The Next Best Book Club discussion
Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges
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SPRING CHALLENGE TASK SUGGESTIONS
Jeane wrote: "In the lists thread Fiona made a list (added with one book each by members) of best books, the TNBBC top books (I think). There are almost 100 books. Read the book that is put at the number that corrsponds with how old you are. Or do something else with that great, wonderful list. Woo! Pride and Prejudice, baby! Perfect! I'm just glad I'm not 24 anymore (Lord of the Rings)! No offense to Tolkien, but seeing the movie was ENOUGH for me.
GREAT ideas so far guys...I think it's going to be a really interesting challenge I've got a good idea of what most of the tasks are probably going to be but I've still got some open slots and will change things around if a better idea comes along :)!!!!
So, when does this soiree begin?I'm finishing up some other books for another on-line book club....just wanted to get all my peas lined up in a row!
Sherry - This challenge won't begin till March 1st and the Winter Challenge runs through the end of February. I'll be posting the final chosen tasks near the end of February to give people the chance to plan out what they want to do.
Jeane wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Jeane wrote: "In the lists thread Fiona made a list (added with one book each by members) of best books, the TNBBC top books (I think). There are almost 100 books. Read the book that..."Yes, that definitely could make things interesting! : )
Sara wrote: "Jeane wrote: "In the lists thread Fiona made a list (added with one book each by members) of best books, the TNBBC top books (I think). There are almost 100 books. Read the book that is put at the ..."Haha Sara, wait...we don't even know if that would be part of it!!!!! And it is in another month.
I am so hoping that the list idea and the St Patrick;s day idea will be in it!!!! Don't have an idea for the books yet but the tasks seem fun. And I have an urge to see which book would be on that list for me according to my age!!!!!
oh i would get to read A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hossieni, i can live with that!
Ok, that's it..I am going to check my age on that list!!!!
For once I want to be a year older...I would read The horse whisperer!!!!!! One of my favourites!!!!! I don't know the book I would have to read but it is teasing me. The one below it is one of my favourites and theone above it is one I really want to read. But the one i would have to read is one i have never heard before.
I really hope we can read any book on the list for the task. I think it's silly I'd have to re-read a book just because I happen to be a certain age (I've already read the book for my age on the list). And I don't remember any other task where you have absolutely no flexibility in the book you have to read. But I guess I'll see how the chips fall when Cynthia posts the tasks.
i actually agree with you Bonnie but couldnt help looking mine up just the same, I think you should be able to pick any of them as you shouldnt have to re-read something youve allready read.
Read a book from the TNBBC TOP books list
Ah. I do agree, Jon, that it is interesting to look up which book your age corresponds to on the list.
I think I have come up with an idea that is a compromise between picking the one that corresponds to your age and picking any one from the list BUT I'm not going to tell you what it is yet :) - the task will be a part of the next challenge since a lot of people want to see it there - that's the only one I'm going to tell you about till the final list is posted though!!!
Cynthia - you have no idea how many times in the middle of the night I lay there and try and come up with new ideas for this Challenge! It's become so much a part of my reading life! (And to be honest, before I joined, there were many times I would read the Challenge threads and think 'these people take this WAY too seriously')It is so much fun! And I'm sure I broke a reading record for myself in January - during a time that is very busy for me work-wise. So that is a huge bonus!
im just way too excited - i cant wait to get planning for the next lot! when do we get them? was it the 25th? mind you i think i might have to lower might sights next time so i can have a social life! im certainly well read though!
Yeah, Jon, you are BLAZING along there !!
Bonnie wrote: "I really hope we can read any book on the list for the task. I think it's silly I'd have to re-read a book just because I happen to be a certain age (I've already read the book for my age on the li..."I know it is annoying when you ahve read the book already but that is the thing with reading challenges, some tasks will make you reread a book or read a book you don't feel like reading if you want to do that task.
Cynthia wrote: "I think I have come up with an idea that is a compromise between picking the one that corresponds to your age and picking any one from the list BUT I'm not going to tell you what it is yet :) - the..."Great Cynthia!!!!!!! :-) I looked up mine corresponding with my age and don't have a clue what the book is, but the one above and under are interesting!
Laura wrote: "Cynthia - you have no idea how many times in the middle of the night I lay there and try and come up with new ideas for this Challenge! It's become so much a part of my reading life! (And to be h..."Me too Laura, I had ideas and wrote them even down like in december just to remember them! I am so curious what the new ones will be and can't wait to look for matching books. ....and the winter one isn't even finished...:-)))
My family thinks I'm a bit whacked and my husband is still a little bummed that he had to suffer thru that Age of Innocence film last night (I couldn't resist - he was browsing the free pay per view movies and it was at the top of the Classics list!) - mainly cuz it was sooooo long ! And then the ending was just...as Fiona would say...GAH! I don't recommend that book. I'm never sorry to have read a classic, but ....Anyway sorry for the OT. Yeah, this is the first Challenge I've ever participated in - here or anywhere else - and I've become quite obsessed w/making what I want to read fit in.
I don't MIND being a reading whacko tho. It's the good kind of whacko to be.
Relax laura, you aren't alone. This was my first one too but I don't tell anybody that I am doing it...this way they jsut think it is my normal me crazy about books, library, reading....
LOL...you guys are great...I enjoy seeing what you guys come up with as well...it's definitely going to be an interesting challenge this go around!!! And since I've got a lot of it planned out already I'm going to bump up the posting date to the 22 that way people will have a full week to plan.
Cynthia...I wonder often how you decide. I mean, do you write them all down and pick the most interesting once...or how do you do it?
Jeane - you're funny. I should probably have taken that route too, but I have a small family, there are only 3 of us here, and when I started bringing the Challenge list to the dinner table for reading in November, I guess they couldn't resist asking what I was so into that wasn't a book!
haha, I am lucky my boyfriend is so absorbed in his computer. But they do watch me weird in the library when I walk around with my little notebook(the boosk I read and want to read or in there) and with some papers with notes on for the challenge and suggestions....
hhaha you guys crack me up - im afraid im still in the challenge closet, or at least about the extent im taking it way too seriously - i mean i only recently confessed to my excel spreadsheet for my dvd collection, in chronological order and categorised into oscar winners, BAFTAs, golden globes, cinema greats etc, with my ratings and my to watch list lol and my OCD tendencies about the lists of bests sites - i dont want to disctract anyone from challenging but if your a list addict - this is heaven, has books and movies - eg. http://www.listsofbests.com/list/99
Thanks for all you do Cynthia!! The Winter Challenge is growing me as a person and a reader.
I'm so excited about this. It will be my first challenge! I haven't read ALL the posts, so sorry if any of these are repeats.How about:
Read a book about your dream vacation destination.
Have a stranger, or an acquaintance who isn't that close to you, reccommend a book.
Read a book about spring break! (wish I still had those!)
Maggie wrote: "I'm so excited about this. It will be my first challenge! I haven't read ALL the posts, so sorry if any of these are repeats.How about:
Read a book about your dream vacation destination.
Have ..."
Wouldn't mind reading a book for the dream vacation. Any excuse to read a book about or situated in Italy is great for me!!!
maggie, I also like your second suggestion.
Oh, or what about read or reread the first book you added to goodreads.
hehe, now I am curious what that was!!!!!
hmm, I was glad to see (and surprised) that it is Tre metri sopra il cielo. but I wouldn't have a clue where to find that around here....
The Winter Challenge was my first challenge. Waiting for the official list to be posted for the Winter and the Spring Challenges feels a lot like waiting for Christmas morning to arrive like when I was a kid. My first thought this morning was "Crap, I have to wait other 21 days to find out what the tasks will be!!!!!"
Ok, I have to post mine before I read everything or else I will forget what I was going to say!1. Read two books that tell the same story, but from different points of view or retell the story in a different time period (Gone with with Wind, The Wind Done Blown--I think that's the title; King Lear, A Thousand Acres)
2. Read a book where the title has opposite words (Little Big Minds)
3. Read a book with a ridiculously long title (I don't know exactly how many words this would be--maybe 10 or more?)
Hey, Elizabeth, if your choice number 1 is picked, I guess it gives everyone an excuse to read Pride and Prejudice and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies The Classic Regency Romance -- Now With Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!. Same story, but with new zombie action!Plus, those of us who love fairy tale retellings would have an excuse to read TWO novels dealing with the same fairy tale (unless this doesn't fit in with what you were thinking of when you came up with your task).
Great suggestions everyone! I can't wait to get started! These may have already been mentioned but how about:Read a book about gardening/a garden or gardener or some other flower/planting type of theme.
Read outside in a garden or park.
In honor of new spring clothes, read a book about fashion or someone who works in the fashion industry.
Type in a random word into the GR search box... and read one of the books that comes up.I like that one! I just did that out of curiosity (I typed in "tomato" becuase I'm thinking about planting my garden this weekend) and added 2 books to my TBR list. :)
That's a great one Fiona, I also like Joanie's about reading outside too.
What is a "literary" book, Fiona? I'm not quite sure what you mean.
OK, that makes sense.
Jeane wrote: "haha, I am lucky my boyfriend is so absorbed in his computer. But they do watch me weird in the library when I walk around with my little notebook (the books I read and want to read or in there) and with some papers with notes on for the challenge and suggestions.... "Ditto, except change "boyfriend" to "husband" and "computer" to "X-Box 360". I'm a HUGE NERD, though! I made a spreadsheet to keep track of the books I'm reading for the challenge. It automatically adds the points for me (because my adding skills are iffy)... It's a pretty fabulous spreadsheet...
Bonnie wrote: "Hey, Elizabeth, if your choice number 1 is picked, I guess it gives everyone an excuse to read Pride and Prejudice and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies The Classic Regency Romance -- Now With Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! Same story, but with new zombie action!"
Bonnie! You're not supposed to make me laugh out loud in my cubicle! HOLY COW!!! I can't not read that book. That's the most hilarious thing ever!! (Comes out in April!)
PS - PLEASE, not a philosophy book... gahh... Shoot me now! (Says the girl who likes to read romance novels for as many of the tasks as possible...)
Jen wrote: "Type in a random word into the GR search box... and read one of the books that comes up.I like that one! I just did that out of curiosity (I typed in "tomato" becuase I'm thinking about plantin..."
Like it too that one!!!1
Bonnie wrote: "Hey, Elizabeth, if your choice number 1 is picked, I guess it gives everyone an excuse to read [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1158......"No, that's exactly what I meant--and now I have to took up that book. It also made me laugh out loud--but I don't think I could make it through Pride and Predjudice. I tried several times and just could not do it.
Elizabeth wrote: "No, that's exactly what I meant--and now I have to took up that book. It also made me laugh out loud--but I don't think I could make it through Pride and Predjudice. I tried several times and just could not do it..."I almost gave it up too, Elizabeth, and it wound up in my All Time Top 5 list once I was able to get thru it. You just have to understand the premise that women were married away into rich families then because that's how they supported themselves. Once you accept that, it's a great ride.
Laura wrote: "I almost gave it up too, Elizabeth, and it wound up in my All Time Top 5 list once I was able to get thru it. You just have to understand the premise that women were married away into rich families then because that's how they supported themselves. Once you accept that, it's a great ride."It's one of my favorites, too, but I only read it a couple years ago. It follows the miniseries quite closely, which helped me as I tried to fudge through the old-ish English. The ending was AMAZING. I think the key with those is that you have to read a good chunk at a time--if you keep picking it up and putting it back down, it's hard to get into it. (Another thing that makes it fun is to read it out loud to yourself in a British accent... :) )
But Persuasion is my favorite--it's so romantic! I just read it in December, followed by Captain Wentworth's Diary. Those two, together, would also count for that challenge...
The Next Best Book Club
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The Diary of a Young Girl (other topics)
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Oh Jamie, that was just an idea to make it more surprising.. to read a book from the list that we would normally not choose.