The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
SPRING CHALLENGE 2010
>
Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks
30.1 Spring FlingSnow Falling in Spring: Coming of Age in China During the Cultural Revolution and Million-Dollar Throw
Snow Falling in Spring was pretty good; not terribly detailed, but similar to a lot of the other Cultural Revolution memoirs I've read (though, Li and her family members are incredibly lucky). I had a difficult time not skipping the football parts of Million-Dollar Throw, mostly because I hate football, but the plot and characters weren't bad.
Total: 30 + 655 (from earlier) = 685pts
10 points10.4 Reuse: To Desire A Devil - Elizabeth Hoyt*
20 points
20.2 To Beguile A Beast - Elizabeth Hoyt*
20.10 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
25 points
25.8 The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein*
To Seduce A Sinner - Elizabeth Hoyt*
The Art of Racing in the rain is told from the perspective of Enzo, a golden retriever who retells his life story with his master. It was a good story, but made me hate people somewhat for how completely moronic we can be toward each other.
To Seduce A Sinner has a rather strong relationship between the heroine and Mouse her doggie. There is actually some quite funny/entertaining scenes with the hero asserting his alpha role with the dog.
Both of these books are written by Goodreads authors.
Totals
Points: 75
Books: 6
Challenges: 4
Yay! Posting points early for this challenge! 25.10 Melissa GA's task- Deja Vu
A. One False Note by Gordon Korman
B. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis
Total books: 2
Total # of points: 25
I have really liked the 39 clues series so far, and I have loved being able to discuss them with my 7th graders during homeroom each morning. There were a few minor things that I liked better about One False Note, but only because of my preferences and the things that I am most familiar with. Overall, I definitely think that The Sword Thief lived up to One False Note and was a great continuation of the story!
I just completed task 5.1 by reading Firefly Lane. I have been wanting to try Kristin Hannah since the people at Goodreads keep recommending her. I will give her this much- I could not put the book down because so much happened and I liked that, but it was so cliched and the writing wasn't good enough to balance that out for me. And yet, I think I would read another book by her. It's like I have 2 opposite feelings about the book.Tasks Completed: 17/57
Books Read: 22
Pages Read: 7056
[image error]
COMPLETED TASKS:
25.10 Deja Vu
A. Original Work of Fiction
*Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - READ 3.3.10
RATING: 3 stars
B. Book by another author based on Book A
*Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin - GOODREADS AUTHOR - READ 3.17.10
RATING: 5 stars
I liked the story of the "real" Alice much more than the tale of Alice in Wonderland. I was fascinated by the historical fiction novel of how Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) based this infamous story on family friend, Alice Liddell Hargreaves. I had no idea there was a story behind the story.
On a side note, I read Alice in Wonderland on my son's Nook while he was home on spring break. I loved the Nook so much, I broke down and bought myself one, and the first book I read on my Nook was Alice I Have Been.
TASKS COMPLETED: 8/57
POINTS COMPLETED: 145/980
BOOKS READ: 11/73
*BOOKS READ FROM MY PERSONAL LIBRARY: 4
25.9 (popular in college, 1995)An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison
(3 stars)
When this book came out, I really wanted to read it, because I was close to someone with manic/depression. For some reason, I never got to it. It is the memoir of a John Hopskin's psychologist, who suffers from this complicated illness. Her descriptions of the manic states are beautiful, but I found the book a little too clinical the rest of the time.
+25
points: 35
books: 3
tasks: 3
20.3 - Best Review Contest - Amy MO - Mental HealthA. A fiction book with a main character with a mental health disorder (depression, schizophrenia, anxiety or phobia, eating disorder, personality disorder, etc).
Sharp Objects: A Novel by Gillian Flynn
I had a feeling almost everyone in this book had a mental condition of some sort. The main protagonist, Camille, was a 'cutter', and suffered from constant craving to carve words into her skin.
10.4 - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
B. Reuse - For this option: read a book that you planned to read in a previous challenge but didn't get a chance to. (For this option you can not use a book that you have already started reading pre-challenge.)
Enclave by Kit Reed
I borrowed this book from the library to use it for the part B of the task 15.9. OUT WITH THE OLD & IN WITH THE NEW BOOKS of the winter challenge. I almost wish I didn't :)
Task Points: 30
Total Points: 65
Books Read: 4
Tasks Completed: 4
20.7 - I Like Big Books: Potjy's Task - Spring Cleaning 
Memories of the Future - Volume 1 by Wil Wheaton GOODREADS AUTHOR (4 Stars)I have a bunch of Star Trek TOS and TNG TT and RPG books on my shelf that haven't been used in years. I thought why not take a trip back to my fav ST series - TNG! And I can do this by reading Wil Wheaton's book in which he reviews the first half of the first season!
Wil Wheaton can do no wrong in this hilarious and insightful look at the first half of ST:TNG Season 1. We're treated to behind-the-scenes memories accompanied by the geekry humor which we know and love. Who else but Wheaton himself could berate the character he portrayed but in a way to draw out giggles and not a villianous riot comparable to the villagers in Shelley's Frankenstein (although alt.wesley.crusher.die.die.die was along those lines for they waited hopefully for the day when it would happen!). This "yearbook" novel makes me eager for Volume 2 and to re-watch Season 1 yet again (for the X amount of times!).
Points: 45
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?ke...
30.6 - Donna Jo's Task - The first book I read wasThe Reading Group: A Novel by Elizabeth Noble. 2* I didn't really like it. The reading group in the book was reading I Capture the Castle, which I had been wanting to read. So for the 2nd part of the task I read I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. 4*Total Points: 85
Tasks Completed: 5
Books Read: 7
Pages Read: 2,575
Tasks in Process: 5.9, 30.5
Task 20.5 - Books by Dr. Seuss - Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories (96 pages), Horton Hears a Who! (72 pages), The Lorax (72 pages), The Sneetches and Other Stories (72 pages), Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book (64 pages), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (64 pages), Horton Hatches the Egg (64 pages), Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! (48 pages), Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose (48 pages)The total number of pages read was 600.
Total Points = 75
For 5.9, my daughter and I went on a Curious George binge. :) We read four early readers snuggled together in her bed over the last few nights:Curious George and the Dog Show: An Early Reader
Curious George Plants a Seed
Curious George Roller Coaster Early Reader
Curious George Snowy Day
That's actually only 98 pages, which is probably okay for a 5-pointer. Just in case, though, last week we also read Tikki Tikki Tembo (among many others).
Thanks!
read 25.9 Wendy's Task: Read a book by an author who was popular when you were in High School or College.Perfume: The Story of a Murderer pub 1985
20.5-Read Across America-Where the Wild Things Are
Green Eggs and Ham
Goodnight Moon
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Horton Hears a Who!
Horton Hatches the Egg
The Little Engine That Could
Hop on Pop
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Task Points 20
Total Points 55/980
Realized I finished another couple of books that count towards the challenge, but only one that finishes a task.Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater counts for task 5.4, In the News
That brings my total to an impressive 25 points.
Total as of now: 25 points.
Amanda R. in Louisville
Mod
Snakeskin Shamisen by Goodreads author Naomi Hirahara
+5
total 190
For Task 5.2 I read Black Rose by Nora Roberts. This series revolves around a gardening business and much of it discusses various gardening techniques. The main characters (other than one) are all involved in gardening in some way and really live for it. The first one was fun, but this second in the series dragged on HORRIBLY. It was 545 pages and might have been ok at about 250 or 300 pages. I have the third one slotted into this challenge, but may have to rethink that!
For task 25.1 I read
by Jennifer Crusie. The cover shows these cute shoes with cherries on them. Something I really would like is some new clothes (and I am partial to shoes in particular!). I haven't really bought anything decent in years -- many of my clothes are 10 or 20 years old. And I have two family weddings plus bridal shower coming up. Plus I'm easing my way back to work. My wardrobe is embarrassing! But I really loathe shopping, so what I *want* is new clothes, just don't want to have to do the actual shopping!This brings me to 345 points.
21/57 tasks
32 books
(Cynthia, I'm doubling my tasks now before posting -- hope this helps you catch up!)
30.1 - Roseann's Task - Spring FlingA.Read a book with the word Spring in the title -
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost: A Novel by Ismail Kadare.
And
B. Read a book with "Fling, Throw, or Toss" in the title - The Cheapskate's Guide To Entertaining: How to Throw Fabulous Parties on a Modest Budget by Lori Perkins.
Total Points: 220/980
Books Read: 21
Tasks Completed: 14/57
Tasks in Progress: 7
From Owned TBR: 18
[image error]
20.3 Read a book with a main character who or about someone who suffers from a mental health disorder.I read Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant , and I must say that I was fascinated by the way Daniel views his world. In particular, a story stands out where he volunteered to memorize 22,500 digits of pi in just three months. When describing how he did it, he says that because each number has a particular landscape-like shape to him, he simply walked back through the landscape in his mind to recite the numbers. He even drew a picture of what the first 1,000 digits looked like to him. Wow! Pretty cool. Of course, having Asperger's syndrome, Daniel often has trouble with the big picture, getting bogged down in the details. He hyperfocuses on what to the rest of us would be just a minor detail of whatever he's working on. He's also kind of socially awkward, but because he's high-functioning autistic, he has moved out of his parents' house and lives with his partner of several years. He describes the daily challenges of their relationship because of his condition, and it was just really interesting to be able to hear directly from the mind of someone who suffers from Asperger's.
Total points = 150
20.7 The Lion in WinterJames Goldman
I gave my mother my electric snow shovel. I don't know why I hadn't done it sooner, as I have a snow blower. Since, at least in Indiana, we only use snow shovels in the winter (Well, maybe, occasionally in the spring), I chose this book.
I have just completed the This Day in History Task for 25 points. On my birthday (1st October) in 1946 Nazi Leaders were sentenced at the Nuremburg Trials. For my first book of this task I read The Judgement of Nuremburg: 1946 and then for the second part I read Red Dust by Gillian Slovo. Red Dust is a fiction book but set in south Africa centred around a court case for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This commission was set up to help deal with what happened under the Apartheid. Previous Reads
10.4 Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - We are all Made of Glue by Marina Lewycka
15.9 What's in a Name - A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute
20.3 Best Review Contest, Mental Health - The Silver Linings Play Book by Matthew Quick
30.3 Birth and Renewal - Blacklands by Belinder Bauer and Restoration by Rose Tremain
[image error]
20.8 - Happy Birthday To You Rachel Lee (March 24th)! - A Magical BirthdayHarry Houdini and I share the same birthday (March 24th)- To celebrate the birthday of this famous magician and escapologist, read a book or two (must be at least 500 pages) where magic, a magician, or an escape is a prominent feature.
Ex: The Magicians by Lev Grossman, Harry Potter, Shawshank Redemption
By the Sword by F. Paul Wilson (364)
kidnapped girl escapes three times
Hatching Magic by Ann Downer (240pages)
Magic is the theme.
20 points
10.8 - "I could have gone on flying through space forever."
On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human in outer space and the first to orbit the Earth. In honor of this event in history...Read a novel featuring space exploration/travel/astronauts (Ex. 2001: A Space Odyssey) a non-fiction book about space/astronomy (Ex. Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe), OR a biography/autobiography/memoir of an astronaut (Ex. Sky Walking: An Astronaut's Memoir).
Memory of Earth By Card
10 points
275 total
I finished a couple more5.5 Rebel AngelsLibba Bray
15.9 The Silver Needle Murder by Laura Childs whose real name is Gerry Schmitt. If I could write under an assumed name it would be Harley Rider. Just to throw them off when they really meet me in person.
Total points 45/980
Julie wrote: "I finished a couple more ...If I could write under an assumed name it would be Harley Rider. ..."
lol ... too funny!
25.8- High Rhulain by Brian Jacques and The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun. High Rhulain has animal narrators, and the other one shows the relationship between a guy and his two cats. 25.9- Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris. I'm in college now, and Charlaine Harris is popular.
30.1- Fling And Other Stories by John Hersey and Spring Torrents by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev.
[image error]
Mod
Something Missing
Martin is a thief with OCD tendencies. While his condition makes him a meticulous thief it has severely limited his social interactions- he even preplans his conversations with a diner waitress. He is fastidious about his hygiene and his routine, and he overthinks everything.
+20
total 210
Hello!I have completed Task 5.7 - developmental disabilities. I read the following book:
by Ian Brown. Brown is an award-winning journalist with Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper. This was a poignant read about Brown's son Walker who is afflicted with a disease called cardiofacioucutaneous syndrome. "A technical name for a mash of symptoms." Walker is globally delayed and cannot speak. At twelve, Walker is still in diapers and "wears cuffs on both of his arms so that he won't constantly hit himself." There are approximately 100 people around the world who live with CFC and it is considered an orphan syndrome because of its rarity. "These facts do not capture who Walker is. Despite his turmoil and pain, Walker still delivers to the world moments of joy so intense they seem supernatural."
I rated this book 4 stars and respect the way Brown uses his journalistic experience to tell his very personal and very human story.
Total # pages read: 2846
Total # points earned: 110
Total # tasks completed: 6
Total # books read: 9
30.5 - I read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer 4* and Missing Mom: A Novel by Joyce Carol Oates 3*.Jonathan Safran Foer took an introductory writing class with Joyce Carol Oates
Total Points: 115
Tasks Completed: 6
Books Read: 8
Pages Read: 3,039
Tasks in Process: 5.9, 20.3
Nicole wrote: "I just completed task 5.1 by reading Firefly Lane. I have been wanting to try Kristin Hannah since the people at Goodreads keep recommending her. I will give her this much- I could n..."That's funny, Nicole, I feel the exact same way about Kristin Hannah. I didn't think she was a very good writer, and I didn't believe much of the story (if my best friend continually treated me like that, it'd be over quickly). But I couldn't put it down and read it in less than a day.
Amy wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I just completed task 5.1 by reading Firefly Lane. I have been wanting to try Kristin Hannah since the people at Goodreads keep recommending her. I will give her this ..."I have that one sitting on my desk, out from the library. Now I can't decide if I should read it or not!
20 point task20.7 - I Like Big Books And I Cannot Lie - Potjy - Time To Declutter
Find a thing in your house/room that should be thrown/given/swapped away, and read a book that related in any way to that object. Just explain how you connect them when you post the task.
Letters of a Nation by Andrew Carroll
I have a box that is filled with all the notes my friends gave me in 8th grade. Don't know why I still have them as I haven't looked at them in years.
Current Point Total: 30
Jessica MI
5.4 In the NewsThe Secret Year
Just okay. Not as good as I was expecting, and the ending was deeply unsatisfying. Mentioned in the January '10 newsletter.
20.7 Time to Declutter
Does My Head Look Big In This?
I really (really, really, really, etc.) need to get rid of some of my clothes. I have things I almost never wear, and I should cull my snarky tshirt collection at some point. Maybe when the weather warms up for good I'll do something about it. If I could actually get MONEY for my old clothes, that'd be one thing, but...oh, well.
Total: 25 + 685 (from before) = 710pts
Ms Anderson wrote: "20.7 Time to DeclutterDoes My Head Look Big In This?"
Ah, and to clarify the connection, the book is about a girl who decides to wear the hajib, the traditional Muslim headscarf, full-time and the impact her decision to wear it has on her life.
15.3-At Least Once In A Lifetime-Read a book found on page 3,4,or 5 of the following list: Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once. Explain why the book you read should or shouldn't be on the list and what should be at the top.The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
I definitely think this book should be on the list. It made me think about what I know about my mother and what I want my children to know about me. I think every reader could relate to some aspect of the parent/child relationship.
I think the Great Gatsby should be at the top of the list.
Total Points 70/980
I got an extremely slow start this season b/c I picked an 880 page book. Oh well. I suppose I'll claim a Big Books ticket.25.5 - Leora's Task - Spring Cleaning - Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
Total points = 25
5.8 None Dare Call It StolenMark Crispin Miller
10.2 Three/Four/FiveI read The Death Chamber which had a rating of 3.54 when I started reading it. It may have changed because I rated it 4. I loved this book and want to read more from the author.
10.7 Beware the Ides of March
I read Heart Full of Lies: A True Story of Desire and Death which was about a woman who killed her husband. I liked the way the story was told, 4 stars.
25.2 Fabulous Firsts or Superior Seconds
I did this task before it was changed so I read Eve Green: A Novel and Oystercatchers by Susan Fletcher. I gave Eve Green 2 stars and Oystercatchers 3 stars. I won't be reading any other books of hers and the second book was better by a little bit but I still was counting the pages until I finished. The voice between the books was very similar.
25.4 The Name Game
I read The Caller by Alex Barclay (my first real name is Alex). This book was ok, but not that great. Frankly I can't even recall off the top of my head what it was about.
AND
Tallow which was awesome. Tallow is the name of the main character in the book. I can't wait for the next part of this series.
Total Points: 250
20.10 Read one of the three group reads and post to the discussion board.I read The Handmaid's Tale and posted to its discussion board.
Total points = 170
Three more tasks down....5.10 - "The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them."
In honor of Queen Victoria, the longest reigning British Monarch, read a book written by an author who lived during her lifetime (May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901).
For this task I read Little Men by Louisa May ALcott. Good story, but I didn't think it was as good as Little Women.
20.8 - Happy Birthday To You Rachel Lee (March 24th)! - A Magical Birthday
Harry Houdini and I share the same birthday (March 24th)- To celebrate the birthday of this famous magician and escapologist, read a book or two (must be at least 500 pages) where magic, a magician, or an escape is a prominent feature.
For this task I read The Trouble With Magic by Madelyn Alt and The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe.
20.9 - Luck Of The Draw - Rebecca - A Really Cheesy Task
April is National Grilled Cheese month. In honor of this unusual day, select a book that has either the word cheese or a type of cheese in the title: blue, cottage, cream, swiss, etc.
For this task I read Wild Blue Under by Judi Fennell
Total Points: 155/980
Books Read: 17
Tasks Completed: 11/57
25.4A Random name generator for author: obscurity factor = 5 -3. Stephanie Bosworth
4. Diana Nightingale (Diane okayed "Diane" for "Diana"
5. Rosalie Tolley
Leaving Cecil Street: A Novel by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
25.4B Character name in title (Alaska)
Looking for Alaska
375 points
I just completed task 10.3 by reading Life Is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally by Patti Digh. I was so excited to read it and felt just "eh" after completing it. Predictable advice to inspire us to live more mindfully.Tasks Completed: 18/57
Books Read: 23
Pages Read: 7296
[image error]
Ashley wrote: "Amy wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I just completed task 5.1 by reading Firefly Lane. I have been wanting to try Kristin Hannah since the people at Goodreads keep recommending her. I will gi..."Not to prejudice you against it any further, but I decided I hate myself for even reading it. LOL. But I don't usually get this opinionated and bothered by a book, so it's kind of strangely fun!
10.4 The Host by Stephanie MeyerTotal Points: 30/980
Books Read: 2
Tasks Completed: 2/57
Tasks in Progress: 1
From Owned TBR: 2
I read Pride and Prejudice for task 15.7. It is a wonderful book and long due for a re-read! Total Points: 80
Tasks Completed: 7
Tasks In Progress: 1
Books Read: 8
Pages Read: 3715
Whew - Finally some points10.4 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - City of Thieves. This was one I planned to read for the Winter Challenge Task- From Russia with Love
25.7 Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
I've finished the following 7 tasks5.2 - Gardens - Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber
5.4 - In The News - The Help by Kathryn Stockett 451 pages (Goodreads author)
5.5 - "Whatever is popular deserves attention." - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 552 pages (big book)
5.9 Day in Bed - Lightning by Dean Koontz 351 pages
5.10 Queen Victoria - Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers 204 pages
10.1 Books Really Do Grow on Trees - 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
318 pagesTotal Points so far: 55/980
Books Read so far: 9
Tasks Completed so far: 9
Pages Read so far: 3291
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...
Carlton Jackson