Team Buttercup

[Kate S]

I am glad to see everyone's reading plans coming together!

Currently reading:

Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope
0 (stand alone)
2 (author surname)

1st to Die by James Patterson
Valentine's Part 1: Read by Angie, originally published Feb 2001

Will fill in more information as we move forward.

Finished:

(view spoiler)[The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Date: 2/3/17
0 (stand alone)
1 (setting: Oceanside)
2 (title: The)
6 (character: Luke Sheppard)
8 (Character: Aubrey Evans)
9 (character: Nadia)

Daredevils by Shawn Vestal
Date: 2/3/17
0 (standalone)
3 (character: Dean Header)
6 (author first name: Shawn)
7 (author surname: Vestal)
8 (character Evel Knievel)

City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan
Date: 2/3/17
0 (stand alone)
1 (author surname: O'Nan)
6 (author first name: Stewart)
8 (character: Eva)

The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell
Date: 2/4/17
2 (series)
3 (author first name: Henning)
Skip (character: Kurt)

Your Fathers, Where Are They? And the Prophets, Do They Live Forever? by Dave Eggers
Date: 2/4/17
0 (stand alone)
2 (character: Thomas)
3 (character surname: Mr. Hanson)
8 (author surname: Eggers)
Skip: (character: Kev)

Sudden Death by Álvaro Enrigue
Date: 2/4/17
0 (stand alone)
6 (title: Sudden)
8 (author surname: Enrigue)

The Human Stain by Philip Roth
Date: 2/4/17
0 (character surname: Zuckerman)
2 (title: The)
3 (series)
4 (character first name: Faunia)
6 (character surname: Silk)
8 (character first name: Ernestine)
9 (character first name: Nelson)
Skip (author first name: Philip)

Selection Day by Aravind Adiga
date: 2/7/17
0 (stand alone)
5 (setting: India)
6 (title)

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
date: 2/7/17
1 (series)
2 (title: The)
6 (author surname: Sparks)
9 (title: Notebook)
Reverse (Jess)

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Date: 2/7/17
0 (stand alone)
2 (title: The)

13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad
Date: 2/9/17
0 (stand alone)
1 (in title)
2 (title starts with T)
3 (in title)

The Regional Office Is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales
2/9/17
0 (stand alone)
1 (Oyemi-character)
2 (title)
3 (character: Henry)
6 (Sarah-character)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2 by John Tiffany
2/9/17
2 (author surname: Tiffany)
3 (title: Harry)
6 (character: Scorpius)
8 (series)
Skip (character surname: Potter)
Reverse (Raah)

The Never-Open Desert Diner by James Anderson
Date: 2/11/17
0 (stand alone)
2 (title)
9 (title)

We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge
Date: 2/11/17
0 (stand alone)
4 (Freeman-characters)
Skip (author)

The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story
Date: 2/11/17
0 (standalone)
2 (title: The)
6 (title: Stranger)

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
Date: 2/11/17
0 (stand alone)
3 (title: Hillbilly)
7 (author surname: Vance)

The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante
Date: 2/11/17
0 (stand alone)
1 (character: Olga)
2 (title: The)
4 (author surname: Ferrante)
8 (author first name: Elena)

Enchanted Islands by Allison Amend
Date: 2/14/17 (started before mini challenge)
0 (stand alone)
4 (character: Frances)
8 (title)

The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
Date: 2/14/17 (started before mini challenge)
0 (stand alone)
1 (character: Odile)
2 (title)
7 (character: Giuseppe Verdi)
8 (character Eugenie)
Skip (character: Pauline)

A Few of the Girls: Stories by Maeve Binchy
Date: 2/14/17 (started before mini challenge)
0 (stand alone)
1 (character: Ora)
4 (title)

Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet
Date 2/16/17
0 (stand alone)
6 (title)
9 (character: Ned)
Skip (character: Kay)
Valentine's Challenge:
12 Ned gives a Christmas gift to his daughter
17 New friendship is forged (Anna and Dan and others)
22 Kay is a nurse

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard
Date: 2/16/17
0 (stand alone)
2 (title)
Skip (character: Kermit)

High Dive
Date: 2/16/17
0 (stand alone)
3 (title: High)
4 (character: Freya)
7 (character Vivian)
Valentine's Day
13 Moose and Dan start and remain single
20 one of the three main characters is a young man (Dan)
21 one of the three main characters is a young woman (Freya)

The Flanders Panel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
0 (stand alone)
2 (title)
Skip (author surname)
Valentine's Day
3 Character named Julia

The Bones of Grace by Tahmima Anam
0 (character: Zubaida)
2 (title The)
3 (series)
5 (setting: India)
8 (character: Elijah)
Valentine's Day
4 Elijah and Zubaida fall in love
6 there is a first kiss
11 336 pages
28 set in India

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft started before the mini challenge began
0 (stand alone)
7 (title)

Beyond The Black Stump by Nevil Shute
Date: 2/21/17
0 (stand alone)
2 (title: The)
6 (author: Shute)
9 (author: Nevil)
Valentine's Day:
4 Stanton and Mollie fall in love
26 Stanton exchanges letters with his mother

The White Lioness by Henning Mankell
Date: 2/21/17
2 (series)
3 (author: Henning)
7 (character: Victor)
Skip (character: Kurt)
Valentine's Challenge:
13 Kurt Wallander starts and stays single

Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø
Date: 2/21/17
2 (series)
3 (character: Harry Hole)
9 (author: Nesbo)
Valentine's Day:
2 Jens Brekke spends time in prison
13 Harry Hole starts and remains single

Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt
1 (Series)
4 (Title: Forty)
Skip (Kelly)

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Date: 2/24/17
0 Stand alone
1 Character: Olly
8 Title
9 Author
Valentine's Day Part 1: Read by Emily 2/1/17
Fits for some part 2, can fill in if needed.

The Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue
Date: 2/24/17
0 Stand alone
2 Title: The
3 Character: Holly
4 Character: Fred
9 Character: Nick
Skip: Author: Keith
Valentine Part 1: Read in Feb 2015 by Donna

Art of a Jewish Woman: The True Story of How a Penniless Holocaust Escapee Became an Influential Modern Art Connoisseur by Henry N. Massie
Date: 2/24/17
0 (stand alone)
3 (author: Henry)
4 (character: Felice)
Valentine's Mini Challenge: Published 2/14/12

Mister Monkey by Francine Prose
Date: 2/24/17
0 (stand alone)
4 (author: Francine)
6 (character: Sonya)
8 (character: Eleanor)
Skip (Author: Prose)
Valentine Challenge: Part 2
14 Sonya and Greg go on a date
25 Shakespeare quote: "The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." (p. 6)
26 Margo receives a letter

The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron
Date: 2/25/17
1 (series)
2 (title: The)
Skip (Author first name)
Valentine: Added to shelves by Donna Feb 2010, read in March 2010

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
1 (series)
2 (character: Tieren)
3 (character: Holland)
6 (author surname)
7 (author first initial)
Skip (character: Kell)
Reverse (Stephanie, Caroline)
Valentine: First published in February, read by Ora.

Marianne by George Sand
0 (stand alone)
6 (author surname)

Version Control by Dexter Palmer
0 (stand alone)
7 (title)
Skip (author)

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
1 (series)
2 (title: The)
4 (title: Friday)
Skip (author first name)

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
0 (stand alone)
2 (title: The)
3 (author first initial)
5 (title: Invisible)
Skip (character: Kemp)
Reverse (Jess)
Valentine: Added to shelf by Kunan Feb 17, marked as read
(hide spoiler)]

[Raahil]

Read Count: 3 - February, 2017

Mrs Funnybones
Cards:
0 - "stand alone"
2 - has an author first name starting with 'T'
Skip - has an author surname starting with 'K'

The Mysterious Affair at Styles
1 - book 1 in the series
2 - title starting with 'T'
3 - has a character with first name starting with 'H' (Hercule Poirot)
8 - set in a place starting with 'E' (England)
Reverse - read by Kate S

Swear on This Life
0 - "stand alone"
6 - title starting with 'S'
8 - has a character with first name starting with 'E' (Emiline)

[Caroline]

Okay now that we've all got our plans up let's get some book chat going! I know we're all really here to find new great books to read ^_~

What book is everyone looking forward to most in February?

I'm really excited to read The Alchemaster's Apprentice by Walter Moers. Its one of the books in the Zamonia universe and the ones I've read before have been just delightfully absurd. I would definitely recommend it for any fantasy lover because it plays with a lot of those traditional elements and tropes.

Plus the main character in this one is a talking cat.

[Raahil]

Caroline wrote: "Okay now that we've all got our plans up let's get some book chat going! I know we're all really here to find new great books to read ^_~

What book is everyone looking forward to most in February?..."

A talking cat!!! Wow
I am a fantasy lover (a Huge fan of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series) and yes, a cat lover too :) :)
I would definitely like to read it. So, has this series been written in a flow or can I pick up any book at random?

[Caroline]

Raahil wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Okay now that we've all got our plans up let's get some book chat going! I know we're all really here to find new great books to read ^_~

What book is everyone looking forward to ..."

You can pick up any book at random. While I think you notice more if you read them in order, I started with the 3rd one and the 2nd one has actually never been translated from the original German (no idea why)

[Ashlee]

I'm most looking forward to reading Orange Is the New Black. My fiancé and I received the first 3 seasons for Christmas. Now that I have watched them, I'm curious to see how true to the story they are. I am usually the person that refuses to watch the movie until I have read the book.

[Caroline]

Ashlee wrote: "I'm most looking forward to reading Orange Is the New Black. My fiancé and I received the first 3 seasons for Christmas. Now that I have watched them, I'm curious to see how true to ..."

I'm really interested to hear your take on the movie vs the book. Id assume there are a lot of changes simply because there are so many episodes for such a slim book. Have you seen season 4? They really took the show to another level with the last two episodes

[Ashlee]

Caroline wrote: "Ashlee wrote: "I'm most looking forward to reading Orange Is the New Black. My fiancé and I received the first 3 seasons for Christmas. Now that I have watched them, I'm curious to s..."

I have only seen seasons 1-3. I did hear that season 4 is different.

[Caroline]

Card Clarification

1. Location: When using locations, can we use country, state, or city names?

Answer: it depends on the book. If it is described as 'Los Angeles' in the book, for example, then that would be the location (not the state or the country).
If they start in LA and do a road trip to NY stopping along the way and there really is no main setting then you would use the country name.

So, for example, A Darker Shade of Magic and A Gathering of Shadows would NOT work for card 8 with England as the location as it is specifically set in London.

2. How do I know if the character is main enough to be able to count for a card?

Answer: if you took the character out and the plot wouldn't change then that character can't be used. "We [the game runners] generally want them to have some dialogue and meaning to the story. Not just a hotel bellhop called Victor that opens a door, for example"

3. Anthology rules

Answer: the editor is the only name that can be used for author. However locations and characters can be used from any of the stories, provided they hit the above benchmarks

Let me know if there are any other confusing points. I didn't even know about the location rule and I played last year

[Kate S]

Caroline wrote: "What book is everyone looking forward to most in February? "

I have been thinking about this question all day. I am not sure which book I am most excited about reading. I am working my way through the Tournament of Books list in preparation for the March Tournament. I have a handful of books left to read for it and am hoping I get to them all before March 1. From what I have read, I think I am looking forward most to The Mothers and Sweet Lamb of Heaven, but this list surprises me every year.

[Kate S]

Ashlee wrote: "I'm most looking forward to reading Orange Is the New Black. My fiancé and I received the first 3 seasons for Christmas. Now that I have watched them, I'm curious to see how true to ..."

I have read the book, but not seen the show. I am also interested in hearing your thoughts about the show vs the book.

[Caroline]

Ashlee wrote: "I did hear that season 4 was different "

It really was. Before I was like "yea it's a good show. I'll get around to the new season whenever." And now I'm like "omfg can you not film any faster?!" There's one specific episode that is just beautifully done.

[Caroline]

Kate S wrote: "I am working my way through the Tournament of Books list in preparation for the March Tournament..."

What is the Tournament of Books and the March Tournament?

[Kate S]

The Tournament of Books is put on by the morning news every year in March. They released the short list in the middle of January and will put the books head-to-head beginning March 6 in a tournament style.

There's a group on GoodReads here.

This is the announcement of the shortlist from The Morning News.

It's a little silly, but it encourages me to read new, quality literature. It's set up in brackets and one judge reads two books and then decides which one is *better*. That book moves on to the next round, where a different judge reads that book and another first round winner. Repeat until we have a winner.

There's a lot of discussion about the books and it's fun to have a shared reading experience with the community. This is the first year, I have access to all of the books on the list, so I am trying to fit them all in before the discussions (and cuts) begin.

[Caroline]

Kate S wrote: "The Tournament of Books is put on by the morning news every year in March. They released the short list in the middle of January and will put the books head-to-head beginning March 6 in a tournamen..."

That looks so cool! I can't believe it's been going on for 13 years and I've never heard of it. I definitely want to participate next year

As for this year both Moonglow and The Vegetarian are books I plan on reading during this challenge. I am a big fan of Michael Chabon. His book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is one of my all time favorites.

[Jess]

I would be social and answer with what books I'm looking forward to most but I've already forgotten what I put down as planning to read next month, lol!

I'm looking forward to finishing The Dark Tower series though. Only finished book 6 last time because personal stuff happened so I couldn't then cope with a book I was emotionally invested in as well haha. Sometimes you just need the schlock horror instead ;) (actually I'm looking forward to Primal Waters - I'm reading the second book right now but basically megaladon still exists and eats people - love it lol)

[Stephanie]

What book is everyone looking forward to most in February?..."

I'm looking forward to finish the series of Cinder which I start from last years and start the series of Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Sometimes I pick up some books randomly depend on the game I played on group. I heard a lot about The Vegetarian and The Underground Railroad curious about that books. Btw The Tournament of Books looks so fun, I hope can join next years.

[Kate S]

Caroline wrote: "Kate S wrote: "The Tournament of Books is put on by the morning news every year in March. They released the short list in the middle of January and will put the books head-to-head beginning March 6..."

I have been a lurker for the last 6 or 7 years. This tournament has encouraged me to seek out new fiction. I rarely read more than 3 before the short list has been announced (although this year it was 7!) Then I race around trying to get my hands on as many as I can before the discussions start.

Moonglow and The Vegetarian are two I got to early. I really enjoyed Moonglow and found The Vegetarian strange, but very readable and I am looking forward to the discussion about that one.

I am not a Chabon fan exactly. I have read a couple of his other books and liked them, but I really enjoyed Moonglow. I hope you get to it.

[Kate S]

Jess wrote: "I would be social and answer with what books I'm looking forward to most but I've already forgotten what I put down as planning to read next month, lol!"

Ha ha! I felt similar. And if you check, I'm not sure the two books I was most excited about are actually in my February plan post yet. :)

I read The Trench a few seasons ago. Did you read the first one in the series?

[Bob]

Stephanie: The Lunar Chronicles are so much fun. I also recommend the novella "Fairest" about Queen Levana. It helps shed some light on the fourth book.

Also, The Vegetarian is great.

[Stephanie]

Bob (Bobbledybook) wrote: "Stephanie: The Lunar Chronicles are so much fun. I also recommend the novella "Fairest" about Queen Levana. It helps shed some light on the fourth book.

Also, The Vegetarian is great."

Thanks Bob I will put it on the list :)

[Caroline]

Okay guys it`s almost time! Please pay attention to when your actual start time is for your country. Books marked as currently reading before your start time, even if it`s February 1st, will not count.

Use this countdown timer

Main cities, FYI:
Tokyo: 5pm, 1st February
London: 8am, 1st February
New York: 3am, 1st February
San Francisco: Midnight, 1st February

Don`t be like me who thought, for some reason, that today was the first and she could start reading ><

[Jess]

6pm for me! Lucky I've got a couple of things on tomorrow to distract me from waiting haha.

[Jess]

Kate S, I did read the first Meg book! I'm a bit all over the place with this series - I've owned the third book for years (didn't realise it was a series when I bought it), managed to get a copy of the first book from the library, then had to buy an audiobook copy of the second haha. And now I've found out there's 6 books!?

[Kate S]

Caroline wrote: "Okay guys it`s almost time! Please pay attention to when your actual start time is for your country. Books marked as currently reading before your start time, even if it`s February 1st, will not co..."

It's almost here!! Finishing up a couple of BIG books before the challenge, ought to keep me busy today.

I got my digital copy of The Mothers from the library loaded and ready to go for gym time tomorrow morning.

[Kate S]

Bob (Bobbledybook) wrote: "Also, The Vegetarian is great."


Bob, I am glad to hear you liked this book. What did you like about it? The story? The language? The feel?

I found it a strange story with an interesting structure and language. I did not dislike it, I just found it an odd little book that is hard to recommend to others too easily.

[Kate S]

Jess wrote: "Kate S, I did read the first Meg book! I'm a bit all over the place with this series - I've owned the third book for years (didn't realise it was a series when I bought it), managed t..."

As a big fan of Shark Week and Peter Benchley, when I saw the second one (not realizing it was a series), I snatched it up. I have hesitated to go back and read the first one, and I certainly didn't realize there were 6(!) in the series. I may try to fit another one in this spring.

[Stephanie]

Wow not realize its almost the time. Its 3pm here and on my busy hours at office, but will make time for it. I already finish my Jan read and start for another book but I can skip it for our uno challenge. :)

[GK]

Jess wrote: "Welcome Raah!

Genna wrote: "Here are my likely books for February:

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War


I just finished World War Z last week - I really liked it! I was k..."

Really? Great! I look forward to it! Thanks :)

[Jess]

Kate S, if you've read the second one then you have some idea of what went down in the first one but I'd still recommend it if you wanted to continue on. Got some great chapters with the Meg eating people haha.

[Bob]

Kate S,

In regards to The Vegetarian...

Yes, I'm in love with a lot of the language and imagery in the book. This goes for both the more outwardly surreal parts as well as the brutal depictions of families, spouses, friends and coworkers enforcing societal norms (and then in some cases breaking them in more "acceptable" ways.)

On that note, while I don't have any direct experience with Korean society, I found the kind of oppressive pressure to conform very reminiscent of the uglier bits of Japanese society (I'm currently living there.) I'm not equating them, but they definitely resonated with me very deeply. One could apply those elements to most societies of people in existence now and throughout history (another conversation for another day, I suppose,) but this felt very close, conceptually anyway, to things I've seen, heard about, and on occasion felt recently. I feel like this is accentuated very well by the fact that the central character never takes the narrator's seat.

I'm also a sucker for magical realism and surrealism, and it's always refreshing to read a work that takes the trappings of those concepts in a dark direction. There was a particularly inky, liquid quality to a lot of the imagery in the first story (no doubt aided by various people, places, and things being slick with blood in the dream sequences,) and I was abruptly drawn out of those by the harsh family confrontation marking the end of the first story. I felt that the second story, while a little left of center, segued very well into the more plant-based insanity that took place both in that story and eventually the third and final part. It was like being uprooted by violence and then desperately trying to gain ground back and take root again, which must be what our protagonist feels throughout the three narratives.

It definitely has some flaws, but there was just so much there that I loved.

[Bob]

I know that this is just making an already long-winded post longer, but I also want to add a point of caution to my recommendation of The Vegetarian.

If you are looking for any sort of big story or narrative that moves (physically) or follows any conceivable, holistic arc in terms of plot, you are not going to find it. It is very much so three separate locations, all of them contrastingly murky and sterile, seen through three different people's eyes and anchored by a central character/entity.

So, yeah. It's not a book where you can really ask "what happened next?" You'd get a really short answer and miss all of the stuff that makes it what it is.

[Stephanie]

wow the vegetarian sounds complex and uncommon. I saw some people like it and the other don't. Make me more curious which side I will end up with. XD

[Bob]

Don't worry, you can get a lot out of it either way. It's pretty easy to read, too.

[Bob]

It's not so much complex as not a lot actually happens, lol

[Caroline]

Bob (Bobbledybook) wrote: "In regards to The Vegetarian...

I'm also a sucker for magical realism and surrealism... "

You are killing me - I want this book now ;_;

[Kate S]

Jess wrote: "Kate S, if you've read the second one then you have some idea of what went down in the first one but I'd still recommend it if you wanted to continue on. Got some great chapters with the Meg eating..."

The Meg eating people, just what I need between some dense old fiction. :)

[Kate S]

Bob (Bobbledybook) wrote: "Kate S,

In regards to The Vegetarian...

Yes, I'm in love with a lot of the language and imagery in the book. This goes for both the more outwardly surreal parts as well as the brutal depictions o..."

Wow! Thank you for taking the time to respond so thoughtfully. I definitely felt like it was a book that could sing to someone if they read it at the right time, and it sounds like it did for you. While I could relate to the book conceptually, it was not overly personal to me when I read it. Thank you.

[Bob]

No problem!

^That is me trying brevity on for size ^^;;

[Kate S]

Bob (Bobbledybook) wrote: "No problem!

^That is me trying brevity on for size ^^;;"

Now I am really looking forward to what you have to say about The Song of Achilles. It's very different from The Vegetarian, but some of the social themes are likely to be more deeply explored by you. Looking forward to your thoughts.

[Caroline]

Card Clarification

Any number in the title will work for cards (my previous comment was taken from misread information)

However, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, (etc.) will not count as 1, 2, or 3.

[Bob]

Well, that makes ME sad (glares at 5th season)

[Jess]

How's everyone enjoying their first books so far!?

I was going to start with Lioness Rampant, read the back cover, realised I can't remember how the previous one ended, flipped through the first pages to see if anything jogged my memory - and found something lovely stuck to the page that looks like snot! Thanks library. So, due to snot and needing to reread the last few chapters of the previous book, I've decided not to do that one after all haha.

I started The Amber Spyglass instead :)

[Jess]

Kate S - that's exactly why I love me some books like Meg haha. It's great between books with heavy topics, a deep emotional impact, dense, etc.

Just enjoy, don't think or get attached, just read about some awesome ancient shark haha.

[Kate S]

Jess wrote: "How's everyone enjoying their first books so far!?

I was going to start with Lioness Rampant, read the back cover, realised I can't remember how the previous one ended, flipped throug..."

Gross. Wish people had more respect for library books.

I am 50 pages from the end of my first book: The Mothers. In the beginning, I thought it was too YA-ish for my taste, but it has grown on me through the day and I think I am going to end up liking it and thinking about it as I move forward.

Starting City of Secrets at bedtime.

[Kate S]

Jess wrote: "Kate S - that's exactly why I love me some books like Meg haha. It's great between books with heavy topics, a deep emotional impact, dense, etc.

Just enjoy, don't think or get attached, just read ..."

A thrilling little piece of brain candy.

[Stephanie]

I'm just finished my first book

Book : Rectoverso
Date read : 02 Feb
Rating : 3/5
Cards : 0 (stand alone)
5 (set place Indonesian)

[Caroline]

Stephanie wrote: "I'm just finished my first book"

Great job Stephanie! :D congratulations on having the first book done for our team.

For future reference you don't need to make a new comment for each book when you finish it. Just go back to your original comment and mark the book as read :)

[Caroline]

Jess wrote: "How's everyone enjoying their first books so far!?

I was going to start with Lioness Rampant, read the back cover, realised I can't remember how the previous one ended, flipped throug..."

Thats unfortunately a large reason I didnt use libraries in the US - so many people have no respect for other people's things >< so gross!

[Jess]

It's so sad that people don't treat library books well, it's such a great service.