Month: April 2019

Next roll:

1. Author is a woman – Grump by Liesl Shurtliff

9. Author’s last name begins with the letters H, I, J, or K – What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz

16. Genre: fantasy – The Last Gargoyle by Paul Durham

21. Set in Europe – The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne

28. Written between 1900 and 1999 – The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver

35. Had been adapted as a movie – Mystic River by Dennis Lehane

43. Characters involved in the law – The Cutting Edge by Jeffery Deaver

48. A book you acquired in February 2019 – By a Spider’s Thread by Laura Lippman

Landed on:

55. Is more than 500 pages long

It took me a while to find one that fits this category that is over 500 pages but not over 800. I didn’t want to read something too long because I’ll never finish this game. (I know I can read a different book and only roll one die, but I’m being a little strict on myself about finding a book that fits.) I finally decided on Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld.

Audience: Adult

Format: Kindle/Owned

 

They were in one of the “I” states when Zeke told Isaac he had to ride in the trunk for a little while.

– first sentence

 

I purchased this book in February and I don’t remember why. Maybe I saw a review I liked or maybe it was on sale and sounded good to me. Anyway, the Snakes and Ladders square called for a book I acquired in February and I didn’t have many options. So, even though this is not the first book in the Tess Monaghan series and I don’t think I read any of the others, I decided to go with it.

 

Tess is an interesting, relatable character and even though I don’t know her background or what she has been through, I enjoyed this book. Tess is a PI and her client is an orthodox Jewish man (Mark) whose wife (Natalie) and three children have disappeared. But, it looks like Natalie left of her own volition, and took the children. Mark says there were no problems in their marriage and there was no reason for Natalie to leave. But, after looking into things, Tess realizes that there is more to it, and Mark isn’t telling her the whole truth.

 

I spent most of the book trying to figure out why Natalie would leave her husband and go off with Zeke. He’s an asshole and he is horrible to her children, especially Isaac. Who would put up with that? But I guess she has romanticized their relationship and thinks things will eventually get better. The main question I had was will she eventually put her children first?

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Author is a woman – Grump by Liesl Shurtliff

9. Author’s last name begins with the letters H, I, J, or K – What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz

16. Genre: fantasy – The Last Gargoyle by Paul Durham

21. Set in Europe – The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne

28. Written between 1900 and 1999 – The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver

35. Had been adapted as a movie – Mystic River by Dennis Lehane

43. Characters involved in the law – The Cutting Edge by Jeffery Deaver

 

Landed on:

 

48. A book you acquired in February 2019.

 

I thought this would be easy until I checked. I only bought two books in February 2019 (go figure). I only realized later I probably could have chosen a library book I borrowed in February – oh well. So, I chose By A Spider’s Thread by Laura Lippman.

 

Btw, did anyone else notice I close I was to that snake again?? I am having unbelievable luck in this game.

Audience: Adult

Format: Hardcover/Owned

 

 

Is it safe?

– first sentence

 

No surprise – it’s not safe. At least not for the couple picking up their diamond ring. This is a Lincoln Rhyme novel after all, so there will be plenty of what you might call “unsafe” situations.

 

Nothing surprising here. This is a well-written crime story with a few twists I didn’t see coming. I recently read the first Lincoln Rhyme book and this is the 14th, so things have changed a lot. In the first book, Lincoln consults with the NYPD for the first time while he is considering how to end his life. In this one, Lincoln and Amelia are married, he is a well-known consultant, and he gets around in his wheelchair. The killer in this book is obsessed with diamonds or with engaged couples. We aren’t exactly sure at first.

 

I enjoyed the book and might read another Lincoln Rhyme novel in the future, but there are so many books out there with new ideas and my tbr is overflowing…

 

I read this for Snakes & Ladders space #43 Characters involved in the law.

 

 

Audience: Grade 6 & Up

Format: Hardcover/Library Copy

 

 

 

Hear the voice of the poet!

I see the past, future, and present.

I am Deaf, but I have heard

The beauty of song

 

And I wish to share it with

Young Readers.

A poem can be simple,

About a cat or a red

Wheelbarrow.

 

Or it can illuminate the lives

Of people who lived, loved,

And died. You can make

People think or feel

 

For other people, if you

Write poetry. In T4, the facts

About history are true, and

My characters tell the story.

 

– first page

 

During World War II, the Nazi’s Action T4 program called for the euthanasia of mentally ill and disabled people. Paula, a thirteen-year-old deaf girl, fled from her home, and her family, and went into hiding in order to survive.

 

This is a moving account of one little girl’s survival told through beautiful, unflinching language. I loved this book and highly recommend it to young readers. It’s a short book and a great introduction to the novel in verse format.

 

 

Audience: Grades 4-8

Format: Hardcover/Library Copy

 

 

I picked up this book because the cover was cute, but I didn’t really expect much from it. Well, I can say I was pleasantly surprised. Portia is a bright ten-year-old girl who is trying to adjust to life without her father. She is feeling pretty lonely because she doesn’t have friends at school and her mom is acting distant. Then she finds a shy, sweet, and quite large purple monster in the woods behind her house.

 

The illustrations are done in black, white, and shades of purple with red accents. Jellaby is purple with red stripes and Portia’s hair bow is red. Portia’s friend, Jason loves carrots and so there are spots of orange too (like Jason’s shirt).

 

The story is charming; I loved Portia, Jellaby, and even Jason. Jellaby is a monster with a heart of gold and this story will touch readers of all ages. 

 

Highly Recommended. I am borrowing the second book tomorrow. 🙂