Team Pemberley

[Tina ❣]

I added in 3 more books (a trilogy) that I've read and added one of the books to the mini challenge
I think a few more books in me for this month. Are we on track to complete all the cards?

[Jen]

April 22, 2022


Book: Daughter of the Burning City
Author: Amanda Foody

Rating: 2/5 Stars

I wanted to like this book I really did, but honestly I only felt frustrated by it. The MC was so easily manipulated and that alone annoyed me a lot, she really allowed people to tell her what to think and made that her opinion based on those things.
The world didn't really feel fleshed out, and neither did the characters, the MC has powers but those also felt inconsistent.
The plot twists while some being predictable also felt like they were being spoon fed to you, kind of like "oh the story is almost finished here's who did it"

[Mary X]

I'm listening to Speaking from Among the Bones today.

[Lexi]

Almost End of Month Update - 8 days to go

We need another 36 books. Can everyone please remove any books for the SS that you don't think you will get done, so I have a sense of how many more we need?

a Contradiction, Alina, and Ella, you three still have color cards claimed. In most cases, I can move books around to cover if needed but please let me know soon if you won’t get to a book.
If I don’t hear from you in the next few days, I’ll start moving books around. (Mary, you checked in on your last color card).

We have 4 books unclaimed on the mini (2 easy and 2 hard).

Easy.
1. Read a book featuring a shy person
2. Read a book featuring an outgoing person

Hard.
3. Read a book which has given another team its name *
4. Read a book which has given another team its name *

Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Reminder NO P&P, hitchhiker, Holmes, Cinder, or HP - already used or can't use

[Elisabeth]

I'll get my two listed books read and will track down one of the Stephen King series, The Dark Tower, probably The Gunslinger. It looks quite short. Should be able to add another short book or two by the end of the month.

Btw completely off topic but my dear old Dad turns 100 today. He's doing well and still lives alone in his own house, with lots of support from us of course. A small family lunch here today at his request.

[Mary X]

I might swap a couple out for short cozy type books. Except for the blue cover one. I'll have that finished tomorrow. I've had lots of audio book time but not a lot of updating time. Also Forgotten Murder had no preview available so I couldn't really zero in on a mini challenge task for it.

[L]

I apologize for being inactive, I've been very busy and haven't gotten the chance to update my reading.

I finished 3 books, a book for the mini, and one of my color cards. I've removed my name from the Skip Blue card, as I don't think that I'll be able to finish the book. I think I should be able to read another book or two, but I doubt I would be able to read anymore than that.

[Mary X]

I guess I only have one book left on the sheet. I'll look for some shorter books especially one for blue skip.

[Lexi]

Elisabeth, that is great. Thank you, that leaves only 1 specific book.

Shy and outgoing should be easy so great job, everyone.

Alina, thank you for checking in. No worries on real life being busy.

Also, Elisabeth, that is fun and impressive. I hope your dad has a great birthday

[Lexi]

Mary C wrote: "I guess I only have one book left on the sheet. I'll look for some shorter books especially one for blue skip."

You read Under the Whispering Door, which works and was a reverse so I was just going to move books around

[Mary X]

Oh great. I'll add a team name book if Gertrude Hunt is still useable.

[Lexi]

That would work great. Thank you

[Mary X]

Speaking from Among the Bones works for outgoing person. So I'm putting that in there.

Thanks to whoever found a mini-task for Forgotten Murder.

[Lexi]

Mary C wrote: "Speaking from Among the Bones works for outgoing person. So I'm putting that in there.

Thanks to whoever found a mini-task for Forgotten Murder."

Great and thank you

I did as my library had an ebook copy so it was easy to check

[Elisabeth]

Found The Gunslinger (Dark Tower series no 1 ) at the library.

[a Contradiction]

Hi all,

So I have three books in the SS.
I should be able to complete all three in time.
Regarding the Colour card, I will be finishing it by 25th of this month.

Also - That's great Elisabeth! Hope you all had a great day!

Happy reading everyone!

Despite your busy schedules, you all make time to read. You guys inspire me to keep reading, even if I do it at a snail's pace.

[Elisabeth]

Finished April 23

3 stars

The latest in the Harry Bosch world featuring LAPD detective Renee Ballard.

[Elisabeth]

Finished April 23rd

4 stars
This was a very fast read not just because it was short but also because once I got into the world and had an idea of what was happening it roared along. I haven’t read much Stephen King but what I have I’ve liked so I’ll look for the rest of the Dark Tower series, I think.

[Lexi]

Elisabeth, glad you enjoyed it and it worked as our last reverse (since I moved one of Mary's to the Blue Skip).

[Mary X]

I finished Clean Sweep. Any thing we need more than others? A letter we're short on ? A back up color card?

[Jen]

April 25, 2022


Book: House of Scepters
Author: Anne Zoelle

Rating: 4/5 Stars

A quick read, lot's of action. Not really any complaints.

[Elisabeth]

Finished April 25th

4 stars

Good plot, witty dialogue and great characters. One of a long series of London police procedurals featuring Bill Slider and his team.

It does have a character who could be classed as shy --Mrs Holdsworth. Just depends on how featured they need to be. She's important towards the end.

It might be easier to replace Shadow Play in the mini in the party utensil slot. eg My book The Dark Hours has cup in it somewhere.

[Lexi]

Mary, we just really need books. I can make most any letters work, as I tend to leave 1s and 2s esp to the end.

Elisabeth, that should work fine, so I will add it to the mini

[Lexi]

We have 24 books still needed and 17 on the SS. I will get another two on top of the one I have on the SS minimum.

[Elisabeth]

I have two listed and might be able to do another very short one if we need it.

Lexi, have you added Shadow Play to the regular sheet? I couldn't see it.

[Mary X]

I’m going on a short cozy and romance binge

[Lexi]

Elisabeth wrote: "I have two listed and might be able to do another very short one if we need it.

Lexi, have you added Shadow Play to the regular sheet? I couldn't see it."

Fixed, thank you for catching that

[Lexi]

Great job, all

We are down to 14 books needed and 15 on the planning sheet so we should make it.

If you aren't going to get to a book for a color card (Ella x2) or the mini (a Contradiction x2, Alina x1, Jen x1, Tina x1), we do need to know today or tomorrow so someone else can cover it.

Good job again for being on track to get everything done this month

[Elisabeth]

Finished: April 27th

3 stars

I've heard of Shirley Hazzard but this is the first book I've read of hers. The stories were varied in interest for me but all dealt with married couples in uncommunicative marriages all thinking a lot about what they felt. Written in the early 1960's mostly so a much more buttoned up era. Became a bit samey.

Plenty of food references if we need them for the mini.

I also just dropped Death On the Nile and put in Blood Lines, another Bill Slider mystery as my last read. TinEye says the cover is grey rather than brown but that's there if we need it too.

[Ella]

Lexi wrote: "Great job, all

We are down to 14 books needed and 15 on the planning sheet so we should make it.

If you aren't going to get to a book for a color card (Ella x2) or the mini (a Contradiction x2, A..."


I don't know if I will finish them but I will give them a good crack tonight! I have switched out Circe with The Book Thief as I have been reading/listening to it more than Circe and will probably finish it earlier. The copy I own has more brown on the cover so it works! It has also been more then 6 months since my last read-through of The Book Thief.

Thank you, Lexi!

[Tina ❣]

I finished my book Lexi!

I’m reading one other book just in case it’s needed

[a Contradiction]

Lexi wrote: "Great job, all

We are down to 14 books needed and 15 on the planning sheet so we should make it.

If you aren't going to get to a book for a color card (Ella x2) or the mini (a Contradiction x2, A..."


Hi

I should be able to finish both books in time.

[Mary X]

I finished Cruise to Murder last night and I'm listening to Mistletoe Murder today.

[Jen]

I'll probably have my book Scarlet finished by tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

[Mary X]

BTW: Cruise to Murder would work for mini-challenge task #39 of "someone getting ready for an event: dressing up". MC gets dressed up for dinner at Captain's table on cruise ship. Just in case it's needed or you want to move some books around.

[Lexi]

Ella wrote: "I have switched out Circe with The Book Thief "

Ella, November 9th will only be 6 months ago on May 9th, so we cannot use that book but your grey book will still work. No worries, brown is easy to switch books around to cover.

[Lexi]

Also, thank you all for replying as we get these last cards covered. Great job

[Jen]

Book Completion:

April 28, 2022


Book: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer

Rating 4/5 Stars

Normally, I'm not the biggest fans of fairytale re-telling type of books, but this book does a good job of having aspects of the fairy tales without it over taking the story. A really good read.

[Mary X]

I've always wanted to read The Witches of Eastwick so I checked it out in a couple of formats. Works as a back up for the other team name and more than one person on the cover tasks. Or just some letters if that's all that's needed.

[Lexi]

Mary C wrote: "I've always wanted to read The Witches of Eastwick so I checked it out in a couple of formats. Works as a back up for the other team name and more than one person on the cover tasks. Or just some l..."

I hope you enjoy it

[Ella]

Lexi wrote: "Ella wrote: "I have switched out Circe with The Book Thief "

Ella, November 9th will only be 6 months ago on May 9th, so we cannot use that book but your grey book will still work. No worries, bro..."

No, it has definitely been enough time to be able to use The Book Thief! I say that it works! It has clearly been over 6 months since my last read of the book! Please let it work! I will use it for the brown coloured card!

[Mary X]

What time does this end tomorrow? I just checked the rules thread and I don't see a time to go by.

[Jen]

Are all cards covered? Or are we still needing more?

[Lexi]

Mary C wrote: "What time does this end tomorrow? I just checked the rules thread and I don't see a time to go by."

Countdown is here: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

[Lexi]

Jen wrote: "Are all cards covered? Or are we still needing more?"

We are down to just 6 cards and 3 minis left. Great job

They are:

Wild (4,5 or 7)
0 - x1
1 - x2
2 - x1
Overload: Grey - Ella with Elisabeth as backup

Mini:
Other Team Name - a Contradiction with Mary as backup
People on cover - Alina (lots of other options as backup)
Ready for an event - a Contradiction with Mary (Cruise to Murder) as backup

[Ella]

I have finished both my brown and grey colour card reads! Sorry, it took me a while to finish them. I've just been busy with school. I managed to get them both done last night!

My Final Reviews:


Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold
By: Stephen Fry

Rating: 5/5
Reason: It was an amazing read and I found that I got to understand the Greek Mythology world way better with this book. I was worried that I might not like this book when I started reading it but I ended up loving it! There was so much to discover and I can now say that I understand how the world of Greek Mythology came to be. I am super excited to read Troy next!


The Book Thief
By: Markus Zusak

Rating: 5/5
Reason: This was a reread for me. I decided to read The Book Thief again as I wanted to write about it for one of my SACs for school and I needed to get a good amount of detail I was like why not read the book again? So that's what I did. I found that I loved the book even more on the second read through and that I could easily still say that it is my favourite book of all time. I would highly recommend this book!

[Tina ❣]

I read another book in case it’s needed!

And well done team! You’ve all done great! It’s been a pleasure being in your team. Mega thanks to the captains for keeping us on track as well

[Lexi]

Tina, can you please add a date read and add it to your UNO shelf?

Great, job. Just a few cards left and I'll wait until 12 hours to go to use the back-up books for the mini. I updated the list of what is left.

We are down to just 4 cards and 3 minis left. Great job

They are:

Wild (4,5 or 7)
0 - x1
1 - x2


Mini:
Other Team Name - a Contradiction with Mary as backup
People on cover - Alina (lots of other options as backup)
Ready for an event - a Contradiction with Mary (Cruise to Murder) as backup

[Lexi]

Great job, thank you, Ella - glad you enjoyed them

[Elisabeth]

Finished April 29th

5 stars

A reread for me and after 3 years I couldn't remember the plot or the villain so it was very enjoyable. I love the Bill Slider mystery books--his wife his is a professional violinist so there are always lots of orchestral musician jokes to go with the witty puns and dialogue of the detectives.

Why is a soprano like a cheap hotel? Because you can come in whenever you like and you don't need a key.