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Summer Challenge - June 1-August 31
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5.1 -- Let the Games Begin
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In honor of the 2012 Summer Olympics, read a book set in London OR a book with one of the following words in the title/subtitle: Olympic, summer, games, champion, gold, silver, bronze, medal. Plurals and possessives (and the singular "game") will work, but no other variations.
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5.2 -- Pack Your Bags
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Summer is peak travel season. Read a book with travel listed as a genre on its main GRs page OR a book with a suitcase or backpack on its cover. Required: If using the cover option, you must include the cover when you post.
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5.3 -- Dust in the Wind
Help Thread
One of my favorite songs is Dust in the Wind by Kansas. According to Kerry Livegren, the song was inspired by a book of Native American poetry he was reading at the time. Read a book that features a Native American character, Native American culture, or Native American artifacts. These lists might help: Native American Fiction, Best Native American Romance, Native American Detectives, Native American Historical Fiction. As always, please remember that not every book on a Listopia list will work. You must use the task and challenge requirements as well as your judgment to determine if a book is appropriate for the task.
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5.4 -- Chemical Combo
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Air is made up of a mixture of gases, mainly nitrogen gas (N2) followed by oxygen (O2). Read a book that has two Ns and two Os (N2/O2) in the title, subtitle, and/or in the author's full name. Examples: Gone, Baby, Gone, Night Shadow by Nora Roberts, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
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5.5 -- Diamond Jubilee
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The celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne will be held this summer. Read a book set in one or more of the thirty-two countries headed by Queen Elizabeth II at some point during her 60 years on the throne. Required: If the setting is not obvious from the GRs description, you must include the setting when you post.
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5.6 -- Blowin' in the Wind
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Read a book with a picture of something that can be carried by the wind on its cover. Examples:
(dirigible), (hot air balloon), (balloons), (dandelion seeds), (sand), (clouds), (flying bird), (some other flying animal or creature with wings)
Required: You must include the cover AND point out which object can be carried by the wind when you post.
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5.7 -- SRC Scavenger Hunt
Help Thread
Did you know that the SRC has a Scavenger Hunt game going? Check out the thread and choose a book mentioned in the Scavenger Hunt thread to read for this task. While you're there, add your own book hunting challenge. Examples: The Other Boleyn Girl (message #3); The Yiddish Policemen's Union (message #20); Uglies (message #29) Required: Include the message number that you found your book in when you post. Note: Standard SRC page number rules apply.
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5.8 -- Summer Lovin'
Help Thread
Read a book from one of the following lists of love stories.
Crazy Love
Dramatic Love Stories
"Love" on The Guardian's "1000 Novels Everyone Must Read" List
Required: State which list the book can be found on when you post.
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5.9 -- Summer Readers
Help Thread
For this task, you must find a SRC member that joined Goodreads (not the SRC) in June, July, or August (of any year) and read a book that appears on one of their bookshelves (any bookshelf). You'll find the month a member joined GRs on their profile page under activity. You cannot use your own shelves. Required: You must provide a link to the member's profile page when you post.
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5.10 -- Up, Up, and Away
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Read a book with the letters "AIR" found intact within a word in the title or subtitle. Examples: The Mermaid Chair, Dairy Queen, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Girl With Curious Hair
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10.1 Skip to My Lou
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Read a book by an author whose consecutive initials (as they appear in their Goodreads name) skip a consecutive letter in the alphabet. Hyphenated names count as the letter of the first hyphenated name.
Examples: Agatha Christie (ABC), Jen Lancaster (JKL) Irmgard Keun (IJK), Arthur Conan Doyle (ABC)
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10.2 Eat an Oreo Day
Help Thread
June 19th is Eat an Oreo Day. Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle with one letter “sandwiched” between two of the same letters- “celebrate” E-L-E, “latitude” T-I-T, “obsidian” I-D-I
Required:Please identify the word when you post
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10.3 What's Your Exit?
Help Thread
Be Nice to Jersey week (my home state) is the first week in July. Read a book set in New Jersey for a significant portion of the book or written by a New Jersey author (by birth or residence)
These lists may help
Gitoutahe' The Garden State in Fact and Fiction
New Jersey Sleuths
New Jersey Authors
Required: If the NJ setting or the author's NJ status is not referenced in the GR book description/author's bio or the wiki page, please provide a source or explanation
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10.4 Air Signs
Help Thread
Read a book by an author who was born under an Air sign. For the purposes of this task, we will use the following dates: Gemini (May 21-June 20), Libra (September 23-October 22), or Aquarius (January 20 - February 18).
REQUIRED: Provide the author's birthdate when posting.
If Goodreads does not list the author's birthdate, you must provide a link to that information for verification in order to get credit for this task.
These lists may help: Author Birthdays, Famous Authors' Birthdays
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10.5 Caribbean Queen
Help Thread
July 5th is Caribbean Day- Read a book set in the Caribbean- any of these settings work: Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Barth's/St Bart’s, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, Virgin Islands (BVI & US) and for the purposes of this task, Bermuda.
Required:If the setting is not clear in the book's description, please indicate the setting when you post
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10.6 Contraction Action
Help Thread
A contraction is a shortened form of one or two words (one of which is usually a verb). In a contraction, an apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter or letters. Some contractions are: I'm (I am), can't (cannot), how's (how is), and Ma'am (Madam).
Read a book with a contraction in the title or subtitle. For this task, the target word must contain an apostrophe. All About Contractions
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10.7 A Reason to Celebrate
Help thread
Summer is the best time to celebrate POETS Day-- No, not "poet", but "Push Off Early, Tomorrow's Saturday" a variation of TGIF "Thank Goodness it's Friday". Read a book with a day of the week in the title or subtitle OR ignore the acronym and read a book of poetry or a novel in verse.
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10.8 No Boredom Zone
Help Thread
July is Anti-Boredom month- Read a non-fiction book about any subject or activity that would chase boredom away- books about reading, writing, travel, hobbies, etc would work.
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10.9 Recycled Group Reads-
Help Thread
June is Recycling Month- Read a book that was nominated for or won as a past Group Read selection in one of these polls:
Spring 2012 Anthology
Spring 2012 YA Dystopian Fiction
Spring 2012 Published in Twenty-tens
Winter 2011 Mystery with Female Protagonist
Winter 2011 Steampunk
Winter 2011 African American Lit
Fall 2011 Mysteries That Make You Laugh
Fall 2011 Magical Realism
Fall 2011 Modern Lit
Summer 2011 Paranormal Romance
Summer 2011 Unconventional Woman Historical Fiction
Summer 2011 Inspirational/Christian Fiction
Required: Please indicate which season and category poll was the source of your choice
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10.10 Air Conditioned Cool
Help Thread
Air Conditioning Appreciation Week is the 3rd week in August- Cool off and read a book set in winter OR with snow or ice (any form- ice cubes, ice skating rink, etc) on the cover.
Required: If it is not obvious, explain/point out the winter setting or snow/ice and include a link to the cover if electing that option
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15.1. The Colors of Summer
Help Thread
A. “Summertime Blues” – read a book with a predominately (at least 50%) blue cover, or with the word “blue” in the title or author’s name. For the title option, plurals, possessives and compound words can be used. REQUIRED: For the cover option, post a link to the cover.
AND
B. “The Green Leaves of Summer” - read a book with a predominately (at least 50%) green cover, or with the word “green” in the title or author’s name. For the title option, plurals, possessives and compound words can be used. REQUIRED: For the cover option, post a link to the cover.
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15.2. “Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer”
Help Thread
Read two books with different words in their titles that rhyme with each other. If you’re not sure of your rhyme, check here - WikiRhymer. The words you use must be “pure rhymes.” If you’re looking for groups of words that rhyme, go to the bottom of the page and click on “largest rhyme sets” – that will show you the words with the largest group of rhyming matches. If you're trying to find a rhyme for a specific word, you can put in the word itself to find rhymes for it.
Examples: Beat the Reaper and Heat Wave (Beat and Heat); Zoo Station and The Man Who Made Lists: Love, Death, Madness, and the Creation of Roget's Thesaurus (Station and Creation)
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15.3. “Summer Romance”
Help Thread
Option 1:
A. “The Boys of Summer” – read a book with a noun meaning a male person in the title/subtitle – man, boy, gentleman, etc. A noun will also work if it’s male by normal usage – husband, brother, nephew, etc. AND
B. “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” – read a book with a noun meaning a female person in the title/subtitle – woman, girl, lady, etc. A noun will also work if it’s female by normal usage – wife, sister, niece, etc.
OR
Option 2: Read one book with both a male and female noun in the title/subtitle.
Examples: Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them; The Sisters Brothers
For purposes of this task, common nouns only -no proper names, like "Tom" or "Susie." If the word itself is normally used as a common noun, it will work even if it is used as a proper noun in the context of the book title. For example, Sister Carrie would work, since "sister" is a common, gender specific noun, altho used as part of a name in the title of this book.
Plural and possessive forms of the nouns are fine.
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15.4. Summer Reading
Help Thread
Option 1
A. "Summer Wind" - read a book with the letters "W I N D" in the title and/or subtitle, in any order;
AND
B. "Summertime" - read a book with the author's initials found in the letters of "Summertime." The initials can be in any order and need not be consecutive.
OR
Option 2:
Read ONE book that satisfies both A and B from option 1.
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15.5. “Summer in the City”
Help Thread
Read a book set in a city. For purposes of this task, a “city” will be defined as one with a population of at least 100,000 people. REQUIRED: if your setting does not fall within the obvious city category (for example, New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, etc.), please include the population of the city in your post.
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15.6. “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
Help Thread
Read a book about something you enjoy doing in the summer or with a picture of a fun summer activity on the cover. If your hot weather season is winter, you can call it “Hot Fun in the Wintertime” and substitute winter for summer. REQUIRED: If the activity is not obvious, please explain what it is and how your book relates to it. If you choose the cover option, post a picture of the cover.
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15.7. “The First Day of Summer”
Help Thread
Read the first book in a series. The book must be identified as a series on GR, and must have at least three books in the series that have been published or will be published by the end of the challenge.
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15.8. “Summer of 69”
Help Thread
Read a book featuring a musician or musical group.
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15.9. “Summer Nights”
Help Thread
Read a book set in the 1950s or first published in the 1950’s.
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15.10. ”Feel Good Hit of the Summer"
Help Thread
Sit back, relax, and read a book that makes you feel good.
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20.2 - Rookie on Top - Nicola's task: School's Out For Summer
Help Thread
Summer is a time for sunshine and outdoor activities. It is a time for vacations and lazy days. Most significantly, it is when “School’s out for summer”! As a teacher, and a mom, Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” is a popular song in both my household and workplace during this season.
Based on these lyrics, choose one book for one of the options below.
Option 1: School's out for summer
Read a book that takes place during the summer, or while the main character is on vacation. Alternatively read a book that has a beach or a summer scene on the cover.
Option 2: School's out forever
Read a book in which the main characters have recently graduated from school (high school or university), or are beginning a new career or job and the job is a significant aspect of the story. Non-fiction job search/interview books would also work for this option
Required- Please explain how your book choice works if it is not clear in the Goodreads description.
Option 3: School's been blown to pieces
Read a book in which a bomb or explosion of some type is a significant aspect. Alternatively, read a book in which there is an explosion or bomb on the cover, i.e. object exploding, flashes of light, shrapnel, mushroom clouds, etc.
These lists may help Nuclear Apocalypse, Explosions or Non-explosions
Required- Please explain how your book choice works if it is not clear in the Goodreads description.
Option 4: No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks
Read a book that is about a teacher, or someone who works in an educational field. Alternatively, read a book which takes place at a boarding school, or is about students who attend a boarding school.
REQUIRED: Post which option you chose.
REQUIRED: If you choose a cover option, please post the cover.
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20.4 - Author! Author! - Jecca's task: Let’s Go Camping
Help Thread
When I think of summer, I think of my family’s annual camping to trip to Hermit Island. When I think of SRC, I think of finding new good reads by new authors. So for my very first task creation I am blending the two together.
For this task you must read a new to you author. Roll a die and read the book that corresponds with your number.
**Please note each option has a required element to add when you post
Die Roller Please set to 1
1. S’mores – When I go camping s’mores are served every night. But s’more is not really a word at least not according to Word; it gives you the red squiggly line when you type it. Read a book that has a word in the title, subtitle, or series name that gives you a red squiggly. It cannot be a person’s name or a place. Examples: Mockingjay, Skinwalker, Darkfever or words like ain’t and wanna, Wanna Get Lucky?.
Required: Please identify the "squiggly" word
2. Hermit Island – Is an island located in Maine, for this option read a book whose author is from or is living in Maine, or a book that is set in Maine.
Required: Please include in your post the place in Maine the author is from or where book takes place.
3. Campfire – some people tell ghost stories around the campfire, my sister and I talk books. Read a “talked” about book. Examples: Fifty Shades of Grey and The Hunger Gamesare current “talked” about books (on TV, in magazines, and highly reviewed). Book club recommended reads would work, as would, books someone talks to you about and recommends and Goodreads recommendations
Required: Please include in you post where the book was “talked” about.
4. Bump-in-the-night – So, I am normally a heavy sleeper that is until we go camping and every little sound makes me jump. Read a book that makes you jump in alarm.
Required: Please include in your post why it made you jump.
5. Beach – Most of our time camping is spent on the beach, but it is not just for swimming and sun bathing. It’s about exploring and finding new things. Read a book where someone finds something or someone. It can be something that they lost or something new; a new love, friend, themselves, an item, or conclusion.
Required: Please include what was found in your post.
6. The family – there is 10 of us that go camping together, read a book that has ten in the title, subtitle or the 10th book in a series. Ten can be spelled out or numerical, or it can be part of another word in which "ten" is found intact, ex. "often"
Required: Please identify how you used "ten" when you post
Required: Please state the number you rolled when you post
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20.5 - Bigger Is Better - Wendy UK's task: Let's Talk About the Weather
Help Thread
A feature of summer in Britain is unsettled weather - I think that's why we talk about it so much! We plan in the hope that the weather will be warm, dry and sunny - but often it's not. So the Queen has just celebrated her Diamond Jubilee with a river pageant - in the rain, and a carriage procession - in the rain! Street parties and picnics have been cancelled, or endured in the rain.
Share in our British Summer by reading a book with a rainy picture on the cover, OR the word RAIN in the title or subtitle series titles are excluded Or as an alternative - in acknowledgement of the Jubilee - a book with the homophone REIGN in the title or subtitle, series titles are excluded
Rains, rained, rainy, raining or reigns, reigned reigning may also be used, but not compound words such as rainbow or raincoat.
And hopefully the weather here will turn hot and sunny soon!
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20.6 - Seasoned Reader-Michelle WI's task: My Spring Favorites into Your Summer Read
Help Thread
It has been said before, but it cannot be said enough… the SRC is a great way to find new authors, books and genres! I have found some of my favorite books from the SRC and my Goodreads friends! I like to think that some people have found some great books through my reads as well. If not, then here’s your chance! The following descriptions are based on 6 of my personal favorite books from the Spring Challenge (note: I’m not saying these are all five star books or changed my life, but I really enjoyed them for various reasons.)
Die Roller Please set to 1
Roll the die and read one book based on the number rolled. For each option, you may chose to read the named book OR any other book by that author OR a book with that author's initials (in any order) OR a book with the genre I have listed in parenthesis behind the book (genre MUST appear on the main page of your chosen book) .
1. Bossypants by Tina Fey (humor genre)
2. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz (fairy tale genre)
3. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs(fantasy genre)
4. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain (thriller genre)
5. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (mystery genre)
6. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (historical fiction genre)
Required: Please state your die roll and the option (book, book by author, initials, genre) when you post
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20.7 Shorter is Sweeter- Isabell's task: In homage to MZB
Help Thread
My last task was centered around my favorite author Tamora Pierce. Another author whose work I enjoy is Marion Zimmer Bradley (MZB). For this task you will read a book in homage to MZB by choosing one of the following options:
1. Death. MZB died in 1999. Read a book written by an author who died since January 1, 1990.
Required: Please provide verifiable information about the author's date of death if the date is not listed on the author's entry on GR.
2. Award. In 2000 MZB was posthumously awarded the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. Read a book by a winner of this award. A list of the award winners can be found here: World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. (Please note that only the category of Life Achievement counts for this task, not any of the other categories of the World Fantasy Award.)
3. Series. Both her Darkover and Avalon series were continued after her death. Diana L. Paxson continued the Avalon series. Deborah J. Ross wrote further books in the Darkover series. Read a book by Marion Zimmer Bradley herself OR by Diana L. Paxson OR by Deborah J. Ross. Pen names of those authors count for this task, so books by Deborah Wheeler work as well.
Required: Please identify the option when you post
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20.9 - Lucky Me!- mstan's task: Please Be Patient...
Help Thread
This task requires you to be a more more patient with regard to your planning process for the SRC.
With reference to any one book you have read and claimed points for in this SRC (Summer 2012), henceforth referred to as Book X, choose your book (no re-reads) for this task. Read a book you discover in Book X. The author's work MUST be mentioned in the book you have already read and claimed points for. Some options for how you can do this:
1. The book can be mentioned within Book X itself, e.g. if I read for, say, task 25.4, Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast, I can choose that as Book X. That book mentions The Great Gatsby, so I can use that Fitzgerald book for this task.
2. The book can be mentioned anywhere on the cover (front or back) of Book X e.g. another author of "So-and-so Title" is sometimes quoted, in which case you can read "So-and-so Title" for this task. If a series title is mentioned any book from the series would work
3. The book can be mentioned either before or after the main portion of Book X. For example, for e-books, there is sometimes a section stating other works readers enjoyed at the end of the book; for physical books, the publisher may also include synopses or sample chapters of other books at the end. Books mentioned in promotional content at the beginning or end of Book X; in its foreword or acknowledgements; in a list of the author's previous works; in a bibliography; or in the Recommended Reading section may also be used.
**Please note that the title of the book or series title will have to be quoted in Book X, and not just the author's name.
Required: Please state which option you have chosen, explain how the title for your chosen book appears within Book X, AND state the number of the task you have already claimed points for using Book X.
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20.10 Group Reads
Read one of the Group Reads selections, and make at least one post in the discussion thread for the book.
For the category "Books to read at the Beach": I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
I've Got Your Number Discussion Thread
For the category "14th Century Historical Fiction": The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
The Name of the Rose Discussion Thread
For the category "Sports Romance": Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Catching Jordan Discussion Thread
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25.3 - Keltie Lee's task: Hands and Feet
Help Thread
Lately I have noticed an abundance of book covers with only the lower or upper half of the body showing. So I figured I would exploit that for this task.
Read 2 books- Book 1 AND Book 2
Book 1 Read a book with a hand(s) on the cover. Other body parts may be shown, but not feet or complete lower bodies. The hand(s) may be in gloves, mittens, etc.
Ex.
Book 2: Read a book with a foot/feet on the cover. Other body parts may be shown, but not hands. The foot/feet may be in shoes, socks, etc.
Ex
Required: Please include a link to both of the covers when you post.
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25.4 - Sandy/Kristi's task: All About the Author
Help Thread
If you're taking part in the SRC, it's probably safe to say that reading is important to you. For this task, let's find out more about the people who make this pleasant pastime possible--the authors.
For Book A - Read a biography, autobiography, or memoir of an author.
For Book B - Read a book or collection of works (plays, poetry, newspaper articles, etc.) written by the author that is the focus of book A. Book B may NOT be a second memoir.
Examples:
On Writing by Stephen King AND one of his novels
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami AND one of his novels
Memoirs by Tennessee Williams and a collection of his plays, such as A Streetcar Named Desire and Other Plays
Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office : A Memoir by Jen Lancaster AND her only novel, If You Were Here
Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields AND To Kill a Mockingbird
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25.8 - Kate S's task: Going to the Ball Park
Help Thread
It's summer time, let's go see America's past-time. Pick two** options from the following list. You can't do the same option twice, but you can do two different options from the same category. **If you do option E- Doubleheader-this option counts as both books
A. Home or Away-When heading to a game, we must decide if we are rooting for the home team or the visiting team (it will help us decide which colors to wear!)
1. Home-Choose a book written by an author who is a "local". (Born in or lives in the same city/state/ province your do.
2. Away-Choose a book written by an author from a different COUNTRY (by birth or residence) than where you currently live.
Required: Please identify your Home/Away location when you post
B. Hit the Concession Stand
1. Food-Gotta grab a hot dog while you are at the stadium! Read a book originally written in German, set in Germany or by a German author (by birth or residence).
2. Drink-Beer is the drink of the ball park. Read a book about beer brewing or a book with one of the following words in the title: ale, amber, lager, draft, brew, craft, light, dark, or beer. Plurals and possessives are fine, but no other variations or compound words.
C. The restrooms: one of the great inequities at the ball park!
1. The Women's Room: Read a LONG (over 400 pages) book written by a woman.
2. The Men's Room: Read a short book (100-200 pages) written by a man.
D. Go watch the game (or at least the players)
1. Read a biography/autobiography/memoir about a current or past professional baseball player.
2. Read a non-fiction account of baseball. This book should NOT be a biography, but rather a book about the game, ex. Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series, The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime
E. Doubleheader- Sometimes, we are lucky enough to watch two games in one trip, the team match up may look the same, but there are frequently different players involved in each game!
1. Read two books with the same title written by different authors. Subtitles may be ignored. ex. The Reef by Nora Roberts AND The Reef (Everyman's Library by Edith Wharton
Required: Please identify the options when you post
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30.2 Sassafrass's task: I’ll Leave My Heart in San Francisco!
Help Thread
This July, I’m going to spend a week in San Francisco, California. Now, I’m supposed to be going for a conference (*wink, wink*), but I’m sure that I’ll make lots of time to discover more about this fantastic city.
Come explore the sights with me by picking two of the following options and reading two different books:
1. Say Cheese! San Francisco is the second most photographed city in the United States, behind New York City. For this option, read a book that features a photographer as the main character or is about someone frequently photographed in newspapers and/or other types of print media (politician, model, celebrity, subject of an investigation...etc)
2. Happy Anniversary: May 27, 2012 marked the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. I’m really excited to see it up close. Read a book that features the words Golden, Gate, or Bridge in either the title, subtitle, or authors name. Plurals and possessives are ok, no other variations are allowed.
examples: The Golden Compass, The Gate House, Bridge to Terabithia,The Bridges of Madison County, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
a. read a book about or featuring someone who goes to prison, is in prison, or who was in prison or someone who worked or lived in a prison. This list of “prison books” can help. (if not obvious from the description, explain how it fits the option) **Brownie points if you find a book that has Alcatraz in it. :)
b. OR you can read a book with a lighthouse on the cover. Here is a list to help: “Lighthouse books” (show cover)
Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith = 8/24/12
4. The San Francisco Treat: Cable Cars! I can't wait to ride on one. The San Francisco Cable Cars were actually named a National Landmark in 1964. And here I thought they were famous only because of the Rice-a-roni commercials. For this option: read a book with some method of transportation on the cover. It doesn’t have to be a method we currently have available as long as it is used to transport people from one place to another.
Here are some lists to help get you started:
cars on the cover
planes trains and automobiles
Trolleys, Streetcars and Traction
5. A taste of Asia: Did you know that San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia? For this option, read a book set in an Asian country, in a Chinatown found in other parts of the world, or has a main character or author who is of Asian descent.
Here are some lists that can help:
fiction from the Chinese mainland
best South Asian fiction
best novels that take place in china
Japanese authors
***Need some help figuring out what countries are in Asia?
World Atlas
6. Flower Power: Haight-Ashbury is famous for its tie-dyed, drug-infused, flower-power roots. The area is synonymous with the 1960‘s, especially the “Summer of Love” and the neighborhood became a haven for hippies and influential psychadelic rock performers like the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. Although it was before my time, I’m looking forward to trekking over there and trying to absorb the feeling of the area. So join me and put a flower wreath in your hair, grab your peasant blouse and bell-bottoms and take a trip back in time with me.
For this option, you can read a book with a flower or flowers on the cover, a book with the name of a flower in the title, subtitle, or author’s name,
OR
read a book that’s set in the 1960’s or was first published in the 1960’s.
Required: Please state the options you use when you post
As usual with tasks, if not obvious from the book description, please explain how the book fits the option.
If you use a cover option please post the cover or a link to the cover
When using listopia lists, please remember that not every book on the list will work and use the task and challenge requirements to determine the appropriateness of the books.
Mod
30.5 Bluemoon's task: BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD
Help Thread
Since summer is a big travel season and money is tight these days I thought it would be fun to take a virtual trip.
Choose 2 of the following 3 options.
***Each book must be set on a different continent (Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania, Europe, North America, South America or Antarctica). You will find countries listed by continent here http://www.worldatlas.com/cntycont.htm and you may not use a book set in your home country
A. BEG - Get a recommendation from a friend. It may be a Goodreads friend, a "real life" friend, or a librarian (the true friend of readers everywhere) You may ask your friend to pick from a shortlist you prepare or their Goodreads shelves.
Required: Identify your friend when you post
B. BORROW - For this option borrow a book from the library, a friend or relative, etc.
Required: Identify where you got your book
Required: Include which mod's shelf you raided
From Dlmrose's read shelf:
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith = 8/7//12
Set in Africa
Required: Please state your home country and identify the two continents when you post
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Mod
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30.10 Butterflycager's Task - Honoring the Flag and My Dad
Help thread
My dad's birthday was June 14th. This is also Flag Day in the United States, commemorating the adoption of the national flag. When I was very young, I thought that the flags displayed all over town were in honor of Dad, and I often think of him whenever I see a flag waving in the breeze.
For this task, you will choose two different options from the list below, and read one book for each. When posting, please state which options you chose, and if you choose a cover option, make sure to post a link to the cover. Enjoy!
1. Read a book with "flag" in the title OR with a flag on the cover (need not be an American flag, any flag will do). If using the title option, possessives and plurals are fine, but no other variations.
This list Flags may help
2. The first official United States flag had 13 stars and 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies. Read a book with "thirteen" or "13" in the title/subtitle (thirteenth/13th okay, no other variations) OR identified on Goodreads as the 13th book in a series.
3. My dad had many interests, and one of his greatest passions was trains. Read a book with "train", "rail", "railroad", or "railway" in the title/subtitle OR with a train or train tracks on the cover. For the title, possessives and plurals are fine, but no other variations.
These lists may help Boarding School Stories, Campus Days
I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb = 7/8/12
5. One of Dad's favorite literary genres was alternate history, and it so happens that one of his favorite authors, Harry Turtledove, was also born on June 14th. Read any book by Harry Turtledove OR any book that has alternate history on the genre list on its main GR page.
Required: Please identify the options when you post
Mod
Group A -
5. Jason Aldean
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde - Finished 6/17/12Group B -
3. Brooks and Dunn
Sorcery & Cecelia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer - Finished 6/15/12
This book is written as a series of letters between two friends, Cecy and Kate. One author writes as Cecy, the other as Kate.
Previous Points - 0
This Task - 30
Current Total - 30
Mod
Book A: AEIOU- Read a book with all 5 vowels-
ship brEaker, pAOlo bacIgalUpi
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi = Finished 6/21/12
Book B: And Sometimes Y- Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle or author's name that begins with the letter Y
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay = Finished 6/8/12
Previous Points: 30
This Task: 30
New Tota: 60
Mod
1. Repeat Day: read a book with two consecutive words in the title/subtitle that repeat their first letter
Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me
Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me by Howie Mandel = 6/23/12
5. Chinese Valentine’s Day: Read a book with "romance" as a genre, OR about Valentine’s Day OR with a predominately red cover OR with a heart on the cover.
The Lover's Dictionary by David LevithanPrevious Total: 60
This Task: 30
New Total: 90
Mod
6) White Cake- Read a book where the TITLE appears in white letters on the cover.
The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases by Gary Small = 6/24/12Previous Total: 90
This Task: 20
New Total: 110
Mod
Option 2: Read a book with one of the following Chicago Sports team words in the title: Bears, Cubs, White, Sox, Black, Hawks, Bulls, Sky, Fire, Windy, City, Rollers. Plurals/singulars, possessives, variations (roll, rolling, etc), and compound words (windmill, wind-up, rollover) all work
Black Out by Lisa Unger finished 7/1/12
Option 4: Travel North by Northwest from Chicago and read a book set in one of the following states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, North or South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, or in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, or the Yukon.
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs = 6/1/12
Previous Total: 110
This Task: 30
New Total: 140
GR Author Tickets: 1
Lisa Unger is a GR author.
Mod
Book A:
A-1. Land Ho! - Read a book set on an island.
The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman = 6/25/12
Book B:
B3 - Hangman’s Noose- Read any suspense or mystery book. “suspense" or "mystery” must be listed as a genre on the front page.
The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis
Previous Total: 140
This Task: 30
New Total: 170
GR Author Tickets: 2
Agnete Friis is a GR author
Mod
Option 2: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
We rafted down the Snake river when we visited Jackson Hole in Grand Teton National Park. Read a book with one of the following words in the title or author’s name: Raft, Snake, River, Jackson, Hole, or Grand. Plurals and possessives will work, no other variations.
River Marked by Patricia Briggs = 6/1/12
Option 5: Shenandoah National Park
We can’t forget the East Coast! One hundred and one miles of the Appalachian Trail are in this park. Hike part of the trail by reading a book set in one of the states through which the trail passes: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver = 7/19/12 ***GR AUTHOR
Previous Total: 170
This Task: 25
New Total: 195
GR Author Tickets: 3
Mod
1. Uh-Huh Slow , Uh-Huh Fast
Since this was really 2 similar videos, read a book that focuses on 2 main characters that are the same sex. It should be clear in the Goodreads description that the book is about 2 boys or 2 girls.
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead = 7/18/12 ***GR Author
4. A Day in the Life of a Korean Student
a book that has a main character attending High School full-time; the book should be set during the school year, but does not have to involve school.
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa = 7/22/12 ***GR Author
Set during the school year and partially in the school
Previous Total: 195
This Task: 25
New Total: 220
GR Author Tickets: 5
Mod
3. International Joke Day falls on July 1st. Celebrate by laughing and reading a funny book. Humor must appear on the book’s main Goodreads page!
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett = 7/13/12
4. Compliment Your Mirror Day falls on July 3rd. Celebrate by looking in the mirror and read what you see! Read a book with someone on the cover who shares one of your personal attributes, either your hair color or eye color.
by Julie Kagawa ***GR AuthorI have blonde hair as does the girl on the cover. Unfortunately, I look nothing like her otherwise. :)
Previous Total: 220
This Task: 25
New Total: 245
GR Author Tickets: 6
Mod
5. Wolverine vs. Deadpool
a. Book set in Canada or Japan
How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway = 7/27/12 ***GR Author
Set in Japan
b. Book from this Cult Classics list:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury = 7/6/12
#6 on the list
Previous Total:245
This Task: 30
New Total: 275
GR Author Tickets: 7
Mod
(2) Shades: Read a genre that you haven’t really explored before
Romance: The Year of Living Scandalously by Julia London = 7/30/12
I have read very few romance books ***GR Author
Previous Total: 275
This Task: 20
New Total: 295
GR Author Tickets: 8
Mod
Roll two dice: I rolled a 1 and a 3
1) Iron Man: read a book with science fiction as a genre
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher = 8/1/12
3) The Hulk: Read a book from the Goodreads list Most Emotional Books
#98 on the list Most Emotional Books
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa = 7/25/12
Previous Total: 295
This Task: 30
New Total: 325
GR Author Tickets: 8
Mod
I rolled a 6 and chose to complete #3:
3. Reading - Read a book from any of my Favorite Genres:
Literary Fiction = The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Hale
**GR Author = 1 Author Ticket
**578 Pages = 1 Big Book Ticket
Previous Total: 325
This Task: 20
New Total: 345
GR Author Tickets: 9
Big Book Tickets: 1
Mod
I chose options B and G
B) "End of the World As We Know It":
This book is a dystopia
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau = 6/22/12
G) It's time I had some time alone:
The main character is single and lives alone. He spends a significant amount of time working alone at home.
Rules Of Prey by John Sandford = 8/12/12
Previous Total: 345
This Task: 30
New Total: 375
Total GR Author Tickets: 9
Total Big Book Tickets: 1
Mod
2.School’s Out Forever by Alice Cooper-
read a book with a main character as a teenage or college student
Main character is 16 and is a student of magic
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal = 8/14/12
**GR Author
4. Under the Board walk by The Drifters.
Read a book with Under, Board, Walk, Down, Sea in the title or subtitle OR a book that focuses on a friendship from this list Best Adult Female Friendship Books .
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi = 8/8/12
**GR Author
Previous Total:375
This Task: 25
New Total: 400
Total GR Author Tickets: 11
Total Big Book Tickets: 1
Mod
A. Read a big book--at least 500 pages.
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti = 8/21/12
511 Pages
GR Author
Big Book Ticket
E. Read a book by an author whose initials are in the word "SOLIDLY".
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver = 8/17/12
L and O can be found in SOLIDLY
GR Author
Previous Total: 400
This Task: 25
New Total: 425
Total GR Author Tickets: 13
Total Big Book Tickets: 2
Cherie's Personal Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Lockdown (other topics)Pandemonium (other topics)
Illuminate (other topics)
The False Princess (other topics)
Under the Never Sky (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alexander Gordon Smith (other topics)Lauren Oliver (other topics)
Aimee Agresti (other topics)
Eilis O'Neal (other topics)
Veronica Rossi (other topics)
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Posting Completed Tasks
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