The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.6 - M1nks's task: Natural Wonders
For this task I am acknowledging the Fall Season challenge of 'Natural Wonders'.

You may read either TWO books from 2 different options or ONE book of at least 500 pages that fulfills one option.

Required: State which option(s) you used when you post.

1. In the 18th and 19th centuries 'civilised' Europe began to take a greater interest in the wider world, not just in the colonies of North America but in the exotic lands of South America, India, Asia and the islands. These places held great fascination and goods and art showcasing the natural beauties and wonders of these places started to appear in the houses of Western Europe.

Read a book which is set at least 75% in the lands of South America, India, Asia or the South Sea islands.


2. England is a small country with a population of over 53 million but it is still possible to find isolated places where you can live in relative privacy (more so if you leave England and travel up north to Scotland).

For this task, read a book which is set over 75% in an isolated area and apart from people. You can read a book set in a community so long as the community itself is small (no more than 50 families) and, of course, set in an isolated spot.
Examples: , ,
Required: Include a reference or quote that proves the setting fits the task when you post.

3. Read a non-fiction book with a main page genre of: Nature, Natural History, Biology or Animals. Genres may be embedded.

Happy, Sunny Days!

Option 1: 100 Hours

Option 2: Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer, The Beach, Beauty Queens, The Tenderness of Wolves, Mardi and a Voyage Thither, A Map for Wrecked Girls, Lamb in His Bosom, Annihilation, The Supernatural Enhancements, His Bloody Project, The Assassin Game, The Cave, Slawter


Option 3: Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale, Shark Trouble, The Tyrannosaur Chronicles: The Biology of the Tyrant Dinosaurs

The Sky Is Raining On Your Parade :-(

This help thread is open!

Would The Tenderness of Wolves work for Opt 2 set in an isolated area?

KSMary wrote: "Would The Tenderness of Wolves work for Opt 2 set in an isolated area?"

It seems to qualify so far as isolated location goes so it would depend on how many familes are meant by 'tiny'. Definitions can vary and I haven't read the book so you'll have to make that call yourself. If you think there are 50 or fewer families in the settlement then it will qualify.

It would also qualify if 75% of the action is set outside of the main settlement in the wilderness or a far outlying property.

Would this work for option 2? The main character starts out exiled to a lighthouse, then on a whaling ship.

Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer

Thanks

Kim wrote: "Would this work for option 2? The main character starts out exiled to a lighthouse, then on a whaling ship.

Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer

Thanks"

Yes, that would definitely fit the bill.

Nicola wrote: "Kim wrote: "Would this work for option 2? The main character starts out exiled to a lighthouse, then on a whaling ship.

Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer

Thanks"

Yes, that would definit..."

Great! Thanks. Plus it's > 500 pages so it will work for the one-book requirement.

Just making sure that I understand the page requirement: the task description says "You may read either TWO books from 2 different options or ONE book of at least 500 pages that fulfills one option." So if I choose the two-book option, the combined number of the pages doesn't need to be at least 500 pages? That's the way I'm reading it now.

Camilla wrote: "Just making sure that I understand the page requirement: the task description says "You may read either TWO books from 2 different options or ONE book of at least 500 pages that fulfills one option..."

Yes

For Option 2, could I see what you think about these two: The Beach or Beauty Queens? I realized that I have already read the Tenderness of Wolves and if anyone else is looking, it would qualify from what I remember about it. :)

KSMary wrote: "For Option 2, could I see what you think about these two: The Beach or Beauty Queens? I realized that I have already read the Tenderness of Wolves and if anyone else is..."

Going by the blurbs and the reviews those two books look like they qualify.

I want to verify Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale for option 3 for nonfiction and animals

If reading two books does the page count have to total 500?

Wanda wrote: "If reading two books does the page count have to total 500?"

No

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I want to verify Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale for option 3 for nonfiction and animals"

Verified

thank you

Please confirm this book qualifies for the 1-book option
Option 1 - Set entirely in South America (Columbia)
(533 pg)

For option 2 - would The Anchoress by Robyn Cadwallader works?

She lives isolated from everyone though her living space is attached to the side of a village church. I'm pretty sure it's a fairly small village.

Option 2 question. . . . Would the book Wool work?

Specifically, does anyone know if at least 75% of the story takes place inside the silo in and, if so, does anyone know the approximate amount of families that occupy this underground contained civilization ?

Sandi wrote: "Option 2 question. . . . Would the book Wool work?

Specifically, does anyone know if at least 75% of the story takes place inside the silo in and, if so, does anyone know the appro..."

It certainly takes place within the silo, but there are thousands of people in the silo, iirc

thanks Cat! I'll look for something else then.

Stillhouse LakeWill this work for option 2. Summary says remote lake.

Book Concierge wrote: "Please confirm this book qualifies for the 1-book option
Option 1 - Set entirely in South America (Columbia)
(533 pg)"

If it is set entirely in South America and is over 500 pages then it obviously qualifies. No need to check books like these :-)

Tien wrote: "For option 2 - would The Anchoress by Robyn Cadwallader works?

She lives isolated from everyone though her living space is attached to the side of a village church..."

The village will probably be larger than 50 families if it's large enough to support a church which can house anchorites. However it will qualify if 75% of the book deals with the isolation of the Anchoress, as an anchorite lives in almost total isolation which fits the meaning of the task of being apart from other people.

My only reservation is that the book may not be entirely about her as it would seem difficult to write an entertaining book when the main character lives in a small room and doesn't speak to anyone. So it might deal also with her life before or the lives of the people in the town around her. If no one here has read it then you'll have to decide if it fits when you read the book. If so then you can reference this when you post the task.

JennRenee wrote: "Stillhouse LakeWill this work for option 2. Summary says remote lake."

The lake may be remote but one of my friends reviews says that she (the book protagonist) goes to live in the small town by the lake. So it would depend on how big that town was.

I can send a message to her and ask if she thinks it would fit the task if you like?

Mardi and a Voyage Thither by Herman Melville

I started reading this one for another part of the challenge, but I am wondering if this one could count as the 1 book option for option 1.

The book, as far as I can tell, takes place almost entirely in or near the south sea islands. In the beginning it's just a couple of guys escaping on a whale boat and after a time they land on a small island within a Polynesian island group. They stay on that island for a bit then travel to some of the other islands in the group in a canoe. I haven't finished it yet, but it looks like they stay among these islands for the remainder of the book.

Alternately, it could count as option 2 as much of the time the main characters are on a small canoe or on a whale boat out in the ocean or in a small island settlement. All of the settlements seemed to be small from the descriptions, but I'm not sure if they are small enough to count here as the numbers of people aren't really mentioned in a clear way.

Nicola wrote: "JennRenee wrote: "Stillhouse LakeWill this work for option 2. Summary says remote lake."

The lake may be remote but one of my friends reviews says that she (the book protagonist) g..."

That would be great. Thanks

I think I found one. With this one work for isolated. A Map for Wrecked Girls. And this one for the first option. Set in Columbia 100 Hours

Since there are so few genres listed, I wanted to confirm Animals for this book.

Lavender wrote: "Mardi and a Voyage Thither by Herman Melville

I started reading this one for another part of the challenge, but I am wondering if this one could count as the 1 book op..."

That is a very peculiar one - the review seem to indicate that it starts out in Polynesia but then it changes into some sort of fantasy world.

It does look as though it would fit the second task and possibly the first, but I'll just confirm it for the second for now.

JennRenee wrote: "I think I found one. With this one work for isolated. A Map for Wrecked Girls. And this one for the first option. Set in Columbia 100 Hours"

They are both fine.

Tess wrote: "Since there are so few genres listed, I wanted to confirm Animals for this book. "

Confirmed.

Nicola wrote: "Lavender wrote: "Mardi and a Voyage Thither by Herman Melville

I started reading this one for another part of the challenge, but I am wondering if this one could count..."

Thanks!

Would Annihilation work for Option 2? Per the description, it's about an 4 person expedition to the mysterious "Area X", which "has been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades."

Nicola wrote: "Tien wrote: "For option 2 - would The Anchoress by Robyn Cadwallader works?

She lives isolated from everyone though her living space is attached to the side of a v..."

ok, thanks, Nicola :)

Morning

For option 2, I wonder if Bad Blood would work. Its set in the Alaskan "bush" - i.e. in one of the parks, rather than one of the towns or cities.

Failing that, what about His Bloody Project, set in a "remote community in the Scottish Highlands"

Hi, I would like to check on this one for option 2 - The Supernatural Enhancements. It says it is set in the "estate of Axton House, deep in the woods of Point Bless, Virginia". Having just survived Irma, I need a bit of an easy escape and a Gothic thriller should fit the bill!

I'm reading this for a different challenge, but it definitely fits Option 2 "isolated" .... the family lives in a homestead cabin in the woods, and most of the book is just the family in/around their homestead.

Brooke wrote: "Would Annihilation work for Option 2? Per the description, it's about an 4 person expedition to the mysterious "Area X", which "has been cut off from the rest of the continent for d..."

Yes, it would. It's a strange book that one! :-)

Trish wrote: "Morning

For option 2, I wonder if Bad Blood would work. Its set in the Alaskan "bush" - i.e. in one of the parks, rather than one of the towns or cities.

Failing that, what about ..."

His Bloody Project looks fine to me. I'm not so sure about the other one because it's not clear if most of the action takes place in the bush or in/around the two villages. I'd have to have it confirmed by someone who has read it to pre-confirm it.

Terri FL wrote: "Hi, I would like to check on this one for option 2 - The Supernatural Enhancements. It says it is set in the "estate of Axton House, deep in the woods of Point Bless, Virginia". Hav..."

Absolutely perfect! Enjoy!

Book Concierge wrote: "I'm reading this for a different challenge, but it definitely fits Option 2 "isolated" .... the family lives in a homestead cabin in the woods, and most of the book is just the family in/around the..."

Ok I'll add that to the approved list.

Thanks for a great task.

Could you OK The Ecological Rift for "Biology" for Option 3?

Nicola wrote: "His Bloody Project looks fine to me. I'm not so sure about the other one because it's not clear if most of the action takes place in the bush or in/around the two villages. I'd have to have it confirmed by someone who has read it to pre-confirm it. "

Righty ho.

Nick wrote: "Thanks for a great task.

Could you OK The Ecological Rift for "Biology" for Option 3?"

Confirmed.

Would The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse work for Option 2? It's set entirely on "the remote reservation of Little No Horse," in North Dakota... but I cannot tell how many members of the Ojibwe tribe lives there.

Christi wrote: "Would The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse work for Option 2? It's set entirely on "the remote reservation of Little No Horse," in North Dakota... but I cannot tell how m..."

I don't think so, unless the tribe would be realistically smaller than around 250 people?

Would The Assassin Game work for option 2 -- it is set at an isolated island boarding school in Wales. There's a causeway that you can only use when tide is out so also isolated in that way, and it's an exclusive (gifted/rich) school so limited enrollment.