The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
WINTER CHALLENGE 2011: EARTH
>
Winter Challenge 2011: Completed Tasks -DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS TOPIC

15.5 All Shiny and New
I read

20.2 Rookie on Top
I selection Option 4 and read

EOWYN IVEY IS A GR AUTHOR.
30.3 DLMRose's Task
For the first book, I read

I took OUR from the title and swapped out the letter R for the letter T, making OUT, and read

OUR MUTUAL FRIEND IS A BIG BOOK AT 880 PAGES
30.4 Donna Jo's Task
I rolled a 3 and a 2. As such, the first book that I read was

The second book that I read was

30.5 Butterflycager's Task
I selected two Christmas Carols from the list. The first carol was Silent Night, and I read

The second carol was Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and I read

Total Points: 135 + 15 + 20 + 30 + 30 + 30 = 260
GR Authors: 3
Big Books: 500+ (1); 750+ (1)

Points thus far: 265
Goodreads Author: 0/3
Big Book Ticket: 500=1, 750=0, 1000=0
25.9 - Denise NC’s Task: My Favorite Genres
Option 3 – Mystery
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
Option 5 – Romance
Rebecca by Du Maurier
25.8 - Gayla's task: 2011: The Year in Review
4. set in Egypt.
Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson
5. set in Washington D.C. - Occupy Wall Street Oct 1, 2011
The Whispered Watchword
5.10.an author whose first or last name begins with E. 640 pages
The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty
15.4 Go Green
Option C for both
read
by Andrea Cremer (goodreads author) book is more green than in the picture.
and
by Jennifer Ziegler
Points this Post: 15
Total points- 875
Tasks Completed: 48
Books read: 66
Pages Read : 21,277
GR Authors: 34
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Option C for both
read

and

Points this Post: 15
Total points- 875
Tasks Completed: 48
Books read: 66
Pages Read : 21,277
GR Authors: 34
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)


Task 20.3 Words Among Friends...read a book with at least four words in the title. Take the first letters from each word & use them to anagram a word that is at least four letters long:
I read

anagram formed was "atom"
Points earned for this task: 20
Points Achieved to date: 390
Updated last on: 2.10.12
Total # of books read: 30
Total # of pages read: 10,331
Total # of tasks completed: 24
Total # of Goodreads Authors: 6
Total # of Big Books:
500+ (2)
700+ (0)
1000+ (0)

Task 30.4 Double or Nothing...roll 2 dice. read 2 books (one must be published for the first time in or before 1975 & one must be published after 1975):
Book A: even roll with the #4; author's first & last name starts with the same letter:
I read

Book B: odd roll with the #5; title with consecutive words starting with the same letter:
I read

Points earned for this task: 30
Points Achieved to date: 420
Updated last on: 2.10.12
Total # of books read: 32
Total # of pages read: 11,132
Total # of tasks completed: 25
Total # of Goodreads Authors: 7
Total # of Big Books:
500+ (3)
700+ (0)
1000+ (0)

25.1 White Lilacs
Book: Spirit Bound, Richelle Mead
*** Goodreads Author ***
Marigold
Book: 77 Shadow Street, Dean Koontz
Points this Post: 25
Total Points: 225
Tasks Completed: 10
Books Read: 14
GR Author: 8
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)

2 new tasks
5.9. Trash to treasure.
Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
My friend Hms gave this book 1* - I gave it 2*. I had heard great things about this books, but it just didn't do it for me.
Anna Campbell is a Goodreads Author
10.5 It’s Summer Somewhere: this book takes place in Louisiana in the summertime
Savage Nature by Christine Feehan
Points this post = 15
Total Points = 605
Tasks Completed = 35
Total Pages Read = 17,462
Goodreads Authors = 13
Bog Books = 1 (500+)

The cure for Everything!: Untangling the twisted messages about health, fitness, and happiness - 280 pages
Goal is to improve my health: this books looks at some myths about the health and fitness industries and proposed simple ways to improve your lifestyle.
10.3 - Here, There be Dragons
Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon - 224 pages
10.4 - Blue, White, and the Black of Night
The Beggar's Garden - 262 pages
I am posting the cover from the eBook edition as it is the same as the hardcover (which I read)

20.9 - Honouring the Grands
D. Swimming with Scapulars: True Confessions of a Young Catholic - 288 pages
This non-fiction book is about a young man and his Catholic faith.
25.6 - Winter Fun and Games
1. The Guardians by Andrew Pyper, a Goodreads author - 354 pages
The Guardians referred to in the title are a high school hockey team. The novel is about members of the team returning to their home city and reliving a horrific event in their last year in high school.
2. Territorial Rights - 240 pages
I don't do well in the hot sun, so I'd rather travel to Venice in the winter, the location of this novel by Muriel Spark.
Points this Post: 70
Total Points: 245
Total Tasks Completed: 15
Total Books Read: 18
Total Pages Read: 5134
Total GR Authors: 3
Total Big Books 500+: 0
Total Big Books 750+: 0
Total Big Books 1000+: 0

Task 25.2, Option 1 (two books by two authors whose names are spelled differently but can be pronounced the same). I read Blind Submission: A Novel by Debra Ginsberg and Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts **Deborah Coonts is a Goodreads Author**
Task 25.5 Movies made out of books
Option C: (rating 3.94 or lower on Goodreads, movie 80% or higher on Rottentomatoes.com): I read Election by Tom Perotta (rated 3.82 on Goodreads, 92% on the Tomato Meter)
Option D: (rating 3.94 or lower on Goodreads and 79% or lower on Tomato Meter): I read Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman
500 previous points plus 50 points = 550 points total
15 previous Goodreads authors plus one = 16 Goodreads authors

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - originally published in 1892.
20.8 - It's My Birthday - Dionisia - It's all about Me (Myself and I)
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark
Points this post: 25
Total Points: 345
Tasks Completed: 20
Books Read: 28
GoodReads Authors: 6
Big Books: 500+ (1), 750+ (), 1000+ ()

This book has a flower on the cover.

Sarah Jio is a Goodreads author.
Points this post: 10
Total points: 550
Tasks: 27
Books: 37
Goodreads authors: 8
Big Books: 500=1

10.5- It's Summer Somewhere
The List by Melanie Jacobson Takes place in the summer.
10.8- Hidden Gems
Dreamrider by Barry Jonsberg 106 ratings
15.4- Go Green

15.10- Sweet
The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen
20.10- Group Read
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King My comment is #19
Points this Post: 70
Total Points: 235

A Little Magic - 4 ratings
Valerie Gillen- Goodreads Author
Total Points this Post: 10
Total Points in Challenge: 95
Books Read: 8
Tasks Completed: 6
GR Authors: 4
Big Book Tickets: 500+(1); 750+(0); 1000+(0)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Anagram: ITCH
20.4 Happy New Year
5. Take a trip/ vacation- would like to vacation to Venice, Italy; story line brings characters to Venice.
Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
25.1 Where have all the flowers gone?
White Lilacs/YA book- Lenobia's Vow by P.C. Cast
Plumeria/ 1st in series- City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Cassie Clare is a Goodreads Author
Points this post: 65
Total points: 175
Tasks completed: 13
Books read: 14
Goodreads Authors: 4

5.10 EARTH
Book: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
10.9 Earth Signs
Book: Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
Notes: Capricorn (12/24).
15.5 All Shiny and New
Book: Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
Notes: Published in April of 2011. She is a new to me author.
*GoodReads Author*
50.1 For the Love of Middle School
Book 1: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Notes: The show is "True Blood."
Book 2: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Notes: Dystopian.
Book 3: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Notes: 5) Rachel was reading this.
*GoodReads Author*
This Post: 80
Total to Date: 615
GRA Tickets: 22
BB Tickets: 2
Books Read: 43

For 10.6, I read At the Altar.

For 15.7, I read South of Superior.

For 20.2, I chose Clara and Fritz and read Changing Tunes.

For 5.6, I read Exit the Actress for the category Historical Fiction. Priya Parmar is a GR author.


20.8 - Dionisia's Task: It's All About Me

Points this Post: 20
Total Challenge Points: 925
Total Goodreads Authors: 21
Big Books: 500+ - 2; 750+ - zero; 1000+ - zero

I read

Points this post:10
Total points: 340
Tasks completed:17
Books read: 23
Goodreads Authors: 8
Big Books: 500=0, 750=0, 1000=0

Read 'Em Their Writes!
In the Woods by Tana French
Points this post: 15
Total points: 230
Tasks completed: 13
Books read: 16
Goodreads Authors: 3
Big Books: 500=0, 750=0, 1000=0

The Thief Of Always: A Fable by Clive Barker
This book was a Goodread recommendation - Young Adult Shelf -- was an excellent choice. The book was very enjoyable.
20.10 Group Read
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld -- from the Steampunk category -- my post is #32 on the discussion thread
25.2 Santa By Any Other Name Is ... Well, Still Santa
I chose Option 2 - same author writing under different names -- I chose Jayne Ann Krentz who also writes as Amanda Quick (also as Jayne Ann Castle)
Book 1: White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
Book 2: The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick
***** Jayne Ann Krentz is a Goodreads Author ****
Points = 750
Tasks = 46
Books = 61
Pages = 15,443

Book 1: Heir Apparent Hollyhock: my goal is to read more middle grade books/YA books appropriate for middle grade since I'll soon be a junior high language arts teacher
Book 2: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare ***who is a GR author*** ***Big book - 541 pages*** White lilacs: listed as a young adult book by 1,500+ people
***claiming 1 GR author ticket***
***claiming 1 Big Book ticket***
Points this post: 25
Total points: 320
Tasks completed: 15
Books read: 24
Goodreads Author Tickets: 17
Big Books: 500=2, 750=0, 1000=0

5.8. Jump!
Grief Girl: My True Story
by Erin Vincent
*320 pages divided by 4 = 80*
30.3 Small Changes or Simple Swaps
Option A:
Book 1:
Night Star
by Alyson Noel *Goodreads Author*
Book 2:
Nights in Rodanthe
by Nicholas Sparks
*added the letter s to the word night
Points this post: 35
Total points: 770
Tasks: 45
Books: 60
Goodread authors: 30

25.6 Winter Fun and Games
Book 1 The Terror about the search for the North-West Passage
Book 2 Red Dog. Louis de Bernires set in the Pilbara region of Western Australia where the average temperature at this time of year is 35C or 95F
30.2 One Author – Two Series
The Amber Spyglass from His Dark Materials trilogy
The Ruby in the Smoke book 1 of the Lucy Lockhart books
Both by Philip Pullman
Total points 800

20.4 Author! Author! - Valorie's task: Happy New Year!!
5. Take a Trip/Vacation: I want to visit Ireland someday so I read A Short History of Ireland by Sean McMahon
Points this post: 20
Total points: 210

1) "Fearless Fourteen"(Stephanie Plum#14)
2) "Full House"(Full House 1)
both by Janet Evanovich. Janet Evanovich is a goodreads author.
Task Completed: 15
Books Completed:18
GR Authors: 10, Diane Chamberlain, Janet Evanovich(7), Kami Garcia with Margaret Stohl, Alexander McCall Smith,
Big Books: 500(1), 750(0), 1000(0)
Task Points: 30


Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is an Goodreads Author
Total points: 415
Tasks completed: 20
Books read: 29
Goodreads Authors total: 12
Big Book total : 500+ = 2

Option A - Breakfast at Tiffany's (* * *)
20.10 - Group Read
The Beekeeper's Apprentice (* * *) - post 32 in discussion thread
*Laurie R. King is a Goodreads author.
25.9 - Denise NC’s Task: My Favorite Genres
Option 1 (YA) - Messenger (* *) and Option 3 (Mystery) - The Man in the Queue (* * * *)
Tasks completed: 48/57
Books read: 61/77
Points claimed in this post: 65
Total points claimed: 750
GR authors to date: 11
BB tickets to date: 2


20.1 - Most Improved Player - Karen F's task: Baby, It’s Cold Outside
A. Drink a Hot Beverage - English in the title
Tickling the English
25.5 - Mstan's task: "Movies - Ruining (Advertising?) the Book Since..."
Option B: Stay Home; Read The Book
Ella Enchanted - 4.0/50%
Option D: In the Eyes of the Beholder
The Princess Diaries - 3.66/47%
The ratings were recorded from when I chose the books at the start of the challenge
25.8 - Gayla's task: 2011: The Year in Review
4 - Egypt
The Mummy Case
5 - Dallas, Texas
Living Dead in Dallas
25.9 - Denise NC’s Task: My Favorite Genres
Option 1 – Young Adult
Point Blank - Alex Rider #2
Option 3 – Mystery
Lion in the Valley - Amelia Peabody #4
30.3 - DLMRose's task: Small Changes or Simple Swaps
C. swap one letter or character in the word for a different letter
bones to jones
Rattle His Bones
To Davy Jones Below
30.7 - Delicious Dee's task: Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover
Flipped 2 heads, so 1 read 2 books with covers that I love


Previous points: 135
Points this post: 155
Total points: 290

2. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle
Lilian Jackson Braun
5. Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero
Michael Hingson
Dog care
Hingson is a goodreads author
Hingson is a new to me author
Points this post: 30
Total points this challenge: 245
GRA: 4

Him Her Him Again the End of Him - HATE
20.5 - Bigger is Better - Bec's task: Off to War
Option B: Breaking the Code: A Daughter's Journey into Her Father's Secret War (WAR)
(Though this could also fit for option A as it is about the father's experiences as a codebreaker in WWII and the PTSD that it caused later in life.)
25.4 - Sandy’s Task: On This Day in History
B2. Ramona - Approved in the question thread. This book was actually written to inform people about how badly the native Americans were being treated in California were being treated during this time period (when the US had first acquired California and was busy selling the land that had once belonged to the natives or the Spanish Missions). The title character is half native American and her husband is fully.
C2. Life on the Refrigerator Door (A day in the LIFE)
Previous Points: 0
Points this Post: 65

50.1 - Ms Anderson's task: For the Love of Middle School
Book 1: The Girls Like...
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Book 2: The Boys Like...
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Book 3: Everyone Loves...
Rolled a 6: Rocky Balboa.
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (published in 1976)
**Richard Dawkins is a GoodReads author**
All 3 books approved in help thread.
Points this post:50
Total Points:150
GR authors: 1
Big Books: 1


15.8 What’s IndieNext? Read a book that has appeared on any Indie Next List
Indie Next List: August 2011
http://www.indiebound.org/indie-next-...
Girls in White Dresses (2011) by Jennifer Close (Hardcover, 294 pages)
360 + 15 = 375

Tasks Completed: 22
Points for this task: 15
Points thus far: 360 + 15 = 375
Books read: 27
Pages Read: 8,527
Read but not claimed: 7
Goodreads Authors: 4
Big Books:
(1) 500+
(0) 750 +
(0) 1000 +

Nominated in 2011 Choice Awards
A Discovery Of Witches
Points this post: 5
Total points: 165
Tasks Completed: 13
Books Read: 15
GoodReads Authors: 4
Big Books: 500+ 1, 750+ 0, 1000+ 0
Can I claim a goodreads author ticket and big book ticket for this 1 please.

10.7 Featuring Earth - Earthly Possessions by Anne Tyler
25.7 - Amanda A's task: Name Train - last letter is R =
The Babes in the Wood by Ruth Rendell
False Light: A Novel of Suspense by Caroline Llewellyn
Points this post: 35
Total challenge points: 925
Tasks completed: 51
Books read: 71
Goodreads Authors: 27
Big Books: 500=4, 750=0, 1000=0

20.2 The Nutcracker. Chose option #1 - main character is a child.
The Book of Lost Things by: John Connolly.
Points this task: 20
Total Points: 80
Books Read: 5
Tasks Completed: 4
Goodreads Authors: 2 (Rowell, Grossman)
Big Ticket Books: 0

Task 10.8 - Hidden Gems
I read:
Single In The City by Michele Gorman
At the time I write this, it has 155 ratings.
**Michele Gorman is a Goodreads author!!**
Points this task: 10
Total points: 715
Tasks completed: 44
Books read: 57
Pages read: 14424
Goodreads authors: 16
Big books: 500+ (2); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)


Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Martin (128 pgs, onion head boy on cover has a head that is...round)
30.4 Double or Nothing
First Die Odd: Enduring Love by Ian McEwan (272 pgs, pub. 1998, "Mc" next to each other in "McEwan")
Second Die Even: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (224 pgs, pub. 1943, 2 "T's" in "Letters")
Points this post: 35
Total points: 190t
Tasks completed: 12
Total books read: 14
Total pages read: 4209
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500=1, 750=0, 1000=0


Tasks Completed: 1
Points for this task: 20
Points thus far: 20
Books read: 1
Pages Read: 141

The Dirdir

This is the third book in the "Planet of Adventure Series" by Jack Vance. 160 pages.
Tasks Completed: 2
Points for this task: 5
Points thus far: 25
Books read: 2
Pages Read: 301

I have not read Pollan before, although I have been meaning to ...
Published Nov 1st, 2011. 192 pages.

Tasks Completed: 3
Points for this task: 15
Points thus far: 40
Books read: 3
Pages Read: 493

Snark: A Polemic in Seven Fits

128 pages.
From the letters in the title, I can make the word SIPS.
There are other words I could also make, but will refrain from going further in the interest of gentility and brevity.
Tasks Completed: 4
Points for this task: 20
Points thus far: 60
Books read: 4
Pages Read: 621


Points this post: 15
Total Points: 510
Tasks Completed: 33
Books Read: 42
Goodreads Authors: 19
Big Books: 500=0, 750=0, 1000=0

1. Clara and Fritz, the Stahlbaum children

Points this post: 20
Total Points: 530
Tasks Completed: 34
Books Read: 43
Goodreads Authors: 19
Big Books: 500=1, 750=0, 1000=0

I picked option 4: I read Later the Same Day by Grace Paley. I got this book from the library
Points: 295
books read: 24
Tasks completed: 22
GR authors: 2
Big Books 1(750+)
pages read: 8532

10.5 It’s Summer Somewhere: Let's warm up! Read a book that is set in the southern hemisphere Required: State how the book fits the task if it is not obvious from the Goodreads description.
Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur
Goodreads Author
Set in Melbourne, Australia
__________________________________________________
25.6 - Laurie ME's task: Winter Fun and Games
For this task, you will read 2 books:
Book 1: Book 1 should involve a cold, outdoor winter activity in some fashion.
Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson
Main Character is a hockey player
Book 2: Book 2 should involve a place you would travel to get away from the cold, wintery weather.
The Mercenary by Cherry Adair
Goodreads Author
Setting is an island off the coast of southern Italy
Points this post:35
Total points: 580
Tasks completed: 35
Books read: 42
Goodreads Authors: 23
Big Books: 500=1, 750=0, 1000=0

➜ Task # 20.4 - Author! Author! - Valorie's task: Happy New Year!!
Option 4 - Save Money/Manage Debt: Read a book with a mainly green cover
Going Green 365 Ways To Change Our World by Simon Gear

➜ Task # 25.1 - Rachel Lee's task: Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
White Lilacs (youthful innocence)
Vesper by Jeff Sampson
Sweetbriar (simplicity)
Hexbound by Chloe Neill
Both authors are Goodreads Authors
➜ Task # 25.9 - Denise NC’s Task: My Favorite Genres
Option 2 – Urban Fantasy
Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn
Option 5 – Romance
Cold Sight by Leslie Parrish
Both authors are Goodreads Authors
Points this post: 70 points
Total to Date = 160 points
GR Authors: 6

15.5 Shiny and New
Death comes to Pemberly by P.D. James
The book was published in 2011, and I have never read P.D. James before.
20.1 Baby, It's Cold Outside
Option C - Flames on Cover
The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

20.2 The Nutcracker
Option 1 - Tried out for the Stahlbaum children
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Children are the main characters in the book.
20.4 Happy New Year
Option 4 - Save Money
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
I borrowed the book from the library.
Points for this post: 75
Total points: 240 + 75 = 315
Tasks completed: 16
Books read: 20
Goodreads authors: 6
Big books: 500=2, 750=0, 1,000=0

Task 15.1 Knowledge is Power
A: Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie
C: Take on Me (Secret Lives of Daytime Divas, #1) by Sarah Mayberry
Task 25.8 Year in Review
#3 English Royalty: To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Sandra Byrd
#4 Egypt: Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
****Sandra Byrd, Jennifer Crusie, Sarah Mayberry are all GR authors
TOTAL: 540
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Far Reaches (other topics)Beyond the Grave (other topics)
Witch & Wizard (other topics)
The Princess Bride (other topics)
Lemon Tart (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Neil Gaiman (other topics)Josi S. Kilpack (other topics)
William Goldman (other topics)
Barbara Ann Kipfer (other topics)
Rebecca Skloot (other topics)
More...
30.3 DLMRose’s Small Changes
Book 1 – Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez, 268 pages
“Fright” >>changes to>> “Flight”
Book 2 – Flight by Sherman Alexie, 208 pages
Task Points this Post: 30
Total Points: 755
Pages Read: 18,238
Big Books: 500+ (5) 750+ (1)