You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

If the two chosen books are not to your liking, you can read another book that fits this month's rose theme.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during June 2019.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

I am planning to read Doctor Who: The Stone Rose. I'm not sure exactly when I'll get to it. I'm waiting on a library hold, which states it should be available in about 2 weeks. This will be my first Doctor Who book and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like. I used to watch the TV show with my dad years ago, but haven't watched any of the newer versions.

I am going to read Rose & Poe, which is a retelling of The Tempest, so it will also fit a task for the annual challenge. I should probably review The Tempest first, or maybe I’ll do so after I read it.

I am going to read Rooftops of Tehran or The Last Kashmiri Rose. Both have a rose on the cover. They will both fit on my yearly challenge, so I may read them both. I have to wait for them from my library.
I had sever choices in my TBR, with "rose" in the title, but they are not available from my library. Rose in a Storm sounds like a good dog story and Rose Hill sounds interesting too.

I really enjoyed Rooftops of Tehran Cherie.

I really enjoyed Rose & Poe by Jack Todd. this is a contemporary loose retelling of Shakespeare‘s The Tempest, told from the perspective of Caliban (Poe) and his mother (Rose). Poe is a hard-working simple-minded gentle giant in love with his neighbour, Miranda, and Rose is Poe’s fierce protector. Rose is such a wonderful character - I like her strength and independence, and her all-forgiving nature.

This is a poignant story, told with simple writing. Four stars.

Peggy - I think that is why I have it in my TBR list. I remembered that you liked it. 😊

I could not resist adding Rose & Poe to my TBR, TrudyAn. I’ve never read The Tempest. I really need to read more Shakespeare!

Cherie wrote: "I could not resist adding Rose & Poe to my TBR, TrudyAn. I’ve never read The Tempest. I really need to read more Shakespeare!"

I think you’d like it Cherie. They story is good, even without having read The Tempest. It’s been years since I read it, saw it performed a couple of years ago, but the details are hazy. I was going to reread it after I read the Rose and Poe, but now we are into toppler week.

Both of my library books arrived today. I can’t decide which one to read first, after my toppler book is done.

I have been reading Wintersong, and more than a third of it gone now. It is feeling very Labyrinth with slightly less Bowie, and more Vivaldi. What a beautiful story, very descriptive, and the slight gaps in the description actually fit quite nicely with the gaps that are intentionally happening within the story. I am totally enthralled

Sounds good, Jenn. I know Janice liked it. I remember the cover from her post.

Yes, I enjoyed the book and its sequel.

I'm still waiting on my rose book from the library and my hold still says 2 weeks away. I may need to come up with a backup plan. If I can't get it in time I may go with Roses are Red. They have it available, but it is not my first choice because it is #6 in the Alex Cross series and I haven't read any of the others yet.

I have been reading Uprooted all week - for the toppler, and did not think about the rose on the cover until last night. I am at 98% and hope to finish it today, if I can hurry up and get some work done. I am still going to read the other two books from my library. I am thinking about going to the Portland Rose garden this weekend, now that the weather has cooled down.

I finished Uprooted today. I really enjoyed the story and was pulled into it right from the start. The Russian sounding names were a little annoying, but I finally decided to stop stuttering over the "how do I say them" to just reading them. I guess the story is somewhat based on some Russian tale but I could not tell. It was in a fantasy country and there witches and wizards and a strange life force called the Wood that was determined to take over all of the countryside and kill all of the humans. The MC of the story was chosen by a guy in a tower to serve him for ten years - at least that is what the story started out with. The first question was who was this Dragon guy? Why did he take a girl every ten years and how did he choose them? Oh, yeah, and what did he do to/with them?

Glad you enjoyed it Cherie. I read it a while back but was disappointed by it.

Cherie wrote: "The Russian sounding names were a little annoying, but I finally decided to stop stuttering over the "how do I say them" to just reading them."

I struggle with this sometimes too. I just have to pretend that their names are actually however I pronounce them. I've actually given really difficult names nicknames before. lol

Peggy wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it Cherie. I read it a while back but was disappointed by it."

I was too. I didn't think it was bad, but just ok. I remember feeling like it would never end.

It was a long story, but I was so focused on finishing it for the toppler that I did not feel any drag. I was always interested in what was going to happen next. I agree that there were times that I wanted to know more. There are some stories that this bothers me more than in others. I think Novak managed to keep things going in this one and it made me not care. There was some wrap up given. I think this is one where the reader is supposed to make their own conclusions. I felt that way anyway. It did not take away from the story for me. It is Fantasy after all. More than Science Fiction in my opinion.

It is definitely fantasy, Cherie. I wouldn't call it science fiction.

I just went back and read my review. It said pretty much what I remember. I liked the story, but I felt that it dragged. You may be right that having a deadline helped. It may have helped me too. I think I am in the minority with this opinion anyway and I'm glad it didn't drag for you.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am not particularily interested in reading A Court of Thorns and Roses (another series to start) or I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, so....
I am reading Special Topics In Calamity Physics with a rose on the cover...

Introduction
Since Blue freely admits that she is writing (view spoiler)[after a year of sleeplessness, am I being warned that she may be an unreliable narrator? (hide spoiler)]

Sounds as though Jade is going (view spoiler)[through some “twelve step” program. (hide spoiler)]

Part I
Chapter 1
Why am I suspicious of (view spoiler)[Gareth Van Meer deciding to pick up his daughter, Blue, from elementary school prior to his wife’s automobile accident? (hide spoiler)]

I wonder, does Blue (view spoiler)[like her name? (hide spoiler)]

This story seems to be sandwiched between (view spoiler)[two deaths; that are apparently significant to Blue’s life. I am anticipating hearing about both. I’m now sucked in to the story. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2
Imagine the educational discussions (view spoiler)[that Gareth and Blue have, just the two of them, while traveling so often. Me? After exhausting The License Plate Game and I Spy, long trips imprisoned in the family car, crammed in with two siblings, were mostly boring. Listening to Dad’s music choices, or even worse Talk Radio, I’d just zone out. (hide spoiler)]

Love the reference(view spoiler)[ to Garth’s many women as “June Bugs”. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3
Wonder if we will see (view spoiler)[Andreo Verdugo again. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4
I hope Blue does get to (view spoiler)[stay in one place for her entire Senior year. I know that she idolizes her father and does enjoy his company. I think she might be ready to connect with people of her own age. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5
Fat Kat Foods, what a (view spoiler)[fun name for a grocery store. (hide spoiler)]

Why isn’t Garth, (view spoiler)[the lady’s man, interested in beautiful Hannah Schneider? Does he have a code about not dating Blue’s teachers? (hide spoiler)]

My hold came in for my book! So I hope to get to it soon. This one and my monthly challenge book both came in today. I should have expected them to come in because I bought a book to listen to yesterday, so of course they would. lol

Kristie wrote: "My hold came in for my book! So I hope to get to it soon. This one and my monthly challenge book both came in today. I should have expected them to come in because I bought a book to listen to yest..."

LOL! That happens to me all of the time, Kristie.

I have just finished Wintersong, which was a five star read for me. Large portions of it had a very "Labyrinth" feel with less Bowie, and more Vivaldi. The passion, the losing and finding and losing again, the breaking down and remaking in its entirety. Beautiful, and will be looking for the next in series. And, it fits several tasks for MM lol

Jenn wrote: "I have just finished Wintersong, which was a five star read for me. Large portions of it had a very "Labyrinth" feel with less Bowie, and more Vivaldi. The passion, the losing and f..."

I bought this book after Janice recommended it. Now another glowing review from you. I need to bump it up my list. Love Labyrinth!

Sarah wrote: "Love Labyrinth!..."

Me too, and way overdue for a re-watch lol

I think Wintersong is far darker, and more passionate, but the feeling definitely held true for me. I hope you enjoy when you get around to it 😃

Will you read the sequel, Jenn? Shadowsong was enjoyable as well.

I agree about the Labryinth feel to Wintersong. When I picked that book, I didn't think that I would enjoy it as much as I did. I'm not sure what I expected, but I really liked the musical side to it since I play piano and love playing classical music.

So, I read Doctor Who: The Stone Rose. I was not impressed at all. It was just mediocre. The thing is that I don't have much to say about it because I didn't really care for it, but I didn't hate it either. There were parts that were somewhat interesting and parts that were boring. Overall, I didn't find it particularly engaging and I'm glad it was a short book.

Month's almost over. Don't forget to report!

Janice wrote: "Will you read the sequel, Jenn? Shadowsong was enjoyable as well. ..."

Absolutely Janice! I'm just waiting to see how July is going to come together before I start putting holds on things lol

Of my two library books, I decided to read first. I finished up on Sunday morning.
It was getting late, and I knew I could not finish them both, so I picked this one because I could use it for my yearly challenge.

I enjoyed the time in India in 1922 and meeting a new series character, Joe Sandilands. Joe is requested to investigate the death of a woman, the wife of a Calvary Officer. On the way to looking into the woman's death, more suspicious deaths are looked into - all happening in the month of March. I liked most of the characters, quirky British and Indian, all. I figured out the "who", but had to wait to the very end to discover the "why". It was a shock to us all! There were some great lines regarding Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

I am still reading . I like it, Peggy. I was able to renew it from my library and will finish it.