The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL FALL CHALLENGE - 2008
I was reading earlier comments and I want to know if making sushi after reading Silk would count as 25 points (if it does I am at 120)
Oh Melody, you read Silk!!!!! How was it? Did you like it? Hope you did!!!! I absolutely loved it an think of it as a little added treasure to my life.
140! Just finished Shopgirl (Read a book with a one word title)
110! I just finished The Frog Princess (my YA book)
Total after reading Dracula (15 points for reading something by an author who is no longer living) I'm up to 90 points. Maybe I'll actually break 100 after all!
Melody - sure making Sushi after reading a book set in Japan counts..so 120 it is.
5 POINT TASKS:
7.
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 10/12
CURRENT POINT TOTAL: 130 (10/12)
Hi Liz, I noticed that A short history of tractors in Ukrain seems to be a popular book while I thought it looked like boring, just the cover and the title then.How is it? Interesting and fast read?
I'm curious about A Short History too-I'm reading it for my live book club but haven't been overly excited to get it yet.
I had 60 points, and read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.It satisfied "with character's name in title," worth five points (bizarrely low for a 1000-page book, but there you go).
New total: 65 points.
Here's my attempt! I'm working as hard as I can on this. I'll have no chance of getting a super high score, but this is too much fun to pass up! 5 POINT TASKS
10 POINT TASKS
4. READ A BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE - Brisingr
6. READ A NON-FICTION BOOK - American Rifle: A Biography
9. READ A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, OR A PLAY - Ruins Metropolis
15 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR YOU'VE NEVER READ BEFORE - The Outstretched Shadow
4. READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN ASIAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN AUTHOR - Geisha: A Life
6. READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY A GOOD READS AUTHOR - House of Leaves
10. READ A NOVEL BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS NO LONGER LIVING - Autobiography of a Yogi
25 POINT TASKS
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I'm including the books that I am currently reading, as they will be read before the challenge ends. My total so far is... 90 points! Go Me! Awesome job to everyone taking part in this!
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Edit - Updated books read for the challenge :) Sorry!
Just finished a 15 point task- up to 120 points!
I know some people are including books that are children's books, which are quick and easy to read. I do not think that these should be included in the challenge. Does anyone else have any thoughts? I do not want to step on any toes, just curious if anyone else feels that way too.
Hmmm.......I don't know. I think they should be included. Because I love YA and maybe I would want to read a book in the YA genre, so I could tackle my TBR shelf faster and still complete the challenge.
I was not referring to YA, more like books you would read to a small child.
I personally almost didn't count the children's books that i put in, and it doesn't matter to me if they are counted or not. My reasoning for putting them in is:-These books are some of my daughter's favorites and are read almost nightly to my daughter (and sometimes baby son)
-They are 5 point challenges... I would have never put them on a 10 or 15 point challenge.
:)
-Jenni
Edit - Took out any book under 100 pages from my challenge.
I guess I expected people to read novels to fulfill the challenge requirements. But since I didn't specify in the beginning that children's books couldn't be used I'll accept them for this challenge...next go around (winter challenge etc.) I'll specify that novels should be read unless otherwise indicated in the task description.
My update: 25 points
Read a book and cook a meal inspired by it.
PAULA DEEN IT AIN'T ALL ABOUT THE COOKIN'
I cooked Uncle Bubba's Crab and Shrimp au Gratin.
It was soooo good!!!
I now have 170 points.
I included a couple of questionable books. I also am not really competing against anyone but myself. I've decided to try to top my score every season. This is my first challenge, so I am just finding out where I am. I did include the September Roses book. I didn't realize it was a children's book until it arrived. The synopsis just said it was about a 9/11 memorial. (Sweet story, BTW) I also included the Anna Quindlen book, which is very short. Again, it wasn't planned, I was just pleasantly surprised that she was a Pulitzer winner.
Well, holy cow! I just realized I read a book and cooked a meal inspired by it! Woohoo! Congressional Club Cookbook -- cooked their cocktail meatballs -- yum! As well as their Easy Crab Dip. I also finished reading Love is a Mix Tape for 10 points -- so, that puts me at 145, if my calculations are correct!
READ A NOVEL OR NON-FICTION BOOK ABOUT WITCHES, VAMPIRES, OR WEREWOLVES : The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova 10 PtsTOTAL: 235 Pts as @ 14/10
I'm at 115 now!Just finished Interred With Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell for the book by a Goodreads Author.
Laura,How was Interred with their Bones? I have it at home, but haven't put it in a particular place on my list. I thought it sounded intriguing, but then I also thought Lambs of London (another Shakespeare "mystery") sounded good and it was a dud for me.
I concur with Marsha. I'm not competing with anyone but myself-to see if I can actually meet my own goals. I'm adding one childrens' book (David Goes to School), but I'm not adding that to my points tally.
Like Jenni, I have a young child who insists I read 3-4 books to him per day, many of them the same books (all about Dr. Seuss length), so eventually I will have read the equivalent of a novel in childrens' books during the fall ;-)
If this competition is for an actual prize, I'd say just remove the kids books points if it seems to be a problem. Like Jenni said again I don't think people are using them for 25 point criteria, just the 5 pointers
Julianne - not Laura, but I enjoyed Interred with their Bones. I thought it was fun.I also found Lambs of London "a dud."
I am just starting this as I am new to the boardMy Goal is 135
After reading The Martian Chronicles for my short stories, and Frankenstein for Frankenstein in the title, and When We Were Orphans for my Asian author, I now have a total of 215 points.
Julianne and Susanna - I enjoyed Interred with their Bones as well. The story gets bogged down in conspiracy theories occasionally but overall its a good one.
Laura, Re: post 353, I have made good mushroom-barley soups. The Ukrainian one did work out as well as hoped, but it may have been the "low-sodium" vegetable broth, that apparently was also low on taste. Jeane & Joanie, RE: posts 365&366, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian seems to be getting some attention as it s a fairly new book (I want to say it is the author's debut) with a catchy title. Personally, I wasn't overly impressed. I think the writing is fairly solid, but the mood of the book left me depressed & irritable, and it seemed to end too nicely given what had gone before. I gave it two stars.
this is liz (vegas) im at 75 now. i'll post my updated list soon
25 points:1: book and a movie: Sophie's Choice By William Styron
2:book and a meal: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore meal: Cheese Toast and Beef Stew served in my finest "soul vessels" (ie my dead granny's china). A meal fit for a hellhound!!
total: 130 points!
10 pt task - Read a collection of short stories- Forgotten Tales by Edgar Allen PoeMake my total 130!
Well I just came across this but thanks to goodreads I can see what I read in Sept/Oct so far. Not even knowing about the Challenge I already have 60 points! I will definitely pay attention to the list now and get more points. It sounds like fun!
Just finished The Bell Jar so I am up to 135 points.
25 points:3: book and craft: Maida Heatter's Brand-new Book of Great Cookies (items made: creole pecan praline bars (oh my GOD), gingerful biscotti, chocolate covered cranberry cookies[my own recipe tweeked from one in the book:])
So I am totally counting this as a craft book because baking is as fine an art as quilting, knitting, paper-crafts, scrapbooking, etc. etc etc!!
total: 155 points
I am in the middle of A Night of the Lonesome October and House of Leaves. That is 5 points for a title with October and 5 points for the word leaves in the title.
Finishing Living Dead in Dallas grabbed me 5 points and Love in the Time of Cholera netted me 15 more, which drives my total up to 175 points as of 10/16.
Just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns by an author I've never read before for 15 points, bringing me to 85. I'm almost finished with Atonement too for the one word title.My personal goal for the challenge is 100- but I'm thinking I'll end up somewhere around 120. So next challenge, I'll make my goal 125 or 130.
15 Point Task7. READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN ATHLETE OR FORMER ATHLETE
The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks
Total - 135 (10/16/08)
Any chance Nick Hornby is a former athlete, or is he just a well-versed aficionado? Or perhaps Polysyllabic Spree is a banned book.....hmm, must go google.... (After all I read it! and I want points!)Also, I finished Dracula today:
10. Read a novel or non-fiction book about witches, vampires, or werewolves (10 pts.)
New total: 190 points.
Well Liz, The Polysyllabic Spree would count as a nonfiction book if you haven't filled the "Read a Nonfiction Book" category yet. :-)
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) AND MADE BAKED APPLES AND OYSTER STEW (RECIPE FOR STEW IN BOOK)
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 an Athlete or Former Athlete (The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks)
5 Point Task - Read A Book With The Name Of An Animal In The Title (Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched The World By Vicky Myron)
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 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)
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 - 9/26
TOTAL POINTS - 125/290
Update:10 POINT TASKS
- READ A BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE
15 POINT TASKS
- READ A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR YOU'VE NEVER READ BEFORE
- READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN ASIAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN AUTHOR
- READ A BOOK BY A HISPANIC OR HISPANIC AMERICAN AUTHOR
Current point total: 55/90
KAREN – 240LISA(Vegas) – 215
ANN – 200
LIZ (BROOKLYN) - 200
LOGAN – 175
SARAH - 160
ANGELA – 155
JULIANNE – 155
MELISSA – 145
REBECCA - 145
CYNTHIA – 140
EMILEE - 140
(G)EMMA – 140
LIZ (NY) – 135
CHARITY - 130
JOANIE – 120
MELODY - 120
LAURA – 115
LYNLEE4 – 110
JAMIE (29) - 100
MARSHA – 95
JENNI - 90
LISA (Washington)- 90
KRISTINA - 85
ANDREW – 80
SETH - 80
SUSANNA – 80
JAIME(25) – 75
LIZ (VEGAS) - 75
KATIE (VEGAS) - 60
LIESL – 60
STARLIGHT - 60
ANDREA – 55
JESSICA - 55
NANCY – 55
MELANIE – 50
LESLIE - 35
STACIE – 35
CHRISTINA V – 20
MK – 15
JEANE - 10
KATIE (NH) - 10
OPERANDI - 5
Charity, thanks for the advice. I am trying to make every book count & am reading a non-fiction book for my real-life book club for the non-fiction category. Hmm, maybe THAT author is a former athlete...... Off to do more googling ;)
Liz
My old total was 65 points. I read a book by an author now dead (The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis).My new total: 80 points.
10. A book by an author no longer living - Monster's Legacy by Andre Norton - 15 pts.135! getting a little better!
The Next Best Book Club
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Flowers for Algernon (other topics)
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Frankenstein (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Kathy Reichs (other topics)
Lisa See (other topics)
Augusten Burroughs (other topics)
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5 POINT TASKS
1. READ A BOOK WITH THE NAME OF AN ANIMAL IN THE TITLE Marley: a dog like no other
15 POINT TASKS
10. READ A NOVEL BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS NO LONGER LIVING Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons