The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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SPRING CHALLENGE 2014
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Completed Tasks (Do Not Delete Posts)

Task 10.2: Do not pass GO! A Dead Man in Istanbul by Michael Pearce. There are no G's and no O's in the title or author name. There is no subtitle.
Totals this posting:
Total Points: 10
Books Read: 1
Tasks Completed: 1
GoodReads Authors: 0
Big Book Tickets: 500+: 0; 750+: 0;
Summary Totals:
Total Points: 375
Books Read: 22
Tasks Completed: 17
GoodReads Authors: 7
Big Book Tickets: 500+: 1; 750+: 0;

I know Ann. I've been a slacker. I'm traveling. This week I have driven across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ma..."
Okay, traveling is a good excuse, Sheila. Sounds like a great trip! You and Dee are usually the head cheerleaders, so I just missed seeing your comments!

Dee wrote: "c'mon stacie!!!!!! you can do it!"
Oh, I finish for sure! May even be tonight if nothing else pulls my attention!

30.1 Susan A’s Task: Eat, Sleep, Swim, Repeat
Option 1: Backstroke

Option 4: Freestyle
Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead
Points this post: 30
Total points: 200
Tasks completed: 9
Books read: 12
Goodreads Authors: 2
Big Books: 500=1, 750=0, 1000=0

1. MARCH - Read a book with a lion on the cover.

Soul of a Lion: One Woman's Quest to Rescue Africa's Wildlife Refugees (2010) by Barbara Bennett and Mariete van der Merwe; published by National Geographic; (Hardcover, 292 pages)
545 + 20 = 565
Tasks Completed: 31
Points for this post: 20
Points thus far: 545 + 20 = 565
Books read: 44
Pages read: 13,087
Read but not claimed: 1
Goodreads Authors: 12
Big Books:
(1) 500+
(0) 750+
(0) 1,000+

Task 30.5 - Poetry Counts
Option One: Book has 5 or 7 syllables
Alphabet Weekends by Elizabeth Noble
Option Four: Title has same word repeated at least twice
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
Word: Red
Scott Lynch is a *Goodreads Author*
Mass Market Paperback Link: Red Seas Under Red Skies
At 760 pages good for *2 Big Book Tickets*
Points this Post: 30
Total Points: 915
Total Tasks: 51
Goodreads Authors: 41
Big Books: 10
Total Books: 70

20.1 - Most Improved Player - Shelby's task: Chug-a Chug-a...Chug-a Chug-a...Choo-Choo
Option 1- The Scorch Trials by James Dashner has 360 pages, the 3, 6, & 0 are in 3,069 kilometers. James Dashner is a GR author.
20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Pamela Su's task: Fun in a Box!
Option 2- I read Stone Cold by C.J. Box, which has a pickup truck on the cover.

Points this post = 40
total points posted = 40
GRA = 1

5.2 Do Not Pass Go
(book set in China)
Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French
5.3 Candyland
(3 letter sequence "and")
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
Word "AND" by itself in subtitle
Total Points this post: 10
Total Points: 60

25.3 - Jessica PDX’s task: The Long and the Short of It
Option 1 - Long and Short Titles
The title of Book A must be at least twice the length of that for Book B when you count characters.
Book A: After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away by Joyce Carol Oates (52 letters)
Book B: Norwood by Charles Portis (7 letters)
Task total=25
Grand total=580

15.5 Vincent From Gogh
The Other Story by *Tatiana de Rosnay
*Tatiana de Rosnay is a Goodreads Author*
25.1 - Andy P's task: The 50 States of Monopoly
Book 1 - Author's initials: KS
**Faithless by *Karin Slaughter
Book 2 - Kansas nickname is the Sunflower State.
Even Sunflowers Cast Shadows by *Douglas Armstrong
**Big Book: Faithless is 576 Pages**
*Karin Slaughter is a Goodreads Author*
*Douglas Armstrong is a Goodreads Author*
Points in These Tasks: 40
Goodreads Authors in This Post: 3
Big Book Tickets in This Post: 1
Pages Read in This Post: 1212

Totals:
Total Points: 410
Total Goodreads Authors: 16
Total Big Book Tickets: 500=(4), 750=(1), 1000=(0)
Total Tasks Completed: 20/55
Total Books Read: 28
Total Pages Read in Spring 2014 SRC: 11,353

Option 1-
Book A: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (18 letters)
Book B: Sweet 16 by Kate Brian (7 characters)
Points this post: 25
Total points: 525
Tasks completed: 23
Books read: 33
Goodreads Authors: 15
Big book tickets: 2

Option 2: One Book for Both Options
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce is a Goodreads Author.
15.5 Vincent From Gogh
My Point... And I Do Have One by Ellen DeGeneres
15.6 World Champs
Set in the United Kingdom
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Gail Carriger is a Goodreads Author.
15.9 Spring Into Action
Added to TBR list in December 2013
The Cardturner: A Novel about a King, a Queen, and a Joker by Louis Sachar
15.10 Goof Off!
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
POINTS THIS POST: 75
TOTAL POINTS: 75
GRA TICKETS IN THIS POST: 2
TOTAL GRA TICKETS: 2
BIG BOOK TICKETS IN THIS POST: 0
TOTAL BIG BOOK TICKETS: 0

Option 3: 2nd in Chicago Stars series
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a Goodreads Author.
20.2 Rookie at the Top
Option 1: Subtitle includes "What"
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg is a Goodreads Author.
20.3 Best Review
Option: $50/Blue

Baby on Cover, Children in Subtitle, "newborn" in GR description, Plot: Girl takes care of infant brother and other siblings while her mother is bedridden.
Note: Children's genre, 136 pages
20.4 Author! Author!
Option 3: Was on page 7 of "Popular Satire Books" list as of 5/29/14
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Gail Carriger is a Goodreads Author.
20.5 Bigger is Better
580 pages
Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin
Mike Mullin is a Goodreads Author.
This book qualifies for ONE Big Book Ticket (580 pages).
POINTS THIS POST: 100
TOTAL POINTS: 175
GRA TICKETS THIS POST: 4
TOTAL GRA TICKETS: 6
BIG BOOK TICKETS THIS POST: 1
TOTAL BIG BOOK TICKETS: 1

I used Stacy Ford's TBR list:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Room For Improvement by Stacey Ballis
20.7 Shorter is Sweeter
I have one sibling; this book is 1st in the Ashfall series.
Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Mike Mullin is a Goodreads Author.
20.8 It's My Birthday!
Option A: author initials are C.R.; book is 310 pgs
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Carrie Ryan is a Goodreads Author.
20.9 Moderator's Pet
Option 2 or 3: There are both clouds and a boat on the cover.

POINTS THIS POST: 80
TOTAL POINTS: 255
GRA TICKETS THIS POST: 2
TOTAL GRA TICKETS: 8
BIG BOOK TICKETS THIS POST: 0
TOTAL BIG BOOK TICKETS: 1

Option 1: Poetry genre
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Note: Childrens genre, 272 pages
Option 3: "magic" and "stories" in (sub)title
Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly by Gail Carson Levine
Note: Childrens genre, 168 pages
Gail Carson Levine is a Goodreads Author.
30.2 Mouthful of Words!
Option 2: eyes on cover

Option 6: children's genre, 315 pages
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
POINTS THIS POST: 55
TOTAL POINTS: 310
GRA TICKETS THIS POST: 1
TOTAL GRA TICKETS: 9
BIG BOOK TICKETS THIS POST: 0
TOTAL BIG BOOK TICKETS: 1

$10 Yellow - Book with a hat on the cover
Doc

***Mary Doria Russell is a Goodreads Author***
25.2 Nordic Noir
Book A set in Denmark -

Book B -

***At 504 pages this is a Big Book***
Both books page total is 936 which is more than the required 500 pages.
Post Total: 45
Grand Total: 285

15.10 - Goof Off!
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Points this Post: 15
Total Points: 115
Total Books Read: 13

Book title contains a number between two and ten
Counting by 7s
(approved in Task 5.10 HELP thread, message 19)
*** Holly Goldberg Sloan is a Goodreads Author ***
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This Post: 5 points
Total points to date: 555 points
Goodreads Authors: 18
Big Books Read: (2 ) 500 pg / (1 ) 750 pg / ( ) 1000 pg
Total Big Book TICKETS: 4

TASK NAME: 10.9 Colorful Captions
Jane Bites Back

Qualifier: "Jane" is in red, remainder in white. Approved Message #61.
Points this task: 10
Points Total: 345
Tasks Completed: 22
GR Author: 14
Big Books: 0

I am swapping out books in this post. I'll be moving a book from task 10.9 to task 20.6, and putting a new book on 10.9.
10.9 - Colorful Captions
Please change my book for this task to:
Hidden by Catherine McKenzie ** GOODREADS AUTHOR **

Please move the book I used previously to the following task:
20.6 - Seasoned Reader - Tammy AZ's task: Well-Seasoned Books
The Irresistible Henry House
This book is #7 on the TBR of my GR friend Stephanie
This Post:
(New) Tasks Completed: 1
(New) Books Read: 1
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Book Tickets: 0
(New) Points: 20
Totals:
Tasks Completed: 13
Books Read: 14
Goodreads Authors: 4
Big Book Tickets: 3
Total Points: 235

Book 1, Option 1: Author initials R.S.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Rebecca Skloot is a Goodreads Author.
Book 2, Option 3: Free choice
Wisconsin Women in the War between the States by Ethel Hurn
30.5 Poetry Counts
Option 2: "Heads" rhymes with "Beds"
Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky
Jacob Tomsky is a Goodreads Author.
Option 3: Title has 12 letters; "Water" has 5 letters
Water for Sale: How Business and the Market Can Resolve the World's Water Crisis by Fredrik Segerfeldt
POINTS THIS POST: 60
TOTAL POINTS: 370
GRA TICKETS THIS POST: 2
TOTAL GRA TICKETS: 11
BIG BOOK TICKETS THIS POST: 0
TOTAL BIG BOOK TICKETS: 1

TASK NAME: 20.4 Author, Author
Option #4 - Birds on cover
Bellman & Black

Qualifier: Rook on the cover, approved in message #56
Points this task: 20
Points Total: 365
Tasks Completed: 23
GR Author: 14
Big Books: 0

Option1: Read a book with at least 50% of the cover either green, purple, or gold/yellow. Required: Include the cover in your post.

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) (2011) by Cynthia Hand (Goodreads Author) (Paperback, First Edition, 435 pages)
**** Goodreads Author ****Cynthia Hand
Option 4: Read a book of your choice that meets normal SRC guidelines.
Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty (2014) by Diane Keaton (Hardcover, 192 pages)
565 + 25 = 590
Tasks Completed: 32
Points for this post: 25
Points thus far: 565 + 25 = 590
Books read: 46
Pages read: 13,714
Read but not claimed: 0
Goodreads Authors: 13
Big Books:
(1) 500+
(0) 750+
(0) 1,000+

5.5 Scrabble
The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer
Author's initials E.C. in s C rabbl E
listened to audiobook: paperback edition
pts this post: 5
Total points: 305

Task 5.9 - Gin Rummy
Word from cocktail name in book title
The cocktail I used is called the Red Lotus - I used the word "Red"
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Points this Post: 5
Total Points: 920
Total Tasks: 52
Goodreads Authors: 41
Big Books: 10
Total Books: 71

20.9 - Moderator's Pet - Bluemoon's task: Covers of Spring
Option 2: April Showers

There are clouds on the cover.
Points this post: 20
Total points: 835
GR Authors: 33
Big Books: 500+(4),750+(0),1000+(0)

Option A
Under Fire by Catherine Mann (GR Author)
author initials can be found in any order in AMERICA - C.A.
Points this Post: 20
Totals:
Total Points: 600
Total Goodreads Authors: 40
Total Tasks Completed: 36
Total Books Read: 48

10.3 - Do Not Collect $200
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is 144 pages
Points this post: 10
Total points: 845
GR Authors: 33
Big Books: 500+(4),750+(0),1000+(0)

Task 10.9: Colorful Captions
Read:

**Katy Grant is a GR author.
Points this task: 10
Task 10.10: Take a Chance
Read: The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs**
**Susan Wiggs is a GR author.
Points this task: 10
Points this post: 20
Total points: 785 / 940
Tasks completed: 38
Books read: 55
Goodreads authors: 34
Big books: 500+ (4); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)

30.2 - Sassafrass's task: Mouth full of words!
Option 3--Palpitations (romance as a genre):
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Option 6--Amblyopia (young adult on main page)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Points this post: 30
Total points: 215/940
Books read: 15
Tasks completed: 9
Goodreads Authors: 2
Big Books:500+(1) 750+(0) 1000+(0)

The Eternal Prison by Jeff Somers
Jeff Somers is a Goodreads author.
Points This Post: 10
Points Total: 685
GR Author: 23
Big Book Ticket: 3

10.3 Breathe by Sarah Crossan (Goodreads Author) Hardcover, First Edition, 384 pages
15.9 ]Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)
20.1 Option 2 Takes place in IowaAshfall by Mike Mullin (Goodreads Author)
20.5)The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (Goodreads Author) Hardcover, 540 pages also claim big book ticket
20.6Lies by Michael Grant (Goodreads Author) on JennRennee's TBR https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
20.7 4 siblingsEagle Strike (Alex Rider #4) by Anthony Horowitz
20.8 Option A: initials EC Airman by Eoin Colfer
25.5
Option 2 genre horrorThe First Days by Rhiannon Frater (Goodreads Author)
Option 3 zombie My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O'Hara
50.1 Tails Books 4,5,6
The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett: An Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger (Goodreads Author)
Whirlwind by Robert Liparulo (Goodreads Author)
Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney (Goodreads Author)
Points this post:210
Total points:210
Books read:13
Tasks completed:10
Goodreads Authors:9
Big Books:500+(1)750+(0)1000+(0)
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A Negotiated Marriage by Noelle Adams (GR Author)
Simz
Points this Post: 20
Totals:
Total Points: 620
Total Goodreads Authors: 41
Total Tasks Completed: 37
Total Books Read: 49

10.6: Spring Showers:
The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper
25.2: Elizabeth B's Task: Nordic Noir: both books are set in Sweden.
A. The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg
B1. Unwanted by Kristina Ohlsson
Points this Post: 35.
Total Points: 910.

10.4 - A Token Task

10.9 Colorful Captions

10.10 - Take a Chance
Random Number 14:

20.6 - Well Seasoned Books

I found this on my friend Jessica Fluckiger's page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
25.2 Nordic Noir
Book A:

Book B:

Points this post: 75
Total points: 885
Tasks completed this post: 5
Total Tasks completed: 51
Books Read this post: 6
Total Books Read: 70
Goodreads authors this post: 1
Total Goodreads authors: 27
Big Book Tickets this post:500+(1),750+(0),1000+(0)
Total Big Book Tickets:500+(4),750+(2),1000+(0)

20.7 - Celebrate the Sibs!
A Father in the Making by Carolyne Aarsen (Goodreads Author)- This is the 3rd book in the Hearts of Hartley Creek series. I have three siblings.
Points this post: 20
Total points: 905
Tasks completed this post: 1
Total Tasks completed: 52
Books Read this post: 1
Total Books Read: 71
Goodreads authors this post: 1
Total Goodreads authors: 28
Big Book Tickets this post:500+(0),750+(0),1000+(0)
Total Big Book Tickets:500+(4),750+(2),1000+(0)

15.10 Goof Off!- I chose to "Goof Off" with Unlucky 13 by James Patterson. Patterson is a GR author.
20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Kimber's task: Celebrate the Sibs!- Since I have 2 sisters and 1 brother remaining in my siblings, I chose the third book in the Maze Runner series, The Death Cure by James Dashner. Dashner is a GR author.
20.9 - Moderator's Pet - Bluemoon's task: Covers of Spring-
Option 2- For this task I chose Robert Ludlum's The Janson Option by Paul Garrison for clouds on the cover, though the clouds a hard to see with all the rain and lightening.

25.3 - Jessica PDX’s task: The Long and the Short of It-
Option 1 - Long and Short Titles - Book A The Kill Order by James Dashner, which has 12 characters in the title & Book B Cress by Marissa Meyer, which has 5 characters in the title. Both Dashner and Meyer are GR authors. Claiming Big Book ticket for Cress, which has 550 pages.
Points this Post = 80
Total Points = 170/940
GRA this post = 4
Big Book this post = 1

Task 30.2 - Mouth Full of Words!
I did options 2 and 5.
For option 2, I read a book with an eye on the cover:

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
For option 5, I read a book with a chocolate truffle on the cover:

Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson
**Diane Mott Davidson is a Goodreads author!!**
Points this task: 30
Total points: 925
Tasks completed: 55
Books read: 73
Pages read: 17735
Goodreads authors: 32
Big books: 500+ (2); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)

State/initials DE for Delaware with a nickname of "Small Wonder"
Book 1
Dead Mountain: The True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar
used ebook so hardback is
Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident with 288 pages
*Donnie Eichar is a GR author, claiming ticket
Book 2 word in title/subtitle 'Small'
Brooklyn Brew Shop's Beer Making Book: 52 Seasonal Recipes for Small Batches by Erica Shea
30.4 - Sheila/Kathy G's task
Springtime book 1
Option 1- P & T are in SPRINGTIME
A Summons to Memphis by Peter Taylor
Monopoly book 2
Option 3 - Any
The Wind Is Not a River by Brian Payton
Optional, why I enjoyed it - This book was one of my final books of the SRC season and it rewarded by being a rather quick paced read. I didn't know anything about the Aleutian experience in WWII so it was an interesting introduction to the history for me.
Points this post: 55
Total points to date: 930
Goodreads authors this post: 1
Total Goodreads authors: 27
Big Books this post: 0
Total Big Books: 500+(5)750+(0)1000+(0)

20.1 - Most Improved Player - Shelby's task: Chug-a Chug-a...Chug-a Chug-a...Choo-Choo
Option 1- The Scorch Trials by James Dashner has 360 pages, the 3, 6, & 0 are in 3,069 kilometers. James Dashner is a GR author.
20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Pamela Su's task: Fun in a Box!
Option 2- I read Stone Cold by C.J. Box, which has a pickup truck on the cover.

Points this post = 40
Total Points = 40/940
GRA = 1

Task 5.2 - Go.
Book set in Japan, China, Korea
The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz
Points this Post: 5
Total Points: 925
Total Tasks: 53
Goodreads Authors: 41
Big Books: 10
Total Books: 72

25.5 - Oma1229/JenneRenee's task: Spring Reading Haiku
By reading: Criminal by Karin Slaughter.
The Genre is Mystery.
Karin Slaughter is a GR Author.
Tasks Complete: 12
Total Points: 190
Big Books: 500+ (3), 750+(), 1000+()
GR Authors: 7

A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband "Master" by Rachel Held Evans
My boggle word is "year"
15.10 Goof Off!
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
*** Gail Carriger is a Goodreads Author ***
50.1 - Ms Anderson's task: Five Crowns
I got tails
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning - #2 in series
*** Karen Marie Moning is a Goodreads Author ***
Book, Line and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay - #3 in series
*** Jenn McKinlay is a Goodreads Author ***
Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot - #4 in series
*** Meg Cabot is a Goodreads Author ***
Total points this post: 70
Total GRA this post: 4
Total points: 250
Total GRA: 14
Total big book tickets: 1

On the random coin flipper, I got Tails. I am not using the Wild Card option.
Book 1: For this task, I read “

Book 2: For this task, I read “

Book 3: For this task, I read “

Also, E.D. Baker is a Goodreads Author, so I’m claiming a ticket for that.
Here’s the summary:
Points Earned this Challenge: 50
Total Points Earned to Date: 595
Pages Read this Challenge: 1067
Total Pages Read to Date: 14580
Books Read this Challenge: 3
Total Books Read: 42
Goodreads Authors: 23
Big Book Tickets: 500( 1 ), 750( 1 ), 1000()

Book A - The Odyssey by Homer March 1
AND
Book B - As Far As You Can Go Without a Passport: The View from the End of the Road : Comments and Comic Pieces by Tom Bodett May 29 (set in Homer, Alaska)
The Odyssey is a BIG BOOK (541 p.)
Points This Task: 30
Total Points: 480
Total Tasks Completed: 32
Total Books Read: 38
Total Goodreads Authors: 16
Total Big Books: 500+ (2), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Books mentioned in this topic
Cress (other topics)Until I Die (other topics)
Edenbrooke (other topics)
The Fault in Our Stars (other topics)
Midnight in Austenland (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Amy Plum (other topics)Julianne Donaldson (other topics)
James Patterson (other topics)
John Green (other topics)
Shannon Hale (other topics)
More...
25.3 The Long and the Short of It
Option 1 The title of Book A must be at least twice the length of that for Book B when you count characters.
Book A Touch of a Wolf by Jez Morrow
12 characters
Jez Morrow is a GR author.
Approved for length in post #3549
Book B Six by Tara Spears
3 characters
Tara Spears is a GR author.
Approved for length in post #3459
30.6 Oh, the Places You'll Go
Book A: Read a book by an author whose first, middle, or last name is the same as a place name.
Static by L.A. Witt
Los Angeles is often referred as L.A. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles
L.A. Witt is a GR author.
Book B: Read a book set primarily in the place identified by the author's name of book A.
My Summer of Wes by Missy Welsh
Missy Welsh is a GR author.
Approved for length in post #3399
50.1 Five Crowns
Flipped heads.
The authors of all three books must share either the same first OR last name.
Book 1: Kuningastie by Taru Väyrynen and Tarmo Väyrynen
This book was previously posted for task 20.9. I now move it to here and leave task 20.9 unfinished.
Book 2: Tulisydän by Taru Väyrynen and Tarmo Väyrynen
Book 3: Wild card Next of Kin by Ann Somerville
Ann Somerville is a GR author.
Approved for length in post #3489
Points in this post: 105, -20 from book moving
Total points: 720
GR authors: 45