The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Try editing your ticker post by adding a [ at the very, very beginning, before url. I think that could be why it isn't working--it's not reading the command.

I am now on the board, yay! I completed 25.6 with Claire Letemendia's The Best of Men, which takes place in England during the Civil War. I'm also claiming my first 'big book' ticket, since this one is 680 pages. It's also pretty good, if a little tough to follow in places.

Current Total: 25 points

Completed my first task -

15.10 - We Will Remember You - I read The Moai Murders by Lyn Hamilton (August 6, 1944 - September 10, 2009) and watched Sixteen Candles directed by John Hughes (February 18, 1950 – August 6, 2009)

I gave The Moai Murders only 2 out of 5 stars (I was feeling generous) - I really didn't care for her style and found myself ready to throw the book across the room when one of the characters started talking like she was in Regency England, and not in 2005..."Alas", "What are you peering at?", etc.

Books Read = 1
Tasks In Progress = 2
Tasks Completed = 1

Cheryl ~ Petra's right. You need to use the link that has html code. It's the one under the box labeled HTML and starts out

Hello!

I have completed the following task:

Task 35.2 ~ DLM Rose's Task: Time by reading the novel Day After Night: A Novel by Anita Diamant; the word "day" in the title satisfying the task requirement. This was a wonderful book. I rate it 4 stars.

# of pages read: 295/24436
# points 35/1100
# tasks 1/58
# of books read: 1

20.2 ROOKIE OF THE SEASON - BETH MN'S TASK - REVISITING THE PAST
I chose Sam's 25 pt task from last season: MONSTERFEST, and chose the word vampire for my monster word with The Vampyre And Other Tales of the Macabre by John William Polidori.

Total Points: 85
Tasks Completed: 5
Tasks in Progress: 3


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One more for today-

30.8--Kari/SACAGEWEA SPEAKS by Joyce B Hunsaker

A book written from Sacagewea's perspective. It was history lite for me, I would have liked a little more about what life was like for her rather than just putting the expedition from her POV.

and

BLACK PIONEERS:AN UNTOLD STORY by William Loren Katz
A much more interesting book about what life was like for African-American poineers after the emancipation. It was well written and covered both men and women of the time.

I don't think I would have wanted to live in this time as it was just too rough. I mean, I like camping, but I wouldn't want to have to worry every day about the basic essentials and whether or not I would survive.

This brings me to 250 points!

30.4. World AIDS Day: What You Don't Know Can Kill You

I liked how the characters seemed real with their reactions and everything. I didn't like how it read like a Lifetime movie.

Total: 30 + 200 (from earlier) = 230

Finished my first task! I read The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 for the 20.3 group reads task and posted in the discussion board.

Ms Anderson wrote: "30.4. World AIDS Day: What You Don't Know Can Kill You

I liked how the characters seemed real with their reactions and everything. I didn't like how it read like a Lifetime movie.
..."
So I saw you went back an edited an old post to add an additional task (I checked when our scores didn't match up) - PLEASE don't do that - I don't go back and check old posts unless there is a discrepancy so please just post tasks in a new post if you forgot to add them.

I'm changing a previous task 30.7 Jan's Multi-Tasking with Finger Lickin' Fifteen. This fits 5.8 - Baby It's Cold Outside & 15.3 What Women Want to Read. I agree with Donna Jo that Janet Evanovich doesn't really write cozy's but hey it's on the website so what the heck!

Finished my first couple of tasks

5.9 Isn't it Romantic
Broken Hearts - R. L. Stine, 218 pages

35.2 Going on a Winter Vacation - Ski Trip
Ski Weekend - R. L. Stine, 165 pages
Class Trip - Bebe Fras Rice 232 pages

Total Points: 40
Total Books: 3
Total Tasks: 2

5 POINT TASKS
1. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
2. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
3. 1984 by George Orwell
4. The Tattoo Artist: A Novel by Jill Ciment (2005 Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize)
5. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella 12/3/09
6. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
7. The Music of Chance by Paul Auster
8. Fudge Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 5) by Joanne Fluke
9. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
10. Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison


10 POINT TASKS
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2. The Story of My Life (Bantam Classic) by Helen Keller
3. Double Dutch by Sharon M. Draper
4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (DIANE)
5. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
6. East of Eden (Centennial Edition) by John Steinbeck
7. When Lightning Strikes (1-800-Where-R-You, #1) by Meg Cabot 12/1/09 (series 1-800-the-missing on life time)
8. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
9. Honor Killing: Race, Rape, and Clarence Darrow's Spectacular Last Case by David E. Stannard
10. The House of the Dead (Dover Thrift Editions.) by Fyodor Dostoevsky


15 POINT TASKS
1. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
2 Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks (Editor ), Anonymous and The Wizard of Oz (Great Illustrated Classics) by L. Frank Baum
3. Sugar Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 6) by Joanne Fluke and My Point...and I Do Have One by Ellen DeGeneres
4. The Clue of the Broken Locket (Nancy Drew, #11) by Carolyn Keene
5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (AMY RWANDA) and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling ( SCOTT Réunion)
6. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
7. Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
9. The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls and Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
10. Bech: A Book by John Updike

20 PONT TASKS
1.Freedom Bound by Robert Weisbrot
2.I'm Your Santa (Brava Contemporary Romance) by Lori Foster, Karen Kelley, Dianne Castell ( santa task)
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, John Tenniel

25 POINT TASKS
1. Blonde: A Novel by Joyce Carol Oates and Oliver Twist (Barnes & Noble Classics) by Charles Dickens
2.The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music by Steve Lopez
3. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs and Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
4. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5.Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2) by Charlaine Harris
6. Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough
7. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
8. The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey and Carrie by Stephen King
9. The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Part 1) by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Family Tree: A Novel by Carole Cadwalladr
10. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert and V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, David Lloyd

30 POINT TASKS
1. Loser by Jerry Spinelli and Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, Book 1) by James Patterson
2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling
3. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer and Breaking Dawn By Stephanie Meyer
4. I am Legend by Richard Matheson
5. The Afterlife by Gary Soto and Persuasion by Jane Austen
6. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
7. Cherry Cheesecake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 8) by Joanne Fluke (Will fit task 15.7, 5.8 and 10.8)
8. Sacajawea (Lewis & Clark Expedition) by Joseph Bruchac and Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell, 1847 by Kristiana Gregory
9. Holes by Louis Sachar and A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
10. The Color Purple by Alice Walker and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

35 POINT TASKS
1. Music, Physics and Engineering by Harry F. Olson and The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel by Gaston Leroux
2. The Beach House by James Patterson, Peter de Jonge and Warm Bodies, Cold Hearts by Rachel Rice
3. Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell
4. Size 12 Is Not Fat (Heather Wells, #1) by Meg Cabot and The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps: 100 Easy Changes to Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle by Cheryl Forberg RD, Melissa Roberson

50 POINT TASKS





720/23808 Pages Read
15/1100 Total Points
2/72 Books Completed

Completed my first task - YAY - and this is my first time doing the challenge so I'm excited :)

5.5 A LIBRARIANS JOB IS NEVER DONE - In Honor Of February Being Library Lovers Month…
A. Visit Your Local Library And Ask One Of The Librarians To Recommend Their Favorite Book And Then Read That Book.

My librarian recommended which I finished late last night. And it was a longgg one - 528 pages!

5/1100 Total Points
1/79 Total Books

Cynthia wrote: "Ms Anderson wrote: "30.4. World AIDS Day: What You Don't Know Can Kill You

I liked how the characters seemed real with their reactions and everything. I didn't like how it read like ..."

I'm sorry, Cynthia. It was the last post on the thread when I edited it, and I didn't want to flood anyone's inbox by adding a brand new post for the second book. I didn't even stop to think about how it might mess up your totals. I won't do it again.

I finished 5.5 today with A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris. The main character is a librarian. I love librarians...they helped raise me when I was growing up :-)

Total Points: 5

30.6-Winter Dream Vacation

I read "The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners" by Luanne Rice. I could have used this book for several tasks, but after mulling it over, choose this one. I have dreamed of going to Italy, but after reading this book, I would love to visit the Isle of Capri. It seems perfect-Italian food, and Italian men, the beautiful ocean, the beautiful scenery. It has a rich history that I would love to explore, along with the architecture, oh and I did I mention the food?

Calgon-take me away!

Finished task 20.1: Re-visited Task 15.6 from the Spring Challenge: The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra (originally written in French)

This was a harsh tale of life in Afghanistan told through the eyes of four people, none of whom I liked as characters, but their experiences certainly made me think and ask a question or two.

TOTAL POINTS = 20

Task 15.3:

A. Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
B. Under the Duvet Shoes, Reviews, Having the Blues, Builders, Babies, Families and Other Calamities by Marian Keyes

Tasks: 1
Books: 2
Total Pages: 560
Total Points: 15/1100

Hello,

After two days in bed ill!! I have managed to read three books!! Which i know is the norm for some, but for me is nothing short of a miracle.So tasks i have completed are....

5 point task
2. Flag Maker - Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart
8. Cold outside - Evil under the sun by Agatha Christie

10 point task
7. Small screen stories - Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris the series inspired True Blood which has just been shown over the pond here in England.

Now i just have to pick my next book............

Kate.x.

Total Points = 20

15.7 Recipe and friends
I've just finished Like Water for Chocolate A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies. We also tried Christmas Rolls last night- which include sardines, which no one had ever tried before. Unfortunately they weren't a great success- but at least we've tried them now!

I did enjoy this book- it wasn't what I expected at all. Part of the reason I love these challenges is that I look out for other people's choices and find things that would have passed me by.

I have been reading, and reading! And I am finally ready to claim some points!

10.3 Renaissance Reading: Push A Novel by Sapphire - I am still working out how I feel about this book. I wrote a short review but I have not yet decided on a star rating because it's hard to say I liked it. It is VERY graphic. In fact at a couple of points I was tempted to think, this is just too much, too awful, too horrifying, it must be all for effect, it can't posibly be real. (And of course it is not real, in the sense that it is fiction). But then the book introduces a situation which brings home to me that although Precious might be a fictional character, there is sadly truth in her situation... I have seen enough of the world to know that, and I might be more comfortable in denial, but my comfort doesn't enter into it. That's what makes this a good book, if an uncomfortable one.

I chose this book because I was intrigued by the upcoming movie's previews and I thought that reading it would be a less intense experience (at least a book is something I can put down if I need to). The book is so short that it really wasn't necessary to put down, and I think this is an accomplishment too - anything much longer would have completely crossed the line into voyeurism.

Okay, now I think I have gotten this out of me! Be back with more later!

10 points for me! w00t!

25.5 Abigail's task -- odd man out

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

This is one of Donna Jo's 5 star books(10.4) and fits for the alliteration task (5.10)
books read: 1
tasks completed:1
Pages read:368
Total points:25/1100

Cindie wrote: "25.5 Abigail's task -- odd man out

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

This is one of Donna Jo's 5 star books(10.4) and fits for the alliteration task (5.10)
books read: 1
task..."

I think that you mean for this to be Jan's task (30.7). For Abigail's, it has to be a book that DOESN'T fit any task. For Jan's task, it HAS to fit two task... yours fits two task. Plus side, that makes it worth 30 points so you have an extra five points.

15-8 is done, I read 'Santa Clawed' by Rita Mae Brown, it was cute! And I watched my 2 all time favorite Chrstmas movie-A Charlie Brown Christmas and Winnie the Pooh's Christmas. It was a fun night!

35 points

A few more points to claim. I said I wasn't going to read one book from a multi-book challenge, then go on to something else, but that's what I have done...again, anyway here are the points I can claim.

5.6 A fiction or non-fiction book about a job you could never do.
Agent of Change by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller 309pp read 12/2/2009.

5.8 Cozy mystery. Cat in the Dark by Shirley Rousseau Murphy 265pp read12/3/2009.

Agent of Change is about a spy and assassin, I could never be a spy, I would last about 5 whole minutes, then I would say "Hey, ya'll, I saw you guys do it, I'm the spy, ya'll are doing some bad stuff, and you really should stop!" AGent of Change is also a space faring romance, ala Catherine Asaro, with the wrinkle that is written by a husband and wife team. That gives an interesting flavor to the proceedings, but makes the book a little choppy.

Cat in the Dark is a very typical cozy, with talking cats - they all have to have a hook. Well plotted, one of the earlier books in a long series. Perfect for those who just know their cats know what is going on!

Tht brings my total to 20 points, I think.

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

What hilarity! This book has now been placed on my annual holiday read list! This book taught me that a guy will hit on a woman at any opportunity, fruit bats can talk, and zombies really like IKEA! ;) I've made a couple of comments on the Group Reads Thread - msgs 8, 11 and 13. Will be adding more as others discuss the novel. Fantastic 5 Star Read more so since it spared my brain from more corn reading as featured in The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Total Points: 20
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?ke...

Tanja wrote: "20.3 Group Read The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0

What hilarity! This book has now been placed on my annual holiday read list! This book taug..."

Maybe you should think of corn as the zombies of plantdom. (I say, as a native of Iowa, which grows lots of corn.)

Califlower is the zombie veggie of choice. So sayeth Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. But you're not too far from the truth in being a "zombie of plantdom." Omnivore's Dilemma details how corn consumed the marketplace and what chemicals/genetic alterations we've done to sustain that market to feed more mouths. It's fascinating just...unexpected.

On the board with 10 points!

10.1: The Ringmaster's Secret by Carolyn Keene 12/3

5.1 DISNEY
I read Before Midnight:A Retelling of Cinderella by Cameron Dokey. (GREAT QUICK READ FOR YESTERDAY AS I LEAVE FOR DISNEY WORLD ON SATURDAY!)

Books Read: 3
Tasks Completed: 2
Pages Read: 736
Total Points: 35

I have finally finished my first challenge. I'm a bit bogged down with a book that I need to read by next Wednesday for my book group and it is feeling like a very heavy book and I'm not enjoying it very much!

Anyway during work today I have read as an e-book The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol. I have read this for the 30.7 Multi-tasking task. I could have read it for the 15.2 two task Adventures with Alice and Lewis or for the 20.3 group read task.

It was good to have a chance to read these again as I haven't read them since I was a child. Being called Alice I often get given stationery and address bookes etc with Alice in Wonderland on them! It was good to be reminded of the stories. A great imagination Carrol had!


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For 5.1 - Favorite Disney - Winnie the Pooh - I completed The Tao of Pooh.

Task Points:5
Total Points:10
Tasks:2
Books:2

Nicki - STL

5. A LIBRARIANS JOB IS NEVER DONE

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

Total Books Read: 2
Total Pages Read: 416
Total Points: 10

First post (can I by MICHELLEO on the readerboard?)

Finished...

5.1 Pinocchio was always a favorite Disney film (though I haven't seen it for a long time), so I read Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It was enjoyable and similar to the movie although Pinocchio was a bad boy for a little too long in the book. Disney did a good job consolidating. 3*

5.5 Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck 3*

5.9 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 4*

10.3 A Mercy by Toni Morrison 2* (rating is specifically for the audiobook)

10.4 Wendy gave 5 stars to Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (which was already on my TBR list!) 4*

20.3 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll 4* (my comment is #16 in the discussion)

Do I now get a ticker??

Whoo Hoo I got it finally--Thanks all you great helpers!!!!

10.8 Canada: Megan

So I chose this book because the main character shares my name, but I found it to be a warm, funny, and gentle love and adventure story. Highly recommend it to anyone still looking for a book for this task.

25.5 Odd Man Out: The Jazz Kid

Another good book, and I was glad to have found it. The conflict between the narrator and his father reminds me of The Jazz Singer (which is possibly intentional). It does contain the language of the era (n-word included), so careful if you're offended easily.

Total: 35 + 230 (from earlier) = 265

For 5.6
A. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh
AND
B. The Floating Brothel The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and its Cargo of Female Convicts by Sian Rees.
I know I only need one, but I couldn't resist.

A Precious Jewel is not one of Balogh's better efforts--I only rank it 2*. Rees' book was better, (given the large cast of characters it remained pretty lucid) I ranked it 4*

Also need to post
10.1 Serpent Girl A Novel by Matthew Carnahan

10.2 [image error] Devil's Trill by Gerald Elias.

I gave Carnahan's book 1*, but would have given it a -10 if possible. Too devoted to drugs, etc. I've never be overly squeamish, but this one was too much for me.

Elias, who is a professional musician, has written a servicable mystery for 3*.

I started my new job this week, but I'm still hoping to get some time to read over the next few months. Yesterday I finished my first task for this challenge with The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne for task 5.2. This was a great book, I gave it 4 stars.

Books Read: 1
Tasks Completed: 1
Pages Read: 172
Total Points: 5

I finished my first task...finally. Hopefully the tasks will come a little quicker in the future because it seems I am already way behind. Oh well I am enjoying myself anyway.

20.3 Group read: Classic
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

One more down--

10.1--SERPENT GIRL by Matthew Carnahan

Story of a loser who is on the run from some "freaks" in the circus who he has wronged. This is a weird one as I don't know if I should reccomend it to everyone. It is definitely not for those under 18, but I found it really quirky and interesting.

This brings me to 260 points!

30.7 Multitasking Dust to Dust would fill requirements of 5.6 Dirty Job -- Forensic Anthropologist, 15.3A WHAT WOMEN WANT female author and main character, and 30.1 A Read One Book That Was Published In The Past Decade

Books Read 2
Tasks Completed 2
Pages Read This Book 384 Total 604

Testing the ticker

30.9 Rachel Lee's Task - The Newberry Award

I chose 1994 and read the following books:
Winner: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Honor: Crazy Lady! by Jane Leslie Conly

The Giver is about a twelve year old boy, Jonas, who lives in a community where there are no emotions, no colors, do problems, inconveniences or decisions to be made. When he is assigned the job of Receiver, he discovers the truth of the community he lives in.

Crazy Lady! is about a young boy, Vernon, who befriends the neighborhood drunk and her mentally challenged son. He is also dealing with the recent death of his mother.

I enjoyed both of these books, but liked The Giver much more. I found the story line engaging and sophisticated. It's a story that would appeal to both young and old as well as stand the test ot time. As I read about the families going though the various emotionless Ceremonies with their children, I thought of my own family and of all the celebrations and memories we have made. Those memories (both good and bad) is what makes life fulfilling.

Total points: 55

25.7 SAM'S TASK - THE LOST GENERATIONS
A. Read A Novel Or Collection Of Short Stories/Plays By One Of "Lost Generation": The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway
AND
B. To Celebrate The Final Season Of Lost, Read A Book Featured On The Show Over The Years: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

I think you missed one of my previous tasks on the Readerboard, so here is a recap of what I have read so far (any additional description is in the original posts):
10.2 Louis Louis - Vathek by William Beckford
15.1 Make Me Laugh - Candide, or Optimism by Voltaire AND Freeway, for the movie
15.5 Readers of the World Unite: D (Dominica/Ebu) The Motorcycle Diaries Notes on a Latin American Journey by Che Guevara AND P (Papua New Guinea/Inuitdebonair) The Secret Sharer and other stories by Joseph Conrad
20.2 Rookie of the Season - Beth MN - Chose Halloween Part III Monsterfest. Chose vampire as my monster and red The Vampyre And Other Tales of the Macabre by John William Polidori
25.4 Lisa MD - If I Could Turn Back Time - Read Loving Frank A Novel by Nancy Horan AND A Time to Speak by Helen Lewis (comparison on original post)

Total Points: 110/1100
Tasks Completed: 6
Tasks in Progress: 4


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I finished task 30.9 - I read the winner (The Giver) and an honor book (Dragon's Gate) from 1994. I went into the task thinking I would vastly prefer The Giver, and I did prefer it overall, because I love dystopian, cult-like societies (to read about!) and I found the scenario so fascinating to think about. However, I liked Dragon's Gate much better than I anticipated, even though I read a lot of it while on a bus with 39 ten year olds on a field trip! It was an engrossing historical fiction book about Chinese immigrants working on the railroads and I learned a lot of stuff I never had thought about before.

Finished a couple more

5.7 Eyeing the Year of the Tiger
Nightmare Hall: The Silent Scream - Diane Ho, 229 pages. We're both Year of the Ox.

10.4 Winner's Choice
Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane, 325 pages. This was one of Helen's 5-star books, and I'd have to agree - really enjoyed it.

Total Points: 55
Total Pages: 1,169
Total Tasks: 4
Total Books: 5

I read Twenties Girl A Novel and Twilight for task 30.1. Twenties Girl came out this year and Twilight came out last year as a movie I think... Twenties Girl gets 5*, one of my favorite Sophie Kinsella books and Twilight (4*) is not as good, but certainly very addicting!

New Point Total: 60
Task Completed: 3
Books Read: 4
Pages Read: 1566