Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - Hunting Wabbits (7)
1. Introduce yourself to your team. Let your team members know where you are from. This is a 'nice to know' when categories are announced and when team-mates can expect other members to post their book choices.2. Team Captain - reserve a couple of posts in this thread tracking your team's book selection and completion. (Alternatively they could convert a chat comment to the tracking post/s.)
3. Name your team. Using this round's theme of HUNTING, come up with a fun name. Given we are an open/public group with no age limit, so please make sure any chosen name is smart, not smutty ;)
Please PM your name to Jane(PS) by 8 March.
4. If you have a private profile, please 'friend' your team-mates. This is really important, because without this, your team-mates can't see your shelves to select a books under option 2.
5. Please post your book selections/completions in the format provided below. (This format is also posted in both the Q&A and Sign-Up threads.) We need to know the week that each book corresponds to, the page numbers, and how the book qualifies including links to lists/shelves (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough. When in doubt - link it*!
* don't link to your review in your completion post - reviews in your completion posts should be included in full in that post.
You don't want to start reading a book and then find it doesn't meet the requirements because some information (eg page count or theme link) was missing from your original post.
I will be monitoring this and your book will not be considered complete until I am satisfied that your selection and completion posts comply with the format rules of the challenge.
Remember - you can ONLY change your book selection in the week that the theme is called.
6. You MUST check in with your team each week, ideally once the theme is announced. Please let your team know if you expect to have spotty communication or are on holidays or having an operation.
7. When you post the completion of your book, you must post a review; enough for us to know you have actually read the book. Please don't link to a review. You must post the review in this thread.
8. Re-reads are allowed but you can't read the same book twice within this challenge.
9. There is no prize for the winning team - bragging rights only :)
10. Each week, the theme will be announced in the Q&A/Announcement thread. The full list of themes announced during this round will be maintained in msg 1 of that thread.
The Rule on the Pass Option
* Each team can only have ONE member using their pass each week.
* Each member can only use that pass once each 5 weeks.
* This means that one or two team members (dependent upon the size of your team) will miss using a pass in each 5 week block.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.
* In the final week Option 2 has altered and I will be allocating each team another team from which their book selection must be chosen :)
Key selection and completion post information. You must have ALL elements in your book posts.For the initial selection post Option 1 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please insert a link to the qualifying bookshelf/list.
If the theme is based off the bookcover or a letter in the title etc, please just repeat the theme.
For the initial selection post Option 2 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.
For the completion post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review
Please DO NOT CHAT in these selction/completion posts. It needs to be super clear.
If you 'waffle' about your decided book - please REPOST your selection once you decide. DO NOT go back and edit your waffling post.
I'll be tracking each team's progress separately, using the Captain's summary in each team's thread to check for accuracy.
Selection and Completion Posts, Part I
Week 1 - DONE
Theme (16): Read a book that has won or been nominated for an award.
(view spoiler)
Week 2 - DONE
Theme (13): Fairytales are generally based on quests and hunts. Read a book from one of the indicated lists.
(view spoiler)
Week 3 - DONE
Theme (11): Read a book with a male MC who is a bear, not necessarily a shifter from one of the indicated lists. (In contemporay romance, a 'bear' is a big tall male, possibly hairy.)
(view spoiler)
Week 4 - DONE
Theme (2): Read a book starting with the letter H for Hunt.
(view spoiler)
Selection and Completion Posts, Part II
Week 5 - DONE
Theme (8): Read a book featuring a cowboy from one of the indicated lists.
(view spoiler)
Week 6 - DONE
Theme (12): Read a book where the title has at least two words in a row starting with the same letter (excluding A, An and The). e.g. Power Play, Red River etc.
(view spoiler)
Week 7 - DONE
Theme (5): Read a book published for the first time in the last 6 months.
(view spoiler)
Week 8 - DONE
Theme (10): Read a book featuring kids/children from one of the indicated lists.
(view spoiler)
Selection and Completion Posts, Part III
Week 9 - DONE
Theme (6): Choose a recommendation made to you by one of your team members.
List of All Recommendations
(view spoiler)
Week 10 - DONE
Theme (7): Cozy Sleuths. Read a book from one of the indicated lists.
(view spoiler)
X
Week 11
Theme: Read a book from one of the indicated lists with amusing names.
Anna Serene (Selection, Completion)
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ (Selection, Completion)
Louise (Selection, Completion)
Poongothai (Selection, Completion)
Rachel C (Selection, Completion)
Stacie (Selection, Completion)
Hi everybody! My name is Rachel. I live in Tucson, Arizona (which means my time zone might be a bit behind everybody else's). I'm a big historical romance reader, but I will still read pretty much anything else romance (with a little straight-up sci-fi/fantasy thrown in) :)
Hi! I'm Stacie, I live in College Park, MD which is right outside of Washington, DC.
I think I recognize most of you from other threads :) hi again! I suspect this is going to be a very fun round! any ideas for a team name?
Hi Everybody!I'm Becky from Oklahoma, ready to read. This is one of my favorite team challenges on Goodreads and I'm looking forward to having fun with everyone!
You are only missing Anna Serene for check-in. I'll PM her tomorrow if she hasn't popped her head in.I'd suggest you start thinking about a name in the meantime :D
Rachel C. wrote: "Hi everybody! My name is Rachel. I live in Tucson, Arizona (which means my time zone might be a bit behind everybody else's). I'm a big historical romance reader, but I will still read pretty much ..."Hey, Rachel!
I've been on a Historical Romance binge lately myself and I love Science Fiction and/or Fantasy. My husband and I are currently listening to Dark Matter...WOW...it's turning out to be a really good book! Mind blowing doesn't quite cover it. LOL!
Hi Stacie and Poongothai! It'll be so much fun to be on the same team again! Small world, right? : )
I'm going to take a late night stab at some team name options. They are just ideas, especially since I know just what I've read about hunting, so I'm fine with whatever the team wants to do:The Seventh Blind
Book Blasters
Target: Epilogue {I know, that's a little out there... ; )
Down Range Readers
The Book Trackers
That's all I've got. Feel free to mix it up or use some of them for your own inspiration. : )
Hi I'm Anna. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan :)Sorry I'm late! Lost track of the days...
Hunting WabbitsHunting Hotties
Lions, Tigers and Bears
I got nothing
Stacie wrote: "Hunting WabbitsHunting Hotties
Lions, Tigers and Bears
I got nothing"
Oh man I like Hunting Wabbits...
Becky wrote: I've been on a Historical Romance binge lately myself and I love Science Fiction and/or Fantasy. My husband and I are currently listening to...I'm glad to find a fellow historical romance reader! Dark Matter looks good! I'm going to have to put it on my to-read list
LOL. I have no ideas for names, but I really like Hunting Wabbits or Down Range Readers
All checked in. Looking good Vern. (Farside reference...)
I like the Hunting Wabbits, too! Great idea, Staci!
Sounds like! Louise, Poongothai, what do you think?
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Hi Stacie and Poongothai! It'll be so much fun to be on the same team again! Small world, right? : )"Good to be on the same team Becky
I also like Hunting Wabbits. Lets go for it
Alright, I will message Jane with our new name. Go Hunting Wabbits!
so, are there any books you guys are hoping you might be able to use for this ptp round? any themes you are particularly looking forward to? :)
Week #1: SelectionBookcover/link:
The NightingalePage numbers: 440
How the book qualifies - Audie Award for Fiction (2016), Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction (2015), International Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2017)
Week 1Option 1
16. Our theme book won a number of children's book awards. Read a book that has won or been nominated for an award. Optional lists to get you started:
MM Romance Members Choice Awards 2016, 2015, 2014
Goodreads Choice Awards 2016 Also has links to awards back to and including 2009
RITA Award Winners 2016 - 1982
Golden Heart Award Winners 2016 - 1981
Romantic Time Reviewers' Choice Best Book Awards
These are not compulsory lists. Please note the award win or nomination in your post.
Option 2
Key date: 7 September 2016
Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads.
--------------------------
Link to Jane's post: Week 1 Theme
Notes: If you aren't part of the group that the first link takes you to, try MM Romance Members Choice Awards 2016, 2015, 2014 (original link also only has 2016 books)
Week 1 (Selection)
Title: The Curse of Tenth Grave
Pages: 352
How the book qualifies: option #1, Goodreads Nominee for Best Fantasy (2016)
Week #1Bookcover/link:
by Anne BishopPage numbers: 416
How the book qualifies - Romantic Time Reviewers Choice Urban Fantasy 2016 Nominee
Selection Post Week #1
Bookcover/link : The Duke and the Lady in Red
Page numbers : 384
How the book qualifies - Romantic Time British Isles-set historical romance 2015 nominee
Edited Message #32 to show new book choice
WOOHOO! Sorry to be late picking my book! I've been busy this week and didn't realize it had been called early. I'll be back shortly with my pick! Can we start reading at midnight, i.e., Friday morning?
Becky's Selection Post - Week # 1 ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Option 1: (16) Read a book that has won or been nominated for an award.
Title/Link Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Pages: 400
How it qualifies: GR's Reader's Choice Winner: YA Fiction 2016
Becky wrote: "WOOHOO! Sorry to be late picking my book! I've been busy this week and didn't realize it had been called early. I'll be back shortly with my pick! Can we start reading at midnight, i.e., Friday morning? "
You can start reading as soon as the theme is announced, so you could start reading tonight if you wanted :)
Rachel C. wrote: "Becky wrote: "WOOHOO! Sorry to be late picking my book! I've been busy this week and didn't realize it had been called early. I'll be back shortly with my pick! Can we start reading at midnight, ..."
SWEET!
Rachel C. wrote: "Becky wrote: "WOOHOO! Sorry to be late picking my book! I've been busy this week and didn't realize it had been called early. I'll be back shortly with my pick! Can we start reading at midnight, ..."
Perfect! That worked for me! My book was pretty good! I was up all night reading it! LOL!
Becky's Completion Post Week # 1 ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Option 1: (16) Read a book that has won or been nominated for an award.
Title/Link Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Date Read Mar 11, 2017
My Rating: |★★★★|
My Review:
Set near the end of World War II, Salt to the Sea follows a small group of refugees that meet during the mass evacuation to Eastern Prussia in January 1945. After years of war and Nazi occupation, people are dying from bitter cold, starvation and disease. Now the Russian bombings are taking a toll and take more lives every day as they journey towards safety. Knowing they are stronger together, their small group bands together to continue for safety and security.
I've not read Ms. Sepetys' work before and I am impressed with how meticulous she is regarding the historical facts. She covers so many of the challenges these refugees encountered, including the dangerous crossing of the ice covered Vistula Lagoon. Massive numbers of people made this slow trek towards the port city of Gotenhafen...now known as Gdynia, Poland...all of them desperate to secure passage by ship out of the country.
I've always loved historical fiction and really enjoyed this book. I wish I had been able to connect with characters. They are NOT flat or boring in any way, but I would've liked more depth and history, which is tough to do with a cast this large. All of the characters are a bit standoffish with each other, especially in the beginning. They've been traumatized in different ways by the war and aren't quick to trust. They keep their personal secrets hidden. Under these circumstances , it does make sense that even the characters wouldn't know each other well.
My only criticism on the book is that each chapter jumped from one character's POV to another, which can be disruptive when it happens between at least 5 characters. The rough number amounts to 120+ switches in POV's in a 400 page book. Sadly, I'm not kidding about those numbers.
I really expected to cry during this book. There are tragic scenes depicted, but there are so many of them that I eventually developed a sense of detachment from the grief. On the positive side, the author does capture the brutality and collateral damage of war. I'm not heartless, but when I really connect with a character or story, I've been known to ugly cry like a small child. (See my review of I Shall Be Near to You)
Joana was a stand out character in the book, even with a lack of her personal history, I really liked her. She's a nurse and has a healthy grasp on the danger their group is in, yet doesn't lose her compassion and empathy for others. She also does whatever she can to help those they meet along the way. This line really embraced the stress the refugees were under when she said:
I had no treatment for what plagued people the most.Florian's story was fascinating and I thought the way the author incorporated his "secret" was very interesting! From a factual standpoint it was a smart idea to include it in the book and I loved the way it played out.
Fear.
We already know the horrible atrocities Hitler inflected on the Jewish people, but sometimes we forget that a tremendous amount of historical artifacts were also lost during his reign of terror. Even the evacuation is not free from his genocide. Remember, these refugees are still in Nazi occupied Poland, which means the weak, disabled, or severely injured are considered "unsalvageable" and thus forbidden passage through the various checkpoints. Joana really shines during these scenes. (view spoiler)
The BIG THING in this book was a nail biter! For those few chapters, I was fully, emotionally engaged and my heart ached for the tragedy of it. The suspense is off the scale. I think this was the best and worst part of the book! Obviously the best due to the writing and execution, worst because it is based on historical fact. At least one of the scenes is bound to give me nightmares. ACK! Sometimes you just don't want certain visuals, even if it is historically accurate. Yes, I know, this is personal preference, but...
(view spoiler)
I wouldn't say this is my favorite WW II/Historical Fiction novel, but it's still a solid four stars! This is the kind of book that 'gets me Googling.' about history, too! My first search was: (view spoiler) You'll find there is a lot of information out there on the BIG THING as well!
My overall recommendation is high. This is an interesting book about the tragedies of war and one event that is often overlooked due to it's close proximity in time to the end of WW II. One way we can honor and remember the victims is to keep their memories alive by passing the story down to the next generation. Definitely pick this one up and give it a try. It's a fast read despite the length and the ending is well worth the jumping around of POV's.
In the meantime, I'll be looking for more of Ms. Sepetys work!
P. S. - Another interesting fact to note about the BIG THING: Please note: if you haven't read the book, DO NOT click on the spoiler! You've been warned!
(view spoiler)
That sounds like a really good book, Becky! Switching between characters on a regular basis always bugs me too, though... I always end up reading those books a bit slower, but you read this one fast, so it must be good! :)
Rachel C. wrote: "That sounds like a really good book, Becky! Switching between characters on a regular basis always bugs me too, though... I always end up reading those books a bit slower, but you read this one fas..."The majority of readers seemed to really like it regardless of the switching. It did seem to go fast, too, especially those last several chapters. Whew! Bone chilling!
Week #1: CompletionBookcover/link:
The NightingalePage numbers: 440
How the book qualifies - Audie Award for Fiction (2016), Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction (2015), International Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2017)
Date read: 3/11
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review
I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction but this one has been on my TBR for a long time. I was impressed. It moved quickly, kept me interested and I actually completed it in one sitting, rare for a book of this genre, especially one about war.
The "mystery" reminded me very much of Kate Morton's style of writing, as did the book really. All in all, I enjoyed it as much as one can enjoy a book about WWII.
Sorry I haven't checked in Week #1
Bookcover/link:
by Anne Bishop by Anne BishopAnne BishopPage numbers: 416
How the book qualifies - Romantic Time Reviewers Choice Urban Fantasy 2016 Nominee
Week #1: CompletionBook:
by Anne BishopPage Numbers: 416
How the Book Qualifies: Romantic Time Reviewers Choice Urban Fantasy 2016 Nominee
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I freaking LOVE this series! I can't believe the next book is the end of Simon and Meg's story. They are just so freaking cute!
Aside from that, I really enjoyed this. It seemed to be a little darker than the previous installments, but then again, it might just be because tension escalated so quickly. This book was a little bit rougher, because the war has truly started between Humans First and Last and the Others. One thing that I particularly like about this series is that Anne Bishop doesn't shy away from the fact that the humans are the enemy. Generally in books with some sort of alien life (by alien I mean different, not necessarily actual aliens), it is the aliens who are bad and must be stopped, with the humans as the good guys. In this series, it really puts human nature into perspective. It has been said that humans are the only species that murders. All the other species kill for food or for territory, but it isn't murder. What I love about this series is that it takes that concept and stretches it to make it a beautiful and complex world.
Also I love Simon. I love Simon a lot :)
Completion post Week #1
Bookcover/link : The Duke and the Lady in Red
Rating (1-5) : 3
Review : It is #2 in the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James and these scandalous gentlemen are the children of the character in the Scoundrels of St. James series. I have enjoyed both the series.
Rosalind, the con artist and Avendale, the duke bring out a roller coaster of emotions with witty banter, good chemistry and lots of secrets to unravel. Harry was a good secondary character.
Week 1 (Completion)
5 stars
This is finally getting somewhere! Score! I will say that there was that bit at the end where I was like "really? it's going there? cliche!" but all in all I really loved this book. I'm really glad this series isn't getting stuck in a rut. It maintains all the right amounts of humor mixed with twisty turns and "woah" revelations. I'm very, very curious what could possibly happen next.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
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His Hostage (other topics)
Second Grave on the Left (other topics)
Dark Domination (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
J.L. Berg (other topics)Julie Kagawa (other topics)
Anna Adler (other topics)
Julie Kagawa (other topics)
Anna Adler (other topics)
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Captain: Rachel C
Louise
Anna Serene
Poongothai
Stacie
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡