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R15: SSS Team 3 - The LIP Readers
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Lanelle, Production Chief
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Mar 31, 2024 06:54PM
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Week: 7 - Sunday Roll
Spot: 48
Book: The Grand Babylon Hotel
Pages: I read the ebook; it has 281 pages
Read: 4/2/24
Rating: ****
Task: Read a book with a title that begins with G.
How it fits: The title begins with G.
Review: What an awesome story. This would make a great movie. It has everything: a beautiful young lady, her wealthy father, an exotic setting, intrigue, danger, and, of course, a handsome prince. I wish the author had written a sequel or made this into a series. I would love to read more about this father/daughter team that was unstoppable.
Completion SpotWeek 7/sunday Roll
Spot 48
Book: Chosen
Author: Benedict Jacka
Pages: 294
Read: 4/4/24
How it fits: # 4 in the Alex Verus series
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This is one of my favorites in the series so far. This one is about Alex Verus past. His life is much better now ten years after escaping the dark wizard he was an apprentice for. He is more mature and he has some good friends in his life. When an adept connected to his past wants revenge on him he has to come clean to his friends about his past and try to find out what happened after he escaped. This one is exactly my cup of tea. I really like the character development of all characters, especially Alex. I like that the friends chose to support him and help him out. The action and pacing are very good as usual.
Team 3 - The LIP Readers / CompletionsWeek 7: Sunday
New Spot: 48
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Lanelle https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Completion / Week 7: Sunday / New Spot: 48The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley
Read 4/4
Qualification: 4th in series
4 stars
Pages: 702
Review:
This is a great series. I love how it blends the story of this sister with the history of her ancestors. I also love that it focuses on the arts. This is the story of CeCe, who is the representative of Art, and Kitty, the clue to her past. I really didn’t like CeCe at all in The Shadow Sister, so I wasn’t really excited to read this. But the author definitely did CeCe justice, and I grew to love her throughout this long, but strangely easy and quick read. I’m looking forward to continuing this series.
Team 3 ~ The LIP Readers ~ RollWeek: 8 - Thursday
Previous Space: 48
Roll: 4
New Space: 52
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Space 5252nd in series
2nd in series
5th in series
52. Cover Item: Food/Drink
Books due: Sunday 4/7
Mod
Tomorrow I'm driving from Phoenix, Arizona up to Salt Lake City, Utah. 13 hour trip. Perfect for an audiobook. I'll be listening to
for the alternate: Food/Drink on the cover.
Mod
Week: 7 - Thursday Roll
Spot: 52
Book:
Pages: I listened to the audiobook; the default edition has 160 pages
Read: 4/5/24
Rating: ****
Task: Read a book with food/drink on the cover.
How it fits: The cover has food on the cover.
Review: This is a marvelous story. And other people think the same because it won the Newbery nominee in 2002. The main character is an unusual, simple, direct, and awesome girl who believes what she believes with all her heart. And therefore she inspires everyone around her. An awesome person to be around. 5 STARS!
Completion Week: 7 - Thursday Roll / Spot: 52
An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
Read 4/6
Pages: 288
Qualification: 5th in Maisie Dobbs series
Rating 4 stars
Review:
I am still enjoying this series. Parts of this were sad and the mystery was a good one. I guessed part but not all of it. I don’t want to give anything away, but I hope the person who was most hurt by all of it will move on and be happy. Another good installment of the Maisie Dobbs series!!
Team 3 - The LIP Readers / CompletionsWeek 7: Thursday
New Spot: 52
✅✅ Ira: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Lanelle: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Completion PostWeek 7/Thursday Roll
Spot 52
Book: Castle in the Air
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Date read: 7/4/24
How it fits: # 2 in the Howl's Moving Castle Series
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This is more of a companion novel to Howl's Moving Castle where Sophie and Howl makes an appearance. This is more inspired by Arabian nights, with the setting and the creatures. The jinni and the flying carpet are characters that are interestig and the twist about their real identity was very amusing. I liked the way Howl and Sophie are integrated into the story. I liked the main character and the side characters. I thought this was an exciting story and I was engaged all the way through. It was a little slow in the beginning, but it picked up after the character is forced to leave home.
Team 3 — The LIP ReadersWeek 8 — Sunday Roll
Previous Space: 52
Roll: 5
New Space: 57
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
New spot: 5757th in series
5th in series
7th in series
57. Book with a wedding in it
Books due Thursday, April 11th
Mod
Week: 8 - Sunday Roll
Spot: 57
Book: The View from Saturday
Pages: I listened to the audiobook; the default edition has 176 pages
Read: 4/9/24
Rating: ****
Task: Read a book with a wedding in it.
How it fits: There is a wedding in it (Grandpa Izzy marries Margaret).
Review: This is an... interesting book. It should be common, but there seems to be a hint of otherness to it. A hint of mysticism. With the small group of 6th graders naming themselves the Souls (do 11-year-olds even know that word?), and one of the fathers of the kids seeming to know everything, the story leans towards fantasy. But it's not. Just good writing.
Completion PostWeek 8/Sunday Roll
Spot 57
Book: Hidden
Author: Benedict Jacka
Pages: 336
Date read: 11/4/24
How it fits: #5 in the Alex Verus Series
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This is a long series and I seem to be reading one book a week during this game. This is partly strategy to have books for the higher rolls, and partly because I enjoy the series very much and I am curious. I this novel two of Alex's friends are not talking to him because of the events that happened in the last book, but when Anne that wants nothing to do with him disappears he is going to try and help her, because he is stubborn and loyal to his friends. In this book we learn a lot about Anne's backstory and understand he motivations better. Alex is also getting major character development and by the end of the book, the choices he makes are going to impact his life and the next books. I feel the books keeps getting better and I am really enjoying myself reading them.
Completion PostWeek 8/Sunday Roll / Spot 57
The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley
Read 4/11
Qualification: 5th in Seven Sisters series
Read 4/11
4 stars
742
Review:
This was another great chapter of the Seven Sisters series. I really liked Tiggy and enjoyed her love for animals. Lucia’s story was really interesting too, as I have always been drawn to flamenco 💃 dancers. The love stories were a bit less predictable in this one, which was nice. I love the cover and would have chosen this book for the cover alone!
Team 3 / The LIP Readers / Completion PostsWeek 8/Sunday Roll / Spot 57
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Lanelle https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Team 3 ~ The LIP Readers ~ RollWeek: 9 ~ Thursday
Previous Space: 57
Roll: 3
New Space: 60
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spot 6060th in series
6th in series
Stand-alone
60. Author 'L'
Books due Sunday, April 15th
Mod
Spot: 60
Book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Pages: I listened to the audiobook; the default edition has 206 pages
Read: 4/12/24
Rating: ****
Task: Read a book written by an author with an L name.
How it fits: The book was written by C.S. Lewis
Review: I am always amazed when I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. There's so much complexity, nuance, and world building in it. And it's meant for children! Definitely the sign of a classic.
Week: 9 - Thursday RollSpot: 60
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Read 4/14
Qualification: 6th in Rizzoli & Isles series
4.5 stars
Pages: 368
Review
I love this series. #6 was excellent and actually quite scary. I probably wouldn’t read this at nighttime, alone. The dark arts, Satan, curses and revenge have always kind of scared me, and this was all about that. I’d say 8 on the creepy, scary scale — with the Exorcist being 10. This was a total page-turner and the Maura/Daniel storyline was interesting. I thought Jane’s reaction to it all was very realistic. Well done!
Team 3 / The LIP Readers / Completion PostsWeek 9/ Thursday Roll / Spot 60
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Lanelle https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Completion Post Week 9/Thursday Roll
Spot 60
Book: A Song for a New Day
Author: Sarah Pinsker
Date read: 14/4/24
How it fits: Standalone
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
I have mixed feelings about this one. The premise is very interesting. The United States are going into lockdown after several bombings and a virus has caused a lot of deaths. Anti-congregation laws are established, schools and businesses are closed, and the people are encouraged to stay at home and avoid contact with others. The book is told froom two different point of views. Luce that is experiencing the lockdowns happenning and Rosemary Laws that lives several years later and lives the aftermath, where everything happens online and people barely leave their home. This one hits a bit too close to home. Ten years ago we would have laughed it off as totaly unrealistic, but now it is too realistic because we were so close to having that future. Although I thought the book was well written and I thought the implementation of music was good, the whole setting made me enjoy the book less than I would have pre-pandemic.
Team 3 ~ The LIP Readers ~ RollWeek: 9 ~ Sunday
Previous Space: 60
Roll: 6
New Space: 66
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Yay!You rolled 1 die:
6
Timestamp: 2024-04-15 03:02:47 UTC
Mod
Lanelle wrote: "Very nice roll, Patti!"Yay, right!?! 😁😁
This one is hard, Lanelle — do you want me to use a bonus and move to 67?66. Published between 1950 and 1999
Ok -- we are going to save the bonuses for when it's harder with 7, 8, 9Posting our spot! :)
Mod
No. I'm good with 66. Finding a book published between 1950-1999 is easy.
Mod
Spot: 66
Book: Real Murders
Pages: I read the ebook; it has 209 pages
Read: 4/17/24
Rating: ****
Task: Read a book published between 1950-1999.
How it fits: The book was first published in 1990.
Review: This is one of the easiest cozy mysteries I've ever read. This is not the first time I've read this book, but I remember that I had no trouble getting to know the various characters. They were introduced quickly but with plenty of information and I didn't get confused. I do wonder if this is how people are in the American South though.
Week: 9 - Sunday RollSpot: 66
The Sun Sister by Lucinda Riley
Read 4/18
Qualification: 6th in Seven Sisters series
Pages: 848
Rating 4 stars
Review:
Oddly enough, this was one of my favorites. I thought Electra was interesting because she was so flawed. I’m enjoying this series, but these are really long books; if I wasn’t reading the series for a challenge I definitely would have spread them out — or even stopped reading because of the length. I’m glad I didn’t stop because I really liked The Sun Sister.
Team 3 / The LIP Readers / Completion PostsWeek 9/ Sunday Roll / Spot 66
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Lanelle https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Completion PostWeek 9/ Sunday Roll / Spot 66
Book: Veiled
Author: Benedict Jacka
Pages: 296
Date read: 18/4/24
How it fit: #6 in the Alex Verus series
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I continue to enjoy the series and the direction it is going. In this book Alex Verus joins the keepers in order to keep his friends safe from Richard and maybe gain some new aliances. As usual he ends up in a lot of trouble and way over his head. The other keepers don't trust him and he doesn't trust them, but he has to work with them. Alex is not used to working in a team and is kind of and expert in malicious compliance, obeing the letter of a command but not the spirit of it. I really don't know how long he is going to last there, it is a miracle he got through his probational period and get offered the job in the end. As far as aliances go, I think he made a couple, but I think the people that don't like him multiplied. I liked the new characters that are introduced, and the old ones are really good. I am looking forward for the next book.
Mod
Rolling now. Sorry I didn’t do it last night. I ended up being busy.
Team 3 ~ The LIP Readers ~ RollWeek: 9 ~ Sunday
Previous Space: 66
Roll: 5
New Space: 71
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spot 711st in series
7th in series
Stand alone
71. Oceania
Mod
I'm going to read The Pirate. The book is set on a fictional island in the South Seas. Wikipedia says that the "...term South Sea may also be used synonymously for Oceania..."
Mod
Spot: 71
Book: The Pirate
Pages: I read the ebook; it has 197 pages
Read: 4/20/24
Rating: ***
Task: Read a book set in Oceania.
How it fits: The story is set on a fictional island in Oceania.
Review: I honestly don't know how to review this book. It earns a solid 3 stars, but there was so much I didn't care for. Too much insta-lust. Too much arrogance in the male MC. Too much coincidence. But still a 3 stars rating. Weird.
Completion PostWeek: 10 - Sunday Roll
Spot: 71
Book: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
Author: Douglas Adams
Pages: 306
Date read: 21/4/24
How it fits: #1 in the Dirk Gentry Series
Rating: 3,5 stars
Review:
This one is difficult to explain. Did it meet my expectations? To an extent yes. Having read the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I expected it to be absurd and fun. And that it was. It was also confusing at times and had many interesting ideas. The story starts with a murder and we try to figure out who is the murder. After that there isn't much plot and the story meanders from one point to the other till it all conects in the most absurd way in the end. I tend to like those sorts of stories, but I get the humor and the storytelling is not for everyone. I think the Hitchikher's Guide to the Galaxy is better and I get why Douglas Adams is most famous for that one, but this book was a fun ride.
Completion PostWeek: 10 - Sunday Roll / Spot: 71
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
Read 4/21
Pages: 270
Qualification: 1st in series
4 stars
Review
This series has been on my TBR for quite some time and I’m glad I finally got around to reading it. The writing is good and the mystery kept me entertained. I thought it might be dry, but it wasn’t. I will definitely continue with this series.
Team 3 / The LIP Readers / Completion PostsWeek 10/ Thursday Roll / Spot 71
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Lanelle https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Team 3 ~ The LIP Readers ~ RollWeek: 10 ~ Sunday
Previous Space: 71
Roll: 1
New Space: 72
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spot 7272nd in series
7th in series
2nd in series
72. Romance
Books due Thursday, 4/25
The Challenge Factory
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