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

Challenge Thread

When you have finished your challenge read, please report it here.

- List your WoF name.
- Link to the book you read,
- Tell us which prompt you received and how your book fits the prompt.
- Give us a small blurb about your reactions to the book

WoF Dawn

Daughter of Crows by Mark Lawrence

Prompts:
Chance Number 1 - Spin Again

Free Parking- Read a book you obtained for free (from the library, borrowed from a friend, gifted to you, or freebies from websites).<

I went the library route.

If this follows usual Mark Lawrence trends, it should ultimately be a trilogy. And as per usual the book is kinda brutal, maybe the most grimdark of any of his books so far. Found myself quite confused about what was going on for a big portion of the book but it all came together in the end and I'm interested in what happens next.

I have a couple of Lawrence's books to read, and this is on my wishlist.

Janice wrote: "I have a couple of Lawrence's books to read, and this is on my wishlist."

I listened to it, and felt I was missing stuff, especially in the middle. There are a lot of POVs. But have faith, it all makes sense by the end of the book and pieces start coming together.

WoFSharonBiskit
Found, Margaret Peterson Haddix

Prompt: Chance #3: Read a book chosen by your child or pet.
( I had just had a conversation with my daughter and granddaughter about this book. My Granddaughter wanted all of us to read it. She is on book 3 in the series. She is 12, and sometimes I find it challenging to have long discussions with her now verses when she was younger. I read it. Lots to talk about now!)

Blurb: This is the first book in a multi book series. The author took a while to develop her characters and set the stage. When the action started, it was engrossing and quick. I liked that even though Jonah is the MC, Kate, his sister, is a strong and vital cast member. TIme travel is involved and Jonah, adopted, is really an iconic character from the past. It was well written and well done. I will read the second one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

That's wonderful that your granddaughter wants to discuss books with you. My grandson (now 25) have had some great discussions. It's a great connection to have with a grandchild.

WoF name Karin
Link to the book you read A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris

Tell us which prompt you received and how your book fits the prompt. - I got Free Parking, and since I borrowed this through my library network, I read it for free :)

Give us a small blurb about your reactions to the book

This is a thriller by a familiar author. I liked it and am trying to figure out if I'll round 3.5 stars up or down. Both protagonists are suffering from grief, and it turns out they knew each other in university, so we learn about their grief as the thriller moves. It starts off with a bang when Grace wakes up in the night because she's heard an intruder in her house. The pacing was good and there were a few clever twists in this.

Most of this author's books have received 4 stars from me (most of those traditionally published,) one self-published one only two because she needed to get a good editor (most authors can't do that themselves, even award winning ones like Lisa Harris). This one wasn't quite as good as some of the, but was definitly better than a standard "like at 3 stars>" for me.

Janice wrote: "That's wonderful that your granddaughter wants to discuss books with you. My grandson (now 25) have had some great discussions. It's a great connection to have with a grandchild."

It is so much fun!

WoF Almeta

Tantrum
Free Parking- Read a book you obtained for free
Borrowed this from my local library

First remember this is a horror story. Willing suspension of disbelief is required! Am I being fooled into believing an unreliable narrator. I cruise along in isolation and am jolted by a dismal observation or an actual grim physical occurrence. A guffaw of astonishment rises from my gut. (view spoiler)[For example. the chicken's name is Alex Forrest. Glen Close's character from Fatal Attraction. (hide spoiler)] Soon I realize that I am enjoying these dark humorous moments! Who's the monster here? Author Rachel Eve Moulton is awesomely unsettling.

WoF Camilla

Home Before Dark

Prompt: Free Parking- Read a book you obtained for free (from the library, borrowed from a friend, gifted to you, or freebies from websites).

I have several books from the library, but happened to finish this one first. This book is about a woman who returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. She is going to renovate and sell the house, but then things start happening.

I was a bit confused about the book, which turned out not quite how I thought it might. I don't know how the name of the book has been chosen, as I see no connection between the name and the story. Ended up giving it three stars.

WoF: Kristie

Yesteryear

Prompt: GO - Read a book that eithers starts a new series, or is an author's debut

This book is the author's debut.

My thoughts are divided on this book. I expected to love it based on the blurb, but I thought it ended up being just ok. I can see how a lot of people will love it, but it included some themes etc that I just don't enjoy reading about. I have a lot to say about the book, but can't really say anything without giving the whole thing away, so I will just say that the writing was pretty good and the story was interesting enough, but it wasn't my favorite.

WoF Nix

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

Prompt: Reading railroad - Book about books

This is a story of a magical library and how misfits can transport or hide in books. I thought the concept was intriguing but the book took a direction I did not quite like. It was more adventure book hopping vs staying in a story and living it, I found the book very kiddhish for my taste - read like a YA. I gave it 2 stars because the writing and parts of it were fun but it was a disappointment, The MC was annoying as well.

Wof Anna M

Deviants by Santanu Bhattacharya

🏳️‍🌈Marvin Gardens. Read a book with LGBTQ+ representation.

One family, three generations of gay men, Sukumar, Mambro and Vivaan. Each man’s fate intersects with the shifting laws and attitudes towards homosexuality from the 1970s to the 2020s. Did I enjoy it? No. Was it well written? Yes. Can the author write? Absolutely. Three distinct voices, their narratives masterfully interwoven.

WoF Alexandra

Prompt: Free Parking- Read a book you obtained for free (from the library, borrowed from a friend, gifted to you, or freebies from websites).

I read Gym - a book by German author Verena Kessler. The novel is a darkly humorous and satirical exploration of self-optimization, ambition, body image, and the pressures of modern society. Through the setting of the gym, Kessler examines how the desire for success and perfection can lead to obsession and self-destruction. It was very funny at the beginning and became quite dark and twisted towards the end.

The book was a gift from a friend.

WoF Katrisa

I got Community Chest
I chose to read Mad Mabel recommended by Kristie.
I absolutely LOVED this book. It was delightful and had a very different vibe from others by this author. It was still a mystery, but was more character-based. The characters and the relationships in the book really made this story shine! I gave it 5 stars.

WoF: Silver

I read One Day by David Nicholls

Prompt: Waterworks: Read a tearjerker from the first 3 pages of this list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

One Day was on the first page of the provided list.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the writing was quite clever and witty. The characters were complex and well developed and interesting. While this book was considered a tearjerker and it did have moments of heartbreak, it could also be funny and quite charming at times. Since a lot of the book is set in the 80’s and 90’s it was also quite nostalgic.

WoF Janice

I read Odd Thomas which is on page 1 of the "Books that Made You Cry". I received Waterworks from the randomizer and the task was to read a book from that list.

Did I cry? Not a drop. I rated this book 1 star because I never got a feel for the characters or the story. The ending had me saying "What was that?" I have never read an ending so dull. The only crying I'm doing is that the book was so bad.

WOF Beth

Prompt--Park Place, Book with Park in title
Diamond Park

It was fine. I used to live in Houston, so it was fun to hear the characters talk about places I knew. Didn't grab me, but also didn't annoy me, so I guess that is a win, as it also counted for the year-long challenge.