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

[Jon]

Jayme wrote: "Jon wrote: "Jayme wrote: "no kidding, every time I check that group, there are like 5-12 new posts. Someone already finished the challenge in like a month."

i was going to give it a go in tandem t..."

i9 was in the top 3 once and got to set a task, but each one since has had about triple the number of books

[Jon]

we still have a few weeks Toni. my pace is slowing down at the moment - ill be de-challenging after April

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I am doing the the Reading With Style challenge, this one and Seasonal Challenge. Reading with Style Challenge and Seasonal go hand in hand so anything I read from seasonal challenge can be used in the reading with style. I hope to fit two more historical books in.

[Jeane]

Jon wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Jon wrote: "Jayme wrote: "no kidding, every time I check that group, there are like 5-12 new posts. Someone already finished the challenge in like a month."

i was going to give it a ..."

I remember I was doing the challenges when you were still doing them Jon but it got so changed after going on its own that I just didn't bother anymore.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I just do as many as i can and try to improve my score.

[Jon]

whats the reading with style one all about?

[Maude]

5.4 Read a HF with a strong female character. The Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef Penney. Trade paperback with 371 pages. This is my January book.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Jon wrote: "whats the reading with style one all about?"

The Reading With Style is easier than the Seasonal Challenge. Easier tasks not as may of them and you can do them more than once and get more points. It;s on the Seasonal Challenge thread under its own heading.

[Maude]

Task No. 5.4. Read The Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef
Penney. Set in 1867. 371 pages.
Task No. 25.4 Just finished rereading The Valley of Decision, by Marcia Davenport, 640 pages. Goes from 1873 to 1941.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

10.5 Reread your favorite historical fiction

The Voyage On The Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady (197pp)

Task points: 10+4(bonus)

New Total: 232

Tasks Completed: 10

[Jon]

Completed 25.3 and 15.3 (moved English patient from a multi-book task i hadnt credited it for)

Total 367


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 The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts
5.5 Read a YA HF Wolf Brother 320pp 4pnts

10.1 Read a HF about modern history (1900-1970)Flesh And Blood 468p
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. Post War Italy and North Africa 1.The English Patient 305p, 4pnts
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. TBA


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 Feast of Roses: A Novel,416p 6pnts
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 285
Bonus 82
Total 367

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

You read The Secret River Jon, how was it? i am reading it on audio now.

[Jon]

yeah was quite good. raises some interesting issues, re aboriginals, land rights etc i think i gave it 4stars

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

okay, I started it on audio yesterday

[Maude]

Task 5.4 The Tenderness of the Wolves, by Stef Penney
371 pages. Task points: 5 + 2 Bonus points = 7 points
Task 25.4 The Valley of Decision 640 pages Task points = 25 + 6 bonus points = 31.
Task 20.3 Farewell, Shanghai, by Angel Wagenstein, 382 pages. Won the Jean Monnet Prize of European Literature in 2004. Task points = 20 + 2 bonus points. Totals Task points 30 + 8 bonus totals 38

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished "The History of the Siege of Lisbon for part of task 25.1 for tier 150-400+4(bonus)

[Jeane]

20.2 Read a book set during a revolution or civil war

Empire of the Sun

20+4bonus points(297 pages)= 24 points

total 204 points

[Becky, Moddess]

Scoreboard:

Jon 367
Toni 318
Jayme 232
Me 208
Jeane 204
Heather 202
Teresa 173
Jackie 173
Maude 64
Holly 53
Lyn 48
Jen Tudor 25
Jeanna 25

Maude, your 5.4 and 20.3 tasks are both worth 4 bonus points, so I have you at a total of 64 points. :)

[Maude]

Becky, I love this challenge but alas I am too far behind to continue, I have books pulled out all over, my house is a mess and all I want to do is read! I am rearranging bookshelves to have a TBR and also a historical section so I WILL be ready for the next challenge! Thanks for your help in this one.

[Becky, Moddess]

You're welcome... Look forward to the next one! :)

[Jackie]

When is the next one?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

start of May right?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

okay I completed task 5.1 Read a book set in Australia or written by an Australian author. I read "The Secret River" by Katie Greenville.

Task points 5+4(bonus points 334pp)=9
Tasks Competed: 11
Total Points: 241

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished the second book for 25.1. "The Book Thief" (552pp) 6 Bonus points

Points for task so far: 25+4+6=35

[Jon]

Jayme wrote: "okay I completed task 5.1 Read a book set in Australia or written by an Australian author. I read "The Secret River" by Katie Greenville.

Task points 5+4(bonus points 334pp)=9
Tasks Competed: 11
..."

what did you think of it?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

it was okay. I couldn't get into the story as much as i wanted to.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finally finished my third book for 25.1. I read (334pp)
(552pp)
(150pp)

Points for this task 25+2+4+6(bonus points)=37pts

Total Points : 274
Completed Tasks: 12

[Becky, Moddess]

Jayme wrote: "start of May right?"

Uhh... yeah. *hasn't started planning for that at all*

Hehehe. I'm such a slacker!

[Jackie]

I think we should take some time off. I for one am HF out. lol. Not sure about everyone else. Does end of May sound better to anyone?

[Becky, Moddess]

We'll see what everyone thinks...

What if we were to do a mixed-genre challenge?

[Jackie]

Becky wrote: "We'll see what everyone thinks...

What if we were to do a mixed-genre challenge?"

I think I would enjoy that more. Similar to the B&B challenge going on now if that is what you mean? As much as I enjoy HF and this challenge it has become sickly sweet. Like having too much of my favorite chocolate. lol

[Becky, Moddess]

I'm open to branching out a little. Not just with the challenge, but even with group reads. Like do a dual group read, one HF and the other a different genre.

I love HF as much as anyone (obviously) but I love to read lots of different stuff.

I know exactly what you mean Jacks!!

[ToniS]

I've kind of tuned out of the challenge lately. I think maybe either more time off between challenges or shorter duration of time for the challenge. 4 months is a long time to focus on reading one type of thing.

[Jackie]

Becky wrote: "I'm open to branching out a little. Not just with the challenge, but even with group reads. Like do a dual group read, one HF and the other a different genre.

I love HF as much as anyone (obvio..."


I knew you were my favorite mod! *whispers- don't tell Heather*

[Becky, Moddess]

Jackie wrote: "I knew you were my favorite mod! *whispers- don't tell Heather* "

I'll take your secret to the grave. O_o

[Jon]

yeah i was going to opt out of another HF, certainly if its straight after and and only HF. i tend to love the choosing and get into it and get competetive but then feel the urge to take time out and read what i want, ive been feeling a classics binge coming on... will consider the options though! thanks its been fun

[Teresa]

well I have a couple more to add I didn't finish but I started late and had fun! Looking forward to the next one.
The Anarchist 15.2 pg 320 +4
The Help30.1 pg.444 +6
The Book Thief20.3 Pg.584 +6
I think: 65.6 +16 bonus
add to 173 = 254.6

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

how do you get a .6?

[Becky, Moddess]

Looks like she added the task number part. :)

15.2
30.1
20.3
_____
65.6

That's not how we calculate the points, though... the 2nd number is just really to number each task within the point group.

No biggie! :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

ah, well I could see how she got that.

[Becky, Moddess]

Scoreboard:

Jon 367
Toni 318
Jayme 278
Teresa 254
Me 208
Jeane 204
Heather 202
Jackie 173
Maude 64
Holly 53
Lyn 48
Jen Tudor 25
Jeanna 25

[ToniS]

FInished A Reliable Wife for 15.5.

15 points + 4 bonus = 19

[ToniS]

337 is my new 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

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished task 15.4 Read a book by an author you never heard or read before 2010. I read "Remembrance" by Theresa Breslin.

Points for this Task: 15+4=19 (bonus 296pp)
Tasks Complete: 13
Total Points: 297

[Jon]

Completed task 50!! woohoo

NEW Total 431


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 The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts
5.5 Read a YA HF Wolf Brother 320pp 4pnts

10.1 Read a HF about modern history (1900-1970)Flesh And Blood 468p
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. Post War Italy and North Africa 1.The English Patient 305p, 4pnts
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. TBA


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 Feast of Roses: A Novel,416p 6pnts
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 416pp 6pnts
O Perfume: The Story of a Murderer 262 pp 4 pnts
N Across the Nightingale Floor 330p 4bonus

Points 335
Bonus 96
Total 431

[Jeane]

25.3 Read 2 HF books from your TBR

The American Boyby andrew taylor (484 pages=6 bonus points)
Gallows Thief by berard cornwell (384 p=4 bonus points)
25+6+4+ 35 points

total 204 +35= 239 points

[Jon]

last cple of days folks!

[Jeane]

I am finishing on this total.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I am on my last book for this challenge.