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I finally finished my first task. This school year is really kicking my butt already. I've been wading my way through 180 summer assignments so pleasure reading has taken a back seat. Anyway...

For 10.10 The Cat's Meow I read
The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lillian Jackson Braun

Total: 10 Points

Knocking off my second task with 30.1, Roseann's current job/dream job task. I used Valerie Block's None of Your Business for my current job (it's about an accounting firm, which is the nearest analogue to my job as a retirement plan administrator) and J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace for my childhood dream job, where one of the characters is a veterinarian at a rural South African animal clinic. The Coetzee is a little bleak, but I really enjoyed it - I'll seek out more of his work in the future.

Current Total: 35 points

30.1: Roseann's Task (My Job/Dream Job)

Cinnamon Above the Clouds on the Pacific Crest Trail by Linda Y. Nowak and Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery

My current job (which I love) is working for a nonprofit group that protects, preserves and promotes the Pacific Crest Trail. I've read a lot of books about people's hikes on the PCT, but this one was unique in that it is geared towards young adults and is actually fiction (though based on the author's daughter's real life hike). It was fun to read a different kind of book about the trail.

As for the Anne book, I used to want to be a teacher, which is what Anne is doing in this installment of the series. Before that I wanted to be a writer. Anne does some writing in this book, although she doesn't get anything published until later in the series.

New total: 35 points

P.S. Cynthia, I think you have me as "Leslie CO" on the leaderboard, when really I'm Leslie CA. :)

Adding 10.7 Heroes/Heroines - Benjamin Franklin Autobiography, Poor Richard Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings by Benjamin Franklin

Total Points: 45/690
Books Read: 12 (+ 7 Berenstain Bears books)
Tasks Completed: 5/45
Tasks in Progress: 8

No new points right now, but I'm just updating in that I've finished parts of tasks, now I just have to read the other books to complete them! I've read Nightfall by L.J. Smith for the student part of task 15.10. I've also finished Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice for part of task 25.2. And finally I finished The Cider House Rules by John Irving as 1/3 of task 25.8. Slowly getting tasks done... :)

I just finished Task 5.7 (I am most thankful for my family). I read This Is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper.

I love reading about dysfunctional families and I love Jonathan Tropper, so this was a win/win. I love his observations, whether they're describing the pain and regret of missed opportunities or exactly what it feels like to be kicked in the balls. I laughed out loud more than once while reading and by the end of the book felt even more grateful for the family that I have. We may all have our flaws, but I think overall we're a pretty normal bunch. I wouldn't trade my husband, kids, mom, brothers, or sister for anything in the world.


Total Points: 40/690
Books Read: 7/60
Tasks Completed: 4/45
Pages Read: 2,216

Finished Task 5.1 : To my daughter in France by Barbara and Stephanie Keating
I thoroughly enjoyed this - we follow the lives of four families between present day and WW2, between Ireland and France. There are a lot of characters, and I sometimes found myself a little confused as to who was who. I recommend this if you enjoy family sagas, big love stories and lots of emotion.
TOTAL POINTS = 10

15.10 Anne of Avonleaby L.M. Montgomery (teacher) and The Mysterious Benedict Societyby Trenton Lee Stewart (Student)

Points: 15

Total Points: 95
Total Pages: 2651

5 point #4 Adoption Story
The Kite Runner. One of the best books that I have read in along time.

I've also read the children's books - Where The Wild Things Are, I'll send you to Mrs. Coles and Dustbin Charlie 112 pages altogether.

That gives me 20 points so far.

Nicki wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Nicki wrote: "Task 5.6 finished. This book should have come with a warning - beware, may make you laugh out loud in public!

5.6 Terrifying titles � Plum Spooky by J..."

what about under the noun ( person, place, thing) or the abc challenge?

Hi,

I have read Cat by Freya North, for the 10 point challenge, number 10.

Kate.x.

I completed 5.10 (Time Travel): Flight A Novel - I love Sherman Alexie AND time travel stories, so this book and I were a good match!

Total points: 95

YEAH! First Post!! (not for lack of reading- just a few books in multi-book tasks :) )

I finished 25.10 Sam's Task - Halloween III- The Devil's Arithmetic - Jane Yolen pgs. 170 rd. 9-6-09.

Tasks Completed 1
Books read 2
Points 25/690
Pages Read 1040

Oh, so excited for my first points I forgot to say- I really thought it was a great book for the Young Adult age. I will recommend this to my nephews for their AR program. I had this picked for the Summer Challenge after seeing some posts about it, but did not get to it. I actually have a few books that will be in the Fall Challenge I didn't get to in the
Summer Challenge. ;)

I've now completed 30.1 by reading Julie and Julia (secretary = current job) and The Girl Who Played with Fire (journalism = dream job). I enjoyed both, but The Girl Who Played with Fire is a 5* book in my opinion!!!

Total points: 55
Tasks completed: 2
Books read: 4

Teresa wrote: "Nicki wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Nicki wrote: "Task 5.6 finished. This book should have come with a warning - beware, may make you laugh out loud in public!

5.6 Terrifying titles � [book:Plum Spooky..."

Those have too many options already lol! I might just have to read a couple of extra books :)

Finished:
10.6 Native American Heritage month by reading Museum of Human Beings by Colin Sargent. It is a fictional account of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea. (I couldn't get it to come up on the add book/author thing.)

Just finished Coraline by Neil Gaiman for the 25 point noun task, no points for it yet as I've still got the place and thing to read.

Just finished task 5.1, with the word "Daughter" in the title... The Memory Keeper's Daughter.

Honesty, didn't enjoy it, but I have heard so many things about it, I'm glad that I've finally read it.

Point total: 25

Finished 5.10 (time travel) by reading Slaughterhouse-Five. What a great book... I am really glad I read it.
On the board with 5 points!

Task 15.6 finished. I read Pictures at an Exhibition. Then, my 10 year old, my 9 year old, and I just finished doing still life drawings. It was so cool to watch their faces concentrate on what they were drawing-looking at the object, looking at the paper, back to the object. I drew a candle from an interesting perspective. My daughter said I should draw the wick, but I told her I couldn't see it from where I was and we only draw what we see. When her brother started drawing, she told him, "now make sure you only draw what you can see and not what you know is there." I felt educational today! :)

Heather in KS

Cynthia,

I finished challenge 10-8. My random words were 9)intended, 10)model, and 11)entire. I read a YA book: Model Spy by Shannon Greenland.

I also finished challenge 10-7 (superhero). I read Neil Gaiman's new book: Batman, Whatever Happened to the Cape Crusader?

This finally puts me on the leaderboard with 20 total points.

Thanks!

25.9 - Don't Sweat the Small Stuff--and it's all small stuff by Richard Carlson & It Ain't All About the Cookin' by Paula Deen

Points Total: 40
Tasks Completed: 3

Two completely different but equally good books for task 15.10.

The Piano Teacher was a beautiful and sad read set in Hong Kong during and after WWII. Highly recommended.

Magic Study was a light and fun sci fi/fantasy read - second in the Study series.

15.10 Teacher/Student � The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K Lee, Magic Study by Maria V. Synder

Total: 30/690 points
5/59 books
4/45 tasks
1886 pages

10.9 Civil War A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse

Nicki wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Nicki wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Nicki wrote: "Task 5.6 finished. This book should have come with a warning - beware, may make you laugh out loud in public!

5.6 Terrifying titles � [b..."

lol can you fit any in for the math tasks? future job as a bounty hunter?

hey one has a tranvestite in it, would that would work for positive gay person? He is a hoot

I completed 5.3 by reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Point Total: 50
Page Total: 1607

25.1 Nicole's Task - Rhyme Time - How I Got to Be Perfect by Jean Kerr (How)
and Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne (Now).

Total Points: 70/690
Books Read: 14 (+ 7 Berenstain Bears books)
Tasks Completed: 6/45
Tasks in Progress: 8

I just finished the adoption task (5.4) with Sea Swept by Nora Roberts. It wasn't too bad except a major part of the plot was left unresolved so I'm assuming it carries over into the next book in the saga. I hadn't intended to rush out and read the next so I'm annoyed by that fact. If/when I get around to checking out the next book, hopefully I'll remember enough of the plot to not be confused.

Three of the main characters are grown brothers who were all adopted by a married couple when they were troubled youths. The wife died of cancer several years before the book started and the husband dies very suddenly at the start of the book. And because he had recently undertaken responsibility for another troubled boy and was in the middle of trying to adopt him as well, the three older brothers end up making a deathbed promise to their adoptive father to return home and follow through on the guardianship proceedings.

Add in a sexy social worker and the fact that virtually every single character is attempting to overcome the residual of past psychological, physical and/or sexual abuse but still manage to find a happy ending and there you have the gist of it.



TASKS COMPLETED: 4
TASKS PARTIALLY COMPLETED: 3
BOOKS READ: 10
PAGES READ: 2,317
POINTS EARNED: 25
NUMBER OF BOOKS READ FROM MY 'OWNED AND UNREAD' SHELF: 5

I finished 25.4: Janice's task of Fortune or Prophecy.
I read The Foretellingby Alice Hoffman.



Tasks Completed: 4
Tasks Partially Completed: 2
Tasks Started: 1
Books Read: 5 (plus 3 children's picture books)
Pages Read: 1,517
Points Earned: 80
Number of Books Read From My "owned and unread shelf" : 3

Complete Cindy's task (#25.7) by reading the following:

Pastoralia-George Saunders
Plum Lovin'-Janet Evanovich
The Driver's Seat-Muriel Spark

Completed Task 25.5: Fortune/Prophecy


Completed Tasks To Date: 4
Total Points To Date: 70
Pages Read To Date: 1960

10.2 Speed Shrinkingby Susan Shapiro

Points: 10

Total Points: 105
Total Pages: 2959

Completed task 10.3 by reading:

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfishby Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean (4*)
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (4*)
Man on the Moon by Simon Bartram (3*) (total pages: 128)

All fun reads and made the kids laugh - we haven't read these books for ages!

Total points: 65

Just Finished 5.2 by reading Jigs & Reels Stories by Joanne Harris

I should be at 15 pts now.

I finished a couple (finally on the board!)

Sam's task (25.10) Breathers: A Zombie's Lament, S.G. Browne. I thought this was an interesting premise, but was not compeltely thrilled with the book.

Janice (25.5) Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (involves prophecy) I LOVE this series--and even better, I read the first one aloud to my students at the beginning of the year (5th graders) and now over half my class is working through the series--I love when I see them get so excited about books.

Also, did 10.3. I read How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen; Are you Ready for Bed? by Jane Johnson and Monkey with a Toolbelt and the Noisy Problem by Chris Monroe. Those of you with small children, if you have not read this last one, look it up. It is very cute, especially if you have a young builder at your house.

That puts me at
60 points
668 pages read

Jennifer wrote: "Completed Task 25.5: Fortune/Prophecy


Completed Tasks To Date: 4
Total Points To Date: 70
Pages Read To Date: 1960


"

What did you think of this? It's the one I'm reading for the task as well.

Cynthia, I had previously claimed points for Task 5.2 by reading Garden Spells. I would like to move Garden Spells to a different task (not yet completed), so I need to take away 5 points.

I'll add them right back, though, because last night I finished Task 5.8 (multiple authors): Between the Covers The Book Babes' Guide to a Woman's Reading Pleasures - Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel

I gave this book 3 stars. I added some interesting books to my TBR, but I wish it would've have included more works of fiction (it was 1/3 fiction, 1/3 non-fiction, and 1/3 memoir).


Total Points: 40/690
Books Read: 8/60
Tasks Completed: 4/45
Pages Read: 2,498

5.7: A.J. Jacobs, The Know-It-All (intelligence)
10.2: Matlin, I'll Scream Later

Total: 15 points

15 POINT TASK
8. Geography Lessons - Read Two Books That Take Place Countries That Correspond To Your Initials. If Your First Or Last Initial Is A Letter That Has No Country (I Think This Would Be Only X Or W) Then You Could Substitute Your Middle Initial.
Egypt - Death on the Nile, Agatha Christie.
Poland - Castorp, Pawel Huelle.

For 20 points...

5-2. September Is National Apple Month So Let's...Read A Book With The Word Apple(s) In The Title. The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury (re-read, 4 stars)

5-5. Going Back To School - Re-read A Book That You Were Required To Read For School...See If You Feel The Same About It Now As You Did Then. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (re-read, 4 stars) I had to read it in Freshman English. I liked it then, still like it now. : )

5-7. Giving Thanks - In Honor Of Thanksgiving (November 26th) Read A Book That Relates To The Thing You Are Most Thankful For. Please Tell Us What That Is When You Claim Points. Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams. (re-read, 4 stars) I am most thankful for my cats. I've had troubles with depression/anxiety and having pets around has always helped.

5-10. Fall Back In Time For Daylight Savings Time � Read A Novel Where One Or More Character(s) Travel Back In Time. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (4 stars)

Finished 5.2 (apple task)

I read Freakonomics by Steven L. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Pretty good book...many interesting points.

Here's the cover:


New Total: 25

10 point task #9 - Read a book set during the U.S. Civil War: The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara (finished 9/5)

Completed task 15.10

Teacher: The Last Lecture Just finished it and I'm still sobbing

Student: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Another very emotional pick.

I need some mind candy now!

This should bring my total to 60 points.

Heather in KS

Heather wrote: "Completed task 15.10

Teacher: The Last Lecture Just finished it and I'm still sobbing

Student: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Another very emotional pick.

I n..."

Did you like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas? I have been thinking about reading it but I wasn't sure!

I really did like it. The movie is equally as moving, but they are different in parts. I would recommend the book!

Heather in KS

5.6 (Terrifying Titles): Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Maybe I'm getting a little tired of this series, or maybe this one just wasn't as good as some of the others, but I thought it was only OK.

I think I'll just update this post as I go rather than making a new post each time.

Finished:
15.3. Discover The Equation For Good Books (Math) - Pick 2 Of The Following...

- Addition - Add Up The Number Of Letters Found In Your First and Last Names Then Read A Book Written By An Author Whose Name Contains The Same Number Of Letters.

5+6=11: We Never Talk About My Brother by Peter Beagle

- Subtraction - Subtract The Number Of Letters Found In Your Whole Name (First, Middle, Last) From Your Age And Read A Book With That Many Letters Or Words In The Title.

29-(5+5+6)=13: Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

15.6 Creative Minds (The Arts) - Choose ONE Of The Following Tasks...
Music Appreciation Class - Read A Book With A Type Of Music In The Title (Jazz, Country, Pop, Rap Etc.) And Listen To A CD Or Attend A Concert Of That Type Of Music.

House of the Stag by Kage Baker
The Best of Vol. 3

Total points 30

FINISHED:

15.4 -
Read: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Watched: Planet Earth (Disc 1 - From Pole to Pole, Mountains and Fresh Water)

TOTAL POINTS = 30

I completed:

5.2 (Apple): Freakonomics Rev Ed A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything - the last bit of this book was horrifically boring to me - lists of names for how many pages? But for the most part, I enjoyed this one.

10.8 (Random word - atomic): - I enjoyed the artwork in this graphic novel and found the history lesson interesting, however sometimes the delivery was a bit confusing.

Total Points: 110