You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

April 2018 Challenge – Stormy Weather Reporting Thread

When you have finished you book, report it in this thread. Link to the book and score it as follows. Count all that apply.


We all seem to have been hit with unusual storms recently. In an effort to banish them away, we’re going to focus on them. It will be similar to the strategy applied to children who seek attention by being naughty. Pay attention to them, and the temper tantrums stop. Too simplistic? Let’s give it a whirl.

The challenge for April is to read a book with a “stormy word” in the title:

Storm
Rain
Snow
Hurricane
Tornado
Blizzard
Monsoon
Wind

Qualifiers:

1. Plurals, and other forms of the words are allowed. Storms, Stormed, Stormy, etc.

2. You are not restricted to the list. As long as the word is some type of storm, you may use it. Note: Words like “climate” “weather”, etc are not storms. Best to ask for a ruling if you are in doubt. If it's obvious, please don't ask for a ruling.

3. Sub-titles and series names are not allowed.

General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be in any genre.
3. The book may NOT be combined with the Year Long Challenge.
4. The book must be read between April 1 – Apr 30, 2018 (based on your local time zone).
5. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose.
6. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read. If reading an audiobook or ebook where page numbers aren't listed, page numbers will be determined by the hardcover issue. If there is no hardcover, then paperback issue. Where there are more than one editions, the one with the highest number of ratings will be used.

Scoring: (based on the edition you read)

Title:
5 pts – One word exactly (no a, an, the, etc)
4 pts – Contains the word "Spring", "Summer", "Fall", "Winter". (exact word only - no plurals or possessive forms)
3 pts – Has a hyphenated word in it
2 pts – Contains a proper name a person.
1 pts – Has one word preceded by “a”, “an”, “the”. Clarification - This title would be technically two words, where the first word is "a", "an", or "the".

Cover:
5 pts – is 75% green
4 pts – has the title across the bottom of the page
3 pts – has the author’s name in any colour other than black or white
2 pts – is 75% black
1 pts – depicts a storm

Author:
5 pts – was born or currently residing in a country other than Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States
4 pts – Is female
3 pts – is male
2 pts – is deceased
1 pts – was born or currently residing in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States

Genre:
5 pts – Science Fiction
4 pts – Horror
3 pts – Romance
2 pts – Mystery
1 pts – Historical Fiction

Bonus Points:
Holy Humour Month: Did you laugh out loud at least once at something in the book? Take 3 points

International Guitar Month: If a character played a musical instrument, take 3 points

Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points.

A reporting thread will be set up to report the book you’ve read, and the score you obtained. Happy reading. Bring on the sun.

I picked up as a free ebook about 6 years ago. Thanks for the push to finally read it :)

There was nothing too special or unusual about the story. All the references to Kansas and the Wizard of Oz got a little old after a while. I'd give it 3 stars.

Here are my points:
Title:
5 pts – One word exactly (no a, an, the, etc)
Cover:
1 pts – depicts a storm
Author:
4 pts – Is female
1 pts – was born or currently residing in United States
Genre: (both are on the book's main page as genres)
3 pts – Romance
2 pts – Mystery
Bonus Points:
Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points. (Dorothea, aka Baby Dot, is in high school.)

total points: 19

Nice score, Lanelle!

Janice wrote: "Nice score, Lanelle!"

Thanks, Janice.

Wow Lanelle, the first reported score is already a hard one to beat!

I read The Case of the Hurricane Hounds (The Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mysteries) . It is a humorous mystery, and I enjoyed it, but it does not qualify for many points. I score no points for title or cover, and I am not sure I score any for author. The author is B. R. Snow. I don't know if that is a man or a woman, let alone the author's nationality. The "about B.R. Snow page provides no info except a list of books. It's a mystery, which is worth two points. I laughed out loud more than once, so I get three bonus points for that. That brings me to five points.

Jenn and Janice tell me B.R. Snow is male and lives in Texas, which adds four more points for a total of nine points.

Casceil wrote: "I read The Case of the Hurricane Hounds (The Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mysteries) . ..."
B.R. Snow is a man, currently residing in Austin, Texas for a few more points :)

Yes, I found his bio on Amazon. You can add 4 more points to your score, Casceil.

Thanks, guys. I will edit my earlier message.

I read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope and enjoyed it very much.

Title:
0 pts

Cover:
0 pts

Author:
5 pts – was born or currently residing in a country other than Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States
3 pts – is male

Genre:
0 pts

Bonus Points:
- Holy Humour Month: Did you laugh out loud at least once at something in the book? Take 3 points
- Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points.

Total: 14 points

I read Lightning **** (3.5)

Scoring: (based on the edition you read)

Title:
5 pts– One word exactly (no a, an, the, etc)

Cover:
4 pts – has the title across the bottom of the page
3 pts – has the author’s name in any colour other than black or white
2 pts – is 75% black **
1 pts – depicts a storm

Author:
3 pts – is male
1 pts – was born or currently residing in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States

Genre:
5 pts – Science Fiction
4 pts – Horror

Bonus Points:
Holy Humour Month: Did you laugh out loud at least once at something in the book? Take 3 points

Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points.

** Not only was was it not black, I didn't even have the cover I thought I had! All amended not. Cover is blue so no points there.

TOTAL: 32

Wow Margo, monster score! I had another book in mind for this challenge which would give me more points than the one I now reported (around 20 I think), but I also have it for the Zodiac challenge, so I was in doubt whether to read or not. Thanks for solving my problem for me! ;-)

I know, I struck gold with this chalkenge 😃

This may have been the perfect book for the challenge, Margo.

I finished my book for the challenge - The Sound of Rain.

Score:

Cover -
- 3 pts, author's name in greenish yellow
- 1 pts, depicts a storm

Author -
- 3 pts, male
- 1 pts, American

Genre -
- 2 pts, Mystery

Total points - 10

For this Challenge I read The Glory Wind a YA novel by Valerie Sherrard.

Score: 10 points

Title: 0 points
Cover: 1 pts – depicts a storm
Author: 5Pts (4+1 pts - female born /currently residing in Canada)
Genre: 1 pts – Historical Fiction
Bonus Points: 3pts - character is a student

Not a high score but if was a really enjoyable read for me. I found the book by searching "wind" in my local library through OverDrive. It was a great find - a 4 star read (almost 5 star) by a Canadian author I had never heard of before; discoveries like this are one great reason to be part of book clubs and participate in challenges like this one. :)

I'm glad you found a gem, Karen.

Karen wrote: discoveries like this are one great reason to be part of book clubs and participate in challenges like this one. :)"

True.

I read Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin for this challenge.



Scoring:

Title: 2
2 pts – Contains a proper name a person. (The dog's name was Rain because he was found in a storm.)

Cover: 1
1 pt – depicts a storm

Author: 5
4 pts – Is female
1 pt – was born or currently residing in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States

Genre: 0

Bonus Points: 3
Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points.

Total: 11

I read The Thunder of Giants for this challenge.

Title:
0 pts

Cover:
0 pts

Author:
3 pts – is male
1 pts – was born or is currently residing in Canada

Genre:
1 pts – Historical Fiction

Bonus Points:
Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points.

Total = 8 points (hoping for the glue stick!).

So far the gluestick is yours with half the month to go.

Perfect day to finish Stormy Weather . Looks as though it is going to rain all day today!☻

Cover:
1 pts – depicts a storm -weather vane on rooftop during a hurricane

Author:
3 pts – is male
1 pts – was born in Florida, United States

Genre:
2 pts – Mystery

Bonus Points:
Holy Humour Month: Did you laugh out loud at least once at something in the book? Take 3 points

International Guitar Month: If a character played a musical instrument, take 3 points - plays tenor saxophone

Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points. - wisecracking medical students

16 points

Finished The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng.

I am in book hangover I think.

Such a beautiful book.With great characters .
Kept me thinking of the oppression still going around Israel to Palestine... and those of days gone By British and other Colonial power on the people they conquered. ...Hitler.... Native americans struggles..the struggles of the Afroamericans amd the Africans..and the struggles of low caste people in India...and of course always there is the oppression of women..
when you stop to think about it there is always a war or such cruelty going on somewhere in the world..it never stopped..its always been there..it is still there..
it can be depressing..But there is also kindness and compassion of people everywhere..
one should always remind oneself of this..

sorry...as you see this book made me think and feel a lot... but there is a certain peace or calmness that he wrote even into scenes with great atrocities. ..

you could feel the struggle of Philip ..I really felt for them all..except of course Saotome ..Fushihara? Hiroshi and Goro & co..they deserved what they got and more...yup I am vindictive...

☆☆☆☆☆☆

I can't express my love for it enough..


Author
Born in Malaysia : 5
Male : 3
Historical Fiction :1
Musical instrument was played by Fushihara and Goro,a piano : 3
the narrator is a student of Aikido : 3

Total :15

Finished Firestorm

Title:
5 pts – One word exactly (no a, an, the, etc)

Cover:
4 pts – has the title across the bottom of the page
3 pts – has the author’s name in any colour other than black or white

Author:
4 pts – Is female
1 pts – was born or currently residing in United States (Missouri)

Genre:
3 pts- Romance
2 pts – Mystery

Total points| 22

Both?
Or the whichever has the highest points maybe?

he he

Jannene wrote: "Also listed as a romance. Which should be used?."

You count all points that apply, just like you did for the cover and author. Add another 3 points to your score Jannene.

I read Snowboundby Blake Crouch
I liked the book but it didn’t have the same magic for me that some of his other books do. I loved the Wayward Pines series!

Points:
Title-5 points (One word)
Cover-3 points (has authors name in colour other than black or white) + 1 point (depicts a storm)
Author- 3 points (is male) + 1 point (lives in States)
Genre - 4 points (horror) + 1 point (mystery)
Student Empowerment Week - 3 points (Devlin Innis is a high school student)

Total=21 points

I read Thunder and Rain . I really loved this book. It was kind of a hard read, touching on some really rough subjects, but the story was beautiful

Cover:
3 pts – has the author’s name in any colour other than black or white
1 pts – depicts a storm

Author:
3 pts – is male
1 pts – was born or currently residing in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States

Genre:
3 pts – Romance

Bonus:
3 pts - Holy Humour Month
3 pts - Student Empowerment Week

Total: 17 points

Janice wrote: "Jannene wrote: "Also listed as a romance. Which should be used?."

You count all points that apply, just like you did for the cover and author. Add another 3 points to your score Jannene."

Thanks! I was worried that I was limited to just one.

I read Sunbathing In The Rain: A Cheerful Book About Depression

Cover:
1 pts – depicts a storm

Author:
4 pts – Is female
1 pts – was born or currently residing in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States

Total-6

The gluestick is all mine. :p

Doesn't that cover depict a rain storm, Pragya?

I would say the clouds look a little stormy. One extra point still gives you the gluestick, Pragya, at least until someone snatches it away from you.

Ooh thanks, Cherie and Janice. Post edited.

I read Encyclopaedia of Snow

I gave it 2 stars. If this is a gluestick contender that's ok, cos I struggled to finish and it probably deserves it ! Sorry. I'll get back to the point and see what it scores.

Author name is blue. 3 pts
Female author. 4 pts
Born in US. 1 pt
Character at school. 3 pts
Musical instruments include piano and violin. 3 pts
Total 14 pts
(More than I thought)

I read Let It Snow

Title: 0pts

Cover:
3 pts – has the author’s name in any colour other than black or white
1 pts – depicts a storm

Author:
4 pts – Is female
1 pts – was born or currently residing in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States

Genre:
3 pts – Romance

Bonus Points: 0pts

Total Points: 12 points

I read/listened to
What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley

Scoring
Cover: 1 pts – depicts a storm
Author: 4 pts – Is female
1 pts – was born and currently residing in the United States
Bonus 3 pts - college students were involved

Total Points = 9

updated 4/24 clr

Oh! We have a tie for the gluestick.

I had no idea, until I started looking at the criteria for the book. I thought there would be more but I really couldn't use any of the bonus points. I certainly never laughed. There were college students mentioned, but they did not feel like "characters" like in a novel. This was a non-fiction story. There were three students killed in a house when it collapsed on them. And another student who was the friend of the boy killed in the house. He had to call his friend's father to tell him that his son had died. I was bawling during that whole section.

Should I take the points, Janice.

I would take the points, Cherie. The criteria says, "If a character is a student..." I'll update the spreadsheet.

Cherie wrote: "I had no idea, until I started looking at the criteria for the book. I thought there would be more but I really couldn't use any of the bonus points. I certainly never laughed. There were college s..."

Oh, Cherie. That sounds like a difficult read considering the emotions involved.

I faced the same difficulty during scoring. I read a memoir and the author did talk about her being a college student but it was for a very limited part of the book and hence I didn't think it was justified to take those points.

Pragya wrote: "Oh, Cherie. That sounds like a difficult read considering the emotions involved..."

It was an emotional account, but it was very well done. I remember all of the news stories on TV from 2011. I was visiting my Grand Niece and her family in Tennesee about fourteen years ago and we were under tornado alert for two days. The sirens are very scary!

Looks like the glue stick is back to you.

Janice wrote: "I would take the points, Cherie. The criteria says, "If a character is a student..." I'll update the spreadsheet."

I updated my posting, Janice.

I read Squall by Sean Costello

Title:
5 pts – One word only

Cover:
4 pts – has the title across the bottom of the page
3 pts – has the author’s name in any colour other than black or white
1 pts – depicts a storm

Author:
3 pts – is male
1 pts – was born or currently residing in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or United States

Student Empowerment Week: if a character is a student, take 3 points.

Total Points: 20

I read The Promise Of Rain

3 pts - The author's name is in blue
4 pts - Author is female
1 pt - Author born and resides in Canada
1 pt - Historical fiction
3 pts - Student: It was set over the summer break but the oldest son was taking night classes.

12 pts - Total

Badges have been posted. Please let me know if I've missed anyone.

Great badge Janice. I love it! Thank you.

Cool badge, Janice. Thanks.

Cool badge Janice! That's the first time I got the high svore one - now I need the glue stick to complete the collection 😉

I posted yours on Rachel L's wall. But I see there are badges from last year's 2017 challenge but you weren't here then.

What we need is a unique identifier for you. I will do up a new wall with that name and get the badges straightened out.

ETA - change of plan, Rachel. The other Rachel L is no longer in the group and all her posts are gone. I deleted the previous badges, and we'll assign that thread to you.

Here is your wall. Please leave a message in it so your avatar is attached to the thread.

Sorry for the confusion.

Terrific badge, Janice! Thanks.