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Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Completed my second task.15 point task no. 6 - Read a book that has been translated from its original language. Just finished Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig (Spanish to English).
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Courtney - again not exactly what I was looking for but this one I'll accept.
Cynthia, I am reading The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. The main character was in Iraq 3 different times, but not during the novel. He does relive his experiences throughout though. I am half way through and thought I should double check for the military theme...
One more task done!5 Points
1 - Coraline by Neil Gaiman
2 - Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
3 - Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
5 - Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice
6 - [[book:Girl, Interrupted|68783] by Susanna Kaysen
7 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling audiobook
8 -
9 - The Midnight Kittens by Dodie Smith
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
4 - Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
5 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
6 - Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
7 - Pandora by Anne Rice
8 - Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
9 - I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
10 - http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/... Interview With the Vampire
15 Points
1 - Nightmare in Pink by John D. MacDonald
2 -
3 - Dracula by Bram Stoker
4 - Blindness by José Saramago
5 - The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
7 - ---
8 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling audiobook
9 - not yet
10 - ---
25 Points
1 - not yet
2 - not yet
3 - not yet
4 - Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
6 - not yet
7 - not yet
8 - Twilight and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
9 - not yet
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Ok, I'm in! First time poster - I've been poring over the last posts and am hoping I'm doing this right. I've been gathering my books, and am so excited! Hoping this will expand my reading horizons a little! Do you want to see a complete planned list or will completed tasks suffice?5 Points
8. For April Fools Day - Humorous novel, book of jokes - I Like You Hospitality Under the Influence3/3/09
10 Points
2. For Cinco de Mayo - Like Water for Chocolate3/4/09
10. Book with a 5-star rating by another TNBBC member from my page - Shoot the Moon3/1/09
15 Points
2. National Poetry Month - Bread Without Sugar Poems 3/4/09
Point Total as of 3/4/09 4:42 EST = 40
Linda wrote: "Karen wrote: "8. CASSIE’S TASK - For her friend Melissa (who told her about Goodreads and is a YA librarian): Read 2 young adult novels.Blue Bloods & Masquerade: A Blue Bloods Novel by Melissa de..."
oh really? I wrote on my review that I thought it was sorta a cross between Twilight and A Great & Terrible Beauty. I didn't actually like Twilight (sorry! to people who do), it was just too adolescent for my taste and too much focus on Bella/Edward that everybody else is just on the background. So I actually liked Blue Bloods better. I'd like to read the 3rd book but am not sure how I'm gonna get my hands on one since it was only released in the US in October. I don't know if I'd ever be able to get my hands on one! (I'm in Australia - I don't even know if they're bringing it out here).
Linda - military veterans are definitely ok for the military task
Drat! I read "Three Bags Full" just before I signed up for this challenge. I am an Aries. Do sheep count as 15-point "Written in the Stars" selections? (I know, it's too baa-d)
Leora wrote: "I have a question for Jon:I have 3 books on my TBR shelf pertaining to Elizabth I and Eleanor of Aquitaine (she WAS French but DID marry Hanry II and given birth to Richard the Lion heart so sh..."
I've got the same question. My daughter can't find an age-appropriate book that is over 400 pages for this task.
Jenny wrote: "Anyone else born in 1984 and found a good book for 'read a book written by an author who won a major literary prize?' I'm struggling."I'm 1984 too. Nora Roberts won the RITA award. That's who I'm using.
...And...Since I can't count "Three Bags Full," can I count books involving wool -- knitting mysteries and such? Maybe?
:}
This question was asked fairly soon in this thread but i can't face going through all the posts to find the answer so being lazy can I ask whether for the 10th task for 15 points you can read books that have third, fourth and fifth in the title rather than three, four and five?
Leora: Maybe Cynthia would consider letting your daughter read several books that add up to 400 pages? Just a thought...
Cynthia wrote: "Linda - military veterans are definitely ok for the military task"If this counts then I will definitely use it!
Cynthia, can you check my list to make sure I'm okay with all my others? I'm on page 21.
For the diarist's one, can I read a biography about Queen Victoria. She was on the list of diarist. She died in January 1901, so she barely lived in the 20th century. Thanks!
Cynthia - I think my veteran's book is different than you would expect, but it didn't occur to me I might need it cleared. Perhaps I should.The Emperor's Sea Eagle, a Memoir of the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the War in the Pacific, by Abe Zenji, Lieutenant Commander Imperial Japanese Navy
Available only from the Arizona Memorial Museum Association
Because I think you might be unfamiliar with the book, on the back cover, the author is quoted:
"When peering back into our past, we must insure that we have a proper knowledge and command of the facts of history, to understand what was right and what was wrong, to recognize mistakes that we human beings have made, and to examine the lives of those people who were made to suffer in the conflict. Having done that, we will have learned not to repeat the same mistakes of history. Only in this way can we Japanese regain our lost virtue and self-confidence, and change our servile and compliant attitude which, inexorably, drove our nation down the pathway to war."
Alice wrote: "This question was asked fairly soon in this thread but i can't face going through all the posts to find the answer so being lazy can I ask whether for the 10th task for 15 points you can read books..."Alice, you can definitely use "third, fourth, and fifth," OR "three, four, and five," but not a mix. For example, "three, fourth, and five" would not be acceptable.
5 Points1.Read a Fantasy Novel-Undead and Unemployed
10 Points
15 Points
2.Read a book of poetry- What My Mother Doesn't Know
10.Read the third, fourth, and fifth book in a series- Undead and Unappreciated,
Undead and Unreturnable, and Undead and Unpopular
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Karen wrote: "Linda wrote: "Karen wrote: "8. CASSIE’S TASK - For her friend Melissa (who told her about Goodreads and is a YA librarian): Read 2 young adult novels.
Blue Bloods & Masquerade: A Blue Bloods Novel..."
Maybe an ebook would work better for you... The 4th book comes out in September, so try to read the next one by then.
Blue Bloods & Masquerade: A Blue Bloods Novel..."
Maybe an ebook would work better for you... The 4th book comes out in September, so try to read the next one by then.
YOU GUYS!!! Look what I just found!!!The British Monarchy For Dummies :)
Here's some more info on it:
http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=97...
GoodReads says it's 408 pages! Woo!
My version of Ladies in Waiting From the Tudors to the Present Day is a library book binding and its 401 pages. It's not even on GR. Try to get that version from the library.
Renfrew - Aries have to read books about Greek mythology/Greece for that task.Alice - Yes Third, Fourth Fifth is an option instead of 3/4/5.
Courtney - looks good.
Kathryn - that's fine.
Elizabeth - that's fine. You don't need approval from me unless you think the book deviates in a significant way from the intent of the task or are unsure if it fits the task.
For our younger players - it would be fine with me if they read several books that added up to 400 pages for Jon's task.
Five Point Tasks 1.Science Fiction Novel: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
3. Spring Cleaning: Off Season
4. Commute???
5. For Easter/Lent: Persuasion
6. Women's History Month: Girl, Interrupted
7. Arbor Day: Love the One You're With (swapping it on paperbackswap)
8. Humorous Novel: The Spellman Files (reread)
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
2. Mexican Author: The Hummingbird's Daughter
3. ANZAC Day: The Book Thief
5. Book about Magic: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
6. Earth Day: The Pillars of the Earth
7. Mother's Day:????
8. Armed Forces Day: Cold Mountain
9. TNBBC Top Books List: The Secret History
10. Five Stars Member's List: Memoirs of a Geisha(Offmat)
Category Totals:
15 Points
1. SCORPIO: The Waste Lands OR Wastelands Stories of the Apocalypse
2. National Poetry Month: What My Mother Doesn't Know
3. TNBBC Unread Group Read: House of Leaves
4. Location You've Been (CT): Swapping Lives
5. Award Winning Author:Beloved (Pulitzer in 1988)
6. Translated Book: Love in the Time of Cholera
7. Rhyming Novels: Alias Grace & No Place Like Home A Novel
8. Get to Know the Author: The Kite Runner
9. Book with Color Title: The Green Mile Book Box Set
10. 3-4-5: All That Remains, Cruel and Unusual, & The Body Farm
Category Totals:
25 Points
1. Karen's Task: The Good Guy AND Rebecca
2. El's Task: To Be Decided
3. Angela's Task: The Historian AND Alphabet Weekends Love on the Road from A to Z
4. Ros's Task: The Stand
6. Jon's Task: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
7. Darla's Task: PENDING
8. Cassie's Task: Looking for Alaska AND The Truth About Forever
9. Sara's Task: Little Red Riding Hood Uncloaked Sex, Morality, and the Evolution of a Fairy Tale
So, I finished I Am Legend for Bonnie's read something that you don't normally read task. I really didn't find it scary (except for one certain part that creeped me out a bit), but I really did like the story and am looking forward to reading more from Richard Matheson.
And also, Yay! 30 points so far.
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LEADERBOARD
ROS - 90
KAREN - 70
ASHLEY - 60
FIONA (TITCH) - 55
BONNIE - 50
LIZ VEGAS - 50
PERS - 50
CAROL - 45
BETH MN - 40
BEV - 40
KATE - 40
LINDSEY - 40
LOUISE - 40
SANDIE - 40
VICTORIA - 35
ALISA - 30
LIZ (BKLYN) - 30
SARA - 30
SUZIER - 30
ALICE - 25
CYNTHIA - 25
DOROTHY - 25
JENNY - 25
MEGHAN - 25
NATALIA - 25
RORA - 25
ANGIE - 20
ANN FROM SC - 20
BETH - 20
EVA - 20
FALLON - 20
JAMIE MN - 20
KRISTINA - 20
SANDY - 20
ABBIE - 15
ANGELA - 15
COURTNEY - 15
JON - 15
JOSIE - 15
LEORA - 15
ROBIN - 15
STEPHANIE - 15
WV HEATHER - 15
BECKY - 10
EL - 10
MELODY - 10
SUSAN - 10
JUDITH - 5
KICKI - 5
LISA CO - 5
MAGGIE - 5
MEL - 5
TINA - 5
Thanks Sara and Cynthia- I've been checking the original list also but didn't want to have missed it somehow if it didn't get posted there for some reason. Thanks though!
Crap, at 35 I probably don't qualify for "the multiple books for Jon's task" dispensation do I? Ah well, the hunt continues.
8. CASSIE'S TASK - For her friend Melissa (who told her about goodreads and is a YA Librarian): Read two young adult novels. For 25 points I read...
Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn and Skulduggery Pleasant Playing with Fire by Derek Landy.
Leora wrote: "Crap, at 35 I probably don't qualify for "the multiple books for Jon's task" dispensation do I?"I know, right? I was serious about The British Monarchy For Dummies. I've requested it through interlibrary loan (ILL). It's gonna be awesome! ;)
I finally finished my first taskFor 15 points
2. Read a book of poetry
The Panther and the Lash by Langston Hughes
I'm working on a few tasks, but this challenge is going slower for me than the winter challenge. Darn students actually expect me to grade their papers - how rude of them!
Re: Jon's task - Thank you, Cynthia, for okaying the multiple books for kids. You don't mind this, do you, Jon?
I just finished "Gluten Free Girl" #5 of the 5 pointers.Total is now 10.
Thanks!
5 POINTS2:84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (3/04/09)
10 POINTS
4:A Great and Terribly Beauty by Libba Bray (3/02/09)
10:All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (3/03/09)
15 POINTS
8:City Dog by Alison Pace. (3/01/09)
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Points: 40
Beth from (MN)
Here's my first official Spring Challenge entry!5 Points
For Arbor Day – Do your part to save some trees by…
- By reading a book and “recycling” it
Journey Back to Lumberjack Camp by Janie Lynn Panagopoulos
15 Points
8. Get To Know The Author - Read a book by an author AND then either attend a reading by that author OR read/listen to an interview with that author.
Brendan Buckley's Universe & Everything In it by Sundee Frazier
TOTAL = 20 POINTS
Re my task - i dont have a prob with what Cynthia said about multiple books to add up to 400
Tasks Completed5 Points
#1 Read a sci-fi or fantasy novel- Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
#9 Read a book with a type of bird in the title- The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper
10 Points
#5 Read a book about magic- Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
Total Points= 20
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5 POINTS 1. Dead Until Dark
2. [b:The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
3. Defiant HeartTracey Victoria Bateman
4. The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeAllison K. Pittman
6. The Lady and the CadTamela Hancock Murray
7. Dawn In My HeartRuth Axtell Morren I got this on paperbackswap.com and I'll be putting it back up once I'm done.
8. Bob Hope or Lucille Ball but it's still up in the air.
9. Birdsong RoadMary Louise Colln
10. His Winter RoseLois Richer
10 POINTS
2.TBD
3. For ANZAC Day Faith in the Great SouthlandMary Hawkins
4.A Family To ShareArlene James she was born in May
6.EclipseorCatch a Rising Star A NovelTracey Victoria Bateman
7. My mom's name is Maria so Killer CargoDana Mentink
8.Military DaddyPatricia Davids
9.To Kill a Mockingbird
10.TBD
15 POINTS
1. Aries: TBD
2. TBD but thinking of Walt Whitman or Carl Sandburg
3. StardustRobin Caroll I've previously been to New Orleans over my Spring break. I wish I could go for this spring break.
5. TBD
6.Carlos Sanchez or Paulo Coelho
7. Two books with rhyming titles: Bridal VeilCathy Marie HakeandTHE LONG TRAIL TO LOVE - H S #753Pamela Griffin
8. Get To Know The Author Operation Married by ChristmasDebra Clopton
9. Read a book with a color in the title AND eat a meal that includes at least 2 foods:Bluegrass PerilVirginia Smith and I'll be making Blueberry cobbler for one of the dishes
10. March, April, and May are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th
The Horse and His BoyPrince CaspianThe Voyage of the Dawn TreaderC.S. Lewis
25 Points
2.Little WomenLouisa May Alcott
3. Angela's task: it's between Confessions of a shopalic by sophie kinsella or water for elephants by sara gruen: 2nd choice P.s I love you and Goodnight nobody by jennifer weiner and these are from Stephanie's book shelf.
4. Ros task: Anne of Green GablesL.M. Montgomery
5. Bonnie's task:Simple GeniusDavid Baldacci
6. Jon's task: TBD
Total points= 45
Rora wrote: "8. CASSIE'S TASK - For her friend Melissa (who told her about goodreads and is a YA Librarian): Read two young adult novels.For 25 points I read...
OMG Rora! How'd you like Summers at Castle Auburn? That's one of my favorite YA books! Have you read any other books by Sharon Shinn?
And for middle school readers who have the special dispensation, I suggest a Horrible History book for part of Jon's task. It's called Cruel Kings and Mean Queens. It's about 200 pages, so it covers half the task. Horrible Histories is a series for kids/young adults that makes history interesting with jokes and comics and all the interesting bit of history brought in and most of the boring stuff left out. I loved it in middle school. Only downside are the books are a little hard to find in the States.
Leora if your hitting the 800 mark with 2 i dont think i could say no to using the books! Cynthias call but all i really wanted to do considering it was only 1 book required for 25pnts whereas most were 2, was that it at least be a reasonable ammount of reading - hence the 400 requirement. On similar lines to last months 700 but more specific. I dont really mind too much how 400 is reached personaly as long as it fits the task - and those definately doNow back to 'home at the end of the world' which im loving as much as the 'hours'! but so tired, couldnt sleep last night - but want to get some chapters done and not fall asleep on the sofa!
If anyone does read about Eleanor of Aquitaine though you have to promise to try and watch 'the lion in winter' at some point - either the movie that Katerine Hepburn won best actess for (1968 i think) or the TV adaptation with Glenn Close - both highly recommended! (disclaimer :thats not a new task requirement just a plug for a movie i love!)
Being a reader for 3 decades, and I just realised how great a really GOOD librarian can be. You are a gem, Cynthia!And here are my question:
- My book that fit the Spring Cleaning task is in "to find" category, which mean I've not owned it yet. In fact, I don't mind go out and buy it now, but that would NOT be a Cleaning at all. Can I switch to the next book?
- Can I use Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! Adventures of a Curious Character for the Memorial and Armed Forces Day task. The professor only worked as civil researcher for a few years during the WW II. (Otherwise I may switch it to joke-book task.:P)
– Can I read fiction as a book about a famous poet? I have a book called Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders waiting on shelf. It should be fun.
- And somebody please define "Young Adult" for me, pleaseeeee! I'm always baffled by the term.
BTW, I post this mainly to get the books for that 25-point task. So, next poster, come on!
I'm halfway through reading two books from Fiona's list ... The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly! What a great read - inspring! Next up is the Kite Runner ....
Suzie, ur on my list or the other Fiona lol?
Thanks, thanks, SuzieR!! You've got an impressive bookshelf. I'll enjoy it for sure.
Fiona, it's you :)Potjy! YAY! Hope you find something you like!
Right, I really am going to get off this computer and READ!
Suzie, I loved that book hon.
As far as young adult goes, I think you can go to the bookstore and they usually have a "teen" section, so anything there would work. Also (and I think you have a better chance of finding a good one) look at the list of Newbery winner and award books.I would recommend the following--Walk Two Moons--Sharon Creech, Ida B.--can't think fo the author, Each Little Bird that Sings--Deborah Wiles, Maniac Magee--Jerry Spinelli, Lightening Thief--Rick Riordan, Golden Compass--Philip Pullman
Sabriel by Garth Nix is also a great book. It's a little more intense and fantasy so it would also work for task number one if someone is still looking for that.
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25 point task #4: ROS’ TASK - Read a book that’s on the big reads list.
3/4/2009 - The Woman in White (#77 on the Big Reads list)
Total Tasks Completed: 1
Total Ponts Earned: 25
The book is *wonderful* - anyone who is still looking for a book for this task should seriously consider it. It's a Victorian novel, full of fainting women, but it's also one of the very first examples of the "thriller" genre, and it's very thrilling. ;)