The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Manday wrote: "♡ Eva ♡ wrote: We wouldn't be able to use a books that's already been used for this challenge would we? That wouldn't make any sense. I think she meant to use a book that was read since March but n..."I think I was actually responding in question to something saranicole said. I don't have time go back and look right now, but in any case I think it's a question a lot of people have, either way it was intended. We'll get our answer soon enough.
Yeah, I'm the culprit. I responded in post 4368.
I don't know if I was respond to Manday or saranicole either El! LOL (I'm not going back to check either though! We're all here talking about it so it doesn't really matter! :DI do know what you mean though saranicole- moving a book already read over. I think I was responding to Manday and you and Manday posted similiar thoughts and we all got confused!
Manday said I was right so she must have posted something about us maybe being able to use a book we've read since March 1st but not a book already used for a task and, if it fits, using it for the 50 ptr.
I do see what you mean though- about trading in a 10 ptr. if it fits for the 50 ptr. I wonder what the rules will be because quite honestly- my mind is too frazzled this morning to even guess at my opinion is about it! I'll do whatever is decided!
My, look at all the questions for this one "little" task! LOL
BJ Rose wrote: "♡ Eva ♡ wrote: 5. For Easter/Lent…
- A book about sacrifice
Alex: The Life of A Child- Alex DeFord "The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation put this book out and they aren't a charity I ususally donate t..."
Oh wow- I thought it was only me! I'm still thinking about her story. It's actually been on my mind since I finished it. I just can't imagine having to go through anything even remotely close to what those parents (and other parents and relatives) had to go through.
I'm not going to go too far into it because some people are more reluctant to talk about death, especially that of an 8 year old and I wouldn't want to make anyone uncomfortable but thanks BJ Rose- I kind of thought maybe it affected me more strongly than anyone else and I couldn't figure out why.
Don't you wish you could donate to everything out there like this? It makes me so mad that there are people and places needing money and then there are people wasting so, so much of it every day. :(
Someone posted in the last couple of days about already thinking about the Summer Challenge. As you can well imagine, I have thought about a couple of suggestions for that. I think they would be only 5- or 10-pointers. I can't imagine my coming up with something good enough for 50 points!
saranicole wrote: "Yeah, I'm the culprit. I responded in post 4368."We should just start a confused group for only us confused people and take our confusing conversation elsewhere. That or go read! LOL
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Someone posted in the last couple of days about already thinking about the Summer Challenge. As you can well imagine, I have thought about a couple of suggestions for that. I think they would be on..."Yup, that's exactly what I meant- I'd be afraid it wouldn't be "good enough"! The higher the points the "better" the task should to be it seems!
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Someone posted in the last couple of days about already thinking about the Summer Challenge. As you can well imagine, I have thought about a couple of suggestions for that. I think they would be only 5- or 10-pointers. I can't imagine my coming up with something good enough for 50 points! "We had so much fun thinking up tasks for this challenge! And I know exactly what you mean: it's easy to think of easy tasks, but what's challenging (and interesting) enough to constitute a 50 point task?? That's why I'm wondering how many books long this task is going to be...
Two more challenges completed:5 POINTS:
3. from my TBR:
this was a marvelously-told story of people who were ousted from their previous country and life-style, and created new lives on the American frontier, in the midst of The French & Indian War (Seven Years' War)
10 POINTS:
5. book about magic:
I enjoyed this much more than I expected to - and it's strange that I didn't expect to like it so much, since I generally like a well-told tale involving fantasy or magic or both (maybe the hype had me leery). Having now dipped my toes in the HP waters, I will read more of the series, as time and interest dictate.
15 points added to previous 360 points = 375 points as of 4.15.09
I also agree with El that the new task should not allow any books already read to be switched over. It would not really be fair... Sorry I am jumping into this late (been studying for the NCE) sigh...
Rory wrote: "Natalia: How was Numerati? That looks interesting..."Rory,
Unfortunately it was a big disapointment. It's an exceptionally shallow treatment of the subject.
The author basically tells you that there are these situations in which information is collected about you... then some vague discussion of what kind of conclusions could be made from that kind of data about you and other people. No discussion whatsoever about *how* those analyses are done.
In fact, several times in the book he mentions that he has been reading about a lot of statistical methods... then nothing about those methods. I wasn't expecting an in-depth explanation of multi-variate analysis, but the impression I get is that the author avoids discussing the methods used because he doesn't understand them himself. I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it had been written by someone with more expertise.
Finished a 10 pointer today - I read Malicious Intent A Novel by Kathryn Fox for the Anzac Day task - set in Australia and written by an Australian. I was gripped by this book! Loved it![image error]
total points: 235
The silence of anticipation . . .
Just completed my first full 25 point task (I've done half of two others)25 Point Tasks
4. Ros's Task - Read a book off the Big Reads list
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
New Point total: 110
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I know, right... I keep checking, hoping that it will be up... but nothing... this sucks!
We're all waiting with bated breath...Side note (because I like etymology): the origin of the phrase "waiting with bated breath"...
Oooh, Jen - How did you like Anne of Green Gables? I'm reading it now (and then have to eat two green foods), and am really enjoying it!
I completed Darla's task: I read Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. It was referenced in the movie Freedom Writers as well as Clerks II.[image error]
Yay 240 points!
saranicole wrote: "We're all waiting with bated breath...Side note (because I like etymology): the origin of the phrase "waiting with bated breath"...
Oooh, Jen - How did you like Anne of Green Gables? I'm re..."
Interesting history of the phrase "waiting with bated breath". I know I certainly am. I was at class, refreshing the page over and over again. Now I am at work, refreshing the page over and over again... I want to know! The top several people should have sent in their ideas, incase they won, so we could have instanteous results! Okay, now I am just being impatient. SETTLE DOWN, Kathryn! I hope it is good! *bouncing up and down in her chair, impatient to press refresh again*
saranicole wrote: "We're all waiting with bated breath...Side note (because I like etymology): the origin of the phrase "waiting with bated breath"...
Oooh, Jen - How did you like Anne of Green Gables? I'm re..."
Sara, I really enjoyed it. I had an abridged version as a kid, but I thought it was time I read the whole thing, and I'm glad I did. Great book! I listened to an audiobook, and I thought the narrator was great, which added to my enjoyment.
saranicole wrote: "We're all waiting with bated breath...Side note (because I like etymology): the origin of the phrase "waiting with bated breath"...
Oooh, Jen - How did you like Anne of Green Gables? I'm re..."
For the past twenty minutes I couldn't figure out for the life of me why your interest in the study of bugs (eNtymology) sparked your research on the origin of the bated-breath phase. I now see otherwise...is it Friday yet?
Posting my books, now that I don't have to worry about picking a 50 pt task.10.10 Treasury of Royal Scandals by Michael Farquar
from Lindsay's list 4/12
15.9 The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble (A very interesting book, set partly in Korea of the 1700's and partly in modern England. Probably the most lucid Margaret Drabble book I've read.)
Among other things I ate Pickled beets, Red hot Salad, and red velvet cake. 4/11
25.5 I haven't read a play for years so I read
Love letters & other plays by A. R. Gurney 4/10
25.6 The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy by John Cannon & Ralph Griffiths
This is as much about the philosophical, moral, economic, and political background of the British monarchy as it is about the rulers themselves for the last two thousand years. Even packing a ton of information into the book (and making it too heavy to be a good read-in-bed tome) didn't make the book boring. My kind of history book interlarded with lots of pictures. 4/5
25.6 At God Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor: Title mentioned in the movie Dan in Real Life. 4/10
Amy wrote: "For the past twenty minutes I couldn't figure out for the life of me why your interest in the study of bugs sparked your research on the origin of the bated-breath phase. I now see otherwise...is it Friday yet?"Hahahahaha! That's classic! I sure wish it was Friday! I'm SO SO SO SO TIRED! I think I need to go to the doctor, and see if there's something wrong with me that's making me unable to sleep at night...
Jen B wrote: "Sara, I really enjoyed [Anne of Green Gables:]. I had an abridged version as a kid, but I thought it was time I read the whole thing, and I'm glad I did. Great book! I listened to an audiobook, and I thought the narrator was great, which added to my enjoyment."
I'm listening to the audiobook too, and loving it. I'm on disc 6 of 8.
Finished another 15 point task6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language (i.e. it could be from Swedish to English or English to Italian etc.).
The Witch of Portobello by Paul Coehlo
This book was originally written in Portuagese. I read the English version.
The book is good, but I still like The Alchemist the best.
Points: 130 + 15 = 145
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Donna Jo wrote: "15.9 The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble (A very interesting book, set partly in Korea of the 1700's and partly in modern England. Probably the most lucid Margaret Drabble book I've read.) Among other things I ate Pickled beets, Red hot Salad, and red velvet cake. 4/11 "
Pickled beets, eh? Hmmm... I've had picked daikon radish, a common Korean dish. Yummm...
But the book was partially set in Korea, eh? I'll have to look into this book... (I lived in Korea the year I should have been a senior in high school... I love Korea!)
I just found out that I won the midway challenge and it's a little challenging and nerve wrecking. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to e-mail Cynthia and have her help me tweak my 50 point task. I want people to like my task but I know I won't be able to please everyone. I want to make it fun and challenging but not so challenging where people will get discouraged.I hope we'll be able to have it up soon and I hope everyone will enjoy the task.
Sandy wrote: "I just found out that I won the midway challenge and it's a little challenging and nerve wrecking. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to e-mail Cynthia and have her help me tweak my 5..."YES, there is an end in sight!!! I am so excited!!! What are you worried about?
Sera wrote: "Finished another 15 point task6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language (i.e. it could be from Swedish to English or English to Italian etc.).
[b:The Witch of P..."
I am set to start The Alchemist in a matter of minutes - I have been looking forward to this one since it was suggested at my last in-person book club meeting.
Kathryn wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I just found out that I won the midway challenge and it's a little challenging and nerve wrecking. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to e-mail Cynthia and have her help..."I want to make sure people will like my challenge but at the same time I don't want to make it so hard where people will get discouraged. I guess I really don't know what is considered to hard or to easy.
Sandy wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I just found out that I won the midway challenge and it's a little challenging and nerve wrecking. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to e-mail Cynthia a..."That is understandable, but I guess, it is worth 50 points... so I guess if people can't handle the challenge, they shouldn't do it. I mean 50 points is a lot... so it should be a hard challenge... though a nice easy points is never unwanted... I guess you should go with what you want. Like El's task... not a lot of people like it, but it has opened the eyes for some people and given them a book that they wouldn't have ordinarily read. Pick something that you want to read that doesn't fit into the challenge, and then create a challenge to make that book fit.. or several books... but that is just a suggestion.
Kathryn wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I just found out that I won the midway challenge and it's a little challenging and nerve wrecking. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to e-..."Thanks for the advice.
So many good things is such a short time... you checked in, Lori closed the polls so voting for next months book will happen soon, and I get off work in 6 minutes!!! Yay!!!
Kathryn wrote: "So many good things is such a short time... you checked in, Lori closed the polls so voting for next months book will happen soon, and I get off work in 6 minutes!!! Yay!!!"I get off work in 3 minutes..... *peeks at Kathryn's profile* WHAT??? You get off at 3:00?? It's 5:00 here! Dang 8 to 5 jobs... grrrrr...
Oooh, Jen - How did you like Anne of Green Gables? I'm re..."I just have to butt in on your Anne of Green Gables conversation. I loved Anne of Green Gables as a kid and read probably the first three, but the whole series is GREAT!!! I bought the entire series and read it as an adult. There are 8 of them, but I loved learning all about how Anne's life worked out and how her kids turned out.
I just finished Sara's task:25 points
9. Book with 12 or more words in the title
Where There's a Will There's a Way or, All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Shakespeare by Laurie Maguire
New Total: 160 points
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I hoped. It was more of a self-help-through-Shakespeare type of event. Like other people here, I wish we could give half starts because I would have given it a 3 1/2 instead of a 3. I definitely learned a lot though.
This is my favorite quote from the book. Maguire quotes Mother Theresa who said "We can do no great things, only small things with great love."
You can butt in any time! I loved the miniseries, and I've been meaning to read the books for a really long time. I'm excited to finally finally have a good enough reason to move this book up on my TBR list!
saranicole wrote: "You can butt in any time! I loved the miniseries, and I've been meaning to read the books for a really long time. I'm excited to finally finally have a good enough reason to move this book up on ..."My mom practically insisted that I read it when I was about 12. I resisted at first, but I loved it. For a few years I didn't know there were any more, but when I found out I was excited to read them. But it wasn't until I was an adult that I had access to ALL 8 of them. LOL
saranicole wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "So many good things is such a short time... you checked in, Lori closed the polls so voting for next months book will happen soon, and I get off work in 6 minutes!!! Yay!!!"I ge..."
I am attending university so it is a part time job... and you might be jealous now, but I will leave this little thought in your head, aside from this shift, I work 20 hours of graveyards, so I go back to work in 12 hours... at 3:00 in the morning. That parts sucks!
Natalia wrote: "Rory wrote: "Natalia: How was Numerati? That looks interesting..."Rory,
Unfortunately it was a big disapointment. It's an exceptionally shallow treatment of the subject.
The author basica..."
Natalia: Ok - I won't put this one on my list. Thanks for the thorough review - that's unfortunate that the case wasn't really made.
I have a used copy of Water for Elephants if anyone would like to exchange something they are done with for it via USPS - US ONLY. Not a beauty but thoroughly readable. Message me to arrange an exchange.
I just finished The Bone People by Keri Hulme, the 1985 Booker Prize winner, for 15 points. That puts me at 170 points.
Amy wrote: "Sera wrote: "Finished another 15 point task6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language (i.e. it could be from Swedish to English or English to Italian etc.).
[b:The W..."
Amy, it's an excellent, inspirational book. Enjoy!
It's spring break (Yay!) which means lots of time to read! So I've finished a couple more tasks5pt tasks
4. Speak
10 point tasks
10. Animal Farm
15pt tasks
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
25 pt tasks
1. A Great and Terrible Beauty, The Road
7.Catcher in the Rye
Kritika's total points
225+5+10+15+25+25
305
yay, I reached my goal of 250 points!! Maybe I should try for 350...
Kritika wrote: "It's spring break (Yay!) which means lots of time to read! So I've finished a couple more tasks5pt tasks
4. Speak
15pt tasks
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
25 pt tasks
1. A Great and T..."
I think that if you are at 305, you should have no problem reaching 350... I mean, we are only half-way done... YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Donna Jo wrote: "Among other things I ate Pickled beets, Red hot Salad, and red velvet cake. Donna, I love pickled beets and try to make some whenever I have a large enough harvest of beets. Yum!!
Lori wrote: "saranicole wrote: "You can butt in any time! I loved the miniseries, and I've been meaning to read the books for a really long time. I'm excited to finally finally have a good enough reason to mo..."Sorry to butt in, too, but 8 of Anne of Green Gables books? Anne got married and had kids? Oh, I was seriously deprived in my youth, as I had only read the first 3. I just bought my newborn daughter the abridged version of the first book, but now it appears that I will have to buy all 8 and read them to her and/or with her when she gets older. I also heard that the movies were great, too. My TBR list has now become that much longer :)
Thanks for all of the information. That's why I love this club.
Sera wrote: "Lori wrote: "saranicole wrote: "You can butt in any time! I loved the miniseries, and I've been meaning to read the books for a really long time. I'm excited to finally finally have a good enough..."No, seriously, I love this club. My TBR list only gets longer. No matter how many books I read the TBR list only gets longer. It is totally awesome.
2. Read an epistolary novel OR a non-fiction collection of letters/journal etc. (Epistolary) For 5 points I read...The Burrowers Beneath by Brian Lumley
5. Read a book written by an author who won a major literary prize (Nobel, Pulitzer etc.) in the year you were born (it does not have to be the book they won the award for). (Isaac Asimov Hugo Award winner 1973)
For 15 points I read...The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
(New total: 350 points)
Donna Jo wrote: The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble (A very interesting book, set partly in Korea of the 1700's and partly in modern England. Probably the most lucid Margaret Drabble book I've read.)..."Really, this was Margaret Drabble's most lucid book? I read this earlier this year and thought it was all over the place. I thought the general story line was interesting, but the second part was so strange to me. She started out like the Queen was going to haunt, or take on the spirit of this modern woman, and then it was like she got bored with that idea and had a completely seperate story on part two.
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5. For Easter/Lent…
- A book about sacrifice
Alex: The Life of A Child- Alex DeFord "The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation put this book out and they aren't a charity I ususally donate to but today I am. I can't not do it."
Eva, same for me. I read this years ago, and have been contributing to CF ever since because of this book. I still have mental pictures of Alex walking through the hospital ward saying good-bye. As you said, the strength of that little girl was just awesome!