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

***READING WITH THE STARS***

Link to Janice's Zany Zodiac Challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Reserved for my personal log of planning and/or charting reading progress:

BADGE 1:

√ 5/12
ARIES

Superhero: Ares
Read a book shelved as mythology, or has the word “God” in the title. Plurals okay.

√ 1/12
TAURUS

Element: Earth
Read a book where 70% of the cover is black.

√ 7/12
GEMINI

Stone: Agate
Read a book with a face in profile on the cover. An actual cameo on the cover will be accepted.

√ 9/12
CANCER

Element: Water
Read a book where 70% of the cover is blue.

√ 10/12
LEO

Leo, Symbol is Lion
Book is set entirely in Africa

11/12
VIRGO

North American Zodiac: Bear
Book where the majority is set in Russia or the author is Russian

√ 2/12
LIBRA

Symbol: Scales
Read a legal thriller using this Genre page as a tool @ https://www.goodreads.com/genres/lega.... Explain how your book fits this genre (MC is an attorney who solves murder cases).

√ 6/12
SCORPIO

Element: Water
Read a book with a significant amount of water on the cover.

√ 4/12
SAGITTARIUS

Symbol: Archer
Read a book that is written by a Native American author or about Native American culture. (Book is both.)

√ 8/12
CAPRICORN

Month: December
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month,

12/12
AQUARIUS
Stone: Turquoise
Read a book where the main theme is magic.

√ 3/12
PISCES

Element: Water
Read a book with “Water” in the title. Exact word.

BADGE 2 - SAVED BOOKS
√Book 1/24, Scorpio, Stone is Copper
Read a book with a metal weapon or tool on the cover.


√Book 2/24, Capricorn, Symbol is Goat
Book is shelved as Scandinavian Literature


Book 3/24, Pisces, Symbol is Fish
Book is set on or near a river (the Thames)


Book 4/24, Virgo, Stone is Amethyst
MC is king, queen, prince, or princess (Princess)


Book 5/24, Cancer, Symbol is Crab
Title has one of various types of crabs in it ("Blue")


Book 6/24, Virgo, Maiden
MC is under age 20 and is unmarried (yes to both)


Book __/24, Libra, Superhero is Judge Dredd
Book is set between 1977 and 2000

ARIES

Month: March
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Ram
Read a book where a truck is on the cover, or the protagonist drives a truck.

Element: Fire
Read a book where 70% of the cover is red.
The Brothers Karamazov

North American Zodiac: Falcon
Read a book set primarily in Iraq, Syria, or Turkey.
Birds Without Wings

Stone: Opal
Read a book set between 1750 and 1850.

Superhero: Ares
Read a book shelved as mythology, or has the word “God” in the title. Plurals okay.
American Gods

Actor: Tim Curry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cur...)
Select a movie the actor performed in.
Option 1: Read the book the movie was adapted from, or read another book with the same title. The movie doesn’t need to be an adaptation, but there needs to be a book by the same title. The titles need to match with no extraneous words in the book title. Subtitles are to be ignored. *Note - see clarification below.
Option 2: If the book is adapted, you may read another book written by the same author. This applies only to the adaptation.

TAURUS

Month: April
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Bull
Read a book from this list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..., OR where “western” is listed on the main book page as a main genre. In your personal thread report, list the page number where the book is found if it was selected from the list.
The Son

Element: Earth
Read a book where 70% of the cover is black.
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
The Extraordinary Life of Rebecca West: A Biography
Texas Blood: Seven Generations Among the Outlaws, Ranchers, Indians, Missionaries, Soldiers, and Smugglers of the Borderlands


Animal/North American Zodiac: Beaver
Read a book where the majority of it is set in Canada, or written by a Canadian author.
Santiago (author is Canadian) (229 pages; fiction)

Stone: Jasper
Read a book where illness (mental, emotional or physical) is a major theme.
Owls Do Cry (mental illness; note, author from new zealand) (210 pages; fiction)

Superhero: Rhino
Read a book with Villain in the title. Series titles are included for this task.

Actor: Audrey Hepburn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_...

GEMINI

Month: May
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Twins
Read a book that has more than one title. For example, we recently read The Warded Man/The Painted Man. In your personal thread report, link both titles with the edition you read linked first.
Looks like Eva's Eye (305 pages; mystery thriller) has a second title, In the Darkness (note, Norwegian author - can be used for Capricorn/symbol-goat)

Element: Air
Read a book where 70% of the cover is white.
Homo Zapiens
The Places in Between (meets criteria per color extraction measure) (299 pages; travel nonfiction)
In the Darkroom

North American Zodiac: Deer
Read a book where the majority of it is set in Scotland, or written by a Scottish author.
Call the Nurse: True Stories of a Country Nurse on a Scottish Isle (set in Scotland - in the rural Hebrides) (320 pages; memoir)
The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue (set in Scotland; and author is Irish)

Stone: Agate
Read a book with a face in profile on the cover. An actual cameo on the cover will be accepted.
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis (has multiple faces in profile - might need to confirm it's ok) (370 pages; biography)

Superhero: Copycat
Read a book from the dystopian genre, or set in the future. The word “Dystopian” needs to be listed as a genre on the main book page.

Actor: Johnny Depp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_...

CANCER

Month: June
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Crab
Read a book with any of those words (other than “crab”) in the title. Coconut, Hermit, Horseshoe, King, Japanese Spider, Dungeness, Rock, Snow, Blue, or Fiddler Crab. Plurals okay.
King Leopold's Ghost (306 pages; biography)

Element: Water
Read a book where 70% of the cover is blue.
Ship of Fools (512 pages; historical fiction)
The Three-Body Problem (400 pages; science fiction triology, part one)

North American Zodiac: Woodpecker
Read a book set primarily in a South American country, or by a South American author.
The Sound of Things Falling (set in Columbia; author is from Bogota) (288 pages; historical fiction)

Stone: Rose Quartz
Read a book with a rose(s) on the cover, or the cover is 75% pink in colour.
Boundless: Tracing Land and Dream in a New Northwest Passage

Superhero: Sandman
Read a book in the horror genre. The word “Horror” needs to be listed on the main book page.
The Library at Mount Char
The Shadow Out of Time

Actor: Meryl Streep
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meryl_S...

LEO

Month: July
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Lion
Read a book that is set entirely in Africa.
Born on a Tuesday

Element: Fire
Read a book with a significant amount of fire on the cover.

North American Zodiac: Salmon
Read a book that is set in the Pacific Northwest (Canada or United States).
The Cure for Dreaming (set in Oregon/US Pacific NW)


Stone: Carnelian
Read a book set in Ancient Egypt.
Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth

Superhero: Kraven the Hunter
Read a book where the main character is over 60 years old.
Old Man's War for Superhero/Kraven

Actor: Sean Penn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Pe...

VIRGO

Month: August
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Maiden
Read a book where the protagonist is a girl or young woman under the age of 20 and is unmarried.
Etiquette & Espionage
Red Star Tattoo: My Life as a Girl Revolutionary

Element: Earth
Read a book with an Earth-like planet on the cover.

North American Zodiac: Bear
Read a book where the majority of it is set in Russia, or written by a Russian author.
Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva (set mostly in Russia) (note, author is Canadian so could work for Taurus/NorthAmericanZodiac)
The Brothers Karamazov (set in Russia, duh)

Stone: Amethyst
Read a book where the main character is a king, queen, prince, or princess.

Superhero: Rogue
Read a book with bird(s) on the cover OR the word “Raven” is in the title. Plurals are accepted.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (bird on cover is artificial, hmm)

Actor:

LIBRA

Month: September
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Scales
Read a legal thriller using this Genre page as a tool @ https://www.goodreads.com/genres/lega.... Explain how your book fits this genre.
Open and Shut (MC is attorney who solves murder cases)

Element: Air
Read a book with a significant amount of clouds on the cover.
Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs

North American Zodiac: Raven
Read a book that is set primarily in New Zealand or is written by a New Zealand author.
The Carpathians (set mostly in NZ; and author is from NZ)

Stone: Azurite
Read a book set in the Renaissance period from 1400 – 1700.
The Anatomist (set in 16th century italy; author is south american, from buenos aires, argentina)

Superhero: Judge Dredd
Read a book set between 1977 and 2000.

Actor:

SCORPIO

Month: October
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Scorpion
Read a book that has “Poison” in the title (may be imbedded in other words like poisoner, poisonwood, poisoning), OR contains the name of a poison (arsenic, oleander, etc) in the title, OR has a bottle of poison on the cover. If using a name of a poison, please provide link to definition that it is a poison in your personal thread report.

Element: Water
Read a book with a significant amount of water on the cover.
Heroes of the Frontier
Beach Music

North American Zodiac: Snake
Read a book where the majority of it is set in Australia, or written by an Australian author.
Matthew Flinders' Cat

Stone: Copper
Read a book with a metal weapon or tool on the cover.
The Things They Carried (one soldier is carrying a bazooka on this shoulder)
Norse Mythology (appears to be metal hammer on cover)

Superhero: Anti-Venom
Read a book that is a stand-alone book in the Science Fiction genre. The genre must show on the main book page.

Actor:

SAGITTARIUS

Month: November
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Archer
Read a book that is written by a Native American author or about Native American culture.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Element: Fire
Read a book with “Fire” in the title. Exact word.
The Fire Thief

North American Zodiac: Owl
Read a book where the majority of it is set in Greece or Crete, or written by a Greek author.

Stone: Obsidian
Read a book set in Hawaii.
Moloka'i

Superhero: Hawkeye
Read a new release in 2018, never previously published.

Actor:

CAPRICORN

Month: December
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.
Jerusalem Inn

Symbol: Goat
Read a book that is shelved as Scandinavian Literature using this genre page as a tool: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/scan.... Explain how your book fits this genre.
Eva's Eye
Out Stealing Horses (author from Norway; book shelved as Scandinavian Lit)

Element: Earth
Read a book with “Earth” in the title. Exact word.

North American Zodiac: Snow Goose
Read a book set primarily in: Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, or Mexico.
Austin in the Jazz Age (set in Austin, Texas)
Even Sunflowers Cast Shadows (set in Kansas)
Texas Blood: Seven Generations Among the Outlaws, Ranchers, Indians, Missionaries, Soldiers, and Smugglers of the Borderlands (set in Texas)

Stone: Read a time-travel book. The words “Time Travel” must be on the main book page as a genre.
The Plot to Save Socrates
Woman on the Edge of Time

Superhero: Cannonball
Read a book about the American Civil War, or about the Napoleonic War.
Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia

Actor:

AQAURIUS

Month: January
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Water-bearer
Read a book that has an urn, jug, or other vessel used for holding water on the cover. (Glasses, cups, mugs are accepted).
But Mama Always Put Vodka in Her Sangria!: Adventures in Eating, Drinking, and Making Merry (the pitcher could hold water tho it's holding sangria, hmm)

Element: Air
Read a book with “Air” in the title. Exact word.

North American Zodiac: Otter
Read a book set primarily in Switzerland or the Netherlands, or by Swiss or Dutch authors.

Stone: Turquoise
Read a book where the main theme is magic.
The Satanic Verses (if magical realism works here)

Superhero: Aquaman
Read a book with Atlantis or Poseidon in the title.

Actor:

PISCES

Month: February
Read a book that is set at least 50% during the specified month, OR the specified month is in the title. Exact word required.

Symbol: Fish
Read a book set near or on a lake or river, OR the words Lake or River are in the title, or is the author’s name. If going for title or author, the words must be exact. Plurals okay.
City of Light (set in Buffalo, New York and nearby Niagra Falls)

Element: Water
Read a book with “Water” in the title. Exact word.
The Water is Wide

North American Zodiac: Wolf
Read a book set primarily in Alberta, Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming.
Its Head Came Off by Accident: A Memoir (set in Wyoming)

Stone: Jade
Read a book set in China.

Superhero: Siren
Read a book with “siren” in it or an alternate name -- banshee, harpy, kelpie, mermaid, nymph, or rusalka.

Actor: Glenn Close
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_C...

Reserved for Badge Two

Did a lot of work today, when I could, setting up my challenge for next year. It really took a lot of time, but it was fun and helpful, too. It encouraged me to check in with my extensive TBR list.

Totally worth it, I think, because i now have at least 3 categories for each and every month of the year covered with books I'm interested in reading from my TBR list. Pretty exciting!! To me at least : )

I'm kind of proud of my work. Though I'm very far from having gophered books for all 84 tasks required for all four badges, I think what I've done represents about how far I might hope to get in next year's challenge, if I'm lucky. Mixture of chunksters and short books. Hopefully it'll balance out!

Some great books up there TJ. You've done well to find multiple books for each star sign. I am with you. I have enjoyed sorting my thread and re-acquainting myself with my TBR.

For the magic themes task, I'm not sure magical realism is magic enough unless magic is the main theme of the book. I don't know the book so cannot comment. Might be worth checking.

Many good ones, TJ. DEAD WAKE is amazing.

That's one I for sure will check on. A few others, too, probably. But there's lots of time for that. Thanks, Sarah! I see that you're getting your zany zodiac challenge plans set up, too. Yay : )

Great list, Tejas Janet!

Interesting titles, TJ! like that you have chosen some Canadian writers. More books added to my TBR list.

You did a great job, TJ!

Thanks, Janice!

And super thanks for making another great annual challenge!!!

: )

Great gophering Tejas Janet! (It does take a lot of time doesn't it??) But lots of fun.

is one of my favorites, you will cry.
is good

Great job in your choices of books

Looks great, TJ. I see you listed the accident book I read this year. I hope you like it. :o)
I also have The Dinner on my list. I have owned it for a long time.

I found this title for Pisces/Siren The Siren. It sounds interesting to me. It could also fit the water on the cover task.

Cherie wrote: I found this title for Pisces/Siren The Siren...."

Looks intriguing, Cherie. Thanks. Had to add it : )

Dominique wrote: " is one of my favorites, you will cry.
is good"

Thanks, Dominique. Good to know you enjoyed these two. Makes me look forward even more to reading them.

And, yes Cherie, you are responsible for that accident book being on my tbr list : ) You got me!

Its Head Came Off by Accident: A Memoir

Okay, I've got to stop procrastinating and get some reporting done!

Badge 1, Book 1
Taurus, Element is Earth
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
Cover is 70% (or more) black

Badge 1, Book 2
Libra, Symbol is Scales
Open and Shut
Genre is Legal Thriller

Badge 1, Book 3
Pisces, Element is Water
The Water is Wide
"Water" is in the title

Badge 1, Book 4
Sagittarius, Symbol is Archer
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Book is both by Native American and about Native American culture

Badge 1, Book 5
Aries, Superhero is Ares
American Gods
"God" in title (plurals okay)

Badge 1, Book 6
Scorpio, Element is Water
Heroes of the Frontier
Cover has significant amount of water on cover

lol! You've been holding out on us!

Nicely on your way to the badge,

Wow, you've bee working hard, TJ. Way to go!

You have been holding out on us!

I finished The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy recently, so I got sidetracked at The Water is Wide. What did you think of it?

I didn't mean to be holding out. I kept procrastinating on reporting tho because I wasn't sure i knew how to do it correctly : )

Janice wrote: "You have been holding out on us!

I finished The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy recently, so I got sidetracked at The Water is Wide. What did you think of it?"

Very interesting reading, Janice. I liked his writing in The Water is Wide very much, and it spoke to me on so many different levels.

It sometimes gets classified as fiction and sometimes as nonfiction. It's basically a memoir but with the disclaimer made by Pat Conroy that it's a "fictionalized" account of his year on the island of Daufuskie, which he calls "Yamacraw," off the coast of South Carolina. I think he basically changed some names, but the story is true. Maybe to protect against potential libel or potential embarrassment/shame.

What did you think of The Prince of Tides? I saw the film based on the book many years ago, but have never read the book tho it's been on my radar a long time now.

I might have to give it a read someday.

I really enjoyed Prince of Tides and gave it 5 stars. His descriptions are so vivid, you can almost imagine yourself on the island.

Badge 1, Book 7
Gemini, Stone is agate
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis
Book has a face in profile on the cover (several actually) -- unless too small??

Tejas Janet wrote: "Badge 1, Book 7
Gemini, Stone is agate
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis
Book has a face in profile on the cover (several a..."

Did you enjoy this book, Tejas Janet? I've enjoyed other books by Egan and have my eye on this one.

I did enjoy it overall, Suzanne, tho I thought he could have synthesized and summarized more in places. It was well written enough tho and i found the subject interesting and Edward S Curtis' indefatigable dedication to his project was astonishing.

This was my first Egan book. What others do you recommend, Suzanne?

I highly recommend The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. It's a favorite of mine. I also really enjoyed The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America.

Thanks, Suzanne! Those both look very good.

I read the Big Burn book and liked it. I have The Worst Bad Time on my TBR list.

Badge 1, Book 8
Capricorn, Month is December
Jerusalem Inn
Book that is set at least 50% in December (actually it's 100%)

**OUT OF ORDER**

Badge 2, Book 1
Scorpio, Stone is Copper
Norse Mythology
Read a book with a metal weapon or tool on the cover.
Appears to be metal hammer on the cover (Mjolnir, Thor's hammer).


Badge 1, 8 of 12 books completed
Badge 2, 1 of 24 books completed