February Challenge: The Saints Go Marching In

[Adriana]

Welcome Cynthia!

@Cassandra - Yes, I got to choose my saint for confirmation. I chose St. Dominic Savio because from the very beginning he strived to be a good person. He went a little extreme at times to show his love for his religion and Jesus but I loved how innately good he was and how much he devoted himself to something he believed in. He died very young which is probably another reason I chose him since I was young - a teenager - when I got confirmed. I'm not very religious now. I've never really been and I don't go to church anymore but I have always loved stories about saints (the only thing I really like about religion at this moment are the saints) and he happened to resonate with me at the time and now. I actually love the name Dominic because of him (:

An interesting fact is that when he died his last words were: "I am seeing most wonderful things!"

Confirmation is the third step in Catholicism for those of you who don't know. It's basically confirming yourself that you want to be part of the religion like you couldn't when you were baptized.

Awesome Meg! I love that everyone is reading based on St. Dominic Savio.

[Megan]

Just completed Saint #2, Saint Lucy (prostitution) - The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes. While I appreciate the characters and the unique storyline, I felt that the story was a bit long and could have been edited down. Worth reading. 3.5 stars

2/5

[ChrisP]

2. St. Francis of Assisi: Early in his life Francis lead a crowd of young people who spent their lives in wild parties, giving into their vices and surrounding themselves with evil. When he was 25, God came to him in a dream and he turned over a new leaf. Francis became a lover of nature, where he felt all of nature and the animals in it were part of his brotherhood. Read a book where the main characters give into their vices or evil or read a book where nature or animals is an important part of the story.


The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival***A solid and interesting read about the life and hardships of the Amura Tiger in Far Eastern Russia. St. Francis has his work cut out for him on saving this species and finding a balance with 21st century humans.

1/4 Complete

[Cassandra]

That's awesome, Adriana! Thanks for sharing that. :)

[Ramesh]

Count me in for 3

#3 & #7: War & Peace (only 1300 pages to go! lol)
#6: Percy Jackson, The Lightning Thief
#5: Let Me Wear Your Coat

[Ramesh]

Count me in for 3

#3 & #7: War & Peace (only 1300 pages to go! lol)
#6: Percy Jackson, The Lightning Thief
#5: Let Me Wear Your Coat

[Arushi]

My list:

1. Read a book about music, or someone who is falsely accused of something- To Kill a Mockingbird

2. Read a book where the main characters give into their vices or evil or read a book where nature or animals is an important part of the story. - Prince of Thorns

3. Read a book about a fierce battle or war. - King of Thorns

4. Read a book about slavery or read a book that takes place in Ireland. - Beloved

5. Read a story where the main character struggles with and overcomes his or her own faults, whether they be physical, emotional, personality or other faults. - The Girl on the Train

6. Read a book where there is an angel or other paranormal being or read a book where someone is sentenced to death. - The Stranger

7. Read a book where people live a simple life and do not have a luxurious lifestyle or read a book about royalty. - Emperor of Thorns

8. Read a book about an arranged marriage or read a book about prostitution. - Kiss an Angel

9. Read a book about a character who runs away, or read a book where someone drastically changes his or her appearance.

10. Read a book about some kind of suffering or read a book that contains a miracle.

[Arushi]

Completed- 1/4

[Maria]

Please update message 12 1/4

6. The Thirteenth Tale

[Maddison]

I'm in for ten books.

[Megan BG]

I'm going to say 4...

5/4

1. Read a book about music, or someone who is falsely accused of something.

2. Read a book where the main characters give into their vices or evil or read a book where nature or animals is an important part of the story.
The Invisible Man - 2/20

3. Read a book about a fierce battle or war.

4. Read a book about slavery or read a book that takes place in Ireland.

5. Read a story where the main character struggles with and overcomes his or her own faults, whether they be physical, emotional, personality or other faults.
Sense and Sensibility - 2/17

6. Read a book where there is an angel or other paranormal being or read a book where someone is sentenced to death.
A Storm of Swords - 2/16 (who isn't sentence to death in this one?)

7. Read a book where people live a simple life and do not have a luxurious lifestyle or read a book about royalty.
Island of the Blue Dolphins - 2/18

8. Read a book about an arranged marriage or read a book about prostitution.
Mr. Kiss and Tell - 2/22

9. Read a book about a character who runs away, or read a book where someone drastically changes his or her appearance.

10. Read a book about some kind of suffering or read a book that contains a miracle.

[Adriana]

Wonderful start Megan, ChrisP, Arushi, and Maria!

Welcome new challenges.

No problem Cassandra (:

[Adriana]

9. St. Clare: Clare was a beautiful Italian woman of nobility. After hearing St Francis preach, Clare wanted to imitate Francis. She ran away from home and gave herself to God. She cut off her hair and wore a rough brown habit, tied with a plain cord around her waist. Read a book about a character who runs away, or read a book where someone drastically changes his or her appearance.

1/6 complete

This counts for both parts of St. Clare. An alien takes over a human body and runs away to the family that the human she hosts loves.

[Meg]

7. St. Joseph: Read a book where people live a simple life and do not have a luxurious lifestyle or read a book about royalty.
I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life about a family's challenge to only eat locally grown food for one year. Great idea, not a great book!

2/5

[Izavel]

Love this idea. I think I can commit to 2 for right now.
1/2

5. Read a story where the main character struggles with and overcomes his or her own faults, whether they be physical, emotional, personality or other faults.
Queen Mab: A Tale Entwined with William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet 2-13-15

[Whitney]

1/3

8. Read a book about an arranged marriage or read a book about prostitution. My Brilliant Friend

I finished this book last night, and it was wonderful!

[Lorina]

Update for message 18.

Completed 1/3.

8. St. Lucy challenge - Read a book about an arranged marriage or read a book about prostitution.

Read Arranged by Catherine McKenzie. Quick read! Good chick lit.

[Adriana]

Meg wrote: "7. St. Joseph: Read a book where people live a simple life and do not have a luxurious lifestyle or read a book about royalty.
I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life a..."

Aww! Too bad. I had planned to read this bok a while back but didn't get a chance. Do you know any books similar to this one that you like?

[Smokkee]

Count me in for 3 for sure but I'm gonna go for more.

[Meg]

Adriana wrote: "Aww! Too bad. I had planned to read this bok a while back but didn't get a chance. Do you know any books similar to this one that you like? "

It was a shame I didn't like it because Kingsolver is one of my favourite fiction authors. I haven't read anything similar before (I'm not really much of a non-fic person, which probably doesn't help). People seem to compare it to The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals a lot, but I haven't read it.

[Susan C]

Updated message 13

1/4 completed

[JennyGirlReads]

Count me in for 6:

1. Saint Dominic Savio (music):

10. St. Rose of Lima (suffering):

[Laurie]

I'm in for this challenge and I'll try for 3.

Currently reading A Week in Winter - #4.(set in Ireland).

[Nwanneka]

Just saw this challenge I will commit to 3 books, more if I can.

[Courtney A.J.]

First of 6!

✔4. St. Clare: A character who runs away, or read a book where someone drastically changes his or her appearance.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This book was awesome!

[Adriana]

7. St. Joseph: Joseph was the husband of Mary and foster father to Jesus. Joseph was a working man, with humble work (a carpenter) and humble means. He wasn't a rich man but he came from royal lineage. Read a book where people live a simple life and do not have a luxurious lifestyle or read a book about royalty.



MC goes from really rich to broke.

[Adriana]

Thanks Meg! I'll check out some reviews (:

[Cristal]

Please update message 7

Read a book about music, or someone who is falsely accused of something. Station Eleven read 5/2/15 - the travelling symphony a musical troop.
1/5

[Adriana]

Updated you Cristal!

[Megan]

Just completed my selection for #9 St Clare (running away) - The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. The book was written well and I liked the characters. The alternating chapters from before and after told from different perspectives was an interesting technique. The "surprise" at the end was rather unnecessary and I had figured it out by the time it happened. Worth reading. 3.5 stars

3/5

[Robyn]

Finished my first book of the month which will fit for number 6, angel or paranormal being

1/3

[Arushi]

Completed 3/4. Message 58 edited.

[Courtney A.J.]

Completed 2 of 6

✔6. St. Therese of Lisieux: Where the main character struggles with and overcomes his or her own faults, whether they be physical, emotional, personality or other faults.
Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer

Don't read this book... seriously.

[Lorina]

Update for message 18.

Completed 2/3.

9. St. Clare challenge - Read a book about a character who runs away, or read a book where someone drastically changes his or her appearance .

Read Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee. This book would also be valid in completing #5, the St. Therese of Lisieux challenge about overcoming a physical fault. Good YA fiction.

[Cassandra]

3. St. Michael the Archangel: In the New Testament Michael leads God's armies against Statan's forces, where during the war in heaven, he defeats Satan. Read a book about a fierce battle or war.


Finished February 4
4 stars

1/5

[Megan]

Just completed my selection for #10 St Rose of Lima (overcome suffering) - Married by Monday by Catherine Bybee. Quick read with good plot points. Not the standard romance fair. Some of the slight legal references were inaccurate, but other than that, worth reading. 3 stars

4/5

[ChrisP]

Read a book where there is an angel or other paranormal being or read a book where someone is sentenced to death.


Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch***
The banter between the angel Azirpahle and the dark angel Crowley was hilarious and by far the best part of the book. There are lines in the book that have made it into my daily usage.

2/4 Complete

[ChrisP]

Read a book where people live a simple life and do not have a luxurious lifestyle or read a book about royalty.


Dhampir***Magiere traveled from village to village slaying vampire spirits for simple villagers. From there she opens a tavern in a town who are simple folk. The book kept me just interested enough to keep me turning pages it wasn't long before I realized I liked the book. I look forward to future books because I want to know what the characters are going to do next.

3/4 Complete

[ChrisP]

Please update the number of books to 7....Thank You!!!

[Ilona]

I finished #1 St. Dominic Savio (music) by reading Station Eleven

(1/2)

[Jodi]

Hi Adriana,

I finished my first saint, St. Francis of Assisi. I read I Am Number Four John's dog plays quite an important role in this story, particularly towards the end of the book.

[Adriana]

Wonderful job everyone!
lol Courtney. I'll take your word.

[Adriana]

I updated your goal number ChrisP! Glad you feel confident to read more books for this challenge (:

Hi Jodi,
Did you like I Am Number Four?

[Cristal]

Please update message 7.

Read a book about a character who runs away, or read a book where someone drastically changes his or her appearance.Paper Towns read 7/2/15
Margo runs away. 2/5

[Jodi]

Hi Adriana,

I did like it quite a bit. I loved the relationship between John and Henri and it was really interesting seeing John's legacies develop. What I didn't like was (view spoiler)[ John dictating to Henri that they weren't leaving the town because of the girlfriend he had for all of five minutes. He is 15 and making decisions that put his life, alien race, Henri's life and his friends' lives in jeopardy because of a girlfriend he has had for less than a year. I just felt like he was having a tantrum and acting very entitled when he turned his legacies on Henri until Henri gave in. I really disliked that part, although I guess they had to find some way for the Mogadorians to catch up with them. (hide spoiler)] I did like it enough to probably continue on with the series at some point. How about you?

[Claire]

I'm in for 5. :)


2/5

1. St. Dominic Savio: Smart Girls Get What They Want finished Feb. 8
2. St. Therese of Lisieux: Truly finished Feb. 12

[Isa]

2/5

3 -> Tatiana and Alexander
10 -> Before I Go To Sleep

[Cassandra]

5. St. Therese of Lisieux: Therese had always wanted to be a saint but when she compared herself to all of the other saints, she felt the differences between them were so great. She believed that God wouldn't make her wish for something impossible, so she decided to accept herself and all of her faults. Read a story where the main character struggles with and overcomes his or her own faults, whether they be physical, emotional, personality or other faults.


Finished February 8
5 stars

2/5

[Megan]

Just completed my selection for #3 St. Michael the Archangel (war) - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I am incredibly impressed with this book! The story is well-written, crafted beautifully, and contains complex characters. There is a very smart thread of suspense written throughout the story. Overall, it is a story of love and forgiveness and the will to survive unbroken. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

5/5 - challenge completed but will continue to add throughout the month!

[Ilona]

6. St. Cecilia: She was a virgin given in marriage to a youth named Valerian. She wore sackcloth, fasted and invoked the saints and angels to protect her virginity. Four hundred people, including her husband were baptized because they wanted to see the angel protecting her. Cecilia was sentenced to death for preaching and converting people. Read a book where there is an angel or other paranormal being or read a book where someone is sentenced to death.
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

(2/2)