Anyone willing to take up the challenge this year?
:D
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Anyone willing to take up the challenge this year?
:D
HaHa, it took me three years to complete the 2011 challenge.
I got a feeling that you will do it this year!Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
So far:
1. Susan Cooper ~ The Dark is Rising (N1/W1) ~ 7/10
2. Jean Rhys ~ Wide Sargasso Sea (N2/W2/SO1) ~ 8/10
3. Karen Russell ~ Swamplandia! ~ 8/10
4. Ambrose Bierce ~ The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter 7/10
5. Keith Roberts ~ Pavane 4/10
6. Raymond Carver ~ What We Talk About When We Talk About Love 10/10
7. PD James ~ Death Comes to Pemberley 4/10
8. Richard Matheson ~ I am Legend 6/10
9 Patrick O'Brien ~ Master and Commander
I was looking forward to the renewal of this challenge. I am surprised by how many new authors I am already currently reading.
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg -6/10
1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10
I didn't believe this until I Googled it. I know it's not necessary to bold the salient feature of this Wickipedia synopsis, but it's just too irresistible:Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
The novel takes place at Rubicon, a fictional science fiction convention taking place in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, and at which the guests of honor are Appin Dungannon, a fantasy author noted for his books about hero Tratyn Runewind, and Dr. James O. Mega, an electrical engineering professor at Virginia Tech, who, under the pen name Jay Omega, has written one novel. That novel, a hard science fiction book about a space station crew whose female members are affected by radiation from a star (their intellect is diminished), was retitled "Bimbos of the Death Sun" and given an R-rated cover by the publisher.
:willy_nilly:
Lol. I googled it, too, all the while wondering how something called "Bimbos of the Death Sun" could only be rated 7/10.
Ok, let me share this year, although I am not sure from the success because it is the first time for me in a foreign forum, however, enroll my name it is just participation.
Cool!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mohammad Ahmad
erm... I ignored that part.Quote:
Originally Posted by Emil Miller
haha. It was a recommendation from Calidore in my vacation reading thread. http://www.online-literature.com/for...light=vacationQuote:
Originally Posted by qimissung
I gave it a seven because the murder occurred halfway through the book.
It reminds me of L.Halliwell's critique of the film 'I Was a Teenage Werewolf' :Quote:
Originally Posted by qimissung
'Hilarious farago with a title that achieved a splendour of its own.'
If you said cool I have too much warm soul and I challenge you all, so don't be fool or I shall kick you as the ball. ?Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
For what you feel cool against me! Do you have friendship with me? Do we have previous acquaintance?
If you still feel arrogantly as an American soldier to take Iraqis into your less consideration, I shall make my pen as a weapon!
From now you are not allowed to reply or I shall give your name to the administration.
Crikey, remember what happened to Salman Rushdie.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mohammad Ahmad
Whoo there partner, don't kick me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mohammad Ahmad
"Cool" is a term that I used to mean that I am happy that you are going to participate in the challenge.
Definition of cool:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cool
Do you teach me English! Cool it is not interjection but if it is used as an interjection, however, it does not mean disgrace, but it does mean that you feel discouraged to this man or you are less happy against him or his item does not admire you and in all its meanings it has not any positive sense.
It is as if we almost used the expression in Arabic as we said when we feel the place is not friendly warmth or when the conversation doesn't attract you as you feel frustrated and you will like to say:
I feel cold although the time is amidst of summer. Of course summer is a hot season and to feel cold is unordinary thing.
To look into dictionaries you will find the strange and the non- identical, everyone has different idea, also I can introduce many links from internet but not all sites are wise.
http://www.almaany.com/home.php?word=cool
It is not advice but let me say I see it is better to use the exclamation available icons than to use words.
Actually, the word 'cool' is often used in a colloquial sense, meaning 'awesome', or 'great'. Such a meaning may not appear in all dictionaries (though it should), but I assure you, in the slang of English-speaking countries it is often used that way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mohammad Ahmad
Himmmm!Quote:
Originally Posted by Emil Miller
what did happen to Slaman Rusdie? I just know he is a novelist British but Indian origin, then as I read his career one of his novels " children of midnight" which stirred crisis in the religious world, whatever the reason is, let say; I am not like those or at least I am open- minded, free, and liberal
You Lykern, if you say it doesn't include bad sense, I will believe you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lykren
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke - 7/10
American Gods by Neil Gaiman - 9/10
Cool!
I may be able to do this challenge this year as I've got a few books by previously unread authors in my pile.
1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke
1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10
4. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - 6/10. I received it for Christmas and I couldn't put it down until about halfway through when it started to get a little drawn out. I probably won't read the rest of the trilogy.
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10
3) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss 8/10Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
Hoffmann, The Land of Five Flavors - A Cultural History of Chinese Cuisine, 2013: Columbia - 6.5/10 - interesting premise but rather shallow research for an academic book. It's hard to convince someone that one nationality likes to eat more than another - all people like to eat.
I Googled that book and found a review of it that contained the following sentence:Quote:
Originally Posted by JBI
"This fact, along with most of what comprises “The Land of Five Flavors,’’ points to how integral food has been (and remains) to the inhabitants of China."
Food! Integral to human beings! What a thought.
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
10. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 5/10
1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10
4. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - 6/10. I received it for Christmas and I couldn't put it down until about halfway through when it started to get a little drawn out. I probably won't read the rest of the trilogy.
5. Less Than Zero by Ellis, Brett Easton - 7.5/10
6. Plaster City by Shaw, Johnny - 7.6/10 (Sheer entertainment)
1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke 7/10
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10
3) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss 8/10
4) Q by Luther Blisset 8/10
Excellent new authors so far.
*Updated*
1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
10. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 5/10
11. The Vickar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith 6/10
1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke 7/10
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10
3) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss 8/10
4) Q by Luther Blisset 8/10
5) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis 7/10
I got messed up with 2013 cause I couldn't get through satanic verses, but I'll give it a go. So far this year:Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
1) Saul Bellow, Humbolt's Gift -- The execution of the book didn't really live up to its ideas. Purdy does a better job taking a swipe at artistic orthodoxy IMO.
2) Oscar Wilde, Picture of Dorian Gray -- The "drama" parts are good. The fantasy parts are.... not his thing
3) Mo Yan, Red Sorghum -- Very pretty and very sad.
4) Jonathan Lethem, Chronic City -- It was fun up until the big reveal, at which point I realized I had already read a better version of essentially the same story. Slogged through it, but plot driven books where I can predict every "surprise" twist in the last 100 pages are not good.
5) Mario Vargas Llosa, War of the end of the World -- Kind of a Latin Falukner. IDK yet, but maybe my favorite book ever.