January 2013 Challenge - Let me tell you a story...

[Cathie]

Is there a minimum page length requirement...that is if I ever find a book, lol?

[AmyK]

I could have sworn there was a page requirement but I don't see it now so I probably have my challenges mixed up. I'm thinking that if Shanna's book counts, then there isn't one. Rusalka?

[Cathie]

I'm reading a book right now called Genesis I think is qualifies; it is 180 pages ~ is that ok?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

No limit. So if you are like me and have all these 170-190pp books you can't read for the alphabet, use them here.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Page limit Cathie is fine, but I'm sorry, again I don't think it counts (takes the ideas of Socrates and applies them to a dystopian future. Not a old fairy tale/myth/legend retold).

By retold I mean it tells the same story albeit with small changes. Not new stories, just new ways of getting to the ending.

Not explaining well at all. Example would be American Gods. Although it has characters in the story from old myths and legends (eg. Anansi, Horus, the Zoyra, Czernobog, Norse gods, etc) it is a completely new, invented story by Neil Gaiman, so it wouldn't count for this challenge. Does that sort of make sense? Have a look through the the ones I have said are okay above if you are still confused.

I have added it to my TBR though and really want to read it!

[Kat]

Everyone in my family is OK, no one has lost anything, so that's an added bonus! My family all live in the city (Hobart), so for them it's not so dangerous, but I also have a lot of friends in the volunteer firefighter brigades that are out there working hard. Facebook is keeping me up-to-date on the latest developments!

My boyfriend was pretty shocked by the whole thing - some of the areas worst affected were places we visited three years ago, and being English he's never experienced a bushfire, so seeing the pictures on the news was quite sad for him.

Part of me is now very glad I didn't go home for Christmas/New Years, 43 degrees in Hobart was the hottest for 90 years, along with all the smoke and haze it wouldn't have been very relaxing!

I remember seeing the fires in Canberra, Rusalka - we were all glued to the TV in horror.

[Debra]

I'm so sorry to hear about the bush fires. Very sad.

[jaxnsmom]

I'm sorry too. All that devastation! I hope everyone ya'll know stays safe.

[Cherie]

Ruskala, I have a question regarding the points for Theme. What does Physical Transformation apply to? Do you mean that the character or someone have to go through one in the course of the book? I was thinking that my book would apply, but then I was not sure. is a retelling of the Cinderella story. This Cinderella is a cyborg. There is a kind of transformation, but it is more a "revealing". Hard to say without giving it all away.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

So glad to hear Kat. We were down there about 3 years ago to. It's weird when you know what the places looked like beforehand. When we were in Hobart at Chrissy it was struggling to hit 20 degrees. 43 is beyond imagination!

SO far we're all good around here. Although they were reporting that around 180 000 hectares of farmland had been burnt around the Canberra region. Only a few houses gone, but unfortunately a lot of stock :(

Ah well, only another 6-8 weeks of it to go. Urgh!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "Ruskala, I have a question regarding the points for Theme. What does Physical Transformation apply to? Do you mean that the character or someone have to go through one in the course of the book? ..."

When I wrote it, I was thinking along the lines of the Frog Prince transforming from human to frog to human, or the Beast becoming human again, or even the Queen in Snow White becoming an old hag.

However, as I have left it short and therefore open to questioning, if you can argue it enough... ;)

[Naomi]

Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses

I came across this book and am wondering if it qualifies?

[Cherie]

Rusalka wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Ruskala, I have a question regarding the points for Theme. What does Physical Transformation apply to? Do you mean that the character or someone have to go through one in the cours..."

I agree with your definition, Rusalka. Thanks!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Naomi wrote: "Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses

I came across this book and am wondering if it qualifies?"

Ooo that looks very intriguing. I would say so from the few reviews of it.

[Ava Catherine]

Rusalka wrote: "So glad to hear Kat. We were down there about 3 years ago to. It's weird when you know what the places looked like beforehand. When we were in Hobart at Chrissy it was struggling to hit 20 degrees...."

Rusalka & Kat, I am so thankful you and your families have been spared in this devastation. It must be absolutely horrifying to watch the fires race across the land. I hope your friends will be ok as well.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Thanks Connie :)

[Lori]

Rusalka,
How about The Snow Child? It's a retelling of a Russian fairytale.
Thanks!
Lori

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Read a review about that one the other day. How handy! Definitely okay :)

[Emily]

I read The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley

Theme
1 - Love

Origin
2 - English

Title
0

Cover
2 - Has a weapon

5 measly total points

[jaxnsmom]

I was going to read that if I had time. I fidured it would go well with Scarlet. What did you think of it Emily?

[Emily]

jaxnsmom wrote: "I was going to read that if I had time. I fidured it would go well with Scarlet. What did you think of it Emily?"

I gave it a low 3-stars. The beginning felt a bit slow to me, but I liked it overall. However, it's probably one of my least favorite reads from Robin McKinley. I'm curious to see what others think of it.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Ah well Emily. Sometimes you get a surprisingly high scoring book, and sometimes not. Hopefully you enjoyed it enough and cleared it off a to be read list :)

I'm going to scoot your post over to the Reporting thread to make it easier for me in a couple of weeks.