Hooked on Books discussion
Toys/Objects Roundup
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C: The Cursed Jacks
I like this big book, but I'm finding I can only do some at a time, vs binge it. I like some Historical Fiction, but they do tend to be a lot of work for me! Definitely not my norm, although this month it's starting to feel like it!Anyway... I don't think I'll finish until Thursday.
Thanks Jessica for doing an extra one & checking us in! I still have that big book going. We'll see if I can use it or not for the next toy/object.
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.
Mod
I'm not sure what is going on. In the mean time, Each person should roll the D12 dice 3 times. Should be in the lower left hand side of the screen.
Once you’ve rolled the dice, 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
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5. Sci-Fi Throttle – Read a book tagged as science fiction.
7. Stuck in 2005 – Read a book published in 2005 or with all digits 2, 0, 0, 5 in the publication date.
Use the text not the image for the task. It should be 2005 in the Publication Date
8. Black Hole Detected – Read a book that’s emotionally heavy or slow-burning.
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4. Alien Interference – Read a book with aliens, cryptids, or non-human entities.
9. Asteroid Hitchhiker – Read a book where someone unexpectedly joins a journey/group.
12. Final Turn: System Reset – Read a book where someone starts over or gets a second chance.
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2. Rogue Robot – Read a book with a robot, AI, or harmful machine.
6. Hologram Glitch – Read a book with a deceptive cover, twist, or hidden identity.
7. Stuck in 2005 – Read a book published in 2005 or with all digits 2, 0, 0, 5 in the publication date.
Use the text not the image for the task. It should be 2005 in the Publication Date
Ohhhh boy. So, are we all hitting Belle's rule with this one even though we don't need it for a mini-game? 🤣
woohoo! Finally finished my big book. Both my other ones picked for this round are new starts. I'll start the non Sci-Fi book this afternoon. Also, I found a back-up book if the sci-fi book is a bust for me.
First book done! Starting Wizard of Oz. its only 4 hrs so should be quick. My eye read will definitely take longer.
I hated my sci-fi book. DNF'd. Started a new one. Hope this one is better!
danielle wrote: "I hated my sci-fi book. DNF'd. Started a new one. Hope this one is better!"Good Luck!
Finished my books.. Danielle, I hope your book was better for you! Good job, team... lets go!!!
Mod
Robert the Doll is one of the most infamous real-life haunted objects in the world. Currently housed in the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, Robert has terrified visitors and inspired countless legends of curses and paranormal activity.
The doll stands about three feet tall, stuffed with wood wool, and is dressed in a sailor suit (reportedly one that belonged to its original owner). His face is worn and unsettling, with beady black eyes and a faint, sinister smile. He once held a toy dog in his lap, adding to his eerie, childlike presence.
Robert originally belonged to a young boy named Robert Eugene Otto in the early 1900s. Legend has it that the doll was given to him by a disgruntled servant skilled in voodoo, and that strange things began happening soon after: objects moved, voices were heard, and young Eugene blamed the doll for everything, insisting “Robert did it.”
Over time, stories of Robert's malevolence grew. Visitors to the museum claim cameras malfunction near him, and that bad luck (injuries, accidents, and job loss) follows those who mock or photograph him without permission. The museum displays letters from people who wrote to apologize after disrespecting the doll.
Whether seen as a cursed object or just a creepy antique, Robert the Doll continues to fascinate and frighten, blurring the line between myth and reality.
Dressed in a sailor suit with beady black eyes and a faint smirk, Robert the Doll might look like a forgotten toy from a dusty attic—but legends say he’s far from innocent. He’s been blamed for mischief, madness, and full-on curses for over a century. Mock him, and your luck may not recover.
Now Robert’s out of his case, and we need your help to contain him—politely, of course.
Complete the following tasks:
Salt in the Seams
That sailor suit isn’t just for show.
Read a chain of 3 books with a maritime or nautical theme—ships, sailors, sea curses, coastal towns, or anything that smells like salt and secrets.
Sunshine and Spirits
Even paradise has ghosts.
Read a chain of 3 books set in Florida—or in warm, tropical places with eerie undertones.
Don’t Look Away
He hasn’t blinked in over a hundred years.
Read a chain of 3 books where the cover includes at least one visible eye—bonus if it’s staring directly at you.
You’ll know it when you see it. Trust me.
Ugh I finished a book taking place in Florida yesterday!!!! stupid due dates!!!
Jessica wrote: "Ugh I finished a book taking place in Florida yesterday!!!! stupid due dates!!!"Ouch!
I was going to take a break after finishing 2 of mine (both short), but I think I’m just going to start my 3rd. Then I’ll have a few days to catch up in some other challenges!
I'm hesitant to finish a book before next round since the last one i did was set in Florida!!! Who knows what other obscure prompt i will accidently read.
Jessica wrote: "I'm hesitant to finish a book before next round since the last one i did was set in Florida!!! Who knows what other obscure prompt i will accidently read."LOL ... what are the odds? I had to WORK to find 2 of mine! Only one was on my tbr for this month!
I had to hunt for another Florida book!
Mod
In this eerie tale, a woman named Elaine purchases an antique dollhouse from a mysterious store. The dollhouse is exquisitely detailed(an exact replica of a Victorian home) and comes complete with tiny, delicate furnishings and dolls posed within.
As Elaine brings it into her home, she begins to notice unsettling phenomena: the dolls shift positions on their own, rooms in the dollhouse rearrange themselves, and events inside the miniature house eerily mirror or even predict occurrences in her real life.
The boundary between the dollhouse and reality begins to blur. It becomes clear that the dollhouse isn’t just a toy, it’s a supernatural force, observing, controlling, or even reshaping Elaine’s fate.
This episode stands out as one of The Twilight Zone’s chilling modern-era entries into the haunted object subgenre, tapping into primal fears of losing control over one’s own world.
Complete the following tasks:
🪞2. Double Trouble
Read a chain of 3 books with dual POVs or two timelines. Reality doesn’t like to be alone.
🏠5. Haunted Home Vibes
Read a chain of 3 books with a house on the cover or in the title. Bonus if it's slightly too perfect.
🔤6. The Word “Doll” Appears
Read a chain of 3 books where the word “doll” shows up — in the title, series name, author name, or anywhere in the text.
Finished my first two. Was bummed that I had a BR for one of them, but it didn't work. It had flashbacks, not dual timeline. And it had more than 2 POVs. 😔But, I'm working on my 3rd now and will have it finished tomorrow at some point.
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:
🧵1. Spin of Fate
Read a chain of 3 books where a character is cursed — magically, emotionally, romantically, whatever. If it messes with their destiny, it counts.
🧙♀️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.
🔠5. Spell the Word SPIN
Spell SPIN with the Title/Series/Subtitle
(Ex: “Shadow Poison” by Isla North)
Mod
The Jumanji board game is a mysterious and magical game that serves as the central catalyst for adventure and chaos in the Jumanji films and original picture book by Chris Van Allsburg.
At first glance, Jumanji appears to be an antique, beautifully crafted wooden board game with ornate carvings, a central green-glowing dome, and sliding animal totems as game pieces. Its tagline warns players:
“A game for those who seek to find, a way to leave their world behind.”
But Jumanji is no ordinary game. Once the first dice are rolled, it unleashes real-world consequences based on each move: stampeding animals, violent weather, quicksand, giant insects, jungle vines, and other perilous phenomena spill into reality, threatening both players and their surroundings. The game cannot be paused or stopped, only completed. The only way to end the chaos is for someone to reach the final space and yell, "Jumanji!"
The game possesses a dark sentience, pulling players into its world (or bringing its world to them), and has a reputation for lying in wait, ready to tempt the next curious soul. Equal parts thrilling and dangerous, the Jumanji board game is as much a test of courage and friendship as it is of survival.
Roll to Survive
You didn’t mean to open it.
It looked old, maybe even beautiful—carved wood, green-glowing center, and that line etched across the top:
“A game for those who seek to find, a way to leave their world behind.”
Now the room is shaking.
There are vines in your bookshelf.
And something is watching from the ceiling.
You have three rolls to make it out alive.
You cannot skip your turn.
You must finish the game.
You don’t win. You survive.
🎲 How to Play:
The dice are in your hands, but make no mistake—the game is in control.
Roll two six-sided dice (2d6) three times.
Each roll will give you a number from 2 to 12.
https://www.online-stopwatch.com/chan...#
For every number you roll, the board will unleash one challenge.
You must complete three tasks total—one per roll.
You may not skip. You may not reroll. The board does not care for hesitation.
When you're ready to begin, post in the Occult Museum (Check-In Thread) with:
Your Team Name
Your three rolls
A link to your team’s tracking spreadsheet
Once you've declared your fate, the jungle listens.
The vines creep. The drums beat.
And the game... begins.
Mod
It always chooses what you hate most.
Read a book that includes your least favorite trope or genre. Suffer, sweetly.
5 – Eyes in the Trees
Don’t look up.
Read a book where someone is being hunted, followed, or watched.
6 – Do Not Split the Party
Alone = dead.
Read a book featuring a group or team, especially one with internal tension, betrayal, or secrets.
I should finish my book today. Just have a bit more than 2 hours left!
Mod
Annabelle is inspired by a true story about a doll believed to be haunted by the spirit of a young girl. In 1970, a student and her roommate reported that their Raggedy Ann doll, the real Annabelle doll the movie is based on (pictured on the right), was acting strangely. A medium told them the doll was inhabited by the spirit of Annabelle Higgins. Despite their attempts to care for the doll, they couldn’t control its behavior and eventually sought help from Ed and Lorraine Warren, famous demonologists. The Warrens concluded that an unnatural entity was manipulating the doll. They took the doll and secured it in their museum, protected by sigils and wards. While the Warrens documented several instances of unusual activity, including the doll seemingly moving on its own, there is no proof it has ever caused physical harm or death.
The movie Annabelle draws heavily from this story, but is a fictionalized version. Still, the doll in the film (pictured above on the left) is undeniably creepy.
Complete the following tasks
Step 1: Purify the space & spirit by burning sage
Read a chain of 3 books that start with a letter in SAGE
Step 2: Choose the materials for your wards
Read a chain of 3 books with your ward material chosen on the cover (the team must choose from plants, stones, metal, or crystal, but you will all read for the same material)
Step 3: Put your ward items at the 4 corners of your area (around Annabelle). Draw your sigils/symbols in oil or water, encircling your space with a defensive boundary. It's all about intention.
Read a chain of 3 books that have the word SYMBOL in the text
fyi... I'm starting my 3rd book. But it's longer so will take me a bit longer.
update: I should be done with book 3 in a couple hours or so!UPDATED: my 3 are done!
Mod
Oh, my poor, poor Cursed Jacks… Did you think my Cabinet of Notices was optional? Did you imagine you could simply skip over my words and still escape unscathed?
I see you. I know who turned their eyes away. My notices are not idle scribbles on parchment—they are warnings, rules, and whispers meant to keep you from the worst of what waits in the shadows. Ignore them, and you invite the toys to choose for you.
Giggle if you must, but do not say Belle failed to warn you. Read the Cabinet. Obey the notices. Or else… the toys will ensure you never overlook them again.
Tick-tock, darlings. The Cabinet is still open. Do NOT make me warn you again.
Oh my.... Now I have anxiety! ... Teammies, what did we miss??
danielle wrote: "Oh my.... Now I have anxiety! ... Teammies, what did we miss??"I am looking! I have anxiety also!!
The only thing I can think of was the friend requests to Donna & Lisa. I just sent them. But I thought that was only if our account was set to private. But just in case it was my fault, I sent them!! I checked again, and we've been checking Belle's Rule for all the non mini-games, so I think we're ok there.
GAH!!! what did we miss???
danielle wrote: "The only thing I can think of was the friend requests to Donna & Lisa. I just sent them. But I thought that was only if our account was set to private. But just in case it was my fault, I sent them..."I was already friends with Lisa, sent Donna a friend request and she has accepted it.. I don't know what we are missing!
Mod
Her laugh lingers like a creak from a toy chest left ajar.
I am so sorry. I had Donna, but not Lisa. She asked to join my Main account and i gave access, but i just sent her a request for my smutty account
Jessica wrote: "I am so sorry. I had Donna, but not Lisa. She asked to join my Main account and i gave access, but i just sent her a request for my smutty account"Snicker at “smutty”
So i am now cursed. One of my books i was planning works for one of my curses. but i have to find another book now!
Jessica wrote: "So i am now cursed. One of my books i was planning works for one of my curses. but i have to find another book now!"I can grab the extra one. It’s not your Belle’s rule?
Jessica wrote: "Nope I still need to to that one"Ok, then yeah, I can grab it. I have one that works for it. Was my original choice until I found a longer one. And it leaves the plus catalog on 10/7, so good timing!
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book of Fire (other topics)A Thousand Splendid Suns (other topics)
The Wish Collector (other topics)
The Shell Seekers (other topics)
The Wish Collector (other topics)
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same. I finished my short one. Found one for chain 3 (Antiques). Will finish that one tonight for sure.
Then back to working on the chonky one!