Reading with Style discussion

Task 10.6 Uncommon Letter The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters "z"

+10 Task
+15 Combo (20.10 pub 1972, 10.8 #1 Jacqueline Kirby series, 10.5 761 ratings)
+5 Oldie (1972)

Task total 30

Total points 250


Task 10.8 Shards of Honour by Lois McMaster Bujold

+10 Task

Total points 260

Task 10.10 Group Reads The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips

+10 Task
+15 Combo (10.5 - 648 ratings, 20.8, 20.10 pub 2011)

Task total 25

Total points 285

Reposting as I forgot to put in the review while claiming points for this one..!!

Task 20.3: "Exceeds expectations list"

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Review:

In this first instalment of a wonderful series, Rowling introduces her protagonist, Harry Potter, an ordinary boy living with his aunt, uncle and cousin after the death of his parents. At the age of 11, Harry discovers a world he didn’t know existed; a world a witches, wizards and magic. What’s more is Harry is a part of this world. But he is no ordinary wizard. He is famous for defeating an evil, dark wizard Voldemort, when Harry was only a baby. Harry is going to discover some secrets: about his parents, his fame and Voldemort. He’s also going to discover some great friends and a few rivals.

After reading this book for the nth time, I’m still fond of it as ever. I love how Hermione comes across as a bossy, know-it-all, irritating character but eventually turns out to be this wonderful friend. She’s one of my favourite characters of the book and I enjoy how the friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione blossoms.

Feels good to be reading through the series once again.

+ 20 Task
+ 5 Combo (task - 20.8)
+ 10 Review

Task Total = 35

Grand Total = 235

Task 10.9 - 11th book in a series

The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket

Review:

In this 11th book of the series, the three Baudelaire orphans find themselves aboard a submarine of Captain Widdershins. The captain along with his daughter is manoeuvring the submarine in search of the elusive sugar bowl. The Baudelaires seem to be getting along fine until they reach the grotto where poisonous mushrooms grow and before long one of the siblings will be poisoned. To make matters worse their worst enemy will confront them yet again, intent on the Baudelaire fortune.

Forever in the middle of unfortunate events, there seems to be no respite for the three children. However, in the end the Baudelaires return to where it all started. So there does seem to be some good thing to look forward to. After so many books in the series, the story is getting slightly stale with not much happening except the continuous chasing and escaping.

But as a juvenile fiction series, I think it is pretty well done. Just two more books for me to read before the end.

+10 Task
+10 Review

Task points - 20

Total - 255

Task 20.8 Sourcery by Terry Pratchett (Discworld series)

+20 Task

Total points 305


Task 20.8 Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett

+20 Task
+5 Combo (10.8 #11 Discworld series)

Task total 25

Total points 330

Task 20.9 High Road Santa Clawed by Rita Mae Brown

+20 Task
+5 Combo (10.5 - 539 ratings)

Task total 25

Total points 355

Liz M wrote: "Karen GHHS wrote: "RwS Tasks

First thanks, Liz, for finding the 5 extra points for me. According to my count, that put me at 890 instead of 900, so let me know if I've missed something else in my ..."

You are right - I missed the points and the post giving them to me! Thanks so much for catching these.

Task 10.3 Home for the Holidays

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

+10 Task (Alabama)

Task Total = 10

Grand Total = 150

Task 20.8 Fictional fiction
'Salem's Lotby Stephen King
King is so good at sketching secondary characters. The Lot is filled with people, and we know just enough about them to care (and know who's who) without being overwhelmed by tangential plotlines and meaningless details. That's one of the reasons that the book is so real. Both the setting and the characters are familar, fleshed-out, and not bogged down.

In terms of scare-factor, there's not much, at least not instantly. This is much more a fridge horror book. There are a few notable scenes that are immediately horrifying, but overall the awfulness of the book pops up when it's done and you think about the crawlspaces.

This is a great, fast read. It only merits 3 starts because in order to get the plot where it needs to be, the characters alternately are very astute and then incredibly stupid. But without the stupidity, there would be no book. Enjoyable, if a bit too easily nitpicked.

+20 Task (Conway's Daughter, Air Dance)
+10 Review
+5 Jumbo (631)

Task total = 35

Grand total = 80

Task 20.10 Playing the Numbers
"Smoking Seventeen" by Janet Evanovich
Published 2011

Review-
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Task +20
Style-+15(10.7 What's Your Type EJ, Review)
Book Total: 35
Grand Total: 360

Task 20.2 - A Tale of Two Cities
A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

Let me start by saying that the story of John Forbes Nash is undeniably amazing. His academic accomplishments would be extremely impressive in any case. The hardships he faced during the course of his illness would have destroyed many people, and his ability to survive and to achieve is impressive.
That being said, I found this book to be a bit of a tough slog. A large portion of the book focuses on Nash's work in economics and theoretical mathematics. Of course this was his life's work and what eventually won him a Nobel prize and it would be impossible to write about his life and not about his studies and work. But for a non-mathematically-inclined reader, page after page of references to algebra and calculus are a bit like walking through a forest at night wearing sunglasses. Being thoroughly confused by the math content really detracted from my enjoyment of the story and I found myself "tuning out" during certain parts. For a reader with a strong interest in and understanding of mathematics, this would probably be a very engaging read.
Nash's struggles with schizophrenia were more where my interests lay. I felt as though relatively little time was spent discussing his illness (as opposed to the large sections about his work) and almost none was spent on his recovery. I felt the latter to be a rather significant omission, since his illness is one widely regarded as incurable and degenerative. I wanted to know more about his emergence from the years of illness... how much of his recovery was luck (going randomly into remission) vs. active effort on his part, through therapy, mindfulness, etc. The author briefly touched on how Nash began to cope with hallucinations but I do mean briefly.
Perhaps I went into the book with the wrong set of expectations. Overall I would say this is a worthwhile read, but not an easy one and not quite what I had anticipated.

Task +20 (Takes place primarily in the US but also describes quite a bit of Nash's time living in France, Switzerland and Luxembourg)
Review +10

Task Total = 30
Grand Total = 30

(My first challenge task completed, hopefully I did this right!)
(01/13/2012: Edited to change task, was originally claiming Home for the Holidays but then saw that the whole book must take place in the home state/city)

20.1 200th Anniversary

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
published 1847

+20 Task
+15 Oldies (1847)

20.4 In Honor of A Christmas Carol

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

+20 Task
+10 Oldies (1932)
+20 Combo (10.6-uncommon letter; 20.3-107th on exceeded list; 20.8-on the list; 20.10-pub 1932)

The Devil in Music by Kate Ross

+20 Task
+5 Combo (10.5-336 ratings)

20.10 Play the Numbers
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

+20 Task (pub 2011)

Post Total: 130
Season Total: 930

20.8, fictional fiction
The Habitation of the Blessed by Catherynne M. Valente
The Habitation of the Blessed is based on the myth of Prester John, which I had absolutely no familiarity with. I know I'm missing out on things because it's all new to me, but it did not hamper my enjoyment of the book at all.

The book starts out slow. Very slow. I've read Valente before, and I knew I would be rewarded if I pressed on, but people who are not familiar with her work might be turned off. I would not recommend this as the first book of hers to read.

After the inital slog, I started to feel the rythyms of the book, and as always magic happened. Valente is a master storyteller. Not a master novelist, a storyteller. I cannot quite express what I mean, but there is something so comforting, so wonderful and rewarding about her books. They make me feel like a child again in an odd way - I have all the wonder and awe and eagerness for more as I did when I was hearing fairytales as bedtime stories. That's her trademark. She creates completely believeable, yet utterly fantastical worlds, and while reading you feel like you are there. You feel you know the people. You love them. You visit them in dreams.

The book made me feel a little... not stupid, but soft. It got my scholarly juices flowing. I've been out of academia for a long time, but part of me wants to re-read The Habitation of the Blessed, take notes, research the references, and write a paper. I want a professor to clue me into all the layers I missed because I was reading for entertainment.

I look forward to book 2!

+20 Task (The Confessions, The Word in the Quince, The Scarlet Nursery, The Book of the Fountain)
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.5, 10.9, 20.10)
Task total = 45
Grand Total = 125

Liz M wrote: "Erin wrote: "20.1 Charles Dickens

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

+20 Task [Book published in 1844]
+5 Jumbo [598pp.]
+15 Oldie
+10 Lit [French]
+15 Combo
-10.6 [Alexandre]
-20.4 [Looks b..."

Thanks for the catch!

10.6 The Uncommon Letter

The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters

+5 Combo [20.4: Takes place in late 1800s]

Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 270

10.5 - Underrated

I read Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

+10 Task (901 ratings)
+5 Combo (20.10- pub 2010)

Task Total = 15

CIV
15.3
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene 160 pgs, pub 1951
G-H, 141-180/541-580, 1941-1952

+25 Task

Task Total = 25

New Grand Total = 190

Arow wrote: "10.5 - Underrated

I read Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

+10 Task (901 ratings)

Task Total = 10

CIV
15.3
The End of the Affair by [author:G..."

Arow, I think you can get combo points for the Fluke book...it was published in 2010 (20.10?).

10.5 - Underrated
The Bonemender: The Bonemender 1 by Holly Bennett
860L / 182 ratings

The Bonemender's Oath: The Bonemender 2 by Holly Bennett
890L / 113 ratings

+20 Task (10x2)

20.5 - In honor of David Copperfield
The Zahir by Paulo Coelho

+20 Task
+10 Lost In Translation

20.9 - Krista’s Task - Take the High Road
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

+20 Task
+5 Combo (Task 10.6 - Z)
+10 Lost In Translation

15.6 - CiV (I-J-K; 341-380/741-780; 1953-1964)
My Brother Jack by Jack Johnston
367 pages / Pub. 1964

+45 Task

Total this post: 130 points
Total to date: 715 points

10.6 Uncommon Letter

Adored by Cecily von Ziegesar

+10 Task (Z)
+5 Combo Underrated : 736 ratings

Task Total: 15 pts

20.2 Tale Of 2 Cities

Henry V by William Shakespeare

As a theatre student, I have a read a fair share of Shakespeare and mostly enjoyed the challenge. However, this particular play fell far below my expectations. Henry V seemed to follow history quite exactly (except for the jump in time), and from the notes, I gather that many of the lines were recorded in documents and used in his play. That said, overall NOTHING happens. There is a whole question about a war, and then the war happens (but you don't really see any action) and there is some soldier stuff, but nothing enough to keep my interest going. If I hadn't need to read it for an audition, I probably would not have finished it. Also, it's a good thing I speak French, for there is quite a bit of it in this play. I can imagine that English-exclusive speakers would miss quite a bit of those scenes that are so French heavy. One last thing to say, you see Henry's love interest twice. There is no development of her character really... She starts learning English in one scene and in the next he is professing his eternal love to her and she becomes queen; the end. It all seems to randomly come out of nowhere.

Well, I didn't think that I had this much anger about this play, but apparently I do. 2 stars.

+20 Task (takes place in England and France)
+5 Combo 20.4: set in 1400's; battle of Agincourt
=1414, printed in 1599
+10 Review
+25 Oldies (printed 1599)

Task Total: 60 pts

Post Total: 75 pts
Grand Total: 480 pts

10.5 Underrated
Death in Big Bend by Laurence Parent
+10 pts - Task
+10 pts - Combo (10.3 in Texas- my home, 20.10 pub. in 2010)
+10 pts - Review

Call me morbid, but every time we visit a national park, I look for a specific kind of book to read. I want to read about all the deaths, survivals and tragedies in the Park. I read “Over the Edge”, a book coming from the Grand Canyon. You wouldn’t believe how many people have fallen over into the rim to their deaths! Even better how someone survived such a fall. I also have a book about Rocky Mountains National Park and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. This book of the Big Bend National Park has stories involving death by heat stroke, cold exposure, lightening, unsolved murders but also courageous survival stories. The kind where you realize how strong the will to survive can be. There are also tender stories of altruistic acts to save another. Unsolved murders are always fascinating and with this particular park being on the border with Mexico, there are a lot of instances of possible international intrigue. The book also instructs. What not to do if you have car trouble get lost or get into bad weather. It’s also a history book, going back to the park’s conception when this area was one of the last wild frontiers although it is not completely tamed now. I don’t know if I love this type of book because of my reading all the Nevada Barr mysteries to date or if I love her Anna Pigeon series because of my weird character trait. However the book does assure at the beginning that like everywhere else in the USA, most fatalities are motor vehicle accidents. Guess what is the deadliest animal in this tough, wild desert? Deer!

Task Total - 30 pts
Grand Total - 400 pts

20.2 Tale of Two Cities
Stray Tales of the Big Bend by Elton Miles
+20 pts - Task
+10 pts - Combo(10.3 in Texas, 10.5 underrated)
+5 pts - Combo(10.5 underrated)
+10 pts - Review

A history book of the Big Bend area which is so named because geographically the Rio Grande River makes a giant cure, giving Texas that flabby arm look in its shape. This is the division between us and Mexico. This area has a very transparent border and centuries-old history between the two, Texas and Mexico. In fact the river at this point with the drought is little more than a creek. This area is wild. No official border crossings, Mexican vaqueros ride over on horses to herd up their stray cows; Texan Cowboys go over for the same purpose as well as for Tequila. This book includes stories from Pancho Villa days. Settlers displacing the Mexicans and how they came to have a friendly, yet uneasy existence still to this day. These are tales in which a small river means nothing. Where Mexico and Texas converge to form an area unique and very bi-national. These stories would probably only interest Texas history buffs but to them, it would be a pleasant read tale by tale.

Task Total - 40 pts
Grand Total - 440 pts
Task Total - 35 pts
Grand Total - 435 pts

10.2 NYE Countdown

The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu



Not since I read The Night Circus have a read a book peopled with such interesting, unorthodox characters: a boy who is born with a frozen heart, the only thing that will get it going is having a clock grafted to it to get it ticking; a prostitute with a crystal eye; a hamster named
Cunnilingus"; a near-sighted young flamenco-singing prodigy. Our young hero has been warned not to play with his heart--both literally (don't touch the hands of the clock) and figuratively (he must avoid anger and love at all cost). Of course, how can one live a life without encountering love? It's a fun ride and a quick read. A lovely modern-day fable.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Lost in Translation (from French)
+10 Combo
-20.2 (Scotland, France, and Spain)
-20.4 (written in 2005, book takes place at the turn of the 20th century)

Task Total = 40

Grand Total = 385

(Grand Total has been adjusted to subtract 5 points as per post 424. Thanks for the clarification!)

Anika wrote: "10.2 NYE Countdown

La Mécanique du coeur (The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart) by Mathias Malzieu



Not since I read The Ni..."

Another 5 combo points for 10.6 Uncommon letter with the Z in Malzieu.

10.7 What's Your Type (ENFJ)

He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo



He's Just Not That Into You is one of those books that I personally really ought to be reading as often as some people read the Bible. I'm so not good at remembering the simple lessons that they present in rather humorous though perhaps simplistic terms. "Simplistic" is precisely what I need when I'm in the middle of a break-up, though. I love that there's a workbook section at the end of each chapter--it makes it easier to laugh at yourself that you're even finding yourself in a situation again that warrants the reading of this book. If nothing else, it's good for a laugh.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo
-10.6 Uncommon Letter (Liz Tuccillo)

Task Total = 25

Grand Total = 410

10.9 11 in '11

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card



Ender Wiggins is a "Third"--in a society where a family is only allowed to have two children, the government must give permission for a Third. The reason the Wiggins were allowed a Third? Earth is threatened by an advanced alien species and the leaders of the world are trying to breed commanders for their army. Peter, the eldest Wiggins, was brilliant and showed great promise by was overcome by his anger and his ruthlessness. The next Wiggins to join the family is Valentine, equally brilliant but too compassionate, too empathetic to become an effective military mind. Then comes Ender. Ender is watched and analyzed and deemed fit to join other talented children at Battle School (Ender is only six when he is taken from his family to this school on another planet). I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say I love love loved this book!

+10 Task (Orson Scott Card has written far more than 11 books and this is the first in the Ender's Saga series)
+10 Review
+15 Combo
-20.2 (U.S. and Battle School--on another, unspecified planet)
-20.4 (action takes place more than 25 years in the future)
-20.8 (essays by "Demosthenes" [Valentine] and "Locke" [Peter] were vital to the action taking place on Earth)

Task Total = 35

Grand Total = 445

15.1 (A-B) (181-220 pages) (1989-2000)

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 208 pages. 1999.

task total = 15 points
grand total = 210 points

Task 20.10 Play the Numbers

Room by Emma Donoghue

This book is a startling story with perfect pacing. The perspective is very interesting because Emma Donoghue crafts a five year old narrative voice that is at the same time believable but surprising. When I started reading, I was disturbed and not sure if I wanted to continue, but it is definitely worthwhile to finish it. It is also interesting in the way she saves the story from being overly sentimental and explores the way in which we handle difficulties overcome and the way in which we encounter the new. I would recommend it as a gripping read that surprises the reader with its candor.

+20 Task (pub. 2010)
+10 Review

Task Total = 30

Grand Total = 180

15.8 Civ
Strong Poison: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery by Dorothy L. Sayers, 291 pgs., first published 1929

S-T-U; 261-300/661-700; 1929-1940

+65 Task
Previous Total: 395
New Total: 460

Task 15.5 – Christmas in Vegas

1941-1952 S-T-U 221-260/621-660
5th book claimed – 35 points

Miss Pym Disposes (1946) by Josephine Tey (238 pages)

Grand Total: =615 + 35 = 650

Deana wrote: "Arow wrote: "10.5 - Underrated

I read Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

+10 Task (901 ratings)

Task Total = 10

CIV
15.3
[book:The End of the Aff..."

Thank you! I don't know how I missed that. I will update the post.

10.5 - Underrated

I read Sugar and Spice by Fern Michaels - 590 ratings

Review:

For what they are; all of the short stories were good. They were light romantic fluff that takes your mind off of what is actually happening in your life :-) I read the collection due to my love of Joanne Fluke. Other than Fern Michaels I had not hear of the other authors.

The Christmas Stocking by Fern Michaels was my favourite. I actually enjoyed the story telling alternating between the two main characters. Obviously the story would never happen but it was sweet and very loving.

Ghost of Christmas Past by Beverly Barton was my least favourite. I really had a hard time getting through it.

Twelve Desserts of Christmas by Joanne Fluke was cute but I prefer her cozy mysteries more. Again, story not very believeable but that's not why we read them :-)

Twelve Days by Shirley Jump was enjoyable and could have been taken to really great places had it been a full novel. I think I would try one of her novels again.

+10 Task (590 ratings)
+10 Review

Task Total = 20

New Grand Total = 210

10.5 - Underrated
Leaving the Atocha Station by Ben Lerner

Review:  It is a novel that reads like a memoir.  I had seen that the author is a poet and that this is his first novel.  I don't know if it is semi-autobiographical, but I can only assume that some things are, considering the character telling this story is a poet.  The writing is really pretty (I honestly have no other word for it, I wish there was a better way to put it).  
The whole book, every few pages you go and then stop and say, "what did I just read? That. Meant. Something." I mean that in a profound, thought provoking way, not in an I don't understand what is happening sort of way.  Or maybe it just means something to me right now because I'm going through a phase.The character is basically trying to figure out his worth in the scheme of things, what his purpose in life is, faking it until something "real" comes along, etc.  He is relatable because he doesn't know what to do with himself and who has never felt that way?  On the flip side, you want to punch him in the face because he is an self absorbed jerk and a manipulative liar.  Which could be exacerbated by the misuse of prescription drugs taken with chasers of alcohol and weed.  There isn't really a plot to the story, it's just some time spent inside someones head. I liked it.

+10 Task (202 ratings)
+5 Combo (20.7 US)
+5 Combo (20.10 2011)
+10 Review

Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 110

RwS Task 20.1 Play the Numbers
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

+20 Task

CiV

15.8 G-H; 421-460; 1953-1964
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller453 pages

+65 Task

15.9 I-J-K; 461-500; 1989-2000
A Perfect Evil (Maggie O'Dell, #1) by Alex Kava 461 pages

+75 Task

Post Total: 160
Season Grand Total: 1090

Task 20.2: A Tale of Two Cities

I read Mine Are Spectacular!: A Novel by Lynn Schnurnberger (set in US and Hong Kong, China)

REVIEW:
I thought this book was very clever and spot on with the main character, Sara. She is a divorced mom and teacher in her early 40s with a great mixed-bag of friends, some of them very unlikely. I probably liked it so much because I relate to it, having been a divorced mom and teacher in my late 30s with a crazy bunch of friends myself. Sara is witty and funny and doesn't take herself too seriously. I identified with her in so many ways: self-esteem struggles, wonderful fiance, jerk of an ex, bumbling through life, trying to identify with a teenager, etc. This was an easy read with lots of little quirky situations. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I only had one problem with the storyline--the title didn't seem to have much to do with the overall book...or maybe I just missed it. Anyway, read it!

+20: task
+10: review
+30: task total

RwS TOTAL: 195

20.8 Fictional Fiction

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Review:

I really don't understand the rave reviews for this book. I found the "mystery" really pretty unsatisfying, with no great secrets actually revealed and no reason to really care about the family history as told. The shifting perspectives felt basically unnecessary, the "fairy tales" weren't particularly compelling, and I never really liked or disliked any of the characters. The book was long, but set in a pretty big font with lots of chapter breaks, so not really as long as it seemed at first. The writing was fine, but not particularly beautiful nor especially captivating. There are so many better books; don't bother with this one.

+20 Task (Centers, in part, around a fictional book of fairy tales)
+10 Review
+5 Jumbo (552 pages)
+15 Combo (20.2 [Australia/UK], 20.3 [#56 on Exceeded Expectations list], 20.4 [most of the book was set in 1900-1913 or 1975, though some sections were 2005])

Task total: 50

Grand total: 425

CiV
15.8 P-Q-R, 301-340 pgs 1989-2000
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 340 pgs Pub 1997

Task Total - 65 pts
Grand Total - 505 pts
Grand Total - 500 pts

Kate S wrote: "RwS Task 20.1 Play the Numbers
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

+20 Task

CiV

15.8 G-H; 421-460; 1953-1964
Catch-22 by [author:Joseph Heller..."

Hey, Kate S!
I read Catch 22 for this task too! I had to set it aside for a while as it got too hectic for me. However I liked it, you just have to stay really tuned in. How did you like it?

15.1
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
E-F/101-140/2001-2012

task: 15
style: +10 review

total: 25
Grand total: 105

40 vignettes of what an afterlife could be like, if there is any. 40 possibilities of the sweet or not-so-sweet hereafter, which are each thought-provoking and irreverent. Sometimes funny, sometimes wistful, sometimes twisted, all of the stories make you ponder the implications of your choices in your lifetime, as you realize that death is drawing ever closer.
How much time do you really want to spent in pure boredom, if the actions of your life are regrouped in the afterlife? Would you wish for a simpler life, if you knew you couldn't appreciate it because your mind would be simpler as well? What happens to the Gods we dreamed up, once they're no longer worshipped and how would God deal with the workload of deciding who gets into Heaven and who into Hell? And is Heaven really all it's hyped up to be, or would the harp playing and praising and all that not disappoint a modern human being's expectations?
The short message of "Carpe diem" this book is build on does not become plain or everyday, thanks to the inventiveness of the stories and the journey they set your mind on.

RwS

10.2 NYE Countdown - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

It was with a little trepidation that I decided to read this book. I read his One Hundred Years of Solitude last year and found it to be just okay, not as amazing as has been raved about, and somewhat confusing. To that end, I found Cholera to be better. It’s not a fast book to read as there is not a lot of dialogue taking place and there is some jumping around within the story but overall, it moved along fairly well. Was it an amazing love story? I’m not sure that it was totally amazing but I did find that I did feel for Florentino Ariza even when at times his actions kind of grossed me out. In the end, I was satisfied for the most part with the ending but admit to feeling happy that the book was finished.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Lost in Translation
+15 Combo (10.6 - Uncommon Letter, 20.3 - #64 on Exceeded Expectations list and 20.4 (takes place early 20th century and published in 1985))
+5 Oldies (Published in 1985)

Task Total=50
Grand Total=205

Rebekah wrote: "Kate S wrote: "RwS Task 20.1 Play the Numbers
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

+20 Task

CiV

15.8 G-H; 421-460; 1953-1964
Catch-22 b..."

Hi Rebekah!

I read this the first time in high school, so I suppose it was really a re-read for me. But I found myself appreciating so much more of the humor throughout the story as an adult. I found I enjoyed taking my time with the story and usually after reading about Major Major, I had to walk away for a little while. There were times when I would forget there was a war happening in the background and be chuckling about something and then realize it may be completely inappropriate to be laughing. Although, Joseph Heller may have intended those feelings. . .
Overall, I still really liked this story and will probably read it again.

Task 20.9 Read a book with one of the following words in the title (plurals are okay): Saint, Saintly; Angel, Angelic; Cherub; Seraph, Seraphim; Heaven, Heavenly; or Nirvana.

ANGEL

Hitler's Angel by Kris Rusch
Review:
The author, Kris Rusch, is a prolific fantasy writer, who usually publishes under the name Kristine Kathryn Kusch. This novel is a quick read.

The story is framed as this: in 1972, a young American woman who is writing a dissertation travels to Munich, Germany, to interview an older German. He was a Detective-Inspector in Munich in 1932; she is interested in a case at the time. The case: the death of 23-year-old Angela Maria Raubal, who is the daughter of Adolf Hitler's half-sister. Ms. Raubal's death is ruled a suicide, but our Detective-Inspector has suspicions that she was murdered. The novel proceeds from there --- lengthy flashbacks interspersed with scenes with the young American woman. There is alot of dialog, combined with relatively brief descriptions of the physical world. Recommended for when you are looking for a historical mystery.

+20 Task
+ 10 Style: 1. Combo (5 points) (also fits: 10.5 underrated, 20.4 in the past)
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):

Task Total: 20 + 10 + 10 = 40

Grand Total: =650 + 40 = 690

Rebekah wrote: "20.2 Tale of Two Cities
Stray Tales of the Big Bend by Elton Miles
+20 pts - Task
+10 pts - Combo(10.3 in Texas, 10.5 underrated)
+10 pts - Review

A history bo..."

I just realized I can't claim this for 10.3 since it goes back and forth over the border. I saw in another post that you can't take credit for 10.3 unless the entire story takes place in your home area.
I'll correct my post.

Thanks for pointing that out, Rebekah, I made a similar mistake and went back to fix it after seeing your post!

Ok thanks for the feedback, Elizabeth! Sorry I missed that formatting post; apparently I need to NOT post right before going to bed when my brain has shut down! I have fixed the post.

Task 15.1 Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell
512 pages, pub. 2011
C-D, 501-540, 2001-2012

+15 Task points

Grand total = 45 points

Carolyn, thank you for your review, but the Christmas in Vegas books aren't eligible for style points. Also, you need to post which of the combinations you are claiming for this book. Please see Msg #2 in this thread for the posting format for CiV.

Anika wrote: "20.3 Great Expectations

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
810L



At this point, I don't imagine that there's a book lover left..."

You can get combo points for 10.6

CiV
15.9

STU, 381-420, 1917-1928
Scaramouche, by Rafael Sabatini, pub 1921, 384 pages (read on my kindle, but most popular version Scaramouche also has 384 pages.)

+75 Task

Grand Total = 510

my review

Rebekah wrote: "20.4 A Christmas Carol
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
+20 pts - Task (set in 1915)
+5 pts - Combo (set in UK and Palestine, now Israel)
+10 pts - Revie..."

Can I get my 5 pts back? This is first in the series so it works for 10.9 as well

20.10 Playing With Numbers
"Explosive Eighteen" by Janet Evanovich
Published 2011

Review
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Task +20
Style +15 (Review, What's Your Type EJ-Janet Evanovich)
Book Total: 35
Grand Total:395

TASK 20.10

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Published in 2011

REVIEW:


An abandoned orphanage and photographs for illustrations are what make this book. Jacob’s grandfather’s final words when he’s dying leaves Jacob with nightmares for days. In an attempt to dig deeper into his grandfather’s past, Jacob travels to a mysterious island where a derelict house holds the secrets to who his grandfather really was. As Jacob discovers more about his grandfather and the inhabitants of that orphanage, he realises that the kids were peculiar, some in disturbing ways. And when Jacob finally meets Miss Peregrine, the woman who runs the orphanage Jacob discovers something even more peculiar about their world and how it works.

The book started out so great and promising that I was extremely disappointed at the point when Jacob meets Miss Peregrine. After that the story held little interest for me. While at the start the photographs accompanying the story were almost enough to give the book a quality of horror, after a point the photos just felt forced. I didn’t care much about the characters. The whole deal with the World War II setting seemed out of order. Just because something is amiss, peculiar or out of the ordinary, doesn’t necessarily mean it has to stem out of WWII. There are so many worse horrors of the time and so many better books I’ve read that this book could just as easily have been set at any other point of time. I know it’s fantasy and all but I still didn’t find the connection appealing.

I didn’t care to stick around long enough to see how the story turned out. I should have rated the book lower, considering I didn’t get to the end but the start was good and I give the book credit for that.

+20 Task
+5 Combo (20.2 - takes place in us & wales)
+10 Review

Points - 35

Total - 290