The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
SPRING CHALLENGE 2012: FIRE
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20.6. Seasoned Reader: Jennifer W’s task- She Works Hard for the Money
Approved books:1. The Bell Jar
All Around the Town
2. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl
Hunted
A Great and Terrible Beauty
Gabriel's Inferno
Vampire Academy
James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing
3. The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table
Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter
4.
5.The Negotiator
Storm Front
6. Heat Wave
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Everything is Illuminated
would this work for option 2 The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl or Hunted which takes place in a boarding school for vampires.
For option 3: The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table?
For option 4 would The Zookeeper's Wife work? If you use the book link and then click on the paperback version it gives a much more detailed description. thanks!
JennRenee wrote: "would this work for option 2 The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl or Hunted which takes place in a boarding school for vampires."Yes to Fanboy and Goth Girl.
If Hunted takes place primarily at the school, then yes. Mention it when you claim points.
Gayla wrote: "For option 3: The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table?"Yes.
Michelle wrote: "For option 4 would The Zookeeper's Wife work? If you use the book link and then click on the paperback version it gives a much more detailed description. thanks!"
I thought of that one myself when I created that option, but I'm on the fence. I can't tell if it's really about the animals. To me it seems to be more about the people. If the book focuses at least half on the animals at the zoo and how the people around them are caring for them during the war, then I'll allow it.
for 5. Forensics...does a cop investigating a crime work, or would you prefer other?
Dee wrote: "for 5. Forensics...does a cop investigating a crime work, or would you prefer other?"It can be anyone investigating, I just chose those options to show that it doesn't have to be a cop.
For # 2 teacher: would either one of the following books work? They are both about teacher- student relationships
Mariya wrote: "For # 2 teacher: would either one of the following books work? They are both about teacher- student relationships "Yes to both.
So for customer service, would you accept waitresses, bartenders, inn owners, restaurant owners, librarians, or wedding or event planners? Trying to get a handle on this category.
Bea wrote: "So for customer service, would you accept waitresses, bartenders, inn owners, restaurant owners, librarians, or wedding or event planners? Trying to get a handle on this category."I would say no to wedding or event planners, unless they work the actual wedding or event. I'm thinking more along the lines of people who have to interact with the general public. "Planners" are typically hired by their clients and do behind the scenes work. Yes to the other options, though.
Jennifer W wrote: "Bea wrote: "So for customer service, would you accept waitresses, bartenders, inn owners, restaurant owners, librarians, or wedding or event planners? Trying to get a handle on this category."..."
OK, great! Now I have options to look for...(doing the happy dance).
Mod
I read Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter in the winter challenge and enjoyed it.
Sandy wrote: "I read Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter..."I checked my library website and this is only available as an audio book. Would it work well for that format?
Mod
I checked my library website and this is only available as an audio book. Would it work wel..."
no idea - I got it from my library in hardback. It is mainly the author talking about his experiences as a waiter, tho, so it's not as if you'd be having to deal with lots of characters or convoluted plots (the ones where I find I have to do a lot of flipping back to keep things straight!)
Jennifer W wrote: "Michelle wrote: "For option 4 would The Zookeeper's Wife work? If you use the book link and then click on the paperback version it gives a much more detailed description. thanks!..."
Just thought I'd let you know that I asked one of my GR friends who had read the book and she said that it isn't really about the animals. Just in case anyone asks!
Now, after reading the WHOLE task I realize I never even rolled the dice. That's what I get for multi-tasking. I rolled a 2 so onto teaching books I go.
thanks again!
Lavinia wrote: "Jennifer, would Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen work for option #6?"It seems to be more about her attempts at cooking rather than her story as a writer, so I'm going to say no.
Michelle wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Michelle wrote: "For option 4 would The Zookeeper's Wife work? If you use the book link and then click on the paperback version it gives a much more detailed desc..."Rats. I rolled a 4 myself and would have liked to have an excuse to read that one. :)
Kathryn CA wrote: "Would The Negotiator work for number 5?"It's hard to tell from the description. Is there an investigation that takes place during the story? If so, then I'll allow it.
Here is a better description:FBI special agent Dave Richman has spent his life protecting people; failure is not in his vocabulary. He'll figure out a way to protect Kate even if she is determined to make it difficult.
Kate O'Malley's specialty is hostage situations - defusing human time bombs before they go off. She will walk into the middle of a crisis if that's what is necessary to settle a situation. She's learned to let others see what she wants them to see. She's learned to depend on herself. Only herself. People die if she fails.
Kate is a target. Someone's been sending her black roses. Maybe the same person who just blew up an airplane...and blamed Kate. Then the investigation brings up the one name Kate hoped never to hear again...and she's faced with the shocking evidence that the bomber may be someone she knows. Now she has to decide if Dave - and the God he trusts so implicitly - is all he's supposed to be. And Dave is about to discover that loving a hostage negotiator is one thing, but keeping her safe is another matter entirely..
There is a huge investigation as to who is behind the plane bombing.
Kathryn CA wrote: "Here is a better description:FBI special agent Dave Richman has spent his life protecting people; failure is not in his vocabulary. He'll figure out a way to protect Kate even if she is determined..."
It works.
Jennifer W wrote: "Kathryn CA wrote: "Here is a better description:FBI special agent Dave Richman has spent his life protecting people; failure is not in his vocabulary. He'll figure out a way to protect Kate even i..."
Thanks!
For option 2 could I read James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing, which takes place at Hogwarts?
For option #6, would The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay work? Sam Clay writes pulp novels and comic book scripts.Thanks!
I'm also considering Everything is Illuminated for #6. Would that work? Here's the description: A writer journeys to the farmlands of eastern Europe to find Augustine, the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Passionate and marked by an indelible humanity, "Everything Is Illuminated" mines the black holes of history and is ultimately a story about searching: for people and places that no longer exist and for the tales that link past and future.
For option 1 will All Around the Town work? It is about a woman with multiple personality disorder or as it is known now dissociative identity disorder.Thanks
Chris wrote: "For option 2 could I read James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing, which takes place at Hogwarts?"Hogwarts works.
Monica wrote: "For option #6, would The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay work? Sam Clay writes pulp novels and comic book scripts.Thanks!"
Yes.
Monica wrote: "I'm also considering Everything is Illuminated for #6. Would that work? Here's the description: A writer journeys to the farmlands of eastern Europe to find Augustine, the woman..."
Yes.
Keltie Lee wrote: "For option 1 will All Around the Town work? It is about a woman with multiple personality disorder or as it is known now dissociative identity disorder.Thanks"
It doesn't mention it in the description, but if she does have DID, then yes, it works.
Jennifer W wrote: "Keltie Lee wrote: "For option 1 will All Around the Town work? It is about a woman with multiple personality disorder or as it is known now dissociative identity disorder.Thanks"
I..."
Thanks :)
A friend of mine read it and her DID is a result of her abduction.
Jennifer W wrote: "Monica wrote: "I'm also considering Everything is Illuminated for #6. Would that work? Here's the description: A writer journeys to the farmlands of eastern Europe to find Augusti..."
Thanks!
Will A Visit from the Goon Squad work for #6? The book is a series of linked short stories, each told from a different character's perspective, and one character who appears in several stories is a writer for a magazine.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Zodiac (other topics)The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (other topics)
A Great and Terrible Beauty (other topics)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (other topics)
The Bell Jar (other topics)
More...
In May I will have been at my current job for 5 years! I haven’t always known I wanted to work in mental health and have changed my mind repeatedly about what I’ve wanted for a career. For this task, you get to read about the multitude of careers I’ve had or thought about having. Fiction or non-fiction is acceptable for all choices. As always, explain how your book fits if it’s not obvious from the goodreads’ book description.
Roll a die. Die Roller REQUIRED: State what you rolled when posting.
Select your book based on the following options:
1: Mental health. I’ve worked with people who have mental illnesses for 5 years. Read a book in which a character has a mental illness or is a mental health worker. Any of the "clickable" psychiatric disorders on this list will work: Psychiatric Disorders. For the purpose of this task, substance abuse, including alcoholism, autism and Asperger’s will NOT be considered mental illnesses. A character or book with those disorders may still work, but you will have to explain how the character/subject matter has a mental illness in addition to the above disorders. Examples: The Memory Palace, Lowboy, Wintergirls
2: Teacher. At one point, I wanted to be a high school teacher, but I wound up working for a while in outdoor education. Read a book in which an educational setting is important. The character may be a teacher or student and the setting need not be traditional (ex: home school, summer camp, etc.). Examples: The Abstinence Teacher, The Secret History, Hate List
3: Customer service/ first job. Like many people, I started out working customer service. Read a book about working in a customer service industry (Starbucks, Walmart, diner, etc.) OR a book where a character gets his/her first job (if it’s not obvious from the description, specify what the job is when posting). Examples: Hope Was Here, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else
4: Wildlife biologist. I always wanted to travel the world and see amazing animals. Read a book about a WILD animal (not domesticated) or an animal biologist. Wild animals in captivity (zoos, circuses etc.) count. Examples: Water for Elephants, Moby-Dick, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird
5: Forensics. I’ve always loved a good mystery and thought about being a crime scene investigator. Read a book in which a character investigates a crime. Examples: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Zodiac, The Poet
6: Author. When I’m not reading, I like to write. Maybe someday I’ll be a published author! Read a book in which a character is a writer, a book about being or becoming a writer, OR read a work of poetry (of at least 100 pages, books may be combined to reach 100 pages). Examples: The Thirteenth Tale, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, book:The Book Thief|19063]