Hooked on Books discussion
Toys/Objects Roundup
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C: Jack-in-the-Doom
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C
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Sep 21, 2025 08:57AM
Yeah. Sci-fi ends up like nonfiction for me. Some get read because I have to, but it's hopefully few and far between lol.
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I'm done with my 3 books. Let me know when you've finished yours!
I'm halfway through Murderbot. I thought I might finish tonight, but I think I should have quiet reading time with a different book lol. I am enjoying the dramatized version of these audiobooks. Tbh though, not totally enjoying this series; I would probably be dnfing without the audiobooks lol.
I'm done with all three. Posted in the BR thread for those points. Also, I set it at Tier 1 since y'all had, but I saw Beth had asked what Tier it was, so please update my line too if it's a higher tier.I have book 3 of Murderbot ready in case we need more. 😂 Still kinda meh for me, but I'm still interested, so riding that for all its worth lol.
Yay, here comes the next round of madness!
Mod
The Zathura board game is a mysterious, intergalactic counterpart to Jumanji, first introduced in the children’s book Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg and popularized by the 2005 film adaptation.
At first glance, Zathura looks like an old-fashioned, tin wind-up space-themed board game. Its box opens like a briefcase to reveal a retro-futuristic metal board adorned with rockets, stars, planets, and a winding track leading to a black hole. At the center is a wind-up key and a small slot that spits out cards with each turn, which announce new events in bold lettering—many of which immediately come to life.
But Zathura is no harmless game. Once started, it launches players and their house into outer space, forcing them to navigate meteor showers, rogue robots, gravity wells, and hostile aliens—all while drifting deeper into the unknown. The only way to survive and return home is to finish the game, no matter how dangerous the journey becomes.
Unlike Jumanji, which brings the jungle to Earth, Zathura takes the players away from Earth entirely. It is a test of bravery, teamwork, and resilience, wrapped in a perilous sci-fi adventure with real consequences. The game is unpredictable, relentless, and refuses to let go until it's over, making it a thrilling and dangerous ride through the cosmos.
🚀 ZATHURA: A Cosmic Reading Detour
A game for those who seek to leave their world behind…
You were just minding your own business, flipping pages, living your best bookish life—when suddenly, the board opened. The stars shifted. And now you’re orbiting a mysterious side quest with no way out… except through.
This is a mini-challenge within our main challenge, inspired by the intergalactic chaos of Zathura. You’ve been pulled into the game. And like the movie says: You have to finish.
🌌 Your Mission:
Each reader must:
- Click three numbers (1–12) on the Zathura Event Card deck.
- Read one book per card, completing the specific task listed.
Survive long enough to say “ZATHURA” and rejoin the main challenge.
Tasks are mysterious, spacey, weird, and sometimes… cruel. But you can handle it. Probably.
💀 Optional Chaos Mode:
Think you’re built for deep space?
Once you finish your 3 tasks, you may draw a 4th bonus card.
If you do… you must complete it. The game doesn't forgive curiosity.
🪐 Prepare for rogue robots, zero-g chaos, black holes, and maybe a stowaway or two. The galaxy doesn’t play fair.
Your adventure starts now.
Click to draw your first card… if you dare. 😈
https://www.online-stopwatch.com/rand...
Once you’ve drawn your cards, report to the Occult Museum (Check-In Thread) with:
Your Team Name/Your Name
The 3 numbers you pulled
A link to your team’s spreadsheet
The stars are watching. Good luck.
Godspeed, my friends!! (Although I want to find this movie!) Off to draw my cards and do my post!
Mod
2. Rogue Robot – Read a book with a robot, AI, or harmful machine.
4. Alien Interference – Read a book with aliens, cryptids, or non-human entities.
12. Final Turn: System Reset – Read a book where someone starts over or gets a second chance.
Mod
Well, looks like I'm reading the next two Murderbot books lol, unless I can do one and find a non-human entity in the horror book I want to read... I have no idea yet on the second chance book; I'm sure something must fit, but it's one of those "stumble into" scenarios, which I don't like especially for team challenges...
Fingers crossed for you, Beth! I found something that has a second chance romance theme, so hopefully that will work.
Hoping to get my assignments soon so I can plan what I'll be reading!
Did you get any of the same numbers I did? I assume they are tied to the numbers. It's a cool premise, but also dangerous since ... cryptids... 😳 At first I was like, shoot, I have to go get the Monster Hunter book back from the library lol, but non-human entity I think is broad enough for me to cope. 🤞
Nope I didn’t get any of your numbers but I don’t remember what mine were. I would think any paranormal being would count as nonhuman… vampires, werewolves, etc.
Yeah, also anthropomorphized entities, I'm thinking. But I haven't decided what I'll get into there, but there are definitely fantasy options. Worst case scenario, I read the next Dungeon Crawler Carl, since Princess Donut is a cat lol.
Well, if you're named Princess Donut, you might as well be a cat! 🤣
Lolol, tbh, that could be a human name lol. Like Princess Peach from Mario! 🤣 But she is an amazing cat! I just don't think y'all want me taking a week to read one book lol!
I got 1, 6 and 12C, we have 12 in common,
And Beth, we have 1 in common
I wonder what the tasks would be
Mod
1. Meteor Shower – Read a book where something falls (rain, ash, bodies, etc.).
5. Sci-Fi Throttle – Read a book tagged as science fiction.
8. Black Hole Detected – Read a book that’s emotionally heavy or slow-burning.
Mod
1. Meteor Shower – Read a book where something falls (rain, ash, bodies, etc.).
6. Hologram Glitch – Read a book with a deceptive cover, twist, or hidden identity.
12. Final Turn: System Reset – Read a book where someone starts over or gets a second chance.
Richard wrote: "hello, I am new in the group"Hi Richard! Welcome to the group! You’ve found yourself in a team thread for a quarterly challenge.
This is the best place for a new member to start. You’ll find basic info about the group and a place to introduce yourself.
Glad you’ve joined, and I’m sure you’ll find lots of fun challenges to play. Cheers!
MN Lisa wrote: "Beth1. Meteor Shower – Read a book where something falls (rain, ash, bodies, etc.).
5. Sci-Fi Throttle – Read a book tagged as science fiction.
8. Black Hole Detected – Read a book that’s emot..."
Looks like you're stuck with SciFi again , Beth 😂
Seems like SciFi has stuck to us
I think since this is a mini-game, we don't have to read the uncomfortable book, but I think we're all kinda there anyway lol. :D
Ooh, I'm gonna see if some indie books will work for mine. They're set in space, but I'm not sure what's in them. So will either work or I'm back to Murderbot lol.
Yeah, I'm kind of getting tired of the continual sci fi prompts. But we proceed, yes?
Are y'all reading Murderbot 3 this round? I was gonna save it since I have an AI book that I can swap in instead, but I don't want to get out of sync with the buddy reads.
C wrote: "Are y'all reading Murderbot 3 this round? I was gonna save it since I have an AI book that I can swap in instead, but I don't want to get out of sync with the buddy reads."I wasn't planning to.. but if it's a Buddy Read, I can switch out one of my books
Yep, I can do a Buddy Read on this one. It's only 158 pages. Book 4 is 172, but Book 5 balloons up to 352!I've put in a request for the IBR.
Do you think it's gonna be okay if y'all read it this week and I read it next week? Assuming it will fit, but let's face it: how will it not? I've already started my AI book. :X
Can I just say that this AI book has me internally screaming that this is why techies don't have smart homes... 😳😱
Done with my reads. That was horrifying. 😳
I'm good to hold off on Murderbot 3. I've got my sci-fi read for this round.Also, here's for this group's buddy reads, so if any of these books fit in with any prompts we get, any of us can just join in whichever.
I've got us checked in; our spin was 18. Let's see what we get!
Wow, that's a lot of buddy reads. Most I'm not familiar with, but I don't read witchy or occult books. Not my vibe.
I am biting my nails down waiting for next tasks! I'm like anxious excited lol, because the tasks can be 😱 but I'm so curious!!! 😝
Mod
The Dybbuk Box is a haunted object rooted in Jewish folklore and urban legend, a wine cabinet said to be possessed by a dybbuk, a malicious spirit of a dead person that clings to the living to cause torment.
The legend of the Dybbuk Box gained notoriety in the early 2000s, when a man auctioned it online, claiming it was responsible for a string of terrifying events: nightmares, unexplained illnesses, and paranormal disturbances. According to the story, the box had been brought from Europe by a Holocaust survivor and sealed with objects meant to trap the dybbuk inside, items like locks of hair, dried flowers, and a wine goblet.
Small and unassuming on the outside, the Dybbuk Box is a vessel of fear and spiritual unrest, said to carry a curse that follows whoever owns or opens it. Whether viewed as a psychological artifact, a cultural cautionary tale, or a genuinely supernatural object, it remains a modern legend that taps into age-old fears of unseen forces, spiritual possession, and the danger of disturbing what should remain sealed.
Complete the following tasks
📦1. Open the Box (If You Dare)
Read a chain of 3 books that you’ve been avoiding — one that intimidates you, unsettles you, or just gives you bad vibes. Bonus points if you’ve started and abandoned it before. It’s been waiting.
✡️3. Bound by Tradition
Read a chain of 3 books by a Jewish author or featuring Jewish characters/themes. This honors the folklore roots of the Dybbuk legend and invites a deeper engagement with cultural context.
💬5. Do You Hear That?
Read a chain of 3 books where the narration is unreliable, or the character hears voices, sees things, or isn’t sure what’s real. The Dybbuk loves a mind it can unravel.
Not sure Murderbot 3 would work for any of these for me. I'm reading an intimidating book already, but we won't get bonus points. Tbh, there's only one book I've tried and abandoned in recent memory, and I own it and I have too many library books to read, so no bonus points for me.I have a couple books that I can check for unreliable narrator or paranormal, so that should be fine.
I'm kinda stuck on Jewish though... I'm gonna throw my current reads into ChatGPT and ask if any of the authors are Jewish, because I have no idea how I would even find something for that.
I found a Jewish author: Elyssa Friedland. In case either of you are looking. :)
Surprisingly, the book I'm reading Unraveling Oliver, talks about a family helping Jews during the War. And names 2 Jew characters who passed away. Pretty heavy stuff, but this book lightly passes over it as the story like follows something else
Yeah, not to be flippant, but I would imagine anything Holocaust related would qualify as being about Jewish characters/themes. As for Jewish authors, there's a Goodreads list for that. 😉
Yeah, I was thinking anything Holocaust as well, but oh gosh that's heavy...
How are we doing with our books for this round? Let me know when you're done, and I'll get the completion post made. 👍
I'm still working on my first book. Is everyone else done? 😱 I'm just past halfway on the first book, and then I'm gonna read the second. I think there's something that will work for a third book, but not totally sure. :X
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Power of Myth (other topics)Unraveling Oliver (other topics)
All Systems Red (other topics)
All the Light We Cannot See (other topics)
Becoming Mrs. Lewis (other topics)
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