The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.10 Emily's Task - Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover
A. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby

B. Jane Eyre The Graphic Novel: Original Text by Charlotte Bronte

Total points: 400

5.2 Betsy Ross: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Note: I'd give this book fifty points if I could. Amazing.

5.4 Winning Decade: Crispin: The Cross of Lead won the 2003 Newbery Medal.

10.3 Harlem Renaissance: Monster

Total: 20 + 995 (from earlier) = 1015 points

10.3 The Vow: A Novel by Denene Millner et al. (co-written by three friends)

20.2 The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. This one was really moving and really brought home what a scary, scary time that was to live in.

25.10A The Sisters Club: Rule of Three by Meghan McDonald. I *loved* this cover and we had to make cupcakes after I read it! My two oldest daughters really enjoy this series.

25.10B The Truth about Stacey: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier. This is a Babysitter's Club book (those are written by Ann M. Martin), in graphic novel format. It was very accessible for me, which I appreciated as it was the first graphic novel I've read!

This brings me to 890 points. I'm finally finishing some of those 2 book tasks!

Completed Tasks:

20.3 Group Reads
*The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure***** by Willliam Goldman - READ 1.17.10
I LOVED the book and movie. I posted my review on the group read thread.

25.7 The Lost Generations
A. "Lost Generation Author" - The Pearl**** by John Steinbeck - READ 1.21.10
I thought I read this in high school, but my memory is shot. What a poignant story.
B. T.V. show - Watership Down***** by Richard Adams - READ 1.21.10
I was surprised that I loved this book!




Tasks Completed: 20/58
Points Completed: 365/1100
Books Read: 27
*Books Read From My Personal Library: 13

Yay! Another task completed:

30.1. BONNIE'S TASK - CELEBRATE THE END OF THE DECADE (2000-9)!
A. Read One Book That Was Published In The Past Decade – The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (Goodreads Author) 1/7 (308 pages) I give this book 4 stars. I love zombies!
AND
B. One Book That Was Made Into A Movie In The Past Decade - Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 1/22 (162 pages) I give this book 3 stars. It was not as good as I thought it was going to be. I hope that the movie is more entertaining.

Both Carrie Ryan and Neil Gaiman are Goodreads authors.

Previous Completed Tasks:

5.5 A LIBRARIANS JOB IS NEVER DONE: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein who is a Goodreads author. (1/11)

10.4 WINNERS CHOICE: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Sam’s bookshelf)12/20

15.6. THE SEASON OF GIFTING & GIVING
A. The Bhagavad Gita
B. Donated stem cells

20.1 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - BETH MN'S TASK - REVISITING THE PAST - The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening (253 pages) 12/5/09

30.4 SANDRA'S TASK - WORLD AIDS DAY: The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan (401 pages) 12/8/09

30.7 JAN THE GRYPHON’S TASK - MULTI-TASKING: The Road 12/1/09

Total Points: 140
Pages read: 1601
Books read: 8
Tasks completed: 7

I still have a book I can't claim points for until I finish another book for the task I will use it for. I am also still reading Under the Dome which is keeping me from reading more books but it's worth it. I might need to buckle down and finish it before I start another book. Although I am way behind on this challenge, I'm still happy with my progress:)

I finished 5.4 WINNING DECADE by reading The Virgin of Small Plains: A Novel of Suspense which won the Agatha Award for Best Novel in 2007.

One more before the weekend...

50.1 Go for the Gold

The Silver Chair by CS Lewis - thanks to whoever else read this and gave me the idea to use it hear. Only one Narnia book left to go for me. This one was nice but I liked The Voyage of the Dawn Treader best so far.

The Mystery at the Ski Jump by Carolyn Keene - another fun and fast retro read. I just love Nancy's world... the crooks are so honest, no wonder they get caught!

Off camping for the weekend, doubt I will get much reading done but planning to give it a shot!

Task #15.8 - Silver Screen Celebrations - I read Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (gave it 2 stars) and watched The Holiday (back in December)

I finished 30.8, Kari's Lewis & Clark, with
a. Lewis & Clark people (non-fiction) Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery: An Illustrated History and
b. Westward expansion event 1800-1880 (non-fiction) Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey

I was compelled by the women's diaries. The analyis of 96 diaries separated the experience into 3 time periods: 1841-1850, 1851-1855, and 1856-1867. Each era had its own challenges. I think this passage summed up the experience: " Women were neither brave adventurers nor sunbonneted weepers. They were vigorous and given to realism and stoicism. The West to them meant the challenge of rearing a family and maintaining domestic order against the disordered life on the frontier. Once embarked on the journey, they were determined and energetic in their efforts to make the move a success."
I'm not sure I would have chosen to be an overlander. But very few women decided to venture west: they dutifully followed their husbands. I've nver been very good at that... But if we had decided to go, I hope that I would have been up to the many challenges.

+30
total 1050

#10.3 - Renaissance Reading: Novel written by an African American that has an African American Protagonist: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor 1.22.10-
this is an awesome book, well-deserving of its 1997 Newbery Medal Award

#25.7 - Sam's Task" The Lost Generations
A. Read a novel by one of the authors who are often called part of the post-WWII Lost Generation: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 1.20.10
B. Read a book featured over the years on the show "Lost": The Epic of Gilgamesh 1.17.10

#30.7 - Jan the Gryphon's Task: Multi-Tasking: Read a book that fits 2 or more other tasks, and list the tasks it would fit:
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson 1.19.10
would also fit #10.8 (Canadian author), #15.9b (author I've never read before), and #30.1a (published in the past decade)

Total Pages = 14,153

Total Points = 635

Finished:
30.3 BJ ROSE'S TASK--SNOWED IN AND LOVING IT:
Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist by Thomas Levenson 317 pp
If I Pay Thee Not In Gold by Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey 398 pp
The Secrets of the Sea by Nicholas Shakespeare 402 pp

Finished:
20.3 GROUP READS:
A. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll read on ebook. (After reading Alice I Have Been Alice I Have Been: A Novel I have reservations about Carroll -- come to that J M Barrie too)
B. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
C. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

Just finished 2 more tasks

10.9 Remembering Pearl Harbor
Dear America: Early Sunday Morning - Barry Dennenberg 156 pages

5.1 Wonderful World of Disney
Favorite Movie - Sword In The Stone
Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart 494 pages

Tasks Completed - 17
Pages Read - 5429
Books Read - 20
Points - 220/1100

15.6 Cold Hands, Warm Heart by Jill Wolfson. The best gift I have ever gotten is actually a series of gifts from my husband, all with the goal of keeping me warm. And the very best one is my heated mattress pad. Yes, we now live in FL. But I am always cold -- ice cubes for hands and feet. It's crazy! But he is always finding great things for me, like my beloved heated mattress pad (with two sides -- so he doesn't have to have the heat if he doesn't want to!)

For giving back, my family sponsored five area children through our Angel Tree at church. We bought each a new outfit, pajamas (warm ones!), a sweatshirt, sneakers, and two toys.

This brings me to 905 points.

Completed another task:
35.3 DLM ROSE'S TASK - IT'S ABOUT TIME
Some Days There's Pie: A Novel by Catherine Landis

Previously Completed Tasks
30.8 Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson (fits 5.8 and 5.10) (01.20.10)

15.7 PART A: All-new Complete Cooking Light Cookbook by Ann C. Cain
PART B: Made Spinach & Artichoke dip and Baked Feta Marinara

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: 200
Tasks Completed: 10 (and 2 partial tasks)
Books Read: 14

Forgot to claim a ticket for a GoodReads author by reading The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
claimed my points for the book in Post #1989

Just finished Dead Until Dark for 10.7.


New Total:

Jamie(24)-- 145 points



And, I'm astounded that 2 people are finished already with like a month to spare!? WOW!

10.1 Under the Big Top
Bruce Feiler

20.3 - Group reads - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - made comment in right place

Points: 20
Total points: 95

25.6 Stephanie Us' Task - Island Dreams- O Come Ye Back to Ireland: Our First Year in County Clare by Niall Williams.

Total Points: 360/1100
Tasks Completed: 22/58
Tasks in Progress: 7

Task 10.6 - Local Literature, Ann in St. Louis -Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
Task Points:10
Total Points:195
Tasks:11
Books:14

Nicki - STL

Finally knocking out some of the two-book tasks.

35.4 Roseann's Task: Read About Your Resolution
My resolution this year is to make significant progress on my dissertation. For 35.4A the word I used was "write", since that's what I am going to be doing.
A. Dead Girls Don't Write Letters by Gail Giles
B. The Craft of Research, 2nd edition by Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams

Pages in book(s): 465

Tasks Completed: 9
Books Read: 14
Total Pages Read: 3,351
Total Points: 190

Ok, I am very sad because my main computer with all my lists has died--so I'm hoping that I don't repeat any books (or leave any out for that matter!) And I have no idea how many points I have, or how many pages I've read--did I mention I am very sad? It makes me realize how much I depend on the computer to keep information. :( Oh, I just remembered, I can look at the leaderboard for my point! Yeah!

But, I have been reading, so...

I read 20.3 I read The Stupidest Angel and posted #61 in the discussion page.

For 25.7 (lost generation tasks) I read East of Eden by John Steinbeck and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Both of these are rereads for me. I think I've read both about 8 times (I went on a kick for a while of reading a certain number of books every summer). I haven't read either in at least 10 years and it was great to come back to them.
I'm also claiming a second ticket for big books--East of Eden was 782 pages

I think that is all I haven't claimed points for yet (I've read a bunch more, but they are for multi-tasks).
Cynthia, I think I've claimed for alliteration (10.10) and Clue (25.3). I don't know how hard that is to check, but if it is easy, I would appreciate it. (If it is at ALL a pain, don't do it) Thanks

That puts me at
190 points
and no idea how many pages

25.9a map - Absalom, Absalom!. I enjoy Faulkner's hallucinatory style with the story meandering through digressions and side-tracks and lush descriptions ending in my not being exactly sure what happened, but feeling as if I've been immersed in a hot lazy summer afternoon daydream. This book had a map, but also a list of characters and a chronology of events that I was constantly referencing, trying to remember who was related to who and how.

25.9b extra content - Haussmann, or the Distinction. The book pretends to be a translation of an obscure French novel written in the 1920s and supposedly printed after the authors death. The actual author includes a fake dedication to "Y.", a note to the English edition describing the circumstances of the first edition and the "translator's" discovery of the novel, a "reproduction" of the title plate of the first edition, and an afterword discussing the supposed author, Paul Poissel, including photographs of him & the woman he loved (Yvonne).

Pages read: 5663
Books read: 18+
Tasks completed: 15
Total Points: 375
Liz (Bklyn)

5.7 Eying the Year of the Tiger

Standoff by Sandra Brown

I am born in the year of the Rat (1972) and so is Sandra Brown (1948)

Sandra Brown is a Goodreads author

Total points: 405

Hello, I've decided to claim points for:
5.1. THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY - Read A Book Related To Your Favorite Disney Film.

My favorite childhood film was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; however, that was NOT a Disney film. So, instead, I've chosen my eldest daughter's favorite film, "The Little Mermaid". (One summer, we watched this one every single day! And, as a Disney cartoon movie, it does hold up over repeated viewings; not all of them do, but "The Little Mermaid" does.) The relevant word is Mermaid.

Yesterday We Saw Mermaids by Esther M. Friesner (Paperback, 160 pages)

The phrase "Yesterday, We saw Mermaids" came from a log/journal kept during Christopher Columbus's sea journey in 1492. In this quirky fantasy novel, the characters (who are on a different boat, racing Columbus's boat to the New World) actually do see mermaids ... and a whole lot more besides!


390+5=395





Tasks Completed: 20
Points for this task: 5
Points thus far: 395/1100
Books read: 28
Pages Read: 8159

Books read but not yet claimed: 2
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

Oh, Elizabeth (NC) I feel for you! Losing your files! That has inspired me to post my mid-challenge summary of tasks claimed and books read over in the Winter 2009-2010 Plans folder (like I've seen others do).

More tasks:

10.1 Circus - I read Geek Love: A Novelby Katherine Dunn. Can't believe I waited so long to read this book. It was strange, yes, but excellent in so many ways. Haven't read something so original in such a long, long time.

10.8 Oh Canada - I suffered through Snapped by Pamela Klaffke. It is about a fashion guru from Montreal who basically hates her life, her job, her boyfriend and hates herself even (OMG she's almost forty!) I do not recommend this book.

25.8 - For my one word title, I read Splendor by Anna Godbersen. It is the final book in the Luxe series and it is sort of like early 1900's Gossip Girl in Manhattan. Love the series, and this book was a great ending to it. If you like YA, or even just fun historical fiction, I recommend.

For my long title, I read 90-day Geisha: My Time as a Tokyo Hostess by Chelsea Heywood. Meh. This book sounded a lot more interesting than it was to read. Chelsea worked for 90 days as a hostess in a Japanese bar (basically Japanese men pay you to drink and have conversations with them). What I got from this book was that Chelsea's husband is long-suffering and a saint (seriously) and that she has no fear of being raped or dismembered by potential psychos. The whole off on a weekend trip doing coke with some guy I'm considering cheating on my husband with thing makes for a non-sympathetic character which is pretty much poison when writing a memoir. I can't feel sorry for you because you are tired of having conversations and drinking with Japanese men. Get another job. Oh wait, then you won't have a silly gimmick to get a book deal with. BTW, the title is a total misnomer, she is not actually working as a geisha. I was hoping for an insightful look into Japanese culture but instead got way too much self-involved twenty-something (and this is coming from a very self-invovled twenty-something.)

30.9 Newberry book - I read this years winner, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which was beautiful and haunting. Adored it. I also read the honor book, After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson, a very easy read, but also an insightful look at friendship, race, the foster care system. I highly recommend it, and I think kids will enjoy to read it.

Previous Score : 415
Current Score: 490

15.4 IT'S ALL ABOUT FUN AND GAMES Diamond Solitaire and I played an hour of Spider Solitaire and
25.2 GINA'S TASK - FEBRUARY IS INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP MONTH Mortal Friends: A Novel --Friends are people who even though they know you are always there for you and you are always there for them. Even when you haven't been in contact in a long time.
Books Read: 37
Pages Read: 11744
Tasks Completed: 29
Tasks in Progress: 6

Ok, finally able to claim some long working tasks....

Task 15.2 Lewis and Alice
Part 1: character Alice...Eclipse (claim for first book over 500pgs. Book was 628 pgs)
Part 2: Narnia....The Horse and His Boy

Task 25.7 Sam's Task
Part 1: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Jazz Age Stories
Part 2: The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm All-New Third Edition (claim 750+ pgs.. for 800 pgs)

Tasks Completed: 23
Points for this task:
Points thus far: 410/1100
Books read: 34
Pages read: 9842

10.5 Popularity Contest: The Magician's Elephant

10.6 Local Lit: (Janice Memory) A Light in the Attic

10.7 Small Screen Stories: Azumanga Daioh, Vol. 1

Total: 30 + 1015 (from earlier) = 1045 points

Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "Ok, I am very sad because my main computer with all my lists has died--so I'm hoping that I don't repeat any books (or leave any out for that matter!) And I have no idea how many points I have, or ..."

Elizabeth,

There is a convoluted way to see all the posts you've made in the group:

Click on "members" on the top right of the page where these options are listed:
group home
bookshelf
discussions
events
photos
invite people
members
polls

On the members page, there is a drop down box (again on the top right). Choose to sort by first name. Scroll down to the bottom and click on page 5 (where the elizabeths are mostly located). Find your name and click on the "xx comments" link. That will take you to a page with every comment you've made in the group.

Your last post before today was:
I finished 5.10 alliteration with Six Suspects by Vikus Swarup. I liked the concept of this book, but not so much the final product. I am still interested in reading Q & A.

I also read Nine Dragons for 5.6 (a dirty job) Harry Bosch is a homicide detective and while I love reading and watching TV about them, I could never do this job myself.

That puts me at
145 points
3700 pages read

And, of course, after typing this all out, I realized I could just post a link to all of your posts

35.3: A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt. This was an interesting play written by an agnostic about a catholic saint. I liked it.

Up to 80 points

Two more tasks:

5.7: Read a book written by an author born in my Chinese Zodiac Year (The Year of the Dog):Two to the Fifth by Piers Anthony, 355pp, read 11/23/2010. AND

20.1: Book related to the civil rights movement: Radical Equations Math Literacy and Civil Rights by Robert P. Moses, 219pp, read 1/22/2010.

Robert Moses' book outlines his experiences in the very early 60s in the Civil Rights Movement, then his efforts in later years to extend the lessons of community organization to effecting change in the teaching of math in middle school. Not nearly as boring as it sounds, his perspective on the early 60s in Mississippi are very interesting, particularly his opinion of how that history is being taught and remembered. There is a certain tinge of bitterness in his story - all that is remembered are the marches and more dramatic events - and the difficult, tedious, life changing work that people like he did has been ignored. He definitely has a point. The work he began in later life may actually be more important. Interesting, but dense reading.

Books read 43/77+
Tasks completed 27/58
Points 535/1100
Pages read 13852

25.7A The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. This was a re-read for me. I love it -- it's beautifully written. But so, so sad.

25.7B Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie. LOVE Agatha Christie. Now I want to go back to the "Lost" episode and see if the book means anything?!?

10.6 (Local Literature Lovers) Natalie gave 5 stars to Princess Mia by Meg Cabot. I only gave it 3 stars. Not my favorite in the series.

I had previous used this book as part of 30.3 before finding in my perusal of the local 5 star lists. I'll substitute Trouble in Spades by Heather Webber (I love this series!), which brings my total pages for that task to 905 (it was 276 pages, vs. "Princess Mia"'s 274.

This brings me to 940 points.

I finished another book the other day, task 10.6 by reading The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.

I can't remember the name of the person whose list I got this from (Leslie, maybe? The info is on a spreadsheet on another computer), but she lives in the same town as me and had rated this book 5 stars. I gave it 3. It was okay, but I wasn't really in the mood for it.




Points: 95
Books Read: 6
Tasks Completed: 5

5.5 A Librarians Work Is Never Done

The day before the Newbery was announced my librarian told me I just had to read
When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead

Fabulous!!!! Congratulations on the win!

Books Read - 21
Tasks Completed - 17
Pages Read - 5627
Points 225/1100

I finished a bunch.

5.4- The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (CCBC Choice Award)
5.6- Dawn by Elie Wiesel (terrorist)
10.4- Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (Pjreads)
15.6- The Thief of Always: A Fable by Clive Barker
The moral of this book is that time with your family, even the days that are boring and unhappy, is a very important gift. My parents gave me the gift of life, and my family continues to give me the gift of their love and company. They're very important to me. For giving back, I donated to a food pantry.
15.9- The Syndrome by John Case (Old) and Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle (New)
20.1- A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin (Bonnie's Task, Read A Book With 900+ Pages)
30.7- Watership Down by Richard Adams (10.4, 25.9)

Points- 140

Finished Task 5.5

The Librarian's Passionate Knight by Cindy Gerard

5 POINT TASKS
2. SHE WAS A GRAND OLD FLAG MAKER - In Honor Of Betsy Ross (Born January 1, 1752 – Died January 30, 1836) Famously Credited With Sewing The First American Flag…
B. Read A Book That Has The Word Stars And/Or Stripes In The Title
Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard-1/23

New Total: 205

I finished task 25.6. STEPHANIE US' TASK - ISLAND DREAMS by reading The Book of Night Women by Marlon James which takes place in Jamaica.

Total points = 250

I finished HELEN'S TASK - SCIENCE FICTION - PAST AND PRESENT by reading Fahrenheit 451 (past) and Catching Fire (present). Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1954 but won the retro Hugo Award in 2004. While both books are dystopian type fiction, the stories are very different. In Fahrenheit 451, the world is so advanced technologically, that we have little reason to think or do for ourselves (how boring) while in Catching Fire what technology the future holds is dominated by the Capitol who live in luxury while the others fight to survive. I honestly had a really hard time finishing F. 451, I just thought it was slow and hard to follow, but I loved Catching Fire and will definitely continue with the series.

30.7 Daughter of Time
Josephine Tey
Cozy and Royal

30.3 Snowed In: Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume
Such a great story, and the artwork is fantastic! The complete collection is over 1000 pages.

Total: 30 + 1045 (from earlier) = 1075 points

Two more completed:

15.2 Alice or Lewis:
A. Book with name: The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman - okay 3 stars
B. Book in fictional land: Jumper Cable by Piers Anthony - 33rd book that takes place in the land of Xanth - 3 stars


30.6 Wendy - Winter Vacation Dreams: The Last Pope by Luis Miguel Rocha

An excellent mystery written as fiction but noted by the author to be fact. Conspiracy theory about the death of Pope John Paul I. 5 stars

Have always wanted to tour Europe - the book takes place in several locations throughout Europe. Also have always wanted to especially spend some time visiting the Vatican. The book is primarily centered around the Vatican. So it satisfies my desires - now if I could just make it happen.

POINTS 775
TASKS 40
BOOKS 59
PAGES 14131

50.1 GO FOR THE GOLD--THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPIC CHALLENGE
In anticipation of the Olympic games, read one book with either GOLD, SILVER, or BRONZE in the title then read one book with a sport in the Winter Olympics: BIATHLON, SKATING, SKIING, LUGE, ICE HOCKEY, CURLING, BOBSLED. Note: Any form of the sport words: skate, skating, skates, etc. and variations on the medals: golden, bronzed, etc. are fine.
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates by Dodge
The Silver Door 2 by Lisle

50 points
450 points

I just completed task 5.1 The Wonderful World of Disney by reading Beauty by Robin McKinley. It's such a beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I absolutely loved it, and I'm only sad that I didn't discover this author earlier in life! I look forward to reading more by her soon.

320/1100 points
Tasks Completed: 15/60
Tasks In Progress: 4
Books Read: 22/79
Pages Read: 6,392

Finished another quick read today. I'm on a roll this weekend. I'm about to start on some longer books, though, so this may be my last post for a while.

30.9 Rachel Lee's Task: The Newberry Award
I read the winner for 1959, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare and one of the honor books for that year, Along Came a Dog by Meindert Dejong.
I did think The Witch of Blackbird Pond deserved to be the winner. Even though it was written fifty years ago it's still an exciting read and a good introduction to historical fiction. I know I liked it when I read it as a young girl, and it holds up to being re-read as an adult. As for Along Came a Dog, I found it charming and sweet and I liked the illustrations by Maurice Sendak. I'm a sucker for books that are told from the perspective of animals, so I enjoyed this book's tone. I just don't think it's the sort of book an author would write in 2010. I can't see it holding the interest of most kids I know, just because it doesn't have enough action.

Pages in book(s): 421

Tasks Completed: 10
Books Read: 16
Total Pages Read: 3,772
Total Points: 220

For 20 point task #1 (BethMN's task), I picked Roseann’s 50 Point Task from Summer 09 Challenge - Read a book about books, and then one of the books mentioned in it. I read

Who the Hell Is Pansy O'Hara?: The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the World's Best-Loved Books by Jenny Bond and Chris Sheedy and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking.

Updated totals:
Points: 145
Tasks completed: 8/58
Tasks in progress: 8
Books read: 17
Pages read: 4,564

I finished task 25.4 by reading A Company of Swans, and To Kill a Mockingbird. The former takes place during the 1900 in England and South America, the latter in Alabama in the 1930s. I think I would prefer to live in 1900 England, because I don't think I could deal with all the southern politics and prejudices...

New Point Total: 325
Task Completed: 16
Tasks in Progress: 7
Books Read: 31
Pages Read: 9883