Reading with Style discussion

10.3 Scrabble

The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher

This is an imaginative/dark/magical retelling of the Bluebeard tale. Rhea is the young daughter of the miller who has become betrothed, much against her will, to Lord Crevan. She is to visit his manse before the wedding, at which time she meets the other wives--all of whom have lost their most precious gifts to Lord Crevan: the witch who lost her magic, the "clock wife" from whom was stolen her death, a beautiful maiden who was blinded, an austere woman from whom was taken her voice, a literal scarecrow of a woman referred to as the "Golem wife" has lost her life essence, and the last wife who was killed because he wanted her family home. Rhea is about to lose her youth to the aged Crevan unless she and the other wives can find a way to outwit him.
I'm a sucker for a good retelling and I love how this story was retooled yet maintained the dark, sinister feeling of the original while still finding small ways to inject levity and magic.

+10 Task ("seventh"=7 letters)
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.8 "S")

Task total: 25
Season total: 1875

and that is it for me for this season. whew.

10.8 Megafinish

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond

+10 task
+ 5 combo (10.3)

Task total=15
Grand total=165

15.6 AbC

Finland - Jarl Hellemann Palkinto (2016)

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

+20 Task

Post Total: 20
Season Total: 900

That is me done for this season. Thank you all for a wonderful season, and bring on summer! :)

20.6- Ellen Foster
In list from Charlotte Bronte
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Task- 20
Combo- 15 (10.8, 10.9, 20.7)
Oldies- 15- published in 1811

Post total: 50

10.9- Sisters

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss

Task- 10
Combo- 5- 10.8

Post total: 15

Rebekah wrote: "

Finish Bonus - 100 pts (7-9 countries)
Mega Finish - 200 pts"

Congratulations! Well done!

10.5 Civil War

The Address by Fiona Davis

+10 Task (Jefferson Davis)

Task Total: 10
Season Total: 255

10.8 Megafinish

The Enormous Room by E.E. Cummings

This is a very interesting, fictionalized autobiography of e. e. cumming’s time in French prison during WW1. It starts in a very sardonic way, gently mocking the situation and the French Government, along with his observations of his transport to the prison. In fact, at first his narrative seems like a farce until his actual arrival at the prison. Then when he starts describing his fellow inmates in the ‘enormous room’ there is real affection mixed in with the gimlet eye. Cummings was a keen observer of the others at the prison (inmates, guards and others) as well as his surroundings and the routine of their days. His writing is very descriptive and abstract at the same time. He does not go into too much detail of how awful it must have been, but the allusions of the filth, cruelty and poor treatment paint a very powerful picture. 4.5*

10 task
10 review
10 oldie
____
30

Final total: 1450

Thank you and congratulations to all participants. Now, on to summer!