D.L.’s Comments (group member since Dec 24, 2015)

D.L.’s comments from the 2025 Reading Challenge group.

3/4 complete :)

Progress: 1/3

🐳 2. In 2014, the Library of Congress acquired an emoji version of Herman Melville's Moby Dick created by Fred Benenson.
▪ Read a classic, a book involving the sea, or first published in 2014. -- Rebecca

😍 5. In November 2016, the first emoji-themed convention, Emojicon, was held in San Francisco.
▪ Read a book involving a convention, a festival, or set in San Francisco. -- The 5th Horseman

✔ 🎬 8. In July 2017, Sony Pictures Animation released The Emoji Movie, featuring the voices of Patrick Stewart, Christina Aguilera, Sofía Vergara, Anna Faris, T. J. Miller, and other notable actors and comedians.
▪ Read a graphic novel, a book that makes you laugh, or a book with a character or author who shares a first name or surname with the above actors. -- Best Friends (6/6/23)

💗💓💜 Welcome to the Emoji Pop Culture Challenge! 🍇 I am excited to be leading it. Thank you to Carmen for creating it. Emojis are nifty little things that are the perfect, easy way to get your point across without having to say a word or write it down, for that matter. When you get this one (😁) in your text messages, you know your friend is very happy. And when you get this one (💩) well, let’s just say something has hit the fan! It’s time to duck for cover! Emojis have made communicating with each other super easy but let’s not forget to actually communicate with each other whenever we can! Speaking of, please communicate with me by telling me how many books you want to read for this challenge. 😊

😻💟💯👄🐯🍉🍒🍓🍿🌉🛼⚽🎯🧸🧩🪅👕👗🧦

“Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book.” -- Jane Smiley

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✍️ Updating your progress:

When posting your progress, please include your original (sign-up) message number, plus current progress using the format below:

Update to msg #xx: books read/books pledged.

If you decide to drop out of the challenge, please don’t delete your original sign-up post. Just update and let me know. Thanks!

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Emoji Entrants:

Allie - 0/5
Caraina - 0/10
Emily - 0/2
Lisa - 0/1
Marissa - 0/5
Shari - 0/6


Emoji Endearments:

Chloe - 2/4
Christene Paula✨ - 3/5
D.L. - 1/3
Suzanne - 2/10


Emoji Exclusives:

Ariail - 10/10 - complete!
Ashleigh - 2/2 - complete!
Beth - 28/28 - complete!
Carmen - 10/10 - complete!
Chrissie - 3/3 - complete!
Darinda - 5/5 - complete!
Frankie - 6/6 - complete!
Hina - 3/3 - complete!
Kendra - 10/10 - complete!
Kristina - 10/10 - complete!
Laurie - 3/3 - complete!
Lilili - 2/2 - complete!
Lilli Gilliam - 5/4 - complete!
Sarah - 10/10! complete!
Sheila - 10/10 - complete!
TerryJane - 10/10 - complete!

Caterina wrote: "D.L. wrote: "Thoughts on the book:

I really enjoyed it. I think it was the best of the first four, though I also thought 2nd Chance was really well done too. I am still mourning Jill ..."

(view spoiler)[I have heard Karin Slaughter books are intense! I have one of them on my TBR and have been a little intimidated by it. It's a real tough topic for sure and so tragic and upsetting. And real. Oyyy.

I miss Jill. I still can't believe she's gone. I am sad whenever I think about it. Yuki is cool but Jill had such a tough time and as you said, could have had such a brilliant turn around after all the trials and tribulations she went through. I was rooting for her so hard.

Joe and Lindsay seem very devoted to each other, but long-distance relationships are not easy so I wonder what will come of theirs. I am curious.

I loved the descriptions of Half Moon Bay.

I am glad we're doing this series read, everybody!!! (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts on the book:

(view spoiler)[I really enjoyed it. I think it was the best of the first four, though I also thought 2nd Chance was really well done too. I am still mourning Jill majorly from 3rd Degree The group feels a little lopsided without her, but I feel Yuki will be kind of a nice addition to their club.

I did notice the absence of the other members here, especially Cindy. Lindsay was definitely the star of this one. The crime motive also shocked me until I started putting the pieces together. It was mentioned that one of the murdered people was involved in child porn & there was the revelation that another one of the couples was watching their daughter through a peephole. SICK! I just didn't know who would be doing it until I really thought about it & it made sense Carolee would want to protect children because of who she was and her job. Her daughter will grow up without a mom, that's the sad part, but I also get exactly where she was coming from. That is some sad stuff.

The one thing I didn't like was that Lindsay kind of stumbled into finding out whodunnit, she didn't exactly solve it. She was attacked on the beach, and she tackled the first killer and forced his confession out at the police station but before then, he wasn't even on her radar. Then Carolee's little girl led her to the house of horrors, and she saw Carolee pulling the knife on the woman. So, Lindsay didn't solve it essentially, though not for the lack of trying, I guess. I just wish she had put it all together with her awesome smarts.

Joe and Lindsay are a nice couple. He seems laidback and sweet.

Sorry for all the rambling, but I do love a good James Patterson novel. Honestly, I have stacks of his books at my house that I've picked up here and there over the years lol (hide spoiler)]

Suggesting:

- Night Road by Kristin Hannah for July (open to other months)

&

- My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey for August (open to other months)

SarahKat wrote: "All added and updated! Sorry for any delays. I was out of town for a few days :)

Updated"

No worries. I hope you had a nice vacation. Thanks for all you do for us :)

Thanks for the welcome, everybody!

I finished it. It was very good. I had forgotten most of it (I read it about 6 years ago, I believe) so it was a nice refresher. I will share my thoughts later today since it's 2 a.m. & I really need some sleep. I stayed up so late, racing to finish the book! lol

Yes, I made a request to be added to the future reads' lists. :)

Right now, I am on chapter 70. It's moving so quickly! One of the things I love about Patterson books is the short chapters. It makes me feel accomplished lol Plus, they always have a cliffhanger it that pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading more.

Could you add me to the list of upcoming Women's Murder Club buddy reads? Please & thank you!

1/4 complete :)

Thank you! I looked at my book list and I guess I've read this one before (I gave it 5 stars even) but I don't remember much about it so this will be a good refresher for me. I am enjoying this series a lot.

Hi there, everybody. Would it be okay with all of you if I joined in this buddy read?? I read Books 1-2 in about a week (I liked them a lot!) & I'm almost done with book 3 so I will be starting 4th of July in a couple of days. I guess I was wondering if you have room for one more? :)

Lorelai wrote: "I would like to nominate The Funhouse by Dean Koontz. It is kind of a mix between a carnival and a circus, but it is still a great read."

Seconding :)

Please add me to the Rebecca buddy read for June :)

Progress: 4/4 - CHALLENGE COMPLETED!

✔️ La (Lanthanum): The Last White Knight
✔️ K (Potassium): A Killer Read
✔️ Cu (Copper): Cupcakes and Crime
✔️ B (Boron): The Boxcar Children Spooky Special

30/45 complete :)

30/75 complete :)

18/45 now complete :)

21/75 complete :)