June 2021 - The Judge's Table: REPORT

[Janice, Moderator]

Report your finished book in this thread.

Use your Wall of Fame Name and report the following:
- the section you chose
- a link to both the title and the cover
- an explanation of how the book fit the section you chose
- a brief analytical impression of the book.

In case you need a reminder:

There are three areas:
a. Signature Book - where your book tell us who you are.
b. Technical Round - where attention is all in the details.
3. Showstopper - where all the stops are pulled out and you dazzle us with your brillance.

Pick one of the three areas and read a book that meets the criteria.

a. Signature Book - Read a book that is encompasses you in a nutshell. Perhaps it's a favourite genre, favourite author, or something else that will make me think, "Yes! That is you!".

b. Technical Round - Read a book that is non-fiction.

c. Showstopper - Read a book that appealed to you because it was instant "cover-love".

That's it! All books should be easy.

Just in case you don't make the connection, (view spoiler)

General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may NOT be combined with the Year Long Challenge.
3. The book must be read between June 1 – June 30, 2021 (based on your local time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose but you may only report one.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read.

In the case of ebooks & audiobooks, use the hardcover or paperback edition to determine page length. From the book page, select “all editions”, then select the first paper edition as your guide. If reading an ebook and there is no paper edition, the ebook book must be at least 250 pages. If reading an audiobook and there is no paper edition, your book must be a minimum of 6 hours long.

[Shirley]

WoF Shirley
Showstopper
Ariadne


The cover of this book is a showstopper, with its golden grape vines and entwined snake shining on a blue background. Ariadne is in luminescent blue.

This retelling of this Ancient Greek myth feels fresh and modern. Told entirely from the point of view of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, the story explores the themes of feminism and heroism. The drama and pathos of Ancient Greek culture is portrayed in excellent writing, and it is compulsive reading (for me anyway).
My dog loved it too. https://www.flickr.com/photos/1877406...

[Jayme, Moderator]

WoF Jayme
Technical Round
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World
404 pages

I was visiting my brother and needed a book to read (I had finished mine). He is a "nonfiction nerd" only reads nonfiction - so after scoping out his bookshelf this book caught my eye. It has been on my TBR for several years and was the Goodreads Choice Award winner for Science and Technology in 2018.

This was a really good book - part nonfiction part narrative memoir. The author is a noted paleontologist who has discovered several new dinosaurs. You can tell he really loves his job and is a fanboy groupie for leading famous paleontologists. Who would have thought that a book about dinosaurs would be well joyful. Not only is it readable, but it is also interesting and I learned a bit. Did you know that T-rex had feathers?
In September my family is going to Utah to visit the 5 National Parks in the state. Besides the parks we each get to choose a site that we want to visit and everyone has to go. Thanks to this book we will be visiting the Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum. I hope my family "digs" dinosaurs. lol

[Sharon]

WoF SharonBiskit
Signature Book
The Search for Joyful
Years ago as a young child, my parents would visit my great aunt on Sundays. While the adults visited and played cards, I curled up in a window seat and read novels from my great aunt’s collection. One of these books was Mrs. Mike. (The edition I first read was simply covered in dark blue cloth with the title in gold.) I loved the book and it was gifted to me as a teenager by my great aunt. It is one of my treasures. I loved the adventure, love story, and history of the book. Little did I know there was a sequel which I recently found. (Two actually) This is the first sequel. Now only does the cover reflect the type of mountainous setting that speaks to my comfort place, the novel takes me back to that little girl devouring a book she would always adore and the authors who wrote it. Although I enjoyed this sequel, the original book still stays in my top five books ever read and will always remain close to my heart. This sequel helps fill in blanks and takes me back to what I loved about Mrs. Mike.

[Janice, Moderator]

WoF Janice

I chose the Showstopper category and Witching For Grace


I bought the book specifically because of the cover. Happily, the story was enjoyable too. This book is in the new category of "hot flash" fiction which features women approaching middle-age and menopause, though I think 45 is a bit young for either. It starts out with Grace and her witchy friends wishing they could do a spell to give her recently ex-husband erectile dysfunction since he left her for a younger woman and it went from there. It kept me turning pages which is perfect for a toppler.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Wof- Christina

I have entered the technical contest with Robin.


This is a biography of Robin Williams. There was a sadness that sweeped over me as I listened to the story of what Robin thought of his own work and how critics categorized his movies.

There was much that I didn't know about surrounding his death.
I am still a fan of all his work.

[Cherie]

WoF Cherie

For the Technical round, I listened to this non-fiction audiobook from Audible.
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster .

The nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 was one of those "do you remember where you were when..." moments that I remember vividly. When the news that there had been an explosion in a nuclear reactor in Russia, it was so terrifying to think that there could be a complete nuclear melt down, and no one knew what was going to happen and how bad it was going to be. We were all in shock as we listened to the news on a small transistor radio during our lunch break at work.

The audio book was 14 hours long. The hc is 538 pages. The story was well written and I liked the audiobook narration. The narrator seemed so matter-of-fact even when he was recounting the horrible radiation burns suffered from some of the people that went to Hospital-6 where they were "treated". The story was a moment by moment account, gathered and put together after years and years of research and interviews. I remember seeing a TV documentary of the site 30 years after the explosion and fire. It was very eerie.

[Peggy]

WoF Peggy
For Technical Round, I read the non-fiction book Taal is zeg maar echt mijn ding

This book was first published in 2009 and has been very popular in the Netherlands. It seems like everyone has read it. The author is a columnist and comedian and she writes about things she observes in the way we use language. It's supposed to be a humorous book. For me, it was very average. There were a few things she wrote about that I recognized, but most of it was just a bit .... I didn't hate it, I didn't especially like it, it wasn't bad, it just didn't really make me feel anything. I ended up giving it 3 stars.

[Katrisa]

WoF Katrisa
For technical round I read All Boys Aren't Blue

which is a memoir about growing up black and queer in America. I gave it 5 stars. It was so heart-felt and unflinchingly brave. I laughed and cried. It was a gem of a book.

[Janice, Moderator]

Looks like the technical round is so far the favourite category.

[Esther]

WOF Esther
task Show stopper.
book: An Ocean of Minutes

This cover appealed to me.

Of course, i am found of alternate history stories and this one fit the bill,

[Odette]

WoF Odette
I chose a Signature book
Children of Ruin


One of my favourite genres is sci-fi/fantasy, which I was introduced to fairly recently. I read Children of Time last year and have been looking forward to reading this second book in this series.

The plot is very hard to summarise in a few words. Earth's terraforming program had sent ships out to build new homes for humanity among the stars. However, things did not go as planned with a few surprises.
The second book in the series has a more complicated plot than the previous one. Also it is told from different timelines which extend over a very long period of time. I found it hard at times to keep up with the different characters. The world building is amazing and reallly appreciated the imagination and creartivity of the author. Although, it took a little effort, so pleased that I read this book.

[Marnie]

WoF Marnie
Showstopper
Dietland


Cupcakes will always get my attention. I prefer them over cake because the frosting to cake ratio is better.

This story is told from the POV of a girl struggling with her weight. She takes on the absurdity of trying to fit into societies ideal. She snarks at the beauty industry that exasperates this problem.

[Janice, Moderator]

You'd love a bakery that we have here called OMG! Cupcakes.

[Ayacchi]

WoF Aya
Signature Book
The Stolen Girls

Since the beginning of my reading journey, I've been attract to mystery and detective thingy. I like to use my grey cell (if I really have any) to try to solve the case or see the big picture, etc. Thriller and crime come along the way. I don't usually read series but I love this one the moment I finished my first book (this is my 3rd), so the author became my favorite in instant. I like how many twists in her books and how complicated the plots she wrote it drives me nuts.

This time, 2 bodies of women found in a construction work by the same person. And D.I Lottie Parker had to work extra hard because no one report on missing girls. The thing got complicated when she assumes DPC has a part in it. To make things worse, she 'let' her troubled children dealing with their own demon.

[Marnie]

Janice wrote: "You'd love a bakery that we have here called OMG! Cupcakes."

I looked up their Instagram and yes. Yes I would!!

[Janice, Moderator]

Marnie wrote: "Janice wrote: "You'd love a bakery that we have here called OMG! Cupcakes."

I looked up their Instagram and yes. Yes I would!!"

Makes me want to order some. :) It's been a while since I've treated myself.

[Trudy]

WofF TrudyAn

Anxious People

Signature book: When this book was featured at the library checkout, I thought that the title definitely reflected me in a nutshell. I don't know how many of us aren't anxious these days, but I certainly am. The characters carry "... a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them ... desperately crave some sort of rescue." I might have fit in well with this group of characters.

I enjoy Backman's distinctive writing style. Though witty and casual, he shows remarkable insight into human behaviour and emotion through his quirky characters. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. It involves a hostage taking, but it is not a plot-driven story. It's really a book about mental health and empathy. What a great mood lifter.

[Emma R.]

WoF: Emma
Technical Round

I read Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty.

This is a non-fiction book for the technical round.

I've enjoyed Caitlin's work for several months and I was looking forward to reading her first book. The book was a fast read for me and it was interesting to see her journey in becoming who she is today. The book had a nice mix of personal experiences and historical facts about how America treats death. I'm planning on reading her other books at some point.

[Jocelyn]

WoF: Jocelyn
Technical Round


Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Nonfiction book for the technical round.

Some back story first: Many of us had a very interesting 2020, but my 2021 has been a roller coaster in comparison. In Jan, I moved my little sister across the country (again) from Wyoming to Washington, D.C. In Mar, she had immediate and unexpected brain surgery for a life-long condition we never knew she had (don't worry- she's ok). In May, my uncle survived a stroke, and 2 back-to-back craniotomies. And in Jun, my parents sold their house and are moving in with my husband and I to be closer. This year's challenges have brought to light the important things. Family, good health, and happiness. This year I've been working on ME, because it's the only thing I can control this year. I'm spending less time online, and more time in the present. I'm going on adventures, getting healthier and I'm READING like I never have before!

Matthew McConaughey is someone I've always felt is very grounded in life, down-to-earth personality, and I've enjoyed him in his films over the years. This was my initial attraction to his book. I wanted to see what else he had up his sleeve. His memoir connected with me in my personal life struggles as I was reading about his. Through his words he seemed less like a movie star, and with more humanity than probably anyone I know in my own life. In his memoir, he is constantly struggling between the life he knew growing up, just being himself versus the Hollywood life and his movie star presence. But at the age of 50 and looking back when he completed his memoir based on the last 35 years of journals he had written it was obvious. Be yourself, do what makes you happy, challenge yourself to do better, and to be better. I throughly enjoyed his memoir. I laughed a LOT, cried a little, and found myself breezing through the pages and losing track of time. His stories completely enveloped my mind and took me on a journey. 100% recommend.

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks for sharing that Jocelyn. Those are difficult life situations to deal with on their own without the pandemic to compound things. It's a lot of stress and self care is important. I'm glad you're taking some ME time.

[Janice, Moderator]

Jocelyn, did you delete your post about Anxious People, or did I accidentally delete it?

[Jocelyn]

Janice wrote: "Jocelyn, did you delete your post about Anxious People, or did I accidentally delete it?"

All me. Thought maybe I shouldn’t clutter the report section too much for you, but clearly that didn’t help lol

[Janice, Moderator]

I saw your post, and I was typing something and then worried that I had accidentally deleted it. My fingers have done some fancy things all on their own recognizance.

Thanks for thinking about clogging up reporting threads. We do try to keep them fairly clutter free, but sometimes we can't help ourselves. And often we mods are the worst. :)

[Kay]

WoF: Kay

b. Technical Round - Read a book that is non-fiction.
I read

This book fell very short of the hype for me. There were brief moments of thought provocation but overall the author seemed more about letting us know he had been a playboy who had travelled until he couldn't face travelling anymore and who was now somehow incredibly insightful because he was content to settle down and have a family. I especially didn't like the ending where he describes sitting on the very edge of a cliff at Cape Horn and mediating as if it is some life affirming action and not just plain extreme and unsafe. I didn't feel there were any new insights offered.

[Lynn]

WoF - Lynn
- Technical Round - Read a book that is non-fiction.
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

- It's a non-fiction book
- I listened to this on audio, and Jason Reynolds really is an excellent narrator. Putting life into a non-fiction book with serious subject matter, and even bringing humour into it.
An excellent book and well worth the read.

[Marie (UK)]

WOF name Marie UK (mazza57)

I chose to go with Showstopper / cover love

I read Firekeeper's Daughter

I read this book as part of another groups Book of the Month. There are lots of positive responses in that thread but my view is a litlle more tempered

The book is set on a patch of land owned by an Indian tribe with a strong history. There are some unexpected deaths and an investigation into drug brewing / distribution. There is also a Magical realism bent that most describe as Fantasy. It's MPGs also include Young Adult.

Daunis is the illegitimate daughter of a deceased tribal member. She has a brother by another mother who is the legitimate progeny of the same man. Daunis has had a bad year her uncle was found dead (of a drug overdose even though he was supposed to be a recovered addict) Her grandmother is dying in stages from a stroke. Her mother is undone by the death of her brother and the illness of her mother.

A new kid on the block turns out to be a 22 year old undercover cop who recruits Daunis to help solve the increasing drug problem on the reserved land.

The beginning is torturous I would almost rather put my head in the gas oven than read on. However the second section was pacy and riveting in equal measure and this signalled the tenor of the book which was a roller coaster of highs and lows.

There were lots of themes within the book, grief, racial discrimination, predatory sexual themes and another of relationships with peers and seniors in a tribal situation.

My view is that the author put her all into this book, I think it was very personal to her but because of that she did not know what to leave out to make the narrative more believable and free flowing. I don't think it was a bad book and it would not put me off reading more from the author. However neither was it a great book and the MC was a real contradiction in terms

I gave it 3 stars in a mad moment of generosity or in regard to it not being a Bad book overall.

[Almeta]

WoF Almeta

I chose The Muse for its c. Showstopper cover, .

As a visual reader I am most often drawn to book covers. They seem to promise a picturesque story inside. Jessie Burton's talented writing delivered visuals of writing (typewriter), art (paintbrushes), betrayal (snakes) and a revolution (guns and hand grenades).

A favorite genre of mine is mystery with a historical background. So this book was right up my alley. It is set in two different time frames, both of which were so well described that I felt that I walked the streets of 1960s London and hid about during the 1930s civil war in Spain.

The two eras were skillfully tied together by a piece of art and the characters' involvement in its and its artist's history, and a bit of a twist.

[Abby]

WoF Abby

I read Twelfth Night for Signature book.

Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespearian play. I have a copy of it, a Globe theater production CD, and I saw it live. (I squealed when my mom told me about it. It was really well done. I loved it. <3)

The book is set in Illyria where Viola washes up on shore with the captain. Believing her brother to be drowned, she asks the captain to pretend she is a man so that she can work for Count Orsino as his servant until she's ready to reveal her identity. Hijinks ensue. She gets caught in a confusing love triangle. Maria, Sir Toby, Fabian, Sir Andrew, and Fool get everyone to think Malvolio is possessed as a prank. Good times.

Twelfth Night is a timeless tale as relevant today as it was back then.

[Ashley]

Wall of Fame: Ashley

Showstopper - the cover is what first made me pick up this book.
I read The Midnight Library

I really enjoyed this book. I have always found the theory of alternate realities and dimensions fascinating. I also like the idea of “The Butterfly Effect”, how a seemingly insignificant event can have a huge impact on the future. This book kind of reminded me of Dark Matter, a book that I also love.

[Amanda]

WoF name - Amanda(Lily)

I chose the signature book and read Knit One, Kill Two. It's a cozy mystery, which is one of my favorite genres, and has to do with knitting, something that I've been doing a lot of this year. I've spent a good bit of time listening to audiobooks and knitting in 2021.

I enjoyed the book. It was nothing breathtaking, just a solid cozy mystery. Kelly's aunt has been murdered and she comes home to deal with the will. She soon decides to stay and figure out who killed her aunt. It was a pretty tight mystery and left no loose ends. I thought I'd guessed the killer several times in the book, but the story was twisty enough that I was never right even though, when the killer was unmasked, I realized the clues were there.

[Kristie, Moderator]

WoF: Kristie

I chose to read Dog Eat Dog for the Signature Book section because it has a dog on the cover and in the title. I recently got a puppy and now have three dogs that take up a lot of my time and attention.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading more in the series. It is #23, so I have plenty of catching up to do and plan to start with #1. I loved the humor in the story, similar to how I enjoy the Miss Fortune series, but a little less slapstick. The commentary was just really funny and the story was good too. I think I was expecting it to be more of 'just a cozy,' but it had some meat to it.

[Jenn]

WoF - Jenn

This was a showstopper grab for me - I love this cover :) And, it was a great read.



I read Tokyo Ever After and it starts off as a Japanese-American girl trying to find out where she belongs with only half the picture, as an only child to a single mother. Only to find that dad is . . . yep, the Crown Prince of Japan. So, you'd think that it would be nothing but predictable fluff, but it actually had some nice substance, a bit of a coming of age with a touch of romance, a bit of a language lesson, a bit of culture lesson, and a bit of history lesson (both Japanese and American). Ok, so it was a bit predictable cheese at times, but all in all, a nice little story.

[Janice, Moderator]

Tracked to here. We're on the last few days to the end of the month! Yikes! Where did June go?

[[deleted user]]

WoF - Kathryn

I went for a Signature Book, The Secret of the Old Clock. As I had mentioned when I joined the group, the Nancy Drew books were very much part of my childhood reading. I also do love a good mystery, although whilst the younger Kathryn thought this was a wonderful intriguing, mysterious and tense story, the older Kathryn could not help but roll her eyes a few times and mutter under her breath now and then lol.

I can understand though why a younger reader would love this - an 18 year old rich girl who has a convertible, a loving father, friends who just thinks she is wonderful and (view spoiler)[Nancy solves the mystery of the missing Will making everyone very happy. (hide spoiler)]

I'm also very impressed by how Nancy has this fantastic ability to speak to adults!! At the age of 18, I had started my first proper job and was learning how to answer the telephone properly lol.

[Vicki]

WoF Vicki

I did one for the technical round

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

It's almost unbelievable that this book is non-fiction. What an assortment of characters! A lot of whom I found mostly unlikeable but put together as an ensemble they are a riot. I particularly liked the chapters with Joe Odom the lawyer/grifter/pianoman.
Then someone gets shot and the aftermath is a complete rollercoaster. Unfortunately, these were real people's lives. There is a lot of casual racism and homophobia in the book which is jarring but it is set almost 40 years ago.

While it is centered around a deadly shooting and the aftermath, it did read more like a love letter to Savannah, Georgia. It also simultaneously applauded the locals for their insularism and reproached them for their snobbish pecking order and bigotry.

Anyways, delightful read despite the subject matter. I listened to the audiobook and now all my thoughts are in a southern drawl.

[Anna]

Wof Anna M

I read Think like a Vegan: What everyone can learn from vegan ethics

Fits to a Signature Book & Technical Round. It's nonfic book about ethical veganism and I consider myself one. I enjoyed the book and I'm glad I read it. The authors explains very well why and how people decide to become vegans. I think this book is even more helpful for people who are curious about veganism or know someone who is vegan and wants to understand that person better. For my part I agreed with everything the authors wrote.

[Grainne]

WoF Grainne
Technical Round

This is a non-fiction book for the technical round.

I read Calypso by David Sedaris. He writes about his life experiences as he ages and those around him age with a wit and a keen eye for detail. He makes it funny despite some of its content such as being gay in a 'conservative' American political system, the right to marry his partner, his Dad's aging and subsequent care, his sister's suicide and his mother's alcoholism. While writing about such topics he shows a compassion and also a wit that is lighthearted and enjoyable.

I hope to read more works by him.

[Janice, Moderator]

Anna wrote: "I read Think like a Vegan: What everyone can learn from vegan ethics

Fits to a Signature Book & Te..."

I need your WoF name, please.

And if you could give me a bit more of a discourse on why you liked it, that would be great.

[Anna]

Janice wrote: "

Done. :D

[Annerlee]

WoF annerlee

I chose a signature book - and read a novel by my all-time favourite author Stephen King.
Insomnia


It seems like 'Insomnia' has been on my TBR for ages. It's one of the 'Road to the Dark Tower' books that pencil in background to King's epic series and is one I always wanted to read. But somehow I've never got around to starting it.

The book is LONG (890 pages long!) but I own it on audiobook, so was able to read whilst doing other things. The challenge gave me the nudge I needed.

As usual, the book wasn't what I was expecting. There was less horror than I imagined, but still enough going on to keep me interested (and guessing).

I loved the main characters who were mainly over 60. Stephen King knows how to make characters come alive, with all their quirks, aches and pains, sayings, memories and humour. I feel like I really know got to know those old folks and I still think and wonder about them a few days after finishing the book. I miss them.

The book is set in the now familiar Derry, Maine where another King epic (It) is also set. Street names and landmarks were very familiar (Witcham Street, the library, civic center, the ugly John Bunyan statue...) and I found myself thinking back to other events that 'happened' there. Some of these events are actuallymentioned and make 'Insomnia' that more believable and engrossing.

Characters from It are also mentioned and make cameo appearances, as do some of the monsters.

I loved spending time in Derry, discovering more about the Dark Tower backstory: the Crimson King, Patrick Danville, even Roland Deschain (!) have brief appearances! And I was able to fill in gaps that weren't explained fully in the DT series. I loved all of that!

Of course, those 890 pages also contain a thrilling story with supernatural elements, twists and turns and races against the clock. We also need to think through issues around domestic abuse, abortion, freedom of choice, the media, polarisation of views in society.

I savoured every multi-faceted minute.

An annerlee signature book indeed!

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks Anna. I just wanted to make sure because we have new members and I'm thinking there was another Anna.

[Margo]

WoF margo

I read Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths for the technical round.

I loved this book! It is critical discussion of some of the most well known woman who in Greek mythology. This book could also have been used for the signiture round as this is also my favourite genre - it would have fitted the Showstopper catagory too as the cover is divine.


Actually the cover illustrates the content well as at first glance it is very straightforward but when you look more closely it becomes plain that all is not what it seems. Pandora, Penelopy, Medea and many examined and found, by Natalie Haynes to be just as intesting as the male heros, if not more so! Like the book cover, they all deserve a closer look. The author goes back through the many iterations of these stories, be they legend or history, fromfrom Homer through to Euripides, and examines how the tale has been altered to reflect the male values of the time in which it was written.

The stories I loved as a child were viewed through a different lens and guess what, the women were not as two-dimensional as they were portrayed. They were neither saints nor sinners, they were something far more interesting - human.

[Janice, Moderator]

Badges have been posted. Please let me know if I've missed anyone.

There are two new walls -
Jocelyn
Kathryn

For fits and giggles, I figured out the numbers for each category:
Showstopper - 8
Signature - 10
Technical - 12

[Margo]

wow, those stats are suprising for this group! a lot of NF