Feb 2015 - Spelling Bee Reporting Thread

[Ann]

I did! Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Anne (Booklady)]

I read Call Me Zelda by Erika Robuck

Title - 0 Points
Author - 3 Points (walks amongst us)
Genre - 4 Points (Historical Fiction)
Cover - 0 Points
Pages - 3 Points (352 Pages)

Bonus Points:

Has 2 Psychiatrists in it - 3 Points
Anna the Nurse eats grapefruit in a scene - 3 Points


Total: 16

[Ava Catherine]

The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen

Title: 3 pts.: contains the word "heart"
Author: 0 pts.
Genre: 5 pts: romance
Cover: 0 pts.
Pages: 4 pts : 418 pages
Bonus: 3 pts doctor in book
3 pts fruit: orange
Total: 18 pts.

[Cherie]

Lara wrote: "I read The Dragon's Heart by Eden Ashe..."

That looks interesting, Lara. Was it good?

[Lara]

Cherie wrote: "Lara wrote: "I read The Dragon's Heart by Eden Ashe..."

That looks interesting, Lara. Was it good?"

It should have been better. It had a weird insta-love that was really insta-lust changed in to love by the whole mate thing and a Mary Sue of a heroine. However, it was readable and had some interesting action.

[Rebecca]

I read Lost Lakeby Sarah Addison Allen
I meant to report earlier, but I kept forgetting.
TITLE : 0 points
AUTHOR : 3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).
GENRE : 5 pts - Romance The genre was accepted on another post.
COVER : 0 points
PAGES : 2 pts - 200-299 pages long
Bonus Points : 0 points Total-10 points

[Casceil]

I read Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams. I think it qualifies for 9 points:
3 because the author is alive; 3 because there is a doctor in the story; and 3 because it is 304 pages long.

I enjoyed the book. It looked like it would be standard cozy mystery fare: murder themed week at resort, guests encouraged to come as their favorite literary sleuth, costumes, contest, winner of contest turns up dead later that night. After a while, though, it became clear this was not your typical cozy mystery. (view spoiler)[ We learn that the house has a secret library full of priceless books and manuscripts, and that the Steward family is charged with protecting the library and keeping it secret. (hide spoiler)] A little further in, I decided that the author had lost her mind. (view spoiler)[ The house is staffed by a handful of dedicated men sworn to protect the library and whoever is the current guardian. They are called the Fins. When the protagonist of our story becomes the official guardian, they start training her in archery, martial arts, and other defensive skills. They all have tattoos, and she gets one too. (hide spoiler)] In the end I liked the book, and I will probably read the next one when it comes out, but it really was not what I had expected.

[Janice, Moderator]

Casceil, I'm intrigued. I may have to watch for this book.

[Canadian Dragon]

I read Two for the Dough Janet Evanovich for this challenge it was really good

TITLE : 0

AUTHOR : 3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE :5 pts - Romance

COVER : (based on the edition you read) 0pts

PAGES :293 2 pts - 200-299 pages long

Bonus Points :0


so 10 points in total

[Lynda]

Finished: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Title: 0 points
Author: 3 points
Genre: 4 points
Cover: 0 points
Pages: 4 points
Bonus: 6 points (doctor & fruit)

Total =17 points

Happy to report the book is as charming, and bittersweet, as the movie was.

[Janice, Moderator]

Loved that movie! It's been years since I read the book, but I recall that I enjoyed it as well as the movie.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I started it today
Lynda, and I'm loving it.

[Lynda]

My mom is from The South, and she and I used to watch that movie at least once a year when I was in high school. A lot of fond memories! We still make fried green tomatoes every year, too.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I read One of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde

3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).
3 pts - 300-399 pages long
3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story.
They take Thursday to Grey's Anatomy to be treated by all the doctors in it.

Guessing fruit cocktails (of the alcoholic variety) don't count?

Total: 9 Points

[Lynn]

Rusalka wrote: "I read One of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde

3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).
3 pts - ..."

I doubt Janice will agree that it counts, but I would! :D

[Janice, Moderator]

Lynn's got it. I disallowed juice for somebody else. Just because it has booze in it doesn't change anything, except maybe a person's attitude. That would depend on how many your drank.

[Peggy]

I read

TITLE :
0 pts

AUTHOR :
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE :
4 pts - Historical Fiction

COVER : (based on the edition you read)
5 pts – Has snow on it
4 pts – Has more than two people on it (it's not very clear on the cover on GR because it's small, but if you look at the enlarged cover there are lots of people in the background: https://whathannahread.files.wordpres...)

PAGES :

5 pts -500+ pages long

Bonus Points :

3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story
3 pts – In honour of Grapefruit Month, 3 pts if someone eats any fruit but tomatoes and anything else that doesn't fit Janice's connotation of "fruit".


Total: 27 points

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "I read

"

That's a great example of how covers can make a difference. There was only a fox on my edition and no people at all. At least there was snow. :)

[Kazen]

I read Silver by Darcy Abriel...

...no wait, it's 174 pages! Grah!

~goes back to the drawing board~

[Tejas Janet]

Came across Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks at my library the other day and realized it qualified for this challenge. Would like to count it instead of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet so I'll maybe have a shot for high score. I finished it this evening and think pretty highly of it. Somewhere in 4 to 5 star range for me.



5 pts: one-word title that starts with a letter in FEBRUARY
3 pts: author still living
4 pts: historical fiction
5 pts: also romance genre (Stephen/Isabelle romance is crucial to overall story)
0 pts: looks like could be snow on cover but can’t tell for sure so no points (no mention of snow in story tho there is mention of freezing weather and wet shirt sleeves turning into “ice boards”)
4 pts: more than two people on cover (have to click on cover to see more closely - 5 soldiers)
4 pts: 483 pages
3 pts: bonus for doctor in story (there are several)
3 pts: bonus for fruit eaten in story (orange, strawberries, generic “fruit”)

Total: 31 points - ??

[Elinaly]

I am reading Birdsong also (havent finished yet). Did you liked it?
After reading "Life after life" by Atkinson(about WWII), this book (about WWI) is just.... oh, so much more detailed descriptions about war in battlefield. I find it hard to read (I am "afraid" of war-themed books and movies etc).

PS! Did you noticed also that they are eating lots of tomatoes all the time? (made me laugh thanks to Janice, LOL)

[Debra]

A Crown of Lights by Phil Rickman

TITLE :
0 pts

AUTHOR :
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE :
3 pts – Paranormal Fantasy


COVER : (based on the edition you read)
0 pts

PAGES :

4 pts - 400-499 pages long


Bonus Points :

3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story.
3 pts – In honour of Grapefruit Month, 3 pts if someone eats any fruit but tomatoes and anything else that doesn't fit Janice's connotation of "fruit". (Apples)

16 points

[Lilisa]

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

TITLE:
0 pts

AUTHOR:
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE:
4 pts – historical fiction


COVER: (based on the edition you read)
0 pts

PAGES :

3 - 300-399 pages long


Bonus Points:

3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story.

13 points

(Tthere were lots of fruit mentioned - figs, lemons, mangoes, plantains, oranges, cherries, and other fruit, but I'm not recalling folks actually eating them, so didn't add in the 3 pts)

[Janice, Moderator]

Tejas Janet wrote: "Came across Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks at my library the other day and realized it qualified for this challenge. Would like to count it instead of [book:Hotel on the Corner of Bitter ..."

You certainly may count this book instead of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet.

[Janice, Moderator]

Elinaly wrote: "I am reading Birdsong also (havent finished yet). Did you liked it?
After reading "Life after life" by Atkinson(about WWII), this book (about WWI) is just.... oh, so much more detailed descriptio..."

If you aren't able to finish Birdsong in time for the deadline (Feb. 28 midnight), you can count Life After Life if you started and finished it in Feb. I read it for this challenge.

[Janice, Moderator]

Debra wrote: "A Crown of Lights by Phil Rickman.."

I've got to get reading the next books in this series!

[Debra]

Janice wrote: "Debra wrote: "A Crown of Lights by Phil Rickman.."

I've got to get reading the next books in this series!"

It's such a good series. So well-written, and unique characters.

[KimeyDiann]

I've finally decided which book to use for this challenge... I read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

TITLE : 0 Points

AUTHOR : 3 Points
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE : 0 Points


COVER : 0 Points

PAGES : 3 Points
3 pts - 300-399 pages long


Bonus Points : 3 Points

3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, if there is a doctor in the story.
There are doctors (view spoiler)[ waiting in a van in case of emergency when one of the handmaid's was giving birth (hide spoiler)]

Total Points: 9

[Cherie]

Lilisa wrote: "In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez..."

One of these days I am going to read How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by her. I have owned it several years.

[Lilisa]

Cherie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez..."

One of these days I am going to read How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by her. I h..."

I have it too and haven't read it yet. Darn problem - too many books on my TBR list!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Lynn's got it. I disallowed juice for somebody else. Just because it has booze in it doesn't change anything, except maybe a person's attitude. That would depend on how many your drank."

That drank a lot. She had a robotic butler who made them for her at every opportunity! I didn't think it would count at all, but can't blame a woman for trying.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Lilisa wrote: "In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez"

I really enjoyed that one. I read it for the Around the World group.

[Lilisa]

Rusalka wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez"

I really enjoyed that one. I read it for the Around the World group."

Yeah, it qualified for my AtW list too - used it for Dominican Republic.

[Mariab]

There is a movie about the book (Butterflies)

[Jkmays]

I read by Karen Abbott

3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).
COVER
4 pts – Has more than two people on it
PAGES :
5 pts -500+ pages long

Total points 12

[Lilisa]

Mariab wrote: "There is a movie about the book (Butterflies)"

Thanks Mariab - I didnt know that. I checked out the cast - looks like a good one with Salma Hayek as Minerva and Edward James Olmos as Trujillo. Have you seen it?

[Tejas Janet]

Elinaly wrote: "I am reading Birdsong also (havent finished yet). Did you liked it?
After reading "Life after life" by Atkinson(about WWII), this book (about WWI) is just.... oh, so much more detailed descriptio..."

The battle scenes were very well done I thought. I can't say I liked the war scenes, but the writer did convey the fear, adrenalin, camaraderie, and the horror. I thought the writing was very effective and the book as a whole very moving.

[Ronyell]

I just finished reading Shadow Game by by Christine Feehan!

TITLE :
0 pts.

AUTHOR :
3 pts – If the author walks amongst us (is living).

GENRE :
5 pts - Romance

COVER : (based on the edition you read)
0 pts

PAGES :
3 pts - 300-399 pages long

Bonus Points :

3 pts – In honour of Heart & Stroke month, 3 pts if there is a doctor in the story.

TOTAL: 14 pts

[Janice, Moderator]

Just in time, Ronyell! :)

[Ronyell]

Janice wrote: "Just in time, Ronyell! :)"

Yep! I had to spend the whole day trying to finish this book to get a challenge done! This is like the first time I actually got a book challenge done in one month! :D

[Janice, Moderator]

Woohooo! And you'll get a badge to commemorate.

[Elinaly]

I read Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. I finished the book really yesterday (I hope its ok to report it today).
The version I read was:

Points:
author's last name begins with a letter found in FEBRUARY: Faulks
5 pts: Title is one word and starts with one of letters in FEBRUARY - Birdsong
3 pts: If the author walks amongst us - yes, he is living
9 pts: genre is Romance (5 pts) and Historical Fiction (4pts)
4 pts: cover has more than two people on it - yes
5 pts: 500+ pages long - 528 pages
3 pts: if there is a doctor in the story - there are several of them and all kind of them, most of them involved in war
3 pts: if someone eats any fruit but tomatoes - at the beginning of the book all they ate was tomatoes (if we count fruits), but lucky for me at some point soldiers were given oranges.

Total: 32 points

This was a 3-star reading for me.
I agree with everything that Tejas Janet said about the book and writing style etc. I'm just not a big fan of romances (and this love story was nothing extraordinary) and war genre books (I am afraid to read war-theme books and I think I have watched only one movie about war - too much real horror).
But I must admit that it indeed was a novel of overwhelming emotional power. I was so emotionally tired after finishing the book. Even the very last pages were intensive, though I really loved the end.

[Tejas Janet]

I disagree, Elinaly, about this love story being nothing extraordinary, but perhaps I'm old-fashioned in thinking that a love story that (view spoiler)[ breaks up a marriage and results in the birth of a child does make it stand out from the ordinary. The love affair has a huge impact on their lives and leaves them and their destinies forever changed (hide spoiler)].

I also thought there was some genuinely passionate and erotic writing in the romantic department. Most such writing tends to leave me cold because it's too over-blown and silly.

I personally don't understand how a book can be acknowledged for being so emotionally powerful, but then only rate 3 stars. And so it goes.

[Elinaly]

Tejas Janet wrote: "I disagree, Elinaly, about this love story being nothing extraordinary, but perhaps I'm old-fashioned in thinking that a love story that [spoilers removed].

I also thought there was some genuinely..."

Well, I cant quite put my finger on it, but... its just not my cup of tea.
I rate a book based on the feelings I have after finishing the book and I found this book emotionally exhausting. 3-star means really that I liked the book and I dont feel like its negative score, but at the same time I cant say I loved it like some other books.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and comparing feelings! :)

[Tejas Janet]

Tomatoes did come up more than any other fruit. Besides oranges - I think a soldier received them from home and shared them with troop - grapes, peaches, and strawberries occur at least once as well.

Also gooseberries, but I have no idea what these are really. Going to go look it up.

Yes, rating books is very subjective. But obviously you don't actually agree with all my views on this book or we wouldn't be rating it so differently ;)

[Tejas Janet]

Well gooseberries are evidently a fruit. They look rather like grapes, but it sounds like they're very tart and wouldn't taste so good straight off the bushes they grow on.

It's hard to tell about food from the name sometimes. Like sweetbreads. Not sweet and not bread!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Mmmm gooseberries....

I'm going hunting for some later

[Janice, Moderator]

Yes, Elinay, it's okay to report now if you finished a book for the challenge within its timeframe. I will leave this open for a couple of days for people to report.

[Tejas Janet]

Rusalka wrote: "Mmmm gooseberries....

I'm going hunting for some later"

I've been blueberry and huckleberry hunting. Fun except for looking over my shoulder for bears.

How do you eat them, Rusalka?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I have no idea what huckleberries are... shall look them up.

I'm a berry fiend so I tend to get impatient and just eat them. Always remind me of little grapes.

Gooseberry jam is a normal thing to do. I believe Dad used to put them in his summer puddings too.

They are rarer here though, so you are lucky to get them. Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are the common ones we eat (and import and get Hep A from - topical as this is happening all around Aus at the mo). We grow raspberries, strawberries, loganberries, boysenberries (MY MOST FAVOURITES EVER. I do not believe there is a better taste in the world than the first ripe boysenberry) and mulberries in our garden. As a kid Dad grew these as well as red and black currants, on and cherries which are almost berries.