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SP 24 Completed Tasks
15.4 HDYGG15.4 Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams
Flowers:
Hydrangea+ tuRN riGht At mAcHu picchu: rEDiscovering the lost citY one step at a time
Rose turn Right at machu picchu: rediScOvEring
Lotus LOST and U in machU
Anemone turn right at Machu picchu: rediscoveriNg the lost city ONE stEp At a time
Vegetables:
Cucumber-City of Cuzco
Potato - Country of Peru
6 plants this post
16 total plants
Points this task 15
+ 5 for Hydrangea
Total Task 20
Season Total 370
10.2 The Dispossessed The Card by Arnold Bennett
+10 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.6 pub 1911)
Post total = 15
Season Total = 615
10.10 Group ReadsThe Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
What a pleasure it was to listen to Wharton’s words (as read by Anna Fields – who was excellent). I am a big fan of her writing. Of course, the novel is of another time and place but people are still people and whether it is 1922 or 102 years later people still repeat the same behaviour. The extremely wealthy flit about without a care and are happy to have Susy and/or Nick (and others) partake in their largesse as long as they continue to amuse them. That amusement may take the form of good looks and sparkling wit to add to a dinner party or doing distasteful tasks. On the relationship front, Nick and Susy fall into the all too typical trap of newly married folks and don’t talk about real feelings or (in Nick’s case) bolt at the first difficulty. Surprisingly, for Wharton, there is a pleasant ending. 4*
10 task
10 1001 book
10 review
20 10.5 (moon), 10.6, 10.9, 20.3 (the children's kitten.... who wanted to eat the canaries!!)
_______
50
Running total: 765
15.1 HDYGG?The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul
256p.
HERBS
Lemon Verbena--2
Thyme--5
Chives--6
Task =15
Task total=15
Season Total=310
Books read=11
Tasks Completed: 10
10.3; 10.9 (2x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (3x); 20.6; 20.10
10.1 Rewind to WinterKing Hedley II by August Wilson
"King Hedley II" is August Wilson's play set in the 1980s in the Century Cycle of ten plays. Many of the characters are from the play "Seven Guitars" (set in the 1940s), so it would be more meaningful to see or read that play first.
"King Hedley II" is one of the most tragic of Wilson's plays. Aunt Ester, the matriarch who represents the black women who have dispensed wisdom for centuries, dies. Her name sounds like the word "ancester." This death is a huge loss for the black community in the Hill District of Pittsburgh who depend on her for guidance.
The play centers around King Hedley II, a black man in his thirties. He has spent time in prison, has a hot temper, and wants to get ahead financially. He and Mister come up with illegal schemes, such as selling stolen goods, to get some quick cash so they can open a video store. His wife, Tonya, is pregnant and she does not want her child to have a father in prison, or in a coffin as the victim of violence. She wants King to be present in their lives, and doesn't care about material possessions.
The play is set up like a Greek tragedy with Stool Pigeon acting as the leader of a Greek chorus and providing commentary on the important moments in the play. The cycle of poverty, lack of opportunity, violence, and incarceration are all elements leading to terrible tragedy in this neighborhood.
+10 task (author August Wilson from winter tasks)
+10 review
Task total: 20
Season total: 360
10.1 Rewind To WinterCloser to the Heartby Mercedes Lackey
Task +10
Grand Total: 135
read Mercedes Lackey in Winter season.
Post 280 Jayme(theghostreader) wrote: "10.9 Anniversary Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey
328 pp
Task +10
Grand total 125"
This book doesn't work for 10.9, but it does work for 10.4 Baby Boom, so we will score it there.
Post 291 Mary wrote: "20.4 The Fighting TemeraireThe Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
This is a great read! A story of mutiny, shipwreak and survival that ..."
Sorry, Mary, this book isn't in the top 150 titles of the list for task 20.4. You will need to claim it for one of the other tasks.
Also, the book has been claimed once before in this season, and the other reader didn't claim 20.10, so please could you confirm it is set at least 75% in South America/islands, not more than 25% in Britain/at sea? It will be fine if you confirm that, it's just so I can adjust the other reader's score too.
I haven't scored this at all yet, so please make a new post for the new claim. Thank you!
Plus, you may want to check your season total, because we have your total 30 points higher than you do (excluding that post). Something has gone wrong between posts 250-290. Let me know if you need a list of the scores we have for you.
Post 295 Norma wrote: "10.5 - the Golden Broadway ShowsDon’t Trust Me by Jessica Lynch
+10 task - Don't Call Back
Task total: 10
Grand total: 230"
+5 Combo 20.5 for the apostrophe
Post 296 Karen Michele wrote: "10.4 Baby BoomTomorrow in the Battle Think on Me by Javier Marías
+10 Task: Born 1951
+ 5 Combo: 10.9 Anniversaries (320)
+10 Lost in Translation
+10 1001
Task tota..."
-10 pts because I can't find this title on the 1001 list - the titles by this author are
All Souls, A Heart So White, and Your Face Tomorrow: Fever and Spear/Dance and Dream/Poison, Shadow, and Farewell
But if set at least 75% in Spain, this will qualify for 20.10 - please confirm if you want to claim +5 Combo for this
Post 298 Karen Michele wrote: "20.2 The Virgin of the RocksHow To Be A Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
+20 Task: I counted 22 pages of drawings out of 177p, so 155p ..."
+5 Combo 20.5 for the colon
REPOSTING SEE Rosemary’s post 30920.5 Surprised
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
This is a great read! A story of mutiny, shipwreak and survival that has been pieced together by the author into a book that is difficult toput down. Gann manages to describe the situation and the personalities and motivations of the characters in a plausible manner despite having only primary sources that were designed to present and defend specific viewpoints.
In turn, the reader can identify with many of the different characters and wonder how they would have acted and reacted if placed in that circumstance. Lots of information about Royal Navy sailing ships and their use in battle presented in a readable manner. Nothing about the narrative makes these voyages seem like romantic cruises.
This book deserves all of the positive reviews it received.
20 pts 20.5 Surprised
5 pts 10.2 The Dispossessed
5 pts 10.3 St Patricks Day
5 pts 10.10 Group Reads
5 pts 20.9 The Ides of March
10 pts Review
Task Total: 50 pts
Thanks for catching the error in my posts. I am trying to figure out where I am off and will post that correction separately.
Post 313
… 10.2 … … 10.6 … 10.8 … 10.10
… 20.2 … … 20.5 … … …… 20.9 …
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 … … … … …
Rosemary wrote: "Post 296 Karen Michele wrote: "10.4 Baby BoomTomorrow in the Battle Think on Me by Javier Marías
+10 Task: Born 1951
+ 5 Combo: 10.9 Anniversaries (320)
+10 Lost in T..."
Oh, sorry, I meant to double check the 1001 list since I keep my own. The book is set in Spain and I see it does have mystery listed, so, yes, I'll take that combo. Thanks!
Rosemary wrote: "Post 133 Joanne wrote: "10.8 Elemental (Tien's task) Dead in the Water: A True Story of Hijacking, Murder, and a Global Maritime Conspiracy byMatthew Campbell
I..."
Rosemary. so sorry life has been "ugh" since Januar and I am just now getting to checking-There are actually 3 other tasks that fit this one:
20.5
20.9
10.5
Can I just change my score by 5, or do I nee to repost-Again I apologize for being so lax
Found the mistake in my posts. Arithmetic error at post 282 which adds 30 points. Season total : 485 pts
Could you confirm?
20.10 World of CrimeThe Healer by Antti Tuomainen
+20 Task, set 100% in Finland
+10 LiT, translated from Finnish
+10 Combo: 10.2, 10.7 #56 on CliFi list
Task total: 40
Season total: 485
10.7 Strange New WorldsThe Collapse of Western Civilization: A View from the Future by Naomi Oreskes
+10 Task, #48 on the CliFi list
+10 Combo: 10.4, b. 1958; 20.5, colon
Task total: 20
Season total: 505
15.5 HDYGGA Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
Flowers
dianthus+ - a NAtUral HISTory of Dragons
Vegetable-Daikon - (story takes place in the village of Drustanev)
Herbs-page number 334
3 Rue
4 Dill
4 Plants this post
Total 20 Plants
+15 task
+5 flower is a +
Task Total 20
Season Total 390
Karen Michele wrote: "15.5 HDYGG?The Effect of Living Backwards by Heidi Julavits
Herbs: page count = 336
3 = RUE "
RUE was already claimed in post 73. Plant total for this task is 4.
20.5 Surprised!H(A)PPY by Nicola Barker
There is a straight line in this novel, from the chilling sci-fi classics such as ‘Brave New World” and ‘We”, to the Young People in H(A)PPY and how they live. Continual live observation (of each other, and by whomever is in charge), conformity, group speak and complete tamping down of any differences detected in someone. It was chilling, and still feels like we as a society could end up like this. However, it was hard to care about Mira A, the narrator. I felt more like I was slogging through this Capital L literature experiment; and that Barker was using the novel to make conceptual art which did nothing for the storytelling. It’s hard to know how to rate this, as I do think the premise is genius and timely, but it didn’t come together for me. 2.5*
20 task
10 review
10 1001 book
______
40
Running total: 805
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "15.10 HDYGGG?HDYGG Finisher, 45+ plants = 150"
Congrats on completing your garden!! (I'm behind on HDYGG updates, sorry this is so delayed)
20.5 - SurprisedHave You Seen Sarah Baker? by T.A. Cruz
+20 task
+10 Combo - 10.5 - As YOU Like It, 10.3 - 2023
+5 missed combo post 295
Task total: 35
Grand total: 265
15.5 HDYGGLady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Flowers:
LadY tans cIrcLe of women - LILY
Vegetables:
China - CUCUMBER
Herbs -368 pages
3 - RUE
Plants this post: 3
Total plants this season: 19
Task total: 15
Season total: 375
20.1 The National GalleryWish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan
+20 Task (from GR summary, the sentence "Emily's son, who has quit his job and mortgaged his future to pursue his art," refers to MC Ken Maxwell who gave up a job at Merck to attempt a career as a professional photographer)
+15 Combo (10.5-YOU, 20.6-told through rotating POV's of all characters, including the dog, 20.7-the family makes a daytrip to Canada)
+5 Jumbo (528 pages)
Task total=40
Season total=40
(The only dud of the 12 O'Nan titles I've read)
10.1 Rewind to WinterA Fool's Alphabet by Sebastian Faulks
I love Sebastian Faulks. I loved the concept of this novel: 26 places in the world, alphabetically arranged in 26 chapters. I think this concept was based on something told early in the novel.
'Do you know the Fool's Alphbet?'Non-linear story-telling has never bothered me. I can attest that my own memory is not linear, that it jumps from childhood to yesterday and years between in no particular order. With all that, can you hear there is a 'but' coming? Yes, indeed. A very few pages before the end was He was finding it difficult to concentrate on the book. Exactly! For me, 26 chapters was a dozen or so too many. Yes, I know there are 26 letters in the alphabet, that following the concept there was no way to make it a dozen or fourteen. Still, it was too much moving around and the constantly changing time completely lost any continuity.
'What's that?'
'A for 'horses, B for mutton, C for yourself, D for dumb. [and it goes on thru Z]...
'It's just a phrase,' said his father. 'It's called that because it's funny, not because it's stupid.'
'When we were in North Africa during the war, a chap in my platoon called Padgett, who'd never been out of Yorkshire before, he noticed what funny names the places had. He said he wanted to spend a night in a place beginning with every letter of the alphabet before he died.'
So I didn't enjoy the reading of this. Despite that statement, I think there is much of this that I will remember. One of the chapters has him with his grandfather, who was reminiscing about his war years. At age 12 or so, Pietro wasn't interested in history, he was interested in the future. [I'll try to remember this when I write to my great granddaughter!] Pietro's father was interested in the history of words. I learned that The Phoenicians, he said, had seen how signs could represent not just an idea, but a sound, and had developed Egyptian pictures so that an 's' was not only a snake but could indicate the noise made by one.
Still and all, this is a measly 3-stars. I'm sure for me, with Faulks, this is the bottom of the barrel and I'll not let it deter me from reading others by him.
+10 Task (read The Girl at the Lion d'Or in Winter)
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.4 - b. 1953, 20.5, 20.7 - Pietro is English, travels to many countries)
Task total = 35
Season total = 695
15.1 - How Does Your Garden Grow?The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Iris
Mung Beans (Middle Earth)
Dill (432 pages)
+15 Task
Task total=15
Points total = 340
10.1 (x3) ; 10.2; 10.3 ; 10.4 ; … ; … ; … ; 10.8 ; … ; …
15.1 ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; …
20.1 ; … ; 20.3 ; 20.4 ; 20.5 ; 20.6 ; 20.7 ; 20.8 ; … ; 20.10
Post 307 Jayme(theghostreader) wrote: "10.1 Rewind To WinterCloser to the Heartby Mercedes Lackey
Task +10
Grand Total: 135
read Mercedes Lackey in Winter season."
+15 Combo 10.4, 10.5 ("to" from A Gala Tribute to Joshua Logan), 10.9
Post 315 Joanne wrote: "Rosemary wrote: "Post 133 Joanne wrote: "10.8 Elemental (Tien's task) Dead in the Water: A True Story of Hijacking, Murder, and a Global Maritime Conspiracy by[author:Matthew Camp..."
You don't need to repost, I have added the extra combo to that post, and our totals now agree :)
Post 316 Mary wrote: "Found the mistake in my posts. Arithmetic error at post 282 which adds 30 points. Season total : 485 pts
Could you confirm?"
Yes, we have 485 :)
Post 321 Valerie wrote: "20.5 Surprised!H(A)PPY by Nicola Barker
There is a straight line in this novel, from the chilling sci-fi classics such as ‘Brave New World” and ‘We”, to the Young P..."
+5 Combo 10.9 (MPE has 282 pages)
30.1 Go for the Green ReduxWords on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen (820 Lexile)
+30 Task, set 95% in Lithuania
+15 Combo: 10.8, "fire"; 20.7, the smugglers traveled over the border from Lithuania into Prussia for a few days; 20.9, the book is about a small smuggling ring who were secretly distributing Lithuanian-language books to the people of Lithuania under the eyes and laws of the Russian occupiers...it was a small group secretly performing "criminal" acts
Task total: 45
Season total: 550
10.5 Golden Broadway ShowsTrack of the Cat by Nevada Barr
Well, now I have a problem…. another series to add to the list. I had randomly read an instalment further along in the series (#12) and enjoyed it, so choosing this book for the task made sense.
It is obvious that we will get to know Anna gradually, which I like. I don’t need to know everything about the main character’s backstory right away. Here she is a Park Ranger in Texas, On the face of it the mystery may seem complicated, but when you reach the final chapter it all makes sense – in fact more sense than you may care to face. I really liked the character of Anna Pigeon, she has lived some life which – sort of- explains her who/why/where. I liked that she isn’t perfect and has a funny sister back in New York. I listened to the audiobook read by Barbara Rosenblat, who was very good. 4*
10 task
10 review
10 combo 10.3, 10.4
______
30
Running total: 840
20.3 The Madonna of the CatThe Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
The third book in the Perveen Mistry series, this mystery is not as intriguing as the first two. A college student is found dead amidst political unrest during the visit of Edward, Prince of Wales to Bombay. The death is soon discovered to be murder.
While Mistry is investigating the death, the investigation seems to be an incidental part of the story as opposed to the central plot line. However, the political story of the Indian independence movement is equally incidental. A greater focus on either would has resulted in a better book which suffers from a lack of focus.
Despite this, it is a very light, enjoyable read with the beginnings of a romance story that fans of the series will appreciate.
20 pts 20.3 The Madonna of the Cat. Bapsi Cuttingmaster has a cat Nana
5 pts 10.3 St Patricks Day
5 pts 10.9 Anniversaries
10 pts Review
Task Total: 40 pts
Season total =485+40 = 525 pts
Post 334
… 10.2 … … 10.6 … 10.8 … 10.10
… 20.2 20.3 … 20.5 … … …… 20.9 …
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 … … … … …
20.10 World of CrimeThe Snow Empress by Laura Joh Rowland
Reiko and Sano’s son has been kidnapped and they travel to a remote northern island of Japan where they get tangled up in a murder case and political intrigue.
Once again Reiko gains access to information about the crimes because she is able to go into women,s spaces where her husband is not welcome.
Rowland uses several clever plot devices to keep the reader interested but throughout the book, the two separate plots do not seem to mesh into a coherent narrative. I was left wondering if there were two not quite book length plots that were combined into one novel. The setting of this installment of the series seems rather arbitrary and driven only by the need to move the action away from Edo because of the kidnapping.
20 pts 20.10 World of Crime. Japan
5 pts 20.9 Beware the Ides of March
5 pts 10.4 Baby Boom
10 pts Review
Task Total: 40 pts
Season total =565 pts
Post 335
… 10.2 … … 10.6 … 10.8 … 10.10
… 20.2 20.3 … 20.5 … … …… 20.9 20.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 … … … … …
20.8 Fancy Meeting You HereLittle House on the Wasteland by Laura Ingalls-Wei
Very well done retelling of the story of the Ingalls family’s move from Wisconsin to South Dakota. The outline of the story is maintained, but in a future world destroyed by aclimate emergency and the subsequent anarchy, very little of what we now have as modern amenities exists. The Ingalls family actually have less than the nineteenth century pioneers — no covered wagon, draft animals, etc — to use on their trip. In addition the climate crisis and its aftermath have created new obstacles that didn’t exist in the past On the bright side, Ma and Pa and the girls are still resourceful and family focussed making the best of a challenging trip.
Unique perspective on what we could lose, and how society might adapt to a catastrophic event. I recommend the book but if you weren’t a fan of the Little House books, some of the allusions may be missed. Note: this is billed as a translation from some future version of English but I think LiT styles would be a stretch 😏
20 pts 20.8 Fancy Meeting You Here The Ingalls family from Little House in the Big Woods
5 pts 10.7 Strange New Worlds #68 Climate fiction list
5 pts 10.9 Anniversaries
5 pts 20.3 Madonna of the Cat. Marlo the cat belongs to Big Jasmin and Grita
10 pts Review
Task Total: 45 pts
Season total =610 pts
Post 336
… 10.2 … … 10.6 … 10.8 … 10.10
… 20.2 20.3 … 20.5 … … 20.8 20.9 20.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 … … … … …
20.7 international TravelThe Lost Flying Boat by Alan Sillitoe
A failed attempt at checking a book set in French Antarctic and Southern Territories off the Country project. Only about 45 % is set in Kerguelen Island, the rest is travel to and from there!
Following WWII, the former commander of a bomber reunites his wartime unit plus Adcock, a radio operator, to take on a secret mission to Kerguelen Island. A study in monomania and how stress aggravated by wartime PTSD, the book is less about a treasure hunt than about how the team begins to mentally fall apart.
The underlying story includes a conspiracy, which is never particularly well explained, but which must include the mission support team. In addition the crew is also hiding their mission from air traffic control and military aircraft in the area. About a third of the book references wartime experiences and how the letdown of a post war world has affected the characters.
This really is a page turner with the possibilities drawing the reader into the story. In addition the drama of the sea based conflict towards the end of the book keeps the reader’s attention. Unfortunately the book seems to end rather than have the situation resolved in a very satisfying way. I wanred to have the adventure story tied up in a neat package but that didn’t happen.
20 pts 20.7 International Travel Adcock lives in England but the book describes a trip of a couple of weeks to South Africa and Kerguelen island
5 pts 10.3 St Patricks Day
5 pts 20.9 Ides of March
10 pts Review
Task Total: 40 pts
Season total =650pts
Post 337
… 10.2 … … 10.6 … 10.8 … 10.10
… 20.2 20.3 … 20.5 … 20.7 20.8 20.9 20.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 … … … … …
15.6 HDYGGThe Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman
15 pts 15.6 HDYGG
Leek: Los Angeles County
Cucumber: California
Garlic: Golden Coast. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal....
Potato: Pacific Coast https://www.britannica.com/place/Paci...
Rutabaga: Ring of Fire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of...
0 Peppermint
6 plants this post
30 plants this season
Task Total: 15 pts
Season total =665 pts
Post 338
… 10.2 … … 10.6 … 10.8 … 10.10
… 20.2 20.3 … 20.5 … 20.7 20.8 20.9 20.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6
20.2 The Virgin of the Rocks Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
+20 Task
+5 Combo (20.7 - the main character lives in Scotland for most of the books, but there are flashbacks where she lived in Australia, and when she traveled in Canada and Alaska)
+10 Lost in Translation (written in english, native language is french)
Task total = 35
Points total = 375
10.1 (x3) ; 10.2; 10.3 ; 10.4 ; … ; … ; … ; 10.8 ; … ; …
15.1 ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; …
20.1 ; 20.2 ; 20.3 ; 20.4 ; 20.5 ; 20.6 ; 20.7 ; 20.8 ; … ; 20.10
15.2 - How Does Your Garden Grow?Ecosse by Guide du routard
Spinach (Scotland)
Chamomile (579)
+15 Task
Task total = 15
Points total = 390
10.1 (x3) ; 10.2; 10.3 ; 10.4 ; … ; … ; … ; 10.8 ; … ; …
15.1 ; 15.2 ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … (5 plants)
20.1 ; 20.2 ; 20.3 ; 20.4 ; 20.5 ; 20.6 ; 20.7 ; 20.8 ; … ; 20.10
Task 15.06 HDYGG? The Titanic Survivors Book Club: A Novel (2024) by Timothy Schaffert (Hardcover 303 pages)
Flowers:
tHe tItaniC SUrvIvorS Book club = HIBISCUS, +5
thE titanic surviVORs book CLub = CLOVER
From the goodreads book descripton: After he learns of the ship’s sinking, he takes this twist of fate as a sign to follow his lifelong dream of owning a bookshop in Paris. And, having read the book, I can attest that over 51% of the novel is set in Paris, France.
Vegetables
Paris = Potato
France = Fennel
Herbs = pagecount 303
0 = Peppermint
5 Plants this post
25 Total plants in the garden
+15 task
+05 flower bonus
Task Total: 15 + 05 = 20
Grand Total: 240 + 20 = 260
15.2 - How Does Your Garden Grow?Lonely Planet Scotland by Neil Wilson
Peony (lONElY Planet scotland), Garlic (Great-Britain) and Chives (496)
+15 Task
Task total = 15
Points total = 405
10.1 (x3) ; 10.2; 10.3 ; 10.4 ; … ; … ; … ; 10.8 ; … ; …
15.1 ; 15.2 ; 15.3 ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … ; … (8 plants)
20.1 ; 20.2 ; 20.3 ; 20.4 ; 20.5 ; 20.6 ; 20.7 ; 20.8 ; … ; 20.10
10.2 The Dispossessed The Teacher by Freida McFadden
+10 task
+10 combo (10.9 - 400 pg; 20.6 - Eve, Addie, and Nate's POV)
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 20
10.4 Baby Boom The Exchange: After The Firm by John Grisham
This was, unfortunately, a bit of a disappointment. I don't think I had too high expectations - I read John Grisham for a fun, low-key suspense read, and I'm not too worried about a few plot holes. I reread The Firm recently and while it's not great literature, it was fun., so I thought I'd read the follow up. I was curious what could possibly have happened to Mitch and Abby after the events of The Firm! Unfortunately, this book was not nearly as enjoyable. The central plot event is potentially really interesting - there is international diplomacy, kidnapping, terrorism, and more. But the solution is a bit TOO realistic - it's a lot of fundraising and meetings, which are not any more interesting to read about than they are to participate in. Mitch has also become a pretty heroic figure, whereas in The Firm he was morally a bit more questionable, which made him decidedly more interesting!
+10 task (Grisham was born 1955)
+30 combo (10.2; 10.3 - pub 2023; 10.9 - 352 pages; 20.6 - we read from POV of Mitch, Abby, and Giovanna; 20.7 - much of the book is Mitch taking international trips from the US to Libya, Rome, London, etc!; 20.9 - heart of book is a criminal conspiracy to kidnap a lawyer and steal ransom)
+10 review
Task Total: 50
Season Total: 70
10.6 Modernism The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
+10 task (pub 1929)
+5 combo (10.9 - 375 pages)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 85
10.8 Elemental Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
This was a beautiful book and definitely a worthwhile read. The Goodreads summary gives a good idea of the plot and the central conflict, but for me the most interesting features were really well-drawn, strong characters. I liked that the author was able to create characters I generally could sympathize with, while also understanding that they were not perfect and in fact, in some ways, very flawed. (I didn't love EVERYONE but there were definitely a number of characters I could sympathize with). I liked the depth with which the book explores a really difficult situation and while it doesn't shy away from "taking sides", it also doesn't shy away from nuance. And I liked the reflectiveness the book led to for me - about world issues, about how we raise children, about what we owe our kids and our parents, and what we should do (or not do) when we make mistakes.
+10 task (fires)
+10 review
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 105
10.10 Group Reads The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves
10.4 Born 1954 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Cle...
10.9 560 pages
20.3 Nan Deakin has a pet cat
20.6 Four POVs: Rachael, Anne, Grace, Vera
+10 Task
+20 Combo (10.4, 10.9, 20.3, 20.6)
+ 5 Jumbo
Post total = 35
Season Total = 650
20.1 The National Gallery To the Hilt by Dick Francis
10.5 "To" from A Gala Tribute To Joshua Logan
10.9 352 pages
+20 Task (main character is a painter)
+10 Combo (10.5, 10.9)
Post total = 30
Season Total = 680
20.6 Fruit Dish, Bottle and Violin The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope
+20 Task (POVs include Duke & Duchess of Omnium, Emily Wharton, Ferdinand Lopez)
+15 Jumbo (864 pages)
Post total = 35
Season Total = 715
10.1 Rewind to WinterCards on the Table by Agatha Christie
+10 Task, read By the Pricking of My Thumbs last season
+5 Combo: 10.6, pub. 1936
Task total: 15
Season total: 565
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Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us (other topics)Code Name Hélène (other topics)
The Teacher (other topics)
A Man's Head (other topics)
Redoubt (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ed Yong (other topics)Ariel Lawhon (other topics)
Freida McFadden (other topics)
Georges Simenon (other topics)
Mercedes Lackey (other topics)
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Novel with at least 3 different characters' points of view.
Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
The story is told with each chapter being a particular characters side of the story: Corayne , Dom, Andry, Sorasa, and Erida.
Combo with 20.9 as there is a conspiracy among the evil of the land to gain control of the world.
Review:
A very "follow-the-trope", like a religion, story. It seems Aveyard took bits and pieces from every Adult Fantasy writer she has ever come across. This did not turn out to be a entirely bad thing, it did work in places.
Corayne an-Amarat, child of a woman pirate and she finds out, a child of a one of the last of an ancient lineage. I think that Aveyard's desire (because I can see it there in her story) to get away from Y/A would have had a better chance had she gone with writing the fathers history as the main subject of the book.
Yadayada...an unlikely group sets forth on a quest, they travel, they run into trouble, they complete the first of many quests to come. Did I hate it? Of course not, I finished it didn't I? I gave it that 1/2 star to raise your curiosity about it. However, leaping to 4 stars was not possible.
I really hoped to get to 4 stars for this book. *Sigh* In 2017 I gobbled up Aveyard's Red Queen Series. That was her debut and she knocked it out of the park, for a Y/A series. If you want to try Aveyard, I suggest you go to that series. I also suggest to Aveyard, herself,-tell your publishers/editors to bug off and write that adult story I can tell you yearn for.
+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.9)
+5 Jumbo (576 pages)
Task Total 25
Season Total 350