The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

I've saved up a bunch to post...

5.8 Made to Stick Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die - by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

15.3 Columbine which is a 9 letter title for the subtraction task and The Fire by Katherine Neville which is a 16 letter author for the addition task. The Fire A Novel

25.8 Person: The James Joyce Murder
Place: Mississippi Trial, 1955
Thing: The Hunger Games

So I'm reporting a total of 45 new points :)

5 Points
5. Req. Read for School: Watership Down by Richard Adams

LOVE! Had to read it for middle school social studies and it was my favorite book then and it's still a great book. I understood most of it then, but I think I get a bit more out of it now.

15 Points
6. Artist or Play: King Lear by William Shakespeare

Read this last challenge, but I got my hands on a copy of the 2007 Royal Shakespeare Company version with Ian McKlellan as King Lear. So I watched that and re-read the play. The production was SO good. Ian McKlellan is made of win.

25 Points
8. Person/Place/Thing: The Adventures & Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle AND Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen AND The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel.

Sherlock Holmes was really, really good; I've read Hound of the Baskervilles but the short stories are much more interesting because they're very concise. Northanger Abbey is one of the often neglected Austen novels but in fact was very good. And Clan of the Cave Bear I read at the start of the challenge but I remember it being mostly entertaining, but a bit slow.

Total Points: 505

It's amazing just how much reading you can get done when you get snowed in at an airport for a while and your flight gets cancelled, then delayed, delayed delayed.

5 points
5.8. Let's Find Out If Two Heads Really Better Than One - Read A Book That Has More Than One Author.
The Piano Teacher The True Story of a Psychotic Killer by Robert K. Tanenbaum and Peter S. Greenberg (his name is listed on the cover even though GR doesn't list him). Some pretty disturbing stuff, but couldn't put it down either.

10 points
10.1. This Year Labor Day Falls On September 7th - Rock And Roll Pioneer Buddy Holly Was Born On That Day In 1936 - Read A Book First Published During His Lifetime (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959).
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming -- published first in 1953. Wow, what a different book from the movie. I certainly enjoyed both in their own ways. The one thing I felt was annoying was all the use of French terms. After awhile, using context clues helped with that. I also learned a little more baccarat.

and finally

10 points
10.2. 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).
Courage of Fear by Barbara Boyer -- a wife's husband's secret gambling addiction. Enjoyable book though got a little confused at the start with the flashbacks and getting characters straight. I really liked the ending and found it unexpected but a very nice way to conclude the events.

Tasks Completed: 45/45
Points Earned: 690/690
Total Books: 61
Total Pages Read: 13,772
Total Hours listened: 66 (approx.)

Now I can go collapse and get some much needed sleep before my weekend getaway/anniversary with my hubby in Hotsprings (I'm going to sneak a book with me though :) )

Congrats on finishing the challenge, Kari!!!

5.10 The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

total points: 50

Finished two tasks yesterday.

The first was 20.3 Group Read Shutter Island. I did not like the ending of this book. I was good with it until the twist at the end.

The second was Diane's task Self Help. I read Biggest Loser 30- Day Jump Start. I really need to get organized and try to lose some weight. So that is why I read this. There are some good tips and recipes in the book.
The second book for this task was Cooking For Harry A Low-Carbohydrate Novel. This book is about a couple who have been married for almost 25 years. He is a gourmet and enjoys watching cooking shows and creating fabulous meals. But they are not low calorie meals. His weight balloons and he finally realizes he must do something about it. He joins a study at the hospital where they put him on the Atkins Diet. It was a quick little read but in the end he does lose the weight with a few bumps along the way.

This will bring my total to 380.

@Kari



You did it! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your anniversary.

Congratulations Kari!

Well here is my last report! Finished last night.

10.5 Three Bags Full-Leonie Swann

Total Points 690/690
Total Books 62/62
Total Tasks Completed 45/45
Total Pages 20515

Congrats Kari and Rachel Lee!! Very awesome!

I finished up a couple of tasks:

5.6 Terrifying Titles - Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich.

10.10 This Task Is The Cat's Meow - Read A Book That... : I read Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Coraline. There is a cat on the cover.

25.3 Wendy's Task: I read My Most Excellent Year A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger. I have to say that I really loved this book and that I would recommend it to everyone.

Total Points: 160
Tasks Completed: 12
Total Books: 19
Total Pages Read: 6650

Congratulations, Kari and Rachel Lee! That's fantastic!

Kari ♪ wrote: "It's amazing just how much reading you can get done when you get snowed in at an airport for a while and your flight gets cancelled, then delayed, delayed delayed.

5 points
5.8. Let's Find Out..."

Congrats on finishing the challenge--and Happy Anniversary.

Rachel Lee wrote: "Congratulations Kari!

Well here is my last report! Finished last night.

10.5 Three Bags Full-Leonie Swann

Total Points 690/690
Total Books 62/62
Total Task..."

Good for you, Rachel Lee.

@Rachel Lee



I'm impressed with all you early finishers!

Congrats Rachel Lee and Kari and happy anniversary!!

wow, congrats Kari and Rachel Lee! i'm impressed with everyone who has finished already! yay!

Kudos to Kari and Rachel Lee!

For 15.7 (P.E.), I read The Natural by B. Malamud about the rise and fall of ol' Roy Hobbs (and his sidekick Wonderboy). Somehow I didn't expect this book to be so depressing! I did like it, though.

I also watched game one of the World Series. Go Phillies!

Total Points: 355

Recently Finished Tasks:
5.1 (Children) The Child in Time - Ian McEwan
10.6 (Native American) Coyote Blue - Christopher Moore
10.10 (Cat) The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga


Total Points - 410

Kari ♪ wrote: "It's amazing just how much reading you can get done when you get snowed in at an airport for a while and your flight gets cancelled, then delayed, delayed delayed.

5 points
5.8. Let's Find Out..."

Congrats! Kari and Rachel Lee. I knew you could do it.
Happy Anniversary Kari.

I have completed task 25.5 by reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Point Total: 310
Page Total: 6426

Great job all of you October finishers. Am shooting for mid-Nov.

Finished: 25.2 Related authors: Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark - mother and daughter.

A Stranger is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark (mother)
A early book by one of the most prolific mystery writers in current times. All of her books have riveting plots, good characters and are fast reads. I was interested in how her early work compared with her newer books - this was not disappointing. Super read-to-the-last-page mystery.

Popped by Carol Higgins Clark (daughter)
Definitely a cozy mystery. Different from her mother's work. Carol uses a single main character and has a series of mysteries about this character. All of the mysteries are light-hearted and fun. All the titles are single word zipping kind of names. Very popular cozies. This was good - not spell-binding but a cup of tea and a warm afghan afternoon read.

A dynamic writing combo - they collaborate at Christmas to write a co-authored book.

Points: 585
Books: 55
Pages: 15,023
Tasks: 41
In Proc: 3

I have completed 10.1 Buddy Holly's Lifetime with Peony first published in 1948. My total is now 130 points.

Kristen wrote: "I finished up a couple of tasks:

5.6 Terrifying Titles - Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich.

10.10 This Task Is The Cat's Meow - Read A Book That... : I read [book:Coraline|17061..."


Kristen, I loved the Kluger book, too. I felt like all YA books should capture that spirit. I will read Kluger again - do you think that you will?

Congrats all of the recent finishers - well done!!

Finally, i have some time to punch in the books I've finished:

15.3 Math
Division- Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Addition- The Last Olympian by Rick Riordian

15.8 Geography
Monaco-Anything Considered by Peter Mehle
Hungary-The bridge at Andau by James Michener

15.10 Teacher/Student
Teacher-The Wave by Todd Strasser
Student-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Joanne rowling

Points:325
Tasks:22
Books:29
Pages:9351

10.4 Skull DuggeryTakes place in Mexico

NEW TOTAL 620

I can finally report another multi-point challenges! These always seem the most rewarding to report :)

Task 20.3 - ABC's
First off, this is such a good task for the challenge. It turns into a catch-all for all those books you want to read but don't know where to fit in anywhere else.

I actually went with the "ABC" idea and read The Awakening, Blood Engines, and Columbine.

I didn't think any of the 3 were great, but it got rid of a book I wanted to read (Columbine) and two freebies I picked up in e-book form (The Awakening and Blood Engines).

That should bring my total to 180 points

Finished task 15.9
Read Home by Marylinne Robinson

HOmework assignment:
1. Describe in one page for each what "home" means for the main characters (Boughton, Jack and Glory)
2. Why do you think Jack leaves before his father's death? What do you think of this decision?
3. What impact did his father's behaviour (distrust and forgiveness) have on Jack?

25.2. DONNA JO'S TASK - Find Two Authors Who Are Related By Blood Or Marriage And Read A Book By Each.

The Stand by Stephen King (father)
20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill (son)

Total points 210
Tasks complete 12

Sera wrote: "Kristen wrote: "I finished up a couple of tasks:

5.6 Terrifying Titles - Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich.

10.10 This Task Is The Cat's Meow - Read A Book That... : I read [boo..."

Sera I will totally read another Kluger book. I was already looking up his other books to add to my TBR shelf.

15.2 alternative history The Eyre Affair I have had conversatiions about the ability to change history. I never think that is a good idea, regardless of history being good or bad it is the foundation on which the future is built.

With that said the ability to interact with characters from books and be in a book, I think is awesome, super KEWL outstanding amazing etc, there are many times i want to be in a book sometimes to point out the killer, other times to tell the characters how stupid they are, and sometimes just to be part of the story

new total 635

55 to go

Teresa in Ohio wrote: "...there are many times i want to be in a book..."

Every time I imagine myself interacting with characters in a book, my actions would shorten the book considerably. I'm good at figuring out how to cut to the chase.

<|;^D

25.9. DIANE'S TASK - September Is Self-Improvement Month.
•Read A Nonfiction Self-Improvement Or Self-Help Book.
Stop Whining, Start Living: Turning Hurt Into Happiness by Laura C. Schlessinger-10/30 (198 pgs)
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).
Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb-10/28 (383 pgs)

New Total: 295 Points

Congrats to all who have finished so far...awesome job:)

I completed task 15.1, the preposition task, and I chose the preposition "of". I read The Year of the Flood and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.

My total is now 225.

finished a couple more!

25. 10. SAM'S TASK - Halloween Part III: Monsterfest - Read A Book With One Of The Following In The Title: Devil, Witch, Vampire, Zombie, Or Werewolf. Variations Of The Words Are Fine (E.G., The Witching Hour Or The Witches Are Okay), But They Must Appear In The Title (E.G., Queen Of The Damned Or Dead Until Dark Are Not Okay). Secret Vampire (Night World #1) L.J. Smith 10-30-09 237 Pages

5. 1. Our Children Are Our Future (Reads) - Funnily The First Letters Of The Fall Months Spell Out The Word Son (September, October, November) - So Read A Book That Has The Word Son(s), Daughter(s) (Because They're Just As Important), Kid(s), Child, or Children In The Title. Daughters of Darkenss (Night World #2) L.J. Smith 10-30-09 238 Pages

Current Pages Read: 7785
Books Read: 22
Challenges Completed: 16
Total Points: 255

I just finished another task 15.8 the Geography Lessons task. My initials are CS so I chose China and Scotland. I read the Scotland book first by reading Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux I really enjoy her historical romances - nice easy fun fluff reading. Today I finished reading The Binding Chair or, A Visit from the Foot Emancipation Society by Kathryn Harrison for my China book - this on the other hand was a very strange book. It flipped back and forth in time and was a bit weird really - elements of the story were interesting but overall I didn't enjoy it but another task is done.

27 TASKS COMPLETE - 1 PARTIALLY DONE
43 BOOK READ
14,941 PAGES READ


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Cynthia wrote: "I just finished another task 15.8 the Geography Lessons task. My initials are CS so I chose China and Scotland. I read the Scotland book first by reading Highland Velvet by [author:..."

Cynthia, if/when you finish the challenge, will you pick a high point challenges? Just curious!

For 15 points I have read Home by Marilynne Robinson. My homework task for this is: Jack and Glory have both 'come home' for different reasons. In the book they reminisce what home was for them as children. What was your childhood home like and what does the term to 'go home' mean for you?

For another 15 points I have also read The Piano Teacher by Y.K.Lee and Testimony by Anita Shreve which is about a scandal in a school so has students in it with one in particular as a main character.

Previous reads

5.2 Apple a day - Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller
5.4 Adoption - Digging to America by Anne Tyler

10.1 Buddy Holly's lifetime - Scoop by Evelyn Waugh
10.4 Hispanic Heritage Month - The Forest of Pygmies by Isabel Allende Allende is chilean.
10.5 Oktober fest - The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman this book is set in Germany.
10.7 Faster than a Speeding Bullet - A Song Flung up to Heaven by Maya Angelou
10.10 The Cat's Meow - Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Marukami

15.3 Addition - Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday (Alice Gould) Muliplication - Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer (10x27=270, 276 pages)

20.3 Group Read - Shutter Island by Dennis LeHane

25.4 Film and Book - Mystic River by Dennis LeHane
25.5 Fortune in the title - Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve
25.8 Nouns - person The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, thing Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, place Brick Lane by Monica Ali

30.1 current job and dream job - The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury(I work in a University) and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (I would love to own a bookshop).

50.1 Sense - The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri Emotion - Even the Stars Look Lonesome Tonight by Maya Angelou Memory The Great Divorce by Valerie Martin


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15.1 The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman AND A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle

total: 65 points

Jan (the Gryphon) wrote: "Teresa in Ohio wrote: "...there are many times i want to be in a book..."

Every time I imagine myself interacting with characters in a book, my actions would shorten the book considerably. I'm..."

lol that is another good one, sometimes I sit here reading going come on already didnt you see that clue or why do we need all this info

5.2 Twilight
5.8 Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List (Rachel Cohn & David Levithan)
5.7 That Summer
5.9 Gingerbread
10.8 Away Laughing on a Fast Camel Even More Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
10.10 Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers
15.3 Boy Meets Boy and Startled by His Furry Shorts
20.2 Fever 1792; A Great and Terrible Beauty; Honey, Baby Sweetheart
25.7 Shrimp; Rebel Angels; Someone Like You
25.8 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist


total points = 125

One thing's for sure, I am getting plenty of ideas from you all for more books to read!

15.3 Math

Previously I read The Riddle of the Third Mile by Colin Dexter for the subtraction portion of the task (23 letters). I like the Inspector Morse books, even though I dislike the Inspector Morse character... I much prefer the long-suffering Sgt Lewis, even more so now that he has his own series on PBS's Mystery.

Last night I finished Sign of the Cross by Chris Kuzneski for the Addition task (13 letters) which was quite possibly the worst book I've ever read. It was so awful, I can't decide whether I should refuse to claim credit for it, or I deserve double points for actually finishing it. Yuck, yuck, yuck... but I finished it, bringing my total to 140.

25.4. CANDACE'S TASK - Read A Book That Has Been Written Within The Last 10 Years And Made Into A Movie Within The Last 5. Read The Book And Watch The Movie Both, Then Post A Little Review Of The Two And Tell Us Which One You Liked Better And Why.

I read Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan (2006) and then watched Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist the movie(2008). I liked the book. You really got to know the main characters Nick and Norah. I enjoyed reading their thoughts. It brought me back to my teenage years and my love affair with music. I think most teenagers and people who were teenagers will relate to this story. The language really wasn't as harsh as others have said it is, it's no worse then the language that my friends and I used years ago. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a fast, humorous, and sweet read.

As for the movie. It was good. I don't feel like you really got to know the characters very well. There were some differences in movie where I think they should have matched to the book instead of creating something different. I did like the acting though and it was a fun movie to watch, if I hadn't read the book first. So obviously I prefer the book to the movie. The character development in the book was much stronger.

25 points

Total Points: 215
Tasks Completed: 13
Tasks in Process: 4 (15.6; 15.10; 20.2; 25.9)
Total Books: 22
Total Pages: 7,309

I completed Task 10.9 by reading The Red Badge of Courage, which gets a bit "neh" from me. The writing is nice but the story is boring. In some ways, this author's writing reminds me of Hemingway.

Total points: 315

Newly Completed Tasks:

20.1 – Julie’s Task, Christian Fiction: The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis

I listened to a very entertaining audio book version of this book published by Focus On The Family. It was like listening to a radio show. I can’t believe I’ve only read one of CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia books before now. This is the first book in the series even though it was written after 5 of the books had been published. Now I understand how the wardrobe (featured in ‘The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe’) got its magical properties.

As an adult I do see the allegorical elements that makes this Christian fiction.

I’d also like to add my ‘Congratulations’ wishes to Kari and Rachel Lee. Way to go!! Also, ‘Happy Anniversary’ Kari.

Hey, has anyone else been having trouble when trying to change shelves for their books on their Goodreads shelves lately? I’m getting this funny drop-down list now and can’t check the boxes next to the shelves I want to select. I just tried changing this book from ‘Currently Reading’ to ‘Read’ and couldn’t get the shelf selections to change. Any suggestions? The drop-down list checkboxes look different than they normally do, and I can’t put a checkmark in the boxes. I’ve tried opening the shelf list from many different spots on the pages, but nothing seems to bring me to the standard shelf list I’m used to. Help!!

Total Points: 260
Completed Tasks: 16/45
Books Read for Completed Tasks: 22/62
Pages Read for Completed Tasks: 7,843
Other Tasks in Process: 5

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15-8 is done with 'Bulgaria' by Frank Fox and 'Because They Hate' by Brigette Gabriel.

My initials are LB, 'Because They Hate' takes place mostly in Lebanon and 'Bulgaria' is a history that country.

380 points

Finished 10.4:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

TOTALS:
Points: 330
Books: 43
Pages: 11,983
Tasks: 25

10 Point Challenge: 8. You'll Find It In The Dictionary - Noah Webster Was Born October 16, 1758 - In Honor Of Him Visit The Random Word Generator Website And Then Read A Book Whose Title Contains The 9th, 10th, or 11th Word You Come To.
“Who” – The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon- Stephen King completed 10/31/09

Finished task 15.6: Watched "Love's Labour's Lost" at the Globe Theatre in London on 1 October, and finished reading the tale by William Shakespeare today. The stage production was awesome, and it made the reading of the play much easier. I really enjoyed completing this challenge.
Congratulations to those who have finished!
TOTAL POINTS = 45

Congratulations, Kari & Rachel Lee

You helped me move up on the list of not-yet-finishers!

I've been reading, honest I have! It's just that most of my books have been part of multi-book tasks, so when I post, I should zoom up!