Hooked on Books discussion
Toys/Objects Roundup
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C: The Marionette Mob
I was confused so I just found a book that's 150 pages. May find one with a higher page count with the updated info thanks to you guys posting in Q&A.
That makes it a lot easier with only needing 2 numbers in the page count. I can use the book I finished yesterday instead
I still need to find something that's over 300 pages if possible, but yes, it's a lot easier now. Whew!
I'm struggling with my last one and I can't figure out why I'm finding it so hard to finish. Sorry guys. I've been looking for another one as I continue to read this one.
I'd offer to take it but it is your Belle's rule one
My rough home life should hopefully end tomorrow night when my roommate leaves. I haven't been able to read much. but I'm well into my book and I'll have it done in a few hours.
Shan ~A~ wrote: "We're checked in"Thanks Shan
Thanks, Shan! I'm eagerly yet warily awaiting our next 
Mod
An ancient, cursed spinning wheel with an eerie, hypnotic rhythm that draws in anyone who comes near. When touched or used, it traps the user’s soul within a never-ending dreamscape, a labyrinth of shadows and illusions spun from the witch’s dark magic.
The spindle’s fibers weave nightmares that feel impossibly real, imprisoning the victim’s spirit in a realm between sleep and waking. Time becomes twisted, and escape is nearly impossible without breaking the curse. Meanwhile, the body remains motionless in the real world, lost in the spindle’s sinister dream web.
This spinning wheel is both a tool of fate and imprisonment, a symbol of a witch’s power to control destiny and trap souls in eternal slumber.
Complete the following tasks:
🧙♀️3. The Witch Is the Main Character
Read a chain of 3 books where the main character is a witch or warlock — potion brewers, dark seers, or charming hexers all welcome.
✨4. MPG: Magic
Read a chain of 3 books listed under Magic as a Main Page Genre. If there’s spellwork, enchantment, or magical training — you’re in.
📏6. Tiny but Tangled
Read a chain of 3 books that’s under 300 pages — a short, intense dream that pulls you under quickly. Bonus if it’s a little weird or lyrical.
I've finished my books, if anyone wants me to take an extra one
You can take my Witch. I've had food poisoning and have been sleeping the last day. I'm halfway through with Starcrossed.
Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "You can take my Witch. I've had food poisoning and have been sleeping the last day. I'm halfway through with Starcrossed."Done
I'll hopefully be done with both of mine today. I'm finishing the magic one first.
Almost done. I got caught up in setting up for another challenge I'm captaining.
I finished and checked us in. The Wheel gave us a 2.
Mod
Chucky, the infamous doll from the Child’s Play horror franchise, is a seemingly harmless “Good Guy” toy possessed by the soul of notorious serial killer Charles Lee Ray. Using a voodoo ritual to escape death, Ray transfers his soul into the doll’s body, giving Chucky life and a terrifying agenda.
With his red hair, striped shirt, and overalls, Chucky looks like an ordinary children’s toy, at least until he starts speaking in his gruff, menacing voice, wielding knives, and launching brutal attacks. Known for his twisted humor, foul mouth, and violent streak, Chucky has become one of horror’s most iconic villains, blending childlike innocence with psychotic rage.
He first appeared in Child’s Play (1988) and has since starred in multiple sequels, a reboot, and a TV series, gaining a cult following and solidifying his place as the ultimate killer doll.
Complete the following tasks
Step 1: Destroy the doll completely
Read a chain of 3 books where something is destroyed
Step 2: Break the voodoo spell and banish the spirit
Read a chain of 3 books with VOODOO in the text
Read a chain of 3 books where something or someone is banished
Mod
Mod
The Monkey is based on a 1980 horror short story written by Stephen King. The wind-up monkey has cymbals in the book and a drum in the 2025 movie. The story follows Hal Shelburn, whose son discovers the monkey. The monkey's actions seem to trigger tragedies.
To catch the Monkey
Read a book with a monkey on the cover
Read a book published in 1980
Read a book with tagged horror
I would like tagged horror for Bonus if you guys don't mind. If not 1980
Which would you prefer Kelly? Don't forget that the bonus tasks don't have to follow Belle's rule.
I'll take monkey on cover, if you particularly want it Kelly, I will change but I'll start reading.
I'll take 1980. I'm sure I'll find something. Monkey on the cover would be hard so thanks for taking it!
Suggestions on how to find books that fit the banished task?
Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "Suggestions on how to find books that fit the banished task?"That is a hard one as often you don't know until you read a book. I was just lucky that one of the books I was reading fit. I think a lot of the paranormal books would fit. Sometimes the blurb will mention something. For hard to find books often I just randomly type the word or synonyms into the search engine and goodreads then spits out a selection.
I found one! I searched Google which directed me to a list they created of people who used banished as a keyword. Now I just need to find Voodoo. I'm going to read these three first and keep looking as I do.
Kelly, could you share your banished list?
I can't find the high fantasy list but here is what I looked at:General
"The 11 Top Urban Fantasy Books Featuring Exiled Characters":
https://bookraid.com/reader-blog/3138...
From Google AI:
Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside by Zappon: A popular light novel series where the main character is banished from the Hero's Party, leading to a new, quiet life.
Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock: A classic fantasy series featuring an exiled protagonist, Elric.
The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe: In this series, the main character, an apprentice torturer, is exiled.
The Frostborn by Jonathan Moeller: The disgraced and exiled knight of the Order of the Soulblades seeks to uncover the truth behind a terrible threat to the realm.
Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay: Features multiple POV characters who are banished and later meet.
Failure Frame by Kazuki Kanzaki: A light novel where the protagonist is banished and left for dead by his classmates after they are transported to another world.
Literary Fiction
The Halfway House by Guillermo Rosales: A story about a young Cuban exile who is abandoned by his family in a run-down home for the mentally ill in Miami.
The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat: Explores how exile allows for the escape from past lives, yet also the eventual confrontation with them in unexpected ways.
The Complete Works of Primo Levi by Primo Levi: A collection of essays and other works by the Italian scientist and writer, who was a prisoner of the Nazis and later lived in exile.
Goodreads automatic list from people tagging things banished and exiled:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Also Circe by Madeline Miller which was my second choice. It sounds good to me. So it didn't fit my outside comfort zone.
Sure. Hope you find something. Now if they only had a list of books that have the word voodoo. :)
I am done so let me know if you need me to take any extra
I have an hour left on City Primeval--oh I hate it--but I still have two left. You could take my voodoo book if you're willing. If not, the other is fine. My shifter book is just shorter and I have so much to read and I'm preparing for my hearing next week that I'm a little stressed out.
Awesome, thanks!At least I am able to read three books this time out of the four tasks.
Why did we get a special task?
Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "Awesome, thanks!At least I am able to read three books this time out of the four tasks.
Why did we get a special task?"
No reason, just happens every now and then
Shan, since you have two left and one is insanely long, can Anastasia take one for you? I finished mine. It wasn't good but it wasn't as terrible as my Monkey book.
I am off to a puzzle race competition today and have another tomorrow online so won't be able to get much reading done. Shan is usually quite fast so will likely get hers done soon
I should be done with both books tonight if nothing happens.
Oh, okay, great. I used to consider myself a fast reader at a book a day. I now think I'm a snail. :)
Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "Oh, okay, great. I used to consider myself a fast reader at a book a day. I now think I'm a snail. :)"I think it depends on the book. If it is good you want to take your time and enjoy it, but if terrible then you just want to rush and have it end. I tend to rush the competition ones just to keep us in the running. You are doing great Kelly.
Thank you. I'm just in awe of you folks!
Shan ~A~ wrote: "checked in"Thanks Shan
Mod
Talky Tina is the deceptively sweet yet sinister doll from "Living Doll," a classic episode of The Twilight Zone (Season 5, Episode 6, 1963).
At first glance, Talky Tina appears to be a typical mid-century talking doll: petite, with wide eyes, curly hair, and a soft voice. She recites charming phrases like "My name is Talky Tina, and I love you." But when she senses hostility, especially from the cruel stepfather, Erich, her messages take a chilling turn: "My name is Talky Tina, and I don’t like you," eventually escalating to "My name is Talky Tina... and I’m going to kill you."
Tina never moves on screen, adding to the unsettling atmosphere, but her eerie voice and growing malevolence create a mounting tension. She's never caught in the act, yet her influence leads to a deadly confrontation that blurs the line between inanimate object and vengeful force.
Talky Tina became one of The Twilight Zone's most iconic and haunting figures, a forerunner of killer doll horror and a reminder that even the most innocent toys can harbor dark intentions.
With her wide eyes, curly hair, and syrupy voice, Talky Tina looks like any other talking doll… at first. But her sweet phrases twist into ominous warnings, her presence grows more sinister, and her enemies always seem to meet mysterious ends.
She never moves. She never blinks. And yet somehow, she always gets what she wants.
Now Tina’s whispering threats again—and we need your help to shut her up for good.
Complete the following tasks:
Match the Hair, Not the Vibe
Tina had curls too—and absolutely no chill.
Read a chain of 3 books with main characters who have curly or wavy hair.
Someone Dies Before It Ends
She never moves. But people still end up dead.
Read a chain of 3 books where a murder happens during the course of the story—not just in the past.
Hidden in the Name
Her name is in everything—you just didn’t notice.
Read a chain of 3 books that include all the letters of TINA in the title or subtitle (any order).
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Ritual (other topics)Wild Sign (other topics)
The Bones Beneath My Skin (other topics)
Better Homes and Hauntings (other topics)
The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Molly Harper (other topics)Madeline Miller (other topics)
Yangsze Choo (other topics)
All their examples are in order.
I found an Agatha Christie book I can use (pub in 1950) but I can't use it for anything else so I'd like to choose another book if I can.