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R4: ~ Digging 4 Books ~ Boston
Week: 5 Word of the week: Pork
Bonus: Barn
Book choice: The Quiet Game
Penn Cage #1 by Greg IlesMy Letter: P
Date Finished: 8/19/13
Rating ★★★★★
Review: This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It has found it's place on my favorites shelf in the company of only 2 other titles. I was immediately captivated and pulled into the story. It had crime, corruption, love, hate, jealousy, idealism and more. The story revolves around an unsolved 1968 murder in the deep south, a town called Natchez in Mississippi. The settings, characters, dialogue, plot, outcome all are believable. I loved the characters, even the ones I didn't like, if that makes any sense at all.
It's not often a book keeps me up late into the night reading. I seldom have trouble setting whatever I'm reading aside at bedtime - I like my sleep. I'm writing this with a numbed mind as I slept only 4 hours last night. Yea, I was up till after 4 a.m. with my nose in this book. I was actually a bit sad it was over, but there's number 2 in the Penn Cage series to look forward to and it should arrive any day now.
I wholeheartedly recommend this title and I will read it again.
Both of this week's words are in 1 sentence on page 62 of the edition I read as follows: "An open-air barbecue pit built from a sawn-in-half fifty-five-gallon drum smokes like a barn fire outside the NAACP center, sending the aroma of chicken and pork ribs into the air."
Mod
WotW: Pork
Bonus: Barn
Book choice:
My Letter: "R"
Date Finished: 8/18
Rating & Review: ★★★★
I really enjoyed this book and yes, there was a lot of sex in it.
This book featured a former Navy Seal named Remy Begnaud who seemed to have a connection with the weather. It scared his father and the people in his Louisiana community thought he was cursed and evil. An agency similar to the X-men, ACRO (Agency for Covert Rare Operatives) wanted Remy to join them so they can harness his power and make sure it was used for good. They sent a parameterologist Haley Holmes to investigate his powers and then “bring him into the fold”. What Haley wasn’t counting on was that the weather brought out Remy’s sexual nature, and Haley found herself caught in the middle of the “storm”. It was a very erotic ride and I enjoyed it. It wasn’t sex for the sake of sex, it fit into the story. It really felt like I was reading an episode of X-Men, which I love. The writing wasn’t crass and it wasn’t slow. I read the book in less than two days. I look forward to reading book 2 and learning more about both ARCO and their evil counterpart ITOR.
Pork: “the aroma of roasting pork and pungent spices.” (Pg. 156)
Barn: “the lights inside the barn had been turned off.” (Pg. 275)
Great job ladies!!!! I'm about half way done with mine hope to be done today.
Mod
yea, great job Rhonda...looking forward to your thoughts on your book of shhhhh!
Woohoo!!! Go, ladies! I'm at about 10% in mine but don't have a lot of hw today so will be reading after dance :)
Mod
good Zakiya, I will be glad to get rid of this week's shelf because it was a hard one.
Week: 6 WotW: Pork
Bonus: Barn
Book choice:
Delirium by Lauren OliverMy Letter: "O"
Date Finished: 8/19
Rating & Review: ★★★★
I picked up Delirium for my reading challenge this week. Lena lives in a world that fears love, where on their 18th birthday they get cured. Lena has just started her evaluation which isn't going very well when it’s interrupted by a herd of cattle. The evaluation is important it will pair Lena with her future husband and set the path for the rest of her life. The higher the score the better the life; however it’s a life without emotions after she’s cured.
It’s while running with her best friend Hana does she meet the boy who was looking down on her when the cattle entered her evaluation room. He invites Lena to meet with him later before curfew, which is conflicting because boys and girls don’t interact until they are paired. While Lena is worried about breaking the rules her best friend Hana is all about doing what she wants. When Lena tags along with Hana to an illegal party she sees the boy from the lab Alex. Lena learns that Alex has been admiring her from afar; the two embark on a forbidden romance that will challenge everything Lena has known. Will Lena get the cure or will she risk it all for love?
At first I wasn’t sure about Lena she’s a good girl who follows the rules while her best friend is all about living and being herself. I found Hana interesting, but the more the book progressed I started to like Lena. I was sold on Lena when she started sneaking away to spend time with Alex it’s a unique twist on the Romeo and Juliet concept if you think about it. Forbidden love in a world where love is forbidden. As the book progresses Lena breaks out of her shell into an interesting character plus she has Alex you can’t help liking right from the start.
I admit the concept sounds interesting, a world without love that’s a first for me. A unique modern twist of Romeo & Juliet meets dystopian society. I love the story takes place in Portland because I've been there so I can really imagine what Lena’s world looks likes. The characters are interesting easy to connect with, but Lena is a little slow getting started, because I liked her more after she started meeting Alex. I love how sweet the romance is between Lena and Alex their story is beautifully done. Delirium is a captivating story it instantly sucked me right in I had to know what was going to happen next and what Lena would do when it came time to be cured. The book is well written it flows along smoothly, with interesting detailed facts that the author has researched and added to the book. I enjoyed the book, found the characters intriguing and I’m looking forward to the next one. This is my first book my Lauren Oliver but I found her writing style one that teens as well as adults will enjoy.
Pork:He shoots me a quick sideways grin and then starts walking the aisles lazily, picking up really random things—like a bag of pork skin cracklings and a can of really gross cauliflower soup—and making exaggerated noises of interest, like “This looks delicious,” so it’s all I can do to keep from cracking up laughing. (54% Loc 2801)
Barn:From where we are, fifty feet past the crest of the hill, the barn and the party are invisible. I have a brief fantasy that we’re the only two people out in the darkness—that we are the only two people awake and alive in the city, in the world.(33% Loc 1690)
Mod
We're really doing well. This week's words were awful, but it looks like it's all worked out rather well. Maybe we have the worst of the word selections behind us now.
good job Mandy! im at 41%. stayed up all night reading and I plan to do the same tonight lol. the books getting better too so it wont take as long.
So I'm procrastinating this morning. Can't seem to get going. On facebook I saw Dark Faerie Tales is looking to add a reviewer of Paranormal, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy and Romance to their site. I thought I would share. http://darkfaerietales.com/wanted-dar... I've got a blog that I'm not willing to part with at this time but maybe someone else would be interested. If not no biggie =D OMG Rhonda I hope you love Steph she's one of my favorites.
Mod
I'm on the fence with Fae. I like them in the Fever series, and Merry Gentry.
Unfortunately, I'm not sold on Stephanie Plum. Maybe it's just my mood. I've just finished a couple of serious stories, so it's likely I'm just having trouble switching gears, but 50% in and it's not grabbing me. It's just too cute - like I said, it's more likely my mood. I know the series is really popular.
Mod
I didn't like Fever either. covetous pretty thing loving Troublemakers
Mod
never tried Stephanie plum
I've been reading Steph since she first came out. I get like that sometimes with my moon I just don't love what I'm reading.
Mod
how are you and your book doing?
Everyone else, new WotW tomrrow
You ladies need to keep me in the loop. I almost missed out on the scavenger game that all of you are playing in =D
I haven't done the scavenger hunt before, so I'm curious to see what it's all about.I posted a status update about it, but I'm not sure even how those work, so I hope it got out at least to the people on my friends list.
I am excited about it and hope I'm not over-extending myself. - hate to pull something and end up out with a reading injury!
Its amazing Rhonda! It was the first team challenge I ever played in and I'm now addicted to them.Its 1230 am here and I'm just now getting in the bed. Will try to read a good bit but it probably wont happen bc I'm super tired. Book will be done tmr for sure (obviously).
Mod
Its 1230 am here and I'm just now getting in the bed. Will try to read a good bit but it probably..."
Please remember to choose your letter early so we can start our books ASAP. I want to start my book today
Mod
Word of the Week: FLAG
Bonus Word: Mask
F: Mandy
L: Zakiya
A: Ezinwanyi
G: Rhonda
F: The Ward by Jordana Frankel ( Post 298)
L: Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik ( Post 310)
A: Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Book 5) ( Post 293)
G: Gone Girl ( Post 294)
I can do any of the letters F L A G, but I would prefer the F or the G
Mod
I've got them all as well. I want to read them all lol.
After thinking about it I really want F it's a book that's been teasing me on my shelf for a while and sounds good. If that's ok. If not I have others I want to read.
Mod
I want to start my book at lunch today
I'm more than happy to take the G or the F. I think Mandy wants the F. Between F and G, I'll take whichever Mandy doesn't.
Kind of excited this book has been teasing me forever!!!!
Mod
Great, and we all have our letters :)
Week five : pork & barnBook: Alexandria by John Kaden
My letter: K
Finished on: 23/8/2013
Rating: 4 stars
Review: this was a pretty good book! I like that its kind of prehistoric but futuristic at the same time. Jack and Lia seemed like the perfect best-friends-at-first couple. Their journey to Alexandria was pretty good, too. I think the best part was Thomas and his bear and wolf pets. Definitely a good read for me.
Bonuses:
Pork - "salted pork from the pantry" pg 66
Barn - "hiking past decayed barns and farmhouses" pg 253
Zakiya wrote: "Review: this was a pretty good book! I like that its kind of prehistoric but futuristic ..."
Prehistoric and Futuristic sounds interesting. It's been ages since I've read a prehistoric book may have to check it out.
Hey girls! How's everyone's books going? I'm at 40% in mine. Plan to finish tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest.
Mod
Great job Z!
i am 70% into my book. I am still waiting for Anita to become Anita the great and freaky animator:)
Ezinwanyi~For you, Agron wrote: "Zakiya wrote: "Hey girls! How's everyone's books going? I'm at 40% in mine. Plan to finish tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest."Great job Z!
i am 70% into my book. I am still waiting for Anita to b..."
She's great I loved innocent Anita but she will become your freaky animator a little in in 10. However freaky they have the men just get even sexier!
Mod
WotW: Flag
Bonus: Mask
Book choice:
My Letter: "A"
Date Finished: 8/26
Rating & Review: ★★★★
I should be ashamed to admit that I'm reading Anita Blake for the sex...except I haven't gotten even a hint of it. Not from Richard, not from Prince, I mean Jean Claude. Even without it, the story was still good.
Anita's greedy boss sent her out on a job to raise a whole graveyard. When Anita and her understudy Larry got to Branson, Missouri, it was clear a lot of supernatural things were involved...and a lot of secrets Anita wasn't privy to. So Anita asks for help from the man she claims to hate Jean Claude, the vampire master.
We find out a nursery boogle is at the heart of the conflict. Everyone wishes to wield the power. We also find a vampire more powerful than Jean Claude wants a piece of the action. I normally don't like fae, but it worked in this book. They didn't overpower the vampires. The supernatural creatures were well balanced. The story was compelling and Anita was still bad ass.
I will continue with these series as I enjoyed this book more than the previous book.
Flag: “a flag of truce, ma petite?” (Pg. 246)
Mask: “his face was unreadable, a beautiful mask .” (Pg. 232)
Week: 6 Word of the week: Flag
Bonus: Mask
Book choice:
Gone GirlMy Letter: G
Date Finished: 8/27/13
Rating ★★★★★
Review: Okay, so I just finished this and I'm totally exhausted. Up and down and up and down and in a hole and on a mountain and on and on and on - and I loved the ride. It twisted, it turned, it leaped and crashed. From one emotion to the next, belief to disbelief and back again. I started reading again at 8 or so this morning (about half of the story yet to read) and read til I was done, stopping only to answer 2 very poorly timed phone calls and take a couple of bathroom breaks.
Flynn has me baffled. I'm a bit concerned for her as I would be for any mind that could come up with these people. It was very compelling. I had a need to know. This is my second Gillian Flynn. I read Dark Places just a short time ago and found it a bit disappointing in the end. Not this time. I loved it! A mindf---k of monumental proportions.
Sharp Objects is being held at the library for me. It won't wait long.
WOTW: Flag - page 13 He has claimed me, placed a flag in me: I was here first, she's mine, she's mine.
BONUS: Mask - page 316 "Every time you tense up, every time you turn that handsome face into an undertaker's mask, I am going to hit you with a jellybean," Betsy explained, as if the whole thing were quite reasonable.
Good job, Ezi! I breezed through the rest of mine this morning. I really liked it.
Mod
Thanks Rhonda. My library has your book both on audio and as an e-book. Would you have liked to listen to it as opposed to reading it?
Is Sharp Object a sequel to Gone Girl?
I tend to get more out of books reading them and have a tendency to space off if I listen to them. My husband is a poor reader, but he loves audio books and we "read" a lot of the same titles. I can say that Gone Girl was really hard to put down. All of Gillian Flynn's books are standalones. I loved one, the second was mediocre, and I'm excited to see what I think of the third.
Week: 7 Word of the week: Flag
Bonus: Mask
Book choice: The Ward by Jordana Frankel
My Letter: F
Date Finished: 8/27/13
Rating ★★★★★
Review
Ren lives in the Ward which was once called Manhattan before the tides swelled above sea level flooding the city forcing people to live in the higher buildings. People also developed a sickness called the Blight tumors that eat away at the body which is exactly what’s happening to Ren’s little sister Aven. In order to keep Aven pain free Ren has done some stuff she’s not proud of like agreeing to work for the blues who police the wards. Ren has been sent on a mission to find fresh water since all the people have is rain water that they filter themselves. But working as a mole isn't her only job Ren is also the only girl in the boy dominated mobile racing.
When her mobile malfunctions during a race letting her arch enemy win she discovers what she’s been searching for the whole time fresh water. However this water isn't just fresh water it has healing properties and after sharing a little with Aven it shrinks her tumor down giving her a chance to live but its short lived because the tumor comes back aggressively. With the help of a new friend a young doctor Ren will embark on a mission to save not just her sister but all the people of the ward. In order to provide the doctor with fresh water she has to return to the source but upon returning she finds it’s gone. As the two learn about the stream they find not only does it have healing properties but immortality which is what the governor is after. In order to save her sister and the people of the ward Ren will have to go against the one person she didn't expect risking it all before time runs out.
Ren is tough she doesn't see herself as the pretty girl, she fights for what she believes in even if it isn't the right choice. She only loves one person her sister Aven who is dying of Blight but that doesn't stop her from pushing herself to the limits to help her. Ren has two potential love interests Derek her Bookie and Callum the young doctor. At first I wasn't sure about Derek but in the end I see him as perfect even though I love Callum who is willing to die to save Aven. Maybe he'll find a girl in the next book. The supporting characters are awesome they enhance the story some are good while others are bad. You can’t help loving Benny or Terrence or hating Kent, the Governor and chief. I love that Ren has support that she can trust.
I've had The Ward on the shelf since it first came out purchase in Hardback but never got around to reading it. Maybe it’s the cover the water flooding scares me because we live close to the west coast and they always joke about California falling into the ocean. When the chance came up to use The Ward for my goodreads game I jumped at the chance. The book starts a little slow but I didn't have an issue with it the building was well worth it. The story is captivating as the book progresses it just draws you in till you can't put it down. Ren’s story is a fast paced adventure right to the last page, filled with surprises both good and bad that keeps you guessing to the very end. The Ward is post-apocalyptic the author has created a unique concept that captures the imagination. The Ward is a beautifully written story that tears at your heartstrings leaving he read dying for the next book. I've been drawn to dystopian books for a while now and The Ward doesn't disappoint a must read. I would have to say The Ward is my favorite dystopian book this year. My only regret is I waited so long to read the book.
WOTW: Flag - pg 182 “Lost in the neighborhood?” I offer. “You did give me this.” I wave the envelope corner like it’s a white flag of surrender. “Remember?”
BONUS: Mask - Pg 166 The doors swing open and Callum—Dr. Cory—strides though, a white mask dangling from his neck.
Mod
They do. I wish I could write reviews like that - Well done, Mandy!
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Love in a Nutshell (other topics)Third Grave Dead Ahead (other topics)
Third Grave Dead Ahead (other topics)
Waiting for Armando (other topics)
Open Minds (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Judith K. Ivie (other topics)Hallie Ephron (other topics)
Book:
My Letter: P
Finished: 16/8/2013
Rating: 3 stars
Review: The fifth book was okay. Wasn't super amazing or anything. The entire thing was boy drama that could've been avoided in the last book. Made the charries and plot somewhat annoying.
Bonuses:
Camp - "All of a sudden they were back in camp..." pg 255
Pancake - "I would have finished my pancakes." pg 244