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20.2 - Rookie at the Top - Janet F's Task: Rookie It’s Snow Joke, “Winter’s Cool��!

What unique plans do you have for the winter? Besides that blizzard of reading with all of the great tasks! Do you want to see some new movies, take a winter nature hike or try out a new winter sport?

I plan to see the movie Anna Karenina soon. I remember loving the story by Leo Tolstoy but I admit I'm more thrilled to see the movie vs. read the book again. I also plan to get out the door for some winter walks. I love exploring my environment and Annie Dillard with her Pilgrim at Tinker Creek inspires a poetic fascination of nature for me. Finally, I hope to get back to some cross-country skiing this season. I just need lots of snow in the nearby mountains for that!

Read ONE book from one of the six options that inspire or help my winter plans. REQUIRED: State which option you choose and include any required elements.

Option 1. Read any book by Leo Tolstoy.

Option 2. Read any book with the setting in Russia. If genre is not listed as Cultural>Russia on the book’s home page then provide a reference or explanation for the setting in your post.

Option 3. Read any book by Annie Dillard

Option 4. Read a book with 'Nature' listed as a genre or subgenre on its main page.

Option 5. Read a book with the word ‘snow�� in the title. No variations on the word are allowed, including plurals and possessives.

Option 6. Read a book with mountain(s) on the cover.
REQUIRED: Include the cover in your post.

Approved Books:
Works for Option 2:
Breaking Stalin's Nose

Works for Option 5:
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow
Lord of Snow and Shadows

Works for Option 6:

Books that are not approved:

Option 5:
Snowfall


Option 6:

This thread is now open!

Can I have Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See for option 5?

Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Can I have Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See for option 5?"

Yes, Fiona. That is a great choice for option 5. Enjoy it!

Proper names with 'Snow' are fine as long as the word 'snow' stands alone.

Janet, will you take this for the mountain option? I think the idea is that she's standing on a cliff.



Or, this?

Two books I have by my reading chair:

Would either one work for 6. book with mountain(s) on the cover ?

Would work for option 6 - mountains on the cover?

Chaitra wrote: "Janet, will you take this for the mountain option? I think the idea is that she's standing on a cliff.



I don't think that looks like a mountain. I think there is another challenge where you need snow on the cover. Maybe you can use it there. Sorry.

REChaitra wrote:

I'll accept .
I think I see mountains in the background but the landforms in the front I would call hills. Because the book takes place in North Dakota/Minnesota I checked Wikipedia about mountains there. They do have some! but it brings up a discussion of What is a mountain?

I got this quote from Wikipedia "In the Oxford English Dictionary a mountain is defined as "a natural elevation of the earth surface rising more or less abruptly from the surrounding level and attaining an altitude which, relatively to the adjacent elevation, is impressive or notable."[1]
Also from Wikipedia: "Whether a landform is called a mountain may depend on local usage. "

No worries Janet! Thanks for your response, I have a couple of books I can read for Snow as well, I just wanted to see if the mountain ones worked first!

RE: Deedee wrote:


Yes, Deedee. That one will work. It's an obvious mountain to me.

I'm going to look at the other one more zoomed in & let you know.

RE: Skandia wrote: "Would work for option 6 - mountains on the cover?"

Yes, that will work!

Just wanted to check this one for mountains on the cover

RE Deedee

I think I'll say no on this one since it's hard to tell if the peaks are part of ice structure/castle or a mountain.

Re: Sam wrote: "Just wanted to check this one for mountains on the cover "

Yes, it works!

Would this work for mountains?

are the mountains clear enough in this picture, I can see them out the window.
or this one or

RE Bea wrote: "Would this work for mountains? "

Yes, that looks good.

Will this be acceptable for the option-mountain on the cover? the book is set in the Appalachian terra

RE JennRenee wrote: "are the mountains clear enough in this picture, I can see them out the window.
or this one or "

All three look okay for mountains on the cover.
I had to get a second opinion from my husband for the 1st one but he said 'yup'.

Wanda wrote: "Will this be acceptable for the option-mountain on the cover? the book is set in the Appalachian terra"

Yes. It looks like an interesting story.

Janet F wrote: "RE Bea wrote: "Would this work for mountains? "

Yes, that looks good."

Thanks, Janet. I read The Poisonwood Bible in an earlier season and really fell in love with Barbara Kingsolver's writing. Thought I would like to try more of her books. Glad this one fit your task.

Janet F wrote: "RE JennRenee wrote: "are the mountains clear enough in this picture, I can see them out the window.
or this one or [bookcover:Si..."

awesome thanks. Now which one. lol

Would work for option #6?

RE: Sandra wrote: "Would work for option #6?"

Yes!

Will this work for mountain (option 6)

RE: Cathy wrote: "Will this work for mountain (option 6)
"

Sure will.

Would this work for Option 6, Mountains

RE Andy wrote: "Would this work for Option 6, Mountains
"

That will work!

Would you accept for option 6 (Mountains)?

For Option 5:

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow or Lord of Snow and Shadows

Janet F wrote: "RE Andy wrote: "Would this work for Option 6, Mountains
"

That will work!"

Thanks!

Vi wrote: "Would you accept for option 6 (Mountains)?

For Option 5:

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow or Lord of Snow and Shadows"

Yes, Night Road works for option 6 and the others mentioned work for option 5.

Just checking or for mountains on the cover.

RE Lahni wrote: "Just checking or for mountains on the cover."

All three look like they would work.

one more I'm wondering about for mountains

Lahni wrote: "one more I'm wondering about for mountains "

Yes, it has a part of a mountain.

Hi, would this work for option 5?

Snowfall

Thanks

Would this work for Option 6?

(there are snowy mountains in the background, which are actually important to the plot)

RE Catrina wrote: "Hi, would this work for option 5?

Snowfall

Thanks"

No Snowfall won't work for option 5. I'm sorry Catrina but the requirement was word 'snow' with no variations and a compound word is a variation. I hope you can find another book!

RE D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ wrote: "Would this work for Option 6?

(there are snowy mountains in the background, which are actually important to the plot)
"

Both of those are approved for mountains on the cover.

Here are some other great ideas -from some task postings or reading plans so far.
Option 1: Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace
Anna Karenina
Boyhood

Option 2: Setting in Russia
Breaking Stalin's Nose
Poor Folk
Angel on the Square
City of Thieves
Child 44
A Partial History of Lost Causes
The Master and Margarita
Zugzwang
A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime & Suspense
The Last Romanov
Tatiana and Alexander
Winter Garden
Dancing Star the Story of Anna Pavlova

Option 3: Book by Annie Dillard
An American Childhood
Living by Fiction
The Writing Life

Option 4: Nature genre
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Lost in My Own Backyard: A Walk in Yellowstone National Park
Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You
Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938
The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks

Option 5: Snow in title
Smilla's Sense of Snow
Snow Falling on Cedars
The Snow Angel
As Simple as Snow
Let It Snow...: The Prince Who Stole Christmas\My True Love Gave to Me...
Let it Snow
The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777
Snow
The Snow Empress
Cover of Snow
Snow Blind
The Last Snow of Winter
The Snow Child
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow
Lord of Snow and Shadows


Option 6: Mountains on cover

Awesome! Thanks Janet.

Janet F wrote: "RE Catrina wrote: "Hi, would this work for option 5?

Snowfall

Thanks"

No Snowfall won't work for option 5. I'm sorry Catrina but the requirement was word 'snow' with no variations and a compound..."

No problem Janet - I'll have a look through my lists again x

How about

for Option 2?

The story takes place in the USSR. It's listed as both childrens and middle grades. It's definitely not for "emerging readers." Some of the comments on Amazon say the themes are too mature for younger students.

REChris wrote: "How about

for Option 2?

The story takes place in the USSR. It's listed as both childrens and middle grades. It's definitely not for "emerging readers." ..."

It certainly works for the theme for Option 2. As far as the "emerging reader" status I think that is a question for the Mods if you want to be sure. I don't know if there is discussion thread to direct that question. I'll let you know if I find anything out.

RE Janet F wrote: "REChris wrote: "How about

for Option 2?

The story takes place in the USSR. It's listed as both childrens and middle grades. It's definitely not for "eme..."

Emerging/early reader or not: I had some input from Sandy regarding this book and she gave me the go-ahead to make the judgement call. So I will say it is approved!

Thank you! (And it's definitely not emerging reader, so I really do think it's OK.)
Happy holidays!

Task creator update: Thanks to everyone helping me out with Snow & Mountains! The snow in the Cascade Mtn range has been very good. I've been able to cross-country ski twice this season already. It was a big success for me since I had a Total Hip Replacement less than 2 years ago & back surgery just before that!

Yesterday I wore my headphones while skiing and finished up listening to Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage and started The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. What a contrast of weather extremes to read about! I can't wait to get out again for more ski-reading!!
Today 1/4/13 I added another great ski-reading book to my list: The Book of Pirates & I saw lots of cool nature: a Snowshoe Hare & a large otter-like/catlike mammal which was probably a Pine Marten up in the mountains.