The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL WINTER CHALLENGE - 2008/2009
just finished The Book Thief for the "book from the library/ library sale" challenge for 5 points.amazing book.
NEW TOTAL POINTS:
Jamie(23)--90 points
Jeane- Yeah, Elizabeth's post pretty much covers it. The books are written for children, and told from the perspective of a household dog. The first one was written by Howe and his wife, but he continued the series after she died.
Laura wrote: "Or of an author who died in 2008, as the main author did pass - oops, not sure exactly when she passed tho. I know it was prior to publication of the book.I think in future challenges maybe we..."
kaura and Sarenna, that would be helpfully. I already did the more than 700 pages, but not yet author that did or new author.
Jamie wrote: "Jeane and Laura - Mary Ann Shaffer died in February of 2008, so I used Guernsey for that particular challenge."Thanks Jamie!
Cynthia wrote: "You guys were busy again today. I've updated the leader board (with 37 posts to check I may have missed someone so please let me know). Today the library was a MADHOUSE so I didn't have time to..."
Cynthia, you are doing very well with this. A lot of challenge aren't well done or in the beginning it is great and after a while it jsut goes down down. But this one keeps great, also because so many people keep enthousiastic about it. Another great thing is that it also expands the kind of books you read and from which authors. Ninety % of my books used to be of the same authors or the same genres, but now I have read books I wouldn't have even watched. Some are dissapointing (but now I know that about these, so no potential treasure without me knowing) and some were very good and led to other new discoveries.
Congrats on the challenge and everything around, you are doing great and we are all enjoying it like mad!
Elizabeth wrote: "Jeane wrote: "Ofmatt wrote: "3. Tolstoy Lied: A Love Story by [a:Rachel Kadish|..."Wow, what a book! It is good you wrote 'mystery' at the end so it sounds less freaky weird... :-)
Jessica wrote: "Jeane, I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl. It had its slow parts but overall it was a great story. I really disliked Anne and Henry VIII but it was an interesting look into that type of lifestyle and ..."jessica, did you read any other books written by that author?
5 Points2. Book From a Library: Guri and Gura's Magical Friend (because I'm working in Japan right now, and this is sadly my level of Japanese; but I did read both the English AND Japanese versions from my local library).
10 Points
7. Mentally or Physically Handicapped Main Character: The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester (which is a really engaging book for those interested in reading more nonfiction).
15 Points
8. New Years Resolution: Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot.
Total Points: 85
Now I have to work on my 700+ book...and the only one I have easy access to is Breaking Dawn (#4 of the Twilight series). I got through the first three but I swore that I'd never read #4. Why oh why am I doing this to myself? Oh yeah...it's 25 points!
Well, I looked at my list for Dec and I can only come with one:9. Read A Mystery Novel
The State of the Onion - Julie Hyzy
But that is a 5 point start....
Jon just leave them in fiji and tell them that you've got an important challenge to complete. Hey Fiji isn't that bad place to get stuck in?!
Ok folks were almost half way through the challenge, I'm wondering.. what 5 star treasures have you uncovered thus far. I'm pleased to say I've given 5stars to 4 challenge books (out of 13) I loved loved loved these ones :
Music and Silence Rose Tremain
Middlesex Jeffrey Eugenides
Atonement Ian Mcewen
(I keep wanting to say Sir Ian but thats Mcellan! - perhaps Mcewen will get his knighthood one of these days! or would that just be too confusing?!)
The Hours Michael Cunningham
Thanks Jamie for helping me get my links working
10 point task - 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 - Christopher Moore
Winter Challenge total - 30 points
Question, for 10 point task #7 (Read A Book Where The Main Character Is Mentally Or Physically Handicapped), does Benjamin Button count? I'm sure you know, but if you don't, he is born an old man and ages backwards, which is certainly a handicap to him, but I don't know if it'd count for the challenge.
Hmmm....was thinking which book I could read relating to the task where the character has the same job like you. But till like two weeks ago I wouldn't even have thought I would ever do something in finance, not even this job! I mean, me????!!!!Anybody read ever something about a Collection analyst?
Laura, thanks for the well wishes. I'm finally better now and ready to get back into rading.Cynthia, you are awesome as our leader here, and I agree with you. It's amazing on how intense this competition is. I feel like I've been doing well, but I'm afraid that once the baby is born (she's due 2/9), I won't be able to get much reading done. That's why I'm trying to give it my all, because I don't think that I'll be able to do another challenge for quite awhile.
Darla, you are so lucky that you can read at work. I used to read for about 30 minutes on my lunch hour, but now I'm usually catching up on personal matters, such as ordering things for the baby, making appointments with the doctor, etc. As such, I haven't even brought a book to work in months. Even so, keep up the killer pace. It will be difficult for someone to beat you, and I am curious to see how far you can go. I'm just going to continue to get read as much as I can before I have to stop.
Oh, by the way, thank you so much for the Guernsey connections my fellow readers. I have been wanting to read that book for so long and I didn't know how to make it fit into the challenge. Now I do - awesome :)
Jon - To get the book links to work, I often include the author or the ISBN, which means I sometimes have a couple of tabs open on GR if I'm posting links. For Queen by Alex Haley, for example, I'd put "Alex Haley Queen" for the title, post it, and then go back to edit the author's name out of the title. Perhaps there's a better way to post links, but this has always worked for me.
Jeane wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Jeane, I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl. It had its slow parts but overall it was a great story. I really disliked Anne and Henry VIII but it was an interesting look into that type o..."No Jeane, that was my first book by Phillipa Gregory. But I'm not against reading more of her work.
I liked The Other Boleyn Girl as well, and also liked her The Boleyn Inheritance and, especially, Virgin Earth.
25 POINT TASKS2. Ann From S.C.'s Task - Read a book that you have started but never finished.
On the Road, Jack Kerouac.
TOTAL POINTS: 185.
25 POINTS1. Karen's Task - Read a book about / set in / or by an author of a country with a name that starts with the first letter of your name (first / middle / last). Example - If your name is John - you could read a book about Japan, set in Jamaica, or written by an author from Jordan. http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld....
Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber by Adele Lang. Set in England (Elise is my middle name)
Total: 110
Woo Hoo! Broke the 100 point mark!
Just finished:5 point task:
5: The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts
(I had put Julia's Chocolates as my next up, but this one came in at the library -- it was the one I had drawn off my TBR and I had been waiting quite a few months to get it)...
Previous Points: 85
Current Points: 90
Books Read: 11 (Tasks completed: 10)
Next Up:
10 Point Task:
5: Timeline by Michael Crichton
(Am excited for this one -- it is also one of the Books of the Month for my other bookclub here on Goodreads.)
Sera wrote: "Laura, thanks for the well wishes. I'm finally better now and ready to get back into rading.Cynthia, you are awesome as our leader here, and I agree with you. It's amazing on how intense this..."
I actually joined the Fall Challenge right after I had my son, Sera, so you might be in luck. Good luck either way!
15 POINT TASKS10. In Honor Of Inauguration Day: Read A Book About Politics/Politicians (Fiction Or Non-Fiction).
The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli.
TOTAL POINTS: 200.
I'm just starting this winter challenge, but I feel confindent enough to get pretty far pretty fast!!!I'm starting with:
5 pt. 8. The Christmas Sweater
10 pt. 4. Last Kiss
just finished Let It Snow: Three Holiday Stories for the "book with a christmas song title in it" for 10 points.NEW TOTAL:
Jamie(23)--100 points (yay! :) ))
10 points7. Read A Book Where The Main Character Is Mentally Or Physically Handicapped. The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance ~ one of the characters had Down's Syndrome
Current Total: 80
The last few leader board postings were incorrect. I double checked my total to be sure since my reading skills are much better than my math! :)
5 Point Tasks2. The Sand Castle by Rita Mae Brown
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. Deck the Halls by Mary & Carol Higgins Clark
4. Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
10. HP and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
15 Point Tasks
2. Santa and Pete by Christopher Moore & Pamela Johnson
5. Read a book where one of the main characters has the same profession as you: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares -- Tibby works as a checkout/stock girl at a chain store
7. The Essential Tao by Thomas Cleary
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: 230
Total Books Read: 18
Next up: For Christmas: Read a Book with Any of the Following in the Title: Angel, Miracle, God, Jesus, Shepherd, Manger, Wise Man, Mary, or Joseph: Elizabeth & Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens by Jane Dunn
5 POINT TASKS 1. February Is African American History Month: Read A Book With A Main Character Who Is African American Or A Biography/Autobiography Of An African American. The Soloist by Steve Lopez
2. February Is National Library Lovers Month...Visit Your Local Library And Either Check Out A Book Or For Those Who Have To Own - Buy One From A Library Sale And Read That Book. (Previously Purchased Books Don’t Count.)
4. 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. Deep Freeze by Lisa Jackson
6. Read A Book By A New, First Time Author. (The author can have only one published book at the time you read it.) Jake Riley : Irreparably Damaged by Rebecca Fjelland Davis
7. Read A Book Whose Title Starts With The Word Who, What, Where, When, Why Or How. Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? : An Imponderables Book by David Feldman
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday. Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens
9. Read A Mystery Novel. Plum Lucky By Janet Evanovich
10. The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To. Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
10 POINT TASKS
1. For Chinese New Year: Read a Book That Takes Place in China or Was Written By a Chinese Author. Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
2. For The Holiday Season: Read a Book with a Holiday Song in the Title. Home for the Holidays by Lisa Plumley
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 & Demons by Dan Brown
5. Many Great Authors Died In 2008: Read A Book By An Author Who Died This Year. http://www.fantasticfiction.co... Prey by Michael Crichton
6. Read A Book That Takes Place In A Country That Is Part Of Your Ancestry (I.E. If Your Irish Read A Book That Takes Place In Ireland Or About Ireland). The book Thief by Markus Zusak
7. Read A Book Where The Main Character Is Mentally Or Physically Handicapped. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word King, Queen, Princess, Prince, Duke, Or Duchess. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (Queen of Babble, Book 3) by Meg Cabot
9. Read A Book With December, January, Or February In The Title. A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
10. Read A Book With A Title Containing The Name Of A Body Part (Eg. Hand, Nail, Finger, Toe, Etc). Sticky Fingers (Paperback) by Niki Burnham
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 Voices of Freedomby Henry Hampton & Steve Fayer
2. For Christmas: Read a Book with the word Santa, Elf, or the Name of Any of the Reindeer in the Title. Santa, Baby by Jennifer Crusie
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. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
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. Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke/Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke
5. Read A Book Where One Of The Main Characters Has The Same Profession As You. Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella
6. Read A Historical Fiction Book Featuring A Famous Historic Personality Or A Biography Of A Historical Figure.
7. Read A Non-Fiction Book About A Religion Other Than Your Own.
9. The Oscar’s are coming: Read a Book or Play Whose Movie Counterpart Was Nominated or That Won in the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay Category and Watch the Film. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A... Brokeback Mountain by E. Annie Proulx
10. In Honor Of Inauguration Day: Read A Book About Politics/Politicians (Fiction Or Non-Fiction).
25 POINT TASKS
1. Karen's Task - Read a book about / set in / or by an author of a country with a name that starts with the first letter of your name (first / middle / last). Example - If your name is John - you could read a book about Japan, set in Jamaica, or written by an author from Jordan. http://www.listofcountriesofth... Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy
2. Ann From S.C.'s Task - Read a book that you have started but never finished. Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul : Stories from the Idols and their Fans that Open Your Heart and Make Your Soul Sing by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Debra Poneman
3. Lisa's Task - Read a book of at least 700 pages. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
35/375
Some more completed tasks from this past week:5 Point Tasks:
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday. A Family Christmas - Caroline Kennedy
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).
I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World, Special 75th Anniversary Edition - Martin Luther King, Jr
4. Read A Book And Read It's Sequel.
The Bad Beginning & The Reptile Room - Lemony Snicket
That's 35 more points for a total of 165.
Ps. Still waiting to find out where I can put The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
Wow, didn't have a clue that this would give 15 points! Thought it was a 5 point task.15 points
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.
Crazy as Chocolate
and without thinking about it I actually got a lot of chocolate this week which is every day less than at the beginning..all kinds, so I guess I am good for the task.
total 125 points
I have been trying to find a book in the library for this task, but think I suddenly came up with great idea. My last name starts with S and kept thinking about Spain, but...dada Scotland is also with an S. And which author writes books that are set in Scotland and is Scottish and I wanted to read once because I like the tv series???? Ian Rankin!The task is the 25 points one
1. Karen's Task - Read a book about / set in / or by an author of a country with a name that starts with the first letter of your name (first / middle / last). Example - If your name is John - you could read a book about Japan, set in Jamaica, or written by an author from Jordan.
I guess it would be completely okay, no?
Jeane that fits that task fine! I read a book which was set in Angola as my first name begins with A. Other books which are set in Scotland are the Alexander McCall Smith 44 Scotland Street Series. In fact that is my favourite series of books by Alexander McCall Smith. If you haven't read any of those you could use that for the sequel task if you haven't already picked anything for that one. The first one is simply called 44 Scotland St and the second one is called Espresso Tales. There are currently four out in paper back. Would recommend them to ya!
I just added another 15 points. I read Twilight and just finished New Moon. Can I get another 15 points for reading Eclipse and then Breaking Dawn? Or do you only get credit for one. Total points=85.
YEA ME!!
Julie,You can only use each book for one task and only get points for each task once.
However, if you haven't already fulfilled the following tasks you could do something like this:
3. Read a Romance Novel. (5 pts): Twilight
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 read in order. (15 pts): New Moon & Eclipse
3. Read a book of at least 700 pages. (25 pts.): Breaking Dawn
Read A Book By A New, First Time Author. (The author can have only one published book at the time you read it.)Monsters of Templeton
New Total: 55 pts
Hayes 35 + 5 = 40
2. February Is National Library Lovers Month... The Danger, Dick Francis
2. February Is National Library Lovers Month... The Danger, Dick Francis
10 POINT TASKS6. Read A Book That Takes Place In A Country That Is Part Of Your Ancestry (I.E. If Your Irish Read A Book That Takes Place In Ireland Or About Ireland).
Fields of Light: A Son Remembers His Heroic Father, Joseph Hurka (memoir about the author's father's life in the former Czechoslovakia).
TOTAL POINTS: 210.
2. Read a book that you have started but never finished. After a couple weeks of struggle, I have finished Zeno's Conscious (25 pts.)And I just realized my throw-away airplane read, The Appeal, fits "In Honor Of Inauguration Day: Read A Book About Politics/Politicians (Fiction Or Non-Fiction)"! -- a major plot line was about the contested race for a judgeship on the appeals court (15 pts.)
New & improved total: 160 pts.
Liz (Bklyn)
5 Points2. February Is National Library Lovers Month...Visit Your Local Library And Either Check Out A Book Or For Those Who Have To Own - Buy One From A Library Sale And Read That Book. (Previously Purchased Books Don’t Count.) Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
New Total: 85
February Is National Library Lovers Month...Visit Your Local Library And Either Check Out A Book Or For Those Who Have To Own - Buy One From A Library Sale And Read That Book. (Previously Purchased Books Don’t Count.) The Pickup by Nadine Gordimer for 5 pts
New total = 70
5 POINT TASKS9. Read A Mystery Novel.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles: A Hercule Poirot Mystery, Agatha Christie.
TOTAL POINTS: 215.
5 Points8. Read a book whose title contains the word winter, christmas, hanukkah, kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday.
- The Christmas Sweater
a great read, read it in one evening
What does Update Feed mean?
Elizabeth, Update Feed is what your friends see on their homepages and in their e-mail.
I am still confused...sorry.You mean they see my replies?
Yes, it means you allow them to see your responses. If you have the box checked that means every time you send a comment here, they will get an update about it. If you frequently comment, they will frequently get updates.
LEADER BOARD
DARLA – 230
EL - 220
JON – 200
OFMATT – 195
LESLIE - 185
LINDSEY – 165
LIZ (BROOKLYN) – 160
ANGELA - 150
SERA - 150
HEATHER (ONE OF MANY) – 145
BIANCA - 140
JEANE – 140
ROS – 140
KAREN – 135
BETH – 130
CYNTHIA - 125
ANGIE - 120
ANN FROM SC - 120
SARENNA – 110
JAMIE (23) - 100
ALICE - 95
AMANDA - 95
KRISTINA - 95
LEANNE - 95
APRIL – 90
MELISSA - 90
ROBIN – 90
BONNIE - 85
JULIE – 85
LAURA - 85
LYNNLEE4 - 85
LIZ (VEGAS) - 75
MELODY - 70
ALYSSA - 65
ELIZABETH - 65
EVA – 65
FALLON – 65
HEATHER (KS) - 65
JEN – 65
MARSHA - 65
ANDREW (ACE) - 60
MEL - 60
ADRIENNE - 55
CHRISTINA V - 55
FIONA – 55
JESSICA - 55
SUZIER - 55
JASMINE - 50
POTJY - 50
TIFFANY – 50
HAYES – 45
JOANIE – 45
SANDY - 45
STEPHANIE - 45
BECKY - 40
BNOIR - 40
EMILEE – 40
LISA (CO) - 40
ASHLEY – 35
JAMIE (25) - 35
KATHRYN – 35
LIZ (NY) – 35
RHIANNON - 35
SARAH - 35
ELIZ - 30
JUDITH – 30
ALLISON - 25
JULIE (TN) - 25
LISA (NV) - 20
MARIA - 20
TERRI - 20
ANDREW - 15
GEMMA - 15
JAMIE (MN) - 15
LORI - 15
MELISSA (UK) – 15
NICOLE - 15
FIONA (BUGS) - 10
LIZZY - 10
ANN – 5
KT - 5
Lindsey - since Benjamin Button is less than 100 pages it can only be used for a 5 point task - so if you haven't done these tasks it can be used for...library task - if you check it out at the library
out of hat - if you picked that title out of a hat
movie - if you see the film then read the story
The Next Best Book Club
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Oh, I've read Bunnicula! It's fun!!