You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
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Vicki's Vibes from the 'Verse
1st visionary verdict12/12
Aires: Element: His Majesty's Dragon 4.5★
Taurus: Element: The Butterfly Garden 3.5★
Gemini: Superhero: Borne 3.5★
Cancer: Stone: Boy, Snow, Bird 2.5★
Leo: North American: Where'd You Go, Bernadette 4★
Virgo: Symbol: Ella of Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters 3★
Libra: Stone: The Black Tulip 4★
Scorpio: Month: Still Life 3★
Sagittarius: Element: The Fire Dance 3★
Capricorn: Actor: Midwives 4★
Aquarius: Stone: Alice 3★
Pisces: Element: Into the Water 4★
2nd Badge24/24
Aires: Stone: What Angels Fear 4★
Taurus: Stone: Cinder 4★
Gemini: Stone: Beastly Bones 4★
Cancer: Superhero Harvest Home 2.5★
Leo: Element: Bears Discover Fire, and Other Stories 4★
Virgo: Superhero Sing, Unburied, Sing 3★
Libra: Symbol: Defending Jacob 4★
Scorpio: Element: The Dew Breaker 4★
Sagittarius: Month: Winter 4★
Capricorn: Symbol: Out Stealing Horses 3★
Aquarius: Month: Cat out of Hell 3.5★
Pisces: Symbol: The Lake and the Lost Girl 3★
~~~~~
Aires: Superhero: When Gods Die 5★
Taurus: North American: Malagash 3★
Gemini: Actor: A Cat, a Hat, and a Piece of String 4★
Cancer: A Fatal Grace 3.5★
Leo: Symbol: White Dog Fell from the Sky 3★
Virgo: Stone: The Iron King 4★
Libra: Actor: The Seville Communion 3.5★
Scorpio: Superhero: Never Let Me Go 5★
Sagittarius: Superhero: The Chalk Man 4★
Capricorn: Superhero: Black Powder War 4★
Aquarius: Symbol: A Beautiful Blue Death4★
Pisces: Superhero: Why Mermaids Sing 5★
Badge 37/24
Aires: North American: A Land of Permanent Goodbyes 2.5★
Taurus:
Gemini: Symbol: 4:50 from Paddington 3.5★
Cancer:
Leo:
Virgo: Month: Scarlet 4.5★
Libra: Element: The City & the City 4.5★
Scorpio: Symbol: The Poisoned Crown 4★
Sagittarius:
Capricorn: Stone: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall 3.5★
Aquarius:
Pisces:
~~~~~
Aires:
Taurus:
Gemini: Element: In the Forest of Forgetting 4★
Cancer:
Leo:
Virgo:
Libra:
Scorpio:
Sagittarius:
Capricorn
Aquarius:
Pisces:
Welcome to the challenge, Vicki. Well done on the title!
Cherie wrote: "Welcome to the challenge, Vicki. Well done on the title!"Shiny!
Janice wrote: "Do you read at warp speed?"
We're gonna have to, to get all those badges! Alas, I am aiming for two badges with 36 books - soon to be downgraded to 1 badge and 12 books!
I'm aiming for 2 badges as well - that's 3 books a month.
Oh, you have some great titles picked out!I am looking forward to reading the Birds Without Wings book for Turkey.
I loved the Cherie Priest book. I have read three of them.
The Secret Keeper is one of the few Donna Morton books I have not read yet.
Your Africa title looks interesting.
I did not care for The Orenda all that much, but it was an interesting story.
I don't usually tell people not to read books, but I think you should pick another book for the December read. You may like the stories though....
Cherie wrote: "Oh, you have some great titles picked out!I am looking forward to reading the Birds Without Wings book for Turkey.
I loved the Cherie Priest book. I have read three of them.
The Secret Keeper i..."
I am a weirdo who likes short stories and I have read one of his other collections and I think I liked it (I have a terrible memory). But I'll keep your warning in mind.
Most of these books are perennials on my lists of "Books I'm Going to Get to this Year". It seems that if I don't read a book as soon as I buy it, it just sits on the shelf. I'm very unlikely to read The Orenda or We Are Water or the Bone People. But maybe this is the year...
I'm super excited to read the Secret Keeper- Starting it Jan 1st!
I'm hoping to get Birds without Wings for Christmas :)
I'm glad to hear you liked Boneshaker, I was debating adding it because some reviews were not encouraging but I think I'll like it.
I have to add my vote of confidence for The Orenda. I thought it was a great book.
Janice wrote: "I have to add my vote of confidence for The Orenda. I thought it was a great book."Good to hear that, I feel like a bad Canadian for always putting it off.
I know the feeling! I have his Through Black Spruce on my wishlist and want to read it. Maybe I'll make it a personal challenge next year to read more Canadiana literature.
This book was a group read a few months ago. If you're interested, you may want to seek out the discussion.
Janice wrote: "This book was a group read a few months ago. If you're interested, you may want to seek out the discussion."Thanks Janice, I found out about it from seeing it as a group read then but I was too late and in a reading slump most of last year. I'll check it out.
Badge 1Book 5/12
Leo
North American: Salmon (Pacific Northwest)
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Set in Seattle, we are constantly reminded of the setting because Bernadette dislikes Seattle.
You're just motoring through. :)
Janice wrote: "You're just motoring through. :)"Yup that was all toppler! Now to try and keep up the momentum.
Badge 1Book 7/12
Scorpio
Month
October.
Still Life
Book starts on thanksgiving Sunday! And October is mentioned a few times.
Out of OrderBadge 2
Book 2
Taurus:
Stone: Jasper (Illness as a theme)
Cinder
There is a plague reeking havoc on Earth. It kills quickly. Influences everything from family dynamics to geopolitical decisions in this futuristic setting.
Vicki wrote: "Out of OrderBadge 2
Book 4
Scorpio:
Element: Water on the cover
The Dew Breaker
"What did you think of this one? I read Breath, Eyes, Memory last year, and I should pick up another of hers.
Rusalka wrote: "What did you think of this one? I read Breath, Eyes, Memory last year, and I should pick up another of hers. "
I thought it was excellent!
It's not a proper novel but rather a collection of vignettes that gives a portrait of a man, his family, his country Haiti and the lives of Haitian immigrants in the US.
Every story focuses on a new person but they are all interconnected masterfully. The stories are substantial and I felt ill/disturbed after some of them.
I'll add it to the list! Thanks Vicki. Glad you enjoyed it :D
Badge 1Book 10/12
Sagittarius
Element: Fire in the title
The Fire Dance
The sixth book in a series that I've never read before, just because Fire was in the title. The things we do for challenges.
Vicki wrote: "The sixth book in a series that I've never read before, just because Fire was in the title. The things we do for challenges..."So true! Sometimes it does not matter, but one of the books I read recently, for one of my tasks, happened to be one where the MC was supposed to have died in the previous book. I am still waiting for the first book of the series to get off of hold at my library so that I can start on the series properly. I have already read three others - later in the series though because they were available. (I like the narrator.)
Just one more to go, Vicki! :)
Cherie wrote: "Vicki wrote: "The sixth book in a series that I've never read before, just because Fire was in the title. The things we do for challenges..."So true! Sometimes it does not matter, but one of the ..."
Oh no! that sounds a bit spoilery!
I actually didn't like the detectives in The Fire Dance enough to care if I ruined anything- I wont read anymore. It was also the only one my library had on audio.
Janice wrote: "Just one more to go, Vicki! :)"Yup! And I think I can cover Aires with Frankenstein for the Opal task this month.
I'm not sure I'm in the mood for another classic right now but I found a new series to start as a back up plan. The Sebastian St. Cyr Series by C.S. Harris. They are all set in 1811 (Aries-Opal) book 2 has Gods in the title and book 3 has Mermaids in the title.
I love it when a series offers books for various tasks. You want to read them anyway, so it is a win-win when they fit. I had books planned for all my tasks and bumped at least 10 of them off to allow for series books that had not been planned - but they fit. Yay!
Out of OrderBadge 2
Book 5/24
Scorpio
Superhero:Anti-Venom (stand-alone Sci-fi)
Never Let Me Go
There's not a lot of sci in this fi but it's listed on the book's main page.
Out of OrderBadge 2
Book 6/24
Leo
Element: Fire (Fire on the cover)
Bears Discover Fire, and Other Stories
Out of OrderBadge 2
Book 7
Taurus
North American: Beaver
Malagash
written by a Canadian and set in Nova Scotia
Interesting story line. How did it work out for you? I meant for Malagash.
Cherie wrote: "Interesting story line. How did it work out for you? I meant for Malagash."It is sad but I didn't find it as moving as I expected. I think it just wasn't for me because my other group just loved it. It's very sparse.
Oh yeah!Badge 1
Book 12
Aires
Element:Fire-Red Cover
His Majesty's Dragon
I could not stop listening to this. Turns out it finishes my first badge too! whoop!
Congrats on finishing your first badge! Woot!
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
A Fatal Grace (other topics)A Fatal Grace (other topics)
A Fatal Grace (other topics)
A Beautiful Blue Death (other topics)
A Beautiful Blue Death (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Arturo Pérez-Reverte (other topics)Joanne Harris (other topics)
Leo Tolstoy (other topics)
Sidney Sheldon (other topics)
Muriel Spark (other topics)
More...
Link to Challenge
Aries
M- March -
Sym- Ram (truck) - Trouble in Mudbug
E- Fire (70% red) - His Majesty's Dragon5/5/18N.A-Iraq/Syria/Turkey - A Land of Permanent Goodbyes10/12/18Stn- Opal (1750-1850) - What Angels Fear5/7/18Hero-Ares(God(s)) - When Gods Die5/27/18A- Tim Curry - Tom Clancy, Alexandre Dumas, Michael Crichton
The Three Musketeers/The Count of Monte Cristo
Taurus
M- April -
Sym- Bull (western) - The Gunslinger
E- Earth (70% Black) - The Butterfly Garden1/4/18N.A-Beaver-Canadiana- Malagash4/29/18Stn- Jasper (Illness) - Cinder2/22/18H- Rhino (villain in title) - If We Were Villains
A- Audrey Hepburn - Anything by Sidney Sheldon, Leo Tolstoy
Gemini
M- May -
Sym-Twins - 4:50 from Paddington AKA What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!9/21/18E- Air (70% White) -In the Forest of Forgetting10/13/18N.A- Deer (Scotland) - The Gracekeepers maybe? or The Sea House
Stn -Agate (profile) - Beastly Bones2/14/18H-Copycat(Dystopian) - Borne2/1/18A- Johnny Depp - A Cat, a Hat, and a Piece of String6/9/18Cancer
M- June
Sym- Crab (types) The Blue Notebook
E- Water(blue)- A Fatal Grace12/8/18N.A-Woodpecker(South America) - Daughter of Fortune
Stn- Rose Quartz (Roses or Pink) - Boy, Snow, Bird4/1/18H- Sandman(Horror) - Harvest Home9/8/18A- Meryl Streep - Isabel Allende, Anna Quindlen In the Midst of Winter
Leo
M- July
Sym-Lion (Africa) - White Dog Fell from the Sky6/6/18E- Fire on the cover - Bears Discover Fire, and Other Stories4/22/18N.A- Salmon (Pacific Northwest) - Where'd You Go, Bernadette2/12/18Stn- Carnelian (Ancient Egypt) -
H- Kraven (over 60yrs) - The Thirteenth Tale
A- Sean Penn -
Virgo
M- August - Scarlet7/2/18Sym- Maiden (unmarried <20) - Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters2/13/18E- Earth planet on cover -
N.A- Bear - (Russia)
Stn- Amethyst (Royalty MC) - The Iron King6/15/18H- Rogue(Birds) - Sing, Unburied, Sing6/9/18A- Anne Meara - The Mirror anything by Ira Levin, Muriel Spark
Libra
M- September
Sym- Scales (legal thriller) - Defending Jacob7/7/18E- Air (clouds) - The City & the City10/22/18N.A-Raven(New Zealand) - The Bone People
Stn- Azurite (1400-1700) - The Black Tulip3/26/18H- Judge Dredd (1977-2000) -
A- Viggo Mortenson - The Seville Communion9/23/18Scorpio
M- Oct - Still Life2/18/18Sym- Scorpion (Poison in title) - The Poisoned Crown10/12/18E- Water on the cover - The Dew Breaker3/19/18N.A- Snake (Australia) - The Light Between Oceans
Stn- Copper (metal weapon or tool) - The Natural Way of Things
H- Anti-Venom (stand lone Sci-fi) - Never Let Me Go4/7/18A- Jodie Foster -
Sagittarius
M- November - Winter9/2/18Sym- Archer - The Orenda
E- Fire title - The Fire Dance3/31/18N.A- Owl(Greece)- The Truth Teller maybe?
Stn- Obsidian(Hawaii) - Moloka'i
H- Hawkeye -The Chalk Man (new in 2018)10/13/18A- Ralph Fiennes - Thomas Keneally, J.K. Rowling, Michael Ondaatje, Thomas Harris, John le Carré, Charles Dickens
Capricorn
M- December - Tenth of December
Sym- Goat -Out Stealing Horses5/25/18E- Earth in title - Unaccustomed Earth Earth Abides
N.A- Geese (KS, NM, TX or Mexico) - The Bottoms
Stn- Quartz (Time travel) - After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall10/6/18H- Cannonball (American civil war/Napoleon) - Black Powder War8/29/18A-Sissy Spacek - Midwives2/12/18Aquarius
M- January - Cat out of Hell6/1/18Sym- Water-bearer (jug etc) - A Beautiful Blue Death11/30/18E- Air in title -
N.A- Otter (Swiss/Dutch) - The Miniaturist
Stn-Turquiose(magic) - Alice2/5/18H- Aquaman (Atlantis/Poseidon title) - The Atlantis Gene
A- John Hurt - John le Carré, J.K. Rowling
Outlander, Nineteen Eighty-Four
Pisces
M- February - February
Sym-Fish (river/lake) - The Lake and the Lost Girl3/12/18E-Water in title- Into the Water3/3/18N.A- Wolf (Set in AB, MT, ID or WY) -
Stn- Jade (China) - A Dictionary of Maqiao
H- Siren (etc) in title - Why Mermaids Sing7/25/18A- Glenn Close - John Irving, Isabel Allende, Agatha Christie
The Girl With All the Gifts/ Rosemary's Baby (Ira Levin)/ And Then There Were None