2012 Reading Challenges

12-12-12 Challenge

1.  Written in 2012
1.  May B. a Novel (Rose)

2. Written before 2000
1.

3.  One-word titles
1.

4.  Where in the world?
1. No Ordinary Day (Ellis) INDIA
2.  Jellicoe Road (Marchetta) AUSTRALIA
3.  The White Mary (Salak) PAPUA NEW GUINEA

5. Arizona or Maine!
1. MAINE - Small as an Elephant (Jacobson)

6.  Historical Fiction
1.  May B a Novel (Rose)

7.  Memoir/Autobiography
1.

8.  ebooks
1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Taylor)

9.  Paranormal
1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Taylor)

10.  From my TBR pile/shelf/corner
1. The White Mary (Salak)

11. YA
1.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Taylor)
2.  Jellicoe Road (Marchetta)
3.  I Am J (Beam)

12.  For middle grades (need to read more!)
1. A Month of Sundays (White)
2.  May B. a Novel (Rose)
3.  No Ordinary Day (Ellis)
4.  Small as an Elephant (Jacobson)

New Author Challenge 2012
Original rules here on the "Literary Escapism" blog.
15 - 25 - or 50 new-to-you authors
1. Lani Taylor Daughter of Smoke and Bone
2. Sue Miller - Lakeshore Limited
3.
4.  Melina Marchetta - Jellicoe Road
5. Jennifer Richard Jadobson - Small as an Elephant

2012 Picture Book Reading Challenge
Original rules here on "An Abundance of Books" blog
Level 1 - Read 12 picture books
Level 2 - Read 16 picture books
Level 3 - Read 24 picture books
1.  King Hugo's Huge Ego (VanDusen) 2011
2.  Rock 'N' Roll Mole (Crimi/Munsinger) 2011
3.  Substitute Creature (Gall) 2011
4.  Compost Stew (Siddals/Wolff) 2010
5.
6.
7.

Decade Reading Challenge
This one came from here on the Goodreads site.

Published in 2003 (3)
1.

Published in 2004 (4)
1.

Published in 2005 (5)
1.

Published in 2006 (6)
1. Jellicoe Road (Marchetta)

Published in 2007 (7)
1.

Published in 2008 (8)
1. The White Mary (Salak)

Published in 2009 (9)
1.

Published in 2010 (10)
1. Lakeshore Limited (Miller)

Published in 2011 (11)
1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Taylor)
2.  Breaking Silence (Castillo)
3.  A Month of Sundays (White)
4.  No Ordinary Day (Ellis)
5.  I Am J (Beam)
5.  Small as an Elephant (Jacobson)

Published in 2012 (12)
1.  May B. a Novel (Rose)

What's in a Name 5
This challenge can be found here on Beth Fish Reads.

Title includes a topographical feature (land formation)
1. Lakeshore Limited (Miller)

Something you'd see in the sky
1.

Something with a creepy crawly in the title
1.

Title includes a type of house
1.

Title includes something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack
1.

Something you'd find on a calendar
1. A Month of Sundays (White)
2.  May B. a Novel (Rose)

50 States Challenge
Read a book that is set, at least partially, in one of the 50 states. 
A list of possibilities can be found here on the Goodreads site.
KS - May B. a Novel (Rose)
MA - Lakeshore Limited (Miller) Boston area
..........The White Mary (Salak) Boston area
ME - Small as an Elephant (Jacobson) MDI and south
NYC - I Am J (Beam)
OH - Breaking Silence (Castillo)
VT - Lakeshore Limited (Miller)
VA - A Month of Sundays (White)

Criminal Plots II - The 2012 Reading Challenge
This challenge has its own website here.

1. Novel with a weapon in the title.
1.

2. Book published at least 10 years ago.
1.

3. Book written by an author from the state/provinence/etc. where you live.
1.

4. Book written by an author using a pen name.
1.

5. Crime novel whose protagonist is the opposite gender of the author.
1.

6. A stand-alone novel written by an author who writes at least one series
1.

Merely Mystery Reading Challenge
Original rules here on "Musings of a Bookish Kitty" blog

The focus of this challenge is to explore the different types of crime fiction out there.

Sub-Genres:
The Whodunit: The classic crime puzzle. The story generally revolves around determine who committed the crime, and potentially apprehending them. Some Whodunits, called "fair play mysteries", will include all of the clues available in the text so that a careful reader can solve the crime on his or her own.

Locked Room Mystery: Like the Whodunit, there is a puzzle (crime) to solve. However in this instance, the crime has taken place under impossible circumstances, such as in a locked room or on an island with no way to exit or enter.

Cozy: The nice person's mystery. Often the crime, particularly if it's violent, occurs off scene. Sex and language are on the cleaner side. Humor is a common feature of the cozy.

Hard-Boiled/Noir: Often cynical, bleak or realistic, hard-boiled and noir stories often focus more on the characters involved instead of the crime. Violence and sex are not downplayed.

The Inverted Detective Story: In this style of story, the person perpetrating the crime is known up front. The point of the story is to see how (or if) the detective goes about solving the crime and how the perpetrator reacts to the investigation.

The Historical Whodunnit: Simply put, this is a mystery set in a historical setting. Often the mystery has some historical significance and features detection methods that are appropriate for that era.

The Police Procedural: Instead of featuring a independent detective, the police are investigating the crime in these stories. They often focus on the actual methods that police officers use to solve crimes.
1.  Breaking Silence (Castillo)

The Professional Thriller: This kind of mystery involves a professional who is not involved directly in law enforcement, such a lawyer or doctor, who nonetheless finds themselves investigating a crime.

The Spy Novel: Related to the other professional mysteries, spy novels focus on intelligence operatives as they work to prevent or avenge some criminal plot. Spy novels can feature either in fantastic or realistic settings.

Caper Stories: While other crime and mystery stories look at the aftermath of crimes, caper stories feature criminals as the lead characters. The story usually details the planning and commission of a crime.

The Psychological Suspense: In these stories, the detective story takes on a psychological component.

Spoofs and Parodies: Spoofs and parodies make light of crime fiction, often with the goal of commenting on the conventions of the genre. Many feature famous characters, e.g. Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Philip Marlowe, or pastiches of those characters.
Down on Her/His Luck Gumshoe - Read two or more books falling into any of the above sub-genres. Each book can be from the same sub-genre or can be varied among the different sub-genres. You pick the combination and the number of books.

Shamus Who Has Seen It All - Read at least one book from each of the sub-genres for a total of 12 books. If you are feeling ambitious, read more than one book from each sub-genre.

Making a reading list ahead of time is not mandatory, but it's fun--not only for you, but also for your fellow readers. Even if you don't stick to the list, we'd love it if you could share a few of the titles you are considering reading.

2012 Audio Book Challenge
Hosted by Teresa's Reading Corner
Flirting-Listen to 6 Audio Books
Going Steady- Listen to 12 Audio Books
Lover- Listen to 25 Audio Books
Married-Listen to +++ Audio Books

1. Lake Shore Limited (Miller)
2. The White Mary (Salak)
3.
4.
5.
6.

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Original rules here on the Bookish Blog
The focus is simple - read some of those books in your to-be-read pile - you put them there because they looked good.....

Levels:1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

100+ Books
I've GOT TO DO THIS one of these years!

1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Taylor)
2. Lake Shore Limited (Miller)
3. Breaking Silence (Castillo)
4.  A Month of Sundays (White)
5.  May B. a Novel (Rose)
6.  No Ordinary Day (Ellis)
7.  Jellicoe Road (Marchetta)
8.  I Am J (Beam)
9.  The White Mary (Salak)
10.  Small as an Elephant (Jacobson)

73. Unlucky in Law - Perri O'Shaughnessy

Nina Reilly #10
audio read by Laural Merlington
2004, Brilliance Audio
10 discs, 12 hours
$38.95
464 pages
Liked it (3)

Setting:  Contemporary Monterey Peninsula (Monterey, Carmel, Salinas)
OSS:  Nina takes over the seemingly already-lost case of Stefan Wyatt, accused of murdering a Russian emigrants daughter and stealing his bones from his gravesite.

Nina Reilly is working for and with her elderly mentor, Claus Pohlman, who is "losing it," and she dares not say anything to him.  Her lover, Paul, who is the PI working on the case, has asked her to marry him, but she is unsure of how to respond.  She has relocated for the time being from Tahoe to Monterey/Carmel, and her son, Bob, hates it there.

The mystery is many-layered and unfolds in an extremely interesting way.  It includes the story of the lost  Russian Romanov csar, an long-dead Russian emigrant, and a case that seems to be cut and dried.  It was interesting and kept me looking forward to the next sitting.

MOVIE - Footloose

Fun to watch and compare to the 1984 version
Wide release 10-14-11
12-15-11 at Crossroads, alone with about 6 other single women scattered around the theater
PG-13 (1:53)
RT: critics and audience both 71%
cag:  Liked it
Director:  Craig Brewer
Paramount Studios

Dennis Quaid (Preacher), Andie McDowell (wife) Kenny Wormald (Ren) Julianne Hough (Ariel)

This movie followed its original, 27 year old version, quite a bit.  (How can the original be 27 years old???) The one big difference, and one that really made sense, was the Ren's single mom had just died of leukemia, and he had been by her side throughout.  He, too, knew firsthand what it was to lose a loved one.  It also gave his character a depth that was missing in Kevin Bacon's role.

Kenny Wormald is adorable.  The guy who played his best friend was just great.  I loved the way the movie was cast, I totally enjoyed the music, and I loved that it began with the night, 3 years before, that had killed Ariel's brother - complete with the Kenny Loggins' version of the song, "Footloose."  I love Blake Shelton, but I wish his version of "Footloose" sounded more Blake Shelton-y.

MOVIE - The Muppets

Slow and boring
Wide release 11-23-11
12-13-11 at El Con with Rachel
PG (1:42)
RT critics:  97% audience: 91% (boy do I differ from them this time)
Director:  James Bobin
Walt Disney Pictures

Jason Segel (who also cowrote and produced), Amy Adams, Jack Black
Lots of cameos:  Emilyy Blunt, Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris, Alan Arkin......

Preceded by five previews and a short film, we didn't walk out of the theater until two and a half hours after we walked in.  And yawn.  It was so slow, especially the scenes with good ol' Kermit.  When the whole cast broke into dance, and Jason Segel broke into song I didn't know what to think.  I love musicals, but this just didn't work for me.  I was so looking forward to it....maybe that was the problem!

Gary's "brother," Walter, a muppet, is a huge fan of the original Muppets.  So when Gary takes his girlfriend Mary (Adams) to LA for a 10-year dating anniversary, Walter accompanies them.  They go to the falling-down Muppet Studio for a tour, and Walter overhears nasty  Tex Richman planning to purchase the old property and tear it down to drill for oil.  Thus the plot is hatched to track down the original Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways, for one big telethon show.

MOVIE - Tower Heist

a fun flick!
Wide release 11-4-11
12-5-11 at El Con with Sheila
PG-13 (1:39)
RT critics:  68%  RT audience:  61%
I liked it (3)
Director:  Brett Ratner
Universal Pictures

Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda

Ben Stiller is the general manager at a high-class high-rise in Manhattan.  The most important resident, played by Alan Alda, lives in the penthouse.  Lives are shaken up when Alda is arrested by the FBI and it is discovered that all his riches have disappeared - including all the pensions of the employees of the building.  When Stiller confronts Alda, he is fired....and the plan is hatched to try to recover some of the funds that they're sure Alda has hidden right there in his penthouse.

72. The Tale of Halcyon Crane - Wendy Webb

read on my phone through Kindle
2010, Henry Holt & Co.
352 pages
written for adults
Rating:  It was okay
Some reviewers called this an "eerie gothic mystery." It was a ghost story, but I didn't find it particularly eerie, or even too mysterious.

Setting:  Contemporary Grand Manitou Island in Michigan
OSS:  After receiving a letter from the mother Hallie has always thought was dead, she travels to her ancestral home to be accosted by a group of ghosts and memories of her NOW dead mother.  Fast, implausbile love interest as well.

MOVIE - The Descendants

Hawaii, George Clooney, an interesting, complex story, and wonderful acting - the whole deal!
Released Limited 11-18-11
12-9-11 at El Con with Fran
R (1:51)
RT: Critics 90% Audience 80%
cag Loved it!
Director:  Alexander Payne
Searchlight Pictures

MOVIE - In Time

2011 Movie List

54 movies so far this year.....Four that were over-the-top awesome, and six more I absolutely loved!

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (12-29-11) It was okay (cute) (2)
Beginners (12-23-11) Liked it a lot (4)
Footloose (12-15-11) Liked it (3)
The Muppets (12-13-11) Didn't like it (1)
The Descendants (12-9-11) Loved it (5)
Tower Heist (12-5-11) Liked it (3)
In Time (12-2-11) Liked it a lot (4)
Breaking Dawn Part 1 (11-24-11) Liked it a lot (4)
The Big Year (11-18-11) Liked it (3)
The Names of Love
Columbiana Liked it a lot (4)
The Three Musketeers (10-30-11) Didn't like it (1)
Mighty Macs Liked it a lot (4)
Cowboys and Aliens Liked it (3)
Horrible Bosses It was okay (2)
Friends with Benefits Liked it a lot (4)
Terri Liked it (3)
Nora's Will Liked it a lot (4)
The Debt It was okay (2)
Super 8 (8-26-11) It was okay(2)
Mr. Popper's Penguins (8-22-11) Liked it a lot (4)
The Help (8-16-11) Liked it (3)
Harry Potter & the Deathly Harrows (8-8-11) It was okay (2)
Crazy, Stupid, Love (8-7-11) Liked it a lot (4)
The Double Hour (7-30-11) Liked it a lot (4)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (7-21-11) Didn't like it (1)
Queen to Play (Joueuse) (7-16-11) Liked it (3)
Larry Crowne (7-11-11) Liked it (3)
Midnight In Paris (6-18-11) Awesome, a favorite (6)
Amreeka (6-9-11) Liked it (4)
Source Code (6-8-11) Loved it (5)
Incendies (5-29-11) Awesome (6)
Thor Liked It (2)
The Beaver Loved it (5)
The Adjustment Bureau It was okay (2)
Bridesmaids (5-11) Loved it (5)
Jane Eyre (4-28-11) Liked it a lot (4)
Hanna (4-23-11) It was okay (2)
Lincoln Lawyer (4-21-11) Liked it (3)
Win Win (4-17-11) Liked it a lot (4)
Paul (3-20-11) Liked it (3)
No Strings Attached (3-26-11) Loved it (5)
Cedar Rapids (3-19-11) Liked it a lot (4)
Beastly (3-15-11) It was okay (2)
The Fighter (3-6-11) Awesome (6)
Gnomeo and Juliet (3-1-11) Didn't like it (1)
I am Number Four (2-22-211) It was okay (2)
The Unknown (2-21-11) Liked it a lot (4)
The Social Network (2-14-11) Awesome (6)
Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2-13-11) It was okay (2)
True Grit (2-5-11) Loved it (5)
Tiny Furniture (2-4-11) Didn't like it (1)
Country Strong (1-12-11) Liked it (3)
The King's Speech (1-5-11) Awesome (6)

Here's my complete movie list back through August of 2008......  Click here......

MOVIE - Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Splendid scenery, set, and makeup
Wide release 11/18/11
viewed at El Con on Thanksgiving 11/24/11 by myself
PG-13 (1:57)
RT critics:  26% RT audience:  70% cag: 89%
Director:  Bill Condon

The movie seemed to almost completely follow the book.  The wedding scene was gorgeous.  The island setting was gorgeous.  The Cullen home in Washington is gorgeous.  I didn't seem to mind Kristin Stewart's acting so much in this one, and the makeup and special effects used to make her look sicker and sicker were really well done.  I very much enjoyed this.

Bella and Edward get married and, despite Edward being afraid he'd get too vampiric during lovemaking, he didn't kill her.  But she did get pregnant - and of course, it would be an unusual pregnancy.  The baby was fast growing and began killing Bella from the inside out because of it's vampiric needs.  Watching how the wolves, the Cullen family, and Bella's family deal with everything that happens is actually quite enjoyable to watch.  I wouldn't go to re-see any of the previous movies, but I would this one.

71. Wonderstruck - Brian Selznik

A novel in words and pictures
Scholastic Press, 2011
640 pgs.
For: everyone
Rating: Liked it
A visual masterpiece!

There are two stories for the first 500-or-so pages, one of a boy in 1977 Minnesota who has just lost his single-parent mom, and one of a deaf girl in Hoboken, NJ in 1927. They connect as you near the end of the book. One of the stories is using words, only. The other is using pictures, only.

In his acknowledgements, Brian Selznick says he spent seven rainy weeks in a cabin in the woods in Peterorough, NH, working on the book. These illustrations must have taken a lot longer than that, though!