bonnie]

So close to all the tasks being listed. I can't finalize my list until the last 25 pointer is up. Pretty please, Darla!

But I like everyone's 25-pointers so far. This is shaping up into a truly interesting challenge.

And, wow, people are shooting out of the gate on this one! Some people are already at 40+ points!

[Cynthia]

BB what task did you complete?

[Becky]

I am new to this and I was just wondering for clarification on when this challenge actually started. According to the rules you can join starting today but I have noticed that there are a few people that already have 40+ points. How does that work?

[Elizabeth (NC)]

Ok, I'm just posting something to see if my name changed (sorry!--wish I had some points to put up.)

[Bonnie]

Becky wrote: "I am new to this and I was just wondering for clarification on when this challenge actually started. According to the rules you can join starting today but I have noticed that there are a few peop..."

It started at 12:01 March 1st. Some people are apparently just insanely fast and dedicated readers. I could probably get through 2-3 books in a day (depending on length) if I didn't have work.

Also, there are people in different time zones. I'm in Japan and am something like 15 hours ahead of America.

[Cynthia]

Becky - it officially started today - some people are fast reader's/difference in time zones/also if you started a book prior to the challenge that fits a category and read less than half of it before the challenge but finished it after the beginning of challenge it can be counted. I posted the 5,10, 15 pointers about a week before the challenge - I know some people got started on those during that week.

[Jon]

Fiona great book choices from my shelf! make sure you let me know what you think

Jeane did you have a book in mind thats in Ireland related to the monarchy? it might work, I did have in mind it being related to the English line of monarchs but it could be a bit tenuous - eg, the Scots Monarchs became the British ones anyway so i figured that was ok.

[Heather]

Cynthia - For the author interview/read their book challenge: I'm planning on going to Charlottesville, VA for the Virginia Festival of Book to sit in on a few author round table discussions. Will this count as an interview? I'm mainly going to meet Katherine Neville again and I hope I finish her latest book by then.

Robin, I saw that your husband is scheduled to be at this event and I hope to meet him to get my copy of The Crown Conspiracy signed. I'm reading it for the fantasy/sci fi task.

(Formerly Heather One of Many)

[Victoria]

5 points:
1. Fantasy- Undead and Unemployed

Points:5

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[Robin]

WV Heather wrote: "Robin, I saw that your husband is scheduled to be at this event and I hope to meet him to get my copy of The Crown Conspiracy signed. I'm reading it for the fantasy/sci fi task.

Very cool - Both of us will be at his table...I'm looking forward to meeting a TNBBC person....well in person.

-- Robin (31 days until Avempartha)

[Robin]

I have to post my other sections but for now...I'm on the board!

15 POINTS
1. ARIES: The Lightning Thief
2. Looking for suggestions
3. TNBBC group read:A Dirty Job
4. Need to think on this
5. John Steinbeck - of Mice and Men
6. Translated: The Alchemist or Maybe Woman with the Dragon Tatoo
7. Thinking on this....
8. Something by Tee Morris
9. Thinking -
10. Nyphron Rising/Emerald Dawn/Percepliquis


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[Liz]

Sera's 25pt task completed:
Bright Lights, Big Ass A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? by Jen Lancaster.

I loved this book, such a deparature from what i normally read, and so good.

Task completed: 1
Total Points: 25

[Cynthia]

WV HEATHER - THAT'S FINE

[Ashley]

Robin, if you are still looking for book awards from 1962, The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare won the John Newberry Medal for that year, and is a great book. I loved the ending. She also wrote The Witch of Blackbird Pond, which won in another year, and is phenomenal.
These are young adult books, but I really liked them. I think they are worth reading.

[Cynthia]

Yes Elizabeth - these are the points people have earned already.

[Eliz]

Just spent a big part of the weekend coming up with my list for the challenge. I'm just going to hope I break 100 pts this time around.

Stupid question: Does anyone know any blue foods besides blueberries? Please save me from trying to recreate Bridget Jones' blue soup. (My only to-be-read book with a colour in the title was Blue Water by A. Manette Ansay.)

[Heather]

Thanks Cynthia. I saw that you're in VA - have you ever been to the Festival?

[Becky]

You could eat a cupcake with blue frosting.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I will have a very hard time with book awards for the year I was born - I think only the Nobel started that early and I'm not going to be reading any Spanish poetry.

Also, I have a question about the Mother's Day one. My mother died more than 15 years ago, and I don't recall any book recommendations. I'd like to get after books I already own and wonder for those of us who are a little older if a book recommended by a daughter might qualify (my daughters are in their 40s).

[Eliz]

I like the cupcake w/blue frosting idea... Although, now I've been thinking about it, it can't be all that hard to make blue soup. Especially since I'll be buying blue food colouring anyway. If it happens, I promise to post a picture. :)

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I think the Pulitzers go back to about 1919, Elizabeth - you might have some luck there?

[Becky]

Hmm... Here's an idea: Blue corn tortilla chips with blue food coloring tinted Guacamole.

I don't know how appetizing that would be to look at, but it's a thought!

[Eliz]

Elizabeth: What was your mother's name? There might be an author or character in your to be read list that might fit the bill.

My mother's name is Bertha so it is a little tough to hit that challenge from that angle.