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)
ERIN C. 5.5 Blast from the Past (Book published between 1981-1986)
Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
This book was published in 1985.
Sharon Kay Penman is a Goodreads author.
I am claiming 1 GR Author Ticket
This book is 704 pages long.
I am claiming 1 Big Book Ticket
Task Points:5
Total Points:40
Tasks Completed:4
Books Read:4
Pages:1,857
Goodreads Authors:1
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Katie OHTask #15.6 - "Begins with Q, Alex."
The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory
500 pgs exactly, claiming Big Book ticket
Points: 15
Total Points: 15
Tasks Completed: 1
Books Read: 1
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
10.1 - Birthday WishesThe Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver *Big Book* 528 pages
Rachel CA has a winter birthday and gave this book 5 stars.
Total points to date 45
A few more tasks down...5.9 -- Noel, Noel
For this task I read Three Bedrooms, Two Baths, One Very Dead Corpse by David James
10.3 Sláinte! To Your Health!
For this task I read French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano.
15.6. "Begins with Q, Alex"
For this task I read Queen of Dragons by Shana Abe.
20.1 Most Improved Player: Stacie MI's task-Groundhog's Day!
For this task I re-read The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu, which I originally gave 2 stars. I've still come to the conclusion that is still just a mediocre read to me. I would still only give it 2 stars.
30.4 -- Donna Jo’s Task -- By the Numbers
I was born in 1972 so for the first book I read Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. My phone number adds up to 4 so the second book I read was Holiday With A Vampire by Maureen Child & Caridad Pineiro (Goodreads author).
Total Points This Post: 80
Total Tasks This Post: 5
Goodreads Authors This Post: 1
Grand Total Points: 105/975
Total Books Read: 8
Tasks Completed: 7/56
Total Goodreads Authors: 2
Big Book Tickets This Post: 0
Total Big Books: 0
15.9 Warm UpI read Driftwood Summer by Patti Callahan Henry. The story takes place in Palmetto Beach, Georgia, and the author is from Atlanta Georgia. I liked the book enough to request a few of her others from Paperbackswap. Definitely chic lit-but I like that sometimes!
Total Points: 40
Tasks Completed: 5
Tasks in Progress:
Books Read: 5
GoodReads Authors: 1
Big Books:
Total Pages: 1546
5.9 NoelI read Eureka:Substitution Method by Cris Ramsay
total points: 40
tasks completed: 3
books read: 4
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500 (0) 750 (1) 1000 (0)
total pages: 1750
Judith NY15.10 Keep It Simple
When Santa Fell To Earth
Total for task - 15
Total for challenge - 15
And BTW, for anyone looking for a lovely (and quick) holiday read, this is such a lovely book.
STACIE MITask 20.3 - Frosty the Snowman
I read Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, who is a Goodreads author!
The book features numerous men who transform into werewolves.
Points this task: 20
Total points: 45
Tasks completed: 5
Books read: 5
Pages read: 1490
Goodreads authors: 3
Big books: 500+ (0); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)
20.3 -- Frosty the SnowmanUndead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson -- Betsy, the main character, turns into a mythical creature/monster, she's Queen of the vampires.
20.5 -- Bigger is Better, and Larger than Life
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman -- the aunts in the story are definitely unconventional.
Total Points: 10/975
Tasks Completed: 3/53
Tasks in Progress: 30.3
Books Read: 4
Diane30.9 -- Coralie's task. Read:
A. A book first published in the 1930's - Blood Wedding by Federico García Lorca. First published in 1933.
AND
B. A book you believe a mother would enjoy - A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett. My mother loves Jimmy Buffett's music and is around the same age, so I think she would really enjoy this book.
**This book has 528 pages, so I will claim a BIG BOOK 500+ ticket**
***NOTE: This book was previously posted for a task in which it would not work, I have not counted it twice***
Total Points: 170/975
Tasks Completed: 11/56
Tasks in Progress: 3
Books Read: 12
Goodreads Authors: 1 (Rebecca Wells)
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
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REPOST
20.4 GAME ON - Rolled a 5
Blood Lite
This book contained a story by Kelly Armstrong who is a ***Goodreads Author***
Total Points: 70
Total Tasks: 5
Total Books: 5
Total Pages: 1666
GR Authors: 2
Big Books 500+: 1
5.5 - BLAST FROM THE PASTDesign for Murder by Carolyn Hart published in 1988.
10.7 - MY FAVORITE THINGS
Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander from the genre Mysteries - Cozies.
Points this post - 15
Total Points - 65
Coralie5.3 Starts with a …W
The Book of the New Sun. Volume 1 by Gene Wolfe
big book 603 pages
20.6 The Twenty-tens
Born in the 1950’s
Freedom and Death (published in 1953)
Total points 75
20.5 Bigger is Better: Ashley FL's task as suggested by Stesse- Bigger is Better, and Larger than LifeWe (Ashley FL and Stesse) had a step-grandmother who was a grande dame in the fullest sense of the term: simultaneously personally unconventional but with exacting standards of etiquette, she both enthralled and terrified her step-grandchildren!
In her honor, and to honor all women who live life on their terms and don't always follow society's dictates, read a fiction or non-fiction book where the main character is an unconventional woman. Since unconventional can be defined in so many ways, there's a wide range to chose from, but try to break away from YOUR conventions!
Some examples include Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series (with its scary but fabulous Lady Danbury), any biography of Amelia Earheart, and Lysistrata
Optional: Tell us about an unconventional woman in your life
Required: IF the unconventional woman is obscure from the book's title or GR description, include the connection when you post.
Bella Abzug: An Oral History - Buzanne Braun Levine and Mary Thom
I always had a very negative impression about Bella Abzug as a bra burning extremist that most feminists shied away from. And though I did find some of her stances extreme and so on, she really was a force to be reckoned with and made a big difference in a lot of ways in her time in the House and out of it. Now I ahve respect for her.
And I have to say, I really liked the WAY the story was told - all quotes by those around her telling how things really were happening. Made me think a lot
Terri DC
5.1 -- Short and SweetDecember 21st is the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. February is also the shortest month of the year. Read the shortest book on your TBR shelf. As per challenge rules, you must read an entire book (i.e., individual short stories, novellas, and excepts will not work) of at least 100 pages (or 500 children’s picture book pages).
The Baby Jesus Butt Plug - Carlton Mellick III -- 101 pages
Terri DC
Jennifer KS10.7 My Favorite Things
Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo It is under Mystery and Suspense.
Points this task 10
Total Points 55
Cindy AL20.2 Winter Flowers Day - "flower" or a type of flower in title: The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig, 240 pages read 12/11/2010.
The flower is mistletoe??
Let's not get into the botanical accuracy of that one, but this was a fun, light book with the required happy ending. I've already recommended this series on the flower help thread, but I'll say it again, the Pink Carnation series is always fun light reading. I actually like this one better than some of the others, it doesn't have any of the modern day storyline, which is actually getting a bit annoying.
Lauren Willig is a Goodreads author.
20.8 Inauguration Day - book about president or with political word: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith, 336 pages read 12/11/2010.
This post: 40 points
Total to Date = 170 points.
Points - 170/975
Books - 13/70+
Pages - 4906
Goodreads Authors:5
Big Books:500+ - (1), 750+ - (0),1000+ - (0)
30.2 -- Cheryl TX’s task -- Alphabetically SpeakingBook A. Read a book by an author who has two initials that are consecutive from A to Z.
Love in Infant Monkeys by Lydia Millet
Book B. Read a book by an author who has two initials that are consecutive from Z to A.
Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street by Michael Lewis
Total Points: 60
Tasks Completed: 5
GoodReads Authors: 0
Big Books: 0
Brenda WI20.10 Group Read - I read Rebecca. This was on my TBR list, so I was excited to use it for this task. My post is in the discussion thread, post #3.
20 pts this task + 30 previous = 50 total
Diane10.6 Cookie Exchange: Read a book with the word "cookie(s)" or any word from a cookie variety in the title - Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich (sugar cookies).
Total Points: 180/975
Tasks Completed: 12/56
Tasks in Progress: 3
Books Read: 13
Goodreads Authors: 1 (Rebecca Wells)
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
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ERIN C.5.2 Single Awareness Day
Ulysses by James Joyce
Ulysses is 783 pp. long
I am claiming 2 Big Book Tickets for this book.
Task Points:5
Total Points:45
Tasks Completed:5
Books Read:5
Pages:2,640
Goodreads Authors:1
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(1), 1000+(0)
Finished another task Today.25.3 - Reflections on 2010.
For my first book, I used The Mystery and the Majesty by Joseph M. Martin.
Every year around Christmas I perform with a group of singers and we raise money for charity by singing a Christmas Cantata each year. This is the book that we have been using to get ready this year. Performing with this group of friends is definately a highlight of my year.
For Part B, my new-to-me author for 2010 was Michael Scott.
I read The Necromancer by Michael Scott.
Totals:
This Post: 25
Total Points: 85
Total # of Tasks: 5
Total Books Read: 9
Total Pages Read: 2740
Diane wrote: "Diane10.6 Cookie Exchange: Read a book with the word "cookie(s)" or any word from a cookie variety in the title - Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich (sugar coo..."
Just FYI, there are also Sugar Plum cookies...
15.8 A Festivus for the Rest of UsMy pet peeve is people who procrastinate. Therefore, I read One Day by David Nicholls. I really enjoyed this book, giving it 4 stars.
Total Points: 40 + 15 = 55
No Big Book or GR author reads yet.
task 15.2 Beginnings and Endings beginnings: The Virgin Suicides
endings: The Time Traveler's Wife
Books Read: 5 / 74+
Points Completed: 60/975
Tasks Completed: 3
Finished:15.4 Opposite Day
A. The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman's Journey to Love and Islam by G. Willow Wilson311 pages word: Woman
B. Gingerbread Man by Ellen Ferber 311 pages Word: Man
This isn't in GR data. Published in 1958. Very badly dated book--I kept double checking copyright thinking it was 1890s.
15.6 Begins with Q, Alex
Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn 377 pages
This one was a romp--more than makes up for Gingerbread Man.
30.10 Jennifer N's task--In Honor of Asian Authors
A. Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin 480 pages Li was born and raised in China, where much of this book takes place
B. Map of the Invisible World: A Novel by Tash Aw 317 pages Aw was born in Taiwan of Malaysian parents/the book takes place in Indonesia.
Both were really good books. I think I'd like to see the movie based on Li's book.
Today's total: 60
Grand total: 145
Total pages read: 4246
10.7 My Favorite ThingsI read Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger. This book was listed under "Chick Lit."
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 15
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)
Mod
A. I read City of Ashes. YA because the protagonist (and almost all of the most important characters) are in their teens. Part of a series. Paranormal - vampires, werewolves. 453 pages.
B. I read Little Brother. YA because protagonist is 17, almost all significant characters are in their teens. Standalone. Dystopian or science fiction. 382 pages.
This book is thought-provoking. How one feels about the book probably has a lot to do with one's political orientation and how one views things like the Patriot Act - but whatever the political views, there's a lot to think about.
Total points: 115
10.5 - CHINESE DRAGON DANCE - Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George which features, trolls, gargoyles, selkies, fauns and other mythical creatures. I did not enjoy this as much as some of her other books (3*).30.1 - BLACK AND WHITE - Christine Falls by Benjamin Black (3*) and Stuart Little by E.B. White (4*).
30.7 - FOREVER YOUNG - A.In the Stone Circle by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel stand alone/paranormal/historical fiction/coming of age. This book is about a girl whose mother dies when she is 3. She really never asks her father about her and he really doesn't bring up the subject either. When she is 14 her father takes her to spend a summer in Wales. Her mother was from Wales and visited the same village before coming to America. While there sharing the home with another professor and her 2 children a ghost reveals herself. The ghost wants something before she can rest in peace. There is some Welch history. Also while there she helps the daughter of the other professor to deal with issues about her father. In the end she asks her father about her mother (4*).
B. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling Series/Fantasy. Who has never wished that they could perform magic. I absolutely love this series it is a great escape from reality (5*).
Elizabeth Cody Kimmel and Jessica Day George are GoodReads Authors.
This will give me 70 points.
5.8 Here's to a New BeginningSplit Second by David Baldacci(Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, #1)
30.2 -- Cheryl TX’s task -- Alphabetically Speaking
Firestorm by Iris Johansen
AND
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian***Goodreads Author***
30.10 -- Jennifer N's task - In Honor of Asian Authors
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)
AND
Hello Kitty Must Die by Angela S. Choi (China)
Total Points = 345 Points
New Goodreads Author = Chris Bohjalian
Michelle WI30.3 Ho! Ho! Ho!
(A) Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith - this book is set in Russia - 4 stars
(B) The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror by Christopher Moore - subtitles were approved in the help thread for this task - 3 stars
Points this Task: 30
Total Points: 60
15.10 Keep it SimpleKaamelott by Eric Le Nabour
Task points : 15
Total Points: 15
Total Tasks Complete: 1
Total Books Read: 1
Total Big Book Tickets 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Total Goodreads Authors 0
5.6 - It's All In The NumbersThe Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
(68,331 ratings)
Total points to date 50
30.5 The Old '10/The New '11A. Out With The Old
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
Claiming Big Book ticket - 512 pages
B. In With The New
Wanted: One Perfect Man (Starlight Trilogy by Judi McCoy
This Post: 30
Total Points: 55
Tasks Completed: 4
Books Read: 5
Goodreads Authors: 1 (James Patterson)
Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)
20.3 - Frosty the Snowman
Elvenblood by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
In which dragons, elves, humans, and elf/human half-breeds all transform into one another and most of them discover extra powers besides, so it works in several different ways for the task.
New points: 20
Total points: 30
Elvenblood by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
In which dragons, elves, humans, and elf/human half-breeds all transform into one another and most of them discover extra powers besides, so it works in several different ways for the task.
New points: 20
Total points: 30
Kathy G.20.3 Frosty the Snowman
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
***He discovers his unknown powers***
Really fun book to read--- lots of action---
Total Points- 70
Total Tasks- 5
Goodreads Authors- 1
Big Books- 0
I finished Task 15.1 (Time after time) by reading The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette (historical fiction) and The Chrysalids (set in the future & approved in the Help Thread).
Total points = 15Completed task #5.3 "Starts With..." by reading:
The October Killings by Wessel Ebersohn
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Competed task #10.6 "Cookie Exchange" by reading:
Tales of the Bark Lodges by Bertrand N. O. Walker
-My cookie variety is Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies
Finished another task.25.5 - SRC Tea Ceremony
For Part A, I chose Gunpowder Green Tea.
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
For Part B, I read
The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul by Douglas Adams
Totals:
Points this post: 25
Total Points: 110
Total Tasks: 6
Total Books: 11
Total Pages: 3523
10.5 Chinese Dragon Dance. Read a book featuring mythical creatures.Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner
It's probably clear from the title, but the story features the approach of an Angel, who ultimately arrives in very dramatic fashion in the final scene.
Pages in book(s): 136
Total Books Read: 3
Total Challenges Completed: 3
Total Pages Read: 374
Big Book Tickets:0
GoodReads Author Tickets:0
Total Points: 40
Diane10.5 Chinese Dragon Dance. Read a book that features Mythical Creatures - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis.
Total Points: 190/975
Tasks Completed: 13/56
Tasks in Progress: 3
Books Read: 14
Goodreads Authors: 1 (Rebecca Wells)
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
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20.9 Lucky Me: Nancy's task-Presidents' Day The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream written by President Barack Obama. Books Read: 6 / 74+
Points Completed: 80/975
Tasks Completed: 4
10.6 Cookie Exchange -The Christmas Cookie Club by Anne PearlmanPoints for this task-10
Tasks completed -4
Books read:4
Total points-30
10.5 - CHINESE DRAGON DANCE(mythological creature)
Undead and Unfinished by Mary Janice Davidson. The mythological creatures are vampires.
30.3 - HO, HO, HO!
(a) cold country setting & (b) spirit of Christmas word
(a) Norway to Hide by Maddy Hunter
(b) The Love of Her Life by Harriet Evans
Points this post - 40
Total points - 105
10.9 Serial KillerWanted by Sara Shepard
**Sara Shepard is a Goodreads Author**
Points: 10
Total Points: 125
Tasks Completed: 10
Books Read: 12
Pages: 3,362
Goodreads Authors: 8
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Finished 30.2 - Alphabetically SpeakingA-Z:
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (CD)
Z-A:
The Gold-Stealers A Story of Waddy by Edward Dyson (ED)
Totals:
Points claimed this post: 30
Total Points: 140
Total Tasks: 7
Total Books: 12
Total Pages: 3715
5.7 Happy New Year!
Bloodstream by Tess Gerritsen
Tess Gerritsen is a Goodreads author.
Total points: 90
Task 5.4- It's Cold Outside The Snowman
Task 5.9- Noel Noel
The Interpretation of Murder
Points: 10
Total Points: 20
Tasks Completed: 3
Books Read: 3
Pages Read:
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(1), 1000+(0)
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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)
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)
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I read Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut by Jhonen Vasquez. The titular character owns a pair of styrofoam figurines of the Pillsbury Doughboy and, spurred on by some evil force, they come to life and become the arbiters of Johnny's conscience.
Points This Post: 20
Total Points: 60
Total Tasks Completed: 3
Total Books Read: 3
Total Pages Read: 697
Total Goodreads Authors: 1
Total Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)