The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

5.9. ISN'T IT ROMANTIC: Chinese Love Poetry, edited by Jane Portal

total points: 40

Another one down...

Task 15.9 Out with the old, in with the new
Part 1 - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (on my TBR list since 6/22/08)
Part 2 - City Boy

I really enjoyed both of these books.

Tasks Completed: 2
Points for this task: 15
Points thus far: 25/1100
Books read: 4
Pages read: 897

YEA! New Challenge!

10.5 Beautiful Creatures (December) 12/1/09

Total: 10 points, 1 book

I was so excited to see a gothic fantasy for YA come on the market that was NOT about vampires or faeries! Beautiful Creatures is a richly detailed Southern Gothic Fantasy about a teenager, Ethan, who feels trapped in his small Southern town. His angst is at an all-time high when he meets Lena, the new girl in town. And what a new girl she is! The world created by this author overflows with rich descriptions and poignant imagery, and her descriptions of the world of witchcraft (or casters, as they prefer to be called) overflow with vivid details. I also really liked the love story that develops between the two main characters. It seems more of a natural progression than a "love at first teenage sight" situation, which I found refreshing. All in all, I highly recommend for those in desperate search of a great YA supernatural story that doesn't read like a cookie-cutter Twilight knock-off.

15.4 finished The Master Planets when I woke up this morning.

My favorite game is RockBand.

My husband and I have the day off together today and have been playing Rockband for the last few hours! I rock the guitar, and totally suck on the drums!

Note: This is a GoodReads author!!

Total points: 15

10.4 Winner's Choice: The Lemonade War from Wendy (Thanks, Wendy! This was a great semi-multigenre book!)

30.6 Dream Vacation: The Sound of Munich
It takes place in Germany, including Berlin and München. I've only been there once, but I'd sell half my library to get to go there again. I absolutely loved going there--the food is incredibly delicious, the people are friendly and kind, and I'd love to get to practice meine deutsche Sprache skills again...and, seeing how it's been a long time since I went, I probably just butchered that grammar!

30.10 Color by Numbers: Yellow Star and Age 14

Total: 70 (so far! ^_^)

Well dang that is not fair to those of us in Texas--I wish I had known I could start at 11:00 P.M. LAST NIGHT. Oh well, I guess I can get started on reporting now.

5.1 Disney--Favorite Movie is The Little Mermaid I read Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand by Gail Carson Levine

10.5 Hot Books of June 2009 Beautiful Disaster by Kate Brian--one of my favorite authors

15.8 On Christmas Eve by Ann M. Martin and I watched my favorite Christmas Movie of all time Rudolph

30.7 72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell Fits the following other tasks: 5.10, 10.3, 30.1A, 30.3, and 30.10B

How do I get the ticker to show on here?? I know I know I am so computer illiterate

OOPS that makes 60 points for me

Cheryl wrote: "Well dang that is not fair to those of us in Texas--I wish I had known I could start at 11:00 P.M. LAST NIGHT. Oh well, I guess I can get started on reporting now.

5.1 Disney--Favorite Movie is ..."

Kate Brian is one of my favorite authors as well. I have her book Privelege to read for the book that has been on my TBR the longest... I have all of the books in that series, but I love Private so much that I haven't been able to force myself to read Privilege. Hopefully this time I will get to it!

Abigail wrote: "I might be wrong too, but I got 78 with my spreadsheet backing me up:
10 5-pts
10 10-pts
14 15-pts (not counting if you read extra kids books to add up to 100 pages)
3 20-pts
17 25-pts
16 30-pts
7 35-pts
1 (or more) 50-pts

10+10+14+3+17+16+7+1 = 78

WOW. "

Holy..... My husband was complaining that when I'm doing challenges, I don't spend time with him or do things that need doing around the house (which is a blatant lie — I totally cook and clean while listening to audiobooks, thank you very much!), so he proposed that I only be allowed to read 1 book every 5 days (or 18 books for the duration of the challenge). I countered with 2 books per week, or 24 books and won. I really should have gone for 3 books per week (36 total) or at least 1 book every 3 days (30 total).

Once I update our budget (which is the thing he's been bugging me to do for a LONG TIME and which I canNOT do while listening to an audiobook, I'll revisit the subject... But either way, 78 or 79 or whatever is WAAAAAY not happening!!

Sara ♥ wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I might be wrong too, but I got 78 with my spreadsheet backing me up:
10 5-pts
10 10-pts
14 15-pts (not counting if you read extra kids books to add up to 100 pages)
3 20-pts
17 25-..."

I am slow about getting our budget updated too, because I can't listen to audiobooks while I am doing it! It takes too much concentration. I don't think I would ever get any cleaning done around here if it wasn't for audiobooks! :)

Good luck getting your hubby to let you read more!

25.6 Island Dreams: Ranma 1/2, Volume 1
Takes place in Tokyo, Japan! I just wish I could read the original Japanese...but that would take me more than three months to translate. Though, I can sometimes get the jist of it...oh, well. I read the English translation.

Total: 25 + 70 (from earlier) = 95 points

Hello Everyone! This is my first challenge and I am so excited. I have finished one task:

30.7 Multi-tasking: The Road (fits 15.5 - Linnea from Myanmar, 10.4 - Diane, 5.4 (the winning decade), 5.5 (Librarian recommendation) and Bonnie’s Task)- 12/1/09 (287 pages)

BTW, I loved The Road.

Total Points: 30
Pages read: 287
Books read: 1
Tasks completed: 1

I see that I am behind so I better get back to reading!

Okay starting over

25 Points
10. A I read Chobits vol. 1 by Clamp. It's a manga and it had the most amazing picture of a girl with white hair.
B. I read Negima vol 1. It liked that it was about school and a young boy of 10 becomes a teacher.

Tasks: 1
Books: 2
Points: 25/1100

I finished 35.1 PJREADS Dewey Decimal with:

My 5-star was Unless with 336 pages

Confessions of a Tax Collector One Man's Tour of Duty Inside the IRS- DDC 336.242 and
Oaxaca Journal DDC 587.097 (+251)

Oaxaca Journal is a part of the National Geographic Society's Literary Travel Series. Neurologist Oliver Sacks goes on a fern hunting trip with the American Fern Society to Mexico. He records his impressions of his fellow travelers, Mexican culture and natural history and ferns- but much less botany than I expected.

Confessions was a little scary- tales of seizing assets and office politics/harrassment.

+35
total 35

Finished 30.9 - Newbery Award
Year: 1974
Winner: The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
Honor: The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

I actually liked the Slave Dancer better; I thought the Dark is Rising would win in my mind, but The Slave Dancer has a better plot! The dark is rising is pretty straightforward in plot.

Points:30
Tasks:1
Books:2
Pages:388

Last one for today...

I finished task 5.8 Cozy Mystery
Murder Uncorked by Michele Scott
This was a great little read. Loved that she added recipes and wine pairings when discussed through the characters. Nice and quick mystery.

***Michelle Scott is a Goodreads Author***

Tasks Completed: 3
Points for this task: 5
Points thus far: 30/1100
Books read: 5
Pages read: 1121

I finished my first task! I listened to an audiobook of Stargirl today and finished 5.2. I rated it 3 stars. I thought it was OK, but not great.

Total points: 5

This is my first challenge ever! I'm a little nervous seeing all these posts...but I'm gonna do my best to keep up :).

So far, I've completed the following:

20.3 GROUP READS
Read One Of The Following Group Read Selections And Make At Least One Post In The Discussion Thread.

I chose C. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Books Read: 1

Also my first challenge and I have completed my first task!

For 5.9 - Romance in the title - I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies) True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl

Task Points:5
Total Points:5
Tasks:1
Books:1

Nicki - STL

I completed Task 10.7 (silver screen) by reading Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs.
The TV series "Bones" is based on these books and is one of my favorite shows.
Grave Secrets is a fun, easy to read mystery set in Guatamala and Montreal.
It brings forth issues of human rights and stem cell research. Tempe, a forensic anthropologist, helps the police find the murders while also helping to identify human remains.
There are comparisons between the characters of Tempe (book) and Bones (TV) in temperament and character but also very many differences.
First, there’s no Booth in this book! Sigh!
Next, Tempe is divorced, a reformed alcoholic and has a daughter who is just starting her 5th year of University. Bones is single, has no daughter and has never had an alcohol problem. There was no mention of Tempe’s parents disappearing and leaving Tempe in the care of her brother when she was young, which happens to Bones in the TV program.
This book leaves the reader with a little mystery at the end......one which I’d be interested in knowing the answer to.
This is my first Kathy Reichs book and I will read more in the future. I have a copy of one of her books in German on my bookshelf, which might be fun to read. My German isn't good enough to read classics in but this book may be just right. I'll have to look and see.

30.7 Multi-tasking: fits 30.10 Color by numbers, 25.3 A Game of Clue (blue cover), 25.6 Island Dreams (set in Japan), and 5.6 Dirty Job (I would not want to procure whores for parties).

A rather disturbing short novel, Trainspotting-like content set in Japan.

Pages read: 360
Books read: 2
Tasks completed: 2
Total Points: 65
Liz (Bklyn)

5.10
The Deadly Dance by M.C. Beaton

Total pages read: 256
Total books read: 1

15.5 READERS OF THE WORLD UNITE - My initials are DP, so for "D" I picked Dominica and chose a five star from the #1 guy on that list (Ebu) - The Motorcycle Diaries Notes on a Latin American Journey by Che Guevara. For "P" I picked Papua New Guinea. The first person on that list was Inuitdebonair. From his list I read The Secret Sharer and other stories by Joseph Conrad.

Total Points: 25/1100
Tasks Completed: 2

20.3 Group Reads: The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0

I should've been in bed two hours ago. Instead, I couldn't put the book down. Man, am I going to regret this tomorrow.

Total: 20 + 95 (from earlier) = 115 points

5.7. EYING THE YEAR OF THE TIGER
I was born in 1975 which means the Year of the Rabbit

I read The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran, who was born in 1951. I gave this book two stars. Although, I really loved the first third of the story, after that the I pretty much wanted it to end because the characters were really beginning to annoy me.

Total points: 5 and a Goodreads author

Ms Anderson wrote: "20.3 Group Reads: The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0

I should've been in bed two hours ago. Instead, I couldn't put the book down. Man, am I g..."

Oh my goodness, Ms Anderson, you are already in the 100s! That is crazy!!! You are a fast reader!!!

One more down--

30.7--SWEET REVENGE by Diana Mott Davidson (fits 15.7 & 15.8)

It's Christmas time and everything is fine for Goldy Schulz and her catering service until the woman that killed Goldy's ex-husband, Sandee Brisbane,is suddenly back in town--only problem is she was supposed to have died after confessing to the murder! Now people around Goldy are dropping like flies, could Sandee be at it again?

This was not my favorite of Ms. Davidson's stories, but a fun read all the same.

This brings me to 135 points and time for bed!

5.1: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Books=1
Tasks=1
Points=5

I really don't understand how some of you read so fast! Are you sure you're all human?! ;)

My favourite Disney film is definitely Beauty and the Beast, so I just finished my first task. 3 stars for this book - I liked it but didn't love it.

5.1 Disney - Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

Total: 5 points
1 book
1 task
263 pages

Roseann wrote: "One more down--

30.7--SWEET REVENGE by Diana Mott Davidson (fits 15.7 & 15.8)

It's Christmas time and everything is fine for Goldy Schulz and her catering service until the woman that killed ..."

I love this series. I plan to use Dying for Chocolate for the task with the recipes!

M.A. wrote: "This is my first challenge ever! I'm a little nervous seeing all these posts...but I'm gonna do my best to keep up :).

So far, I've completed the following:

20.3 GROUP READS
Read One Of The Follo..."

Don't be daunted by all the posts with completed tasks MA. Just continue reading at your own speed and enjoy the challenge! This is my 5th challenge and I haven't finished a task yet on this one.

25.7 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

total: 65

5-5 Poppy Done to Death by Charlaine Harrie. The main character Aurora Teagarden is a librarian, a fun, cozy mystery.

5-9 The Chocolate Cat Caper by Joanna Carl, another fun, little mystery.

10 points

10.1 Book about circus, circus performers or circus animals. Blood and Circuses byKerry Greenwood,208 pp,read on 12/1/2009.
Phyrne Fisher is the daughter of an earl who started out life as a workman. Phyne lives a life of leisure in 1920s Australia, but is still a girl of the people at heart. She solves mysteries, and becomes involved with an endless series of "unsuitable", but incredibly sexy men. Fun, short, a good start. There are probably 20 Phrynes.



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20.1 Whalesong by Robert Siegel
I used this former 15 point task: "It’s Written In The Stars…Read A Book That Corresponds To Your Astrological Sign… (Books Can Be Fiction Or Non-Fiction)." I am a Pisces, so I read a book about sea life- Whalesong by Robert Siegel, which is like a coming-of-age tale about a young humpback whale named Hruna. It was a lovely book.

total: 85 points

Task 10.5 Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford--Popularity month--January, my birthday is January 15

Alice wrote: "M.A. wrote: "This is my first challenge ever! I'm a little nervous seeing all these posts...but I'm gonna do my best to keep up :)...."


M.A., don't be discouraged! Just enjoy the ride and the books.

Finished:

30.4 Fever 1793-4*- I listed to the audiobook of this and really enjoyed the narrator and the story. It concerns the YellowFever epidemic in Philadelphia during 1793. At some points it was hard to believe that the main character was really 14, but overall it was an interesting story and explored the ideas of who family is and the importance of family in any trying time.

*Laurie Halse Anderson is a Goodreads Author*

Total Points 30/1100
Total Books 2/80
Total Tasks Completed 1/58
Total Pages 530

Task 15.8 The Spy Who Came For Christmas & "White Christmas"

Total Pages Read: 220
Total Books: 1

Cindy wrote: "10.1 Book about circus, circus performers or circus animals. Blood and Circuses byKerry Greenwood,208 pp,read on 12/1/2009.
Phyrne Fisher is the daughter of an earl who started out ..."

Cindy - you're the first person I've seen here other than me reading the Phryne Fisher series. Have you read any others? I love them!

Hello all! Finished my first task for the Winter Challenge: 10.7 SMALL SCREEN STORIES - Read A Book Inspired By, OR Was The Inspiration For, OR Is In Some Way Related To Your Favorite Television Show (Past Or Present).

My favorite show is the BBC Series DOCTOR WHO; I read a TV-show tie-in

Doctor Who The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner

I really enjoyed the book. It was just like a Doctor Who episode.


0 + 10 = 10

Nicki, I've read 2 of the Phyrne Fishers, they are great for these challenges, interesting, fairly well written, quick reads. An unusual setting and time, as well. My last name begins with A, so I found them looking for books set in Australia. my libraery has a whole shelf of them.

25.4 LISA MD'S TASK - IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME:
I read Loving Frank A Novel by Nancy Horan, set around the turn of the 20th century up until the time just prior to WWI, and A Time to Speak by Helen Lewis, set during WWII.

I am glad to be living during this time rather than either of those. If I had to choose, I would pick the time frame of Loving Frank over that of A Time to Speak. Drawbacks to this time include lack of women's right to vote, lack of technology, and the stringent Victorian expectations of society. From everything I have read about the time frame of WWII, it was a very difficult time for everyone, the extreme case being the protagonist of A Time to Speak, who was in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Even people who were not actively on the warfront suffered through loss of loved ones, economic difficulties, rationing, etc.

Total Points: 60
Tasks Completed: 3


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Task 15.2 Adventures with Alice and Lewis: The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

WOOHOO! Challenge time! Headed for Disney World Dec 5th so I have to do some speed reading before I go--although I will be taking books with me to read, I doubt I will get much of a chance to do so!

30.9 NEWBERRY BOOKS

I read from the Year 2006. Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins AND Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

It's hard to compare the books because they are so different. But I will say I liked Hitler Youth much better. I liked the way the stories and history were presented for youth.

Total Points: 30
Tasks Completed: 1

Sorry don't know why my ticker didn't update


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Finished my first task!

For 20.1--Beth MN's task to redo your favorite task from a past challenge--I chose to redo Lizzi's task from (I believe) the summer challenge. For that task, we were asked to read a book that we selected based solely on its cover design.

The first time for this task, I read a book that I ended up hating...and I'm usually very good at judging books by their covers. So I wanted to redeem myself in my eyes.

This time, I read The Road To Forever and really enjoyed it. As a side note, the cover picture is one that the author took himself. I gave it 4 stars and will post my review in the review section.

The cover:


Also, author Ron Felt is a Goodreads author. =)

Total Points = 20

Krista wrote: "WOOHOO! Challenge time! Headed for Disney World Dec 5th so I have to do some speed reading before I go--although I will be taking books with me to read, I doubt I will get much of a chance to do ..."

Yeah, I have to say I was disappointed in Criss Cross when I first read it...nothing happened.

Kathryn wrote: Oh my goodness, Ms Anderson, you are already in the 100s! That is crazy!!! You are a fast reader!!!"

Yeah...but part of it's my strategy. I'll slow down as I finish up the high-point, single-book tasks...and as I get gifts ready...and bake cookies for everyone I know...but I've been chomping at the bit for this, my first challenge, for about two weeks, so I'm pumped! Yay reading!

15.7 Kitchen Princess, vol. 1 by Natsumi Ando and Miyuki Kobayashi and Christmas cookies
This was a cute little manga about a young girl, Najika, with a downright magical cooking ability in which each chapter corresponds with a recipe included at the end of the book. I chose to make Najika's Christmas cookies. The recipe needed to be adjusted- 1/2 cup of flour was nowhere near enough, and there was a great deal of butter, which means the resulting cookies are more like shortbread than the sugar cookies I was expecting. Still, they are yummy! (Not pictured is the one shaped like a candy cane that I just ate. :P)






total points: 100