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FALL CHALLENGE 2009
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FALL CHALLENGE 2009 COMPLETED TASKS
15 points- Become a Member of the Drama ClubKiss of the Spider Woman
NYU did a production of this at the beginning of the month which actually turned out rather well. (I worked on the costumes :) ) The two were actually a little different and i enjoyed the show more than the book, but i did like the book.
25 Points- Cindy's Task
One word: Equus
Two Word: Wuthering Heights
Three Word: The Complete Persepolis
new total: 60 Points
Yay! That was a good jump for me :)
I completed a couple more tasks. And I'm two books away from completing two three-book tasks. Whew!Here are my updates:
25.3-Wendy's Task: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
I had almost forgotten that I had this book sitting on my shelf. I laughed out loud in several parts and made my husband read a few of the essays. Thank you for this task, Wendy.
25.4-Candance's Task: The Secret Life of Bees
The book was first published in 2002 and the movie was released in 2008. I preferred the book to the movie (no surprise there).
Total Points: 55
COMPLETED TASKS:
25.7 ONE WORD TITLE - Shane by Jack Schaefer (pp 160) - READ 9.2.09
25.7 TWO WORD TITLE - *The Falls A Novel by Joyce Carol Oates (pp 481) READ 9.26.09
25.7 THREE WORD TITLE - *Song Yet Sung by James McBride (pp 384) READ 10.25.09
I really liked this task, but am glad I've finally finished it!
TASKS COMPLETED: 17
TASKS IN PROGRESS: 5
BOOKS READ: 27/62
PAGES READ: 8621
TOTAL POINTS EARNED: 295
*Books I Own
Was up way too late. Just couldn't put down the Sara Gruen novel until I finished (plus it was a horse story and I forgot just how much of a horse lover I had been as a kid). I think she's become my new favorite author, thanks to this challenge. 15 points
15.1. Brush Up On Your Grammar (English) - Select One Of The Following...
• Participles - Read A Book Whose Title Contains A Verb And Another With It's Participle [Riding and To Ride}
[book:Riding Lessons A Novel|142886] by Sara Gruen and A Ticket to Ride A Novel by Paula McLain
Loved Sara's book, made me a bit teary eyed a few times near the end. But if you ever liked horses, this is a great story to read. The other book, Ticket to Ride, was bleh...But I needed it for the challenge and it was hard to find other books from the library to round out this one.
Tasks Completed: 39/45
Partially Completed Tasks: 2
Points Earned: 600/690
Total Books: 51
Total Pages Read: 11,231
Total Hours listened: 62.25 (approx.)
Just completed 25.2 by reading The Bell Jar and Birthday Letters Poems. Sylvia Plath + Ted Hughes= husband and wife.Woohoo! I am almost halfway done with the challenge (based on # of books). I still believe I will make it, but have no idea how I will ever finish the Winter one based on how many people are likely to finish. I still want to participate though. It will help me work on that whole acceptance of the adage "Winning isn't everything." LOL
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It's been a while since I completed a task ... but I've finished The Brutal Art by Jesse Kellerman, and visited the Tate Modern art gallery in London for 15 points.New total 105!
Just finished reading Twilight for task 5.2. I've enjoyed this book in the past, mostly for it's "mindless reading" qualities, and this time is no exception.
Total points: 110
9 tasks complete - 4 tasks in progress
14 books read
Finished 25.1:Rhyme: Noon and Moon
Read:
Fiction - New Moon
Poetry - Drunk by Noon
TOTALS:
Points: 275
Books: 40
Pages: 11,132
Tasks: 22
Completed task 10.8, the 11th random word generated was blink so I read Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest by Matt Haig. It was a fun YA novel, although it did have some pretty dark moments. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. Brings my total to:
130/690 points
Tasks Completed: 10
Tasks In Progress: 6
Books Read: 16 (+3 children’s books)
Pages Read: 4,270
Cynthia wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Finished the 50 point task with the following.SENSE:
A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass which I thought was good. This book is all about s..."My keepsake is the memories of that wonderful day in my life. If you need something physical I would say the ring that my husband put on my finger that day. I got married Dec 11.
10-5 is done(with another selection from the 1001 list!)The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe
290 points
Kristen's Completed Tasks as of 10/25/09:5 Point Task:
8) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society- by Mary Ann Shafer&Annie Barrows
25 Point Task:
4) The Yes Man- Daniel Wallace
More progress today - finished up 15.2 with Robert Harris's Fatherland, which I've been meaning to read forever. I definitely recommend it, and for others who read it and liked it, check out Jo Walton's trilogy of an alternative fascist Britain.Current Total: 295 points
Finished a few more this weekend: 5.5 - Midsummer's Night Dream - William Shakespeare. I remember really liking this in high school, but I definitely think I understood more of the subtleties this time around. I also read King Lear recently and thought the same. I think i will be rereading a lot more of Shakespeare in the coming months. I have gained a new appreciation for it.
25.9 - Self Help - Bobby Flay- Burgers Fries and Shakes. I read this cookbook and can't wait to try out some of the awesome burger and shake recipes I read. Definitely not low fat!
Part 2. Amy Fusselman - 8 - this book follows the main character as she grows and learns to cope with being molested as a child. She explores various avenues of healing, such as traditional therapy, wholistic therapgy (hands on and Cranio therapy), she also learns to be more self-reliant and confident by taking motorcycle lessons and getting her license, and mainly by growing and healing through the cathartic experience of writing about her story.
New total 365
Recently Finished Tasks:5.3 (On a Boat) Plunder of the Sun - David Dodge
5.8 (Two Authors) Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
15.3 (Maths) The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown / The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson*
*Subtraction and Multiplication: Age = 30 & Number of Letters in Name = 17. 30-17 = 13 (The Lost Symbol is 13 letters). 30x17 = 510 (Girl Who Played is 503 pages).
Total Points - 385
5.5. Going Back To School - Re-read A Book That You Were Required To Read For School...See If You Feel The Same About It Now As You Did Then.The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton-10/25 (180 pgs)
I think I read this my Sophomore or Junior year. I really do not remember much, so it was almost like reading it for the first time. I enjoyed it a lot and was glad to reread it.
New Total: 270
I completed Cindy's Task (25.7) by reading:Fallen by David Maine (09/02). I really enjoyed this story of Cain, Abel, Adam & Eve and the issues that arise from being the World's first family. The story is told backwards, starting from Cain's deathbed and moving forward to Adam & Eve's time in The Garden.
Hit List by Darcia Helle (10/25). A very well-told mystery/suspense story with a touch of humour and a love interest. This book has likeable, realistic characters and lots of suspense. The plot moved along in believable, suspenseful ways. I really enjoyed this book, from the first page to the last.
The Avatar Syndrome by Stan Law (10/16). A convoluted look at finding one's potential and spirituality with the addition of modern medicine via brain research. The intention of the story becomes unclear because too many aspects of search are mentioned while none are explored.
The characters become distant and uninvolved, even in their own storylines. The main character, who goes from childhood to young womanhood, is distant, remote and a loner, which is explained by her attaining her true potential with inner thought, communication and meditation.
There are times when statements sound condescending or pompous and seem to be talking down to the Reader.
I completed Donna Jo's task (25.2 - Relations) by reading The History of Love by Nicole Krauss and Everything Is Illuminated A Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. Krauss and Foer are husband and wife and both excellent writers. I highly suggest both books! Total points: 425
10 POINT TASK2. On October 31st, 1993, River Phoenix Dies From A Drug Overdose - In Memory Of This Actor Who Died Before His Time; Read A Novel With A Character Who Suffers From An Addiction Or A Non-Fiction Book About Addiction (Such As A Memoir Of A Recovering Addict).
Confessions of an English Opium Eater, Thomas De Quincey.
25-5 is done with The Celestine Prophesy by James Redfield.315 points
25.2. DONNA JO'S TASK - Find Two Authors Who Are Related By Blood Or Marriage And Read A Book By Each. If By Marriage, It Need Not Be Permanent At The Time The Books Were Written. (In Other Words, The Book(S) Could Have Been Written Before Or After Said Marriage.) • In Your Post Please Be Sure To State The Relationship Between The Authors. For Instance, Anne Mccaffrey Is The Mother Of Todd Mccaffrey. Ted Hughes Was The Husband Of Sylvia Plath.
MotherRestoree by Anne McCaffrey
SonDragonsblood by Todd McCaffrey
Jessica wrote: "More progress today - finished up 15.2 with Robert Harris's Fatherland, which I've been meaning to read forever. I definitely recommend it, and for others who read it and liked it, ch..."You will need to post whether the author's version is preferable to the actual historical events before I can credit you on that task.
Finished 25.2 Donna Jo's family task with I Like You Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.I Like You was a "hospitality" book to be taken with a grain of salt. Amy Sedaris is very hit or miss for me, but I did want to print out the section about being a good guest and mail it to my in laws! :)
Dress Your Family... was not my favorite of David Sedaris's. I like listening to the books, as he performs them himself, and they are usually the funny side of awkward situations, but most of these stories just seemed all around sad.
Total points: 175
25. 9. DIANE'S TASK - September Is Self-Improvement Month. •Read A Nonfiction Self-Improvement Or Self-Help Book. AND
• Read A Book In Which The Main Character Undergoes A Significant Positive Change In His Or Her Life As A Result Of Self-Improvement (Can Be Fiction Or Nonfiction).
Who Moved My Cheese by Johnson
Better by Atul Gawande
25 points
Total 690
Done!!!
10.9-Finished "The Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks. I loved this book, and probably never would have read it if not for the challenge!Brings me to 360 points.
Ten more points, slowly and surely!
10.6 November Is Native American Heritage Month -Broken Heartland by JM Hayes, read 10/24/2009, 226pp.
Total points: 255/690
Tasks completed: 16/45
Books read: 29/59
Total pages: 10048
25 Point Task4.) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I have always like the book better than the movie and it was the same in this case. While this wasn't my favorite in the Harry Potter series, I feel like the movie missed the point that this book was a transition into the next. The movie focused way to much on the snogging and dating aspect of the book and not nearly enough on the horcruxs. And the revel of Snape as the Half-Blood Prince was so anti-climatic. When I read it the first time it was a huge reveal that I didn't even see coming. Also Tonks was one of my favorite characters and I hated that they cut her out. I will say the scene they added where the entire school uses their wands to dispel the dark mark was very touching. But over all the book was better.
1518 pages ;)
For 15 point task #9, I read Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon, Georges Jeanty & Andy Owens.Homework assignment:
After reading the graphic novel, watch at least 2 episodes of the television show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Write a 3-4 page paper comparing and contrasting the relative strengths and weaknesses of the mediums of television and the graphic novel. Include examples of how, in your opinion, the graphic novel could have been improved had it been filmed as an episode for television, and how the episodes of the television show could have been improved had they been written as a graphic novel.
Points total: 120
Tasks completed: 11/45
Finished Task 10.3 – Group Read: Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell (10/25/09) ... Link to my review – 2* ... Suffice it to say... not my favorite book. Pretty glad it's over.CURRENT STATS
Tasks Completed: 29/45
Tasks Partially Completed: 3
Books Read: 42/62
Pages Read: 14,189
Points Earned: 450/690
50 Points1. Senses/Emotions/Memories: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (Senses), Of Swords and Spells by Delia Marshall Turner (Emotions) AND The Girl of His Dreams by Deanna Leon (Memories).
Poison Study deals with a poison taster, so that deals with both scent and taste. I have no good sense of either (I'm useless with wine) so I would definitely die if I tried that job. But the book does talk about the need to distinguish between, for example, different kinds of "sweet" to know which poison is which.
Of Swords and Spells has the major emotion of anger. The main character is very angry a lot and eventually deals with this through the power of love and friendship (as often happens in books). I actually appreciated her anger, because it wasn't directed in negative ways (mostly) and made her more reltable to me then the usual sweet, kind female protagonist.
The Girl of His Dreams was disappointing (largely because I thought it was a historical mystery but it turned out to be a modern mystery) and really slow for the first 100 pages. It's connected to my memory of my trip to Venice with my brother, the first time I ever travelled on vacation independently of my parents. It was really fun.
Total Points: 405
Hello all! I've completed two more tasks:15.10 Teacher-Student Relations - Read Both...
• A Book With A Teacher As The Main Character Or With The Word Teacher(s), Teach, Teaches, or Teaching In The Title.
The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll -- This was Carroll's first published novel. It was OK, almost (but not quite) as good as a Twilight Zone episode. The first-person narrator is an English teacher at a Connecticut Prep School, on sabbatical for the duration of this novel.
And
• A Book With A Main Character Who Is A Student Or With The Word Student(s), Study, Or Studies In The Title.
The Unlikely Disciple A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose == this was a non-fiction personal account of a secular 20 year old student from Brown University who spent the Spring 2007 semester at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Very interesting!!
AND
25.1 Rhyme Time - Read ONE Fiction Book And ONE Poetry Book That Have A Word That Rhymes From Each Of The Titles
Rhyme: Pretty / City
Fiction: Pretty Monsters Stories by Kelly Link -- 9 stories all by Kelly Link, excellent!
Poetry book: Return to the City of White Donkeys Poems by James Tate -- Tate has won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1992. The cover of this book labels it poetry. It was very strange poetry, though, since each poem read like a 250-word slice of life story rather than a traditional poem with a fixed form and rhymes. Interesting though.
So, now I'm at 150 + 15 + 25 = 190
Wendy wrote: "25. 9. DIANE'S TASK - September Is Self-Improvement Month. •Read A Nonfiction Self-Improvement Or Self-Help Book. AND
• Read A Book In Which The Main Character Undergoes A Significant Positive Change
Who Moved My Cheese by Johnson
Better by Atul Gawande
25 points
Total 690
Done!!!
..."
Wa-hoo. Another reader completes the Fall Challenge. Congrats Wendy! You're amazing!
(And I'm just a teensy-weensy bit envious of your reading speed!) :-)
For 10.3 -Room on the Broom
Clifford's Halloween
Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory
Curious George Goes to School
Clifford's Class Trip
TOTAL POINTS: 55 + 10 = 65New Tasks:
10.10 Homer's Odyssey a Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper
Past Tasks:
5.2 Apple of My Eye by Helene Hanff
5.7 Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg
20.3 Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
25.7 ONE: Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre, TWO: Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs, THREE: The Shadow Queen by Anne Bishop
i just finished my own task 25.1 by reading Happiness Sold Separately and The Gold Cell.[image error]
I just finished the homework task (15.9) by reading The Journey Home by Dermot Bolger. Assignment:
5-8 pages in length - the first half should be devoted to a summary of social and political issues in Ireland during the 1980's and the second half should be devoted to a discussion of whether the political climate of the time was an adequate backdrop for the chain of events that took place in the book (using at least 3 examples from the book). Extra credit: include a one-page journal entry about your own experience with a journey home (or running away from home) and what that experience taught you.
TASKS COMPLETED: 25
TASKS PARTIALLY COMPLETED: 4
BOOKS READ: 33 (+4 kids books)
PAGES READ: 10,768
POINTS EARNED: 305
NUMBER OF BOOKS READ FROM MY 'OWNED AND UNREAD' SHELF: 20
Finished Task 15.1 (grammar): "of" is my wordHouse of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski (9/17) 5 stars, this book was freaking awesome
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew From Fox Hunting to Whist-The Facts of Daily Life in Nineteenth-Century England - Daniel Pool (10/25) 4 stars - This book is wonderful! I learned so much about 19th century England that will no doubt help tremendously as I make my way through Dickens, Collins, Hardy, Austen, the Brontes, etc.
Total Points: 375/690
Books Read: 38/62
Tasks Completed: 24/45
Pages Read: 11,894
25.7 (One, Two, Three)Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
Congratulations, Wendy!!I've been falling down on the job lately - I'd better get back in the game!
5 Points3. The Sea: One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (about pirates, so they're on a boat on the sea).
7. Most thankful for: Kodocha volume 6 by Miho Obana (I'm most thankful for friends and friendship plays an important role in this volume).
8. 2+ Authors: Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP (four people working under one name).
9. Coming of Age: Fruits Basket by Natsuki Tayaka
10 Points
10. Cat Name: Cat Street by Yoko Kamio.
Total Points: 435
(Task 10.1) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Task 10.9) Annie, Between the States by L.M. Elliot
I'm moving a few books around on uncompleted tasks, so that means I have one spare that will work for the thanksgiving task. The main characters in this series were all adopted, and so was I. So I'm thankful for the fact that my parents adopted me and I had a good home :)5.7 Thanksgiving – Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts
Total: 180/690 points
15/59 books
11/45 tasks
5837 pages
BJ Rose wrote: "Congratulations, Wendy!!I've been falling down on the job lately - I'd better get back in the game!"
Go BJ Go BJ Go BJ !!!!!!!!!!
Krista wrote: "Wendy wrote: "25. 9. DIANE'S TASK - September Is Self-Improvement Month. •Read A Nonfiction Self-Improvement Or Self-Help Book. AND
• Read A Book In Which The Main Character Undergoes A Signific..."
Thanks Krista. Try audiobooks while you walk in the Fall folliage!!
50.1 PjReads Task: Part I (Senses)A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
Mia, the main character, has synesthesia, the mingling of perceptions whereby a person can see sounds, smell colors, or taste shapes. If you've ever had a pet or felt the outsider in school, this is a novel which may appeal to you. The color description of the condition opened my eyes to other possibilities.
PjReads Task: Part II (Emotion - Love)
Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins
As a romance novel, the main theme naturally would be love but in addition, this book is about recovering from the pain of betrayal and a break-up and where upon finding a second chance and true love. The romantic and bittersweet troubled emotions are fraught in this novel and there are many happy hilarious points. A gem of a romance novel, imho.
PjReads Task: Part III (Keepsake - The Book)
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Valentine's Day for a single in high school can be a very difficult time. In retaliation to the holiday, my friend and I decided to exchange gifts - be each other's Valentine. This book with an inscription inside about finding a prince was my gift. I shall always treasure this novel for that keepsake memory in addition to the amusing and romantic tale.
Total Points: 280
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?ke...
Congratulations! PJREADS, DONNA JO, DLM ROSE, ROSEANN, DIANE and WENDY.C'mon, Kari, we've got work to do.
Bonnie wrote: "50 Points1. Senses/Emotions/Memories: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (Senses), Of Swords and Spells by Delia Marshall Turner (Emotions) AND [book:The Girl of His Dr..."I need you to post the keepsake for the 3rd section so I can award you the points on this one.
Completed Task 25.2 (Donna Jo's, related authors):Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name A Novel - Vendela Vida (10/17) 4 stars
The Wild Things - Dave Eggers (10/25) 3 stars
Total Points: 400/690
Books Read: 39/62
Tasks Completed: 25/45
Pages Read: 12,194
Congrats to all who have finished!!! I am hoping to join you soon!Finished:
15.8 Dracula (Romania for R)
Déjà Dead (Canada for C) I was really wanting to like this book and I REALLY didn't. I am not really sure why, the plot was interesting, but the writing style just didn't agree with me.
25.2 Sunstroke
The Ritual Bath (Faye Kellerman is the mother of Jesse Kellerman) I enjoyed the book by Faye more, but Jesse Kellerman's book was ok.
Only 4 books to go and I am almost done with Team of Rivals and I have started Madame Bovary. I am on the last sprint to the finish line. I hope to finish by Oct 31 so we shall see.
Total Points 625/690
Total Books 58/62
Total Tasks Completed 41/45
Total Pages 18713
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Tempt Me at Twilight (other topics)Patterns in the Sand (other topics)
The Shadow of the Wind (other topics)
My Grandfather's Son (other topics)
Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Lisa Kleypas (other topics)Sally Goldenbaum (other topics)
Clarence Thomas (other topics)
Audrey Niffenegger (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
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H - Haiti - The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticant
S - Spain - The Gravedigger by Peter Grandbois
The Dew Breaker - A very creepy but interesting book about Haiti during the major political unrest during the dictatorship of the 80's. The term "dew breaker" describes the militia who would come during the early morning hours (ie, breaking the dew) and capture people in their homes. The story centers aroung a torturer in the prison system who leaves Haiti and tries to make a new life in New York. Flashbacks of others in Haiti with whom he had contact gives lots of different perspectives of this period of Haitian life.
The Gravedigger - An interesting and mystical story about a gravedigger in the Andalusian mountians of Spain. According to legend, the gravedigger has the ability to talk to ghosts of the dead immediately following their death. He then must go to the village and tell their story during the wake for the deceased. This book is about one of those gravediggers. Very interesting and gives a good feeling for the folklore of that area.
Points: 520
Books: 49
Pages: 13,644
Tasks: 37
In Proc: 4