The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

15.8 - Read My Mind

The Mind is a very simple game about playing numbered cards in the correct order. Easy, right? There's just one catch: players can't speak or communicate with each other, relying instead on intuition (and possibly some low-level psychic abilities) to know when to play their cards.

Read a book in which a main character exhibits (or pretends to have - we'll accept charlatans for this task!) some sort of psychic ability, e.g. clairvoyance, telepathy, telekinesis, mediumship etc.

Required: if the ability is not obvious from the GR book description, provide a reference.

Reserved

Reserved

Will this work:

The Instruments of Darkness

It mentions a disgraced psychic in the description, but I don't know if that's a main character. The detective, Charlie Parker, sees his deceased daughter throughout the series, but I don't know if that will happen in this story.

Does this work? Shadowland by Jenny Carroll

Amy wrote: "Will this work:

The Instruments of Darkness

It mentions a disgraced psychic in the description, but I don't know if that's a main character. The detective, Charlie Parker, sees h..."

I don't know the book myself, and I couldn't determine from reviews, so it's a tough call to make. If you can find a reference in the text that works for the task, then go for it. If not, then I'm afraid it doesn't work.

Chandni wrote: "Does this work? Shadowland by Jenny Carroll"

Yes, that works.

Does Woman of Light work? The description says she is a leaf-reader who begins to have visions.

Jen B wrote: "Does Woman of Light work? The description says she is a leaf-reader who begins to have visions."

Yep, that definitely fits.

How about My Darling Dreadful Thing? She claims to have a spirit companion

Morning.

Would you accept able to see ghosts as a psychic ability? It's not quite mediumship, although I'd say it was related.

Thanks.

I'd say it's a form of mediumship, so yes, it works - which also means My Darling Dreadful Thing works for this.

Cheers.

Does The Fortunes of Jaded Women work?

Kim wrote: "Does The Fortunes of Jaded Women work?"

If Auntie Hua can be considered a main character, then yes. I don't know the book so can't speak to how much of a role she plays.

If anybody wants an idea within the YA fantasy romance space, this describes the main character of Powerless nicely. :) Great on audio!

Does Family Lore work for this task?

Susan wrote: "Does Family Lore work for this task?"

I'd say so, it sounds like a form of psychic ability.

I'm just checking on this one
The Other Side of Mrs. Wood - the GR description says
Mrs. Violet Wood is London’s premier medium, a woman of supreme ambition whose and unique abilities have earned her the admiration and trust of London’s elite.

It sounds like there might be some question later about how authentic her skill is, does that matter?

That's fine, Robin - in the original task wording I made sure to allow for charlatans and other fakers.

thanks, I missed that in the wording!

Hi! I was wondering if Beach Blanket Homicide would work. The series name calls the main character an amateur psychic detective, but in the description it describes it more like a Poker Face situation where the main character is a human lie detector.

Jessica wrote: "Hi! I was wondering if Beach Blanket Homicide would work. The series name calls the main character an amateur psychic detective, but in the description it describes it more like a P..."

Sure, I'll allow it. Some of the reviews also seem to back up the psychic/mediumship elements in the story - and assuming we can consider Paco the dog a main character, you've got the ghost whispering in there anyway!

Jayne wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Hi! I was wondering if Beach Blanket Homicide would work. The series name calls the main character an amateur psychic detective, but in the description it describes ..."

Awesome, thank you!

Would a nonfiction book about/by a medium work? Example: There's More to Life Than This

Lindsey wrote: "Would a nonfiction book about/by a medium work? Example: There's More to Life Than This"

Yes, that works.

Based on the description does The Wizard's Daughter work?
It mentions her "gift of second sight", but I haven't read it yet to know how much that fits in.

Julia wrote: "Based on the description does The Wizard's Daughter work?
It mentions her "gift of second sight", but I haven't read it yet to know how much that fits in."

Judging by the reviews, she's believed to have some kind of spiritualist ability, so I'd say it works.

Will this work: I'll Be Waiting?

Amy wrote: "Will this work: I'll Be Waiting?"

Yes, if the parapsychologist/spiritualist is a main character then that works.

Would The Book of Joan work?

"... the story of Joan of Dirt, a young woman with a mysterious blue light in her skull who hears voices and has an ability to manipulate the elements."

Apple wrote: "Would The Book of Joan work?

"... the story of Joan of Dirt, a young woman with a mysterious blue light in her skull who hears voices and has an ability to manipulate the elements.""

Sounds like it might? I don't know the book so can't really be sure. Assuming the voices she's hearing are intended to be otherwordly rather than hallucinatory, I'd say yes.

As she is a Joan of Arc character, I am concerned about them being hallucinatory, so was probably thinking of manipulating the elements component. I will read it and let you know, but at least have raised the possibility 😉