OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009 Showing 2,551-2,600 of 6,381

[Ashley]

I totally forgot that Frankenstein is an epistolary novel, so I'm going to squeeze 5 points out of it for that. I am trying to get as many points as I can out of books I'm reading for school. :)

Cynthia, for the rhyming task, could I read The Blithedale Romance and The Thirteenth Tale? Dale and Tale? Thanks!

Total: 25 points

[[deleted user]]

Hayes 10 + 15 = 35

3. Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

[Eva-Marie]

I'm wondering about Game and Cane? I know they rhyme and all but how specific are we needing to be? game and came would rhyme more than game and cane technically but would this work?
Stephen Cheek just sent me his book called Cane and Able and it looks pretty good. I just got it today and I'm really excited to start it now.

[Courtney]

Louise wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Update!

I just finished Sara's 25-point task (12-word title).

[b:Skinny Bitch A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking ..."


We've been going strong since I finished the book (only a few days, really, but still...) and I feel great! I don't feel like I'm just sitting around eating rabbit food or anything. I'm loving it!

[Alisha Marie]

Maggie, I loved Come Closer. It definitely scared the crap out of me. That has to be my favorite horror novel that I've read so far (granted I haven't read a lot).

[Courtney]

Update!

I just finished Good in Bed for 5-point task #3 (Spring cleaning).

My new point total is 115.


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I'm not sure why, but this book took me forever to read! I probably would have given up a long time ago if it hadn't been a selection for a book club I'm in. It got better toward the end, but unfortunatly, that meant I had to read 200 pages first. I can't exactly put my finger on what I didn't like about this book.

[Terri]

Cynthia, would Suite Française be ok for the military task?

[Leora]

Courtney-I read Skinny Bitch almost 2 years ago, and loved it! Did the vegetarian thing for over a year until a vacation this summer in Poland. The book is def an eye opener!

[Sharon75uk]

10.3. For ANZAC Day – Read a book by an Australian author, set in Australia, OR about Australia.
Author Grenville, Kate Title The Secret river READ

15.8. 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.
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones – Alexander McCall Smith READ
Then read about him online. DONE


Total 215 points

[Sara ♥]

Leora wrote: "Courtney-I read Skinny Bitch almost 2 years ago, and loved it! Did the vegetarian thing for over a year until a vacation this summer in Poland. The book is def an eye opener!"

My co-worker read it at the beginning of the year, and is now a vegetarian. She's lost a TON of weight, too, which is great!

[El]

10 POINT TASK
9. Read a book from the TNBBC Top Books list.
84, Charing Cross Road, Helene Hanff (I was born in 1978 and chose #98 from the list).

TOTAL POINTS: 125.

[Tobie]

Finished challenge 15.5: Julie & Julia - 2006 winner of the Quill award.

Total: 30

[Cait]

Finished task 15.8: Meet the Author. I read Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult and the following interviews:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/do...

http://www.bookpage.com/0803bp/jodi_p...


Total Points: 110

[Elizabeth (NC)]

I just finished The Big Beautiful by Pamela Duncan for 15 point number 4. It takes place in Salter Path, North Carolina, right near Morehead City where I spend every Easter. The story was kind of predictable, but it was fun to read about stores and places that I visit all the time, including The Book Shop, a great used book store.

That puts me at 3 tasks completed, 40 points. (1142 pages read)

[Elizabeth (NC)]

If anyone is still looking, Ida B and her Plans to maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster and (Possibly) Save the World, by Kathyrn Hannigan is a great novel that would count for YA or Sara's task (more than 12 words in title).

[Sara ♥]

Tobie wrote: "Finished challenge 15.5: Julie & Julia - 2006 winner of the Quill award.

Total: 30"

Wow, Tobie! You're young! :)

Task 15.5 says that you have to read a book by an author who won an award the year you were born. You don't have to read the winning book--just a book by the winning author.

I'm not sure what Julie & Julia is about, exactly. The title is ALMOST long enough for my 12-word task! I hope you can work it in for a different task!

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

The only Julie and Julia I'm aware of is about a woman who decided to cook everything in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year.

I thought it was a bit whiny.

[SusannaW]

Just completed a 15 point task:

9. Get To Know The Author

I read The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman.

I then watched a Youtube interview with her and read a written interview on her website from The Sunday Times.

I really enjoyed this novel. Despite the fact it's writing style isnt quite Marquez, Borges or Proust etc, there is a definite quality to her writing style, which makes up for the slightly light weight plot. I found myself totally transported into the world of Istanbul, and am now desperate to visit it. I'm on a mission now to read more novels set in Istanbul...!

I liked this novel infinitely more than other contemporary stuff I've tried - like The Thirteenth Tale and Dissolution.

Interviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEvcU3...

http://www.katiehickman.com/QandA.html

[Sara ♥]

If any of you are still looking for a book for the e-book/audiobook task, I just got a newsletter telling me that Wicked Lovely is available to read online for free right now. I'm not sure how long it will be up, but here's the link:

http://browseinside.harperteen.com/in...

You could also use this book as a fantasy or YA book.

[Ashley]

Sara wrote: "If any of you are still looking for a book for the e-book/audiobook task, I just got a newsletter telling me that [b:Wicked Lovely|305234|Wicked Lovely|Melissa Marr|http://photo.goodreads.com/books..."

Sara, have you read Wicked Lovely? It's been on my TBR list for a while, but I haven't heard much about it from people that I would normally take recommendations from... If you have read it, what did you think?

[Sara ♥]

No, I haven't. It's on my TBR list as well. I've been meaning to read it for what feels like forever. I might read it as my 5-point fantasy book. (I like sci-fi/fantasy, and I have like 3 different books I'm thinking about reading for that task. I just haven't made up my mind yet.)

[Ashley]

Cool. If you do read it, let me know what you think!

[Leah]

Finally finished Karen's 25 point task! I had read The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble about a week ago - quick, fun read, but needed a "g" book. Picked up The Gospel According to Starbucks Living with a Grande Passion by Leonard Sweet and have really been struggling to stay interested. But, finally done!
I had put it down to pick up Still Alice by Lisa Genova - now that is an amazing book! I'm going to try to find an interview with her so I can use it for the get to know the author task - but meanwhile, wow - I highly recommend it!

Total points this task = 25
Total points to date = 220

[Ines]

Cynthia, For 5 point task no.5 can I read The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible.

It's non-fiction, but I'm at a complete loss as to what fiction book I can read for this task. Any recommendations?

Also, just finished 5 pt task no.5 - Metro Girl (Janet Evanovich). That puts me up to 40 points...

Thx!

[Leah]

Sharon wrote: "10.3. For ANZAC Day – Read a book by an Australian author, set in Australia, OR about Australia.
Author Grenville, Kate Title The Secret river READ

15.8. Get To Know The Author - Read a book by an..."

Sharon, how did you like the Kate Grenville? I have
Albion's Story on my TBR for the same task, and haven't been inspired to pick it up yet.

[Sara ♥]

Ashley wrote: "Cool. If you do read it, let me know what you think!"

Will do! It's between Wicked Lovely, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, and Many Waters right now.

[Avory]

Finished another! For Sara's task, I read Mark Zandi's Financial Shock A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, which gives me 25 points, bringing my total up to 115 points. I decided to bump my goal up to 300 since this challenge has brought out my competitive edge and I'm reading more than expected ;-)


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[SusannaW]

Hi

I'm a bit unsure as to what constitutes "Christian fiction'... would something about religious differences eg Christian and Muslim tensions fit the task? I'm thinking of something like Louis de Bernière's Birds without Wings...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susanna, I think I see A Thousand Splendid Suns on your To Read shelf. This is the book I'll be reading for that task as the task includes a "sacrifice" requirement.

[Ashley]

Elizabeth wrote: "Susanna, I think I see A Thousand Splendid Suns on your To Read shelf. This ..."

I totally support everyone reading this book! I absolutely LOVED A Thousand Splendid Suns! Amazing! (And The Kite Runner too!!)

[Megan]

5 Points
1. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
7. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

10 Points
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
6. The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson
7. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

15 Points
5. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

(I'm only posting what I've already finished)

New Points Total: 55

[Ashley]

Sara wrote: "Ashley wrote:

Let me know about Tithe too... That's another one I've been thinking about reading!

[KristenR]

I finished Artemis Fowl, so now I'm done with 25.8 (I also read Little Brother by Cory Doctorow)

and I read Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson for 25.5......now I remember why I don't like to read plain old romances. I like to have something other than sex happening in a book.

That brings my total to 140

[SusannaW]

Elizabeth and Ashley - that could cause a dilemma, as I had Thousand Splendid Suns down as my 'Earth Day' challenge...! :/

[Ashley]

Susanna UK wrote: "Elizabeth and Ashley - that could cause a dilemma, as I had Thousand Splendid Suns down as my 'Earth Day' challenge...! :/ "

Read it for anything! I just love the book, and think that everyone should read it!

[Josie]

Cythia, I've made a couple of changes to my list - I'm not sure if you need to know, but I'll tell you just in case!
For 10.6, I'm now planning to read An Earthly Knight instead of Brave New World, and for 25.6 I'm now reading Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire instead of Elizabeth the Queen.
ALSO, could I use a book with 'daughter' in the title for 5.6, or is that not acceptable? Because if it's ok, I'd like to use General Winston's Daughter instead of The Woman in White, and I will then move Woman in White to my 15.9 task..
Thanks :)

[Cynthia]

LEADERBOARD
LIZZI - 245
BEV - 220
SANDY - 220
SHARON - 215
FIONA (TITCH)- 210
BONNIE - 190
MEGHAN - 190
ASHLEY ID - 180
EVA - 170
LEORA - 165
PERS - 165
JOSIE - 150
RORA - 150
ROS - 150
SUZIER - 150
KRISTENR - 140
KAREN - 135
KRITIKA - 135
LOUISE - 135
KRISTINA - 130
BETH MN - 125
EL - 125
CASSIE - 120
ANGELA - 115
COURTNEY - 115
JUDITH IA - 115
KRISTEN IL - 115
ALICE - 110
CAIT - 110
STEPHANIE - 110
DONNA JO - 105
REBECCA - 105
ANN FROM SC - 100
BRIDGIT - 100
CAROL - 100
LIZ BRKLYN - 100
LIZ VEGAS - 100
ALISHA - 95
BJ ROSE - 95
SANDIE - 95
SUSAN - 95
APRIL - 90
BECKY - 90
CYNTHIA - 90
LYNLEE4 - 90
RENFREW - 90
STEPH - 90
CATHEROO - 85
JON - 85
LINDSEY - 85
MARY BETH - 85
ROSEANN - 85
SARA - 85
VICTORIA - 85
ANGIE - 80
LORI - 80
MAGGIE - 80
RORY - 80
FALLON - 75
JOY - 75
JULIE UK - 75
KICKI - 75
RHIANNON - 75
JAMIE MN - 70
KATE - 70
NATALIA - 70
SUSANNA UK - 70
KATHRYN - 65
TINA - 65
LAUREN - 60
JENNY - 55
MEGAN - 55
KELLY - 50
NICOLE - 50
ROBIN - 50
RYAN - 50
SERA - 50
ASHLEY AL - 45
ELIZ - 45
ELIZABETH AK - 45
HEATHER KS - 45
JENNIFER IN - 45
TRACY - 45
WV HEATHER - 45
BETH - 40
JENNIFER MD - 40
LINDA - 40
MANDAY - 40
CYNDEE - 40
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 40
ELIZABETH NC - 40
MEL - 40
MELODY - 40
SAI - 40
AMANDA - 35
JEGKA - 35
JEN - 35
LILY - 35
POTJY - 35
SHANNON - 35
ABBIE - 30
JESSICA - 30
JOANNA - 30
LIZ NY - 30
DOROTHY - 25
JAIME 26 - 25
JOANIE - 25
ALYSSA - 25
ASHLEY UT - 25
HAYES - 25
KRISTI - 25
MELISSA - 25
AMY - 20
JEANE - 20
VICKI - 20
CAITLIN - 15
JULIE (ID)'S - 15
NICOLE CA - 15
TOBIE - 15
LISA CO - 15
JAMIE WA - 10
RACHEL - 10
JAMIE 23 - 5
JUDITH NY - 5
MICHELLE - 5
SHELBY - 5

[Cynthia]

Susanna UK wrote: "Hi

I'm a bit unsure as to what constitutes "Christian fiction'... would something about religious differences eg Christian and Muslim tensions fit the task? I'm thinking of something like Louis ..." For Christian Fiction - I personally really like Deanne Gist, a lot of people read Karen Kingsbury, How Dolly Parton Saved My Life A Novel of the Jelly Jar Sisterhood was really good, anything by C.S. Lewis - there are a lot of options - the book you listed would ok

Sai wrote: "Cynthia, For 5 point task no.5 can I read The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible.

It's non-fiction, but I'm at a complete loss as to ..." It would qualify under the sacrifice category of that task because the author sacrifice's a lot during that year

Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "I just finished The Big Beautiful by Pamela Duncan for 15 point number 4. It takes place in Salter Path, North Carolina, right near Morehead City where I spend every Easter. The story was kind of p..."That's the sequel to her other book Moon Women - don't know if you've read that yet but The Big Beautiful does help tie up the loose ends of that book

Tobie wrote: "Finished challenge 15.5: Julie & Julia - 2006 winner of the Quill award.

Total: 30

"I can't count the points for this because that author didn't win an award the year you were born

SuzieR wrote: "Cynthia, would Suite Française be ok for the military task?" yes

♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "I'm wondering about Game and Cane? I know they rhyme and all but how specific are we needing to be? game and came would rhyme more than game and cane technically but would this work?
[a:Stephen Ch..."game and cane do not rhyme so no

Ashley wrote: "I totally forgot that Frankenstein is an epistolary novel, so I'm going to squeeze 5 points out of it for that. I am trying to get as many points as I can out of books I'm reading for school. :)

..." yes

[Cynthia]

Josie wrote: "Cynthia, I've made a couple of changes to my list - I'm not sure if you need to know, but I'll tell you just in case!
For 10.6, I'm now planning to read [b:An Earthly Knight|711003|An Earthly Knigh..." - daughter is fine and I only need to know if your changing books that you've already claimed points for up until you complete a task you change what book you want to use without telling me as often as you want

[Ashley]

Cynthia, would Princess or Queen work for the Woman's History task?

[Amy]

Will somebody please help me to understand why no library in Massachusetts carries Lance Carbuncle's Smashed, Squashed...or Lois Meltzer's The Murderous Urges of Ordinary Women? I am on a mission to do this challenge almost exclusively via library collections.

[Ashley]

Amy wrote: "Will somebody please help me to understand why no library in Massachusetts carries Lance Carbuncle's Smashed, Squashed...or Lois Meltzer's The Murderous Urges of Ordinary Women? I am on a mission ..."

Lol. I can't help you with that... But a lot of libraries have the option of interlibrary loan. Request a book they don't have with a librarian, and they can find it at another library, or buy a copy for their own library. Hope that works for you! Good luck!

[Amy]

Ashley wrote: "Amy wrote: "Will somebody please help me to understand why no library in Massachusetts carries Lance Carbuncle's Smashed, Squashed...or Lois Meltzer's The Murderous Urges of Ordinary Women? I am o..."

Ashley - No lie - I was going to buy The Murderous Urges (while in a murderous urge) from Amazon and donate it when I finished !! Great minds think alike :)

[Ashley]

Lol. That's awesome. I love it when book titles fit your life! I think I might have to read that book soley based on the title! Lol... I like it!

[Alisha Marie]

Five Point Tasks
1.Science Fiction Novel: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
2. Epistolary Novel: The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters A Novel
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: Revenge of the Spellmans
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
4. Author B-Day in March: Goodnight Nobody
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
Category Totals:

15 Points
1. SCORPIO: The Waste Lands by Stephen King OR Wastelands Stories of the Apocalypse
2. National Poetry Month: Transformations by Anne Sexton
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
5. Bonnie's Task: I Am Legend
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 by Catherine Orenstein

I finished Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz for the April Fool's Day Challenge and loved it. I love all of the installments in the Spellman series. They are all hilarious and extremely fun novels.

I am now up to 95 points.


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[Sharon75uk]

Bev

Re: The Secret River - I really enjoyed this book, couldn't put it down

[Angela]

Just finished Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter for the task with 3,4,5. No new points- have to finish the other two books first.

[Cynthia]

Ashley wrote: "Cynthia, would Princess or Queen work for the Woman's History task? " - I said that I'd prefer the other words but would except those if you can't find something else

[Ashley]

Cynthia wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Cynthia, would Princess or Queen work for the Woman's History task? " - I said that I'd prefer the other words but would except those if you can't find something else"

I guess I missed that, but Thanks!

[Abbie]

I just finished The Tiger Rising.

5 points
1. Fantasy - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2. Epistolary - Elisabeth The Princess Bride, Austria-Hungary, 1853
3. Spring Cleaning - Dragon of the Red Dawn
4. Planes, Trains,... - The Princess Diaries
5. Lent/Book about Sacrifice - Confessions of a Closet Catholic
6. Women's History - Stargirl
7. Arbor Day - Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban
8. April Fool's Day/Humorous - Zippity Zinger
9. Spring Animals - Junie B. First Grader: Dumb Bunny
10. Rain-Related - Electric Storm

10 points
1. Ireland - Maggie's Door
2. Mexico - Esperanza Rising
3. Australia - I am the Messenger
4. Author Birthday - The Tiger Rising Kate DiCamillo - March 25
5. Book about Magic - The Tales of Beedle the Bard
6. Earth Day - Walk Two Moons
7. Mother's Day - Northanger Abbey
8. Military - Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima
9. TNBBC Top Book List - I Capture the Castle
10. TNBBC Member's 5 Star - Tuck Everlasting

15 points
1. Leo (Royalty) - Fairest
2. Poetry - A Light in the Attic
3. TNBBC Group Read - Stardust
4. Spring Break - The Kingdom Keepers
5. Award Winner - From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler
6. Translated -Pippi Longstocking
7. Rhyming Books - Blizzard of the BLUE Moon & The TWO Princesses of Bamarre
8. Get to Know Author - Princess Academy
9. Color Book/Food - Where the Red Fern Grows
10. 3, 4, and 5 Books - Reach for the Stars, Have Wheels Will Travel, & Look Before You Leap - Amazing Days of Abby Hayes

25 points
1. G & R - The Goose Girl and River Secrets
2. Diarist - The World of Louisa May Alcott
3. Person below post - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (Susanna)
4. Big Read - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
5. Other genre - Woodsong (non-fiction)
6. 400 page British Monarchy - Horrible Histories?
7. Book from Movie - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from Inkheart
8. 12+ word title - Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country
9. 2 YA novels - Enna Burning and The Wish

New Total: 40