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

[Jennifer]

I haven't had a chance yet to create my list but so far I've finished two books. I hope it's ok that I haven't completed the list yet?

1. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray for Task 5.4 (an HF book with a strong female character)

Regular Points: 5
Bonus Points: 6 (403 pages)
Total Points: 11

2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold for task 10.1 (HF about modern history 1900-1970)

Regular Points: 10
Bonus Points: 4 (328 pages)
Total Points: 14

Total Challenge Points: 25

[Becky, Moddess]

That's fine, Jennifer. No list required!

By the way, I would accept The Lovely Bones as HF, since the story took place in the 70s. So if you want to change it later, you can. :)

[Becky, Moddess]

Err, not that you HAVE to change it, of course, I was just letting you know that I would accept it for HF if you used it for the freebie because you weren't sure. So if you wanted to read something else for the freebie, no problemo. :P

[Jennifer]

Thanks Becky! That frees up my freebie again... Yay!

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I would think the Lovely Bones would fit modern history from 1900-1970s, I was going to use that book for that task, if I ever get the book *growls at her library*

[Jennifer]

No, that's great. I wanted to use it as HF and then yes, wasn't sure. And thanks Jayme, that's the task I changed it to :)

It was a pretty good book. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about it but I enjoyed it.

[Jennifer]

No, that's great. I wanted to use it as HF and then yes, wasn't sure. And thanks Jayme, that's the task I changed it to :)

It was a pretty good book. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about it but I enjoyed it.

[Becky, Moddess]

Scoreboard

Jon- 95
Jayme- 76
Me- 62
Toni- 60
Heather- 34
Lyn- 29
Jen Tudor- 25
Jackie- 21
Jeane- 20

[Becky, Moddess]

Oh, I see you changed it already! LOL OK, lemme redo pts. Quick girl! :P

[Jennifer]

LOL Oops... sorry :)
Unfortunately, that was the quickest 30 points I've ever lost at anything! If only I could gain points that quickly!

[Becky, Moddess]

Jennifer wrote: "LOL Oops... sorry :)
Unfortunately, that was the quickest 30 points I've ever lost at anything! If only I could gain points that quickly!"

LOL That's OK. You'll get it back really fast I'm sure!

[ToniS]

I was going to read this for another task, but as I read it, there were a lot of holidays mentioned -- including a couple of New Year's Day celebrations. So I think it could fill this task.

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)

So, 25 points + 4 bonus points = 29.

[Becky, Moddess]

Scoreboard

Jon- 95
Toni- 89
Jayme- 76
Me- 62
Heather- 34
Lyn- 29
Jen Tudor- 25
Jackie- 21
Jeane- 20

[Jon]

finished my book for a setting during the revolutionary war. Really good book by the way.

5.1 Read a book set in Australia or written by an Australian author The Secret River
5.2 Read a book set in India or written by an Indian author Heat and Dust
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

10.1 Read a HF about modern history (1900-1970),Snow Falling on Cedars
10.2 Read a book about the Celts and/or Druids, The Meeting of the Waters
10.3 Read a fantasy HF/alternate history book, The Vampire Armand
10.4 Read a book about magic or witch craft Dreaming in Cuban (magic realism)
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. 30's China, Raise the Red Lantern: Three Novellas
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 Piano Tuner A Novel

20.1 Read a classic HF.Queen Margot, or, Marguerite de Valois
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 Fugitive Pieces A Novel
20.4 Read a HF book that was released in 2009.The Help
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 25.1 Read 3 HF books - n one each from 3 different bonus tier levels.
A patch of blue - 144p
The English Patient 305p
Wolf Totem 527p
25.2 Participate in a buddy read with another challenge participant. The Twentieth Wife: A Novelwith Jackie
25.3 Read 2 HF books from your TBR Dancer from the Dance, Andrew Holleran 254pp 4bonus pnts and The Great World, David Malouf
25.4 For New Years, read a HF book that spans a new year, decade, millennium, etc. The Thorn Birds 692 pp 8 bonus
25.5 Read a fiction and non-fiction book about the same era, person, theme or event, etc. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee An Indian History of the American West and The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

30.1 Freebie The Road Home

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.) Lonesome Dove and Zeke and Ned

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
OPerfume: The Story of a Murderer
NAcross the Nightingale Floor

Points 95
Bonus 26
Total 121

[Jeane]

25.2 Participate in a buddy read with another challenge participant.

The Eight with Heather.

25points + 6 bonus points (book 470 pages)= 31 points

total 51 points

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

You know how you buy a book and then you forget about it. A long time ago, I bought "Katherine" by Anya Seton and she was related to the Plantagnets line. I don't know much about that line. I hope I get to use it in this challenge.

[Jeanna]

Here is my first two book for the challenge tasks.

Task 5.4 A book with a strong female character The Heretic Queen The character is Nefertari the daughter of Nefertiti. Book is 416 pages long (going for bonus points..hehe)

[Jackie]

I have both Katherine and The Heretic Queen for my own tasks lists :D

I'm currently reading The Twentieth Wife: A Novel wife with Jon for the buddy challenge. I finished Thorn Birds but haven't seen the movie yet to count it for my task :( That leaves me dead last on the scoreboard.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

It is really easy to catch up Jackie.

[Becky, Moddess]

Scoreboard:

Jon- 121
Toni- 89
Jayme- 76
Me- 62
Jeane- 51
Heather- 34
Lyn- 29
Jen Tudor- 25
Jackie- 21
Jeanna- 11

[Jeanna]

Since I got the answer to my question. I'm going to add another. Sarah's Keyfocuses on the Holocaust. It counts for 10.1 and is 293 pages long.

This would give me 10 points plus 4 bonus points. 14 points. Combined with my previous 11 would equal 25 points.

[Becky, Moddess]

Scoreboard:

Jon- 121
Toni- 89
Jayme- 76
Me- 62
Jeane- 51
Heather- 34
Lyn- 29
Jen Tudor- 25
Jeanna- 25
Jackie- 21

[Jon]

Jackie wrote: "I have both Katherine and The Heretic Queen for my own tasks lists :D

I'm currently reading The Twentieth Wife: A Novel wife with Jon for the buddy challenge. I finished Thorn Birds..."

you could always do the old switcheroo for Thorn birds, i used it for crossing decades one - thats lots of pointeroonies

[Becky, Moddess]

Heather wrote: "I completed:

Task 25.2 - The Eight (550 pgs.) Buddy read with Jeane.

Points: 25 + 6 bonus = 31

Total Points: 65"

Wooo! Lookit ya go!

[Becky, Moddess]

I wish you guys could see my scoreboard! It's pretty! :)

[Becky, Moddess]

Ooh! Maybe you can. Hang on!

[Becky, Moddess]

OK, I don't think you'll be able to see it really well, but here it is:

[Becky, Moddess]

Eh. Pictures don't like me. :(

[Jackie]

Oh wow I like that! Heather your green compliments my purple. lol

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I can't read that scoreboard.

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes... it was very easy actually. :)

It auto-sums the two columns (task & bonus), then the sub-totals, and the score section at the left auto-populates the total score for each person.

[Becky, Moddess]

Jayme wrote: "I can't read that scoreboard. "

LOL I can't make it any bigger. =\

[Becky, Moddess]

I'm glad that you guys like your colors... LOL Considering that it's just so that I can tell the columns apart without having to search and nobody else was ever supposed to see it.

But, it's handy having the colors, because when I add a score, I change the color to a shade darker, so I can easily see which tasks are completed. :)

(When I can access the file - I can't at work, which is why I couldn't see yours earlier, H)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

It's isn't your fault Becky. I have bad eyes.

[Becky, Moddess]

It's really just me showing off my coloring ability, Jayme... There won't be a quiz or anything, LOL. :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I know but I still have bad eyes.

[ToniS]

Your chart is awesomeness. Aside from keeping score, it makes it easy to see which task is most popular.

[Becky, Moddess]

Ooh, yes it does! :D

[Becky, Moddess]

Thanks Toni! :)

[Becky, Moddess]

Do you want me to send you a copy?

[ToniS]

Becky, I think, in squinting at that chart, my points for "The Book Thief" got put in 5.4 instead of 5.5. Unless I just can't see it right. Doesn't change the point total, but might be confusing later.

[Becky, Moddess]

You're right. I've corrected. :)

[Becky, Moddess]

Sent. :)

[Becky, Moddess]

And now I'm off to bed. G'night!

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished task 25.2 Buddy read I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan with Toni. 25+4=29 points

New Total: 105

[Jon]

Becky wrote: "OK, I don't think you'll be able to see it really well, but here it is:

"

ooooooooh impressed!

[ToniS]

Me, too, on the buddy challenge.

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 points + 4 bonus points = 29

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Man, I am dying this time. Just can't seem to get going.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I am reading a book called Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk. It is a nonfiction book and he talks alot about his family in the 1950's and 1960's. I looked it up on GR and it was under the history category, could I use it for task
10.1 a book about modern history even though it isn't a fiction?

[ToniS]

For task 15.4 The Rose Without a Thorn: The Wives of Henry VIII (Completed 2/3/10 260 pages) and watched season 3 of The Tudors

So, 15 + 4 bonus = 19 points.