The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Finished task 20.2 - read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Franny and Zooey, and Green Angel

Total points: 40

I finally finished slogging my way through The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - not my favorite of his that I've read so far. I liked the idea of the story and the basic plot better than the actual writing which seemed to go on and on about the minutia of the world of comics more than was entirely necessary in my opinion. I used this for task 10.7 the hero's task.

30 TASKS COMPLETE - 1 PARTIALLY DONE
46 BOOK READ
16,361 PAGES READ


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I completed tasks 5.4 (adoption) and 5.8 (two heads) by reading Run and Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. I enjoyed Run though I wish some of the characters were more developed (specifically Tip and Teddy). Nick and Nora was thankfully a quick read. It wasn't horrific, but it wasn't great either. I thought it was better than the movie, yet without the movie I doubt I would have made it through.

Total Points: 540

For task 10.6 (Native American), I read The Toughest Indian in the World by Sherman Alexie. I think there is some real artistry here, though my recommendation comes with a warning: not for a reader with delicate sensibilities. My favorite story was "Saint Junior."

For task 10.5 (Oktoberfest), I read Demian by Hermann Hesse. I'm putting this in the Siddhartha category of good writing, but a little heavy handed on the philosophizing for my taste.

Sadly, I did not imbibe any German delicacies while reading. I read so much Hesse for this challenge that I didn't remember this was my Oktoberfest book until, oh, about 5 minutes ago. My next read is about the Kennedys, so I'll pair it with Guinness, instead.

Total Points: 445

just so you know, Katie, ANYTHING can be paired with Guinness! and should be done frequently! :)

kiki wrote: "just so you know, Katie, ANYTHING can be paired with Guinness! and should be done frequently! :)"

amen

Cynthia wrote: "Tara wrote: "50. Minding the World
Senses: Catching Fire
Absolutely stunning book!

Catching Fire is all about senses, whether it is the overloading of beautiful visual stimuli of their clothes for the chariot ride or the feeling of blood raining down on them, the senses were tested throughout the story. The Hunger Games was more about the sense of taste (so I thought that this book would be equally descriptive of the food), but in this book I noticed more descriptions that ignited all the senses. Katniss herself deals with the loss of hearing in her ear after the last Hunger Games. She must deal with losing that sense and relies on her sense of sight as she navigates the arena. Although, all senses are tested as they compete in the Hunger Games, and I hate to give too much away, but I finished the book thinking it may be a blessing to be down a sense or two if I lived in her world and was forced to do The Hunger Games, I doubt I could have handled it.


Emotions:[book:The Geography of Bliss One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World|19..."
This book is all about the emotion "Bliss" or rather "happiness." What makes people happy? As he travels the world looking for the happiest place on earth, he discovers the little things that make each person happier. Is it a belief in something bigger than oneself? In some cases yes. Is it a strong community and family? He finds that this is often the case. In his travels I don't think he concluded that their is one thing that makes people happy, but rather a variety of things and that variety is as diverse as the world we live in.

COMPLETED TASKS:

20.1 CHRISTIAN FICTION - *Zipporah, Wife of Moses A Novel by Marek Halter (pp 288) READ 11.15.09

I enjoyed Zipporah as much as Halter's previous book in the Canaan trilogy, Sarah. I've had this sitting on my shelves for years and am so glad this task motivated me to dust off the cover. Harek does a remarkable job of giving life to Mose's wife. Everyone knows the story of Moses, but the story of this strong woman is just as amazing.





TASKS COMPLETED: 30
TASKS IN PROGRESS: 4
BOOKS READ: 45/62
PAGES READ: 13,582
TOTAL POINTS EARNED: 500
*Books I Own

5.9 Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

155 points

Jamie wrote: "I just finished 20.2(ABC task) by reading Fall On Your Knees, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The History of Love."

What a great trio of books!

Recently completed tasks:

15.10: Reading Lolita in Tehran – Azar Nafisi 10/09 (teacher) AND The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane – Katherine Howe 11/02 (student)
10.7: Watchmen – Alan Moore 11/09
10.1: The Member of the Wedding – Carson McCullers 11/13 (published 1946)
5.5: Charlotte's Web – E.B. White 11/14 (I have such vivid memories of reading this book in first grade with a group of advanced readers and then having to do a presentation of the book for the rest of the class. Still one of my faves!)
5.7: Knit the Season – Kate Jacobs 11/15 (This book reminded me how thankful I am for my family, especially around the holiday season when we all get together. I am also thankful that I have friends who I can rely on and are there for me when I need them.)
25.7: Frenemies – Megan Crane 11/16 AND Mind Scrambler – Chris Grabenstein 10/08 AND The Finishing Touches – Hester Brown 09/24

New Points: 70
Previous Points: 220
Total Points: 290
21 Tasks Completed: (5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.9, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.7, 10.10, 15.3, 15.6, 15.7, 15.10, 20.2, 25.1, 25.2, 25.7, 25.10, 30.1)


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10.4 The Ruins by Scott Smith (takes place in Mexico)

Total points: 645

Finished 50.1 with the following books today:
Sense:A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
Emotion:Same of the Cities by Lincoln Steffans
Memory:Ender;s Game by Orson Scott Card

Old Points:350
New Points:50
Total Points:400

Tasks Completed:24
Tasks In Progress:1
Books Read:36
Pages Read:11,239

Completed:
20.1 - Read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I had been looking forward to reading this one & was greatly disappointed, very boring.
Total Points - 295

9. Coming Of Age Or All Grown Up (And Then Some) – Explore Stories Told From The Perspective Of A Character From One Of Two Opposite Ends Of The Age Spectrum By
• Reading A Coming Of Age Novel.
OR
• A Novel Where The Main Character Is A Senior Citizen.
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison-11/16 (309 pgs)

New Total: 460

Matthew wrote: "Finished 50.1 with the following books today:
Sense:A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
Emotion:Same of the Cities by Lincoln Steffans
Memory:Ender;s Game by Orson Scott Card

Old Points:350
N..."You need to post a sentence or two about what the first two books said about the sense/emotion in question and for the 3rd you need to post a keepsake and what the memory is before I can credit you.

I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning finishing my 3rd book for the alphabet task. For this I read...The Rocky Road to Romance (cute easy romance), The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë(great historical fiction about the life of the author of one of my favorite books - so incredibly sad at the end), and finally Twenties Girl A Novel (I finished this this morning - another great and fun book from Sophie Kinsella).

31 TASKS COMPLETE
47 BOOK READ
16,796 PAGES READ


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Whoops forgot to post my page numbers for my poetry book.

Two more tasks completed:

15.1 Homophones - The Earth, My BUTT and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler & Anyone BUT You by Lara Zeises.

25.1 Rhyming - I read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (which is 400 pages) & Loose Woman Poems by Sandra Cisneros(which is 114 pages).

Thanks.

Previous Score: 445
Current Score: 485

Jennifer wrote: "
Hello!

I have completed the following tasks:

A) Task 5.5 ~ School Days ....

I am running out of steam! LOL!! This is my first challenge. Naively, I had hoped to finish, and be able to write a task for the next challenge. Maybe Rookie of the year is still possible?? (She asks, knowing it's not likely. LOL!!) I was so happy when I cracked 500 points and I am very satisfied with what I was able to accomplish, especially since I am not long home after a two week hospitalization. I strongly sense I may be moving on to start researching my choices for the next challenge (but I am not totally dismissing any further fall challenge reading at this point). I think a little time to re-group might be good. I am VERY keen for the winter challenge!
..."

Hi Jennifer: 540 is a very imporessive point total as it is, especially for a first challenge. Welcome to the group, and congratulaitons! I hope you're feeling better now after your hospitalization. Watch out, these challenges become very addictive!

I'm hoping to break 450 for this challenge, but even that is in jeopardy at the moment. Now I'm spending too much time researching tasks for the WInter Challenge instead of reading. :-)

30.1 ROSEANN'S TASK - Your Job/Dream Job Challenge - First Read A Book That Is Somehow Related To Your Current Profession (Students Count) AND Then Read A Book That Is Related To Either Your Current Or Childhood Dream Job. The Books Can Either Have A Character Or Setting That Relates To That Job.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki (finance) & Slickrock by Laura Crum (veterinarian)

20.1 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.

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

TOTAL = 130

I completed a couple tasks over the weekend. My parents came to visit and we had a great weekend at a resort in SA. Lots of sun and nice weather :) Plus some shopping!

I read Frankenstein for task 5.7 (something you are thankful for). I'm thankful for my wonderful family, and never feeling such loneliness that I needed to create some sort of freaky monster to keep me company.

I also read Skinny for task 20.1 (Christian-centered life). I really thought this book was lame, but didn't expect to enjoy this task anyway.

This should bring me up to 285 points

Finished 10.5:

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Mirjam Pressler

TOTALS:
Points: 520
Books: 60
Pages: 15,293
Tasks: 38

The hardest thing is knowing that I have just six books to read and one movie to watch -- so I know that I have a chance of making it! -- but that also means I am ignoring my book list for the Winter Challenge. Oh, how I want to play with that!!! :)

Abigail, we're rooting for you to finish. You can do it!!!!

Cheers for everyone who's close to finishing!!! We're cheering for you! You're in the last stretch!!! You can do it!!!

Cynthia - Can I swap Midnight Sun in for the Senses part of 50.1? This book was HIGHLY focused on smell. Edward is tormented by how delicious Bella smells and it is a major theme of the book.

Will be moving King Lear into the nouns task and will post that once i finish the last book in the task.

Thanks!

Ok, I'm behind on posting my completed tasks. I need to suck it up and do it now before I lose track! I've recently finished:

Task 10.8 (my random words were river, catalogue, and go): Last Night in Twisted River A Novel - John Irving *****5 stars and on my favorites list (11/9) He's already working on his next novel!

Task 25.6: No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt The Home Front in World War II - Doris Kearns Goodwin ****4 stars (11/12)
I actually started this book in September but didn't really dive into it until this month. I decided to read about FDR at my husband's urging, and I'm glad I did. The WWII era is fast becoming one of my favorite eras to read about.
Accomplishments: The New Deal, leading our country through the depression and WWII
Scandals: His extra-marital affairs (and Eleanor's "relationship" with Lorena Hickok? Holy cow!), Japanese internment camps, and his inaction regarding the Jews in concentration camps

Task 5.9 (old or young): A House to Let - Charles Dickens ***3 stars (11/13)
I had never heard of this book before, and found the premise interesting: an elderly woman obsessed with finding out the history about the ramshackle house across the street and why it is never rented out (or "let"). I thought it was so cool that the story is actually written by multiple authors; Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Adelaide Anne Procter. My favorite was Gaskell's contribution, The Manchester Marriage. I need to read more of her work.

Task 5.2 (apple): The Cider House Rules - John Irving ****5 star and on my favorites (11/15)
Amazing book. I want to have John Irving's orphans.

Task 10.7 (superhero): The Gates - John Connolly ****4 stars (11/13)
This was an amusing book about a boy trying to save the world from being overtaken by the demons from hell. Loved the footnotes.

Total Points: 540/690
Books Read: 51/62
Tasks Completed: 36/45
Pages Read: 16,560

One more task!

10.1 - Julie KS's Christian Fiction
I read Deeper Water A Tides of Truth Novel. A second-year law student who was raised with a very conservative Christian faith takes an intern position at an established law firm and finds evidence of wrong doing. It was enjoyable and made me think about the different ways people live out their faith.

This brings my point total to 155. (Almost to my personal goal of 175!)

Finally finished another task

I finished task 25.9. I read The Bear Essentials Everything Today's Hard-Pressed Parent Needs to Know About Bringing Up Happy, Healthy Kids and Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia. I enjoyed both of them. The parenting book was an interesting touch to parenting. I really enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love and can't believe I have avoided it for so long! It has been on my TBR shelf for way too long!

Total points for this task: 25
Tasks completed: 23/45

Total points for challenge thus far: 330




Books read: 34
Pages read: 9,957

Cait wrote: "Task 5.9 (old or young): A House to Let - Charles Dickens ***3 stars (11/13)
I had never heard of this book before, and found the premise interesting: an elderly woman obsessed with finding out the history about the ramshackle house across the street and why it is never rented out (or "let"). I thought it was so cool that the story is actually written by multiple authors; Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Adelaide Anne Procter. My favorite was Gaskell's contribution, The Manchester Marriage. I need to read more of her work.
..."

Cait, this sounds like an interesting book. I've never heard of it either and have just checked my library to find that they don't have it listed. It's now on my TBR list and I'll be hunting it down in second-hand bookstores. Thanks!!

FINISHED:

15.5 - Translated from Swedish
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larson
The Girl Who Played with Fire - Steig Larson

TOTAL POINTS = 320

20.2-ROOKIE OF THE SEASON -ERIN-Learn your ABC's-Read 3 books that begin with A, B, C, or any three consecutive letters in the alphabet. I read: All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris, Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner, Cooking Dirty by Jason Sheehan

20 points!

AND ALSO Completed

25.9- DIANE'S TASK - September Is Self-Improvement Month.
•Read A Nonfiction Self-Improvement Or Self-Help Book. I read: You Staying Young by Dr. Oz
• 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). I read: Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb

25 points!


Total Points: 275
Tasks Completed: 16
Tasks in Process: 2 (15.3; 15.10)
Total Books: 27
Total Pages: 8,924

Krista wrote: "I hope you're feeling better now after your hospitalization. Watch out, these challenges become very addictive! I'm hoping to break 450 for this challenge, but even that is in jeopardy at the moment. Now I'm spending too much time researching tasks for the Winter Challenge instead of reading. :-)"

Hi Krista!

Thank you so much! I am getting there and appreciate your good wishes.

I discovered, while preparing for the fall challenge, that I was already addicted! LOL. Like you, right now I am spending a lot of time researching options for the Winter tasks. I LOVE this part of it almost as much as the reading itself. Good luck with hitting 450 ~ you can do it!!!

Cynthia wrote: "Cindy wrote: "Finished a few more tasks:

25.8 Cait's Task: Nouns
1. Person: This Mitchell and Webb Book
2. Place: Beyond Belfast
3. Thing: [book:Vinyl Cafe Diaries|1..."

"What is the keepsake? You need to post that and then I'll add the points for that task to your score.


Sorry, thought I put that in! My keepsake is the last crossword puzzle book Grandma and I were working on when she was in the hospital.

(My original message was #3164, to help you find it again!)

Finished another task -

10.4 - Hispanic Heritage Month - Ines of My Soul A Novel by Isabel Allende, which is about the Spanish conquest of Chile

I was really hoping I could finish the challenge, but doesn't look like I'll make it. Things happen! Oh well. I'll keep plugging away and see how many more points I can get - I'd like to break 600.

Total Books Read = 52
Tasks Completed = 36
Tasks In Progress = 1

One more down....

Task 15.5 I read Dawn and The Accident, both by Elie Wiesel and both translated from French.

Total points for this task: 15
Tasks completed: 24/45

Total points for challenge thus far: 345

Petra wrote: "Cait, this sounds like an interesting book. I've never heard of it either and have just checked my library to find that they don't have it listed. It's now on my TBR list and I'll be hunting it down in second-hand bookstores. Thanks!!"

No problem. :o) But that's too bad about your library; I hate when that happens! I wanted to read High-Rise by J.G. Ballard for the Winter Challenge, but (inexplicably) my library doesn't have a copy! They also do not have a copy of A Stir of Echoes.

And more completed tasks:

20.2 ROOKIE OF THE SEASON - ERIN - Learn Your ABCs
Death of a Cad
Extreme Vinyl Cafe
Fever Pitch

25.7 CINDY'S TASK - One, Two, Three
1. Austenland
2. Full Circle
3. Talking to Addison

Finished task 10.7 Superhero's by reading Captain Freedom: a Superhero's Quest foe Truth, Justice, and the celebrity he so Richly Deserves. I really did not enjoy this book. It had some reviews on the cover that said it was funny but I did not get the humor. This will bring my total to 615 points.

Petra wrote: "Abigail, we're rooting for you to finish. You can do it!!!!"

Thanks, Petra! I'm chugging along and I have high hopes!

Cait wrote: "Petra wrote: "Cait, this sounds like an interesting book. I've never heard of it either and have just checked my library to find that they don't have it listed. It's now on my TBR list and I'll be ..."

A lot of libraries will do an interlibrary loan (ILL) for you to get books that they don't own. Check with your librarian. I would say most of the time at most libraries there is no charge, but in these economic times that may have changed. Unless you are just dying for your own personal copy, ILL is a good way to go.

Bridgit wrote: "Cynthia - Can I swap Midnight Sun in for the Senses part of 50.1? This book was HIGHLY focused on smell. Edward is tormented by how delicious Bella smells and it is a major theme of ..."That's fine

Hurray! I Made it!!

10.8 Find It in the Dictionary (girl, flight, rough): This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart Nov. 16

25.6 BJ Rose's Task: Curse of Tippecanoe: Counterpoint: Tecumseh vs William Henry Harrison by James Huston 629 pp
Since the Curse started with him I wanted to go back to the beginning as it were

This was a very interesting book - it followed the lives and careers of William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh as their actions pretty much defined the Red Man/White Man conflict in the Northwest Territories. As Territorial Governor, Harrison had virtually dictatorial powers in making agreements/treaties with Indian tribes - no wonder they called him White Devil Harrison. Tecumseh's dream was to establish a confederation of tribes so they would have the strength/power to prevail against the Long Knives. This dream was shattered at Tippecanoe, and when he took his forces north to Canada to join up with the British, he was disillusioned by the way the British failed to carry out their promises; he was killed at the Battle of Thames, which Harrison successfully co-ordinated & won.

Now what can be said about a one-month presidency?

Major Accomplishments in Harrison's administration:
He was the oldest man elected to the presidency (at age 68) until Ronald Reagan was elected at age 70
He was the first president to have his photo taken
He's the only president to have his grandson (Benjamin) also become president
He had the shortest term of any president - he died on the 32nd day of his term
He was the first president to die in office, which led to a constitution crisis after his death, since the Constitution only stated in Article II that, if a president died in office, the vice-president would assume the duties of the president, and some argued that meant that Tyler should only be considered an acting president. Tyler solved that by taking the oath of office, and tradition took care of that issue until the 25th Amendment in 1967.
His election campaign produced what is possibly the most famous campaign slogan: "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too"

Biggest Scandal: Only thing I can come up with is a temporary lack of common sense. He gave a one hour, 40 minute inaugural address standing out in the cold in March with no hat, overcoat, or gloves.

Total Pages = 18,919

Total Points = 690 And I'm Done!!

Congratulations on finishing BJ Rose!!!

Congratulations, BJ Rose!!! Awesome!

Donna Jo wrote: "Cait wrote: "Petra wrote: "Cait, this sounds like an interesting book. I've never heard of it either and have just checked my library to find that they don't have it listed. It's now on my TBR list and I'll be ..."

A lot of libraries will do an interlibrary loan (ILL) for you to get books that they don't own. Check with your librarian. I would say most of the time at most libraries there is no charge, but in these economic times that may have changed. Unless you are just dying for your own personal copy, ILL is a good way to go...."

Donna Jo, thank you! I'm going to the Library later this week and I'll ask the Librarian then. I hope we have this service.

Recently Finished: 25.9 (Self-Improvement) Julie & Julia - Julie Powell / Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook

Total Points - 585

Another one down! Just finished 15.8.

My initials are AV, so I read books set in Antigua and Vietnam:
Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid

Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam by Huynh Quang Nhuong

TOTALS:
Points: 535
Books: 61
Pages: 15,421
Tasks: 39

Congrats, BJ Rose!

I finally drug myself away from searching for Winter Challenge books and finished another one for the Fall Challenge:

15.5 (Foreign Language-Russian): The Diary of a Madman, The Government Inspector, and Selected Stories by Nikolay Gogol
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Tasks Completed: 14
Total Books: 25

Total Points: 145

Finished 25.5:

The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot

TOTALS:
Points: 560
Books: 62
Pages: 15,549
Tasks: 40