R4: Team ~ My Kinda Book ~ Chicago

[Vicky]

This week is JAIL and Chicken.

I'd like to take the A, I'll have a nice quick read after this week's book. :)

[Book Concierge]

Week 3 - JAIL and Chicken

I'll take "L"

[Diana S]

I'll take J.

[Diana S]

I'll be reading:
The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein.
It has both words.

[Alley]

That leaves me with I. This'll force me to read a book I've been putting off for months now.

[Book Concierge]

I'll be reading:
Shoot the Moon by Letts, Billie

[Diana S]

View & Football Week

Read by Pittacus Lore
My Letter: I
Finished: 8/1/13
Rating: ★ ★ ★

My Review:
All in all, I liked it!

Let's see you have a "Hero".
John Smith/Alien(Number Four) posing has a teenager in a small-town, Paradise, Ohio. Waiting for his superpowers to develop and hiding from the bad aliens.
We have "Bad Aliens"
The hunters from Mogadore determine to kill all nine alien children and their mentors from the annihilated world of Lorien.
There's the "Best Friend"
John's geeky BF Sam and a lover of science fiction.
Of course, there's the Girl Friend
The beautiful Sarah - photographer, ex-cheerleader.
And we have to have a "Bully"
Mark the local football star and Sarah's ex. Trying to drive a wedge between John and Sarah. Couldn't understand why Sarah didn't want to be with him.
And my favorite character of them all. The Pet!
Bernie Kosar - The cute little shape-shifter that he is! He was sent to protect Number Four.
It's an action-packed adventure, with some romance, friendship, and some tender moments.

Bonus
Football
"We head back downstairs and she takes me to the family room, where her two older brothers, home from college for the weekend, are watching football with her father." pp. 205 -206
View
"WE DRIVE SOUTH UNTIL, NESTLED IN THE FOOT-hills of the Appalachian Mountains, Athens comes into view: a small city sprouting through the trees." p.225

[Vicky]

Phew, I made it!

View & Football Week

Read: by Tony Horwitz
My Letter: V(oyage)
Finished: 8/2/13
Rating: ★ ★

My Review: I was disappointed in this book. The book claims to take us on a "thrilling and eye-opening voyage to pre-Mayflower America" - I wasn't thrilled and I was only vaguely eye-opened. There was some interesting history here but it was overshadowed by the author's own trek tracing the history of early American explorers that felt disjointed from the purpose of the book. It was a jumble of past and future and I didn't feel like I got a very coherent timeline of events from it. I don't know if I misinterpreted the purpose of the book, but I was definitely expecting something different and I was let down.

Bonus Items:

View: "Stepping from my car, I was greeted by a frigid wind and a view of sheer rock...", Page 18
Football: "Jacksonville got industry and a pro football team.", Page 281

[Alley]

Week 3: Jail/Chicken
Letter: I

Book: Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
Completed: 08/04
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: I've been putting this book off forever, and I don't even know why. I really like Mercy, and I am so glad that (view spoiler)[ the love triangle was solved as quickly as it was. Or at least I hope it was. I'm getting super tired of extended love triangles. I've had to stop reading a series I really liked because of one. (hide spoiler)]. In this one, Mercy has some scary dealings with the Fae, and the Fae are pretty darn scary. I won't wait so long before reading the next one. This series just seems to get better and better.

Bonus Words:
Jail - ebook pg. 111 - Jail would be very painful for most fae.
Chicken - ebook pg. 305 - Chickens run, but donkeys hate us every one.

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 3 / WoW: JAIL / Bonus: Chicken

My Letter: L (author name)

Read: Shoot the Moon by Billie L etts (352 pg)
Finished: 08 Aug 13
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Review:
I really liked this mystery set in a small town in Oklahoma. When Mark Albright arrives from Beverly Hills in search of his birth mother he gets much more than he bargained for. Along the way to discovering what happened to his mother, he finds out more about himself, and has to decide WHO he will be in the future. Letts is a good writer and her skill with dialogue and dialect really brings the characters to life. The action is fast-paced, keeping the reader turning pages and trying to guess the culprit. Kathe Mazur does a good job on the audio version.

Bonus Items:
WoW: jail - “So what happened in that jail?” – pg 40
Bonus: chicken - “While Enid turned the chicken, sizzling on the stove…” – pg 132

Points:
L = 2
WoW = 1
Bonus = 1
Total Points: 4

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 4 -
WoW - CAMP
Bonus - pancake

.
My preference is for "C"
But I can take any of the letters ... have all of them on hand with both WOW and bonus

[Diana S]

I'll take "M". But I might need to change. I need to find a book with pancake.

[Diana S]

Jail & Chicken Week

Read by Jennifer Cody Esptein
My Letter: J
Finished: 8/8/13
Rating: 3.5 ★★★

My Review:
A remarkable journey based on the life of Pan Yuliang, an artist, living in China during the early 20th-century, trying to cultivate her artistic talents against many odds. A Good Read!

Bonus:
Chicken
"She pictures Lina scrubbing the floor by the stove, killing a chicken ." p.33
Jail
"He's in jail ." p. 170

[Alley]

After searching a zillion books, I finally found one with both bonuses. I'll take A.

[Vicky]

Hmm. I have tons of options that don't include pancake, lol.

For both bonuses I have a C and an M. But the M is Gone With the Wind and I don't think I can commit to reading that this week!

I just got home from a rather dirty job so I'm going to go get a shower and then I'll come back and do some looking through my P books to see what I can find.

[Vicky]

I found some Ps! I'll go with it unless anyone else needs to switch. :)

[Book Concierge]

Vicky & Diana ....
I sent you each a message with possible suggestions for "M" and "P" books with both WoW and Bonus.

Given that this is one of the more difficult bonus words to find, I didn't want to post here where every other team could see them.

[Vicky]

Jail & Chicken Week

Read: The Crucible by Arthur Miller
My Letter: A(rthur)
Finished: 8/9/13
Rating: ★ ★

My Review: This is one of the few plays I remember reading in high school and I've been wanting to revisit it for a while, but never got around to it. It's not entirely historically accurate, but I think it's a fascinating, and somewhat frightening, look at the actions of a society in the midst of hysteria. Definitely glad I revisited it with a more mature view of life.

Bonus Items:

Jail: "Thomas and his brother John had Burroughs jailed for debts the man did not owe.", Page 38
Football: "No, no, chicken blood.", Page 57

[Jenne]

Vicky I checked your book on Amazon, jailed wouldn't of worked but you do have jail in it:

Page 50 ... There be fourteen people in the jail now, she says.


so you're good :)

[Vicky]

Whoops! I knew it was there without the -ed, but I was exhausted when I was posting last night and copied and pasted the first quote that came up in the search, lol. Thanks for checking! :D

[Jenne]

NP! That one was bound to have jail in it often lol.

[Alley]

Week 4: Camp/Pancake
Letter: A

Book: Dollhouse - Anya Allyn
Completed: 08/12
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: I gave it 4 stars, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It was weird and creepy. Not bad for a freebie for the kindle. I'll probably shell out the 10$ for the next two just because I have to know what happens.

Bonus Words:
Camp - kindle pg. 32 - ...we were on a school camp on the mountain...
Pancake - kindle pg. 173 - We'll have pancakes !

[Diana S]

Sorry, you all for not being around. We had a death in the family and I've been busy helping my husband.

. . . . Tessa, I think we have a problem. I didn't received the possible suggestions. I don't know what happened. Thank you for helping. Maybe you can send it to me again. I would love to see what you suggested.

But I did find one yesterday and pick it up today.
I'm reading:
The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe
It has both words. So I'm covered.

[Jenne]

Sorry for your loss Diana. Death is never an easy thing to go through.

[Book Concierge]

Diana,
I'm so sorry for your loss. Death of a loved one is never easy. Even when it's expected (extreme old age and/or long illness) the finality of it still comes as a kick to the stomach. You and your husband and family are in my prayers.

I'll send you an email with the suggestions again...

Tessa

[Book Concierge]

Diana ... I sent the first message direct to the email address I have on file for you.

I sent the "repeat" message through the Good Reads "send a message" feature.

Tessa

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 4 WoW: CAMP / Bonus: pancake

My Letter: C - author first name

Read: Off the Menu by C hristine Son (368 pg)
Finished: 15 Aug 13
Rating: ★
Review:
Three Asian-American over-achieving women are brought up short by the need to balance family expectations with their own desires. They call themselves the Valedictorians, because they all graduated with the exact same GPA from their exclusive private high school. Now in their late 20s they continue to be best friends. Son had a fairly good premise, but she failed in its execution. The characters and situations are racial stereotypes – so much so, that some of the scenarios were just embarrassing to read (e.g. the chef goes to two different Mexican restaurants, and gets food poisoning at both). I never really cared at all what happened to any of them, I just wanted to them to get on with it so the book would end. If I didn’t have to read it for a challenge I would have abandoned it by page 30.
.
Bonus Items:
WoW: camp - “I’ve got a retreat in a couple of weeks at Camp Cradle.” – pg 35
Bonus: pancake - “…he could already taste the thin, savory pancakes…” – pg 95

Points:
C = 4
WoW = 1
Bonus = 1
Total Points: 6

[Diana S]

Book Concierge wrote: "Diana,
I'm so sorry for your loss. Death of a loved one is never easy. Even when it's expected (extreme old age and/or long illness) the finality of it still comes as a kick to the stomach. You a..."

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers! We're going to miss my sister-in-law very much! :(

[Diana S]

Camp & Pancake Week

Read by Mary Alice Monroe
My Letter: M
Finished: 8/15/13
Rating: ★★★ 1/2 stars

My Review:
What I really like about this author is how she intertwined an environmental subject in the storyline. In this book, its with Sea Turtles. A moving story about a mother/daughter reconnecting. It's set at their beach house in the lovely Carolina Lowcountry. Definitely A Good Beach Read!

Bonus:
Pancake
The baby was taking up so much room these days that her stomach was squeezed like a pancake. p.314
Camp
They took the ferryboat over to camp in the pine and oak forests or dance at the pavilion to big-name bands. p.17

[Alley]

Week 5: Triple Word Week - Pork

Bonus: Barn

I'll take P

[Book Concierge]

Week 5: Triple Word Week - Pork
Bonus: Barn

I'll take K .. book as both words.

[Diana S]

I'll take "R".

[Diana S]

I'll be reading:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

It has both words! :)

[Vicky]

CAMP & Pancake Week

Read: by Barbara Kingsolver
My Letter: P(rodigal)
Finished: 8/16/13
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My Review: This was another re-read for me. I read while I was in high school and have wanted to reread it for a while, it was just as good a second time. Kingsolver has been one of my favorite authors since I had to read The Bean Trees for school, and she definitely doesn't disappoint. There's tons of emotion in the book and I'm on a bit of a nature kick right, so that was definitely fun for me.

Bonus Items:

Camp: "...he put her in a camp she hadn't chosen.", Page 35
Pancake: "The Kroger's in Egg Fork had started selling those flat-looking Mexian pancakes...", Page 396

[Vicky]

I have a couple options for "O" so that works for me! :)

[Book Concierge]

Wow .. if I understand the rules correctly, so far our team has a perfect score! MY Kinda TEAM, Chicago!

[Alley]

Week 5: Pork/Barn
Letter: P

Book: Bone Crossed - Patricia Briggs
Completed: 08/17
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: Another Mercy Thompson book. Takes place right after the events of the last one. I really really like this series. I'll try to catch up before the end of the year.

Bonus Words:
Pork - ebook pg. 268 - A roast— pork , my nose belatedly told me—sat splendidly adorned with roasted carrots and potatoes.
Barn - ebook pg. 197 - But he grabbed the compressor before I could start rolling it to the pole barn .

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 5 - TRIPLE Word Week
WoW: PORK / Bonus: Barn

My Letter: K (author’s name)

Read: The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival by Ken Wheaton (304 pg)
Finished: 22 Aug 13
Rating: ★ ★ ★
Review:
This is an enjoyable debut featuring the kinds of quirky elements that draws me to this kind of Southern fiction. I’ll admit that about a third of the way into the book I was beginning to wonder if it was going anywhere I wanted to go. After the half-way point I got caught up in the outlandish plot and wanted to find out what would happen. It’s not great literature, but it’s a nice diversion.
.
Bonus Items:
WoW: PORK - “I have to thank Mrs Robichaux for the pork roast ...” – pg 13
Bonus: barn - “Ever seen them throw up a barn?” – pg 37

Points:
K = 5 x 3 = 15
WoW = 1
Bonus = 1
Total Points: 17

[Diana S]

Pork & Barn Week

Read: by J. K. Rowling
My Letter: R
Finished: 8/22/13
Rating: ★★★★

My Review:
I was already a fan because of the movie, but reading the book now completed it. I think the author has a wonderful imagination. The book has a great storyline with a lot of unique characters. It kept me wanting more. A really "fun" read! :D

Bonus:
Pork
A loin of roast pork was sizzling in the oven. p.10
Barn
Aunt Petunia was just passing around a box of after-dinner mints when a huge barn owl swooped through the dining room window, dropped a letter on Mrs. Mason's head, and swooped out again. p.20

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 6
WOW - FLAG
Bonus - mask

I'd prefer "F" ...

I have books that work for both F and G (and have both WOW and bonus word)

[Alley]

I've found a couple that work, but I can't decide which to choose. I'll just take the last letter available.

Changed my mind. I'll take G. Didn't realize the book I wanted to read next would work with these words until I noticed the series name. So yay!

[Diana S]

I'll take L

[Diana S]

I'll be reading:
The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe by Andrew O' Hagan. It has both words.

[Vicky]

I just finished my book but I can't get to my computer to post a real update and I'm not sure I'll be home by midnight - unexpectedly out of hands atm. I will update this w/ my review tomorrow and post for points.

PORK & Barn Week

Read: by Margaret Atwood
My Letter: O(ryx)
Finished: 8/23/13
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My Review: I really loved the world-building in this novel. The society Atwood develops is definitely thought provoking. I would have liked a bit more from the characters, but overall it was a solid read!

Bonus Items:

Pork: "...sandwiches and pork pies turned up on the staff cafe menu.", Page 24
Pancake: "Jimmy's mother called it "this barn.", Page 53

[Jenne]

Vicky go ahead and post a couple of quick thoughts about it and then tomorrow link up the quotes, etc.

[Book Concierge]

Well I thought I was going to be reading one of the Hannah Swensen mysteries by Joanne Fluke ... but Gone Girl by Gillian F lynn came in at the library ... Still works for "F"! Yippee Skippee...

[Jenne]

Don't you love it when it works out like that?

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 6 - WoW: FLAG / Bonus: mask

My Letter: F (author name)

Read: Gone Girl by Gillian F lynn (432 pg)
Finished: 25 Aug 13
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Review:
This is a complex psychological drama that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Told in alternating voices – Nick and Amy’s story is full of prevarications big and small. The reader is constantly forced to change allegiances – alternately believing and distrusting Nick, and trying to figure it out ahead of the police. At the end I am left stunned, disturbed, giddy with relief that it’s over, wishing it were NOT over, wondering what will happen next.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
.
Bonus Items:
WoW: FLAG - “Daytime, they’re down by the river, or out flying a flag.” – pg 105
Bonus: mask - “I am alone in our apartment, my face all mask-tight from tears…” – pg 65

Points:
F = 4
WoW = 1
Bonus = 1
Total Points: 6

[Vicky]

Just did our points for this week, had a rough weekend so I'm just getting myself back to normal.

We still have a perfect score, yay!


And I'm good with the A from flag. Fit perfectly with a book someone recommended to me recently! :)

[Alley]

Week 6: Flag/Mask
Letter: G

Book: Darkness Becomes Her - Kelly Keaton - Gods and Monsters Book 1
Completed: 08/26
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: Was surprised at how much I liked this. Such an interesting mix of the supernatural (shapeshifters, vampires, witches) and Greek mythology. Will be on the lookout for the next one.

Bonus Words:
Flag - pg. 230 - ...white hair flies out, waving like a flag in the breeze.
Mask - pg. 39 - ...held there by a small string around her neck, was a gold Mardi Gras mask .