You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
>
Nothing but the truth - Sandra's 2017 Challenge
date
newest »
newest »
#5 - Mary Poppins
#6 - Wartime Writings 1939-1944
#7 - Orphan Number 8
#10 - Small Moments: A Child's Memories of the Civil Rights Movement
#11 - A Week in December
#21 - Shadowbrook
#47 - The Matchmaker of Périgord
#4 - Murder in Mesopotamia
#20 or #26 - Bastard Out of Carolina
#18 - The Headmaster's Wife
#24 - The Prague Cemetery
#49 - An Unnecessary Woman
#44 - Dancing on Broken Glass
#28 -
Interesting that your birth month is "Right Handed". I've not heard of that one before. ;-) lol.
You have something with Italy, Sandra? You're from Uruguay? Have you lived there long? Do you still have family there? Than you'll probably miss them, or are you able to visit them a lot? My sister lives in South America (Bolivia ) and I miss her a lot!
Sarah wrote: "Interesting that your birth month is "Right Handed". I've not heard of that one before. ;-) lol."LOL! It should make for some interesting gophering.
lol! I'm weird, but not THAT weird!
Elsbeth wrote: "You have something with Italy, Sandra? You're from Uruguay? Have you lived there long? Do you still have family there? Than you'll probably miss them, or are you able to visit them a lot? My sister..."I've lived 27 or my 37 years of life in Uruguay. I lived 4 in Brazil and nearly 6 in the US, where I still live. I visited Uruguay very often while living in Brazil since it is very close, but since we moved to the US I only visited once last month. I missed my family and friend there, but at the same time I am used to live far away. My world is my family, meaning my husband and children, so I guess that as far as we move together, I'm fine. :)
Since your birthday is coming up soon, wishing you a happy one (in advance). :D
For #32 What is the feature on you are most often complimented?
No idea. Hands?
That made me think of how many of us (myself included!) interpreted the question as a physical feature, instead of a feature of our personality, such as being kind or giving. Interesting ....
For #32 What is the feature on you are most often complimented?
No idea. Hands?
That made me think of how many of us (myself included!) interpreted the question as a physical feature, instead of a feature of our personality, such as being kind or giving. Interesting ....
I did think of personality features, but have a feeling that an appearance one is easier to gopher for once the challenge is announced ;-)
Good thinking, Peggy. I didn't take gophering into consideration with any of my answers. Uh! Oh! I did feel like I was answering questions for some personality assessment though, lol. Should I be worried???
Haha, I think it will end up to be so surprising that everyone who thought they were smart by thinking about the challenge already will have made it even harder in themselves ;-)
I thought the same, Peggy. If not I would actually put "patience".
I think I will change it for "patience" after all. It is definitely the most complimented feature.
I was thinking that stubborn put in nicer terms wasn't really meant as complimentary. I think we get more compliments on things that are concrete, like our physical appearance, instead of personality related.
I think you are right. And when it is a personality feature is not necessary true. People who sees me with my 8 kids immediately compliments my patience, but Although I consider myself patient, I wouldn't say is my principal characteristic.
The Survey dictates that you find a book for each book as per the following criteria:1. What is your name? (First, Last, Middle, Nickname) – Read a book that contains one of your names in some way – author, title, character.
2. What is your favourite sport? – Read a book that is either about your favourite sport or one of the characters plays that sport. You could also chose a book where the cover shows that sport.
3. What colour are your eyes? – Read a book where the colour of your eyes is the main colour of the cover, or the word is in the title.
4. Have you ever had a broken bone? – If yes, read a book with the word “Bone” in the title. If no, read a book about archeology (the character may be an archeologist, the book may be set in a museum, etc)
5. What is your favourite movie? – If the movie is an adaptation, read the book that inspired the movie. Or, read a book that is written by the same author. Or, read a book that has the same title. If the movie is not an adaptation, read a book with a similar theme or has the same title.
6. What is your favourite book? – Read it again. Or, read a book that has the same title. Or read a book by the same author. If you can’t find the same title, or the author only has the one book, go to the book page and click on “Readers Also Enjoyed”. Select a book from the list.
7. Pick a number between 1 and 10. – Select a series and read the book that corresponds to that number. Or, read a book with the number in the title.
8. What is your favourite holiday? – Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title.
9. What is your relationship status? – Read a book with that word in the title, or where the main character or author shares that status. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will be representative?
10. Are you right or left handed? – Read a book with that word in the title.
11. What is your birthday month? – Read a book with the selected month in the title, or set during that month.
12. Do you have a pet? What is it? Don’t have a pet? Adopt a pet that someone in your immediate circle has (mother, brother, sister, friend, etc.) – Read a book featuring that type of pet. Or, read a book with that pet in the title.
13. What is your favourite type of food? (Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc) – Read a book set in the country or region of choice. (Chinese – set in China, Italian – set in Italy, etc.) If you chose a type of food that is not specific to a country, what region would you find it prevalent? Read a book set in that region. For example – Seafood would be prevalent in the coastal areas of Canada, United States, among others.
14. What is something you use daily? (brush, computer, car, get creative) - Read a book with that word in the title. Or, is on the cover. Or…. Get creative. What kind of book will represent that item?
15. What is your shoe size? (No halves; roll up to next number) – Select that number of books on your TBR, put them into the Fruit Machine (or another randomizer), and read the one that is selected. If you used European sizes, convert to US using this site: https://www.softmoc.com/ca/shoesize.asp That will reduce the number of books you need to plug into the Fruit Machine.
16. What is your favourite Ice cream flavour? – Read a book that either represents that flavour by the colour of the cover, or in the title. You may also chose a book that represents that flavour in some way.
17. What is your country of birth? – Read a book set in that country, or written by an author that was also born in that country.
18. What is your favourite season? – Read a book with either the season in the title, or set in that season.
19. What is your current desk top picture? – Interpret that desk top picture any way you like. Read a book that represents that interpretation. For example, mine is a magnified picture of a frozen soap bubble. I could interpret it as ice, or alien landscape, or bubble. I could read a book with “Ice” in the title, a book set on an alien planet, or has bubbles on the cover. The gophering could be endless on this one.
20. What is your preferred mode of transport? – Read a book with your selection on the cover, or in the title, or it plays a significant role in the book.
21. How many candles were on your last birthday cake? – Go to your TBR and order the shelf by number. Read the book that corresponds to your answer. If you picked “none” or “zero” as your answer, your number will be 100.
22. Have you been in an accident? – If yes, read a book set in a hospital, or with the word “accident” in title. If no, read a book that is a thriller, in which an accident is a high probability.
23. Do you prefer a shower or bath? – Read a book with your selected word in the title, or depicted on the cover.
24. Name a place you’d like to visit. – Read a book set in that location.
25. What is your favourite genre? – Read a book in that genre.
26. Do you prefer a car or truck? – Read a book with your selection on the cover or in the title.
27. Do you have a tattoo? – Read a book that represents your tattoo in some way. For example, if you have a tattoo of a rose, your book choice could have a rose on the cover, in the title, or a proper name of the author or character. If you don’t have a tattoo, read a book with a tattoo on the cover, or represents a tattoo that you would want if you were to get one.
28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary? – If Classic, read a book published in 1800 – 1899. If Contemporary, read a book published in 2000 – 2017.
29. What is your favourite flower? – Read a book with that selection on the cover or in the title. Or, read a book that you feel represents that flower in some way.
30. Have you been to Europe? Where? – Read a book set in that location. If you haven’t been to Europe, read a book set in a European country you would like to visit.
31. If you could meet anyone famous, infamous, notorious… who would it be? – read a biography, autobiography, memoir, or historical fiction about that person.
32. What is the feature you are most often complimented on? – Read a book with that feature on the cover or in the title.
33. Would you rather encounter a ghost, an alien, or neither? – If ghost, read a ghost story. If alien, read a story with aliens in it. If neither, read a book about another supernatural being other than a ghost or alien (werewolf, vampire, witch, succubus, etc).
34. What is your favourite animal (other than domestic pets)? – Read a book with that creature on the cover, in the title, or in the story.
35. What type of holiday do you prefer? (Beach, Mountain, Camping, exotic, etc) – Read a book in that setting or that represents your choice.
36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be? – Read a book with that word in the title, or read a book where a character is afflicted by that same loss.
37. Who is your favourite author? – Read either a book by that author, or a book recommended by that author.
38. Do you prefer tea, coffee, or water? – If tea or coffee, read a book with the word in the title, or set in a country where that beverage is a huge export (ie China for tea, Brazil for tea). If water, read a book with the word in the title, or set on/near a large body of water.
39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing: (https://www.americangemsociety.org/en...) – Read a book with that gemstone on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that gemstone is the colour of the cover.
40. What is your favourite fruit? – Read a book with that fruit on the cover, in the title, or the colour of that fruit is the colour of the cover.
41. Issue you are passionate about (abortion, euthanasia, animal rights… etc) – Read a book where this issue is prominent or is represented in some way. It may be fiction or non-fiction.
42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea? – Read a book in that setting.
43. To what time period would you like to time travel? – Read a book either set in that time period, or published in that time period. Or, read a book about time travel where the character’s time travelled to that period.
44. Do you prefer shoes or bare feet? – Read a book where your selection is on the cover or in the title, or get creative and find a book that represents your choice.
45. Do you prefer green or black olives? Neither? Read a book with either a predominantly green or black cover depending on your answer. If you said “neither”, read a book with a predominantly white cover. Aim for at least 75% of the cover so that when you look at the cover, it screams green, black or white depending on your choice.
46. What is your Zodiac sign? – This one is wide open. Read a book that represents your zodiac sign in some way. Mine is Sagittarius (the archer). I could read a book with Sagittarius in the title, Archer in the title, author named Archer, bow and arrow on the cover, horse on the cover, a Western with Indians (bow & arrow).
47. What is your height in inches? – Go to your TBR shelf and sort by number. Read the book that matches your answer. If you don’t have that many books on your TBR, select a listopia on a topic you are interested and read the book with the corresponding number to your height.
48. Who is someone you miss? – Read a book that represents that person in some way. I miss my mother, so I could read a book with “Mother” in the title, a biography of Mother Theresa, where the main character is a mother, a book with a mother holding her baby on the cover, etc.
49. What is your hobby? – Read a book that represents that hobby in some way.
50. What language would you like to learn to speak? – Read a book that was translated from that language to one you do speak. Or, chose a book where a character speaks that language. For example, if you chose Gaelic, you could read any of the books in the Outlander series.
Part 1: 1/12#25. What is your favourite genre?
Historical Fiction
I read The Muse by Jessie Burton
Definitively an historical fiction novel. It waves to time lines, London 1967, South of Spain 1936. I rated it 4 stars.
Part 1: 2/12#9. What is your relationship status?
Married
I read The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian
I didn't initially pick this book for this challenge, but when I was reading it I feel touched by the way the author depicts long marriage relationships, making so clear all the love, patience, tolerance, energy, and determination that are needed to make it work. I felt identified in some way, despite the characters' problems being totally different from the ones I can personally relate to (view spoiler). They loved each other, they loved their daughters, and always were disposed to do whatever was necessary to make their family happy. I rated it 4 stars, and it was actually a 4.5 stars.
Part 1: 3/12#17. What is your country of birth?
Uruguay
I read Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado
This non fiction is set in the Andes, in the site crash of the Uruguayan Fairchild 571 in 1972. The story is told by one of the survivors. Fernando "Nando" Parrado is Uruguayan, born in Montevideo.
I gave it 4 stars. I think 3.75 is more accurate. This is still an event that fascinates me.
Part 1: 4/12# 41. Issue you are passionate about (abortion, euthanasia, animal rights… etc)
Racism
I read Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
This is a historical fiction about a Chinese girl and a runaway slave girl who meet surrounded by very difficult circumstances and decided to escape together, dressing like boys, to the Oregon Trail, in 1849.
Racism as one of the main themes of the story, addressed many times, and with many examples of how Samantha and Annamae suffered just because they weren't white.
It was a good young adult first novel, and I rated it 3 stars.
Part 1: 5/12#35. What type of holiday do you prefer? (Beach, Mountain, Camping, exotic, etc)
Mountain
I read Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
This non fiction/memoir is set in the Appalachia region, specially in the Rust Belt cities of Middletown, OH, and Jackson, KY.
In addition, the Appalachian are display in the cover.
It was an interesting topic, I rated it 3 stars.
Part 1: 6/12#42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea?
Undersea
I read 20000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Definitively under the sea during 10 months and 20,000 leagues. I rated it 3 stars, but it's actually a 3.5.
Part 1: 7/12#39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing: (https://www.americangemsociety.org/en...)
Tanzanite
I read A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch
and rated it 4 stars. Its cover is purple like tanzanite. The mystery is good. I knew who dunit way before Charles Lenox, though. :) But the best thing about this novel is how effortless and vividly Finch brings Victorian London to the reader.
Part 1: 8/12#3. What colour are your eyes?
Brown
I read A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton
and rated it only 2 stars. I thought in abandon it many times, but the writing was engaging so I keep giving it a chance. The story is too sad, and for most of the time I was wondering where were we going. At least the cover is mostly brown...
Part 1: 9/12#33. Would you rather encounter a ghost, an alien, or neither?
Neither
I read The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon
and rated it 3 stars. There are "mares" in the story, who are persons capable to change their appearance into animals or beast. This transformation can be intentional or unintentional.
Part 1: 10/12#50. What language would you like to learn to speak?
French and Italian
I read Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante
and rated it 4 stars. This book was originally written in Italian. It is the third book in the series, and so far I am very happy with it.
Part 1: 11/12#28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary?
Classic
I read Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
, published for the first time in 1872, and rated it 5 stars. What I can say? a great classic, very entertaining, and with adorable characters.I listened to this book in Spanish and French. I listened to one chapter in Spanish and then the same one in French. I stopped doing that in Chapter 20 (of 37) because it was taking too long, but I loved the experience.
Part 1: 12/12#13. What is your favourite type of food? (Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc)
Italian
I read The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante
This book is set in Italy, mostly in the cities of Naples, Milan and Florence. It is the fourth and last book in the series. I really enjoyed, and rated it 4 stars.
You plan to do a lot of organizing Sandra? ;-)
I'm trying to leave 12 post in a row to report each book of the first set. I guess if all the 12 are together it will be easier for me to keep track, and for Janice to check. I didn't start to gopher yet, but I guess I will use the posts I reserved at the beginning of the thread for titles ideas for the different tasks. Kind of brain storm pad. I want to complete the challenge this time!
I chose Pope Francis too, for me he is a great inspiration and symbol of hope.
Awesome! Congrats! Will you also try for part 2?
I will, but I need to do some re planning.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Story of the Lost Child (other topics)Around the World in Eighty Days (other topics)
Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours (other topics)
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (other topics)
The Night Sister (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Elena Ferrante (other topics)Jules Verne (other topics)
Elena Ferrante (other topics)
Jennifer McMahon (other topics)
Jane Hamilton (other topics)
More...
Sandra
2. What is your favourite sport?
Soccer
3. What colour are your eyes?
Brown
4. Have you ever had a broken bone?
No
5. What is your favourite movie?
Mary Poppins
6. What is your favourite book?
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
7. Pick a number between 1 and 10.
8
8. What is your favourite holiday?
Christmas
9. What is your relationship status?
Married
10. Are you right or left handed?
Right handed
11. What is your birthday month?
December
12. Do you have a pet? What is it? Don’t have a pet? Adopt a pet that someone in your immediate circle has (mother, brother, sister, friend, etc.)
I'll adopt Morena, my sister's dog
13. What is your favourite type of food? (Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc)
Italian
14. What is something you use daily? (brush, computer, car, get creative)
Planner
15. What is your shoe size? (No halves; roll up to next number)
8
16. What is your favourite Ice cream flavour?
Dulce de Leche
17. What is your country of birth?
Uruguay
18. What is your favourite season?
Fall
19. What is your current desk top picture?
My family
20. What is your preferred mode of transport?
Car
21. How many candles were on your last birthday cake?
37
22. Have you been in an accident?
Yes
23. Do you prefer a shower or bath?
Shower
24. Name a place you’d like to visit.
Prague
25. What is your favourite genre?
Historical Fiction
26. Do you prefer a car or truck?
Car
27. Do you have a tattoo?
No
28. Do you prefer Classic or Contemporary?
Classic
29. What is your favourite flower?
Daisy
30. Have you been to Europe? Where? (If you live in Europe, specify country other than your own.)
Italy, France, Austria, Greece.
31. If you could meet anyone famous, infamous, notorious, who would it be?
Pope Francis
32. What is the feature on you are most often complimented?
I'll go with patience.
33. Would you rather encounter a ghost, an alien, or neither?
Neither
34. What is your favourite animal (other than domestic pets)?
Giraffe
35. What type of holiday do you prefer? (Beach, Mountain, Camping, exotic, etc)
Mountain
36. If you had to lose one of the 5 senses, which would you prefer it to be?
Taste
37. Who is your favourite author?
So hard! The first who comes to mind is J. K. Rowling
38. Do you prefer tea, coffee, or water?
Coffee
39. What is your birthstone using the US 2016 listing: (https://www.americangemsociety.org/en...)
Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise
40. What is your favourite fruit?
Banana
41. Issue you are passionate about (abortion, euthanasia, animal rights… etc)
Racism
42. Would you rather explore in space or undersea?
Undersea
43. To what time period would you like to time travel?
Future, but no more than 100 years from now.
44. Do you prefer shoes or barefeet?
Shoes
45. Do you prefer green or black olives? Neither?
Green
46. What is your Zodiac sign?
Sagittarius
47. What is your height in inches?
66
48. Who is someone you miss?
A friend
49. What is your hobby?
Reading
50. What language would you like to learn to speak?
French and Italian