You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Monthly
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March 2018 REPORTING - Blowing off the Cobwebs
So, I have read Slade House, (view spoiler)Sorry Rusalka 😞
Total = 3 points
And the glue stick goes to . . . Lol
Lol! Glad you enjoyed it, Jenn.Could you do me a favour, and just edit your above message with the total points outside of the spoiler? Just would make it a bit easier for me for badges.
I read Anne of Green Gables. siriusedward gave it a 5 star ratings. While I really enjoyed it and gave it a respectable 4 stars, so:3 pts - we agreed
siriusedward liked it so much, she read and rated the entire series as 5 stars. I preferred Anne at her precocious best when she was 11 years old. The magic died a bit for me as she got older. Her flights of fancy were quite humorous.
Other points: I read the audiobook, but according to the rules, this cover is to be used:
2 pts - Anne was always reading.
2 pts - trees on cover
Total: 7 points
So pleased Jenn. Your spoiler made me laugh. Do definitely check it the thread and comment if would like.
Jenn wrote: "Sorry Rusalka 😞Total = 3 points
And the glue stick goes to . . . Lol"
Nothing to apologise for. Thanks!
Janice wrote: "I read Anne of Green Gables. siriusedward gave it a 5 star ratings. While I really enjoyed it and gave it a respectable 4 stars, ..."I'm glad. I loved this book as a kid. I'm glad it had legs for both of you guys as adults.
I read His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae and gave it 4 stars. I really enjoyed the format of the book, the writing, and I found it very atmospheric. The setting was incredibly well built. I checked and Peggy was the one who picked it as one of her best for 2017. I thought it might had been Lisa actually, because I remember adding it to my TBR after reading her review, but it seems that was back in the old times, in 2016.
Scoring:
3 pts - we agree
2 pts - Hōnen Matsuri
Total: 5 pts
Glad you enjoyed it Sandra! I also added it to my tbr because of Lisa, but apparently before 2017.
I read “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult. I loved the book. Not many authors can take the topic of racism and write such a beautiful book. I have read most of Jodi Picoult’s books but this one is one of my favourites (I thought “The Storyteller” was also amazing). I though the book was extremely relevant to current events in my area. I live in rural Saskatchewan and there has been a lot of racial tension between the white population and the indigenous population. There was recently a high profile murder trial that some believe was racially motivated. The trial really showed how prevalent racism is in my province. This book made me realize things about racism that hadn’t occurred to me before. The idea that treating people fairly does not mean treating or judging people equally, peoples differences must be taken into account to treat them fairly. That concept made me think a lot about prejudices I didn’t even realize I had. Points:
I agreed with the original poster
Honen Matsuri
-Turk gets intimate with his soon to be wife
-Baby Davis Bauer gets circumcised
Holi - Book cover has 3 or more bright colours

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I read Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala - a 5-star read for me but a 2-star read for Kristie :-). I'd seen reviews of it before and I was ambivalent about adding it to my TBR list. I wasn't sure I wanted to read a book that was clearly focused on the devastation wrought by the 2004 tsunami. I remember vividly hearing and watching the news at the airport returning from having spent Christmas with my family. The book is a very personal account of the author's experience of the tsunami and her journey in the aftermath - disbelief, guilt, loss - a journey she's still on, woven in with her and her family's life story. Her husband Steve and little kids - Vik and Malli came alive for me. It's funny to see how Kristie didn't care for the book and I really thought it was well done!Points:
4 points - thought differently than Kristie
Ashley wrote: "I read “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult. I loved the book. Not many authors can take the topic of racism and write such a beautiful book. I have read most of Jodi Picoult’s books but this one i..."Could you please add a total of your points to your post for me, Ashley? Thanks.
Glad you loved the book!
Lilisa wrote: "I read Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala - a 5-star read for me but a 2-star read for Kristie :-). I'd seen reviews of it before and I was ambivalent about adding it to m..."Yay! Our first differing opinion! I love it when this happens, but I am very glad it was a good read for your Lilisa.
Rusalka wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I read Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala - a 5-star read for me but a 2-star read for Kristie :-). I'd seen reviews of it before and I was ambivalent about..."Why thank you, what a honor to be the first contrarian! 😂😂😂
Lilisa wrote: "Why thank you, what a honor to be the first contrarian! 😂😂😂"Very important position!
Rusalka wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Why thank you, what a honor to be the first contrarian! 😂😂😂"Very important position!"
🤓
Rusalka wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I read “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult. I loved the book. Not many authors can take the topic of racism and write such a beautiful book. I have read most of Jodi Picoult’s books..."Agree with poster-3points
Holi- 2 points
Honen Matsuri-2 points
Total=7 points 😀
Ashley wrote: "Total=7 points 😀.."Star. Thank you :D
For this challenge, I read The Historian. This book was listed on Rusalka’s “worst” list, with a two star rating. For me, it was a three star read, which might have been higher if I had any patience at all for vampires (which I don’t). Considering the theme, I have no idea why I even bought this book. It has been on my shelf for quite awhile, and I was likely never to get to it without needing it for a challenge. The historical aspects of the story appear well-researched, and this was the most enjoyable part of the book for me. But, it was overly lengthy, and I caught myself skimming the pages on occasion. The writing did nothing to help me suspend disbelief concerning vampires.
The difference between our ratings isn’t too significant, but it seems from Rusalka’s review that she is sorry to have wasted her time, and I am rather ambivalent but somewhat more positive. So, I’d say we disagree. (Rusalka, if you consider the difference between 2 and 3 stars indicates we are in agreement, I will amend my score to 3 points).
EDITED per message below
4 points - disagree with original poster
2 points - MC reads a book
2
2 points - Hōnen Matsuri
Total points = 10 points
No no, that's a good summation of my feelings. Take the points.Let's go with 50% of the book for capital cities. And you spent more than half a book in capital cities, so take the points.
Updated the scoring with that clarification.Everyone double check your points.
Good question on actual Canberra Day too!
I read Rot & Ruin. It appeared on Camilla's best books list. I really enjoyed this book. Yes it was YA but I felt it was quite a mature one. It covered some interesting themes and was an interesting take on the zombie tale. Probably the best zombie book I've read so far. Camilla gave it 4 stars. I'm inclined to give it 4.5 stars but will keep it at 4 for GR.3pts – You agree with the original poster
No random March points.
Total = 3pts
Another glue stick contender.
Rusalka wrote: "No no, that's a good summation of my feelings. Take the points.Let's go with 50% of the book for capital cities. And you spent more than half a book in capital cities, so take the points."
Thanks, Rusalka. I’ve edited my message.
I read Ready Player One. It appeared in Janice and Margo's best list. The theme of this book caught my attention a while ago and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to read it because this book is phenomenal. The story, at first, may sound a bit childish, however, the author used important nowadays subjects in his futuristic novel, sometimes as a warning and sometimes as a critique (view spoiler)
The adventure in it also kept me from doing anything until I finished it. 5 stars.
POINTS:
3 pts- we agreed
2 pts- National Frozen Food Month (view spoiler)
2 pts- National Reading Awareness Month (view spoiler)
2 pts- Hōnen Matsuri (view spoiler)
Total: 9 pts
Isaura wrote: "I read Ready Player One. It appeared in Janice and Margo's best list. The theme of this book caught my attention a while ago and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to read it beca..."Really glad you enjoyed it Isaura. I agree, it's a great read.
Unfortunately, Columbus isn't the capital of a country though, so we will have to remove those points, sorry. Could you please update you comment for me?
Rusalka wrote: "Isaura wrote: "I read Ready Player One. It appeared in Janice and Margo's best list. The theme of this book caught my attention a while ago and I'm so glad I finally had the chance ..."Of course. It was my mistake, I confused state and country ashuashuasu
Isaura wrote: "Of course. It was my mistake, I confused state and country ashuashuasu "No worries! It happens :D
Isaura, I added 5 + 4 = 10 a couple of challenges ago... so... we understand. :)
Yes, I was like capital, I have a capital uhsuahsuash. I still don't know how I read the same thing wrong so many times.
I read Pachinko
.I rated it 5 stars so I agree with the original person. 3 points
National Reading Awareness Month - MC sits down and reads a book. Not documents, files, letters, etc. Sits down and reads a book for fun. -- Noa loves to read and reads English literature - 2 pts.
• Holi - your cover has 3 or more bright colors on it (post book cover you read please for checking. If reading an e-book or audio book, please use the book cover explained in Rule 5 below) 2 pts
• Canberra Day – your book is set in a capital city of a country
Clarification - at least 50% of the book is in capital cities, and can be multiple capitals - set in Yokohoma (It is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture.) Tokyo, and Osaka (It is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture). - but not 50% in Tokyo
• National Festival of Trees – your cover has a tree on it - many trees on the hill - mountain- 2 pts
• National Pig Day – there is a pig in the book (not pork, a live pig) -pigs live in house next to Sunjya house - 2pts
• Hōnen Matsuri– a male character gets his “member” out for a reason besides relieving himself. Solomon gets some action from his "step-sister". 2 pts.
13 pts
Nice work Naomi! Clarification on the capitals, it can be multiple capitals, but still have to be of a country. Was 50% in Tokyo? Prefectures, like States, won't count.
I edited it down to 13 pts. I would say most of the book is Osaka and Yokohama.
Thanks Naomi. Sorry it missed those points. I'm glad you enjoyed it though. So many people I know have rated it 5 stars.
I read Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House which was on Peggy's list. We both gave it 5 stars. Such a gripping and well-crafted story with fabulous characters.
Points:
3pts – You agree with the original poster
2 pts - National Reading Awareness Month - MC sits down and reads a book. Not documents, files, letters, etc. Sits down and reads a book for fun.
2 pts - your cover has 3 or more bright colours on it (post book cover you read please for checking. If reading an e-book or audio book, please use the book cover explained in Rule 5 below)
2 pts - National Festival of Trees – your cover has a tree on it
Total - 9 pts
I read We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. Its average rating is 3.72. So I was surprised that my rating and Margo's matched.Margo gave it five stars and said, among other things, "This amazing book reads like a true story but isn't."
I agree with her assessment and also gave it five stars.
The main character, Rose, tells her story directly to the reader. She refelcts on her past life, but interjects her present thoughts on the narrative.
Her tale seems like a true account of her family and friends set in an unusual backdrop of activism and the discovery of denied truth of her faulty or repressed memories. Amazing, frustrating, poignant, hopeful.
3 pts – You agree with the original poster
2 pts Rose read Little Women and Mosquito Coast, Lowell read books to Rose and Fern, Rose's class read Dracula, mom and dad read books out loud, etc.
2 pts – your cover has a tree on it
A whopping 7 points!
Almeta, I'm so happy you loved it too! For me it was a real hidden gem that totally surprised me :-)
My report: I read His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae. It on Peggy's best list (I really thought it was Lisa's rec until I checked the list!).This is another that reads like a true story but isn't! I must be drawn to these kind of books lol
3pts – I agreed with the Peggy.
2pts - Hōnen Matsuri
TOTAL: 5 pts
Lol, same as Sandra said, Margo. I also read it because of Lisa, but she read it in 2016 already.
It's fiction? I thought it was a true story. Hmmmm...ETA - how did I miss that? I just checked out the book page. I must have assumed it was non-fiction based on the sub-title.
I assumed the same until recently. It's now on my wishlist.
I read We Were Liars which turned out to have been on Sandra's Worst List. I actually enjoyed it. So I get 4 points. Otherwise it didn't fit any points categories. I think especially once I discovered it was YA, I didn't have super intense expectations of it, and I found it pulled me in. (view spoiler)
Jenn wrote: "So, I have read Slade House, and found that I actually did really enjoy it.Sarah had it on her Best list, stating that it generated some great discussion in the group read, and wa..."
I love all of David Mitchell's books. Now you have to read the others and find the connections. Warning: it is a dangerous hole to go down, and you may never come out, reading and rereading to find them all and think about what they mean for his universe... I just got the hardback of this today in a discount bin. I only had it on audio.
Janice wrote: "It's fiction? I thought it was a true story. Hmmmm...ETA - how did I miss that? I just checked out the book page. I must have assumed it was non-fiction based on the sub-title."
It is fiction but i thought it was not until I was about half way through. Don't be put off by the audio sample - it is the author reading the foreword!
Isaura wrote: "I read Ready Player One. It appeared in Janice and Margo's best list. The theme of this book caught my attention a while ago and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to read it beca..."Yay, Isora! Missed your post. So happy you loved it too 😉
Margo wrote: "t is fiction but i thought it was not until I was about half way through. Don't be put off by the audio sample - it is the author reading the foreword! "I remember you mentioning that before. I think the edition I have available to me has a different narrator, Antony Ferguson. When I go to Audible UK, it lists Crawford Logan and Cameron Mowat as narrators.
I'm not sure I'll get the audiobook. I have it on Kindle.
Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "t is fiction but i thought it was not until I was about half way through. Don't be put off by the audio sample - it is the author reading the foreword! "I remember you mentioning th..."
I think this one would be just as good on kindle. Audio didn't add anything to the story.
Beth wrote: "I read We Were Liars which turned out to have been on Sandra's Worst List. I actually enjoyed it. So I get 4 points. Otherwise it didn't fit any points categories. I think especiall..."Glad to see you enjoyed it more than me, Beth. And that also means more points. :)
Janice wrote: "It's fiction? I thought it was a true story. Hmmmm..."In my case I knew it was fiction, but while reading the foreword I had to check a few times to be sure I wasn't mistaken. The foreword really reads like non fiction.
I had to do the same. I think I even Googled a couple of times throughout the book to mae sure it really was all fiction.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Complete Maus (other topics)The Friday Night Knitting Club (other topics)
A Man Called Ove (other topics)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret (other topics)
Tender Is the Night (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sonali Deraniyagala (other topics)Sonali Deraniyagala (other topics)
Sonali Deraniyagala (other topics)
This month, we're going to blow off the cobwebs from the 2017 list off, gussy it up, and take it out for a spin.
Head over to this link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/menti...
Do NOT head to the actual thread as yet.
Here we have a list of approx 150 books we mentioned in our Best and Worst list of 2017 (I know it says 173, but I have noticed a couple of duplicates). Your job for March is to choose a book off this list (there are two pages) and read it. Simple!
Once you have read it, you can head to the original thread (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) and see what the person who listed it thought. I don't want you to be influenced by the list when you are choosing, so please don't go there before you read. Honour system people.
When you report however, I'll get you to list who put it on the list, what they thought, and what you thought, and this will contribute to your points.
Speaking of which, POINTS!
4pts – You disagree with the original poster (where's the fun if we all agree all the time)
3pts – You agree with the original poster
Clarifications on the above:
- I was thinking if you enjoyed it, and it was on someone's best list, then that's agreement. If you disliked it, and it was on someone's worst list, then you agree. Same for disagree. Doesn't have to be a top for you, just whether you are on the same side of the spectrum as the person who listed it.
- Peggy wrote: "And what if multiple people listed it but one as best and one as worst?"
Go with the one that gives you more points.
Random March Points:
2 pts each
• National Reading Awareness Month - MC sits down and reads a book. Not documents, files, letters, etc. Sits down and reads a book for fun.
• National Frozen Food Month – why is this even a thing? MC eats a frozen dinner.
• Holi - your cover has 3 or more bright colours on it (post book cover you read please for checking. If reading an e-book or audio book, please use the book cover explained in Rule 5 below)
• Canberra Day – your book is set in a capital city of a country
Clarification - at least 50% of the book is in capital cities, and can be multiple capitals
• National Festival of Trees – your cover has a tree on it
• Aztec New Year – the author of your book is Mexican
• National Pig Day – there is a pig in the book (not pork, a live pig)
• L. Ron Hubbard's birthday – your book is set on another planet
• Hōnen Matsuri– a male character gets his “member” out for a reason besides relieving himself.
General Rules:
1. The book may be in any format – hardcover, paperback, ebook, or audiobook.
2. The book may NOT be combined with the Year Long Zany Zodiac Challenge.
3. The book must be read between March 1 to March 31, 2018 (based on your own time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose, but only the highest scoring book will apply.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read. If reading eBook or audiobook page numbers will be determined by the issue that comes up on a Goodreads search.