Mineola Library's 2012 FALL Reading Challenge discussion
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WINTER 2011/2012 TASKS
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20 POINT TASKS
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20.1 pages 264. "The Girl Who Fell from the Sky." by Heidi W. Durrow. The story is about Rachel who has to live with her African-American grandmother after surviving a horrible family tragedy. Her mother, brother and baby sister leap off the roof of an apartment building to fly like birds only to meet their death. Not only does the author deal with Rachel's surviving the fall as an abandoned child, but she must deal with being the daughter of a black GI and a white Danish mother. Rachel has to struggle with her biracial identity and discover who she really is. Even though we have more biracial marriages and have elected a biracial president I still believe we have a long way to go to aid people of all races to recognize what is really important. To place people in ethnic categories only continues the prejudices of skin color and physical appearances. I like the thought provoking statement of Eckhart Tolle, "You are the knowing not the condition that is known." The author has handled the subject matter with great sensitivity and I did enjoy reading this book.
20.2 #5 Played Skip-Bo, Go Fish,War and Old Maid with my grandsons over Christmas holidays. The book I read was "A Victorian Christmas" an anthology by Catherine Palmer. pages 320. "Angel in the Attic", "Lone Star", "Under His Wings" and "Behold the Lamb" are the short stories of various events happening at Christmas that involve a beautiful love story. Catherine serves with her husband as missionaries in a refugee community. The four short stories carry a strong message of her Christian faith and inspiring Christian love and romance.#6. pages 416. "The Soldier's Wife" by Margaret Leroy. What a sad emotional novel of the German occupied island of Guernsey!! Margaret Leroy makes it ever so real as to the extreme brutality, unnecessary cruelty of murder and sacrifices that the living must endure. In one way the ones that die are the lucky ones because of the extreme pressure of the survivors to overcome the hardships of food, fuel, friendships and moral convictions is almost unbearable.
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Don't forget to choose a question to comment on in the - - group discussion board
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I read The Namesake
The following is what I call a “title summary.” There is much more depth in the development of the individual family members that this story revolves around. Lahiri's writing style is very emotionally descriptive and draws the reader into the personal relationships of each character.
This story follows the Ganguli family through the years as they immigrate from Bengali and become Americanized. Coming to America in the early sixties, I was surprised by how close the Ganguli's experiences where to ones I remember as a child. For example when the young family bought their first home, Ashima took pictures of Gogol in every room of the new house to send back to her family in India. My mother did the same thing with me, so she could send pictures home to her parents who lived in another state. Other details about how they celebrated American holidays, and Gogol's experiences in his early school years were very familiar to me while I was reading. Specifics seem vague now, but I was wrapped up in the character's minds … and seeing things from their perspectives.
Gogol's name came from his father's love of a Russian author, Nikolai Gogol. They name their first born Gogol as a pet name while waiting for a letter from India with a name chosen by great-grandmother. The name decision is an Indian custom, but great-grandmother dies before a name is chosen. When Gogol begins school, his parents register him with a “good” name .. Nikhil, but he refuses to accept this name and it is agreed that he will be called Gogol. As Gogol enters his teen years he begins to resent his unusual name. Once he graduates and begins college and changes his name to Nikil.
In the beginning of the novel, the reader learns the significance of the name Gogol. Ashoke Ganguli believes Gogol's book of short stories saved his life. He was awake reading the book on a train when there was an accident. Many people lost their lives when the train derailed in the middle of the night, but Ashoke survived with the Russian author's book in his hand. Ashoke doesn't tell his son about the accident until he is an adult. When his father dies Gogol/Nikil begins to read a copy of the book given to him by his father years before, and begins to embrace his name.
20.1 GROUP READSFirst Book in a Mystery Series with a Female Protagonist:
Murder in the Vicarage Agatha Christie (288 pages)
Agatha Christie is one series I haven’t read. I enjoyed the book – I’ll definitely read more. It would fall into my “no thinking required” category” (which is where a lot of my books choices have been coming from lately!)
20.2 GAME ON! Rolled a 5: Board Game: Risk
Heavenly Patchwork Judy Howard (182 pages)
This book is a collection of short essays that explore the meaning quilts have in the lives of their makers and recipients. Included are photos and stories of quilts from the Civil War to the bombing of the OKC Murrah Building and 911.
20.6 GO GREEN A. "green" in the title.
It’s Not Easy Being Green Jim Henson (208 pages)
A collection of quotes, stories, anecdotes, songs, and insights from Jim Henson, his colleagues, as well as some of his best-know characters, including Kermit the Frog and Ernie. I was surprised at how many lyrics to Sesame Street and Muppet songs I recognized, considering I didn’t grow up watching the show or see the movies. Equally surprising was how much philosophy is intertwined with the humor in the songs and conversations of the Muppets.
C. green cover
The Fourth Bear Jasper Fforde (378 pages)
Detective Jack Spratt and Sergeant Mary Mary are back in the second of Fforde’s Nursery Crime series, where characters are never as innocent as they seem to be. With the Gingerbreadman - a psycophath, convicted murderer, and cookie on the loose, Spratt and Mary lead the hunt for missing reporter “Goldie” Hatchett, who was last seen by the three bears at their home in Anderson Woods. You definitely have to be well acquainted with traditional fairy tales and nursery rhymes to appreciate this series. I enjoy the bizarre details and complex plots he delivers in each book.
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First Book in a Mystery Series with a Female Protagonist:
Murder in the Vicarage Agatha Christie (288 pages)
Agatha Christie is one series I haven’t read. I enjoyed the book..."
This task does require a little extra thinking ... you need to post a response to one of the questions in this book's discussion thread ... Murder at the Vicarage
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A. "green" in the title.
It’s Not Easy Being Green Jim Henson (208 pages)
A collection of quotes, stories, anecdotes, songs, and insights from Jim Henson, his colleagues, as ..."
Since Jim Henson's book has a green cover and has the word green in the title it meets the requirements for options A & C. You didn't have to read Jasper Fforde's book for this task ... you might be able to move it to another task where you can pick up more points!
20.8 Happy New Year!5. Take a Trip/Vacation: I haven’t been on a real vacation in ages. It’s just too much effort to get things in order with cats and a large yard that seems to always have way too many things that need special TLC.
If I decided to take a vacation, I would like to revisit England.
The Fourth Bear Jasper Fforde (378 pages) Move from 20.6)
Detective Jack Spratt and Sergeant Mary Mary are back in the second of Fforde’s Nursery Crime series, where characters are never as innocent as they seem to be. With the Gingerbreadman - a psycophath, convicted murderer, and cookie on the loose, Spratt and Mary lead the hunt for missing reporter “Goldie” Hatchett, who was last seen by the three bears at their home in Anderson Woods. You definitely have to be well acquainted with traditional fairy tales and nursery rhymes to appreciate this series. I enjoy the bizarre details and complex plots he delivers in each book.
20.4 - Seeing Yourself in a Title Sara: The Cross and the Switchblade David Wilkerson
A young preacher from the Pennsylvania hills, David Wilkerson came to New York City and influenced troubled teenagers with his inspirational message.
This is a book about hope and the power of God. It's a story about the mission that God placed on the author's heart to help inner-city youth in New York in the late 1950s. Wilkerson connected these teens to God so He could help them overcome their addictions and turn their lives around
20.3 –Groundhog’s Day! That Old Cape Magic (Richard Russo) (272 pages)
I didn’t enjoy this book the first time I read it, and I liked it even less this time around. Even though there are some humorous moments, the unlikeable characters and overall negativity of the book made it a tough read for me. Even though I didn’t enjoy this book, I will give Russo another chance.
20.5 – The Melting Pot Immigrant from another country
Shanghai Girls Lisa See (309 pages)
Shanghai Girls is a historical fiction novel written about the lives of two sisters, Pearl and May. The setting is late 1930's, pre Japanese invasion, in the city of Shanghai. Pearl and May grew up in a traditional Chinese family, but yearned to be modern girls. Their family was considered to be in the upper class of Chinese society. They were living the dream, enjoying life and all of the finer things that come along with wealth and materialistic living. However, one day, that dream was abruptly shattered due to their family’s financial ruin and the Japanese invasion of China. Pearl and May were forced into arranged marriages to pay off their father's debt.
The rest of the story details their trials, terrors and hardships as they travel to Los Angeles and begin their new life in America.
I loved reading about Chinese culture and tradition, what was going on in China at the time and how America was dealing with the situation.
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Mineola Library's 2012 FALL Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Namesake (other topics)Salt: A World History (other topics)
The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank (other topics)
The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean (other topics)
How to Be an American Housewife (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Agatha Christie (other topics)Gail Carriger (other topics)
Heidi W. Durrow (other topics)
Read one of the following Group Read Selections and make at least one post in the discussion thread for that book.
Category: "African American Literature"- The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
by Heidi W. Durrow The discussion thread is here. Please respond to one of the listed talking points for this discussion when you post your comment.
Category: "Steampunk"- Soulless Parasol Protectorate 1 by Gail Carriger The discussion thread is here. Please respond to one of the listed talking points for this discussion when you post your comment.
Category: "1st book in a Mystery Series with a Female Protagonist " – Murder at the Vicarage Miss Marple 1 by Agatha Christie The discussion thread is here. Please respond to one of the listed talking points for this discussion when you post your comment.
20.2 - Game On!
When not reading, one popular thing to do is play video games. In light of that, I'm video game genres will shape this task.
First, go to Random Dice Roller and click roll again. Whatever number comes up will tell you what kind of book you're going to read.
1) Action Games - Read a book in which the main character takes action or fights for a cause that you believe in. Or, if you prefer a non-fiction approach, read a book about a cause that is important to you. This list might help. (Be careful with lists, not everything on a GR list may be appropriate for this task) Tell us which cause you chose, and why that cause is important to you.
Required: If the cause is not obvious in the title or Goodreads description, please identify the cause when you post.
2) Role Playing Games - Since many RPGs utilize a fantasy or science fiction setting, read a novel in one of those genres. Tell us if you would have made the same decisions if you had been in the main character's place.
3) Sports Games - Read a book in which sports play a major role. This can be either fiction or non-fiction. This list might be a good place to start looking for ideas. Play a sport and tell us what it was.
4) Puzzle Games - Since mysteries often feature puzzles, read a book that has won an Edgar Award or any book by an Edgar Award "Grand Master." A full list of Edgar winners can be found at The Edgar Awards website. (click "search now") Tell us how you did at figuring out the puzzle.
5) Board and Card Games - Since card and board games tend to be not as in-depth as other video games, read a collection of essays or short stories. Play a card or board game and tell us what it was.
6) Simulation - Historical fiction is modeled on history in much the same way that a simulation game mirrors reality. Read a work of historical fiction set at least 30 years before it was written. Tell us whether you thought the book you read did a good job of simulating actual history.
Required: Include what numbers you rolled when you post.
20.3 -Groundhog's Day!
February 2nd is Groundhog's Day. In honor of the Bill Murray movie of the same title, re-read a book that you didn't initially enjoy. Go to your Read shelf and choose a book, of at least 100 pages, that you rated 3 stars or less to re-read. Tell us whether you have changed your opinion of the book or whether you stick by your initial rating.
20.4 - Seeing Yourself in a Title
Read a book whose title includes all of the letters of your first, middle OR last name. Including sub-titles is fine, letters cannot be counted twice (i.e., if you have two of a certain letter in your name, the title must also have two of that letter), nick-names or shortened names are not accepted, and the letters in the title do not have to be in any particular order.
For example, my first name is "Suzanne" so I could read “SUrvival in AuschwitZ ANd The ReawakeNing Two MEmoirs,” or “NelSoN MaNdela: The AUthoriZEd Comic Book.”
20.5 – The Melting Pot
Let's celebrate the diversity of people from many countries. Use this opportunity to learn about another culture and the people around you.
Read a novel about an immigrant experience from one country to another.
It is not sufficient for one of the characters to be an immigrant – the main subject of the book has to be the experience in a new country.
Some examples: The Namesake, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Night of Many Dreams: A Novel, Queen of Dreams, Shanghai Girls, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Tis.
20.6 Go Green
Read TWO books from the options below- You MAY choose the same option twice.
A. Read a book with "green" in the title, subtitle, or series title- "green" should be found intact in any word.
B. Read a book by an author named "green"- "green" should be found intact in any name
C. Read a book with a green cover
D. Read a non-fiction book shelved as Environment, Climate Change, Global Warming, Nature, Sustainability, Green (be careful, many here are fiction) Your book does not need to appear on these "popular" lists, but the genre should appear in your book's genre list.
OR
Read ONE book that fits 2 of the above categories
Required: Please identify the option you used when you post
20.7 - Words Among Friends
When I'm not reading (or trying to earn a living), I love to play word games like Scrabble, Lexulous, and Words with Friends. So for this task, we're going to combine my two favorite things.
Read a book that has at least four words in the title. You must be able to take the first letter from each word and use them to anagram a word that is at least four letters long. You may use subtitles, but not series titles. You do NOT have to use all the letters. The anagram does NOT need to appear in the title. Here are some examples:
A Game of Thrones ---- A G O T = GOAT
Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives ---- S L O H A W = WASH, SLOW, LASH, SHOAL, SHAWL, or HOWLS
How to Be an American Housewife = H T B A A H = BATH
Required: Post your anagram when claiming points.
If you're not sure of your word, you can check it here: Official Scrabble Word Lists. You may use either the North American or International lists. If it's not an obvious word, please state which list you found it on.
20.8 - Happy New Year!!
It's time to get your New Year resolutions ready. Below are a few of the top resolutions people make in January. Please pick a resolution from below and read a book that fits with the option you choose.
1. Get Fit/Lose Weight: Read a non-fiction book about getting fit, exercising, or eating healthier. Or knock some lbs. from your "owned to be read" pile by reading a book you already own but haven't gotten to yet.
2. Quit Smoking: Read a book with smoke or fire on the cover. Or has any form of the word smoke or fire in the title or subtitle.
3. Drink Less Alcohol: Read a book with an alcoholic beverage on the cover, in the title, or subtitle. Or reading a fiction or non-fiction book book with a storyline that revolves around alcohol in some way. Here's a GRs list that might help: Booze. As usual, use caution with the GRs lists. Make sure the book you choose actually fits the task.
4. Save Money/Manage Debt: Read a book with a mainly green cover, a non-fiction book about saving money or managing debt, or a book you got for free (from the library, a book swap, as a gift, free download, etc.).
5. Take a Trip/Vacation: Read a book that takes place in a country you want to visit.
Required: Identify the resolution you picked when you post. If using one of the cover options please include the cover when posting. If using the trip/vacation option please include the country you want to visit
20.9 – Microhistory!
Microhistories are the study of one small thing, particularly with the goal of searching for answers to larger questions through the examination of a small thing. For this task, read a nonfiction microhistory. Books that fit this task focus on a specific item, event, or city, but are not merely a biography or memoir of a single person or a case study of a single event.
Examples include Salt: A World History, The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean, and The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank.
For more ideas, these lists might help: (as with all GR lists, make sure the book you pick fits the task)
Microhistories -- Sweeping Social Histories Of Just One Thing
Microhistory
Microhistories - Book List
20.10 - And They Lived Happily Ever After
February 26th is Tell A Fairy Tale Day. In honor of many fairy tales' opening and closing lines, choose one of following options:
Option A: Once Upon a Time
Read a book with one of the following words in the title or subtitle: Once, Upon, Time. Plurals, possessives, and compound words work, but no other variations are allowed.
Option B: Happily Ever After
Read a book with one of the following words in the title or subtitle: Happily, Ever, After. Plurals, possessives, and compound words work. Variations will also work for this option (i.e. "happy" will work for "happily").
Tell us all what your favorite fairy tale is and why.