The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL FALL CHALLENGE - 2008
This was a hard one. This book fit into several catergories, so I had to look I what I planned to read before placing this.10 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BANNED BOOK
The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
Total: 45 (as of 9/23/08)
READ A BOOK AND THEN WATCH THE MOVIE ADAPTATION: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by JK Rowling 25 PtsTOTAL: 160 Pts as @ 23/09
READ A BOOK WITH THE NAME OF A CITY, COUNTRY, CONTINENT IN THE TITLE +5Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
Total Points: 50
I went back and changed my old post, but maybe it is easier to just update this way- I'm up to 40 points. 
Yes please do post new scores rather than changing your old posts to reflect your point totals...that way I don't have to go back and look for new numbers. Thanks!!
My update:10 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BANNED BOOK - Slaughterhouse Five, Vonnegut
15 POINT TASKS
9. READ A BOOK BY A PULITZER PRIZE WINNER (NOT NECESSARILY THE WINNING BOOK) - People of the Book, Brooks
New total: 55
My update: 15 point task:
Read a book written by a Gooddreads author.
FALLEN by David Maine
90 points
MY TASK UPDATE5 Point Task - Read A Book With A Color (Red, Blue Etc.) In The Title (Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins)
10 Point Task - Read a Non-Fiction Book (Belle Weather: Mostly Sunny With a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fits by Celia Rivenbark)
15 Point Task - Read a Book by an Author you’ve Never Read Before (My Husband's Sweethearts by Bridget Asher)
25 Point Task - Read a Book And Then Watch the Movie Adaptation (Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen)
10 Point Task - Read a Novel or Non-Fiction Book about Witches/Witchcraft, Vampires, or Werewolves (The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent)
25 Point Task - Read a Book And Cook a Meal Inspired By It (Belle In The Big Apple: A Novel With Recipes by Brooke Parkhurst)
15 Point Task - Read a Novel by an Author Who Is No Longer Living (Thinner, Blonder, Whiter by Elizabeth Maguire)
15 Point Task - Read A Book By A Pulitzer Prize Winner (Not Necessarily The Winning Book) (March by Geraldine Brooks)
10 Point Task - Read A Book with A One Word Title (Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro)
5 Point Task - Read A Book With The Name Of A City, Country, Or Continent In The Title (Big Stone Gap By Adrianna Trigiani)
5 Point Task - Read A Book With The Name Of A Person Or Character In The Title (The Second Coming Of Lucy Hatch By Marsha Moyer)
15 Point Task - Read a Book Written By an Athlete or Former Athlete (The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving)
15 Point Task - Read a Book Written By an Asian or Asian American Author (The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan)
10 Point Task - Read a Novel Written In the 19th Century (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
10 Point Task - Read A Book about Music or A Musician (Fiction or Non-Fiction) (The Choir by Joanna Trollope)
10 Point Task - Read A Collection of Short Stories, Essays, or A Play (Cakewalk By Lee Smith)
10 Point Task - Read A Horror or Suspense Novel (Willow by V.C. Andrews.)
5 Point Task - Read A Book That Has Some Type Of Plant Life (Flowers, Trees) Or Part Of A Plant (Leaf, Petal) In The Title (The Ballroom On Magnolia Street)
5 Point Task - Read A Book with Any of the Following in the Title (Vampire, Zombie, Werewolf, Devil, Ghost, Goblin, Witch, or Frankenstein) (The Man Who Made the Devil Glad by Donald McCaig)
5 Point Task - Read A Book With The Name Of An Animal In The Title (Let's Talk Turkey: The Stories Behind America's Favorite Expressions By Rosemarie Ostler) Or (Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched The World By Vicky Myron)
15 Point Task - Read A Book by A Hispanic or Hispanic American Author (The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters by Lorraine López)
15 Point Task - Read a Book Written By a Good Reads Author (Field Of Darkness by Cornelia Read
5 Point Task - Read a Book That Has the Word School in the Title (The Crazy School by Cornelia Read)
15 Point Task - Read a Book Written By an African or African American Author (The Wind Done Gone By Alice Randall)
10 Point Task - Read a Novel or Non-Fiction Book about Football (Coal Run by Tawni O’dell)
5 Point Task - Read a Book with September in the Title (110 Stories: New York Writes After September 11 by Ulrich Bear)
TASKS COMPLETED - 4/26
TOTAL POINTS - 55/290
10 POINT TASKS8. READ A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL (ANY BOOK THAT IS CURRENTLY CATEGORIZED AS SUCH WILL DO, WHETHER IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE ONE OR NOT)
The Giver – Lois Lowry
Total: 55 (as of 9/25/08)
Liz in NY
Here are the points I have earned so far:2. READ A BOOK WITH A COLOR (RED, BLUE ETC.) IN THE TITLE
Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen (5pts)
9. READ A BOOK BY A PULITZER PRIZE WINNER (NOT NECESSARILY THE WINNING BOOK)
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (15pts)
10. READ A NOVEL BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS NO LONGER LIVING
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (15pts)
Total Points So Far = 35
I am enjoying this challenge.
READ A BOOK BY A HISPANIC OR HISPANIC AMERICAN AUTHOR : Daughter of fortune by Isabel Allende 15 Pts TOTAL: 175 Pts as @ 25/09
So, after a bit of book soul searching, I've revamped my reading list a bit -- we'll see if I can stick with these. I feel like I was forcing myself to read these books and kind of stopped enjoying them. What I have done so far is in bold.5 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BOOK WITH THE NAME OF AN ANIMAL IN THE TITLE The Saggy, Baggy Elephant
2. READ A BOOK WITH A COLOR (RED, BLUE ETC.) IN THE TITLE One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
5. READ A BOOK WITH THE NAME OF A PERSON OR CHARACTER IN THE TITLE Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
10 POINT TASKS
2. READ A BOOK ABOUT MUSIC OR A MUSICIAN (FICTION OR NON-FICTION) Love is a Mix Tape
4. READ A BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE Dracula
5. READ A HORROR OR SUSPENSE NOVEL Saving Faith
6. READ A NON-FICTION BOOK Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
8. READ A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL (ANY BOOK THAT IS CURRENTLY CATEGORIZED AS SUCH WILL DO, WHETHER IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE ONE OR NOT) The Book Thief
9. READ A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, OR A PLAY I Was Told There'd Be Cake
10. READ A NOVEL OR NON-FICTION BOOK ABOUT WITCHES, VAMPIRES, OR WEREWOLVES New Moon
15 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR YOU'VE NEVER READ BEFORE The Other Boleyn Girl
3. READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN AFRICAN OR AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHOR Gifted Hands by Ben Carson
4. READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN ASIAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN AUTHOR Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
5. READ A NOVEL BY A GAY OR LESBIAN AUTHOR Out of Sync by Lance Bass
10. READ A NOVEL BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS NO LONGER LIVING Sleepy Hollow
25 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BOOK AND COOK A MEAL INSPIRED BY IT Like Water for Chocolate
3. READ A BOOK AND THEN WATCH THE MOVIE ADAPTATION Practical Magic
Currently, I am still at 80 points, but I just got some shorter books at the library today, so hopefully I can get through them.
Hey just starting my challenge but I have high hopes...10 points
6:non-fiction "The Faith of a Writer:Life, Craft, Art" by Joyce Carol Oates
9:short stories "The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories" edited by Tobias Wolff
15 points
9:Pulitzer prize winner "The Executioner's Song" by Norman Mailer
total: 35 points
Ok so I had more than I thought. But I want to verify. Any book read within the months of Sep. Oct. and Nov. count.
15 points
10: author who has passed away "The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams
total: 50 points
Yes all books you read in those 3 months count.
Thanks, Mel... I love challenges & I especially like the first 3 (the 25 pts challenges).Btw, I saw you're planning to read Balzac and the little chinese seamstress... tell me how you go, I'm planning to read it too someday... far away most probably, I've got so many more on my tbr pile to get through first! I'm trying to restrain myself :p
This looks fun. I've just jotted down all the books I've read since 1st September and all but one make a category. I'm only at 75 points but it is early days.5 POINT TASKS
5. READ A BOOK WITH THE NAME OF A PERSON OR CHARACTER IN THE TITLE Drowning Ruth
10 POINT TASKS
4. READ A BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE Disgrace
6. READ A NON-FICTION BOOK Too close to the falls
8. READ A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL (ANY BOOK THAT IS CURRENTLY CATEGORIZED AS SUCH WILL DO, WHETHER IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE ONE OR NOT) Marley: a dog like no other
15 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR YOU'VE NEVER READ BEFORE The master butcher's singing club by Louise Erdich
25 POINT TASKS
3. READ A BOOK AND THEN WATCH THE MOVIE ADAPTATION Atonement
Karen, I've actually read Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress already. Don't rush to get to it -- if it's years down the road, you're not missing too much. It was a quick, easy read, and was somewhat interesting. I just had a discussion with my dad about it last night and he thought it was kind of weird in places, just like I did. I think I actually wrote up a review on it, too. Like I said, don't rush to it.
I am up to 95 points!! Melissa- I also feeling like I am forcing myself to get through books for this challenge that I would not normally read. I started one last week could not get into it, so I finally just took it back to the library. I took another book back too that I took a stab at... I want to complete the challenge, but I also want to enjoy my reading :)
Yeah, thats good Angela. It's actually kind of been the opposite for me. I've read books I wasn't planning on reading, and they work into the challenge perfectly! I've just been going with my mood, and it's been working. What are you reading right now?
Angela, this is definitely not a time to force yourself to read things just because you have them and they fit into the challenge. I've picked up a few other books that I'm interested in reading and they have actually fit in to the challenge, so I'm happy about that.Emma, you're lucky that you've been able to find random books that manage to fit into the challenge. I'm happy that I'm able to fall into that now.
I just finished a reallly good book. And it gives me point for the challenge! 5 POINT TASKS
2. READ A BOOK WITH A COLOR (RED, BLUE ETC.) IN THE TITLE
A Curse Dark as Gold
I have 60 points!
I am reading Chasing Harry Winston... chic lit. I need a break from non-fiction/ memoirs!
Definitely want people to have fun with this...find new books, and new authors, knock a few books off the tbr pile...but if you don't enjoy a book I wouldn't want you to feel you had to finish it just for the sake of earning points.
Okay- My YA selection is complete- I'm up 10 for 50 points total. I am going to read Atonement for the one word title selection next.
My update:15 point task
6) Read a book written by an African author.
A LONG WAY GONE: MEMOIRS OF A BOY SOLDIERS by Ishmael Beah
Now I have 105 points!!
READ A BOOK THAT HAS SOME TYPE OF PLANT LIFE (FLOWERS, TREES) OR PART OF A PLANT (LEAF, PETAL) IN THE TITLE: White Gardenia by Belinda Alexandra 5 PtsTOTAL: 180 Pts as @ 28/09
I have a measly 30 points :p :Ayn Rand's Anthem (1-word title)
Fernando Vallejo's La puta de Babilonia (author I hadn't read before)
45 points as of 9/28/085 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BOOK WITH THE NAME OF AN ANIMAL IN THE TITLE
The Conqueror Worms, by Brian Keene
10 POINT TASKS
5. READ A HORROR OR SUSPENSE NOVEL
Mr. Hands, by Gary A. Braunbeck
15 POINT TASKS
3. READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN AFRICAN OR AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHOR
Frederick Douglass Slave Narratives
5. READ A NOVEL BY A GAY OR LESBIAN AUTHOR
Lola Dances, by Victor J. Banis
Being sick in bed for 2 days has its good points...My update:
15 points task
1.) Read a book by an author you've never read before. CHOKE by Chuck Palahniuk
7.) Read a book book written by an athlete or a former athlete. CIFER HOUSE RULES by John Irving
135 points
Just finished Chasing Harry Winston so I am up to 100 pts!
Nice Angela!!! I'm just reading a 15 point book right now...
The one I just finished was only 5 points :( I only have one more book that can be used for the fall challenge, so I need to get to the library!
Ahh......well, I have a plan for my halloween themed books, but I don't really know how I'm going to get to 100 pts.
Some people are just racking up the points!!
Very true. I think I'm going to have to check if I have enough books on my to-read list to get to 100 pts! Although I think I do....
Just finished The Iowa Baseball Confederacay, now have 35 points.
READ A BOOK WITH THE NAME OF AN ANIMAL IN THE TITLE OWLS WELLS THAT ENDS WELL
THE PENGUIN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
BOTH BY Donna Andrews
15 POINT TASKS1. READ A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR YOU'VE NEVER READ BEFORE
Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Total: 70 pts (9/30/08)
Okay I have been meaning to do this the last 29 days so here goes:
5 POINT TASKS
READ A BOOK WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IN THE TITLE (VAMPIRE, ZOMBIE, WEREWOLF, DEVIL, GHOST, GOBLIN, WITCH, OR FRANKENSTEIN): Interview with a Vampire-Anne Rice
10 POINT TASKS
READ A BANNED BOOK: The Giver-Lois Lowry
READ A BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE: Atonement-Ian McEwan
READ A HORROR OR SUSPENSE NOVEL: House of Leaves-Mark Danielewski
READ A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, OR A PLAY: First Love, Last Rites-Ian McEwan
10. READ A NOVEL OR NON-FICTION BOOK ABOUT WITCHES, VAMPIRES, OR WEREWOLVES: Twilight-Stephenie Meyer
15 POINT TASKS
READ A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR YOU'VE NEVER READ BEFORE: Heart Shaped Box-Joe Hill
READ A NOVEL BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS NO LONGER LIVING: Sense & Sensibility-Jane Austen
25 POINT TASKS
READ A CRAFT BOOK AND MAKE AN ITEM FROM IT: Need to find the book first.
5 POINT TASKS
READ A BOOK WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IN THE TITLE (VAMPIRE, ZOMBIE, WEREWOLF, DEVIL, GHOST, GOBLIN, WITCH, OR FRANKENSTEIN): Interview with a Vampire-Anne Rice
10 POINT TASKS
READ A BANNED BOOK: The Giver-Lois Lowry
READ A BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE: Atonement-Ian McEwan
READ A HORROR OR SUSPENSE NOVEL: House of Leaves-Mark Danielewski
READ A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, OR A PLAY: First Love, Last Rites-Ian McEwan
10. READ A NOVEL OR NON-FICTION BOOK ABOUT WITCHES, VAMPIRES, OR WEREWOLVES: Twilight-Stephenie Meyer
15 POINT TASKS
READ A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR YOU'VE NEVER READ BEFORE: Heart Shaped Box-Joe Hill
READ A NOVEL BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS NO LONGER LIVING: Sense & Sensibility-Jane Austen
25 POINT TASKS
READ A CRAFT BOOK AND MAKE AN ITEM FROM IT: Need to find the book first.
I'm up to 65 pts. Tasks completed so far:5 pts-Read a book with the character's name in the title-Blaze by Stephen King/Richard Bachman
10 pts-Read a book with a one word title-Run by Ann Patchett
10 pts-Read a YA book-The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
15 pts-Read a book by an author you've never read-Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
25 pts-Read a book and cook a meal inspired by it-Read The Cider House Rules then went apple picking, made apple crisp, pumpkin apple soup, and pork with stuffing and apples. (We didn't eat them all at once but all together they make a meal!)
KAREN – 195ANN – 145
LOGAN – 140
LISA(no picture) – 135
JULIANNE – 120
ANGELA – 105
LIZ (BROOKLYN) - 105
EMMA – 100
MELISSA – 100
ANDREA – 90
LAURA – 90
LIZ (NY) – 90
KRISTINA - 85
ANDREW – 80
JAMIE (29) - 80
SARAH - 80
SETH - 80
JOANIE – 75
MELODY - 75
LYNLEE4 – 70
CYNTHIA – 65
LISA (PICTURE)- 65
JAIME(25) – 60
LIESL – 60
STARLIGHT - 60
NANCY – 55
SUSANNA – 55
LIZ (VEGAS) - 50
MARSHA – 50
MELANIE – 50
JESSICA - 45
CHARITY – 40
LESLIE - 35
STACIE – 35
CHRISTINA V – 20
MK – 15
KATIE - 10
10. READ A NOVEL BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS NO LONGER LIVING The Talented Mr. Ripley Patricia Highsmith
I didn't know she died until I saw her bio and saw she died of Lukiemia.
Total: 45
wow...I'm wayyy behind
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Read a horror or suspense novel:
THE TOWN THAT FORGOT TO BREATH
Now I have 75 points.