The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
>
OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Good morning! Have now completed Someone I Loved for 15 point task #6 (French to English), and The Red Scarf for 15 point task #9 (color in title & colorful meal). Indian food last night (following the completion of the book) at Bombay at the Beach - lots of red food - from Paneer Tikka with red tomato & pepper to curry. Even the cheese in the Tikka was red - not sure that's usual, but it worked for me! Loved, loved, both of the books.Total points these tasks = 30
Total points to date = 85
Would I be allowed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes: The Illuminating diary of a Professional Lady by Anita Loos for the book that has a title of more than 12 words? I don't fancy any of the others I've found!
I work too much to be a contender, but i had so much fun just picking books to fit the requirements that i have to throw my hat in the ring. Since i don't know how far i will get, i will just start by saying that "On March 1, I started reading Breaking Dawn for one of the 15 point tasks." When i finish that i will make a more informative post.
Thanks Cynthia...I want to change my Betty book to Betty Sweet Tells All by Judith Minthorn Stacy.
I'm on the board!15.1 (Scorpio) .East of the Mountains, by David Guterson
This book has been sitting on my self for more than 6 years and I'm glad to have finally read it, but I'll give it only 3 stars. The writing was beautiful, and there were places it touched me deeply, but all in all I felt the author could have done a lot more with a story of a man facing his own mortality.
Not that I really have any points yet, but I was wondering if there is a place that we can look at the leader board. Does it get posted periodically?
Yes, Cynthia posts it daily or so, Ashley. There's one on the previous page, for example.
Ashley wrote: "Not that I really have any points yet, but I was wondering if there is a place that we can look at the leader board. Does it get posted periodically?"Yes, Cynthia posts it regularly. The last time it was posted was Message 1427. Look quickly, though, because she's been posting a couple of times a day and things change quickly around here!
Kathryn wrote: "Hey, I was wondering if we are later allowed to change what books we associate with what task? Like if I read another book of poetry later, could I change Where the Sidewalk Ends to the humorous bo..."yes you can kathryn
25 Point Task9. SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words.
Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc-3/7
3/38 Tasks
Total Points:45/550
[image error]
Getting a late start, but here's my tentative list:5 pt.
1.Heir of Sea and Fire - Patricia McKillip
2.
3. Dangerous Angels
4.
5.Oathbound - Mercedes Lackey (READ)
6. Izzy Willy-Nilly - Cynthia Voigt
7. The Doctor's Daughter (READ)
8. Love, Alice - Audrey Meadows
9. Chicken, chicken
10. The Fire Rose - Mercedes Lackey (READ)
10pt.
1. Tears of the Moon - Nora Roberts (READ)
2. Esperanza Rising - Pam Munoz Ryan
3. Mister Monday - Garth Nix
4.Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry, March 20
5. The Trouble with Magic - Madelyn Alt (READ)
6. Wheel of Stars - Andre Norton
7. The Mulberry Tree - Jude Deveraux
8. Trading in Danger - Elizabeth Moon
9. To Kill a Mockingbird, #19
10. Watchers - Dean Koontz (Rachel's Shelf)
15 pt.
1. The Appeal - John Grisham
2. Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein
3. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
4.
5. Onion John - Newberry Winner 1960
6. Dragon Rider - Cornelia Funke
7. May Bird Among the Stars & Day of the Giant
8.
9. The Green Trap - Ben Bova
10. Harry Potter 3,4,5
25 pt.
1. The Gift Shop & The Riddle-Master of Hed
2. Louisa May Alcott - Madeleine Stern
3. The Host & A Great and Terrible Beauty (Sara'a shelf)
4. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
5. Paris, Tightwad, and Peculiar: Missouri Place Names
6.
7.
8. The Fatal Strand & The Gypsy Game
9. Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Tale of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts - Julian Rubenstein
Completed the following4. ROS’ TASK - Read a book that’s on the big reads list. http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100...
Animal Farm – George Orwell READ
points total
55
OK, I'm new and I'm ready. Let's get this challenge started!! This post will help me with the challenge to go to the person below me and choose a book to read. I'm starting with the 25 pointers and going from there.
That sounds like a good idea, Roseann - starting with the big ones.
25 points5. BONNIE’S TASK - Read a book outside your normal genre(s).
I read the play Our Town.
New total: 90 points
I read The Call of the Wild today. Will this be acceptable for Bonnie's task? I never read books that are focused on animals.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.
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.
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
4. ROS’ TASK - Bridget Jones's Diary
5.
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
4/44 books Read
New Total: 45
Jamie MN
3. ANGELA’S TASK - Look for your first post in the Official Spring Challenge. Once you find it, look at the person below you and go to their profile and pick TWO books to read off of their shelves. If their profile is listed as private, go to the person below that person.The books I chose from Stephanie's shelf was The Undomestic Goddess and Can You Keep a Secret?by Sophie Kinsella 25 points
total points= 70
Thanks Angela for the task because it made me choose a book that I had never read before and thank you Stephanie for having those books because I probably wouldn't have read them and I actually enjoyed them.
Sandy wrote: "Thanks Angela for the task because it made me choose a book that I had never read before and thank you Stephanie for having those books because I probably wouldn't have read them and I actually enj..."Not sure it was my shelf, but if it was, you're welcome! If you liked those two, you should check out the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella as well - they're really fun and I actually enjoyed them more than her standalone books. :)
Read a book by an author who was born in March, April, or May. I just finished Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones who was born March 23. Yay! I'm finally on the board. I should have a couple more in the next few days.
[image error]
Finally rolling - second task done5 Point Tasks:
4. Planes, Trains & Automobiles:
When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
I listened on audiobook in the car.
[image error]
Total points: 15
Total Tasks completed: 2
Right I just finished the shack was sure I was going to cry but didnt. A very good book and I know I will read it again.
This is what I have read so far for this challenge
5 points task 2
5 points task 5
10 points task 3
10 points task 7
10 points task 9
15 points task 1
15 points task 2
15 points task 6
15 point task 9
25 points task 2
25 points task 6
25 points task 9
175/525
total task copleted 12
I was thinking of The Story of Ernie Pyle. He was a war correspondent in World War II. He got right up there with the soldiers, so he could tell the waiting public what exactly was going on.
My update:25 point task
4) Ross's task- Read a book on the big read list.
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott fitzgerald
My points- 45
Hi everyone!I just finished 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas' by John Boyne for my Arbor Day task, 5-7. This is 5 points for a cumulative total of 50.
[image error]
I finished another book today:5 pts - 1. The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas
That's 70 pts now. Thanks!
I read Anne of The Island, Anne of Windy Poplars and Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery. They are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th books in the Anne series.15 points YaY!!!
[image error]
Hi! I am joining a bit late, and I have no idea how well I will do since this is my first attempt at one of these challenges, but here I go!!My Goal: 200pts
25pt Tasks
(4) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (JK Rowling)
(5) Kiss (Dekker and Healy) - Christian Thriller - two genres I don't typically read
(8) The Uglies and The Hunger Games
15pt Tasks
(1) The God of Small Things (I am a gemini, so twins)
(2) 100 Great Poems of the 20th Century
(6) Hard to Be God (by Strugatsky, translated from Russian)
(9) The Red Badge of Courage (I am thinking Spaghetti followed by a cinnamon dessert)
(10) Harry Potter 3,4,5
10 Point Tasks
(6) Walk Two Moons
(7) To be determined, plan to ask my mom for a recommendation!
(9) The Time Travelers Wife
Five Point Tasks
(1) Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
(3) Of Mice and Men
(6) Lady Chatterly's Lover
(10) Poisonwood Bible
I was really happy to be able to include several things over on my to-read list for this challenge! Maybe it will make me read things that I have been meaning for a long time!
Just finished another book.15 Points
2. April is National Poetry Month – Read a book of poetry OR about a famous poet. Read England's Best Loved Poems by George Courtauld.
[image error]
King Edward VIII: The Official Biography - Philip Ziegler Philip Ziegler has produced a well researched balanced and very readable account of the life of the only King in Modern British history to voluntarily renounce the throne. Edward - like all princes of Wales was indulged yet had stern parents for whom "duty" was paramount. He emerges as spoilt, lazy, drunken - in his youth and feckless. At the same time he was charming, kind, generous to friends in financial trouble, physically brave and ultimatly courageous in flying in the face of centuries of tradition in abandoning a court where importance is calabrated purely in terms of proximity to the throne.
If I have one critisism of Ziegler it is that the cause of the "Abdication Crises" Mrs Simpson does not get alot of attention. The comments of Edward's servants during their courtship suggest a driven women with a keen appreciation of the value of money. Whether she had any hope or intention of becomming Queen is never explored which is a pity.
The author lays to rest conclusively the common belief that Edward was pro -nazi or that he would have returned to Britain as a puppet king in the event of a German victory. His period as Governor General of the Bahamas is described in detail and Edward emerges as a shrewd operator who left the islands more prosperous than when he left, was not afraid to take on the white merchant class, although he opposed the inclusion of representatives of the black population being included because of his racial prejudice.
Edward emerges as a man who spent the first part of his life trying to get his mother's approval then spent the last 40 years constantly reassuring himself that he had his wife's. The Royal family in the main emerge as somewhat petty acting illegally in refusing the Duchess the style of her Royal Highness. That said on his abdication Edward lied to his brother the future king about his true financial position so perhaps honours were even.
That the Royal family refused to acknowledge the happiness his wife brought him caused Edward unneccessary distress. It seems clear his was a happier Duke than a King.
What a pity he didn't live long enough to appreciate the delicious irony of our own dear Prince of Wales - himself divorced trying to convince us to let him do what cost his great uncle and empire
Recently completed task:#1 for 10 points (For St. Patrick's Day). I read: Where Rainbows End (Love, Rosie) by Cecelia Ahern. She's from Ireland and it takes place in Ireland.
Current score: 45.
[image error]
5 pts Tasks: 1. MAKING MONEY - TERRY PRATTCHETT
2. THE TRUE AND OUTSTANDING ADVENTURES OF THE HUNT SISTERS - ELISABETH ROBINSON
3. HORNET'S NEST - PATRICIA CORNWELL
4.
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.
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.
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. GIRL IN A PEARL EARRING - TRACY CHEVAILER & 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.
7.
8. TWILIGHT - STEPHENIE MEYERS & NOUGHTS AND CROSSES - MAJORIE BLACKMAN
9. The Woman of Substance: The Life and Works of Barbara Taylor Bradford - Piers Dudgeon
115/525pts
Just finished another-for 25 points #4-Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
That makes 50 points total for me.
Fiona wrote: "5 pts Tasks: 1. MAKING MONEY - TERRY PRATTCHETT
2. THE TRUE AND OUTSTANDING ADVENTURES OF THE HUNT SISTERS - ELISABETH ROBINSON
3. HORNET'S NEST - PATRICIA CORNWELL
4.
5. THE SHACK - W..."
Fiona,
I'll be interested to know what you think of Red Dragon--it was intense.
Ok, I can finally post--I've read a couple, but I'm not sure where they are going to go yet, so I'm holding off, but I think this one will stay where it is. 10 points
#7 In honor of Mother's Day. I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Very good book.
(I know I could have put this in Good Reads book, but I think I have another one for that--too many choices!!)
That puts me at the grand total of (drumroll please)
10 points!
I've just finished Angela's 25 pointer - I read two books from Fiona's list - The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly and The Kite Runner, both excellent reads!! Total points: 55
[image error]
A bit late...5 points:
1.
3. The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards
6. Metro Girl - Janet Evanovich
8.
9. The Ugly Duckling - Iris Johansen
Total: 10/25 points
10 points:
2. Perfume - Patrick Sueskind
3. Fat Cats – Gideon Haigh (I hope this is okay)
4. Emergency – Neil Strauss
6. Linda Goodman’s Star Signs – Linda Goodman
9. Reading Lolita in Teheran - Azar Nafisi
Total: 50 points
15 points:
1. Agony and Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo - Irving Stone
3. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
5. Underworld - Don DeLillo
6. The Baron in the Trees - Italo Calvino
9. The Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy
Total: 75 points
25 points:
1. Gone Bamboo - Anthony Bourdain & Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome - Steven Saylor
4. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
5.
7. The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula Le Guin
8. Blue Bloods – Melissa de la Cruz & Twilight – Stephenie Meyer
9. The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What It Means For All of Us - Robyn Meredith
Total: 25/150 points
Tasks completed: 3
[image error]
I just finished The Nixie's Song for 5 points.
I finally have time to read this weekend (high school is intense :D)! Shout out to all high schoolers doing this challenge!5 points
1.
2. PS longer letter later
5. Dandelion Wine
6. Little Women
9. Bloomability (does this count for task no.9?)
10 points
1. Gulliver's Travels
5. Ella Enchanted
6. A Swiftly tilting planet
9. The Book Thief
10. Animal Farm
15 points
2.
3. Love in the time of cholera
6. Memoirs of a Geisha
(this book is taking sooo long to read: 8pt font and 400+ pages!)
10. Ranger's apprentice 3,4,5
25 points
1. A Great and Terrible Beauty/The Road
3. The Truth About Forever/ A Thousand Splendid Suns
4.
5.
Kritika's total points so far:
70
I completed 15 point task # 4. Read a novel that takes place in a location you have visited previously during spring break. I read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. It's set in Jamaica which I went on Spring Break 5 years ago.It's supposed to be sort of a prequel to Jane Eyre, which is one of my favorite books of all time. As a prequel, I didn't like it at all. As a book on its own accord, I liked it enough I guess. It didn't read to me as a prequel. I love Mr. Rochester the way most people love Mr. Darcy and the man in this story was not Edward Rochester. The stories didn't really jibe either. In Jane Eyre, Edward says that he barely got to speak to his wife before they were married and they just showed her off at parties. In this book, they spend plenty of time alone, and she's not really insane. I had a hard time believing that this man would do some pretty horrible things and then become the beloved Mr. Rochester later. Anywho, just thought I'd share my opinion on it.
[image error]
New total: 55
I'm finally on the board with 5 point challenge #6! I just finished The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell.Grand total: 5!
Really? That's fantastic news. I was really skeptical about reading it!I'll let you know what I think of it when I finish :)
Lindsey wrote: "I completed 15 point task # 4. Read a novel that takes place in a location you have visited previously during spring break. I read [b:Wide Sargasso Sea|44597|Wide Sargasso Sea |Jean Rhys|http://ph..."That's sad. I love Mr. Rochester the same way. I don't think I'll be able to read that book based on your review!
I loved The Memory Keeper's Daughter also- it was a great one I thought.
Just finished this task5. BONNIE’S TASK - Read a book outside your normal genre(s). Example: Bonnie usually reads YA, fantasy, nonfiction and classics so she'd have to read short stories, plays, mysteries, etc.
Young Adult – Angus, Thongs and perfect snogging READ
Total points 70
Ashley, I think if you look at it as a completely seperate book it is good. I really liked the character of Antoinetta (Bertha), I just didn't like the way Edward was portrayed and that it didn't go along with the original novel.
♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "I loved The Memory Keeper's Daughter also- it was a great one I thought."Eva, I was excited to see this--I'm picking books off of your shelf and this has been on my to read for a long time--maybe this will be the push that makes me pick it up.
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Tempting Fate (other topics)Romeo and Juliet (other topics)
Romeo and Juliet (other topics)
Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze?: And 114 Other Questions (other topics)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anita Shreve (other topics)Markus Zusak (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
Paulo Coelho (other topics)
Douglas Adams (other topics)
More...
25 pts - 3. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown and Breakfast at Tiffany's - Truman Capote
That's 65 pts all together. Thanks!