Team Aunt Entity's Sidecar

[Rebecca]

I’ve updated the spreadsheet with my first completed book! Where do I claim extra points for remembering to write the date US style? 🤣

[Kirsten]

I write the date my style (which is European/Canadian style) and the spreadsheet changes it automatically, so you can do whatever you like. Lisa is a genius. How did you like the book?

[Rebecca]

It was good thank you! I had a lot of time on the train today so I read the whole thing (good old train delays..!)

[Kat]

Wait so we write date to be in line US?

[Kirsten]

On the spreadsheet, you can write the date as:

3 February
3 Feb
February 3
Feb 3
2/3
and it will be okay

If you are doing completion posts instead of the spreadsheet, then you can also use these. As long as Lisa and I can tell that you read the book in the right month, we can make it work.

I hope this makes sense?

[Kirsten]

Also, I was going to say that I have read 3 EXCELLENT books so far:





I know that I will read some real clunkers as the challenge goes on, but I have been saving these up for what feels like ages, and I am so glad they were so good. If you read MM fiction, you should definitely give them a try.

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "On the spreadsheet, you can write the date as:

3 February
3 Feb
February 3
Feb 3
2/3
and it will be okay

If you are doing completion posts instead of the spreadsheet, then you can also use these..."

Ok.Thanks

[Kat]

Finished. Can someone add it for me please? (If it’s allowed)

Forbidden Hunger by Teresa Gabelman
Pages: 109
Rating: 3*
Date read: 5th February 2024
Justification: Not sure?

[MN Lisa]

Added

[Kat]

Thanks. For sone reason doesn’t show me everyone’s books just points can only captains see books

[Kirsten]

Are you using this spreadsheet? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Lisa has made a customized spreadsheet because she's a genius like that, and because it makes it a lot easier for everyone to fill out. Let us know if we're missing something or if you need access.

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "Are you using this spreadsheet? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Lisa has made a customized spreadsheet because s..."

Just takes me to this page

[Kirsten]

I copied the wrong thing, I think! Sorry!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Kat]

Nope not that either it’s okay I’ll just ask yous to add it for me

[MN Lisa]

One more try:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Kirsten]

Okay, I am clearly trying to do too many things at once. Sundays are my big prep days. Sorry, everyone.

[Kat]

Working now thank you both for ur help :)

[MN Lisa]

Let us know if you have any questions!

[Rebecca]

I’ve finished my 3 planned books a lot faster than anticipated (thanks to spending a lot of time on trains!)

If I have books with colour covers and read them this month, do they count toward next month? Or are they separate and it resets in March?

[Kirsten]

It resets in March! Often the minis use color covers, too, though, so if you can wait til those come out (prolly next week), there’s a good chance we’ll need one then. And we still have a Wild Draw 4, which needs to match a color cover we have.

[Melissa]

Sorry I went MIA guys! I woke up so sick the other day and have just basically been sleeping and doing the bare minimum. Feeling much better today so I’ll be back on track reading!

[Rebecca]

Thanks Kirsten!
Melissa I’m glad you’re feeling better 🙁

[Kirsten]

Hello, cardsharks!

I like to do a weekly check-in on Fridays; here's the first!

Completions When you finish a book, please either put it on the spreadsheet Lisa created (it's easy to fill out and makes things really easy for us) or post a completion here. Spreadsheet link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Your Name Completion
BOOK:
PAGES:
COMPLETION DATE:
EVERY CARD IT FITS (colors, special cards, numbers, letters):
We'll be moving cards around to maximize the number of hands we complete, so we need as much info as you can give us.

Shelves When you finish a book, please be sure you've marked it read with a date and put it on your dedicated Uno shelf. On Fridays, I'll check shelves on the spreadsheet. And, if you read a 100+ page book, please include it for Uno. At this point in the month, pretty much everything will count. If you read it, let us count it!

We've read about 25% of your regular monthly books so far, but the mini challenge (a way to earn more points for what we read) will start next week, so keep reading and keep logging.

And now, the fun part--what did you read this week? What did you love? Did you read any stinkers?
I'm a theatre professor and taught the play August: Osage County for the first time--it was pretty good. The Bell in the Fog was my best read of the week--it's a San Francisco noir set in the 1950s, and the second in a series. The first was pretty good, but this one was excellent.

Happy reading!

[Kat]

I’ve filled details in for

Have a Nice Guilt Trip

Also finished


The Chain by Adrian McKinty
Pages: 393
Date read: 6.2.24
Justification: Not sure?

[Rebecca]

I’ve read The Chain, does that classify it for a reverse?

[Kirsten]

Rebecca wrote: "I’ve read The Chain, does that classify it for a reverse?"

Yes! Thank you.
And from the description also skip (character Klein) plus zero (standalone) and 3 (T title)

[MN Lisa]

Rebecca wrote: "I’ve read The Chain, does that classify it for a reverse?"

Do you remember when you read it? Even a year would be good.

[Kat]

A Soupçon of Poison: Kat Holloway Victorian Mysteries by Jennifer Ashley
Pages: 127 (My edition said 100)
Date read: 11.02.24
Justification: Not sure

[Rebecca]

Two years ago today according to Goodreads! February 2022.

[MN Lisa]

Rebecca wrote: "Two years ago today according to Goodreads! February 2022."

Well, that's pretty cool. :)

[Kirsten]

If you are using completion posts rather than the spreadsheet, we really do need you to indicate where and how each book can be used. Lisa and I cannot do this for you--that would mean reading every book you read. One of my GR buddies who is playing on another team never does the spreadsheet and I asked if I could use one of her posts as an example. You can follow it (she's made it pretty basic and that's fine for us):

WD4..3 Yellow
Summer Son
Anna Martin
205 pgs
3 feb
0 = standalone
3 = char Harrison
6 = title
8 = char Ellis
9 = setting New York

[Kirsten]

Hello again, cardsharks!

The mini-challenge will be announced 14 February. I've got a reminder (and on our February post of what our basic cards are worth. Please count all your books and count all the ways they fit.

Happy reading!

Card Values
0: Z or standalone or zero in title
1: O or 1st in series or 1 in title
2: T or 2nd in series or 2 in title
3: H or 3rd in series or 3 in title
4: F or 4th in series or 4 in title
5: I or 5th in series or 5 in title
6: S or 6th in series or 6 in title
7: V or 7th in series or 7 in title
8: E or 8th in series or 8 in title
9: N or 9th in series or 9 in title
Skip: K or P
Reverse: read by a teammate

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "If you are using completion posts rather than the spreadsheet, we really do need you to indicate where and how each book can be used. Lisa and I cannot do this for you--that would mean reading ever..."

I think this is aimed at me sorry I’ll do others in future

[Kirsten]

Aunt Entity Says...
It's February Mini Time!

Full information on the February Mini-Challenge is available here

The Mini-Challenge lets us count books we finish after 14 February for an extra 10 points, around the theme of Hidden Bars. We can earn up to 80 extra points!

Books need to fit these categories; we can read up to 5 books in each.
Find Your Way to the Hidden Bar
Direction in title (e.g. up, down, east, west etc.)
F I N D in the author's initials (only need one of these)
Cover Color must be >50% black
Cover Text must be black ONLY

Take a Seat; Enjoy Your Stay
Spirits (e.g., vodka, rum, gin, whiskey, tequila in text or title)
Mixers (e.g., soda water, tonic water, fruit juices in text or title)
Fruit (e.g., lemon, lime, cherries in text or title)
Herbs and Spices (e.g., mint leaves, basil, cinnamon sticks in text or title)

Lisa has modified the spreadsheet so that you can indicate what mini challenge categories your book fits, or you can tell us on your completion post. Happy Hunting, and ask if you have questions.

[Kirsten]

Kat wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "If you are using completion posts rather than the spreadsheet, we really do need you to indicate where and how each book can be used. Lisa and I cannot do this for you--that would m..."

It's a reminder for everyone, Kat. But thank you.

[Kat]

Would this count for black text ? The Cheerleaders

[Kirsten]

Kat wrote: "Would this count for black text ? The Cheerleaders"

definitely!

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "Kat wrote: "Would this count for black text ? The Cheerleaders"

definitely!"

I thought so but just wanted to check as it’s my current read which if I read the rules is allowed as long as finished after 14th? Is this mini until 29th?

[Melissa]

I’m struggling with my book. I didn’t realize there were robots in it. Not my cup of tea. I’m getting thru it tho so I’ll take a look and see if it fits for a mini.

[Kirsten]

Kat wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Kat wrote: "Would this count for black text ? The Cheerleaders"

definitely!"

I thought so but just wanted to check as it’s my current read which if I read the rule..."

Yes to both, Kat.

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "Kat wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Kat wrote: "Would this count for black text ? The Cheerleaders"

definitely!"

I thought so but just wanted to check as it’s my current read which if I r..."

Thank you

[Kat]

Can the word be within a word or in a series name? Like these two examples

The Pretending Plot this is the caught up in love series - up been direction

Or

Crazy Stupid Bromance up within stupid

[Kirsten]

Unfortunately, unless it’s specified that series count (and it hasn’t been yet), we can’t use that. And it does just need to be the word alone.

I read Crazy StupidBromance ages ago and liked it.

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "Unfortunately, unless it’s specified that series count (and it hasn’t been yet), we can’t use that. And it does just need to be the word alone.

I read Crazy StupidBromance ages ago and liked it."

So up within the word counts ?

[Kirsten]

Sorry I wasn’t clear and I’m double-checking, but I am pretty sure it needs to be just the word.

ETA: It does need to be the whole word only. No words within words.

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "Sorry I wasn’t clear and I’m double-checking, but I am pretty sure it needs to be just the word.

ETA: It does need to be the whole word only. No words within words."

No worries thanks

[Kat]

I’ll take the book with black letters

[Kirsten]

Great! When you do your completion post, just be sure to indicate that along with everything else. We need 5 in each category, so there will be plenty to go around.

[Kat]

Kirsten wrote: "Great! When you do your completion post, just be sure to indicate that along with everything else. We need 5 in each category, so there will be plenty to go around."

No worries :) thought was one haha

[Kirsten]

Hi, Team!

I've got just a quick check-in today--I am traveling with my daughter today-Monday, so I won't be around much. We're doing swell with completions--we're just over half done and just over halfway through the month.

This week I read Crushed Ice, an MM hockrom (pretty much my favorite thing to read) and finished out Gregory Ashe's brilliant Borealis: Without a Compass series, so it was a good week for me.

How did you do? Any favorites?

Have a great week!