Team Pemberley

[a Contradiction]

Elisabeth wrote: "Lexi wrote: "a Contradiction wrote: "Hey again!

"

Yes, that works great"

I've read that so I'll ..."

Oh great!!

[Jen]

Book Completion:


Book: Only a Monster
Author: Vanessa Len

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Easy, light and fun read.

[Shannon]

I logged it a few days ago, but just wanted to make a quick plug for Matrix by Lauren Groff. A fantastic book. It fills in the life of Marie de France, a writer, and possibly a nun, from the 12th century. In this case, Groff makes her an abbess and imagines her life leading an abbey as a woman who will not be restricted by social or religious mores and wants to protect (and, to some extent, empower) her order at all costs. Incredibly original writing. It struck me at the end that I don't think a single male character is named in the book, while most of the women are, which I can't imagine was an accident.

[Elisabeth]

Completed March 10

4 stars

This is the second book set in Africa I've read by Tony Park. He writes action/adventures and this one has parallel stories, one in 1906 and the other contemporary. It deals with firstly the Boer War in present day South Africa when the British waged war against the Boer farmers and then the battle the native tribes fought against the German colonial forces in Namibia. It was historically very interesting and as I've been to Cape Town and Namibia as a tourist the descriptions of the landscape were very evocative.

[Lexi]

Shannon wrote: "I logged it a few days ago, but just wanted to make a quick plug for Matrix by Lauren Groff. A fantastic book. It fills in the life of Marie de France, a writer, and possibly a nun, from the 12th c..."

Shannon, I have been meaning to read Matrix and will move it up my TBR list, thank you

[Lexi]

March Mini is Up
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This one is a little complicated but I set up our planning SS with the books we need. We are going for maximum points first and then more flexible if needed.

RULES:
◈ Each book read can only be used for one task.
◈ Books need to be finished after the start of this mini-challenge on March 15, 9am UTC and before April 1 at 9am UTC (When the April month of UNO begins)!
Countdown is here: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

TASKS
1. Paint the walls

Read books with one of the below colours as the:
◈ Cover of the book ; 15 points each
Colours to choose from:
Orange
Purple
Pink
Black
White
Brown
Grey
*You can repeat colors! (Exp. we could read 10 pink books if we really wanted to)
*Same rules apply, colors need to be more than 50% of the cover.

2. Hang some paintings
Books are worth 15 points each

◈ Read books where the cover could be a classical painting
(no need to get mod approval, but if you need inspiration on what is classical, here is a good guide: https://www.toperfect.com/Classical-P...).

◈ Read books where the cover could be a Fantasy painting
(as above, no approval required, but this is a good guide: https://www.toperfect.com/Fantasy-Pai...)

3. Showcase your fancy travel souvenirs
Books are worth 10 points each

◈ Read books set in any real country except Canada, USA, England, Australia and New Zealand.
(to be clear, absolutely no part of the book can be set in these 5 countries, and the setting must be a country on planet Earth and not a fictional/fantasy country. However, you may use countries that are set in an alternate history/version of Earth)
*Countries can be repeated!

4. Swap some flower cuttings with your neighbour
Books are worth double the normal UNO card points value
◈ Use any 6 card in your March hands for X instead of S
◈ Use any 2 card in your March hands for W instead of T
◈ Use any SKIP card in your March hands for Q instead of K or P

I set this up on the SS, we have one Blue 6 (I moved Mary's to the Wild Draw4 and Ella can yours be used elsewhere). I have a Blue X if no one else has one.
We need 5 Q's (these can be hard)
The last 9 need to be W or X (We can do all 9 as W's since that is likely easier or however many)

[Lexi]

I read a lot of books that work for Task 3 for fun already so I don't expect that one to be hard. These are already on my plaan for this and next month

[Elisabeth]

Ooh, this is an interesting mini.
My current book is definitely purple-- over 70% violet according to TinEye. It also qualifies for W instead of T. Main character is called Winter.

[Elisabeth]

In my 2022 plan to catch up on classics is which is set in Mexico and also has a white cover. I'll bring it forward.

Would this qualify as a classical cover?

[Ella]

Lexi wrote: "March Mini is Up
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This one is a little complicated but I set up our planning SS with the books we need. We are goin..."

Hey Lexi,

I was really looking to being able to help out with having two blues and it is a shame that I have now been cut back to only having one blue card. I was really hoping to do two coloured cards instead of just the one. If there is anyway possible in which I can do two coloured cards instead of one that would be greatly appreciated.

Please let me know as soon as you can thank you!

[Lexi]

Ella wrote: "Lexi wrote: "March Mini is Up
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This one is a little complicated but I set up our planning SS with the books we need..."

Ella, sure, that makes sense. I can move things around and should be able to get both books to fit. I see your Blue 1 but I don't see Ugly Love on the SS anymore. Are you still planning on reading it? (I did not remove it).

[Lexi]

Elisabeth wrote: "In my 2022 plan to catch up on classics is which is set in Mexico and also has a white cover. I'll bring it forward.

Would this qualify as a classical c..."

I am on the fence for classic painting as a cover. I think it needs to be illustrated and not a photo. Hard to say

[Ella]

Lexi wrote: "Ella wrote: "Lexi wrote: "March Mini is Up
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This one is a little complicated but I set up our planning SS with the ..."

Oh, I removed it but I can add it back to the SS. I just didn't think I will be able to get around to it but I can definitely try to. Or I could aim to read Circe or something else for the second card. I just think that after reading It Ends With Us I wanted to take a short break from Colleen Hoover books. It was just a lot to take in.

[Elisabeth]

No worries Lexi, I think you're right. There's a lot scenery and multitudes of dogs and horses in those paintings!

[Lexi]

Ella wrote: "Lexi wrote: "Ella wrote: "Lexi wrote: "March Mini is Up
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This one is a little complicated but I set up our planning..."

That is fine; it is late and I'm a little confused. Don't read something you don't want and I get it on too much of one author. I can move things around easiest with my own books so if you find one that works for Blue 7 or 4, Green 4 or Red 9 that would work best.

[Elisabeth]

These look better. Two are quick reads.

[a Contradiction]

Does this work for the March mini - fantasy painting category?


A Slow Fire Burning

[L]

I'm not sure if can be used for the classical painting category, but if it can, I can also read the next books in the series.

[Jax]

I just got the from the library which I think counts as classic. Also, is next in the series for me if that would count as a fantasy cover. If it does then I assume these would too and .

I have a few book covers that are all black or white so not worried but I am curious if you think counts as I think it's 70% purple.

If anyone is looking for a book with a Q I read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and We Ride Upon Sticks last year and recommend them both as quite good. (We Ride is YA set in the 80's on a lacrosse team. It's mostly teenage girl growing up type of stuff.)

[Lexi]

My thoughts:

Elisabeth - all Yes
a Contradiction - No but still feel free to read it
Alina - No but they all work for Black cover so that's great
Jax - Yes to all but pink not purple (still works)

[Lexi]

We still need the color cards for the main hand so except for the Blue 6, they cannot be used for Task 4 but can be used for Task 2 and 3 if they work. (Jax, I removed your W since we need it as a blue).

[Elisabeth]

Lexi, I'm not clear on Task 4. How does it work exactly? Are we using books we've already read in March?

Maybe I'll stick to the books I've nominated for the other tasks and not hurt my brain working it out hahaha

[Lexi]

Elisabeth wrote: "Lexi, I'm not clear on Task 4. How does it work exactly? Are we using books we've already read in March?

Maybe I'll stick to the books I've nominated for the other tasks and not hurt my brain wor..."

It is just changing the letter on existing cards. We have 5 Skips and instead of K/P, we now use Q. Also, X for S and W for T. Same rules on author, characters, title etc.

[Elisabeth]

But we can't use those Task 4 books for our regular hands, is that right, whereas for the other tasks we can?

[Ella]

I also thought that for Q's people could read any of the Julia Quinn books as her surname begins with a 'Q'. I have so far read all the Bridgerton books besides Gregory and have loved them all. They are all quite quick reads.

For the 'X' people could read Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story of Tibet by Xinran. I have read it for literature last year and enjoyed it!

[Elisabeth]

Ella wrote: "I also thought that for Q's people could read any of the Julia Quinn books as her surname begins with a 'Q'. I have so far read all the Bridgerton books besides Gregory and have loved them all. The..."

Good idea, Ella. I have Julia Quinn on my radar as an author to read.
My Book Group read Xinran's Buy me the Sky about the effects of China's one child policy on the generation of very spoilt only children. The title is an example of one kid's demand.

[Lexi]

Elisabeth wrote: "But we can't use those Task 4 books for our regular hands, is that right, whereas for the other tasks we can?"

They are used as a normal card in the Hand so for Skip, 6 or 2. I just removed Jax's Blue cover since we still needed it as a Blue and not a 6, Skip or 2.

[Elisabeth]

So eg my The Stranger Inside book, thinking only in terms of Task 4, can work as W (character name Winter) for the Mini and anything else for the regular hand all depending how many of those we have available there? It has 2, 6, 8 and skip.

And as another example if we only had 2 Skips in our hands we could only swap for 2 based on a Skip.

[Lexi]

Elisabeth,

The Stranger Inside book could work for purple cover and then any normal card in our hand like a normal mini challenge

However, if you use it for a W, it can only be used in our hand for the 2 (Previously T card)

[Elisabeth]

I think I've got it. Thanks Lexi. It's simpler than it appeared.

[a Contradiction]

Lexi wrote: "My thoughts:

Elisabeth - all Yes
a Contradiction - No but still feel free to read it
Alina - No but they all work for Black cover so that's great
Jax - Yes to all but pink not purple (still works)"


Noted. Will read this next month, will try finding something else for this month that works with the minis as well

[Mary X]

I can read a Julie Quinn book or another Q book.

[Mary X]

Classical or fantasy painting?



It's 50% black so can work for that.

I also know of a mystery author that's Q & X: Qiu Xiaolong

[L]

Finished: 13th March
This book felt quite long for a contemporary romance but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
4/5 Stars
Although this cover looks like it's green, I don't think it can be used as a green book as according to TinEye, only around 30% of this book is green, and the remaining 70% is gray..

[Lexi]

Alina wrote: "
Finished: 13th March
This book felt quite long for a contemporary romance but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
4/5 Stars
Although this cover looks like it's gree..."

I looked at Tineye too and the second category that it labels grey, I think is still green. I'll go look again though.

Edited: You may be right. I'll move it off Green.

[Mary X]

I might swap out Purrs and Perils for something else unless we're short on books for 0 cards. I don't think it works for the mini-challenge. Cover looks grey but tin eye disagrees with me.



I've leave it on the sheet for now. Going through my other books on the sheet to see where they work for the mini.

[Mary X]

Do we need this for green still?



that's the cover of the Hoopla version but my library has this edition which tin eye says is violet. That should count for purple right?

[Mary X]

I might be adding more books then I can get to so I'm going to hold off on adding more to the mini-challenge page just in case. Then I'll see what we need more as others add books.

Hubby is working all weekend so I'm planning on a read-a-thon. I'll also have a lot of time in my car this week going back and forth to my second job.

[Lexi]

Mary C wrote: "Do we need this for green still?



that's the cover of the Hoopla version but my library has this edition which tin eye says is violet. That should count for purple ri..."

We still need it as a green as we still need to cover those cards too. Though, yes I do agree that the cover is purple.

[Lexi]

Mary C wrote: "I might swap out Purrs and Perils for something else unless we're short on books for 0 cards. I don't think it works for the mini-challenge. Cover looks grey but tin eye disagrees with me.

[bookc..."

We are not short on any cards so far

[Lexi]

Mary C wrote: "I might be adding more books then I can get to so I'm going to hold off on adding more to the mini-challenge page just in case. Then I'll see what we need more as others add books.

Hubby is worki..."

I'm trying to read more shorter books as well so hopefully, we both get a bunch of reading in. Good luck

[Mary X]

Then I will stick to the green cover version.

I just added an X book. That's all I'm going to add for now. I'll prioritize the ones that work for harder mini-challenge options and that green cover book.

Cozies are great for these challenges.

[Tina ❣]

I’ve had a look at my books and I think I’ll be able to help find more W’s instead of X’s for 2’s or 6’s.

And am not sure if I’ll be helpful with the paintings or places set in a real country but they’re mostly covered which is good!

[Lexi]

Tina ❣ wrote: "I’ve had a look at my books and I think I’ll be able to help find more W’s instead of X’s for 2’s or 6’s.

And am not sure if I’ll be helpful with the paintings or places set in a real country but ..."

We need tons of W's so that would be a great help

[Elisabeth]

Lexi wrote: "Alina wrote: "
Finished: 13th March
This book felt quite long for a contemporary romance but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
4/5 Stars
Although this cover looks ..."

I've found a few covers I thought were green, red or blue and TinEye says they're mostly grey. Maybe TinEye is a bit colour blind hahaha

[Elisabeth]

Lexi wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "I’ve had a look at my books and I think I’ll be able to help find more W’s instead of X’s for 2’s or 6’s.

And am not sure if I’ll be helpful with the paintings or places set in a re..."

I'm reading slowly to finish two books straight after the Mini Start and am getting into a third, Have three quick reads after those so should be able to focus on finding W's and X's or whatever we 're short of after that. I like the idea of reading for random reasons like cover or author name etc --broadens my reading. Fun!

[Jen]

Book Completion:

Date Completed: Mar 14. 2022


Book: The Prison Healer
Author: Lynette Noni

Rating: 4/5 stars

[Elisabeth]

Completed March 15
4 stars
My first Lisa Unger thriller. I really enjoyed this revenge motivated vigilante serial killer story. It dealt with some interesting moral questions as well as being a gripping read.

4 stars
A classic I've had sitting on my shelves for years and years and is an example of why I like UNO. The setting of Mexico made me finally read this book regarded as Graham Greene's finest work. Couldn't get a more different book from Lisa Unger's but it was also a compelling story dealing with deep moral questions and decisions, albeit unsettling and tragic for many reasons.

[Mary X]

I put Wild Sign under Black covers but feel free to move it to cover a W. Or tell me to move it.

Once I finish a couple more books I'll look for some short cozies to cover some more spots.

[Jax]

The audiobook is only 3 hours and is basically a long stand up comedy routine/dishy Hollywood gossip tabloid. We need Ws and white covers so this checks that box easily and is fun to listen to while driving around in the car.