The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
WINTER CHALLENGE 2010-2011: ASIA
>
Winter Challenge 2010-2011 Completed Tasks (do not delete any posts)

I used Dimrose's list
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
and
Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker
Points: 25
25.3 Reflections on 2010
Book A: I did not have a specific memory/esperience to recall. So...I chose a positive experience I was trying to have. I had set myself to improve my own character in the next business year (July 2010 - June 2011) as part of my growth. I found a book that not only encouraged me in this but also continued to give me more insight.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Book B: First time read author in 2010: Laura Joh Rowland
The Cloud Pavilion
I read this new-to-me author for 10.5 in December.
Points: 25
Goodreads Author: 1 (Gretchen Rubin)
Total Points: 340
Total GR Authors: 6
Total Books Read: 33
Total Tasks Completed: 22
Total Big Books: 1 (500+)

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall
Points: 10
Goodreads Author: 1
Total Points: 350
Total GR Authors: 7
Total Books Read: 33
Total Tasks Completed: 23
Total Big Books: 1 (500+)

10.7 - I'm replacing The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree with The Whole Truth from the mystery and suspense shelf.
New Tasks
30.7 Forever Young
Stand Alone - Speak - YA because the protagonist is a freshman in High School. Coming of age as she deals with serious issues and finding her voice. 198 pp
Series
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - YA because Harry and his friends are 17. Fantasy because they are wizards and witches. 759 pp ***Big Book ticket**
Total pages - 957
30.8 Spirit of the Season
"2" Favorite genre - mystery - Dark Tort by DIAne Mott DAvidSon
"4" Added in the last 6 months - The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree by SusAn WIttig Albert
Points this post: 60
Total Points: 630
Tasks Completed: 34
Books Read: 42
GoodReads Authors: 9
Big Books: 500+ (6), 750+ (2), 1000+ (0)

Karen GHHS wrote: "Congrats to all finishers! I'm excited to see your tasks. I don't think I have any chance of finishing but I've really been enjoying my reading."
That's really the point, to have fun and to find new things to read!
That's really the point, to have fun and to find new things to read!
Stacey
5.5 Blast from the Past
If There Be Thorns (published 1981)
20.2 Winter Flowers Day
Flowers in the Attic
New points: 25
Total points: 480
5.5 Blast from the Past
If There Be Thorns (published 1981)
20.2 Winter Flowers Day
Flowers in the Attic
New points: 25
Total points: 480

Roll a die twice (or until you get two different numbers), and read two books (one for each die) that fit the numbered criteria below. However, there is one catch: the letters A-S-I-A must appear in full (2 As, 1 S, and 1 I), but in any order, in either the title or the author's name.
I rolled a 4 and a 5:
4: Read a book you've added to your TBR list in the last 6 months.
Manservant and Maidservant by Ivy Compton-Burnett
5: Read a book you've been dying to read, but haven't had a place for in the challenge.
The Sultan's Shadow: One Family's Rule at the Crossroads of East and West by Christiane Bird
(Per the thread for this task, having the "A-S-I-A" in the subtitle counts.)
This Post: 30
Total Points: 655
Tasks Completed: 39
Goodreads Authors: 8
Big Books: 500+ (6), 750+ (0), 1000+ (1)

I enjoy books from many different genres but for a relaxing read I think detective series are my favourite at the moment, so for this task I read:
Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves
This is the fourth and last in the series which I began for this challenge.
Death at Wentwater Court A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery by Carola Dunn
This is the first book in the Daisy Dalrymple series.
Total points to date 510



Amazing in a totally Victorian, gothic, tension-building way.
It's been a long time since I've read a book as "Victorian" as this one, with the Ladies swooning, crying and so uttery pure & the men so gallant and brave and willing to (platonically) love a pure woman to all extemes.
Great story.
Total Points: 310

Now off to tackle the last book to complete the 50-point Task........

Tasks:
5:6 It's All in the Numbers: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
5:9 Noel, Noel: The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton
5:10 About the Author: On the Art of Writing by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch
10:3 Slainte! To Your Health: Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir by Jeanetter Fulda
10:10 Top Ten Lists: The top ten list I chose was 'Henry Suttons Top 10 Unreliable Narrators' and I read: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
15:5 Begins With Q Alex: The Female Quixote: or The Adventures of Arabella by Charlotte Lennox
15:7 Keep it Simple: Against Nature (A Rebours) by Joris-Karl Huysmans
20-3 Best Review Contest: Chucklesthescots task:
A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair. The main character discovers that she has the power of psychometrics-she can touch old clothing and see visions of it's previous wearers.
20:9 Lucky Me: Nancy's Task Presidents Day:
Looking for the Possible Dance by A.L. Kennedy
25-2 Emily IN's task-Thank You Moderators:
I chose 2 books from Dlmrose's 2010 list:
Secrets of a Former Fat Girl: How to Lose Two, Four (or More!) Dress Sizes--And Find Yourself Along the Way by Lisa Delaney and Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
30-4: Donna Jo's task-By the Numbers:
A. My birth year ends in 3, so I read an suthor who's name begins with S. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
B. I needed a book with 7 words in the title: The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair
This should bring me to 410 points


From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
20.4 Author! Author! Tani's task- Game On!
Rolled a 5 and read A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
20.6 Seasoned Reader: Beth F's task- The Twenty-tens
The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski
Points: 50
Total Points: 620
Tasks Completed: 38
Books Read: 52
Pages: 16,522
Goodreads Authors: 14
Big Books: 500+(2), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

30.7 - Forever Young
I don't know about anyone else, but this task was hard! Everything I wanted to read was either series, fantasy, or the character was too young :)
Stand-alone:
I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Considered YA historical fiction because the main character is growing up in Nazi Germany during WWII. My copy has 550 pages.
*Big Book*
Series:
I read Graceling by Kristin Cashore. This one falls under fantasy, and had 471 pages. Considered YA because the main character is in her late teens.
Total pages: 1021
Points This Post: 30
Total Points to Date: 365
Goodreads Authors: 5
Big Books: 500+(4), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

25.1 Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
From my favourite genre – Science Fiction
And All the Stars a Stage
The Infinite Man
Total points 785

Task 15.1 Time after Time
Past: Wolfbreed by SA Swann
Future: Naked in Death by JD Robb
Task 15.10 Keep it Simple
Skin Deep (O'Hurley's Return) (O'Hurleys #3) by Nora Roberts
Task 20.4 Game On!
Rolled a 6
The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly erikson
Task 30.7 Forever Young
Series, Paranormal: Last Sacrifice byRichelle Mead 594 pages
standalone, mystery: Don't Look Behind You by Lois Duncan 192 pages
standalone, coming of age: Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley 272 pages
Richelle Mead is a GR author
Last Sacrifice is 500+ pages - Big Book ticket
30.10 Asian Authors
India:The Conch Bearer by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Manila: Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
I think I have 485 points...

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
(this book has a large section about weight loss and also about curing yourself from disease)
20.5 Bigger is Better
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
30.6 Looking for a few good authors
A) Everlost by Neil Shusterman
1 - 14 letters in both Neil Shusterman and Stephenie Meyer
B) The Lying Game by Sara Shepard*
*Sara Shepard is a goodreads author
6 - literature map (Stephenie Meyer)
540 points

Still Alice by Lisa Genova*. Very sad book, cried a lot =(
20.10 Group Read
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Points: 40
Total Points: 240
Tasks Completed: 16
Books Read: 28
Pages: 7,331
Goodreads Authors: 1*
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


Jackie as Editor

points: 380
books read: 29
total pages: 8878


Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
***GoodReads Author***
10.7 My Favorite Things
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly from the genre Teen Fiction
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 530
Total Tasks Completed: 31
Total Books Read: 40
Total GoodReads Authors: 11
Total Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)

5.1 Short and Sweet
A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean
This book was 168pp., definitely the shortest on my list. It was a quick read, but an excellent book!
10.2 Orient Express
My Journey to Lhasa: The Classic Story of the Only Western Woman Who Succeeded in Entering the Forbidden City by Alexandra David-Néel
Story about a woman travelling through China into Tibet.
10.3 "Slainte! To Your Health
French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano
Post Total: 25
Grand Total: 210
GoodReads Authors: 1
BigBook Tickets: 8

Task 30.6 Looking for a few good authors
My favourite author is Stephen King.
A) I rolled a 3 - My favourite book by Stephen Kingis Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower #4), so I read The Gunslinger: Revised and Expanded (Dark Tower #1), which is set in the same world.
B) I rolled a 4: I listened to SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes And Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt - both named Stephen, and one spelled the same way as King.
Points: 30
Total Points: 230
Tasks Completed: 10
Books Read: 16
Pages: 5219 (and one audiobook)
Big Books: 500+(1) 750+(1) 1000+()

25.1: Old Chesnut. I chose contemporary fiction and read
1. One Day by David Nicholls
2. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields.
25.2: Thank you Moderators: I chose Ape House by Sara Gruen from Sandy's shelf and The Lost Symbol (claiming big book- 528 pages)by Dan Brown from Kristi's shelf.
30.10: Asian Authors
1. Snow by Orhan Pamuk who is from Turkey
2. The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani who is from Iran Amirrezvani is a goodreads author.
Points This Post: 80
Total Points in Challenge: 270
Books Read: 18
Tasks Completed: 9
Pages Read: 6863
GR Authors: Sarah Dessen, Robert Liparulo, Anita Amirrezvani
Big Book Tickets: 500+(Eclipse (629), The Lost Symbol (528)); 750+(Breaking Dawn (754)); 1000+(0)

Task 10.9 Series Killer
The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho -- The final book in the On the Seventh Day Trilogy
Paulo Coelho is a GoodReads Author, so I'd like to claim a ticket for that please.
New points = 10
Grand total = 395

50.1- Melanie's task: Land Among the Stars
A. Words: Read a book containing the words MOON, STAR, NIGHT, SKY or DARK in the title.
Dark: Disney after Dark by Ridley Pearson (325 p.)
B. Constellations: Roll a Die and see in which constellation you land: Rolled a 5
5. Leo: Read a book featuring an animal on the cover or playing an important role in the plot. Mythical creatures (phoenix, basilisk, dragon,...) are allowed (but no human shapeshifters).
Christmas with Tucker by Greg Kincaid (180 p.)
Tucker is a dog – the center of the story & he is also on the cover. Ironically, I'm a Leo and I have a cat named Tucker. :)
C. Stars: There are many forms of stars, so roll the die again, and find out which of my favorite stars you land on: Rolled a 2
2. Sean Connery as... James Bond: Read a mystery/thriller.
The Spy by Clive Cussler (436 p.)
Points this Post: 50
Tasks Completed this Post: 1
Books Read this Post: 3
Pages Read this Post: 941
Total Points: 745
Total Tasks Completed: 45
Total Books Read: 61
Total Pages Read: 21873
Total GoodReads Authors: 13
Total Big Books: 500+ (4), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)

First off, I had previously used Valley of Silence for task 10.5, Chinese Dragon Dance. I'm moving it (see below) so before add these new tasks my total would be 135 instead of 145.
New Tasks
5.5 Blast From the Past-Read Watchmen which was published in 1986
15.4 Opposite Day-Read Black Girl White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
20.4 Game On-I rolled a 4 which was Puzzle Games so I read Columbine which won the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime also, Dave Cullen is a Goodreads Author
20.5 Bigger is Better/Larger than Life. I read Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago. In it, death (small "d" intended) is a woman who has decided to stop killing and try being human. She is an unconventional woman to be reckoned with!
25.4 IMBOLC I read Valley of Silence which is book #3 in the trilogy by Nora Roberts based on Celtic Mythology and The Girl Who Played with Fire-which is also a "big book" 500+
Tasks Completed:16
Books Read:18
GR Authors:2
Big Books: 1 (500+)
Total Points:220

I completed task 10.6 Cookie Exchange. Lemon Merguene cookies are one of my many favorites so I read "Lemon Merguene Pie Murder" by Joanne Fluke.
Tasks Completed: 11
Books Read: 17
Big Books: (500) 2, (750) 1
GR Authors: Laurie Halse Anderson
Total Points: 170/975


Finished up another one!
30.3 A: A cold place. I chose Russia and read The Last Days of the Romanovs: Tragedy at Ekaterinburg
B: Words: I chose LOVE and read Peony in Love by Lisa See Lisa See is a Goodreads author.
Points This Post: 30
Total Points in Challenge: 300
Books Read: 20
Tasks Completed: 10
Pages Read: 7407
GR Authors: Sarah Dessen, Robert Liparulo, Anita Amirrezvani, Lisa See
Big Book Tickets: 500+(Eclipse (629), The Lost Symbol (528)); 750+(Breaking Dawn (754)); 1000+(0)

Books read: 7
Challenges accomplished: 6
Points : 110

In honor of the band ASIA, which formed in 1981 and broke up in 1986, read a book originally published in any year between 1981 and 1986 (inclusive).
B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
This book was published in 1985.
This Post: 5
Total Points: 660
Tasks Completed: 40
Goodreads Authors: 8
Big Books: 500+ (6), 750+ (0), 1000+ (1)

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
First published 1983
Total points to date 515


30.10 In Honor Of Asian Authors
Read I Love Yous Are for White People: A Memoir by Lac Su
Lac Su was born in Vietnam
Read Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
Dai Sijie was born in China
This task: 30
Tasks completed: 31
Total points earned: 480
GR authors: 11
Big book: 2/500+, 1/750+
Stacey
15.1
Time After Time A: Historical Fiction
Leviathan
Time After Time B: Set in the Future
Accelerando
New points: 15
Total points: 495
15.1
Time After Time A: Historical Fiction
Leviathan
Time After Time B: Set in the Future
Accelerando
New points: 15
Total points: 495

I studied abroad in Japan during the spring semester of 2010 and developed somewhat of an obsession with karaoke. The protagonists of Ryū Murakami's Popular Hits of the Showa Era: A Novel share a similar (if slightly more extreme) love of karaoke.
I had also read Bret Easton Ellis for the first time in 2010, so I tried another book of his for this task-- Less Than Zero.
Points This Post: 25
Total Points: 310
Total Tasks Completed: 13
Total Books Read: 20
Total Pages Read: 4931
Total GoodReads Authors: 1
Total Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
from Miki’s shelves, birthday is Dec. 10
Total Points: 345
Tasks Completed: 25

30.6 -- Delicious Dee's task -- Looking for a Few Good... Authors
Choose one of your favorite authors. Then, go to: Roll Dice, and click on "Roll Again" ONCE (you only get one roll). Using your favorite author and the numbers you rolled, you will need to read two books (one for each die) that fit the numbered criteria. I picked Barbara Kingsolver as my favorite author, and rolled...
a three:
3. Read a book with the same setting as your favorite book by the author. My favorite book by Barbara Kingsolver is The Poisonwood Bible which is set in Africa, so I chose to read a book also set in Africa: The Immoralist by André Gide.
a six:
6. Using the Literature Map, choose a new-to-you author from the results of putting in the name of your favorite author and read a book by that author - The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. David Ebershoff is a new-to-me author found on Literature Map using Barbara Kingsolver's name in the search.
David Ebershoff is a Goodreads Author
The 19th Wife is over 500 pages long, so I will also claim a big book ticket
Total Points: 880/975
Tasks Completed: 51/56
Tasks in Progress: 4
Books Read: 73
Goodreads Authors: 7 (David Ebershoff, Laureen Vonnegut, Neil Gaiman, James Patterson, Jennifer Weiner, Jackson Pearce, Rebecca Wells)
Big Books: 500+(4), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
[image error]

Task: 20.2 Winter Flowers Day
Book: The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon
GoodReads Author Ticket
Total Points: 315
Previous Books
5.4 It's Cold Outside - Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
5.6 It's all in the Numbers - Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
5.10 About the Author - The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry
10.2 Orient Express - The Blue Notebook by James A Levine
10.9 Serial Killer - The Importance of Being Seven by Alexander McCall Smith
10.10 Top Ten Lists - The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
15.10 Keep it Simple - Dancing Backwards by Salley Vickers
20.6 The Twenty-tens - Twenty-one Locks by Laura Burton
20.7 The Christmas Fuzzies - No and Me by Delphine de Vigan
20.10 Group Read - The Giver by Lois Lowry
25.2 Thank You Moderators - The Long Song by Andrea Levy and The Weight of Silence by Heather Guddenkauf
30.2 Alphabetically Speaking - Little Constructions by Anna Burns and Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
30.3 Ho! Ho! Ho! - The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad and I Love You Goodbye
30.4 By the Numbers - The Man who Disappeared by Clare Morrall and Eliis Island by Kate Kerrigan
30.7 Forever Young - Artemis Fowl and the Altantis Complex Eoin Colfer and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and Alice in Time by Penelope Bush
30.8 In the Spirit of the Season - Dona Nicanora's Hat Shop and A week in December by Sebastian Faulks
[image error]

The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan. This book was first published in 1981.
15.3 - From A... to Z
Book 1: A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris.
Book 2: Dirty Havana Trilogy: A Novel in Stories by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez
Total Points to Date: 695

and B. a novel set in the future - read Ritual in Death by J.D. Robb set in 2058.
points 15
total points 490

and Book B. phone number to one digit 2 - read Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
points 30
total points 535

Spin by Catherine McKenzie
Catherine McKenzie is a Goodreads author.
Total points: 215

Task 10.9 (Serial Killer) – remove "Mixture of Frailties" and replace it with And Another Thing... (last of the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy series). (no point change)
I think Eoin Colfer did a good job in writing the final episode of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy as Douglas Adams wanted to before he passed away. The tone and feel of the story is very much like Adams' work. This book is funny and bizarre and the story is "unusual" ....just like the other Hitchhiker books. The end portion seems a bit stretched out but that's the only negative comment for this book.
Task 20.5 (Larger Than Life) – I'm moving A Mixture of Frailties to this task. It was approved in the Task Help thread, Message 117. (+20 points)
Monica Gall leads an unconventional life by breaking away from the restricted confines of her family and Community to become her own person and live her dream of becoming a famous Opera Singer.
New Total Points: 330
30.5 The Old '10/The New '11
read Marked by P.C. Cast 304 pages
for the one of the longest on my TBR list
and read
Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Marilyn Kaye 222 pages for one of the newest on my TBR list
Points this task 30
Total points 530
Tasks Completed: 26
Books read 37
Total pages: 11102
GR Authors: 16
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
read Marked by P.C. Cast 304 pages
for the one of the longest on my TBR list
and read
Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Marilyn Kaye 222 pages for one of the newest on my TBR list
Points this task 30
Total points 530
Tasks Completed: 26
Books read 37
Total pages: 11102
GR Authors: 16
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

1 new task
50.1- Melanie's task: Land Among the Stars: Read THREE books
A. Words: Read a book containing the words MOON, STAR, NIGHT, SKY or DARK:
Blood Moon by Dawn Thompson
B. Constellations Roll a Die and see in which constellation you land: I rolled a 5
#5. Leo: Read a book featuring an animal on the cover:

Alexander McCall Smith is a GoodReads Author
C. Stars There are many forms of stars, so roll the die again, and find out which of my favorite stars you land on: I rolled a 4
#4. David Boreanaz as.. Angel: Read a fantasy or paranormal book.
Lord Sunday by Garth Nix is a fantasy book
Total Points = 765
Tasks Completed = 42
Total Pages = 18,883
GoodReads Authors = 11

The Skull Beneath The Skin by P.D. James
Originally published in 1982.
Points this task: 5
Total Points: 635
Tasks Completed: 35
Books Read: 43
GoodReads Authors: 9
Big Books: 500+ (6), 750+ (2), 1000+ (0)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Lisa See is a GR author.
Punten: 20
Punten totaal: 135
Tasks completed: 7
Books Read: 9
Pages: 3241
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books 500(1), 750(0), 1000(0)
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
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)
More...
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)
More...
Rolled a 1 and a 4
1 Favourite author
Last Scene Alive by Charlaine Harris
LASt Scene AlIve or CharlAIne HArriS
4 Added in last 6 months
Passionate Heat by Rachel Kenley
PASsIonAte Heat
Rachel Kenley is a Goodreads Author
This Post: 30
Total Points: 295
Tasks Completed: 14
Books Read: 23
Goodreads Authors: 5 (James Patterson, Alexander McCall Smith, Margaret Atwood, M J Rose, Rachel Kenley)
Big Books: 500+ (3), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)