SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R15: Team #12 ~ Random Readers
"If God actually took the time to go around smiting anyone, she’d like to see him start with the self-righteous pricks who inflated their own egos in his name."
Robb, J. D.. Delusion in Death (In Death, Book 35) (p. 312). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Art (Posting elsewhere as Whistler Reads) wrote: "Art (Posting elsewhere as Whistler Reads) wrote: "shiof"................ WOW ... MISSPELLING............."
Did they mean the acronym SHIOF? Shanghai International Group., Co., Ltd.? I'm doubting it, but we know how Roarke is with his financial investments.
Just an idea. ; )
Item quoted was
ME
... mumbling SHELF
Ohhhh!!! LOL!!! I get it.... I'm telling you, I think I'm half cracked this week. I can't keep up with life in general. I'm blaming it on my thyroid. It tanked bigtime on my last lab work, which explains the extra pounds I've been struggling to drop.
I'm down 14 pounds, YAY!!! My goal was 35, so I'm making progress, but I'd like to lose more than 2 pounds a month, especially since I'm starving!!!! Now I know why the diet and exercise haven't worked. Hah! I could almost celebrate with a hot fudge sundae ... but, alas, I shall behave.
The worst part has been the dull-mindedness, though. Let's hope increasing my thyroid medicine takes effect quickly.
@ Bedky ... Ask your practitioners about Iodine supplementation if that is not what your meds do already ...Check this out ...
and this ...
Thank you, Art! This is interesting! I'm not 100% sure exactly what ingredients are in my prescription medication, but I've been on it for many years, we've just increased the dosage. I have a feeling it has something to do with the severe hormone imbalance we discovered last year. That problem has been corrected, so perhaps getting one thing balanced clarified the need for an increase in the thyroid. I'm also Vitamin D deficient, which is frustrating since we get so much sun here. LOL! I'm hoping that will turn around soon, too.Thanks again! I'm a very proactive patient, so I appreciate the information. : )
❖ ❖ ❖
Shelf Announcement
❖ ❖ ❖Shelf #9 ~ 10/4/17: Magical Realism
DIRECT LINK - https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
One of these days, we'll actually get something that connects to three in a row on our Bingo Card. Argh...!!!! 
Becky's Selection Post For...WEEK 9: Magical Realism Shelf
❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
How it fits: Shelved 20 x's as Magical Realism, Pg. 13, #31
Series: The Lady Janies #1
Pages: 512
CONGRATULATIONS, Random Readers!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'reader's choice'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Congrats on the stamp Randoms!
Selection Post for Shelf 9 ...Magical Realism...
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
224 pages, listed on linked page ...
Selection Post for Week #9 - Magical Realism=========================================
Book: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Author: Claire North
Pages: 405
How it fits: shelved 29x as magical realism
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "One of these days, we'll actually get something that connects to three in a row on our Bingo Card. Argh...!!!!"And when we do, it'll prolly bingo a competitor ... mumble...
Vit D is easily (and inexpensively) suplemented ... wally world or grocery store ... I take 1000mg daily, got it at amazon
Ah, yes...Vitamin D. I eat the things like candy and have barely bumped my Vit. D levels. I take 3,000ml caplets a day, plus a 50,000ml gel cap prescription on the weekends. For some reason, I'm still deficient. Nothing takes the place of mother nature though. Once I'm back out in the sun every day for a few hours things should improve tremendously. Usually, I thrive in the summer but the two surgeries have kept me inside more this year. Ah, well. There is next summer!
If you don't take calcium with your vitamin D, your body can't absorb it.
Becky's Completion Post For...WEEK 9: Magical Realism Shelf
❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
How it fits: Shelved 20 x as Magical Realism / Pg. 13, #31 on Magical Realism Shelf.
Series: The Lady Janies #1
Pages: 512
Finished on: Oct 7, 2017
My Rating: ★★★★★
My Review :
What a hoot! I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I picked this out from the library, but after learning that it's an alternative history story that takes after The Princess Bride, I was all in! It was clear from the Prologue that the authors really put the hearts into creating a playground of prose with a cascade of colorful characters culminating in an article of amusing, articulate adventure! Sorry, that was a little much, but I couldn't resist. I was feeling inspired!
As you can tell, I loved this book. It was funny and very engaging. The majority of us know the story of Lady Jane Grey, but this is a much happier version with magical elements that create something truly unique. The first and most important deviation from history is the magic itself. It gives us an issue for the characters to overcome that is more amusing than differences between Catholic or Protestant religion.
It was an uneasy time, especially if you were an E∂ian (pronounced eth-ee-uhn for those of you unfamiliar with the term). The E∂ians were blessed (or cursed, depending on your point of view) with the ability to switch between a human form and an animal one.
There were those who thought that this animal magic was terrific, but others who saw it as an abomination that needed to be eradicated immediately. That second group (known as Verities) believed that human beings had no business being anything other than human beings.
All of the normal players from history are there, including Mary Tudor and "Bess", the future Queen Elizabeth, but the events have clearly changed for our reading pleasure! The story focuses primarily on Jane and the relationship between her husband, Lord Gifford Dudley, or "G" as he prefers to be called in this story. Things are off to an interesting start when G reveals his E∂ian nature on the eve of the wedding by turning into a horse. Since Jane is a Verity and unaware of this, she demands to speak to her cousin the king, but...
Things just get better and better from there. You'll have to read the rest of this adventure for yourselves. If you can get your hands on the audiobook, I highly recommend Katherine Kellgren's narration. She does a fabulous job with this piece and I'm fairly certain she had a blast recording this one!
There are a few curse words and the occasional reference to "The very special hug" , otherwise, My Lady Jane is a clean enough story for teens. If you enjoy humor and alternative history fiction, don't miss this outstanding book!
Completion Post for Shelf 9 ...Magical Realism...The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
224 pages, listed on linked page ...
Read: 10/8
Rated: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
I cannot GUSH enough (see the colorful stars) about this novel.
The main character's name is Ceony. I googled it, and searched many name sites, and the ONLY reference to her name that I found is in this book. The ONLY!!!
And the originality continues … This first-of-series has a sort of "steampunk" feel, which I assume will continue on through. Except, "magic" substitutes for the "steam". And the magic system is unique in my reading experience, too. Magic is based in manipulating man-made materials. After graduation from a "Junior College for the magically inclined", candidates are apprenticed, "bonded for life", to a particular field of magic, i.e. Folders are bonded to and work magic based in paper, Smelters are bonded and work with metals, etc. Plastics are a recently discovered field.
The villainy comes in when it is reasoned that people make babies, and therefor people-parts can be a source of magic … and the dreaded evil Excisors are born……
For the reader, the world rules are discovered gradually, proceeding smoothly and logically out of the circumstances. I guess that's what defines the Magical Realism genre.....
I don't often try to tell someone else what to read, but … Teamies (and visitors/lurkers, everyone) READ THIS SERIES!!! ;-Þ
Completion Post for Week #9 - Magical Realism=========================================
Book: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Author: Claire North
Pages: 405
How it fits: shelved 29x as magical realism
Read: 10/8
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: I'm not a big fantasy enthusiast anyway so maybe it was just me but I really had a hard time getting through this story. As mentioned in the title, Harry lives 15 lives... What they don't tell you is that each life is the same as the one before. Also, what is not mentioned is that the story doesn't tell the lives in sequential order which...to me...seemed a little odd and disjointed. Perhaps that is just some OCD peeking thru... :) About half way through I was seriously trying to figure out what the point of the book was, however, it did start to come together in the last half and held my attention a bit better ~ which pulled the rating up to a 3 for me.
Art (Posting elsewhere as Whistler Reads) wrote: "Completion Post for Shelf 9 ...Magical Realism...The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
224 pages, listed on linked page ...
Read: 10/8
Rated: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: ..."
It looks like your book left you with a loss for words, Art!
K~Terror wrote: "Art (Posting elsewhere as Whistler Reads) wrote: "Completion Post for Shelf 9 "Yead, I was workin' on it elsewhere...
Added The Paper Magician to my TBR, Art. Thanks for the recommendation. I think my library has this on audio via Overdrive. I'll have to see if I can get a loan on it soon. It's hard to find exceptional steampunk books, so when I hear of one, I try to read it.
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Added The Paper Magician to my TBR, Art. Thanks for the recommendation. I think my library has this on audio via Overdrive. I'll have to see if I can get a loan on it soon. It's har..."Becky ... it's not really steampunk ... more "punk-flavoured" ... like ... magicpunk ... :Þ
=====================================Shelf #10 ~ 10/11/17: Science Fiction
DIRECT LINK - https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
=====================================
Selection Post | Shelf #10 ~ Science Fiction =======================================
The Fever by Megan Abbott
Pages: 320
How it fits: Shelved science fiction 4x
Selection Post for Shelf 10 ... Science Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dragon Lensman~Lensman from Rigel~Z-Lensman by David A. Kyle
shelved 20x, Reading three (180+) to satisfy page requirements
K~Terror wrote: "=====================================Shelf #10 ~ 10/11/17: Science Fiction
DIRECT LINK - https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
====================================="
10Q @K-Terror
I knew that was too easy.. I'll be back.
K~Terror wrote: "I knew that was too easy.. I'll be back."After I find 6 more people... LOL!
(Kidding!)
Selection Post | Shelf #10 ~ Science Fiction =======================================
Mine by Brett Battles
Pages: 360
How it fits: Shelved science fiction 10x
The tags seem like I'm reaching but it's actually MPG-Science Fiction. It's just isn't very mainstream with only 50 reviews. I'm trying really hard to find a book on my TBR that I already own!
Twist wrote: "Selection Post Week 9Space: Shelf #9 ~ 10/4/17: Magical Realisim ~ pg 11
Book: The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe
"@Twist ... what happened with this one??? I read his short at TOR: "Shall we gather" ... seemed pretty good writing ...
*I'll change your book in "Stats"*
Becky's Selection Post For...WEEK 10: Science Fiction Shelf
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Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
How it fits: Shelved 300 X's as Science Fiction
Series: Finishing School #1
Pages: 320
@Twist ... GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! indeed ...@Becky E&E couldn't be more Steampunk ... ... ... =-Þ
Art (Posting elsewhere as Whistler Reads) wrote: "@Twist ... GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! indeed ...@Becky E&E couldn't be more Steampunk ... ... ... =-Þ"
Hehehe.....I know, right? It's a good thing for me that at least 300 Goodread's users don't know the difference between the genres...or at least feel it crosses over! I'm loving this one so far!
Speaking of Steampunk...Has anyone found more steampunk writers or series that are genuine steampunk? I've tried the Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan and London Steampunk by Bec McMaster, but they were very heavy on romance and not so much on the steampunk elements.
I've already read Jim Butcher's 1st steampunk book, The Aeronaut's Windlass, which was AWESOME, but he hasn't published a book since Skin Game came out in 2015. There's no telling if he will be on time with Cinder Spires #2.
I've also read the Dragon Blood series by Lindsay Buroker - which is also really good - but I'm working on the audio with The Hubster and we're almost caught up with those books. By the way, the first book in the Dragon Blood series, Balanced on the Blade's Edge, is fantastic! Think WW I era airplanes that fly on magical crystals and pirates in dirigibles, etc.
If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know! : ) I don't mind romance along with the steampunk as long as it's not erotica. I'd rather have a sub-genre in any of these areas: adventure, time travel, fantasy/magic, military, or dystopian. They just seem to fit with Steampunk so much better.
Becky have you tried the Iron Seas series by Meljean Brook?
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Speaking of Steampunk...Has anyone found more steampunk writers or series that are genuine steampunk? I've tried the Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan and London Steampu..."
Shelley Adina is a good one, @Becky ...
Starts in London, eventually moves to USA ...
Sandra wrote: "Becky have you tried the Iron Seas series by Meljean Brook?"No, I haven't heard of that one, but I'll definitely look check it out! Thanks so much, Sandra! I love it when my TBR grows! It's always a challenge to keep it in proportion with my "Read" shelf. Hah!
EDIT: I actually have this one! WOOHOO! It was a freebie at some point from Bookbub. YAY! Thanks for the recommendation!
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Speaking of Steampunk...Has anyone found more steampunk writers or series that are genuine steampunk? I've tried the Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan and London Steampu..."
I'm thought I'm not really much of a steampunk fan so I'm thinking that has been verified as the 2 you've listed are the only 2 series I've read and enjoyed. I'm thinking I'm more of a romance reader than steampunker!
@Art...I'm looking at Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina and this is what I find in the story summary:
When she meets Andrew Malvern, a member of the Royal Society of Engineers, she realizes her talents may encompass more than the invention of explosive devices.
Steampunk + Explosive Device Inventor = ***Instant Add to TBR!!!***
Completion Post | Shelf #10 ~ Science Fiction =======================================
Mine by Brett Battles
Pages: 360
How it fits: Shelved science fiction 10x
Read: 10/13/17
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This was a very quick read about a group of kids at a camp that got caught up in a midnight escapade that became more than they bargained for. I enjoyed the story although I didn't feel like it offered much in the way of surprises or twists, although it did hold my interest and I was glad I'd read it.
Twist wrote: "Completion Post for Shelf #10: Science FictionBook: Dawn
Author: Octavia E. Butler
How it fits: Science Fiction ~ pg 7
Series: Xenogenesis
Pages: 260
Date Read: 10/..."
Regarding your groundbreaking author...: considering her background and the times of her life, a negative viewpoint is understandable. She had a lot to process in the real world ...
... Magical Realism is "Stamp Requested" ... ...............................................and................................................................
OUR Random Reader STATS have MIGRATED due to lack of space
... when I finished @K~Terror's completion for week 9Msg 343), there was a note "ONE SPACE LEFT" ...
CONGRATULATIONS, Random Readers!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'magical realism'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Congrats on the stamp Randoms!
On Saturday, as I busily touched up our "stats", and smuggly posted our stamp request, our boarder and beloved friend, Garland Byrum, quietly passed away in the next room, He was staying with us while he happily made plans to join his daughter in England. Gar would have been 73 on October 22nd.
Very sorry to hear of your loss (((Art))).I'm sure he enjoyed staying with you & whether friends or family, the loss is heartfelt either way. My sympathy to you & yours & to Gar's family as well at this tragic time.
You're the 2nd one to post this morning, so I sure hope there are no other losses for our Bingo family.
Oh Art, I am really sorry to hear about the loss of your close friend. Sending lots of hugs your way.
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
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More Happy Than Not (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Viola Carr (other topics)Viola Carr (other topics)
Adam Silvera (other topics)
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David A. Kyle (other topics)
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................ WOW ... MISSPELLING.............