The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.4 - Ava Catherine's task: Summer of the Gods

This is a two book task. Read a book from two different options.

Required: Identify which options you selected when you post.

Astronomy, Mythology, and Signs of the Zodiac: Gemini, Cancer, Leo
In ancient Greece, the signs of the Greek zodiac were identified with twelve groups of stars (constellations). They were also associated with one of the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water, and behind each one of them lies a fascinating story or myth. The word zodiac comes from a Greek word meaning “the circle of animals,” which refers to all living creatures. With the exception of Libra, each of the myths is associated with living beings, either animals or humans.

Option 1: Gemini/Twins
The myth of Gemini involves Zeus and Leda’s twin sons, Castor and Pollux. Leda was the wife of Tyndareus, King of Sparta. Zeus disguised himself as a swan and raped Leda on the same night that she shared her bed with her husband. As a result, she hatched two eggs from which four children were born, mortal and immortal because they had different fathers. Castor was mortal, and Pollux was immortal. They never fought and loved each other greatly, and the brothers eventually aspired to marry two women who were already betrothed to two of their cousins, which lead to a family feud. Castor was fatally wounded, and Zeus gave Pollux a choice: to spend every day as an immortal on Mount Olympus among the gods, or give half of his immortality to his brother Castor. Pollux opted for the latter, and the twins shared life and death, by spending a day at Olympus together followed by a day at Hades.

➜ Read a book about brothers and/or sisters, or read a book with a bird(s) on the cover

Required: It must be obvious from the book description or first page reviews that the book is about brothers and/or sisters. If you choose the cover option, include the cover when you post.

Option 2: Cancer/Crab
In the myth of Cancer the birth of Hercules, one the greatest Greek heroes, was a result of one of Zeus’s infidelities. As a result of the consequences surrounding his birth, Hera, Zeus’s wife, despised Heracles and wanted to kill him.
While Hercules was fighting the great Hydra, a giant crab, out of love for Hera, sneaked in and pinched Hercules’s foot in an effort to distract Hercules from the fight. As a result, he crushed the crab with one step and defeated the Hydra. As a reward for the its service, Hera placed the crab’s image in the night sky as the constellation Cancer.

➜ Read a book with crabs, sea life, or an animal with an exoskeleton on the cover. Any creature that lives in the ocean (real or fantasy) works.

Required: State what your sea creature is and post the cover of the book.

Option 3: Leo/Lion
The Greek myth of Leo involves one of the twelve labors of the Greek hero Hercules and the notorious Nemean Lion that lived in a cave, terrorizing the Nemean people. Because this monster of a lion had a hide that was so tough no arrow could pierce it, Hercules stunned the beast with his olive-wood club and strangled it with his bare hands. He skinned the lion, using the lion’s sharp claws, and ever after wore its hide made into a cloak as a reminder of his own strength.

➜ Read a book with the theme of bravery or courage.

Required: Explain how the book fits the task when you post.

Option 4: June/Juno The month of June is named after the mythological goddess Juno, the protecting guardian spirit of females, who was the protector and special counselor of the Roman state and queen of the gods. In honor of Juno, we will read books celebrating females.

➜ Read a book written by a female author.

Approved:
Option 1:
(Birds)


(Brothers or Sisters/Any Sibling Combination)
The Silent Twin by Caroline Mitchell
The Glass Kitchen: A Novel of Sisters by Linda Francis Lee
The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe
Sister Dear by Laura McNeill
The Sister by Louise Jensen
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport
The Sisters by Nancy Jensen
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Karolina's Twins by Ronald H. Balson
The Space Between Sisters by Mary McNear
Sister by Rosamund Lupton
Hoarfrost by Jordan L. Hawk

Option 2:
(Sea creature)



Option 3:
(Bravery)
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
Queen's Own Fool by Jane Yolen (AR:UG)
How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
Kokoda by Paul Ham
The Martian by Andy Weir
Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson
Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

saved

This thread is now open!

For Option 1, will a silhouette of a bird be okay?

Will these books work?

For Option 1: Sisters





For Option 3: Bravery & Courage


As per GR data: "a heartbreakingly beautiful story of love, loss, and incredible courage."

For option would the birds of this cover be acceptable?

Boston Kate wrote: "For Option 1, will a silhouette of a bird be okay?

"

Yes, it works for Option 1.

Pia wrote: "Will these books work?

For Option 1: Sisters


For Option 3: Bravery & Courage


Pia,
The Silent Twin certainly works
I cannot tell from the book summary whether the missing sister in Searching for Vivian makes an appearance or is an abstract being sought thoughout the book. If the two sisters have contact, it is ok, if they do not, it will not work.

Everyone Brave is Forgiven is perfect.

I'll go with The Silent Twin and the Chris Cleave book.

Thanks!

For Option 2, would a mermaid/merman work for a "creature that lives in the ocean"? Or are you looking solely for more non-person-ish creatures?
EX:

I have the Chris Cleave book on my tbr, too. I am looking forward to this book. I hope both of these books are great for you.

Wanda wrote: "For option would the birds of this cover be acceptable?

"

This works.

Tara Jo wrote: "For Option 2, would a mermaid/merman work for a "creature that lives in the ocean"? Or are you looking solely for more non-person-ish creatures?
EX:
[bookcover:Merman'..."

Fantasy creatures work. Feel free to read about mermaids, mermen, and, etc. Any of these three books will work.

Looking for confirmation that the following are ok:

Option 1: The Glass Kitchen: A Novel of Sisters

Option 2: (crab in the upper left corner)

Option 3: In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex -- took courage to attempt a 3000-mile ocean voyage in life boats

Thank you.

You have some great choices here.

For option 1, can it be a brother/sister combo or does it need to be brothers or sisters?

Kim wrote: "Looking for confirmation that the following are ok:

Option 1: The Glass Kitchen: A Novel of Sisters

Option 2: [bookcover:The American Plate: A Culinary History in 100 Bites|221131..."

All three books are approved.

Donna Jo wrote: "You have some great choices here.

For option 1, can it be a brother/sister combo or does it need to be brothers or sisters?"

Thanks, Donna Jo.
A brother/sister combo works.

Will this work for bravery?

Queen's Own Fool

Connie (Ava Catherine) wrote: "Donna Jo wrote: "You have some great choices here.

For option 1, can it be a brother/sister combo or does it need to be brothers or sisters?"

Thanks, Donna Jo.
A brother/sister combo works."

Thanks, I had books picked for either way, but it's good to know.

Kathy G. wrote: "Will this work for bravery?

Queen's Own Fool"

It will work for bravery, but it has childrens listed as a main page genre so be sure it fits the AR guidelines.

I checked. Thank you.

I am glad it worked out for you.

Would work for option 2? There is a mermaid on the cover.

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Would work for option 2? There is a mermaid on the cover."

Yes, it works. You have a mermaid and a seal!

cool

It is a lovely cover!

does this work for option3- bravery or courage to to stop a deadly cycle? How to Hang a Witch

JennRenee wrote: "does this work for option3- bravery or courage to to stop a deadly cycle? How to Hang a Witch"

Yes, excellent choice.

For 3: courage / bravery

Kokoda by Paul Ham
Last sentence of the book description notes; Paul Ham captures the spirits of those soldiers and commanders who clashed in this war of exceptional savagery, and tells of the brave souls on both sides of the campaign whose courage and sacrifices must never be forgotten.

Tien wrote: "For 3: courage / bravery

Kokoda by Paul Ham
Last sentence of the book description notes; Paul Ham captures the spirits of those soldiers and commanders who clashed in..."

Yes, it works.

Thanks :)

for option three, is this sea creature enough?



thanks. :)

I'm moving some books around, so would any of the following work for Option 1 - Brothers/Sisters?







Thanks!

Bellagbear wrote: "for option three, is this sea creature enough?



thanks. :)"

Does this creature live in the sea? I don't see anything in the summary about this, but I could be missing something.

It will certainly work for Option 4: female author.

Pia wrote: "I'm moving some books around, so would any of the following work for Option 1 - Brothers/Sisters?





[bookcover:The Sister|299..."

All three of these work.

Connie (Ava Catherine) wrote: "Pia wrote: "I'm moving some books around, so would any of the following work for Option 1 - Brothers/Sisters?





[bookcover:Th..."

Great! Thanks.

to be sure for option 1, a penguin is a bird?



thanks :)

Bellagbear wrote: "to be sure for option 1, a penguin is a bird?



thanks :)"

I'll count it.

Connie (Ava Catherine) wrote: "Bellagbear wrote: "to be sure for option 1, a penguin is a bird?



thanks :)"

I'll count it."

cool! thanks :)

Would The Martian work for bravery? I reckon being stranded alone on an alien planet, and not giving up is pretty brave.

For Option 3, the bravery/courage, will any book be accepted as long as we can justify our opinion of the bravery/courage?

I'd like to read Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson, but based on the description it appears that the main character is certainly brave and courageous, but his brave/courageous deeds are not the main focus of the book.

Trish wrote: "Would The Martian work for bravery? I reckon being stranded alone on an alien planet, and not giving up is pretty brave."

Yes, that is pretty courageous.

Shiraloo wrote: "For Option 3, the bravery/courage, will any book be accepted as long as we can justify our opinion of the bravery/courage?

I'd like to read [book:Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure,..."

Yes, it will work.

Will either of these work for bravery/courage:

Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House

The attempted rescue of a slave and a journey to the underground railroad.

The Lizard Cage

Man tries to survive in prison under brutal conditions.

Connie (Ava Catherine) wrote: "Trish wrote: "Would The Martian work for bravery? I reckon being stranded alone on an alien planet, and not giving up is pretty brave."

Yes, that is pretty courageous."

Thanks

Amy wrote: "Will either of these work for bravery/courage:

Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House

The attempted rescue of a slave and a journey to the underground railroad.

[book:Th..."

Both are excellent examples of courage. Great finds!

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Would this work for bravery/courage?

Chris wrote: "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Would this work for bravery/courage?"

Yes.

Hi there, I'm just looking for confirmation that this book would fit the specification for sea life. It shows a shoal of herring, but to be honest, it's pretty difficult to make out. Just want to be sure!