Reading with Style discussion
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Fall 2013 RwS Completed Tasks - Fall 2013
Pick 'n' Mix15.5 A5 Africa: Botswana
The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith
+20: Task
Grand Total: 1090
10.10 Group ReadNothing to Envy: Love, Life and Death in North Korea by Barbara Demick
+ 10 Task
Task Total: 10 points
Grand Total: 945
10.7 Ex-patriotFighting Angel by Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973)
+ 10 Task (born in USA, living in China)
+ 10 Combo (10.6, 20.2)
Task Total: 20 points
Grand Total: 965
Rebekah wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "For some reason none of my tickers are ticking on Goodreads. I'll try not to mess up until it gets fixed. I'll make sure to add with my fingers til t..."So I found out why our tickers are not working any more.
So, I've taken a look at your widget codes and I think what I'm seeing is that when we recently moved our site data over to the Amazon servers and strongly boosted our security settings, some third-party links (like your tickers!) ceased working. My best guess is that this is related to our tightened security settings—which is why they were able to work before, but not now. Unfortunately, because they aren't features we've developed ourselves, we can't bring the tickers you're using up to code on our security settings. I'm so sorry about that.
I do think it would be interesting to be able to set and track different goals besides the annual reading challenge (which is what it seems you're using your tickers for) directly on Goodreads, and I'll definitely pass that idea along to our development team.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience!
Best,
Meghan
--
Meghan Krogh
Goodreads Expert
Goodreads.com
15.8 C5 C5 325-425 pagesGreen (Green Universe #1) (2009) by Jay Lake (Hardcover, 368 pages)
Grand Total: 375 + 20 = 395
Theresa~OctoberLace wrote: "20.7 - Don's task: In honor of the five important Jewish holidays in September (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah), read a book by a Jewish author.Memoirs of ..."
Wouldn't Geisha work for the Labor Day task?
15.7 - pick n' mixB3 - Published in 1969
Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazny
+20 task
task total: 20
grand total: 450
10.1 Square PegPlague Ship by Clive Cussler
+10 task
+5 jumbo (526 pgs)
Task total: 15
Grand total: 185
15.8 - C5 - Pgs 325 - 425Dead Famous by Carol O'Connell - 336 pgs
+20 task
Task total: 20
Grand total: 205
15.9 - D4 - Female 40 - 60Winter House by Carol O'Connell - born 1947 - published 2004
+30 task
Task total: 30
Grand total: 235
20.7 Don's Task=Jewish AuthorsThe Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Review:Why has it been so long since I have read another of Gaiman's work? I read American Gods and a long time ago so I know I enjoy the way he tells a story. This one did not disappoint.
I was sucked in from the beginning. I could relate to the boy and his love of books. I also really felt for him and the fact that he had no friends which made him susceptible to bullying by both his peers and a little in his family. When he meets Lettie, her mom, and grandmother, it is like finding "home" and acceptability. Unfortunately something evil is also brought into his world at the same time.
I really like how Gaiman incorporates myths and fairy tales into his stories. Alice in Wonderland is the most obvious which the boy repeats rhymes/songs from to comfort himself. The story also reminds how scary it is to grow up.
The only thing I didn't like is that it ends too soon! The story was told though.
+20 Task
+10 Reviews
Task Total = 30
Grand Total = 305 points
20.1 Book in French by author born in FranceThe Dream by Émile Zola
+20 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.6)
Task Total = 25
Grand Total = 270
Pick'n'Mix15.06 - C2 - 100-200 pages
The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson
+20 task
Post total: 20
Grand total: 180
Coralie wrote: "10.4 Prize worthyThe Shipyard by Juan Carlos Onetti (1909-1994)
+ 10 Task (winner of Miguel de Cervantes Prize)
+ 10 Combo (10.6, 20.2)
Task Total: 20 points
Grand Total: 935"
+10 Non-Western (Uruguay)
Rebekah wrote: "10.5 Labor DayA Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
+10 pts - Task (Smith)
+15 pts - Combo (10.2 - #14 on list, 10.6- d. 1972, 20.2 - 1896-1972)
+10 pts -Canon
Task Total - 35 pts
Grand Total..."
Sorry, Rebekah, but A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is not on the canon.
ETA:
From Post 547Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "10.6 Day of the Dead
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Lexile 810)
Review: When I was around ten maybe, I read a passage from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and told my mom I wanted to read it..."
+5 Jumbo (528 pages)
Kate S wrote: "From Post 547Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "10.6 Day of the Dead
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Lexile 810)
Review: When I was around ten maybe, I read a passage from A Tree Grows in..."
I mean, not to argue with extra points for me, but I get the 496 page version as the most popular one...
Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "Kate S wrote: "From Post 547Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "10.6 Day of the Dead
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Lexile 810)
Review: When I was around ten maybe, I read a passage from ..."
Thanks, Cory. Yes, that librarian edit was made in April and our database was not updated. We'll fix it.
Theresa~OctoberLace wrote: "20.7 - Don's task: In honor of the five important Jewish holidays in September (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah), read a book by a Jewish author.Memoirs of ..."
I show this as #311 on the linked list and not in the top 200 when we compiled our master list. Do you remember approximately when you saw it in the top 200?
Also, it will qualify for 10.5-geisha is a profession or job.
D wrote: "20.6 - In Search of Lost TimeThe Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
+20 Task author approved here:
Task total=20
Grand total=230"
+5 Combo 10.2 Book Lovers #127 on the list
Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "Kate S wrote: "From Post 547Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "10.6 Day of the Dead
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Lexile 810)
Review: When I was around ten maybe, I read a passage from ..."
Changed it, disregard earlier post.
Kate S wrote: "Theresa~OctoberLace wrote: "20.7 - ...Memoirs of ..." I show this as #311 on the linked list and not in the top 200 when we compiled our master list. Do you remember approximately when you saw it in the top 200?
Also, it will qualify for 10.5-geisha is a profession or job.
My apologies, Kate S! I think I was tired when I rated Memoirs of a Geisha and looked at the list but not the position. It does not qualify as combo with 10.2 but does qualify for 10.5, so my totals remain the same.
20.9 - Elizabeth (Alaska) Task:Fatherland by Robert Harris 10/23/13
#40 on the linked list of 100 WWII books
Review:
Fatherland was different from what I’d expected, given that the top genre on the Goodreads list was historical fiction. I’ve read many books on World War II Germany, both fiction and non-fiction. Knowing that the book was set in an alternate future, I expected more focus on the culture and politics of 1964 Nazi Germany. Instead, for the most part I found the book to be a good crime mystery that happened to take place where the Nazis were in power.
(view spoiler)
+20 task
+10 review
Task Total: 30 points
RwS Total to date: 525
Pick 'n' Mix Total to date: 200
Pick 'n' Mix Completion Bonus 100
Grand Total to date: 825
Pick 'n' MixD2 Female under 40
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
Katherine Rundell was born in 1987, Rooftoppers was published in 2013 when she was 26
Categories completed:
A4 + A6
D2 + D4
E2
Task total = 20
Challenge total = 80
10.6 All Saints Day The Vagabond by Colette
Review:
I didn't like this book quite as much as Cheri & The Last of Cheri, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the descriptions of stage performances and theater travel and I liked the musings on the competition between romantic relationships and professional freedom. But here, I found Renée somewhat tiresome in her overall distrust of passionate feelings. I wanted more exuberance from her about her theatrical work and her professional career. I was never sure that I entirely understood the love affair between Renée and Maxime. Was it only her own fear that made him seem controlling and jealous or was there something in his character? As with the other books by Colette that I've read, I was surprised by how fresh and modern this novel felt –– it's hard to believe that these books were published more than a hundred years ago.
The reader for the audiobook version was excellent, though the sound quality was not that great. I think they converted a cassette recording to a downloadable audiobook and there were places with the sound seemed to skip a little. I loved the British accent of the reader and felt that it took me more completely to the European travel scenes.
+10 Task (1873-1954)
+10 Review
+25 Combo (10.5, 10.9 [single name author], 20.1, 20.2, 20.6)
Task Total: 45
Grand Total: 710
15.7 - A3 - Set in EuropeAdam and Eve and Pinch Me by Ruth Rendell
+20 Task (entire book set in England)
Task total=20
Grand total=255
15.8 Pick N' MixD4 Female author 40-60
A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS by Jennet Conant
+20 Task (Conant born 1959 book published 2011 about age 52)
Grand Total: 205
10.5 ProfessionThe Crucible by Arthur Miller
Miller on linked list of professions.
Review: I've been meaning to read this play for a long time. It was SOOO much better than Death of A Salesman. Definitely a thinker on the human mind and motivations. I liked that Miller included the historical aspects and based much of it on existing documents. Some bits I found a bit convoluted (keeping the characters straight etc.) and were I to perform or work on this show it would definitely take lots of research and work. Because it was so based on human emotions and deception it was difficult to pick out the motives. I think that there are many ways to interpret the play.
+10 Task
+ 5 Combo 10. 6 All Saints Day
+ 5 Combo 20.2 Alive during 1909-1922
+ 5 Combo 20. 7 Jewish Authors
+ 10 Review
Task Total: 35 points
Grand Total: 250 points
15.9 F6 German/Dutch/Danish/Swedish/Norwegian/IcelandicVoices (Reykjavík Murder Mystery #5) (2002) by Arnaldur Indriðason; translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder
Grand Total: 395+ 30 = 425
Rachelccameron wrote: "10.5 ProfessionThe Crucible by Arthur Miller
Miller on linked list of professions.
Review: I've been meaning to read this play for a long time. It was SOOO much better than Death of A Salesman...."
I just discovered this play myself. My daughter's theatre class performed it for their fall assignment. Very deep and I had trouble keeping some of the characters striaght, as well. However, that was probably due to the fact that I was busy watching my daughter! ;)
20.8 - Kate’s Task: Stephen KingThe Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde's books are always a lot of fun. The Fourth Bear had me in stitches over and over again. Jack Spratt of The Nursery Crime Division is out to solve another mysterious death. The Gingerbreadman, a vicious killer has escaped. The book is full of word play and coincidences. For example, Dorian Gray sells Jack a car that fixes itself right back to new condition, but the picture of the car in Dorian Gray's office shows all of the damage. My hands-down favorite scene was about illegal substances for bears: porridge and honey. It had me laughing out loud it was so clever. I love Fforde's Thursday Next series, but the Nursery Crimes are a close second!
+20 Task: Many non-human main characters including an alien and the Gingerbread Man
+ 5 Combo: 10.2 - Celebrate Book Lover’s Day (November 2nd) #84
+10 Review
Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 1125
10.3 Conjunction JunctionHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Lexile 880
+ 10 Task (and)
+ 5 Combo (10.2 #41 on list)
Task Total: 15 points
RwS finish 100 points
Mega Fisnish 200 points
Grand Total: 1290
Coralie wrote: "RwS finish 100 points
Mega Fisnis..."
Congratulation on the RwS and Mega finishes, Coralie!
10.5 - In honor of Labor DayThe FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper 1010 Lexile
The FitzOsbournes are the royal family of a small island called Montmaray. In book 1, the Nazis have overrun the island. Now the family has traveled to England as the possibility of World War II looms. Sophie continues her journal as politics and parties collide. The writing in these books is top notch! Michelle Cooper writes in a clear and sophisticated style and brings the history of the time period to life. The FitzOsbournes in Exile is a bit reminiscent of I Capture the Castle. Michelle Cooper speaks to teen and adult readers alike and the 3rd volume, The FitzOsbournes at War will no doubt continue the high quality of the first two books. I can't wait to read it, and some of my best GHHS readers have already beat me to it!
+10 Task: Cooper is on the list of professions
+ 5 Combo: 10.7 - Rebekah’s task – Ex-pat experience: Move to England from the island of Montmaray
+10 Review
Task Total: 25
Grand Total: 1150
15.10 Pick N Mix B-4 Publish Date 1900-1950The Unvanquished by William Faulkner
+ 30 Task (pub 1938)
+100 Completion Bonus
Task Total = 130
Grand Total = 400
15.8 – B2 - 1976-2000Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
+20 Task (pub 1987)
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 960 (includes +5 combo for 10.5 in post 547)
15.9 – F3 - Chinese/Japanese/Vietnamese/KoreanAtlas: The Archaeology of an Imaginary City by Qizhang Dong
+30 Task (translated from Chinese)
Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 990
10.9 QuirkyThe Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (1010 Lexile)
Review: As the title suggests, the first of Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events starts badly – and as the narrator warns, it does not end happily. It is not, however, a downer of a book – it features kids and is written for kids, so there is plenty of whimsy. It’s pretty on the nose about most of its lessons – from what certain unfamiliar words mean to how bad the world can sometimes be – but since it never takes itself too seriously, it doesn’t really matter. I’m a little old to be the target audience, and am not going running to the library for the next one, but I’ll probably get around to the rest of the books eventually – they’re quick reads.
+10 Task (#65 on innovative list)
+10 Review
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 1010
20.10 - least developed countriesThe Unrest-Cure and Other Stories by Saki (1870-1916)
+20 Task (born in Myanmar)
+20 Combo (10.3 and; 10.6 died 1916; 10.9 single name; 20.2 lived 1870-1916)
+10 Canon
Task total=50
Grand total=305
Task 10.06 - Day of the DeadRead a book by an author who died before September 1, 2013.
John Brunner died on August 26, 1995
A Maze of Stars (1991) by John Brunner (Hardcover, 393 pages)
Review:This book is a straight forward classic science fiction novel. The premise: a SHIP has seeded 600 colonies on planets located in the Arm of the galaxy. Now the SHIP is taking a second trip back to all the seeded planets to check on humanity, gathering knowledge about what work (and what didn’t work) on the planets. Occasionally, the SHIP will rescue a human from certain death on one world, and transport that human to another world to live out his/her life. The novel reads like a collection of short stories smoothed into one novel. The ending wasn’t really an ending; the novel just stopped; it could have easily continued with additional visits to seeded worlds. Recommended for hard-core science fiction (NOT fantasy!) fans.
+10 Task
+ 10 Review
Task Total: 10 + 10 = 20
Grand Total: 425 + 20 = 445
20.2 - author alive between 1909 and 1922The Professor's House by Willa Cather
+20 Task (Cather lived 1873-1947)
+10 Combo (10.5, 10.6)
+10 Canon
Task total=40
Grand total=345
Post 602 Shannon wrote: "Pick 'n' MixD2 Female under 40
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
Katherine Rundell was born in 1987, Rooftoppers was published in 2013 when she was 26
Categories completed:
A4 + A6
D2 + D4
E2
..."
Shannon, I'm sorry. BPL has this listed as Juvenile Fiction (J Fic Rundell) and it has a lexile of 490. It does not qualify for Pick N Mix. Let us know what other task you would like it applied to.
20.8 Stephen KingGirl Genius, Vol. 2: Agatha Heterodyne and the Airship City by Phil Foglio
+20 Task (the world has ‘constructs’, many of which are main characters – a talking cat in particular)
No style points – graphic novel
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 1030
20.8 Stephen KingGirl Genius, Vol. 3: Agatha Heterodyne and the Monster Engine by Phil Foglio
+20 Task (the world has ‘constructs’, many of which are main characters – a talking cat in particular)
No style points – graphic novel
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 1050
Pick & Mix15.6 E3 short stories
Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories by Karen Russell
+20 Task
Grand Total: 1170
Pick & Mix15.7 D5 male 60+ born 1943, 70 in 2013
Benediction by Kent Haruf
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 1210
Kate S wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "10.5 Labor DayA Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
+10 pts - Task (Smith)
+15 pts - Combo (10.2 - #14 on list, 10.6- d. 1972, 20.2 - 1896-1972)
+10 pts -Canon
Task Total - 35..."
Sorry, mixed up mind!
10.2 Conjunction Junction(title includes "and")
The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
Review:
This short story collection features stories with both of Ms Christie’s famous detectives: Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.
I admire Agatha Christie’s writing style. She always manages to put all the clues into the story and still leave the reader guessing until the final resolution (I usually end up guessing wrong). That is a rare ability. Either the author of mystery stories gives too many and obvious clues and thus gives the solution away, or he gives too few clues and leaves the reader frustrated because he could never have gotten it right without being given all the necessary information. Agatha Christie manages the perfect balance. In addition to this you have very likeable and memorable characters with depth and original stories/ideas.
I won’t go into depth about the contents of all the stories included in this collection, but be assured that all of them consist of the abovementioned recipe to a good mystery. Even in only a few pages per story Ms Christie manages to keep you guessing. Wonderful writing.
+ 10 Task
+ 10 Review
+ 10 Combo (10.6, 20.2)
Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 635
10.9 It IS Unusual(#21 on "Books with Innovative Book Design / Structure"-list)
The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Review:
Considering that this is a classic in German literature I should probably have read this ages ago. However, the book fit my current mood perfectly and I might not have liked/understood the book as well as I did had I read it sooner.
The story is told through letters sent by Werther to a friend. In those he details how he travels, meets a girl, falls in love and suffers when she marries another man. Goethe is very good at conveying those feelings to the reader, at making the reader suffer along with Werther. And he doesn’t need many words for it. He has a talent for putting those things in a very simple but still poetic way.
After having read this book I’m certainly consider to read others by Goethe (I have a feeling I didn’t quite appreciate him when I was forced to read some of his works in school).
+ 10 Task
+ 10 Review
+ 10 Canon
+ 5 Combo (10.6)
Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 670
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Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume 4: Materia (other topics)The Piper's Son (other topics)
The Name of the Rose (other topics)
The Name of the Rose (other topics)
The Blue Mountain (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Thomas Siddell (other topics)Melina Marchetta (other topics)
Umberto Eco (other topics)
Umberto Eco (other topics)
Meir Shalev (other topics)
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B3 (pub. 1975)
Salem's Lot by Stephen King
Task Total = 15
Grand Total = 305