The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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OFFICIAL WINTER CHALLENGE - 2008/2009
My completed tasks thus farBarefoot Ellin Elin Hilderbrand -Romance Novel 5 pts
The Bell Jar - Character with Mental Disability 10pts
Does bipolar/depression count as a mental handicap? if so im at
15 pts. (LizVegas)
I don't know how you guys read this fast!
Me either, Laura. I think that I work too much - hee.
I try and read in the day when hardly anyone is around to chat to me lol.
5 points8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday.
A Christmas Carol
Total 15 points
My first completion...A book over 700 pages- Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I am finally up to date on the Dark-Hunter series books. This one is kind of two books in one. She follows the usual plotline in the second half of the book.
25 points to start me off!
Ok, I had to get on the board. Read a mystery novel--The Brass Verdict, Michael Connely. 5 points only, but at least it is a start.
Nearly half way through Harvesting the Heart - Jodi Picoult.
Is it getting any better for you, Fiona?
Ok guys, I have been gone all day...Thank you for the Avi. comment.
It does not matter what book you read for "my" challenge, as long as it is a book YOU have picked up and tried to read, and then put down... My book will be LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA. I tried reading it earlier this year, and just could not finish it.
I need to catch up with you guys...lol
MY FINISHED TASKS
10 POINTS - For Chinese New Year: Read a Book That Takes Place in China or Was Written By a Chinese Author. - The Kitchen God's Wife By Amy Tan
5 POINTS - Read A Mystery Novel. – The Good Thief's Guide to Paris By Chris Ewan
5 POINTS - Pick A Book Out Of A Hat - Elegance By Kathleen Tessaro
10 POINTS - Read A Book That Takes Place In A Country That Is Part Of Your Ancestry. England - The Undomestic Goddess By Sophie Kinsella
NEXT TASK
10 POINTS - Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word King, Queen, Princess, Prince, Duke, Or Duchess. – The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the People Who Raised Them By Amy Dickinson
Tasks Completed: 4/29
Total Points Earned: 30/305
Completed:10 Point Tasks
10. Read A Book With A Title Containing The Name Of A Body Part (Eg. Hand, Nail, Finger, Toe, Etc). HP and the Half-Blood Prince
Total: 10 points
Next up: Read a book that's over 700 pages: HP and the Deathly Hallows, will be worth 25 points
Angela, yeah its ok, can read it fine.
10. The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Bladerunners was based on this book).Kicking off with: 5 pts.
Finished 10 point task2. For The Holiday Season: Read a Book with a Holiday Song in the Title.
Dashing Through the Snow
3/29; 30/305
15 Point Task 6. Read A Historical Fiction Book Featuring A
Famous Historic Personality Or A Biography Of A Historical Figure.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Total Points: 20
I have just finished my first book for the challenge. The challenge was: Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday. I read An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson. 5 pts. I'm still not sure of all of the books I will be reading but I have chosen Love walked in by Marisa de los Santos for the 10pts on 4. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Book with the Word Love, Romance, Kiss, Valentine, Cupid, Sweetheart or Heart in the Title. I will update as I read them.
Question: does the book about the mentally ill or handicapped have to be fiction? I had a biography in mind. Thanks
5 pts 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. My Antonia- Willa Cather
Total: 5pts
Ann, I have no idea hun. Cynthia will be back on Monday I think hun xx
Finished a third task yesterday by reading Jesus Tales (which was a fairly odd book, by the way):10 POINT TASKS
15 POINT TASKS
Tasks Completed: 3
Total Points Earned: 40
Working on Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs now for one of the 25pt challenges. I started reading it almost a year ago and then abandoned it after 60-some pages because I wasn't in the habit of reading at the time.
First task completed. Woo hoo!Read a book with any of the following in the title: Angel, Miracle, God, Jesus...
Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies 10 points
Total Points= 10 points
Does anyone know if we are allowed to read about where we are living now? Cos I found in a shop about the town I live in and there is a book about a boy who went to the school my boys were at in Juniors (primary).
ok got my first points.5 points for Reading a book whose title includes the word winter, Christmas, Haunukkah, Kwanzaa or any other winter holiday.
The book was "All I Want For Christmas is a Vampire"
Anyone have any ideas on where I can find a list of books over 700 pages? The only couple I can think of are dreadful old classics (no offense!) that I just know I won't be able to sit through. Is there some cheat sheet to finding out how many pages there are without going to each book's page individually?? Mayhaps I will have to make a trek to my library for some help!
Katie, that might be ur best idea. I have a choice between The Crimson Petal and White or The Stand lol.
The Stand...I didn't even think of that, Fiona...Oye, I don't know if I can sit through that either!! *L*
Katie, two that I have around of more than 700 pages are Moby Dick adn Sepulchre by Kate Mosse. Maybe you read The labyrinth, also written by her. I ma reading Sepulchre for the 700 pages now and think it will be as good as the labyrinth was for me.
Hehe, I will see what I can think of hun.
4. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Book with the Word Love, Romance, Kiss, Valentine, Cupid, Sweetheart or Heart in the Title.I just have a question about this. It's said that we're to read a book for Valentine's Day, but would it count just as much if I read this book in December or January, or does it have to be around Valentine's Day?
Kristina, I am sure someone will give you a more sure answer on this, but I think you can read it also now.
And the challenge, is it based on the titles in English or could it be the Swedish title?An example:
For the challenge "7. Read A Book Whose Title Starts With The Word Who, What, Where, When, Why Or How." I was planning to read the book called "Var är Jane Eyre?" which translates into "Where is Jane Eyre?". But then I looked it up on Wikipedia and it says the English and original title is "The Eyre Affair". Do I need to follow the English title, or the title in the language in which I'll be reading the book?
Not sure Kristina. I asked it for italian once and if it was for instance 'the red book' and in italian 'il libro rosso', rosso meaning red, I could read it for instance for the color....I would guess you have to follow the original title but not sure at all.
Completed Tasks8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday Christmas Carol
Total Points: 5
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word King, Queen, Princess, Prince, Duke, Or Duchess: The Warrior's Princess by Barbara Erskine 10 Pts4. Read A Book And Read It's Sequel: A Great Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray 15 Pts
Total @ 7/12/08 = 30 Pts
Pillars of the Earth also has over 700 pages (by Ken Follett) I read it years ago, but I remember it being really good. I looked it up--973 pages.
Katie wrote: "Anyone have any ideas on where I can find a list of books over 700 pages? The only couple I can think of are dreadful old classics (no offense!) that I just know I won't be able to sit through."I realize most of these are are "classics", but they should all be more than 700 pgs:
A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
War and Peace-Leo Tolstoy
USA-John Dos Passos
The Count of Monte Cristo-Alexandre Dumas
Les Misérables-Victor Hugo
2666-Roberto Bolaño
Infinite Jest-David Foster Wallace
Against the Day Thomas Pynchon
Gone with the Wind-Margaret Mitchell
Don Quixote-Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Tom Jones-Henry Fielding
Anna Karenina-Leo Tolstoy
The Recognitions-William Gaddis
Bleak House-Charles Dickins
Middlemarch-George Eliot
The Forsyte Saga-John Galsworthy
The Kindly Ones-Jonathan Littell
The Swarm-Frank Schätzing
Vanity Fair-William Makepeace Thackeray
Underworld-Don DeLillo
The Sea of Fertility-Yukio Mishima
The Devils-Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Good Soldier's Svejk-Jaroslav Hasek
Gravity's Rainbow-Thomas Pynchon
Ulysses-James Joyce
The Three Musketeers-Alexandre Dumas
The Wings of the Dove-Henry James
Islands-Dan Sleigh
Lost Illusions-Honoré de Balzac
Sons and Lovers-D.H. Lawrence
The Man Without Qualities-Robert Musil
Of Human Bondage-William Somerset Maugham
The Woman in White-Wilkie Collins
The Magic Mountain-Thomas Mann
And, as mentioned in posts above, Stephen King tends to be verbose & some of the Harry Potter books are more than 700 pgs. Re-reads are accepted for the challenge, I believe.
so as I am pregnant with my third child in less than four years, can I count The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood as my book with a main character with the same profession as me? That profession being " Human Baby Factory."Just Wondering? :)
Katie, The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle might be a good choice. I have heard great things about it.
Katie: The Given Day by Dennis Lehane is a little bit over 700 pages.
Sarah, you have me on floor right now laughing. You are hilarious!Liz, thank you for the 700+ list. That task is going to be brutal :) Well at least I'll finally get around to reading Pillars or Anna Karenina.
Might read The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins, as I need to read it for another group.
Okay I still need to pick some of the books but I'm going to try for these:
5 POINT TASKS
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.
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.)
For Valentine’s Day: Read a Romance Novel.
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 Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
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 Color Purple by Alice Walker
Read A Book Whose Title Starts With The Word Who, What, Where, When, Why Or How.
Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday.
The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To.
10 POINT TASKS
For The Holiday Season: Read a Book with a Holiday Song in the Title.
For Christmas: Read a Book with Any of the Following in the Title: Angel, Miracle, God, Jesus, Shepherd, Manger, Wise Man, Mary, or Joseph. ***A Christmas Carol by charles Dickens
For Valentine’s Day: Read a Book with the Word Love, Romance, Kiss, Valentine, Cupid, Sweetheart or Heart in the Title.
Many Great Authors Died In 2008: Read A Book By An Author Who Died This Year. http://www.fantasticfiction.co...
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).
Read A Book Where The Main Character Is Mentally Or Physically Handicapped.
Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word King, Queen, Princess, Prince, Duke, Or Duchess.
Read A Book With December, January, Or February In The Title.
15 POINT TASKS
For Christmas: Read a Book with the word Santa, Elf, or the Name of Any of the Reindeer in the Title.
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.
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.
Read A Historical Fiction Book Featuring A
Famous Historic Personality Or A Biography Of A Historical Figure.
Read A Non-Fiction Book About A Religion Other
Than Your Own.
25 POINT TASKS
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...
Ann From S.C.'s Task - Read a book that you have started but never finished.
Lisa's Task - Read a book of at least 700 pages.
5 POINT TASKS
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.
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.)
For Valentine’s Day: Read a Romance Novel.
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 Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
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 Color Purple by Alice Walker
Read A Book Whose Title Starts With The Word Who, What, Where, When, Why Or How.
Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday.
The Oscars Are In February: Read a Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To.
10 POINT TASKS
For The Holiday Season: Read a Book with a Holiday Song in the Title.
For Christmas: Read a Book with Any of the Following in the Title: Angel, Miracle, God, Jesus, Shepherd, Manger, Wise Man, Mary, or Joseph. ***A Christmas Carol by charles Dickens
For Valentine’s Day: Read a Book with the Word Love, Romance, Kiss, Valentine, Cupid, Sweetheart or Heart in the Title.
Many Great Authors Died In 2008: Read A Book By An Author Who Died This Year. http://www.fantasticfiction.co...
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).
Read A Book Where The Main Character Is Mentally Or Physically Handicapped.
Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word King, Queen, Princess, Prince, Duke, Or Duchess.
Read A Book With December, January, Or February In The Title.
15 POINT TASKS
For Christmas: Read a Book with the word Santa, Elf, or the Name of Any of the Reindeer in the Title.
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.
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.
Read A Historical Fiction Book Featuring A
Famous Historic Personality Or A Biography Of A Historical Figure.
Read A Non-Fiction Book About A Religion Other
Than Your Own.
25 POINT TASKS
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...
Ann From S.C.'s Task - Read a book that you have started but never finished.
Lisa's Task - Read a book of at least 700 pages.
Second task down: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.
Double Cross
Total points: 10/290
Useful list, Liz! Some others that I think are of 700 or more pages:Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke
Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry
Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
World Without End - Ken Follett
The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
Roots - Alex Haley
4. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Book with the Word Love, Romance, Kiss, Valentine, Cupid, Sweetheart or Heart in the Title. HARVESTING THE HEART - JODI PICOULT (10pts)
My update:10 point task
3.) For Christmas: Read a book with any of the following in the title: Angel,Miracle,God,Jesus,etc...
THE STUPIDIST ANGEL by Christopher Moore
Total points- 15
5 POINT TASKS6. Read A Book By A New, First Time Author. (The author can have only one published book at the time you read it.)
Geisha, A Life - Mineko Iwasaki
Total points: 5.
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SUZIER - 35
CYNTHIA - 30
OFMATT - 30
MARSHA - 25
FALLON - 20
LISA (NV) - 20
MELISSA - 20
SERA - 20
ELIZ - 15
JAIME (EIFFEL TOWER) - 15
JEANE - 15
LINDSEY - 15
LIZVEGAS - 15
SARENNA - 15
DARLA - 10
ANGELA - 5
ANN FROM SC - 5
ELIZABETH - 5
FIONA - 5
JAIME (25) - 5
JEN - 5
KAREN - 5
LIZ - 5
STEPHANIE - 5