SPRING/SUMMER 2010: Questions & General Discussion

[Caitlin]

Treatment of women in other countries (so Reading Lolita in Tehran would work) or in the US? (in which case The Second Sex might work...) Treatment of Women was another one I was thinking about...

<3

[Tahleen]

I guess I just don't see what's so ethically confusing about it.

[Caitlin]

I'm going to guess that what Americans, particularly would see ethically confusing about it is the treatment of women in Islamic countries, because our generation has never had to deal with that treatment. But if we were to read one from their point of view, we might understand it better... I don't think that makes sense.

<3

[Tahleen]

Ohhh okay. That makes more sense.

[Lori]

Tahleen wrote: "Ohhh okay. That makes more sense."

Within the US, women didn't go to college in droves until recently. Even in the 1940s, it was rare for women to go to college. Women weren't thought of as being worth the money. Women also didn't the vote until 1920 because no one thought they should be involved in politics because they were either too sensitive or too dumb.

[Caitlin]

Not to mention... we still can have the same qualifications and we don't make the same wages... I think it's... 76 cents for every dollar a man makes?

Does this group have a feminism thread? We should get one.

<3

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

Caitlin wrote: "I'm going to guess that what Americans, particularly would see ethically confusing about it is the treatment of women in Islamic countries, because our generation has never had to deal with that tr..."

That's how I saw it too.

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

Caitlin wrote: "Not to mention... we still can have the same qualifications and we don't make the same wages... I think it's... 76 cents for every dollar a man makes?

Does this group have a feminism thread? We sh..."

Feel free to start one! :)

[Emily]

Emily wrote: "I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but does anyone have anything for the Emotional Reading that isn't Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Piccoult, or A Thousand Splendid Suns? I can't seem to think of an..."

I'm going with The Shining. It seemed like a lot of people were going with a "sad" emotion, I decided to go for a more "frightened" emotion, lol.

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

If anyone is looking for a good book written by an author with only one book, I would highly recommend Thirteen Reasons Why.

[Caitlin]

Jamie, you just saved my "I need an author with only one book" life. I've been meaning to read that book anyway.

<3

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

Caitlin wrote: "Jamie, you just saved my "I need an author with only one book" life. I've been meaning to read that book anyway.

<3"

Haha I'm glad! I always find so many things that will fit based on what everyone else is reading!

[Alicia]

Jamie, I read the synopsis for Thirteen Reasons Why, and it sounded like it was written in more than one point of view, but I wasn't 100% sure if I was correct. I'm only asking because I wanted to use that for my Multiple POV, but I wanted to double check before I went out and got the book.

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

Hmm..I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, that would work.

[Caitlin]

Does The Second Sex work for the category John Locke's Birthday (15 points, number 10)? You mention Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead... but The Second Sex isn't really a novel like that, so I was wondering if that's okay.

<3

[Emily]

Emily wrote: I'm going with The Shining. It seemed like a lot of people were going with a "sad" emotion, I decided to go for a more "frightened" emotion, lol.


Best. Idea. Ever.
I'm going to go find a scary book now.

[Tami]

I chose fear too. American Psycho. Nothing scary like a serial killer.

[Jen]

Would A Great and Terrible Beauty work for 5.10 (Do You Believe In Magic?).

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

Jen wrote: "Would A Great and Terrible Beauty work for 5.10 (Do You Believe In Magic?)."

I haven't read it but I can't really tell from the description. Anyone help me out on this one?


Caitlin wrote: "Does The Second Sex work for the category John Locke's Birthday (15 points, number 10)? You mention Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead... but The Second Sex isn't really a novel like that, s..."

Sure!

[Tami]

I would say yes. It is about magic, just not what you normally would consider (witches & wizards). More earthy? (not sure that is the right word) Circe is a main character and she is the Greek Goddess of magic.

[Tahleen]

A Great and Terrible Beauty could work... the main character has visions, and I seem to remember some kind of alternate reality or something, but I don't want to give away any spoilers.

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

Sounds good to me then!

[Jen]

Thanks Tami, Tahleen, and Jamie! :)

[Anna]

I just wanted to let you know that I really like the new way of keeping points. It makes it really easy to see exactly what books people are reading for each task. Also makes it easy to see how many people are actively participating, and is it just me or are there more participants this time?

[Jules]

I concur.

And yes, it does seem like there are more participants this time around, doesn't it? Plus, I think seeing the updates from the leaderboard makes the challenge a bit more interaction-friendly - and it makes me want to try harder whenever a new update comes in with more points than I have ;)

[Alicia]

I agree Jules, I am reading more books for this challenge, because seeing everyone finish their books and complete challenges makes me want to read more. I feel like having everyone post their completed tasks makes it more interactive. I enjoy seeing what other people are reading.

[René]

I'm with you on that also Alicia. Seeing you just post 100 pts for 9 books makes me want to read even more. I'm through 7 books but 4 are for two book challenges. I'm trying to rush the library to get me books so I can finish the other halves and get more points.

[Alicia]

Rene, I am in shock myself that I've read 9 books this month. My average is 4 haha. My boyfriend's deployed until June, though, so I have a lot of free time, and once he gets back I'm sure my reading amount will go down a bunch. I honestly don't think I'd even have read as many books as I have if this challenge wasn't going on. :) It's awesome that you've got some of the two-book challenge completed; I haven't touched on any of them yet.

[Anna]

My reading has about doubled since I started doing the challenges. I think part of it is that I never really have too hard of a decision of which book to read next because I usually have some sort of plan for the challenge.

[Kayla]

These challenges have really pushed me to read more too. Last year while I was in school, I only read three non-school books. But when I joined goodreads and started to take part in the challenge last September I began reading much more, like I did back in high school. So, thank you goodreads for bringing books back into my life, with a special thanks to College Students's challenges! ;)

[Tami]

Would it be wrong to choose a book for the horrible cover that you fully expect to love?

I was going to choose The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I hate the cover. But, I loved the first two books (whose covers could have been better too) so I fully expect to love this one.

[Jess]

Tami, that's such a good question! I was wondering the same thing. I despise both the titles and the covers of the Steig Larsson books (hence why I hadn't picked them up until just recently) but the plots are fantastic..

[Kayla]

I chose Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close for the book title cover I dislike. When it first came out, I wasn't interested in reading it and one of the reasons was because I didn't like the cover. It turned me off from even finding out what the book was about. But so many people have been saying how good it is and it made me curious. It sounds great and I'm looking forward to reading it (though I still hate the cover). :)

[Bianca]

I just finished reading things fall apart by Chinua Achebe and I was wondering if it would work for 10.7. It takes place in Africa but it isn't really about the liberation of Africa.

[Tami]

The last two books I have read don't have anything to do with the challenge. I was hoping The Memory Keeper's Daughter would work for the opposite point of view but now that I have finished I don't think it works so well.

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

Biana--that's fine!

[Anna]

Tami- Memory Keepers Daughter would probably work for the family challenge because...
*Spoilers*
the nurse raises the daughter as a single mother and if I remember correctly the original husband and wife divorce.

[Tami]

Hmmm, I will have to look at my list. Maybe it will fit there. Thanks. I feel like such a slacker with the challenges and the month books. But Woo Hoo, it is April, so only about two more hectic weeks.

[Tahleen]

I was going to use Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World for the Body of Work challenge, but I just discovered that the author adapted it for younger readers... is it unacceptable? If it is, can I switch one of my books in 20.4 (two books by authors I haven't read before) for that one?

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

Yeah, that's fine. It's the same book essentially so don't worry about it.

[Tahleen]

Yay! Thanks!

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

As a general rule to everyone--if the book is just an adapted version or something--it can still work for an author with only one book.

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

Thanks for the feedback guys! I really like this way too because it's more interactive and makes it more competitive; which is why I wanted to try it like this. I'm thinking it will be the way we do it from now on. It's definitely alot easier on me too! :)

[R]

Jamie, I think this week's surprise is a really interesting idea. :)

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

Thanks! I figured that we needed to spice it up a little bit sometimes AND I know it's so hard to sometimes fit a book into the challenge that you are dying to read. And plus, I needed to beg for forgiveness at not having kept up with the leaderboard :)

[Bárbara]

I have a question about this week's surprise! Can I substitute any book by an uni book? I fully read one (not just consultation) Monday-Wednesday... and it's uni that's been keeping me away from the challenge :(

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

That will work! Just as long as it meets the 100 page requirement!

[Bárbara]

It's 232 pages long. Thank you!

[Alicia]

I apologize if this has already been asked, I have kind of been following the questions but I didn't go back and specifically look for this...

Does someone have some suggestions for something with an emotion in the title for 25.10? I am not particularly into romance or things like Harry Potter/Twilight but most other suggestions I am open to...

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

I'm using Pride and Prejudice for Part A (Pride as the emotion) and then My Sister's Keeper for part B.

Are you looking for help specifically for part A or B? Or both?