Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Whoops I forgot. also read 30.9 The newberry award. I read Niel gaiman The graveyard baook and Jaqueline Woodson Tupac and D Foster. Graveyard book was much better. The content of Tupac was far too youth orientated for me. The rightvaudience would love it.

Finished 30.3 BJ Rose's Task Snowed In and Loving It:
This Land Is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation (235 pages)
Full House (352 pages)
The Associate (384 pages)

Living in Arizona I was never snowed in as many of you were but I did manage to complete this one. Great task!

This will bring me to 385 points.

10.7 Sweet Little Lies
(is it horribly embarrassing that I read this AND enjoyed it???)

My favorite tv show is Lie to Me. The main character, Cal Lightman, is able to tell when people are lying and being deceitful. In the book, the main character's "best friend" is only being friends with her to ruin her, and is completely deceptive and manipulative. Both center around lies, people deceiving one another, and pretending to be something that you're not.

I've been reading for this challenge all along, but I couldn't decide how to arrange the points. Here's my final count:

20.3-Group Reads:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass

25.1-Leora's Task:
1) Franny and Zooey
2) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

25.3-Sara Nicole's Task:
1) (for color: yellow/mustard) *GR Author
2) When You Are Engulfed in Flames (weapon: flames)(checked out from my local library)

25.5-Abigail's Task:
The Long Goodbye

25.8-Michelle US' Task:
1) I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere (7+ word title)
2) Naked (1 word title)
Bonus: You can connect the title for book 2 to the title of book 1 with a kinda humorous result. I just realized this when I listed the titles above.

30.7-Jan the Gryphon's Task:
Me Talk Pretty One Day
This book also fits tasks 5.4-A Winning Decade (because the book won the Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2001) and 5.7-Eying the Year of the Tiger (because David Sedaris, born in 1957, and I, born in 1981, were both born in the Year of the Rooster).

Total points: 150

This is the last task I will finish.
I did 15.9:
I read Abyssinian Chronicles because it is the oldest book on my TBR list. I didn't like it very much, 2 stars.

Then I read The Thirteenth Tale. Diane Setterfield was a new author for me.

Final point total: 110

Congratulations BJ Rose (and all the other finishers!)

finished task 25.3 by reading and Fist Stick Knife Gun. bones was a re-read, very sad story, don't want to see the movie and have it ruined for me. fist was pretty grim, and considering it was written over a decade ago felt very "now." shame that things haven't changed at all.

might be my last task, but i've got one book going for a 15 pointed that i MAY be able to finish, we'll see!



Total Points: 955/1100
Books Read: 62/81
Tasks Completed: 42/58
Tasks in Progress: 1

Congrats to all finishers...round of applause!! You are all amazing :)

CONGRATULATIONS to all the finishers! What an accomplishment!

5.4. A WINNING DECADE -The Lightning Thief
American Library Assocation (ALA) Notable Book (2005), A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2005), Askews Torchlight Award (UK) Winner, An ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2005), Sunshine State Young Readers Award (2007)

5.5. A LIBRARIANS JOB IS NEVER DONE - In Honor Of February Being Library Lovers Month�
The Well of Lost Plots Takes place in the Jurisfiction library. The Cat formally known as Cheshire is the librarian.

5.8. BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - Secondhand Spirits: A Witchcraft Mystery

10.6. LOCAL LITERATURE LOVERS - LAURA HEENEY: The Mercy of Thin Air

15.8. SILVER SCREEN CELEBRATIONS
A. Before I Fall takes place on "Cupid's day" on Valentine's day.
AND
B. Clifford's Valentine (a DVD movie)


25.8. MICHELLE US' TASK - JANUARY 30TH IS INANE ANSWERING MACHINE DAY
In Honor Of This Silly Holiday...

A. Title with 7+ words Alphabet Weekends: Love on the Road from A to Z
B. 1 word Whisper Phoebe Kitanidis Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author

30.3. BJ ROSE'S TASK - SNOWED IN AND LOVING IT 825 pp +
The Sea of Monsters pp. 279
Demon Ex Machina: Tales of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom pp.336
The Weight of Silence pp. 384
999 pages read.

Total points: 565

I have a few books that I am reading... I hope to finish one more.

I've completed the last 2 tasks I'm going to get to this challenge...
5.8 Handbags and Homicide
30.7 Purses and Poison - This fits 5.8, 5.10, 15.3A, 25.3B, 25.10A , 30.1A, and 30.6 (I would like to visit California one day).

For this challenge I completed...
30/58 tasks
40 books
13,585 pages
510 points!

I finally completed the second half of a task I had been working on.

30.10 - Color by Numbers:
A. The Red and the Black by Stendhal;
B. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

That brings me to 90 points. Didn't quite make the 100 points I was aiming for but things just got too crazy over these past couple of weeks. Besides, I almost think it is as much fun to think about all the books I could read for all of the tasks as it is to actually read them (but that may just be an excuse from a slow reader...). Looking forward to the spring challenge!

The Red and the Black was 508 pages, which should get me a big books ticket.

My first challenge is complete! Congrats to all that finished. You are amazing! I am definitely making a plan for the Spring and sticking to it.

5.2--Interview with a Vampire--Anne Rice
5.3--Undead & Unemployed--Mary Janice Davidson
5.8--Goodnight Nobody--Jennifer Weiner
5.10--Undead and Unwed--Mary Janice Davidson
10.1--Water for Elephants--Sara Gruen
10.7--A Touch of Dead--Charlaine Harris (True Blood)
10.10--Doctor Zhivago--Boris Pasternak
25.3--Crank--Helen Hopkins (I can't get the book covers to copy onto this thread, but it's black)
25.5--The Host--Stephenie Meyer
30.3--Bright Shiny Morning--James Frey (528)
Thaw--Fiona Robyn (416)

Total Points= 130pts

5. ABIGAIL'S TASK - ODD MAN OUT
Read One Book That Doesn't Fit Any Of The 5/10/15 Point Tasks For You

Owning Your Own Shadow - Robert A Johnson

25 pts

. WENDY'S TASK - WINTER VACATION DREAMS
With The Economy So Very Tight This Winter My Vacation Will Be Imaginary. Read A Book That Takes Place In Your Dream Vacation Spot Then Take A Moment To Imagine That You Are There. Tell Us Where And Why.


Vlad the Drac Down Under by Ann Jurgen

I have always wanted to go to Australia. Particularly along the Great Barrier Reef where I can see the amazing coral and fishes

30 points

Terri wrote: ". WENDY'S TASK - WINTER VACATION DREAMS
With The Economy So Very Tight This Winter My Vacation Will Be Imaginary. Read A Book That Takes Place In Your Dream Vacation Spot Then Take A Moment To Im..."

I hope you had a great winter vacation in Australia!!!

Finished task 25.8a : The Art of Living: A Guide to Contentment and Fulfillment by The Dalai Lama and 25.8b : Mozart by Peter Gay
TOTAL POINTS = 250
That finishes my Winter Challenge, it's been great, thank you once again Cynthia for all your hard work!
Big Congratulations to all the finishers!

I wasn't really participating in the Winter Challenge like I normally do, but I still was able to fit some books into the task list. :o)


*Books I own

15 Points
2. Lewis Carroll: Secrets of Eden - Chris Bohjalian (2/16) 400p *character named Alice
Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Salman Rushdie (2/23) 224 *fictional land
8. Holiday:(book) Wishin' and Hopin' - Wally Lamb (12/4) 275p *Christmas
(movie) Four Christmases - loved it! I <3 Vince Vaughan


25 Points
1. Leora (1001): The Wasp Factory - Iain M. Banks* & (1/11) 184p AND Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters (1/31) 472p
2. Gina (friendship): Looking For Alaska - John Green* (2/25) 221p
*Friendship a main theme
Friendship to me comes in many different forms. My 3 best friends are my husband, my mom, and my girlfriend Kristy, whom I've known since 7th grade. They are the first people I want to talk to when I have good (or bad) news. We've stuck by each other through the wonderful and not so wonderful, and our relationship grows stronger with every passing day. Even though my mom and Kristy live in a different sate, and my husband is currently in a different country, they're still the people closest to me and I'm incredibly grateful for each one of them.
4. Lisa MD (historical): The Diaries of Adam and Eve - Mark Twain* (1/7) 112p *Biblical times & Survivors of the Chancellor - Jules Verne (2/13) 132p *1869-70
*Although I would be curious to see both time periods, I would prefer to live in Verne's time. I've developed a great interest in 19th century fiction over the past year, and would love to experience first hand what life was really like back then.

6. Stephanie US (island): After the Quake - Murakami (2/14) 192p *Japan
7. Sam (LOST): A Moveable Feast - Hemingway (2/22) 192p
The Invention of Morel - Adolfo Bioy Casares (1/25) 103p
8. Michelle US (long/short): Long: We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson* (2/20) 146p AND
Short: Ulysses - James Joyce* (2/1) 783p
9. Bridgit: Part A, MAP: Under the Dome - Stephen King (2/12) 1074p & Part B, Cast of Characters: Evil Under the Sun - Agatha Christie* (2/4) 224p


30 Points
3. BJ Rose (snowed in): Ulysses and Us: The Art of Everyday Living in Joyce's Masterpiece - Declan Kiberd (2/1) 416p AND Await Your Reply - Dan Chaon (1/16) 336p AND An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge - Ambrose Bierce (2/25) 36p
Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes - Jena Pincott (1/20) 384p Total: 1,172p
5. Posthumous: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson* (1/11) 656p and A Certain Slant of Light - Laura Whitcomb* (2/24) 282p
6. Dream Vacation:The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters (1/7) 466p
*My dream vacation has been Venice for the longest time. It's still up there on the list, but it has been recently edged out of the top spot by England. I want to visit Highgate Cemetery (which I read about in Her Fearful Symmetry) and Westminster Abbey, Poet's Corner in particular. And I found this awesome sight with all kinds of great literary, among other, tours:



7. Multi-Task: Laughter in the Dark - Nabokov (2/8) 308p *would work for Sam's Task (it's a Lost book) and Russian author task
9. Newberry Award: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler* 176p & Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me - Konigsburg* (12/2) 126p
*I didn't care for either of these books, but maybe it's because they're very dated and I didn't originally read them as a child. I preferred From the Mixed-up Files (3 Stars) to Jennifer, Hecate... (2 Stars)

35 Points
3. Time: The Year of the Hare - Arto Paasilinna (12/15) 135p



Total Points: 390/1100


If I am missing any requirement to any of the tasks, let me know. Now on to the Spring Challenge!

And Congrats to all of you who finished the Winter Challenge!! :o)

Hello! This is my first time doing a challenge, so let me know if I did anything wrong, thanks! =)

5.6 Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffennegger | GR Author. Dirty Job: Cemetery Tours by Robert
5.9 Love the One You're With - Emily Giffen | GR Author
10.1 Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen | GR Author
10.4 A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini. Lisa's 5-star list
15.9 Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris | GR Author and Bitter Fruit by Achmat Dangor | Gr Author
20.1 Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire | GR Author. Took task from "Dystopian Society" Not sure which challenge, it was in the Help Thread for this task
25.5 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini. Friendship means everything to me, and valuing friendships and mutual respect are important. It was so sad in this book how he didn't appreciate his friend until it was too late.
30.1 The Time Traveller's Wife (movie) - Audrey Niffennegger | GR Author and The Shack (published) by William P Young
30.3 Baby Proof (340 pages) by Emily Giffen | GR Author and Echo in the Bone (824 pages) by Diana Gabaldon
30.7 The Birth House by Ami McKay | GR Author. Could fit into 10.8, 25.4, and 25.9

I have finished my last task of this challenge and am looking forward to starting the Spring Challenge.

I have just finished The Children's Book by A.S.Byatt this was for the 10 point task of popularity contest. My birthday is October and that was one of the popular books in October 09. This book is 615 pages so can i register for a ticket for the big books 20 point task next season!



All reads for the Winter Contest

5.2 She was a Grand Old Flag Maker - The Little White Car by Danuta de Rhodes
5.4 A Winning Decade - The Road by Cormac McCarthy
5.5 A Librarians Job is Never Done - Mr Dixon Disappears by Ian Sansom
5.7 Eyeing the Year of the Tiger - Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
5.8 Baby It's Cold Outside - Chords and Discords by Roz Southey
5.9 Isn't it Romantic - Flights of Love by Bernhard Shlink
5.10 The Allure of Alliteration - The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite by Beatrice Colin

10.1 Under the Big Top - Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
10.4 The Winners Choice - PJReads list Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin
10.5 Popularity Contest - The Children's Book by A.S.Byatt
10.7 Small Screen Stories - My Favourite People and Me by Alan Davies

15.8 Silver Screen Celebrations - A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg and ELF

20.3 Group Reads - The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

25.1 1001 Books - What a Carve up by Jonathan Coe and Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan
25.5 Odd Task Out - American Tabloid by James Ellroy
25.6 Island Dreams - The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
25.7 The Lost Generations - The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald and Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
25.8 Inane Answering Machine Day - The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Diaz and Incendiary by Chris Cleave
25.9 The World of Books - The Principessa by Christie Dickason and The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson
25.10 Don't Judge a Book by a Cover - The Househunter by Henry Sutton and Gear by Doug Tennapel

30.1 Celebrate the End of the Decade - The Girl who Played with Fire by Steig Larrson and Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
30.3 Snowed in and Loving it - The Way Home by George Pelecanos (309 pgs) Tea-time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith (250 pgs) and The Master Bedroom by Tessa Hadley (306 pgs)
30.7 Multitasking - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol

35.2 Going on a Winter Vacation - The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher and Sixty Lights by Gail Jones

I completed 5.10 by reading Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #5).

That is my last book for the Winter Challenge.:-)

My final score is 465.

I'm pretty sure this is my last post for this challenge. I still have one book that I'm listening to, but I can't imagine that I will have time today to finsih so...

for 20.1 (revisiting the past) I read Midnight Rider It has several historical figures as prominent characters including Paul Revere and General Gage.

25.9 (map and extra content) My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier (map) and Fighting Ground by Avi (extra information--translations of German) [Can you tell my class has been studying the American Revolution??:]

30.10 (color and number) Crazy Eights: A Jake Hines Mystery and Blood Orange Brewing I read Crazy Eights at the very beginning of the challenge--maybe even my first book and then just finished Blood Orange Brewing today.

and 30.3 Snowed In and loving it. A Single Shard (192 pages); The Dogs of Babel (288 pages); and A Date You Can't Refuse (352 pages). All of these were parts of other tasks, so I'm glad this task existed so the books didn't get left out!

That puts my final points at 510 and
10974 pages read.

On to spring!

I finished my last task for the winter challenge : for 30.6 (Wendy's task - winter vacation dreams), as I would have liked to go to the Venice carnival, I read La taverne du doge Loredan by Alberto Ongaro.

Here is my complete list, and points :
5 points tasks
4. A winning decade - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon (Pulitzer 2001)
10 points tasks
4. Winners choice - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Diane)

15 points tasks
7. food + family and/or friends = reading fun - La pâtisserie by Marianne Magnier-Moreno and Sonia Lucano and macarons for New Year's eve
8. Silver screen celebration - Houppeland by Tronchet and I watched Polar express

25 points tasks
5. Abigail's task - Odd man out - Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour by J.D. Salinger
10. Emily's task - Don't judge a book by it's cover... unless it's really well designed - Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo and Comme un lundi by James

30 points tasks
1. Bonnie's task - Celebrate the end of the decade (2000-9) - Joséphine 1 & 2 by Pénélope Bagieu and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
6. Wendy's task - Winter vacation dreams - La taverne du doge Loredan by Alberto Ongaro
7. Jan the Gryphon's task - multi-tasking - The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews

35 points tasks
1. PJ Reads task - fun with the Devey decimal system - Oui mon commandant by Amadou Hampaté Ba and The poisonwood bible by Barbara Kingsolver
3. DLM Rose's task - it'Is about time - The Hours by Michael Cunningham

Books read: 16
Challenges accomplished: 11
Points : 255

the end of the line

I read The Girl who played with Fire for my final task, task 10.4 It was a 5 star read for Wendy, Gina and Sam for the last challenge. I completely concur. I wish this author had had the time to complete his goal of 10 books in this series. At least there is a 3rd one coming out!!

My final numbers for the Winter Challenge:

745/1100
tasks completed:33/58
books: 44
pages: 13,197

I am DONE!!!!! Talk about down to the wire!

15-6 I read 'Jane Bites Back' by Michael Thomas Ford. One of the best gifts I have ever received is my first copy of 'Pride and Prejudice', it really started my love of literature, so a book about Jane becoming a zombie seemed like fun!

20-1-Rookie of the Season-I chose to redo 30-9 from the summer challenge which was to pick a book solely based on it's cover. I chose 'Revenge of the Spellmans"



So that brings me to 1100 points. Phew.

CONGRATS LEORA! I cannot wait to see your task. Those of us who did not do Winter Challenge are sitting around watching you guys cross the finish line and chomping on the bit to see all of the tasks that have not yet been posted!!!

Oh and we may also be reading half of some of our books. :)

30.3 BJ Rose's Task - Read 825 pages: Specials with 372 pages, Divine Misdemeanors with 333 pages, and Falling Man: A Novel with 288 pages. Total 993 pages.

Good job, Leora!

30.1 - Published in last decade On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God: Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, Made into a movie in the last decade The Road

30.10 - Happy Color True Blue, Number To the Nines

Task Points:30, 30
Total Points:325
Tasks:16
Books:24

Nicki - STL

Congrats Lenora!

15.6. THE SEASON OF GIFTING & GIVING
A. And Then There Were None. In this book, there is a poem that is posted in every room. For me, the gift was also something I could post in our room. My MIL bought us a beautiful picture that intertwined all of our names (my husbands and kids) into a beautiful piece of artwork.
AND
B. We collected money in a jar and gave it to a church who were collecting money to buy food and supplies for Haiti.

35.1. PJ READS TASK - FUN WITH THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM � Read 2 Books...
A. Catching Fire pp.391
391- Costume and Personal Appearance- Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Foot-binding may be one of the most painful things women have gone through in the name of beauty.

B. +250
641 Food and Drink-Comfort Food

Total points: 600

Congratulations to all the finishers!!!

This will be my last task for winter. I finished BJRose's task 30.3.



Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford who is a goodreads author. (285 pages)

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen who is a good reads author. (250 pages)

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (294 pages)

So I read a total of 35 books and 10642 pages.

Finished with 575 points. On to the spring challenge.

30.7: Multitasking. I read Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This book also qualified for the Readers around the world task. It was also published in 2001 so it counts for the first part of task 30.1.

10.2: Missing Sense. Blindness by Jose Saramago. I hated this book.

30.3: BJ Rose's Task: Read 825pg or more. I read Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins for 448pg. I also read Insomnia by Stephen King for 672 pages. Total pages for this task is 1130.

Total points for this challenge: 205

Final update. It's been so long since I posted that I forget what I'd already counted, so I'm just going to list everything I have. :)

5.8 - Baby It's Cold Outside
You've Got Murder by Donna Andrews

10.4 - Winner's Choice
Fire by Kristin Cashore

10.5 - Popularity Contest
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

10.8 - Oh Canada!
Open Secrets: Stories by Alice Munro

15.8 - Silver Screen Celebrations
A. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
B. Sunset Boulevard

20.1 - Beth MN's Task - Revisiting the Past
Karen's Task - Read a Book About/Set in/or by an author of a country with a name that starts with the first letter of your name (First/Middle/Last)
The Servants' Quarters by Lynn Freed

25.8 - Michelle US' Task - January 30th is Inane Answering Machine Day
A. Write. 10 Days to Overcome Writer's Block. Period. by Karen E. Peterson
B. East by Edith Pattou

25.9 - Bridgit's Task - The World of Books
A. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
B. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

25.10 - Emily's Task - Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover...Unless it's really well-designed
A. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
B. Naruto, Vol. 44 by Kishimoto Masashi

30.3 - BJ Rose's Task - Snowed in and Loving It
The Everafter by Amy Huntley, The Queen's Man by Sharon Kay Penman, Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater (861 pages total)

30.7 - Jan the Gryphon's Task - Multitasking
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman

Total Points - 205
Tasks Completed - 11

Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who participated!

I finished 20.2 by reading The Help which I LOVED!

That makes my final total 440 points.

Just realized I could get points for a book that I only finished half the task. Yea!

20.1: Double Black: A Ski Diva Mystery â€� Wendy Clinch 02/03 **Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author**

Previous task: 15 pointer - Read A Novel That Takes Place In A Location You Plan To Visit During This Challenge OR Have Visited Previously During Winter Break. Had a mini vacation to Vermont the other week to go skiing (which was the whole reason I picked up this book!) We had a nice week of skiing, visiting indie bookstores (used and new) and going to breweries.

New Points: 20
Previous Points: 525
Total Points: 545

Alright, this will probably be my last post for this season's challenge.

5.8 Murder by the Glass (GOODREADS AUTHOR)
someone in the challenge mentioned this book a while ago, and I've really been enjoying the series (I'm on the third one now).

30.3

Fables: Sons of Empire (192 pgs)
Fables: Wolves (159 pgs)
Fables: Homelands (192 pgs)
Fables: Arabian Nights (144 pgs)
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage (304 pgs)

A total of 991 pages.

Thanks again Cynthia for another wonderful challenge!!! :D

the last book I have completed to add to the list, and this is all i'm going to get done for this challenge as I have spent way to much time watching the Olympics :0)
5.8 All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
30.3 The Dead Zone (402pg) & Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (388pg) & The Sea of Monsters (279pg) = 1069 pages

Completed Tasks

5.8 All Together Dead
5.10 Definitely Dead

25.3 Carmilla & The Black Dagger Brotherhood An Insider's Guide
25.6 Emma

30.3 The Dead Zone(402pg) & Shopaholic Takes Manhattan(388pg) & The Sea of Monsters(279pg)
30.7 Lover Avenged

35.1 The Lost World & The Accused
35.3 The Xander Years, Volume 1


Total Points = 190
Tasks Completed 8
Books read = 17
Pages read = 5'813



Partially completed Tasks
15.6B Donated money to the United Way
15.8B Watched the Muppets Christmas Carol
15.9B The Lightning Thief
25.1A The Picture of Dorian Gray
25.10B Spike Omnibus
30.1A From Dead to Worse
30.5A The Lovely Bones

The lesson learned here is don't start so many tasks all at once, try to finish them as you go :0)

I forgot to post my charitable contribution for 15-6!

I started volunteering at a soup kitchen on Wednesday nights last March. It's so fun, we have the same group of consumers come in every week, with a few new faces here and there of course. It's been powerful for me to get to know these folks and really has made me reevaluate my priorities.

Oops--I forgot to tell which task I revisited, so it was last winter 15.6--read a book that features a famous historical figure. I read Midnight Rider which has Paul Revere and General Gage both as prominent characters.

5.8 baby it's cold outside..read Four to Score by Janet Evanovich. I heard that a lot of people don't really think of her as a cozy mystery writer but since I don't really read cozy mysteries a lot I just went by the list they had on the link.

Well that is my winter challenge...it should be 260 points for me this time. Congrats to those who finished!

This is my last post for this season - and my little snail and her bubbles says it all. Slow but having fun. Congrats to all the super readers and a big thanks to Cynthia for all the amazing hard work she put in on this fun challenge! I was also more careful this last post and had my hubby check the numbers - not my best skill. I blew it by ten points last season.

5 Point Tasks - 10 points total
Number 4: Winning Decade - a Book that has won an award in the last decade: Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan - World Fantasy Award 2009 (436 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 5 stars

Number 6: Dirty Job - read a book about a job that you could never imagine doing: Nibble & Kuhn by David Schmahmann - attorney (256 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 4 stars

10 Point Task - 10 points total
Number 7: Small Screen Stories - Favorite TV Show book relation - True Blood; - Defining Twilight by Brian Leaf (183 pp)
Connection is vampires
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 4 stars

15 Point Tasks - 15 points total
Number 5: Around the World - find a reader on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ in a country with a) your first and b) last name initial then read a 5 star book from their list:
b) N- Jamie from Nicaragua - The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka and (224 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 3 stars
a) S- Fuzanda from Singapore - Soulless by Gail Carrigan (357 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 4 stars

20 Point Task - 20 points total
Number 3: Group Read - The Stupidest Angel - by Christopher Moore (306 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 3 stars

30 point tasks - 90 points total
Number 4: World AIDs Day - read a book about a worldwide epidemic: The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley (480 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 4 stars

Number 6: Winter Vacation Dreams - read a book that takes place in your dream vacation spot: Release by Nicole Hadaway - Europe (290 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 4 stars

Number 7: Multi-Tasking - read a book that will fit into two tasks in this winter challenge: The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox fits into tasks 25 point # 10 and 15 point # 2 (276 pp)
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ review - 3.5 stars

Total Points: 145 /1100
Completed Tasks: 8/58
Books Read for Completed Tasks: 9
Pages Read for Completed Tasks: 2808

It still needs updating but this challenge is also posted on my blog


Looking forward to the Spring challenge - Good Luck to all!

This is my first time doing the Seasonal Reading Challenge, and I had so much fun. Thanks to everyone who makes this possible.

10 POINT TASKS

10.4. Winner’s Choice: Rachel Lee gave the books in the Twilight series four stars, so I read New Moon (563 pages).

10.5. Popularity Contest: The Help by Kathryn Stockett (464 pages)

10.8. Oh Canada: I read Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (276 pages). The book takes place on Prince Edward Island in Canada, where Montgomery also lived.

15 POINT TASKS

15. 5. Readers Round the World Unite: My initials are L.A. I chose Lara from Lithuania’s 5-Star book Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (224 pages) and G.P. from Antarctica’s 5-star book Franny & Zooey by J.D. Salinger (202 pages).

15.6. (A) The Season of Gifting and Giving. I am thankful for my health, a God-given gift I often take for granted. Because I can control some aspects of my health, I read The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone (308 pages) for more information on how to keep myself healthy. (B) My husband and I choose charities at the end of each year with which to share our financial blessings. This year we gave financial gifts to charities like International Justice Mission, Voice of the Martyrs, World Vision, and Compassion International. We also cleaned out our closets and the end of the year and donated our gently-used items to the local ARC.

15.7. Food + Family and/or Friends = Reading Fun (A) I read the cookbook Conscious Cook by Tal Ronnen (237 pages). (B) I prepared the recipe Pine Nut & Basil-Seared Gardein Chicken with Lobster Mushroom Beurre Blanc, Braised Kale, and Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, which was a vegan recipe that satisfied both me and my family!

15.10. We Will Remember You. (A) I read The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike (307 pages). (B) I watched Clueless (still one of the best movies ever), which starred Brittany Murphy.

20 POINT TASKS

20.2. Revisiting the Past: I am revisiting Diane’s Task from the Fall Reading Challenge 2009. The task asked for each person to read two self-improvement books, one self-help book and one book in which the main character undergoes a significant positive change in his life as a result of self improvement. For the former part of the task, I read Stop Whining, Start Living by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (198 pages). For the latter part of the task, I read Getting Things Done by David Allen (256 pages).

20.3. Group Read: The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore (320 pages).
Discussion Post: Ugh. I barely made it through The Stupidest Angel. This was definitely not my sense of humor, and Moore didn't even get a smirk out of me through the entire book. I saw every joke coming from miles away, and I figured out the ending about halfway through the book. I won't read another book by Moore, but I'm glad to see the majority of you liked it.


25 POINT TASKS

25.2. Gina’s Task: I read Girls Night Out, edited by Carole Matthews and Sarah Mlynowski (390 pages). The book is a collection of short stories about women by women. I have the most wonderful friends in the world. My friends pull me through tough times, laugh with me, cry with me, talk with me through all hours of the night. They are my support and my reality check. They celebrate who I am and love me even when I don’t deserve it. I am so thankful for my friends.

25.5. Odd Man Out: I read Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas (286 pages).

25.8. Michelle Us� Task: (A) I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (226 pages). (B) I read Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (629 pages).

30 POINT TASKS

30.9. Rachel Lee’s Task: I chose the year 2007, and I read Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm (274 pages) and The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (134 pages). I liked Penny from Heaven better because I felt like I learned about Italians during World War II. Her story was based on her family history.

35 POINT TASKS

35.2. Donna Jo’s Task: I chose the phrase warm beach. I read The Beach House by Jane Green (340 pages). I also read Warm Springs by Susan Richards Shreve (224 pages).

35.3. DLM Rose’s Task: I read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult (455 pages).

35.4. Roseann’s Task: My resolution was to become a vegetarian. I am choosing to be a vegetarian for ethical reasons, but I also desire the health benefits that come along with the lifestyle. (A) I read Fat Girl by Judith Moore (196 pages). (B) I read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin (225 pages).

Total Pages: 6508
Total Points: 340

A few more tasks done. I don't think I'm going to finish (although I only have three books left to finish.)

10.10 Russian Book - I read Pelagia and the Black Monk by Boris Akunin. This is a mystery series featuring Sister Pelagia a nun in Russia during the late 1890's/early 1900's. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading other books in the series.

15.1 - For a satire, I read a political satire, namely Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley. It is about a very unpopular President (called Don Veto by Congress) who is frustrated by his attempts to nominate a Supreme Court Justice replacement. He is being sabotaged by a Senator who wants the job for himself, so he decides to nominate a TV judge (think Judge Judy, but younger, Texan and hot). It was OK. Not as funny as some other Buckley works I have read.

For the film portion, I watched Pretty Persuasion, a black comedy starring Evan Rachel Wood as a sociopathic prep student with aspirations of fame, who is manipulating every one around her for a purpose. The movie was very dark, but also enjoyable. The character of Kimberly sort of reminded me of a way more intense Tracy Flick (from Election.)

15.4 - I love puzzle games, namely sudoku, so I read The Sudoku Murder: A Katie McDonald Mystery by Shelley Freydont. This was an easy and fun to read cozy. I then played sudoku for an hour on my Iphone, lol.

15.7 - I read The Sweet Life in Paris: A Recipe for Living in the World's Most Delicious City by David Lebovitz. I was sort of annoyed by this book because of Lebovitz's snarky narration. He reinforces stereotypes of smelly, angry and mean Parisians while also criticizing the stupid fat American tourists. It made me want to write a book about annoying ex-pats that think they are better than everybody else. However, the recipes in this book are very simple and intriguing.

I made the Spiced Nut Mix and am in fact snacking upon it right now. I also tried out the Clafoutis, and can I just say, yummy. My husband, who is not a dessert person, actually loved it. I look forward to trying out Lebovitz's Cheesecake recipe, as soon as I get my hands on a springform pan. If you are interested, you can get some recipes from Lebovitz's website.

25.1 - Two books from the 1001 books to read before you die, I read The Devil and Miss Prym by Paolo Coehlo which was too preachy for my taste, and this morning, I finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel, which I enjoyed.

25.6 Island book - I read Before Night Falls: A Memoir by Reinaldo Arenas. Incredible book, one of the best memoirs I have ever read. This is the story of Reinaldo Arenas, a Cuban writer who was persecuted for his writing and for his homosexuality. He was imprisoned, informed upon by "friends" and finally escaped during the Mariel boatlifts, finally committing suicide after suffering with AIDS.

Previous Score: 950
Current (and perhaps final?) score: 1030

Sara wrote: "A few more tasks done. I don't think I'm going to finish (although I only have three books left to finish.)

10.10 Russian Book - I read Pelagia and the Black Monk by Boris Akunin. Th..."

Go for it! You've still got about 9hrs for three books! I know you can do it~

And yay for all the other people who have finished or met their goals!

Here are my last two completed tasks

25.8. MICHELLE US' TASK - JANUARY 30TH IS INANE ANSWERING MACHINE DAY

A. Read A Book With An Unnecessarily Long Title (At Least 7 Words)
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Houston

B. Read A Book With A Very Short Title (1 Word).
Lightbreaker by Mark Teppo

25.10. EMILY'S TASK - DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER...UNLESS IT'S REALLY WELL DESIGNED

A. Making A Great First Impression: Read A Book That's Cover Design Draws You In.
Desolation Road by Ian McDonald
I love all covers by Stephan Martiniere but this one is truly magical


B. It's What's Inside That Counts: Read A Graphic Novel.
Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman


Task Points: 50
Total Points: 170
Completed tasks: 7
Books read: 12


Thanks everyone, it's been great fun. Shame that I found out about this only few weeks ago.
Looking forward to the Spring Challenge!

One last addition, I completed 30.3 BJ Rose's Task, Snowed in and Loving it with: In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce, and Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce. Total pages: 976. Tamora Pierce is a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author.

Almost made it to my personal goal this time :) at least I'm ever improving.

Congratulations to everyone who finished!

Ms Anderson wrote: "Sara wrote: "A few more tasks done. I don't think I'm going to finish (although I only have three books left to finish.)

10.10 Russian Book - I read Pelagia and the Black Monk by Bor..."

I'm going to try, but I have to cook dinner. Cooking and reading at the same time is dangerous, although I do it often.

Finished my last task for this challenge:

35.4. ROSEANN'S TASK - READ ABOUT YOUR RESOLUTION
Figure Out What Your New Year's Resolution Will Be (Make One Up If You Don't "Do" Resolutions)

My New Year’s Resolution was to get more sleep at night � I’m tired of always being tired because of lack of sleep!

A. Read A Fiction Book With A Word In The Title That Pertains To The Resolution-- I read a fiction book with “sleep� in the title:

The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey (Paperback, 448 pages)

AND
B. Read A Non-Fiction Book Which Talks About Your Resolution i.e.-A Diet Book, A Money Management Book, Etc.

Good Nights: How to Stop Sleep Deprivation, Overcome Insomnia, and Get the Sleep You Need by Gary K. Zammit (Paperback, 242 pages)

715 + 35 = 750



Tasks Completed: 36
Points for this task: 35
Points thus far: 750/1100
Books read: 49
Pages Read: 15,830
Read but not claimed: 3 books

Which works out to an average of 175.8 pages read per day and 16 1/3rd books per month, with each book having an average of 323 pages.

The unclaimed books were:
Strange Brew edited by P. N. Elrod (372 pages)(meant for 25.3(People/Blue) //
The Trojan War: A New History by Barry Strauss (meant for 25.4) (288 pages)
Doctor Who: Winner Takes All by Jacqueline Rayner (288 pages) (meant for 15.9(B)) //
A total of 948 pages. So, altogether, I read 16,788 pages, an average of 186.4 pages a day, and 17 1/3rd books per month, with an average of 322.8 pages per book.

Onwards to the Spring Challenge!

Books read for the Winter Challenge (bookcovers):

5 points


10 points


15 points


20 points


25 points


30 points


35 points


50 points

15.2 Completed: The Confessions of Max Tivoli for the character, Alice
The Magicians for the "other world"

The Magicians was REALLY interesting.

Also completed: 30.7 Bridge of Sighs which also fit 15.9 (b) and 25.3 (a)

This brings my final total to 180 points. 20 shy of my goal, but I read some great books!

Heather in KS
Final total: 180

Coming in just under the wire

35.4 Resolutions (mine is to lose weight)
A. The Thin Place
B. Believe It, Be It: How Being the Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life

Total Points 105