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WI 15-16 RwS Completed Tasks - Winter 15/16
10,7 Cozy HolidaysThe Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves
+10 task
+10 combo (10,9 - 3,76, 10.2)
+ 5 series
Task total 25
Grand total 155
20.1 Grazia DeladdaThe Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
+20 task
+10 combo (10.9 - 3.92, 20.7)
+ 5 oldies (p. 1988)
Task total 35
Grand total 190
10.5 Favorite AuthorsGhost Story by Jim Butcher
I can't really believe I've read 13 of these books. But I always enjoy dipping into this series, and, as always, James Marsters does an impressive job with the narration of the audiobook. I like Harry Dresden and the world Jim Butcher has created. I'm tolerant of the underlying sexism in the book because it's a fun series and the sexism seems intentional and somewhat tongue-in-cheek rather than just accidental. This isn't a series to pick up in the middle -- there's too much character development and complicated plotlines for that. I'm sure I'll continue this series the next time I want a plot-heavy audio to carry me through a long boring drive or a weekend with a lot of chores.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.2)
+5 Series
Task total: 30
Grand total: 610
20.10 ExtraToxin Toxout: Getting Harmful Chemicals Out of Our Bodies and Our World by Bruce Lourie
Nothing in this book is really all that surprising, but it is depressing to see it compiled into a single book. There are all sorts of toxic chemicals in all sorts of everyday stuff and we aren't really doing much about it. The experiments that they run are too short-term to really shed much light on the effects of toxic chemicals, but they do show that the chemicals are getting into our bodies (and that there are measurable ways to lower their levels). I've made most of the recommended changes already - choosing organic foods, natural personal care products and cleaning products, drinking lots of water. A perfectly interesting book, written in an engaging way, but nothing surprising for anyone moderately informed about environmental issues.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.8 - Canada; 10.9 - 3.84)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 650
10.2 Déjà Dead by Kathy Reichs
+10 task
+10 combo (10.9 -3.84, 20.1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)
+5 series
+5 jumbo (532 pages)
task total: 30
grand total: 550
10.1 - bought well before this round startedLife in the Victorian Asylum: The World of Nineteenth Century Mental Health Care by Mark Stevens
+10 task
+5 combo (10.9 -3.74)
task total: 15
grand total: 565
20.1-Grazia DeleddaThe Stand by Stephen King
Review:
The Stand is Stephen King's vision of the United States after an apocalyptic epidemic of a superflu virus. Less than 1% of the population are naturally immune; the rest die a swift but horrific death. Instead of simply trying to reorganize and rebuild the country, survivors face a more fundamental challenge. People begin to have strange dreams, and gravitate either to Nebraska (and eventually Boulder) or Las Vegas. It becomes a showdown between Good and Evil. With 1153 pages to work with, King tells a detailed and compelling story. I had nightmares more than once while reading this book, even though it was the second time I'd read it. The original 1978 version, which I read when it was first published, had several hundred pages cut. Those pages are restored in the 1990 version. I was happy to finally get to read the full story, and would recommend the uncut version if you decide to read this book.
+20 task (post 147)
+10 combo (10.2; 10.3)
+10 review
+ 5 oldies (1978)
+25 jumbo (MPE 1,153 pages)
Task total=70
Grand total=590
20.1 - Grazia DeleddaThe Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
At the beginning of this book, young 1940s LA cop and ex-boxer Bucky Bleichert fights another ex-boxer cop, Lee Blanchard, in the ring. Soon they are partners on the force. When a young woman is horribly tortured and killed, they both become deeply involved with the case.
I’ve read a fair number of detective/thrillers and I started out thinking "OK, another hardboiled police-procedural Ed McBain-style thing" but it was gradually less and less like that, as Bucky grew up and lost his illusions about his job and his colleagues, while becoming obsessed with the dead girl.
Another reviewer quoted a line from the book: "I felt like I was sinking in a quicksand of all our old lies," and said this was how she felt as a reader, by the end. Me too.
A tragedy on so many levels. As the twists and turns of the final solution(s) unravelled, it reminded me more of The Great Gatsby than any thriller.
+20 task https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
+10 review
+ 5 combo (10.9)
+ 5 series
Task total: 40
Grand Total: 1080
I have 15 points more on my spreadsheet than are showing on the leaderboard - I have 1040 to post 695. Is it me?ETA: Here is my list https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
I'm guessing you might have missed where I claimed 5 extra points for The Blind Assassin in post 568, but I don't know about the other 10.
20.9 Winnie-the PoohA Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie
+20 task (published 1953)
+5 Combo (10.9 rating 3.81)
+15 Series (previous 10.5, 10.7)
+5 Oldies
Task total: 45
Grand Total: 895
Dominoes 15.2The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron
title word Christmas is the same word in 15.1.
Published 2013
Dominoes
15.3 The Nightingaleby Kristin Hannah
Published 2015, in the same decade as 15.2
Task Total: 30
Grand Total 135
20.5 Alice MunroRunaway by Alice Munro
+20 task (Scotiabank Giller Prize 2004)
+10 Combo (10.8 Canada, 10.9 rating 3.98)
Task total: 30
Grand Total: 925
I show 5 more points than you. It may be that when I originally posted 611, I missed oldies points Potiki was first published in 1986
10.9 - Realistic RatingsThe Odyssey by Homer
Canon
It’s odd reviewing such a well-known book that has passed into our language – “an odyssey” has come to mean a long journey or quest, but in fact, the original text spends almost as much time on Odysseus’s homecoming and revenge as on the journey, and it’s only the last leg that is covered in real time. Some of the best-known events of his journey (the Cyclops, the companions being turned into swine, Scylla and Charibdis) are not covered in the narrative but are retold by Odysseus to people he meets on this last leg as he finally gets help from the gods to return home after being made to wander for 20 years.
I read this many years ago and didn’t remember much. It was good to reread it and I enjoyed the translation I read, by Richmond Lattimore (The Odyssey), not the most recent but a well-respected translation and I enjoyed his used of language.
+10 task
+10 review
+ 5 combo (10.2)
+25 oldies
+ 5 jumbo
Task total: 55
Grand Total: 1135 on my spreadsheet, but the leaderboard has 15 less
10.2 - Noel, NoelThe Quran (by Anonymous)
I would not presume to review the Quran, but I guess I can review the translation I read, by Arthur J. Arberry. I looked carefully before picking one, since of course there are many translations. I wanted one that was not sponsored by a particular school or national government. I settled on two possibles, and found one of them was free on the internet, so went for that.
This translation, by an Englishman, was first published in 1955. Oddly, there’s a preface in the middle. Wikipedia says “For many years the scholarly standard for English translations, this rendering of the Qur'an makes a special attempt to reproduce something of the rhythms and cadence of the Arabic original.”
Arberry uses biblical names in the form that his western readers would have been familiar with, e.g. Abraham, Isaac, David, rather than Arabic-sounding forms of these names, which made it easier for me to relate to. He also reproduces some of the grammatical usages of the older translations of the Bible (e.g. ‘thee’ and ‘thou’), and uses words like “tidings” and “chastisement” which we only tend to hear in a religious context. This does give a certain weight to the language.
I was occasionally confused by the old-fashioned language, e.g. where the text calls on believers not to indulge in drinking or “arrow-shuffling” – when I looked this up, I found it was a form of gambling, and you’d think Arberry could have said that. But all in all I think the language helped to establish it in my mind as a weighty religious text.
I haven’t read any other translations to compare it with, but I don’t regret picking this one.
+10 task
+10 review
+25 oldies
+ 5 jumbo
Task total: 50
Grand Total: 1185 on my spreadsheet, but the leaderboard has 15 less
Post 723 Heather wrote: "20.8Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Lexile 630, no styles
+20 task
Task total: 20
grand total: 585"
Heather, this book is not shelved as YA at BPL, so the Lexile rule does not apply. If there are combos or other styles you'd like to claim, you are free to do so.
20.5 Alice MunroThe Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
+20 task
+5 combo (10.9 - 3.68)
+15 jumbo (848 pp)
Task total 40
Grand total 230
20.8 Best of 2015The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
+20 task
+5 combo (10.2)
Task total 25
Grand total 255
20.9 Winnie the PoohVintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh p.1937
+20 task
+10 combo (10.2, 10.9 - 3.51)
+10 oldies
+5 series
Task total 45
Grand total 300
10.3 Sci-Fi Day (#1)Second Foundationby Isaac Asimov
+10 (10.3 Sci-Fi Day)
+5 combo (10.2 No L)
+5 combo (10.8 Winter Solstice, Asimov was born in what is now Russia)
+5 combo (20.9 Winnie the Pooh, 1953)
+10 Review
+5 oldies (1953)
+15 series, book 3
Task total: 55
Grand Total for Winter: 175
Finally. Done. Over. And I care less about the future of the galaxy than I did prior to reading this trilogy. I kept thinking that the next in the series would improve my impression of the previous book(s). I was wrong. This installation continues the tradition of the series lacking continuity and structure while generally messing with the reader (but not in a fun way).
The first bit would be better suited to end the 2nd book...in fact, it reads like a publisher pushed a deadline on the author, cut him off, and published what was ready of #2 despite the fact it wasnt done. The rest of the book is a long series of hiding-the-ball games. It felt a lot like a professor asking you a question, knowing full well he hadn't given you all of the information you would need to answer, and then demanding an answer. I found myself caring increasingly less about ANYTHING in the book. The characters didn't intrigue me nor ingratiate themselves to me, the plot was a series of inevitabilities (although, I suppose the only interest was the potential that it might go a way other than the inevitable), and despite (or because of) this, I didn't care whether the galaxy suffered for another 9000 years or not...I'm not 100% certain why I cared in the first place.
I'm not going to amend my earlier ratings, but if I did, this book didn't help them in the slightest.
10. 4 Valentine's DayThe End of the Affair by Graham Greene
#121 on the list
This is the fourth Graham Greene novel I’ve read, so I suppose that means I’m writing this from the perspective of a fan. The premise of the novel is obvious, but his approach is not. When I began reading it I was a little concerned because he kept going on about his hate for his former lover and her husband. However, this becomes much more nuanced as the story goes on. Instead it is an intense and doomed (due to circumstances beyond their control) love story. It’s a very tragic story with all the main characters in (emotional) pain. I finished it last night and still feel bad for all involved. I was surprised by how much involves God – I usually avoid this, but it starts when you are well into the book and caught up in the characters. Of course, it is a very important element to the story. Despite being a “fan”, I didn’t know that he became a Catholic to marry his wife and this is considered his last “Catholic” novel. Apparently this novel is his roman a clef, however it doesn’t adhere too closely to real life (can’t say why – it’ll spoil it!). All in all, a classic worth reading.
10 task
10 review
5 oldie (1951)
5 10.2 (Noel, noel)
5 10.9 (realistic rating of 3.96)
5 20.9 (pub. 1951)
_____
40
Running total: 515
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 723 Heather wrote: "20.8Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Lexile 630, no styles
+20 task
Task total: 20
grand total: 585"
Heather, this book is not shelved as Y..."
As far as I can tell, the only addition I can get is +10 series (Red Rising #2). That'd give me a 595 cumulative total, if I'm correct.
20.1Virals by Kathy Reichs
low lexile, no styles
+20 task (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)
task total: 20
grand total: 615
Task 15.4 Dominoes – The Fourth BookFire from Heaven (Alexander the Great #1) (1969) by Mary Renault
+15 Task (decade of the author's death: 1980 – 1989 :matches 15.3 author Daphne du Maurier)
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 330 + 15 = 345
20.9 Winnie-the-PoohThe Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
1896 falls within Milne's lifespan
Wells pulls out the tension and suspense with this novel, although knowing what's coming and being well-steeped in sci-fi/horror does seem to lessen the effect in relation to what a contemporary reader might have felt. It was still enough to give some shudders and definitely enough to appreciate how Wells wrote it to generate the emotional effect.
The book reminded me of Frankenstein, after a fashion, which a quick internet search shows is hardly a new reaction for readers and was probably purposeful. I just find it interesting that it would do so when only the theme - changing nature gone wrong - matches and the details and plot are very different. The narration was more consistent, though, which I appreciated.
Overall the book was a good read.
+20 task
+10 review
+10 oldies (1896)
+10 combo (10.3, 10.9 - 3.71)
Task total: 50
Grand total: 1400
Rosemary wrote: "I have 15 points more on my spreadsheet than are showing on the leaderboard - I have 1040 to post 695. Is it me?ETA: Here is my list https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/......"
Found and fixed. Thank you for the information.
itpdx wrote: "I show 5 more points than you. It may be that when I originally posted 611, I missed oldies points Potiki was first published in 1986"It was that exactly. Found and corrected.
From Post 700Tien wrote: "20.1 Grazia Deledda (1926)
11.22.63 by Stephen King
approval on help thread, #147
Review
I love love love this book! I’ve only read a handful of Stephen King’s books ..."
This actually qualifies for 15 Jumbo points, the MPE has 849 pages.
Rosemary wrote: "20.1 - Grazia DeleddaThe Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
At the beginning of this book, young 1940s LA cop and ex-boxer Bucky Bleichert fights another ex-boxer cop, Lee B..."
+5 Oldies (1987)
10.1 Own Task: Read A book from the 1001 listFaces in the Water by Janet Frame
Nothing like a looming due date to get one to finish that difficult book that you have been struggling with!
This book, though short, was really difficult. Somewhat autobiographical it is set in two different mental institutions and looks at the way in which patients are treated, how they are perceived and treated by those who attend to them, the conditions of the various different wards ( patients are divided into different wards according to the severity of their condition), and the treatments of electroconvulsive therapy and insulin (both treatments that Frame underwent during her lifetime).
Apart from the difficult subject matter, stylistically this isn't an easy read. Subjects jump around without warning, punctuation can be foresaken with words running into each other and repeated.
I can't say this was a pleasurable read, but it was rewarding to have finished.
+10 task
+10 combo (10.2, 20.1 - approved post #60)
+5 oldies
+10 review
Task Total = 35
Grand Total = 460
20.9 Winnie the PoohBattle Cry by Leon Uris
+20 Task (pub 1953)
+5 Jumbo (694 pages)
+5 Oldies (1953)
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 835
The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens
+10 Task (Canada)
+5 Combo (10.9)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 850
15.8 DominoesFour Novels: The Square, Moderato Cantabile, 10:30 on a Summer Night, The Afternoon of Mr. Andesmas by Marguerite Duras
+15 Task (same first name as 15.7)
+10 Bonus
Post Total: 25
Season Total: 870
20.9 Best of 2015A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
+20 Task (NPR list)
+5 Combo (10.9)
Post Total: 25
Season Total: 895
20.5 Alice MunroHalf Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.8, 10.9)
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 925
10.2 - Noel, NoelRoadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver
+10 task
+5 Combo (10.9)
+5 series #2
Task total: 20
Grand total: 270
10.9 - Realistic RatingsXO by Jeffery Deaver
+10 task
+5 Combo (10.2)
+10 series #3
Task total: 25
Grand total: 295
20.2 Sigrid UndsetColumba by Nigel Tranter
+20 pts - task
+ 5 pts - Combo (10.9-3.6 stars)
+ 5 pts - Oldies (1987)
Task Total - 30 pts
Grand Total - 525 pts
15.3 Dominoes- Author died same decade as author for 15.2Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays by Christa Wolf
task +15
grand total = 660
15.10 Book DominoesLittle Black Dress by Susan McBride
same word as in previous title (black) (see message 11 in Domino plan thread)
30 task
100 completion woohoo!!!!!
25 all female authors
___
155
Running total: 670
Valerie wrote: "15.10 Book DominoesLittle Black Dress by Susan McBride
same word as in previous title (black) (see message 11 in Domino plan thread)
30 task
100 completion woohoo!..."
Congratulations
10.6 Australia DayThe Drowner by Robert Drewe
+10 task (lots of awards including Adelaide Festival 1996)
+10 Combo (10.2, 10.9 rating 3.50)
Task total: 20
Grand Total: 945
20.8 Best of 2015The Gap of Time: The Winter’s Tale Retold by Jeanette Winterson - on the Book Concierge list
Ah, Winterson! How much I enjoy reading you!
Like most of Winterson's work, I found this a little slow to get into, but once it picks up its story and pace - bang! The rest of the book flies by, carrying you with it crashing towards the end, which in this case seemed to happen too soon (especially since there was still 3 or 4 pages to go, which was all exposition, which I would have perhaps preferred at the start of the book rather than the end - it did kind of kill the joy a little).
I haven't read Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, but that doesn't really matter ( since there is so much exposition) as this is a fine story in its own right and you can read it without that cross-referencing. There were parts of the story I would like to see explored more, Xeno and his Gap of Time computer game being one and the whole dark angel thing, and perhaps the ending was tied up a little too neatly, but I really enjoyed this and it has left me interested in reading more into this series of "Shakespeare cover versions".
+20 task
+5 combo (10.9 - rated 3.81)
+10 review
Task Total = 35
Grand Total = 495
10.10 Group ReadsThe Inverted World by Christopher Priest
+10 task
+10 Combo (10.3, 10.9 rating 3.87)
+5 Oldies (published 1974)
Task total: 25
RwS Finish 100
Grand Total: 1070
15.8 – DominoesHelliconia Summer by Brian W. Aldiss
+15 task- same word in title - summer
+10 bonus
Task total: 25
Grand Total: 1095
15.9 DominoesThe Accidental by Ali Smith
previous book's author is Lee Smith
Task Total - 30 pts
Grand Total - 555 pts
20.7 FeminismThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë #46 on the list
I am quite sure that I would have enjoyed this a lot more if I hadn't just listened to Villette. I am far too old to transition from Bronte to Bronte, I am passed the tragic, gothic love story. Perhaps I should have read all of the Bronte's when I was 12, so the Gilbert Markham and Monsieur Emanuel would hold the places in my heart that Heathcliff and Mr Rochester do.
That said, I did enjoy this, and the audiobook was well read and really enjoyable. I liked that half the book was from a male perspective, and read by one, and it transitioned in the middle to the female narrator as the focus became on Helen Graham / Huntington's journal, rather than Markham's letter.
If you are not too old ( at heart ) for bitter-sweet love, then I would recommend this to you.
+20 task
+10 review
+15 oldies
+5 jumbo
+10 combos (10.4, 10.9 - rating 3.88)
Task Total = 60
Grand Total = 555
From Post 733Kath wrote: "20.5 Alice Munro
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
+20 task
+5 combo (10.9 - 3.68)
+15 jumbo (848 pp)
Task total 40
Grand total 230"
+5 Combo 10.8-author born in Canada
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Reading with Style
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The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
+10 task
+10 combo (10.9 -3.85, 20.8)
Task total 20
Grand total 130