House of Jaghuts 2020!

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Sir Anni wrote: "Don't pressure youself too bad, luckily books are patient after all :)"

This truly is the best thing about books. :)

They are always there waiting for you, whenever you need them. <3

[Choko]

I have a question... How do we record a comic book that doesn't exist in the Goodreads database? I have several of them I am about to read, which were sent to me after supporting Kickstarter...

[Choko]

Jenna, we are here, the books are always around, take care of yourself first and foremost, and know that we are here for you no matter what! Don't let reading become a stressor - it should only be a pleasure and a distraction from reality... Hugs!

[Elinor]

Choko wrote: "I have a question... How do we record a comic book that doesn't exist in the Goodreads database? I have several of them I am about to read, which were sent to me after supporting Kickstarter..."

I would do it the same way that I do for a regular book I guess

[Choko]

Thanks, Elinor (•‿•)

[Yanique, Thread Master]

Elinor Master of Gifs wrote: "Choko wrote: "I have a question... How do we record a comic book that doesn't exist in the Goodreads database? I have several of them I am about to read, which were sent to me after supporting Kick..."

If it's from a kickstarter I'd guess there's only one version anyway, so I'd just use that page number and enter it like a normal graphic novel/comic.

[Choko]

Thank you, Yanique(•‿•)

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Choko wrote: "Jenna, we are here, the books are always around, take care of yourself first and foremost, and know that we are here for you no matter what! Don't let reading become a stressor - it should only be ..."

You are the sweetest, Choko <3

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I feel like I've finally been hit with a bit of a coronavirus slump, this month...

Almost all I've read has been easy mysteries/thrillers, BRs, and re-reads...

(While high for most), my reading is down to ~600-650 pages per day, and only 20hrs of audio completed... January to March, I maintained an average of 850+ and 25+, by having a fair amount of really productive days (1200+ pages, 36-48hrs audio)

Work definitely hasn't been helping, but I've also been struggling a bit, finding things I want to read :(

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

I've been getting back into reading a bit but I'm having a hard time finding things I want to pick up too Iain.

[Petrik]

Scott wrote: "I've been getting back into reading a bit but I'm having a hard time finding things I want to pick up too Iain."

You can always reread Malazan BotF again... :P

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I've been doing a fair amount of Re-reads (Dresden, Sanderson), BRs that have worked out well (Dragonfly in Amber, Never Die, Seven Blades in Black, Ninth House, Conspiracy in Belgravia)

Most of my side reads have just been continuations of open series, since I have nothing better to read (so the ratings have been 3 stars alot)...

Then ridiculous new releases come along, like Badger to the Bone...

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Petrik wrote: "You can always reread Malazan BotF again... :P"

I definitely don't have that type of brain power in me right now.

[Bea]

I've been in a better reading mood the last 1-2 weeks or so. I still have a bunch of books to update :)

[Shaitarn]

Good afternoon, everyone; I need a GR recommendation for one of my challenges this year, so please hit me with your recs!

Annoyingly, I'm going to ask if you can only mention books that have been released as physical paperbacks: I don't have a Kindle or a Kobo, or Audible or anything else, and hardbacks kill my wrists after a while.

To be even more annoying, please can you keep your suggestions to the epic/high fantasy or supernatural horror genres (I've read enough UF/YA to want to avoid it for a while). Also, please no ASoIaF, Malazan, WOT, LOTR, Lightbringer or Stormlight - I've read a least one or two of them already (some in my pre-GR days - I suppose I could read them again but it would feel like cheating). It doesn't necessarily have to be a new book - there are plenty of older books I still haven't read.

[Petrik]

Shaitarn wrote: "Good afternoon, everyone; I need a GR recommendation for one of my challenges this year, so please hit me with your recs!

Annoyingly, I'm going to ask if you can only mention books that have been..."

This will be my first recommendation, a standalone high fantasy masterpiece: The Sword of Kaigen

-The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett (high fantasy, urban fantasy, small element of horror in one)

The Forgetting Moon

[Anni]

I second The Sword of Kaigen :)

Also, you haven't read any Riyria books, do you? Then I would recommend Theft of Swords, it's a rather short but fun read and I love the friendship between the mai characters.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Shaitarn wrote: "Good afternoon, everyone; I need a GR recommendation for one of my challenges this year, so please hit me with your recs!

Annoyingly, I'm going to ask if you can only mention books that have been..."

Based on our common books and what you liked that I did as well I'd recommend:

Guns of the Dawn as a standalone flinklock that pairs well with Powder Mage and Shadow Campaigns.

Then the Long Price Quartet for similar reasons as a series. A Shadow in Summer

[Shaitarn]

@Sir Anni - I did read Theft of Swords in my pre-GR days. I probably would've enjoyed it more if I hadn't read Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser years before; I should probably give it a re-read at some point.

@Scott - Aha, I have Guns of the Dawn on my shelf, waiting to be read, so this gives me the perfect excuse! The Long Price Quartet is very good (read it a couple of years ago).

[Zaara]

@Shaitarn great court intrigue standalone fantasy in Romanesque setting, think crafty villain MC, lots of political wheelerdealering and shady powerplay.
All the villainy is intellectual.
Arka and I loved it.

[Bea]

Hi dear Jaghuts, how are you doing? I hope everybody is safe and healthy! <3

I was reading almost nothing when the whole quarantine thing started but now I'm in a better reading mood again.
Besides that, I'm procrastinating like a pro when it comes to writing my thesis :p

And I just updated my sheet for the first time this month and added almost 60 points :)

[Shaitarn]

Bea wrote: "Hi dear Jaghuts, how are you doing? I hope everybody is safe and healthy! <3

I was reading almost nothing when the whole quarantine thing started but now I'm in a better reading mood again.
Besid..."

*waves pom poms* Go, Bea!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Doing alright... adjusting to wearing a face mask all day at work...

My reading is down for April, but it looks like it's because I read denser books, with slower narrators, as much as it's because I read less in general...

Re-watched the first season of Leverage (a show I loved on TNT), and just learned it's being revived on IMDB TV for a 6th season, keeping original cast minus Timothy Hutton, plus Noah Wyle... should be interesting...

For the month, I'm at around 20hrs of audio a day, but only 650-700 pages a day, down from 850-900 and 24-25hrs

Working on my 8th tome of the month... been re-reading Mistborn trilogy, reading Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander 2), Cabinet of Curiosities (Pendergast 3), Blood of Empire (Gods of Blood & Powder 3), and now Mirror Empire (Worldbreaker Saga 1)... historically, I tend to read shorter UF/Mystery/Romances, most of the time...

Then I've been changing it up with some true literature: T-Rexes & Tax Law (Time Traveling Taxman #1)... I stumbled onto that gem a couple days ago... it was alright, once the MC became less annoying... gonna continue...

I've also been lax on updating my sheet this month... mostly did it in 3 bursts...

[Yanique, Thread Master]

Hey everyone. I know I’ve been quiet in here, but I just haven’t been feeling chatty. I’ve been reading though and since I’m home and can read for long periods uninterrupted, I’ve able to get to some of my bigger classics I’ve been meaning to pick up.
I’ve moved up to 3 rd place in the competition for now so that’s nice, but we’ll see how that holds up.

[Zaara]

Bea wrote: "I was reading almost nothing when the whole quarantine thing started but now I'm in a better reading mood again.
Besid..."

Yanique wrote: "Hey everyone. I know I’ve been quiet in here, but I just haven’t been feeling chatty. I’ve been reading though and since I’m home and can read for long periods uninterrupted, I’ve able to get to so..."

Great job Bea and Yanique! I'll have a fairly chunky clubbed update EOM.

[Siobhan]

Yanique wrote: "Hey everyone. I know I’ve been quiet in here, but I just haven’t been feeling chatty. I’ve been reading though and since I’m home and can read for long periods uninterrupted, I’ve able to get to so..."

Well done, Yanique!

[Mel]

Woohoo! Way to go Bea! I'm glad you're in a better reading mood. :)

Nice to hear Yanique that you've been able to tackle some classics. I know I feel accomplished when I finally cross one off my TBR list.

Life is still chaos here, but I've managed to read a bit here and there, so as to not come to a complete standstill. I might do a reread or two for something easy and comforting, which has been the overall theme as of late.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yanique wrote: "Hey everyone. I know I’ve been quiet in here, but I just haven’t been feeling chatty. I’ve been reading though and since I’m home and can read for long periods uninterrupted, I’ve able to get to so..."

I'm assuming Julia will re-enter the top 3, once Rob figures out how to catch her up... he hasn't updated her sheet in months, because she's been doing more ebooks and re-reads or something... so she can't place an easy stack on hit computer desk anymore...

Otherwise, I think the top 2 are locked in, unless someone starts reading less...

[Frank]

Hello all, many who are former teammates. Just stopping by.

I am glad to hear everyone that has chimed in, is well.

Health to all.

[Yanique, Thread Master]

Now is an interesting time to be a virologist. My HIV research is paused for now in order for us to help out with the COVID19 research effort, and it's been interesting to say the least.

[Bea]

Yanique wrote: "Hey everyone. I know I’ve been quiet in here, but I just haven’t been feeling chatty. I’ve been reading though and since I’m home and can read for long periods uninterrupted, I’ve able to get to so..."

I've been more motivated to pick up classics, too. I read one in April for the first time in a year or so. Sure, Little Women is not a super hard classic to read but as a non native speaker I'm still proud of myself :)

Have you been abke to make some progress with the Covid research?

[Bea]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Yanique wrote: "Hey everyone. I know I’ve been quiet in here, but I just haven’t been feeling chatty. I’ve been reading though and since I’m home and can read for long periods uninterrupted, I’ve a..."

Yeah, probably. I noticed her points are suspiciously low...

[Bea]

Also, today is my 2 year FBR anniversary!
I've never been that active in any other online community. You guys are awesome!!! ❤

[Mel]

Yay!
Congrats Bea on your FBR anniversary!

٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و☆｡ヾ(*'∀`*)ﾉ♡✧.ﾟ٩(๑>◡<๑)۶:.｡♡٩(●˙▿˙●)۶♡°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°\(*◜◡‾*)／

I share your novelty in online community. While I've joined in a different forum or two, I've never been consistently part of a group like this long term. While there are active chatty times, as well as quieter ones, it's a nice place to hang out. Glad always for your presence and good conversation. :)

[Zaara]

I have a nice-ish point drop for the Jhags... would someone please add my Feb, March, and April books to the team score?
I clubbed them because I (felt like, obviously I was wrong) only read around five books a month and (again, felt like) I had a big slump in Feb, so I thought it'd be easier to enter a dozen at once.
I will update monthly or bimonthly in future. Thanks in advance!


One JANUARY book
1. Last Jew From Treblinka
Rajchman, C.
224 pages (ebook)
01/30
SOLO
Challenge: Standalone


====
February
NB: All books receive EYEBALL BONUS except for the very few stated as audio! This month just one book.

Buddy Reads:
1.The Last Argument of Kings
Abercombie, J.
671 pages
02/13
Challenge: Series (First Law 3)

2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Rowling, J.K.
691 pages
02/15
Challenge: Series (HP 6)

3. Outlander
Gabaldon, D.
866 pages
02/25
Challenge: Series (Outlander 1, I'm also doing a First in Series Challenge)

4. Daughter of the Blood
Bishop, A.
456 pages
02/11
Challenge: Series (Black Jewels 1)

5. Suddenly You
Kleypas, L.
384 pages
02/27
Challenge: -

6. Beyond Redemption
Fletcher, M.
512 pages
02/04
BR
Challenge: Series (Manifest Delusions 1)

7. Ten Thousand Doors of January
385 pages
Harrow, A.
02/13
BR
Challenge: Standalone

Solo:
8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Rowling, J.K.
462 pages
03/06
Challenge: Series (HP 3)

9. Because of Miss Bridgerton
Quinn, J.
384 pages -AUDIO
02/29

Challenge: Series (Rokesbys 1)


Huh! This is weird because I felt like I didn't read anything except Harry Potter this month and mentally held this as a big slackoff/slump because I failed to make some BRs that I signed up for. Its not that bad altho that could largely be because I was still finishing off some books from Jan.

[Zaara]

March
NB: All books this month receive the EYEBALL BONUS.

Buddy Reads:
1.The Mirror's Truth
Fletcher, M.
500 pages
04/02
Challenge: Series (Manifest Delusions 2)

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rowling, J.K.
791 pages
03/17
Challenge: Series (HP 7)

3. Best Served Cold
Abercrombie, J.
880 pages
03/21
Challenge: Series (First Law 3)

4. London
Rutherfurd, E.
1328 pages
03/31
Challenge: Standalone

5. Changeless
Carrigger, G.
432 pages
02/25
Challenge: Series (Parasol Protectorate 2)

6. The Thief
Turner, MW
280 pages
03/02
Challenge: Series (Queen's Thief)

Solo:
7. Making Faces
Harmon, A.
405 pages
03/04
Challenge: Standalone

8. Triquetra
McDermott, K.
43 pages (Tor Short)
03/15
Challenge: -

[Zaara]

April

Buddy Reads:
1. The Queen of Attolia
Turner, M.W.
04/07
397 pages

Challenge: Series (Queen's Thief 2)

2. The Magus
Fowles, J.
672 pages
04/15
Challenge: Standalone

3. Heir to the Shadows
Bishop, A.
518 pages
04/30
Challenge: Series (Black Jewels 2)

4. Unholy War
Hair, D.
801 pages- AUDIO
04/21
Challenge: Series (Moontide 3)

5. Uprooted
Novik, N.
465 pages
04/29
Challenge: Standalone

Solo:
6. Emma
Austen, J.
574 pages
04/02
Challenge: Standalone

7. Three Dark Crowns
Blake, K.
416 pages
04/25
Challenge: Series (3 Dark Crowns 1)

8. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
Greenwood, B.
448 pages - AUDIO
04/30
Challenge: Standalone

9. Odd and the Frost Giants
Gaiman, N.
130 pages - AUDIO
04/30
Challenge: Standalone

[Saar The Book owl]

I've been in such a big reading slump the last 2 months. It's like no book I'm currently reading can hold my attention. Since this corona - thing and the lockdown happened, my reading has dropped so low.

[Saar The Book owl]

@Zaara: waw! Nice job!

[Saar The Book owl]

Bea wrote: "Also, today is my 2 year FBR anniversary!
I've never been that active in any other online community. You guys are awesome!!! ❤"

A late happy 2 year anniversary!

[Elinor]

Zaara : I updated your spreadsheet ! I did like on mine and put the names of the series. I hope I didn't did anything wrong. You now have a total of 291.7 points :)

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Nice job Z!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nice points and happy anniversary...

I think I'm coming up on my 3 year FBR and my 7 year Goodreads, soon...

...and I just passed 12,000 comments this morning... been awhile since I hit 11,111... not been talking much...

[Zaara]

Thanks :) and especially thanks 🌞🌛 to Elinor...na I'm sure you did it perfectly.

Hope May is a great reading month for everybody. Especially nice to see Bea and Lannister have their reading mojo back. And Saar, I'm in a really strange reading mood too...in fact, I had such an appetite for complete nonsense that I just listened to Alice in Wonderland... first time since primary school... meeh, not my typical fare but its something I've vaguely been intending to revisit and thank god it was on audio with an ensemble cast or I will not have sat thru... now I plan to do a Mayim and get thru Looking Glass just to complete the set.

[Zaara]

Please add my books for May to the team score.

Buddy reads
1. Red Sister
Lawrence,M.
516 pages
05/04
Challenge: Series (BotAncestor 1)

2. One Dark Throne
Blake, K.
469 pages
05/07
Challenge: Series (Three Dark Crowns 2)

3. Blameless
Carriger, G.
300 pages
05/17
Challenge: Series (Parasol Protectorate 3)

4. Ascendant's Rite
Hair, D.
878 pages AUDIO
05/22
Challenge: Series (Moontide Quartet 4)

5. The Priory of The Orange Tree
Shannon, S.
848 pages
05/28
Challenge: Standalone

6. The Young Queens (novella)
Blake, K.
112 pages
05/30
Challenge: Series (3 Dark Crowns 0.1)

7. The Oracle Queen (novella)
Blake, K.
120 pages
05/31
Challenge: Series (3 Dark Crowns 0.2)


SOLOS
8. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Carroll, L.
160 pages AUDIO
05/08
Challenge: Series (Alice 1)

9. The Famous Five Collection (1)
Blyton, E.
480 pages
05/18
Challenge: Series (FF)

10. Matilda
Dahl, R.
360 pages
05/27
Challenge: Standalones

11. The Blue Castle
Montgomery, L.M.
272 pages
05/11
Challenge: Standalones

12. Room on the Roof
Bond, R.
223 pages
05/25
Challenge: Series (Rusty 1)

13. Vagrants in the Valley
Bond, R.
222 pages
05/26
Challenge: Series (Rusty 2)

14. By the Shores of Silver Lake
Ingalls Wilder, L.
307 pages
05/14
Challenge: Series (Little House 5)

Thanks in advance!

[Saar The Book owl]

I've got a little question: I've started a BR with another member and I'm nearly finished. But if a member don't participate (we're only 2 for the BR), can it count for BR - points?

[Hailee]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've got a little question: I've started a BR with another member and I'm nearly finished. But if a member don't participate (we're only 2 for the BR), can it count for BR - points?"

I had this happen to me last year and I was told that as long as the intention to buddy read existed then you can still count it. I'm presuming it would be no different this year either.

[Saar The Book owl]

Okay, thanks. I'm still reading the book and commenting, so it's a BR then.

[Virginie]

Hey guys! Do you remember when Petrik announced here he was hosting a giveaway of Master of Sorrows back in January...? Well, I came from the other team, sneakily signed in and WON MUHAHAHAHA (but only recently received it due to postal delays with the pandemic situation)

[Soo]

Yay! Congrats!