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See details of the 2012 Historical Fiction Challenge here Pick your Menu, then choose your Courses:
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics:
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past Last Edited on: 10/29/11 10:21 PM ET - Total times edited: 1 |
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Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community (2 books + 1) D. Mini-Challenges: (WL mini-challenge) Bones of the Hills by Iggulden 10/12 (4 stars) E. HF Essentials List: Lonesome Dove by McMurtry 3/13/12 (5 stars) F. TBR: Enemy of God by Cornwell 6/11/12 (4 stars) Course 2. Celebrate History (4 books)
A. Summer Olympics: The Great Stink by Clark 8/15/12 (2.5 stars) Course Three: Celebrate Your Self (2 books + 1) A. Home Sweet Home: The Sisters Brothers by DeWitt 5/21/12 (4 stars) B. Let's Go! Conspirata by Harris 4/11/12 (3 stars) C. Roots and Wings: Heidegger's Glasses by Frank
A. Check it Out! TBD D. Sharing is Caring: My Lady of Cleves by Barnes 1/19/12 (3 stars) Course 5: Celebrate our Past (4 books + 2) Habla espanol: The Hummingbird's Daughter by Urrea 12/19/12 (5 stars) Continuing saga: Excalibur by Cornwell 12/23/12 (4.5 stars) New-to-you author: Outlaw by Donald 1/28/12 (3 stars) Who dunnit: The Tenderness of Wolves by Penney 1/21/12 (4.5 stars) On your shelf: Pushing the Bear by Glancey Non-fiction: Devil in the White City by Larsson 11/4/12 (3 stars)
Last Edited on: 12/23/12 2:03 PM ET - Total times edited: 46 |
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Course 1: Celebrate our Community -1
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2 - Celebrate History 3
A. Summer Olympics: The Book of Fires/Jane Borodale finished 6/30/12
D. Year of the Dragon:
A. Home, Sweet Home: Fall of the White City/N. S. Wikarski finished 10/30/12 Course 4 - Celebrate Your Local Library - 1
A. Check it Out! Course 5 - Celebrate the Past - 2
1200's-1300's Wine of Violence/Priscilla Royal finished 9/30/12 Extra Picks - 2
Last Edited on: 11/30/12 10:05 PM ET - Total times edited: 16 |
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Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Course 2. Celebrate History
A.
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past
Last Edited on: 12/13/12 3:41 PM ET - Total times edited: 25 |
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Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics: Revenger by Rory Clements
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past
Last Edited on: 9/16/12 9:40 PM ET - Total times edited: 7 |
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This is going to be so much fun! I'm aiming for the Super Buddha Buffet...ha! ETA: Finished Happy Sparrow. May add more as I finish out the year. Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community~~4~~DONE!!
A. Read-Alongs: The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart~~2/11 Course 2. Celebrate History~~5
A. Summer Olympics: ~~ The Deeds of the Disturber, by Elizabeth Peters~~5/29
A. Home, Sweet Home: ~~ Storming Heaven, by Denise Giardina~~10/12 Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library~~2~~DONE
A. Check it Out! ~In the Company of the Courtesan, Sarah Dunant~2/21
Course 5: Celebrate our Past~~4 1. #62, Book set in Europe ~~ The Dark Enquiry, Deanna Raybourn~6/24 2. #55 1200-1300 ~~ 3. #7 Plot deals with famous art work, music, etc. ~~Girl with a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier~5/26 4. #21 Second book in a series ~~ EXTRA PICKS~~6 1. A place you'd like to travel to ~~ Silent in the Grave, by Deanna Raybourn~~6/7 (London) 2. #38 "P"~~Shields of Pride, by Elizabeth Chadwick~~7/9 3. #94, Historical Fantasy ~~ Bring Down the Sun, by Judith Tarr~~4/6 4. #83, HF Mystery Cozy~~Silent on the Moor, by Deanna Raybourn~~6/13 5. #14 Our Pagan Past ~~ 6. # 34, "L" ~~ The Last Camel Died at Noon, by Elizabeth Peters~~7/1 Last Edited on: 11/3/12 4:20 PM ET - Total times edited: 33 |
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100112 - I decided I would be very Happy as a Sparrow Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community - 1 - DONE
A. Read-Alongs: F. TBR Course 2. Celebrate History - 3
A. Summer Olympics: Murder on London Bridge - done
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library - 1 - DONE
A. Check it Out! Course 5: Celebrate our Past - 2
EXTRA PICKS - 2
Last Edited on: 11/7/12 12:24 PM ET - Total times edited: 16 |
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I'm just going for the Happy Sparrow Snack and if I get really motivated, I'll change that.- What was I thinking! If I make it through just this it will be great since I've got myself into three other challenges and probably will be struggling to finish one of them!
Menu 1: The Happy Sparrow Snack Choose one from Course 1, three from Course 2, one from Course 3, one from Course 4, two from Course 5, plus two from any Course
ourse 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics
E. Weddings:
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past
2009-1.) Book with the word Murder in the Title -
2.) Historical Mystery - EXTRAS:
Deflowering - Last Edited on: 9/13/12 9:06 PM ET - Total times edited: 12 |
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Menu 2: The Kung Fu Feast Choose two from Course 1, four from Course 2, two from Course 3, two from Course 4, four from Course 5, plus four from any Course Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community A. Read-Alongs - The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart completed 2/12 D. Mini-Challenges: Participating in the H/F Mystery mini-challenge YES F. TBR Read a book that has been on your TBR for over two years: The Bones of Plenty - Hudson
Course 2: Celebrate History A. Summer Olympics: The Summer Olympics will be held in London, so read an H/F book set in London. When the Heavens Fall - Morris B. Presidential Election: In the US, we wll elect a President. Read an H/F that features a US President or presidential election. Lucy - Feldman, completed 5/4/12 C. End of the World: The Mayan calendar says that the world will end in 2012...or something like that. According to wikipedia, a Mayan Calendar Round lasts 52 years, so read a book that spans more that 52 years from beginning to end. D. Year of the Dragon: On the Chinese calendar, 2012 is the year of the dragon. Read a book with the word "Dragon" in the title, or a picture of a dragon on the cover Conqueror by Conn Iggulden (Kublai Khan wears a robe with a dragon on it) completed 12/22/12 E. Weddings: The Wedding of the Century will happen in June of 2012...that being my daughter and her fiance! Read a book that has a wedding scene in it. The Bridal Wreath - Undset, completed 4/12/12
Course 3: Celebrate Yourself A. Home, Sweet Home: Read a book set near where you live B. Let's Go! Read a book set someplace you'd like to travel. Lords of the Bow - Iggulden completed 11/22/12 C. Roots and Wings: Read a book associated with your family heritage D. Celebrate Good Times: Read a book about your favorite holiday or celebration E. What's in a Name? Read a book associated with your first name, or the first name of someone in your household. It can be found in the title, a character, the author...oh heavens...we'll stretch it to the editor or who the book is dedicated to, or anyone listed in the acknowledgements! Empire of Silver - Iggulden
Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library A. Check it Out! Read any book checked out from your library, including a Kindle or other ebook checked out electronically. Death of Kings - Cornwell 3/22/12 B. Friend of a Friend:Read a book you bought at an FOL sale. The Rising Shore - Homsher C. Word of Mouth: Read a book recommended by your librarian, or used for one of your library's book clubs, or mentioned in your library's newsletter or on their website. The Madonnas of Leningrad 9/2/12 D. Sharing is Caring: Read a book your library does not have, then donate that book to your library
Course 5: Celebrate Our Past For this Course, pick random numbers between 1 and 95. Pick a number for each book you need for this course. For example, if you are doing the Kung Fu Feast plus you want to use two of your extra picks for this course, you need to pick six random numbers between 1 and 95. Use the random number generator at random.org if you need help. AFTER you have picked your random numbers, go to THIS NUMBERED LIST of all the old categories from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 H/F challenges, plus all the other mini-challenges I could find and read a book for the categories corresponding to your random numbers. 3. Read A Book That Has Been on Your Shelf At Least A Year: Daughter of Fortune - Allende completed 6/12/12 14. Pagan Past: Knight's Fee - Sutcliff completed 3/10/12 45. W: White Doves At Morning - Burke 58. 1800's: 64. Africa: The Power of One - Courtenay completed 10/18/12 67. Deflowering: Genghis, Birth of an Empire - Iggulden completed 5/22/12 72. Shiny and New: Glamorous Illusions - Bergren completed 7/31/12 75: This Means War: Moss Rose, 5/12/12
Last Edited on: 12/30/12 6:51 PM ET - Total times edited: 17 |
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Super Buddha Buffet!
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community (must complete 4) DONE!
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History (must complete 5) DONE!
A. Summer Olympics: At the Mercy of the Queen by Anne Clinard Barnhill FINISHED 1/8/12
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library (must complete 2) DONE!
A. Check it Out! Aztec Blood by Gary Jennings FINISHED 1/22/12 Course 5: Celebrate our Past (must complete 4) DONE! 3. HF book on shelf 1+ Yr: Katherine by Anya Seton FINISHED 5/14/12 12. Historical Fantasy or Alternate Fantasy: The Taker by Alma Katsu FINISHED 2/10/12 19. ALA's annual reading list: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (2012 Fantasy shortlist) FINISHED 2/20/12
21. Subsequent book in a series/trilogy: The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd (Ladies in Waiting #2) FINISHED 6/10/12 EXTRA PICKS DONE! 27. E- Enchantments by Kathryn Harrison FINISHED 2/4/12 36. N-Jasmine Nights by Julia Gregson FINISHED 5/18/12 40. R- The Mercy Seller by Brenda Rickman Vantrease FINISHED 1/25/12 50. 500 BC-0 BC: The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn FINISHED 10/9/12 60. North America: The Technologists by Matthew Pearl FINISHED 1/28/12 82. Devil/Satan: John Crow's Devil by Marlon James FINISHED 10/12/12 Last Edited on: 10/12/12 11:05 PM ET - Total times edited: 42 |
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I am going to do the Happy Sparrow Snack and then maybe upgrade later. COMPLETED 04/21/2012 Choose one from Course 1: Celebrate our PBS community Mini Challenges: (h/f mystery challenge) The Demon's Parchment by Jeri Westerson (completed 04/21/12) Choose three from Course 2: Celebrate history Summer Olympics: The Hellfire Conspiracy by Will Thomas (book set in London) completed 01/02/2012 Year of the Dragon: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik (dragons on the cover and in the story) completed 01/08/12 Weddings: The Traitor's Wife by Susan Higginbotham (book with a wedding scene in it) completed 01/28/12 Choose one from Course 3: Celebrate yourself Let's Go: Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley (somewhere you want to visit, England) completed 01/24/12 Choose one from Course 4: Celebrate your library Sharing is Caring Caveat Emptor by Ruth Downie (read and donate to your library) completed 03/12/12 Choose 2 from course 5: Celebrate our past 22. Color Me The Black Hand by Will Thomas (a color used in the title) completed 01/16/12
12. R U Kidding Me The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart (historical fantasy or alternative reality) completed 03/03/12 Plus 2 from any course (Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Past)
HF Essentials List (#55 on the list) Moloka'i by Alan Brennert completed 03/07/12
Read Alongs The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart (February read-a-long) completed 02/06/12
Last Edited on: 4/22/12 5:33 AM ET - Total times edited: 19 |
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I'm shooting for the Kung Fu Feast. Or maybe the Super Buddha Buffet Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community - 4
A. Read-Alongs: Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart Completed 2/4/2012 Rated 5/5 F. TBR: We Speak No Treason by Rosemary Harley Jarman Completed 4/20/12 Rated 3/5 Course 2. Celebrate History - 5
A. Summer Olympics: Serpent in the Thorns by Jeri Westerson Completed 1/31/12 Rated 4.5/5
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library - 2
A. Check it Out! Course 5: Celebrate our Past - 4
EXTRA PICKS - 6 Last Edited on: 5/18/12 10:33 AM ET - Total times edited: 38 |
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Going to give this one a try. What fun! See details of the 2012 Historical Fiction Challenge here Pick your Menu, then choose your Courses: Menu = Happy Sparrow
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics: Peter Ackroyd. The Clerkenwell Tales Completed 1/25/12
A. Home, Sweet Home: Patricia Highsmith. The Cry of the Owl. Completed 3/19/2012 Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past Read 2 from course 5 Daphne DuMaurier. Don’t look now Completed 5/28/2012 Mary Ann Shaffer. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Completed 2/17/12 HF essentials Two from any course: Ariana Franklin. Mistress of the the Art of Death. Completed 10/20/2012
Sarah Dunant. Sacred Hearts (see above, Course 3, Celebrate Yourself) Completed Last Edited on: 10/20/12 11:17 PM ET - Total times edited: 17 |
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I am going for the Super Buddha Feast! Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community 4
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History 5
A. Summer Olympics: Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman Finished 9/4/12 580pgs.
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library 2 DONE!
A. Check it Out! The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters Finished 9/25/12 289pgs. ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past 4 + 6 DONE! #15 "Whodunit? Read a Historical Mystery." Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom Finished 1/3/12 498pgs. #6 "Solve a crime! Read one Historical Mystery." The Venus Throw by Steven Saylor Finished 1/9/12 350pgs. #69 Historical Hunks. Read a book about your favorite hunk. Pirates of the Levant by Arturo Perez-Reverte Finished 1/15/12 362pgs. #40 R Revelation by CJ Sansom Finished 10/4/12 546pgs #72 Shiny and New - Read a book published for the first time after Ovtober 2010 or later. The Garden Intrigue by Lauren Willig Finished 2/24/12 375pgs #62 Europe Last Seen in Massilia by Steven Saylor Finished 7/14/12 268pgs. #41 S Sovereign by CJ Sansom Finished 7/25/12 576pgs. #84 Pick your poison! Read a HF mystery of your choice. Rubicon by Steven Saylor Finished 4/5/12 298 pgs. #50 500BC-0BC The House of the Vestals by Steven Saylor Finished 2/20/12 223pgs. #21 Continuing Saga. Read a subsequent book in a series. The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig Finished 2/5/12 399pgs
2 Extras ( I shamelessly tailored my reading list to fit my TBR stack.. Ergo, 2 more books for cheating)
A Mist of Prophesies by Steven Saylor Finished 9/9/12 267pgs.
The Judgement of Caesar by Steven Saylor Finished 9/16/12 318pgs.
Last Edited on: 12/10/12 3:18 PM ET - Total times edited: 31 |
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I think I'm going to take it easy this year and do the Happy Sparrow Snack. Can't wait to get list started!
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community ~ 1
Course Three: Celebrate Your Self ~ 1
B. Friend of a Friend:
Pagan Past ~ Bathsheba ~ Jill Eileen Smith ~ completed 9/14
Non-Fiction History ~ A Kingdom Strange ~ James Horn ~ completed 9/28 Last Edited on: 9/28/12 5:10 PM ET - Total times edited: 13 |
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Saving spot till I figure out what's going on here!
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Titanic A Survivor's Story finished 4/12 Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics:
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past Last Edited on: 5/22/12 8:48 PM ET - Total times edited: 11 |
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I've decided to do the Happy Sparrow Snack, as I'm also doing the Historical Non-Fiction one and don't want to get burnt out my first year of challenges. Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community E. HF Essentials List: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay [FINISHED 1/6] Course 2: Celebrate History A. Summer Olympics: Anatomy of Murder by Imogen Robertson [FINISHED 4/20] B. Presidential Elections: My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliviera [FINISHED 2/10] D. Year of the Dragon: Dragonwyck by Anya Seton E. Weddings: Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain [FINISHED 2/16] Course 3: Celebrate Your Self B. Let's Go!: A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock [FINISHED 5/2] Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library A. Check it Out! A Traitor in the Tunnel by YS Lee [FINISHED 8/3] Course 5: Celebrate Our Past 72. Shiny and New: Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick [FINISHED 1/3] 75. This Means War: Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell 15. Whodunit?: Instruments of Darkness by Imogen Roberts [FINISHED 4/4] Last Edited on: 9/9/12 8:12 PM ET - Total times edited: 10 |
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Save a place for 2012 but I'll probably go for the lightest one - need to purge my shelves. Looks like my reads will be many more in some sections than others and like Misfit my reading is whatever strikes my fancy at the moment. Looks like I may be heading for an advanced level as I have only 11 books left to achieve that level. Choose one from Course 1, three from Course 2, one from Course 3, one from Course 4, two from Course 5, plus two from any Course
s Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
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F. Course 2. Celebrate History
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D. ALTERNATE COURSE 4
Course 5: Celebrate our Past
Extra Picks: **The Bungalow by Sarah Jio, 12//27/2012 **The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka, 12/24/20121 **Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon, 2/14/2012 **Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon, 2/26/2012 **The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon, 2/22/2012 Course 5: Celebrate our Past The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 2011 Reads - 215. Challenges completed: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction Mystery, Mystery, YA, Contemporary, 11 of 13 for Classics, 1 HF Monthly Read (Veil of Lies) plus some goodreads readalongs.
Last Edited on: 12/27/12 8:11 AM ET - Total times edited: 217 |
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Saving a spot, but like this year I'm not actively planning reads around the challenge - what fits fits, what doesn't doesn't. My reading moods swing too wide and new discoveries send me in new directions.
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics:
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5: Celebrate our Past |
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Course 1: Celebrate Our PBS Community, 4
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E. Course 3: Celebrate Yourself, 3
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C. Course 4: Celebrate Your Library, 2
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D. Course 5: Celebrate our Past , 5 +6
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K. Last Edited on: 10/9/12 9:28 AM ET - Total times edited: 34 |
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Linda will be having the Super Buddha Feast !!
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community - PICK 4 Completed
A. Read-Alongs: The Crystal Cave, Mary Stewart - completed 2/4/12 Course 2. Celebrate History - PICK 5 Completed
A. Summer Olympics: Revelation, C. J. Sansom - completed 1/16/12
A. Home, Sweet Home: The Confederate War Bonnet, Jack Shakely - completed 3/5/12 Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library - PICK 2 Completed
A. Check it Out!
Course 5: Celebrate our Past - PICK 4 A. Letter G The Red Garden, Alice Hoffman - completed 3/19/12 B. Letter R Doc, Mary Doria Russell - completed 1/24/12 C. 1200/1300's The Forest Laird, Jack Whyte - completed 3/17/12 D. New to You Author Brooklyn, Colm Toibin completed 2/4/12
Extra Picks - PICK 6 Completed A.800-1000 (from 2011 Challenge) - Death of Kings, Bernard Cornwell -- 1/26/12 B. Strong Woman (2011 Challenge) - Queen Hereafter, Susan Fraser King -- 1/30/12 C. 1000-1100 (2011 Challenge) - The Lion's Legacy, Juliet Dymoke -- 3/2/12 D. Course 3, item B - place you'd like to visit - Caleb's Crossing, Geraldine Brooks -- 3/3/12 (Martha's Vineyard/Boston area) E. Continuing Saga (2010 Challenge) Women of Ashdon, Valerie Anand -- 3/10/12 (Bridges over Time series) F. 1600s-1700s (2011 Challenge) - Exit the Actress, Priya Parmar -- 3/27/12
Last Edited on: 4/2/12 4:05 PM ET - Total times edited: 29 |
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Kelly will be having the Super Buddha Feast !! COMPLETED 12 Nov 12!
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community - PICK 4
A. Read-Alongs: The Dressmaker, Kate Alcott. Titanic, young aspiring fashion designer survives the sinking. 4/5. Finished 4/6/12. Course 2. Celebrate History - PICK 5
A. Summer Olympics: The Vizard Mask, Diana Norman. Latter half of 17th century, Charles II on the throne, Penitence. 5/5. Finished 2/6/12.
A. Home, Sweet Home: Doc, Mary Doria Russell. Well-researched, fictional biography of John Henry Holliday- excellent book! 5/5. Finished 1/9/12. Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library - PICK 2
Course 5: Celebrate our Past - PICK 4. We played "Random" picks & came up with a very nice set of random choices: A. Letter F: False Colours, Georgette Heyer. One twin takes his brother's place, falls in love with our heroine (the brother's intended) and hijinks abound. Another delightful Regency romance; although not as good as some of my other favorites. 3.5/5. Finished 6/15/12. B. Letter M: A Murder of Crows, P.F. Chisholm. Love the Sir Robert Carey books! 5/5. Finished 3/10/12. C. Roots: Daughter of Lir, Diana Norman. Set in Ireland & details the clan disputes & squabbles that directly led to Strongbow's (Richard le Clare) invasion & subsequent conquering of most of Ireland, including Deblin. Henry II arrived in 1171 with more men to ensure that all knew it was he who was Lord or Ireland! 4/5. Finished 5/12/12. D. Europe: The Spies of Warsaw, Alan Furst. French military attache (& WW I veteran) is stationed in Warsaw, 1937-38. Very interesting look at pre-WW II eastern Europe. 4/5. Finished 5/24/12. Extra Picks - PICK 6 A. #63, Asia: Genghis, Birth of an Empire, Conn Iggulden. First book in the Genghis trilogy; excellent book! 5/5. Finished 2/20/12. B. #21, Continuing Saga: Lords of the Bow, Conn Iggulden. Second book in the Genghis trilogy; very good book! 4.5/5. Finished 3/7/12. C. #53, 800 AD - 1000 AD: Death of Kings, Bernard Cornwell. Uhtred (Saxon Chronicles); as good as they always are! 5/5. Finished 3/15/12. D. #4, New to You Author: The Whiskey Rebels, David Liss. Plot to crash the Bank of the United States in opposition to the excise tax on whiskey. Ethan Saunders, Leonidas, Alexander Hamilton. 5/5 Finished 4/15/12. E. #57, 1600/1700's: Caleb's Crossing, Geraldine Brooks. Fictionalized account of the story of the first Native American (Wampanoag) to graduate from Harvard College (1665). The book is, however, more about Bethia Mayfield & the Mayfield family - loosely based on the Mayhew family - original patent holders of the island now known as Martha's Vineyard. 4.5/5. Finished 3/30/12. F. #75, This Means War: Holy Warrior, Angus Donald. Robert, Earl of Locksley joins King Richard on the Third Crusade to face Saladin. The second in the Robin Hood series. 4/5. Finished 6/21/12.
Other Books for 2012 (including History Challenge selections)
Medicus, Ruth Downie, 24 Jan Terra Incognita, Ruth Downie, 15 Feb The Dark Inquiry, Deanna Raybourn, 20 May What Angels Fear, C.S. Harris, 18 Apr When Gods Die, C.S. Harris, 21 Apr Why Mermaids Sing, C.S. Harris, 14 May Still Life With Murder, P.B. Ryan, (1st Nell Sweeney), 1 Jun Where Serpents Sleep, C.S. Harris, 9 Jun What Remains of Heaven, C.S. Harris, 10 Jun Murder in a Mill Town, P.B. Ryan, (2nd Nell Sweeney), 23 Jun Where Shadows Dance, C.S. Harris, 25 Jun When Maidens Mourn, C.S. Harris, 27 Jun Leopards Unleashed, Elizabeth Chadwick, 30 Jun A Foreign Affair, Caro Peacock, 2 Jul (4/5) The Turning of Anne Merrick, Christine Blevins, 8 Jul (4.5/5) A Dangerous Affair, Caro Peacock, 10 Jul (4/5) The de Lacy Inheritance, Elizabeth Ashworth, 11 Jul (4/5) King's Man, Angus Donald (3rd Robin Hood), 15 Jul (4.5/5) Holmes on the Range, Steve Hockensmith (1st Old Red & Big Red), 18 Jul (4.5/5) - Delightful, funny, satisfying! Death on Beacon Hill, P.B. Ryan (3rd Nell Sweeney), 24 Jul (4.5/5) - Such a fun read! Love Nell, really love Will. Also nice, tight mystery! Daughters of the Grail, Elizabeth Chadwick, 2 Aug (3.5/5) - Bridgit & Magda; Cathars; Simon de Montfort's father; Languedoc region. Set in early 1200's. Mercury's Rise, Ann Parker, 9 Aug (4.5/5) - 4th Silver Rush Mystery; set in Manitou Springs, Colorado, 1880. The House at Tyneford, Natasha Solomons, 12 Aug (5/5) - Elise, 19 yo Jewish woman from Vienna emigrates to England as house parlor maid, pre WW II. Wonderful! Confessions of Catherine de Medici, C.W. Gortner, 18 Aug (3.5/5) - life of Catherine de Medici, told in first person. Covers end of the Valois dynasty, persecution of Huguenots. The Kitchen House, Kathleen Grissom, 23 Aug (4.5/5) - Lavinia (indentured Irish servant girl) is incorporated into a family of slaves on a Virginia tobacco plantation. Book begins in 1791, with final events taking place in 1810. The Russian Winter, Daphne Kalotay, 29 Aug (4/5) - Elderly former Russian ballet dancer donates her jewelry for auction. Multiple story lines in current timeand during Stalin Russia. Interesting & well-written. Desperate Remedy, Martin Stephen, 10 Sep (3/5) - 1605 Gunpowder Plot. First in the series, and I'm not interested in a follow-up. The Flower Reader, Elizabeth Loupas, 16 Sep (4.5/5) - 1560's, Scotland, young Queen Mary and her mother's missing silver casket. Lots of court intrigue, interesting mystery, lovely romantic element. A Serpent in the Thorns, Jeri Westerson, 18 Sep (4.5/5) - Crispin Guest's 2nd adventure. I think I liked this one better than the first - relationships starting to develop, John of Gaunt makes a couple of appearances as a secondary - but key character. We also get more of Crispin's background in this one. The Shadowy Horses, Susanna Kearsley, 21 Sep (4/5) - Archaeology dig in Scotland; ghost of The Sentinel. Wonderful, enjoyable book. Non-HF. Guildenford, Valerie Anand, 1 Oct (4.5/5) - Godwin, Earl of Wessex, King Edward, his mother Emma & the conspiracy and death of Alfred Atheling & his followers at Guildenford. Wanted Man, Lee Child, 8 Oct (4.5/5) - Another great Jack Reacher book. This one is a bit more intellectual and a little (little) less violent than some of the others. I really enjoyed it. Non-HF. Persona Non Grata, Ruth Downie, 15 Oct (4/5) - 3rd in the Medicus series. In this one, Medicus & Tilla go to Gaul in answer to an urgent summons from Ruso's family. Good, solid addition to the series. Needle in the Blood, Sara Bower, 31 Oct (4.5/5) - Bishop Odo and Gytha - a fictional love affair set against the backdrop of the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry. The Crown, Nancy Bilyeau, 16 Nov (4.5/5) - Set 1527/1537 w/ H-VIII's dissolution of the monasteries as the backdrop. Joanna Stafford used as a pawn bu the powerful Bishop of Winchester to find a crown of mystic powers. The Wolves of Andover, Kathleen Kent, 26 Nov (4.5/5) - Set in both London & Massachusetts in 1673. Main plotline is Charles II's search for his father's executioners. But the book is very much more than that & I enjoyed it very much. Loved Martha's character & really love that she is one of the author's ancestors. The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein, 29 Nov (4.5/5) - Told in first person by Enzo, a lab mix belong to Denny - a late 20's semi-professional racecar driver. Lots of life's lessons in this one. Very thought-provoking, very well-written. The Heretic's Daughter, Kathleen Kent, 4 Dec (4.5/5) - Although written first, this is the follow-on to Wolves of Andover. The MC (& Heretic's Daughter) is Martha's daughter, Sarah. Based on true events and written by one of Martha's descendants - a very compelling book. Death at Whitechapel, Robin Paige, 9 Dec (4/5) - Delightful cozy featuring Charles & Kate Sheridan. In this one, we have a young WInston Churchill & his mother, Jennie. The myster involves the 10-year old Jack-the-Ripper murders. Bound, Sally Gunning, 13 Dec (4/5) - Alice is a young girl bound into indenture to pay her family's traveling debts. She ends up with the Widow Berry. Intriguing book about indenture & early American life set against the backdrop and increasing unrest of pre-Revolution America. A Family Affair, Caro Peacock, 21 Dec (4/5) - 3rd Liberty Lane Victorian mystery. An inheritance is at stake, there are murders to solve and a 23-year old mystery must be untangled. These books are well-developed with good plots and rich detail.
Last Edited on: 12/21/12 10:00 AM ET - Total times edited: 68 |
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Saving my spot Saving my spot :) Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics: Mr Churchill's Secretary done July 12th
A. Home, Sweet Home: The Rebillion of Jane Clarke done Sept 15th, Massachusetts Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! ALTERNATE COURSE 4 Course 5 Celebrate our Past # 22 Color in Title - The Scarlett Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick 1/7 done Excellent!!! # 4 New to me Author - Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray done April 11th Extra #94 Historical Fantasy - God Save the Queen by Kate Lock Sept 18th #74 In the Name of Love -- To Be Queen by Christy English Sept 24th Last Edited on: 9/24/12 5:14 PM ET - Total times edited: 12 |
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Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: Course 2. Celebrate History
Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Course 5: Celebrate our Past
Last Edited on: 11/10/12 12:34 AM ET - Total times edited: 12 |
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11.1.11: My spot! No idea what I'll choose yet....I am toying with a radical approach, ie, just reading what takes my fancy and seeing which challenges I end up completing.......
12.12.11: ok, I think I've decided. I had trouble this year with the sheer quantity of titles I had to read for the 2011 challenge--my ending status is that I am one short, on a book which is really expensive to purchase and which I haven't budged on my WL on, so I think I will scale back my ambitions and have settled on a Happy Sparrow Snack, as follows: 1.1.12: Finished adding in titles, I am all set now!
Course 1: Celebrate our PBS Community
A. Read-Alongs: I will do one of these April's: book about the Titanic The Loss of the SS Titanic Its Story and Its Lessons by Lawrence Beesley completed 4.14.12 Course 2. Celebrate History
A. Summer Olympics:
A. Home, Sweet Home: Course 4: Celebrate Your Local Library
A. Check it Out! Course 5: Celebrate our Past
#3 - Read a book of Historical Fiction that has been on your shelf for at least a year. Pilgrim by Timothy Findley completed 4.3.12 #__-Continuing Sagas The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell completed 1.17.12 #15 - Whodunit? Read a Historical Mystery -A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch completed 8.17.12 Last Edited on: 11/1/12 12:01 PM ET - Total times edited: 15 |
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