Hooked on Books discussion

April 2025

This is a cooperative challenge. It's not really a team challenge, but you kind of have to work together to reach the end goal. There are two themes: Dobby and Smaug. Which team do you want to win? In other words, which is your favorite? You will read books to fit your favorite theme.

Ideas how to fit the theme
Is there an elf in your book? (Dobby)
Is there a dragon in your book? (Smaug)
Is there a powerful & fearsome character in your book? (Smaug)
Is there a character who spies on someone else? (Dobby)
Is there a greedy character? (Smaug)
Is there a loyal character? (Dobby)


It is up to you to make the book fit. If you can explain how the book fits the theme, it will fit. These ideas are to get you started. If you think of more ideas, please share them in the thread below.

Determining a winner
At the end of the month, I will add up the number of books submitted for each theme. The theme with the most books submitted wins.

Links to check-in pages
Wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.p...
If the wiki doesn't work (or if you just find it easier to have an admin enter it in the wiki for you - you may use the links below)
Dobby: https://www.librarything.com/topic/36...
Smaug: https://www.librarything.com/topic/36...
You may also enter your books in the thread below
Please use the following format:

Title:
Author:
Pages:
Date read:
Justification:
Theme chosen:



Challenge Rules
*Minimum 100 pages
*No graphic novels, poetry or cookbooks allowed
*Follow your own time zone. If you finish the book during the month in your time zone, it counts.
*You must be able to justify how your book fits the theme. Example: If the theme is cats, then your book can have a cat on the cover, a cat in the book, can be all about cats, etc. If you can justify it, then it will work. Let's keep this easy and you may be creative with your links to the theme

SMAUG


Title: The Upside of Falling
Author: Alex Light
Pages: 284
Date Read: 4/1/2025
Justification: Thomas Wells betrayed his family by cheating and lying
Theme: Smaug

Ideas how to fit the theme
(view spoiler)[
Smaug:
Is there a dragon in your book? (Smaug)
Is there a powerful & fearsome character in your book? (Smaug)
Is there a greedy character? (Smaug)
love for treasure, particularly gold, which he fiercely guards
obsessed with hoarding
portrayed as intelligent and cunning
incredibly proud of his power and strength
cruel and sadistic character, delighting in the destruction and suffering he inflicts upon others
vain and self-important, easily flattered and drawn to attention
large, winged beast with an armored body, massive jaws and fangs, and eyes that gleam and hold you captive when you look at them
Reddish, gold scales
Dark sense of humor
Good with sharp wit and verbal

Dobby:
Loyalty (hide spoiler)]

Smaug

BOOK: ➤ The Haunting of Hill House
AUTHOR: Shirley Jackson
DATE READ: 04-04-2025
PAGES 182 | HOW IT FITS: Powerful, greedy character who hoards people to the house

Smaug

BOOK: ➤ Wicche Hunt
AUTHOR: Seana Kelly
DATE READ: 04/01/25
PAGES 334 | HOW IT FITS: Paranormal Creatures. Also, she has coveted pearl earrings other envy, treasure

Smaug

Alien: The Cold Forge
Date Finished 4/10/2025
How it fits - MC is cruel sociopath proud of his power and strength in company

Dobby
What a Ghoul Wants
Finished 4-28-2025
How it fits - Loyal characters to each other in the team

I'm in for both.

Theme: Dobby
Books: 16

Book: Promises Part 2
Author: A.E. Via
Pages: 336 Pages
Date completed: 4/3/2025
How it fits: Duke and Quick are fiercely loyal—to each other, their team, and the people they protect.

Book: Dark Space
Author: Lisa Henry
Pages: 229 Pages
Date completed: 4/4/2025
How it fits: Brady starts the book trapped—by duty, by fear, by isolation—and slowly finds freedom through connection, understanding, and love.

Book: The First and Last Adventure of Kit Sawyer
Author: S.E. Harmon
Pages: 326 Pages
Date completed: 4/4/2025
How it fits: Kit does a lot of poking around, trying to solve the mystery. There's sleuthing, watching, sneaking—classic Dobby-level nosiness with good intentions.

Book: Let Me Show You
Author: Becca Seymour
Pages: 207 Pages
Date completed: 4/7/2025
How it fits: Tanner Grady demonstrates unwavering loyalty to his family and friends, especially when he moves to support his best friend and newborn niece.

Book: The Emperor and the Endless Palace
Author: Justinian Huang
Pages: 312 Pages
Date completed: 4/23/2025
How it fits: The protagonists, whose souls recognize each other across lifetimes, demonstrate unwavering loyalty to one another, even as they navigate different identities and challenges in each era.

Book: A Mended Man
Author: Jaime Reese
Pages: 445 Pages
Date completed: 4/21/2025
How it fits: Aidan is fiercely loyal—to his job, his family, and eventually to Jessie Vega. Despite his gruff exterior, his actions consistently demonstrate a deep commitment to those he cares about.​

Book: Hell on Earth
Author: Macy Blake
Pages: 219 Pages
Date completed: 4/18/2025
How it fits: Shaq demonstrates unwavering loyalty to his goddess, his pack, and eventually to Drew, the human he feels compelled to protect. His dedication is a central theme of the story.

Book: Beautiful Dreamer
Author: Christina Lee
Pages: 149 Pages
Date completed: 4/17/2025
How it fits: Garrett Coleman demonstrates deep loyalty to his family, particularly as he supports his mother through her cancer diagnosis.

Book: Life, Love, and Other Inequalities
Author: Argentina Ryder
Pages: 178 Pages
Date completed: 4/8/2025
How it fits: There's some observation and cautious curiosity as the characters navigate new dynamics and feelings. Not full-on spying, but definitely moments of watching from a distance—especially emotionally.

Book: Wild Sky
Author: Zaya Feli
Pages: 475 Pages
Date completed: 4/16/2025
How it fits: Tauran, despite his initial reluctance, demonstrates deep loyalty to those he cares about, including Kalai. Kalai, in turn, shows unwavering commitment to his dragon, Arrow, and to forging a new path in Valreus.

Book: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Pages: 368 Pages
Date completed: 4/15/2025
How it fits: Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow, demonstrates unwavering loyalty to her late husband and her missing son, Erik. Her dedication to maintaining the aquarium and her relationships with those around her reflect deep-seated loyalty

Book: A Natural World in Love
Author: Ali Horriyat
Pages: 111 Pages
Date completed: 4/4/2025
How it fits: The book encourages readers to liberate themselves from destructive habits and adopt more sustainable, compassionate lifestyles.

Book: All Systems Red
Author: Martha Wells
Pages: 144 Pages
Date completed: 4/7/2025
How it fits: Murderbot is constantly surveilling its environment, hacking security feeds, and keeping a watchful (and very sarcastic) eye on the humans it’s assigned to protect. This is full-on stealth-mode Dobby behavior.

Book: Trusting Thomas
Author: K.C. Wells
Pages: 282 Pages
Date completed: 4/16/2025
How it fits: Thomas exhibits unwavering loyalty, not only in his commitment to helping Peter heal but also in his dedication to the principles of care and respect within the D/s community.​

Book: Running Close to the Wind
Author: Alexandra Rowland
Pages: 448 Pages
Date completed: 4/18/2025
How it fits: Avra Helvaçi, a former field agent of the Araşti Ministry of Intelligence, has a background in espionage. His skills in observation and subterfuge are integral to the plot, especially as he navigates dangerous political waters after accidentally stealing a highly valuable secret.

Book: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Author: Douglas Adams
Pages: 250 Pages
Date completed: 4/23/2025
How it fits: Arthur Dent's journey throughout the novel is one of self-discovery and liberation

My Books:
Dobby total: 1
Smaug total: 0

Dobby
Title: Like Real People Do
Author: E.L. Massey
Pages: 383
Date Read: 4/1/2025
Justification: Eli is a very loyal character
Theme: Dobby

Theme Choice: DOBBY
Books Read: 11


✅ Title: Pachinko
Author: Min Jin Lee
Pages: 496pgs
Date read: 2-Apr-2025
Justification: Loyalty | Many characters in Pachinko demonstrate deep loyalty to family despite hardships (e.g., Sunja's sacrifices for her children).
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: Any Witch Way
Author: Lindsay Buroker
Pages: 262pgs
Date read: 6-Apr-2025
Justification: A story about breaking free from oppressive systems (coven rules) for love and loyalty, much like Dobby’s journey.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: Seven Years
Author: Dannika Dark
Pages: 332pgs
Date read: 7-Apr-2025
Justification: Loyalty | MC Austin is loyal to Knight family.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: Junie
Author: Erin Crosby Eckstine
Pages: 368pgs
Date read: 8-Apr-2025
Justification: Freedom & Enslavement (The Core of Dobby’s Story)
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: The Borrower
Author: Rebecca Makkai
Pages: 324pgs
Date read: 10-Apr-2025
Justification: Book explores themes of autonomy and defiance against control, mirroring Dobby’s struggle against his masters and his eventual self-liberation.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger
Author: Soraya Chemaly
Pages: 364pgs
Date read: 15-Apr-2025
Justification: Just as Dobby’s defiance breaks the bonds of his servitude, Soraya Chemaly argues that women’s rage—long suppressed and stigmatized—can shatter societal constraints and fuel transformative change.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: The Wise Women
Author: Gina Sorell
Pages: 352pgs
Date read: 17-Apr-2025
Justification: Much like Dobby, who risks everything to protect Harry Potter despite being undervalued, the women in Sorell’s novel navigate family expectations and societal pressures—ultimately asserting their own worth and wisdom, even when others dismiss them.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: Our Wives Under the Sea
Author: Julia Armfield
Pages: 240pgs
Date read: 19-Apr-2025
Justification: Loyalty | Miri’s steadfast devotion to her wife, even as Leah changes in ways she can barely understand, reflects Dobby’s unwavering loyalty — loving and protecting even when confronted with fear, loss, and the unknown.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Author: Anita Loos
Pages: 165pgs
Date read: 22-Apr-2025
Justification: Both characters use others’ low expectations to their advantage.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: The Lies of Locke Lamora
Author: Scott Lynch
Pages: 752pgs
Date read: 26-Apr-2025
Justification: Loyalty | Despite a life built on deceit and thievery, Locke Lamora’s unwavering loyalty to his friends — particularly the Gentleman Bastards — mirrors Dobby's deep loyalty to those he cares about, even when it places him in mortal danger.
Theme chosen: Dobby

✅ Title: The Priory of the Orange Tree
Author: Samantha Shannon
Pages: pgs
Date read: 30-Apr-2025
Justification: Ead Duryan is a hidden guardian using forbidden magic to shield Sabran, just as Dobby secretly aids Harry despite restrictions.
Theme chosen: Dobby

Dobby vs Smaug!
note: The "add book/author" feature was not working after the first book.

Title:
Author: Hiro Arikawa
Pages: 281
Date read: 4/6
Justification: This is a gentle cat who affects the lives of everyone around it in a positive way
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: To the Nines
Author: Stephanie Plum
Pages: 388
Date read: 4/8
Justification: Stephanie Plum is well-intentioned, but things don't always go the way she plans, just like Dobby!
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: This is Why we Lied
Author: Karin Slaughter
Pages: 464
Date read: 4/14
Justification: There were a few cruel and heartless people in this book! They committed abuses and murder for completely selfish reasons.
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: Midnight Bayou
Author: Nora Roberts
Pages: 378
Date read: 4/16
Justification: MC is a loyal person
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: Inside Out
Author: Demi Moore
Pages: 304
Date read: 4/19
Justification: Demi is loyal to her loved ones
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: Game On
Author: Janet Evanovich
Pages: 320
Date read: 4/22
Justification: The antagonist in this book was horrible and greedy
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: Wayward
Author: Dana Spiotta
Pages: 288
Date read: 4/27
Justification: MC falls in love with a decrepit house and tries to fix it up and she also tries to help her new community
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: Secrets in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Pages: 400
Date read: 4/28
Justification: MC Eve Dallas is as loyal as they come
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: Talking as Fast as I Can
Author: Lauren Graham
Pages: 224
Date read: 4/29
Justification: Lauren is a loyal daughter and friend
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: The First to Die at the End
Author: Adam Silvera
Pages: 550
Date read: 4/30
Justification: Victor donates his heart to Orion
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: Hideaway
Author: Nora Roberts
Pages: 464
Date read: 4/30
Justification: Charlotte had her own daughter kidnapped for selfish reasons!
Theme chosen: Smaug

I'm in

SMAUG
Title: Whip Crack
Author: Alex Smith
Pages: 318
Date read: 01/04/2025
Justification: Kidnapper is cruel and sadistic character. Title refers to game where children attempt to fly
Theme chosen: SMAUG

Dobby


Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 440
Date Read: 4/1/2025
Justification: Celaena is such a strong, fearsome, loyal character
Theme: Dobby

Dobby


Title: The Thing in the Snow
Author: Sean Adams
Pages: 304
Date Read: 4/1/2025
Justification: Everyone works hard every day to get their jobs done, no matter how tedious
Theme chosen: Dobby

Ooh! What did you think of The Thing in the Snow? That was a mind bender, I thought. I liked the weirdness of it.

I'm in. I posted one on the other site already. Can you check to see if I did it correctly? I'm listed as taxhawk1 there.

Jenny wrote: "Ooh! What did you think of The Thing in the Snow? That was a mind bender, I thought. I liked the weirdness of it."

It's hilarious how ridiculous it is. Like whom thought anyone would be reading a book about people counting. I'm like what a crappy job in a crappy location. I did like it, but I also was thinking I could be reading something else 🤣

Bernadette wrote: "I'm in. I posted one on the other site already. Can you check to see if I did it correctly? I'm listed as taxhawk1 there."

I see a book on each post, I think you did do it correctly

Dobby
Title: The Rocky Road to Ruin
Author: Meri Allen
Pages: 341
Date read: 02/04/2025
Justification: Riley is loyal to her friends Buzzy and Caroline
Theme chosen: Dobby

Title: Heavenly Tyrant
Author: Xiran Jay Zhao
Pages: 540
Date read: 3/30-4/2
Justification: The main character, Zetian, and another main character, Qin Zheng, both have a greed for greater power.
Theme chosen: Smaug

Dobby
Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Pages: 384
Date read: 03/04/2025
Justification: Kia spies on townspeople
Theme chosen: Dobby

Smaug
Title: Lady Justice and the Candidate
Author: Robert Thornhill
Pages: 219
Date read: 03/04/2025
Justification: Greedy politicians and companies
Theme chosen: Smaug

Updated to here

Current score

Dobby 10
Smaug 7

I love all the creative thinking. Keep up the great work!

Dobby
Title: The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World
Author: Peter Wohlleben
Pages: 288
Date read: 04/04/2025
Justification: Trees communicate underground like the house elves
Theme chosen: Dobby

Smaug
Title: Planet Simpson: How a cartoon masterpiece documented an era and defined a generation
Author: Chris Turner
Pages: 670
Date read: 04/04/2025
Justification: Montgomery Burns is a greedy character
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: The Valley of Horses
Author: Jean Auel
Pages: 577
Date read: 04/03/2025
Justification: Ayla lives alone in a cave in a mountain
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: Phantom Evil
Author: Heather Graham
Pages: 363
Date read: 04/01/2025
Justification: Murderer compelled by greed and pride
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: A Place for Us
Author: Fatima Farheen Mirza
Pages:
Date read: 4.5.25
Justification: Amar has taken a lot of abuse / bullying due to his race and culture - finally breaks free at the end.
Theme chosen: Dobby

Smaug
Title: Explosive Eighteen
Author: Janet Evanovich
Pages: 305
Date read: 05/04/2025
Justification: Fire on cover
Theme chosen: Smaug

Smaug
Title: The Dark Lord's Daughter
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Pages: 363
Date read: 04/04/2025
Justification: Dragon in book
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins
Author: P. Djèlí Clark
Pages: 208
Date read: 04/05/2025
Justification: MC very violent and murder-y
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: Murder by Memory
Author: Olivia Waite
Pages: 112
Date read: 04/05/2025
Justification: greed is motivation for murder
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: We Solve Murders
Author: Richard Osman
Pages: 112
Date read: 04/06/2025
Justification: greed is motivation for murder
Theme chosen: Smaug

Title: A Pocket Full of Rye
Author: Agatha Christie
Pages: 288
Date read: 04/10/2025
Justification: greed is motivation for murder
Theme chosen: Smaug

Dobby
Title: Victim Without a Face
Author: Stefan Ahnhem
Pages: 601
Date read: 06/04/2025
Justification: Several of the victims were previously bullied
Theme chosen: Dobby

SMAUG

Title: The Last Unicorn
Author: Peter S. Beagle
Pages: 206
Date read: 04/05/25
Justification: Lir slays a dragon
Theme chosen: Smaug

Smaug
Title: Nest Egg
Author: Josi Avari
Pages: 282
Date read: 07/04/2025
Justification: Dragons hatch from eggs
Theme chosen: Smaug

Dobby

Title: The Song of Achilles
Author: Madeline Miller
Pages: 351 pgs
Date read: 04/05/25
Justification: Patroclus is as loyal to Achilles as Dobby is to Harry
Theme chosen: Dobby

Dobby

Title: Loathe to Love You
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Page: 371 pgs
Date read: 04/06/25
Justification: Mara, Hannah, and Sadie are all loyal to each other
Theme chosen: Dobby

Completion Post


Title: Havoc
Author: Christopher Bollen
Pages: 256
Date read: 4/6/2025
Justification: MC vey Murder-y
Theme chosen: SMAUG 🖤



Title: The Book of Azrael
Author: Amber V. Nicole
Pages: 700
Date read: 4/7/2025
Justification: Gods fighting and MC is the World Ender
Theme chosen: SMAUG 🖤



Title: We Solve Murders
Author: Richard Osman
Pages: 464
Date read: 4/8/2025
Justification: Greed is motivation for murder
Theme chosen: SMAUG 🖤



Title: The Priory of the Orange Tree
Author: Samantha Shannon
Pages: 845
Date read: 4/9/2025
Justification: Dragons, and Greed is motivation for murder
Theme chosen: SMAUG 🖤



Title: Kissing Lessons
Author: Stefanie London
Pages: 400
Date read: 4/7/2025
Justification: Audrey has deep loyalty to family despite hardships
Theme chosen: Dobby 🌸


Title: Whirlwind
Author: Kayla Grosse
Pages: 239
Date read: 4/8/2025
Justification: Kissin on the cover, Team watches out for each others lives.
Theme chosen: Dobby 🌸


Title: Spring Fling
Author:Annie England Noblin
Pages: 304
Date read: 4/9/2025
Justification: Town watches out for each other and are loyal
Theme chosen: Dobby 🌸

Dobby

Title: Strange New World
Author: Vivian Shaw
Pages: 416
Date read: 4/9/2025
Justification: Greta watches out for her team and is very loyal
Theme chosen: Dobby

Smaug
Title: Mocha, She Wrote
Author: Ellie Alexander
Pages: 320
Date read: 09/04/2025
Justification: Killer is a greedy character
Theme chosen: Smaug

Smaug
Title: House of Earth and Blood
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 874
Date read: 09/04/2025
Justification: The Viper Queen is a dragon like creature
Theme chosen: Smaug

Dobby
Title: A Passage to India
Author: E.M. Forster
Pages:376
Date read: 10/04/2025
Justification: Mrs. Moore is loyal to Aziz and helps him through the trial
Theme chosen: Dobby

Smaug
Title: Unstuff Your Life!: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good
Author: Andrew Mellen
Pages: 400
Date read: 10/04/2025
Justification: Discusses hoarding
Theme chosen: Smaug

Dobby

Uncharted Terrain by M.W. Gold
Pages: 366
Date read: 4/9/2025
Justification: Tanner defends Lance against his abusive father and gets injured as a result

Dobby

Winter Cowboy by R.J. Scott
Pages: 274
Date read: 4/10/2025
Justification: Michah rescues his sister

Smaug

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Pages: 274
Date read: 4/10/2025
Justification: The Tharks are a powerful race that only value strength and power

Smaug
Title: A Killer Among Us: A True Story of Murder and Justice
Author: Charles Bosworth Jr.
Pages: 557
Date read: 14/04/2025
Justification: Greedy husband who kills wife for insurance money
Theme chosen: Smaug

Smaug
Title: The Fellowship of the Ring
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Pages: 432
Date read: 14/04/2025
Justification: Smaug mentioned p 256
Theme chosen: Smaug

Smaug
Title: Silent Spring
Author:Rachel Carson
Pages: 378
Date read: 17/04/2025
Justification: Destructive insects causing widespread damage
Theme chosen: Smaug

SMAUG

book: We Solve Murders
author: Richard Osman
pages: 400
read: 4.7.25
why: Greed motivation for murder committed

book: Hunting Ground
author: Patricia Briggs
pages: 286
read: 4.8.26
why: Main antagonist kills everyone in pursuit of his narcissistic goal

book: Aching God
author: Mike Shel
pages: 414
read: 4.10.25
why: MC starts book isolated and holed up with his riches

DOBBY

book: Amazonia
author: James Rollins
pages: 510
read: 4.16.25
why: (view spoiler)[Manny sacrifices himself for his friends (hide spoiler)]

Smaug
Title: Trapped
Author: J.A. Konrath
Pages: 332
Date read: 18/04/2025
Justification: Powerful scary killers who burn victims
Theme chosen: Smaug

Smaug
Title: The Forgotten Dead
Author: Jordan L. Hawk
Pages: 178
Date read: 04/14/2025
Justification: multiple murders and "hoards" victims souls
Theme chosen: Smaug

Dobby
Title: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Author: Heather Fawcett
Pages: 370
Date read: 4.18.25
Justification: Emily is very loyal to Wendell
Theme chosen: Dobby

Dobby

Title: A Mouth Full of Salt
Author: Reem Gaafar
Pages: 247
Date read: 17/04/25
Justification: Character works as a domestic servant
Theme chosen: Dobby

Dobby

Title: Disorderly Conduct
Author: Tessa Bailey
Pages: 301 pgs
Date read: 04/09/25
Justification: Charlie spies on Ever
Theme chosen: Dobby

Smaug

Title: Tomb of the Golden Bird
Author: Elizabeth Peters
Pages: 575
Date read: 21/04/2025
Justification: Tomb of treasures uncovered
Theme chosen: Smaug