You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Closed Discussion Topic
>
Team reporting thread
Total books read: 152Tasks completed: 149
Years completed: 0
2015 - A trilogy (yes, this requires someone to read 3 books! You can tag team if more than one person is reading the same trilogy and on different books.)Tag team: Wayward This is book two of the Wayward Pines series. (Two others are reading)
This series is very creepy. I’m not sure that I care for the way it is going.
I have finished for 2016 A dystopian novel The Road. The overall theme of this book concerns pervasive death, how different characters face its inevitability and its affect on the father and son's relationship.. Although the ending leaves a slight chance of hope, I can't but think that there really is none. The story is far from uplifting.☻
2018 - A microhistoryThe Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
This fits because the book is a history of how the OED came into existence. The book was a little dry in places, but overall was really interesting, although a bit sad.
I read 2018's A book about time travel with After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the FallThe survivors in After have a time-machine that grants them brief forays into Before to Grab what they'll need to rebuild.
I couldn't put it down (perfect toppler book). It felt like a film plot, actually I think I've seen this film.
2016 A New York Times best seller Burned 6 OctPresented in series of first-person journal entries, the main character's emotional distresses and thrills feel as if they are being told directly to you.
Beware! The ending demands an immediate plunge into the sequel.☻
2018 A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title - Lemon Meringue Pie MurderA mystery in a series I like. The book was good.
A graphic novel (still 175 pages, this is the exception to our rule) - Shiver: Selected Stories by Junji ItoCollection of horror stories that were used for the anime. The art Junji Ito produces is stunning and creepy even though the story is sometimes left a little behind. You might like it if you like surreal/weird horror stories.
2017 The first book in a series you haven’t read before Blackbird 6 OctUnaccustomed to tales told in the second person present tense, It took some time to adjust. However, this point of view placed me right in the middle of the action.
Another book requiring a reading of a sequel in the hope of getting final answers!
Nice work, everyone! I’ll update the main thread as soon I’m back at my working laptop.
2015 - A book you can finish in a day - The Reluctant FundamentalistHighly recommend this as a toppler read. Great story, short, and super easy to read.
2015 - A book set in a different country (from the one you live in) - The Rhythm of Memory - enjoyed it.
2018 An allegory Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the critical edition ISBN 9780393974652 7 OctMany interesting factoids about the book and the theatrical interpretations over the years.
2018 - A book with an animal in the title. I read Winter Wolf. It was a good book but I felt that the storyline was already done in the book Nightshade. They were very similar.
2018 - A book with a LGBTQ+ protagonist - Call Me By Your Name.This was a reread for me and I enjoyed it just as much this time around. In fact, I think I enjoyed it slightly more than when I read it the first time, although not enough to change my 4 star rating. It's a beautiful book, the prose is exquisite and the story is relatable and touching. The Oscar winning movie adaptation is even better.
I read The Floating World for 2015 - A book with bad reviews (below 3.5 star average) . The book has an average rating of 3.27.I actually don't agree with the low ratings (1 and 2 stars) that this book has received. I will agree that it is depressing and messy at some points, but I think it captured events that happened in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina very well. I rated it a solid ★★★.
2016- A Murder Mystery - Mrs. McGinty's DeadI thought this was a particularly clever Agatha Christie mystery. I'm getting better at spotting the clues, I just still can't seem to put them together to figure out the murderer! Still thoroughly enjoyed this though.
2018 - a book set on a different planet. I read Restoree. It is set on Lothar.This is my favorite Anne McCaffrey book, and I appreciate the opportunity to read it again. There's so much going on: adventure, romance, alien invasion, and politics. Awesome!
I finished Tilt for 2016: A book of poetry. Excellent prose as always. The audiobook is very well done. I follow the author and have been reading her stuff every since Almeta recommended. Crank to me.
Hopkins' books are geared towards young adults and the subject matter is often painful and difficult to read. I've not looked, but I'm sure the author gets a lot of hate mail, because she addresses so many tough issues for teens; sex, death, dieting, teen pregnancy, abortion, divorce, love vs. lust, GLBT, self-esteem, flawed parents, congenital birth defects, cancer, HIV/AIDS, God/heaven vs. The Void, moral choices, etc... stuff that many people would feel is inappropriate material for impressionable teens.
I know many adults can't believe teens have it so hard and they don't believe it is wise to treat them like adults and talk to them about hard issues. They believe discussion, compassion, acceptance and understanding leads to condoning "unwanted behavior." Teens are going to do many adults things, and experience many adult emotions and trials, regardless of whether we want to talk about them or not. Remember when YOU were 16?
Each character in Hopkins' books tell parts of the story in the first person. Each teen sounds like they are speaking right in your ear. Very engrossing stuff. I have a hard time putting each book down. Also, Hopkins' plays with words and on-the-page word lay-out in clever ways. Watch for patterns and you'll find them repeating each chapter.
This book was a bit preachy from the religious aspect... no positive pro-choice opinion; only pro-life... strong Christian messages... but no judgement, so I'm okay with that. When faith is discussed, the teens think/speak more of spirituality and of a loving creator. It all works because there is no judgement. And I admire people with strong faith of any kind.
I completed the 2015 task, a book with a one-word title. I read Vicious.I really enjoyed this book. It's quite unique in its magic system. The main character isn't all that likeable, yet I was still rooting for him. I hope to read the second book in the series soon.
Second book finished!2015: Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet A book with magic
I did not really enjoy this book. If it had not been a topple I would have run screaming from the room. Those are 9 hours I will never get back * sigh* 2.5 stars. Okay,not terrible but I have alow tolerance for romance. Don't know what I was thinking when I bought it. Ah well, gone now ;-)
Finished 2017: An audiobook - The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and PiracyBloody loved it. As good as the first one, and I really recommend the audible for these, they are fabulous.
Way to go everyone!!! I finished The Funhouse for 2017 A book by an author who uses a pseudonym. It was written by Dean Koontz using the pseudonym Owen West. It was definitely a horror read. It was also a very distinct good vs evil, God vs satan, which I wasn't expecting. I have no idea how I'm going to rate it yet.
2017 A book about food Eating Animals 7 OctFrom my perspective, it could also qualify for "horror" and "scares me"!☻
Finished 2018-- A book with characters who are twins. I read Christmas in the Sisters.This is the fifth book in a series I have been reading for a while, set in a small town called the Sisters. The main characters include a widowed mom named Madison and her twin teenagers, Bethany and Blake. In this Christmas themed book, her boyfriend Brash proposes. He is the father of Bethany's best friend, Megan. So Madison, Blake and Bethany agree to marry Brash and Megan, and vice versa. Most of the book is a cozy mystery. Though things get a little sentimental at the end, I enjoyed the book.
Ok, all the tasks should be checked off to here. If I missed any, just let me know. They are checked in the original task posts.
I finished reading Under the Boardwalk for 2018 - a book with song lyrics in the title. Under the Boardwalk was a song recorded by The Drifters back in 1964. The words are repeated many times in the song.As for the book, it's not a great story. Insta-love. Lots of personal issues. Rather far-fetched. I don't think I'd ever read it again unless I needed to for a Toppler :)
I finished All Systems Red for 2016 a book under 150 pages.It had 144 pages.
It was a quick read. I liked the idea behind the murderbot. I think it will be an intetesting series. I gave it 4 srars.
2017 - A book set in the wildernessThe Mountain Between Us
Book is set on a mountain in the wilderness in Utah. This was a good enough book that I stayed up way too late to finish it. :)
2015 A book based entirely on its cover A Bright Soothing Noise
Chosen because it has fire on the cover so I can use it for the Zodiac challenge. (Fire is even more significant on audio cover, but unable to link as that cover isn’t on GR),
I read Die drei ???. Feuermond: Das Rätsel der Meister. Pfad der Täuschung. Die Nacht der Schatten for the 2015 task "a book from your childhood" :)
I finished Change of Fortune for 2015 - A funny book. I dare anyone to read any book in the series and not even crack a smile several times. Chuckles, giggles, and even guffaws are always guaranteed for me. And the suspense is great; edge-of-your-seat stuff. I love me the Sinful Ladies - Gertie and Ida Bella just crack me up! I hope to have all my faculties (well - in Gertie's case that's questionable), nerves of steel, and as much energy as those seniors have. Could go for some Sinful Ladies Cough Syrup right now... and it's not because I have a cough!
I finished 2017 - A book that’s been mentioned in another book - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer for the 2018 task: A childhood classic you’ve never read. I've seen the movie but never read the book and figured it was about time I did since it's been sitting on my shelf for years and years. I enjoyed Twain's writing, and found myself laughing at Tom's superstitions and explanations for anything he didn't understand.
Lynn wrote: "Finished Love and Other Words for 2017 A book set in two different time periods."Lynn, you mentioned that this also fit in 2017: A book with multiple authors, but it is listed only as Christina Lauren. Is there another author? I may put it there instead.
Kristie, did you need one with multiple authors? “The Wendy” would fit that if someone had a fairy tale in mind?
Jenn wrote: "Kristie, did you need one with multiple authors? “The Wendy” would fit that if someone had a fairy tale in mind?"Thanks, Jenn. I'm actually just trying to move her book because I double-booked the task. I still have another spot I can add it if I need to though.
Finished 2017 a story within a story Celine, a search for Gabriela's father and Celine's history 8 Oct
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Howliday Inn (other topics)City of Ashes (other topics)
The Last Black Unicorn (other topics)
The Poisonwood Bible (other topics)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarah J. Maas (other topics)Leïla Slimani (other topics)
Toni Morrison (other topics)
Dorothy B. Hughes (other topics)
Jane Austen (other topics)
More...
For example, I read A Thousand Splendid Suns for the 2016 task “A book about a culture you’re unfamiliar with”. The story is set in Afghanistan and I don’t know a lot about their culture. I really enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting and the setting was fascinating.