Anne (FindsJoy) in Trivial Matters 2020

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 8

1. Card 5, Sport Nay
2. Link - Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
3. Audiobook (PB = 312pg)
4. A book with a theme of food.
5. Tales of life in the culinary trade from Chef Anthony Bourdain,

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very entertaining, Bourdain is a colorful character who had a lot of adventures/misadventures on his path to becoming a renowned chef and tv personality.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 9

1. Card 20, Science Nay
2. Link - The Ice Princess
3. Audiobook (HC= 393pg)
4. A scandinavian mystery
5. It is a mystery set in Fjällbacka (Sweden). Mystery and Scandinavian literature genres are listed on the main page.

⭐⭐⭐
the writing/mystery was just so-so, but i liked the cast of characters and the setting, so will keep going with book 2 and hope the writing gets stronger.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

****** OUT OF ORDER *****

Badge 3, Book 12
1. Card 18, Sport Yay
2. Link - Malice
3. Audiobook (HC= 288pg)
4. A book translated from another language to English.
5. This was translated from Japanese to English.

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Very clever storytelling, well paced, unexpected turns. Thoroughly enjoyable and engaging from beginning to end!

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

****** OUT OF ORDER *****

Badge 3, Book 13
1. Card 18, Ent Nay
2. Link - The Wife and the Widow
3. Audiobook (HC= 352pg)
4. The cover has a face in profile, looking left or right
5. The cover has two females in black silhouette that are looking sideways to the left/right.
6.

⭐⭐⭐1/2
Very clever storytelling with the interplay of two stories/timelines. You get a fun aha moment when you figure out how they're connected. Slow beginning, characters not that likeable, and ending a bit flat, but how the story's told is the genius in this one, and makes it well worth the read!

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 10

1. Card 3, Ent Nay,
2. Link - The Body: A Guide for Occupants
3. Audiobook (HC= 450pg)
4. A book with the word "Body" in the title.
5. The word "Body" is in the title.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bill Bryson's is a natural storyteller, and so this was a lot more interesting than I'd have imagined it would be. He finds just the right balance of medical knowledge vs. anecdotal highlights that keeps the book fresh all the way through.

[Cherie]

Thanks, Anne. You have given me an alternate title to those on my list for “body” in the title. I enjoy Bryson’s work.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Cherie wrote: "Thanks, Anne. You have given me an alternate title to those on my list for “body” in the title. I enjoy Bryson’s work."

Having choices for task(s) is helpful, isn't it! I had a couple of other options, but wasn't 'feeling' it , so I did a search on 'body' and when I saw this book/author, I knew that was more of what I was in the mood for! I enjoy his work too!

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 11

1. Card 27, Geo Nay,
2. Link - Daughter of Smoke & Bone
3. Audiobook (HC= 418pg)
4. A book originally published in 2011
5. This book was originally published Sept 27th, 2011

⭐⭐⭐1/2
I like Laini Taylor's worldbuilding and the mythical feel to her tales, I especially loved her Strange the Dreamer duology. This series/book #1 was slower to engage me, but I eventually connected with the two MC's, and liked the direction the story took, so I'm glad I read it and will continue in the series.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 12

1. Card 22, Ent Nay,
2. Link - 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea
3. Audiobook (HC= 288pg)
4. theme of the book is survival that does not involve war situations.
5. Salvador Alvarenga was lost at sea for 438 days. His boat drifted off coast Mexico over 5,500 miles to Marshall Islands, He survived on a diet of raw fish, turtles, small birds, sharks and rainwater.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was well written, I thought it might be boring, but the story flowed well, and it's interesting to learn just how Salvador could have survived for as long as he did.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Lucy]

Anne ✨ wrote: "Badge 2, Book 12

1. Card 22, Ent Nay,
2. Link - 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea
3. Audiobook (HC= 288pg)
4. theme of the book is survival that does not inv..."

That sounds like a really interesting read, gonna have to add it to my TBR.

[Anne ✨]

Lucy wrote: "Anne ✨ wrote: "Badge 2, Book 12

1. Card 22, Ent Nay,
2. Link - 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea
3. Audiobook (HC= 288pg)
4. theme of the book is survival th..."

It definitely was, Lucy. I think Salvador is a really unique person in his strength - physical, emotional, and spiritual. I think it's very rare for someone to survive that long at sea. I hope you enjoy it too!

[Anne ✨]

****** OUT OF ORDER *****

Badge 3, Book 14
1. Card 11, Sci Nay,
2. Link - The Getaway Girls
3. Audiobook (PB= 340pg)
4. A car or truck on the cover.
5. The cover has a vw camping van, in the story, three ladies go off on a road trip to Italy in it.
6.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is #2 in series. Enjoyable, lighthearted, feel-good, breezy read, I like that the MC's are elder ladies adding some adventure to their lives. Good chuckles to be had.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

Anne ✨ wrote: "I like Laini Taylor's worldbuilding and the mythical feel to her tales, I especially loved her Strange the Dreamer duology. This series/book #1 was slower to engage me, but I eventually connected with the two MC's, and liked the direction the story took, so I'm glad I read it and will continue in the series..."

I have Days of Blood & Starlight in my list for the Card 12, Sport-Nay task, unless I throw it over for the Sherlock Holmes title I also have listed.

If you have the same task, you could read the second book in the trilogy. The hc is 517 pages though, which may put me off, depending on how I feel at the time.

[Anne ✨]

Cherie wrote: "I have Days of Blood & Starlight in my list for the Card 12, Sport-Nay task, unless I throw it over for the Sherlock Holmes title I also have listed."

thanks, Cherie , I've already read a book for that task, but I discovered that the cover to book two has large prominant eye(s) as the focal point, so I can use for Card 8, Science Yay: Cover has a large eye on it. (I had started reading the Diviners by Libby Bray for that task, but was not enjoying it, so DNF'd it, so I'm happy to have this other option now)



happy to buddy read it with you if you end up choosing it too!

[Cherie]

I will let you know, Anne.

I seem to be all over the place with my reading right now. I am reading/listening to some series books that I cannot seem to want to stop reading and my other task books are suffering for them. For me, it is all about the characters right now. They feel like family.

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 13

1. Card 16, His Nay,
2. Link - The Bell Jar
3. Audiobook (PB= 294pg)
4. pair of shoes on the cover
5. i listened to audible audiobook, this version has a pair of shoes prominently on the cover
6.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not an easy read, but a fascinating one, especially understanding how this 'fiction novel' represents aspects of the author's life and experience with depression.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

********** OUT OF ORDER *************
Badge 3, Book 15

1. Card 21, ArtLit Yay
2. Link - On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane
3. Audiobook (HC= 352pg)
4. a book with a clock on the cover
5. large clock hands on the cover - author takes on 3 different low-income jobs and writes about experiences.
6.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
An interesting anecdotal look at what it's like to work in places like Amazon, Convergys, and McDonalds - companies that all micro-manage every second of the worker's day, and workers endure much physical and emotional duress.

[Janice, Moderator]

Anne ✨ wrote: "********** OUT OF ORDER *************
Badge 3, Book 15

1. Card 21, ArtLit Yay
2. Link - On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane
3. Audiobook (..."

Please link to the cover. :)

[Anne ✨]

Janice wrote: "Anne ✨ wrote: "********** OUT OF ORDER *************
Badge 3, Book 15

1. Card 21, ArtLit Yay
2. Link - On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane ..."

oops, sorry Janice, i completely forgot to do that! It's now corrected in above message #127 ^

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks Anne!

[Anne ✨]

********** OUT OF ORDER *************
Badge 3, Book 16

1. Card 16, Ent Nay
2. Link - A Rule Against Murder
3. Audiobook (HC= 322pg)
4. Book is in any series with 12 or more primary works.
5. This book is #4 in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series
which has 16 primary works currently.
6. Link to series page: https://www.goodreads.com/series/4215...

⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm definitely enjoying this series! They are comforting reads somehow, which might be unusual to say for mystery stories, but the characters are familiar to me now, and I love how the author writes, complimented with the audio narration by Ralph Cosham. Will keep reading for sure!

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 14

1. Card 26, Hist Nay
2. Link - You Know When the Men Are Gone
3. Audiobook (HC= 226pg)
4. The genre is anthology or short stories
5. Short Stories genre is listed on the main page. Book has eight stories that revolve around the separation between military men posted in Iraq and their loved ones back home.

⭐⭐⭐

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

********** OUT OF ORDER *************
Badge 3, Book 17

1. Card 19, Sci Nay
2. Link - Anansi Boys
3. Audiobook (HC= 336pg)
4. A book with lightning on the cover.
5. The cover has a streak of lightening in the middle of the cover top to bottom.
6.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's always a treat to spend time in one of Gaiman's fantasy worlds! Pure enjoyment!

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

********** OUT OF ORDER ***********
Badge 3, Book 18

1. Card 8, Sci Y,
2. Link - The Split
3. Audiobook (HC= 400pg)
4. A book with large eye on the cover.
5. The cover has one large eye top right of the cover.
6.

⭐⭐⭐1/2
Antarctica setting gave the story good atmosphere and chill. Good tension, interesting characters, felt a bit long at times but a satisfying listen overall.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 15

1. Card 6, His Yay
2. Link - Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
3. Audiobook (HC= 288pg)
4. Read the 16th book on my TBR
5. This book was in 16th position on my TBR (oldest to newest). I had added it to my TBR on January 20, 2016


⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed this, I really like her thinking, such a great perspective on the topic, and she's a great audio narrator too! A great combination of story telling and inspiration.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

BTW, your link is broken. Looks like you have an incorrect closing bracket.

[Anne ✨]

Janice wrote: "✔️

BTW, your link is broken. Looks like you have an incorrect closing bracket."

oops - its fixed now :)

[Anne ✨]

********** OUT OF ORDER ***********
Badge 3, Book 19

1. Card 2, Art Lit Yay,
2. Link - The End of October
3. Audiobook (HC= 400pg)
4. A book with word "October" in the title.
5. The title has the word October in it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fascinating to read this pandemic storyline during covid - the author wrote this pre-covid, but it's extraordinary how much of the details parallel current situation in the world. Fast-paced detailed storyline, held my attention.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

I can’t decide if I want to add you October book to my TBR list or not. I’m pretty burned out on pandemics and racial stuff for now.

I’m happy to be isolated on the island of Castellamare for now. No phones, no TV, no radio but a BBC wireless set.

[Anne ✨]

Cherie wrote: "I can’t decide if I want to add you October book to my TBR list or not. I’m pretty burned out on pandemics and racial stuff for now.

I’m happy to be isolated on the island of Castellamare for now..."

I know what you mean, Cherie, immersing in topics that are so at the forefront in the world can be rather stressful.

Castellamare? oh my goodness, I loved that book (The house at the edge of night) !! Hope it's an enjoyable escape for you!

[Cherie]

Yes, I am enjoying it, it is just long.
I can’t imagine living on an island five miles long for my whole life, but who am I to talk? I’ve lived in my house for forty-three years and worked at the same place for thirty- nine years now.

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 16

1. Card 7, His Yay,
2. Link - The Fox Hunt: A Memoir of Yemen and My Odyssey to America
3. Audiobook (HC= 336pg)
4. A book with the word "hunt" in the title
5. Title contains word hunt

⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was so much more engaging than I was expecting, and I learned a lot. Mohammed Al Samawi has an amazing story to tell - apparently it's going to be made into a movie too.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Badge 2, Book 17

1. Card 25, Ent Nay,
2. Link - Pretty Things
3. Audiobook (HC= 496pg)
4. Title has the word "thing" in it
5. Title contains word thing(s)

⭐⭐⭐1/2
Good twisty plot line, really liked the alternating points of view of the two MC's Nina and Vanessa, it was cleverly done, revealing different perspectives of the same story, and revealing new twists and turns. The story was a bit slow/long in the middle parts, but picked up pace towards the end. Great as an audio listen, with cast of 3 female narrators Julia Whelan, Lauren Fortgang, Hillary Huber.

[Jenn]

Ohhhhh, almost there Anne 😃