The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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SPRING CHALLENGE 2010
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Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks
5.1 "Every Last Cuckoo" by Kate MaloyWas a 3 star read.
Finished:30.6 The Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman's Romp Through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis by Tara Austen Weaver.
This is a nonfiction foodie-type book (my library has it in the Biographies?) by a woman raised as a vegetarian who, when she decides for health reason to start eating meat, investigates why we make such a production of meat--in many senses of the word. She examines the economic and moral implications of eating meat, especially from the standpoint of eating locally.
AND
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan, which explores the way we are using and abusing our food resources.
Points:10Task:2
Title:When She Was Good
Author:Norma Fox Mazer
Total Points:20
Points:20Task:7
Title:No Time To Cry
Author:Lurlene Mcdaniel
The way I connect the title No Time To Cry and the thing in my houe that needs to be sold is that there are to many clocks in my house and we need to get rid of some so I related Time to the clock.
Total Points:40
10.10 - Accessory or clothing in title - Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants: Even Further Confessions of Georgia NicolsonTask Points: 10
Total Points: 70
Tasks: 6
Books: 7
Nicki STL
A few more tasks done!5.3: Stardust by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!)
5.9: The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig (Goodreads author!)
15.9: The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain (real name: Samuel Clemens)
Update Totals:
Points: 70
Tasks completed: 6
Tasks in progress: 2
Books read: 8
Pages read: 2,431
For 5.2 I have read The Girl's Guide to Growing Your Own by Alex Mitchell. I'm in the process of digging a veggie patch in my garden and this book was really helpful! I have some tomatoes, dwarf beans and sweet peppers growing on my windowsill at the moment waiting for the warm weather to come so I can transfer them out to my newly dug patch!Previous Reads
5.8 Dr Watson Calling - The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
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
25.6 This Day in History - The Judgement of Nuremberg 1947
30.3 Birth and Renewal - Blacklands by Belinder Bauer and Restoration by Rose Tremain
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15.5 Read a collection of Poetry: Second Apriland The Buck in the Snow And Other Poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay
I enjoyed this task more than I thought I would. Miss Millay's poetry was beautifully written and I certainly appreciated her love and yearning for the coast of Maine, which was an inspiration for much of her work.
My attempt at Haiku:
Slippers slipping off
Slowly slipping under sheets
Head and pillow meet.
POINTS FOR THIS TASK: 15
Total Points: 130/980
Tasks Complete: 8/57
For task 20.5 I read 2 books from the 50 States List1) From California, the state where I was born
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell - 197 pages
And
2) From Kansas where I live now
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - 335 pages
Total pages 532
Finished 20.1: I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane CrosleyThis is a book of short stories in the style of David Sedaris, except for those of us who grew up in the 80s. I knew I was hooked when I came across her story about the computer game Oregon Trail. She has a very dry and witty humor, which I really like.
Total Points: 115
For Task 30.1 I read Spring Fling by Sabrina James. I suppose this was supposed to be chick lit for teens, but I didn't think it was very good, andToss the Bride by Jennifer Fenske, which had some fun wedding descriptions but a stupid storyline.
This brings me to 610 points
35/57 tasks
50 books
20.1 - The Most Improved Player - Cindy AL - April FoolApril Fool...read three 1000+ page books and write reviews of each without using your computer...April Fool! Read a humorous book of any type and write a short review.
I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies) by Laurie Notaro-3/30
This is my second Laurie Notaro book and I did find myself laughing out loud a couple times, but I personally find Jen Lancaster hilarious and give all her books five stars. Basically Notaro's books are real life situations she finds herself in and her sarcasm is what makes her funny and humorous. I am reading another book by her right now (which is actually her first book), so I def. enjoy her writing and sense of humor.
New Total: 100 points
15.10 'Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox
I am one of those people who always see life as the "glass is half full". No matter what situation I am in, I always try to see the positive and try to remain optimistic.
Total points: 320
Finished:10.5 Freedom Of The Press
A. Read a novel with a main character who is a journalist.
Or
B. Read a non-fictional book written by or about a famous journalist.
A. Read: The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
New Point Total: 10
Tasks Completed: 1
Books Read: 1
Pages Read: 503
It was over 500 pages for a chance at I LIKE BIG BOOKS AND I CANNOT LIE.
25.1
My aspiration is to advance at my office job (hence the girl at the desk)
Total Points: 170
Tasks Completed: 12
Tasks In Progress: 4
Books Read: 16
Pages Read: 6066
20.8 Read a book dealing somehow with magic, magicians, or escape.I read Fire Study , by Maria V. Snyder, which features magic, magicians, AND escapes. =)
Maria V. Snyder is a Goodreads author.
Hopefully I am not too late to claim this one, but I also noticed that Diane Duane ( The Book of Night with Moon , which I claimed for task 25.8 in post 981) is also a Goodreads author.
Total points = 280
5.4 - In The NewsFor this task, read a book mentioned in a former or current Goodreads Newsletter.
I read Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby which was mentioned in the November 2009 newsletter.
Total points: 100
I do hope Cynthia is ok! Hope it's just that she's busy/having internet troubles and nothing more serious!
5.4 Her Fearful Symmetry (October, 2009)Audrey Niffenegger
Goodreads Author
I hope I'm doing this right.
5.1 The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
5.10 The Hound of Baskervilles - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
15.5 The Works of Eugene Field - Eugene Field
My Haiku:
The rain comes down fast
Puddles become lakes, lakes become seas
Untill I'm on an island
25.4 (c) Alice I have been - Melanie Benjamin (still have to do a little more on this task)
Jamie
5.1 The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
5.10 The Hound of Baskervilles - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
15.5 The Works of Eugene Field - Eugene Field
My Haiku:
The rain comes down fast
Puddles become lakes, lakes become seas
Untill I'm on an island
25.4 (c) Alice I have been - Melanie Benjamin (still have to do a little more on this task)
Jamie
Hi Jamie,For the Haiku I believe it should be 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 in the third line. 5-7-5. I don't know how specific Cynthia is being on that.
I read Black Beauty for task 10.9. This was my first time reading it and I really liked it. Very cute! Total Points: 250
Tasks Complete: 17
Books Read: 29
Pages Read: 10017
Tasks In Progress: 9
GOODREADS AUTHOR x
BIG BOOK (500)
BIG BOOK (750)
BIG BOOK (1000) x
Percent Complete: 39.7%
Time Elapsed: 32.6%
Hello!I have completed Task 15.3 - Once in a Lifetime by reading:
by Haven KimmelThis book was on page four (book # 392) of the list. I chose it because it is a book I have owned for some time and had not yet read. I liked the book (3.5 stars) and Kimmel certainly puts an enjoyable comedic spin on the memoir. The list has a total of 1,608 books on it, so should this book be there? I don't think so but I also think there are a lot of books on the list that shouldn't be there. The list is a real mish-mash of titles. I do like that both fiction and non-fiction are represented. The sub-title of the list is "Books That Impact Thinking" and based on that, then no, this book didn't impact my thinking and shouldn't be on the list. I would select A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens as the number one book of fiction and Origin of Species by Charles Darwin as the number one non-fiction book (since I can't decided among the philosophers).
Total # Pages Read: 4195
Total # Points Accrued: 155
Total # of Completed Tasks: 8
Total # of Books Read: 13
Finished Task 25.8 I read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein for part 1 (animal narrator) and Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan for part 2 (animal/human relationship).
New Total: 95 points
10.2 - Three/Four/FiveI read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown which had an average rating of 3.34
I finally finished another book, WHEW. It has been hard with the boys home for spring break, LOL. So for Task 10.1 - Arbor Day I read
In the Woods by Tana French, which has drawings of tree branches on the cover. It was really interesting, and I am looking forward to her second book. Total # Pages Read: 1394
Total # Points Accrued: 20
Total # of Completed Tasks: 2
Total # of Books Read: 4
Now that I've managed to put my books down, it is time to claim some points! I've completed tasks:30.6 Character References. I read twilight and wuthering heights. In Twilight, Bella reads Wuthering heights
25.1 Future aspirations. After watching Olympic curling, one of my goals this year is to learn how to curl. In honour of this I read "Men with Brooms: A sweeping epic" by Diane Baker Mason. My copy features curlers on the front cover
20.6 Favourite series. Right now my favourite series is Women of the Otherworld by Kelly Armstrong. Women of the Otherworld is a contemporary fantasy, where supernatural beings make up the main characters. The series isn't limited - books contain werewolves, witches, shaman, vamps, etc. Great series if your in to supernatural books!
This brings my total point count to:
75 new points
75 total points
4 books read
Finished 5.4 - From the June 09 goodreads newsletter - Columbine.This was definitely a 5* read for me and before reading it I was thinking "meh". Highly recommend!
Now at 50 points with 4 tasks completed and another 5 in process. Dave Cullens is a goodreads author.
30.3 Birth and RenewalA. Just Kids by Patti Smith - published January 2010
B. Nanny Returns by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin
Tasks completed - 5
Books Read - 7
Pages Read - 2,151
TOTAL POINTS - 105
I finished 25.9 by reading The Bean Trees: A Novel, written by Barbara Kingsolver, who was popular when I was in high school (1998-2002).Total Points: 195
Tasks Completed: 13
Tasks In Progress: 4
Books Read: 17
Pages Read: 6312
Mod
Read a book written by an author who was popular when you were in high school or college.
Couldn't resist on this one - I read Valley of the Dolls. Ah, memories - a bunch of us chipped in to buy this book, then passed it around, swearing solemn oaths not to let our mothers catch us and confiscate it. I've got to say - it was a more exciting book when I read it by flashlight under the covers!
Points: 415
Books: 28
Books by Goodreads authors: 3
Pages: 7948
Tasks: 22
5.9 Read in bed--I read
in bed. Trust Oscar Wilde to keep me laughing. I love the term "Bunburying" and I would like to incorporate it into speech and practice... :-)Finally on the board!
Points: 5
25.5 850 pp from TBR -Mother of Pearl 496 pp
Tales from Thailand: Folklore, Culture and History 184 pp
Tropical Fish: Tales From Entebbe 208 pp
496 + 184 + 208 = 888 pp
690 points
Sandy wrote: "Couldn't resist on this one - I read Valley of the Dolls. Ah, memories - a bunch of us chipped in to buy this book, then passed it around, swearing solemn oaths not to let our mothers catch us and confiscate it. I've got to say - it was a more exciting book when I read it by flashlight under the covers! ..."Hahaha.........I'm having a flashback right now!
For Task 5.8 I read Claudia And The Phantom Phone Calls by Ann Martin. My kids read these books all the time, so it was fun to read one, but it is definitely a kids' book!For Task 15.4 I read Diamond In The Rough by Marie Ferrarella (cute little romance but nothing terribly special) and The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess by Chantelle Shaw (another one of those "rough alpha male overwhelms innocent female (this one a *princess*, no less) who just can't help falling in love with him -- bleech).
This brings me to 630 points.
37/57 tasks
53 books
I'm recapping all of my tasks and including my new ones because I can't remember what I've already claimed. Hopefully this helps a tad, Cynthia!Completed Tasks
10.2 Three/Four/Five:
The Poisoner's Handbook (It had an average rating of 4.53 when I started it.)
10.4 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Splendor (It was the only published book by Anna Godbersen which I had not read previously.)
15.3 At Least Once In A Lifetime: Bel Canto (I posted my thoughts on it when I claimed it previously.)
20.10 Group Reads: The Handmaid's Tale (I posted to the group discussion.)
25.5 Spring Cleaning: The Pillars of the Earth
25.10 Deja Vu: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and Wonderland
I didn't much care for Wonderland. The premise of the graphic novel is that it tells the story of Maryann, the white rabbit's maid. The author certainly incorporated many nice references to the original work, but he failed to ever get me to care about his character. I say skip it, unless you're a die-hard for Alice stuff.
Total tasks completed: 6
Total points: 105
10.05 - Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (436 pages)The protagonist is a journalist.
15.03 - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (627 pages)
In my opinion, great works of fiction/non-fiction should be on this list: books that make you think, change how you view the world, move you, etc. Unfortunately, Outlander is not one of these books. It’s a 600-page love story about a woman who travels back in time. I found the book was mediocre, the time travel aspect was poorly thought out and explained, there were few historical aspects. I reiterate, it’s a love story. That being said, I want to see if the series gets better (though I cringe at the thought of reading another 600-pager full of filler scenes), and I can understand why people like this book (even if I can’t agree with them).
20.07 - Private by Kate Brian (227 pages)
The protagonists goes to a private high school, and I have tons of notes and papers from high school that need to be thrown out.
Tasks completed: 3
Pages read: 1290
Points: 45
Completed task 20.1I read A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. There were definitely some funny lines in this book, but overall it wasn't for me. I don't really care for fantasies and the battle scenes lost my interest entirely. I can see that this book would appeal to some, but for me it was a 2 star read.
New point total: 70
25.5: read 850 pages - The Magician Nicolas Flamel 2 by Michael Scott p.461 & Dandelion Fire by ND Wilson p.480
25.10-- Deja VuA. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Peter and Wendy
B. Peter and the Starcatchers
Note: There are some pretty big spoilers about "Peter and the Starcatchers", so if you haven't read it yet, I would advise not reading further than this point.
I need to preface this by saying I LOVE the idea of "Peter Pan". Even so, I do not think the writing in the original is really all that fantastic, though there are certainly some great, memorable lines which I have committed to memory. For me, it's more what Peter Pan represents, and the hours I spent in my youth wishing Peter Pan would knock on my window and take me to Never Land just for a little while. So reading the original (this was the 3rd time now for me) is like someone taking my vision and retelling it in a way that just doesn't capture it correctly. Unfortunately, mostly because of the writing style and lack of fleshing out descriptions of characters, etc., I give the original 3*.
"Peter and the Starcatchers" is less a prequel to Barrie's "Peter Pan", and more a prequel to the Disney cartoon. No big surprise, since the book is published under the Disney name. It strays from a lot of the ideas presented in "Peter Pan". One big one is how Tinkerbell was "born." Everyone knows "when the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skitting about. And that was the beginning of fairies." And everyone also knows that humans were once birds. Oh, no. Not in this book. In this book, Tinkerbell was transformed from a bird into a fairy. And also, Never Land isn't a place you get to by flying: you get to it by traveling on a ship. Um. No, wrong. Absolutely wrong. Sigh. Yes, I'm a purist. Even so, it was still a fairly fun book. I was also a little disappointed by all the typos and missing punctuation in this book. So no, this didn't live up to JM Barrie's original. Or my "vision" of Never Land and the boy who would never grow up. Big fail.
Rant over.
More tasks completed.10.2 Three/Four/Five
The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich Rated 3.44
10.6 And the Oscar Goes To
Audrey - An Intimate Portrait by Diana Maychick
I've always been interested in Audrey Hepburn because she always struck me as such a classy lady. When I think of her I think more of her humanitarian work than her acting. This book was interesting because it told about her childhood growing up in Nazi invaded Europe. She won best oscar in 1954 for Roman Holiday.
10.8 Space
John Glenn: The First American in Orbit and His Return to Space by Paul Kupperberg
10.10 Fashions Fade
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
15.3 At Least Once in Your Life
The Shack by William P. Young.
I just couldn't get in to this book. I know a lot of people think it is wonderful but I thought it was ridiculous.
In My Opinion Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell should be #1
20.2 Clean Sweep
The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini
Story about cleaning out kitchen cupboards and planning and organizing in preparation for a kitchen remodel
20.4A Our Histories
Teach Yourself Tracing Your Family History by Stella Colwell
and
20.4D Our Histories
Anatomy of a Merger: The Trinity Story by Ann Keefe
This book was of special interest to me about the merger over a number of years of 3 of the area hospitals. I was employed by them for 37 years and "survived" those 2 mergers. I would not recommend that experience to anyone!
20.10 Group Reads
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (big book)
25.9 Popular Author in HS
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
This was the "forbidden book" when I was in HS so of course it was the book that everybody had to read. I had forgotten what a "B" Neely turned out to be.
30.4 One if By Land
Spencer's Mountain by Earl Hamner
Touching family story that inspired "The Waltons" Goodnight Mary Ellen, Goodnight John Boy
30.4 Two if By Sea
China Lake: An Evan Delaney Novel by Meg Gardiner
Religious zealots/cults at their worst. I was uneasy the entire time I read this one.
***********************************
30.5 Six degrees of Separation
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen (Goodreads Author)
Lorraine Bracco plays Angela Rizzoli in Tess Gerritsen's new TV Series on TNT "Rizzoli and Isles"
Lorraine Bracco was in Medicine Man with Sean Connery
Sean Connery was in Rising Sun
Rising Sun was written by Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton wrote Jurrzasic Park
Jurrasic Park was directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven spielberg was executive producer of The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
***********************************
Completed 15.2 - Anzac Day The Bone People - Keri Hulme
Hulme is from New Zealand and is a Maori. The book takes place in NZ and among the Maori culture.
Deafening - Frances Itani
About a young girl who goes deaf from Scarlett Fever and then meets a man, gets married and is the story of how he fares in WWI and how she fares at home during the war.
Both books were really good!
Total Points: 265
Tasks Complete: 18
Books Read: 30
Pages Read: 10462
Tasks In Progress: 8
GOODREADS AUTHOR x
BIG BOOK (500)
BIG BOOK (750)
BIG BOOK (1000) x
Percent Complete: 41.1%
Time Elapsed: 34.8%
For 15.3 I read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which was on page 5 of the list. I think the entire Harry Potter series should be on the must-read list and this is one of my favorites. The series in general is a great read, it has complex characters and a well-woven plot. Besides the literary aspect it should be read for pop-culture references alone.
It is hard for me to pick a book that should top the list because people respond to literature so differently. I think everyone, though, should read Nabakov at some point, and I am not a big fan of Lolita, so I will sat that Invitation to a Beheading should top the list because it has beautiful language and an intriguing premise.
I would also like to claim my big book ticket for 750 pages, as this book was 870.
Books Read: 13
Pages Read: 4358
Points: 175
On an unrelated note - is everything OK with Cynthia? I know she said she is extra busy this season, is it perhaps time someone steps in to help?
5.10 "The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them."A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie
(September 15, 1890 - January 12, 1976)
Total points: 325
It has been a LONG time since I posted, but I have been reading so here it goes:5.2 Garden SpellsGoodreads Author
5.6 Petals from the Sky
10.1
10.2 The Earl4.33 when I read
10.3 The DukeGoodreads Author
10.4 SchismHelen's Task from Winter 2010
10.5 Off the Record
10.8 The Final Key
20.4 The Edge of TownTakes place in a little town in Missouri near Kansas City, my hometown AND The Girl Who Chased the MoonFamily Saga
25.2 Primary Inversion AND Catch the Lightning These two books were a little difficult to compare. I really enjoyed both. They are part of the same series, but the series has been written completely out of chronological order. Primary Inversion (her first novel) is towards the begining chronologically and Catch the Lightning is the last so far in the chronology. I think that I enjoyed Catch the Lightning better but that was because I was more familiar with the family dynamics and the background stories. When I read Primary Inversion, I liked it so much that I resolved to fit the entire series into this challenge and I haven't been disappointed by any of the subsequent books by her I have read.
Total Points 190/980
Total Books 26/76
Total Tasks Completed 16/56
Total Pages 8840
3 more tasks:#10.4 Complete one of the following: I used C. Recycle:
Read a book from your personal collection and when finished, pass it on so another person can read it.
Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper Mar 31 I passed it on to my husband, and when he's finished I'll give it to my daughter, who will likely pass it on to her husband!
#15.3 Read a book found on page 3, 4, or 5 of "Books That Everyone Should Read" list. Explain why the book you read should or should not be on that list, and what book you think should be at the top of the list.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Mar 30
This is a fantastic book and definitely should be on this list - I'm somewhat ashamed I have not read it before. It's YA and reads in a compellingly funny way but also has a serious message. The book that I think should be at the top of the list is The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. It's a very personalized telling of the people and events of the Battle of Gettysburg, and very deservedly won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1975.
#25.2 Wendy's Task: Read a book written by an author who was popular when you were in high school or college. This would cover the years 1952-1959 for me, so I read Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart, who was one of my favorite authors then.
Total Pages = 9,100
Total Points = 400
Hello!I have completed Task 10.6 - Oscar by reading:
by SapphireThis book was the basis for the Oscar nominated film Precious. The novel is stunning. It is verbally graphic in style and would not be suited to more sensitive readers. I found it to be brilliant in its grittiness and poetic in its style. I read this in 2 hours and could not put it down. I gave it 4 stars.
Total # pages Read: 4387
Total # Points Accrued: 165
Total # of Tasks Completed: 9
Total # of Books Read: 14
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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5.9 These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5.10 Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
25.5 Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stroud 396 pgs
The Road by Cormac McCarthy 241 pgs
Buy Ketchup in May, Fly at Noon by Mark Di Vinenzo 172 pgs
No Mardi Gras for the Dead by D. J. Donaldson 229 pgs