The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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FALL CHALLENGE 2009
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FALL CHALLENGE 2009 COMPLETED TASKS
finished 15.6 Become a member of the Drama ClubAs You Like It and watched the Kenneth Branagh version, starring Bryce Dallas Howard. It's GORGEOUS. Set in feudal Japan which is a perfect backdrop for the story of these two dukes and their daughters and their lovers.
also finished 5.6 Supernatural Witch's Canyon a few days ago, posted that, but haven't had my total updated! sigh...
Finished another one--25.5--PROPHECY ROCK by Ron MacGregor
I have read a few other mysteries with a Native American as the lead protagonist and I have to say that this is my favorite by far. While I have often gotten lost with the Native references this novel brought the culture in with the mystery in a very easy to follow way.
While reading this I started thinking about our local reservation and wound up going to a Sycaun tonight for the buffet and found out the PowWow is going to happen next week, so I think I will attend.
This brings me to 125 points!
5.1 Rasputins Daughter, Robert Alexander
Yay, I can finally post on this thread! Completed:Task 25.1 Nicole's (rhyme):
Best Friends Forever A Novel - Jennifer Weiner (9/1)
Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein (9/4)
I gave both 3 stars.
Total Points: 25/690
Books Read: 4/60
Tasks Completed: 1/45
Pages Read: 1,379
**Adding 5.8 Two Heads Are Better than One - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow**5 Point Tasks:
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8 Two Heads Are Better than One - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow (5/5)
5.9
5.10 Time Machine - Screaming Mummies of the Pharoahs Tomb II by James Howe (5/10)
10 Point Tasks
10.1
10.2
10.3 Stan Berenstain - The Bears and I: Raising Three Cubs in the North Woods by Robert Franklin Leslie (Adult) and the following Berenstain Bears children's books: The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree, Bears in the Night, Inside, Outside, Upside Down, He Bear, She Bear, The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree, Bears on Wheels, and The Bike Lesson (10/20)
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
15 Point Tasks
15.1
15.2
15.3
15.4
15.5
15.6
15.7
15.8
15.9
15.10 Teacher-Student Relations: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks(teacher)
20 point tasks
20.1
20.2 Rooke of the Season - (Q,R,S) S - The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
20.3
25 point tasks
25.1 Nicole OH's Task - (How/Now) How I Became Perfect by Jean Kerr (Fiction)
25.2
25.3
25.4
25.5
25.6 BJ Rose's Task - Curse of Tippecanoe - The Defining Moment: FDR's One Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope by Jonathan Alter (347pgs)
25.7
25.8
25.9
30.1 Roseann's Task - Job/Dream Challenge - The Choice by Nicholas Sparks (setting - main character worked in hospital ER)
Total Points: 20/690
Books Read: 8 (+ 7 Berenstain Bears books)
Tasks Completed: 3/45
Tasks in Progress: 6
Andrea wrote: "finished 15.6 Become a member of the Drama ClubAs You Like It and watched the Kenneth Branagh version, starring Bryce Dallas Howard. It's GORGEOUS. Set in feudal Japan which is a perf..."Sorry about that - I had it on my spreadsheet but didn't get it changed on the leaderboard but it should be correct now.
Angie wrote: "15.6 Creative Arts: The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint
"You need to post the info about the second part of the task i.e. did you go to a museum (which) or make art (what did you do) before I award points.
I finished reading another quickie romance from Janet Evanovich -
for 10.10 - it has a cute kitten on the cover and also fall leaves so it's doubly appropriate. I've read 3 of her romances so far and all seem to be based on the same theme of love at first sight with the circumstances varied slightly but that being said they are still cute - they would make definitely make cute romantic comedy films. [image error]
3 TASK COMPLETE - 3 PARTIALLY DONE
6 BOOK READ
1646 PAGES READ
I finished another task - 15.10 - Teacher-Student Relations - The Hour I First Believed A Novel by Wally Lamb (main character teaches in highschool and college) AND The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (main characters are students at an all-boys highschool)
Total Books Read = 5
Tasks Completed = 3
Tasks In Progress = 5
Finished Must Love Dogs for 25.4. No points yet as I have not yet watched the movie. Will probably get to that sometime this weekend. Not sure what I will pick up next.
Finished 25.3: My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve KlugerI really enjoyed this book. It made me miss a deadline. My mom is visiting this week, and I sometimes even wanted her to go to bed early just so I could read more. ;)
5.8. Kafka: Toward a Minor Literature, Gilles Deleuze & Feliz Guattari (for some reason the GR page of the book says it has only one author, although my books says it has two and if you read through the comments you see that so do everybody else's)& 30.1. current job - student A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce
dream job - writer - Angel, Elizabeth Taylor
My total is thus 35 points and I've read two more books for tasks that requiere more books -Life of Pi and The Castle by Franz Kafka.
Completed task 10.7 by reading Wonder Woman Love and Murder by Jodi Picoult.I actually really loved it! I usually never read graphic novels or comics but this was very well written and I like how it makes my brain work in a different way (flex that visual intelligence muscle). I always wanted to read The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1 and other books from that series and now I think I will!
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Finished Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane this morning, for task 20.3. Honestly, didn't really enjoy it...Michelle
Finished 25.3 (Wendy's Task) with City of Glass by Cassandra Clare.Also finished 10.3 (Berenstein Bears) which I loved! I read Blueberry Girl, Where the Wild Things Are, Madeline and the Cats of Rome, and Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct. I read a bunch more since I just grabbed a stack from the library and didn't realize how many pages they had. But that was so much fun; it was like being 5 years old again!
Finished task 10.7 (Hero/Heroine) last night. I read Jennifer Estep's Karma Girl. Its about a girl, Carmen Cole, who gets betrayed by her fiance and her best friend on the day of her wedding (and at the same time discovers that he is the superhero, the Machinator, and her friend is the ubervillian, Crusher). That's the first part of story, most of the rest is about her racing to save one of the members of the superhero squad, the Fearless Five, from the clutches of the Terrible Triad. Its actually a romance/superhero story... I liked it better than I thought I was going to, I might read the next books in the series.Total points = 70
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Task 25.3I read Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. I love his books. Needed the laugh, so great option for the task, but could've probably fit it into a winter challenge later. Great quick read!
Total points for this task: 25
Tasks completed: 3
Tasks in progress: 5
Books read: 5
Total points for challenge: 40
Kristina wrote: "Finished 25.3 (Wendy's Task) with City of Glass by Cassandra Clare.Also finished 10.3 (Berenstein Bears) which I loved! I read Blueberry Girl, [book:Where the Wild T..."
My youngest is 7 and this brought me back to what I read as a child, I requested a bunch MORE of berenstain bears, henry and mudge( more for her) and dr seuss and curious george
Finished 5.9 Read a book where the main character is a senior citizen: A Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. I just love her!
25.4 - Angels & Demons by Dan BrownThe movie missed out some key facts/plot devices that were critical to the ending of the book. So whilst the movie was a predictable suspense/action movie (I knew there was going to a be a car bomb and that doesn't appear in the book) but despite the flat characterization in the book that gave the actors little to play with it was a watchable movie that cracked on at a pace.
I was disappointed that we didn't find out who the Camarlengo's father was (we do in the book) and that the man who becomes Pope is different to the book.
All in all I preferred the book to the movie but it was a close call
Points earned with this book: 25
Points to date: 50
Kristina
Yay! A Task finished! finally!For 10.3 I read The Berenstain Bears' Seashore Treasure and The Berenstain Bears and the Excuse Note by Stan and Jan Berenstain, People by Peter Spier, and Chicken Butt! by Erica S. Perl for a total of 144 pages.
Loved Chicken Butt!
Completed:5.9 - The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
10.3 - The Lorax by Dr Seuss, If You Give A Pig A Pancake by Laura Numeroff, & Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch
Total Points Completed: 65
10.3 In Memory of Stan Berenstain:Farley Follows His Nose (30 pages)
Where the Wild Things Are (38 pages)
We're Going on a Bear Hunt (32 pages)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (30 pages)
Newly Completed Tasks: 10.3 – ‘Bear’ in the title: A Bear Called Paddington
25.10 – Sam’s Task, Read A Book With One Of The Following In The Title: Devil, Witch, Vampire, Zombie, Or Werewolf.: Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire
Completed Tasks: 2/45
Books Read for Completed Tasks: 2
Pages Read: 512
Total Points: 35
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Completed 25.1 (Nicole's Task): Leaves of Grass The First (1855) Edition by Walt Whitman and City of Thieves by David Benioff. I loved City of Thieves, but reading Leaves of Grass was like eating broken glass. I really, really wanted to like it, but alas...
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I just finished Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen for task 5.2. This is one of the most beautiful book covers I've ever seen--there are several apples on the cover which are very fitting since the family's apple tree is a bit of a 'character' itself:
This book was a very quick read that I enjoyed very much.
My husband and my dad have been doing manly things with power tools all day and this book was a perfect, escape from all that testosterone. I'm glad I own this one because I can't wait to pass it on to my mom, my sister and my mother-in-law. This is one of those gentle, fluffy books that I think most women would feel comforted by.
TASKS COMPLETED: 2
TASKS PARTIALLY COMPLETED: 2
BOOKS READ: 4
PAGES READ: 1,575
POINTS EARNED: 10
Report 1Completed Tasks
5.1 Apple cover/title - Apples and Oranges My Brother and Me, Lost and Found 288pp 1star
5.10 Time travel - Human Croquet A Novel 352pp 3stars
10.6 Native American heritage - The Education of Little Tree 228pp 4stars
15.9 Home/Work title & assignment - Home Safe A Novel 224pp 1star
assignment: Discuss independence vs dependence citing examples from Home Safe that support and conflict with your opinion.
25.2 Two related authors -
Father A.L. Kroeber - A Mohave War Reminiscence, 1854-1880 109pp 3stars
Daughter Ursula K Le Guin - Steering the Craft Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew 180pp 5stars
Partially Completed Tasks
15.1 Grammar~participle (1 of 2) -
Mastering Composition Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting 144pp 4stars
15.8 Geography (1 of 2) - Malaysia The Gift of Rain 448pp 4stars
Tasks completed- 5
Tasks partially completed- 2
Books read- 8
Pages read- 1973
Points earned- 60
Completed:20.1 JULIEKS's task:The Christmas Shoes- Donna VanLiere
This will be one that I will have to reread frequently. It had a profound impact on me. Thank you, Julie!
Total points: 45 pts
Liz(vegas)
Joy Marie wrote: "Sara, Bryan definitely has a better selection than CS. Just to let you know. :) "Oooh... good to know, thanks! I wonder why... hmmm...
I've completed two more tasks:10.3 - Childrens Books - Falling Up by Shel Silverstein - 9/4/09, which was pretty cute
10.9 - Civil War - Love Beyond Time by Nancy Campbell Allen - 9/4/09 (in which the two main characters travel back in time to the middle of the Civil War), which I also really liked. It was a cute little LDS fiction novel.
I believe that brings me up to 40 pts.
15.8 Geography Lessons: 2 Books that take place in Countries w/My InitialsB = Botswana: Good Husband of Zebra Drive Sept. 4
F = France: Madam Will You Talk by Mary Stewart Sept.3
25.5 Janice's Task: Fortune-Telling: The Scot and I by Elizabeth Thornton (The Prophecy of Lady Valeria, Seer of Grampion, plays a significant role in the life of Alex Hepburn) Sept. 5
Total Pages = 1349
Total Points = 65
Just finished The Secret Garden
and was totally disappointed. I loved this book as a young girl but, do not understand why now. The story line is very simple and very slow.
Total Points = 20
5 point tasks:
2. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
9. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
10 point tasks:
6. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
15 point tasks:
20 point tasks:
25 point tasks:
30 point tasks:
and was totally disappointed. I loved this book as a young girl but, do not understand why now. The story line is very simple and very slow.
Total Points = 20
5 point tasks:
2. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
9. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
10 point tasks:
6. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
15 point tasks:
20 point tasks:
25 point tasks:
30 point tasks:
15 pts...6• Become A Member Of The Drama Club - Read A Play And See A Production Of It Live Or On Film.Read Dracula by Christopher Hampton and Don Black . Watched the movie (very creepy and I am still diturbed.) Plus I'm curently in the play! :)
Total 15pts!! :) Good to be back!
completed tasks:5.8 - My Lobotomy by Howard Dully and Charles Fleming. Very quick read, very depressing!
25.7 - (two word title) The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Read the last 300 pages or so in two nights, I just couldn't put it down!
Total points: 5
Yay! My first finished task ever lolTask 10.3 - I read The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV, The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers, The Berenstain Bears and the Truth, The Berenstain Bears in the Dark, The Very Quiet Cricket, and The Very Lonely Firefly. Total 142 pages. All excellent books with great messages - I will be reading these to my son tonight!
10 pts earned!
10.10. That Cat Who Turned On and OffTotal points: 45
Just finished Task 5.10 (time travel): Flight A Novel - Sherman AlexieThis is my second book by Alexie and I cannot wait to read more. He really knows how to get you right in the gut. 4 stars
Total Points: 30/690
Books Read: 5/60
Tasks Completed: 2/45
Pages Read: 1,587
Just finished task 5.6 (Terrifying Titles). I read the most recent of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead and Gone. It was alright. Probably my least favorite of the series so far, but not awful. Read it if you like the Sookie books.Total points = 75
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I've just completed my first task. I read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd for task 5.9. This puts me on the leader board with 5 points.
Finished task 25.4 by watching Must Love Dogs. I liked both the book and the movie. They did change some of the plot in the movie but I think that it worked well. I liked that the main character was more confident in the movie than in the book. In the book she seemed unsure of herself. I also liked in the movie that there was more of a story line with the love interest. I was disappointed that they changed the character of the father's girlfriend. She was funnier in the book in my opinion.
Cynthia-I just updated my first name on my profile. It was showing as jenijo.lyn, but is now showing just as Jeni. I noticed it was jenijo.lyn on the leader board, so I thought I'd let you know for when you update the scores.
Thanks!
Jeni
I have completed task 15.1 I read The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Angel of Darkness.
I really enjoyed The Unbearable Lightness of Being, it is up there with my all time favorite books. The Angel of Darkness was ok, but did not live up to its prequel The Alienist.
Point Total: 25
Page Total: 1079
10.3 The Berenstein Bears by Stan & Jan Berenstein for a total of 129 pages:Family Reunion
Down on the Farm
Clean House
The Bear Detective
Points: 10
Total Points: 80
Total Pages: 2375
Donna Jo wrote: "Finished5.8 Book with two authors.
Elvenborn by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey."How'd you like it? I read it and its sequel several years ago and really liked them. I was really sorry that the series was never finished.
10.3 Big Book of The Berenstain Bears, Stan & Jan Berenstain
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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)
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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 can see why this book is so popular and powerful in Africa. I'll comment more on it in the review section.
Total Points: 20