Reading with Style discussion

10.2 NYE Countdown

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

Review:
The story of Florentino Ariza and his unrequited love (or perhaps obsession) for Fermina Daza which persists for over 50 years of their lives.
I was ready to give this book four stars until the last 50 pages. I like Gabriel Garcia Marquez's slow, rambling writing style, which is to be savoured rather than gulped down. The middle of the book was great. But the beginning was rather confusing and the last section (view spoiler)[in which Florentino Ariza (in his seventies) seduces and then abandons a 14-year-old girl who was entrusted to his care (hide spoiler)] horrified me, not so much because of what happens but because of the way it is handled. This spoilt the whole reading experience for me until I realised that what happened to me as a reader mirrored the plot: I was seduced by the writing style into thinking this was a nice, gentle book and then that happened. If that was intentional, it's very cleverly done.

+10 Task (the word "time" is in the title)
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.6 "Z" in author name, 20.3 exceeded expectations #64, 20.4 pub.1985 set end of 19th/beginning of 20th century)
+10 Lost in translation (from Spanish)
+ 5 Oldie 1937-87 (1985)

Task Total = 50

20.2 In Honor of A Tale Of Two Cities

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean
Lexile: 850

Review:
Fourteen-year-old Symone is going to Paris with her mother and her "uncle" Victor, her father's former business partner, after her father's death. Except that her mother is left behind and Paris is just a stopover for Antarctica...but that's Symone's dream destination, so that's OK, at least until it becomes more like a nightmare.
This is the kind of book that you either love or hate, and I loved it. Yes Symone is geeky and very passive, and her imaginary conversations with the long-dead explorer Titus Oates probably seem weird to normal people, and it does take her an incredibly long time to realise that Uncle Victor is not what he seems, but I could understand Symone, I appreciated the way that the author showed different characters breaking down under stress, and I loved Antarctica (from a safe, warm distance).

+20 Task (UK, France and Antarctica)
+10 Review

Task Total = 30

Grand Total = 970

20.10 - Play the Numbers
Embers by Sándor Márai

+20 task
+10 translation
+5 oldies (pub 1942)

Task total: 35

10.4 - Love is in the Air
The Immoralist by André Gide

+10 task
+5 combo (20.10)
+10 translation
+10 oldies (pub 1902)

Task total: 35

Grand Total: 360 points

CiV 15.9
S-T-U 101 pgs - 140 pgs 1892 - 1904
Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain 124 pgs, Pub. 1896

Task Total - 75 pts
Grand Total - 575 or 580 pts

10.6 uncommon letter
Karate 360

This book is one that I was interested to read but a little dissapointed in the content. It did what it was supposed to do by explaining the roots of karate as well as the basic techniques but did little to really explore those roots. The biggest let down was the history of the sport which lasted only about 30 pages and was so brief that it made me ask more questions than really answer any of my existing ones. I am glad I got it for free on amazon because I would have felt a fool if I had to pay money for it.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo

Task Total = 25
Grand Total = 105

Sarah wrote: "10.1 Square Peg
Karate 360

This book is one that I was interested to read but a little dissapointed in the content. It did what it was supposed to do by explaining the roots of ka..."

This book could be used for either 10.5 under-rated or for 10.6 Uncommon letter. As such it does not qualify for the Square Peg task, but you could move it to either of thos and then claim combo points for the other.

TMBookluvr wrote: "Completed 20.10-Play by the numbers Read Divergent by Veronica Roth

20 pts (published in 2011)
+10 -after completed I wrote a review and rated it.

total points 30"

to claim review points, you need to post the review here. Would you edit your post and copy the review there? thanks!

completed 20.10 Play by the numbers- Read DIvergent by Veronica Roth

20 points (published in 2011)
+ 10-See review below (contains some spoilers)

(view spoiler)[ This book was a cliche of YA distopian books. It kept my interest and I didn't go in thinking it was a work of classic litarature so I was not disappointed. It was fun, emotional, and typical, but it has good characters and it keeps me wanting to finish the series, so now I have to wait until the other 2 (or however many) are published.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS
I say this is cliched because of the "YA distopian, pick a faction, pick a job, relunctant and unassuming rebel who is out to save the world" Tris is Divergent, a person who belongs to more than 1 "faction", who possess more than one "virtuous" characteristic that label each of the 5 factions. She decides on going with the Dauntless, the brave, yet ruthless, but her divergency threatens the motives of another faction.


What's going to happen? will she save the world? will the factions break apart? I am curious to see how the trilogy pans out.

While not as heartstopping and mesmerizing as the Hunger Games, it gave me that same feeling of wanting to keep reading to see what's going to happen to our unlikely heroes. (hide spoiler)]

task points 30
total points 30

20.5 David Copperfield
Bossypants by Tina Fey
+20 Task
+5 Combo 20.10 (pub. 2010)


20.3 Great Expectations
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (#102 on Exceeded Expectations list)
+20 Task
+10 Combo: 10.6 (“z”) and 10.8 (author born in Japan)

post total=55
grand total=305

20.2 Tale of Two Cities

One Dayby David Nicholls

20 task points (Scotland/England)

85 total points

Task 20.2 A Tale of Two Cities
On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe

I discovered this book while looking for a Nigerian author for a reading challenge. As with any book set outside of the United States, I liked being transported to two different countries: Nigeria and Belgium, neither of which I had ever visited. I also liked the structure of the book as it moved from the present in Belgium and the mystery surrounding the murder of a fellow sex worker back to the pasts of four different women and their paths from Africa to Europe and to their current trade. This book is dark and the naivete of the characters seems a bit unrealistic at times, but I found myself moving through the story quickly. Men are the aggressors throughout the book but that part of the story seems based on an all-to-often reality for many women in many parts of the world.

+20 Task
+5 Combo (10.5 Underrated)
+10 Review

Task Total = 35

Grand Total = 165

CiV Task:

15.9 – 75 points:

Nanjing Requiem by Ha Jin 303 pgs. / 2011

I-J-K / 301-340/701-740 / 2001-2012

This book was good, but read more like excellently written non-fiction.

+75 Points
Task Total: 75

RwS Task:

20.10 – Sam’s Task – Play the numbers

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci 540 Lexile

I loved this quick read about alienation!

+20 Task
Task Total: 20

Points this post: 95
Grand Total: 1055

Task 10.2 NYE Countdown The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs

+10 Task
+10 Combo (10.8 - #1 Caspak series, 10.5 879 ratings)
+10 Oldie (1918)

Task total 30

Total points 385



Task 10.4 Love is in the Air The Romance of Tristan and Iseult by Joseph Bédier

+10 Task
+10 Combo (10.7 I-T Iseult-Tristan, 20.4 Xmas carol)
+10 LiT (from French)
+10 Oldie (1900)

Task total 40

Total points 425

Task 20.7 Baby It's Cold Reap the Wild Wind by Julie E. Czerneda (Canadian)

+20 Task
+15 Combo (10.5 136 ratings, 10.8 #1 Stratification, 10.6 z in author's name)

Task total 35

Total points 460

20.2 A Tale of Two Cities

The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters

This book takes place in England, Egypt and the Sudan.

+20 Task
+10 Combo
10.6
20.4 [Takes place in the late 1800s]

Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 300

RwS Task 20.7

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (Canadian)

+20 Task

CiV
15.10 S-T-U; 101-140; 1929-1940

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
107 pages, pub 1937

+85 Task
+100 CiV Completion Bonus

Post Total: 205
Season Total: 1295

Task 20.8 (Fictional Fiction)

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket



+20 points fictional fiction
Total - 20pts

Grand total 105pts

20.10 Play the Numbers

The Crippled God by Steven Erikson

This is the tenth and final book in the Malazan book of the Fallen series. This is truly epic fantasy with hundreds of characters, numerous invented continents and cultures, and even a few non-human species. I really enjoyed this book as it followed one of my favourite characters in the series, Fiddler, who is not your typical hero. He is forced to lead an army when all he really wants to do is go back to being a soldier. Having faced great loses throughout the other nine books he is really a broken man trying to escape his past. The only thing I did not like about this book was that many of the stories that were started in previous books in the series were not exactly resolved, or were resolved in ways I did not like. I gave this book four stars and I must admit I am sad that I don't have any more books in this series to read. I would only recommend this series to die-hard fantasy fans as it is very complex and would be difficult to follow if the reader is not used to epic fantasy.

+20 Task (published 2011)
+5 Combo (10.5 Underrated - 908 ratings)
+5 Combo (20.7 Baby It's Cold Outside - Canada)
+10 Review (192 words)
+20 Jumbo (921 pages)

Task Total = 60

Grand Total = 60

Kate S wrote: "+100 CiV Completion Bonus..."

JACKPOT!!! Well done.

Liz M wrote: "Kate S wrote: "+100 CiV Completion Bonus..."

JACKPOT!!! Well done."

I missed this! Yes, yes, yes, - congrats Kate!

Liz M wrote: "Kate S wrote: "+100 CiV Completion Bonus..."

JACKPOT!!! Well done."

Thank you!! I really enjoyed figuring out how to get my books to fit and was happy when it all worked out the way it was supposed to!

15.6 CiV
P-Q-R | 381-420/781-820 | 1941-1952

The Tin Flute by Gabrielle Roy, 389 pgs, pub. 1947

+45 task

Grand Total: 405 points

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Sarah wrote: "10.1 Square Peg
Karate 360

This book is one that I was interested to read but a little dissapointed in the content. It did what it was supposed to do by expl

Thanks Elizabeth, I edited my previous post to show the actual points.

Task 20.10 - Sam’s Task - Play the numbers “1” and ”2”: 2011

Girls in White Dresses (2011) by Jennifer Close
Review: This novel – really, this collection of vignettes and short stories -- follows the lives of a group of twenty-something year old women. At the start of the novel, the women are all: (1) graduated from college (2) single and (3) living in New York City. The stories emphasize different characters, with a few of the characters in more of the stories, and the rest of the characters only in one or two. The physical descriptions are sparse – we are rarely told any details about the appearance of the women or of their various boyfriends or the locations where they meet. Instead, the novel focuses on descriptions of how the women are feeling in reaction to the events around them, interspersed with conversations they have with each other and with the guys and co-workers. Overall, the novel is a less-fluffy , slightly sadder version of Sex in the City or Bridget Jones’ Diary.

+20 Task
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):

Task Total: 20 + 10 = 30

Grand Total: 690 + 30 = 720

CiV
15.10 V-W-X-Y-Z, 262 - 300 pgs, 1941 - 1952
Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse 296 pgs, Pub 1947

+85 pts - Task
+100 pts - Comp. Bonus
765? pts - Grand Total

I'm Finished with CiV!!!!!! YaaaHoooo!!!
Kate, let's party in Vegas with our jackpot winnings! (smile)

Rebekah wrote: "I'm Finished with CiV!!!!!! YaaaHoooo!!! "

More congratulations!

Rebekah wrote: "Kate, let's party in Vegas with our jackpot winnings! (smile)"

I'm in!! Congratulations Rebekah!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "I'm Finished with CiV!!!!!! YaaaHoooo!!! "

More congratulations!"

You are on your last one, right?

Yes, I have one to go, but I'm reading for another task right this minute.

Liz Vegas wrote: "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"

Your previous total was 230 points. So with the 15 point this post (#485) your Grand Total should be 245.

okay, first post here so i hope i do this right..

10.8 karens task
After Dark

This was my first book by Haruki Murakami and I thought that it was just okay. It was a short read so I finished it pretty quickly. I'm not really sure what the whole plot of the story was... it was about a series of events that happened on a very late night in Tokyo. The characters were definitely interesting but not much HAPPENED. It was a lot of dialogue which was intriguing in some parts but most of the time I wished it would pick up.

The ending was odd. I felt like he didn't really finish the book. A lot was left unsaid and it kinda left me hanging. I will probably try to read another one of his books eventually but its not on my priority list right now.

I gave it 3 stars because the writing was definitely good. I would like to give it 2 stars because it wasn't very interesting but the quality of writing deserves another star.

+10 review
+10 lost in translation

grand total:30

Task 20.8 Fictional fiction

I read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

My Review:

I really thought this was a most interesting book. I love the way it was written as a “story within a story” and I was definitely intrigued by the twists and turns presented. The premise of the story is that a young biographer is hired to write the memoir (actually last story) of an eccentric, but very popular author. The author has originally written a book of thirteen stories, but only twelve were finished. This story is weird but interesting…there are ghosts and strange family members; it is definitely a book to keep you on your toes to keep up with the changes in setting and time. All in all, I give it four stars!

Task 20
Review + 20
= 30 task points

Grand Total: 565

Connie wrote: "10.9 D
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Task: 10
Style: +10 (Lost in Translation)

Total: 20
Grand Total: 100..."

+5 combo 20.10 - Play the Numbers (pub. 2011)

Ann wrote: "My first time - hope I'm doing it right!

20.10 - Play the Numbers
The Affair by Alicia Clifford

Free ARC through First Reads

+20 Task (2010)
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.5 - 15 ratings)
+5 Combo (20.2 - England and somewhere in Africa)
+5 Combo (20.8 - multiple books written by main character)

Task Total = 45..."

Ann, welcome to the group! Your post looks good - perfectly formatted. However, I think this is the first time I've ever had someone claim points for an unpublished book. Because the publish date cannot be confirmed (it hasn't happened yet), it cannot be used to qualify for tasks/combo points that are pub. date specific, such as 20.10.

So, I am recommending that you switch it to task 20.2 or 20.8 (you can repeat 10 & 20 point tasks as often as you'd like), for a net loss of 5 points.

For now, I am not including this book in your Grand Total, so please post & let me know where you'd like to use this book.

Thanks!

nsfancy wrote: "Task 10.8 Shards of Honour by Lois McMaster Bujold

+10 Task ..."

+5 oldies points (pub. 1986)

Ann wrote: "Task 20.8 Fictional fiction
'Salem's Lotby Stephen King

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

+5 oldies points (Pub. 1975)

Kazza wrote: "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..."

The version you linked to is 531 pages, so +5 jumbo points and +5 combo points for 20.4

Anika wrote: "10.2 NYE Countdown

The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu

+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..."

+5 poinst for 10.6 - The Uncommon Letter ("z" in author's name)

Anika wrote: "10.9 11 in '11

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

+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..."

This does not qualify for combo points for 20.2. The "two cities" in question must be real, actual places.

Camille wrote: "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)

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

+5 combo points for 10.5 - Underrated

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

task: 15
style: +10 review

total: 25..."

The 15 point sub-challenge tasks follow a different set of rules than the 10 & 20 point tasks -- they do not qualify for style points.

On a different note, I am afraid I have confuzzeled both of us regarding your actual score. I am too tired to sort it out tonight, but hopefully will have time in the next few days.

Again, sorry Liz! I have high hopes that I'll get the hang of it in the next couple of months/years.

I hope this helps sorting my scores out:
10.5 Susan Sontag 10
Review 10
10.9 Dead Reckoning 10
Combo (published 2011) 5
20.2 Eat Pray Love 20
Review 10
Combo 20
(20.5, 20.7, 10.6, 10.8)
15.1 Sum 15

Grand Total: 100

Edit: Thanks for catching the extra combo points for 10.9, Liz! Hadn't seen your post before...

And then on to the next confusion:

20.6 Der Prozeß by Franz Kafka

Review:
In einen unerklärlichen Prozess wird K. geworfen, und verliert durch dessen Sog alles. Wessen er angeklagt ist, wie das Gericht funktioniert, wer für ihn und wer gegen ihn ist, das alles bleibt im Dunkeln.
Der Prozess ist ein Irren durch ein unverständliches System voller falscher Schlüsse und Sackgassen, das immer mühseliger und gefährlicher wird, und dem man, einmal darauf eingelassen, nicht mehr entfliehen kann.
Was mich überrascht hat, denn daß es bedrohlich und unverständlich sein würde hatte ich schon geahnt (kafkaesk, anyone?), ist, wie unterhaltsam und humoristisch die Details sind, die kleinen Erzählungen, die Beschreibungen: „Denn furchtbar ist das Ganze, aber komisch sind die Details“ - Reiner Stach

Combo: 20.10 (pub. 1925), 10.6
Oldies: 1925

Task: 20
Style: Review 10, Combo 10, Oldies 10
Total: 50

Grand Total: 150

20.1 Dickens Life
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I’ve read A Christmas Carole several times, but this is the first full-sized Dickens novel that I’ve read. I’ve been a bit intimidated by the size of his full novels, so I tricked myself a bit. Rather than try to read it in one big gulp (which wasn’t the way this one was written to be read anyway), I read each of the three parts in chunks separated by other things. Though the language is old for my comfort, this was written as popular literature and it was really entertaining. I’m glad I took the breaks between. Otherwise, I think I might have been tempted to start skimming and the minor characters are really amazing. And, though I was familiar with some of the characters, like Miss Haversham, I quickly realized that I did not know this story. I even stayed up late to finish reading the last part.

+20 task
+10 Review
+15 Combos:
--20.4 (takes place 1812-1840 according to wikipedia)
--10.4 (#4 on Unrequited Love List)
--20.3 (#158 on Exceeded Expectations list)
+15 oldies (pub. 1860-1861)
+5 jumbo (544 pgs)
task total= 65

10.6 The Uncommon Letter
The Black Cauldron(Lexile 760) by Lloyd Alexander(“x”)

Hubby and I still read aloud to our eldest, age 7, before he goes to sleep. We each spend several weeks reading an entire chapter book before switching off. The Falcon and I read the first in this series, The Book of Three, and he immediately wanted to Hubby to read this second installment. However, it is based on Welsh folklore and Alexander uses Welsh names for some of the characters and places. Initially, I had made my best guess pronouncing names, then just went with wholesale guesswork/memorization. Hubby was unable to duplicate my work and found it annoying when the boy corrected his “mistakes”, so they switched books. I knew this would be what the Falcon picked when my turn came again, and I’m sure I’ll be reading the third book soon.

But, the difficulties pronouncing names are about the only thing I can complain about with this. I read this as a slightly older kid, and remember really enjoying it. As an adult, I’m impressed, too. The story lines are rich and the themes are really classic. There is a bit of moralizing, but I don’t find it as off-putting in children’s work when the lessons are rather bluntly spelled out. And, the lessons themselves are rather complex when taken at a child’s level. F really seems to gain something to think about in terms of good vs evil and growing up. I will say that this book was darker than the first. A couple of minor characters died. Died in front of everyone, not “thought dead only to be found later” died or “died elsewhere and told by a messenger” died. The deaths were foreshadowed (which I saw and not F) and were meaningful to the plot and themes-- not just thrown in to be a surprise or add excitement. I was a little worried how the Falcon would take it. He was definitely sad about it, but I think he is o.k. and that part of heros fighting battles means that people can die on both sides. I feel that this was fine for F, who does pretty well with stories that are scary and dark, but generally speaking I would recommend this for kids a little older.

+10 task
+10 review
+5 oldie (pub. 1965)

post total=90
grand total=395

10.5 Underrated

Devious (It Girl, #9) by Cecily von Ziegesar

+10 task - 602 ratings
+5 Combo - Uncommon Letter (z)

Task Total: 15 pts

20.10 Play The Numbers

Classic by Cecily von Ziegesar

Oh no it's over! Through this whole challenge I have made my way through this 10 book series (THANK YOU uncommon letter :) ), and now I'm finally done. These books are all light, teen lit, without much substance too them, but I still found them enjoyable. The only carry over characters from the original Gossip Girl series are Jenny and her family (Rufus and Dan). I don't know why I still like reading about people in high school, but I do... maybe it is because they remind me more of people/myself now than how any of us were at 16. I am sad that I finished the series but I guess it had to end some time. Some people might think the happy-ending-that-leaves-each-character's-future-open to be lame but I thought it was cute and appropriate. I really like what Ziegesar did to end the Gossip Girl series; showing their holidays and reconnections over the next 4 years. Maybe in the future she will publish something like that for the IT Girl too.

+20 Task - published 2010
+5 Combo Underrated - 478 ratings
+5 Combo Uncommon letter (z)
+10 Review

Task Total: 40 pts

Post Total: 55 pts
Grand Total: 535 pts

15.3 CiV--3rd book posted

I read Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly.

C-D/301-340 pages (this edition has 320)/1941-1952 (published in 1942)

Task total: 25 points

Grand total: 590 points

Rebekah wrote: "CiV
15.10 V-W-X-Y-Z, 262 - 300 pgs, 1941 - 1952
Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse 296 pgs, Pub 1947

+85 pts - Task
+100 pts - Comp. Bonus
765? pts - Grand Tot..."

I had forgotten to give myself the bonus for finishing so I have now corrected my post.

20.8 Fictional Fiction
"The Anthologist" by Nicholson Baker

There is a fictional poetry book called "Only Rhymes" in which the character in the book has to write an introduction.

Task +20
Style: +10 Review
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book Total: 30
Grand Total: 425

20.1 Published in Dickens lifetime

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev 4 stars, originally pub 1862

This is a lovely book. The prose is quite beautiful. This edition has an introduction which told me that many wealthier Russians of this time period spoke the French and German languages rather than Russian. There are a few French phrases scattered throughout, but their meanings were clear even if you aren't familiar with the language, and they certainly don't seem essential.

He had met her on the staircase of his lodgings, and, jostling by accident against her, he tried to apologise, and could only mutter, "Pardon, monsieur," while she bowed, smiled, and suddenly seemed frightened, and ran away, though at the bend of the staircase she had glanced rapidly at him, assumed a serious air, and blushed. Afterwards, the first timid visits, the half-words, the half-smiles, and embarrassment; and melancholy, and yearnings, and at last that breathing rapture ...Where had it all vanished? She had been his wife, he had been happy as few on earth are happy..."but," he mused, "these sweet first moments, why could not one live an eternal, undying life in them?"

Father and Sons has only a little action and certainly no plot. It is more characterization; but I would say it is as much the characterization of relationships as of the individual.

Both were silent, but the very way in which they were silent, in which they were sitting together, was expressive of confidential intimacy; each of them seemed not even to be thinking of his companion, while secretly rejoicing in his presence.

I rate this 4 stars, only because I wished for a bit more conflict. Conflict, not only between characters, but also within a character. Surely the self-doubt that occasionally arises in each of us is worth exploring in such a novel.

+20 Task
+15 Combo (10.7 ISTJ, 20.7 Russia, 20.10, pub l862)
+10 Review
+10 Translated
+10 Oldie

Task Total = 65

Grand total = 575

Liz, thanks for that Salem's Lot catch. It means my overall score is the same!

For The Affair, corrected scoring is as follows:
+20 Task (20.2)
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.5, 20.8)
Task Total = 40

For Salem's Lot:
+20 Task (20.8)
+10 Review
+5 Jumbo (631)
+5 Oldie (1975)
Task total = 40

RwS Tasks

10.4 – Love Is in the Air

Great Love Stories #43:

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

I may be one of the few readers who had not seen the movie version of this wonderful book before reading the tale. Neither had I discovered and read this wonderful book before. I loved so many things about The Princess Bride! It was fast moving, but I think the humor was what set it apart. The concept of S. Morgenstern’s boring and long-winded passages cut from the original also made the book unique and the “interjections” of Goldman were some of my favorite parts. I also loved the pure ridiculousness of the story. It was so well written and the wonderful stereotypical and satirical characters just popped off the page! Another feature I frequently laughed aloud when reading was when we were told something occurred before__________ but after____________ . The book was just so enjoyable to read that I highly recommend it to all!

+10 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo: 10.9 11 in ’11 (Author’s 11th Book) / 20.3 #92 Exceeded Expectations / 20.8 Fictional Fiction
+ 5 Oldies: 1973

Task Total: 40

10.9 – Kate’s Task – 11 in ’11

Margaret Atwood's 1st 2 books (both under 100 pages):

Circle Game and Animals in That Country by Margaret Atwood

I have long been a fan of Margaret Atwood's fiction and I have been planning the 11 in '11 Task to catch up with the first books of some of my favorite authors. As it turned out, both Atwood's first and eleventh books are poetry collections. I started with her first, Circle Game and, since it was short of 100 pages, I also read her second book (also poetry) The Animals in That Country. Through this challenge, I have become a much bigger fan of poetry than I once was and I absolutely loved these two books. Many of the themes explored in Atwood's fiction were first explored in these poems. She pursues the self-actualized woman throughout The Circle Game. It is such a joy to go back to the roots of great authors. Thanks for the task!

+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo: 20.7 Baby It’s Cold Outside (Canada) / 10.5 Underrated (Circle Game 88 Animals 13)
+ 5 Oldies: 1964 / 1968 per http://www.margaretatwood.ca/books_by...

Task Total: 35

Points this Post: 75

Grand Total: 1130