The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
OLD TASK HELP THREADS
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ABIGAIL'S TASK - ODD MAN OUT
I wanted t do The Bell Jar but now I see that Bridgit gave it 5 stars!!!!! Waw!
Jennifer wrote: "yet...except maybe a John Steinbeck novel???..."Jennifer, I think John Steinbeck is listed in the Lost task as one of the authors to read as Part A.
Petra wrote: "Jennifer, I think John Steinbeck is listed in the Lost task as one of the authors to read as Part A. "D-OH! I knew that. :)
I am reading one of Mario Vargas Llosa's earlier works (I hope): either In Praise of the Stepmother or Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter.
Maybe Tryst by Elswyth Thane would work?It doesn't seem to be part of any of her series.
Maybe Louisa May Alcott--Not Little Women or Jo's Boys, but some of her other fiction.
John Steinbeck seems to be out, thanks to Sam's task.
Would Term Limits by Vince Flynn work?
Donna Jo wrote: "Maybe Tryst by Elswyth Thane would work?It doesn't seem to be part of any of her series.
Maybe Louisa May Alcott--Not Little Women or Jo's Boys, but some of her other fiction.
J..."
Tryst is a one word tilte and that is part of Michelle's task.
Sorry, I was too focused on other details.
Tryst is set in England, very romantic and tearjerky, but in England!!!Books from her Dawn's Early Light series might work
Cindy wrote: "Tryst is set in England, very romantic and tearjerky, but in England!!!Books from her Dawn's Early Light series might work"
Except for having to watch for a female protagonist in her series.
I think I have it! Forever . . . by Judy Blume. I don't think it fits any other tasks!!! And none of the winners have it rated with 5 stars! Anyone see any problems with it?
Crossing my fingers for Forever by Judy Blume! :)
forever is a one word title, so it can be used for michelle's task. :(
NOOOO. lol. I keep overlooking at least one thing.
Dawn's Early Light proceeds through American history, so it has different characters (from the same family) in the different books - not a series in the sense that I thought the task meant. It might work
Cynthia wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Okay, I think I found one which works for me.Setting Free the Bears by John Irving
I've read other John Irving novels, it does not have a red/white/blue cover. Does..."
Oh no! I love Irving but I have a feeling I'll agree with you on this one. I'll keep it on the list for this task for now but I might keep looking in case a better one comes up. Thanks Cynthia.
Mine Still Fits - Yeah!Family Pictures By Sue Miller
Not Related To My Favorite Disney Movie
Not Rwb Cover & Doesn’t Have Stars Or Stripes In Title
No Royalty
Not An Award Winner
No Librarians/Not A Favorite By Librarians I Work With
She Is Year Of The Sheep, I’m Year Of The Dog
Not A Cozy
Has No Romance Words In The Title
No Alliteration
No Circus
No Person Who Is Without The Use Of One Of Their Senses
Not Written By An African American
Not A 5 Star By A Winner
Published In 1990
Not A 5 Star From Any Of My Local Literature Lovers
Has Nothing To Do With My Favorite Tv Show
Nothing To Do With Canada
Nothing To Do With Hawaii
Nothing To Do With Russia
Not Black Comedy/Satire
No Alice’s Or Lewis – Not A Fictional Land
Not Part Of A Series W/Female Protagonist – Not A Biography
Not Related To Monopoly My Favorite Game
Not A 5 Star Book By Any Of The First People On The C Or S Countries
Not Related To My Best Gift
No Recipes
Not Related To A Winter Holiday
Isn’t The Book That’s Been On My Shelf The Longest And I Have Read Her Before.
She Is Still Alive
Not A Group Read
Not On The 1001 Books List
Not Science Fiction
No Diseases
Takes Place In Chicago Not An Island
Not A Lost Writer Or Lost Book
It Has 2 Words In The Title Not 1 Or 7+
I Don’t Think It Has A Map Or Extras (I’ll See When I Get The Book)
Not Published In The Last Decade Or Made Into A Film
None Of The Vacation Words In The Title
No Dead Characters And Again She’s Still Alive
Chicago Is Not My Dream Vacation
Has Nothing To Do With Westward Expansion
No Newberry Award
No Colors Or Numbers
Not Related To My Dewey Numbers (it would be 813)
Nicki wrote: "Would Term Limits by Vince Flynn work? "I think it might. I'm also looking at other action/thriller/mystery authors - Phillip Margolin, Joseph Finder, and J.A. Jance (the Beaumont series) may have some that will work.
Erin wrote: "Oh no you are right! I forgot about that! What about E.M. Forster's A Passage to India?"That's on the 1001 Books list, so it's out. Sorry!
Darn - I was all set to read I'll Steal You Away by Niccolo Ammaniti, but I LOVE the cover. :o(I think I have a list of possibilities though:
The Baron in the Trees - Italo Calvino
Setting Free the Bears - John Irving
The Hotel New Hampshire - John Irving
Reservation Blues - Sherman Alexie
A Stir of Echoes - Richard Matheson
Searching for Caleb - Anne Tyler
Breathing Lessons - Anne Tyler
Invisible Monsters - Chuck Palahniuk
Talk Before Sleep A Novel - Elizabeth Berg
Can anyone let me know if you see anything that won't work? Thanks!
Okay, I have an idea for a book. Can anyone let me know if there is a reason it would be disqualified?My Name Is Asher Lev. Thanks!
I have a question with Beth MDs task - do we have to eliminate all books that would fit into another task from the past challenge, or just from our favorite task? If my wording is confusing, let me know.
I think I am just going to give up now! This will officially be the only task I cannot fit a book into! (Not like I will be able to finish all tasks anyways!) :)
Kathryn wrote: "I have a question with Beth MDs task - do we have to eliminate all books that would fit into another task from the past challenge, or just from our favorite task? If my wording is confusing, let me..."Gosh, I really hope not! That would make this task impossible, I would think. I just spent literally an hour looking for a book that would fit this task. I think I finally found one, though!
Fair and Tender Ladies Published in 1988, none of the finishers but Sam have it on their Read list and he only gave it 3 stars, no awards, the author wasn't born in my Chinese zodiac year, no alliteration, not on the 1001 books list, I've read the author before, not set on an island, the copy I have has a green cover...
I'm pretty sure it works! Now I just have to cross my fingers that the tasks that are still pending don't somehow knock it out for me.
Asho wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I have a question with Beth MDs task - do we have to eliminate all books that would fit into another task from the past challenge, or just from our favorite task? If my wording is c..."I hope that with four tasks still to put up, that it ends up still fitting...
If Beth MN's task counts for this, we might as all give up!
Erin wrote: "I think I am just going to give up now! This will officially be the only task I cannot fit a book into! (Not like I will be able to finish all tasks anyways!) :)"I'm with you on this one! I know I will never be able to finish this challenge and I don't know what to do anymore. (Unless someone looks up Asher Lev and tells me it works! I am too much of a pessimist to think I have that kind of luck!
I have sent a message to Abigail re-Beth's task - waiting to hear back.
Only 3 more tasks to go and my book still works. Fingers crossed!
Ok Abigail says Beth's task in another exception to her task - meaning the book you choose can fit one of the old challenge tasks!!!
Cynthia wrote: "Ok Abigail says Beth's task in another exception to her task - meaning the book you choose can fit one of the old challenge tasks!!!"Okay, everyone. I'm going to start with comment #236 now. If I know for sure your suggested book does NOT fit at this point, I will reply here. If it still fits, I won't reply until the last three winner tasks are officially posted. I'll revisit them then.
And, as Cynthia just wrote, don't worry about Beth MN's task for this. Phew!
Also, apologies in advance if I repeat what someone else has already figured out and posted. I'm going to go the quick route and only skim the next couple messages before I post my own reply -- otherwise, I might never get to start reading myself! (Not to mention the work I'm supposed to be doing right now.) ;)
Kate wrote: "I think I have found 2 books that work:Snow in August by Pete Hamill
Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson
I don't know if either book has a map or other extra co..."
I'm not sure, but it looks like Snow in August might start crossing into civil rights themes (see 20.1). I'd double-check that first.
I'll revisit Hell's Angels after the rest of the tasks are posted, but if you get a chance, look it up and see if it has any "extra content" that rules it out for Emily's task.
Cait wrote: "Darn - I was all set to read I'll Steal You Away by Niccolo Ammaniti, but I LOVE the cover. :o(I think I have a list of possibilities though:
The Baron in the Trees - I..."
Cait, I'll revisit the rest after the 25-point tasks are finalized, but you can definitely rule out both Anne Tyler titles (Searching for Caleb and Breathing Lessons) since they are on PJReads' 5-star list.
I also think Reservation Blues might not count. I can't tell if the narrator is the back-from-the-dead Johnson (which would rule it out for Diane's task) or if it has unusual content. The description says, "Sherman Alexie imaginatively mixes narrative, newspaper excerpts, songs, journal entries, visions, radio interviews, and dreams..." That could rule it out for Emily's task. It *might* work, but it might not...
Kathryn wrote: "Okay, I have an idea for a book. Can anyone let me know if there is a reason it would be disqualified?My Name Is Asher Lev. Thanks!"
It was mentioned in Diane's task thread, but I think that's individual enough that it wouldn't matter unless it relates to your own personal resolution. Still, double-check that and your Dewey decimals.
That said, I'm not sure if it has enough religious information in it that it could relate to one of the Jewish holidays that takes place during this task (see 15.8)... It's a gray area. Anyone read it who would know for sure?
Erin wrote: "I think I am just going to give up now! This will officially be the only task I cannot fit a book into! (Not like I will be able to finish all tasks anyways!) :)"Don't give up! It looks like there will be a decent list, and I'll try to edit my first post of this thread to list them. And then you can just pick and choose -- or skip, if none of them appeal/fit your personal limitations.
I'm sorry!
All tasks have been posted and Eye of the Beholder still fits (my edition is the one with the eye on it)!!!
Abigail wrote: "Erin wrote: "I think I am just going to give up now! This will officially be the only task I cannot fit a book into! (Not like I will be able to finish all tasks anyways!) :)"Don't give up! It lo..."
Oh don't be sorry! The fact that it is hard makes it more interesting!
I think I may have found one:
Valley of the Dolls.... Yay or nay?
Well, LisaMD's tasks killed all my choices, :(. I really need a list...HELP!
Are we also excluding Lisa MD's task from this task? Her task reads: LISA MD’S TASK - IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME
Read (2) Historical Books, Fiction Or Non-Fiction, From Different Time Periods Or Settings. (For Purposes Of This Task, I Will Define A Historical Novel As Anything Taking Place Up To And Including WWII.)
Or are we further limiting the book selection to those that take place between the end of WWII and the present?
Thanks!
Hey Abigail, I thought you figured this would be the EASY task to find a book for. Who knew that so many folks would finish the Fall Challenge and come up with tasks that were pretty flexible? Hang in there, we'll get it figured out!!
Abigail has graciously agreed to change her task so that the book only has to not fit any of the 5/10/15 point tasks - hopefully this will help everyone! Everyone thank her for being flexible.
I think I have a list of possibilities though:The Baron in the Trees - Italo Calvino
Setting Free the Bears - John Irving
The Hotel New Hampshire - John Irving
Reservation Blues - Sherman Alexie
A Stir of Echoes - Richard Matheson
Breathing Lessons - Anne Tyler
Invisible Monsters - Chuck Palahniuk
Talk Before Sleep A Novel - Elizabeth Berg
ETA: Just saw the new parameters! :o)
IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!READ THIS!!!
All of you who just smacked your heads repeatedly against your computer screen (and are now trying to read this despite the cracks on it), you're getting a giant reprieve.
Cynthia suggested -- with a giant sigh of relief from me -- that we narrow my task down to any book that does not fit within the 5/10/15-point tasks. In other words, don't worry about the 20-, 25-, 30-, and 35-pointers. They're all moot as far as I'm concerned.
[pauses for the cheering:]
Okay, so we're starting with a clean slate. If you have a book that you want to double-check within the NEW parameters, post now.
Warning: If you posted one earlier and I didn't rule it out already based on a 5/10/15-point challenge, it's probably okay. BUT if I didn't answer specifically OR if I ruled it out for a 20-point or higher challenge, I'm not revisiting. Post again if you want me to "officially" okay it. Sorry, but I think I might go insane if I have to reread six pages of comments. ;) I'm not a saint like Cynthia!
Thanks for your patience with this.
Cait wrote: "I think I have a list of possibilities though:The Baron in the Trees - Italo Calvino predominantly white cover
Setting Free the Bears - John Irving WWII
[book:The Hotel..."
Cait, a number of the ones you ruled out should work again. (See post #299.) The five-stars are out, but the color-based and "historical" ones are in.
Krista wrote: "Hey Abigail, I thought you figured this would be the EASY task to find a book for. Who knew that so many folks would finish the Fall Challenge and come up with tasks that were pretty flexible? Hang in there, we'll get it figured out!!."I know! Me too! But, hey, I think the last few tasks were the straws that broke the camel's back, and now it's MUCH more manageable. Would've been great in a smaller season, though, huh? ;)
Thanks for the modification Abigail. That will make selecting the book much easier! As I said earlier, hang in there. I think it's a learning process for all of us.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Summons (other topics)The Summons (other topics)
His Lady Midnight (other topics)
The Shrinking Man (other topics)
His Lady Midnight (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
John Grisham (other topics)John Grisham (other topics)
Pearl S. Buck (other topics)
John Steinbeck (other topics)
Daphne du Maurier (other topics)
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Snow in August by Pete Hamill
Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson
I don't know if either book has a map or other extra content for task 25.9, but I do know neither author is a Rooster.
Please let me know if I missed something and one of them does fit a task.