The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.6 - Mstan's task: This is Home, Truly

In about a week's time, I'll be packing up and leaving my home, Singapore. I'll be doing my Master's programme in the US for about a year!

This is the second time I'm leaving for the States for a prolonged period of time for my studies. The last time was more than 10 years ago, and I think I was raring to leave at that time, as I was getting rather restless at home (also, I was a teenager then). Things are slightly different now... Although I am excited, I also know I will be quite homesick, at least at first.

To remind myself of home, this task is designed with Singapore in mind.

Choose any two options below. You have to do two different options.

REQUIRED: In your post, state the options you chose.

Option 1 - It will be Singapore's 50th birthday in 2015 (yes we are young!). Read a book with 5 and 0 in its total page count.
NOTE: ebooks without print versions cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. If you read an ebook or audiobook use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.

Option 2 - Singapore is a tropical city/country. Read a book about a tropical country or set in a tropical country, as defined on this list.

Option 3 - This may not be too widely known a fact as Singapore's very urban - we're also known as a Garden City! We recently put in a submission to have the Singapore Botanic Gardens designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. Read a book with the letters 'G', 'A', 'R', 'D', 'E', 'N' found in the title and subtitle.

Option 4 - We're one of the smallest countries in the world (192nd on this list). Read a book with something small (and inanimate - i.e. no living creatures allowed) on the cover - defined as something that can fit completely in the palm of one hand. Required: Please include the cover in your post and specify the "something small."
Examples:

Option 5 - English is our first language - all subjects (except Mother Tongue Languages) are taught in English in school. This is partially due to the fact that we were a British colony for more than a hundred years, during Britain's 'imperial century'. Read a book that was first published during that period, 1815-1914. (We also chose English as our first language because it was the pragmatic choice).

Option 6 - Singaporeans love food. A non-Singaporean friend once observed that we are the only people he's known of, who talk about past and future meals when we are eating our present meal. Read a book with 'food' or 'food and drink' on the genre list on the book's main page.

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This thread is now open.

For Option 4 - would the lock on this cover be considered "something small"

(Congrats on the master program!)

Checking for Option #4:
I'm assuming the necklace is normal sized to fit in a palm.

Would this necklace or cup work for Option #4?

Does the lock on the door work for Option 4?

How about a necklace that a person is wearing?

Would you accept the flower buds or the necklace on this cover.. ?

Rebecca NJ wrote: "For Option 4 - would the lock on this cover be considered "something small"

(Congrats on the master program!)"

Thanks Rebecca! Yes, this works.

Morgan wrote: "Checking for Option #4:
I'm assuming the necklace is normal sized to fit in a palm."

yup

Cait wrote: "Does the lock on the door work for Option 4?

"

Yup - same as for msg 4.

Susan A wrote: " How about a necklace that a person is wearing?"

ok

KSMary wrote: "Would you accept the flower buds or the necklace on this cover..?"

ok for the pearl necklace - please point it out when you post

Whoops, sorry! Didn't see someone had already asked. Thanks!

mstan wrote: "Thanks Rebecca! Yes, this works."

Thank you!

Just want to double check that this counts as a subtitle for this story?

The Outcast: a modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter

Thank you again! Sorry for bugging you again lol

Cait wrote: "Just want to double check that this counts as a subtitle for this story?

The Outcast: a modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter

Thank you again! Sorry for bugging you again lol"

Hi Cait, no problem - yes, the part after the colon is the subtitle, so this works for Option 3.

Angie wrote: "Would this necklace or cup work for Option #4? "

I'm not so sure about the cup, but the necklace works fine. Please point it out when you post.

For option 4, are you going with true-to-life scale, or actual scale? So if an object on the covers is, say, a wedding ring...but it's large on the cover...are you going with the realistic size (we know a wedding ring is the size that fits in the palm) or the fact that it's large on the cover makes it not small?

I can't find the book I'm picturing right off, but wanted to confirm the goal before I spent too much time looking for this book. Thanks!

Tara Jo wrote: "For option 4, are you going with true-to-life scale, or actual scale? So if an object on the covers is, say, a wedding ring...but it's large on the cover...are you going with the realistic size (w..."

Hi Tara Jo, I'm going with true-to-life scale.

Option 2 : Claire of the Sea Light

Option 3 : A Prayer for the Dying

I'm excited to be able to move these two titles from my unfinished spring challenge list to this cycle!

Good luck with your degree!

Pat wrote: "Option 2 : Claire of the Sea Light

Option 3 : A Prayer for the Dying

I'm excit..."

Thanks Pat. Option 2 works as it's set in Haiti. Your choice for option 3 works too.

Will a Chess Piece work as something small for Option 4?

I'm thinking a peach might work. Will it?

mstan, I'm so excited about this task because I'm actually going to Singapore for work in November and I'm so excited! I would love to read something good set in Singapore -- any suggestions?

Would the watch work for option 4


congrats on your masters!

For Option 4 I seem to have a lot of books with cupcakes or tennis balls on the cover. Would they work? I do have plenty of other options, just wondering if this general size is too large. Thanks!



Great task by the way! It was fun reading a bit about Singapore! It's been on my travel bucket list for a bit!

For option 4, does a jam tart work?

Kaora wrote: "For option 3 I am reading Gardens of the Moon"

OK

LouLouReads wrote: "For option 4, does a jam tart work? "

Yup

Shauna wrote: "For Option 4 I seem to have a lot of books with cupcakes or tennis balls on the cover. Would they work? I do have plenty of other options, just wondering if this general size is too large. Thanks..."

OK for both! I hope you make it here some day :)

Nikita wrote: "Would the watch work for option 4


congrats on your masters!"

Thanks Nikita! This works.

Fandury wrote: "Will a Chess Piece work as something small for Option 4?

"

yup

Bea wrote: "I'm thinking a peach might work. Will it?"

Yup, it will.

Katy wrote: "mstan, I'm so excited about this task because I'm actually going to Singapore for work in November and I'm so excited! I would love to read something good set in Singapore -- any suggestions?"

Hi Katy! I am excited for you! PM me if you need any suggestions on things to do (if you have any free time while you're here).

Unfortunately, I can't offer a wide selection of books (particularly novels) set in Singapore... I have heard that The Singapore Grip is good but haven't read it yet. For more contemporary/locally-originated works, you can try:

Notes From An Even Smaller Island - observations by an expat living in Singapore - funny, light-hearted read

Everything but the Brain - I really enjoyed watching this play. Jean Tay has also written another play, Boom. Kuo Pao Kun is another playwright whose plays I've enjoyed; he wrote plays in Chinese but some are available in translated form.

We have some good poets - you may want to check out the list on wikipedia.

For a more serious, political look at Singapore, I've heard that Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going and Hard Choices: Challenging the Singapore Consensus are good.

You may have some difficulty getting the books where you are though. And let me know if you need any help adding books to GR.

Oh yes, King Rat is also set in Singapore (during WWII), and I've heard it's good too :)

Thanks so much, mstan! I may well PM you! I can't wait!

Hi! For Option 4 (something small, inanimate that fits in the palm of the hand) I have a book that has a paint tube on the cover.

Does it work for challenge?

Pia wrote: "Hi! For Option 4 (something small, inanimate that fits in the palm of the hand) I have a book that has a paint tube on the cover.

Does it work for challenge?

[bookcover:The Terrible Privacy of M..."

I think paint tubes generally fit in the palm of one hand, so I would accept it :)

Just making sure this would work for the inanimate object task.

Cynthia wrote: "

Just making sure this would work for the inanimate object task."

Yup it works for Option 4.

Option 4 Paper Towns and Option 5 The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin published in 1818.

Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

seeking approval for opt #2 on your task with the above book. story starts in usa, but approx. 75% takes place in indonesia on parwati island.

Please verify Taste Test for the genre Food and Drink.

OPTION 3 - letters G A R D E N in title - not in order, but all letters are in "arRANGED"
Arranged Marriage: Stories


OPTION 6 - "food and drink" on main page
Not Becoming My Mother: and Other Things She Taught Me Along the Way

would be ok for option 4?

Navarra wrote: "Option 4 Paper Towns and Option 5 The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin published in 1818."

Hi Navarra, your choice for Option 4 works if it's the same cover that's being referred to in msg 43. Please post the cover when you complete the task and point out the pushpin/thumbtack. For option 5, I'm not seeing the publication year 1818 on the page. The oldest edition and Wikipedia cite the year as 1791, which would not work for this task.

Lindy-Lane wrote: "Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

seeking approval for opt #2 on your task with the above book. story starts in usa, but approx. 75% takes place in indonesia on par..."

Hi Lindy-Lane, this works.