Play Book Tag discussion

Personal Goals---Read 70 books
Dana's two-year challenge- READ
1 A book set in Mexico
2 A 500 paged book-The Lincoln Highway--Feb 23
3 A book a friend recommends
4 A book about a chef/Cook-Taste: My Life through Food--Jan 2023
5 A book about a natural disaster-What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley--Jan 2023
6 A book about a president-The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America--Feb 2023
7 A book about band or musical group
8 A book from the free library-Cry of the Kalahari--May 2023
9 A book made into a movie.-The Boy in the Striped Pajamas--Feb 2023
10 A book mentioned in book read-A Thorn in My Pocket: Temple Grandin's Mother Tells the Family Story--Oct 2023
11 A book not set on earth
12 A book of short stories--Love, Death, and the Plains: Historical Narratives of Lea County--July 2023
13 A book off of Michael Edwards Goodreads TBR bookshelf
14 A book off of Michael Edwards read Goodreads bookshelf-Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt-Feb 2023
15 A book off of Regina Lindsey read goodreads bookshelf--A Soldier's Promise: The Heroic True Story of an American Soldier and an Iraqi Boy-September 2023
16 A book off of Regina Lindsey TBR goodreads bookshelf
17 A book on my TBR mountain for more than five years-Land of the Horses: A True Story of a Lost Soul and a Life Found--June 2023
18 A book picked by it cover
19 A book published in 1960--Born Free: The Full Story--November 2023
20 A Book published in 1967--The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon--July 2023
21 A book published in 1990.
22 A book Published in 1992.
23 A book published in 1997.
24 A book published in 2009.-Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town-First published December 9, 2009--Jan 2023
25 A book published in 2023-Walk the Blue Line: They Walk the Line between Life and Death--June 2023
26 A book retelling a fairy tale.
27 A book set around a library or bookstore
28 A book set in Australia
29 A book set in Canada
30 A book set in the 1800's
31 A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship
32 A book tagged Classic. --White Fang: Fully Illustrated and Adapted--July 2023
33 A book tagged humor
34 A book tagged western--Savage Run--July 2023
35 A book tagged women history-Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder--June 2023
36 A book that is Thought Provoking--June 2023
37 A book that made you sad or cry-When Crickets Cry--June 2023
38 A book with a cloud on the cover--About Your Father and Other Celebrities I Have Known: Ruminations and Revelations from a Desperate Mother to Her Dirty Son--September 2023
39 A book with a cowboy-The Quotable Cowboy--May 2023
40 A book with a desert scene.--A Desert Calling: Life in a Forbidding Landscape--September 2023
41 A book with a dog on the cover. -Woof--June 2023
42 A book with a dragon-Dawn of the Dragons: Here, There Be Dragons; The Search for the Red Dragon--July 2023
43 A book with a eating scene-The Chef's Apprentice--September 2023
44 A book with a farm animal on the cover-War Horse--March 2023
45 A book with a fight scene-Diana and the Underworld Odyssey--May 2023
46 A book with a lake on the cover.-Where the Crawdads Sing--April 2023
47 A book with a month in the title-February Dragon--November 2023
48 A book with a number in the title.
49 A book with a red cover.
50 A book with a school teacher-Finding Mrs. Warnecke: The Difference Teachers Make--June 2023
51 A book with a vehicle on the cover
52 A book with a wild animal in the story.-The Wild Inside--March 2023
53 A book with Author last or first name starting with letters Zippy--Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World--July 2023
54 A Book with character having the same first name of a family member-Shelby's Story: A Puppy Tale--June 2023
55 A book with family drama-Electric God--April 2023
56 A book with flowers on the cover
57 A book with friends as characters-The Peanuts Papers: Charlie Brown, Snoopy & the Gang, and the Meaning of Life--August 2023
58 A book with mountains on the cover.-Firestorm--May 2023
59 A book with poems.
60. A Book with someone playing cards--Playing the Cards You're Dealt--September 2023
61 A book with someone wearing glasses--Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean--July 2023
62 A Christian book-All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir--May 2023
63 A Christmas book-Oliver: The Cat Who Saved Christmas--Dec 2023
64 A detective book-The Likeness--April 2023
65 A fiction book by an Author you have never read-Migrations--Feb 2023
66 A fiction book with someone who plays a sport-Beartown--March 2023
67 A Halloween book-Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places--Oct 2023
68 A historical-fiction‎ book-The Kitchen Front -Jan 2023
69 An Interlibrary Loan book-A Fine Balance
70 A True Crime book-The Ax Murders of Saxtown: The Unsolved Crime That Terrorized a Town and Shocked the Nation--April 2023
71 A young adult book-Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 -Jan 2023
72 An Autobiography of a non-celebrity-Blue: A Memoir - Keeping the Peace and Falling to Pieces-March 2023
73 Award winning book-The Dog Stars--
Arthur C. Clarke Award Nominee (2013), Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Fiction (2013), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction (2012), Prix Une autre Terre (2014), The Center for Fiction Nominee (2012
74 First book in a new to me series--The Wild Inside--March 2023

Play book Tag-- Monthly Tag

January--Food
Taste: My Life through Food
The Kitchen Front
February--England
March--Japan
April--friendship
Where the Crawdads Sing
The Likeness
May--indigenous
The Only Good Indians
Apaches: A History and Culture Portrait
June--immigration
July--adventure
Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World
Savage Run
White Fang: Fully Illustrated and Adapted
The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon
Love, Death, and the Plains: Historical Narratives of Lea County
August --moral dilemmas
We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland
Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
September--literary fiction
October--winter
November--dragons
December--holiday
Oliver: The Cat Who Saved Christmas
One More for Christmas
Up on the Woof Top

Play book Tag-Challange

Happy 15th Birthday, PBT!
The Candles
Books for this challenge must be a minimum of 150 pages (as measured by the hardcover version). If the book must fit a particular tag, it must be tagged at least 5 times with the specific tag.

15/15 completed. ----Finished 4/14/2023
1. Read a book that fits our very first tag: historical fiction. Note that our very first tagger was MOM2RUDY who is now a published author, W.J. Small (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...).
READ--Where the Crawdads Sing

2. PBT was founded in February, 2008. Read a book that represents or relates to any event that occurred (or occurs) in February. READLincoln Unbound
Event: Lincoln's Birthday February 12, 1809.

3. Read a 5 star book from any of our administrators (past or present) "read" shelf. Administrators include: Ladyslott, LibraryCin, Annapi, JoLene, BooknBlues, Nicole R, Kristal and Anita.

Ladyslott: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
JoLene: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Kristal: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Nicole R: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...---READ--Migrations
Booknblues: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
annapi: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
LibraryCin: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Anita: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

4. We have been compiling the PBT Top 10 list since our inception. Read a book from any of our 15 years of Top 10 selections.--READ Beartown--Top books 2017 --
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


5. Read a book that fits the tag of India. Read in December, 2013, it represents our least read tag (excluding administrator special tags). READ A Fine Balance India tag: 1,152 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

6. Surprisingly, our favorite tag as measured by books read in one month was read way back in 2008. Read a book that fits the tag of mystery. READ--The Wild Inside
Tagged 187: https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

7. When PBT was 7 years old, we compiled our own top 100 non-fiction books of all time. Read one to blow out this candle.
READThe Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

8. When PBT was 8 years old, we compiled our own top 100 fictional books of all time. Read one to blow out this candle.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
READ The Dog Stars
FOUND ONhttps://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

9. In 2016, we were forced to make the move from Shelfari to Goodreads. Read a book that fits EITHER the last tag we read at Shelfari (2010) or the first tag we read at Goodreads (world war ii).
READ-The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Tagged World War II---699 people--https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

10. Our most prolific poster (in the Goodreads era) is Amy https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1... Amy has posted more than anyone (including the administrators!) with 9301 comments as of this writing. Read a book in Amy's honor that somehow relates to her (either it is on her shelf, or highlights something you know about her personally, or her geography, or her profession). Indicate how you selected the book with your review. Found on her compare books shelf. https://www.goodreads.com/user/compar...
READ The Lincoln Highway Amy gave it five stars.

11. Read a book that was a buddy read here on PBT that you have not read before. Link to the buddy read thread along with your review. READ Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt


12. Fall Flurries and Trim the TBR have been staples for PBT for a very long time! Select a book that has been read for either of these PBT stalwarts that is shelved on our PBT bookshelf found here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
READ- Found on Trim the TBR Shelf--https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

13. When PBT was one year old (in its infancy still), we played a game called "Last Tagger Standing", and it was modeled on the famous television show, Survivor. Read a book that is tagged with survival or survivor.
READ Tagged Survival--What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley

14. Read a book from your favorite tag of all the tags you've personally read with PBT.---Memoir---READ--Blue: A Memoir - Keeping the Peace and Falling to Pieces
Memoir tag--
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...


15. PBT is 15 years old! Read a book that was published the year YOU turned 15------1982---READ--War Horse---First Published June 3, 1982

Grab a Book & Play Booktivity-Monthly Tag

January-suggested by Carol
Happy Birthday, Isaac Asimov: Read a book with a sci-fi theme

February-suggested by Beverly
Great American Pie Month. Read a book where someone bakes a pie or there's a pie pictured on the cover. Post the cover or the passage that talks about baking the pie.

March-Women's History Month: Read a work of historical fiction written by a woman and featuring a female main character.

April-suggested by Koren
National Find a Rainbow Day: Read a book whose cover is predominantly one of the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
Where the Crawdads Sing----Orange cover
The Ax Murders of Saxtown: The Unsolved Crime That Terrorized a Town and Shocked the Nation--Red Cover
Electric God--Blue Cover

May-suggested by Carol
Cinco de Mayo: Read a book with the word or number FIVE (or 5) in the title; OR which is the 5th book in a series.

June-suggested by Patty
Audio Appreciation Month - Listen to an audiobook

July-suggested by Carol
4th of July - Read a book by an author whose first and last initials are in: AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Savage Run
The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon

August-suggested by SouthWestZippy
Universal Doggy Birthday - Read a book about dogs or with a dog on the cover.
The Peanuts Papers: Charlie Brown, Snoopy & the Gang, and the Meaning of Life
Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale
Emily and Einstein
The Underdogs

September-suggested by Carol
College Color Day - Read a book that has a cover that is at least 50% a color that is a representation of a college or university in your state.... or city.

October-Suggested by SoutWestZippy
Something on the cover or a scene in the book that creeps you out, scares you or you have a fear of.
Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places
The Con Queen of Hollywood: The Hunt for an Evil Genius

November-Suggested by Book Concierge
Veteran's Day - Read a book with a character who is a member of the military, active or veteran, any branch of service, any era.

December-Suggested by Patty
Dewey Decimal System Day: Read an actual book from the library.
Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis
Jal: The Trail Ahead

Grab a Book & Play Booktivity
Fun With Challenges
CHALLENGE RULES
• one book per letter
• books must be 100+ pages
• use 1st letter of title (exclude A, An, and The)
• use 1st letter of Author FIRST/LAST name

January New Year Challenge-5/5--Completed.
Cakes
C--What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley
A--Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914
K--The Kitchen Front
E--Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town
S--Taste: My Life through Food

February-Queen of Hearts ♥️ Challenge-Skipping

March-IRISH PUB CHALLENGE-Skipping

April-Celebrate April Challenge-5/5-Earth Day-Completed
Earth
E--Electric God
A--The Ax Murders of Saxtown: The Unsolved Crime That Terrorized a Town and Shocked the Nation
R--Lincoln Unbound by Rich Lowry
T--The Likeness by Tana French
H--Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls

May-MAY HAPPENINGS CHALLENGE--5/5-Completed
Dance
D--Diana and the Underworld Odyssey by Aisha Saeed
A--All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore
N--Firestorm by Nevada Barr
C--Cry of the Kalahari by Mark and Delia Owens
E--The Quotable Cowboy by Kathy Etling

June-Skipping

July-What's Happenings on the 4th--5/5 Completed
Games
G--Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean
A--Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World
M--Love, Death, and the Plains: Historical Narratives of Lea County
E--Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine, France, 1136
S--Savage Run

August-The PEANUTS Gang Challenge 7/7 Completed
P--The Peanuts Papers: Charlie Brown, Snoopy & the Gang, and the Meaning of Life
E--Emily and Einstein
A--Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale
N--Navajos Wear Nikes: A Reservation Life
U--The Underdogs
T--Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
S--We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland

September-There is Something in the Air: FALL Challenge 6/6--Did not Complete in Oct
L-The Last River: The Tragic Race for Shangri-la
E-White Sands, Red Menace
A--About Your Father and Other Celebrities I Have Known: Ruminations and Revelations from a Desperate Mother to Her Dirty Son
V--Playing the Cards You're Dealt
E--The Chef's Apprentice
S--A Soldier's Promise: The Heroic True Story of an American Soldier and an Iraqi Boy

October-Skipping
November-Skipping

December-T'was the Night before Christmas- 5/5 Completed
M-Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon-December 18
O-Oliver: The Cat Who Saved Christmas by Sheila Norton-December 3
U-Up on the Woof Top by Spencer Quinn- December 14
S-One More for Christmas by Sarah Morgan-December 8
E-Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis-by Timothy Egan-Dec 26

Shelfari 50 Book Challenge--Goal 70 books

January
1. Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
2. Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
3. Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer
4. Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town by Elyssa East
5. What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley by Kim Cross
6. The Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn
February
7. Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough
8. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
9. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
10. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
11. The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America by Timothy Egan
12. Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
March
13. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
14. The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo
15. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
16. Beartown by Fredrik Backman
17. Blue: Keeping the Peace and Falling to Pieces by John Sutherland
April
18. Lincoln Unbound by Rich Lowry
19. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
20. The Ax Murders of Saxtown by Nicholas J. C. Pistor
21. Electric God by Catherine Ryan Hyde
22. The Likeness by Tana French
23. Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls
May
24. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
25. Apaches: A History and Culture Portrait by James L. Haley
26. The Quotable Cowboy by Kathy Etling
27. Diana and the Underworld Odyssey by Aisha Saeed
28. Cry of the Kalahari by Mark and Delia Owens
29. Firestorm by Nevada Barr
30. All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore
June
31. Walk the Blue Line by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann
32. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
33. Land of the Horses by Chris Lombard
34. Shelby's Story by W. Bruce Cameron
35. Finding Mrs. Warnecke by Cindi Rigsbee
36. Woof by Spencer Quinn
37. When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
38. Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser
July
39. Dawn of the Dragons by James A Owen
40. Icebound by Andrea Pitzer
41. Cat Daddy by Jackson Galaxy
42. Savage Run by C. J. Box
43. White Fang by Jack London
44. The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin Fletcher
45. Love, Death, and the Plains Edited by Peter Mlandinic and Joe Byers
46. Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine, France, 1136 by Kristiana Gregory
August
47. We Will Rise by Steve Beaven
48. The Peanuts Papers by Andrew Blauner
49. Amazing Gracie by Mark Beckloff
50. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
51. Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee
52. Navajos Wear Nikes by Jim Kristofic
53. The Underdogs by Melissa Fay Greene
September
54. A Desert Calling by Michael A. Mares
September
55. About Your Father by Peggy Rowe
56. A Soldier's Promise by Daniel Hendrex
57. The Chef's Apprentice by Elle Newmark
58. Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson
59. The Last River by Todd Balf
October
60. White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages
61. A Thorn in My Pocket by Eustacia Cutler
62. Ghostland by Colin Dickey
63. The Con Queen of Hollywood by Scott C. Johnson
November
64. Deadly Charade by Cristine Adams
65. See No Evil by Victoria Laurie
66. February Dragon by Colin Thiele
67. Born Free by Joy Adamson
December
68. Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas by Sheila Norton
69. One More for Christmas by Sarah Morgan
70. Up on the Woof Top by Spencer Quinn
71. Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny
72. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan
73. Jal.: The Trail Ahead by Stephen A. Townsend

1.
3 stars
I have enjoyed Stanley Tucci in many of the movies he has been in, he is a wonderful scene stealer.
This is one of the many reasons I picked this out to read. I am not fully disappointed, just a tad. If you are a foodie, you just might enjoy this book. I don't think of myself as a foodie, but I do enjoy food so that is yet another reason I picked this book. I knew the book was going to be centered around his food life, but wow was not expecting to trash people/restaurants and their ways of doing food. At least that is the way it came across to me. I wish a little more attention was given to completing a story but overall, I enjoyed getting to know Stanley Tucci a little more. I enjoy his humor and that too is throughout the book.

2.
4 stars
Taken from the inside slipcover of the book. "Two years into WW2, Britain is feeling her losses; the Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is putting on a cooking contest--and the grand prize is a job as the program's first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the contest presents a crucial chance to change their lives."
That is a wonderful summary of the book but there is so much more.
It not only shows you four women's need to find ways to make ends meet and their willingness to take a chance to make life a little easier for herself and loved ones, but it also shows friendship, dealing with loss, and growth.
I enjoyed this story. I did get lost a couple of times because of the set up. Each cook has their own chapter on what is going on her life and her trial-and-error cooking for the contest, but I worked my way through after a while and it started to come together. I enjoyed the recipes sprinkled throughout the book, nice touch.

3.
4 stars
The Author did a wonderful job of showing the private thinking of a young Grand Duchess. Anastasia is shown to be humorous and having a love, and at times dislike relationship with her siblings and parents.
the Diary starts in Jan of 1914 and ends in May 1918, the day before Anastasia and her family's death.

In the end Anastaisa knows enough to be concerned but not enough to be scared.

I liked the real history and pictures at the end of the book, put perspective on what was happing and her life before and events in the diary.

4.
2 stars
Dogtown is located in Gloucester, Massachusetts and has a long history of violence and death. If you are looking for a history book about the area events, then this is a book for you. If you are looking to read the true crime story that happened in June of 1984, the death of Anne Natti, then skip this book. It is in there hidden by intermissions of history lessons, trying to tie current events to past events, trying to be spooky and unnecessary details. If that does not concern you then be prepared to be ready a straightforward dry read. Why did I finish if I disliked it so much? I did learn some things and I did like the history. I just wish the book would have focused on either the history or the True Crime story, both got lost in the book. I am still giving it two stars.

5.
4 stars

Taken from the book. "April 27, 2011, marked the climax of a superstorm that saw a record 358 tornadoes rip through twenty-one states in three days, seven hours, and eighteen minutes. It was the deadliest day of the biggest tornado outbreak in recorded history, which saw 348 people killed, entire neighborhoods erased, and $11 billion in damage. The biggest of the tornadoes left scars across the land so wide they could be seen from space. But from the terrible destruction emerged everyday heroes, neighbors and strangers who rescued each other from hell on earth."

The book written in three parts, The Storm, The Aftermath, and The Recovery. Kim Cross fills the book with descriptions that show horror, survival, heroes and people trying to deal with loss of life and mementos throughout the book. Some stories are very raw and others uplifting, it sent me on a roller-coaster of emotions. What got me the most is reading of all the names and ages of the loved ones lost on that day in the back of the book. It shows the full horror of the day.
I have only one complaint. I would have liked a little closure on a few of the stories.

6.
4 stars
It is difficult to write a synopsis about this book, so I am going to skip writing a long one.
Jim Jones was able to convince a large number of people, his way was the only way to salvation. Then on November 18, 1978, had them take their own life to complete their dedication to salvation.
This book is haunting and at times difficult to read. I knew a little about this event and this man before I read this book but learned a lot.
It will never fully be known why or what pushed him to become the way he did but he left deep scars.
I have only one complaint, I would have liked a little more about the victims and survivors.

7.
3 stars
Wow that was a long tedious book to read but I am happy I got through it. I will admit I did skim here and there when I was not interested in some of the subjects it talked about. The book’s main focus is about his family, his younger years, school years and his love life, very little about his years as the Vice President and President.

Yes, it is a dry, boring, tedious read but it is filled with lots of information so if you are into President's life reads then this is your type of book. If you are wanting more about his Vice President/President years, skip this book.

8.
2 stars
Taken from the book: "In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where he has just served a year for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother and head west where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future."



About halfway through the book I about gave up, but I had to see how it ended and that was some ending, wow. The story just dragged on and on to me. While the brother's interaction had while traveling together was interesting it was not enough to make the book more than two stars. The set up, each character has their own chapter, did not help nor the size of the book. Two much to keep up with and the constant sob stories got old.

I know a lot of people loved this book but sorry, I did not. It is not my type of book.

9.
5 stars
The Flu and a Blood disease has wiped out a huge part of the human population and food is getting hard to find. In the beautiful mountains of Colorado, Pilot Hig, his dog Jasper live in a small, abandoned airport hangar that also holds his 1956 Cessna, and he has a neighbor named Bangley. This is his story of grief, survival, determination and adventure, how he handles his loneliness and what happens when he comes across other people. Are they friend or foe?

I am not a fan of dystopia or apocalyptic type books but find myself picking up one due to either a friend or a group challenge recommending one to me. Thank you, Group Challenge! I would have never picked this book up on my own.

Yes, it reads choppy at times but easy to overlook because it is needed, it gives it that last of a rawness needed to give it a full ugly picture of the life Hig is living. Life is not always smooth; it has choppy moments.

The first page had my full attention. "If I ever woke up crying in the middle of a dream, and I'm not saying I did, it's because the trout are gone everyone. Brookies, rainbows, browns, cutthroats, cutbows and everyone." I come from a generation of fisherman, and I am a fisherman, I felt this.

The story is raw yet beautiful. I see why it is an awarded winning book.

10.
5 stars
Taken from the book. "If you start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy named Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence.
Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter one."

This story shows the innocence of children in a world filled with neglect, very little compassion or communication to the Children.
This work of fiction is raw and talks about an ugly part of a very real part of history, but it is just a work of fiction.

11.
4 stars
Taken from the book inside cover. " Egan narrates the struggles of the overmatched rangers against the implacable fire with unstoppable dramatic force. Equally dramatic is the larger story he tells of outsized president Teddy Roosevelt and his chief forester, Gifford Pinchot. Pioneering the notion of conservation, Roosevelt and Pinchot did nothing less than create the idea of public land as our national treasure, owned by and preserved for every citizen. The robber barons fought Roosevelt and Pinchot’s rangers, but the Big Burn saved the forests even as it destroyed them: the heroism shown by the rangers turned public opinion permanently in their favor and became the creation myth that drove the Forest Service, with consequences still felt in the way our national lands are protected  —  or not —  today"

I knew about Roosevelt's dedication to saving the forest but very little about Gifford Pinchot and who their opponents were. This book puts it all out there. My only complaint it is such a dry read, like reading a history book just putting the facts out there. This was a massive fight for our forests and its gifts, it needed a little more life put into the stories. The book has pictures showing some of the devastation, historical places, the hero firefighters, Pinchot's family and others involved. In the back is Notes on Sources, Acknowledgments and a wonderful Index. This makes a good research paper type book.

12.
1 star
Taken from the book. "Franny Stone has always been the kind of woman who is able to love but unable to stay. Leaving behind everything but her research gear, she arrives in Greenland with a singular purpose: to follow the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their final migration to Antarctica. Franny talks her way onto a fishing boat, and she and the crew set sail, traveling ever further from shore and safety. But as Franny’s history begins to unspool—a passionate love affair, an absent family, a devastating crime—it becomes clear that she is chasing more than just the birds. When Franny's dark secrets catch up with her, how much is she willing to risk for one more chance at redemption?

I wanted to like the book, I just could not get into the story. Charlotte McConaghy uses to many descriptive words, and I found Franny Stone to be annoying many times throughout the book. I HATED the ending. This was not my type of book.

13.
3 stars
Taken from the synopsis above. "With a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of Charles Dickens, this magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of India.

The time is 1975. The place is an unnamed city by the sea. The government has just declared a State of Emergency, in whose upheavals four strangers--a spirited widow, a young student uprooted from his idyllic hill station, and two tailors who have fled the caste violence of their native village--will be thrust together, forced to share one cramped apartment and an uncertain future.

As the characters move from distrust to friendship and from friendship to love, A Fine Balance creates an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an inhuman state."

Yes it "captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of India" and it is overwhelming at times. The wonderful writing draws you in just too much extra and flip flop between the stories. I got lost here and there and lost interest. Bottom line, book is too large, and stories could have been split up and told in two books. I learned a lot and have put it on my read again list because I want to give another try and see if I can fully enjoy it more than I did this time. I think it would be worth it.

14.
2 stars
Not going to write up a synopsis for the book, the one on the book page does a wonderful job.
I wished I like this book more, but it is filled with mystery solving cliches. I don't for care the main Character, Ted Systead. Ted is a bit slow on putting two and two together for special Agent for the Department of the Interior and moves at a snail's pace. The story line is slow moving which does not help the writing style. I felt sorry for the animals more than I did the humans and has way too much animal abuse scenes. I just could not get into the book, and I am going to pass on the rest of the series.

15.
4 stars
The story is told from the perspective of the horse named Joey. Joey is purchased from an auction by a despicable drunk man. His young son falls in love with the horse and wants to train him, so his father lets him. Despicable Father steps in yet again and sells the horse to the Army. Story will put you through a roller coaster of emotions. Book’s set up is children friendly but does contain a couple animal abuse scenes. It is a eye opening book about horse to human relationships and just how a horse can and should feel when put through the things they have endured.

16.
1 star

Taken from the book. "Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semifinal match is the catalyst for a violent act that leaves a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Hers is a story no one wants to believe since the truth would mean the end of the dream. Accusations are made, and like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected."

I am one of few that did not like this book. The writing is wonderful, that story is a hard one to read about, it is very raw. I am not a hockey fan is another reason I could not get into the story.

17.
4 stars
Taken from the book. "John Sutherland joined the Met in 1992, having dreamed of being a police officer since his teens. Rising quickly through the ranks and compelled by the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives, he worked across the capital, experiencing first-hand the enormous satisfaction as well as the endless trauma that a life in blue can bring.

There were remarkable, career-defining moments: commanding armed sieges, saving lives and helping to take dangerous people off the streets. But for every case with a happy ending, there were others that ended in desperate sadness.

In early 2013, John suffered a major breakdown and consequent battle with crippling depression. After a career spent racing to be the first at the scene of crimes and catastrophes, he found himself in pieces, unable to put one foot in front of the other."



I found the book to be interesting and eye opening. John Sutherland walks you through his life as a police officer and his personal life. It is hard to be married to your job and be dedicated to your family at the same time. He tells stories about his experiences while on the job and wow he has been through some things. I have a few complaints. The setup of some of the stories had very little or no beginning, middle and end to them. This drives me crazy plus the lack of life and feeling in the stories had me wondering where the editors were. John Sutherland chapters about dealing his Mental state was a much needed read. Everyone deals or don't deal with things the same way and I needed to hear that. Some of the stories in here will stay with me and happy I read it.

Quote from the book I liked.
"Each little story stays with me. Each leaves a mark on my soul."

18.
2 stars
I can't say I hated it but can't say I loved it; it was just ok. The book started off good by telling stories of Lincoln when he was young and showing his love of reading and being a hard worker. Then it goes into when he ventured into politics and how and why he became the President we all know. Overall, the book it had good and bad parts when it comes to the story telling and writing. Did I learn anything new? Yes, so it was worth the read but not one I would read again.

19.
2 stars
Taken from the back of the book. "For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So, in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her."

This is not my normal type of book but did not know that going in. I enjoyed the murder mystery part of the book but the rest of the book not so much. Mother ups and just runs away leaving kids behind. The Father is an abusive self-centered jerk with no clue on how to help himself much less others. The book is filled with cliches. Girl likes two boys, one a bad boy and one a good boy, of course the girl picks bad boy. Girl does not want to go to school and deal with people but does end up letting a few help her out here and there. I just did not like any of the Characters, even the main ones. Now don't get me wrong I know Kya only knows what she knows and raised herself but good grief, I found her to be annoying.

I also did not like the bouncing around from year to year in the chapters. I don't know why this is becoming so popular with Authors, but I don't like it, it is like reading flashbacks and kills the flow of the story.

20.
3 stars
Taken from the back of the book. "In 1874, the Saxtown massacre rocked a nation reeling from economic depression and shattered a small German immigrant farming community in Illinois. The murder of the Stelzriede family led investigators through forests and farmland, chasing footprints, bloody tobacco leaves, and the marks of an ax dragged away from the scene."

You can tell Nicholas Pistor put a lot of time researching but when it comes to presenting it, he fell short. I liked that he did not go into graphic detail of the crime scene. Nicholas did have to use a bunch of speciation/assumptions on some of the details due that fact that the original murder records disappeared. More than half the book is a slow, dry read but did like the Chapters on how they were set up. This helped with the timeline of the events.

It is so sad that this case may not be fully solved. A whole family and a sheriff murdered, leaving behind a huge mystery and whole lot of fear.

21.
1 star
I could not get into the story. There was so much drama that I just could have cared less about any of the characters and their life choices plus the things that come while living life. The time jumping made it a pain to keep up with. I wanted to like this book but unfortunately the story fell short of my expectations. I am still a Catherine Ryan Hyde fan and going to read her other books.

22.
1 star
I could not get into any part of this book. Story line is all over the place and so out there it is almost unbelievable. Detective Cassic Maddox is annoying and at times acts more like the nosy neighbor than a detective. I am done with this series just not my type of books.

23.
2 stars
Taken from the book profile page. "Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out."

I wanted to like/love this book because I enjoyed her other books. The over-the-top drama is one reason it fell short of me even liking it. The lack of me making a connection of any of the characters and all the twist and turns in the story line killed it for me. Hated the ending, the big secret revealing was not needed, it just made things more of a mess and harder to follow story.

I am giving it two stars because I do enjoy her writing style.

24.
3 stars
From the Introduction part of the book. "Four American Indian men from the Blackfeet Nation, who were childhood friends, find themselves in a desperate struggle for their lives against an entity that wants to exact revenge upon them for what they did during an elk hunt ten years earlier. Not just them, either, but their families and friends. "
This book will send you on many levels of emotions. It will also make you look over your shoulder and face some fears.
I like Stephen Graham Jones writing style. Horror type books are not my thing but was able to finish because he is not over the top in descriptions.

25.
1 star
I stopped reading on page 46. Why? I got to the first group of pictures and under one of them it says, "An Apache Princess". Yes, I rolled my eyes, took my bookmark out and tossed it to the side. All done. On to the next book.

26.
4 stars
Good collections of quotes, I had not heard many of them. I enjoyed the Who's Who in the back of the book. I did not recognize some of people and the Who's Who helped.

Two of my favorite quotes.
"Take care of your horse before you take care of yourself."
The Code of The West

"Don't mount another man's horse, and never try on his hat.:
The Code of The West

27.
2 stars
Taken from the book. " Diana has just saved the island of Themyscira from a shadowy demon. She's really looking forward to celebrating the rest of the Chara festival in peace-until her best friend, Princess Sakina, is kidnapped by a green-cloaked figure, and the Amazons are attacked by a cavalcade of alien airships."

If I was younger, this would be a five-star book but as an adult I see way too many flaws in the Story line.

28.
2 stars
Taken from the back of the book. "Carrying little more than a change of clothes and a pair of binoculars, two young Americans, Mark and Delia Owens, caught a plane to Africa, bought a third-hand Land Rover, and drove deep into the Kalahari Desert. There they lived for seven years, in the morning to find lions sleeping beside them: leopards, giraffes, and brown hyenas were regular visitors to the camp. But the Kalahari isn't Eden, and Mark and Kelia Owens were continually confronted with danger from drought, fire, violent storms, and even from the animals they Loved."

I liked some of the book stories, but the stories start to become repetitive, and others are pushed to sound more dramatic than it should have been. They should have known what they were facing by asking the locals on what to expect, plus done smarter packing and heed the warnings. If you see smoke or storms in the distance, take action, right then and now, don't just wait and see what happens until it is too late.

29.
3 stars
Taken from the back of the book. "Ranger Anna Pigeon is among the exhausted firefighters, serving as medic and spike camp security, when an abrupt weather shift sends Jackknife racing relentlessly in their direction, and when the monstrous blaze has passed, Anna emerges from her protective fames, the other stabbed through the heart. Now, trapped in the nightmarish landscape of the snow and ash, cut off from rescue by a rampaging winter storm. Annan must investigate and inexplicable homicide--as she and nine others struggle to survive the terrible rage of nature... and the murderer in their midst."

The story moves slow here and there but overall found it interesting enough to finish the book. Did not care for how the book was ended nor some of the stereotype characters

30.
1 star
Taken from the back of the book. "All My Knotted-Up Life is told with surprising candor about some of the personal heartbreaks and behind-the-scenes challenges that have marked Beth’s life. But beyond that, it’s a beautifully crafted portrait of resilience and survival, a poignant reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness, and proof positive that if we ever truly took the time to hear people’s full stories . . . we’d all walk around slack-jawed."

I could not get into this book because I found myself not liking her. The stories are drawn out and writing style is boring.

31.
5 stars
A collection of short stories told by the ones who risk their lives to serve and protect us. All the stories are eye opening, but some will leave you wondering why people can be so cruel, evil and rude. It also shows that all patrol officers, K9 handlers, sheriffs and detectives are human and have feelings. This book was hard to read due to content so I could only read three or four stories at a time depending on how long the story was.

Taken from the book. I put this last in my review because it needs to be a reminder to many of us, they need our respect.


From the police academy to the precinct, Walk the Blue Line is a first-person tour through the days and nights of American policing.


PROTECT

These men and women are our eyes. Our ears. Our protectors. Those who wear a badge, doing their best to help people.

SERVE

These officers serve their community. They serve their country. They’re in the business of saving lives—even at the risk of their own.

DEFEND

These patrol officers and K9 handlers, sheriffs and detectives, reveal what it’s really like to wear the uniform, to carry the weight of the responsibility they’ve been given.

32.
1 star
I am a Greek Mythology fan. I did not like this book even a little bit. I had a hard to following and I just don't comprehend his thinking nor the presentation of his take of the myth.

33.
5 stars
Taken from the book. "Growing up in a small Maine town, Chris Lombard had never ridden a horse—never even touched one. But on one fateful night, as what he’d thought was a happy twenty-something life full of love and possibility fell suddenly apart, he met two horses and looked into their eyes. What he saw inspired him to leave everything he had, and everything he didn’t have, behind, and go in search of what was missing."

Chris takes you on a journey of self-challenge, discovery and growth. I grew up with a Cowboy Grandfather, I can relate to a lot of his thinking and trying to figure out one's own path.

34.
5 stars
This a nonfiction book with fiction mixed in. Shelby is the Dog actor who played Bella in the movie "A Dog's Way Home." This her story, told by her. It is wonderful way to show how Dogs are trained to act. It also tells Shelby's story before she became a Dog actor and how she found her human. I highly recommend this book if you like or loved the movie, it gives the movie some insight on the behind the scenes.

35.
1 star
She wanted to be popular now she is popular. That is all I wish to say about this book.

36.
2 stars
Taken from the book. "There is trouble brewing in the Louisiana swamp -- Bowser can smell it. Bowser is a very handsome and only slightly slobbery dog, and he can smell lots of things. Like bacon. And rawhide chews! And the sweat on humans when they're lying.
Birdie Gaux, the girl Bowser lives with, also knows something is wrong. It's not just that her grammy's stuffed prize marlin has been stolen. It's the weird rumor that the marlin is linked to a missing treasure. It's the truck that seems to be following Birdie and the bad feeling on the back of her neck.
When Birdie and Bowser start digging into the mystery, not even Bowser's powerful sniffer can smell just how menacing the threat is. And when the danger comes straight for Birdie, Bowser knows it is up to him to sic 'em."

I would have loved this book when I was young but as an adult it was an ok book. Story is fun but predicable. I also did not like how the grandmother was presented in many parts of the book.

37.
5 stars and added to favorites.
Taken from the book synopsis. "A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future. And a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts.

It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest.

Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.

Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners."

I found this book in a free library. It sounded interesting so I grabbed it, and I am so happy I did. I was on a road trip and had read all the books I took with me. I read it in one day, I just could not put it down. The story not only grabs you in the first chapter but will send you on a roller coaster of emotions. All the characters are loveable or likeable, even the little girl's sometimes annoying Aunt. The story shows true friendship, love, compassion, grief, loss of self, growth and healing.
I also enjoyed the doctor's technical definitions of the body. It is needed to show how educated and dedicated he is to his field and loved ones.

38.
1 star
I wanted to love this book, but it fell short of me even liking it. I will say it is well researched but that will be the only nice thing I will say about it. The Author found it necessary to give her opinion and fill in blanks to fit her political backing. The stories are so dry they lack feeling the picture, just states the facts and moves on to the next point. I am not big on bashing eras we ourselves have not lived in or try and understand, her bashing their ways over and over got on my nerves. Fraser makes it very clear in her own way she is not like Laura's daughter Rose. Rose may have been a strong-willed spoiled brat, but I am simply surprised Charline Fraser did not cheer her on because of her own views clearly stated in a lot of the book.

39.
2 stars
Taken from the Goodreads page synopsis. "In The Search for the Red Dragon, it has been nine years since John, Jack, and Charles had their great adventure in the Archipelago of Dreams and became the Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica. Now they have been brought together again to solve a mystery: Someone is kidnapping the children of the Archipelago. Their to save the world from a centuries-old plot is to seek out the last of the Dragonships--the Red Dragon--in a spectacular journey that takes them from Sir James Barrie's Kensington Gardens to the Underneath of the Greek Titans of myth."

This is a hard book to write a review for. I liked and disliked it about the same. The story line was good, but I had a hard time keeping focused. The story dragged in places, some of the dialog between the characters either was good, pulled you in or was humorous but most it left me wondering what the heck. Some of the characters lacked development and came across as a dry and dull know-it-all. 688 pages were not needed to tell this story.
I am going to read the rest of the series because I need to know the rest of the story.

40.
1 star
Taken from the book. "In Icebound, Andrea Pitzer masterfully combines a gripping tale of survival with a sweeping history of the great Age of Exploration—a time of hope, adventure, and seemingly unlimited geographic frontiers. At the story’s center is William Barents, one of the 16th century’s greatest navigators whose larger-than-life ambitions and obsessive quest to chart a path through the deepest, most remote regions of the Arctic ended in both tragedy and glory. Journalist Pitzer did extensive research, learning how to use four-hundred-year-old navigation equipment, setting out on three Arctic expeditions to retrace Barents’s steps, and visiting replicas of Barents’s ship and cabin."

I wanted to like this book but found it to be repetitive and underwhelming dull. The only thing I got out of the whole book is that bears are bad, and some humans survived.

41.
2 stars
Taken from Goodreads synopsis. "Cat behaviorist and star of Animal Planet's hit television show My Cat from Hell, Jackson Galaxy, a.k.a. "Cat Daddy," isn't what you might expect for a cat expert. Yet Galaxy's ability to connect with even the most troubled felines -- not to mention the stressed-out humans living in their wake -- is awe-inspiring.

In this book, Galaxy tells the poignant story of his thirteen-year relationship with a petite gray-and-white short-haired cat named Benny, and gives singular advice for living with, caring for, and loving the feline in your home."

Ok book. He is very open and raw in parts of the book. The killing of puppies did me in, so I found myself skimming here and there, plus I did not like his story telling style but got through it.
I am happy he found his place and in a better peace of mind.

42.
3 stars
Taken from the book and Facebook description. "When a massive blast rocks the forests of Twelve Sleep County, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is called to the scene to help investigate the death of a colorful environmental activist. The case is wrapped up quickly, explained as an environmental publicity stunt gone wrong, but Joe isn't convinced. He soon discovers clues that suggest a deadly conspiracy–one that will test his courage, his survival skills, and his determination to “do the right thing” despite all costs."

The story held my attention but did lack some depth and backstory to see and understand the full picture. C. J. Box did not get overwhelming with twist and turns but had a couple to keep it a real mystery book. I did not see the reveal coming on who, what and why. I like Joe Pickett but he can be a little naive for a game warden but that also makes him likeable and down to earth. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

43.
4 stars
Taken from the back of the book. "Up in the frozen north, life is harsh and dangerous. But this is where White Fang, the wolf-dog, feels at home- in the wild."
I knew this story but never have read the book until now. I enjoyed Jack London's writing style; the story was very realistic, harsh realistic, but also had some very touching moments.
I wish I would have read Jack London's book when I was younger, it would have given me another reading outlet.

44.
2 stars
I was expecting too much out of this book. I wanted a beautiful, raw, inspirational account of this magnificent journey. I got a dry report of what he saw and experienced with a few pictures tossed in. I did learn some things, so it was not all bad and in places he did have my full attention but overall, it was just an ok book. I just did not like his writing style nor how his personality came across.

I wish he would have practiced the see it, picture it, but don't touch or dig it up. In other words, leave it alone. You are on a hike not an Archeology dig.