May 2012 Challenge - "M's" the Word

[Maria]

I'm up for it, Cheryl, if anyone wants to join me in reading. I'm not sure when I'm going to start it, since I've got... 9 books on the list before that, but it's going to be read. ^_^

[Sue]

For anyone who plans to read Moby Dick, a group of us read it last fall and had a discussion group along the way. If you want to check it out, I believe it's simply Moby Dick.

[Robin]

Janice wrote: "Robin wrote: "I started reading Thumped by Megan McCafferty. I was lucky enough to snag it on Kindle ebook from the library...isn't that so cool getting ebooks from the library!? Not sure if there ..."

Thanks for the clarification! :)

[Debra]

The Damned Highway: Fear and Loathing in Arkham: A Savage Journey Into the Heart of the American Nightmare, and Back Again by Nick Mamatas and Brian Keene



Theme
Mythology 5 points

Author
Male 4 points
Multiple Authors 2 points

Cover
Mauve (purple) on cover 2 points

Title
4 "M" in title 4 points
Title more than 5 words 4 points

Bonus
Mother Ocean Day 10 points

Total: 31 points

[Cheryl]

yay!

[Janice, Moderator]

Woohoo, Debra. That was a good choice for the challenge.

[Debra]

Yeah, it worked out! Can't beat that Cheryl, tho! Cheryl: I'd take credit for every point possible. Bet you had a thrill adding up your points. Very impressive!

[Cheryl]

This is one I keep thinking I 'should' read. You know, cuz Moby Dick is too long. But I doubt I ever will. Especially after reading assorted reviews, including your 2* one.

[Iker]

Welp, I'm done with the two books I needed to read this month other than Moby Dick, so my quest to complete this challenge begins. If I have enough time left, I may also indulge in the reading of Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami (a short story collection, if that counts), though I'll also try and see if I can get my writing back in order. Three weeks to go until Camp NaNo!

[Jane Reads]

I read Murder on the Rocks by Karen MacInerney, on May 12 - 13

Genre:
2 points - Mystery

Theme:
1 point - Murder

Location:
3 points - Maine

Occupations:

Author:
1 point - is a Mother

Cover:
4 points? - Man on the cover (the victim's legs are shown)

Title:
1 point - one point for every "M" in the title
2 points - "Murder" in the title

Bonus Points: 10 points each:
10 points - Mother Ocean Day. If the ocean is mentioned in your book, you qualify for this award.

Grand total, 24 points

[Janice, Moderator]

Iker wrote: "Welp, I'm done with the two books I needed to read this month other than Moby Dick, so my quest to complete this challenge begins. If I have enough time left, I may also indulge in the reading of B..."

Short story collections are allowable.

[Snoozie Suzie]

@Jane - That's the book I'm reading for this! I made it 24 points too. We will have to compare notes when I finish it - I haven't read much of it yet.

[Cheryl]

Genre:
4 points - Music
1 point - Magic

Theme:
5 points - Mythology
3 points - Memory - (loss of memory, faulty memory)

Occupations:
5 points - Musician
4 points - Magician
1 point - Mother

Author:
1 point - is a Mother

Title:
? points - one point for every "M" in the title

Bonus Points: 10 points each:
1) May Day involves dancing around the May Pole. You qualify for this bonus if there is dancing of any kind portrayed in the book.
2) Mother Goose Day. You qualify if the audience for the book you read is children or teens.

Extra Special Bonus: 20 Points:
Mothers' Day! If a character in your book gives birth or has a baby under the age of 2, count an extra 20 points.

The Moorchild Eloise Jarvis McGraw

I get an amazing but honest 63 points for this 241 page fantasy aimed at children about age 9-12. I've not written the review, but I expect to give it 4*s. It is a Newbery Honor book.

[Jane Reads]

Snoozie Suzie wrote: "@Jane - That's the book I'm reading for this! I made it 24 points too. We will have to compare notes when I finish it - I haven't read much of it yet."

I enjoyed it - 4 stars - and want to read more of the series. I have #3 on my kindle, but will have to find #2 first.

[Janice, Moderator]

Wow, Cheryl. I think that's an all time high score. Ever.

[Cheryl]

I just realized that a book I read for another group qualifies. Since it's a five-star read, one of the first Newbery winners, and I'm recommending it widely, I'll add it up here, too.

Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon Dhan Gopal Mukerji

Genre:
3 points - Memoir

Theme:
4 points - Medical
3 points - Memory - (loss of memory, faulty memory)
1 point - Murder

Author:
4 points - Male

Title:
4 points - More than 5 words in the title

Bonus Points: 10 points each:
1) May Day involves dancing around the May Pole. You qualify for this bonus if there is dancing of any kind portrayed in the book.
2) Mother Goose Day. You qualify if the audience for the book you read is children or teens.

Extra Special Bonus: 20 Points:
Mothers' Day! If a character in your book gives birth or has a baby under the age of 2, count an extra 20 points.

59 solid points.

[Janice, Moderator]

Wow! Where do you find these high rollers, Cheryl? We'll count your other book, The Moorchild because it has a higher score.

[Pragya]

63 & 59!! Cheryl, will you find me a book that can score higher than yours, please? You are really good with this. :D

[Cheryl]

Just lucky! And the 20 point bonus helps. :)

[jaxnsmom]

sigh, why should I even bother?...Because I want that badge!!! And I can't resist challenges :)

[Cheryl]

Sorry - a participant badge would be fine with me - I hope somebody else manages to find a winner!

[jaxnsmom]

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Sorry - a participant badge would be fine with me - I hope somebody else manages to find a winner!"

Oh, I don't care about a winner's badge, any badge is fine with me. I just enjoy the challenge of doing the task!

[Debra]

Amazing scores, Cheryl!

[Janice, Moderator]

jaxnsmom wrote: "sigh, why should I even bother?...Because I want that badge!!! And I can't resist challenges :)"

You had me worried there for a second. I'm so glad you can't resist challenges and are aiming for the badge.

[Robin]

I read by Megan McCafferty
I have tallied up my points as follows:
Genre: 0pts

Theme: 4pts

4 points – Medical – There is a virus that makes people infertile after or around 18 years old.

Location: 0

Occupations: 6pts

3 points – Minister – Yes, there is a group of religious leaders called the Elders in the religious community of Goodside.
2 points – Manager – kind of would like a talent agent type person count as a manager? He managed their careers.
1 point – Mother

Author: 6pts

5 points - first name starts with an M
1 point - is a Mother – Yep, she has a son (had to do a little bit of research for this one…)

Cover: 2pts

2 points - Mauve (or any purple shade) on the cover – The Authors name is kind of purplish..

Title: Thumped – 0 pts

Bonus Points: 10 points each: Total 20

1) May Day involves dancing around the May Pole. You qualify for this bonus if there is dancing of any kind portrayed in the book. – Yep, not a lot of dancing but some early-ish in the book
2) Mother Goose Day. You qualify if the audience for the book you read is children or teens. – Yep – this novel is YA fiction.

Extra Special Bonus: 20 Points:

Mothers' Day! If a character in your book gives birth or has a baby under the age of 2, count an extra 20 points. – YEP!
Grand total of 58 points! (did I add that up right – I did it twice!)

[Cheryl]

Robin, there's an 'm' in the title Thumped - you get another point!

[jaxnsmom]

And if the subtitle or series name counts, that's another point for another 'm' (bumped), and # pronounced with an 'm' (number) - don't know if that counts.

[Robin]

oh wow? seriously? So I guess that makes it 60?

[Janice, Moderator]

In the past we haven't counted the subtitles, so it would be 59. Still, you can't sneeze at that score. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Wow Judy! Have you noticed there's no more dust here at YLTO?

[Janice, Moderator]

I think you blew the dust my way. :)

[Snoozie Suzie]

I have changed my book to The Stolen Child by Brian McGilloway
Genre - mystery 2
Author -male 4
Cover - mauve 2
Jobs - there is a mother 1
Bonus - new born 20
27 points

[Janice, Moderator]

Good job in completing the challenge Suzie & Gaeta!

[Janice, Moderator]

I count 7 people finished so far, Judy.

[Gemma]

Righto, my first effort, so let me know if i've not done something right! I read The Information Officer by Mark Mills.

Genre: Mystery - 2
Theme: Murder - 1
Location: Mediterranean area (Malta) - 1
Occupation: --
Author: Name starts with M - 5
Male - 4
Cover: --
Title: 1 'm' - 1

Bonuses: He reminises about a girl at a dance - 10
Ocean: it's an island :) was bound to get this one! - 10
Mothers day: just missed out, someone announces a pregnancy, but no babies :(

I reckon that leaves me with 34.

I'm happy with that as a starter, I've another on the go now, so will be trying to finish that before the end of the month to see if I can beat this!

[Janice, Moderator]

It looks like you have it figured out, Gemma. I'm glad you've joined us in the challenges.

[Pragya]

I read Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Genre:
2 points - Mystery

Theme:
3 points - Memory - (loss of memory, faulty memory)
1 point - Murder


Occupations:
1 point - Mother

Author:
5 points - first name starts with an M

Cover:
2 points - Mauve (or any purple shade) on the cover


Total: 14

[Cheryl]

Gemma would get 20 more points if pregnancy counts, too.
Did you like your book, Pragya?

[Janice, Moderator]

Sorry ladies, but pregnancy doesn't count. The criteria was "gives birth or has a baby under the age of 2".

That means 14 points, Pragya.

I know, I'm a meanie!

[Pragya]

AHH, why couldn't she have given birth!? *frowns*

Oh yes, I liked the book, Cheryl. I gave it 4 stars. :)

I think I need to read the next book in the series, by then I'm sure she'll have a baby. LOL!

[Pragya]

I read Disappear by Mary Martinez

Genre:
2 points - Mystery

Theme:
1 point - Murder

Author:
5 points - first name starts with an M
1 point - is a Mother

Cover:
4 points - Man on the cover


Bonus Points: 10 points each:

1) May Day involves dancing around the May Pole. You qualify for this bonus if there is dancing of any kind portrayed in the book.
3) Mother Ocean Day. If the ocean is mentioned in your book, you qualify for this award.

Total: 33

[Cheryl]

Whoot!

[Sam]

Finally got mine done with The Midnight Folk by John Masefield!!

Points are:

Genre: Mystery and Magic = 3
Theme: Mythology = 5
Location: 0
Occupations: Magician = 4
Author: Male = 4
Cover: Man on Cover = 4
Title: 1 M = 1

Bonus: For children and ocean mentioned = 20

Total = 41 points

[Janice, Moderator]

Judy wrote: "My second book for this challenge is The Last Empress by Anchee Min.

Occupations:

1 point - Mother

....and also "Em"press. LOL!

Author:

1 point - is a Mother
This lady's Wikipedia entry needs ..."

Actually, your total is 43, Judy. On the criteria, you get one point for every M in the title, not 5. I think you mistook the ? for a 5. Sorry to disappoint. :(

[Pragya]

Judy wrote: "Pragya wrote: =

I think I need to read the next book in the series, by then I'm sure she'..."

I know!! :D

[Janice, Moderator]

Judy wrote: "Oh, okay, Janice. That's fine, I'm happy with cracking the 40-point plateau. :-)"

Whew!!

[Sam]

Judy wrote: "Good job, Sam! There is some nice point totals this time."

Thanks Judy, I was rather pleased when I realised I got two of the bonus points criteria (I actually cheered out loud...luckily nobody saw or heard me...I don't think...)

[Lara]

Whew! I wasn't sure I'd finish this one. The book I read was quite different from my normal fare, but I enjoyed the Appalachian setting and a different perspective.

The Devil and Preston Black by Jason Jack Miller

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Points
Genre - Music = 4
Occupation - Musician = 5
Author - Male = 4
Title - Man's name = 3
Bonus - dancing at gigs = 10

Total = 26 points

[jaxnsmom]

Lara - I have this on my tbr (from living in WV), and was going to read it, but it wasn't available at the library this week. Yes, I'm a procrastinator, waiting til now to read my May challenge book.

If you liked the setting, you should check out Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad series, the first one is If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O. They take place in the North Carolina mountains and Ms. McCrumb has taught Appalachian studies.

[Lara]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Lara - I have this on my tbr (from living in WV), and was going to read it, but it wasn't available at the library this week. Yes, I'm a procrastinator, waiting til now to read my May challenge bo..."

Thanks Janxmom! I have read some of Sharyn McCrumb's books, but it has been a while. Thanks for reminding me of her.

I've spent very little time in Appalachia, but appreciate locations that are "off the beaten track" without resorting to horror stereotypes. I've noticed that a few urban fantasy/PNR books have been set in the south recently, and like that, even though I'm not from there. I'm all for diversity, including of location.