R5: SS Trigger Happy Bunnies (16)

[Amy]

You guys can I just say how addicted and excited I am to this game!! I love it!

[Amy]

SS Team Challenge R5
by C.S. Lewis
Week 5

Previous Spot: 31
New Roll: 6+5
New Spot: 42
Alternate: Brown cover
Date Finished: 4/23/15
Rating: 3 stars

Review: I have such mixed feelings about this book in so many ways. I don't believe I ever read this as a child and if I did I didn't remember it. I've also never seen the movie so I wasn't really sure what to expect.

The first half of the book I was totally engaged and excited. Then once Aslan arrived I was mostly confused and uninterested in what was going on. I then (with some help from some other Goodreads reviews) realized this was a book with strong feelings towards Christianity and symbolism with that. I lost a lot of interest then and mostly skimmed the rest of the book.

I still gave it 3 stars because I did enjoy the initial fantasy and imagination of the children, I fell in love with Lucy's character. But I wish it would've just stayed a fantasy type book and not veered into the other way. I found it weird that a book centered around this theory talked so much about magic not just on the witch's end but also Aslan's (who was supposed to represent the good).

Idk it was just ok for me. I may read the rest in the series but honestly I'm not jumping at it right now.

[Steph Ann]

Spot 42



Read: 4/21/15
Rating: 4 stars

Review

This last book in the series certainly had a lot of twists towards the end. While I didn't find myself as swept away by the story as I was in previous books, I did still enjoy this one. It had a bit of a slow build up, but by the time it reached the halfway mark, it was very hard to put down. I would love to know what happens next for the characters, but all in all, I think this was a pretty satisfying conclusion to the story.

[Erin]

Finished

Date: 4/23
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: brown cover

I liked this book a lot more than I expected to. While I was not the biggest fan of the plot, it was a nice read. I liked the dynamic between the boys and the resolution at the end between the brothers. And I liked how the end tied back to the beginning.

[Nicole]

The Favoured ChildThank you Kat! I did indeed finish it.
2 Stars

Oh dear god this was a hard read. Which is sad, because I love Philippa Gregory, and I absolutely loved the art with which she put together the first 446 pages. Unfortunately, after that, I was required to skip/skim far too many pages just to get to the end.

A couple of reasons for this: Although Julia Lacey is a far more likeable narrator than her 'aunt' Beatrice, she is also far more of a pushover. Secondly, because the 'unlikeable' character in this novel was her cousin Richard, it was difficult to do anything but simply despise him just because there was no in on his thoughts. And, when finally there is some insight to the actions he's taken all the way through the novel, it is a shallow madman that we are given insight to in too few pages. After having read the character of Beatrice with her complex morality and reasons for her actions, both Julia and Richard were disappointingly simple.

I also feel as though this book sacrificed complexity for shock value, particularly during the last 100 pages of this book.

However, if one cuts from 446 to one or two pages before the end of the novel, one has a very different experience. It was with a faith that there would be something to reward me at the end that kept me from throwing this book across the room.

Julia is very much like her aunt Beatrice reincarnated and, together with the dubious character of Ralph--who I personally grow to love again--much of what befell Wideacre is turned around in the first half of this novel. However, Julia constantly hides the bullying and fear she feels for her much stronger minded cousin Richard. While Julia and Ralph are trying to put Wideacre together and undo to the past, Richard is constantly working to undermine them. Sometimes not overtly, but then more and more so.

When Julia is sent away to see a specialist in Bath for her presumed 'mad' visions, she comes to meet James Fortescue who, I feel, will come to be a very important figure in the next and last book of the Wideacre trilogy (much like little Sarah Lacey). Here were some of my favourite pages. Although I expected that Julia would somehow be taken in by this gentleman who seemed far too good to be true, James was proven to be a true gentleman multiple times in the story and I was just sorry that they were stopped from meeting again after Bath.

Honestly, had it not been for the character of Richard, I would have loved this book. Every other character was loveable, and I could have forgiven Julia's weak-willed nature which might have been guided into something stronger had it not been so thoroughly exploited.

There is a trigger warning of rape in this novel. However, even without someone reading this review, I am confident that the foreshadowing of it within the novel will leave readers unsurprised when it actually occurs. As there is literally no other way within a novel for an author to warn their audience that something like this might happen, I had to appreciate that it came as no surprise and was built up in a way that readers could just flick past the pages when it actually occurred. The main downside, as I said earlier, is that there is very little that is rewarding to read after this part of the novel happens. It's pretty determinedly all downhill from there.

Will I read the next book in the series? Yes. Were it any other author that I didn't love so much, I wouldn't even have gotten this far. But now I need to know how it ends. Hopefully better than this.

[Nicole]

Umm, now I'm going to be seeing the second Avengers movie when the time comes around to dice roll tonight. I'm happy to do it as soon as I'm home again, but if someone else happens to be around at the time of the dice roll, I'm more than happy for someone else to take lead.

[Erin]

Nicole wrote: "Umm, now I'm going to be seeing the second Avengers movie when the time comes around to dice roll tonight. I'm happy to do it as soon as I'm home again, but if someone else happens to be around at ..."

Is it already released where you live? It doesn't come out until next Friday

[Amy]

I rolled since I was here

Current spot: 42
New roll: 6 + 1 = 7
New spot: 49

4th in a series
9th in a series
Alternate: New York

Good luck guys, sorry it wasn't a better roll!!

[[deleted user]]

Amy wrote: "I rolled since I was here

Current spot: 42
New roll: 6 + 1 = 7
New spot: 49

4th in a series
9th in a series
Alternate: New York

Good luck guys, sorry it wasn't a better roll!!"

It's the luck of the draw Amy :) Now I'm off to see what I can find

[[deleted user]]

I posted the link to our reviews since I was right here :0) Now I'm going to look for my book!

[Erin]

I think I'm going to have to find a New York one for this one

[Erin]

Actually I take that back I found a 9th in a series to read

[Amy]

~♥ Kat ♥~ wrote: "I posted the link to our reviews since I was right here :0) Now I'm going to look for my book!"

Thanks! I had posted from my phone so I couldn't do links and such.

[Amy]

I am going to go with

A lot of the book is set in New York

[[deleted user]]

I think I'll be going with the Alternate this week as well I just have to find a book that I want to read that fits :)

[Erin]

Amy wrote: "I am going to go with

A lot of the book is set in New York"

That's a great book

[[deleted user]]

Well It would seem that I'm a bit wishy washy this week...lol So I have decided to re-read another favorite from a series that I have been reading for a long time.

I'll be reading (9th in series) this was my favorite book of the series at least as much of the series as I have read right now. It's been a few years since I read any Anita and I think this might give me the get up and go to catch up on the series :)

[Amy]

Here's a pretty sweet list of some New York City action as well!!!

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Nicole]

Oh I have the perfect book for New York. Carry On Jeeves occurs in New York and I've been wanting to read it anyway!

[Steph Ann]

I'm going with the alternate as well, and will be reading .

[Steph Ann]

It's been a long time since I've read any Anita Blake, Kat, but I loved as well. I remember not wanting to put it down!

[[deleted user]]

Steph Ann wrote: "It's been a long time since I've read any Anita Blake, Kat, but I loved as well. I remember not wanting to put it down!"


I'm hoping to start it tomorrow sometime I just need to finish up my bingo book first it seems I have a wondering mind here lately and can't seem to concentrate on doing just 1 thing

[Erin]

Finished Spot 49

9th in series

This was definitely a quick fluffy read, which to be fair is why I like this series. I'm still a little iffy on the premise, the main character had been raped several years earlier and since then has been unable to sleep with or get too intimate with guys so she asks the male lead to help her get comfortable with it and then, since this is a romance, they fall in love. I was just a little iffy on the idea that not having sex means you can't have a normal life, but I guess I can see it in this context since she was never able to settle down with a guy because they were scared off when she freaked out about being intimate so I guess I can see how for Charlie that means not a normal life. I still overall enjoyed it. Liked the characters as usual for this series and liked returning to the setting of Fool's Gold

[Amy]

SS Team Challenge R5
by Erin Morgenstern
Week 6

Previous Spot: 42
New Roll: 6+1
New Spot: 49
Alternate: New York
Date Finished: 4/29/15
Rating: 5 stars

I got completely swept up into this world. The sights and smells were described so well I felt like I was there. I wanted to be there. I don't even know how to describe this book to people. Love, magic, excitement, unpredictable. I just really loved Celia and Poppet as characters.

Ahhhh, just read this already if you have been debating on it.

[Amy]

You guys! I know we don't roll for a couple days but I'm organizing my TBR for May and I have found one option out of all of those for each of the next 12 options. So no matter what we roll this week I have a book on the deck ready to go!! I'm so excited! How's everyone else coming along?? :)

[Nicole]

I should be finished with mine later on today. Looking forward to the next roll, I've finished many books this week and am looking for inspiration.

[Steph Ann]

I should have my book finished tonight. I'll post my review during my son's nap tomorrow morning. :)

[Steph Ann]

Spot 49

(Alternate: New York)

Read: 4/29/15
Rating: 5 stars

Review

Hopping back into this series is like visiting with a friend you haven't seen in awhile: no matter how long it's been, you're easily able to catch up as if no time had passed. This book was great from page 1, with Eve having to attend childbirth classes with Mavis. All the scenes involving Eve dealing with Mavis' pregnancy were priceless. The two cases Eve's working on are both very interesting, and it kept me guessing until the end. I'll have to read the next one as soon as I can!

[Erin]

I just want to say thank you to all of y'all for being on top of the books. In another group I'm in I'm a captain of game that's similar to this one in that we have a category each week and some people on that group are like 4 weeks behind on their books and it really grinds my gears so thanks for not being like that :D

[Amy]

Erin wrote: "I just want to say thank you to all of y'all for being on top of the books. In another group I'm in I'm a captain of game that's similar to this one in that we have a category each week and some pe..."

I'm quite competitive....I'm addicted to this game! But I've also creeped on a few other teams in this game and I feel we are very lucky with our group always being early and finished and not having to chase down players! I'm curious what this other game is you're playing! It sounds fun!!!

[Amy]

lol I just realized I changed my name to my username/nickname and so now it says I'm Sally instead of Amy, sorry if that confused anyone hahaha

[[deleted user]]

SS Team Challenge R5:Week 6

(9th in series)

Space:49
Alternate: New York
Finished:04/29/15
Rating:5♥

Review:This is another reread for me and I have to say it was just as good today as it was 6 years ago. I love the Anita Blake series, she's a kick ass heroine with just the right amount attitude that you can't help but love her. This book is my favorite out if the series so far just for simple fact that it deals more with the solving of a crime then jumping from one Man to the next that a lot of her newer books do. I will eventually get caught up on this series but It may require a reread of the entire series so everything I read all those years go is refreshed in my mind. Until then Anita still is and always will be a favorite :)

[Nicole]

Done!
Finish date 1/May (Australian time)
3 Stars
Challenge: New York
Book: Carry on, Jeeves

I must admit to feeling fairly underwhelmed by this novel.

Called Carry on, Jeeves, it was nothing more than a set of short stories where Jeeves saved the day. Of course, anyone who knows anything about the series knows that that is the role that Jeeves plays against the more... shall we say scattered? ...Bertram Wooster. However, there was nothing in particular to distinguish one short story from the other, nothing to separate them. Indeed, two of them seemed to have the same plot where Bertie offered his house to one of his friends so that their relatives would believe that they were doing better in New York than they actually were. And, of course, in both instances things went wrong only to be fixed by Jeeves.

Entertaining, yes. Outstanding, not particularly. The most entertaining part was seeing it in my mind's eye being done on TV by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.

[[deleted user]]

Looks like we are ready to roll Erin just needs to link up the last reviews so we can post and then roll

[Erin]

Oh wow sorry I took so long to link up. I never got any notifications so I'm really glad I decided to check in because then I saw that reviews had been posted and I had just missed them somehow!

[Erin]

New Roll:
5 + 6 = 11
49 + 11 = 60
Alternate: Beautiful Cover

[[deleted user]]

No worries Erin I wasn't to worried about it I'm only now just getting the time to sit down and relax for a bit!

Anyway I'm going with the alternate this week and reading this also works for my other 2 team challenges so all is right in my world :)

[Amy]

I'm gonna go with a standalone this week!

[Nicole]

I'm not sure that the link given for Beautiful Cover is working. It seems to be redirecting back to this page...

[Nicole]

Here is the link: Beautiful Covers

I will be reading book number four from this list: Across the Universe

[Steph Ann]

I'm going with this week. :)

[[deleted user]]

SS Team Challenge R5:Week 7

(Alternate:Beautiful Cover Shelf)

Old Space:49
New Space: 60
Alternate: Beautiful Cover Shelf
Finished:5/05/15
Rating:5♥

Review:This book was so good. It took me a couple chapters to get into it but once things got rolling it was great. I enjoyed it mostly because it had a lot to do with Greek and Egyptian mythology and Gods and Demigods. There were a few tearful moments and more then enough laugh out loud moments. Definitely worth checking out if your into that kind of thing :)

[Steph Ann]

Space 60



Read: 5/4/15
Rating: 2 stars

Review

Having not read any of this series before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I needed to do a review of this one though, so I just jumped right in. Sad to say, I was disappointed. I couldn't connect to any of the characters and just found myself bored a lot of the time. By the end, I was just glad it was done. I most likely won't be reading more in this series.

My full review can be found over at Dark Faerie Tales.

[Amy]

SS Team Challenge R5
by Josh Sundquist
Week 7

Previous Spot: 49
New Roll: 5+6
New Spot: 60
Alternate: Standalone
Date Finished: 5/5/15
Rating: 4 stars

I super dooper enjoyed this book. I loved the format of each chapter and the cute graphs and diagrams. I found myself laughing outloud every once in a while and just shaking my head at his awkwardness. His personality is contagious and endearing. I loved this.

[[deleted user]]

Steph Ann wrote: "Space 60



Read: 5/4/15
Rating: 2 stars

Review

Having not read any of this series before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I needed to do a review of this one though..."

That's to bad Steph Ann I really enjoyed book one a lot I just haven't gotten around to reading any of the others yet

[Erin]

I realized I chose a book but never posted it


Stand alone

[Nicole]

Oh ha I just realised I posted one book and went ahead and read another. The Rose Circle for #6 in a series.

[[deleted user]]

I find this challenge is going so fast ... I mean geez we are over halfway through the board already

[Nicole]

I'm so looking forward to the next book. Hopeful cause I've read a whole lot of not satisfying books recently :(

[Erin]

Man I haven't even started this book yet, it's been a rough week for reading. I need to start it tonight and luckily I have no school tomorrow so I'll try to finish up as soon as possible