The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

For the Science Fact vs. Science Fiction task (10.4), would "The Forensic Science of C.S.I." by Katherine Ramsland work for the non-fiction science book?

Sandra wrote: "For the Science Fact vs. Science Fiction task (10.4), would "The Forensic Science of C.S.I." by Katherine Ramsland work for the non-fiction science book?"
Yes that would be ok.

Does mysterious count as a Halloween adjective?

Since a lion is technically a feline, are we able to use that for the task for ten points, "The Cat's Meow"? I didn't see that under the specific task help section. I am reading a book with a lion on the cover and was hoping that would fit!

Thanks for bearing with me! Still a newbie!

Stephanie wrote: "Since a lion is technically a feline, are we able to use that for the task for ten points, "The Cat's Meow"? I didn't see that under the specific task help section. I am reading a book with a lion ..."

Stephanie - Cynthia said yes to big cats in message 3:

"For the book cover option a picture of any kind of cat pet or wild is fine."

Hi I wanted to know if I could use Wintergirls for the 10.2 addiction task?

Vicki wrote: "Hi I wanted to know if I could use Wintergirls for the 10.2 addiction task?"

Vicki,

I searched back and found Cynthia posted this on message 345:

Tanja wrote: "Cynthia, for the addiction task, many are asking -- can the addiction be non-drug or liquor related? Such as shopoholics, biblioholic, chocoholic, gambling...a type of addiction that brings out som..."No it doesn't have to be drug/alcohol - as long as it's really an addiction it counts

Katie wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Since a lion is technically a feline, are we able to use that for the task for ten points, "The Cat's Meow"? I didn't see that under the specific task help section. I am reading a..."

Thank you! I didn't see that. Sorry!

I was wondering for the Drama Club task, can it be a film adaptation? For example, can I read Doctor Faustus (by Marlowe) and then watch the 1968 film adaptation? Thanks!

Question about 5.4. Adoption Story – November Is National Adoption Awareness Month - Read A Novel Where The Main Character Is Adopted Or Adopts A Child Themselves Or A Non-Fictional Book Related To Adoption.

The main character of the novel I am reading, The Book of Knights, is a foundling raised by people he refers to alternately as either his "foster parents" or "stepmother and stepfather". They refer to him in turn as their son. The term adoption is itself never used, but can I consider this to be de facto adoption for the purposes of the challenge?

Kathryn, Dr. Faustus by Marlowe alone appears to be 64 pages which doesn't fit the 100 page requirement.

But as far as the Drama Club task goes from my understanding, so long as it is a play and you watch the production on stage or a film adaptation, it is acceptable. I read Much Ado About Nothing and watched the film adaptation.

Tanja wrote: "Kathryn, Dr. Faustus by Marlowe alone appears to be 64 pages which doesn't fit the 100 page requirement.

But as far as the Drama Club task goes from my understanding, so long as it..."


I think that's just the Dover edition. Looks like other editions are over 100 pages. Dover editions tend to be smaller than other publications.

El wrote: "Tanja wrote: "Kathryn, Dr. Faustus by Marlowe alone appears to be 64 pages which doesn't fit the 100 page requirement.

But as far as the Drama Club task goes from my understanding,..."

Yeah, my addition is like 260 pages or something. I need to check again. But it is over the 100 pages.

Awesome!

I wonder if I could use it for the Oktoberfest task since it starts out and takes place in Germany for the most part.

Can 1984 and Water For Elephants count for homophones? I'm not sure if since "four" is written numerically as "4" if that would discount it or not.

Emily wrote: "Can 1984 and Water For Elephants count for homophones? I'm not sure if since "four" is written numerically as "4" if that would discount it or not. "

Emily, I don't think it would count since it's just the same word and therefore not a homophone. Also I think (I could be wrong but am pretty sure I read it somewhere) that Orwell's original manuscript was meant to be Nineteen Eighty-Four... spelled out instead of 1984. That's all my perspective though.

Oh but it's "four" and "for" - not the same words, but thanks for your note - it makes me feel hopeful that I'll get this okayed! I'm excited to read both - mostly 1984, but I've heard good things about Water For Elephants too!

Emily wrote: "Oh but it's "four" and "for" - not the same words, but thanks for your note - it makes me feel hopeful that I'll get this okayed! I'm excited to read both - mostly 1984, but I've heard good things ..."

I just recently finished Water for Elephants and absolutely loved it. Used it for the Coming of Age/Elderly task, just in case you haven't done that one. Perhaps if you haven't done a one word title, 1984 could work for that task, if neither of the books work for what you want. Both are definitely very good books, in my opinion.

El wrote: "Emily wrote: "Can 1984 and Water For Elephants count for homophones? I'm not sure if since "four" is written numerically as "4" if that would discount it or not. "

Emily, I don't think it would co..."

If I remember correctly, during the Spring Challenge, some pour soul was told that numerals can't rhyme because they aren't words. Thus, by the same reasoning, 1984 and Water for Elephants cannot possibly be homophones.

Sam wrote: "If I remember correctly, during the Spring Challenge, some pour soul was told that numerals can't rhyme because they aren't words. Thus, by the same reasoning, 1984 and Water for Elephants cannot possibly be homophones."

My understanding is that words are defined by sound, making numerals as equally valid as the alphabet for representing them.

Emily wrote: "Can 1984 and Water For Elephants count for homophones? I'm not sure if since "four" is written numerically as "4" if that would discount it or not. "Sorry as Sam says it would have to be four not 4 to work

Greyweather wrote: "Question about 5.4. Adoption Story – November Is National Adoption Awareness Month - Read A Novel Where The Main Character Is Adopted Or Adopts A Child Themselves Or A Non-Fictional Book Related To..."Formal adoptions only for this task.

Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "Does mysterious count as a Halloween adjective?"That would be fine.

Emily wrote: "Oh but it's "four" and "for" - not the same words, but thanks for your note - it makes me feel hopeful that I'll get this okayed! I'm excited to read both - mostly 1984, but I've heard good things ..."

I know it's late now, but sorry - I don't know why I was thinking you meant 4 and four. My brain must have skipped over that part. :)

Cynthia,

For the foreign lang task 15.6, can I read "Dawn" and "The Accident" by Elie Weisel? According to my copy, they were originally in French. I just want to make sure. Thanks!

Cynthia,

I can't find my name on the current leaderboard. Before today's post, I had 140 points, but I'm not on there at all.

Shannon wrote: "Cynthia,

I can't find my name on the current leaderboard. Before today's post, I had 140 points, but I'm not on there at all."Sorry don't know how that happened but I've added you back in.

Sara☺ wrote: "Cynthia,

For the foreign lang task 15.6, can I read "Dawn" and "The Accident" by Elie Weisel? According to my copy, they were originally in French. I just want to make sure. Thanks!"Yes that's fine

Hi everyone,

Since I am new to this I have a couple of questions - I hope I am not repeating anyone; I have searched but you never know.

Would Bleak House count for the adoption task? Since Mr Jarndyce does officially become guardian to Esther, even though they are older wards of court?

And, for the children's books, I have a collection of Little Golden Books and fairy tales... would those count?

Finally, even though I can't keep up with my daughter I do like to keep tabs on what she is reading... can YA books count (excepting of course where they are explicitly denied)? I am thinking of the Warriors books for the cat's meow task.

Now maybe I will stop fretting over which books to read and start reading some of them! I have no idea how I will get through so many books, but it is good to have a plan!

Cynthia, would Olive Kitteridge A Novel in Stories work for the Coming of Age/All Grown Up task, from the All Grown Up perspective? It's a story told through the eyes of a retired teacher.

Melissa wrote: "Finally, even though I can't keep up with my daughter I do like to keep tabs on what she is reading... can YA books count (excepting of course where they are explicitly denied)?"

(As long as they're over 100 pages...) ABSOLUTELY!!!! If they weren't, most of the books I've read so far wouldn't count!

Not to... errr... advertise, or anything, but if you ever want adult opinions on books your daughter reads, or just to discuss a YA book with other adults, I'm part of a goodreads group called Wild Things: YA Grown-Up... It's a fun and active group of adults (and older, mature teens) who discuss YA books. There are a lot of us, and we're collectively very well read... and not shy about expressing our opinions! We're always happy to help moms figure out if a book is... appropriate... for their son or daughter (and we know that's a very individual thing).

This may have already been answered, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating, but I have a question for 15.3:
• Multiplication - Multiply Your Age By The Number Of Letters In Your Whole Name (First, Middle, Last) And Read A Book With Approximately That Number Of Pages (+/- 25 Pages)

I am 26 at the moment, but will turn 27 during the challenge (on November 5th). So do I have to use 26, or is it okay to use 27 since I will be 27 during the challenge?

Happy early birthday! Mine is Nov 18th. I'm using the addition and division options on that one, though, so...

Does 26 vs. 27 it make enough difference in the product that you would change your book choice? (Depends on how long your name is... mine is the difference between 425 and 442 +/- 25...)

This is just a guess, but I predict that Cynthia's answer will be that if you read the book before Nov 5, you would use 26, but on/after Nov 5, you would use 27. Like I said... just a guess...

Asho wrote: "This may have already been answered, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating, but I have a question for 15.3:
• Multiplication - Multiply Your Age By The Number Of Letters In Your Whole Name (First, Middle, ..."Sara is correct if you complete that portion of the task pre-birthday use 26 after birthday 27

Petra wrote: "Cynthia, would Olive Kitteridge A Novel in Stories work for the Coming of Age/All Grown Up task, from the All Grown Up perspective? It's a story told through the eyes of a retired t..."Yes it's fine

Melissa wrote: "Hi everyone,

Since I am new to this I have a couple of questions - I hope I am not repeating anyone; I have searched but you never know.

Would Bleak House count for the adoption task? Since..."Guardianship and adoption are two different things so no Bleak House won't work, the collection of Little Golden Books and fairy tales is fine and yes you can use YA books for any task that doesn't disallow it

Welcome Melissa! Take a peek, too, over at the Task Help threads. A lot of suggestions are there for the various tasks. And I have read a couple of YAs for this challenge, too.

Tanja wrote: "Welcome Melissa! Take a peek, too, over at the Task Help threads. A lot of suggestions are there for the various tasks. And I have read a couple of YAs for this challenge, too."

Thank you I will check it out! I will also check out the YA group Sara suggested. And I will figure out something else for Bleak House! It is slow going with that one and I may not finish it by the end of the challenge anyway.

For Cait's task, 25.8, would the Moon count as a proper place?

Here's another late-in-the-game question (looking forward to the winter challenge when I can actually start at the beginning!):

For 5.3, a novel where the main character travels at sea, would Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea count? I'm not sure that it counts as "travel", per se. Or as a novel, for that matter...

Asho wrote: "Here's another late-in-the-game question (looking forward to the winter challenge when I can actually start at the beginning!):

For 5.3, a novel where the main character travels at sea, would Hemi..."Yes I did approve this book

Would Moonless work for a scary adjective? Example: Once upon a moonless night

Tanja wrote: "Would Moonless work for a scary adjective? Example: Once upon a moonless night"Not so much

Cynthia, for the Science Task, would you accept either Fast Food Nation or The Omnivore's Dilemma A Natural History of Four Meals as the science portion of the task?

Petra wrote: "Cynthia, for the Science Task, would you accept either Fast Food Nation or The Omnivore's Dilemma A Natural History of Four Meals as the science portion of the task?

"Not what I had in mind originally but yes they are ok

Thanks, Cynthia!!

for task 10.7 would any of the Joanne Fluke books work?

Diane - would The Cross-Country Quilters work for the second part of your task? The five main characters all overcome challenges through a single year.

Would Three Cups of Tea One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time be counted for task 10.7 - an autobiography of my personal hero? Thanks

Julie wrote: "Would Three Cups of Tea One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time be counted for task 10.7 - an autobiography of my personal hero? Thanks"If the author is a hero of yours - yes

Would Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian work for the German task?

Also, if I were to read Host by Stephanie Meyer as my fiction scientific book, would An Inconvient (sp) Truth work for the film portion? Sorry if these have been asked, but I just want to make sure before I read/watch. Thanks!

Angela wrote: "Would Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian work for the German task?

Also, if I were to read Host by Stephanie Meyer as my fiction scientific book, would An Inconvient (sp) T..."Yes and Yes.

Thanks Cynthia!

Hi, for Sam's task-the monsters of Hallowee, would Ghoul in the title work? It's not specifically listed in the suggestions but they are halloweeny....