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WINTER CHALLENGE 2009-2010
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WINTER CHALLENGE 2009-2010 COMPLETED TASKS
30.7. How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford fits two other tasks.1. Bonnie's Task - It was published during this decade (2009)
2. Sara Nicole's Task - It's cover is predominantly pink.
TOTAL = 105 POINTS
25.5-Odd Man OutI read "Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (GoodReads Author). I liked the Time Traveler's Wife better.
For 5.5 A Libararian's Job Is Never Done"Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs" by Molly Harper
points this task: 5
tasks completed: 8
total points: 145
Another one bites the dust--25.8--THE AGE OF MIRACLES, EMBRACING THE NEW MIDLIFE by Marianne Williamson
I liked the way this book looked at middle-age as a new starting point and not the beginning of the end. I see myself as starting anew what with beginning Grad School this month and heading off into a new career.
&
REMAKE by Connie Willis
This was a reread for me. I had been planning on reading another book, but as I was organizing my closet I noticed this on a bookshelf (yes, I have bookshelves in my closets). It is one of my favorites of Willis--Illustrating a future where the movies and tv are "dubbed" with actors and acresses of the Golden Age and noone is actually performing anymore. I like its cynicism, showing that Hollywood is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.
This brings me to 975 points!!
Beth wrote: "30.7. How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford fits two other tasks.1. Bonnie's Task - It was published during this decade (2009)
2. Sara Nicole's Task - It's cover is predominantly pink..."
It shouldn't fit Sara Nicole's task:
3. SARA NICOLE'S TASK - A GAME OF CLUE
A. Suspects - Scarlet, Peacock, Mustard, Green, Plum, Or White: Read A Book With A Cover That Very Predominantly Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Or White. Post A Picture Of The Cover When You Claim Points, Please!
Maybe the second multi-tasking task is Gina's Friendship task?
Another one down...Task 30.9 Rachel Lee Newbery Award
I chose 1977 and read the honor book of Abel's Island and the award winner of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. I understand why Roll of Thunder won, but if I had a pick a favorite, I enjoyed Abel's Island more. I love a little imagination in my juvenile books and this book delivered that. I had never heard of it before this challenge and Roll of Thunder was not a book that I had read in school. It was not required until after I had passed those levels. I really enjoyed Abel's Island just for the pure joy of a story. It is written by the author who wrote Shrek, so makes it interesting to see his style.
Tasks Completed: 16
Points for this task: 30
Points thus far: 250/1100
Books read: 27
Pages read: 7640 (updated 1/3)
Mod
Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw Travels in Search of Canada
I really enjoyed this, and was once again reminded (and embarassed) about all the world history I do not know.
+10
total 550
I finished task 30.6 (Wendy's task - dream vacation) by reading The Book Thief. Germany is my dream vacation spot, although I'd prefer it without all the Nazis :pI thought the book was amazing and I'm definitely in the large crowd of people who absolutely adored the book.
That should bring me up to 125 points. Since the book was over 500 pages, I should get a "ticket" for that as well.
Completed Task 10.7Supernatural: Bone Key by Keith R. A. DeCandido based on the Supernatural TV show.
Here are my completed tasks for the week: 15.5 My initials are "S" and "N"
South Africa - Isabel Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl
New Zealand - Nikki - Go Ask Alice
15.7 I read Murder on the Menu and made the peanut butter snacks for people and our dog.
15.9 A book that I have been meaning to read for a long time was The Five People You Meet in Heaven and a book I read by a new author to me was Tender at the Bone Growing Up at the Table
30.2 Ender's Game(Hugo Award) and Interstellar Pig - I am not a big fan of sci-fi, but I found both of these to be enjoyable. I will be recommending them to my freshmen male students especially!
30.9 Winner:Walk Two Moons Honor: Catherine, Called Birdy Again, two very good books, but I LOVED Walk Two Moons. I plan on reading more by both authors.
This added 105 points to my score, so my new total is:
I finished the task 15.1 Make Me LaughI read The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore. This is a confusing book. It was funny but confusing and it just kinda ends.
For part B, I watched Burn After Reading. I saw it at my parents house on New Year's Day. Again, it was funny but kinda stupid.
Completed Tasks: 13
Books Read: 17
Total Points: 220
30.6 Dream Vacation: Greece for the beauty of the light, water, land, and ancient/modern cultures - Prospero's Daughters
680 points
Hello! Finished two more tasks - Group Read - Princess Bride. Definitely loved this and it just added to my existing love for the movie by providing depth and backstory to each of the characters.
10.6 - Local Literature - The Golden Compass (Linda Leigh's list in NYC was used).
This was my first time reading a book from His Dark Materials, though my friend had lent me the entire series over a year ago to read. I have already seen The Golden Compass the movie and the book seemed to follow along pretty closely with the story i already knew. I am glad to have finished it and be on to the next in the series, because there will be definite surprises in it for me.
Because after all, a talking armor clad polar bear SHOULD be a surprise!!
Looking forward to the next in the series.
Total: 50 points
Another task done!30.7 Multi-tasking
I read The Shadow of the Wind. I liked the ending but the book never captured my imagination. It took me longer to read than I had expected it would. The Shadow of the Wind also fits task 5.7 (the author was born in the Year of the Dragon like I was), task 10.4 (it is a 5-star book on Lisa MD's shelves), and task 30.1 (it was published in 2001/2004).
That brings me to 80 points total!
Completed 20.1 Revisiting the past by readingThe Road. This book fits a previous 15 point task to read a former TNNBC group read.
New total: 115 pts
Completed 10.5 by reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.Total points: 95.
10-3 is done with 'Nappliy Every After' by Trisha Thomas425 points
Task 5.2 - Red, White and Blue Cover Going Rogue An American Life, [image error]
Task Points:5
Total Points:115
Tasks:7
Books:9
Nicki - STL
Hi, Newbie here. If I do something horribly wrong please let me know.Completed tasks: 20.3 A
A: I loved Through the looking Glass. I play chess a lot and its awesome that Lewis Caroll played off of that in his book. It actually requires some thought to follow the plotline. I couldn't believe it. My favorite part in this book is when Alice reads Jabberwocky. I can now recite that poem word for word because I've read it soo many times.
Task points: 20
Total points: 20
Tasks: 1
Books: 1
Finished:15.10 A. The Classic Philip Jose Farmer 1952-1964 by Philip Jose Farmer
AND
15.10 B. Watched The Shawshank Redemption (James Whitmore was the actor who died) I'd never seen this one before and I loved it.
and
15.1 A One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
AND
15.1 B The President's Analyst starring James Coburn, a very cheesey 1970's effort that was fun to watch at home so we could make comments about it.
My sister Jan (the Gryphon) and I had a three day film fest and watched 9 movies (and parts of two others that we couldn't bear to finish). If anyone is interested, we started on New Year's Eve with Up, followed by Wolverine, and The Proposal. After the Rose Bowl Parade we watched the movies we needed for the Challenge--The Shawshank Redemption, After the Thin Man, and The President's Analyst. And Saturday was reserved for Clue, The Princess Bride and Best Man In Grass Creek.
(the two non finishers were A Christmas Story and Thank You for Smoking)
15.5 Readers round the world unite.My initials are CP.
C - Canada - Seth - read Bug Jack Barron
P - Portugal - AnaT - read These Old Shades
Hello all! Finished another task:25.10. EMILY'S TASK - DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER...UNLESS IT'S REALLY WELL DESIGNED
25.10. (A) Making A Great First Impression: Read A Book That's Cover Design Draws You In. (Either Post The Cover Image In Your Post And/Or Write About What You Liked About The Design)
Idiot America How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free by Charles P. Pierce (Hardcover, 224 pages)
(the cover has a dinosaur in line to get onto Noah's Ark! a Noah's Ark that has an AMERICAN flag flying from it!)
The author said that he was inspired to write this collection of essays by this Photo:
A Photo of dinosaur w/saddle from Creation Museum http://www.flickr.com/photos/williac/...
Pierce has come up with three premises of life in present-day America (none of which are good for America):
First Premise: Any theory is valid if it moves units (by which he means: makes sales)
Second Premise: Anything can be true if someone says it loudly enough
Third Premise: Fact is that which enough people believe. Truth is measured by how fervently they believe it.
AND
25.10. (B) It's What's Inside That Counts: Read A Graphic Novel.
Watchmen by Alan Moore (Paperback, 408 pages)
Won the Hugo Award for Other Forms (1988)(the only year this category existed for Hugos)
Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. Originally published by DC Comics as a monthly limited series from 1986 to 1987, it was later republished as a trade paperback, which popularized the "graphic novel" format. To date, Watchmen remains the only graphic novel to win a Hugo Award, and is also the only graphic novel to appear on Time magazine's 2005 list of "the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present".
I'm not sure why it received so much acclaim. There is alot of violence in Watchmen, violently portrayed. Women don't do well in Watchmen; most are violently murdered, sometimes after being raped. Maybe because Watchmen started the "conflicted superhero" trend in the 1980s?
Anyways, I'm now at
255 + 25 = 280
Tasks Completed: 14
Points for this task: 25
Points thus far: 280/1100
Books read: 19
Pages Read: 5679
Summary:Previously Claimed Tasks:
5.8 Cozy Mystery (Winspear from list) #6 Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear (Hardcover, 303 pages)
10.2 LOUIS LOUIS - Read A Novel With A Character Who Lost One Of Their Five Senses Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements (Paperback, 251 pages)
10.7 -SMALL SCREEN – Doctor Who The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner (256 pages)
15.5 D: Country: DOMINICA Person: EBU Book: The Shadow Riders
H: Country: HUNGARY Person: Mollie Book: Mother Night
15.7 FOOD + FAMILY - Book w/recipes or Cookbook: Cooking for Mr. Latte A Food Lover's Courtship, with Recipes by Amanda Hesser (336 pages)
15.8 SILVER SCREEN CELEBRATIONS : (A) book: @Home For The Holidays by Meredith Efken (Paperback, 400 pages) (B) Movie “A Christmas Carol” (1985) (w/George C. Scott as Scrooge)
20.2 Read A Book That Is RelAted To The Civil Rights Movement.: Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund (Hardcover, 524 pages)
[ If you read a book that is 500+ pages you will earn once chance for this task :]
20.3 GROUP READS C. Romance The Princess Bride by William Goldman (480 pages)
25.2 Read A Book Where Friendship Is A Main Theme An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (227 pages)
25.9 To Honor The Authors That Go Beyond Just The Written Word
(A) General Sherman's Christmas Savannah, 1864 (2009) (973.7) (Hardcover, 256 pages)
(B) #1 Wicked Game (2008) by Jeri Smith-Ready (Paperback, 384 pages)
30.6 Read A Book That Takes Place In Your Dream Vacation Spot The Road to Paradise Island by Victoria Holt (368 pages)
25.10 DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER
(A) Idiot America How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free by Charles P. Pierce (Hardcover, 224 pages)
(B) Watchmen by Alan Moore (Paperback, 408 pages)
30.9 THE NEWBERRY AWARD - Pick A Year – 2008 Winner: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village (2007) by Schlitz, Laura Amy.(96 pages) Honor: The Wednesday Wars (2007) by Gary D. Schmidt (264 pages)
35.1. PJ READS TASK - FUN WITH THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM –
Highest rated: Julian Comstock A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson (Hardback, 416 pages)
(A) 417 Dialectology & historical linguistics
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue The Untold Story of English by John H. McWhorter (Hardback, 230 pages)
(B) 664 Food technology
An Edible History of Humanity by Tom Standage (Hardcover, 288 pages)
READ BUT NOT YET CLAIMED
1 Nebula Awards Showcase 2009 edited by Ellen Datlow (Paperback, 384 pages) 30.10 (B)
2 Strange Brew edited by P. N. Elrod (Paperback, 384 pages) 25.3 (A)BLUE
3 #1 What's a Ghoul to Do? by Victoria Laurie (Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages) ????
4 The Muse of the Revolution The Secret Pen of Mercy Otis Warren and the Founding of a Nation by Nancy Rubin Stuart (Hardcover, 314 pages) 15.3 (B).
Completed 2 tasks...5.9 = ISN'T IT ROMANTIC - Read A Book With The Words: Love, Romance, Cupid, Sweetheart, Valentine, Heart, Kiss, Chocolate, Roses, Or Jewelry In The Title. (Alternate Forms Of These Words Are Acceptable I.E. Romantic Or Kissing Would Be Fine.)
I read Night's Cold Kiss by Tracey O'Hara and LOVED it!!
15.5 = READERS ROUND THE WORLD UNITE - One Of The Best Things About Goodreads Is That It Allows Readers From Around The World To Share Thoughts About The Books They Love So For This Task…
I read Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia from Joanne in the Virgin Islands, British. Then read The Polar Express from Chrissie in Brussels. VB are my initials.
Total Points: 335/1100
Books Read: 23
Tasks Completed: 19/58
5.6 IT'S A DIRTY JOB BUT...Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (read Jan 3/10)
Tasks Completed: 3/60
Books Read: 3
Pages Read: 1284
20/1100 points
Stephanie wrote: "Here are my completed tasks for the week: 15.5 My initials are "S" and "N"
South Africa - Isabel Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl
New Zealand - Nikki - Go Ask Alice.
Admittedly that probably has something to do with the immense desire I had to go to boarding school when I was growing up...
Mod
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Lisa See is a GR author
+10
total 560
For 35.4, my (constant) resolution is to help my three daughters get along better and to grow up to be strong, happy women. For 35.4A I read The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman. It was dark and twisty and thoroughly disturbing to a mother of three girls, but it is one I can definitely recommend. Just be prepared to be emotionally wrung out. 4.5 stars from me.
For 35.4B I read One and the Same My Life as an Identical Twin and What I've Learned about Everyone's Struggle to Be Singular by Abigail Pogrebin. This book is primarily about twins, but also about the struggle we all go through attempting to balance our needs to be simultaneously bonded to others and our own person. It was an interesting read.
This brings me to 520 and I am ready to read something light-hearted!
15.4 Ophelia Joined the Group Maidens Who Don't Float Classic Lit Signs on to Facebook. And I played way more then 1 hour of Facebook games... if I had only contained to one hour it wouldn't be a big deal... This book was good if you read the story being referenced, otherwise it was confusing. However, it does tell me what classics I do need to read. Anyway, I recommend that if you're in Borders or Barnes and Noble, you look it up and read a couple of the stories. I would personally recommend Pride & Prejudice and then the bio of Jane Austen. It is really funny!Total Points:30
Total Tasks Completed:3
Total Pages Read:1841
Total Books Read:6
One more down, just in time to get back into a normal routine!25.10 Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch. The cover shows an assortment of pretty victorian-era glass bottles. I love the decorative stoppers and the delicate labels and the fact that some of the contents are somewhat mysterious... relics of a bygone era of tonics and cure-alls. I nearly grabbed this book from the book store based on the cover, but I decided to wait as there are so many in my TBR pile. Lucky me Santa delivered it for Christmas. It was a pretty good mystery - pretty cozy, actually.The Sandman Vol. 02 The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman (a Goodreads author). I wasn't sure how I would like this, since I have mixed feelings about graphic novels and Neil Gaiman too for that matter. It was a pretty good book, though the storyline was a bit meandering. I do like how graphic novels give the reader a level of understanding beyond the actual words on the page. But I did not care for the artistic style of these illustrations. I thought they were harsh and unappealing; and while I appreciate that in this case that style complements the story, I still didn't care for it.
375 points
I completed 35.2 (Northern Lights) by reading Into the Beautiful North A Novel and Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name A Novel. Both were good reads but I was really impressed by the first book. Luis Alberto Urrea is a Goodreads Author.My total is now 235.
New tasks in bold. I'm switching Have a little faith from 25.5 to 10.5. New total should be 200 points.10.1: The Ringmaster's Secret by Carolyn Keene 12/3
10.5: Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
15.2: Alice Sit-By-The-Fire by JM Barrie and The Marvellous Land of Oz 12/29
15.8 I read Charles Kuralt's Christmas and watched The Flinstone's Christmas. I love watching old cartoons during the holidays- I don't think I'll ever grow out of them!
15.9: Superstitious by R.L. Stine and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (**Goodreads author) 12/10
20.1: Old task 20.3: Christian Fiction: Dinner with a Perfect Stranger An Invitation Worth Considering
25.1 The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West and Where Angels Fear To Tread by EM Forester completed 1/1
I really enjoyed both of these books.
25.2: A Prayer for Owen Meany. (637 pages)
30.3: Hideaway by Dean Koontz (400 pgs) and The King of Torts by John Grisham (432 pgs) completed 1/3
30.8
35.3: Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis 12/7
finished task 25.6 by reading Crime A Novel which takes place in Scotland. depressing story. 
Total Points: 385/1100
Books Read: 21/79+
Tasks Completed: 15/58
Tasks in Progress: 1
Task 35.2: Warm Beach
a) A Short Account of the Success of Warm Bathing in Paralytic Disorders by John Summers
b) The Beach House by Jane Green
Task 15.8
a) This Christmas by Jane Green
b) I watched Miracle on 34th Street
a) A Short Account of the Success of Warm Bathing in Paralytic Disorders by John Summers
b) The Beach House by Jane Green
Task 15.8
a) This Christmas by Jane Green
b) I watched Miracle on 34th Street
I finally finished a couple more tasks. I read The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn back on 12/17/09, but I just watched the movie for the second part of 15.8 last night. I watched Nothing Like the Holidays and I was not impressed.
I also finished reading The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld for task 35.3 on 12/31/09. It is the first in the Midnighters series and I am looking forward to reading the next one. It is a very interesting concept and the storyline is interesting too.
So this should give me a whopping grand total of 75 points.
Finished:10.8 Bitten (Goodreads Author)
15.1 Island of the Sequined Love Nun and watched Blazing Saddles
15.7 Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Entertaining and made Slow Cooker Barbeque Beef
20.1 The Help (Goodreads Author)
20.2 -Picked task 30.5 from summer 2009 -read 3 YA books: Gift of the Unmage (Goodreads Author) ; The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading (Goodreads Author) ; Demon Chick
30.1 Demon Ex Machina (goodreads author) and Jumper
30.3 Once Upon Stilettos; Damsel Under Stress A Novel; Don't Hex with Texas (928 pages total)
35.3 Split Second
Total Points 395/1100
Total Books 38/82
Total Tasks Completed 22/58
Total Pages 12776
10.3 The Long FallWalter Mosely
10.2 - LOUIS LOUIS -In Honor Of Louis Braille (January 4, 1809 – January 6, 1852) Famous For Devising The Braille Method Used By The Blind For Reading And Writing…A. Read A Novel With A Character Who Lost Or Was Born Not Having The Use Of One Or More Of Their Five Senses (I.E. A Character Who Is Blind, Deaf Etc.)
Ex. The Long Silence of Mario Salviati A Novel
OR
B. Read A Non-Fiction Account Of The Life Of A Person Who Lost Or Was Born Not Having The Use Of One Or More Of Their Five Senses (I.E. A Character Who Is Blind, Deaf Etc.).
Ex.The Story of My Life
I read Blindness(3 STARS) for this task. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. I'll post a full review in my review section.
30.8 - KARI ♪'S TASK - EXPLORING WITH LEWIS AND CLARK
January 18th Marked The Beginning Of The Lewis And Clark Bicentennial (1804-1806). The Expedition Laid Much Of The Groundwork For The Westward Expansion Of The US.
In Honor Of This, Read One Fiction And One Non-Fiction (Or 2 Non-Fiction BUT NOT 2 FICTION) Book Related To This Time Period..
A. One Book Needs To Be About One Of The Following People: Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark Or Sacajawea (Or Can Involve All).The Person In Question Needs To Be Involved In AT LEAST 1/2 Of The Book).
B. And The Other About One Of These Events: The Lousiana Purchase, The Western Expansion, Or Exploration And/Or Pioneers During The Time Period Of 1800 To 1880.
C. When Claiming Points For This Task - Briefly Explain (3-5 Sentences) Why You Would Have Liked/Disliked To Have Lived During That Time Period.
I read Little House in the Big Woods for Task A. 4 STARS. I really enjoyed this wonderful book - I read the series as a child but I think I loved it even more reading it as an adult!
I read Thomas Jefferson for Task B. 3 STARS. I'm not big on historical books like this so I was apprehensive about reading it. It was a bit dry and not particularly engaging but I didn't hate it. I realized that I knew a lot more about Thomas Jefferson than I ever thought ...
Although I think life was in many ways more 'simple' during this time (which in some ways sounds wonderful), I would miss the modern conveniences entirely too much. I also don't think I would be happy with the way that women are viewed at this time - basically women were only acknowledged in connection to the men in their life - their father/husband/brother, etc. That would just not be a satisfying place for me.
Totals as of 1/4/10:
335/1100 Points
18/58 Tasks Completed
40/58 Tasks Remaining
9087/23806 Pages Read
25/79 Books Read
54/79 Books Outstanding
30.1 Book published in last decade: The Historian & Book made into a movie in last decade: Into the Wild.
Books read: 2
Tasks completed: 1
Total points: 30
I have completed task #15.9 (Out with the old and in with the new books) by reading the following:Born Standing Up A Comic's Life by Steve Martin
This book has been on my TBR list since March 2009. I'm glad this task motivated me to read it. I gave it 3 stars.
Bozo Sapiens Why to Err is Human by Michael Kaplan, Ellen Kaplan
I have never read any of the authors previous works. The subject matter was very interesting. 4 stars.
Being sick and overloaded at work has caused me to hit a few bumps in my road, but I'm trying to catch up. Here's what I've completed:15.7 - I read 365: No Repeats by Rachael Ray. I know most people either love or hate Rachael Ray, I guess I am in the "love" camp. I like the variety of the recipes in this book and I think most of her recipes are quite easy to follow, which is great for somebody like me who loves cooking but has little time to dedicate to it. I made recipe #288, the lime & honey glazed salmon with black bean & corn salsa. It was absolutely delicious and got lots of compliments, even from one person who didn't normally eat fish.
30.1 - I read The Gloria Anzaldua Reader by AnaLouise Keating (2009), and The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (books came out 2000-2003 & the movie was released 2007).
The Gloria Anzaldua Reader is a must-read for anyone interested in women's studies, cultural studies, or queer studies. I loved it!
Persepolis was also great! It was quick and fun to read, but packed with information and great narrative. I've seen the movie, but preferred the book, though the movie adaptation was fairly accurate.
Books Read: 7 (including books for half-complete tasks)
Tasks Completed: 4
Pages Read: 1971
Total Points: 80
I feel like it's taken me forever to complete another task since I've been working on these multiple book tasks, but I'm finally done with one! Completed task 35.4 Roseann's Task - Read about your resolution. My resolution for the year is to have a baby, so I read Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner (a GR author!) and What to Expect Before You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff. Little Earthquakes was a great read, I'd highly recommend it to anyone, it's a great commentary on women and friendship. As for WTE, it's an interesting read and can ease your mind about TTC. It was really informative and I feel totally prepared now!170/1100 points
Tasks Completed: 7/60
Tasks In Progress: 5
Books Read: 12
Pages Read: 3,310
I just read a book that I *think* will work for 15.1, but please let me know if you wouldn't call this a satirical novel and I'll move it elsewhere.Completed for 15.1:
How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve HelyI also watched The Stepford Wives (which was on one of the links Jennifer provided -- thanks, Jennifer!).
NOTE: Steve Hely is a GR author.
Thanks!
I completed 25.3 (Clue) with
and Catching Fire (Catching Fire came from the library)I enjoyed both of these, but thought Girl with the Dragon Tattoo could have been about 100 pages shorter. I have the second, but have not immediately gone to it. Catching Fire was good, not quite as good as Hunger Games, but good. I wish I had waited to read them though so that I could read the third in the trilogy.
I also finished 15.6 (Gift) with The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. My gift given to me was a quilting frame from my husband. We have to constantly find room for it, and my husband never complains, which is a continual gift for me. I sorted through my clothes and donated to Goodwill as the giving part of this task.
That puts me at
135 points
2856 pages read
* My version of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had 590 pages so I'm putting in for the Big Books ticket.
Finished:5.5 LIBRARIAN'S JOB
A. Lorie (who orders the fiction at my local library) is a horse person, so she recommended
The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss. Usually our reading tastes are 180 degrees apart, but I agree with her on this story set in WWI Oregon about a 20 year-old girl who hires herself out to break horses without cruelty. It is by turns funny, heartbreaking, and nostalgic and very worth the read. (Well, I listened to it--which I rarely do--and enjoyed it a lot.) 5*B. Running Hot byRunning Hot
by Jayne Ann Krenz is a pretty typical paranormal suspense romance, part of the Arcane Society series. Grace is working as a genealogy librarian for the Arcane Society when she is asked to go undercover in Hawaii. Luther is the wounded (in so many ways) agent asked to be her bodyguard. True love does not always run smoothly. 3*
Finished two more tasks:25.2 Gina - Friendship: read Five Star Expressions - The Card by D. L. Nelson
A pleasant story about two college roommates who keep in touch over the years. They use the same Christmas card every year and just update it with a pithy line or two to give a sense of how their lives are progressing. Good, easy read.
Friendship is being able to feel like you have just been talking to someone even though it may be years since you have communicated. Friendship is someone accepting you even with your warts and imperfections.
30.3 BJ Rose - Snowed In: This was a great task since I was able to read several smaller books about the holiday season and a couple of specialty books that I have been wanting to read - 909 pages total:
1. A Little House Christmas Holiday Stories From the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (130 Pages)
2. Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado (112 pages)
3. The Christmas Child A Story of Coming Home by Max Lucado (48 pages)
4. Christmas in Plains Memories by Jimmy Carter (155 pages)
5. A War of Gifts by Orson Scott Card (126 pages)
6. Stitches A Memoir by David Small (329 pages)
A War of Gifts is an Orson Scott Card story in his Ender Wiggin saga but with a Christmas twist. He addresses many issues related to belief systems and trying to suppress them. Extremely good and just adds one more dimension to a wonderful saga. 5 stars
Stitches is a very good graphic novel chronicling the author’s battle with a dysfunctional family, emotional and physical abuse, and cancer. Very powerful. 4 stars
POINTS 510
TASKS 26
BOOKS 39
PAGES 8636
HOLIDAY BOOKS 28
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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Laura Childs (other topics)
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(*It's Not Required But Feel Free To Enjoy This Book Curled Up In Front Of A Fire Or Wrapped Up In A Comfy Blanket With A Hot Beverage Of Your Choice!)
Death in Disguise - Caroline Graham
5 pts