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

Last week, I watched the NetFlix documentary "Volcano: Rescue from Whaakari", and I've been rather obsessed ever since. My son was over the other day and I was telling him about it. The discussion shifted to unexpected eruptions and he mentioned that Yellowstone could conceivably have a super eruption of a geyser. Two days later (Jul 23, 2024) we heard the news that a geyser got super feisty and exploded, forcing tourists to run for safety. Thankfully there were no injuries. Then today (Jul 24, 2024) we learned that a wildfire has devastated most of the town of Jasper, Alberta which is a major tourist destination.

I don't know about you, but when I get an earworm (a song that plays over and over our heads and won't stop), actually listening to the song helps to stop it. Maybe reading books on the theme of natural disasters, might help stop the "earworm".

The challenge for August has 4 options:
1. Read a book about a natural disaster (volcano, earthquake, wildfire, tornado, etc,) Must be natural and not caused by human error, war, etc. (eg - Titanic disaster was caused by human error.)
2. Set in New Zealand.
3. Set in Montana, USA. (Closest town to Yellowstone National Park is in Montana.)
4, Set in Alberta, Canada.

General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge and the Group Themed Read.
3. The book must be started and read between August 1 - 31, 2024 (based on your local time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose but you need only report one.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read.
In the case of ebooks & audiobooks, the ebook edition must be at least 250 pages and the audiobook must be a minimum of 6 hours long.

Reporting:

List your WoF name, link to the book you read and tell us which task you chose and how your selection fit the book. Also give us a small blurb of what you thought about the book

As much as it pains me to say, let's not include shipwrecks. I could consider The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder because I own it, but I would wager a guess most shipwrecks are the result of human error, or war? Any discussion on that?

Oh, and let's exclude epidemics, pandemics, plagues. I want to focus on mother earth waving her wand.

Fun, Janice! The first three books that come to mind for me are:

The Nature of Fragile Things
The Phoenix Crown
Ashfall

Would you consider the earthquake setting in the first two as sufficient for the challenge? I know the whole story isn't just about the earthquake, but it plays a significant role. Want to make sure it's what you're going for.

I also read Just Get Home last year. It is fully about an earthquake. Not one I'd want to re-read, but thought I'd put it out there in case it looks interesting to anyone looking for a book.

Can it be a book dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster? This is what I am thinking about

Kristie wrote: "Fun, Janice! The first three books that come to mind for me are:

The Nature of Fragile Things
The Phoenix Crown
Ashfall

Would you consider the eart..."

Yes, I was thinking of both those books and lamenting that I'd already read them, so need something new.

Yes, boo

Katrisa wrote: "Can it be a book dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster? This is what I am thinking about
"

Yes, that book sounds interesting.

yay! thanks!

Janice wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Fun, Janice! The first three books that come to mind for me are:

The Nature of Fragile Things
The Phoenix Crown
Ashfall

Would you c..."

Thanks, Janice! I'm going to gopher some more too. :)

Janice wrote: "Last week, I watched the NetFlix documentary "Volcano: Rescue from Whaakari", and I've been rather obsessed ever since. My son was over the other day and I was telling him about it. The discussion ..."

The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin, historical fiction

I am going to read This Is Chance!: The Shaking of an All-American City, a Voice That Held It Together by Jon Mooallem. It is about the earthquake and tsunami that hit Anchorage in 1964 and the news reporter that helped bring a community together in the aftermath.

I haven't done much gophering, but I set a tough one for myself. I have no books on my tbr that fit, so I may have to see if I can get something at the library or buy a kindle/audiobook.

I'm kind of intrigued by Waking the Giant: How a Changing Climate Triggers Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes

Apparently, I have a love for weather related books..especially blizzards. I have two which are hurricane related. Since it is summer where I live, I am going with one of the two below:

Summer Rental
Atlas 5

(I just finished an engrossing book about volcanoes. It was written by James Patterson but with notes from Michael Crichton that his wife found since his death. I read it pretty much nonstop!)
Eruption

Sharon wrote: "Apparently, I have a love for weather related books..especially blizzards. I have two which are hurricane related. Since it is summer where I live, I am going with one of the two below:.."

I considered reading Eruption but I'm not a fan of James Patterson. I am of Michael Chrichton. His wife found the unfinished manuscript and had Patterson finish it, from my understanding. Some comments I found was that she "keeps" finding unfinished manuscripts. Who knows how many books he started or had outlines on.

I also considered The Children's Blizzard, but thought it might be pretty depressing.

I really stumped myself with this challenge. I couldn't find a book that I owned or would consider buying for this challenge. Sheesh, you'd think I'd make it easy on myself. I had Crossroads on my "anticipate 2024" wishlist, so decided to check off two tasks with the one book. It's set in Montana.

I was planning to read Ashfall because it's been on my TBR for a dozen years, but Eruption also sounds good to me. I have a long trip in the car coming up, so I let my husband choose and (not surprisingly) he chose Eruption. So, I will be reading that for this challenge.

This is a tough one for me. I thought I would go with the New Zealand prompt and finally read The Bone People although I fear it will be too long and serious for my current reading slumpiness.

But I just remembered I also own Not Wanted on the Voyage. So Janice how do you feel about The Great Flood? As in the one with Noah and the Ark.

Vicki wrote: "This is a tough one for me. I thought I would go with the New Zealand prompt and finally read The Bone People although I fear it will be too long and serious for my current reading s..."

Flooding is generally a natural disaster so you're good to go.

For people like me who would rather avoid reading about disasters, these lists were great.

New Zealand- https://www.goodreads.com/places/44-n...

Alberta, Canada - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

This would be a good excuse to finally pick up that tome of a book but I am scared I will never finish it in a month. The Luminaries

Plan to read
A History of My Brief Body or Hattie Big Sky

I picked up the Luminaries at a garage sale a few years back, and you're right. It's a tome.

I have another big one, Antony and Cleopatra. It currently holds my monitor up to a proper eye level. I doubt I will ever read it. I'm beginning to feel that way about the Luminaries too.

Colleen McCulloughs The Thorn Birds also fits this challenge but I gave up on it for just this reason. Atleast Antony and Cleopatra is serving a purpose lol.

Maybe one day we will get to all the tomes, Janice. Here's hoping.

I felt the same about The Luminaries and picked it up between Christmas and New Year. I read it in a week, and read the first 50% in a day.

Experiences may differ (disclaimer) but I loved it.

I remember the first toppler we had. It was a 24 hour one, and I thought I could read a 600 pg, small tight font. Live and learn as they say.

Oh I wouldn't have been able to do it for time, as we know. But I remember we had a chair in a random spot after a Christmas event under a lamp, and I sat there with a bottle of white (it would have been in the high 30Cs) and this book and didn't move for about 12 hours.

The Luminaries was in my mind too. I am reading another brick right now, Homeland, so I don't know if I will have enough time, but I will reconsider when I finish it.

Actually! My profile picture is Tephra as a chick standing on The Luminaries after not being able to get my attention for about 30 mins. She was so indignant!

Had to go take a closer look at your profile picture, Rusalka. So funny!

Your experience of The Luminaries is giving me some hope. If you read it in a week, maybe I can do it in a month (?) or I might be just delusional.

@ Sandra: Ooh. As an aside, Homeland looks good. Is it?

Rusalka wrote: "Actually! My profile picture is Tephra as a chick standing on The Luminaries after not being able to get my attention for about 30 mins. She was so indignant!"

That is cute!

Pragya wrote: "@ Sandra: Ooh. As an aside, Homeland looks good. Is it?"

I've read 1/3 of it and so far I am liking it a lot.

Sandra wrote: "Pragya wrote: "@ Sandra: Ooh. As an aside, Homeland looks good. Is it?"

I've read 1/3 of it and so far I am liking it a lot."

Great!

I'm still considering The Luminaries (I actually checked it out from the library), but I also own The Johnstown Flood and The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, so I might decide for one of those if I think I will not have enough time for a long one.

Also, I've read Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History and it is a great, not so long, read, if anyone is still looking for ideas.

You might need a randomizer, Sandra.

I'm reading like crazy to finish my book today. I only have 30 pages to go. I finally decided on The Johnstown Flood. Great book, and incredible event.

Fingers crossed for you Sandra. I'm sure you'll get it done in time.