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Fall 2013 RwS Completed Tasks - Fall 2013
Coralie wrote: "10.5 Labor Day Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
+ 10 task(author Butler on list)
Task Total: 10 points
Grand Total: 395"
+5 Combo 10.6-Author Died in 2006
Joanna wrote: "20.1 Swann's WayBarks and Purrs by Colette
Review:
Demonstrating that feelings about cats and dogs have been consistent for the past 100 years, this 1904 book reads as if it were written last we..."
+5 Combo 20.6-Influenced by Proust
Post 11 in the Help Thread
15.6 – D6 Female author over 60The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson (1925-2010)
Published in 2004 when author was 79
Lexile 880
+20 points
Grand Total: 420 points
Pick 'n' Mix15.5-D3 Author Male, 40-60
A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin (56 when published)
+20 Task
Grand Total = 110 points
Pick 'n Mix15.4 E2 Genre: Mystery
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Task points = 15
Challenge points = 60
Pick n Mix15.8 D4-female author 40 -60
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert (author born in 1969)
+20 pts - Task
Grand Total - 290 pts
Kate S wrote: "From Post 241Heather wrote: "10.4 - Prix Goncourt
Enemy Force by John-Antoine Nau
+ 20 combo (10.6, 20.1, 20.2 - died 1918, 20.8 - 'alien entity' in main character's mind)
task total: 30
grand..."
ok, that's been fixed. everything has been edited to correct the totals, as well.
Rebekah wrote: "Pick n Mix15.8 D4-female author 40 -60
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert (author born in 1969)
+20 pts - Task
Grand Total - 290 pts
"
I made a mistake on this. The author would have been in her 30's in 2000. I was just going by what her age is currently so I'd like to make it E - 4 Biography instead of D-4.
20.2 Alive 1909-1922Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz
Set in the Cairo of the mid-1940's, this novel through a series of vignettes depicts the lives of several individuals living in one of the cities alleys. With so many narrators, most are not fully developed into three dimensional people; instead each seems a caricature. However, through the variety of the caricatures and the many episodes, Mahfouz is able to create his portrait of the whole of Egyptian society and the forces beliefs, and habits that seem to thwart any hope of betterment of the characters or their place in society. I found it to alternate between a horrifying and charming world.
+20 task (born 1911)
+5 combo (10.6 - All Saints, died 2006)
+10 non-Western
+10 Canon
+10 review
Task total: 55 points
Grand Total: 150 points
20.6 Influenced by ProustThe Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa
I find Mario Vargas Llosa's writing inconsistent; some books I love, some I don't remember a day after putting them down. This is one of the better ones. Set in the last few days of May 1961, it vividly depicts the end of Rafael Trujillo's brutal regime, through the eyes of a dozen narrators and several major story lines. The book is framed by Urania Cabral, the daughter of one of Trujillo's collaborators that escaped the island as a young woman and has returned 35 years later to confront her past. The second storyline is that of men conspiring against Trujillo; each of them recounts their life under the brutal regime and the event(s) that lead them to plan Trujillo's assassination. The third story line is that of Trujillo himself. Finally, the last portion of the book is narrated by various individuals in Trujillo's circle and the terrifying transition to a new government (Note: this book is not for the squeamish or faint-of-heart).
Overall, I found the multi-perspective structure fascinating. The different narrators were able to provide details of both the banality and the horrible confoundedness of life in a dictatorship. Unfortunately, Trujillo's perspective was the weakest component. To me, showing the boring-ness of his daily life undermined the tension created in the other plots. However, the interweaving of the rest of the story lines was used quite well to build momentum. As each of the story lines approaches the climatic events, we know what will happen, but it is only slowly revealed why.
+20 task
+5 combo (10.4 Cervantes Prize)
+10 non-Western
+10 review
Task total: 45 points
Grand Total: 195 points
Pick 'n' Mix15.4 - B1. Published 2001-2013
Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran 9/26/13
This book was published in 2009.
+15 points
RWS Total to date: 305
Pick 'n' Mix Total to date: 60
Grand Total to date: 365
20.8 Stephen King's BirthdayInferno by Dante Alighieri
Although I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this as an audio book (Pinsky translation, narrated by George Guidall), I don't recommend it for one's first reading of Inferno. As an audiobook, there is no introduction, no summaries, no notes. Given the allegorical nature of the poem and the many encounters with Dante's contemporaries, quite a lot of the depth of the poem is missed.
However, the major benefit of listening to this epic poem is hearing the beauty of the language without the interruption of end notes or the distraction of the physical layout with line breaks in the middle of sentences. Simple phrases that would be lost in reading can stand out beautifully such as in Canto 3 "...behind it a train of souls so long that I would not have thought death had undone so many". And the imagery made vivid! The approach of the mysterious Angel sent to open the city of Dis to Virgil and Dante was gorgeously narrated (Canto 8?). I also loved the fitting punishment of Canto 12 which describes the river of boiling blood in which murderers are immersed (Canto 12) and was horrified by lizard transformation of Cantos 24 & 25. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience, but next time I will read a physical copy.
+20 task
+5 combo (10.6 - All Saints Day)
+10 canon
+10 review
+5 jumbo
Task total: 50 points
Grand Total: 245 points
10.3 Conjunction JunctionMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
+10 Task ('and')
Season Total: 570
10.8 Something Wicked This Way ComesSomething Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury YA820
+10 Task (from wiki page)
+10 Combo (10.6, 20.2)
Post Total: 20
Season Total: 590
20.9 WWII NovelsThe Winds of War by Herman Wouk
+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.2, 20.7)
+15 Jumbo (896 pages)
Post Total: 45
Season Total: 660
Pick 'n' Mix15.6 F5-Translated from the Portuguese
The History of the Siege of Lisbon by José Saramago
+20 Task
Season Total: 700
10.6The Country Wife by William Wycherley
+10 Task (All Saints Day--d. 1715)
+10 Canon
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 45
15.6 Pick N Mix D-2 Female Author under 40Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
+20 Task (born 1977, pub 2003)
Grand Total = 130
10.8 Something Wicked This Way ComesBrave New World by Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
+ 10 task(quote from The Tempest)
+ 10 Combo(10.6-All Saints Day, 20.2-alive between 1909 and 1922)
+ 10 Canon
Task Total: 30 points
Grand Total: 450
Pick N Mix15.2 Setting A4 Asia
The Oriental Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Ted Riccardi.
This book had stories that took place in Nepal, Katmandu, and Tibet which are a part of Asia.
Task +15
Grand Total: 30
Pick N Mix15.9 E 6 Genre Non-fiction
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum (BPL Call No - 614.13)
Task Total - 30 pts
Grand Total - 320 pts
Pick 'n' Mix15.6 E5 Genre Non-fiction 0-499.9
Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools Call Number 379.3
+20 Task
Grand Total = 130 points
10.10 - Group ReadsThe Guide by R.K. Narayan
I second what Joanna said about being glad this was a group read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Guide. I loved the humor woven throughout the novel. I found it interesting that the narration shifted to first person as the back story was told and it dawned on me that Raju was a pretty unreliable narrator when it came to understanding that his behavior influenced the outcome of jail that he had to overcome. He did however, seem to evolve as the story went on. The writing was so engaging that it didn't really matter to me how I felt about the characters. I liked the idea of honoring the dance traditions of the country, but sometimes wondered if Narayan was a fan or critic of the art. It was a good story of character, ethics and beliefs and left us to decide the rights and wrongs of it all. Highly recommended!
+10 Task: Liz's Choice
+15 Combo: 10.5 - In honor of Labor Day(job in title) / 10.6 - In honor of All Saints Day (died 2001) / 20.2 – 1909 to 1922 (1906-2001)
+10 Review
+10 Canon
+10 Non-Western
Task Total: 55
Grand Total: 545
Pick & Mix15.1 B1 2001-2013: Published 2013
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
+15 Task
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 560
Pick & Mix15.2 F6 Translated from the Swedish
The Stranger by Camilla Läckberg
+15 Points
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 575
Pick N Mix15.10 A1 Takes place primarily in the fictitious town of Pecan Springs and the genuine city of Austin, both in Texas
Nightshade by Susan Wittig Albert
Task Total - 30 pts
Completion Bonus - 100 pts
Grand Total - 450 pts
Pick 'n' Mix15.5 - A1. North America
The Secret History by Donna Tartt 9/29/13
The setting for this book was a small college in New England.
+20 points
RWS Total to date: 305
Pick 'n' Mix Total to date: 80
Grand Total to date: 385
Rebekah wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Pick n Mix15.8 D4-female author 40 -60
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert (author born in 1969)
+20 pts - Task
Grand Total - 290 pts
"
I made a mistake on this. The a..."
This is classified as 305.31, not biography. Let us know how you want to use it.
20.3 - Belle EpoqueThree Tales by Gustave Flaubert 1020 Lexile
The first two tales of the three in Flaubert's collection, "A Simple Heart" and "The Legend of St. Julian Hospitator", were my favorites. The first tale is set in the Belle Epoque and is reminiscent of Madame Bovary. It is a tender and sad story of a woman's life caring for others, including a wonderful parrot named LouLou. In the Introduction to the 1961 Penguin edition Robert Baldick points out that this tale is autobiographical and that connection to the characters and tale shines through in Flaubert's writing. St. Julian's tale reads like a dark fairy tale, one of my favorite genres. The writing and descriptions draw the reader into Julian's story and the sense of doom hovers throughout the tale. The third tale, "Herodias" is also an accomplished tale. These classic tales are wonderful introductions to the work of Flaubert and also nice companion pieces to his longer novels.
+20 Task: #93 on the list
+10 Combo: 10.6 - In honor of All Saints Day / 20.1 - French Original
+10 Review
Task Total: 40
Grand Total: 615
20.3 Belle EpoqueAgainst Nature by Joris-Karl Huysmans
The novel has a promising beginning - a couple of short chapters summarizing the narrators societal debaucheries and excesses that have lead him to despair and the decision to abandon society. He then goes on to ponder the superiority of the artificial over Nature, culminating in a gorgeous metaphor:
"Is there a woman, whose form is more dazzling, more splendid than the two locomotives that pass over the Northern Railroad lines? One the Crampton, is an adorable, shrill-voiced blonde, a trim gilded blond, with a large, fragile body imprisoned in a glittering corset of copper, and having the long sinewy lines of a cat. Her extraordinary grace is frightening, as, with the sweat of her hot sides rising upwards and her steel muscles stiffening, she puts in motion the immense rose-window of her fine wheels and darts forward....There was also a description of the "new generation" that made me laugh, they "seemed to find it necessary to talk and laugh boisterously in restaurants and cafes. They jostled you on sidewalks without begging pardon. They pushed the wheels of perambulators against your legs without even apologizing." It sound just like my reaction to present day Park Slope, Brooklyn!
However, the novel is completely plot-less. Each subsequent chapter wallows in the description of a particular sensation - a chapter on color as the narrator decorates his new abode. A chapter on taste as he imaginatively mixes cocktails (each liquor is defined as a musical instrument and he orchestrates their flavors). There is a chapter on scent as the narrator mixes perfumes, a chapter on his youthful religious studies, a chapter on his current library. And on and on and on.
It is extremely well-written, but the aspects that interested me the most were in the early chapters. And while I enjoy creative metaphors and beautiful descriptions, after a while it gets tedious.
+20 task
+10 combo (20.1, 10.6)
+10 review
Task total: 40 points
Grand Total: 285 points
20.9 - Elizabeth (Alaska) Task:WWIIA Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
A Thread of Grace takes place at the end of World War II and tells the story of the Italy and those trying to help refugees as well as the effect of the war on the Italian people. I simply never tire of these Holocaust stories and the message they convey of compassion and the will to live no matter how horrific the circumstances. It is of course not light reading but still uplifting as so many people put themselves at risk to help those that are suffering. Although I think The Sparrow remains Mary Doria Russell's top novel, A Thread of Grace is well written and has earned it's spot on the list of best WWII novels.
+20 Task: #73 on list
+10 Combo: 10.7 - Rebekah’s task – Ex-pat experience: Jewish family immigrating to Italy and other ex pats and immigrants, 1943 / 20.7 - Don’s task: Jewish Authors
+10 Review
Task Total: 40
Grand Total: 655
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Pick n Mix15.8 D4-female author 40 -60
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert (author born in 1969)
+20 pts - Task
Grand Total - 290 pts
"
I made a mistak..."
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Pick n Mix
15.8 D4-female author 40 -60
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert (author born in 1969)
+20 pts - Task
Grand Total - 290 pts
"
I made a mistak..."
How about E 5 then, Nonfiction
Rebekah wrote: "How about E 5 then, Nonfiction"Sorry, Rebekah, this will give you 3 5's in this round of Pick 'n' Mix. I have not looked very closely at your list, so I can't offer an alternative right now. But if you want some help, let me know and I can look with you for a few minutes. Or you can save it for a second round of Pick 'n' Mix and read another biography?
15.1 - B1 - Published 2001-2013The Barrens by Joyce Carol Oates (writing as Rosamond Smith), published 2001
Task total=15
Grand total=15
15.2 - D4 - Female author, age 40-60Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
author born in 1964 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_S...
Task total=15
Grand total=30
15.3- E5 - non-fiction (Dewey Decimal 000-499, per BPL)A Widow's Story by Joyce Carol Oates 155.937 O at BPL
Task total=15
Grand total=45
20.7 - Jewish holidaysFocus by Arthur Miller
+20 Task - Miller was the son of Polish Jewish immigrants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_...
+15 Combo (10.5 - surname is a job or profession; 10.6 - Miller died in 2005; 20.2 - Miller born in 1915)
Task total=35
Grand total=80
20.8 - In honor of Stephen King's birthdayNOS4A2 by Joe Hill
+20 Task - (view spoiler)
+10 Jumbo (704 pgs.)
Task total=30
Grand total=110
From Post 293Coralie wrote: "10.8 Something Wicked This Way Comes
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
+ 10 task(quote from The Tempest)
+ 10 Combo(10.6-All Saints Day, 20.2-alive between 1909 and 1922)
+ 10 Canon
..."
+5 Combo 10.2 Book Lover's Day #107 on the list
I think this might work for Rebekah's pick-n-mix:A1 - North America - The Last American Man
A3 - Europe - The Night Circus
B1 - 2001-2013 - Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
B2 - pub. 1976-2000 - Dead on the Island
C4 - 250-350 pgs - The Sociopath Next Door
C6 - 400-500 pgs - Good Book: Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible
D3 - Male, age 40-60 - Death of a Red Heroine
D5 - Male, age 60+ - Speaking from Among the Bones
E2 - Mystery - Nightshade
E6 - DD# 500-999 - The Poisoner's Handbook
*Bold titles indicate different categories than originally posted
15.1 -Pick n Mix/ C3(page number between 175-275 pages)
ADHD According to Zoe: The Real Deal on Relationships, Finding Your Focus, and Finding Your Keys by Zoe Kessler
224 pages
+15 task
Task Total=15 pts
Grand Total=60 pts
15.2 - Pick n Mix/D4Female/aged 40-60
The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
JK Rowling was 47 years old when this was published. (b. 1965/p. 2012)
+15 task
Task Total=15 pts
Grand Total=75 pts
15.3 - Pick n Mix/B1published betweent 2001 - 2013
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Published in 2006
+15 task
Task Total=15 pts
Kate S wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "How about E 5 then, Nonfiction"Sorry, Rebekah, this will give you 3 5's in this round of Pick 'n' Mix. I have not looked very closely at your list, so I can't offer an alternativ..."
I just put my mix in the My Mix forum
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
I'm not sure where the 3rd 5 would come from
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Reading with Style
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The Name of the Rose (other topics)
The Name of the Rose (other topics)
The Blue Mountain (other topics)
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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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Heather wrote: "10.4 - Prix Goncourt
Enemy Force by John-Antoine Nau
+ 20 combo (10.6, 20.1, 20.2 - died 1918, 20.8 - 'alien entity' in main character's mind)
task total: 30
grand total: 135
note: i can't figu..."
Sorry, Heather, unfortunately this does not qualify for 20.1 as John-Antoine Nau was born in the USA, not France.