5 POINT TASKS

[Suzanne]

5.1 – Boo! It's Halloween time! Read a book with a pumpkin, black cat (domesticated), bat (the animal), witch's hat, candy, skull, or skeleton on the cover. Required: Include the cover or a link to the cover in your post. Examples:


5.2 - It's Elemental Read a book with the name of an element found on the periodic table in its title, subtitle, or author’s name. List of the elements on the periodic table Series titles are EXCLUDED. Plurals, possessives, and other variations are OK. Examples: Arthur Golden, Quicksilver, Mercury in Retrograde, The Neon Rain, The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil-Fuel Habit

5.3 - Labor Day Read a book in which a profession can be found in the author’s name. Here's a list with some ideas on it: List of Occupational Surnames Common variations in spelling (Taylor for tailor, for example) will work. Examples: Jim Butcher, Tiffany Baker, Hunter S. Thompson, Mildred D. Taylor

5.4 – S.O.N. Read a book where the letters S, O, and N (September, October, November) are found consecutively in the title, subtitle, or author’s name. Series titles are EXCLUDED. Examples: James Patterson, Flight Lessons

5.5 - Women and Cats, Men and Dogs "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." ~ Robert A. Heinlein
Read a book written by a woman in which a cat plays a major role. OR Read a book written by a man in which a dog plays a major role. Domesticated cats and dogs only (i.e., tigers, lions, wolves, and/or paranormal shapeshifters DO NOT count) for this task. Examples: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron, Marley Me: Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan

5.6 - Back to School Read a Newbery Medal, Newbery Honor, Printz Award, Printz Honor, or Alex Award winning book. Required: State which list you used when you post.

5.7 Dictionary Day (10/16)
Read a book with an unknown or unfamiliar word in the title. Required: Please state the word you used when you post. Optional: Provide a brief definition and state whether the use of the word in the title was accurate.

5.8 Clean Your Refrigerator Day (11/15)
Name the nastiest thing you have ever found in your refrigerator and read a book with that word in the title. Required: Please include the "thing" when you post

5.9 - Happiness Is...A Big Library
Check into the Library Hotel and read a good book.
Each of the ten guestroom floors at the Library Hotel in New York City are dedicated to one of the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System*: Social Sciences, Literature, Languages, History, Math & Science, General Knowledge, Technology, Philosophy, The Arts and Religion. Since feasibly it may not be possible to actually finance a trip to this luxury hotel, take the virtual tour and “choose a room.” Tell which room you would stay in and read a book that you might find there. REQUIRED In your post share which room you stayed in.

5.10 - Female Authors of Sci-Fi
Women don't get much publicity in this genre, and as a result they are highly underrepresented, but I have discovered some fantastic novels that compare with, and even surpass the male-dominated classics.

For this task read a science fiction novel written by a female author. The genre "Science Fiction" should appear on the book’s home page. If you need help, here is a great list: Science Fiction Books by Female Authors

[Mary]

Task 5.2--how simple, looking back anyways. I read Goldilocks and the Three Bears retold and illustrated by Jan Brett. Love the illustrations in this one. Her drawings stay true to the story.
5 points

[Mary]

Task 5.3--Labor Day. I read "Addy's Wedding Quilt" by Connie Porter. (A porter is a person who helps get your bags onto your mode of transportation.) In this story, Addy is making a quilt for her parents wedding day. She learns why her parents are repeating their vows and what makes memories special.
5 points

[Mary]

Task 5.5 men and dogs.
Well, who would have thought: "Walter the Farting Dog" by William Kotzwinkle and Gelnn Murray. Did not know that Walter was a rescue dog from the pound. He proved his worth when thwarting a burglary through an unconventional method.
5 points

[Mary]

Task 5.1--I read "Who goes out on Halloween" by Sue Alexander. Great simple book for beginning readers about Halloween. Great illustrations.

5 points

[Suzanne]

Mary wrote: "Task 5.2--how simple, looking back anyways. I read Goldilocks and the Three Bears retold and illustrated by Jan Brett. Love the illustrations in this one. Her drawings stay true to the story.
5 ..."

I didn't know "Goldilocks" was a variation of Gold! I was thinking Golden ... oh well it's only 5pts. :)It's fine I guess, I know your way with words ;)

[Susan]

task 5.1 The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
I thought this was a good story for children to read .
pgs. 32

[Suzanne]

Susan wrote: "task 5.1 The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
I thought this was a good story for children to read .
pgs. 32"


This is a cute story! My grandkids love it!

[Susan]

5.6 task newberry honor awardPictures of Hollis Woods
I liked this book very much, it was a very heartwarming story. I also liked the characters Hollis Woods and Josie and that she finally found a family.
Pgs.166

[Kathy]

5.1 Agatha Christie, "Hallowe'en Party" pages 231 Agatha,once again weaves a great mystery about a young girl who is murdered after she admits she witnessed a murder. No one believes her for she is well-known for her tall tales. However, with her death, Hercule Poirot is called in to help solve the murder mystery. The conclusion is quite a surprise.

[Kathy]

5.4 James Patterson,"Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas"-pages 289.A sweet, sentimental love story. The main theme being the secret of the five balls,work, family, health, friends, and integrity.

[Kathy]

5.5 Lillian Jackson Braun, "The Cat Who Saw Red", pages 249. If one has never read a Braun cat mystery seriously put one on your to-read list. They are a quick read, fun, witty and intriguing. You will fall in love with either Koko and Yum Yum or their master, Quilleran. All three work together to solve various murders.

[Suzanne]

Kathy wrote: "5.1 Agatha Christie, "Hallowe'en Party" pages 231 Agatha,once again weaves a great mystery about a young girl who is murdered after she admits she witnessed a murder. No one believes her for she is..."

Here's your cover

[Mary]

Task 5.9--the Library Hotel.
Well, I don't normally go for poetry. It's nice and all but just not my thing. However, for this task I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and pick a room on the 8th floor (800 is where poetry is found). I read "Shadow" translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown. This is a weird poem about our shadow and it's life? Illustrations clear up some of the wording. Interesting book.
5 points

[Suzanne]

#9 I checked into the Library Hotel and read dramatic literature The Color Purple on the 8th floor.

This review is hard to write without summarizing the story. There are so many surprising turns in Celie's life. I was stunned by her personal growth and the obstacles she overcame. The family and friends she lives with all have their own up and down journeys through life, suffering various discriminatory injustices at one time or another.
Celie survived years of abuse... as a young girl her father sexually abused her. When she ended up pregnant he blamed her for being promiscuous, then sold her baby. After this happened to her a second time, yes he did it again, he solicits a husband for her. Celie's husband, Mister, is much older than her with four children by his first wife. Forced to grow up quick, Celie becomes a stepmother and a housewife overnight. Her sister, who she has the closest relationship with is in Africa, and Celie doesn't even know if she is still alive. Mister is verbally and physically abusive to his new wife. When Nettie, Celie's sister writes to her, the letters never reach her hands .. Mister hides the letters and never says a word.

One day Mister brings home an old flame, Shug Avery, and resumes their love affair right in the same house he shares with Celie. Shug is a famous singer, whose talent is known and loved at all the area juke joints.

These are just some of the many things that contribute to inevitable depression for Celie. I think the turning point is when Celie learns to love herself. She realizes her importance after Shug reaches out to her and makes her feel special. Celie really hasn't had anyone to talk to, other than God, until Shug came along. Eventually they become as close as sisters … even closer in some ways.

At one point Celie tries to deny the existence God, but after a talk with Shug she starts thinking about the beauty in the world around her .. it came from somewhere, someone … everything is evidence of God. I liked Shug's thoughts about God's desire to be admired … “i think it pisses god off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and dont notice it.” And Shug explains that God doesn't just expect to be pleased by us, he gives us these beauties to make us happy. Everyone needs a little happiness to survive life's pitfalls.

Thankfully, the ending is joyous, and Celie is reunited with her sister and children.. I could feel her happiness after all she had been though.

[Kathy]

5.6 Newbery Honor Award Book-"The House of Sixty Fathers" by Meindert DeJong, pages 208, for ages 10 t0 14.This is an amazing story of a young Chinese boy who becomes separated from his parents. Tien Pao with his pet pig is left alone in enemy territory. Because of the brutality of the Japanese he is forced to live in caves and eat leaves to survive. He is rescued by Chinese guerrillas, fed and clothed only to once again head out on a dangerous journey to locate his parents. It is a story of immense hardships and courage during a war.