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WI 15-16 RwS Completed Tasks - Winter 15/16
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15.3 DominoesCircling the Sun by Paula McLain
Published in 2015, the same decade as 15.2.
Task total: 15
Grand total: 875
20.9 - Winnie-the-PoohTono-Bungay by H.G. Wells
I loved the beginning of this. The description of the housekeeper’s son growing up in the big house was almost Dickensian, except that David Copperfield or Nicholas Nickleby wouldn’t have been as rebellious as the argumentative, atheistic George.
Then he’s apprenticed to his uncle, a pharmacist who makes his own tonics and concoctions, one of which, called Tono-Bungay, takes off and becomes a massive success. His uncle becomes hugely rich, and George along with him… but will it last?
(view spoiler)
The first half was great, but in the second half I felt Wells had lost the plot – literally – and threw in anything he could think of.
+20 task (1909)
+10 combo (10.3, 10.9)
+10 review
+10 oldies (1909)
Task total: 50
Grand Total: 2060
10.9 Realistic Ratings (Cory Day's Task)-China in the 21st Century by Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom
This book was exactly what it wanted to be - a simple condensed guide of relevant history and cultural points related to understanding China today. The format was question and answer, grouped by theme, which worked well. I especially liked how some of the contradictions were presented- like how the view of Confucius by the state has changed drastically over living lifetimes, or how Mao might be viewed internally by an every-day person vs a higher-up vs a foreigner. Wasserstrom is especially interested in noting that China is not homogenous, neither in ethnicity, or regional attitudes, or generational perspective. Overall, it's a useful and positively oriented overview of what might be the key points and I enjoyed the clear reading experience.
+10 task
+10 review
Task total: 20
Grand total: 2480
20.9 Winnie-the-Pooh Kate's Task: Read a book published during author A.A. Milne's lifetime (1882-1956)King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
I really liked the book. It was a great adventure, as billed, although with more journey, more war, and fewer puzzles, than a similar story might be written nowadays. The characters were distinct in their attitudes and motivations and their actions believable. The language was clear and the story moved forward well.
We knew the journey would succeed to some degree, because of the nature of the story - being a letter to Quartermain's son - but I didn't think that took anything away from it, because, really, what adventure book doesn't have the main character living and succeeding to some degree (but frequently not entirely)?
There were the expected attitudes of British colonialists - natives as naive savages who were either childlike, noble, or cruel - with some use of derogatory terms - and the only women being either a young ideal or an old evil hag. But the general attitude of Quartermain, and the tone of his speech, wasn't as painful as some other stuff I've read. Although, in reading other reviewers, I also see their point that the entire structure of the plot has some other issues as well.
It was still worth it and fun and in some ways drove me nuts less than reading The Three Musketeers did, even though that one is more of a classic.
+20 task (1885)
+10 review
+10 oldies
+5 series
+5 combo (10.9 3.80)
Task total: 50
Grand total: 2530
10.9 Realistic Ratings (Cory Day's Task)-The Best American Poetry 2015 ed by Sherman Alexie
+10 task
Task total: 10
Grand total: 2540
10.2 Noel NoelThe House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance by Ron Chernow
"It is not a large bank, as Wall Street banks go," said the New York Times. "A dozen other institutions have much larger resources. ... What really counts is not so much its money as its reputation and brains. ... It is not a mere bank; it is an institution."I had heard of the House of Morgan and knew it was prestigious, but being on the west coast, and a person without wealth and no hopes of it, I didn't really know much more than that. This book presented itself to me on Goodreads, and I was curious. There are three sections: The Baronial Age, 1838-1913; The Diplomatic Age, 1913-1948; The Casino Age, 1948-1989.
My interest was piqued in the first section when I learned that in 1873 there was a major downturn in the economy, one which would not be outdone until the crash of 1929. 1873 was the year my maternal grandfather was born, and I realized I would be reading the Baronial Age section with a view to the world this part of my family lived in and read about in the newspapers.
I had that same interest for the second section, the age when my parents came of age and began their lives as adults. But I was also interested because the House of Morgan was a leader in financing the Allies in the first World War, and also in the reparations and reconstruction following it.
The third section was filled with names I recognized, many of which I could readily put faces to. As banking became more diverse, even almost chaotic, this was my least favorite part.
I didn't expect this would take me 3 weeks to read, but I never thought for a minute to set it aside and move on to something else. It kept my interest throughout, though I would be deceitful if I said it was fascinating. It seems to me that non-fiction runs from textbook-like to fiction-like. This leans to the textbook side, though perhaps doesn't fall quite that far. This was Chernow's debut. I liked it well enough to read others by him, but I'll put some time between this and the next one.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+ 5 Oldies (pub 1990)
+15 Jumbo (812 pgs.)
Task Total = 40
Grand Total = 540
And that winds up the season for me. See you in the Spring!
Rebekah wrote: "10.1 Design Your Own (former Group Read Books)The Diviners by Margaret Laurence
Spring 2014
+10 pts - Task
+15 pts - Combo (10.8- Canada, 20.5-Governor Gen 1974, 20.7..."
+5 Combo 20.1
20.4-Elfriede Jelinek (2004)The Mistress of Husaby by Sigrid Undset
+20 Task
+20 Combo: 10.2 Noel, Noel / 20.1-Grazia Deledda (1926) /
20.2-Sigrid Undset (1928) / 20.9 Winnie-the-Pooh
+10 Series Claim 2
+10 Oldies (1921)
Task Total: 60
Grand Total: 1700
Katy wrote: "20.4 Elfriede JelinekThe Indian Bride by Karin Fossum
+20 task (pub in Norwegian, Norwegian author)
+10 combo (10.2, 10.8 - Norway)
+5 series (Konrad Sejer series..."
+5 Combo 10.9
Katy wrote: "10.8 Winter SolsticeBlack Seconds by Karin Fossum
+10 task (Norwegian author)
+5 combo (20.4)
+10 series (Konrad Sejer series - previously claimed the series in t..."
+5 Combo 10.9
Katy wrote: "20.6 Svetlana AlexievichThe Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
This book was even more interesting than #1 in the series. I was fascinated by the history embedded in t..."
+5 Combo 20.1
Katy wrote: "10.5 Favorite AuthorsThe Guilty by David Baldacci
+10 task
+5 series (Will Robie series)
+5 jumbo (672 pages)
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 655"
Sorry, Katy, the MPE of this book has 422 pages. The first one on the list is Large Print and the second one is a kindle edition, making the third edition listed the MPE for the sake of RwS.
10.8 Winter solsticeShoot the Dog by Brad Smith
10 task
5 real rating (3.61)
5 series
_____
20
Total: 960!
This is my last post for this season. I think this is the highest score I've ever gotten, and not counting the group reads (which I basically never can accomplish) I managed to complete 24/29 tasks! Whoopee!
15.2 Book DominoesThe Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Both Margaret Atwood and Emily St. John Mandel born in Canada
+15 task
Task total: 15 pts
Grand total: 425 pts
10.9 Realistic RatingsThe Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
5 stars for this mystery, easily, and I'm ordinarily not a mystery person.
+10 task (3.75 rating)
+ 5 series
Task total=15
Grand total=850
20.8 Best of 2015God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
+10 pts - Task
+10 pts - Combo (10.9,20.1)
Task - 20 pts
Completion Bonus - 100 pts
Mega Finish Bonus - 200 pts
Grand Total - 1185 pts
10.5 Favorite Authors Tricky Twenty-Twoby Janet Evanovich
Review
This is the newest installment of the Stephanie Plum series. In this book, Stephanie has to contend with a crazy college professor who hates his job and wants to take the school down with insect warfare. She has to deal with an equally unfriendly dean of students. Her FTA college student is hiding out. Morelli makes an offer Stephanie will find hard to refuse. Stephanie didn't need saving this time which was a plus. Her car only gotten blown up once and had minimal collateral damage to it. I know some fans are getting sick of the series but I am still enjoying it.
Task +10
+5 Realistic Ratings(3.90)
+10 Review
Book Total: 25
Grand Total: 265
Kate S wrote: "Katy wrote: "10.5 Favorite AuthorsThe Guilty by David Baldacci
+10 task
+5 series (Will Robie series)
+5 jumbo (672 pages)
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 655"
So..."
Thanks, Kate! I clearly was not paying as much attention as I needed to when I posted! ;)
20.3 Toni Morrison How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
low Lexile, no styles
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 830
10.9 Realistic RatingsThe Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen
+10 task (3.87 rating)
+5 series (Department Q series)
+5 jumbo (512 pages)
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 850
20.4-Elfriede JelinekTo Catch A Killer (Bodenstein & Kirchoff #7) by Nele Neuhaus
+20 Task
+5 Series
Post total: 25 points
Total points: 1,425 points
10.3 Science Fiction DayThe Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
#5 on list
+10 Task
+5 Oldies (pub. 1966)
Post total: 15 points
Total points: 1,440 points
10.9 Realistic Ratings (Cory Day's Task)-The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke
avg. 3.83
+10 Task
Post total: 10 points
Total points: 1,450 points
20.8 Best of 2015 Jama's Task:The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
NPR list
Review
The blurb really interested me when this was first published but then I heard it compared favourably with Gone Girl and I did not enjoy that book so I left The Girl on the Train collecting dust for the past year and a bit… This book really only took me 1 day to read; a fast-paced and actually quite engaging read EXCEPT… I’ve picked who the ‘bad guy’ is within the first ¼ of the book so unfortunately, I’m only going to rate this at 3 stars :( I would have completely loved it if there was an unexpected twist! I don’t know if it was purposely that easy to pick but I have enjoyed the characters with all their flaws.
+20 task
+5 combo (avg. 3.84)
+10 Review
+100 RwS Finish
+200 Mega Finish
Post total: 335
Grand Total: 1,785
10.2 No L, No LAgent 6 by Tom Rob Smith
Review:
An enjoyable conclusion to the trilogy. I missed Raisa from this book as she was one of my favorite characters in the first two books. It was good to get more back story on their marriage and first meeting, but she wasn't present in most of the book. Still, seeing Leo out of Russia and traveling to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States was a welcome change from the bleak Soviet setting of the previous two books. Overall, the book was more sad that I had hoped for characters that I'd really come to like over the past two books. Reading all of these books within a few months kept all of the stories fresh in my mind and made the trilogy feel like a coherent work rather than separate parts.
I don't recommend this as a standalone book. Read Child 44. If you like it, continue the trilogy. If not, don't read this one.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+15 Series
+10 Combo (20.1, 10.9)
Task total: 45
Grand total: 1045
Thanks for another great season!
10.7 Cozy HolidaysThyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert
Review:
This is the first of a series introducing China, who has left law for ownership of a tea shop. Here friend is found dead suddenly. Although China does not want to believe it was suicide, it takes a while for China to consider that it may have been murder. But, when she does, then she starts to investigate in that hometown cozy mystery type of way...talking with friends and neighbors and gradually putting two and two together. She is assisted in the investigations by a fellow shop owner who was convinced it was murder all along although she suspected the wrong person.
I enjoyed this American version of a Miss Marple type of mystery.
+10 task
+10 review
+5 series (China Bayles #1)
Task total = 25
Grand Total = 555
20.1 Grazia Deledda--Sense of PlaceEast of the Mountains by David Guterson
Review: A retired heart surgeon, recently widowed, has received the diagnosis of the cancer that he and his doctor know is terminal. He doesn't want to go through the debilitation that he foresees, nor does he want to put his family through it. So he plans a hunting "accident" to end his life east of the mountains where he grew up. His carefully laid plans go awry. As he tries to get them back on track and still cover his tracks, he revisits his past and meets some interesting people.
Guterson's descriptions of the area are beautiful. The story is intriguing. Although I felt that significant pieces of the past that were part of what must have formed the doctor's character are left out including his medical experiences.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.2, 10.9)
Task total: 40
Grand Total: 655
20.3 Toni MorrisonTheir Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Review
When I chose Their Eyes Were Watching God as an audiobook, I was slightly worried, because it can be difficult for me to keep the appropriate levels of concentration when I listen to "literary fiction" (i.e. boring and hard novels). But the narration by Ruby Dee drew me right in, and the wonderful storytelling and beautiful language kept me focused.
The novel tells the story of Janie, who is a true romantic living in a prosaic and practical world. Having seen bees in the spring time swarm around the blossoms of the pear tree in her grand mothers garden, Janie cannot subscribe to the notion of the surrounding society that marriage is a practical transaction, which should be undertaken mainly to increase ones worldly belongings. Their Eyes Were Watching God follows Janie as she develops through her relationships with her various husbands into a self-possessed woman who is not afraid to go against the norms of society to fulfill her desires.
The portrayal of the American South is vibrant, but comes through naturally in the telling of Janies story.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.8 (3,84), 20.7 (#7 on list), 20.9 (pub. 1937)
+10 Oldie (Pub. 1937)
Task total: 55 pts
Grand total: 480 pts
20.9 Winnie-the-Pooh Kate's Task: Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog (Three Men #1) by Jerome K. Jerome
pub. 1889
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.2 NoeL; 10.9 -avg. 3.92)
+5 Series
+10 Oldies
Post total: 45
Total points: 1,830
Bye, Winter!
Or rather Summer for me :( :( :(
20.9 - Winnie-the-PoohBrighton Rock by Graham Greene
17-year-old Pinkie has become the sociopathic leader of a small gang running a protection racket in Brighton, after his surrogate father figure Mr Kite has been killed. When he wipes out 'Fred' Hale, he sets a train of events in motion that pull more and more guilty-innocent people into the whirlpool.
This is an amazing book and it's hard to believe it was written so long ago (1938). It feels very immediate. Of course from the technology (or lack of) you know it wasn't written in 2016, but it could be the 1950s, 60s or 70s.
I've read this before and what I always remember is the ending with Rose and the gramophone record. It seems unfair because Pinkie does feel something for her. It's just not what a normal person would feel.
+20 task (1938)
+10 combo (10.2, 10.9)
+10 review
+10 oldies (1938)
Task total: 50
Grand Total: 2110
That's my last book for this season. Thank you all, especially the mods. Looking forward to spring!
20.10Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen
This book took me a REALLY long time to read. I started, stopped, started, stopped...so it wasn't riveting! On the other hand, it was definitely interesting material - I just needed some breaks. I had hoped for more -- I'm fascinated with diseases and one of my best friends in college was a biology student (who now works as an epidemiologist) who kept all kinds of dead and alive insects around our apartment. I enjoyed the parts of the book where Quammen was describing the work that scientists undertake (crawling through snake- and bat-infested caves!) to hunt down new diseases. On the whole, his scientific explanations were clear and useful, too. And having recently traveled to Cambodia and seen monkeys clamoring for tourist food around a temple, I was interested to read about the disease-spreading potential of these monkeys! (I felt very vindicated, too, since I had refused to get in touching distance from them!) Not a 5 star read, but a good one.
+20 task
+5 jumbo (592 pages)
+10 review
Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 885
Thanks, moderators! Great challenge, as always!
20.9 Winnie-the-PoohThe Awakening by Kate Chopin
published 1899
This book kind of threw me because the main character kind of drifts into her "awakening". She changes and isn't conforming and it's new and different but it all seems so simple. She doesn't really have any moral dilemmas about it. There's no real push back from the people around her. Her husband just covers for her.
As a reading experience it was good. The language was nice. I flowed along with the story and enjoyed it. The parts that seem to bug other readers as part of the character don't really bother me (adultery, selfishness, etc) because they are part of the point of the story, it's that she just has these new impulses that she follows with minimal thought. But then I'm a very analytical person. I really can't imagine making changes like this without some serious contemplation.
+20 task
+10 review
+10 oldies
+15 combos (10.9 3.61, 20.7 #5 on feminism list, 10.2 No L)
Task total: 55
Grand total: 2595
Phew... !
this should have been 10.2, I have edited to reflect the correction.thanks
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 1215Norma wrote: "10.9 - Realistic Ratings
The Drop by Michael Connelly
+10 task
+10 series #17
Task total: 20
Grand total: 540"
This has a rating of 4.12, s..."
10.2 - Noel, NoelOrchid Beach by Stuart Woods
+10 task
+5 Combo (10.9)
+5 series #1
Task total: 20
Grand total: 580
10.4 - Valentine's DayHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford
This book is very enjoyable for what it is. It isn't an exceptionally well written novel, or one that delves deeply into the issues or history that are the backdrop to the story, but the plot was extremely satisfying.
There are two timelines to the novel: the "present" (set in 1986) and the past, set between 1942 and 1945. The novel follows Henry, a first-generation Chinese boy in Seattle, who meets Keiko, a second-generation Japanese girl, at an otherwise all-white school. The two become friends despite the growing wariness of most Americans against the Japanese, and despite Henry's father's hatred of all things Japanese. The present timeline follows Henry after the death of his wife, as he learns to have a relationship with his son without his wife's presence. Both parts are done very well, and weave together in a way that fits perfectly. The jumping back and forth wasn't at all jarring or out of place. It all just flowed.
The author has been very clear that he didn't intend for there to be any political subtext to this novel (despite that portions of it are spent in a Japanese internment camp) but I do wish he'd gone a little deeper into it. As it is, the novel did feel a little bit lifeless outside of the relationships between Henry and the other characters. However, I can respect that that was how the author intended for the book to be written, and it's still a very good novel, even without the richer background.
+10 task
+10 review
+5 combo (10.9)
Post total: 25
Grand total: 350
10.2 - Noel, NoelThe Night Ranger by Alex Berenson
+10 task
+5 series #7
Task total: 15
Grand total: 595
20.1 - Grazia DeleddaThe Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart
This...was a chore. I love the legend of Merlin and King Arthur, so I had high hopes for this novel, especially after hearing so many great things about both it and its author. But it just didn't click for me.
I had two major issues with this novel. The first is that Merlin makes precisely zero choices in the course of the book. Everything just happens to him, and however it worked out was the way it was supposed to. I don't mind a book where fate plays a role, but I need for the character to take SOME responsibility for their life, and that didn't happen here at all. It took me a while to really grasp that this was what was rubbing me so wrong about this novel, but once I caught it, it became even more apparent.
The second issue was the treatment of women. I get that it's supposed to be set in the dark ages and all that, but the number of times women get calls sluts or vessels or what have you was a bit much. Especially since the novel is written by a woman and veers so far off the typical Merlin legend, I would have appreciated at least one female character treated with a bit more respect. The closest Stewart gets to a strong female character is Merlin's mother, Niniane, but even then most of the respect she gets is only due to being a princess, and it's still pretty heavily implied that she's a slut for having a bastard son.
I have the rest of the series on my shelves, so I'll probably get around to reading the second book eventually, but I'm definitely not in any rush to continue this series.
+20 task
+10 review
+5 series
+5 oldie
Post total: 40
Grand total: 390
20.5 - Alice MunroBloodletting & Miraculous Cures - Vincent Lam
This book has been sitting on my shelves for the better part of a decade. I bought it during my brief phase where I was convinced I wanted to go into the medical field (before remembering that I'm terrified of all bodily fluids and hate people), and once that phase had passed, never got around to reading it. I'm glad that I finally picked it up, because I absolutely loved it!
The interconnected stories in this collection follow four doctors through various stages in their careers, as their lives intersect and part and intersect again. Everything flows together beautifully. There's no concrete endings for any of the characters (apart from Sri) and large swatches of their lives are missing from the picture, but Lam manages to pull it off without it feeling unfinished or unsatisfying. There's not a bad story among them.
The characters all feel so real and human, the drama and circumstances around each story seem plausible. The medical details aren't too over-the-top, nor are they dumbed down to a point of feeling condescending. The characters are human first and doctors second. I felt connected to each of them, and I wanted more when I finished the collection!
+20 task
+10 review
+10 combo (10.8; 10.9)
Post total: 40
Grand total: 430
20.8 Best of 2015Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Review: This book has been all over almost every type of culture I consume – podcasts, blogs, probably even television shows. I’m not sure what I expected from it, but it was both exactly right and totally different. It truly is a letter to his son. It’s a very long letter, written in three parts. I think I would’ve caught more of it better if I’d at least have read each part at a time, because I ended it feeling like I should read it again, this time taking notes, highlighting, and really taking it in. The thing that stood out to me most is that Coates uses very nuanced language. For example, when he speaks of race he uses the phrase “people who think they are white” rather than just assuming white is a thing that has never changed. He acknowledges, not to diminish the black experience, but to highlight the ludicrous nature of these distinctions, that race is fluid. In one century a group of people – the Irish, Italians, whatever – may not have been treated as white, which in this context means equal, good, and worthy of respect.
+20 Task
+10 Review
Task Total: 30
RwS Completion Bonus (second round): 100
Grand Total: 2180
And that's it for me. Glad I got to that one.
From Post 1238Karen Michele wrote: "20.8 Best of 2015
The Whites by Harry Brandt
+20 Task
Grand Total: 1720"
+10 Combo 10.9, 10.2
From Post 1243Valerie wrote: "10.8 Winter solstice
Shoot the Dog by Brad Smith
10 task
5 real rating (3.61)
5 series
_____
20
Total: 960!
This is my last post for this season. I think this is..."
+5 Combo 10.2-Noel, Noel
Congrats on your personal best season!
Norma wrote: "this should have been 10.2, I have edited to reflect the correction.thanks
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 1215Norma wrote: "10.9 - Realistic Ratings
The Drop by [author:Michael ..."
Sorry, Norma, this doesn't qualify for 10.2 either. There is an L in the author's last name.
Norma wrote: "10.2 - Noel, NoelThe Night Ranger by Alex Berenson
+10 task
+5 series #7
Task total: 15
Grand total: 595"
This also doesn't work for 10.2-L in author's name. Sorry.
Congratulations to all finishers! Great challenge everyone - on to spring!
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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)
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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...
The Drop by Michael Connelly
+10 task
+10 series #17
Task total: 20
Grand total: 540"
This has a rating of 4.12, so does not qualify for 10.9.