SUMMER 2009 TASK SUGGESTIONS

[Ashley]

These all sound great. I may have to join this one.

[Morgan P]

Since a lot of people go on vacations over the summer, read a book about somewhere you plan, or want to go.

[Kristen]

Also, there are a lot of summer weddings. Read a book involving a wedding or has the word "wed", "wedding", "bride", or "groom" in the title.

[Beth F]

I like all the wedding suggestions. My first anniversary will be 7/26/09. :)

[Wendy]

Summer Peace Accord- Read a book with a positive Muslim, Islamic, Arabic protagonist and read a book with a positive Jewish/Israeli/ Zionist character

[Avory]

Haha, if that one is on the challenge I'm definitely going to try to find some sort of marriage criticism book ;-) (No offense to married folks - it's just not for everyone.)

[Angela]

I am married and sometimes I do feel that it is not for everyone...lol!!

[Lisa Julianna]

LOL me too and I have been married for 21 years...hehe!!

[Joanie]

I'm impressed with the research you all have done for your tasks!

I have done no research whatsoever so I have no idea if there is a tie-in here or not but what about reading a graphic novel. I can't remember if we've done that in other challenges or not.

-This may be redundant but what about in honor of the the dog days of Summer, read a book about a dog or where a dog figures prominently into the story.

-Read a trashy "beach read", reading at least some if it at a beach, pool, lake etc.

[Lori]

Joanie wrote: "I'm impressed with the research you all have done for your tasks!

I have done no research whatsoever so I have no idea if there is a tie-in here or not but what about reading a graphic novel. ..."

Would the bathtub work????

[Lori]

School gets out in June and everyone is taking final exams and such...how about a task with final, last, end, etc. in the title...or two.

[Avory]

Or not even a bathttub - one way to do that without making those of us in, you know, Iowa, go to the beach is to just require that some of the book be read out of doors. I'd be happy to plop down on a blanket on my lawn with a picnic lunch. Sounds like fun, actually!

[Petra]

Judith wrote: "Or not even a bathttub - one way to do that without making those of us in, you know, Iowa, go to the beach is to just require that some of the book be read out of doors. I'd be happy to plop down ..."

Judith, I'm with you. I'd be happy in the yard with a picnic basket. What a lovely thought!

[Beth F]

Judith wrote: "Haha, if that one is on the challenge I'm definitely going to try to find some sort of marriage criticism book ;-) (No offense to married folks - it's just not for everyone.)"

Agreed!

[Sarah D]

Judith wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Read a book that a character from your favorite show has written."

Wait a minute, how does that work? Must be a very specific show you're thinking of, haha."

Well...I thought about it when I put the book by Michael J. Fox on hold and then saw his new show previews.

[Avory]

Ohhhh you mean an actor from your favorite show :-D I was confused how a character could write a book, but an actor makes sense.

[Sarah D]

Yeah, sorry. I often confuse myself!

[Charity]

Judith wrote: "Ohhhh you mean an actor from your favorite show :-D I was confused how a character could write a book, but an actor makes sense."

Yeah, I was confused as well. Maybe if your favorite show was "John Adams" or something...

Thanks for clearing things up, Sarah. :-)

[Lori]

Read a book about astronomy or with words like star, planet, constellation, comet, galaxy, eclipse, moon, satellite, etc. in the title.

Since Summertime is all about sports and activities and being healthy we should read a book about anatomy or with words like bone, muscle, ligament, skeleton, tendon, heart, etc., or specific bones and joints like ankle, knee or elbow in the title.

Read a book about justice or injustice or with words in the title like guilty, proven, innocent, lawyer, judge, justice, witness, defense, attorney, prosecute(r), etc.

I also like the idea of reading a book about a cold place or with cold words in the title like ice, snow, sleet, freeze, frozen, icicle, etc.

[Maggie]

Has anyone suggested a christmas in july task? That could be fun...

[Lori]

Maggie wrote: "Has anyone suggested a christmas in july task? That could be fun..."

I like that idea.

[Jessica]

Maybe it's just because I'm encountering a lot of them lately, but I've been thinking about an "homage" task - read a book by a modern author that reinvents a classic work. You could try reworkings of Shakespeare's plays, prequels/sequels, or format twists like graphic novels.

[Joy Marie]

Another idea...

The anti June Wedding Task....Read a book about a break-up, separation, or divorce.

Summer is the time for all types of festivals (or at least it is here in Texas) Read a book that involves a yearly festival or state fair or a book that has the word festival, jamboree, fair, or jubilee in the title.

[Lori]

Joy wrote: "Another idea...

The anti June Wedding Task....Read a book about a break-up, separation, or divorce.

Summer is the time for all types of festivals (or at least it is here in Texas) Read a boo..."

I like both of those suggestions.

[Alice]

Second Chances - Read a book by an author you have read before but not liked! (doesn't have to be the same book just a book written by that author)

[Lori]

Read a book about the five senses...touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight or with those words in the title or words pertaining to the five senses...like see, blind, noise, scent, reek, sour, salty, sweet, rough, smooth, etc.

And one about the sixth sense...or with words like omen, esp, psychic, seer, soothsayer, fortuneteller, sorcerer, etc. in the title.

Read a book about amnesia or that has memory related words in the title...like memory, remember, forget, forgotten, etc.

Read a book about temptation or with words related to temptation in the title...like tempt, lure, persuade, peer pressure, etc.

And someone suggested reading two books with opposite words in them...like black/white, dark/light, shadow/sun, yes/no, here/there, etc. and I juste wanted to say I thought it was a good idea.

[Angie]

Sarah, I really like your suggestion for reading a book w/the name of the street you live on in the title, but I would change it a bit to add 'or the name of a street you've lived on'. I currently live on Mirike...I don't know that I could find any books w/the word Mirike in the title. On the other hand, I've also lived on Vine and East streets, which would give me a broader selection of books to choose from.

[Sarah D]

Gosh Angie, you really don't think you could find a book with that street name in it???

Lori, I like your five senses idea!

[Petra]

I also like the idea of a book with the name of a street you live or lived on and the five senses idea.
Everyone here is so creative. These ideas are awesome. I'm looking forward to participating in my first Challenge.

[Jen B]

Read 3 books whose titles all share a common word...for example, "The Glass Castle," "I Capture the Castle," "Howl's Moving Castle," etc.

Find a globe or a map. Either spin the globe, or spin around a few times, and then point. Read a book set in/by an author from/about the country you land on

[Slayermel]

Jen B wrote:

Find a globe or a map. Either spin the globe, or spin ar..."

I really like that idea :0)

[Avory]

I agree on the streets idea - it's interesting but it would be nice to be open to any street you've lived on. I've lived on Benton, Brandon, Bishop, and Hilltop (ah, broke the B pattern!) so I'm sure I could fit one of those in but not necessarily the current one (in fact, isn't Honor Moore's book called the Bishop's Daughter?) I'd imagine a lot of others would be in the same situation.

I also like both the ones Jen B suggested. The three books challenge would be really good for us to pick a topic we really like and read three similar books, or for those of you who like reading random books it's also a good challenge. And the globe/map idea sounds like a lot of fun. Kind of like what I was thinking of with "spin around a few times and slap blindly at your bookshelf," haha.

[Elizabeth (NC)]

I just searched my street name (Welkin) and was surprised to see 8 titles pop up, but then I realized they were all from the same series! LOL

[Lori]

Jen B wrote: "Read 3 books whose titles all share a common word...for example, "The Glass Castle," "I Capture the Castle," "Howl's Moving Castle," etc.

Find a globe or a map. Either spin the globe, or spin ar..."

I think I suggested something similiar earlier about books with the same word in the title...and I just want to say again how much I like this idea. :)

[Jen B]

I guess we're on the same wavelength, Lori! That must mean it's just a really good idea :)

[Lori]

Jen B wrote: "I guess we're on the same wavelength, Lori! That must mean it's just a really good idea :)"

Absolutely!!!

[Candy]

Summer is all about vacation or travel. Read a book in the Travelers Tale Guides, Gutsy Women, The Dog World, The Fearless Diner. There are many of them, one of my favorites is "Food, the Road Within".
These are excellent publications from Travelers Tales Guides. Enjoy!!

[Jess]

Thinking about vacations: Read a book about an island or someplace exotic

About new experiences: Pick a cook book, pick and prepare a recipe from a place mention on your favorite book.

[Sarah D]

Read a book by an author that shares the same birth date or birth year as you.

[Sarah D]

Read a book with a summery drink in the title.

[Madeline]

I don't know if these have been mentioned, I skimmed through the last two pages.

- For Independence day, read a novel that embodies one of the United State's era's and which the author lived through.(Like The Great Gastby for the Roaring 20's)

- Pick a five star book off of one of the TNBBC book club members shelves that have been born in June, July, Or August. (Many have mentioned that they are ^_^)

- June, July, And August are fairly common names. Read a book that is written by or has a main character with one of these names.

[Madeline]

I love the street idea! For the fall with school starting you could do something similar, read a book with the name of one of the schools you've attended in it. (for example mine would be Cottonwood, Colony, Central, West, or Art)

[Morgan P]

Madeline, I love all your ideas! Especially the one about reading a book with the name of a school you have attended. And, the one about reading a book given five stars by a TNBBC member born in June, July or August. I was born in June. :-)

[Avory]

Ooh, that's an interesting idea, Madeline! Or maybe with a word from one of the schools you've attended, since at least where I come from a lot of schools are named after people (my elementary schools were Emma Conn and Effie Green, for example).

[Beth F]

The street idea does sound a lot of fun!

[Madeline]

:) thanks, I also really love the spin the globe idea! Really cool for the top vacation months.

[Madeline]

Since summer is often time associated with young love how about a book written by or with a character who has the same first name as your first kiss, crush or childhood sweetheart.

[Tammy AZ]

How about books by two related (by blood or marriage)authors - i.e. Joe Hill and Stephen King (son & father) or Faye and Jonathan Kellerman (husband/wife). Another suggestion is a book by or about a celebrity with who you share an astrological sign.

[Morgan P]

Read a non-fiction or fiction book about a historical event that happened in the summer. Example: a book like 1776 by David McCullough or something of that sort.

[April]

More reading from the TNBBC best books list, read a book from the best books thread that corresponds with a prime number, i.e. book 1, 3,5,7,13, so on and so forth.