Cozy Mysteries discussion

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Jennifer - I wanted to send a private message to continue our discussion which is getting to way O/T. If you want to, please send me a PM as I can't seem to send YOU one.

If not, I..."

Yeah, I guess I am. Because I used to only read mysteries and science fiction. Now, I read quite a bit of stuff. Especially after joining the Goodreads Choice Awards book club: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

I just wonder about your dislike of it. How much have you read? What were the titles? Maybe you just need to try something from a different spectrum of sci-fi. I noticed that you like urban fantasy. (I'm a big fan of the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.) It just seems that most people that don't like science fiction don't like fantasy either.

I noticed that one of the categories is "a book that scares you". Does that mean really scare as in frighten or scare as in intimidate? What do you think?

Kirsten wrote: "I noticed that one of the categories is "a book that scares you". Does that mean really scare as in frighten or scare as in intimidate? What do you think?"

My first reaction was "scares" as in horror - which I was dreading. But I like the "intimidation" angle; that I can work with! :)

Kimberly wrote: "I had to read both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in high school. :)"

Score! :)

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I noticed that one of the categories is "a book that scares you". Does that mean really scare as in frighten or scare as in intimidate? What do you think?"

My first reaction was "s..."

Yeah, see if it was "intimidate" I was going to go with James Joyce's Ulysses.

Now, if it was "frighten", I'd just have to see which one does.

The most frightening books I've ever read are The Ruins and Ghost Story. (I couldn't go into the basement for MONTHS after reading Ghost Story.)

Jennifer -- you have a very nice blog. I am so sorry I ruined your morning coffee, tea, or Diet Coke.

If you are contemplating Richard Rhode, I highly recommend his books about the early days of the arms race. I live very near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation which is where they produced the uranium that went into the first nuclear bomb.

Kirsten wrote: "❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I noticed that one of the categories is "a book that scares you". Does that mean really scare as in frighten or scare as in intimidate? Wha..."

The first scary one that comes to mind for me could also fit the "book your mom loved" category: Ammie, Come Home - she said that one scared the stuffing out of her.

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I noticed that one of the categories is "a book that scares you". Does that mean really scare as in frighten or scare as in..."

My mom would probably (although I think I'll get an official recommendation from her) recommend either Dune or something by H.P. Lovecraft

Another question: an author you love but haven't read yet??

How do you love someone you haven't met yet?

Kirsten wrote: "Another question: an author you love but haven't read yet??

How do you love someone you haven't met yet?"

My understanding of that category was a book you haven't read by one of your favorite authors. So, for example, my favorite author is Dean Koontz, so I would find a book by him that I haven't read. In fact, his new one comes out on the 13th of this month! :)

Also, you mentioned living near the Hanford site. Are you talking about the one in Washington? One of my really good friends lives in Richland! She works part-time for a company that studies the effects of radioactivity there. :) What a small world, huh?!

Yeah! That's the one. As far as I know there is only ONE Hanford!

Hmmm... when I read the exact wording of that challenge I thought it was an author I loved I hadn't read yet. But that explanation makes it a lot easier.

I talked to my mom about this challenge and, when I asked her what book she loved, she suggested Doctor Zhivago. Oh, dear.... do I have some reading.

I might read this book for a "book based entirely on its cover"



What do you think?

I'm not sure I'll continue with this challenge. It's like being back at school with some overpowering teaching standing over you yelling to TRY!

Not only that, but if I didn't happen to finish I would be feared of being termed a literary bigot.

Too much dictating has taken all the fun out of it for me.

No! No! No! I'm sorry! I'll leave. Don't leave because I'm too horrid.

I'll just post book ideas. No opinions anymore.

I would like to offer a heartfelt apology to all who have offended, hurt, offput or chased away by my posts.

I meant not harm or offense. I thought I was having an open discussion. I wanted to encourage people to not exclude anything but all I did was hurt and offend people.

This was never my intention and all I have done is hurt myself.

I am sorry. I do not like to think of myself as a bad person. Maybe I am. Goodbye.

Ella's Gran wrote: "I'm not sure I'll continue with this challenge. It's like being back at school with some overpowering teaching standing over you yelling to TRY!

Not only that, but if I didn't happen to finish I ..."

I think that's less than fair and not very generous - I understand nobody wants to feel pressured about this challenge but Kirsten did apologise to both me and the group as a whole in messages 97, 99 and again in 110. I doubt there are very many of use who haven't used strong words when they're passionate about something and she had the grace to apologise for it several times - a rare and wonderful thing.

She's left the group, and I'm a bit sad about that: this tangent could have ended up ugly but it didn't and we were all able to get back on topic with enthusiasm. I think she ultimately could have contributed a lot of positive things to this group.

But I am sorry, Ella's Gran, that you felt intimidated by the whole thing; we're all here to have fun and nobody wants to feel pressured or like they're pressuring anybody else.

2015 Special Challenge I'm interested & here is my reading plan.
Duration: January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015
These are the ones I didn't complete. I'm half way through The Bell Jar & have decided as of January 5, 2016 to put this challenge to rest. I gave it a good shot but had too many other challenges to complete.
1. A book that became a movie One Shot Jack Reacher #9 by Lee Child
2. A book written by someone under 30 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
3. A book you were supposed to read in school but didn'tA Pulitzer Prize winning book To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
4. A book that came out the year you were born looking for 1947
5. A book with bad reviews To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6. A book written by an author with your same initials UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 1) Chanda Hahn
7. A banned book The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

My challenges for 2015 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'm still here and I'm still going to do the challenge. I wasn't offended or offput by what was going on. What I did was read the post and kept my mouth shut like many other's did. This was between the two of them and I think both of them handled it like mature adults should, in calm, clear voices. They didn't start calling each other names, they didn't use cuss words, they even wanted to discuss it in private messages between each other and not bring anybody into it, analogizes were said and it seems that they both worked it out BETWEEN themselves and moved on.

I don't think Kristen meant to do any harm, I think she was just explaining what some books were about and what you could use as a genre, and trying to be helpful. I'm sorry she felt she had to leave the group.

I applaud Jennifer for her measured response in message 96 to Kirsten's remark. That's what made their dialogue possible. Kirsten made a passionate, over-the-top argument for a genre she loves then she apologized. Both handled a potentially volatile situation with grace.

Kirsten's decision to leave the group was unfortunate - no one spoke harshly or expressed the hurt and offense she presumed we felt. Many of us are passionate readers, sometimes that comes out. I'm ready to move on.

Thanks Nell and Jill. Perhaps Kirsten will come back and join us - I hope she does. Either way let's get back to having fun with the challenge.

I'm currently reading a book set in my hometown, The Cat Sitter's Cradle.

Kirsten wrote: "Should we keep track of our progress here? Or in another thread?"

You can set up a post in this thread and edit as necessary, OR you can set up your own personal challenge thread in Members Reading/Challenge Lists.

Heather L wrote: "You can set up a post in this thread and edit as necessary, OR you can set up your own personal challenge thread in Members Reading/Challenge Lists."

Some of us are OCD enough to do it in both ways :D

Kirsten wrote: "I don't know @Marisa, if you rule out a couple categories, you might as well just not do it.

Maybe there was a book you didn't read in school, but other classes did?

Maybe you could pick a book based on the cover..."


Here's a link I hope will be helpful for those looking for a book they "should have read in high school" but didn't -- we had a list like this when I was in high school, so hope it will prove useful for the challenge.

101 books for college-bound kids

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "For "book you were supposed to read in high school but didn't" - I didn't skip out on any HS reads, but we never read any Mark Twain. Did anyone out there have him for assigned HS reading? I'm ho..."


I had to read Huck Finn in both HS and college. I hated it in HS, but liked it more the second time around, four years later. I've read a couple others by him as well.

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I noticed that one of the categories is "a book that scares you". Does that mean really scare as in frighten or scare as in intimidate? What do you think?"

My first reaction was "scares" as in horror - which I was dreading. But I like the "intimidation" angle; that I can work with! :) ..."


ROFL... I think it is supposed to be horror (a genre I don't care for), but I like the intimidation angle. There are a lot of books that would qualify there. :-D

Marisa wrote: "Heather L wrote: "You can set up a post in this thread and edit as necessary, OR you can set up your own personal challenge thread in Members Reading/Challenge Lists."

Some of us are OCD enough to..."


True! LOL ☺

Hey everyone!


I'm sorry I've been so quiet the last few days, but I have been without internet most of the last week, and am just now trying to catch up a bit. I think I addressed some of the main questions people had, if not, just remind me to see post number whatever, or shoot me a personal message and I'll see to it as soon as I can.

I see that there were a few ruffled feathers over differences in opinion. Please try to be courteous to each other and remember to consider how your words come across on the screen -- we can't hear tone of voice or see facial expressions, so it can be a little hard sometimes to know how something was meant to be taken.

Heather L wrote: "Here's a link I hope will be helpful for those looking for a book they "should have read in high school" but didn't -- we had a list like this when I was in high school, so hope it will prove useful for the challenge. "

Funny, not a lot in common with Spanish schools in my time.

Kirsten wrote: "Another question: an author you love but haven't read yet??

How do you love someone you haven't met yet?"


It's a book you have not yet read by an author you love. ;-)

Heather L wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I don't know @Marisa, if you rule out a couple categories, you might as well just not do it.

Maybe there was a book you didn't read in school, but other classes did?

Maybe you co..."

Thanks Heather. There are lots of good choices on this list. It's a good reference guide and not just for the challenge. To think I earned both a college and professional degree without reading 75% of the books on this list!

Heather L wrote: "❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "For "book you were supposed to read in high school but didn't" - I didn't skip out on any HS reads, but we never read any Mark Twain. Did anyone out there..."

This works out perfectly for me, as I did buy that omnibus last month on a whim and now I have a reason to make reading it a priority.

I'm baaaackkkk!!!! Thanks to all those who reached out to me (you know who you are). I love you.

I discussed this book discussion with my Mom last night and she had some interesting suggestions.

A book she loved... DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (AIIIEEEEE!!!!)

A book that scares her... ULYSSES by JAMES JOYCE (me,too).

A book based on a true story... IN COLD BLOOD by TRUMAN CAPOTE

Anyone looking for a book with magic? May I suggest The Night Circus? I'm reading it for another book group and I'm really enjoying it.

I've decided for my trilogy I'm going to finally read Lev Grossman's The Magicians trilogy.

I wonder if written in a foreign language also includes British and Australian English... LOL!

Kirsten wrote: "I'm baaaackkkk!!!! Thanks to all those who reached out to me (you know who you are). I love you.

I discussed this book discussion with my Mom last night and she had some interesting suggestions.
..."

So glad you decided to come back. I hope you see my post # 121.

I bought The Night Circuslast month and was hoping it would be used in something. I've been wanting to read it. I have the second book in the Lev Grossman series. See you do add something to the group!!!!!!

LOL! I had started the first Lev Grossman but never finished it. And I was looking for a trilogy.

I noticed the Night Circus is discounted at Amazon. But I have the book from the library... even cheaper!

Unfortunately, I think I have the flu. Ick! Means I can only listen to books as I can't wear my glasses for prolonged periods.

I'm so sorry to hear that. My father in law had it all last week and well into the weekend. Take care of yourself, that's the most important thing.

I think I'm going to try this challenge. I went through the list and picked out books for most of the categories from my mountain of TBR books.

My only problem is that reading wise I'm like the dog from the movie "Up". I have a plan but then ... "squirrel". I see something that interests me and my reading plan goes out the window and I am suddenly on a reading tangent that is not even close to what I had originally planned to read. Hopefully I'll be able to stick on task.

Jill wrote: "I'm so sorry to hear that. My father in law had it all last week and well into the weekend. Take care of yourself, that's the most important thing."

I'm hoping to get a Tamiflu shot this morning.

Teresa wrote: "I think I'm going to try this challenge. I went through the list and picked out books for most of the categories from my mountain of TBR books.

My only problem is that reading wise I'm like the..."

LOL! That's what I was like with the Goodreads Choice Awards Challenge last year. I think it's the same philosophy behind why we never finish our resolutions.

My thing is I try not to commit myself to reading a particular book. I'm keeping a spreadsheet where I'm writing down ideas... Like the book I started but never finished... that could be so many books.

I have tried to read all the posts, so if this question has been asked, I'm sorry about repeating it. Do you have to read all three books in the trilogy or do you have to finish up the trilogy?
Also, does Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail count as a memoir? I have to read it for another bookclub this month and it would be awesome if I could cross that one off the list. Since that genre is not one of my favorites!

I would, Lisa!

Also, another memoir I ran across was Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music or, failing that, a book that is the basis for a tv show. It's on sale at the Kindle store for $1.99!

I haven't decided whether to buy it or not. I figured, push came to shove, I could read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes for the TV show one.

Thank you Kirsten.

Lisa wrote: "I have tried to read all the posts, so if this question has been asked, I'm sorry about repeating it. Do you have to read all three books in the trilogy or do you have to finish up the trilogy? ..."

Yes, this is a 52 book challenge.

Lisa wrote: "I have tried to read all the posts, so if this question has been asked, I'm sorry about repeating it. Do you have to read all three books in the trilogy or do you have to finish up the trilogy? ..."

Lisa, I'd say that exactly fits the bill as a memoir. I read What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding which was great, but probably not one I'd recommend to anyone who prefers their reads to be more um... chaste. :)

I don't know if this will help anyone else, but I'd been wondering about the "memoir" category. So, I looked up the difference between a memoir and an autobiography. What I discovered is that both are from a first person perspective but a memoir is a story about one part of that person's life, whereas an autobiography pretty much goes through their entire life. I don't know how to share a link but I just googled "memoir vs autobiography." :)

A lot of times they're nice and helpful and put memoir in the title.

Kirsten wrote: "A lot of times they're nice and helpful and put memoir in the title."

LOL! :)

For some other ideas for memoirs, you could always check out the titles from the Goodreads Choice Awards finalists: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceaward...

I just finished 84, Charing Cross Road for my "book published in the year you were born" but it would also work perfectly for memoir and I can't actually sing its praises highly enough. I loved this book - the kind of love that makes you want to hug the book afterward.