Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

- What are you reading this week?

The Prince by Kiera Cass

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
I think the original trilogy was enough but since there was a lot of time beforehand, it makes sense to expand upon that.

- Have you read all the other books in the story?
I've read the first three books (the main story). She wrote what is essentially a spin-off series but I stopped that one after the first book.

- What are you reading this week?

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?

Oh yes, definitely. There is so much more information here that adds to the story and the events were mentioned many times in the main books. I especially loved learning more about the Three Eyed Crow.

- Have you read all the other books in the story?

This book is a compilation of three different novellas which I would hazard to give the numbers 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 - but there are also two more published novellas that I have not read. I have read the 5 (published) main books, with three of those having been part of this year's challenge.

- What are you reading this week? The Time Tutor

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
I read the other book in the series so long ago I don't remember what it is about but I did buy this book right away, thinking it was necessary

- Have you read all the other books in the story?
There's only one other book so far. And have been waiting a long long time for the next book!

- What are you reading this week?

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
Out of the Storm is the prequel to the other four Beacon of Hope books. My guess is that since the book is short (80 pages) and termed a novella, the publisher/author did not think that the book was worthy of a full number.
- Have you read all the other books in the story?
I have not but plan to. I am a lighthouse junkie, especially if the Great Lakes lighthouses are involved. Ms. Hedlund is an award winner and I look forward to her other Beacon of Hope books.

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What are you reading this week?

At the Reunion Buffet (Isabel Dalhousie, #10.5) by Alexander McCall Smith

Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
No, but it's a nice story featuring the philosophies of the main character Isabel Dalhousie.

Have you read all the other books in the story?
Most of them.

What are you reading this week?
Reading デート・ア・ライブ - アンコール / Date A Live - Encore (Date A Live 7.5)

Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
I think nice little side stories like this really add to the world by giving you a chance to hangout with the characters you know and love in a less plot-sensative setting.

Have you read all the other book in the story?
I recently fell in love with this series, light and humorous with the right amount of darkness beneath the surface, so much so I read all 14 books in pretty much one sitting and even put up with shoddy fan-translation rather than my usual path of taking my time working through the Japanese. Tempted to go back through them again right away as it is.

- What are you reading this week?
Glitches by Marissa Meyer (0.5 of the Lunar Chronicle series)

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
No but it gives a good insight on Cinder's experience coming from Paris to New Beijing after she woke up from the extensive surgeries.

- Have you read all the other books in the story?
No, still need to read Fairest, the Queen's Army, and Winter

What are you reading this week?
Better World

Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
I have not read the other stories in the series. This is supposed to be a prequel.

Have you read all the other books in the story?
I do not think I am going to read the rest of them.

- What are you reading this week?
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels, Vol. 5.5)

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
I didn't think so before I read the book. I thought that the authors and the publisher just dragged out the moment the next real installment should hit the shelves. But after reading I loved it and I think the different POV changed a lot of the overall perspective.

- Have you read all the other books in the story?
Almost all. The latest installment isn't available as a paperback yet.

What are you reading this week?
Witch Rising

Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
Not sure, guess i'll have to finish it to see.

Have you read all the other books in the story?
I have read 1 and 2 so far, will read 3 when I finish this one.

This is actually my wildcard read, since I wasn't enthused with the "Week 24: between the numbers" book in a series. This bio satisfies the rejected, "A book with a date in the title (day, month, year, etc.)" topic. For this nonfiction book, the date in the title would be "century".

What are you reading this week? Dietrich & Riefenstahl: Hollywood, Berlin and a Century in Two Lives by Karin Wieland

Why I chose this to be my wildcard. Well, I've read bios about the incredible Leni Riefenstahl who lived to the ripest old age of 101: a dancer, actress, movie director and WWII, African tribal and undersea documentarist. A woman who achieved both fame as well as notoriety during the early-mid 20th century. You could say I'm kind of obsessed with her. Although my opinion of Leni tends toward the negative, Riefenstahl was a fascinating woman in a time when women were considered mere ornaments, held back from working, let alone blazing their own path toward personal and professional successes.

Conversely, I knew nothing about Marlene Dietrich, who also rose to fame concurrently with Leni, also doing it on her own terms, but much differently and with more integrity than Riefenstahl.

This is a great dual biography about these fascinating woman, with lots of interesting details and scandalous tidbits tossed in about their successes, failures, lovers (many, many of those - how did they find the time?), intrigue and celebrity. It's also about their survival at a time when women had it much tougher than they do today. At least I think so.

Like a few others I read Four: A Divergent Story Collection. I've read the whole series and wasn't impressed with this book at all! It didn't contain a lot of new information, and because we hear Four's perspective more in the third book of the trilogy, that wasn't new either!

What are you reading this week? Avis Blackthorn and the Ring of Enchantment ( reading)
- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary? yes
- Have you read all the other books in the story? no

Stacey - what is a wildcard? If the book isn't "between the numbers" should it even be posted here? Wouldn't there be a separate topic for wildcards?

Just asking, as this is the first I've heard of the wildcard in this group.

Yes, there's a wild card option, Kirsten. If there's a week where you're not crazy about the genre, you can opt for something else.

There's a discussion about the wild card option under the "Off Topic" discussion title for "Around the World..."

I don't think there's a separate section for wild card reviews. You just sub out the book and the review in the week that you read it. For me, that was week 24, since I didn't care for the "in-between books in a series" topic. You dig?

Yes, Stacey is correct. It may be helpful to note that it's a wild card just to be safe. Did you choose the book based on a reject topic or did you just use reader's choice?

Whoa. I didn't check the rejected genre list from last year, so this may actually be my 2nd reader's choice pick for the year. Yikes.

Is there a list of those topics somewhere, Laura? If so, I might be able to slot in this dual bio for my wildcard pick. If not, I've crossed the line. Lol. In any case, I'll add that detail to my review.

Since there are so many topics I'm sure you can make it fit under somewhere :P

Here's the list: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks, guys. Good to know!

Yeah! Thanks, Laura. I was able to find a rejected topic that fit and amended my reviews. You're the best!

By the way, will the wildcard again be an option for our 2017 Challenge?

Yes, I believe that's the plan.

What did you read for this prompt?
Odd Thomas: You Are Destined To Be Together Forever by Dean Koontz

Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
Not necessary, but it's nice.

Have you read all the other books in the story?
I've read books #1 & #2 and am working through the series.

- What are you reading this week? The Queen's Army

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary? No

- Have you read all the other books in the story? No

- What are you reading this week?
I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Rebel Allies by Pittacus Lore
- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
They are not necessary, but they give more information about what happens between the books and during the books and are fun to read.
- Have you read all the other books in the story?
I have two books to read in the series and one book with three novellas

What are you reading this week?
Glitches by Marissa Meyer

Do you think the addition to the story is necessary?
No, but it's really fun to see some background on Cinder's first days with the Linh family as well as her first memories of her cyborg parts.

Have you read all the other books in the story?
I have read books 1, 2, and 3; but not the other "in between" stories or the final novel. (yet)

What are you reading this week?
The heart goes last by Margaret Atwood

Do you think the addition to the story s necessary?
Yes, I think the component parts are all necessary for the story.

Have you read all the other books in the story?
Yes, Atwood wrote all the parts into a single novel.

- What are you reading this week? Stars Above

- Do you think the addition to the story is necessary? Not really, but it was nice to read a little bit more about these wonderful characters

- Have you read all the other books in the story? Yes, all of them :)