The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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SUMMER CHALLENGE 2010
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Summer Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks (do NOT delete any posts in this thread)
Sandy wrote: "20.6 - Supporting Goodreads Authors - Nicole CA's Task - List MakerI read Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret (411 pages) by Steve Luxenberg (a Goodre..."
Sandy, I entered that Giveaway, too, but didn't win. I'm glad to hear that it's as good as it sounded like it would be. I'll have to keep my eye open and look for a copy soon.
For Task 15.3 I read The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. I don't read book blogs on-line, but I do listen to "Books on the Nightstand" and they discussed this book on their blog here: http://booksonthenightstand.com/2008/... I thought this book was great: gothic and twisty and not at all what I expected!! It's hard to discuss without giving too much away, honestly. Parts were a bit over-wrought, but in the scheme of the book as a whole, I was able to over-look that. I definitely recommend it!For 15.8 I read
by Jill Monroe and
by Jill Shalvis. They have almost identical covers, probably not surprising since they are part of a 10 book series about military men. Cheesy, definitely, both both were fun.For 20.10 I read The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie and posted in the discussion thread. I love Agatha Christie and although this wasn't one of my favorites, it was fun to read.
This gives me 50 points.
I completed Task 5.9 (read in public) by finishing The Preservationist by David Maine (256 pgs) this morning in the park. I read this book in our lunchroom at work, on the boardwalk on the river near home and, this morning, at a local park. (my husband thinks I'm nuts to leave home to read....especially when I *had* to go this morning to finish the last few pages. LOL!)
** David Maine is a Goodreads Author.
This is the second book by David Maine that I've read. He brings the people of the Bible alive by giving them fears and doubts and worries. I enjoyed both books quite a bit.
In this book, he brings to life Noah and his family. There are doubts, guilt (for being chosen to survive) and hope, as well as acceptance throughout.
20.10 I just finished reading The Book Thief. What an amazing book (see my post in the discussion)25.1 - Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two and Blubber
45 points plus previous 40 = 85 points
Time to get on the readerboard!#5.2 Read a book that relates to the film you are looking forward to seeing this summer: Eclipse: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris June 12
#5.4 Read a book found on this list of winners and nominees for an award you had previously never heard of: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson won the South Carolina Book Award in 2002 June 10
#5.7 Read a book that has a mode of travel pictured on the cover:
by Katherine Paterson has a rowboat on the cover June 4#10.2 Fill in the blank: The (blank) Who (blank): The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen June 8
#10.6 Stand Up For Your Rights: Discrimination: The Witch of Blackbird by PondElizabeth George Speare Hannah & her husband were branded and ejected from Connecticut for being Mormons; now they're shunned because of the brands on their foreheads and are accused of being witches June 1
#15.10 Read a book with 'family' or a specific family member in the title. Tell what this person means to you: Aunt Dimity and the Duke by Nancy Atherton June 5 My Aunt Flo was also my godmother, and in addition to other family get-togethers during the year, she made sure that we saw each other every year on my birthday.
#20.5 Read a Book About Librarians: A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris June 4 Aurora Teagarden is a librarian
Total Pages Read = 1,796
Tasks Completed = 7
Total Points = 70
Task 30.1Video Games - November - What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy by James Paul Gee
and Western -Friday - End of the Drive by Louis L'Amour
books read: 3
points: 40
- Mike in MA
next -
15.4 I am an 11 and so is Haruki Murakami. I'm going to read After Dark. 11 is also a "dreamer, idealist" and I am going to read God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Vonnegut - a true dreamer, Eliot Rosewater
20.5 - Just Joined In - Amber GA's Task - Library LoveRead a book about librarians OR a library OR with the word "library" OR "librarian" in the title.
Bone to Pick by Harris
20 points
255 total
Finished task 15.4. My number is 11 and so is the author of Off Season. The characteristics of "11's" are High spiritual plane, intuitive, illumination, idealist, a dreamer. I chose to read Why I Stayed: The Choices I Made In My Darkest Hour. This book was a pastor's wife who chose to forgive a HUGE sin committed by her husband. She definitely exists on a high spiritual plane and really understood what true commitment and forgiveness are about. I first thought she was an idealist and a dreamer before I began the book, but I later have decided she was exactly right in her decision to stay and to forgive. It was a WAY better book than I thought it would be.This brings my point total to 35.
Heather in KS
5.9 Get Caught reading:I read Awakening Avery, a book I actually won via goodreads first-reads & man was it a great book. I blew through it in a week (Which pretty quick for just getting back into reading for fun). If anyone is interested in the book, please mark your interest on SWAP, because I will be posting my copy up on there shortly.
This task required at least 100 pages to be read in public & I would have to say over 250 pages of this book was read in public. (My work, outside the bank, & the park.)
688/14,604 pages
10/355 points
2/35 books
Finally finished my first task! The first week of the challenge coincided with finals. :o( 25.4 Nicole's task (Cancer): Yann Martel is a Cancer, so I read Beatrice and Virgil (6/9) 213p &
Madame Bovary was a noun on page 31, so I read (you guessed it) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (6/13) 411p
I gave both 4 stars. Beatrice an Virgil made me both cringe and cry. Madame Bovary was full of misery, despair, and tragedy - one of my favorite kinds of books.
Total Points: 25/950
Total Pages: 823
Books Read: 3/75
Tasks Completed: 1/35
For task 10.4, Roll the Dice, I rolled 416 and read Cloudstreet : A Novel with 426 pages. There's lots of Australian slang, which slowed me down a bit, but for the most part I enjoyed this tale of two families that fate throws together in a big old house in Perth. I give it 4 stars.New points: 10
Total points: 30
Time to (finally) get on the Readerboard for this challenge!25.1 - Valorie's Task - Independence Day
A. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
B. Hidden Wives by Claire Avery (my copy is an advanced reader's edition with a white cover, which Valorie OKed)
**Claire Avery is a GoodReads Author**
Total pages in book(s): 668
Total Challenges Completed: 1
Total Books Read: 2
Total Pages Read: 668
Total Points: 25
15.7 - "You Must Be The Change You Want To See In The World."A.Read a novel that takes place in India: I read A Passage to India
AND
B. Tell us about something you would like to change about the country/state/city where you live and what you have done or would do to see it changed.
I live in the grand old state of Illinois... what wouldn't I want to see change!??! It would be nice to have a governor who wasn't doing shady things, like going to jail after his term in office, getting arrested and impeached, or hurting the schools of the state as a ploy to raise the state income tax after the election in November. I'd be more than happy to volunteer for a campaign for an honest candidate, but I might just have to settle with voting for the lesser of 2 evils.
Erin B.
TOTAL POINTS: 35
TASKS COMPLETED: 2
BOOKS READ: 2
Ashley wrote: "For Task 15.3 I read The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. I don't read book blogs on-line, but I do listen to "Books on the Nightstand" and they discussed this book on their blog here..."Those covers were classic, I had to click through to enlarge. Does anyone else think the guy on the second on looks like Ricky Schroeder?
Moving really cuts into reading time, but I did manage to knock out a few things through audio books while packing.30.2 The Witches which I talked about with my nieces and Because of Winn-Dixie
Total points: 55
Second task finished10.6 - Stand Up For Your Rights - Shanghai Girls by Lisa See*Goodreads Author*
Task Points: 10
Total Points: 15
Tasks Completed: 2
Books Read: 2
Pages Read: 487
I finishedtask 5.9 Get Caught Reading with Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. I read this at Starbucks and at my work yesterday. Total Points: 50
Total Books: 5
Total Tasks: 5
Total Pages:2039
Ashley wrote: "For Task 15.3 I read The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. I don't read book blogs on-line, but I do listen to "Books on the Nightstand" and they discussed this book on their blog here..."I LOVE LOVE LOVE Books on the Nightstand!
Heather in KS
10.8 UNDER THE SEA - Sand Sharks by Margaret Maron20.3 SCHOOL MAY BE OUT - Go Down, Moses by William Faulkner
30.4 SCIENCE OF THE CRIME
a. - Remains Silent by Michael Baden
b. - Book Of The Dead by Patricia Cornwell
Points: 60
Tasks: 3
Books: 4
Pages: 1378
Total Points: 190
Total Tasks: 12
Total Books: 17
Total Pages: 6815
Goodreads Author: 1
Book over 500 pages: 3
Just completed task 30.1. I have to admit I was dreading this task (I feel bad saying that, but it is the truth). I had no particular interest in either body art or alternative history books and thought this would be painful and teeth pulling.Ironically, I rated both books a 5 (and I have not had many fives so far for this challenge).
I am born in July, so I read Chick Ink: 40 Stories of Tattoos--And the Women Who Wear Them. I liked it so much that I am seriously considering getting a tattoo!
I was born on a Tuesday, so I read Making History which was both hilarious and fascinating! Plus I loved the ending, even if it was a little precious. :)
Total pages: 4116
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30.2 - For the ChildrenThe Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
This magical tale will surely be passed on to my daughter!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
25.1 Independence Day
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
by Alice SeboldTotal Points: 95
Tasks Completed: 6
Tasks in Progress: 3
Books Read: 11
Nicole wrote: "Just completed task 30.1. I have to admit I was dreading this task (I feel bad saying that, but it is the truth). I had no particular interest in either body art or alternative history books and th..."Okay, I'm inspired! I have been dreading this task too, I'm going to read that Tatoo book! I'll let you know.
15.5Author Jennifer Weiner
Good In Bed
A book from her top ten list-----The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
5.10 The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe- C S LewisI loved this book as a child and decided to reread it for this challenge. I still love it!
5.9 - Get Caught Reading -- Read See Jane Die by Erica Spindler at the St Louis Airport, dentist office and car repair shop.
Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 2749
Tasks Completed: 6
Tasks in Progress: 2
Total points: 120
Missy wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Just completed task 30.1. I have to admit I was dreading this task (I feel bad saying that, but it is the truth). I had no particular interest in either body art or alternative histo..."I also added it to my to-read list--too tired to look for non-fiction books on tatoos--we'll see--this one did look interesting.
Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "Missy wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Just completed task 30.1. I have to admit I was dreading this task (I feel bad saying that, but it is the truth). I had no particular interest in either body art or alt..."For a non-fiction tattoo book you can try High Voltage Tattoo by Kat Von D from TLC's LA Ink. I haven't read it but could be interesting.
I'm so excited to be doing another challenge! I participated last summer, but when I tried to do the Fall Challenge I found time was not on my side. For my first post I did Roll the Dice and I rolled 6-2-6. I read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. It was 619 pages long.
Total Points: 10
Tasks Completed: 1
Tasks in Progress: 2
Books Read: 3
I finished task 10.6 by reading A Great and Terrible Beauty. In this book the rules of the society are very rigid and anyone who is not wealthy and of a high standing is discriminated against.Total Points: 130
Tasks Completed: 10
Tasks in Progress: 2
Books Read: 12
Pages Read: 3263
Goodreads Authors: 2
Big Books: 500+ - 1, 750+ - 0, 1000+ - 0
I am really going slow this challenge to avoid burnout. I'm reading a lot of books not listed in the challenge, but I did finish one of the Challenge books. The Hunger Games, Yay! On to the next one!
5.1 Heat WaveRead Dead Heatby Caroline Carver. If not for this challenge, I would not have picked up this book. Loved the suspense!
and
10.2 The ______ Who ________
read The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshellby Lilian Jackson Braun
Points these tasks 15
Total Points 90
Books read 9
Total pages 2469
A few tasks done, so far.
10.2 I read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson. And it was a great read. I really recommend this series to everyone, it was just such a great read, and a great ride.
10.3 I read Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. It was on Jerri from Lucerne Valley, CA's list. It was meh.
15.1 - For Borrowed and Old, I read Our Mother's House by Julian Gloag, which was published in 1963, and I took out from the library.
For new and blue I read
, My name is Memory by Ann Brashares.
25.5 - My favorite genres are Young Adult Books and also dystopian sci-fi. I like to read most everything, but these are the genres that I often find my self reading the most of. I love Young Adult books because they are so easy and fast to read, and honestly the stories are often a lot better and a lot more honest than contemporary adult fiction. I am also obsessed with dystopian/disaster sci-fi books. If the world is ending and its depressing, I love it. My husband is sort of freaked out by this.
For my Young Adult selection, I read Runaway by Meg Cabot. This is the final book in her Airhead series, about a teen girl whose brain is put into a supermodel's body after a terrible accident by an evil CEO of a corporation, and how she deals with the change (she, who once "unattractive" and did not care about looks, is now beautiful) and how she teams up with her old and new friends to battle the evil corporation. Quite good.
For my dystopian sci-fi selection, I chose to read Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. In this book, a meteor hits the moon, knocking it out of orbit, creating crazy weather patterns, and causing a lot of death and destruction. We see this happen through the diary of Miranda, a teen who lives in a Pennsylvania suburb with her mother and two brothers. This book was soooo good. I could not put it down. It is really compelling.
Total: 60
10.2 I read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson. And it was a great read. I really recommend this series to everyone, it was just such a great read, and a great ride.
10.3 I read Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. It was on Jerri from Lucerne Valley, CA's list. It was meh.
15.1 - For Borrowed and Old, I read Our Mother's House by Julian Gloag, which was published in 1963, and I took out from the library.
For new and blue I read
, My name is Memory by Ann Brashares. 25.5 - My favorite genres are Young Adult Books and also dystopian sci-fi. I like to read most everything, but these are the genres that I often find my self reading the most of. I love Young Adult books because they are so easy and fast to read, and honestly the stories are often a lot better and a lot more honest than contemporary adult fiction. I am also obsessed with dystopian/disaster sci-fi books. If the world is ending and its depressing, I love it. My husband is sort of freaked out by this.
For my Young Adult selection, I read Runaway by Meg Cabot. This is the final book in her Airhead series, about a teen girl whose brain is put into a supermodel's body after a terrible accident by an evil CEO of a corporation, and how she deals with the change (she, who once "unattractive" and did not care about looks, is now beautiful) and how she teams up with her old and new friends to battle the evil corporation. Quite good.
For my dystopian sci-fi selection, I chose to read Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. In this book, a meteor hits the moon, knocking it out of orbit, creating crazy weather patterns, and causing a lot of death and destruction. We see this happen through the diary of Miranda, a teen who lives in a Pennsylvania suburb with her mother and two brothers. This book was soooo good. I could not put it down. It is really compelling.
Total: 60
25.10 - Belinda's Task -Let's Play The Name Game I read Alchemyst by Michael Scott. 3*
and
I read Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. 3* I didn't think this one was as good as Uglies. I found the Pretty language was very annoying.
Total Points: 30
Tasks Completed: 2
Books Read: 7
Pages Read: 2,402
Tasks in Process: 15.2, 15.6, 20.9, 30.2, 30.3 (now if only I could finish these tasks!)
5.4 Just Listen by Sarah Dessen 371 pages ALA Teens' Top TenTotal Points: 10
Total Tasks: 2
Total Books Read: 2
Task 5.7Summer Begins by Elizabeth Doyle Carey
Points: 5
Total Points: 15
20.10 Group Reads - Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Great, great, great book! Glad it was on the GR list.
Task Points: 20
Total Points: 65
Tasks Completed: 4
Books Read: 7 (working on 2 tasks)
Pages Read: 1864
Books by Goodreads authors: 0
Big Books: 0(500+), 0(750+), 0(1000+)
30.5 Virtual Block PartyI read Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson for my book with recipes. Either this series is running down or I was just off. It seemed to stretch my 'willing suspension of disbelief' more than any of the earlier ones.
For my dish, I'll bring the cocktails with Whisky Sour by J.A. Konrath. The secret is to use homemade Sour mix and serve with a Maraschino cherry.
Total points: 50(previous) + 30 = 80
Stephanie wrote: "20.3 - Victorian Novel - Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. I did not enjoy this book (2*)."I remember reading that book in High School. We had to "contract" a book report once. Meaning that once you picked the book you were locked in and had to do your report on that book - no changes allowed. I picked it because it was a classic, and somehow I had heard that there was some kind of racy scandel involved. I remember it being the first book that I read all the way through and truly despised.
Nicole NC wrote: "Ashley wrote: "For Task 15.3 I read The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. I don't read book blogs on-line, but I do listen to "Books on the Nightstand" and they discussed this book on ..."lol, it does!
20.10 - Group Reads - The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie. I posted a comment on the thread.Books Read: 3
Tasks Completed: 3
Tasks in Progress: 3
Total Points: 50
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: (500)x (750) (1000)
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Got several more done. I'm repeating my last posting because Cynthia hasn't gotten to it yet. When she catches up, I'll delete the repeats.15.3 Book from a blog, link and review: The War Against Miss Winter, blog link http://bfgb.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/...
by Kathryn Miller Haines, 317pp read 6/12/2010.
Rosie is a great detective character, and the writing is evocative of the WWII setting. I'm going to read more of these. Not an innovative mystery, but an interesting character and setting.
20.7 Read a book form villain's POV: Grendel by John Gardner, 174pp read 6/13/2010.
Grendel was a tremendous waste of not much time. I didn't "get" it and I didn't like it much either.
25.6 Summer song, connection to book and connection for you to summer: Song: La Vie en rose, Almost French by Sarah Turnbull, 304pp read 6/12/2010.
La vie en rose, sung by Edith Piaf, is my taste of summer song. For years, my husband has played this recording as we are sitting by pool, at the beach, over dinner with wine and candles at the beach house. I know this song, the kids think beach and pool when they hear this song, and our friends associate it with us. Don't recognize it? You will if you listen to it on YOUtube, etc. It is totally French. The connection with the book is that the song is about how the singer's love makes her see the world through rose colored glasses, makes life perfect and the nights endless. Almost French is a memoir of an Australian journalist who falls head over heels for a tall Frenchman who makes her see the world through rose colored glasses - so much so that she moves permanently to Paris, even speaking no French. An outcome Edith would have approved of.
25.7 Non-fic about subject you are passionate about, and fic with passion in title: Used and Rare Travels in the Book World and The Bone Collector by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone and Jeffery Deaver, 741 pp, read 6/1/2010 and 6/7/2010.
I had a hard time with this one, what is passion anyway? Finally I asked my DD, and she said that is easy you are a collector, you are passionate about collect things and being a collector. She's right, I collect trophies really, not things that are tangible, but achievements. I'm the person who has to find every chest in a video game, who really wants to finish the reading challenge. Yes, I'm probably not normal, but I swear I'm not dangerous. So I read a book about collecting, a type of collecting that would be very seductive for me, because I do have a passion for books, too, and a book with collector in the title.
This is going to be the serial killer/forensic science challenge for me! This is the first of about 4 serial killer books I have coming.
20.5 About libraries or librarians or with word "library or librarian" in title: Alexandria by Lindsay Davis, 338pp, read 6/10/2010.
This is a Marcus Didius Falco mystery about the murder of the Librarian at the Great Library of Alexandria, and the machinations to replace him. Not the best Falco I've read.
Carolyn Haines is a Goodreads author.
Books read: 21/71
Tasks completed: 11/56
Points: 190/950
Pages read: 6184
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Cindy wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "20.3 - Victorian Novel - Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. I did not enjoy this book (2*)."I remember reading that book in High School. We had to "contr..."
I enjoy reading Hardy. However, I didn't enjoy Tess. Much too slow and quite a let down. Now.....The Mayor of Casterbridge and Jude the Obscure were much, much better. Don't give up on Hardy just because Tess let you down. :)
20.10 I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and made a comment in the discussion. WOw! Task Points: 20
Total Points: 90
Tasks Completed: 6
Books Read: 11
Pages Read: 3413
Books by Goodreads authors: 2
Big Books: 1(500+), 0(750+), 0(1000+)
5.2 - Blockbuster BooksThere are many highly anticipated films that will be hitting the theaters this summer (i.e. Eclipse, Toy Story 3, The A-Team, Eat Pray Love and many others)...For this task read a book that relates to the film you are most looking forward to seeing this summer (EXAMPLE: For Eat Pray Love you could read the book that is the basis for the film Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia or another travel memoir such as Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven.) (You do not actually have to see the film to get credit for this task.)
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell-6/11
Sex in the City
New Total: 5 points
15.3 Books and BlogsHeart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
This one was featured on my favorite book blog, ChickLitIsNotDead.com.
My Review:
I absolutely love Emily Giffin's books, and this one is her best yet. It's a testament to good, real writing that she creates characters who are flawed, and aren't always likeable. My allegiances changed so many times during this one that I'd been on everyone's side by the end, somehow even rooting for a man to cheat on his wife -- a woman whose life so closely parallels my own that it's almost eerie. Ultimately, I'm satisfied with the book's outcome, and still contemplating what I would do if I were faced with Tessa's situation.
The only negative mark I'd give this one is Giffin's gimmick of bringing back characters from another of her novels (Something Borrowed). I generally dislike when authors do this in books that aren't meant to be part of a series -- if it's meant to be a stand-alone book, I'd rather just leave the characters when their story ends - it's almost startling to read about them in another context. Giffin actually gives them a pretty significant role in this book. Eventually I didn't mind their presence in the story as much as I initially thought I would, but I'd still rather she have not included them in this one.
Total Books Read: 7
Total Points: 70
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25.9 Swimsuit Edition C. Tankini (Read 850 pages of book(s) published in last 5 years Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (611 pages)25.10 Name Game A. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
B.
Total Points: 0
Tasks Completed: 0
Tasks in Progress: 2
Books Read: 2
Pages Read: 940
Task 10.7--I think we can handle the truthI read The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson.
10 points
Total points: 45
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Daughters of the North (other topics)At the Sign of the Golden Pineapple (other topics)
The Catcher in the Rye (other topics)
Every Man Dies Alone (other topics)
Sepulchre (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Elise Broach (other topics)Virginia Woolf (other topics)
Roald Dahl (other topics)
Shel Silverstein (other topics)
J.K. Rowling (other topics)
More...
That Summer by Sarah Dessen(GoodReads Author)
Books read: 8
Pages read: 2204
Tasks complete: 7
Points: 65