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)
#10.5 Read a book that has a beach scene on the cover:
by Jayne Ann Krentz June 22#20.7 Read a book written from a villain's point of view:
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President by Josh Lieb June 26
#25.1A Read a book with a character in the military or retired from military:The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann June 20 - Tom Paoletti is a Navy Seal
25.1B Read a book of your choice with a Blue/Red/White cover: *blue cover*
by Catherine Coulter June 26#25.9 Donna Jo: Swim Suit Edition: C. Tankini: Read 850 pages of books published in last 5 years:
2009: Wed Him Before You Bed Him by Sabrina Jeffries June 6
2009: Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts June 24
2008: The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens June 25
Total Pages = 5,948
Tasks Completed = 16
Total Points = 185
30.1 My birthday is in October so I read Hundred Years War 1337-1453 by Anne Curry. Which read about like the first draft of someone's master's thesis. It was awful. I was born on a Monday which is a novel in verse. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. Which was excellent. I loved it. I've got a request in at the library for Hate That Cat also.
60 points total
5.5: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld5.9 Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
20.6 The Help by Kathryn Stockett (review/recommendation posted earlier).
20.10 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
25.5 A Pretties by Scott Westerfeld: YA is one of my favorite genres. I like it because I feel like reality is less important for the genre in general and the authors are really creative. I liked, but didn't love, this book. It was between good and mediocre. B. Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris. I like scifi/fantasy. This is a new genre for me, but I like it, especially series. This book was good, just like all those in her series!
25.10 A. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris. B. Chocolat by Joanne Harris.
Tasks: 6
Points: 100
Just joined the group so I'm getting a late start. Here's my first book :)#25.9A Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Points for this Task:25
Total Points:25
Total Books Read:1
Pages Read:1,072
GR Authors:0
Big Books: 0(500+) 0(750+) 1(1,000+)
20.2 - Rookie Of The Season - Kiri's Task - A Trip To The PastThe Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Points for this task: 20
Total Points: 125
30.1 - Ms Anderson's Task - Birthdays and Birthmonths ~ Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs AND Sabrina the Teenage Witch: A NovelizationStolen Innocence was a hard book to read. It was such a sad, sad story. I'm glad I read it though, as it really made me think.
Total Points: 250/950
Tasks Completed: 15
Books Read: 18/74
Books by Goodreads authors: 2
Big Books: 1 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
25.6 - Ashley FL'S Task - "Summer Lovin"I did part D. Title of the book is also lyrics in the song.
I really don't have much music that reminds me of summer. Most everything I listen to reminds me of fall or winter. So usually what reminds me of summer is something I discovered and really started to listen to during that season. Theatre of Tragedy is one band I started listening to during one summer a couple years ago. It turns out that a few of their songs mention summer, one being "Fade". I used the phrase "End of the road" from the song and read The End of the Road by John Barth.
Silky tidal waves
In the midst of summer
Trap door of our house
Sliding up and down
Days of childhood gleam
Do you still remember?
Nowhere have I seen
Shadows disappear
Ever since then
And I fade like the dew before the sun
Silence of our ceased memories
In our dreams, everything is just the same
Withering motions
Starkly impending days
A retrospect of golden sounds
The scent of falling rain
Recurring memories abound
The time that is to come seems like yesterday
Someone was there to see
End of the road
We all wait for this day
Everything has changed
I never wanted to stay
But now, everything was in vain
Withering motions
Tasks Completed - 11
Books Read - 14
Pages Read - 3581
Total Points - 170
Books by Goodreads authors: 1
Big Books: 0 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
For 30.5 - DLM Rose's Task - Virtual Block Party : my signature dish is macarons, although i think this is my signature dish because i'm the only one bold enough to try, and that they sometimes have funny results : i made some for new year's eve, i wanted them to be blue but they turned out green, and i made some yesterday for celebrating this challenge, and they pretty much look like nothing.So I read Fast-food nation by Eric Schlosser (food-related non-fiction book) and Macarons by José Maréchal and Akiko Ida (cookbook)
Books read: 4
Challenges accomplished: 3/58
Points : 60
Oh, I've been slow to post this challenge. So, I'm a little late to the party, but I'm here all the same!For 25.5:
My favorite genres as chick-lit and literary fiction, so I read
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents by Liza Palmer
EDITED before Cynthia got around to posting, hopefully before reading! Just realized I forgot the last part. Here you go:
Little Bee was a five-star read for me. The writing is amazing and the story is captivating. Every character had something that grabbed me, and he had a mind-boggling perfection to the way he injected the exact right amount of humor into some pretty bleak subjects and moments. I wanted to take a bit of time to read nothing afterward, just to savor it -- which never happens for me. That said, the book is *intense* and the end is not what I'd call redeeming exactly. Can be a rough one to sleep during/after.
A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents is a fun chick-lit read. Some truly fun/funny writing -- but not what I'd call a challenging book. What I'd call a perfect airplane/beach book.
And those two reviews actually do a good job of summarizing why I like these two genres. "Literary" books make me think, grab my attention, help me see more of the world and the people in it. I like that -- but I also like having chick-lit books as the sort of "sorbet" of reading. Fun, easy, and good for a break between heavier courses.
For 10.10:
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
NOTE: Chris Cleave (Little Bee) is a Goodreads author.
Thanks!
5.9 Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter (read on a plane)
5.7 - Mode of Travel The Sea of Monsters10.4 - Dice roll - 333 - read Vampire Academy - 331 pages
10.8 - Ocean animal - Ella Minnow Pea
Task Points: 10,10,5
Total Points:125
Tasks:12
Books:13
Nicki - STL
I have completed task #5.9 "Get Caught Reading" by reading The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer on the bus to and from work....and sometimes while walking (hehehe). I rated it 3 stars.
5.5 Dropping NamesAnd then There Were None by Agatha Christie
15.4 Learn Your NumbersBrideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, who is an 8, and the characteristics are: Practical endeavors, status oriented, power-seeking, high-material goals
The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer, where most of the characters are definitely status-oriented and materialistic.
Accumulated total: 80
5.4 I chose the Scott O'Dell Award for YA Historical Fiction and read Bull Run. Loved it!25.6 - Ashley Fl's task Summer Lovin'. I have loved the haunting music of Summer of 42 since 1971 when I first heard it walking on the beach with my transistor radio listening to Cousin Brucie so it was a natural for me to read Summer of '42.
30.5 DLM Rose's Task - Virtual Block Party. I am known for my Strawberry Salad. I chose Strawberry Sunday: A John Marshall Tanner Novel and On Rue Tatin: Living and Cooking in a French Town.
5.1 Heat Wave - Burned by P.C. Cast5.7 "I Confess that in 1901 I Said to my Brother Orville That Man Would Not Fly for Fifty Years - Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. There is a bicycle on the cover.
15.3 Books and Blogs - True Believer by Nicholas Sparks. It was reviewed on the bloghttp://bookreviewsbykatie.blogspot.co....
20.1 Sweltering Days of Summer - My favorite ice cream flavor is coffee so I read Coffee And Kung Fu by Karen Brichoux.
25.1 Independence Day - A. The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff. This book takes place at the end of World War II and one of the main characters is an American soldier.
Total Points: 115
Tasks Completed: 8
Total Books Read: 11
Total Number of Pages: 3789
B. Red, White or Blue Cover - Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson.
Sorry Cynthia! here is the update!You posted...25.5 - Helen's Task - Share the Summer Love
For all us booklovers, summer is a great time of year to relax with our favorite reads. In this task, share your love of your favorites with us. Read two (2) books:
A. One from your favorite genre/type.
B. One from your second favorite genre/type.
C. Write a short review for each and an explanation of why your like that genre/type.
Note: This is free form. You can define the genre/type however you want. Just share it with us when you post. For example:
A- Young Adult City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare Read 6-3-10
B- Romantic Fantasy Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon Re-read 6-10-10
a- This is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series. It follows Clary as she deals with the truth of who she is as well as her relationships with Jace and Simon, who has undergone a major change. I love YA books because they are so unique, are easy to get rapped up in, and because they give you a break from being a grown up! (well, i'm not really that grown since i'm 24, but still)
b- This is the second in the Dark Hunter series. It is about Kyrian and Amanda who must work together to save the world from a demi-god damon and must save each other from themselves. I love living vicariously through the characters in these books!
Points- 50
#books read- 7
#pages read- 2144
#challenges completed- 5
For 5.5 Dropping Names:I read
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the most popular book by J.K. Rowling.Yes, before this I was the only person in my family, perhaps the only person in the United States, who had not read any Rowling books. Now I can no longer claim that dubious distinction.
10.4 Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen10.5 The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares
Tasks: 8
Points: 120
and 10.6 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie FordTasks: 9
Points:130
I think I'm caught up on reposting with authors now :)
Task 5.9Savor The Moment by Nora Roberts
I read the book at work during the lunch, waiting for 2 different doctor appointments and while riding the shuttle between office buildings.
Task 15.3
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
This book (the series as a whole actually) is discussed on
bittenbybooks.com
I went into this book expecting just to be mildly entertained, and to find a book similar to the "human befriends/falls in love with vampire" that seems to be the big trend lately ("Twilight" brought on a bunch of writer wanna-bes in my opinion). However, I was pleasently surprised to find that this book wasn't just a standard formula - it truly stood on its own story. I was surprised at the end, another thing I didn't expect from a YA novel -- I'm used to the "and the teenagers ended up happily ever after"...in as much as teenagers ever end up happily ever after. I wasn't able to guess the end halfway into it, which made it all the more enjoyable
Tasks Completed: 12
Books read: 14
Points earned:165
Goodreads author tickets: 1
Hello,This is my first challenge so I hope I'm doing this right.
5.1 - The Sun Witch by Linda Winstead Jones
5.9 - The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks
10.1 - The Empath by Bonnie Vanak
25.9 – Tankini (Total: 976 pages): Lover Mine by J.R. Ward and Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
Total Points: 45
Tasks Completed: 4
Books Read: 5
Pages Read: 1,944
Paul wrote: "... I was the only person in my family, perhaps the only person in the United States, who had not read any Rowling books."LOL I can claim that distinction. Not only have I not read one, but don't plan to ever read one. Plans change, but . . .
Just completed task 5.4 by reading All We Know of Heaven. It was nominated for the South Carolina Book Award. It was interesting, but I don't know if I like how it was written. I would not personally give it an award.Total pages: 8360
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I am late getting into this as well, but I finished some of the tasks unknowingly while in Australia anyway. 5.1 - Heat Wave -- Midnight Sun
5.9 - Get Caught Reading -- A Door Into Ocean I read this on the airplane over the ocean. :-)
20.3 - Best Review Contest - Amanda VA's Task - School May Be Out (A)The Morgesons
20.6 - Supporting Goodreads Authors - Nicole CA's Task - List Maker Geek Love This is most definitely a must read. This book changed my life! Okay, maybe not that drastic, but it made me feel so much better about myself and all of my little quirks.
Total Points: 50
Tasks Completed:4
Finished 25.5 - Favorite GenresMy first favorite genre is literary fiction. I read Testimony by Anita Shreve. This book was very interesting, and I gave it 4*. I enjoy literary fiction because it's important to me that an author write well in addition to telling a good story.
My second favorite genre is biography/memoirs. I read Too Fat to Fish by Artie Lange. Another interesting read about one man's battle with addiction, and I gave it 4*. I enjoy reading this genre because I find the triumph of the human spirit over tragedy to be uplifting, which many of these books tend to be. I also like that the books range from light to melodramatic so based upon the individual, the reader doesn't always know what type of story will get here. I have no preference between celebrity books of this nature versus those of non-celebrities. Most people have a good story to tell about their lives.
Total Points: 80 + 25 = 105
10.6 6 AUG 1965 Voting Rights Act
October Suite: A Novel by Maxine Clair
October Brown comes of age in 1950's Ohio, Kansas and Missouri discrimination -- she's black, she's female and she's an unwed mother.
780 points
5.3 SUMMER The Heretic Queen10.9 Learning Some thing Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
25.3 Virtual Foreign Vacation: Egypt
A River in the Sky
Around the World in 80 Days
Total: 40 Points
Books: 4
I'm new here...Finished:
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, for 20.9 Indie's Choice
(and watched the movie "Sin Nombre")
March, by Geraldine Brooks, which deals with The Civil War and slavery, for 10.6 Stand up for Your Rights
The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, for 5.5 Dropping Names
For a total of 35 points...YAY!!!
Welcome to the challenge Sara. Wasn't the Help a great book?I listened to it on audiobook and it was fantastic.
I finished two tasks this weekend:5.5 Dropping names - Read Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
and
5.10 Reread A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
points these tasks 10
total points 205
total books 21
total pages 6130
20.2, Kiri's Task - A Trip To The Past: I read Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, The
, which is a retelling of the story of Jesus.
Kathleen wrote: "I am late getting into this as well, but I finished some of the tasks unknowingly while in Australia anyway. 5.1 - Heat Wave -- Midnight Sun
5.9 - Get Caught Reading -- [book:A Doo..."
I am so glad someone else liked Geek Love! I, well...geekloved it!
20.10 - Read The Hunger Games and posted in the discussion. Truly amazing book. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.+20
total: 20
10.6 Stand Up for Your RightsI read The Other Half of My Heart. It is about biracial twins Keira and Minni who are competing in the Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America Pageant. Keira looks African American and Minni looks white, so they often face discrimination from people who don't believe they are sisters, let alone twins. Keira often faces discrimination in their mostly white hometown, and Minni experiences discrimination while she is competing in the pageant for looking white.
Books read: 15
Pages read: 4522
Tasks complete: 12
Tasks in progress: 2
I completed task 20.3 - Best Review Contest - Amanda VA's Task - School May Be Out by reading:A - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (pub. 1890)
Total points = 100
I'm re-posting this task because I accidentally left out some info - oops!I just completed my first task for this challenge - 25.9, I did A. Read a Book of at least 850 pages.
I read The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - 973 pages. I have to say I was a little disappointed. It wasn't bad, but with everything I'd heard about it I was expecting more. It could have been about 200 pages shorter too."
15.3 Books and BlogsI read Every Last One by Anna Quindlen. I heard about from Charlotte's Web of Books.
http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....
I read this book in one afternoon. I love the way she writes-it is detailed just enough, but not enough to slow the story down, yet you still feel attached to the characters.
Warning-it is a tear-jerker.
Books read: 15
Pages read: 5170
Tasks complete: 8
Tasks in progress: 6
Points: 85
Cindie wrote:I am so glad someone else liked Geek Love! I, well...geekloved it!It was so amazing right? I find myself constantly having to defend it to people who just can't see past the more warped themes. I rarely ever am able to convince them that there are deeper meanings and incredibly enriching stories. I think people just need to go into it knowing what it is and that it can be disturbing, that the characters are not necessarily the most likable (which I think is part of what makes it great).
15.9 - “He Who Knows Others Is Wise. He Who Knows Himself Is Enlightened.” - Lao TzuThe Genius by Jesse Kellerman
I found it hard to think of some label for myself, so I used the only one I could think of that people have actually called me through the years since I was always so good in math and science through school. I was not like the character (Victor) that the title refers to AT ALL. His genius was of the artistic kind - in the book, he created an amazing work of art, while I struggle with creativity of that kind. Victor also led a very simple life and did only ONE thing - drew pictures all the time. I like to have as many different experiences as possible. On top of that, he had very few thoughts and hardly a basic understanding of the world he lived in. He was a bit mentally disabled in a way, but a label was never given to his condition. He rarely ever says a word from childhood to adulthood, and in that I may have more in common with him than I realize because most of the time I prefer to just not talk. We did have one strong thing in common though in that we both derive much happiness from the library. Even though I didn't see too much of myself in Victor, I loved reading his story. This was a fantastic book, and the first novel I've given five stars to in a long time.
Tasks Completed - 12
Books Read - 15
Pages Read - 3955
Total Points - 185
Books by Goodreads authors: 1
Big Books: 0 (500+), 0 (750+), 0 (1000+)
15.1A Old = 1938 & Borrowed = library
Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
15.1B New & Blue
The Beach House by Jane Green
795 points
5.2 Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (Movie - Eclipse)
5.10
Task Points: 5
Total Points: 65
Books Read: 5
Pages Read: 2745
Tasks completed: 4
5.1 Heat Wave - Read Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich. I can't believe I was the first at the library to get it! :)5.8 Take a Walk on Wall Street, from the Best Man vs. Nature - Read K2, The Savage Mountain: The Classic True Story of Disaster and Survival on the World's Second-Highest Mountain
20.4 Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride, since this is my first challenge, I would give a book (for paper), so I read Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World
Points for these tasks: 30
Total Points: 115
Tasks Completed: 9
Books Read: 12
Pages Read: 3060
5.1 - Heat WaveI read Sunburn (Fear Street ): Sunburn by R. L. Stine. It was pretty silly but ok.
5.7 - "I Confess That In 1901 I Said To My Brother Orville That Man Would Not Fly For Fifty Years. "
I read
which has a horse on the cover. I don't think I really 'got' this book... I thought it was pretty terrible but supposedly it's meant to be funny. Maybe it's just not my sort of humour. 10.10 - Great Minds Think Alike
I read Perfect which was a 5 star book of Nessie. I really like this series.
15.1 - Wedding Bells Are Ringing
A. OLD - I read Murder at the Vicarage which was first published in 1930. I borrowed this from the library.
AND
B. NEW - I read
and the cover was blue. I would recommend both. Total Points: 210
Finished Task 10.6I read Train Go Sorry: Inside a Deaf World by Leah Hagen Cohen. Deaf people have always been discriminated against in our society. It was interesting to take a peek into their world and see things from a much different perspective.
Task 15.2 Stars and Stripes ForeverPart A: I read Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi: A Novel by Kincaid
Part B: I read The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker. (setting in New York)
***Tiffany Baker is a GOODREADS author***
15 points
Total: 120 points
Finally finished my first task...a few more on the go.5.7 "I Confess That In 1901 I Said To My Brother Orville That Man Would Not Fly For Fifty Years. "
I read
Nature Girl.Tasks Completed - 1
Books Read - 1
Pages Read - 310
Total Points - 5
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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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Just finished reading: Look Again by Lisa Scottoline for 10 Points.