BOTNS #282: BOTNS Summer Reading Bingo!

[Cory Day]

Don wrote: "Went to the beach last weekend and read The Surgeon in two days for Thriller Square. Very fast for me. It was a page turner, but not for everyone. Probably the most horrific and graphi..."

Hm, that is harder than you'd think. The only one I could think of was Everything Is Illuminated... but that did lead to this, which might help: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4....

[Sue]

Snow Crash is my favorite Neal Stephenson, too. It totally blew me away. My son is 14 and I can't wait to put it in his hands.

In a similar vein, you can't really go wrong with Neuromancer, either.

Janet wrote: "Kate wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions for SF! I think I am going to try as my GR friends that have read it seemed to really like it. Also,..."

[Amy]

Janet wrote: "Wool Omnibus: The first short story is by far the best part of the novel, but it's a fascinating dystopia future society. ,..."

Agreed. I never read SF, but I picked up "Wool Omnibus" last summer on a whim. I liked it a lot better than I thought I would.

[Valerie]

Linda wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Any suggestions for a one word title? I like mysteries, non-fiction, and novels from other countries. Thanks!"

Zeitoun nonfiction, I thi..."

Thanks for all the great ideas!! I'm overwhelmed!

[Valerie]

Sharing what I've read so far....

Graphic Novel - Relish - great for foodies

With A Child on the Cover -

The Truth About Alice - YA, very good

Set in Another Country - The Penny Thief - Takes place in France; clever

Biography - The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin - Very dark but good

[Sue]

One More Thing by B.J. Novak.

Julie wrote: "Okay...this should be an easy one, but for some reason no books are coming to my mind that fit this category. I'm looking for a book with only words on the cover. Any suggestions?

I thought of o..."

[Victoria]

And who's got some child on the cover ideas?

[Adore]

i liked



if you want a book with a child on the cover.

[Rachel W]

Victoria wrote: "And who's got some child on the cover ideas?"

I read We the Animals, but you could also use Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children,The Little Prince, or I Know This Much Is True

[Victoria]

Ok. Good ideas. I've already read 2 of those 5 suggestions and one I abandoned. Maybe a rereading of The Little Prince ...

[Don]

BINGO!
Bird Box 5 star horror apocalypse (recommended by BOTNS square),
The Surgeon a real page turner - 2 day beach read (Thriller/Suspense),
Stardust (Movie of book I have read- Free Square),
The Big Sleep where classic noir language all began (reread something),
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie A real find. I never would have read this without Bingo!(cosy mystery)
I'm now going for Bingo on another card before Summer's end.

[Kate]

Ann wrote: "Kate wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions for SF! I think I am going to try as my GR friends that have read it seemed to really like it. Also,..."

Ann, I am cringing as I write this, but.....I put The Sparrow down halfway through and in retrospect I think it was the wrong time for me to read it. I will pick it up again as I liked it for the most part, but I had too many distractions and needed something lighter. On the plus side, I gave it to my niece who loved it ("one of the best books ever!!"). She is urging me to give it another try so I think I will. I borrowed Hitchhiker's guide from the library, so I will finish it for my bingo card and use The Sparrow for recommended in a BOTNS episode.

[[deleted user]]

This is great! Printed off my bingo card and I'm wondering if anyone has some suggestions for my "by a small press" square?

[Jana]

Shawn wrote: "This is great! Printed off my bingo card and I'm wondering if anyone has some suggestions for my "by a small press" square?"

I used Parnassus On Wheels for my small press square. It was a delightful!

[Victoria]

I think there is a list of small press ideas up higher in the thread.

[Sandy]

I have "book you've seen someone else reading" - this turns out to be hard - bus riders all have e-readers

[Andrea]

Sandy, you can look over my shoulder! I'm currently reading Philomena, A Suitable Boy, Catch-22, and Gone Girl. I finished Cinder, Brother Fish, and Last Days of Summer in the last two days. All good!

[Shona]

OK, I have a question. I was looking for a book by a small press for one of my bingo cards and I found one called Red or Dead by David Peace published by Melville House, but when I checked Goodreads for different editions it also has editions published by Faber & Faber. So I'm confused..does more than one publisher publish a book in hardback or paperback or is it one company with different branches? Not sure if I should use this book now for my small press square.

[Sandy]

Andrea wrote: "Sandy, you can look over my shoulder! I'm currently reading Philomena, A Suitable Boy, Catch-22, and Gone Girl. I finished Cinder, Brother Fish, and Last Days of Summer in the last two days. All..."

Wow, four at once! I've considered both Gone Girl and Catch 22 for the "read by everyone but you" category. Guess I could read both books and fill two categories. I just request Code Name Verity, audio version, for my YA square. And I'm next in line for the 21st Stephanie Plum - either best seller or 2014 squares.

[Melissa]

I don't have a Twitter account, but just noticed on BOTNS twitter page they were asking for some updates on Bingo...I am happy to report I have completed 7 squares. I am close to Bingo on two rows. And I have done this with all books currently in my "to be read" pile and basically reading what I want and then determining if it fits a square when I am done. This is such fun!

[Linda]

Sandy wrote: "I have "book you've seen someone else reading" - this turns out to be hard - bus riders all have e-readers"

So, ask the person, "What are you reading?" or go to a bookstore or the library.

[Shona]

I've got 5 bingo cards and I'm close to Bingo on a couple. Some books work on more than one card... On one card Americanah fills my square of "only words on the cover" and another card I used it to fill the square "by an author of a different culture". I only use a book once on each card. I'm reading a play right now to fill a square - The History Boys, and I am still looking for a book by an author that shares me name.

[Kate]

I have completed 6 squares with 3 in the same row. I am reading 2 books: , The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for the SF square and , The Killer Angels for Historical Fiction (and also for One of my book clubs). I have been reading from the library and have been able to fit books into squares: , Terminal City which is set in the place where I live, , The Silkworm which is set in another country and , The Vacationers which is published in 2014.

[Sandy]

Status:
I have four in a row on one (3 and a half really as one book is still in process). At Home in Mitford for 'found in used bookstore'; The Story of the Human Body for nonfiction, two Agatha Christie collections for 10 short stories, and An Officer and a Spy for historical fiction (really enjoying this - listening to the audio). I'm missing 'only words on the cover' which I could fill with "Congratulations by the Way" but at only 13 minutes long I feel I would be cheating myself.
One another card I also have four with the additions of Back Bay (set where you live) and Treasure Island (published before 1970). I need 'saw someone else reading'.

[Amy]

I've filled 8 squares each on two different cards--but no bingo yet! I've been just reading what I want and then finding which square to check off. I'm going to have to get more targeted with my selections if I am to ever have a hope of getting a bingo.

[Sandy]

I, like others, have been working from my TBR list - but will have problems if I need 'unfinished' or 'book you thought you would not like'

[Laura]

I've filled up three or four spots so far (card is not with me to check) and have been trying to borrow books from the library to fulfill various others, like graphic novel, book on the bestseller list, etc. With two months to go until Labor Day, I'm sure I'll get a bingo and I've got an outside chance at filling the card.

[Tim]

Is Amazon Crossing considered a small press?

[Becky]

6 squares, the closest I have to a BINGO so far is a line of 3 in a diagonal...

[Michael]

Don wrote: "BINGO!
Bird Box 5 star horror apocalypse (recommended by BOTNS square),
The Surgeon a real page turner - 2 day beach read (Thriller/Suspense),
Stardust (Movie of book..."

Congrats Don! Great book choices too!

[Michael]

Tim wrote: "Is Amazon Crossing considered a small press?"

I'd vote no.

Some great Small Press options are Graywolf, Other Press, Dzanc Books, Akashic Press, Unbridled, Melville House, Soho Press.

[Tim]

Thanks Michael for answering my question. Found a book at Melville House, A Highly Unlikely Scenario. Says it is similar to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, one of my favorite books of all times.

[Tim]

So far I have seven squares done, hope to finish at least two more by the end of the week. I have really enjoyed playing bingo! ! ! Going for a card that is completely done by Labor day. Thanks for the challenge! ! !

[Suzan]

I finally posted on my blog about the BOTNS Summer Reading Bingo:

http://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2014/0...

I have 6 squares filled in so far, though not all in a row. Having fun!

Sue

[Laura]

Would university presses be considered small presses? Obviously some universities are larger than others . . . I think it would work.

[Ann]

Yes, I would think University presses would be considered in the same vein as small presses.

[Linda]

I have read twelve books since this began, but stopped paying attention to the paperwork (I wasn't going to let it guide my reading) until a few minutes ago. I discovered the only thing keeping e from a quick bingo was reading a novella. Since I'm at work, I'm checking out The Pearl and I should be yelling, "Bingo!" before the weekend is over.

[Victoria]

I've been reading so much since we started, but still didn't have a Bingo. I think it can be hard if you're not making a concerted effort to read for the bingo squares. I have a lot of squares filled in, but wasn't getting anywhere. But anyway, yay me, I finally got a Bingo!

Currently on best seller list: The Silkworm
Started but never finished: Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America's War With Militant Islam
FREE square
Set in another country: The Cold Song
Different gender: We Are Not Ourselves

[Karen]

I'm one block away! What are some names for a Small Press?

[Victoria]

Melville House is one I know Karen. I know Ann or others posted a group of them somewhere up the thread.

[Karen]

Victoria wrote: "Melville House is one I know Karen. I know Ann or others posted a group of them somewhere up the thread."

Thanks Victoria! I must have missed that post.

[Valerie]

Finished A Land Without Jasmine for the novella square. It would work for set in another country as well. Writer is from Yemen and all the action takes place there.

Hope everyone had a happy 4th!

[Melissa]

I have seven squares covered, but none in a row. That's just fine, because I am trying to cover all of the squares.

Set in another country: The Silkworm
Audiobook: Americanah
That everyone but you has read: The Secret History
Recommended by a librarian or bookseller: So Long, See You Tomorrow
A classic that you should have read in school: Benito Cereno
That you chose because of the cover: Ancillary Justice
Part of a series: Bad News

[Amanda]

Does anyone have any suggestions for "By an author of a different culture"? I searched the Goodreads lists, but nothing really caught my eye.

[Lara]

Amanda wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions for "By an author of a different culture"? I searched the Goodreads lists, but nothing really caught my eye."

Oh my goodness, the possibilities are endless. Assuming you are not Columbian, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a great option. I loved One Hundred Years of Solitude. I also like anything by Clarice Lispector, who is Brazilian, especially Near to the Wild Heart. Milan Kundera, who is Czech, is also a good option.

[Amy]

Amanda wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions for "By an author of a different culture"? I searched the Goodreads lists, but nothing really caught my eye."

I am partial to novels by Indian authors. For that square on my own card, I am contemplating either Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry or Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra. If you haven't read any of them yet (and if you aren't Indian!), I'd suggest anything by Thrity Umrigar. I've enjoyed all of her books.

[Amy]

Finally got a BINGO!

Historical fiction: The Good Lord Bird
Thriller/suspense: Before We Met
Part of a series: Cat's Claw
That everyone but me has read: Me Before You
With a number in the title: Three Wishes

Now I just have to finish the graphic novel I'm reading (Watchmen) and I'll have another bingo in another row!

This is fun. :)

[Victoria]

Congrats, Amy!

I know there are no rules, but... Does anyone think Bruno, Chief Of Police qualifies as a cozy mystery? I want it to, but I was thinking more of those "red velvet cupcake" or Flavia Deluce books. I'm not really familiar with that genre. In general. LOL.

[Janet]

Jose Saramago...I just bought The Double because there is a movie out starring Jake Gyllenhall but he has some better known works and he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998.

[Michael]

Victoria wrote: "Congrats, Amy!

I know there are no rules, but... Does anyone think Bruno, Chief Of Police qualifies as a cozy mystery?"

the description says "small French village," so I'd say yes, it does qualify!