You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

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Group Themed Reads: Discussions > January 2017 - Reporting Thread

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message 1: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments Please read through the reporting thread carefully to ensure to report correctly to get your badge/s.

After you have read your chosen book(s) for this month's group theme read, please report in the thread below.

Please state what book you read (and link it), that you discussed it (and where), and briefly summarise what you thought of the book and/or link to your review if you have written one.

If you lead the discussion, please state this in your post.

Here is an example for how to report your read:
“I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and discussed it in the [Harry Potter/Buddy Read/Other books in theme] thread. I really enjoyed the book. I watched the film first so I already knew the storyline but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the book more as there was more detail involved. Plus I listened to the audio which was narrated by Stephen Fry who is a superb narrator. 4 stars.”

If you read more than one book which fits the theme, please report all your reads in the same post rather than in separate posts.

Please note, there are THREE different badges that can be obtained for group reads. Those reading and discussing one of the two chosen group reads will receive a colourful badge similar to those for previous group reads. Those reading and discussing any other book in the theme will receive a stamp. The discussion leader for the two chosen group reads will receive a badge stating they led the discussion. Maximum amount of badges you can receive for the group reads is TWO - one for the chosen group read/discussion leader and one for any other book in the theme.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book(s) before or during January 2017.
2. discussed it in the relevant thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in that thread.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread below, along with a brief summary of what you thought.


message 2: by Lynn (new)

Lynn | 2974 comments I've read and discussed (discussing) the group read Moon Called

I'm a little wary of PNR series these days and the covers to the books don't help, but I really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading more of the series. Great writing, fabulous MC and supported by a large cast of interesting characters. Really glad I picked this up.


message 3: by Peggy (new)

Peggy (pebbles84) | 15868 comments I also read and discussed Moon Called, and I'm also discussion leader.

I really enjoyed it, and gave it 4 stars. I liked the characters and the story was fast-paced and hard to put down. I did find it a bit confusing in the end though. I will read more of the series this year!


message 4: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments Lynn wrote: "I've read and discussed (discussing) the group read Moon Called

I'm a little wary of PNR series these days and the covers to the books don't help, but I really enjoyed this and lookin..."


I had to go look up what PNR was. Yeah, I do not normally read a lot of Paranormal nor Romance, and the two together would normally make me shake my head and say "Not for me", but I can always be convinced to try. :0)


message 5: by Peggy (new)

Peggy (pebbles84) | 15868 comments Both are not my cup of tea either, but this worked :) and I would not classify it as either paranormal nor romance.


message 6: by Casceil (new)

Casceil | 2728 comments I've read and discussed Moon Called in the group discussion. I believe it is classified as "urban fantasy," not PNR or romance. I've read the whole series, so this was a re-read for me. It was interesting going back and taking a fresh look at the first book in the series. I thought the author wrote with real skill. She conveyed tons of information without using info-dumps. Instead, characters explained things to each other in situations where that made sense. The characters were interesting, and the story was interesting. Things did get a little convoluted and confusing at the end, but I thought the book was well worth the ride. I gave it four stars. I was thinking about bumping it up to 5, but the quality really did seem to drop at the end. Not so badly as to make me dislike the book, but enough to make this not a five star book.


message 7: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments Yes I'd lean towards the urban fantasy title rather than paranormal romance too. I tend to think paranormal has to have ghosts, psychics, spooky stuff in them.


message 8: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments Please make sure you read the rules for reporting in the first message. I know I just copy and paste these each month and I know many of you are familiar with how it all works but its always good for a recap.


message 9: by Jenn (new)

Jenn | 3029 comments Hey all, I've just finished Moon Called and did comment on it in the appropriate discussion group. I found it hard to put down long enough to comment on it lol. I really liked that the writer never made assumptions about what the reader would (or should) already know, and gave all information/history in context as opposed to an information dump. I was very happy to have become so attached to the characters in such a short time, and will be seeking out the rest of the series.


message 10: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I finished reading Moon Called ( I will update the link when I get on line). I have commented in the discussion group thread too.

I was surprised and quite happy with the characters and the writing style. I enjoyed the flow of information more than the actual story line, but I will be happy to read the next books in the series. I really liked Mercy Thompson and her friends.


message 11: by Trudy (new)

Trudy (trudyan) | 1779 comments I read two books on this month's theme: Paris to the Moon and The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

I discussed The Girl Who Drank the Moon in the group thread. I listened to the audio version of this book. I can't say enough good things about narrator Christina Moore. I'm sure my enjoyment of the book was in large part due to her fantastic narration. I enjoy reading old children's fairy tales, and this modern story was surprisingly good. It had an age old feel to it, and was an enchanting story. The characters were richly drawn. I think the appropriate age group for this book would be about 8 to 10, as the plot was straightforward, it had a happily-ever-after ending, and it wasn't particularly dark. If I had one criticism, it would be that the writing was wordy and repetitive in parts.

I also read Paris to the Moon and discussed it in the appropriate thread. This is a memoir about the five years in the mid-1990s that the writer, his wife and young son lived in Paris. I enjoyed learning about the curious idiosyncrasies of Parisian culture, with background on how they developed. I also liked the writer's drily humorous comparisons between Parisian culture and New York culture. A good part of the memoir was framed within the French political atmosphere of the day, and much revolved around Parisian food and restaurants. Even though the material has become dated, this was still an informative and enjoyable read.


message 12: by Joan (new)

Joan I read Moon Called and commented in the discussion thread. I am glad YLTO picked this, I never would've picked it up otherwise and I did not know what to expect from the cover (ugh) or the genre descriptions like PNR & urban fantasy.

I liked the fantasy part, I'm not clear how urban fits in, and the romance suits the story without being overwhelming.

The author's imagination and writing is impressive; she gets off to a great start but towards the end dumps in too many subplots and unnecessary characters. I gave it 2 stars, it was OK, I will probably read more in the series.


message 13: by Janice, Moderator (last edited Jan 14, 2017 06:32AM) (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59942 comments I read Flame Moon for this month's themed read, and I discussed it in the generic thread for the theme other than the two books that were selected.

Overall, I gave it 3 stars and that was likely generous. This is a remaking of the Greek gods in a modern day setting, Maybe if I knew my Greek mythology a little better, I might have enjoyed the book more. Or, maybe I would have hated it more. It was rather difficult to discuss since it had little substance.


message 14: by Kristie, Moderator (new)

Kristie | 19178 comments I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon and discussed in the discussion thread.

I am the discussion leader for this book.

I thought this was a great story. It was creative and engaging. I really enjoyed it. I think that kids in the targeted age group will love it. The characters were interesting and the story took turns that might not be expected, particularly for a younger reader. Definitely worth the read.


message 15: by Sam F (new)

Sam F | 246 comments I read 2001 A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1) by Arthur C. Clarke - 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke and discussed it in the Discussion Thread.

The book is based not just on our moon, but on Saturn's moon as well. A great read - though at first, with it's multiple time lines, I found it a bit confusing. I don't often enjoy some science fiction but I did like this one. If I can find the 2nd book in the series, I may try it as well.


message 16: by Tasha (new)

Tasha I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon and really enjoyed it. I discussed it over in the thread for the book.

I found it to be a well-written and beautifully descriptive book that resonated with me as my daughter is around the age of the MC and beginning to experience the world in new and different ways, much like a couple of the characters in the story. I think it's a good book for the intended audience although possibly a bit too long. If you are looking to add some children's fiction to your pile I would definitely recommend this one.


message 17: by Karen (new)

Karen Rashid | 137 comments I read Moon Called Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, #1) by Patricia Briggs and discussed it in the January thread for this book.

This was my first book in this Genre and I am not surprised to discover (at least so far) that I prefer by fantasy traditionally rural over urban as I am drawn to a rural setting in most fiction that I read. Brigg's imaginative conception and description of the dynamics within and between the different groups of supernatural beings was the strongest part of the book in my opinion. The plot was the weakest.

I enjoyed this book enough that I would probably read the next book(s) in the series if I came across them in the future but not enough that I was compelled to go out searching for them. Overall I am glad that the book group nudged me to read a book I most likely would have never picked up otherwise. I rated it three stars.


message 18: by Debra (new)

Debra (debra_t) | 6542 comments I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon. I thought it was an excellent young adult book, great for all ages. The characters were well-developed and I enjoyed the story. Some interesting philosophy about life and love. Rated it 5 stars.


message 19: by Naomi (new)

Naomi (nchigh) | 709 comments I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill and discussed it in the thread.
I rated it 4 stars. I really liked it and thought it was a great book for middle grade readers. The characters were great and the dynamic of the little family in the forest was very loving. The mother never gave up on her lost child and the grandmother loved all the children she found but the one she enmagicked the most. The boy let his conscience be his guide and found love on his own and redemption through hope.


message 20: by Elsbeth (last edited Jan 29, 2017 01:11PM) (new)

Elsbeth (elsbethgm) | 1152 comments I read 2 other books with the moon on the cover - and am now reading part 3:
Heartblaze 1 Vampire Soul (Heartblaze #1) by Shay Roberts , Heartblaze 2 Vampire Rising (Heartblaze #2) by Shay Roberts and Heartblaze 3 Vampire Eternal by Shay Roberts by Shay Roberts. (the coloured ball in the background is the moon ;)!)
I discussed it in the Moon Theme thread.
It is a wonderful series about vampires, werewolves and werebears, witches and humans. And reincarnation.
I gave part 1 and 2 5 stars each and part 3 will probably get 5 as well!


message 21: by Lara (new)

Lara | 1426 comments I (re)read Moon Called and enjoyed revisiting the first book in a series I love. I agree that it isn't as good as future books in the series. In fact, the latest book had all of the features I love about the series.

And I discussed the book in the discussion thread.


message 22: by Poongothai (last edited Jan 29, 2017 09:43PM) (new)

Poongothai (poongsa) | 483 comments I read Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy, #1) by Nora Roberts which has a moon on the cover. I discussed about it in the theme thread. Though I enjoyed it, I wish Nora Roberts comes up with a new theme for her trilogies.


message 23: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments Elsbeth wrote: "I read 2 other books with the moon on the cover - and am now reading part 3:
Heartblaze 1 Vampire Soul (Heartblaze #1) by Shay Roberts, Heartblaze 2 Vampire Rising (Heartblaze #2) by Shay Roberts and [bookcover:Heartb..."


What did you like about them to warrant 5 stars? Do you think the final part will end up being on par with the others?


message 24: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments Poongothai wrote: "I read Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy, #1) by Nora Roberts which has a moon on the cover. I discussed about it in the theme thread. Though I enjoyed it, I wish Nora Roberts comes up with a new theme..."

What was it about the theme that disappointed you?


message 25: by Poongothai (new)

Poongothai (poongsa) | 483 comments Sarah wrote: "Poongothai wrote: "I read Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy, #1) by Nora Roberts which has a moon on the cover. I discussed about it in the theme thread. Though I enjoyed it, I wish Nora Roberts comes ..."

The paranormal trilogies of Nora Roberts follow a similar pattern. To destroy some evil, 3 good people have been chosen and they are all paired up and they each have a unique power. 1st book introduces all the characters. They will have some trust issues and finally they will understand that they have to work as a team to defeat the evil and the romance will be rushed. The second book will be quite slow with the team gathering arms and finding strategies to defeat with another romance. The final one will be rushed with an intense romance and battle.

Only thing is the setting is changed. Having read most of her books, I'm feeling a little bored with this concept


message 26: by Lanelle (new)

Lanelle | 4024 comments I (re)read Moon Called and discussed it in its thread.

I don't know how many times I've read this book, and I am a fan of this author's works. I think Mercy is a fascinating character. It was fun to see other peoples reaction to the book and find points to discuss. I'm so excited for the next book in the series to come out in March!


message 27: by Julie (new)

Julie | 7 comments I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon and discussed it in the discussion thread.

I don't usually read a lot of youth books but I really enjoyed this one. The characters were well written and you could imagine what this world looked like. It will be a magical read for a young reader.


message 28: by Tejas Janet (last edited Feb 02, 2017 11:28PM) (new)

Tejas Janet (tejasjanet) | 3513 comments I read Pointing to the Moon: A Biographical Epistolary Novel for this challenge, and discussed it in the generic moon theme thread.

I discovered this book only because of this challenge as I went searching for books that would qualify. When I started reading this book, at first I couldn't sort out what was real versus what was made up. But over time, I came to recognize that the epistolary (letter) portions, that account for my 5 star-rating, were the nonfiction parts.

This is a an unusual book. I guess I'd recommend it to those readers with a love and appreciation for poetry. And/or who are drawn to the title, "Pointing to the Moon." Go read my posts in the other thread if you're interested : )

Something I loved about this book and its title is it points the reader toward something higher.


message 29: by Heather (new)

Heather Morris | 125 comments Sorry, totally forgot to report! I read Moon Called and discussed in the thread. I really enjoyed the book and will definitely be reading more of this series!


message 30: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments No worries Heather. I haven't done badges yet.


message 31: by jaxnsmom (new)

jaxnsmom | 8341 comments I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon and discussed it in it's thread. I thought it was a captivating story, and while maybe too long for its audience (middle grades) it was imaginative with wonderful characters and had a HEA ending that romanticized versions of fairy tales should have.


message 32: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments Badges are done.

Let me know if I've missed anyone.

Julie you now have a wall and your first badge!


message 33: by Joan (new)

Joan Sarah, that is a beautiful badge, thank you.


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