Reading with Style discussion

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

+20 Task (20.3)
+10 Review
+10 Oldie (1898)
Task total = 40
Grand total = 165

Edited because the spoiler tag is fussy and hides everything after it, not just between the tags.

Well, I can see why this earned a place on the
Would prefer a root canal list… this books really should not be inflicted upon people whose have no interest in the classics of English literature. I fear that legions of students were poisoned against James, and never bothered to read The Portrait of a Lady for fear that it would be as opaque and challenging as this little novella. It’s short, but it is not a short read. It demands complete attention for the reader; if you try to skim it’s as if you are reading gibberish. I lost patience a few times and made the attempt, only to have my brain catch on something that made no sense at all, and the result was repeated re-reading of the same page. As a result of all this, I find myself wanting to write incredibly long, digressive sentences that meanander along, taking their time, and make excessive use of the comma. I can no longer approach my subject directly, but I have to tip toe around it, siddle up sideways, and peek at it through a window. That is to say, I can see why people really truly hate this book, though upon deep reflection I cannot say I share the sentiment.
Right. If I keep on that way I will never say what I mean, and that’s the genius of this story. Is it annoying to a modern reader? Yes. My initial review was going to be 1 star, because I reached the end and like so many other people had a WTF moment. And then I slept on it and woke up with an “aaaahhhhh!” It made me think. It made me think a lot - and how many books do that these days? The book NEVER says what it means. Every little bit is open to the interpretation of the reader. This book is a little trap to see how cynical, innocent, or dirty-minded you are.
Spoilers ahoy:
(view spoiler)[ Basically - what I read between the lines is that Miles and Flora were sexually abused by Quint (and possibly by Jessell as well, at the very least Jessell knew of the abuse), and Miles was expelled for making advances towards his schoolmates. The uncle knows about all of this, and that is why he wants a caretaker that will keep absolute silence. The governess knows that something is wrong, and suspects the nature of it, but is completely unwilling to face it because the knowledge is too awful and taboo. In this, she’s no different than many adults (see any recent child abuse scandal - the first reaction is not wanting to believe). She gets enough out of the housekeeper to imagine manifestations of the evil she feels. When that fantasy is of no help in processing her emotions, she turns on the victims. And taking that to the extreme, I think she smothered Miles. (hide spoiler)]

Now, is that what happened? Who knows? I read it that way because I went to a school that had a molesting priest (some of my classmates were victims). The story tells you nothing, it just reveals things about yourself.
Five stars as an exercise, 1 stars for enjoyment while reading, for an average of 3.

+20 Task (20.3)
+10 Review
+10 Oldie (1898)
Task total = 40
Grand total = 165

20.6 - Bleak House
The Chamber by John Grisham

Reading this book reminded me why I used to read a lot of John Grisham's work. The book was tense, fast-paced, engaging, and at times heart-breaking.

The stakes are high for pretty much every character throughout the book. Adam wants to stop what he feels is an immoral execution, save his Grandfather's life, and get his own legal career on the right path. Sam is fighting for his life, his dignity and, not to be melodramatic, but for his soul as well. Lee struggles with addiction, a loveless marriage, and a childhood of trauma. The Governor is torn between doubts and concerns about the execution, and preserving and prolonging his own political aims. Even the relatively minor characters have a lot to lose.

One aspect of this book that really struck me was Grisham's ability to turn Sam Cayhall from the despicable hate-criminal at the beginning of the book into a sympathetic, almost likeable character by the end of the book. I felt this transition as a reader in two principle ways. The first was through Adam's own change of heart. At the start of the story, he seems to be taking on Sam's case simply because it is ethically "the right thing to do," since he is a lawyer opposed to the death penalty and Sam Cayhall is an unrepresented death row inmate. The fact that Sam happens to be his grandfather becomes more important as they get to know one another. Even though Adam learns more about Sam's terrible past with the Ku Klux Klan, he also learns more about Sam as a person and why he became the man he was when the bombing took place. The second way Grisham accomplishes this is through Sam's sense of humor. As much as you don't want to like the man, it's hard not to chuckle at his smart quips. Humor is a very powerful tool in drama and literature, and Grisham demonstrates that well. As someone who opposes the death penalty I did not really take any new opinions away from the book, but I think the story might at least give pause to those in favor of capital punishment.

The Chamber is a thought-provoking read that will keep the reader busy for days. I listened to this on audiobook and found myself making excuses to listen longer.

+20 Task (Deals with the American legal system, specifically capital punishment)
+10 Review
+5 Jumbo (640 pages)

Task total = 35

Grand Total = 80

Ann wrote: "Edited because the spoiler tag is fussy and hides everything after it, not just between the tags. "

It doesn't if you put / before 'spoiler' in the closing tag.

20.2 In Honor of A Tale Of Two Cities

John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth by Elizabeth Partridge
Lexile 1010

Review:
This prize-winning biography is aimed at teens and written in a simple style but it's still pretty hard-hitting, not shrinking from the sex and drugs of the rock and roll lifestyle or the violence that surrounded Lennon's life. It's a big, coffee-table sized book and there are a lot of great photos. If you are interested in the Beatles it is worth a look. The story of John's childhood and the early Beatles years is fascinating. I would not have minded a little less about his political activism, art and life with Yoko, but there is no doubt it was an interesting relationship.

+20 Task (set in UK and USA, he lived in both)
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.5 Underrated, 10.6 "Z" in author name, 10.7 ISTJ I & J in title/subtitle preapproved)

Task Total = 45

20.4 In Honor of A Christmas Carol

Dragonwyck by Anya Seton

Review:
This was my first introduction to Anya Seton's brand of American historical novel. I found it fascinating, in the way that she took themes of Victorian British novels and translated them into a 19th century American setting.
Published in the 1940s and set 100 years earlier, this is the story of Miranda Wells, the daughter of a New York State farmer who is invited by a rich second cousin to his gothic home (complete with ghost) where she innocently falls for the master despite the fact that he has a living wife. The wife, being overweight, is despised (remember this was written in the 1940s when food was scarce) (view spoiler)[but she is soon dispatched, and Miranda finds that her hero is perhaps not such a hero after all. (hide spoiler)]
This book is often compared to Jane Eyre but they really have very little in common except the theme. Miranda's history is nothing like Jane's and the wife Johanna is nothing like Bertha Rochester. (view spoiler)[Most importantly, Anya Seton's Van Ryn never performs the Rochesterian feat of redeeming himself, and Miranda ends up with her second choice. (hide spoiler)] But it is an enjoyable read all the same.

+20 Task (pub.1944, set 1840s)
+10 Review
+ 5 Oldies 1937-87 (1944)

Task Total = 35


Grand Total = 1050

15.9 CiV
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, 412 pgs. first published 2005

P-Q-R; 381-420/781-820; 2001-2012
+75 Task
Previous total: 460
New total: 535

itpdx wrote: "15.9 CiV
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, 412 pgs. first published 2005

P-Q-R; 381-420/781-820; 2001-2012
+75 Task
Previous total: 460
New total: 535"

This is one of my all time favorite books! Did you like it? Isn't it soooo messed up!

20.3 Great Expectations
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Review:
Never Let Me Go is a unique coming-of-age story, with some unexpected twists. Kathy, the protagonist and narrator, retells her upbringing in what seems to be an upper-class boarding school, focussing on the arts and discussions. It is also the story of her relationship with her best friends, Ruth and Tommy, who she grew up with, and who have become alienated over the years, to be reunited years later, when the course of their lives draw to their predetermined and scheduled ends.
Told in a casual, somewhat distant, meandering way, sometimes breaking the fourth wall, this book is an easy read with a huge punchline (which you'll only gradually discover by "Huh? Where's that coming from?" and "What does that mean?") that makes you think about racism, speciesism and prejudice and lets you ponder how far you'd be willing to go for your own welfare.

Task: 20
Review: 10
Combo (10.7, 10.8): 10

Total: 40
Grand Total: 190

10.8 Chinese New Year

The Soul of the Rhino: A Nepali Adventure with Kings and Elephant Drivers, Billionaires and Bureaucrats, Shamans and Scientists and the Indian Rhinoceros by Hemanta Mishra

Review:
What the book is: An extremely interesting review of conservation efforts in Nepal, complete with political intrigue and culture clash between western-trained scientists and local communities. Also, somewhat surprisingly, the book provides interesting insight into the use of tamed elephants (and elephant drivers) for the rhino conservation effort.

What the book is not: A description of what rhinos are like, how they spend their time, or what makes them interesting animals.

I very much enjoyed reading about the conservation movement in Nepal and the author's experiences over several decades of work on rhino study, conservation, and relocation. Still, I was sad that there wasn't more description of what wild rhinos are like, what their social structure is, why the author loves them so much (and love them he clearly does--even describing having connected deeply with the soul of the rhino), or more about their behavior in the wild. There were descriptions of the reactions of the rhinos to capture (e.g., for relocation purposes), but very little discussion of their natural behaviors.

The book ends around mid-2007, just as the political situation in Nepal is very uncertain and unstable. I'd love to read a follow-up essay about what's happening now.

+10 Task (set in Nepal, by Nepalese author)
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.5 [just 28 ratings]; 20.2 [author travels from Nepal to the UK and the US for research/education])

Task total: 30
Grand total: 455

RwS

Task 20.7 Baby It's Cold Outside - Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Although this book has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite some time, it really wasn’t on my immediate radar to read anytime soon. I knew there would some emotion involved and that there would likely be tears so when my husband read it and said it was in his Top 10, I moved it up to the top of my TBR.
This story is told from Enzo’s point of view. Enzo is a dog and I’m not quite sure I’ll ever look at my dog in the same way again. The story was beautifully told with a lot of humorous moments and even more poignant ones. I highly recommend this one to anyone who is a dog lover and even for those who aren’t.

+20 Task (Stein is an American author)
+10 Review
+5 Combo (20.3 - #75 on Exceeded Expectations List)

Task Total=35

Task 20.4 A Christmas Carol - Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb

I really enjoy Robb’s futuristic In Death series and I’d have to say that so far, this has been my favorite! There was lots going on and the one liners were well placed and timed just right. I love how we learn more about Roarke in this one and also more about Summerset who Eve loves to hate! I’m constantly fascinated by Robb’s “future” and the many gadgets and gizmo’s accessible to society and I can’t help but wonder if our future will be that way. This is a series that I will go back to again and again for the excellent storylines and character development!

+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (20.2 - story takes place in New York and Dublin as listed on GR)

Task Total=35

Post Total=70
Grand Total=275

Rachelccameron wrote: "itpdx wrote: "15.9 CiV
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, 412 pgs. first published 2005


This is one of my all time favorite books! Did you like it? Isn't it soooo messed up! "
Palahniuk has one twisted mind. My Review

itpdx wrote: "Rachelccameron wrote: "itpdx wrote: "15.9 CiV
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, 412 pgs. first published 2005


This is one of my all time favorite books! Did you like it? Is..."

I've been listening to the audio version of this, but it's sufficiently gruesome that I've sort of put it on hold.

Rebekah wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "20.4 A Christmas Carol
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

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

Done.

I just added 5 points to post 559 for Underrated for the Margaret Atwood books. I don't know if you've counted that one yet, but I just came across it as I was checking underrated books for some tasks I will post soon.

20.6 Bleak House
Sun Storm by Åsa LarssonRebecka Martinsson is a tax attorney in a prestigious law firm in Stockholm. She learns of a particularly gruesome murder of a childhood sweetheart by television just moments before the victim’s sister calls asking for help. At one time this sister and Rebecka were extremely close, the relationship mostly dealing with fragile, otherworldly Sanna’s inability to cope with reality and Rebecka always there to rescue and nurture her friend. The foundation of all this, is a very charismatic church group including Sanna’s brother and another well loved minister. Is this church helping people or has it become a profit sharing organization for the three pastors and will do anything to deal with perceived threats? Rebecka flies to her hometown in the Arctic Circle to see what she can do for Sanna and her children and ends up becoming her lawyer although her experience in criminal law is very little. I first picked up this book because of the unusual spelling of my name and became intrigued with all the religious aspects. Having grown up as a minister’s daughter myself, I identified with many of the situations. The author has a very knowledgeable base of the Bible and the quotes and parables she uses are very much what I remember hearing in church growing up. However, this book is not a “Christian lit” book. This fancy church is not the good guys. I really enjoyed this book. The translator had a British slant on her English but it was very well done. Some of the descriptions of the countryside, the snow and ice and the Northern lights were exceptionally beautiful. I gave it 5 stars.

+20 pts - Task
+10 pts - Combo (10.5 underrated, 20.7 takes place above the Arctic Circle in Sweden)
+10 pts - LiT(Swedish)
+10 pts - Review

50 pts - Task
815 pts - Grand Total

Sarah wrote: "10.6 uncommon letter
Karate 360

+10 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo

Task Total = 25
Grand Total = 105 ..."

This book earns combo points for 10.5 - Underrated (10 ratings) and 20.10 - Play the Numbers (published in 2011), so you have 5 more combo points than you posted and, as of post 513, your Grand Total would be 110 points.

10.1 Square Peg

Ruined by Paula Morris

+10 Task (author is from New Zealand who has written less than 11 books; published 2009 and the book is set in present day New Orleans)

Task Total = 10

Grand Total = 460 (this is including the +5 per post 505, +5 per post 546, and -5 per post 547...sorry for the confusion, I'm trying to get better at catching them all when I post the first time!)

CiV 15.1

Carry Yourself Back to Me by Deborah Reed 316 pages, pub. 2011

P/Q/R;301-340/701-740; 2001-2012

Task total = 15

CiV 15.2

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller 240 pages, pub. 1903

G-H; 221-260/621-660; 1892-1904

Task Total = 20

Grand Total = 495

Kelli wrote: "Task 20.2 A Tale of Two Cities
On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe

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

Task Total = 40

Grand Total = 170 ..."

Combo points are +5 per task, not 10.

20.10 - Sam's Task - Play The Numbers

Half-Blood Blues

Review:

This book is based in Europe during the beginning of World War II and also in the mid 1990s. It follows a few black jazz musicians making themselves known in hostile Nazi Germany. Part of the group fleas to France. The story is told by the novels protagonist who is remembering the turmoil and heartbreak they went through trying to survive.
It is not surprising that this book won the Giller Prize. The voice and research that went into this is incredibly amazing. Esi Edugyan outdid herself. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a different take on a WWII story.

+20 Task (Published 2011)
+10 Combo (20.7 - Elizabeth (Alaska's) Task - Baby it's cold outside)(10.5 - Underrated)
+10 Review

Total Task = 40

Grand Total = 40

20.7 - Elizabeth (Alaska's) Task - Baby It's Cold Outside

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Review:

The imagination that went into this book is purely stunning. If you are a fan of vivid descriptions this is by far the best book for you....

I will not give away any of the plot. The story is heartbreaking and romantic and truly beautiful as it unfolds. My only issues with it are that there is a bit too much exposition in parts. I also have a hard time deciding if there needs to be as much detail into every characters, although it did help me learn who was who very fast which I appreciate in a novel with such intricate characters.

+20 Task (Author from Massachusetts US)
+10 Combo (20.4 & 20.10)
+10 Review

Total Task = 40

Grand Total = 80

Rachael wrote: "20.10 - Sam's Task - Play The Numbers

Half-Blood Blues

Review:

This book is based in Europe during the beginning of World War II and also in the mid 1990s. It follows a few black..."

Another 5 combo points for 10.5 Underrated - only 550 ratings.

Task 15.6 – Christmas in Vegas

1892-1904 V-W-X-Y-Z 181-220/581-620

6th book claimed – 45 points

The War of the Worlds (1898) by H.G. Wells (Paperback, 192 pages)

Grand Total: 720 + 45 = 765

CiV

15.2 The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie, 288 pgs, pub 1961
C-D, 261-300, 1953-1964

+20 task points

15.3 The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, 256 pgs, pub 1908
G-H, 221-260, 1905-1916

+25 Task points

Total this post 45

Total points 510

CiV

15.4 Troubles by J.G. Farrell, 459 pgs, pub 1970

E-F, 420-460, 1965-1976

+30 task points

15.5 Sabriel by Garth Nix, 491 pgs, pub 1995

M-N, 461-500, 1989-2000

+35 task points

Points this post 65

Total points 575

Rosemary wrote: "10.2 NYE Countdown

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

+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)..."

Noëlle & Tobey, I have added +10 combo points to your score for 20.3 & 20.4.

Liz M wrote: "Rosemary wrote: "10.2 NYE Countdown

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

+15 Combo (10.6 "Z" in author name, 20.3 exceeded expectations #64, 20.4 pub..."

Liz, I went back to add these to my score so just want to verify what my score is. I have it at 275, do you have same? I don't know how you keep up with this, big huge kudos to you!

CiV : I'm done!

Hi and congratulations to all who have finished! I'm snowed in, so enjoying a lot of reading, but posting before we lose power in the ice storm!

15.10– 85 points:

The White Lioness by Henning Mankell 448 pgs. / 1993

L-M / 421-460/821-860 / 1989-2000

Task Total: 85

Points this Post: 85
CiV Completion: 100
Grand Total: 1315

Congrats, Karen! You folks are having quite the storm down there.

I'm new here, so bear with me while I figure this out!

Task 20.4: A Christmas Carol Task- looking back

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

Takes place in 1850 and was published in 2011.

+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.10 (2011) and 20.7 (Canada))

Task Total = 30

Grand Total = 30

Task 20.10 Play the Numbers

Divergent by Veronica Roth

+20 Task (pub. 2011)

Task Total =20

Grand Total = 200

Ashley wrote: "Task 20.10 Play the Numbers

Divergent by Veronica Roth

+20 Task (pub. 2011)
Hi, Ashley! I was thinking about getting this as an audiobook. Did you like it?

Karen GHHS wrote: "CiV : I'm done!

Hi and congratulations to all who have finished! I'm snowed in, so enjoying a lot of reading, but posting before we lose power in the ice storm!

15.10– 85 points:

[book:The White..."

Being snowed in must be a perfect setting for reading those "Baby, it's Cold Outside" books!

Rebekah wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Task 20.10 Play the Numbers

Divergent by Veronica Roth

+20 Task (pub. 2011)
Hi, Ashley! I was thinking about getting this as an audiobook. Did ..."

Yes, it's an enjoyable read. If you've read Matched by Ally Condie and like that, you'll probably like Divergent.

Task 20.2: A Tale of Two Cities: Two Countries

In The Sea There Are Crocodiles: Based On The True Story Of Enaiatollah Akbari by Fabio Geda

The character travels through Iran, Turkey, Greece and Italy.

+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.5: 397 ratings; 20.10 (2011) )
+10 Lost In Translation (from Italian)

Task Total = 40

20.7: Elizabeth (Alaska)’s Task - Baby it's cold outside

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens who is from Vancouver, Canada.

+20 Task
+5 Combo (20.10 pub'd 2011)

Task Total = 25

Total this Post = 65

Grand Total = 95

Ashley wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Task 20.10 Play the Numbers

Divergent by Veronica Roth

+20 Task (pub. 2011)
Hi, Ashley! I was thinking about getting this as an audi..."

Another one that seems to go along these same lines is
Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It's been on my TBR, along with Divergent for a while.

Task 10.9 - The 1st or 11th book in a series – author must have at least 11 published works
Ellis Peters has more than 11 published works.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/e...
I read the first one of the Brother Cadfael Series.

A Morbid Taste for Bones (1977) by Ellis Peters
Review: This was the first of the Brother Cadfael Mystery Series. Brother Cadfael is 58 years old; a veteran of the Crusades; and, as the novel begins in 1137 A.D., a monk at Shrewsbury Abbey. I was interested to learn (via the internet) that Shrewsbury Abbey did exist in 1137 A. D., that Abbot Heribert (a character in the novel) was the Abbot of the monastery, and that the transference of the bones of St. Winifred from Gwytherin, Wales to the Shrewsbury Abbey did occur around the date given in the novel. The murder mystery accompanying these events is, of course, completely fictional. Ellis Peters balances the medieval mindset with the demands of a 20th century novel. Recommended for people wanting to read a historical mystery.


+10 Task
+ 05 Style: 1. Combo (5 points) (also fits: 20.4 in the past)
+ 10 Style: 2. Review (10 points):
+ 05 Style: 4. Oldies (5 to 25 points): -25 to 75 years old: 5 points (1936-1986)

Task Total: 10 + 05 + 10 + 05 = 30

Grand Total: 765 + 30 = 795

20.8 - Fictional Fiction

Life, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams

+20 Task
+5 Combo (20.10 pub in 1982)
+5 Oldie (pub in 1982)


20.5 - David Copperfield

My Korean Deli by Ben Ryder Howe

+20 Task (autobiography/memoir)
+5 Combo (20.10 pub in 2011)


20.4 - A Christmas Carol

New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb

+20 Task (published in 2011, set in 2060)
+5 Combo (20.10 pub in 2011)


Task Total = 80 points

Grand Total = 245 points

20.5 In Honor of David Copperfield

The Necessary Aptitude: A Memoir by Pam Ayres

Review:
The comic poet Pam Ayres was born and raised in a village that I passed through on the school bus twice a day for seven years, but at a different time.
The first part of this book is about her childhood and it showed me how much England changed between the 1950s when she was growing up and the 60s/70s when I was, but it also demonstrates the gulf between town kids and village kids, growing up in a small family or a big family, going to the grammar school or the secondary modern, and whether your route out is university or the armed forces. This memoir is wonderfully evocative of the life that she and her family led, but I recognised almost nothing from my own life except the place names.
In the second half of the book she leaves England via an RAF posting to Singapore, and the book follows her up to 1975 when she found fame.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.5 Underrated, 20.2 set UK and Singapore, 20.10 pub.2011)
Task Total = 45

Grand Total = 1095

20.7 Baby It's Cold Outside

by Ninni Holmqvist

Review:

Dorrit Weger is not yet 50. She has no husband, no children, it's just her and her dog. She owns her own home that needs major fixing up but her meager salary doesn't provide for those household luxuries. She is a draw on her society. She is not contributing to any economic growth or development. She is considered 'dispensable'.

The Second Reserve Bank Unit comes to collect Dorrit. Yes, that is correct, she is collected like trash. Her body and its various parts will be poked, prodded and removed. They will be used for the biological needs for members of society that are contributing to the economy. Dorrit makes some interesting friends while at the Unit and has to make some ultimate sacrifices while being there.

This book reminded me very much of The Handmaid's Tale in the sense of its setting being in a dystopic society portraying powerless individuals. I can say that while the story was compelling, the writing lacked any lustre. However, this may be Holmqvist convincing me that Dorrit lacks lustre, that she has given up any hope of a normal life and is submitting to her fate. The concept of this book and this type of society left me feeling creeped out and icky. I don't have other words to describe the feeling.

I would recommend this to readers and is a quick read.

+20pts Task 20.7 (Sweden)
+5 for 20.8 Fictional Fiction (The Blue Whale/Combo)
+5 for 10.10 Group Reads (Combo points)
+5 for 10.6 Uncommon Letter (Q/Combo points)
+10 Lost in Translation (Style points)
+10 Review

55 Total points

160 Grand Total points
Updated points 1/24/12.

Please let me know how this works. I haven't read any group reads yet and not sure how many task points I can take.

Charlene wrote: "20.7 Baby It's Cold Outside

by Ninni Holmqvist

Review:

Dorrit Weger is not yet 50. She has no husband, no children, it's just her and her dog. She..."

Hi Charlene! All combos are 5 points each. Your total is correct, however, because the lost in translation is worth 10 points.

Ok great. So then 10.10 is worth 5 for combo and
Lost in Translation is worth 10 on its own. I think I got it. Can't say for sure I will ever get this right :)

Ashley wrote: "Task 20.10 Play the Numbers

Divergent by Veronica Roth

+20 Task (pub. 2011)

Task Total =20

Grand Total = 200"

Don't you get combo points for 20.4 as it is futuristic?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Charlene wrote: "20.7 Baby It's Cold Outside

by Ninni Holmqvist

Review:

Dorrit Weger is not yet 50. She has no husband, no children, it's just her ..."

Doesn't this one get 20.4 combo points as well?

What was Dickens' 11th book?

Not sure. I don't think the book ever discusses the year, just that it's in the future. Holmqvist describes it as near future. First published in 2006, English in 2009.

20.8 Fictional Fiction
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

+20 pts - Task
+15 pts - Combo (10.4 GLS #10,10.7-ENFP, 20.2 Italy & England)
+10 pts - Oldies (1908)
+10 pts - Review

Review
I found this book a little disappointing. I lost sympathy with the characters. George Emerson seemed a dweeb, Lucy Honeychurch a silly , Cecil, Vyse, well Cecil’s character is denounced in the book already, Rev Beebe was an oaf, Rev Eager a snob,and Charlotte Bartlett sappy, Miss Lavish an overdone busybody and Mrs. Honeychurch narrow. Freddy Honeychurch I liked for being fresh and Mr. Emerson for being real and the Italians, especially the driver, gave the story spice. I don’t know why I felt so unfavorably towards these characters as in other books by this author I haven’t minded so much the prissy Victorian ways. This book just seemed to tire me out. All the personal angst of Lucy and the characters that supported it just made me feel like I was dealing with my daughter when she went through puberty again. Not an experience that I’d like to repeat! However, I can’t be totally disloyal to Forrester. His prose is beautiful and I want to see that beautiful view full of violets he so vividly described! The basic plot was good if not absolutely conventional, but the scenes in Italy I especially liked. I gave it 3 stars.

Task Total - 55 pts
Grand Total - 870 pts

Charlene wrote: "Ok great. So then 10.10 is worth 5 for combo and
Lost in Translation is worth 10 on its own. I think I got it. Can't say for sure I will ever get this right :)"

I've found the moderators quite forgiving when it comes to points addition. (smile)

Rebekah wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Task 20.10 Play the Numbers

Divergent by Veronica Roth

+20 Task (pub. 2011)

Task Total =20

Grand Total = 200"

Don't you get combo point..."

I wasn't sure because it didn't give a date, so I had no idea when it was set.

Rebekah wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Ok great. So then 10.10 is worth 5 for combo and
Lost in Translation is worth 10 on its own. I think I got it. Can't say for sure I will ever get this right :)"

I've found the moderators quite forgiving when it comes to points addition. (smile) ..."

Rebekah, I may jinx it, but you have been doing wonderfully well with addition this season. If you have a new method, it's working! :D

Liz M wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Ok great. So then 10.10 is worth 5 for combo and
Lost in Translation is worth 10 on its own. I think I got it. Can't say for sure I will ever get this right :)"
..."

Thanks all!