The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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SPRING CHALLENGE 2010
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Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks
Diane wrote: "20.9 - Luck Of The Draw - Rebecca - A Really Cheesy Task - Say Cheese - And Die Screaming.Total Points: 100/980
Books Read: 12
Tasks Completed: 7/57
Tasks in Progress: 7
..."
Just as an amusing aside (at least to me), before R. L. Stine wrote the Goosebumps Series, he used to write under the name Jovial Bob Stine. There is a rather hysterical picture of him dressed in a bunny suit in Something About the Author. (I can't remember the vol. and page number. Some things you have to research yourself.)
I completed task 20.2. I read Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder. The main character, Trella, is a scrub which means that she cleans pipes in the society that she lives in. Maria V. Snyder is a Good Reads author.
I am now at 75 points with 5/56 tasks completed.
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I finished The Girl Who Played with Fire for task 10.7 (journalist). I liked it better than the first one and am looking forward to the third.That gives me:
40 points
1053 pages read
Can finally claim some points. I finished task 30.4 DLMRose's task by reading The River Knows by Amanda Quick (4*). Which I really enjoyed. Nice quick romance/mystery. And listening to On Agate Hill: A Novel by Lee Smith (3*). This book was very depressing. It was well written but nothing good happens to the characters. I couldn't wait for it to end.
OK - a few more tasks complete - yay for weekends! 5.4 - In the News - Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins - this was in the Jan 10 newsletter. Really liked this follow up, and unlike most people, I love cliff hangers! Can't wait for Mockingjay.
15.6 - Friends of Friends:
A. The Tempest - William Shakespeare - sort of surprised this made the list. It is one of the few trajedies I had not read. I enjoyed it, but dont think I really gave it the time and concentration that a Shakespeare deserves. I am probably going to go and read some reviews/summaries now to see what I missed.
B. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (unabridged) - yep. Read a 1450+ pager. Not only does this count as a big book, it really could count for two big books if that were allowed in the rules. whew! Loved it but loved finishing it too!
Total Points 55
Tasks Complete 5
Books Read 8
Pages Read 3464
Tasks Unfinished 4
Forgot to mention one task - 10.2 - Three/Four/Five - Three Bags Full - When I read this it was exactly 3.45. Unfortunately, my two star review knocked it down.
Total Points: 65
Tasks Complete: 6
Books Read: 8
Pages Read: 3464
Tasks Unfinished: 3
GOODREADS AUTHOR
BIG BOOK (500)
BIG BOOK (750)
BIG BOOK (1000) x
Finished 25.4:a. Case Histories: A Novel by Kate Atkinson
b. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Total Points: 50
20.10 - Group Reads - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. 4 stars.
Total Points: 30
Tasks Completed: 2
Books Read: 3
Pages Read: 1,226
25.9Read a book written by an author who was popular when you were in high school or college.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
I was an undergraduate from 1995-1999, and J.K. Rowling was popular during this time.
25.7
Read a book involving Greek and/or Roman gods.
Nobody's Princess by Esther M. Friesner
Total Points: 85
10.5 Main Character is a Journalist -South of Broad
Hollow, clanking, fake ... not the Pat Conroy of Prince of Tides, etc.
Big Book = 514 pp
130 points
I've finished Ms Anderson's task for 30 points.I read The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson for the book published in 2010 - I really enjoyed this one! A great psychological thriller 5*
And I read The Rose Revived by Katie Fforde for part b - a nice, light, fun read, 4*
Total points: 65
5 point Tasks:5.9 - Hold Tight by Harlan Coben (Spend a day in bed reading the book of your choice)
Total points = 5
Tasks completed = 1
Books read = 1
Bridgit wrote: "OK - a few more tasks complete - yay for weekends! 5.4 - In the News - Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins - this was in the Jan 10 newsletter. Really liked this follow up, and unlik..."
Lovelovelovelovelove the unabridged Count of Monte Cristo ^_^ I read it in high school.
For Task 10.1 (Books really do grow on trees), I read
by Kate Brian. I was so excited to see trees on the cover of this one!This brings me to 170 points.
10/57 tasks
13 books
Ms Anderson wrote: "Bridgit wrote: "OK - a few more tasks complete - yay for weekends! 5.4 - In the News - Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins - this was in the Jan 10 newsletter. Really liked this foll..."
TOTALLY! One of my top five books ever! Very glad I finally took the plunge and am slightly bitter that I was forced to read annoyingly boring plays from an English anthology in High School instead of gems like this.
This should be required reading at all schools - i bet this would get even the macho, non-reading guys excited about literature. Who doesnt love a little vendetta before study hall?
Cynthia, I read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest for task 10.5. I've already claimed the points, but I've just realised it has 599 pages, so can I get a 'ticket' into the big books thing please?
10.9 "A lovely horse is always an experience.... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words."The Horse and His Boy
Sooooooooooo freaking glad when this book ended. Animal books 3
Total: 10 + 265 (from earlier) = 275pts
25.10 Deja Vu A.Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll
B. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
C. I think the author definitely lived up to Lewis Carroll's original by putting a whole new twist to a classic story. It had adventure, love, sorrow, and was all in all a very fun read.
Mod
Up in the Air
I have not seen the movie, but the movie seems only loosely based on this book.
+10
total 75
5.1 All About the Birds and the BeesI read Parrot Fever which was a cute YA book from the 90s.
10.9 A Lovely Horse...
I read Gift Horse which was of the same series as the book above.
10.10 Fashions Fade...
I read Prom Dress which was a 'horror' YA from the 90s. I've read a lot of this kind of thing, both when I was younger and recently I've been going through them again and this book was pretty bad. I didn't like it much.
15.4. The Gems Have Life...
I read Diamond Dove which I enjoyed quite a bit.
AND
Innocence which was an accidental re-read. I didn't realise I'd read it before when I picked it up but I didn't remember the ending so I enjoyed it (again). It's a really poetic take on vampires.
20.1 April Fool
I read A Mysterious Affair Style. This was actually the second in a series but reading the first one wasn't necessary to enjoy it. It's a cute homage to Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchock. It gave me a giggle a few times because the characters were quite witty and the dialogue flowed well but it wasn't laugh-out-loud-on-the-bus-and-everyone-stares-at-you funny. I give it 4 stars because it was very cleverly done.
20.7 Time to Declutter
One of my favourite genres is crime fiction and my best friend gave me a bunch of crime books her mum had got from somewhere for free. There was a reason they were free so now they're sitting in a box in the corner of my living room waiting to go to charity or a book shop.
So I read a crime book, Roadside Crosses which was very enjoyable with a great ending.
25.9 Spring Break
I was at high school from 97 - 02 and Mary Higgens Clark was popular during that time (1999). So I read Nighttime Is My Time: A Novel which was another accidental reread! Luckily I didn't remember who did it and it's well written with great suspense so it didn't matter.
Total Points: 160
I completed my first task, Task 10.4 - Reduce, Recycle, or ReuseFor this task I recycled a book from Task 25.1 of the Winter 2009 - 2010 Challenge and read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro from the 2006 - 1001 Books you must read before you die list.
POINTS: 10
TOTAL POINTS: 10
Here we go with my first points:5.1 The Cardinal by June Osborne
5.6 The Asian Texans by Marilyn Dell Brady
15.2A Australia Enchantment of the World by Ann Heinrichs
15.2B World War I by H. P. Willmott
15.7A Greed by Robin Wasserman
15.7B This book is about teenagers that are not satisfied with what they have and want more, bigger, faster, etc. I believe this sin could be deadly because when you are being greedy you probably are violating one or more of the 10 Commandments.
15.9A The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
15.9B IF I were to get a pen name I would use just one word and that would by Cherly. The reason is that my Dad knew there was a "y" in my name but couldn't remember where so he just put it at the end. I know it's corny but I like it.
20.1A Beauty Fades But Dumb is Forever by Judith Sheindlin
20.1B Being a big fan of Judge Judy I cou;dn't stop reading this book. There was a lot of interesting things in it as well as hunorous anecdotes. I have read almost all of her books. Definitely a 4* BOOK.
20.3A Schizophrenia by Editor Scott Barbour
20.3B Since I have a Bachelor's and a Graduate Degree in Psychology, I wanted to brush up on a disorder that is plaguing my boyfriend's family. "Mark" is so paranoid that he can't trust anyone and he claims to have been told to do things that are dangerous for him and other. I believe Schizophrenia is one of (if not the most) scary mental illness.
20.4A Jury Rigged by Laurie Moore (about Ft. Worth)
20.4BFort Worth by Richard J. Selcer
15.5A 101 Classic Love Poems Compiled by Sara L. Whittier
15.5B No laughing at my haiku but I came up with it when I had to attend a poetry meeting at my local library::
The calendar says it's Autumn
The leaves were falling and I caught 'em.
30.4A The Hill A True Story of tragedy, Recovery, and Redemption on North America's Highest Peak by Ed Hommer
30.4B Down the Colorado Travels on a Western Waterway by Jim Carrier
25.8A The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
25.8B Marley and Me by John Grogan
I cannot get tired of either of these books!!
25.4 The Name GameThe Crush by Sandra Brown (Goodreads author)
Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie (Goodreads author) & Bob Mayer
I just completed task 25.8 by reading Animal Farm for Part A and Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World for Part B. I was glad to read the Orwell because I have never read him for some strange reason (strange because I have two degrees in literature). I will also be reading 1984 for another challenge!I loved Dewey! It's like Marley and Me for cat lovers! I have to get my mom to read it!
Tasks Completed: 10/57
Books Read: 14
Pages Read: 4358
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Mod
C. Recycle - read a book from your personal collection and pass it on
I read If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor
Now I'm passing it along to my daughter!
Points: 40
Books: 4
Pages: 1014
Tasks: 3
Just completed task 30.3A. Read a book first published in 2010
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This book was released on March 2, 2010.
B. Read a book with the prefix "re-" in the title or subtitle
25.1 - Michelleo's Task - Future Aspirations -
An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor. My future aspiration is to go back to Ireland. I have been wanting to go back for a very long time. It is the most beautiful place I have ever been, and the cover of this book reminds me of the Irish countryside.Total Points: 125/980
Books Read: 13
Tasks Completed: 8/57
Tasks in Progress: 7
From Owned TBR: 12
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I completed task 5.7 Mental Retardation. I read "Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger's" by John Elder Robison. This is a Goodreads author.Tasks Completed: 2
Books Read: 2
New Points: 15
Happy Spring Challenge, everyone!For task 10.2 (Three/Four/Five), I read A Separate Peace by John Knowles for the first time. When I started it (on 2/21) it was rated 3.55. It didn't resonate with me, but I really think I would have loved it if I had read it as an adolescent.
For task 25.4 (The Name Game), I completed A. and C.:
For part A, I read Fletch and the Man Who by Gregory Mcdonald (we share a last name). I gave it 2*. It was meh. I think the whole crime novel thing just isn't for me.
For part C, I read Inventing the Abbots and Other Stories by Sue Miller (the "Abbots" being a family in the first story). I gave it 3*. There is something ineffable about Miller's writing that I appreciate. I think it has to do with honesty. Has anyone read her novels? I'm wondering if they're any good.
That's it for me.
Total Points: 35
Just finished Thirteen Reasons Why for 5.9. I didn't PLAN on spending the whole day in bed reading this book but I did! Oh well. Last week was a rough week and I needed this day! Really really powerful book. I couldn't put it down. New Total:
Jamie(24)--10 points
5.10 Author Who Lived During 1819-1901 The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford (1873-1939)I wish I had read this classic before I read any other romance book. Perhaps then I could more appreciate the flashbacks styles as innovative and new. This is a very sad, sad, sad story. Reminds me a bit of classic royal, noble and even rich-soap opera couples endure ... well those without a basis of love. I am glad to have read the classic however. (3 Stars)
Total Points: 25
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?ke...
30.5 - PJ Reads' Task - Six Degrees of SeparationBook on TBR self Worst Case by James Patterson who played poker with Nathan Fillion on "Castle" (episode Flowers for Your Grave)
Nathan Fillion played poker with Michael Connelly on "Castle" (episode Deep in Death) who wrote The Lincoln Lawyer (Big Book 508 pages)
Books Read: 5
Pages Read: 1924
Tasks Completed: 4
Tasks in Progress: 1
Ellen R-S (MO) wrote: "30.5 - PJ Reads' Task - Six Degrees of SeparationBook on TBR self Worst Case by James Patterson who played poker with Nathan Fillion on "Castle" (episode Flowers for ..."
You should get double points for connecting to Nathan Fillion <3
Ellen R-S (MO) wrote: "30.5 - PJ Reads' Task - Six Degrees of SeparationBook on TBR self Worst Case by James Patterson who played poker with Nathan Fillion on "Castle" (episode Flowers for Your Grave)
Nathan Fillion played poker with Michael Connelly on "Castle" (episode Deep in Death) who wrote The Lincoln Lawyer..."
I love your connections! I'm a huge Connelly fan. I knew he had played in an episode of Castle, but I didn't know Patterson had.
Katie wrote: "Happy Spring Challenge, everyone!For task 10.2 (Three/Four/Five), I read A Separate Peace by John Knowles for the first time. When I started it (on 2/21) it was rated 3...."
I really liked "While You were Gone." COuld not get through "The Good Mother," however...
I completed task 10.1. I read Sugar by Bernice L. McFaddon. There are trees in the background on the cover.
Bernice L. McFaddon is a goodreads author.
This brings me to 85 points.
6/56 tasks completed!
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I completed Task 25.7 by reading Gods Behaving Badly: A Novel. What a hoot!This was a light, humerous and enjoyable story of Gods living in London. There's nothing deep in this book and no more than a passing knowledge of the Gods are needed, which makes it really fun to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the humour, sarcasm, egos, back-stabbing and antics that go on throughout.
First Task completed25.7 The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan, I am really enjoying this series.
Completed Tasks
25.7 The Titan's Curse
Total Points = 25
Tasks Completed = 1
Books Read = 1
Pages Read = 312
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10.4 - Reduce, Reuse, RecycleIn honor of Earth Day which falls on April 22 complete one of the following options...
A. Reduce - For this option: read the only currently published book that has been written by an author (who has at least 2 published works) that you haven't read previously. For example, if you have read the entire Twilight series but haven't read The Host you could read that.
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 cannot use a book that you have already started reading pre-challenge.)
C. Recycle - For this option: read a book from your personal collection and when your finished pass it on so another person can read it.
Unread and Undead by Davidson (A. and B.)
10 points
105 total
10.2 - Three/Four/Five - TheEspressologist by Kristina Springer (rating 3.53)
Total Points: 35/980
Books Read: 4
Tasks Completed: 2/57
Tasks in Progress: 2
TOTAL POINTS: 100 + 20 = 12020.5 NEA Book Awards
The Giver by Lois Lowry
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Completed Tasks
5.2 Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart
5.9 Walking Dead by C. E. Murphy
10.8 Spin State by Chris Moriarty
10.9 Moving Target by Mercedes Lackey et al
10.10 Clothing/Accessory: Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
15.9 Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
20.7 The Pleasure of Cooking for One by Judith Jones
25.1 Recipes from a American Herb Garden by Maggie Oster
Finished task 25.1 by reading
In the Drink: A Novel. I gave up wine for Lent. The book cover has a picture of a glass of wine, and I am really looking forward to that in the future! :)Point total: 50
Heather in KS
Another two tasks down....5.4 - In The News
For this task, read a book mentioned in a former or current Goodreads Newsletter.
For this task I read Soulless by Gail Carriger which was mentioned in the November 2009 Newsletter. (Gail Carriger is a Goodreads author)
10.5 - Freedom Of The Press
In Honor of World Press Freedom Day (May 3rd)...
A. Read a novel with a main character who is a journalist.
For this task I read Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian. The main female character is a journalist.
Total Points: 35/980
Books Read: 4
Tasks Completed: 4/57
2 more tasks completed:10.4 How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls. I reused this book from the winter challenge. It was supposed to be from a category of a book with a show based on it.
20.5 I read every Dr Seuss book we had in our house and then some others off the list to my 17-moth olds. I don't have the books here, but all of them totalled to 523 pages. The books included The Lorax, How Grinch Stole Christmas, All The Thinks You Can Thing, Mr. Brown Can Moo, etc.
Total Points: 50
Tasks Completed: 3
Tasks In Progress: 1
Books Read: 3 (not counting children's books)
Pages Read: 1976
Also from my previous check-in I forgot to mention that Audrey Niffenagger is a goodreads author.
5.5 Whatever is popular deserves attentionThe Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia which was popular in 1974.
10.6 And the Oscar goes to..
Avatar is supposedly based on the assumption that the Earth has become totally unlivable, so I read The Sheep Look Up in which the Earth is rapidly becoming totally unlivable.
Finished task 20.2: The Help by Kathryn StockettKathryn is a Goodreads Author
TOTAL POINTS = 20
5.3-S.P.R.I.N.G-Read a book written by an author whose initials are found in the work Spring: Ghost Country by Sara Paretsky10.6A-And The Oscar Goes To-Read a book that relates to one of the films nominated for this years best picture: Push by Sapphire
15 points
30.3 Birth and Renewal (My Task~)Before I Fall (published 2010) and Reincarnation (re-)
Confession time~! I actually built the second part of this task around using the "Reincarnation" book...of course, while I read it, I discovered it could also work for the "family saga" part of the "local histories" task. Sort of. Most of the characters end up related in the second half of the book.
But seriously, these two are some of the most beautifully-written YA novels I've read in an incredibly long time. Before I Fall is amazing, and there's so much there to think about that you almost need to put it down to process. Reincarnation blends two of my favorite things: the ideas of Buddhism and and a good, old-fashioned love story. Both of these are more than highly-recommended.
Total: 30 + 275 (from earlier) = 305pts
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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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10.10 Clothing/Accessory: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison
Had to force myself to finish it. Not my cup of tea at all. Luckily, pretty short.
Completed Tasks
5.2 Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart
5.9 Walking Dead by C. E. Murphy
10.8 Spin State by Chris Moriarty
10.9 Moving Target by Mercedes Lackey et al
15.9 Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
20.7 The Pleasure of Cooking for One by Judith Jones
25.1 Recipes from a American Herb Garden by Maggie Oster