Over at my newest obsession,
Goodreads. This is sooo much more enjoyable than entering e-bills.
MY PICKS LOOK LIKE THIS.Here it is
THE SPRING CHALLENGE, lots of great ideas got thrown around this time so it was hard to pick but I think I have good mix of challenge. Some of the major themes of the challenge are travel, birth, & TNBBC favorites.
THE RULES1. Anyone can participate and can join in at anytime from March 1st and through Midnight (EST) May 31st.
2. Each individual can set their own goal as to how many points they think they can earn in that time and if they want to they can reward themselves. The top 3 point earners will get to choose the 25 point tasks for the next challenge. **New to the challenge is a midway winner - the top point earner at the midway point - Noon on APRIL 15th - will get to pick a 50 point task for the Spring Challenge.***
3. Each task counts for points only ONCE and the same book can not be used for two categories.
4. Re-reads count (unless otherwise stated).
5. If you have less than 50% of a book you started prior to the beginning of the current challenge it may be counted towards your point total (if it meets the criteria for one the tasks). I.E. If you are on page 10 of a 200 page book on Feb 28th and it fits one of the Spring Challenge categories it will count.
6. Small adjustments can be made to the categories but try to stick as close to the task as possible...if you aren't sure feel free to ask.
7. In general small books (I'd say 100 pages or less) like children's books should be used sparingly and only for the 5 point tasks.
8. Audiobooks can be used to complete any of the tasks unless otherwise noted.
9. It's fine to change your mind about which books you plan to use for which task at any point...just let me know.
10. Other than that just have fun; post what you are reading (tell us if you liked it); and let me know what your point total is so I can update the leader board.
THE TASKS5 POINTS1. Read a Science Fiction
OR Fantasy Novel.
LAMB, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BIFF (CHRISTOPHER MOORE)2. Read an epistolary novel
OR a non-fiction collection of letters/journal etc.
GRIFFIN AND SABINE (NICK BANTOCK)3. Spring Cleaning: Follow these directions to find your book for this task...
THE ALCHEMIST (COELHO)- Go to your Goodreads bookshelf.
- Click on the
All Books link
- Organize them by the
Date Added (going from the earliest to the most recent)
- Go down the list and read the first book you come to that you HAVE NOT yet read.
4. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Task – Read or listen to a book while you are on a plane, on a train, or in a car (or other mode of transport like a bus/combinations of transportation)
- For this task you can’t, for example, start a book in the airport and finish it on the plane...the book must be read entirely while inside one of those modes of transportation.
- But the plane/train/car etc. does not have to be moving the entire time for it to count – exe. you can start reading the book once you board the plane before it takes off.
- DOES NOT have to be read in one sitting.
THE LADY AND THE UNICORN (CHEVALIER) - IN A CAR - WHICH IS WHERE I HAVE SPENT THE MAJORITY OF MY EXISTENCE FOR THE PAST TWENTY ONE YEARS, OR SO IT SEEMS5. For Easter/Lent/Passover…
- Read a Christian Fiction novel,
WHEN CRICKETS CRY (CHARLES MARTIN)- A book about sacrifice,
OR- A book about something you would or are planning to give up.
6. In Honor Of Women’s History Month…
- Read an autobiography/biography of a woman you admire
OR - A novel with one of the following in the title (woman, women, lady, ladies, female, feminine, girl, girls, maiden, madame).
GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING (CHEVALIER)7. For Arbor Day – Do your part to save some trees by…
- Reading an e-book
OR- Listening to an audiobook
OR THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER (TAN)- By reading a book and “recycling” it - giving it away to someone else like a friend or through an online book swap/trading site or by donating it to a local library or charity.
8. For April Fools Day…
- Read a humorous novel, a book of jokes,
OR NAKED (DAVID SEDARIS)- A biography/autobiography/memoir of a comedian.
9. Read a book with one of the following Spring animals in the title…
LITTLE BIRDS (ANAIS NIN)- Rabbit or Bunny
- Bird (the word bird or any type of bird)
- Butterfly/Bees
- Lion
- Lamb
OR- A term for a baby animal such as kitten, cub, calf etc.
10. April Showers Bring May Flowers…
- Read one book with a Rain related word (rain, thunder, storm, shower, lightning etc. but not water) in the title
OR- Read a book with the name of A TYPE of tree or flower in the title.
OLIVE KITTERIDGE (ELIZABETH STROUT) - OLIVE TREE
10 POINTS1. For St. Patrick’s Day – Read a book by an Irish author, set in Ireland, OR about Ireland.
THE GATHERING (ANNE ENRIGHT)2. For Cinco De Mayo – Read a book by a Mexican author, set in Mexico, OR about Mexico.
THE GOOD CONSCIENCE (FUENTES)3. For ANZAC Day – Read a book by an Australian author, set in Australia, OR about Australia.
TIM (COLLEEN MCCULLOUGH)4. Read a book by an author who was born in March, April, or May.
OF LOVE AND OTHER DEMONS (GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ - MARCH 6TH)- You can find a list that will help with this task at
http://www.authdir.net/5. March 24 is Harry Houdini’s Birthday – Read a book about magic, a magician etc.
THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD (J.K. ROWLING)6. In honor of Earth Day (April 22) read a book with the word Earth, Moon, Sun, World, Star or one of the other planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) in the title.
- Words such as earthly, sunset, lunar etc. are acceptable.
UNACCUSTOMED EARTH (JHUMPA LAHIRI)7. In Honor of Mother’s Day…
- Read a book where the author/main character shares the same
FIRST name as your mother
OR…
MY ANTONIA (WILLA CATHER)- Read a book recommended by/given to you by your mother.
8. In Honor of Memorial and Armed Forces Day – Read a book about a veteran
OR someone serving in the military (fiction or non-fiction).
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED (TIM O'BRIEN)9. Read a book from the TNBBC Top Books list…
THE BELL JAR (#9) (SYLVIA PLATH)- The book can not be your own contribution
- The number that corresponds to that book must only contain numbers that can be found in the year you were born…i.e. if you were born in 1982 (like me) you could read 1, 28, or 89 but not 93, 15, or 22 (because there is only one 2 in the date) etc.
- The list can be found under the TNBBC Top 10 Lists!! Subheading
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7573...10. Members of the TNBBC have great tastes in books - follow these directions to find your book for this task...
ANGELS AND DEMONS (DAN BROWN) GIVEN A 5-STAR RATING BY DAR WHO ALSO JOINED TNBBC MARCH 14, 2009- Start by going to the club’s membership list.
- Sort the member list by the
Date Joined and Find Yourself on that list. (I chose the date joined sorting option because the page you will find your name on for the other options will change more often)
- Read a book that earned a 5-Star rating by another member who is on the same page as you.
15 POINTS1. It’s Written In the Stars…read a book that corresponds to your astrological sign… (books can be fiction or non-fiction)...
-
ARIES: Made me think of Ares the Greek God of War – Read a book about the Gods, Greek Mythology, Greece etc.
-
TAURUS: The Bull – Read a western, a book about a cowboy, the rodeo etc.
-
GEMINI: Read a book about twins.
-
CANCER: Read a book about a cancer patient, cancer survivor, cancer doctor etc.
THE LAST LECTURE (RANDY PAUSCH)-
LEO: The king of the jungle – read a book about royalty.
-
VIRGO: Read a book about a virgin, virginity or loss of, abstinence etc.
-
LIBRA: Read a book about a lawyer, the law, a judge etc.
-
SCORPIO: The scorpion – read a book that takes place in the desert, a wasteland etc.
-
SAGITARIUS: The archer – read a book about an athlete or sports.
-
CAPRICORN: is a cardinal sign which is associated with creativity – read a book about an artist or art.
-
AQUARIUS: Read a book that takes place at sea, about ships etc.
-
PISCES: Read a book about a fisherman, fishing, sea life, marine biology etc.
2. April is National Poetry Month – Read a book of poetry
OR about a famous poet.
THE GOLD CELL (SHARON OLDS)3. Read a past
OR present TNBBC group read that you haven’t read before
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO (JUNOT DIAZ)4. Read a novel that takes place in a location you plan to visit during this challenge
OR have visited previously during spring break (does not have to be overly specific i.e. if you are visiting Paris this spring (LUCKY YOU) you could read a book that takes place anywhere in France).
THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH (CHARLIE HUSTON - LOS ANGELES COUNTY)5. Read a book written by an author who won a major literary prize (Nobel, Pulitzer etc.) in the year you were born (it does not have to be the book they won the award for).
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (HARPER LEE - 1961)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lit...6. Read a book that was has been translated from its original language (i.e. it could be from Swedish to English or English to Italian etc.).
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE (GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ - SPANISH TO ENGLISH)7. In honor of both Dr. Seuss’ birthday (March 2) and Mother Goose Day (May 1) find and read two books with rhyming titles. By this I mean that there is a word in the title of one book that rhymes with a word in the other book’s title.
- Example: You could read The
Scent of Sake
AND The Red
Tent MANIC (CHENEY) and PANIC SNAP (REESE)8. Get To Know The Author - Read a book by an author
AND then either attend a reading by that author
OR read/listen to an interview with that author.
AN EXACT REPLICA OF A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION. SEE: INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH MCCRACKEN (AUTHOR) AND ANN PATCHETT AT WWW.BLACKBIRD, ARCHIVES, FALL 2005, VOL. 4, #29. Read a book with a color in the title
AND eat a meal that includes at least 2 foods that are that color (you don’t have to cook it yourself).
BLACK BOY (RICHARD WRIGHT); FOODS T.B.I.- I.E. if you read Stephen King’s The Green Mile (you could have a mixed green salad and pasta with pesto sauce; or a kiwi and a bowl of mint ice cream for dessert).
- Feel free to share recipes with the group if you do make something yummy for this task.
10. March, April, and May are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th months of the year
JAMES PATTERSON'S THE WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB BOOKS 3/4/5- Read the third, fourth and fifth books of one series
OR- Read 3 books with the numbers 3/4/5- three/four/five - 3rd/4th/5th - third/fourth/fifth in the titles (books do not have to come from the same series in this instance)
- You can't mix and match these though...exe. 3/four/fifth is not acceptable
25 POINT TASKS1. KAREN’S TASK - As we are all totally completely addicted to GR (Goodreads), let's read…
- A book which title starts with the letter
G AND THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY (SHAFFER AND BARROWS)- A book which title starts with the letter
R.
THE REIVERS (FAULKNER)- Books like The Gargoyle or A Raisin In the Sun – that have titles beginning with
A OR THE followed by
a G or R word are acceptable for this task.
2. EL’s TASK - Read a Non-Fiction book about OR by a noted diarist from This List
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dia... who lived prior to the 1900’s.
A MIDWIFE'S TALE; THE LIFE OF MARTHA BALLARD BASED ON HER DIARY 1785-1872 (ULRICH)3. ANGELA’S TASK - Look for your first post in the Official Spring Challenge. Once you find it, look at the person below you and go to their profile and pick
TWO books to read off of their shelves. If their profile is listed as private, go to the person below that person.
SHADOW GAME & NIGHT GAME (CHRISTINE FEEHAN)4. ROS’ TASK - Read a book that’s on the big reads list.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100... THE SECRET HISTORY (DONNA TARTT)5. BONNIE’S TASK - Read a book outside your normal genre(s). Example: Bonnie usually reads YA, fantasy, nonfiction and classics so she'd have to read short stories, plays, mysteries, etc.
WESLEY THE OWL (STACEY O'BRIEN)6. JON’S TASK - H.M. Queen Elizabeth II is 83 on April 21st, read a Non-Fiction book of at least 400 pages relating in some way to the British Monarchy past or present. Write a short Goodreads review and post a copy on the Spring challenge thread.
ALISON WEIR'S THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_En...7. DARLA'S TASK - Read a book you've either seen in a movie or heard referenced in a movie.
THE LOST WEEKEND (CHARLES JACKSON ) SEEN IN THE MOVIE - EDUCATING RITA.8. CASSIE'S TASK - For her friend Melissa (who told her about goodreads and is a YA Librarian): Read two young adult novels.
TOBY ALONE (deTOMBELLE) & CORALINE (GAIMAN)9. SARA'S TASK - Read a book that has a title of 12 or more words.
SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME: A MODERN-DAY SLAVE, AN INTERNATIONAL ART DEALER, AND THE UNLIKELY WOMAN WHO BOUND THEM TOGETHER. (HALL & MOORE)
Or, I just love Country Style Pork Ribs Cooking in the Crock Pot on a Lazy Sunday Afternoon.
and today is my sister's birthday. The daughter of my father's sister and just a hair of a year older than I, Sis is the closest set of female hormones I will ever have to a sibling, and that works for me. When still chubby with baby fat and wearing cats-eye, prescription glasses in neon colors, we tap-danced our way to fame in Beverly Ann's production of The Wizard of Oz - we were bluebirds, we were, dressed in itchy blue sequined body hugging tutus. Over the years we were decked out in pink feathers and purple fringe and bright yellow and turquoise satin with mexican sombreros. Sis and her family lived upstairs from our grandparents in a large multi-family whose stairs I so fondly remember rolling down, ass over tea kettle, ever so gracefully, in response to my father's beckoning whistle signaling that it was time to roll on home...I still take everything literally. Every Saturday Dad and I climbed into one of our many oversized Buicks with the leather interior and headed out to visit the family in that big, old, green house with the awesome front porch. Aunts, Uncles and cousins, fifteen in all, arrived in various groupings to sit in Nana and Grampie's smoke filled kitchen and catch up. Coffee was always brewed and polanta and pastry were abundant.
So there was plenty of time to attend to all of my unfinished business - pack a bag, make arrangements for your sister and tie up work-related loose ends. Imagine my concern when at midnight I started thinking that you started thinking the end of the month was too long to wait. I thought it was the spicy fish from the Chinese restaurant the next town over...or maybe some leftover blood pressure adjustments given our flight from Florida two weeks earlier. As is always the case whenever I go into denial mode, I went to bed. That lasted thirty minutes. Then I worked on some files - yes, yes, Type-A has to make up for Last Minute Lucy - then I thought I had better pack s.o.m.e.t.h.i.n.g. for the obligatory twenty-four hour hospital rotation. Looked for this, looked for that, screw the packing, I decided to shave...my legs...couldn't see them, but went for broke regardless. All creamed up and on to the kitchen to call anesthesiology. The nurse on duty gently suggested that I wanted to call my obstetrician, but no, I insisted, I called anesthesiology ON PURPOSE and I wanted the anesthesiologist ready and waiting for my arrival. (They talked about that one for months.) Then I called next door to let them know that I needed a responsible adult to attend to your sleeping two year old sister because I was heading to delivery. Twenty minutes later, Auntie asked "Who was that?" and Uncle responded "Amy..." pregnant pause (pardon the pun, but it WAS 2:30 IN THE MORNING) then, leaping forth, excitedly announced "We gotta go - we're having a baby." WE? Look it guys, I'm all about equality, but I gotta draw the line when it comes to passing a seven pound bowling ball through a space the size of a straw. There is no WE. There is me and one ubiquitous, let's-get-this-show-on-the-road uterus. And the anesthesiologist. But I digress.
I was glad we spoke today.
