Reading with Style discussion

Read a book in which the entirety of the title is a woman's name. This can include a first name or a first name and surname. The woman must be a character in the book. Books with sub-titles will not be accepted for this task.

Please post questions or suggestions about task 20.1 in this thread.

For ideas, there are lots of lists of books that qualify if you Google. I found that The What's the Name of that Book group had its own brainstorming session over the years, which may be helpful.

Will Heidi by Johanna Spyri work? It has Lexile scores below and above 800.

I've had Madame Bovary on my TBR for aaaages! Clearly a woman's name, but the title doesn't include her first name so I'm not sure if it counts?

Lagullande wrote: "I've had Madame Bovary on my TBR for aaaages! Clearly a woman's name, but the title doesn't include her first name so I'm not sure if it counts?"

No, that doesn't work because of the "Madame" part.

Ed wrote: "Will Heidi by Johanna Spyri work? It has Lexile scores below and above 800."

Yes, Heidi works for this task regardless of Lexile.

Would Miss Marjoribanks work?

Rebekah wrote: "Would Miss Marjoribanks work?"

No, I'm sorry, the "Miss" disqualifies this one.

Someone suggested the book The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey to me for this task. I wasn't sure if it would qualify because it's a taken name - the character couldn't remember her life before a certain point (I'm guessing that includes her real name), so she took a new name from there on.

I can't link the book - search function is not currently working, it says.

Heather wrote: "Someone suggested the book The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey to me for this task. I wasn't sure if it would qualify because it's a taken name - the character couldn't remember her life before a certain p..."

Yes. The Rowan - and I didn't think it would work, but that that is her name, or what she is called, is clear in the book description. (You might remind us of this approval when you post.)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Heather wrote: "Someone suggested the book The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey to me for this task. I wasn't sure if it would qualify because it's a taken name - the character couldn't remember her life be..."

Yeah, I wasn't sure because it wasn't her *given* name and I know the rules can be wonky depending on what you guys decided the intent of the task is.

I'm hoping Evelina will work because the MPE doesn't have a subtitle, although many other editions do?

The same for this one: Nancy Mitford

Hoping to lock these in because I'm surprised how few books I have for this task!

Rosemary wrote: "I'm hoping Evelina will work because the MPE doesn't have a subtitle, although many other editions do?

The same for this one: Nancy Mitford

Hoping to lock these in beca..."

Yes, you're good to go with both of those.

Can the title contain the name of two women such as Vanessa and Virginia

Rebekah wrote: "Can the title contain the name of two women such as Vanessa and Virginia"

We're going to decline this one as we really want the title to be the woman's name - no "and".

Ok. It just looked like it might be a good fictionalized bio and was looking for Combo points

Weetzie Bat appears to be the main character's name, so does that work?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "For ideas, there are lots of lists of books that qualify if you Google. I found that The What's the Name of that Book group had its own brainstorming session over the years, which may be helpful."

Oh there are plenty listed here - thanks for linking!

I have on my shelf Sashenka and Abigail Adams.

Rosemary wrote: "Weetzie Bat appears to be the main character's name, so does that work?"

Ha! Yes, when I entered that in the database in the past I had no idea that was a person. Very good!

Those look good, Penny!

These are books from our bookshelf (10.7) that work for this task

Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington
Circe by Madeline Miller
Eva Trout by Elizabeth Bowen
Jenny by Sigrid Undset
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Is this book out of the running because of the subtitle? It has the subtitle on the MPE (2014 publication), but not the hardcover or original book:

Marta Oulie: A Novel of Betrayal
Marta Oulie by Sigrid Undset

Karen Michele wrote: "Is this book out of the running because of the subtitle? It has the subtitle on the MPE (2014 publication), but not the hardcover or original book:

Marta Oulie: A Novel of Betrayal..."

You're OK. I edited out the subtitle because it doesn't appear on the cover (although it appears on the title page).

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "Is this book out of the running because of the subtitle? It has the subtitle on the MPE (2014 publication), but not the hardcover or original book:

Marta Oulie: A Novel..."</i>

Thank you! I want to read this one and Jenny as I loved [book:Kristin Lavransdatter.

Ed wrote: "Will Heidi by Johanna Spyri work? It has Lexile scores below and above 800."


I also want to read Heidi. The original, unabridged version of Heidi is Lexile level 1000. I believe the lower lexile versions are simplified versions for children's books.

I am considering Corrag by Susan Fletcher for 20.1 but it has a number of alternate titles. It looks like Corrag is currently the MPE. I am unsure how likely that is to change. May I lock this in?

itpdx wrote: "I am considering Corrag by Susan Fletcher for 20.1 but it has a number of alternate titles. It looks like Corrag is currently the MPE. I am unsure how likely that is..."

Yes - but it has ~800 more ratings than the next so is unlikely to change. Susan Fletcher is wonderful!

Unless someone announces a movie is coming out with of the other titles :)

itpdx wrote: "Unless someone announces a movie is coming out with of the other titles :)"

Yes, there is always that. ;-)

How about Joan of Arc?

Is the "of Arc" part of her name for this purpose?

Joanna wrote: "How about Joan of Arc?

Is the "of Arc" part of her name for this purpose?"

Yes, this is an exception.