The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Completed Task 25.4--LISA MD'S TASK - IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

AND

The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran Johanna Moran is a Goodreads author

Each of these times periods had some very serious cons to them, so it was not an easy choice to pick which time period I would prefer to live in.

I choose during Nefertiti's reign, which is about 1300 B.C.-1350 B.C., give or take a few decades. In Ancient Egypt, they had working toilets. In the other book I read, they used stinky chamber pots. Though life expectancy was much shorter in ancient Egypt due to plague, women at least could make their own way for themselves. In the Wives of Henry Oades, which took place at the end of the 18th century, women were very much dependent upon men for their livelihood. I have also been fascinated with ancient Egypt since I was a child, and would have loved to see what it had really been like.

Total points: 255

Finished another one already! For task 5.4--A Winning Decade, I read:

Coraline by Neil Gaiman, which won several awards, one being the Hugo Award for best novella in 2003. Neil Gaiman is a Goodreads author.

Total points: 260

25.2 Friendship task: The Three Musketeers which was 720 pages.

As in the famous motto, "all for one and one for all", friendship is about being there, both in good times and bad. Sharing in each others good fortune and helping each other during times of misfortune.

Pages read: 4547
Books read: 14+
Tasks completed: 13
Total Points: 325
Liz (Bklyn)

I finished 30.7, Jan the Gryphon's muti-tasking with
The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir
It fits 15.9 B- author never read before, 25.3- Clue cover color , 30.1 A- published in the past decade 9/2009, 35.3 About Time "Day"

The author is working through midlife restlessness and her impending empty nest. I am at exactly the same point in my life. I originally gave this book 4 stars- it is thoughtful and graceful. But it kept me up most of the night- what had originally seemed so good was very flawed to me at 2 a.m. I won't rant here- my criticisms probably only relate to my personal situation- but it seemed that she talked the talk, but wasn't walking the walk. Maybe because I've been thinking about it for hours it was a better book than I thought it was in the dark of night- maybe she did touch a nerve in her honesty. She did write beautifully about many of the joys of motherhood and mourning the end of childhood.

+30
total 735

I finished a couple of tasks in the past few days.

15-9 The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, I started this forever ago and never finished it, boring! and Murder Takes the Cake by Gayle Trent, I liked this, have never read anything by her before. A fun, cozy myserty!

30-4 I read 'The Villa, the Lake, The Meeting:Wannsee and the Final Solution' by Mark Roseman. and 'Roll Me Over' by Raymond Gantter. Both were about WWII and were very interesting.

505 points

Finished task 30.4 by reading At Risk by Alice Hoffman. Its the story of an 11 year old girl with AIDS. Although it was a quick read, it certainly wasn't easy. I cried my way through more than a few parts of the book. I think the author did a good job at tackling a very difficult subject.

That should bring me to 170 pts.

Books Read: 11
Pages Read: 4,009
Total Points: 170

Ugh, no time to read lately!

Just completed:
5.6. Bounty Hunter: Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

Previously completed tasks
5.1: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
5.4: 2008 winner of the Agatha Award for Best Novel: Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews
5.8: Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
10.7. How I Met Your Mother: The Bro Code by Barney Stinson
15.6. Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Goodreads Author
Best gift I received: Many years ago, my husband (then boyfriend) gave me a telescope for my birthday and wrote on the card that his intention was to give me the stars. I just realized how fitting this book was, since Tristran's intent was the same!
DONATED: Diapers and formula to the local young mothers' relief.
15.8: Book: Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May) 118 pages
Movie: "It's a Wonderful Life"
25.5 Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind


Books read=8
Tasks completed=8
Total points=85

I finished task 30.10.
Read Half of a YELLOW Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook.

Total points 280
Total books 14
Total tasks 9

35.3 School Days
Robert B. Parker

5.9 Romantic - The Painted Kiss: A Novel

830 points

Gonna try to do better this go round than I did in my first challenge (Fall 09)

I have completed one task:
20 points, number 5 Odd Man Out

I read The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault. My review of the book has been posted. You should be able to find it by searching for the book or checking out recent reviews or something (I've done it a couple of times but honestly don't remember the specifics of how I've done it).

15.1 - MAKE ME LAUGH - In Honor Of Richard Pryor (Born December 2, 1940 – Died December 10, 2005) Famous African American Comedian….
A. Read A Black Comedy Or Satirical Novel (Ex. Infinite Jest A Novel Or Catch-22)
AND
B. Watch A Black Comedy Or Satirical Film (Ex. Burn After Reading Or Blazing Saddles)

I read Nightlight: A Parody which is a satirical novel about the book Twilight. I gave it 2 stars. I did not enjoy the book at all.

I watched Tropic Thunder which is a hilarious satirical film! I've seen the movie a number of times and it ALWAYS makes me laugh!

30.5 - DIANE'S TASK - POSTHUMOUSLY SPEAKING
A. Read A Fiction Book Told By A Narrator Who Is Deceased While Telling The Story (I.E. The Lovely Bones, Elsewhere, Or Stories Told By Characters Who Are Among The "Undead").
AND
B. Read Either Fiction Or Non-Fiction Book That Was First Published After The Death Of The Author (I.E. Maurice A Novel By E.M. Forster, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society By Mary Ann Shaffer)

For A - I read Elsewhere which was an excellent little book, narrated by Liz who is dead. Gave this one 4 stars.

For B - I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which was first published after the death of the author. It was a wonderful treat! I gave it 5 stars!

Totals as of 1/10/10:
390/1100 Points
21/58 Tasks Completed
37/58 Tasks Remaining
10193/23806 Pages Read
29/79 Books Read
50/79 Books Outstanding





NOTE: Gabrielle Zevin is a Goodreads author :)

I stayed up until 2 in the morning last night to finish Midnight Sun for 30.5 the posthumous task. I may be in my 30s, but I love the Twilight series and makes giggle like such nerd. :) I was sad that it cut off where it did and I hope she finishes it one day.

I also read Northanger Abbey, which was good, but not my favorite of Austen's novels. She was definitely still searching for her style on that one.

Total points: 345

I liked Midnight Sun Nicole. I was bummed she didn't finish it.

Roseann wrote: "One more down--

30.3--THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak (552 pgs.)
I have been thinking about reading this book for some time now and boy am I glad I did. Even if you do not read YA novels I woul..."

Roseann - The Book Thief is in my top ten for all time. A wonderful book that stays with you. Glad you read it.

Keep chugging - you are close to finishing by mid-point. Kudos.

With this posting, I've met my personal goal of reaching 350 points by the midway mark. My next goalpost is 500 points by end of January. Shouldn't be a big problem - I have 5 two-book tasks that are each half-done!

20.1 - Beth MN's Task: Revisiting the Past
I chose Sam's Monsterfest Task from the Fall Challenge (#25.10) with the word devil(s) in the title:Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens Jan 9

35.3 - DLM Rose's Task: It's About Time - I chose the word season(s)
Changing Seasons by Jessie Watson Jan 10

Total Pages = 8,319

Total Points = 355

5.6 Deadliest Catch: Desperate Hours by Larry Erikson. I think it is safe to say that I would never, no: COULD never, be a fisherman in the Bering Sea. I got sea sick just reading this book! But it was really interesting.

5.8 A Hoe Lot of Trouble by Heather Webber. Loved this cozy mystery and am looking forward to reading the rest of series!

10.8 The Tent by Margaret Atwood (Canadian). Good book, but it would have been great to read these with someone or in a class -- definitely would have gotten more out of them.

15.9:

Out with the old: Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster. Cute, though I am not overly enamored of books about people who spend money like crazy and then feel sorry for themselves when things go wrong.

New: Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs. This one was from the library. I really enjoyed this book about descendants of Greek gods going to boarding school.

This brings me to 595.

Finally back to reading some this week. I just finished task 30.6 Wendy's task by reading Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger who is also a Goodreads author . I chose it to go on vacation to New England and in this book also got to take a little mini vacation to Indonesia. I grew up in New England originally and part of this book is kayaking down a river, so it was nice to imagine that I was traveling with Mary and Cobb too! Surprising little love story of chance and fate. 4 stars.

Tasks Completed: 18
Points for this task: 30
Points thus far: 290/1100
Books read: 29
Pages read: 8328 (updated 1/10)

I read 25.8 - INANE TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINE DAY - Fallen and Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name - my total point total is now: 75.

Sorry Cynthia, it was 25-4 not 30-4 that I was claiming points for earlier, Lisa MD's task of reading 2 history books.

That should bring me to 500 points.

I finished 30.10, Theresa in Ohio's Color by Numbers with
A. Happy color orange The Orange Girl
B. number 9 Nine Dragons

The Orange Girl is a charming book that is simple and complex at the same time. 15 year-old Georg receives a letter from his deceased father. I read the last 20 pages through tears. Written by the author of Sophie's World

9 Dragons is latest Harry Bosch- always entertaining

+30
total 765

I completed Task 30.10 - Theresa in Ohio's Color by Numbers. I read Orange Mint and Honey: A Novel with the bright color of orange and its story that touches upon the healing power of gardens. And I read Nine Coaches Waiting where the nine coaches comes from a reference to a poem. The book is actually a mystery romance and very enjoyable.

This brings me to 110 points!

I completed 10.6 by reading The Remains of the Day, a 5-star from Jodi in Westerville. It was a really good read, I look forward to exploring more Kazuo Ishiguro.

Point Total: 85
Page Total: 3464
Book Total: 10

Completed Task 35.2 Northern Lights

Faintheart: An Englishman Ventures North of the Border by Charles Jennings

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Completed 15.2
Still Aliceby Lisa Genova. This was a reread for me for my bookclub.

Fables: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham. This graphic novel takes place in a fictional land- Fabletown.

**note** Lisa Genova is a goodreads author :)

Total points: 140

I completed another task...

10.5 POPULARITY CONTEST – Discovering The Hot Books Of 2009….
A. Go To http://www.goodreads.com/book/popular...
B. Click On The By Month Tab, Select The Month You Were Born In And Read One Of The Books From That List OR You May Use The Overall List For The Year.

I read Ecstasy by Jacquelyn Frank, which was hot in the month of January (which is my birthday month).
It started out a little slow but picked up in the middle. All in all, a pretty good read.

Total Points: 350/1100
Books Read: 27
Tasks Completed: 21/58

2 more tasks done!

For 30 point task #4 (Sandra's task), I read The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan.

For 30 point task #7 (Jan's task), I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This book also fits task 10.4 (on LisaMD's list) and 30-1 (written in last decade).

Updated totals:
Points: 115
Tasks completed: 6/58
Tasks in progress: 7
Books read: 13
Pages read: 3,765

Cynthia, I am doing a bit of rearranging.

30.7 - Multi-tasking: The Big Sleep which can be read for 25.1 1001 Books List, 25.4 Historical Fiction - written and takes place before WWII, and 15.9 New-to-me Author. (No new points).

25.3 A Game of Clue: (previously claimed under 30.7) and Blind Man with a Pistol. The latter book was borrowed from the public library. 25 points.

Pages read: 5047
Books read: 16+
Tasks completed: 14
Total Points: 350
Liz (Bklyn)

Did absolutely nothing all day long today, but curl up on the couch under my warm blankie and read.
Finished task 35.1
35.1A 597: Cold-blooded vertebrates, fishes The Lost World By Michael Crichton
35.1B 345: Criminal Law The Accused By Deborah Chiel

Completed Tasks

5.10 Definitely Dead

25.3 Carmilla & The Black Dagger Brotherhood An Insider's Guide
25.6 Emma

30.7 Lover Avenged

35.1 The Lost World & The Accused
35.3 The Xander Years, Volume 1


Total Points = 155
Tasks Completed = 6
Books read = 8
Pages read = 2,718


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I've completed another task.

35.3 Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

Total Points - 130
Books Read - 8
Tasks Completed - 7

Finished task 10.4 by reading Eclipse from Diane's list. This brings my total to 55 points.

Heather in KS

finished 5.9 with Fables: Storybook Love.

10.6 local literature lovers. I read The Mote in God's Eye (560 pages) a 5-star book of Shannon Lewis in Essendon, Australia (Essendon is a suburb on my side of Melbourne).

I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth for SANDRA'S TASK - WORLD AIDS DAY. The unconsecrated were "infected".

One more down! I finished 5.5 (Librarian's Recomendation). I read Outliers, which was recommended to me by the librarian at my library. I thought that book was absolutely fascinating. The message was perfectly clear from the first chapter of every section, but I still really wanted to read the rest for all the examples.

New Point Total: 270
Task Completed: 14
Tasks in Progress: 5
Books Read: 26
Pages Read: 7864

For 20.3 (Group Read) I read The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Lamb and posted in the discussion thread. I thought it was cute. 3 stars.

My total is now 615.

Completed one more:

30.3 BJ ROSE'S TASK
The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate - 340 pages (Melissa Senate is a Goodreads Author)
Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot - 288 pages
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams - 213 pages
Total Pages for this task: 841

Previously Completed Tasks
5.1 Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

5.10 Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

10.9 Swimsuit by James Patterson

25.5 This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

20.3 The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore.

25.6 Behaving Badly by Isabel Wolff

Total Points: 120
Tasks Completed: 7 (and 2 partial tasks)
Books Read: 11

25.7 Sam's Task - The Lost Generations
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Total points: 205

Ok- time to catch up again:

5.1 The Akhenaten Adventure-my favorite Disney movie is Aladdin.

10.7 Stone of Tears-My favorite current show is Legend of the Seeker (703 pages)

15.3 Truly, Madly-book 1 with book 2 set to be published in 2010- I am really excited for the second book
AND Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt-kind of a strange person to admire as she was pretty ruthless, but what she accomplished is pretty amazing.

25.8 Meridian AND Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate (Amber Kizer is a Goodreads Author)

25.10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home (Graphic Novel) AND -I loved this cover when I saw it in my library and checked it out just for the cover- the typeset was cool and the teenagers look so mysterious. Plus I love the glasses of the girl in the front left.

30.7 Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future For You- fits 10.7 (favorite show no longer on TV is Buffy), 5.10, and 25.10

Total Points 505/1100
Total Books 45/82
Total Tasks Completed 28/58
Total Pages 14723

20.3 Group Reads: Alice in Wonderland I liked this book very much. I'm suprised I haven't read it sooner since I loved the disney movie and have always been a fan of fantasy. I gave it 4*

25.5 Odd Man Out: Anansi Boys(Goodreads Author) I thought I would like it better than I did. I think it had more to do with timing than any fault of the books. Very clever, excellent character development and very imaginative. I gave it 3*

25.8 Inane Answering Machine Day: Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie is Not the Answer I would recommend this book for any woman 50 pounds over weight or more who can't seem to be able to do anything about it. Its hysterical and Lancasters observations are spot on. I'll definately be reading more of her books in the future. I gave it 4*
Lirael - I liked this trilogy very much but preferred the last two books considerably over the first. I gave it 5*.

Total Point: 180
Total Points I'm aiming for:700
Total Pages: 3733

30.10 The Girl in Hyacinth Blue
Susan Vreeland
and
Eight Cousins
Louisa Mae Alcott

I finished task 35.4

I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and Happy all the Time by the late great Laurie Colwin. The latter was a reread for me, but as GR says in The Happiness Project, rereads can be a very acceptable way to make yourself happy and "Be Cindie."

320/1100
total pages: 6045
total books read; 20
tasks in progress 2

20.2 rookie challenge (civil rights) I read The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
451 pages. Good reads author. This is an awesome book. 4 stars.

Total points - 115
Tasks completed - 6
Books Read - 7
Total pages - 2,772

20.1 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - ROOKIE OF THE SEASON - BETH MN'S TASK - REVISITING THE PAST
Former 30 point task... did not see what challenge it was from in the task help section.

** Lizzi’s Task – Judge A Book By Its Cover. Select A Book Only Because You Love The Cover, And Post A Picture Or A Link So We Can See The Cover When You're Finished.

Mathilda Savitch by Victor Lodato***
This was such a quirky and rather sad tale of a girl stuck in her own island of grief after the death of her sister. Darkly comedic at times, it was a heartbreaking look at child dealing with grief and no support.

25.1. LEORA'S TASK - 1001 BOOKS
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time***** This was a reread, but I loved it as much the 2nd time as I did the first.
and
A Christmas Carol*** This was fun to read at Christmastime.

Total points: 195

I just completed my Odd Man Out challenge, by reading The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf which I do not believe fits in any other task.

Switching Toby Tyler to 30.7. Points total should be 260. Thanks!

5.8: The House in the Mist by Anna Katharine Green 1/4/10

10.1: The Ringmaster's Secret by Carolyn Keene 12/3
10.5: Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom 12/27

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. completed 1/4
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 by David Gregory 12/28

25.1 The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West and Where Angels Fear To Tread by EM Forester completed 1/1
25.2: A Prayer for Owen Meany. (637 pages)
25.4 The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent and The Man Without a Country and Its History by Edward Everett Hale completed 1/4/10

30.3: Hideaway by Dean Koontz (400 pgs) and The King of Torts by John Grisham (432 pgs) completed 1/3

30.7: Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis 12/7 Counts for 35.3 and 10.1.

30.8 A. First Across the Continent. The Story of The Exploring Expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804-5-6
30.10: B. The 39 Steps

35.3: Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham 1/10

Total Points: 260
Books Read: 20
Pages Read: 4716

5.2 Flag - The Half Life of Stars: A Novel

10.10 Russia - Fairy Tales
and Mozart and Salieri: The Little Tragedies both by Alexander Pushkin

I bought Pushkin's Fairy Tales in Moscow seven years ago so it was overdue to be read, but the 129 pages are printed in two columns with English and Cyrillic poetry side by side. I read Pushkin's The Little Tragedies as well to soothe my conscience.

845 points

THERESA IN OHIO'S TASK - COLOR BY NUMBERS
A. Shocking Pink
B. Two for the Dough
Books Read: 28
Pages Read: 8907
Tasks Completed: 22
Tasks in Progress: 7

Couple more finished...

Task 5.10 - Alliteration: Miss Match by Wendy Tolliver (1/10/10)

Task 15.7 - Cookbook: The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner by Liz Edmunds (1/11/10)

I made crescent rolls from the book for Christmas dinner with my family, and my mom, sister, and I made pizza + sauce from it together a couple times over the break.

That puts me at 180 pts, 9 tasks completed, 4 tasks partially completed, 17 books/4666 pages read.

I just realized I can count this one:

15.7 PART A: All-new Complete Cooking Light Cookbook by Ann C. Cain
I read the whole thing cover-to-cover in search of some new weeknight recipes for my family. My copy is now marked-up, tape-flagged, and has food stains on several of the pages. I guess those are the marks of a good cookbook!

PART B: I made both the Spinach & Artichoke dip and the Baked Feta Marinara for my family's holiday get-together. Both absolutely delicious!

Previously Completed Tasks
30.3 The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate
Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
(Total Pages = 841)(01.10.10)

5.1 Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon (01.05.10)

5.10 Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler (12.23.09)

10.9 Swimsuit by James Patterson (12.19.09)

25.5 This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (12.17.09)

20.3 The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore. (12.15.09)

25.6 Behaving Badly by Isabel Wolff (12.09.09)

Total Points: 135
Tasks Completed: 8 (and 2 partial tasks)
Books Read: 12