Official Challenge #2 - January 1, 2010 through April 30, 2010

[Jon]

look out Toni' is snapping at my paws!

[Jeane]

Jayme wrote: "Jeane wrote: "20.3 Read a book that won a major literary prize

People of the Book
2008: The Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Book of the Year and Literary Fiction Book of the Y..."

142 points

[Jon]

finished Wolf Brother 5.5. 256pages 4 bonus

Points 185
Bonus 52
Total 237

[Jeane]

Becky, I will have to change my points because i noticed I already used that task.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Believe it or not, I finished a task!!! I read The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon for 384 pages. That completes Task 15.1 - Read a Random book from the library shelves

So - that gives me a whopping 52 Total Points this time.

I have not been getting to read much HF these last few months.

[Jackie]

I finally get to report some points. They are:

5.1 Read a book set in Australia or written by an Australian author- My Place- 444 pages= 5+ 6 bonus pts

5.4 Read a HF book with a strong female character- The Conquest- 272 pgs= 5 + 4 bonus pts

10.1 Read a HF about modern history (1900-1970)-
Broken Paradise: A Novel- 340 pgs= 10 + 4 bonus pts

15.2 Read a HF book about a person you know little about= The Little Balloonist- 204 pages= 15 + 4 bonus pts

20.2 Read a book set during a revolution or civil war- The Welsh Girl- 352 pages= 20 + 4 bonus pts

Points 125
Bonus 48
Total 173

[[deleted user]]

I haven't been able to read much HF lately either, Lyn. Everyone is doing a fantastic jon on the challenge, though. I'm sitting on the sidelines cheering you on. Gooooo team HF!

[Jon]

Lyn M wrote: "Believe it or not, I finished a task!!! I read The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon for 384 pages. That completes Task 15.1 - Read a Random book from the li..."

how was that? it was fun picking a book at random for me :)

[Jon]

ooooh Jackie! nice work!

[Jackie]

Thanks! :-)

[Jeane]

Jackie wrote: "I finally get to report some points. They are:

5.1 Read a book set in Australia or written by an Australian author- My Place- 444 pages= 5+ 6 bonus pts

5.4 Read a HF book with a st..."

do you think I could use people of the book for the civil war task?

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Jon - I really liked it. Gave it 4 stars. It was very interesting, and it is a time period that I do not know that much about. The lack of sanitation in hospitals, even in London, at that time was really eye-opening.

Besides, I like any excuse to visit the new books shelf of the library. The task is not to come away with too many books, LOL!

What did you read for your random book?

[Jon]

i read - The Goldsmith's Daughter

wasnt too bad, Aztec HF

[Jon]

well i havnt updated for a while -i think it took my 2 weeks to read these 540 pages but loved every word. finished 20.1




5.1 Read a book set in Australia or written by an Australian author Tim 255p 4 bonus
5.2 Read a book set in India or written by an Indian author The Inheritance of Loss
5.3 Read a book set in Ireland or written by an Irish author The Gathering
5.4 Read a HF book with a strong female character
5.5 Read a YA HF Wolf Brother 320pp 4pnts

10.1 Read a HF about modern history (1900-1970),The Godfather
10.2 Read a book about the Celts and/or Druids,
10.3 Read a fantasy HF/alternate history book, Grass for His Pillow
10.4 Read a book about magic or witch craft The Witch's Trinity: A Novel 256pp 4pnts
10.5 Re-read your favorite HF. The Hours

15.1 Visit your local library or bookstore, choose a HF book at random and read that book. The Goldsmith's Daughter interesting! picked at random with eyes closed from librarys online HF list 290 pp 4 bonus
15.2 Read a HF book about a person you know little about, Empress Orchid
15.3 Read a HF book about a time period you've never read about before. Burma turn of century, The Piano Tuner
15.4 Read a HF book that relates to a HF TV show or movie and watch the show/movie..Ironweed 225 pp 4 bonus
15.4 Read a HF author you have never read and/or heard of before 2010. The Secret River 349p 4 bonus

20.1 Read a classic HF.Queen Margot, or, Marguerite de Valois542 p 6pnts
20.2 Read a book set during a revolution or civil war.In the Time of the Butterflies 320pp bonus 4pnts
20.3 Read a book that won a major literary prize The Road Home Organge Broadband 2008. 365p 4 bonus
20.4 Read a HF book that was released in 2009.The Help 445pp 6pnts
20.5 Both Paul Revere and Betsy Ross were born in January, so read a book about the American Revolution.
Someone Knows My Name 496p 6 bonus

25.1 Read 3 HF books - one each from 3 different bonus tier levels.

1.The English Patient, 305p, 4pnts
2.The Feast of Roses: A Novel
3.Vanity Fair 688p

25.2 Participate in a buddy read with another challenge participant. The Twentieth Wife: A Novelwith Jackie 345 p 4 bonus
25.3 Read 2 HF books from your TBR Dancer from the Dance, Andrew Holleran 254pp 4bonus pnts and The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts
25.4 For New Years, read a HF book that spans a new year, decade, millennium, etc. The Thorn Birds 692 pp 8 bonus


30.1 Freebie Prodigal Summer



50.1 Bonus: Be Jon's Cheerleader! Read 3 HF books that spell JON using the first letter of one of the words in the title.
J Pope Joan A Novel
O Perfume: The Story of a Murderer 262 pp 4 pnts
N Across the Nightingale Floor 330p 4bonus

Points 245
Bonus 68
Total 313

[ToniS]

For task 20.4 I read The Help. 444 pages.

20 points + 6 bonus = 26

So I should be at 235 total.

[ToniS]

Updated list:


5.1 Read a book set in Australia or written by an Australian author The Forgotten Garden
5.2 Read a book set in India or written by an Indian author The Far Pavilions (Completed 1/26/10 1191 pages)
5.3 Read a book set in Ireland or written by an Irish author Ireland: A Novel
5.4 Read a HF book with a strong female character The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag(completed 3/15/10. 358 pages)
5.5 Read a YA HF The Book Thief (completed 1/18/10. 552 pages)

10.1 Read a HF about modern history (1900-1970) The Lost Mother (completed 2/17/10 274 pages)
10.2 Read a book about the Celts and/or Druids The White Raven
10.3 Read a fantasy HF/alternate history book Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
10.4 Read a book about magic or witch craft A Vision of Light
10.5 Re-read your favorite HF.

15.1 Visit your local library or bookstore, choose a HF book at random and read that book.
15.2 Read a HF book about a person you know little about Katherine(Completed 3/1/10. 500 pages)
15.3 Read a HF book about a time period you've never read about before The Red Tent
15.4 Read a HF book that relates to a HF TV show or movie and watch the show/movie. The Rose Without a Thorn: The Wives of Henry VIII(Completed 2/3/10 260 pages) and renting season 3 of The Tudors
15.4 Read a HF author you have never read and/or heard of before 2010. A Reliable Wife(completed 4/21/10. 291 pages)

20.1 Read a classic HF. Gone With The Wind
20.2 Read a book set during a revolution or civil war. The King's General (completed 3/13/10 371 pages)
20.3 Read a book that won a major literary prize The Known World
20.4 Read a HF book that was released in 2009. The Help(Completed 3/6/10. 444 pages)
20.5 Both Paul Revere and Betsy Ross were born in January, so read a book about the American Revolution. Celia Garth

25.1 Read 3 HF books in different bonus levels.
The Crimson Petal and the White (894 pages)
The Blind Assassin (540 pages)
I Capture the Castle (343 pages)
25.2 Participate in a buddy read with another challenge participant. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan with Jayme (completed 2/1/10 258 pages)
25.3 Read 2 HF books from your TBR Through a Glass Darkly (completed 1/3/10. 674 pages) and The Binding Chair: or, A Visit from the Foot Emancipation Society (completed 2/14/10. 312 pages)
25.4 For New Years, read a HF book that spans a new year, decade, millennium, etc. Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace (completed 1/30/10. 358 pages)
25.5 Read a fiction and non-fiction book about the same era, person, theme or event, etc. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective and Silent In The Grave OR Neverland: J. M. Barrie, The Du Mauriers, and the Dark Side of Peter Pan and Daphne

30.1 Bonus: FREEBIE! Read a book of your choice, ANY GENRE! Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation (completed 1/13/10. 207 pages)

40.1 Bonus: Read two HF books that take place in the American West. At least one of them has to have actual a historical figure or group as the main character (i.e. Jesse James, Buffalo Bill Cody, The Texas Rangers, Annie Oakley, etc.) Buffalo Girls : A Novel (completed 2/7/10. 344 pages) and Calico Palace (completed 4/3/10. 589 pages)

50.1 Bonus: Be Jon's Cheerleader! Read 3 HF books that spell JON using the first letter of one of the words in the title.
J-Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford
O-Mistress of Mellyn
N-The Meaning of Night: A Confession

[Jon]

how many stars Toni? did you love it too?

[Jeane]

Would People of the book count for the task for the new year, that spans a year, decade, millenium...?
or the civil war task?

[Becky, Moddess]

I don't know Jeane... I haven't read that one. Looking at the description on GR, I'd say it would count for the year/decade/millennium task, but I can't say about the civil war task.

[ToniS]

I thought it was good, but not the greatest book I ever read. I gave it 3 stars. It seemed very book cluby to me and I think it'll make a decent movie. But there was nothing shocking or revealing to me in there. And I have some issues with the white woman being the facilitator for telling the black women's stories. But I don't know. It was well-written, I guess. And I read it quickly, so I must have thought it was good. It just didn't change my life, you know?

[Jon]

yeah i know.. my only uncomfortableness was the black voices by a white woman, but i didnt expect it be really hard core about changing the world, i didnt expect it to be shocking, it was their own small little stories v human, touching and funny that i enjoyed so much

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Jon wrote: "i read - The Goldsmith's Daughter

wasnt too bad, Aztec HF"

I might have to check that one out. I like Aztec stuff, but not sure about the YA angle.

[Jeane]

25.4 book that spans decade, year, millenium
People of the Book


25 + 4 bonus points ( 372 pages)= 29

total points: 143 points

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Jeane - one of my favorite books, how did you like it?

[Jeane]

It was really good! There was nothing in it I didn't like. The different periods matched very well with each others and were interesting. Also the main story was interesting.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

That's the way that I felt, too. I especially liked the way that the author used things found in the book to introduce the next bit of history about it.

[Jeane]

I would love to read her other books now!

[Jon]

finished 30.1 Freebie Prodigal Summer

446pp 6 bonus

Points 225
Bonus 62
Total 287

[Jeane]

Jooooooooon, so????? PLease don't break my heart!

[Jon]

five stars!

[Jeane]

really? Oh thank you, I really agree with it!!!!! tell tell!!!!!:-)

[Jon]

ive been pondering on my review.. i think i might be ready to go and write it now..

[Teresa]

hi,
I am new to this forum and found the challenge to be interesting. Can I use 1 book to complete more than one task?

[Jackie]

Welcome Teresa! Hope you join us for the challenge. To answer your question- no, unless the task requires more than one book. For example, task 25.3 Read 2 HF books from your TBR...then you would use two books. All other tasks are one book.

[Teresa]

Ok good to know! I have some books that i have read since Jan that I can put on my list so now I have to get busy

[ToniS]

Have fun, Teresa! I think figuring out which book to use for which task is half the greatness of the challenge. I love the strategy...

[Teresa]

I think I have a couple to start with-even though I'm behind in this challenge-better late than never:)
A Reliable Wife 20.4 pg.304+4 bonus
The Invention of Everything Else10.1+4 bonuspg.257
The 19th Wife15.1 pg.525 +6 bonus
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red 10.4 pg.277 +4 bonus
Lady Macbeth: A Novel 5.4 pg 352+4 bonus

[Becky, Moddess]

No problem Teresa, you have until 4/30 to report points... You don't have to have started when the challenge did. :)

I have been slacking in the scoreboarding lately, so I can see that I'm going to have to read through a lot here to catch up! LOL That's a Sunday job I think. :)

[Jon]

Toni wrote: "Have fun, Teresa! I think figuring out which book to use for which task is half the greatness of the challenge. I love the strategy..."

me too.. in fact sometimes i have to change which books im going to read, just for the fun of making different ones fit and finding them at the library

[ToniS]

Finished The King's General for task 20.2. 371 pages

20 points + 4 bonus = 24

I think my new total is 259

[ToniS]

Finished The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag for task 5.4. 358 pages.

5 + 4 bonus = 9

Total: 268

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Go you, Toni, reading two books in what a week?

[Jeane]

Yahoo Rachel!!!!!

[Jeane]

I wonder what the scoreboard looks like....:-)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Okay, I claim task 10.1 Modern History. I read "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Seabold. It takes place in the year 1973.
Points for this task: 10+ 4(bonus points) The book was 328pp.

Old points : 150 +14= 164

New Point Total: 164

We need an updated scoreboard.

[Becky, Moddess]

Sorry everyone... I've been slacking on keeping up with the scoreboard. But I've just gone through everything now... Update coming. :)

I've added a few points of my own -

10.4 - Zel - Donna Jo Napoli, 227 pgs (4 bonus)
15.1 - Sepulchre - Kate Mosse, 565 pgs (6 bonus)
15.5 - Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane, 369 pgs (4 bonus)

Total points- 194

[Becky, Moddess]

Scoreboard:

Jon 287
Toni 268
Me 194
Jackie 173
Jayme 164
Jeane 147
Heather 143
Teresa 82
Holly 53
Lyn 48
Jen Tudor 25
Jeanna 25


Lyn - I have you completing 25.4 A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (336 pgs) for 4 bonus, and 15.1 The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon (384 pgs) for 4 bonus, which is 48 total points.

Jayme - 328 pages is only worth 4 bonus points, not 6. You're at 164 total points.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

okay maybe I miscounted.

[Jon]

yay thanks Becky

[Jeane]

Finished:
25 points read a non HF and a HF book about the same era...
The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Oldest Surviving Veteran of the Trenches
It was funny and fast. I thought it would be serious and full of direct information but he talk us through the events by talking about the 'little' things that happened in his life during war and gives you a feeling about things at the time too.

Atonement

I hadn't thought I would enjoy reading the book so much. The language is nice and the three different parts are written so well and melt all in different ways together.


25 + 4 bonus points (371 pages)= 29 points

total 172 points