The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
>
OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Sara wrote: "Oooh.. we should have a cookbook challenge... and have to try like 3 different recipes from it, or something. That would be fun.Sounds like a 25-pointer to me!
Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "I think this will be OK, but I want to check. I am a teacher and have local author coming into my classroom to do a week long workshop with my students. If I read one of his books, can I count tha..."Yes that's fineJulie (ID) wrote: "For the mother's day task can I use a book that my Mother-in-law suggested? "Yes
Potjy wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Potjy wrote: "Cynthia, can I use a complete set of manga (Japanese comic/graphic novel) for a 15-point task (15.4)? It consists of 24 volumes ..."I assume you meant 15.6 the transla..."It would still be fine for the Spring Break task if Japan is someplace you've been in spring...I thought you meant the translation task because you mentioned in the post that it had taken a long time to appear in English - that's where the confusion was.
Rory wrote: "Cookbooks are ok for our challenge? I should use that for my "out of genre" task since I hate to cook! =)"Yes as long as you REALLY READ IT and not just skim it and look at the pretty pictures thinking if I had the time...like I do :)Donna Jo wrote: "Cynthia, for Darla's task (book mentioned in movie) can I use A Good Man Is Hard to Find & other stories by Flannery O'Connor? In the movie Ben in Real Life he mentions a book A Good Man Is Hard t..."Since I can' find a reference to another book with that title - yes it's okay
We've had cooking related challenges in the past and they go over so-so - but feel free to suggest it for the next challenge.
♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "Only if I can come stay with you when I burn my house down Sara! LOL "Are you that bad at cooking? I usually do okay when I TRY... I just usually don't get quite that far. I used to burn frozen pizza all the time, until I put a oven thermometer in our ancient oven to see if the thermostat was accurate. It was burning about 100°F too hot. NO WONDER everything burned!!
PS - You could certainly stay with me... as long as you don't mind the Texas heat!
PPS - I just know my husband would appreciate a cooking challenge, since it would make me actually cook. I belong to a recipe website (allrecipes.com, I think), and I add recipes to my online recipe box all the time, but I don't think I've actually made anything from the site yet...
Oh, funny- I'm probably moving to Dallas all the way from Delaware in the next year or two. My parents are retiring out there and I'm going to (probably) follow them because my daughter is still young and I don't want them to never see each other. Where in Texas are you? And yeah...I'm THAT bad! I need to follow them so my poor kid can get some good home cooking because with me it's fish sticks and mac & cheese! LOL
I'm down in Bryan--about 3 hours south of Dallas/Fort Worth. Oooh... mac and cheese! Posh! I eat a lot of Ramen (I LOVE RAMEN!), and my husband eats a LOT of cereal... haha... Sometimes I get fancy and use the crockpot to make like... ham and potatoes or a pot roast. I also have a really really really easy non-crockpot recipe for Taco Soup (it's more like ground beef/bean/tomato/corn/salsa soup, but whatever). If the meat is defrosted, it would take like... MAYBE 15 or 20 minutes to make. If you can brown hamburger meat, you can make this. Plus, it makes a lot, and the leftovers taste even better than it does on the first night. If you want it, I'll message it to you.
Will it work with blackened hamburger meat you think? :) Message me with it though- it's worth a try. LOL
Ooooh- maybe since I'm reading a book with 'black' in the title that can be one of my foods?! Hahaha...
COMPLETED 10 POINT TASK#5 Harry Houdini’s Birthday (book about magic):
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (4/8/09 - 4/11/09)
Disappointing...but I did like "The Warlock's Hairy Heart".
Just finished 15.8 Outlander. I ended up reading several of the interviews on her site. I love this series so I guess I'll have to find time to read the others again soon :)Point total: 135
Goal: 340 Points / 30 books---Stats---
Earned Points: 165 of 340
Books Read: 15 of 30
Total Pages Read: 6437
-----------
5 POINT TASKS
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Science fiction)
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (audiobook)
5. For Easter/Lent - Read a Christian Fiction novel...
Showdown by Ted Dekker
6. In Honor Of Women’s History Month…
- Read a novel with woman, women, lady, etc in the title.
Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon by Jane Austen
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (Sending to Kandice when finished.)
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
9. Read a book with a spring animal in the title...
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
10. Read a book with a type of tree or flower in the title...
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
10 POINT TASKS
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
4. Read a book by an author who was born in March, April, or May.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides /Born: March 8, 1960
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susana Clarke
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
7. In Honor of Mother’s Day, read a book recommended by/given to you by your mother.
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
Othello by William Shakespeare
9. Read a book from the TNBBC Top Book list.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (#28 - I was born in 1982)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Thanks Heather from page 39!)
15 POINT TASKS
1. Read a book that corresponds to your astrological sign...
- LIBRA: Read a book about a lawyer, the law, a judge etc.
The Last Juror by John Grisham
Inferno by Dante Alighieri
3. Read a past OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before.
Neverwhere: A Novel by Neil Gaiman
6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language.
The Plague by Albert Camus
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.
Duma Key by Stephen King
9. Read a book with a color in the title AND eat a meal that includes at least 2 foods of that color.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
(Planned foods: Garlic and Feta cheese mashed potatoes and vanilla ice-cream)
25 POINT TASKS
The Green Mile (Complete Serial Novel) by Stephen King
4. Ros's Task: Read a book from the Big Reads List.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
(Non-fictional memoir -- I normally read fiction: fantasy, horror, classics, etc.)
Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (Referenced in "The English Patient".)
8. Cassie's Task: Read two YA novels.
Blue Is For Nightmares & White Is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Cynthia... for Task 10.8, how integral does the fact that the person is a veteran have to be to the book?In other words, can I read a romance novel where the hero is a war veteran? I'm thinking specifically of Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn... I believe he's quite tormented with his memories of the war throughout the book. (I can't remember very well, as it's been a WHILE since I read it...)
Thanks!
Just finished Task 15.8: The tenth circle by Jodi Picoult and read an interview with her on the internet for 15 pointsTOTAL POINTS = 65
Susanna wrote: "Alice - I think the book for Jon's task has to be non-fiction - and I believe Philippa Gregory's The Other Queen is a novel."I realised that after I added it. I noticed someone had put a philippa Gregory book for that challenge in their list so I did but then checked last night and realised that i couldn't have changed it now!
Last night I finished reading Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones for 10 points. It was another really good book. I've chosen some good books for this task!5 POINTS
1. A Neil Gaiman book
2. Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction by Sue Townsend
3. Half of Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4. ?
5. The Shack by William P. Young
6. The Girls by Lori Lansons
8. The Difficult Second Book by Chris Moyles
9. ?
10. ?
10 POINTS
2. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
3. His Illegal Self by Peter Carey (Aussie Author)
5. Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
6. East of the Sun by Julia Gregson
8. The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies
10. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (One of Meg's 5 star rated books).
15 POINTS
2. Shakespeare by Bill Bryson
3. Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
5. The Sea by John Banville (won the Guardian Prize in 1981 for Kepler
6. Shape of Water by Andrea Camillia (translated from Italian into English
7. The Girl who was going to die by Glyn Maxwell and The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thompson
9. The White Tiger by Aravind Acliga
10. ?
25 POINTS
2. ?
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (from Angela's bookshelves)
5. The Face by Dean Koontz (Horror)
6. ?
7. ?
8. Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini
9. The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale
[image error]
Sara wrote: "Cynthia... for Task 10.8, how integral does the fact that the person is a veteran have to be to the book?In other words, can I read a romance novel where the hero is a war veteran? I'm thinkin..."That's fine - I'm using a Nicholas Sparks book for the task myself
Yay, cuz I read about 125 pages of it last night--I was just in the mood for a nice historical romance... :)
Hayes 80 + 10 = 90
1. For St. Patrick’s Day – Read a book by an Irish author, set in Ireland, OR about Ireland. How the Irish Saved Civilization
1. For St. Patrick’s Day – Read a book by an Irish author, set in Ireland, OR about Ireland. How the Irish Saved Civilization
I finished the second half of Task 25.1 yesterday. I listened to Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins on audio a while back and finished reading Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan yesterday. That gives me a total of 190 points. [image error]
I completely enjoyed this book and I am lookng forward to reading the rest of the series.
Tasks completed1. Read a Science Fiction OR Fantasy Novel. Inkheart (Inkheart, Book 1)
by Cornelia Funke READ
NEW TOTAL = 355 points
5 points
2 The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank(ordered)
4 Little Women - EBOOK (reading)
6 Mah, Adeline Yen Title Falling leaves return to their roots : the true story of an unwanted Chinese daughter
7 Barbara Trapido – Juggling - read then give to charity (on shelf)
8 Three bags full / Leonie Swan /
9 The One Flew over the cukoos nest – Kesey
10 The House of Thunder – Dean Kootz
15/50 points
10 points
2 Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel READ
3 Author Grenville, Kate Title The Secret river READ
4 SUE GRAFTON O is for Outlaw
5 Practical Magic – Alice Goffman
7 Walk Two Moons – Sharon Creech
8 TBD
9 Numer 1 on the list - I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith (on shelf)
50/100 points
15 points
1 Riordan, Rick Title The lightning thief (ordered)
3 The Audacity of Hope – Barack Obama (ordered)
One city / Alexander McCall Smith, Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh READ
7 : Alias Grace Mary Higgins Clark & No Place Like Home A Novel Margaret Atwood
Then read about him online. DONE
9 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE READ
CARROT AND SWEET POTATO MASH
10 Stirling, Jessica - Sisters three (on shelf)
Caldwell, Ian – Rule of Four (on shelf)
Harris, Joanna – Five quarters of the orange(on shelf)
90/150 points
25 points
2 Wordsworth, Dorothy Title Dorothy Wordsworth's illustrated Lakeland journals READ
3 The Cellist of Sarajevo – Steven Galloway READ
When Will There Be good news – Kate Atkinson READ
4 Animal Farm – George Orwell READ
5 Young Adult – Angus, Thongs and perfect snogging READ
6 In The Footsteps of Robert Bruce – Alan Young & Michael J Stead 190 pages (on shelf)
On the Trail of William Wallace – David R. Ross 146 pages READ
8 The growing pains of Adrian Mole – Sue Townsend READ
Private peaceful – Michael Morpurgo READ
9 Waiting for Daisy : the true story of one couple's quest to have a baby / Peggy Orenstein READ
200/225 points
Total 355 points
15.8 I read Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security by Richard B. Myersand then went to the author talk and book signing at the Plaza branch library on April 6.
(actually I bought this for my brother, who served 27 years in the Air Force, and I wasn't going to read it all--but it was a book and in my house and fit the criteria for Spring Challenge, so he gets a lightly read, but signed to him, book when I go to visit next time.)
Finished another 15 point task4. Read a novel that takes place in a location you plan to visit during this challenge OR have visited previously during spring break (does not have to be overly specific i.e. if you are visiting Paris this spring (LUCKY YOU) you could read a book that takes place anywhere in France).
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
This story is set in Western Connecticut, across the border from NYC. My cousin lives in Greenwich, CT, and I will be visiting him next month.
I liked this book and intend to give it 4 stars when I review it later today. The book itself is superbly written, but the story is a real downer. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio play the main characters in the movie that was based on the book. The movie should be coming out on DVD soon.
Total: 115 + 15 = 130
[image error]
♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "Will it work with blackened hamburger meat you think? :) Message me with it though- it's worth a try. LOL"just burn everythin to a crisp lol - i think i could manage that one
Amy wrote: "Jon wrote: "Most recenlty completed in BoldFive Point Tasks
1. Science Fiction: [b:Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?|7082|Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?|Philip K. Dick|http://ecx.images..."
my pleasure :)
COMPLETED 10 POINT TASK#4 Read a book by an author who was born in March, April:
Margaret Peterson Haddix (April 09, 1964) –
Among the Impostors (4/8/09 – 4/11/09) THREE STARS
Finished High Five for task 10.4. It had been a while since I had read that seried and I forgot how funny the Stephanie Plum novels were. Total Points: 195 (Nicole NC)
I couldn't remember which tasks I posted about, sooooo....here's my whole list - completed books are in bold.5 points
1. The Suicide Collectors
3. Farthing
5. The Sovereign's Last Battle
6. Lady Windermere's Fan
7. The Mysterious Island
8. The Sweet Potato Queen’s Book of Love
10. Crystal Rain
10 points
1. A Modest Proposal and Other Short Works
2. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book
3. People of the Book
4. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
5. Magic Bites
6. Delta of Venus
7. The Carousel
8. Chain of Thought: The Story of a WWII Marine
9. 84 Charing Cross Road
10. When God Was a Woman
15 points
1. Gods Behaving Badly
3. The Audacity of Hope
4. Fat White Vampire Blues
5. O-Zone
6. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
7. What Dreams May Come, Something Wicked This Way Comes
8. The Crown Conspiracy
9. The Woman in White
10. Three Plays, Four and Twenty Blackbirds, Five Children and It
25 points
1. Goodbye Lemon, Red Mars
3. The Pact, The Golden Compass
4. Jane Eyre
5. Irresistible Forces
8. Little Brother, Artemis Fowl
9. The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal
Total points: 305
Jon wrote: "♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "Will it work with blackened hamburger meat you think? :) Message me with it though- it's worth a try. LOL"just burn everythin to a crisp lol - i think i could manage that one"
Jon- that's what I do anyway!
Replacement for audio book in a carEcho Park by Michael Connolly
10 points # 9
TNBBC Top Books List
51. Water for Elephants by Gruen
Total 180
I've made several changes to my original list, and finally filled in my choices for Darla's & Jon's tasks, so here's the complete & updated list - mainly for my benefit, I know, but I love seeing everyone's lists as well:5 POINTS:
1. fantasy novel:
2. epistolary novel: The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson
3. from my TBR:
4. audiobook in car: The Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury
5. book about sacrifice: God's Fool: The Life & Times of Francis of Assisi by Julien Green
6. in honor of Women's History Month:
7. Arbor Day audiobk:
8. April Fools Day:
9. spring animal:
10. flower in title:
10 POINTS:
1. St. Patrick's Day:
2. Cinco de Mayo:
3. ANZAC Day:
4. author spring BD:
5. book about magic:
6. Earth Day:
7. Mother's Day:
8. Memorial Day:
9. TNBBC Top Books: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
10. TNBBC member:
15 POINTS
1. Pisces:
2. poetry:
3. TNBBC group read:
4. vacation city:
5. Newbery Award 1938:
6. translated from original language:
7. Dr. Seuss: (books with rhyming words in titles)
7.
8. author interview:
9. color in title/meal:
10. 3rd/4th/5th:
25 POINTS
1. Karen's Task:
2. El's Task:
3. Angela's Task: The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks AND Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey (from Sandy's bookshelf)
4. Ros' Task:
5. Bonnie's Task: Cell by Stephen King (horror:not usual genre)
6. Jon's Task: book relating to British Monarchy: Elizabeth & Mary by Jane Dunn
7. Darla's Task: book seen or referenced in movie 'On Golden Pond': A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
8. Cassie's Task:
AND
9. Sara's Task:
50 POINTS
Sandy's Task: ***Read 2 books by an author who writes under two different names. ***
Face the Fire by Nora Roberts AND Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
I'm just updating a few partially completed tasks... no point change yet.5 points
1. Dead Until Dark
2.
3.
4.
5. The Magician's Nephew: The Chronicles of Narnia #1
6. Certain Girls
7.
8. Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea
9. Dead Canaries Don't Sing
10. Mum's the Word
10 points
1. Sushi for Beginners
2. Like Water For Chocolate
3. The Book Thief
4.
5. The Trouble With Magic
6.
7.
8.
9. The Color Purple
10. Nineteen Minutes
15 points
1. The Forbidden Brother
2.
3.
4. It Had to be You
5. Blue Dahlia ~ Nora Roberts (RITA award 1984)
6. Love in the Time of Cholera
7. Santa CRUISE and Savannah BLUES
8.
9.
10.
25 points
1. The Grand Finale AND Remember Me
2. a biography of Louisa May Alcott (I will update the name once I find it at the library)
3. Undead and Unwed AND
4.
5.
6. biography of Anne Boleyn (I'll update the name once I get it from the library)
7. Northanger Abbey (from the Jane Austen Book Club)
8.
9.
Point Total: 220
Tasks Completed: 16/40
[image error]
I finished 10 point task number 5 - read a book about magic/a magician. I read The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, which follows a young boy who gets magical powers on his 11th birthday.This now brings my point total to 190.
[image error]
Also question: Could I use the book The Silver On The Tree by Susan Cooper for five point task 10, because it contains the word tree? Thank you!
Finished The Alchemist by Paul Coelho for task 5.3. It was a light, quick read, but I am sorry to say that I don't understand what the hype was about! Total Points: 365
I'm getting a late start as a newbie to the group, but I've managed to hit some without even knowing the tasks:5 Points:
1. TBD
2. Blindspot (Kamensky & LePore) - Completed 3/27/09
3. Resolution (Mina)
4. TBD
5. TBD
6. The Women (Boyle) - in progress
7. The Poisonwood Bible, audio edition (Kingsolver) - Completed 4/3/09
8. Fool (Moore) or Revenge of the Spellmans (Lutz)
9. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Completed 3/13/09
10. TBD
10 Points:
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. TBD
5. TBD
6. TBD
7. Does Your Mother Know? (Jennings) - completed 4/6/09
8. TBD
9. TBD
10. You Only Live Twice (Fleming)
15 Points:
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. Shatter (Robotham). Takes place in London - completed 3/5/09
5. TBD
6. The Demon of Dakar (Eriksson) - completed 3/16/09
7. Blues in the Night (Krich) and White Sky, Black Ice (Jones)
8. The Language of Bees (King)
9. TBD
10. TBD
25 Points:
1. A Rule Against Murder (Penny) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Larsson) - completed 3/30/09
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. TBD
5. Can I Keep My Jersey? (Shirley). Biography, pro basketball.
6. TBD
7. TBD
8. TBD
9. TBD
Total to date - 80 points
Goal - 300 points
COMPLETED 25 POINT TASK#9 SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words: Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 by Rafe Esquith (3/29/09 - 4/11/09) TWO STARS
I would recommend this book to elementary teachers of the "gifted". I picked up a few ideas for my middle school classroom but I think my time would be better spent on other authors who have geared their material towards my age group.
I rated this two stars because I don't like it when teachers think the only way to make themselves or their students look good is by criticizing other teachers or students.
Cynthia: Do I have my points correct? I feel I recently goofed something up...
Rory wrote: "COMPLETED 25 POINT TASK#9 SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words: Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56? Esme has an ego, but her writing is engaging, plus she loves books and encouraging children to develop a love of reading.
LEADERBOARD
DONNA JO - 410
KRISTEN IL - 400
LIZZI - 400
MEGHAN - 395
BRIDGIT - 390
SANDY - 365
BONNIE - 355
SHARON - 355
BJ ROSE - 335
BEV - 325
LEORA - 325
JOSIE - 315
TINA - 310
KRISTENR - 305
ASHLEY ID - 290
RORY - 290
RORA - 285
EVA - 270
KRISTINA - 270
PERS - 265
CAIT - 245
LIZ BRKLYN - 245
BETH MN - 240
SARA - 240
LOUISE - 230
ALICE - 225
KRITIKA - 225
ANGELA - 220
ANGIE - 220
COURTNEY - 220
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
LAURA - 210
SUZIER - 210
LINDSEY - 205
MAGGIE - 200
AMY - 195
NICOLE NC - 195
APRIL NY - 190
ASHLEY AL - 190
CATHEROO - 190
LORI - 190
SANDIE - 185
EL - 180
ELIZABETH NC - 180
JON - 180
MARY BETH - 180
WENDY - 180
JAMIE MN - 175
REBECCA J - 175
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 170
STEPH - 170
SUSAN - 170
BECKY - 165
FALLON - 165
STEPHANIE - 165
LIZ VEGAS - 160
LYNLEE4 - 155
VICTORIA - 155
JUDITH IA - 150
LILY - 150
ROS - 150
CYNDEE - 145
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 145
JOY - 145
ALISHA - 140
DAVID - 140
TRYPHENA - 140
KAREN - 135
KATE - 135
ROSEANN - 135
JEGKA - 130
SERA - 130
CAROL - 125
HAYES - 125
HEATHER KS - 125
RHIANNON - 125
CASSIE - 120
ANN FROM SC - 115
POTJY - 115
RENFREW - 115
MALIADES - 110
CATHERINE - 105
MANDAY - 105
ABBIE - 100
JENNIFER IN - 100
JOANNA - 100
RYAN - 100
WV HEATHER - 100
AMANDA - 95
BETH - 95
LACY - 95
LINDA - 95
CYNTHIA - 90
KRISTINA UK - 90
SAI - 90
TRACY - 90
JEN B - 85
JESSICA SC - 85
LAUREN - 85
MEREDITH H - 85
SUSANNA UK - 85
JENNY - 80
JESSICA IL - 80
JULIE (ID)'S - 75
JULIE UK - 75
KATHRYN - 75
KICKI - 75
MEGAN - 75
MELODY - 70
NATALIA - 70
REBECCA - 70
SLAIMI - 70
JEANE - 65
SARAH - 65
SHANNON - 65
KELLY - 60
ALYSSA - 55
JEN MD - 55
JOANIE - 55
MEL - 55
ROBIN - 55
JESSICA MI - 50
RACHEL - 50
ALLISON MO - 45
ELIZ - 45
JULIE TN - 45
ASHLEY UT - 40
JAMIE WA - 40
KIM - 40
LDB - 40
LISA CO - 40
LIZ NY - 40
SHELLIE - 40
TERRI - 40
TOBIE - 40
VICKI - 40
KATIE - 35
KELLY MA - 30
DOROTHY - 25
JAIME 26 - 25
KRISTI - 25
MELISSA - 25
LAZARUS - 20
MACKENZIE - 20
NICOLE CA - 20
CAITLIN - 15
JENNI - 15
GREG - 10
MORGAN - 10
JAMIE 23 - 5
JUDITH NY - 5
MICHELLE - 5
SHELBY - 5
Rory wrote: "COMPLETED 25 POINT TASK#9 SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words: [b:Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56|42601|Teach Like Your Hair's o..."THAT'S WHAT I HAVE YOUR POINTS AT
April wrote: "I finished 10 point task number 5 - read a book about magic/a magician. I read The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, which follows a young boy who gets magical powers on his 11th birthday.
This no..."YES
I just finished Reliquary by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. Last week I finished The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. Task 25.1 is complete, my new points total is 110.
5 pts #3
The Wednesday Letters
I liked it. All 3 of the books I've read by this author support Christian themes of love and forgiveness. Each one has it's own unique plot. It wasn't my favorite Jason F. Wright book but definitely worth reading.
25.4 A Town Like AliceThanks to Ros for this task, else I probably would never have read this book. I am pleased to have gotten to know Jean Paget and a bit about the Australian outback. I'll give it 4 stars (4.5 if I had the option), for a marvelous story.
April wrote: "Rory wrote: "COMPLETED 25 POINT TASK#9 SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words: [b:Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56|42601|Teach Lik..."
April: Thanks! I haven't read that one but have heard of it. I've added it to my To-Read list.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "25.4 A Town Like AliceThanks to Ros for this task, else I probably would never have read ..."
Elizabeth: I, too, loved A Town Like Alice! There was a movie made but I haven't seen it yet. I gave it FOUR STARS as well.
A few other Nevil Shute books you might want to check out are: On the Beach, Requiem for a Wren (aka: Breaking Wave) and Pastoral. I rated those THREE STARS.
I've also read Trustee from the Toolroom which was ok.
I think Shute was a very prolific writer in his day.
Finished Good Omens for one of my 25 point tasks. It was funny and fairly enjoyable. I didn't eat it up like I thought I would though.5 point challenge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. May Bird and the Ever After Book One
10.
10 point challenge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Slaughterhouse-Five
9. I Capture the Castle #1
10.The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - 5 stars from Mary
15 point task
1.
2.
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
25 points
1.
2. Wagner
3.
4.
5.
6. The Decline and Fall of the House of Windsor
7. Gulliver's Travels (from Pagemaster)
8.
9.
[image error]
Not too late I hope? Thought I'd tally a page count too...5 POINTS
1. Read a Science Fiction OR Fantasy Novel.
2. From A to X: Some Letters Recuperated by John Berger John Berger
3. A Short History of Decay E M Cioran
4. The Portable Nabokov Vladimir Nabokov (train)
5. For Easter/Lent/Passover…
- Read a Christian Fiction novel,
- A book about sacrifice, OR
- A book about something you would or are planning to give up.
6.
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.
8. For April Fools Day…
- Read a humorous novel, a book of jokes, OR
- A biography/autobiography/memoir of a comedian.
9. The Wisdom of Birds: A History of Ornithology Tim R Birkhead
10. The Theory of Clouds Stephane Audeguy
10 POINTS
1. Ulysses James Joyce
2. Under the Volcano Malcolm Lowry
3. The Vivisector Patrick White
4. 60 Stories Donald Barthelme (April)
5. The Magic Mountain Thomas Mann (tenuous..?)
6. The Star Called the Sun George Gamow
7. Far From the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy
8. The Kindly Ones Jonathan Littell
9. Great Expectations Charles Dickens 1968
10. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil John Berendt rated by Crimsonbutterfly
15 POINTS
1. The Complete Henry Bech John Updike RIP January 2009 (lung cancer)
2. April is National Poetry Month – Read a book of poetry OR about a famous poet.
3. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Jonathan Safran Foer
4. Read a novel that takes place in a location you plan to visit during this challenge OR have visited previously during spring break (does not have to be overly specific i.e. if you are visiting Paris this spring (LUCKY YOU) you could read a book that takes place anywhere in France).
5. Yasunari Kawabata Nobel prize
6.
7. In honor of both Dr. Seuss’ birthday (March 2) and Mother Goose Day (May 1) find and read two books with rhyming titles. By this I mean that there is a word in the title of one book that rhymes with a word in the other book’s title.
- Example: You could read The Scent of Sake AND The Red Tent
8.
9. The Red and the Black Stendhal
10. March, April, and May are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th months of the year
- Read the third, fourth and fifth books of one series OR
- Read 3 books with the numbers 3/4/5- three/four/five - 3rd/4th/5th - third/fourth/fifth in the titles (books do not have to come from the same series in this instance)
- You can't mix and match these though...exe. 3/four/fifth is not acceptable
25 POINT TASKS
1.
2. The Pillow Book Sei Shōnagon
3. Suite Francaise Irene Nemirovsky
Perfume: the Story of a Murderer Patrick Suskind fortunately for me SuzieR has a prodigious book habit so plenty of choice
4. Middlemarch George Eliot
5. 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.
6. JON’S TASK - H.M. Queen Elizabeth II is 83 on April 21st, read a Non-Fiction book of at least 400 pages relating in some way to the British Monarchy past or present. Write a short Goodreads review and post a copy on the Spring challenge thread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_En...
7. DARLA'S TASK - Read a book you've either seen in a movie or heard referenced in a movie.
8. CASSIE'S TASK - For her friend Melissa (who told her about goodreads and is a YA Librarian): Read two young adult novels.
9. The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot, his Wonderful Love and Terrible Hatred Carl-Johan Vallgren
Just finished The House of Lost Souls by FG Cottam for the Arbor Day task for 5 points. I received the book through a swap on readitswapit.co.uk, and will now re-list it for swapping!A three-star book ... intriguing, an interesting storing, but it took too much concentration to follow the story and was confusing at times (but maybe that was just me!).
Total points: 210
[image error]
25.9 - Same Kind of Different as Me A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together Surprisingly, very intense: Laughed outloud, cried outloud, and scoffed outloud at Mr. Hall's persistent "name" dropping. This is a story of faith and friendship and purpose. Though I've often struggled with the ideas of divination and after-life visitations, I believe - hands risen - in Denver !!
5.7 - The Bonesetter's Daughter - Amy Tan has a way of speaking to the mother and daughter relationship that I completely "get" - Chinese, Italian, American, it's all the same wonderful tango.
Blessings this weekend to all !
5 POINT TASKS:6. In Honor Of Women’s History Month…
- Read an autobiography/biography of a woman you admire OR
- A novel with one of the following in the title (woman, women, lady, ladies, female, feminine, girl, girls, maiden, madame).
The Glass Castle A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
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.
Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione (e-book)
25 POINT TASK:
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.
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult and Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (Joanie's shelf)
TOTAL POINTS: 95
Rory wrote: "A few other Nevil Shute books you might want to check out are: On the Beach, Requiem for a Wren (aka: Breaking Wave) and Pastoral. I rated those THREE STARS.I've also read Trustee from the Toolroom which was ok.
I think Shute was a very prolific writer in his day."
Thanks, Rory. I have him on my list of "approved authors." I will be keeping my eyes open for a way to include one in the next challenge.
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...
DONNA JO - 410
LIZZI - 400
MEGHAN - 390
KRISTEN IL - 375
SANDY - 365
BRIDGIT - 360
BONNIE - 355
SHARON - 355
BJ ROSE - 335
BEV - 325
LEORA - 320
JOSIE - 315
TINA - 310
KRISTENR - 305
ASHLEY ID - 290
RORA - 285
KRISTINA - 270
PERS - 265
RORY - 265
EVA - 255
CAIT - 245
LIZ BRKLYN - 245
BETH MN - 240
SARA - 240
ALICE - 225
KRITIKA - 225
ANGELA - 220
ANGIE - 220
COURTNEY - 220
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
LAURA - 210
LOUISE - 205
SUZIER - 205
MAGGIE - 200
NICOLE NC - 195
ASHLEY AL - 190
CATHEROO - 190
LORI - 190
SANDIE - 185
APRIL - 180
EL - 180
JON - 180
LINDSEY - 180
MARY BETH - 180
WENDY - 180
JAMIE MN - 175
REBECCA J - 175
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 170
STEPH - 170
SUSAN - 170
AMY - 165
BECKY - 165
FALLON - 165
STEPHANIE - 165
LIZ VEGAS - 160
ELIZABETH NC - 155
LYNLEE4 - 155
VICTORIA - 155
JUDITH IA - 150
LILY - 150
ROS - 150
CYNDEE - 145
JOY - 145
ALISHA - 140
DAVID - 140
KAREN - 135
KATE - 135
ROSEANN - 135
JEGKA - 130
SERA - 130
CAROL - 125
HEATHER KS - 125
RHIANNON - 125
CASSIE - 120
ANN FROM SC - 115
POTJY - 115
RENFREW - 115
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 110
CATHERINE - 105
MANDAY - 105
ABBIE - 100
JENNIFER IN - 100
JOANNA - 100
RYAN - 100
WV HEATHER - 100
BETH - 95
LINDA - 95
TRYPHENA - 95
CYNTHIA - 90
HAYES - 90
LACY - 90
SAI - 90
TRACY - 90
JEN B - 85
JESSICA SC - 85
LAUREN - 85
MALIADES - 85
MEREDITH H - 85
SUSANNA UK - 85
JENNY - 80
JULIE (ID)'S - 75
JULIE UK - 75
KATHRYN - 75
KICKI - 75
MEGAN - 75
MELODY - 70
NATALIA - 70
REBECCA - 70
SLAIMI - 70
KRISTINA UK - 65
SARAH - 65
SHANNON - 65
AMANDA - 60
KELLY - 60
ALYSSA - 55
JEN MD - 55
JOANIE - 55
MEL - 55
ROBIN - 55
JEANE - 50
JESSICA MI - 50
RACHEL - 50
ALLISON MO - 45
ELIZ - 45
JULIE TN - 45
ASHLEY UT - 40
JAMIE WA - 40
KIM - 40
LDB - 40
LISA CO - 40
LIZ NY - 40
SHELLIE - 40
TOBIE - 40
VICKI - 40
KATIE - 35
TERRI - 35
DOROTHY - 25
JAIME 26 - 25
KRISTI - 25
MELISSA - 25
KELLY MA - 20
MACKENZIE - 20
NICOLE CA - 20
CAITLIN - 15
JENNI - 15
GREG - 10
MORGAN - 10
JAMIE 23 - 5
JUDITH NY - 5
MICHELLE - 5
SHELBY - 5