Cozy Mysteries discussion

I have a lot of fun using my TBR list and the Listopia feature here at Goodreads to compile my list. You can see my list on message 68, although I am not quite completed I have a good plan on what to read. I have not filled in a few as I will as it happens...like If I read a book for a different goal but I cry thoughout it,I will move it to that catagory and find a new one for the first catagory.

I used the listopia for the best books of 1972 for the books published from the year I was born and found it very interesting...I added a few more to my TBR.


Any Suggestions for the Antonyms?

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "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 enoug..."

Also, is one of the criteria a book made into a film? The film starred Anthony Hopkins and, I believe, Anne Bancroft.

Sharmon wrote: "I have a lot of fun using my TBR list and the Listopia feature here at Goodreads to compile my list. You can see my list on message 68, although I am not quite completed I have a good plan on what..."

You know I've been wondering about that? Many cozy mysteries like to have word play in the titles...

I was curious Sharmon so I googled "antonyms in book titles" and got this: http://sblazak.wordpress.com/famous-b...

Are some of you still looking for a memoir? I ran across this article this morning about a memoir about Alzheimer's by a journalist: http://artery.wbur.org/2015/01/07/gre...

On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's by Greg O'Brien

Sharmon wrote: "...Any Suggestions for the Antonyms?
"

Here's a listopia list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Here's a listopia list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8..."

Thank you so much...I never thought to try for a list.

AlegnaB wrote: "Sharmon wrote: "...Any Suggestions for the Antonyms?
"

Here's a listopia list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8..."

Thanks - that made it easy to find an antonym book I haven't read - Angels & Demons.

Does a made for TV movie count as a TV show?

I'm wondering: does "a book originally written in another language" mean another language than English, or another language than your native one?

Do you think A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die would be a good title for antonyms?

Sabrina, I was thinking about a translated book, aside of the original language.

Marisa wrote: "Do you think A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die would be a good title for antonyms?"

Yes

Nell wrote: "Marisa wrote: "Do you think A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die would be a good title for antonyms?"

Yes"

It's good for January challenge too :D

Updated Post #90 = 05/52.

I'm having a lot of fun planning what I'm going to read and am already working on book 3 of the challenge.

The category that is giving me stress is the book you were supposed to read in school but didn't. I was the student who read everything assigned ... except ... The Brothers Karamazov and Paradise Lost. I started both of them but didn't finish and relied on Cliff Notes to complete my assignments.

To top it off, I'm one of those OCD people who usually refuses to stop reading a book just because I don't like it. I push on to the end, no matter no long it takes me. (It took me 6 weeks to read A Christmas Carol.) So the fact I started but never finished those books means I really despised them. I'm not looking forward to trying again with either one of them. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with a different book I didn't finish so I don't have to read both of them, one for the didn't read in school category and one for the start but didn't finish category.

For those looking for a book with antonyms in the title and want a cozy suggestion: The Good, the Bad, and the Emus. Sadly, I've already read it - but it's a great read!

Teresa wrote: "I'm having a lot of fun planning what I'm going to read and am already working on book 3 of the challenge.

The category that is giving me stress is the book you were supposed to read in school b..."

LOL! That's kind of like me. In freshman English class, I only read the first 5 chapters of Great Expectations and still got an A on my essay test. (Essay is French of BS, you know.)

I also wanted to say that don't judge a book today by what you thought of it, say, 20 years ago.

I read The Grapes of Wrath in high school and hated it. I re-read it in 2008 (at the start of the economic meltdown) and loved it.

The person you were in high school is not the person you are today. (At least in my case.) I think some books are wasted on the young.

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "For those looking for a book with antonyms in the title and want a cozy suggestion: The Good, the Bad, and the Emus. Sadly, I've already read it - but it's a great read!"

Good to know. Andrews is a favorite author but I'm waiting for a price drop when the p/b comes out in May.

I've always meant to start that series. It looks interesting. Anyone have a good idea for a first book by a popular author?

Teresa wrote: "I'm having a lot of fun planning what I'm going to read and am already working on book 3 of the challenge.

The category that is giving me stress is the book you were supposed to read in school b..."

Check out the link Heather posted at message 125. Many of us are choosing books that are often assigned in school even if they weren't assigned to us.

Or have fun with it! Call your mom, sister, bff, child, ask them for a suggestion of a book they had to read in school.

For instance, my brothers had to read Bridge to Terabithia in school, but I didn't.

Kirsten wrote: "I've always meant to start that series. It looks interesting. Anyone have a good idea for a first book by a popular author?"

Well, Donna Andrews is a pretty popular author and since you've always meant to start her series, Murder With Peacocks would fit the prompt perfectly. :D

That's a good idea!

Teresa wrote: "The category that is giving me stress is the book you were supposed to read in school but didn't. I was the student who read everything assigned ..."

I'm having trouble with this category, too, Teresa, as I was the same way. I'm racking my brain for a book.

I'm also enjoying the planning. Very fun.

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "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..."

Just read that one last year. Wonderful book.

I think some of you are overthinking it. But if you need inspiration I found this list on-line of 40 books you should have read in high school.

http://blog.hpb.com/hpb-blog/2012/1/2...

Failing that, maybe we should all just buddy read a book together. LOL!

I've updated message #26 with the two books I've read on Christmas. For a love triangle: Towards Zero (I think in this book you can play to guess how many love triangles you find) and for a book in a day Trust No One. It was published on 1/6/2015 and I'd finished it the same. day. What can I say? I like JAK's books a lot.

Thanks everyone! It is now time to find a trilogy!

For some of these categories, I'm not sure I can plan for. "Books that made me cry" for instance, I figure I'll find one. It happens to me at least three times a year.

Books finished in a day is the same thing. When it happens, it happens. (Of course I could cheat and read a Dr Seuss book.)

Lisa wrote: "Thanks everyone! It is now time to find a trilogy!"

I'm thinking about reading the Millennium Trilogy books for the trilogy since I have had these books a while but haven't read them yet. If you like young adult, I read the Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier last year and loved it.

Other trilogies: The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, the Hunger Games trilogy, the Divergent trilogy.

I'm planning on reading Lev Grossman's Magicians trilogy.

#5 of 52 -- A Book Set In The Future

Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb

Note: I almost thought of putting this one as a love triangle, but there needs to be some uncertainty in a love triangle!

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.
..."


Glad you're back, and those are some good suggestions. Ulysses definitely scares me, but then -- I haven't liked much of Joyce's writing. I've read In Cold Blood a couple times, and it's also one that could go towards a movie based on a book (also seen a few times).

I also have The Night Circus in Mount TBR, which I keep hoping to get. Well, that and I don't know how many other books. I can think of worse habits or things to spend one's money on. ☺

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 dog from the movie "Up". I have a plan but then ... "squirrel."


ROFL -- only because I know the feeling. :-\

Nell wrote: "Does a made for TV movie count as a TV show?"


I say yes, since I may be reading the first in a series that was made into a TV series. Or maybe the last in another made-for-TV series. In the immortal words of Jimmy Buffett, indecision may or may not be my problem. :-|

Kirsten wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I'm having a lot of fun planning what I'm going to read and am already working on book 3 of the challenge.

The category that is giving me stress is the book you were supposed to r..."


Ha! I can top that. I only read the first three chapters of Moby Dick and got an A+ on the exam. Sometimes listening and taking good notes is all you need to get by. I doubt I'll ever attempt that book again, the first try was much too painful.

I liked The Grapes of Wrath both times I read it (as well as Of Mice and Men), but had a similar experience to you with Huck Finn. Absolutely hated it in high school, loved it four years later in college. Sometimes it's where you are in life and your experiences, sometimes it's a matter of reading a book "too young" -- and sometimes it's the difference between a teacher who thinks Huck Finn is God, and a professor who appreciates Twain's humor so much he just wants to share that experience with you.

Melissa wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Thanks everyone! It is now time to find a trilogy!"

I'm thinking about reading the Millennium Trilogy books for the trilogy since I have had these books a while but haven't read them ..."


If you like YA, The Hunger Games trilogy was good.

If you like romance, Nora Roberts has a lot of trilogies, including the one I plan to read, The Cousins O'Dwyer.

Kirsten wrote: "I think some of you are overthinking it. But if you need inspiration I found this list on-line of 40 books you should have read in high school.

http://blog.hpb.com/hpb-blog/2012/1/2......"


Half Price Books has a lot of great book lists. I've actually read 27/40, have attempted a couple others and never finished, and also have a few in Mount TBR.

Sharmon wrote: "Here's a listopia list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8..."

Thank you so much...I never thought to try for a list."


Thanks for the link, Sharmon -- and DUH! The Prince and the Pauper is the current quarterly group read for the HEAC group here at GR. Guess Lisa Kay and I will be able to check that one off! ☺

If somebody wants a short book made movie, here comes a tricky one: it's not the film but the origin for it We Can Remember It for You Wholesale is the inspiration for "Total Recall"

You know what really sucks this early in the challenge? Finishing a book that could be applied to half a dozen criteria (female author, mystery, set in a different country, recommended, somewhere I've always wanted to visit...). I'll have to wait and see where it fits in best.

Marisa wrote: "If somebody wants a short book made movie, here comes a tricky one: it's not the film but the origin for it We Can Remember It for You Wholesale is the inspiration for "Total Recall""


Which reminds me of a couple other shorts that were made into movies: All Summer in a Day and Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons (one of the BEST movies ever!).

Heather L wrote: "You know what really sucks this early in the challenge? Finishing a book that could be applied to half a dozen criteria (female author, mystery, set in a different country, recommended, somewhere I..."

Heather, I agree, so I've no problem in moving books later ;)

Heather L wrote: "Which reminds me of a couple other shorts that were made into movies: All Summer in a Day and Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons (one of the BEST movies ever!). "

The second one can go for scary too.

If you like historical romance (with a little French spy action thrown in), I recommend the Marriage Mart trilogy by Amanda Forester

Thanks again to all of you for giving me so many suggestions. My problem is that the books that fit for the trilogy in my TBR skyscraper, most of them, I read the first book last year and they don't count. Darn, my OCD in catching up on my series on Fictfact. :)

Lisa wrote: "Thanks again to all of you for giving me so many suggestions. My problem is that the books that fit for the trilogy in my TBR skyscraper, most of them, I read the first book last year and they don..."

Me too, Lisa! There are so many trilogies I've started (Hunger Games, Divergent, Millennium) it's not even funny!

The category that was really doing my head in was the "book written by someone under 30" - do you know how many authors out there don't reveal their age?!?! ;)

I drove myself nuts on the internet for almost 45 minutes until I realised I was WAY overthinking it. I was fixating on contemporary authors. When I stopped doing that, I realised I had already ordered a book last year that fit perfectly: Love and Freindship: And Other Youthful Writings by Jane Austen. It's her juvenilia and I started reading it yesterday.

Thought I'd mention it, just in case anyone got stuck in the same rut I was in. :)

I selected The Bell Jar for my author under 30 because it is our quarterly classic over at the Bookworm Bitches group and it has been on my TBR for some time, but I did find this list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
that may help find some other options. I would use the list as a starting point and then double check it somewhere else because some goodreads members just flood lists with their favorite books.

I did the same thing Jennifer. My mom suggested Sherman Alexie and I remembered my brother had given me The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven for Christmas. Luckily, I could find his birth year and it worked out.

I think your solution is perfect, though.