Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I have South America, too. I haven't read any of these, but their all on my possibilities list and they all sound seriously interesting. I'm having trouble choosing! If anyone's read any of these and has a recommendation, I'm all ears (my library has 'em all!).

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
The Mapmaker's Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon
Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Rain Forest

Good luck!

I just realized that I can read Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent for the musical theater task. Yay!

Amanda wrote: "Okay I was born in February and it says I have to read a book on Polygamy. I really need suggestions for this task, the book has to be non-fiction. If you have suggestions please try to make sure t..."


Escape by Carolyn Jessup is very good

Felina wrote: "I was born in December on a Sunday. Umm...help! I don't know what Noir Mystery means and I don't really know where to start for History of Language. What all would that include? I'm getting visions..."

You could read Eats, Shoots, and Leaves for the nonfiction task

Amanda wrote: "Okay I was born in February and it says I have to read a book on Polygamy. I really need suggestions for this task, the book has to be non-fiction. If you have suggestions please try to make sure t..."

Amanda,
I highly recommend: Daughter of the Saints: Growing Up in Polygamy by Dorothy Allred Solomon. It may be a little long for your taste, but I found it so fascinating, I read it in three days.

Erin wrote: "I need some fun suggestions on South America. I don't know much about that, so I am open for anything fun!"

Some others I am considering for South America- a few seem lighter
The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Popular Music of Brazil
Rio De Janeiro
My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile (would work for the non-fiction by fiction author task as well)
The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey
Chasing Che: A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend
On a Hoof and a Prayer: Exploring Argentina at a Gallop (sounds lighter but only a 2.88 rating- YMMV)

Liz - The Thin Man is entertaining and rather quick. It's a good example of film noir - lots of drinking and smoking! HEE!

Ms Anderson -- Which museums did you visit? I keep meaning to drag myself out of bed on a Saturday to go visit but then I feel cold and duck back under the covers.

As far as castles go...naaaaaaaw. Seen them plenty of times in person. Just not interested in reading a whole book on teh subject. Sure a few web pages but not a book. Least atm. It's still early and my brain is acting like a toddler, putting its foot down and grumpily saying NO. Ahahaa :)

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "I have South America, too. I haven't read any of these, but their all on my possibilities list and they all sound seriously interesting. I'm having trouble choosing! If anyone's read any of these a..."

Krista,
I've read the first three on your list and liked all three. Lost City is a little darker, I loved River of Doubt but it was a little repetitious in places, Mapmaker's wife was just okay for me--not bad, but not outstanding.

Ms Anderson, correct me if I'm wrong but here's some Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ lists on books in verse.

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/20...

and ya
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/22...

Wiki lists . Epic poems might work, as well.

Some "hard boiled" and "noir" links:

For everyone who has posted links, thank you for the lists! ^_^

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Gigi wrote: "I was born in September-Everyday things would this work
Salt: A World History
by Mark Kurlansky

Thanks
I have Monday for the second part. I have no clue on t..."

Salt will work.

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Liz wrote: "Wiki lists verse novels. Epic poems might work, as well."

See how craftily I snuck in those Old Norse epic poems? ^_^

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Tanja: We only got to really walk around the Newseum (which was incredible, I highly recommend it) and the American History Museum (which was a little too crowded for my tastes, aside from the fact my feet were killing me by the time we got there). I would've liked to go to the Freer Gallery again (I haven't been since I was about fifteen), or the Natural History Museum, but we didn't have enough time. We ate in the Air and Space Museum, but we didn't have time to see anything.

I wish I had better suggestions for you for your topic. Hopefully you'll find something you like if you decide to do the task!

Tanja, I read The Secret Lives of Buildings: From the Ruins of the Parthenon to the Vegas Strip in Thirteen Stories which wasn't too bad--sort of a history of architecture from the Parthenon to Vegas, with the seeds of the one chapter resting in the previous one. That sounds a lot more pompous than the book actually is.

Donna Jo wrote: "Tanja, I read The Secret Lives of Buildings: From the Ruins of the Parthenon to the Vegas Strip in Thirteen Stories which wasn't too bad--sort of a history of architecture from the P..."

If I can get ahold of this, I might switch my focus for 10.9 from amusement parks to this book >_> That sounds really interesting.

Tanja wrote: "Ho-hum this task makes me wish I was born in another month and day of the week. Not really interested in reading NF on architecture. I like picture books on architecture but those are wildly expens..."

If this isn't going too far afield... Building a Home with My Husband: A Journey Through the Renovation of Love is a memoir about renovating a historic home- very readable.

Tanja wrote: "Ho-hum this task makes me wish I was born in another month and day of the week. Not really interested in reading NF on architecture. I like picture books on architecture but those are wildly expens..."

I'm exactly the same as you! A Saturday in January! Haven't found anything that excites me yet ... I'll let you know if I do!

SuzieR wrote: "Tanja wrote: "Ho-hum this task makes me wish I was born in another month and day of the week. Not really interested in reading NF on architecture. I like picture books on architecture but those are..."

For architecture, you might want to look for a book about Frank Lloyd Wright. We just read Loving Frank in my library book group, and, while that is fiction, there are apparently a number of biographies, as well as a book or two focusing on the murders at Taliesen (his house, where his lover and her kids and 3 or 4 other people were murdered).

Tanja, House by Tracy Kidder might work.
Laughter On The Stairs by Beverley Nichols is about a renovation of an old Tudor cottage in England (although it is somewhat fictionalized so may not work)

Just found this title in my home library that might work for you. Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture by Beth Dunlop

House is excellent, like most all of Tracy Kidder's work

fanfiction.net has a listing for Pride & Prejudice so I thought that a book like Darcy's Story would work. I didn't think it had to be sci-fi but rather a building, if you will, of an already written piece of fiction.

Tammy wrote: "You could read Eats, Shoots, and Leaves for the nonfiction task ..."

Tammy - I hadn't thought about that one. I have had that book sitting on my shelf. Great idea! Thanks.

Rita wrote: "fanfiction.net has a listing for Pride & Prejudice so I thought that a book like Darcy's Story would work. I didn't think it had to be sci-fi but rather a building, if you will, of an already writ..."

It may have a listing for it, but for this task I want people to read a fanfic based on another kind of media, since often fanfics of movies and games are overlooked.

Ok. It has to be a fanfic of movie or games, but not necessarily sci-fi, right?

No, not necessarily SF.

ok, I'm off to search for another choice.
thanks!!

Hi Ms. Anderson.

I have The Geographer's Library and right on the front cover it says "A brainy noir" (comment made by an LA Times reviewer). Would you accept this book as a "Sunday - Noir" read?

Amanda wrote: "Okay I was born in February and it says I have to read a book on Polygamy. I really need suggestions for this task, the book has to be non-fiction. If you have suggestions please try to make sure t..."

A little while ago I read an autobio on a wife that was involved in Polygamy. The book is Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife, I thought it was pretty descent and an eye opener.

Paula

Cynthia wrote: "25.1 - Ms Anderson's Task - Birthdays and Birthmonths
Since roughly 90% of the people in my (Ms. Anderson's) life were born in June, I thought it would be fun to do a task related to birthdays!

..."

Ms Anderson, I was born in May. Could/Would a circus theme be okay or should it be amusement park theme? I have The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy on my "to read" list but it's not nec. AMUSEMENT Park-though it is nonfiction.

Just curious,
Paula

Pauline wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "25.1 - Ms Anderson's Task - Birthdays and Birthmonths
Since roughly 90% of the people in my (Ms. Anderson's) life were born in June, I thought it would be fun to do a task related ..."

Since a lot of the early amusement parks had a lot in common with circuses, I'll accept this.

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Jennifer wrote: "Hi Ms. Anderson.

I have The Geographer's Library and right on the front cover it says "A brainy noir" (comment made by an LA Times reviewer). Would you accept this book as a "Sunday ..."

Sounds like it will work.

I'm a November baby... It looks like all the nonfic video game books are around 794.8, so I think I'll just head over to the library and see what I can find... Too bad we can't read video game FICTION... my husband owns like ALL of the Halo novels... :)

>_> The Halo novels are fanfics...

Well........... sorta... They're "official"... According to wikipedia: "Bungie considers the Halo novels as additions to the Halo canon."

Cait wrote: "I just realized that I can read Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent for the musical theater task. Yay!"

That sounds good! love that play!

Ms Anderson wrote: "Sounds like it will work."

Sa-weeeet!! Thanks Ms. Anderson. :D

would Designing Disney work for May: Amusement Parks?

Tracey wrote: "would Designing Disney work for May: Amusement Parks?"

Sounds good to me!

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Sara � wrote: "Well........... sorta... They're "official"... According to wikipedia: "Bungie considers the Halo novels as additions to the Halo canon.""

I think George Lucas feels that way about the Star Wars novels, but they're still pretty much fanfics lol

Can anyone recommend a western for someone who doesn't really read them? I've read The Gunslinger by Stephen King which comes up if you search western, but I re read it recently. Are there any other books like this - western themed without being.... really western-y? Thanks! :)

So, the Star Wars Books count as FanFics? I could read that.

Would the CSI books work for FanFics? I've posted an example of one of the CSI books.

Double Dealer by Max Allan Collins

Kandie wrote: "Can anyone recommend a western for someone who doesn't really read them? I've read The Gunslinger by Stephen King which comes up if you search western, but I re read it recently. Are t..."

this is a series...would any of the others in the series work?

Tracey wrote: "Kandie wrote: "Can anyone recommend a western for someone who doesn't really read them? I've read The Gunslinger by Stephen King which comes up if you search western, but I re read it ..."

The Master Executioner by Loren D. Estleman is excellent.
Or if you enjoy humor John Mccord's MONTANA HORSEMAN is the first of a series about the Baynes brothers following the Civil War. There's a little romance in them, but it's much more a traditional western leavened with humor.
Another good Western with an untraditional twist, if you can get your hands on it (try Interlibrary Loan) is The Cowboy and the Cossack by Clair Huffaker. About a group of American cowboys who take a herd of cattle to Russia.

Oooh. Thanks for some of those suggestions - The Secret Lives and Disney books have intrigued me. I'll have to see if the library has them to flip through!

Hmm fanfictions...well here are some series people could use:

Beverly Hills:90210
90210
CSI
CSI:NY
CSI:Miami
Bones
Buffy
Angel
Lost
Roswell
Star Trek
Star Wars
X-Files
Firefly
Dexter <- show is based on book
Red Dwarf
Doctor Who
Supernatural
Castle
24
Heroes
Charmed
Perry Mason
Monk
Psych
My So Called Life
Columbo
Murder, She Wrote

Add'l sci-fi/fantasy series:

The link does show some oldies like The Addams Family!

What I recommend is searching on GR using the show's/movie's title. You'll just have to do the extra step of researching to find out if that show/movie is the reversed (the show/movie is based on the book INSTEAD of a book based on the show/movie).

Grey's Anatomy: Overheard at the Emerald City Bar / Notes from the Nurses' Station is approved

But Grey's Anatomy 101: Seattle Grace, Unauthorized isn't b/c it's a collect of essays.

Tanja, you have Dexter on your list. Didn't the book come first? I thought for fan fiction it had to be the other way around.

Ms Anderson-I just want to make sure I'm reading the right book. I got fanfic so I could read Dark Congress for Buffy?

Tanja's list is fine except for Dexter, which is a show based off the novels.

Gunslinger is definitely western, but the series gets much less so as it goes on, delving more into the fantasy/sf aspects. So, while the first book could work, I'm going to say no to the rest of the series.

There are plenty of historical fiction and romance novels that take place in the "Old West" that could work for western--it doesn't just have to be revolvers and hangings. The Hour of the Outlaw, Silver Lies, Daughter of Fortune, Red Water, Daughter of the Mountain, To Catch the Lightning: A Novel of American Dreaming, and Buffalo Girls are some options that are set in the west, but aren't stereotypically western.




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Tanja wrote: "Grey's Anatomy: Overheard at the Emerald City Bar / Notes from the Nurses' Station but I'm not sure if Grey's Anatomy 101: Seattle Grace, Unauthorized will qualify since..."

The second book won't work because it's not fiction--it's a collection of essays about the show. The first one looks like fanfiction, though, so it'd work.

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Kim D wrote: "Ms Anderson-I just want to make sure I'm reading the right book. I got fanfic so I could read Dark Congress for Buffy?"

Yup, you're good!

Tanja, thanks for the fanfic list. I should be able to find something off that pretty easily.

Kandie wrote: "Can anyone recommend a western for someone who doesn't really read them? I've read The Gunslinger by Stephen King which comes up if you search western, but I re read it recently. Are t..."

There's always All the Pretty Horses or Lonesome Dove.