Random Reporting

[jaxnsmom]

Here's where to report when you finish your book. Don't forget to complete the task associated with your number.

[Lara]

I finished my first book, which fit Task 1. The book I chose that was the shortest was No Christmas Like the Present.

[Lisa]

I finished Book Collector for Task 3 (read the book with the most interesting cover). I found this cover interesting because I was curious as to why it depicts a woman sitting calmly in a room with flames all around her. I also like the style of the picture, it looks very similar to drawings that you often find on/in books set in the medieval period, even though this book is set much later than that.

[Theresa~OctoberLace]

I finished my first book, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks for Task #1 - shortest book from my list of five.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished my first book, Skipping Christmas. My first task was #3 most interesting cover. I didn't find any of my covers to be incredibly interesting, but I like the Skipping Christmas one the best. I think it was such a creative idea to have Santa snoozing in a hammock with palm trees, just taking a little vaca. I like that they put snowflakes around it too, indicating winter. Probably the most creative cover of my pics.

[Casceil]

I finished Slight Mourning for task number 5. I had never actually put any of my five books on my to-be-read list, so I read the book that had been on my kindle the longest.

[Ava Catherine]

I finished Boy, Snow, Bird for task 2. It was my lowest ranked book with a rating of 3.29. I gave it 4 stars because I enjoyed the book and thought it was very well written. I do understand how it could be a book that might not interest everyone though.
The worst gift I ever received was from my great uncle who gave me a pair of panties and made a big loud joke about it, which humiliated me because I was only sixteen and too young and shy to know how to handle the situation well. He should have known better.

[Casceil]

I'm still not sure what, if anything, I am supposed to do to complete task 5. Explain why it has taken me so long to get to this book, which I have only had for about a month? I was saving it for this toppler, of course. (I knew I needed a list of five books that I felt like I could finish in 24 hours.) Or was I supposed to comment on how early Christmas decorations go up now? I've already ranted in the "whatcha doing" thread about my neighbors who start putting up their Christmas extravaganza in October.

[Lori Z]

I finished Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back for task 1. This was the shortest book of my list of 5. I really was moved by this book and gave it 5 stars. I'm off to start my second book but doubt I'll finish it in toppler time.

[Theresa~OctoberLace]

I finished Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana for Task #5. It was on my TBR list the longest of the 5 books chosen for this Toppler. What took me so long to get to it? It was only added on December 7, 2014, and it's the 14th book by Anne Rice that I've read this year. I don't think that it took so long, do you?

[Teanka]

I finished Surfacing for task 2, it had a rating of 3.44. It was very dark, creepy and depressing, but the language was beautiful and the book very interesting. I gave it 5 stars.

[Lynn]

I read After You for task 2, it currently has a rating of 3.74

I think people had a problem with it because of the expectation from the first book. I went into not expecting anything (I don't see how she could have topped that) and I actually really enjoyed it. It was sweet, thoughtful, sad and funny. Gave it 4 stars.

[Susan]

I read .

I picked five books for this toppler, all of them on some challenge or other (trying to wrap up before the end of the year). My task was #3 - pick an interesting cover. None of of the choices on my list were really all that interesting.

Since I've been having a pretty stressful week and had a really tough day yesterday, I decided to start the toppler with this one since the cover made me smile. Absolutely love the combo of his suit with those shoes. Really liked the book, it lightened up my weekend.

[Janice, Moderator]

I read The Last Quarrel: Episode 1 for task #1.

[Almeta]

Whew, I finished one book.

3. This season there are so many beautiful wrapping papers. Read the book with the most interesting cover. What makes it interesting to you?

A Head Full of Ghosts appears to have an interesting pattern of items on the cover, until you realize that its picture is turned sideways. It is actually a picture of a hallway staircase.

2. Have you ever received the worst gift ever? Read the book with the lowest rating. How does your rating compare? What was the worst or most embarrassing gift you've received?

The Road To Ruin, Donald E. Westlake Average rating 3.75.

SORRY Donald, ole' man, I just couldn't keep my eyes open!

[Sharon]

I just finished The Hound of the Baskervilles for task number 3.
I thought it had the most interesting cover, because it looked so haunted.

[Teanka]

I finished my second book, The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, for task number 4. I liked the language, the setting and the characters were all very original, but it wasn't very easy to read, or to understand the whole story. I kept thinking that I missed some important details , but obviously that's how many readers feel about the book judging by its reviews. Overall, it's very interesting, but I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I expected. After some consideration, I gave it 4 stars.

[KimeyDiann]

I finished the book that was chosen for me, Streetlights Like Fireworks. I really enjoyed this book and am glad that Tejas Janet picked it for me! 5 Stars!!

[Tejas Janet]

I finished my book in time, and promptly took a long nap :) Just finished lunch and "KP". Now checking in to report.

There were aspects of The Egg and I I liked very much and some I disliked. When the author focused on daily life as a newlywed in Washington State's Olympic Mountains, where she attempts to actively assist her husband in starting and running a chicken ranch, I was very entertained. At times, I was almost mesmermized by beautiful passages describing the mountains, seasons, and weather.

However, a few times she spoke with a prejudiced voice, showing a bigoted perspective towards some groups of people that she obviously viewed as innately inferior to herself. I have a hard time forgiving her willingness to embrace and perpetrate negative stereotypes whether that was more acceptable in the 1940s or not. It certainly seems below Mrs. Wiggle-Piggle, the author's humorous, loveable character, who inhabits the series by the same name.

Makes it tougher to rate the book!! Oh, and to recap that this was for task 5, and this book was on my list the longest. I added last spring when gophering for series I might want to read and discovered that Betty MacDonald had this autobiographical series of memoirs (in addition to her children's fictional Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series).

[Tejas Janet]

KimeyDiann wrote: "I finished the book that was chosen for me, Streetlights Like Fireworks. I really enjoyed this book and am glad that Tejas Janet picked it for me! 5 Stars!!"

I'm so glad it was a winner for you, KimeyDiann!!
Yay :D

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I finished Guilty Pleasures last night, that Sarah picked for me. I rather enjoyed it, but am wondering how she will keep my interest for another 24(!) books.

Sarah, no real romance aspects in this book. But hints of things to come, and I hope it doesn't turn into a romance vamp bonkfest, because the world and lore is really interesting. It'd be a waste of an interesting magic system!!

[Bella]

Rusalka wrote: "I finished Guilty Pleasures last night, that Sarah picked for me. I rather enjoyed it, but am wondering how she will keep my interest for another 24(!) books.

Sarah, no real romance a..."

I wish I had stopped reading this series after Obsidian Butterfly. For me, at least, it really went downhill fast. Too much pointless sex- pages and pages of it. I still read the series, but more out of habit than anything. (Kind of like the Sookie Stackhouse series. I wish I had just stopped after a certain point, then once it ended, asked someone who she wound up with. I think that was the only reason I kept reading it.)

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm going to withdraw my "book". Upon further research, it looks like it's only a section of the first book and not a book in and of itself.

[Anne (Booklady)]

Oh! I forgot to post before I left the house today.

I finished The Razor's Edge this morning. My random number was 3 = Most interesting cover.

by W. Somerset Maugham

[Teanka]

Rusalka wrote: " I hope it doesn't turn into a romance vamp bonkfest, because the world and lore is really interesting. It'd be a waste of an interesting magic system!! "

It doesn't. At least not in the first 3-4 books (I don't know about the rest).

[Sarah]

Rusalka wrote: "I finished Guilty Pleasures last night, that Sarah picked for me. I rather enjoyed it, but am wondering how she will keep my interest for another 24(!) books.

Sarah, no real romance a..."

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Wow - 24 books - that's quite a commitment! I had no idea. I see Bell'as comments on the series above. I'll add it to my wishlist and take Bella's advice in to consideration.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Thanks Bella and Teanka. Sounds like one of those ones I'll read as I find them, and stop when it gets to sexy times for me.

Makes me sound like a prude, but you know, you do need some plot in between your shagging, in all mediums.

[Tejas Janet]

Doesn't make you a prude. Makes you a person with well-rounded interests that extend beyond a roll in the hay or whatever.

[Sarah]

Rusalka wrote: "you do need some plot in between your shagging, in all mediums. "

Well said!

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm with you, Rusalka! I like plot in the books. WHen I'm more interested in shagging instead of reading, I just close the book. ;)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "I'm with you, Rusalka! I like plot in the books. WHen I'm more interested in shagging instead of reading, I just close the book. ;)"

*snort* ha! Nice.

[Lara]

Heh, I loved the beginning of the series back when it first came out. It takes a while for the romance to really get started. Then I took a bit of a break and the next book started with a pretty graphic sex scene that I could not get into. Anita had turned from strong with a solid moral code to a nymphomaniac with multiple partners. Ugh. Yeah she still got to go out an kick butt, but the entire story changed as it spent time on several graphic sex scenes.

[Debra]

My book was Brother for task #2.

I guess my worst gifts were the hand-made ornaments my aunt made me, one each year. I just wanted the Snicker-Doodles (yummy cookies) that my brother got every year. When I got older I appreciated the ornaments a bit more and even made some of my own; unfortunately all lost in a fire.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oop thanks Debra, you reminded me I needed to do the second half of the task. One of my absolute favourite Christmas traditions is our House Christmas we do.

It started when we were in a share house and we decided to do Christmas as a House before Christmas Day/Eve as people either went home for Christmas, or we would literally see people come through the door to sleep. So we had named Christmas trees (Leany, Droopy, etc), huge feasts, lots of drinks, and presents. Usually with housemates, and their partners, but any other randoms that happened to be dropping past or sleeping on our couch.

We still do it every year, even if it's organised at the last minute, we need to have a huge gathering with us all at someone's house (this year it was around a huge fire in a housemate's backyard with bbq dinner, and a rock climbing wall he's now built on the side of his house), and whoever's in town sometime in December. Even though we all left the share house 9 years ago.

Last year when Lexx had his appendix out, he got discharged from hospital, had a 2 hour nap, and then insisted on coming to House Christmas, as it wasn't Christmas if he didn't go.

[Sandra, Moderator]

:) sounds great, Rusalka.

[Sarah]

It does sound like a great tradition you have there Rusalka.

[Debra]

That sound so wonderful, Rusalka. Lexx is such a trouper! Sounds like my sister!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

He was propped up in the corner after a couple of hours.

[Debra]

Rusalka wrote: "He was propped up in the corner after a couple of hours."

Lol! When I party it's without my hubby. He doesn't drink, so he'd prefer to stay home with our girls (Scout and Shadow - our kitties). Not sure if I'm going to the usual New Year's shindig this year a our friend's home. Almeta and I used to go and be the last ones out the door. These days, I like seeing everyone, have a couple of drinks, and then I'm ready to go home well before midnight strikes and the ball falls in Times Square. Also, it seems I can't be arsed lately with fixing myself up in a flattering outfit and putting on makeup. I find my favorite place is in my bed with my little family around me... WITH A GOOD BOOK, of course!