The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
SUMMER CHALLENGE 2011: EUROPE
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Summer Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS)
Task 30.3 - If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium
A: Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell
B: Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn ***GR AUTHOR***
Total GR Authors: 7
Total Challenge points = 490
CHRISTINE USI finally figured out the problem.
15.10 Reading's Easy
Tongue In Chic by Christina Dodd
I had it on the sheet, but not on here. Now the points should match up.
total: 425
CHRISTINE USTask 10.4 here Kitty Kitty
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell by Lilian Jackson Braun
Task 10.6 Gay Pride
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn
New Total: 445
KIM NY (Repost from 2012-sorry)30.4 -- MsOPP's Task: Summer in Europe
I read two books for this task.
1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. This book satisfies option 2-read a book set during the summer.
2. It's Not Summer Without You also by Jenny Han. This book satisfies option 5-read a book with "summer" in the title.
20.6 Seasoned Reader - Heather KS's task: Summer Reading
For this task I read Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine. I read this book at the beach, floating in the pool and staying up late during my vacation from work.
Total points for both tasks: 50
Total points for challenge: 265
20.3 Best Review Contest - Sera's task: Happy, Happy, HappyFor this task, identify something that makes you happy, then read a fiction or non-fiction book where that thing is the focal point of the story, narrative, or of a primary character in the book.
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
I chose this book because books make me happy, and the main character here spends a lot of time jumping into one book after another (literally).
This was approved in the task thread.
This Post: 20
Total Points: 635
Tasks Completed: 40/57
Goodreads Authors: 3
Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (1), 1000+ (3)
10.3 Spare MeI read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - I would definitely not want to go to this dystopian London because I think I'd probably feel a lot like the Savage and would not want to live in a world where my destiny was predetermined for me and conditioned as in the book. (I'll just set aside how I feel about the less-overt conditioning in our actual world!)
25.4 Color Me Happy
I rolled a 2 - Orange and chose...
Option 1 - book cover - I read
(approved in help thread for orange)and
Option 5 - genre (suspense/thriller) - I read The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly (GOODREADS AUTHOR)
New Total: 550
20.2 Rookie at the Top - Nickboy's task: NETHERLANDS Is an Eleven Letter Word
Option A. Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle (but not series title) that is eleven or more letters in length.
The Replacement (2010) by Brenna Yovanoff (Goodreads Author) (Hardcover, 343 pages)
**** GOODREADS AUTHOR **** Brenna Yovanoff
415 + 20 = 435
Tasks Completed: 23
Points for this task: 20
Points thus far: 415 + 20 = 435
Books read: 34
Pages Read: 10,287
Read but not claimed: 7
Goodreads Authors: 4
Big Books:
(1) 500+
(0) 750 +
(0) 1000 +
NICOLE VA5.1 At the Shore
I read Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
5.3 The Dog Days of Summer
I read
by Alyson Noel.5.10 Summer Fun
I read Withering Tights by Louise Rennison.
10.6 Gay Pride
I read Twisted by Sara Shepard. This is part of the pretty little liars series, Emily is one of the main characters and she is a lesbian.
20.3 Best Review Contest - Sera's Task: Happy, Happy, Happy
One of the things that makes me happiest are my friendships, so I chose to read a book focusing on friendship. I read Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares.
Sarah Ockler, Alyson Noel, and Sara Shepard are GoodReads Authors.
Total points = 320
5.8: But No Shoplifting: I got this book free from Amazon.com for the KindleBack on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand
J. Mark Bertrand is a Goodreads author
20.1: Most Improved Player: Ashley FL's task: Birthday time: My birthday is the 25th.
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba
20.8: It's My Birthday: Riona's task: Female Author's of Sci-Fi:
Lincoln's Dreams by Connie Willis
total points - 330
5.3. The Dog Days of Summer 
by Maggie StiefvaterWolf (dog) on cover
*Maggie Stiefvater is a goodreads author*
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 680
Total Tasks Completed: 39
Total Books Read: 51
Total GoodReads Authors: 19
Big book tickets: 4
5.3 - The Dog Days of Summer - Looking for a Love Story: A Novel by Louise Shaffer
Total Challenge Points = 40
Alice GTask: 15.3 In the Eurozone
Book 1: House of the Hanged set in France which uses the Euro.
Book 2: Waterline set in the UK (Scotland) which does not use the Euro.
Total Points: 345
Previous Reads
5.4 SUMMMMMMER - Great House by Nicole Krauss
5.9 The Long and The Short of It - Ravens by George Dawes Green
5.10 Summer Fun - Dave Gorman vs The Rest of the World
10.1 For Real? - Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
10.4 Here Kitty, Kitty - The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
10.9 Around the campfire - Turn of the Screw by Henry James
10.10 Gimme S'more - Generation A by Douglas Coupland
15.5 Mind the Gap - Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camelleri
15.9 Pulling Weeds - Rescue by Anita Shreve
20.1 My Birthday - One Day by David Mitchell
20.4 Focus on My Favourite Goodreads Author - Death and the Penguin by Andrea Kurkov
20.5 Family Reunion - The Bed I Made by Lucie Whitehouse
20.6 Summer Reading - A Visit from the Goon Squad by Elizabeth Egan
20.7 A Trip to the Past - Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
25.3 The Ice-cream Truck - Dirty Work by Julia Bell and The Twisted Heart by Rebecca Gower
30.1 Best Friends and Lovers - Demo by Alison Miller and Night Watch
30.2 AKA - Portobello by Ruth Rendall and The Minotaur by Barbara Vine
30.6 Shakespeare Under the Stars - The Sunlight in the Garden by Francis King and Vienna by Eva Menasse
30.8 Summer Solstice - Memory of Love and Where or When by Anita Shreve
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STESSE15.1- Beware of Thorns- June is National Rose Month
American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee by Karen Abbott (320 p)
Fits B – has “Rose” in its title & C – is about Gypsy Lee Rose
15.6 Speak English!
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (361 p)
Slang: To wind up is to make fun of someone.
25.6 - Gayla's task: European Landmarks
A. 1. Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland (432 p) – the art of Tiffany lamps and glass
B. 6. Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston (342 p) – a spy novel
50.1 - Emily Kate's Task: Hodge-Podge
A-1. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (942 p)
Fits #1 – over 700 pages & #3 – part of a series & A – an author I’ve already read and liked
This is a Big Book x2!
F-2. Save Me by Lisa Scottoline (384 p)
Fits #2 (Lisa Scottoline is a GR Author) & F - Published in 2011 & also A – an author I’ve already read and liked.
A-3. Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber (412 p)
Fits #3 - part of the Blossom Street Series & A – an author I’ve already read and liked
Points this Post: 105
Tasks Completed this Post: 4
Books Read this Post: 7
Pages Read this Post: 3193
GoodReads Authors this Post: 1
Big Books this Post: 500+ (0), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)
Total Points: 765
Total Tasks Completed: 46
Total Books Read: 60
Total Pages Read: 21686
Total GoodReads Authors: 15
Total Big Books: 500+ (3), 750+ (1), 1000+ (0)
5.4 SUMMMMMMERA Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
(the letter 'S' repeats)
5.7. Don't Stop Reading
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
5.8. But No Shoplifting!
The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg
(borrowed from the library)
5.9. The Long and the Short of It
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
(the book had 184 pages and 6 words in title)
Total points: 20
10.6. Gay PrideMe Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
(the book is about various moments in David Sedaris' life)
10.9. Around the Campfire
It by Stephen King
10.10. Gimme S'more
Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans
I'd like to claim a big book ticket for It (it was 1099 pages)
Total points: 50
15.5. Mind the GapArea 7 by Matthew Reilly
(this is book #2 of the Scarecrow series)
15.10. Summertime and the Reading is Easy
Excavation by James Rollins
James Rollins is a Goodreads author.
Total points: 80
20.1. Most Improved Player - Ashley FL's task: Birthday Time!Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook
(I chose option #2, my birthday is December 7th)
20.2. Rookie at the Top - Nickboy's task: NETHERLANDS Is an Eleven Letter Word
Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup
(Millionaire is an eleven letter word)
20.8. It's My Birthday - Riona's task: Female Authors of Sci-Fi
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Total points: 140
Laurie ME30.8: Beth NC's task: Summer Solstice: I chose Option A (a dark book and a light book)
1. Stephen King - The Shining
2. Sarah Addison Allen - Garden Spells
Sarah Addison Allen is a Goodreads author
Points total: 360.
15.7 The Readers Have Chosen
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
(Nominated for Best History Book)
20.5 Family Reunion
Zia
Option D: Researching family history. Although it's not entirely clear from the Goodreads description, the main character's primary goal throughout the book is to find and reunite with her long-lost aunt, the last surviving member of her family.
New points: 35
Total points: 490
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
(Nominated for Best History Book)
20.5 Family Reunion
Zia
Option D: Researching family history. Although it's not entirely clear from the Goodreads description, the main character's primary goal throughout the book is to find and reunite with her long-lost aunt, the last surviving member of her family.
New points: 35
Total points: 490
Sandy MNTask 5.3. The Dog Days of Summer
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
Total Points: 640
15.8- Up in the AirThe Importance of Being Seven by Alexander McCall Smith*Goodreads Author*
AM = Armenia
Total points to date370
Jayme(the ghostreader)I completed task 15.10 Summer Time and Reading is Easy.We could chose any book to read and I chose "Amazon Ink" by Lori Devoti. Lori Devoti is a goodreads author.
Tasks Completed: 11
Books Read:14
Big Book ticket 750+ (1) 1000+ (1)
GR Authors: 2: Susan Wilson, Lori Devoti
Grand Total: 170/1000
20.1 Birthday TimeI am a July Leo (option 4) so I read
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
***This is a big book at 1392 pages)***
20.9 Summerthing Better
Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide by Caroline Adams Miller
This book was to help me explore breaking down my lofty goals into more manageable steps without becoming overwhelmed
30.5 To the Moon
A. Non fiction book about an astronaut or the space program
One Giant Leap: Neil Armstrong's Stellar American Journey by Leon Wagener
B. Book about space travel
Contact by Carl Sagan
Post Total: 70
Challenge Total: 920/1000
Tasks Completed: 54/57
20.3 Happy, Happy, Happy! - A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage (Inspired by having a good glass of wine)Tasks completed: 9
Total Points: 155 points
Books read: 11
NICOLE AR- 10.10 "Gimme S’more"
For this task, I read More Sand in My Bra: Funny Women Write from the Road, Again! by Jennifer L. Leo
Points for this task: 10
Total Points: 185
5.9 The Long and the Short of It.Read a short book (100-200 pages) with a long title (5 or more words).
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining has 128 pages
Points This Post: 5
Big Book Tickets claimed this post: 0
GR Authors read this post: 0
Total Big Book Tickets earned this season: 3
GR Authors read this season: 1
Total Points: 125
20.2 Rookie at the Top - Nickboy's task: NETHERLANDS Is an Eleven Letter WordOption A. Read a book with a word in the title or subtitle (but not series title) that is eleven or more letters in length.
The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady by Elizabeth Stuckey-French
(Radioactive has exactly 11 letters.)
This Post: 20
Total Points: 655
Tasks Completed: 41/57
Goodreads Authors: 3
Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (1), 1000+ (3)
Tammy AZ15.2 Summer Stock
Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography by Rob Lowe
AND
Inherit the Wind - Play was 144 pages
20.2 Rookie at the Top - Netherlands
The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady - Kind of disappointed in this one. It started out strong but the ending was wrapped up just too neatly for my tastes.
Post Total: 35
Grand Total: 260
5.8: But No Shoplifting: I got this book free from Amazon.com for the Kindle Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand
J. Mark Bertrand is a Goodreads author
20.1: Most Improved Player: Ashley FL's task: Birthday time: My birthday is the 25th.
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba
20.8: It's My Birthday: Riona's task: Female Author's of Sci-Fi:
Lincoln's Dreams by Connie Willis
total points - 330
originally posted 2093
incorrectly corrected in post 2102
Laurie ME
Janice CA10.4 Here Kitty, Kitty......
In the book I read, two American biologists, a young married couple, travel to the Kalahari in order to study lions and hyenas. This book is about their experiences and research findings. Also, there are lions on the cover the book.
Cry of the Kalahari by Mark J. Owens and Delia Owens
5 stars
+10
total: 190
tasks: 13
books: 15
GR Authors: 2
5.5 - MAPLE LEAF RAG - Good bones and simple murders by Margaret Atwood.10.1 - FOR REAL? - His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik.
Naomi Novik and Margaret Atwood are Goodreads authors.
TOTAL POINTS - 700
GOODREADS AUTHORS - 26
BIG BOOKS - 4
15.7 – The Readers Have Chosen - Room by Emma Donoghue, a Goodreads author.2010 Choice Award for Fiction.
----
Points Claiming: 15
Total Points: 315
Carla 25.3 Ice Cream Truck
A: I chose #5 Bullet Firecracker Pop (crime) and read Along Came a Spider by James Patterson.
B: I chose #7 Jolly Rancher Pop (humour) and read Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore.
Can I please claim a big book ticket for Along Came a Spider (528 pages) and a Goodreads Author ticket for James Patterson?
Points this task 25
Total points 180
Tasks Completed: 8
Books read: 12
Total pages: 4460 + one audiobook
GR Authors: 2
Big Books: 500+(3), 750+(1), 1000+(0)
20.2. NETHERLANDS Is an Eleven Letter WordAll My Friends Are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman
108 pages. Option A. Superheroes is an eleven letter word.
Points: 20
Total Points: 110
Tasks Completed: 5
Books Read: 6
Pages: 1454
Goodreads Authors: 1
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Task 5.4 SUMMMMER The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi are both Goodreads Authors
Points this post: 5
Total Points: 105
Total Tasks Completed: 8
Total Books Read: 8
Total Pages Read:2681
Total GoodReads Authors: 6
5.6- As American As...I read A Perfect Game by Reno MacLeod. There is a baseball on the cover of this book.
This ebook was pre-approved in the ebook thread.
*Reno MacLeod is a GR Author*
Points for this task-5
Total Points- 500
Books Read- 37
GR Authors- 18
Mandy S20.2 Nickboy's task: NETHERLANDS Is an Eleven Letter Word
Everything Is Going to Be Great: An Underfunded and Overexposed European Grand Tour by Rachel Shukert
Option A: Both "Underfunded" and "Overexposed" are 11 letters long.
Points this post: 20 points
Total: 185 points
Tasks Completed: 12
10.7 -- It’s Been a Year Already??!!Blood Law by Jeannie Holmes (Goodreads author)
This book is on July 2010 list #85
25.6 - Gayla's task: European Landmarks
Option 3: Leaning Tower of Pisa (Math)
The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner (Goodreads author)
The main character uses math equations, codes and cryptography to solve clues in a real life assassin/spy game while trying to stay alive.
Option 6: Peace Palace (Int'l relations)
Intimate Danger by Amy J Fetzer
Spy novel that takes place in Peru with an American military rescue of soldiers and weapons (approved in help thread).
30.2 -- Sheila/Wendy UK's task: A.K.A.
When You Dare by Lori Foster (Goodreads author)
A.K.A.
Servant: The Awakening by L.L. Foster
Total Points This Post: 65
Total Tasks This Post: 3
Goodreads Authors This Post: 3
Grand Total Points: 840/1000
Total Books Read: 67
Tasks Completed: 50/57
Total Goodreads Authors: 25
Big Book Tickets This Post: 1
Total Big Book Tickets: 2
Mod
I read Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.
10.4 -- Here Kitty, Kitty
I read
. A tiger on the cover and in the title.25.1 -- Denise NC's task: Tennis, Anyone?
Book 1 – I read Ender's Game (word "game" in title)
Book 2 – I read Sudden Death. The whole book centers around the women's professional tennis circuit, and all the characters are either professional tennis players or the associated people (spouses, lovers, agents, sportswriters, etc).
30.10 - Coralie's task: Half and Half
A book that was read in the Spring 2011 challenge was The Named. I read
A. The Hunger Games
and
B. A Girl Named Zippy
Total points:895
Readerboard Name - Denise NCI would like to move the book I previously claimed for Task 5.4, Rapture of the Deep, to Task 10.10 and claim Little Men for Task 5.4.
Task 5.4 - Summmmer
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
Pages - 242
Points already claimed so no additional points.
Task 10.10 - Gimme S'More
Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy by L.A. Meyer
Pages - 454
Points - 10
Points this Post - 10
Total Points - 705
Big Book Tickets this Post - 0
Big Book Tickets Total - 7(500) / 1 (750)
Goodreads Authors this Post - 0
Goodreads Authors Total - 16
STACIE MITask 10.4 - Here Kitty, Kitty
I read a book with a cat on the cover:
by Louise RennisonPoints this task: 10
Total points: 725
Tasks completed: 40
Books read: 55
Pages read: 14024
Goodreads authors: 10
Big books: 500+ (0); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)
Readerboard Name - Denise NCTask 20.8 - Female Authors of Sci-Fi
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Pages - 287
Points - 20
Task 20.9 - Summerthing Better
I read "The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in-Law" to find ways to improve communication with my stepdaughter and son-in-law.
The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in-Law by Haywood Smith
Pages - 104
Points - 20
Task 30.8 - Summer Solstice
Book A - Quality Dark Fiction
The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
Pages - 352
Book B - Light But Not (Too) Dumb
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Pages - 288
Points - 30
Points this Post - 70
Total Points - 775
Big Book Tickets this Post - 0
Big Book Tickets Total - 7(500) / 1 (750)
Goodreads Authors this Post - 0
Goodreads Authors Total - 16
10.9 Around the CampfireRead a scary book, a collection of spooky stories, or a book with a ghost or a haunted house in it.
Angelica: A Novel by Arthur Phillips
This Post: 10
Total Points: 665
Tasks Completed: 42/57
Goodreads Authors: 3
Big Books: 500+ (0), 750+ (1), 1000+ (3)
20.9 Something BetterFrench Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano My thing to improve was my diet.
25.1 Tennis, Anyone?
Book One: Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life by James Blake
Book Two: Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
30.3
Book One: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Book Two: The Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E.M. Berens
Points this post: 75
Total Points: 455
Goodreads Authors: 15
Big Books Tickets: 0
20.4 option 4 - A character finds themselves in a different country and takes part in a rebellion or acts as a spy.I read Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account, in which Miklos is a Hungarian Jew who is taken into Poland - Then Germany and participates in a rebellion to excape a concentration camp.
Points this post: 20
Total points: 190
Tasks completed: 12
Books: 14
Pages: 5192
Big Book tickets: 3
Goodreads authors: 3
10.1 -- For Real? - Ubik by Philip K. DickListed as Speculative Fiction
10.10 -- Gimme S’more - How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot
25.4 - Jenn Renee's task: Color Me Happy...... Green
Option 1 - Twilight: The Graphic Novel by Stephenie Meyer
Option 5 - The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer
512 pages
30.2 -- Sheila/Wendy UK's task: A.K.A.
Hero at Large by Steffie Hall
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich is a Goodreads Author
Total Points: 990
Tasks Completed: 56
Pages Read: 20036
Books Read:76
Goodreads Authors: 22
Big Book Tickets (3) 500
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Looking for Alaska (other topics)Flawless (other topics)
A Game of Thrones (other topics)
An Abundance of Katherines (other topics)
Juliet, Naked (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Molière (other topics)P.G. Wodehouse (other topics)
Robin Oliveira (other topics)
Fannie Flagg (other topics)
Barbara Delinsky (other topics)
More...
20.7 Shorter is Sweeter - Sandy MN's task: A Trip to the Past
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Task Points: 20
Grand Total: 165
Tasks Completed: 6
Books Read: 10
Pages Read: 5410
Goodreads Author Books: 2
Big Books: 500+(2), 750+(0), 1000+(2)