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Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Completed another task (finally!)5 POINT TASKS
7. For Arbor Day – Do your part to save some trees by…
- Reading an e-book OR
- Listening to an audiobook OR
- By reading a book and “recycling” it - giving it away to someone else like a friend or through an online book swap/trading site or by donating it to a local library or charity.
I listened to Naked by David Sedaris on audiobook.
New Point Total: 20
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Kathryn - If you enjoy humor mixed with romance try Jennifer Crusie's books. She writes the best romantic comedies around! Try Welcome to Temptation or Getting Rid of Bradley, or any of them!
About the Darla´s Task, there is another option, the book Possession A Romance by A.S. Byatt referred in the movie with the same name.
15 Points, #2. National Poetry Month – A Light in the Attic: Shel Silverstein Read it to my duaghters and it was what I needed after We Need To Talk About Kevin.
Total points: 45 Total tasks: 3
LEADERBOARD
FIONA (TITCH)- 210
BEV - 175
SANDY - 175
SHARON - 175
MEGHAN - 165
LIZZI - 150
PERS - 150
ROS - 150
EVA - 145
ASHLEY ID - 140
LEORA - 140
SUZIER - 140
KAREN - 135
LOUISE - 135
KRISTINA - 130
KRITIKA - 125
BONNIE - 125
RORA - 125
CASSIE - 120
JOSIE - 120
ALICE - 110
EL - 110
ANGELA - 100
ANN FROM SC - 100
BETH MN - 100
CAROL - 100
CAIT - 95
STEPHANIE - 95
SUSAN - 95
APRIL - 90
CYNTHIA - 90
JUDITH IA - 90
LYNLEE4 - 90
RENFREW - 90
STEPH - 90
CATHEROO - 85
COURTNEY - 85
KRISTEN IL - 85
LINDSEY - 85
LIZ VEGAS - 85
MARY BETH - 85
ROSEANN - 85
SARA - 85
VICTORIA - 85
ALISHA - 80
ANGIE - 80
LORI - 80
BJ ROSE - 75
FALLON - 75
JULIE UK - 75
KICKI - 75
RORY - 75
BECKY - 70
JON - 70
NATALIA - 70
SANDIE - 70
KATHRYN - 65
REBECCA - 65
TINA - 65
LIZ BRKLYN - 60
JAMIE MN - 55
JENNY - 55
SUSANNA UK - 55
BRIDGIT - 50
JOY - 50
MAGGIE - 50
RYAN - 50
SERA - 50
ASHLEY AL - 45
ASHLEY UT - 45
ELIZ - 45
RHIANNON - 45
TRACY - 45
WV HEATHER - 45
BETH - 40
JENNIFER MD - 40
KATE - 40
KRISTENR - 40
MANDAY - 40
ME (SCM) - 40
MEL - 40
MELODY - 40
AMANDA - 35
ELIZABETH AK - 35
JEGKA - 35
LILY - 35
NICOLE - 35
ABBIE - 30
DONNA JO - 30
JESSICA - 30
KELLY - 30
LIZ NY - 30
MEGAN - 30
DOROTHY - 25
ELIZABETH NC - 25
JAIME 26 - 25
JOANIE - 25
JOANNA - 25
KRISTI - 25
LAUREN - 25
LINDA - 25
MELISSA - 25
AMY - 20
JEN - 20
JEANE - 20
POTJY - 20
CAITLIN - 15
JULIE (ID)'S - 15
NICOLE CA - 15
ROBIN - 15
TOBIE - 15
VICKI - 15
ALYSSA - 10
RACHEL - 10
SHANNON - 10
JAMIE 23 - 5
JAMIE WA - 5
JENNIFER - 5
JUDITH NY - 5
LISA CO - 5
MICHELLE - 5
Last night I finished Christopher Moore's The Stupidest Angel for the 5 point April Fools Day task.Total Points: 95
I read Frankenstein for Darla's challenge. According to Tina it was mentioned in Paris When it Sizzles. I'm excited because now I feel like I actually have some points since this one's worth a lot!Total points: 45
Nicole wrote: "Just finished The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for task 10.6. For the audio lovers out this, this is a fun one! "
Agreed! The audiobook was AMAZING! Best one I've listened to so far, that I've listened to a LOT of them. I couldn't stop listening. I went to Sonic for lunch two or three days in a row just so I could sit in my car and listen. Plus, HILARIOUS!!
If you're iffy about your selection for the planes/trains or audiobook tasks (or for the sci-fi, humor, or BBC Big Reads (Ros's) tasks), I HIGHLY recommend The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy audiobook!
Jon wrote: "i bet you , you love it once you get stuck in lol - be brave!"I'm sure I will... Have you read your book with a ridiculously long title yet? ;)
Jeane wrote: "I hope you aren't going for Moby Dick..."
Hahahahaha.... that's a funny joke! :) NO. NO I AM NOT. I was merely listing suggestions. I'm going to read Shakespeare's sonnets, from Sense and Sensibility. I just saw the new BBC version ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0847150/ ). It's pretty cute. The guy who plays Edward Ferrars..... My husband (who watched it with me) got pretty sick of me saying, "WOW. He is GOOD-LOOKING!!" Which is pretty understandable, of course.
Kathryn wrote: "Hey all, I am trying to think of a funny book to read. I prefer novels. Anyone have any ideas?"If you like chick lit, the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella are hilarious, and Jen Lancaster's books are pretty funny as well (her first is Bitter is the New Black). I just started the Stephanie Plum series (the ones Jeane suggested) and they are definitely enjoyable.
Also, not novels (humorous memoirs), but if you haven't read anything by David Sedaris, you're missing out. He's my favorite author and I love everything I've ever read by him. I literally laugh out loud when I read his books. If you're going to try him, I suggest Me Talk Pretty One Day or When You Are Engulfed in Flames to start - those are my favorites.
Question- I want to read a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for the Cinco de Mayo task. The info I have says he was born in Columbia, but lives in Mexico now, and his books are translated from Spanish. Would that work?Thanks!
For the humor book, I'm going to read either Bridget Jones's Diary or Twentysomething, which my coworker says is hilarious.I'm working on Angela's 25-pointer--reading two of Maggie's books. I finished Undead and Unwed last night and am working on Undead and Unemployed now. These books are HILARIOUS (and steamy). I love vampires....
I just finished "The Middle Place" for 5 points (Woman's Autobiography) by Kelly Corrigan. I loved this book!This brings my total to 95 points
Ashley wrote: "Question- I want to read a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for the Cinco de Mayo task. The info I have says he was born in Columbia, but lives in Mexico now, and his books are translated from Spanis..."Does the book take place in Mexico, by any chance? Because if so, it would count for that reason alone.
15 point task3. Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Current Point Total: 30
Just finished:5.4
Plum Lovin', Evanovich
5.5
Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro
Total Points: 75
Ashley wrote: "I read Frankenstein for Darla's challenge. According to Tina it was mentioned in Paris When it Sizzles. I'm excited because now I feel like I actually have some points since this one's worth a lo..."Darla or Cynthia: So for Darla's task it's not required that we have seen the movie ourselves?
Just finished Jon's 25 point challenge. I read "Sovereign Ladies:Sex, Sacrifice and Power. The Six Reigning Queens of England" It is 497 pages not including noted, bibliography etc.The book is divided up into sections on each Queen: Mary I, Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne, Vicgtoria and Elizabeth II. Each section is furthur divided into roughly a chaper each regarding the stages of their lives from birth to death.
I have read a fair amount already about Mary I and Elizabeth I, but the other Queens were quite new to me and it was interesting to get to know the accomplishments of their reigns. I particularly found Mary II, the Princess of Orange, wife of William of Orange and founders of the College of William amd Mary here in the states; and Queen Victoria fascinating.
Victoria was so grief stricken by the death of her husband Prince Albert that she reportedly slept with his picture in her bed for the rest of her life. And had a marble likeness cast of his hand so she could hold it. Wow!
This being a 25 point task, I now have 140 points!
5 point task #3 Spring Cleaning: Bicoastal Babe by Cynthia Langston5 point task #4 Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Marley and Me by John Grogan
10 point task #5 Harry Houdini’s Birthday: Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson
15 point task #3 Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before:Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Total Points: 35
Oh man, I don't know if there's a point in me attempting Darla's challenge - I never watch movies! I haven't seen any of the ones y'all have mentioned. That said, maybe I will watch one of the ones I own to see if a reference pops up.
Guess I didn't get Darla's task. You actually have to watch a movie to do this one?
Jegka wrote: "Lake House the movie talked about the book Persuasion. I also want to go back and see if I can see what books were burned in Footloose.
And the movie Thirteen Days talks about the Guns of Augu..."
One of the books mentioned in Footloose is Slaughter House Five. When Ren first arrives they're talking about a teacher who is planning to teach "that book" and then they say the name and Ren says it's a great book getting lots of stares. I LOVE that movie!!!!
5 POINTS5. For Easter/Lent --- Dying Declaration by Randy Singer
10 POINTS
1. For St. Patrick’s Day --- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
25 POINTS
9. SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words. - Stolen Innocence My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Triumphing over Warren Jeffs by Elissa Wall
Total Points: 65
Tasks Completed: 6
Journey to the Center of the Earth references the novel of the same name plenty of times. Would this be okay for Darla's task?
Switched a few things around due to a book not being available in the US yet and more points yay!5 point challenge
1. Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner
2. The Naked Mole Rat Letters by Mary Amato
3. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
4. The Wright 3 by Blue Baillet
5. Not sure yet
6. My Lady's Treasure by Catherine Kean
7. Artemis Fowl The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
8.
9. May Bird and the Ever After Book One by Jodi Lynn Anderson or Bird by Rita Murphy
10. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
10 point challenge
1. Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs
2. Red Glass by Laura Resau
3. The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan (ARC copy)
4. Kandide and the Secrets of the Mists by Diana Zimmerman
5. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
6. Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell
7. Wintersmith A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett
8. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
9. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
10. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
15 point task
1. Mudville by Kurtis Scaletta - Sagitarius
2. Home of the Brave by Katherine Alice Applegate
3. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
4.
5. Runt by Marion Dane Bauer - Won the Jane Adams Children's Book Award in 1984.
6. Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis translated from the German
7. True Blood by Patricia Waddell and You are so Undead to Me by Stacey Jay (not sure)
8. I'll pick later
9.
10.
25 points
1. Goddess of the Rose by P.C. Cast or and Raven by Allison van Diepen
2. Wagner by Michael Tanner
3. Must Love Black by Kelly McClymer and The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
4. Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
5. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
6. The Decline and Fall of the House of Windsor by Donald Spoto
7. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (from Pagemaster)
8.
9.
85/550
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COMPLETED 15 POINT TASK#2 April is National Poetry Month - Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich (3/10/09 – 3/17/09)
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Ashley wrote: "Sara wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Question- I want to read a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for the Cinco de Mayo task. The info I have says he was born in Columbia, but lives in Mexico now, and his book..."Mexico is North America, has never been either Central nor South America.
I would say that since Gabriel Garcia Marquez is not Mexican-born, he wouldn't qualify for the Cinco de Mayo task unless his story takes place there. Colombia and Mexico are not the same.
I don't think the book counts as set in Mexico, but I was hoping the fact that HE lives in Mexico does count...
Elizabeth wrote: "Guess I didn't get Darla's task. You actually have to watch a movie to do this one?"No, no, it's not required that you watch one, it's just that I don't remember any books being mentioned in movies I've seen in the past and I haven't seen the movies that others are suggesting. I thought I could watch one I own to refresh my memory.
I have completed another 5 pt task, no.8 - Read a humorous novel. I read Googlewack by Dave Gorman.I now have 135 pts overall.
Thanks!
From the wording of the task, it doesn't sound like we have to watch the movie. But it also doesn't sound like we can read any book that was made into a movie. It has to be a book that you can see or is talked about (or quoted??) in a movie.BUT, I think Cynthia needs to give us some clarification before we all go crazy! ;)
That reminds me: "As You Like It" is a book the students are studying in Never Been Kissed. I've been meaning to read that...
Oh, and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is the play the theater department puts on in Get Over It. The characters are pictured reading the play as well.
Ooh, fun. My list so far: 5 points:
1. A Clash of Kings
2. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
3. Mahabharata
5. All Quiet on the Western Front
6. The Kommandant's Girl
7. Will pick one later.
8. Slapstick
10. The Art of Racing in the Rain
10 points:
1.
2. All the Pretty Horses
3. Mister Monday
4. Closing Time
5. The Prestige
6. Around the World in Eighty Days
7. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
8. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
9.
10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
15 points:
2. Songs of Innocence And of Experience
3.
6. The Brothers Karamazov
7. The Dogs of Babel + Aesop's Fables
8. Through a Window
25 points:
1. The Graveyard Book + Ragtime: A Novel
4. The Secret Garden
5. Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom
8.
...35 points.
Jen wrote: "Completed another task (finally!)5 POINT TASKS
7. For Arbor Day – Do your part to save some trees by…
- Reading an e-book OR
- Listening to an audiobook OR
- By reading a book and “recyclin..."
I just started Me Talk Pretty One Day on audio for the same task and laughed out loud all the way to work this morning. I had to sit in the parking lot until the first chapter was finished. Too funny. I will definitely be reading more David Sedaris. His sister Amy's book I Like You Hospitality Under the Influence was just as funny. I can only imagine what it must have been like growing up in their home to produce such talented, quirky people!
Cynthia -Regarding the 15 point task #5 - would you consider the Edgar a major literary prize? I was born in 1969 and am not terribly excited about the Nobel or Pulitzer prize winners from that year, but Michael Crichton won the Edgar for A Case of Need, and I think I might enjoy that.
Thanks!
Sara wrote: "From the wording of the task, it doesn't sound like we have to watch the movie. But it also doesn't sound like we can read any book that was made into a movie. It has to be a book that you can se..."I think the idea is that you have to have watched it as some point. A book that you've seen or heard referenced would tend to indicate that. A quote would tend to count as a reference, I assumed that it either has to be mentioned by title, quoted, or physically shown in the shot. It would be a kind of funny experiment to find a scene in a movie where there's a bookshelf and pause the frame to see if you can make out any titles!
Judith wrote: "A quote would tend to count as a reference, I assumed that it either has to be mentioned by title, quoted, or physically shown in the shot. It would be a kind of funny experiment to find a scene in a movie where there's a bookshelf and pause the frame to see if you can make out any titles!"KIDS: DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME! Kidding. I spend like 30 minutes yesterday trying to study the bookshelves in The Holiday. Alas, it did not work, and our system is pretty high-tech. We have a DVD player that "upgrades" the picture to high-def and a 1080p TV (whatever that means--I just know my husband brags about it!). But it's the disc itself that's not the best quality. Anyone out there want to try this with a BluRay player?
Ooh, hey, that's one of the few movies I have seen (the one with Jude Law and Jack Black, right?) If you find a book from that one let me know. And if you tell me what scene or minute the bookshelves are at, I'll try it on my computer.
Judith wrote: "Ooh, hey, that's one of the few movies I have seen (the one with Jude Law and Jack Black, right?) If you find a book from that one let me know. And if you tell me what scene or minute the bookshe..."IMDb has a list of the books Cameron Diaz has with her on the airplane, on her way to England here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457939/t...
As for the bookshelves: there are two. One at Kate Winslet's house, just before Cameron Diaz meets Jude Law (she's bored, and looking for something to do), and then another in Jude Law's house, right after Cameron Diaz... ummm... goes over to his house. (I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it.)
Bev wrote: "Jen wrote: "Completed another task (finally!)I just started Me Talk Pretty One Day on audio for the same task and laughed out loud all the way to work this morning. I had to sit in the parking lot until the first chapter was finished. Too funny. I will definitely be reading more David Sedaris. His sister Amy's book I Like You Hospitality Under the Influence was just as funny. I can only imagine what it must have been like growing up in their home to produce such talented, quirky people!
Bev, I sat in the parking lot at work this morning until I finished Naked! :) Me Talk Pretty One Day isn't one of the ones I have (my brother-in-law let me copy his CD boxed set) but I think I'm going to have to get it because I've enjoyed all three of his that I've listened to now. Amy Sedaris actually narrates a good chunk of Naked with him, so I'd recommend that one if you haven't listened to it...
10 Point Task Completed:4. Author Born in March, April, May: One for the Money by Janet Evanovich (born in April)
Points to Date: 95/575
Tasks Completed: 7/40
Another question about Darla's task...can we read a collection of poems if a poem was referenced in a movie?
Rory wrote: "Another question about Darla's task...can we read a collection of poems if a poem was referenced in a movie?"I would think that if it was over 100 pages, it would be okay. (At least, I hope so, because I'm reading Shakespeare's sonnets... And there are 100-and-something of those... 154?, and thus that many pages...)
Point update: Finished the audio book Up Country by Nelson DeMille to complete 5 point task #4 yesterday, as well as The Road for 10 point task #9 (it's book #6, I was born in 1969). I've been following the mixed reviews on The Road, but have to say I loved it. It was intense, yes, but the relationship betweeen the father & son was beautiful. "...each the others world entire..." lovely...Glad I've moved on to David Sedaris for something lighter, though - I need to laugh!!
Total points these tasks = 15
Total points to date = 190
15 point task3. Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before
Water for Elephants
My first task completed!! 15 total points
Heather in KS
Well dern it! I lucked out in that the Kite Runner is one of the books Cameron Diaz has, which means I can use that for Darla's task, but since I was going to read it for the top books 10 point challenge I have to pick another. I want to do 84 Charing Cross Road, but it's only 97 pages. Bummer. I guess I'll try I Capture the Castle instead.
Fantasy Novel: Lament by Maggie Stiefvater- 5 pointsTotal: 20
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I completed a few tasks while I've been gone.
5 point task #4.Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Task – Read or listen to a book while you are on a plane, on a t..."
I'm impressed that you could read A Thousand Splendid Suns more than once. I sobbed through the last third, but couldn't put it down--what a wonderful and powerful book, but I don't think I could go through it again.