The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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SPRING CHALLENGE 2011: AUSTRALIA
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Spring Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS)

For A. Read Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
For B. Read I,Q by Roland Smith about a blended family - main characters are step brother and sister.
points this task 30
total points 195

Eat Mangoes Naked: Finding Pleasure Everywhere by Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy
The word "mangoes" is in the title.
Points this Post: 10
Total Points: 110
Tasks Completed: 8
Books Read: 13
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(3), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

A. Why My Father Died: A Daughter Confronts Her Family's Past at the Trial of Klaus Barbie by Annette Kahn
B. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Oh, shoot! Just realized that The Lightning Thief does not work here. I have already used Grave Sight, which would work here for 5.7 Going Green (post 752). Can I switch the two since both are from the library? Grave Sight was approved in the thread for this task.
If you allow the switch, then points = 30.
Total points = 280
Total books read = 20
Total tasks completed: 14

A. Read Your Future: The Ultimate Guide to Tarot, Astrology, the I Ching, and Other Divination Techniques from Around the World by Jane Struthers
The word "your" is in the title
B. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
This is a retelling of Cinderella. The main characters are in a blended family.
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 140
Tasks Completed: 9
Pages Read: 5129
Books Read: 14
Goodreads Authors: 0
Big Books: 500+(3), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

20.8. It's My Birthday. Jayme VA's Task: The Night I was Born
Storm Front by Jim Butcher (approved in Help posting #3)
Mini-series Dresden Files
Total Points = 670

4 new tasks
15.1 -- The Land Down Under
A. Aunt Dimity Down Under by Nancy Atherton
15.10 -- Spring Break: Take a break and read any book you choose.
Aunt Dimity Digs In by Nancy Atherton
25.3. Mrs. Soule's Task: A Better World: Read two books.
Book A. Fiction: Increasing knowledge - *Dana is a reference librarian*
Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts
Book B. Non-fiction: Increasing knowledge - *Erin Gruwell is a teacher*
This also fits Improving Social Order because of the actions of Ms. Gruwell & The Freedom Writers' activities in high school & subsequent years
The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell
30.6 Melanie's Task: Myth-behaving Greeks: I rolled a 5 & a 2
Book A: 5. Ares: A book where a main character is in the military or is a veteran.
The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens *Colonel Delborough is in the British army*
Book B: 2. Sappho: Read a romance
Key of Valor by Nora Roberts
Total Points = 260
Tasks Completed = 21
Total Pages = 7,629
GoodReads Authors = 2
Big Books (500+) = 1
AMBER MARIE
15.6 -- The Truth Is...
Skin Game by Caroline Kettlewell. Inspired by Rage by Jackie Kessler, as I was curious to see how self-injury affected other people in reality.
Task 30.7. Diane's Task: Title Connections
A Flash of Hex/Hex Hall
Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall) is a Goodreads Author.
Points This Post: 45
Total Points 150
Total GoodReads Authors: 4
Total Big Books: 500+ (2) 700+(0) 1000+(0)
15.6 -- The Truth Is...
Skin Game by Caroline Kettlewell. Inspired by Rage by Jackie Kessler, as I was curious to see how self-injury affected other people in reality.
Task 30.7. Diane's Task: Title Connections
A Flash of Hex/Hex Hall
Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall) is a Goodreads Author.
Points This Post: 45
Total Points 150
Total GoodReads Authors: 4
Total Big Books: 500+ (2) 700+(0) 1000+(0)

Wedding at King's Convenience (Kings of California, #6) by Maureen Child
This Post: 20
Total Points: 100
Tasks Completed: 7
Books Read: 9
Goodreads Authors: 1 (Elle Amery)
Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

Alice, I Think by Susan Juby - 242 pages
5.4 - Fan Club
A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley, a GR author - 399 pages
20.7 - Quips and Quotes
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova, a GR author - 336 pages
My quote is "Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted." — John Lennon. The main character discovers the value of time after suffering from a brain injury and no longer being able to work at her extremely fast-paced job.
Points This Post: 30
Total Points: 245
Total Tasks Completed: 18
Total Books Read: 20
Total Pages Read: 5847
Total GoodReads Authors: 3
Total Big Books: 500(2);750(0);1000+(0)

House Rules by Jodi Picoult. I forgot I read this. Woohoo!
Points this post : 10
Total points : 45

Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff*
*Oren Klaff is a goodreads author
10.10 The final frontier
Hex Hall #2: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins*
*Rachel Hawkins is a goodreads author
20.2 Random Words
Monsters of Men* by Patrick Ness
*Big book 500+ (608 pages)
Random words: monster, entrance, applause, medicine, binder
30.1 Literature Map by Gender
A) The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
B) The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich
Author Suzanne Collins
Total points = 330

Stones for Ibarra
Tasks completed: 3
Points this Task: 5
Total points: 20


The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.
Reader Name: Ian
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 25
Total Tasks Completed: 3
Total Books Read: 3
Total GoodReads Authors: 0
Total Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

10.6 - Respect Your Elders
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (first published in 1851)
Task Points: 10
Tasks Completed: 7
Total Points Earned: 100
Total Books Read: 8
Pages Read: 2612
GoodReads Authors:
Big Book Tickets: 500+(), 750+(), 1000+()

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 85

Tasks Completed: 5/54
Tasks in Progress: 15.3; 25.2, 25.4; 30.1, 30.2, 30.3
Books Read: 11
Books from my book shelves: 1

20.1 Mardi Gras
The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig (GR Author) Title contains "rose"
30.2 Guilty Pleasures
The Weddingby Nicholas Sparks (AI - Jordan Sparks)
A Quilter's Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverini (DWTS - Jennifer Grey)
30.3 Yours, Mine & Ours
A. My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliviera
B. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey (a retelling of Cinderella/blended family - approved in help thread)
30.7 Title Connections
Room by Emma Donoghue (GR Author)
A Room With a View by EM Forester
Total Points this Post: 120
GR Authors: 2 (Lauren Willig and Emma Donoghue)

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Becca Fitzpatrick is a goodreads author
Points this post: 15
Total Points: 155
Tasks Completed: 10
Pages Read: 5620
Books Read: 15
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500+(3), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

Juvenilia - Volume I by Jane Austen
(It was approved in the ebook verification thread to work for a five point task under the rule 4 note, even though the actual pages with text are a little under the 100 pages margin)
5.10 Kia Ora
First Test by Tamora Pierce (mass market paperback edition: First Test, 240 pages)
I'm German, the book was written and originally published in English.
** Tamora Pierce is a Goodreads author **
10.8 Come On, Eat Your Spinach

Apricots on the cover
25.1 In My Backyard
a. Sabriel by Garth Nix (mass market paperback edition: Sabriel, 496 pages)
the protagonist travels by boat at one point
b. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (mass market paperback edition: Confessions of a Shopaholic, 350 pages)
approved in help thread
25.2 Your Bucket List
A) Shopaholic Takes Manhatten by Sophie Kinsella (mass market paperback edition: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, 388 pages)
I'd like to visit the US someday. In this novel the protagonist (who is British) spends some days in New York.
B) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (248 pages)
Points this post: 70
Total Points: 210/910
Tasks Completed: 16
Books Read: 20
Pages Read: 6006
Goodreads Authors: 5
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(1), 1000+(0)

20.7 - QUIPS AND QUOTES - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (3*).
The quote that I chose was "TWO THINGS ARE INFINITE: THE UNIVERSE AND HUMAN STUPIDITY; AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE." - ALBERT EINSTEIN. It was a tough week at work and this seemed to fit.
TOTAL POINTS - 250


25.2 - Your Bucket List
A. I have always wanted to travel to Russia since studying it in History at school - For this I read "The Winter Queen" by Boris Akunin which is set in 1896 in St Petersburg in Russia
B. 1001 books to read before you die, In read "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemmingway
5.8 Blow your stack, I read "Agatha Raisin and the Wellsping of Death" by MC Beaton
Total points = 115
Total Tasks = 7

10.10 The Final Frontiers
Page by Tamora Pierce (mass market paperback edition 288 pages)
** Tamora Pierce is a Goodreads author **

Task: 10.4 Elementary, my dear Watson
Book: Started Early, Took My Dog
Total Points: 110
Previous Reads:
5.9 Shrimp on the Barbie - The Humbling by Philip Roth
10.1 Sing Out - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
25.6 It's all about Australia and Oceania - Zeitoun by Dave Eggers and So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
30.1 Literature Map by Gender - For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemmingway and On the Road by Jack Kerouac
30.3 Yours, Mine and Ours - The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O Farrell and The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
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10.5 Bed Rest by Sarah Bilston
20.3 Floating in My Mother's Palm by Ursula Hegi My country USA, Hegi-Germany(born)
Total points: 140

Book A. Run for Your Life by James Patterson (((Goodreads author)))
Book B: The Main Corpse by Diane Mott Davidson
Goldy has a son Archie and then she marries Tom Schultz which makes him Tom's stepson.
Total Points = 700
New Goodreads Author = James Patterson

Savannah Grey 4/2/11
Format: free (ARC) e-book
30.6 Melanie's Task: Myth-behaving Greeks
Dice Roller: 4 & 3
Book A
4. Hades: Dark Needs at Night's Edge 3/28/11
Main female character is a ghost
Book B
3. Herodotus: Honor's Splendour 4/1/11
Written in 1999, set around 1825
************************************************
Points this post: 35
Total Points: 225
Tasks Completed: 15 (2 in this post)
Books Read: 19 (3 in this post)
GoodReads Authors: 8 (0 in this post)
Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
My comment in the thread for this book is #24.
Points: 20
Total Points: 300
Total books read: 21
Total tasks completed: 15

I read The Actor and the Housewifeby Shannon Hale
Points this post: 20
total points: 95
tasks: 5
books read: 6

A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
(A Woman of Independent Means -TV mini-series 1995)
Total Points = 180
15.8 From a different Perspective
ttfn by by Lauren Myracle
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 355/910
Total pages 6641
Tasks Completed: 17/54
Books Read: 23/71
Goodreads Author Books: 4
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
ttfn by by Lauren Myracle
Points This Post: 15
Total Points: 355/910
Total pages 6641
Tasks Completed: 17/54
Books Read: 23/71
Goodreads Author Books: 4
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 120
Books Read: 10
Tasks Completed: 11
Big Ticket Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)
Goodreads Authors:


My quote is "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
I read Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart.
Points This Post: 20
Total Points: 105
Goodreads Authors: 2
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

i chose the quote "A room without books is like a body without a soul" by Cicero. i could not agree more!
so i read The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession. very interesting, and well written.
Books Read: 17/69+
Points Completed: 295/910
Tasks Completed: 13/54


Book A – 4. Hades: The Passage by Justin Cronin. The main character, Amy, is not a traditional vampire but nonetheless the fact that she is over 100 years old and still looks about 14, survives nuclear fallout and life-threatening wounds and has this strange communication ability with the more savage vampire beings, I think qualifies her as a character who is considered dead.
766 pages - claiming big book ticket 500+
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66...
Book B – 3. Herodotus: I read Fall of Giants by Ken Follet which is set during the First World War (historical fiction).
864 pages - claiming big book ticket 800+
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/87...
Points this Post - 30
Total Points - 30
Back from vacation - the one nice thing about long plane rides is lots of reading time! As always, though, I seemed to mostly read 1 book of various 2 book tasks....
10.3. Beware the Ides of March
I read I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54
I watched it on television back in the late 70's and really enjoyed it - I'm glad I finally read the book!
20.6. Seasoned Reader. Kathryn CA's Task: Young Adult Series
I read Spy Glass. The kindle edition, which I read, is 432 pages, and one of its popular shelves is "Young Adult." It's #3 in the "Glass" series.
25.4. Helen's Task: Science-Fiction/Fantasy Masters
A. The Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.
For this part, I read Fritz Leiber: Selected Stories by Fritz Leiber. (for some reason, GR isn't pulling this link up)
I read some things by him back in the 70s, but I had forgotten how good his work is!
B. The World Fantasy Convention presents the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
For this part, I read Misery by Stephen King.
Total points: 225
10.3. Beware the Ides of March
I read I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54
I watched it on television back in the late 70's and really enjoyed it - I'm glad I finally read the book!
20.6. Seasoned Reader. Kathryn CA's Task: Young Adult Series
I read Spy Glass. The kindle edition, which I read, is 432 pages, and one of its popular shelves is "Young Adult." It's #3 in the "Glass" series.
25.4. Helen's Task: Science-Fiction/Fantasy Masters
A. The Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.
For this part, I read Fritz Leiber: Selected Stories by Fritz Leiber. (for some reason, GR isn't pulling this link up)
I read some things by him back in the 70s, but I had forgotten how good his work is!
B. The World Fantasy Convention presents the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
For this part, I read Misery by Stephen King.
Total points: 225

I read What We Have: A Family's Inspiring Story About Love, Loss, and Survivalby Amy Boesky(a GoodReads Author).
Total Points to date: 200
Total Tasks Completed: 12
Total Books Read: 15
Total GoodReads Authors: 8
Total Big Books: 500+ (2), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

Mark Alders is a **GOODREADS AUTHOR**
Points This Post: 10
Total Points: 670
Tasks Completed: 42
Books Read: 53
Goodreads Authors: 16
Big Books: 500+(2), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

REPOST
20.5 Rachel Renee's Task: Alliterative Authors Association
Thirty-Nine Clues: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
30.6 Melanie's Task: Myth-Behaving Greeks
Rolled a 4
The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson
Rolled a 6
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
This should correct both of the tasks :)
(I hope)


15.2 Blurb It
Do You Promise Not to Tell by Mary Jane Clark

Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich

20.4 Tracyj's Task: The Royal Wedding
Bride on the Loose by Debbie Macomber

Points for this post: 35


Prince in the title:
The Happy Prince and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde
+20 Points
30.1. Literature Map By Gender
I put in Jasper Fforde for my author. I read and enjoyed two authors new to me --- they were both funny, quirky and much like Jasper Fforde:
The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin
and
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
+30 Points
Points this Post: 50
Grand Total: 275

5.3 Author's last name 5 or fewer lettersJust Juice by Karen Hesse
15.6 The Truth Is - I read Sailing Fundamentals. After reading It's Your Boat Too: A Womans Guide to Greater Enjoyment on the Water I wanted to learn more about sailing our boat.
20 points this post + 75 previous = 95 total

I read The Maze Runner by James Dashner.
James Dashner is a Goodreads author.
Points this post : 5
Points so far : 50
Stacey
5.7 Going Green
The Land of Painted Caves (ebook)
- Big Book ticket, 752 pages
10.9 A Man For All Seasons
A Man for All Seasons
(the GR summary doesn't give much detail, but I promise, it's very much about law and the legal system, plus has the climactic scene in a courtroom. There are some detail at the wikipedia page, which has spoilers.
10.10 Final Frontiers
The Last Colony
15.7 Lab Lit
The Ghost Brigades
15.8 From A Different Perspective
Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later
(Perspective jumps among three characters, varying in use of first and third person, back and forth through time, also using distinctly different writing styles for the same characters depending on the time frame of the particular chapter.)
20.1 Laissez Les Bon Temps...
What's the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America by Thomas Frank (initials T.F.)
New points: 75
Total points: 200
5.7 Going Green
The Land of Painted Caves (ebook)
- Big Book ticket, 752 pages
10.9 A Man For All Seasons
A Man for All Seasons
(the GR summary doesn't give much detail, but I promise, it's very much about law and the legal system, plus has the climactic scene in a courtroom. There are some detail at the wikipedia page, which has spoilers.
10.10 Final Frontiers
The Last Colony
15.7 Lab Lit
The Ghost Brigades
15.8 From A Different Perspective
Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later
(Perspective jumps among three characters, varying in use of first and third person, back and forth through time, also using distinctly different writing styles for the same characters depending on the time frame of the particular chapter.)
20.1 Laissez Les Bon Temps...
What's the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America by Thomas Frank (initials T.F.)
New points: 75
Total points: 200

20.5. Bigger is Better. Rachel Renee's Task: Alliterative Authors Association
I read Incendiary by Chris Cleave, who is a Goodreads author.
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 100
Total tasks completed: 5
Total books read: 6
Total pages read: 2777
Total GoodReads authors: 1
Total Big Books: 500+ (1) 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)

Task 15.5 Award Me
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Pages - 258
Points - 15
Task 15.6 The Truth Is
Inspiration Book - Bloody Jack - About a young girl who pretends she's a boy to join the British Navy and sail away from England. Inspired to learn more about sailing.
Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi
Pages - 320
Points - 15
Task 20.3 Happy International Womens Day
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
I am from the United States and the author is from France.
Tatiana de Rosnay is a Goodreads author.
Pages - 293
Points - 20
Task 20.4 The Royal Wedding
The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick
Elizabeth Chadwick is a Goodreads author.
Pages - 560
Big Book
Points - 20
Task 20.7 Quips and Quotes
"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." - Mark Twain
Hard Truth by Nevada Barr
Pages - 322
Points - 20
Task 30.4 Like I Needed an Excuse
Book A - We live near the beach and it is difficult to stay inside instead of heading to the sea.
A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman by Joan Anderson
Pages - 195
Book B - Domestic Worker
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Kathryn Stockett is a Goodreads author.
Pages - 544
Big Book
Points - 30
Points this Post - 120
Total Points - 400
Tasks this Post - 6
Total Tasks Complete - 21
Goodreads Authors - 4
Big Books - 500(3)/750(0)/1000(0)

COMPLETED TASKS:
20.6. Seasoned Reader. Kathryn CA's Task: Young Adult Series
YA book that is a part of a series and has at least 400 pages
❀ Glass by Ellen Hopkins (681 pp) READ 4.2.11
GOODREADS AUTHOR
BIG BOOK
25.3. Mrs. Soule's Task: A Better World
doctors, nurses, therapists, crime-fighters, fire-fighters, military, spiritual leaders, counselors, social workers, teachers, scientists, ecologists, environmental activists
A. fiction - main character works in one of these areas
❀Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane READ 3.14.11
B. NF - about one of these areas
❀Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America by Les Standiford READ 4.3.11
*********************************************************************

COMPLETED TASKS: 19/54
TOTAL POINTS: 320/910
BOOKS READ: 23/71
GOODREAD AUTHORS: 8
BIG BOOKS: 500 pp. [ ✔ ✔ ] 750 pp. [ ✔ ] 1000 pp. [ ]

I read Herr Nakano und die Frauen by Hiromi Kawakami.
Hiromi Kawakami was born in Japan in 1958, while I am from Germany.
Points this Post: 20
Total Points: 105
Total Tasks Completed: 8
Total Books Read: 9
Total Pages Read: 2616
Total GoodReads Authors: 2
Total Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

To honor the royal wedding, read a fiction or non-fiction book whose title or sub-title contains one of the following words: royal, wedding, prince, princess, husband, wife or marriage.
The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht
Highly recommended!
This Post: 20
Total Points: 200
Tasks Completed: 18/54
Goodreads Authors: 4
Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing: From the Files of Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator by Tarquin Hall
(Tarquin Hall is a GOODREADS AUTHOR) >Tarquin Hall
total points: 165
Tasks completed:10
Books read: 13
Pages read: 4475
Goodreads authors: 2
Big Books 500(0) 750+ (1) 1000+ (0)
<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/counter/wf0EjHZ/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wf0EjHZ/counter.png"></a>[author:Tarquin Hall

5.3 Gimme Five
Mr. Monster by Dan Wells
Dan Wells is a Goodreads Author
10.3 Ides of March
Song for a Dark Queen by Rosemary Sutcliff
(Approved help post #66)
Points: 15
Total Points 320
Goodreads author total: 7
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20.1. Most Improved Player. Cindy AL's Task: Lassiez Les Bon Temps Rouler! Part 1
I read Bad Blood by John Sandford
Points this task 20
Total Points 180
Tasks complete 17
Books read 18
Pages read 6160