The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
WINTER CHALLENGE 2015
>
Winter Challenge 2015: Tasks
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
10.1. This is Your Brain
Help Thread
Oliver Sacks was a British neurologist, naturalist and author who spent his professional life in the United States, who passed away August 30, 2015. He brought science to the masses with his books about interesting case studies he was involved with and other natural subjects.
In honor of his passing and his contribution to the literary world, read a nonfiction book from one of the following lists:
Popular Science for Smarties or Best Science Books - Non-Fiction Only, or A Nerd's Guide to Reading.
NOTE: Some of the books on the lists, especially the "Nerd's Guide" are fiction - you may only use nonfiction books, even if a fiction book is on the list.
REQUIRED: Include in your post the list on which you found the book and the number of the book on the list.
10.2. Art Appreciation
Help Thread
Read a book that has a framed painting or framed photograph on the cover. A partial framed painting or photograph is okay, but there must be enough showing to tell that this is what it is. Empty frames cannot be used.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.
10.3. "Young Girl Reading"
Help Thread
Renoir was a leader of the Impressionist movement.
Read a book whose title/subtitle shares a word (4 or more letters long) with the title of one of Renoir's paintings. The words must match EXACTLY - no variations.
A list of his paintings can be found here: .
NOTE: While the list is noted as being "incomplete," this is the list that is to be used for this task.
REQUIRED: Specify the name of the painting and the word used.
10.4. C'est ou?
Help Thread
Impressionism was a primarily French school of art. Read a book with the name of a French city or town or the word "France" or "French" in its title/subtitle.
10.5. Curl Up and Read
Help Thread
Read a book from Best Books to Read When the Snow Is Falling Best Books to Read When the Snow is Falling.
REQUIRED: Indicate the page of the list on which your book was found.
10.6. It's Cold Here, but Colder There!
Help Thread
A trivia game, 94%, requires players to find 94% of the answers given to the question of what are “cold countries.� The answer, according to a number of “cheat sites� are:
� Russia � 35%
� Canada � 22%
� Greenland � 20%
� Iceland � 9%
� Norway � 4%
� Sweden � 2%
� Finland � 2%
Read a book set at least 50% in one of these countries.
10.7. Are you Up to Date?
Help Thread
2015 is running out! Catch up on your reading by reading a book from
Popular Books 2015.
Since lists can change, please note the number of the book on the list and the date on which you found it, and include that in your post if the book is no longer on the list at the time you post your task.
REQUIRED: Indicate the number of your book on the list
10.8. Hey, We Were There, Too!
Help Thread
February 15 is Presidents' Day - but let's not forget about the Vice Presidents.
Read a book written by an author whose first, middle, or last name is the same as the first, middle, or last name of a U.S. Vice-President. Names must match EXACTLY.
Books may be fiction or non-fiction.
Ex. George Orwell, Margaret George, Clinton Rossiter, Hillary Rodham Clinton (all from George Clinton)
Here's a link to a list of Presidents and Vice Presidents:
REQUIRED: Include in your post the name of the Vice President.
10.9. Catch Up With the SRC
Help Thread
The SRC Bookshelf lists all the books that have been group reads for the SRC. Read a book from that list that you have never read before.
REQUIRED: State in your post that this book is new to you, not a re-read.
If you have read ALL of the books on the SRC bookshelf already, you may use one of the four books that have been involved in tie-breaker votes and not subsequently chosen as a group read:
The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes (Fall 2015)
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (Winter 2014)
City of Bones(Spring 2011)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Fall 2010)
REQUIRED: If you need to use this variation, please explain in your post that you have read all of the books on the SRC bookshelf already.
10.10. Jump!
Help Thread
Since leap year occurs every four years, read a book with a number of pages that is evenly divisible by 4.
REQUIRED: When you post, indicate the total number of pages in your book, keeping in mind the rules for determining pages for ebooks and audiobooks, and be sure that you've linked to the right edition of your book.
NOTE: ebooks without a print edition cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. If you read an ebook, listen to an audiobook or read a Large Print edition use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.
Mod
15.1 Make the Switch
Help Thread
Two of the best known Impressionist artists were Manet and Monet. Read two books by authors with names* that differ by exactly one letter. *The name may be in any position- first, middle, other, last, but the names for both books must be in the same position- first/first, last/last, have the same number of letters with the changed letter in the same position and may NOT be initials.
ex. Anne/Anna: Anne Perry, Anna Quindlen
John/Joan:John Grisham, Joan Didion
Coe/Poe: Jonathan Coe, Edgar Allan Poe both last names
15.2 Word For Word
Help Thread
Thesaurus Day is January 18. A thesaurus is a book in which words that have the same or similar meanings are grouped together
Using this list read TWO books with synonyms in their titles or subtitles. The synonyms must match the listed words exactly- no variations
ex. Crooked = bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, Bent Road
Required: State the synonym pair
15.3 Lost and Found
Help Thread
Lost and Found Day is December 9th
Option 1: Read 2 books, one book A and one book B
Book A- Read a book with all the letters L, O, S, T in the title, subtitle and/or author's name
Book B- Read a book with all the letters F, O, U, N, D in the title, subtitle and/or author's name
Or
Option 2: Read ONE book that fulfills both Book A and Book B - letters LOSTFOUND including 2 O's
15.4 The Force, It's Calling To You
Help Thread
Star Wars: The Force Awakens premieres in US theaters on December 18. It is the 7th film in the Star Wars saga and the first in the 3rd trilogy.
Option 1: choose 2 different options and read a book for each (two books)
a) Read a book with a main page genre that contains "Science Fiction"
b) Read a book that is identified on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as #3 or #7 in a series (series, #)
c) Read a book with one of these words: star, war, seven (7), seventh (7th), three (3), third (3rd), force, awaken(s) in the title or subtitle. Plurals and possessives work, no other variations
OR
Option 2: Read ONE book that fulfills two different options
15.5 That’s So Random
Help Thread
Using this , Hit "Give Me Some Titles" once. Have a pen and paper handy or copy/paste the generated titles to record your results. Read a book with a word* from one of the six titles generated in the title or subtitle. *Articles (A, An, The, etc) and prepositions (in, on, of, etc) may NOT be used. Plurals and possessives work and removing a plural or possessive works as well. Required: Include the six titles when you post.
15.6 En Plein Air
Help Thread
"My only merit," Monet wrote later in life, "lies in having painted directly in front of nature, seeking to render my impressions before the most fleeting moments." Most Impressionists worked spontaneously from nature- en plein air. Read a book with an outdoor scene on the cover.
Required: Include the cover
15.7 Here Be Dragons
Help Thread
Appreciate a Dragon Day is January 16
Read a book with a dragon on the cover or with a storyline involving dragons. The dragon connection must be obvious from the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ book main page: title, genre, description, reviews, etc.
Required: Include the cover if using that option
15.8 Please Mr. Postman
Help Thread
December is Write to a Friend month. Read a book from this list Popular epistolary novels
Required: Indicate the list page and the book's position
15.9 Degas and the Dancers
Help Thread
Degas is especially identified with the subject of dance, and over half his works depict dancers.
Read a book that features dancers. The connection must be obvious from the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ book main page: title, genre, description, reviews, etc. Ex: Audition, The Painted Girls, Mao's Last Dancer
15.10 - A Reason to Party
Help Thread
Bonza Bottler Day is celebrated once a month when the number of the month coincides with the number of the day (1/1, 2/2, 12/12 this winter season) Read a book that is identified on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as #1, #2 or #12 in a series. Whole numbers only.
20.1 Most Improved - Megan W's task: (Super)HeroesHelp Thread
Superhero movies and T.V. shows are one of my guilty pleasures, but I also love learning about acts of heroism done by real people in everyday life. For this task, choose ONE of these options:
Required: Specify which option you picked when you post.
1) Read a book with the main page genre “Superheroes� (embedded or standalone).
OR
2) Read a non-fiction book by or about someone who you consider heroic.
Required: Include an explanation of who you think is heroic and why.
Books with the genre Sequential Art (Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga) are acceptable for this task so long as they comply with standard SRC challenge rules.
20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Karen D's task: The Cameron Crazies
Help Thread
One of the greatest things about winter is that college basketball is upon us. This challenge celebrates my alma mater, Duke University!
For this challenge, read ONE book from the option of your choice.
REQUIRED: State which option you chose when posting
Option 1: Duke's colors are blue and white. For this option, read a book where the cover is primarily (over 50%) Duke blue (officially it is Pantone 287, but any dark blue will be accepted). Ex:
Sky blue, baby blue, or anything pale will NOT work (too close to UNC's blue!)
Required: Include the cover when you post.
Option 2: Coach K has been the head coach at Duke since 1980. For this option, read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in KRZYZEWSKI.
Option 3: Duke has won 5 national championships (so far!). For this option, read a book identified on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as #5 in a series (series title, #5).
20.3 - Best Review - Book Concierge's task: Art and Passion
Help Thread
I have always loved art. My parents frequently took my brothers and me to art museums, and my mother loved buying folk art, especially by Mexican or Southwest artists.
Choose ONE of the options below and read a book that is a minimum of 250 pages long.
Required: State which option you chose when you post.
**Note: Books with the genre childrens or kids may not be used for this task.**
OPTION A - Ettore “Ted� DeGrazia (b 14June1909 / d 17Sept1982) was an American impressionist, painter, sculptor, composer, actor, director, designer, architect, jeweler, and lithographer. He is perhaps best known for his colorful images of Native American children of the American Southwest. In 1960, DeGrazia got his big break when UNICEF requested permission to use his image of Los Ninos to produce greeting cards. Many millions were sold world-wide, making DeGrazia the most reproduced artist in the world. My mother loved his work and had several reproductions / prints in her home.
Read a book with a cover that depicts two or more children. Children should be clearly age 12 or younger. Ex:
Required: Post the cover image
OPTION B - Frida Kahlo (b 06July1907 / d 13July1954) was a Mexican painter who is best known for her self-portraits. Kahlo’s life began and ended in Mexico City, in her home known as the Blue House. Her work has been celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition, and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form.
Read a memoir or autobiography written by a female author. If there is a co-author, the co-author must also be female.
OPTION C - Martin Ramirez (b 30Jan1895 / d 17Feb1963) was a self-taught artist who spent most of his adult life institutionalized in California mental hospitals, diagnosed as a catatonic schizophrenic. He is considered to be one of the 20th century’s self-taught masters. His works display an idiosyncratic iconography that reflect both Mexican folk traditions and 20th century modernization: images of Madonnas, horseback riders, and trains entering or exiting tunnels, undulating fields of concentric lines that describe landscapes, and decorative patterns.
Read a book with a cover image of a Madonna (or mother & child), a horseback rider (on a horse), or a train. If using the mother & child option, the child should be clearly under the age of 12.
Required: Post the cover
OPTION D - Diego Rivera (b 08Dec1886 / d 24Nov1957) was a prominent Mexican painter. His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in Mexican art. Between 1922 and 1953, Rivera painted murals in Mexico City, Chapingo, Cuernavaca, San Francisco, Detroit and New York City. He was married to fellow Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. I remember my parents taking me to Mexico City to see Rivera’s murals.
Read a book written by an Hispanic author.
Required: If it is not clear from the author’s Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ profile that s/he is of Latin-American or Spanish descent, cite the source of your information.
20.4 - Camilla's Task: Lost in Translation
Help Thread
I live in Finland, a fairly small country with approx. 5.2 million inhabitants. Since Finland is a small market when it comes to book sales, countless books are never translated into Finnish. This means that many books I’m interested in are not translated and thus I read mostly books in English. This task centers aorund different languages and translating.
Choose ONE of the options below and read a book that fits that option. Required: State which option you chose when you post.
Option 1: Read a book written in a language other than your native language. Required: In your post, state your native language and the language of the book that you read.
Option 2: Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your native language. The edition you read may be in any language, as long as the first published edition of the book was not in your native language. Required: In your post, state your native language and the original language of the book.
Option 3: Read a book that takes place in at least two different countries. Required: In your post, state the countries where the book is set.
20.5 - Bigger is Better - Shelley UT's task: Winter Birthdays
Help Thread
Winter is a time for birthdays in my family. This task is to honor three of them.
For this task read ONE book that fulfills one of the options below:
Required: State which option you chose when you post.
1. My mom: My mom's favorite hobby was reading. Read a book with books on the cover or "books about books" main page genre. Example:
Required: If using the cover option, include the cover when you post.
2. My dad: My dad's favorite hobbies are playing golf and tennis and watching football (American), baseball and basketball. Read a book with a professional athlete of one of these sports as a main character. This should be obvious from the book's description or main page reviews. The book may be fiction or non-fiction. Examples: Lady Be Good, Ball Four
3. My youngest son Jack: Jack loves everything that goes: cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, motorcycles. Read a book that has a motorized vehicle on the cover.
Required: Include the cover when you post.
20.6 - Seasoned Reader - Emmalita's task: Favorite SEASONingsHelp Thread
Since I won the chance to be the task creator for the SEASONed reader and two of my favorite things to do is to read and to cook, my task is based on my favorite SEASONings.
Read a book from ONE of the following options. Required: State which option you chose when you post.
Option 1. When I cook, almost all of my dishes have garlic in them. Garlic is my favorite seasoning. Read a book that has something to do with vampires OR one that has "Horror" as a main page genre. If the book features vampires, this should be obvious from the book's main page description or reviews.
Option 2. I love the smell and taste of cinnamon. It's a great savory and sweet spice. Read a book with a mostly brown (over 50%) colored-cover. Ex:
Required: Include the cover when you post.
Option 3. I also love to use rosemary in many of dishes. Read a book written by an author whose name is "Rose," "Mary," or "Rosemary." The name may be found in any position (first, middle, or last) but must be shown as part of the author's name on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.
Optional: When you post, list your favorite seasoning(s).
20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Judy's task: Painting 101
Help Thread
I recently attended a "Paint Your Own Canvas" party. At the party, after we inspired our creative muses with a little wine and appetizers, an art instructor demonstrated and then we each painted our own canvas. I had so much fun at the party, that afterwards I did some reading and bought supplies to try on my own. This task is based on fun facts I learned about 3 different types of painting media.
This is a ONE book task. Read one book from one of the following options.
Option 1 - Watercolors - Watercolor painting became popular when it was used for botanical illustrations and wildlife painting. Read a book with a main page genre of Nature, Animals, or Plants. The genre may be stand-alone or embedded, so things like Environment > Nature and Gardening > Plants are OK.
Option 2- Acrylics - Acrylic paint was initially developed in the 1930s, but was refined in the 1940s to the mid 1960s. Read a book FIRST published between 1940 and 1965 (inclusive.)
Option 3- Oils - The paint used for oil painting is usually mixed with another oil to make the paint thinner and adjust the drying time. Linseed oil is most commonly used. Read a book in which the author's initials can be found in LINSEED. Letters may only be used as many times as they appear (2 E's.) Middle names/initials should be ignored.
20.8 - Nickels & Dimes - Elizabeth B's task: December's Celebrations
Help Thread
December is a month full of celebrations. Beyond Christmas and New Year's Eve, I'm celebrating my birthday and several countries celebrate either their national day or something different.
Based on some other celebrations choose one option and read ONE book:
Required: State which option you used when you post.
Option 1: Boxing Day (December 26th) - is a holiday traditionally celebrated the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers*
For this option, read a book with the word BOX found intact in the title/subtitle, or that has a boxer as a main character (MMA fighters are also acceptable).
Option 2: International Day of People with Disability (December 3rd) - is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992*.
For this option, read a book with the genre "Disability" on the main page. The genre may stand alone or be embedded.
Option 3: Human Rights Day - is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.
Read a book from this list: Essential Non-Fiction Reading Re: Human Rights.
Required: Indicate which page of the list your book can be found on when you post.
*Source:
20.9 - Moderator's Pet - Laura NT's task: Art and Science
Help Thread
Art and science have many similarities. They both require creativity, devotion, and a stubbornness to stick with things through hard times. I am a scientist working in a lab that studies cellular motor proteins and their roles in breast cancer. Most days I get by on sheer stubbornness.
For this task, read ONE book that fulfills one of the below options.
Required: State which option you chose when you post.
Option A: Read a non-fiction book with the Main Page Genres of: Science>Biology, Science>Natural History, Science>Evolution, Science>Chemistry, Science>Environment, or Science>Genetics.
Option B: In the lab, you have to juggle many things at once. Read a short story collection. This does not include omnibus editions that package several previously published books into one book, but must be obvious that it is a short story collection from the description.
Option C: In science you are regularly learning new techniques and learning new subjects. Read a book that is #1 in a series. This must be a series you have not read before. It must be obvious this is the first in the series from the book’s Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ page.
Required: State that you have not read any book in the series before.
Optional: Hard work is expected in many careers, art and science not excepting. And you rarely get praised for the hard work you do. Write and send a fan letter to your favorite author (or one of your favorite authors) praising them for their hard work and beautifully written books. You may send the letter by snail mail, email, Facebook message, Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ message, etc. Tell us which author you sent the letter to when you post.
20.10 - Group Reads
Read ONE of the books selected as the Group Reads choices for the season:
19th Century True Crime -- The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
Discussion Thread
Sci-Fi > Aliens -- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Discussion Thread
An Old-Fashioned Christmas -- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Discussion Thread
REQUIRED: You must participate in the book's discussion thread with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.
25 pointers25.1 - Beth_NC's task: Art of Reading
Help Thread
Impressionist Art is very distinct and unique, let’s take those ideas and put them into our reading.
This is a TWO book task. Pick 2 different options and read a book from each.
REQUIRED: State which options you chose when posting.
Option A: Impressionism is centered around normal every day activities. Read a book that shows people participating in activities in an outdoor setting on the cover.
REQUIRED: Include the cover when you post.
Option B: Impressionism includes the play of light. Read a book that shows the sun or the moon on the cover.
REQUIRED: Include the cover when you post.
Option C: Impressionist painters used short strokes and dobs to paint their pictures. Read an anthology or a book of short stories or essays that are built around the same theme. A theme is a central idea or a particular subject. So, something like Must Love Hellhounds because all the stories feature hellhounds. A collection of stories written by the same author or that fit the same genre is not a theme.
REQUIRED: State the theme.
Option D: Impressionism began in France in the 1800’s. For this option, read a book set entirely in France between 1800 and 1899. The majority of the book must be set during the 1800-1899 time period.
Option E: Impressionism derived from the title of a Claude Monet work, Impression, Sunrise. For this task, read a book that has a title (title only, no subtitles) that contains the letters: M-O-N-E-T. The letters can appear in any order and they can appear more than once within the title.
25.2 - Brooke TX's task: December: It's that time of the year
Help Thread
This is a two book task. Read two books from two different options below.
REQUIRED: State the options you chose when posting.
This year (like most years) December is an insanely busy month for me. Over the next 31 days, I have:
1. Birthdays: Me, my sister, my mom, and my grandmother all have birthdays within a week of each other (with Christmas smack dab in the middle). In celebration of all those birthday gifts (and parties, and cakes, and SO MANY candles) read a book published the year you were born OR written by an author born the same year you were (for this option, this list may be helpful: ).
REQUIRED: Include your birth year, which option you chose, and a reference to the author's birth year if it does not appear the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ profile.
2. Christmas: Like a true bibliophile, last year I gave everyone on my list at least one book for Christmas. For this option, read a book you received as a gift.
REQUIRED: Include who gave you the book in your post.
3. Holiday Vacation: This year, I'm using my holiday time off to visit some old college friends in the city where we went to school: Chicago. In honor of the Second City, read a book with a cityscape or city skyline on the cover. Ex:
REQUIRED: Include cover when posting.
4. New Year's Eve: Finally, it all comes to an end on New Year's Eve. Celebrate the ending of another year by reading the final (or most recently published) book in a series of at least 3 books. The book must be identified on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as part of a series.
REQUIRED: Include a link to the series Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ page in your post. (For example: Cormoran Strike Series)
25.3 - Sirena's task: Hey Baby, It's Cold Outside...So Pick a Side!
Help Thread
The Cold War, for me, is the most interesting and compelling time period in 20th century history. So much was accomplished; so much was at stake; and so much continues to be exposed about the era (1947-1991) and the players.
Since where you are born is up to chance, to establish your alliance. Heads = USA; Tails = USSR
Pick 2 different options and follow the rules for your alliance.
Required: Indicate the results of your coin flip and which options you chose when you post.
Option 1: Key Leaders The men who ran the Cold War led storied lives. Read a biography, autobiography, or memoir about one of the men who lead your alliance. Genres may be stand alone or embedded.
USA: Harry S. Truman; Dwight D. Eisenhower; John F. Kennedy; Lyndon B. Johnson; Richard Nixon; Gerald Ford; Jimmy Carter; Ronald Reagan; or George H.W. Bush
USSR: Joseph Stalin; Georgy Malenkov; Nikita Kruschev; Leonid Brezhnev; Yuri Andropov; Konstinin Chernenko; Mikhail Gorbachev
Option 2: Space Race I love the Space Race. It exemplifies how competition can spur man to the greatest heights, and how, sometimes, having an arch-rival can motivate us to do better, be better, and...deceive better. Read a non-fiction book about a topic listed under your alliance. Topic should be obvious in the GR summary.
USA: NASA; Astronauts; Space Race; Apollo program; Space Exploration; Aviation; Physics
USSR: Russian Aviation and Space Agency; Cosmonauts; Space Race; Yuri Gagarin; Space Colonization; Rocketry; Astronomy
**Because "Space Race" books will cover both USA and USSR, books identified as such can work for either alliance. Science topics (space exploration, rocketry, etc.) are general and do not need to be alliance specific.**
Option 3: Espionage Everyone knows...NOW...how espionage played a crucial role during the Cold War. From the Rosenbergs to Kim Philby, James Bond to George Smiley to Jason Bourne, spies fascinate us. Read a fiction or non-fiction book with the main page genre "Espionage", with additional specifications based on your alliance. Genre may be stand-alone or embedded.
USA: The book must be set at least 50% in the USSR or Eastern Bloc (USSR and Eastern Bloc countries that work for this task: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Latvia, Estonia, East Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland).
USSR: The book must be set at least 50% in the USA. (This includes the United States, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands).
Option 4: Peace The end of the Cold War was a defining moment in 20th century history, and one that I distinctly remember from the news coverage, and the change in mission that my parents experienced in the military. This peace was accomplished by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, and, according to himself, David Hasselhoff. Read a fiction book that contains a word of 3 or more letters (excluding "the") from the quote attributed to the leader of your alliance OR David Hasselhoff in the title or subtitle. Words must match exactly.
USA: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
USSR: "If not me, who? And if not now, when?"
HASSELHOFF: "I find it a bit sad that there is no photo of me hanging on the walls in the Berlin Museum at Check-Point Charlie."
25.4 - Delicious Dee's task: Christmas Movie Bonanza
Help Thread
It can’t be a coincidence that the start of the Winter challenge is also the start of ABC Family’s 25 days of Christmas movies...(right?)
For this task you will read 2 books, both books must be by single authors (no anthologies etc) and both authors must be new to you.
**Note: Books with the genre childrens or kids may not be used for this task.**
1. Click the to draw 2 numbers from 1 to 25.
2. Click on the and find the days of the 25 Days that correspond to the 2 random numbers that you drew.
3. Read a book where one word in the title of the book, corresponds with a one word in a movie title/subtitle on your chosen day. The word chosen must be AT LEAST 4 letters. Words in the movie and the title, MUST match exactly. The word MUST be found in the book's title, book subtitles may not be used.
For example, one of my random numbers is 2, which corresponds to 2 December and I picked the movie The Christmas Shoes and chose to read The Christmas Shoes (which actually works for both 4+ letter words in the title).
Several of the movies are shown on more than 1 day. If you end up with 2 days where the same movie is shown twice, you MUST select 2 different movies. Some of the movies have the same words in their titles. Your book titles MUST contain 2 different words.
Required: In your post, state the 2 numbers/days you drew, the movie titles chosen and that both authors are new to you.
25.5 - Amanda A's task: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Help Thread
Please chose TWO different options and read a book for each.
Required: State which options you chose when you post.
A. I always enjoy listening to Christmas carols during the Christmas season. Read a book with a word of at least four letters from the song title of your favorite Christmas carol or song in the title or subtitle. Variations that preserve the meaning of the word, including plurals, possessives, and singulars, will work.
Required: Include the song title of your favorite Christmas carol in your post.
B. My family enjoys riding around to look at the many Christmas light displays in our area. Read a book with a Christmas decoration on the cover (Christmas tree, lights, ornament, wreath etc.) or a book by an author whose initials can be found in CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. Middle initials may be used or ignored.
Required: Include the cover showing the Christmas decoration.
C. Christmas gatherings usually involve a lot of good food and drinks. Read a book with food or drink on the cover.
Required: Include the cover in your post.
D. Merry Christmas! Read a book of your choice.
25.6 - Andy P.'s task: Winter in TucsonHelp Thread
This winter we will be spending the winter in Tucson instead of shoveling snow in Michigan. In celebration of this good fortune I am highlighting some of the available activities in this part of Arizona.
This is a two book task. Select two different options and read a book for each.
Required: State which options you chose when you post.
**Note: Books with the genre childrens or kids may not be used for this task.**
Option 1. December brings the Luminaria at the Tucson Botanical Garden. This is much more enjoyable than similar events in northern climes because it doesn't require parkas, hat, gloves etc. For this option read a book in which the initial letter of each word in the title can be found in the word LUMINARIA. The title must be at least two words long.
Option 2. In January Tucson plays host to a rodeo for which native Tucsonians are justifiably proud. For this option, read a book that has the genre "Western" listed on its main page. The genre may stand alone or be embedded.
Option 3. In February the Gem Show comes to town. For this option read a book that has a gemstone in its title/subtitle. For the purposes of this task, we will use this list of . If the gemstone has a two-word name on the list, both names must appear in the title/subtitle.
Option 4. Also in February the Assistance League of Tucson, a philanthropic organization, holds its major fundraiser called What'z It Worth. Similar to the TV favorite Antiques Road Show, by purchasing a ticket one may bring a family heirloom or artwork (here is my art connection) and have it appraised by an expert in the field. All profits from this event go to buying clothes and school supplies for local elementary school children who, in many cases, have never had clothes which have not been handed down from an older sibling or purchased in a resale store.
For this option, read a book whose author's initials can be found in WHAT'Z IT WORTH. If an author uses a middle name or initial(s) all three (or more) letters must be included.
25.7 - Coralie's task: Summer at the Stadium
Help Thread
We live next door to a football stadium (Australian football that is) and during winter it is busy every weekend with AFL games. But during spring and summer it is used for all sorts of things. So far this spring we have had speedway and UFC. This task is about the summer activities.
This is a two book task. Choose two different options and read one book for each.
Required: State which options you chose when you post.
Option 1. Early in December there will be two AC/DC concerts.
Read a book with a main page genre GLBT.
Option 2. After Christmas there are four Big Bash cricket games.
Read a book with the the name of an insect in the title/subtitle. The generic word "Insect" or "Insects" will also work. eg Lord of the Flies, The Secret Life of Bees, The Mosquito Coast
Not sure if your bug is an insect? Here's a definition:
Option 3. After the cricket there are a couple of A-League soccer games.
Read a book with the first word of the title 'A'. eg A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Spool of Blue Thread, A Little Life
Option 4. Over three days in February there are five displays of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Read a book with someone with a tattoo on the cover. eg
Required: Include the cover when you post.
25.8 Nick KY’s task: My Favorite Impressionism
Help Thread
My Favorite Impressionism is the music, and my favorite music is Impressionism: Debussy, Ravel, Erik Satie, Charles Griffes � my fav’s. So choose two books which fit two of the following options based on these Impressionistic composers.
REQUIRED: State which options you chose when you post.
Option A. Debussy. Many of Debussy’s compositions revolve around water, from the large orchestral piece La Mer to his most famous piano prelude “The Sunken Cathedral.� Read a book with one of these words in the title/subtitle: “Sea� “Water� or “Sunken.� The word may be embedded in another as long as it retains the original meaning: “Seaview� or “Waterlogged� would work, but not “Seal� or “Search.�
Option B. Ravel. Ravel brought a Spanish influence into much of his music, especially some of his more popular such as Bolero, Tzigane, or Rhapsodie Espagnol. Read a book originally written in Spanish. You may read it in the original Spanish or you can read a translation.
Option C. Satie. Some of Satie’s most popular pieces are his short piano pieces, Gymnopedies, which are inspired by impressionistic paintings of gymnasts. Read a book with either the GR genre “Music� or the GR genre “Sports� on the main page.
Option D. Griffes. The American Charles Griffes wrote orchestral and piano pieces with the thick sonorities and exotic modal qualities which hallmark Imressionistic music, pieces such as The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan. To celebrate him and the other composers here, read a book by a single author whose first or last name begins with “Deb-� “Rav-� “Sat-� or “Gri-.�
Optional: Listen to some Impressionistic music before, during, or after your read. Here are some examples:
25.9 - Dakimel’s task: Diversify Your Reading
Help Thread
I'm excited by the momentum in recent years towards diversification in publishing. My GR 'read' shelf consists primarily of female authors, and I've made it a priority to seek out male authors with diverse ethnic backgrounds. But to step up my reading diversity, and to spread the fun of diverse reading, I'm zeroing in on diverse female authors for this task.
Read two books, each by a female author with a diverse ethnic background and/or culture. Both books can be by the same author, but at least one must be a new-to-you author.
For the purposes of this task diverse ethnic backgrounds and/or cultures means:
** Asian-Indian - authors whose origins are from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Sri Lanka
** Asian-Pacific - authors whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Taiwan, North or South Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
** African - authors who have origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
** Hispanic/Latin - authors who have origins of Hispanic/Latin heritage, defined as the the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Basin
** Middle-Eastern/North African - authors who have origins in Turkey, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, or the Maghreb
** Native/Indigenous People - authors who have origins in the cultures of the North American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, Native Hawaiian or Oceanic Aboriginal peoples.
Some of my personal favorites: Sonali Dev, Hanya Yanagihara, Toni Morrison, Ruth Ozeki, Beverly Jenkins, and Louise Erdrich.
And here are some lists to browse for more ideas, but remember to verify all SRC requirements, as well as task requirements, before claiming a book: Romance by Women of Color, Fantasy by Women of Color, Contemporary Black Women's Literature, Fantasy Novels by Women of Color, Mystery and Detective Novels by Women of Color
Books with the genre Sequential Art (Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga) are allowed for this task as long as they fit all other SRC requirements.
Required: Link to the author as well as to the books you are claiming. If the author’s Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ data doesn’t indicate that she is a female with a diverse ethnic background, provide an outside verification link.
Required: State which author is new to you.
Not required but fun: if you enjoyed your reading, signal-boost the author somehow (review the book here and/or elsewhere, mention the author on social media, tell your book club.)
25.10 - Sandy's Task - Bella Italia!Help Thread
During the fall, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend almost a month in Italy, so Italy is the theme of this task.
Choose two different options from the following choices, and read one book for each.
**No books with the main page genre children or kids may be used.**
**The pages in your two books combined must total at least 500.**
REQUIRED: Specify in your post which options you used.
Option 1 - Florence. We spent most of the month in Florence, and it's "all Renaissance, all the time" there!
For this option, read a book set in Europe during the Renaissance. For purposes of this task, we will use the years 1350 to 1550. Even if the exact years are not clear from the GR description, a reference in the description to "Renaissance" will work.
Option 2 - Rome. During the days we spent in Rome, we heard many, many buskers playing music in the public gathering spaces. Almost all of them were playing older American pop or rock songs, and virtually every performer we heard played Hotel California!
For this option, read a book the title (title only, no subtitles) of which contains a word of at least 5 letters that is found in the lyrics of Hotel California. . The lyrics to the song can also be found in post 15 of the task's help thread.
Words must match EXACTLY - no variations, including plural, singular, or possessive forms.
REQUIRED: Include in your post the word used and where it appears in the song lyrics.
Option 3 - Venice. Odd as it may sound, one of my favorite things in Venice was riding the vaporetti (water buses) - what a novelty to be riding buses that were actually boats! Not to mention being on a public bus that had a sign explaining the horn signals for things like "abandon ship" and "man overboard"!
For this option, read a book whose author's initials are found in the word "VAPORETTI." All of the author's initials must be used, including a middle initial or middle name if the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ name includes one, and only the letter "t" can be used more than once. If a book has more than one author, the initials of any of the authors may be used.
Option 4 - Pisa. We were surprised, walking up the main street to the Leaning Tower, that the tower didn't really seem to lean at all! Once we walked around and looked at it from the side, however, the tilt was quite obvious.
For this option, read a book with a cover picture of one of the famous Italian monuments from this list.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post, and identify the monument.
Option 5 - Siena. One of the most fascinating things about Siena is that it is divided into 17 contrades (neighborhoods), each with its own colors, mascot, motto etc., and each with its own neighborhood church and museum. Twice each year, the Palio race takes place in which the contrades compete against each other. To read about them, see
For this option, read a book with 17 letters in the book title or in the author's name or in the two combined. Subtitles may be used or ignored. Only books with single authors may be used if you are using the author name as part of the 17 letters.
25.11 - Robin �'s task: My Favorite Things
Help Thread
One of my all time favorite movies is celebrating 50 years this year. Yep you guessed it....The Sound of Music. Every year during the winter is when it seems to be aired on public tv. So in honor of the 50th anniversary, I am going to share with you a few of "My Favorite Things".
This is a 2 book Fiction task.
Book 1: Choose Option A OR B
Book 2: Choose Option C OR D
REQUIRED: State which options you choose in your post.
Books with the genre Sequential Art (Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga) are acceptable for this task so long as they comply with standard SRC challenge rules.
Book One: Choose Option A OR Option B
Option A: There is an Amish Community close to my home. I love taking day trips to this community to buy produce, baked goods and other hand/homemade items. After my first visit there,I became very fascinated with their way of life. Since then, I have read a lot of fiction/non-fiction books based on the Amish.
*** Read a book from the Best Amish Fiction List
Required: State which page of the list your book can be found on when you post.
Option B: Since becoming a member of GR I have grown fond of many new-to-me genres. GLBT (LGBT) has become a new favorite in which many are also YA (an old favorite). It's really nice to find books that include both genres.
***Read a book from My GLBT shelf
Note: Make sure the chosen book complies with the SRC rules.
Book 2: Choose Option C OR Option D
Option C: My favorite number is 11. One of my closest,dearest friends is here on GR. Her birthday is 6/11, mine is 8/11,we became friends in 2011 and what a coincidence my task number is 25.11. One of our favorite challenges is buddy reading the books that were GRA Choice Award Winners or Nominees. A lot of the books from 2011 are on my TBR.
***Read a book from GR Choice Awards 2011 that was either a winner or a nominee. Remember your book must be fiction so some of the books/categories CAN NOT be used.
Required: State which category your book was chosen from when you post.
Option D: I am a cover lover! A favorite past time is to chat with Elishia and look for new books. During the winter, we buddy read a lot of Christmas books which usually have pretty covers.
***Read a book with something pertaining to Christmas on the cover e.g. wrapped presents, Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, Christmas cards. It must be something more than just winter clothing, hot drinks, or food. Ex:
Required: Include the cover when posting. If the item is not obvious/easily seen please point it out in your post.
25.12 - Pamela3265's task: Celebrating the National Park System
Help Thread
The National Park Service is celebrating their 100th year in 2016. My friend Amy and I both love visiting the sites managed by the NPS and plan to visit at least one park each month during 2016 in celebration. Currently, there are 409 units in the National Park System. This task is designed some of my favorite sites that I have visited in the past.
This is a TWO book task. Choose two different options below and read a book for each option.
Required: State which options you chose when you post.
Option 1: Yellowstone National Park � This park is only 90 minutes from my home, so it is the park I visit most frequently. This park covers three states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
For this option read a book set in Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming. More than 50% of the book must take place in that state.
Option 2: USS Arizona Memorial � This site is at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii and marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on USS Arizona during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and commemorates the events of that day.
For this option read a book set between 1941 � 1945, the years the U.S. was involved in World War II.
Option 3: Glacier Bay National Park � I was able to see this park while on a cruise to Alaska. We were fortunate to be there while one of the glacier was breaking off great chunks into the sea, a process called glacier calving.
For this option, read a book whose author’s initials appear in GLACIER CALVING. Letter may only be used as many times as they appear in the phrase. Middle initials may be ignored.
Option 4: Mount Rushmore � My grandmother took all of her grandchildren (11 at that time), her three daughters, and 1 son-in-law on vacation in 1982 to South Dakota. One of our most memorable activities for me was visiting Mount Rushmore.
For this option read a book whose author’s first or last name is George, Washington, Thomas, Jefferson Abraham, Lincoln, Theodore, or Roosevelt.
Option 5: Minute Man National Historic Park � This site commemorates the opening battle in the American Revolutionary War.
For this option read a book with the main page genre of "American History." The genre may be stand alone or embedded.
Option 6: The Statue of Liberty National Monument � I have only been able to visit this site briefly. Someday I hope to spend a full day exploring Ellis Island and Liberty Island.
For this option read a book from the Immigrant Experience Literature list.
Required: State which page of the list your book can be found on when you post.
25.13 - M1nks's task: Art Can Set You FreeHelp Thread
The Impressionists era is my personal favourite and I have many examples around my flat ranging from prints to fridge magnets, but let us not forget the other arts. However we choose to express ourselves, art can be a way to show a little of our inner natures and, whether it be through writing, singing or the icing of a child's birthday cake, here's to the inner artist which lies in us all.
This is a TWO book task. However, due to your wild bohemian nature you can choose to repeat an option if you wish.
Required: State which option(s) you chose when you post.
Option 1. Sculptures can make the most beautiful artwork. For this task select a book which has some statuary on the cover. I will also accept things like gargoyles, face busts, ornately carved fountains and the like, so long as the carving is clear. However I won't accept such commercial rubbish as shop manikins, decorated lamps or little home decorations - those are not grand enough to be worthy of a true artiste!
Required: Post the cover/s when you post.
Option 2. Poets consider their work the highest peak of artistic achievement. Read a book (or books if you need to combine for page length) of poetry.
Option 3. Artistic expression can be found in many humble occupations, you can unlock your creative side through sewing, cooking, acting, dance, music, gardening, landscaping, even carpentry and metalwork. For this task read a book, fiction or non fiction, which you think celebrates any form of human artistry.
Required: State what activity your book celebrates when you post.
Option 4. Impressionist Art is about freeing yourself from the tentacles of a conventional world trying to hold you back. Read a book, either fiction or non fiction, which expresses the struggle for the freedom of the individual from an oppressive society.
Required: Explain how your book fits when you post.
As this is a celebration of all of the various artistic mediums, books with the genre Sequential Art (Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga) are acceptable for this task so long as they comply with standard SRC challenge rules.
25.14 - JennRenee's task: Winter Wonderland
Help Thread
Winter is my favorite season of the year. I love the smells, the coolness, the holidays, the sweaters, the boots. I always feel cozy in my house spending time with my family and, of course, the holidays.
You may read one book or two books but the total pages read must be a minimum of 800 pages. If you are using more than one book, you may use the same requirements for both books or you may choose different ones.
Required: State which options you chose when you post.
1. Winter just smells good. Apple pie, fires in the fireplace, and the cool crisp smell of the outdoors. For this option, read a book that has one of these things pictured on the cover: apple, pie, fireplace or campfire, or an outside winter scene. To be considered a winter scene, one of the following things should be shown: snow, ice, or bare trees. Ex:
2. I feel cozy, snuggled inside with my blanket and hot cocoa. Read a book with "Cozy Mystery" as a main genre. This genre may stand alone or be embedded.
3. I love the look and feel of sweaters, jeans, and boots. My favorite winter dress. Read a book where the author's initials can be found in any of these three words: SWEATER, JEANS, BOOTS. Initials may be found in more than one of the words, but letters can only be used as many times as they appear. Middle initials may be ignored. If more than one author, only one author's initials must fit.
4. The cold winter chill just feels good after a hot Texas summer and fall. Read a book with the word WINTER, CHILL, or COLD in the title/subtitle. Plurals and possessives will work, but no other variations.
5. Holiday cheer keeps me young at heart. Read a book off of the Winter Break for YA list.
Required: Identify which page of the list your book can be found on when you post.
6. Holiday fun. Since my favorite holidays happen in the winter -- 12/24, 12/25, 12/31, and 01/01,
read a book with a page count, as listed on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, that contains at least 2 of the following numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Numbers may appear more than once. Ex: 245, 373, 500, 525, 944
NOTE: ebooks without print versions cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. If you read an ebook or listen to an audiobook, use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.
Books with the genre Sequential Art (Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga) are allowed for this task as long as they fit all other SRC requirements.
25.15 - Jamie NY's task: Winter Challenge Goals!Help Thread
At the start of each Seasonal Reading Challenge I make a big list of the books that I want to read. For this year's Winter Challenge my list includes a lot of books from series that I've started but not finished. My other goal is to read some of the books that were nominated or won the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ' Best Books of 2015. Hopefully there are others in this Challenge who have similar goals because I designed my task around them!
This is a TWO book task. Read one book 1 and one book 2.
First roll . If you roll doubles, keep rolling until you get two different numbers.
Use the numbers you roll to do the following.
Book 1: Read a book in a series. The position in the series is determined by your dice roll. So if you rolled a 2 and a 4, you may read either #2 or #4 in any series. It must be identified on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as that # in the series.
Book 2: Using whichever number you did not use for book 1, read a Goodread's Best Book of 2015 nominee or winner as determined by the numbers below. If, for example, in the situation above, you chose to read book #2 in a series, you would read a Goodread's Award nominee or winner that corresponds with #4, or Romance.
1. Non Fiction
2. Memoir & Autobiography
3. History & Biography
4. Romance
5. Fiction
6. Mystery/Thriller
Required: State the numbers you rolled when you post.
25.16 - Morgan (faeriesfolly)'s task: Don't say I never got you anything!
Help Thread
The amount of books that I have on hand from the library, The Book Thing -- a free book swap in Baltimore, Netgalley, and all sorts of other places is currently OVERWHELMING. So right now one of my major criteria for what to read next is: IS THIS BOOK CURRENTLY IN ONE OF THE STACKS ON MY BEDROOM FLOOR?
Next week I will also be moving to the night shift at the nuclear pharmacy (we make diagnostics used by doctors in nuclear medicine and cardiology offices), so my schedule and migraines will be all topsy-turvy for awhile.
In the interest of decluttering (both house and brain) and adjusting to my new nocturnal schedule, I'm not going to focus on finishing the Winter season of SRC. But I want to assist others who might have the same precarious piles of their own sitting around!
For this task you will read TWO books, ONE book from each category.
BOTH authors should be NEW TO YOU. Because this whole night thing is going to be new to me!
::BOOK ONE::
Read a a book that you got for free (library, netgalley, borrowed from a friend, received as a gift, $0 on Kindle/Nook/etc.) where the AUTHOR is new to you.
::BOOK TWO::
Read a second book that you got for free, but in a DIFFERENT way than book one. Remember the author still has to be new to you.
REQUIRED: When claiming STATE how you came by the books and that the authors are new to you.
Example post:
Morgan Faeriesfolly
Both authors are new to me!
Book One -- The Book Thing -- **book link** -- **author link**
Book Two -- Netgalley -- **book link** -- **author link**
25.17 - Tara Jo's task: Real Life Gets in the Way
Help Thread
The Fall 2015 Season was the first time I thought it would actually be possible for me to complete the SRC Challenge…the tasks were all enjoyable, I found books at the beginning of the challenge to read for nearly every task (and stuck to it pretty well)…I was on target the first 7 weeks to finish�.and then BAM…the last week of October/first week of November hit me hard. Within 10 days/2 weeks I had some bad news on a lot of fronts. In the end, most everything turned out okay, with a little icing on the cake (plus I managed to squeak out finishing the challenges in the last hours of eligibility!)
This is a TWO BOOK CHALLENGE; pick two books, from two different categories.
Required: State which options you chose when you post.
Option 1: The first bad news that hit was my best friend from high school was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 44…just before Thanksgiving she had a lumpectomy done and will start radiation and chemotherapy in the upcoming weeks. I’m looking forward to getting to see in her in a few weeks when I visit my family for Christmas.
To honor my dear friend:
*Read a book about cancer or one where the main character is battling or has battled cancer (any kind); this must be obvious from the book’s description/metadata OR
*where the MC’s or Author’s name is Sonya. (No other variations in spelling).
Option 2: Later that week, in taking my 13 year old dog to the vet as she’s been losing a lot of weight, some blood work indicated an infection and the doctor indicated possible tumors. We did various ultrasounds and more blood work, not finding any tumors, so we still don’t know the root cause. As she’s older and has already had some pretty major issues over the years, our main goal now is to keep her happy and comfortable, and just ensuring a good end of life (however much longer we may have with her).
To honor my love of my dog:
*Read a book with a word in the title found in the list of dog breeds on this list: . If the dog has multiple words in its name, you may use one word. Plurals and possessives will work, but no other variations. Required: Specify the breed used when you post.
Option 3:
The following week, my husband had a follow-up doctor appointment…over the years he’s had quite a few medical issues, but the last few years have gotten a bit more difficult with various complications. Most recently, his kidney functions have weakened and his nephrologist is starting to talk kidney dialysis or transplant.
To honor my husband:
*Read a book where the Author’s Initials can be found in any order and in any combination of the words KIDNEY, DIALYSIS, TRANSPLANT. If the author uses a middle name or initial(s), all initials should be found within the words.
Option 4:
After these few weeks of bad news, I was finally able to have a nice night out. I’ve wanted to see the country singer Garth Brooks for years and I was finally able to see him in concert (along with his wife Trisha Yearwood, both of whom are from Oklahoma.) If you have never seen him, I would highly recommend it…he puts on an amazing show!
To honor my love of country music:
*read a book where the Main Character is a musician OR
*a book that takes place in Oklahoma
Required: If the connection is not obvious, explain how your book fits the task when you post.
30 pointers30.1 � Schatzie’s Task: Tis the season for giving back
Help Thread
Giving is one of best things about the holiday season.
This is a two book task. Pick two different options and read a book for each.
Required: State the options you chose when posting and supply any additional requirements asked for in the individual options.
Option 1: Read a book about animal rescue. The book can be about one animal being rescued or a group of animals. The rescue must be clear from the description of the book on GR. Here is a list of possibilities: Popular Animal Rescue Books.
Option 2: Read a book with a word in the title that means “give.� This word must be a verb and used as a verb in the title (give, gives, giving, gave). Subtitles will not count. Some synonym possibilities are bequeath, donate, bestow, grant, share, etc. The word must be found in the title of the book, not in a subtitle. Required: Identify your word when posting.
Option 3: Read a book with an author whose initials can be found in the word HEART. Middle initials may be ignored.
Option 4: My gift to you....read a book of your choice.
30.2 - Jonquil's task: You think you saw what?
Help Thread
I’ve always chosen to live in cities that have four distinct seasons, but around January 20th I start to yearn for spring. To distract myself, I make up games. One involves creating stories or captions that match the gestures and expressions of students I see interacting outside my college campus office window. I’m not sure if you’ll need entertainment to get through the cold/hot/rainy months where you live, but here is our premise.
The Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ items below have an Impressionist masterpiece on the cover; these listings seemed a simple and honorable way to post the images. Caution: The items pictured may not meet SRC guidelines since they were chosen as images, not books. The Task Help thread will list the ISBNs if you need help linking to the relevant cover when you post.
This is a 2 book task.
Examine the masterpieces pictured below. If you were tasked with naming, or captioning, one of these masterpieces, what would you call it? What possible titles or captions come to mind? Locate and read a book with the title you imagined.
Examples: If the first image reminds you of laundry day, you might chose to read It All Comes Out in the Wash: A Squeaky Clean Memoir. Masterpiece two may lead to Before I Go to Sleep. The third image may prompt Ten Cents a Dance or Dizzy Dilemmas.
Inspiration:
You may select two of these images OR use just one of these images for two different books. Please post the 1-2 images that were the inspiration for your two books and your creative title or caption.
Your books may be fiction or nonfiction. Subtitles should be ignored. Your books do NOT have to have anything to do with art or impressionists or the actual title of the artwork. The title of your book (not the book's cover or content) should relate to the masterpiece.
Required: Post the inspiration images (not the covers of the books you read) and explain the connection to the titles you chose.
30.3 - Dlmrose's task: Celebrate Short Fiction
Help Thread
December 21 is Celebrate Short Fiction Day. It is held on the day of the year with the shortest amount of daylight and the longest night.
Make use of the long winter night by reading 2 books, one Book 1 and one Book 2.
Both books must be FICTION and each must be written by an author who uses a short first or last name of no more than 3 letters. Authors using a first initial (Ex: O. Henry) will work. Books with multiple contributors must have at least one contributor who uses a short first or last name.
Book 1: Read an anthology or collection of at least 3 short stories or novellas. A collection of short stories and essays would work as long as more pieces are fiction. It should be clear from the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ main page that the book is a collection or anthology: genre, title, description, etc.
Book 2: Read a book with at least 100, but no more than 200, pages.
30.4 - Ava Catherine's task: Plein Air
Help Thread
This is a two book task. Read one book from two different options.
**No books with the main page genre childrens or kids may be used for this task.**
Required: State the options you chose when you post.
Option 1 - The impressionists differentiated themselves from previous generations of French artists by working en plein air (in the open air). To appreciate the impressionists love of nature, read a book with an outdoor setting. At least fifty percent of the book must occur outdoors.
Required: When posting, state how your book qualifies for an outdoor setting.
Option 2 - Realistic portrayal of light was a major element of Impressionist art. Share the impressionists� enthusiasm of light by reading a book with the word “light� embedded intact in the title/subtitle.
Option 3 - Absinthe became popular as an alcoholic drink in late 19th and early 20th century, especially among Parisian artists and writers. Absinthe traditionally has a natural green color (peridot green) and is commonly referred to in historical literature as “la fee verte� (the green fairy).
To celebrate the popularity of absinthe among the Parisian artists, read a book with a green cover. At least 80% of the cover must be green. Required: Include the cover when you post.
Examples that will work:
Examples that will NOT work:
- too blue and white instead of green
- this is teal, too blue to count30.5 - Daphne's task: Exploring the world of -ogy
Help Thread
I've always been fascinated by the world around me. There is little I don't find interesting when it comes to history and science. For me, I read sometimes for escape and sometimes for a better understanding of myself and place in the world. My problem in school though was that I could never settle on just one subject.
This is a 2 book, non-fiction challenge. Choose 2 different options from the choices below.
No books with the main page genre childrens or kids may be used for this task.
1. Ecology - This branch of science studies the environment and the animals that live in it. For this option, read a non-fiction book that has been shelved at least 3 times as ecology from this list: Popular Ecology Books.
Required: State which page your book can be found on when you post.
2. Geology - The study of the earth and its history. For this option, read a non-fiction book that has been shelved at least 3 times as geology from this list: Popular Geology Books
Required: State which page your book can be found on when you post.
3. Biology - is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. For this option, read a non-fiction book with the main page genre of "Biology." Biology can be embedded or stand alone.
4. Neurology - The study of the mind and how it works. For this option, read a non-fiction book that has been shelved at least 3 times as neurology from this list: Popular Neurology Books.
Required: State which page your book can be found on when you post.
5. Zoology - The study of animals. For this option, read a non-fiction book that has been shelved at least 3 times as zoology from this list: Popular Zoology Books.
Required: State which page your book can be found on when you post.
30.6 - Donna Jo's task: Winter in Iowa circa 1950sHelp Thread
I grew up in a medium-sized town in central Iowa in the late 40s and 50s and experienced winter up close and personal. It always seemed to last forever, but was always much more inconvenient for the grown-ups than for kids, I'm sure. Based on recollections of those snow-drifted days, I've devised this task.
Chose 2 books, using 2 different options. The two books combined should have a total of at least 500 pages.
NOTE: ebooks without a print edition cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. If you read an ebook, listen to an audiobook or read a Large Print edition use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.
REQUIRED: State options chosen and total number of pages in the two books.
1. It always seemed like once Thanksgiving was out of the way the temperature never got above freezing. This may be a slight misconception on my part, but how could I be wrong.
� Read a book with one of the following words in the title (title only, no subtitles): Cold, Snow, Ice, Freeze, or Frozen. Plurals and the endings -er, -est, or -ing will work. No other variations are allowed.
2. The cold weather made going outside such a chore. First dragging on the snowpants and stuffing the skirt inside, pulling the rubber boots on over the shoes and zipping them up (a couple years I got lucky and got red boots instead of boring brown ones), then the heavy wool coat, the wool headscarf, the knitted mittens (with the cord through the coat sleeve so they didn't get lost), and last the scarf wrapped around the nose and mouth two or three times and knotted.)
� Read a book written by an author whose first and last name have initials in the phrase "DRESSING WARMLY". Letters may be in any order, but may only be used as many times as they appear in the phrase (i.e., the only letters that can be used more than once are R and S). Multiple authors are fine as long as at least one author has initials found in the phrase.
3. We didn't own a tv until I was in 7th grade, but we were encouraged to read a lot and we played with the neighbor kids. My mother always sent us outside to play whenever possible (As she put it, "To get the stink blown off.") So we played Fox and Geese, had snow ball fights, built snowmen, went sledding, even on a couple memorable occasions borrowed ice skates and skis for our pitiful hills. (Have you ever tried "skiing" downhill on ice skates? Mmmm, big thrill.)
� Read a book that shows an obviously outdoor winter activity on the cover.
4. Both sets of my grandparents lived within 10 miles of us and I had lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins, about half of whom lived close. We almost always had far away relatives staying over for Christmas, sharing our bedrooms with cousins our age, waking up early to check the stockings.
� Read a book with the main page genre "Christmas," "Family," "Relatives," or "Cousins."The word may stand alone or be embedded.
30.7 - Catherine T's task: A New Start in Art
Help Thread
I am starting a new job at the beginning of December (woo hoo!) at the National Gallery, London.
This is a TWO book task. Choose from 2 different options below.
Because this is a new start, both books must be new to you, not rereads. And because it's a job, one must be non-fiction.
Required: State that both books are new to you and which options you chose when you post.
1. Great Art: The Gallery has a fantastic collection of paintings, and has a snapshot of 30 of their most famous:
Read a book whose author shares initials (middle initials may be ignored) with one of the painters who was working in the period after 1800. These painters are:
Paul Cezanne
Georges Seurat
Claude Monet
Jean-Auguste-Dominque Ingres
Vincent van Gogh (ignoring the middle v)
Joesph Turner
John Constable
2. Great Building: The Gallery is big. Not huge, but big enough. It has a total floor area of 46,396 metres squared - equivalent to around six football (soccer) pitches. It would be big enough to hold over 2,000 London double-decker buses.
Read a book where the page numbers can be found in any combination of those figures (46,396; 6; 2,000) Ex: 263 pages, 300 pages, 436 pages, etc.
NOTE: ebooks without a print edition cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. If you read an ebook, listen to an audiobook or read a Large Print edition use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.
3. Great Location: The Gallery is on Trafalgar Square, which plays host to lots of mass celebrations such as the VE Day or New Years Eve.
Read a book in which the first letter of each word in the title can be found in TRAFALGAR SQUARE. Subtitles may be ignored. One word titles are fine.
50.1 - Sheila's task: It's Leap Year, Just 4 fun, let's enjoy that extra reading day!Help Thread
This is a 3 book task. Read 1 book from each option.
**Note: Books with the genre childrens or kids may NOT be used for this task.**
Book A: Read a book that is 4th in a series AND that has a 4 letter word in the SERIES name as noted on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.
example: Free Fall by Robert Crais (Elvis COLE #4)
Book B: Read a book that is FIRST published in one of the last four leap years: 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004
example: Dead Scared by Sharon Bolton (first published 2012)
Book C: Read a book with a 4-word title by an author with a 4 letter name (first, middle or last). Articles like The, A, or An WILL count for words in the title. Subtitles should be ignored. They are not included in the word count.
example: All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Free Fall (other topics)All Dressed in White (other topics)
Dead Scared (other topics)
The Madonna List (other topics)
Jesus Land: A Memoir (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Crais (other topics)Mary Higgins Clark (other topics)
Sharon J. Bolton (other topics)
O. Henry (other topics)
Beverly Jenkins (other topics)
More...
5.1 - Dance at Le moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Help Thread
One of Impressionism’s most celebrated masterpieces, this painting depicts a typical Sunday afternoon at an open-air dancehall and café in 19th Century Paris. Many of the men and women in the painting are wearing hats. Read a book that shows a person wearing hat on the cover. Scarves, shawls, kerchiefs, hoodies, etc. will NOT work. Ex:
Required: Include the cover in your post.
5.2 - The Luncheon on the Grass by Edouard Manet
Help Thread
Manet shocked the French public by exhibiting this painting at the Salon des Refuses in 1863. Depicting a nude woman casually lunching with two fully dressed men, it was an affront to the propriety of the time. Read a book with a nude or partially-nude figure on the cover. Cover figure should have no visible clothing OR have exposed body parts that would normally be covered by a bikini or swim trunks OR exhibit assumed nudity (i.e., covered by a towel, bedding, or other obstructing (non-clothing) object). There must be enough of the body shows to establish nudity or partially-nudity. Ex:
Required: Include the cover in your post.
5.3 - Water Lilies by Claude Monet
Help Thread
Monet’s Water Lilies series is often listed as the most popular of the Impressionist paintings. Read a book found on first 5 pages of Popular Art Books. NOTE: Remember that all books must meet the criteria for use in the SRC, including the criteria that art books contain a substantial written component (essays, criticism, biography of artist, etc.). Books must contain the equivalent of at least 100 full pages of text.
Required: State which page your book can be found on when you post.
5.4 - Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet
Help Thread
Famous for giving a name to the Impressionist movement, this painting has now become a quintessential symbol of Impressionism. However, it was not well liked by the critics. In fact, the term Impressionist was coined in a satirical review of the work written by Louis Leroy. Read a book found on first 5 pages of Popular Satire Books
Required: State which page your book can be found on when you post.
5.5 - The Floor Scrapers by Gustave Caillebotte
Help Thread
One of the first paintings to feature the urban working class. Read a book from the Underclass list. Required: State which page of the list your book can be found on when you post.
5.6 - Paris Street; Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte
Help Thread
Considered one of the greatest pictures of urban life in the 19th century. Read a book with the word CITY or CITIES found intact in the title or subtitle.
5.7 - Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Help Thread
It's a painting of a boating party! Read a book with a word ending in -ING in the title or subtitle. The word must terminate in -ING.
5.8 - A Bar at the Folies-Bergere by Edouard Manet
Help Thread
Even though this is considered one of the 10 most popular paintings of Impressionism, critics say the painting exemplifies Manet's commitment to Realism. Read a book with a word ending in -ISM in the title or subtitle. The word must terminate in -ISM.
5.9 - The Absinthe Drinker by Edgar Degas
Help Thread
Absinthe originated in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland in the late 18th century. It rose to great popularity as an alcoholic drink in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers. Read a book set at least 50% in Switzerland and/or France.
5.10 - Pont Boieldieu in Rouen, Rainy Weather by Camille Pissarro
Help Thread
What better way to spend a rainy day than curled up with a good book? Read a book of your choice. Note: Books with the genre "children" or "kids" NOT found in AR Bookfinder MAY be used for this task. REQUIRED: If using this exemption, state that the book is not found in ARBookFinder.