The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.3 - Best Review - Lauren Jodi's task: Hidden Figures

The Academy Awards were televised last Sunday and aside from the Jimmy Kimmel / Matt Damon running gag, the flying sweets and the Best Picture debacle, it was a mostly uneventful evening. Interestingly enough, this year I had actually watched some of the nominated films, and was disappointed to see that my favorite, "Hidden Figures" was snubbed again and again. So, to compensate in some small way for this travesty, my task is dedicated to this amazing film.

Read ONE book from the following options.
REQUIRED: State the option you chose when posting.

Option 1: TRAILBLAZING WOMEN
The three brilliant women portrayed in the movie, Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, were all firsts. The first African American woman to desegregate the grad school at West Virginia University, the first African American supervisor at NACA, and NASA's first black female engineer.

In honor of these three trailblazing women, read a non-fiction book about a woman or group of women who were the first to achieve something significant in their field (think Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic East To The Dawn: The Life Of Amelia Earhart, or Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize Marie Curie: A Life),
OR
Read a novel with a heroine who is one of these kinds of scientists: Physician, Engineer, Mathematician, Physicist, Biologist, Chemist, Psychologist, Sociologist, Anthropologist, Forensic Scientist. No amateurs in any of these fields.
Required: If the achievement/heroine's profession is not evident in the book's title or description include a reference or quote from the book when you post.

Option 2: GO FLIGHT!
"Hidden Figures" depicts one of the most significant events in space exploration - the Mercury Project and the launch of astronaut, John Glenn, into orbit around the Earth.

Read a book from one of the following listopias (Be careful as it is possible that some of the books do not meet the SRC rules):
Space Race! Books
Space Exploration and Planet Colonization
Required: State which page of the list the book can be found on when you post.

Option 3: AND THE OSCAR GOES TO …
Over the years, numerous excellent books have been adapted for the big screen and nominated for Academy Awards. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find a comprehensive list of these books, so we will have to make do with one category only.

Read a book from the Wikipedia list of films nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. (Be careful as it is possible that some of the works listed do not meet the SRC requirements).
Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
You may select a novel, a play, memoir, a book, etc. Nominees that say adapted from a/the Story, short story, article or comic strip do not work for this task.
Required: Give the title of the film and the name of the work that it was adapted from.

We have lift off!

Option 1a:
Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars
Lab Girl
West with the Night
The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice
Find a Way

Option 1b:
Dangerous to Know
A Golden Web
A Closed and Common Orbit

Houston, we have a problem!

Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud
Passionate Minds
The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II

This help thread is open!

For option 1 would

Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the Worldwork

Marie wrote: "For option 1 would Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud work"

I'm afraid not, Marie.

The book has Children's as a main page genre and a designation of LG in the AR Bookfinder. As such, it does not meet the SRC requirements as stated in the Rules of the Challenge.

Lauren wrote: "Marie wrote: "For option 1 would Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud work"

I'm afraid not, Marie.

The book has Children's as a main..."


sorry i realised that changed my book

Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
does this work

Yes, Hedy's Folly works for Option 1.

I agree with you. Hidden Figures is an amazing film and the story behind it needs to be told.

For Option 1:

Main character is a Forensic psychiatrist

Will it work?

Pia wrote: "I agree with you. Hidden Figures is an amazing film and the story behind it needs to be told.

For Option 1:

Main character is a Forensic psychiatrist."

Yes, that works

Looks like a good series.

i loved Hidden Figures and was soo bummed about its lack of representation...specially since other movies nomined sucked (Manchester by the Sea, I'm talking about you)

Would the book Hidden Figures itself qualify for Option 1? And I agree that it was a great movie.

Diana wrote: "Would the book Hidden Figures itself qualify for Option 1? And I agree that it was a great movie."

I'm actually curious about this myself. I've been wanting to read it after seeing the movie.

...technically, wouldn't it be good for all 3 options?

Dee wrote: "i loved Hidden Figures and was soo bummed about its lack of representation...specially since other movies nomined sucked (Manchester by the Sea, I'm talking about you)"

Totally!

Diana wrote: "Would the book Hidden Figures itself qualify for Option 1? And I agree that it was a great movie."

Of course! I'll add it to the approved list.

Shree wrote: "Diana wrote: "Would the book Hidden Figures itself qualify for Option 1? And I agree that it was a great movie."

I'm actually curious about this myself. I've been wanting to read it after seeing t..."

Definitely 1 and 3. Not sure it its on the listopias though.

Would this qualify for option 1A?

Thank you.

Kim wrote: "Would this qualify for option 1A?

Thank you."

It sounds like the book is about the same women as in Hidden Figures, so I'm going to say yes.

Will this be okay for option 1b? Temperance Brennan is a forensic anthropologist...so not sure if it qualifies. It doesn't mention it in the book info on here but here is a link to a wikipedia article about her. (hopefully the link works)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempera...

Déjà Dead

Would Lab Girl work for option 1b? Or does it have to be fiction?

Will this work for option 1b
A Golden Web
An anatomist falls somewhere in forensics/biologist.

Susan wrote: "Will this be okay for option 1b? Temperance Brennan is a forensic anthropologist...so not sure if it qualifies. It doesn't mention it in the book info on here but here is a link to a wikipedia arti..."

Yes, the Temperance Brennan books work.

Meg wrote: "Would Lab Girl work for option 1b? Or does it have to be fiction?"

Option 1b must be fiction.

That said, this book works for Option 1a - according to Wikipedia Hope Jahren was the first woman to win both the Macelwane Medal and the Donath Medal.

Diane Whitney wrote: "Will Passionate Minds: Emilie du Chatelet, Voltaire, and the Great Love Affair of the Enlightenment work for option 1?"

Unforuntately, no. The book is more about Voltaire than Emilie du Chatelet.

However, if you find a book about her specifically, it will work.

Cathy wrote: "Will this work for option 1b
A Golden Web
An anatomist falls somewhere in forensics/biologist."

Yes. An anatomist is a type of physician.

Lauren wrote: "Meg wrote: "Would Lab Girl work for option 1b? Or does it have to be fiction?"

Option 1b must be fiction.

That said, this book works for Option 1a - according to Wikipedia Hope J..."

Great! Thanks

Please verify for Option 1 - NONfiction about a woman who achieved a first
West with the Night
(If you expand the GR description you'll see the last line is:
— she became the first person to fly nonstop from Europe to America.)

NOTE - The descriptions vary with the editions ... I'm not sure which edition will show up from my library.

Book Concierge wrote: "Please verify for Option 1 - NONfiction about a woman who achieved a first
West with the Night
(If you expand the GR description you'll see the last line is:
— she became the first..."

Yes, Beryl Markham works. Wikipedia confirms that she was the first woman to fly from East to West across the Atlantic.

does The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II also work for 1a?

Dee wrote: "does The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II also work for 1a?"

Sorry, despite their contribution these women were not the first to accomplish something significant in their field.

an autobiography works right then? something like The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice (first female on the supreme court)

or Find a Way - first female/person do to the cuba to US swim with no shark cage

Dee wrote: "an autobiography works right then? something like The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice (first female on the supreme court)"

Yes, that will work

Dee wrote: "or Find a Way - first female/person do to the cuba to US swim with no shark cage"

Yes, this one works too.

Would you accept The Silence That Speaks for 1B? The MC, Casey, is a forensic psychologist. I assume so since both forensic and psychologist are on the list but want to make sure

Maya wrote: "Would you accept The Silence That Speaks for 1B? The MC, Casey, is a forensic psychologist. I assume so since both forensic and psychologist are on the list but want to make sure"

Yes, that works.

Would this book work for Option 1B? A Closed and Common Orbit From the GR book description: "As Lovelace learns to negotiate the universe and discover who she is, she makes friends with Pepper, an excitable engineer, who's determined to help her learn and grow." (Lovelace and Pepper are the two main characters of the novel, both female.) Thanks!

Christine wrote: "Would this book work for Option 1B? A Closed and Common Orbit From the GR book description: "As Lovelace learns to negotiate the universe and discover who she is, she makes friends ..."

Yes. It works because Pepper is an engineer.

Would Winter Journey work for option 1? The main character appears to be a forensic dentist?

Thanks,

Bianca wrote: "Would Winter Journey work for option 1? The main character appears to be a forensic dentist?

Thanks,"

Yes, this works.

Oops - never mind - I just re-read and saw no amateurs, sorry!

For Option 1 can we use A Red Herring Without Mustard where a young girl is a chemist, or is it just women with the actual profession that work?

Would Body Double by Tess Gerritsen work? One of the main characters is a Medical Examiner/Pathologist. I wasn't sure if this would be counted as being a Physician, but (as you can see in the description of the book) she is a doctor. I just wanted to clarify.

Jack wrote: "Would Body Double by Tess Gerritsen work? "

Yes. Maura Isles is a physician.

assuming this one works - Angel of Death Row: My Life as a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer

from the description:
Dubbed the “Angel of Death Row” by the Chicago Tribune, Lyon was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case. Throughout her career, she has defended those accused of heinous acts and argued that, no matter their guilt or innocence, they deserved a chance at redemption.

Dee wrote: "assuming this one works - Angel of Death Row: My Life as a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer.."

Yes, this works.

Just verifying Mrs. Sherlock Holmes: The True Story of New York City's Greatest Female Detective and the 1917 Missing Girl Case That Captivated a Nation. This is my first rodeo here, so I'm still buckling in!
Included in the description:
From defending an innocent giant on death row to investigating an island in Arkansas with a terrible secret; from the warring halls of Congress to a crumbling medieval tower in Italy, Grace solved crimes in-between shopping at Bergdorf Goodman and being marked for death by the sinister Black Hand. Grace was appointed as the first woman U.S. district attorney in history and the first female consulting detective to the NYPD.

Yes, the first woman district attorney works

Would In the Shadow of Man by the one and only Jane Goodall work? I'm pretty sure she was the first woman to live and observe chimpanzees, and probably also primates, in their natural habitat. She also discovered that chimpanzees make tools, eat and hunt for meat, and have similar social behavior to humans according to this website: https://www.famousscientists.org/jane...

Jenny wrote: "Would In the Shadow of Man by the one and only Jane Goodall work? I'm pretty sure she was the first woman to live and observe chimpanzees, and probably also primates, in their natural..."

Yes, this works.