Challenges – Page 4 – Carol's Notebook

Challenge Sign-ups

December 8, 2010 by Carol11 Comments

I couldn't resist signing up for Vintage Mystery challenge hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block. The rule is that all books must have been written before 1960 and be from the mystery category. Think of som eof the great authors that are included in that: Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, Ellery Queen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ngaio Marsh, Rex Stout. I'm going to be Getting a Clue (7-9 books). Whitney at She Is Too Fond of Books is hosting The Femme Fatale Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read or watch femme fatale related stories. "A femme fatale, translating to "Deadly Woman" in french, is an alluring, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire. Often this leads them into compromising, dangerous and deadly situations." "Typically, Femme Fatales are portrayed as the villains but occasionally become the heroine by the end of the tale. A Femme Fatale,...

Women Unbound Reading Challenge

November 30, 2010 by Carol2 Comments

The Women Unbound challenge finished up today. Here's what I read that I think fits the topic. Non-fiction Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi - fascinating look at women's lives and relationships in Iran Stop Calling Him Honey and Start Having Sex! by Maggie Arana and Julienne Davis - really much more about empowering women than the title implies Fiction The Help by Kathryn Stockett - one of my favorites of the year The Miracle Worker by William Gibson - Annie Sullivan was just an amazing young woman and this play gave me a new respect for her Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner - a modern classic about a woman and her relationships I think it's important to share stories about great or interesting women and girls with our kids, so here are a couple of books that fit in this challenge that I've read with my daughter. Thank You, Sarah by Laura Halse Anderson- (Non-fiction) Quest for the Tree Kangaroo by Sy Montgomery - (Non-fiction)...

Holiday Reading Challenge

November 3, 2010November 3, 2010 by Carol4 Comments

I love Christmas and everything related, music, decorations, traditions. I also love to read holiday-flavored books, so I am signing up for Nely's 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge. The goal is to read 1-5 holiday-themed books. I know I'll read at least 1, maybe more, not counting children's books. Here's my list of potentials. The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul The Man who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford Of course, by the time December ends my list will probably look entirely different. ...

Two Challenges Completed

September 30, 2010September 30, 2010 by Carol6 Comments

There are the books I read for this challenge. 13 1/2 by Nevada Barr Still Life by Louise Penny Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook The Deepest Water by Kate Wilhelm Heat Wave by Richard Castle Death Qualified by Kate Wilhelm Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon Looking at the list, I'm not sure which was my favorite. They were all enjoyable. I guess a few do stand out though. Still Life was a very well done kind of traditional mystery. I loved the settings in Veil of Lies and The Coroner's Lunch. The Chatham School Affair was probably the only one on this list that had me in tears. Some of these are overlaps, because they truly fit in both categories. Rion by Susan Kearney Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass Soulless by Gail Carriger The Ace of Spades by K. H. Koehler Blood...

Romance Reading Challenge

July 1, 2010June 30, 2010 by Carol6 Comments

I completed the Romance Reading Challenge a little while ago, but forgot to mention it. Here's the list of books I read. I think my favorite was probably Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Rion by Susan Kearney To Sin with a Scoundrel by Cara Elliott Cotillion by Georgette Heyer Montana Legacy by R. C. Ryan Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready And a quick update on my other challenges. Read Ohio: 1/5 100+ Reading : 61/100 A to Z : 35/52 Speculative Fiction: 4/6 Thriller and Suspense: 8/12 Wilkie Collins: 1/2 Women Unbound: 3/5 Chunkster: 0/4 I'm also participating in Operation Actually Read Bible. I'm not reading in any order but here's the number of books I've read. Old Testament: 10/39 New Testament: 7/27...

Chunkster Challenge

December 11, 2009January 14, 2010 by Carol7 Comments

I know I said no more challenges, but this is one I participated in last year and enjoyed, so it's not really new. Wendy is hosting the Chunkster Challenge starting in February. Again, I'm asking Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big? - 4 chunksters of 450 pages or more. I'm not making a list right now, though....