Historical Fictionistas discussion

Report your points here!

Rules and Tasks recap:

Participants may join at any time during the challenge. All points must be reported by 11:59pm EST on November 30, 2011 to be counted.

Tasks can be completed in any order and it is not required to complete all regular tasks before doing the bonus tasks.

RULES:
1) Books must be Historical Fiction if specified as HF. If no specification is made, the book can be ANY genre.

2) Books must be at least 200 pages long. Eligibility for this is determined by the most popular edition on Goodreads. If the most popular edition is 197 pages, it will not count, even if the edition read is 215 pages.

3) The first book used for the challenge should be started on or after October 1st.

4) Re-reads and audiobooks are accepted unless specified otherwise in the task. (Audiobook page counts will be determined by the most popular edition on Goodreads.)

SCORING:
5) Task categories are assigned a point value, and points are awarded when all parts of the task are completed. Partial points will NOT be awarded for partially completed tasks.

6) Bonus points will be awarded based on the length of each book read, as follows:
200 to 300 pages = 2 bonus points
301 to 500 pages = 4 bonus points
501 to 750 pages = 6 bonus points
751 to 1,000 pages = 8 bonus points
1,000+ = 10 bonus points

Bonus points will be awarded PER BOOK READ. Task points are awarded ONE TIME once the task is complete.

7) Page length used to determine task bonus points is determined by THE MOST POPULAR EDITION OF THE BOOK ON GOODREADS -- NOT the edition you actually read. This is an attempt to make the scoring more fair across the board, as there can be very large page variations between editions. To determine the most popular edition on Goodreads, simply do a title/author search - the first result that matches your book is the most popular edition on GR.

8) As this challenge contains both HF and other genre books, you will receive 1 additional bonus point for every HF book read, whether the task requires HF or not. Please be sure to list that the book is HF to make sure that the additional points are counted.

WE WILL NOT AWARD HF POINTS IF IT IS NOT REPORTED UNLESS WE ARE POSITIVE THE BOOK IS HF. In other words, we aren't going to research the book for you. It is your responsibility to report your scores accurately; we will merely verify and record them.

9) HAVE FUN!!!
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Challenge #8 Tasks:

Any Genre

5 points
5.1 - Happy Birthday Mark Twain!!! Read a book that either Mark Twain wrote or a auto-/biography on Mark Twain
5.2 - Here's to Starbuck's Pumpkin Latte! Read a book with a Fall title- ex.House of Leaves
5.3- Expand Your Vocabulary! Read a book with a word in the title that you wouldn't use in everyday speech. (Examples: triptych, templar, amulet, bouganvillia, boogaloo, caliphate, caribee, corsair, cotillion, etc.)

10 points
10.1 - Happy Halloween! Read a scary story (you can determine your level of scariness)
10.2 - October Awesomeness Awaits! - Read a book recommended by one of your favorite authors.
10.3 - Let's Clean those Shelves! - You know that book you've been meaning to get to, but keep shoving it back because "someday" you'll read it? Well, that someday has come! Read a book you've put back on the shelf at least twice.


Historical Fiction

15 points
15.1 - Gobble, Gobble!! Happy Turkey Day! Read a book based on Colonial America, Pioneers or Native Americans.
15.2 - Be brave! Discover a new author! Read an HF author you haven't read before by following this link: http://literature-map.com/. Put the name of your favorite HF author into the literature map, pick one of the authors that comes up and read one of their books.
15.3 - Let's take a journey! Read an HF book about a journey that involves more than one country.


20 points
20.1 - Wild, Wild West! Read a book about cowboys or Indians or both
20.2 - Double Take! Read a book written by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter. (ie: Michael Moorcock or Dorothy Dunnett)
20.3 - Oh the Wonder of it All! Read a book with a setting that takes place at or near one of the new 7 wonders of the world:
Great Wall of China, China
Petra, Jordan
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Macho Picchu, Peru
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Colossuem, Italy
Taj Mahal, India
Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt


50 points
50.1 - Murder in the Library:
There is a dead body found in the library, the doors are locked and no one else has been around. What happened?

Choose one of the below choices and read a book at least 400 pages for your choice.

A. He died of natural causes - Read a HF where the main character is a medical practitioner of some kind
B. He fell off the ladder reaching an older book from the top shelves - Read a HF that was published prior to 2000
C. Someone murdered him - Read a HF that centers around a murder
D. There is no rational explaination - Read a Paranormal HF

Have fun solving the crime.


50.2 - The weather is getting cooler and it is the perfect time to curl up with your favorite blanket, a warm beverage, foot warming cat/dog, and a nice loooong book. Choose and read one of the historical fiction titles from this list: Big Fat Books Worth The Effort

100 points
100 - Shay's Task: Read 5 books recommended by Goodreads.
- Three (3) books must be historical fiction. Go to the Recommendations link (at the top of the GR page) and click on it. Read a book that's listed on your recommendations page.
- Alternatively, every GR book page has a section called "Readers Also Enjoyed". Search for a book you rated 4 or 5 stars and go to the "Readers Also Enjoyed" section (about the middle of the page on the right side) and read one of the suggested books.
- When you're done with all five books, rate GR recommends by letting us know how many ( 1/5, 3/5, etc.) books recommended by GR you rated as 4 or 5 star books.

5.3- Expand Your Vocabulary! Read a book with a word in the title that you wouldn't use in everyday speech.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
247 pages = 2
Task = 7 points

First again, Rachel! LOL

Becky wrote: "First again, Rachel! LOL"

*grin* It was a very quiet weekend. :)

20.2 - Double Take! Read a book written by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter. (ie: Michael Moorcock or Dorothy Dunnett)

Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan.
400 pgs=4 pts.
HF=1 pt.
Task=25 pts.

Rachel wrote: "Becky wrote: "First again, Rachel! LOL"

*grin* It was a very quiet weekend. :)"

That, and you read faster than any known human can read!
I know, I've seen you!

10.3 Clean Your Shelves "To The Nines" by Janet Evanovich. I had these books on my list for a year.

Bonus + 4(384pp)

Task Points: 14
Grand Total: 14

Task 5.2 - Here's to Starbucks' Pumpkin Latte - Book with Fall word in the title

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Task points = 5
374 pages = 4
HF = 1
Task total = 10

Challenge total = 10

15.2 - Be brave! Discover a new author! Read an HF author you haven't read before by following this link: http://literature-map.com/. Put the name of your favorite HF author into the literature map, pick one of the authors that comes up and read one of their books.

A Hellion in Her Bed by Sabrina Jeffries - I used Lisa Kleypas as a favorite HF author
384 pages = 4
HF = 1
Task = 20
Total = 27

5.1 - Happy Birthday Mark Twain!!! Read a book that either Mark Twain wrote or a auto-/biography on Mark Twain

The American Claimant by Mark Twain

278 pgs.= 2 pts.
Task = 7 pts.
Total = 32 pts.

5.2 - Here's to Starbuck's Pumpkin Latte! Read a book with a Fall title
Wicked Autumn: A Max Tudor Novel by G.M. Malliet
256 pgs 2 pts
Task 5 pts

Task total 7 pts

5.3- Expand Your Vocabulary! Read a book with a word in the title that you wouldn't use in everyday speech.
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
481 pgs 4 pts
Task 5 pts

Task total 9 pts

Challenge total 16 pts

Completed task 15.3 let's take a journey. Read a book that takes place in at least two countries. (US, France, Poland)

Read Sarah's Key by Tatiana de RosneySarah's Key
293 pages: 2 points
HF: 1 point

18 total points for this challenge task

10.1 Scary story: Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts

341 pages-4pts
HF-1pt

total: 15 points
Challenge total: 15 points

5.2 - Here's to Starbuck's Pumpkin Latte! Read a book with a Fall title- ex.House of Leaves
Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table by Ruth Reichl
Page Count: 4 points (320 pages)
Total Book Points: 9 points

Total Challenge Points: 9 points

10.2 Recommended by Jeffrey Deaver: Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand

368 pages-4 points
Total points: 14

Challenge total: 29 points

First Scoreboard!

Diane 32
Luckngrace 29
Rachel 27
Diane W 20
Ellen 18
Cheryl 16
Jayme 14
Jen C 10
Shay 9

15.3 - Let's take a journey! Read an HF book about a journey that involves more than one country.

Pirate King by Laurie R. King (England, Africa, Portugal)
320 pgs. = 4 pts.
HF +1 pt.

Task total 20 pts.
Challenge total 52 pts.

5.3 Word in title not used in everyday speech: The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Beynon Rees

272 pages- 2 points
book total- 7 points

Challenge total- 36 points

5.1 - Happy Birthday Mark Twain!!!
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
224 pgs 2 pts
HF 1 pt
Task 5 pts

Task total 8 pts
Challenge total 24 pts

20.2 Read a book written by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter.

Ellis Islandby Kate Kerrigan

400 pages = 4 pts.
HF = 1 pt.
Task = 20 pt

Total = 25 pts.

10.3 Let's Clean those Shelves!

The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen


349 pages - 4 points
HF - 0 points
Task - 10 points

Total - 14 points

Challenge Total 14 points

Task 10.3 - Let's clean those shelves! Beach Music by Pat Conroy

I have had this on my TBR list since I carried around a piece of notebook paper in my purse and wrote down books people talked about, waaaay before I discovered GR to keep track. I've probably been meaning to read this since before I had kids - but I'm glad I finally did!

Task points = 10
784 pages = 8
Task total = 18

Challenge total = 28

20.2 - Double Take! Read a book written by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter.
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

332 pgs 4 pts
HF 1 pt
Task 20 pts

Task total 25 pts
Challenge total 49 pts

10.2 Read a book recommended by one of your favorite authors.
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (recommended by Charlaine Harris)
436pgs: 4pts

Total: 14pts

Grand Total: 14pts

10.3 I shoved this one back over & over. Whew! I finally got it done. Egypt on the Brink: From Nasser to Mubarak by Tarek Osman

304 pages- 4 points
total- 14 points

Challenge total- 50 points

10.3 - Let's Clean those Shelves! - You know that book you've been meaning to get to, but keep shoving it back because "someday" you'll read it? Well, that someday has come! Read a book you've put back on the shelf at least twice.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

369 pgs = 4 pts.
HF = 1 pt.

Total 15 pts.

Challenge total 67 pts.

10.2 October Awarness Awaits!-Read a book recommended by one of your favorite authors.

The Patron Saint of Liars (recommended by Jodi Picoult).

Pages - 342 = 4 Bonus Pts.
Task = 10 pts.

Total = 14 pts.

Challenge Total = 39 pts.

15.1 Gobble, Gobble - Happy Turkey Day. Read a book on Colonial America, Pioneers or Native Americans.

Bone Rattler, Eliot Pattison
A Mystery of Colonial America
Pages - 460 = 4 Bonus Pts.
Task: 15 Pts
HF: 1 pt

Total 20 pts

Challenge Total: 20 pts

15.3 - Let's take a journey! Read an HF book about a journey that involves more than one country.
Bright and Distant Shores (Travels from Chicago to Fiji, on to New Hebrides, both colonized but not governed by other countries; then on to The Solomon Islands that had just become a US protectorate)
HF:1
480 pages: 4

20 point total

5.2 - Here's to Starbuck's Pumpkin Latte! Read a book with a Fall title
The Cider House Rules
1064 pages = 10
HF = 1
Total = 16

Challenge total = 43

Maude wrote: "20.2 Read a book written by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter:
What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman
358pp = 4 pts
Task: 20 pts
Book Total: 24 pts"

I think this needs to be a HF book Maude. Mods please confirm this, but I think all tasks worth more than 15 points need to be HF.

20.2 - Double Take! Read a book written by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter. (ie: Michael Moorcock or Dorothy Dunnett)

The Bastard by John Jakes
HF - 1pt
528 pages - 6pts
Total - 27 pts

Rachel wrote: "Maude wrote: "20.2 Read a book written by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter:
What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman
358pp = 4 pts
Task: 20 pts
Book Total: 24 pts"

I thi..."

It didn't say HF. One of the authors given as an example, Michael Moorcock, doesn't write historical fiction. He writes fantasy. But, yes, clarification would be good if the intention was HF.

5.2 - Here's to Starbuck's Pumpkin Latte! Read a book with a Fall title- ex.House of Leaves

Murder in Burnt Orange: A Hilda Johansson Book by Jeanne M. Dams

256 pgs = 2 pts.
HF = 1 pt.

Total 8 pts.
Challenge total 75 pts.

I think I am correct in being able to use the book "What the Dead Know. It is my understanding, based on what is written, that only books which state they need to be HF have to be HF. THe books in the 20 pt range do not make any stipulation they have to be HF. If one of the mods sees this, please clarify.

Sorry that's my fault. Anything under the Historical Fiction section- Tasks 15-20 should be HF. The example of the author was what I took from the suggestion thread. I'm not familiar with the author, but I didn't check either. Sorry for the confusion.

15.3 - Let's take a journey! Read an HF book about a journey that involves more than one country.
Pirates! - England, Jamaica, Bahamas, Madagasgar
384 pages - 4
HF - 1
Total - 20

Challenge total - 63

Under the 100 pt. task unless I'm mistaken we have to read 5 book - and 3 must be Historical Fiction right? The other two may be any genre.

Please address.

Correct.

10.1 - Happy Halloween! Read a scary story (you can determine your level of scariness)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
352 pgs 4 pts
Task 10 pts

Task total 14 pts
Challenge total 63 pts

More haunting, eerie, spooky weird than outright scary...but I'm having nightmares regardless!

Completed Task 5.3 Expand your Vocabulary! Read a book with a word in the title that you wouldn't use in everyday speech.

I read Stigmata: A Novel Phyllis Alesia Perry

Task: 5 pts
Pages 257: 2 pts
Total task points: 7

Total challenge points: 25 points

I just finished The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco for task 50.1
This book could fulfill a couple of the choices but we will choose answer B.
He fell off the ladder reaching an older book from the top shelves - Read a HF that was published prior to 2000

Pages: 536 => 6pts
HF: => 1pt
Task =>50pts

Total Challenge Points => 57pts

50.1 Fell off the ladder B. published <2000 (1977)

The Sound of ThunderMy version was named The ROAR of Thunder. They must have changed the name early on.
by Wilbur Smith

600 pages-6pts
HF-1pt
total: 57 points
Challenge total: 107 points

20.1 - Wild, Wild West! Read a book about cowboys or Indians or both
True Grit by Charles Portis

224pgs: 2pts
HF: 1pt

Total: 23pts


Grand Total: 37pts

15.3 - Let's take a journey! Read an HF book about a journey that involves more than one country.
Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick
Countries: Germany, France, England
Page Count: 6 points (532 pages)
HF: 1 point
Total Book Points: 22 points

Total Challenge Points: 31 points

15.2 - Be Brave! Discover a new author! Read an HF author you haven't read before by following this link: http://literature-map.com/.
Lady's Maid, by Margaret Forster

546 pages: 6 points
HF: 1 point
TOTAL: 22 points

Grand Total 42 pts

5.3- Expand Your Vocabulary! Read a book with a word in the title that you wouldn't use in everyday speech.

Read: The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury


544 pages: 6 points
HF: 0 points
Total: 11 points

Challenge Total: 25 Points

10.2 - October Awesomeness Awaits! - Read a book recommended by one of your favorite authors.
Recommended by both Alan Bradley & Deborah Crombie
A Trick of the LightLouise Penny
352 pgs 4 pts
Task 10 pts

Task total 14 pts
Challenge total 77 pts

10.1 - Happy Halloween! Read a scary story (you can determine your level of scariness)

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

400 pgs. 4 pts.
Total 14 pts.

Challenge total 89 pts.

Task 10.2 - October Awesomeness Awaits! - Read a book recommended by one of your favorite authors.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Blurb on the cover by Stephen King as seen in this edition:


576 pages = 6 bonus
Task total = 16

Challenge total = 44