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SPRING CHALLENGE 2010
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Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks
I finished task 5.5 by reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from 2005. Books Read: 18
Pages Read: 6194
Points: 210
Finished Task 30.5 Six Degrees of SeparationBook #1: The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson. James Patterson starred in an episode of the Simpsons in 1989 with Meg Ryan. Meg Ryan starred in Sleepless in Seattle with Tom Hanks, who also starred in Angels and Demons, which was written by Dan Brown.
Book #2: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
20.6 Favorite Series
My current favorite series (seems to change quite often!!) is The 39 Clues series. I'm a middle school teacher, so it is great to be able to discuss it with my students during homeroom! In this series, 2 orphaned children are given the opportunity to search for a family secret that could make them the most powerful people in the world. This search leads them all over the world, investigating the lives and sometimes secrets of many historical people in their family, while trying to outrun the rest of the family. These books are filled with surprises around every corner and really keep the reader intrigued and on their toes about where the series will take them next. I find it fascinating that these books are all written by different people because it really gives each book its own unique spin.
For this task I chose The 39 Clues book #5 The Black Circleby Patrick Carman.
New points: 50
Total points: 75
Finished one more, 25.7 - Greek and Roman GodsThe Lightning Thief by Rick Riordian
A few more tasks -
10.2 I read Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds. When I started reading it it had a rating of 3.43. When I finished it had a rating of 3.54. I gave it 3 stars.
15.9 I read Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts). This is the first of the In Death series. It was a futuristic cop thriller, but there is still a lot of nookie for the romance lovers. I didn't care for it, but I think it would make a great movie/show. If I was to use a pen name it would probably be Yolanda. Just Yolanda. Because that is my alter ego name. Yolanda has style and sass and she is more daring than Sara.
20.2 How to Sew a Button by Erin Bried. This book is advice from different grandmothers on I guess what you would call lost arts, household tips, including baking, sewing, saving money (muy importante!) and of course cleaning tips. Can I just say that I wrote some of these down and will be trying them. My mother actually told me about the cleaning with vinegar and baking soda one, which is excellent and I do because I hate cleaning using chemical products.
20.5 I finally finished this the right way. From the celebrity picks list, I read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Koningsburg, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and also The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. For a total of 544 pages.
20.6 - For the series book, I read The Reckoning by Goodreads Author Kelley Armstrong. This series is great! Chloe Armstrong sees dead people, and because of this, she is diagnosed with schizophrenia and placed in Lyle House, a home for other troubled teens. They soon come to realize that they might have special powers, and they have to fight to learn more about themselves and about the truth about Lyle House. Read it!
25.3 - For our 2 year anniversary, my husband and I went to Las Vegas, and while we were there, we decided to catch a Burlesque show at the Flamingo. If you are not familiar with burlesque it is sort of like a strip show with comedy (but not as vulgar as a strip club, there are NO lap dances). The girls wore sexy costumes, the numbers were funny and there was a comedian. I've been intrigued by the new popularity of burlesque. So I read Burlesque and the New Bump-N-Grind by Michelle Baldwin, which gives a history of the art of Burlesque and also the recent popularity and resurgence of burlesque. Fascinating and fun, and I will probably catch a few more shows.
Previous Score: 215
Current Score: 325
10.2 I read Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds. When I started reading it it had a rating of 3.43. When I finished it had a rating of 3.54. I gave it 3 stars.
15.9 I read Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts). This is the first of the In Death series. It was a futuristic cop thriller, but there is still a lot of nookie for the romance lovers. I didn't care for it, but I think it would make a great movie/show. If I was to use a pen name it would probably be Yolanda. Just Yolanda. Because that is my alter ego name. Yolanda has style and sass and she is more daring than Sara.
20.2 How to Sew a Button by Erin Bried. This book is advice from different grandmothers on I guess what you would call lost arts, household tips, including baking, sewing, saving money (muy importante!) and of course cleaning tips. Can I just say that I wrote some of these down and will be trying them. My mother actually told me about the cleaning with vinegar and baking soda one, which is excellent and I do because I hate cleaning using chemical products.
20.5 I finally finished this the right way. From the celebrity picks list, I read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Koningsburg, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and also The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. For a total of 544 pages.
20.6 - For the series book, I read The Reckoning by Goodreads Author Kelley Armstrong. This series is great! Chloe Armstrong sees dead people, and because of this, she is diagnosed with schizophrenia and placed in Lyle House, a home for other troubled teens. They soon come to realize that they might have special powers, and they have to fight to learn more about themselves and about the truth about Lyle House. Read it!
25.3 - For our 2 year anniversary, my husband and I went to Las Vegas, and while we were there, we decided to catch a Burlesque show at the Flamingo. If you are not familiar with burlesque it is sort of like a strip show with comedy (but not as vulgar as a strip club, there are NO lap dances). The girls wore sexy costumes, the numbers were funny and there was a comedian. I've been intrigued by the new popularity of burlesque. So I read Burlesque and the New Bump-N-Grind by Michelle Baldwin, which gives a history of the art of Burlesque and also the recent popularity and resurgence of burlesque. Fascinating and fun, and I will probably catch a few more shows.
Previous Score: 215
Current Score: 325
finished task 25.4 by reading b)Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout...the name generator gave me the name Elizabeth Kearse....and c) The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos. LOVED olive. irene, not so much.
Total Points: 90/260
Tasks Completed: 5/13
Books Read: 8/15+
Tasks in Progress: 1
25.8 Just finished Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the ProcessIt took about half-way thru before this book really connected for me. Then the technical and scientific descriptions were over and she began to give more anecdotal evidence of Alex's intelligence and personality. What a bird! I wish I had known him!
5.4 Also finished Let the Great World Spin
touching, often gritty, completely genuine slice of many people's lives. I love the way the author really puts you inside the different characters; you feel what they feel, think like they think, experience life from their perspective. But the best part is the way he ties it together around the beauty and artistry of the tightrope walker. Hint: I think it helps if you first watch "Man on Wire". I had just happened upon (and watched) this documentary about the tightrope walker that's in the book, the day before I heard about the book on NPR. It prepares you nicely for the book. All-around beautiful experience, makes me glad to be human.
Mod
I read The Ship Who Sang
10.9 - "A lovely horse is always an experience
I read They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Points: 665
Books: 48
Books by Goodreads authors: 11
Big Books - 1
Pages: 13591
Tasks: 36
Just completed task 10.10 by reading Mennonite in a Little Black Dress. Very entertaining and well-written. I am now curious to read the author's poetry as well!Tasks Completed: 29/57
Books Read: 41
Pages Read: 12,258
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More tasks completed here :)20.8 - magician/magic: I listened to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This was the first time I've listened to the book, but I've read it about 10 times (it's my favorite in the series).
10.4 (Reuse): I read Grave Peril. I had planned to read this for one of the "creepy" tasks during the fall challenge, but never got around to it. I enjoyed it, and will be reading more of Butcher's books in the future.
25.3 (hibernation): I read The Associate. The main character is a basketball coach in his spare time in law school, and attends many professional sporting events in the Philly area during the book (to exchange super secret information and all!). I went to one of my college's basketball games. In my 4 years of school, that's the first sporting event I've been to. Obviously, sports aren't too exciting at my school. Although we did have the ton of laterals that won play of the year for NCAA football one year :)
20.6 The Right Mistake: The Further Philosophical Investigations of Socrates FortlowThis is the lesser known series by Walter Mosley who is famous for his Easy Rawlins mysteries. Socrates Fortlow is a murderer and rapist who relocates to Los Angeles after he is paroled from an Indiana prison. Socrates is the most melancholy and internal character I have ever encountered. In the earlier books, he lives alone in an alley with his two-legged pitbull, trying to find his way in a world he hadn't been in for twenty seven years and believed he'd never see again. However, he had a sense of right and wrong which made him understand how terrible his crimes were and was haunted by them. He struggled to find a way to stay free and to survive on the dangerous streets of Los Angeles. Despite his crimes, I found him to be a very sympathic character and I couldn't help rooting for him.
In this book, Socrates falls in love and becomes a father and local celebrity. However, his past continues to haunt him and nearly destroys both he and his family.
Louise wrote: "25.1 - Michelle's Task - Read a book with something you really want on the cover.I read Everything You Know by Zoë Heller as it has a child on the front and I reall..."
Louise, your son is adorable!!
20.2 - Rookie Of The Season - Valorie - Clean Sweep*****A. Read a fiction book with a character that cleans or organizes in some capacity.
Or
B. Read a non-fiction book that helps you get a jump start on cleaning or organizing your home.
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
20.3 - Best Review Contest - Amy MO - Mental Health
National Mental Health Month is celebrated during the spring challenge. Today, an estimated 450 million people globally suffer from mental illness. To honor those who live with a mental illness, read one of the following...
A. A fiction book with a main character with a mental health disorder (depression, schizophrenia, anxiety or phobia, eating disorder, personality disorder, etc). The mental health disorder does NOT have to be a diagnosed condition in order to count for the challenge. The character just needs to have a clear mental health disorder that can easily be identified by the reader.
OR
*****B. A non-fiction book about a mental health issue/disorder (or it can be about a variety of mental health disorders). This can be a 'self-help' type book or a memoir/biography/autobiography that specifically relates to a mental health disorder(s).'
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
TOTAL = 80
Mod
15.2 ANZAC Day with
A. set in Australia: Moonlight Downs and
B. WWI: Islands of Silence: A Novel
Moonlight Downs was a tight mystery set in Central Australia- it won Australia's Ned Kelly Award for best first novel.
Islands of Silence was the story of an archaeologist who becomes a medic at Gallipoli- tragic, painful and heavy handed-
15.9, What's in a Name, with
Born in Death by J.D. Robb pen name of Nora Roberts
My pen name would be Loren Madsen- an anagram of my name
25.3, Coralie's Coming out of Hibernation with
I saw a performance by a steeldrum band and read
The Dragon Can't Dance set in Trinidad during Carnival- not a tourist's Caribbean- this book dealt with poverty, pride, and revolution
+55
total 730
I finished task 15.8 Read a book inspired by your favorite artist. My favorite artist is Thomas Kinkade. So i read
and
for a total of 126pp I love Thomas Kinkade because of the colors he uses and I love the homeiness of his paintings.Tasks Completed: 8/27
Books Read: 14/57
Total points: 105
Bridgit wrote: "OK - finished 25.10 and read Hamlet and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle which is a retelling and is AMAZING. I think this was a much looser retelling than I expected, so ..."
I can't tell you how happy I am to see that you enjoyed Edgar Sawtelle. I've been looking forward to reading it for quite some time, but I had seen so many negative reviews lately that I was getting discouraged.
30.4 One if by Land, Two if by SeaA. Land form or land feature - Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
B. Natural body of water - The Lake, the River & the Other Lake: A Novel
Total points: 230
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Hi,I completed the freedom of the press task 10.3. I read "the girl who played with fire" by Stieg Larsson. I thought it was great.
Total points = 160
Kate.x.
10.10 Fashion FadeI read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
Tasks Completed - 10
Books Read - 13
Total Points - 175
I can't believe we are already halfway through the challenge and this is my first post! Here are two books I have finally completed:25.1 Future Aspirations
The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty (393 pages)
Not sure you can see it but there is a picture of the Mondavi winery in California on the cover. I have always wanted to participate in a wine crushing process at a winery. I had the chance to do so in southern France but never did make it happen. Some day...! This was a really interesting book about the "rise and fall" of the Mondavi wine empire. While it made me never want to work for a family run business it did make me want to get further into the wine culture.
5.9 I think even lying in bed I can still do something
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced (176 pages)
This was a quick read that was part heart-wrenching and part renewal of faith in humanity. It is about a 10 year old girl in Yemen who gets married off to a much older man who abuses her and how she deals with getting out of it.
Points: 30
15.7 - Seven Deadly Sins: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck The sin of wrath was everywhere throughout this book, the angry migrant workers, those fighting for justice, the hateful landowners & policemen . . .
The book comments on the wrath of a man & the need for wrath & anger in order to survive. If the migrant workers don't have wrath, they will lose their sense of humanity & will break down & completely submit themselves to the horror of the time. Wrath keeps them fighting & persevering.
TOTAL POINTS: 190
15.1 Set in Romania...Dracula by Bram Stoker (re-read, 4 stars) Author born in Ireland...Perelandra by C.S. Lewis (re-read, 5 stars)New total: 140 points
Woohoo! 2 more completed!5.1
Weird collection of odd short stories! I can't really say I "enjoyed" this, but it IS different. All of the stories feature Native Americans in some way, sometimes unexpectedly. The stories seem to snowball towards the end, with shorter stories and more accelerated action.
25.4
Jacob's an 18-year old "Aspie", a person diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Due to his condition and obsession with forensic science, Jacob (and his family) find themselves at the center of a murder investigation and trial. Up for grabs: did Jacob kill the victim? Does he really have Asperger's and is that a disability? What about the family of Asperger's people, how far can they be expected to go to support them? These are just some of the questions posed (and answered) in this engaging novel. It's an eye-opening account of what it's like to live and love someone with this enigmatic disorder. I really recommend this for those who are curious about an often misunderstood diagnosis. For those who who don't know or care about the diagnosis, read it anyway--it's a fine example of unconditional love.
I have 2 tasks to claim :0) :
30.2 - Cheryl TX's Task - A Texas-Sized Task
A. Read one book from this year's Texas Bluebonnet Award List
I read:Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli, Matt Phelan (Hardcover, 112 pages) Lovely book! And a good introduction to the power of poetry for young readers. And I also read: Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating by Alice Weaver Flaherty (Hardcover, 40 pages) How adorable!
B. Read one book from this year's Texas Lone Star Reading List
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Hardcover, 471 pages)
Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adolescent Literature (2009) I loved this book! Definately 5 stars! It reminded me of Mercedes Lackey's coming-of-age novels. I've put the second book in the series "Fire" on my TBR. :0)
50 POINT MIDWAY TASK - MS ANDERSON - LUCK BE A LADY
Using the ROLL THE DICE, I rolled a 1 and then I rolled a 3.
1 = Fantasy or Science Fiction
I read: Time Travelers Never Die by Jack McDevitt (Hardcover, 368 pages) This is an expansion of the 50-page novella of the same name. I’d recommend it for anyone who loves time travel novels, however …. The novella was better.
And
3 = Biography or Autobiography
I read: Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome by Anthony Everitt (Hardcover, 256 pages) This is a “narrative history” of the life and times of Hadrian, Emporer of Rome. Hadrian lived January 24, 76 AD to July 10, 136 AD. He’s the one that caused “Hadrian’s Wall” to be built (the wall between northern England and Scotland). I found this biography interesting and understandable.
1+3=4
4 = One of your books must be written by a foreign-born author
I am American. Anthony Everitt is British, thus making him a “foreign-born author” to me.
250 + 30 + 50 = 330
Tasks Completed: 17
Points for this task: 30+50=80
Points thus far: 330/980
Books read: 25
Pages Read: 6981
Books by Goodreads authors: 2
Read but not claimed: 9 books
[the following 2-book tasks: 15.2B, 15.6B, 20.5, 20.8, 25.2, 25.4C, 25.8A, 25.10A, and 30.1B]
10.2 I read "The Bright Side of Disaster" by Katherine Center* (Good Reads Author). When I started the book, it was at a 3.54 rating.Cute, fast read.
Completed one more, 20.7 Time to Declutter. I have a portable cd/cassette player that's sitting in the corner of my entry way in my "to go" pile... it's been there awhile lol. So I read The Magicians of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones, it's about a family of spell makers who cast their spells with song. In order to save their home, the state of Caprona they must find the words to the song of Caprona (a powerful protection spell) which were lost years ago.Bringing my total to 100.
20.7 Time to Declutter: BlackoutI have a massive amount of clothes I'm trying to donate or consign right now, and in Blackout many victims of the air raids in London benefit from donated clothes.
25.1 Future Aspirations: Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron
There's a house on the cover, and my husband and I would really like to buy a house in the next couple of years.
Total Points: 180
Tasks Complete: 10
I finished 10.4 by reading Never Let Me Go. I had planned to read it during the fall challenge, but didn't get to it.
15.1 - Independently SpeakingThe following countries celebrate their independence in the spring...Bosnia and Herzegovina (March 1), Ghana (March 6), Mauritius (March 12), Tunisia (March 20), Namibia (March 21), Greece (March 25), Bangladesh (March 26), Zimbabwe (April 18), Ireland (Easter Monday), Sierra Leone (April 27), Togo (April 27), Netherlands (May 5), Romania (May 9), Israel (May 14), Paraguay (May 15), Norway (May 17), Cuba (May 20), East Timor (May 20), Montenegro (May 21), Eritrea (May 24), Jordan (May 25), Guyana (May 26), Georgia (May 26 and April 9) and South Africa (May 31). In honor of their independence days...
A.Read a fictional book set in one of those countries or a non-fiction book about one of those countries.
The Man from Beijing by Mankell
(Zimbabwe)
AND
B.Read a book written by an author from one of those countries.
Havana Nocturne by English (Cuba)
15 points
30.1 - Roseann's Task - Spring Fling
A.Read a book with the word Spring in the title.
Death at a Spring Plant Sale by Ripley And
B. Read a book with "Fling, Throw, or Toss" in the title.
Million Dollar Throw by Lupica
30 points
15.6 - Friends and Friends of Friends
A. For the first part of this task read a book that is popular among the lists of your Goodreads friends that you have never read...to see a list of these books click on this link Popular Books
Dead Until Dark by Harris AND
B.For the second part of this task click on this link (Friends Of Friends) and select the first person on this list and read a 5 star book from their list.
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Fuller (Catharine Cooper’s list)
15 points
15.4 - "These gems have life in them: their colors speak, Say what words fail of."
The birthstones for Spring are: March (Aquamarine, Bloodstone which mean Courage), April (Diamond, White Sapphire which mean Innocence), and May (Emerald which means Love or Success). For this task: Read a book with one of the birthstones in the title AND another book with it's corresponding meaning.
History of Love by Nicole Krause
Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone by Rajiv Chandrasekaran
15 points
25.6 - BJ Rose's Task - This Day In History
Go to this website: http://www.datesinhistory.com/
Scroll to your birth month and click on the day of your birth
Read a book about an event that took place on that day in history (other than births or deaths), or a book about the topic of that event. For Part A, events must be prior to 1950
8/31/1940 Hollywood screen stars Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh are married
Darlings of the Gods: one year in the lives of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh / Garry O'Connor. AND
B. Read a contemporary book (1950 to present) that takes place in the same area of the world as Book A, OR covers the same topic as Book A
American Prince by Tony Curtis and Peter Golenbock (More Hollywood screen stars)(And yes my brother wrote this book, cool huh?) And yes it is a five star book!!
C. When posting, include the event you chose from the website, along with the books you read.
25 points
870 total
Finished 15.3 (Once in a Lifetime) I read The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan. It is on page 5 of the list. Loved the book. Great way to end a series. New Total: 120 Points
finished task 15.5 by reading Pomes All Sizes. meh. here's my haiku, written several weeks ago when i knew i would be doing the poetry task, so for this neck of the woods, a tad outdated:They're here, daffodils!
Those sweet faces that shout "SPRING!"
Lovely yellow friends.
Total Points: 105/260
Tasks Completed: 6/13
Books Read: 9/15+
Tasks in Progress: 1
10.4 - Reduce, Reuse, RecycleIn honor of Earth Day which falls on April 22 complete one of the following options...
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.)
Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers by Michael Baden and Marion Roach for 10.7. of the winter challenge SMALL SCREEN STORIES - Read A Book Inspired By, OR Was The Inspiration For, OR Is In Some Way Related To Your Favorite Television Show (Past Or Present).
One of my favorite television shows is CSI, and the book is about forensics.
20.6 - Supporting Goodreads Authors - Bridgit - Favorite Series
Read a book from your favorite series.
Please summarize the overall series in 2-3 sentences so that everyone can decide if they want to start a new series.
I read Lord Sunday by Garth Nix , the seventh and the final book in The Keys to the Kingdom series. The series is about Arthur, a boy from the world that looks like our near future. He accidentally becomes the heir to the House, which is the epicenter of the Universe. But the House then was in the hands of malicious and deceitful trustees, so Arthur must fight and defeat them one by one.
However, the most important problem for Arthur is not the battle, but its side effect. Every time he uses magic, he’ll lose the “humanness” and become more and more Denizen, the people of the House. And all along the only thing he want is his normal life.
Okay, that should be it. Tell more, and I might let some spoilers slip out. :P This series is so profound and the use of symbol and allusion is quite subtle. And Garth Nix is wayyyyyyyy too underrated writer.
Points: 65/490
Books: 7
Tasks: 7/57
Pages: 1,269
For Task 20.6The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
Any series that I'm reading at the time is my favorite series. This is a fun series - if you like Harry Potter you'll like it because it has a LOT of similarities. Or if you like Harry Potter you WON'T like it because it has a LOT of similarities.
I'm deciding but I guess I need to get with it because there are only two more books in the series. I'll have to make up my mind before that!
Here's another 5.3 S.P.R.I.N.G
Listend to Anansi Boys by Neil Gaimen
Points 5
Total points: 50
In progress: 3
10.5 Freedom of the Press: The Journal Keeper: A Memoir by Phyllis TherouxPhyllis Theroux is a GOODREADS AUTHOR and journalist. Her columns, op-ed pieces, reviews and feature stories have appeared in various newspapers including The New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, and International Herald Tribune. In the l980's, she was a monthly columnist for Parents Magazine . In the l990's she wrote a monthly column for House Beautiful.
POINTS FOR THIS TASK: 10
Total Points: 260/980
Tasks Complete: 17/57
15.1 For part a I read The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor (book set in Ireland by Irish Author) and for part b I read Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee (South African Author)
15.3 - At Least Once in a LifetimeAlice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (page 3)
I definitely agree with the inclusion of this book on the list. I honestly can't believe I've never read it til now. Carroll is a master with language and humor.
10.4 Read a book from your personal collection and pass it to a friend.I read Chasing Harry Winston and have passed it along to my mother-in-law; we often trade books we have enjoyed.
15.3 Read a book on page 3, 4, or 5 of the Books to Read at Least Once list.
I read The Awakening , which was on page 3 of that list. I guess it's an okay book to be on that list, though I'm surprised it is as high up as page 3. I know it's an important novel for the times in which it was written, but it just doesn't seem like much now. There are many books I'd choose to be toward the top of this list, but I definitely think everyone should read Mandy at least once. It's a beautiful story, one that I read over and over, always enjoying it more than the previous time. I also think the entire Harry Potter series should make the top of the list because it has a good message, is intriguing, and is so whimsical and imaginative.
Total points = 450
I completed task 10.1 by reading City of Thieves. There are definitely two trees on the cover, even though they don't look so healthy :)
I have finished reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield and Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H.Lawrence which was mentioned in American Wife. I get 30 points for this as it meets the 30.6 task Character ReferencesPrevious 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
10.5 Freedom of the Press - The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larrson
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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For Task 15.9 I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. If I were to pick a pen name I would choose Marion Hall a combination of my grandmother's names.For task 5.6 I read Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
kiki wrote: "finished task 25.4 by reading b)Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout...the name generator gave me the name Elizabeth Kearse....and c) [book:The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos|6072..."Oh man! I had Irene Dos Santos lined up for the book with a picture of a Tree on the cover. Definitely avoid then?
For 20.8 (magic) I read Over Hexed by Vicki Lewis Thompson (336 pages), The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl (64 pages) and Mabel On The Move by Anne Mazer (110 pages) for 510 pages total.For Task 25.6 I chose: 1815 US flotilla ends piracy by Algiers, Tunis & Tripoli and read Pirates by Linda Lael Miller (takes place in 18th century) and Pirate Tycoon, Forbidden Baby by Janette Kennedy (takes place after 1950), both of which take place in the Caribbean (and the 2nd is also about pirates).
For Task 25.7 I read The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
This brings me to 900 points
51/57 tasks
75 books
Cait wrote: "Bridgit wrote: "OK - finished 25.10 and read Hamlet and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle which is a retelling and is AMAZING. I think this was a much looser retelling than I..."
I really loved it. One of my other friends has rated it in her top 3 ever. I dont quite put it that high, but it was truly excellent in my opinion. I think the Hamlet corrolary is a but overblown, but it is there if one wanted to spend the time to analyze it. Please let me know what you think once you have finished it.
I haven't done a reading challenge since last summer and I missed it! Thought I'd jump on for this Spring, even though I'm a little late.
5.5 The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd Popular book published in 2005
5.10 Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott He lived 1838-1926
10.1 Match Made In Heaven by Bob Mitchell It is set on a golf course - so of course there are trees on the cover
Total points: 20
5.5 The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd Popular book published in 2005
5.10 Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott He lived 1838-1926
10.1 Match Made In Heaven by Bob Mitchell It is set on a golf course - so of course there are trees on the cover
Total points: 20
15.9 - What's in a name?City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
A possible pen name that I might choose is Kaley Walter, the names of my 2 cats.
25.2 - Stephanie Anne's Task - Fabulous firsts or superior seconds?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson & The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
Although both books were great, I enjoyed the second book more. With the 1st book, I got bogged down with technical corporate jargon. The second book seemed to flow better and held my attention from beginning to end.
Total Points = 285
20.3 The Sociopath Next DoorAbout 4% of the population are sociopaths. Sociopathy is a disorder which is charachterized by a lack of conscience and an inability to feel love or to empathize with others. It's really quite frightening, the disorder ranges from those who are merely annoying, to serial killers. One of the best parts of the books are the 13 ways to recognize a sociopath. I had a boss once that I thought was a sociopath and this book convinced me that I was right.
I have completed task #5.9 by reading Street Angel by Rob Batista in bed this past weekend. I rated it 2 stars. It's written for younger readers and has a strong anti-violence message I can appreciate.
Potjy wrote: "10.4 - Reduce, Reuse, RecycleIn honor of Earth Day which falls on April 22 complete one of the following options...
B. Reuse - For this option: read a book that you planned to read in a previous c..."
Have you read Nix's Sabriel series? I liked that one even better that the days. I have Lord Sunday on my piano (my most recent place to pile TBRs) I'm planning on using it somewhere in this challenge.
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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)
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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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The Handmaid's Tale
Total: 470