Team Hydrus

[Nicole B]

I'll take a few more if it's ok
Team Pluto - (book recommended)

Team Milky May -
- a reread and one that won't take me too long :) (book recommended)
- a reread (book recommended)

Team Haumea -
(book recommended)

[Caroline]

Okay just for quick reference the following teams are still up for grabs:

Team Mercury - 1
Team Venus - 1
Team Milky Way - 1
Team Triangulum - 1
Team Tucana - 2

If you're not sure about what is left I can't recommend enough the delightfully absurd The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear or Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures both of which will work for Team Venus (they are in a series, but both of these books stand fine on their own).

Or the heart breakingly gorgeous (and this is coming from someone who never reads romance books) The Song of Achilles which will work for Team Milky Way.

[Caroline]

Jenny you wrote that you finished Paperbacks From Hell on the 13th - is that correct?

Only books that were started AFTER 7pm AEDST (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) on Feb 14th are eligible for the mini-challenge :/ So for you on the U.S. east coast that would be 3 AM Feb. 14th

[[deleted user]]

If it's okay I'll take another 3 for part 2

Team Mercury - I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation
Finished on: 17th

Team Venus - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation
Finished on: 21th

Team Milky Way - Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation
Finished on: 19th

[Alexa]

Caroline wrote: "Alexa wrote: "I started Appealed on a whim last night, and read almost the entire book in one sitting. I plan on finishing it when I get home from work this afternoon. I'm not exact..."

Perfect! My brain was not working at all yesterday so I'm glad you figured it out! I finished it last night, I just have to update goodreads and my planning post.

[Jammin Jenny]

Caroline wrote: "Jenny you wrote that you finished Paperbacks From Hell on the 13th - is that correct?

Only books that were started AFTER 7pm AEDST (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) on Feb 14th are eligi..."

Sorry! Then that one won't count.

[[deleted user]]

Team Tucana
Witch Is When It All Began by Adele Abbott read by Ricka
Reasoning: Godhunter by Amy Sumida - MC in both books is a witch
Finished on: Feb 16, 2018

[Caroline]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Sorry! Then that one won't count. ."

No problem. Are there any other of your books for the mini-challenge that were started too early?

[Caroline]

Ricka wrote: "If it's okay I'll take another 3 for part 2

Team Mercury - I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

Team Venus - A Curious Beginning by [author:..."

These and you team Tucana book should all be fine Ricka

[Jammin Jenny]

Since won't work, I just finished


by Cary Elwes read 2/16, 4 stars
Cards: 0 - Stand Alone, 8 - A: Elwes
connects to Team Grus's - sword on both covers

[Jammin Jenny]

Caroline wrote: "Jammin Jenny wrote: "Sorry! Then that one won't count. ."

No problem. Are there any other of your books for the mini-challenge that were started too early?"

No, the others weren't started until Feb 14th after 3 am EST.

[Caroline]

Okay Teams Triangulum, Musca, and Tucana still need one book each. We're going to pause on claiming these last three for 24 hours though because we still haven't heard from Megan.

[Jammin Jenny]

Oops! I started Alice on Feb 13th so that one won't count either. So that's another free spot on Team Musca.

[Jammin Jenny]

I read The Stand recommended by Team Carina. Here's the review I sent them

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Megan]

So sorry for being late to the party, Jenny helped explain the rules to me and then I was it of town most of yesterday and am just getting back.

I’ll take on The Help from Team Musca and Stay With Me from Team Triangulum

[[deleted user]]

February Reading Plan:
Completed:


29. ✔[Feb 17, 2018] I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
Cards:0 (Standalone), 5 (Title - I'm Thinking of Ending Things ), 7 (Character - Mrs Veal), Reverse - Alissa, Feb mini 2- Team Mercury - Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation

30. ✔[Feb 17, 2018] The Chase by Adrienne Giordano
Cards:,1 (Justifiable Cause #1),2 (Title - The Chase), 3 (Character - Clarence Hill), 4 (Character - Irving Flanagan),5 (Character - Irving Flanagan), 6 (character - Sherry),9 (Setting - New York), skip (Character - Jo Pomeroy) , Blue - 74%

31. ✔[Feb 18, 2018] Gone With The Ghost by Erin McCarthy
Cards:,1 (Murder by Design #1),2 (Character - Tim Jensen), 3 (Character - Hannah), 6 (Character - Sandra),8 (Character - Erin Mccarthy), skip (character - Rick Pannaconi)

32. ✔[Feb 18, 2018] Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
Cards:,0 (Standalone),2 (Character - Father Terrier), 6 (Author - Patrick Suskind), 7 (Character - Count Verhamont),skip (Title - Perfume)Feb mini 2- Team Tucana - Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation

33. ✔[Feb 19, 2018] The Dagger Before Me by Heather Haven
Cards:,1 (Persephone Cole Vintage Mystery #1), 2 (Title - The Dagger Before Me), 3 (Author - Heather Haven ),4 (character - Felicity Dowell), 8 (character - Sera Cole),8 (Character - Evelyn Cohen), 9 (Character - Ned) , Skip - (Character -Persephone Cole)

34. ✔[Feb 19, 2018] Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Cards:1 (Stillhouse Lake #1), 3 (Character - Rain Harrington), 6 (Title - Stillhouse Lake ),8 (character - Javi Esparza)Skip - (Character - Gwen Proctor)Feb mini 2- Team Milky Way - Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation

35. ✔[Feb 20, 2018]The White Tower by Cathryn Constable
Cards:0 (Standalone), 1 (Character - Olivia Burgess), 2 (Title - The White Tower ),3 (character - Alan Hopkins), 6 (character -Pernilla Smythe),9 (Character - Nicholas),Skip - (Pernilla Smythe)

36. ✔[Feb 20, 2018]And Then There Were Noneby Agatha Christie
Cards:0 (Standalone),1 (Character - U.N. Owen), 2 (Character - Tony Marston), 3 (Character - William Henry Blore ),4 (character - Fred Narracott), 5 (character - Isaac Morris),7 (Character - Vera Claythorne),8 (Character - Emily Brent) , 9 - (Character - Fred Narracott), Skip - (Character - Philip Lombard), Reverse - Jammin Jenny, Red 85,1% Feb mini 2- Team Andromeda - Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation

37. ✔[Feb 21, 2018] A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Feb mini 2- Team Venus - Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation

38. ✔[Feb 21, 2018] Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
Feb mini 2- Team Musca - Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation

39. ✔[Feb 22, 2018] Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Feb mini 2 Team Betelgeuse - Same book as the recommendation

[Caroline]

Okay Megan that sounds good! So that leaves the last spot on Team Tucana.

If you (and by "you" I don't mean specifically Megan, I mean everyone) think you won't be able to finish all your books in time, that's okay. Just make sure to tell the team by Friday the 23rd. That way it gives other team members who may read faster a couple of days to fill in the gaps :D

[[deleted user]]

if it's okay with everybody I'll do the last book also

Team Tucana: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation
Finished on: Feb 18, 2018

[Hiraya]

Hi, I've just finished Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things.

Here's a quick review :)

The book was really interesting and it brought tears to my eyes numerous times, while laughing uncontrollably, or crying inconsolably, or both.

I think Victor should get a "Best Husband award", Jenny, "The Most Interesting Mom" award. Heck, let's give their whole family "The Most Interesting People" award because they deserve it!

There were parts, though, which were a bit tiring to read since they were simply rambling, useless thoughts. The book would've survived (and do better) without them. Other than that, I'm happy to have read it, and that's what's important. I'll be updating my posts in a bit.

[Jammin Jenny]

I finished Among the Bone Eaters: Encounters with Hyenas in Harar and included the card information and connection for the mini-challenge in my original Feb tracking post.

[Hiraya]

Hey all, here's the link to my updated Feb Reading Plan Post for convenience.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

A few updates: Starting the George Orwell book today. It's a reread so it shouldn't take too long. I'm thinking of looking for an audiobook version so I can read along. I really enjoyed 1984 and I feel that reading it with audio would put it on an entirely different level of reading experience.

Are there still teams up for grabs? Maybe I can still help. :)

[Jammin Jenny]

Virna, if you can take my spot for Team Mercury (I was planning on reading The Rules of Magic but might not have time) that would be awesome! You can read another book and make another connection.

Caroline, please remove me from the Team Mercury spot for The Rules of Magic. Thanks!

[Alissa]

Been busy with work the last few days but finished Red Queen this morning.

If there's any spots left to fill in the challenge I can assist, otherwise I'll keep going with my plan for the main list.

[Caroline]

Okay so right now I`ve got the following of unfinished books for the mini-challenge:

📓 Caroline - 5
📓 Nicole - 5
📓 Jenny - 7
📓 Ricka - 1
📓 Virna - 1
📓 Alissa - 1
📓 Alexa - 2
📓 Megan - 2

We also have one open spot for Team Mercury. For people who read extremely fast and are going to be out of mini-challenge books to read before we finish, I would be willing to give up one of my spots each for both/either Team Betelgeuse and/or Team Team Andromeda for people with nothing to read left.

[Caroline]

Alissa wrote: "Been busy with work the last few days but finished Red Queen this morning.

If there's any spots left to fill in the challenge I can assist, otherwise I'll keep going with my plan ..."

Alissa since you`re reading for part 1, don`t forget to go by Team Pyxis and tell them what you thought of the Red Queen. Then post a link for your comment here in our thread. That way we get an additional 5 points for the mini-challenge :D

[Caroline]

Okay last comment for a bit:

I just want to say how pleased I am with how great our team is doing! We have about 8 days left for February and only 4 UNO cards left! We are also completely on track to finish the mini-challenge :D

This gives me great confidence as we move into March (and then April) as each month we`ll be given an additional ``hand`` of UNO cards and the mini-challenges will get longer. If I remember correctly, I think the challenge in April of last year was nearly 100 books long!

Let`s keep up the great work everyone ♥

[Jammin Jenny]

Finished Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

[Elena]

Hello team Hydrus!

I come from team Jupiter to thank you for your recommendation of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. I found it to be a thought-provoking and moving tale by a masterful storyteller. I would really like to revisit it sometime soon to catch the nuances I missed and appreciate it even more since I was in a rush to read it for the challenge. And I will definitely be picking up more books by this author. Thank you!

[Caroline]

Elena wrote: "Hello team Hydrus!

I come from team Jupiter to thank you for your recommendation of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. I found it to be a thought-provoking and moving tal..."

Yay! You don't know how happy I am to hear that Elena! Le Guin is one of my all time favorite authors, so I'm always so happy to share her.

I hope you'll enjoy her A Wizard of Earthsea series just as much :D

[Hiraya]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Virna, if you can take my spot for Team Mercury (I was planning on reading The Rules of Magic but might not have time) that would be awesome! You can read another book and make anot..."

Hi guys!

GO TEAM HYDRUS! Just reporting that I have already finished 1984. And sure Jenny, I got your back! The Rules of Magic it is. <3 I will be updating my reading plan posts in a while for reference.

[[deleted user]]

Hi there

Team Andromeda: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation
Finished on: Feb 20, 2018

[Caroline]

Ricka wrote: "Hi there

If it's okay I'll take Team Andromeda and read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie"

Thats fine with me Ricka. I'll change the list tomorrow :)

[Alissa]

Thanks for the reminder to post on Team Pyxis' wall.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Hiraya]

By the way, just got a ton of deadlines coming up at the end of the month..so I might be carrying over She Who Remembers by Linda Lay Shuler to my March reading plan....tentatively. :)

[Caroline]

Virna Pamela wrote: "By the way, just got a ton of deadlines coming up at the end of the month..so I might be carrying over She Who Remembers by Linda Lay Shuler to my March reading plan......."

That`s fine Virna. We`re good for UNO cards, so any book that doesn`t need to be read for the mini-challenge is perfectly fine to carry over into March.

[Hiraya]

Got it chief! Already started on The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman. :)

[Jammin Jenny]

Thanks Virna!

[[deleted user]]

Hi there

I've completed all my books. Please let me know if there is anything else to do. Thanks

[Jammin Jenny]

You can take one for Team Musca - Part 2

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Jammin Jenny

Team Musca: Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation
Finished on: 21st

[[deleted user]]

Hi there

Done. Is there more ?

[Caroline]

Ricka wrote: "Hi there

Done. Is there more ?"

If you want to take my other Betelgeuse spot that's okay with me. I can save that book I had picked for the mini-challenge for March or April since it's a fast read. I'll start a longer book now so I can finish it in the beginning of March :) The Lightning Thief is a fun read if you like young adult/Greek mythology

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Caroline

Team Betelgeuse: Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Reasoning: Same book as the recommendation
Finished on:22 Feb

[Jammin Jenny]

Finished Alone Part 2 Team Triangulum - same as recommendation - updated tracking thread

[Alexa]

I finished my last two books for the mini challenge! This month has been so fun participating with you all. Everyone has done a great job!

[Caroline]

That's great Alexa! Yea, I've been really excited with how well our team is doing :D According to the team ranking we are currently in 3rd place out of 22 teams!

To finish up the mini-challenge this is what I have let on the docket:
📓 Caroline - 2 - The Telling and The Fifth Elephant
📓 Nicole - 4 - Strange the Dreamer, Room, The Name of the Wind, and The Dry
📓 Jenny - 3 - Wool, Frostbite, and Disclosure
📓 Virna - 1 - The Rules of Magic
📓 Alissa - 1 - The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy
📓 Megan - 2 - The Help and Stay with Me

If you are reading for part 1 don't forget to go over and leave a comment on the other team thread for each book! We are neck and neck with Neptune, Jupiter, and Sculptor so every point helps.

For people who are already finished may I suggest picking up a nice long book you want to read? Any book started in February but finished in March can be used for March cards.

Hopefully (?) February should be the only month where people are out of reading so early. The mini-challenges get significantly longer as UNO goes on. Keep up the great reading guys!

[Jammin Jenny]

Finished The Girl With All the Gifts and sent post to Team Carina.

[Alissa]

I'm halfway through The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy

[Annalisa]

Hi Team Hydrus,
I just finished listening to Bossypants, and it was really nice to have something light to listen to on my drive to and from work. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Lauren]

Hi Team Hydrus! I'm from Team Venus, and I just finished up Behind Closed Doors for the mini Challenge. What a great recommendation! It was well written and suspenseful, and while I was sometimes frustrated with the main character for being a bit naive, I was still really rooting for her! I had already read B.A. Paris's second book The Breakdown (highly recommended for fans of Behind Closed Doors), and this book did not disappoint! Thanks for the recommendation, and I hope you're all enjoying the Challenge!!