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SPRING CHALLENGE 2010
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Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks


Task 30.2 Written in Bone and What to do about Alice
total points: 305/980
books:25
tasks: 19

Envy by Sandra Brown
As the title says the sin is envy. Envy over another persons talent/success. Envy that consumes for 14 years to th..."
Congrats on your finish, Sheila.

An Education by Lynn Barber not nearly as racy as the cover implies
Books Read: 19
Pages Read: 6109
Tasks Completed: 16
Tasks in Progress: 4


30.5 Six Degrees of Separation
A. Any Book Off TBR
*Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - READ 4.15.10
My Rating: 4 stars - CLAIM BIG BOOK TICKET (500+pp)
B. Six Degrees of Separation from Book A/Explain
*The First Rule by Robert Crais - READ 3.30.10
My Rating: 4 stars
START - Firefly Lane by 1. Kristin Hannah
2. Philippa Gregory and Hannah had novels published together in a condensed Reader's Digest publication, Of Love and Life: The Queen's Fool, Between Sisters, Safe Harbour
3. Kristin Scott Thomas played a role in the screen adaptation of Gregory's novel, The Other Boleyn Girl
4. Serena Scott Thomas is the sister of Kristin Scott Thomas.
5. Robert Crais novel, Hostage was turned into a movie and Serena had a role in it.
FINISH - Read Crais's, The First Rule
This would be 5 degrees of separation.

TASKS COMPLETED: 19/57
POINTS COMPLETED: 400/980
BOOKS READ: 26/73
*BOOKS READ FROM MY PERSONAL LIBRARY: 16
20.1 My Family and other Animals - Gerald Durrell
I found this book really funny. Why I picked this book was becouse I liked the Masterpice Theater movie that was made of the book. And I wanted to see how the books was. Adn I was not disappointed. My mom is reading it now and she finding just as funny as I was. So if you like a funny book read this one and watch the movie.
85+20=105
I found this book really funny. Why I picked this book was becouse I liked the Masterpice Theater movie that was made of the book. And I wanted to see how the books was. Adn I was not disappointed. My mom is reading it now and she finding just as funny as I was. So if you like a funny book read this one and watch the movie.
85+20=105

5.1 Birds and the Bees: Listened to
Across the Nightingale Floor
10.3 Listened to: Cause Of Death by Patricia Cornwell
30.3 Read: Part A: Alice I Have Been
Part B:
Remember Me?
Points: 45
Total Points: 45
tasks in progress: 4

A. The Hawk and the Jewel by Lori Wick - ★★★★
5.2 - "A book is like a garden carried in the pocket."
Black Rose by Nora Roberts - ★★★
5.5 - "Whatever is popular deserves attention."
Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris - ★★★
10.9 - "A lovely horse is always an experience.... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words."
Randall Riches by Judy Christenberry - ★
20.7 - I Like Big Books And I Cannot Lie - Potjy - Time To Declutter
The Librarian's Passionate Knight by Cindy Gerard – I have a pile of books waiting to be donated to the library. - ★★★
20.9 - Luck Of The Draw - Rebecca - A Really Cheesy Task
Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts - ★★★
30.1 - Roseann's Task - Spring Fling
A. Spring's Memory by various authors (Collen Coble, Carol Cox, Judith McCoy Miller, Darlene Mindrup) - ★
B. Tartabull's Throw by Henry Garfield - ★★
Points this post = 95
Total points = 395

15.3 - Catching Fire ~ Suzanne Collins
This book was on page 4 of the Books that Everyone Should Read at Least Once. It was book #320. I am glad it was on page 4, but I know it will travel up FAST!! I am not a person who enjoys science fiction AT ALL! But, I must say that this book was outstanding. It is a young adult novel, but as an adult reader, I did not feel that it was beneath me... it was very suspenseful, fast paced, and exciting. I think everyone should read it at least once, but they should read it after they read The Hunger Games!
Total Points = 370 points
Total Books = 23 books
Total Pages = 6164 pages

I read The World of Frida Kahlo: The Blue House by Erika Billeter.
I wrote a paper on Frida Kahlo for Spanish class, so I know she exists. I also love the emotion in her paintings. My favorite painting by her is Still Life with Parrot and Flag.
http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0604.html
Edit- I got the message, thank you very much.


This brings me up to 300/980
Thanks


Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce by Paul Torday
I much preferred Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Paul Torday's first book. It was very entertaining and made me laugh out loud several times. The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce deals with alcoholism and left me feeling quite depressed.

5.2 - "A book is like a garden carried in the pocket."
I read A Hoe Lot of Trouble by Heather Webber (a Goodreads author).
The main character in this series is a woman who owns a business called "Taken By Surprise" which does surprise garden makeovers - done in a day, usually a surprise bought for a spouse or a parent or such like. Of course, there's always the necessary suspension of disbelief - how come these ordinary people are always stumbling over murders?
Points: 645
Books: 45
Books by Goodreads authors: 11
Big Books - 1
Pages: 13211
Tasks: 34
I read A Hoe Lot of Trouble by Heather Webber (a Goodreads author).
The main character in this series is a woman who owns a business called "Taken By Surprise" which does surprise garden makeovers - done in a day, usually a surprise bought for a spouse or a parent or such like. Of course, there's always the necessary suspension of disbelief - how come these ordinary people are always stumbling over murders?

Points: 645
Books: 45
Books by Goodreads authors: 11
Big Books - 1
Pages: 13211
Tasks: 34

Read Hate that Cat by Sharon Creech
written in poetry from - a really cute story which I really enjoyed
My Haiku:
Really enjoy poems
Great fun to Read and to write
Challenge Completed!
Tasks Completed - 9
Books Read - 12
Total Points - 165

5.5 - "Whatever is popular deserves attention."
I read Vampire Kisses which was popular in 2004. I hated this book and wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't for the challenge. It's obvious the writer doesn't know how a teenager talks, let alone a goth teenager. I died a little inside every time I read 'black lipstick'. I can't believe this is a series that continued being published.
10.4 - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
For the recycle option I read The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Nonsmokers Using the Easyway Method and I'm going to pass it on to my aunt. Loved this book, I read it and had my last cigarette the same day. Haven't had a cigarette for 15 days and it hasn't been a horrible experience. Would recommend it to anyone who wants to quit smoking.
15.3 - At Least Once In A Lifetime
I read A Great and Terrible Beauty which was on page 5. I liked this book but I don't really see how it's a book you have to read, especially if you don't like YA. I don't think it's even a book you must read if you like YA. It wasn't an amazing book or incredibly well written or anything. I guess I'd say that The Bell Jar should be at the top of the list. And even though I'm not religious at all The Bible as well since it's incredibly influential in our culture.
15.6 - Friends and Friends of Friends
I read Masquerade for the friends part
AND
Blue Is For Nightmares for the friends of friends part. Loved them both.
30.2 - Cheryl TX's Task - A Texas-Sized Task
I read The Penderwicks on Gardam Street for part A and hated it.
AND
Graceling for part B and loved it.
30.5 - PJ Reads' Task - As Suggested By Tanja - Six Degrees of Separation
For part A I read Real Murders by Charlaine Harris who co-authored Many Bloody Returns with Kelley Armstrong. So for part B I read The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong.
50 POINT MIDWAY TASK - MS ANDERSON - LUCK BE A LADY
I rolled a 3 and a 4 which adds to 7 - toss out genres and read what you want.
So I read The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane which was a wonderful book, I loved it
AND
Every Breath You Take : A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder which was creepy but good.
Total Points: 595

Tasks Completed: 27/57
Books Read: 39
Pages Read: 11,538
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I just wanted to take a quick minute to thank everyone for their kind words about my challenge. I had a lot of fun coming up with the task and have really enjoyed checking out what people have selected. A few of you have found some really interesting books.

Pages read: 3706
Books read: 13
Tasks completed: 11
Total Points: 280
Liz (Bklyn)

In Honor of St. Patrick's Day (March 17) read a book with...
A.An Author by the name of Patrick, Pat, or Patricia.
OR
B. A Main Character by the name of Patrick, Pat, or Patricia.
Sold by Patricia McCormick-4/14
New Total: 165

20.5 - Just Joined In - Melaine - Read Across America (and the rest of the world)
Books by Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham (62p)
There's a Wocket in My Pocket (32)
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? (32)
The Cat in the Hat (72)
Happy Birthday to You! (64)
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street (64)
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories (96)
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins (56)
The Sneetches and Other Stories (65)
Previously Completed Tasks
5.1 Little Bee by Cleave, Chris*
5.2 -The Spare-Time Gardener: Tips and Tricks for Those on the Go by Barbara Hill Freeman
5.3 - Fire in the Blood by Irène Némirovsky
5.9 - Impossible by Nancy Werlin
10.2 - July July by Tim O'brien
10.4 - God Behind Bars: A Prison Chaplain Reflects on the Lord's Prayer by Pierre Raphael
10.5 - The Informers by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
20.7 - The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
30.5 -
A. The Renegades by T. Jefferson Parker
B. Blue Heaven by C.J. Box
Total Points: 120
Tasks Completed: 10
Books Read: 19

New points: 30
Total points: 145


In Honor of Anzac Day which is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on April 25th every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I let's read...
A.A novel that takes place in Australia or New Zealand, written by an author from one of those countries, or a non-fictional book about one of the two countries.
Zusak (Australian) I am the Messenger AND
B. A novel or non-fictional account of World War I.
Defying Hitler by Haffner
15 points
770 total

25.7 - Ashley FL's Task - The Gods Must Be Crazy
Read: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
New Point Total: 35
Tasks Completed: 2
Books Read: 2
Pages Read: 782


I think these are both very charming and its hard to say which is better!! I think I preferred the second book as you already know the characters a bit better which makes it a little more fun!
Task Points: 25
Total Points: 270
Tasks: 15
Books: 21
Nicki STL




10.2 - Three/Four/Five
March, April, and May are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th months of the year - Read a book whose average rating is made up of the numbers 3,4, and 5.
For this task I read The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine. This edition has both books one and two included. It had a rating of 4.35 when I started it.
20.10 - Group Reads
Read One Of The Following Group Read Selections And Make At Least One Post In The Discussion Thread.
For this task I read The Golden Compass and posted a comment on the thread.
25.8 - Helen's Task - Talk to the Animals
In honor of our animal friends, read two books (fiction or non-fiction):
A. A book narrated by or written in the voice of an animal Ex: The Art of Racing in the Rain
AND
B. A book demonstrating the relationship between owners and pets Ex: Marley and Me or Dewey
For part A of this task I read The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert, which is told from the perspective of the animals in the story. For part B I read The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox. The main character has a pet dog that speaks to her and helps her with the demon slaying.
25.9 - Wendy's Task - Spring Break
Read a book written by an author who was popular when you were in high school or college.
For this task I read Dragon Tears by Dean Koontz who was popular when I was in college.
Angie Fox and Susan Wittig Albert are Goodreads authors.
Total Points: 480/980
Books Read: 43
Tasks Completed: 31/57

5.1 Flightless Falcon
5.2 The Gardener's Grandchildren
5.3 My Son's Story
5.5 The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia
5.6The Palace of Illusions: A Novel
5.8 I Heard the Owl Call My Name:
5.9 334: A Novel
5.10 I Capture the Castle 8 x 5 = 40 points
10.1 Tree By Leaf
10.2 The Godwhale
10.3 The Riddle-Master of Hed
10.4 The Inverted World: A Novel
10.5 The Distinguished Guest
10.6 The Sheep Look Up
10.7 The Great British Train Robbery, 1963
10.8 The People of the Wind
10.9 The Dark Horse 9 x 10 = 90 points.
15.2 Mister Pip and Shoulder the Sky: A Novel
15.3 Prodigal Summer
15.8 Russell Drysdale: A biographical and critical study 3 x 15 = 45 points
20.1 A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
20.5 The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Sarah, Plain and Tall and others
20.7 The Man Who Folded Himself
20.9 Goat Song
20.10 The Historian 5 x 20 = 100 points
25.2 Eve Green and Oystercatchers
25.4 World Below and Bronwyn's Bane
25.7 The Demigod Files
25.9 The Gods Themselves 4 x 25 = 100 points
30.1 Come the Spring and Highland Fling
30.2 Savvy and Graceling
30.5 The Iron Dream and The Sun's Bride
30.6 Dying Inside and The Trial 4 x 30 = 120 points
40 + 90 + 45 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 120 = 495 points

Tasks Completed: 28/57
Books Read: 40
Pages Read: 12,002
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This will bring my total to 135 points.

15.10 Sophie's world - Jostein Gaarder
I believe that we can get the most out of life if we live like each day is out last. James Dean said it best "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."
105+15=120
I believe that we can get the most out of life if we live like each day is out last. James Dean said it best "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."
105+15=120
I finished
15.1, Independently Speaking, with
When the Devil Holds the Candle by Karin Fossum set in Norway and
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah from Sierra Leone
25.2, Stephanie's fab firsts, superior seconds, with
author Chang-rae Lee
Native Speaker and
A Gesture Life
Both books were excellent- beautiful use of language, realistic dialogue, and complicated themes of identity, expectations, and loss. I enjoyed Native Speaker more, as A Gesture Life was much darker and more violent. Lee created unique voices for each book.
+40
total 675
15.1, Independently Speaking, with
When the Devil Holds the Candle by Karin Fossum set in Norway and
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah from Sierra Leone
25.2, Stephanie's fab firsts, superior seconds, with
author Chang-rae Lee
Native Speaker and
A Gesture Life
Both books were excellent- beautiful use of language, realistic dialogue, and complicated themes of identity, expectations, and loss. I enjoyed Native Speaker more, as A Gesture Life was much darker and more violent. Lee created unique voices for each book.
+40
total 675

I started this book for another task but found that one of the leading characters has a "breakdown" and slowly spirals out of control into madness.
I thoroughly enjoyed the telling of this story. The writing builds tension as the life of this neighbourhood is told.
It's a story of consequences of action; how one small thing can spiral into something big and destructive. This book contains many "small things" and the consequences come together for a dramatic story.
"Broken" Buckley is a geeky teenager who has a breakdown after an encounter with a neighbourhood "problem" family. His life spirals out of control after that.


30.5A Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
30.5B Catcher in the Rye by J D. Salinger
30.5C The sonnection goes as follows (I hope)
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham is on my TBR List and he wrote Rainmaker which starred Matt damon who starred in Mystic Pizza with Julia Roberts who starred with Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory where the character was obsessed with The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Slainger who is also on the TBR List




I think this was a much looser retelling than I expected, so it is hard to judge it against Hamlet. Also, because this was so much longer (570 pages) there is a lot more detail in the retelling and you really get to know the characters better.
I definitely related to the characters more in the second book, but really, how am I supposed to diss Hamlet???
Well done on both accounts!
Total Points: 505
Tasks Complete: 31
Books Read: 44
Pages Read: 15357
Tasks In Progress: 5
GOODREADS AUTHOR x
BIG BOOK (500) x
BIG BOOK (750)
BIG BOOK (1000) x
Percent Complete: 59.5%
Time Elapsed: 51.1%

20.7 Frill Kill by Laura Childs. I have a scrapbook area that desperatedly needs straightened up and possibly some things thrown away.
20.10 Group Reads
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
25.1 Future Aspirations
Life on the Refrigerator Door
I want to write notes to my children. I'm not ill but I just want them to remember how much I love them throughout all the ups and downs.
155/980

I am short on the Readerboard by 15 points - you show 450 and I show 465. I am guessing that in your effort to get things caught up, something slipped through the cracks - probably a 15-pointer.
Here is what my records show for 5, 10 and 15 point tasks:
5 Points: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.6, 5.7, 5,8, 5.9 and 5.10
10 Points: 10.1, 10.4, 10.5, 10.10
15 Points: 15.2, 15.4, 15.5, 15.9
Let me know where we don't synch up and I can repost.
Also, if you need the higher point tasks, let me know.
I will hold off posting until we reconcile. No hurry - I know you are super busy right now.
Thanks, Helen

165 points

Total points = 80

I'm using The Clan of the Cave Bear for 30.4, but I want to replace it with The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I'm going to use The Clan of the Cave Bear for a different multibook task.
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15.3 - Catching Fire ~ Suzanne Collins
This book was on page 4 of the Books that Everyone Should Read at Least Once. It was book #320. I am glad it was on page 4, but I know it will travel up FAST!! I am not a person who enjoys science fiction AT ALL! But, I must say that this book was outstanding. It is a young adult novel, but as an adult reader, I did not feel that it was beneath me... it was very suspenseful, fast paced, and exciting. I think everyone should read it at least once, but they should read it after they read The Hunger Games!
The book I would put at the top of this list is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This book was absolutely amazing! When I picked it up I was uncertain whether Hosseini would be able to top The Kite Runner, but he definitely did! Absolutely a book that must be read at least once in a lifetime!
Total Points = 370 points
Total Books = 23 books
Total Pages = 6164 pages

5.5 - Make Lemonade ~ Virginia Euwer Wolff
This book was written in 1993
Total Points = 375 points
Total Books = 24 books
Total Pages = 6364 pages

Previous Reads
5.2 A Book is Like a Garden in the Pocket - The Girl's Guide to Growing your Own by Alex Mitchell
5.8 Dr Watson Calling - The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
5.9 I can Still do Something Lying in Bed - Magicians Guild by Judi Canavan
10.2 Three/Four/Five - The Rapture by Liz Jensen
10.4 Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - We are all Made of Glue by Marina Lewycka
15.6 Friends and Friends of Friends - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
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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5.1 Still Life with Chickens : Starting Over in a House By the Sea by Catherine Goldhammer
As someone who is currently renovating her own house (and suffering through similar self-inflicted injuries) I could greatly appreciate what the author was going through. I am also contemplating adding urban chickens to the mix, but decided that this year I have enough on my plate already!
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
10.4 Kitty’s House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn
10.5 At Home in France by Ann Barry
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
20.1 Dave Barry Does Japan by Dave Barry
20.3 The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
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
20.6 Roadkill by Rob Thurman
20.7 The Pleasure of Cooking for One by Judith Jones
20.8 Shalador’s Lady by Anne Bishop
25.1 Recipes from a American Herb Garden by Maggie Oster
25.4 (a) Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster (b) Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
25.9 Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
50 Crazy Salad by Nora Ephron and The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny by Simon R. Green
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Books mentioned in this topic
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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)
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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)
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B. Read a biography/autobiography of an Academy Award winning actress: I'll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin, who won the Best Actress award for her role in the 1986 movie Children of a Lesser God. April 15 This rather reaffirmed my general dislike of autobiographies - I usually end up knowing more than I wanted to know about the personal lives of those involved. This did strengthen my respect for Ms. Matlin and anyone who refuses to let a disability interfere with their lives. And she did this in spades. Here's one of my favorite lines from her book: "And though I am Deaf, it is not as if I live in silence. Thousands of thoughts are always buzzing around in my head."
#20.10 Group Reads - I chose C. Favorite Author The Handmaid's Tale and posted twice on the discussion thread with messages #34 & #35 April 14 and here's my review
Total Pages = 11,494
Total Tasks Completed = 30
Total Points = 520