The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009

Five Point Tasks
2 Letters: Paper Darts by Virginia Woolf
3. Spring Cleaning: Girl with a Pearl Earring
6. Women's History: Smart Blonde
10 Point Tasks
2. Mexican Theme: The Crystal Frontier
3. ANZAC Day: Rabbit Proof Fence
4. Author B'Day Heat and Dust or prodigal summer
5. Book with Magic: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
7. Mother's Day: Moominvalley in November
8. Armed Forces Day: The Ghost Road
10. Five Stars: The Picture of Dorian Gray(Brandon)
15 Points
3. TNBBC Group Read:Extremely Loud or Jane Eyre
4. Spring Visit: Possession A Romance
5. Award Winning Author: Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally (won Miles Franklin Award for Australian Literature in 1968)
6. Translated Book: The Shadow of the Wind
7. Rhyming Books: The Remains of the Day / The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
8. Get to Know the Author: Colonyread online interviews
9. Book with Colour Title: A Patch of Blue
10. 3-4-5: The Horse and His Boy,Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
25 Points
1. G/R The Gathering/The Road Home
3. Jamie's Shelves: Interpreter of Maladies and
5. Off Genre - True Crime Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
7. Book referenced in movie Mrs. Dalloway (ref The Hours)
9. Saras Crazy Title : The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories, Robert Louis Stevenson
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I know, right? For some reason my boss doesn't let me sit in my cubicle and read a book! What's up with that?? I beat the system, though, by listening to audiobooks while working... Muahahaha....

I know, right? For some reason my boss doesn't let me sit in my cubicle and read a book! ..."
Sara, I've started doing the same thing with audiobooks, and I'm amazed at how quickly my work day flies by. I get a good one going, and I can block out everything else. This from a girl who thought I'd NEVER be interested in audiobooks!
Congrats, Donna Jo!!

5.1 Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
5.5 As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers
5.6 The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
5.8 A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
10.3 Aussie Rules by Jill Shalvis
10.7 Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss
10.8 Dear Enemy by Jack Cavanaugh
10.10 The Shack by William P. Young
15.3 The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
25.5 The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
25.8 Enna Burning by Shannon Hale AND The China Garden by Liz Berry
Total: 125
Good luck to everyone and thanks for this fun distraction.

I wanted to read Esperanza Rising, but it was checked out - If it's as good as this one, I'll have to add it to my TBR list!

10 points
9. I Capture the Castle
15 points
7. Jane Eyre and Where There's a Will
"Eyre" rhymes with "Where", doesn't it?
New total: 290 points

Isn't it great!! I might have to read it again!!
"
Me, too! I might smile reading, rarely laugh out loud, but this one was both funny and endearing. I gasped at the end, loud enough my husband asked "what?" How can you get so involved in 96 pages?

2. Epistolary novel --- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
25 POINTS
1. KAREN’S TASK –
- A book which title starts with the letter G AND --- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- A book which title starts with the letter R --- River Rising by Athol Dickson
Total Points: 395
Tasks Completed: 30

DONNA JO - 575
***************
SANDY - 465
BRIDGIT - 435
BJ ROSE - 425
KRISTEN IL - 420
MEGHAN - 420
RORA - 405
LIZZI - 400
TINA - 395
LEORA - 385
SHARON - 385
KRISTENR - 375
BEV - 365
BONNIE - 365
KRISTINA GA - 340
JOSIE - 335
BETH MN - 330
RORY - 330
ASHLEY ID - 310
KRITIKA - 305
ALICE - 300
CATHEROO - 295
LIZ BRKLYN - 295
LOUISE - 295
WENDY - 295
PERS - 290
REBECCA J - 285
EVA - 280
MAGGIE - 275
AMY - 270
CAIT - 270
RHIANNON - 270
SARANICOLE - 270
ANGELA IL - 265
APRIL NY - 265
ANGIE - 255
COURTNEY - 255
LAURA NY - 255
LINDSEY - 255
MARY BETH - 255
EL - 250
NICOLE NC - 250
SUZIER - 250
SUSAN - 235
JUDITH IA - 225
FIONA (TITCH)- 215
LORI TX - 215
ELIZABETH NC - 205
CYNTHIA (SCM) - 200
SANDIE - 200
STEPH - 200
BECKY - 195
JON - 195
LYNLEE4 - 195
ASHLEY AL - 190
JAMIE MN - 190
FALLON - 185
KATE - 180
STEPHANIE CA - 180
ALISHA - 175
MALIADES - 175
JOY - 175
MANDAY - 175
HAYES - 170
SERA - 170
VICTORIA - 170
ROSEANN - 165
LIZ VEGAS - 160
WV HEATHER - 160
CAROL - 155
JESSICA IL - 155
ELIZABETH (ALASKA) - 150
JENNIFER IN - 150
JOANNA - 150
LILY - 150
ROS - 150
CYNDEE - 145
MEGAN - 145
DAVID - 140
KRISTINA UK - 140
TRYPHENA - 140
JEN B - 135
KAREN - 135
LACY - 135
HEATHER KS - 130
JEGKA - 130
TRACY - 130
ANN FROM SC - 125
JILLIAN - 125
RYAN - 125
CASSIE - 120
NATALIA - 120
JOANIE - 115
KATHRYN - 115
POTJY - 115
RENFREW - 115
SUSANNA UK - 115
CATHERINE - 105
ABBIE - 100
CYNTHIA - 100
JULIE (ID)'S - 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
JULIE TN - 70
MELODY - 70
RACHEL - 70
SLAIMI - 70
JOANN - 65
SHANNON - 65
JEN MD - 60
JESSICA MI - 60
KELLY - 60
MADELINE - 60
ALLISON MO - 55
ALYSSA - 55
JAMIE WA - 55
MEL - 55
ROBIN - 55
SLAYERMEL - 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

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..."No that's not currently in the plans - but the challenge for me is a constantly evolving thing - each challenge it gets bigger and things get added any maybe down the line I will consider something like that


I thought I was the only one feeling this way... I keep trying to read, but I find I'm just not terribly interested. And I don't think it's the books.... I don't know. It's weird. But I'm trying!


..."
What an interesting idea! The 50-point is sort of like extra credit. Without having to come up with a gazillion new ideas, we might tack on some tasks from prior challenges for extra credit, only for those who actually finish the current challenge. (This is unlikely to ever be me . . .)

The economies of book club challenges. I sense an upcoming paper... lol
Thanks for organizing this Cynthia, its great :)

-The top 3 Point Earners overall get to select a 25 pointer for the next challenge.
-If 4 to 10 people finish the entire challenge therefor earning the maximum points each of them get to select a 25 pointer - i.e. from the winter challenge 9 people finished and so for this challenge we had 9 25 point tasks.
-If more than 10 people finish challenge - then the people who finished first their tasks will be worth 30 instead of 25 - i.e. if 13 people finish the challenge then the first 3 people who finished will have 30 pointers and the rest will be worth 25.
-The most improved & best newbie are not based on points but percentage of tasks completed - people who get to select 25 pointers are not eligible for these two awards so the next person on the list will be chosen if they fit the category - if there is a tie for either award points earned will break the tie - these 2 will select a 20 point task.
Hopefully that clears it all up

Here's the point update:
5 Point task #9 (Spring Animal) The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - a re-read - LOVE this book, haven't seen the movie - kind of putting that off...
5 Point task #6 (Women's History) - Paula Deen It Ain't All About the Cookin' - This was great - I didn't know much about her, haven't watched her show, but she's pretty impressive. And it made me want to cook for my family, which is always a good thing!
5 Point task #1 (Sci Fi/Fantasy) - Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris - How fun! Southern Vampires- What's not to like?
10 Point task #7 (Recommended by Mom) Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich - hmmm - maybe it's me, but this was not my favorite. I thought it was a little silly. I have liked the others I have read, though...
15 Point task #10 (3,4, & 5 in a series) Club Dead, Dead to the World, & Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris. Love them!
Total Points these tasks: 40
Total Points to date: 365

I love it! That sounds awesome! I am really looking forward to the summer challenge!

1. Read a Science Fiction OR Fantasy Novel.
A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter J. Miller, Jr.
TOTAL POINTS: 250.

25.5 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.
I read Redwall by Brian Jacques - this was YA, and anthropomorphic, something that doesn't usually appeal to me. That being said it was a well written story and was easy to read.

That brings my total to 295 points.

What a delightful little book. Thanks to all of you who c..."
Oh Elizabeth, please watch the movie too! Anne Bancroft plays Helen Hanff and it's absolutely delightful! Brancroft is wonderful and as Amy said Anthony Hopkins is delicious.

I've been a librarian most of my life and I always laughted when people would say "I'd love to have your job so I could sit and read all day". Didn't I wish!

I know, right? For some reason my boss doesn't let me sit in my cubicle and read a book! ..."
Don't think this would be quite as effective in my classroom :) but then again, maybe there would be days it would be good. I wouldn't be as frustrated at the end of the day!

I can't do it justice in describing how they achieved an effective format, but some of the letters are read as a voiceover while Hanff and Doel go about their business. There is plenty of dialogue between characters in the movie too.

OH Crap!!! LOL I some how missed the year part LOL...thanks for catching that Cynthia. I'll read more carefully. :0) (Ya, No where near 7 years anymore...LOL)
5 Points
1.
2. Journals By Curt Cobain
3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad By Robert Kiyosaki
4. Transportation:?
5. Sacrifice:?
6.
7.
8. I Am America And So Can You! By Stephen Colbert
9. The Crow Shattered Lives & Broken Dreams By James O'Barr
10.
10 Points
1. St.Patricks Day:?
2. Cinco DeMayo:?
3. Anzac Day:?
4. (May 22, 1859) The Lost World By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
5. Magic or magician?
6.
7. Mothers Day:?
8. Memorial Day:?
9. To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee (1977=#19)
10. (Kevin):
15 Points
1. In the Stars-Libra:?
2. Poetry month:?
3. Dracula By Bram Stoker
4. Spring Break:?
5. Literary prize:?
6. (Swedish-English):
7. (Life & Wife)
8.
9. Black House By Stephen King
10. 3rd,4th & 5th:?
25 Points
1. Ghost Stories of Ontario By John Colombo & Redemption By Mel Odom
2. El's Task:?
3. (Rory)The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde & The Red Tent By Anita Diamant
4. Bridget Jones's Diary By Helen Fielding
5.(Biography):I, Tina By Tina Turner with Kurt Loder
6. Mary Queen of Scots By Antonia Fraser
7. Darla's Task:?
8.
9.Sara's Task:
50 Points
Sandy's Task:?
Points:80
# of Tasks Completed: 8/40
# of books read: 11
# of pages read: 3,449

I think people don't realize all that librarians do. I'm probably one of the few lucky librarians that does get to read at her job, but that's not all day.. if I'm lucky, two hours. Of course there's days where I barely have time to reshelve a book recently returned much the less read. I love working at a middle school library.

Author born in March, April, or May:
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (10 points)
Book translated from original language:
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (15 points)
Book of poetry:
The Collected Works of Emily Dickinson (15 points)
and for the 50 point task, I read
House of Many Shadows (Barbara Michaels)
and
The Camelot Caper (Elizabeth Peters)
bringing my total to 490 points.

I've been at my sewing machine for hours and hours over the past couple of weeks, so I decided to listen to audiobooks to keep my mind occupied.
Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb
Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts (I think I made a mistake listening to this book....the narrator was kind of over the top and it was almost 12 hours long...if I continue with the next book in the trilogy I will definitely be reading it)
total points: 425

I've been at my sewing machine for hours and hours over the past couple of weeks, so I decided to listen to audiobooks to keep my mind occupied.
Vengeance in D..."
Kristen - Are you a quilter? A

yes, I am a quilter, but that's not what I'm working on at the moment. My daughters take dance classes, and I do all the alterations for the recital costumes. Out of 125 costumes, I'm down to the last 14 that I hope to finish tomorrow (I need to reclaim my dining room!)

yes, I am a quilter, but that's not what I'm working on at the moment. My daughters take dance classes, and I do all the alterations for the recital costumes. Out of 125 costumes, I'm dow..."
Oh my word - I sooo know what you are going through - we have three daughters, two of whom danced for a combined 31 years - thatsalotta sewing !! and rhinestoning and alteration-ing...


9. Read a book with a color in the title AND eat a meal that includes at least 2 foods that are that color (you don’t have to cook it yourself). Yellow Jack A Novel/banana for breakfast & cheese with dinner.
Total=210


What a delightful little book...."
I LOVE this book and movie. I would have some close relationships with some used book sellers in my area (not that close ;0) but it would be wonderful to be able to build the kind of bond Helene and Frank do.

What a deli..."
I am going to read this book for the Goodreads Top 100 list challenge. The edition I have has 112 pages. It is number 98 and I was born in 1988. After hearing so many good reviews, I am excited to read it, as soon as it comes in the mail from betterworldbooks.com!!!


That is what this site does to you... you go along, happily thinking that you know the books that you need and whatnot, and then, wham, you find out that you don't know them and you certainly don't have them and now, you must obtain them... the worst part is, they're right about the books... the bank account doesn't appreciate TNBBC the way the mind does!


Ain't that the truth! However, with the suggestions for paperbackswap.com and betterworldbooks.com there is some help. Then, too, what contributes to the problem, can also provide the same relief. A few friends with the same reading tastes, and voila! your own private swap group.

Ain't that the truth! However, with the suggestions for paperbackswap.com and betterworldbooks.com there is..."
I don't like mailing things, however, I have just recently discovered the wonders on betterworldbooks.com and it is amazing. In the last week, I have bought 10 books from there... it is great because they have ones that books stores don't necessarily have. Like older ones that have to be specially ordered online anyway... I bought one of my favorite books from Middle School there the other day and plan on reading it for tis challenge! I am so excited!!!

25 Point
1. The Godmakers – Don Pendelton / The Rainbow – DH Lawrence
2. An Introduction to Kierkgaard – Peter Vardy/ or about Fyodor Dostoevesky
3. The Kite Runner – Khalid Husseini
4. Of Mice and Men – John Steinback
5. Embracing the Wide Sky – Daniel Hammet (read 2/23 – 25 points)
6.
7. The Once and Future King – T.H. White (X-Men)
8. Uglies – Scott Westerfeld / Graceling – Kristin Cashore (4/9 - 25 points)
9. The Secret Currency of Love; the Unabashed Truth about Women, Money, and Relationships – ed. Hilary Black
15 Point
1. O Pioneers – Willa Cather (Taurus – this may not work its kinda western ish??)
2. 10 Poems That Set You Free – Roger Housden
3. The Road – Cormac McCarthy or A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libby Bray
4.
5. A Swiftly Tilting Planet - Madeleine L’engle
6. Sophie’s World – Jostein Gaarder
7.
8. The Hunger Games _ Suzanne Collins
9. Black Swan Green – David Mitchell
10.
10 Point
1. Angelas Ashes – Frank McCourt
2. Like Water for Chocolate – Laura Esquivel
3. Down Under – Bill Bryson
4. Good in Bed – Jennifer Weiner
5. The Crystal Cave – Mary Stewart
6. Earth Abides – George R. Stewart
7. The Confident Woman – Majorie Hansen Shaevitz
8. One of Ours – Willa Cather
9. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee or The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
10. Water For Elephants – Sara Gruen
5 Point
1. The Gargoyle – Andrew Davidson (3/27 - 5 points)
2. Selected Poems and Letters of Emily Dickinsen – ed. Robert Linscott
3. Brisingr – Christopher Paolini
4.
5. Sacrifice – S. J. Bolton (4/19 - 5 points)
6. My Story; Marilyn Monroe – with Ben Hecht (read 2/21 – 5 points)
7. Steering by Starlight - Martha Beck (audiobook)
8. Born Standing Up – Steve Martin (4/3 - 5 points)
9. The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd
10. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahme
Total points for Goal – 450
4/21 - Total points to date - 70
Mini reviews to come :)


5 points- Read a biography of a woman you admire
Enchantment The Life of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto
new total: 60 :)

5 points- Read a biography of a woman you admire
[b:Enchantment The Life of Audrey Hepburn|13121|Enchantment ..."
Lucky... we go on until half-way through May... I can't wait for the Summer Challenge, if only for the reason that i will have a lot more time available to read the books... Though I have done a lot more this time then the Winter Challenge... I have almost tripled my score! good luck sticking it out another two weeks! You can do it!!!
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...
I've finished a few more tasks:
10.7 - The Carousel by Richard Paul Evans. My mom gave this book to me....not really my cup of tea.
10.9 - The Secret History by Donna Tartt
25.3 - The Pact by Jodi Picoult and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (I had a bout of insomnia last night and I read this last book in the wee hours of the morn....I'm probably going to need a nap today)
Total points: 375