Challenge Questions

[Kristi]

oh! Awesome Becky...thanks!

[JC]

For challenge 4, task 15.3 HF book with element in title, can I use The Fiery Cross for fire?

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, I'll allow that.

[JC]

Great! Seems this challenge is leading me to reread the Outlander series.....and I'm ok with it!

[Jeane]

Hi Becky, I am not sure if Magic Kingdom for sale is ya(don't think so) or if it is useful for any task. To me it doesn't seem to match to any, but could you or anybody else let me know if there is anything out thee that might work?

[LemonLinda]

Would The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver work for Djrmel's task? From what I read it is set mostly in Mexico but also in small town America.

[Jamie]

LemonLinda wrote: "Would The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver work for Djrmel's task? From what I read it is set mostly in Mexico but also in small town America."

I was planning to read the same book for this task. Hope it works!

[Becky, Moddess]

Jeane wrote: "Hi Becky, I am not sure if Magic Kingdom for sale is ya(don't think so) or if it is useful for any task. To me it doesn't seem to match to any, but could you or anybody else let me know if there is..."

I don't think it would count as YA... You could use it for the "Author you've never read" task if you haven't read any of Terry Brooks's books...

That's all that I think it would count for...

[Becky, Moddess]

LemonLinda wrote: "Would The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver work for Djrmel's task? From what I read it is set mostly in Mexico but also in small town America."

I would think so, but he will have to make the final decision!

[Nikki]

Hopefully no one has asked this yet, but for task 25.3, are words such as "A, An, The" being counted towards the "two word title" book or no? Just making sure.

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, Nikki, they would be counted...

Soulless - acceptable one word title.
The Taking - Not acceptable for one word, but acceptable for two.

[Djrmel]

LemonLinda wrote: "Would The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver work for Djrmel's task? From what I read it is set mostly in Mexico but also in small town America."

Jamie wrote: "I was planning to read the same book for this task. Hope it works!


It definitely works! From what I've heard about the book, even the part that takes place in the United States reflects back on the protagonist's earlier life in Mexico. (This is one of the books I've shortlisted for the task myself.)

[Jamie]

Perfect - thanks!

[Jeane]

Becky wrote: "Jeane wrote: "Hi Becky, I am not sure if Magic Kingdom for sale is ya(don't think so) or if it is useful for any task. To me it doesn't seem to match to any, but could you or anybody else let me kn..."

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much, I didn't even see that task...... Sorry for bothering you Becky, but thanks again. I have my first task done thanks to you!!!

[LemonLinda]

Djrmel wrote: "LemonLinda wrote: "Would The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver work for Djrmel's task? From what I read it is set mostly in Mexico but also in small town America."

Jamie wr..."

Thanks - I think I will go with that one.

[Becky, Moddess]

Uh oh, Jeane! I misread the task - It should be a book you haven't read by your favorite author, not a book by an author you've never read.

Sorry about that!

[southpaw285]

Becky, I just noticed the rule change for the number of pages. I'm reading Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. When I just did a search on it to make sure I have the right one listed, the first one that comes up is the large print addition wiht 434 pages. Am I doing this correctly?

[Becky, Moddess]

Yep, that's right SP.

[Djrmel]

A question about: Task 15.3 Read A HF that has one of the four elements in the title (earth, air, fire, water).

Does the word "waves" (as in ocean waves) qualify for water?

[Becky, Moddess]

No, sorry... It would have to be one of the 4 words listed.

[Djrmel]

Becky wrote: "No, sorry... It would have to be one of the 4 words listed."

Okay, no problem. I can use the book for another task but I'm having trouble finding something for 15.3. :D

[Becky, Moddess]

Let's see... There's:
The Pillars of the Earth (which I very much enjoyed)
The Good Earth
Any of the Earth's Children series (Clan of the Cave Bear, etc) - I'll allow the word to be in a series title.
Virgin Earth by Philippa Gregory
Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber
Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay
Fire in the Blood
THe Fire by Katherine Neville
The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard
The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery
Water For Elephants
Night over Water by Ken Follett
Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" by Suzanne Weyn
Devil Water by Anya Seton and Philippa Gregory
Red Water by Judith Freeman

I'm sure I could find more, but I'm on my lunch break at work... If anyone else knows of any, feel free to list them! :)

[Amy]

Becky wrote: "Let's see... There's:
The Pillars of the Earth (which I very much enjoyed)
The Good Earth
Any of the Earth's Children series (Clan of the Cave Bear, etc) - I'll allow the word to be in a series ti..."

Just thought of one to add to Becky's great list:
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

[Becky, Moddess]

I saw that one in my search, Amy, but I didn't know it was HF! Thanks! :)

[Djrmel]

Becky wrote: "Let's see... There's:
The Pillars of the Earth (which I very much enjoyed)
The Good Earth
Any of the Earth's Children series (Clan of the Cave Bear, etc) - I'll allow the word to be in a series ti..."

Wow...I'm impressed! Thank you.

I was coming up with nothing, and yet in your list are three books I should have thought of because I've already read them. The mind works (or fails to work) in mysterious ways, eh? ;) Now the challenge is to not end up adding too many of the suggestions to my to-read shelf.

[LemonLinda]

Also The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy should qualify because it was written in 2002 and is a novel based on his years as a new teacher in the late 1960s. That is the one that I chose for this task.

[Jeane]

Becky wrote: "Uh oh, Jeane! I misread the task - It should be a book you haven't read by your favorite author, not a book by an author you've never read.

Sorry about that!"

oeps, okay than you can delete my points... :)

[Jeane]

Becky, would this work for the ' being made or has been made into a movie task, or is still to vague:
Kingdom for sale: found on wikipedia, 'The rights to sell a movie based on this book have been bounced around since the 1980s, but as of April 2010 IMDB has announced it is currently set as active,[1] though it is still unclear if the movie will eventually see screening. Although the movie is seen as in production, actors have not even been talked about. Brooks is still in negotiations with Hollywood execs. Per his monthly letter at terrybrooks.net'

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, I'll allow it for that Jeane... It's in the works after all... there's no limitation on how long it takes! LOL

[Jeane]

hahaha, ok. thanks.

[Jamie]

A challenge question popped up over on another thread (recommendations: witches/witch trials books), so I figured I'd ask it over here. A few of us were wondering if The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane could be considered HF. Much of it takes place in the 90's but it also features chapters that are set during and after the witch trials (similar to the structure of People of the Book). To count as HF, are you looking for a certain proportion of the book to be HF material?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

How do you find an author with the same birth month as you?

[Julie]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "How do you find an author with the same birth month as you?"

Here's one way:
http://www.authdir.net/

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

thanks Julie :)

[Gayle]

So Becky, for task 15.2: read a HF book published in the year you were born.....what if I can't find a HF book that I want to read that was published in that year? What should I do then?

[Becky, Moddess]

Jamie - I'd say that at least 40% of the book should take place in a historical setting, give or take. If it's only one or two chapters, I don't think it would qualify.

Gayle - There is no requirement to complete all of the tasks in the challenge. You can choose which ones you would like to complete and which ones you don't think you can or will do. :)

[Jamie]

Thanks, Becky. I'd say that it won't count as HF then, as probably only 20% or so takes place in a historical setting. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane does work for task 5.1, though, if anyone is interested. Its alternate title is The Lost Book of Salem.

[Jeane]

Sorry but I don't find the posts relatd to it anymore, what was meant with alternate titles?

[Becky, Moddess]

Books like The American Boy / An Unpardonable Crime or A Northern Light / A Gathering Light, Jeane. Books that have two different titles, but are the same book.

Books that have two titles in one, like Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office don't count.

[Evelina C]

Would THE PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF AMELIA E RYE by Bonnie Shimko qualify for task 15.4? The narrator/protaganist fits the age requirement. Most of the story is set in the early 1960's with flashbacks to the 50's.

Thanks,
Evelina G

[Becky, Moddess]

I would think so, Evelina, yes.

[Maude]

You are correct. Nabakov finished writing it in 1953 and the book covered the years 1947 to 1952. So, no bonus point.

[Jeane]

Becky wrote: "Books like The American Boy / An Unpardonable Crime or A Northern Light / A Gathering Light, Jeane. Books that have two different titles, but are the same book.

Books that have two titles in one,..."

Thanks!

[southpaw285]

Maude, for Task #20.5 - (Choose your favorite historical figure and read a fiction or nonfiction about him or her) can I read Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence?

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, you can SP. :)

[southpaw285]

Oh, thank you Becky!

[Maude]

It looks fine to me Southpaw.

[Maude]

Sorry, Becky, I was on previous page and didn't see your post.

[Becky, Moddess]

Maude wrote: "Sorry, Becky, I was on previous page and didn't see your post."

No problem! :)

[Julie]

What's the official definition of HF for the challenge again? Takes place 30 years before it was written?