You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Monthly
>
Feb 2014 - FINISH LINE (aka reporting thread)

Flames Across the Border: 1813-1814 by Pierre Berton which is about the war of 1812:
I chose Canada and the sport, Ice Hockey.
10pts - author and setting is Canada.
5pts - many villages.
4pts - Lakes, all they do is die and march around various lakes.
4pts - Male author
4pts - first name Pierre.
4pts - Informational (non-fiction)
3pts - takes place in three (or more) countries, namely Canada, the US, England (and France, and various islands, etc)
5pts - cold. Lots of terribly cold times.
Total - 39 points

I finished Red Flags

5 pts for a village
5 pts for 308 pgs
3 pts for 1960's
4 pts for male author
17 pts


Country: Poland
Sport: Ice Hockey
10 points- author is Polish and setting is in Poland
3 Points - Year setting is between 1900 and 2000. (1939-1945)
4 Points - Male author
3 Points - Memoir
5 Points - Poetry is included in the story.
Paul Celan's
He who counted our hours
caun on.
What is he caunting, tell me?
He caunts and counts...
4 Points - Informational (aka non-fiction)
5 Points - Cold - set in Winter (some chapters)
4 Points - Shakespeare is mentioned. Ch.9 [...]took a small Oxford edition of Shakespeare out of his pocket[...]
Total: 38

I read Hexed
Country: USA
Sport: Biathlon
10 points if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there.
5 Points - Length is between 300-400 pages long (based on a goodread search as I read the ebook).
4 Points - A Lake is in the story. (town lake)
4 Points - Male author
4 Points - Shakespeare is mentioned.
total: 27 points

10 pts. The book was set in Russia and Katia was born there.
5 pts. Figure skating is an Olympic sport.
5 pts. Olympic theme.
5 pts. There were several villages in the story including the Olympic village.
5 pts. 300+ pages
4 pts. Orange on cover
3 pts. Lady on cover
3 pts. Set between 1900-2000
5 pts. Title began with "M"
3 pts. Memoir
3 pts. Pink on cover (The edition I have had orange cover with pink picture in the middle.)
5 pts. Poetry (Book begins with poem by Anna Akhmatova: Я улыбаться перестала...)
4 pts. Informational
3 pts. International (Russia, United States, several other countries)
5 pts. Very cold. Set in freezing ice rinks in multiple wintry places.
4 pts. A couple lakes are mentioned, Lake Placid repeatedly.
Grand and final total:
72 Points!

I represented the UK in Ice Hockey (although there are poets in this war novel, so I could be perverse and make my event figure skating instead)
10 points if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there.
3 Points - Year setting is between 1900 and 2000.
5 Points - Poetry is included in the story.
4 Points - Author's first name starts with "P".
5 Points - Series title is same as book title
27 (although I may have missed points for a lake or Shakespeare--if I have time I will go back and check when I am in a bookstore--I did it on audio, which makes checking harder)

I'm now not even gonna try and get as many points as possible, just find the first book that fits and that will do lol


Overall, the book was good, Gordeeva's not a writer and there were a few phrases she used repeatedly which made the book a little clunky at times and the ending was sad, but it was a light, entertaining read. I never got bored with it. Her descriptions of her and Sergei's relationships with their coaches and trainers and the Russian sports officials were very interesting. It's a good behind-the-scenes look at the sport of figure skating, growing up in the Soviet Union, and the Olympics.


Country: Poland
Sport: Ice Hockey
10 points- author is Polish and setting is in Poland
3 Points - ..."
What did you think of the book, Anna? I saw the movie a few years ago, and have had the book on my TBR for a long time.

I'm tempted to read it. They were one of my favourite pairs and was shocked when he died. I saw her perform solo in Edmonton a couple of years later.

Just realised that this book doesn't count because it was part of my chunkster challenge.


10 points if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there - Ireland
O:
5 Points - Olympic village: If there is a village in your story
..."
I think you have 29 points, actually.


10 points if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there - Ireland
O:
5 Points - Olympic village: If there is a village in your story
..."
I think you have 29 points, actually.

That's neat that you were able to see her skate. They were one of my favorite pairs to watch too. Is figure skating popular in Canada? We have quite a few good skaters who train in the Detroit area--and Sergei and Katia's choreographer Marina Zueva coaches many of them, but I've rarely ever seen or heard any advertisements about them performing in the area. It's a bit sad really, because there's some very good talent, but the audience seems to be really small.


10 points if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there - Ireland
O:
5 Points - Olympic village: If there is a village in your story
..."
Which sport did you choose?

Yes, it's quite popular. We have several active clubs in this region. Our local club has several skaters going to Fairbanks next month for the Arctic Winter Games.


What did you think of the book, Anna? I saw the movie a few years ago, and have had the book on my TBR for a long time. "
If you liked the movie you're going to like the book.

Going back to fix now :)

List the book you read and score it according to the rules and scoring detailed here. "
Your link isn't working Janice. I click and nothing happens.

There are many weapons in this book and my favorite is Atticus the Druid's sword, Fragarach. His mate has a sword, too, but I can't remember her name. All the Gods and Goddesses have their own weapons, too. Lots of adventure before getting to the finish line!
I'm representing the USA, and some parts of this book are set in the USA. (There is a lot of racing through Europe and fighting there, but since the Druids can shift planes, they end up in the hide-out in Colorado, especially towards the end.)
Scoring: (Count all qualifiers that apply)
10 points if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there.
5 Points - There were many small villages when the Druids were in Europe.
4 Points - Orange on the cover
5 Points - Length is between 300-400 pages long. 384 pages
4 Points - A Lake is in the story. There is an island in the middle of a lake where people/gods/goddesses can be trapped in slow time.
4 Points - Male author
5 Points - Poetry is included in the story.
3 Points - International - set in 3 or more countries.
4 Points - Main character is non-human
4 Points - Shakespeare is mentioned.
3 Points - Science Fiction genre.
47 total points


10 points if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there.
L:
4 Points - A Lake is in the story. (Main character talks about a past holiday to Crater Lake)
Y:
5 Points - Young Adult genre.
3 Points - Year setting is between 1900 and 2000.
P:
5 Points - Poetry is included in the story. (I need ruling on this one: there's a man who plays in a band and writes lyrics. However, his lyrics are referred to as him writing poetry, and one whole poem is included in the book)
3 Points - Pink on the cover.
C:
5 Points - Cold - set in Winter
3 Points - Calligraphy - Title or author's name is written in script on the cover.
S:
5 Points - Series title is same as book title (eg The Shining, The Shining 1)
Total: 43 points. Not bad!

I'm thoroughly enjoying this Iron Druid Chronicles series, Amanda.

review I would be really interested in what others think but this was a bit of a non book for me. A cynical piece of writing where all the characters were for one reason or another washed up. There was no real plot.
The blurb suggests the novel is about escape i think it is more about dissatisfaction, and because of that I, as the reader, come away dissatisfied.
Points not that many but i am new to this
British Figure skating
10 points for set in GB and author from GB
5 for village briefly mentioned page 172
4 points for a male author
5 poetry chapter 29 baudelaire
5 for initials in author's name
3 points for international ? USA GB and Paris briefly mentioned
5 points for cold set in winter
4 points for shakespeare page 146 "yes Shakespeare's family life was falling apart
so 41 if all allowed

Going back to fix now :)"
Bummer! Back to the drawing board. At least it's earlier enough in the month not to affect you adversely!

Fixed! Thanks for pointing that out.

Which book of the series did you read?

Your poetry points count.

review I would be really interested in what others think but this was a bit of a non book for me. A cynical piece of writing where all the ..."
Was the book set in the three different countries, or were they just mentioned? If the latter, the points won't count.

Cocaine Blues for Australia and Biathlon.
Scoring:
10 - Set in Australia and author born there.
3 points - Lady on the cover
3 points - Set in the 1920's
5 points - Poetry. Each chapter started with poetry
4 points - yeah for Shakespeare
Total points: 25


I'll accept that as being partially set in France. 41 points!!

I'll accept that a..."
thanks i have so enjoyed doing this not bothered that my score will be right in the middle

I represented Biathlon for USA- plenty of weapons including a sword called Fragarach
10- author was born in USA
4- orange on cover
5- 304 pages
4- male author
4- main character is non human ( a Druid)
4- Shakespeare is mentioned
Total 31points


10 points if book is set in USA which I am representing AND the author was born there.
O: 4 Points - Orange on the cover
L: 5 Points - Length is between 300-400 pages long (304 pages)
Y: 0 Points
M: 4 Points - Male author
P: 0 Points
I: 0 Points
C: 4 Points - Main character is non-human (A Druid)
S: 4 Points - Shakespeare is mentioned; 3 Points - SciFi
Total: 34 Points


Maybe we need Janice's verdict as Debra also counted her Iron Druid Chronicles read as SciFi.

Sport: Biathlon
O: 4 points - Orange writing on the cover
L: 9 points - Length is between 300 and 400 pages
(368 pages) and there is a lake
(Lake Mondac)
Y: 0 points
M: 4 points - Male author
P: 0 points
I: 0 points
C: 5 points - It´s cold in the story
S: 0 points
Total: 22 points


Country - USA
Sport - Curling (main male character was a musician)
10 points: if book is set in the country you represent AND the author is born there.
O: 0 points
L:
5 Points - Length is between 300-400 pages long (based on the edition you read or as per rule #6).
3 Points - A Lady is on the cover. (Count only once.)
Y:
5 Points - Young Adult genre.
M: 0 points
P: 0 points
I: 0 points
C:
3 Points - Calligraphy - Title or author's name is written in script on the cover.
S: 0 points
Total - 26 points

Fantasy is considered a sub-genre of Sci-Fi. Let me know if you are adjusting your scores.

Debra... where are you? Which book in the series did you read? I think it's Hexed, but I'm not sure. If it is, you scored 47 pts and Esther scored it 27 pts. I'm confused.
Books mentioned in this topic
Running the Rift (other topics)The Road (other topics)
The Road (other topics)
Popular Music from Vittula (other topics)
Popular Music from Vittula (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Leigh Redhead (other topics)Leigh Redhead (other topics)
Dashiell Hammett (other topics)
Yelena Black (other topics)
Oliver Pötzsch (other topics)
More...
List the book you read and score it according to the rules and scoring detailed here.