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)
25.4A Cancer author = 15 July
Under the Net by Iris Murdoch
25.4B Noun on page 31 of 25.4A = woman
The Woman Who Knew Gandhi: A Novel by Keith Heller
745 points
25.5 Share the Summer LoveMy favorite type/genre of book is fantasy. I have especially enjoyed the supernatural romance trend. For this part I read Dark Flame by GoodReads Author Alyson Noel.
My review (may contain spoilers): Dark Flame is the fourth book in the Immortals series. Ever is feeling guilty and stressed about some of her recent choices, including *spoiler alert* turning her best friend Haven into an immortal, and getting in way over her head in magick. She is struggling to right these wrongs, but is desperate to fix everything herself and has a hard time asking for help from the people who care about her. I thought this book was a good addition to the series- instead of one big climax, there were a few exciting plot twists in this installment, with the biggest coming in at the end. In this book Ever tries to be extremely self-reliant, so we don't spend as much time with the supporting characters which is a little disappointing. I especially missed Riley's comic relief. The (tortured) romance is still present, and it definitely had some surprises. A very enjoyable read!
I love the fantasy/supernatural romance genre because I like to really escape when I am reading. I don't want to read about the mundane, I want to be transported to a different world. I love it when I writer can make the most impossible situations believable through well-developed characters.
My other favorite type of book is the coming of age story. For this I read
I Now Pronounce You Someone Elseby GoodReads author Erin McCahan.
My Review: Now I Pronounce You Someone Else is a fun book with a very likable main character, Bronwen Alexis Oliver, who is half-convinced that she was switched at birth. How else would you explain how she came to be part of a family that is so unlike her? They never remember that she despises ketchup, fail to understand her interest in journalism and often wonder aloud where her looks came from. Frustrated by her lack of identity in her family, she is thrilled when she begins a sweet romance with Jared, an old friend of her brother's. Not only is he the perfect boyfriend, his family is the warm, fun-loving clan that she has always dreamed of being a part of. Jared is ready to maker her a part of that family forever- but is she ready to be someone else? I read this book in one sitting! It was a lot of fun and the romance was really sweet. It is a bit predictable, as Bronwen is drawn into the family she craves and then realizes she needs to come into her own before she can be part of a couple, but it was very enjoyable. Some parts involving her crazy family members had me laughing out loud, and it also had some tear-filled moments involving her and her stepfather. The cover is really cute too!
I love coming of age stories because they are so easy to relate to, but can play out in so many different ways. I think the teen years are a time of your life that you never forget, and everyone has that "growing up" experience that really defines them.
Books Read: 14
Pages Read: 4226
Tasks complete: 11
Tasks in progress: 2
30.4a-Against Medical Advice
James Patterson
b-Delayed Diagnosis
Gwen Hunter
5.5 - Dropping Names ~ The Girl with the Dragon TattooI really can't say that I particularly enjoyed this book. It was extremely long and drawnout, and my intial instincts as to the villian and outcome were correct. Which really surprised me... I had the next two in place on my list to read for the summer challenge also, but I think I'll find different books for those tasks.
Total Points: 165/950
Tasks Completed: 12
Books Read: 12/74
Books by Goodreads authors: 2
Big Books: 1 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
This book was 500+ pages so I want to claim a book book ticket.
30.2 - PJ Read's Task - As Suggested By Shannon South Africa - For The ChildrenA.Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. I recommended it to my little brother. It is summer vacation for the both of us and my parents weren't home and he wasn't allowed outside to play while they were gone. He complained to me about being bored, so I suggested reading. I offered him a copy a of Peter Pan that I borrowed from the library but he turned me down. Sadly my little brother does not share my love of reading.
B. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Peter Pan was 216 pages long while The Secret Garden was 304.
Tasks:7
Books:10
Points: 140
Pages:3,066
25.1 - Independence Day
Sunnyside by Glen David Gold I had been looking forward to reading this and liked it a lot. It is a complex book, about Charlie Chaplin, but with several different story lines which occasionally link. It takes place during the first world war so has some major characters who are in the military.
Beyond the Black Stump by Nevil ShuteObviously I chose this book for its red cover! But also because, on my father's recommendation, I read many of Neville Shute's books as a young girl. I was happy to find that more than 40 years on I still enjoyed his writing!
10.1 Stormy WeatherJulia Quinn - "What Happens in London"
5.4 Lesser Known AwardsSara Gruen - "Water for Elephants"
ALA Alex Award winner 2007
25.2 I read Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for a book with the word 'who' in the title and I readMy Man Jeeves for a book with a person's name in the title (Jeeves).
I just completed Task 15.2.For Part A, I read Looking for Alaska.
For Part B, I read Chains which is set in New York City during the Revolutionary War.
I highly recommend both books!
Total pages: 7617
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30.2 - PJ Read's Task - As Suggested By Shannon South Africa - For The Children ~ A. The Secret Garden AND B. The Wonderful Wizard of OzBoth of these books were mine when I was a child and are now sitting on my children's bookshelf. I hope that they enjoy them as much as I did. My oldest is just learning to read, and I can't wait to introduce her to these classics.
Total Points: 195/950
Tasks Completed: 13
Books Read: 14/74
Books by Goodreads authors: 2
Big Books: 1 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
I finished 25.6 by reading Speak by Laurie Halsie Anderson. This book has the same theme as my favorite summer song "The Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini", they are both about a girl standing on the edge of the society overcoming her fears and coming out of the shell.Laurie Halsie Anderson is a goodreads author.
Total Points: 185
Tasks Completed: 13
Tasks in Progress: 4
Books Read: 18
Pages Read: 5909
Goodreads Authors: 5
Big Books: 2 (500+), 1 (750+), 0 (1000+)
15.1 - Wedding Bells Are RingingThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (new, borrowed)
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (old, blue)
Tasks Completed - 9
Books Read - 12
Pages Read - 2987
Total Points - 120
Books by Goodreads authors: 1
Big Books: 0 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
5.10)Number the Stars - Lois Lowry
10.4)Gone - Lisa McMann (Rolled 162 Gone has 214 pages)
25+10+5=40
10.4)Gone - Lisa McMann (Rolled 162 Gone has 214 pages)
25+10+5=40
25.7 - Wendy's Task - I'm Passionate About... ~ Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera AND The PhotographTotal Points: 220/950
Tasks Completed: 14
Books Read: 16/74
Books by Goodreads authors: 2
Big Books: 1 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
Just finished 20.9 Luck of the Draw (Spirit of Independence)I read Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and I watched Precious. Excellent book and cannot wait until Mockingjay comes out! Precious was good, but unbelievably depressing.
New Total: 70 points
20.1 - The Most Improved Player - Deirdre's Task - Sweltering Summer Days -- Favorite ice cream Rum Raisin -- Read Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton
25.10 - Belinda's Task - Let's Play The Name Game --
Read What Angels Fear: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery by C.S. Harris and Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris
Books Read: 16
Pages Read: 4670
Tasks Completed: 10
Tasks in Progress: 2
Goodreads Authors: 2 (Allen and Konrath in my last post)
Total points: 220
One more task to report. Gee, I am going really slow this challenge.
15.8 - Books with similar covers. I read
The Devouring by Simon Hoult. This book was super super scary, and a fun read. I also read
Thicker than Water by Carla Jablonski, which was a realistic fiction book about a teen girl who cuts, and who gets wrapped up in the world of wannabee vampire goths. It was meh. Both books seem to use the same stock photograph of a teen girl with dark hair crying. I found out about this from a blog that shows copycat or look-alike book covers.
http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/se...
Previous Score: 60
Current Score: 75
15.8 - Books with similar covers. I read
The Devouring by Simon Hoult. This book was super super scary, and a fun read. I also read
Thicker than Water by Carla Jablonski, which was a realistic fiction book about a teen girl who cuts, and who gets wrapped up in the world of wannabee vampire goths. It was meh. Both books seem to use the same stock photograph of a teen girl with dark hair crying. I found out about this from a blog that shows copycat or look-alike book covers.http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/se...
Previous Score: 60
Current Score: 75
25.10 - Belinda's Task - Let's Play The Name Game
Name used: Alison
A. For the first half of the task, read any book you like of at least 100 pages.
I read: The Love-Artist by Jane Alison (Paperback, 242 pages) , a historical novel about the Roman poet Ovid. After his stay near the Black Sea, Ovid brings back to Rome a mysterious witchy woman. Ovid’s romance with a young woman is fictional but the rest of what happens to him is true. The story is OK, hence, 2 stars. The writer’s last name is Alison, which is the same as the first name used in 25.10B:
B. For the second half of the task read another book (of at least 100 pages) whose author’s first or last name, is the same as the last name of the author of the book you read for the first half of the task.
I read: Darkborn by Alison Sinclair (Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages), a fantasy novel set in a time wherein the “darkborn” burn to ashes in the light, while the “lightborn” freeze to death in the dark. Fascinating novel, and I have put the sequel on my TBR. 5 stars.
60 + 25 = 85
Tasks Completed: 6
Points for this task: 25
Points thus far: 85/950
Books read: 7
Pages Read: 2056
Books by Goodreads authors: 1
(Goodreads Author) Sheramy Bundrick (20.4)
Read but not claimed: 5
(Parts of the following 2-book tasks: 15.4, 25.1B, 25.2, 30.1B, 30.2A)
25.7 - Wendy's Task - I'm Passionate About...All things Disney!
A. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination (Big Book - 880 pages)
B. Disney After Dark
Task Points: 25
Total Points: 60
Tasks Completed: 3
Books Read: 4
Pages Read: 1765
Hey all - first couple tasks ever for me! :-)5.9 - Get Caught Reading: 13 ½, by Nevada Barr
10.2 – “The (Fill in the Blank) Who…” – The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba
Tasks complete: 2
Points so far: 15/950
Books read: 1
Pages read: 468
Goodreads authors: William Kamkwamba (10.2)
20.6 - Supporting Goodreads Authors - Nicole CA's Task - List MakerThe book I read for this task was One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey.
My decision whether or not it was a must-read is that yes, indeed, this is one of those must-read books. The continuing fight between the hero McMurphy and the authoritative Nurse Ratched makes for a great story. The narration by 'the Chief' definitely adds something to the story, in my opinion. Overall, this is a must read book because of the fight of authority versus patients, and the lessons taught to not only the other patients, but to the reader as well.
New Total: 40 points
Sheila wrote: "15.8 - "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble..." Borderline by Mark Schorr
That pesky old patient confidentiality thing comes in to play when a patient is murdere..."
I read the Nevada Barr for this task as well, but a different second book (which I haven't read yet!) I also really enjoy Barr's books. I was camping at Hatteras National Seashore while I was reading it, and kept finding myself looking at the rangers in a different way, and looking for dead bodies all along the beach.
Leigh Ann wrote: "5.5 - Dropping Names ~ The Girl with the Dragon TattooI really can't say that I particularly enjoyed this book. It was extremely long and drawnout, and my intial instincts as ..."
I also liked the first one OK, but really enjoyed the second. I just read the third and was not as thrilled--I would recommend the second one though if you have the energy/time to put into a long book.
20.8 Barnes & Noble ClassicsI read Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.
Points this task: 20
Total Points: 75
Tasks Completed: 5
5.9 - Get Caught ReadingThere is an age old saying...If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Likewise if a person reads a book and no one is there to see them...did the book ever get read? For this task you must read a book of at least 100 pages in public...at a park, or the beach, or on a plane, or a bus, or at a library...any public place will do.
PostSecret by Frank Warren
Read this in the cafe at Borders
5.10 - "If One Cannot Enjoy Reading A Book Over And Over Again, There Is No Use In Reading It At All." - Oscar Wilde
This summer let's test Mr. Wilde's statement by taking the time to...Re-read a book that you loved reading the first time.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Current Point Total: 50
Jessica MI
I love it! I was looking for a place to claim The Art of Racing in the Rain and on a whim I decided to see who was currently online (10.3) to see if anyone might by chance be reading it and lo and behold on page 6: Christi, Salt Lake City, UT (576 mi), is reading it! Woo hoo!Here's where I'm at so far:
10.3 From Currently Online, page 6: Christi Salt Lake City, UT (576 mi) – The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein — Jun 14, 2010 04:22pm (Finished 6/23)
10.4 (Rolled 6-2-6) The Host by Stephanie Meyer, 619 pages (Finished 6/10)
10.5 Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews (Finished 6/16)
10.9 Visions in White by Nora Roberts (Finished 6/19)
15.1 New/Borrowed: Otherwise Engaged by Eileen Goudge (Finished 6/3); Old/Blue: Siddartha by Herman Hesse, 1922 (Reading Now)
15.4 - # 8: Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters - pen name for Barbara Mertz (Finished 6/14) and … (task not yet finished)
15.6 Part A/B: (task not yet finished) & Part C: Mr. Maybe by Jane Green (Finished 6/21)
20.10 ABC Murders by Agatha Christie (Finished 6/19)
25.10 The Blue Notebook by James Levine (Finished 6/25) and The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine (Reading Now)
Total Pts: 60/900
Books Read: 9/71
Tasks Completed: 5/53
Nice to know there is another Nevada Barr fan out there Elizabeth. I'm looking forward to the new one coming out in August.
30.5 - DLM Rose's Task - Virtual Block PartyA. The Merlot Murders a wine country mystery by Ellen Crosby a Goodreads Author.
B. Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Points this task 30
Total points 130
Tasks done 10
Pages read 3933
Books read 14
Katelin wrote: "25.7 - Wendy's Task - I'm Passionate About...All things Disney!
A. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination (Big Book - 880 pages)
B. Disney After Dark
Task Points: 25
Total Point..."
Such a good idea!! I am a huge disney fan and couldn't think what to do for this task...thanks for the inspiration ;-)
For Task 5.4 - Lesser Known Awards, I read The Prospect of Magic. This book won the Tartt Fiction Award. I gave it 4 stars and posted a review.New Points: 5
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).
AND
B. NEW - Read a book written by a new author i.e. a book by an author you haven't read previously.
BORROWED - One of the books above must be borrowed (from the library, from a friend or family member etc.)
BLUE - And the other book must either have a blue cover or the word blue in the title.
Go Ask Alice Old (published in 1971, I was born in 1985) and borrowed from the library
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler; New and Blue
Current Point Total: 65
Jessica MI
25.9 Swim Suit EditionC. Tankini - read 850 pgs of book(s) published in the last 5 years:
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton pgs 403
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich pgs 308
and
You Can't Stop Me by Max Collins pages 320
Points this task: 25
Total points 195
Total books 19
total pages 5559
Mod
In honor U.S. Independence Day (July 4th)...
A. Read a book with a character that is in the military or retired from the military.
I read The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi (a Goodreads author)
AND
B.Read a book of your choice with a Blue, Red, or White cover.
I read
Points: 170
Books: 13
Books by Goodreads authors: 4
Big Books - 0
Tasks: 10
Just completed 25.8 by reading The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and A Kiss in Time for a total of 423 pages.Total pages: 8040
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25.8 - Sandy's Task - Once Upon A Time…Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire (406 pages)
Tasks Completed - 10
Books Read - 13
Pages Read - 3393
Total Points - 145
Books by Goodreads authors: 1
Big Books: 0 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
10.5 - If You Can't Go To The Beach...Bring The Beach To YouMinu Austraalia By Airi Illison-Cruz
(I hope Estonian books count!)
Tasks Complete - 2 (:-:'')
Books Read - 2
Total Points- 20
25.1 - Valorie's Task - Independence DayIn honor U.S. Independence Day (July 4th)...
A. Read a book with a character that is in the military or retired from the military. EXAMPLE: Articles of War
AND
B.Read a book of your choice with a Blue, Red, or White cover.
(EXAMPLE:
I read Game Change
and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Helen Simonson is a Good Reads author!points: 25
total points: 145
tasks completed: 9
books read:12
pages: 4517
Good reads authors: 3
Big Books 1(500) 0 (750) 0 (1000)
OK I have a few completed challenges to report - but I'm way behind in my reading. If you work in a school, you know how crazy this time of year can be.25.6 Summer Lovin - I read American Woman by Susan Choi. This song this book reminds me of is American Woman (either version - Guess Who or Lenny Kravitz). A few summers ago my family hosted a Fourth of July Party - my daughter and I burned a CD with songs that had America, American etc in the title(there's more than you think) and this song in particular always reminds me of the summer party and them promise of great summer to come.
5.2 Blockbuster Books - I read The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloudby Ben Sherwood. I went to the movies recently and saw the trailer for the movie Charlie St.Cloud with Zac Ephron - it looked so good and knew I had to see it. I then found it was based on this book. This book was a disappointment. Hoping the movie is better.
10.6 Stand Up for Your Rights - I read Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (*Goodreads author*)
Tasks completed - 3
Books Read - 3
Total Points - 40
20.5- Library Love- I read Closing Time by Adrianna Dane. The main character of the story, Evelyn, is the head librarian at a library in the small town of Esmerelda, Mass.Adrianna Dane is a goodreads author
Points for this task- 20
Total Points- 70
Total books read- 6
Pages Read- 1915 (this is an ebook so not sure of how many pages-didn't add to current total)
GR authors- 2
5.1 Heat WaveI read Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I really like this series so much more than I thought I would!
Books read: 13
Pages read: 4535
Tasks complete: 7
Tasks in progress: 5
Points: 70
25.1A Main character = veteran recovering from injuries suffered in Iraq
American Music by Jane Mendelsohn
25.1B RWB cover = white
Blindness by José Saramago
770 points
20.6 List makerI read Fablehaven and really enjoyed it. Unforunatly it was more of a YA book than an adul;t book, but I enjoyed it neverless. I would recomended it as a good story to read to kids (but not before bedtiem), or justa good book to get kids to read!
3/33 books read
20/950 points
1044/12960
LIZZIE JANE10.10 - Great Minds Think Alike
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (goodreads author) (5*)
Tasks: 10
Books: 11
Goodreads authors: 6
Pages: 4,477
TOTAL POINTS: 155
Task 10.3 Same place, Same Time....Same booksI read Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.
10 points
****This is a GOODREADS author!***
Total points: 105
20.5 Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz who is a Goodreads author. This book features a librarian for a secretive paranormal organization. She has the psychic ability to read peoples aura's. It was very good (4*). I did not realize that this was the 5th book in a series. Now I guess I will have to read the first 4.
15.6 - Part A- Portuguese Author - I read Blindness by José Saramago. 2* I really liked the premise, but I couldn't really get into the book.Part B- 2nd Longest Work - I read Naked by David Sedaris. 2* Some funny bits, but on the whole I didn't really enjoy it.
Total Points: 140
Tasks Completed: 7
Books Read: 12
Pages Read: 4,121
Tasks in Process: 15.8, 20.8, 20.10, 25.9
30.4- Science of CrimeFinished The Anatomy of Deception by Lawrence Goldstone and Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell. Both book were good, but it was particularly interesting to compare forensic science from the late 1880s to that of the late 1980s.
Point Total: 50
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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...
I read House Rules by Jodi Picoult and her favorite read is Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman.
Both of these authors are among my favorites, but between the two books, I liked "Turtle Moon" better.
Books read: 12
Pages read: 4144
Tasks complete: 6
Tasks in progress: 5
Points: 65