Robin P’s Comments (group member since Feb 17, 2020)

Robin P’s comments from the Around the Year in 52 Books group.

With this Read-a-Thon, there's no restriction like that you have to finish each section before you start another, as we have sometimes had. And of course, there is no ranking. I was very surprised the first time I did a Read-a-thon that there are no awards, and there isn't even a summary of how many books/categories/points all the teams got. I must be a very competitive person! So I'm fine with whatever way we use the Wild Cards. Of course, the prize is getting books read - plus the cheesy "the friends we made along the way"!

I'm fine with a wild card, though I think the book I am currently reading will fit under that prompt.

I finished A World Worth Saving. It is a middle grade/YA group about trans kids (and Jewish mythology) which we are using for an intergenerational book group. I put it under Rebellion, which is a part of what happens in it.

Tell us your opinions:

What is a book you loved when you were a child?

What is a book that scared you as a child?

What is a book you had to read in school and loved?

What is a book you had to read in school and hated?

What is a book that influenced you as a teenager/young adult?

What is a book that taught you something you have remembered all your life?

What is a book that helped you in your career or personal life?

What is a book you think is good for anyone of any age?

I finished A Room Full of Bones and put it under Red/orange cover. I"m not great at spreadsheets and I couldn't figure out how to get the text to wrap on the completed page.

The 1700s would include the American Revolution and the Georgian period in England. It was good you put 1700s instead of 18th century. I've been surprised how many people think 18th century means 1800's.

Welcome, everyone! have a book half done and have made a list of some shorter books I will try to get through. I will have a lot of audiobook hours since I am less than halfway through the 30+ hour The Hallmarked Man.

It turns out I'll be home a lot this week because my husband tested positive for covid this morning and I am waiting to see if I get it, so neither of us are going anywhere for some days! He's not very sick at the moment so we hope that continues.

Marie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot)."

That seems to be the perception every time we get this type of prompt, but I can't find..."

You're right, I realized that it is in other groups that I had the movie prompt, so that's my problem! As Jillian pointed out, it's out in the world.

Some fantasy books have character lists and family trees in them.

I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot).

just lori wrote: "Sorry about that. Didn't we used to get one of each or am I mistaken?"

It's always been one or the other, but we appreciate your enthusiasm!

Pam wrote: "My husband has a suggestion - a book with a deuteragonist who is an ingenue. He thinks this is a great idea that’s never been suggested before and I’m sure it hasn’t been. I feel like those are 2 w..."

Yes, I would advise not using the word "deuteragonist". I am a former English major and big word nerd and I didn't know it. People who just get on to vote will either vote it down or disregard it. Ingenue is more known but maybe not by everyone. Definition - an innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film. Lots of Regency romances feature them. Also Coming of Age stories in any time or place.

KP wrote: "History or historical fiction"

I'll second that.

The one that bothers me is people dying of cancer, since that is what happened to my daughter 3 years ago. But of course it's common in real life and in books. I was going to read Crying in H Mart but it starts out with her mother having cancer so I couldn't do it.

D.L. wrote: "Those who voted for the prompt a book with a trial (like me) can use a courthouse for the public building prompt, just a thought.
"

Good point!

Maggie wrote: "Very happy about the tops, I voted for 2 of them.

I downvoted sports team for the same reason as last time – the prompt's phrasing. I believe someone mentioned this the last time as well. The way ..."

Good point about how important phrasing is. As someone who is "creative" in fulfilling prompts, I would have gone with the most flexible interpretation. It wouldn't even dawn on me that someone thought it was the whole name. I think it's different with those British/European teams where a lot of them are "United" or "City" plus the place name. US teams tend to have a lot more variety - names of animals, professions, etc. and the city name isn't needed in order to recognize the team, such as Yankees or Cowboys.

It's tricky to get the right phrasing sometimes because we want to keep the prompts short but still convey the meaning.

1. What is your availability this week, and how many books do you anticipate reading during the Read-a-Thon? I am generally available. I try to pick some short books so that I can read at least 5.
2. Which time zone do you live in? US Central
3. Can you commit to checking in with your team frequently during the read-a-thon? yes
4. Are you interested in being a team leader for your group? (i.e. keeping track of team totals, needed tasks, updating spreadsheet, etc. -- We aim to have two captains per team so you can share the responsibility.) yes, if needed

- In the Woods
- Author - Tana French
- Rating - 5*
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) NA
- Brief reason why it was the best - an excellently written mystery with characters who have depth, no easy solutions, unexpected twists. This author has been recommended to me for years. I will definitely read more. (Warning: plot contains children in peril.)


- Mary Jane
- Author - Jessica Anya Blau
- Rating - 4.5 *
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - NA
- Brief reason why it was the best - Charming evocation of the time and place. Mary Jane is a sheltered, rule-abiding, churchgoing 15-year-old. Then she takes a nanny job with a "hippie" family, who are also hosting a famous rock star and movie star, and her world opens way up.


- Title - A Forty Year Kiss
- Author - Nickolas Butler
- Rating - 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - NA
- Brief reason why it was the best This author is from Wisconsin, where I live, and he captures the language and attitudes of the small-town Midwest. It's a book about second chances and mature love, which isn't that common in popular literature.

Well, I guess that's part of the point of ATY, to get introduced to some kinds of books you might not ordinarily read.

I have to listen to the audio of The Hallmarked Man which comes out tomorrow. I'm not happy with how the author (who is actually J K Rowling) is using her fame and money politically. But I am addicted to the series and the last one ended on an emotional cliffhanger. I have been listening to most books on 1.25 speed but I'll be going back to regular speed for all 31 hours of this.

Finishing The Bee Sting - I am about 1/3 through and I hope it gets less depressing. Will be rereading When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present because I am the co-leader of a local class on 2nd wave feminism.