The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL WINTER CHALLENGE - 2008/2009
Completed:5 Point Tasks
3. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Harper Lee Wiki Link
7. Who Put the Butter in Butterfly? by David Feldman
8. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
10 Point Tasks
7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
10. HP and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
15 Point Tasks
8. Dracula by Bram Stoker: Resolution: Read all of the books on TNBBC's Reading List
9. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
10. Read a book about politics or politicians: And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidimic by Randy Shilts
25 Point Tasks
1. Watership Down by Richard Adams Richard Adams Wiki Link
2. Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
3. HP and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Total Points Earned: 160
Total Books Read: 12
Next up: Read a book with a holiday song in the title: Deck the Halls by Mary & Carol Higgins Clark
LMAO Jon-- I've only been working on that AIDS book I've been pushing on everybody ;) It was an excellent read (albeit over 600 pages of very dry reading) and a huge eye opener. I suggest it to everyone to at least read it once. (Although I don't suggest using it as a challenge book... it took me too long to read it, and now I have to play catch-up!) That's why I switched to a light/short read for my next challenge... :)~
Cynthia - Are you accepting "cold" as a winter weather word? I'm hoping to read Cold Comfort Farm soon.
Just finished The Million Dollar Divorce and am starting The Million Dollar Deception today as the challenge for the book with it's sequel! :)
Jamie, i loved Cold Comfort Farm! i read it my sophomore year in college, and it was by far our classes favorite novelt hat semester. it was seriously laught out loud funny. if you haven't seen the film version, i recommend it for after finishing the story. it's a very well done adaptation, and it follows the story much better than most book-to-movie version do.
Eva- My friend from work recommeded both of those books... what do you think of the first?
I liked it A LOT. I had a few friends tell me the same thing and I actually had the chance to ask the author a few questions on another site a few weeks ago and afterwards became more interested in reading it.I think what pulled me in most was how the characters are- he formed them ALL so well that I went through so many different emotions depending on the situation. I mean, take one situation where maybe the wife was obviously in the wrong- not only would I know that and feel that but the book grabs you to where you go past that and actually are thinking why, where, when, how, etc. Every single character. Most of the books I read have one or two main characters that MAY grab you but this one has every single character in the book like that.
The story itself is also awesome in my opinion. The main character, Nate Kenny wants a family, children especially, SO bad that he's willing to go through a lot to get them. That's not something you come across every day in the real world but it happens and Johnson made it seem so real.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes good fiction. Someone told me it's in the urban-lit genre and that may be but it's in no way stuck in on genre to me. The ending was good too- I'm not one of those people who likes everything tied up neat and tidy at the end. That's fine sometimes but sometimes it's not meant to end happily ever after. (Not saying that did or did not happen here but still. LOL) I'd suggest reading it definitely! I'd love to hear what you think to if you do read it...
Jamie - sorry cold is not specific enough of a term for that task.
Thanks Eva!! I appreciate your response. I am definitely going to read it and it put it at the top of my list! Too bad I am already doing the task that you are using it for :)
Cynthia - Oh well, I was trying to find somewhere to fit it in, but I don't think I can. Thanks for letting me know!Maria - Re: Cold Comfort Farm, it sounds like just what I'm in the mood for! I think I'll read it once I'm done with my current book even though I can't use it here. It looks like it should be a quick read anyway. I actually just put the movie in my Netflix queue today. Thanks!
Jamie wrote: "Cynthia - Oh well, I was trying to find somewhere to fit it in, but I don't think I can. Thanks for letting me know!Maria - Re: Cold Comfort Farm, it sounds like just what I'm in the mood for! I ..."
Jamie, have you already completed the task, read a book you have seen the movie to? If not, you could watch the movie and then read the book.
10 POINT TASKS1. For Chinese New Year: Read a Book That Takes Place in China or Was Written By a Chinese Author.
East Wind: West Wind by Pearl S. Buck
TOTAL POINTS: 135
10 POINT TASKS2. For The Holiday Season: Read a Book with a Holiday Song in the Title. Deck the Halls
15 POINT TASKS
4. Read A Book And Read It's Sequel. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Second Summer of the Sisterhood.
New total: 70
I didn't think I'd make any progress on this challenge and am doing better than I expected. I'll shoot for 140 pts.
5 points- For Valentine’s Day: Read a Romance Novel.Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare
New Total: 65
Does a Chinese-American author count for teh Chinese New Year task or does it have to be an author from China?
For this challenge, we are only supposed to include books read from Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, correct?Just checking. Thanks.
Elizabeth, the way the task is phrased it either needs to take place in China or be written by a Chinese author. People have been using Amy Tan (who is American of Chinese descent only) for that task, and I used Pearl S. Buck. I think someone else was allowed to use The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham who is not Chinese either, but the story takes place in China.
Welcome back Darla! that does sound like a good book, if heavy going. Is the movie of the same name an adaptation? that was a fairly average movie. Enjoy Mary Higgins clark - im still cringing over every moment of 'Silent Night' for my carol book - must finish it though, must must must
I used Amy Tan as half of the Joy luck club is set in China as far as i remember from the film, rather than the author being Chinese herself, as i didnt know if Chinese American counted.
Elizabeth - That's a good idea to use Cold Comfort Farm for the movie task. The only problem I've got is that I really like to watch a movie after I've read the book (which is probably why I hadn't considered doing this), but I'm sure I could make an exception here. Thanks!
Darla wrote: "Although I don't suggest using it as a challenge book... it took me too long to read it, and now I have to play catch-up!"How much catch-up can be done if you're already at the top of the leader board? ;)
Elizabeth - Chinese American would be okay for that challengeLaura - Yes only books read during those months count for the official challenge (if you wanted to do the tasks with no time limit; but not officially participate in the challenge you could certainly do that as well and that goes for anybody)
10 point task3. For Christmas: Read a Book with Any of the Following in the Title: Angel, Miracle, God, Jesus, Shepherd, Manger, Wise Man, Mary, or Joseph.
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
Current Point Total: 25
Total Points To Date: 40--Completed Tasks--
5 Pointers:
3. Read a Romance Novel
12/18: Persuasion = +5 pts
5. Pull a book from a hat.
1/4: Solaris, Stanislaw Lem = +5 pts
15 Pointers:
4. Read A Book And Read It's Sequel.
12/27: The Golden Compass & The Subtle Knife = +15 pts
6. Read A Historical Fiction Book Featuring A Famous Historic Personality...
1/2: Girl with a Pearl Earring = +15 pts
Tasks To Be Completed:
5 Point Tasks:
1. Read A Book With A Main Character Who Is African American...
- Beloved, Toni Morrison
7. Title Starts With Who, What, Where, When, Why...
- What Dreams May Come, Richard Matheson
9. Read a mystery novel.
- Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
10. Read a book that you've already seen the film to.
- The Runaway Jury, John Grisham
10 Point Tasks:
3. Read a book with God, Angel, Miracle, etc in the title.
- American Gods, Neil Gaiman
4. Read a Book with Love, Romance, or Heart in the title.
- Where The Heart Is, Billie Letts
5. Read a book by an author that died this year.
- The Andromeda Strain, Michael Crichton
7. Read a book where the main character has a mental or physical handicap.
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon
8. Read a book with King, Queen, etc in the title.
- The Princess Bride, William Goldman
15 Point Tasks:
8. Read a book relating to one of your New Years resolutions.
-Don't Eat This Book!: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America, Morgan Spurlock
25 Point Tasks:
3. Read a book of at least 700 pages.
- The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Goal: 130 total points.
Points Update(Most recent task completed is in bold.)
Tasks Completed
25 points
#3 Read a book of at least 700 pages- Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
15 points
#4 Read a book and its sequel- Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, book 6) and All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, book 7) by Charlaine Harris
#5 Read a book where one of the main characters has the same job as you- The Missing Books by Ian Sansom.
#8 Read a book that relates to one of your new year's resolutions- Two for the Road by Jane and Michael Stern
10 points
#2 Read a book with a holiday song in the title- Santa, Baby by Jennifer Cruise, Lori Foster, Carly Phillips
#3 Read a book w/ any of the following words in the title: angel, miracle, God...- Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
#8 Read a book whose title contains one of the following words: king, queen, princess...- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
5 points
#4 Read a book whose title contains a winter weather word- Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
#7 Read a book whose title contains one of the following words: winter, Christmas, Kwanzaa...- The Winter Pearl by Molly Noble Bull
#8 Read a book whose title starts with Who, What, Where...- What's So Great About America by Dinesh D'Souza
#10 Read a book you've already seen the film to- Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Total Points = 120 points
Liz - I had been averaging about a book every two days and at the worst 3 days.... I think that one took me 5 or 6 days... I'd have to double check :)~ Jon - Thank God the Mary & Carol Higgins Clark book was a short read, it was completely unoriginal and devoid of any true surprise. About 30 pages in I could have told you everything that was going to happen. Bleh...
Completed:5 Point Tasks
3. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Harper Lee Wiki Link
7. Who Put the Butter in Butterfly? by David Feldman
8. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
10 Point Tasks
2. Read a book with a holiday song in the title: Deck the Halls by Mary & Carol Higgins Clark
7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
10. HP and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
15 Point Tasks
8. Dracula by Bram Stoker: Resolution: Read all of the books on TNBBC's Reading List
9. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
10. And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidimic by Randy Shilts
25 Point Tasks
1. Watership Down by Richard Adams Richard Adams Wiki Link
2. Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
3. HP and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Total Points Earned: 170
Total Books Read: 13
Next up: Read a book with the word love, romance, kiss, valentine, cupid, sweetheart or heart in the title: Where the heart is by Billie Letts
Just finished:25 point task:
3. Breaking Dawn
Previous total: 60
Current total: 85
Books read: 10
Next up:
15 point task:
3. Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb
Congrats on getting back on top Darla and deepest sypmathies on Higgins Clark disaster, im frightened to go near the car for the audiobook but at same time just want it over and done with!
lol... luckily the book was short enough that I killed it in one day... if it had been a longer book, I don't think I could have made it... Good luck to you, Jon... you'll need it. :)~
15 POINT TASK8. Read A Book That Relates To One Of Your New Year's Resolutions.
Divorce and New Beginnings by Genevieve Clapp, PhD
(one of my goals is to help my children through the difficult divorce with my ex and begin moving on in my own life)
Total: 80 points
15 point task done:2. For Christmas: Read a Book with the word Santa, Elf, or the Name of Any of the Reindeer in the Title.
Red Hot Santa
It was painfully bad, but I finished it!
That brings my total to 55 points!
Heather in KS
Jon and Darla, I read Dashing Through the Snow by Higgins Clark and her daughter, and it was pretty bad, too!
Sarenna - Good luck on your resolution!
I'll join in!Completed Tasks:
FIVE POINTS:
2) Saturday by
5) A Certain Slant of Light by Laura WhitcombMcEwan, Ian
TEN POINTS:
6) The Sea by John Banville
FIFTEEN POINTS:
9) Little Children by Tom Perrotta
Total Points: 35 points
sarenna good luck! good resolution to have - get back to living your life for you and your kids.
Completed Angel of Ruin for the for Christmas selection- 10 more points brings me to 65.
I rearranged my list a bit again and have added to my points:10 point task:
3. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Brings me up to 35 points.
And, I'm still trudging through The Prestige.
Thanks for the well wishes, I have a feeling I'm going to need them. Last year was probably one of the most difficult I've been through.
YeeHAW! I am hoping to incorporate my class reading too--World Lit, grade 12.
Stardust-Neil Gaiman 1/4
Total: 35 Pts @ 1/4 Jaime(25)
I've a few to add as I have been on holidays:It’s Winter: Read A Book Whose Title Contains a Winter Weather Word – i.e. Blizzard, Snow, Ice, Sleet, Icicle, Snowflake, Frost, Freeze, Slush, Flurry, Chill, Or Hail.
THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein – 5 pts
For Chinese New Year: Read a Book That Takes Place in China or Was Written By a Chinese Author.
PEONY IN LOVE by Lisa See – 10 pts
The Oscar’s are coming: Read a Book or Play Whose Movie Counterpart Was Nominated or That Won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay Category and Watch the Film. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...
THE CONSTANT GARDENER by John Le Carre – 15 pts
New total = 65 pts
My update:5 points task
10) The Oscars are in February: Read a book you've already seen the film.
STARDUST by Neil Gaiman
25 point task
2.) Read a book you started and could not finish.
THE GUERSNEY LITEREY AND POTATOE PEEL PIE SOCIETY.
TOTAL 95 points
Almost forgot.10 point task
1.) For Chinese New Year: Read a Book that takes place in China.
THE BINDING CHAIR by Kathryn Harrison
TOTAL 105 points
LEADER BOARD
DARLA – 180
OFMATT – 175
JON – 165
SERA - 150
EL - 145
BIANCA - 140
ROS – 140
ANGELA - 130
CYNTHIA - 125
ANGIE - 120
HEATHER (ONE OF MANY) – 120
KAREN – 120
LIZ (BROOKLYN) – 120
LINDSEY – 115
JEANE – 110
ANN FROM SC - 105
BETH (SHMACK) - 100
AMANDA - 95
KRISTINA - 95
LEANNE - 95
MELISSA - 90
ROBIN - 90
APRIL – 85
JAMIE (23) - 85
SARENNA – 85
ALICE - 80
JULIE - 70
ALYSSA - 65
ELIZABETH - 65
EVA – 65
FALLON – 65
HEATHER (KS) - 65
JEN – 65
LAURA - 65
MARSHA - 65
MELODY - 65
LYNNLEE4 - 60
BONNIE - 55
FIONA – 55
LIZ (VEGAS) - 55
SUZIER - 55
JASMINE - 50
TIFFANY - 50
JOANIE - 45
SANDY - 45
ADRIENNE - 40
BECKY - 40
EMILEE - 40
LISA (CO) - 40
MEL - 40
STEPHANIE - 40
ANDREW (ACE) - 35
ASHLEY - 35
JAMIE (25) - 35
LIZ (NY) – 35
BNOIR - 30
ELIZ - 30
HAYES - 30
POTJY - 30
ALLISON - 25
JESSICA - 25
KATHRYN – 25
JUDITH – 20
JULIE (TN) - 20
LISA (NV) - 20
SARAH - 20
ANDREW - 15
GEMMA - 15
JAMIE (MN) - 15
LORI - 15
MELISSA (UK) – 15
NICOLE - 15
FIONA (BUGS) - 10
MARIA - 10
RHIANNON - 10
ANN – 5
KT - 5
Just finished Breaking Dawn for the "Read a book with over 700 pages" for 25 points!NEW TOTAL:
Jamie(23)-- 85 points
5 POINT TASKS0 - 1. Obama's book about his father
5 -
0 - 3. Eclipse - sigh.
0 - 4. Winter of our Discountent - Steinbeck
5 -
0 - 6. Griffen's Daugher - a GR author that sounds good
0 - 7. Why haven't you written by Nadine Gordimer
5 -
0 - 9. Pellham Fell
0 - 10. Forest Gump
10 POINT TASKS
0 - 1. The Small Woman by Alan Burgess
0 - 2. White Christmas the story of an American song
10 -
0 - 4. Kiss of the Vampire
0 - 5. Jurasic Park
10 -
0 - 7. Flowers for Algernon
0 - 8. Princess Bride
0 - 9. Read A Book With December, January, Or February In The Title.
0 - 10. Eye of the World
15 POINT TASKS
1. For African American History Month: Read a Book about the Civil Rights Movement (Non-Fiction) or Takes Place during That Time Period (Fiction).
2. For Christmas: Read a Book with the word Santa, Elf, or the Name of Any of the Reindeer in the Title.
3. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Book with the Word Chocolate (Or Type of Chocolate or Other Candy) In The Title, Then Eat That Kind Of Chocolate Or Candy.
15
0 5. Read A Book Where One Of The Main Characters Has The Same Profession As You.
0 - 6. Read A Historical Fiction Book Featuring A
Famous Historic Personality Or A Biography Of A Historical Figure.
0 - 7. Read A Non-Fiction Book About A Religion Other Than Your Own.
0 - 8. Read A Book That Relates To One Of Your New Year's Resolutions.
15 -
10. In Honor Of Inauguration Day: Read A Book About Politics/Politicians (Fiction Or Non-Fiction).
25 POINT TASKS
0 - 1. Middle Name: Catherine (China) The Small Woman by Alan Burgess
25
0 - 3. Lisa's Task - Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norell
Total = 90 points
15 POINT TASKS
8. Read A Book That Relates To One Of Your New Year's Resolutions.
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School in Paris
Total Points: 65
Finally able to post and it isn't pretty:5 points:
10. The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To. The Devil Wears Prada
9. Read A Mystery Novel. Along Came A Spider
10 points:
3. For Christmas: Read a Book with Any of the Following in the Title: Angel, Miracle, God, Jesus, Shepherd, Manger, Wise Man, Mary, or Joseph. Angels by Marian Keyes
15 points:
4. Read A Book And Read It's Sequel. Books should be read back to back. They can be any two books from a series (not necessarily book 1 & 2) but should be read in order i.e. book 3 then book 4 not book 5 then 8. Dead as a doornail and definitely dead
Total 35
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Gone with the Wind (other topics)Gone with the Wind (other topics)
Gone with the Wind (other topics)
Flowers for Algernon (other topics)
Flowers for Algernon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Shirley Jump (other topics)Stephenie Meyer (other topics)
Alain Robbe-Grillet (other topics)
Jodi Picoult (other topics)
Suzanne Collins (other topics)
More...
Total: 120 pts.
Liz (Bklyn)