The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
SPRING CHALLENGE 2010
>
Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks
15.7 Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss, by Kyra Davis (goodreads author) - I already posted this one but forgot to include the second part of this task (sorry Cythia) - This book is related to LUST in that there is a great deal of lusting going on in this book - and the one guy who lusts an inappropriate person and acts on it gets killed. I don't necessarily think lust can be deadly unless you are lusting after someone or something you shouldn't and you piss someone off enough to take action. So I think the idea is - watch who or what you're lusting, otherwise it could be deadly.Books read - 2
Tasks completed - 2
Pages read -671
Total points - 25
5.2- Garden - Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. 4* Sarah Addison Allen is a Goodreads Author
Total Points: 55
Tasks Completed: 4
Books Read: 6
Pages Read: 2,223
Tasks in Process: 5.9, 30.5, 30.6
Mod
Read a book involving Greek and/or Roman gods
I read Gods Behaving Badly: A Novel by Marie Phillips
Points: 105
Books: 7
Pages: 1719
Tasks: 6
25.3 Coming Out Of HibernationDramarama
Last night, I went to see the 8th grade musical at the middle school where I sub. They performed Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and it was amazing. The kids were incredibly cute (though they'd kill me if I told them they were "cute") and the sets were incredible. I knew how some of them were going to work (I helped build them, after all), but actually seeing them in action was great. I could've hugged the director because he's so incredible, how he pulled everything together. I can't wait to see the other cast tonight!
Total: 25 + 450 (from earlier) = 475pts
I completed Task 20.6 by reading the second book in the Gretchen Lowell series, Sweetheart, written by Chelsea Cain.This series is a trilogy encompassing a very sadistic serial killer (Gretchen Lowell), a police officer (Archie) and a young newspaper reporter (Susan). The relationship between Archie and Gretchen is rivetting, in its way. Both characters are so flawed. It's like watching a train wreck about to happen.
Easy to read, page-turning murder mystery series.
Mod
Run by Ann Patchett
Run explores Patchett's familiar themes of identity, family, and secrets. This one left too many loose ends- not as satisfying as some of her other books
+10
total 165
30.5 6 Degrees of Separation - both books were on my TBRWoza Shakespeare! by Antony Sher
Peter Hall's Diaries: The Story of a Dramatic Battle
Degrees of Separation = 2*:
- Peter Hall was artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) 1960-1968
- When Antony Sher played Richard III at the RSC in 1984 his dresser was
- Black Mac whose 21 years at the RSC started in 1963
(*It may be 1 degree. I can find more that 2 dozen people they both know but can't prove they know each other.)
Big book: Peter Hall's Diaries = 507 pp
210 points
30.5 - PJ Reads' Task - As Suggested By Tanja - Six Degrees of SeparationIn honor of Six Degrees of Separation (play premiered on May 16, 1990) and Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (headlined on April 7, 1994, do the following:
A. Read any book off your TBR
B. Read a book that the author is at a maximum of six degrees of separation from the author in Part A. In your post for this task you must explain the connection in order to get credit.
James Patterson Alex Cross’ Trial (TBR shelf)/Don’t Look Twice by Gross
Patterson and Gross co-authored Lifeguard
30 points
total 180
Gross is a Goodread's author.
For Task 25.3I attended a presentation at my church where a woman gave a monologue portraying the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well.
I read Journey to the Well: A Novel by Diana Wallis Taylor
This is a fictional account of the life of this woman before her encounter with Jesus.
Finished: 25.3 Coralie's Task-Coming out of Hibernation.I attended a presentation of Dinosaur Dance, a musical by first graders at one of our local elementary schools. Dinosaur Rock was THE song of the evening--you can't beat a dino in a purple poodle skirt. (I don't know, nor am I related to any of these kids. My friend who invited me reads to them once a month.)
Anyway, in honor of that I read Anonymous Rex by Eric Garcia, a hard boiled detective story of present-day dinosaurs who keep their secret identities by wearing "people skins" and keeping their tails belted up. Vincent Rubio earns his living such as it is as a detective. Picture Sam Spade as a velociraptor, with an addiction to basil.
25.7 Gods Behaving Badly: A NovelMarie Phillips
20.2 - Rookie Of The Season - Valorie - Clean SweepA. Read a fiction book with a character that cleans or organizes in some capacity.
Riot by Walter Dean Myers (Troops come to NYC and clean out the rioters)
Or
B. Read a non-fiction book that helps you get a jump start on cleaning or organizing your home.
20 points
total 200
My update for the week:10.1 The Poisonwood Bible I did this one on audio, and it was a mistake. I found the characters tough to care for to begin with, and the narrator was so flat and monotone, it really didn't help me get into the book.
10.4 Reuse from past challenge Out of Africa. For some reason I had always thought this was a novel, and I was surprised to find it was a memoir. There were interesting parts, but like many memoirs, I thought it rambled quite a bit and was fairly disjointed.
15.3 Murder on the Orient Express I had never read Agatha Christie before, and not sure I'll be running back for more, but it was light and easy.
25.4 Tempest Rising and Alice I Have Been. I really liked both of these. Tempest Rising I randomly grabbed because the author has my first name, but it was a fun, quirky supernatural book that Sookie fans would likely enjoy. Alice, was really interesting about the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland. I didn't realize at the time that it was a historical novel, nor did I know that Lewis Carroll was the inspiration for Lolita - the things you learn!
Total points: 105
30.5-PJ Reads' Task-As Suggested By Tanja-Six Degrees of SeparationLife of Pi by Yann Martel
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Alfonso Cuaron directed the film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2003. Cuaron was attached to direct a film version of Life o Pi for 2007 release, but due to scheduling conflicts with another movie, he had to step down.
Total Points = 80
This afternoon, I finished reading a book of poems called "The Works of A.E. Housman" for Task 15.5. It's listed as the first "other edition" of this book: The Collected Poems of A. E. Housman.
I first came across Housman's poems many, many years ago in an episode of The Twilight Zone, believe it or not. It started out with an elderly teacher quoting "When I was One and Twenty". I was mesmorized and memorized the poem on the spot (can still quote it in its entirety). This book had wonderful poems by Housman and I truly enjoyed savoring the poems over the past couple of weeks.
My haiku:
Poems may rhyme words,
Books tell stories and fables.
Sun shines as we read.
For 5.1 - All About The Birds And The Bees, I read Little Bee by Chris Cleave.Two worlds collide when a teenage, Nigerian girl and a British couple on holiday meet on a Nigerian beach. Their lives intersect again in London when Little Bee tries to escape her homeland. Well written and filled with surprises, but somehow unsatisfying. Definitely opens eyes to yet another instance of oppression and horror in third world countries, driven in large part by first world economics, though this book really is about the individual characters and not the bigger picture. It came highly recommended, but I only gave it 3*.
New Points: 5
Total Points: 55
I forgot to post a small explanation of the Private series with task 20.6.Scandal is the 11th or 12th book in the Private series. Private is about an elite boarding school. Reed Brennan is the main character who is a scholarship student. Somehow, she manages to get in with the popular group in Easton Academy, but wherever she goes, murder and danger follow Reed around.
10.8 "I could have gone on flying through space forever."To Terra...Volume 1
Soooooooo boring x_x
Total: 10 + 475 (from earlier) = 485pts
COMPLETED TASKS:
30.2 Texas Sized Task
A. This Year's Texas Bluebonnet Award List
Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate Klise - READ 3.11.10
RATING: 4 stars
This was an appealing story told in a graphic and epistolary format. I would've definitely loved this as a young reader.
B. This Year's Texas Lone Star Reading List
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - READ 3.13.10
RATING: 5 stars
I don't want to give anything away, but this was an engaging mystery/coming-of-age story/sci-fi set in 1979, a time period I could relate to since I graduated H.S. that year. I loved the references to one of my favorite game shows, The $20,000 Pyramid.
TASKS COMPLETED: 6/57
POINTS COMPLETED: 95/980
BOOKS READ: 7/73
*BOOKS READ FROM MY PERSONAL LIBRARY: 2
Julie McVey20.2 - The Undomestic Goddess ~ Sophie Kinsella
Total Points = 60 points
Total Books = 4 books
Total Pages = 940 pages
Hello!I have completed the following task:
Task 30.2 - A Texas-Sized Task.
I read
by Jacqueline Kelly as my Lone Star book selection. This was a wonderful novel - rich in story, characters and setting. I gave it 5 stars.I read
by Ruth White as my Bluebonnet book selection. This was another terrific story with great characters. I gave it 4 stars only because their is a bit of suspension of disbelief required near the end - which may be fantastical for an 11 year old but took the story down a bit for me.Total # of Points: 90
Total # of Pages Read: 1925
Total # of Books Read: 6
Total # of Completed Tasks: 4
25.8 - Helen's Task - Talk to the Animals Read Dog on It and Thereby Hangs a Tail both by Spencer Quinn. They both qualify for A or B as they both are narrated by Chet the dog and show the relationship between dogs and owners.
Books Read: 8
Pages Read: 2765
Tasks Completed: 6
Tasks in Progress: 2
20.1 April FoolSayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei: The Power of Negative Thinking, Volume 1
So incredibly funny. But I only recommend it if you have a dark, somewhat morbid sense of humor, because it's definitely not for everyone. But I loved it ^_^
Total: 20 + 485 (from earlier) = 505pts
Mod
I read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and we went to see the musical tonight. Even having read the book and listened to the cast album about a million times, there were surprises! I enjoyed both the book and the musical tremendously.
Points: 130
Books: 8
Pages: 2125
Tasks: 7
15.9 - What's in a name?Tricks By Ellen Hopkins
actual name Margret K. McElderry
Tasks completed 1
points 15
TOTAL POINTS: 135 + 20 = 15520.3 The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
One of the main characters apparently suffers from schizophrenia. What I learned about schizophrenia is that it is an exhausting and demanding psychiatric disorder...one of the more difficult to deal with.
Completed Tasks
5.2 Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart
5.6 Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
5.9 Walking Dead by C. E. Murphy
10.1 Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles de Lint
10.8 Spin State by Chris Moriarty
10.9 Moving Target by Mercedes Lackey et al
10.10 Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
15.9 Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
20.5 The Giver by Lois Lowry, Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
20.7 The Pleasure of Cooking for One by Judith Jones
25.1 Recipes from a American Herb Garden by Maggie Oster
Three more tasks down....10.3 - The Luck Of The Irish
In Honor of St. Patrick's Day (March 17) read a book with...
A.An Author by the name of Patrick, Pat, or Patricia.
For this task I read Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs.
20.5 - Just Joined In - Melaine - Read Across America (and the rest of the world)
In honor of Read Across America Day 2010, which falls on Dr. Suess's birthday, read any book(s)from one of the NEA's booklists and/or by Dr. Seuss, for a total of at least 500 pages.
For this task I read
Tuck Everlasting, Mary Poppins, Are You My Mother?, and The Lorax for a total of 504 pages.
25.5 - Leora's Task - Spring Cleaning
For this task you must read at least 850 pages from your TBR pile. You may not use any new purchases for this task!' (If you don't have enough pages in the books that you own in your TBR pile you may use library books or free ebooks).
For this task I read Hidden Agendas, Torn, and Sex and the Single Vampire for a total of 1023 pages. All out of my TBR mountain!
Total Points: 110/980
Books Read: 13
Tasks Completed: 8/57
I have finished Ms Anderson's 30 point task of Birth and Renewal. For part A I read Blacklands by Belinda Bauer and for part B I read Restoration by Rose TremainPrevious Reads
15.9 What's in a Name - A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute
[image error]
Sandy wrote: "25.3 - Coralie's Task - Coming Out Of HibernationI read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and we went to see the musical t..."
I'm going to be reading wicked for this task too. I'm going to see the musical in london at the end of the month. i'm really looking forward to it!!
30.2 A Texas-Sized TaskSavvy from the Bluebonnet list and Graceling from the Lone Star list.
I enjoyed both books. I think I would rather have a Savvy than a Grace as they sound more fun.
I completed Task 20.5 by reading 2 books that appear on many of the NEA lists that Melaine provided:A Tree Grows in Brooklyn which is one of my all time favorite coming of age classics and The Giving Tree which I never read as a child and must admit I was not overly impressed by. These totaled 535 pages (meeting the 500 or more page requirement for the task).
Tasks Completed: 15/57
Books Read: 20
Pages Read: 6176
[image error]
Just completed...5.9 - “I think even lying on my bed I can still do something.”
Impossible
by Nancy Werlin
Previously Completed Tasks
10.5 - Freedom Of The Press
The Informers by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
The main character is a journalist.
Total Points: 15
Tasks Completed: 2
Books Read: 2
Mod
I'm going to be reading wicked for this task too. I'm going to see the musical in london at the end of the month. i'm really looking forward to it!!
Even though the two are different, since they've changed the details considerably for the musical, I think it's really helpful to have read the book first, to understand the context for the action in the musical.
10.3I read "Bufflehead Sisters" by Patricia DeLois.
Just had my baby on Tuesday, so things have been a little hectic to say the least. But I've managed to finish a couple of books for some points:20.8 RACHEL LEE'S TASK - Enchanted, Inc. - Shanna Swendson
15.8 A BEAUTIFUL THING... -Girl with a Pearl Earring - Tracey Chevalier
I can't say that I really have a favorite artist in particular. I enjoy looking at art, but I probably don't have quite the same appreciation for it as I do for other artistic pursuits like good writing, baking (which I consider to be a form of art - just look at a wedding cake), photography, etc. That said, I absolutely love the painting "Girl With A Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer. The colors are beautiful, and there's so much that you can read into the expression on the girl's face. So I thought this novel was an interesting idea -- to tell the girl's story. I definitely enjoyed it, though with everything going on this week, I probably didn't get quite as much out of it as I would have reading it another time.
Total Points: 35
Total Books Read: 3
Hello!This morning I completed the following task:
Task 15.5 (poetry).
I read
by Dylan Thomas.I have always enjoyed Dylan Thomas but had not read any of his works for quite some time. This volume surprised me with it strong religious themes, although the collection was chosen by Dylan himself and he felt the works included within the book to best represent his style to that point in time (1952). Thomas was certainly gifted and lyrical in his use of language and words. He was a beautiful writer.
I gave the book 4 stars.
Haiku:
Spring - cold rain outside
Woodstove keeping warm the house
No need to go out.
Total # of Points: 105
Total # of Pages Read: 2139
Total # of Tasks Completed: 5
Total # of Books Read: 7
Hi,I have completed the reuse, recycle task 10.4
I read Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris.
Kate.x.
Total points = 30
Hi, I have also completed the 25.10 Melissa's task
I read Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon and then Mistress of the game by Tilly Badgshaw which is a sequel. I have to say I really enjoyed them both and I think Tilly did a great job keeping the style similar to the orginal.
Kate.x.
15.9Read a novel published under a pseudonym or pen name.
Evernight 2: Stargazer by Claudia Gray
Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent
20.6
Read a book from your favorite series.
Evernight 3: Hourglass by Claudia Gray
The main character of the series is a girl who was born to vampire parents, but she finds out that her birth was only possible due to the help of wraiths who think she belongs to them. She goes to school at Evernight academy where her parents are teachers and many of the students are vampires. She falls in love with Lucas, human, who is a member of the Black Cross, a gang of vampire hunters, and conflict ensues.
Total Points: 160
15.5 The Book of American Negro PoetryJames Weldon Johnson
Haiku
Wine glasses sparkling
Reds and whites and blushes wait
Party will start soon
Ok, finally getting on the readerboard this go-round!10.1
- the entire book cover is basically made up of tree branches.10.4 - I chose "Reuse" - Elsewhere - I had this on my list for the last challenge and didn't get to it.
15.9 - City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, which is a pseudonym. If I were making up my own pen name I think I might go with Jane Ember. Jane is my middle name and I have to admit that with a "W" last name I've always wanted to have a last name that would come higher in the alphabet! Not sure where Ember came from, in particular. If I could steal someone else's name, I'd use Louisa May Alcott, which is the "pen name" I used to put on my elementary school spelling tests in a fit of love for Little Women. :)
Total Points: 35
Mod
20.8 RACHEL LEE'S TASK - [book:Enchanted, Inc.|60..."
Congrats Jen!
Jen B wrote: "Just had my baby on Tuesday, so things have been a little hectic to say the least. But I've managed to finish a couple of books for some points:..."Congratulations, Jen! Welcome, Little One!
20.5 Just Joined In – Melaine – Read Across America, I read:The Cat In the Hat by Dr. Seuss, 72 pages; Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss, 72 pages; A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon, 32 pages; James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, 160 pages; The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner, 155 pages; The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, 55 pages (3/14/10)
Total pages: 546 pages
This was a fun task, I enjoyed going back and reading some of my childhood favorites.
115/980 points
Tasks Completed: 7/57
Tasks In Progress: 3
Books Read: 14
Pages Read: 2955
Jen B wrote: "Just had my baby on Tuesday, so things have been a little hectic to say the least. But I've managed to finish a couple of books for some points:20.8 RACHEL LEE'S TASK - [book:Enchanted, Inc.|60..."
Congrats on the new baby Jen! I'm with you on the baking, it's definitely a form of art :)
I completed 30.3 by reading The Surrendered and A Land Remembered. I gave The Surrendered 4 stars and a Land Remembered 3 stars. Also Patrick D. Smith is a GoodReads Author.I now have 35 points.
Congratulations on the birth of your little one, Jen B!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Frankenstein (other topics)Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (other topics)
Loving Frank (other topics)
Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began (other topics)
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Nancy Horan (other topics)Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (other topics)
Elizabeth Gilbert (other topics)
Chelsea Handler (other topics)
Eric Puchner (other topics)
More...
Stephanie, those are the two I am reading. I've read "Savvy", which I thought was really cute, but not yet "Maze Runner". I need a break from the YA!