The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
SPRING CHALLENGE 2011: AUSTRALIA
>
Spring Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS)

15.3 Earth Day
Reduce – one of 22 oldest books on TBR list – The Man Who Melted
Recycle – Borrowed from library – Spain: A Traveler's Literary Companion
20.10 Group Read
The Glass Castle
50.1 I Need to Know What Happens Next
Books 3, 4 and 5 of The Book of the New Sun
The Sword of the Lictor
The Citadel of the Autarch
The Urth of the New Sun
Total points 910

Task 10.2 Say What? What Maisie Knew by Henry James
10.9 No Lawyer Jokes: Smash Cut by Sandra Brown, one of the main characters-Derek Mitchell is an attorney.
10.10 The Final Frontiers: Allison Hewitt Is Trapped: A Zombie Novel by Madeleine Roux
20.8 Jayme Va's task: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
415 poiints total.

30.2 Sheila's Guilty Pleasures
American Idol: Lee DeWyze - I read Annabel by Kathleen Winter (KathLEEn)
Dancing with the Stars: Jennifer Grey - I read Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner.
Jennifer Weiner and Kathleen Winter are both Goodreads authors - can I please claim 2 tickets?
Total Points: 265
Tasks Completed: 13
Books Read: 19
Pages Read: 6035 + 2 audiobooks
Goodreads Authors: 4
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
5.8 Blow your Stack read Entice By Carrie Jones
Carrie Jones is a Goodreads Author
5.9 Shrimp on the Barbie- read Kingdom's DawnBy chuck Black 160 Pages
25.5 March Madness Chose C.
Read On the Devil's CourtBy Carl Deukerand The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks By E. Lockhart which is on the tournament of books list 2009
Points this task 35
Total points 825/910
Tasks Completed: 48/54
Books read: 63/71
Total pages: 18,044
GR Authors: 23
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Carrie Jones is a Goodreads Author
5.9 Shrimp on the Barbie- read Kingdom's DawnBy chuck Black 160 Pages
25.5 March Madness Chose C.
Read On the Devil's CourtBy Carl Deukerand The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks By E. Lockhart which is on the tournament of books list 2009
Points this task 35
Total points 825/910
Tasks Completed: 48/54
Books read: 63/71
Total pages: 18,044
GR Authors: 23
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


Task 5.7 - Going Green
I read Odd Is on Our Side by Dean Koontz. I checked this book, along with most others for the challenge, out from my local library.
Points this task: 5
Total points: 700
Tasks completed: 40
Books read: 53
Pages read: 13927
Goodreads authors: 6
Big books: 500+ (1); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)

15.2 Blurb it! -- The Falling Woman by Pat Murphy 288 pages, has the following blurb: "A lovely and literate exploration of the dark moment when myth and science meet..." Samuel R Delaney
The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany 147 pages
30.5 All the World is Birthday Cake….
My birthday is the 26th. So, from the only person listed (as of March) with a 26 birthday, I chose from Amy MO --
Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell342 pages
From Donna Jo, the 27th, I then chose -- Henry IV, Part One by William Shakespeare Signet edition editor Maynard Mack 288 pages – an extensive introduction by the editor accounts for the larger-than-average (for a play) page length. This is the edition from Donna Jo’s list, and it’s the edition I read.
Task Points: 45
Total Points: 745/910
Tasks Completed: 46
Books Read: 62
Pages Read: 17,318
Goodreads Authors: 5
Big Books: 500+ (4)

Sorry, I have quite a bit to report.
10.2: Questions
Cuba by Emily Barr
10.6: Before 1960
The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain (pub 1916)
15.3: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Option B: Reuse from last challenge: The Quiet Girl: A Novel by Peter Hoeg
Option C: Recycle: I gave away Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in the Happiest Place on Earth by Lisa Napoli (Napoli is a goodreads author)
20.4: Royal Wedding (author named Katherine)
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
20.5: Alliterative Author
Replacing Robinson Crusoe with The Jungle by Clive Cussler
Points this post: 55 (replaced one 20 pt task)
Total Points: 190
Big Books: 1 (500+)
Goodreads authors: 2

25.1: In My Backyard
Option A: Set on a Ship: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
Option I: Film Industry: One of the characters in Moondogs: A Novel by Alexander Yates is a movie star. (Yates is a goodreads author)
25.3: Better World
I chose the improving safety option. Option A: fiction: Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist by Dorothy Gilman. Mrs. P works for the CIA.
Option B: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand about WWII.
30.5: Birthday
A. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe was on Kate.x's shelf
B. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was on Meagan's shelf
Points this post: 80
Total Points: 270
Big Books: 1 (500+)
Goodreads authors: 3

a.Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray, Love is a nonfiction memoir about traveling which is something I'd do before housework anyday!
b. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Some of the main characters in this book are a housekeeper, cook, gardner, and governess.
Total points this post - 30
Total points - 430
Tasks completed - 26
Pages read - 13629
Books read - 36
Goodreads authors - 13
Big books - 500+(4), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Diane Setterfield

Task 20.3 International Women's Day
The Last Brother by Nathacha Appanah
The author is from Mauritius; I am from the United States.
Grand total: 395


15.9 -- In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
Read a book with the name of an animal in the title or a picture of an animal on the cover. Animals must be real.
A Red Herring Without Mustard (Flavia de Luce #3) (2011) by Alan Bradley (Goodreads Author) (Hardcover, 399 pages)
This book has herring in the title which is a type of fish and a picture of a spider on the cover.
Goodreads Author : Alan Bradley
390 + 15 = 405

Tasks Completed: 24
Points for this task: 15
Points thus far: 390 + 15 = 405
Books read: 32
Pages Read: 9791
Read but not claimed: 4
Goodreads Authors: 6
Big Books:
(0) 500+
(1) 750 +
(0) 1000 +

Read a book with the name of an animal in the title
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
This post:15 points
Total to Date = 280 points

I read City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
This Post- 20
New Grand Total = 290

Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks
Total Books Read: 2
Total Challenges Completed: 2
Total Pages Read: 599
Big Book Tickets:0
GoodReads Author Tickets:0
Total Points: 35

The story is carried forward by numerous narrators, each with his/her own unique point of view.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins 672 pages: 1 Big Book Ticket
+15 Points
50 Point Task:“I Need to Know What Happens Next!”
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The Full Cupboard of Life
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
by Alexander McCall Smith: Goodreads Author x3
Books 4,5,6 No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
+50
Points This Post: 65
Goodreads Authors This Post: 3
Big Books This Post: 1
Grand Total: 670

1 new task
30.1. Cheryl's Task: Literature Map By Gender
I entered Lee Child into the literature map and chose 2 new-to-me male authors:
Ian Rankin: The Black Book
John Sandford: Broken Prey
Total Points = 900
Tasks Completed = 53
Total Pages = 23,525
GoodReads Authors = 10
Big Books (500+) = 3

30.6 Melanie's Task: Myth-behaving Greeks
Rolled a 1 and a 3
1. Zeus: a book where a main character is royal, or with a crown/tiara or scepter on the cover (cover must be posted for the cover option):
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin(Big Book at 835 pages)
3. Herodotus: Read a historical fiction book (set 30+ years before it was written)March by Geraldine Brooks
Task Points: 30
Grand Total: 645
Tasks Completed: 31
Books Read: 44
Pages Read: 13,847
Goodreads Author Books: 7
Big Books: 500+(3), 750+(2), 1000+(0)

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Different chapters are told from the perspectives of two different narrators, Lavinia and Belle.
20.5 Alliterative Authors
The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry
25.6 All About Australia/Oceania
2.A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman
3. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
30.5 Birthday Cake
A. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - Jenny 23rd
B. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - Tani 22nd
- My birthdate is the 23rd.
Points this post: 90
Total Points: 440
Total GR Authors: 5
Total Big Books: 500+ (2), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)

I read Matched by Ally Condie on the Kindle.
20.6 Young Adult Series
Divergent by Veronica Roth
**Veronica Roth is a GR author**
Task Points: 20+5=25
Tasks Completed: 17
Books Read: 22
Goodreads Authors: 7
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Total Points: 320

15.6 The Truth Is.....
Read Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code by Dan Burstein
The novel that inspired my choice was The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Total Points: 180
Goodreads authors: 2

Task 5.8 - Blow Your Stack
Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
Pages - 512
Big Book
Points - 5
Task 20.1 - Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez
The Nymph King by Gena Showalter
Pages - 384
Points - 20

25.5. Gayla's Task: March Madness
Part B
I read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender from the 2011 Tournament and What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman on the 2008 Tournament.
Both are Goodreads Authors
Points this task 25
Total points 405
Books read 36
Task done 33
Goodreads Authors 14
pages read 12620

1. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin - book takes place mostly at sea in the elements
2. Foundation by Isaac Asimov - initials in AUSTRALIA
30.2 Sheila's Guilty Pleasures
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - Kris Allen
**Sarah Addison Allen is a GR author**
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain - Mark Ballas
30.6 Myth-behaving Greeks
Rolled 4 and 6
4. Shadowland by Meg Cabot - dead main character
6. Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett - humorous
Points this post: 85
Total points: 720
GR Authors: 7
Big Books: 500+(5), 750+(0), 1000+(1)

25.6. Jennifer N's Task: It’s All About Australia and Oceania. Choose 2 of the options:
2. Read a book by an author whose initials are found in the word AUSTRALIA - Testimony by Anita Shreve.
4. Read a book that is set in Australia or another country in Oceania - Being a Palauan by Homer G. Barnett. This book is set in the island country of Palau, in Oceania.
Total: 610

20.4 The Royal Treatment by MaryJance Davidson-has royal in the title---wasn't the wedding grand and beautiful!!
25.3 Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins-crime fighter
Beginner's Grace by Kate Braestrup-community minister
Total Points:645

20.2 Random Words
For All the Tea in China: Espionage, Empire and the Secret Formula of the World's Favourite Drink by Sarah Rose
My 5 random words were perfume, mushroom, board, fad, and china.
Points this Post: 20
Grand Total: 285
Tasks Completed: 28
Good Reads Authors: 0
Big Book Tickets: 500(3) 750(1) 1000(1)

Task 15.10 (Spring Break) - I chose to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Tasks Completed : 13
Total Points: 215
Goodreads authors: 6




Task 10.5 - It takes two
The Maytrees by Annie Dillard
Task 30.4 - Like I need an excuse
A: Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson (Activity: learning more about American Founding Fathers to prep for a dream vacation to Philadelphia and Washington DC)
****BIG BOOK 608 pages****
B:The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood***GR Author***
Total points this post = 40
Total Big Book Tickets this challenge = 3
Total GR Authors this challenge = 3
Challenge total = 485


+5 pts - this task
Task 15.7 Lab Lit

+15 pts - this task
20 pts total for these tasks
175 pts for Grand Total

The Pigeon by Patrick Süskind (115 pgs)
+5 pts - This Task
Task 25.6 It's All About Australia and oceania
I chose Option 2 - Author whose initials are found in the word AUSTRALIA
The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov
and Option 3 A title with one of the following words....
Out of Africa by Karen Blixen
+25 pts - This Task
30 pts for these tasks
205 pts for Grand Total

5.2 Circle Of Friends
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
20.6 Young Adult Series
Graceling by Krisin Cashore 470 pages
30.5 All The World Is A Birthday Cake...
My birthday is August 29. I found KatieDE whose birthdate is March 29. Katie had so many great choices! From her list, I chose, The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood.
Stephanie's B-day is April 29th. I read Burned by P.C. Cast from her 'read' list - also with lots of good stuff to pick from.
This was a fun task!
25.1 In My Backyard
For C I read The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. The story was based around the construction of a cathedral.
This book is a BIG BOOK at 976 pages.
For E I read Back Spin by Harlan Coben. This is part of the Myron Bolitar series. Myron is a sports agent. Sports agent was ok'd in a question from another person.
Above tasks: 80 points
# tasks complete: 29
Total points: 435
Goodreads Authors: 9
Big Book: 1/500+, 2/750+

5 Point Tasks:
5.7- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix audiobook borrowed from the library
*Big Book Ticket (870 pages)*
10 Point Tasks:
10.4- Only the Good Spy Young
10.5- Hex Hall
*Rachel Hawkins is a Goodreads author*
10.10- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
*Big Book Ticket (759 pages)*
15 Point Tasks:
15.8- Kissing Tennessee: and Other Stories from the Stardust Dance This is book is about various people who attend a School Dance. Each chapter is told through the perspective of a different person at the dance about a major event before they got to the dance.
*Kathi Appelt is a Goodreads author*
20 Point Tasks:
20.1- Beastly Written by Alex Flinn, whose initials fit with option number 1.
20.2- Snow Treasure My five random words were Snow, Bargain, Toothpick, Tiger, and Hardwood
20.3- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire written by J.K. Rowling who is from the UK and I am from the USA
*Big Book Ticket (734 pages)*
20.4- Ominous written by Kate Brian
20.6- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
*Big Book Ticket (652 pages)*
30 Point Tasks:
30.5- My birthday is July 16th. Fahrenheit 451 on the read shelf of Matthew born May 16th. Wondrous Strange on the read shelf of Delicious Dee born March 16th.
*Lesley Livingston is a goodreads author*
30.7- Lost in a Good Book and The Book of Spells
Total Points: 200
Total Tasks Completed: 12
Total Books Read: 14
Total Pages Read: 5668
Total GoodReads Authors: 3
Total Big Books: 500+ (2), 750+ (2), 1000+ (0)

15.7 Lab Lit. Read a novel in which a scientist plays a major role.
Book: As She Climbed Across the Table, Jonathan Lethem
(Physicist falls in love with an experiment - a "Lack" or sort of black hole of nothingness).
Points this post:15
Total Points: 285
Tasks Completed: 14
Books Read: 18
Goodreads Authors: 7
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

10.10 - read a fantasy or science fiction book
Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
Points this post:10
Total Points: 295
Tasks Completed: 15
Books Read: 19
Goodreads Authors: 7
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

5.2 Circle of Friends - Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
5.6 Water, Water, Everywhere -

5.7 Going Green - Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson - Read an Ebook that I borrowed from the library!
James Patterson is a Goodreads Author
5.8 Blow Your Stack - Shadow of a Doubt by S.L. Rottman
5.10 Kia Ora - The Stranger by Albert Camus - Originally published in French
Total Points: 235
Tasks Completed: 16
Books Read: 21
Goodreads Authors: 3
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


10.4 Elementary, my Dear Watson - Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
10.5 It Takes Two - Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
10.7 Kuddle a Koala? - I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
10.10 The Final Frontier - Shadowland by Meg Cabot
15.3 Earth Day
B. Reuse - Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
C. Recycle - Avalon High by Meg Cabot borrowed from the library
15.4 It's a Repeat - Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
15.5 Award Me - Too Much Happiness: Stories by Alice Munro Man Booker 2009
15.6 The Truth Is - Brave Girl Eating by Harriet Brown Inspired by Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
15.10 Spring Break - To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
Total Points: 360
Tasks Completed: 26
Books Read: 32
Goodreads Authors: 3
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


20.6 Seasoned Reader. Kathryn CA's Task: Young Adult Series -
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld 425 pgs
20.10 Group Reads - I Am Number Fourby Pittacus Lore Message 50
25.5. Gayla's Task: March Madness -
C. Room by Emma Donoghue 2011
Basketball (Or Something Like It) by Nora R. Baskin
Emma Donoghue is a Goodreads Author
30.6 Melanie's Task: Myth-behaving Greeks
Book A - Rolled a 2 - Hera Murder by Family: The Incredible True Story of a Son's Treachery & a Father's Forgiveness by Kent Whitaker
Book B - Rolled a 2 - Sappho Manhunt by Janet Evanovich
Total Points: 475
Tasks Completed: 31
Books Read: 39
Goodreads Authors: 4
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


50.1 I need to know what happens next
- Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
- Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce
- Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce
Immortals 1, 2 & 3
~ Tamora Pierce is a GR author.
10.10 The final Fronties
- Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
10.5 It takes two
- Het geweten by Jessica Durlacher
10.4 Elementary, my dear Watson
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
15.10 Spring break
- Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian
Points this post: 95
Total points: 95
10.7. Kuddle a Koala?
I read On the Beach, set in Australia.
15.2 -- Blurb It
A. I read Stardust. My copy had a blurb from Stephen King, so I read
B. Carrie by Stephen King.
Stephen King must be the "king" of the blurbs - I saw SO many books with blurbs from him!
30.4 Dlmrose's Task: Like I Needed an Excuse.......
Part A was REALLY hard for me, since almost any activity would have fit this one! However, after a recent vacation to Las Vegas, I found that one thing I'd definitely rather be doing is gambling in the casinos, so I read
Casino Gambling for the Clueless
For Part B, I read The Help
Total points: 830
I read On the Beach, set in Australia.
15.2 -- Blurb It
A. I read Stardust. My copy had a blurb from Stephen King, so I read
B. Carrie by Stephen King.
Stephen King must be the "king" of the blurbs - I saw SO many books with blurbs from him!
30.4 Dlmrose's Task: Like I Needed an Excuse.......
Part A was REALLY hard for me, since almost any activity would have fit this one! However, after a recent vacation to Las Vegas, I found that one thing I'd definitely rather be doing is gambling in the casinos, so I read
Casino Gambling for the Clueless
For Part B, I read The Help
Total points: 830
Stacey
30.4 Like I Needed An Excuse
A: Howards End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home
B: Governess: The Lives and Times of the Real Jane Eyres
New points: 30
Total points: 480
30.4 Like I Needed An Excuse
A: Howards End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home
B: Governess: The Lives and Times of the Real Jane Eyres
New points: 30
Total points: 480

"Life is a storm , my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes."
— Alexandre Dumas
Based on this quote I read Storm Glass (paperback edition counts 512 pages --> Big Book ) by Maria V. Snyder
** Maria V. Snyder is a Goodreads author **
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 575/910
Tasks Completed: 33
Books Read: 44
Goodreads Authors: 14
Big Books: 500+(2), 750+(2), 1000+(0)

30.7 Title connections
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
The Bridesmaid Pact by Julia Williams
Task points 30
Total points 365
Total tasks 16
Total books 25

10.5 It Takes Two The Seance by John Harwood 350 pages
(By the way, John Harwood is an Australian writer, not that anyone's counting, but it's cool to keep with the theme.)
Task Points: 10
Total Points: 755/910
Tasks Completed: 47
Books Read: 63
Pages Read: 17,668
Goodreads Authors: 5
Big Books: 500+ (4)

Task 10.4 Watson
Big Boned by Meg Cabot
The main character solves the mystery of who killed her boss.
Task 15.5 award me
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Task 15.7 Lab Lit
Gravity by Tess Gerritsen
***Tess Gerritsen is a GR author
Task 15.9 In Like a Lion

There is a horse on the cover
Task 20.8 Night I was Born
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
This was a mini-series starring Alfred Molina.
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108993/
Task 50.1 Series
book #2: Glory in Death
book #3: Immortal in Death
book #4: Rapture in Death
These are books 2,3,4 in the Eve Dallas series by J.D. Robb
Total: 795

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
This is an epistolary novel, written in the form of journal entries.
25.4 Science Fiction/Fantasy Masters
A) The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin (Damon Knight 2003)
B) Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (World Fantasy Award 2010)
50.1 I Need To Know What Happens Next!
I read Feet of Clay, Hogfather, and Jingo, which are the 19th, 20th, & 21st books respectively in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.
Points This Post: 90
Total Points: 395
Tasks Completed: 20
Total Books: 28
Pages Read: 11,448
GoodReads Authors: 3
Big Books: 500+(5), 750+(2), 1000+(0)


25.6. Jennifer N's Task: It’s All About Australia and Oceania
4. Read a book that is set in Australia or another country in Oceania. Jellicoe Road
5. Read a book that is written by an author from Australia or other country in Oceania. I Am the Messenger
This Post: 25
Total Points: 220
Tasks Completed: 12
Goodreads Authors: 6
Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (0), 1000+ (0)
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Books mentioned in this topic
Fer-de-Lance (other topics)The Possessed: Adventures With Russian Books and the People Who Read Them (other topics)
The League of Frightened Men (other topics)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (other topics)
Quidditch Through the Ages (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Alan Bradley (other topics)Rex Stout (other topics)
Elif Batuman (other topics)
J.K. Rowling (other topics)
Georges Simenon (other topics)
More...
City of Ashes by ***Goodreads author Cassandra Clare*** 453 pp
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 520
Tasks Completed: 33
Books Read: 45
GoodReads Authors: 10
Big Books: 500+ (2), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)