TCF Monopoly Maddison vs Nikk vs Laurence

[Maddie]

Rolled 4+3=7
Start: Just Visiting
End: Community Chest
Roll: 3+6=9
Task: Advance to St. Charles Place (owned by me)

Rolled 6+2=8
Start: St. Charles Place
End: New York Avenue (owned by me)

Rolled 3+1=4
Start: New York Avenue
End: Indiana Avenue
Task: 1 5-star

Well that took a while!

[Maddie]

Indiana Avenue Completion

Task: Read a book from the 5-star shelf
How it fits: 5-star shelf
Date read: 11/1/17
Rating: 3 stars

Review: I went into this book really uncertain. I was really put off by the font size, that was for sure, and the length and the format. I'd heard differing views on it. I didn't really know what to expect. Once I got into it, I think I liked it? Definitely not a favourite, as it was kind of confusing in places. Definitely not a book to read in one sitting. Quite complex. I liked finding out about the (view spoiler)[way the Dragon took the girls to keep the Wood at bay, and also how the heart-trees were people trying to keep their land. (hide spoiler)] I like (view spoiler)[Agniezska's devotion to Kasia, that was really awesome. Also liked how the romance wasn't that much of a big part. (hide spoiler)]

Please this isn't a series though. Couldn't stomach another book.

[Maddie]

Rolled 3+2=5
Start: Indiana Avenue (owned by me)
End: Water Works
Task: Read a sad book

[Maddie]

Water Works Completion

Task: Read a book that made me sad
How it fits: Made me sad
Date read: 28/1
Rating: 2 stars

Review: This was a TERRIBLE book!! For the hype I'd heard about it, it was terrible.. Worst book I'd read in a looong while. I was seriously considering DNFing it, and I don't think I've ever DNFed a book. I didn't want to though because of all of the challenges it worked for, and the length of time I took to read it.

The ending is where it made up for me, but it still doesn't deserve any more than 2 stars XD It was such a let down. I don't know how I dragged my way through it.

About Patroclus, I really liked how he (view spoiler)[considered a family with Briseis, while still being with Achilles. And I liked the way he took that oath to save her. That was really honourable. And the way he stood up to Achilles. (hide spoiler)]

As for Achilles, (view spoiler)[just no. Far too arrogant, so frustrating. His honour over all of those people? His pride?? I just didn't understand that. Clearly back then it was really important, but it was just crazy. I like the way Briseis got so angry at him after Patroclus death. (hide spoiler)]

I actually didn't remember any of this from what I learnt in history, so it was actually all a surprise when (view spoiler)[Patroclus (hide spoiler)] and then (view spoiler)[Achilles (hide spoiler)] died, which was quite good.

[Maddie]

Rolled 5+2=7
Start: Water Works (owned by me)
End: Short Line Railroad
Task: Read a 25pg min novella

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Free Parking Completion

Task: Read any book 100 pages or more.
How it fits: More than 100 pages long
Date read: 29/1
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review: I read this for a challenge and I wasn't sure whether i would like this or not even though I love most of Stephen King's fiction work. I found it really quite interesting and quite inspiring. It made me want to start thinking about writing again which is something I haven't really done seriously in a while. I also found it quite interesting reading more about Stephen King's life and how it has influenced some of his works. Overall a really great read and I gave it 4 1/2 stars

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Rolled : 6 + 4 = 10
Start: Free parking
Finish: Go To Jail
2nd roll (to attempt to throw doubles and get out of jail: 1 + 4 = 5 -no doubles :-(
Task: read a book where a character is arrested or has been in jail.

edit: May attempt to roll again tomorrow if my current read does fit above task as per FAQ

[Maddie]

Awesome! :D

[Maddie]

Short Line Railroad Completion

Task: Read a 25pg novella
How it fits: 28 pages
Date read: 10/3/17
Rating: 3 stars

Review: Not sure if this book had any point at all really. It didn't provide any insight after reading the first book, but then I suppose it would have been a little more helpful if I'd read it before Snow Like Ashes XD It kind of confused me a little swapping from present day to 6 years ago, but I liked how it shows (view spoiler)[the fall of her mother figure and 2 of their 10 remaining hopes. (hide spoiler)] It took me a while to realise that Crystalla (view spoiler)[wasn't her age, and was an adult. (hide spoiler)] It was nice to get back into this series after quite a long break. I will be continuing.

[Maddie]

Rolled 5+2=7
Start: Short Line (owned by me)
End: Community Chest
Rolled 2+2=4
Task: Bossy character

[Maddie]

Yay read a novella finally :)

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Go To Jail Completion Post

Task: read a book where a character is arrested or has been in jail.
Book: King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard
How it fits: MC is arrested by the Kings guards and put in cell
Date read: 6/3/17
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review: This book was utterly intense and compelling. Over 500 pages long and I couldn't put it down. There was so much going on in this book and so many under currents and cross purposes and I loved every minute. The only thing mildy disappointing is that for some reason I though it was the conclusion to ther series (its not) and that's not actually such a bad thing as I can't wait to read more of this thrilling series.

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Rolled 6+2=8
Start: IN Jail
End: Tennessee Avenue
Task: 2012 Shelf

[Maddie]

What book was it? There's no cover XD

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Maddison wrote: "What book was it? There's no cover XD"

LOL! I was rushing to post before heading in to a meeting. That'll teach me to rush! Have edited my completion post :-P

[Maddie]

Haha alright.

[Maddie]

Oh it's King's Cage XD I can't wait to read that!

[Maddie]

Card Completion

Task: Read a book with a bossy character
How it fits: Bossy characters
Date read: 16/3/17
Rating: 5 stars

Review: I really have no idea how to rate this book. Somewhere between 4-5 stars. I've never read anything like it. And even though I basically read it all today, I'm not sure I properly understood it. It is so complex, and there's so much happening. This is a book I could re-read forever and every time I read it I'll uncover something new. I'm definitely not done with this book. It'll be a re-read for sure. Pleased I read it, as it's been something I've been looking forward to for a while.

Things I liked:
The layout, like the different patterns/formations for the words
The changes in POV
The variance in the forms of telling the story, like the articles, conversations, thoughts and stuff
I liked the character development, the way the characters evolve, the way that (view spoiler)[many of them die as it would happen in real life, no miracles really here, apart from the ending, but really what did you expect. (hide spoiler)]
It was actually really gory and horrific.
The relationship (view spoiler)[between Ezra and Kady. How they broke up over something silly but then got together in the end. I thought they were actually over, but then we uncover some things. I mean, the whole thing with AIDAN impersonating Ezra just to get to Kady was cruel, and such a plot twist, but I'm so pleased that they both lived. (hide spoiler)]
I loved the pictures they made with the words. The one word repeated over and over on the same page in different shades to create a picture was just astounding. I looked at them for a while.
The humour in the book between all of the characters
The seriousness
The suspense
The bluntness
The breath-holding
I just felt really immersed

Things I disliked:
Sometimes the way the words were displayed on the page, eg curving around the pages, upside down, vertical, spirals. It was a little confusing.
The way that I had soooo many questions going into the book, I felt like I couldn't properly grasp what was happening because I was so confused. My buddy reading this book with me (Erin) will know all about my questions :p

As of writing this review, I've actually upped my rating to 5 stars XD I liked writing this review, made me think more about the book. So yeahp, 5 stars for this one. Got no clue what's in the second one, but so keen to read it. Probably about (view spoiler)[Leanne, Heimdall and the rest of what she was talking to Leanne about in the final conversation. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Rolled 5+3=8
Start: Community Chest
End: Just Visiting
Task: 50 pg novella

Are you kidding? I just took ages to read a novella, and now I need to read another one!

[Maddie]

Just Visiting Completion

Task: Read a 50pg novella
How it fits: 73 pages
Date read: 7/4/16
Rating: 3 stars

Review: I really liked this one, especially as it was from Stone and Thimble's POV, alternating chapters, who were characters from the first book. And in this book it even references #0.5, the novella Foundation, as they (view spoiler)[found a journal that Robin wrote. (hide spoiler)] I liked the way that (view spoiler)[Stone and Thimble grew together, and how Stone kept his son :) Just thought it was weird how quickly Stone grew attached to Thimble. (hide spoiler)] Really hoping we get some more insight into their story later on :)

[Maddie]

Rolled 5+6=11
Start: Just Visiting
End: Kentucky Avenue
Task: 1 2011

[Maddie]

Kentucky Avenue Completion

Task: Read a book from the 2011 shelf
How it fits: 2011 shelf
Date read: 8/4/17
Rating: 4 stars

Review: Pleased I'm re-reading this series :) Even though it's definitely just for children, I'm liking the familiarity of the writing, and the way Snicket embraces the audience by directing comments at us :) And the artful way of including us in the story, particularly by repeating the same sentence 3 or 4 times to make is feel like we're in it with Klaus. One thing I didn't like was (view spoiler)[the lack of emotion, almost? The lack of sadness at the start, when their parents died, and the lack of investigation surrounding their death. (hide spoiler)] But I'm still determined to get to the end of this series for a change :)

[Maddie]

Rolled 6+1=7
Start: Kentucky Avenue (owned by me)
End: Water Works (owned by me)

Rolled 2+1=3
Start: Water Works (owned by me)
End: Pacific Avenue (owned by Nikk)
Task: 4 standalones

This is going to take me months. I don't read standalones.

[Maddie]

First Pacific Avenue Completion

Task: Read a book from the stand-alone shelf
How it fits: Stand-alone shelf
Date read: 24/4/17
Rating: 5 stars

Review: Second time reading Black Ice, and I still loved it. It's funny because I watched a video on YouTube about books someone hated and this one was one of them, due to the 'retarded characters and the stupid decisions they make'. It's crazy how much people's opinions change. I really enjoyed this book, and found it relatable XD I'm kind of exactly like Britt. Not sure how to think about that... I loved the twists, (view spoiler)[with Mason being on the mountain, Shaun having 'killed' those girls, but then it not being Shaun, and it actually being Calvin, and Lauren being Jude's brother.' (hide spoiler)] I'd forgotten about all of that. What I don't understand is (view spoiler)[if Jude is Lauren's brother, why did they have different last names, and why was he not back with his parents? (hide spoiler)] He probably explained that, but I didn't get it XD One thing I thought was unbelievable was that (view spoiler)[they'd actually meet up a year later, and both still be obsessed with each other. That's slightly far-fetched... I wish we'd also heard more about her friends and what they did after that, whether they worked out. (hide spoiler)] Loved this book :D