Feb 2015 - Spelling Bee Reporting Thread

[Janice, Moderator]

Let's compare it to an apple and call it a fruit. 10 points Camilla.

[Camilla]

Janice wrote: "Let's compare it to an apple and call it a fruit. 10 points Camilla."

Thanks Janice!

[Mariab]

LOL, Sandra! (or like avocados!)

[Mariab]

By the way, I wanted to point before, that my neighbor used to make a wonderful tomato marmalade and (sweet) tomato smoothie, both of them proving that tomato IS a fruit

[Susan]

I read by Sandra Brown for this challenge.

Title: 0 points
Author: 3 points (she walks amongst us)
Genre: 5 points (Romance)
Cover: 5 points (there is snow)
Pages: 5 points (562 pages)

Bonus points: 3 (there is a doctor as a character in the book)

Total points: 21

I really enjoyed this book, which surprised me because I normally don't read Romance. I'm going to try some more of her books.

[Janice, Moderator]

Mariab wrote: "By the way, I wanted to point before, that my neighbor used to make a wonderful tomato marmalade and (sweet) tomato smoothie, both of them proving that tomato IS a fruit"

Technically, it is a fruit so there's no argument there. It's just not the kind of fruit I had in mind when I made up the challenge, so I excluded it from the definition. :)

[Kerri]

I read
0 Title
3 Author still living
0 Genre
3 Cover has a dog on it
3 Page 300-399
3 Bonus Dr in it, though an animal Dr hope it counts?
12 points total

One of the characters drank pomegranate juice which her Nana hid her vodka in. Pretty sure juice won't count though.

[Thing Two]

I finished A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.

22 points

GENRE :
5 pts - Romance
4 pts - Historical Fiction

COVER :
4 pts – Has more than two people on it

PAGES :
3 pts - 300-399 pages long

BONUS:
3 pts - doctor
3 pts - fruit (mangoes, bananas, and others)

[Jessica]

I just finished by Neil Abramson.

Title: 5 points
Author: 3 points
Cover: 3 points
Pages: 3 points
Bonus: 3 points- has a doctor
17 points

I can't say enough good things about this book. I cried through the first 40 and last 30 pages of it. I'm kind of embarrassed to return it to the library now with the wrinkled parts of pages. Still, an absolutely beautifully written novel for all animal lovers. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Kerri wrote: "I read
3 Bonus Dr in it, though an animal Dr hope it counts?
12 points total

One of..."

Yes to the doctor and no to the juice. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

It looks like we've got a pet theme going on with Kerri and Jessica! Thing Two is stuck in the middle of Australia with a kangaroo or two. Actually, I don't think I recall any critters in that book. I'm just being flippant.

[Kerri]

Janice wrote: "It looks like we've got a pet theme going on with Kerri and Jessica! Thing Two is stuck in the middle of Australia with a kangaroo or two. Actually, I don't think I recall any critters in that bo..."

I took one look at that gorgeous chocolate brown face on the cover of my book and knew I had to read it. I mean, look at those big puppy dog eyes.

[Janice, Moderator]

He's pretty sweet, alright!

[Erica]

I read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Title: 0 points
Author: 5 points - Author was born in February, 3 points - Author walks among us
Genre: 0 points
Cover: 0 points
Pages: 4 points - 466 pages
Bonus points: 3 points; there is a doctor in the story

Total score: 15 points!

[Berit]

I read Eleanor and Park, bye, Rainbow Rowell title0 points, author 3points the author walks amongst us, Cover 4 points to people on the cover, genre 5 points it was a romance, bonus points 3 points they ate pineapple, and oh yeah pages3 326 pages. A grand total of18points! :-)

[Janice, Moderator]

Everyone is doing so well. We have a week to go.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I read I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (It's clear I won't have time enough to read Fried Green Tomatoes... which was my first choise)


Title: 0 pts.

Author: 3 pts – (is living)

Genre: 0 pts.

Cover: O pts.

Pages 4 pts - (464 pages. I read the large print edition since it was the only one available at the library)

Bonus Points :
3 pts – There are doctors in the book. She was in the hospital for a long time. It even have pictures of some of them.
3 pts – Malala used to eat plums from the plum tree in the front yard of her home in Swat, Pakistan.

Total: 13 points

[Lynda]

Berit wrote: "I read Eleanor and Park, bye, Rainbow Rowell title0 points, author 3points the author walks amongst us, Cover 4 points to people on the cover, genre 5 points it was a romance, bonus points 3 points..."

I've had that as a sample on my Nook for a while, what did you think?

[Janice, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "I read I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (It's clear I won't have time enough to read Fried Green Tomatoes... which was my first choise)

..."

Those two books are worlds apart! I'm steering clear of I Am Malala. I suspect it to be heart-wrenching.

[Melissa]

I finished the audiobook The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
The one thing I wash't sure about was how to count the page numbers for an audiobook, so I looked up the page count for then hardcover and went with that.

Points Earned:
3 Author walks among us
4 Historical Fiction (28 users on GR consider this a romance...should I add 5 pts??) ;)
2 Number of Pages (299 hardback version)
3 Bonus: Doctor in story

Total Points 12

[Berit]

Linda, I really enjoyed Eleanor and Park, it was a very adorable love story and more. I really like the fact that teenagers act did like teenagers. I would recommend it if you like that genre.

[Janice, Moderator]

Yes, Melissa, that is how you figure out the page requirement when you are listening to an audiobook.

[Peggy]

Sandra wrote: "I read I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (It's clear I won't have time enough to read Fried Green Tomatoes... which was my first choise)

..."

I hope you'll have time for it soon, it's such a great book :)

[Peggy]

Liz wrote: "City of Thieves David Benioff

awesome book!!

TITLE : 0
AUTHOR : 3 pts – walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE : 4 pts - Historical Fiction

COVER : 5 pts – Has ..."

A while ago (maybe even a year) there was a group read for this book, if you're interested in reading more comments :)

[Almeta]

Finished The Flying Man by Roopa Farooki.


AUTHOR :
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

COVER : (based on the edition you read)
4 pts – Has more than two people on it

PAGES :
3 pts - 300-399 pages long

10 points total!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I read I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (It's clear I won't have time enough to read Fried Green Tomatoes... which was my ..."

I will, Peggy. I already renewed it from the library so I can read it in March.

[Sandra, Moderator]

@Janice

The story is sad. I liked the book, but I didn't love it. Many parts were clearly written by her, like her memories from her childhood and when she was shot. But all the other stuff about Pakistan history, Taliban history, etc., is clearly Christina Lamb's creation.
On the other hand, I found Malala's father a really interesting person.

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks Sandra. I think I will pass. It's interesting what bothers people. I can read fiction and not be affected. But non-fiction is a different matter.

[Lynda]

Berit wrote: "Linda, I really enjoyed Eleanor and Park, it was a very adorable love story and more. I really like the fact that teenagers act did like teenagers. I would recommend it if you like that genre."

I'm definitely going to have to get around to reading this book, then. I'm a sucker of YA, it's like my guilty pleasure. At the end of the day, though, good character stories are good stories, regardless of the genre. One of the best books I read last year was We Were Liars.

[Mariab]

Lynda wrote: "I'm a sucker of YA, it's like my guilty pleasure. At the end of the day, though, good character stories are good stories, regardless of the genre...."

Totally agree
I don't apologize for what I find funny, neither!

[Diane]

I read A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid.


AUTHOR :
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

COVER : (based on the edition you read)
5 pts – Has snow on it
3 pts – Has a dog on it

Bonus Points :

3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story. There is a veterinary doctor in the story, but I don't now if that qualifies.

-------------

Total = 11, unless a veterinarian counts as a doctor, then 14.

I am going to see if I can squeeze in a higher yielding book before the deadline!

[Berit]

I love YA and make no apologies for it ;-) sometimes those books are better than what I like to call grown-up books :-)and I agree we Were Liars,was one of the best books I've read in a long time.

[Lynn]

I've kept holding back to report because there's so many books that I've read this month that could count but now I've decided to stop counting points and report on the first eligible book that I read

written by Sarah Addison Allen

TITLE : 0 points

AUTHOR : 3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE : 5 pts - Romance
(I wouldn't class this as the main genre but it does have some romance in it, so wasn't sure what to do? I counted it obviously)

COVER : 0 points

PAGES : 2 pts - 200-299 pages long

Bonus Points : 0 points

Total points: 5 or 10 points*
*Genre Category

[Cherie]

Romance is half way down the list of what over 360 readers clasified as Litereature. It sounde like a great story and Diane S. said was an "awe moment" at the end, so it is now on my list. :0)
Janice is the boss, so don't listen to me. I have not seen her throw anything out yet.

[Lynn]

Cherie wrote: "Romance is half way down the list of what over 360 readers clasified as Litereature. It sounde like a great story and Diane S. said was an "awe moment" at the end, so it is now on my list. :0)
Ja..."

It's a wonderful read Cherie, one of my favourites of the year so far.

[Janice, Moderator]

Diane wrote: "I read A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid.."

14 pts. I allowed Veterinarian for someone else, so you get the points too.

[Janice, Moderator]

Lynn wrote: "I've kept holding back to report because there's so many books that I've read this month that could count but now I've decided to stop counting points and report on the first eligible book that I r..."

Yes, I'll accept romance as a genre since 143 people shelved it as such.

[Poongothai]

I read Riders by Jilly Cooper



TITLE :
5 pts - Is one word and starts with one of letters in FEBRUARY


AUTHOR :
5 pts – If the author was born in February (born on February 21, 1937)
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us

GENRE :
5 pts - Romance

COVER :


PAGES : 919 pages

5 pts -500+ pages long

Bonus Points :

3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story. (One of the main characters Jake breaks his leg and has to be hospitalized)
3 pts – In honour of Grapefruit Month, 3 pts if someone eats any fruit but tomatoes and anything else that doesn't fit Janice's connotation of "fruit". (One of the main characters Billy eats an apple)


Total : 29

[Lynn]

Janice wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Yes, I'll accept romance as a genre since 143 people shelved it as such. "

Boooo, I was hoping for the opposite ruling! lol

[Janice, Moderator]

Poongothai wrote: "I read Riders by Jilly Cooper
TITLE"

I hate to do this, Poongothai, but this book doesn't qualify for the challenge. The initial of the author's last name has to be included in the word FEBRUARY. Cooper doesn't match the criteria. I'm really sorry. Is there another book that you've read this month that could qualify? There's still time to read something else if not.

[Janice, Moderator]

Lynn wrote: "Janice wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Yes, I'll accept romance as a genre since 143 people shelved it as such. "

Boooo, I was hoping for the opposite ruling! lol"

LOL! I'm sure. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

There are two other books that have to be disqualified because they do not meet the main criteria of the challenge - the initial of the author's last name MUST be in the word FEBRUARY.

So - disqualifying:

Thing Two - A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute (no S in February)

Diane - A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid (no K in February).

I apologize that I'm so late in the month to do this, and that I didn't verify as I went along.

[Ann]

I read by Patrick deWitt

Title: 0
Author: 3 walks among us
Genre: 4 Historical fiction
Cover: 4 3 figures (two gunslingers and a moonface?)
Pages: 3 (300-399)
Bonus: 3 Doctor pg. 310 "Charlie had his hand cut off by a doctor in Jacksonville."
3 Fruit pg. 164 "We were eating apples. Mother had wrapped them in a strip of cloth and sent us outside."

Total: 20 points

[Janice, Moderator]

Ann wrote: "I read by Patrick deWitt

Sorry, Ann. But this book doesn't qualify.

The initial of the author's last name must start with F E B R U A R Y.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm not sure what people missed when they read the number one criteria of this challenge.

Read a book whose author's last name begins with a letter found in FEBRUARY.

Four books have been disqualified because that criteria was missed.

[Lara]

I read The Dragon's Heart by Eden Ashe

TITLE :
3 pts - Contains the word HEART

AUTHOR :
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE :
5 pts - Romance
3 pts – Paranormal Fantasy

COVER : (based on the edition you read)
0 pts

PAGES :
0 pts

Bonus Points :
3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story.

TOTAL: 17 pts

[Poongothai]

Janice wrote: " I hate to do this, Poongothai, but this book doesn't qualify for the challenge. The i..."

Sorry Janice, missed that part somehow.

I'm going with another book that I read on Feb 12

Royal Holiday Baby by Leanne Banks


TITLE :
0 pts

AUTHOR :
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE :
5 pts - Romance

COVER :
4 pts – Has more than two people on it

PAGES : 216
2 pts - 200-299 pages long

Bonus Points :
3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story. (The heroine visits a doctor during her pregnancey)
3 pts – In honour of Grapefruit Month, 3 pts if someone eats any fruit but tomatoes and anything else that doesn't fit Janice's connotation of "fruit".(The heroine eats an apple)

Total : 20

[Janice, Moderator]

Okay, I feel better now. I hate that I had to disallow books after they'd been read.

[Ann]

Let's try this one instead:
I read by Ronald H. Balson

TITLE:
0 pts
AUTHOR:
3 pts Author walks among us
GENRE:
4 pts Historical fiction
COVER:
4 pts Has more than two people on it
PAGES:
3 pts 300-399 pages
BONUS POINTS:
3 pts There is a doctor in the prison camp separating the healthy from the weak
4 pts Ben and Hannah eat apples from a tree when they are hiding at the monastery with the priests.

TOTAL: 20 pts

[Janice, Moderator]

That's better! Thanks Ann. THat looks like an interesting read. Did you enjoy it?