30.4 - MsOPP's task: Summer in Europe

[Kristina Simon]

30.4 -- MsOPP's Task: Summer in Europe
For this task, pick 2 of the following:

1. Pick a book from the following list to cool you down in Summer 2011: Cool Summer Books 2011

2. Read a book that takes place during the summer. Ex: Atonement, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Between Sisters, Sail. This list might help, too: Books set during the Summer. However, as with all GR's lists, make sure the book really fits the task before you read it. Required: If the GR description does not clearly mention summer, explain the summer connection when you post.

3. When I think Europe in the summer, I think of young people traveling abroad and a place and time of coming of age. Read a coming of age novel from the Best Coming of Age Stories list.

4. Read a book set in a European country. Required: List the country when you post if it's not obvious from the GR's description.

5. Read a book that has the word 'summer' in the title. The word 'summer' can be part of another word as long as it is in the main title. Series names and subtitles do not count.

Required: State which options you chose as well as any other individual requirements for your choices when you post.

[MsOPP]

Accepted

For either 3 or 4:
Any Harry Potter book.
4 A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov with an additional 372 pages of picture books.
5 Summertime.

[MsOPP]

Rejected

1 Books not listed in the specified list.

[Kristina Simon]

This thread is now open for questions.

[Amanda]

Hi I have a question about this task. My goal is to read all of the Harry Potter Books. For this task could I use Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for #3 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for #6? I'm trying to figure out tasks for all of the harry potters first. Thanks!

[MsOPP]

You can use one for #3 and one for #4, if that helps?

[Amanda]

yes that's what I meant, not #6. Not sure why I typed that. That's awesome, I think I've figure out all of the harry potters! YAY :D

[Cindy AL]

I'm trying to find a home for Summertime. Could it fit option 5?

[Felina]

I was checking out the 'Cool Summer Books' list. Majority of those books are middle books in a series. Could we read the first book in a series that is on that list?

[Kelly]

Would Secrets of a Summer Night work for option #2? Based on the title I would assume it takes place in the summer :).

[Kelly]

Kelly wrote: "Would Secrets of a Summer Night work for option #2? Based on the title I would assume it takes place in the summer :)."

Ha! Nevermind, I just noticed option #5, lol.

[Cindy AL]

Bumping this up. hoping to have my question in #8 answered...hopefully Julie is on vacation this weekend!

[MsOPP]

Cindy AL wrote: "I'm trying to find a home for Summertime. Could it fit option 5?"

Kelly - Summertime will fit #5.

[MsOPP]

Felina wrote: "I was checking out the 'Cool Summer Books' list. Majority of those books are middle books in a series. Could we read the first book in a series that is on that list?"

Felina - The option is one of 5 to choose from so for this task I am going to say no, it has to be on the list.

[Cindy AL]

Thanks Julie

[MsOPP]

Cindy AL wrote: "Thanks Julie"

You're welcome. I did subscribe to this discussion, but somehow my email notifications got dropped -_-

[chucklesthescot]

I've got a question for option 4. Can I use A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov? It's the fictional autobiography of an aristocratic Russian meercat

[MsOPP]

chucklesthescot wrote: "I've got a question for option 4. Can I use A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov? It's the fictional autobiography of an aristocratic Russian meercat"

Unless a lot of it is set in a European country, which I can't figure out from reading the summary, the answer is no. Russia is not in Europe.

[Jennifer N.]

MsOPP (Julie) wrote: "chucklesthescot wrote: "I've got a question for option 4. Can I use A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov? It's the fictional autobiography of an aristocratic Russian..."

I thought that we were counting Russia as part of Europe for this season?

[MsOPP]

Jennifer N. wrote: "MsOPP (Julie) wrote: "chucklesthescot wrote: "I've got a question for option 4. Can I use A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov? It's the fictional autobiography of a..."

Are we? I will look. If I recall, Russia is mostly in Asia, so it's not 100% European.

[chucklesthescot]

Russia play in the European Championships Football and Athletic competitions which is why I picked Russia for my book.

[Emily]

I don't know if it matters, but 15.3 (In the Eurozone) and 15.8 (Up in the Air) look like they both allow Russia as a European country.

[MsOPP]

Kate wrote: "I don't know if it matters, but 15.3 (In the Eurozone) and 15.8 (Up in the Air) look like they both allow Russia as a European country."

I stand corrected. I will allow Russia then.

[Deedee]

In the Winter Challenge, "they" counted Russia as Asian. (I know because I picked a Russian author to fulfill Winter Challenge Task 30.10 -- Jennifer N's task - In Honor of Asian Authors.)

[MsOPP]

One note on this book: A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov.

It looks like it is more of a picture book and according to the rules, you will need to read a minimum of 500 pages of picture books to make them count. You will need to read some other picture books to make up the difference.

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Deedee wrote: "In the Winter Challenge, "they" counted Russia as Asian. (I know because I picked a Russian author to fulfill Winter Challenge Task 30.10 -- Jennifer N's task - In Honor of Asian Authors.)"

Russia is a tricky one, because it is considered part of both the European and Asian continents.

Here's the list that the moderators have been using:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe#P...

[chucklesthescot]

MsOPP (Julie) wrote: "One note on this book: A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov.

It looks like it is more of a picture book and according to the rules, you will need to read a minimu..."

I'd class the book as a novella with illustrations rather than a kid's picture book but I'm not going to use it.

[Sheila]

Hi Julie I saw where you approved Summertime in msg. 13. May I assume from that that Midsummer is also OK for option 5? I am wanting to read A Midsummer Night's Scream

[MsOPP]

Sheila wrote: "Hi Julie I saw where you approved Summertime in msg. 13. May I assume from that that Midsummer is also OK for option 5? I am wanting to read A Midsummer Night's Scream"

Yes, Midsummer is fine, too.

[Deedee]

Oh my! The book I picked to use for Option 4 is set in Italy ... for the first 2/3rds of the novel. (I'm at the 2/3rds point.) The action at this point moves to the Middle East. I'm not sure if the characters will be returning to Italy (or Europe for that matter). Can I still use it for Option 4? And, in general, how much of the book needs to be set in one country to count for Option 4? Or could a novel that travels around Europe count for Option 4? Thanks!

[MsOPP]

Deedee wrote: "Oh my! The book I picked to use for Option 4 is set in Italy ... for the first 2/3rds of the novel. (I'm at the 2/3rds point.) The action at this point moves to the Middle East. I'm not sure if ..."

more than half of the novel in European countries should be fine. What is the name of the book?

[Deedee]

MsOPP (Julie) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "Oh my! The book I picked to use for Option 4 is set in Italy ... for the first 2/3rds of the novel. (I'm at the 2/3rds point.) The action at this point moves to the Middle East. I..."

All the Lives He Led -- that's a picture of Mt. Vesuvius on the cover:


Though now I'm thinking that if Pied Piper stays in France the whole time, I'll use that one for Option 4 and move All the Lives He Led to 30.9

[MsOPP]

Deedee wrote: "MsOPP (Julie) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "Oh my! The book I picked to use for Option 4 is set in Italy ... for the first 2/3rds of the novel. (I'm at the 2/3rds point.) The action at this point moves ..."

That might actually work better because it is a little sticky.

[Rebekah]

If someone needs a little help, I have a book called The Summer Book by Tove Jansson in Book Swap if anyone needs a book. It could fulfill option #5 of this task or the following tasks;
5.1 Takes place on an island
5.4 double m, double o and double s
15.3 Takes place in Finland
10.3 If like me the thought of spending time on a little isolated island in the cold Northern sea gives you the willies
20.3 If the above setting is your dream come true
5.8 If bookSwap counts as "free"
30.10 Read a book with any of the three words in its title?
30.6 If you rolled a 6 for the second task.
30.4 Summer in title and set in a European country.
20.5 Anyone with Scandanavian ancestors?
This book has 170 pgs

[Inez]

what about part 1) Dead Reckoning

part 2) Divine By Mistake

[MsOPP]

Inez wrote: "what about part 1) Dead Reckoning

part 2) Divine By Mistake"

Those work. They are on the example lists.

[Inez]

MsOPP (Julie) wrote: "Inez wrote: "what about part 1) Dead Reckoning

part 2) Divine By Mistake"

Those work. They are on the example lists."

Thanks sorry didn't read the example list

[Sera]

Hi, MsOPP. May I use Songs For The Missing for #2 above? The GR description states that the girl's disappearance (the crux of the story) takes place during the summer.

[MsOPP]

Sera wrote: "Hi, MsOPP. May I use Songs For The Missing for #2 above? The GR description states that the girl's disappearance (the crux of the story) takes place during the summer."

Yes, it occurs during the summer.

[Sera]

Awesome - thanks, MsOPP.