The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

5.6 - Labor Day Read a book in which a profession can be found in the author’s name. Here's a list with some ideas on it: List of Occupational Surnames Common variations in spelling (Taylor for tailor, for example) will work. Examples: Jim Butcher, Tiffany Baker, Hunter S. Thompson, Mildred D. Taylor

Approved :
Fischer for Fisher
Shepard for Shepherd
Hyphenated names - Ex: Blakley-Cartwright
Stuart and Stewart
Singer
Fletcher
King, Queen, Knight

These won't work. Sorry!
Doctorow

Would Fischer be an ok variation for Fisher?

Rachel Lee wrote: "Would Fischer be an ok variation for Fisher?"

That works.

What about Sarah Blakley-Cartwright? Just want to make sure that since it is her "second" last name that it will work.

★Meghan★ wrote: "What about Sarah Blakley-Cartwright? Just want to make sure that since it is her "second" last name that it will work."

Hyphenated names are fine.

I'm checking for Stuart (Steward) as a last name.

Donna Jo wrote: "I'm checking for Stuart (Steward) as a last name."

Stuart will work. It seems to be the French form of the last name Stewart, which is an occupational name for the administrative official of an estate. (You gotta love Wikipedia ;o)).

Thanks. I was pretty sure it would, but wanted to make sure.

Donna Jo wrote: "Thanks. I was pretty sure it would, but wanted to make sure."

I never knew so many last names were based on occupations. I'm having a lot of fun learning about them.... ;o)

any chance that Singer would work? :) thanks for your help! :)

kiki wrote: "any chance that Singer would work? :) thanks for your help! :)"

Actually, yes, it will. Some source say the name originated during the Middle Ages when it was applied to traveling musicians. Others say it is occupational name for a cantor in a synagogue.

yeay! :) thanks!

Would the last name Doctorow work?

Jen wrote: "Would the last name Doctorow work?"

Sorry, I haven't been able to find the origins of the name Doctorow. So, for now, I'm going to say no. If you find a reference that says it originated as an occupational surname for doctor or some other profession, I'll be glad to look at it again.

Amanda wrote: "What about Raymond Carver? Stone carver, etc?"

That one's actually on the list in the task description. It definitely works.

Are these OK?

Monk, Priest, Parsons, Reeves (a reeve was a kind of estate manager, the others are religious occupations)

Bailey - I think it comes from bailiff

Rosemary wrote: "Are these OK?

Monk, Priest, Parsons, Reeves (a reeve was a kind of estate manager, the others are religious occupations)

Bailey - I think it comes from bailiff"

Yes, any of those will work.

Would Gardner work for gardener?

Lisa Gardner

Christine US wrote: "Would Gardner work for gardener?

Lisa Gardner"

It would. It's on the list linked in the task description. Any of those will work.

FYI--Fletcher should work, as a fletcher was the guy who put the feathers on arrows.

Donna Jo wrote: "FYI--Fletcher should work, as a fletcher was the guy who put the feathers on arrows."

Yep, that would work.

Are the surnames listed as "From the Church" also acceptable for this task?

Katie wrote: "Are the surnames listed as "From the Church" also acceptable for this task?"

Yes they are.

And what about the last name king? Would that work?

Tineke wrote: "And what about the last name king? Would that work?"

Yes, King works.

Does "Shepard" work for Shepherd?

Sandy wrote: "Does "Shepard" work for Shepherd?"

Sure does.

How about a "Bard" - as in The Tales Of Beedle the Bard?

Kim wrote: "How about a "Bard" - as in The Tales Of Beedle the Bard?"

Sorry, that one won't work. The profession needs to be found in the author’s name. The author of The Tales of Beedle the Bard is J.K. Rowling.

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Kim wrote: "How about a "Bard" - as in The Tales Of Beedle the Bard?"

Sorry, that one won't work. The profession needs to be found in the author’s name. The author of [book:The Tales of Beedle the..."

Oh, you're right! Sorry, I didn't read that well. I'm frantically trying to find a place for that one - I think I can only use it in the 5 or 10 point tasks b/c it's a shorter children's book? I probably need to go to general help or somewhere. Thanks for responding so quickly!

Kim wrote: "Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Kim wrote: "How about a "Bard" - as in The Tales Of Beedle the Bard?"

Sorry, that one won't work. The profession needs to be found in the author’s name. The..."

You can use young reader books for the 5, 10, or 15 point tasks. The Tales of Beedle the Bard might fit in 5.2 (it's set in the UK), 15.2 (combined with a book that has the word "Tails" in the title), 15.3 (depending on your coin toss), or 15.10 (if you don't already have something there). Hope you find somewhere for it. It's a cute book, I enjoyed it ;-).

Thanks Kristi! All of those would work for me, that totally helps! 15.2 was one I was going to skip unless something just jumped out at me. If I can find something with 'tails' in it that would be perfect! Great ideas! You guys are awesome! :o)

Will Gigi Levangie Grazer work?

One of the dictionary definitions for Grazer is "To tend (feeding livestock) in a pasture."

Or Lionel Shriver

From Wikipedia:

However, the basic meaning of the Indo-European root that is the linguistic ancestor of shrive is the idea of writing, and it lives on in many other modern words, including English scribe and scrivener and German schreiben [to write]. Therefore, the surname Shriver may possibly have come from another occupation connected in some way with writing, such as clerk or secretary, and it could have arisen on the continent in an earlier form of spelling and pronunciation and been naturalised into English.

Would David Sheff work? It sounds like Chef

Prajakta wrote: "Would David Sheff work? It sounds like Chef"

If this question is meant for the current challenge, you need to be posting in the 2013 help threads. However, "sounds like" won't work for this task - the variations allowed are the minor spelling variations.