The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL WINTER CHALLENGE - 2008/2009
yep that holiday song title task was a doozie, did anyone actually find a book that wasnt hideously bad for that task?
Read So Far:5 POINT TASKS
2.
4. Winter Weather Word Love in a Cold Climate Nancy Mitford
5. Read a book From Your TBR List, The Lovely Bones
7. Book Whose Title Starts With What. Etc What I Loved Siri Hustveldt
10 POINT TASKS
Arghh I should get 50 pnts for that ordeal!
6.
15 POINT TASKS
1.
4. Book And It's Sequel.:
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Book 8
The Miracle at Speedy Motors No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Book 9
Family Village Tribe: The Story of Flight Centre Limited
6.
7.
9.
25 POINT TASKS
10/2/09
SCORE
Total = 345Pts (Goal: 375)
Done with "From Dead To Worse"! Thank God it was on my TBR shelf - I love that series!5 POINT TASKS
2. February Is National Library Lovers Month...Visit Your Local Library And Check Out A Book. The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness (READ: 1/12/09)
3. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Romance Novel. Blue Dahlia - Nora Roberts (READ: 12/22/08)
5. Pick 10 Books From Your TBR List, Put The Titles Pieces Of Paper, And Pick One Out Of A Basket Or A Hat Whatever You Can Find, And Then Read That Book. From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris (1/27/09)
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday. Skipping Christmas - John Grisham (READ: 12/25/08)
9. Read A Mystery Novel. Little Brother - Cory Doctorow (READ: 1/17/09)
10. The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To. Marley and Me - Josh Groban (READ 1/25/09)
10 POINT TASKS
1. Read a book set in China. Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah (READ 1/24/09)
4. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Book with the Word Love, Romance, Kiss, Valentine, Cupid, Sweetheart or Heart in the Title. Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos (READ 1/25/09)
15 POINT TASKS
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. Chocolat - Joanne Harris (READ: 12/27/08)
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. Touching Darkness and Blue Noon (Midnighters Series, Books 2 and 3) - Scot Westerfeld (READ: 1/13/09)
25 Points:
3. Read a book of at least 700 pages.
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini (READ 1/24/09)
Tasks Completed: 11/33
Points: 105 / 375
Next Up: Like Water for Chocolate - a book set in Mexico - ny name begins with "m"!
Jon wrote: "yep that holiday song title task was a doozie, did anyone actually find a book that wasnt hideously bad for that task?"Let It Snow Three Holiday Stories really wasn't all that bad. i mean..i probably would have never picked it up..but it wasn't the worst book i've ever read.
I have just completed the 10 point task of reading a book where the main character is mentally handcapped:Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan
PREVIOUS COMPLETED TASKS:
5 POINTS
3. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Romance Novel.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austin.
5. Pick 10 Books From Your TBR List, Put The Titles Pieces Of Paper, And Pick One Out Of A Basket Or A Hat Whatever You Can Find, And Then Read That Book.
The Road Home by Rose Tremain
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter etc. Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom
10. The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
10 Points
1. Read a book set in China: Peony in Love by Lisa See
15 Points
1. Read a book about the Civil Rights Movement.
Malcolm X Autobiography
4. Read a book and it's sequel
Lost in a good book and the Well of lost plots by Jasper Fforde
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 by Elisabeth Hyde
Also eaten a lot of Roses from the tin in the kitchen at work!
25 point:
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.
My Father's Wives.
3. read a book which is longer than 700 pages. Sepulchre by Kate Mosse.
Points total: 135
Next task:
5 points - read a book by a first time author:
Addition by Toni Jordon
My update:15 point
4) Read a book and read its sequel.
GRAVE SITE and GRAVE SURPRISE by Charlene Harris.
points- 165
Jon wrote: "yep that holiday song title task was a doozie, did anyone actually find a book that wasnt hideously bad for that task?"Not me. I read Silver Bells by Luanne Rice, which was a total cheese fest. The only redeeming factor: it was an ultra fast read so I finished it in two days.
Jamie wrote:"Let It Snow Three Holiday Stories really wasn't all that bad. i mean..i probably would have never picked it up..but it wasn't the worst book i've ever read."Hunh, I read the description for Let It Snow and I wish I had read that instead. I like YA so it might've been okay. As it was, One Silent Night was really, really bad paranormal romance. With romance being used loosely here as it was more stupid than romantic.
Jon wrote: "yep that holiday song title task was a doozie, did anyone actually find a book that wasnt hideously bad for that task?"I haven't read mine yet, but Mary Higgins Clark has a few Christmas-time mysteries: Silent Night , Deck the Halls , Dashing Through the Snow , He Sees You When You're Sleeping ... I figured any of those would work (it doesn't say "Holiday song title", just "Holiday song", and those are all clearly lyrics to Holiday songs). I'm planning to do Deck the Halls.
I just finished The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy DIckinson, which is 10 points for having the word queen in it!Total: 40 points
I really enjoyed Grave SurpriseHeather (one of many) wrote: "Yay for snow days! I finished a 15 point task:
4. Read a book and it's sequel
Grave Sight and Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
New Total: 190"
Sara wrote: "Jeane wrote: I'm Not Scareduhm, don't find my post anymore for which task I was going to use this for..."
It takes place in Italy... is one of your initials 'I'? Does the main character have ..."
Haha, thanks Sara but no to all of them...
5 Point Tasks 1:Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (12/10/08)
2:Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (12/26/08)
5:Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (01/26/09)
6:The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (12/02/08)
8:The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (12/19/08)
9:Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (01/22/09)
10 Point Tasks
2:Silver Bells by Luanne Rice (12/27/08)
3:Midnight Angel by Lisa Kleypas (01/07/09)
4:The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (01/09/09)
6:The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson (01/07/09)
9:The Warmest December by Bernice L. McFadden (12/28/08)
15 Point Tasks
2:The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn (1/19/09)
4:Club Dead and Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (12/17/08) and (12/19/08), respectively.
8:The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. One of my resolutions was to join a book club that meets in real life and become an active participant. This was the selection--we're meeting next week to discuss. (1/28/09)
25 Point Tasks
1:The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho (12/30/08)
2:Jewel by Brett Lott (12/23/08)
Tasks Completed: 16/33
Number of Pages Consumed: 5,140
Points: 175/375
Completed 5 pt task: Read a book you saw the movie too. The Secret Life of Bees. Book is much better.
That puts me at 45 points!
That puts me at 45 points!
15 Points3. Chocolate/Candy: Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson
It was meh. But that might be me more than the book itself. I'm not a fan of "cozy" mysteries; I've read some of the wildly popular ones and still don't understand the appeal. The only ones that were even vaguely entertaining for me was Meg Cabot's Heather Wells series.
Total Points: 210
Broke the 200 point barrier, yays! Next goal is passing the 300 point mark. First, I have to get through the Two Towers to complete the sequel task. Already finished The Fellowship of the Ring.
Sara - i wouldnt go near the Higgins clark ones if you can help it, a few of us used those ones and they were pretty hideous, but then you might be the exception! just warning you though!
15 Point Task9. 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...
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott-1/28
New Total 265
15 POINT TASKS1. For African American History Month: Read a Book about the Civil Rights Movement (Non-Fiction) or Takes Place during That Time Period (Fiction).
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
New Point total: 100
100 Points was my challenge goal! Everything else is just icing on the cake now.
Completed Tasks:5 Point Tasks
2. 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
3. Elizabeth & Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens by Jane Dunn
4. Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
8. Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien
10. HP and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
15 Point Tasks
1. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
2. Santa and Pete by Christopher Moore & Pamela Johnson
3. Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody: Lifesaver
4. The Fellowship of the Ring & The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
5. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares: Tibby is a cashier
6. Read a historical book featuring a famous historic personality or a biography of a historical figure: The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
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: 310
Total Books Read: 25
Total Pages Read: 8922
Next up: Read a book with December January or February in the title: The Door to December by Dean Koontz
5 POINT TASKS0 - 1. Obama's book about his father
5 -
0 - 3. Eclipse - sigh.
0 - 4. Winter of our Discountent - Steinbeck
5 -
5 -
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
25
Total = 120 points
Jon wrote: "Sara - i wouldnt go near the Higgins clark ones if you can help it, a few of us used those ones and they were pretty hideous, but then you might be the exception! just warning you though! "Really? Eeek...
Okay, so I've spent the last half hour trying to find an alternate. I've got a wikipedia list of non-religious Christmas songs open (I've already been through the religious ones), and am going through the promising ones... It's not looking good.
There are a lot of children's books, a few romance anthologies (Silver Bells, Santa Baby, etc.), but other than that... This one looks interesting: White Christmas The Story of an American Song ...
Moral of the story: I think I can handle 200 pages of Mary Higgins Clark. I used to like her stuff well enough.
Also, I finished The Bride and the Beast , which takes place in SCOTLAND (Sara), for 25 pts. I'm at... 195 now, I believe. I think I'll read Sugar Daddy or maybe Blood and Chocolate next. I'm saving Breaking Dawn for a weekend.
Total Points To Date: 140--Completed Tasks--
5 Pointers:
3. Read a Romance Novel.
12/18: Persuasion +5 pts
5. Pull a book from a hat.
1/4: Solaris +5 pts
7. Title Starts With Who, What, Where, When, Why...
1/26: Where the Heart Is +5 pts
10 Pointers:
7. Read a book where the main character has a mental or physical handicap.
1/18: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time +10 pts
4. Read a Book with Love, Romance, or Heart in the title.
1/21: Heart-Shaped Box: A Novel +10 pts
5. Read a book by an author that died this year.
1/28: The Andromeda Strain +10 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
8. Read a book relating to one of your New Years resolutions.
1/17: Don't Eat This Book! Fast Food and the Supersizing of America + 15 pts
25 Pointers:
2. Read a book that you've started but never finished.
1/23 The Runaway Jury +25 pts
3. Read a book of at least 700 pages.
1/15: The Count of Monte Cristo +25 pts
Tasks To Be Completed:
5 Point Tasks:
1. Read A Book With A Main Character Who Is African American...
- Beloved, Toni Morrison
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.
- Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton
10 Point Tasks:
3. Read a book with God, Angel, Miracle, etc in the title.
- American Gods, Neil Gaiman
8. Read a book with King, Queen, etc in the title.
- The Princess Bride, William Goldman
15 Point Tasks:
9. Read a Book Whose Movie Counterpart Was Nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay Category and Watch the Film.
- The Reader, Bernard Schlink
Goal: 190 total points.
yeah thats probably the best thing about the Higgins clark ones you can knock em off quickly and pretend it never happend lol. I did an audiobook though and prolonged the agony. hehe
Jen--Congrats on reaching 100 points! That's great!Darla--Wow, past 300 points! That's amazing! I'm also reading The Door To December for my Dec/Jan/Feb task. The first six chapters went by pretty fast. It looks like it'll be a breezy read.
Oops, I only just realized people asked how I liked Age of Innocence. I actually liked it a lot!I didn't find his obsession with her to be that hard to swallow. They were so much alike in their recognition that there was more to life outside of their upper class society, and both knew that the passion they wanted in life could only be found outside those walls. But they would have to give up the comfort they were used to and they'd have to turn their backs on obligations and familial expectations, and they (at least Ellen) weren't prepared to do that.
To be in a world where you feel like an outsider and to see a person who actually GETS you would probably make you want to at least explore the possibility of being with that person! And then throw in the forbiddenness (I think I just made that word up) of it all, and you have the makings of a pretty passionate desire.
I am excited to read more Wharton. I can't read anything by the same author back to back, but I will return to her other works in the future!
Yeah well done on the 300 Darla - your racing ahead!
10 point task:8. Read Title Containing The Word Queen, Prince etc
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
I can highly recommend this one if anyone needs a book for this task. Simply beautiful, heartwarming - just a lovely read.
New total: 155 points.
Newly completed 5pnts8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter etc - Closed for Winter Georgia Blain
New Total 275
5 Point Tasks 1. Their Eyes Were Watching God
2.
3. Breaking Dawn
5. Take the Cannoli
6.
7. How to Behave and Why
8.
9. Plum Spooky
10.
10 Point Tasks
3.
4. Love Walked In
5. Consider the Lobster: And Other Essays
6. The Book Thief
8.
10.
15 Point Tasks
2. Confessions of a Backup Dancer
3. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
4. Odd Thomas and Forever Odd
5. Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate
6. The Other Queen: A Novel
8.
9. All the President's Men
10.
25 Point Tasks
2. Finish Eclipse!
3.
Points: 105/275
5 POINT TASKS1. 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. A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown.
New total: 40 points!
5 Point Tasks 1:Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (12/10/08)
2:Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (12/26/08)
5:Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (01/26/09)
6:The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (12/02/08)
8:The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (12/19/08)
9:Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (01/22/09)
10 Point Tasks
2:Silver Bells by Luanne Rice (12/27/08)
3:Midnight Angel by Lisa Kleypas (01/07/09)
4:The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (01/09/09)
5: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (1/29/09)
6:The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson (01/07/09)
9:The Warmest December by Bernice L. McFadden (12/28/08)
15 Point Tasks
2:The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn (1/19/09)
4:Club Dead and Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (12/17/08) and (12/19/08), respectively.
8:The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (1/28/09)
25 Point Tasks
1:The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho (12/30/08)
2:Jewel by Brett Lott (12/23/08)
Tasks Completed: 17/33
Number of Pages Consumed for this Challenge: 5,346
Points: 185/375
*Read A Book By A New, First Time Author. -The gargoyle - andrew davidson - 5 pts
*For African American History Month: Read a Book about the Civil Rights Movement (Non-Fiction) or Takes Place during That Time Period (Fiction).
-The secret life of bees - sue monk kidd - 15 pts
Total tasks completed - 8 / 33
Points total - 85/375
Lost winter challenge focus and read about 8 books unrelated to it, oh well!!
10 POINT TASK5. Many Great Authors Died In 2008: Read A Book By An Author Who Died This Year
Prey by Michael Crichton
5 POINT TASK
6. Read A Book By A New, First Time Author. (The author can have only one published book at the time you read it.)
Freeing Yourself from the Narcissist in Your Life by Linda Martinez-Lewi
Total: 145
Jeanne:I don't think you had a specific task chosen for I'm Not Scared but apparently you got it from the library (see message 3824) so you could use it for that task. Also, I read it a while back & would say it qualifies as a mystery, although not a traditional whodunit.
My update:5 point task
4) Read a book whose title contains a winter weather word. THE ICE HOUSE by Minette Walters
my points- 170
LEADER BOARD
ROS – 375
DARLA – 320
EL - 320
JON – 285
ANGELA - 280
BONNIE - 235
OFMATT – 215
LIZ (BROOKLYN) – 210
HEATHER (ONE OF MANY) – 205
SARA - 205
CYNTHIA - 200
KAREN – 190
LINDSEY – 190
BETH – 185
JEANE – 185
LESLIE - 185
LAURA - 175
ANN FROM SC - 170
ANGIE - 155
BECKY - 155
SERA - 150
EVA – 145
LEANNE - 145
MEGHAN - 145
SARENNA – 145
ALICE - 140
BIANCA - 140
KRISTINA - 130
MELODY - 130
LYNNLEE4 - 125
SANDY - 125
JAMIE (23) - 120
JULIE – 120
ROBIN – 120
APRIL – 115
AMANDA - 110
ELIZABETH - 105
MEL - 105
JEN – 100
ADRIENNE - 95
CASSIE - 95
SUZIER - 95
BNOIR - 90
MELISSA - 90
ANDREW (ACE) - 85
FALLON – 85
JESSICA - 80
LIZ (VEGAS) - 80
TERRI - 80
ALYSSA - 75
HEATHER (KS) - 65
JAMIE (25) - 65
JASMINE - 65
MARIA - 65
MARSHA - 65
HAYES – 60
CHRISTINA V - 55
FIONA – 55
JOANIE – 55
SARAH - 55
LISA (CO) - 50
POTJY - 50
TIFFANY – 50
ALYCIA - 45
EMILEE – 45
STEPHANIE - 45
FIONA (TWEETY) - 40
JULIE (TN) - 40
MELISSA (UK) – 40
RHIANNON - 40
STELLA - 40
STEPHANIE (NV) - 40
ASHLEY – 35
JAMIE (MN) - 35
KATHRYN – 35
LIZ (NY) – 35
ANDREW - 30
ELIZ - 30
JUDITH – 30
ALLISON - 25
LISA (NV) - 20
ROSEMARY - 20
SUSANNA - 20
GEMMA - 15
LORI - 15
NICOLE - 15
LIZZY - 10
ANN – 5
KT - 5
Laura wrote: "10 point task:8. Read Title Containing The Word Queen, Prince etc
[b:A Little Princess|3008|A Little Princess|Frances Hodgson Burnett|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1161......"
This one, along with The Secrect Garden, was one of my favorites growing up. I'm looking forward to when my daughter is old enough that we can do them as read alouds.
I love both The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, too! I tried to read The Secret Garden on my own in 4th grade and found it too dull to continue. Tried again in 6th grade and LOVED it. Of the two, I like The Secret Garden better, but they're both well worth reading. Do you know there's a musical version of The Secret Garden? My friends went when it was performed in our area (I couldn't go due to other obligations) and thought it was great.Also, finished another task.
10 Points
10. Body Part: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan.
I read most of this series, The Wheel of Time, (as many books as were out) when I was 13. Listened to this one on audio and realized how much I'd forgotten! I had planned to re-read all the books when the final book comes out and after listening to this one (the first book in the series) it looks like that will definitely be necessary! I did hate the reader, though. He ended almost all of his sentences with a raised inflection instead of a lowered one, which gives the impression that each sentence ended with a question. Ick. And considering how very many characters there are in this series, it would help to have more than two readers (there was a female one, for those chapters narrated by females, but she wasn't used that often in this book).
Total Points: 220
10 POINT TASKS10. Read A Book With A Title Containing The Name Of A Body Part (Eg. Hand, Nail, Finger, Toe, Etc).
Buddha's Little Finger, Victor Pelevin.
TOTAL POINTS: 320.
I've decided to read
Blood and Chocolate
by Annette Curtis Klause for my chocolate/candy book. I'm on a New Years' Diet, but I've already bought a small piece of Valentine's chocolate to eat. It's heart-shaped and filled with caramel...... Have I mentioned that I love this task??On a different note, I'm still working on 2001: A Space Odyssey (audiobook) by Arthur C. Clarke (who died in 2008). I'm 3/4 of the way through it, and it's finally gotten interesting, so that's good news. I'll have to watch the movie when I'm done. Woo! 1960s sci-fi!
I'm also VERY SLOWLY working on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I read the first half of the book about 18 months ago, and am now motivated by 25 points to finish it. I'm reading it on my BlackBerry (mostly during boring work meetings)... which is why it isn't going faster (because of the BlackBerry, not the lack of boring work meetings).
Bonnie wrote: "I read most of this series, The Wheel of Time, (as many books as were out) when I was 13. Listened to this one on audio and realized how much I'd forgotten! ... I did hate the reader, though. He ended almost all of his sentences with a raised inflection instead of a lowered one, which gives the impression that each sentence ended with a question. Ick. And considering how very many characters there are in this series, it would help to have more than two readers (there was a female one, for those chapters narrated by females, but she wasn't used that often in this book)."I listened to this one audiobook ( Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie ) that had a full cast--a different person doing each character's voice. I was thinking that if they tried to do that for The Wheel of Time series, they could probably end unemployment in the United States. There are SEVERAL websites (like this one) specifically dedicated to keeping all the WoT characters straight. Apparently there are 667 distinct characters in Book 11. That's just insane. (No wonder I haven't read it yet. I would need constant internet access to determine who the heck everyone was!)
The raised inflection would drive me up the wall in about 10 minutes.
Sara wrote:"I was thinking that if they tried to do that for The Wheel of Time series, they could probably end unemployment in the United States."Ha! I think you're right! I listened to the Guernsey audiobook and they had several readers and it was excellently done. But, yeah, a different voice for each character would be impossible in WoT! I would hope for one for each narrator of a chapter, or at least one great reader!
7. Read A Book Whose Title Starts With The Word Who, What, Where, When, Why Or How.What a girl wants by Kristin Billerbeck
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.)
Wedded Bliss? by Susan K. Downs, Kristy Dykes, Sally Laity and Carrie Turansky
5pts each
Total=125 points
25 point task3. Lisa's Task - Read a book of at least 700 pages.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Current Point Total: 80
10 Points:9. December/January/February Title: The Door to December by Dean Koontz.
I was really not looking forward to this task and didn't think I could fulfill it at all. But I found this book and I am very glad this challenge forced me to read it. It wasn't the best thing I've ever read, but it was engaging and kept me reading all the way through and I thoroughly (and somewhat guiltily) enjoyed it. It was especially nice because I wasn't expecting to like it at all. A nice fast-paced thriller outside my usual fare. Hopefully future tasks that I think are impossible to complete end up more like this and less like One Silent Night.
Total Points: 230
Just finished 5 point task of reading a book by a first time author:Addition by Toni Jordon (it was ok and was humorous but think it would've been better if i hadn't read it straight after another book with mental health issues in it!)
PREVIOUS COMPLETED TASKS:
5 POINTS
3. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Romance Novel.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austin.
5. Pick 10 Books From Your TBR List, Put The Titles Pieces Of Paper, And Pick One Out Of A Basket Or A Hat Whatever You Can Find, And Then Read That Book.
The Road Home by Rose Tremain
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter etc. Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom
10. The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
10 Points
1. Read a book set in China: Peony in Love by Lisa See
7. Read a book where the main character is mentally ill.
Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan
15 Points
1. Read a book about the Civil Rights Movement.
Malcolm X Autobiography
4. Read a book and it's sequel
Lost in a good book and the Well of lost plots by Jasper Fforde
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 by Elisabeth Hyde
Also eaten a lot of Roses from the tin in the kitchen at work!
25 point:
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.
My Father's Wives.
3. read a book which is longer than 700 pages. Sepulchre by Kate Mosse.
Points total: 140
Next Read
10 Points
4. Read a book with the word love in the title:
Random Acts of Heroic Love by Danny Scheinmann
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)
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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)
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New Total:
Jamie(23)-120