SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
SciFi and Fantasy Book Challenge
>
2023 TBR Cleanup Challenge
message 351:
by
Stephen
(new)
Oct 08, 2023 01:03AM
It’s very good.
reply
|
flag
Sixs and Nines A Typhoon is one of those things that sometimes doesn't quite something that makes sense in the minds eye since it is an unfamiliar term for most Americans. Apparently a Typhoon is much like a Hurricane with a bit of emphasis. Still it is listed in the book as one of the most feared features of weather. A fact that seemed to be proven in spades by the 3rd Fleet got caught in one.
This was an an extraordinary account of one of the worst cases of unintentional wondering into a storm capable of doing more damage to the 3rd Fleet than the Japanese ever did. It was a accident compounded by mistakes in judgement by a number of individuals. There was loss of life, a number of smaller ships but that wasn't all that was done as far as damage. The ships that were sunk were all small in the general of the smallest size but the damage was done to even some of the larger ships. Carriers had planes tossed off the decks or tossed around the hanger decks. On the stern of many ships the AA gun tubs were damaged or ripped off.
All of this and more is covered in this book, mostly as viewed through a prism of a trail that was held after the fact and it is very well done. A part of the war that is generally overlooked in the grand sweeping histories of the Pacific War. It is a great read and a powerful one.
Halsey's Typhoon: The True Story Of A Fighting Admiral, an Epic Storm and an Untold Rescue
I'm up to 15/20 read, with two more. I've switched some of my original picks.11. From the library -The Bat, bought from the library used book sale
19. Bingeworthy -
This update is a food themed pairing:✔️13. Sweet Revenge: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
✔️16. Scrumptious: The Forest of Mayhem: A tale of inherited clutter, modern diets and an assortment of passions
13: I'd like to point out, in defense of one of my favorite treats, that while chocolate chip cookies were found at the scene in Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder they weren't the actual murder weapon. This one feels painfully and stereotypically dated at times even relative to the 2000 publication date. It does however include recipes and yes, we were inspired to bake cookies.
16: The passionate opinions about what is and isn't scrumptious (or even food) forms a core part of The Forest of Mayhem. I loved the combination of the lush descriptions of the natural setting, the quirky characters in the neighborhood, and the found family aspects in this nature-rich mystery.
Progress: 16/20
I am at 14/20 :)19. Bingeworthy: I switched from Alan Moore's Jerusalem to Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou: Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for over a year, so... I am very happy, this manga is a precious work of art.
I really need to clean up my TBR list after I’m done the 5 series I’m currently reading. I am in the middle of The Expanse, The Wheel of Time, Mistborn, Harry Potter, an Wayfarers. 😳
Holy smokes- those are some big- and very long- series, Tyler!
✔️2. Binary - The Difference EngineCollaboration of 2 authors.
A classic. Experimental alternate Victorian history, centred on computers? Glad I read it.
16/20 on the challenge.
12. Let's try this again - My Sister, the Serial Killer (another swap)This one was very dark, but it also had moments of warmth. Surprisingly entertaining.
That's 15/20.
Raucous wrote: "This update is a food themed pairing:✔️13. Sweet Revenge: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
✔️16. Scrumptious: [book:The Forest of Mayhem: A tale of inherited clutter, modern diets and..."
I can see someone getting killed over Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes.
Alexandra wrote: "I am at 14/20 :)19. Bingeworthy: I switched from Alan Moore's Jerusalem to Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou: Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for over a year, so....."
What type of Manga is it?
Tyler wrote: "I really need to clean up my TBR list after I’m done the 5 series I’m currently reading. I am in the middle of The Expanse, The Wheel of Time, Mistborn, Harry Potter, an Wayfarers. 😳"Well other than Wheel of Time that should be two hard, WoT seems to go on forever. Or maybe that is just me.
Stephen wrote: "✔️2. Binary - The Difference EngineCollaboration of 2 authors.
A classic. Experimental alternate Victorian history, centred on computers? Glad I read it.
16/20 on the challenge."
Were they Machines or People. In Hidden Figures the one character is called a computer because of the fact that she can work out mathematical problems with little difficulty and no errors.
Dj wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "I am at 14/20 :)19. Bingeworthy: I switched from Alan Moore's Jerusalem to Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou: Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for over a year, so....."
What type of Manga is it?"
It's a slice of life, cozy story set in dystopian world.
Dj wrote: "Stephen wrote: "✔️2. Binary - The Difference EngineWere they machines or people…”
Machines, called “engines” in the book. The title refers to an actual nineteenth century computer design, never built.
20. Zero to hero. Flowers for Algernon - Short StoryI've finally, finally read this excellent short story. It's a classic for a reason ;)
16/20
With the latest addition✔️8. Book page total ends in an 8 - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
I have only 4 books to go. Hope to manage by the end of the year.
Stephen wrote: "Dj wrote: "Stephen wrote: "✔️2. Binary - The Difference EngineWere they machines or people…”
Machines, called “engines” in the book. The title refers to an actual nineteenth cent..."
Oh no historical, somewhat, accurate. I might have to give this one a look.
**********************
So after wrote this I looked at the book and saw that it looks like it was written by William Gibson and Bruce Stirling. So yeah it is not added to my TBR Mountain
Alexandra wrote: "20. Zero to hero. Flowers for Algernon - Short StoryI've finally, finally read this excellent short story. It's a classic for a reason ;)
16/20"
A well scripted premise and delivery. A wonderful read. Glad you liked it.
Olga wrote: "With the latest addition✔️8. Book page total ends in an 8 - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
I have only 4 books to go. Hope to manage by the end of the year."
Damn some excellent books. I read this back in the misty days of my days in the Army and loved it.
7. Showstopper. The Night CircusI enjoyed this one a great deal - the circus, the imagery, the magic, the writing. I had complaints about both the characters and the plot ;)
17/20 :)
Hi y'all. It's a little late in 2023 to join this challenge, but I'd like to wrap my head around it in case a new one will be open in 2024 (will it?😅).Is this a simple challenge which requires 20 books to be read, in no particular order, as long as they match the prompts in some way? And, I'm not sure how to interpret the prompts. Is this open to personal interpretation? (For instance, what does the Let's try this again prompt mean?😬)
Yes, any books/order and interpret in whatever way makes you happy and/or gets books read from your TBR! 😊
Anna wrote: "Yes, any books/order and interpret in whatever way makes you happy and/or gets books read from your TBR! 😊"Thank you for the clarification!
Ok, time for a big update.2. Binary - Contact - binary code.
4. Four corners of the earth For We Are Many -people from the four corners of the Earth want to get out of the planet.
5. Five Finger Discount The Thief - well…
12. Let's try this again The Lost Metal- back to the series for the grand finale.
14. Technical Challenge Children of Time - there are a lot of technical challenges for spiders in space.
16. Scrumptious Judge Dee and the Limits of the Law - Jonathan spends a lot of time thinking about food.
18. Around the Shelf Neom BotM
19. Bingeworthy Outer Banks: Lights Out - there’s absolutely no point in reading this book unless you’ve binged the show.
One more thing. Is the cover of The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is text only or is it too ornamental?
Mod
So, I’ll have:17. Cover with text only, no images The Children of Gods and Fighting Men - I suppose it is the closest to text only cover as I can get right now.
It's not exactly sci-fantasy, but I recently tbr-ed Family Meal which has only text and no imagery on the cover. If it's any help to anyone...Edit: oopsie... two forks. 😋 my mistake.
Mod
I've been known to use cookbooks and/or mysteries for some categories. I don't use my local library, so when we had a challenge that stated11. From the library
I used a cookbook (more of a regional gastronomy book) that I purchased from a libraary book sale
Allison wrote: "No need for it to be SFF for this particular challenge! On the TBR? It can count! And really if you think about it forks are like...Really long E's or W's, depending on orientation XD"I like the way you think! 😂
Woot! I completed the Challenge! 12. Let's try this again - Activation Degradation - DNF'd but I don't think it was time for it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It wasn't time for this book at all, and I'm really glad I picked it back up! It was blurbed as being like Murderbot, which I ADORE, but this isn't like Murderbot, as it was advertised. Honestly, I was so put off by that I purposely made it the last book on the challenge to read!
The POV is from Unit Four, a robot who is activated because alien invaders have attacked the mining platform that it was grown to maintain/protect. Like Unit Four, we're thrust into the unknown and learn what is happening as it does, making it a great way to explain the setup of the novel. Once Unit Four made contact with the aliens, I was hooked and had to know what happened. It surprised me, made me think and was really enjoyable!
Tina wrote: "Woot! I completed the Challenge! “Congratulations!
Tina wrote: "Woot! I completed the Challenge! 12. Let's try this again - Activation Degradation - DNF'd but I don't think it was time for it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It wasn't time for this book at all, and I'm really glad I p..."
Well done!!
Congratulations! 🥳✔️6. At sixes and sevens - Exodus: How Migration Is Changing Our World, Paul Collier. 3/5
✔️9. Nine-to-five - The Calling: A 12-Week Science-Based Program to Discover, Energize, and Engage Your Soul’s Work, Julia Mossbridge . 2/5
✔️10. Top 10 - Ten Things About Writing: Build Your Story, One Word at a Time, Joanne Harris. 4/5
I keep ending up reading something not on the challenge list this year 🙈.
MauQ wrote: "... I keep ending up reading something not on the challenge list this year..."It's not just you. I never end up reading more than about a third of my start of the year challenge entries. My reading tastes seem to flit around randomly during the year. I still enjoy making up my aspirational challenge list. It's a fun glimpse into what the new year might bring.
Too bad about The Calling being such a bust. The premise sounded like it had so much promise.
MauQ wrote: "I keep ending up reading something not on the challenge list this year 🙈."I think it might be a common problem for many of us here 😅
I usually just try to be creative: switch things around as I go and match the books I actually read with the prompts. Trying to make a fixed list at the beginning of the year is super fun and I will definitely keep doing that in the coming years, but then mood reading happens and that's totally fine.
Two more completed:✔️3. Three's company: Finders
✔️11. From the library: The Mythic Dream
3: In Finders the third member of their triad is back from the war and he brings along so much trouble. This was my new (to me) genre author pick this year and so I didn't know what to expect. What I found was a well written post-apocalyptic space opera with mostly interesting characters and intriguing world building. I got hooked early on and blazed through it. I'll be looking for more of her work.
11: I finally signed up for my state's eLending library a few months ago. The Mythic Dream was the first book that their app recommended to me. It's an interesting collection of retellings of myths taken from a range of cultures. My favorite was a T. Kingfisher story set in a too familiar location and featuring a Belted Kingfisher. These stake out territory on the beach below our house so it was easy to imagine hearing one in the background while I read. Overall it was a much better recommendation than I usually get from that other site.
Progress: 18/20
I’ve been meaning to read Finders (and almost used it in a mod poll many moons ago) but I keep reading other things from Scott instead. One day I’ll get to it.
Raucous wrote: "Two more completed:✔️3. Three's company: Finders
✔️11. From the library: The Mythic Dream
3: In Finders the third member of their triad is back fr..."
I've read The Mythic Dream a couple of years ago and enjoyed it very much as well. I loved the T. Kingfisher story :)
13. Sweet revenge: ShadowlineI haven't read anything by Glen Cook in ages and ages. I ended up enjoying this one a lot.
18/20 :)
Raucous wrote: "MauQ wrote: "... I keep ending up reading something not on the challenge list this year..."It's not just you. I never end up reading more than about a third of my start of the year challenge entr..."
Raucous and Banshee,
It's good to know I'm not the only one 😅. I don't seem to feel like switching the books in the challenge, but my moods do change throughout the year and other things might end up interesting me too much to resist. I still try and keep to the original list in the year or shortly after, it's a good exercise to see how many of them I can stick to and I do think just making the list in the first place and watching my reading, makes me read more anyway. The books I set for challenges are mostly my already purchased TBRs, and I end up getting distracted with new purchases, especially with my monthly audible subscription books. I keep the original list not to lose sight of the fact that I should remember my already purchased books too haha but I do understand why it would feel nice to just switch, Banshee.
I love matching the prompts and making the list at the beginning of the year too, even if I I'm late with completing it. Exactly, it's exciting to see what the reading year might be like, as you both said.
The Calling wasn't to my liking personally Raucous, but someone else might like it of course. About 7 years ago or so I bought a fair few similar self help/ spiritual or philosophical books on Kindle and I read some, only flicked through others. I only joined Goodreads a couple of years ago and thought I would re-read everything I own and see what I think of it and make a record of it so I never see a book and think, oh, I can't remember what it was like :P but that mood from 7 years ago seems to be long gone, I probably would have liked such titles more back then. Having said that, I didn't remember anything from it, despite reading it before. I think I now know, if a self help type book promises too much, such as providing information in a spiritual package but in a scientific way, probably it won't deliver sadly 🙈. It was more into affirmative thinking, positive thinking, encouraging to figure out what to choose as a calling but I found the process it laid out lacking. Maybe because I read too many similar books so now I hardly ever find anything new in such titles. It had weekly exercises and I found a few of them helpful but I don't think it helped me choose which thing to focus on from my interests to call my main 'calling'. I again can't remember much from its contents beyond that after my second reading, it went over my head again sadly 🙈. But I do wish it did do what it promised well, that would have been very helpful.
I did match some prompts to books I already read last year Banshee, as I only joined the challenge closer to the end of the year and wanted the challenge to reflect my whole year's reading, but I don't feel like changing it around now. It's interesting to watch both numbers for me though, the actual challenge books read across different challenges and the 'distraction' reading outside the challenges, I think the latter is higher for me this year, but I will count at the end of the year haha. I wonder how many I can manage from the challenge.
Just now I was going to read one book from audible membership freebies and then pause my membership to focus on already owned books... but I really gotten into this book and it's a 5 part series 😂🙈. So much for my plan to pause.
Best Wishes,
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Watersong (other topics)The Grimoire of Grave Fates (other topics)
A House With Good Bones (other topics)
The Ship of Stolen Words (other topics)
The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Julio Cortázar (other topics)
Tove Jansson (other topics)
F. Scott Fitzgerald (other topics)
Paul Auster (other topics)
More...
