The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Ok, can I just say how much I love the last week of the challenges? My HUGE stack of books- 1/2 read, 3/4 read, almost done- on my night stand is just disappearing! I have a tendency during these challenges to read like 15 books at once (no exageration!).

Anyway, 35 point task-PJREAD's is now complete!

One of my favorite books from the fall was Agnes Grey-loved it! So, this led me to the dewey decimal categories of Religious Persecution and Dictionaries.

So I read:

Religious Persecution by Edmund Sidney Pollack Haynes and;

The Professor and the Madman by Sidney Winchester.

950 points

My final post for the winter challenge!
For 10.4, I read:
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Three of the last challenge winners had it on their five-star lists: Wendy, Gina, and Sam.

That brings my final totals for this challenge to:
Points: 425 (above my goal -- yay!)
Books: 28
Pages: 9,060
Tasks: 19

Thanks, Cynthia, as always! And congrats to all the finishers and everyone who met their goals!!

Now I'm off to play with my spring challenge plans. Whee!

Task 35.3 – DLM Rose – Time Word: The Season by Sarah MacLean (2/25/10), who is a GR author.

CURRENT STATS
Tasks Completed: 28/58
Tasks Partially Complete: 3
Books Read: 41/81
Pages Read: 12,270
Points Earned: 540/1100



Other GR authors I may or may not have reported:
Maria V Snyder (Task 25.3)
Nancy Campbell Allen (Task 15.5)

There are still a couple of tasks I'm trying to complete before the challenge ends, but here's what I've done since my last update:

5.5 - The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

I actually read this way back at the start of the challenge, but I shifted some books around and then forgot to report it. My librarian said that the Dark Materials series was one of her favorites, and I have to say that I really liked this book. Sadly, I've read so many since then that I'll have to reread it in order to finish up the series.

10.8 - The Last River Child by Lori Ann Bloomfield (set in Ontario)

This was a really good book. It was a quick read, but I enjoyed it a lot. I haven't had time to write a full review yet, but I definitely recommend it.

25.8 - Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles by Geoff Emerick AND Sweetsmoke by David Fuller


Here, There and Everywhere is great for anybody who loves the Beatles and wants to know more about what it was like behind the scenes and how they actually made some of their records. I was annoyed by how much Emerick loves Paul and hates the rest, but I still enjoyed the book.

Sweetsmoke was a surprisingly good book. I loved the writing, I loved the story, the research that went into it was evident - overall great read.

Hopefully I can finish up these last couple of tasks (maybe even squeeze out another). I have to say that I'm excited I even did this much and stuck through my first challenge. I can't wait to finish picking my books for the next one!

Tasks Completed: 7
Tasks Partially Complete: 2
Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 2910
Points Earned: 120

Finished:
30.2 HELEN'S TASK - SCIENCE FICTION - PAST AND PRESENT

A. Past: Choose A Sci-Fi Novel Written By An Author Who Has Won A
Hugo OR Nebula Award Prior To The Year 2000.

B. Present: Choose A Sci-Fi Novel Published During The Current Century.

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).

Read:
A. Hyperion by Dan Simmons (Hugo 1990)
B. Spin by Robert Charles Winston (Hugo 2006)

C. The differences between these two books is immense to the point that it makes a comparison between the two almost pointless. Spin was definitely more reader friendly in terms of both language and story. It doesn't read like science fiction in quite the same way that Hyperion does. I found Hyperion initially to be quite a difficult read. Eventually, much to my surprise, I did find myself enjoying the ride. Unfortunately, the ending left me cold. There were just way too many unanswered questions and the lack of resolution was highly disappointing. Although the stories told in both Hyperion and Spin continue on in other books, I feel that Spin provided a more satisfying experience. Spin can be read and enjoyed in complete isolation from (Axis) the second book in Wilson's series. Hyperion, on the other hand, reads more like a prequel (the backstory to the "real" story). It left me with that much dreaded to be continued feeling...

New Point Total: 330
Tasks Completed: 14
Books Read: 19
Audio Books: 1
Pages Read: 6264

This will be my final post for the Winter Challenge. I think I will spend the weekend watching television until the Spring Challenge begins on Monday!

5.9 Whitethorn Woods
Maeve Binchy

5.5B. Librarians & a library play a major role in:

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

TOTAL = 240 POINTS

This will most likely be the last task completed for this Challenge.
I finished Bonnie's Task 30.1 by reading Persepolis 1: The Story of a Childhood (published in 2004) and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (made into a movie in 2008). I can't link to the copy I read but it has 128 pgs and an afterword about the story, Fitgerald and Mark Twain.

I found Persepolis 1 to be a very poignant and descriptive tale of a young girl growing up in times of revolution and war. I'm always surprised at how the graphics can bring out the many emotions that they do: surprise, horror, fear, sadness.

I didn't know anything about the story of Benjamin Button and have never seen the movie. It surprised me that it was an illustrated (graphic) novel. I was expecting a "normal" novel. This was also my first F. Scott Fitgerald book and I enjoyed the style and flow of words. I'll be looking into his other books.
I did enjoy the premise of the book but would have liked it to be longer, to explain more about how & why Benjamin was as he was. It just seemed that no one was interested and this poor "kid" went through life not fitting in at either end. It was only in the mid-life that he "fit" with everyone else.
I did find it interesting that Fitzgerald came up with this idea after a remark made by Mark Twain about youth being wasted on the young.
I'd be interested in seeing the movie to see how this story was made into a full length film.

OK - I think this is my last one for this challenge - 30.4 - Company of Liars - this was pretty good. A mystery of 9 travelers in England during the Bubonic Plague epidemic and they mystery that surrounds them.

Total Points: 375

See you in the Spring!

I was just checking my spread sheet to make sure that I posted all that I have done and it seems that I am so busy reading that I do not post!

5.2 She Was A Grand Old Flag Maker
Number The Stars - Lois Lowery

5.4 Winning Decade
Tale Of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo

10.6 Local Literature Lovers
Meghan - The Testament - John Grisham

10.1 From Russia With Love
Madonnas Of Leningrad - Debra Dean

25.3 Snowed In And Loving It - BJ Rose
True Blue - David Baldacci
Good Husband Of Zebra Drive - A M Smith
La's Orchestra Saves The World - A M Smith
961 pages

25.4 World Aids Day - Sandra
Year Of Wonder - Geraldine Brooks

25.6 Island Dreams - Stephanie US
Cuba - Old Man And The Sea - Earnest Hemingway

25.7 Lost Generation - Sam
Evil Under The Sun - Agatha Christie
Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck

If I have added and entered everything correctly now my totals are:

Books Read - 35
Pages - 9532
Tasks - 29
Goal - 350
Points Earned - 395!!!!!

Not bad for a first timer!!!!!

On to the Spring!

Melissa wrote: "yippee! I'm done! woo-hoo!

30.3 Snowed In and Loving It:

In Morgan's Shadow - 129 pgs
This book is the result of a writers' project among residents of Spartanburg, SC. I am s..."

Good job, Melissa!

Two more tasks completed.
15.3 What women want (to read and write) - read Squire by Tamora Pierce who is a goodreads author and Lady Hester: Queen Of The East
5.6 It's a dirty job but... read Run Like You Stole Something. I could never be a professional sportsperson because I lack the skills, the stamina, the strength and the psychology. I have no killer instinct and would hate the discipline required. I also have no desire to be famous.

Four more tasks to go.

10.3

I read "Sula" by Toni Morrison.

Completed task 30.3- Reading at least 875 pages

Read: The Thirteenth Tale(406 pages), Catching Fire(391 pages),Never Let Me Go(288 pages) for a total of 1085 pages.

Total points: 50

Just finished another challenge!

5.4 - Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (ALA Teens Top 10)

I loved this book! I really need to figure out how to incorporate the rest of the series into the next challenge because I can't wait to read the rest.

Also - the book was 534 so woohoo for big books!

Tasks Completed: 8
Tasks Partially Complete: 2
Books Read: 10
Pages Read: 3444
Points Earned: 125

I am really impressed with everyone who has been meeting and exceeding their personal goals for this challenge. It was so huge.
(While I'm not a fan of snowstorms, I love how many were able to take advantage of snow days to make inroads on the challenge.)

25.3 Game of Clue
A : Suspect in mustard : How to travel with a salmon by Umberto Eco
B : Weapon gun : Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo
C : both books are from my own library.

points : 260
New points : 285

I have three days to go for the last task!!

I know I won't finish, but I do hope to at least finish the remaining multi-book tasks that I have semi-complete. :) In the meantime, I have finished:
15.9, the oldest book on my shelf was Empire Falls and a new author was The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.
25.1 1001 List with A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Around the World in Eighty Days.

Enjoyed both Empire Falls and Around the World, but the other two both left something to be desired.

Total points: 740

Melissa wrote: "yippee! I'm done! woo-hoo!

30.3 Snowed In and Loving It:

In Morgan's Shadow - 129 pgs
This book is the result of a writers' project among residents of Spartanburg, SC. I am s..."
Congratulations, Melissa!!

There are several books that I have read during this challenge, but have not officially assinged to a task, so I am going to try to do that now...

5.6 IT'S A DIRTY JOB, BUT... The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey

5.8 BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE Dirty Laundry: A Sofie Metropolis Novel

25.5 ODD MAN OUT Goneaway Into the Land I won this book as a goodreads giveaway

25.6 ISLAND DREAMS Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

30.3 SNOWED IN AND LOVING IT Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China (432 pgs), The Marvellous Land of Oz (192 pgs), Ozma of Oz (126 pgs), Dorothy And the Wizard in Oz (148 pgs)

I think this brings me to a total of 195 points.

Books that I haven't assigned to a task: The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A Final Warning & Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

Finished two more tasks today:

5.9 - Romance
Heartfire by Orson Scott Card


25.4 - Turn Back Time
Beowulf by Anonymous
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

I would rather live in King Arthus's time than Beowulfs. While they are both english kings, the world is more advanced in 530 ad than in the ages of the warring clans.

I too am done... I think I got 380 points. Normally I do way better but life got in the way...Spring Challenge here I come... So excited because I love so many of the tasks! Thanks again Cynthia for all your hard work and dedication!

My last task for winter:

30.3 Snowed In and Loving It. I read Krik? Krak!, a book of short stories about women in Haiti by Edwidge Danticat with 224 pages and Anthropology of an American Girl: A Novel by Hilary Thayer Hamman with 606 pages to just squeek in with 830 pages.

I really enjoyed Krik? Krak! I'm still trying to decide how much I liked Anthropology.

With 30 more points I now have happily passed the 100 point mark for my first challenge. On to 200 for the spring!

New points: 30
Total points: 125

Task 5.10 Alliteration (January 2010)
Memories of My Melancholy Whores (115 pages)
by Gabriel García Márquez

Tasks Completed: 1
Points thus far: 5
Books read: 1
Pages read: 115

Task 25.5 Odd Man (February 2010)
Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure (240 pages)
by Emma Campbell Webster

Tasks Completed: 2
Points thus far: 30
Books read: 2
Pages read: 355

Another two tasks down....

30.10 THERESA IN OHIO'S TASK - COLOR BY NUMBERS
A. Winter Can Be Drab, Cold, And Bleak. Read A Book With A Bright Or Happy COLOR Word In The Title. ACCEPTABLE WORDS: Red, Green, Purple, Yellow Etc., NOT ACCEPTABLE: Black, White, Gray Or Brown Tones.
AND
B. At The End Of The Year, Many Lists Appeared, From Best Of To Worst Of Biggest Seller Of Years, Most Money Made By Celebrities, Etc. So Read A Book With A NUMBER In The Title.
For this task I read Red Fire by Deidre Knight and One With the Night by Susan Squires.

15.7 FOOD + FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS = READING FUN
A. Read A Novel With Recipes Or A Cookbook.
AND
B. Prepare One Or More Of The Recipes From The Book And Share It With Others
For this task I read
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I made the Chocolate Chip Crunches and the Lemon Bar Cookies. Both turned out great! My husband and next door neighbor really liked them!

Total Points: 885/1100
Books Read: 64
Tasks Completed: 45/58

15.7 Food & Family and Friends - read Taste: A New Way to Cook and made avocado salad with roasted red onion and spiced pepper sauce. The book was aimed at better cooks than me. The salad was the sort of meal that I would order at a restaurant - too much work for me to make at home.

5.1 The wonderful workd of Disney.
It is about forty years since I last saw a Disney film and I can't remember much about any of them. I do have vague recollections of seeing The Parent Trap (the 1961 version with Hayley Mills) so I read Lottie and Lisa: A Novel for Children

I never have the goal to finish the challenge (at least not after the first month when reality sets in), so I've been setting my competitive goal as something like "be in the top 20 of the people who do not finish." So I would like to encourage about 20 more people to finish so that I have a fighting chance of meeting my goal! :)

Finished tasks...

30.1: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane 4* and
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs 2*

35.2: Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet 2* (goodreads author) and
Fire by Kristin Cashore 3*

Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "I never have the goal to finish the challenge (at least not after the first month when reality sets in), so I've been setting my competitive goal as something like "be in the top 20 of the people w..."

Hey, that's a great goal! I might have to borrow your idea for the spring challenge. I always start each challenge thinking I'll make it but life never fails to remind me that I can't check out completely to just read. And since I'm not a speed reader, I've got that working against me too. :)

Best wishes to everybody who is cloe to finishing!! I'm cheering for you!

25.2 Gina's Task - International Friendship Month
I read - The Friend who Got away - Twenty Women's True-Life Tales of Friendships That Blew Up,Burned out, or Faded Away. Edited by Jenny Ofill & Elisa Schappell.
What friendship means to me is having someone in your life who you chose to be there and who wants to be there. Someone who knows you better than you even know yourself. Someone who accepts you warts and all and still thinks you're wonderful.
Tasks Completed - 19
Pages Read - 8,122
Books Read - 27
Total Points - 410

15-5 is done:

I read Immortality by Milan Kundera, this was on Pupa-ria from Lebanon's list.

and:

From Chrissie in Belgiums bookshelf I chose Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak.

Coralie wrote: "15.7 Food & Family and Friends - read Taste: A New Way to Cook and made avocado salad with roasted red onion and spiced pepper sauce. The book was aimed at better cooks than me. The s..."

Coralie, that sounds like a delicious salad. I'll have to look into this cookbook. Thanks!

25.10 - I read by Cassandra Clare. I picked it out by just skimming the books at my local Target and picking the cover I liked the best. For part b I read JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice which I couldn't stand.

Forgot to add 35-2 Donna Jo's task:

I chose warm beach......

1. James Herriots Treasurey of Inspirational Stories for Children: warm and Joyful Tales.

and:

2. The Beach house by Jane Greene

I THINK this brings me to 1000 points (Holey Moley!)

Just finished 10.3 - The Color Purple by Alice Walker

I really enjoyed this book. I've never seen the movie, so I didn't know what to expect, but my sister kept telling me to read it and I'm glad I did.

I've actually started another book, so I still have two tasks that I might be able to finish before Sunday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Tasks Completed: 9
Tasks Partially Complete: 2
Books Read: 12
Pages Read: 3734
Points Earned: 135

My Final Task!

15.10 - Angela's Ashes
Watched Sixteen Candles in honor of Hughes. I still have a crush on Jake Ryan.




FINAL CHALLENGE STATS
58 tasks completed
82 books read
22,613 pages read

I can't believe I did it! Now I am ready for spring...it looks like a really good one!

CONGRATULATIONS, STEPHANIE!!!! Fabulous :)

30.2 HELEN'S TASK - SCIENCE FICTION - PAST AND PRESENT

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 Eye of the Heron by Ursula K. Le Guin.

B. Present: Choose A Sci-Fi Novel Published During The Current Century - Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

C. Comment On The Differences Between The Two Novels And Speculate On Why:

The books were very different so it is difficult to compare them. Both books were more sci-fi/fantasy rather than pure sci-fi. The Eye of the Heron was more toward the sci-fi side and Stardust was much heavier on the fantasy side. Although not specifically said, one assumes that The Eye of the Heron takes place in the future, although the way of living seems to have reverted to those of out 1800s. Stardust actualy does take place in the mid 1800s, so in that sense, I guess they are similar. Stardust takes place in England and Eye of the Heron takes place in an unnamed planet in outer space (that is fairly similar to earth). Also, Stardust had a romance component that Eye of the Heron did not. Eye of the Heron also had some underlying feminist and civil rights themes that echoed the time in which the book was written. Both were highly imaginative and interesting stories.

And Neil Gaiman is a Goodreads Author (Not that it matters at this point).

Total Points: 1080/1100
Tasks Completed: 57/58
Tasks in Progress: 1


[image error]

Congratulations, Stephanie! Awesome accomplishment!

Come on, Diane......you can do it!

15.3. WHAT WOMEN WANT (TO READ AND WRITE) The House on Tradd Street by Karen White and Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams by Lynne Withey
and
25.9. BRIDGIT'S TASK - THE WORLD OF BOOKS A Vein of Deceit by Susanna Gregory (has map of Cambridge) and The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff(maps and family trees)
Books Read: 63
Pages Read: 20898
Tasks Completed: 45
Tasks in Progress: 1

Good job, Stephanie.

Stephanie wrote: " My Final Task!

15.10 - Angela's Ashes
Watched Sixteen Candles in honor of Hughes. I still have a crush on Jake Ryan.

Congratulations!!!


FINAL CHALLENGE STATS
58 tasks completed
82 books read
..."

Finished 15.1: White Noise by Don DeLillo and watched Reno 911!: Miami

Total Points: 355

Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "I never have the goal to finish the challenge (at least not after the first month when reality sets in), so I've been setting my competitive goal as something like "be in the top 20 of the people w..."

I have a very similar goal. My first goal is to beat my previous challenge placement and then it's to place in the top X (Fall was 75, Winter was 50). I know that I'll never finish because each season has life activites that get in the way.

Now off to finish two more before Sunday - good luck everyone!

Last post for this challenge:

15.2 The Shunning AND A Prince Among Killers: Oathbreaker Part II

25.9 Invisible I(star map and coded message in cover and short story at end by a reader that was posted on the website associated with this series) AND Assassin's Apprentice

30.5 My Soul to Take (approved by Diane) AND The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Total Points 725/1100
Total Books 58/82
Total Tasks Completed 39/58
Total Pages 19527

Hi,

I have just finished what i think will be my final task, which was roseann's resolution task.
My resolution is to get my finances sorted so i read "your money or your life" by vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez and for the fiction book I read Filthy Rich by Wendy Holden. Both were great books.

Total (and final score) = 175.

Kate.x.

Been a while since I have posted...rough month. Here are the end of my points for this challenge. I am proud of myself for making my goal in points and tasks, even with the lack of books at the end ;-)

Here goes..
Task 5.2 Flag - Number the Stars 4 stars This was my first audio book and I really enjoyed this touching story

Task 5.5 Librarian - Real Murders 3 stars I picked this book because I have loved her Sookie Stackhouse books. Not so much love, but I will try another in the series


Task 20.1 Beth MN - I chose to do the previous task 30 pt task Lizzie's task to read a book b/c of its cover. I chose to read Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist I gave this book 3 stars. Quick read and light. Nice to have in the mix with such a heavy challenge.

Task 25.10 Emily - Part 1 - Oryx and Crake I gave this book 4 stars. This was my first dystopia book and I really enjoyed it. Not my normal pick, but sooo glad I read it! Part 2 - Fables Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 and gave it 4 stars. Surprised myself with this entire task. Thanks Emily for getting me out of my comfort zone!

Task 30.3 BJ Rose - I read Artemis Fowl which was 396 pgs for 4 stars and Before I Fall which was 448 pgs for 4 stars and a Goodreads author . Total page count for task was 844. Both were pretty fast reads and very enjoyable!




Now, off to prep for the Spring!

One more: I finished task 25.4 I read Pilate's Wife by Antoinette May and The Thorne Maze by Karen Harper.

I do not think the difference in medical care nor civilized behavior (the justice system for example) is that great between these 2 time frames. I would choose to be in Roman Empire times of the first century A.D.

This brings me to:

735/1150
43 books
12,694 pages

Thank you everybody!