This is the most complicated challenge that I have ever come across! It is being hosted by Goodreads, and it is called the Winter 2011 Seasonal Reading Challenge. The theme is Earth. You need to join the group in order to participate in the challenge.
You can complete whatever tasks you choose and, depending on the task, you can earn 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, or 50 points.
Here are the details copied from their website:
Goodreads Winter 2011 Seasonal Reading Challenge
5 Point tasks
5.1. It’s the Latest Thing!
According to this blog, Shelf Talk, the bookshelves seem to be stuffed with books with titles containing words with the suffix “ist,” books like The Lonely Polygamist or The Alchemist. For this task, let’s be trendy and read a book with a title or subtitle containing the suffix “ist.”
The “ist” must be a suffix – a title will not work just because it contains a word with that 3 letter combination (whistle, fist, etc.) Plurals and possessives are fine, as is the alternate spelling "yst" (as inThe Alchemyst)
The blog article contains a number of suggestions to get you started.
5.2. That bugs me!
About 900,000 living species of insects have been identified, representing over 80 percent of the total number of species on Earth. It has been estimated that there are far more species that have not been identified than that have – and that there may be anywhere from 2 million to 30 million different species of insects! Here's a list to help you start learning about insects - Bug Bios and Pictures .
Read a book with an insect on the cover or in the title or subtitle. The word "bug" or "insect" will also work, as will a picture of a bug on the cover even if you can't exactly identify it! (NOTE – spiders are not insects!)
REQUIRED: if you choose the cover picture option, post a picture of the cover
Here's one list to get you started - Butterflies
The usual caveat applies to all lists - check to make sure your book of choice actually fits.
5.3. Round Here......
Since the earth is round, read a book with something round or oval on the cover. At least half of the circular object must show on the cover of the book.
REQUIRED: post a picture of the cover and point out the "round thing"
5.4. Let’s Call it a Goal!
I’ve never had much luck with “New Year’s resolutions” but I always keep hoping.
Read a book that involves something you’d like to do in 2012, a goal or an aspiration or even a faint hope! This can be fiction or non-fiction. While you may not achieve this goal, it should be one that is reasonably possible - no travelling back in time to do something over (a favorite fantasy of mine) or finding a vampire or zombie lover.
REQUIRED: Tell us what your goal is, and if it's not obvious, explain how the book relates to it.
5.5. All Around the World
The British empire reached its peak during the reign of Queen Victoria, perhaps most dramatically when she declared herself Empress of India in 1876. At her death, it was said that Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.
Read a book that was published in or set during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Here are a couple lists to get you started: Best Victorian Historical Fiction , Victorian Mysteries
(There are about 40 Listopia lists that involve "Victorian" in some way - Victorian lists)
The usual caveat applies to all lists - check to make sure your book of choice actually fits.
5.6. Other People Liked It, Why Not Me?
Read a book that was nominated for the 2011 GR Choice Awards, in any category. Normal rules apply, such as page limits.
NOTE: Now that the voting is over, the complete list of the 20 nominees in each category is again available. Go to http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice/20... and you'll see all the winners. If you click on a category in the list on the left, that will bring up all 20 nominees in the category.
DLMRose put together a wonderful google.docs spreadsheet, listing the nominees before they got winnowed down. Goodreads Choice Nominees
REQUIRED: Indicate the category in which your book was nominated.
5.7. Third stone from the sun.
Since Earth is the third planet from the sun, read a book that is part of a trilogy, or is #3 in a series. The main Goodreads page for the book must note it as being part of a series. All three books of a trilogy must be published by the end of the challenge.
5.8. Jump!
Since leap year occurs every four years, read a book with a number of pages that is evenly divisible by 4. When you post, indicate the number of pages, and be sure that you've linked to the right edition of your book.
5.9. Trash to treasure.
Using the “read” list for any of your GR friends, find a book that your friend gave only 1 or 2 stars, but that sounds like a book you might like. This should be a book that you’ve never read before. Required: Name the friend whose list you used.
Optional: Was someone else’s trash your treasure?
If you're looking for GR friends, check out this thread on the SRC: Looking for Goodreads Friends
5.10. EARTH
Read a book by an author whose first or last name begins with E, A, R, T, or H.
5.1. It’s the Latest Thing!
According to this blog, Shelf Talk, the bookshelves seem to be stuffed with books with titles containing words with the suffix “ist,” books like The Lonely Polygamist or The Alchemist. For this task, let’s be trendy and read a book with a title or subtitle containing the suffix “ist.”
The “ist” must be a suffix – a title will not work just because it contains a word with that 3 letter combination (whistle, fist, etc.) Plurals and possessives are fine, as is the alternate spelling "yst" (as inThe Alchemyst)
The blog article contains a number of suggestions to get you started.
5.2. That bugs me!
About 900,000 living species of insects have been identified, representing over 80 percent of the total number of species on Earth. It has been estimated that there are far more species that have not been identified than that have – and that there may be anywhere from 2 million to 30 million different species of insects! Here's a list to help you start learning about insects - Bug Bios and Pictures .
Read a book with an insect on the cover or in the title or subtitle. The word "bug" or "insect" will also work, as will a picture of a bug on the cover even if you can't exactly identify it! (NOTE – spiders are not insects!)
REQUIRED: if you choose the cover picture option, post a picture of the cover
Here's one list to get you started - Butterflies
The usual caveat applies to all lists - check to make sure your book of choice actually fits.
5.3. Round Here......
Since the earth is round, read a book with something round or oval on the cover. At least half of the circular object must show on the cover of the book.
REQUIRED: post a picture of the cover and point out the "round thing"
5.4. Let’s Call it a Goal!
I’ve never had much luck with “New Year’s resolutions” but I always keep hoping.
Read a book that involves something you’d like to do in 2012, a goal or an aspiration or even a faint hope! This can be fiction or non-fiction. While you may not achieve this goal, it should be one that is reasonably possible - no travelling back in time to do something over (a favorite fantasy of mine) or finding a vampire or zombie lover.
REQUIRED: Tell us what your goal is, and if it's not obvious, explain how the book relates to it.
5.5. All Around the World
The British empire reached its peak during the reign of Queen Victoria, perhaps most dramatically when she declared herself Empress of India in 1876. At her death, it was said that Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.
Read a book that was published in or set during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Here are a couple lists to get you started: Best Victorian Historical Fiction , Victorian Mysteries
(There are about 40 Listopia lists that involve "Victorian" in some way - Victorian lists)
The usual caveat applies to all lists - check to make sure your book of choice actually fits.
5.6. Other People Liked It, Why Not Me?
Read a book that was nominated for the 2011 GR Choice Awards, in any category. Normal rules apply, such as page limits.
NOTE: Now that the voting is over, the complete list of the 20 nominees in each category is again available. Go to http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice/20... and you'll see all the winners. If you click on a category in the list on the left, that will bring up all 20 nominees in the category.
DLMRose put together a wonderful google.docs spreadsheet, listing the nominees before they got winnowed down. Goodreads Choice Nominees
REQUIRED: Indicate the category in which your book was nominated.
5.7. Third stone from the sun.
Since Earth is the third planet from the sun, read a book that is part of a trilogy, or is #3 in a series. The main Goodreads page for the book must note it as being part of a series. All three books of a trilogy must be published by the end of the challenge.
5.8. Jump!
Since leap year occurs every four years, read a book with a number of pages that is evenly divisible by 4. When you post, indicate the number of pages, and be sure that you've linked to the right edition of your book.
5.9. Trash to treasure.
Using the “read” list for any of your GR friends, find a book that your friend gave only 1 or 2 stars, but that sounds like a book you might like. This should be a book that you’ve never read before. Required: Name the friend whose list you used.
Optional: Was someone else’s trash your treasure?
If you're looking for GR friends, check out this thread on the SRC: Looking for Goodreads Friends
5.10. EARTH
Read a book by an author whose first or last name begins with E, A, R, T, or H.
10 point tasks10.1 Climb Every Mountain: I don't know about you guys, but my TBR pile looks more like a mountain than a molehill. Climb your mountain by reading a book that's been on your TBR list (official Goodreads list or personal computer, written or mental list) for at least a year.
10.2 As You Like It: Goodreads is now providing recommendations based on the books that appear on your shelves. Let's see how well they pick books! At the top of your Goodreads home page, click on the label that says "Recommendations." Choose a shelf listed under the heading "Recommendations by Shelf" and read a book that has been recommended to you. Required: Identify the shelf you used when you post. Optional: How did Goodreads do picking a book for you? Did you like it?
10.3 Here, There Be Dragons: January 16th is Appreciate a Dragon Day. Read a book that features a dragon, has the word "dragon" in the title/subtitle/series title (plurals, possessives, or compound words containing "dragon" work, too), or that has a picture of a dragon on the cover.
Examples: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Dragonflight,
This list might help, too: Dragons
10.4 Blue, White, and the Black of Night Read a book with a cover that is mainly blue, white, black, or a combination of any of these colors.
Examples:
,
, 
, 
10.5 It’s Summer Somewhere: Let's warm up! Read a book that is set in the southern hemisphere OR one that takes place during the summer. These maps might help: Hemisphere Map, African Map, South American Map. As long as part of a country is in the Southern Hemisphere (ex: Kenya, Columbia, Brazil, etc), it can be used for this task. Required: State how the book fits the task if it is not obvious from the Goodreads description.
10.6 Can't Wait 'Til Spring! Get ready for spring by reading a nonfiction book about gardening, a novel featuring a gardener, or a book with a flower (or flowers) on the cover.
Examples: Organic Gardening, Pushing Up Daisies,
10.7 Featuring Earth: Read a book with the word "EARTH" in the title, subtitle, or series title. As long as all the letters in the word "earth" appear intact, the book will work. Examples: The Pillars of the Earth, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1),
10.8 Hidden Gems Gems are found deep in the Earth. Find a hidden gem, SRC-style, by reading a book with less than 1,000 ratings. For this task, the number of ratings on a book's main Goodreads page will be used. Required: Include the number of ratings the book had when it was selected when you post.
10.9 Earth Signs Read an author who was born under an Earth sign. For the purposes of this task, we will use the following dates: Capricorn (December 22 - January 19), Taurus (April 20 - May 20), or Virgo (August 23 - September 22). Required: Provide the author's birthdate when posting. If Goodreads does not list the author's birthdate, you must provide a link to that information for verification in order to get credit for this task. These websites might help: Author Birthday, Famous Author's Birthdays
10.10 The Winter Blues The cold, dark days of winter can get people down. If you're suffering from "winter blahs," give yourself a pick-me-up by reading a book you've been dying to read.
15 Point tasks15.1 Cause Knowledge is Power!: Schoolhouse Rock debuted on American television on January 6, 1973.
Read TWO books choosing from 2 different options from categories A-D
A. Conjunction Junction: Read a book with a title or subtitle that contains a coordinating conjunction: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
B. Unpack Your Adjectives- Read a book with a superlative adjective in the title/subtitle: Best, Worst, Biggest, "Most + adjective", etc.
C. Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla- Read a book with a pronoun in the title/subtitle *note the use of "most"
D. Interjections!- So when you're happy (Hurray!) or sad (Aw!) Read a book whose title begins with an interjection or has an exclamation point in the title or subtitle.
Darn! That's the end!
OR
ONE book that fits two of the categories above.ex. Boom!: Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections and Lessons for Today option D- Boom! and option A "and"; Why She Buys: The New Strategy for Reaching the World's Most Powerful Consumers options B and C; Yeah, I Said It options C and D
Required: Please state the options you chose when you post
15.2 Make it Work: Hit the runway with the January fashion shows: Mode à Paris, Milan Fashion Week, São Paulo Fashion Week and Germany's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Read TWO books that fit the following options. You MAY use the same option twice.
A. ONE book with a type of fabric or dressmaking/tailoring trim (a decorative or functional element applied to the garment), or sewing need: silk, satin, corduroy, denim, leather, lace, button, bead, rhinestone, fringe, pattern, needle, thread, etc. in the title or subtitle. Plurals, possessives, and variations (unbuttoned, lacemaker, silken) work.
B. ONE book with a cover that’s “all about the dress” These lists may help- Dresses to Die For! Women in White Be careful with lists- not every book on a GR list may work. The cover should highlight the dress.
Required: If you choose option B, please include a link to the title or cover (preferred) when you post.
15.3 Winter Wonderland: Take a walk in a winter wonderland.
Read TWO books that fit the following options- one A and one B.
A. Winter: Read a book with "winter" in the title/subtitle, set in winter, with a snowy winter scene on the cover, or with a winter holiday (December-February) theme: Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, etc.
And
B. Wonderland: Read a book set in the location of a World Wonder
New York City works for The Empire State Building, Toronto works for The CN Tower, London works for Big Ben, China works for The Great Wall of China, a book set underwater (sub, research station) works for the Deep Sea Vents, etc.
Required: Please include the World Wonder that inspires your book choice and explain the connection if it is not clear from the book description
15.4 Go Green: Is it easy being green?
Read TWO books from the options below- You MAY choose the same option twice.
A. Read a book with "green" in the title, subtitle, or series title- "green" should be found intact in any word.
B. Read a book by an author named "green"- "green" should be found intact in any name
C. Read a book with a green cover
D. Read a non-fiction book shelved as Environment, Climate Change, Global Warming, Nature, Sustainability, Green (be careful, many here are fiction) Your book does not need to appear on these "popular" lists, but the genre should appear in your book's genre list.
OR
Read ONE book that fits 2 of the above categories
Required: Please identify the option you used when you post
15.5 All Shiny and New: December is Read a New Book Month- read a book published since January 1, 2011 by a new-to-you author.
15.6 Read 'Em Their Writes!: January is CrimeStoppers Month- Read a book with a police officer or law enforcement professional as a significant character or non-fiction subject. The character or non-fiction subject must be an active member of the law enforcement force- not retired or "former". These lists may help Best Police Procedurals Cop/Sheriff Romance Novels
Book 'Em, Danno!
Required: Please identify the character if it is not clear in the book description.
15.7 Directionally Challenged: Read a book with one of these words: north, south, east, west, map, globe, compass, chart in the title or subtitle. Plurals, possessive, and variations (northern, charting, mapped, globetrotter, southwestern, etc.) work.
15.8 What’s IndieNext? Read a book that has appeared on any Indie Next List at IndieBound.org Required: Please indicate the list your book appeared on when you post
15.9 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: What else do they do? Find out- Read a book with the words "angel" or "heaven" in the title or subtitle or featuring angels or fallen angels as significant characters or subjects. These lists may help: YA Angels, Books Shelved as Angels Be careful- not everything on this shelf may work. Plurals, possessives, and variations work (heavenly, angelic, etc.)
15.10 Sweet!: A valentine from your mods- Read a book of your choice
20.1 - Most Improved Player - Karen F's task: Baby, It’s Cold Outside
In New England we need to be creative in keeping warm over the long winter. These are some of my favorite ways to warm up. For this task read one book from the options below.
Standard disclaimer on Goodreads lists - not all books listed may match the task requirements; please make sure that the book you choose matches the task.
A. Drink a Hot Beverage – I love a cup of hot tea on a cold and gray winter afternoon. My favorite is good old, English Breakfast tea. For this option read a book, fiction or non-fiction, where the title or subtitle contain the words English or Breakfast. Plural and possessives are OK, no other variants. For example: Improper English, The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way, Breakfast of Champions, or Fifth Avenue, 5:00 AM: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and The Dawn of the Modern Woman
B. Put on your Woolies – It’s time to layer up the sweaters. For this option read a fictional book where knitting or crocheting is featured. Here are lists to get you started: Good Yarns: Knitting Fiction or Fiction for the Fiber Artist
C. Curl Up by the Fire – For this option read a book with a flame on the cover. Candles, lighters or fires any type of flame is fine. See this list for ideas: Fire Required: If you choose this option, it is required that you post the cover of the book.
D. Snuggle up with your Honey – For this option read a Romance book that features a couple on the cover. The genre Romance must appear on the book's main GRs page. Required: If you choose this option, it is required that you post the cover of the book.
E. Get Moving! – For this option read a book, fiction or non-fiction, that features a main character who is involved with a sport from the current sport discipline list of the Olympic winter sports. Demonstration sports will not work. The book itself doesn’t need to be about Olympics. A fictional skier, ski instructor, hockey player, ice skater, etc. as a main character are all OK. A biography/auto-biography from a person involved with a listed sport is also fine.
F. Take a Wee Nip from a Flask – Read a fiction or non-fiction book with a word from a type of liquor on this list featured in the title, subtitle or the author’s name. Only the liquor names provided on the list will work. Variants of the word are OK but the word itself must stand alone, so for “Dark Rum” you could use Heart of Darkness or The Rum Diary but not Donald Rumsfeld. Any multiple word listings may be broken up into individual words. For example for Citrus Flavored Vodka you could read Citrus County (Citrus) or Flavor of the Month (Flavored) or Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea (Vodka). Other examples: If the River Was Whiskey (for Whiskey), A Single Man or Allison Winn Scotch (for Single Malt Scotch)
Required: Identify the option you chose when you post.
20.2 - Rookie on Top - Connie's task: The Nutcracker
"The Nutcracker" ballet is a holiday favorite for many families. It can involve casting hundreds of people, from young children to older adults, in a professional production. This task involves auditioning for one of these roles. No dancing is required, just read one book from the following options:
1. Clara and Fritz, the Stahlbaum children
Read a book where a child is a main character. For the purposes of this task, a child is defined as someone who is 18 years old or younger. Examples: The Hunger Games, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
2. Herr Drosselmeyer, a toymaker and magician
Read a book that contains magical realism. Magical realism must show up as a genre on the book's main GRs page. Examples: Garden Spells, Like Water for Chocolate.
3. The Nutcracker and the Soldiers of the Nutcracker
Read a book with the word "soldier" in the title or subtitle (series names DO NOT count). Plural and possessive are allowed but no other variations. Or read a book with soldiers as important characters. For the purposes of this task, the "soldier" can be in any branch of the U.S. military (not just Army) or a member of the official military of another country (i.e., terrorist groups and kidnapped young boys that may be fighters are excluded). The soldier may be active duty or a veteran. The book can be fiction or nonfiction. Example: The Soldier's Wife, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.
4. The Snow Queen and the Snowflakes
Read a book with the word "snow" in the title or subtitle (series names DO NOT count). Variations will work as long as the word "snow" is intact. Examples: Whiter Than Snow, Snow Falling on Cedars, Snowfall. OR read a book by an author whose first or last name begins with one of these letters S, N, O, W. Examples: Walter Mosley, Lisa See.
Required: Identify the part you tried out for when you post.
20.3 - Best Review - Chris MD's task: Words Among Friends
When I'm not reading (or trying to earn a living), I love to play word games like Scrabble, Lexulous, and Words with Friends. So for this task, we're going to combine my two favorite things.
Read a book that has at least four words in the title. You must be able to take the first letter from each word and use them to anagram a word that is at least four letters long. You may use subtitles, but not series titles. Hyphenated words may be used as separate words. You do NOT have to use all the letters. The anagram does NOT need to appear in the title. Here are some examples:
A Game of Thrones ---- A G O T = GOAT
Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives ---- S L O H A W = WASH, SLOW, LASH, SHOAL, SHAWL, or HOWLS
How to Be an American Housewife = H T B A A H = BATH
Required: Post your anagram when claiming points.
If you're not sure of your word, you can check it against the official Scrabble word lists posted at http://www.scrabble.com/. You may use either the North American or International lists. If it's not an obvious word, please state which list you found it on.
20.4 - Author! Author! - Valorie's task: Happy New Year!!
It's time to get your New Year resolutions ready. Below are a few of the top resolutions people make in January. Please pick a resolution from below and read a book that fits with the option you choose.
1. Get Fit/Lose Weight: Read a non-fiction book about getting fit, exercising, or eating healthier. Or knock some lbs. from your "owned to be read" pile by reading a book you already own but haven't gotten to yet.
2. Quit Smoking: Read a book with smoke or fire on the cover. Or has any form of the word smoke or fire in the title or subtitle.
3. Drink Less Alcohol: Read a book with an alcoholic beverage on the cover, in the title, or subtitle. Or reading a fiction or non-fiction book book with a storyline that revolves around alcohol in some way. Here's a GRs list that might help: Booze. As usual, use caution with the GRs lists. Make sure the book you choose actually fits the task.
4. Save Money/Manage Debt: Read a book with a mainly green cover, a non-fiction book about saving money or managing debt, or a book you got for free (from the library, a book swap, as a gift, free download, etc.).
5. Take a Trip/Vacation: Read a book that takes place in a city, state, or country you want to visit.
Required: Identify the resolution you picked when you post. If using one of the cover options please include the cover when posting. If using the trip/vacation option please include the country you want to visit.
20.5 - Bigger is Better - Bec's task: Off to War
For this task you read one book from either option A or option B.
Option A: Books about war are very popular, and tell us about our past. For this task, you need to read a book (fiction or non-fiction) that involves a real war (WWI, WW2, Vietnam, Gulf War, American Civil War, War of the Roses, etc). The war cannot be fictional, but there can be fictional elements in the novel. Some examples include All Quiet on the Western Front, Atonement, Matterhorn Required: If it is not obvious in the GR's description, state which war was involved in the book when you post.
OR
Option B: Read a book that has one of these words in the title or subtitle: war, battle, front or soldier. Plurals and possessives are OK, but no other variations are allowed.
20.6 - Seasoned Reader - Joanna T's task: Microhistory!
Microhistories are the study of one small thing, particularly with the goal of searching for answers to larger questions through the examination of a small thing. For this task, read a nonfiction microhistory. Books that fit this task focus on a specific item, event, or city, but are not merely a biography or memoir of a single person or a case study of a single event.
Examples include Salt: A World History, The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean, and The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank.
For more ideas, these lists might help: (as with all GR lists, make sure the book you pick fits the task)
Microhistories -- Sweeping Social Histories Of Just One Thing
Microhistory
Microhistories - Book List
20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Stacie MI's task: And They Lived Happily Ever After
February 26th is Tell A Fairy Tale Day. In honor of many fairy tales' opening and closing lines, choose one of following options:
Option A: Once Upon a Time
Read a book with one of the following words in the title or subtitle: Once, Upon, Time. Plurals, possessives, and compound words work, but no other variations are allowed.
Option B: Happily Ever After
Read a book with one of the following words in the title or subtitle: Happily, Ever, After. Plurals, possessives, and compound words work. Variations will also work for this option (i.e. "happy" will work for "happily").
Optional: Tell us all what your favorite fairy tale is and why.
20.8 It's My Birthday - Dionisia's task: ...and it's all about ME (Myself, and I)
For this task, read a book with a title/subtitle containing one of the following words: me, myself, or I. Like all you birthday guys and gals out there, we're making these words the center of attention. This means no contractions or other variations of the chosen words will be accepted.
Examples: Couldn't Keep it to Myself: Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution by Wally Lamb, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles
20.9 - Lucky Me! - Luckngrace's task: Honoring the Grands
I was not only lucky in getting to present this task to you, but also in having a wonderful grandmother. Grandma lived just a few months shy of 100 years old. She had 8 children, including a set of twins, without prenatal care. During the month of December, 1944, Grandma received three pieces of news that would forever change her life. First, she found out that she was expecting her 8th child. Then, she found out that her 42 year old husband was dying of cancer. And, third, she discovered that her 19 year old son had been killed in WWII. Grandma NEVER complained. She got the crops in before they were ready so she'd have them harvested before the birth, and she read the Bible more than 16 times. She never drove a car or worked outside the farm.
In honor of Grandma, choose one of the following options and read one book.
A. Read a book, fiction or non-fiction, focusing on a senior citizen or grandparent. Examples: If You Ask Me: And of Course You Won't, Hit the Road, Making Toast: A Family Story, Tuesdays with Morrie Required: Explain how your book fits the task if the GRs description does not make it clear.
B. Read a book with "grand" in the title or subtitle. "Grand" must be found intact. Examples: The Summer of the Great-Grandmother, Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal, The Grand Sophy, Grand Jury
C. Read a book about twins. This list might help: Best Books About Twins Required: Explain how your book fits the task if the GRs description does not make it clear.
D. Read a book a book of religious or inspirational fiction or a non-fiction book about religion. The book must have one of these genre tags on the book's first page of genres: Religion, Christian, Christian Fiction, Inspirational, Spirituality
Required: State which option your book fits when you post.
20.10 Group Read
Read one of the following Group Read Selections and make at least one post in the discussion thread for that book.
Category: "1st book in a Mystery Series with a Female Protagonist"- The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King The discussion thread is here
Category: "Steampunk"- Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld The discussion thread is here
Category: "African American Literature" - The Color Purple by Alice Walker The discussion thread is here
25.1 - Rachel Lee's task: Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
I love gardening and miss seeing the flowers in my neighborhood during
the winter.
This is a 2 book task. To complete the task, pick 2 different flowers from the following list and read a book fitting the description for each.
White Lilacs (youthful innocence): Read a Young Adult book. The genre Young Adult must appear on the book's main page.
Marigold (pain and grief): Read a book where death is central to the plot (murder mysteries would work well here).
Red Rose (true love): Read a romance. The genre Romance must appear on the book's main page.
Daffodil (chivalry): Read a book set during the medieval times. For the purposes of this task, medieval times will be defined as the 5th through the 16th century (400 AD–1500 AD).
Hollyhock (ambition): Read a book related to an ambition you have (any goal you have will work). Required: Please identify your ambition when you post.
Sweetbriar (simplicity): Read a book with a one word title. Subtitles may be ignored.
Hibiscus (rare or delicate beauty): Read a book with a beautiful cover. Required: Post the cover when you claim this task
Plumeria (new beginnings): Read the first book in a series.
Required: Identify the flowers you picked when you post.
25.2 - Jenn Renee's task: Santa by any other name is..... well, still Santa
Santa Claus is known throughout the world and has many names and spellings. We know him as Santa but he also has been known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle. He may have many names but he is loved all the same. Let’s celebrate Santa Claus!
For this task, choose one of these three options: NOTE: Both books must come from the same option.
Option 1: The modern name Santa Claus comes from the Dutch name Sinterklaas. The spelling can be traced back to the 1820’s, when the Santa Claus that Americans celebrates today was created. For this option, read two books by two different authors with a first or last name that could be pronounced the same way but that are spelled differently. For example: Sarah Rees Brennan and Sara Shepard; Catherine Fisher and Rusty Fischer; Alan Bradley and Sarah Addison Allen
Option 2: Santa Claus is also known by other names across the continents... Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas are a few. For this option, read two books written by one author who writes under a pseudonym. The two books must be published under a two different names. For example: Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb; Stephen King and Richard Bachman; Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels
Option 3: Santa Claus not only has multiple names but also a couple of nicknames - St. Nick or just Santa. For this option, read two books by two different authors where the first name of one of the authors is commonly used as a nickname for the first name of the other author. The genders of the authors must be the same. For example: Lillian Jackson Braun and Lili St. Crow OR where the last name of one of the authors can be found within the last name of the other author. The last name must be found intact. For example: Kate Jacobs and Alan Jacobson.
Required: State which option you chose when you post.
25.3 - Mrs. Soule's task: A Series in Your Stocking
Celebrate the holiday season by reading one Christmas/Winter Holiday book from a normally non-Christmas/holiday series AND read a non-Christmas/holiday book from the same series. To qualify as a Christmas/Winter Holiday book, the title, cover, or description must make it obvious that the plot involves one of the winter holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, Valentine's Day). Compilations will be accepted for this challenge. However, the entire compilation must consist of Christmas/Winter Holiday stories, the series numbers must be listed on the book’s Goodreads page, and the second book must come from one of the series in the compilation. Compilations must also meet all SRC rules (at least 100+ pages, you must read the entire book of stories, etc.). Stand-alone short stories will not be accepted.
Examples:
A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr AND any other book from her Virgin River series.
All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas by Suzanne Brockmann AND any other book from her Troubleshooters series.
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett AND any other book from his Discworld series
Hercule Poirot's Christmas AND any other book in the Hercule Poirot series
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Various Authors (Includes: Sookie Stackhouse #8.1, Kitty Norville #2.5, Cassandra Palmer #3.2, and Mercedes Thompson #1.5) AND any other book from Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series, Vaughn's Kitty Norville series, Chances's Cassandra Palmer series or Briggs's Mercedes Thompson series.
Some lists to get you started. The usual Listopia list cautions apply. Make sure the book you pick is from a non-Christmas series and otherwise fits the task:
Christmas Mysteries
Best Seasonal Romance
YA Holiday Novels
Christmas Mystery Book List
Valentine's Day & St. Patrick's Day Book List -- Be Careful! St. Patrick's Day is NOT considered a winter holiday for the purposes of this task.
Required: If the connection to the winter holidays is not obvious from the GRs description of the book, explain it when you post.
25.4 - Sandy’s Task: On This Day in History
Let’s revisit events of the last day of each month of this season’s challenge! For this task, you will read two books. There are two choices for each month, but your two books must come from different months.
REQUIRED: For any task in which the requirement is not obvious from the title or author, you must explain how your book fits the task.
A. December
1. On December 31, 1879, the cornerstone was laid for the Iolani palace, the only royal palace in the United States (no, I know Hawaii wasn’t part of the US in 1879 – but the palace still exists). Read a book with the words palace, king, queen, prince or princess in the title, or one in which a king, queen, prince or princess is a significant character. For the title option, plurals and possessives may be used, but no other variations on the words.
OR
2. On December 31, 2009, there was both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse. Read a book with the words blue, moon, lunar or eclipse in the title, or one with a picture of the moon on the cover. If you use the cover option, you must post the cover when claiming points for the task. For the title option, plurals and possessives may be used, but no other variations on the words. This list may help you get started, with the usual caution about GR lists: Books with Moons on the Cover
B. January
1. On January 31, 1880, an ice railway was opened between Longueuil and Montreal by the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway. Read a book with “ice” in the title or author’s name. The letters must be directly in sequence with no other letters intervening and must appear in the same word. Examples: Holidays on Ice, Think Twice, Anne Rice
OR
2. On January 31, 1886, the U.S. government ordered all Native Americans to move onto reservations. Read a book written by a Native American author or in which one or more Native Americans are the main character(s). These lists may help you get started, but the usual caveat applies – not all books on the list may fit the task.
Native American Fiction
Native American Writers
C. February
1. On February 29, 1692, Sarah Good and Tituba were accused of witchcraft in Salem, MA. Read a book in which magic or witchcraft is important to the plot.
OR
2. On February 29, 1968, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band won 4 Grammy awards, including Best album. Read a book the title of which contains a word from the title of one of the songs from Sergeant Pepper. A, an, and the cannot be used. Plurals (or the singular form of plural words) and possessives may be used, but no other variations on the words. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Track Listing
25.5 - Mstan's task: "Movies - Ruining (Advertising?) the Book Since..."I have a t-shirt with that slogan on it but I have to say that I am, above all, a ratings addict and will watch book-to-movie adaptations only if they are shown as being critically acclaimed on Rottentomatoes.com.
For this task, you have to read two books based on two of the following choices. Each book must fit a different option. Please read the instructions below carefully:
Option A: Made the Grade A Read a book that has received a 3.95 rating or higher on Goodreads AND whose movie adaptation has received an 80% rating or higher on Rottentomatoes.com's TomatoMeter. Examples include Dead Man Walking (3.97 / 93%), The Fellowship of the Ring (4.18 / 92%) and Pride and Prejudice (4.21 / 86%).
Option B: Stay Home; Read The Book Read a book whose rating is 3.95 or higher on Goodreads, BUT whose movie adaptation has been rated at 79% or lower on Rottentomatoes.com's TomatoMeter. Examples include Peter Pan (4.06 / 77%), The Help (4.45 / 75%), Water for Elephants (4.06 / 61%) and The Three Musketeers (3.98 / 17%).
Option C: Larger than Life Read a book whose rating is 3.94 or lower on Goodreads, BUT whose movie adaptation has been rated at 80% or higher on Rottentomatoes.com's TomatoMeter. Examples include Breakfast at Tiffany's (3.84 / 88%), The Shining (3.86 / 88%), Jurassic Park (3.66 / 89%) and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (3.64 / 88%).
Option D: In the Eyes of the Beholder Read a book that has received a 3.94 rating or lower on Godreads, AND whose movie adaptation has received a 79% rating or lower on Rottentomatoes.com's TomatoMeter. Examples include: Revolutionary Road (3.77 / 68%), The Prestige (3.80 / 76%), Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (3.94 / 77%) and The Painted Veil (3.79 / 74%).
Notes: Rottentomatoes.com's TomatoMeter is the number (expressed as a big green percentage) just to the right of the movie picture.
In case of multiple movie versions of the same book, you may use any adaptation.
Graphic novels are allowed (e.g. V for Vendetta) but if the movie is based on an episode in a comic book series (e.g. X-Men, Batman) then it might be difficult for you to locate a book of an appropriate length to read. The adaptation must be somewhat faithful to the original book (to be approved by task creator if ambiguous).
These lists might be helpful with the usual caution about Goodreads lists -- make sure the book's rating/movie rating matches your choice.
The Book Was Better Than The Movie
Best book-to-movie interpretation
The Movie was BETTER than the Book
10 movies that were better than the book
25 best book-to-film adaptations
Required: State which options you picked AND include the rating provided by Goodreads.com/ Rottentomatoes.com that you see on the respective websites at the time you choose your books.
I hope this gives you ideas on what to watch/re-watch, or read/re-read this holiday season, too...
25.6 - Laurie ME's task: Winter Fun and Games
I live in Manchester, Maine. Once the weather turns cold and snowy, we have many winter activity options available to us. A lot of us spend time on our many ski slopes and trails downhill or cross country skiing, snowboarding and snow shoeing or riding the trails on the snow mobile. Many others head for our frozen lakes to ice skate, ice fish, or play hockey. Then there are the snowbirds who seek vacations away from the cold and snow.
For this task, you will read 2 books:
Book 1: Book 1 should involve a cold, outdoor winter activity in some fashion. This could include a figure skater or skier on the cover, a winter activity in the title, a main character with a cold, outdoor job or hobby (like a ski instructor or hockey coach). Examples: Ice Castles, The Ski Bum, Open Ice: Reflections and Confessions of a Hockey Lifer, Simply Irresistible, Fresh Powder
Required: If the winter activity is not obvious from the cover, title, or GR's description of the book, explain the connection when you post.
Book 2: Book 2 should involve a place you would travel to get away from the cold, wintery weather. These lists might help:
Takes you away... to the beach
Caribbean Literature
Death in a Warm Climate
25.7 - Amanda A's task: Name Train
This is a two book task.
Book 1 - Using the last letter of your Readerboard name, read a book whose author's first, middle, or last name begins with that letter. If your Readerboard name has more than one word, you may use the last letter of any word in the name. For example, my Readerboard name is Amanda A so my first book could be a book by Alice Hoffman.
Book 2 - Read a book whose author's first, middle, or last name begins with the last letter of the previous author's first or last name. Based on the example above, I could read a book by Janet Evanovich or Nicholas Sparks.
Note: If your Readerboard name ends with X, Y, or Z and you do not have other letters to choose from (i.e., you have only a one word Readerboard name), let me know and I'll use a random list generator to select a letter from A-W for you to use.
Required: Point out the connections between the letters when you post. If you got a randomly-generated letter from Amanda, point that out also.
25.8 - Gayla's task: 2011: The Year in Review
Choose two different tasks from the list below.
As always, when using a GoodReads list, make sure that the book actually fits the parameters of the challenge.
1. Read one of the 100 Notable Books of 2011, according to the New York Times.
2. Read a book that a 2011 movie was based on. If the movie is based on a book from a series, I will accept any book in the series. For example, the final Harry Potter movie came out this year, but any of the Harry Potter books will count. This GoodReads list will get you started: 2011 Books to Movies List REQUIRED: Post the title AND release date of the movie that the book is based on. EXAMPLES: The Help (movie release date: 8/10/11), Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (movie release: 9/23/11), Twilight (Breaking Dawn, the movie based on the last book in the Twilight series released: 11/18/11). IMDb is a good resource for finding a movie's release date.
3. The wedding of Britain's Prince William and Catherine Middleton was one of the most-watched events of the year (2 billion viewers worldwide). Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) about the British royal family, or a book that features a wedding as a central event. REQUIRED: If the royal family or wedding is not obvious from the GoodReads description, please explain it. EXAMPLES: Elizabeth I, Cassandra at the Wedding, We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals, The Uncommon Reader.
4. One of the most important international developments in 2011 has been the upheaval in the Middle East. (Yahoo's 2011 Year in Reivew has a nice overview of these events.) Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) set in one of these countries: Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Tunisia, or Saudi Arabia. The book can be set in any time period, so a book about (for example) the Pharaohs is fine. These GoodReads lists may help: Best Middle East Fiction and Best Middle East Nonfiction EXAMPLES: Reading Lolita in Tehran, Crocodile on the Sandbank, See Under: Love.
5. The Occupy Wall Street movement is making big headlines in the U.S. as 2011 ends. Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) about a political movement or political protest, or read a book set in one of the U.S. cities where an Occupy protest has taken place: Occupy movement protest locations. REQUIRED: If you are using the political protest option, and the connection is not obvious from the GoodReads description, please explain it. EXAMPLES: Eat the Document, Freedom Summer: The Savage Season of 1964 That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy, Resistance: A Frenchwoman's Journal of the War, Gun, With Occasional Music (set in Oakland).
6. What will you remember best about 2011? Choose the most memorable event for you and read a book (fiction or non-fiction) that relates to it. For example, if you had a baby in 2011 you could read What to Expect the First Year; if you got your first job you could read Then We Came to the End; if you moved to a new city you could read a book about the city's history or a novel set there. REQUIRED: Post your memorable event and explain the connection if it's not obvious.
25.9 - Denise NC’s Task: My Favorite Genres
Most of the books I read fit into one of the six genres listed below and I am a major series junkie.
For this task, select two different genres from those listed below and read one book from each selected genre. Each book must be part of a series as identified on Goodreads. The Goodreads main book pages for the books you choose must have the selected genre on the Popular Shelves. You may read any book in the series.
Option 1 – Young Adult
Option 2 – Urban Fantasy
Option 3 – Mystery
Option 4 – Adventure / Thriller
Option 5 – Romance
Option 6 – Historical Fiction
Required: State which options you selected when you post.
30 point tasks30.1 - Cheryl TX/Lori (BNPL)'s Task: Unique Winter Holidays
For this this task, you will roll 2 dice. You will then read 2 books written by one or two new-to-you authors (see below) that corresponds to the numbers you rolled. If you roll doubles, you would do the same option twice.
If you roll:
1. January is National Soup Month (USA): Read a book with a title or subtitle (no series titles) that includes a word found in the name of a soup. Plurals, possessives, and variations are fine. This list of soups might help. Example: Twenty Chickens For A Saddle would work for chicken noodle soup.
Required: State the name of the soup you used when you post.
2. January 6th is Cuddle Up Day: Read a cozy mystery. The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth. Try cozy-mystery.com for ideas.
3. January 12th is Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day: Read a book with a male (preferably a HOT one ;-)) on the cover. Required: Post a link or cover (preferred) when claiming points.
4. January 31st is National Backward Day: Read a book whose author's initial is reversed from yours. Disregard middle initials. For authors with hyphenated names, like Josh Kilmer-Purcell, only the K in his last name would count. Example: My name is Cheryl E so I would have to read a book written by someone whose initials are EC. Required: State your initials when claiming points.
5. February 8th is Boy Scout Day: Read a book with a title or subtitle (no series titles) that contains a word found in the name of a Boy Scout merit badge. Plurals and possessives are fine, but no other variations are allowed. OR read a book about the subject of one of the merit badges.
6.February 13th is Get a Different Name Day: Choose a first name other than your own that you really like. Read a book by a an author with that first name. You would be choosing another name for yourself, so the name should work for your gender.
Your first book must be written by a new-to-you author. If you like that author, you may read another book written by that same author. If you don't like the author of the first book (or if you just want to broaden your horizons), you may pick another new-to-you author for the second book.
Required: Identify the numbers you rolled when you post. You also must indicate which author(s) is new to you, as the task requires.
30.2 Sheila’s Task: One Author – Two Series
For this task you will read 2 books from 2 different series written by the SAME author under the same name.
Book 1: Read any book in any series by an author who has written at least 2 different series.
Book 2: Read the FIRST book in a different series written by the same author of your first book.
For example: Many of us enjoy the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, but did you know that she has also written 3 other series? So you could read Smokin' Seventeen in the Stephanie Plum series for book 1 AND the first book in one of her other series for book 2.
A series will be defined as at least 3 published books with the same series name. The author must have the same name for both books. Pseudonyms are not allowed. Both books must be identified as part of two different series by Goodreads (Series Name, #).
30.3 - DLMRose's task: Small Changes or Simple Swaps
They say that making small changes or simple swaps can be an easy and effective way to get big results and help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions. For this task read TWO books.
First, read a book of your choice.
Then, for your second book, select a word in the title or subtitle of your first book and make one of the following changes. Read a book with that new word in the title or subtitle.
A. add one letter or character to that word: If your first book is A Duty to the Dead, dead + r = dread. So your second book could be Rides a Dread Legion. Or “the” + m = them, so your second book could be Say You're One of Them. Adding an "s" to get a plural works. Adding an apostrophe to turn the word into a possessive (ex. from Scottish Brides to The Bride's Baby) will work, too.
B. subtract one letter or character from that word: If your first book is A Duty to the Dead, dead - e = dad. So your second book could be Shit My Dad Says or you could subtract a "t" from the word “the” = he and read All He Ever Wanted. You may not subtract a letter from a one-letter word.
C. swap one letter or character in the word for a different letter: A Duty to the Dead swap the letter "d" in dead with an "l" to get lead and read Bury the Lead or swap the "A" with an "I" for I Capture the Castle. Letters must appear in the same order as in the original word (Ex. "the" could swap into: tie, toe, she).
Required: Please indicate the word and the change made
30.4 - Donna Jo's task: Double or Nothing
For this task, you need to roll two dice and read 2 books. As well as meeting the criteria below, one of the books you read must have been published for the first time in or before 1975. The other should be first published after 1975.
Book A. If the first die is even, read a book whose author's first and last names start with the same letter (Ex: Thomas Tryon). Middle names should be ignored. If a name is hyphenated, only the first letter of the hyphenated name should be used.
If the first die is odd, read a book by an author whose name contains double consonants. The letters can be in the first or last name, but they must be side by side (Ex: Jennifer Chiaverini). Only first and last names can be used. Middle names should be ignored.
Book B. If the second die is even, read a book with double letters in the title (Ex: A Room with a View).
If the second die is odd, read a book that contains consecutive words that begin with the same letter in the title. The words must appear next to each other. Examples: Faking Faith, A Christmas Carol, Success Secrets of Sherlock Holmes: Life Lessons from the Master Detective. You may use titles and subtitles, but series names do not count.
Required: State what numbers you rolled when you post the completed task.
30.5 - Butterflycager's task: Christmas Carolling
Let's go carolling! For this task, choose 1 or 2 Christmas carols from this list: Popular Christmas Carols. Then read two books with two different words from the carol(s) title in the title or subtitle (NOT series titles) of the book. Articles (a, an, the), pronouns (he, she, I, we, etc.) and prepositions (list of English prepositions) may NOT be used - "important" words only. Plurals, possessives, and variations are okay but words within words will not work. Hyphenated words (like red-nosed) may be used separately (red or nosed, for example).
So, for example, you could choose the carol "We Three Kings Of Orient Are" for your carol and read Murder on the Orient Express and A Clash of Kings. Or you could choose "We Three Kings Of Orient Are" and "Little Drummer Boy" and read A Clash of Kings and Drummer In the Dark.
Required: Identify the Christmas carol or carols used when posting.
30.6 - Sassafrass's task: The Many Facets of EARTHThis task explores the many meanings and uses of the term earth. This is a 2 book task. To determine which options your books must fit, roll 2 dice and read a book that corresponds to the numbers you rolled. If you roll doubles, you should complete the same task twice.
OPTIONS:
1. In astronomy, Earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system. For this option, you must read a book with three words in the MAIN title, a book that is the third book in a series, or one written by an author with 3 letters in their first or last name. Required: if you choose the series option, the series must be recognized by Goodreads (series name, #).
2. Earth can also refer to the ground covering our planet. On many representations of the earth (globes, maps, etc), it is usually depicted as being brown in color. For this option, read a book that has a brown cover, or one that has brown in the title, subtitle, series name, or author’s name. Plurals and compound words are ok.
Required: If using the series name, please include the series title when you post. If using the cover option, include the book cover (preferred) or a link. The cover must be for the edition that you actually read).
Note: The brown covers listed in the listopia are just a reference to give you ideas, you may choose other brown covers for the task.
3. Earth can also be used a verb as in to cover something. For this option, read a book whose central theme revolves around a cover up. A cover-up is an attempt to conceal evidence of wrong-doing, error, incompetence, or other embarrassing information. This book could be fiction or non-fiction. Examples: Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base, The Da Vinci Code, The Firm, Coma. The list Conspiracy Fiction might also help. The usual caveat pertaining to Listopia lists applies - make sure the book you choose actually fits the task. If you are unsure, ask in the appropriate task help thread.
Required: If the cover up is not obvious from the description posted here on goodreads, please write a blurb on how the book fits the task.
4. When someone “comes back down to earth”, they are getting back to reality or everyday life. So for this option, read a biography or autobiography and learn about someone else’s reality.
5. Earth can also refer to a connection between an electrical circuit or device and the earth, which is at zero potential. Therefore, if you roll this number, read a book in electronic format (this could be an e-book or audiobook), or a book featuring an electrician or electrical engineer as a main character, or a book that has an one of these common electrical terms in the title or subtitle. Two word electrical terms may be split up. Words within words are OK, but they must be found intact. If you wanted to use the term "branch circuit" for example, you could read Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch or Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit. For the term "Knob and tub," you may use knob or tub. You may not use "and."
Required: State how your book fits the task when you post. If using a common electrical term, you must state which term you used when posting. If you use the ebook or audiobook option you must link to the format/edition you used in order to credit for the task. All other challenge rules pertaining to ebooks and audiobooks apply.
6. In astrology, Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are considered the earth signs. They are also the 2nd, 6th, and 10th signs of the Zodiac. For this option, read the 2nd, 6th, or 10th book in a series or read a book with one of the three astrological signs in the title or subtitle. Examples include: Tropic of Capricorn, Taurus Eyes, and The Virgo Club. If using the series option, the book must be recognized as a series by Goodreads (series name, #).
Required: State what numbers you rolled when you post
30.7 - Delicious Dee's task: Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover
Whenever I am at the bookstore, I'm attracted to the books that have the really attractive covers and end up buying them. Sometimes they live up to the beauty of the cover and other times they don't.
For this task, you will try to not judge a book by its cover, or will you? This is a 2 book task - flip 2 coins by hitting flip again 1 time.
If you get 2 heads, read 2 books with covers that you love.
If you get 2 tails, read 2 books with covers that you dislike or that you wouldn't normally pick up.
If you get 1 heads and 1 tails, read 1 book with a cover you love and 1 book with a cover you don't like.
Required: Include the results of your coin toss and provide a link to the title or cover (preferred) when you post.
Optional: Tell us what you liked/didn't like about the cover when you selected the book and answer the question - was the book better than the cover? Or was the cover better than the book?
message 10:
by
Kristi (Passion for the Page)
(last edited Jan 16, 2012 07:47am)
50.1 - Ms Anderson's task: For the Love of Middle SchoolI absolutely adored middle school, and I also love that age group--young enough that they still have the charming idealism of youth, but old enough that you can have a decent discussion with them. So it's little wonder that I trained to be a middle school teacher!
Right now, I'm working with eighth graders, and they helped me create this task. Anyone who knows a 13- or 14-year old knows that they have very firm opinions about things, so I polled my homeroom kids as to what was "cool," both in books and in general.
Book 1: The Girls Like...
Pretty Little Liars was the most popular book, and they always make time to watch the show every week. Read a book that is also a television show or TV mini-series. If the book is part of a series, any book in that series may be used. Ex. Little House on the Prairie, Pride and Prejudice, Batman & Robin, Vol. 1: Batman Reborn These lists might help: TV programs based on novels, TV Mini-series based on books, Books that are also TV shows. As with all lists, make sure the book you chose actually fits the task. If you are not sure, ask in the appropriate help thread.
Book 2: The Boys Like...
Oh, this was easy. They love The Hunger Games. (For the girls, this was a very close second to PLL). For this task, read a book shelved as "Dystopia." Ex. We, 1984, Among the Hidden Dystopia must appear as one of the genres on the book's main page.
Book 3: Everyone Loves...
Roll a die to determine which book you read for the last one. Required: State your die roll when you post.
1. Short books: read a book between 100-200 pages.
2. Skyrim: read a novel shelved either "Fantasy" or "Adventure." Either fantasy OR adventure (or both) must appear as one of the genres on the book's main page.
3. Ugg Boots: read a book with shoe(s) on the cover. Required: Post the cover of the book when you post.
4. Lacrosse: read a book with an athlete as a main character (nonfiction is OK).
5. Call of Duty: read a book on a friend's "currently reading" shelf at the time you select your book. Required: Tell us which friend you picked and the date you picked your book from their currently reading shelf when you post.
6. Rocky Balboa (okay, this was just one kid, but man was he vehement): read a book that was first published in the 1970s.
As always, if the connection isn't clear, explain it in your post.
I'm going to keep track of my completed tasks below:
- Task 5.10: Fire by William Esmont (Book #1 of Elements of The Undead Series)
- Task 10.1: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
- Task 10.4: The Black Witch by Micheal Rivers (Curse of the Witch, Book 1)
- Task 10.8: Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask by Darlene Foster (Amanda, Book 1)
- Task 10.9: Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla
- Task 10.10: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
- Task 15.4: Matched by Ally Condie (Book #1 of the Matched Series) and The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans
- Task 15.6: Sleepwalker by Karen Robards
- Task 15.10: Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook (Book #2 of the Iron Seas Series)
- Task 20.2: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (Sky Chasers, Book 1)
- Task 25.1: Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright and Water Bound: A Sea Haven Novel by Christine Feehan (Sisters of the Heart, Book 1)
- Task 25.9: Crossed by Ally Condie (Matched, Book 2) and Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan (Sisters of the Heart, Book 2)
- Task 30.7: Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Everneath, Book 1) and White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
TOTAL POINTS EARNED: 200 POINTS
GOODREADS AUTHOR TICKETS EARNED: 7
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