Team Readers without Borders

[Angie ☯]

I guess we could do the "Spell it out" option for the task - both countries have 7 letters....I think that allows for max points. Not sure though, we would need to check that. But it's the "last straw" or sting instrument that will be trickier! :)

[Angie ☯]

Elinaly wrote: "Look at the leader board - we are on 1st place!!! Yay! "

Way to go, ladies!!!!

[Elinaly]

Angie wrote: "I guess we could do the "Spell it out" option for the task - both countries have 7 letters....I think that allows for max points. Not sure though, we would need to check that. But it's the "last st..."

Yes, I prefer spell-it-out also!

[Elinaly]

Calling Helen - how are you, dear Helen?
Have you decided already what will you read for this week.
Are you alright? Haven't heard from you for awhile... :)

[Martina]

I'm in Tokyo, Japan, sorry for disappearing but these days have been intense! I don't know if I will be able to finish the book according to plans also because of time zones and things to do in my new home! Is it a great problem? I can read very fast if necessary :)

[Elinaly]

Martina good to hear you have safely landed in Tokyo! How's the weather there? Better or worse than in Italy?

And don't worry - I don't think it would hurt us to stay couple of more days in USA. We are supposed to enjoy our books and not to force speed ourselves up because of this crazy race :)

Thank you for warning! :)
And let us know when you are ready!

Most important is - lets try not to just dissapear. We all have our lives to live outside GR, but I believe we can always say a word or two if we need more time etc.
So thank you Martina for letting us know in time! :)

[Helen]

Elinaly wrote: "Calling Helen - how are you, dear Helen?
Have you decided already what will you read for this week.
Are you alright? Haven't heard from you for awhile... :)"

Sorry I have not been in touch. My Mom went to the ER on the 28th and she had an irregular heart beat. Since then I have taken her to follow up dr apts and met with Home Care to set up help for her. Also meetings with Lawyers for power of attorney. I either buy or cook lunch for her every day. I am just a bit overwhelmed.

I am reading The Eighth Guardian by Meredith McCardle on Kindle and These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

I will add one of these to the spreadsheet.

[Elinaly]

Oh, so sorry to hear that Helen! Please forgive me my impatience.
I hope everything goes well for you!

[Helen]

Elinaly wrote: "Oh, so sorry to hear that Helen! Please forgive me my impatience.
I hope everything goes well for you!"

No problem. It is nice to have someone concerned about me. All is going well right now. I have been reading to Mom. She like Cowboys.

[Jackie]

I hope your mom gets better soon, Helen, and that you're doing well.

[Martina]

In Japan the weather is quite disappointing: with the cherry trees and all the "hanami" stuff I thought i would be sunny and warm...but it's not :( Anyway with friends and things to arrange I'm enjoying myself with all the new things I see everyday :)
Thank you, I will try not to disappear! Anyway, the book is really nice but quite tricky at the beginning, now it's getting easier to follow:)
Helen, I'm really sorry for your mother and truly hope everything gets well again

[Jackie]

Completion Post

Book: Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
How it fits: #445 on Best Crime & Mystery Books list
Date: 4/2/16
Rating: 4 stars

[Dima]

When we do spell-it-out, do we use author's name or title?

[Jackie]

Completion Post

Book: A Killer Read by Erika Chase
How it fits: Shelved as 2013 on first page of "top shelves"
Date: 3/30/16
Rating: 4 stars

[Elinaly]

Dima wrote: "When we do spell-it-out, do we use author's name or title?"

In spell-it-out we can use the first letter in the book’s title, the first letter of the series name, the first letter in the author’s first or last name, or the first letter of a character’s first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter in the audiobook narrators first or last name.
If you are reading a translated version, you can also use the first letter of the translator's first or last name.

As always, if the first letter of a title starts with ‘A’, ‘An’, ‘The’, etc., you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word.


I think we should do spell-it-out for the third stop, do you all agree?

[Helen]

I agree to spell-it-out on third stop.

Thanks for your wishes for Mom. Mom is 96 and can still take care of herself very well but she forgets what she was going to do next. She cannot prepare meals now. Although she does not like it, she has agreed to have help in the mornings. Then I take over and fix lunch and other afternoon things.

I am almost finished with shelved as 2013 book.

[Jackie]

I also agree with doing the spellout for the third stop.

[Dima]

So I found a book on GR's list for books that take place in Iceland but the description isn't really clear on that.

The Atlantis Complex By Eoin Colfer

It can be used in the spell-it-out either the letter A (Atlantis), C ( Complex or Colfer), or E ( Eoin)

[Elinaly]

Dima wrote: "So I found a book on GR's list for books that take place in Iceland but the description isn't really clear on that.
..."

Great! So many options :)
Updated our spreadsheet!

[Elinaly]

Helen wrote: "I agree to spell-it-out on third stop.

Thanks for your wishes for Mom. Mom is 96 and can still take care of herself very well but she forgets what she was going to do next. She cannot prepare meal..."

96... wow! That's... a lot :)

That is so lovely that you read to her - your mom is so lucky to have a daughter like you, Helen :)
I also like very much to read to others. So I'm thankful that every evening before my children go to sleep I can read to them (gives me excuse to read fairy tales and "silly" children books also, heheheee). Though I'm afraid the oldest will tell me soon something like: "Mom, you realise I can read myself, right...?" Lol.

[Monika]

I can cover these letters in spell out with books I read since starting challenge. So just pick one, which would suit us.

I
C - Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
E - Engaging the Enemy by Elizabeth Moon
L - Liberation by Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau
A - The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
N - The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
D - Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr

[Elinaly]

Monika wrote: "I can cover these letters in spell out with books I read since starting challenge. So just pick one, which would suit us.

I
C - Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
E - Engaging the Enemy by Elizabeth Moon
..."

Very nice!! :)

[Monika]

Also I did some digging through my ebooks for "last straw" quota. Here are the books I found.

[Angie ☯]

Monika wrote: "Also I did some digging through my ebooks for "last straw" quota. Here are the books I found.....>

Monika - how did you search for the quote in the books?

[Monika]

I manage my ebooks in Calibre and there is plugin called Quality Check that allows me to search phrases through all added books at once.

[Elinaly]

Monika wrote: "Also I did some digging through my ebooks for "last straw" quota. Here are the books I found.
..."

Ohhh, I just read , but I couldn't find it. And Amazons -> "look inside" didn't give a chance to search from there. Can you tell me a page nr or something? The whole sentence? I have a paper copy of this book.

But anyway, this is fantastic - I can use it! :)
Monika you just saved me, I was so worried for this detour, lol.
Thank you so much!!

[Elinaly]

Angie wrote: "Monika - how did you search for the quote in the books?"

I usually go to Amazon.com -> find the book -> from above the picture click "look inside" -> in left side there is "Search inside this book" -> tap "last straw" and if its in the book, it gives you a page nr and the sentence where it is.

Not all books have this option though.

[Monika]

Its in second chapter around 14% of book.

Whole paragraph is:
"Oh, no," she breathed. "That's not the last straw. That's the home fleet, coming to the rescue. Come, my pretties," she coaxed. "Come to Mama."

[Elinaly]

Monika wrote: "Its in second chapter around 14% of book.

Whole paragraph is:
"Oh, no," she breathed. "That's not the last straw. That's the home fleet, coming to the rescue. Come, my pretties," she coaxed. "Come..."

Thanks!!!
I'm saved! :)

[Monika]

Elinaly wrote: Thanks!!!
I'm saved! :)

I am glad to help. :)

[Elinaly]

Completion Post


Translation of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
How it fits: # 123 in the "Best Crime & Mystery Books" Listopia List
Read date: 4/05/2016
Rating: 2 stars

Dear God... I´m disgusted.
It was not an easy read and such emotional roller coaster, though not a pleasant one.
Seriously - don´t read it if you have weak nervous system, because nothing is sacred to the author, not animals, not children - nothing!!
I will never ever read it again and I don´t want to (any time soon) read any similar books to this one. The movie can´t be ever so terrifying as the detailed describings in this book are.
The only things I liked about this book were its clever humor, sarcasm and satire.
But yeah, I was in shock after finishing the book.

Think twice before you start reading it! There are so many beautiful books to read... lol!

[Elinaly]

Angie I see that you are also reading it.
Please share your feelings after you´re done with it... :)

(And Martina... seriously... think twice!)

[Elinaly]

So Martina , please let us know when you are done with your book for this stop!

The moment you finish the book we are ready to fly... so stay tuned everybody! ;)

[Helen]

For I Inside Out by Maria Snyder

I am still reading the book for Canada. When do I need to have completed it?

[Elinaly]

Helen wrote: "For I Inside Out by Maria Snyder

I am still reading the book for Canada. When do I need to have completed it?"

We have to wait for Martina first.
Starting from the day she finishes her USA book we all have a week to read our Canada books.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Ok whats the next stop up so I can start looking for something to read.

[Martina]

Actually, I'm living in a house of horrors since my landing, so I may take time to finish, I'm so very sorry, but right now I've got so much to sort out :( Today I discovered I may have issues with credit and debit cards so I will have to find a way to pay for 4 months without even withdrawing, which is, I guess, impossible. I'll let you know as I find my way out of burocracy and banks :)

[Elinaly]

Martina wrote: "Actually, I'm living in a house of horrors since my landing, so I may take time to finish, I'm so very sorry, but right now I've got so much to sort out :( Today I discovered I may have issues with..."

House of horrors.... mwuah-hah-haa...
Sry, so not funny.
Fingers crossed that everything will go as smoothly as it possibly can for you :)

[Elinaly]

Shy The WidowMaker wrote: "Ok whats the next stop up so I can start looking for something to read."

In Halifax (Canada) waits us an interesting detour:
Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as 2013 - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable.

See the hints from post here.

[Angie ☯]

Elinaly wrote: "Angie I see that you are also reading it.
Please share your feelings after you´re done with it... :)

(And Martina... seriously... think twice!)"

I am already seeing that I am going to have the same reaction as you had Elinaly!! It is taking me longer than normal, as I keep putting it aside.... update when I am finished.

[Elinaly]

Martina, how are you doing? Checking on just so that you won´t forget us :)

Do you think you could finish your book in this weekend, perhaps?

[Martina]

Ehy! Kind of made it out of my terrible first days on the other side of the boreal emisphere XD I'm getting used to food(not REALLY what you would expect in Japan)and learning how to use my cards and finally started enjoying the city! ** I finished my book today and...not an easy read, with the problems here and all the deadlines to respect and documents to sign I did not have time to read, sorry! The book was not bad, but did not go smoothly, in my opinion...even though I really loved some sentences! Try having a look,but only if you stand books that may get boring XD
So,ready for a new trip,this time a easier book for me ** I will think it over about American Psycho, thank you for the advice! :)

[Elinaly]

Yay!! Off we go!
Martina you always read classics and ... hmmm.. how to say it... more "serious" books, so I really am interested what you think of Divergent :)
Let me know please after you have finished it, ok? :)

[Elinaly]

Next flight:
... to Halifax (CANADA)!



Luckily not such a long flight as usual ;)

[Elinaly]

My dear teamies, welcome to Halifax!



2nd week in business class:

9.April - 15. April (please try to finish your books latest on 16th April)
Detour : Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as 2013 - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable.

Our spreadsheet
LEADER BOARD

Though we lost couple of days we are still doing fantastic - moving to 1st place again! I'm so glad we are doing this with the same teammates from the very beginning!! So proud of you all!!! :)
Sry, getting a bit emotional here... lol

[Elinaly]

Shy, have you decided what you plan to read (register) for this week?

[Jackie]

Looking ahead, I read a book that could be used for the 'I' in ICELAND. It's I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.

[Martina]

Interesting title! Actually, I like less serious books as well, but lately I may be getting "older" and boring, so I tend to read classics and serious stuff XD I'll let you know as I read, but I chose it after watching the movie and I want to give it a chance to make me change my mind :) Great place this Halifax! **
Good read everyone and thank you for keeping me some company here in this strange land :)

[Elinaly]

Martina wrote: "Interesting title! Actually, I like less serious books as well, but lately I may be getting "older" and boring, so I tend to read classics and serious stuff XD I'll let you know as I read, but I ch..."

I also read Divergent after watching the movie (the first time I did it this way, usually I first read a book and then watch the movie) and well.. if you didn't like the movie I don't think you will like the books so much either or vice versa. For me it was 3 star movie and book.

[Elinaly]

Completion Post #2 (Canada)


Wool by Hugh Howey
Read date: 4/10/2016
Rating: 5 stars
How it fits: shelved as 2013 (#4, page 1).

I absolutely loved this book!!! In my opinion it's a must read for all dystopian fans. I loved the world author created! There are elements from Hunger Games, Wayward Pines and even The Martian, but it's still unique and original idea, nail-biting and fascinating story!