The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.9 - Lucky Me! - Luckngrace's task: Honoring the Grands
I was not only lucky in getting to present this task to you, but also in having a wonderful grandmother. Grandma lived just a few months shy of 100 years old. She had 8 children, including a set of twins, without prenatal care. During the month of December, 1944, Grandma received three pieces of news that would forever change her life. First, she found out that she was expecting her 8th child. Then, she found out that her 42 year old husband was dying of cancer. And, third, she discovered that her 19 year old son had been killed in WWII. Grandma NEVER complained. She got the crops in before they were ready so she'd have them harvested before the birth, and she read the Bible more than 16 times. She never drove a car or worked outside the farm.

In honor of Grandma, choose one of the following options and read one book.

A. Read a book, fiction or non-fiction, focusing on a senior citizen or grandparent. Examples: If You Ask Me: And of Course You Won't, Hit the Road, Making Toast: A Family Story, Tuesdays with Morrie Required: Explain how your book fits the task if the GRs description does not make it clear.

B. Read a book with "grand" in the title or subtitle. "Grand" must be found intact. Examples: The Summer of the Great-Grandmother, Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal, The Grand Sophy, Grand Jury

C. Read a book about twins. This list might help: Best Books About Twins Required: Explain how your book fits the task if the GRs description does not make it clear.

D. Read a book a book of religious or inspirational fiction or a non-fiction book about religion. The book must have one of these genre tags on the book's first page of genres: Religion, Christian, Christian Fiction, Inspirational, Spirituality

Required: State which option your book fits when you post.

Approved:
Christotainment: Selling Jesus through Popular Culture

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This thread is now open.

Does "Christian Fiction" work for "D"?



Thanks

Could I read The Horse and His Boy for Option D, Religion?

I love your grandmother's story. I look forward to your challenge

Kathy G. wrote: "Does "Christian Fiction" work for "D"?



Thanks"

No, but Christian does and it's the 3rd one down.

ETA: We've decided to add "Christian Fiction" to the genre list as well. Just in case a book is listed as only Christian Fiction and doesn't break down the genres as this one did.

Katrina wrote: "Could I read The Horse and His Boy for Option D, Religion?"

Sure, both Christian and Religion are listed as genres.

Thanks :-)

awww, what a lovely and sad story. reminds me a lot of my grandmother's own story. great task! :)

Just Checking:
option B:

or option C:

Midu wrote: "Just Checking:
option B:

or option C:
"

Either one will work.

First, I love your task. Grandmothers are the most wonderful thing in the world. I was blessed to have mine live with us until I was 25.

Second, I just finished reading Nothing with Strings: NPR's Beloved Holiday Stories. Despite the name, there are actually no stories about the holidays in this collection. Every single story, except one, deals with old age, dementia and death. And the exception deals with a divorce after 32 years of marriage. (Sounds like a great holiday read, right? Not! Someone picked it for our bookclub's holiday read based on the title alone.) Anyhow, the content certainly seems to fit Option A. Would this be OK?

For Part A:
I can recommend science fiction novel (and Hugo Award nominee) Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon -- protaganist is a Senior Citizen Woman

Old Man's War by John Scalzi, also a science fiction novel (and Hugo Award nominee) -- "John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army."

both excellent novels -- I might read the sequel The Ghost Brigades for this one, although I'm leaning towards one of my books that have twins

Question: Would George R.R. Martin's series "Fire and Ice" qualify as "twins", as two of the major protaganists of the series are boy-girl twins?

Thanks

Your grandmother sounds wonderful, and it's a great task to honor her. I'm reading Gilead now, which should fit option D.

for anyone who likes Cozy Mysteries - I would recommend the Mrs. Pollifax series - she is in her 60's/70's and has been recruited by the CIA for various missions

Chris wrote: "First, I love your task. Grandmothers are the most wonderful thing in the world. I was blessed to have mine live with us until I was 25.

Second, I just finished reading [book:Nothing with Strin..."

It will work, but please explain the connection to option A when you claim points for it since the GRs description basically says nothing about what the book is about!

Deedee wrote: "Would George R.R. Martin's series "Fire and Ice" qualify as "twins", as two of the major protaganists of the series are boy-girl twins?

Boy and girl twins work, but you'll need to expain the connection when you claim points since the GRs description doesn't point them out.

Connie wrote: "Your grandmother sounds wonderful, and it's a great task to honor her. I'm reading Gilead now, which should fit option D."

Gilead does indeed fit D.

Note on option D - We've decided to add "Christian Fiction" to the genre list as well. Just in case a book is listed as only Christian Fiction and doesn't break down the genres as the one Kathy G asked about in post #8.

Would Charlemagne Pursuit work for D (twins)? Twin sisters are involved with the main character as they are all three trying to find out what happened to their respective fathers.

Sandra wrote: "Would Charlemagne Pursuit work for D (twins)? Twin sisters are involved with the main character as they are all three trying to find out what happened to their respective fathers."

Yes, that will work. Sounds good, too. I've been meaning to start that series ;-).

Thank you all for the kind words about my Grandma.

If you're looking for something for Option A, I recommend String Too Short to Be Saved - a memoir about the writer's time at his grandparents' farm in New Hampshire.

mstan wrote: "If you're looking for something for Option A, I recommend String Too Short to Be Saved - a memoir about the writer's time at his grandparents' farm in New Hampshire."

And I just thought of No Country for Old Men

American Gods has Religion listed in its first-page tags; can I read it for Option D of this task?

I wanted to see if Major Pettigrew's Last Stand would work for option A? I heard that Major is an elderly gentleman...

★Meghan★ wrote: "I wanted to see if Major Pettigrew's Last Stand would work for option A? I heard that Major is an elderly gentleman..."

I really enjoyed that book - and Major Pettigrew is in his late 60's in the book.

Nonodisco wrote: "American Gods has Religion listed in its first-page tags; can I read it for Option D of this task?"

It will work for D.

★Meghan★ wrote: "I wanted to see if Major Pettigrew's Last Stand would work for option A? I heard that Major is an elderly gentleman..."

Yes, that works.

Sandy wrote: "★Meghan★ wrote: "I wanted to see if Major Pettigrew's Last Stand would work for option A? I heard that Major is an elderly gentleman..."

I really enjoyed that book - and Major Pet..."

Thanks, Sandy!

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Nonodisco wrote: "American Gods has Religion listed in its first-page tags; can I read it for Option D of this task?"

It will work for D."

Excellent. Thanks!

Can Flowers in the Attic count for C, since two of the kids are twins?

Angie wrote: "Can Flowers in the Attic count for C, since two of the kids are twins?"

Yes, that works.

Awesome, thanks!

Would Angels and Demons work for option D since 165 people shelved it under religion?

I am planning on reading The Secret Historyduring this challenge. I found it on the list of books featuring twins so it would be great to place it for this task. Can anyone tell me if this books fit the task as it was not clear on the book description.

Thanks

Hettie wrote: "I am planning on reading The Secret Historyduring this challenge. I found it on the list of books featuring twins so it would be great to place it for this task. Can anyone tell me if ..."

I've read The Secret History (twice, actually - I loved it). Two of the main characters are twin brother and sister, so I think it would work (although I'm not a mod, so you might want a second opinion).

Randi wrote: "Would Angels and Demons work for option D since 165 people shelved it under religion?"

Yes, that will work.

Kate wrote: "I've read The Secret History(twice, actually - I loved it). Two of the main characters are twin brother and sister"

Hettie wrote: "I am planning on reading The Secret Historyduring this challenge. I found it on the list of books featuring twins so it would be great to place it for this task. Can anyone tell me if ..."

We're always glad to hear from someone who's actually read the book :). Thanks, Kate!

Hettie - twin brother and sister will work!

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Randi wrote: "Would Angels and Demons work for option D since 165 people shelved it under religion?"

Yes, that will work."

Thanks, Kristi!

I am reading The Paperwhite Narcissus. The protagonist is a 92 year old.

Kate wrote: "Hettie wrote: "I am planning on reading The Secret Historyduring this challenge. I found it on the list of books featuring twins so it would be great to place it for this task. Can any..."

Thanks very much for letting me know that it will fit. It is also nice to find out that someone has loved the book as well. Looking forward to reading it now.

Thanks Kirsti for confirming that it will fit the task. One more filled many other to fit.

Bea wrote: "I am reading The Paperwhite Narcissus. The protagonist is a 92 year old."

LOL... go Victoria ;-). Hope I'm doing that well at 92!

Looking for approval on The Taken - the protagonist is a 62-year-old, so it may be borderline for senior citizen.

Jessica wrote: "Looking for approval on The Taken - the protagonist is a 62-year-old, so it may be borderline for senior citizen."

You're right, it's borderline, especially the older I get! :-), but The Free Dictionary's definition of senior citizen says "People in the United States who are more than sixty years of age are commonly referred to as senior citizens or seniors."

So, a 62-year-old will work.

Would this book work for option D? Christotainment: Selling Jesus through Popular Culture

Stacy wrote: "Would this book work for option D? Christotainment: Selling Jesus through Popular Culture"

Yes it would.

I would like to check on using Twelfth Night for the twins option. I believe it will work for the category (Viola and Sebastian are twins), I just mostly want to check that reading a play will be okay for a 20 point task.

Edit: I checked the Rules of the Challenge, and it seems like we can use plays... so I think I answered my own question... But I'll leave it up for a confirmation on both points anyway. :)