BOO! or TRUE! Octoppler Reporting Thread

[Pragya]

Beth wrote: "Ok, running home to read. Dog and kid kept us up all night and I'm trying Rushdie. YIKES>"

Rushdie for a toppler. Arggh, Beth. Good luck!

[[deleted user]]

had a browse through the individual threads and it's noticeable how many of the titles are, if I'm honest, a bit depressing. I mean we've got suffering in various parts of the world, dead people wanting to be remembered and a dead person having a life after death. The only light spot appears to be a bunch of vampire bunnies and some laughable cats!

Maybe a comedy toppler would be in order to balance the mood.

[Kat]

Helen wrote: "had a browse through the individual threads and it's noticeable how many of the titles are, if I'm honest, a bit depressing. I mean we've got suffering in various parts of the world, dead people wa..."

I think I need a light-hearted book - I was telling my partner how I thought 'a man would cry' during a TV show we were watching, but I actually said 'a man would die'. He told me I was reading far too many morbid books!

[jaxnsmom]

I just finished Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur and it's definitely one of the most gut-wrenching books I've read. Even worse - it's all true, genocide in Darfur.

I'm reading Remember Me: A Lively Tour of the New American Way of Death which is informative and written in a light tone.

Help!! I'm sinking into a pit of boredom and what seems to be a complete waste of words. I'm listening to The Awakening and am so bored that I'm actually paying attention to work.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Isn't it funny. If we read/buy fiction we tend to like lightherated happy-ending stories. Especially us in the ex-British colonies sphere I find (reading a lot of European fiction this year for going around the worlds shows that it seems to be an us trend).

However, if we want to read/buy non-fiction they have to be terrible stories of trials and tribulations and suffering.

I wonder why? Is it that we prefer to hear about real people who have it worse than us? We don't want to hear about the success stories as it makes us feel bad about ourselves? Oh, I feel a study coming on.

However, I am reading An African in Greenland which is so far nice and happy and funny, about a boy in Togo who finds a book about Greenland and runs away from home to go there. But i just finished the first part and he's nearly there. God knows what happens in the rest of it. Will let you know.

[Janice, Moderator]

The non-fiction book I'm reading is pure fluff - a memoir of a 5'9, 300+ pound lesbian with a wry sense of humour. While it isn't hilarious, I had a moment sitting in a waiting room today where I almost burst out laughing. She and her cat were chasing a bat around the house.

[Lara]

I've been focusing on the personal development (career, relationships, etc.). I'm not up to depressing histories any more than I'm up to depressing fiction.

[Lara]

So, here is a case in point with my reading for this toppler. I listened to the audiobook of since I had a 5-6 hour drive today. I'm just finishing it up now (the epilogue).

And I must say, I recommend it. It's not perfect, but if you ever wanted to improve your personal relationships, this book talks in a non-blaming manner about meeting our needs and how to find safety and support in our romantic attachments.

[Janice, Moderator]

Lara wrote: "So, here is a case in point with my reading for this toppler. I listened to the audiobook of [bookcover:Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find and Keep Love|9547..."

Hmmm... at this point I don't have any romantic attachments. But just in case there's one in the future, this might be a good read.

[Kimberly]

I finished and gave it 5 stars it was an amazing account of how a few people could do something so simple to restore faith in humanity in a war ravaged zone. I highly recommend this to everyone it was a 5 star read for me and I can't wait to read the author's other works. It's unfortunate that he passed awaya this year but I think I'll be looing into his non-profit organization just the same. Now I think I may start . ?Hopefully I can get a lot of reading done tonight.

[Beth]

jaxnsmom wrote: "I just finished Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur and it's definitely one of the most gut-wrenching books I've read. Even worse - it's all true, genocide in Darfur.

I'm reading ..."

Have you read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Fascinating. But don't read while eating.

[Beth]

Rusalka wrote: "Isn't it funny. If we read/buy fiction we tend to like lightherated happy-ending stories. Especially us in the ex-British colonies sphere I find (reading a lot of European fiction this year for goi..."

Actually, most of the fiction I have read this year has been pretty bleak too. 1001 Books list could be called 1001 books about death and suffering.... It would almost be true.

[Beth]

Janice wrote: "The non-fiction book I'm reading is pure fluff - a memoir of a 5'9, 300+ pound lesbian with a wry sense of humour. While it isn't hilarious, I had a moment sitting in a waiting room today where I ..."

Sounds much lighter!

[Beth]

A Brief History of Time finished. I need to go add up points. I'm going to try to get through Midnight's Children but the rest of the week is crazy, so it may not happen. Fiction is ok in Witches Brew October challenge book, right???

[jaxnsmom]

Beth - I loved Stiff! And I was listening to it and eating rice when the icky bugs and maggots were being discussed. I started laughing so hard, it was so disgusting :p

[Ava Catherine]

Oh, my! This does sound like Halloween literature, maggots and such...
We may not get any closer than this! : )

[Ava Catherine]

Jaxnsmom, I see you are wide AWAKE and full of mischief this morning! LOL Things would be so dull without you around here! ;)
I have got to get to my book and settle in for some reading time. I am starting First Grave on the Rightand have no idea what to expect.

[Kat]

I want to start First Grave on the Right too, but I can't find the USB cable for my e-reader. Sometimes technology does NOT make things easier!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Like this Kat? http://thinkbone.com.au/work/#gruen-p...

(From a TV show here that gets ad companies to make ads on untouchable or strange concepts. A couple of weeks ago the challenge was to make an ad to get people to ditch their e-readers for their paperbacks. This one won.)

[Sam]

I love that Rusalka!!!

[Kat]

And that's why I carry both and e-reader and a book nowadays - I had my battery die on me too many times!

[[deleted user]]

During the whole palnes not flying due to volcanos errupting malarky, a friend got stuck on a runway in a plne. He had a proper book and was entirely occupied - anyone with an e-reader wasn't - they're electronic devices and they all have to be turned off & stowed during taxiiing, take off & landing.
They sat on the way to the runway for 4 hours...

I'm not a luddite, but I've dropped too many books in the bath, down the stairs, trodden on as I get out of bed etc etc etc to go for an e-reader.

[Thing Two]

Helen wrote: "During the whole palnes not flying due to volcanos errupting malarky, a friend got stuck on a runway in a plne. He had a proper book and was entirely occupied - anyone with an e-reader wasn't - the..."

ALWAYS have a back-up book.

[Debra]

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers was a very interesting book to read, and it was fairly light-hearted considering the subject matter.

[Sam]

Helen wrote: "During the whole palnes not flying due to volcanos errupting malarky, a friend got stuck on a runway in a plne. He had a proper book and was entirely occupied - anyone with an e-reader wasn't - the..."

I'm with you on that one Helen, I do have a couple of e-reader apps on my phone now but I still carry at least one book around with me and will pick that up before the phone.

And I've been trapped on a runway before (not for that long though) and have happily sat there with my proper book trying not to look to smug at those who couldn't use their e-readers. I even managed to keep a straight face as a couple were told off for using theirs by the flight attendants...although inside I was in hysterics :-D

[[deleted user]]

Thing Two wrote: "ALWAYS have a back-up book."
Strikes me as a pretty good mantra for life itself. >:-)

Sam - well done on not laughing out loud!

[Sam]

Thanks Helen, I'm sure you can imagine the will power required ;-)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Heh Helen, you and I sound like we are related. My books go through similar treatment.

I sat next to a boy on a plane once who was reading his kindle, and then obviously had to turn it off. I was wondering what he was going to do for the take off, when he pulled the biggest hardback book I have ever seen out of his back pack (seriously, I don't think he could have had anything else in the bag). He proceeded to read this for the whole plane flight, and then while we were waiting to get off the plane he put it back in his bag and started up the Kindle again. That was dedication I could admire!!

Glad you all liked the ad too!

[Janice, Moderator]

Amber wrote: "Can I get some assistance with 'scoring' please. . .

I finished the book Fat Girls and Lawn Chairs (nonfiction), reading 242 pages including the ackno..."

It's green and non-fiction and you acn also count it towards your rainbow challenge.

[jaxnsmom]

Kat wrote: "I want to start First Grave on the Right too, but I can't find the USB cable for my e-reader. Sometimes technology does NOT make things easier!"

I have somehow misplaced (which might as well be lost) the cable for my mp3 player. Which means no recharging or downloading new books. And I have two waiting...driving me nuts!!

[jaxnsmom]

Too funny Rusalka. I always forget to charge anything with a battery, so a real book is a necessity!

[Kimberly]

I actually didn't start last night. Instead I read instead and I just finished it! Might read today though I'm not sure.

[Kat]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Kat wrote: "I want to start First Grave on the Right too, but I can't find the USB cable for my e-reader. Sometimes technology does NOT make things easier!"

I have somehow misplaced (which might ..."

I eventually found mine down the back of the sofa, but I would have spent hours searching before I gave up!

[Almeta]

Beth wrote: Have you read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Fascinating. But don't read while eating...."

I gave it 4 stars, Stiff Review

[Almeta]

Thing Two wrote: "ALWAYS have a back-up book. ..."

Hear! Hear!

[jaxnsmom]

Almeta wrote: "Beth wrote: Have you read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Fascinating. But don't read while eating...."

I gave it 4 stars, Stiff Review"

I enjoyed your review. My body's going to the Body Farm, so I found that part fascinating!

[Beth]

jaxnsmom wrote: "My body's going to the Body Farm, so I found that part fascinating! " Is it really? That is cool. Do you live near there?

[jaxnsmom]

No, I'll have to be shipped there, probably by train. They'll get you within 200 miles, but I'm further than that :)

[Ava Catherine]

By Almeta wrote: "Beth wrote: Have you read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Fascinating. But don't read while eating...."

I gave it 4 stars, Stiff Review"
These are some true Halloween books we have going for this toppler. They sound super scary! The scariest book I ever read was
The Shiningby Stephen King. I was very young, single, and living alone in an apartment. Because of the book, I could not sleep for days and kept thinking I was hearing someone sneaking up on me in the apartment. It was a really intense time for me. So I didn't read anything scary again until I married.

[Sam]

Oh my god I'm falling so far behind on this, I haven't even finished my first book yet!!!

[Kat]

Sam wrote: "Oh my god I'm falling so far behind on this, I haven't even finished my first book yet!!!"

Don't worry Sam :) I'm only finished with one myself

[Sam]

Thanks Kat, I'm glad I'm not the only one lagging behind! I think I should've booked a few days off...or I might try reading sneakily at my desk and see if anyone notices ;-)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Don't worry Sam. Not even half way through my first one either.

I'm trying to get my head around the rules too, as I have to start working out which books to pack.

I have worked out though that the Toppler ends at exactly the same time I land in Heathrow so I don't have to set an alarm.

[Janice, Moderator]

I haven't finished a book for the Toppler yet either. Must work, make money, pay bills. Okay, excuses aside... I'm just a snail.

[Sam]

I think our topplers should be national holidays (or holidays just for us), that way work won't keep getting in the way of our very important reading needs!

[Pragya]

I finished reading First Grave on the Right and THE HOUNDING and am currently reading The Night Circus and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

[Debra]

I need clarification on how to calculate totals for the toppler. I've read 3 books so far; I'll use 1 for an example.

I read Heart of a Dog for the Witch's Brew, indigo, totaling 123 pages. I got 500 pages because of that. That gave me a total of 623 pages. Because I now have over 500 pages, I can choose a treat. I choose 250 free pages. Does this mean I now have 873 pages?

Others have been talking about spending/subtracting pages and that is confusing. Please help me out here.

Thanks!

[Beth]

my understanding is that yes you now have 873 and after 127 more pages you are due for another treat...

[Sam]

Finished my first book with Atlantic at 512 pages so cashing in for a treat to get another orange book in with Fallen Dragon so I'm on the massive total of 12...thats right 12 pages... ;-)

[Debra]

Whew! Thanks!