R11: Team Serial Killers (4)

[Denise]

completion post
week 1, spot 7
Read #7 in a series
Alternate: Read a book published in 2016

Eye of the Beholder
9/5
published in 2016
4 stars

The original description of this book said it was a standalone. When I started reading it, i realized it was part of a series.

I enjoyed the book, even though it was on the predictable side. I look forward to the other books in the series.

[Monica]

Completion Post
Week 1
Spot: 7
Book:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Qualification #7 in Harry Potter Series
Finished: September 5, 2019
BONUS: This book is 759 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I thought this was only the second time I have read this book, but it turns out I have now read it 3 times. This was one of the hardest books for me to read in the Harry Potter Series. I love this series and knowing that this was the last book made it sad. As I was reading the book I was thinking about the movie and realizing how different the book and movie are in certain things. This is the series that I tell everyone to read. To see how this story grows in each book and how the writing is phenomenal throughout the whole series.

[SandyC]

Hi M! Welcome back!

[SandyC]

How's everyone doing on your reading? I will finish my book tomorrow.

[Sarah]

I am crossing my fingers that I will finish tomorrow

[SandyC]

Celia wrote: "Hmm, I don't really have much right now. I'll try to figure something out but I have kind of limited access to books right now. My college has a good library but I'm trying to avoid taking out too ..."

Hi Celia. Did you decide on a book?

[SandyC]

Denise wrote: "completion post
week 1, spot 7
Read #7 in a series
Alternate: Read a book published in 2016

Eye of the Beholder
9/5
published in 2016"

Hi Denise. Can you please post a short review and rating? Thanks!

[SandyC]

OK, so looking at the rules we have to have all reviews in by tomorrow (Friday) at 23:59 Central time. If not then we have to skip a week. :-(

[Denise]

Done. Sorry

[Monica]

I rushed to finish mine because I have plans today (Friday) and didn't want to miss posting my review before the deadline.

[SandyC]

Denise wrote: "Done. Sorry"

Thank you!

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Since you haven't heard from Celia since last Friday, you might want to pm her to remind her of the deadline if you haven't already.

Monica, when you have the time you might want to add that your book qualifies for the 500+ pages bonus to your review post. :)

[SandyC]

Denise wrote: "Since you haven't heard from Celia since last Friday, you might want to pm her to remind her of the deadline if you haven't already.

Monica, when you have the time you might want to add that your ..."

Thanks, Denise.
I just PM'd Celia as you posted this. :-)

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Great minds think alike. :P

[Monica]

Denise wrote: "Since you haven't heard from Celia since last Friday, you might want to pm her to remind her of the deadline if you haven't already.

Monica, when you have the time you might want to add that your ..."

Thanks Denise!! Done

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Celia has decided to drop out. I'll see about getting you a back-up player to take her spot.

[SandyC]

Denise wrote: "Celia has decided to drop out. I'll see about getting you a back-up player to take her spot."

Thank you, Denise!

[SandyC]

Completion Post

Week 1, Spot #7

Book: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
Qualification: Published 2016
Rating: ★★★

Review: I really enjoyed Room so I thought this book would be much better than it actually was, Maybe my expectations were too high. Set in 19th century Ireland after the potato famine, English nurse Lib Wright is hired to help watch over an 11-year-old girl who is apparently surviving without eating. Lib instinctively believes it's a hoax perpetuated by scheming clergy and townspeople who enjoy the attention - and money - that visitors have been bringing. The first half of the book was truly boring but the second half picked up. Most of the characters were unlikable. I will say it's an interesting study of how religion was used to control people during this time period, especially women and children.

[SandyC]

OK gang we have a little less than 8 hours left to get those reviews in. You can do it! :-)

[Suman]

Review Post:
Week: 1
Spot: 7 (Alt: Published 2016)


A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor Towles

How it fits: First published September 6th 2016
Pages: 496
Finished: 07/09/2019
Rating: ★★★★
Review:

A Gentleman in Moscow is story of Count Alexander Rostov who is kept in a house arrest at Hotel Metropol which is one of the famous hotels in Moscow. The story revolves around people staying at the Hotel and somehow Count gets involved with them. The story is also about how to be a gentleman in every possible circumstances. Amor Towles did a fine job with the characters like Anna, Nina, Sophia - the women in Count's life and also some unforgettable hotel stuffs. With a setup after the WWI, A Gentleman in Moscow is hilarious, sad, illuminating, political, apolitical and historical in its own way.

[Sarah]

Week 1
Space: 7



Book Too Late by Colleen Hoover
Qualification Published in 2016
Read 9.6.19
Rating★★★★★
Review

Colleen Hoover started writing this on Wattpad in her free time and would post it chapter by chapter. I remember reading the first few chapters that way and being frustrated that I couldn't read the entire thing. So I waited. I bought it as soon as it released, and it was signed. I didn't read it until now. The hype was real. I really enjoyed this book. I feel like it's a litter different from what she usually writes. It felt like a Molly McAdam's book if that makes any sense. It's dark. There's a love triangle. There's suspense. All around a great book!

[SandyC]

WE DID IT!

Here is our new roll:

Week 2
Previous spot: 7
Roll: 6,4= 10
New Spot= 17
Read Standalone or 1st, 7th in series
Alternate: Four or more Words Title excluding like A, An, The (i.e. The Girl on the Train or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

[Sarah]

I will be reading House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, as of publication it is a standalone. It also has four or more words in the title.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

As Suman pointed out to me, I screwed up when typing up the alternate list. One of the given examples, "The Girl on the Train" didn't actually fulfill the requirements (which are meant to read "articles like A, An, The). I have replaced it with a proper example and fixed the missing "articles" across all threads' alternate lists.

[Suman]

Selection Post:
Week: 2
Spot: 17 (Alt: Four or more Words Title excluding like A, An, The (i.e. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone))



A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

How it fits: Shades of Magic #1 and Four or more Words Title excluding like A, An, The (i.e. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
Pages: 400

[SandyC]

Week 2

Roll: 6, 4
Spot: 17
Read #1 or #7 in a series, or a standalone
Alternate: Four or more Words Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

Sandy C: Confessions of a Shopaholic ** Review
Monica: Hornet's Nest ** Review
M: Daughter of War ** Review
Suman: A Darker Shade of Magic ** Review
Sarah D.: House of Salt and Sorrows **Review
Denise: The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism ** Review
Cathy: The Marriage Bargain ** Review

Bonus points this week: 1
Bonus points total: 2

[SandyC]

Selection Post

Week 2, Spot 17

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Qualifcation: Standalone, and also four or more words in the title

[Cathy]

Hi team! I am joining you this week to replace Celia.
I will look at my books and come back with my selection post.

[SandyC]

Hi Cathy. Welcome to our team! :-)

[Cathy]

Selection Post

Week 2, Spot 17
The Marriage Bargain by Angel Moore
Standalone

[Monica]

Selection Post:
Week: 2
Spot: 17 (Alt: Four or more Words Title excluding like A, An, The (i.e. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone))



Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell

How it fits: Andy Brazil #1
Pages: 369

[Denise]

SandyC wrote: "Selection Post

Week 2, Spot 17

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Qualifcation: Standalone, and also four or more words in the title"

Good book. Enjoy it!

[Denise]

Selection post
Week 2, spot 17
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
Standalone

[M]

Selection Post
Week 2, Spot 17
Daughter of War

First in the series

[Cathy]

Completion Post

Week 2, Spot 17
The Marriage Bargain by Angel Moore
Read: 9/10/19
Standalone
Rating: 3 stars

Review: This book was just okay. The characters were very one-dimensional and preachy. Everything they did was linked back to scripture. There was very little emotion portrayed by either of the main characters. The most realistic character was the little girl.

[M]

Week 2 - Spot 17

Title: Daughter of WarDaughter of War
Author:S.J.A. Turney S.J.A. Turney
How it Qualifies: #1 in series
Date read: 9-10-2019
Rating: * *
Review: I had high hopes. Historical fiction about the Knights Templar. I guess I looked to much at the cover and not enough into the description. I mean you would think that a book titled “Daughter of War” with a female on the cover in full plate armor with a sword might have women doing something interesting. Nope, the daughter in question was a side note to the story and sent to a convent. Just disappointed.

[SandyC]

I decided to change my book.

Confessions of a Shopaholic
#1 in series

[SandyC]

Completion Post

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Read 9/9/19
First in series
Rating: ★★★★

Review:I've read most of the other Shopaholic books, but I never read this one since I saw the movie. Well, as I should have known, the movie is a LOT different from the book. It's as if they took the bones of the book and created new plot lines. This was a fast, funny read, but very unrealistic. Becky buys everything she wants on her credit cards, a millionaire wants to date her (she's not attracted to him), she gets herself into massive debt, then she magically gets a great job that will help dig herself out. Still fun, escapist fantasy for me.

[Sarah]

I should be done with my book tomorrow before we roll. I have about 3 hours or so of the audiobook left.

[SandyC]

Sarah wrote: "I should be done with my book tomorrow before we roll. I have about 3 hours or so of the audiobook left."

Thanks, Sarah!

Team Reminder: All reviews must be in by 23:59 Central time tomorrow (Friday) or we will miss our turn this week.

Happy reading!

[Suman]

Review Post:
Week: 2
Spot: 17 (Alt: Four or more Words Title excluding like A, An, The (i.e. The Girl on the Train or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone))

A Darker Shade of Magic
by V.E. Schwab

How it fits: Shades of Magic #1 and Four or more Words Title excluding like A, An, The (i.e. The Girl on the Train or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
Pages: 400
Finished: 13/09/2019
Rating: ★★★

Review:It's an easy book with full of action, drama, a complete package of entertainment. But the ideas are borrowed. It felt like a mashup of Lord of the Ring series (LOR), Harry potter series (HP) etc. Like the stone here is something like the ring in LOR, nitty-gritties may differ but overall picture is similar. Apart from that, it didn't felt intelligent and the material is also not that enriching (in the perspective of literature). But for a quick read, it's an absolute marvelous book and good for light-mood reading.


Bonus claim :2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.

[Denise]

Completion post
Week 2, spot 17

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
Read 9/13
Standalone
4 stars

I loved this easy to read answers to difficult questions compilation. I was surprised at how many questions i had that i hadn't fully formed. All of my questions were answered. I am so glad that the author put together this book.

[SandyC]

We haven't discussed how to use our bonus points. We'll have 2 after this round, which means we can add 1 or 2 to our roll if we so choose. I guess after the roll we can decide if changing the number would help with book choices.

[Suman]

SandyC wrote: "We haven't discussed how to use our bonus points. We'll have 2 after this round, which means we can add 1 or 2 to our roll if we so choose. I guess after the roll we can decide if changing the numb..."

Now we are in 20s .... It's better to keep them for some thing like 70s .... Because if we roll like 68 or say 79 .... That will be difficult. So we will use them then to reach 70 or 80.

[Monica]

Completion post
Week 2, Spot 17

Hornet's NestHornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell
Read: 9/13
Pages: 369
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is my first book by Patricia Cornwell so I didn't know what to expect. I enjoyed the character development between Virginia West and Andy Brazil. I felt that the author was trying to make the readers feel that these two were gay. I found myself wanting to continue reading the book just to see how the relationship would go between Virginia and Andy.

[Sarah]

Week 2
Spot: 17



Book: House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Qualification: More than 4 words in the title, standalone
Rating: 4 stars
Read: 9.13.19
Review:

House of Salt and Sorrows is a retelling of 12 dancing princesses. I haven't read a retelling of this so in my opinion it was very well done. I liked the world building, the characters, and atmosphere. I think it can be really popular. I listened to the audiobook which was good. I liked the narrator.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Guys, aren't you going to roll?

[Suman]

Denise wrote: "Guys, aren't you going to roll?"
There is no response from @SandyC, atleast I am unable to locate any. Can I roll on behalf of the team? It's past time but all the reviews came with in time.

[Suman]

Week 3 :

Previous Spot: 17
Dice Roll: 5,4 = 9
New Spot: 26 (Alt: Non-Fiction)

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Since you did have all reviews in on time, it's okay.

Next time you have reviews coming in fairly close to the deadline, you might want to just ask the last person to post their review to roll right away so you don't lose more time.