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)

30.3 -- DLMRose's task as suggested by Petra -- HO! HO! HO!
Heidi and
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Total Point Earned: 95/975
Total Pages Read: 2243/24776
Total Books Read: 8/73
Good Read Authours:
Big Book Tickets: 500(), 750(), 1000()


20.5 Bigger is Better: Read a fiction or non-fiction book where the main character is an unconventional woman - Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich. The main character, Stephanie Plum, is an unconventional woman. She is a female bounty hunter.
Total Points: 140
Tasks Completed: 10
Tasks in Progress: 2
Books Read: 11
Goodreads Authors: 1 (Rebecca Wells)
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
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Death With Interruptions by José Saramago -- main character is death (with a small "d").
Total Points: 10/975

Tasks Completed: 1/53
Tasks in Progress: 30.3; 30.4
Books Read: 3 (2 not yet claimed)

10.7 My Favorite Things
Godless by Pete Hautman
Teen fiction genre
Total Points: 25
Total Tasks: 4

Points Completed: 45/975
Books Completed: 4 / 74+
Tasks Completed: 2


5.2 Singles Awareness Day
Breathless
It only has one word in the title.
Points: 5
Total Points: 15

The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness by Lori Schiller
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 70
Total Tasks Completed: 4
Total Books Read: 4
Total GoodReads Authors: 2
Total Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis
25.1 Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
Science fiction is my favorite genre, so I read:
Foundation by Isaac Asimov and
Virtual Light by William Gibson
Points This Post: 30
Total Points: 60
Tasks Completed: 3
Total Books: 5
Pages Read: 1,312
GoodReads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


15.10 Keep It Simple
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Points: 15
Total Points: 75
Tasks Completed: 5
Books Read: 6
Pages Read: 1854
Goodreads Authors: 2
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - 107 pages
10.3 – Sláinte! To Your Health!
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
20.6 – Seasoned Reader: Beth F's task- The Twenty-tens
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
This book was published during the decade of my birth.
20.9 – Lucky Me: Nancy's task-Presidents' Day
Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis by Jimmy Carter
Post Points: 55
Total Points: 55
Tasks Completed: 4
Books Read: 4
Pages Read: 1019
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

I rolled a 4 and a 5. I read Fall of Giants by Ken Follett which I have been dying to read, and Still Alice by Lisa Genova Lisa Genova
Fall of Giants was 985, so I would like a big books ticket, please!
Lisa Genova is a GR author, so I need a ticket for that too!
total points: 35
tasks completed: 2
Books read: 3
Pages Read: 1445
Good reads authors:1
Big books 500 (0) 750 (1) 1000 (0)


The Christmas Cookie Club: A Novel by Ann Pearlman
Points: 10
10.10 Top Ten Lists
I used Michael Foley's Top 10 Absurd Classics list.
The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien
Points: 10
Total points: 25
Tasks completed: 3
Books read: 3

Points for this task:10
Tasks completed:3
Books read:3
Total points:20

The Curtain: An Essay in Seven Parts, Milan Kundera
15.7 The Book is Always Better Than the Movie...or Is It?
The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien (it's on both lists)
20.6 Seasoned Reader: Beth F's task- The Twenty-tens
Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud (published in 1994 and I was born in 1992)
20.7 Shorter is Sweeter: Mrs soule's task- Christmas Fuzzies…or Not
Everything is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer (incredibly heart breaking book)
total points: 60
task completed:4
books read: 4
pages read: 1074

5.3 Starts With....
Strong Motion by Jonathan Franzen
I am claiming an over 500 pages big book ticket.
Points: 5
Total Points: 25
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

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20.10 Group Reads
The Giver
My post is #15 on the discussion thread.
Total: 20 points

The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley
This novel is based on the true life story of Yoshiko Kawashima, who was born a Chinese Princess in 1906 and executed by beheading in 1948, having been found guilty of spying for the Japanese against China.
Her life was totally unconventional - she often dressed as a man, held the rank of major in the Japanese army, and was completely ruthless in her determination to take control of her own life.
Total points to date 35


Task: 20.7 Christmas Fuzzies...or Not
Book: No and Me I love this time of year so chose this book because it has a blue cover

Total points: 80
Previous Books
5.10 About the Author - The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry
10.10 Top Ten Lists - The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
15.10 Keep it Simple - Dancing Backwards by Salley Vickers
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
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Troublemaker Book 1: Alex Barnaby Series 3 by Janet Evanovich
Points: 5
Total Points: 115
Tasks Completed: 9
Books Read: 11
Pages: 3,101
Goodreads Authors: 7
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

5.8 Here's To A New Beginning
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson
Am I the last person in the Challenge to read this?
Books Read - 2
Tasks Completed - 2
Pages Read - 900
Points/Goal - 10
This is a Big Book - 500+ Pages

M. Butterfly: With an Afterword by the Playwright by David Henry Hwang
The subject matter is very much about Asia (specifically, the often-fraught relationship between East and West) and the majority of the plot takes place in flashbacks set in China.
20.5 Bigger is Better. Unconventional Woman.
Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill
This is a play, and there are two main characters, one in each act. In act one the main character, Betty, is meant to be played by a man, which is certainly unconventional. So although the character is trying (and mostly failing) to be everything her husband wants her to be, the fact that a man plays the character makes her in fact unconventional.
In the second act the main character, Victoria, is trying to break the bonds of traditional womanhood in late-1970s England. She establishes her independence by leaving her husband to live with a woman and by the end of the play she also has plans to take a job on her own in another city.
A major theme of the play is breaking down traditional gender roles (which actually leads to many unconventional characters, not just these leading women).
As for unconventional women in my life, I know such a wide variety of types of women that I wonder if there even is such a thing as a conventional woman anymore! There definitely doesn't seem to be in my family/social circle.
Pages in book(s): 238
Total Books Read: 2
Total Challenges Completed: 2
Total Pages Read: 238
Big Book Tickets:0
GoodReads Author Tickets:0
Total Points: 30

15.9 Warm Up.
Bless Your Heart, Tramp: And Other Southern Endearments - Celia Rivenbark
She is from North Carolina and writes about "Southerisms".
Points: 15
Total Points: 45

Am I the last person in the Challenge to read this?
Book..."
No, I haven't yet! It's on this month's challenge list though!
20.6. The Twenty-Tens
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Published in 1995. I was born 1992.
Points: 20
Total Points: 20
Tasks Completed: 1
Books Read: 1
Pages: 480
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

5.3 W.I.N.T.E.R. OR A.S.I.A. - author with "J" initial: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms] by N.K. Jemisin, 412 pages finished 12/3/2010
N.K. Jemisin is a Goodreads author.
5.9 Noel, Noel - no L in author or title: Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb, 508 pages read 12/2/2010
Big books Ticket
20.3 Frosty the Snowman - Magical transformation: Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth, 390 pages read 12/10/2010.
Christopher Farnsworth is a Goodreads author.
20.5 Bigger is Better - strong woman: The Secret Eleanor by Cecelia Holland, 351 pages, read 12/7/2010.
Eleanor of Aquitaine more than pushed the envelope for her time!
This post: 50 points
Total to Date = 130 points.
Points - 130/975
Books - 11/70+
Pages - 4330
Goodreads Authors:4
Big Books:500+ - (1), 750+ - (0),1000+ - (0)

The movie was much better than the book.
15.9 WARM UP - The Last Child by John Hart.
This book was set in North Carolina.
20.4 GAME ON - Blood Lite
This book contained a story by Kelly Armstrong who is a ***Goodreads Author***
20.7 CHRISTMAS FUZZIES -
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare from the Books That Make Me Cry list.
*** Goodreads Author***
***Big Book 541 pgs***
20.9 INAUGARATION DAY -
Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. Kennedy Shattered American Liberalism by James Piereson
Total Points: 70
Total Tasks: 5
Total Books: 5
Total Pages: 1666
GR Authors: 2
Big Books 500+: 1

30.10 In honor of Asian authors
My Father's Notebook: A Novel of Iran by Kader Abdollah (Iran)
A Thousand Splendid Sunsby Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)
Task points 30
Total tasks 2
Total books 4
Total points 60

I'm in the love it camp so I read a book with a blue cover. The ending could be say I suppose but it's the kind of book you just have to read, unexplainable. I read Troll: A Love Story by Johanna Sinisalo.

Points: 20
Total Points: 40
Tasks Completed:2
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

Set in North Carolina.
Steven James is a Goodreads Author.
Points: 15
Total points: 20
Total Tasks: 2
GR Authors: 1

5.3 Starts With...
Leap of Faith by Danielle SteelLeap of Faith
5.5 Blast From the Past
The COmfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan
20.5 Ashley FL'sTask Bigger is Beautiful and Larger Than Life
Amelia Earhart by Nancy Shore
20.8 Erin MN's Task - Inauguration Day
Ronald Reagan - The Great Communicator by Frederick J. Ryan Jr.
20.9 Nancy's Task - President's Day
The Present by Spencer Johnson
Ttal for this Post 70
Grand Total 300


5.8 Here's To A New Beginning
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson
Am I the last person in the Challenge to read this?
Book..."
I still have to read it... I keep meaning to get to it and it always gets pushed off...

5.10 About the Author:
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
I really enjoy Conroy's writing style. This would also work for the Southern author task.
10.3 Slainte!:
Shape Up with the Slow Fat Triathlete byJayne Williams
I certainly fit slow and fat. This is more about mentally preparing yourself for exercise, rather than a series of physical tasks.
30.9 Happy 80th Birthday!
A. My Sister Eileen by Ruth McKenney
My mother graduated from high school in 1938, the year this book was published. She read it soon after that, and recommended it to me when I was in high school.
B. A Light in the Window by Jan Karon
My mother liked "gentle" reads, especially with a little humor attached, and the church angel would have been a big selling point with her. She would have enjoyed Jan Karon's books.
Todays total: 45
Grand total: 85
Total pages: 2454

Task 10.2 Orient Express
The Key to Midnight by Dean Koontz
Takes place in Kyoto, Japan
Task 30.3 HOHOHO
#1)Eye of the Red Tsar: A Novel of Suspense by Sam Eastland
Takes place in Russia
#2)Magic Study byMaria V. Snyder
***Maria V. Snyder is a GR author
Total: 40
GR Author: 1

(2) Role Playing Games: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
20.8 It's My Birthday: Erin MN's task-Inauguration Day
Black Girl/White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates (White)
Total points = 45

15.6 Begins with 'Q' Alex
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Task Points:15
Total Points:35
Tasks Completed:3
Books Read:3
Pages:1,153
Goodreads Authors:0
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

I am 18, and I chose to read Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card. This is a great coming-of-age story that anyone would enjoy.
Also, I am claiming it as a Big Book, as it is over 500 pages.

I read Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
*Sarah Addison Allen is a goodreads author*
Points for this task- 15
Total Points- 80
Total # of books read- 5
Goodreads Authors- 2
Tasks Completed- 4

Liberty Falling by Nevada Barr
I initially gave this 3 stars but after reading several books in the series and understanding more about the main character I now would give it 4 stars.
20.5 Bigger is Better: Ashley FL's task as suggested by Stesse- Bigger is Better, and Larger than Life
Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum, Bounty hunter is definitely not the norm for "The Berg". Preapproved in help section.
30.3 -- DLMRose's task as suggested by Petra -- HO! HO! HO!
The Postcard Killers by James Patterson Takes Place in Sweden. Goodreads Author
AND
The Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
Total Points = 280
New Goodreads Author = James Patterson


A Charmed Death #2 by Madelyn Alt
5.4 It's Cold Outside
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
15.2 Beginnings and Endings
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin best opening and
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman best ending
15.6 Begins with "Q", Alex
The Silver Castle byErica Quest
Total Points 40

5.8 Here's To A New Beginning
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson
Am I the last person in the Challenge to read this?
Book..."
I have not read it yet either. But will be this month. It is the book chosen for my local book club.

5.2 -- Singles Awareness Day
Whiplash by Catherine Coulter
Points this task 5
Total Points 45
Tasks Complete 5
pags read 1873
Good reads Authors 2
Books Read 5

Dlmrose
5.2 Singles Awareness
Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker
5.6 It's All in the Numbers
The Princess Bride by William Goldman 114,465 reviews
I had never read this book, but I have seen the movie too many times to count. It brought back fun memories of a dear friend's wedding last summer where they started the ceremony with the Mawidge passage. The book (and the wedding) was fun and irreverent. The extra backstory in the book brings even more to the movie.
5.9 Noel, Noel
Murder in Mykonos by Jeffrey M. Siger
This was an average police procedural/serial killer book, but it had a terrific sense of place.
10.1 Birthday Wishes
The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan from Donna Jo's shelf
I loved this book- tragic, but compelling. Great historical details, great sense of place, and the characters pulled me in. Thanks Donna Jo!
total 55
5.2 Singles Awareness
Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker
5.6 It's All in the Numbers
The Princess Bride by William Goldman 114,465 reviews
I had never read this book, but I have seen the movie too many times to count. It brought back fun memories of a dear friend's wedding last summer where they started the ceremony with the Mawidge passage. The book (and the wedding) was fun and irreverent. The extra backstory in the book brings even more to the movie.
5.9 Noel, Noel
Murder in Mykonos by Jeffrey M. Siger
This was an average police procedural/serial killer book, but it had a terrific sense of place.
10.1 Birthday Wishes
The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan from Donna Jo's shelf
I loved this book- tragic, but compelling. Great historical details, great sense of place, and the characters pulled me in. Thanks Donna Jo!
total 55

20.9 Lucky Me: Nancy's task-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 -
A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett (Jimmy Carter)
**This book has 528 pages, so I will claim a BIG BOOK 500+ ticket**
Total Points: 160
Tasks Completed: 11
Tasks in Progress: 2
Books Read: 12
Goodreads Authors: 1 (Rebecca Wells)
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
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20.10 Group Read - The Giver by Lois Lowry
My post is #19 in the discussion thread about this book.
Total points: 30

Longitude by Dava Sobel
This Post: 5
Total Points: 25
Tasks Completed: 3
Books Read: 4
Goodreads Authors: 1 (James Patterson)
Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.
Becca Fitzpatrick is a Goodreads Author.
This post: 5 points + 1 GR author
Total to Date = 25 points.
Books Read: 3
GR Authors: 2

The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte - 384 pages
15.8 - Festivus for the Rest of Us
A grammar of endings - 152 pages
My pet peeve is poor grammar!
Points: 20
Total Points: 50
Tasks Completed: 6
Books Read: 6
Pages: 1300
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
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Task 10.6 - Cookie Exchange
One of my favorite varieties of holiday cookies is Stained Glass Cookies.
I read Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore, who is a Goodreads author.
Points this task: 10
Total points: 25
Tasks completed: 4
Books read: 4
Pages read: 1164
Goodreads authors: 2
Big books: 500+ (0); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)