You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
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♐️ Cherie's Celestial Cycle ♐️
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Cherie
(last edited Aug 09, 2018 03:00PM)
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Aug 09, 2018 02:40PM
Yes, I have read them all. The dynamics in all of the stories are quite different, as well as introducing so many people. Some of the people in the first book are in the others, but maybe not all of them. There is always something new, or different going on too. Many parts I have liked way more than others, but you have to slog through boring parts to get to them. They seem to be introducing something new in this one again, but I have not read far enough yet. I liked the second book better than the first and the third book better than the second, at least according to my stars.
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*** Out of Order ***Badge 4, Book 4 of 24
Zodiac Sign: Tarus
Category: NA Zociac-Beaver
Task: Read a book where the majority of it is set in Canada, or written by a Canadian author.
Book Link: Still Life
★★★★★ read Aug 20th
How It Fits: The book is set in Three Pines, Quebec, Canada and the author is Canadian
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1
Another new series added to my Kill list. I am so glad I finally got to read it.
Badge 3, Book 20 of 24Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Category: Superheros-Siren
Task: Other similar spirits are, banshee, harpy, kelpie, mermaid, nymph, and rusalka (had to add it in). Read a book with “siren” or one of the alternate names in the title.
Book Link: The Siren
★★★ read Aug 22nd
How It Fits: Siren in the title
You do get us to read books we never would have picked up, Janice!
Cherie wrote: "You do get us to read books we never would have picked up, Janice! ..."That's the whole idea, isn't it? :)
Yes, and what I love about the challenges you and Rusalka and Kristie dream up!
Badge 3, Book 21 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Category: Month-October
Task: For each zodiac sign, read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title.
Book Link: The Day of the Dead
★★★ read Aug 24th
How It Fits: All of the action in the story takes place in October and ends on Nov 1st.
Frieda Klein #8 is a series Kill and serendipity for me because I did not realize, until I was finished that I could use it for this task.
*** Out of Order ***Badge 4, Book 5 of 24
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Category: Symbol-Goat
Task: Read a book that is shelved as Scandinavian Literature using this genre page as a tool: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/scan... Explain how your book fits this genre.
Book Link: The Dogs of Riga
★★★★ read Aug 26th
How It Fits: This book is on page 1 of the Listopia Popular Scandinavian Literature list from the link.
Kurt Wallander #2 (new series added to my kill list)
Badge 3, Book 22 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Category: Element-Earth
Task: Read a book with an Earth-like planet on the cover.
Book Link: The Long Utopia
★★★ read Aug 30th
How It Fits: Earth-like planet on the cover.
The Long Earth #4. One more book to go.
Only two more to finish Badge 3 and you're already making progress on Badge 4! Way to go, Cherie!
Thanks, Suzanne. I am currently reading the two that I need to finish it up. ;o) One of them has turned out to be surprisingly good. I just hope they get to China soon or I will have to read another.
Badge 3, Book 23 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Category: Stone-Amethyst
Task: Read a book where the main character is a king, queen, prince, or princess.
Book Link: The Prince and the Pilgrim
★★★★ read Sept 2nd
How It Fits: The MC was Prince Alexander.
Arthurian Saga #5
I enjoyed revisiting Mary Stewart's world of King Authur's time.
I am sure that I read the initial trilogy many years ago, but I am not sure about book #4. I might have to read them again...
One more to go. I am really enjoying the story in Empire of Dragons. The characters are well written and the history seems well researched.
Badge 3, Book 24 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Category: Stone-Jade
Task: Read a book set in China.
Book Link: Empire of Dragons
★★★★ read Sept 5th
How It Fits: The first part of the story is set in Persia but the rest in China.
I really enjoyed the story! I bought the book almost five years ago and never got to read it until now.
Thank you, Rusalka!Now, on to Out Stealing Horses. I am reading this for the July month. I already used the task for clouds on the cover. I have had it on my TBR list since I saw your review a long time ago... I started it last night.
My library finally located a copy of The Natural, which is for the Glen Close task. I have always loved the movie, with Robert Redford and Close.I read the Introduction and started the first chapter after I picked up the book up at the library. I already don't like the guy, which is what the introduction indicated. I might regret reading this one.
Cherie wrote: "Thank you, Rusalka!Now, on to Out Stealing Horses. I am reading this for the July month. I already used the task for clouds on the cover. I have had it on my TBR list since I saw yo..."
Very much hope you enjoy it then!!
Badge 4, Book 6 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Leo
Category: Month-July
Task: For each zodiac sign, read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title.
Book Link: Out Stealing Horses
★★ read Sept 15th
How It Fits: The book was a dual time line read. The action in the past almost all took place in the month of July and was over 50% of the story.
Text-wise, the book was simply and beautifully written, but the story was sad and cold and open-ended. The book title was a play on words for what two 15yo boys called their "plan" to hike up to a neighbor's pasture and ride his horses and a password or signal for the Norwegian underground folks during WWII to recognize each other. The cover is my favorite part of the book.
I would love to have it blown up onto a wall size mural to put on wall in my bedroom.
I am 50% done with
for the Glen Close task, but I cannot decide what I want to read next. I think I need to finish the "month" tasks off and see if my library has a copy of
for February.
Badge 4, Book 7 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Category: Actors-Johnny Depp
Task: For each zodiac sign, select a movie the actor performed in.
Read the book the movie was adapted from or Read a book with the same title as the movie. or You can opt to read another book written by the author who wrote the adapted book.
Book Link: Different Class
★★★★ read Sept 23rd
How It Fits: Johnny Depp starred in the movie Chocolat based on the book, written by Joanne Harris. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241303/
The book linked was also written by Joanne Harris.
I have not seen the Johnny Depp movie, but I loved the book! I enjoyed reading Joanne Harris again too.
Badge 4, Book 8 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Category: Actors-Glenn Close
Task: For each zodiac sign, select a movie the actor performed in.
Read the book the movie was adapted from or Read a book with the same title as the movie. or You can opt to read another book written by the author who wrote the adapted book.
Book Link: The Natural
★★★ read Sept 23rd
How It Fits: Glen Close starred in the movie The Natural based on the book, written by Bernard Malamud. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087781/
If you love the movie - don't read this book.
You are motoring Cherie! The finish line must be in sight B-)
It might be a lap or two away, Margo, but it may also be a hard sprint to the line. No chances left to pick up the random book and make it fit. It is heads up and remember where you are going time now. No left overs is my goal!
Badge 4, Book 9 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Category: Month-February
Task: For each zodiac sign, read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title.
Book Link: Lincoln in the Bardo
★★★ read Sept 30th
How It Fits: Takes place over two or three days at the end of February
I did not love it, but I did not hate it either. The historical facts and quotes interwoven with the stories of the spirits in the graveyard was well done and very imaginative. Talk about research!
Badge 4, Book 10 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Category: Actors-Merle Streep
Task: Read the book the movie was adapted from.
Book Link: The House of the Spirits
★★★★ read Sept 15th
How It Fits: 1993 film The House of Spirits
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107151/
note: Glenn Close was in this movie too.
Thank you, Trudy-An!
Badge 4, Book 11 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Category: Symbol-Scorpion
Task: Read a book that has “Poison” in the title (may be imbedded in other words like poisoner, poisonwood, poisoning), OR contains the name of a poison (arsenic, oleander, etc) in the title, OR has a bottle of poison on the cover.
Book Link: The Poisonwood Bible
★★★★★ read Oct 13th
How It Fits: "poisonwood" in the title
Poisonwood is a small tree, in the same family as poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak. The sap is caustic and causes enflamed blisters and weeping patches on the skin.
Badge 4, Book 12 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Category: NA Zodiac-Bear
Task: Read a book where the majority of it is set in Russia, or written by a Russian author.
Book Link: The Girl in the Tower
★★★★★ finished Oct 21st
How It Fits: Set in old Russia - mostly in Moscow.
I really enjoyed this 2nd book. There was more action and I suppose being familiar with the names and happenings from the first story really helped. The next book starts right off where this one ends, but I am restraining myself from purchasing it and reading it right away. I need to finish my other tasks first!
I will add the trilogy to my series list.
Cherie wrote: "Badge 4, Book 12 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Category: NA Zodiac-Bear
Task: Read a book where the majority of it is set in Russia, or written by a Russian author.
Book Link: [book:The Girl in the T..."
I haven't heard of this series, but it looks like another one I need to read!
We read the first one as either a group read or a buddy read in January of this year. The 3rd book will be published in Jan of 2019.
It was a buddy read? Oh well, I missed out on that one. But I'm taking part in Assassin's Apprentice, and enjoying it very much!
Suzanne - The Bear and the Nightingale was a group read book in Dec 2017, for Winter Theme. There was a lot of good discussion. I am not sure why my status shows as Jan 3rd 2018. I wanted to join the buddy read for AA, but I need to finish my last 12 books for Badge 4 before Dec 31st. I seem to have left a lot of long books for last. I am currently reading Birds Without Wings.
Renee wrote: "I lovedBirds Without Wings. I found the writing beautiful. I also enjoyed the history."Yes, I love the writing! I am only a little more than 100 pages into the book.
Cherie wrote: "Suzanne - The Bear and the Nightingale was a group read book in Dec 2017, for Winter Theme. There was a lot of good discussion. I am not sure why my status shows as Jan 3rd 2018. ..."I know what you mean about having a stack of books to read before December 31st. For some reason, my reading as slowed down quite a bit. I plan on finishing the Zodiac challenge, but will it be this year? Who knows...
Badge 4, Book 13 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Libra
Category: NA Zodiac-Raven
Task: Read a book that is set primarily in New Zealand or is written by a New Zealand author.
Book Link: Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World
★★★★★ read Oct 31st
How It Fits: The story in this book takes place in the Auckland Islands, which are part of New Zealand.
Another non-fiction book that I probably would have never come across and read, except for the YLTO challenges. I believe I may have picked it out for a task in the 2016 Geo challenge, but read another book instead. I am glad I finally had a chance to read it and get it off of my TBR list.
I just checked, and I've had Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World on my tbr since 2011. My goodness, I've had some books waiting to be read for quite a while and I just keep adding more. Maybe that would be a good year long challenge: pick a shelf and read everything on it. My Historical Fiction shelf has 593.
I know! I do the same thing, Roz. I didn't look to see when I added it to my TBR shelf, but I had owned it for a few years. I think I bought it to read after reading about another shipwreck, that had been in a similar environment. It may not be a five star read for you, but I enjoyed reading the account, the way the author put it together. After I started, I read the Author's Note. It does not give anything away, so it is okay. It was easier to understand the way she was telling the story after that. I have way too many books on my TBR list! Worse, I own too many that have gone unread for to long too! I have done pretty well this year working many of them off of both lists. I have used the library more than I have purchased. It doesn't always work out that way.
Renee - re Birds Without Wings: it is getting so confusing! Too many people, too many ethnicities, and too many places that I don't know where they are! I think there are two different time lines. Are they working their way toward each other?The Tyranny of Honor (view spoiler)
Keep going Cherie. It will all workout in the end
Update: Birds Without Wings is taking me forever. I might have dumped it but it is too good to let it go. I am finally half way through. The hardback copy is too huge to drag back and forth to work, so I am only reading it at home in the evenings. I picked up The Boys from Brazil and Oscar and Lucinda from the library this morning. I started TBfB - it will stay at work. I read the first two chapters. I am listening to The Dinner and The Money Dragon is on my Nook - waiting.
I spent an hour or two looking at movie titles for Jodie Foster after I found out Nimm's Island was too short. Haven't settled on one yet. I have to find one that is available from my library. The alternate book Almeta passed my way for Sissy Spacek may be too short, but I have to locate a copy yet to see. I might have to research her movies some more...
Cherie wrote: "Badge 4, Book 10 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Category: Actors-Merle Streep
Task: Read the book the movie was adapted from.
Book Link: The House of the Spirits
★★★★ read Sept 15th
How I..."
Happy to see that you also liked it!
Yes, I did. It wandered around a bit, and maybe some parts could have been left out, but I liked her writing. Three books in a row were a bit much, maybe. I was glad that I could use it for the movie task. I had not planned it. I used another of her books for South America.
Badge 4, Book 14 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Category: NA Zodiac-Otter
Task: Read a book set primarily in Switzerland or the Netherlands, or by Swiss or Dutch authors.
Book Link: The Dinner
★★ read Nov 12th
How It Fits: The author was born in Arnhem, Netherlands. The story was set in Amsterdam.
I have satisfied my curiosity and unloaded another book off of my TBR list. Not my kind of story, but the narrator was brilliant.
I went to bed with an upset stomach, after I read the ending.
Scrolling through 854 available audiobooks on my library website for something I wanted to listen to and not finding anything, I switched to "Classics" - available now, and found 11 titles, one of which was The Early Stories of Truman Capote, which I will listen to for Sissy Spacek.
Badge 4, Book 15 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Aries
Category: NA Zodiac-Falcon
Task: Read a book set primarily in Iraq, Syria, or Turkey.
Book Link: Birds Without Wings
★★★★ read Nov 14th
How It Fits: Turkey is the setting.
I did not think it would ever end, but I enjoyed reading the stories, meeting the characters and even finding out all of the horrible things that happened in WWI and after about what went on in Turkey. I had no idea about most of the war happenings. The way the author wrote about the trench warfare and the soldiers tossing cans or containers of food back and forth and calling halts to collect the wounded took nothing of the horror out of it, but allowed the humanness of the combatants to come across with surprising humor and tenderness.
Badge 4, Book 16 of 24 Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Category: Actors-Anne Meara
Task: For each zodiac sign, select a movie the actor performed in. Read the book the movie was adapted from or Read a book with the same title as the movie.
Book Link: The Boys from Brazil
★★★ read Nov 15th
How It Fits: The movie was based on the book. Meara played Mrs. Curry in the 1978 movie.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077269/
I always loved Gregory Peck, but something about him playing a Natzi never allowed me to want to see the movie. This is the first time that I had ever read anything by Ira Levin.
Jannene wrote: "You are almost there!"Thanks! I finally just found something I think I can live with for Jodie Foster. I know that most people go right to the Silence of the Lambs movie and book, but I do not want to read them. I found a John Irving book that looks good.
I am going to start Oscar and Lucinda tonight when I get home. My ears are tuned to a book of Truman Capote stories and my Nook (ereader) is loaded with a book about Hawaii. It will stay at work for my "day" read.
I finished Capote's book of short stories in the audiobook format, but it is too hard for me to appreciate them in audio. I am going to read them now. I think I missed too much while I was listening while working.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Grass Harp, Including A Tree of Night and Other Stories (other topics)Midnight Express (other topics)
The Oxford Murders (other topics)
Up At the Villa (other topics)
Midnight Express (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Anita Shreve (other topics)Michael Crichton (other topics)
Michael Crichton (other topics)
Truman Capote (other topics)
Bernard Malamud (other topics)
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