The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

I'm also paying so much more attention to all the names now! And every time I'm like, yeah, this place starts with an F! But then it's not an important place at all or something :D

I also crochet and that's actually how I started listening to audiobooks. But I think a lot depends on the narrator. I've listened to several books which were narrated by the authors themselves and I really enjoyed that. A big fail as an audiobook, for me, was Ready Player One because there are some chat conversations in it and it was just awful to listen to it being read out loud. I'm currently listening to Michelle Obama's book Becoming (also narrated by her) but I haven't been crocheting at all so it's taking me a loooooong time (and it's a really big book! 19 hours of audio). During lockdown I stretched every day and listened to books then but now that's kind of fallen by the wayside.

My other hobbies are video games, board games, baking and horse riding. I haven't been riding since October due to COVID and I miss it a lot. Spending time around horses is very therapeutic. I also like doing jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles etc but not too often. My boyfriend gave me a book with easy crosswords from the New York Times for my birthday and I love it because it's not too difficult :)

Elisabeth wrote: "My grandma used to crochet but I never learned. I used to do a lot of knitting though.

I suppose my hobby is tennis and I do potter in the garden a bit--talk to the lettuces and tomatoes and the n..."

Oh you must be surely having a green thumb!😊

Paris wrote: "Morning everyone

Seems like we're doing really well with the challenge?! Well done everyone!

I was wondering if anyone is really into audiobooks? I am currently listening to my first ever audiobo..."

I haven't tried audiobooks yet. It's so true that nothing can ever compare to physical books. But now I have kind of got used to E-books as well.

I really enjoyed reading The Thursday Murder Club, hope you enjoy it too!

My other hobbies are solving jigsaw puzzles and sand art.

Paris wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "Paris wrote: "Book: Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Author: Caroline Criado Perez
Pages: 411
Date: 08-Feb-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

0:..."

I totally agree! I was surprised that gender data bias was a thing and it’s definitely changed my perspective in issues. I tried to get my boyfriend to understand and some things he did, some he didn’t. One thing he didn’t was what was said about cars and seatbelts

Paris wrote: "Morning everyone

Seems like we're doing really well with the challenge?! Well done everyone!

I was wondering if anyone is really into audiobooks? I am currently listening to my first ever audiobo..."


I was against audiobooks at first but I’ve come to love it. It’s the main thing I listen to when driving. It’s also great when you’re in the mood to multitask.

I will say that some narrators don’t do the book well and others suck you in. Audible has free children’s books for free as a member. I downloaded a few but fell in love with Winnie the Pooh. It was so sweet. I also like hearing a biographer reading their own biography eg the Obamas

So February is a busy month for me (my birthday, my brothers birthday, Valentine’s Day and anniversary), on top of that I’m looking for a place to rent which has been hectic. You’ll all see more of me in the next two months! I still do read all your comments and want to reply but just struggling a bit to balance everything until March :P

Paris wrote: "Morning everyone

Seems like we're doing really well with the challenge?! Well done everyone!

I was wondering if anyone is really into audiobooks? I am currently listening to my first ever audiobo..."

1st to Die Is the first or one of the first audiobooks I ever read. I began using audio when my father had a stroke and ended up in a rehab for the rest of the 5 1/2 years of his life. He had been an avid reader, but after his stroke he never read again. I had read Still Alice whose MC was a Harvard linguistics teacher who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease and her journey as she lost the ability to manipulate the English language. It really resonated with me as I was an English teacher for 25 years. I've never been a good auditory learner so I never enjoyed having books read aloud (like in school) because I felt like I got lost in it, so long story short I wanted to kind of train myself lest I lost the ability to read. I'm diabetic so I know it's POSSIBLE to lose my sight and that fear was the impetus for me to use audio. I still mostly read along with my audiobooks though unless I am already well into it and know the characters. I now use audio/e-book/hardcopy in combination.

I read all of the books in the Women's Murder Club series. His 21st book in the series 21st Birthday comes out in May so I'll be reading that one too and hopefully listening on audio as well.

Tina ❣ wrote: "So February is a busy month for me (my birthday, my brothers birthday, Valentine’s Day and anniversary), on top of that I’m looking for a place to rent which has been hectic. You’ll all see more of..."

I'm right there with you, Tina. February is proving to be a busy and hectic month for me. Still trying to get as much reading done as possible, but having a hard time being talkative on here! Really want to, but I'm at least reading through comments.

Completion Post

Book: Flyaway
Author: Kathleen Jennings
Pages: 176
Date: 10-Feb-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

0. Standalone
2. C: Tina Scott
3. C: Hale, Casey
4. Title: F
5. Place: Ingelwall
6. C: Spicer, David
9. C: Nerida Scott
Skip: P - Patricia Aberdeen

Elisabeth wrote: "UNO makes me really aware of names. The book I'm reading now only fits 4 cards so far, 0 for standalone, 2 for the author and 4 and 6 for characters which is fine because Apoorv will probably use o..."

OMG! Me too! :D
And that's why me being pesky with those Fs, Is, and Vs. Hehe!

So, I might be a bit crazy (umm, no need to shake your head in affirmation so unanimously everyone! :P), but I actually keep a spreadsheet of all these metadata related to a book and character names are also included there. Come to think of it, it might have all started with the very first UNO challenge. LOL! :P

Paris wrote: "I was wondering if anyone is really into audiobooks? I am currently listening to my first ever audiobook of The Thursday Murder Club. I decided to give an audiobook a go because one of my other hobbies is crochet, and it's the only way I can crochet & 'read' at the same time."

Ofcourse, nothing beats holding a book in hand and reading it. Hands down!

But, the quarantine got me into audiobooks big time mainly because I get most of my books through my libraries. And I must say it is a very exciting experience, more so because I am huge on how people pronounce words and accents and all that. I tend to do that myself when I am reading a book, so seeing that done by professional voice over actors has been a great experience.

I certainly loved some books much much more in audio and I would highly recommend them in that format; Sadie, Daisy Jones & The Six, and A Woman Is No Man. Beautiful ensemble experiences!

------
What other hobbies do you guys have?

I sing a bit, also I love collecting music and am sort of a database keeper, so I have ended up collecting and documenting music (primarily Indian) from the 1930s.

I also tend to dance and paint a bit, play most sports that involve a racket (I see you Elisabeth!), love cooking, and I also learned doing needlework and embroidery while I was quarantining with my parents back home last year. What fun!

UPDATE

Get ready! Think 80s!

(that's all you get for now!)

Ooooohh What a teaser!

My current book with the meagre pickings has now revealed a Vera!

Completion Post


Book: One Perfect Grave
Author: Stacy Green
Pages: 250
Date: 10-Feb-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

0: Character- Zach
1: Title- One
2: Book 2 in series; Character- Todd, Rory
3: Character- Hunt, Nikki; Character- Hart, Courtney
4: Character- Fletcher, Cam
6: Author- Stacy Green
8: Character- Eddie Nelson
9: Character- Nikki Hunt; Character- Newport, Caitlin
Skip: Character- Kellan

Cover Colour : Blue (77.2%)

Apoorv wrote: "UPDATE

Get ready! Think 80s!

(that's all you get for now!)"

What does this MEAN?? :o

The mini challenge is coming soon!

Books with characters in their 80's perhaps? Set in the 80's? Written in the 80's? But which century?

I didn't know there was a mini challenge! How exciting :)

Laura wrote: "I didn't know there was a mini challenge! How exciting :)"

Oh even I didn't know!! This is going to be interesting 😎

I just saw our mini-challenge! I have the book at home (it's my grandfather's copy) but I haven't read it yet! I can read it for our challenge, if its ok with you guys.

Go for it, Vanessa. I would have volunteered if you hadn't. I read a lot of thrillers so this is right up my street!

How about I find a book with a guy with a gun on the cover? That shouldn't be hard to find.

Elisabeth wrote: "Go for it, Vanessa. I would have volunteered if you hadn't. I read a lot of thrillers so this is right up my street!

How about I find a book with a guy with a gun on the cover? That shouldn't be ..."

Yeah! The 'Micheal Bennett' series by James Patterson, there are some books with those covers or even the 'Alex Cross' series.

FEBRUARY MINI CHALLENGE IS HERE!!
HEAR! HEAR!

MINI CHALLENGE TIME! :D

We are going back to the 80s, people! :D
Pull out your pant suits, or shoulder pads, or high-waisted jeans, or those fluorescent spandex wears!
It all goes and so do we, back to the 80s!!

Head over here for more details:
February Mini Challenge

POINT: The books can start anytime after 1st February,
but should be completed AFTER 14th February.


--------------
Note: This mini challenge is completely optional, so I won't come running after you, if you choose to not participate.
But, from what I have seen the winner of the overall UNO challenge is almost always decided by these extra mini challenge points.

Completion Post


Book: The Invitation
Author: Vi Keeland
Pages: 284
Date: 11-Feb-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

0: Standalone
1: Character- Olivia Royce
3: Character- Hudson
4: Character- Fisher
5: Title- Invitation
6: Character- Stella
7: Author- Vi Keeland
Skip: Author- Keeland, Vi

Based on reading the premise and the book cover, I could "interpret or connect" to these options. I don't know if I am correct.
~Character name Jack
~Tom Clancy
~Terrorist attack
~Royals
~Spies/CIA
~Guns

Vanessa wrote: "Based on reading the premise and the book cover, I could "interpret or connect" to these options. I don't know if I am correct.
~Character name Jack
~Tom Clancy
~Terrorist attack
~Royals
~Spies/CI..."

You are absolutely right.
We can have
- Book released in 1987
- Book set in Annapolis, MD or London
- Book with ex-Marines
- Any other book in the Jack Ryan series

We could go absolutely in any direction. So, time to run our minds wild! :)

What or where is MD?

Vanessa wrote: "Elisabeth wrote: "Go for it, Vanessa. I would have volunteered if you hadn't. I read a lot of thrillers so this is right up my street!

How about I find a book with a guy with a gun on the cover? ..."

Yes! Good suggestions. Thanks, Vanessa.

Jack Reacher? Millions of those books.

MD is Maryland, a state here in the US. :)

Oooh I've never read anything by Tom Clancy before but I love the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. So I suppose I would also like Jack Ryan.
The next book in the Alex Cross series I have to read is Big Bad Wolf, so far I don't see a real connection to Patriot Games but maybe that'll come later. I'm assuming after Vanessa reads the book we'll have many more ideas to connect books!
I do think (but not sure) that Alex Cross is ex-army but I've no idea which branch - honestly to a non-American the army is really confusing sorry :D in Belgium we don't really care about the army so I don't have a clue how it works.
Anyway if it fits the mini challenge I can definitely read that one this month. :)
I like this challenge, it's so fun!

Completion Post

Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 432
Date: 12-Feb-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

1) #1 in series
2) Character -- Tamlin
3) Character -- Fayre
4) Character -- Isaac
5) Character -- Suriel
6) Character -- Vanserra
7) Character -- Elain
8) Character -- Nesta
9) Character -- Kallias

I have no idea what book I would read to fit our 80's challenge. None of the books I have on my radar really do, but I'm trying to think of SOMETHING I might be able to crack into that would fit.

Kathryn wrote: "MD is Maryland, a state here in the US. :)"<


Okay. Thanks Kathryn

Elisabeth wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "MD is Maryland, a state here in the US. :)"<


Okay. Thanks Kathryn"

No problem! :)

Elisabeth wrote: "Jack Reacher? Millions of those books."

Oh yeah! Also, I just remembered the 'Private series' by James Patterson.

The main protagonist is a former CIA agent Jack Morgan, who runs Private, a renowned company with branches around the globe.The second book in the series is 'Private London', so that also works.

Laura wrote: "Oooh I've never read anything by Tom Clancy before but I love the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. So I suppose I would also like Jack Ryan.
The next book in the Alex Cross series I have to r..."

Same here! This is my first Tom Clancy book too. I think Alex Cross is ex-FBI, but I am not that sure.

Vanessa wrote: "Based on reading the premise and the book cover, I could "interpret or connect" to these options. I don't know if I am correct.
~Character name Jack
~Tom Clancy
~Terrorist attack
~Royals
~Spies/CI..."

publication date, similar cover, similar genre, similar plot

Kathryn wrote: "Completion Post

Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 432
Date: 12-Feb-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

1) #1 in series
2) Character -- Tamlin
3) Character -- Fay..."

How did you like the book Kathryn?

Kathryn wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "So February is a busy month for me (my birthday, my brothers birthday, Valentine’s Day and anniversary), on top of that I’m looking for a place to rent which has been hectic. You’ll ..."

Glad it wasn't just me! :P I had my birthday this week and have been pleasantly surprised that people have wanted to see me but it just means less time for Goodreads!

My home state just announced that we are going into lockdown for 5 days because of a cluster outbreak. Hopefully I can get more reading done! We can only leave our home for essential reasons and to exercise for 2 hours a day.

How's everyone coping with their country/state and covid?

Is it getting any better? Are you all okay?!

The government officials think it's the UK strain which is worrisome

Danah,

I see that you've added Outlander in your UNO shelf for Feb, 7th! Would you be ever so kind to drop in a completion post here when you get a chance. Thank you so much! :D

Tina ❣ wrote: "My home state just announced that we are going into lockdown for 5 days because of a cluster outbreak. Hopefully I can get more reading done! We can only leave our home for essential reasons and to..."

Oh! Hope the situation gets better soon. And Happy Birthday! Hope u had a blast😊

The situation in my place is okay and under control for now. Life is almost back to normal. Everything is going smoothly. People are wearing masks and following social distancing norms. Hopefully it continues this way.

Tina ❣ wrote: Glad it wasn't just me! :P I had my birthday this week and have been pleasantly surprised that people have wanted to see me but it just means less time for Goodreads"

HAPPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAY TINAAAAAAA! :D
I hope you had a crackling birthday. Safe, but fun!
Yaay! Hope your next year is the most memorable one - filled with love, literature, and life! :D

Tina ❣ wrote: "My home state just announced that we are going into lockdown for 5 days because of a cluster outbreak. Hopefully I can get more reading done! We can only leave our home for essential reasons and to..."

Well, I'm in The States - so enough said, I guess! :P
But, in all fairness, things are smoothening out a bit after the madness that was the last few months.

CoViD is here, but quietening down (hopefully!)
I am doing well, staying away from masses and doing my little share in preventing any spread.

Hope the cluster outbreak there dissipates soon. The 5-day quarantine can certainly help in that regard. Stay safe and indoors!

Vanessa wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "The situation in my place is okay and under control for now. Life is almost back to normal. Everything is going smoothly. People are wearing masks and following social distancing norms. Hopefully it continues this way."

This makes me so happy! Containing CoViD in India is a massive ask given the population density. It is positively refreshing to read that folks are understanding the seriousness and doing what needs to be done.

I remember last year when I was there and how we did not even leave the house for a 100 days straight and there wasn't a dog on the streets.

Completion Post

Book: How to Walk Away
Author: Katherine Center
Pages: 302
Date: 12-Feb-2021

UNO Cards it fits:

0: Standalone
2: Location T - Texas
4: Character F - Fat Benjamin
5: Character I - Ian
8: Character E - Evelyn
Skip: Author K - Katherine Center
Reverse: read by Vicki

Color: Red - (58.1%)

Apoorv wrote: "Danah,

I see that you've added Outlander in your UNO shelf for Feb, 7th!

Sorry, that keeps happening to every book I add. I started that book last fall and put it down. Then I was trying to finish it in Jan, but it dragged on in to Feb. I have removed it from my UNO shelf and will double check my shelves.

Apoorv wrote: "

FEBRUARY MINI CHALLENGE IS HERE!!
HEAR! HEAR!


I see we have Patriot Games, but I thought that was Jack Ryan #2. No big. My husband has all of these.

Completion post

Book: Brisingr
Author: Christopher Paolini
Pages: 748
Date: 12-Feb-2021
UNO Cards it fits:
1: Character O - Orik
2: Character T - Thorn
3: #3 in series
5: Character I - Islanzadí
6: Character S - Saphira
8: Character E - Eragon
9: Character N - Nasuada
Skip: Author P - Paolini
Reverse: read by Kathryn

Happy (late) birthday, Tina!

Here in Belgium COVID is more or less under control, we have rather strict measures but we can still go out, we can go shopping alone, we have to wear masks obviously. Schools are open, only starting from the 3rd year of secondary school (14/15 year old kids) they only go to school half the time. Masks are obligatory at school and we have to have the windows open at all times as I've mentioned before plus disinfecting everything and everyone constantly. It's a pain but it's manageable.
I have issues mostly with the fact that we aren't allowed to see anyone, we can have one close contact but that's nothing! So I've seen my parents very little, and always at a distance. We haven't seen or talked to our friends in ages. We're not very social people, my boyfriend and I, so we're hesitant to initiate contact and so are our friends. I do have a lot of social interaction at work fortunately as a teacher so that's okay but for my boyfriend it's getting really difficult, he's working from home full-time for now so he really doesn't have any social contact at all.
But hopefully it'll all get better soon, although Belgium must be the slowest-vaccinating country in the world! We'll just have to wait and see. I just hope I can go horse riding again soon :)