Annerlee's Interstellar 2018 ⭐️

[Janice, Moderator]

I haven't read the book, but I'd be hard pressed to call anything Stephen King wrote as "terrible". What didn't you like about it Cherie?

[Annerlee]

Janice wrote: "I haven't read the book, but I'd be hard pressed to call anything Stephen King wrote as "terrible". What didn't you like about it Cherie?"

I can see why someone might not like it. The writing style is excellent, but the book involves two old guys who discuss why the story they're telling isn't actually a story and the ending is wide open. If you don't particularly enjoy their banter and their philosophical musings and are waiting for the end or something supernatural, you might be extremely disappointed - especially if you've paid over the odds for such a short book. My copy was a free gift.

[Cherie]

Re: Colorado Kid. Yeah, I was looking for answers. I think I stumbled onto it when the TV show was on, and I wanted to understand the background story - and there really wasn't one.
It was so short and yes - I had paid to buy the ebook.

I am glad that it fit into your criteria, Annerlee - it was short and you killed two birds with one stone. ;o)

[Cherie]

Annerlee wrote: "UPDATE:
Making progress. If I'd got my act together and read books for round 1 first, I could request my first badge now. As it is, my reading's all over the place - I already have a book finished ..."

I am stuck there with my 2nd badge, but only because I am stuck in a series and none of the books I have listed seem as appealing right now. At least they are fitting some of the tasks, but for badge 3, and I need to finish badge 2.

[Annerlee]

Frustrating I know. I did promise myself that, this year, I'd be more lenient with myself and read more randomly... But the pull of those badges is so strong....

[Annerlee]

LAUNCH SCHEDULE 2

Second launch schedule of the year is a statement of intent to get the first badge back on track. Destinations and other minor details are subject to change with little prior notice. Launch dates are flexible.

Launch status: Launched April 2018
Spacecraft name: Frankenstein
Target Constellation: SCORPIO (Mission 2)
Mission patch: Superhero - Anti-Venom. Stand-alone SciFi
Medium: Audiobook, E-book and online
Updates: Mission progress 50%
Update: 01/05/18 Mission complete!

Launch status: Launched 12 April 2018
Spacecraft name: The Name of the Rose
Target Constellation: CANCER (Mission 2)
Mission patch: Stone - Rose Quartz. Roses on cover.
Medium: Audiobook, E-book (Audiobook as backup)
Updates: Spacecraft ready for transfer to launchpad. Backup checked and ready to go
Update: 01/05/18 Mission stuck at 25%!
Update: 30/05/18 Mission at 50%
Update: 01/07/18 Mission complete
Changed to Sagittarius November to complete first badge!

Launch status: TBC
Spacecraft name: TBC - Carrie ??

Target Constellation: ARIES (Mission 1)
Mission patch: Element - Fire: red cover changed to Sissy Speck
Medium: TBC
Updates: Work in progress. More research needed
Update: 01/05/18 Mission completed in secret ( i.e. with very little planning) Shhh... Don't tell NASA...

Launch date: TBC
Spacecraft name: The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old
Target Constellation: LEO (Mission 1)
Mission patch: Superhero - Kraven the Hunter. Main character >60
Medium: Big chunky library book (large print for 83¼ yr old colleagues)
Updates: Spacecraft checked and ready to go. Limited launch window so launch ASAP!
Update: 12/05/18: Spacecraft returned to hangar (library). First class alternative found: The Delicate Dependency
Mission complete

Launch date: Mission aborted, patch completed with alternative mediaeval spacecraft.
Spacecraft name: A Winter Haunting
Target Constellation: SAGITTARIUS (Mission 1)
Mission patch: Month - November
Medium: E-book
Updates: Spacecraft scheduled for transfer to launchpad (Kindle)
Update: 30/05/2018 Mission on hold. Transfer to next launch window.

Launch status: TBC - lengthy / long-anticipated mission. Take snacks...
Spacecraft name: 11/22/63
Target Constellation: CAPRICORN (Mission 1)
Mission patch: Element - Time travel
Medium: E-book
Updates: Spacecraft checked and ready to go. Requires transfer to launchpad (Kindle)
Update: 30/05/2018 Mission on hold. Transfer to next launch window.

Launch date: TBC
Spacecraft name: Those Across the River
Target Constellation: PISCES (Mission 1)
Mission patch: Symbol - Fish. "Lake" / "River" in title
Medium: E-book
Updates: Spacecraft checked and on launchpad
Update: 30/05/2018 Mission on hold. Transfer to next launch window.
Update 14/06/2018 Mission completed!

[Janice, Moderator]

Countdown to lift-off 3-2-1...

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Annerlee wrote: "UPDATE:
Making progress. If I'd got my act together and read books for round 1 first, I could request my first badge now...

Oh well. Why change a habit of a lifetime...? "

Since when has being linear fun?

[Cherie]

I love your launch status! Just a note on The Name of the Rose. It is a long voyage and wanders around like a ship with no clear destination, but the voyage is worth it. I hope the narrator is a good fit. I read it with Sean Connery's voice in my head and Christian Slater's face in my mind as they played the main characters in the movie of the same name.

[Sarah]

I too love your launch schedule.

[Annerlee]

Thanks for you comments folks. I am so NOT a linear person, which is why I wrote a fun schedule in an attempt to keep focussed : P It may not happen.

I started listening to the The Name of the Rose last night, but will be reading it in library book form too ( I need the roses on the cover and there's a map of the monastery included, which I expect will be invaluable!) The narrator is really bringing the characters to life. The first few chapters have been meandering, but have sucked me into the story. I'm feeling quite glad it's such a long one (at the moment anyway). I love William already.

[Annerlee]

Badge 1, Book 8

ARIES
Element - Fire: red cover Carrie

[Sarah]

Annerlee wrote: "Badge 1, Book 8

ARIES
Element - Fire: red cover Carrie
"

Did you enjoy it? I really liked it. I particularly liked it's shortness. I'm currently reading Firestarter. It feels to be reading a King again.

[Annerlee]

Sarah wrote: "Did you enjoy it? I really liked it. I particularly liked it's shortness. I'm curren..."

It wasn't as polished as later works, but once he got into his stride and the mayhem and explosions began, Stephen King sucked me right in as usual. The eyewitness reporting style was interesting. I just wish it could turn out differently for poor Carrie sometime!
I know what you mean about settling into a Stephen King book. They may be long, but I love that they're all-engrossing with all the little character quirks and minor details that make the narrative feel so real. The music soundtracks are excellent too!

[Sarah]

I agree about how it compares to his newer stuff. Yes I liked the way the story was told too.

[Annerlee]

Badge 1, Book 9
LEO
Superhero - Kraven the Hunter. Main character is over 60.
The Delicate Dependency
Most main characters are centuries old vampires!

[Janice, Moderator]

Which zodiac sign is that for?

[Annerlee]

Oops! Leo.
Sorry Janice. I was fighting with a tiny screen when I posted last night. I'll update my post.

[Janice, Moderator]

LOL! Thanks, Annerlee.

[Annerlee]

Change made to Badge 1, Book 8

ARIES
Element - Fire: red cover Carrie Beneath a Scarlet Sky

[Annerlee]

Badge 1, Book 10

CAPRICORN
Actor - Sissy Speck
Carrie

[Lilisa]

Getting close...!

[Annerlee]

Lilisa wrote: "Getting close...!"

I know : )

[Janice, Moderator]

Oh - good swap putting Carrie under Sissy Spacek's task. That movie is the first that comes to mind whenever I hear her name.

[Annerlee]

That's right - she IS Carrie.

Carrie would fit so many tasks. It's a really good option

[Janice, Moderator]

The remake paled in comparison, in my opinion.

[Annerlee]

Janice wrote: "The remake paled in comparison, in my opinion."
I haven't seen it. The original was plenty good enough for me and I think the remake might spoil it for me.

[Janice, Moderator]

The original was classic. :)

[Annerlee]

This is silly: I have 4 books read for some categories, but have yet to claim a badge. Time to get a grip and contibute to the dreaded SAGITTARIUS and PISCES sections - why do I find them so uninspiring (sigh)?

So liftoff for 'published in 2018' with The Outsider on audiobook. I've marked it as currently reading anyway. I'm also off to download Those Across the River for 'river' in PISCES.

At heart I want to finish Dandelion Wine on audiobook and read Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome first. So maybe there'll just be more self-indulgence.

And I'm also stuck halfway though The Name of the Rose, switching between printed copy and audiobook. This is such a long haul (I don't care about heresy any more... BURN THEM ALL!! ermm... well... maybe not) But I just want to stop discussing theology and find out about the library .. please?? having invested in 92 chapters, a DNF would be such a waste of my time, but the stars are definitely eclipsing as I read.

Decisions decisions. It's so hard being a reader.

[Cherie]

Hang in there with the Rose, Annerlee. After all the theology stuff it gets better. I remember slogging through the boring theology stuff and thinking the same things.

[Annerlee]

Cherie wrote: "Hang in there with the Rose, Annerlee. After all the theology stuff it gets better. I remember slogging through the boring theology stuff and thinking the same things."
Thanks for the encouragement Cherie.
I intend to finish, but was already questioning my sanity. I'm so glad I have the audiobook - the narrator has a really nice voice.

[Annerlee]

Badge 1 book 11
PISCES

Symbol - Fish. Set near or on lake/river, or "Lake" / "River" in title / is author’s name. Words must be exact. Plurals ok Those Across the River
4 stars

[Cherie]

Annerlee wrote: "Thanks for the encouragement Cherie.
I intend to finish, but was already questioning my sanity. I'm so glad I have the audiobook - the narrator has a really nice voice..."

I only had Sean Connery's voice in my head while I was reading it. He played the MC in the movie. :0)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Annerlee wrote: "And I'm also stuck halfway though The Name of the Rose, switching between printed copy and audiobook. This is such a long haul (I don't care about heresy any more... BURN THEM ALL!! ermm... well... maybe not) But I just want to stop discussing theology and find out about the library .. please?? having invested in 92 chapters, a DNF would be such a waste of my time, but the stars are definitely eclipsing as I read.."

BURN THEM ALL!!! And that book while you're at it.

Good luck. I agree, it's so bloody long you feel like you have to stick at it. It's not you, it's that dreadful book.

P.S. I hope you think like Cherie at the end of it.

[Annerlee]

Yep. I'm just over half way through and every time I think something is going to happen, someone starts another lecture. Oh well. Just found another corpse and there's some actual detective work going on for a change, which is good.
The grand inquisitor is about to arrive (with his own twisted theology probably... Sigh).

[Rusalka, Moderator]

How's your Latin?

[Annerlee]

Is that a warning? Lol

[Annerlee]

I have a sinking feeling...

[Annerlee]

Badge 1: book 12

SAGITTARIUS
Month - Set in November The Name of the Rose

[Annerlee]

First badge finally complete!!!
Report tomorrow.

[Annerlee]

Badge 2: book 1
ARIES Symbol Ram: (Dodge) truck is on the cover, or protagonist drives one Bubba and the Dead Woman changed to N American Zodiac - Snow Goose. Book set in Texas Bubba and the Dead Woman

[Annerlee]

Badge 2: book 2
TAURUS Stone - Jasper. Illness is a major theme.Flowers for Algernon

[Annerlee]

Badge 2: book 3
GEMINI Stone - Agate. Cameo or face in profile on cover Homegoing

[Annerlee]

Badge 2: book 4
CANCER Symbol - Crab. Coconut, Hermit, Horseshoe, King, Japanese Spider, Dungeness, Rock, Snow, Blue, or Fiddler in title. Plurals ok. The Snow Child

[Annerlee]

Badge 2: book 5
VIRGO Superhero - Rogue. Bird(s) on the cover or “Raven” in title. The Prophet

[Annerlee]

Badge 2: book 6
SCORPIO Stone - Copper. Metal weapon or tool on cover A Requiem For Dead Flies ... Meat cleaver

[Annerlee]

Badge 2: book 7
AQUARIUS Superhero - Aquaman. Atlantis or Poseidon in the title Atlantis Stolen

[Cherie]

Congratulations on finishing Badge 1, Annerlee!

Nice start on Badge 2 also!

[Annerlee]

Thank you Cherie. So happy to have stage 1 finished.

[Janice, Moderator]

Congratulations on completing the first badge!

What did you think of The Prophet?