Pick-a-Shelf discussion

When you think of New Jersey what comes to mind? Is it the fall colors, the Jersey shore, it's proximity to New York City, the cities, the countryside? Whatever it is, did the books that you read from the shelf accurately represent your view of New Jersey, or did they give you a whole different feeling, maybe show you something about New Jersey that you didn't know?

And don't forget to post:

*link to the book you've read
*a star rating -see below for template you can copy & paste ;)
*shelf nomination (see Shelf Lists for what has been and cannot be nominated)
*link to any PAS challenge/s you've fit this book into

Remember:
#Your nominated Shelf must have at least 1,000 books to qualify
#Entries for your nominated shelf will be calculated as follows;
+1 - posting the book you've read for this Monthly Shelf & star rating
+1 - word review (at least 3 sentences of your thoughts/feelings on the book)
+1 - link to another PAS challenge* where you've included this book

Star template:
★
★½
★★
★★½
★★★
★★★½
★★★★
★★★★½
★★★★★

I read Call of the Jersey Devil by Aurelio Voltaire.



While not a particularly great book, it was a fun romp through my NJ childhood. Although the plot got tedious at times, there were enough "woah" moments to keep me going. A cute read.

2.5 to 3 stars depending on my mood

Since this was my shelf pick, I will forgo a nomination at this time.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich 3 stars

I have avoided this series for years, but it's actually quite humorous, which helped a great deal. No doubt I'd have liked it better had it been read by a good audiobook reader, but I already have two audio things going already.

This is the first in a long series. Broke and suddenly out of work, Stephanie Plum turns to someone she knows in order to start work as a bounty hunter--her first job, the make or break one, is to bring in a cop she knew growing up, but as she does so, she gets drawn into a lot more than she bargained for with various and sundry shady, and at least one downright dangerous, characters.

I know I need to come back and make a nomination :) !

Family Life by Akhil Sharma - 2 stars

shelved as New Jersey - 2 times (found on pg 4 of popular books shelved as new jersey)

this was centered around a young immigrant boy from India - growing up at first in Virginia then in New Jersey (the predominance of the book). He is the second son - so the "neglected" one for lack of a better word - but after his brother is severely injuried one summer - his life changes

I kind of stuggled - I liked the premise of the book - but the writing was a bit too meandering for me - and the ending was just ehhh..almost like he ran out of words in his goal count and just ended. For that i'm giving it 2 stars.


This also fits Pick-A-Shelf (protagonists) - one of the types of protagonists I had identified was immigrants.


nominate Asian Literature - https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I read Getting Played on 6/15/19 and rated it *4 STARS*

This was cute. It had a lot of laugh out loud moments and some really thoughtful ones too. I knew where the conflict was going come and saw it from a mile away but still I couldn't help but shout, "Danger Will Robinson!"

I really loved Lainey's son Will, he was a pretty cool kid. And the mathletes were pretty cool too. I was glad that to be able to revisit Lakeside, NJ again. And honestly if my high school teachers had been half as fun as these, I think I would have liked school even more! LOL

The narration of Andi Ardnt and Jacob Morgan was fantastic!!


The book was also used in:
Seriously Serial '19 (Round 2) and Pick 'n' Mix (2019) - Stage 15: Protagonists

Nominated shelf: Girl Power

I read American Pastoral for which I give only 2 stars.

Sorry, Jaime, I think you said you love this book but I think I may have completely missed the point. I did like the beginning and I liked the way he's put some thoughts into perspectives BUT I just couldn't stand the rest - I felt the back & forth in time was too messy and grrr... the loose hanging ending. Well, we know what happened as we were told earlier on but still the ending felt too loose. :p

Nominating sword

I read Don't Let Go and gave it 4*. Actually since I read it in 2 days, I would have given it 4.5* if possible.

I loved the flawed NJ Detective. The story is as much about his love of his brother and high-school sweetheart as it is about the crimes he is investigating. The supporting characters of Augie, Ellie, and Maura were fleshed out and complex. In fact, I did not see the end coming at all.

I think this character is much more complex than Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar, who makes a cameo appearance in this book.

LOVED it.

I will second the Asian Literature pick: Asian Literature

Bea wrote: "I read Don't Let Go and gave it 4*. Actually since I read it in 2 days, I would have given it 4.5* if possible."

I enjoyed that one - really fun read.

I read two books from the shelf this month, and both of them fit easily into the Pick 'n Mix challenge for locations. I gave each of them 3 stars - I liked them ok, but didn't think either was anything special.

Terrorist is by John Updike, but I'd never heard of it before searching the list, so I chose it just to see. It didn't seem to me to measure up to his other stuff. My review here.

Stephanie Plum is an old favorite, so I read the next one in that series, 10 Big Ones. Besides Pick 'n Mix, I used it for Seriously Serial. My review here.

In choosing a shelf to vote for, I'm frustrated by the fact that both Asia and Asian Literature have been nominated. Those of us interested in that will be splitting our votes. But I settled for supporting the nomination for Asia

I read Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley [26-jun-2019] ★★★


This was a fun quick read for me. I liked the characters. The story is a bit predictable, but I didn't mind because it was a sweet story and fitted my mood. I liked the ending.

Used for:
- pick n mix

Shelf nomination: fantasy

Sorry that I am posting this late. I read Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich. I continue to like this series, and, for now, this is the end...the last book published.

This had enough fantasy elements as well as hot sexual attraction notes to make it more than just the usual cozy mystery...and, of course, with Stephanie and all the usual assortment of characters, there is a bit of the Keystone Cops to it. I love this series.

4*.