The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.2. Rookie at the Top: Bouchra's Task: School-time!

During the Fall 2013 Challenge, I won't be participating as much as I hoped to due to the fact that I'm going to be sitting for some of the most important exams of my high school career - the A Levels. In honor of all the hard work I have to put into them, I'm going to base this task on the subjects I'm studying for.

Choose one of the options below and read ONE book for this task.

REQUIRED: State in your post which option you chose, and any additional information for that option, including explanations of how the book fits the task.

Option 1 - Biology is a natural science that is concerned with the study of life.* Read the biography of a scientist. Examples: Einstein: His Life and Universe, Lise Meitner: A Life in Physics, Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother

For the purposes of this task, "science" only includes the "natural sciences" - see Outline of Science for a listing of disciplines within the natural sciences (physical sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences, life sciences).

Option 2 - The word chemistry is derived from 'alchemy,' which was probably derived from the Persian 'kimia' or Arabic 'alkimia.'* Read a book set in a country where Arabic or Persian is one of the official languages. This list will be used for the Arabic-speaking countries: Arab League countries. As for Persian, only the following countries count: Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan -- the only three countries where it is an official language. Examples: Persian: Not Without My Daughter and And the Mountains Echoed. Arabic: Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia
and 24 Bones (remember that books only existing in ebook form must be approved for length).

Option 3 - Most inventions that we take for granted today - the lightbulb, computers, X-ray machines, etc - are available thanks to the physicists that studied the laws of nature, and the engineers that invented them. Read a book with a main character who is either working in or studying a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field. Only fiction may be used for this task, not non-fiction.
Examples: Atlas Shrugged, Digital Fortress, Intuition

This list may give you some ideas - Lab Lit. As always, when using a GR listopia, be cautious - not all books on this list will actually fit the task.

Option 4 - Mathematics is the abstract study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change.* Butterflies symbolize change. Read a book that has a butterfly on its cover. Here's a list that may give you some ideas: Butterfly Covers.
Examples:
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.

*These definitions were taken from Wikipedia.

Approved books:

Option 1 - Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!; The Monk in the Garden: The Lost and Found Genius of Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics

Option 2 - If You Could Be Mine; Reflections in the Nile

Option 3 - The Helium Murder; Body of Evidence; The Inquisitor's Key; Final Theory; The People in the Trees

Option 4 -

Books not eligible for this task:

Option 1 -

Option 2 -

Option 3 -

Option 4 -

this thread is now open!

Ohhh intriguing..

Great task! I needed a place for And the Mountains Echoed but I wish I could do more of the options!

Do butterfly outlines count?

Would Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! work for option 1?

If You Could Be Mine for option 2?

Great task! I wanted to find out if any of these would work for option 1? Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio, Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance, or The Alchemy of Air: A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Scientific Discovery That Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler

Or, is this one okay for option 3? The Helium Murder

Body of Evidence for option 3?

Karen GHHS wrote: "Great task! I needed a place for And the Mountains Echoed but I wish I could do more of the options!"

Dee wrote: "Ohhh intriguing.."

Sandy wrote: "this thread is now open!"

Karen, Dee, and Sandy, thanks!

Dee wrote: "Do butterfly outlines count? "

Sure, as long as they're as visible as the ones on this cover. Have fun reading!

Laurie wrote: "Would Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! work for option 1?"

Yes, definitely! Have fun reading!

Ms Anderson wrote: "If You Could Be Mine for option 2?"

Sure. Have fun reading!

I noticed a Jefferson Bass novel on the Lab Lit list. Would it be OK to read a different Jefferson Bass book in the same series? The Inquisitor's Key

Valorie wrote: "Great task! I wanted to find out if any of these would work for option 1? Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio, Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance, or The Alchemy of Air: A..."

I'm afraid neither of the two books you've chosen for option 1 will work, as they seem to be more focused on the historical and technical parts than on the lives of the scientists themselves.

The Helium Murder will work for option 3. Have fun reading!

Elizabeth wrote: "Body of Evidence for option 3?"

Sure. Have fun reading!

Bea wrote: "I noticed a Jefferson Bass novel on the Lab Lit list. Would it be OK to read a different Jefferson Bass book in the same series? The Inquisitor's Key"

As mentioned in the task, the Lab Lit list has a quite a few books that qualify for option 4, while others don't. From the Goodreads description and some reviews of the book you linked to, I understood that the two main characters are forensic anthropologists. Forensic anthropology is a STEM subject, so yes, the book qualifies for the task.

Have fun reading!

Bouchra wrote: "Bea wrote: "I noticed a Jefferson Bass novel on the Lab Lit list. Would it be OK to read a different Jefferson Bass book in the same series? The Inquisitor's Key"

As mentioned in the task, the La..."

Thank you!

I didn't see Lord of the Flies in the linked list for #4, but I'm sure it qualifies.

For option 3 does this work:
Final Theory - Mark Alpert

In the description of the books page it states that he works with an old girlfriend, a Princeton scientist...?

Bea wrote: "I noticed a Jefferson Bass novel on the Lab Lit list. Would it be OK to read a different Jefferson Bass book in the same series? The Inquisitor's Key"

Bea - has you read the previous books in the series? this is def. one that builds on each book if you haven't

Dee wrote: "Bea wrote: "I noticed a Jefferson Bass novel on the Lab Lit list. Would it be OK to read a different Jefferson Bass book in the same series? The Inquisitor's Key"

Bea - has you read the previous ..."

Not all of them, but it is one that I own. The funny thing is I never paid any attention to series numbers until about a year ago and would read books that happened to be in a series (which I had not noted) out of order all the time. I am an old hand at figuring out the story anyway. Course now I track the series...so now I do it knowing that I am missing something. :) LOL

Does The Age of Edison count for option 1? Thanks!

While looking for a book to fit Option 1, I found this one about Mendel and his work. While not formally trained as a scientist his work formed the basis for the study of genetics (and the book looks like a good read). As Mendel isn't as obvious as Einstein, I thought I better check and see if it works:

The Monk in the Garden: The Lost and Found Genius of Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics by Robin Marantz Henig

Thanks!

Option 4:

Good luck with your A-levels Bouchra! I'm looking forward to figuring out what I'm going to read for this task. See if I can find a biography to read that fits my course too :)

Wondering if How To Be a Good Wife qualifies for Option 3. The husband in the book is a math teacher in a high school, and a couple of the reviews mention it too, even though the synopsis doesn't.

Does it matter when the book it set as long as it occurs in Egypt for Option 2? Thinking about Reflections in the Nile

Theresa~OctoberLace wrote: "I didn't see Lord of the Flies in the linked list for #4, but I'm sure it qualifies."

It does qualify. As mentioned in the task, the list is just a starting point, anything outside the list that has a butterfly on the cover qualifies.

Have fun reading!

Lacy wrote: "For option 3 does this work:
Final Theory - Mark Alpert

In the description of the books page it states that he works with an old girlfriend, a Princeton scientist...?"

Sure, it will work. Have fun reading!

Jayme VA wrote: "Does The Age of Edison count for option 1? Thanks!"

I'm sorry, but it won't work. It seems to be more about the history of electricity than the life of Edison.

Hana wrote: "While looking for a book to fit Option 1, I found this one about Mendel and his work. While not formally trained as a scientist his work formed the basis for the study of genetics (and the book loo..."

It definitely works. Have fun reading!

Angela wrote: "Option 4: "

Definitely! Have fun reading!

Claire wrote: "Good luck with your A-levels Bouchra! I'm looking forward to figuring out what I'm going to read for this task. See if I can find a biography to read that fits my course too :)"

Thanks! What course are you taking?

Bouchra wrote: "Claire wrote: "Good luck with your A-levels Bouchra! I'm looking forward to figuring out what I'm going to read for this task. See if I can find a biography to read that fits my course too :)"

Th..."

I'm just starting a PhD in Aging and Health/Mitochondrial Disease. By the looks of this challenge, you're doing the same A-Levels I did :) Have fun. Which one's your favourite?

Bouchra wrote: "Jayme VA wrote: "Does The Age of Edison count for option 1? Thanks!"

I'm sorry, but it won't work. It seems to be more about the history of electricity than the life of Edison."

Okay, thanks!

I'm going to read Option 3: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

I was wondering if The People in the Trees would work for option 3? The main character is an anthropologist who goes on to win the Nobel Prize for scientifically proving something or other (going by the description)...

I didn't see this on the list, but for option 4 I think I might read tons of butterflies!

Athira wrote: "Wondering if How To Be a Good Wife qualifies for Option 3. The husband in the book is a math teacher in a high school, and a couple of the reviews mention it too, even though the synopsis doesn't."

I took a look at it, and cannot find any of the reviews that mention it. You can read it, however, it's better if you can link to one of the reviews mentioning this fact.

Have fun reading!

April wrote: "Does it matter when the book it set as long as it occurs in Egypt for Option 2? Thinking about Reflections in the Nile"

No, it doesn't matter when the book is set. Have fun reading!

Claire wrote: "I'm going to read Option 3: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand."

Good luck! I'm still trying to finish that pesky book - it's so big and has a complex story line. Have fun reading!

Chaitra wrote: "I was wondering if The People in the Trees would work for option 3? The main character is an anthropologist who goes on to win the Nobel Prize for scientifically proving something or other (going b..."

Actually, the description mentions the main character as a doctor who is traveling with an anthropologist, so this will definitely work. Have fun reading!

Amanda (Pearl the Book Girl) wrote: "I didn't see this on the list, but for option 4 I think I might read tons of butterflies!"

Have fun reading!

Would a primatologist work for option 3? I am thinking Congo by Michael Crichton

Bouchra wrote: "Athira wrote: "Wondering if How To Be a Good Wife qualifies for Option 3. The husband in the book is a math teacher in a high school, and a couple of the reviews mention it too, even though the syn..."

Thanks! I thought I'll mention the reviews anyways, if you would like to check it out. Here's one and here's another. They do only mention that the man is a teacher, not a STEM teacher, even though he is a math teacher. So those reviews are probably not sufficient.

Hi! Would this count for option 4?

They're butterflies drawn in ectoplasm or something - or does it have to be real butterflies?

thanks!

Bouchra wrote: "Actually, the description mentions the main character as a doctor who is traveling with an anthropologist, so this will definitely work. Have fun reading! "

LOL, I didn't even notice that. Thank you!