You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
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Anne (FindsJoy) in Trivial Matters 2020
Cherie wrote: "I only own 1-4 and weirdly, #8, but I found places for #2, #3 and #4 on my challenge, thanks to you for pointing them out to me. They are not the same as yours, but I found places for them. Thanks!"Nice! That's what's so fun about this challenge - figuring out how to make the same book work with different task.
It will feel good to make progress on this series.. you, Jayme and I can all motivate each other to keep reading them and become the newest #LouisePennyFanClub members!
And maybe you'll join us too, Janice... book #2 awaits you :)
Cherie wrote: "I only own 1-4 and weirdly, #8, but I found places for #2, #3 and #4 on my challenge, thanks to you for pointing them out to me. They are not the same as yours, but I found places for them. Thanks!"# 7 can also be used for card 14 - Geography: Nay : )
Anne ✨ wrote: "And maybe you'll join us too, Janice... book #2 awaits you :).."I've slotted A Fatal Grace into the challenge for the same task as you did. I checked the library and there were no books available locally, and all others available through inter library loan are currently checked out. Then I noticed that it is also published under the title Dead Cold, and my local library has one available. Shock!
I've got February jammed full not including the toppler. ACK! I'm not sure when I can get to it.
Badge 1, Book 101. Card 30, Sci Nay
2. Link - Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
3. Audiobook (HC = 364pg)
4. Read a book with theme of AI - artificial intelligence
5. The book is about AI - it's potential to transform our future more than any other technology, and important philosophical discussion on how to keep AI beneficial and not destructive.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A fascinating look at the topic. The book had a fictionalized tale in the prologue that illustrated just how AI could snowball to rule the world - it was terrifying and electrifying at the same time.
Badge 1, Book 111. Card 11, Sport Nay
2. Link - Dear Edward
3. Audiobook (HC = 352pg)
4. Read a book set in 2010 to present day
5. The book is a contemporary story inspired by an actual plane crash in 2010 where a young 9yr old boy is the sole survivor.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A tender thoughtful story with all the feels. Human connections is a big part of this story, a young boy's coming of age through grief and disconnectedness after he's the sole survivor of a plane crash that takes his parents and brother.
Just one more book and the badge is yours!
Janice wrote: "Just one more book and the badge is yours!"Yessss! Only 71 more chapters of Children of Virtue and Vengeance and I'm there! HA!
I'm listening to the audiobook and have 6:41 hours left.
Badge 1, Book 121. Card 8, His Nay
2. Link - Children of Virtue and Vengeance
3. Audiobook (HC = 404pg)
4. Read a book 1st or 2nd in series
5. The book is #2 in the series: Legacy of Orïsha
⭐⭐⭐⭐
first half was slow, but action picked up second half, and I enjoyed being back in this world again - the scenes where the magic is at play are the highlights. There were a lot of changing relationship dynamics between Zelie, Inan, Amari, Tzain.. and so my liking/disliking of a character's actions kept changing right along with the story! HA!
And that's Badge 1 wrapped up now YAY!
Thanks so much, all! I really love how friendly, supportive, and chatty everyone is in this group! It's inspiring me so much in my reading, I've discovered some wonderful books thanks to your book choices, and it's a favorite part of my day to see all the comments posted in this group 😘
Woohoo! Congrats on earning the first badge, Anne.
Badge 2, Book 11. Card 18, His Nay
2. Link - The Round House
3. Audiobook (HC = 323pg)
4. Read a book that is a prize winner (selected awards)
5. The book won the National Book Award for fiction in 2012
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
I appreciated the writing and how well the story is told from the point of view of young teen boy on Indian Reservation in North Dakota in 1988. I liked all the character dynamics in this one. Thoughtful, this is one to savor slowly and take in the cultural nuances. The audio was outstanding, narrated by Gary Farmer, an Aboriginal Canadian actor born in Ohsweken, Ontario into the Cayuga Nation and Haudenosaunee/Iroquois.
I wasn't fussy for Farmer's narration, but I really enjoyed the book. I've read another of her books and really like her writing.
Janice wrote With Farmers narration, I think it was the authenticity that grabbed me, the voices made the characters feel very real, the way of speAking, lilt, inflection, dialect, etc. But it did take me a bit to settle into it, and I totally see how it might not be as pleasing a listen for others.
I definitely plan to read more of this author! I need to gopher to see what tasks I can slot other of her books into .:)
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 2
1. Card 13 - Sci Nay
2. Link - Terminus
3. Audiobook (Audible Original only on audio, 11hrs 21mins)
4. A book with stormy seas on the cover
5. The book cover shows stormy conditions with choppy wavy seas.
6.
⭐⭐⭐1/2
This is 4th in a series, but they seem loosely connected so can be read standalone. I barely remembered the first two books, and never read the third.. I find these stories entertaining though, they're strong on action, fast-paced, and I enjoy the character development and dialogue. Listening to Ray Porter's narrations is always a pleasure!
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 3
1. Card 1 - Sport Nay
2. Link - The Cruelest Month
3. Audiobook (HC = 310pg)
4. A book set during the month of April
5. The book is set during the month of April
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is 3rd in the series, and I'm really starting to enjoy it now that I've got more background on all the characters. I love the setting, I love all the quirky characters. I'm excited that there's so many more books to enjoy!
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 4
1. Card 1 - Art/Lit Yay
2. Link - The Nowhere Child
3. Audiobook (PB = 374pg)
4. A book with "Cursed" or "Child" in the title.
5. The word "Child" is in the title
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Started a bit slow, and some quirkiness to the story (religious cult that plays with snakes), made me wonder if I'd like it, but it turned out to be quite engaging with good pacing that kept me listening, and it was satisfying through to the end. Promising for a debut, look forward to see what the author comes out with next. The audio narrator did a good job, because there were quite a lot of characters, and she had to do different accents too - Australia, rural Kentucky, male, female, adult, child.
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 5
1. Card 13, Ent Nay,
2. Link - Dark and Deepest Red
3. Audiobook (HC = 309pg)
4. A book with a theme of dance.
5. The book is about a dancing plague in 1518 Strasbourg, and the Red Shoes fairytale where a girl wearing red shoes cannot stop the dancing.
⭐⭐⭐1/2
Unique story with alternating timelines past and present, I liked the historical parts the best. Took a while to get into it, but liked it by the end.
Badge 2, Book 21. Card 2, His Nay
2. Link - The Women of the Copper Country
3. Audiobook (HC = 352pg)
4. Read a book set in 1900 - 1920
5. The book is set in 1913 during a miners strike in the copper-mining town of Calumet, Michigan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this author's storytelling and how she develops characters! This story was deeply engaging, and offered great insight into the miner's strike in Calumet Michigan in 1913.
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 6
1. Card 24, Ent Nay,
2. Link - These Broken Stars
3. Audiobook (HC = 378pg)
4. A book with a main character who has Ginger (red) hair
5. The MC is named Lilac, and she is described as having long flowing red hair. The bookcover also shows her red hair.
6.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
An entertaining YA sci-fi fantasy with romance. Surprisingly engaging and compulsively readable, i'm continuing the series. It's definitely YA...
Badge 2, Book 31. Card 4, Art/Lit Yay
2. Link - This Shattered World
3. Audiobook (HC = 394pg)
4. Author's last name starts with W, S, or E
5. The book is co-written by Amie Kaufman and Meaghan Spooner. The cover shows both names, and the book is listed under both author's pages: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Entertaining series... enjoying! This one's on a different planet within the same world as first book, with two new, different main characters.
(Janice, I'm assuming it's ok if only one of the author's last names starts with the required initial, and it doesn't have to be both in this case?)
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 7
1. Card 12, Sci Nay
2. Link - Their Fractured Light
3. Audiobook (HC = 428pg)
4. A book with stars on the cover
5. The book shows the two MC's floating in a night sky with stars
6.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Satisfying conclusion to the series. Fast moving easy read. I liked how each book features a new male and female MC, but the MC's from the previous books are brought into the storyline.
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 8
1. Card 10, History Nay,
2. Link - Children of God
3. Audiobook (PB = 451pg)
4. A book with a theme of religion
5. The book's MC is a 'broken' priest who has lost his faith in God after terrible experiences happened to him in book1, and now he must cope with all his feelings of betrayal by God and his guilt about his inability to forgive, and how to make sense of evil and pain in a world ruled by a benevolent God.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An excellent continuation/finish to this duology. The author is an incredible master of characterization, I loved everything about this story!! I loved the MC - Emilio Sandoz , a haunted, emotional conflicted character who was just so likeable!
Awesome, Anne. I really like Russell’s writing too. I have book 1 on my TBR list, but I’m not sure I have the religion task. Either way, I still want to get to The Sparrow.
I should read that duology. I just finished The Mercies and it has me thinking about these "men of god" who tortured women until they confessed to witchcraft, and then executed them in horrific manners. The men were filled with religious fervor yet did these evil things, believing they were doing God's work. Or was that a façade that allowed them to be sadistic?
Badge 2, Book 41. Card 9, Art/Lit Nay
2. Link - The True Story of Hansel and Gretel
3. Audiobook (PB = 320pg)
4. Genre historical fiction about the genocide of European Jews during WWII.
5. Set during last months of Nazi occupation of Poland, two Jewish children are helped to hide and survive, and are renamed "Hansel and Gretel".
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Superb storytelling, very clever re-imagining of the original tale. It's dark and emotional and some parts difficult to read about, (inhumane treatment by the Nazis). The characters were all wonderfully drawn in the tale, and I loved how the original fairy tale elements were woven in but in a totally different way. I will keep thinking about this one!
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 9
1. Card 18, Sci Nay,
2. Link - The Sun Down Motel
3. Audiobook (HC = 327pg)
4. A book with a sun on the cover or the word 'Sun' is in the title
5. The title has the word 'Sun' in it
⭐⭐⭐1/2
I liked the setting of the run down creepy motel with ghostly inhabitants, that worked really well. Book was a bit slow in the first half, but picked up more towards the end, satisfying enough, but didn't love it.
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 10
1. Card 29 Sport Nay
2. Link - From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
3. Audiobook (HC = 339pg)
4. A book with a blue or white dress on the cover
5. The MC Tembi Locke is wearing a white dress on the cover.
6.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ beautifully written, evokes all the senses of the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Sicily. She shares honestly, emotionally, and thoughtfully.
Badge 2, Book 51. Card 23, Sport Nay,
2. Link - Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are
3. Audiobook (HC = 338pg)
4. There is a wild animal on the cover
5. The cover has an elephant and zebras
6.
⭐⭐⭐
Interesting for the most part, none of it too surprising really...
Anne ✨ wrote: "************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 11
1. Card 23, Sport Nay,
2. Link - [book:Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are|285126..."
I don't show that you have a book for card 23, so would this not be badge 2?
Janice wrote: "Anne ✨ wrote: "************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 11
1. Card 23, Sport Nay,
2. Link - [book:Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Re..."
Ooh yes you are RIGHT!!! Thanks for catching that, I've corrected the post above to Badge 2, book 5
Badge 2, Book 61. Card 21, Ent Nay
2. Link - Severance
3. Audiobook (HC = 291pg)
4. A book cover at least 75% pink
5. The cover is 83.8% pink (on TinEye Labs)
6.
⭐⭐⭐1/2
It was eerie to read this during Covid-19 going on. The backdrop for this dystopian story is a pandemic that started in China and spread worldwide. The book is well written, uses lots of clever irony on the daily life in the first days and weeks of a world slowly descending into dystopia. A slow/wistful read.
Badge 2, Book 71. Card 28, Sci Nay,
2. Link - The Ten Thousand Doors of January
3. Audiobook (HC = 374pg)
4. A book cover with flowers other than orchids on it.
5. The cover has assorted flowers that are not orchids
6.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A pleasing escape into a fantasy world with magical doors leading to other worlds. I thought it was a very creative story line with a great cast of characters, and it kept me engaged.
************ OUT OF ORDER *************Badge 3, Book 11
1. Card 12, Sport Nay
2. Link - A Single Light
3. Audiobook (HC = 384pg)
4. The first and last name of the author start with T, L, D, or R
5. The author's name is Tosca Lee
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Action-packed and suspenseful sequel, I couldn't put it down. It leans YA with young MC's, but the plot and action are good!
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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That's great, Cherie, it's soooooo goood!! And it surprised me too when I realized it would work for that task! I think Steven King is so widely known as a horror writer that his books all automatically get tagged as such, but some of his stories are less horror and more other genres like mystery, fantasy, paranormal etc...