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)
30.3 - Shelia's TaskPart A: I read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. 4* I really liked this book a lot. Makes up for the fact that I hated Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Part B: I read Red Hot Lies by Laura Caldwell. 4* This book takes place in Chicago.
Total Points: 105
Tasks Completed: 5
Books Read: 10
Pages Read: 3,247
Tasks in Process: 15.6, 20.8, 20.9, 25.9
10.10 - Great Minds Think AlikeI read The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, she is a Goodreads author.
I think she is becoming a favorite author i have really like both this and Garden Spells.
points this task 10
total points 80
tasks finishes 7
pages 2367
books read 9
15.8 - "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble..." You might need to do a little toiling for this task but I don't think you will have too much trouble. On August 7,1606 William Shakespeare's Macbeth was performed publicly for the first time (at the Great Hall at Hampton Court). In honor of this event and this famous line you will need to read 2 books that...
A. Have the same title but are written by different authors (EXAMPLE: Twilight AND Twilight)
OR
B. Have very similar covers...(EXAMPLE: & )
Cabinet of Curiosities and Cemetery Dance both are by Preston and Child (Similar covers)
15 total
30.4 - Cheryl TX's Task –
For this task you will need to read two medical or forensic thrillers/mysteries...one by a male author (EXAMPLE: No Certain Rest: A Novel) AND one by a female author (EXAMPLE: Harvest).
Tess Garritson The Surgeon/ Michael Crighton State of Fear (big book 816 pages)
30 points
15.10 - “Other Things May Change Us, But We Start And End With Family.” - Anthony Brandt
Summertime is often the time when families get together to catch up on things so for this task let's read....
A. A book that has the word Family in the title (EXAMPLE: The Swiss Family Robinson) OR a book with a specific family member in the title i.e. Sister, Brother, Cousin etc. (EXAMPLE: The Grandmothers)
Shit My Dad Says by Halpern
AND
B. Tell the group at least one thing that you love about your own family or the family member from your title.
I miss my Dad. He passed away two years ago in June. He was a great Dad but his Parkinson’s interfered with his being a great grandfather.
My son is amazing. He is a junior at MIT. If you are in Cambridge in the Fall join us on the soccer field where his skills at center midfield will delight you.
15 points
10.4 - Roll The Dice...
Do you feel lucky...are the dice on your side? For this task you will need to visit the website (3 Random Dice). The amount shown on the dice (+/- 10) will be the amount of pages that you will need to read for this task. I.E. if you rolled a 3,5,2 you would need to read a book between between 342 and 362 pages long (EXAMPLE: Son of a Witch (Wicked Years, #2)). You can only click on the link one time.
334- 324-344
Definitely Dead by Harris 324 pages
10 points
15.3 - Books And Blogs
Blogs have an important role in the world of books and reading today...they've even been the inspiration for books themselves (EXAMPLE: Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen). For this task read a book that has been featured on your favorite book/reading related blog. When you post this task include a link to the blog and a review of the book.
Ladies Living Healthy here on Goodreads
Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman
15 points
20.6 - Supporting Goodreads Authors - Nicole CA's Task - List Maker
Must-Read lists abound. Let's create our own! For this task, read a book that is at least 300 pages and tell us whether it is a must-read or not and why.
Little Bee by Cleave (Goodreads Author) paperback is 304 pages
“Considered by some to be the next Kite Runner, Little Bee is an achingly human story set against the inhuman realities of war-torn Africa. Wrenching tests of friendship and terrible moral dilemmas fuel this irresistible novel.” Excellent, but harsh, very much like Kite Runner- excellent literature but difficult subject matter (genocide, rape, suicide)
20 points
360 total
20.10 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
30.2 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien and The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
I recommended Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM to my youngest cousin that is able to read. I had borrowed from her older sister and she had yet to read it. But she is reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now.
Total Points: 70
Tasks: 6
Books: 7
30.2 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien and The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
I recommended Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM to my youngest cousin that is able to read. I had borrowed from her older sister and she had yet to read it. But she is reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now.
Total Points: 70
Tasks: 6
Books: 7
Finished Day of the Dragon by Richard A. Knaak for 10.1 Stormy Weather.Total Points – 25
Total Tasks Completed – 2
Total Books Read – 2
Total Pages Read – 784
20.5 Library love The Shadow of the Wind which has 521 pages25.9 Bikini
Under Heaven 567 pages
In the Ocean of Night 333 pages - total 900 pages
10.6 Stand Up For Your Rights:I read THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett ***Goodreads Author***
Beautiful novel, and it really made me think. Loved it!
Total Points: 15
Tasks Completed: 2
Pages Read: 915
Finished 20.6 - Must or Must Not ReadsI read A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks. I won this book in a giveaway, and I gave it 4*. I would put it on the Must Read list since it is a brilliant social commentary on the current state of our world in regard to economics, drugs, the influence of television and many other interesting topics. This book is dense at times, because the material can be quite heavy, but Faulks has a fantastic insight into people, which I really enjoyed reading. Check it out if you get a chance.
Total Points: 40 + 20 = 60
I just finished 5.3 - S.U.M.M.E.RFor this task read a book written by an author whose initials are found in the word Summer. (Initials must be sequential i.e. SU, UM, MM, ME, ER, and RS not SM).
I read Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty.
25.2 - Coralie's Task - Q & A Doctor Who Ghosts Of India, Mark Morris & How Proust Can Change Your Life Not a Novel, Alain de Botton
120 points/6 tasks/8 books
25.10A Name Game
At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald 160 pp
25.10B Author last name same as 25.10A author last name
Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald 320 pp
520 points
5.10 - "If One Cannot Enjoy Reading A Book Over And Over Again, There Is No Use In Reading It At All." - Oscar Wilde ~ That Camden Summer
I have finished the following tasks:5.2 Shrek 2 The Movie Novel (I Love Shrek!!!) adapted by Jesse Leon McCann
5.3 A Widow's Hope by Mary Ellis
5.6 Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
5.7 The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane by Russel Freedman
30.5A Eat This, Not This by David Zinczenko
30.5B My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul Zindel
Everyone loves my hamburgers. I make them by hand and they are like mini meatloafs without the ketchup. Not only do they go a long way there are never any leftovers.
5.4 - Lesser Known AwardsI had no idea that Goodreads had their own book awards...shame on me! I read Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins for this task. It was given the Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book and Young Adult Series (2009).
Total points: 70
Tasks complete: 10
Sorry I didn't add my ticker so here it is:
Task 5.6I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
I'd Tell you I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
by Ally Carter
It was actually a pretty cute book:) I saw it was published by Disney's Hyperion, which makes me believe it will be a movie soon.
Tasks Completed: 9
Books read: 10
Points earned:125
Goodreads author tickets: 1
25.5 - Helen's Task - Share the Summer LoveFavorite genre - Fantasy
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Second favorite genre - Historical Romance
The Club by Sharon Page
Fantasy
I don't really know why I like fantasy so much. It must be because it's such an escape from everyday life. I get really bored with this world, so I like to imagine different worlds and live in them through the characters.
I read the second book in the Percy Jackson series - The Sea of Monsters.
While most of Sea of Monsters is pretty goofy and action-packed, there were a few serious moments in the book, which is what I need to keep me hooked on a series. These books really aren't as similar to Harry Potter as I'd first heard there being claims too, but I started to notice a couple of significant parallels toward the end. However, the writing style, characters, and settings are so very different from HP, so this series is completely original. This book starts about a year after the last one ends. The ending really drew me in, and I think I'll have to read the third one. It's hard to review this book without giving too much away, since some people may not have read the first book. One thing that I don't like about these books (but others may like) is that Percy is in life or death situations, and the tone of the book does not match the severity of what he is involved in. It makes it unrealistic and hard for me to sympathize with the characters. There is plenty of action in this book all the way up until the end, even after the main conflict of this particular book is solved. I really don't like all action books, but for most people, I think this would be seen as a plus to the books.
Historical Romance
Historical novels are another way of immersing myself into a different world, and as for the romance part - well, I can't resist a good love story. Maybe it's easier for me to like more of the characters since they are from another time, and it's hard for me to judge them since I don't know firsthand what life was like in that time.
I really haven't read too many of this genre yet, so I can't tell how The Club compares to others. There was an interesting, dangerous mystery going on throughout the whole book. It really dragged on for a while, but then toward the end, this book became more of a page turner. I enjoyed the evolution of Jane's character - from timid and fearful to confident and brave at the end. I also enjoyed watching her previous perceptions of Christian completely turn around as well. The reader gets to make these discoveries about him along with Jane.
Tasks Completed - 5
Books Read - 6
Pages Read - 1344
Total Points - 60
I completed the following task:30.2 - For The Children
A. The Secret Garden by Frances Hogsdon Burnett. I sent a copy to my niece and recommended it to her.
B. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Points: 30
Total Points: 130
Tasks Completed: 8
Books Read: 11
Pages Read: 4019
Books by Goodreads authors: 2
Big Books: 0 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
20.7 Darkly Dreaming Dexter. This book was good but not great for me (3*). I pretty much figured out the twist at the end. I like the premise but thought it could have been executed a little better. 
25.2 - Coralie's Task - Q & A (part A): Where I'm Calling From: Selected Stories and The Woman of Rome: A Novel30.4 - Cheryl TX's Task - The Science Of Crime: The Alienist and Mistress of the Art of Death
Tasks Completed - 2
Books Read - 4
Pages Read - 1787
Total Points - 55
20.6 Nicole CA's Task - List MakerI read The Wapshot Chronicle. It's on the MLA list of top 100 books to read. I gave it 4 stars - if you like stories about family history and legacy, I'd consider this book a must read. It follows a father and two sons as they grow up, establish themselves, and the importance of carrying on the family name.
Erin B.
Tasks Completed: 3
Books Read: 3
TOTAL POINTS: 45
30.2A Children's classic
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
This was a library book. My niece in California has young children. I emailed her about The Phantom Toll Booth but had to give a more enthusiastic recommendation to The Chronicles of Narnia.
30.2B Child main character
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
550 points
10.4 - Roll the DiceRolled 443, to complete a book between 433-453 pages. I read A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp, which comes in a 451 pages. Didn't really like it though.
Total points: 80
Tasks complete: 11
20.1 - The Most Improved Player - Deirdre's Task - Sweltering Summer DaysI readThe Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich. My favorite ice cream is Rocky Road, I love the nuts and the marshmallows!
Task Points: 20
Total Points: 35
Tasks Completed: 3
Books Read: 3
Pages Read: 736
So far I've finished two more tasks this weekend:10.9 - Visions in White by Nora Roberts
20.10 - ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
I believe that brings my total to 50 points!
Just completed task 20.10 by reading The Hunger Games. I absolutely loved it and posted my thoughts in the discussion thread (message 65).Total pages: 5725
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5.2 - Blockbuster read - The Carrie Diaries20.10 - Group Read - The Book Thief
Task Points: 5,20
Total Points:50
Tasks:7
Books:7
Nicki - STL
10.3 - Same Place, Same Time...Same BooksThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, chosen from this person's shelf
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/861693?shelf=currently-reading
Tasks Completed - 6
Books Read - 7
Pages Read - 1618
Total Points - 70
25.5 - Helen's Task - Share the Summer LoveA) My favorite genre is fantasy. I read the book The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. The reason I love fantasy is because I enjoy escaping into other worlds where everything the mind can think of is possible. I also thought The Queen of Attolia was an amazing read and had very strong and interesting characters. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a fantasy book that always keeps you guessing.
B) My second favorite genre is mystery. For that I read Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. The reason I love mystery goes back to my childhood when I first saw the movie Basil the Great Mouse Detective. Ever since than I've been obsess with mysteries.
I like it mostly because I like guessing "whodunit." (Although I am usually wrong.) Plus because most of the time it is nice knowing that even if there is great evil in this world the good guys usually prevail. Anyway I love all of Agatha Christie's books and I would recommend them to all the mystery lovers out there, or even if you are just dipping your toes into the genre. I especially like Murder on the Orient Express because all the suspects had their own personalities and it was very well written with an interesting twist at the end.
Tasks:4
Books:5
Points:65
Pages:1,483
20.5 - Just Joined In - Amber GA's Task-Library LoveThe Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
Tasks:5
Books:6
Points: 85
Pages:1,674
Mod
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by GR author Heidi W. Durrow
This was a really strong book- some lines were crystalline.
10.3, Same Time Same Place, Same Book, with
Little Bee by GR author Chris Cleave
Jennifer was online at the same time. GR provides such cool stats- 977 other people were currently reading it
I thought the parts from Little Bee's perspective were very good. Other parts were muddy and I just wanted to get through the pages until Bee was back.
25.6, Ashley's Summer Lovin', with
Runaway Dream: Born to Run and Bruce Springsteen's American Vision
My song is Springsteen's Born to Run- It would be hard to come of age in New Jersey in the late 70's, early 80's without some Bruce on the playlist of your life. My summer memories are of road trips with friends to the pre-Snookie Jersey Shore- a car full of girls heading to Sandy Hook, Point Pleasant, or Long Beach Island with the windows down singing along with Bruce.
+45
total 330
30.5 A. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Crime. This was a nice cozy mystery (3*).30.5 B. Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies. I liked this book but I don't think I would make any of the recipes in here. They seem like alot of work.
I will be bringing Colorful Corn Salad to the party. It is a great summer salad. A little different and easy to make. I will post recipe in the proper thread.
15.1 - Wedding Bells Are RingingJune is one of the most popular months for weddings and weddings as we all know are full of traditions. One of the most commonly followed of those traditions is for the bride to have "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue" on her wedding day. To honor that tradition...
A. OLD - Read an old book (to qualify as an old book it must have been published before you were born).
The Hollow Man (aka The Three Coffins) by John Dickson Carr
(first published in 1935, with blue cover:
)B. NEW - Read a book written by a new author i.e. a book by an author you haven't read previously.
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman (borrowed from a friend)
Points: 85/475
Books: 9
Tasks: 6/56
Pages: 2,610
Here are some more completed tasks.10 Point Tasks
10.2 - "The (Fill In The Blank) Who..."
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun
10.10 - Great Minds Think Alike
I gave The Last Child by John Hart ★★★★★'s. I went to the home page for Last Child and on page 7 Kim also rated it ★★★★★'s. She also rated The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini ★★★★★. So that is what I read and I am so glad I did. I loved it. It gave me a broader view of the Arab life. I give it ★★★★★'s as well.
20 Point Tasks
20.5 - Just Joined In - Amber GA's Task - Library Love
Miss Zukas and the Library Murders by Jo Dereske
This was the first in this series and I was not drawn to the character of Mrs. Zukas at all. She seemed to be too prim and proper and kind of OCD. I only gave it ★★★'s
20.7 - I Like Big Books And I Cannot Lie - Dionisia's Task - For Those We Love To Hate
Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
25 Point Tasks
25.3 - Jennifer N'S Task - Virtual Foreign Vacation
Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Siger
AND
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (translated from Swedish)
I really liked this book and was glad to have a chance to read it for the challenge. I will definitely read the other 2 novels by this author. I notice he died pretty young. I was sorry to see that.
30 Point Tasks
30.5 - DLM Rose's Task - Virtual Block Party
My signature dish is Apple Crisp. I couldn't say what makes it special but I always bring home an empty pan. I guess everyone just finds it delicious.
Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke
AND
The Last Suppers by Diane Mott Davidson
Current Completed Tasks Total = 115 Points
I just completed task 5.1 by reading Catching Fire. I am dying a thousand deaths that Mockingjay is not out until the end of August! I am 434 on the library list. I may break down and but it off of Amazon since I own the other 2 and it would be great for my classroom library. Plus 8.45 is a great price for a new hardcover!Total pages: 6116
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5.4 Lesser Known Award = Books I Loved Best Yearly (BILBY) Awards (1990)
Matilda by Roald Dahl
5.7 Travel mode on cover
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène Du Bois
600 points
25.5 - My favorite genre is fantasy, I've always been drawn to magic and myths. I read Memory and Dream (Newford, #5) by Charles de Lint and gave it 4 stars. It's an urban fantasy and one of his Newford books. This one involves a painter being able to bring some of her subjects to life.My second favorite genre is horror, preferably the creepy/gothic type. I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson and gave it 4 stars. It's about the remnants of a reclusive family living on the outskirts of a small town. It mainly focuses on the two sisters trying to make a life for themselves after most of their family have died from arsenic poisoning.
New total: 145 points
10.2 - "The (Fill In The Blank) Who..." The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson10 task points
+ 10 Lost In Translation Points (translated from Swedish)
+ 10 Combo Points (for 10.4 spy/espionage & 10.5 discrimination)
+ 5 Jumbo Points (521 pages)
= 35 task total
Grand Total: 65 points
Task 10.4 Roll the DiceI rolled 661! I read Tara Road by Maeve Binchy. It has 656 pages. It was very good...thanks to those who suggested it!
10 points
Total points: 75
Dlmrose,I am a HUGE Bruce fan. He is kind of a family tradition, my brother and brother in-law are mega Bruce fans and i caught "The fever" from them. My nephew has recently became a Bruce fan as well.
I will definitely have to add this book to my have-to-read list.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Completed task 10.5 - If You Can't Go To The Beach...Bring The Beach To YouFor this task I read The Last Song.
Task Points: 10
Total Points: 35
Tasks Completed: 2
Books Read: 2
Pages Read: 549
15.1 Wedding Bells Are RingingA. Old/blue - The Enchanted Castle and Five Children and It by E. Nesbit published orig 1907 and 1902.
B. New/Borrowed - Blame: A Novel by Michelle Huneven borrowed from the public library.
Points this task: 15
Total Points: 135
Total books: 13
Cathy -- I think you meant to post that on the Reading With Style page, not here.
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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)
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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)
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B. Penny Lane reminded me of myself because she values her friends more than boys. She also really loves music, she's really stubborn, everybody likes her and she really has no enemies, and people trust her. These are all qualities I have as well.