SPRING/SUMMER 2010: Questions & General Discussion

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Anyone have any good ones for the Bibliophiles Unite task. I thought I had one for it and realized I'm a moron and I used the same book for two tasks.

[Anna]

I'm planning to use The Secret of Lost Things, which I think might be your original plan but I got the idea from this list so maybe it will help you, or anyone else
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/56...

[Natanya]

For the Africa one, J.M. Cotzee's Disgrace is really good. I'm considering reading Cotzee's The Life and Times of Michael K.

[Tahleen]

Another one for Africa: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.

And The Help is a really good one for an author with only one book.

[Tahleen]

The evolution of a country task (25.1) can be either fiction or nonfiction, right?

And for that task, I found this fantastic website that is very useful: http://www.bibliotravel.com/

One more question: For the ethics one, can I read books about the treatment of Native Americans in the US?

[Bárbara]

Jamie wrote: "Barbara--You could use In Cold Blood for that because I'm pretty sure it deals with the death penalty. Murder is an ethical issue but I was more so going for something that wasn't so black and whit..."Ah, thank you :) I never read the book so I wouldn't know, hah.

As for the bibliophiles task, I'm guessing Northanger Abbey would work - again, I've never read it, but it's apparently a parody of gothic novels - which the main character seems to read a lot of.

[Tahleen]

Bárbara wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Barbara--You could use In Cold Blood for that because I'm pretty sure it deals with the death penalty. Murder is an ethical issue but I was more so going for something that wasn't so ..."

Oh Northanger Abbey would totally work for that.

[Jules]

Is incest enough of a debatable ethical issue, or is it too black and white to count?

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Tahleen wrote: "The evolution of a country task (25.1) can be either fiction or nonfiction, right?

And for that task, I found this fantastic website that is very useful: http://www.bibliotravel.com/

One more que..."

I talked with Lori about this one..and because the intent was for an issue that wasn't so black and white..I would say no. However, mostly because I hate saying no, if you can find at least one of the books from the perspective of someone who really thought it was the right..then I will count it.

Jules wrote: "Is incest enough of a debatable ethical issue, or is it too black and white to count?"

I'm thinking it is too black and white to count. Unless for one of the books it was from the view of a person who really felt like it was right or justifiable.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Tahleen wrote: "The evolution of a country task (25.1) can be either fiction or nonfiction, right?

Oh, and yes, it can be either.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Bárbara wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Barbara--You could use In Cold Blood for that because I'm pretty sure it deals with the death penalty. Murder is an ethical issue but I was more so going for something that wasn't so ..."

Ooh thanks! I'm going to use that!

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

I think I've answered all questions so far..? If I haven't just let me know! I thought I got to all of them but I could have overlooked one on accident! :)

[Jules]

Jamie wrote: "Tahleen wrote: "The evolution of a country task (25.1) can be either fiction or nonfiction, right?

And for that task, I found this fantastic website that is very useful: http://www.bibliotravel.co..."

Ah, dammit. The book I was thinking to use for the non-fiction part, The Kiss, at first glance seemed to approach the subject matter differently (author seems to describe her relationship with her father as a "love affair"), but now it seems it comes from the same perspective after all. And here I was getting excited to read something about such a complicated topic (from a psychological viewpoint)...

Now on to find something else I'm interested in for that task...

[Jules]

Hm, would prostitution be suitable? Since it's legal in a good many countries but still heavily debated...?

[Anna]

So I just posted my partial list, I am trying to do it like most other people this time because last time I kept getting confused. one question is for 15.10, would Tom Robbins be considered philosophical? I'm considering Jitterbug Perfume which is about mortality among other things.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Jules wrote: "Hm, would prostitution be suitable? Since it's legal in a good many countries but still heavily debated...?"

Yeah, that will work. I'd agree..it isn't as black and white. Here it pretty much is..but not in other countries. I'm interested to see what you use!

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Annashu wrote: "So I just posted my partial list, I am trying to do it like most other people this time because last time I kept getting confused. one question is for 15.10, would Tom Robbins be considered philos..."

Sounds like it could work!

[Jules]

Jamie wrote: "Jules wrote: "Hm, would prostitution be suitable? Since it's legal in a good many countries but still heavily debated...?"

Yeah, that will work. I'd agree..it isn't as black and white. Here it pre..."

Yay! I'm going to use Fucking Berlin for the non-fiction part, which is actually about a student who finances college through selling her body and which is not really that negative, as far as I know. It's not available as an English translation, but I think the title says enough :) Now I just need fiction about this topic. Anyone have any ideas, perhaps?

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

The Crimson Petal and the White
Slammerkin
Eleven Minutes: A Novel
Sold


I haven't read any of these so I can't vouch for how good they are but they all seem like they would work!

[Jules]

Oi, these sound good... Thank you so much for the tip! <3

[Jess]

Would Haruki Murakami's memoir about running count for the sports one? Or does it have to be a team sport?

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Jess wrote: "Would Haruki Murakami's memoir about running count for the sports one? Or does it have to be a team sport?"

That definitely works!

[Jess]

Hooray! Also, another question. For the 5-point travel memoir, could David Lebovitz's The Sweet Life in Paris work? I wasn't sure, since the author or protagonist is supposed to be traveling through the book...

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Seems like it would work..I haven't read it though but from the description it seems like it would.

[Jess]

OK, sounds good. Thanks, Jamie!

[Bianca]

For 10.4 (directionality) would The Westing Game work?

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Sure. I'll take other forms like that (western, northern, etc.)

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Just so you know..I'll be MIA tonight until tomorrow night so I apologize if I can't get back to any of your questions right away..I will though!

[Allie :: literarilythrilling]

Jamie wrote: "The Crimson Petal and the White
Slammerkin
Eleven Minutes: A Novel
Sold


I haven't read any of these so I can't vouch for how good they are but ..."

I personally loved The Crimson Petal and the White and if I can find a nonfiction book about prostitution I'd like to read, I plan on using it as well. I've been wanting to re-read it for a while =]

[Emily]

If anyone wants to read about evolution for The Great Debate, Einstein's Birthday, or Passionate Reading, I would suggest The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. I haven't actually read it yet, but from what I've heard it's totally awesome. He is the world's premier evolutionary biologist after all. Another book of his on the same subject is The Blind Watchmaker, which is very famous but not nearly as new.

[Emily]

So is it just me, or do all the books on the list for 15.2 sound completely uninteresting? At least the ones I haven't read (and most of the ones I have) are just not sounding appealing at all. I'm not excited about that task in the slightest. I think I'll just do a re-read for that one.

[Jules]

Emily wrote: "So is it just me, or do all the books on the list for 15.2 sound completely uninteresting? At least the ones I haven't read (and most of the ones I have) are just not sounding appealing at all. I'm..."

I know what you mean, I too found it difficult to pick a book. I only decided for Shadow of the Wind because I'd been ignoring it on my book pile for so long and was feeling guilty about it, so it seemed the obvious choice.

I've just taken a quick look at the books you've read (many of which we share...). I can totally recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns - it's gorgeous writing paired with a gorgeous story, IMO. The Kite Runner, the author's first novel, only received three stars from me, but the flaws I found there he managed to straighten out in his second book. It's one of the most touching stories I've ever read. (And now I'm cursing myself for not writing reviews at the time I finished the book, so that I could sell it way more convincingly. Arg!)

[Jules]

Does anyone have any ideas for 10-1, the task looking for something amusement park/carnival/zoo/circus-related? I'm coming up entirely empty...

[Anna]

These are books that I have read:
The Final Confession of Mabel Stark
Water for Elephants
Geek Love

I am planning to readThe Circus in Winter

[Jen]

I found a list of Circus/Carnival books: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/33...

I was thinking of reading The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Jules wrote: "Does anyone have any ideas for 10-1, the task looking for something amusement park/carnival/zoo/circus-related? I'm coming up entirely empty..."

Also, remember that it could be an image on the cover of an amusement park ride.










I'm sure there are alot more.

[Tahleen]

There's also The London Eye Mystery, as long as you say it's okay to count the London Eye as a carnival ride. It is a giant Ferris wheel...

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Tahleen wrote: "There's also The London Eye Mystery, as long as you say it's okay to count the London Eye as a carnival ride. It is a giant Ferris wheel..."

That will work. I went on the London Eye. It was pretty amazing.

[Bianca]

If i post my list of books for the challenge I can still change them later right?

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Oh yes, Bianca. I think I change mine like 20 times before the end! :)

[Emily]

I have a few questions.

1. For Passionate Reading, can it be a cause or philosophy that we care very much about, or does it have to be an activity? Like, if I care a lot about LGBT issues or women's rights, can I read a book about that?

2. For Ethical Issues, will the treatment of women work? I know you said the criteria was that there has to be a book that takes the opposing stance, and I can assure you that there are plenty of anti-feminist books.

3. How do you sort books by rating for Under & Over Rated?

Thanks.

[Bárbara]

Emily - as for the sorting, if you go on "my books", on the top, it says "main", "list", "reviews", etc. if you click on "list", there'll be an option to sort the books by ratings.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Emily wrote: "I have a few questions.

1. For Passionate Reading, can it be a cause or philosophy that we care very much about, or does it have to be an activity? Like, if I care a lot about LGBT issues or wome..."


For the Passionate Reading--absolutely!
For the ethical one, I think that will work. I mean, there are plenty of books about other countries who don't give women rights and such.

[Tami]

For 15 pts #4 barbie girl one, She's Come Undone would fit that perfectly. It covers a bunch of things but the main underlying theme is weight issues.

I have decided to poach all my book choices this challenge. That way I may read a whole different type of book that I would normally never have picked up. :)

[Emily]

Bárbara wrote: "Emily - as for the sorting, if you go on "my books", on the top, it says "main", "list", "reviews", etc. if you click on "list", there'll be an option to sort the books by ratings."

Is there a way to do it for books that aren't in "my books?" I'm just wondering how to search for books that would fit that category.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

For the "Over" part of it..I looked in the popular books lists on Goodreads. For the under part I just looked through my books to see how many ratings there are. However, I'm not sure there is a way to do what you are saying. I'll keep looking though.

[Emily]

Actually, it's ok. I found some books in my To Read list that were under 1000 ratings.

[jessi]

For 15.4, could Frankenstein qualify?

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner), The Founding Bookworm]

Jessi wrote: "For 15.4, could Frankenstein qualify?"

I'll take that.

[Emily]

Would "Beloved" count as an emotion for the last one?