The Lost Challenges discussion

Can you PM us, Jennifer. Just in case.

no prob

Ok, I about 75 pages in and I'm just not feeling this book so I'm going to switch to another book I have that is worth 12 points.

I hate when that happens, Jennifer! I'm glad you have another book you can read though. There's nothing worse than forcing yourself to read something you're just not interested in!

I've only got about 60 pages left of my book, so I should have it finished in the morning. :)

Awesome Steph Ann!

I could have stuck it out but it probably would have taken me longer. This new one is actually shorter and should be a much easier read :)

Halfway through my book. It was slow to start but the characters are growing on me and the world building is pretty good. It has a similar vibe to The Postman with Kevin Costner.

Week 2 - The Walking Dead


Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen

Read: 3/16/13
Rating: 3 stars

Review:

This was a quick, fun read. It wasn't quite as funny as I thought it might be based on the description of the book, but I still enjoyed it. I think one of my favorite things was the chapter titles based off of typical couple's therapy sayings. For example, "Balance the workload in your relationship. No one person should be responsible for killing all the zombies."

The main negative point for me is that sometimes, the characters did some things that put them in "Too Stupid to Live" territory. It didn't happen often, but it still affected my enjoyment of the book. That being said, I'm still interested in continuing the series to see what happens next.

Points:
Shelf: Urban Fantasy (1 point)
Cover: Zombies (2 points)
Plot: Zombies/apocalypse (3 points)
Title: Series name - Living with the Dead (4 points)
Setting: Published 2010 (6 points)

Total: 16 points

Well done Steph Ann!

I've got about 40 pages to go!

I've finished my book - review will be up tomorrow.

Fast Fourward
Week Two: The Walking Dead


Steph Ann: Review-Shelf, Cover, Plot, Title, Setting=16 points
Lauren:Review-Shelf, Cover, Plot, Setting=12 points
Zina:Review-Shelf, Cover, Plot, Setting=12 points
Jennifer:Review-Shelf, Cover, Plot, Setting=12 points

Total Points= 52

Week 2 - The Walking Dead


by Joss Ware
Finished 03/16/13
Rating: 4 stars

Review:
I was a bit apprehensive about reading a book from this genre but I was quite impressed. This hooked me from the start. Five men "wake up" in a cave after earthquakes have shaken the world to bits to find 50 years have passed although they haven't aged. Elliot, a compassionate doctor, has also acquired a "gift." The heroine is kick-ass without being annoying. Iwas impressed with the development of the new world, how people survive, the interactions between the characters.

The world is intriguing rather than depressing, as the characters find their way through the dangers of night-roaming zombies, buildings rotting under their feet, wild animals and (most dangerous of all) other humans. Oh, and then there are the Strangers--who/what are they?!

The book had enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and even at the end, there are enough unanswered questions to make you really want to buy book 2. I can't wait to see what happens next!


Points:
Shelf: Urban Fantasy (1 point)
Cover: Abandoned Car (2 points)
Plot: Zombies/apocalypse (3 points)
Setting: Published 2010 (6 points)

Total: 12 points

Week 2: The Walking Dead



Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Finished:3/16
Rating:♥♥♥

Review:
I went into this book expecting it to be awesome and I got so-so. It was well written and I enjoyed the main character R but there was no real kick to it. There were a few good brain eating scenes and some funny parts but what I expected. In my opinion, I am not sure how this book is going to translate in to a movie that isn't boring.

Points:
Shelf:Urban Fantasy(1 point)
Cover:Zombies (2 points)
Plot: Zombies/apocalypse (3 points)
Setting: Published 2010 (6 points)

Total:12 points

Week 2: The Walking Dead



Book: Beyond the Night by Joss Ware
Finished: March 16th
Rating: ★★★1/2
Review: Starts out slow and the post-apocalyptic world takes some getting used to but the plot is good and the characters well-written.

Too often, post-apocalyptic books fail to provide sufficient information concerning the causes of the disaster (Ellen Connor's Dark Age Dawning trilogy, for example). Thankfully, that is not the case here as the tidbits from Lou's journal about the progression of events following the Change add an extra layer of detail and meaning to the story.

The plot revolving around a secret society that may or may not have caused the apocalypse and a nefarious group known as the Strangers, who seem to be working behind the scenes for world domination, is interesting. However, even though the villains are despicable, they fail to come across as a serious threat even at the end. The identity of the traitor is also obvious.

The romance is the weakest aspect of the book. Jade and Elliot are compelling as individuals but they lack the chemistry and heat that characterizes the secondary couple, Zoe and Quent. Elliot's gift and the ethical dilemma it presents is intriguing and Jade's strength and resilience make her an engaging heroine. Unfortunately, they fizzle as a couple.

All in all, an interesting world and the questions that remain unanswered are intriguing enough for me to continue with the series.

Total points: 12

Shelf: Urban Fantasy (1 point)
Cover: Abandoned car (2 points)
Plot: Zombies/Apocalypse (3 points)
Setting: Published 2010 (6 points)

W2G for being the first again

I thought I already posted this but here it is again...

WELL DONE LADIES!!!

Great job, team!!! :)

Ugh! I just found a book that I have for Walking Dead and it's worth 14 point :(

I don't know how I missed it

Ouch Jennifer. Maybe you will be able to fit it in this week.

Grimm 2011
Shelf: Fairy Tales
Cover:Scythe, Skeleton
Plot: has mythical creatures
Title: Grimm,Tale,fairy,or Reaper
Name: Nick Hank Juliet Monroe
Setting:Portland, OR or published in 2011-12

Grimm title Sequences

I'm so excited I found a 16 point book. I'm going to pm you guys so you can check it out :)

Jennifer♔Princess Penguin♔ wrote: "I'm so excited I found a 16 point book. I'm going to pm you guys so you can check it out :)"

My library has a ton of copies of it! I'll head out there over my lunch hour and get it. Yay!!:)

Awesome!!!

Ok ladies picked the book up on my lunch hour. Started reading and I am hooked Love it. Can't wait to see what you all think of the story.

The 16 point book is over $10 for Kindle so I will stick with something I already have - it is worth 12 points - shelf, cover, plot and setting.

That is fine Lauren :)

Week 3:Grimm



The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making byCatherynne M. Valente
Finished:3/23
Rating:♥♥♥♥

Review:
Great story! Reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. It got a little slow and confusing in the middle for me, but was wonderfully tied back together in the end. It is listed as a children's book but I think it's more geared towards early young adults. The author had a great grasp on the English language and her writing introduced me to some new words, which I really enjoyed. Super fun and imaginative read. I will be adding the 2nd book to my TBR.

Points
Shelf:Fairy Tale (1 point)
Cover:Dragon (2 points)
Plot:Mythical Creatures (3 points)
Title:Fairyland (4 points)
Setting:2011 (6 points)

Total Points:16

Had a difficult time choosing a book for this one but finally settled on:

Week 3: Grimm



Book: UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn
Finished: March 23rd
Rating: ★★★
Review: Wilhelmina "Mina" Grimm is not your typical teenager. She is a descendent of the Brothers Grimm and the latest in a long line of family members who must survive a curse that forces them to relive the tales collected by their ancestors.

An intriguing premise very similar to the TV series Grimm but the writing is simplistic and would have benefited from a professional editor.

That said, the story itself is engaging and Mina is a sweet albeit clumsy heroine dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a social outcast at school as well as the dangers associated with the family curse, i.e. an abundance of fairy tale characters coming to life and threatening her family and friends.

Overall, not too bad even if the ending is open ended and disappointing.

Total points: 14

Shelf: Fairy Tales (1 point)
Plot: Mythical creatures [fae] (3 points)
Title: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale (4 points)
Setting: Published 2011 (6 points)

I looked at this one but my library didn't have it.

Great Job Lauren!!

It is free for Kindle, which was great because my other option was and it just wasn't calling out to me.

Week 3 - Grimm



Read: 3/23/13
Rating: 4 stars

Review:

I wasn't sure what to think of this book at first, but the further I got into the story, the more and more caught up I became in what was going on. By the time it was finished, I didn't want it to be over. The characters were great, my favorite being A through L, the Wiverary.

Really the only negative thing I have to say is that sometimes the way the narrator would occasionally directly talk to the readers didn't always work. In some cases, it only served to take me out of the events of the story, and it was kind of jarring. Other than that, I thought everything was great, and I can't wait to read the next book!

Points
Shelf: Fairy tales (1 point)
Cover: dragon (2 points)
Plot: mythical creatures (3 points)
Title: Fairyland (4 points)
Setting: 2011 (6 points)

Total: 16 points

I agree with you about the narrator :)

Week 3 - Grimm

by Catherynne M. Valente

Read: 3/23/13
Rating: 4 stars

Review:
I have never ever read any fairy tales. This was such a joy for me to read. I will continue with the next book also. The writing was quite good and I certainly do not think this would be a children's book. There were quite a few words I even had to look up!

The story had me from the very beginning. I liked September and adored A through L and the journey they were on. As I was reading I kept thinking how this would work for a movie. it would be so cool to see this world on the big screen.

Points
Shelf: Fairy tales (1 point)
Cover: dragon (2 points)
Plot: mythical creatures (3 points)
Title: Fairyland (4 points)
Setting: 2011 (6 points)

Total: 16 points

Way To Go, Ladies!!!!!!

Great job, everybody!! :)

Week 3:Grimm


Lauren:Review-Shelf, Plot, Title, Setting=14 points
Steph Ann:Review-Shelf, Cover, Plot, Title, Setting=16 points
Zina:Review-Shelf, Cover, Plot, Title, Setting=16 points
Jennifer:Review-Shelf, Cover, Plot, Title, Setting=16 points

Yay! We are on a roll!

Week 4

Cheers
Shelf:Guilty Pleasures
Cover:Bar or drink/drinking
Plot: Main character owns a bar or restaurant....
Title: Cheer
Name: Sam, Diane, Norm, Cliff, Carla, Rebecca
Setting: Boston, Massachusettes or Pub 1982


Cheers title Sequences

Oh my this is not going to be a big point week

Nah, so far all I have is 7 points for shelf and setting (Boston).

I do have a book worth 11 points for setting (Massachusetts) and character name (Sam). It is the 4th book in a series but the stories are unconnected. I've already read it but if someone else is interested, I can PM you.

Can you PM me, Lauren? I'm not having luck so far finding anything!

PM please :)

So far all I've found is 7 points but it is a book I need for another challenge.

PMs sent.

Oooh! This is so tough. The library has the book but I'm pretty anal when it comes to series books, connected or not.

I'm going to have to think on this one a bit :/

Sent you another PM with a possible book for 11 points, Jennifer.

I just found a book that should get points for: shelf, plot (book description says heroine works in a restaurant), name (Sam), and setting (Boston).

I'll send PMs to everybody. :)

Thanks Steph Ann. I love her books so I'm going with that one.

After trolling through some of the groups, it seems that people would prefer it if we shared our finds rather than being so secretive. I totally agree (after all, the point is to find new books and have fun).

So here is the book that I'm reading for this week's show:

by Roxanne St. Claire


Shelf: Guilty Pleasures - 1 point
Plot: Heroine works in a restaurant - 3 points
Name: Sam - 5 points
Setting: Boston - 6 points

Points: 15 points

My library is just not cooperating this week.

So, I'm probably going to go with it's only worth shelf and setting points but it works with another challenge of mine.

Hmm. At the movies with grand kids But I am going to go with the same as Lauren. Excited to read a new author. Not sure how speedy I will read this week.