Bea’s Comments (group member since Apr 29, 2011)

Bea’s comments from the Pick-a-Shelf group.

Congrats, Dee!

I agree with Tien. I did nothing much this year.

Ellis wrote: "Prompt 11: Repdigit

2 books with the same title:
1. Husband Material (12/15)
2. Husband Material (12/23)"

Congrats! Your finish is noted.

All to here are listed.

Dee wrote: "1 book to go - woot woot - i think this is the first year, i might actually finish LOST, FOUND and LOST & FOUND"

Go, Dee, GO!

Got it. Congrats!

I am not a thriller reader, but occasionally a mystery that I read has a thriller MPG.

That happened twice this month. And, neither show on the list due to too few people categorizing the mystery that way.

The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths had 28 people listing it as MPG Thriller.

The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien by Georges Simenon had 14.

I am satisfied that I have done that much. The thriller genre has too many scary points for me to choose it as the first listed genre. However, when the mystery genre is first and thriller is lower in the MPG list, I will usually enjoy the story as it is not just scary, but usually only has some scary moments or elements.

All updated to here.

When I checked my currently reading shelf, I was surprised to learn that none of the books are for PAS. I think that is because I am trying to finish Popsugar (5) and Around the Year (2) challenges. Usually I do have crossover books, but none of those are.

I did finish a book for November monthly read: A Psalm for the Wild-Built. And I am finishing another book today that I had planned as an alternate for that same shelf: All Systems Red. I am finding that these SF books are short and quick and enjoyable.

I am running a bit behind but I did finally read A Psalm for the Wild-Built. I gave it 5*.

I'm not big on SF but I really enjoyed this existential crisis of the futuristic human and the robot. Will most definitely follow up on this series.

Dee wrote: "I have a book that is non-fiction/shelved 33 times but the history shelves don’t even come close to that low (I think even pg 25 has like 150 shelving’s per book)"

Yeah, I had the same thing. Couldn't use it per Tien.

Michelle wrote: "Finally finished!!! Message #12 updated.

10/10 complete"

Congrats, Michelle!

So...my thoughts on the new Shelf-Bender challenge.

First: it is a challenge! I have finished my planning and have come away with some surprises? delights? interesting reflections?

Unlike some challenges that make me find books not on my TBR or in the local library or obscure just to fit the prompts, I found myself scheduling classics that I have avoided (i.e., The Once and Future King, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, A Tale of Two Cities), books I have avoided because of length (i.e., A Faint Cold Fear, The Gray House), and genres that I have mixed feelings about (i.e., Horror, Science Fiction, and Romance). Oh, and there are those books that I have owned and just not chosen time after time (i.e., The Night Trilogy, The Yellow Wind) or library books I have scheduled over and over and never read (Mexican Gothic, Anxious People).

Second: I am excited about my picks. Most are books that I found on my TBRs of wishlist, friends recommend, or one of my series TBRs (new series, next to read).

Third: I have been surprised by the Similar Authors and Readers Also Enjoyed lists as I have consistently found TBR books with those two prompts!

Fourth: I was able to fit in favorite authors. Neil Gaimon, Nora Roberts, Patricia Briggs, Charles Dickens, Ellis Peters, Ray Bradbury and so many more!

I haven't been this excited in a very long time.

Finished:
Bone Deep - This will finish Series 22! Also reading for Fifteen and BTM
Mister Impossible - Fifteen

Currently Reading:
A Psalm for the Wild-Built for monthly shelf

LynnB wrote: "Finished at last!!
LOST 2023
Completed 9 Dec 2023

I am using my "books-I-own", "library", and "ebook" lists only this year and skipping those on the list I haven't been able to buy or borrow. Thes..."

Congratulations!

Apple, don't be too hard on yourself. I looked for that Similar Authors for several hours for the first book. And, I am a GR librarian!

HELP!

For the shelf benders game: I am working on the Nonfiction genre.

Since I have so much nonfiction on my Lost shelf for next year, I was looking to cross-plan with this game.

I am trying to plan Staying Well With Guided Imagery: How to Harness the Power of Your Imagination for Health and Healing for the Self-Help shelf of this genre. However, I have been through 25 pages and can't find it listed even though it has Self-Help as its first MPG. AND GR will not let me go beyond p. 25.

Nor does the book page show any addition helps: lists that the book is on, a list of genres beyond the main page and thus no notes on how many listed it for self-help.

Can I use it for this game?

Genre: Thriller
1. Mystery Thriller (p.1): The Paris Apartment
2. Suspense (p.3): Daisy Darker
3. Psychological Thriller (p. 2): The Good Daughter


My Next Picks
1. Readers Also Enjoyed: (The Good Daughter)
A Flicker in the Dark
2. Similar authors: (Daisy Darker)
Karin Slaughter: A Faint Cold Fear
3. Object on cover:
4. Best of:
5. Wacky Shelf: (Paris) https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8... (p.1)
Suite Francaise

Genre: Nonfiction

My Picks

1. Travel (p.1): Notes from a Small Island Read b>7/16/24

2. History (p.6): Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission Read b>3/27/24

3. Philosophy (p.1): Walden Read b>8/8/24


My Next Picks

1. Readers Also Enjoyed: (Notes from a Small Island)
A Year In Provence Read 8/16/24

2. Similar Authors: (Walden)
Kate Jacobs: The Friday Night Knitting Club Read 6/18/24

3. Object on Cover:

4. Best of:

5. Wacky Shelf: (Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission)
ghost: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/... (p.3)
The Book of Cold Cases Read 2/21/24

Genre: Sequential Art

My Picks

1. Graphic Novels (p.2): Adulthood Is a Myth Read 7/22/24

2. Graphic Literature (p.1): Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood Read 7/22/24

3. Manga (p.2): The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1 Read 7/29/24


My Next Picks

1. Readers Also Enjoyed: (Adulthood Is a Myth)
Book Love Read 8/8/24

2. Similar Authors: (The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1)
Tatsuya Endo: Spy x Family, Vol. 1 Read 1/30/24

3. Object on Cover:
cat: -> Read 8/8/24

4. Best of:

5. Wacky Shelf:

Genre: Historical

My Picks

1. Historical Fiction (p.1): Between Shades of Gray

2. Historical Mystery (p.1): When Gods Die

3. Medieval (p.3): An Excellent Mystery


My Next Picks

1. Readers Also Enjoyed: (When Gods Die)
Murder on Black Swan Lane

2. Similar Authors: (Between Shades of Gray)
Elizabeth Wein: The Pearl Thief

3. Object on Cover:

4. Best of (1985): (An Excellent Mystery)
https://www.goodreads.com/list/best_o...
The Simple Truth

5. Wacky Shelf:

Genre: Horror

My Picks

1. Horror (p.1): Mexican Gothic

2. Ghost Stories (p.1): One for Sorrow: A Ghost Story

3. Paranormal (p.1): World After


My Next Picks

1. Readers Also Enjoyed: (Mexican Gothic)
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

2. Similar Authors: (World After)
Elizabeth Lim: Six Crimson Cranes

3. Object on Cover:

4. Best of:

5. Wacky Shelf: (One for Sorrow: A Ghost Story)
graveyard: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... (p.1)
A Graveyard for Lunatics