The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Congratulations, Helen!!!! Way to go!

i've been slacking on posting again... time to get caught up:

5.9. ISN'T IT ROMANTIC - Read A Book With The Words: Love, Romance, Cupid, Sweetheart, Valentine, Heart, Kiss, Chocolate, Roses, Or Jewelry In The Title. (Alternate Forms Of These Words Are Acceptable I.E. Romantic Or Kissing Would Be Fine.)
Ex. Kiss the Girls Or Cupid and Diana a novel
Aphrodite’s Kiss Julie Keener 2-1-10

10.7. SMALL SCREEN STORIES - Read A Book Inspired By, OR Was The Inspiration For, OR Is In Some Way Related To Your Favorite Television Show (Past Or Present).
Ex. If Your Favorite Show Is Dexter You Could Read A Book From Jeff Lindsay's Dexter Series Or Another Book About A Serial Killer(s).
A Touch of Dead Charlaine Harris 2-10-10 this is a compilation of short stories that fall between the regular Sookie Stackhouse books. this is the inspiration for the show TrueBlood, which is amazing!

25.8. MICHELLE US' TASK - JANUARY 30TH IS INANE ANSWERING MACHINE DAY
The Day Where We Try To Bring An End To All Of Those Mindless, Endlessly Long, Beeping And Otherwise Inane Answering Machine Messages That Annoy, Waste Time And Try The Patience Of Poor Unfortunate Callers.

In Honor Of This Silly Holiday...

A. Read A Book With An Unnecessarily Long Title (At Least 7 Words)
And To Make Up For It...
Read A Book With A Very Short Title (1 Word).
A. Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Titan’s Curse Rick Riordan 2-11-10
B. Minion L.A. Banks 1-6-10 286 Pages


Total Points: 160
Total Books Read: 14
Number of Challenges Completed: 11

5.07 EYEING THE YEAR OF THE TIGER: “The Accidental Tourist” Anne Tyler

5.08 BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE: "The Old Contemptibles" by Martha Grimes

10.02 LOUIS LOUIS: "Seeing Voices" by Oliver Sacks

10.08 OH CANADA! "Chronicles of Avonlea" by Lucy Maud Montgomery (written by a Canadian author and set in Canada)

15.08 SILVER SCREEN CELEBRATIONS: (Christmas) A) “Light from Heaven” Jan Karon (book) B) “The Bishop’s Wife” (film)

15.10 WE WILL REMEMBER YOU: A) “A Rumpole Christmas” John Mortimer B) Watched John Hughes film, “Pretty in Pink”

25.02 GINA’S TASK – FEBRUARY IS INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP MONTH: “Friends, Lovers, Chocolate” Alexander McCall Smith. The most important part of friendship is assuming good intentions.

25.08 MICHELLE US’ TASK – JANUARY 30TH IS INANE ANSWERING MACHINE DAY: A) “The man who made lists: Love, death, madness, and the creation of Roget's Thesaurus" Joshua Kendall B) “South” Sir Ernest Shackleton

30.03 BJ ROSE’S TASK – SNOWED IN AND LOVING IT: "A Taste for Death" PD James [497 pgs:] "The Lamorna Wink" Martha Grimes [448 pgs:]

30.07 JAN THE GRYPHON’S TASK: MULTITASKING: "Voices" by Arnaldur Indridason (fits tasks 25.05 and 25.08)

Total points: 170
Rachel

10.7 Please Pass the Guilt
Rex Stout

This is one of Stout's Nero Wolfe mysteries. A few years ago A&E featured a television show based on this series. It starred Maury Chakin and Timothy Hutton. I loved it and was heartbroken when they cancelled it after two seasons. I recently bought the DVD boxed set, which I almost never do.

Yay, Helen! Way to go!!

Congratulations, Helen!! Way to go!

Finally placed a couple more books:

5.4 - Winning Decade
Paper Towns by John Green

10.10 - From Russia with love
Script of Fiddler on the Roof

25.2 - Friendship
James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

This book is about friendship at Hogwarts.
Friendship is important to me because it gives me strength in hard times because I know other people believe in me - even when I don't think I can do something.

Totals:
Points:460
Tasks:20
Books:29
Pages:8932

Just finished 25.4 - Lisa MD's Task:

Wolf Hall - takes place in the 16th century during the time of Henry VIII and is the story from Thomas Cromwell's POV. Well deserving of the Man Booker Prize for 2009. The story takes a bit to get into because of the writing style, but once you get the hang of it, it is an excellent read. Mantel has definitely set herself up for a sequel.

Dizzy City: A Novel - New York during WW1. This is the story of an English soldier who gets injured in war and then deserts the British Army by escaping to NYC. While there, he meets a bunco artist and falls into a life of conning. The story, rich with the background of NYC just before US entered the war, is kept moving by telling the story from each of the main characters perspective. It is the story of cons conning cons and you really need to stick to the end to see who is doing what and who is telling the truth. (Unfortunately, the end of the story comes up a bit short for me).

Overall, I suppose I would rather have lived during the 1910's than in Tudor England. While people were very poor and immigrants constantly starving in NYC, at least you didnt have to constantly worry about religious persecution and the oppressive monarchy of a vain, selfish king. There was opportunity if you could find it in the US, even though 90% of the immigrants died just as penniless as they arrived, they at least had their dreams, which you cant say about 16th century Engand.

New Total: 295

It has been a LONG time since I posted. I am in a bit of a reading funk so my reading has really slowed down. It is basketball season too and that cuts my reading time too since I go to a LOT of high school basketball games (3 this week). Anyway, here is what I have read in the past month.

Finished:

5.6 Stolen-I could never be a researcher.**Goodreads Author**
5.7 Stolen Fury-Year of the Ox 1985 and 1973 **Goodreads Author**

10.1 Water for Elephants
10.4 Street Game-BJ Rose's List

25.5 The 5 Greatest Warriors: A Novel

30.6 Alyzon Whitestarr-Would love to go to Australia especially with the cold weather we have been having here in Missouri

30.10 Suite Scarlett**Goodreads Author** AND Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah

35.4 Hollywood Is like High School with Money AND The Money Answer Book: Quick Answers to Everyday Financial Questions**My new year's resolution is to stick to my budget.

Total Points 655/1100
Total Books 55/82
Total Tasks Completed 36/58
Total Pages 18414

Finished another one today... finally...

Task 25.1 - Leora – 2 1001-Books: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (12/5/09) AND The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (2/15/10)

CURRENT STATS
Tasks Completed: 22/58
Tasks Partially Complete: 6
Books Read: 35/81
Pages Read: 10,247
Points Earned: 400/1100

30.4 I read Civil Blood by Ann McMillan for this task.

675/1150
pages: 11210
books: 38
tasks completed: 30

Two more tasks completed
25.10 Emily's task
A. If I Stay by Gayle Forman - sorry I'm technologically inept - no idea how to get a copy of the cover but it's a beautiful blue, with a stark tree branch with one lone bloom - it just drew me in and this book did not disappoint.
B. Stitches by Dave Small - I don't read much in grapic novels, but this one was a great choice.

10.5 Popularity Contest. I read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. I was born in January and this book was a hot book in January of 2009. Loved this book.

Tasks Completed - 16
Books Read - 23
Pages Read - 7,076
Total points - 325

Completed 25.10 with , I picked this one up at a library sales because I thought it was beautiful and was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be a decent read.
For the graphic novel I read . I don't usually read graphic novels, but I enjoyed the first one and learned quite a bit about Iran. Unfortunately the second one just left me depressed.

Total points: 665

Finished 25.3 Sara's Clue task by reading which I really enjoyed. It was about a woman who returns to the Salem area after a prolonged absence. She and her female ancestors are lace reader's (fortune tellers). I found the story engaging and a nice twist at the end. I gave this book 4*. For the second book I read . I did not like this one quite as much as The Golden Compass. I gave it 3*. There seemed to be too much going on for me. I will finish the trilogy just to see how it ends. Hopefully the last book will be better.

This brings me to 440 points.

Hello all! Finished another one:

15.1.(A) MAKE ME LAUGH - Read A Black Comedy Or Satirical Novel
The Gates by John Connolly (Hardcover, 320 pages)
The Gates is meant to be a young adult “funny horror” novel, which I’m placing as “black humor”. Connolly tilts the novel more towards funny, despite the fact that there are numerous demons up to no good. (Typical of the demons is Ulp, presented in a cameo: “Ulp is the Demon of Things That Go Round for Slightly Too Long, with additional responsibility for the Smell of Cotton Candy When You’re Not Feeling Yourself, and the Lingering Odor of Small Children Being Unwell”) The humor doesn’t always work for me so I’d give it 2 *’s.

15.1 (B) Watch A Black Comedy Or Satirical Film
On New Year’s Day, we watched our DVD of “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”, definitely a Satirical Film. Or so we hope.

595 + 15 = 610





Tasks Completed: 30
Points for this task: 15
Points thus far: 610/1100
Books read: 41
Pages Read: 12,788
Read but not yet claimed: 4 books
And
I'm on Page 670 of : The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Pevear (Translator), Larissa Volokhonsky (Translator) (Paperback 776 pages)
I will finish The Brothers Karamazov !!!

15 point task
9. OUT WITH THE OLD & IN WITH THE NEW BOOKS
A. Read The Book That Has Been On Your TBR Pile/Shelf The Longest.
AND
B. Read A Book Written By An Author You Have Never Read Before.
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates

Current Point Total: 155
Jessica (MI)

I decided to move Kiss an Angel from the Isn't It Romantic Task to the Under the Big Top Task when I remembered that it takes place primarily at a circus.

Finished a couple more challenges, finally have time to post them!
30.4 Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned an unknown virus has wiped out every being with a Y chromasome...except for Yorick and is monkey Ampersand

and!

25.9 Read Operation Typhoon Shore 2 which had a couple of maps and it's sequel Operation Storm City which is filled with blueprints, appendices and a couple of glossaries

5.8- BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE- cozy mystery
Read G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton

10.6 LOCAL LITERATURE LOVERS - Start By Going To http://www.goodreads.com/user/near_me
A. If You Live In The US - Select Within 5 Miles & Type In Your Zip Code - Then Select One Of The People Found On That Page (Not Yourself) And Read One Of Their 5-Star Books.
B. If You Live Outside The Us - Select The Country You Live In - Then Select One Of The People Found On That Page (Not Yourself) And Read One Of Their 5-Star Books.
The Namesake by Lahiri (Sharon from C.H.)
10 points
total 1025

5.4. A WINNING DECADE - As We Transition From One Decade To The Next We Should Recognize The Books That Won Us Over In The Last One…For This Task Read A Book That Has Received A Literary Award During The Years (2000-2009).
For A List Of Literary Awards With Links To Lists Of Winners Go To (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lit...) And Please State Which Award The Book Won When Claiming Points For This Task.
Midnight’s Children Best of the Booker Prize 2008
5 points
total 1130

15.3 - Female Author with a female lead The Hunger Games and Female author auto-bio Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin'

Task Points:15
Total Points:235
Tasks:13
Books:14

Nicki - STL

Finally made some progress on tasks this weekend.

5.10 First Family by David Baldacci
30.1 Divine Justice by David Baldacci and Body of Lies by David Ignatius
30.6 Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry - I'm taking my wife to Paris for our 10 year anniversary later this year. we plan to see some of the sites in the book.

Total Points - 260
Books Read - 16
Tasks Completed - 13

5.5: Read a Novel suggested by a Librarian,
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
5.8: Cozy Mystery
At Bertram's Hotel, Agatha Christie
10.5: Hot books of 2009 (January)
The Princess Diaries: Forever Princess, Meg Cabot
15.9: Book that's been on my list longest and new author
Wicked, Gregory Maguire
Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell
30.1: Book published in the last decade AND a book turned into a movie
Divine Justice, David Baldacci (Over 500 pages)
Bourne Identity, Robert Ludlum
30.2: Sci-Fi: Before 2000 and after 2000
War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (Won the Hugo awared in 2001)
30.3: 825 pages, no re-reads
The Princess Diaries VII: Party Princess, Meg Cabot
The Princess Diaries VIII: Princess on the Brink, Meg Cabot
The Princess Diaries IX: Princess Mia, Meg Cabot

Total Points: 150
Books Read: 13
Pages Read: 4903

Just finished 30.1. I read Remarkable Creatures for part 1 and Under the Tuscan Sun for part 2.


New Total:

Jamie(24)-165

Patricia wrote: "Diane wrote: "30.4 SANDRA'S TASK - WORLD AIDS DAY - Read A Book About An Epidemic Or A Book Where The Character Is Suffering From Such A Disease - [book:Love in the Driest Season: A Family Memoir|9..."

Loved it.

30.8 KARI ♪'S TASK - EXPLORING WITH LEWIS AND CLARK - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather AND Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase by Charles A. Cerami.

I would not have liked to live during this time period. Life was very hard for the pioneers. They had to work very hard and overcome many obstacles to give themselves a better life in this country.

Total Points: 885/1100
Tasks Completed: 50/58
Tasks in Progress: 2

Completed task 25.1 Leora's Task, 1001 books - I read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I loved the books and this challenge, as I'm trying to read all 1001 books on the list...and I'm two books closer to finishing now :)

425/1100 points
Tasks Completed: 21/60
Tasks In Progress: 4
Books Read: 28/79
Pages Read: 7,699

Finished 25.10

Shadow of the Serpent by David Ashton [image error]

Supernatural: Origins by Peter Johnson

I've been away for a few days. While away I completed the following tasks -
25.1 1001 books - read Daniel Deronda (832 pages) and 2001: A Space Odyssey
25.7 the Lost generations - read Tortilla Flat and A Wrinkle in Time
10.3 Renaissance reading - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
10.10 From Russia with Love Hadji Murad
5.2 She was a grand old flag maker - note that the writing on this book is definitely red and white rather than how it looks here.
5.7 eying the year of the tiger - year of the monkey by Katherine Paterson

Two more down:

10.10 Book written by a Russian author, set in Russia or non-fiction about Russia: There Once Was a Woman Who Tried to Kill her Neighbors' Baby by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya, 224pp, read 2/14/2010.

30.10 Book with a bright color in title and book with a number in title: Twenty Blue Devils and The Pink Fairy Book by Aaron Elkins and Andrew Lang,636pp, read 12/2/2009 and 2/15/2010.


Books read 67/79
Tasks completed 45/58
Points 915/1100
Pages read 21383


[image error]

Finished tasks...

25.4: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain 4* (Antebellum south, first half of 1800s) and
Against a Crimson Sky: A Novel by James Conroyd Martin 4* (Poland, 1794 to 1815-ish)
There is no doubt that I would have preferred to live during the time of Tom Sawyer. Living in Poland during the time of Napoleon doesn't sound like somethign that would be fun for anyone.

30.2: I, Robot by Isaac Asimov 2* and
The Host by Stephenie Meyer (More than 500 pages) 2*
I, Robot was much more about the technology and how its impact on humans. The Host was all about the love triangle thing that was going on between the main characters. Some new sci-fi books seem to be more fantastical than "classic" sci-fi. I'm not sure if I like it or not. I wasn't a big fan of either of these books.

30.7: Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery 3*
This books is both by a Canadian author (10.8) and my copy contains a map of PEI (25.9.A)

While a week on bedrest isn't exactly ideal, it's definitely allowing me more reading time than I've had in awhile! Finished another one:
25.10 EMILY'S TASK - DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
A. by Allison Winn Scotch
I love the cover of this one. Looks kind of like a cross between being inside a snowglobe and being sprinkled with fairy dust. Both make sense given the kinda mystical basis of the novel. I really enjoyed this book -- especially the author's words about motherhood.

Allison Winn Scotch is a Goodreads Author

B. The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
This was actually the very first book I read for this challenge. It was only my second graphic novel, but won't be my last -- I think it's a really interesting way to tell a story. Particularly Satrapi's story, which is quite an interesting one for someone so young. I learned quite a bit about Iran, too - a country I admittedly didn't know very much about before reading this.

Previously Completed Tasks
30.6 WENDY'S TASK - WINTER VACATION DREAMS The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes (Destination: Ireland) (02.14.10)

20.2 BETH MN'S TASK - REVISITING THE PAST It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by Peter Walsh (revisiting task 15.7)

30.5 DIANE'S TASK - POSTHUMOUSLY SPEAKING
The Ten Best Days of My Life by Adena Halpern
AND The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

10.7 The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (read 01.01.10)

35.3 Some Days There's Pie: A Novel by Catherine Landis (01.22.10)

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: 315
Tasks Completed: 15
Books Read: 20

Finished 30.3 by reading two very different books, both good:

Southern Living Busy Moms Weeknight Favorites by the Editors of Southern Living, 288 pages

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, 590 pages

That's a total of 878 pages, so I should be in good shape. Also, I think the second one should qualify me for the "I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie" challenge.

TOTAL: 355 points

Completed Tasks:

15.3 What Women Want
A. Female Author/Series - *If Looks Could Kill***1/2 by Kate White - READ 2.14.10
This is the first book in the Bailey Weggins mystery series by Cosmo editor, Kate White. I liked it and have a couple more in the series to read now.
B. Biography - *Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return***** by Marjane Satrapi - READ 2.15.10
I loved Persepolis 1 and couldn't wait to find out more of Satrapi's story. The second book in her memoir was just as engaging as the first.

25.3 International Friendship Month
*Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet**** by Jamie Ford (Goodreads Author) - READ 2.13.10
A wonderful story to curl up with!




Tasks Completed: 33/58
Points Completed: 685/1100
Books Read: 46
*Books Read From My Personal Library: 29

A couple more done over the weekend:

5.7 Eyeing the Year of the Tiger: The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi (a Goodreads author) - I had almost resigned myself to reading Dean Koontz when I looked over the list of Roosters again; how pleasantly surprised I was to find John Scalzi, whose Old Man's War I enjoyed so much. The Ghost Brigades continues on from Old Man's War but from a different perspective. Really good sci-fi, if you like the alien-space war type.

10.5 Popularity Contest: Of Bees and Mist: A Novel by Erick Setiawan, from August 2009. I enjoyed this quite a bit, about a woman with a wicked, manipulative mother-in-law, whose own parents are hardly great role models. I think it just about crosses the line between magical realism and fantasy. A good story of the struggle between two determined women.

I have read a couple others but still working on the last couple of multi-book tasks.

Whole bunch to report after a week in the house due to snow! New tasks are in bold. Points total should be 465. Thanks!

5.1 Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi(12/17)
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

30.1 Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog (movie) Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife (published)

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

30.4 The Scarlet Plague by Jack London
30.5 Elsewhere by G. Zevin (***Goodreads Author) and The Amateur Emigrant by R.L. Stevenson

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 by Noah Brooks and Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo (1424 pages)

So glad I committed to Sacajawea. I highly recommend it!

30.10: A. The Red House Mystery by AA Milne B. The 39 Steps by John Buchan

35.3: Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham 1/10

50.1: Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle (1/25) and The Outdoor Girls in a Winter Camp, Or, Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats by Laura Lee Hope (1/26)

25-10 is done!

Part A-"Plague of the Dead" by Z.A. Recht

[image error]

For Part B I acually read 3 graphic novels because they didn't have page numbers and I wanted to make sure I fulfilled the page requirement.

300 by Frank miller
Jesus Hates Zombies by Stephen Lindsay and Steve Cobb and;
Wolves of Odin by Grant Gould.

800 points

30.2. HELEN'S TASK - SCIENCE FICTION - PAST AND PRESENT
Over The Past Few Years, The Large Number Of Science Fiction Based Movies/TV Series Has Resulted In A Resurgence In The Interest In Novels In This Genre. This Task Is Designed To Give Us An Opportunity To Explore Sci-Fi Novels From The Early 1900's Through Today. It Consists Of Reading Two Sci-Fi Novels - One Older One And One Current One And Commenting On Their Differences.
A. Past: Choose A Sci-Fi Novel Written By An Author Who Has Won A
Hugo OR Nebula Award Prior To The Year 2000.
(The Following Is A Partial List Of Icons Of This Genre Having Won One Or More Of These Awards And Having A Large Body Of Work Available For Selection: Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, David Brin, Orson Scott Card, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Frederick Pohl, Ursula Le Guin, Robert Silverberg, Kate Wilhelm, Roger Zelazny.)
Catalyst: A Tale of the Barque Cats, Book 1 by McCaffrey and Scarborough Scarborough won the Nebula in 1989.
B. Present: Choose A Sci-Fi Novel Published During The Current Century.
(For Fun, You Could Choose An Early Book By One Of The Sci-Fi Icons And A Current Book By The Same Author.) C. Comment On The Differences Between The Two Novels And Speculate On Why (For Example, Author's Styles, Timeframe During Which They Were Written, Topic Choice, Etc).
Dragon’s Kin by McCaffrey
30 points
1060 total

25.6 Island Dreams

Neverwhere takes place in London, England.

Total Points: 105

30.4 Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

255 points

#25.10 - Emily: Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover...Unless It's Really Well Designed
A. Cover Design Draws You In: Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason by Russell Shorto Feb 16 This is really a good book: I got dizzy a few times bouncing back and forth in history, but am glad I read it.
When I saw this cover, my first thought was 'Alas, poor Yorick!'

B. It's What's Inside That Counts: Read a Graphic Novel
The Sandman Vol. 01: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman Feb 13
I've decided that, in the future, I'll leave graphic novels to those who love them - but at least now I know!

Neil Gaiman is a GoodReads Author

#35.1 - PJReads: Fun With the Dewey Decimal System
One of my favorite books in the Fall Challenge was Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, which has 290 pages. So I read...

A. #291.215 Angel Letters by Sophy Burnham Feb 14
Then I went 250 decimals forward and read...
B. #539.7 Particle Physics: A Very Short Introduction by Frank Close Feb 15

Total Pages = 21,458

Total Points = 985

15.4 It's All About Fun and Games
I spent an hour (more than an hour, actually) playing my favorite videogame Beautiful Katamari. It's this strange, very Japanese game in which you roll a ball around in various bizarre worlds and collect different objects.
Obviously there was no book with "Beautiful Katamari" in the title, so I read a related book that was both Japanese and dream-like, like my favorite game:
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

It was a long book for a 15 point challenge, but I loved it! A five star book for me, and I'm very stingy with my five star ratings.

Pages in book(s): 607

Tasks Completed: 13
Books Read: 20
Total Pages Read: 5,445
Total Points: 280

Asho wrote: "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.."

Asho, I had this one as one of my Task books as well but haven't gotten to that task. I hope to fit it in somewhere next Challenge. I'm glad to hear that it's a good story.

For task 10.7

Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer

I have to admit that the TV series wasn't my favorite. The CONCEPT of the show was very intriguing, but I was never able to get on the same wavelength and actually see the show.

Now I'm glad I didn't because I probably would have never read the book (big surprise!) I watched a couple of episodes on-line and the series is only VERY loosely based on the book.

I completed two more tasks:

30.5 I read The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel and Persuasion

25.8 I read Messenger and Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

My total is now 390.

10.8 The Penelopiad
Margaret Atwood

15.2. ADVENTURES WITH ALICE AND LEWIS Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and American Wife: A Novel -- main character named Alice
Books Read: 51
Pages Read: 17150
Tasks Completed: 38
Tasks in Progress: 4

25.9. BRIDGIT'S TASK - THE WORLD OF BOOKS

A. Any Book That Has A Map Included (Real Or Imaginary).

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull, includes several maps of Minneapolis


AND

B. Any Book That Has Extra Content

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson, includes reference charts and a glossary of names and terms

Task Points: 25
Total Points: 120
Completed tasks: 5
Books read: 8

I have completed:
Task 5.9: Forever My Love what every man should know about his wife * (hated it)

Task 10.7: 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter ****

Task 25.5: MALICE DOMESTIC 3: MALICE DOMESTIC 3 ****

Total points: 235
Total pages: 4902