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R12: SSS Team 3 - The Dewey Decimators
message 51:
by
Theo
(new)
Sep 23, 2020 03:38PM
I am working tomorrow, so I will not be awake tonight to roll. If anyone is up at 12am (midnight) central time and would like to roll for the team, feel free. I'll check in before work tomorrow morning and roll if no one else has!
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Week 2, Thursday RollRoll: 6
Spot: 13
You can read a standalone, #1, #3, or #13 in a series or you can read a book set before 1600 AD.
Week 2, Thursday RollSelection Post
Spot: 13
Book: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
Qualification: #13 in Sookie Stackhouse series
Week 2, Thursday RollCompletion Post
Spot 13
Think of England by K.J. Charles
239 pages
England #1
9/24/20
5 stars
This mystery takes place during an English country house party, early 1900s. The evil, awful, absolutely morally bankrupt hosts and family are hidden by their polite society manners. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Tom Carter. I thought the narration was excellent. I especially liked the narrator's portrayal of Daniel. I would love to read another book in this series but I'm not sure if one is planned.
Ugghh...I am no better at writing books reviews now than I was in 5th grade.
Week 2, Thursday RollSelection Post
Spot 13
The Language of Good-bye by Maribeth Fischer
352 pages
Stand Alone
Week 2, Thursday RollCompletion Post
Spot 13
The Language of Good-bye by Maribeth Fischer
352 pages
Stand Alone
9/24/2020
4 Stars
Review: This book was a slog, I had a hard time getting into it and then caring about the characters. The only one I really cared about was the Korean student because she had some trauma that she was recovering from.
Week 2, Thursday RollSpot: 13
Book: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
Pages: 338
Qualification: #13 in Sookie Stackhouse series
Finished: 9/26/2020
Rating: 4 stars
Review: After how many years (?), I've finally gotten around to reading the final novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I've still got After Dead and short stories to read, and I knew the basic push of the last book, but it feels like an accomplishment to have read it! Who Sookie ultimately ended up with caused a lot of controversy when the book was first released, but I found it satisfying. I liked that a number of characters showed up for quick goodbyes (to Sookie and the series), like Quinn, who I always wish had been around more.
Week 2, Thursday RollCompletion Post
391
Standalone
2 stars
I was not thrilled at all with this thriller. You almost immediately find out who they're after, and I kept waiting for the big twist and... there wasn't one. The romance part was almost non-existent, except for the male MC kept wishing he had told her he loved her years ago, and her abandonment issues (her dad left her mom and her alone for most of her life, and then the love interest was her best friend who ran away when she was dating his brother) are just sorta mentioned, and then almost shrugged off. I normally like this author, so I'm more than a bit disappointed.
Week 2, Thursday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 13
Library: The Traitor's Pawn by Lisa Harris (Standalone: Post 60)
Susan A: Think of England by K.J. Charles (England #1: Post 55)
Suzanne: The Language of Good-bye by Maribeth Fischer (Standalone: Post 57)
Theo: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #13: Post 59)
Week 2, Sunday RollRoll: 3
Spot: 16
You can read a standalone, #1, #6, or #16 in a series or you can read a book with a pink cover.
Week 2, Sunday RollCOMPLETION POST
Spot 16
The Pirate's Tempting Stowaway by Erica Ridley
#6 Duke's of War
202 pages
9/27/20
3 stars
I listened to this, narrated by Stevie Zimmerman. The narration was acceptable. This story was entertaining enough, but I probably won't remember much about it next week. It was easy to listen to while multitasking which is actually a quality I do want in an audiobook sometimes. I'm hoping we land on a 5 soon so I can finish out this series before audible escape goes away.
Week 2, Sunday RollSelection Post
Spot: 16
Book: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Qualification: #1 in The Monstrumologist series
Week 2, Sunday RollCompletion Post
352 pages
4 stars
What a weird cast of characters, I literally laughed out loud at some of the ridiculousness of these people. It was very entertaining, and it had these lovely descriptions of autumn in the woods, which is perfect for right now. I'm definitely going to read the next one.
The TinEye link is only listing about 14% Pink, so I don't think that would count. You can ask Denise in the discussion thread if you want.
Mod
Week 2, Sunday RollSpot: 16
Book: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Pages: 434
Qualification: #1 in The Monstrumologist series
Finished: 9/30/2020
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The author frames the novel as a discovered set of journals belonging to one Will Henry, a recently deceased and mostly anonymous resident of a nursing home where the author had been researching for another novel. While I think the diary aspect of the novel didn't really fit with the writing style, I found the story as engaging as it was grotesque. Set in the late 19th century in a New England town, the setting and characters could fit in the dark gothic writings of Dickens, Wilkie Collins, or Mary Shelley. Sometimes the description of gore was a little much for my taste, but I could see its appeal to the teen audience it was written for.
Week 2, Sunday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 16
Library: Still Life by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1) Post 66)
Susan A: The Pirate's Tempting Stowaway by Erica Ridley (The Dukes of War #6: Post 64)
Suzanne: In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen (Standalone/Pink Cover: Post 74) Earned 1 Bonus Point: 2 in 1
Theo: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey (The Monstrumologist #1: Post 70)
I hope the reading is going well, Suzanne!I'm headed to bed. I'll check in when I wake up before work, and roll if all the reviews are in.
Can't roll until Suzanne's review is posted. I will PM her now.
Week 2, Sunday RollSpot: 16
Book: In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen
Pages: 300
Qualification: Book with Pink Cover
Finished: 9/30/2020
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I made a pledge this year to read more books categorized as "Own Voices" YA novels. This one was very unique, Nira has a dream of playing the trumpet in her school band but her traditional Guyanese family sees this as a bad thing. The dynamic between her family and her Uncle's family was very interesting and I really enjoyed reading this book! Highly recommend!
Suzanne wrote: "Week 2, Sunday RollSpot: 16
Qualification: Book with Pink Cover"
Suzanne, you earned the bonus point for a book that fits the roll (for spot 16 you could read a standalone) and the alternate (pink cover)!
Week 3, Thursday RollRoll: 3
Spot: 19
You can read a standalone, #1, #9, or #19 in a series or you can read a book set in North America.
Week 3, Thursday RollSelection Post
Spot: 19
Book: No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale
Qualification: #1 in No One Else Can Have You
Week 3, Thursday RollSelection Post: Spot: 19
Book: The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Qualification: Set in Salem Massachusetts (North America)
Week 3, Thursday RollSelection Post: Spot 19
The Night by May Archer
Qualification: Set in O'Leary, New York
Completion PostWeek 3, Thursday Roll
Spot 19
The Night by May Archer
set in O'Leary New York
10/2/20
4 stars
Love at first sight led Liam and Gideon to getting married in Las Vegas 5 years ago. Liam left in a hurry the following day after he received devastating news. Skip ahead 5 years and Liam realizes that he needs to process the divorce. He tracks down Gideon and falls in love all over again. This book was improbable, but a delightful read. Set at Christmas time in the crazy town of the O'Leary, it was just plain fluffy fun.
Completion PostWeek 3, Thursday Roll
Spot 19
Book/cover link: The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Page numbers with source: 369 (Kindle Edition)
How book qualified: Pub 2017
Date: 10/2/2020
Rating: *****
Review: This book is a prequel to Practical Magic, which is a book she published decades ago. I remember watching the movie with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock and LOVED IT! I was interested in reading this book because I wanted to read both this and Practical Magic back to back. I enjoyed it, but I feel like the purpose of this book was to frame Practical Magic in a better light. I'll probably have a better review once I finish both books.
Completion PostWeek 3, Thursday Roll
Spot 19
Coraline
162 pages
10/2/20
4 stars
Well, that was spooky. don't normally read horror, it's really not my thing, but I decided I would try it because it sounded more like a dark fairytale. This really reminded me of some of the fairytales before Disney gets ahold of them, and while I wouldn't let a little kid read it, if you're looking for something spooky without being gory, then this is a great book.
Week 3, Thursday RollSpot: 19
Book: No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale
Pages: 380
Qualification: #1 in No One Else Can Have You series
Finished: 10/3/2020
Rating: 3 stars
Review: As a knitter, I loved the cover and this one has been on my TBR for quite some time. I learned from a friend a rough sketch of the author's bad behavior (she tracked down the writer of a negative Goodreads review IRL), but I wanted to read this with an open mind. The author is going for a dark humor and there are times when she hits the nail on the head (Kippy, the main character has a taxidermized cat that she and her father move around the house), but at other times it feels like she is trying too hard to push the quirk. I connected with Kippy as her naivety is pulled away when she discovers the truths of the small town she thought that she knew, and the best friend who may not have been after all.
Week 3, Thursday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 19
Library: Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Standalone: Post 82)
Susan A: The Night by May Archer (Set in North America: Post 80)
Suzanne: The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (Set in North America: Post 81)
Theo: No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale (No One Else Can Have You #1: Post 83)
Week 3, Sunday RollRoll: 2
Spot: 21
You can read a standalone, #1, #2, or #21 in a series or you can read a book with an animal on the cover.
Week 3, Sunday RollSelection Post
Spot: 21
Book: Postmortem by Patricia Daniels Cornwell
Qualification: #1 in Kay Scarpetta
Week 3 Sunday RollCompletion Post
Spot 21
The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews
10/4/20
4 stars
standalone
Sebastian and Sylvia's romance is thwarted by her gambling father and money grubbing maid. When Sebastian heads to war in India, their letters to one another are stolen by the maid at the bequest of the father. Years later, Sebastian return home from war, injured, bitter and lonely. His sister brings them back together.
THis is the third book by Mimi Matthews I've read in the last month, I've enjoyed them all.
Now I'm going to rant about the MPG "clean romance". I am so offended by this tag. I get that this tag means no explicit sex. I think that is useful information to some readers who may not want to read explicit sex scenes. Fine. However, the opposite of clean is dirty -- as in there is something bad or wrong about sex in romance. Just no. I really dislike the implication that sex in romance is bad.
Week 3, Sunday RollSelection Post: Spot: 21
Book: Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory
Qualification: #1 in Bay Island Psychic Mystery
Week 3, Sunday RollSpot: 21
Book: Postmortem by Patricia Daniels Cornwell
Pages: 342
Qualification: #1 in Kay Scarpetta
Finished: 10/7/2020
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Being a Virginia native, it was fun to read a story set there. It was also interesting to read a story written 30 years ago when DNA evidence was in its infancy, smoking was still commonplace, and computer security was rudimentary. Cornwell did a good job of introducing characters that a reader would want to follow through the series which has extended to 24 books, and the mystery was solid. Sometimes the medical information got a little too detailed, but as the story progressed, the pace intensified to a satisfying conclusion.
Hope the reading is going well Suzanne and Library! If you submit your reviews tonight, I'll roll when I wake up in the morning.
Week 3, Sunday RollSpot: 21
1 star
628 pages
How it Works: #2 in series
I am very disappointed in this. After reading the first one in the series recently, I was super excited to read this one. Unfortunately, it made almost every character from the first book completely annoying and unlikable, with a overly complicated plot that seemed to lose itself in trying to be twisty, but instead was stupid. Also, in an effort to make it seem like the narrator didn't have a lot of education, the author kept using 'what' instead of that in the sentences, which didn't make any sense, as the boy/man is educated enough to read history books and Jules Verne. If you liked the first, please skip the second.
No review yet from Suzanne. I'll send her a PM.
Completion Post Week 3 - Spot 21
Book: Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
Finished on: October 7th
Qualification: #1 in Series
Review: This book was super cute and perfect for reading in October! It took me a bit to get into it but in the end I really loved it. I liked the feisty main character and the mystery was interesting as well.
Week 3, Sunday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 21
Library: The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler #2: Post 92) Earned 1 Bonus Point: 500+ pages
Susan A: The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews (Standalone: Post 88)
Suzanne: Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory (Bay Island Psychic Mystery #1: Post 94)
Theo: Postmortem by Patricia Daniels Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta #1: Post 90)
Week 4, Thursday RollRoll: 2
Spot: 23
You can read a #2, #3, or #23 in a series or you can read a book with a female author.
Week 4, Thursday RollSelection Post
Spot: 23
Book: Dirty Girls on Top by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
Qualification: #2 in Dirty Girls
Library wrote: "Week 3, Sunday RollSpot: 21
1 star
628 pages
How it Works: #2 in series
I am very disappointed in this. After reading the first one in the series recent..."
Congratulations, Library! You got the bonus point for reading a book over 500 pages.
Week 4, Thursday RollSelection
Spot 23
A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews
Parish Orphans of Devon #3
Theo wrote: "Library wrote: "Week 3, Sunday RollSpot: 21
1 star
628 pages
How it Works: #2 in series
I am very disappointed in this. After reading the first one in t..."
Yay! At least it was good for that.
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