The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

Did I miss the details of April mini challenge?

I don't think so. I haven't seen anything yet.

Apoorv wrote: "Paris wrote: "When does the mini challenge start?"

Here is the COUNTDOWN to the start of the mini challenge.
Note: As usual, the books can be started before, they just need to be finished after th..."

Fab - thanks. I will slow down my reading and not finish any books until after 10am BST on Thursday!

Completion Post

Book: Something to Live For
Author: Richard Roper
Pages: 352
Date: 11 Apr 2021

UNO Cards it fits:
0: Standalone
5: C: Imogen
6: Title S
Skip: C: Peggy

Cover - Blue

Sorry, I am not on here enough this month. We are packing up to move and still haven't found a home yet. Our contract is up 15 May, so there is still hope. I try to read when I can, but I may finish out the month with audio books.

Yoohoo, beautiful people!!
We have a challenge in front of us!

April Mini Challenge

The main spreadsheet has all the pertinent information. I will get to updating our tracking spreadsheet with all the necessary bits later today.

But, this is going to be rather FUN!! :D

Questions? Fire away!

OMG there are some really difficult categories here!

How are we supposed to know what words are going to be in the book :D

Laura wrote: "OMG there are some really difficult categories here!
How are we supposed to know what words are going to be in the book :D"

LOL! And you thought the Mods like us. :P
The one I have done it previously, if you have a physical book, is to go to GoogleBooks or Amazon and most books have an option on "Look Inside" when we select the paperback and/or hardcover. You can then type in the word in question and it should come up with search result if the word is in the text of the book.

If you are using an ebook on your Kindle, searching I believe is much more easier and you can search for a particular word throughout your library.

The one thing we need to do is decide between the tasks for A4a and A4b since we can only do one of those.

Take a peak at it everyone and see which one is less painful.
My vote is for A4a, seems rather simpler. (I hope I don't eat my words later!) :P

Apoorv wrote: "The one thing we need to do is decide between the tasks for A4a and A4b since we can only do one of those."

I think it's more or less equally difficult for me; with the series of 3 books I'm reading now I can cover 33B and 35B if those seem difficult.
I think it's the lists that make it hard - I've looked at them really quickly and the "over 35" list has a lot of books that are on my TBR but the other have a few as well.

Also - currently looking through my Kindle library for all the words. This function is AMAZING!! I'm so glad you knew this!
Should I make a list of books with specific words? I've got 74 that have "neon" in it but I think that's going to be the easiest one. For "headband" I have 15.
Edit: sadly it went downhill from there :D but I did find a few options for some of the words. Of course my Kindle library is also quite limited so I'm sure we'll find all of them!

Can we claim tasks in the spreadsheet like last time?

So, I added another sheet to our tracking spreadsheet where you can list out all the books for each of the words we need to find in the text. Thanks for that idea, Laura.

Please feel free to list as many books as you find which may also help others, incase they are finding it difficult to find a particular book.

And you can absolutely go ahead and reserve tasks.
Do remember the compulsory tasks are main and the optional ones are just additional point tasks which we would definitely want to do but are lower on the importance scale for now.

Wow okay! The mini challenge looks fun!

I'm going through my next few books and searching for stuff to link them, I'll put my name against a couple, but will wait so everyone gets a chance to claim something & then we can work on filling the gaps.

I also vote for A4a, I think it looks easier

Edit: it looks like there could be a lot of moving around with this mini challenge to make things fit - good job you love spreadsheets Apoorv!!!

Edit 2: I might be making the spreadsheet a little messy by adding in all my notes on how it can fit into other tasks.... SORRY!!

Haha! There is going to be a LOT of moving around. I am weirdly excited. :P

I just added a column to include the other tasks a book would apply too, so we can totally use that.

Thank you for listing everything, Paris. Certainly helps towards the end.

What does task 4 mean? Read a book with 8 in the page number?

Elisabeth, that would mean any book that is 108, 118, 128, 283, 843, 888 etc. as page number. So, one of the number in the page number should be 8.

Doh! Of course. Page count they mean. Thanks.

I'm on two books which I can finish just after the mini opens and I'm surprised by how many options they cover! eg I just came across 'neon' in one of them totally unexpectedly. Also added one from my TBR pile that starts with E for Elaine. Who knows what else will pop up?

You'll be busy sorting all these out, Apoorv!

Woah okay! There so many tasks!

I too agree that A4a is better!

tons of tasks! Will start deciding on books later today.

Completion Post

Book: King of Fools
Author: Amanda Foody
Pages: 602
Date: 13 Apr 21

UNO Cards it fits:
2: Character T - Tock
3: Character H - Harrison
4: Author F - Foody, Amanda
6: Character S - Sophia
7: Character V - Vianca
8: Character E - Enne
9: Location N - New Reynes
Skip: Character K/P - Poppy
Color: Blue 78.1%

Quick request:

For the April Mini, if your book fits a more tricky task then opt for that one always. The letter, page number, MPG tasks are relatively easier and we can fit in books for that - but tasks like shoulder pads, hairdresser, badass character etc. are rather specific ones. So, we can nab them with a book, go for that one as opposed to the straight forward ones. Will just make it easier to work on the simpler ones towards the end of the month, if it gets to that. Thanks, you lil champions you! :D

Yes, those hairdressers were a problem in March!

Is my bent policeman badass enough? He's in the book I'll finish tonight. He's pretty nasty and still manipulating even when he's in prison.

Would an author named Flower be enough to link with Driving Miss Daisy?

Completion Post
The Seagull
Author: Ann Cleeves
Pages: 400
Date: April 15
2: Title The
3: C Holly
6: C Stanhope
7: C Vera
8: 8 in series
Skip: C: Patty

Mini Challenge

13: Book with a bad-ass character: John Brace, bent copper
3: 8 in series
28: 400 pages
B16 C: DI Vera Stanhope
B: 20 C: DI Vera Stanhope

Completion Post
Murder in a Basket
Author: Amanda Flower
Pages: 284
Date: April 15
Cards
1 Place: Ohio
2: 2 in series
3 C: Hayes
4 A: Flower
5 C: India
6 C: Sam
8 C: Erin
9 C: Nicholas
Skip C: Knute

Mini Challenge
9: Derek is a university student
8: Neon in text p 184
26: 284 pages
33 MPG Mystery
32a Author name Flower links to daisy flower in Driving Miss Daisy
B16 C; Richard Mains is a policeman
B4 C: Richard

Elisabeth wrote: "Would an author named Flower be enough to link with Driving Miss Daisy?"

I think that should count!


Questions:
Is a professor considered a teacher for task 11? Alternatively, the word spandex appears in this book but as far as I can see in google books it's a character's name. Does that still count?
If both answers are yes, which of the two is the more difficult (I think spandex)?

Also, in the book I'm currently reading someone smokes but it only happens once and the text is "[we go to that bar because] Dr. Franklin can smoke. She doesn't, really, but she likes to light one up when she drinks. She mostly stares at it." Does it count for a character who smokes? I think that's the most difficult task I can accomplish with this book.

Completion Post

Book: In Five Years
Author: Rebecca Serle
Pages: 272
Date: 15 Apr 21

UNO Cards it fits:
0: Standalone
2: C: Trent, Nate
4: C: Frederick Gold
5: Title I
9: P: New York
Skip: C: Kohan, Dannie
Reverse: Read by Vanessa

Mini Challenge:
Compulsory
26* [272 pages]

Optional
B4*/ B13* [Author R]
B6*/ B12* [C: Mark Shaw]
B8* [C: Gold, Bella]
B10* [C: Aaron Gregory]
B20* MC is lawyer who often works late & sleeps in the office

Elisabeth wrote: "Would an author named Flower be enough to link with Driving Miss Daisy?"

Oh, it totally works! Excellent connection, Elisabeth! :)

Laura wrote: "Questions:

Is a professor considered a teacher for task 11? Alternatively, the word spandex appears in this book but as far as I can see in google books it's a character's name. Does that still count?
If both answers are yes, which of the two is the more difficult (I think spandex)?
Spandex would be the difficult one for sure, but I don't think it would work since it is a character aka proper name and I believe we are looking for the use of it as a common noun. I can check with the Mods though.

Also, in the book I'm currently reading someone smokes but it only happens once and the text is "[we go to that bar because] Dr. Franklin can smoke. She doesn't, really, but she likes to light one up when she drinks. She mostly stares at it." Does it count for a character who smokes? I think that's the most difficult task I can accomplish with this book."
Ummm... the way I interpret the wording of the task is that the character actually performs the act of smoking. So, if the character in your book doesn't actually smoke, I don't think it would fly. And don't worry if the book doesn't fit a difficult one, we can always use it for the easier tasks and/or the optional ones eventually. No book will go to waste. Haha!

Vicki, does your book, None Shall Sleep fit any of the tasks in the mini challenge since you finished it on the 15th?

Completion Post

Book: His First Wife's Secret
Author: Emma Robinson
Pages: 251
Date: 15-April-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

0: Standalone
3: Title- His
4: Character- Faith
6: Character- Simmons, Caroline
8: Author- Emma; Character- Emily
Skip: Character- Pete


Mini Challenge:

Compulsory
(7) Emma Robinson
(26) 251 pages
(34a) Standalone

Optional
(B4/ B11/ B13) Author - Robinson
(B6) Location- London
(B8) Character- Gabby

Completion Post

Book: Sleeping Giants
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Pages: 322
Date: 15 April 2021

UNO Cards it fits:
1: Series #1
2: Character - Tabib, Ines
3: Character - Colonel Hudson
4: Character - Franklin, Rose
5: Character - Ines Tabib
6: Title S; Author S
7: Character - Vincent Couture
9: Author N
Skip: Character - Kara Resnik

Mini Challenge:
Compulsory
A8 "neon" in the text (Most of the lights were out, but we could see the neon sign from the bar)
A13 a badass character (Kara Resnik - at one point she beats up a couple of army dudes because they won't follow orders and she is generally a badass lady)
A27 322 pages
A33a thriller MPG - it's on the goodreads page but I'm not sure it counts because it's one of the last mentioned

Optional
B2,3,12 Ryan Mitchell
B4,11,13 Ryan Mitchell
B10 Alyssa
B9 Robert Woodhull

Completion Post
Just My Luck
Author: Adele Parks
Pages 384
Date: April 16
Cards
Blue cover
O: Standalone
1 C: Owens
2 C: Toma
3 C: Heathcote
4 C: Fred
6 C: Scarlett
8 C: Emily
Skip A: Parks

Mini
5:First word in text start with E : Elaine
4: 384 pages
9: Emily is a schoolgirl

Optional
B2 : Megan
B4: Ridley
B6,7: Lexi, Laura
B8: Gillian

Quick note!

For tasks that are not obvious from the title, cover, MPG, please note down why a certain book fits. Helps in the justification process and there are less questions eventually.

For e.g. for a certain word in a book, quote the sentence.
for a badass character, teacher, smoker mention something that justifies that.

Let me know if there are any questions and we can work it out! :)

I'm reading a book set on a cruise ship and the mother takes her son to a pirate movie at the cinema. Also the main characters dance in one scene on board ship. Are they good enough if we need them? One character practises violin and piano though so I've listed that first on the tracking sheet.

Yup. If the characters actually dance, go to the cinema, play an instrument and the written text says and shows that - then it totally works!

Great, but a pity they're all in the same book! haha. I don't envy you Apoorv, juggling all this.

Haha! Honestly, this team is so awesome, it hardly is a hardship because you guys are so detailed and willing to work as a team. Couldn't have asked for a more cooler team than this! :D

Completion Post

Book: Waking Gods
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Pages: 336
Date: 17 April 2021

UNO Cards it fits:
2: Series #2
3: Character - Horsbrugh, Deborah
4: Character - Franklin, Rose
6: Author S
7: Character - Vincent Couture
8: Character - Eva Reyes
9: Author N
Skip: Character - Kara Resnik

Mini Challenge:
This book is NOT in the mini challenge spreadsheet tab yet because I didn't know where to put it! Team captain decides ;)
Compulsory
A13 a badass character (Kara Resnik - at one point in the previous book she beat up a couple of army dudes because they won't follow orders and she is generally a badass lady; also in the text is the sentence "your mom was a badass mother******")
A22 "radio" is in the text ("You're listening to the night shift with Sarah Kent on Absolute Radio")
A27 336 pages
A31a there are aliens in this book
A33a thriller MPG - it's on the goodreads page but I'm not sure it counts because it's one of the last mentioned

Optional
B2,3,12 C: Ryan Mitchell
B4,11,13 C: Ryan Mitchell
B10 C: Alyssa
B6,7 C: Jacob Lawson
B8 C: Eugene Govender
B5 C: Chris Parker
B19 there is a chapter where two people's wedding night is described and they go out to a bar with a lot of friends to dance

Apoorv wrote: "Haha! Honestly, this team is so awesome, it hardly is a hardship because you guys are so detailed and willing to work as a team. Couldn't have asked for a more cooler team than this! :D"

Yay someone thinks I'm cool and amazing :D

Honestly I'm really glad I ended up in this team for my first ever team reading challenge!! You're all so great!

Good grief! I woke up this morning and thought 'Did I do a completion post for my last book?' Lo and behold I didn't but I filled in the spreadsheets as finished etc and Apoorv has logged it. You're so kind not calling out my senior moment, Apoorv hahaha

Completion Post
Cold Grave
Author: Kathryn Fox
Pages: 352
Date: April 16
Cards
0 C: Zississ
4: A: Fox
6: 6 in series
9 C: Novak
Skip A : Kathryn

Mini
Jasmine plays violin and piano
A1 Neon in text
A2 16: Anya takes son Ben to pirate movie
A3 28: 352 pages
B33a MPG Mystery

Optional
B2,3, 12 Martin
B3,19 Anya and Martin dance in bar

My goodness, after reading this I am never going on a cruise ship!! Not that I've ever wanted to...

Apoorv wrote: "Vicki, does your book, None Shall Sleep fit any of the tasks in the mini challenge since you finished it on the 15th?"

I am so sorry for being MIA this past week, but as you saw I updated my books on the SS and added my mini-challenge words, etc. At least I think I did them but I have a couple more to check. You are right on top of it all, Apoorv. GREAT job!!

Elisabeth wrote: "Good grief! I woke up this morning and thought 'Did I do a completion post for my last book?' Lo and behold I didn't but I filled in the spreadsheets as finished etc and Apoorv has logged it. You'r..."

Apoor has done a superb job. He's gotten so many of my books that are on the SS that I never posted. It really helps when life gets crazy.

Vicki wrote: "Elisabeth wrote: "Good grief! I woke up this morning and thought 'Did I do a completion post for my last book?' Lo and behold I didn't but I filled in the spreadsheets as finished etc and Apoorv ha..."

Vicki, sadly I have no excuse as atm my life is quite leisurely with sporadic bursts of activity eg my dad turns 99 on Friday so our son and his wife are visiting over the weekend and we'll do a birthday lunch. We're having an afternoon tea party on the actual birthday Friday with a group of rellos and friends. Not much reading on those days.

Hey all. I just finished Outlander, but have no time to fill in the spreadsheets or anything as I'm trying to babysit during a family emergency that could last a few days. I'll try my best to get to a computer soon!

Completion Post

Book: Sunflower Sisters
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Pages: 528
Date: 17 Apr 21

UNO Cards it fits:
2: Character T - Tandy Rose
3: third in a series
4: Character F - Fergus
6: Title S - Sunflower Sisters
8: Character E - Eliza
9: Character N - Nathan
Skip: Location K/P - Peeler Plantation

Mini: #4: read a book with 8 in the page number - 528
#9: read a book with a character who goes to school or takes part in any kind of course - she went to learn about nursing to be part of the Sanitary Commission
#30: read a book with more than 450 pages - 528
#B2, B3, B12: M - Mary
#B9: W - Woolsey, Georgeanne
#B10: A - Ann-May

Completion Post

Book: Only Human
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Pages: 336
Date: 18 April 2021

UNO Cards it fits:
1: Title O - Only Human
3: Series #3
4: Character - Franklin, Rose
5: Character - Ipet Estoteks
6: Author S
7: Character - Vincent Couture
8: Character - Eva Reyes
9: Author N
Skip: Character - Katherine Lebedev

Mini Challenge:
This book is NOT in the mini challenge spreadsheet tab yet because I didn't know where to put it! Team captain decides ;)
Compulsory
A9 Eva Reyes: towards the end of the book it is mentioned that she is in flight school in Alabama (but she's only there at the very end of the book)
A11 Rose Franklin starts teaching as a professor in physics somewhere in the last 10% of the book
A27 336 pages
A31a there are aliens in this book

Optional
B2,3,12 C: Daniel Moensch
B4,11,13 C: Reyes, Eva
B10 C: Alexander Vasiliev
B6,7 C: Lebedev, Katherine
B8 C: Govender, Eugene
B5 C: Couture, Vincent

Seems like real life is catching up to all of us lately in some form or other!
I have to go back to work tomorrow, today's the last day of Easter vacation. I'm honestly really not looking forward to it, this school year has been 17 years long or so it seems at least. 10 more weeks!

But we're doing really great for both the regular and the mini challenge so I don't think we need to worry. Especially if it's just about updating the spreadsheet, Apoorv can pull an all-nighter the last day if necessary, right? ;)

We are doing really well, so thank YOU all for being so consistently awesome. :D

And as long as you guys can give me the information for the book, I will be glad to fit it in the spreadsheet as best as I can. :) It also helps that I am unhealthily addicted to this website. Hehe! :P

Kathryn wrote: "Hey all. I just finished Outlander, but have no time to fill in the spreadsheets or anything as I'm trying to babysit during a family emergency that could last a few days. I'll try my best to get t..."

No worries, Kathryn! Thank you for letting us know.
Hope everything and everyone is okay. Do take care.