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R14: SS Team 1 - The One-stoppables
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AliciaJ
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Mar 03, 2023 09:51PM
I can't believe it--this is perfect! I get to go ahead and read the next book! 😊
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Completion Post🔹Week 6Spot🔹38
Book🔹Can't Text This
How it fits🔹#3 Texting series
Date Read🔹03.06 ★★★★
Review🔹
This was a fun book. The MCs met in a bar and almost hooked up but super conservative and shy Monty ran out before things went too far - but left her number with Robbie. They decide to get to know each other before 'finishing the deed'. So begins the build up of a sweet and hilarious friendship via text. Their conversations had be laughing out loud. The story ended pretty much how you expected but the pay-off for the slow build relationship was great. This was a great diversion to read while being sick!
How is everyone doing with their books?
Just finished my book. Sorry I haven't been around much this week. I've been dealing with stuff in my personal life and had trouble concentrating. I'll make all the updates now. And I'll be around all night to include everyone else who have completion posts to make
I forgot about this, I'm so sorry! I've had a death in my family this week and it's just been very difficult. I should be able to finish my book tonight and get it posted before the deadline.
Completion PostWeek #6
Spot: 38
The Heart Principle by Helen HoangDate Read: 03/10/23
Pages: 343
How It Fits: Book #3 in The Kiss Quotient series
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I absolutely loved this one! I loved how natural Anna and Quan were with each other, even during what Anna considered her awkward moments. I love how patient and understanding Quan was, which allowed Anna to just be herself. I loved all the books in this series, but this one was definitely my favorite.
AliciaJ wrote: "I forgot about this, I'm so sorry! I've had a death in my family this week and it's just been very difficult. I should be able to finish my book tonight and get it posted before the deadline."I'm so sorry to hear this. My condolences to you and your family. It sounds like life has been rough for a lot of us this week
Completion PostWeek 6
Spot38
Book: Mystery at the Masquerade by Josh Lanyon
Pages: 294
How it fits: #3 Secrets and Scrabble Series
Date Read: 3/10
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Another fantastic adventure with Ellery and Jack in Pirate's Cove. There were so many new characters introduced in this book it was almost hard to keep track of everyone, but it was still a great mystery read. I love the "cozy" aspect of the story too, meaning there were no curse words, no on page violence, and no sex. It was just pure characterization and plot, two of my favorite parts of a story. And this author is so talented that she can still make what some might consider a tame story into a fast-paced, fun, exciting story, with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, more curious than ever to see what other mischief Ellery and Jack can get up to.
Laila Jane wrote: "AliciaJ wrote: "I forgot about this, I'm so sorry! I've had a death in my family this week and it's just been very difficult. I should be able to finish my book tonight and get it posted before the..."Thank you Laila Jane. I hope things will get better for you too.
Mod
Team, you're good to go ahead and roll, as all remaining team members had their reviews in on time. I'll see about getting you a back-up player.
Week 7
Previous Spot: 38
Roll: 1 + 5
New Spot: 44
Books That Qualify
#4 in series
#44 in series
Alternate: Author 'D'
Completion Posts
Laila Jane - Wicked Sexy Liar (Wild Seasons #4 - Completion Post
Sha - Black Maria (Alternate: Author 'D') - Completion Post
AliciaJ - Scandal at the Salty Dog (Secrets and Scrabble #4) - Completion Post
LaurLa - Home to Whiskey Creek (Whiskey Creek #4) - Completion Post
Free Pass: Unearned
Bonus Points: 2/6
Laila Jane and AliciaJ - I'm sorry you both have had a rough time. Sending prayers and hugs to you both!
I'll probably be reading #4 Across the Aisle James this week or #4 Whiskey Creek Home to Whiskey Creek. Choices!
I'm back~ I'll try to find a d-author. Do both first and last names count or just one or the other?
@AliciaJ My condolences. I hope you and your family are doing okay. :(
LaurLa wrote: "Laila Jane and AliciaJ - I'm sorry you both have had a rough time. Sending prayers and hugs to you both!"Thanks LaurLa. Life seems to be returning back to normal for the most part, or at least my concentration is going back to normal
Sha wrote: "I'm back~ I'll try to find a d-author. Do both first and last names count or just one or the other?"I think either first OR last name counts
Laila Jane wrote: "Just finished my book. Sorry I haven't been around much this week. I've been dealing with stuff in my personal life and had trouble concentrating. I'll make all the updates now. And I'll be around ..."Sorry about this too. Looks like everyone's had a rough week. :(
Laila Jane wrote: "Sha wrote: "I'm back~ I'll try to find a d-author. Do both first and last names count or just one or the other?"I think either first OR last name counts"
Perfect. I think I have a few Diana Wynne Jones books I wanted to read.
I’m so sorry team, I read the book and then completely forgot to post the review. I’m glad you guys are still able to play! ❤️❤️
Completion Post🔹Week 7Spot🔹44
Book🔹Home to Whiskey Creek
How it fits🔹#4 Whiskey Creek
Date Read🔹03.12 ★★★★
Review🔹
I enjoyed this story and was satisfied with how the author brough resolution but it could be a triggering book for some (view spoiler) and there is no warning in the book description, which is disappointing. I, who has not suffered any physical/emotional trauma, was a little enraged at the cavalier attitude of the guilty and the ones in leadership position. That is part of the point of the story and as I said, the author did a fine job of bringing resolution, if a little watered down. But this is primarily a romance story, so that's kind of expected too. Overall handled well but those who might still be recovering or dealing with the same issues might find it a little too easily dealt with.
LaurLa wrote: "Laila Jane and AliciaJ - I'm sorry you both have had a rough time. Sending prayers and hugs to you both!"Thank you LaurLa. I'm coping a bit better this week, plus am taking some time off work, so that will help too.
Katelyn wrote: "I’m so sorry team, I read the book and then completely forgot to post the review. I’m glad you guys are still able to play! ❤️❤️"Will miss you Katelyn! Hopefully we can play a different game together some time. 😊
Sha wrote: "@AliciaJ My condolences. I hope you and your family are doing okay. :("
Thank you Sha. I appreciate that. It's been very hard, but we are coping as best we can.
I'm going to read the next book in my current series,
, #4 in the Secrets amd Scrabble series.
So do I earn a bonus point if I don't use any alternates? That's my plan, since I have a lot of series I'm working on.
Mod
As regards replacing Katelyn, I've contacted a back-up player and am waiting to hear back from them.
AliciaJ wrote: "So do I earn a bonus point if I don't use any alternates? That's my plan, since I have a lot of series I'm working on."That's my plan too! One of us will make it!
WEEK 7
Spot & Prompt: #44, Author 'D'
Book:Black Maria
Cover:
How it qualifies: Author 'D' - Diana Wynne Jones
Pages: 240 pages
Completed: 17 Mar 2023
Rating: 4 stars
REVIEW
17 Mar 2023
1. So when I started re-reading this one after realizing I had no brainspace to finish a whole new book, I did skim through my old review. I was fully expecting general creepiness, but I did think my younger self (it has been 6 years) was maybe overreacting a bit. BOY WAS I WRONG.
2. The antagonist and her posse are deeply, deeply terrifying and infuriating. I have a strong urge to reach into the book and commit murder. Aunt Maria is evil in small, petty ways (to start with) and it's not until all the ways pile up one after the other that you realize how godawful she is. It's like this nagging mosquito that seems fairly harmless at first, but which then starts to buzz louder and louder and louder till you go crazy and then you find out it's not just carrying fatal pathogens but also indestructible. The buildup from petty annoyance to this-crosses-the-line concerning behavior to actual horror is very slow and gradual, and you can see it happening before your eyes like an avalanche that cannot be stopped.
3. Also, you can see how old this book is from all the little details (like the existence of telephone operators) and also the blatant enforcing of gender roles is so much more direct than what I'm used to from today's book. I mean, it's obviously deliberate, because Aunt Maria is a sexist, sexist little bitch (is she a misogynist? maybe not, because it's at least partially a facade used to control others) and the roles she keeps thrusting on to Mig and her mom in particular are particularly stifling. Like Aunt Maria getting all pearl-clutchy because they wore pants.
Bless Chris for his "should I wear a skirt too?" when Aunt Maria passive-aggressively hinted that the girls had to change to skirts to be presentable for company. I love you Chris. Sure you are yelling into a lion's mouth but who can blame you. If I were there with you, I too would have made bad life choices and gotten transmogrified for them.
4. Chris is the MVP. Okay listen, I know he didn't actually make the situation any better and probably made it worse with all his snide commentary but HOO BOY did I need someone able and willing to snark openly at Aunt Maria. It was like my screaming feelings of rage and resentment had an outlet. Thank you, Chris! Mig and her mom are more constrained by social norms and expectations than Chris is, and that means they have to compromise more. Here's gender coming into things again.
5. I have to say I was actually more interested in the psychological warfare stuff than in the magic stuff? Honestly, I'd have liked it fine if this was a non-supernatural book with just the passive aggressiveness and social bullying. Not that the supernatural element was bad, per se (especially the insidious memory modification bits). I got more into it as the story went on, but I think the emotions and feelings I got from he starting bits were stronger overall. That said, that could just be because of me rushing to finish this one on time so eh. //shruggif
6. One last thing before I wrap up. DWJ is a very good writer. As in, she is one of those writers whose prose does not give me "I'm reading this as fast as I can and I mostly want to get to the next bit of dialogue" feelings. The insights in her narration are often very poignant, and there are a lot of feelings and observations in here that made me go "oh". I think the first person PoV helped with that, but probably not by that much.
Completion PostWeek 7
Spot 44
Book: Scandal at the Salty Dog by Josh Lanyon
Pages: 248
How it fits: #4 Secrets and Scrabble Series
Date Read: 3/16
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Unfortunately this installment in the Secrets and Scrabble series didn't have the same magic for me this time. The story tended to drag in the middle of the book, and never seemed to recover its momentum. The supposed mystery of what was haunting Juliet was not that interesting, and was easily explained. There weren't any substantial new relationships or interactions between the usual characters that sparked my interest either. Ellery and Jack have just started dating and that didn't even have any chemistry. This one just fell kind of flat for me. I should probably give it a 3 star review instead of 4, but I really like the author so I'm going to keep it as is.
I hope I got this done in time! I'm never sure when the cut-off is for Pacific time.
AliciaJ wrote: "I hope I got this done in time! I'm never sure when the cut-off is for Pacific time."I think it's 9:59pm Pacific (11:59 Central)... but I'm always worried about that too so try to plan it so I get mine done on Thursday! Doesn't always work but I try 😃
It looks like Sha has been doing all the alternatives, and the rest of us have been doing the series books, so I think we'll be able to earn both of the bonuses once we pass 90 =)
Sha wrote: "Laila Jane wrote: "Just finished my book. Sorry I haven't been around much this week. I've been dealing with stuff in my personal life and had trouble concentrating. I'll make all the updates now. ..."Thanks Sha! I'm feeling more like myself this week. Reading is still slower than where I usually am at this time of the year, but I've been able to fit in a chapter or two a day at least.
Mod
You can use this to check:
Time Zone Converter: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...
AliciaJ wrote: "Completion PostWeek 7
Spot 44
Book: Scandal at the Salty Dog by Josh Lanyon
Pages: 248
How it fits: #4 Secrets and S..."
AliciaJ, I noticed that you read 3 books in the same series. Did you want to use this bonus for it?: One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series
Completion PostWeek #7
Spot: 44
Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina LaurenDate Read: 03/17/23
Pages: 384
How It Fits: Book #4 in the Wild Seasons series
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I really only chose this book because I needed it for this challenge. I plan to read the rest of the books in this series, but figured it wouldn't hurt to read it out of order since each book can pretty much work as a stand alone. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but do now wish I had read the books in order. I had trouble connecting with the main characters, and was a little lost with who all the side characters were. London and Luke were cute together, but I also found myself a little bored with them. They were immature at times and I just found myself frustrated with them. Enjoyable, but forgettable.
Week 8
Previous Spot: 44
Roll: 6 + 1
New Spot: 51
Books That Qualify
Standalone
#1 in series
#5 in series
#51 in series
Alternate: Cover - Red
Completion Posts
Laila Jane -
Sha -
AliciaJ -
LaurLa -
Free Pass: Unearned
Bonus Points: 2/6
Laila Jane wrote: "It looks like Sha has been doing all the alternatives, and the rest of us have been doing the series books, so I think we'll be able to earn both of the bonuses once we pass 90 =)":D thats my plan
Laila Jane wrote: "AliciaJ wrote: "Completion PostWeek 7
Spot 44
Book: Scandal at the Salty Dog by Josh Lanyon
Pages: 248
How it fits: ..."
Sure! Do I need to post something to claim the bonus?
Completion Post🔹Week 8Spot🔹51
Book🔹The Miles Between Us
How it fits🔹#5 Jackson Falls
Date Read🔹03.21 ★★★★
Review🔹
This is the second full length and 3rd overall book in this series about Rob and Casey. Seems they kept talking to the author. I wouldn't say this book was fresh material between the 2 MCs, it more explored further some developments during the novella after their first book. It wasn't a rehash either of the same storyline but since we've seen these characters in one way or another for 4 books between this one, they are very familiar and I felt like I already knew how they would react in the story. It was still a sweet love story as they navigated some tough waters and learned to deal with a new reality.
WEEK 8
Spot & Prompt: #51, Alternate: Cover - Red
Book:Fahrenheit 451
Cover:
How it qualifies: Alternate: Cover - Red
Pages: 194 pages
Completed: 24 Mar 2023
Rating: 3 stars
REVIEW
24 March 2023
Rating: 3.5 stars, probably
Professional bookburner in dystopian world encounters "thoughtful" girl and it sets off his identity crisis.
1. I always go into older books with the expectation of "this is probably not for me" and I'm always pleasantly surprised when that turns out to not quite be the case. Don't get me wrong- large parts of this relatively small book were written in the kind of rambling literary style that I generally loathe (if you have something to say, you can say it, thank you), but there was enough meat in the matter that it wasn't too bad.
2. This is supposed to be a book about book burnings, and it is that. But it's also, equally significantly imo, a book about how you are not immune to propaganda and how sanitization and censorship lead to rally bad consequences. Which-fair enough.
3. There were a lot of lines in here that were pretty good, and pretty thought-provoking. And since this is a book lamenting about the lack of provoked thoughts, I guess it fulfilled its purpose? And I did find many scenes poignant. Faber's feelings about that one bible, the woman who burned herself with her books, the woman who started crying because of the poem (lady good for you, but our tastes are not the same), and Montag's slowly building drive to be more and know more. These are good themes! And they were well-written, enough that a loather of litfic like me can still admit they were well written.
4. Sidenote: Why is Clarisse always advertised as a major character? She's at most a spark that sets off the flame of Montag's existential/identity (it's both) crisis. Any effect she has on the plot is through Montag, and there are other people (Faber, heck- even Beatty and arguably Mildred) who are more prominent. Clarisse is a narrative device and catalyst more than she is an actual character, and yes she is a great example of little things causing a whole ass avalanche, but a proper character she is not. I'd immediately peg her as a manic pixie dream girl equivalent if she were a love interest (which she, thankfully, is not).
5. The thing is, I don't know if I read the book the way Bradbury meant to write it. I've seen commentary about how he meant to warn people about TV rotting their brains, but that seems to run counter to that one paragraph about how the problem is in the content and not the medium. I do think the effects showcased in Bradbury's world- isolation, increased suicidal ideation, hectic lifestyles leading to no time to think, and so forth are relevant to our lives today, but some other things seem a bit far-fetched and exaggerated. It does feel too disjointed sometimes and I can't tell if it's a mistake, litfic-style open-endedness, or my lack of comprehension.
6. The adventure elements were pretty meh, to be honest. And definitely not where the author should have showcased their litfic prose. I would also have liked less purple prose and more descriptions of the limits and uses of technology in this world- I'm still baffled about how cesareans are something you voluntarily choose for no reason, and the only thing I can think of are medical advancements making surgery fast and quick and painless (in which case, good for her for picking it). I did like the sentient library concept towards the end, though- but that's also kinda marred by lack of scifi exposition.
7. Anyway! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! I understand this may at least partially be because I don't know what the author actually meant to say.
Completion PostWeek 8
Spot 51 Bonus: Reading 3+ books in the same series
Book: Body at Buccaneer's Bay
Pages: 233
How it fits: #5 in Secrets & Scrabble series
Date Read: 3/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review: We're back at Pirate's Cove for another mystery. This time it starts out with a skeleton found in an old shipwreck while Jack and Ellery are out scuba diving. MIx in a weird lady who hires Ellery as an amateur sleuth to find out who's trying to kill her, and then having Ellery's parents visiting at the same time, and there is a wackiness to this installment that kept me laughing and rolling my eyes at some of the hijinks going on. As become the norm in the series, Ellery manages to somehow blunder his way into solving the crime and Jack is there to save the day. I am still very much enjoying the zany characters, especially the Silver Sleuths, as well as the decidedly different ways that various people are kicking the bucket in Pirate's Cove.
AliciaJ wrote: "Laila Jane wrote: "AliciaJ wrote: "Completion PostWeek 7
Spot 44
Book: Scandal at the Salty Dog by Josh Lanyon
Pages..."
I think you just need to include it in your review this week, that you earned the bonus by reading 3+ books in the same series
Completion PostWeek #8
Spot: 51
Then Came You by Lisa KleypasDate Read: 03/24/23
Pages: 384
How It Fits: Book #1 in the The Gamblers of Craven's series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I've slowly been making my way through all of Lisa Kleypas' historical romance novels. I really enjoyed this one, but there were times when Lily's behavior was just too much for me, especially set in this time period. But I loved her interactions with the hero, Alex. And I loved how their relationship went from hate to love. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
Week 9
Previous Spot: 51
Roll: 5 + 3
New Spot: 59
Books That Qualify
#5 in series
#9 in series
#59 in series
Alternate: Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The)
Completion Posts
Laila Jane - Give Me Forever (Beaumont: Next Generation #5) - Completion Post
Sha - Back to Before (Alternate: Three Word Title) - Completion Post
AliciaJ - Emerald Blaze (Hidden Legacy #5) - Completion Post
LaurLa - The Night Is Watching (Krewe of Hunters #9) - Completion Post
Free Pass: Unearned
Bonus Points: 3/6
OF course I just read 2 fives in a row... one for this past week's roll, the other I forgot to save in case we were still in the 50s. Darn it! Off to check the shelves!
Is it only A, An, and The I need to discount or do words like from and of and in not count too?
Mod
Only A, An, The. Everything else counts.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Heart of the Sea (other topics)A Little Too Late (other topics)
A House with Good Bones (other topics)
Knight (other topics)
Close to Me (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarina Bowen (other topics)Ilona Andrews (other topics)
Ilona Andrews (other topics)
Josh Lanyon (other topics)
Josh Lanyon (other topics)
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