The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Thanks for the links Liz! These are very helpful :)

Slayermel wrote: "I'm confused challenge #10.6. November Is Native American Heritage Month Read A Book Written By A Native American Author, With A Main Character Who Is Native American, Or A Non-Fictional Book About..."That's what I meant...for that task there are 3 options
1. A book written by a Native American Author
2. One that has a main character who is Native American
3. Or a Non-fiction about Native Americans

Sarah wrote: "I was talking about that and the question I asked about the Native American task and that doesn't answer my question. My question is different and had two parts!"I'm sorry I missed your question it must have been posted while I was answering another because I didn't see it...yes it can be about one Native American so a book about Pocahontas is fine.

Cynthia wrote: "Slayermel wrote: "I'm confused challenge #10.6. November Is Native American Heritage Month Read A Book Written By A Native American Author, With A Main Character Who Is Native American, Or A Non-Fi..."

Thanks for clearing that up Cynthia because I was having a hell of a time trying to find a book I wanted to read by a Native American Author that had a Main Character who was also Native American ;op

Cynthia — For task 5.8 (two authors), can we read a book where two or more people collaborate under a single pseudonym, such as PJ Tracy, PJ Tracy, or Erin Hunter?

For the homophone where would wearing work for the other book?

For 15.6, does a cartoonist count as an artist, do you think?

Cynthia wrote: "Krista wrote: "Hey Cynthia: For task 10.3 (the math section) my number is 40 for the division task.

I know I can read a book that is 4th in the series, but how should I handle the zero?

For 0 you would read a singular novel written by an author who primarily is know for series..."

Thanks for the quick explanation. I'll keep that in mind when searching for books that fit this task.

Sarah wrote: "For the homophone where would wearing work for the other book?"

I think it would have to be direct: "wear" and "where". If you add -ing to the end of "wear", then it's no longer a homophone for "where". At least that what it seems like you're asking? Sorry if I mis-read your question.

Would The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins be considered an alternative history? All I know about the book is that the U.S. is no longer the U.S. and is divided in 13 districts instead, so something would have had to happen differently for the country to get that way...?

So El, even a plural is not allowed?

Sarah wrote: "So El, even a plural is not allowed?"

The idea of a homophone is that two words sound exactly the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Perhaps Cynthia will be more lenient, but a plural would change the sound of a word therefore not being a homophone to the other word, unless it too was a plural in the same way.

Slayermel wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Slayermel wrote: "I'm confused challenge #10.6. November Is Native American Heritage Month Read A Book Written By A Native American Author, With A Main Character Who Is Native Ameri..."

If you did want to try something with both an author & characters that are Native American, I would highly recommend Mean Spirit . It's one of my favorite mystery novels & happens to be written by a Native American author & set on a reservation in Oklahoma.

El wrote: "Sarah wrote: "So El, even a plural is not allowed?"

The idea of a homophone is that two words sound exactly the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Perhaps Cynthia wil..."El is correct where and wear would be homophones where and wearing are not

Kate wrote: "Would The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins be considered an alternative history? All I know about the book is that the U.S. is no longer the U.S. and is divided in 13 districts instead, so something..."It is science fiction but not alternative history because it takes place in the future not the past

Abigail wrote: "For 15.6, does a cartoonist count as an artist, do you think?"That's fine

Sara wrote: "Cynthia — For task 5.8 (two authors), can we read a book where two or more people collaborate under a single pseudonym, such as PJ Tracy, PJ Tracy, or [author:Erin..."That would be fine

Kate wrote: "Would The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins be considered an alternative history? All I know about the book is that the U.S. is no longer the U.S. and is divided in 13 districts instead, so something..."

I just read this recently, and it takes place in the future, so it's not an alternative history. I absolutely loved it, so I do recommend fitting it in somewhere else if you can!

Leslie wrote: "Kate wrote: "Would The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins be considered an alternative history? All I know about the book is that the U.S. is no longer the U.S. and is divided in 13 districts instead,..."

I was thinking about reading The Hunger Games for task 15.4 ---
Read A Science Fiction Novel And Watch A Film Related To Science Or Scientific Discovery.

Krista wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Kate wrote: "Would The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins be considered an alternative history? All I know about the book is that the U.S. is no longer the U.S. and is divided in 13 dis..."

Yeah, that's where I'm going to put it. I didn't even think of putting it there at first. I really wanted to fit it in somehow, so I figured I'd give it a shot in the alternative fiction slot since I don't have any other books to go there.

15.8 Geography Lessons: can I count England as a country or should I plan on find something from one of the following:

East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia

(For the Winter 2008 challenge England was allowed for Karen's Task - Read a book about/set in/or by an author of a country with a name that starts with the first letter of your name).

Liz wrote: "15.8 Geography Lessons: can I count England as a country or should I plan on find something from one of the following:

East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiop..."

England is fine if you want to use that

Cynthia wrote: "Liz wrote: "15.8 Geography Lessons: can I count England as a country or should I plan on find something from one of the following:

East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Es..."


Would Britain count for a B?

Kate wrote: "Krista wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Kate wrote: "Would The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins be considered an alternative history? All I know about the book is that the U.S. is no longer the U.S. and is di..."

Kate - you could try George Orwell's 1984 for alternative history. That's what I'm using :)

Bridgit wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Liz wrote: "15.8 Geography Lessons: can I count England as a country or should I plan on find something from one of the following:

East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equato..."Yes that's fine too

For task 15.6, the Creative Minds task, would The Eight by Katherine Neville work? The back of the book says the main character, Catherine Velis is a musician and painter although it does not appear that the book specifically focuses only on painting.

Joy wrote: "For task 15.6, the Creative Minds task, would The Eight by Katherine Neville work? The back of the book says the main character, Catherine Velis is a musician and paint..."That would be ok

For task 15.8 Geography, does West Bank count as a country since it's listed on the CIA list?
I'm thinking about How Israel Lost: The Four Questions by Richard Ben Cramer or Sharon and My Mother-in-Law: Ramallah Diaries by Suad Amiry
Thanks!

Angela wrote: "What does 'coming of age' mean? This may sound like a dumb question, but I really have no idea. Thanks!! "

Usually it's a growing up book like Catcher in the Rye or A Separate Peace or I am Charlotte Simmons or Prep.

I just want to make sure I'm on the right track for task 10.7 - Heros/Superheros.

Is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon ok for this task?

Jennifer L. wrote: "I just want to make sure I'm on the right track for task 10.7 - Heros/Superheros.

Is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon ok for this task?"

Jennifer, I hope you read Kavalier and Clay! I am reading it right now and loving it. (For what it's worth, it seems to me it should work for that task. There are lots of comic book superheroes involved.)

Katie wrote: "Hi Wendy,

Would Mrs. Dalloway work for your task? I've been looking around online and there seems to be some discussion of lesbian themes/inclinations, perhaps not unlike The Color P..."

Yes, Clarissa and Sally were gay.

Cynthia,
Would you allow Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach for the Christopher columbus task?

Dawn wrote: "Cynthia,
Would you allow Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach for the Christopher columbus task? "No that doesn't work.

Jennifer L. wrote: "I just want to make sure I'm on the right track for task 10.7 - Heros/Superheros.

Is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon ok for this task?"Yes - in fact it's what I plan to use :)

pjreads wrote: "For task 15.8 Geography, does West Bank count as a country since it's listed on the CIA list?
I'm thinking about How Israel Lost: The Four Questions by Richard Ben Cramer or Sharon and My Mother..."The West Bank is actually more a territory not an actual country so no that won't count

Cynthia, if you're allowing B for Britain, is it ok to use G for Great Britain (as that is our proper name :))

Or would you accept The Island by Victoria Hislop as set in Greece?
On the brink of a life-changing decision, Alexis Fielding longs to find out about her mother’s past. But Sofia has never spoken of it. All she admits to is growing up in a small Cretan village before moving to London. When Alexis decides to visit Crete, however, Sofia gives her daughter a letter to take to an old friend, and promises that through her she will learn more.

Arriving in Plaka, Alexis is astonished to see that it lies a stone’s throw from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga – Greece’s former leper colony. Then she finds Fotini, and at last hears the story that Sofia has buried all her life: the tale of her great-grandmother Eleni and her daughters and a family rent by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island, and how secrecy holds them all in its powerful grip...

For the task on a positive gay character (I think it is Wendy's), can we read a collectin of essays by people who are gay?

4.Science Fact vs. Science Fiction
• Read A Science Fiction Novel And Watch A Film Related To Science Or Scientific Discovery.

Would Planet Earth count as a film related to science?

Amanda wrote: "4.Science Fact vs. Science Fiction
• Read A Science Fiction Novel And Watch A Film Related To Science Or Scientific Discovery.

Would Planet Earth count as a film related to science?"That's fine

SuzieR wrote: "Cynthia, if you're allowing B for Britain, is it ok to use G for Great Britain (as that is our proper name :))

Or would you accept The Island by Victoria Hislop as set in Greece?
On the brink of..."I will take Great Britain as to the other I don't think enough of the story takes place in Greece to count

Would Disney's Nature Earth documentary work as the science fact movie for task 15.4? Its more of a nature themed, but that's science too, right? :)

Candace wrote: "Would Disney's Nature Earth documentary work as the science fact movie for task 15.4? Its more of a nature themed, but that's science too, right? :)"Yes that's fine

Does James Patterson's Maximum Ride series count as science fiction?

Lori (BNPL) wrote: "Does James Patterson's Maximum Ride series count as science fiction?
"Yes

Would Jasper Fforde's books work for Alternative Historical Novel? I'm thinking specifically either 'The Big Over Easy' or 'Lost In A Good Book'

Jill wrote: "Would Jasper Fforde's books work for Alternative Historical Novel? I'm thinking specifically either 'The Big Over Easy' or 'Lost In A Good Book'"No - Those are fantasy not Alternative Histories

For the Hispanic Heritage task, would a book about the illegal alien migrant worker (who are largely Hispanic) population work?

Kate wrote: "For the Hispanic Heritage task, would a book about the illegal alien migrant worker (who are largely Hispanic) population work?"No because it has to be set in one of those countries not a character from those countries living in another country which would be the case of illegal migrant workers

Cynthia wrote: "Kate wrote: "For the Hispanic Heritage task, would a book about the illegal alien migrant worker (who are largely Hispanic) population work?"No because it has to be set in one of those countries no..."

So what do you mean by "Or A Non-Fiction Book About One Of Them"? Is 'One of Them' one of the countries or one of the people or either? I guess I'm a little confused by the wording?

Cynthia wrote: "Jill wrote: "Would Jasper Fforde's books work for Alternative Historical Novel? I'm thinking specifically either 'The Big Over Easy' or 'Lost In A Good Book'"No - Those are fantasy not Alternative ..."

But I'm assuming this comment doesn't apply to The Eyre Affair since my copy of the book says it is an alternative history, the Publishers Weekly Review says it is an alternative history...and the editor of the Wikipedia page says it is an alternative history.

http://books.google.com/books?id=BseR...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eyre...

BTW, Harry Turtledove, the king of alternative history, is classifed as fantasy and sci-fi too. Arguably, every alt. history IS fantasy.

Sam wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Jill wrote: "Would Jasper Fforde's books work for Alternative Historical Novel? I'm thinking specifically either 'The Big Over Easy' or 'Lost In A Good Book'"No - Those are fantasy ..."I haven't read those books so when that is the case I use Novelist (a book database that I have access to through my library system) to make decisions on things like that - The Eyre Affair is categorized as Alternative history but the others are not so that's how I made the decision.

Kate wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Kate wrote: "For the Hispanic Heritage task, would a book about the illegal alien migrant worker (who are largely Hispanic) population work?"No because it has to be set in one of th..." I mean a non-fiction book about one of those countries

For Roseann's Task (25.1), would a book about someone who's retired work or should I read a book about the work I did before I retired?
Thanks!

Would you consider Specials to be a coming of age book for 5.9?

Cynthia wrote: "Sam wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Jill wrote: "Would Jasper Fforde's books work for Alternative Historical Novel? I'm thinking specifically either 'The Big Over Easy' or 'Lost In A Good Book'"No - Those ..."

Ok, I see now. Thanks.

Lori (BNPL) wrote: "Would you consider Specials to be a coming of age book for 5.9?"No

Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "For the task on a positive gay character (I think it is Wendy's), can we read a collectin of essays by people who are gay?"

No, looking for a book with a gay character.