The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
FALL CHALLENGE 2009
>
FALL CHALLENGE 2009 COMPLETED TASKS
Two more:
5.5 Reread from school days - I read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I first read this book in the tenth grade and I remember that it made a huge impact on me. I was so angry at the end of the book that I actually threw it against a wall. I have to say that the second time around reading this, I was still angry and upset at what happens to Okonkwo at the end, but I think the fact that I am a lot more jaded lessened the sting. I'm older now, and I've studied and I know that there was and still is a lot of injustice in the world and that a lot of cultures and countries have been basically raped by bigger industrialized nations that were just out to strip those lands of their resources (both natural resources and using people for cheap labor), with no regard to culture or history.
I guess when I was sixteen, it was a new idea that was brought into my world view, so I reacted a lot more passionately towards that.
15.2 Alternative History challenge - I read Man in the Dark A Novel by Paul Auster. In this novel, it is a parallel between an author who is living in current modern times and a character (who lives inside the authors head? or does he?) who finds him self in a world where the September 11 terrorist attacks never happened, and civil war has broken out because of Dubya (you know, that whole shady 2000 elections scandal that just got swept under the rug.) It was interesting. I enjoyed it, but I think going into alternative history with more detail would have been better. I would love for that angle to have been explored more.
Previous score: 415
Current: 435
5.5 Reread from school days - I read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I first read this book in the tenth grade and I remember that it made a huge impact on me. I was so angry at the end of the book that I actually threw it against a wall. I have to say that the second time around reading this, I was still angry and upset at what happens to Okonkwo at the end, but I think the fact that I am a lot more jaded lessened the sting. I'm older now, and I've studied and I know that there was and still is a lot of injustice in the world and that a lot of cultures and countries have been basically raped by bigger industrialized nations that were just out to strip those lands of their resources (both natural resources and using people for cheap labor), with no regard to culture or history.
I guess when I was sixteen, it was a new idea that was brought into my world view, so I reacted a lot more passionately towards that.
15.2 Alternative History challenge - I read Man in the Dark A Novel by Paul Auster. In this novel, it is a parallel between an author who is living in current modern times and a character (who lives inside the authors head? or does he?) who finds him self in a world where the September 11 terrorist attacks never happened, and civil war has broken out because of Dubya (you know, that whole shady 2000 elections scandal that just got swept under the rug.) It was interesting. I enjoyed it, but I think going into alternative history with more detail would have been better. I would love for that angle to have been explored more.
Previous score: 415
Current: 435
I have completed 5.3 Sea Travel with In the Heart of the Sea The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. Great book. That gives me a total of 160 points.
Sara wrote: "Two more:5.5 Reread from school days - I read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I first read this book in the tenth grade and I remember that it made a huge impact on me. I was so ..."
Wait...you liked TFA when you were in the 10th grade!?!?!?!
I have to resist the urge to throw things every time I hear a student say they don't like TFA. I mean, yeah, the first 273 times I heard it, it was cute...
It is a good book, though. And it holds up over multiple readings (since I read it with my standard students, I'm on my 6th and 7th readthroughs in the past three years).
25.2 Donna Jo's Task: Part I (Sisters)Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
Donna Jo's Task: Part II (Sisters)
Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Total Points: 345
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?ke...
Finished 25-6 with 'An Unfinished Life' by Robert Ballek, about John F. Kennedy.Ugh, slow and boring! I had to force myself to read everyday and it took forever!
405 points
I finished 25.9 with Painfully Shy How to Overcome Social Anxiety and Reclaim Your Life and Crazy For You. Crazy for You was an impulse read, but one that I found to be a lot of fun, and since the premise is that the main character decides she hates her life and then sets out to change it, it fit perfectly into this task. Total points: 125
10 tasks complete - 9 tasks in progress
17 books read
5,070 pages read
50 Point Mid-Way Task (PJREADS Task)Senses:
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
Mia, the main character, has synesthesia. When she hears and sees letters, numbers, words and sounds she sees colors. These colors are a part of her and help her cope with various events in her life. I like how when she hears music or eats certain foods she also sees colors.
Emotions:
Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz
The main character, Christopher Snow has a condition called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP). This condition prevents him from going outside during the day without protecting his skin and eyes. He is afraid of the light, of going blind and of developing neurological problems associated with XP. However, he does not let this fear controls him and finds the positive in his everyday life.
Memories:
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
My keepsake is a little teddy bear my husband gave me while I was pregnant with my first child. He gave it to me to help me deal with my fears, doubts and general anxiety I felt about becoming a mother. In the book, Claudia has fears and doubts also about having children and they are so strong that she is adamant about not wanted children and almost loses the love of her life because of them.
Total points: 610
25 point task7. CINDY'S TASK - One, Two, Three - Read Three Books...
• One With A One Word Title
• The Second With A Two Word Title
• And The Third With A Three Word Title.
Columbine by Dave Cullen
l8r, g8r by Lauren Myracle
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Current Point Total: 105
Jessica (MI)
Sam wrote: "Sara wrote: "Two more:
5.5 Reread from school days - I read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I first read this book in the tenth grade and I remember that it made a huge impact on ..."
LOL, the school I went to was a public school, but I was part of a magnet program, specifically International Baccalaureate. We were a huge bunch of nerds that loved studying and learning, reading and challenging our teachers (who were excellent). It was a great experience. I definitely remember that book really struck a nerve in my class that year.
Okonkwo, who is flawed in many ways, is also such a compelling character. I don't know how anyone could not grow to love him and not feel outraged at his treatment at the end of the book (specifically when he becomes a mere paragraph in some book about bringing civilization to Africa). It's just so infuriating especially when you consider the richness of the culture of the people that existed before the white men came in.
5.5 Reread from school days - I read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I first read this book in the tenth grade and I remember that it made a huge impact on ..."
LOL, the school I went to was a public school, but I was part of a magnet program, specifically International Baccalaureate. We were a huge bunch of nerds that loved studying and learning, reading and challenging our teachers (who were excellent). It was a great experience. I definitely remember that book really struck a nerve in my class that year.
Okonkwo, who is flawed in many ways, is also such a compelling character. I don't know how anyone could not grow to love him and not feel outraged at his treatment at the end of the book (specifically when he becomes a mere paragraph in some book about bringing civilization to Africa). It's just so infuriating especially when you consider the richness of the culture of the people that existed before the white men came in.
Yesterday was a holiday in Japan, so plenty of reading time!15 Points
1. Share Prepositions: Japan The Story of A Nation by Edwin Reischeur AND People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (preposition: of)
Japan: Story of a Nation is the best general history of Japan I've read so far. While it still focuses too much on the 20th century, especially post-WWII (WHY do all Japan books do this? It is NOT the most interesting part of Japanese history!) it gives a very good account of pre-20th century Japan and is well-written and readable. I'm still searching for the GREAT Japan history book, though. The one filled with all the fun anecdotes that make history so exciting and not just a rendition of facts and dates.
People of the Book was a bit disappointing, considering how much I LOVED Year of Wonders. Mostly it was due to me thinking this would be a fun, better-written Da Vinci type book based on the description.
4. Science Book: The Man Who Found Time James Hutton and the Discovery of Earth's Antiquity by Jack Repchek.
Not that interested in geology, so that bit was boring but Hutton deserves to be remembered and I find the Scottish Enlightenment fascinating. I re-watched the Fifth Element for the sci-fi movie portion (a personal fave).
25 Points
5. Prophecy: The Alchemyst by Michael Scott.
Decent YA lit; skews a bit young. Propechy involves the typical fantasy saving-the-world bit.
7. One/Two/Three Word Titles: Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostove AND After the Quake by Haruki Murakami.
Dracula: wicked awesome and much better than I thought it'd be. No wonder it's so popular! The Historian: disappointing! anti-climactic, 200 pages too long, and many, many other things wrong with it. Good idea, poor execution. After the Quake: Murakami's short stories aren't as good as his novels.
Total Points: 650
Leora wrote: "Finished 25-6 with 'An Unfinished Life' by Robert Ballek, about John F. Kennedy.Ugh, slow and boring! I had to force myself to read everyday and it took forever!
405 points"You need to "Post A Short Review About The Major Accomplishment(S)
Of That Leader AND The Biggest Scandal During That Administration (Unfortunately, There’s Always At Least One Scandal For A Leader To Deal With). Include the # of Pages Read" to get credit on this task.
Sara wrote: "Two more:
5.5 Reread from school days - I read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I first read this book in the tenth grade and I remember that it made a huge impact on me. I was so ..."In your review you needed to state whether the author's alternative would have been preferably to actual events which you didn't really do in your review - so please post that and then I'll give you credit for that one.
Mandi wrote: "5pt tasks-
9. Once upon a quinceañera : coming of age in the USA / Julia Alvarez.
10 pt. tasks
2. Got the life : my journey of addiction, faith, recovery, and Korn / Fieldy ; with Laura Morton.
..."I'm only coming up with 395 so I'm missing a 15 pointer somewhere. I've got 15.6/7/8/10 as what you have completed. If you could please re-post what task I'm missing so I can fix it. Thanks.
Cheryl wrote: "Cynthia- I believe I am missing 15 points from message 2948. It's somewhat my fault becaue everything got pushed together when I hit post. Sorry that it was so hard to distinguish individual tas..."No I got both that are listed in that post - the problem was I had typed in 15 points for one of the 25 point tasks in my spreadsheet and hadn't changed your score on the board with the 5-pointer you just did - but now I think it's fixed.
Another update, this time 15.4 - I read Nicola Griffith's Ammonite and paired it with a viewing of Planet Earth. Both left me breathless in different ways - Griffith with the quality of her writing, and the series with the amazing photography. And can I say that baby elephants getting lost is about the saddest thing ever?Current Total: 355 points
For 10 points I have just read Something Might Happen by Julie Myerson. It was for the random word generator task. The word I got was might.Previous reads
5.2 Apple a day - Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller
5.4 Adoption - Digging to America by Anne Tyler
5.10 Fall back in time - Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson
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)
15.9 Homework - Home by Marilynne Robinson
15.10 Teacher - The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Less Student - Testimony by Anita Shreve
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
[image error]
One little one completed, task 5.10 Fall Back. For this I read Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. It dragged a little at times but the ending made me wish I had the third one already![image error]
Wow lots of finishers, congrats to all. I'm not sure I'm going to make the goal I set for myself, lots going on right. I do want otclaim 10 more:10.1 Read A Book First Published During His Lifetime (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959). The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien, READ 11/3/2009, 450PP
Total points: 280/690
Tasks completed: 18/45
Books read: 31/59
Total pages: 10874
don't worry, i didn't finish either, actualy i didn't get very far at all. I think i may have 1 more book finished by the end of this challange. can't wait to see the Winter Challenges those, I bet those will be great too! give me a chance to read books I never would've read. Good job though Cindy!!!
Opps, sorry Cynthia-I read 711 pages (without the notes and index etc.)
JFK's biggest accomplishment-in my opinion, was instituting the Peace Corps.
His biggest scandal-politically was the Bay of Pigs disaster, on a personal level I think his womanizing was his biggest scandal-especially when he was yachting while Jackie was losing their child and initially he had no intention of cutting his his vacation short!
Finished two more tasks late last night - 10.6 - November is Native American Heritage Month - New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (audiobook)
50.1 - PJREAD'S TASK - Sense, Emotions and Memories -
Senses - The Story of My Life by Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf after a childhood illness, recounts her life from the age of 7 to approximately 21, when she was a student at Radcliffe. This truly was an inspiring story - how one woman overcame such overwhelming obstacles. She describes her silent and dark world and how books, nature, and her teacher Anne Sullivan opened up a world of possiblities to her. Wonderful book! I especially loved Chapter 21, where she describes her love of books and how they were truly her window into the world.
Emotions - Mr. Knightley's Diary by Amanda Grange is the re-telling of Jane Austen's Emma from Mr. Knightley's point of view. The story explores Knightley's growing love for Emma and his jealousy of Frank Churchill, and how sometimes we don't know what we want even if it's right in front of us.
Memories - Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. My object is an Anne of Green Gables mug on my bookshelf that I use as a book end. I bought the mug a few years ago when I was on vacation in Prince Edward Island, where I had wanted to visit from the first time I read Anne of Green Gables when I was 10 years old. I finally got the chance, after more than 20 years of waiting, and the mug is a constant reminder of the trip. I chose to read Chronicles of Avonlea since I used Anne of Green Gables for another task. Chronicles of Avonlea is a collection of short stories that take place in Avonlea. Anne Shirley makes an appearance in two of the stories and is mention in 3 others, or maybe 4 - I can't remember off hand.
Books To Read = 15
Total Books Read = 47
Tasks Completed = 32
Tasks In Progress = 3
10.9 Rhett Butler's People by DOnald McCaig
I finished Task 25.10 (Sam's Task).I read The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
Linda wrote: "I finished my first task!!! Not gonna make the ten I had set out for myself : ( But, I should make at least two. Maybe I'll do better next time.At any rate....
finished task no 8 for 5 point..."
Good for you for sticking with it. Hope you get a chance to reach you goal by the end of the month. No knowledge is wasted. You may need the info for your busy schedule (escaping from quicksand sounds like it could be applied to some of the meetings I must attend). ;^)
Completed:15.6 - The Rock Orchard (audiobook) & listed to The Killers/Day & Age CD
New Total: 200
I'm finally starting to knock out some of my multi-book tasks - woo hoo!For 20.2 I read:
Granny Dan Been a while since I've read Danielle Steel, but I needed a G! It wasn't bad, but nothing to get excited over.
Have a Little Faith The Story of a Last Request Mitch Albom's newest book was very sweet, and a positive look at religion. I know this is a controversial subject on the boards, but if all people treated religion like the two figures in his book I might be more open to it.
The Invisible Wall A Love Story That Broke Barriers Interestingly this was a memoir written by a 90-year-old man about a time when he was four! Though I had a hard time believing he could remember in detail what happened when he was four, the book was readable if not memorable.
Total points: 210
I'm still just taking some much needed vacation time in the evenings after doing some much needed "catching up" during the daytime. But I wanted to take a moment to congratulate all those who have finished so far, to cheer on those who are close to finishing the challenge and/or their personal goals, and to finally thank you all those who wished me a happy anniversary. It was a wonderful time to be sure and I hardly even read (which is saying a lot for me!) Go, go go....you can do it!
Hi! Finished 20.2 Learn Your ABC's - Read 3 Books That Begin With A,B,C Or Any Three Consecutive Letters In The Alphabet. [B:] Busted Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown by Edmund L. Andrews
[C:] Catastrophe by Daniel Keys
[D:] Dissolution by C. J. Sansom
That makes 230 + 20 = 250
I have 5 books read that I'm not sure which task they will go for - they could go for a multi-book task, or, if the end of November comes before I finish a multi-book task, they could go for various 5 and 10 point tasks.
Down memory lane:
5 Point Tasks
2. Apple: Connolly, Sheila “One Bad Apple”
5. High School Re-read: "MacBeth" by William Shakespeare
8. Multiple Authors: "Marked" by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast (mother and daughter)
10 Point Tasks
1. 9/7/36 to 2/3/59: Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbluth “The Space Merchants”
2. Addiction: "Drinking: A Love Story" by Caroline Knapp
7. Superhero: "Superpowers" by David J. Schwartz
15 Point Tasks
4. Science vs Sci-Fi: (Science) viewed “Mythbusters” 2 hours on Oct. 7, 2009
(Science Fiction) "Steal Across the Sky" by Nancy Kress
6. Music Appreciation Class – book: Beagle, Peter S. "The unicorn sonata"; CD : Beethoven, Ludwig van : Piano sonata in D major, op. 10, no. 3 : Piano sonata in E flat major, op. 7 ; Piano sonata in F minor "Appassionata," op. 57
8. Geography Lessons: D and H
D: Dominica : Allfrey, Phyllis S. “The Orchid House”
H: Hungary: Lipták, Béla G."A testament of revolution"
10. Teacher/Student:
Teacher: "The Land of Laughs" by Jonathan Carroll
Student: "The unlikely disciple : a sinner's semester at America's holiest university" by Kevin Roose
20 Point Tasks
2. ABC's –
[B:] “Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown” by Edmund L. Andrews
[C:] “Catastrophe: An Investigation into the Origins of Modern Civilization” by Daniel Keys
[D:] “Dissolution” by C. J. Sansom
25 Point Tasks
1. Rhyme Time -
Rhyme Word: Pretty / City
Fiction Book: "Pretty Monsters: stories" by Kelly Link
Poetry Book: "Return to the City of White Donkey" poems by James Tate
2. Related Authors: Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman are married
"A Playdate With Death" by Ayelet Waldman
"Werewolves in Their Youth : Stories" by Michael Chabon
3. Gay/Lesbian Character: "Girl most likely to" by Poonam Sharma
7. (1 word) "Genesis" by Bernard Beckett
(two word) "Curly Smoke" by Susan Holtzer
(three word) "Goddess of Light" by P. C. Cast
10. Halloween Part III: Monsterfest : "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Hi Cynthia, I'd like to change one of my books to fit another task.I originally claimed points for task 5.6 (terrifying adjective in title) by reading Definitely Dead. I'd like to change this to task 10.10 (cat picture or title) since there is a picture of a cat on the front of the book.
That should subtract 5 points and add 10, so my new total should be 205 points.
Thank you for all that you do, and sorry about the mix-up!
Finished 50.1:Senses: My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme. All about cooking (and eating)!
Emotion: Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield. This is Sheffield's memoir of his 20s when he fell in love and then lost his young bride. So the emotions would be love and grief.
Keepsake: The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright. My keepsake is that I still have the letters my high-school/long-distance college boyfriend wrote me while we were some 2000 miles apart.
Total points: 285
Finished Quo Vadis for 20.1. I tried reading this over the summer but couldn't get farther than page 50 or so. After forcing myself through the beginning again, I found it wasn't actually that bad. The author's style is typical of overwrought 19th century sensationalism (not my favorite) but the plot is compelling and the characters grow on you after a while. Once the story got going about halfway through the book, it was hard for me to put it down.I also just realized I can claim Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (which I read way back in September) for 25.5
Total: 225
COMPLETED TASKS:
25.10 WITCH, DEVIL, VAMPIRE, ZOMBIE OR WEREWOLF TITLE - *Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil by Nancy Atherton (pp 224) READ 11.4.09
This was an amusing, light-hearted romp through a haunted castle in England.
TASKS COMPLETED: 23
TASKS IN PROGRESS: 7
BOOKS READ: 35/62
PAGES READ: 10,690
TOTAL POINTS EARNED: 355
*Books I Own
Newly Completed Tasks: 5.6 –Terrifying Titles - Read A Novel That Has An Adjective In The Title That Relates To Halloween: All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
This series does just keep getting better and better. I think I’m going to have to save the last two ‘Sookie’ books in the series for the Winter Challenge though. I hope I can work them into some tasks then. (I could have worked them into tasks for this challenge, but other books took precedence. So many books, so little time.)
25.4 - CANDACE'S TASK - Read a book that has been made into a movie: Coraline by Neil Gaman
This is the first Neil Gaman book I’ve read. Well, actually I listened to it in audio book format. Neil Gaman narrated the version of the book I listened to. I enjoyed the book, and will probably read more Gaman in the future even though it’s not my typical book genre. I liked the premise of Coraline saving herself by overcoming her fears and outwitting the beldame.
I liked the book better than the movie because the movie added extra characters that didn’t seem to add to the story, and skimmed over some aspects of the book that I found to be interesting. But having said that – there were some really cool visual effects in the movie, and I’m glad I watched it. It was made here in Portland by Phil Knight’s (one of the Nike founders) new production company, and was much ballyhooed in the Portland area when it premiered. I’m always fascinated by all the painstaking work that goes stop-action films. I’m actually glad I had the book read to me, and saw the movie. They were both enjoyable (if different) experiences.
Total Points: 290
Completed Tasks: 18/45
Books Read for Completed Tasks: 24/62
Pages Read for Completed Tasks: 8,371
Other Tasks in Process: 5
[image error]
Two more tasks completed: Both for 25 pts.
Task 9 - I read The Everything Guide to Fibromyalgia to teach myself more about my recently diagnosed condition. I read Eat, Pray, Love because the author sets off on a one year adventure to discover herself following a difficult divorce.
Task 10 - I read The Devil and Miss Prym: A Novel of Temptation by Paulo Coehlo, author of The Alchemist.
New total:
Task 5.8: A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
1. MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – JULIE KS - I Am Very Faithful In My Christian Beliefs. Read A Christian Fiction Book. The Book Has To Demonstrate The Importance Of Living A Faith Centered Life. Some Good Authors Are Neta Jackson, Karen Kingsbury, And Jeanette OakesThe Poisonwood Bible
Tasks copleted:7
Total points:105
Finished task 15.9 Homework Assignment by reading
Home Land by Sam Lipsyte. I did not enjoy this book at all. It was about a guy who finds out that his high school prinicpal has started a newsletter for alumni to update fellow classmates of their lives. He is basically a loser and tries to send in updates which routinely get dismissed. My homework assignment is to write a short essay discussing what your high school self had planned for your life. Discuss if/why you changed your path in life and if you feel that you made the correct decision.
New total is 435 points.
I finished task 5.7 (thankful for) by reading What I Thought I Knew A Memoir. I am thankful for my daughter. This book was a beautiful memoir from a mother who loves her daughters and openly discusses the hardship of an unknown pregnancy and child with special needs. Total points for this task: 5
Tasks completed: 21/45
Many in progress
Total points for challenge thus far: 290
Was perusing my list and decided to move this book (which I have not claimed points for yet) to task 25.3 Wendy's task Harvey Milk. I listened to
The 19th Wife. The narrator for the present day 19th wife is gay. I really enjoyed this book. It is an interesting look into the history of the Mormans. I learned alot.This will bring my total to 460 points.
Two more tasks completed:15.5 Time to Study Abroad: 2 Books Originally Published in Same Foreign Language: Swedish
Girl with a Dragon Tattoo Oct. 9
and Girl Who Played with Fire Nov. 4 both by Stieg Larsson
All I can say about these books is: wow!! Looking forward to book 3
15.6 Creative Minds: The Arts: Drama: Read a Play & See a Production/Film of it
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
I started reading the play last month and had a really hard time keeping track of what was happening to some of the characters, so I finally decided to watch the movie while I followed the 'script' for a while, and voila! So when I read the play after watching it, all fell into place. Plays were meant to be acted out and watched!
Total Pages = 16,725
Total Points = 615
Well I've finished a few more tasks. This school year has been crazy and I haven't had time to read as much as I normally do (let alone post my finished tasks), but here goes:5 Points
6. Halloween AdjectiveHaunted Ground A Novel by Erin Hart
8. Two Heads Better Than One?
8th Confession By James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (I've often wondered how much of the writing Patterson does with his numerous co-authored books)
10 Points
3. Collection of Children's Stories
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (51 pages)
Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland (64 pages) both books are by Jon Scieszka. I thought they were both hilarious.
15 Points
3. Equation for Good Books
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (the author and I have 11 letters in our name
7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (I was born in 1967. The year divided by my age rounds to 47 so I read the 7th book in a series
4. Science Fact vs. Science Fiction
I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick and watched the documentary "Close Encounters: Proof of Alien Contact
20 Points
2. ABC's
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by PG Wodehouse
Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters
3. Group Read
Shutter Island (I really enjoyed this book)
25 Points
7. One, Two, Three
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
Shoeless Joe by WP Kinsella
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
New Total: 125 Points
Finished another task20.2 Rookie of the Season
Here are my 3 books:
A - Admission - this book was not as interesting as I had hoped that it would be. IMHO, the author focused too much on the admissions' officers personal issues, which made me uncomfortabel that she had a hand in shaping the future of our youth.
B - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress A Novel - this book also disappointed me. I expected more to the the story; but I did appreciate getting some insight into the Chinese Cultural Revolution and rural China in the late 1960s.
C - The Concubine's Daughter A Novel - this book was the best of the bunch. I loved the strong female characters and the descriptive writing, even though the author could be verbose at times.
Total Points: 175 + 20 = 195
Total Books Read: 13
Total Pages Read: 4963
I finished the one, two, three task today (25 pts).one: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning (completed 9/01/09)
two: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (completed 11/04/09)
three: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (completed 9/19/09)
TASKS COMPLETED: 30
TASKS PARTIALLY COMPLETED: 4
BOOKS READ: 40 (+4 kids books)
PAGES READ: 12,509
POINTS EARNED: 400
NUMBER OF BOOKS READ FROM MY 'OWNED AND UNREAD' SHELF: 24
5 points--#4--Mister Monday, by Garth Nix
10 points--
#2--Valiant, by Holly Black
#3--Where the Wild Things Are, Rainbow Fish, the Velveteen Rabbit, and a handful of Disney retellings
15-points--
#5--Like Water for Chocolate, House of the Spirits
#7--Painting the Black
25 points--
#7--Fairest, Grim Tuesday, Meet the Austins
Total = 80!
Completed:Task 25.4 (Candace's book/movie): The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler
Like many others, this is a rare case of me preferring the movie over the book. I absolutely love the movie (which I saw first), but only gave the book two stars. I think my love of the general story was the only thing that kept me from giving it one star. Whoever adapted the screenplay deserves a medal. The book was disjointed, the characters either flat and boring or cliched and irritating, and the love interests/relationships were not compelling. I think I may watch the movie again when I go to bed tonight, just to erase the bad taste that this book left me with.
Total Points: 485/690
Books Read: 45/62
Tasks Completed: 31/45
Pages Read: 14,094
TOTAL POINTS: 110 + 25 + 25 = 160New Tasks:
25.5 Prophecy by Elizabeth Haydon
A re-read of one of my favorite series.
25.10 Daughter of Witches by Patricia C. Wrede
Past Tasks:
5.2 Apple of My Eye by Helene Hanff
5.7 Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg
5.9 The Last Time I Wore A Dress by Daphne Scholinski
10.3 Dolores Meets Her Match (32p) by Barbara Samuels
Dolores On Her Toes (40p) by Barbara Samuels
Duncan and Dolores (20p) by Barbara Samuels
Cosmo Zooms (32p) by Arthur Howard
My Cat Likes Milk (14p) by Nancy Prasad
10.5 The Book Thief Markus Zusak
10.10 Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper
20.1 The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
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
5.3. In 1492 Columbus Sailed The Ocean Blue - In Honor Of Columbus Day (October) - Read A Novel Where The Main Character Travels At Sea Or A Non-Fiction Book About Sea Travel.The Silver Skull by Mark Chadbourn
Total points 220
Tasks complete 14
Task 25.8According To Jane by Marilyn Brant
Brooklyn A Novel by Colm Tóibín
The Brass Bed by Jennifer Stevenson
Cait wrote: "Completed:Task 25.4 (Candace's book/movie): The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler
Like many others, this is a rare case of me preferring the movie over the book. I absolutely..."
Cait,
I felt the same way about this book and I read it before the movie came out.
FINISHED:25.7:
Columbine – Dave Cullen
College Girl - Patricia Weitz
Eat, Love, Pray – Elizabeth Gilbert
TOTAL POINTS = 255
Vicki wrote: "Task 25.8According To Jane by Marilyn Brant
Brooklyn A Novel by Colm Tóibín
The Brass Bed by [author:Jennif..."
For starting more than half-way through the Season, you're doing great. Go read your next book!
;^D
COMPLETED TASKS:
5.8 MULTIPLE AUTHOR - *The Ultimate Teen Book Guide by Daniel Hahn, Susan Reuben, Leonie Flynn (pp 432) READ 10.15.09
A wonderful guide of reader recommendations for teens and adults alike. I liked the layout of the book. Lots of inviting titles, genres and features.
15.8 GEOGRAPHY COUNTRY INITIALS - "L" for Laos - The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (pp 272) READ 11.4.09
15.8 GEOGRAPHY COUNTRY INITIALS - "H" for Hungary - *Embers by Marai Sandor (pp 224) READ 11.5.09
Both books were delightful. I especially liked reading Embers,a book by a Hungarian author set in Hungary, since I was a host mother to a Hungarian exchange student last school year.
TASKS COMPLETED: 25
TASKS IN PROGRESS: 6
BOOKS READ: 38/62
PAGES READ: 11,618
TOTAL POINTS EARNED: 375
*Books I Own
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
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)
More...
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)
More...
15.3 - Addition - (12) - The Book of Lost Things John Donnolly
Subtraction (8) - Day Watch - Sergei Lukayenko
10.4 - Daughter of Fortune A Novel - Isabelle Allende
New total: 400