You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Monthly
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November 2013 REPORTING THREAD
Please keep (most of) the discussion to the other thread here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... and leave this one for mainly reporting. Cheers :)
The Breaking Point: Short Stories
by Daphne du MaurierGenre: 0
Author: 0
Title: 0
Cover: 4 pts - Has a flower on it (water lily)
Pages: 3 pts
Total: 7
*
Firefly
by Linda HiltonGenre: 6
4 pts – Western
2 pts - Romance
Author: 0
Title: 0
Cover: 0
Pages: 3
3 pts - 367 pages
Total: 9
Yay Anna, first off the blocks!
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trailby Cheryl StrayedGenre: 5 pts. Autobiography
3 pts. Nonfiction
Author: 0
Title: 0
Cover: 0
Pages: 3 pts.
Bonus: 3 pts.: main character is a writer
Total: 14 points
Spotted in France by Gregory EdmontGenre:
3 pts – Non-fiction
It's a bit of a romance - JP (the dog) finds true love :)
Author:
4 pts – Surname begins with the letter E
1 pts – Is male
I can find no biographical info.
Pages:
2 pts - 240 pages
Bonus
3pts - If one of the main characters in your book is a writer
Total: 13 points
lol Love that you found another dog character book Jmom.
Well, you know I have to read them when I can. Actually, I'm using this book for another group too, where I needed a book with an animal as a main character. A dog, two challenges, what could be better?!
jaxnsmom wrote: "Well, you know I have to read them when I can. Actually, I'm using this book for another group too, where I needed a book with an animal as a main character. A dog, two challenges, what could be ..."I thought I was over my "dog phase" but somehow this one showed up at the library!
Have you read Lost And Found by Amy Shojai, an animal behaviorist? The plot is a little screwy, but the descriptions of the pup's behaviour and thoughts as a service dog are really good.
I read, and thoroughly enjoyed Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys by Billy Crystal.Genre:
Autobiography-5 points
Non-Fiction-3 points
Author is male-1 point
256 pages-2 points
Bonus
Main character is a writer - 3 points
Total- 14 points
1st book: Out of Africa.Genre:
Autobiography - 5 points
Non-fiction - 3 points
Pages:
399 - 3 points (she could not have written one more lousy page now, could she?)
No meteor showers spotted unfortunately :-)
Total:
11 points
2nd book: Infidel.
Genre:
Autobiography - 5 points
Non-fiction - 3 points
Author:
Was born in November - 5 points
Pages:
300-399 - 3 points
Bonus:
3pts - If one of the main characters in your book is a writer
Total: 19 points
3rd book: Our Man in Havana
Author:
Is male - 1 point
Pages:
224 - 2 points
Total: 3 points
Brave New World by Aldous HuxleyGenre: 1 (Kinda Sci-Fi I guess)
Author: 1
Title: 0
Cover: 0
Pages: 2
Total: 4
Yay Jason, first challenge done. And it's totally sci-fi. Did you enjoy?
It was fantastic! I expected something entirely different, but I loved the way he brought his ideas to light, especially how he compared looking for happiness versus looking for truth. All of the Shakespeare references were impressive also, made me feel like I definitely hadn't paid him enough attention in the past. Also, it's nice because now I can finally read Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, which I'm told argues along the vein that Huxley had it more right than Orwell when you look at what's happening in society today. Did you like it?
I read it a quite a few years ago now, and it probably deserves a reread. I really enjoyed it too. There is an ongoing argument in my house whether it is a dystopia or a utopia. And I think that's what makes it rather brilliant in it's ideas. You can't quite pin it down to one or another.That looks like a really interesting book. I'll have to check it out. I personally find myself flicking between whether we are heading towards 1984 or Brave New World, or a completely new horror that no one has thought of yet. Sounds depressing, but it's why i enjoy dystopias so much. They make you think!
Griffin and Sabine by Nick BantockGenre: 2 pt. Romance
Author: 1 pt. Male
Title: 0
Cover: 0
Pages: 0
Total: 3
It was a beautiful little book with a very unique concept. It was written on postcards and letters that one actually removes from the envelopes in the book to read. The artwork on the postcards served as an adult version of a kids picture book. I was hooked into reading the rest of the trillogy and am waiting for the 3rd book from my library. Read one - added two more!
Almeta wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "Well, you know I have to read them when I can. Actually, I'm using this book for another group too, where I needed a book with an animal as a main character. A dog, two challenge..."Hadn't seen that one. Of course now I'll have to add it to the towering pile.
Digital Fortress by Dan BrownBook #2 on my top ten
Genre: 0
Author: 1 pts – Is male
Title: 0
Cover: 0
Pages: 3 pts - 300 - 399 pages
Bonus Points - 0
Total Points: 4
I read:All Quiet on the Western Front
by Erich Maria RemarqueGENRE: 0 points
AUTHOR:
Is Male - 1 point
TITLE: 0 points
COVER:
Has A Flower On It (+ 1 bonus point if it is a poppy) - 5 points
PAGES:
200-299 pages (208pp) - 2 points
TOTAL - 8 points
Tipping the Velvet
by Sarah WatersGENRE:
Romance - 2 points
AUTHOR: 0 points
TITLE: 0 points
COVER: 0 points
PAGES:
400-499 pages (472pp) - 4 points
TOTAL - 6 points
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Trenton Lee StewartGenre:
0 pts
Author:
1 pts – Is male
Title:
0 pts
Cover:
4 pts - Has a flower on it
Pages:
4 pts - 400 - 499 pages
Total: 9 pts
361 by Donald WestlakeAuthor:
1 pts – Is male
Title: (sub-titles do not count)
4 pts – Has a number in it
Pages:
2 pts - 200 - 299 pages
7 point total
Genre:
2 pts - Romance
Author:
0 points (no idea about age and birthday)
Title: (sub-titles do not count)
0 pts
Cover: (based on the issue you read)
0 pts
Pages:
3 pts - 300 - 399 pages
Bonus Points - Once per book
0 pts
Total - 5pts
I spent A LOT of hours reading today, and I finished Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi HendrixGenre:
3 pts – Non-fiction
Author:
1 pts – Is male
Title: (sub-titles do not count)
0 pts
Cover: (based on the issue you read)
1 pts – Has a moustached man on it (no beards and moustache)
Pages:
3 pts - 300 - 399 pages
Total: 8 points
Swann's Way
by Marcel Proust
11/22/13Genre: 0
Author: 1 - Is male
Title: 0
Cover: 1 - Has a moustached man on it (no beards and moustache)
Pages: 4 - 468 pages
Bonus: 3 - the main character (the author) is a writer
Total: 9 points
Heart-Shaped BoxGenre: 0 pts
Author: 1 pts – Is male
Title: 0 pts
Cover: 0 pts
Pages: 4 pts - 400 - 499 pages
Bonus Points: 0 pts
Total: 5 pts
Read Midnight Riot. Fun read.I cannot. Find the month of his birth.
1 pts – Author Is male
2 pts - 200 - 299 pages
Total: 3 pts
Read: Lost in a Good BookLost in a Good BookGenre:
1 pts – Sci Fi
Author:
1 pts – Is male
Title: (sub-titles do not count)
1 pts – Is 5 words long
Pages:
3 pts - 300 - 399 pages
Bonus Points - Once per book
3pts - If one of the main characters in your book is a writer (in honour of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month))
Total: 9 points
I just finished reading Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali and man was it fascinating. Thanks for the challenge, Rusalka!Genre:
5 pts - Autobiography
3 pts – Non-fiction
Author:
5 pts - Was born in November
Pages:
3 pts - 300 - 399 pages
Bonus:
3pts - If one of the main characters in your book is a writer
Total: 19 points
Today I finished Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer.Genre: Non-Fiction=3 points.
Author: Is male=1 point.
Pages: 300-399= 3 points
Bonus: one of the main characters is a writer (Krakauer)=3 points.
Grand Total: 10 points.
Yay! My first challenge, this was so much fun!
I read Sibs by F. Paul Wilson. It was actually better than I thought it would be as I've been spoiled by this author's Repairman Jack series and didn't think this could possibly be as good. Here are my measly points, lol:Genre:
1 pts – Sci Fi
Author:
1 pts – Is male
Title: (sub-titles do not count)
0 pts
Cover: (based on the issue you read)
0 pts
Pages:
3 pts - 384 pages
5 whopping points! Woohoo!
Just finished The Sisters Brothers
on the Kindle. Here is the point tally:Genre: Western 4
Author: Male 1
Pages: 340 3
Amazing total:) 8pts.
Here is my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Lynn G. wrote: "Just finished The Sisters Brothers ..."I've had this on my TBR for a while. I am curious, but never quite compelled to read it!
Woohoo! Completed my first challenge. The good news is I knocked 4 books off my top ten. The bad news, I abandoned 2 of them, I guess my interests have changed since I started my tbr list 2 years ago. Anyway, read 2 of them and here's my highest scoring book.The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie
Genre: Non-fiction-3pts.
Author: 0
Title: 0
Cover: 0
Pages: 336-3pts. (I think. Read the Kindle edition and number of pages wasn't listed, so I went with main edition.)
Bonus points: Main character is a writer-3pts.
Total points: 9
Lori Z
Lori wrote: "Woohoo! Completed my first challenge. The good news is I knocked 4 books off my top ten. The bad news, I abandoned 2 of them, I guess my interests have changed since I started my tbr list 2 years ago..."Nice job, you took the spirit of the challenge seriously.
Now you have to join in the December Tea Cozy. Based on your shelves, you seem to be no stranger to the cozy mystery.
I read Number 9 on my Top Ten List:Dissolution
by C.J. SansomGenre: 0
Author:3
Was born in Scotland
Is male
Title: 0
Cover: 0
Pages: 3
300 - 399 pages
Total Points=6
Almeta wrote: "Lori wrote: "Woohoo! Completed my first challenge. The good news is I knocked 4 books off my top ten. The bad news, I abandoned 2 of them, I guess my interests have changed since I started my tbr l..."Thanks, Almeta! And yes, I'm ready for the December challenge! Cozies are one of my favorite genres. In fact, I had just picked up a culinary cozy at the library the day before the challenge was posted. Now I just have to wait till December 1st to read it.
Lori wrote: "In fact, I had just picked up a culinary cozy at the library the day before the challenge was posted. Now I just have to wait till December 1st to read it. .."I already had a culinary cozy from the library as well. Unfortunately, there is no food related word in the title. :(
Lori wrote: "Woohoo! Completed my first challenge. The good news is I knocked 4 books off my top ten. The bad news, I abandoned 2 of them, I guess my interests have changed since I started my tbr list 2 years a..."Grats Lori! And glad to have helped with some spring cleaning!
Almeta wrote: "I already had a culinary cozy from the library as well. Unfortunately, there is no food related word in the title. :( ..."Same here. But it's an alphabet book anyway. :)
Cozy is not my favorite genre but it has its place. Actually it's a genre I do not know much so i expect to add plenty to my to read list. They are early winter read for me. Insane workload. No sunlight on workdays, freezing temp and €£^%##< white stuff. I just want to curl under a blanket with a cup of tea and a light read.
Rusalka wrote: "Lori wrote: "Woohoo! Completed my first challenge. The good news is I knocked 4 books off my top ten. The bad news, I abandoned 2 of them, I guess my interests have changed since I started my tbr l..."Thanks, Rusalka! I really enjoyed this challenge!
I read -1.The Secret Life of Bees
Title has five words - 1
Has a flower on the front - 4
Is 375 pages long - 3
TOTAL 8
2. The Catcher in the Rye
Author is male - 1
Title is five words long - 1
is 277 pages long - 2
TOTAL 4
I finished To Kill a Mockingbird.Only earned three points for this one for being 323 pages long. Very happy to have finally gotten this off my tbr though.
The Sea For Breakfast
5 pts - Autobiography
2 pts - 222 pages
Total 7 points
(disappointed not to find a meteor shower in there somewhere!)
5 pts - Autobiography
2 pts - 222 pages
Total 7 points
(disappointed not to find a meteor shower in there somewhere!)
I just made it with a few hours to spare! I read Clapton, by Eric Clapton.Genre:
5 pts - Autobiography
3 pts – Non-fiction
Author:
1 pts – Is male
Pages:
3 pts - 336
Bonus Points
3pts - If one of the main characters in your book is a writer. (Eric Clapton wrote this book and he is the main character of the book so I guess that qualifies him as a writer.)
Total points = 15
Almeta wrote: "I've had this on my TBR for a while. I am curious, but never quite compelled to re..."I think you'd like it. Eli is such an interesting character, and in contrast to the action, he speaks with a certain elegance that draws you to him.
Lori wrote: "Woohoo! Completed my first challenge. The good news is I knocked 4 books off my top ten. The bad news, I abandoned 2 of them, I guess my interests have changed since I started my tbr list 2 years a..."Great going Lori! And about the two abandoned ones - now they're off your tbr instead of hanging around, and you didn't waste time making yourself finishing them.
Janice wrote: "I just made it with a few hours to spare! I read Clapton, by Eric Clapton."Way to slip in at the last minute! Is Slick slowing you down? Or do you just like the excitement of barely making it? ☺
It's been a wild and crazy month and I didn't think I would make it. In fact, I almost didn't try! But it was a quick read thankfully.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Out of Africa (other topics)Out of Africa (other topics)
Out of Africa (other topics)
Out of Africa (other topics)
Out of Africa (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
George Eliot (other topics)George Eliot (other topics)
Eric Clapton (other topics)
Eric Clapton (other topics)
James Rollins (other topics)
More...
It’s nearly the end of the year, and I don’t know about you guys (actually, I do and that’s why we’re doing this, but don’t let facts get in the way of a good story) but my TBR is getting longer and longer. Of course all our fellow members are helping us with this, showing us the wonderful world of books we could be reading. But I know some of my books are just not getting to the top of the pile.
So, this month’s challenge is to read one of these books. I want you to go to your To Read shelf.
I want you to click on the # field on the left hand side of the screen so the books are sorted numerically from 1. Like this:
Thanks to Esther: "For those who are looking for the # field, go to edit bookshelves and check "sortable"."
Then I want you to look at your Top Ten. You are going to read one of these books in the next month.
I don’t care if you are meticulously sorting your books every time you add a book to put them in a to read order. I don’t care if those books are the ones that Goodreads threw at you when you signed up so it could work out your tastes. I don’t care if you are like me and one day Goodreads cleared half your TBR and then now all your books are in a random order.
As of today, do not sort these books again until you complete the challenge (I’m trusting you all) and choose one from your Top Ten to read for November.
General rules:
1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be in any genre.
3. The book may NOT be combined with the Year Long Alphabet Challenge.
4. The book must be read between November 1 and November 30, 2013.
5. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose, but only the highest scoring book will apply.
Scoring: (All that apply)
Genre:
5 pts - Autobiography
4 pts – Western
3 pts – Non-fiction
2 pts - Romance
1 pts – Sci Fi
Author:
5 pts - Was born in November
4 pts – Surname begins with the letter E
3 pts – Is currently under 30 (as of the 30 November 2013).
2 pts – Was born in Scotland
1 pts – Is male
Title: (sub-titles do not count)
5 pts - Has an instrument in it
4 pts – Has a number in it
3 pts – Starts with the letter J
2 pts – Has a food in it
1 pts – Is 5 words long
Cover: (based on the issue you read)
5 pts - Has fireworks or an explosion on it
4 pts - Has a flower on it (+1 bonus point if it’s a poppy)
3 pts - Has a turkey on it
2 pts - Has a lantern on it.
1 pts – Has a moustached man on it (no beards and moustache)
Pages:
6 pts – 600+ pages
5 pts - 500 - 599 pages
4 pts - 400 - 499 pages
3 pts - 300 - 399 pages
2 pts - 200 - 299 pages
Bonus Points - Once per book
3 pts - If your book has a meteor shower in it (in honour of the Leonids http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonids)
3pts - If one of the main characters in your book is a writer (in honour of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month))