The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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WINTER CHALLENGE 2010-2011: ASIA
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Winter Challenge 2010-2011 Completed Tasks (do not delete any posts)
CathyNJ: I just completed task 15.7: The Book is Always Better Than the Movie...or Is It?I chose to read
.I loved this book. It was really sweet!
Points for this task: 15
10.4 Scottish AuthorHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Points this task: 10
Total Points: 420
Tasks Completed: 27
Books Read: 37
GoodReads Authors: 6
Big Books: 500+ (4), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)
Carly25.1 -- Wendy MA's task - Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...
Mysteries are my favorite genre, so I read...
1) Strange but True: A Novel by John Searles
and
2) The Fat Man by Ken Harmon
Points This Task: 25
Total Points: 85
Tasks Completed: 5
Tasks in Progress: 7
Books Read: 8
GoodReads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Pages Read: 2475
Readerboard Name: PaperPillsTask #5.2 - Singles Awareness Day
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld (one word title!)
Task #5.3 - Starts With...
Wilson by Daniel Clowes
Clowes's first name starts with D! I'm using this graphic novel on a 5-star task because it's only 80 pages.
Task #20.5 - Bigger is Better
Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago
The conquistadora of this novel is Ana Cubillas, a young woman in 19th-century Spain drawn to the untamed, exotic wilds of Puerto Rico. She's not always the most admirable of characters, but as a female sugarcane plantation owner, she's definitely an unconventional woman.
Task #20.10 - Group Read
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Here's a link to my post in the discussion thread.
This post: 50
Total to date: 170
Big Book tickets to date: 500 (x3)
Readerboard Name: Gina NY
Task 25.3 Reflections on 2010
a) A 2010 memory--I got married in 2010 and the main character in this book gets married.
b) New to you author in 2010--Jennifer Crusie
Total Points: 470 Points
Task 25.3 Reflections on 2010
a) A 2010 memory--I got married in 2010 and the main character in this book gets married.
b) New to you author in 2010--Jennifer Crusie
Total Points: 470 Points
Mod
I used Anne McCaffrey as one of my favorite authors, and rolled a 3 and a 4.
For 3, since my favorite books by her are set on a fantasy world, I read The Last Colony by John Scalzi, also set on a fantasy world.
For 4, same first name, I read Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott.
Total points: 635
Jayme VA30.8 Roll dice and spell ASIA
Rolled a 2 (fav genre): The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
and a 4 (TBR) The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice
50.1 A: chose the Word Dark: House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo **Liparulo is a Goodreads author**
B: Rolled a 1 (fav books list) Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer **Claiming Big Book 750+ (754 pgs)**
C: Rolled a 1 (popular classics) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Points This Post: 80
Total Points in Challenge: 190
Books Read: 12
Tasks Completed: 6
Pages Read: 4382
GR Authors: Sarah Dessen, Robert Liparulo
Big Book Tickets: 500+(Eclipse (629)); 750+(Breaking Dawn (754)); 1000+(0)
Coralie15.8 A Festivus for the rest of us
I really hate machines that speak to me as though I were an idiot. So I read
Dr. Eckener's Dream Machine: The Great Zeppelin and the Dawn of Air Travel
20.7 Christmas Fuzzies … or not
I dread this time of year so I read a happy book
The Nonesuch
30.9 Happy 80th Birthday
Book published in the 1930’s Rebecca
Book my mother would enjoy Don Camillo Omnibus Big Book 543 pages
My mother gave me this book many years ago because she really liked it. Now I’ve finally read it.
My mother had a lovely birthday. It would have been perfect if the weather hadn’t been awful (very hot and very windy) and if her sister had been there (but we all knew that my uncle would stop her from coming).
Total points 640
20.2 Rookie at the Top: Stacey's task- Winter Flowers DayDecember 8 is Winter Flowers Day. Read a book that has the name of a flower or the word "flower" in the title.
Bloodroot by Amy Greene
Note: I had never heard of bloodroot, but it is in fact a flower, as you can see here.
Amy Greene is a GoodReads Author.
This Post: 20
Total Points: 495
Tasks Completed: 32
Goodreads Authors: 8
Big Books: 500+ (6), 750+ (0), 1000+ (1)
10.6 Cookie ExchangeI chose the Russian Tea Cake and read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Total Points: 315
Tasks Completed: 22
Pages Read: 7521
Books Read: 28
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(2), 1000+(0)
Casey TN25.5 - SRC Tea Ceremony
Book A - I chose China Moon Palace Tea, and read Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor.
Book B - I read A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917 by Amy Ephron. This one was a pleasant surprise!
Points This Post: 25
Total Points to Date: 285
Goodreads Authors: 4
Big Books: 500+(3), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Mod
One of my favorite genres is non-fiction, with a favorite subgenre being what I guess I'd call popular sociology.
I read Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception and
The Price of Everything: Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do
Total points: 660
Julie McVey15.8 - The Festivus for the Rest of Us
My pet peeve: I am a teacher, but I have held many other jobs including retail, waiting tables, and working as an advertising executive. As a teacher I have developed a major pet peeve that I was never confronted with before; it drives me crazy that people are always asking me for money! Someone is always selling something, collecting for something, forgetting their purse and "promising" to get me when they have cash! And, I am not even talking about the kids... I really don't mind buying a dozen boxes of girl scout cookies or bags of boy scout popcorn. But, repeatedly being asked for money is my biggest pet peeve!!!!
So, I read the book The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey.
It was actually very inspiring!! :)
Points this posting = 15 points
Total points = 160 points
Julie McVey30.5 - The Old '10/ The New '11
A. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
B. Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards
*** Laurie Halse Anderson is a Goodreads Author ***
Total Points this posting = 30 points
Total Points = 190 Points
5.3 Starts With...Blutopfer by J.R. Ward
5.6 It's all in the numbers
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
10.8 Promise her anything, but give her...
by JoAnna Carl15.7 The Book is Always Better than the Movie...or is it?
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
20.5 Bigger is Better, and Larger than Life
Das Lied der Maori by Sarah Lark
It's about new immigrants to New Zealand. And women who take positions that at those times (18..) weren't proper for them, according to society. So one of the main ladies is head of a sheep farm, the other takes over a coal mine. And all do that rather succesful.
30.3 Ho!Ho!Ho!
A The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indriðason
B Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by Sam Kashner
30.8 In the Spirit of the Season
I rolled 5 and read Ein Haus in Italien. by Lisa Saint Aubin de Teran.
and I rolled a 2 and read Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes because I like chick lit.
Total Points: 175
Tasks completed: 12
30.10 -- Jennifer N's task - In Honor of Asian Authors1. The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall
2. How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation by Simone Elkeles
Both are Goodreads Authors!! Missing Servant takes place in India, Boyfriend's reputation takes place in Israel
total points: 330
Books read: 26
tasks completed: 19
pages read: 8124
Goodreads authors: 5: Simone Elkeles, Tarquin Hall, Lisa See x2 and Lisa Genova
Big books: 500 (1) 750 (1)
15.1 Time After Timea)Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer
b)Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Points this task:15
Total Points:455
Total Goodreads Authors:6
Total Big Book Tickets:5
Mod
Bitter Frost By Kailin Gow 235 pages
Kailin Gow is a Goodread author
15.5 Never Get Involved in a Land War in Asia
read Briar Rose by Jane Yolen 239 pages
This book is about the story of 2 survivors and their struggle through the Holocost.
Points this task 20
Total points 370
Tasks Completed: 19
Books read:27
Total pages: 8211
GR Authors: 15
5.9- No L'sI read Shmirshky by E
Previous Points- 555
Points for this task- 5
Total Points- 560
Goodreads Authors- 11
5.10 - About the AuthorSingle White Vampire by Lynsay Sands
One of the main characters is a writer
10.3 - Slainte! To Your Health!
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
15.1 Time After Time
Book 1 - Brave the Wild Wind by Johanna Lindsey.
This book was set more than 30 years before it was written.
Book 2 - Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews**
This book was set more than 30 years after it was written.
**Ilona Andrews is a Goodreads Author
30.6 - Looking for a Few Good Authors
I rolled a 1 and a 6 and used Richelle Mead as my favorite author.
Book A - Dice 1
I read Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews**. Ilona Andrews has 12 characters in her name the same as Richelle Mead.
**Ilona Andrews is a Goodreads Author
Book B - Dice 6
I read Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews**. Using the literature map I found **Ilona Andrews. Ilona Andrews was a new to me author. Magic Bites was the first of her books I read. I loved it so much that I had to finish the remaining books of her series.
**Ilona Andrews is a Goodreads Author
Totals: 3 Goodreads Author tickets for Ilona Andrews
Total Points to Date: 555
STESSE15.7. The Book is Always Better Than the Movie...or Is It?
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
15.9 - Warm up
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen (269 p.)
Sarah Addison Allen is a GoodReads Author
25.2 - Emily IN's task - Thank You Moderators
Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception by Charles Seife from Sandy’s list (304 p.)
Mom Still Likes You Best: The Unfinished Business Between Siblings by Jane Isay from Sandy’s list (208 p.)
25.5 -- Valorie's task - SRC Tea Ceremony
A. 3. Genre – paranormal – Trio of Sorcery by Mercedes Lackey (351 p.)
B. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (544 p.)
This is a BIG BOOK.
Points this Post: 80
Tasks Completed this Post: 4
Books Read this Post: 6
Pages Read this Post: 1993
Total Points: 615
Total Tasks Completed: 41
Total Books Read: 51
Total Pages Read: 18612
Total GoodReads Authors: 12
Total Big Books: 500+ (3), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)
NICOLE VA20.7 Shorter is Sweeter
I love the holidays, so I read a sad book. I read If I Stay by Gayle Forman.
Total points = 240
Readerboard name: Kimber25.1 Chestnuts
Genre: Mystery
Read Twelve Sharp and Lean Mean Thirteen, both by Janet Evanovich.
This task:25
Tasks completed:25
Goodread Authors: 8
Big Book: 2/500+,1/750+
5.7 Happy New YearI Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
15.1 Time After Time
A. past The Rebellion of Jane Clarke by
Sally Gunning
B. future Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
15.8 Festivus
My pet peeve is when my 9 year old daughter whines. I used the word "daughter".
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda ***GR author***
Points This Post: 35
Total Points: 460
Total Tasks Completed:25
Total Books Read: 33
Total GoodReads Authors: 7
Total Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)
aka Metshaft15.5 Never get involved in a land war in Asia.
This has been my favourite task so far. I read Devil's Guard which is the fascinating story of how German soldiers found themselves fighting with the French Foreign Legion in Indochina (modern day Vietnam) after WWII.
This task:15
Total:60
5.1 -- Short and Sweet: Read the shortest book on your TBR shelf.Shopgirl by Steve Martin
This post: 5 points
Total to Date = 5 points
30.2 -- Cheryl TX’s task -- Alphabetically SpeakingBook A: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney
Book B: The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
Lauren Kate is a Goodreads Author
Total Points: 345
Tasks Completed: 23
Pages Read: 7987
Books Read: 30
Goodreads Authors: 2
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(2), 1000+(0)
Jen UT5.7 - Happy New Year!
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
Total Points: 40
Total Books: 8
Total Tasks: 6
50.1 Land Among the StarsA. A Hat Full of Sky (Tiffany Aching, #2) by Terry Pratchett
B. Rolled a 1.
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss (Page 6)
C. Rolled a 3.
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
This is a retelling of The Odyssey.
Margaret Atwood is a Goodreads author.
This Post: 50
Total Points: 230
Tasks Completed: 11
Books Read: 18
Goodreads Authors: 3 (James Patterson, Alexander McCall Smith, Margaret Atwood)
Big Books: 500+ (3), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)
Mod
15.8 Festivus- pet peeve: Drivers that don't use turn signals
One Good Turn: A Novel by Kate Atkinson
The plot was loose and rambling, but the writing was skillful and clever
25.5 Tea Ceremony
A: You are my Sunshine Flowering Tea: gardener character-
Gasa-Gasa Girl by Naomi Hirahara
Mas Arai is a gardener called to New York to help his son-in-law build a Japanese garden.
B: Tea title
For All the Tea in China: How England Stole the World's Favorite Drink from China and Changed World History by Sarah Rose
A very interesting book- history, horticulture, and tea- some of my favorite things all together in one book
30.1 Black and White
A. Black:
Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
A creepy thriller that was so much more- a boy and his family dealing with the aftermath of tragedy.
B. White:
Death Wore White by Jim Kelly
A very successful take on the locked room mystery
50.1 Land Among the Stars
A. word:
Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
An enjoyable memoir by the author of The Little Prince and his tales of flying for the air service in the 20's and 30's
B: Constellation: rolled a 4- futuristic/sci-fi
Seeker by Jack McDevitt
Salvage/treasure hunters search for relics from the 28th century
C: Star- rolled a 5- Clint Eastwood- western
Boone's Lick by Larry McMurtry
I've liked other McMurtry books more, but this one was good.
total 975
This season was one of extremes- more 1 and 2 star books than usual for me, but more 5 stars too.
23,700 pages
average rating 3.50- above my 3.33 read shelf average
5.5 Blast from the PastThe Gunslinger by Stephen King published in 1982
10.5 Chinese Dragon Dance
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle picture of a Unicorn on cover who figures prominently in the story
30.7 Forever Young - 800 pages of YA books
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - (470 pages) stand-alone/paranormal - considered YA because the main character is in high school. Paranormal because she relives the day of her death 7 times.
Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Imololu - (212 pages) stand-alone/issue oriented - considered YA because the main character is in high school. Issue-oriented because the it describes how she deals with her mother being a "hoarder" and her home being virtually unlivable.
A Wind In The Door by Madeleine L'Engle (211 pages) Series/Sci-fi/fantasy - YA because two of the main characters are in high school (Meg and Calvin). Sci-fi/Fantasy because the story deals with time traveling, strange creatures, ESP, etc.
Total YA pages = 893
Two Goodreads Authors: Lauren Oliver and C. J. Omololu
Total this post = 45
Total Points =590
Total Tasks = 38
Total Books = 50
Total Pages = 13,563
25.1 Chestnuts - I picked Cozy MysteriesIndigo Dying by ***Goodreads author Susan Wittig Albert*** and
Bleeding Hearts also by ***Goodreads author Susan Wittig Albert***
Points this task: 25
Total Points: 445
Tasks Completed: 28
Books Read: 39
GoodReads Authors: 8
Big Books: 500+ (4), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)
20.5 Bigger is Better: Ashley FL's task as suggested by Stesse- Bigger is Better, and Larger than LifeEat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 170
Good Reads Authors: 3
15.4 In One Year and Out the Other by Cara Lockwood in/out(opposites) pgs 37315.5 Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
15.8 The Make-up Girl by Andrea Semple my pet peeve-women who put on their make-up while DRIVING!!!!
30.8 Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler rolled a 2 (humerous one of my favorite genres) and Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert rolled a 5 been trying to fit this in since summer
Total point: 360
Janice CA30.1 Black & White.....
The Ditchdigger's Daughters: A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story by Yvonne S. Thornton
3 stars
I had mixed feeling about this book. Ms. Thornton's story about becoming a doctor was very interesting. I always admire people with intellectual discipline. However, I felt her father's child rearing methods were objectionable.
and
Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress
by Susan Jane Gilman
3.5 stars
I disliked this book at first, but the author's humor grew on me.
I also watched Alfred Hitchcock's version of "Rebecca". Black and white movies are usually my favorite, but I felt the female lead was too needy. I now see why I started the book twice and put it down after only a couple a chapters.
+30
total: 100
tasks: 5
books: 7
GR Authors: 1
Mod
20.9 Lucky Me: Nancy's task-Presidents' DayFebruary 21 is Presidents' Day. Read a book written by an author whose first, middle, or last name is the same as the last name of a U.S. President.
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson
Steven Johnson shares his last name with President Andrew Johnson.
This Post: 20
Total Points: 515
Tasks Completed: 33
Goodreads Authors: 8
Big Books: 500+ (6), 750+ (0), 1000+ (1)
Congrats to everyone who has finished! I don't know how you guys read so fast!
Mod
I read The Color Purple, first published in 1982.
I can't believe I never read this before. We saw the play last week, and I thought it was good, but the book had so much more to it!
Total points: 665
Task 15.9 Warm Up - novel by an author from the American SouthBook Of The Dead by Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell was born in Miami and grew up in North Carolina
Points this task: 15
Points to date: 195
Pages this task: 405
Pages to date:4,972
5.3- Author's name begins with A.I read Comfort Object by Annabel Joseph. (ebook figured out to be more than 200 pages)
*Annabel Joseph is a GR Author*
20.5- Bigger is better, and larger than life
I read Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. This book was approved on task help thread- Mac is awesome in her pastel wardrobe and kick-butt metamorphosis!!
Previous Points- 560
Points for these tasks- 25
Total Points- 585
Goodreads Authors- 12
STESSE30.7 -- Emily Kate's task -- Forever Young
1. Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson (377 p.) – series – Sci-Fi / Fantasy – Considered YA because the protagonists are in high school. It’s a sci-fi/fantasy novel because Disney characters are becoming alive and trying to take over the park.
2. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (215 p.) – series – Dystopian – Considered YA because the protagonist (Kira) is a teenager. It’s dystopian because her society is ruled by savagery and deceit and shuns the weak (seriously, they pen toddlers up with the chickens!).
3. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (345 p.) – Coming of Age – Considered YA because the protagonist (Frankie, aka Bunny Rabbit) is 15 and a sophomore in high school. It’s a coming of age novel because it’s about the battle between good and evil in a teenage girl's soul. As one reviewer put it, “I.e. the warring factions of "OMG that boy is so cute I can't believe he wants to kiss me" and "Wait, he wants me to wear his shirt. What does that mean? Is he marking his territory? Am I his doll? Or is he just being nice?””
Total number of pages = 937
Points this Post: 30
Tasks Completed this Post: 1
Books Read this Post: 3
Pages Read this Post: 937
Total Points: 620
Total Tasks Completed: 41
Total Books Read: 52
Total Pages Read: 19037
Total GoodReads Authors: 12
Total Big Books: 500+ (3), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)
30.7 -- Emily Kate's task -- Forever Young1.Beautiful Creatures - Series/Paranormal (563 pp) - Considered YA because the protagonist is a teenager. It's paranormal because his girlfriend is a Caster.
2. Anna and the French Kiss - Standalone/Romance (372 pp) - Considered YA because the main characters are in high school. It's romance because it the whole book is about falling in love and teenage relationships.
Task Points: 30
Total Points: 105
STESSE30.8 -- Ms. Anderson's Task -- In the Spirit of the Season
Rolled 3 and 5
3. SIdewAys Stories from WAyside School Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar (124 p.)
BunnIculA: A Rabbit-Tale of MyStery (Bunnicula, #1) Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe and James Howe (128 p.)
I LOVED this book when I was younger - my mom would read it to us at night - and even today I'll often think of "the celery stalks at midnight" or Chester's antics. Such a great memory.
5. ProofIness, the DArk ArtS of MAthmatical Deception Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception by Charles Seife (304 p.)
I had really wanted to read this book as statistics were an integral part of my college education, and thought I could apply it to another task... but that didn't work, so I was pleased to be able to shift books around and fit this in here.
Points this Post: 30
Tasks Completed this Post: 1
Books Read this Post: 3
Pages Read this Post: 556
Total Points: 650
Total Tasks Completed: 42
Total Books Read: 55
Total Pages Read: 19593
Total GoodReads Authors: 12
Total Big Books: 500+ (3), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)
Joanna TTask 30.4 -- By the Numbers
Book A: Birth year is even --
Selected Poems by Georg Trakl
Book B: Telephone numbers sum to 5 --
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Grand Total = 280
Dlmrose wrote: "Dlmrose15.8 Festivus- pet peeve: Drivers that don't use turn signals
One Good Turn: A Novel by Kate Atkinson
The plot was loose and rambling, but the writing was ski..."
Congrats DLMRose!
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Death by Darjeeling (other topics)Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (other topics)
Hungry for Happiness (other topics)
Need (other topics)
Eat for Health: Lose Weight, Keep It Off, Look Younger, Live Longer (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Becca Fitzpatrick (other topics)Victoria Forester (other topics)
Jackson Pearce (other topics)
Jessica Verday (other topics)
Kate Constable (other topics)
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20.10:Group Read
Doctor Zhivago
This book was over 500 pages.
Points: 20
Total Points: 160
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500+(2), 750+(0), 1000+(0)