Advent To Candlemas Reading Competition (2013-2014)

[AnneLine]

Because of popular demand and much arm twisting....

 

An Advent to Candlemas Reading Competition is now beginning!!!!

 

We had so much fun last summer ... and we got some INCREDIBLE results!

 

Summer Readers…………….……… 28

Total Documented Books read……..823

Documented Pages Read……....189,287

 

FINAL RESULTS:

 

DOCUMENTED BOOKS READ  

1^st Place …….……… Cartermia……………. 415

2^nd Place …………… DeusTeAmat…………   82

3^rd Place …………… Chrysophlax …………   62

 

Over 50 Books Read:

 

Honorable Mention… Catholicterp7 ………..   60

 

DOCUMENTED PAGES READ   

1^st Place ……… Cartermia ….…………... 36,009

2^nd  Place …….. DeusTeAmat …………... 37,439

3^rd Place …….... Chrysophlax ...…..…..… 18,549

 

Over 5,000 Pages read:

 

Honorable Mention… Catholicterp7 ……..  7,600

Honorable Mention… Ardill ……………..  7,263

Honorable Mention… BG45 ……………..  5,225

 

NOTE:  some readers did not choose to document pages read.

 

 

So... we're at it again!  

We are going to find out who can read the most books and the most pages  between the start of Advent (Dec. 1) and Midnight on Candlemas (Feb. 2).  

 

The deadline will be MIDNIGHT in your time zone.  

 

Any books that you finish BEFORE the end of Week I of Advent can be counted!!!!!

 

AND.... we are offering a BONUS for 'challenging books' -- we want to encourage people to try a book they have been putting off because it is too hard, too thick, in a second language -- whatever would challenge you.  You can designate ONE BOOK AT A TIME for that designation... and double count those books and pages.   Let us know why it is a challenge for you!  We want to encourage you!!!!

 

As with the original Summer Reading Competition guidelines from Byz, you need to specify the NAME OF THE BOOK and the AUTHOR, and if you want to count page numbers, the number of pages.

 

If you are listening to an audiobook, that will count -- we will accept the page number count as for a copy of the same book on Amazon.  :)

 

Sooooo.... time to lace on your reading glasses and pull out a good book!!!!!!!!

 

 

Time to start listing your books.... any you have finished, and any you have in progress.... and you can designate ONE book at a time as your challenge book. 

 

ENJOY!!!!!

 

Edited December 5, 2013 by AnneLine

[Not The Philosopher]

I wouldn't mind taking part in this. A lot of my books will be from my class reading lists, I suppose. Right now, I'm in the middle of:

 

For the Life of the World, by Alexander Schmemann.
City of God by St. Augustine

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (2nd time)

 

All three were started before Advent.

I'm also reading a couple of other things for some classes, but since I'm only reading excerpts, I'm not sure if they'll count.

[ploomf]

I'm in. :) Right now I'm reading Catholicism for Dummies, I've started it several times but I've never actually finished it. :p I'm determined to this time though. ;)

[AnneLine]

COOL!!!!!

 

I'm gonna challenge myself with the C.S. Lewis Time Trilogy, one book at a time (Starting with Out of the Silent Planet) (I've tried over and over and just keep dropping it.... but you are all gonna encourage me, right??????

 

And I am reading Kaleidoscope, by Dorothy Gilman, one of my favorite 'just for fun' authors!  (The Nun the Closet and The Mrs. Pollifax books are fantastic!)

 

 

 

READERS SO FAR: (in alphabetical order)

 

ANNE LINE

 

Kaleidoscope, Dorothy Gilman (one of my favorite 'fun' authors, esp. the Nun in the Closet and the Mrs. Pollifax series!)

CHALLENGE BOOK:   Out of the Silent Planet, C.S. Lewis

 

 

NOT THE PHILOSOPHER

 

For the Life of the World, by Alexander Schmemann.
City of God by St. Augustine

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (2nd time)

Readings for School (details tba)

CHALLENGE BOOK:   tba

 

 

PLOOMF

 

Catholicism for Dummies

CHALLENGE BOOK:   tba

 

 

 

 

 

[AnneLine]

Following the guidelines we used in the Summer Reading Competition (because they worked beautifully!).....

 

 

 

I wouldn't mind taking part in this. A lot of my books will be from my class reading lists, I suppose. Right now, I'm in the middle of:

 

For the Life of the World, by Alexander Schmemann.
City of God by St. Augustine

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (2nd time)

 

All three were started before Advent.

 

Then all of them can be counted... you just have to finish before Candlemas to count them!!!!  Get to work!!!! ;)

I'm also reading a couple of other things for some classes, but since I'm only reading excerpts, I'm not sure if they'll count.

 

We decided you CAN count these, by calling them a 'Reader for ______ Class" and figuring out how many pages is in it.   We will trust you to be honest about it... I've had Readers like that for counseling classes that went to hundreds of pages, so I get why you want to count them!!!!)

 

 

Glad to have BOTH of you along.... now who else wants to play?????

[AnneLine]

So... where are the Summer Readers who said they wanted an Advent Challenge?   Are they off Phatmass until Sunday?  Stuck doing school work?  WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!  

[Deus te Amat]

Enigma -- Robert Harris -- 384

The Storyteller -- Jodi Picoult -- 480

[AnneLine]

Uh oh... return of the SUPER readers....   ;)

[Deus te Amat]

Uh oh... return of the SUPER readers....   ;)

 

 

Yeah, but I won't be reading as much this time around. I have a job now and have been working a lot of overtime. This way, I will remember to take a break every now and then. 

[AnneLine]

Yup.  I do so get it!   Do you have a book you want to register for the 'challenge' and/or want to commit to reading next?

 

Good to have you back!

[Deus te Amat]

Oh, I'll probably just update as I finish, like before. Half the posts, that way. ;)

[EmilyAnn]

I only discovered the summer one right at the end so I'm really glad you're doing this again!

 

Brave New World (Aldous Huxley) - 288 

 

I've just moved on to reading Dracula :)

[AnneLine]

Glad to have you aboard, Emily!

 

Will note your first book and current book when I update (probably over the weekend, hopefully after a few more have checked in!)

 

Dracula is a GREAT book.... and well written.   When I was in college and one my friends found out I was reading it, he would wait for a half hour or so after leaving my apartment and then come and scratch on my window.  VERY effective at making me jump and scream!  Hope no one tries this with you!  :evil:   Bwwahahaha!

[EmilyAnn]

It is a great book, I last read it in high school so I decided it was time to get it out again! 

 

Also, do non-fiction books count?

[AnneLine]

Absolutely non ficton, fiction, prayer books -- check out the 'summer reading thread' to see the kinds of things (!) people chose to read the last time.  It's literally a 'catholic' list!!!!!

 

Here's a link to the last book competition thread in case people are curious... we kind of made it up as we went along, and that was part of the fun.... and fun it was!  

 

http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/129669-summer-reading-competition/#.UqC_-53TmmQ

 

This time if you want to designate a 'challenge' book, you can find one that is a personal stretch for you.   I am trying to once again read some of c.s. Lewis' fiction.... I'm finding it worth doing, but a bit of a stretch. 

 

I was SO BAD at sending out the 'prizes' last time (I'm still trying to get them out the door!) that I won't promise that this time... we'll have to see....

 

 

[Comingback]

I'm in.  I don't know what my challenge book will be yet, though.

[AnneLine]

Sounds good!    I'll probably update who is 'in' on Saturday -- I know several people have indicated interest on the 'Summer' thread, and I want to give them the chance to check in.   Kind of like Phounding Members..... ;)

 

You might have already finished a book or decided on a challenge by then -- just drop it in here if you wish..l or you can sneak up from behind like DTA... LOVE that M.O., DTA... suits you  ;) !   Kind of like...  :wedgie:

[Chrysophylax]

Wow! I almost missed this because I have not been on Phatmass recently!!

Finals are very soon, so I am not sure what will happen in the next two weeks with book reading.

 

The False Prince        by: Jennifer Nielsen      352  pgs

The Runaway King       by: Jennifer Nielsen     352   pgs

     Both are quite good!

 

Among the Hidden     by: Margaret Peterson Haddix   153 pgs

    I saw this on the shelf at the library and became nostalgic and had to read it again.

    The last time I read it I was in fifth grade, I believe.

 

The Thirteenth Princess    by: Dianna Zahler    272 pgs

    Good fairy tale, but it was different than I remembered it. The ending should have been a bit better.

 

 

 

So, I have been super busy with 17 credits and 2 jobs and everyone seems astonished that I am still finding time to read. However, I usually read when I am stressed and if I don't I get depressed. So, between stress and craziness of finals coming up I'm not sure whether my book reading will increase or decrease! We shall see!

Thanks AnneLine for starting this up! I'm excited now.

 

Oh, and I would like to declare a challenging book for myself. I have been trying to read it and keep putting it aside to read fiction instead. So, this advent I have to finish The Last Crusader by Louis De Wahl.

[Deus te Amat]

Jaran -- Kate Elliot -- 496

[AnneLine]

 

Well... we have had a few people check in!   Welcome Back!!!!   :welcome:  AND welcome to new readers!!!!!

 

 

Tell the others - we have a LOT of fun in here!!!!!!!

 

 

Comingback, we're happy to have you!  Just start with anything, and go for a 'special' book when that one is done.  

 

Chrysophlax, glad you are able to read with that kind of load.... I know you and DTA will give us a run for our glasses....

 

And Chrys.... I don't know what it is about The Last Crusader... I have tried and tried and tried to read it.   Best of success on your challenge!!!

 

And speaking of DTA/DeusTeAmat...   :doh:

 

I know Cartermia and xTriciaxLynnx and ContemporaryCatholicCrusader ("CCC") said they were interested on the SUmmer Thread.. .  AND maybe ChristinaTherese.... hopefully we'll hear from them soon!

 

 

 

 

 

READERS SO FAR: (in alphabetical order)

 

 

AnneLine

 

In Progress:

 

CHALLENGE BOOK:   Out of the Silent Planet, C.S. Lewis

Kaleidoscope, Dorothy Gilman (one of my favorite 'fun' authors, esp. the Nun in the Closet and the Mrs. Pollifax series!)

 

 

CarterMia

 

 

In Progress:

 

 

"I just went to the library and now I have a lot of books to read people!

Once this play is done (my school's play) I will be a reading machine again!"

 

CHALLENGE BOOK:  The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ" by St. Alphonsus.  I am almost finished with it!!!!

 

 

ChristinaTherese

 

To Be Announced

 

 

 

 

Chrysophlax

 

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen, 352 pages

The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen, 352 pages

Among the Hidden by Margaret Petersen Haddix, 153 pages

The Thirteenth Princess by Dianna Zahler, 272 pages

 

In progress:

 

CHALLENGE BOOK:   The Last Crusader by Louis De Wahl

 

 

ComingBack

 

To Be Announced

 

 

ContemporaryCatholicCrusader

 

In progress:

 

Days of Future Past!

 

 

DeusTeAmat

 

Enigma by  Robert Harris, 384 pages

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult, 480 pages

Jaran by Kate Elliott, 496 pages

 

In progress:

 

Not telling!

 

 

EmilyAnn

 

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, 288 pages

 

In progress:

 

Dracula by Bram Stoker

 

 

NotThePhilospher

 

In Progress:

 

For the Life of the World, by Alexander Schmemann.
City of God by St. Augustine

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (2nd time)

Readings for School (details tba)

CHALLENGE BOOK:   tba

 

 

Ploomf

 

In progress:

 

CHALLENGE BOOK:  Catholicism for Dummies

 

 

xTriciaxLynnx

 

 

In Progress:

 

"I've started a LOT of books that I've yet to finish."

Edited December 6, 2013 by AnneLine