The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
SUMMER CHALLENGE 2011: EUROPE
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Summer Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS)

Extramural Shakespeareby Denise Albanese
Shakespeare is 11 letters (I checked the task help thread and it didn't disallow names, plus I saw that Nickboy had approved The Sherlockian, which also involves a name. Hope this counts!)
Total Books Read: 8
Total Challenges Completed: 8
Total Pages Read: 2890
Big Book Tickets:0
GoodReads Author Tickets:1
Total Points: 120

Dave Eggers's A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
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20.1 -- Most Improved Player: Ashley FL: Birthday Time!
Option4: Astrological Sign (Scorpio) or 'Zodiac' in title
Zodiac by Neal Stephenson
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20.4 -- Author, Author: Isabell: Focus on My Favorite Goodreads Author
Roll(4): Main character is part of a rebellion
The book's central antagonist, Archos, instigates the robot rebellion
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
*** Daniel H. Wilson is a GoodReads Author ***
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20.5 -- Bigger is Better: Sue T: Family Reunion
Option D: A character researches their family history
Ambrose Dewart begins researching his family's unusual history after returning to a rural family property.
The Lurker at the Threshold by H.P. Lovecraft and August Derleth
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20.6 -- Seasoned Reader: Heather KS: Summer Reading
Read sprawled on the grass in the park and on my sunny front porch with a cool drink. It's so nice to (finally!) be able to spend time outside again without freezing - I'm definitely not quite ready for fall, yet.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
*** Jennifer Egan is a GoodReads Author ***
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20.10 -- Group Read
Option C: Inspirational/Christian Fiction
Post #29
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
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30.1 -- Cheryl TX: Best Friends and Lovers
PART A: Friend's Name: Anne
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
PART B/Option 1: 'Seven' in the book title
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
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30.6 -- Delicious Dee: Shakespeare Under the Stars
Roll(6): As You Like It: A Humorous Book
MISREADINGS by Umberto Eco
Roll(4): Hamlet: A Murder Mystery
Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
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50.1 -- Midpoint Challenge: Emily Kate: Hodge-Podge
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen by Tadeusz Borowski
Category: I
Criteria: n/a
Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan
Category: A
Criteria: 1 and 3
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Category: C
Criteria: 2
*** Laurie Halse Anderson is a GoodReads Author ***
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This Post (and total)
Total Points: 225
Tasks Completed: 9
Books Read: 13
Goodreads Authors: 3

30.3: If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
A: Day in the Title: The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson
B: Euro. Place Name: It All Began In Monte Carlo by Elizabeth Adler
Points this task: 30
Total Points: 590
Goodreads Authors: Berwin, Skye, Coelho, Pierce
Big Books: 500+: 1

Completed Task 20.9.
I read Get Me Out of Here

Reading this book helped me to really understand the issues surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder, and how to help a loved one that is suffering from it.
20 points this post
285 points total


Points this Post: 5
Tasks Completed: 24
Total Points: 460
Books Read: 32


Read this during my vacation from work...in the jacuzzi and relaxing in the hotel room before meeting up with friends for dinner.
Points for this Task: 20
Total Points: 235
Goal Total Points: 165
Completed Tasks: 20.2, 20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.10, 25.3, 30.1, 30.4, 50.1
Pages Read: 3894
Books Read: 12
Goodreads Authors: 8 (Sarah Addison Allen, Kelley Armstrong, Stephanie Perkins, Sara Shepard x3, Kathryn Stockett, Ayelet Waldman)
Big Books: 500+(2) 750+(2) 1000+()


24.4 Color Me Happy
I rolled a 5 = Blue
Book with Blue Cover

Book with the word "Blue" in the title
Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet
+25 pts - This Task
530 pts - Total
13 GRA

15.4 Summer Shorts
I read one anthology by several authors.
On the Prowl by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance & Sunny.
25.4 Color Me Happy
I rolled a 2 - Orange
1. Orange Cover - One Touch of Scandal by Liz Carlyle

5. Suspense/Thriller - Rain Fall by Barry Eisler
Points this Post: 40
Total Challenge Points: 470
This was my first SRC and I want to say "thank you!" to the mods and group for running this creative challenge. Can't wait for fall when I'm starting with a plan :)

Ecotopia: The Notebooks and Reports of William Weston by Ernest Callenbach – 192 pages
Points This Post: 5
Total Points: 1000
Total Goodreads Authors: 26

Choose a book with a 2 word title that was read in the Spring 2011 Challenge and:
I used Blood Brothers.
A. Read a book with the first word in the title, but not the second
Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
AND
B. Read a book with the second word in the title but not the first.
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
This Post: 30
Total Points: 1000!
Tasks Completed: 57/57
Thank you to all the moderators for another great challenge!



Fall 2011 is going to be the biggest challenge ever!

20.3 Happy, Happy, Happy - I love the Appalachian Mountains. We have a cabin in the mountains of East Tennessee on the Hiwassee River where we love to canoe, raft, tube and fish.
I read Far Appalachia: Following the New River North by Noah Adams
The author follows the river by canoeing down it.
20.6 Summer Reading
The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
I read this on the long car drive to our summer vacation in Tennessee. (hubby drove)
20.4 Focus on my favorite author - Tamora Pierce
I rolled a 6 = my choice.
Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce (GRA)(551 pgs)
20.7 A trip to the past
The Sugar Camp Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini ( Historical fiction about antebellum times in the north. the characters are abolitionists)
20.8 Female Author Sci Fi
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (575 pgs)
100 pts - This Task
630 Grand Total
GRA - 14
Big Books - 6



What happens if there's 2 more? Are there 11 25 point tasks?

I have a feeling that there will be more finishers, several are close.

Task 50.1 - Hodge-Podge
For category A, D, and H and criteria 1, and 3, I read:
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
For category A and B and criteria 2 and 3, I read:
Dream Country by Neil Gaiman
For category A and I and criteria 3, I read:
Jack of Fables: Jack of Hearts by Bill Willingham.
**Dragonfly in Amber is over 500 pages and qualifies as a big book**
**Neil Gaiman is a Goodreads author**
Points this task: 50
Total points: 815
Tasks completed: 44
Books read: 61
Pages read: 15776
Goodreads authors: 12
Big books: 500+ (1); 750+ (0); 1000+ (0)


Okay------ What's the secret? Never eating or sleeping? I stand in awe!

Task: 20.1 (option 1) Read a book that has the month of your birthday in the title - my birthday is in December.
Book: The Door to December, Dean Koontz
Points this post: 20
Total Points: 360
Tasks Completed: 17
Books Read: 23
Goodreads Authors: 12
Big Books: 500+(2), 750+(1), 1000+(0)

Tasks completed: 10
Total Points: 165 points
Books read: 12

First Die = 6 (Humorous book)
High Fidelity
Second Die = 5 (featuring a member of royalty)
The Death of a King
Points: 30
Total Points: 580
Total Books Read: 41
Total Tasks Completed: 27
Total GR Authors: 3
Total Big Books: 1 (500+), 1 (750+)

10.5 - What's Next?
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5-Star Book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Total Points: 165
Books Read: 16
Tasks Completed: 14

Read: Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
I chose Option A for this task.
Points This Task: 20
Previous Points: 185
Current and Final Points Total: 205

And finally, thanks to everyone who read and posted comments this summer. It's been so much fun.

I need to take away task 15.1- Beware of Thorns- June is National Rose Month
The book I read is moving to the 50 Point Task. I'm trying to finish another before the deadline and I'll come on and post that one if I make it on time.
-15 Points
25.4 – Jenn Renee’s task: Color Me Happy……
Roll: 6 Purple
1. Purple Cover

5. Fantasy/Paranormal
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins, a Goodreads Author
+25 Points
50.1 – Emily Kate’s Task: Hodge-Podge
A & 1: Author I like, +700 pages
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, a Big Book, 756 pgs
C & 2: Rating 4.46, Goodreads Author
Divergent by Veronica Roth
I & 3: on my TBR, part of a series (#3) Bloody Jack
Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer, a Big Book 544 pgs.
Points this Post: 75-15=60
Goodreads Authors: 3
Big Books: 2
Grand Total: 880

5.1 - At the Shore
Island by Aldous Huxley
5.3 - The Dog Days of Summer
The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book by Michelle Rivera
20.1 - Birthday Time!
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
Option 2 - My birthday is on the 19th.
***David Ebershoff is a GoodReads author***
***Big book, 500+ pages***
30.7 - Choose Your Own Adventure
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
***Lisa Lutz is a GoodReads author***
***Janet Evanovich is a GoodReads author***
My starting author was Gail Carriger (read her for last year's challenge). I chose Option 1 (new author), liked the book, and chose Option B for the second book (different author after entering Lisa Lutz into the literature map). I chose Option 1 again (new author).
Points This Post: 60
Total Points: 440
GoodReads Authors: 11
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Tasks Completed: 27
Books Read: 35
Pages Read: 9616


15.1 - Beware of Thorns
A. has a rose(s) or rose petals on the cover
B. has "Rose" in the title
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

50.1 - Emily Kate's Task: Hodge Podge
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (category A and criteria #1 and #3)
Libba Bray is a Goodreads Author
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (category D and criteria #2 and #3)
Ilona Andrews is a Goodreads Author
Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin (category A and criteria #3)
Points this post: 65
Total Points: 1,000
Goodreads Authors: 34 (2 this post)
This was my first challenge and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to the moderators for all of their hard work.

Wow, so many have completed!
Thanks to the moderators for their amazing efforts at moderating such a challenge. I am forever amazed at how you do it all!

5.10 - Summer Fun
I read Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
20.3 - Happy, Happy, Happy
My dogs make me happy, so I read Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know by Alexandra Horowitz
20.9 - Summerthing Better
I need to work on controlling my anger, but more importantly, getting along with my mother. Someone recommended this book to me, and it's great! The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Goldhor Lerner
Points this Post: 45
Total Points: 285
GoodReads Authors: 5
Big Books: 500+(0), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
I didn't do as well this time around, but still enjoyed it! Thank you moderators!!

20.2 -- Rookie at the Top - Nickboy's task: NETHERLANDS Is an Eleven Letter Word
I chose Option A: Word in the Title with 11+ Letters
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
'Huckleberry' is an 11-letter word. :)
Points This Post: 20
Total Points: 140
Tasks Completed: 11
Books Read: 11
Pages Read: 3732
Goodreads Authors: 6
Big Books: 500+(-), 750+(-), 1000+(-)

Although I certainly didn't finish the challenge, this is the best I've done so far! Thanks to all of the mods for your hard work!

Lindsey IL
5.6 - As American As....
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
Baseball players on cover...

5.7 - Don't Stop Reading
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
5.8 - But No Shoplifting!
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I checked this one out from the library.
5.10 - Summer Fun
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
15.10 - Summertime, And the Reading is Easy
Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet by Ginny Messina and Jack Norris
***Ginny Messina is a GoodReads author*** (and my friend :D)
20.8 - Female Authors of Sci-Fi
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
***Beth Revis is a GoodReads author***
30.10 - Half and Half
Dark Lover is the two-word title I chose.
Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee
Points This Post: 85
Total Points: 525 (FINAL SUMMER TOTAL)
GoodReads Authors: 13
Big Books: 500+(1), 750+(0), 1000+(0)
Tasks Completed: 34
Books Read: 43
Pages Read: 12046

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...
15.4 Summer Shorts
Love Bound by Various authors, including Selena Kitt, a GR author (1 ticket)
30.10 Half and Half
I chose the book Dark Life from last seasons two-word titles.
Dark: The Dark Sister by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Life: My Life in France by Julia Child
50.1 Hodgepodge
Book 1:
Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair
2. GoodReads Author (1 GR Author ticket)
3. Part of a series
A. An author I've previously read and liked
Book 2:
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
1. 956 pages -- More than 750 pages (2 big book tickets)
J. Listed as popular on my friends' shelves
Book 3:
Club Mephisto by Annabel Joseph
2. GR Author (1 GR author ticket)
I. Added to TBR during challenge; before task posted (Purchased for kindle on June 6, 2011)
Grand total: 415