The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

yeay! first task down! finished task 30.8 by reading Thomas Jefferson Author of America and O Pioneers! the first one was a snooze fest for me, just not into early american history, but the Cather book was just lovely. i enjoyed it a lot! :)




Total Points: 30/1100
Books Read: 2/79+
Tasks Completed: 1 /58
Tasks in Progress: 2

5-1 is done with Hamlet by Shakespeare, this was what The Lion King was based upon.

40 points

d'oh! forgot to say if i'd like/dislike to live during the time period i read about for task 30.8.

it would've been interesting to be alive during the birth of the u.s....it was just all so different and unstable and interesting, but women weren't treated all that great (no voting rights, no positions of power), so i don't think i would've enjoyed those times.

i also would not have enjoyed life on the frontier. it seems like it was really harsh and exhausting, and i really enjoy my electric blanket and my car!

so no on both fronts! :)

5.1: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
5.8: Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

Books=2
Tasks=2
Points=10

I finished 30.5, Diane's Posthumously Speaking with:
A. Narrator: Elsewhere and
B. Published: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I really enjoyed them both.

+30
total 105

TOTAL POINTS = 5

New Tasks:

5.1 Favorite Disney movie = Beauty and the Beast
Read Beauty by Robin McKinley and was really impressed with the way the author fleshed out the society, settings, and people to create a book environment that was easy and enjoyable to sink into.

I'm on the readerboard!!!

8. BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - While Outside It May Be Cold And Blustery; Inside You Can Cozy Up To A Cozy Mystery. Visit http://www.cozy-mystery.com/ If You Need Help Picking A Book/Author.
(*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!)
When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman-12/4

New Total: 5

So I finished another book and another task last night...I read This Is Where I Leave You for task 10.5 it's on the popular book list for books published in August. It was my first book by this author although he's been on my To Read List for awhile and I enjoyed it - it was about a family gathering to sit Shiva when their father dies presumably it was his last request. There are 4 grown children and a mother and each as different weird problems - the mother is this overly sexy older woman who also happens to have written the book on raising children, the only daughter has a work obsessed husband and is obsessed with comparing her body with other women (even after having 3 kids), the oldest son is trying to run family business but he and his wife are having trouble having a family of their own, the youngest son is a womanizing-flake who brings home his fiancee who is almost twice his age...but the story is narrated by the middle son whose life is probably the most messed up as he has semi-recently found out that his wife has been cheating on him with his boss among other things (I don't want to give too many things away). So it's definitely not a overly sappy sad story despite involving a funeral - it's actually pretty funny in parts. I did keep thinking it mean would make a great movie (although there a quite a few things that might have to be cut unless they give it a r-rating) and when I got to the end of the book I found it is actually going to be a movie (not until 2011 but whatever)...he actually has 3 of his books on their way to being movies.

35.3: English as a Second Language – Megan Crane 12/01 **Goodreads author**
20.3: The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror – Christopher Moore 12/02 Message #14 in discussion
5.4: The Crossroad – Chris Grabenstein 12/04 - 2008 Agatha Award - Best Children's YA **Goodreads author**

Total Points: 60

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15.9 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and A Christmas Story

total: 120 points

Hello! Have finished 25.2 . Read A Book Where Friendship Is A Main Theme . I read An Abundance of Katherines by John Green.


The hero is a child prodigy, now a somewhat nerdy 18 years old; he has a best friend; and a series of short relationships with girls named Katherine. His best friend shares his pain and cheers him up when times are rough. Mid-way through the book, our hero realizes that he has now made a second friend, and is bewildered but happy about it. The theme of the book is how to be a friend. As one of the characters says, towards the end of the novel p. 199, "People are supposed to care. It's good that people mean something to you, that you miss people when they are gone."

. When You Post Please Tell Us What Friendship Means To You.
Friendship makes life better. The down times seem more bearable when shared with a friend; the up times are more enjoyable when shared with a friend. And, the inner qualities of compassion and caring are exercised when one has friends. In conclusion, I agree with the quote from the novel: "People are supposed to care. It's good that people mean something to you, that you miss people when they are gone."

30 + 25 = 55





Tasks Completed: 3
Points for this task: 25
Points thus far: 55/1100
Books read: 3
Pages Read: 963

This is my first challenge and I have just completed my first task!

20.3 Group Reads: B. Winter - The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore

Discussion Thread Post:

Lynda wrote: "...I just finished this book and even though I didn't laugh out loud, I did enjoy reading it. Like some of the posters before me, I too was a big fan of Roberto the Micronesian, Ray-Ban wearing, giant fruit bat, Tuck Case and the Warrior Babe of the Outland. I even image googled fruit bats and I have to admit that they are surprisingly cute and kind of resemble small dogs. Skeptics should check out this link (http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanmenage...) to view the cutest fruit bat baby ever. It's too bad they are disease reservoirs because I think a Megabat would make an interesting pet.

New Point Total: 20
Task Completed: 1
Books Read: 1
Pages Read: 320

Completed more tasks! Yay!

5.1 THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY (5 Points) I read Beauty Sleep A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty"

5.3 ROYAL READING (5 Points)
10.10 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (10 Points)
I read The Diamond Secret A Retelling of "Anastasia" that counts for the above two listed tasks.

20.1 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - BETH MN'S TASK - REVISITING THE PAST (20 Points)
Sam's 25 Point Task - MonsterFest
I read A Girl's Guide to Vampires


Tasks Completed: 4
Points for these tasks: 40
Points thus far: 65
Total Books read: 5

Kandie wrote: "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, 3..."

OMG, in like Middle School Nightmare Hall was one of my favorite series. My favorite was Truth or Die!

Kathryn wrote: OMG, in like Middle School Nightmare Hall was one of my favorite series. My favorite was Truth or Die!"


Hehe awesome! My friend is in the middle of moving house so she dropped off a huge tub of those kinds of books at my house and I'm making my way through them. I feel like I'm in school again :) I've read a couple of Nightmare Hall and a bunch of Fear Street ones so far.

10.4 Read The Left Hand of Darkness which is 5* on Wendy's and PJreads' booklists.

Finished 30.4
Read The Plague (La Peste) by Albert Camus.

Total 55
Books 2
Tasks 2

Completed 10.4 (Reading a book that has been given 5 stars by someone who completed the Fall challenge). I read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer; Wendy had given it 5 stars. That puts me at (No complex calculation needed) ten points

Dlmrose wrote: "I finished 30.5, Diane's Posthumously Speaking with:
A. Narrator: Elsewhere and
B. Published: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I really enjoyed th..."

Dlmrose wrote: "I finished 30.5, Diane's Posthumously Speaking with:
A. Narrator: Elsewhere and
B. Published: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I really enjoyed th..."

I think the author of Elsewhere is a Goodreads author. Don't forget that you get a ticket for those.

Thanks Elizabeth!
Keeping track of everything seems so much harder this challenge. Cynthia, I don't know how you do it, but thank you!, thank you!

I completed 30.3 by reading Chosen (320 pages), Untamed(338 pages), and Hunted(323 pages). I loved this task as it allowed me to go ahead and finish these books that had been lent to me:-)

I have 30 points.

Finished my first task:

5.8 - BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - While Outside It May Be Cold And Blustery; Inside You Can Cozy Up To A Cozy Mystery.

Murder on Ice by Alina Adams

Total Points = 5

More points for me!

30.10 Color by Numbers
Throne of Jade The second in a series of fantasy/alternate history, about a corps of dragons and their captains during the Napoleonic wars. As you might expect, not quite as good as the first book but I still really enjoyed it. While it does follow a fairly predictable story arc, it remains well-told and well-written.

The 27-Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders A Eugenia Potter Mystery by Nancy Pickard. This may be the ultimate multi-tasker for me, but for now I'm keeping it with this task. A light-weight mystery set on Arizona ranch land; apart from the number in the title, it's a cozy mystery, includes a few recipes, is part of a series with a female protagonist, it's a 7-word title with alliteration (okay, so maybe that is a little bit of a stretch), and near as I can tell Ms Pickard and I share a chinese zodiac sign. It was fairly entertaining as mysteries go, a little slow to get going maybe.

40 points total!

15.8 Silver Screen Celebrations-I read The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore. I gave it 4 stars, I really enjoy Christopher Moore's books!

I watched Four Christmases. It was just okay. Nothing really great about it.

15 points

Total Points: 20

How can someone have read a book on Sacagawea and have the title of the book spelled incorrectly? There is no J in her name, it is a g

I have completed 2 more tasks

5.5 The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a favorite book of my favorite Librarian Lori who is at the Benbrook Public Library

5.10 Anybody Any Minute by Julie Mars

Completed 10.10 (Russia)

City of Thieves by David Benioff (5 stars)

I have read quite a few books about WWII. However, this is the first book I have read, on the subject, that focuses on Russia and the plight of its people. It is an engaging and action packed read about the siege of Leningrad. Although, it is a work of fiction, I learned a great deal and felt like I was right there sensing the cold, hunger, and uncertainty. Surprisingly, I only just learned that more Russians lost their lives, during this time, than any other group of people. From this book, I learned many of their deaths came at the hands of their own government. Russian officials shot and killed anyone they viewed as less than enthusiastic about the war, including people who obtained extra rations, stayed out after curfew, or took supplies from dead German soldiers. Therefore, the civilian people of Russia had two powerful and well armed forces to fear as well as lack of food, freezing cold temperatures, and even each other. I highly recommend this book.

+10
Total Points: 10
Books: 1
Tasks: 1

I finished American Tabloid by James Ellroy today. It is my book group read for this month but I've found it a real slog. I didn't really understand what the hell was going on! I guess 50's American politics just isn't my thing! Anyway I get 25 points for this using it as my ODD TASK OUT book as it doesn't fit into any of the 5, 10 or 15 point reads.


Previous Reads
30.7 Mulitasking - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol



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A few more tasks:

5.9 - Isn't it romantic - I read Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts. This book is the second in the bride quartet. It was a nice, sweet and short romance. You just can't go wrong with Nora Roberts.

10.6 - Local Literature Lovers - I read from Jenn's shelf, I read Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery. I was obsessed with Anne of Green Gables growing up, but I had never read this book. It was similar to a point, taking place for part of the time at PE Island (I sooo want to go there one day), and I really enjoyed this.

Previous score: 10
Current score: 25

Just finished My Cousin Rachel for 25 points for Abigail's task. I loved Rebecca so I hoped that I would love this book just as much! And it turns out that I did! I really enjoyed this mystery. It kept me reading all Friday night rather than going out.

Tasks Completed:
Points for this task: 25
Points thus far: 25/1100
Books read: 2
Pages read: 524

No extra points but just have to say I've finished American Wife A Novel for the Alice part of the Alice and Lewis task, and I loved it.

4 stars but it would have been 5 if it hadn't fizzled out a bit at the end.

Completed more tasks! Yay! (REPOST)

5.1 THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY (5 Points) I read Beauty Sleep A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty"

5.3 ROYAL READING (5 Points)
I read The Diamond Secret A Retelling of "Anastasia"


20.1 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - BETH MN'S TASK - REVISITING THE PAST (20 Points)
Sam's 25 Point Task - MonsterFest
I read A Girl's Guide to Vampires

Tasks Completed: 4
Points for these tasks: 30
Points thus far: 55
Total Books read: 5

Cheryl wrote: "How can someone have read a book on Sacagawea and have the title of the book spelled incorrectly? There is no J in her name, it is a g"

Actually, it's spelled with a J. Check out information on her presumed burial site http://www.landerchamber.org/WRIreser... (My Shosone friend says she's actually buried somewhere else in the Wind River Valley.)

5 point tasks:
4. Olive Kitteridge A Novel in Stories by Elizabeth Strout (A Winning Decade - 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)


Total Points = 5
Tasks Completed = 1
Total Books = 1

My Very first task completed!

Task-10
Points-5
Tittle-No More Dead Dogs
Author-Gordon Korman

On the board at last-
finished 5.7 (Year of The Tiger) by reading In The Woods by Tana French. I liked this book a lot (4 stars). It was well written and very psychologically suspenseful.

Point total: 5

Another step forward in the challenge - I read Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month for 35.5 (It's About Time). As a devoted noir fan, cozy's generally not my thing, but my mom turned me on to Penny and she's become one of my favorites. If you haven't tried her, I recommend using her series opener Still Life for 5.8 (Baby It's Cold Outside), followed by A Fatal Grace A Three Pines Mystery for 10.8 (Oh Canada!).

Current Total: 60 points

Second Task:

Task-5
Points-25
Title-The Forest Of Hands and Teeth
Author-Carrie Ryan

I'm on the board with 2 completed tasks:

20.1 - Revisiting the Past - I read A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. The task I revisited was Ann from S.C.'s task from last winter to read a book you started but never finished. I'd originally started this book for the fall challenge but was only on page 154/464 when it ended. Pre-baby this book would have only taken 2 days tops for me to read. Now it took about a week, heh. Guess who definitely WON'T be finishing this season's challenge!!! I gave this book 2 stars because I couldn't stand either of the main characters. They were both dummies.

15.8 - Silver Screen Celebrations - The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck. And for the movie portion I watched 'Home Alone', 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' and 'Love Actually'. Thank you Netflix! My husband and I love Christmas movies so we have 3 more coming this week so this was definitely an easy challenge for me to complete. I gave the book 3 stars.




Points: 35
Pages Read: 748
Books Read: 2
Tasks Completed: 2

10.4 People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

5 star book by Helen

Helen has wonderful taste in books!

Total: 10 points

A couple more done...

20.1--CELTIC ART by Miranda Green/Fall 2009--Creative Minds challenge/Learn Your Art History (Also go to Art Gallery)

This book looks at the are of the Celts from a social POV, focusing on how their culture changed their art with the influx of Christianity and other influences. I love this form of art and the book was very interesting as it described not only how they created the are, but also how they lived.

For the second part of this challenge I went to "December Nights" last night at Balboa Park in San Diego where they open up all of the museums for free along with foods from all over the world and other holiday cheer. I not only revisited the main art gallery, but also the Aerospace Museum, Natural History Museum, Museum of Photographic Art and the Migei which feature fold art from around the world and most closely the art from the book I read.

amd

30.4--SANDRA/ YEAR OF WONDERS by Geraldine Brooks

This fictional tale is based upon a true event that happened from 1665-1666 in the small village of Eyam, Derbyshire. The people of the village decide to not leave when the plague invades and in turn they keep the plague from spreading to neighboring villages. A very well written book which I would definitely recommend. I does not just dwell in the horrors of the plague, but also in the heorism that we all carry within us.

This brings me to 310 points!!

I finished 30.9, Rachel Lee's Newbery Award with:
2007 winner The Higher Power of Lucky and
2007 honor Rules

I had forgotten how good some children's lit could be. I liked The Higher Power of Lucky. It was very subtle. Lucky has lost her mother and her way in the world. She's living with her absent father's first wife Brigitte in the California desert. When she thinks Brigitte is leaving her, too, she runs away during a dust storm. It is tender and believable.

In Rules, 12-year-old Catherine struggles with her adolescence and her autistic, younger brother. At a time when she is most self-conscious, she is embarassed by her brother's behavior.

Rules had some very strong parts- clever chapter design, an honest portrayal of some of the challenges of autism, and likeable characters, but by the end it was a little saccharine. I think The Higher Power of Lucky was a stronger book.

+30
total 135

10.5-Popularity Contest.

I took my book off the 2009 list, and read "A Gate at the Stairs" by Lorrie Moore. It was just okay for me.

I completed Task 25.6 by reading Smoky Joe's Cafe by Bryce Courtenay, which is set in Australia.
Although not my favorite, this is a good Courtenay story. This one is really bitter-sweet and touching. Once again, like a lot of Courtenay's stories, it's a tale of solid friendship and of human beings coming together to help one another.
Smoky Joe's Cafe tells the plight of Vietnam Vets as they come to terms with the civilian world after their experiences in Vietnam. It tells of how they are left without aid to help them overcome their traumas & it also tells of the damage of Agent Orange to themselves and their families. It's all very touching and real.

For Task 30.9 I chose 1963 because that was the year I was in first grade and learned how to read. THen I found out that A Wrinkle in time was the winner that year. THe first time I heard this book was in 5th grade when our teacher Mr. Dupaix read it to us. I love science fiction and didn't even think about it before but this was the very first science fiction book I ever knew!!

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and Thistle and Thyme Tales and Legends from Scotland by Sorche Nic Leodhas

10.4 Winner's Choice
I read Blubber by Judy Blume. It is off of PJREADS list.

Tasks Completed 3
Books Read 4
Total Points: 40

10.7 - Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

One of my favourite shows is True blood and this book is part of the series that inspired the T.V. Show!

My first task this challenge!

35.3 Long Days Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill

TOTAL = 35 POINTS
BOOKS = 1

Finished:
25.8 Michelle's Task
A. To Say Nothing of the Dog To Say Nothing of the Dog, Or, How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last by Connie Willis.

B. Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce (A GoodReads author, 549 pp)

Finished
15.4 It's All About Fun And Games
My favourite game is Clue so I read Who Killed Mr. Boddy? by A. E. Parker (102 pages) which is the first book of the Clue series. It was a really cute book, and at the end of each chapter there was a mystery to be solved. We also played Clue :D

20.3 Group Reads
I read Alice in Wonderland (272 pages) and posted in the discussion thread.

Total Points: 90
Total Pages: 1543
Total Books: 7
Total Tasks: 6