The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009
Holy toledo! Done already Donna! You rock.
Kathryn wrote: "WAIT, Donna Jo, are you done with the challenge? OMG, that is incredible... only half-way done and you're finished! Way to go!"I don't think she's finished, she has the 50 point task marked as read in May.
Oops, I just read the 50 point tasks this weekend--I can't type.
You're not foretelling the future? ;) Couldn't tell if you were busy in early May and filling in later. Congrats on finishing!
I have a few more to add to my list of DONEness :-)5 pts
2. Read an epistolary novel OR a non-fiction collection of letters/journal etc. - Ella Minnow Pea Such a cute little story. Silly, maybe, but I liked it a lot.
10 pts
6. In honor of Earth Day (April 22) read a book with the word Earth, Moon, Sun, World, Star or one of the other planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) in the title.
- Words such as earthly, sunset, lunar etc. are acceptable. – Breakfast on Pluto
25 pts
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. – Winesburg, Ohio – Short stories. Aaaand, I'm still not much for short stories.
9. SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words. - The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Mayhem at the Fair that Changed America VERY interesting story. It was hard to get into at first, but soon enough, I was hooked.
That should add another 65 points for me! This is what happens when AT&T lines are cut and you have no Internet. :-)
Previously completed: 25.4 - The Woman in White - 3/5/2009
15.1 - The Other Boleyn Girl - 3/7/2009
15.5 - Eros, Eros, Eros Selected and Last Poems -3/9/2009
15.8 - The Numerati - 3/14/2009
5.4 - Naked in Death - 4/4/2009
5.7 - When You Are Engulfed in Flames - 4/13/2009
5.6 - The Icarus Girl - 4/15/09
25.9 - When Genius Failed The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management - 4/16/09
Newly completed:
10 pt task #4 - Author's Birthday (Janet Evanovich - 4/22) Two for the Dough
Total Tasks Completed: 9
Total Ponts Earned: 120
Wow! I can't believe you finished Donna Jo! Good for you! I just finished the last half of the 15.7 task. I read The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne and just finished The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, which I absolutely loved!Total points: 85
Oh, I'm so sad I missed this challenge it looks like so much fun. I will definitely join in if you guys do another one for the summer. :0)What a great idea!
Slayermel wrote: "Oh, I'm so sad I missed this challenge it looks like so much fun. I will definitely join in if you guys do another one for the summer. :0)What a great idea!"
It's not too late! The challenge runs March 1st and through Midnight (EST) May 31st. Hope you decide to join us!
Yes, I agree with Rory - it's never really too late to join. In mho, its not really about the points gathered, as everyone reads in different ways. Personally, I often finish books and can't read another for days as it lingers. I think it needs that extra time to sink somewhere into my psyche...! Every book I read changes what I want to read next. For me, the challenge is about exploring books, sharing books, finding new ones you might never have read but for the tasks... learning what you like and don't like.... and half the challenge (time wise) is more than enough to get stuck in and have fun.
Yes! Do participate even if you're late starting. When I decided to participate, I was fairly certain I would not read something for every task. Part of the fun was identifying books to match the tasks. As a result, I've read more than I might have, encountered books of which I was not aware, and have broadened my horizons.
LEADERBOARD
DONNA JO - 575
***************
SANDY - 465
BRIDGIT - 435
BJ ROSE - 425
KRISTEN IL - 420
MEGHAN - 420
RORA - 405
LIZZI - 400
SHARON - 385
BONNIE - 365
TINA - 365
LEORA - 360
KRISTINA GA - 340
JOSIE - 335
BETH MN - 330
KRISTENR - 330
RORY - 330
BEV - 325
ASHLEY ID - 310
KRITIKA - 305
CATHEROO - 295
LIZ BRKLYN - 295
EVA - 280
LOUISE - 280
ALICE - 275
MAGGIE - 275
REBECCA J - 275
AMY - 270
CAIT - 270
RHIANNON - 270
ANGELA IL - 265
APRIL NY - 265
PERS - 265
SARANICOLE - 265
ANGIE - 255
COURTNEY - 255
LAURA NY - 255
LINDSEY - 255
MARY BETH - 255
NICOLE NC - 250
EL - 245
SUSAN - 235
SUZIER - 235
WENDY - 235
JUDITH IA - 225
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
LORI TX - 215
ELIZABETH NC - 205
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 200
SANDIE - 200
STEPH - 200
BECKY - 195
LYNLEE4 - 195
ASHLEY AL - 190
JAMIE MN - 190
JON - 190
FALLON - 185
KATE - 180
STEPHANIE CA - 180
ALISHA - 175
MALIADES - 175
JOY - 175
MANDAY - 175
SERA - 170
VICTORIA - 170
LIZ VEGAS - 160
WV HEATHER - 160
CAROL - 155
HAYES - 155
JESSICA IL - 155
JENNIFER IN - 150
JOANNA - 150
LILY - 150
ROS - 150
ROSEANN - 150
CYNDEE - 145
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 145
MEGAN - 145
DAVID - 140
TRYPHENA - 140
JEN B - 135
KAREN - 135
LACY - 135
HEATHER KS - 130
JEGKA - 130
TRACY - 130
ANN FROM SC - 125
RYAN - 125
CASSIE - 120
NATALIA - 120
JOANIE - 115
KATHRYN - 115
KRISTINA UK - 115
POTJY - 115
RENFREW - 115
CATHERINE - 105
ABBIE - 100
CYNTHIA - 100
JULIE (ID)'S - 100
SUSANNA UK - 100
AMANDA - 95
BETH - 95
LINDA - 95
REBECCA - 95
SARAH PA - 95
KICKI - 90
MARIE - 90
SAI - 90
ASHLEY UT - 85
JESSICA SC - 85
LAUREN - 85
MEREDITH H - 85
JENNY - 80
SARA E - 80
JULIE UK - 75
TERRI - 75
JEANE - 70
MELODY - 70
RACHEL - 70
SLAIMI - 70
JOANN - 65
SHANNON - 65
JEN MD - 60
JESSICA MI - 60
JULIE TN - 60
KELLY - 60
MADELINE - 60
ALLISON MO - 55
ALYSSA - 55
JAMIE WA - 55
MEL - 55
ROBIN - 55
VICKI - 55
KIM - 50
ELIZ - 45
JULIE KS - 40
LDB - 40
LISA CO - 40
LIZ NY - 40
SHELLIE - 40
TOBIE - 40
KATIE - 35
JAMIE 23 - 35
JUDITH NY - 30
KELLY MA - 30
DOROTHY - 25
JAIME 26 - 25
KRISTI - 25
MACKENZIE - 25
MELISSA - 25
LAZARUS - 20
NICOLE CA - 20
CAITLIN - 15
JENNI - 15
GREG - 10
MARY - 10
MORGAN - 10
MICHELLE - 5
SHELBY - 5
Slayermel wrote: "Oh, I'm so sad I missed this challenge it looks like so much fun. I will definitely join in if you guys do another one for the summer. :0)What a great idea!" It's never to late to join - any books that you've read from the beginning of March counts
Donna Jo wrote: "This is the first time I've done a Challenge, and I have enjoyed it so much. I'm only sorry I had to read so fast, because of other committments in May.
THE TASKS
Glitter Graphics & Comments
Way to go Donna Jo - and just think finishing early gives you a lot of time to decide what you want your 25-Point task to be for the summer challenge - you can send me a message when you decide
Wendy wrote: "Irish Author
Roddy Doyle
Paddy Clarke HA HA HA (Excellent recommendation from Barbara at Putterham Library)
10 points
I am repeating the Doyle book because my total and yours differ!!
..."This is what I have for you 5.3/5/6/7/8 (25), 10.1/3/4/6/7/9 (60), 15.1/4/7/8/9 (75), 25.1/5/8 (75) = 75+75+25+60 = 235
Hayes wrote: "QUESTION: Hi Cynthia... Would Tuesdays with Morrie count for this task?
2. Read an epistolary novel OR a non-fiction collection of letters/journal etc.
[b:Tuesdays with Morrie An Old Man, a Y..."I don't think that fits I'm afriad
5 POINTS1:Stolen by Kelley Armstrong (4/06/09)
2:84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (3/04/09)
4:From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (3/10/09)
6:The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (4/10/09)
7: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (3/12/09)
8:The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (4/12/09)
10 POINTS
1:Angelas Ashes by Frank McCourt (4/13/09)
3:Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody (3/20/09)
4:A Great and Terribly Beauty by Libba Bray (3/02/09)
6:Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (3/11/09)
7:The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (4/12/09)
10:All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (3/03/09)
15 POINTS
3:The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (4/02/09)
4:Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore (3/30/09)
5:The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald (4/07/09)
6:The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (3/13/09)
8:City Dog by Alison Pace (3/01/09)
9:The Black Dagger Brotherhood an Insider's Guide by J.R. Ward (4/04/09)
25 POINTS
1:The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3/09/09) and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (3/16/09)
2:A Midwifes Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (4/16/09)
4:The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (3/24/09)
5:The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (3/27/09)
8:Holes by Louis Sachar (3/17/09) and Life: An Autobiography as Told by Jack Gunthridge by Jack Gunthridge (3/18/09)
9:I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away by Bill Bryson (4/20/09) He's so funny!
[image error]
Points: 330
# of Tasks Completed: 24/40
# of Books Read: 27
# of Pages Read: 8,280 (+1 audiobook)
-Beth MN
Donna Jo - Congrats on finishing the challenge already! Wow! So, what was your favorite book that you've read for the challenge?
I just finished Uglies for the first YA book for challenge 25.8, I was supposed to read The Hunger Game for the second book, but now I totally have to read Pretties for it,since I need to know what happens to them all.
Jamie wrote: "Donna Jo - Congrats on finishing the challenge already! Wow! So, what was your favorite book that you've read for the challenge?"I Really liked Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and Now the Drums of War. Both of them have a historical basis--the one fiction, the other the letters of the WAlt Whitman family. The one I really hated was Ellen Gaskin's In This OUr Life. It made Grapes of Wrath seem like a comedy.
I am lucky. I read fast and --I just retired last fall, so I have time to read. I am in awe that many of you are juggling school, jobs, and family and still manage to fit so much reading into your lives. If this contest had been twenty years ago, I probably would still be at the 100 point mark.
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: The Great Gatsby and them. (Thanks Angela for a fun task & for posting right after me so I had a fantastic selection of books to choose from!)Tasks Completed: 16/40
Pages Read: 5546
New Total: 295 pts.
Liz (Bklyn)
Awesome job Donna Jo!!!5. March 24 is Harry Houdini’s Birthday – Read a book about magic, a magician etc.
Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray-4/20
New Total 265
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I just finished Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for task for task 5.8. It was as amusing as ever!!New Point Total = 175
Donna Jo, that is AWESOME!So, Cynthia, if you finish the challenge early, and still have time, can you go back and redo challenges and count the points? It just seems to me that there are quite a few people who will finish this challenge this time, and that might be a way to narrow down the 25 pt. challenges... I dunno. Just a though.
But again, CONGRATS Donna Jo!!
Manday wrote: "I just finished Uglies for the first YA book for challenge 25.8, I was supposed to read The Hunger Game for the second book, but now I totally have to read Pretties for it,since I need to know what..."I am really glad that you liked this series. I loved it!
Fianlly finished task 25-3, I looked on Jon's shelf and read 'The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy and 'Brideshead Revisited' by Evelyn Waugh. I have heard wonderful things about both of these books so was excited to read them. Brideshead is also on the 1001 list so I was doubly happy to read it and kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak.
It took me FOREVER to read them because I didn't like them at all. (Sorry Jon-no offense intended). With Brideshead I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, and waiting, and waiting....
And with the God of Small Things, I was confused, it jumps around a lot and I had a hard time keeping stuff straight.
Phew and a happy dance on being done!
So I now have 385 points.
Read Night by Elie Wiesel for the 10.10 task. I found it on Jan's page. Another 10 points makes 70 points total.
Cynthia wrote: "Slayermel wrote: "Oh, I'm so sad I missed this challenge it looks like so much fun. I will definitely join in if you guys do another one for the summer. :0)What a great idea!" It's never to late..."
I also read 5.1 Salmon of Doubt for 5 points
Total 240. (thanks again for all your incredible work, esp. with people like me!!!)
5.2 84, Charing Cross RoadWhat a delightful little book. Thanks to all of you who chose to read it else I wouldn't have known of it.
Well thank you all for your encouragement, I think I will try to complete as many of the spring Challenge tasks as I can. I have tried to fit the books I have read since March into some of the Categories. 5 Points
1. Read a Fantasy Novel
Wicked Lovely By Melissa Marr (Mar 27th)
6. In Honor of womens History Month
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment By Steve Harvey (Apr. 1st)
7. For Arbor Day - Released through Bookcrossing
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (Mar. 5th)
10. April Showers bring May flowers
Halloween Rain By Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (Apr. 19th)
10 Points
6. In Honor Of Earth Day
The War of the Worlds By H.G. Wells (Apr. 16th)
10. Members of the TNBBC have great Taste/5 star rating by Kevin
The Historian By Elizabeth Kostova (Apr. 13th)
15 Points
5. Book written by an author who won a major Literary prize
Life of Pi by Yann Martel(Booker Prize 2002)(Mar. 15th)
6. Book that has been translated from it's original language (Swedish - English)
Pippi Longstocking By Astrid Lindgren (Apr. 11th)
Points:70
# of Tasks Completed: 8/40
# of books read: 8
# of pages read: 2,955
25.939 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss: The Early Days of SNL from Someone Who Was There by Tom Davis
25 points
The most fun to read!!!!
Total 295
Donna Jo wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Donna Jo - Congrats on finishing the challenge already! Wow! So, what was your favorite book that you've read for the challenge?"I Really liked Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and ..."
Congratulations. Hopefully by 5/31 I'll be there!!!
*WHEW* I haven't checked this thread since Friday, so I just read 4 or 5 pages of posts.First, CONGRATS Donna Jo!! I wish I could read as fast as you! But, alas... I'm only about halfway done! :)
Second, I finished another task:
Task 5.7 - Audiobook: Artemis Fowl 6: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer (4/20/09)
I FINALLY finished this book. I would have finished it a lot sooner if Nathaniel Parker had been reading it (like he did the first 5 books). He makes it come to life a lot more than this guy did. It was good, though. I love Eoin Colfer's writing!
I also read Kiss the Bride by Patricia Cabot as half of my 50-point task. For the other half, I'm going to read Being Nikki, Meg Cabot's new book that comes out May 5th.
I JUST finished Anne of Green Gables (about 30 seconds ago), but I still need to eat 2 green foods.... *starts planning* I have lettuce.... errrr... I might have to get creative! ;)
CURRENT STATS
Tasks Completed: 20/40
Books Read: 26/47
Pages Read: 6901
Points Earned: 270
I was wondering Cynthia, is there going to be a summer reading challenge this year? I'm having SO much fun with this one (getting three times as much reading done as I usually do!) I want to do it again this summer! :-) Do we make suggestions for the tasks, or how does that work?
I finish challenge 15.3 over the weekend--EMILY DICKINSON:A BIOGRAPHY by Connie Ann Kirk. It was a good introduction to the life of the poet, not quite a scholarly study, but covered all the important points of her life. It did make me want to reread some of her poems.
This brings my total to: 165. I really needto get going, I feel inadequate compared to some on the list ;-).
Hayes 155 + 15 = 170
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.
Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom interview
http://www.anythingispossible.biz/sho...
Sounds like the kind of person you'd like to be sitting next to at a dinner party.
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.
Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom interview
http://www.anythingispossible.biz/sho...
Sounds like the kind of person you'd like to be sitting next to at a dinner party.
I have read The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and also Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger for 25 points. 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
4. Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones (Born 23rd March)
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. ?
4. Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
5. The Face by Dean Koontz (Horror)
6. ?
7. ?
8. Eragon by Christopher Paolini and Artemis Fowl and the Time Deception by Eoin Colfer
50 POINTS
1. Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates and Take Me Take Me With You by Lauren Kelly
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Yay, I finished a 15 point multi-book task! I read books 3, 4 and 5 of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire books - Club Dead, Dead to the World and Dead as a Doornail. I'm really enjoying this series and have the next to lined up ... [image error]
Total points: 250
HiJust finished another task:
15 Points
6. 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.).
I read a translation of a 1960s French novel called 'Trap for Cinderella', by Sébastian Japrisot.
I thought it was going to be a straightforward, easy read... Japrisot writes with a deceptively easy style (like Camus or Graham Greene).
Then half way through, the plot had become so complex I started thinking, how on earth have I ended up embroiled in this...! It was meant to be a easy read! The novel was a clever mix of postmodern with the thriller/crime genre. There was also an intriguing study of female relationships/identity issues running through this, which I'm not sure was part of the plot or a subplot. Certainly the most 'literary' thriller I have read.
Ashley wrote: "Donna Jo, that is AWESOME!So, Cynthia, if you finish the challenge early, and still have time, can you go back and redo challenges and count the points? It just seems to me that there are quite..."
Ashley, if I'm not mistaken I believe the winners are determined by who finishes first? Maybe I'm wrong about that, but that was the impression I got. So the first few winners, and then the first newbie, most improved, whatever those were, though since Donna Jo I believe said she's new it would go down to the next newbie who isn't in the overall top list.
Judith wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Donna Jo, that is AWESOME!So, Cynthia, if you finish the challenge early, and still have time, can you go back and redo challenges and count the points? It just seems to me that th..."
I thought that the winners were just anyone who finished the challenge... That was my understanding, though I could be wrong!
The winners are the top three point earners OR anyone who finishes the challenge, which is why there are so many 25-pointers this time around as opposed to the winter challenge (which only had 3 25-pointers)--so many people finished the winter challenge!Most improved and best newbie was a recommendation made in this thread and Cynthia liked it so those people will get to choose a task too. If a newbie also finishes the challenge, the best newbie award would go to the next person in line (who didn't finish).
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "5.2 84, Charing Cross RoadWhat a delightful little book. Thanks to all of you who c..."
Elizabeth - I believe this was made into a movie starring Anthony Hopkins who I think is just delicious !!
That is cool. Will most improved and best newbie have seperate points amount? Like 20 instead of 25?
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "5.2 84, Charing Cross Road
What a delightful little book. Thanks to all of you who c..."
Isn't it great!! I might have to read it again!!
What a delightful little book. Thanks to all of you who c..."
Isn't it great!! I might have to read it again!!
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...
1. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
2. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
7. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
8. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
10 Points
4. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
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
8. The Know-It-All One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs
25 Points
8. Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray/Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
9. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
(I'm only posting what I've already finished)
New Points Total: 145
***Also, I'm wondering if I can move The Queen of Attolia to the five-point task #6????