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

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

Ah, Meg. Thanks for mentioning those two authors. I checked and found that I had read one book of each and rated them very differently. Yōko Ogawa's book, The Housekeeper and the Professor, got a 5* rating from me. I remember really connecting with it. However, Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman got my usual rating for Asian reads of 3*, which means that I found some cultural misses in myself.

However, I will pursue more of Yōko Ogawa's writing.

Your Books
Pick your 3 - 5 top reads from April 2025 reads.
Twenty Blue Devils by Aaron Elkins
Born of Water by Autumn M. Birt
The Novice's Tale by Margaret Frazer


C. Like for Like (L4L)
For each of Your Books, pick one shelf from their top 3-5 shelves (aside from "to-read", "currently-reading"). (they may end up being duplicated if you are a genre reader).

You will read a book from each of these shelves (preferably those already on your TBR).

Twenty Blue Devils - Humor, Science Fiction, Cozy Mystery
Born of Water - Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic
The Novice's Tale - Mystery, Historical Fiction, British Literature

Humor: Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
Paranormal: Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Historical Fiction: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

D. Your Options

For this section, you may choose to either read purely from your TBR or new books* or BOTH! There are separate tasks as per below options:

Each of the books you read for L4L are to be used as starting point for each of below prompts (ie. 1 book cannot be used for more than 1 prompt per option).

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added (could be the month and even if it was a new book you read/added in January 2025, read another book you added in January 2025)

The Novice's Tale added to BRO 5/12/12
Also added same day: The Sojourn by Andrew Krivak

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)

Author of Born of Water is Autumn M. Birt whose initials are AB
What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title


5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.

Twenty Blue Devils = 276p
A Tale of Two Kitties = 326p

Deerskin by Robin McKinley

I belong to the PopSugar annual reading challenge. and one of the prompts is to read a book of healing fiction.

Well, my first response was "what is healing fiction"? So I did some research and found that it is a genre that originated in Japan and Korea.

That fact did not really motivate me as I have difficulty understanding many of the Eastern cultures that I attempt to read. So I turned to GR lists and found that I had a book on my Kindle that fit the definition. Who knew? That book (the one listed above) had been hanging around my Kindle library since 2019.

It is a hard read due to the rape and battering scene that sets the basis of the story. [A grieving king attacks his own daughter after the death of his queen.] But, that is the worst part, and it is limited.

The daughter escapes with her dog, loses her memory of events and self, and goes on a journey of survival...that eventually leads her to face the memories bubbling up over time and find her own best self and a new life.

And, that is the point. Even a horrific event can be survived, faced, and healed. I finished that book on such a high note of hope that it is still in my active memory two months later. Highly recommend!

Thanks for leading off, Meg. I meant to come back and tell you about mine, but life got in the way.

Wild Dark Shore really looks interesting. It now has a giveaway attached for the US and so I entered it.

Oh, and how exciting! The author also wrote Once There Were Wolves, which I read and gave 5*!

Thanks for bringing me back to this author, Meg.

This thread is for open discussion of any book you are reading that demands a place to share with others how you are reacting to it. It might be a 5* read or a 2* read. It might be a book that changes your life or one you wish you had DNF'd and didn't. Or it might just be fun and delightful.

It is your choice. What's on your mind about your reading?

Beth wrote: "6 down, 4 to go"

Go, Beth, Go!

Finished:
Go for BTM 25

Currently reading:
Vengeance in Death for old games
Scraps of Paper for BTM

Finished:
The Devil's Feather for BTM 25 and old games
Firestorm for BTM 25
Home Front for old BTM, TBR bender

Reading:
Go for BTM 25

Tien wrote: "Checking in to see how everyone is!

It hasn't been a great year for our family as my MIL had cancer diagnosis last year and recently passed away. We are pressing forward; mostly keeping busy though..."

Sorry to hear about the cancer diagnosis and death of your MIL, Tien. Condolences to all in your family.

Joyce wrote: "February was great for me I made all 12 but I am still behind for March at +17"

Joyce, February was 11...and March will be 10. Don't cheat yourself 'cause you are doing really well!

Finished:
Aunt Bessie's Holiday for Series
Anxious People for old games
Murder at the Dolphin Hotel for BTM

Reading:
Go for BTM

TBR Bender: May

B. Your Books
Pick your 3 - 5 top reads from March 2025 reads.
Home Front - Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Family
Tom Lake - Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
Scraps of Paper - Mystery, Suspense, Paranormal

C. Like for Like (L4L)
For each of Your Books, pick one shelf from their top 3-5 shelves (aside from "to-read", "currently-reading"). (they may end up being duplicated if you are a genre reader).

You will read a book from each of these shelves (preferably those already on your TBR).

Historical Fiction: A Curious Beginning
Romance: Storm Cursed
Paranormal: Magic Triumphs

D. Your Options

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added

Magic Triumphs was added to TBR 11/14/18
On that same date, I added The Winter Queen

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author

Storm Cursed -> Smoke Bitten

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (DR) -> The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez

Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title:
^we're not going to be super strict here, it could be exactly identical, found intact or just of similar nature (eg. monster - monstrous is acceptable)

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.

Finished:
The Whites for BTM
When the Smoke Clears for BTM

Reading:
Aunt Bessie's Holiday for Series
Anxious People for Old games
Go for BTM

Finished:
This Side of the Grave for Series

Reading:
Aunt Bessie's Holiday for Series
The Whites for BTM
Anxious People for Old games
When the Smoke Clears for BTM

On hold for now:
The Devil's Feather for BTM 25 and old games

I read 9 for Februrary. Well, actually finishing the last 2 this weekend. I have 5 for carryover. I may re-work my plan for March.

I did rework it to include more Kindle books, which would help with library holds.

Finished:
A Year on Ladybug Farm for BTM 25, MM25, and old games

Reading:
The Devil's Feather for BTM 25 and old games
This Side of the Grave for Series

Susan wrote: "I think Luann might be asking about the widgets for the challenges. If so, I don't know whether Tien has decided about that. I didn't notice a great response from people when she asked about it. But maybe not everyone knows that that's what the "Challenges" section near the top of the group page are. "

Thanks, Susan, for that response. I must admit that I never noticed "challenges" nor do I use the widgets. Glad someone could give a coherent response to Luann.

My Top 3 reads & shelves
1. A Year on Ladybug Farm: Chick lit, Friendship, Southern

2. Moving Target: Mystery, Suspense, Detective

3. Broken Angels: Historical Fiction, War, Holocaust


Like 4 Like
Top Shelf: Chick lit, Friendship, Southern
Book 1: Summer Rental

Top Shelf: Mystery
Book 2: Murder at the Dolphin Hotel Read 3/8/25

Top Shelf: War
Book 3: Home Front Read 3/16/25


D.1. TBR (all these books are on my TBR)
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added

I added Home Front to my TBR on 4/18/2012. That same day I also added Bridge of Scarlet Leaves

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)

The author for Murder at the Dolphin Hotel is Helena Dixon (HD)

The Next One to Fall by Hilary Davidson

4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title
^we're not going to be super strict here, it could be exactly identical, found intact or just of similar nature (eg. monster - monstrous is acceptable)

Summer Rental - summer

The Sweet Remnants of Summer

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.

Luann wrote: "Is there going to be a challenge for this year set up in the Group Challenge area?"

I am not sure what you are asking. This is the thread for the LOST challenge for 2025.

Finished:
Prairie County Fair for BTM 25
Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 for BTM 25
The Grass Harp, Including A Tree of Night and Other Stories for BTM 25

Reading:
A Year on Ladybug Farm for BTM 25, MM25, and old games
The Devil's Feather for BTM 25 and old games