The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.4 - Diane's Task - The Name Game
A. Read a book written by an author that shares your first, middle, OR last name. (My name is Diane Joyce Phillips. I might choose a book by Diane Setterfield, Joyce Carol Oates, James Joyce, or Susan Elizabeth Phillips). Spelling variations are acceptable (i.e. Dianne instead of Diane) as are name shortenings (i.e. Sue for Susan).
OR
B. Read a book from an author who shares a name created with a random name generator. Go to www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm . Select gender(s) of choice. Set obscurity factor to 3, 4, or 5 (or if you really want a challenge, try 34, 35, 43, or 45!). Pick an author who shares either a first or last name with the 3rd, 4th, or 5th generated name on your list.
AND
C. Read a book with a character’s name in the title (i.e. Sarah’s Key or Dear John. Not acceptable: Breaking Dawn, since there isn’t a character named Dawn in the book).

fun task! But had some trouble with the link.

http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm

Did that work?

This task is SWEET because I was just wondering if Nicole Krauss had any other books (I loved The History of Love and she does! So I am definitely reading Man Walks Into a Room for the first part. Must review my TBR and such to decide on my second part!

love this task!!!!! luckily, Nicole is a great name. LOL. :)

So right off the bat, my grandmother recommended Rebecca to me this morning!

Also, would Dracula work, since his name is Count Dracula?

I think I am going to have a hard time choosing!

The link didn't work because of the period at the end but I adjusted it.

Okay. So I decided on Man Walks Into a Room and The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel (since that has been on the TBR for a while).

Nicole, you've got to fit Rebecca in somewhere. I don't think you'd regret it.

Petra wrote: "Nicole, you've got to fit Rebecca in somewhere. I don't think you'd regret it."

We still have a lot of unnamed tasks! I am sure I will read it one of these days!!!!

Amanda wrote: "Nicole- Rebecca is one of my favorite books of all time. It is how suspense should be..the tension in that book builds so slowly and subtly you don't even realize how taught you're feeling until th..."

Okay. I am heavily considering switching to Rebecca for the second part of the task.

Nicole wrote: "This task is SWEET because I was just wondering if Nicole Krauss had any other books (I loved The History of Love and she does! So I am definitely reading [book:Man Walks Into a Room|44..."

Isn't just ONE book required for this task?
Part A) Read a book written by an author that shares your name.
--OR--
Part B) Use the random name generator, then read a book with one of the "generated" names in the title.

Krista wrote: "...
Isn't just ONE book required for this task?
Part A) Read a book written by an author that shares your name.
--OR--
Part B) Use the random name generator, then read a book with one of the "generated" names in the title"

one book for either Part A OR Part B
plus one book for Part C

AND
C. Read a book with a character’s name in the title (i.e. Sarah’s Key or Dear John. Not acceptable: Breaking Dawn, since there isn’t a character named Dawn in the book).

Does the spelling variations rule apply to Part B as well as Part A?

If one of my random gen choices is Diana, can I use Diane?

pjreads wrote: "Krista wrote: "...
Isn't just ONE book required for this task?
Part A) Read a book written by an author that shares your name.
--OR--
Part B) Use the random name generator, then read a book ..."

Okay, now I think I have it....
The second book has to has the name of a character from the book in the book title.

Thanks for the clarification. :-)

I am gonna do:

Clare Francis or Claire Seeberfor Part A. My middle name is Clare (but it can be spelt either way obviously).

For part C, can I read either Schindler's List or We Need to Talk About Kevin?

Nicole wrote: "So right off the bat, my grandmother recommended Rebecca to me this morning!

Also, would Dracula work, since his name is Count Dracula?

I think I am going to have a hard..."

Yes, Dracula works for part C.

Ha! I was having problems with this one, and then I looked at my pile of books already waiting for the challenge and realized my maiden name (that I still legally have) is Roberts, so I have Nora Roberts to use! Talk about a lot of choices.

pjreads wrote: "Does the spelling variations rule apply to Part B as well as Part A?

If one of my random gen choices is Diana, can I use Diane?"

Yes.

Fiona (Titch) wrote: "I am gonna do:

Clare Francis or Claire Seeberfor Part A. My middle name is Clare (but it can be spelt either way obviously).

For part C, can I read either [bo..."

They all work for this task.

Hi Diane,
Would a plural last name work for part C? I was thinking of Inventing the Abbots and Other Stories I see that you okayed Schindler, but I just want to check because this book and I have a sordid history. I was going to use it for the 345 task, so I started it to lock in the rating. Then I thought I had misunderstood the task, so I switched it to Reading in Bed. Then I accidentally took it on the train...heh. So I doesn't work for that task now. Then I realized I really could have used it for 345, but I already started a new book to lock that one in... So, you see why I want to double check. :-)
Thanks!

I hated Rebecca, but I pretty much have hated every "gothic romance" that I have read, so I guess there is no surprise there. Some other books that I hate that would work: Jane Eyre, Tess of the D'Urbervilles,

For Part C I am going to read Prentice Alvin.

Other books from my shelves that would work: Emma, Coraline, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Lolita, Kit's Wilderness, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast, Kim, any of the Harry Potter books, Frankenstein, Pnin, Faust, Sophie's World, Prince Caspian, Herb Seasoning, The Death of Ivan Ilych, The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass, James and the Giant Peach, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, many many Shakespeare plays, Anna Karenina, Volume 1, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Orlando, The Brothers Karamazov, Ender's Game, Mandy, Biedermann und die Brandstifter, Daniel Deronda

Gosh, there are so many I had to stop!!

Nicole, I was thinking of using Rebecca for 5.4 as it was mentioned in the Feb 2009 newsletter.

Diane - my middle name is Jean -- could I read a novel by Jean-Dominique Bauby. Am not sure if the Jean must be stand-alone for your task.

ok, so my last name wont work, but I'm sure there are a ton for my first and middle, now just need to find them (i do know Tracey Chevaliar)

Thanks!

Katie wrote: "Hi Diane,
Would a plural last name work for part C? I was thinking of Inventing the Abbots and Other Stories I see that you okayed Schindler, but I just want to check because this boo..."

Plural names are fine.

Helen wrote: "Diane - my middle name is Jean -- could I read a novel by Jean-Dominique Bauby. Am not sure if the Jean must be stand-alone for your task."

Hyphenated names are fine.

I am going to read Jessica Z. by Shawn Klomparens for part C. Also Angela and Elizabeth (middle name) gave me so many choices for part A. Awesome task Diane!

Recommendations for part B

Etta
Cleopatra's Daughter
An Angel for Emily
The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch: A Novel
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
Jack with a Twist: Engaging Your Adversary and Other Things They Don't Teach You in Law School
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë
Scarlett
Dear John
Nefertiti
Rhett Butler's People
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
Agnes and the Hitman
Jane Eyre

Could I use Cora, Coral or Cory?

Angela wrote: "I am going to read Jessica Z. by Shawn Klomparens for part C. Also Angela and Elizabeth (middle name) gave me so many choices for part A. Awesome task Diane!"

Thank you!

Coralie wrote: "Could I use Cora, Coral or Cory?"

Yes.

Diane wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Could I use Cora, Coral or Cory?"

Yes."

Thank you. I will probably use my middle name of Susan though. Much easier to find.

Tracey wrote: "ok, so my last name wont work, but I'm sure there are a ton for my first and middle, now just need to find them (i do know Tracey Chevaliar)

Thanks!"

If you like biography, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder was WONDERFUL.

For Part B, I also have read and really liked Giovanni's Room, Finding Nouf, and Looking for Alaska (Alaska is a character's name in the book).

My middle name is Joan - are all these spellings OK? Joan, Joanne, Joanna, Johanna
What about Jo as in Jo Goodman and Jo Beverly?

BJ Rose wrote: "My middle name is Joan - are all these spellings OK? Joan, Joanne, Joanna, Johanna
What about Jo as in Jo Goodman and Jo Beverly?"

Yes, that's fine. Don't forget Joni!

Can I do the name James for Jayme?

Jayme wrote: "Can I do the name James for Jayme?"

That's too much of a stretch since it is a different gender.

well I am open to suggestions My first name is Jayme pronounced Jay me, middle name Maria and last name is Henry so I am open to suggestions.

Jayme wrote: "well I am open to suggestions My first name is Jayme pronounced Jay me, middle name Maria and last name is Henry so I am open to suggestions."

Jayme here are a few you could use:
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Daisy Miller, The Turn of the Screw , or Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
also, books by Henry Miller, Henry David Thoreau, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Henry Fielding.

Actually, I will accept James, since it is very similar, and there are quite a few male authors named Jamie.

I think I will go the name generated route. The name Alison came up so I think I will do Alison Weir.

My middle name is Marie - is it OK to use Mary? I think it probably is, but I thought I should check. :)

Rachel wrote: "My middle name is Marie - is it OK to use Mary? I think it probably is, but I thought I should check. :)"

Yes

YAY!!! Cleopatra's Daughter!!!

Pondering what to read for my last name - Peterson.

For Part A, I think I'm going to read something by Sara Zarr.

As for Part B, more suggestions (esp. for YA readers...):
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
Being Nikki
Enna Burning
Gregor the Overlander
Just Ella

Hi Diane

I saw that you okayed Katie's book using a last name, but just wanted to check.

I borrowed The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters from the library for the last challenge and am now having trouble figuring out where to fit it into this one. Would this be okay with you?

Juli wrote: "Hi Diane

I saw that you okayed Katie's book using a last name, but just wanted to check.

I borrowed The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters from the library for the last challeng..."

Yes.

For part A can I read My Life in France if my middle name is Alexandra? The main author is is Julia Child but it is coauthored by Alex Prud'homme. Thanks!

Erin wrote: "For part A can I read My Life in France if my middle name is Alexandra? The main author is is Julia Child but it is coauthored by Alex Prud'homme. Thanks!"

Yes. Co-authors names are fine.

When I did the name generator, I got "Brian" (no last name?? That was odd!). Can I use an author whose last name is Brian?

Thanks!

Ashley wrote: "When I did the name generator, I got "Brian" (no last name?? That was odd!). Can I use an author whose last name is Brian?

Thanks!"

That's odd. You can use Brian for either name.