The Challenge Factory discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
♦SS Archives♦
>
R5: SS Trigger Happy Bunnies (16)
date
newest »
newest »
message 351:
by
Steph Ann
(new)
May 24, 2015 05:11PM
I'm going with the alternate with
reply
|
flag
A short book, so an early finish this week. New Roll: 4+3=7
Previous spot: 73
New spot: 80
Standalone
5 of 5 stars
Read from May 23 to 26, 2015
How terrible a thing is it, do you think, to open every review I make of David Levithan with 'I LOVE DAVID LEVITHAN!!!"
I didn't actually think I'd like this one, at first. It's written quite strangely for its genre, or any genre really. The only time I've ever seen second person point of view utilised is in the old Choose Your Own Adventure novels. However, here David is again, pulling some really strange shit and making it work again.
The other reason I didn't think that I'd like this as much is because I read the first several pages of this novel first in How Beautiful The Ordinary and, for that reason, was not immediately drawn into this new story.
The view point of this novel, for all that the story concerns half a dozen gay boys at various points of experience, is from the generation of gay men who died of AIDS before treatment was developed for it. From that point of view, obviously, many things have changed in the gay community.
The title of this book comes from the idea of two boys kissing for long enough to break the Guiness World Record for longest kiss. As the story goes on, the other characters introduced come to see this happening on social media, the radio and television. It becomes something that binds not just the recollections of older men now dead, but also these gay teenagers and spirals out towards their families and communities.
David Levithan is, as ever, incredibly real about his experience with being gay. However, again as ever, he shies away from the "standard" gay narratives; coming out and so on. Although one of the characters kissing for the world record has his parents find out he's gay at that point, it's hardly the whole story. In fact, it's a tiny couple of pages out of the story, no bigger than every other couple of pages where we go back to those boys and something else is occurring.
Although that story was at the centre of the entire narrative, I personally loved the story between Ryan and Avery -- the boy who was born in a way that the rest of the world saw him as a girl. What was great about this transgendered story was that, instead of getting bogged down in the fact that Avery is trans, the story goes on to how his parents recognised it early and made sure he had the hormones as a teen to stop him from going through the "wrong puberty". God. Just the way those words were written. And, no, that doesn't mean that everything is easy. His interactions with other people, and of course sometimes even in his own family, things are tense. But that's the way of families, and that's the way of being gay, and that's the way of being trans.
This book does a great job of being an equaliser in that sense. For such a short book, it covers so much in such little time.
New Roll: 4+3=7
Previous spot: 73
New spot: 80
Alternate:Text Item Butterfly
4 stars
ReviewThis is the second time I have read this book and It was just as good this time around, I decided to stop read the trilogy after book 1 cause I wanted to wait until the other 2 were published so I could read all 3 back to back, and that is just what I'm going to do. I love this world that A.G. Howard has created it's fun and even though it is a retelling of the Famous Alice in Wonderland story it's unique in it's own right.The characters are interesting and easy to relate too and I can't wait to dive down the rabbit hole again for book 2 to see what new adventure is in store for them next :)
Butterfly:Sony Loc. pg 145 - pinning me like a butterfly to a corkboard
SS Team Challenge R5
by Emma DonoghuePrevious Spot: 73
New Roll: 7
New Spot: 80
Standalone
Date Finished: 5/28/15
Rating: 4 stars
This book was....different. Not in a bad way, in a weird, eerie sort of way. The fact that this sort of thing does actually happen to people made this story very heartbreaking.
Things I hated:
*The fact that there were only 5 sections total and no chapters. I'm one of those people that hates putting a book down in the middle of a chapter so I had a hard time being ok with stopping lol.
*At first reading it was very difficult being it was told by a 5 year old, the language was painful to understand. But I think it set the tone for the whole book.
*While reading the book I disliked the grandma. But now reflecting back onto it I realize she was doing the best she knew how with the situation. Everyone reacts to situations differently.
Things I loved:
*The interview Ma gave, it infuriated me slightly but I loved that she brought everything back to being a mother, no matter where you are or your situation, you do what you have to do for your children. And in many ways our children do save our lives in many different ways.
*I loved the ending. The last section was my favorite by far. It makes you feel like they will be ok even after all this. All the people that did reach out and help them. It restores some faith into humanity even after what they went through.
All in all I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I may never read it again but I'm glad I read it at least once.
Oooh Sally what a great review. I've been thinking of reading this book too!
Spot 80
(Text item Butterfly)Read: 5/27/15
Rating: 4 stars
Review
These books never fail to make me laugh. I love how Darynda Jones is able to mix humor with the very serious and sometimes traumatic things that happen to Charley. This book moved very fast and was really hard to put down. It left me anxious to start the next one, which is always a sign that you're doing something right as an author! I'm even finally starting to warm up to Reyes lol. Looking forward to the next one!
Butterfly - "Is he in a white coat and carrying a butterfly net?" Pg. 126
Ah guys I'll try to post a review or early tomorrow. Sorry it's been a super busy week
Spot 80
Read: 5/28/15
Rating:2 stars
Review:
I did not really like this book. I started off wanting to punch the main character, and she did get better by the end of the book. But I don't know it just didn't feel like the book went anywhere by the end. It all felt very anticlimatic, I don't know. I did like some of the other characters though so not 100% awful or anything.
Nice all our reviews are in early this week
Definitely! New Roll: 3+6=9
New Space: 89
Alternate: England
8th in series
9th in a series
Perfect.
The Secret Garden is on my TBR for the month yet and it'll fit for England!
Ok ladies, Erin isn't going to be able to keep playing since the game has gone on longer than expected. Is there anyone that can take over the captain duties? And I'll also get y'all a back up right quick for this week and next. It's looking like next week will be the last week more than likely.
I'm really sorry y'all :( but I definitely had fun while I was here! Good luck guys!
I can take care of Captain stuff until this is over Jenne that's no Problem :)
Great Roll Nicole! I was just about to start and #9 in series this couldn't work out any more perfectly :D
Erin wrote: "I'm really sorry y'all :( but I definitely had fun while I was here! Good luck guys!"
No Problem Erin real life comes before Play :)
No Problem Erin real life comes before Play :)
Thanks Kat!Ok ladies Mika will be filling in this week and next. More than likely next week will be the last week.
Going with a #9 in the series
No worries Kat, and thanks for taking over captain duties!After some consideration, I'm going with this book for England this week:
Spot 89:
Read:6/2
Rating:5 stars
I love this book. These two had to wait 11 years to be together. I liked them from the beginning, Wyatt definitely calmed down a lot. I love Preston's protectiveness. I love this series a lot. I like how the author's make family a big thing. Sebastian was a douchebag, but I know why he's like that.
Oooh we are potentially one of the winning teams!
Really!!!?? I haven't even checked where we are!Nicole wrote: "Oooh we are potentially one of the winning teams!"
We are at 89 this week which means next roll could be 100 for us. :)
I finished my book days ago but forgot to post it I'll get everything linked up when I get home from work this afternoon
by James Patterson Finished: May 29,15
Space: 89
Option:9th in series
Review: What a fantastic finish to this wonderful YA series. There was so much going on I wasn't sure if Patterson would get everything wrapped up but he did and it left me feeling really good. There was much crying involved while reading this as things were unfolding, but not in the way you were expecting.James Patterson is the king of fantastic plot twists and he sure had me going.Awsome book, Awesome Finale. Well Done!!!
I'm posting from my phone so this will be short and sweet. Straddling the Line by Jaci Burton (#8 in series)
Read: 6/4/15
Rating : 3 stars
There really wasn't much plot here which made it very hard to get into the book. There was a little too much sex combined with not enough relationship building so when "I love you" was said, it wasn't believable to me. All in all, it wasn't awful, but it wasn't great either.
A full review will be posted on Dark Faerie Tales.
I'll be posting mine after work in 4 hours, heaps of time. Will that be all of us for this week?
Sally is the only one left after you Nicole to post a review all others are in
Spot 89 Reviews
New Roll: 3+6=9
New Space: 89
Alternate: England
8th in series
9th in a series
Kat - Review
Steph Ann - Review
Tamika - Review
Nicole - Review
Sally - Free Pass
New Roll: 3+6=9
New Space: 89
Alternate: England
8th in series
9th in a series
Kat - Review
Steph Ann - Review
Tamika - Review
Nicole - Review
Sally - Free Pass
OK I'm turning in for the night, I'll link the last 2 reviews in the am but if someone else is up around roll time and all the reviews are in go ahead and roll, I'll catch up in the morning :)
Sleep well Kat! Thanks for being so amazingly organised. I should be able to roll as soon as the time ticks over and the reviews are in.
I'm sorry guys....it's been a week. My dad was in the ER at the beginning of the week and then when that was situated my boyfriend found out he's being kicked out of his apartment for no one's fault but the landlords. I'm sorry. I am seriously on page 40 of my book. I'm gonna try but honestly I'm not gonna finish tonight. I literally had a meltdown like every day this week.
Don't push yourself, Sally. It's the last week of the challenge. We'll just roll whenever and have extra time after the challenge has finished to read our books. I really do hope that everything for you and yours sorts itself out properly.
My review for Curtsies & Conspiracies4 stars.
Finished 5th June.
Alternative: England.
I can't say that I truly loved this book as much as I loved the first one, but it was still very good.
The opening chapters did a very good job of reminding us who all the characters were and what their relationship was to main character Sophronia. I very much liked the introduction of Felix, the only downside to him being that he seems to have created a love triangle between himself, Sophronia and the sootie from the last novel, Soap.
The plot of this story was quite solid in that there was technology that was being presented that would exclude vampires and the vampires didn't like it. Given who Dimity's family is, there was also a kidnapping plot towards the end. Despite that, however, there was a lot of room for character exploration and exploits alongside the main plots.
Vieve was still just as cute in her 10 year old cross-dressing ways, and I was very happy to see her progress onto Bunsons, just as I will say I was also very happy to see Monique stepping out of this series towards the end there.
The main thing I'm confused about in these books is how much time is meant to be passing. In the Harry Potter books, and many such books where the main characters are going through some form of schooling, each book covers one year worth of lessons and experience. That definitely isn't the case with these books. A total of no more than six months has passed since the beginning of book one. Not that it matters overly much yet, but I do wonder at the pacing of these books as a whole series.
Getting again to see old favourites from Parasol Protectorate was even more fun this time around, largely due to the hint that we are going to have Lord Akeldama feature in a more central role in this series as well. For someone who doesn't like to meddle, he certainly does manage to stick his nose in. I found it interesting that, though we saw Captain Niall and Lord Woolsey again, there was no mention of Alexia Tarabotti, or the child. It was studiously omitted.
Since it's the last week I guess we could use our free pass if Sally won't be able to get her book read. I'll see what takes place when I get home from work this afternoon :)
Ladies I can't remember if you've used your free pass. If you haven't used it, go ahead and do so. You're losing reading time lol!
Jenne wrote: "Ladies I can't remember if you've used your free pass. If you haven't used it, go ahead and do so. You're losing reading time lol!"
OK Jenne we'll use our Pass I can't remember us using it already so I'll go with we didn't :)
I'll Post the reviews we have and then roll
OK Jenne we'll use our Pass I can't remember us using it already so I'll go with we didn't :)
I'll Post the reviews we have and then roll
OK I went ahead and used our free pass, I don't think we used it already and neither Jenne or myself can remember.
So Our New Roll is:
New Roll: 5+1=6
New Space: 95
Alternate: Author E
5th in series
1st in series
I know for sure that there are 3 teams that are battling it out right now for the win so we may not even have to read this week but it's up to you guys if you do or not
So Our New Roll is:
New Roll: 5+1=6
New Space: 95
Alternate: Author E
5th in series
1st in series
I know for sure that there are 3 teams that are battling it out right now for the win so we may not even have to read this week but it's up to you guys if you do or not
Nice playing with you guys for this short period. I'm not going to read this week!
Nice playing with you guys for this short period. I'm not going to read this week!
The way things are looking right now this challenge will be over in the next few hours, so I'm not evening going to start a new book :)
But I did have a lot of fun playing with all of you this round and hope to see you all again in another!
But I did have a lot of fun playing with all of you this round and hope to see you all again in another!
Yeah me too. Also, we did use our free pass a couple of weeks ago, which is why I didn't suggest it. ;) It has been fun playing with you guys tho!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Curtsies & Conspiracies (other topics)Maximum Ride Forever (other topics)
An Ignited Passion (other topics)
Straddling the Line (other topics)
Curtsies & Conspiracies (other topics)
More...
