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Ancient History (Old Threads) > Around the World Challenge (Aug 1 - Sept 30, 2012) - Report Points Here

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message 51: by Christina (new)

Christina (christinahh) | 250 comments #7 India
The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken by Tarquin Hall
320pgs=>4pts
Reviewed=>5pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

15.2 Customs Official: Read a book which describes a specific custom of the country that you did not know about. Please share what that was.
In the book Vish Puri, attends a mundan ceremony for one of his younger relatives. This is the child's first (boys and girls) haircut. During the mundan ceremony the child's head is shaved and this usually occurs somewhere between the 1st and 3rd year. The Hindu culture believes the hair from birth is associated with undesirable traits from past lives.

Book Total=>31pts
Challenge Total=>170pts


message 52: by [deleted user] (new)

#28 Mexico
Days of the Dead by Barbara Hambly

592 pgs - 6 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... - 5 pts

Bonus: 10.1 Tourist visa: Read a book where the author is from a different country than the setting of the book.
The author is American and the book is set in Mexico.

Total - 50
Challenge Total - 125


message 53: by Sue (last edited Aug 20, 2012 08:14PM) (new)

Sue | 157 comments 19. United States

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
324 pgs - 4pts
Review - 5pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book Total - 28 pts
Challenge Total - 50 pts


message 54: by Shannon SA (new)

Shannon SA (shannonsa) #25 England

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) by Agatha Christie
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Country number: 25 points
Bonus points: 0
237 pages: 2 points

Book total: 27 points
Challenge total: 146 points


message 55: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #22 Ireland

The Girl On The Cliff by Lucinda Riley
576 pgs. = 6 pts.
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.
Total = 33 pts.

Challenge total = 309 pts.


message 56: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #26 Imagining Argentina by Lawrence Thornton

240 pgs. = 2 pts.
Review = http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.

total = 33 pts.
Challenge total = 342 pts.


message 57: by Christy (new)

Christy 15. Greece Hinterland by Caroline Brothers
245pgs: 2pts
Review: 5pts http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Total: 22pts

Challenge Total: 175pts


message 58: by Butterflycager (new)

Butterflycager | 147 comments #20 Spain - Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom
549 pages = 6 points
HF = 1 point
Book total = 27 points

#10 Poland - Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian
372 pages = 4 points
HF = 1 point
Bonus 15.3 - Traveler's Warnings - this book is about refugees enduring cold, hunger, and illness as they journey across Poland to escape possible rape and execution by the advancing Russian army during WWII. Not a pleasant place to be at that time...
Book total: 30 points

Total points this post: 57
Total challenge points: 493


message 59: by jb (last edited Aug 24, 2012 08:38PM) (new)

jb Byrkit (jbbyrkit) jennbunny

11. China
Cinder by Marissa Meyer = 11 points

387 pages = 4 points

review:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 points

10.1 Tourist visa: Read a book where the author is from a different country than the setting of the book. Mayer is from the US and this book is set in China = 10

Total for task 30 points
Total for challenge = 60


message 60: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1009 comments #17 Israel
Day After Night by Anita Diamant
294 pgs - 2 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book total - 25 pts
Challenge total - 367 pts


message 61: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #9 India

Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna

593 pgs. = 6 pts.
HF = 1 pt.
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.
Total = 21 pts.

Bonus 15,2 Read a book which describes a specific custom of the country that you did not know about.

After a woman has a baby she stays inside for forty days, at the end of that time she goes to the local seer to have the babies horoscope read. If anything adverse is read, she is given a charm to fight that particular negatvie event to come and must wear it forever.
Total & Bonus = 36 pts.

Challenge total = 378 pts.


message 62: by Butterflycager (new)

Butterflycager | 147 comments Bonus 5.2 Out of this world: Read a book which is set in another world; this book cannot be used on your itinerary.
One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey - takes place in Acadia, which is one of the Five Hundred Kingdoms
393 pages = 4 points
Book total = 9 points

Bonus 10.2 Planes, trains, and automobiles: Read a book which has a mode of transportation or the name of a vehicle in the title.
The Night Train: A Novel by Clyde Edgerton
224 pages = 2 points
Book total = 12 points

Total points this post: 17
Total challenge points: 510


message 63: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ # 8 Russia

The Wine of Solitude by Irène Némirovsky
256 pgs. = 2 pts.
HF = 1 pt.
Review - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.
Total = 16 pts.

Challenge total = 394 pts.


message 64: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1009 comments #14 Pakistan
Partitions by Amit Majmudar
244 pgs - 2 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book total - 22 pts

#12 India
The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly
322 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book total - 22 pts

Challenge total - 411 pts


message 65: by Shannon SA (new)

Shannon SA (shannonsa) #27 Ireland
The Myths, Legends, and Lore of Ireland 101 Things You Didn't Know about the Emerald Isle by Ryan Hackney
The Myths, Legends, and Lore of Ireland: 101 Things You Didn't Know about the Emerald Isle by Ryan Hackney

Bonus 15.2 A specific custom of the country that you did not know about

On 1 May a woman could achieve great beauty by rolling naked in the morning dew!

(Wonder if it works?!)

Country: 27 points
258 pages: 2 points
Bonus: 15 points

Book total: 44
Challenge total: 131


message 66: by [deleted user] (new)

Bonus: 5.2 -Out of this world: Read a book which is set in another world; this book cannot be used on your itinerary.

Entwined by Heather Dixon
472 pages - 4 pts

Task Total - 9 pts
Challenge Total - 134


Jayme(theghostreader) (jaymetheghostreader) | 3105 comments Bonus 10.1 Travel Visa
Sword of the Rightful King A Novel of King Arthur by Jane Yolen by Jane Yolan.

Book takes place in England during the King Arthur reign and the author lives in the US.

Task +10
Bonus + 4(349pp)
Total: 14


message 68: by Butterflycager (new)

Butterflycager | 147 comments Bonus 25.1 Guided Tour: Read a HF book that has events that take place in more than 5 countries.
The Sea Captain's Wife by Beth Powning (Canada, United States, Peru, England, China, Belgium)
384 pages = 4 points
HF = 1 point
Book total = 30 points

I'm also claiming the 100.1 World Traveler bonus for the following books (all except the India book have already been claimed for regular points):

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman (United States = North America)

The Sound Of Butterflies by Rachael King (Brazil = South America)

The time in between by María Dueñas (Morocco = Africa)

Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom (Spain = Europe)

#5 India - The Splendor of Silence by Indu Sundaresan (India = Asia)
403 pages = 4 points
HF = 1 point
Book total = 10 points

Total points this post = 140
Total challenge points = 650


message 69: by Christina (new)

Christina (christinahh) | 250 comments #19 United Kingdom
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
408pages=>4pts
HF=>1pt
Reviewed=>5pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
25.3 Travels with your Family: Read a HF book set in a country of one of your ancestors.
This is probably TMI, but I thought I would share. Last month I was researching my family history and came across the Bourchiers in my family tree. According to sources, Sir Humphrey Bourchier was killed at the Battle of Barnet fighting for the Yorks. Humphrey's wife was Elizabeth Tilney and they had a son. Elizabeth Tilney served as a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth Woodville the subject of this novel, but Tilney was not mentioned, probably because there would be too many Elizabeths. Elizabeth Tilney later married Thomas Howard and was the grandmother to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard and great-grandmother to Queen Elizabeth I. Sir Humphrey's uncles, Thomas Bourchier and Henry Bourchier were mentioned in this novel...I think all of this is pretty super cool if I do say so myself. :-)

Book Total=>54pts
Challenge Total=>224pts


message 70: by Sue (new)

Sue | 157 comments Christina wrote: "Last month I was researching my family history and came across the Bourchiers in my family tree..."

Christina, yes that is pretty super cool!


message 71: by Butterflycager (new)

Butterflycager | 147 comments #13 Italy - Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
337 pages = 4 points
HF = 1 point
Book total = 18 points

#7 Syria -
Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled by Dorothy Gilman
224 pages = 2 points
Bonus 10.1 Tourist Visa - Author was from the United States, book is set in Syria.
Book total = 19 points

Total points this post: 37
Total challenge points: 687


message 72: by JoLene, Mistress of the Challenge (new)

JoLene (trvl2mtns) | 1251 comments Mod
@Christina: that is really cool!!
@Butterflycager --- what did you think of Beautiful Ruins -- it's on my tbr


message 73: by Butterflycager (new)

Butterflycager | 147 comments JoLene wrote: "@Christina: that is really cool!!
@Butterflycager --- what did you think of Beautiful Ruins -- it's on my tbr"


JoLene, I loved Beautiful Ruins. I didn't think I was going to like it at first, and I was debating about finding something else to read for Italy...and then I realized I'd read over a hundred pages and I was enjoying it. I had never read this author before, and now I'm eager to try one of his other novels.


message 74: by Christy (new)

Christy 16. Italy
Empress of the Seven Hills by Kate Quinn
486pgs: 4pts
HF: 1pt

Bonus 10.3 Set in location you'd like to visit, Rome Italy... I'd love to see Rome one day.

Total: 31pts

Challenge Total: 184pts


message 75: by JoLene, Mistress of the Challenge (last edited Sep 02, 2012 10:27AM) (new)

JoLene (trvl2mtns) | 1251 comments Mod
Scoreboard as of 8/31.


Butterflycager * 691
Cheryl 411
Diane * 393
Christina 224
Christy * 206
Ashley 134
Laura 131
Shannon 131
Jennbunny 60
Sue 50
Jon 34
Jayme 14
HollyP 0

If there is * by your name, please see the note in the itineraries thread for more explanation. Please do NOT edit any posts from 1-75 -- I will not be re-checking them.


message 76: by [deleted user] (new)

# 24 Ireland
1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion by Morgan Llywelyn

576 pages - 6 pts
HF - 1 point
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... - 5 points

Book Total - 36
Challenge Total - 170 points


message 77: by Christy (new)

Christy JoLene: Thanks for all your hard work in keeping us all straight for this task.

For Hinterland Let's use it for the 25.1 Bonus task. Most of the story took place in Greece, but I'm not sure if it was 50% or not.

And obviously, my addition skills are crud. Thanks for keeping me straight!! :)


message 78: by Diane S � (last edited Sep 04, 2012 05:13PM) (new)

Diane S ☔ #19 Wales

The Other Half of Me: A Novel by Morgan McCarthy

336 pgs. = 4 pts.
Total = 23 pts.

Challenge total = 416 pts.


Headmaster's wager was on my kindle and is now deleted. Know it covered the occupation of Vietnam by the Chinese and continued on through the fall of Saigon. I took the point off in my challenge total because I am not sure how much of the book was during what time period.


message 79: by JoLene, Mistress of the Challenge (new)

JoLene (trvl2mtns) | 1251 comments Mod
@ Christy -- if most of the story was in Greece, you can count it (I'm not counting pages or anything ;-) It is just strange that Greece was no mentioned in the GR description. You can count for Greece and the 25.1 bonus task if you want.

@ Diane, thanks for making the adjustment.


message 80: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1009 comments #7 Chile
Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes
320 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99...
Book total - 17 pts
Challenge total - 418 pts

JoLene - This was another one of those dual storylines - one taking place in 1913, the other in 1973. It was about half and half, with the 1973 line just a little more, so I've claimed the HF point. Let me know if this is okay - most GR users have it as HF.


message 81: by Christy (new)

Christy JoLene wrote: "@ Christy -- if most of the story was in Greece, you can count it (I'm not counting pages or anything ;-) It is just strange that Greece was no mentioned in the GR description. You can count for ..."

After thinking about it, I don't think 50% happened in Greece... it really is hard to tell because of how it was written. Should I edit the original post or delete it and start over?


message 82: by JoLene, Mistress of the Challenge (new)

JoLene (trvl2mtns) | 1251 comments Mod
@Cheryl -- That is fine, you can count the HF point.

I am using the Historical Fiction definition of Becky and Jackie (and also generally accepted). Many people think of HF as a setting in the past, so many would classify Dickens and Austen as HF, but it isn't because they were writing (mostly) in their own time period.


message 83: by JoLene, Mistress of the Challenge (new)

JoLene (trvl2mtns) | 1251 comments Mod
@Christy, in your next entry, just back out the Greece points 22 (so I will remember to remove from my spreadsheet). Your new total should be 184.

In your next entry, claim the bonus task.


message 84: by Sue (new)

Sue | 157 comments Bonus Task 5.2 - Out of This World
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
384 pgs - 4 pts
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I was surprised when reading this book that a lot of the first part of the book took place in Victorian England (although with some fantastical elements carried through), but, as the story progressed, the majority of the activity shifted back to taking place in Wonderland, with a final tally of 75% of the book taking place in the alternate world. Phew! I did not have to change my plans about using this book for this task! :)

Task total - 14 pts
Challenge total - 64 pts


message 85: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #15 Italy

The Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis

416 pgs. = 4 pts.
HF = 1 pt.
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.

Total = 25 pts.
Challenge total = 441 pts.

Also like to claim 100.1

The Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis (Italy, Europe)

Invisible Country: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri (Paraguay, South America)

The Twelve Rooms of the Nile by Enid Shomer (Egypt, Africa)

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (Australia)

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman North America, Appalachia

320 pgs. = 4 pts.
HF = 1 pt.
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.

Total = 110 pts.
Challenge total - 551 pts.


message 86: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1009 comments #8 Canada
Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman
320 pgs - 4 pts
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book total - 17 pts
Challenge total - 435 pts


message 87: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #30 Canada

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

384 pgs. = 4 pts.
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Total = 39 pts.
Challenge total = 590


message 88: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1009 comments #15 Babylonia
Garden of Madness by Tracy L. Higley
400 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Bonus task 25.2 - Wonders of the World. Read a HF which features one of the wonders of the world (Hanging Gardens of Babylon).

Book - 25 pts
Bonus task - 25 pts

Book total - 50 pts
Challenge total - 485 pts


message 89: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1009 comments #24 Germany
A City of Broken Glass by Rebecca Cantrell
336 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Bonus task 25.3 - Travels with your family. Read a HF set in a country of an ancestor (Germany).

Book - 34 pts
Bonus - 25 pts

Book total - 59 pts
Challenge total - 544 pts


message 90: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #3 Japan The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama

211 pgs. = 2 pts
HF = 1 pt.
REeview http://www.goodreads.com/review/new/5... = 5 pts.

Total = 11 pts.
Challenge total = 601 pts.


message 91: by Butterflycager (new)

Butterflycager | 147 comments #18 - England - Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
304 pages = 4 points
Book total - 22 points

#14 Switzerland -
The Bells by Richard Harvell
374 pages = 4 points
HF = 1 point
Bonus: 25.3 Travels with your family - my father's family came from Switzerland.
Book total = 44 points

#12 Denmark - The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard
430 pages = 4 points
Book total = 16 points

Total points this post: 82
Total challenge points: 773


message 92: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #12 Israel
The People of Forever Are Not Afraid by Shani Boianjiu

352 pgs = 4 pts.
Review =http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.

Total = 21 pts.
Challenge total = 622 pts.


message 93: by Sue (new)

Sue | 157 comments #29 Scotland
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
245 pages = 2 pts.
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... 5 pts.
Book total = 36 pts.
Challenge total = 100 pts.

Note-This was one of those books that alternate between the present and the past (1920's-1930's), via characters' memories,... but somewhat more than half of the book takes place in the present - so, no HF point for this one.


message 94: by [deleted user] (last edited Sep 17, 2012 09:35PM) (new)

#22 Scotland
Regeneration by Pat Barker
252 pages - 2 pts
HF - 1 pt
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... - 5 pts

Total - 30
Challenge Total - 200


message 95: by JoLene, Mistress of the Challenge (new)

JoLene (trvl2mtns) | 1251 comments Mod
Scoreboard as of 9/17.
Butterflycager 773
Diane * 621
Cheryl * 554
Christina 224
Christy 206
Ashley 200
Laura 131
Shannon 131
Sue 100
Jennbunny 60
Jon 34
Jayme 14
HollyP 0

If there is an * by your name, please check the scoreboard and itineraries thread. Please do not edit previous points, I will not check anything up to this point.


message 96: by Jon (new)

Jon | 303 comments hello ...still alive... fell into a book slump lol.. or at least life took over. plodding through a brick at present, who knows if will be finished by end of sept. but meanwhile just had a lovely holiday in Greece and read an ancient Greek HF while there which i loved.

The Song of Achilles

Greece 12 points
HF 1 point
review 5 points

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

pages 352 - 4 points

and id love to claim a wonder of the world as i was reading it whilst visiting where the collosal statue of Zeus was housed in Olympia... sadly they didnt actually go there in the book though... so ill claim a place i always wanted to go.. the classical sites of Ancient greece... and i did go there, after i started the book and finsihed it on the flight home! . so 10.3 for me

total 32 points


message 97: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1009 comments #19 Egypt
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
214 pgs - 2 pts
Review - 5 pts
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book total - 26 pts
Challenge total - 580 pts


message 98: by Butterflycager (new)

Butterflycager | 147 comments #17 France - Trapeze by Simon Mawer
369 pages = 4 points
HF = 1 point
Book total = 22 points

#16 Belgium - Resistance by Anita Shreve
284 pages = 2 points
HF = 1 point
Book total = 19 points

Bonus 50.2 Two sides of the story - both of the above books are about resistance efforts during World War Two.

#15 The Netherlands - The Coffee Trader by David Liss
384 pages = 4 points
HF = 1 point
Book total = 20 points

Total points this post: 111
Total challenge points: 884


message 99: by Christy (new)

Christy Ok, back after a ridiculous book slump....
Please back off my points for Greece. My new total will be 184.

29. USA- Tributary by Barbara K. Richardson
352pgs: 4pts
HF: 1pt
Total: 34pts

15.2 Country Custom
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
584pgs: 6pts
Total: 21pts

Total points this post: 55pts
Challenge total: 239pts


message 100: by Diane S � (new)

Diane S ☔ #10 Afghanistan

Dear Zari: The Secret Lives of the Women of Afghanistan by Zarghuna Kargar

250 pgs. = 2 pts.
Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... = 5 pts.

Total = 17 pts.
Challenge total = 638 pts.


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