SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

4 Stars Shelf 25/7/11 ★★★★

I hadn't read this series before, and I have been meaning to, for some time. I have read the spin-offs, so I knew who Louis-Cesare & Mircea were.

I loved Cassy, she's snarky but totally afraid of what vamps can do, which is so believable. She doesn't like her life but decides surviving is a good thing and tries not to get attached to people. They keep dying.

Really looking forward to the rest of the series, which luckily I already have.

Been a couple of days, how's everyone going?

Enjoying your reads? Had a great weekend?

Talk to me Sirens, I'm feeling lonely :D

Mind you it's nearly 1am and I'm going to bed. LOL

Hey, Sandra!

Have a cuddle-blankie on me. Hope you slept well!!

My work PC has been in the 'shop' (ok, the IT office down the hall) for a couple of days. Just got it back an hour or so ago. Trying to catch up on work and GRs...but you see where I am!

I had a good weekend but I'm going to be super busy this week so I'm really glad I read my book for the shelf early.

I have other books I need to read this week but I feel like I'll never get to them. If only there were more hours in the day.

I hope everyone else is having a good start to the week!

4 Stars Shelf July 26/11 ★★★★

This is the third book in the series. I absolutely love this series and Iron Kissed was no exception! Briggs has created a fascinating and mesmerizing world. These characters seem so real. Briggs has taken the pack mentality of the wolf and paralleled that with her Werewolves to create a world that captivates your attention! The story deals with some of my favorite parts of Mercy's world: The Fae. There was a lot infomration about Fae legends and mythology. I love reading about that stuff, I feel it helps with the story, not hinder or detract from the present day story. Mercy is called in to help the fae solve a series of murders on the local fae reservation. Her friend Zee is arrested for the murder. Mercy is determined to clear Zee's name no matter what. IRON KISSED combines an intriguing mystery with a streak of compelling romance, interspersed with glimpses of your worst nightmares. The combination is the height of entertainment. And what holds it all together is Mercy herself. The girl doesn't know the meaning of the words back down. I absolutely love these books. This series has a permanent place on my bookshelf.

For my free space read

I have been busy getting ready for our next camping trip. I leave on Sunday July 31 and back Aug 6. I am hoping that on this trip I will get a few books read as this trip is the relaxing one for me. Our weekend trips are camping and fishing and its go go go. But I love them.
also have compnay coming to visit for a few days at end of this week so want stuff done so I can relax with my BFFs.

**Rule Clarification**

A couple of questions have come up related to books used for Bingo. Just in case you haven't seen the discussion on the Q&A pages, etc., we're posting it here. Happy reading!

* All books should be a minimum of 200 pgs. All others are more of a novella. This rule will be effective as of the 2nd shelf announcement, in case someone has already chosen and read one for shelf #1. (if you have read one for shelf #1, your read will count)

* No, graphic novels are not accepted.

Here is Steph's original announcement.

Glad you loved Iron Kissed Zina, that series is one of my favs as well.

Magic Bites is also one of my keepers. The books just get better & betterer the more you read them.

Well I just finished The Wolf Next Door for the Cereal challenge and its on the bookshelf. Yay! So I'm using that for Freespace.

Freespace Shelf 27/7/11 ★★★★

This third book in the series, sees the last brother William claim his mate, Prisca Hawthorne.

Of course all is not smooth sailing. They have known each other since childhood and have a failed elopement in their past.

This book had a decidedly different feel, which is a good thing, as Prisca & William were "forced" to get married and then William had to win her over. Prisca has spent years taunting, insulting and pushing William away and he is always putting his foot in it.

One more book to go in this series and it is Dashiel's. Looking forward to it.

Jim Butcher fan checking back into The Real World. Had to reread Changes last night so I would be read for the release of Ghost Story today. It was AWESOME!!!!

So I will be using for my 'free space' read.



July 26, 2011 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


Some things, my friends, are worth the wait.


Ghost Story is a prime example of why I love Jim Butcher's books. They are good books. They are great books. They rock like an 80's 'big-hair' band. They are the books that everyone wishes their book could be. They are the Six Million Dollar Man of books. They are the MacGyver of books that can build a repelling harness out of a hair scrunchie, 3 earrings, and the elastic from a pair of boxer briefs. God is jealous that he forgot to create these books.

You see where I am going with this I'm sure.
They are worth a minute or two of your time.

Ghost Story was amazing and I am in a daze currently. A wonderful floating, dreamlike haze of satiety fed by the fantastic power of The Word of Butcher.

Way to go guys! Making progress on our free space and are almost done with this weeks '4-star' shelf. Goooooooooooooo us! ;D



Free Space: N#
Read: 2/6

Zina: Magic Bites
Zaanodes:
Sarah: Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Sandra: The Wolf Next Door 07/27 ★ ★ ★ ★
Laura:
Dana: Ghost Story 07/26 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★




Week 1: 4-Stars, B3
Read: 6/6
*July 24 - July 30*

Zina: Iron Kissed 07/26 ★ ★ ★ ★
Zaanodes: Catching Fire 07/24 ★ ★ ★ ★
Sarah: Catching Fire 07/23 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sandra: Touch the Dark 07/25 ★ ★ ★ ★
Laura: Pride and Prejudice 07/26 ★ ★ ★
Dana: Dark Lover 07/24 ★ ★ ★ ½

Yay so exciting! Have any of the other teams gotten a stamp yet?

The Gypsies are one freespace book behind us, the others have a way to go yet.

As long as our shelf books are read before the next shelf announcement all is good :)

I agree with you Sandra! I think we're doing pretty good, keeping up with everything.

Absolutely Sarah, GO SIRENS!!!

Ghost Story qualifies for Free Space!?!?!? I did not check the new release thread?!?!?

I have to change my list anyway. (I was short 1 shelf AND, with the new rule, short on pages in 1 book.

Is Treachery in Death ANYWHERE that qualifies??? I didn't find them in SOS. It just released yesterday, as well Ghost Story .

For my Free Space I will read either Treachery (IF it qualifies) or Ghost Story (which does qualify).

It doesn't really matter to me as I am currently reading Treachery and Ghost Story is next up regardless of challenges. These are MUST read series!

Zaanodes I definitely agree that TiD is a must read, but it probably isn't going to qualify as it isn't PNR or UF it wouldn't be on the new release threads.

There's no rush for Freespace, just go with Ghost Story :)

07/26/11 ***

I really enjoyed thıs book :) but i have to say that in this case the film was much better than the book.

Sandra wrote: "Zaanodes I definitely agree that TiD is a must read, but it probably isn't going to qualify as it isn't PNR or UF it wouldn't be on the new release threads.

There's no rush for Freespace, just go ..."

I knew TiD wasn't there:(

Ghost Story for Free Space, it is!

Not rushing for Bingo. Rushing because about 4 or 5 'must reads' came out 7/26! Hard to choose which one after TiD & GS.

Hopefully, I got it right this time. If anyone wants to verify or just take a gander...

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Laura wrote: " 07/26/11 ***

I really enjoyed thıs book :) but i have to say that in this case the film was much better than the book."

I was really hoping it was better than ***!

Personally, I really liked the book but I can see how the movie is better. They are much easier to follow and understand through the movie. Plus the book was hard for me to get into. I started P&P countless times before I actually got into it.

I love my old copy of which is way older than me. I read it about every other year or so, since the 70's when I did it at school. Love the movies / miniseries as well and have a couple of them on DVD.

I can well understand that you liked the movie more than the book Laura, the visuals are just so good nowadays.

Mind you I'm not a big fan of her other novels, P&P is her best IMO.

I love Persuasion by Jane Austen, it is my all time favorite book. I've tried to read it once a year. I've read it a couple times since high school when I first read it. I wasn't a huge fan of P&P although I did enjoy it. Mansfield Park only got 2 stars from me. Sense and Sensibility is my second favorite Austen book.

I have not read the rest of her novels but when the school semester starts I am taking two classes that will cover all of her novels except Lady Susan (I think).

Glad you like her Sarah, favs are very subjective :)

Yeah us for finishing our first week! Whoot!


I recently listened to the audiobook for Emma and really liked it. It was funny and man, Austen can build characters like nobody's business. :)

I read P&P years ago and own three copies of the freakin' thing, but I barely remember the story. I just remember how much I don't like Mrs. Bennet!

I obviously need to make Persuasion my next Austen choice, eh Sarah?

CONGRATULATIONS, Seriesly Hawt Sirens!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on '4 stars'.

[Your new BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Hooray US Sirens *high 5*!!

Yay! *returns Sandra's high 5, but misses*...


Oops...


LOL


Yay?

Go, Sirens! Go, Sirens!!

And with days to spare!!

Steph, could you, would you put a link to your handy-dandy spreadsheet, please??

Hi Zaanodes. I'm on my phone, so I hope this works.
Game Stats Spreadsheet

Let me know if not.

It works Steph :)

Rock on sister Sirens. Way to go. Woohoo.

Regarding P&P I have tried many times to read this book. I just can't get into it. I have tried to watch the movie and I fall asleep. Hubby loves those kind of movies. Maybe one day I will be able to read this book or any of Austens other works.

Steph wrote: "Hi Zaanodes. I'm on my phone, so I hope this works.
Game Stats Spreadsheet

Let me know if not."

It works. Thanks, Steph.

Zina wrote: "Regarding P&P I have tried many times to read this book. I just can't get into it. I have tried to watch the movie and I fall asleep. Hubby ..."

Not to worry Zina, in the great scheme of the universe it doesn't matter :)

There are plenty of books I have that sort of reaction to, most of them labeled Literature. LOL

I'm with Sandra. "Literature" or "Classics" usually bore me to tears. That's why when I had to read a "classic" in a challenge I chose for mine. I decided it read enough like a classic to fit!

*flits around in fairy costume - sprinkling fairy dust*

Congrats on your first stamp!

I have that response to many classics as well. some just prattle on forever...it's like an Anne Rice internal monologue...it's just keeps going, and going, and going..... :)

Then every once in a while I hit one and say, "Hey, this is good! Finally!"

I really liked The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I also read The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and loved it! Soem are really good, and then there are things like Moby-Dick or, The Whale. Good grief and @#%^%$&%$W^@ grrrr! Melville makes me crazy. Gah!


I love all of Louisa May Alcott's work though. Does anyone have any classics they would recommend since we are on the subject?

John Steinbeck - Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden

James Michner - Hawaii

Kurt Vonegut - Galápagos, Player Piano, Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle

Herman Wouk - Marjorie Morningstar

Don't know if he has made "classic" status yet, but absolutely ANYTHING by Pat Conroy

hmmm Classics

I have to admit I havent read any unless you count Agatha Christie novels and I have read all of them.

Oh one I did read The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Oh and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

My daughter loves Dickens.....no wonder we don't get along!

Thanks Cindy :)

And you couldn't pay me to read Dickens!!!! There is not enough money in the world!

Congrats Hawties! :)

Thanks LLL ;)

Zaanodes wrote: "I was really hoping it was better than ***"

Maybe its because i was reading it in english and its not my native language. Sometimes it was hard to focus because the way they where talking.

For Free Space i will the

You're welcome, Zaanodes. Glad it worked. That link will not change - throughout the game feel free to view the stats. If I've made an error or missed someone's book choice or review, please let me know. The books with reviews will have a ✓ and be in bold.