You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
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Cherie's Trivial Choices in 2020
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1. Badge 4, Book 522. & 3. Card 9, Science-Yay
4. Bread Alone
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5. I read a paperback from my library. The pb is 368 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Bread is on the cover.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: Bread in the bakery window is on the cover.
8. Specifications:
An unexpected find! It was a great story, set in Seattle, one of my favorite cities. The dialogue was a hoot at times, and the descriptions of the city and places that I love to visit, were all there in the text. I enjoyed coming back to the characters every time I picked up the book. I hope my library has her other books.
Oh - I almost forgot. There were a couple of great recipes in the book! The bread "talk" made me imagine that I could smell it too.
Esther wrote: "Janice wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Until Janice puts another Civil War task on the 2021 Challenge ๐"LOL! Anything could happen. I've only written 20% of the tasks."
...and at the minimum 2 months be..."
I still have
to read, if we do get another Civil War task.
1. Badge 4, Book 532. & 3. Card 16, Art/Literature-Yay
4. A Breath of Snow and Ashes
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5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. I read an ebook. The hc is 980 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book's author or character is named Claire, Beauchamp, Randall, or Fraser.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The characters are named Claire, Beauchamp, Randall, and Fraser.
8. Specifications: none
I have no idea where this series is going, but I am definitely going to listen to book #7 sooner than four years from now. So many parts of this story were familiar, that I almost thought I had read/listened to it before, but it was not marked as READ. It is now though!
โ๏ธ My first reaction to #7 was, "Huh?" And then I realized the book is from the Outlander series. :)
1. Badge 4, Book 542. & 3. Card 3, Art/Literature-Yay
4. The Evil Wizard Smallbone
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5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 416 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The word "Wizard" is in the title.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The word "Wizard" is the third word in the title.
8. Specifications: none
A magical story with a message for middle graders. I love the artwork on the book cover. I enjoyed the narration by Jesse Bernstein. I still want to read Off to Be the Wizard, but it was not available.
1. Badge 4, Book 552. & 3. Card 23, Science-Nay
4. The Human Division
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5. I read an ebook that I own. The hc is 431 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Genre is space opera.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The genre space opera is listed on the MBP.
8. Specifications: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
I am glad I got to read all of the stories in one book and did not have to wait a each month for a new story to be published, as they were originally. One book left in the Old Man's War to go.
1. Badge 4, Book 560/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 24, Art/Literature-Nay
4. The Haunting of Hill House
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5. I listened to an audiobook from my library and read an ebook. The pb is 182 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Genre is classic horror.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The MBP list both Classic and Horror for this book.
8. Specifications: none
Not one of my favorite group read books, but then again horror is way low on my list too. I do understand why others gave it a better rating. ;o)
1. Badge 4, Book 570/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 14, Sport-Nay
4. Holmes on the Range
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5. I read a text from my library. The hc is 304 pages.
6. Task Requirement: There is a horse on the cover.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: There is a horse on the cover.
8. Specifications:
Another new series to my sagging list, thank you.
I want to cry. TinEye reports
is only 71.8% green.
Cherie wrote: "I want to cry. TinEye reports is only 71.8% green."Oh thatโs too bad, Cherie :-(
Cherie, 72% is close enough.
You are so awsome, Janice!!!!! Thank you.
1. Badge 4, Book 581/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 2, Geography-Nay
4. The Searcher
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5. I listened to the audiobook from Audible. The hc is 451 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Cover is 75% green.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: TinEye reports the cover as 72% green, but you said OKay.
8. Specifications:
I really liked the MC and the audiobook narrator. This is the first book by this author that I have read. I am still trying to get to In the Woods.
โ๏ธ Well, today I might be awesome. Tomorrow you might think differently. :)
1. Badge 4, Book 592/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 29, History-Yay
4. The Corpse Walker: Real Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up
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5. I read a text book from my library. The hc is 336 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book is set in Modern Day China.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book features interviews from people in China during the 1990s and early 2000s.
8. Specifications: none
Some of the interviews were more interesting than others. Some were creepy and gruesome. I learned a lot of what the endured through 1950s-1990s. One thing brought out in one of the last interviews was that China had sided with the Koreans and fought against the US during the Korean war.
Janice wrote: "Well, today I might be awesome. Tomorrow you might think differently. :)"No way! I might be disappointed because a book will not fit but I will not be mad at you or think you are not awesome. It is important to me to make sure I am following the rules.
I am rarely even disappointed when the answer is no lol I usually know it isnโt close enough, but you gotta ask because sometime they let us get away with stuff ๐ But, you still have to follow the rules, and respect the mods for the huge amount of work keeping us all in line lol They all do an amazing job, that I appreciate immensely โค๏ธ
I totally agree, Jenn! I donโt know what I would do with myself without the terrific challenges and support of the mods in this group. So many books would not be read. I donโt know how I would get through the day without hearing from so many amazing folks that are here either!
โ๏ธThanks for those lovely comments, ladies. ๐ฅฐ
1. Badge 4, Book 602/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 3, History-Nay
4. Murdering the President: Alexander Graham Bell and the Race to Save James Garfield
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5. I read a text from my library. The hc is 248 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The word "President" is in the title.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The word President is in the title.
8. Specifications: none
What that doctor did to President Garfield was so awful, he should have been hung along with the man who shot him! What he did to Bell was unfortunate. Garfield should have lived and Bell's invention could have been used to save many lives before the X-ray technology was really usable. Well written and well documented. I learned quite a lot out of this relatively short story.
Started Freedom's Landing to finish Geography-Yay on Card 14.Next up: Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas to finish Sport-Nay for Card 16
Next:
I own the 2 books to finish Card 9
I own the 2 books to finish Card 22
To finish Card 1, 4, Card 27, and Card 28, I own 4 books and I will have to get 4 books from the library (1 for each).
To finish Card 3, I need 2 books from the library.
That is 10 cards if I do it in the above order.
I need 3 books each to finish Cards 10, 12, 20, 23, and 24.
I own 6 books - 9 books will be from the library.
I need 4 books to finish on all the rest of the eight Cards.
I own 11 books - 32 will be from the library.
I'm missing 2 books on my count somewhere if badge 4 is 50 books, badge 5 is ?
1. Badge 4, Book 613/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 14, Geography-Yay
4. Freedom's Landing
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5. I read a hard copy that I own. The hc is 277 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The title has the word "Freedom" or "Hope" in it.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The word "Freedom" is in the title.
8. Specifications: none.
Nothing to write home about, but this book is the first in a four book series by the author that I have never read. I picked up the book at a library sale for $1.50. I am adding it to my series list. Hopefully, I can find the other three in the series next year.
Cherie wrote: "1. Badge 4, Book 613/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 14, Geography-Yay
4. Freedom's Landing
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5. I read a hard copy that I own. The hc is 277 pages.
6. Task Requir..."
I read this as it came out. I am not sure it aged well.
Esther - My library has the second book in the series in text, so I have requested it. I liked it well enough to see what is going to happen next. I like the story but I didnโt love it. It just feels too convenient. I want to know more about the aliens. ๐
1. Badge 4, Book 624/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 16, Sport-Nay
4. The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols: Adapted from the Journals of John H. Watson, M.D.
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5. I listened to an audiobook from Audible that I bought. The hc is 238 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book is set in summer or winter.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The main story is set between Jan 6th and mid-March 1905, which is winter
8. Specifications: none
Another owned book is bumped off of my list. I bought Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas at a library sale, intending to go back and start the series and never did.
Looking on Audible, for something to listen to, I found the book reported above. I had never paid any attention that Nicholas Meyer had written two other books after The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D..
Funny - I was listening to it for the third time this morning, when it dawned on me that the book would fit this task. (view spoiler)
1. Badge 4, Book 634/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 10, History-Nay
4. The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the Worldโs Most Precious Manuscripts
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5. I read a hard copy text from my library. The hc is 280 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The theme is religion.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: Although this book subject is about the librarians and manuscripts of Timbuktu, it was much, much more. It covered the religion and ethnicity of the Muslims of the region and the different factions of Islam, including the hard liners of Wahabis and the jihadis against the western world.
8. Specifications: Religion is listed under genre in the MBP.
I did not enjoy all of it, but I really learned a lot about the different factions and history of the region.
1. Badge 4, Book 644/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 23, History-Nay
4. The Dutch House
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5. I listened to an audiobook from Audible. The hc is 337 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book is set in Pennsylvania.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book is set in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania and Manhattan, New York.
8. Specifications: none
Tom Hanks made the audiobook a ten star listen. I love Patchett's characters and dialogue. I need to read more of her books. I bumped The Johnstown Flood to listen to Tom for this task.
Cherie wrote: "1. Badge 4, Book 644/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 23, History-Nay
4. The Dutch House
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5. I listened to an audiobook from Audible. The hc is 337 pages.
6. Ta..."
Glad you liked it Cherie. This book is one of my favourites for 2020.
It is going to be tough for me to pick only five favorite reads for this year, Shirley, but this one could definitely be on the list.
Cherie wrote: "It is going to be tough for me to pick only five favorite reads for this year, Shirley, but this one could definitely be on the list."Do you allow yourself only 5 favourites?
I think Iโm throwing in the towel. I hit the wall - without earning the next badge. ๐I wanted to finish one more card but the library availability for the books I need are not going to allow it to happen - at least I donโt think so.
I read 119 books for this challenge out of 201 books that I have completed for the year. My original goal was to complete Badge 3 and I did that. If I had been a little more disciplined about some of the book choices, I could have finished Badge 4, but itโs too late to cry about now. I canโt wait to start gophering for next year!!!
Cherie wrote: "I think Iโm throwing in the towel. I hit the wall - without earning the next badge. ๐I wanted to finish one more card but the library availability for the books I need are not going to allow it to..."Yes, thereโs always next yearโs challenge. Bring on 2021.
Cherie wrote: "I read 119 books for this challenge out of 201 books that I have completed for the year. My original goal was to complete Badge 3 and I did that"Wow! I knew there was no way I could go further than Badge 3, and even that would be a stretch! On my best year - as an adult, because in high school I read a lot more - I read 149 books... I challenged myself to get the second badge and do my best in the 3rd, and now I am half-way through one of the 2 I need to finish the 5th card! :)
Can't wait to see what 2021 - and Janice - will bring us! ;)
Marie Claude - it has been an exceptional year for me. I originally challenged myself to read 160 books. It has really come down to all of the audiobooks that put me so far over the top. I have had lots more time to listen while I was working from home. And - my library has added so many more choices to their selection this year.
Cherie wrote: "1. Badge 4, Book 644/10 cards completed for this badge.
2. & 3. Card 23, History-Nay
4. The Dutch House
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5. I listened to an audiobook from Audible. The hc is 337 pages.
6. Ta..."
This book didn't do it for me (I gave it 3 stars) but I read it - didn't listen to it. Everyone who has listened to the audio has loved it. I may now need to go back and listen to this one especially since you loved it ;)
Cherie wrote: "And - my library has added so many more choices to their selection this year.."I was scrolling through the new additions my library made to Overdrive, and the majority of them were audiobooks. I was really surprised.
Jayme - I think Tom Hanks really may have pushed this book over the top of the wall. You already know the story, so it may not have the same impact, but his performance is definitely worth going back to the book at some future time. I have listened to him before, but he really made this story come alive. It is really hard to quantify if it is because I knew who he was, or the exceptional way his voices just carried it off. I feel the same way about how NOS4A2 became so much more, with Kate Mulgrew narrating it.
Cherie wrote: "Marie Claude - it has been an exceptional year for me. I originally challenged myself to read 160 books. It has really come down to all of the audiobooks that put me so far over the top. I have had..."Audiobooks really help to raise the number. I guess that was one of my problems this year. Working from home lowered the level of ambiant noise so helped me focus, but at the same time, having my husband and 2 of my kids around (even if young adults) did not help at all. And my job requires too much reading and analysis for me to listen to books at the same time. All and all, I listened to a lot fewer audiobooks this year than I did last year :(
Marie Claude - I can do the same kind of mindless tasks that allow me to listen to an audiobook book when I am at the office, but I donโt as much, because I have more people stopping by my cubicle. At home, I have fewer interruptions because it is just my granddaughter and me. So - our circumstances are just the opposite when working from home vs. at the office. Otherwise, my job is the same. I do a lot of training via Skype and answer a ton of email.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Dutch House (other topics)The Dutch House (other topics)
The Johnstown Flood (other topics)
The Dutch House (other topics)
The Dutch House (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Nicholas Meyer (other topics)Mary Doria Russell (other topics)
Tatiana de Rosnay (other topics)
Tatiana de Rosnay (other topics)
Alan Paton (other topics)
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LOL! Anything could happen. I've only written 20% of the tasks."
...and at the minimum 2 months before WE find out...