Reading with Style discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives
>
WI 15-16 RwS Completed Tasks - Winter 15/16
10.3 – Science Fiction DayThe Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Lexile 1070
+10 task (#6 on list)
+10 combos (10.9 – 3.85 rating; 20.9 - 1895
+10 oldies(1895)
Task total: 30
Grand total: 450
10. 4 – Valentine’s DayHowl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Lexile 800
+10 task
+5 series
+ 5 combos (20.7)
+5 oldies (1986)
Task total: 25
Grand total: 475
10.5 – Favourite AuthorsOur Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
Lexile 1090
+10 task –post 6 in thread (I changed my display name, I'm not sure if this complicates things for you)
+10 combos (10.4 - #347; 20.1 – in thread)
+15 oldies (1865)
+15 jumbo (801 pages)
Task total: 50
Grand total: 525
10.6 – Australia Day Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Lexile 590 – no style points
+10 task
Task total: 10
Grand total: 535
10.8 – Winter Solstice The Red Room by August Strindberg
+10 task – born in Sweden
+10 combos (10.2; 10.9 – 3.36 rating)
+10 oldies (1879)
Task total: 30
Grand total: 565
10.9 – Realistic Ratings Afke's Tiental by Nienke van Hichtum
(it’s a children’s book but not listed in BPL so I think it still counts for style points?)
+10 task – rated 3.5
+5 combos (20.4 –written in dutch, by a dutch author)
+10 oldies (1903)
Task total: 25
Grand total: 590
10.10 – Group Reads Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
+10 task
+5 series (Big Stone Gap #1)
+10 combos (10.2, 10.9)
Task total: 25
Grand total: 615
(Batch 2/3. I'll try get my 20 pointers posted tomorrow. I don't mind if you don't scorekeep them all)
20.9 Winnie-the-PoohThe Hog's Back Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts
+20 task (first pub 1933)
+5 combo (10.9 ave rating 3.52)
+10 oldies (1933)
+5 Series (#10 in series)
Task total: 40
RwS Total: 405
Dominoes Total: 180
Grand Total: 585
10.6 Australia DayMr. Darwin's Shooter by Roger McDonald
won Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction (1999)
I don't really get this book. Covington was an interesting enough character and the language was pleasant to read. Other reviewers talk about seeing a struggle of faith as a prominent part of the book, but I feel like I failed somehow in reading the book, because I just didn't get that from it. The faith was evident. Covington's confusion and disapproval were evident, but it seemed to be about personal estrangement. Covington wished that Darwin had truly seen him and loved him like family instead of his being a useful piece of furniture and MacCracken was in some ways a substitute friend near the end of his life. And the science and evolution were referred to and puzzled over and Covington clearly did not like The Origin of Species. But I would not have thought a faith vs science struggle to be a clear theme of the book without reading others' notes.
+10 task
+10 review
+10 combo (10.2 No L; 10.9 3.34)
Task total: 30
AND I've now done all the tasks!
RWS Finish: 100
Mega Finish: 200
Grand total: 2075
10.3 Science Fiction DayFrom the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
I was expecting action. What I got was a plot wrapped around the science of the day. This isn't a bad thing. It was just unexpected. When I read more about this series - that the actual point and intent was to outline modern science, then that made complete sense. There were definitely still a handful of larger than life characters, big personalities in a way that somewhat reminded me of the legends of Theodore Roosevelt. There was no character development, but it was a story in a sense of a great deed accomplished and I liked it.
One other thing I found interesting as I read it was that a French national wrote a story in which it was the Americans who were accomplishing an engineering marvel, although part way through Verne adds in a Frenchman who brought a crazy amount of inspiration and dream to the project, and then I was even more amused.
+10 task
+10 review
+5 combo (10.9 3.78)
+5 series
+15 age (1865)
Task total: 45
Grand total: 2120
20.9 Winnie-the-Pooh Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein
I can see why the story would have inspired the imagination of many at the time, but found it only okay for myself in this time. The subject was interesting and I did like how Heinlein used what we know of America's history with settlers with how it might work when you're going someplace completely unsuited. And how there was always the question of should we go back. The science was told naturally as part of the story.
It also definitely showed certain expectations from the time it was written. The emotions of the main character were restrained and referred to sideways and such, that struck me very much as culturally expected behavior for teenage boys of the era. Since it was told in first person, this felt awkward to me, but I expect it was more comfortable for the intended audience of other teenage and pre-teen boys.
+20 task - published 1950
+10 review
+ 5 combo (10.3; 10.9 3.72)
+ 5 age
Task total: 40
Grand total: 2160
Congratulations on your mega finish, Beth!
Post 1003 El wrote: "15.10 - DominoesSelected Poems of Christina Rossettiby Christina Rossetti
+30 task (title word "Poems" matches 15.9)
+100 completion bonus
+25 all women
+50 all can..."
Welcome, El - and congrats on your finish in your first season!
Post 1047 El wrote: "10.9 – Realistic Ratings Afke's Tiental by Nienke van Hichtum
(it’s a children’s book but not listed in BPL so I think it still counts for style points?)
+10 task..."
Yes, not at BPL or not YA/Juv at BPL, styles OK!
Post 1031 Beth wrote: "10.6 Australia DayMr. Darwin's Shooter by Roger McDonald
won Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction (1999)
I don't really get this b..."
Sorry, this doesn't qualify for 10.2 as McDonald has an L.
Post 1032 Beth wrote: "10.3 Science Fiction DayFrom the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
I was expecting action. What I got was a plot wrapped around the science of the day. This isn't a b..."
Unfortunately, Jules Verne isn't on the Canon, and this one is classified as YA Assignment at BPL with no Lexile. Task, but no styles.
Post 1031 RWS Finish: 100Mega Finish: 200"
Congratulations! Well Done!
15.7 - DominoesThe Planetarium by Nathalie Sarraute-
same nationality (French) as 15.6
Task= 25
grand total = 890
Ok. So I got 25 for Darwin and 10 for Verne so I am at 40 points less and at 2120 for my grand total. Thank you.
20.2 Sigrid Undset Middle Ages The Master of Verona by David Blixt
Review: Blixt tries too hard to integrate Shakespeare with historical fiction of Verona. But a lot of action and mystery, and astrology. We have Dante and his children, the Capuletts and Montecchioes, the storied leader of leader of Verona, Francesco Della Scalla and more. Blixt has imposed Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet into the mix (playing with names), inserted Taming of the Shrew (with no relation to the main story), even slyly hinted at the Merchant of Venice and probably more that I didn't pick up on.
The story mostly focuses on Dante's son, Pietro, who manages with little or no training to become an effective warrior and confidante of the Veronese leader Francesco Della Scalla.
This appears to be the beginning of a series called Star-Cross'd and maybe a lot of the book is setting up future adventures and introducing characters that will play a part then, but it left me struggling to keep the characters straight.
+20 Task (the entire book takes place between 1314 and 1317)
+10 Review
+5 series
+5 jumbo
Task total : 40
Grand Total: 470
10.9 - Realistic RatingsThe Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn
The Hon. Daisy Dalrymple goes off on another magazine assignment to photograph a country house, and what a coincidence, a body is dug up in the garden! The aristocratic family are all lovely, with the possible exception of the extremely overbearing Lady of the house, so who could have dunnit? The local policeman, conveniently named Dunnit (or similar), picks on the under-gardener. We know better, right? So the scrumptious DCI Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard must be called in.
I thought this one was better than the first in the series. Yes, certain things were obvious, including what was going on with Sebastian, but I don't know if I'd have got that so fast if I'd read it in 1995 when it was first published. And the murderer - any experienced reader of detective stories would have looked around thinking 'it traditionally can't be him, her, him', and there's only one character left. So not difficult to guess. All the same, cosy mysteries are like that, predictable, non-threatening to the social order, that's what cosy means. Cosies are not like Agatha Christie who would take you down paths you didn't expect. So on that basis, on its own terms, 4 stars.
+10 task
+10 review
+ 5 combo (10.7 cozy mysteries)
+10 series (book 1 was claimed for task 10.7)
Task total: 35
Grand Total: 1610
10.2 Noel, NoelMaeve's Times by Maeve Binchy
I picked this up from the library’s new section because I have enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s books over the years. This book is a collection of the columns she wrote for The Irish Times, including her first and last ones. The time span of the columns is from 1960s to 2000s, which sometimes is amusing looking back at subjects that have changed quite a bit (eg. air travel) or following subjects that continue to be news (eg. the Royal Family). Her columns are pretty much what you would expect from her books – keenly observant, gently funny, and self-deprecating. It’s also clear she loved Ireland, despite living in England for many years. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it as a complement to her novels.
10 task
10 review
5 real rating (3.82)
___
25
Running total: 770
10.5 Favorite AuthorsCrossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar by Mercedes LackeyReview
Transmutation
I liked this story because a little boy showed kindness to a creature most people in his village were scared of. The boy helped him when he needed aid. The boy was rewarded by an offer to serve the gryphons.
Feast of the Children
I liked this story because the priest helped the children that had special "gifts." The people were afraid of these gifts and called them "witch powers". I think these children would have been welcome in Haven.
Horse of Air
I liked this story because because the hearld had helped a woman who was different. She is an albino and the people were scared of her. She actually had bard gifts which she used on the villagers . Even though, she didn't use her gifts correctly, I couldn't blame her I felt sorry for her.
Safe and Sound
I liked this story because of the persistence of a bard trainee. Even though her methods were not the right way to go about it, she made amends and still got her song to perform for her test to become a full bard.
Two Voices, One Song
I liked this story because it was about true love between two people despite their age. They ended up being soulmates. The man had more than one wife. His soulmate was his fourth wife. When he was wounded, she saved his life through song.
Task + 10
Combo +5 10.9 Realistic Ratings 3.89
Review +10
Book Total: 25
Grand Total: 190
10.6 Australia dayVictorian Premier's Prize for Fiction (2014)
Coal Creek by Alex Miller
I just finished this book today, and it was one of those (few) books that I shut and said ‘wow’. Wow. What a fantastic book. However, I will say it took me 50 to 70 pages to understand and appreciate the narrator’s voice. The narrator (Bobby) is semiliterate, and so that is how he writes. I’m very impressed that Miller didn’t slip once and come out of character. You get a real feel for the characters, the outback, and the animals from Bobby. He is used to being observant (to work and survive in the bush), which works to our benefit. As well the tension in the story builds slowly, often without you realizing it – then Bobby starts using this line: “And I will tell about that when the time is right for it.” – which I found to be quite a nerve wracking way to put it! I really don’t want to spoil the story so I’ll stop here, and say I definitely recommend this book.
10 task
5 real rate (3.98)
5 combo 20.1 (see Elizabeth's link below)
10 review
_____
30
Running total: 800
Valerie wrote: "10.6 Australia dayVictorian Premier's Prize for Fiction (2014)
Coal Creek by Alex Miller
I just finished this book today, and it was one of those (few) books that ..."
Because of your review, I thought this might qualify for 20.1. I have found a reference, and you can choose to use it for the task or just for the combo:
http://readingmattersblog.com/2014/09...
20.10 Leap YearExtraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice
Review:
This is a very readable and interesting biographical memoir by the former Secretary of State. She describes growing up in segregated Birmingham, Alabama in the 1950's and 1960's. Her parents were very involved in her life and did everything they possibly could to help her realize her potential. Much of the book describes her very close relationship with them, which continued until their deaths. She describes living close to the turmoil of the civil rights struggles in the 1960's. She gets in to some political stuff near the end of the book, but the main focus is her growing up. The book is full of interesting stories and I enjoyed reading it.
+20 task
+ 5 combo (10.9 - 3.93 rating)
+10 review
Task total=35
Grand total=700
10.9 Realistic RatingsMy Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Review:
There is no disputing that as always, Elizabeth Strout's writing is beautiful. The characters are well drawn, even if not particularly likeable, and I enjoyed the hospital setting. But there was just something off about this story. At 193 pages, it was too short, for one thing. There was enough going on that it could easily have been filled in and lengthened. Or maybe I'm just burned out on reading about dysfunctional families, and hints of disturbed behavior. For as long as Strout keeps publishing books, I will read them, hoping that she might write another that approaches Olive Kitteridge. I would recommend any of her earlier novels over Lucy Barton - although it is worth reading.
+10 task (3.70 rating)
+10 review
Task total=20
Grand total=720
El wrote: "I changed my display name, I'm not sure if this complicates things for you."Nope, this clears it all up. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
From Post 1027El wrote: "10.9 – Realistic Ratings
Afke's Tiental by Nienke van Hichtum
(it’s a children’s book but not listed in BPL so I think it still counts for style points?)
+10 task..."
+5 Combo 20.9
10.5 Favorite AuthorsThe Man Without a Shadow by Joyce Carol Oates
Review:
This is a strange story about the relationship that develops between an amnesiac man, Elihu Hoopes, and a female neuroscientist named Margot Sharpe, who spends several decades doing scientific studies on Hoopes. Hoopes was a member of an extremely wealthy family. Sharpe was socially inept and didn't have a normal personal life. This book was hard for me to read. Much of it was boring and repetitious as it described the interminable tests inflicted on Hoopes. Then it became infuriating as Hoopes was so terribly exploited. There was a tantalizing hint of some type of mystery concerning the death of Hoopes' female cousin many years earlier, when Hoopes was five years old and the cousin was eleven. Even the resolution of this plot thread was disappointing. This one ranks at the bottom of my list of the thirty-nine books by JCO that I have read.
+10 task
+ 5 combo (10.9 - 3.52 rating)
+10 review
Task total=25
Grand total=745
From Post 1033Beth wrote: "20.9 Winnie-the-Pooh
Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein
+ 5 combo (10.3; 10.9 3.72)"
I see two combos here, so it should be +10, not +5. Just trying to keep us in sync.
20.5 Alice Munro (2013) - AwardsBarney's Version by Mordecai Richler
Review: When I started this book, I thought I was in for the type of book I tend not to like – an account of a white, affluent, often Jewish man dissatisfied with his life and obsessed with his penis. I guess to some extent that’s what I got, but Barney’s Version actually has a couple of compelling parts to the story that made me care. I’m not sure that caring was ever extended to the character itself, but that didn’t matter. The mystery of whether or not Barney murdered his friend kind of mixed together with his declining mental state to create a much more compelling journey than I ever expected – just another example of not judging a book until you’ve read it.
+20 Task (Scotiabank Giller Prize 1997)
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.8 – Canada)
Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 1740
10.7 Cozy HolidaysArtifact by Gigi Pandian
Review: Cozy mysteries are hit or miss with me – I have to either believe enough that the central figure would be embroiled in the mystery against all odds, or it has to be so over the top that I just ride along with it. I guess this one kind of did both, but regardless I really enjoyed it. There were times when the writing felt a little immature, but it really hooked me when Lane’s past was revealed. I’m a little bit a sucker for him now, and kind of want to follow the rest of the series if only to follow Jaya’s love life.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.2, 10.9 – 3.77)
+5 Series
Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 1775
20.9 Winnie-the-Pooh Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov
This book was more satisfying than the first two, even though it was also in two novellas instead of a single story. There was more of a philosophical approach to the question of how do you defeat a telepath than the fight against the Mule had been along with more convulated plots and less guarantee that everything would follow Seldon's Plan. The characters are still mostly two-dimensional, but serve their purpose. The feeling of multiple endings was a combination of amusing and annoying. I enjoyed it and am moving forward in the series to the ones Asimov wrote years later. Although I didn't like it well enough to understand why the trilogy won a special Hugo unless it was more about the influence on others at the time.
+20 task
+10 review
+15 combo (10.2 No L, 10.3 sci-fi, 10.8 Russian)
+5 age (1953)
+15 third I've read in this series this challenge, different tasks
Task total: 65
Grand total: 2190
(with Kate's correction of my math)
10.9 Realistic RatingsAmerican Appetites by Joyce Carol Oates
Review:
This is a story set in the 1980's about a circle of affluent, professional couples who worked and socialized together. Most of them were not nice people; adultery, lying, and drinking were the norm. The first one-third of the story slogged along from one party to another, one affair to another. Then the marriage of one of the couples, Ian and Glynnis, reached a serious crisis. A surprising event then occurred which resulted in a court trial. At least the book got more interesting. This novel to me ranks in the lower end of Oates' books, mostly because the characters were so unlikable. And the ending was (view spoiler).
+10 task (3.55 rating)
+10 review
+ 5 oldies (1989)
Task total=25
Grand total=770
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Valerie wrote: "10.6 Australia dayVictorian Premier's Prize for Fiction (2014)
Coal Creek by Alex Miller
I just finished this book today, and it was one of those (..."
Thanks for looking out for me Elizabeth! You know I need all the help I can get - ha, ha.. What a well written review - I'm going to have to step up my game. Anyhow, I am almost finished Close Range by Annie Proulx for 20.1. So, I will amend my Coal Creek score with the combo.
10.9 - Realistic RatingsRequiem for a Mezzo by Carola Dunn
+10 task
+ 5 combo (10.7 cozy mysteries)
Task total: 15
Grand Total: 1625
20.7 - FeminismMiddlemarch by George Eliot
+20 task (no. 42 on list)
+15 combo (10.4 no 196 on list, 10.9 ave rating 3.91, 20.1 approved in message 142 of help thread, )
+10 oldies (1872)
+20 jumbo (904 pages)
Post total: 65
RwS Total: 470
Dominoes Total: 180
Grand Total: 650
15.9 DominosPicture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
same birth decade (60s) as 15.8
Task total = 30
Grand total = 315
15.10 DominosA Perfect Stranger byJaden Skye
same word in title as 15.9
task = 30
completion total = 100
all female authors 25
task total = 155
grand total = 470
Kate S wrote: "From Post 686Karen Michele wrote: "10.8 Winter Solstice
The Murder of Harriet Krohn by Karin Fossum
+20 Task
+15 Combo: 10.2 Noel, Noel / 10.9 Realistic Ratings..."
My score matches what you have on the Readerboard now, Kate!
Congrats to all of the finishers so far!
10.1 Read a book from Bloom's canonCranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
+10 task
+5 combo (10,9 - 3.84)
+15 oldies (p. 1851)
Task total 30
Grand total 535
10.8 Winter SolsticeThe Heart of Valor by Tanya Huff
+10 task - Canada
+5 combo (10.3)
+5 series
Task total 20
Grand total 555
20.3 Toni MorrisonDevil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
+20 task
+10 combo (10,9 - 3.92, 20.1)
+5 oldie (p. 1990)
+5 series
Task total 40
Grand total 595
10.8 Winter SolsticeAs Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
+10 task - Canada
+5 combo (10.9 - 3.93)
+5 series
Task total 20
Grand total 615
10.4 Valentine's DayBleak House by Charles Dickens
Review
That took me a monstrously long time to finish! It was slow to start (as with all Dickens’ novels!) and until you’ve grasped the pace and language, you really have to work in persistence to get through it. Most of all, I enjoyed the mystery he presented in this novel... I didn’t quite like Inspector Bucket at the start but when he set out the solution to the mystery & arresting the perpetrator, Wow! I loved him from then on. I guess I’m just a mystery buff. On the other hand, I just couldn’t get my head around Esther Summerson –she’s just too good to be true (again, this seems typical of Dickens to have some too-good-too-be-true genteel lady as a main character? I’m thinking of Little Dorrit which I vaguely remember to be just as elusive to me... some sort of ideal lady he’s put on a pedestal mayhap?)
+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.9 - avg 3.98)
+10 Review
+15 Oldies (pub. 1853)
+25 Jumbo (1,017 pages)
Post total: 65 points
Total points: 1,240 points
20.9 Winnie-the-PoohThe Moving Finger (Miss Marple #4) by Agatha Christie
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.2 -No L; 10.9 - avg 3.82)
+5 Series
+5 Oldies (pub. 1942)
Post total: 40 points
Total points: 1,280 points
10.9 Realistic RatingsVoss by Patrick White
avg. 3.75
+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.2 -No L)
+5 Oldies (pub. 1957)
Post total: 20 points
Total points: 1,300 points
20.9 Winnie-the-PoohThe Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
Review
This is one of the dustiest books on my tbr so I’m glad to finally have read it! On the other hand, I had expected to enjoy it more than I did. The synopsis noted that this novel is about four aristocratic women so I expected, at least, four perspectives BUT I got one main perspective (about 90% of the time the story is told from Sachiko’s point of view, the second sister). This turned out to be so frustrating as I feel that I’m missing a lot of things. I don’t know what’s actually in the minds of Tsuruko, the eldest, and what pressures she’s facing from being eldest and married to a man whose nature I’m not even sure of. Yukiko, the third sister, appears to be mysterious and at times, so ambiguous, that I’m really really curious as to what’s going through her mind. And lastly, Taeko, the youngest, and one who appears to be a rebel! Gosh, is she really the black sheep of the family and whhhyyyyy....?????? All I’ve got from this novel is questions and more questions and the novel just stopped in what it feels to be right in the middle of a ‘story’. Despite my complaints, I’ve really enjoyed reading about life in Japan just before WWII –of the clash between cultures and ages.
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.2 -No L; 10.9 - avg 3.99)
+10 Review
+5 Oldies (pub. 1943)
+5 Jumbo (544 pages)
Post total: 50 points
Total points: 1,350 points
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
The Night Ranger (other topics)The Drop (other topics)
Shoot the Dog (other topics)
The Whites (other topics)
Between the World and Me (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Alex Berenson (other topics)Brad Smith (other topics)
Harry Brandt (other topics)
Ta-Nehisi Coates (other topics)
Alex Berenson (other topics)
More...
Agatha Webb by Anna Katharine Green
+10 task
+5 series (Caleb Sweetwater #1)
+10 combo (10.9 - 3.29 rating, 20.9 – pub 1899)
+10 oldies (pub 1899)
Task total: 35
Grand total: 420