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FALL CHALLENGE 2009
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FALL CHALLENGE 2009 COMPLETED TASKS
Here are my books for the past week:10.5 Oktoberfest - Read a book set in Germany
I read The Book Thief. It was set in World War II Germany. It is a four-star book.
25.4 Candace's Task - Read a book written in the last 10 years and watch the movie
I read The Constant Gardener, published in 2001, and watched the movie, produced in 2005. Both the book and the movie revolve around the murder of Tess. Her husband seeks to learn what she was knew that led to her murder. I preferred the book. Tess came across as a busy-body in the movie, but in the book she was more rounded and involved with the people of Kenya. The solving of the mystery was simplified in the movie in a way that made it more probable. However, the final resolution was less satisfying. Without having read the book first, I think some of the flashbacks and characters would have been confusing.
For 20 points I completed Erin's ABC task. Using M, N, and O I read:"Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert
"Notting Hell" by Rachel Johnson
"On Call: A Doctor's Days and Nights in Residency" by Emily R. Transue, M.D.
Cynthina thanks for your EXCELLENT Record keeping. I agree with my total of 350
which means I am halfway done
5.1 A Good and Happy Child - Justin Evans5.9 The Unit - Ninni Holmqvist (senior citizens)
Total points: 10
Both really good books!
5 Points Tasks1. THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER - AMY TAN
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8. LIFEGUARD - JAMES PATTERSON & ANDREW GROSS
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10 Points Tasks
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5. SCHINDLER'S ARK - THOMAS KENALLY
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10. SCAREDY CAT - MARK BILLINGHAM
15 Points Tasks
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2. FATHERLAND - ROBERT HARRIS
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20 Points Tasks
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25 Points Tasks
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2. SILENT PARTNER - JONATHAN KELLERMAN & THE BRUTAL ART - JESSE KELLERMAN (Father & Son)
3. THE COLOR PURPLE - ALICE WALKER
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7. RETRIBUTION - JILLIANE HOFFMAN,
8.DAVID COPPERFIELD - CHARLES DICKENS, GODS IN ALABAMA - JOSHILYN JACKSON,
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30 Points Task
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50 Points Task
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65/640
I completed 15.2 (teacher/student) by reading Speak and To Sir with Love - both excellent. I could see Speak being particularly useful in support of a discussion with youth on sex and consent. To Sir With Love reminded me of an earlier read for this challenge, Life Enriching Education, and reminded me how grateful I am for teachers who teach their students with respect.Total points: 330
I've just finished the last book for 25.8Name- Sam's letter to Jennifer- James Patterson
Thing- The shop on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber
Place- Manhatten is my beat- Jeffrey Deaver
Cynthia wrote: "Teresa in Ohio wrote: "message 1743: by Teresa in Ohio (last edited 10/03/2009 06:44PM) 21 hours, 42 min ago 15.3 addition 13 letters in name
I read The KeepsakeTess Gerritsen
and division 1..."
Oops, sorry.
Good Morning, Miss Dove by Frances Gray Patton. An old favorite of mine.
10 Point Task1. This Year Labor Day Falls On September 7th - Rock And Roll Pioneer Buddy Holly Was Born On That Day In 1936 - Read A Book First Published During His Lifetime (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959).
Animal Farm by George Orwell
(first published 1945)
10.6. November Is Native American Heritage Month - Read A Book Written By A Native American Author, With A Main Character Who Is Native American, Or A Non-Fictional Book About Native Americans. Coyote Blue by Moore
10 points
445 total
Cynthia I had 2 tasks under post 1786. My total is 445.
Petra wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Petra wrote: "Finished Task 25.9 (Diane's Task) by reading The Okinawa Diet Plan Get Leaner, Live Longer, and Never Feel Hungry.I found this to be an interesting book and have tri..."
Thanks - just in the future if you post finishing part of a task in one post and then post again when you read the other part please list all of the books you read for the task in that final post.
I messed up my last post...got my tasks mixed up.Secret Life of Bees was for 25.4 (not 15.4)
I also finished task 25.3 by reading A Boy's Own Story by Edmund White.
Total points: 80/690
Tasks completed: 3
Books read: 6/59
Total pages: 1833
Cynthia, have you added mine so far sweetie. I am on 45 pts so far.
5 point tasks:9) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (coming of age)
20 point tasks:
3) Julie and Julia 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell (group read)
Tasks Completed = 2
Total Points = 25
I completed task 5.3 by reading Jump Ship to Freedom. It is our class book for Quarter 1 and my students always enjoy it, as do I! [image error]
5.2
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TwilightI would prefer I had read another book for this task since I recently read that book but it's the only one I have with an apple in the cover.
7/57 books
2260 pages
25.3 Wendy's Task - Harvey Milk - The Hours by Michael Cunningham.Total Points: 550/690
Books Read: 51 (+ 8 Berenstain Bears books)
Tasks Completed: 37/45
Tasks in Progress: 2
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I have a few tasks to claim:Plum Spookey by Janet Evanovich ( Task 5.6)
Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario (Task 10.4)
The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers (Task 20.1)
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and Carver A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson (Task 25.1)
Been holding onto this task, but finally finished it. Hardest thing was trying to figure out what dream job I would go with, as there were several for me to pick. 30 points
1. ROSEANN'S TASK - Your Job/Dream Job Challenge - First Read A Book That Is Somehow Related To Your Current Profession (Students Count) AND Then Read A Book That Is Related To Either Your Current Or Childhood Dream Job. The Books Can Either Have A Character Or Setting That Relates To That Job.
Currently, I'm unemployed, just taking care of my dad's estate (and reading more than cleaning! *laugh*).
On the several members' suggestion, I went with Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson -- 255 pgs (9.30.09).
I'm not a vampire, but hey, I'm a night owl type. I was a first year teacher on a probationary certificate whose boss was very ungutsy in the way he told me I wasn't going to be certified and had to do the program another year. The main character was a sectretary who was laid off at the start of the book and also didn't have the greatest boss either in the way she was told she no longer was employed. She was still unemployed through the end of the book. I might actually continue reading this series, despite some romance in it (not much of a romance genre reader any more).
For my dream job, or should I say, one of them, I wanted to be a veterinarian (and for a short time after I graduated from college I had a job at one--two weeks). In my search for a book besides the James Herriot series that I read and re-read in high school and college, I found a new mystery writer who I really like, I hate to say, better than Janet Evanovich's Stephie Plum. I really enjoyed the series, but by the time I hit 12, I wasn't as enthusiastic to read them.
I picked Who's Kitten Who? by Cynthia Baxter -- 336 pages (10.5.09). A very fun book about a veterinarian who has a mobile clinic and sleuths on the side. Even though it was in the middle of the series, it was still easy enough to read without feeling I missed things by not starting from the first one.
Total Points: 185
Total Books: 19 (includes 1 for all the kids' books)
Total Tasks Completed: 15
Total Pages Read: 2,300 (not including kids' books)
Total Hours listened: 32.75 (approx.)
Finished Wendy's task: 25.3 Me Talk Pretty One Day - David SedarisPoint Total: 215
Cynthia wrote: "Thanks - just in the future if you post finishing part of a task in one post and then post again when you read the other part please list all of the books you read for the task in that final post...."
Okay, Cynthia. Sorry for the confusion.
Finished 25.10 (Sam's Halloween task) with David Liss's The Devil's Company, which I enjoyed a lot - I read a few by this author years ago and kept meaning to return, so thanks to Sam for the nudge.Current Total: 160 points
2. An Apple (Book) A Day Keeps The Librarians AwayI read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Pages read: 837
Tasks completed: 2
Books read: 2
Total points: 10
Since I'm home with a mutant death cold today, I'm getting some reading done. Finished up 10.3 (Berenstein Bears) with Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who, The Lorax, and Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories. I love Seuss - so clever in so many ways.Current Total: 170 points
Completed task: 25.10 -- Sam's task -- Read a book with devil, witch, vampire, zombie, or werewolf in the title.Read: The Devil's Company: A Novel . Gave it 3.5 stars; liked it though it wasn't something I would have picked up for myself.
Total Points = 120
Completed another task.5 points
5.2. An Apple (Book) A Day Keeps The Librarians Away - September Is National Apple Month So Let's...
• Read A Book That Has A Picture Of An Apple On The Cover.
OR
• A Book With The Word Apple(s) In The Title.
Read
by Lily Archer -- 276 pp (10.5.09). Both title and cover have an apple. It is basically a story with a twist on the evil stepmothers from fairy tales, with three girls finding each other at a boarding school and discovering they have something in common. This was a fairly fast read, chapters were divided by the three girls and told from their perspectives. Best of all, the ending surprised me a little, and usually I can figure out endings. Definitely a cute story.
Total Points: 190
Total Books: 20 (includes 1 for all the kids' books)
Total Tasks Completed: 16
Total Pages Read: 2,576 (not including kids' books)
Total Hours listened: 32.75 (approx.)
Task 20.1 - Desecration by Tim LaHaye - I started this series in high school, but never got to finish it, for various reasons. I still remember what was going on pretty well for having read the other books five years ago, but found this one less enjoyable than the previous ones. Can't decide if that's because my reading tastes have changed or if the book is actually worse. Either way, I'm still intrigued enough that I plan on finishing the series eventually. Total points: 65
5 tasks complete - 7 tasks in progress
9 books read
3,301 pages read
5.2 "Sweet Hush" (apple on the cover and about an apple farm) by Deborah Smith.
I completed Task 5.5 by listening to The Old Man and the Sea, which I hated in High School.All I remembered was that an old sailor caught a huge fish, lost the huge fish and made it home. Boring....boring.....
I'm glad I revisited this book. I still didn't like it but I don't hate it. I heard the beauty of Hemingway's words. But it's still boring.....boring....
If anyone can explain the appeal of Hemingway to me, I'd really appreciate it. Now that I see how his use of language is so well written, I'd like to hear what other readers see in his plot lines. I don't get it.
Total Points: 190
Sorry I've been gone so long, but heres what I've read since I came back to the US (Waaahoooo!) from Korea:5.3 (sea travel) - The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
5.5 (school re-read) - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
10.5 (Germany) - Sala's Gift My Mother's Holocaust Story by Ann Kirscner
15.4 (Scifi and scifact) - I read Spook Science Tackles the Afterlife which was really interesting and re-watched the amazing new Star Trek movie.
New total: 80
A bunch of completed tasks to catch up:5.3 Sea Travel: Rowboat in a Hurricane My Amazing Journey Across a Changing Atlantic Ocean
5.7 Thanksgiving: Needles and Pearls
The thing I'm thankful for is the wonderful friends I've made through knitting.
15.6 Art History: How to Knit a Wild Bikini
And I knit. Lots.
20.1 Christian Fiction: They Called Her Mrs. Doc
25.5 Fortune Telling: Enchanters' End Game
Total Points: 100
Cindy in Canada
finished reading Choke last night for task 25.4. it was a re-read and i actually liked it better this time, and upped it by one star! i watched the movie last week. the book had a deeper meaning to it this time, as i think i may have been under the influence the last time i read it (not trying to be funny, just being truthful.)
the movie was much more depressing than the book, somehow, not sure why. i thought the actors they picked for the roles were fabulous (i love me some Sam Rockwell!)
the only really significant difference i could see between the two was the character of Paige Marshall. they changed her a bit for the movie, made it end up kind of being a "happily ever after" type of movie. but all in all, a decent adaptation.
i (almost) always enjoy palahniuk, and i really enjoyed reading the book again, and seeing the movie!
Total Points: 165/690
Books Read: 13/60
Tasks Completed: 10/45
Tasks in Progress: 3
Oops, missed a couple:15.10 Teacher: When Calls the Heart
5.8 Two Heads Are Better Than One: Rowed Trip by Colin Angus and Julie Angus
Total Points: 120
Cindy in Canada
I finished task 25.5 by reading Fortune's Daughter by Alice Hoffman. I really enjoy this author and it was interesting to read one of her earlier works and she how it compares to her more recent writing.Total points for this task: 25
Tasks completed: 13
Many in progress, doing as get from library
Total points for challenge thus far: 195
Cindy wrote: "Oops, missed a couple:15.10 Teacher: When Calls the Heart
5.8 Two Heads Are Better Than One: Rowed Trip by Colin Angus and Julie Angus
Total Points: 120
Cindy in C..."15.10 requires 2 books - what was your student book?
Finished:15.5 Time to Study Abroad---France
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Burbery and
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This book took me forever to read--I kept hearing Daffy Duck's voice in my head saying "The Count of Monty Crisco". The wages of a misspent youth!
Completed:5.3 Courage: A Novel of the Sea by Alan Littell
5.6 Spooky Ohio by Chris Woodyard
10.2 Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Courage - a good yarn about a man who is a sailor by profession. Discusses his conflict about staying at sea or furthering an on-shore relationship. Ends with a great sea rescue.
Spooky Ohio - 13 traditional scary folktales from the state of Ohio - very interesting. Not high literature but fun.
Wishful Drinking - the autobiography of Carrie Fisher and her trials with alcoholism and drugs. Based on the speeches she has given on this topic. Also not high literature but a fun read.
Points: 325
Books: 33
Pages: 9199
Tasks: 25
In Proc: 4
15.3 Addition- 13 letters in my first and last name Six Reasons to Stay a Virgin by Louise HarwoodSubraction - 21-20=1 word title Delicious by Susan Mallery
Points: 15
30.1 Roseann's TaskThe Happy Housewife by Heleen Van Royen (current job-housewife)
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury (dream job-archeologist)
Total points: 280
Completed Tasks5 Point Tasks
#3 The Old Man and the Sea
10 Point Tasks
#3 The Complete Adventures of Curious George
#7 Wonder Woman Love and Murder
Total Points Earned: 25
Total Books Read: 6
Total Pages Read for Completed Tasks: 656
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Mod
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Paul Zindel went to high school with my dad and was our local celebrity author. His books were on our school reading list every year, and we wished he would stop writing. I tolerated this book then. I liked this book a little more the second time around. I had forgotten that there were two narrators. I think he did capture a teen voice well, but I think John's voice was stronger than Lorraine's. I think this book aged well; teens could stil relate to the angst, alienation, peer pressure, regret and loss. I think kids would be surprised to learn that we faced some of the same issues they face today like drinking, parties getting out of control, and parental expectations. Some details (like the telephone exchanges- mine was Yukon4) really dated the book, but I'm glad I revisited the old neighborhood and the 70's.
+5
total 455
Finished 10-6 with another great Gutenberg find! "Four American indians-King Philip, Pontiac, Tecumseh and Osceola" by Edson L. Whitney160 points
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Tempt Me at Twilight (other topics)Patterns in the Sand (other topics)
The Shadow of the Wind (other topics)
My Grandfather's Son (other topics)
Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lisa Kleypas (other topics)Sally Goldenbaum (other topics)
Clarence Thomas (other topics)
Audrey Niffenegger (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
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I found this to be an interesting book and have tried a few recipe..."What book did you read for the other half of the task - this was also a two book task?..."
Cynthia, I had read and posted about reading Before Night Falls A Memoir. It's a book approved by Diane about a Cuban writer at the time of Castro's taking power and his struggle to become overcome his poverty and the level that Cuba allowed him to be at. As a homosexual, he was banned from jobs, wasn't allowed to write his novels (they were anti-revolutionary). After exile, he tried to continue writing and fought embitterment and disease.
I posted about a week or so ago. I'll try to see if I can find the original post #.
Cynthia, it's post 1670. I also reported finishing the first half of Task 25.4 by reading Coraline.