The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Fiona wrote: "A lot of classified YA books were actually written with adults in mind but their publishers thought they would sell better to that market and so that's where they got put. Doesn't mean they have lesser prose or vocabulary by any means."Yes, I agree. The Book Thief, for instance, is marketed as 'Adult Fiction' in Mark Zusak's home country, Australia, but is marketed as 'Young Adult Fiction' in the United States. I thought it was very well-written and engaging.
I am a newcomer and I am so EXCITED!! 5 Point Books:
1. The Time Traveler's Wife
2. The Screwtape letters
3. Midwives
4. ?
6. America's Women
7. Midnight Sun
8. ?
9. Birdsong
10. Daisy Miller
10 Point Books:
1. Tipperary
2. Like Water for Chocolate
3. The Messenger
4. Rebecca
5. The Magician's Assistant
6. The Pillars of the Earth
7. ?
8. Captain Correli's Mandolin
9. I Capture the Castle
10. Atonement
15 Point Books:
1. The Other Boleyn Girl
2. Light in the Attic
3.
5. Celestial Navigation
7. Savannah Blues and In Her Shoes
9. The Red Hat Club
10. Artemis Fowl - Book 3 The Eternity Code
Book 4 The Opal Deception
Book 5 The Lost Colony
25 Point Books:
1. The Girl in the Green Glass Mirror
2. John Adams
3. Winthrop Woman and The Friendship Test
4.?
5.?
7.?
8. Nick and Nora's Playlist and Life As We Knew It
9. Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen
Point Goal: 355 points
Sara wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "I know Cassie put this in to honor her friend Melissa, the YA librarian. But perhaps someone can tell me why adults should be interested in reading YA books, other than to know wh..."I've found a lot of YA books that I liked very much- it totally depends on the book and the person reading it I think. I read very little fiction and A LOT of non-fiction- serious and upsetting non-fiction more often than not. Maybe that's a reason why I do enjoy some YA once in awhile.
Elizabeth- isn't that kind of a strange thing to say? I mean, wouldn't that mean that I *shouldn't* read an urban fiction book because I'm not black? Or because I'm 31 I shouldn't read something geared for teens? When you put it like that it doesn't make much sense huh?
Sara- I don't think that comment was pissy at all- I agree 100%.
People should read whatever they want to read whenever- no matter who it's 'meant' for.
Elizabeth wrote: "Well, I won't say the subject matter is trite, because I know that's not true. I do buy books for my niece's children and year before last read [b:The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane|37186|The ..."Wow- I think that's sad. Maybe you should ask people here to come up with a few books they think might be interesting to you in the YA genre? Maybe post a few subjects that are interesting to you and see what everyone can come up with? I'm sure you'd get a ton of responses and you just might find some great books! At the very least you'd have tons of choices for that task!
Is "Dawn" by Elie Wiesel considered a diary? If not, I'll just find a biography.Just realized that book is only 96 pages. What if I read "Dawn" and "The Accident (Day)." I've read "Night" and wouldn't mind finishing the trilogy.
Courtney...I believe the diarist also has to have been pre-1900, so nothing about WWII would technically count since it was in the 1930/40's. Although Elie Wiesel's name *was* on that wiki list of diarists. As a recommendation to anybody who is still searching, A Midwife's Tale is a good candidate. It's about 100 pages shorter than GR says it is due to the references at the back of the book which are extensive. I started it today and it's really interesting. I'm not crazy about non-fiction but this one was a Pullitzer winner it its category and is put together quite nicely.
Courtney, Dawn is fiction and not written in diary form. What task were you wanting to use it for?
Courtney, are you asking if Wiesel counts for my task idea of reading a diarist? If so, that takes place during the Holocaust. You need to read something before 1900. Mr. Wiesel was born in 1928 and is still alive (bless his heart!).
Oh! I see...she was looking for El's task. I thought she was looking for the epistolary task.
Sara wrote: "Fiona wrote: "Yuck! I avoid books with pink book covers. "Okay, one more. You can read a purple book, Fiona. As long as it has sparklies. [b:If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?..."
Sara, I've been contemplating adding that book to my challenge! :) And I have to agree with you on the redheads...my son has red hair and so not the typical redhead personality. I hate it when people ask if he has a "firey temper to match his hair"!
I think I've phrased this all wrong. I don't care if people read YA to satisfy some (or all) of the tasks. I know many of you are, in fact. Are books written specifically for a particular age group actually a genre? I mean, don't they have biography and travel and westerns and mysteries written for YA? In other words, if we were asked to read a book about first love, or a coming of age novel, that would be different than just *anything* YA, but many would likely be reading YA in order to satisfy the requirement.
I can see both sides on the YA issue. On the one hand, I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the recently-written YA books I've read, for example in the fantasy and queer fiction genres. Books written for teens tend to be mature enough for adults to follow along (but then I'm only 24 myself). On the other hand, YA enthusiasts should know that there are plenty of happy, non-serious books for adults! I agree that YA books can be more carefree and idealistic, but I've read some carefree and idealistic adult books as well. Also, I'm here to report that I finished another book: Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank for 25 points, under Bonnie's task. The genre is chick lit, which I don't normally read. My thoughts? It seems that this is a re-read without my realizing it. I must have read it five or six years ago, when I was feeling homesick and reading books about the Carolinas no matter what the genre! I found the book better than expected, though certain gender stereotypes and annoying character traits kept it from being great. I felt like some of the dating plot was gratuitous, and that the other themes - motherhood and childhood - would have been sufficient to carry the plot on their own.
Total: 30 points
OK, I realize I don't have a snowball's chance in hades of actually finishing all these books, but what a way to go! So...5 points:
1. A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (I just finished this, but I can't wait to read it again!)
3. The Enchanted Castle, E. Nesbit
4.
5. The Redemption, M. L. Tyndall
6. Myself When Young, Daphne DuMaurier
7. Gone for Soldiers (book on CD), Jeff Shaara
8. Round Ireland with a Fridge, Tony Hawks
9. Lamb in Love, Carrie Brown
10. The Bean Trees, Barbara Kingsolver
10 points:
1. Nights of Rain and Stars, Maeve Binchy
2. Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry
3. The Australian Stories, T. James Pierce
4. Moon Tiger, Penelope Lively
5. Inkheart, Cornelia Funke
6. The Wind on the Moon, Eric Linklater
7. Sufficient Grace, Darnell Arnoult (a gift from my mom)
8. The List, C. D. Baker
9. The Double Bind (#14 on the TNBBC list), Chris Bohjalian
10. The Screwtape Letters (Susan's list, joined 1/29/09), C. S. Lewis
15 points:
1. Museum Pieces, Elizabeth Tallent (set in New Mexico -- I'm a Scorpio)
2. Nine Horses (poetry), Billy Collins
3. Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
4. The Blessing Way, Tony Hillerman
5. Epitaph for a Spy, Eric Ambler (winner of the Edgar award in... drumroll please... 1964)
6. Cost of Discipleship (translated from the German), Dietrich Bonhoeffer
7. The DAY I Ate Whatever I Wanted, Elizabeth Berg; I Am the CLAY, Chaim Potok
8. The Sunday Philosophy Club, Alexander McCall Smith (listening to a lecture given at our local library)
9. either The Golden Bowl, Henry James (if I'm up to Henry James) or The Golden Thread, N. McLeod (that way I don't have to come up with a new meal idea!)
10. The Third Angel, Alice Hoffman; The Fourth Angel, Suzanne Chazin; The Fifth Angel, Tim Green (I'll let you know if I find any unifying themes!)
25 points:
1. G is for Gumshoe, Sue Grafton; Rest and Be Thankful, Helen MacInnes
2. My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams
3.
4. Winnie-the-Pooh, A. A. Milne
5. Road from Coorain, Jill Ker Conway (I don't read many memoirs/biographies)
6.
7.
8. The Bone Box, Bob Hostetler; I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith
9.
I know a lot of people have had things to say about YA fiction, but I still kinda want to add my thoughts. I read a lot of different genres, but I have found that within YA, they cover, and tackle A LOT of issues that are found in adult books. The main difference I regularly notice, and that seems a lot of times to set it apart is that YA books have charaocters who are young adults... Teenage years etc. I have read YA books that tackle subjects and genres from all over the place. You have YA mysteries, thrillers, westerns, fantasy etc. But you also have YA books that cover coming of age, sex, rape, death, hope, love, family issues, and dealing with life in general.
Adult books cover the same topics, from an adult perspective. I love books from both sections, but I have noticed that a lot of the time (but DEFINITELY not all of the time) YA books are able to do this while being less pretentious. Because the books are geared toward younger readers, the authors done feel like they have to use a huge, and highly extensive vocabulary just to impress people.
Don't get me wrong, I love reading books that expand my vocabulary. I thrive on them, but I don't feel like I need to read of book that uses huge vocab words in every single sentence. I don't like books that read like the writer sat with a thesaurus next to the computer, or paper or whatever, and looked up every word besides and, if, but and the to try and find a word that has more syllables to sounds smarter.
YA books say it like it is, and deal with a lot of issues in complex, and intricate ways without showing off, and flaunting what they are doing.
I am a fan, and think that if you were to give them a chance, and keep an open mind about them, you might like a few more than you thought you would.
This has happened to me several times with different genres and authors. My friend and I traded several favorites, and I was very hesitant, but most of the books she got me to read have turned into favorites that I have reread several times, and the authors become favorites too. I hope you end up liking what you read for the challenge.
And, I agree with whoever suggested you give us some ideas about genres or topics that you like, and I bet some of us on here could come up with a list of great recommendations for you!!
Sorry all, that this was so long... I don't usually say this much, but I really hope that you can find something for that task that you like!!
okay, sorry to come in with a stupid question here that's probably been answered before, but how do you line through the titles of the books after you read them?
Joy,Do this:
(s)Title you want to strike through(/s)
BUT use < > instead of the ( ).
Ashley- I was going to write my own thoughts on the matter but I think you brilliantly said everything i wanted to say!I love YA books. Sometimes I find them far more facinating than adult fiction books. I don't think it hurts to feed our inner child once in awhile.
In any case, love it or hate it, I don't remember who said it on the last page but this is a CHALLENGE. It's not supposed to be easy and it's supposed to get us out of our reading comfort zones right?
And....for italics
(i)Word to be italicized(/i)
- use < > instead of ( )
for bold
(b)Word to be in bold(/b)
- use < > instead of ( )
Ashley, well said. I agree with every word. Joy, in order to strike out text, you just use the html tag: <> with "S" inside in front of the text you want to strike out, and then "/S" inside when you're done striking it out.
So it should look like (s)Text text text(/s) - only with the <> instead of (). Hope that helps!
Charity wrote: "And....for italics
(i)Word to be italicized(/i)
- use instead of ( )
for bold
(b>Word to be in bold
- use instead of ( )"
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE HELP!
My purpose for doing this Challenge is to get some of the books on my TBR shelf off my TBR shelf. So, no, I won't be reading any YA books, nor will I be reading any poetry or a joke book, I might add. I do have a book that will fulfill Bonnie's task, to read something outside my normal genre(s). And I will read one that is on my husband's shelf to satisfy another task, and the one I'm reading now is one that has been on my shelf for at least 6 or 7 years, so it's not like the Challenge won't be expanding my horizons. But I see from other responses that YA books are written in several genres. So I still don't understand why YA is a genre in and of itself, and therefore is important enough to designate as a separate task.
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 & Jam-by 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.
3. THE THORN BIRDS - COLLEEN McCULLOUGH
4. A WOMAN WITHOUT LIES - ELIZABETH LOWELL
5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. ROWLING
6. EAST OF THE SUN - JULIA GREGSON
7. CALL ME ELIZABETH - DAWN ANNADALE
8. CATCH 22 - JOSEPH HELLER
9. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
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. THE KEEPSAKE - TESS GERRITSEN
9. RED LEAVES - PAULLINA SIMONS
10. THREE DOLLARS - ELLIOT PERLMAN & LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD - CLAIRE CALMAN & FIVE QUARTERS OF ORANGE - JOANNE HARRIS
25pts Tasks:
1. A GOOD YARN - DEBBIE MACOMBER & THE RAINMAKER - JOHN GRISHAM
2. GEORGE ELIOT: THE LAST VICTORIAN - KATHRYN HUGHES
3. LABRYNITH - KATE MOSSE & THE HISTORIAN - Elizabeth Kostova
4.
5. RED DRAGON - THOMAS HARRIS (never read a horror)
6. King Edward VIII: The Official Biography - Philip Ziegler
7.
8. TWILIGHT & NEW MOON - STEPHENIE MEYERS
9. The Woman of Substance: The Life and Works of Barbara Taylor Bradford - Piers Dudgeon
65/525 pts
Elizabeth, I wouldn't say that YA is necessarily a genre, at least not like Western, or Fantasy, or SciFi etc. I would probably call it more of a classification, like: Picture book, Children, Junior, YA, Adult, Non Fiction etc. It is a way to classify, and make it easier to sort, catalog and identify the books. I think the reason it works as a challenge is because most of the people here (at least, I think so...) are out of the YA stage of life. Most of us would no longer be classified as in the Young Adult stage of life, meaning Jr High/High School age. So, it is a way to expand your horizons, and maybe take a look at something else, or a different direction.
Just like with any other task, if you don't want to do it, you don't have to, but I think you could probably find something in all the millions of YA books out there that you like... Who knows. Good luck with the rest of it though!!
And, thanks Alyssa and Becky!
Ashley wrote: "Elizabeth, I wouldn't say that YA is necessarily a genre, at least not like Western, or Fantasy, or SciFi etc. I would probably call it more of a classification, like: Picture book, Children, Junio..."Good explanation, Ashley. I couldn't find the words.
Again, Ashley, you took the words right out of my comment box! ;)
Thank you. Glad I could fill it in...
I am just going to say that I love YA! Probably my favorite genre. That and mysteries!!!
Sorry Elizabeth--I was really trying to challenge myself!! After being away from teaching for several years, I find myself away from some of the main stream YA such as: Twilight, etc. (I guess the answer about genre has already been answered.)
Also, I hoped YA would allow people to choose across genre's. If you like romance, there is Meg Cabot or you could re-read Nancy Drew. I realize it would not please everyone, but I hoped to challenge everyone.
Also, I hoped YA would allow people to choose across genre's. If you like romance, there is Meg Cabot or you could re-read Nancy Drew. I realize it would not please everyone, but I hoped to challenge everyone.
Just finished a collection of letters for task 5-2, called Letter of the Century. It was edited by Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler. It was interesting, had lot's of little tidbits of infor that I didn't know.So that was 5 more points for a total of 20.
[image error]
I am such a bad typist! That should read 'LetterS of the Century'
Here's mine so far!! Having the flu has caused me to dig deep in the bookshelves as I haven't been to the library.
5 Points
5. The Proposal by Lori Wick
10 Points
8. True Devotion by Dee Henderson
25 Points:
Karen's Task: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Total: 40 points
5 Points
5. The Proposal by Lori Wick
10 Points
8. True Devotion by Dee Henderson
25 Points:
Karen's Task: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Total: 40 points
Cassie wrote: "Sorry Elizabeth--I was really trying to challenge myself!! After being away from teaching for several years, I find myself away from some of the main stream YA such as: Twilight, etc. (I guess th..."Thank you, Cassie. I recognize that if I had children still at home (or even grandchildren of the appropriate age), reading some YA would be very beneficial. I definitely think parents should at least be in touch with what their children might read. This is important and something I might need to be challenged to do.
I can't help but take issue with the comment that books written for adults are pretentious. Many people, especially as they get older, have good and varied vocabularies. I don't think the authors are trying to impress. One of the ways of acquiring a good vocabulary is to be exposed to it.
Sera - Did you enjoy Dissolution? I love the whole series.
I didn't mean to say that all adult books are pretentious. Not at all. Some of my most favorites are adult books. But there are some books, and some authors that, to me, really feel like they are trying to show off to their audience the amount of large words they are able to use. As I said before, I love books that expand, and broaden my vocabulary. But, there are some words, like cornucopia, that don't belong in general dialouge, or description, because it is unreal. But, I have read books where the author says, there was a cornucopia of this or that sitting around, or the characters say, look at the cornucopia of --- on the table!
Words like that, which are technically used correctly add nothing to the validity and understanding of the story, and words and phrases like that really do feel like the author is trying to impress people with the large vocabulary at their disposal. It is unrealistic, and really comes off as phony.
Not all are like that, not even close, but there are many.
I'm going to have a lot more trouble getting through anything on Jon's task then a couple of YA books!That's an easy 25 pt task in my opinion!
5 POINTS1.
2. Audio in car- Mao’s last dancer - Li Cunxin
3. Spring Cleaning - Pride and prejudice - Jane Austen
4. Epistolary Novel - Bridget jones diary - Helen Fielding
5. Easter/Lent - A thousand splendid suns - Khaled Hosseini
6. Women’s History Month - Girl with a pearl earring - Tracy Chevalier
7. Arbor Day - TBA
8. April fools day - TBA
9. “Spring” Animals - Walking the lions - Stephen Burgen
10. April Showers Bring May Flowers - The scent of eucalyptus - Barbara Hanrahan
10 POINTS
1. St. Patrick’s Day - P.S I love you - Cecelia Ahern
2. Cinco De Mayo - Yet to find at library
3. ANZAC Day - People of the book - Geraldine Brooks
4. Born In March, April, or May Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
5. Mother’s Day - The know - Martina Cole
6. Earth Day - The Almost moon - Alice Sebold
7. TNBBC Top Books - To kill a mockingbird - Harper lee
8. Harry Houdini’s Birthday - 6th Harry Potter book
9. Memorial and Armed Forces Day - Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
10. 5 STAR TNBBC MEMBER BOOK - The handmaids tale - Margaret Atwood
15 POINT TASKS
1. Written In The Stars - The other Boleyn girl - phillipa greggory
2.
3. TNBBC Group Read - Angelas Ashes - Frank McCourt
4. Vacation Location Book - TBA
5. Award Winner - (1984) Dirt Music - Tim winton
6. Translated Book - Suite Francaise - Irene Nemirovsky - french
7.
8. Meet the Author - TBA
9. Color/Food - White Oleander
10. Three, Four, Five - 3rd, 4th & 5th Harry Potter Books
25 POINT TASKS
1. - A book which title starts with the letter G AND
- A book which title starts with the letter R.
- A great and terrible beauty & rebel angels - Libba bray
2. Read a Non-Fiction book about OR by a noted diarist from This List …who lived prior to the 1900’s. - TBA (Depends on library)
3. pick TWO books to read off of their shelves - Cynthia - the independence of miss mary bennett - colleen McCullough & adventures of huckleberry finn??
4. Read a book that’s on the big reads list. - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Read a book outside your normal genre(s). - TBA
6. read a Non-Fiction book of at least 400 pages relating in some way to the British Monarchy past or present. - Alice weiner ?
7. TBA -
8. Read two young adult novels - The messenger - Markus Zusak & Wildwood Dancing - Juliet Marillier
9. Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words - Tuesday's With Morrie: an Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom.
TASKS COMPLETE - 3 / 40
POINTS TALLY - 35 / 575
Cynthia if any of my books aren't appropriate for the tasks can you let me know :) thanks!!
I happen to love YA, but I could see how someone like my mom or grandmother would not want to read any.One of the things I personally like about YA is that it tends to be "cleaner" (although there are many exceptions; I'm looking at you, Gossip Girl). Lots of times chick lit or non-YA fantasy or other books that have romance as an element seem to feel like they need the obligatory sex scene. One book I just finished, The Toughest Indian in the World, had a sex scene in every short story in the collection, lots of times rather graphically (I had not expected that at all). Sometimes I just want a nice, clean romance where the relationship is shown through cute gestures instead of hopping into bed with each other. Of course, I can also read Jane Austen, etc. to get my non-sex romance fix. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with explicit scenes in books. But sometimes they have a purpose and sometimes they're just there because they can be.
When I calculate the total Points possible, I only get 500. How are people coming up with 575 possible?
Ashley, you bring up some good points. I do think (and I think you recognize this) that "adult books" are broad enough so that while some use "big vocabulary," others are written in simpler language. I have read many adult books that I found immature and simplistic. I have also read YA books that didn't feel particularly "young." There are also different ways to use "big words"... writers like Ian McEwan have a great sense of diction, but also make their writing read in a way that you don't notice it. Why do I read "adult" fiction? While I enjoy YA from time to time, I relate to life in a different way from how I did as a teen. There are particular life issues that we tackle in different ways as we age. On the other hand, one good thing about YA is that I know I won't read a general work of literary fiction and get slammed with a long heterosexual love plot or multiple sex scenes (no offence if that's your thing!) So I think it just depends on what your interests are, and we can all enjoy what we do!
Linda,You are correct. There are currently only 500 points possible. However, if Darla's 25-pt. task gets posted, that will make it 525. Then, whoever leads in points at the midpoint in the challenge (April 15th) will get to make up a task worth 50 points, bringing the total to 575.
Unfortunately, it is looking more likely that we won't get a task from Darla. :-(
Oh, I found another book that would qualify for the 12-word title one:The Great Bridge The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, by David McCullough.
It's non-fiction and fairly fat, but I found it fascinating.
Oh okay... I guess I don't plan ahead lol
Fallon wrote: "I'm going to have a lot more trouble getting through anything on Jon's task then a couple of YA books!That's an easy 25 pt task in my opinion!"
I SO, So, SO agree! LOL
Ashley wrote: "Potjy wrote: ""Most libraries should have a young adult section, and so do most bookstores.
Whoever recommended the Newberry books is a genius ;), and I totally second Walk Two Moons, and ANY..."
Oh, and The Giver by Lois Lowry--if you have not read that one it's very good. (Again, also counts wiht the science fiction/fantasy category) and Gathering Blue by the same author is an interesting companion piece and would fit the color one.
Fiona wrote: "Go to (some html is ok) link and look down and it should tell you.But basically...
replace my [ :] brackets with brackets.
[s:]your text[/s:]
Hmmm, I've never used the colon.
I do the <> with s,i,b, (strike, italic, bold, in between and then > at the end with the same letter in back of the slash.
make sure you close it off with the /s otherwise ..."
Elizabeth wrote: "My purpose for doing this Challenge is to get some of the books on my TBR shelf off my TBR shelf. So, no, I won't be reading any YA books, nor will I be reading any poetry or a joke book, I might a..."Elizabeth- the tasks were formed from suggestions from everyone int he group- to give the most choices to the most people. From posts I've seen, even though I myself don't read them either, some people like to read joke books and whatever else. Everyone likes something different and the goal of everyone isn't to finish the entire task. Many people pick and choose. I probably won't be doing Jon's task because reading something like that doesn't normally interest me. I may try however, it's always nice to broaden your horizons- which was probably Jon's goal there in the first place- because it's something that interests HIM. The YA task was suggested because her friend has a tie to YA. That's it- no one has to do anything they don't really want to though.
Does anyone have ideas about a good 'rain/showers/storm' book?I haven't been able to find one that looked exciting...
Sara wrote: "That's it! I'm grounding myself from goodreads for the rest of the day, because I'm so pissy. Sorry if any of my recent comments sounded rude--I'm having an awful day. I'm getting terribly offend..."I'm with you Sara. I love YA books--partly because I teach 5th grade and it is a great way to talk with kids, but I also think there is some really good writing and books that will make you think. Most of the YA books that I end up reading have more to them than the adult books I read for pleasure (which are mostly mystery fluff--nothing wrong with them, but they are not going to change my life or make me think beyond the book--usually because I am simply wanting to escape!!)
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So, I decided to participate :) I don't want the first few places, I just want to read some good books and have some fun.
5 POINTS
1. Tigana, Guy Gavriel Kay
3. World Without End, Ken Follett
6. Lords and Ladies, Terry Pratchett
8. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
9. The Lions of Al-Rassan
10. The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco
10 POINTS
3. Sabriel, Garth Nix
5. Eric, Terry Pratchett
15 POINTS
1. ARIES: The Odyssey, Homer
25 POINT TASKS
1. G - The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
R.- The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
4. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
5. The Songs of Distant Earth, Arthur C. Clarke
My goal is 140 points.