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All questions about specific tasks and also general discussion.

Feel free to ask questions about tasks or help each other find books to fit tasks now that the tasks have been posted.

YAY!!!

Wheee! I totally shouldn't procrastinate on all the other chores waiting for me by trying to figure out what book to read for what task, BUT WHO CARES?

Hahaha..I hear ya!

Few questions:

Some book ideas for the medical field one? It can be non-fiction too right?

Authors with only one book?

For 25.9 could it be a fiction book?

Yes, the medical field one can be fiction or non-fiction.

Some ideas for the medical field:

Never Change—Elizabeth Berg (main character is a nurse)
Memory Keeper’s Daughter (main character is a doctor)
Love in the Time of Cholera (main character is a doctor)
The Cider House Rules--(obstetrician)
Saturday--(neurosurgeon)
Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science
Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities
Final Exam: A Surgeon’s reflection on mortality


Authors with only one book:

Jenna Blum—Those Who Save Us (her other book doesn’t come out until May)
The Thirteenth Tale--Diane Setterfield
Memoirs of a Geisha--Arthur Golden
What They Always Tell Us
Love Is a Mix Tape
Hold still—nina lacour
Columbine—Dave Cullen
The Secret of Lost Things

25.9 should be non-fiction.

I'm really excited for this challenge! Be on the lookout for some surprises throughout the challenge!

Just to clarify..this time around we won't be keeping track of our lists as the official way to keep points, right? So, the official task list thread doesn't count if we keep track of our points and we need to claim the points.

Correct. You can post your task list just to keep track of it but it won't be added to the official leaderboard unless you claim your points on the official thread. We are going to try it this way this time. I think it might be easier for me to not have to go through a bunch of lists that I don't know have been updated and plus..it will keep the challenge fresh. We will see how it goes!

But please everyone post your lists so I can poach some ideas! :)

Haha agreed! I like looking at lists for other ideas that I didn't think of!

What are some books set on West Coast? I have Of Mice and Men, but even though I loved it, I'd rather not re-read it because I have so much on my tbr list already...

I'm using Daughter of Fortune: A Novel

Some others:

East of Eden
Cannery Row
Big Sur
White Oleander
The Kitchen God's Wife

I think alot of Steinbeck's novels would work.

Any ideas for the Ethical challenge?

War:

Fiction- The Things They Carried, Slaughterhouse Five, March by Geraldine Brooks, Johnny Got His Gun, Wartime Lies,

Animal Rights

Fiction--Dr. Rat, 101 Dalmatians, The Woman and the Ape, The Loop, Dakota,

Abortion

Fiction-The Abortionist's Daughter, I loved you all, This Common Secret, The Cider House Rules, A Case of Need, Unwind

Euthanasia

Fiction--Mercy

I'll try to think of more.

Could anyone suggest some novels written by authors under the age of 25?

Off the top of my head: BLACK BEAUTY for Animal Rights! :D

Last Wish by Betty Rollin is a true story regarding euthanasia.

For ethical issues I'm going to go with Animal Rights because I love animals!
I don't know about fiction yet, but for Animal Rights, Non-Fiction I'm deciding which of these to go with:
The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood
Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter
A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond between Two Friends and a Lion.

Monica wrote: "Could anyone suggest some novels written by authors under the age of 25?"

One of my favorite books, PS, I Love You was written when the author was 21. She has others that were written when she was young too.

Question on the Romanov dynasty task, because I am going to be reading a lot of russian literature this spring term, I was wondering if books like Crime and Punishment or Fathers and Sons, or Resurrection would count as they are all set during the time period of the Romanov family reign, just during the later half, but before Nicholas II was on the throne.

So would books like that work for that particular task?

Also for 15.8 in the lifetime task section, would the book War and Peace by Tolstoy work for that one as it spans many years and a few families?

Kelly wrote: "Monica wrote: "Could anyone suggest some novels written by authors under the age of 25?"

One of my favorite books, PS, I Love You was written when the author was 21. She has others t..."

Great, Thank you! I've checked out some of her books... I had no idea she was the author of the book Ps I love You (I've only seen the movie and loved it). And she wrote that at age 21-22, wow!

Rachel wrote: "Question on the Romanov dynasty task, because I am going to be reading a lot of russian literature this spring term, I was wondering if books like Crime and Punishment or Fathers and Sons, or Resur..."

Yes and yes for both of your questions :)

Monica wrote: "Could anyone suggest some novels written by authors under the age of 25?"


A Fine and Private Place
Eragon
Less Than Zero
Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood
The Outsiders
Frankenstein
Katie.com: My Story
In the Forests of the Night

more war novels would be All Quiet on the Western Front, Not so Quiet..., The Painted Bird (although this is through the eyes of a young boy in WW2 and focuses less on soldiers and the like, I still think it could be applicable), Homage to Catalonia (but I suppose that's non-fiction, don't know if that counts),

How central to the plot does the ethical issue have to be? For an abortion novel, I was going to suggest Revolutionary Road, but the book touches on a lot more than just that topic.

A couple questions...

Would Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions work for #10 in the 5 pts list? It has magic in it but not necessarily the main character...

Would The Hours work for #8 in the 15 pts list? It spans several decades but not necessarily in order...

Does Lance Armstrong count for #5 in the 25 pts list?

Alicia wrote: "A couple questions...

Would Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions work for #10 in the 5 pts list? It has magic in it but not necessarily the main character...

Would [book:T..."


It should be a pretty main character with magical powers. I'm not familiar with Smoke and Mirrors though so you can use your discretion.

The Hours sounds like it would work.

And yes for Lance Armstrong.

Jessi wrote: "more war novels would be All Quiet on the Western Front, Not so Quiet..., The Painted Bird (although this is through the eyes of a young boy in WW2 and focuses less on soldiers and the like, I stil..."

It should be a pretty important issue in whatever fiction book you choose and provide some moral commentary on the issue. It doesn't have to be super obvious. Does that make sense? lol..I feel like I know what I mean in my head but not sure if it is translating well.

Alicia, I read Smoke and Mirrors for the Fall/Winter challenge. The short stories aren't so much about the magic as they are about the supernatural. The main characters don't generally have magical powers, if I remember correctly.

Hi! For the pre-1700s category, could it be a play (like Shakespeare)? Otherwise I was thinking I could use the book Don Quixote.

And a few questions from me as well...

Would Anna Karenina work for 15-1? It seems to be set in 19th century Russia, which is the time of the Romanov family, yes/yes? Just need to make sure :)

Does anyone know Desert Flower? Could it be used for 15-4 (body image) or alternately 25-2 (ethical issue: female genital mutilation)?

Then there's Flowers in the Attic, which I'm wondering if it could be used for 15-7, the unconventional family task.

And last but not least, The English Patient: can I use it for 25-5, the physical disability/handicap part of the task? Again, I don't know the book and don't remember the film, so I've no idea if the eponymous English patient is actually, uh, burnt enough to count for this. Or plays enough of a central role, as it were.

Help? :)

Mark wrote: "Hi! For the pre-1700s category, could it be a play (like Shakespeare)? Otherwise I was thinking I could use the book Don Quixote."

I think that is ok but Verity has the final say since it is her task.


Jules-- Yes for 15.1.
You could use Desert Flower for either..also you could use it for the International Women's Day task. Flowers in the Attic looks good for 15.7. Also, I'm not sure about The English Patient..anyone familiar with that? From reading the description, I can't really tell. It seems as though you can use it for the Medical field task as there is a nurse as the main character.

Okay, thanks Jamie, I'll just shuffle a bit for The English Patient and then that's fine :) And true about Desert Flower and the Women's Day task! But I think I'd rather use it for body image or ethical issue. Probably the latter, though I've no idea about the fiction part of that task yet. Ah well, it'll come to me :) Thanks again! You're so quick to take care of everything - I know a thing or two about modding, and I really admire how you seem to stay on top of things all the time.

Also, I get extra points for attempting to read a 1,000+ pages book, right? *eyeroll* Why'd The Pillars of the Earth have to be the most interesting book (IMO) to be published the year I was born??? I'll never manage that one... :/

Jamie wrote: "Mark wrote: "Hi! For the pre-1700s category, could it be a play (like Shakespeare)? Otherwise I was thinking I could use the book Don Quixote."

I think that is ok but Verity has the final say si..."

I would say yes to plays so long as they are at least 75 pages long (or some edition of it is, albeit the super large font ones probably shouldn't count); and if it isn't, just read two plays.

On another note, the link to 10.3 (beach reads) is coming up not found. I can't find that list on NPR's website just yet but has anyone else found it or had that problem?

Hm..that's weird about the link.

Jules wrote: "Okay, thanks Jamie, I'll just shuffle a bit for The English Patient and then that's fine :) And true about Desert Flower and the Women's Day task! But I think I'd rather use it for body image or et..."

Haha thanks. I can't say that I'm always on top of things. I'm just around the house today so I'm trying to answer as many questions as I can before I get busy with whatever life will throw my way next.

And don't shy away from reading a long book..I don't know if you saw my message in this thread but there will be some surprises throughout the duration of the challenge. You never know what they may be ;)

I think I'd rather read a Shakespeare play for the pre-1700s, too. I have a huge book of most (if not all) his plays.

I'm also curious about The English Patient. If anyone knows about the book or has read it, would it be suitable for 10.9 Doctor's Day?

Thanks!

Jamie wrote: "Jules wrote: "Okay, thanks Jamie, I'll just shuffle a bit for The English Patient and then that's fine :) And true about Desert Flower and the Women's Day task! But I think I'd rather use it for bo..."

Oooh, surprises. Surprises are nice! I'll keep Pillars of the Earth then... :D

Monica wrote: "I think I'd rather read a Shakespeare play for the pre-1700s, too. I have a huge book of most (if not all) his plays.

I'm also curious about The English Patient. If anyone knows about..."

It seems like it would work because there is a nurse that seems to be a main character..I'll take it unless someone else can say otherwise.

Monica wrote: "I think I'd rather read a Shakespeare play for the pre-1700s, too. I have a huge book of most (if not all) his plays.

I'm also curious about The English Patient. If anyone knows about..."

If the book is anything like the film, which the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ synop sounds like it is, and the 10.9 Doctor's Day is open to nurses as well, it should be okay, though I haven't read the book. (Basically a nurse takes care of a burned English man right when WWII has ended, or about then, who may or may not remember his life. The film cuts back between his past and his 'recovery', so...) It is probably one of those cusp books that could go either way, though personally I think it is good, as good as Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms might be usable for the category. Oh, you could also read it and tell us whether it worked for the category!

Nurses definitely count for that task. It's open to anyone in the medical field.

Jules wrote: "Alicia, I read Smoke and Mirrors for the Fall/Winter challenge. The short stories aren't so much about the magic as they are about the supernatural. The main characters don't generally have magical..."

Thank you! A friend gave it to me and I was trying to fit it somewhere...

Looks like fun, I have tomorrow off so hopefully I will have time to make my list

Alicia wrote: "Jules wrote: "Alicia, I read Smoke and Mirrors for the Fall/Winter challenge. The short stories aren't so much about the magic as they are about the supernatural. The main characters don't generall..."

I'm not sure how many books Neil Gaimanhas written...but if he has written more than 10 you could use it for task 25.7

For West Coast books:

Books that come to mind are: Jessica Z., The Black Dahlia, Into the Wild, Still Life with Woodpecker, Moloka'i

A few authors that come to mind are:
David James Duncan and Ken Kesey

I'll go through more throughly tomorrow but just to clarify I consider the west coast any state the borders the Pacific (like wise for east coast and Atlantic).

Oh yes, definitely Jessica Z.

Thanks for the clarification!

You and Verity are doing great answering questions for your challenges so far! :)

Would murder qualify as an ethical issue? The right to life does go back to ethics... and I'd like to fit In Cold Blood somewhere :P

Would Water for Elephants count as Animal Rights fiction considering the main character helps the abused, malnourished animals in the menagerie?

Also, I don't have any books in my TBR list that work for 10.7 (African Liberation Day), except maybe The Color Purple. Suggestions?

Barbara--You could use In Cold Blood for that because I'm pretty sure it deals with the death penalty. Murder is an ethical issue but I was more so going for something that wasn't so black and white..and I'm pretty sure we can all agree murder is wrong. However, definitely go ahead and use it for the death penalty.

Kayla-- Definitely. I think Water for Elephants would be a good one for that. I think that is always an interesting topic anyways..using animals in circuses and what not and if it's right/wrong.

Some ideas for the African Liberation one:

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
The Poisonwood Bible
Things Fall Apart
Cry, the Beloved Country
Little Bee
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The Constant Gardener
What Is the What
Out of Africa

A few of my favorite Africa books are The Power of One and Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood, my mom also just read Twenty Chickens For A Saddle and really liked it