Mishmash Challenge 2013 (Suggestions/Questions)

[Carolien]

Thanks, I have some others so will use them.

[Lu]

So glad :D

[Jennifer]

Question on 25 (Read a book (not an autobiography) by an author that is known from something else. E.g. Because he/she is/was an actor, singer, politician, athlete etc):

Would Patricia Glyn count? She was a houselhold name as a radio personality and has since moved into being an eco-adventurer (who then writes books on her adventures)

[Barbara]

Yes, as long as the books aren't autobiographies than it is exactly what is intended.

[Lauren]

25. Read a book (not an autobiography) by an author that is known from something else. E.g. Because he/she is/was an actor, singer, politician, athlete etc.

If you're willing to wait until the last minute to finish this task, actor Michael Boatman (who you might remember from Spin City) has written a novel called Last God Standing, to be published by Angry Robot on 29 April 2014.

Blurb:
When God decides to quit and join the human race to see what all the fuss is about, all Hell breaks loose.
Sensing his abdication, the other defunct gods of Earth’s vanquished pantheons want a piece of the action He abandoned.
Meanwhile, the newly-humanised deity must discover the whereabouts and intentions of the similarly reincarnated Lucifer, and block the ascension of a murderous new God.
How is he ever going to make it as a stand-up comedian with all of this going on…?

http://angryrobotbooks.com/books/last...

[Barbara]

Ooh sounds interesting! I already read my book for that task, but I am sure I will be able to fit it in someother challenge.

[Lauren]

It does sound like fun :) I think I'll request it when Angry Robot makes the ARC available.

I just found another book, and this one's being published next month: Terra by Mitch Benn. Benn is a comedian and musician who regularly performs on BBC Radio.
You can find a proper blurb and cover image at Orbit: http://www.hachette.co.uk/Books/detai...

[Lu]

There is also

[Barbara]

Task 1 about the Asian mythology. We can read a non-fiction book; that would mean a book with actual myths or something like that?

[Lauren]

Barbara wrote: "Task 1 about the Asian mythology. We can read a non-fiction book; that would mean a book with actual myths or something like that?"

Yes :) Or something like literary criticism that discusses the myths, Asian myths in pop culture, that sort of thing

[Barbara]

Ok thanks. I was planning on reading fiction but the book I ordered hasn't arrived yet so I am looking for other options.

[Lu]

For this one:

28. Read a book with a title that is at least 8 words long. Note: subtitles are not included in the word count.

Why the West Rules—for Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future

Would that count?

[Lauren]

No, sorry :( The words after the colon are a subtitle.

[Lu]

I thought so. Thank you :)

[Lauren]

Is this blue enough for the blue cover task? Or is there too much red?

[Lu]

As always I refer to Mark for color questions, he says nope. So blame him :P

What does anyone else think?

[Barbara]

It may be a little late to voice my opinion, but I would say no too.

[Lauren]

I'd forgotten about this! But thanks :) I used the book I originally had for that task.

[Lauren]

Can I use The Never List by Koethi Zan for task 20, or is "List" not enough of a collection?

[Lu]

I say go for it :)

[Lauren]

Cool, thanks!

[Barbara]

Wasn't that your own nomination? Shouldn't you then know what you meant? :)

[Lauren]

No, it was Lu's, I think :)

[Lu]

Yip was mine :)

[Barbara]

Sorry I forgot. Somehow it seemed like a Lauren nomination to me.

[Carolien]

While we're on this topic, can I use The End of Your Life Book Club for that task?

[Barbara]

How would that book fit?

[Lu]

Carolien wrote: "While we're on this topic, can I use The End of Your Life Book Club for that task?"

Yip the task mentions the word book counts :)

[Carolien]

Thanks - another one found. For some reason I cannot find anything with a direction in the title - up down, etc. That remains a mystery to be solved...

[Lindy]

Booker T Washington wrote Up from Slavery
Leonard Elmore wrote Up in HOney's Room
Tami Hoag Down the Darkest Road
I do remember down the hole and down the rabbit hole
Down to the Sea in Ships
Linda HOward Up clos and Dangerous

Try you library, mine has close to 100

[Carolien]

Thanks, something will turn up and I'm tempted to read Elmore Leonard at the moment.

[Lauren]

Can Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch work for task 19 (sense of direction in the title)?

[Lu]

I think so? I used Across and that was fine.

[Lauren]

Cool, thanks!

[Lauren]

Can I use Margaret Atwood for task 25? Read a book (not an autobiography) by an author who is known from something else. Atwood is also an environmental activist.

[Barbara]

Lauren wrote: "Can I use Margaret Atwood for task 25? Read a book (not an autobiography) by an author who is known from something else. Atwood is also an environmental activist."

Is that an interest she has or is she actively campaigning for stuff? If the latter you can definitely use her.

[Lauren]

Actively campaigning, I think. She's described as an environmental activist on Wikipedia, she and her husband are members of Canada's Green Party and presidents of a Rare Bird Society within Birdlife International, and environmental issues often come up in her books. The trilogy I'm reading now is a kind of eco-sci fi. Is that ok?

[Barbara]

If you think she is enough of an activist that she counts I am ok with it. I am not familiar with her or her books or her activism.

[Lauren]

Cool, thanks, I'm going to use it then :) My main concern was that it's not another career or paying job, like singer, actor, etc.

[Barbara]

Some jobs don't get paid but that doesn't mean they aren't worth doing. It's just so important that no one has been able to figure out what we should be paying them.

[Lauren]

Does this count as a uniform?


I know it doesn't look like one, but the girl on the cover works at an amusement park and is one of the "Hollywood Girls" who wear these short green dresses and go around the park taking pictures of people.

[Lu]

I would say yes.

[Lauren]

Thanks!

[Lauren]

11. Read a book that is a rewrite of (e.g. from another perspective) or sequel to another book/series that is not written by the same author as the original.

Any recommendations? Except for those classics with monsters like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Also not keen on the 6th Hitchhiker's book.

[Lu]

James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing? :)

[Lauren]

Ummm... thanks but no.

[Lu]

Maybe this article mentions something?
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009...

[Carolien]

The Phantom of Manhattan .

Not sure how you are on Rebecca. There are two options. Mrs De Winter or Rebecca's Tale.

You can probably get away with one of the early Pratchetts like Wyrd Sisters or Lords and Ladies. They're Shakespeare reworked.

Joan Aiken did a bunch of Jane Austen rewrites.

Jeeves and the Wedding Bells will also count.

[Lu]

I like the Pratchett options! :)

[Lauren]

Thanks guys!

Ooh, I didn't think of the Pratchett/Shakespeare options. Plays count as books right?