Joanna’s Comments (group member since Dec 27, 2013)

Joanna’s comments from the CPL's Book a Week Challenge group.

Happy last week of August! Can you believe how fast the summer has gone? I definitely can't. This year just seems to be flying by.

What is everyone reading this week? I'll have a couple books going - I'm working my way through The Royal Tutor which is an adorably cute manga. I also picked up The Wrath and the Dawn because I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings (this one is based on Scheherazade from Arabian Nights). I'm also going to try and read The Night Circus. I purchased art from the book recently and I've never read it (don't ask- I'm also a sucker for pretty things). Figured I should at least read the book now!

Tell us what you are reading this week!

Communication. It's essential to us as human beings. Even when we are not verbally communicating, our body language, eye contact, gestures, etc. speak. Communication is also a theme that weaves its way in and out of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

How does communication (or lack thereof) affect our heroes in the story? Do you think events would have gone differently if communication between characters had been different?

One of the biggest communication snafus revolves around Marguerite. Put yourself in her shoes- would you have confessed to Percy initially? When the blackmail begins, what would you have done?

Let's talk communication!

All good things must end. And that sometimes includes your moderator run on Goodreads! Ashley has moved on from our program- she accepted a job with the Virginia Beach Public Library! If you're ever near the Bayside Library, stop by and say "hello." Feel free to leave well wishes for her here, too. I have been so grateful to have her help (her posts were always amazing) but I know she'll do great things in Virginia Beach.

Just as life has natural beginnings and endings, so do books! But that doesn't always mean we are happy about it. Is there a series you wish went on forever? Or a book you read and never wanted to end?

I'm in love with Rainbow Rowell's book Carry On, but while I thought that was the end, apparently it is getting a sequel. I am very excited. If anyone's ever read any of Tolkien's work outside of The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, you'll wish he had actually ended things. He started an engaging story about a time traveling father and son but only got a couple chapters in. It was the same with some of his works about the history of Middle-Earth. I want his world to continue forever, but I do wish he had actually completed stories.

Let us know what stories you never want to end.

September's Online Book Club book will be Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None

Grab your digital copy today!

(Note- I apologize for the lack of physical copies. When I picked the list of book choices for September, I thought I had checked but I must not have. If anyone wants a physical copy, please send me a message on Goodreads and I will see what I can do).

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a hero - he rushes in where others fear to tread, snatching victims from the literal jaws of death. He's mastered the art of deception for the cause of good; to protect those close to him he acts one way but is really secretly another. He is good and compassionate.

Do you consider the Scarlet Pimpernel a hero? What traits do you see that makes him a hero?

Who is someone in your life that exemplifies what it means to be a hero?

The Scarlet Pimpernel is an adventure/romance book set during the turbulent times of the French Revolution. It follows a league of gentlemen and their leader who snatch doomed aristocrats from the jaws of the guillotine.

Have you started the book? If so, what are your thoughts so far? I read this book a number of years ago and remember really enjoying it. It's been in my "to-read-again" pile for a while so I'm excited to dive back in.

Let us know your first impressions!

I've been slowly working on inventorying my books over the last couple of months. I'm one of those weird people who are a bit protective over their books and don't like them to have creases, bent pages, etc. So I've been checking on their condition in the process.

It got me thinking- here at the library, I see all kinds of damage to books from water to food to substances better left unidentified. One of the most insidious is sand! Once sand gets into the plastic cover of a book, it never comes out. Which of course begs the question of how it got in there in the first place. One day I will solve this mystery.

Do you have any "oops" stories about your books? I actually have a graphic novel that I love that got left in a car with open windows during a rain storm. Oops! It survived and I dried it out, but of course it's nice and crinkly now. I never replaced it which is odd for me but I do love that water damaged book.

Tell us your "oops" story!

I apologize for not having a discussion question up last week. I was in the rush for our fantasy/science fiction convention and completely forgot.

How did everyone like the book? Was it what you were expecting? Was it different? How did you feel about the characters? Any you identified with? What did you think of the resolution to the kidnapping case? Was justice served?

I liked the book but I wasn't a huge fan of the style of writing. I don't know what the correct term is but it was slow and methodical; which isn't really my favorite style. I also wasn't sure how I felt about the end of the book. I probably won't read any of the others but I am glad I finally got the opportunity to read this one.

Let us know your thoughts!!!!

Ashley wrote: "Hello all!

Apologies for running behind. I have been under the weather, and it is taking me a while to get caught up with everything.

I am not a huge reader of fantasy, but I have read enough to..."

How could I possibly pick? There are so many! I'd take one of the mearas from Lord of the Rings (not quite unicorn-level, but incredibly intelligent horses). I'd love one of the dragons from the Inheritance cycle. Actually, just give me a dragon. Calcifer from Howl's Moving Castle is my new spirit animal (he's a fire demon); I need him for unpleasant people interactions. And I'm going to stop there because if I could have every magical creature, I probably would.

What is surprising about the nature of the cases Mma Ramotswe is hired to solve? By what means does Alexander McCall Smith sustain the reader’s interest, in the absence of the kind of tension, violence, and suspense that drive most mysteries?

(Graciously taken from LitLovers Discussion Guide)

This book is not a normal mystery book. In addition to the smaller cases being interspersed between the "main" case, there is also the history of her family. The cases themselves are also non-traditional. She returns a stolen car, she finds out if a man is cheating, she uncovers fraud, etc. Some might say that McCall-Smith pins her strictly to a "woman's" area of detecting, leaving the gritty stuff for men. Is that the case, though? And if it is, does it work? Mma Ramotswe does seem to put a personal emphasis on helping others in their lives as opposed to solving cases of an extraordinary nature.

What do you all think?

Our Online Book Club book for August is The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy.

Pick up your copy today.

Our Online Book Club loves ties! We had a tie for August between To Kill a Mockingbird or The Scarlet Pimpernel. After drawing from a hat, our book for August will be.... The Scarlet Pimpernel!

Pick up your copy today!

What is everyone reading this week? I'm in the middle of prepping for my best friend's wedding on Friday (cue screaming). With all the running around and last minute adventures, you'd think I'd have no time for reading. But I decided this would be the perfect week to start four books. Lol.

I'm working on rereading my favorite childhood chapter books - Dinotopia - so I have #4 going right now. Plus I picked up The Intelligent Conversationalist because quick fact books are my jam. I'm working on the Witcher series so I have the second short story book out, Sword of Destiny. Then on Monday, my roommate introduced me to Studio Ghibli movies. Our first was Howl's Moving Castle, which is also a book. Guess what I ran out and grabbed at the library? I am definitely being a bit overly ambitious right now.

Do you ever get overly ambitious with the number of books you are trying to read at once?

Let us know what your current reads are!

Melissa wrote: "I'm not sure what to think so far. I believe I'm about halfway through the audiobook version. I am enjoying listening to the narrator since I wouldn't know how to pronounce many of the names otherw..."

I understand where you are coming from. I think the way it is written also plays a part in its feeling. It just feels behind the times. I kept having to remind myself that this book takes place in the 90s and not earlier. Let us know your final thoughts when you finish the audiobook!

The beginning of July came and went; I realized I did not start our book discussion! I am so sorry! But with five Mondays this month, we'll still be able to get all our topics in.

How is everyone liking the book so far? Are you enjoying Mma Ramotswe? Do you identify with her? How do you like the book's format- cases interspersed with her life history?

I'm enjoying the book so far, though it's not quite what I thought it would be. I like that there are other cases interspersed between the history and the main case, though.

Let us know your thoughts so far!

Congratulations to Ingrid! You are our 2018 Halfway Celebration winner!! I will be sending you an email through Goodreads shortly. Congratulations again.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Halfway Celebration! I always have so much fun doing the mini challenges. I hope you all enjoyed them, too. I did realize I forgot to give answers to the polls! Here they are:

* While Ray Bradbury is best known for his book Fahrenheit 451, he also wrote the screenplay adaptation to Moby Dick (1956).

* The original name of Pride and Prejudice was First Impressions

* The protagonist of C.S. Lewis' space trilogy is based off J.R.R. Tolkien.

*The Wild Things were going to be horses (until author Maurice Sendak realized he couldn't draw them).

July has started! Vote now for our Online Book Club book for August. And join us this month as we read Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

What are your all's 4th of July plans? Are you going out of town? Staying in town? Seeing fireworks? Doing any reading? I lucked out since I work this coming weekend so I get a couple days off. I'm not planning on moving, except to grab the next book in my stack.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

With only 26 weeks left in the challenge, what read are you most anticipating?

There are a lot of books on my "to be read" pile. A lot of them I am looking forward to. But I've been craving a reread of the Lord of the Rings (I know, I know, I'm a broken record about that series) so I am most anticipating that. I think I'll start it in the fall, because that's when both Bilbo and Frodo left on their adventures. It's perfect for that time.

What has been your favorite book you've read so far this year?

I've been really bad about reading regular books, focusing instead on a lot of manga and graphic novels. So my favorite book so far has actually been Batman Vol. 5: The Rules of Engagement. Because what I need in my life is Lois Lane and Selina Kyle as best friends. That book had me laughing so hard, I couldn't breathe. I think I read the entire thing out loud to my roommate because I had to share it with someone.

Fingers crossed I find a regular book like that before the year is up!

These are awesome! Now I want to know what books you all are reading...

Turn to page 113 in your current read and write the first character quote you find.

"Simon."

(Sorry for the late post. I was in training all day)

Describe the book you are currently reading in 3 words or less!

Mine would be: Chosen's Magical Misadventures